Vikings of Thule Reset: The Beta Continues

The Open Beta session for Vikings of Thule has come to a close and today the game will be reset. We assembled a terrific test crew on Facebook and the time Beta testers spent playing, their feedback and enthusiasm are highly appreciated. All Beta testers’ comments and feature requests have been taken into account and the next time Beta testers log in, they are encouraged to have a look in their inventory, where a special item can be found as a token of our appreciation.

We’ve been working extremely hard to bring our players a great update. The new, rebalanced Beta version includes cool, new features, new assets, powerful moves and an improved social interaction. It also introduces ways to earn Silver Coins, which allow players to buy exquisite equipment, beautiful clothing and divine, limited edition items.

Everyone who donates (done by clicking the shiny yellow button at the top of the game screen) will be rewarded an in-game silver chest! Silver Chests ensure a steady income of Silver Coins and strengthen players’ chances of becoming one of the 39 who hold a vote at Thule’s parliament: Althingi.

Here’s a peek at our roadmap:

• New Fascinating Game Modes
• More Assets
• More Moves
• Improved battle system
• Quests & Missions
• Player alliances
• Interactive tutorial
• Wagers
• In-game messages
• + more

We’re really excited about the new and better Beta version awaiting players in the world of Thule. Click here to play.

How We Like Our Vikings

As our journey continues and people are starting to notice our product, we wanted to share with you some of the motivations behind Vikings of Thule.

Visual representations of Vikings, such as in movies, video games and comics, have usually presented them as drunk, dirty brutes in drab surroundings. These attempts to achieve realism are in stark contrast to what other cultures have done while representing their heritage and legacy. Most cultures embrace heightened realities, heroic traits and stories to enhance the strong social foundation they draw from their roots. The visual portrayal of Vikings as dirty brutes doesn’t quite add up when the old Icelandic tales are thoroughly read. They’re often described as true legends and heroes, both poised and dignified. The stories’ characters are regularly involved in unbelievable acts and actions like fighting supernatural beings, traveling the world as the most feared body guards and fighters, raiding Europe and ruling the seas.

Gogogic’s motivation behind Vikings of Thule is to represent Vikings as legends, in the same way that Samurais, Khans and Spartans are represented. They have a code of honor, a foundational core of duty, beliefs and heritage. They reside in a super reality where men can indeed achieve unbelievable things. They pose, stare and stand like heroic icons, forever ready to immerse themselves in battle for glory, valor and principle.

From the start, we wanted players to experience the true nature of Vikings in a setting based on the fascinating world of Norse Mythology and the great Icelandic sagas. Everything within the game has a connection to these sources whether it’s Egill Skallagrí­msson’s legendary treasure or the eyes of a Dark Elf. Also, since the game takes place in Iceland, real locations are used, both towns and natural treasures.

With Vikings of Thule, we feel like we’ve successfully mixed norse mythology, history and the old Icelandic sagas into an immersive game world, which will keep players entertained and coming back for more. When creating a game with a Viking theme and setting, being Icelandic unmistakably has its advantages.

Sneak Peek – Vikings of Thule Stuff

We just published a small Avatar Customization client for Vikings of Thule - our upcoming online MMOG. This is a preview of what’s to come and allows people to experience how this particular part of Vikings of Thule might eventually look and feel.

The client does not represent final graphics and there are a lot of neat little touches, movements and “stuff” that we’ll want to add – but we want to publish little tests and milestones, like this one, to show people where we are currently at and what we are thinking.

We originally submitted the Avatar Customization Test to our Beta Testers group on Facebook, which instantly responded with positive and constructive feedback. That is exactly what we’re looking for! So please join our Beta Testers group to post your comments and share your thoughts - or submit them through the “Vikings of Thule” site.

The Avatar Customization Test can be found here : http://www.vikingsofthule.com/avatartest/

Vikings of Thule : Update

Last December we announced that Gogogic had been formally awarded a grant for 400.000 DKK (about $ 72.000) from the Nordic Game Program to develop Vikings of Thule, a casual MMOG specifically designed to integrate with Facebook and Facebook Connect.

Since then we’ve immersed ourselves in Viking lore and tried to reconcile our ancestral heritage with our inner geekdom. We’re stormed around the office wearing fourteen layers of sheepskin and horned helms*. Virtually.

Basically, we’ve put in a lot of hours and the project is well underway. Soon we’ll be putting up a special Vikings of Thule site, where we’ll post concept art, detailed background information, back-story stuff, item lists, assets, news and other stuff that is directly related to the game and our overall progress.

Until then, here are a few “sneak peak” points:

• Casual Massively Multiplayer Game – Free to play, with in-game options, extensions and items that can be purchased.
• Viking theme (obviously) – The game is loosely built on old Nordic and Icelandic sagas, heroes and myths. The intent is to depict the vikings in an exaggerated version of reality that is cool, harsh and adventurous.
• Setting – Iceland, circa 930 AD.
• As a player you’ll be able to build and customize your character, fight  and conquer your enemies, upgrade your house, weapons and equipment, buy land and gain followers, exchange gifts and interact with friends, create alliances and increase your overall abilities.
• Strategy, cunning, guile and courage will help you rise through the ranks.
• The main battle system is transactional and somewhat based on collectible card game concepts, where different moves, spells and actions can be used and played out on a “chess-like” board.

Stay tuned

P.S. And yes. We are already thinking about iPhoneextensions and applications for VOT, although they would be released later.

*Actually, vikings never wore horned helms. Apparently, they were added to the stories, at some point during the romantic period, because they seemed heroic or something…

Gogogic Receives Grant for “Vikings of Thule”

Last Wednesday, December 10th, Gogogic was formally awarded a grant for 400.000 DKK (about $ 72.000) from the Nordic Game Program.

The grant is specifically tied to the development of Vikings of Thule – a Casual MMOG for Facebook. The game is set to launch in the beginning of summer, 2009. Follow this blog to learn more about the game, as we start leaking some inside stuff on how it will work and what it will be about

Vikings of Thule - early concept art

Gogogic is the first Icelandic company to receive a grant from the Nordic Game Program. This year, 138 grant applications were processed and 18 were accepted.

Of course, we feel extremely proud and happy. We think the grant will allow us to create a great game experience in Vikings of Thule. It also recognizes the basic merit of the game concept itself and where Gogogic is going, as a company.