Issue #2 - 14 March 2009
If you haven't done so yet, make sure to to read MechScape Post #1
Staff Editorial #2: The MechScape Environment and Concepts
Written by Dizzy
Hello there fellow reader! In this editorial I am going to give you my speculation on the MechScape environment and related concepts. My personal opinion on what makes a good game is not just the gameplay itself, but the diversity of the environment the game is set in. There is a lot to speculate about, but I’ll just be focusing on some of the main topics and give my views of I expect the environment will be like and what I hope it will be like.
Will it be in outer space?
Judging by some of the concept art created by Darren B, MechScape might just involve environments on extraterrestrial planets. A lot of Darren B’s concept artwork involves alien-like creatures and environments, which of course suggests that there will be different types of species in this game. There have been ideas across the forums that MechScape will feature different planets and space colonies for you to explore; this seems like an excellent idea and it would really give MechScape its own unique feel from other online games. A lot of the concept art has extraterrestrial landscapes and very little Earth-like structures – this suggests that the human race will be living in colonies. An interesting thought I keep having is whether or not the humans will have an alliance with another race or if they are shunned by the aliens. Could it be possible that an alien race came and destroyed the human’s home planet? This could prove to be a good storyline.
“The first time we started talking about OpenGL was back in mid-2006. It was quite an unusual kickoff. Andrew Gower came over to the Mechscape team to chat about some of the game's features, and saw a printed picture of a creature roaming the corridors of a space base hanging on the wall.” – This is a quote from a Jagex interview about RuneScape, which explains MechScape's role in the development of RuneScape HD. (source)
Does this mean players will have the ability to travel up into space and possibly go to another planet? This also gives me the idea that there could be spaceships that players will be able to build and/or pilot.
Landscapes, caravans, and races
My favorite mystery of MechScape is what the landscapes will look like. Imagine roaming around on a planet similar to Mars, but with strange looking vegetation and massive, breathing, tree-like life forms. I haven’t thought about what the cities would look like in MechScape, but I have pictured caravans, or encampments, that you could go to for making trades with merchants and to repair your mech (if there will be player-owned mechs, of course). One of Darren B’s concept art has a picture of what looks to be a floating jellyfish alien. This supposedly is a “Pliigi Caravan” used for a tutorial…?
This has given me some idea that there could be more than one race to play as – this is something Jagex has not tried before and has been suggested multiple times by RuneScape players that there needs to be more playable races. So now, in MechScape, could Jagex be catering to those suggestions? In most role-playing games you are able to choose more than one race; whether you make your own race or choose from a pre-existing list of species. If there will be more than one race to play as, how do you think the character creation process will be done? Will Jagex give us an incredibly flexible character creation system, or will it be simpler like RuneScape? Having a vast library of looks to choose from has been something of interest for me for quite some time now. I am hoping for a selection of body structures rather than having only the option to change your hair and permanent clothes.
Who are the Pliigi?
Darren B has mentioned the “Pliigi race” a few times as notes in his concept art. One of Darren’s concepts shows an alien vehicle used for a tutorial level; specifically, it says “Pliigi Tutorial Level 0 Land Vehicle” – Pliigi tutorial level? This suggests even more that there could be more than one race to play as. Now, I could be horribly mistaken and the Pliigi could be a human race, but we probably won’t know until the game is released. There are some other concept pictures showing two alien creatures – could these be the Pliigi? The Pliigi seem to interest me a lot (who or whatever they are!) and I would just love to see the community coming up with their own ideas of who the Pliigi may be.
Stars in the sky
"It's going to be the next step or two beyond Runescape HD in terms of technology” (source)
Every time I read the above quote, all I can think about is the ability to look up and see the stars. Do you think that the possibility of a much more detailed environment is likely? I certainly believe so! It seems as though the only way this could be possible is allowing the player to control the camera with their mouse, which could lead to using the W-A-S-D keys to move your character. If we are able to see the sky, will we see stars, with orbiting planets and moons to visit? Overall, I am hoping Jagex puts great work in to the environment and having a viewable sky is one of the key ingredients to a vast world.
Lava harvester and resources
“This is not RuneScape in space" has been our motto since day one on the development front. It's a completely different game, from every possible perspective, not only from RuneScape but from other MMOGs out there.” (source)
The above quote is Henrique Olifiers’ (Head of MechScape) answer to a question asking if MechScape is a ‘RuneScape in the Future’. Like many other MMO’s, RuneScape hosts a variety of skills such as mining, smithing, woodcutting, fletching, fishing, and herblore – all used to gather resources and produce products to be sold to other players (if not used yourself).
The question is: If MechScape is going to be different; what kind of trade-skills will there be and will it resemble some of the skills in RuneScape?
Last month Ren introduced some new concept art to MechScape World (thanks to Jagex for sharing their art with us). The concept art shows a large aircraft / mech known as the Lava harvester (thread found here). The purpose of this harvester has been speculated to be used to refine hot lava in to materials used to create items (possibly weapons and armor). Could the Lava harvester be a player-owned craft or NPC-controlled (if not both)? An idea of what the harvester could be used for could be something such as smithing. The craft will collect the lava using its ‘lava vacuum’ and then the player will insert his/her ore through some sort of chute. The ore will then go through the ‘slag hopper’ and the heat from the lava inside the harvester will melt down the ore. After the process, the harvester will dispense the final product of the ore in a portable bin for the player to take. All of this is course my own theory of this machine – its true use could be something completely different.
Other mechs/machines I would expect to be used for gathering resources are:
Drills, cranes, saws, laser-cutters, tractor-like mechs (used for shoveling), refineries, and mining vehicles.
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Thank you for reading this editorial and I do hope this editorial will help spark ideas for our new fan fiction forum (found here). I will be looking forward to seeing what everyone has to say about the content and ideas I’ve mentioned and I would like to hear some of your own ideas. I hope this proves an interesting addition to the ongoing speculation regarding the game.
Concept Artwork Disclaimer:
Though Darren B’s work is greatly mentioned in this editorial, it does NOT mean his work is confirmed official MechScape art. Hopefully, in the future, we can get a genuine confirmation from Jagex if Darren’s work is true MechScape material. *gives Ren a little nudge*
Again, thank you for reading!
~ Dizzy, MSW Content Writer
MechScape and Community News
Ability to speak about MSW on RSOF
As if we could ask for more from Jagex, it was recently announced on the RuneScape Official Forums that MechScape World has been approved for discussion as we have been deemed, to quote Mod Emilee, "a great fan site." This announcement is unprecedented: we are officially the first fan site that has been approved for discussion across the RuneScape Official Forums. We would like to thank Jagex for yet another kind gesture towards our fansite. (Read more.) ( Approved MechScape discussion on RSOF.)
Mod Craddock's release date post
Recently, as most of us know, Jagex has been becoming more and more reluctant when it comes to sharing a release date concerning MechScape. Originally planned for release this month, and later pushed back to "sometime during Spring 2009", it now seems there is further proof Jagex isn't setting anything in stone as they intricately fine tune their next big game. (Read more.)
Newsletter
A newsletter was sent out by e-mail for all members of the MechScape World community to read. It shares how the site has grown since its inception and highlights some of the more important happenings that have recently helped the site grow. With insight from Ren, PoultryChamp, and myself, it's sure to get the message across that MechScape World isn't just a pipe dream anymore. It's the real deal. (Read more.)
New Fan Fiction Forum
This week we released a new forum for fan-fiction based within the MechScape universe. Our lack of knowledge about MechScape can be turned into a strength, as it gives authors free reign to imagine how MechScape universe might be, based on sources of inspiration such as the concept art. So time to dust off your creative writing skills and join us in the MechScape Fan Fiction Forum! (Read more.)
Footnotes
Make sure to read MechScape Post #1 as well!
Contributors: Dirk389, Ren (Content Research Team); Dizzy, mike470, Oscar, Simba, Asfastasdark, Max(Writing & Editing Team).
Disclaimer: The views expressed by members of staff do not necessarily represent the view of MechScape World.
