I interviewed AGS and they dropped some BIG INFO (Throne & Liberty)

Summary

In this video, the host interviews Daniel, a Globalization Design Manager at AGS, who oversees communication with NC soft about the game 'Throne Liberty.' They discuss Daniel's extensive experience with the game, the dynamic between developers and publishers, and the influence AGS has over the game's direction. Key topics include the game's monetization model, balancing 'pay-to-win' concerns, progression rates, and the introduction of new content like tier 2 gear. Daniel also addresses player concerns about bots, server merges, and the timing of major in-game events, promising a player-centric approach to updates and improvements.

Takeaways

• 😀 Daniel, also known as Tico, is the Globalization Design Manager at AGS and is responsible for coordinating with NC soft to ensure player feedback is addressed.
• 🎮 Daniel has extensive experience playing Throne and Liberty, including on internal servers and Korean servers, to understand player experience.
• 🤝 AGS and NC soft have a strong partnership, operating as one team with a shared vision for the game, which has led to significant improvements.
• 💰 AGS is committed to a fair business model in Throne and Liberty, with all progression available to all players and no purchases behind a paywall.
• 🚫 AGS is actively monitoring and planning to prevent botting and cheating, including implementing a player trust system and auction house restrictions.
• 🏰 The first Castle Siege in the global version of Throne and Liberty is planned for mid-November, after launch.
• 🛡 AGS is considering the pacing of content releases to ensure free-to-play players have time to progress before new vertical progression systems are introduced.
• 🗓 AGS does not plan to release Tier 2 gear immediately, aiming to balance the game to prevent a power gap between free-to-play and paying players.
• 🌐 Server merges in Throne and Liberty will be based on community health and competition rather than a set timeline, with an openness to regional merges.
• 🎯 AGS aims to catch up to the Korean version of the game, with a goal of near parity, and will release certain content, like the Halloween event, simultaneously.

Q & A

What is Daniel's role at AGS?

Daniel's role at AGS is Globalization Design Manager, which involves coordinating with NC soft, integrating player feedback, and ensuring NC soft is aware of it.

How does Daniel describe his experience with the game Throne Liberty?

Daniel has extensive experience with Throne Liberty, having done the leveling experience around 50 times and playing on both internal servers and Korean servers when possible.

What is the relationship dynamic between AGS and NC soft?

The relationship between AGS and NC soft is collaborative, with both operating as one team and frequently communicating about gameplay and other topics.

How does Daniel view the monetization model in Throne Liberty compared to other MMOs?

Daniel believes Throne Liberty has one of the fairest business models among free-to-play MMOs, with all progression available to all players and no purchases being random.

What is AGS's stance on pay-to-win aspects in Throne Liberty?

AGS aims to ensure that Throne Liberty is less pay-to-win compared to the Korean version, with efforts to increase drop rates and make progression systems more accessible.

How does Daniel plan to address progression rates and the introduction of tier 2 gear?

Daniel emphasizes monitoring progression rates and content release pacing to ensure players reach appropriate power levels before new vertical progression systems are introduced.

What measures will AGS take to combat botting in Throne Liberty?

AGS plans to implement a player trust system and restrict the auction house to trusted players to combat botting.

Will AGS take action against AFK macroing in Throne Liberty?

AGS aims to uphold the integrity of the game, and Daniel personally believes that blatant cheating, including AFK macroing, should not be allowed.

When is the first castle siege expected to take place in Throne Liberty?

The first castle siege is currently planned for mid-November, approximately six to seven weeks after launch.

Does Daniel have a timeline for introducing tier 2 gear in Throne Liberty?

A target timeline for introducing tier 2 gear is late Q1, but AGS wants to be flexible and see how players progress before making a decision.

How does Daniel view the possibility of regional server merges in Throne Liberty?

Daniel suggests that server merges will be based on community health and competition rather than a set timeline, and they are open to evaluating each server on a case-by-case basis.