Goblinworks Blog: Time Keeps On Slipping, Slipping, Slipping into the Future!

[Chris Lambertz]

Added thread for new Goblinworks Blog: Time Keeps On Slipping, Slipping, Slipping into the Future!.

[Mbando]

I really enjoy the lyrical titling of the blog posts :)

[DiSkOrD]

nice one, can't wait for the backer goodies in january!

the first word i came up with to describe that state of the game would be terraforming.
Seeing as people actively form and create this new world, i think it would be adequate.
although the word terra might be kinda out of character.

cheers

[Mogloth]

Another good blog entry. Can't wait to see the video derived from the tech demo.

And the first term that pops to mind concerning the "beta" phase of PFO?

Earthfall

Seems good to me. Ties into the history of Golarion.

[Nihimon]

Quote:

We'd like your help in naming this kind of release.

Delta Launch:

• Conjures the relation to Beta;
  
• Denotes a changing situation;
  
• Clarifies that it is a real Launch.

[Hycoo]

Pathfinder Online: Raw Launch

[Bealze]

Good informative article, good to hear that the tech demo is almost here.

For the naming of the release i'd say something like:

The Sun Rises Over Thornkeep
The Dawning

[DeciusBrutus]

The phase where you are transitioning from a world with no players in it to a world where there is enough player-created content to support the normal addition of new players? Clearly, that is the germination phase; the players at the time are seeds, and the actions of the developers during that period can be characterized as growpramming.

[DeciusBrutus]

Nihimon wrote:

Quote:

We'd like your help in naming this kind of release.

Delta Launch:

• Conjures the relation to Beta;
  
• Denotes a changing situation;
  
• Clarifies that it is a real Launch.

Gamma launch? Or should we skip a letter?

[Crustypeanut]

I like the Delta Launch idea personally.. feels very similar to 'alpha' and 'beta' versions, but it also feels like.. something more. Which is exactly what this is.

Delta Launch has my vote!

[Klotild]

Punctuated Launch.

[Nihimon]

DeciusBrutus wrote:

Gamma launch? Or should we skip a letter?

I liked the fact that "delta" also means "change", and felt that was significant.

[GrumpyMel]

PFO: Project Genesis

or PFO: Genesis Phase

[Mark Moreland]

Foundational Launch

[AvenaOats]

Thank you for updating so comprehensively; to get the schedule clearly detailed, hear about the people working on Pathfinder Online and updated on the Pdfs/vids all incoming too.

I can only think along the lines of

Pathfinder Online "BC", (thinking timelines)
Pathfinder Online 0.9, 0.5
Pathfinder Online: The Frontier Story / Riverlands Chapter

Think Nihimon has mentioned a far superior suggestion. ?)

Kieran Yanner:

Nb: I see worked on blackstar concept art, cancelled by NCSoft in 2008, which was a shame as it could have been a cool mmo. The duel avatar manifestation of character + ship was neat idea I remembered thinking. Perhaps PfO can have a character with something like this idea? Eg a bidedal to a quadriped or something else for eg that changes the avatar dramatically?

[Thane9]

I totally agree with Delta Launch.

In fact I was actually thinking this before I hit the link to the thread (again because of the delta=change idea). So well done Nihimon!

---

Also, regarding the part of the post this week regarding the hard copy materials for the kickstarter. I just recently bought a house so my address is changing. Will there be another round of address confirmations once shipping of these items gets underway?

Thanks!

Can't wait for this to get off the ground! ....ohh...Hover Launch ;)

j/k

[Vic Wertz]

If you looked at the blog before about 1:40 PM, look again... we added an image of the Goblin Squad T-Shirt, going to Kickstarter backers who supported us at the $100 level. (There will be other ways to join the Goblin Squad and perhaps get this shirt in the future...)

[JakBlitz]

Phase 0?
Operation: Launch?

Next couple blogs should be very interesting.

[Alexander_Damocles]

Good to see things rolling along!

I like Delta Launch, but that still rings too close to Beta for me to be entirely sold on it.

Foundation Period, or something to that effect?

[DeciusBrutus]

Vic Wertz wrote:

If you looked at the blog before about 1:40 PM, look again... we added an image of the Goblin Squad T-Shirt, going to Kickstarter backers who supported us at the $100 level. (There will be other ways to join the Goblin Squad and perhaps get this shirt in the future...)

Is that the final design? It looks poorly suited for the methods I know of to apply a design to a T-shirt...

[Dhampir984]

A goblin launch.

[Gideon Black]

A little bummed I have to wait till January for my goodies, but still worth it lol.
As for a title: Pathfinder Online: World Building.

[Heaven's Agent]

How about Trailblazing? Someone needs to pave the way for those that will come after.

[chibiamy]

Actually, this sort of release is akin to the Story Boarding of Movies, especially animated movies.

I would refer to this as the Story Board Release. After all, this is where the story of the sandbox begins to unfold, is it not? It is a period where a rough outline is sketched out, and then we, as players, flesh it out into a finer piece of artwork.

Thus: Story Board Release.

Heck, you could even have the artists release Concept Art as the game is developed in this specific release so as to emphasize the Story Board theme of the release. Give players involved in the release first look at the images, especially ones that are based on their own work, and listen to the player base giggle with glee at such a thing.

[Dakcenturi]

I like the Delta Launch as well, but just to add another suggestion:

Instead of Beta Test you could use Field Test since players will actually be in the (virtual) field testing and inevitably helping to advance the final product.

[Mr Lector]

How about Orienteering? New people, learning a new world, mapping exploring, getting their bearings.

[tzeencz]

Hi all!

Great blog - it has made me finally post here, after all that lurking :).

I have thought about one word that can summarize everything that is connected with period of creation and building of the new world - there is one. Thus my humble idea - Pathfinder Online - Genesis.

[Vandarr Wormwood]

Pioneer Launch captures the spirit of the first souls to inhabit a new world.

[DeciusBrutus]

Keeping with the delta->change theme, it should be the Delta Period, or use a Galorian-specific term, like "The Age of Nethys".

[Terek]

Progression Launch

[randomwalker]

my first thought was "gamma development", like so many others...

I really like "trailblazing" though! Tastes of sandbox game, frontier spirit, small group paving the way for later arrivals and being the _real thing_ (and not some kind of lab test to be wiped before the real launch). The reference to Pathfinder is a bonus.

I can't resist suggesting a cheesier alternative though: "VIP launch" (after all, the game isn't open to the plebeians until a few months later)

[Nafriel]

An idea for what to call it:

Genesis Launch

(or Genesis Testing)

To indicate both that it is in its beginning stages and also that it is actively growing into what it will eventually become. Breaks the mold, a little, with regard to the normal use of alpha and beta, but it's also very recognizable and its meaning is easy to guess at.

[Malacab]

I am fan of the Trailblazing or Delta Launch.

Trailblazing certainly has the feel that is trying to be attained with the type of launch, but is lacking the technical speak that a lot of gaming launches have.

Delta Launch sticks with the status quo for how the launches are typically launched. But doesn't have the same feel as Trailblazing.

[The Finder]

The Delta Launch sounds good. Good Job Nih.. Here is another suggestion.

"The TerraForming Period" Because GW is going to be using the player base to help them form their world into the final creation.

[Vic Wertz]

DeciusBrutus wrote:

Vic Wertz wrote:

If you looked at the blog before about 1:40 PM, look again... we added an image of the Goblin Squad T-Shirt, going to Kickstarter backers who supported us at the $100 level. (There will be other ways to join the Goblin Squad and perhaps get this shirt in the future...)

Is that the final design? It looks poorly suited for the methods I know of to apply a design to a T-shirt...

It's nearly final, in that we may be adding a Pathfinder Online logo.

The T-shirt vendor will likely add a white underprint layer and make other adjustments as needed.

[Gayel Nord]

I like "field test" because it is that. You need to test your theory in the field. If it doesn't work, you change and retest it. Gradually, it will be more and more efficient. But you don't stop testing and having feedback on the experience.

Genesis is also a good name.

My idea of a name? Building phase.

[Elth]

Why not just call the initial launch Pathfinder Online: Pathfinders?
The word Pathfinder is perfectly suitable to describe an initial group of players colonizing a frontier.
Alternatively it, colonies or frontiers could work. I would suggest avoiding greek letters as they all feel related to alpha/beta stages and suggest bugs and unfinished products.

My suggestions would be:
Pathfinder Online: Pathfinder launch
Pathfiner Online: Colonial launch
Pathfinder Online: Frontier launch

[Valinar]

I was think about how this is going to be a journey and the word that came to my mind is "Pilgrimage".

So the other words I think go with this would be phase, seed, launch, and trial.

I am sure there are other words out there as well, but those of us who are fortunate enough to play at launch will be pilgrims in this new land!

My two cents,
Valinar
Richard Keen

[Klaus van der Kroft]

-The Crafting Phase

-Time of the Forefathers

-Finding the Path

I also like the Delta Launch name proposed before.

[Kryzbyn]

Staged or Staggered launch. It will be done in waves essentially.
This will convery that it's not finished, but it is live.

[Kardiak]

Can't wait for the tech demo vid, like everyone else I'm really excited to see what you guys can do!

[Kryzbyn]

Oh yeah, that too :)

[Obakararuir]

SQUAD Launch

-The Symbiotic Quality User And Developer Launch Phase.

With the possibility of not only the launcher type, but overall development and business model becoming industry standard, I think it should tie back to those that pioneered it.

Goblinworks and the Goblin Squad.

When fans of a specific property would hear that their next installment was going to be doing a Squad Launch, they'd look back on all of us and know they were in for something special. They'd know that they could have a significant impact on the product they were purchasing. Let them remember how to do it right and who did it first.

[Jim Rudnick]

Limited Release

Great news on the demo's progress!
I'll put forward a suggestion for the simple phrase "Limited Release".

Best regards,
Jim

[Samrae]

Goblin Frontier

[Morgen]

Hmmm, how about something like "Marshaling"? After all that's usually what you need to do if you want to get a group of gamers together to organize into games and the like.

Very exciting to see how this is all going. I really want you all to continue to succeed.

[Ryan Dancey]

We don't want a Pathfinder specific term. We want a process specific term. Someone who doesn't know anything about Pathfinder but does know about MMOs should be able to grok what we're doing when they hear the term.

[Elorebaen]

I like Foundational Launch. Trailblazers makes sense, but I just do not like the word itself. I can see Delta as well.

[Elth]

pioneer launch?

[Morgen]

So maybe something like Development Testing?