Post by Nisp on Aug 17, 2007 19:01:13 GMT -8
lookie here miir they finally released the info.
So just who is Horizons_CS? Horizons Community Manager
August 17, 2007
Curious as to who this new Horizons_CS character is and who has been behind all the recent changes? GamersInfo has the answers you're looking for... gamersinfo.net/index.php?art/id:1837
Interview - Rick Simmons - Horizons: Empire of Istaria
Author: Ophelea, August 17, 2007
Game Profile
Horizons: Empire of Istaria
Developer: Tulga Games
Release Date: 12/08/03
ESRB: T
Genre: MMORPG
Setting: fantasy
Like the proverbial phoenix (dragon?) that continually rises from the ashes, Horizons: Empire of Istaria is poised to take flight once again. Purchased just over one year ago by EI Interactive, the game has languished with no updates, billing errors and poor community support until recently when Virtrium, LLC purchased Horizons and all remaining assets from Tulga Games. The players have been wondering, though: exactly who is Virtrium?
Good question. In the previous two weeks alone they've re-established Blight, the test server; opened the community forums to registration (they've been closed for more than 8 months); established a new, very agile support ticket system (none had existed for nearly a year); and have somewhat covertly been talking to the players. Things the remaining rag tag bunch never expected as they were simply hanging on to the game until its dying breath.
Click Here to View More Images
I was once employed by Tulga Games to support Horizons but after the sale haven't been involved in the game. Monday I received a phone call from the former CTO, Rick Simmons. Could he speak to me on Friday? About what? He'd tell me on Friday…
It seems the super secret new owner - Virtrium, LLC - is none other than said Rick Simmons. He, along with members from every department of the former Tulga development team are working diligently to get the game back on track. Some very familiar faces are back on the job, Lead Designer Jason "AmonGwareth" Murdick and CS Lead Sean "Reyem" Meyer are just two of several. David Bowman, due to commitments with Certain Affinity, will not be involved except as a consultant on design - particularly those areas that were left unfinished.
Their first goal is to get a new billing system in place. In testing today is a system that will accept all forms of credit cards and PayPal, something not previously available to players. Since the purchase, the European server was shut down. The inclusion of PayPal will also help fill this hole. Also included will be the ability for those who want to mail in a check for payment. Few companies still accept this form of payment, but for the small games that can, it really makes a difference especially in terms of customer service and goodwill.
Click Here to View More Images
The exciting part about the new system is the multiple account and redemption code functionality. A single account can hold multiple subscriptions, allowing players to stack subscriptions or services to their account, such as multiple plots, concurrent logins, consignment slots or character slots. And, if you want to pay for a friend's account, you can purchase a redemption code for any number of months and give that code to a friend to pay for their account. Their account is then paid without the issues of who "owns" the account.
Having the Blight server back is a commitment to the players that changes will occur. There is an internal test server, but Blight has always been the external test server. Early next week, a new terrain client will be pushed out for testing. This means an updated client. A very small group of people have been working with the game for only a few weeks yet they've prepared client improvements - now to get the players to help test them! Gaining the trust and help of the players is a hurdle that Rick admits they're going to have to overcome.
The week before the game was sold a patch was placed on the Blight test server to correct an error in the previous update. It never made it to live. Because of this, the players have been living with over-aggressive monster agro, buggy crafting issues, database errors on items and a whole host of minor issues. It was the second in a series of three very large patches. That patch will now go out with the next delta (Horizons speak for update).
Click Here to View More Images
I haven't talked to Rick for many months. The interesting part is, he's usually quite reserved and methodical when he speaks. Today he was excited and eager. This is not an easy task he's taken on! Many would consider a small team to be a hindrance but he looks at it as strength. They are able to come to a consensus quickly, be more responsive, be available to the players as a team rather than delegate that role to a single person.
As time passes and the administration of the game is brought under control, he fully intends to grow the game to a respectable 10k playerbase with regular content updates. But, he wants to do so by contracting out those aspects that can be - art, web development, music - and keep the rest close and agile. Always able to react to the needs of the players and the game.
He wants to do what the game has always done well: community, crafting and dragons. No other game has it. Kudos to the niche game. It's the reason it continues to rise from the ashes. Let's just hope this dragon soars and never need land again.
So just who is Horizons_CS? Horizons Community Manager
August 17, 2007
Curious as to who this new Horizons_CS character is and who has been behind all the recent changes? GamersInfo has the answers you're looking for... gamersinfo.net/index.php?art/id:1837
Interview - Rick Simmons - Horizons: Empire of Istaria
Author: Ophelea, August 17, 2007
Game Profile
Horizons: Empire of Istaria
Developer: Tulga Games
Release Date: 12/08/03
ESRB: T
Genre: MMORPG
Setting: fantasy
Like the proverbial phoenix (dragon?) that continually rises from the ashes, Horizons: Empire of Istaria is poised to take flight once again. Purchased just over one year ago by EI Interactive, the game has languished with no updates, billing errors and poor community support until recently when Virtrium, LLC purchased Horizons and all remaining assets from Tulga Games. The players have been wondering, though: exactly who is Virtrium?
Good question. In the previous two weeks alone they've re-established Blight, the test server; opened the community forums to registration (they've been closed for more than 8 months); established a new, very agile support ticket system (none had existed for nearly a year); and have somewhat covertly been talking to the players. Things the remaining rag tag bunch never expected as they were simply hanging on to the game until its dying breath.
Click Here to View More Images
I was once employed by Tulga Games to support Horizons but after the sale haven't been involved in the game. Monday I received a phone call from the former CTO, Rick Simmons. Could he speak to me on Friday? About what? He'd tell me on Friday…
It seems the super secret new owner - Virtrium, LLC - is none other than said Rick Simmons. He, along with members from every department of the former Tulga development team are working diligently to get the game back on track. Some very familiar faces are back on the job, Lead Designer Jason "AmonGwareth" Murdick and CS Lead Sean "Reyem" Meyer are just two of several. David Bowman, due to commitments with Certain Affinity, will not be involved except as a consultant on design - particularly those areas that were left unfinished.
Their first goal is to get a new billing system in place. In testing today is a system that will accept all forms of credit cards and PayPal, something not previously available to players. Since the purchase, the European server was shut down. The inclusion of PayPal will also help fill this hole. Also included will be the ability for those who want to mail in a check for payment. Few companies still accept this form of payment, but for the small games that can, it really makes a difference especially in terms of customer service and goodwill.
Click Here to View More Images
The exciting part about the new system is the multiple account and redemption code functionality. A single account can hold multiple subscriptions, allowing players to stack subscriptions or services to their account, such as multiple plots, concurrent logins, consignment slots or character slots. And, if you want to pay for a friend's account, you can purchase a redemption code for any number of months and give that code to a friend to pay for their account. Their account is then paid without the issues of who "owns" the account.
Having the Blight server back is a commitment to the players that changes will occur. There is an internal test server, but Blight has always been the external test server. Early next week, a new terrain client will be pushed out for testing. This means an updated client. A very small group of people have been working with the game for only a few weeks yet they've prepared client improvements - now to get the players to help test them! Gaining the trust and help of the players is a hurdle that Rick admits they're going to have to overcome.
The week before the game was sold a patch was placed on the Blight test server to correct an error in the previous update. It never made it to live. Because of this, the players have been living with over-aggressive monster agro, buggy crafting issues, database errors on items and a whole host of minor issues. It was the second in a series of three very large patches. That patch will now go out with the next delta (Horizons speak for update).
Click Here to View More Images
I haven't talked to Rick for many months. The interesting part is, he's usually quite reserved and methodical when he speaks. Today he was excited and eager. This is not an easy task he's taken on! Many would consider a small team to be a hindrance but he looks at it as strength. They are able to come to a consensus quickly, be more responsive, be available to the players as a team rather than delegate that role to a single person.
As time passes and the administration of the game is brought under control, he fully intends to grow the game to a respectable 10k playerbase with regular content updates. But, he wants to do so by contracting out those aspects that can be - art, web development, music - and keep the rest close and agile. Always able to react to the needs of the players and the game.
He wants to do what the game has always done well: community, crafting and dragons. No other game has it. Kudos to the niche game. It's the reason it continues to rise from the ashes. Let's just hope this dragon soars and never need land again.
ya'll know what a solitary bugger I am. Anyway you could always stop round DT and see if anyone wanted to RP. anyway, plan something and invite me. see if i won't come along. oh and then we have the fire beetles. of course I want to plan some more lvl 6 t maps. those are so awesome