Sunday, September 29, 2013

Kickstarter update: September 29, 2013


Fanterview: Christopher

NameChristopher, my friends call me pumpkin (from this orange car i have, long story) and in a few online games I go by Luscious, haha.

What do you do for work in real life?
I work in a hospital as a Registered Respiratory Therapist - Neonatal & Pediatric Specialist

What is your favorite food?
I love really well made Chinese food, not the expensive name brand places like PF Chang, but a mom and pop restaurant.

Favorite movies?
Even though I was born late in the 1980’s (88 to be exact) I love the cult classics; The Breakfast Club, Ferris Buellers Day Off, The Goonies, Caddyshack, Spaceballs and Short Circuit

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?
Coming up later this year I will be taking steps to be a first time home buyer, going to be a big event for me.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
I honestly don't remember 100%, but I was looking for something COH related on facebook and ended up on your facebook page. And I've been on an awesome adventure with a few people on the forums since then.

What boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
I think they will expand on some of the amazing ideas that COH had, but fix the parts that were out dated with a more new age approach.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
As we have seen over the past few years Indie games made by small publishers have been more successful than mainstream games with large budgets from

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
I'd have to say its the ability to do things we can't do on any ordinary day. To make more of a difference than ever thought possible.

What is your favorite super power and why?
Empathy - my favorite healing powered person was a character named Shawn on a show called “The 4400”. He could heal people, but it temporarily fatigued him to do so.

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
Villian - They are impulsive, they have no restraint.

Hero - That ability to do what it right and good, no matter how it will affect you personally.

If you had them, do you think having super powers would be a blessing or a burden?
If I had the empath power, it would probably turn out much like it did for shawn on The 4400; it would begin as a blessing then slowly turn into a burden as more and more people discovered my ability.

What kind of content engages you in video games?
I can get engaged in almost any game to some kind of extent. The thing that has kept me so charged in the COH/TPP field is the aspect of the SuperGroups. Its why when I joined the forum I made it a mission of mine to promote the SuperGroup culture that COH had within this new community.

How do you like stories to progress in a game (i.e. cutscenes, battles, mission text, etc.) and why?
If over time a game doesn't grow even for the highest level of player, the game eventually just turns into a game of see how fast you can make it to the highest level, then you get bored again. It causes drop off of your subscription.

What sort of missions in games do you enjoy the most?
I love the missions in COH where we ran a few missions running all over the zones, to end in a final mission where the last boss was a mega creature, with obstacles we had over come as we worked to wittle away at his life points.

What is your favorite quote and why?
I am not going to sit on my *** as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I'm going to take a stand. I'm going to defend it. Right or wrong, I'm going to defend it. - Cameron (in Ferris Buellers Day Off)

Fanterview: David

David aka Graff
Name: David aka graff

What do you for work in real life?
I’m a hairdresser

What is your favorite food?
That's a tough one as I love all food. I guess if I had to narrow it down I would say extra old cheddar

Favorite movies?
Top movies are Sunset Boulevard, David Lynch’s DUNE, X-men and Thor.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
I found it while I was looking at some info on City of Heroes on the MMORPG website.

What would boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
To show the world that superhero games are worth looking into and we are a large group out there with very little content.

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
So much of life is about being grounded and working hard to achieve your goals, being able to play a super powered being allows you to have fun and to be something a little less reality based.

What is your favorite super power and why?
I have many actually but to keep it short I really loved storm summoning. I had made a fire storm corruptor in CoH and realized how powerful the combo was and also how much fun it was to throw down rain of fire and freezing rain at the same time. Then conjuror up a lightning storm and throw in a tornado.

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
I feel a hero is someone that puts the needs of others to the front and helps to keep order.

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
I have a friend who works with mentally challenged children and is dealing with their own family issues. Despite the things going on in their life they still go and help these kids on a daily basis.

What kind of content engages you in video games?
I enjoy teaming with others I used to really enjoy task forces alot as we all had a goal. Depending on the groups we all brought something to the  team.

What sort of missions in games do you enjoy the most?
I tend to really like group missions that have a goal and some puzzles to solve for added enjoyment.

What is your favorite quote and why?
“Be good and Misbehave”....... I love that saying as it is playful without being mean.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Fanterview: Amy

Name: Amy (aka Amerikatt)

What do you do for work in real life?
Mild-mannered secretary

What is your favorite food?
Amy -- Italian cuisine (especially Chicken Marsala)
Amerikatt -- Fish sticks and Mice-A-Roni (rodent-shaped pasta!) with Boysenberry Sauce

Favorite movies?
Those in glorious black and white!  I particularly like the 4 with Lauren Bacall/Humphrey Bogart and the 8 with Katharine Hepburn/Spencer Tracy, as well as Cary Grant movies.  I also enjoy screwball comedies, like “Bringing Up Baby” (Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and “Baby” -- a cheetah!)  For more “modern” titles, I liked the original “Star Wars” trilogy and the “Indiana Jones” movies.

What boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
I believe that MWM can help increase the immersion and fun factors by focusing on aspects of game design which help promote camaraderie and social development.  For instance, development and support of social areas, such as supergroup bases (although a personal lair would also be appreciated) and missions/in-game events which allow the players to feel as though they are having an impact on their environment.

From a personal perspective, I would also like to see more activities which interact with my characters, such as fighting an evil/misguided twin or holding a dying double from another dimension or just having an NPC run up to my character and compliment her (and say something nice about her in General/NPC Chat.)  Maybe something neat like going into The First National Bank of Titan City and, rather than facing a Supervillain(ess) for the umpteenth time, have the bank president congratulate my character on being the millionth customer and then giving her a nice prize (like a blue/rare permanent device) or maybe get a toaster (or other green/common limited use device) for opening a Christmas Club account.  Things which are fun but not combat-oriented (and which, as non-tradeable, would dissuade and curtail ebil marketers from hoarding and then unleashing them upon the auction house at ten-figure prices.)

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
City of Titans” is very much a community project.  The people who are developing this MMOG are volunteering their time and energies, many of them working on this project after long, arduous hours at their day jobs.  Thus, it behooves those of us who would take advantage of the fruits of their labors to contribute actively to this effort by giving what we can -- even if it’s only financially.  If we have an investment in the development of this game -- either through technical expertise or financial support -- we will likely derive immensely more pleasure from the finished product.

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
The Superhero genre reflects the desire within ourselves to excel, to be better and more than we are in real life.  Thus, we live vicariously through the exploits of larger-than-life entities who embrace the best in ourselves, the morals and principles which we espouse, and thus find ourselves transported to a place where we may for a time distance ourselves from the negative issues which permeate the real world.

What is your favorite super power and why?
Healing.  At the very core of Amerikatt’s psyche is the desire to help other sentient beings, and she is at her best when she is serving in a support capacity.  Although she has, in times past, been possessed of great fighting abilities (augmented by purple and high-grade rare enhancers), those have always been a secondary consideration to her divinely-inspired healing abilities (among those her Tier IV area-of-effect Incarnate healing power.)

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
Heroism is not the absence of fear, but, rather, the ability to overcome that fear in order to go beyond one’s normal capacity and help others who are in dire straits.  Real-world examples are not only firefighters, police officers, and soldiers, but blood, marrow, and transplant donors.

If you had them, do you think having super powers would be a blessing or a burden?
I suppose that would depend on the nature of the super power(s), whether such could be turned off, and whether I would be physically altered to reflect that power.  As in all things, a balance should be struck, and I would very much like to do good yet still retain my anonymity.

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
Probably the greatest acts of heroism of which I am aware came in the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001.  However, that in no way diminishes the heroism of people -- in and out of uniform -- before and after that time.

What kind of content engages you in video games?
Fun and immersive things, such as badge hunting or admiring the depth of detail in a zone environment.  I have probably spent more time (75-80%+) socializing and enjoying the non-combat aspects of online gaming than I have in “bashing” things.  Combat is a means to an end, but is not the end itself (not even in 'endgame.')

How do you like stories to progress in a game (i.e. cutscenes, battles, mission text, etc.) and why?
I really enjoy a richly characterized and deeply detailed backstory in games (as in literature), and believe that these must be at the core of an immersive environment, thus facilitating the creation of secondary elements, such as NPCs, mission-givers, and the missions themselves.  The more familiar that a storyteller is with the people and places in a given milieu, the more faithfully they may expound upon that information and will actually have story/mission ideas suggested by the characters themselves!

I also like the idea of having missions which may be played as standalone, yet could also be incorporated into a larger story arc (not necessarily publicized as such, but, perhaps, as part of a similarly-themed group of missions which help the players -- if not the characters themselves -- see a larger part of “the greater picture.”)

Cutscenes can be lots of fun (especially if a player character is referenced in the balloon text), but they should be skippable if the player so desires.  I think that they should be used sparingly so as not to dilute their dramatic impact, and they should only occur at a time and place when the player character is within proximity to the NPCs (that is, how can I know what an NPC is plotting if s/he’s in a secret sub-volcanic lair halfway across the world?)

What sort of missions in games do you enjoy the most?
Fun missions and missions which impact my character(s) personally.  My favorite mission in City of Heroes was the one in which Amerikatt got to fight her misguided doppelganger (who was dressed in the opposite color combination.)  Likewise, the most poignant was when Protean murdered a great number of interdimensional twins of Amerikatt’s sidekick, which spurred my other character to avenge the death of the twin who died in her arms.

Do you ever play player generated content?
Holy cats! I sure do!

I have found that there are some exceptionally creative people in the player community and that their commitment to crafting quality entertainment rivals (or even exceeds) that of the professional developers of a particular game.  City of Heroes had incredibly fun (and replayable) missions from people like Ascendant and famous guest mission-makers!

What is your favorite quote and why?
"The only thing that is necessary for evil to triumph is for men of good will to do nothing." -- Edmund Burke

This is not only quite apropos to the superhero genre, but is also a reminder to all of us that we can have an effect upon the world around us by the decisions that we make.  "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is a similar sentiment.  Perhaps that is why, after wading through countless media stories of humanity’s inconsideration of one another, we are reassured when we hear or read about a kindness shown to a stranger or the personal dignity shown by a destitute person who returns a large sum of money they found.

Fanterview: Kile

Kile aka Raging Nova aka Major Patriot
Name: Kile aka Raging Nova aka Major Patriot

What do you for work in real life?
Network Engineer

What is your favorite food?
Japanese Curry

Favorite movies?
Just about anything in the Action and Horror genre.

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?
I left the Marine Corps after 10 years of service in April.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
Through Victory Global, which is one of the CoH pages I’m a member of.  We keep each other up to speed on the on going projects and other matters going on in our lives.

What would boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
Having a truly interactive combat experience.  By that I mean being able to move while attacking and being able to dodge or counter attacks.  Being rooted to the ground, or in the air, while performing an attack doesn’t make sense.  As much as I loved CoH that was the one thing that bothered me about the game.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
From what I’ve seen MWM has been the most transparent about the goings on out of the three projects trying to recreate our home.  MWM has kept everyone up to date on everything and really allows us to voice our opinions and give advice.  Having those opinions and advice taken seriously and implemented shows that their potential customers are truly appreciated.

Besides if anyone has seen or played the other two super hero MMO’s currently out there they know that the genre is in serious need of attention.  MWM is going to bring something fresh to the table and give the players something they will love to play.

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
Everyone at some point in their life has imagined what it would be like to have powers and do incredible feats.  Being able to play a hero, or villain, allows me to live in that fantasy.  Plus punching people in the face and watching them fly across the room is bonus.

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
Being a hero means doing what is right at all times, even when no one is watching.  As for villains, all you have to do is have crazy schemes.  Those schemes can involve world domination, science projects aimed at causing horrific damage or death.  The list that can define a villain is much longer than for being a hero.

If you had them, do you think having super powers would be a blessing or a burden?
Certainly would have been a blessing during my time in the Marine Corps.  Possibly could have prevented the deaths of some of my fellow Marines.

What other games, including MMO’s, do you play?
Currently I play Starwars the Old Republic, Neverwinter, and WoW.

Do you prefer to play in groups or solo?
While leveling I like to go solo just so I don’t feel rushed when trying to read or listen to the story.  After hitting max level then I really enjoy playing in groups.

What makes a game “fun” for you?
Having a great story and great mechanics.  Also knowing that once I reach max level that there is more to do and will continue having things to do as time goes on.  I tend to become attached to one or two characters and I play them a lot.  Another thing is not having to worry about playing the auction house in order to gain in game currency or having professions for that matter.

What do you think builds a strong community in an MMO?
It depends on the game really I believe.  City of Heroes attracted people who wanted to be heroes and we all shared that bond.  Some of the other games I play you just don’t venture into their forums because the trolls are just waiting to pounce on you.

Do you enjoy PvP? If so - do you prefer open world pvp, PvP matches, or PvP minigames?
I really do enjoy PvP.  I loved how CoH had the zones so that if you wanted to PvP you could go and do so and not having to worry about being jumped while leveling.  With that said I hated the travel suppression implemented later in the game.  Being able to queue up for PvP matches is also fun and I’d like to see that incorporated in TPP.  In the other games I play I avoid PvP servers because there are so many griefers that ruin the fun for me.

What do you think could be done to make PvP enjoyable and less griefy?
If world PvP is going to be a factor in TPP the best way that I can think to keep griefers at bay is to put a cap on what levels people can attack one another.  Say max level is 50, they wouldn’t be able to attack someone lower than level 45.

Do you think mini-games (non-PvP) can work in MMO without distracting from the “main” game?
Very much so.  In World of Warcraft they came out with timed runs of certain dungeons that award special cosmetic armor.  The times are kept track of so people can compete to see who can get the best times.

What has been the funniest moment you’ve experience in an MMO?
Probably while farming on my Fire/Fire Blaster with my buddy on his Fire/Kin Controller.  I’d always end up killing his anchors for his transference and fulcrum shift and over vent nerd rage would ensue.  Some colorful language would always be thrown my way and all I could do was laugh because he was far from serious when he raged.

What is your favorite quote and why?
Don’t let the accent fool you.  -By me

I have used that quote for years because as I’ve travelled around the world people were quick to make fun of my southern accent and assume that I was stupid.  Time and time again I’ve proven that being from the south doesn’t inherently make one stupid.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Fanterview: Joseph Devon

Joseph Devon
Name: My name is Joseph Devon;  my friends and family typically call me Devon. My known online alias’ include Basta and Photuris.

What do you do for work in real life?
I am a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps. My job in the Corps is that of an expeditionary airfield technician. To understand what that means, one must first understand what exactly an expeditionary airfield is. An expeditionary airfield is exactly that; expeditionary. It is a rapidly deployable airfield composed of interlocking pieces of aluminum “matting” that can be constructed/ deconstructed in an expeditious (with speed and efficiency) manner. These airfields are utilized to provide a flat, versatile surface for all manner of aircraft to conduct operations on in any environment. My job entails the construction, upkeep, and repair of multiple airfield systems to include the above mentioned airfield, “Legacy” EAF (expeditionary airfield) lighting, Fresnel Lens Optical Landing Systems (FLOLS), and M-31 Marine Corps Expeditionary Arresting Gear.

What is your favorite food? (The correct answer is “Bacon” actually)
My favorite food, by far, is pizza!

Favorite movies?
I love movies that offer an escape from the mundane; Magic, future dystopias, deep space exploration, ancient lore, and superheroes are all genres that appeal to me. Some of my favorites though are Watchmen, The Spirit, Sin City, The punisher (the old one!), The gladiator, The Hellraiser series, and so on and so forth.

Congratulations on being a new father (Soon™)! How does the experience feel?
Thus far, I cannot truly describe the experiences. It has been an emotional roller-coaster; full of ups and downs and loops! At first I was afraid, as I, myself, am so young! I can barely take care of myself, let alone a defenseless baby that relies entirely on me! Alas, as we get closer and closer (any day now, really.) I feel a calmness taking over; a sense of self-awareness and confidence washes over me and I find myself ready and excited.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
Well, funny story. Prior to the military, my life consisted of school, work, video games, and boxing. That’s really it. My imagination was on an insatiable rampage as I discovered all things fantasy and explored the never ending genres of video games, anime, and movies. Superheroes have always struck a chord within me; there is just something about that altruistic, super-powered individual that stands up for justice and for those who cannot stand up for themselves. Naturally, I discovered the COX universe and very quickly jumped into the mix. Finally! I had my turn to don the mantle of superhero and make the journey from zero to hero. I was there from the beginning and played pretty much up until I enlisted. The first couple years of my enlistment were too chaotic and hectic to even think about sitting down and devoting my precious off time to games which required so much attention and time. When the dust began to settle, however, and I found myself with a less sporadic schedule, I decided it was time to check back in with my favorite past time. Alas! I was met with “Farewell to City of Heroes”! My first thought was that it must be some kind of sick joke; very funny, NCSOFT, you got me. But with a little digging, I discovered the message was indeed true. I had missed “the final heroic battle between good and evil” by a mere few weeks! The disappointment was astounding; the feeling of loss and betrayal even worse. There were no other games out there that felt like COH, nothing to satiate my again rampaging imagination. I cannot quite remember how I came upon MWM, but I am very thankful that I did. The prospect of a resurrection intrigues me. Not in that the COX universe will be reborn, no. I feel deep down that something greater will rise from the ashes; a game unlike any we have seen before.

What would boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
I have high expectations of MWM as they are a group of fellow players with the same hopes and aspirations for this game. They all felt the untimely loss of a game far ahead of its peers and will do much more to see it rise again.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
I firmly believe that we have a chance here of playing a part in something bigger. The individuals constructing this game are all players like us with similar interests in mind. They share the same goal; the best superhero/ supervillain game out there.

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
I have always been partial to superheroes (and supervillains). Whether they use their abilities for the never ending pursuit of justice, or to meet their own means, the concept of individuals with super powers has always intrigued me.

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
Defined, a hero refers to characters who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, display courage and the will for self sacrifice—that is, heroism—for some greater good of all humanity.
To me, a hero is anyone who stands up for those who cannot stand up for themselves. A hero is someone who, when faced with adversity, stands strong and proud. A beacon of hope. A hero makes the right decision even if it is not the easiest or most popular one.

If you had them, do you think having super powers would be a blessing or a burden?
Personally, I believe having super powers would be a blessing. It would indeed be difficult however;  would it be possible to resist the temptation of using those powers for my own gain? As the late great Ben Parker once said, “with great power comes great responsibility”. I believe he was on to something there.

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
I have been fortunate enough to witness many acts of heroism lately. They came not from scantily clad superheroes or mythological demi-gods, no. I see them in the daily duties of my best friend and wife, Elizabeth. At 37 weeks pregnant, she continues to work 30+ hours a week, studies relentlessly for her dental assistant certification exam, and manages to take care of me all at the same time. If anyone is deserving of the title “hero”, it is she.

What do you think are the most important things we can learn from heroes, in fiction and in real life?
We learn how to stand up, for ourselves, and for others when no one else will. We learn, also, how to make the right choice even if it isn’t the most popular one. We learn how to live by the most basic and necessary principles of honor, courage, commitment, integrity,  justice, unselfishness, and endurance. Basically, they teach us how to be decent human beings.

What other games, including MMO’s, do you play?
After a brief encounter with  DCUO, I have decided to lay off the mmo’s for a while. Maybe until THIS game comes out, who knows. I just cannot find the time or patience to contribute anymore. I have been sticking with console games like The Last of Us, Skyrim, Call of Duty, ect..

Do you actively Role Play when playing video games, if you do what makes it an immersive experience for you?
I am often guilty of role playing when playing video games, be it mmo or console based games.  It is very easy for me to become submerged in the character or plot. In regards to what makes a game “immersive” for me, storyline, storyline, storyline!

How awesome do you think it’s going to be to play the same MMO with your son when he gets older?
I have always been envious of those families that play video games together. Obviously there are other equally entertaining and memorable activities to do as a family, but I love the prospect of sharing experiences which have always been so fun for me with my son. The thought of father and son, hero and sidekick, taking down the bad guys and saving the day is indescribable.

What is your favorite quote and why?
"The only way out, is through."-Robert Frost

"The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself." - Henry Miller

“I wept not, so to stone within I grew.” - Dante Alighieri

"It's so damn hot... milk was a bad choice."  - Ron Burgandy

Fanterview: Shane

Shane and an unidentified Caucasian female
with hair and teeth.
Name: Shane
My main, my global and my Dad’s nickname for me is Mr. Shane.  I was named after the movie from the 50’s (The main character didn’t have a last name so everyone called him “Mr. Shane”.

What do you for work in real life?
 Police Officer in training

What is your favorite food? 
Just one? lol  Probably cheeseburgers off the grill.

Favorite movies?  
Ghostbusters is my all time favorite.  I’ve always been a D.C. comics fan and I love superhero movies.

Any special hobbies or interests? 
Playing CoH was my hobby.

I also am a league bowler with a 208 average, I like to run, I have a pretty nice comic book collection started and I like to read.

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about? 
I am graduating from the WV state police academy on Nov. 1st and I’ll be a full fledged patrolman in my hometown.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?  
When CoH went under my wife and I both lost a hobby and lot of friends.  I started following the recovery projects on facebook and really liked what I saw from MWM.

What would boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
Being able to use hindsight to look at not just other superhero MMOs but other MMOs in general to see what worked and what didn’t is going to eliminate a lot of trial and error as far as getting the core game ready to go and will allow for the devs to concentrate on new things that haven’t been tried or haven’t been perfected.  Community and ease of use is a huge thing that most other MMOs lack and MWM is addressing those issues right from the start.


Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
More financial support is going to mean a bigger game and more goodies from the start.  More money means more people and many hands make light work.  The freebies you guys are offering are nice too. ;)

What is your favorite super power and why?
Invulnerability. On of my favorite movie lines is from Rocky II.  Apollo’s manager said “I saw you beat that man the way I ain’t never seen a man get beat...and the man...kept...coming.”  Imagine the look on a criminals face when no matter how hard he hits you, he can’t take you out of the fight.

What other games, including MMO’s, do you play?
The BioShock series is awesome.  BioShock infinite

What makes a game “fun” for you?
I am all about customization.  I can’t stand games, especially MMO’s where I get to create a character that looks like 1000 other characters in the game.  That’s need 1 to  make a game fun for me and a good community is reason 1A.

If you play MMO’s how important is it to have an ingame home?
It’s not that important to me.  I belonged to supergroups and guilds that had big elaborate bases and hideouts but along with those came tons of rules about loot and SG mode.  Some of them were worse to deal with than a bad job.  Ultimately I prefer to make as many friends as possible, regardless of what group they belong to.  I’m always looking for a team to help.

What do you think builds a strong community in an MMO?
Communication.  The more difficult it is to talk to your team, advertise for help, or send a tell, the less likely people will be to do it.  CoH had the best communication system, hands down.  It was easy to chat and easy to put a team together.  The interface system has to be there.  You also need community members that care about the game and the community itself.  If everyone is just after rare loot and xp, the community will suffer and the game will be left to the farmers and PLers.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Fanterview: Kaxiya and Vaidyaila

Name: Kaxiya and Vaidyaila

What do you for work in real life?
Massage Therapist (me)  Retail Paint Specialist (Wife)

Favorite movies?
Lord of the rings, Avatar, SuckerPunch, Benny & Joon, Incredibles

Any favorite authors you like to follow?
J.D. Robb, Mercedes Lackey, Robin Hobb, Robert Asprin, Tamora Pierce, P.C. Cast, Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey, Katherine Kurtz, Robert Jordan

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
We follow Misty’s (Mercedes Lackey) sites and came across a reference to COH and became intrigued with the community and its love and support over the loss of its game. We then researched around the internet until we found the Titan Network, followed it to MWM and finally over to TPP. Where we currently camp.

What boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
As far as pushing the boundaries of the game go, what I would like to see is options. Overwhelming mind numbing options available in all aspects of the game. I want to enjoy to play regardless of the type of hero/villain I have in mind. From the lowliest thug up to and including world shattering super types. I would love to see “costumes” that were available to non-human depicted characters (animals, demonic, elemental, etc) with “clothing” made of crystals, scales, elements, etc. Personally, I want to appear as a vaguely human shaped character without any obvious sex involved (Amorphic I think is the term) made up of a chaotic mass of fire with electricity shooting throughout. Such a character is not going to have a need for traditional clothing. Such a character probably would have no need for a secret identity, they just exist in their hero/villain form (perhaps over time they could “learn” to mimic a more human appearance.)

I also think objects should be interactive; I want to be able to pick up a phone or play a juke box if desired. I want to be able to order a pizza (or send one over to a known villains hideout!) send flowers to a friend. In short I want a world I can LIVE in. I want to socialize in and outside of hero/villain work. I want my best friend to be a major villain/hero and not know it!

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
I joined Kickstarter to be able to provide independent developers the chance to make those projects they would not otherwise have a venue to make. After following the closure of COH and the outpouring of community to bring back that sense of family. I feel this endeavor to be just what I want to back

What is your favorite super power and why?
Flight! always has been. Again, Freedom.

What first got you into the wonderful world of gaming and how long have the two of you been playing games?
Oh my, I know my first game experience was summer of 1975. While camping, I met a young boy who gave me a copy of “Chainmail” a 25mm stratagy game by a then unknown E.Gary Gygax ;) and have been gaming ever since. My wife started playing in 1973 in a literature class for Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Her teacher would have her class roleplay scenarios. She says it was presented to her as a LARP type experience and she has been gaming ever since.

How important is an online social community within a game for you and what do you think a game can do to help foster one?
Exceedingly important to us as it was the primary reason for searching out and following MWM and their current project.

What makes a game “fun” for you?
To feel like what we do matters. Our choices, good or bad, have an effect. That and keeping the disruptive influences out of a game. (as in PvP snerts who join, just to cause havoc, without caring if their behavior is unpleasant to fellow gamers)

Do you think PVP mini-games can be fun? Like PVP Capture the Flag or PVP Soccer?
Never been a big fan of PvP. I have had some very negative experiences with it. Having said that, the PvP soccer or some such “sport” sounds like a fun diversion ;) Maybe a “SuperBowl” type event with real Super players!

What is your favorite quote and why?
“Perception, is reality in the making!”  It was something I made up after taking a philosophy class in college. We had this huge debate on truth and whether it was a system in an object naturally, or if it was just our perceptions of the object that made it real, and thus truth. It really stuck with me and got me to think, hence the slogan.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Fanterview: Gavin

Gavin aka Sypher Vendetta
Gavin aka Sypher Vendetta
Name: Gavin aka Sypher Vendetta

What do you for work in real life?
Superhero/Martial Artist

What is your favorite food?
Chicken and villains.

Favorite movies?
Scarface and The Avengers

Any favorite hobbies?
Kyokushin kaikan karate 

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?
Funny thing that happened on the 7th of September as part of our 3 day grading i attempted to break a block of wood with my fist, as i did it i hit the breeze block instead, forcing my hand to break, the first i said to my colleagues was " can you take a pic to put on Facebook!" lol.

But after i went to hospital and was given a date to have surgery i came back in a cast the Saturday evening, i stayed at the dojo as part of our grading and competed in the Sunday morning at 5am in training and took part in Kumite (sparring).

Once the 3 day training finished i was awarded my first red belt for passing the grading, i am still over the moon about it.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
Playing COH i was always close to the community and certain members so when the idea of a successor project come up i was not surprised but more happy knowing the strong will of our community was still there.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
It is the best kickstarter in the world! do it now and i will personally give you a free cookie :D

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
the ability of perseverance against all odds despite the outcome looking bleak.
plus the costumes!

What is your favorite super power and why?
Telekinesis, the mind is such a powerful piece of hardware and if we can come up with virtually anything then TK would be such a vast and immense power to have.

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
Being a hero isn’t about super powers or your costume, but when the timing is right, when you are needed, you will make the right choice that will impact the people you care about.

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
Yeah i have, i went through alot in  5 years, but a friend saved my life, gave me new meaning, i owe him a lot.

What other games, including MMO’s, do you play?
World of warcraft, champions online, neverwinter, diablo3, marvel heroes.

Do you prefer to play in groups or solo?
groups definitely, experience the world with others is inspiring.

If you play MMO’s how important is it to have an ingame home?
Very important, at first when coh was announced it was closing i was devastated this was a game i held close to my heart, it had been with me through my darkest times.
Those who don’t play mmos have no idea how it feels to lose a home like this.

What is your favorite quote and why?
"Why are we still here? Just to suffer? Every night...I can still feel my leg and my arm, even my fingers. The body I've lost, the comrades I've lost...won't stop hurting, it's like they're all still there.

You feel it too don't you? I'm gonna' make them give back back our past"

- Kazhura Miller.

If you follow the MGS series you will understand why.

Fanterview: Krislyn

Krislyn
Name: Krislyn

What do you for work in real life?
Yoga Teacher and Artist

What is your favorite food?
Organic real food

Favorite movies?
Solaris (newer one), Spirited Away, The Fountain. Not a huge movie watcher.

Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?
My husband and I did two huge bike rides this year and going to do a third at the end of September. The first was supporting the American Lung Assoc. for 55 miles, the second was 62 miles organized by GEARS and the final one is for 75 miles supporting developmentally disabled adults.

How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
My husband read about it in an article and then I looked it up on Kickstarter, but of course that wasn’t going yet. I found you guys on Facebook so I could keep up with when the Kickstarter was going to start and so I can follow how the game progresses.

Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
I thought about this one long and hard before I decided to support your project. I don’t have a lot of funds available so what I have I want to go to help good organizations and ideas. I finally decided that why I was really excited about this project was this:

You are doing it right. The idea isn’t to create a game for online gamers because you want to make money and if you aren’t making enough money you will shut it down and move on. Instead, the idea is to get some money together so you can create a project you believe in and want to create. It’s a subtle difference but it really does make all the difference in the world. I am an artist (not comic at all) so I want to support other artists to do what they love to do.

You guys are Superheroes

What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
There is a lot of wrong in this world and a lot of people who think they have the answer and if they just force others to their way everything will be better. Super heroes represent for me the other end of the scale where even if you think the world would be better if you killed that bad person you don’t because its wrong. We could all use a little super hero in our lives.

Also, I always wanted to fly!

What do you think defines a hero (or a villain?)
If you take that step over the line you are a villain. That line is different for each individual but generally murder (not in defense) is that line. However, I always really liked the redeemed villain hero type.

If you had them, do you think having super powers would be a blessing or a burden?
That’s a hard one. I want to say blessing. My first thought is maybe one of my powers would be the ability to fly. That would be pretty darn cool. My second thought is I don’t think violence solves anything so… controller powers would be neat but I definitely see the benefit in a secret identity. It’s pretty nice just being me too.

Have you witnessed any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
Yes. I had the honor to go see/hear the Dalai Lama in person. His answer to almost everything that ails use was love yourself and then love others. Aung San Suu Kyi, because she is so brave and patient for the people of Myanmar. Malala Yousafzai, the 15 year old girl who survived a terrorist attack and now uses truth as her super power. My husband when he gives blood and rides his bike to work everyday even in a snowstorm because its good for the environment.

You guys too! Creating something important to you even though its hard. Heroes abound!

What is your favorite quote?
“Before you speak, ask yourself: Is it kind, is it true, and does it improve on the silence.” - Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Friday, September 20, 2013

Fanterview: Nic



Nic W., our first fanterview
The one, the only: Nicholas
Name: Nicholas Whitewell aka Lucky Samurai

What do you for work in real life?
I am a student currently in my final year of a Bachelor of Education.


What is your favorite food? (the correct answer is “Bacon”) (Nutella is acceptable too)
I  would probably have to go with Nutella, though bacon is a close second.


Favorite movies?
This is such a tough question, I am probably going to nominate Cloverfield.


JJ Abrams did amazing work on maintaining an element of surprise of the monster and I felt that really took the monster genre in a new modern direction.


Any big events in your life this year you want to give a shout out about?
My boyfriend Jeff has been incredible this year and finishing this degree will be amazing! 4 weeks to go!


How did you first hear about Missing Worlds Media (MWM) and their first MMO project?
I think it was under a Google search of CoH which led me to an article about Missing Worlds and it just built on my interest from that point on.


What boundaries do you think MWM can push with their first MMO project?
I would love to see the roleplaying boundaries of the MMO genre pushed by MWM.


The community who is attracted to this project has always had an affable relationship with RP’ers and recent MMO’s have really let the RP’ing community down. Giving them lore support ( a way to work their super groups/ characters into official lore) or more meaningful ways for them to express their individuality and creativity would be awesome.


On the gameplay side I think many recent MMO’s have taken up a more direct and action focused gameplay style. A way to bring in more relaxed social elements and balance to MMO’s might be an area that MWM can push boundaries. Not to say I don’t want action I definitely want that!


Why do you think people should support the Kickstarter campaign for MWM’s first MMO project?
Honestly I feel that MMO’s over the past three or four years from major publishers and developers have really missed the mark. Combined with the relative sparseness of the superhero game genre I think MWM should be given an honest and decent shot left by the departure of other superhero MMO’s.


What is it that attracts you to the Superhero genre?
For me, my favorite heroes are those who are neither good nor evil, they exist in a kind of middle ground. I found quite early on that fantasy heroes are either good or bad and the same applies for sci-fi. Superheroes exist in worlds that demand good guys do bad things and bad guys do good things. Nobody is ever really one or the other. Heroes fall to the darker side of things and villains rise to the light...thats why I like superhero games. The superhero genre as such allows for players to explore moral issues that don’t get explored in other mediums.


What is your favorite super power and why?
It’s gotta be luck manipulation or probability manipulation ala Longshot from X-Men or Jinx from Teen Titans. Probability manipulation has this uncanny ability to turn situations in ways that not even the wielder can predict. While almost always in favor of the caster, it’s still up the casters own intelligence to use the result in a way that benefits them.


Have you witnessed or read about any acts of heroism lately that have inspired you?
Without a doubt reading the reports and memoirs of firefighters  from September 11 remain some of the most inspiring stories I have ever read. The kind of bravery and dedication it would require to be a firefighter is unimaginable. Also reading the reports about protesters in Russia at the moment as homosexuality is effectively turned into a crime I can’t help but feel they are in many ways displaying enormous heroism by fighting for equality.

Do you actively Role Play when playing video games, if you do what makes it an immersive experience for you?
Yes I do.

The most important thing for me when it comes to RP is connection to lore. Having the lore of the game available to read and easy to access makes creating a character that fits into the world so much easier. Once that character is established and has a believable place in the world then it’s really up to the ability of the RPer to craft an identity through storytelling.

Game mechanics are important as well though and can create or break the ability to immerse yourself into the RP. ie. Speech Bubbles are VITAL! SWTOR doesn’t have them and RP is virtually impossible. Runescape doesn’t have them and RP is virtually impossible. Character costumes that are unique and allow for RPers to craft exactly how they envision their character is the next thing that makes RP mechanics work. CoH had an unbelievable amount of costume options but it was still never enough to really get exactly what you wanted. Champions Online improved on this with asymmetry but still was missing something that prevented truly immersive RP.  

Lastly the wrapping on the package is supporting the community with RP servers where people can expect to find RP and just jump in. Having a RP community that is active and knows its supported is always the best way to foster more RP and create stories within the story of the game. CoH did this quite well with many novelty items directly aimed at RPers….the ‘walk’ toggle for example was brilliant for RP and the inclusion of Pocket D as well.

How important is an active online community in MMO’s and what do you think can be done to make them more involving?
So as I see it there are two obvious parts to an MMO’s community and each plays an important role in crafting an enjoyable MMO experience.

The ingame community being active is essential to the establishment of a world that is working, breathing and living. Activity from the ingame community creates an MMO at its most basic level and involving them in world bosses and raids builds the community into one that cares and enjoys each others company. A way to involve this community with itself and with an out of game community is official leader boards for accomplishments and regular dialog with developers. Both aspects encourage players to visit the forums and take that knowledge into the game. Also lore displayed ingame should be replicated and expanded out of game for players who want to more actively involve themselves in the story. Giving the community the ability to influence the story direction could also be a way to involve players both ingame and out of it (similar to defiance).

What makes a game “fun” for you?
Games are a mode of storytelling so for me I get the most enjoyment out of a being told a really good story. I want to know all about the world I am exploring but I don't want to be spoon fed it, I want to explore it for myself and be able to discover the story at my own pace. On  that note a contemporary story is vital, a story that is unpredictable that takes me on a journey I didn’t know I really needed until I’m halfway through it and I find myself being kept awake wondering what happens next. Fun comes when the characters I like experience events or feelings and I chose that experience for them and the consequences of my choices are felt three acts, missions, chapters later. The ability to influence the story creates fun for me in ways that movies and books and art can not.

What is your favorite quote and why? “I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” - Thomas Jefferson “Listen, smile, agree and then do whatever the fuck you were going to do anyway.” by Robert Downey Jnr I guess the reason they both speak to me is because they both represent my view on life and how I approach my goals. I am unreservedly stubborn and will push on with what I want to do regardless of what I am told. Also though I believe in creating your own success and the harder you work the more likely you are to achieve your goals.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Pre-Update "Under The Hood" Blog Entry


MISSING WORLDS MEDIA
Pre-Update Blog: Thursday September 19, 2013

Contributing writers: DeathSheepfromBelow, Petalstorm, Robin, and VDG


Hey everyone, I know you’re all waiting on the edges of your seats for some KS info - and that’s coming Soon™. What I want to show you guys is a quick and dirty “under the hood” look at what we’re working on, using very specific example.

A week ago some of you may have seen an image teased on Facebook of a potential - and let me stress that - potential - City Hall model. Until we have final tools for asset creation, everything has gone, and will continue to go through, multiple iterations until a final look is settled on. This blog is about one of the City Hall concepts that was generated by our team of artists (2D and 3D) and tested in the Unreal engine.


Front view in Sketchup
Front view in Sketchup
Why go through the effort of making a mock-up of a concept and then importing it into the engine? Many reasons - one of the most important ones is to give an idea of scale and how it might look inside the engine from the perspective of the player. It can also influence some necessary changes that wouldn’t be apparent on just pen and paper or in a 3D modelling application.


After the initial concept sketch was done on pen and paper, the sketch was brought to life in Sketchup, a very popular architectural and 3D modelling tool.


Currently we are using Blender and Sketchup as our tools. Sketchup is an awesome tool for beginners and it great for architectural modeling - the video game Uncharted even made use of it (http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com/2011/02/art-and-design-of-uncharted-2.html.)



Sketchup Design
One of the concept models, as viewed in
Sketchup
Blender is a power open source 3D modelling tool that is capable of beautiful renders (I’m obsessed with their Cycles renderer,) cloth and fluid simulations, animation, video editing, sculpting, and so much more. However, it is has an extremely steep learning curve, unlike Sketchup.

So here comes the fun part: how to get this model from Sketchup to Unreal. As it so happens, much like image files, there’s no one universal file “type” for 3D models - there’s a considerable variety. Some save just the basics - the shape of the model and how everything is connected. Some file types save everything - from materials, to morphs, to animations, to particle effects. Sketchup happens to only export the most basic file type - simply known as OBJ. The Unreal Engine, however, only accepts model types with the FBX extension, which is currently a proprietary format for the Autodesk suite of tools (like Maya.)


So, how do we get from Sketchup to Unreal? Well, we have to use a program that sort of acts like a “converter” - that’s where Blender comes in. Blender can fortunately export to the FBX file format, although it is not perfect and can be a bit buggy. So we import the OBJ file into Blender, do some quick checks to make sure everything is still connected, and then export to the FBX format with the correct options selected.

And this is what imports into the Unreal engine:

View of the original mesh in Unreal
The model imported into the Unreal Editor.
Not what we modeled. Not at all.

Second view in UDK
Doesn't look better on this angle either.



To summarize, this took some time to fix, and it took some good people. There are some very complicated parts as to what occurred here and why this building could function as Grade A Architectural Nightmare Fuel, but I’ll cover the most basic thing that went wrong in the process.

3D models are comprised of vertices, edges, and faces. The vertices are essentially points plotted on X, Y, Z coordinates. Edges define how vertices are connected to each other. Faces define the “area” that fill an area between vertices and edges and will ultimately display the texture applied to the model. Every face has what is called a “normal” which defines the direction the face is pointing.

Inside/Outside view in UDK
A view of the model from the outside and inside
In Blender and Sketchup you can see a face from both sides since both of those programs consider a face to have two sides. However, this can actually become a memory hog for your computer. In almost every single video game engine, a face is only considered to have one direction.  If you look at the side of the face that is in the opposite direction of the normal, what will happen is you’ll simply see right through the face as if it wasn’t there.

Why did this make our model look like a bonafide freak show in Unreal? Since normals don’t matter in Sketchup the program doesn’t bother to set them correctly. When we imported it into Blender it couldn’t tell where the inside or outside of the model was based on the data stored and imported from the OBJ file, and that carried through into the FBX file.

Normals correction
Before and after of fixing the direction of
the normals on a face.
What we had to do was manually correct each and every single aberrant face on the model in order to get it display correctly in Unreal.  This means making sure the normals are pointing outwards from the model, rather than inwards. This was an incredibly time-consuming task because this model has over fourteen thousand faces (that’s actually low for a 3D model.)

Periodically, we had to test-import the model as we fixed these normals. This helped us to find areas we may have missed due to some of the faces being incredibly small ( and due to the fact that, after staring at the same thing for hours on end, you tend to start missing things ).

And this, below, is our final result in Unreal.

View of final mesh in Unreal
View from the front

Second view of final mesh in UDK
Yes, this is what we had modeled.


This isn’t to knock Sketchup and Blender - they’re both incredible tools (and free!) but they have some serious limitations when it comes to using them with other programs (especially Unreal.)

As I mentioned earlier, FBX is a proprietary format, but it is also the preferred format for importing into Unreal. Right now Blender only speaks an outdated version of it, but more importantly, it simply doesn’t do nearly as well with game assets as the proprietary tools do. Thirteen hours using free tools, against roughly three hours using a trial version of the alternative. For a relatively simple, low-poly mesh building. Multiply that by somewhere between “several dozen” and “a few hundred”, for just the building exteriors. That doesn’t count the time spent on the learning curve.

Well that’s it for this blog. If you have any questions, comments, concerns, then join the discussion on our forums (http://www.cityoftitans.com)!