Flyff: Interview with Yoon Im, Producer

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Flyff: Interview with Yoon Im, Producer

by Martin Ressier,MMORPG.COM

The Producer of Flyff (aka Fly For Fun) answers our questions on this unique MMO
Yoon Im is the Producer of Flyff. This MMORPG is distributed by GalaNet and available to customers around the world. It has been quite a while since we spoke to the team, so Staff Writer Martin Ressier decided to follow up on how things were going.
MMORPG.com: How many people worked/work on Flyff, including game-masters, support, billing, web-design and all those things that make up a game?" title="Flyff: Interview with Yoon Im, Producer">The Producer of Flyff (aka Fly For Fun) answers our questions on this unique MMO
Yoon Im is the Producer of Flyff. This MMORPG is distributed by GalaNet and available to customers around the world. It has been quite a while since we spoke to the team, so Staff Writer Martin Ressier decided to follow up on how things were going.
MMORPG.com: How many people worked/work on Flyff, including game-masters, support, billing, web-design and all those things that make up a game?

Yoon Im: Within the US, we currently have 6 GM's, 5 representatives for customer support and billing, and 2 web-designer/webmaster, making the total 13. In addition to this, we have a full development team devoted to Flyff in South Korea.

MMORPG.com: Are there any plans for future expansions like the highly rumoured pets?

Yoon Im: Currently we are working on the 7th version and are planning to release the update this Holiday season. In 7th version update, there will be a new skill point system, new high-level armors, and other attractive items. Also, we will be introducing some new pets, specifically puppies and kittens faithfully awaiting their masters. In addition to all this, there will be many other things to look forward to with 7th version update. We are confident that these additions will enhance the overall user experience and gameplay.

MMORPG.com: How long did it take them to finish the initial development stages?

Yoon Im: The initial development stage took about a year and a half. During that period, we had to find investors and collaborative partners, which was not an easy task. But we were full of ambition to make the most creative MMORPG on the market and trudged forward. With that same ambition in mind, we continue to strive to forward in the hopes of ever enhancing the quality of Flyff.

MMORPG.com: Who had the idea of creating Flyff?

Yoon Im: This is a difficult question to answer as the concept for Flyff was a joint venture and a collaborative effort of many people, but if I had to pick one person, it would be me. Just kidding of course - again, Flyff was really created at the hands of numerous individuals who all deserve due credit. MMORPGs were a big issue at that time (and still are), and we wanted to make something new and innovative. Thus we sought the counsel of our best and brightest, and what you now know as Flyff was the end result.

MMORPG.com: Anything that inspired those people to start this big project?

Yoon Im: If anything, it was our desire to see something different, something freer, something a little less constrictive than the standard MMO. Everyone here loves MMORPGs, and we really wanted to design something different, distinguishable from the standard.

MMORPG.com: Considering there are a lot of pay to play games on the market, what gave you the idea of your system?

Yoon Im: The free to play system has been very popular in Asia, and we anticipated a similar reaction from the Western market. We also believe that a user should have the right to preview and play the game before investing any of their hard-earned money. Yes, there are plenty of games that offer free trials, but many of these gimmicks still require you to submit payment information up front. And what happens when you accidentally forget to cancel the 'free preview'? Whammo - got yo money, foo. You will never see anything to the likes of this in Flyff. Not only is the game free to play, we allow our dedicated users to enhance the quality of their gaming experience through the purchase of premium pay items. These items not only provide the user with a great variety of options to raise the overall fun-factor, but it also helps support the Flyff team. It's like donating to a website that you thoroughly enjoy perusing - same exact concept. Still, in the end no one is ever required to pay a single dime to play the game. In doing this, I think Flyff will appeal to a broader demographic and will help us increase and strengthen our community.

MMORPG.com: If you were asked, what would you say makes Flyff a special game?

Yoon Im: Flyff is special because it can appeal to both the casual and hardcore gamer alike. In addition to it being free, we have a great user-based community revolving around the game. Plus, not too many games on the market allow the individual user to freely fly to almost any point in the game world, which I think is pretty nice.

MMORPG.com: Maybe a mean question, but when do you plan to update the website? It is still lacking the Acrobat as choose able first Job. Are you waiting with the update until you add yet another new class?

Yoon Im: We are actually in the process of redesigning the whole website. And while it has been a while since Acrobat has been introduced, we ask that you patiently await the arrival of our new site which will be fully updated with current information, including the Acrobat job. For now please accept my humble apology.

MMORPG.com: Let's talk about your expectation about Flyff. Were they met or did the success even surpass them?

Yoon Im: As the first game released from our company, I am pleased with our current success. But as business goes, our ambitions are high and we continually aspire to increase our user base in addition to providing a wealth of new dynamic content. Our success lies in continuously fostering harmony between our users and the Flyff team

MMORPG.com: Considering the present hype of sequels, how high are the chances for a Flyff 2 or something like that?

Yoon Im: We have considered on working on Flyff 2, but our main focus still lies on improving the community and gameplay experience of the current Flyff. Flyff still has a lot of growth potential and before we start thinking about the next Flyff, I believe it is important for us to set a firm foundation and fan base with the current Flyff.

MMORPG.com: Since if there is light, there is also always shadow, would you tell us a bit about your problems with hackers and "boters"? Are there any? Are they a big problem?

Yoon Im: Like all other online games there are hackers/"boters" in Flyff, but rest assured many counter measures have been implemented to combat such individuals.

MMORPG.com: Have you ever thought about using in game advertising to finance the game and what do you think of the general idea of in game ads?

Yoon Im: The thought has crossed our minds, and maybe something to that effect will be implemented in the future, but for now we have decided against it. However, the general idea of in-game ads can be good in some senses for certain games. For example, advertisers of tires and specialized car parts may benefit from in-game advertising placed in racing games. But who knows, maybe you'll find an ad for flying-clouds and hovercrafts within Flyff in the near future. And if you didn't get that, PLAY THE GAME.

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