Honestly, I just wanted to check out the newer build... Ha. The special moves have been "powered-up" compared to the older version, so even our Alpha-testers have no idea what game-play will be like during CBT! (And check out the cool head-gear!)
In any case, if you want to know how the Chinese CBT went, I translated the interview. Scroll to the bottom for the link to the original ICEE article in Chinese.
Interview: Dragonica Marketing Manager Announces 2nd CBT Schedule
March 28 2008
On March 27, ICE Entertainment's Chinese-language Closed Beta Test of Dragonica, NC Soft's new masterpiece for 2008, officially ended. CBT in China was Dragonica's first massive testing phase. The game is positioned as a “First-Of-Its-Kind' blockbuster MMORPG, and has received highly-positive response from gamers. It is being described as “genre-defying”, as well as being likened to "Ragnarok”, and “Ragnarok 2". Other descriptions include "arcade-style side-scrolling system-integrated game", and "MO+MMO game balanced with community features."
So far, the bulk of gamers left out of the CBT have been crowding the official site in order to live vicariously through screenshots posted by the lucky shortlisted few.
I have not seen such an extraordinary response to a CBT for quite a time. Thus, I arranged for an interview with Liu Feng, the Marketing Manager of Dragonica, to introduce the game and talk to us about the CBT as well as future game developments.
Reporter: Did you expect to see such overwhelming reaction from testers for Dragonica CBT?
Liu Feng: Of course, a positive response was expected from the outset. The high quality of NC’s products is obvious, here and in Korea. However, Dragonica was such a unique and genre-defying game that it was very hard to make a reasonable estimate based on comparison products. Judging from the strength of the response, Chinese gamers are no less avid about Dragonica than the Koreans, which has boosted our confidence in this completely-new product.
Reporter: Does the comparable response for Dragonica (to Korean gamers) prove that Chinese gamers are getting more and more mature?
Liu Feng: Chinese gamers are now well-informed and updated on international game developments, and have ready access to all the blockbuster MMOs . Game-development capabilities in China have also been strengthening, so you can say China is playing an increasingly important role in the global game market.
Reporter: What did gamers like best about Dragonica?
Liu Feng: There are so many things that we can mention. Simply put, from the gamers’ viewpoint, besides beautifully-rendered 3D graphics and thrilling combo attacks, there are completely original aspects of the product like the comical elements and special effects. For instance, when monsters are attacked, they literally fly towards your screen and “break” the glass. Dragonica can also support the use of game-pad controllers. Because of the short test period, testers could not experience additional game systems such as in-game Weddings, Pets, Warfare, Guilds, Seasonal Environment Changes, Player Trading, etc.
Reporter: Let me ask you one last question on behalf of Dragonica players; When will you hold the next round of testing?
Liu Feng: [Well…] I can only say that it's currently undergoing planning. We have already tested many game functions and fixed many bugs through this CBT. We will only announce the next test schedule based on the rate of game content development and improvement.
Reporter: But we already see an official announcement of CBT 2 accounts being given out!
Liu Feng: Yes, that is true. Some gamers have managed to level up to 20 and above within the short 8-day test. We were moved by their enthusiasm for the game, so as a way of acknowledging their support, we are giving them access to the first lot of accounts in CBT 2.
This will likewise be implemented for the April CBT of another ICE Entertainment game, “Top Speed”, whereby kart-racers who attain a level of 15 and above will get access to Dragonica test accounts.
Reporter: Then, when will Dragonica improvement process be completed?
Liu Feng: Based on past experience, we would need approximately 2 to 3 months, and we will schedule the next phase of testing accordingly.
Reporter’s Note! This means the next round of testing for Dragonica will presumably take place 2 to 3 months from now.
Read the Chinese-language article here!
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