Blizza305
02-28-2007, 01:39 AM
warrock.net
January 25,2007 - “The biggest single challenge for War Rock is just getting the word out that we have a great modern tactical shooter that you can play for free,” says Matt Norton, War Rock producer.
Easy in theory. Yet K2 Network is not a proponent of the “if you build it, they will come” mantra. In fact, considering the insidious glut of free, sub-par games that litter the Internet, and the high knowledge level of typical hardcore gamer, they’re anything but lackadaisical when it comes to promoting their products. They have to be. The market is so oversaturated, and the competition too great, to rely on any other strategy.
Matt and K2 take a similar, aggressive approach towards getting that all-important word out. A twelve-year industry veteran who earned his chops working on Fallout 2, Icewind Dale, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Unreal Championship 2, some might assume Matt has seen every sort of marketing strategy imaginable. Before he joined K2, they’d be wrong.
Even the issue of War Rock’s greatness is still debatable. As the game won’t get out of beta for another month, any verdict rendered now should be taken lightly. However, if its current shape is any indication, this is one shooter that is certainly on the right path, and the staunch distributor shows no signs of slowing down.
“I’ve been on War Rock for almost a year now,” says Matt. “I was very impressed with the people at K2 Network and their degree of professionalism.”
That’s because War Rock may very well be the breakout title K2 Network is hoping for. On the surface, it’s a tactical first-person shooter in the vein of EA’s Battlefield series. Players log onto the K2 servers, sides are drawn up, and everyone hits the map as one of five specialized characters. Once inside, the conflict ensues. Each user maintains a profile, which subsequently levels up as hours are logged online. There are a few different game modes, including one focusing on close-quarters combat and another with sprawling maps, practically requiring the use of long-range fighter jets and tanks. The main attraction, though, is the Urban Ops mode, which strikes a delicate balance between teamwork and visceral intensity. Players are separated into two sides that continually battle for control of strategic locations. With each death, the player is spawned anew after a short downtime. Vehicles are littered throughout, from heavy tanks to helicopters, and even the occasional assault boat. Urban Ops, and War Rock in general, is reminiscent of Battlefield, but in a good way.
Did we mention that it’s free?
The concept of an entirely free gaming experience isn’t without its caveats, though, as Matt explains. “When you tell players that a game is free to play, it’s sort of a two-edged sword. People are intrigued but at the same time they ask ‘What’s the catch?’ Truth is, there isn’t a catch.”
Based on all evidence, it would appear that he is correct. War Rock’s open beta period is going strong, with thousands of players blasting each other each day. It has been since July 14, 2006. Sure, the game has seen its share of bumps and bruises as developer Dream Execution works out the kinks. The code wasn’t always this refined. War Rock’s E3 appearance was marginal at best, with a couple of trailers playing in the background while an attractive woman dressed in military camouflage posed for pictures. The results of hard work and persistence, though, are starting to shine through. The game is coming together rather nicely.
“We have about 19 people here at K2 and just over 40 working on War Rock at Dream Execution (the developers of War Rock),” says Matt.
The community is active, as well – an essential piece of K2’s business plan. “We see War Rock as a service rather than a game in a box on a shelf…it’s all about the community for us,” he adds. “As a service, we’re out to service the heck out of our players and to work to ensure that the players are the ones driving new development in the game.”
In one sense, War Rock is as much an experiment with the microtransaction as it is a case study in the essential elements of the tactical shooter. It’s one controversial aspect the game never shies away from – purchasing additional weapons is as easy a clicking a button, once the player transfers the funds into an appropriate account. The thing is, all purchasable content is entirely optional. Skilled players can (and probably will) hit the top tiers of competition without laying down a penny of their own cash. These premium weapons are slightly better than the standard issues, with a deeper clip or higher accuracy, but in no way turn a noob into a l33t hAxor (take it from this editor, whose kill to death ratio is laughable even with his fancy sniper rifle). Despite the free play model, it’s hard to refrain from at least wondering about what those premium weapons will feel like, especially as your skill level and knowledge of the maps increases. There’s more than just munitions, too. Customers who purchase the boxed edition of the game also gain priority over freeloaders with access to special tournaments, servers, bonus Dinar (in-game currency), exclusive items, and other perks.
“We feel that if you enjoy War Rock as much as we think you will, and end up playing it 10, 20, or 30 hours a week, we’ll offer things that will make sense for you to buy,” adds Matt.
-From AmpeedNews.com
January 25,2007 - “The biggest single challenge for War Rock is just getting the word out that we have a great modern tactical shooter that you can play for free,” says Matt Norton, War Rock producer.
Easy in theory. Yet K2 Network is not a proponent of the “if you build it, they will come” mantra. In fact, considering the insidious glut of free, sub-par games that litter the Internet, and the high knowledge level of typical hardcore gamer, they’re anything but lackadaisical when it comes to promoting their products. They have to be. The market is so oversaturated, and the competition too great, to rely on any other strategy.
Matt and K2 take a similar, aggressive approach towards getting that all-important word out. A twelve-year industry veteran who earned his chops working on Fallout 2, Icewind Dale, Full Spectrum Warrior, and Unreal Championship 2, some might assume Matt has seen every sort of marketing strategy imaginable. Before he joined K2, they’d be wrong.
Even the issue of War Rock’s greatness is still debatable. As the game won’t get out of beta for another month, any verdict rendered now should be taken lightly. However, if its current shape is any indication, this is one shooter that is certainly on the right path, and the staunch distributor shows no signs of slowing down.
“I’ve been on War Rock for almost a year now,” says Matt. “I was very impressed with the people at K2 Network and their degree of professionalism.”
That’s because War Rock may very well be the breakout title K2 Network is hoping for. On the surface, it’s a tactical first-person shooter in the vein of EA’s Battlefield series. Players log onto the K2 servers, sides are drawn up, and everyone hits the map as one of five specialized characters. Once inside, the conflict ensues. Each user maintains a profile, which subsequently levels up as hours are logged online. There are a few different game modes, including one focusing on close-quarters combat and another with sprawling maps, practically requiring the use of long-range fighter jets and tanks. The main attraction, though, is the Urban Ops mode, which strikes a delicate balance between teamwork and visceral intensity. Players are separated into two sides that continually battle for control of strategic locations. With each death, the player is spawned anew after a short downtime. Vehicles are littered throughout, from heavy tanks to helicopters, and even the occasional assault boat. Urban Ops, and War Rock in general, is reminiscent of Battlefield, but in a good way.
Did we mention that it’s free?
The concept of an entirely free gaming experience isn’t without its caveats, though, as Matt explains. “When you tell players that a game is free to play, it’s sort of a two-edged sword. People are intrigued but at the same time they ask ‘What’s the catch?’ Truth is, there isn’t a catch.”
Based on all evidence, it would appear that he is correct. War Rock’s open beta period is going strong, with thousands of players blasting each other each day. It has been since July 14, 2006. Sure, the game has seen its share of bumps and bruises as developer Dream Execution works out the kinks. The code wasn’t always this refined. War Rock’s E3 appearance was marginal at best, with a couple of trailers playing in the background while an attractive woman dressed in military camouflage posed for pictures. The results of hard work and persistence, though, are starting to shine through. The game is coming together rather nicely.
“We have about 19 people here at K2 and just over 40 working on War Rock at Dream Execution (the developers of War Rock),” says Matt.
The community is active, as well – an essential piece of K2’s business plan. “We see War Rock as a service rather than a game in a box on a shelf…it’s all about the community for us,” he adds. “As a service, we’re out to service the heck out of our players and to work to ensure that the players are the ones driving new development in the game.”
In one sense, War Rock is as much an experiment with the microtransaction as it is a case study in the essential elements of the tactical shooter. It’s one controversial aspect the game never shies away from – purchasing additional weapons is as easy a clicking a button, once the player transfers the funds into an appropriate account. The thing is, all purchasable content is entirely optional. Skilled players can (and probably will) hit the top tiers of competition without laying down a penny of their own cash. These premium weapons are slightly better than the standard issues, with a deeper clip or higher accuracy, but in no way turn a noob into a l33t hAxor (take it from this editor, whose kill to death ratio is laughable even with his fancy sniper rifle). Despite the free play model, it’s hard to refrain from at least wondering about what those premium weapons will feel like, especially as your skill level and knowledge of the maps increases. There’s more than just munitions, too. Customers who purchase the boxed edition of the game also gain priority over freeloaders with access to special tournaments, servers, bonus Dinar (in-game currency), exclusive items, and other perks.
“We feel that if you enjoy War Rock as much as we think you will, and end up playing it 10, 20, or 30 hours a week, we’ll offer things that will make sense for you to buy,” adds Matt.
-From AmpeedNews.com