You know how we roll here at Blend Games: Interviews, reviews, previews and everything else in between. Lately we’ve been introducing our readers to a lot of IGG MMOs with recent interviews for GodsWar Online and Angels Online. Today we bring you an interview for the upcoming Galaxy Online MMORTSG. The game is currently in alpha-testing, that doesn’t mean that Galaxy Online’s Product Manager, Wayne Wang, didn’t have time to answer some questions thrown his way. Check them out below, along with some exclusive new screenshots.

Blend Games: When first reading about this game the first thing that came to mind was EVE Online. While it’s definitely a cool MMO, what will be the biggest distinguishing factor between EVE and Galaxy Online?

Wayne Wang: The greatest difference between EVE Online and Galaxy Online must be the gaming modes; especially combat modes. In Galaxy Online, players must take various aspects into consideration, such as teams, ships, modules, factions and many more which may affect them more or less. Before a battle, players need to act as a commander to place their warships, found fleets and designate the flight path of their fleets and when to start moving. In addition, the controls of Galaxy Online are extremely easy to grasp and it also has a very excellent expressive style of combat, with abundant player interaction functions (faction, corps, party, chat room, friends, mail, etc), not to mention the interesting commander system. What’s more important is that Galaxy Online does not simply keep combat records like other traditional strategy and web games. Instead, the combats in Galaxy Online are well worth watching. Also, the Galaxy Online game client takes up only a little disk space (about 25MB). So it is very easy to download and begin the fantastic expedition around the universe.

Blend Games: Following up on the last question…the MMO market is full of up and coming projects. What do you think makes Galaxy Online stand out among newer, free-to-play MMOs?

Wayne Wang: For new-comer, I would say that although Galaxy Online has a 25 megabit mini client, you don’t need to waste a lot of time to download it. And you don’t need to stare into screens to watch the source to grow, then you have more time to think the strategy.
In fact, the main game play style, of Galaxy Online, is fighting, strategy and teamwork. Besides the construction system and communication system, Galaxy Online’s warship design, fleet formation design, combat system, commander system and spells are all worth studying carefully and trying time and again. As a strategy game, it will test a players resolve and cunning at every turn!.

Blend Games: When it comes to designing a space, strategy MMOG, what’s the biggest challenge the team has faced so far?

Wayne Wang: The greatest challenge was how to balance the realistic game play with our imaginative settings. But due to our developer’s hard work and dedication this has been more than met by the amazing game that we wish to share with you.

Blend Games: It’s mentioned in the overview for Galaxy Online that players who wish to take an almost passive role as a businessman, can do so. Does this mean they won’t be attacked or don’t have to worry about “losing” in the game?

Wayne Wang: First of all, being a businessman in Galaxy Online is not “an almost passive role”. We know every empire stands up, not only require the power of the force, but the economy supports as well. We know the sources are the footstones of everything. Businessmen know how to accumulate sources in a maximum speed at a minimum time. If the businessman is a team-player, he/she can do lots of things to support his/her team or faction. Such as providing the science points to help the faction to improve certain source productions, helping the factions to study new technology to build better ships to attack or to defense. In return, his/her teammates or alliances would provide certain protection for businessman. It’s a win-win situation, working together is the key. Of course, businessman can play solo. Either way, they wouldn’t be attacked in their home.

Blend Games: While we’re on the subject of classes and roles, are there missions or specific adventures designated to certain classes? Or can anyone perform any kind of activity at any time?

Wayne Wang: In the subject of classes, we call factions in Galaxy Online. Base on the system, we would adjust the basic start points as the bonus points for every faction from time to time, just to bring the balance to the game.
Anyone can perform any kind of activity at any time if you can. I mean it’s a free galaxy. The only rule out there is the strongest rules all.

Blend Games: The game seems like it contains a lot of freedom. In some games like this players can sometimes feel lost or as if it's too much to take on all at once. Has there been any kind of mission implementation to help newer players grasp onto the concept of the game without feeling overwhelmed?

Wayne Wang: Yes, for players, at the very beginning of the game, we design a bunch of newbie missions to help newer players to grasp onto all the concepts. The step by step missions not only would help players to get to know the game setting and functions, but also would bring the certain amounts of bonus sources to let new players begin with.

Blend Games: What’s the limit on how many players or player vessels can do battle in an area? And is it more about the amount of players who can fit within an area or how well the game operates with a designated amount of players’ vessels engaged in combat?

Wayne Wang: Players can have unlimited ships. But the warships in a fleet are limited. When founding a fleet, there are 9 player controllable grids for players to array ships. Each grid can be put 30,000 ships on at most. When there are innumerous ships fighting one another in a small area, everything still goes well, which have been proven by our tests.

Blend Games: Are there plans to include options for guilds or clans?

Wayne Wang: we do have the guilds system in game, and we call it Corps. We have the Gorps channel. The leaders of Corps have the very right to vote for the leader of factions. And the leaders will receive the high-level warships from system.

Blend Games: Are there plans for special events to lure new-comers in? If so, what kind of events are planned further down the road for Galaxy Online?

Wayne Wang: We want our new-comers to fully experience this best of game, so at the early developing period, we would like to help the players to build and development faster and easier, by providing them the newbie events and giving players extra points to speedily reach the prosperity of galaxy.

Blend Games: Thanks Wayne for answering our questions. Best of luck with the game.

Wayne Wang: Thanks Cinima Blend for the coverage, and welcome all gamers to come and join Galaxy Online Alpha Test.