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Embers of Caerus website is nuked by its host
Website woes have hit Caerus hard in the embers, if you get our drift. Embers of Caerus' site was nuked by its host, and it looks as though some data may have been lost for good. The problems began back in early February, when the sandbox MMO's website went down. Regular posts on Facebook indicated that the site would come back, but that changed when the game's creator realized that agreements between the company and the website host lapsed. Subsequent renegotiations did not go well, and the site has remained offline. "After lengthy discussions with the host, it seems they're absolutely unwilling to work with us," the team posted on Facebook today. "They're basically wanting a big chunk of change that Forsaken Studios can't afford. Unfortunately, because they shut everything down without us being aware that it was happening/impending, they also have a lot of data on their servers that we no longer have access to. Obviously, some of that which was hosted was the website and everything on it. I'm not certain where we're moving to from this point, but this monkey wrench definitely hurt."
Embers of Caerus making 'drastic changes' to its development
Embers of Caerus has hit a crisis crossroads in its development, and as such the team is abandoning its current schedule as it seeks out a development studio to help the volunteer project succeed. Creative Director Rob Steele broke the news on the forums, where he admits that mistakes in developing a prototype for the game's systems cost the project financial and volunteer support. Without the funds, he admits that the team cannot make its previous goals of regular module updates and benchmarks. "Instead of continuing down this path, attempting to play catch up, and risking missing more benchmarks that we have no assurances we can hit, Forsaken Studios is making a drastic change in its plans for Embers of Caerus," he wrote. Steele went on to say that he has been in talks with other game studios to help with the future development of the game, all while upholding promises made to supporters and crowdfunding investors. He said that the project will be encountering "a great deal of changes" but should be more active if and when another studio signs on to help.
Make My MMO: Crowdfunding December 1 - 14, 2013
If it seems as if crowdfunding's gone into a turkey coma lately, you aren't just imagining things -- at least as far as funded games are concerned. News on that front has seemed scarce compared to the deluge of some other two-week spans, but the current campaigns are trying to make up for it. Life is Feudal canceled its Indiegogo campaign, but devs vowed to "survive according to Plan 'B'," so we'll keep an eye out to see whether it moves into personal funding as other games have done. (That route is working for Neo's Land, whose donations keep creeping higher.) Similarly, Novus AEterno scrapped its second Kickstarter campaign, but in a twist, it's already restarted another with a lower goal. Outer Worlds Online, however, just didn't make the funding cut. On the successful side, manners and dinner parties will be coming to an MMO near you; Ever, Jane got an invitation to join the funded club. A few other funded titles also saw some progress, and still others joined (or re-joined) the race for your support. And topping all that, we also bid farewell to Elite: Dangerous, who leaves Make My MMO for Betawatch now that its alpha has started. You can catch all the updates below.
Embers of Caerus exploration demo now available
Indie sandbox MMO Embers of Caerus is now playable. Well, sorta. The team at Forsaken Studios has released a single-player exploration demo designed to get you puttering around a portion of the gameworld. Access requires a valid community account according to Forsaken technical director Dave Belcher. Embers of Caerus is a fantasy sandbox set in a sprawling gameworld and featuring everything from naval combat to GM-driven dynamic events. The game was initially announced in 2011. [Thanks Aganauton!]
Make My MMO: Crowdfunding June 16 - 29, 2013
Go ahead -- make my MMO. And here you thought this phrase only worked when interrupting a robbery! What was a unique phenomenon in the not-too-distant past has become an increasingly popular trend: crowdfunding new MMOs. Whether they're using the Kickstarter funding platform or another, more and more developers are turning to the public instead of publishers to take their designs from the drawing board and into reality. In fact, sometimes it feels like there are just too many to keep up with! Besides the new campaigns that seem to be popping up like dandelions, there are the successfully funded games to keep an eye on. So here's what we're going to do for you: We'll make it easier for you to keep tabs on both the new campaigns hitting the crowdfunding scene and the progress of those MMOs that already made their goal and have moved on in their development journeys (but haven't made beta yet). Join us past the break for the inaugural Make My MMO, a biweekly accounting of all MMOs crowdfunded. Have you heard about new campaigns that aren't listed? Send us a note and let us know!
Embers of Caerus team LFM
If you've wanted to get in on developing a game, now could be your chance. In Embers of Caerus' April dev letter, technical director Dave Belcher invites folks interested in filling newly opened positions on the dev team, from programmers to animators to sound designers, to send in an email and apply. Positions are also available in community and PR roles. Along with the job opportunity announcement, Belcher notes that the team's first on-site weekend of code crunching was successful and that another is planned for the end of May. This time, however, more of the team is invited and the event will be livestreamed. More details for that will become available as the time draws closer.
Embers of Caerus single-player exploration demo in the works
The March issue of the Embers of Caerus newsletter has some exciting news for those of you following Forsaken Studios' fledgling sandbox MMO. The dev team has announced an upcoming exploration demo set on a small chunk of the game's pre-alpha "Test Island." The demo will be single-player with a first-person camera and is intended to give users a sense of the enormous scale of EoC's fantasy world. No release date has been announced as of yet, but there are a few more details that you can read via the link below. [Thanks Thomas!]
Embers of Caerus tours the green hell of Nupoanqa
Embers of Caerus just wrapped up a week focusing on the continent of Nupoanqa, and if you missed it, we have a few dev blogs along with a video so that you can cram before the test. Nupoanqa is a region covered in the "green hell" of a jungle and has a trio of indigenous factions for players to discover: the Onakawa, the Senoka, and the Benghi. One of the dev blogs discusses the inspiration behind each of these factions, while the remaining two deliver short stories if you want to get into the lore. While the following video eschews actual gameplay footage of Nupoanqa, it does contain four minutes of animated concept art set to the music and sounds of the area. Get a feel for Nupoanqa after the break -- it's quite relaxing. [Thanks to Dave for the tip!]
Embers of Caerus Faction Wars competition announced
Forsaken Studios has launched a Faction Wars competition for its in-development Embers of Caerus sandbox. Twelve clans hold sway over the fantasy world, and players who drum up enough support for their chosen banner will win forum gold which will translate to a factional city boost when the game goes live. Guidelines for the contest are spelled out in detail on the Embers of Caerus website. Forsaken has also produced an accompanying video teaser which you can view after the cut. [Thanks everyone who tipped us!]
Embers of Caerus newsletter updates beta development
Embers of Caerus' second monthly newsletter is out, and the various department teams are eager to share their progress in it. The landscaping is coming along, especially in regard to the quality of the trees. Populating the world is a different matter, however. The creatures have moved on to the modeling stage, and the concept team is also working hard at building up the city of Thaal. Lore, audio, and even ocean wave simulations are all in the works as well. The newsletter also contains a link to the recent game livestreams as well as a note about Gamer Safety Week. [Thanks to Flint for the tip!]
Embers of Caerus team puts out December newsletter and development update
Embers of Caerus has an ambitious feature list, a dedicated development team, and a long road to walk before the game is ready for public consumption. But as the year closes, the development team behind the game has produced a brief newsletter and a development update to let fans know where the game is now and what can be expected as we move into 2013. It's also a first look at the in-game environment, starting with the first major city of the game and its surrounding environs. The development update makes it clear that the programming team is hard at work integrating middleware solutions while getting the game servers to full functionality, while the art and lore team continues to flesh out the lore and models. Along the same lines, the newsletter mentions that the developers are moving toward working in a less volunteer capacity, establishing a central office and working for more than just a love of the project. If you're keen to see what the fruits of the game's Kickstarter project have been so far, take a look at the full rundown in both dispatches. [Thanks to Dave for the tip!]
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!
Second Embers of Caerus feature week video introduces Dynamic Events Team
Who doesn't love unique live events guided by real people interacting directly with the participants? If you don't, then there is no need to read further. But if you do, have we got some news for you -- a sandbox promising just that! As Embers of Caerus' feature week for Kickstarter continues, Forsaken Studios released the second video blog, this time highlighting the Dynamic Events team. After a few minutes of answering viewer-submitted questions brought on by the first video feature about death, Technical Director Dave Belcher introduces the star of the clip. What exactly is the Dynamic Events Team? Dave likens this group to pen-and-paper Dungeon Masters; they will have tools to run dynamic stories in-game on both a small, local scale and world-wide. They will also work around the clock to monitor the health of the world, using events for such things as encouraging players to disperse from overly populated areas or to replenish resource-depleted areas. This whole system is meant to really bring the game world to life. To illustrate an example, Dave reads through a sample event. Catch his remarks after the break. [Thanks to Flintwick for the tip!]
Embers of Caerus death system revealed in video blog
With a plan of cranking out as many features as possible during this final week of its Kickstarter campaign, Forsaken Studios has released a video blog with over 17 minutes of video detailing the planned death system in Embers of Caerus. Technical Director Dave Belcher explains how Embers of Caerus is going well beyond death as a slight inconvenience. Death in EoC is actually a three-stage process: First, incapacitation (health bar drops to 0); second, a restricted state with its own health bar (10% of your main health pool); and third, body destruction (no resurrection, only respawn). Your body can also be looted at each stage of death. If your body is destroyed, you will drop gear, which can be picked up for up short time or become buried in the world. Embers of Caerus is also implementing two types of stat penalties upon death, one temporary and the other permanent (along with a system to counter the permanent loss). Dave continues on to discuss the karma system, body mutilation, and the chance of repentance. With so much important information, don't miss the video after the break. [Thanks to all who sent in the tip!]
Embers of Caerus partners with Havok Engine, seeks more sandbox supporters
The good news continues to roll in for fans of emergent MMOs and the little-indie-sandbox-that-could, otherwise known as Embers of Caerus. Forsaken Studios has released a PR splash noting that it is making use of the Havok Vision Engine to power the forthcoming fantasy epic. If you've been keeping abreast of this story, you probably know that EoC is riding a wave of positive buzz following on from its successful Kickstarter campaign, which has already met its initial funding goal and then some with 19 days left to go. Forsaken is now seeking to galvanize additional sandbox fans, a demographic that creative director Rob Steele says is ready for EoC and games like it. "It just shows that the audience is out there, hungry for the kind of game that we're making -- one where the players take control of the world and make it their own," he says. [Thanks to flintwicktog for the tip!]
Embers of Caerus reaches Kickstarter funding goal with 22 days to go
Just a few days ago we reported that Forsaken Studios was launching a Kickstarter campaign for Embers of Caerus and set a goal of $25,000. After hitting 92% of its goal in only five days (including one confirmed $10,000 donation), developers released a video update thanking all supporters, large and small. The update also offers more tidbits of information, including the addition of a jobs page to the official site for those aspiring to work on Embers of Caerus and a reward matrix that better spells out what donors will receive for their contributions. Technical Directer Dave Belcher also gives some insights into why the game supports harsher death penalties and will not consider going free-to-play. Now that the game has officially reached its Kickstarter goal this morning, we can't wait to see what else the Forsaken Studios team will offer up in the game's development as it still has over 22 days to go for its funding! Will it reach $100k? $300k? One meeeellion dollars? We'll certainly keep our eyes on its progress. [Thanks to everyone for the tip!]
Embers of Caerus launches Kickstarter campaign
It looks like Forsaken Studios is piling onto the Kickstarter bandwagon to help raise funds for its upcoming sandbox title, Embers of Caerus. The studio has set a funding goal of $25,000 US to "fuel the development and production of [the studio's] prototype, bring [the game] to the attention of the major players in the industry, and help put Embers of Caerus firmly on the MMORPG map." The 25 grand will specifically be used "to cover software licenses and development costs," and the studio vows that "every single cent pledged will be put toward this goal." Of course, as with any successful Kickstarter campaign, Forsaken Studios is putting forward a number of nifty bonuses for its backers, ranging from beta access to dinner with the devs and a tour of the Forsaken Studios office. If you want to help the studio reach its funding goals, you've got until Tuesday, June 19th, to head over to the Kickstarter page and chip in.
New Embers of Caerus website boasts extensive sandbox feature list
Forsaken Studios has taken the wraps off a new website for its Embers of Caerus MMORPG. The fantasy sandbox has quite an extensive feature list, which includes level- and class-free advancement, a seamless game world that measures 44,000 square kilometers, and player-controlled markets and political/legal systems. Backstory is a big deal to the devs as well if the new site's lore section is anything to go by. There's plenty of reading material about the world, its factions, and a bit of story to pass the time while you're waiting for the game. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Embers of Caerus dev blog talks sieging, Kickstarter
Embers of Caerus has been flying under the radar of late (even for an indie sandbox title). Happily, the dev team has broken the silence with a new 20-minute video featuring Forsaken Studios technical director and co-founder Dave Belcher. Belcher has a lot to say, the main gist of which is that work on EoC is going quite well. That said, funding is an issue as it is for most indie projects, so Belcher and his team have decided to try their hand at Kickstarter. "We're not a greedy bunch, the main thing is making the game and everything else is secondary," Belcher explains. To that end, look for an EoC Kickstarter page over the next few weeks. In terms of gameplay and systems, Belcher spends a spot of time discussing siege warfare. He does offer a disclaimer in terms of the early nature of a high-level design, but he also describes sieging as "one of our key, killer features," so chances are good that you'll see it in EoC's eventual prototype. Head past the break for the full video. [Thanks to Sam for the tip!]
Indie sandbox Embers of Caerus needs your support
Play MMOs long enough and chances are you'll become something of an armchair developer. I could make a better game than that, you might say, or why the heck are they doing it this way? While most of us don't have the programming chops to make the transition from imagined prototype to working code, Forsaken Studios is offering the next best thing. Call it an armchair supporter opportunity. The indie devs behind Embers of Caerus are asking for your donations, as the fantasy title is in need of a bit of capital to offset the fact that the team is working for free. What exactly is Forsaken Studios working on? It's a safe bet that it isn't your average fantasy themepark clone if the prose on the game's official forum is any indication. Forsaken is "made up of gamers who are tired of companies not quite getting it right, or worse, selling out in order to earn more money from what producers deem to be the more lucrative markets (easier content, real money item shops, etc)." What will become of your donations? The EoC support plan page lists everything from software and licensing costs to hosting, technical equipment, and various legal/company expenses. "Even when you don't have to pay anyone, it's still not a cheap business," Forsaken says. You can get a look at a nine-minute engine test in the video after the cut.
