ArcheAge

Development

Initial development of ArcheAge began in 2011, and closed testing of the game took place over two years. Before finally being released in Korea on January 15, 2013, the game went through five closed beta tests and one open beta test. ^[1] In 2012, an XL Games studio representative said he expected ArcheAge to be released in North America towards the end of 2013, or the beginning of 2014. ^[2] In 2014 a newly hired CM stated the game will be transitioning into beta phase and will release for North America and the EU in 2014. ^[3] Announcements made in July, indicate the launch of the beta phase for July 17, 2014. ^[4] On April 24, 2014, Trionstarted to offer founder packs , for early alpha and beta access. ^[5]

Game updates

On April the 28th 2015, Trion launched an extensive content patch (1.7), called The Dread Prophecies. The new content features new zones, ship customization, and modifications for more realistic sea combat. ^[6] On September 12-13th, Trion launched the next content patch update (2.0), called Awaken Heroes. The new content features a new face to face their faction. Along with the content update, several servers have been merged. ^[7]

Gameplay

Arching features a zoneless world with first or third person view.

Combat

In addition to traditional combat settings, ArcheAge offers naval combat in such settings where you can engage in secure trade or engage in sea-land battles. Ships need to be built and equipped with weapons and manpower and fights between sea monsters. ^[8]

Player vs player (PvP)

Many of the game zones allow for open world PvP. Players can freely attack other players who are members of the other factions (East, West or Pirate). Intra-faction PvP is possible if one player flags for ‘bloodlust’ mode; the player flagging and attacking in this manner will generate crime and can face jail time. Several PvP, such as Halcyona War and the Abyssal Attack.

Crafting

The crafting system in ArcheAge is extensive, allowing crafting of, among other things, equipment, food, vehicles, and furniture for the player-owned homes. Crafting grants players “proficiency” levels, which unlock new crafting options.

Housing

The housing system allows players to build buildings in designated, non-instanced areas throughout the world using a free-placement method. These buildings allow players to decorate their interiors / exteriors with both cosmetic and functional furnishings. Housing options range from small one-story cottages to large three-story mansions with their sizes. Players must pay taxes on the land where they place their houses or the risk of having them destroyed. Most houses have a small area

By purifying an Archeum Crystal on the northern continent of Auroria, player can claim land on which to build castles. These castles grant lordship over the surrounding area with taxes paid by the guild’s leader. A castle’s primary focus is the defense of the Crystal Archeum during sieges. Should the Archeum Crystal be overtaken, the attacking guild gains ownership of the Crystal and the surrounding castle.

Land ownership is limited to “Patron” status holders. While the simplest way to attain Patron status is to pay the subscription fee to Trion, free players can use in-game gold to purchase “Apex,” a type of coin sold by Trion for $ 10 to paying players . Apex can be used to purchase boss status, enabling free players Trion any money. ^[9]

Farming

After completion, the ability to place a garden is obtained through the use of a scarecrow design. Further along in the character’s development, a larger farm design becomes available. These designs are capable of claiming plots of land, typically in designated areas, where they can choose from a variety of plant and animal life. Only the owner of a farm, or those given permission by the owner, can access the farm and manage its contents. Players may also choose to plant their crops / trees / livestock in the open world, but it is also important to ensure that the players are able to gain access to the game.

Each plant or animal has a set length of time required for it to be harvested, with expedited growth in suitable climates. Usually, ounce matured, these plants and animals can be maintained for sustained yields, or picked up / slaughtered / chopped down to clear the space and gather base materials. Animal feeding, watering plant life and gathering of trees with failing to do so resulting in a result of the withering and eventual death of any plant or animal life. Some animals are capable of mating, producing offspring that may be able to be raised, but the chances of this happening are extremely rare. Players may choose to breed plants or needlessly slaughter animals before they are fully matured.

As with housing, farms require a fee to be paid in order to maintain ownership of the plots upon which they are placed. Taxes exponentially increase with each additional property owned. Failure to pay these taxes will result in being vulnerable to attack, allowing players to destroy it and claiming the plot for themselves.

Mounts and pets

ArcheAge has a pet system with pets and trained to grow into mounts or battle companions. ^[10] Pets / mounts level up with distance traveled or experience gained during combat. They can be killed in battle, resurrected and resuscitated, which can be healed at a stable. Pets / mounts have the equipment slots like player characters. ^[11]

Criminal justice

ArcheAge contains a court system with short run player. Players can choose to answer the questions of judges who have committed crimes of theft or murder. There are minimum and maximum sentences that are determined by vote among the jurors. The system is a fundamental game mechanic, and not built to fight intentional “grievance” by players. Criminal players are imprisoned and can pay off their debt by working in the prison or trying to escape through their way out. Players are able to escape from the prison, however they are unable to use any of the abilities for the duration of their sentence. The development team has submitted a bribery system that would enable the accused player to bribe jurors. ^[12]

Questing

The early-bird system lets players submit questions that are not yet completely finished, in exchange for reduced experience rewards. The opposite effect is overachieving, by gaining additional quest objectives, resulting in a bonus experience. Hidden quests are available too, which can be unlocked by reaching special achievements.

Skills

The skill system of ArcheAge is very flexible, and it is possible to create one’s own “class” which is then leveled based in improvement. These classes can be changed at any time, but it does not cost much.

Trade Routes

Trading routes are a very effective way to make money or if chooses “Gilda Stars” to unlock building or castle plans. A player gathers or guides a specific destination in a specific destination. On creating the resource (example: farm strawberries to create strawberry jam), this resource is then placed in a pack on a player and the player is unable to walk at full speed. This makes use of the public transportation system (automated bus carts and airships) essential for the fast transportation of these goods. The further trading is from the crafting terminal, the higher the reward a player will receive. However, if the player is in neutral, other players are free to kill and take the player’s pack. A player can place the pack on the ground whenever they wish to fight and pick it back up. Using a mount while carrying a pack, it can be stored in a player-made vehicles (farm cart, ships).

Travel

There are many options for ArcheAge, including walking, climbing (ladders, vines, trees), swimming, personal mounts and personal boats (from row boats to catamarans to galleons), as well as personal gliders or car-like machines such as tractors for transport of larger amounts of goods. There are airships, taxi-like vehicles and portals too. ^[13] [14] Travel is fully 3-dimensional in ArcheAge; so swimming and diving are possible. Diving can be improved with diving equipment. There is underwater planting, harvesting and gathering of resources along with underwater treasure hunting. ^[15]

Some mounts allow players to backpack with another player upon invitation. Boats can be used in a similar fashion to transport other players with one player acting as driver. ^[16]

Gliders

A unique mode of transportation is the glider, which can be equipped and upgraded. ^[17] Gliders allow a limited form of flight, limited by a fixed starting time, depending on the specific glider in use. The Pegasus and Griffin are also functions as a glider.

Game technology and special features

ArcheAge makes use of modern graphics effects like tessellation and ambient occlusion and contains a physics engine. ^[18] ArcheAge uses player collision , Many Unlike other MMO’s, THUS player movement can be blocked by other players or NPC ‘s.

Regional versions

The main version is the Korean client, with version 3.0 installed. ^{[ citation needed ]} The Russian client was launched on open beta on February 22, 2014, and a Chinese localization has been announced. ^[19] The North American and Europe localization has been live since September 2014. The Western versions vary from the Korean version, and are maintained by the local publisher with input from the community. ^[20] Trion Worlds have stated that they plan to release Archeage with custom version of Patch 1.2. Trion Worlds has also stated that it is going to be translated into French and German. ^[21]Trion updated the NA / EU localization to version 2.9 on May 27, 2016 ^[22] and to 3.0 on December 10, 2016. ^[23]

Security

The game client currently does not use any security software. Previously, Hackshield has been used in the future GameGuard in the future. ^[24]

Lore

The story is based on the ArcheAge Chronicles , by the Korean author Jeon Min-hee . Essentially the plot outlines the struggle between the forces of good and the future. ^[25]

Reception

Archiving has a positive impact on Metacritic ^[27] and 84.33% on GameRankings . ^[26]

Awards and accomplishments

In October 2014 ArcheAge won game of the month on MPOGD. ^[28]

References

• Jump up^Reahard, Jef (January 24, 2013). “Trion to publish ArcheAge in the West” . Joystiq . Retrieved January 24, 2013 .
• Jump up^Murphy, William (June 20, 2012). “ArcheAge Interviews: Closed Beta, America Bound, & Siege Warfare” . MMORPG.com . Retrieved January 24, 2013 .
• Jump up^Raehard, Jef. “Trion CM confirms F2P ArcheAge coming to Americas and Europe this year” . Retrieved March 16, 2014 .
• Jump up^ “ArcheAge Closed Beta Starts July 17” . Archived from the original on 2014-07-14.
• Jump up^ “ArcheAge Founder’s Packs Now Available!” . Trion . February 25, 2014. Archived from the original on April 25, 2014.
• Jump up^ “The Dread Prophecies Have Been Fulfilled!” . Trion Worlds. April 28, 2015.
• Jump up^ “Welcome to a New Era in ArcheAge: Update 2.0 is Here!” . Trion Worlds. September 12, 2015.
• Jump up^beka puturiidze. Ship Building & Naval Battle (lower resolution) . Retrieved February 10, 2013 .
• Jump up^ “ArcheAge – Why APEX IS A Great Thing” . News.mmosite.com. 2014-09-23 . Retrieved 2016-09-20 .
• Jump up^ “Pet System” . Retrieved February 10, 2013 .
• Jump up^Amaterasu ArcheAge. “Pet System 2” . Retrieved February 10, 2013 .
• Jump up^ “ArcheAge – Closed Beta 5 interview” . Retrieved April 21,2014 .
• Jump up^ “Airflight, Town Building, Mobile Devices” . Retrieved February 10, 2013 .
• Jump up^ “Tree climbing and gathering” . Retrieved February 10, 2013 .
• Jump up^ “Diving and underwater treasure hunting” . Retrieved February 10, 2013 .
• Jump up^ “The Kraken Awakens” . Retrieved February 10, 2013 .
• Jump up^ “ArcheAge Glider Obtain and Upgrade Overview And Guide” . 2P . June 20, 2013.
• Jump up^beka vidss. “Nvidia Effect Impact” . Retrieved February 10, 2013 .
• Jump up^ “ArcheAge Entering Beta Open in Russia on Feb. 22” .
• Jump up^ “Controversy with Archeage Patch 1.0?” . April 19, 2014.
• Jump up^ “Frequently Asked Questions” . Retrieved 28 August 2014 .
• Jump up^ “ArcheAge Version 2.9 Build 9.0 Ascension Notes Patch” . May 27, 2016.
• Jump up^ “Revelation 3.0 Update Notes Table of Contents” . December 9, 2016.
• Jump up^ “ArcheAge Version 1.7 Build 6.8 Patch Notes” . Forums.archeagegame.com. 2015-08-19 . Retrieved 2016-09-20 .
• Jump up^Kumapon (October 28, 2013). “Archeage Lore” .
• ^ Jump up to:^a b“ArcheAge” . gamerankings.com .
• ^ Jump up to:^a b“ArcheAge” . Metacritic .
• Jump up^ “MPOGD’s GAME OF THE MONTH October 2014” . Multiplayer Online Game Directory . Retrieved 2 November 2014 .