Two years of NFS EDGE, or NFSOL (极品飞车ONLINE, or 极品飞车ol)
Summary and foreword
I have been working/researching on this topic for the last month. (In my personal spare time, which is very limited!) Finally, I am ready to proudly present this topic: "2 years of NFSol" (not Korean, but) Chinese Racing MMOG.
I wanted to figure it out:
- Thesis (my topic, the question) was: Will it happen, that NFSol will become a "Racing MMOG" worldwide hit, right after NFSW?
- the Answer (my dissertation's Conclusion): Unfortunately, I find out - it won’t happen ☹️
Note: If you are not interested in this topic - now is the time to stop reading.
Warning - a lot of text: From here on, I am giving TWO pages already in this OP and then more than 10 replies with Patch notes, etc.
1. Introduction
NFS edge was developed by EA KOREA or SPEARHEAD.
The Korean version of the game was live only⭐ 1.5 years (12/14/2017 - 05/30/2019). Source links:
https://www.ea.com/ko-kr/service-updates/i-q
https://namu.wiki/w/니드%20포%20스피드:%20엣지 <- the page is in Korean, you can use google translate
⭐The game was purposefully developed for the Chinese market, specifically Tencent. IMO the Korean version of the game was more about testing while in the development phase, through the development period.
A spectacular event took place on the signing of the EA-Tencent contract: http://v.qq.com/x/page/b0196j5dr1z.html
(Mirror: https://youtu.be/rq884AvzwvE )
1.1 BACKGROUND
Game is currently only available in China: https://www.ea.com/zh-cn/games/nfs-online
(I explained this situation "China only" here, see -an example-.)
EXERCISE
(you can try it too)
If you go here, you can get/buy "Payback":
https://www.origin.com/irl/en-us/store/need-for-speed/need-for-speed-payback
Similarly, if you go here, you can get "NFSol" for free:
https://www.wegame.com.cn/store/503
(the ^Pic is google translate of the above's url.)
ABC opening of my thesis:
All three points (abc below) are quoted(& google translated) from interviews at this link:
http://news.17173.com/live/2016/0416nfsol/3/index.shtml
A) To fill the gap(empty space) between different game genres:
(高莉) Gao Li: Tencent is very concerned about the placement of various [genre] online gaming market segments. ... I think Need for Speed ONLINE is a good way to fill in the blank [racing] segment of our platform.
(高莉 GM of Tencent's interactive entertainment market department)
B) What "Chinese players like"?
(黄凌冬) Huang Lingdong: ... Tencent will focus on optimizing social content play and designing localized content such as the game system that Chinese players like (Cultural characteristics).
(黄凌冬 assistant to GM of interactive entertainment market department)
C) Even the minimum system requirements are tailored to the Chinese market (less powerful computers):
Huang Lingdong: [NFSol] requires higher [minimum] PC system requirements than the average game. We will not avoid this. However, since last year, we have been working with the EA development team to reduce [minimum required PC] configuration.
1.2 DEFINING THE SCOPE OF MY THESIS
(head of EA's Asian sales) Mike McCabe: EA is very careful about choosing who to work with. Tencent has always provided users with a very high level of service. Combined with past FIFAONLINE3 experience, EA is also very confident that Need for Speed ONLINE will become the next milestone in the collaboration between EA and Tencent, the next successful masterpiece.
1.3 OUTLINE
I wanted to show the fans of racing games (in the English-speaking world) that NFSol game even exists.
Here in this topic, I have a thesis, I useful guide for the reader who wants to try or get to know more about NFSol & links to some other AHQ threads on this topic.
2. Theory section
(CEO of Lamborghini in China) Francesco Scardaoni: ...the addition of well-known car brands will also bring new opportunities for Tencent Games to promote and build ... Need for Speed ONLINE so that Tencent Games will have more potential for future cross-border marketing and product promotion.
Source link: https://www.youxituoluo.com/119247.html
3. Method section
Everything is in the Chinese language. I used the following tools or sites:
See the "attachment topic": https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-Need-for-Speed-Games/Chinese-equivalents-to-other-major-websites-amp-social-media-for/m-p/8301363#M10335
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/google-translate/aapbdbdomjkkjkaonfhkkikfgjllcleb
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/百度翻译：网页翻译、海淘神器/edhchknefojhifoiebpcbkhcjlkkklci
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.translate&hl=en
https://www.baidu.com/
4. Analysis
Links to some other AHQ threads on this topic:
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-Need-for-Speed-Games/How-to-Play-NFS-Edge-in-English/td-p/6402910
5. Discussion
This article is probably tainted/corrupted by -my perspective- of a passionate ex NFSW player. I really wanted NFSol to be officially translated into English (& all major world languages) and to become the second, better, newer NFSW 2. But now I know that's not going to happen.
As I noted at the beginning. Now I will post more than 10 replies with Patch* notes, etc.
Then you are welcome to post your comments.
*Patch notes - the "attachment topic": https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-Need-for-Speed-Games/NFSol-Patch-notes/m-p/8272359/highlight/true#M10341
