MMOHut Dynasty Warriors Online Interview

A Few weeks ago Aeria Games asked me to do an interview for their upcoming game Dynasty Warriors Online (Which goes closed beta on October 14). Since there wasn’t too much info available out there about the game, I figured doing a question & answer interview would be an awesome way for me to learn more about the game and to share that info with MMOHut readers. Anyway, on with the interview!

Omer Altay (OA): Hi, This is Omer From MMOHut.com. I’ve actually played many of the Dynasty Warrior games on the consoles, so I’m a bit excited about Dynasty Warriors Online. Can you please introduce yourself and tell us your position over at Aeria Games / Dynasty Warriors Online?

Aeria Games (AG): My name is Brian DeSanti and I’m the Associate Producer on Dynasty Warriors Online (DWO).

Dynasty Warriors Online Gameplay

OA: I ask this every time, but I think it’s worth knowing. Who actually developed Dynasty Warriors Online? Was it Koei, the company behind the console Dynasty Warrior Games? Is the game available outside of North America? If so, has the game been successful there?

AG: DWO was developed by Koei and is being published in the US and Europe by Aeria Games. Even though we’re specifically targeting the US and Europe, we don’t block players from playing our games, meaning anyone can play regardless of where they’re located. DWO is currently available in Japan and has been quite successful.

OA: Awesome to hear that Dynasty Warriors Online won’t have any IP Blocks. Can you tell me a little about Dynasty Warriors? What’s the game all about and how is it different from the 100+ other free to play MMORPGs out there? Also, what similarities will it have (if any) with the console Dynasty Warrior games? Will it be action oriented?

AG: Dynasty Warriors Online is based on the novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The ancient Han Dynasty has collapsed and three generals now vie for control of China with the hope of unifying the country under their banner.

Dynasty Warriors is known for its hack ‘n’ slash style gameplay and this experience is has flawlessly transitioned to the PC with DWO. Compatible with any USB game controller, players feel like they’re playing the Dynasty Warriors game they’ve come to love. This action oriented gameplay is not all that common for MMORPGs and will be something that sets DWO apart from the rest. DWO also has traditional MMORPG elements such as player guilds, quests, and features for players who enjoy PvE or PvP.

Dynasty Warriors Online Map

OA: Great to hear that DWO supports gamepads and is supposed to play a lot like the console Dynasty Warriors Games. What kind of crafting system (if any) can we expect from Dynasty Warriors Online? Are there any really interesting or unique features in the game you’d like to point out?

AG: There are many different systems in the game which can help the players improve their performance or appearance. Synthesizing is a system that allows players to combine two items to get one item that has the attributes of both starting items. Tempering allows players to upgrade a certain attribute of their weapon. Modifying will alter the base abilities of their weapon. Players will also be able to add elements to their weapons to give their weapon an elemental affect that can help in battle. They will also be able to add elements to their gear, as well as dye it to change its appearance. Players can also sew their gear to combine specific materials with existing armor to create new items.

OA: Item upgrading system. Check. How will progression work in Dynasty Warriors Online? Do players get stat points every level? Skill Points? How many skill / talent trees will each class have? Will there be job advancements?

AG: DWO’s progression comes in the form of military ranks. Players begin at the lowest rank (Recruit) and acquire honor through training, quests, and battles as they progress. There are 17 ranks in all, each requiring a specific amount of honor and a passing grade for a promotion test in order to be promoted to the next rank.

Dynasty Warriors Online Town

OA: Interesting – military ranks instead of levels. Tell me a bit about the PvP in Dynasty Warriors Online. Will there be a big emphasis on PvP?

AG: PvP comes in a variety of different game modes in DWO. Mock Battles allow players of the same faction to test their skill against one another. Apart from the battle itself, this game allows spectators to observe the match and doesn’t affect the characters in any way. Arena mode allows players to battle players of opposing factions. Melee battles are 4v4 encounters taht pit opposing factions against one another with varying mission objectives. The largest PvP battle comes in the form of Showdown mode, where 12 players on each side battle one other for battlefield dominance. There’s also a Campaign mode that allows rival factions to battle for city control.

OA: 12 vs 12 battles sound pretty epic. What about PvE? What kind of end game content can we expect to see in Dynasty Warriors Online?

AG: As a player progresses, they unlock quests that they can complete. Quests range from solo quests to 4 person quests, and provide players with unique mission objectives. Players who are familiar with the Dynasty Warriors series will enjoy this system because it offers some objectives that have never been seen in previous titles. The Melee battle mode allows for both PvP and PvE battles, so players who prefer not to face player opponents can still participate in this battle mode.

Dynasty Warriors Online Combat

OA: There’s very little information about the release schedule of Dynasty Warriors Online. I know you guys haven’t announced anything, but when can we expect closed beta to begin and open beta? Just provide a ball-park estimate if you can.

AG: DWO’s Closed Beta has just been announced as October 14^th. Players can sign up for the Closed Beta at http://dynastywarriors.aeriagames.com and that will allow them to stay up to date on all the DWO news we announce.

OA: Thank you for your time! I look forward to playing Dynasty Warriors Online myself when closed beta begins! I’ve always loved the hack-n-slash style gameplay in Dynasty Warriors. Hopefully the MMO version of the game is equally as fun.