And today they announced monthly updates for it. Press release:
Durham, USA – July 10th, 2012 – Funcom is thrilled to announce an ambitious monthly update plan for its recently released modern-day massively multiplayer online game ‘The Secret World’. Every month going forward Funcom will be releasing comprehensive game updates filled to the brim with exciting new content such as storylines, missions, seasonal events, gameplay enhancements and even entire world regions. These updates will serve players new and exciting experiences every month, ensuring there is always something new to discover in ‘The Secret World’.
"The team is excited to be working on expanding The Secret World," says Senior Producer and Creative Director Ragnar Tørnquist. "We are committing to a very ambitious update schedule, but our goal is, and has always been, to provide our subscribers with new, high-quality content every month."
‘The Secret World’ launched to great critical acclaim on July 3rd and is the highest rated current PC game on MetaCritic by user score. The number of players is growing quickly and to cope with the increasing traffic, Funcom today had to add a new dimension to the game. One dimension can hold tens of thousands of gamers playing at the same time, and due to the game’s unique single-server technology players can move seamlessly from one dimension to another to play with their friends anywhere and at anytime no matter what dimension they call home.
The first update will be released July 31st and details on what is included in the update will be made available later this week. In his first State of the Game to the community published today, Mr. Tørnquist also revealed a high-level overview of what players can expect further down the line, including:
Monthly mission packs, including a slew of new investigation missions
New weapons (including a big one that will cause even bigger explosions!)
Raids (clue for the first one: The Big Apple will never be the same)
Expanded character customization, including plastic surgery
A player vs. player dungeon set in an entirely new geographical area
Dungeon finder tool to make grouping for dungeons much easier
Seasonal events such as Halloween and Winter Solstice
Two large adventure areas including new characters, missions, monsters, lore and more
More social gameplay will be added to the London hub
Combat will be enhanced significantly both visually and mechanically
And much, much more!
‘The Secret World’ has been recognized widely for its new take on the MMO formula. Not only is it set in a unique modern-day setting, the game completely does away with confinements such as classes and levels. Storytelling is also taken to a whole new level and the game introduces engaging missions unlike anything seen before in MMOs. Public interest in the game has been formidable with 1.5 million gamers all over the world registered to beta test ‘The Secret World’, breaking all previous Funcom records.
Soda. Take my advice: make time for TSW. It's THAT good. We already know that GW2 is going to be formulaic in the extreme, just with prettier pictures. (Nothing wrong with that if you like it, but I'm bored of it.)
And my gods. The updates. Oh man. And the community in beta was.. amazing. The exact opposite of WoW. People were friendly. Helpful. Mindful to keep spoilers out of General chat (which really is a BIG deal.) It was definitely one of the BEST MMO experiences I have had in the past decade.
Biased, not so much. But let's be honest here; while the gameplay of GW2 is likely to be substantially different from GW and many other MMOs, when you strip it down to the core elements it does remain the same. Pick up quest, collect bear guts, ding a level, repeat ad infinitum. And either you do damage, you heal, or you tank^Wcontrol as your primary function. http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/combat/healing-death/
When I said "formulaic," that's more or less what I'm talking about. You have a class and spec that more or less defines your role(s). You have repeated 'go kill X' and 'deliver Z to Q' quests. Your goal is to more levels so you can 'go kill dungeon boss for more gear.'
That's not to say it's impossible to innovate, and certainly MMOs have, but they've also stuck to that same formula. Do quests, get gear, get levels, cap level, kill dungeon stuff, get gear. Max out character, roll an alt, do the same things.
"But if you think H. P. Lovecraft mixed with SciFi mixed with magic though, you start to get just a part of the story. (Oh, and zombies and eldritch horrors. Okay, no more spoilers)."
Okay, my nerdboner just sprung up so hard that it flipped my laptop across the room.
But, that laptop is a MacBook Pro circa 2011. I usually dink around with fair success for games in Windows 7 via Boot Camp. I wonder if the performance will make me cry? Looks like I just barely meet the reqs.
'Unleashed' kicks off a monthly run that brings new content, new features, new stories and new characters to The Secret World and to subscribers. The first issue is packed with missions, Nightmare mode dungeons, the highly anticipated Marketplace and other updates -- and this is just the beginning!
NEW MISSIONS!
* Carter Unleashed: An action mission set at the Innsmouth Academy on Solomon Island, where the player gets to know more about the exceptionally gifted student Carter. Exploring the hallway below the academy, Carter will need help controlling her powers -- before they get completely out of hand.
* Crime and Punishment: Bestselling horror author Sam Krieg came to Solomon Island to write his latest novel -- but there's more to it than that. Through this investigation, the player will dig into Krieg's works and the mind of an obsessed fan to learn more about the dark and hidden history of Solomon Island.
* Hell & Bach: Daredevil reporter Daniel Bach is working on the story of all stories, his shot at finally winning a Pulitzer. For years, he's been chasing the ghost of Theodore Wicker, only to end up trapped at the Overlook Motel outside Kingsmouth Town. But Wicker's story doesn't end here -- nor did it start here. Following the bread crumbs back in time, the player will investigate the mystery of Wicker, and learn more about what brought him to the gates of hell...and beyond.
* Funeral Crasher: Eleanor Franklin only has her cats and her ghosts to keep her company at her mansion in Blue Mountain -- and now the ghosts are getting restless. When the dead themselves are spooked, the living must pay heed.
* The 3rd Age: There have been Ages before ours, and the evidence lies beneath. In Egypt, the sand is thin, and the remnants of past Ages are beginning to spread their influence across the world. The Seven Sentinels hold the key to an investigation that begins in the present, and delves deep into the distant past.
* Red Handed: It wasn't chance that brought Dr Varias to this distant part of the Carpathians at this particular point in time. Following in his father's footsteps, Varias is attempting to unravel the mystery of the Red Hand. Why did they build a vast facility beneath this desolate region? What were they doing here? And how was Varias' father involved? In this investigation, we answer some burning questions about this secret Soviet era genetic research project -- and how it ties into the events of the present.
But that's not all! Another mission awaits observant players on Solomon Island -- one that explores a character that may be more than she pretends to be...
NEW NIGHTMARE MODE DUNGEONS!
Two dungeons are receiving new Nightmare modes: The Ankh and Hell Fallen.
Increased challenges, increased rewards, and a chance to test new builds, new synergies and to put your team to the test against some of the toughest and fiercest challenges in The Secret World!
Who will be the first to conquer The Ankh and Hell Fallen in Nightmare mode? When 'Unleashed' is unleashed, we will find out!
THE MARKETPLACE!
Unleashed also contains the brand new, cross-dimensional Marketplace, allowing players to sell, trade and ship items to other players, no matter where they're playing. The Marketplace will be an integral part of The Secret World's growing economy, giving players more flexibility when it comes to how they equip their characters, and how they procure PAX.
AND MORE!
Of course, issue #1 is jam-packed with other updates and changes -- and astute players may even notice the ongoing construction in New York, London and Seoul, as new tenants prepare to move in. The Secret World is a LIVING world, and it will keep growing and changing through this issue and all upcoming, monthly issues.
And this is only the beginning. Issue #2 is already on its way, and if you like this month's content, you're going to LOVE what's next! Dr Aldini is sharpening his scalpels, the Ockham triplets are readying their scissors and razors, and the first auxiliary weapon is being assembled -- so stay tuned for August's major update, to be revealed soon!
The Secret World issue #1: 'Unleashed' goes live on July 31st, and is available for free to all players.
Having played on a 'buddy key' a friend gave me, I gotta agree with the review.
I was going into it thinking it is an MMO with some more involved quests, but that is not the way to look at it IMO.
It's more like one of those puzzle/adventure games with deep story telling, that just happens to also be an MMO. Trying to 'level' and get better gear is almost inconsequential compared to solving riddles, hacking computers, and tracking down information.
We are ONE month old! YOU are invited to celebrate with us!
When: From Friday, August 3rd at 4pm GMT until Monday, August 6th at 7am GMT
New players: We are so proud of what we have made and want YOU to join us and try the game out for FREE this coming celebration weekend! Get the client here and create your account using the form on the right, and you are ready to join us in the celebration this weekend!
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JBoogalooThis too shall pass...Alexandria, VAIcrontian
So, I took advantage of the 1/2 sale last weekend and bought TSW from Amazon. Turns out it's playable at very low quality and resolution settings on my MacBook Pro. And, I've actually found it worth the trouble.
Especially when I found myself up until 4am solving a Demonic cypher that corresponded to Latin phrases I found scrawled in a London sewer. Then, shortly after, I was on a roller coaster in a theme park that was actually built as a circuit to conduct occult energies. Addicted, now.
Considering the narrower appeal of this game, I was hoping they'd approach it by building it small and slow, and gradually get a following sorta like EVE, but I should have known better.
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JBoogalooThis too shall pass...Alexandria, VAIcrontian
Ouch...
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midga"There's so much hot dog in Rome" ~digi(> ^.(> O_o)>Icrontian
The general consensus I've heard is "I'm gonna wait for it to be F2P." From what I've heard about the game, though, I don't know how an F2P model would work for TSW. That requires ways to make money on microtransactions.
The game sounds really cool. I'd love to give it a shot, except I've got too many other games going on... I'm kinda curious, though, how the MMO aspect works with it. I haven't heard much about it except "oh, and it's an MMO and PvP combat but COME LOOK AT ALL THIS SHINY STORY AND PUZZLES AND ENVIRONMENT." I kinda wonder if making it into an MMO was a bad call...
Comments
Too many good games, not enough Soda.
And my gods. The updates. Oh man. And the community in beta was.. amazing. The exact opposite of WoW. People were friendly. Helpful. Mindful to keep spoilers out of General chat (which really is a BIG deal.) It was definitely one of the BEST MMO experiences I have had in the past decade.
"Formulaic in the extreme" is a naughty way of saying you haven't actually done your research.
That being said I have had much temptation to try TSW while waiting for my beloved game.
http://www.guildwars2.com/en/the-game/combat/healing-death/
When I said "formulaic," that's more or less what I'm talking about. You have a class and spec that more or less defines your role(s). You have repeated 'go kill X' and 'deliver Z to Q' quests. Your goal is to more levels so you can 'go kill dungeon boss for more gear.'
That's not to say it's impossible to innovate, and certainly MMOs have, but they've also stuck to that same formula. Do quests, get gear, get levels, cap level, kill dungeon stuff, get gear. Max out character, roll an alt, do the same things.
I can't even get past the tutorial area, it chugs so bad.
It sounds like an amazing game, but until they fix some of their optimization issues, I pretty much wasted 50 bucks on this game.
Okay, my nerdboner just sprung up so hard that it flipped my laptop across the room.
But, that laptop is a MacBook Pro circa 2011. I usually dink around with fair success for games in Windows 7 via Boot Camp. I wonder if the performance will make me cry? Looks like I just barely meet the reqs.
<img src="http://gifs.gifbin.com/012012/reverse-1328724228_raccoon_eating_popcorn.gif" />
I was going into it thinking it is an MMO with some more involved quests, but that is not the way to look at it IMO.
It's more like one of those puzzle/adventure games with deep story telling, that just happens to also be an MMO. Trying to 'level' and get better gear is almost inconsequential compared to solving riddles, hacking computers, and tracking down information.
Also, want to try the game for free this weekend? From http://www.thesecretworld.com/news/celebrate_the_first_live_month_of_the_secret_world .
Of course I share my jealousy with you because I can't do shizzam from here.
Especially when I found myself up until 4am solving a Demonic cypher that corresponded to Latin phrases I found scrawled in a London sewer. Then, shortly after, I was on a roller coaster in a theme park that was actually built as a circuit to conduct occult energies. Addicted, now.
The game sounds really cool. I'd love to give it a shot, except I've got too many other games going on... I'm kinda curious, though, how the MMO aspect works with it. I haven't heard much about it except "oh, and it's an MMO and PvP combat but COME LOOK AT ALL THIS SHINY STORY AND PUZZLES AND ENVIRONMENT." I kinda wonder if making it into an MMO was a bad call...