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Five upcoming MMOs with indie-cred
Eurogamer's Oli Welsh attended the Game Developer's Conference last month and took a look at five MMOs being produced by independent studios. Earthrise, Fallen Earth, Gatheryn, Global Agenda, and Love are all being developed without the support of a huge publisher. Given all the big budget competition, do they stand a chance?According to Oli, Earthrise has many interesting features but with beta set for May and release set for late 2009, he's a little concerned with the framerate issues and lack of polish. Much like its post-apocalyptic brother, Fallen Earth shines on many levels and is also due in 2009, but it is lacking in execution with animation, combat, and AI issues. As for Gatheryn, Oli is a bit confused as to why this game is even being made at all because it lacks depth and has no clear direction (here's what we thought).On the other hand, Mr. Welsh has high praise for both Global Agenda and Love. The former appears to be an interesting blend of adrenaline-pumping MMOFPS action with more polish than an antique car show. The latter is the brainchild of a one-man army, giving it the most indie-cred out of all the titles. For a more in-depth explanation of his opinions, follow Oli as he takes a journey through the MMO's wild frontier.
Fallen Earth's villainous troupe, the White Crow Battalion
Without Darth Vader and the Emperor, Luke probably wouldn't have seemed so heroic to everyone. Why exactly is this kid from the desert blasting all these guys in white armor with his magical powers? What exactly did they ever do to him? Oh, they killed his foster parents and murdered his grandfather figure/teacher. Well that changes a few things, and this developer diary for Fallen Earth discusses many of these merits for their own story.For Fallen Earth, this seems to be the role that the White Crow Battalion fills for players. As a mercenary group, they don't appear to fall into a faction -- or at least we don't think they do. Considering the opening moments of your newly created character's life revolves around picking up a weapon to stop the merc group from blowing your brains out, we're sure most people won't want to make nice. This excludes the particularly masochistic players, of course.
Further weapon balance blogging for Fallen Earth
Realtime guns, knives, grenades, pipes and all sorts of other weapons tend to make for an interesting challenge when it comes to balancing them, which is exactly what the most recent Fallen Earth developer diary discusses. It appears to have been a long road for the developers, but after much play testing and some clever re-categorizing they seem to have come upon a good method.Smart choices like allowing everyone to use grenades (thus giving melee-focused characters a little range) mark a very well thought-out system. Insuring that an sandbox style MMO still have a good sense of structure and meaning is imporatant, because without it everyone simply opts for the winning weapon. It's developer diaries like this that make us excited for upcoming games, which wasn't really necessary for Fallen Earth but helps nonetheless.
The Daily Grind: Which sci-fi MMOs are you looking forward to?
Star Wars: The Old Republic, Earthrise, Fallen Earth, Star Trek Online, Jumpgate Evolution, Global Agenda, Black Prophecy, the Fallout MMO (maybe), Blackstar, Otherland, StarGate Worlds, and even more. It seems that if you're a hardcore sci-fi fan, now is a really good time to be an MMO player with all the options coming soon in terms of upcoming MMOs. You've got everything from the blended fantasy/sci-fi to favorite movie and gaming IPs to all-new concepts to dig into and enjoy. Of course, with such a large influx coming, this morning we thought we'd ask you what some of your most anticipated sci-fi MMOs are? Which ones are you trying like mad to get into the betas for? Which ones are just kind of "meh" on your radar? If you've got more than one, which one do you think might reign supreme among your choices?
Fallen Earth takes the road tour to Triangle Game Conference
If there's one thing many MMO players are chomping at the bit for, it's a good, solid crunchy post-apocalyptic MMO to sink their teeth into. That's why the team behind the upcoming sci-fi game, Fallen Earth, have been touring around the United States showing off their game to hungry onlookers; and it appears the folks in Raleigh, NC are soon to be next! We've recieved notice that the team at Fallen Earth LLC will be showing off all the rugged, dangerous fun at the First Annual Triangle Game Conference on April 29th and 30th. According to the press release, the TCG is "the East Coast forum for networking, career building and sharing of the area's gaming industry expertise" and will offer a program of lectures by industry experts. They're also planning to offer attendees a Career Lounge and Game Development University to check out as well. As Raleigh is turning into a gamer hotspot, this should prove to be an interesting event. Those interested in attending and checking out Fallen Earth preview awesomeness should head over to the Triangle Game Conference site - or if you're a bit too far away to make it, remember that Fallen Earth is still accepting people for their beta!
The Digital Continuum: Evolving past the Diku design Part 2
The other movement of change sweeping through developers' design choices is the near removal of classes and/or levels. EVE Online was one of the first MMOs to do away with levels, and the upcoming All Points Bulletin and The Secret World appear to be doing the same. Now, titles like Champions Online and Fallen Earth are doing away with the idea of a class system altogether.
Fallen Earth country tour turns to Portland
If you've been looking for a better look at the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO Fallen Earth and you live in the Portland, Oregon area, then you might want to head on over to the North 45 Pub on May 2nd at 7 PM. The Fallen Earth tour is headed on over to your town!Attendees will get the chance to speak with the development team, participate in a live Q&A session, demo Fallen Earth, and get a sweet special in-game mount. The team will also be offering prizes to the person who travels the farthest distance to come to the event, and the person who brings the most friends to the event. Interested in going? Sign up for the tour here!Portland was chosen for the tour thanks to some devoted fans rallying for the city in the Fallen Earth tour contest. The city received the most votes, and has won the spot as the next visited city. Congratulations Fallen Earth fans in Portland!
Fallen Earth rated M for Mature by ESRB
Fallen Earth is the upcoming post-apocalyptic massively multiplayer online game where players will soon be carving out a living in a world ravaged by viral and nuclear armageddon. Not that we really thought a game where fending off packs of mutated anarchist bikers out in the wasteland Mad Max-style was really going to be "family-oriented entertainment", but Fallen Earth LLC has now made it official. Circatrix from the Fallen Earth team writes, "Thought you all should be the first to know that we've received our rating from the ESRB board and we're classified as an M (Mature). You'll start to see this in our ads and videos moving forward." We're glad to hear that they're not toning down the game's themes simply to reach a younger audience, and Massively will be keeping an eye on Fallen Earth as it gets closer to launch.
Fallen Earth dev diary focuses on introducing new players to PvP
Fallen Earth is one of three post-apocalyptic massively muliplayer online games currently in development that are a far cry from the fantasy titles which have proven most popular in the MMO world. IGN scored an exclusive two part developer diary from Fallen Earth writer and content developer Wes Platt who discusses creating the PvP starter town of Terance. Namely, he explains how and why the Fallen Earth team has been putting so much work into Terance and the challenges and pitfalls faced in differentiating the PvP-centric area from other more standard towns in the game. The first part is "Building the Town of Terance". It paints a picture of a post-apocalyptic aftermath setting where a psychotic artificial intelligence, long since sealed away underground by its corporate progenitors and forced into a century of dormancy, is woken with dire consequences. Now powered up, the AI -- TETRAX -- prepares once again to work towards the extermination all human beings in its vicinity. Human beings in Terance may find themselves on the run, hunted by AI-directed zombies called Diggers, as well as mutants and vermin.
Fans to determine stops on Fallen Earth dev tour
We've mentioned a unique approach the Fallen Earth team is taking to promotion of their post-apocalyptic MMO, a US dev tour. At least one of us at Massively first pictured something like the Gwar tour bus roving about the U.S., or a caravan of armor plated VW buses stuffed with mohawked techno-fetishist cannibals. The reality is far more mundane (less lawnmower blade boomerangs, more 'grassroots'), but at least you won't be risking life and limb to preview the game and speak with the Fallen Earth creators. Even better, the fans themselves can determine the next stop on the Fallen Earth dev tour by sending SMS text-based votes to the dev team. So if you're hungry for more Fallen Earth info, you can apparently have the devs delivered. The list of 15 potential cities and the rules about how to vote through SMS are listed on the Fallen Earth contest announcement page. They've got an FAQ there as well that should cover most of the questions that could arise in connection with the contest.
Fallen Earth comes to life in new trailer
We've seen this game hit content concentration; be retooled; offer holiday greetings; had a chance to talk to the developers just a few days ago at GDC about how Fallen Earth is progressing, and now, we have a shiny new trailer to drool over. With all the news about different mounts, all about the deep, evolving storyline, PvP and so much more, we're ready to step into 2156 and start kludging our equipment together already. Until then, it looks like we'll have to content ourselves with checking out the most recent video from the Fallen Earth team - placed behind the break for your viewing enjoyment - and hoping we get lucky enough to be selected for the closed beta.
GDC09: The rise of the MMOs
Here we are in the midst of another epic Games Developers Conference and we can't help but reflect on how much importance MMOs and Virtual Worlds have in the gaming industry these days. Everywhere we look, there are new ways to integrate the online experience with having fun and meeting new people. Throughout the week and beyond (as embargoes get lifted), we're bringing you more MMO panels and interviews than ever before. This is promising for those of us who happen to love MMOs.So even though the convention isn't over until tomorrow, we wanted to take this opportunity to fill you in on what we've already seen, and what is yet to come later in the week. You can check out our GDC09 tag page for the ongoing panels and exclusive interviews we've already conducted, plus look forward to more goodies from Runes of Magic, Hero Engine, Funcom, Mythic, Earthrise, CCP, Global Agenda, Aion [catch breath] and much more!%Gallery-48610%
GDC09: Massively's Fallen Earth interview
We had a chance to sit down with the Fallen Earth guys yesterday at GDC 2009 and came away from the experience very ready to roll deep into our post apocalyptic futures of 2156.What can we say? A dynamic mission system that reacts not only to faction alignment, but also storyline choices made by the player is probably what began our newly formed obsession. Although, an open class system emphasizing player choice certainly added to our excitement.Watch out, because when you see an avatar gardening in Fallen Earth? That could be us, packing a basket of flowers and herb. And a flame thrower... and sniper rifle... and... well, probably a revolver, too. Did we also mention the horses, ATVs, trucks, dune buggies and muscle cars as mounts? All this, and much more can be found just beyond the hyperlink precipice.%Gallery-48606%
Fallen Earth dev journal focuses on weapon balance
The upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO Fallen Earth has the potential to bring a very different kind of setting to the fantasy-dominated landscape in massively multiplayer titles. One of the interesting aspects of Fallen Earth is the variety of weaponry players can obtain. In true Mad Max fashion, the game's weaponry can can often be found and modified objects, bringing a 'use what works' approach to inflicting harm upon your fellow survivors in the wasteland. Then again, other weapon choices will be decidedly high tech. Could this create a disparity between the haves and have-nots in terms of improvised vs. manufactured weaponry? Fallen Earth's system designer Brandes Stoddard has written a developer journal for MMORPG.com that's focused on how the dev team is balancing the game's weapons. Hopefully, he relates, they're creating weapons that fill the right niches -- no one weapon should be the best for every task, but should really be the ideal choice for certain situations. Check out his dev journal over at MMORPG.com for images of some of the weapons players will be able to use in Fallen Earth, and read about why shotguns probably won't be an i-win button once the game's ready for release.
Fallen Earth MMO tour will bring devs to GDC 09
We've mentioned a rather unique approach that the Fallen Earth team is taking to promote their upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO, a national tour across key cities in the United States. The Fallen Earth publicity tour began in North Carolina last month, meeting with the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), and they've just announced that they'll be working with the IGDA again at this month's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Fallen Earth will co-sponsor the IGDA networking event at GDC on March 24 and developers will be on hand to speak about the game. Key Fallen Earth devs planning to attend include project manager Colin Dwan; associate project manager Dave Haydysch; content team lead Marie Croall; product manager Jessica Orr; and lead game designer Lee Hammock.
Fallen Earth dev chat answers barrage of player questions
We don't know about you, but we can feel the era of post-apocalyptic and sci-fi MMOs fast approaching. Definitely on our 'ones to watch' list is Fallen Earth, currently in development at Fallen Earth LLC (formerly known as Icarus Studios). We mentioned the other day that the Fallen Earth devs would participate in a live Stratics 'House of Commons' dev chat, and among the five Fallen Earth team members on-hand was lead game designer Lee Hammock. The Fallen Earth devs responded to a blitz of questions from the game's future players in the Stratics dev chat, ranging from the benefits of capturing 'conflict towns' in PvP to mounted combat on horses and vehicles. In addition, Lee Hammock stated that game play videos should be released at some point in the next few weeks, and more info about the game will be coming out in tandem with this month's Game Developers Conference.Be sure to check out the Stratics House of Commons chat transcript for more on the kind of game Fallen Earth is shaping up to be.
Stratics and Fallen Earth team up for beta giveaway
We know some of you out there are dying to get into the Fallen Earth beta, but it might not be as hard to get in as you think, provided you act before March 15th. Stratics is running a contest to win Fallen Earth beta keys. All you need to do to be in the running is email them at contest@irc.stratics.com and tell them what you think about Fallen Earth, and why you deserve a beta key (or at the very least, a Fallen Earth T-shirt.)Stratics will select winners randomly, and the contest runs through March 15, 2009. You can check out the details on the Fallen Earth forums and of course over at the Stratics Chat site.
Fallen Earth dev interview with designer Brandes Stoddard
We're keeping our eyes open for information dealing with the post-apocalyptic MMO title Fallen Earth in development at Icarus Studios. Netherlands-based gaming site MMOZONE got a hold of Fallen Earth systems designer Brandes Stoddard, asking questions ranging from the game's PvP system to design decisions as they relate to the title's ESRB rating. Since there will be no classes in Fallen Earth, Stoddard explains what a typical group will look like -- a mix of melee and ranged combatants, he says, with others using their mutations to heal and buff. Stoddard also goes into how gear specialization will impart advantages tempered with drawbacks specific to those items in question. Mounts will also be a key aspect of Fallen Earth's gameplay. Since teleportation of any sort won't exist, characters will actually have to travel to visit other locations in the game's world. Despite the importance of these means of transportation (or perhaps because of it), it looks like it won't be possible to steal them from other players. Mounts, whether vehicles or animals, will be bound to their owners, and will require either energy or food to maintain. Fallen Earth's vehicles, in general, will only be available through player-crafting efforts. If you're interested in hearing what else Fallen Earth's system designer has to say about the game, check out the MMOZONE interview with Brandes Stoddard.
Upcoming chat with the Fallen Earth devs
There's one thing you really can't deny - the MMO genre has sorely needed some shiny new post-apocalyptic titles for some time now. Thankfully it looks like Fallen Earth's development is proceeding at a solid pace. With any luck we'll be able to jump in and get our post-apocalyptic warfare on before too long. As a way of working with the community to ensure that Fallen Earth is as solid they can possibly make it, the developers from Icarus Studios have been scheduling play-dates with the beta testers, followed by an open chat on Stratics for everyone who is curious - tester and non-tester alike. This month's chat, going on tomorrow at 9:00 PM EDT, should prove to be highly interesting, as not only will there be several developers on hand, but there's been talk of some swag (and beta keys) to be handed out as well! You can get all the details over on the Fallen Earth forums if you're interested in checking out more on this upcoming MMO. [via WarCry]
Fallen Earth interview drops info on factions and storyline
As Fallen Earth gets closer to being released, that previously hazy image of what the game will be like sharpens. The latest bit of info we've come across is an interview with Fallen Earth writer and designer Wes Platt conducted by MMO Gamer's Nate James. In a market rather saturated with fantasy titles, Platt discusses what Fallen Earth brings to the table and how the game will be differentiated from its competitors. The interview also touches upon the background of the six playable factions in the game and their motivations, as well as the storyline element of the Shiva plague. Have a look at MMO Gamer's interview with Wes Platt for more on Fallen Earth's approach to a post-apocalyptic MMO title.[Via WarCry]
