This is the translation of the interview... slowly translating and updating frequently:
Recently, devCat has been making big changes to the current Mabinogi system by adding the new talent category, "Mabinogi Zero". The skill focuses on combining existing talents as well as bonuses for new skills. The most recent Hero, Diva, has been met with positive reviews as it combines both the bard, healing, and puppetry talents together.
For the interview, I will be asking questions with devCat members, Sung Yong the General Manager who oversaw the content development of Diva, Jung Sonshiku who is the assistant director of the current director, and Choi Kwang Ju who is the creative director of Mabinogi. We will be interviewing at the DevCat Headquarters.
How does the implementation of "Mabinogi Zero" change the way Mabinogi is currently perceived?
Before we started the Mabinogi Zero project, there were many requests for the improvement of the Alchemy and Magic skillsets from the fans. Besides adding improvements, we wanted to make these improvement significant and have meaning to it that other users can recognized. So after much debate, we decided that the term "Hero" would inspire a unique sense of pride and justice that can inspire others.
We also notice that with our current talent system, it would be difficult to rank those respective talents, so we decided to implement the idea of a "Legendary Hero", which would ease up character growth and implement a system that would allow the users to happily rank their skills alongside the other skillsets with multiple talents converged into a single hero talent.
Why did you choose the name of Merlin and Diva instead of just calling the Hero talents, "Druid" and "Boann?"
Mabinogi Creative Director, Choi Kwang Ju (now referred to in this interview as "Choi"), originally planned to just call the new Hero talents, Druid and Boann. The original choice of Boann was taken because we already used the term "Bard" and had no choice but to borrow the name of Boann, who is a famous bard in mythology. However we were worried if the playerbase would draw the connection so we eventually stuck with the name "Diva", which the playerbase could associate better.
However, because we chose the name "Diva" instead of Boann to reflect the new talent, we couldn't just leave the "Druid" talent as it is. So after much debate and research, we decided to give a face to the "Druid" talent other than being "Druid". We decided to go into mythology and implement the new hero, Merlin, which was taken from the same setting as Boann.
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<Original source of Boann, whose role is a famous bard is stated in the Encylopedia">
With the implementation of the new Heroes, will they have any significant impact story-wise in the world of Erinn?
Yes! With the introduction of the heroes, we plan to expand their role in the world of Erinn and the significant impacts they will make. Where they come from, what they struggle against, and their role with the player will be slowly be unraveled in many different forms of quest over time. We cannot speak too much about it but we hope our fans are looking forward to it!
Also to note, we plan to release many quests that involves the changes in the current world, such as the change of Vales and how it impacts the world.
Do you think the current fanbase enjoys the updates up to Mabinogi Zero?
Our goal is to create a very comfortable environment that encourages user's growth and progress. One of our greatest concern that involves current updates was that players were complaining about monsters who were difficult to beat because of their chosen occupation (Magic and Alchemy). We wanted to serve those types of players by making the monsters less difficult in generational quests so these players will have an easier time. We did this with good intention in hopes that find the game more enjoyable.
We also implemented a system in which a high level character can connect with a lower level character to share experience and AP if a new character is reborn-ed using the "Hero Card"s.. We hope this system will foster growth between a high level character and a low level character. We have also chosen to implement more features concerning the services of connection characters including but not limited to advanced items, bank space, etc.
There's been a lot of focus on the Mabinogi Zero Updates through the use of social media such as Facebook, with special events and and atmosphere that excites players. What is your opinion on it?
We wanted a way to reach people that would seem relative to them, and what better way to reach such a large crowd and attract interest than Facebook? Although we had some content and evens related to Merlin and Diva, our biggest move to attract hype and curiosity was the video we posted with Diva singing the Mabinogi Theme. This attacted a lot of attention and curiosity. We are also debating on the use of other social media platform in the future to surprise and attract our playerbase.
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<A variety of events and decorations are used in the official Mabinogi Page for Diva>
With the Mabinogi Diva Update, there was a concern on how the voice of Diva was made and whether it was borrowed through other companies?
Though we implemented a voice system that uses 8 octaves, there was some concern whether or not it is the Vocaloid system that is commonly perceived. However, the voice we use for Mabinogi is completely original with the voice itself coming from actual singers made into certain syllables. They are not made from a computerized "beep" system that certain sections of the playerbase speculate.
One of the biggest things that is missing from the world of Mabinogi is the concept of sitting around a campfire, playing music and talking to people, just like in the old days. It was quite painful because Mabinogi is the "Song of a bard" yet that aspect of Mabinogi has diverted so much from its origin name that the bard aspect was left along for many years. We wanted to re-add the music in Mabinogi so we implemented a system in which singing could be used in battle and voices can be used instead of instrument to get back that lost spark of music in Mabinogi. This was one of our driving forces when planning the Mabinogi Zero Update.
What we want to spark with the Diva Update is the concept of user creation. We want users to be creative. We added a new line to the musical scroll and plan to release more instrument in the future as well as improving other musical capabilities within music in order to inspire creative users to enjoy the game other than fight monsters in dungeons. We're very much interested to see what users will create with the new song system.
Mabinogi Diva Update - Part 2 is coming soon, what changes will come with it?
The next Diva update will be on May 15, 2013. We have received many positive reviews about Diva and we are proud to announce the introduction of new instruments to the family. The previous planned update, the 3rd hero, will be moved to a later date.
There have been some complaints about the quality of Diva's voice, would you kindly respond to this?
We are fully aware that the quality of the voice would not meet everyone's expectation. We have underwent many multiple testings and trials in order to have Diva's voice be the highest quality as possible as the system would allow it. There have been some people who pointed to the promotional video that we used for Diva and that is the best example we could use to demonstrate Diva's potential in the creation of music. We hope to see many users find ways to make the best use of Diva's voice in-game.
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<Diva's voice in-game>
What is the chance of implementing a server-change function in-game?
We are aware that there are demands for server transfers from the playerbase and we have taken some steps in order to implement it. Originally, we planned to do a test trial of server transfers by only doing it during the Winter season, however the amount of applications we had for a server transfer far exceeded the time frame and made us consider the addition of a server-transfer in-game.
Currently, when one applies for a server transfer, it takes less than 15 hours to process the application. The amount of time needed to transfer is also dependent on what the user wishes to transfer when they switch. So there are a lot of processes needed to consider in order for a server-transfer to be implemented in-game.
Is there any major problems that comes with server transfers?
Well, it is mentioned the server transfer is not easy since it has to be done by hand. Before doing a server transfer, a user must first apply for a server transfer in advance. When doing a server transfer, there are many problems and complications that could extend the amount of time needed to transfer. There have been cases in which server transfer took more than a day than expected for a single user to transfer servers.
(condensed) One of the major problems we have with server transfer is how extensive a user wishes to transfer their assets to the new server. There are many options for a user to take, such as bank money, items in the bank, and even an option to transfer pets and other characters to the new server that can make or break the length of time and difficulty to transfer. There have been times in which we could not process the person's application because they are not specific in what they want to transfer.
There are a lot of questions on "What I cannot bring" among the player base and there are a few things that are not possible. For example, there have been request from users to implement "housing transfer" or other status to the new server, but it is almost impossible to do so without major changes. Because of some of these select reasons, many users feel they "cannot" move to a new server, even if they wish to.
Do you believe there would be any noticeable side-effects of implementing server transfers?
It is too early to say that there would be any noticeable side-effects of server transfers.
However we believe that server transfer is a positive ways to meet with friends who are on other servers that one could not do normally before. There have been many request, particularly of low-population servers to transfer to bigger servers in order to facilitate growth and development. Now if anything, this is a perfect time for one to switch to a server they feel would be most comfortable in.
Is there a plan for someone who took advantage of server transfer to showcase their server of origin? An example would be <Playername + Server> in their tags? (I.E. For NA it would be like <Mari> Kenero who Saved the Goddess)
There have been changes to player's name and players had the opportunity to change their name when they were applying for a server transfer. However, once a server transfer is finished, the name they chose becomes permanent to that server with the system not knowing where the person's original server is. It would be near impossible for the current server to know what your previous server is and give a proper tag for it. However, it is planned during the summer for users to have the ability to change their username if they did a server transfer.
<Rest of the questions were skipped>
It is sad to see that the original planned released for the Alchemist Hero got pushed back, why is this?
We planned to release the Alchemist Hero before the end of summer. One of the reasons it got pushed is because of delay in the development schedules within the team.
<The next system is skipped because it involves devCat sponsoring weddings of players who married in real life because of marrying in-game>
In North America, they are met with envy because they can have same sex weddings. Is there any future plans that will allow Giant and Elf marriage in the future?
Well, the reason North America got the same sex system was because there was a demand for it while here there is little demand for it. As for Giant and Elves getting married in the future, there are some consideration but nothing concrete has been formed out of it.
Do you guys often listen to player wishes, suggestions, or bug reports on a daily basis?
We listen to player wishes and suggestion and it is one of the major factors in development.
We also ask players to always send in bug reports in order to improve the quality of the game.