Game Development: Salem & Haven

[MagicManICT]

When's open beta?

It's not been announced. No word if there will be an open beta or not. If there is, don't expect it an earlier than the usual: 2-3 months before release.

[bakrael]

When's open beta?

It's not been announced. No word if there will be an open beta or not. If there is, don't expect it an earlier than the usual: 2-3 months before release.

At least that game will see beta and then production.

[darkulrich]

This looks very nice!!

http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/10 ... #continued

And lastly, when can we expect an open beta/release?

We're working on getting it started right now, so it shouldn't be too long. I hope that satisfies your curiosities. Let me know if you have any further questions.

[cobaltjones]

Ugh it looks so gross. 3D is not the way to go if you can't execute well.

[MagicManICT]

Ugh it looks so gross. 3D is not the way to go if you can't execute well.

It's Java. Show me a 3D Java game that has all the bells and whistles of a modern FPS,and I'll show you a game that doesn't have a desktop computer that can run it. In fact, I can only think of two other major Java games that 3D: Wurm and Runescape. Compared to those, this one is actually looking nice.

[cobaltjones]

That's still no excuse for it looking like a generic mess. Also not buying your java argument. There's plenty you can do with technical limitations as long as you've got the right style. Visually the game just looks bad. It doesn't really have anything to do with it being java based.

[sabinati]

you're aware that most of what you've seen are placeholder graphics? edit: or do you just dislike the character art?

[cobaltjones]

Placeholders for what? Do you honestly believe that the final game will be that much different visually than what we've already seen? I'm actually a big fan of the character art, but the execution into a translation into a synergic and harmonious game world is lacking here. Nothing looks like it fits or is part of the same system. It's just a bunch of random things placed in the world together. No reaching style.

[Potjeh]

I think most of the problem is bad terrain textures.

[cobaltjones]

Yeah I was actually going to make a comment about that specifically. I don't want it to seem like I'm completely ragging on the game, but from what we've seen it looks really disjointed and messy visually. The overhead angle and the terrain tiling system really stands out as something that was basically ripped from H&H without much care to optimizing the experience for the new visuals.