Dofus
| Dofus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Ankama Games |
| Designer(s) | Mathieu Bourgain [1] |
| Platform(s) | Flash |
| Release date(s) |
|
| Genre(s) | Massively multiplayer online role-playing game |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Dofus is a Flash-based tactical turn-oriented massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Ankama Games,[4] a French computer game manufacturer. Originally released solely in French, it has since been translated into many other languages. It is primarily a Pay to Play game, though it still offers a limited amount of free content. Its success has led to the marketing of spin-off products, such as books, art, comics and a movie realesed in 2016. It has also led to the development of two continuations: Dofus Arena, released at the beginning of 2006, which is an alternative "tournament" version of Dofus; and Wakfu, a continuation of Dofus. The game has attracted over 25 million players worldwide and is especially well known in France.[5] Today, there are more than 1.5 millions subscribers every months on this game.
Gameplay
Dofus takes place in "The World of Twelve", named for the 12 gods that inhabit it. Players control a 2D avatar belonging to one of 17 character classes in a third person view. Each class has a unique set of spells that other classes can not obtain. As with most other massively multiplayer online role-playing games, players gain levels by obtaining experience. Experience can be gained by defeating monsters and completing quests. With each level, players gain points that can be used to improve their avatar's characteristics and spells. Players can access new spells and equipment by advancing in level. Players receive a special 'aura' when they reach level 100, and gain a different aura at 200, the maximum level. Players may also decide to take up professions and frequently band together to undertake dungeons. Many also become part of guilds, to more easily coordinate with others. Players complete quests to gain experience and other rewards
While the game takes place in real-time, combat in Dofus is conducted more like a turn based strategy game – where each player takes it in turns to make a series of moves and attacks within a time limit. As such, when a player attacks monsters – they are transported to a 'copy map' where the fighting takes place. Once a fight begins, no other players may join that fight. Players use a series of spells (which are unique to that character class) to, amongst other effects, attack, heal, buff or drain one's Action Points (AP) or Movement Points (MP). All actions done in combat (by both players and monsters) consumes an amount of AP and all movement consumes MP. In combat if a character loses all of their health points (HP) they're rendered dead.
Characters in Dofus can learn up to three professions.[6] There is a special type of profession called a specialization that can be obtained after a player gains enough experience in certain professions. Collecting professions involve players going out into the wilderness and collecting natural resources, such as certain wood and flowers. These can be later made into breads and such that restore health. They may also be sold as many of them are needed as quests items. Crafting professions involve the player piecing collected resources together to make a vast array of different items. Players gain experience in each profession by gathering the resources of that profession and/or by crafting items, depending on the type. As a player's collecting profession gains levels, they can collect new types of resources and obtain resources quickly. When a crafting profession levels, the player can create more powerful items and create them with a higher success rate, meaning that crafting will fail less often.
The currency used in Dofus is called "Kamas" (k). There are three cities that contain a marketplace where people can buy and sell goods and equipment for a fee. The kamas from these sales deposit directly into the player's bank account. Accounts are separated into two categories, Free-to-Play and Pay-to-Play. The game includes a zone accessible to Free-to-Play accounts. Free accounts have access to the new player zone of Incarnam and access to the city of Astrub and most of its outlying areas. This makes it possible for a new player to enjoy seemingly full game play, unbounded by time restrictions. Access to the entire world of Dofus—including access to other cities, participating in factional Player vs. Player battles and being able to raise profession levels above 30—requires a monthly fee, with discounts given for longer term subscriptions.[7]
In-Game Events
Dofus hosts plenty of in game events throughout the year, most of which tie in or relate to real life calendar events and holidays.
List of events:
- St Ballotwines Day - A reference to (St Valentine's Day) is held annually around the 14th of February. Players who are not married (in-game) will receive various small gifts, including: a box of heart shaped chocolates, and some heart styled attire.[8]
- Vulkania - Vulkania (Vulk) is a set of small islands which are styled and related to dinosaurs. Vulkania is only open and accessible for roughly a month during the Northern Hemisphere summertime (Southern Hemisphere - Wintertime). Vulkania features special mobs, bosses, quests, emotes and rewards. During Vulkania, Dofus generally hands out random %XP (experience) bonuses to all players on all servers. Some servers who complete designated tasks first (before any other server) will receive very high server wide %XP and %Loot (looting chance) bonuses for the remaining duration of Vulkania.
Development
Since its release, Dofus has seen more than 25 million accounts created from its release and distributed at least 51 servers. Dofus has roughly 1.5 millions active subscribers in 2016.
Critical reception
| Reception | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||
The game received "mixed" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[10] Dofus has also received international gaming awards including the Bytten Ernie Award for Best Graphics And Concept Art in 2007 [11] and the Audience Award at the Independent Game Festival in 2006.[12]
- Best game and Public Choice at the Flash festival in France in May 2004.
- Game of the month by the Edge Magazine in July 2005.
- Best game and Public Choice at Flashforward Film Festival of Seattle in February 2006.
- Public Choice at the Independent Games Festival (IGF) of San Jose in March 2006.
Animated series
In 2013 an animated series entitled Dofus aux trésors de Kérubim (English: Dofus: The Treasures of Kerubim) based upon the game began airing on France 3. The series is set 200 years before the beginning of the MMORPG and follows the character of Kerubim throughout various points in his life. The premise has Kerubim narrating several of his adventures to his adopted son Joris and their housekeeper Simone. Dofus consists of 52 episodes, each running 13 minutes apiece. The movie Dofus Book I: Julith was released in February 3, 2016.
References
- ↑ http://www.rpgfan.com/features/Dofus_Interview/index.html
- ↑ "Ankama Games :: Portail des Jeux Ankama" (in French). Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ↑ "Ankama Games :: Ankama games portal". Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ↑ Ankama Games official website about Dofus
- ↑ "Latest French Avant Garde: Games" in Wired News
- ↑ http://www.dofus.com/en/mmorpg-game/characters/iop
- ↑ http://www.dofus.com/en/mmorpg/pay
- ↑ "Happy St Ballotwine's Day!". Dofus.com. Ankama Games. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ↑ "Dofus for PC - GameRankings". GameRankings. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
- 1 2 "Dofus for PC Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 2014-05-10.
- ↑ Bytten Ernie Awards
- ↑ Ankama Studio press release