|
|
|
| The Ancestry Program |
The Ancestry Alpha/Beta Project
If you are like most people that enjoy online games, you have filled out a Beta Application for a game that was coming out that you really wanted to play. The majority of you, probably also were never contacted or turned down for that Beta position. The two major reasons for this is a) the game's budget only supports so many users, and b) they don't want to deal with a lot- of people, just a few.
Those of you that were accepted, played for months, maybe even a couple of years, and then had your character wiped out and were left with nothing to show for your time, effort, and dedication to the game but an empty account for you to start over with. This is a little frustrating but it's something we have all come to accept as being part of Beta.
The Seventh Sun project has examined many different methods of implementing an Alpha/Beta program, and we have decided on one that benefits everyone. We call it Ancestry.
Ancestry Accounts
For our Alpha/Beta, there will be two different kinds of accounts. Let's look at them now:
Visitor Pass
The visitor pass is a totally free account. For one week out of every month, we will open the game for seven days, allowing anyone to log in, create a character, and run around the world to check it out. Staff will be present and there will be a lot going on during that week as it is sort of a celebration between staff and the players for the new areas and features we have implemented that month. We will offer a feedback method for those that participate so we can hear what you think, feel, and suggest about the game's progress.
Ancestor Account
An Ancestor account has access to the game for the entire month. They can log in, play, experiment, explore, and RP whenever they want (providing the server is not down for updates!) with no limitations. They will also earn special incentives for their eventual Live character in the form of Gold to start that character off with and Heirloom points. The amount of the gold that will be credited to each account is undetermined at this time because we are still running economic models. Until we have those models complete and the true Economy of the game world settled, we do not feel it is responsible to throw out a number that may or may not change. Instead, you will receive credits and when we do have that amount figured, your credits will be exchanged for that gold.
Heirloom points are given out at the rate of 10 per month that you have an Ancestor Account. These points will be used at the end of the Alpha/Beta program to exchange for special items only available at this time. These items and the gold you have had credited to the account will then be passed on to your Live character. Like an Ancestor leaving a legacy to an Heir. Ancestor accounts will also have the ability to earn additional Heirloom points through in game events. The types of things that you will be able to buy with these points range from items, weapons, armor, land, and special one of a kind custom designed patterns for crafters. (Patterns are used by crafters to decorate or embellish the things they make.)
The Ancestor account is obtained by a donation of any amount. You basically tell us what you think the current game world is worth to you, donate any amount, and the Ancestry account is open for 30 days. On the last day, you will be notified that your Ancestry account will expire and you will be able to decide if it's worth it to you to donate again and renew for another thirty days. You can have an Ancestry account for one month, stop for two, and start it up again, and all your credits from the two months you had the account active will apply. In other words, you do not have to keep the account open for consecutive months to get your Ancestor rewards.
Vision of the Project
We feel that this system upholds a balance of fairness between the project and the player. We are offering everyone the opportunity to log in and participate in the Alpha/Beta program for a full week out of every month, and we are extending special considerations to those that help the project progress by having an Ancestor Account. We hope you will all enjoy this unique take on Alpha/Beta, and join us on every Visitor's Week until you feel that the game is at a point where it is worth you having an Ancestor's account.
How to Get a Visitor or Ancestor's Account
Right now, the game is still in development. When we launch Alpha, it will be a fully functional game, but MOST of the systems will be entirely stock or foundational. This means they will not be anything like the end product, but there will be systems to allow you to do things like hunt, develop land, craft, utilize magic, explore, etc. They will just be very basic place holders until we get to programming that particular system.
We are looking to launch Alpha by Summer of 2008. It may be sooner, it may be a little later. We are not at liberty to give definite dates at this time. If we tell you something is for sure, we want it to be for sure. In the mean time, we will continue to release information, art, updates, and come to you, the player, on the TSS Forums for suggestions and your thoughts on certain things. We hope that you will stay tuned and active in our discussions there until Ancestry is ready for you!
To be notified that Ancestry is released and to receive other information about the game and its progress, you only need to register for the Website or the forums. If you would like to participate in discussions and polls, you should register for the forums. If you would like to express your interest in a Visitors or Ancestor's account, just fill out the application. Those who fill out applications will be among the very first to be set up and invited into the world.
Thank you very much for your interest in The Seventh Sun. We hope to see you on the forums and in the World of Xaltoria, very soon!
|
|
|
 Log In |
|
|
| Other TSS Sites |
| Get Support |
Click For Chat
or Ticket.
|
|
|
|
|
