SmallWorlds Blog
Release 1.0 - A Sneak Preview!
November 27th, 2008 by Hilary Jackson
Its almost here - the release of SmallWorlds 1.0.
(I inserted a few of the photos. If you would like to see if with the all of the photos, here is the link:
http://blog.smallworlds.com/Yep, the official, bona-fide, “completely-out-of-beta” version of our fantastic fully browser-based virtual world is due to be released late on Monday 1st December, 2008 (US time).
The journey of a thousand miles always begins with the first step – and for SmallWorlds, that first step took place at a top secret location in 2006. A conversation between co-founders Darren Green and Mitch Olson all the way back then has finally culminated in the first summit (almost) being well and truly climbed. We’ve got that 1.0 flag unwrapped, all ready to be planted on the top. I guess you could say that our SmallWorlds baby has finally come of age.
We’re so eager to share 1.0 with you, that even though the release is not-quite-out-the-door, we couldn’t wait any longer to show you some of what we’ve been working on.
System Optimization - We’re Running MUCH Faster!
Getting closer to the 1.0 release, our focus switched from adding and testing new features to improving the overall user experience. The rendering and animation systems have been revised to be more efficient and to spread the load move evenly, resulting in smoother gameplay. These improvements will benefit everyone, but particularly those with older computers which have less resources.
We’ve had a few members of the SmallWorlds community helping us test Release 1.0. Trader Sam sent us some feedback: “In the current Beta I basically have to stay in my small room and not have many people visit or FREEZE…in the NEW [1.0 test] edition I was able to fly around a large room packed with people without freezing up.”
Premium Services
SmallWorlds will always be free-to-play but for those community members who would like a little extra, we are introducing the VIP Club. As you would expect, VIP’s have access to items in-world that regular members do not. Rest assured however that its not just VIPs that we’re adding improvements for. We’ve got good stuff in store for non-VIP users too, so read on and we’ll walk you through what we’ve created.
Prior to the 1.0 release the the only way to purchase items was to earn in-world tokens. We now offer two options. You can earn and purchase things with in-world tokens just as before, but now you also have the option to purchase items with real money, via credit card and paypal. You will be able to purchase:
VIP Club subscriptions (which have a range of benefits, listed below)
Gold (our in-world virtual currency) enabling you to purchase items without needing to earn the tokens via gameplay. We have also built additional ways to earn gold other than a straight purchase – keep reading…
The VIP Club
If you choose to sign up on the VIP plan you’ll receive:
A monthly salary of gold
Access to VIP-only avatar options (hairstyles, decals, facial options and avatar clothing)
Access to the Dance studio (no longer available to everyone)
The ability to take your pet with you where-ever you go (non-VIP Club members pets cannot travel outside of their owners rooms).Access to VIP only objects and spaces.
Here’s a screenshot of some of the new makeup options that will be available within the avatar generator…
New shoes & boots available…
New hairstyles and accessories…
http://blog.smallworlds.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/1-0-female-hair.jpgThe current list of VIP-only items (which will of course evolve and grow) include: a small trooper VIP helmet, VIP Japanese geisha, VIP ninja helmet, VIP Venice mask, VIP fairy wings, VIP jet pack, VIP heat/lava gun and a VIP panda suit! These are pictured below, with a few blurred-out items which are still unfinished and will be released at a later date.
Earning Gold
For those who do not wish to sign up for a VIP plan, our E-commerce platform enables you to make a straight purchase of gold (rates below). And, we also wanted to make sure there were other ways to get gold other than buying it - so we’re providing you with three ways of earning gold in-world:
1 - Inviting friends:
100 Gold + 100 Social XP when your friend registers and confirms email address
500 Gold + 500 Social XP when your friend reaches level 20 in any of the experience paths
1000 Gold + 1000 Social XP when your friend joins the VIP Club (and hasn’t previously been a VIP member)
2 - Verifying your email address
You earn 100 gold
3 - Selling items for Gold at a profit
Only items bought with Gold can be sold for Gold
Buying Gold
The base rate for Gold is US$1 = 400 SW Gold. Prices for purchasing are:
US$4.95 = 2,000 SmallWorlds Gold
US$8.95 = 4,000 SmallWorlds Gold (10% Discount)
US$19.95 = 10,000 SmallWorlds Gold (20% Discount)
US$39.95 = 20,000 SmallWorlds Gold (30% Discount).
When you sign up with SmallWorlds, your avatar is given one 3D space. From now on, any further spaces must be purchased with gold (not tokens).
SmallWorlds-created Missions & Spaces
We’ve got our team working hard for you on some really great missions. First up (and almost out the door) is a futuristic sci-fi themed mission based around a break-out-of-jail style game. Its set on the moon in ‘Alpha Labs’, a futuristic prison/medical facility. It promises to be a really engaging play experience and will include secret experimental labs, hidden areas, sub plots and hidden adventures.
We will be launching new missions and spaces regularly from this point forward to further enrich your playing experience.
Communications
We will be launching a monthly newsletter in the next couple of weeks which will go out to all registered members. We’ll also give you the choice to receive weekly in-world emails containing news on events, missions, new items and SmallWorlds blog notifications.
Thank You
To close, we’d like to express our gratitude to you, our beta-users, for helping us to get to here. We quite honestly could not have done it without you. All of your experiences and feedback have helped us to mould SmallWorlds into what we will be presenting to you on Monday. Thanks for being a member of the SmallWorlds community – we look forward to co-creating more of this exciting world with you and your friends. Trust us - we’ve got a lot more exciting stuff up our sleeves for the future.
We also have a little thank you gift in store for our beta users - more news on this next week.
We’ll be making our official 1.0 Release announcement very soon. Watch this space.
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Topic: Updated 12/1: Launch Info (see post #3) (Read 7050 times)