In terms of game design and overall user experience, Anarchy Online is one of the best MMORPGs currently available. However, a lot of its content can be inaccessible to players due to level restrictions. Additionally, the game’s skill system requires a lot of trial and error, causing many players to quit after only a short time. To address these issues, WOW Ultra Pro – a community of MMORPG users – conducted a study and came up with several recommendations that could help improve the game based on their findings.
Recommended User Interface Updates
As a first step, WOW Ultra Pro – an organization devoted to MMORPG optimization – suggests changing the way in which information is displayed on your screen. Right now, all text is displayed in a chat window, an inconvenient format that puts extra focus on anything that’s being typed. Instead, they recommend displaying all information – including chat – in a single window.
This would solve several problems. First, it makes reading and absorbing information much easier because everything is presented in one place. More importantly, it creates a more immersive feeling by not splitting the screen in half. Finally, it encourages players to interact with each other more, resulting in a better experience for everyone involved.
Another important recommendation from WOW Ultra Pro is to update the way in which information is ordered. The organization found that the current display method causes anxiety in players because they have to constantly adjust their mental mapping as they go along. Instead of continuously scrolling through a list of commands one after another, the recommendation is to display all skills in a hierarchy, similar to how abilities work in real life. For example, you could have a “buff” skill that improves your character’s health. Below that, you would have a “heal” skill that provides the buff effect. Finally, players should be able to see the effect that their skills have on the game world. This would make using them much more appealing because you would immediately know what results you are going to get.
Level Restrictions Should Temporarily Be Removed For Powerful Skilling Areas
One of the main issues that plagues Anarchy Online is the level restrictions that limit what features you are able to access. While the game does offer an amazing amount of freedom and variety in regards to gathering skills and exploring the world, it also has some of the most frustrating limitations when it comes to progressing in the game. Luckily, the study conducted by WOW Ultra Pro found a simple solution that could provide some relief to players who spend a lot of time grinding.
One of the recommended changes is to remove the level restrictions that currently limit what areas of gathering and exploring you can access. The study suggests raising the level cap for these areas, so that players can progress faster. This, in turn, would make the game much more appealing because it would give them a sense of accomplishment once they reach a certain level.
For example, currently you can only farm the following crops at certain levels: strawberry, green apple, and pumpkin. Once you hit level 30, you can start exploring the woods and mines to gather coal, iron, and diamond. However, as you might imagine, these areas are a lot tougher to explore and a lot less profitable than what you can find in the countryside. This causes many players to hit a wall and quit the game once they reach a certain level. This is where temporarily removing level restrictions would be beneficial because it would give them the opportunity to explore and learn more about the game.
Skill Points Should Be Added For Passive Gathering
Another important issue that WOW Ultra Pro – an organization devoted to MMORPG optimization – found while studying Anarchy Online is that the game does not provide enough incentive for players to actively explore the world and gather resources. Essentially, the game does not offer sufficient rewards for players who choose to farm the land and take the easy route.
The recommendation is to add more rewards for doing things in the game that are not related to combat. Currently, you receive experience points for killing monsters and completing quests, yet there are no direct rewards for exploring the world and gathering resources. This could be changed by adding a crafting system that allows players to make their own items. These items could then be sold for profit – similar to how you can make money in real life by selling your creations – and provide additional motivation for players to explore the world and be resourceful.
Additional Improvements Can Be Made Using In-Game Resources
In addition to the previously discussed changes, WOW Ultra Pro – an organization devoted to MMORPG optimization – suggests several other changes that can be made using in-game resources. First off, they recommend changing the game’s current “energy system” because it is, frankly, flawed. Right now, you need tons of gold to buy Energy, which you can then use to perform certain tasks. However, the cost of this gold is so high that many players avoid using it due to the expense. This is why WOW Ultra Pro recommends changing the energy system to something more along the lines of “experience points.”
In terms of gathering skills, WOW Ultra Pro specifically suggests adding a fishing component because, as they found while studying the game, people who play it spend a lot of time just going fishing, waiting for a fish to bite. This is, in fact, the purpose of the game itself – to provide a fun and immersive environment where players can explore the world and meet new people. Additionally, they suggest adding a cooking skill because, again, people who play this game love to cook. Making food is a great way to gain experience points and level up quickly in the game.
However, as mentioned above, the gathering side of the game is severely limited by the level restrictions found in Anarchy Online. To improve things, WOW Ultra Pro suggests using the following tactics:
- Raise the level cap for these areas
- Remove the level restrictions that currently limit what areas of gathering and exploring you can access
- Add more rewards for doing things in the game that are not related to combat
- Add a crafting system that allows players to make their own items
- Change the game’s current “energy system” to something more along the lines of “experience points”
- Fishing should be added as a gathering skill
- Finally, add a cooking skill
How To Get Started
Anarchy Online is a free-to-play game, so you won’t have to spend a dime on it. However, you will need to make sure that you meet the following criteria to be able to play:
- You must be at least 18 years old
- You need an active Internet connection
- You must not be behind a proxy
- You must have Skype installed on your device
- You should practice good online etiquette – do your best to avoid spamming, overusing emojis, or being overly aggressive
Overall Assessment
Anarchy Online is a very good MMORPG with a lot of potential. If you want to try out a new game and have been looking for a place to spend some time, give it a shot. Just make sure to keep the tips and strategies discussed above in mind so that you can improve your experience as much as possible.