Vindictus Interview with Gameogre

Vindictus was one of the most anticipated free to play games launching in 2010. Vindictus bills itself as one of the first true physics-based action online game. With their recent launch on Oct 27, Gameogre had the chance to talk with the Vindictus staff about their game.


Gameogre: Please tell us about your upcoming game, Vindictus.

Vindictus: Vindictus is an action-packed MMO with fast paced combat like nobody’s ever seen in an online game. Built using a modified version of Valve’s Source Engine, Vindictus features realistic physics, destructible environments and armor, and the most interactive and immersive gameplay that has been featured in an online game.

Gameogre: What is the backstory for Vindictus?

Vindictus: Vindictus is loosely based on Celtic mythology. The goddess Morrighan has promised the humans that if they defeat the fomors, essentially a group of various monsters, they will be granted a life in paradise.

Gameogre: Can you tell us how the gameplay in Vindictus will differ from a lot of other games?

Vindictus: First of all, in Vindictus, there is no “auto-attacking†or pointing at a monster, hitting one key and waiting for the enemy to fall down. Everything your character does on screen is a direct translation of what you are doing with your mouse and keyboard or with your gamepad. Also, we have extremely interactive environments. You can destroy just about anything you see, plus you can use just about anything you see in the dungeons as a weapon. In other words, you could smash a pillar, then pick up the pieces and use them to smash your enemy. You can even pick up some of your fallen enemies and use them as a weapon against their allies.

Gameogre: I understand not all the classes will be available at first. Can you tell which classes will be available and when they might see some of the other classes? Why have you decided not to release all the classes at once?

Vindictus: At the beginning of Open Beta, we will have Lann and Fiona available. Lann is a dual-sword wielder who is about speedy attacks. Fiona carries a sword and shield and has more powerful, although slower, attacks than Lann. Soon, players will also be able to experience our awesome mage character, Evie.

Gameogre: What kind of character customization will you offer in Vindictus?

Vindictus: Players will have quite a few ways to customize their character with things like hairstyles, eye colors, facial hair, tattoos and more. Plus, there are tons of different types of armor, which all have a unique look to them. Players can further customize armor by dyeing it different colors in our dye shop, which will be available in Open Beta. And, last but not least, characters can wear unique “inner armor,†which is our fancy name for underwear. Inner armor will become visible as the character’s armor breaks apart in battle.

Gameogre: How big of a role will PvP play in Vindictus? Will you also offer large scale pvp like guild battles or arenas?

Vindictus: While we do intend to include PvP further down the road, we have not yet made any announcements about how PvP will work in the game.

Gameogre: How big will grouping be in Vindictus and what benefits can it offer?

Vindictus: Grouping is pretty much essential in Vindictus. While there are certainly some dungeons which can be done with a solo run, much of the content is simply too hard for a player to do on their own. Not to mention that it’s exponentially more fun to play with a group of friends!

Gameogre: Can you explain how crafting will fit into the Vindictus World?

Vindictus: Crafting is really important in Vindictus. Almost all of your armor pieces and weapons will be obtained by crafting them using materials you get as drops in the dungeons. As you complete more missions, the NPCs will continue to learn how to craft stronger weapons and tougher armor.

Gameogre: I understand Vindictus will offer a cash shop later in Open Beta, can you tell us some of what players might find in the cash shop?

Vindictus: Our Cash Shop is split into two sections: the Avatar Shop and the Supply Depot. The Avatar Shop features everything a player needs to customize the look of their character, such as hairstyles, facial paint, beards and scars, makeup and “inner armor†(which is our term for underwear). The Supply Depot contains items of convenience such as Tokens (which players can use to extend their play time), health potions and inventory expansion. It’s important to note, though, that none of what we offer in the Cash Shop is “game breaking.†All of our players will be able to experience all of the content in Vindictus whether or not they spend money. Those who want to get a little bit more out of their time in the game can do so by using the Cash Shop.

Gameogre: I understand Vindictus is already released in the Eastern part of the World. Have you made any changes to the game from their version to better fit in with a western market?

Vindictus: We brought a lot of optimization and localization into the game for the Western market. We did a series of User Experience tests where players from the US got to spend a lot of hands-on time with the game and provide feedback. We also made a commitment to getting as much user feedback as we could from Western players. The result is that we’ve been able to fine tune the game so that it really fits well with our audience here in the US and Canada. In addition to that, we are creating unique in-game events for the West in order to make this the best gaming experience for each individual audience.

 

This game went into open beta on Oct 27

 

You can never have to much gore!