Atanas-Atanasov
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Earthrise shutting down today
Bulgarian developer Masthead Studios has announced that it's shutting down the servers for its post-apocalyptic sandbox MMO, Earthrise. Said Atanas Atanasov, Director of Masthead Studios: "One year after the launch of the game, we have decided to stop the Earthrise servers. Earthrise was released too early and did not meet the expectations of its fans. We did our best to revive the game in 2011, but the time was not enough to keep up with the user requirements. There is a huge interest in high quality open world sandbox MMORPGs, unfortunately the big publishers do not show any interest in the genre. It is unfortunate that low budget companies like ours are trying to bring innovativeness in the already saturated MMO market. I hope that one day an independent studio will be able to release the long anticipated open world sandbox MMO, which everyone is talking about, but no one is making. We tried, but did not succeed. We would like to apologize to those who were disappointed from Earthrise and to thank everyone who supported us during the years." The studio does mention that the planned free-to-play version for this year may still launch if any investor interest is shown, but there has been no word on this yet. [Source: Masthead Studios press release]
Earthrise killing subscriptions, going free-to-play in 2012
The struggling sci-fi sandbox Earthrise is no longer interested in competing in the subscription market, and is instead veering toward a free-to-play model in 2012. As of December 1st, all players will be able to experience the game without a monthly charge as Masthead Studios prepares for a F2P version. Masthead CEO Atanas Atanasov says that the move is an effort to retain customer trust while the developers shore up the game's weaknesses: "We decided to let all our players unlimited gaming experience until we all are satisfied with the experience in our game. At the moment Earthrise features one of the best visuals, content, and gameplay of all sci-fi MMOs on the market. However, it is missing polish and has annoyances that spoil the fun in the game. We are learning from our experience and that is why we will remove monthly charges until we bring the game to a quality state that is satisfactory to us and our players." Once the title is brought up to par, Masthead will transition it to a true F2P model, although Atanasov assures players that it will not incorporate pay-to-win purchases. Until Earthrise goes F2P, new accounts will be invitation-only as Masthead restricts the number of incoming players. All current subscribers will be able to invite a few of their friends during the transition, however. [Source: Masthead Studios press release]
Earthrise patch coming soon, roadmap features delayed
Fans of Masthead Studios' Earthrise MMORPG have waited a long time between patches. According to producer Atanas Atanasov, the wait is almost over. A new post on the official Earthrise boards details what players can expect when the new version goes live toward "the end of this week, or early next week at the latest." The patch will include fixes for the inventory stacking bug and the problems with party experience gain. The game's shadow renders are also being tweaked, and AI attacks through walls and other solid objects are being addressed. Atanasov also tells us that the previously reported development roadmap has undergone a few revisions, and most of the items on that particular list are being delayed in favor of improving Earthrise's graphical performance. "Due to changes in our priority list you can expect [a] delay of some roadmap features such as vehicles, inverse kinematics, quest hints on the minimap, and item painting," Atanasov explains. "Our expectations are that you will see them in game in June/July 2011."
Masthead adds exploration rewards to Earthrise, hints at player-crafted vehicles
It's patch time for Earthrise, and the sci-fi sandbox from indie developer Masthead Studios is looking to put the hurt on a few of its early-release gremlins. The patch notes for version 17045 indicate that players should notice a substantial reduction in lag and an overall increase in server and client performance. The patch has also added keybinding functionality to the world of Enterra as well as animation tweaks for strafing and walking. Exploration rewards have also arrived in Earthrise, and players "will now be able to salvage materials and use them for either crafting or personal advantage." The dev team isn't stopping there, though, and producer Atanas Atanasov drops a couple of tasty hints regarding upcoming updates. "We are actively taking player feedback and requests into consideration for future releases, and have extensive developments planned for completion in the next few months, including the addition of territorial conquests and player crafted vehicles," he said via press release. %Gallery-48760%
Earthrise launch day arrives, sandbox title available for purchase
Zomg it's a sci-fi sandbox! You'll have to forgive our somewhat subjective enthusiasm on this one, as it's an increasingly rare occasion when we're able to announce the launch of something other than a themepark with classical fantasy elements. Yes, Earthrise is here to (hopefully) save the day for the sandbox die-hards in the audience, and Masthead Studio's skill-based title is available for purchase in both a retail edition (which features a poster and map) and a digital download from Direct2Drive (which comes with exclusive Overdrive armor). "Our team has channeled years of dedication and hard work into Earthrise, and we are thrilled for those fans who have been following us this entire time, as well as those who are just now checking us out, to experience the world of Enterra. We are already working on updates and expansion packs to be integrated within the next few months, and are excited to continue to develop and enhance the world," says Masthead producer Atanas Atanasov. As of press time, the server has not come up, and a couple of us have been unable to enter our activation keys into the account page on the Earthrise website. Fear not though, as we've got plenty for you to do while you're waiting impatiently to check out the world of Enterra. Join us after the break for a launch-day roundup of all the recent Earthrise news, interviews, and videos to get yourself up to speed and ready for action.
Masthead reveals new Earthrise beta video
Launch date for Earthrise is drawing near, and those curious about Masthead Studios' sci-fi sandbox now have a bit more information to chew on thanks to the release of a new beta video. The clip features PvE and PvP gameplay, and also offers a glimpse into several locations around the world of Enterra, including the Cascade Mountains, Seyenand, and Sal Vitas square. New equipment is also on display during the combat portions of the video, and you'll be able to see a T5 core flamer, a shielding bubble, and other equipment in action. The Earthrise beta is also taking on new testers according to Masthead CEO Atanas Atanasov, so head over to the official website to sign up if you haven't already. "We are adding new testers every day, and our team continues to take all the feedback and suggestions from players into consideration as we progress toward launch in February," Atanasov said.
Masthead prepping new Earthrise beta client, additional beta keys
Launch day for Earthrise is closing fast, and Masthead Studios is gearing up for the throng of sci-fi sandbox fans looking to make a new home on the game's single worldwide server. Masthead is also pushing a new version of the beta client to the game's test servers and will be distributing more beta invites in the very near future. The new client features combat and tactical tweaks, changes to crafting skills and item insurance, and revamped graphics and animations. "The development team has been working around the clock to continually add new gameplay functions and we are thrilled for our community of testers to become further immersed and share their thoughts with us," says Masthead CEO Atanas Atanasov. As for getting your hands on that elusive beta key, you'll want to head to the official site and sign up for your chance to win.
Masthead confirms Earthrise digital release date, system requirements
The team at Masthead Studios has nailed down a definitive launch date for Earthrise. The sci-fi sandbox MMORPG will be available via digital distribution on February 4th, with a European retail box and exclusive content to follow. "We have worked incredibly hard to make Earthrise the best sandbox MMORPG on the market, and we can't wait for players to fully experience all of our hard work and become immersed in Enterra," said Masthead's Atanas Atanasov in a press release dated this morning. In addition to last week's announcement that players will gather on a single worldwide server, the studio has also detailed the game's system requirements: OS: Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista SP1, Windows 7 Free hard drive space: 20 GB CPU: 2.4+ GHz Single Core Processor RAM: 2 GB Video Card: NVIDIA 7800GT+ or ATI Radeon 9800 SE 256-bit High bandwidth internet connection (DSL, Cable)
Earthrise announces European publishing deal, February release date
Bulgaria-based Masthead Studios has just announced a partnership with Iceberg Interactive to publish the sci-fi sandbox MMORPG Earthrise. The agreement covers the whole of Europe, and a press release on Iceberg's official website says that the game will be coming to European retail in February 2011. The release also hints at "exclusive extra content for boxed version buyers" as well as plans for localized versions to be announced at a later date. Earthrise is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi game set in the 21st century that features open PvP, a complex crafting system, skill-based advancement, and a player-driven economy.
Masthead shows off Earthrise beta video
Earthrise fans are waking up to an early Christmas present this morning in the form of a lengthy new closed beta gameplay video available on the official website. While developer Masthead Studios has provided a steady stream of screenshots (and even a few interviews) over the last several months, footage of the sandbox title in action has been extremely hard to come by. No longer. Thanks to the five minute clip, we now have a clearer picture of the game's UI as well as an idea of how the PvP and PvE plays out. The footage also shows off various locales around the world of Enterra including Arcology, Autonomy, the Blasted Region, the Borderland zones, and the Hatchery. "The Masthead team is thrilled to finally offer more of our fans a window into the Earthrise beta testing environment. Our developers have been working exhaustively to fine-tune all of the game's features to deliver a uniquely captivating gaming experience, and we are very anxious for all of our fans to see it," says producer Atanas Atanasov. Check it out at the official Masthead website and let us know what you think in the comments.
The Daily Grind: Why do you PvP in an MMO?
Ah, PvP. It's right up there with politics and religion when it comes to divisive topics. A recent interview with Earthrise's Atanas Atanasov got us to thinking about PvP, and more specifically about why people choose to do it in MMORPGs. Even the most hardcore PvP fans would be hard-pressed to argue with the fact that the vast majority of MMOs are designed with PvE in mind, and those that feature PvP usually do so as an afterthought. There are exceptions of course, but only a few of these are still among the living. Even Darkfall, supposedly the hardest of the hardcore, just released a PvE-focused expansion. In general, MMOs are about character progression and gear/item accumulation, whereas PvP is theoretically about player skill and tactics. Why then do people try to force the square peg that is PvP into the round hole that is an MMORPG? It's not like there's a shortage of competitive online multiplayer games, designed expressly to showcase player skill and cater to the killer in all of us. In a nutshell: Why do you PvP in an MMO? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of our readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's The Daily Grind!
Massively Exclusive: Earthrise's Atanas Atanasov on PvE, banking, chat, and more
Earthrise is a title shrouded in a certain amount of mystery. Massively began covering the game way back in January of 2008, and since then, the information flow from Bulgaria-based Masthead Studios has alternated between a vacuum and a trickle. Recently, thanks to a wave of interviews and screenshot releases, interest in the game has started to simmer, and comparisons to older sandboxes like Star Wars Galaxies are commonly heard. Masthead boss Atanas Atanasov was kind enough to grant us our second interview exclusive in as many months, answering several of our burning questions. Join us after the cut as we talk about everything from the game's friendliness towards PvEers, to skill progression clarification, to universal banking and more. Also be sure and check out the latest pair of Earthrise screenshots in the gallery below. They feature two new creature types: the burzun (one of Enterra's top predators) and the leapers (ape-like mutant pack-hunters who love to ambush their prey). %Gallery-48760%
Earthrise's Atanas Atanasov strikes back
Masthead's Atanas Atanasov returns with another interview about the studio's upcoming Earthrise MMORPG. This time around, the focus is fairly general, with topics ranging from the economy, to PvP, to the type of player that will enjoy Earthrise. "While casual players can enjoy the game without going too in-depth, the interwoven player-run economy and complex social competition for influence and resources provide addictive mechanics for hardcore players to fine-tune their characters," he says. With over 800 crafting technologies and a skill-based combat engine, the game aims to provide plenty of sandbox for players looking for something outside the mainstream of the holy trinity quest grinder. Earthrise also looks to depart from the norm by encouraging player interaction, to the point that Atanasov says it will be hard to progress on your own. "There are no rats that can drop you a high-tier rifle; no bosses with epic loot that out-stats every other item in the game; no quest will supply you with good gear - you have to rely on crafting or larceny to earn your bread," he says.
Atanas Atanasov talks Earthrise PvP, crafting, and payment models
GameOgre has scored an interview with Masthead Studios director and Earthrise producer Atanas Atanasov that's worth a read (and not just because Atanas Atanasov is quite possibly the coolest game dev name in history, with all due respect to Tasos Flambouras and Ragnar Tornquist). Anyhow, Atanasov answers a hefty number of questions covering a wide range of topics including the inspiration and backstory for the game, the purpose behind the title's open PvP, and a few details on the crafting system. "Almost every item in the game comes from crafting and the whole economy and combat system is aimed at conquering territories and supplying resources to the guild and friendly crafters," he says. Atanasov also weighs in on the decision to go with a subscription model for the sci-fi sandbox, a move that bucks current industry trends and is something the Masthead dev team has alluded to before. "A subscription-based game puts players on level ground by giving them all access to the whole world and every game feature. We want to make sure that every player in Earthrise will be treated equally and there will not be paying and non-paying players, players with purchased gear, and players with free gear. Earthrise is an all-inclusive title, pay once and enjoy everything that's included," he says.
Earthrise interview sheds more light on sci-fi sandbox
Earthrise is one of those sandbox games that almost sounds too good to be true, and so we read with interest any tidbit that comes our way regarding the upcoming science fiction MMORPG from Masthead Studios. Whether we're looking at the player/crafter-driven economy, the limitless skill system, the faction-less PvP, or the intriguing social gameplay, Earthrise never fails to elicit a raised eyebrow. The latest bit of info is courtesy of MPOGD.com and its interview with Masthead producer Atanas Atanasov and lead writer Momchil Dilov. Atanasov and Dilov cover a lot of ground in the interview, talking about the lack of pre-defined player roles in comparison to traditional MMOs, as well as the fact that gameplay will evolve primarily due to the choices available to players (and their inevitable consequences). The skill system is also discussed, and, though no concrete details are given, Dilov does mention the fact that players aren't restricted in terms of what skills they can learn, nor is there any need for a respec mechanic. Dilov also makes clear that the crafting system is intended to be similarly complex and dynamic, with the learning curve evolving over time based on the ever-changing economy. "Earthrise will bring a breath of fresh air to the MMO genre, which is choking with class-based or free-to-play titles that introduce a lot of limitations to the player. We are going in a direction that I believe many people are looking for," Atanasov says. [Thanks to Super Healer for the tip.]
Earthrise developers on the beauty of speed
Masthead Studios CEO Atanas Atanasov recently dropped some info about the company's upcoming sci-fi MMO Earthrise, briefly mentioning the advantages and disadvantages of Exploration and Battle Modes in an interview. The Masthead Studio developers are following up with more on this topic in their latest installment of Question of the Week, "The Beauty of Speed". Players who aren't wielding weapons will be able to move faster, potentially evading combat situations. Entering this "Exploration Mode" in combat can also impart some benefits, namely that enhanced speed couples with shield regeneration. That speed could allow a player to minimize the damage inflicted upon them by attacks but also leaves them open to greater risk of harm, should they take a direct hit. The tradeoff for that speed is lowered damage resistance. Earthrise will offer certain abilities that affect battlefield movement as well. Have a look at "The Beauty of Speed" for more on Earthrise's combat system, and the related discussion taking place among the game's community members.
Earthrise interview focuses on game's progress
We're always on the lookout for more info about Earthrise, an upcoming sandbox MMO with a far future, post-apocalyptic setting. The latest interview updating on the game's status is a Ten Ton Hammer Q&A with Masthead Studios CEO Atanas Atanasov. The studio head explains a bit about the combat system revamp, aimed at keeping Earthrise's combat dynamic and fast-paced, with a more intuitive interface as well. The interview also hits upon how they're fine tuning the game's economic systems as well as balancing rewards as players progress, plus Atanasov talks a bit about Earthrise's "exploration mode" (which imparts faster movement but greater vulnerability to damage) and specialized crafting. Check out Ten Ton Hammer's Q&A with Atanas Atanasov for an update on the state of Earthrise.
Earthrise launch Q2 2010, studio visit reveals
When we cover the news surrounding the post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise, a question often asked in the comments is, "When will it launch?". It's been a question we've been hard pressed to answer with any degree of certainty considering it's still in an early phase of testing, and the game was originally slated for a late 2009 launch. Now it seems we're looking at a Q2 2010 launch for Earthrise, according to Klassa (Bulgarian newspaper) reporter Mihail Rangelov. Closed beta testing will take place in February and March of 2010, and the game's developer Masthead Studios is expecting between 70-80,000 initial subscribers. In an article that's a follow-up to his Masthead Studios visit one year prior, Rangelov notes that the game's setting is very open -- there's a feeling of having a great deal of terrain and open space around you. Still, he notes, "The game goes at almost 60-70 frames per second on the huge terrain for mass combats. Moreover, it is played on a two-year old computer."
Masthead Studios CEO updates on Earthrise progress
Earthrise fans will still have a bit of a wait ahead of them in terms of getting into open beta, but development and improvements are ongoing through the current closed beta. Masthead Studios CEO Atanas Atanasov was recently interviewed by MMORPG.com's Garrett Fuller, updating Earthrise fans on the game's current status and details of some of the game mechanics of skills and tactics. Noteworthy -- Atanasov discusses why Masthead Studios chose to develop a sandbox MMO and foster a player-driven setting, rather than a more typical game where players move quickly through the content and then wait for the next expansion to release. "The sense of involvement and power to create and change can invigorate and keep players glued to the game for years to come," says Atanasov. On that topic of sandboxes, the interview also discusses how MMO titles like Ultima Online and EVE Online have been part of the inspiration for Earthrise.
Earthrise interview details mechas, game environments and tactics
Among the independent game studios out there working on something a bit different for the MMO scene is Masthead Studios in Bulgaria. The studio is developing Earthrise, a post-apocalyptic MMO with a setting that's more far future sci-fi than the near-future burned out world of a title like Fallen Earth. While the game's launch is still off on the horizon, Masthead Studios has been keeping Earthrise's fans informed about various aspects of the game, either in Question of the Week installments on their official site, or through interviews with the gaming press. The latest Earthrise interview is from GameSNAFU, who recently spoke with Atanas Atanasov, CEO of Masthead Studios.
