| Atlantica Online | |
|---|---|
Official logo |
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| Developer(s) | NDOORS Interactive (Nexon Corporation) |
| Publisher(s) | NDOORS Interactive (Nexon Corporation) Ignited Games S.America |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) | July 15, 2008 (closed beta)
October 30, 2008 (official launch) |
| Genre(s) | MMORPG |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer, Turn-based strategy |
| Media/distribution | Download |
| System requirements
Pentium 4, 1Ghz or better, 512MB RAM, |
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Atlantica Online is a free to play 3D massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by NDOORS Corporation. The game is set in an alternate history Earth, with the game map consisting of large parts of the northern hemisphere. The setting is fantasy-themed with elements of steampunk.
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The game features a persistent world populated by player-generated characters and NPCs. The player can choose from nine different classes and customize their appearance. Players do not fight with the main character alone; each player can recruit additional fighters, up to the maximum of eight mercenaries (and one main) on the field at any given time. Players can store additional mercenaries in mercenary rooms.
In addition to their battle skills, all players may pursue a number of different crafting abilities.
The game design puts strong emphasis on the concept of guilds. Guilds can control the various towns on the game map. Strong guilds can found nations and wage war on one another.
Battle in Atlantica Online is rather unusual for the genre as it is turn-based. Representations of hostile parties wander around the landscape; if a player clicks on such a representation, his/her party and the enemy party are transferred to a separate battlefield similar in fashion to battles in console role playing games and remain there until the battle is resolved. The battle system also features a time limit for a player to make their move, assuring that there will not be any type of player griefing during player vs player combat.
Currently there are no known IP blocking restrictions on the U.S. version of Atlantica Online, as it acts as the international server outside of its prospective distribution partners. This unrestricted access has resulted in international users from other geographical locations outside the United States to be able to play on the U.S. based servers.
After beginning the game players can recruit up to 18 mercenaries to join them in their travels. Users can have up to 8 mercenaries fight alongside in battle, and shuffle their lineup as the situation calls for. Mercenaries, like your hero, advance in both level and rank as they get stronger. Currently there are 35 different mercenaries that fall under 4 different classes and styles.
The game's traditional battle system is unusual for its genre in that it uses a turn-based system.
When a player character and an enemy character come into contact with each other on the game map, both parties are transported into a miniature instance where the battle takes place. During battle other players's group and other monster groups may join in to a maximum of three groups on each side.
In battle, the characters of each party are positioned on a 3x3 grid. The positioning of each mercenary and the main character is determined by the player outside of battle. However, it is possible to modify the positioning by moving the characters around during his/her turn.
During a monster/player group's turn, up to five of the group members may perform an action.
The Tactical Battle System (TBS) is the most recent evolution of Atlantica's Turn-Based Combat and it gives players the ability to form squads with their friends and guild mates to fight in large scale battles with dozens of characters per side.
The world of Atlantica Online features real world locations mixed with mythological and fantasy elements. Countries like Germany and China are represented, with cities like Munich, Moscow, and Sapporo being featured as cities where one can visit. Though the locations on the map feature climates similar to their real world counterparts, the architecture is often a generic recreation of well known structure types, such as the cities in Eastern Europe and Japan. Rome also takes on a big role as a real world location, resembling the ancient city of Rome as is well known from its period of conquest as the Roman Empire.
The locations are based on real world locations, but are often geographically out of place and heavily altered for effect. Most of the civilizations represented are anachronistic—Rome is set in the Holy Roman Empire, while Great Britain is independent, the Ottoman Empire reigns in Turkey, Southeast Asia resembles ancient Indian kingdoms before Western colonization and Islamic influence, and North America is caught up in the Industrial Revolution.
On December 18, 2008, the North American continent was added, which features New York as a new explorable city and the United States and Mexico as explorable countries. These contain a few dungeons, but greatly expand the map in Atlantica. Developers have also mentioned the possibility of adding the continents of the Southern Hemisphere, excluding Antarctica.
The international English version, available worldwide, is distributed by the USA subsidiary company NDOORS Interactive, Inc..[1] A closed beta version was made available to FilePlanet subscribers on July 15, 2008.[2] The first phase of the open beta ended on July 28, 2008; the start of the second phase began on August 7, 2008.[3] On October 30, 2008 at 11a.m. PDT, Atlantica Online ended its beta period and began its official run at 6p.m. PDT on October 30, 2008.[4] NDOORS also launches Atlantica Online Germany, for European players, on the October 21. The closed Beta started on September 1 and ended after a month. The Chinese company The9 has obtained exclusive rights for distributing and operating Atlantica Online in China.[5] Russian localized version open beta test started May 12, 2010 supported by Innova Systems company.
Atlantica's publisher and developer, NDOORS Interactive, regularly releases new content updates. For the most part, the International servers have received updates approximately one to one-and-a-half months after the Korean servers. Additionally, while Korean servers receive many, smaller updates, NDOORS usually combines the updates into fewer, but larger releases for the International servers. Updates usually include adding new dungeons, quests, NPCs, skills, mercenaries, outfits, equipment, mounts, and community features while also adjusting the existing game experience such as improving PvP balance and the rate of obtaining experience points.
Implemented on August 17, 2010, Troy is a series of "missions" following the format of the Tactical Battle System (TBS), introduced in the same patch. In each mission, a group of one to six players (each commanding their main character and between two and three mercenaries) complete tasks given to them by the Greek champion Odysseus. Taken together, the 14 missions tell the tale of the rise and fall of Troy via the Trojan War. By completing these missions, players are able to recruit Odysseus as a mercenary and receive an upgrade at level 130, allowing them to advance beyond that level.
On August 17, Atlantica Online, along with their Troy update, introduced My Home. This unique function allows players to purchase a home from a variety of styles and colors. Once players become homeowners they can store mercenaries, increase their inventory space and gain experience for their mercenaries. Mercenaries can be hired to work as chefs and artisans in their households. These employees hold conversations, cook meals, and craft items at the player's command. Players also have the option to throw parties for their friends and fellow guild members to receive buffs. In addition to these features the front yard can serve as a resource for gardening, mining, harvesting and lumbering.
At the Game Developers Conference 2009 on March 26, NDOORS announced several major content updates to arrive in 2009.[6]
Reception of Atlantica Online has been highly positive, receiving a number of awards in 2008. The game is acclaimed for its innovative turn-based battle system and its integration with community features. Danny Gourley of Ten Ton Hammer praised its gameplay, stating "it requires gamers to think a little instead of just mashing buttons".[7] It has been selected as an official game for the Game and Game World Championship for two years in a row (2008, 2009).[8]