Hellgate: London Mega-Update: Beta NDA Lifted, Patch 0, More Content Promised, Subscriber Perks Revealed
By Steve on Saturday, October 20th, 2007 at 8:41 PM PST In Electronic Arts, Game Companies
The official Hellgate: London website has just posted a community update offering a wealth of new info.
First, comes news that the several month ongoing Beta NDA has been lifted. This means we should start hearing more discussion from beta testers about what the retail game will bring outside what the recent demo has shown.
Secondly, Flagship Studios bring juicy info regarding Patch 0. Patch 0, of course, represents the current trend of rigorous bug fixes and updates released the day a game hits retail. This particular patch, however, will be offering more than just simple bug fixes. For starters, Flagship Studios assures us that DX10 issues will be fixed; or in their own words:
“When Hellgate: London hits retail, we expect the framerate of our DX10 target to be as high, if not higher than DX9, including these special features.”
Now onto the real meat of the patch: Lots of content updated. We finally get confirmation of what perks those paying the $9.95 monthly subscription fee get. I’ve briefly summarized all of that content below:
Multiplayer Updates For All Players (Even Non-Subscribers):
- Buddy Lists – Organize games with your friends.
- Guilds – Only subscribers can start one. Anyone can join a guild. Special name colors and tags on characters show their affiliation.
- Buddy and Guild Chat – Special chat channels so you can keep your conversations clear.
- Bigger Levels in Nightmare Mode – These increase the time players get to spend in each area, giving the game a more expansive feel at higher difficulty levels.
- PVP – Players can both duel and elect to enter free-for-all PvP Mode. [info on how to initiate a duel] Dueling can only take place outside of Underground hubs. Those in PvP mode must always always be ready for PvP.
- Tuned Game Progression – Level and monster progression… making each act feel more defined and focused.
- Gossip – Additional details on NPCs and places throughout HG:L (gives the game more ‘life’ and back-story)
- More Quest Information – Quest NPCs inform you more about what you are fighting an why. Named demons and overall story will flow better as the player gains better sense of direction.
- NPC Tweaks – NPC (vocal) responses have been tuned so that they tend more towards the serious and “normal”, reserving the twisted commentary for specific player characters or in rare moments for the general populace.
Subscriber Features:
- Elite Mode – Makes enemies tougher. Makes the game tougher.
- Hardcore – Takes away various resurrection options.
- Themed Events and Items – Halloween themed stuff for starters.
- Guild Creation – Form your own guild. Do whatever you want with it.
- Achievements – Needs no description. You unlock them as you would an Xbox 360 achievement.
- Extra Character Slots – Everyone gets 3 characters. Subscribers can bump this up to 24.
- Larger Stash – Double your locker storage size – for the packrat at heart.
- Founder’s Perks – Name Color, Forum Icon, More to come… (this will be an on-going area, as well)
The “Themed Events” sounds interesting. The HG:L community update describes most things listed here in more detail, should that interest you.
Hellgate: London hits store shelves October 31st and is listed as $49.99 at most major retailers.
Via Official Hellgate: London Website
This is fucking retarded, having to subscribe monthly for extra features. What bullshit.
Don’t swear, it messes up filter software, among other things. A monthly fee is not so bad, since it is like expansion packs. You can always play it for free single player or without the extra features. Playing without extras is the way to tell them that you want them free, or not at all.
Just like a MMO, extra stuff costs money ie: subscription fee. The difference with Hellgate is that even if you decide to cancel you arnt just left with a $50 coaster dvd because it has single and free multi player. Bottom line is that the fee is for the people that like it and play alot and want more out of the experience. People that play it a couple times a week or something may not want to pay for it every month, but they dont have to either.
Heru-Ur raises a good point. You could choose to stop paying and (presumably) continue playing the game. Giving you the option to get some extra stuff — none of which seems important, at all — isn’t so terrible a thing.
“Everyone gets 3 characters. Subscribers can bump this up to 24″
The ridiculous limitation to only 3 character slots is a big disappointment, a serious let down, and will probably be a show stopper for me.
I vividly remember my frustration with Guild Wars’ 4 character slots, after having played Diablo 2 LOD and various mods online for many moon. Limited amount of characters also limits the amount of available storage space, aka mules; very frustrating for the collector that I am.
Considering the years I played Diablo 2, I do not wish to become addicted to a game that will require monthly fees over such a long period. Downgrading to free mode (3 slots & smaller stash), once you’re used to the subscriber extras, is not an option IMHO. I’m sure you’ll loose all your subscriber characters and stashed items after stopping the subscribtion. Even the price tag for lifetime subscribtion seems pretty steep to me. I am not prepared to spend $150+ for a game.
Does anybody know how to patch this freakin game? never seen anytrhing so ‘invisible’ to do, or irrelevently complicated. accessed the loader, started the game, logged on during and before playing.. flaming enigma! somebody please help? i cant be the only one!