Dark and Light Interview
Interviews

Dark and Light is one of the more promising MMOG Projects coming your way from Europe. Developed by the french company NPCube this "largest MMORPG you've ever seen" is currently in beta phase, and we had the chance to interview Stephane Quilichini, one of the Lead Game Designers.

MMOG Hell: For completeness, please state your name and position.
I am Stephane Quilichini, one of the lead Game Designers of Dark and Light

MMOG Hell: There will be 2 Kingdoms, the Dark and the Light, plus 10 other Kingdoms that can be discovered. Does that mean that players can go out and conquer these Kingdoms for their faction (Dark or Light) to increase the power/influence of their faction by doing so?
That is right. By conquering a territory you put it under the influence of your factionÆs magic, and you can therefore rule cities within that influence. Players not willing to fight may also act as explorers, discovering these new places and avoiding dangers.

MMOG Hell: Housing was mentioned in your FAQ; how will housing work? Can players construct houses, or even cities anywhere in the world at will?
All players will begin the game with an apartment in which he will store items owned by all his avatars. Later in the game he will build a house in more or less dangerous places. Guilds will be allowed castles. Construction will be possible in areas such as defined by the Game Masters, for coherence.

MMOG Hell: What are Braves and Lutins?
Braves have been engendered by Immortals during the Great Wars. They are formidable fighters, usually Paladins since they canÆt bear ôevilö. Lutins are small beings, standing around 3 feet tall. They make good bards or rangers, and sometimes druids.

MMOG Hell: You claim that Dark and Light is the "largest MMORPG" i've ever seen, how large is it, in square miles for example?
ItÆs large as 15 000 square miles, with no zoning effect and horizon at more than 30 miles. You can fly over it at 12 000 ft. This gives you a unique sensation of immersion in the world!

MMOG Hell: If it is so huge, you pretty much require a massive number of players to populate it, what will be the maximum number of concurrent players online?
We have no theoretical limit. We wanted this world so large because all our players will be on a unique logical server. DnL results from the combination of 2 brand new technologies: a procedural rendering engine and a cellular server engine. Our players wonÆt be divided into as many communities as servers, and we are very proud of it. However, this implied a game design that works with few as well as with many players, and it was quite a challenge. On another hand, our GM team will have an easier taskà

MMOG Hell: In such a large scale world, how much content will there be, how much detail for the players to explore?
Besides an automatic generation of mobs, our GM are assigned to create specific places for quests and events. Each kingdom has its dominant theme, with sometimes completely different enclaves. There already are many castles, ruins, cities, places of cult in Ganareth, and we will add many more.

MMOG Hell: Can a player switch from Dark to Light alignment?
Once you have created an avatar, you canÆt change is its alignment. A player can have avatars with different alignments; however he will have to wait a certain time, depending on the level of these avatars, to switch between them.

MMOG Hell: Apart from the already innovative feature of skiing on a shield, or riding the birdlike creature, what other means of personal transportation will there be in the game?
Delta plane flight is functional, it uses many parameters such as wind, ascending currentsà landing is not trivial; it is a skill that has to be trained. Free fall with figures functions too, donÆt forget to open your parachute a few seconds above the ground! Riding animals like bears or dragons will require taming and of course riding skills.

MMOG Hell: Will you have Pets in the game, and if yes then how does a player obtain one and how big can it get?
Various pets exist, depending on the characterÆs class. They range from mules to carry your luggage to demons that will require several players to invoke, and even personal dragons that will make you avoid those overcrowded collective transports ;-)

MMOG Hell: Can a Guild, Kingdom or other form of organisation have a Crest/Banner, and can it decorate its shields, armor, housing with it?
Banners will ornate castles and cities, and guilds will have their flag that will play a role during massive fights. We will give the guilds tools allowing them to differentiate from each other, but they wonÆt be available when we launch the game.

Thanks to Stephane for taking the time!

Here are 2 exclusive screenshots for our readers, straight from NPCube:

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See all Dark and Light screenshots in our Dark and Light Gallery. And don't forget to register for the beta.