First off - I'm not sure if anyone will read this. :) But the home page does say "You're a tester: your ideas and bug reports are extremely welcome in the forums." So here goes.
I've been playing MMO's since Ultima Online came out and I was theoretically too young to play it and have been wandering from game to game ever since. It's interesting what elements I see from other games, and how it combines into something entirely fresh & new. (By the way, this is not meant to be an "I'm so awesome"-intro and "I discredit anything people who have played less MMO's say." It's just meant to serve as a bit of a background for any comparison I make.)
When it comes to Glitch, I am completely and utterly a beginner. I've figured out how to squeeze chickens, make smoothies, nibble on pigs, and I'm the proud owner of a grill. I still have a long way to go, so these are just first impressions.
First, we have the crafting. For me, it's a new experience to have a game that isn't some super-simple turn-based facebook thing that drops away the "kill lots and lots of monsters and collect their loot" in favor of a crafting system. And it's great! Especially when you combine it with the ability to explore (one of my gaming passions), platformer elements (jumping around), etc.
I love the fact you can explore lots of different paths and don't have to focus only on one aspect because you have a limited amount of skill points. You can try and test everything and see what it is you like the best. But at the same time, you're not forced to go for everything at the same time. I have actually not even started mining yet because there are so many other things to do.
Races: Remind me a little bit of Little Big Planet. Not an MMO, but a fun game. I've only raced the first two newbie races so far (don't know if there are more in store for me), but I think there's a lot of potential there. But the way races are right now, I don't feel compelled to win them if I'm not the one initiating it, because I know the other person is trying to complete a quest and I'm not.
Transport: Until you get your papers and can take the subway, it takes a long while to get around. (This is great.) It takes a relatively long time to wander from one edge to the next. There is no 'Autopilot' like in EVE Online, but with the super-helpful instructions on how to get from one area to another makes that not matter at all.
I tried gained teleportation yet, but I'm sure that'll be a fun and time-saving experience too.
I'd love to see a bit of variation on how to get from one area to another. Right now, it's always the same signpost, just with different locations on it. (And I know I'm nitpicking now.) Some more swampy looking signs, road signs carved into rock, etc... could be just another little nice touch!
Animals: I love it love it love it. The ability to raise an animal from an egg (pigs too! So cute!) and give it a home and "harvest it", and everything...! Awesome. A few more animals would be great (sheep so we can make clothes and lambchops?), but I'm very happy that so far every animal in the game has a purpose and function, and they all talk and seem to have personalities. I felt a bit guilty nibbling on pigs until I saw how much they enjoy it. (If only it were thus in real life).
You could include mounts later on, but not necessarily as a way of getting around. It could just be a fashion statement. I don't want to see something like in World of Warcraft where you need a mount and can fly all over the place, but it could be a nice way to spend some credits.
Foods & Drinks: I like the fact you have such a huge assortment of drinks and foods to choose from. I frequently find myself getting hungry and a bit jealous when my little Glitch feasts. It's cool that there are so many vegetarian options too so if you don't want your glitch to be a carnivore, it doesn't have to. I would like to see some more personality with all the vendors in the game. Perhaps a fruit stand, a little diner's, etc... Right now, it seems to me they are mostly disembodied floaty things (also cool), but where do they stash all their goodies? In their pockets?
Humor: What a weird weird sense of humor. A bit kooky, and even a bit naughty at times. Makes me smile. I can't help feeling the "Egg plant coddler" badge is a bit embarrassing somehow, and I wouldn't want to display it publicly. I know there is a whole debate going about age limit in other topics, but I happen to agree with the fact that the humor is suitable for kids and adults both. There is a lot of stuff that will go over a 7-year old's head, but that's just fine.
The Bad: There isn't really anything bad. My title is an exaggeration.
I did find myself a bit overwhelmed in the beginning, and I'm still not entirely sure what to do. My next goal though is "Get a house and start a menagerie" and I'll see what I'll do from there.
The art style is cool, but I wish there were a greater variation in the glitches. All of them are the same size and shape, whether they are male or female. I'd love to see some age variation, maybe some smaller glitches, bigger ones, hairier ones, skinnier ones, etc. On the other hand, it is cool that you can have such variety based on the same shape just using different colors and outfits and faces.
Guilds? Right now we have groups, but it might be nice to actually have some sort of guilds too. Perhaps a guild lair where you could drop in and discuss your egg-fondling experiences with fellow tree-keepers. I don't think this is relevant right now, but it could be in the future when there are more players. Right now, there is a great community going and there is no problem finding an intelligent conversation but I have a feeling that will change...
Downtime. *whine*
I want more emotions! Give me some dancing, bowing, etc. (There is the risk that all newbies will gather in one cliché place and have a dance-off, but it could be fun.)
So there are my two (euro) cents. If I have any more "deep" thoughts, I'll add them to this thread later. Feel free to comment whether you agree or disagree, or to ignore this altogether! I look forward to seeing you all in Glitch whatever the case. :)