Hey, I'm Travis. We just went Gold last night at about 10, and a couple of testers and I were in the lab pounding on things to make sure everything is solid. I'm a little muzzy headed from cognac and coke, so you'll have to forgive me - bleah Razz Now we're going through package testing, and the game/demo will be out on the 18th, a little less than 2 weeks from now.
I'm not an official WT spokesman, so I suppose you shouldn't treat anything I say as official...
Jack -
Yes, WildTangent is the company that's gotten a rap for spyware. This was primarily due to autoupdating of the client, and a poor uninstall experience ( read:non-working ). So they've gone back and forth and I think WT has been removed from most spyware apps by now. They did a lot of work on the install/uninstall and behavior of the client so that
A) you can tell it NOT to automatically update during the install process ( and later, from its control panel ), if you decide to allow it to install at all
B) the uninstaller is clear, consolidated, and actually works
C) you are very aware of what you are installing and have clear options to cancel if desired
WT is also shipped on some OEM machines that come packed with WT games, which probably accounts for people who can't remember installing it.
I think they've done a lot of work as far as clearing up what processes are running for WT. Fate ships with WD 5.0, which is I think about a week or two old, and includes more tweaks to try to shake the idea that this is spyware.
Anyway, beyond that, WildTangent has an internal game development studio, which is where I work.
Fate doesn't use the WildTangent 3D engine at all, but instead uses the DRM system for unlocking the game. And that's basically it. Everything else for the game is custom-built.
As far as the game itself, it obviously owes a lot to Diablo as far as interface and munchkinism.
Primary differences from Diablo are what Gek listed above, and the fact that the game is fully 3D ( although it maintains the same isometric perspective, with the ability to do temporary camera rotations )
Obviously the tone is a lot different too.
It's also a save-anywhere system, so you're never forced back to town.
Pets could be equated to Diablo hirelings, but they're constant, don't have to be hired, and never die ( they only flee until healed ). They can also act as pack mules that can be sent to town, have full inventories that are manageable, and can be transformed into other beasts ( permanently if the right fish are aquired ) with the attendant spells, natural effects, weaknesses and resistances of those beasts.
The system is classless, so there are no character 'types' and anyone can use any weapon or armor, as long as they have the appropriate stat requirements. So your tank swordsman can learn any spell with a few magic points - however, it will take further skill investment for the spell to become powerful.
The skill and spell system are pretty different from Diablo as well. There are 16 skills that can be invested in at any time, and can affect weapon proficiencies, spellcasting abilities, spell potencies, and other effects.
Magic is broken into 3 classes - Charm, Defense, and Attack, with a max of 6 active spells in any class at a given time ( these can be swapped, so they're not permanent ). Investing skill points into a given sphere of magic upgrades ALL spells within that sphere. There are quite a few summoning spells too, which adds an interesting dynamic to play. Each of the summoned monsters have pretty different abilities and elemental/magical damage types and resistances, so they are each uniquely useful in different situations.
Monsters can use any of the weapons and spells you can, and have the same statistical and skill requirements that you do - which helps keep the monsters from feeling too cookie cutter, since as they level up, they can gain the same weapon/spell advantages to combat yours.
You can fish, which is a nice break. You can find magical items and gemstones when fishing too, as well as some rare artifacts that can only be found while fishing.
Fame can be purchased from the Minstrel in town, which allows you to effectively buy skill points, so there's always something to do with excess gold, in addition to gambling, and paying to enchant items.
There are socketed items and gemstones - and to that end
there are a couple of goblins in town who can alternately
a) Smash an item and give you back the gems
b) Smash the gems and give you back the item
which works effectively at getting people to customize their weapons and armor early and often, rather than sitting on gems they find, waiting for the perfect frobozz to stick them in.
Any q's, let me know!
Travis
