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A Tale in the Desert is under new management
After years of inactivity on the A Tale in the Desert front, you might be forgiven from not noticing that the title changed hands last month. That's OK, we didn't see it before now either. Citing preoccupation with another project, eGenesis has handed over management and development of A Tale in the Desert to Pluribus Games. The upside to this transition for gamers is two-fold: The new owners have made the game free for the time being and are preparing to start up the next iteration of the story, Tale VII. "EGenesis has been overwhelmed with their newest project, Dragon's Tale, and has not been able to devote the time needed to ATitD. It is our belief that we will be able to greatly improve the game for you, our customers," Pluribus announced. [Thanks to Alan for the tip!]
Some Assembly Required: Virtual world roundup for 2014 and beyond
Just over two years ago there was a great disturbance, as if millions (or so) of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Yes, something terrible had happened: a beloved virtual world was destroyed. And that left a number of sandbox refugees looking for a new place to call home. At that time, Some Assembly Required offered a roundup of the then available virtual worlds that could possibly offer accommodation, depending on what qualities players most desired in their games. But as things are wont to, they changed; a lot can happen in the MMOverse in 24 months, from additional features in existing games to new games to the loss of more worlds. So it's time to update this list of virtual worlds to reflect 2014 and beyond. Take a look and see what titles or titles-to-be have the sandbox features that best make a game a home for you.
Gambling MMO Dragon's Tale prepares for beta
Gambling? On the internet? Perish the thought! Or don't perish it, because eGenesis would like to invite you to give it a try. The maker of A Tale in the Desert announced that it will begin the beta for Dragon's Tale on July 12th. Dragon's Tale isn't your traditional internet casino, however. There are quests, leveling, a mentor system, and a political system similar to A Tale in the Desert. It looks as though there will be plenty of minigames that swing between luck and skill, including cow tipping, fishing, and maze running. Players can use credit cards and Bitcoins to gamble, and the client will be available on Windows, Linux, and OSX. Lead Designer Andrew Tepper hopes that Dragon's Tale will create a bonding experience between players: "The first thing that stuck me about online gambling today is that it's a pretty lonely experience, typically one player in a web browser, watching a 2-D slot machine. I've taken what I've learned in the last 15 years building MMOs and for the first time applied that to gambling. I've created an intensely social world where players can explore the game world together, share techniques, and rely on each other as they level up by completing gambling quests." [Source: eGenesis press release]
Choose My Adventure: My tale in the desert begins
Last week's Choose My Adventure poll was a real nail-biter! There were four games that were all within a few votes of each other. In the end, the winner by five votes was A Tale in the Desert, and I'm thrilled to be able to write about this game for my turn at CMA. As much as I like elves and orcs, I'm ready for obelisks, pyramids, and plenty of sand. I created my character over the weekend and began my path to citizenship. Did I make it through, or did flax farming get the better of me? Help me plan my course!
MMO Blender: Beyond Shawn's Thunderdome
If there's one thing I've noticed about these MMO Blender articles, it's that the Massively staff members seem to really like their sandboxes. Maybe it's not even so much a staff preference as it is a statement about where we all are as MMO players. Themeparks have been done and have been perfected, but many of us want to stretch the limitations of a truly persistent and open online world. At least that's what I'd like to think. It's an ideal situation I can dream about, but do we all really want a truly open world with limitless possibilities? What would we do with so few rules? My perfect MMO has what I'd consider to be the best of all worlds. The trick is, of course, getting it all to work in one game.
One Shots: Woodland critters
TERA isn't quite two weeks old, but it's already offering up some spectacular views. Kromic on the Dragonfall server paused while riding on his mount to take this shot. He writes in, While doing some exploring on my trusty steed in TERA, I found a great view of the capital city Velika. His screenshot is just after the cut, along with three more images of woodland critters doing their duty to spice up our MMO scenery.
A Tale in the Desert VI begins tomorrow
A Tale in the Desert V is coming to a close, and of course that means that A Tale in the Desert VI is just over the horizon. For the uninitiated, this means that the current arc of events will be coming to an end and players will be starting from scratch. However, that doesn't mean that all was for naught. Though the players themselves have to start anew, the achievements of Tale 5 remain in place. Players succeeded in building four new monuments, which will lead to four new Tests designed by the team's Oracles for Tale 6. The new Tale goes live at noon EST tomorrow, December 3rd, so you have one more night to prepare yourselves before another unique Tale begins. To get in on the action yourself, just head on over to the game's official site.
The Game Archaeologist spins A Tale in the Desert: A talk with Teppy
I have to say, I have nothing but admiration for lone wolf-style developers who decide to pish-posh giant studio teams and massive budgets and jump into the game-making mosh pit anyway. Andrew "Teppy" Tepper is one of these visionaries who had an idea for a unique MMO and took it to fruition. I mean, most of us come up with "totally tubular" notions for online games, but how many of us make it happen? Outside of a couple of doodles on a Post-It, that is. In our second week covering the fascinating sandbox world of A Tale in the Desert, The Game Archaeologist had the pleasure of sitting down with Teppy to get his perspective on how one man bootstrapped his way into the MMO world. He also dishes on the team's next MMO project, which we'll be talking more about on Massively later this week. So what's it like to create the ultimate sandbox in Egypt of all places? Teppy, take it away!
The Game Archaeologist spins A Tale in the Desert: The highlights
Readers of the ever-so-humble Game Archaeologist will recall that earlier this year I had the opportunity to exchange informative words with Dr. Richard Bartle, the creator of MUD. Since he was -- and is -- a highly opinionated designer, I asked him what he thought was the most innovative MMO from the last decade. The answer was short and succinct. "A Tale in the Desert, he replied, then added: "Note that 'innovative' doesn't necessarily mean 'successful.'" Right there is the crux of ATITD's unique position in the MMO industry. Instead of storming down a path well-traveled, it took a machete and made its own trail -- a trail down which few have followed. As Jef recently noted in Some Assembly Required, it is an "odd duck" of a game, skewing as far away from combat as possible to focus on two often-neglected aspects of MMOs: crafting and politics. Even though its population has pegged it as an eternally niche game, it's proven that constant fighting isn't the only thing that can draw an online community together. This week we're going to look at some of the more unique features of this innovative yet diminutive MMO, which began telling its tale back in 2003.
Rise and Shiny recap: A Tale in the Desert V
A Tale in the Desert V is a non-combat crafting paradise. That might sound a little strange, but the developers encourage players to work together to accomplish bigger and better things, making them feel as though they are part of a community. I have tried the game at different times over the years but never really became more than a visitor. I was glad to be given the opportunity to check it out, but even after a week I still feel like I have barely scratched the surface. I have emerged from the tutorial a smarter citizen, but I know that around the corner, greater challenges wait. The game is not without its flaws, however, although many of the issues might fade as systems and controls become more apparent. Still, I found myself a little frustrated when the game asked me to sit and literally watch grass grow. I did it, though, and found an odd game, filled with mysteries. In a good way, of course.
A Tale in the Desert launches Tale 5 today
For all that the MMO industry is occasionally decried as being a large gathering of copycats, there are some interesting outliers amidst a field of fantasy kill-fests. A Tale in the Desert is a prime example -- set in ancient Egypt, with a focus on character interaction and nonviolent problem resolution, it's really in a class of its own. And with the new installment of the game launching today, it's the perfect time for players who aren't familiar with the game to start mingling with newcomers. The fourth installment wrapped up in July, which makes for a quick turnaround into the newest iteration. Unlike many other games in the genre, A Tale in the Desert runs for a while, then rests and starts over with new systems in place. This installment is featuring new Foraging and Aquaculture mechanics, allowing new ways to harvest plants and the ability to grow papyrus. The game is free for the first 24 hours of play, and each iteration tends to last for around six months. If the idea of a combat-free, crafting-focused game appeals to you, now would be the perfect time to head out into the lands of the Pharaoh.
A Tale in the Desert 5 launches in August
A Tale in the Desert, the long-running Egyptian life sandbox from eGenesis, has announced the impending launch of its fifth major iteration called, appropriately enough, A Tale in the Desert 5. If you're not familiar with the game, it features no combat as well as arguably the most in-depth crafting and trade skill system in the genre. Set against an ancient Egyptian backdrop, the title is also somewhat unique in that each major update, or telling, wipes the slate clean and gives players a fresh start in a new world. The game also features a high level of player control over the game world in the form of law making and player-designed tests that allow gamers to both compete and cooperate. The upcoming version features a new fishing system that involves the catching of bait insects, rare fish, and fish processing to produce various resources. Additionally, creator Andrew Tepper has tweaked the mining system for the fifth telling, calling it "by far the most fun of any [mining system] yet released." You can check out a free trial and get ready for the next telling at the game's official website.
Endgame arrives for A Tale in the Desert 4
A Tale in the Desert 4 is coming to an end, and as players begin to look toward Tale 5, eGenesis has an endgame surprise. The ATitD community will be voting on a Pharaoh and have a direct effect on how Tale 5 is presented. Sami and Wahim are the candidates for Pharaoh, so to speak. Wahim is your status-quo option, so if you like the way things are in game that's the way to go. Sami, on the other hand, is all about change. If Sami becomes the Pharaoh in game, players will be able to invent seven new technologies. Technologies affect how things are crafted and built in the game, and since A Tale in the Desert is a crafting game, it's a chance for players to completely change the content of the game. Keep an eye on the ATitD site for all the details and election results.
A Tale in the Desert offers free weekend, sneak peek at next update
If you're more a fan of crafting and socializing in MMOs rather than combat, but haven't checked out A Tale in the Desert yet, you're definitely missing out. The game is completely non-combat, focusing on advancement through player cooperation and crafting. A Tale in the Desert sports an unusual system all around -- it launched in 2003 in its first "telling," which is a version or major update of sorts. The fifth telling is on the way in just a few months, but players are able to enjoy some special events in preparation while they wait. If you're a former player who is interested in seeing how the game has progressed, A Tale in the Desert will feature a welcome back weekend for everyone to explore the game at no cost. It will certainly be worth your time, because the weekend event includes a sneak peek at the completely revamped mining system that will launch with the fifth telling. The event begins today and ends this Sunday at noon EST
A Tale in the Desert launches Test of the Orchestra
Fans of A Tale in the Desert are familiar with tests -- the game is a crafter's paradise and the test system is comprised of different quest lines that allow players to advance their chosen crafting field. Be it building, gathering, tailoring, or several others, something is offered for everyone. Now the game has introduced a brand new test that allows players to not only explore their musical sides, but to show it off in front of the rest of the community. In The Test of the Orchestra -- available now on the main shard -- players will build a wide variety of instruments and round up a person to play each one. They will then compose a musical score to be played and judged by an audience of their peers, who will award points. The concert will be scheduled ahead of time and "open to the public" so to speak. If you're not familiar with A Tale in the Desert, but this sounds interesting to you, they offer a brief free trial, so visit the site and see what you think!
A Tale in the Desert to launch new player driven server
A Tale in the Desert may not be the first game that comes to mind when you think of MMOs, but the title from independent developer eGenesis is something quite unique in this market. A Tale in the Desert isn't a combat-focused game at all, rather it's more about social, economic, and even legal systems in an ancient Egyptian setting. Players involved in a "telling" (a game arc) can even vote to determine the game's laws, which sets this title apart from most others. eGenesis announced this week that they're launching a new server on February 20th, stating that it will give even greater control to players by allowing them to "completely control the timing of the telling." The new server will offer players an ancient Egypt that has yet to be built. In other words, it's an open environment where the players can have some degree of control over how that setting takes shape. If the notion of a player-driven setting where the game's subscribers shape the play experience and surroundings appeals to you, have a look at what's coming soon to A Tale in the Desert.
Open beta for A Tale in the Desert IV starts tomorrow
Apparently, we're in beta season as yet another independent MMO has announced its open beta. A Tale in the Desert IV will open its beta doors tomorrow, December 6 at 2pm Eastern to all players who are interested in giving this Ancient Egyptian MMO a shot.If you're unaware of A Tale in the Desert, it's a social MMO that boasts no combat system at all. Its main focuses are actually a strong social structure and economics. The game first released in February of 2003 and this beta marks its fourth "telling", which acts as a major update or version of the game. Head on over to the official website for more information and to apply for your own open beta key.
