[Guyver]

It's kinda taboo to take other people's work and things BUT I found this article to be too good.
Damn you. DAMN YOU!

This was translated by a teamxbox.com member from Korea, Team56th....hopefully he didn't just make this up, but that would take alot of time so I trust it.. (plus it all makes sense)

Originally Posted by Original article by Gamemeca, translated by team56th
Interview with Kijong Kang, executive producer of Huxley

Beta test of Huxley, an MMOFPS developed by Webzen, is going to begin soon. With FPS now being one of the most popular game genre domestically, will Huxley bring evolution on Korean FPS games? We interviewed with Kijong Kang, executive producer of Huxley to hear about a contents of upcoming closed beta test and a key feature of Huxley.


Producer KJ Kang, examining questions before interview

Gamemeca: First wave of beta test is getting closer; how do you feel now?
KJ Kang: Right now I'm very much pleased, but also nervous as Huxley is finally open to public for the first time.

GM: What is the meaning of first closed beta test of Huxley?
KJK: This beta test is literally a test; We've been developing Huxley for years and this time we will get some feedbacks from the test to apply important ones.

GM: How was the reaction of FGT testers?
(FGT is an abbreviation of Focus Group Test, which was conducted internally with selected hardcore gamers.)
KJK: FGT build of the game was pretty much different from closed beta build. Thorough analysis and criticism of FGT testers helped us polishing closed beta build very much.


GM: While Korean FPSs are mainly consisted of CS-style games, Huxley plays somewhat different from them, so some people thinks that learning curve of Huxley could be a bit steep; What do you think about it?
KJK: Many of FGT testers concluded that Huxley was 'unexpectedly easy'. To quote from one of them, "You can learn the basic of the game in just a few minutes so learning curve is pretty much gentle. Gameplay is fast-paced so the battle offers bunch of fun." And all of this was before the closed beta; so Huxley would be easy to play for most of gamers.

GM: What is the object of the game?
KJ: Unlike other multiplayer FPS games, as a member of their own race, characters will live in the virtual world of Huxley and players will participate in the battle against enemy forces occurring on battle zone.

GM: Which kind of battle does Huxley focuses on, run-and-gun or tactical?
KJ: Newcomers are going to play deathmatch or Capture the Radar game, while veterans will usually play clan-based battle. Also, siege battle between clans will be supported for veterans. Siege takes place in certain areas, and winners are going to get a kind of mineral called "Lunarites". Lunarites can also be sold in a shop. There are no racial limit in clan battle and clan house will also be supported, which won't be represented in the first closed beta test.

GM: 100 vs 100 battle in Huxley is similar to race battle in many MMORPGs. How was the problem of unbalanced population in MMORPGs solved?
KJ: We think that 6(Sapiens):4(Alternative) is appropriate population ratio, but until now we could not find out which one was preferred. So we are going to balance population by taking advantage of racial features and extensive analysis which will be continued to opened beta test.

GM: Can Sapiens faction and Alternative faction encounter each other?
KJ: During the quest they can meet each other. It's like in World of Warcraft, Alliances were already there when Hordes arrived in an instant dungeon. If this happens in a quest zone, they can kill each other, but they can also have a peaceful solution; it depends on players' choice. Of course, two factions can't talk with each other.

GM: How long does it take to reach the max level?
KJ: Max level is 50. When you play the game for about 4~5 hours every day, you can reach it in about 3 months.

GM: Is there a stats like Strength or Dexterity?
KJ: There are no stats in Huxley.

GM: Then what is the difference of each faction and race?
KJ: There are Sapiens and Alternative faction, and each faction has 4 races. For example, 'One' race in Sapiens faction has 100HP while 'Alteraver' race in Alternative faction has 120HP. Likewise, every faction and every race has different HP, shield and movement speed.

GM: When squads gathered too much it gives a penalty like debuffing. If squads are scattered because of this, the whole 100 vs 100 battle concept would be meaningless.
KJ: 100 vs 100 battle in Huxley does not take place in completely opened world, and it's tactical. Now let's take a look at Huxley's squad system. 4 players form a squad; 5 squads form a platoon(20 players); 5 platoon form a company. Platoon leader commands 20 men(it is 50 in the original article but as it doesn't make sense I fixed it), and company leader commands 100 men. Debuff effect will be different by a number of squad gathered around. It can make the whole battle harder, but by gathering, scattering and charging by the situation you can make enemies to gather and debuffed. Because of this, complicated strategy of company leader is a key to victory. And the last thing: Voice chat will be supported too; Imagine 100 players talking at the same time!

GM: Does items in Huxley has additional bonus?
KJ: There will be about 1,000 weapons in Huxley. This number includes items crafted by players and weapons with different bonuses. There are 9 types of weapons and each type has about 100 weapons. There will be a level limit in items and bonuses will be varied, for example, additional weapons, faster shooting speed, faster moving speed, poison immunity, slow enemy, etc.
There are secondary weapons but grenades and knives are not included because it didn't fit into the game. Instead there are 9 melee weapons that actually fit into the game.

GM: How can items be crafted?
KJ: You need a recipe to craft an item. It's a list of material required to make an item. Recipes can be bought in the shop but you can also get them by solving a quest. You can also mix or assemble weapons or armors that are in use with recipes.

GM: Is there a scoreboard like other FPS?
KJ: Sure. We are now thinking of many kinds of scoreboards with different standard like the number of kill inflicted by certain weapon or the number of death, so everyone can be ranked to the scoreboard.

GM: Does Huxley support 3rd person view?
KJ: It wasn't considered because we didn't think that it was necessary for FPS, but if players request, we will think about it.

GM: Will saved film feature be supported?
KJ: There is a spectator mode, but saved film is not supported.

GM: How can we enter the battle zone?
KJ: You can enter the battle zone via letterbox-like thing located in outskirts of each city. Zones are opened to certain level of characters so players can enter the battle zone that meets their condition and level. Before entering the battle zone you will ride a train, which is similar to lobby in other FPS games.

GM: Is there a level limit to battle zones and quests?
KJ: Yes.

GM: What kind special licences are included?
KJ: There are 4 types of licenses; weapon, driving, commanding and special. To explain special type which would be a bit hard to imagine, it's about hacking, laying mines and engineering. You can hijack enemy vehicles with hacking, and you can fix burning vehicles with engineering. License can be obtained by license points and also quests.

GM: How is the future beta test plan?
KJ: It will be determined after the first closed beta ends.

Read that interview and tell me Huxley won't KICK ASS. I dare you. I DARE.