"We wanted to make a competitive massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that everyone can enjoy freely in their own way. We rethought from scratch not only the competitive system but every element that makes up the game."
Kim Dae-hwon, head of Aiverton, stated accordingly at the showcase for the new MMORPG "Zeus: God of Arrogance" held on the 7th at JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the event, Kim, Com2uS head Nam Jae-gwan, head of business Kim Jeong-hun, and Aiverton director Jeong Seong-hun attended to present the game's development vision and key content.
"Zeus: God of Arrogance" is the first title from the new domestic game studio Aiverton, published by Com2uS. It is set in a world fractured by the absolute power and arrogance of Zeus, the supreme god in Greek mythology. It will officially launch in Korea at 12 p.m. on the 26th, preceded by a character name reservation event starting at 8 p.m. on the 13th. While Com2uS has serviced numerous MMORPGs without a flagship hit, this time it co-designed from the outset an operations and economy system focused on long-term service.
Presenters put forward "competition enjoyed by everyone" as the game's core value. To this end, they combined personal challenges and guild cooperation, as well as direct duels and indirect competition, so users can enjoy content in ways that suit their growth stage and preferences. Featured content includes the season-based competitive system "Odysseia," "Arcadia Conquest," where multiple guilds compete over strongholds, and "Colosseum," a 1-on-1 PvP mode using the user's avatar, the "Persona."
Director Jeong Seong-hun, who oversaw development, said, "To prevent top-tier users from monopolizing rewards, we designed content on the premise of a certain level of system intervention," and added, "We prepared competitive content for mid-to-upper-tier users, including 'Colosseum' and 'Arcadia Festival,' where players can face AI-controlled opponents of similar level."
They highlighted as a strength that the artificial intelligence (AI) mode is more advanced than in other games of the same genre. Through the AI mode, users can have their characters hunt according to a set schedule even when not logged in, automatically perform various actions such as resupply and guildmate support, and grow their characters. The team said all in-game content will change on a seasonal basis, and that updates will continue by adding new classes and new fields roughly every four months.
They also unveiled the business model (BM) and product prices. Head of business Kim Jeong-hun said, "All components of paid products are designed to be obtainable through gameplay alone," and added, "Core growth elements such as weapons, armor, and skills will not be obtainable through purchases." He continued, "For the probabilistic items—costumes and mounts—we applied a 'ceiling' system that guarantees an item after a certain number of unsuccessful attempts."
Actor Park Ji-hyun, who plays the key NPC "Pandora," made a surprise appearance at the showcase. Park looked over the making-of and gameplay videos, shared her thoughts on participating, and introduced the character name reservation schedule, raising anticipation for launch. Park said, "When I first saw the completed Pandora, I was startled because she looked so much like me," and added, "When the official service begins, I plan to play alongside you as a user."