More than a simple pirate game, Discovery Online is a sea-voyaging and trading game that encourages the player to be his most creative. The game's potential for narration motivates the player to create his legend and to tell his epic story.
MMOsite: I am glad that we have this opportunity to do an interview with you. To start, can you make a brief introduction to yourself and your company?
Zac: Hello, I am Zac, Community Manager, For Jango Game. I have been working for Jango Game since October 2008 and I've been a gamer since I picked up my first ZX (I still have it too!) when I was nine. Cedric, our CEO, created this company with an Idea in mind, which has become our mantra: "the hart of any Jango Game equation is the player." He also decided to operate games using the "Free to Play" model with a twist: Free to play is no excuse for poor quality games!
MMOsite: OK, let's talk something about Discovery Online. First, as an introductory overview, how do you describe Discovery Online to those who are unfamiliar with this game? And some core concept of the game?
Zac: Discovery Online is a seafaring Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game; it takes place in the world of the 15-18th centuries, a time of pirates and privateers, when trade and naval battle are reigning. But this game is not about History, it is about all of us rewriting it in a mediaeval fantasy environment!
Discovery Online is also based on city management, commerce, exploration and naval battles. A commercial guild can gain control of a city and manage it, discover a world of trade, or fight with pirates in a dynamic combat system.
MMOsite: Compared with other seafaring games, what kinds of innovations and unique features do you have in Discovery Online?
Zac: Discovery Online has a unique combat system which requires maneuverability, timing, precision and competence skills. Strategy is key.
For a free to play game, Discovery Online has the graphical quality of today's most popular online games. The seas are amazing. The cities' atmosphere stays true to this era.
A unique system of city takeover combines naval battles and financial and commodities investments.
The game's trading system allows players to level up and gain experience. Trading plays an important role in the city's evolution.
The player can choose to be a trader, a warrior, an explorer or all three.
MMOsite: As a navigation-themed online game, sea battle is essential in Discovery Online. What kind of combat system will be available? And how will the PvP system look like?
Zac: As we said, the combat system is unique: you must aim for the target and anticipate its next move while you are adjusting your cannons and steering your ship to avoid the enemy strikes. This combat system can appear very complex at first glance, however it is actually easy to learn and use. It is dynamic and varied enough to keep the more demanding gamer occupied. With a good strategy you can win the combat even if you are weaker than the enemy. About the PVP system, The GVG wars during city sieges are staged outside the city in question. Also, you can partake in some PVP during exploration: you can then decide to switch between passive mode or PVP mode. Then, you can kill other players who are in PVP mode only.
MMOsite: How players get their ships? So far, how many different kinds of ships to choose from?
Zac: The players begin with a small boat. They can buy a better ship from a NPC, or they can upgrade parts of their ships. There are 3 sizes of vessels: a boat, a small ship or a large ship. But the vessel's features change: for example, a boat is faster than a ship but ships can have more cannons. The vessels can be upgraded by changing parts such as sail, hull, boat deck, rudder and bow. The choice of vessel is important depending on your character's path.
