10Six is a massively multiplayer online title that boasts the ability to house 1million players. It’s gameplay is a mix of RTS and FPS, a killer combination. Irecently had the chance to talk with Al Rivera, the game’s producer.
Tim: 10Six is the first massively multiplayer title that isn’t an RPG (Role-PlayingGame), it has the ability to almost define a new genre. Couldyou give us a brief rundown on what we can expect?
Al: 10SIX is an online only, persistent state, massively multi-player, action/strategygame. 10SIX combines your classic First Person Shooter and Real TimeStrategy/Resource Management games and deliver it online 24/7. 10SIX alsoincorporate a collectable economy similar to Collectable Card Games. Every object isunique and digital in the game. Weapons, armor, gear, rovers and more can bebought, sold, traded or stolen.
Tim: It is said that the game’s world, Planet Visitor, will be able to house 1 millionplayers (hence the 10Six). How practical will this be and can we expect anyproblems?
Al: There are exactly 1 million plots of available for the taking on Visitor. When 10SIXis released, we will only open part of the planet – say 50 or 100 thousand or so potsof land. As 10SIX grows, and more players join our community, we will open up moreof the planet.
Tim: The game is promoted as continuing 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), it iseven said that you can log on after being away to find your base destroyed. Do youthink gamers will react favorably to this and how will it be implemented so as to makethe game more fun and less tedious?
Al: We gave this a lot of thought when designing 10SIX. I think gamers will be veryexcited about the way the world is managed. Players will start with one base camp.When a player logs out, their home camp is locked, and no one can enter or attackit. However, players will want to own more than one base. The other camps thatplayers conquer and own will remain open when they are not logged in. This allows aplayer to always protect some of their investment, but the more you own, the moreyou will leave at risk when you are not online. Users will be encouraged to formMutual Defense Networks (MDN) with other players, so hopefully, your allies willwatch your back when you are away.
Tim: It appears that 10Six will feature plenty of weaponry, that available dependingon what corporation you join. What kinds of weapons can we expect and whatstrengths/weaknesses does each corporation have?
Al: There are more weapons in 10SIX than can be discussed here. There arecurrently over 120 unique objects in 10SIX. Each of the four corporations specializein certain types of weapons. Extreme Corporation tends to use incendiary deviceslike flame throwers, and napalm like artillery. BruteForce Corporation is a militaryorganization they specialize in big machine guns, big rovers and big cannons. ToyCois a high tech corporation with lots of gadgets. They rely almost entirely on energybased weapons and hovering rovers. And InfraStruct specializes in defensivesystems and fine craftsmanship. They have access to things like smart missiles andsniper rifles.
Tim: 10Six, although viewed as a FPS, has plenty of RTS (Real-Time Strategy)features. These include building structures, managing forces etc. What do you regardthe game as and what elements can we expect from either (or other) genre/s?
Al: It is hard to classify 10SIX into a specific genre. Players will spend many hoursbuilding and upgrading the perfect camp and managing their resources like traditionalRTS games. But unlike games like, say, Starcraft or Total Annihilation, you are goingto have to own a building or a rover before you build it. That’s because we haveintegrated a Collectable Economy into 10SIX similar to Magic the Gathering. Everyobject in the game is unique and digital. There will, of course, be plenty of down anddirty First Person combat, but you will also need to manage your offensive ordefensive units. Unlike Quake II, when you finally get that awesome gun you beenlooking for, its not going to respawn around the corner if you die and drop it. The guywho killed you is now going to have it, and you better have a spare back up at yourbase, or your stuck with the next pea shooter you have in the back of yourwarehouse. But at its heart, 10SIX is a community game.
Tim: The graphics in 10Six look fantastic. What kind of system would gamersrequire to have the title running well??
Al: The minimum system requirements for 10SIX is a P200MMX with 32mb ram. But10SIX will run quite well if you have a PII with 64mb ram and a good 3D accelerator.
Tim: Obviously having 10Six run as a massive multiplayer network has itsadvantages; the ability to add new features/items etc. Will this be the case with10Six and if so what kinds of things can we expect?
Al: We intend to take full advantage of this. Users will always get the latest updatesautomatically whenever they log into 10SIX. You can expect to see 10SIX to growand evolve on a regular basis. 10SIX is very modular, and it is very easy for us tointroduce new items like guns, building, rovers or whatever. We want to keep 10SIXfresh, and exciting.
Tim: What exactly is a MDN (Mutual Defense Network) and how will this beimplemented?
Al: The MDN is a built in Clan system and it serves many functions. Players can applyto join an existing MDN, or start their own. When you are in a MDN, you gain accessto a chat group similar to ICQ. All MDN members can freely communicate amongsteach other regardless of where they are on the planet.
The most important function of a MDN is the protection it offers. Whenever an MDNmember is attacked, all MDN members are automatically alerted. And you caninstantly alert your MDN when you are attacking an enemy, and you will need them,because you will find if very difficult to take on an enemy base by yourself.
Tim: LEDO’s (Limited Edition Digital Objects) look to be an excellent feature of 10Six.Would you mind explaining exactly what they are and how they will work?
Al: Every object in 10SIX is unique and digital. We actually call them Jitters. Theseobjects are limited and collectable. When you first start, you will be given about 30random objects. Unlike more traditional Real Time Strategies, players wont be able topump out endless amounts of tanks or buildings. If you only start with 4 rovers, thenthat’s all you have. If you want more objects, you will have to buy them from thein-game Corporate Market using the resources you mine from the planet. You will beable to purchase packs of 10 random objects. These objects will, of course, belimited to your corporation. If you want something special, you are going to have tosteal or trade for it. Since 10SIX is an online game, and since these objects arelimited, we have the ability to add new objects, or actually take an object out ofprint.
Tim: Features make a game. What are some of the newest things that you haveadded to 10Six?
Al: Well, 10SIX just opened it’s doors to public BETA, so its all new. But recently wehave been spending a lot of time making the newbie experience easier and moreenjoyable. We have implemented a great new tutorial that walks the user throughthe basics. Also, a newbie who starts the game will under the protection of theCorporate Defense Network. While this is in place, no one can attack you until youdecide to enter enemy territory.Other features included an in game customer serviceand bonuses for players seeking to help newbies.
Tim: First impressions are important. What would make a gamer say WOW! whenstarting 10Six for the first time?
Al: When you first start the game, users will see the planet Visitor and think, “WOW,this world is huge! This really is a million player game, and each plot of land is unique,in other words one million different terrains on the planet. Cool!”
Tim: Now, the money question. When can we expect to see 10Six?
Al: Our marketing efforts are designed to drive our consumer to HEAT.NET and youwill be able to download and play instantly by going to www.10six.com (which is the10SIX Channel on HEAT.NET ). You should look for 10SIX shortly after the new year.Until then, anyone can point their browser to www.10six.com and check out theBETA and take a test drive for free.
Tim: Anything you’d like to add?
Al: Just that 10SIX is going to knock everyone’s socks off. I can honestly say thereis nothing like 10SIX.
Related Links
• Official 10Six Website
• SegaSoft
