EpicDuel PVP Game Design Notes

February 03, 2011

After a few major releases, we're finally ready to start something we've been promising players for a long, long time.  What's that?  Quests!  Yeah, you heard me.  Unfortunately, this is not a feature that we can introduce in one update.  I've said in the past that EpicDuel was built backwards from AQW: they always intended to focus on questing, while EpicDuel was founded on PvP.  For this reason, we needed to start from scratch to build the features necessary to support a robust questing system that doesn't detract from the main battle engine.  You can expect this system to be built upon and expanded in the next few releases!

Quest Item Inventory

"You've just collected an ammo clip!"

Actually, you may not see that this release, but it will be built in the background to support our next EpicDuel quest update!  After all, if you're gathering items from opponents and the environment, you'll need a good place to put them.  This opens up TONS of possibilities for future releases and gives real purpose to exploring the world!  I didn't draw all of those screens for nothing!

Bazaar Pathway!

You know that big floaty ship in the Barrens?  The one outside of Mirv's?  Well the pathway is finally complete, and in future updates players will have access to this last bastion of Exile control on the planet.  What new NPCs will you meet?  What new items will you find?  Personally, I've been waiting to tackle the Bazaar since Alpha, so I'm really excited for the opportunity to render it fully!

Superbowl XLV

Oh that's right, the BIG GAME is coming up this weekend isn't it?  I most watch for the commercials, but that doesn't mean we forgot about last year's Superbowl achievement!  We'll be introducing an updated version for those who missed last year's, and for those who already have last year's and want to boost their rating points! 

Home Items

It's been awhile since we added non-rare home items to the game, so this release, you're getting 10-20 brand new items designed by Charfade!  Watch the game from the comfort of your Fortune City loft surrounded by your luxurious new furnishings!

Lastly, I have some exciting news for next week!  This entry is quote from Artix on the AQW Design Notes!

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The ENTIRE AE Team is taking a one week break from making games... TO MAKE GAMES!

Yes my friend, you read that right! Next week, starting on Monday we are having the 1st ever one-week-long AE Game Making Challenge! Sound crazy? ... well, then maybe you should join in too!

WHAT!? You are making 7+ new games next week?
The entire staff (everyone from AdventureQuest, DragonFable, EpicDuel, MechQuest, AdventureQuest worlds) will be forming into small teams of 2 to 3 people. Each team's goal is to create a new game in only 5 days. The rules are: Anything goes & make anything you want! So far there are 7 teams. The competition starts on Monday and ends Friday night... at which time we all get to play everyting that they make! If you can program or draw, you are hereby invited to create teams with other creative players and create games too!

How will the contest be judged?
You and the staff will both judge. We are going to post several polls on the forums which will rate the completed games in different categories (Overall, Fun, Graphics, Sound/Music.)

Is this a good idea?
100% YES. After doing the weekly releases every week, for so many years, the team needs to mix things up and get their creative juices flowing. That is something that all of the big games will benefit from in the following weeks. Also, it will be really interesting to watch and see what happens!

What will the games be like?
Everyone is making whatever they want... so your guess is as good as mine, LOL! But there is only one week to make the finished game so they will likely be mini-game sized or prototypes/alphas for larger game concepts. Teams can create their own artwork, sound, and engine from scratch or are free to use things thay have already made. The goal is to be as creative as possible and have fun, there are no rules... just games!

Can I watch?
We would love for you to watch and help us with ideas while we are working on the games! We are going to post a special design notes for all teams and we are going to periodically stream live video in AdventureQuest Worlds. (A sneak peek into the secret underground lab... about to be 3.14159% less secret.)

What about the normal Big Game releases?
This Friday (just like every week) we have exciting releases coming out for you. Next weekend the games will all be running their special Valentine's Day events. So this really was the perfect time to do this. The best part is... if all team are successful, you could get 7 new games to play next Friday too! Maybe we can add achievements for beating all of them to the Master Account?

AWESOME! I cannot wait!
Enjoy the releases this weekend. Starting Monday... we are making some games! (I cannot believe how much I am looking forward to this. It feels like Christmas.)

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Titan and I are super-excited about this challenge.  We've been working on EpicDuel nonstop since 2008, and a chance to make a new game in the span of a week is awesome!  Not that we're tired of EpicDuel -- it's just that we have so many other game ideas floating around in our heads that don't really "fit" into a PvP MMO so a chance to finally bring one of those concepts into reality is just...well let's just say that I don't plan on getting much sleep at all next week :D

Tags: Nightwraith