WildStar (video game)

WildStar
Developer(s)	Carbine Studios
Publisher(s)	NCSOFT
Director(s)	Mike Donatelli Matt Mocarski
Producer(s)	Jeremy Gaffney
Writer(s)	Chad Moore
Composer(s)	Jeff Kurtenacker
Engine	Proprietary[1]
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Release date(s)	Q1/Q2 2014[2]
Genre(s)	Online role-playing game
Mode(s)	Online multiplayer

WildStar is an upcoming science fiction massively multiplayer online role-playing game that takes place on the fictional planet Nexus, where a mysterious and powerful race known as the Eldan have disappeared leaving behind a wealth of technology and secrets for players to explore.^[3][4]

WildStar is developed by Carbine Studios, published by NCSOFT and was unveiled on August 17, 2011 during Gamescom.^[5]

The game was first set to be released in 2013 Q4, but was later delayed to Q1/Q2 of 2014. WildStar gives players two methods of paying for the game, following the initial purchase. The first being a monthly subscription, giving the player 30 days of game time. The second method allows players to purchase an in-game item which grants 30 days of playtime, but is able to be traded to other players for in-game currency.^[6]

Gameplay

In WildStar, players are able to create a character that they can control through their playing session. These characters can move in an open, persistent world environment.^[7] Characters can level from 1 to 50.^[8] Gameplay mainly consists of quests, dungeons, and player versus player combat.

Movement

WildStar allows the player many liberties in movement, such as double jumping, sprinting, and dashing. This ties into the gameplay in ways such as speed races and jumping puzzles.^[9][10]

Moreover, there will be zones with altered gravity in the game, allowing the player to jump higher.^[11]

Combat

WildStar uses a system of telegraphs for combat, where zones are displayed on the ground, allowing a player to predict attacks of enemies and heals of allies. A player can dodge them by walking out of them, dashing, or jumping above them.^[12][13]

Players attacks are also telegraphs, this means that players have to cast them in the right direction if they want to damage enemies. Players also have the option of auto-targeting enemies, which puts the telegraph for the move they use centered on their current target. This makes it easier to get a particular enemy into their telegraph, but often won't catch as many enemies as a well-placed free-targeting attack would.^[12]

Housing

In WildStar, players can own a sky plot. This plot is a part of land consisting of a house and severals "sockets", each socket can receive different "plugs". Plugs can consist of many different things, such as a crafting bench, a mine, an exploration shaft, etc.^[14][15]

While the exterior of your plot can be filled with "plugs" and decorations placed on pre-defined "hooks", the interior offers complete creative freedom. Various interior decorations offer a bonus to your rested EXP if you log out inside your home, making your own house the single best source of rested EXP in the game.

This plot can be accessed by anyone who has the owner's permission. Every plug can be used by all the players who have access to this plot. If a visitor performs a task such as harvesting, the reward will be split by the visitor and the owner of the plot. So if you can't log into the game for a while, one of your friends can maintain your plot for you and you'll still receive at least a portion of what was produced.

While housing is not a required part of the game, it offers many advantages to the players, from personal workbenches, gathering nodes, personal dungeons, quicker access to raids and increased rested EXP.

Character advancement

Upon character creation, players will be able to choose between six classes and eight races. Classes are limited to certain pre-determined races.^[16] The six classes consist of the Warrior, the Esper, the Spellslinger, the Stalker, the Medic, and the Engineer. Playable races that belong to the Dominion faction are the Cassian, Draken, Mechari, and the Chua; the Humans, Granok, Aurin, and Mordesh belong to the Exiles. Each class is able to partake in two of the three possible roles; DPS, tank, and healer.^[17]

WildStar also uses a system of paths. Upon character creation, players are able to choose between the four paths, in addition to their desired class, however, unlike classes, paths are not restricted to specific races. The paths are loosely based on the Bartle player types.^[18] The path the player chooses upon character creation determines what kind of extra content the player enjoys.^[19] The four available paths are the Soldier, Explorer, Settler, and Scientist.

Player versus player

WildStar offers different means of player conflict. WildStar allow players of opposing factions to fight almost anywhere within the in-game world.^[20]

In addition to open world combat, players will also be able to participate in more organised combat, such as arenas, battlegrounds, or Warplots, where players fight each other in teams.^[21]

Arenas consist of small teams (2v2, 3v3, or 5v5) attempting to kill the opposing group of enemies. Each team has a set amount of respawns. A match is won when all of the members of a certain team has been killed, and are unable to respawn.^[22]

Battlegrounds consist of larger teams (up to 15v15). Matches are centered around varying objectives, and victory conditions depend on the kind of objectives teams have to complete.^[23]

War Plots have the biggest teams (40v40). A War Plot is a fortress controlled by a Warparty. Players of a Warparty have to build the Warplot in order to increase its attack and defense possibilities. Matches are then organised by two Warparties. Victory is then obtained when players take control of the opposing team's Warplot.^[24]

Plot

The game takes place in a fictional universe on the recently discovered planet of Nexus.^[25] The planet, once inhabited by a hyper-advanced race of aliens known as The Eldan who has all but disappeared, is fought over by two factions both hoping to control the concealed lost technology of Nexus;^[26] The Dominion, an intergalactic empire which decides that the planet belongs to them, and that it should be explored to discover the lost technology,^[27] and The Exiles, a group of refugees and outlaws who have all been driven from their respective homelands by The Dominion and have joined forces to fight them.^[28]

Development

WildStar development started in 2005, after 17 former members of Blizzard Entertainment founded Carbine Studios. At the time, the seventeen former members of Blizzard Entertainment had a desire to "do anything but WoW",^[29] "In fact, most were excited and overjoyed to try and start over, this time, not making the same mistakes that might have been made before." When confronted with the decision of a game engine, the company first looked at off-the-shelf options. Although multiple engines were available for use, the team found that none of them suited their needs, to be able to scale well five years into the future. Eventually, the team decided it would be best for them to create their own, allowing them complete freedom.^[30]

In 2007, NCSOFT acquired Carbine Studios, saying they are working on a unannounced MMO project.^[31][32]

WildStar was first announced by NCsoft at Gamescom 2011.^[5] Two weeks later, more footage of the game was released at PAX Prime 2011.^[33]

Audio

The soundtrack for WildStar was composed and arranged by Jeff Kurtenacker.

References

External links

• Official website
• Official forums
• WildStar (video game) on Twitter
• Official YouTube Channel