ArchAge

[shaz]

http://www.archeagegame.com/en/

ArcheAge is an MMORPG developed by Korean developer Jake Song (former developer of Lineage) and his development company, XL Games. The game was released in Korea on January 15, 2013 and has also had a closed beta in China. ArcheAge is described as a "sandpark" MMORPG, which the developers say is a hybrid of the open content style of a "sandbox" game, and the more structured play experience of a "themepark" game.

Initial development of ArcheAge began in 2006, and closed testing of the game took place over two years. Before finally being released in Korea on January 15, 2013, the game went through five closed beta tests and one open beta test. In 2012, an XL Games studio representative said he expected ArcheAge to be released in North America at the end of 2013 or beginning of 2014. Also, in 2014 a newly hired CM has stated the game will be transitioning into beta phase and will release for NA and EU in 2014. Announcements made in April, indicate the launch of the beta phase for June 2014. On April 24, 2014, Trion begun to offer founder packs, for early alpha and beta access.

Taken from Wikipedia

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This game actually has a lot of potential, seems pretty fun with a lot of nice features for an MMO. Perhaps worth checking out during the Beta phases.

It's currently in Alpha, you can either win the Alpha keys or buy into Alpha, similarly as to what will happen with Beta. It seems pretty well balanced, as well as it going into the same route as RIFT, being F2P on launch, with optional subscription that'll keep the game going, which won't become pay to win if they follow what they did with RIFT which in all likelihood they might, since it was quite successful. As well as the fact that everything like premium and so forth can be purchased with in-game money once you have saved up and you cannot buy anything that significantly changes the game, unless you count housing, which is just the sandbox side of things.

Very promising, hope to see how it unfolds.

[bullets]

This looks like something I could get into, I hope it's as good as it looks.

[shaz]

It's definitely a good game, as far as I've played. It's mind blowing how much you can do IMO. One of the only MMOs I've actually come to enjoy. Think of it almost like an MMO which takes many of the best aspects from other good MMOs and puts it into one game. Although they have things they still need to sort out, but Trion is going about it pretty well, with discussions with XLGames.

Just for those who are interested, Alpha keys (three usually) are given out every Thursday at around 11pm GMT+1 on their Twitch channel. As well as many other streamers also giving them out.

Although - I must say, be advised - This is an open-world game, with open-world PVP. So basically you can be attacked by enemy factions pretty easily, or even killed by your own if they turn on you - Which they can get taken to jail for and eventually outcasted as pirates. However, if you're clever about it, it isn't all that bad - I've not actually got killed once by anyone - However that does happen overseas a lot, as that's a heavy PVP zone.

[shaz]

Update to version 1.2 (Known as build 4.1) - Click here for the change log.

This build will continue (with tweaks) till launch.

Update - Beta is aiming to be out mid-late July.

[NIASKA]

I heard this was basically a sand-box type game.