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Embers of Caerus videos cover player stats and dynamic ecology
Indie sandbox MMO Embers of Caerus wrapped up its kickstarter feature week with a pair of developer videos covering player stats and something called "dynamic ecology." That sounds like a 400-level college course if you ask us. Embers of Caerus has 10 player stats that are divided into two categories: physical and mental. These stats aren't just linebackers for your DPS quarterback; they're highly important to the game's many sub-systems. For example, resilience is vital to help fight off infection and parasites. It's interesting to note that while stats increase as players engage in related activities, they will also decrease over time if neglected. The devs say that the dynamic ecology system is "one of the most ambitious sides to the project." Dynamic ecology enables the world to be alive and changing, particularly in respect to creatures. While Ultima Online attempted to do this and failed, the Embers of Caerus team is confident that it can succeed due to lessons learned. There will be few if any static spawns, and each kill will matter a lot more than as in other MMOs. Check out the two lengthy videos after the jump!
RIFT Conquest video boasts 'this is where realities collide'
Curious how the makers of RIFT are going to turn a two-faction game into a three-faction PvP brawl? Us too! But Trion Worlds has a few clever ideas to capitalize on the best elements of PvP innovation and evolution with its upcoming Conquest system. "With Conquest we're really trying to capture the essence of open-world PvP gameplay," shares Lead Designer William Fisher in a new developer video. "This is where realities collide." He goes on to say that this new system isn't Defiants against Guardians, but instead three brand-new factions from across the planes duking it out with player assistance. Check out the new video after the jump, and when you're done with that, catch up with our very own Karen Bryan's hands-on experience with the Conquest system!
The Repopulation lets players customize outfits to their hearts' content
As The Repopulation is free from conventional MMO leveling and hews to skill-based progression instead, dealing with player gear is substantially more difficult than it would be otherwise. The team posted a five-minute dev video explaining how items, repair, and what it calls "fittings" work in the game. The long and the short of The Repopulation's gear system is that players will be able to pick the outfit (or "shells") that they like the best visually and then equip the stats they want on it. This is done through fittings, which is similar to socket systems found in other MMOs. As outfits take damage, the conditions of the fittings can and do degrade, reducing the stats associated with it. If it gets too bad, the fittings will either need to be repaired or replaced. You can check out The Repopulation's gear system after the break. The team is currently accepting signups for June's alpha testing. [Thanks to Halldorr and J.C. for the tip!]
Namaste Entertainment trumpets upcoming Storybricks beta
If you're part of the crowd that grouses at unoriginality in the MMO genre and are craving a fresh breath of minty innovation, then you might have been intrigued at the ideas put forth by Namaste Entertainment's Storybricks toolset earlier this year. But when would this become reality? Turns out the answer is sooner than you'd think. Namaste announced that Storybricks' beta is scheduled for February next year, and if you want to check it out, all you need to do is sign up for the newsletter and you'll be on the list. The beta will be a "skeletal version" of the toolkit without the associated game, but it should allow players to fiddle around with creating their own MMO scenarios and worlds. During the beta process, the devs will be actively creating Storybricks content and releasing it for testing as well. To cement the good news, Lead Designer Stephane Bura and MMO Architect Brian "Psychochild" Green have put forth their first developer diary talking about the lead-up to beta and what is planned for early next year. Feast your eyeballs and eardrums on the excitement after the jump!
Massively Exclusive: EverQuest's City of Tides unveiled
EverQuest is beginning to gear up for its 18th expansion, Veil of Alaris. Along with raising the level cap to 95, introducing new AA options, and a providing a smorgasbord of other new features, the expansion includes a whopping 12 new zones. One such zone is known as Sarith, the City of Tides. We have an exclusive look at this fabled location in the form of a short dev diary video, courtesy of the fine folks at Sony Online Entertainment. The devs talk about the city's unique architecture and the process involved in bringing the city to life. For the full video preview of Sarith, jump on past the cut and take a look.
