TwelveSky 2 Europe Exclusive Interview
MAYN Interactive Pte Ltd., an up-and-coming game publisher, officially announced its partnership with Gigassoft Co., Ltd. and their plan to bring the highly anticipated and critically acclaimed "TwelveSky 2", a martial arts based Massively Multiplayer Online Role Play Game (MMORPG), to English-Speaking gamers within the European market.
Initially released at the end of 2003, the saga of "TwelveSky" underwent heavy reconstruction in 2007. The reincarnated "TwelveSky 2" includes completely revamped game systems and an assortment of new features.
"TwelveSky 2" harnesses the true potential of the self-developed game engine, GXD, which resulted in upgraded graphics. This change also gave way to enhanced skills, wars, maps, and quests. Additionally "TwelveSky 2" will be introducing new mechanics such as resource gathering and harvesting, item crafting, a new player race, and riding mounts, among others. Moreover, the European version of "TwelveSky 2" will be sporting a completely new and rewritten story arch, even compared to its sister counterparts which are currently released in Asia. Recently, we interviewed Shawn Silverman, Chief Game Operations Officer of MAYN Interactive. Now let's him give us more details about "TwelveSky 2 Europe"
MMOsite: I am glad that we have this opportunity to make an interview with you. To start, can you make a brief introduction to yourself and MAYN Interactive?
Shawn: Thank you very much for this wonderful opportunity. My name is Shawn Silverman and I am the Chief Game Operation Officer at MAYN Interactive Pte Ltd. MAYN is a global online game publisher focusing on North American and European markets. Since our founding, we have been determined to provide our users (which we call "guests") with top quality support and services while maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction. Just like our motto states, "In everything we do, we ask ourselves a simple question: Will this make our players happy?" We plan to stick to it!
MMOsite: Would you care to introduce the game's developer, Gigassoft? When did development of TwelveSky 2 begin, and where is it currently available?
Shawn: Gigassoft Co., Ltd was founded in 2002 and has since become one of the most successful online game developers in South Korea. Work on "TwelveSky 2" first began in 2007. As of this writing, players from South Korea and Taiwan have access to a live server of "TwelveSky 2" each tailored to their own culture, with Europe quickly on its way.
MMOsite: Although there have been a few information floating around the web concerning TwelveSky 2 Europe, many people are still unfamiliar with this upcoming MMOG. Could you give us a brief synopsis of TwelveSky 2 Europe? Why should players be interested in this particular game?
Shawn: "TwelveSky 2 Europe" brings a brand new experience to the market. Even though the game is based off of a pre-existing Intellectual Property, many players who are already familiar with the original will be immediately surrounded by new things, even new towns. "TwelveSky 2" is unique in the fact that it focuses heavily on MASSIVE Player versus Player battles and player-ran governments and societies. Complete with gorgeous graphics, an immersive storyline (completely independent from the other TwelveSky 1 and 2 versions), and numerous non-combat features such as a Badge Achievement system and resource hunting and gathering. With all that, what is not to love?
MMOsite: What options are available to players when they create their characters? To what extent is it possible to customize their attributes and appearance?
Shawn: Our guests can customize their in game avatars appearance through a selection of hairstyles, faces, genders, classes, and clans. Each clan has its own unique design, as does each class have its own unique items. Furthermore, Gigassoft has gone to great lengths to provide a large assortment of highly detailed weapons and armor (not to mention pets!) which will enhance the player's appearance even more.
MMOsite: What is the background of TwelveSky 2? Is there a storyline in the game?
Shawn: "TwelveSky 2 Europe" has taken a different approach compared to both the original and sister versions of #2. Centered on the re-emergence of a once forgotten people, the Ancient Sky Clan, users are given the offer of a lifetime!
The first two chapters of our professionally written story are currently available on our website at www.12sky2.com and as we get closer to the launch of Closed Beta, we will continue to update the archive with more "books". Once our game goes live, we will be taking a unique approach to releasing game lore as we will do so via Live Events under the supervision of industry recognized "Event Managers".
MMOsite: We have interviewed Seo Hyojung, the strategic division director of Gigassoft, and he said that TwelveSky 2 is not only a continuation of TwelveSky; it's more of a new game. How do you comment that? What are the major features it inherits from TwelveSky? And as an evolution, what will be the major improvements?
Shawn: Mr. Hyojung would be correct! "TwelveSky 2" cannot be seen as a mere continuation or an "expansion". It is much more than that. To say the least, it is a remake and a radical evolution of the "TwelveSky Saga" as a whole!
Naturally, much of what the users fell in love with made their way back into "TwelveSky 2", although very much polished and refined I might add! Such as, Player versus Player battles are the epicenter of everything, and we all thought "Why should the players have to wait until the 'end game' to have fun?" So now, players are able to fight one another on equal turf from level 10 onwards! With the optimization of the proprietary engine "GXD", "TwelveSky 2" is able to offer the players a lot, lot more!
MMOsite: Seo Hyojung also revealed that a new special faction added in Twelve Sky 2, can we see this new faction in your upcoming version? Would you care to give us some details about that new faction?
Shawn: This new faction is called, "The Ancient Sky Clan". Many years ago, the Sky Clan was the dominate and ruling civilization, fair and respected. But during one fateful morning, the entire Clan fell victim to a fatal volcanic eruption--or so everyone believed.
With the revelation of a once presumed vagabond, the members of every tribe have been given the opportunity to pledge their loyalty to the Sky Clan. But first, certain requirements must be met in order to show their...worth to the Great Swordsman known as Kian.
MMOsite: TwelveSky is well known for its unique combat system, so what kind of a combat system can we find in Twelve Sky 2? How deep will the PvP combat go?
Shawn: Unfortunately I can't get too in deep about all of our features, but competitive combat will be accessible from a very early state. In addition, users will be able to vote for their Clan's General which will lead them to success in the battlefield!
MMOsite: What's your favorite feature of the game? Why do you believe this oriental game will be appealing to the western users?
Shawn: Personally, my favorite feature of the game is the massive Player versus Player battles. I'm sure many people share my passion for cooperative gameplay, especially in an MMO where it is supposed to be second nature. To me, nothing beats fighting against hundreds of like-minded gamers who have the same goal: victory for their people. These wars can get pretty intense!
MMOsite: Which territory/territories are you targeting? And have you decided on the exact date for TwelveSky 2 Europe's closed beta testing? And what about the other milestones, like open beta and commercial launch?
Shawn: Right now we are currently publishing "TwelveSky 2" for an English-speaking European audience; however we do not plan on blocking regions who are outside of our "official jurisdiction". We have set internal dates for our betas and launch but we have a strong policy against releasing dates we cannot uphold. Due to the extensive game changes being worked on at this time, all I can quote is first quarter of 2009 for Closed Beta! So very, very soon!
MMOsite: What's your version of the free to play revenue model, and why do you feel it's the best choice for the game?
Shawn: Like other Free-to-Play revenue models, we will be offering the game and standard game play for free. Additionally, we'll be offering optional services such as gender changes and name changes as well as offering miscellaneous virtual items such as cosmetic armor which will allow the user to further customize their appearance.
We believe that games do not require a subscription-based model to succeed now-a-days, and by opening up your product to everyone, more users will be able to experience the game that you've poured your heart and soul into. After all, aren't games made to have fun in?
MMOsite: Have we missed any important topics or is there anything else you wanna say about TwelveSky 2 Europe to our readers?
Shawn: Well, we recently launched a new version to our TwelveSky 2 website, available at http://www.12sky2.com. This edition includes an ever-growing collection of lore stories, screenshots, movies, and best of all, the official forums. With the message boards now publicly available, those of you who are new and old alike to the Saga of TwelveSky may learn and discuss that which is our wondrous world.
Last but not least, I would like to thank MMOsite once again for their time and for this opportunity; we hope to host a Closed Beta Key giveaway in conjunction with your community very soon! ;)