The Secret World

Infobox VG
title = The Secret World


developer = Funcom
publisher = Funcom
designer = Ragnar Tørnquist
engine = "DreamWorld Engine" (proprietary)
version =
released = N/A
genre = Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
modes = Multiplayer
ratings =
platforms = Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
media = Digital distributioncite web|url=http://www.adventuregamers.com/newsitem.php?id=1409|title=Funcom drops "offline" PC games|accessdate=2007-03-15|first=Eivind|last=Hagerup|date=2007-03-14|publisher=Adventure Gamers]
requirements =
input =

"The Secret World" (formerly known under the working titles Cabal and The World Online)cite web|url=http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=335|title="The Secret World" is secret no more|accessdate=2007-05-12|last=Tørnquist|first=Ragnar|authorlink=Ragnar Tørnquist|publisher="RagnarTornquist.com"|date=2007-05-11] is an upcoming MMORPG from developer Funcom (makers of "Anarchy Online" and ""), whose development has been officially confirmed on March 6, 2007.cite web|url=http://www.firingsquad.com/news/newsarticle.asp?searchid=14596|title=GDC: New Funcom MMO Game Revealed|accessdate=2007-03-07|last=Callaham|first=John|publisher="FiringSquad.com"|date=2007-03-06] The final title of the project was confirmed on May 11, 2007.cite web|url=http://www.funcom.com/wsp/funcom/frontend.cgi?func=publish.show&func_id=1204&table=CONTENT&item=1004/|title=Funcom reveals "The Secret World"|accessdate=2007-05-12|publisher=Funcom|date=2007-05-11]

Gameplay

The game will feature an original setting created by Funcom, with contemporary elements as well as "magic, myths, conspiracies and dark horrors".cite web|url=http://www.funcom.com/funcom/frontend/files/CONTENT/061101_Q3_Presentation_PDF.pdf|title=Q3 Results|accessdate=2008-08-20|publisher=Funcom|date=2006-11-02] After announcing the development of "The Secret World", Funcom project director Jorgen Tharaldsen informed the press that the game uses the same engine as "Age of Conan" and "takes place on Earth in the present day". Contrary to rumors, spawned by this game's second working title, it has neither anything to do with, nor is inspired by the .hack franchise.cite web|url=http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=167|title=And so it begins, the comments|accessdate=2006-06-16|last=Tørnquist|first=Ragnar|authorlink=Ragnar Tørnquist|publisher="RagnarTornquist.com"|date=2006-06-14] Later, the producer and director Tørnquist debunked more rumors surrounding "The Secret World": according to him, "there are no aliens or sci-fi elements" in it.cite web|url=http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=294|title=The rumours of a reveal are somewhat exaggerated|accessdate=2007-03-07|last=Tørnquist|first=Ragnar|authorlink=Ragnar Tørnquist|publisher="RagnarTornquist.com"|date=2007-03-07] He also denied any connection of "TSW" to "The Longest Journey". In a later blog posting, Tørnquist has also revealed that the game can be played solo (but still online), should a player be uncomfortable or unable to play with a group.cite web|url=http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=371|title=Attacking my massively backlogged inbox|accessdate=2007-08-22|last=Tørnquist|first=Ragnar|authorlink=Ragnar Tørnquist|publisher="RagnarTornquist.com"|date=2007-08-22]

According to Funcom, the game will blend elements of MMO gameplay with alternate reality gaming and social networking.cite web|url=http://www.funcom.com/funcom/frontend/files/CONTENT/Funcom_Q208_presentation.pdf|title=Q2 2008 Report|accessdate=2008-08-20|publisher=Funcom|date=2008-08-15]

Production

The pre-production of the game started in 2002, but in mid-2003, most of the working team was transferred to the development of "Dreamfall". The work on "The Secret World" was resumed after "Dreamfall" shipped, with many of the latter's designers (including Ragnar Tørnquist) playing key roles in the former's development. "TSW" is being produced at the Funcom studios in Oslo and Beijing. In August 2008, a team of forty developers and designers, previously involved in development of "Dreamfall", "Anarchy Online", "Age of Conan", "EverQuest II", and "The Longest Journey", worked on the project.

Marketing

The first promotional material appeared on May 8, 2007, when a picture was "leaked" into the internet, containing a poem, a Knights Templar seal, and several sentences in Spanish, Norwegian, French, German and Hebrew.cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=76115|title=Poem hides new game|accessdate=2007-05-12|last=Purchese|first=Rob|publisher=Eurogamer|date=2007-05-08] When solved, the poem led to a series of internet pages, one of them with a riddle, and, eventually, to the newly created official forum.

The websites lead to a Flash page with a countdown timer that uses symbols instead of numbers. The timer will presumably reach zero on 12:00 AM on December 21, 2012, adjusted for the location of Funcom headquarters.cite web|url=http://www.darkdaysarecoming.com|title=Dark Days Are Coming|accessdate=2008-05-28|publisher=Funcom|date=2008-05-28] According to popular interpretation of Maya mythology, this date will see the end of the world. However, this is not the release date of the game, which Funcom has reported as being late 2009fact|date=May 2008, but is of relevance to its plotfact|date=May 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.darkdaysarecoming.com/ Dark Days Are Coming] , a promotional web-site
* [http://www.darkdemonscrygaia.com/ Dark Demons Cry Gaia] , the official forum
* [http://www.crygaia.com/ Cry Gaia Network] , English fan site with news, forums, blog, image gallery and fan art
* [http://darkdaysrcoming.blogspot.com/ Figuring out Cry Gaia] , a blog [http://ragnartornquist.com/?p=335 distinguished] by Tørnquist
* [http://www.wikitsw.com/ WikiTSW] , a wiki dedicated to "The Secret World"
* [http://secretworld.mmolab.com The Secret World at MMOLab.com] , another wiki project