Darkwind - Viewing Topic: First Impressions

Jag Cancer
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Joined: Jul 23, 2007

Hi all

Just thought I'd give my 2 pence worth after playing for about a week.

I discovered DW after surfing the official Car Wars forums. After getting my gaming group (ie a bunch of mates that likeplaying boardgames/RPGs) into Car Wars again we realised that, as adults, we no longer have the time to spend on such 'lengthy' games as Car Wars and Battletech.

However, after catching the CW bug again I was hoping to find some kind of computerised version of it. So, after much searching to no avail, a deep search of the CW forum brought up Darkwind.

My first experience was not so good as I couldn't enter or spectate any games. So, for a couple few weeks I would try now and again hoping a patch would fix it. Turns out of course that I was having a blonde moment and after opening the correct ports I was off.

Now I could moan about it not working 100% reliably on my laptop but in all honestly the feedback and help from Sam and viKKing more than make up for this. Plus, I have other PCs I can use.

So, after a rocky start what do I think?

Well, in a word, I love it. (OK, that's 3 words).

Obvisouly being a game based on "cars with guns" (which btw, was the title of a web game I started years ago but never finished - no point now as this does a better job

) it would appeal to any old school CW player.

However, I thikn the in-game mechanics work really well. The interface is simple enough to not slow the game down too much, events can be finished in a reasonable time (seems about an hour is average) and the community is (and this bit genuinely suprised me) really polite, kind and funny.

I have yet to subscribe due to cash flow issues at the moment (the joys of being self employed) but this should be resolved soon. I am hoping the vehicle/gang management complete with the upcoming resource management of bases and alliances will boost hte longevity (not that it needs it).

Another reason I think it works is that unlike traditional MMORPGs newbies can play the same game as vets and still gain enjoyment and rewards. Obviously someone with more experience with a track/car/game engine will have an advantage but it doesn't make it any less fun.

Yesterday a friend and myself entered a race with a few others and we had a blast (even got a load of spectators watching). Although we didn't position we still had an effect on the others and thouroughly enjoyed it.
This is what makes it different from other online games.

I could come up with a million different suggestions but they would simply be "how I would do things". But none would be drastic changes from what is already in place. There may be a couple of balancing issues here and there but nothing, IMO, that 'ruins' or breaks the game.

The learning curve is great. I tend to play a quite cautiously -by using brakes and trying not to oversteer too much and as a result often don't get good finishing times. But I am getting used to the cars and tracks and my times are getting better. Just like any game there are things to learn and that's part of the fun. I've hardly had an injury yet despite being in races that have caused deaths. I'm putting this down to luck and/or being far enough back to steer round the carnage

As I briefly mentioned I think the community is second to none. Everyone seems to be really relaxed and cheerful. Nobody bitches or complains like many other 'PvP' games (that I have seen anywa) and it is all taken in the spirit of the game.
Even Sam and the other devs chat and play as well as help out with issues. This is unheard of. OK, part of that is because it's a small, new and relatively 'underground' game at the moment. No doubt when he's on his yacht he will shun us all, but for now...

So, quick capsule review.

A damned fun game with potentially loads of longevity that allows people of all skill levels to compete against each other on a relatively level playing field. And it's got cars AND guns in it!

So Sam & Co. keep up the good work.

I would offer my sevices in any way I could although it looks like you have most of the bases covered. So I shall resign to just suggestion tweaks and mods. Unless you want other building modeller/track designer or wanted to redo the web part in ASP...). No? Damn. I shall, er, um, find bugs then :P

Keep it on the straight and in the red.

Jude "Jag" Dennis

(Grandmaster MMORPG guru. Played most of em, ran big guilds in most of em, been forum mod for some of em and even been a GM...)

......................... vet
Posted Aug 9, 2007, 2:20 pm

*sam*
The Salthill Sluggerz
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Thanks for the positive feedback!

It seems our most effective way of getting suitable new players into the game at the moment is through word of mouth and posts on forums - especially Car Wars, post-apocalyptic, and general roleplaying games forums. We have tried a few banner adverts but these seem to be much less effective. So please spread the word! There have been some 'bad community' type reports about us on mmorpg.com, for example, (coming from one disgruntled player I believe) and your comments could be useful there

But mostly, any CW forums you know about would be an ideal place to post about DW.

Quote:

the community is (and this bit genuinely suprised me) really polite, kind and funny.

As I have gotten to know the typical player that likes DW, the good natured-ness of the community has surprised me less and less. Many of the players are thirty-something ex-Car Wars players or boardgamers/wargamers - so this implies a good level of maturity. Even those that don't fit this category (they might be younger or generally more used to traditional MMORPGs) will tend to be patient and reflective, since these are the types of people that enjoy turn-based games.

Quote:

No doubt when he's on his yacht he will shun us all,

Haha yeah, I might win the lottery or something :cyclops:

......................... marshal vet deathrce1 paintladder combat1 wv ped1 cont slay2013
Posted Aug 9, 2007, 3:12 pm	Last edited Aug 9, 2007, 3:13 pm by sam

Jag Cancer
Jags Marauders
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Having played most MMORPGs I have found that most new to a community tend to adapt.

If joining a relaxed mature community many will try to conform even if starting off on teh wrong foot - especially if they like the game.

But I shall continue spreading the word - I may even add the link (and my ID

) to my sigs.

I would go sing your praises on MMORPG.com but I hate the place. I did run onlineRPGs.net a few years ago which was a kinda alternative without the fanbois, whingers and 'unsavoury' types. Too much effort, not enough time etc so I ditched it

I will see what I can do though.

Quick question:

If I recommend someone that signs up - do I still get a month free even if I'm not a subscriber?

Reason is I have no disposable income atm and a Hit n Run (who had a few races yesterday) will probably subscribe tomorrow thus allowing me to get a month too - which will be long enough to subscribe properly.

......................... vet
Posted Aug 9, 2007, 3:34 pm

*sam*
The Salthill Sluggerz
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Group: Lead Developer
Posts: 16,780
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Quote:

If I recommend someone that signs up - do I still get a month free even if I'm not a subscriber?

Yes. Although you don't get the $20k bonus that first-time subscribers normally get.

......................... marshal vet deathrce1 paintladder combat1 wv ped1 cont slay2013
Posted Aug 9, 2007, 3:39 pm	Last edited Aug 9, 2007, 3:41 pm by sam