Mar 7, 2018

[Inside Bless] Traveling through Bless Online with Original Paintings 2

Bless Online - Ginny

Greetings!

Since we just released a Dev Talk last week, today we will be continuing with the 2nd part of “Traveling through Bless Online with Original Paintings” where we will introduce more wonderful places in Bless Online.

Following our previous post on Unión and Hieron territories, today we will be introducing the impressive and beautiful capital cities of Spezia (Unión) and Hieracon (Hieron). In addition, we will also be showing you several important areas that players will be exploring within the game.

Unión

Spezia – the beautiful city of water

Unión’s capital, Spezia, is the biggest city in the southern continent.
Due to its invaluable role in leading the Unión Alliance against the Habicht Empire, Spezia is still the heart of the UNIóN Alliance today. Spezia is also sometimes referred to as “the city of water” because it was built over a lake and gondolas are used as transportation to nearby areas.

Terny – the city of death

Often called “a city frozen in time”, Terny is full of ancient but well-preserved ruins and remnants. However, for reasons unknown, a thick fog now blocks the sun from this place and the undead have begun appearing, rendering Terny a place devoid of life.

The Burning Desert – where danger and beauty co-exist

The Burning Desert is a desert of eternal history with a yearly average temperature above 18°C.
You can explore many interesting areas in the Burning Desert including Sandworm Nest, a haven for dying animals; the giant, maze-like Hobgoblin’s Citadel; and the Basilisk Nest (shown in the picture).

Besides the above three locations, there are many other interesting but dangerous areas.

Hieron

Hieracon – the Empire’s capital that was once a fortress city for unifying the northern continent

Hieracon was originally a fortified city built for dealing with uncivilized races such as the orcs and goblins. However, as the Habichts became an empire, Hieracon was made the capital city.

Through multiple expansions Hieracon came to gradually possess the dignity of an empire’s capital. Despite this, you can still find traces of a fortress city’s crudeness in its high walls and steep slopes.

Beolan Valley – a gloomy and mountainous place

In the dreary and rugged Beolan Valley, the mood can change depending on the area.

Horse Mane Grassland – a town of knights and herdsmen

Horse Mane Grassland is a place of wide, stretching flatlands and grasslands. As it is a place famous for its horses, most of its residents work in areas related to horse rearing.

We hope that you will all explore and experience these areas directly within the game!

If you happened to have missed the first part of “Traveling through Bless Online with Original Paintings,” please check it out through the link below.
http://steamcommunity.com/games/681660/announcements/detail/1657757502218180769

Also if you haven’t added Bless Online to your Steam Wishlist yet,
Please don’t forget to click “Add to your Wishlist” on the Store page before you leave!

Thank you
The Bless Team

Feb 26, 2018

[Dev Talk #01] Meet the Bless Team!

Bless Online - Will

Greetings!

As a part of our journey to the Bless Steam launch, we would like to take a moment through this dev blog to introduce some key members of the Bless Team. These are folks that will be driving the development and the launch of Bless Steam version so we felt that our community ought to get to know them better.

Sungjin Ko (Executive Producer)

Sungjin Ko is our EP or head honcho and he basically runs both the development team and business team at Neowiz Bless Studio. He works with all teams to make sure everything is moving in the right direction. He continues to emphasize the core values of our studio every chance he gets, which is “connecting with our community.” The reason why he feels this is so important is the fact that we are creating a game for a global audience. Sungjin has asked the team to be ready to incorporate feedback from the players all over the world to make sure that Bless doesn’t feel like just a localized title but a game that was made for a global audience. We are sure you will see more of Sungjin!

Jaehoon Jeon (Creative Director)

You may remember Jaehoon from our January Dev Talk where he shared the development roadmap for the team. Jaehoon wears many hats on the Bless team as the Game Director and also the Creative Director. Basically, Jaehoon is driving Bless Online’s development. To be more precise, he analyzes the flow of the game and its content. If he finds any issues, Jaehoon first creates a plan for the fix, allocate necessary resources for the update and adjust the release schedule for implementation.

Daeeok Park (Art Director)

Bless Online’s Art Director Daeeok Park takes inspirations from classic console titles such as Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics and Darksiders 2. He is responsible for creating and populating the majestic world of Bless Online. He’s currently working on new concept art for the world, key characters, and classes in order to prepare the game for global audiences. He’s also creating different costumes and equipment that will be shipping with the Steam version.

Kyeongho Cheon (Audio Director)

Kyeongho Cheon has been our Audio Director from the very beginning of Bless Online! He’s in charge of all aspects of the sound you hear in Bless Online including the audio tech, in-game music, and sound effects. He wants to make sure that everything you hear in Bless Online sounds natural and balanced. Recently, he has been working hard on the localization of the voice over for the Steam version of the game for the past few months. If you turn up the volume while playing Bless, you will hear all the beautiful sounds that he and his team have created.

Seongil Ma (Combat Game Designer)

Seongil Ma is our Combat Game Designer. He’s been hard at work thinking about how to revamp the combat from the ground up for the Steam version so our fans could find it fun. We are excited to share all his hard work with everyone soon. Our goal was nothing less than rebuilding the combat system to make it very different from the one currently in Bless Online. We will be releasing this revamp to the Steam version first and we are confident that the changes will make the wait worth it. Sungil is committed to making a user-friendly and exciting combat system.

Common questions

What is your favorite content in Bless Online?

Sungjin Ko (Executive Producer)
I really like taming system in Bless, especially the fact that it’s possible to tame almost every monster that you can find in the world. It also makes the game stand out from other games in the genre. When you encounter a monster in the field, try taming it instead of killing it. Collecting the monsters as your pets can be a fun way to play the game.
Jaehoon Jeon (Creative Director)
Can I have two favorites? I personally love the fact that Bless Online offers a variety of content that can be enjoyed by groups. I can party up and explore various dungeons or raid any number of field bosses in different locations. You can also take the party or guild to participate in battles between the factions My other favorite aspect of the Bless Online is the fact that you can tame many different creatures to be your pets and spawn them later. You can go hunting or do quests with your pets, which makes playing the game more exciting.
Daeeok Park (Art Director)
The Siege of Castra is my favorite because even though the concept is similar to other online RPGs, you get to experience massive 100 vs 100 battles in Bless.
Kyeongho Cheon (Audio Director)
Dungeons! Bless offers a lot of dungeons that beckons your challenge with a level of difficulty that’s neither too easy nor impossible. It definitely scratches the itch for people who love taking risks for rewards. There are hidden tips on how to clear all the stages in dungeons. I hope you find joy in uncovering these stratagems, defeat the boss and getting that sweet loot.
Seongil Ma (Combat Game Designer)
Any monster that you encounter can become your mount. This mount system is probably my favorite. You can see many different kinds of monsters in Bless Online, and they can all be turned into your mounts! Also, it’s really interesting how they can grow and be used for different purposes.

The class/race you like to play and why?

Sungjin Ko (Executive Producer)
Union / Panthera / Berserker: I like playing Union’s Pantera race and the Berserker class the most. The reason I prefer Pantera is because to me they look cooler than the other races. I actually played the Berserker class the most so I got used to playing it! It’s one of the most dynamic classes. Also, I like how the axe, Berserker’s main weapon, is designed. I also recommend this to the newcomers because it’s a beginner-friendly class.
Jaehoon Jeon (Creative Director )
Amistad / Guardian: I like the image of a brave medieval knight that it portrays. The other joy of playing the Guardian class is the fact that when I play in a party, I can put myself in the front line and play as a tank to absorb lots of damage.
Daeeok Park (Art Director)
Hieron / Sylvan Elf / Female Assassin: Mainly because of the fantasy-like feeling that the character and original locations give off, as well as how the character moves nimbly.
Kyeongho Cheon (Audio Director)
Lupus / Berserker. I think everyone who likes action should try out this class at least once. It has just the perfect balance between exciting action and laid-back gameplay. The fact that you can lure all the monsters to one place and use various combos to catch them makes the game more fun!
Seongil Ma (Combat Game Designer)
Panthera / Berserker: Even though all the races and classes are great, the Berserker’s action combat style suits my play style the most and the combination looks cool when I pick the Panthera. I’d like to recommend this particular combination to the gamers out there! I’m not saying that the other races and classes aren’t as great, but this is just my preference. Go ahead and combine all the races and classes you want! I also recommend the attractive female elf and assassin combination (laughs).

Is there anything you want the Bless Online fans out there to know?

Sungjin Ko (Executive Producer)
First of all, I’m glad that I’m able to speak to international fans about our game. The dev team has been working really hard to get the game ready, so we are hoping to release a good game soon. Finally, I want to address the concerns regarding Pay to Win in the game. I promise you that there will be no Pay to Win elements in Bless Online. We want players to enjoy the game their own way.
Jaehoon Jeon (Creative Director )
Launching a new game can be both nerve-racking and exciting for any developer. We are always racking our brains to make our in-game content even more interesting. We put so much effort into creating a game experience that you can enjoy. We hope you get to experience it and have fun.
Daeeok Park (Art Director)
I hope that you can take a break from recent fads like fighting and survival games for a while so that you can enjoy playing Bless Online with your friends in a wide and beautiful fantasy world.
Kyeongho Cheon (Audio Director)
One of the key elements of making MMORPGs better is the continued nurturing from the community. We hope that you will help us make Bless Online a rich and fulfilling experience by making new friends, exploring and sharing together. Please enjoy the game!
Seongil Ma (Combat Game Designer)
I’m glad to be able to share my thoughts with all of you through this Dev Talk. I hope I’ll have this opportunity to do this again.

The adventure is just beginning for the Bless Team. Even though we might be far away from you, we will make sure we continue to open our ears and doors for you. We will be listening to your feedback closely and work with you to improve Bless Online together. Keep a close eye on the official communities to stay up to date on all the great new stuff that’s coming soon

Thank you
The Bless Team

Jan 31, 2018

[Inside Bless] Traveling Bless Online through Original Paintings

Bless Online - Ginny

Hello everyone!

Since there are so many beautiful places in Bless Online, today I want to share with you some breathtakingly beautiful paintings of Bless scenery.

In the past we’ve introduced the Unión territories of El Rano and Saqqara using screenshots, so this time we will be showing you equally beautiful places in Hieron territory.

Along with paintings and background stories about the Sylvan Elves’ El Gradis and the Lupus’ Bran Forest, we are also going to look at the Cornus Mountains and Wyvern Valley (located in the central part of the continent), and the Mascu’s faction-neutral city of Ban Senn.

El Gradis: a place keeping memories of the Sylvan Elves’ glorious past

El Gradis is surrounded by mysterious and beautiful forests and is centered around the enormous Tree of Life. Its inhabitants, the Sylvan Elves, value equilibrium and harmony.

Since the Tree of Life was damaged in past wars, it has been getting weaker and is now visibly withering away. Those of you who choose to be Sylvan Elves will begin an adventure to protect the balance of the world and revive the Tree of Life.

Bran forest: a den of wolves protected by the Great Spirit and its descendants

When their creator god Baraka left the world after losing a war between the gods, the Lupus met with great hardship. However, under the leadership of their great prophet Urgen Tenza, some of the Lupus took refuge in Bran Forest’s sanctuary.

The Lupus then spent thousands of years living in seclusion, and developed a unique culture where they both respect nature and cultivate warrior characteristics of bravery and physical prowess.

The Cornus Mountains: a strategic location between Union and Hieron capitals

The tall and rugged Cornus Mountains cut across the Bless continent, dividing the opposing territories of Hieron and Unión.

This area is geographically significant as it is both Hieron-Unión border and the point with the least distance between the faction capitals Hieracon (Hieron) and Spezia (Unión). Extremely dangerous, not a day goes by without a fight in the Cornus Mountains due to their being a key strategic point.

Wyvern Valley: a rocky area with magnificent canyons

Wyvern Valley, an enormous and splendid canyon, is hard to pass through due to its steep nature and treacherous rocky terrain.

As Wyvern Valley has a dry, desert climate, vegetation is sparse and there is almost nowhere to hide. This makes it a very dangerous place since one is helpless against the attacks of the vicious Wyverns.

In addition, because Wyvern Valley is near both Hieron and Unión military camps, battles frequently break out and tension is always in the air.

Ban Senn: a vigorous and noisy harbor city built by the Mascu

Originally from another continent, the Mascus have left their dilapidated and distant home and have settled in Ban Senn.

As they are a technologically advanced society, the Mascu have adjusted extremely well to life on the new continent where they create new inventions that fill the other races with awe.

If you ever visit Ban Senn, remember to take a look at the power unit located in the center of the village!

We hope you have enjoyed the artworks and locations in Bless Online!

Cheers,
The Bless Team

Jan 17, 2018

[Dev Talk] 2018 Development Roadmap

Bless Online - Ginny

Hello! It feels like only yesterday when we last greeted everyone, we can’t believe it’s already been three months. Time sure flies!

This week we are finally able to present to you the first “Dev Talk,” where we hope to officially address some things that you have all been curious about regarding Bless Online’s Steam service. Starting with today’s Dev Talk on Steam development, we plan to continually publish Dev Talks about development progress, concerns, and detailed plans. We hope you will enjoy them!

We are extremely grateful that so many of you are looking forward to Bless, and are bringing up points of concern because of your interest and enthusiasm for Bless. Since we pay great attention to the community, you can rest assured that we are well aware of what everyone is most curious about! While we cannot answer ALL of your questions immediately, we hope to answer some of them and also satisfy your curiosity through the Dev Talk series.

Interview with the Game Director – Bless Online Development Roadmap

Our new Game Director knows Bless better than anyone else! Jae-hoon is also the one who guides the future development direction and points of focus for Bless. Recently, he presented a big development roadmap regarding Bless Online’s Steam release. We thought that it would be a good idea to share this with you guys so we asked him for an interview.

Q Jae-hoon! Please tell us about the development direction for Bless Online in 2018.
A. First, I want to say how happy I am to be able to meet everyone through Dev Talk. While we were deciding on and preparing for Bless Online’s Steam service, I thought that the most important thing was to be clearly aware of Bless’ strengths and points for improvement when deciding on the big picture for development.

Therefore, we tried to find Bless’ strength and weaknesses by looking back on our past service experiences through various kinds of research, such as NA/EU community feedback and focus group interviews. Using this as our foundation, we ended up deciding on the development direction after much consideration.

To summarize Bless Online’s development direction for 2018: we aim to fix problems that many have identified as we lead up to Steam Early Access. We want to ensure smooth gameplay and develop and polish new and current content to allow players to experience Bless’ transformation. In the long run, we will present new core content that expresses Bless’ strengths and uniqueness.

Of course, as we aim to launch Steam EA as soon as possible, we may be criticized for trial and error during the development progress. However, we think that communication with players and providing quick responses is the most important thing in game service. Thus, we will make and grow Bless Online together as we listen to the feedback of players in North America and Europe.

We will do our best to improve on all Bless’ shortcomings before Steam Early Access!
Q According to the above direction, what is the most important feature in the Steam version that you are currently improving?
A. As I mentioned above, as part of our short-term goals, we are currently focusing on the development of four components that will transform Bless before Early Access.
- Growth: in addition to providing further vertical growth for players, we want to provide goals for horizontal growth (exploration of new content rather than just leveling upwards, etc) while minimizing repetitive experiences
- Optimization: provide a pleasant gaming environment
- Combat: break away from repetitive combat patterns, making combat fun and rhythmic
- UI/UX: provide an intuitive and unified UI that creates a positive user experience

In the first build that will be unveiled on Steam, we will present you the new Bless, including the growth, improved optimization, and noticeable changes in the improvement of combat and UI/UX.
Q Can you please tell us about the main content that is under development and in particular, provide detailed examples regarding combat?
A. To give you a brief description of what we’re developing: We are redesigning the arrangement and connection structure of the game content to improve the flow, and we are revising the game guide as a whole. We will also improve the current UI / UX to make it easier for players to understand what is going on in the game without any inconvenience.

Combat is the area we focus on the most because it comprises of the majority of gameplay. However I am confident that you will feel considerable change in Bless’ combat as we have been working very hard to improve it.

The main goal of the combat change is to make a system of rhythmic combat that is fun in regard to skill building, and battling solo or with party members.

In order to provide tempo-based (rhythmic) combat, we are re-adjusting the monster difficulty and adding skill combo effects for more efficient and interesting combat. Additionally, with the skill customization system, a skill’s effect or the whole impact of the skill itself can be changed depending on the path you choose. It will definitely provide more depth to growing skills and will enable more strategic combat in PVE / PVP situations.

The current skill system works through players improving their skills by investing skill points, but in the future players will be able to diversify their combat style by choosing which skill effects to grow and how to make their skill combos.

In addition, the cooperative aspects will be more interesting with the addition of special buff effects that vary depending on the party members’ classes.

We are also preparing a lot of other content not mentioned above, and we will share further details on improvements through later Dev Talks.

Lastly, many fans in the community are wondering about the release schedule. There will be a chance to tell you what you are looking for soon.

Everyone in our company is working hard to develop the game you would like in EA, so please be patient and give us a little more time!

Thank you
The Bless Team