Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen Talks 24/7 Pre-Alpha Testing, New Play Mode For Testers In Latest Newsl

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Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen Talks 24/7 Pre-Alpha Testing, New Play Mode For Testers In Latest Newsletter | MMORPG.com

Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen's latest producer has begun to set the stage for the eventual 24/7 pre-alpha testing the MMO. While pre-alpha testing has been occurring, mostly once a month and for just a day, the goal is to, by September, have a build that will be available for testers to start providing some feedback.

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Raagnarz

Well it's further along than Camelot Unchained. They actually release videos and have shown improvement. Slow yes but at least they're not releasing pretty much only concept art 10 years after they took people's money. Add to that their founder and creative director died during development which had to set them back. I'm impressed they're still going, and have some hope the game will eventually come out and be a decent EQ follow up for those that like that playstyle. I am positive however Pantheon will launch before Camelot Unchained lol.

Dattelis

Lol ngl, that screenshot looks straight out of LOTRO

slowz2secret

this game looks like 2005 game... can see it falling

Sovrath

slowz2secret said:

this game looks like 2005 game... can see it falling

The only reason it would fail, keeping in mind that it needs to actually launch, is that the developers have not been realistic on the size of population required to sustain it as well as the amount of work needed to continually develop it.

2005 game means  nothing as far as playing a game.

heck, I still play Morrowind and Vampire the Masquerade and think nothing of the "graphics."

Fool around with Daggerfall as well.

Eldrach

slowz2secret said:

this game looks like 2005 game... can see it falling

No one waiting for Pantheon is doing so because they think it will be a graphical masterpiece. People just want it to be a slightly newer version of EQ1

peanutabc

every time pantheon show something i get genuine second hand cringe because it always looks so awful.

don't really see it doing much of anything

rounner

An improved VGSoH with fewer bugs will be able to hold at least a few hundred players, including me. If the initial wave of players is enough for healthy raid grouping it might be great for a while. As much as I want it to succeed however, that traditional game play model will ghost town once the pop drops down to the background few hundred.

Neoyoshi

Wow, i havn't heard about this project in awhile, nice to see it's still going.

sweetdreams

I'm so excited for its release in the year 2045. Pre-alpha for years is such achievement and definitely means fine tuning everything.

Pr0tag0ni5t

Might consider dropping the coin on pre-alpha status if this actually happens...my guess is there are many more that would as well.

Slapshot1188

Pr0tag0ni5t said:

Might consider dropping the coin on pre-alpha status if this actually happens...my guess is there are many more that would as well.

I think it's like $750 or something.

No thanks

Wargfoot

Last time I checked it was 10K for a lifetime subscription.
That killed my interest in the project.

Scot

2027 here is looking at you, can't see it launching before then.

achesoma

Dattelis said:

Lol ngl, that screenshot looks straight out of LOTRO

That's unity asset placeholders, not at all what the live game will look like. They're going for their own stylized look.

Scot

achesoma said:

Dattelis said:

Lol ngl, that screenshot looks straight out of LOTRO

That's unity asset placeholders, not at all what the live game will look like. They're going for their own stylized look.

Stick figures?

Ok I am being factious, but when you use Unity rather than a still from your own game that's not on, so the wind up was well deserved.

Sarla

750.00 to get into pre-alpha, they can kiss my ass.

This is starting to look like some star citizen bullshit to me

Wargfoot

Sarla said:

750.00 to get into pre-alpha, they can kiss my ass.

This is starting to look like some star citizen bullshit to me

A few years ago it was considered outrageous that the developers wanted us to test their products for them, even at the beta level.

Now they want us to pay them to do alpha testing.

Amazing.

Slapshot1188

Sarla said:

750.00 to get into pre-alpha, they can kiss my ass.

This is starting to look like some star citizen bullshit to me

SCION OF BLACK ROSE PLEDGE

$750 or $250/month for 3 months

• Get Pre-Alpha Testing Access
• Get Alpha Testing Access
• Get Beta Testing Access
• 3 months game subscription
• Champion Forum access
• Digital copy of the game
• Early name reservation
• Early character creation prior to launch
• Buddy Code for additional digital download
• Game Title: Pantheon Explorer
• Game Title: Legate
• Game Title: Bloodsworn
• Game Title: Black Rose
• Bloodsworn Nameplate Icon
• Legate Nameplate Icon
• Black Rose Nameplate Icon
• Digital Lore and Art book
• Digital Soundtrack of the Music of Pantheon
• Invite to Founder's Conclave
• Choice of Explorer's Backpack OR Bag of the Legate OR Satchel of the Black Rose
• Choice of Robe of the Black Rose OR Legate's Tunic OR Tunic of the Ages
• Black Rose vanity pet

This looks like the lowest pre-alpha pledge tier.

Sovrath

Wargfoot said:

Sarla said:

750.00 to get into pre-alpha, they can kiss my ass.

This is starting to look like some star citizen bullshit to me

A few years ago it was considered outrageous that the developers wanted us to test their products for them, even at the beta level.

Now they want us to pay them to do alpha testing.

Amazing.

I think this is a slight perversion of what is really going on here.

"No" they don't want you to pay them to alpha test."

"Yes" they want people to donate, invest, whatever word floats one's boat, in the game so that it gets made. So of course they are going to give people who give money access to the game.

The more money someone gives the more the game company is going to reward them. You'd do the same if someone helped you out in a similar fashion.

Heck, when I was making my mod I asked a few people I knew to do some play testing and my thanks, even though they didn't ask for it, was to give them money.

Now, they're not going to do that because they need money. So they are going to give what makes sense to give and that's play testing, hearing feedback, etc.

Wargfoot

Sovrath said:

I think this is a slight perversion of what is really going on here.

"No" they don't want you to pay them to alpha test."

"Yes" they want people to donate, invest, whatever word floats one's boat, in the game so that it gets made. So of course they are going to give people who give money access to the game.

The more money someone gives the more the game company is going to reward them. You'd do the same if someone helped you out in a similar fashion.

Heck, when I was making my mod I asked a few people I knew to do some play testing and my thanks, even though they didn't ask for it, was to give them money.

Now, they're not going to do that because they need money. So they are going to give what makes sense to give and that's play testing, hearing feedback, etc.

Nothing wrong with putting a positive spin on it, Sorvath; however, I think I nailed exactly what is going on here.

Have we come so far down the road here that nobody is outraged at being asked to test an alpha - not a release candidate, not a beta, but an alpha?  

And not just doing the testing, but paying... not $20, not $50, not $100 but paying $750 to test alpha!

I guess I come from a generation where I'd buy software that was already tested, and released, by the developer.  In what other field do people pay to do alpha testing - would you pay $750 to alpha test a Ford?

It doesn't really matter how many people think this is okay.
It is objectively ridiculous.

Wargfoot

Slapshot1188 said:

Sarla said:

750.00 to get into pre-alpha, they can kiss my ass.

This is starting to look like some star citizen bullshit to me

SCION OF BLACK ROSE PLEDGE

$750 or $250/month for 3 months

• ...
• 3 months game subscription
• ...

This looks like the lowest pre-alpha pledge tier.

For $750 I get a whole 3 month subscription?
These guys are permanently off my list.

At some point this gets insulting.

Sovrath

Wargfoot said:

Sovrath said:

I think this is a slight perversion of what is really going on here.

"No" they don't want you to pay them to alpha test."

"Yes" they want people to donate, invest, whatever word floats one's boat, in the game so that it gets made. So of course they are going to give people who give money access to the game.

The more money someone gives the more the game company is going to reward them. You'd do the same if someone helped you out in a similar fashion.

Heck, when I was making my mod I asked a few people I knew to do some play testing and my thanks, even though they didn't ask for it, was to give them money.

Now, they're not going to do that because they need money. So they are going to give what makes sense to give and that's play testing, hearing feedback, etc.

Nothing wrong with putting a positive spin on it, Sorvath; however, I think I nailed exactly what is going on here.

Have we come so far down the road here that nobody is outraged at being asked to test an alpha - not a release candidate, not a beta, but an alpha?  

And not just doing the testing, but paying... not $20, not $50, not $100 but paying $750 to test alpha!

I guess I come from a generation where I'd buy software that was already tested, and released, by the developer.  In what other field do people pay to do alpha testing - would you pay $750 to alpha test a Ford?

It doesn't really matter how many people think this is okay.
It is objectively ridiculous.

I don't think it's putting a positive spin on it. As I've said before, I'm involved in the arts. And guess what? The arts has its issues dealing with money at times. That's a whole book right there.

However, people give to the arts regularly because they believe in "whatever they're giving to" and want to support it.

And you know what they get for doing that? Backstage tours, attending rehearsal, mixers with the cast of a show or a particular artist.

In one case I know, they got to be an extra on stage.

None of this is new. These game companies are just playing a page from that book and offering perks to people who support their game. It just seems odd to people who are used to the simple pay for game and get game.

Wargfoot

Sovrath said:

Wargfoot said:

Sovrath said:

I think this is a slight perversion of what is really going on here.

"No" they don't want you to pay them to alpha test."

"Yes" they want people to donate, invest, whatever word floats one's boat, in the game so that it gets made. So of course they are going to give people who give money access to the game.

The more money someone gives the more the game company is going to reward them. You'd do the same if someone helped you out in a similar fashion.

Heck, when I was making my mod I asked a few people I knew to do some play testing and my thanks, even though they didn't ask for it, was to give them money.

Now, they're not going to do that because they need money. So they are going to give what makes sense to give and that's play testing, hearing feedback, etc.

Nothing wrong with putting a positive spin on it, Sorvath; however, I think I nailed exactly what is going on here.

Have we come so far down the road here that nobody is outraged at being asked to test an alpha - not a release candidate, not a beta, but an alpha?  

And not just doing the testing, but paying... not $20, not $50, not $100 but paying $750 to test alpha!

I guess I come from a generation where I'd buy software that was already tested, and released, by the developer.  In what other field do people pay to do alpha testing - would you pay $750 to alpha test a Ford?

It doesn't really matter how many people think this is okay.
It is objectively ridiculous.

I don't think it's putting a positive spin on it. As I've said before, I'm involved in the arts. And guess what? The arts has its issues dealing with money at times. That's a whole book right there.

However, people give to the arts regularly because they believe in "whatever they're giving to" and want to support it.

And you know what they get for doing that? Backstage tours, attending rehearsal, mixers with the cast of a show or a particular artist.

In one case I know, they got to be an extra on stage.

None of this is new. These game companies are just playing a page from that book and offering perks to people who support their game. It just seems odd to people who are used to the simple pay for game and get game.

I see your point; however, I don't think charging $750 for alpha testing is a 'perk'.

To me that is like claiming if you give generously to a Broadway show you'll be able to serve at the concession stand.

achesoma

slowz2secret said:

this game looks like 2005 game... can see it falling

A large number of people following and backing still play EQ and P99.

achesoma

Scot said:

achesoma said:

Dattelis said:

Lol ngl, that screenshot looks straight out of LOTRO

That's unity asset placeholders, not at all what the live game will look like. They're going for their own stylized look.

Stick figures?

Ok I am being factious, but when you use Unity rather than a still from your own game that's not on, so the wind up was well deserved.

You're not wrong but their models aren't finished and not even on test servers yet. That said, it's 20 dudes with a dream and a prayer so no should expect graphics to ever be amazing.