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Letter to the Black Prophecy community outlines the state of the game
It's been about a month since European players were able to head out to the black... Black Prophecy, that is. American players have been able to sign up for the closed beta, but it's not quite the same as the experience on the live servers. But whether you're in the beta or playing live, the new letter to the community from Patrick Streppel has plenty of interesting information about the current state of the game. As Streppel puts it, while the game is still undergoing major polishing patches, both gamigo and Reakktor Media are confident with the game as a released free-to-play game. The game's first major patch is slated for June and will feature a variety of new endgame elements as well as a new weapon type. Further down the line, the development team wants to enhance the PvP experience to keep the two factions of the game's lore at odds and in conflict. Black Prophecy players and testers alike should read the letter, as it's an interesting look behind the scenes after the first month of launch.
One Shots: The shape of things to come
With the NDA down on Black Prophecy and more and more people checking it out all the time, we're surprised we haven't seen more screenshots from this upcoming free-to-play sci-fi spaceship dogfighter mailed in to One Shots! Today's sleek image from Black Prophecy (with minimal UI) comes to us from Erik L., who writes in: "This is a view of the hyperspace chapel Apo Kata, which is one of the early hubs in the game. I think the view is a nice example of this good-looking game. If one just watches the surroundings for a short while, one can see the trails of ships leaving and arriving in the area." If you're taking part in a beta that isn't under NDA, why not beat the crowds and send in some cool screenshots to us? It's easy to do. Gather a few images up and email them to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing in each picture. Your screenshot could be the next one we post on Massively! %Gallery-112285%
Black Prophecy North American closed beta begins
It's only been a couple of days since the official European launch of Reakktor's Black Prophecy, but North American fans of the free-to-play sci-fi title have been feeling left out in the cold due to a general lack of availability. Happily, gamigo and Reakktor have posted a news blurb on the game's website officially announcing the start of the North American closed beta. Reakktor also states that the first thousand invites have been sent, with more coming very soon, in addition to beta key giveaways with various gaming press outlets. While there's no word on an official American launch date as of yet, we can tell you that Massively has a few beta keys up our sleeves, so stay tuned for further details. Black Prophecy boasts real-time combat, modular ship design, and a deep crafting component, all married to a state-of-the-art graphics engine and wrapped in an enthralling sci-fi backstory.
Black Prophecy blasts off in Europe today
T-minus three, two, one... and that sound you hear is the latest space-based MMORPG lifting off the launch pad, heading for the stratosphere and the stars beyond. At least, that's what gamigo and Reakktor are hoping when it comes to Black Prophecy, which officially takes a bow in Europe today. Beta characters, clans, and clan sectors will be wiped for the kickoff, and Black Prophecy will initially feature both an English and a German server. Snowcrash (no, not that one) has posted a note informing customers of impending forum downtime and has also let us know that game updates will be available via the launcher application while the launch-day forum restructuring is in progress. "This is not an end. It's a beginning; the foundation is laid and we will now move forward with the continued development of Black Prophecy after its release," says assistant production manager Chris "Snowcrash" Schutt. While you're waiting to log in -- or stuck at work -- check out our coverage roundup after the cut and get caught up on the biggest Black Prophecy news items from the past few months.
Black Prophecy throws a European open beta shindig
Put up or shut up. Lock and load. Light the fires and kick the tires. Warp speed now, mister! Whatever phrase gets you in the mood for some good ol' fashioned space dogfighting, dust it off and get it ready for use. Gamigo's announced that Black Prophecy has launched its open beta for European participants. While Black Prophecy has been in closed beta in both North America and Europe, this new phase of testing represents the first time the game's been available to everyone. In anticipation for the rush to check it out, gamigo's opened two open beta servers in Europe: Kemmura (English) and Shinava (German). To help new pilots get settled into the war, gamigo's provided a starting guide on the community forums with information about setting up an account, how to play, and how to post bug reports. With the NDA down and the open beta starting, Black Prophecy's launch hopefully isn't far away. In the meanwhile, check out our first impressions of the game, and let us know what you think when you give it a whirl!
Gamigo buys Black Prophecy, buys into Reakktor Media
When it comes to free-to-play games, we don't often see the licensing companies buying titles outright. Normally, we're prone to seeing licensing agreements until a game has launched or when two companies have a history of working together quite a lot. Nonetheless, today gamigo proved that it really believes in how much players are going to enjoy its upcoming space dogfighter, Black Prophecy, by buying all rights and trademarks related to the game from Reakktor Media. The other interesting piece of news is that at the same time as the Black Prophecy acquisition, gamigo also opted to pick up nearly 20% of Reakktor Media. All remaining shares of Reakktor Media remain under the control of the company's CEO, Kirk Lenke, which effectively puts all development control moving forward between Reakktor and gamigo. If you really don't care about corporate merges and buyouts, then there's still a nugget of news to be gleaned for you. In amongst all the happy congratulations and notes about how this will make things better and easier for the two companies was a note that we should "[look] forward to seeing Black Prophecy go live in the very near future." (Emphasis theirs.) Whether it will simply mark open beta or something more, we'll have to wait and see.
MV Guide: January 24th - 31st
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel. Every week the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers. Are you worried about missing out due to your schedule? Don't be, because we'll be Livestreaming at various times during the afternoon and evening both weekdays and weekends, so you're sure to find something great up and running at a good time! If you miss a Livestream, we've got you covered there too! Just check out the "latest videos" section of our channel to find past Livestream events to view at your leisure. We've got several of our regular games on this week's schedule, along with some newcomers. Do you have a game you'd love to see on our Livestream channel? Let us know in the comments section. For now, if you're looking to check out some new games or see your favorite game from a new perspective, follow along after the cut for this week's installment of MV Guide!
Video shows off voicework in Black Prophecy
As every day passes, more and more people are joining the Black Prophecy beta testing. Slowly, the localizations are being smoothed out, and even more goodies are being added into this hotly anticipated sci-fi space dogfighter MMO. For those of you who haven't quite made it in as yet, as well as those who have but are curious about the nuts-and-bolts, Gamigo and Reakktor Media have released a video today that offers an interesting look at ongoing behind-the-scenes production. In this video, we take a trip to Periscope Studios and T-Recs Studios to watch just a little bit of how the voicework is done. Along with that, we're treated to a look at just how they get the voice to match the mouth animations of the NPCs without it looking completely silly or taking obnoxious amounts of time. Whether this upcoming free-to-play game is on your personal radar or you're more the type who is fascinated with the overall industry, it's a video worth spending a few minutes of your life to check out. We've embedded this new behind-the-scenes video after the break for your viewing pleasure.
MV Guide: January 17 - 24, 2011
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel. Every week the Massively staff will be logging in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We'll have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers. Are you worried about missing out due to your schedule? Don't be, because we'll be Livestreaming at various times during the afternoon and evening both weekdays and weekends, so you're sure to find something great up and running at a good time! If you miss a Livestream, we've got you covered there too! Just check out the "latest videos" section of our channel to find past Livestream events to view at your leisure. We've got several of our regular games on this week's schedule, along with some newcomers. Do you have a game you'd love to see on our Livestream channel? Let us know in the comments section. For now, if you're looking to check out some new games or see your favorite game from a new perspective, follow along after the cut for this week's installment of MV Guide!
Black Prophecy drops NDA, gears up for open beta
Have you been dreaming of the day when you could fly through space and shoot folks down, dogfighter-style? Did you think that the best part of Star Wars Galaxies was the Jump To Lightspeed addition? Well, if that's the case, then you're in for a treat as the NDA has finally been lifted on Reakktor Media's space battletastic MMO, Black Prophecy. As of today, all players are allowed to post screenshots, videos, and talk about everything they've seen in the last several months of testing since Black Prophecy was picked up by gamigo and worked into its current incarnation as a free-to-play game. Also of note is that all of the beta forums for the game are wide open as well, giving curious folks a chance to sift through all the threads there for an inkling of how the game has been progressing, and what players can expect. We here at Massively will be publishing our own first impressions and gallery in the coming days -- and there will undoubtedly be a livecast in the mix for those curious to see it in action. If you still haven't made it into the closed beta, never fear: Open beta is expected to begin sometime in the first part of 2011, which isn't too far away. If you did make it in to this stellar shooter beta, feel free to drop your thoughts about the game in the comments below!
More Black Prophecy UI details brought to light
Black Prophecy fans are a patient lot, and in the case of the founder of the Prophecy Nation website, quite enterprising as well. Travis, otherwise known as "Nexiom," has helped fill the void of information about the long-in-development space shooter with an interesting breakdown of the game's interface. In the second installment of a two-part article making use of existing screenshots, he paints a picture of what the free-to-play title's UI probably functions like, all without breaking the beta NDA. The article boasts a healthy complement of images and helpful annotations; it also delivers some interesting insights and speculation. Chief among these are the author's guesstimates as to the functionality of certain buttons (possibly target locking, communications, and trade). Check out the full piece at Prophecy Nation.
Black Prophecy's clan system outlined in new update
Have you been hungry for more information on Reakktor Media and gamigo's upcoming free-to-play space dogfighter, Black Prophecy? Well then, today's update on clan systems will undoubtedly be welcome news for those of you who can't wait to fly with friends. Some of the mechanics are very familiar, such as a clan leader being able to assign ranks and responsibilities to certain members, as well as the ability for the clan to create their own logo using an in-game editor. Other aspects of the Black Prophecy clan system deal with familiar mechanics turned on their heads -- such as how clan stations will be handled. The word is that players will have to complete faction missions and gather enough resources and members, then they will be able to request their own chunk of space in which to build their clan station. Players will also be able to decide if the station will be opened up to others players in the faction that they're allied with, or if it will be kept for the clan members alone; thus removing any fear of getting your station blown to heck in the middle of a giant PvP clan war. Each station will be comprised of a central command module that will house up to 10 players comfortably, and offer some small vendor aspects. From there, players can add on more modules to their station to not only unlock more room and additional perks, but also more faction missions. Overall, it certainly sounds like an ambitious yet fun system. Check out the shiny new screenshots below, then pop over to the Black Prophecy forums for the specifics on the clan system! %Gallery-94088%
Black Prophecy wins "Best of Free-to-Play" at Gamescom
Gaming publications Gamestar and GamePro were keeping an interested watch on the happenings at Gamescom last week, and earlier this week they handed out their own round of awards. Gamigo and Reakktor Media received top honors in the free-to-play category for Black Prophecy, beating out several other nominees including Battlestar Galactica Online and Mytheon, another Gamigo game. "We feel quite honored. This award is recognition for all the hard work our team has put in over the past few years," said Kirk Lenke, CEO of Reakktor Media. The full story can be read on Gamestar's site in the original German or an English translation.
Gamescom 2010: Reakktor releases new Black Prophecy trailer
Reakktor Media and Gamigo have just released a heart-pounding new Black Prophecy gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2010. The teaser, which clocks in at just under two minutes, is full of fast and furious space combat footage from the upcoming free-to-play MMORPG. In addition to some quick glances in and around various space stations, you'll get a good look at cockpit views, behind-the-ship perspectives, and some interesting shots of the crafting and trading interface. Black Prophecy aims to fill the void in the MMO space-shooter market, and you can learn more about the upcoming title, as well as register for beta, at the official website. Be sure and view the trailer after the cut or via our YouTube portal.
Black Prophecy crafting detailed
If you're looking for a space-based MMO with lots of pew pew and seat-of-the-pants piloting, Black Prophecy is probably already on your radar screen. If you're looking for a space-based MMO that has a bit of crafting complexity, take a second look at the upcoming free-to-play MMO from Reakktor and Gamigo. In addition to modular ship-building, Black Prophecy also features a traditional crafting system for ship and station components. The game boasts three resource types: metal, plasma, and gas. Metals, as you'd expect, make up modules and weapons, whereas plasma serves as the crafter's source of power. Gas is required for high-performance computer production and for the ubiquitous hyperspace drives. All three resources can be salvaged from space junk as well as procured from successful missions. How do you put all these parts together to construct the ultimate interstellar interceptor? With blueprints of course, which are found in the wreckage of old starships. Once blueprints have produced a module, they can't be reused. If crafting fails, however, you get to keep the blueprint (but not the resources) and try again. Finally, Black Prophecy's crafting system will feature optional items called constructors. These units are used during the crafting process to enhance success chances or shorten construction time, and may be modified or repaired by players. %Gallery-98663%
E3 2010: A look inside Black Prophecy
One of the games many of us here at Massively have been waiting on for some time has been the upcoming space dogfighter by Reakktor Media, Black Prophecy. Although the game was originally an indie title that was likely going to run on a subscription model, things changed drastically when Gamigo picked up the title and announced they'd be publishing it under a free-to-play model. While this has made some players very hesitant about the game, our time checking it out at E3, and talking to Dennis Hartmann, PR Manager at Gamigo, has made us even hungrier for it to OMG launch already. So if you're curious about just what this upcoming space shoot-em-up F2P title has to offer in terms of mechanics -- or perhaps even surprises -- then join us behind the break as we break down our look at Black Prophecy! Alternatively, if you're more in the mood for eye-candy, we have a handful of screenshots for you to check out in the gallery below. %Gallery-95651%
Captain's Log: Should Star Trek Online fans fear the competition?
Good afternoon, cadets and admirals. Welcome to this week's edition of Captain's Log, your ever-expanding guide to Star Trek Online. Last time, we discussed some basics of ground combat, and I promised more to come. But I've decided to change course a bit, so we'll cover those next week. Instead, I thought it might be fun to discuss what's on every Earth nerd's mind right now: E3! The Electronic Entertainment Expo has engines on full impulse this week in Los Angeles, and amid all the grand news we don't care about -- I was counting on the 3DS to not be totally awesome so I wouldn't have to replace my DSiXL! Curses! -- the MMO news is flying fast and furious. With all the news and shiny images of forthcoming space-based MMOs, should fans worry that STO's days are numbered?
Black Prophecy captures a battle royale in new E3 video
While Black Prophecy has been flying under the radar, so to speak, it continues to pique our interest with slow burn reveals such as custom ship building. The space shooter MMO has been in closed beta for a month and a half, and fortunately for all of us awaiting this action-packed title, Reakktor Media is dropping out of stealth during E3 to give the public a better look. They've released a new two-and-a-half-minute trailer for Black Prophecy that features PvP and clan combat, as well as a glimpse of the missions fighter jockeys can accept. We'll be sitting down with the Black Prophecy crew for a chat at E3 later this week, but in the meanwhile, feast your eyes... upon THIS!
Black Prophecy enters closed beta
Gamigo and Reakktor Media made an announcement this morning that many fans have been looking forward to: Black Prophecy is entering closed beta. We've been following this game with interest here at Massively, enjoying a hands-on look as well as a series of Q&A sessions with the developers. If you're unfamiliar with Black Prophecy, it's described as a sci-fi space action MMO, and has been getting a fair amount of attention from MMO fans. It looks like the developers are taking things slowly and making sure it's done well: "The focus during the first phase of testing will be on server and program stability." For that reason, this first round of closed beta won't be open to thousands of players -- only about a hundred will make it in and go on to make their attempts at crashing the server. Signups for closed beta are going on now, so head to the signup page if you're interested, and good luck.
Black Prophecy team talks business model, F2P
Reakktor Media's Black Prophecy science fiction MMORPG has been generating a fair amount of fan discussion, and dare we say concern, since announcing a free-to-play business model and a partnership with gamigo last month. In the fourth edition of Reakktor's 'Behind the Scenes' web series on the game, Black Prophecy's Assistant Product Manager Christian 'SnowCrash' Schutt engages gamigo's Patrick Streppel and Reakktor CEO Kirk Lenke in a question and answer session that features community concerns drawn from the official forums. The session delves deep into explanations of the game's business model and also features answers to burning questions regarding a Collector's Edition and post-launch content. "Neglecting to update is the nail in the coffin for any MMOG. We all know that. We've already laid out a roadmap for content patches and add-ons and are starting on its development so players won't have to wait too long for new material," said Lenke. Check out the full session at the official site.
