Lots more attention than I expect from yesterday’s post about “Quaker Life: World of PeaceCraft” the new Quaker-themed MMORPG. I got a follow-up email from the WoP CEO of Thaddeus Thomas, who frankly wasn’t too thrilled that I leaked the news prior to their press conference next week. Urgg, sorry about that.
Anyway, Mr. Thomas gave me a bit more details about the gameplay that you might be interested in.
First off, Quakers are known for, well, quaking when they are seized by the Holy Spirit. Apparently when your game character is in a jam — say surrounded by an unruly mob in post-reformation London threatening to stone you — you can call upon the Holy Spirit. If your “Inner Light” meter is charged, you can unleash a devastating quake that literally shakes all of your persecutors to the core. Neat!
Holding in the Light is another powerful ability that you receive after the initial “Convincement” level. If you encounter another character in need (depressed, angry, in conflict, etc.) you can “hold them in the light.” This power uses state-of-the-art animations and particle effects to part the clouds and cast a beam of light on another character, replenishing their Inner Light meter. Multiple players doing this at the same time create a cascade effect that lights up the whole area around them.
Other “Empower-Ups” include Letting Your Light Shine, Discernment, and Wise Counsel.
I was glad to see that, unlike other Christian video games, the player doesn’t have to “convert” other characters to win. Instead, advancing to new levels is done by getting an entire “Meeting” of players (analogous to guilds in WoW, I guess) to achieve certain objectives, like free 100 slaves or closing down a military base.
Frankly, I’m dubious about how fun this MMOPG (massively multiplayer online peacemaking game) is going to be. Hopefully I will get a hold of an advanced demo soon and maybe even post a video cap to give you an idea if this is worth buying. Stay tuned.
World of PeaceCraft (PC and Mac versions available) is due out in stores and online by early December 2008.
What is the Quaker United Service? Who is Thaddeus Thomas? Who is the WoP PR contact? When is the press conference? Does the QUS, Mr. Thomas or the WoP have a Web site?
What engine is the game using? Is the resemblance to Second Life coincidental? Will the game be hosted in Second Life? Why a 3D MMO and not a lower-overhead, easier-access browser MMO? Who is funding the game?
Why is there no mention of this on any Quaker blogs, or the Quaker Web site? How do you know RSoF has sanctioned or approved of this game?
Thank you for your help.
Sorry, details are pretty sketchy from the info I’ve been receiving. I thought it looked a lot like SL myself. Perhaps its running on an Open Grid server seperate from SL?
No idea if its “endorsed” by any Quaker body. My guess is that this would take a long time for approval given the traditional Quaker aversion to new media and advertising. Maybe that’s why there’s no website yet?
I’ll put these questions to them and get back to you.
Wow this game sounds pretty fucking boring.. You’d have to be fucked up in the brain to actually want to play this.
congratulations on successfully missing the joke. Well played.