Open Tester's Counsel

[Zarparchior]

I've played the game. And it looks like a very sweet game. I know everyone who's not in Beta is dying to know what it's like (I sure as hell know I was), and while people divuldged a good deal of information after the NDA lift, I was still gasping for more. So here is my spin on the game:

-=The Sanctuary=-

Ah... the first time. You'll appear in one of the (what I like to call) Reinspawning buildings. You get to step out of a neat little spawn tube, complete with moving parts, and get to stare at your first Equipment Terminal. Being the n00b I was, I decided to skip the humilating myself and go directly to VR. I took a step outside and gasped for air at what met me.

Unless changes are made before release, the first explosions and deaths you'll see will be right in your own home, cause by none other than your own teamates. Havoc and (and his brother)Carnage run rampant when the volume of players is high and their experience lacking. It's kind of strange and wonderful at the same time though. At least, for a new player it is.

Strangely enough, the first place I entered was VR. They conviently placed the entrance right next to the log in grounds for the Sanctuary. Well... I guess the devs aren't all taht stupid after all.

VR is not what I thought it was going to be at all. There are two "continents:" one of them is the firing range and the other is the vehicle area. The firing range is just that: a firing range. You're in a room where on all 4 sides there are dummies of opposing empires with various armor types and vehicles to shoot at. Now this is what threw me: you are not alone. You get to hear other players shoot their pea shooters as well as your own. Isn't that great?! You can shoot them if you get angry, but you cannot harm them in any manner. You get a pop-up message warning you that you shot your bud, and that you shouldn't do that in the real world. Well... hope my aims a whole lot better on the field... =\

The vehicle area is a wide open continent where you can fly and drive around to your hearts content. It's mixed with rolling hills and a few roads and dotted with strange looking trees and rocks, which most use for target practise or obstacles to manuever thorugh. The Vehicle Terminals you see here are just like the ones you'll see in the game. There are a total of three: The ground vehicle spawn, the air vehicle spawn (skeeter + reaver), the super-air vehicle spawn (same as prior but with galaxy). I had fun here, and spoke to my first person as well. We tried out a Thresher and a Harraser... All I can say is I'm glad that I drove most of the time. Her steering was a wee bit... awkward to say the least.

After achieving BR2, I run off to explore what I can of our Sanctuary. I'd rather not boar (as in gore) you all with the details right now, and I'll add some screenshots when I get home.

-=Gameplay=-

Now... the part that people really want to hear... What's it like? Well, it's interesting. It looks like it could be a very fun game potentially. Strangely enough, the potential in the game is already there. What will make or break the game will be the players. If you have a dumb squad, you will not have a very fun time. If you go off to solo, you'll most likely not have a very fun time. And that's really the only things you'll need to worry about.

I can hear you gasp as you exclaim, "But Zarparchior! You mean balance and everything else is fine?" Well... balance and game direction needs a bit of tweaking, but it is by no means unmanigable. The problem with the game (like ever other MMO) is that you rely heavily upon your squad/outfit and empire in general. While most of it is a zergling rush right now, the organized soldiers still and will dominate. You know why? Because it's much better to have a 2 AVers, a medic, 2 engineers, 2 MAXs, and 3 misc assaulters then have 10 AI MAXs. Sure, the MAXs would dominate the infantry for awhile but a few Decimators and they'd all be toast. A balanced squad will be able to handle more situations and thus be more effective.

Also, the team that works well together will cap bases together. Is it better to all rush in through the front door and possibly rack up grief while firing wildly into the masses of your own squad OR is it better to divide up and come in through seperate entrances (Maybe a MAX through the front door of the tower, 2 reinforced through the back, and a MAX that jumpjets to the second floor and cleans up there. Pincer attacks work well in this game, it seems. I can't wait to experiment with them with more able people.

My biggest complaint is that most of the people are stupid. I know it's blatent and probably uncalled for, but I really think that they are. I'm not speaking about people who don't know what they're doing because they're new... I'm talking about people who just cannot seem to grasp the value or even the concept of teamwork. I guess I had visions of grandeur that the Open Beta and release would all have people of likemind and would be the ultimate teamwork game. I wasn't wrong by anymeans, it still can be. But the majority of it is going to depend on YOU. Are YOU going to make the game fun by helping out newer players? Are YOU going to make the game fun by working together with people instead of jumping in a Reaver and going off solo? Are YOU going allow your sqauds a little variation or are you gonna force people to be MAXs and Infiltrator/Hackers? Tis a game. Let loose and have fun with it. Go ahead and play competatively! That's what the game is for. Just remember that people don't have to fit inside your tiny thought bubble of the p3rf3ct sqaudz0r all the time.

Use intelligence and kindness, and this game will be the best out there.

**edit: Already mentioned this, but gonna add a few screenies after I get home from work. Any other testers can add their thoughts and opinions to this as well. If you're not a tester, don't let that stop you. Post anyway with questions or complaints. In all liklihood, I'll probably not ignore them.