AQW News on Apr 2009

Design Notes during Apr 2009
Top secret behind the scenes information about AdventureQuest Worlds and our other web based games.



The Good King


Evil Empress




April 29th, 2009
Conflict Between Good & Evil
The shop stirs more contoversy between the Kingdoms
Gravlyn flew upon Fluffy (the Dracolich) to meet with King Alteon. The King seems strong and in command. However, those close to him know that the chaos attack that Drakath hit him with... has left a wound. Not only will the wound not heal, it may be getting worse.

King Alteon: Gravelyn, welcome to Swordhaven.
Gravelyn: ...
: Say it... or they will not respect you.
Gravelyn: King Alteon, I order you to move the Guardian/DragonLord/StarCaptain shop to my Fortress.
King Alteon: Gravelyn? This is no way to...
: See... they do not take your seriously. Call in your forces.
Gravelyn: But...
: Listen to me. Your Father ALWAYS listened to me.
Gravelyn: : HA HA HA HA... NO.. NO COMPROMISE WITH EVIL... NOT EVER.
Gravelyn: ...
King Alteon: There is one alternative. It was suggested by hunt70, SpecialFloss, Valnos,Darius, raenef1, and svinx that the shop be moved to the town of Battleon. This is a nuetral location half way between our Kingdoms.
: This is your moment Gravelyn! Laugh in his face. Show your real power! Get your way! Give him and his Knights a taste of your hidden secret power! HA HA HA HA!
Gravelyn: Agreed. We will move the shop to Battleon.
: What?
Gravelyn:
: WHAT!? What did you just do? Foolish girl... ... if you do not follow my words you will ALWAYS be weak. You will NEVER get your revenge on Drakath. You will never.....
King Alteon: ...
Sir Render: My liege, what just happened there?
King Alteon: I suspect the future will be most unpredictable. One thing is for certain...
Sir Render:My liege!

This Week: The Valley of Chaos
Valencia's daily rare item hunts have been a hit. The Guardian/DragonLord/StarCaptain shop (We need a better name for this, any ideas?) will be moved to the neutral location of Battleon. The quest chain leading up to the Tower of Relativity will be added to the Valley of Chaos... over 20 quests are currently planned (and workiing on cutscenes too) making this our first full zone! (Zone = multiple maps?) In completely unrelated news: Cysero asked me for the Clubhouse map.... I have no idea what for. Guess we will find out on Friday.

P.S. Gravelyn's battlecry in April 28th's post was corrected. We blame internet typo faries.


Artix
Anti- Pony- Defense- adin


April 28th, 2009
Konami Code Ponies
We have taken measures!
Yesterday, rumor spread that you could enter the Konami Code (Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left Right, B, A, B,A) on ESPN's homepage (this has been fixed) which caused a shower of ponies. We here at Artix Entertainment have taken precautions to make sure this NEVER, EVER, EVER happens to AQ.com



Evil Empress


April 28th, 2009
HOW DARE YOU!?
Shop location sparks tension between Good and Evil
"King Alteon. How dare you? It's an outrage that you would place the Guardian/DragonLord/StarCaptain shop within your Castle's walls. The heroes of Evil will not stand for such selfish greed. I demand that in honor of the truce you move the shop, as is, immediately to a location here with in Shadowfall. Long UN-live the Shadowscythe!"



Negative Email Maths!


Shop Verification
Great release... and more coming
Hey Everyone! We're SO excited that you like the Guardian, DragonLord and StarCaptain shops! The response to the Verification shops has been overwhelming - both in-game and via the Help Desk emails!

Many (many, many, many) players have written in to have verifications switched. Please know that in doing so, access to the shops and all items obtained from those shops will be removed. So, one Guardian, DragonLord, or StarCaptain upgrade gives one AQworlds character access to the appropriate shop(s).

So remember - if you have a Guardian, Dragonlord or StarCaptain account, head over to King Alteon's Castle (at least for a little while longer...) and get your Special Items!


Artix
Pre-Release-adin


April 24th, 2009
Just Released
Valencia's Rare Hunt of the Day
Visit Valencia for the "Quest of the Day." There is one rare item hunter quest avaiable each day of the week.
Read the Design Notes for more!

Guardian, DragonLord & StarCaptain Shops
If you have upgraded in any of our previous 3 games, visit the new shop in the Castle of Swordhaven ( /join castle ). If you are verified (see the menu on theft) you will be able to get the Armor and Weapon from either DragonFable, MechQuest or the original AdventureQuest!

Other game shop
Can you guess who the NPCs are?
(Hint: They are creative staff from their respective games who do not have in-game NPCS... they ALL post on the forums.)

Make your friends Work to earn you gold and exp!
Would you like your friends and family to earn you some gold and exp while you are offline? We added the new Refer your Friends and Family system to MechQuest last week and it was a hit. So we just made it available for you here as well. The idea is pretty simple and I like it because it does not reward anyone for spamming. You will get a special link in the Manage Account area... and if someone uses that link to sign up, you will get bonus gold and experience based on the amount your friends earned each day. The best part is, if your friend becomes an upgraded member, you will get 250 AdventureCoins! Of course... your friend is going to expect some help defeating all the tough monsters in return!
Get your link from the Manage Account Area

Chaos Valley: Ruins Preview
Also, as a special treat for those of you who upgraded we are having a special preview of the upcoming Ruins zone.... it is incredible! I cannot wait until we add all of the quests and faction to the entire zone next week.

Ruins
OMG! Is that a Moglin Tesselation on the wall?

.... SAVE CHUCKLES!


Artix
KickBox-adin


April 23th, 2009
Other Game Shops!
Guardian / DragonLord / Star Captain
Coming tomorrow (76% chance), we are adding three new NPCs from our other games with one shop each. These will be accessable to get some items from our other games: DragonFable, MechQuest, AdventureQuest if you have upgraded in them, and verified. This is not a replacement for the import character data feature that is on our to-do list (although that feature is being enchanced into a MUCH bigger, better idea that will benefit all players and link all games... and take much longer to make. So we are putting these three shops in for you now!)

The Valley of Chaos: Ruins
This is something you will just have to see for yourself! How J6 outdoes himself each and every week is... just... he is amazing! With the storyline being revamped to use the new functionality we build behind the scenes, this may be released a preview.

Put your friends to work!
Would you like your friends to earn you some gold and exp while you are offline? We added the new Refer your Friends and Family system to MechQuest last week and it was a hit. So we are going to make it available for you here as well. The idea is pretty simple and I like it because it does not reward anyone for spamming. You will get a special link... and if someone uses that link to sign up, you will get bonus gold and experience based on the amount your friends earned each day. The best part is, if your friend becomes an upgraded member, you will get 250 AdventureCoins! Of course... your friend is going to expect some help defeating all the tough monsters in return!

Stats / Housing / Guilds / PvP
It all starts with stats! We have gone through literally every RPG method in the book coming up with the best way for you to power your character up through the adventures that are coming. This has pushed our development schedule back a bit, but I think we can all agree that a well balanced game is the most important thing we can do before raising the level cap and working on PvP. We are running lots of internal tests this week, and this is a topic we should talk about next week as we redefine how you upgrade your weapon damage and skills. Meanwhile, we have some ambitious plans for Housing and Guilds. We think players should own houses/towers/castle/etc, and guilds own entire towns made up of their members houses. Lets start small and work our way up...
FORUM QUESTION: What would you like to do with the inside of your house?

Just for Kicks
I taught Kickboxing class last Tuesday and am teaching again tonight. Thyton, Zhoom, Galanoth and Geo will be there. I came up with some SPECIAL training excersises tonight. Apologies in advance if tonight's "impact", impacts tomorrows releases!


J6 - Earth Day
J6
Gun-slinger


April 22th, 2009
Happy Earth Day!
Today is the day to spread awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. J6 crafted you a special set of recycled armor to get you in the spirit.

Earth Day Items
Available in the shop in battleon for a short time only!

* Recycled Armour
* Bucket Head
* Cardboard Sword
* Recycle Bin Turtle
Well... the Turtle is being a little slow to arrive.

Kamui says, "Have you tried lettuce? I hear turtles like lettuce."

Action you can take right now to help the environment

1. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth
2. Recycle! (Re-use where possible*)
3. Use Compact Flourescent light (CFL) Lightbulbs
4. Carpool w/friends & family**
5. Buy Eco-friendly products (not EbilCorp products!)
6. Use less Heat and Air Conditioning (save energy)
7. Turn down your water heater (save energy)
8. Unplug electronics that you do not use (especially the ones that have a tiny light on, because they are secretly leaching energy)
9. Plant some flowers or a Tree! (A great way to spend some time outside with the family.)
10. Tell your friends***!

* This is why Arrows are so much more eco friendly than Bullets.
**Carpooling - Example: by taking a friend's HERO Class Starship in MechQuest, you will save ~10 tons of fuel!
*** or else.


Artix
Lost-adin


April 21st, 2009
MechQuest ArtBook
Getting ready for final review!
It is 120+ tons pages of full color Mecha madness. Featuring beautiful art, a how to draw section by Thyton & Oishii, a section of never before seen sketches, "Doom to come!" including the first peak at Transforming Starships and the MechQuest comic.... ALSO, it comes with a code which will unlock the Skullcrusher Mecha Model and a special Skullcrusher armor here in AQworlds! As you probably guessed I wrote a lot of the things in there... I wonder how many typos will sneak into print. It is fun finally being this close. We have worked ####### this for months. And by "We" I mean Aisha... who has recieved countless non-stop edits and revisions from all of us.... every time we look at it.

Pretty Close Renactment of Artbook design process
Aisha: Yay! The MechQuest Artbook is done!
Artix: Wait... Move that 3 pixels to the left.
Aisha: OK
Warlic: Can you change the color of that squiggle line to 1 shade more blue?
Aisha: Ok
Thyton: Oh, can you switch these two pages?
Aisha: ok
Warlic: Hmmm.. lets move those pages back the way there were.
Aisha: ok......
Artix: You know... on second thought... maybe we should move that a pixel to the right.
Aisha: !!!



Safiria: Hey did you guys hear someone scream? Wow is that the MechQuest Art Book? It looks amazing! Oh... Maybe you should move this a few pixels to the right and make it less blue.
Aisha: .................................................................


Artix
Convention-adin


April 20th, 2009
Un-CONVENTION-al
Getting ready to embarrass ourselves at JACON!
The AQWorlds team will be running a running a panel at the JACON Convention in Orlando, FL! Meet the team as we babble incessantly about unrelated things while showing pictures and inevitably provoke the audience into kicking Moglins for prizes based on distance and accuracy!

AQWorlds Panel at the JACON Convention
What: AQWorlds Panel
When: Saturday May 23rd
12:00pm Noon
For 2 EXTREMELY long Hours
Where : JACON
Who: Artix
Cysero
Zhoom
Llusion
Rolith
Ai No Miko
Jemini
Galanoth (82.45% spawn chance)

Secret
Our very own Jemini drew and colored the badges at JACON this year. Some of the art can be seen on our JACON page.

Earth Day
Do not forget, Wednesday is Earth Day! Time to recycle some armor....

250 AdventureCoins
To everyone getting the 250 AdventureCoins -- we are running the database query now which should.... ... has been completed! You should see them if you re-log in. Thank you so much -- Battle on!


Artix
Chainsaw-adin


April 17th, 2009
In this Weekend's Release
A HUGE reward for winning the War
Normally, a war boss who drop cool rewards would be an awesome release. But this week.. you will win the war and get TWO bosses. Better yet.. you will unlock a ENTIRE brand new zone: the Forest of Three Worlds! The storyline quests will be added to the zone next week.... but it is chop full of chainsaw wielding sneevils and at least one surprise!

ALSO! There is a special this Weekend-only chainsaw sale happening on in-game. Craziest thing I ever' saw! (Note: These are new chainsaws. The rare Mogloween chainsaws have been given a special graphical boost with this release.)

Giant Evil Spider with special ability

1st Special Boss
Be careful! This Mini-Boss is unlike anything you have encountered in the game yet... beware when it starts spinning its web!


An Enchanted Forest
Welcome to the Forest of the Three Worlds. Our once peaceful wood has been twisted and malformed by Chaos, and horrible monsters have appeared. Sneevils have moved in with chainsaws to take our trees trunks! (*groan*) Inspired by the art of MC Escher it is our most beautiful zone yet.

Giant evil Cyclops boss

More... More... More....
It all unlocks once you defeat the war. We are making this zone preview available to all players this weekend because you all earned it for winning our first ever full all-player war!

I want to give a huge round of applause to the team for all of their hard work this week. Minimal did the crazy coding to build the system the Spider Mini-boss is using. It is the gateway to even more incredible monster enounters in the future. The art of J6 and Miltonius is unbelievable! Reens, Llusion, Zhoom and Ai No Miko, really went above and beyond this week. Great job to everyone and thank you so much!

Next week, a visitor will start the story quests and our first reputation quests through the the Chaos Valley (Actually named Chiral Valley but the forces battling have been joking calling it Chaos Valley and it caught on) Do not forget that all upgraded members are getting 250 AC on Monday at Noon Est. This includes anyone who upgrades during this weekend. Finally, the "Save Chuckles" Movement is gaining serious momentium (just see the forums). For those who do not know who Chuckles the world's funniest undead skeleton's history is... can you make a story, screenshot compilation, or youtube video to show them? Someone recommended that we use /join theater to have Chuckles host his own comedy show if we can bring him back. Of course being that he was already undead when he was destroyed... the only way he can be returned would be through... a favor from DEATH. See you on the forums and in game!


Artix
Box-adin


April 16th, 2009
Sneevils....
The good, the bad, and the AWESOME!
If you did not already know, Sneevils are evil, box-obsessed goblins. They live to collect containers.. in fact their entire culture and ranking system is based around it. If they find a treasure box filled with priceless artifacts... they will dump it empty and joyfully scurry off with the box. Even their diet consists solely of containers.... orange peels, walnut shells, and they pour out drinks and attempt... poorly.... to chomp down the glass. These devious creatures are so bizzare and interesting that we could not help but to ask ONE question.... what would happen if we gave them Chainsaws?

... find out in the new zone this week in AQWorlds! How can anyone not love this game?

Save Chuckles Movement
We have not seen something like this since the great Cysero Rebellion!
Sure, there is a War raging on against the 1st Lord of Chaos and the next zone will open up when you defeat his minions.... likely our most beautiful and interesting zone yet.... featuring a crazy specially coded boss fight.... and amazing MC Escher inspired art.... and a really cute time travel Fairy NPC.... BUT the "Save Chuckles" Movement will not be deined! Sure, he was Sepulchure's right-hand skeleton and Gravelyn's only childhood friend... and sure... Drakath one shotted him with what was basically a stern stare... but WE know Chuckles will get the last laugh!

Do not let the laugher die... AGAIN!

Tristar Nexus: Chuckles is the backbone of undead humour in the game...

Necromander: Wait, resurrecting an Undead? to quote King Julian: "How is that even possible!?

Great Guardian and others: "DUCT TAPE but we will need alot of it..."

Voltron, Heneha and others: Maybe we could have a new quest at Shadowfall to find the bone parts of Chuckles.

Message to Charik from Artix: "Giggles... acknowleged!"

Forum Question: Slogans and sigs for the save chuckles movement.... any suggestions?


Artix
Tax-adin


Still pretty funny for a... undead pile of bone-chips... any way can we bring him back?


April 15th, 2009
Death and Taxes!
Yay for BAD Tax Day Release Ideas...
It is Tax day here in the States. LOL, but for some reason, this holiday just does not have the same spirit of giving as the other ones. As you read this, the team is working hard at... filling out our returns and getting to the post office in time! Here are some TERRIBLE AQworlds Tax Day Release ideas for you!

* BAD: All characters pay 20% of their gold in taxes!
* BAD: Stat roll for a % chance to get audited*!
* BAD: New Shield Warrior ability: HR Block
* BAD: New Rogue abilities - Tax Evasion & Tax Cut!
* BAD: New house design: Tax shelter**
* GOOD: We are not doing any of these.... this year.

* The larger your stats, the higher % to get audited!
** Warning: if the shelter's defenses are penetrated... it turns into the "poor house" or teleports you to the "big house"


This picture has nothing to do with Tax day....
AQworld's Death just look REALLY cool!
/join Death

QUESTION: How many other massively multiplayer online role playing games get into the spirit of tax day*