gatheryn
Latest
GDC10: First look at Divine Souls
What, you've never heard of Divine Souls? You Philistine! Actually, it's not the public school system that has failed you here -- Divine Souls is only now crossing the waters of the Pacific (and Atlantic) in its worldwide debut. Created by Korean development studio Game Prix under the title of St. Soul, the renamed Divine Souls is being brought over to North America and Europe through an agreement with publisher Outspark. Divine Souls's makeup is part steampunk, part brawler, part co-op, and part traditional MMORPG, so don't expect the normal routine in this one -- it actually feels more of a hybrid of several MMOs. Massively sat down with the game at last week's GDC to put this title through its paces. Channel your inner Karate Kid, and hit the jump for the full scoop!
What happened to Gatheryn?
We've recently received a tip-off to a lack of communication from the developers of the social steampunk MMO, Gatheryn, in recent months, signaling what could be the collapse of the game. The website is still up and running, but the closed beta signup page has vanished, the download game link is broken, and the game's servers are down for the count. Players are asking for assistance or information on what's going on with the game on the beta forums, but things are very, very silent. The current forum rumor (must have forum access to read link) is that Mindfuse Games has run out of funding and is shutting down the game, but that rumor has been posted by a forum account that only has one post and does not possess a developer tag, making the rumor extremely unverified. We have contacted Mindfuse Games for comment, but have yet to receive a response. [Thanks for the tip, Torsten!]
Gatheryn invites all to open beta
If you've had your sights set on seeing what the world of Gatheryn has to offer you, then wait no longer as open beta is here.If you're looking to download the world of Elymia, then look no further than the download and registration page. The game is a pretty modest download while the registration is brief and easy (exactly how a good registration should be.) With little muss and fuss, you'll soon find yourself logging in and seeing what the steampunk world has to offer you!Bugs can be reported on the main site, while there are discussions going on in the forums. Forum registration is separate, so don't forget to go register there too while you're downloading the client!
Gatheryn approaches open beta, offers registration page and client download
If you've been looking forward to the casual steampunk world of Gatheryn, then you don't have much longer to wait. MindFuse Games has recently updated their main page for the game, offering everyone the chance to register their accounts and download the game's client in preparation for the upcoming open beta.Open beta hasn't been given a set launch time as of yet, but all interested parties should take the time to sign up for the forums, as forum members will be notified of open beta via an e-mail blast.Gatheryn is, as we've covered before, a steampunk-ish Free Realms-esque game where you get to play mini-games to advance your character in the game. Lucky for you we got to sit down with Isa Anne Stamos, MindFuse's game studio director, to find out more about the game and even took a look at one of the game's beta updates. You're totally welcome.
Gatheryn casual games update brings minigame pavilion and location-based puzzles
The MMO industry seems to be stepping away from pure fantasy titles, and some new projects are taking a rather different approach to what we expect from massively multiplayer online games. Gatheryn from MindFuse is one such title, that blends steampunk and mini-games into an MMO that's a departure from the norm. Gatheryn is already a decidedly casual MMO, but that hasn't stopped the creators from identifying what works and running with it. In this case, they've opted to add more mini-games to Gatheryn's existing beta content.Gatheryn's Casual Games Update, which went live today, brings two new features to the steampunk-themed MMO. The Minigame Pavilion is a carnival where players can try out Gatheryn's numerous minigames, right off the bat, and without needing to pay silver to try them out. MindFuse has also introduced Word Safari, which they describe as "a series of location-based puzzles where players find special objects and match words according to their specific role and location in Elymia." This sounds like fun, and in some respects is like an exploration game as players learn more about the various areas to be found in Gatheryn. If this seems like your type of game, you can register for the Gatheryn beta over on their signup page.
Massively Exclusive Interview: MindFuse's Isa Anne Stamos on Gatheryn
With the oversaturation of fantasy in the MMO genre, we've been patiently waiting to get our hands on the steampunk victorian coolness of Gatheryn. An indie title currently under development by Mindfuse, Gatheryn seems to be part virtual world and part mini-game laden MMO, much like Free Realms. Considering how wildly popular Free Realms has become in a short period, many eyes are now turning to Gatheryn to see if the combination of casual minigames in a fun, unique MMO/VW setting can strike gold again. Massively's very own Managing Editor, Shawn Schuster sat down recently with Isa Anne Stamos, Game Studio Director for MindFuse, to find out some more about the future of this retro-feel title.Massively: We first took a look at Gatheryn at GDC earlier this year, and liked what we saw so far. Can you describe some of the major feature changes or updates to the game since then? Isa Anne Stamos, MindFuse: Generally, we've been focusing on building out the early stages of the Gatheryn experience – adjusting the layout of the city, adding variations to character customization, and creating a deep casual gaming experience that players can enjoy the minute they enter Gatheryn. Specifically, we just added a Player Health feature that measures your avatar's fatigue and gives us some creative options for healing items and quests. We're also filling in a lot of the quests and minigames – we've probably added a few since you saw us at GDC. We're also working hard to build up the community tools because we rely heavily on them to communicate with our beta users - they're crucial to getting player feedback in these early stages of development.
MMO Roundup: Last week on Massively
Sometimes you'd like to know that there are other MMOs out there, right? Our sister site Massively can provide you with everything you need to know about all MMOs, including WoW! Check out this roundup of the latest news from the wider MMO world. Choose my Adventure: Massively styleToday, we're proud to introduce a brand new weekly column here at Massively called Choose my Adventure, lovingly stolen from our siblings at WoWInsider (now WoW.com). The concept is simple: we create a brand new character in an MMO and document its adventure in a special image gallery and a weekly journal post -- but with a catch. Next World of Warcraft patch announced: Call of the CrusadeBlizzard has announced that the next major content patch in the works for World of Warcraft is Patch 3.2: Call of the Crusade. Patch 3.2 will expand upon the features of Wrath of the Lich King, and Blizzard lists a few highlights: Latest LotRO test realm patch notes releasedThere's something really exciting about a new set of patch notes, especially when it's for a fantasy MMO like Lord of the Rings Online. Turbine have just released the latest patch notes for the Bullroarer test server for volume 2 of book eight. These notes will hit live servers -- barring the usual changes, updates and revisions -- in June. A few reasons to cage the nerdrageThere's so much anger in the consumer market these days. It seems like when a new product comes up, there has to be this bandwagon of people who roll in and start nerdraging over the product. Oh, APB isn't up your alley? Better nerdrage about that! You don't like Warhammer Online? Rev that nerdrage engine nice and loud so your neighbors can hear it.
Steampunk MMO Gatheryn opens closed beta registration
The developers at Mindfuse have been hard at work on Gatheryn, a steampunk MMO that Massively got a preview of at GDC 2009. The HeroEngine-powered Gatheryn will incorporate casual and minigame elements in addition to standard MMO game mechanics. Now gamers will have a chance to see what the title has to offer in the Gatheryn closed beta, for which Mindfuse has announced they're taking registrations. Closed beta applicants accepted in this first wave of invites will get the first glimpses of Gatheryn offered to the gaming community, but getting your info submitted early puts you in the pool Mindfuse will draw from with future beta invitations. If you're interested in checking out the steampunk MMO, you can sign up on the Gatheryn beta registration page.%Gallery-48546%
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.
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: Gather 'round for Gatheryn
There has been a very suspicious lack of steampunk products in the MMO market, and it's only recently that we've seen games that have begun to embrace this new genre of fantasy fiction. While at the GDC, we were able to finally catch up with Mindfuse Games to speak with them about their brand new steampunk MMO, The World of Gatheryn.What we found out about Gatheryn actually surprised us. Instead of just playing the standard MMORPG card, Mindfuse is taking Gatheryn in a strikingly different direction. A direction that will appeal to casual gamers, flash game addicts, puzzles solvers, and virtual world enthusiasts.%Gallery-48546%
Force Unleashed producer lands at casual MMO dev
No matter your opinion of the game, there was no doubting that some very talented and passionate people worked on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Unfortunately, a large number of them were let go by LucasArts before it even shipped, including producer Isa Anne Stamos. While we don't know where everyone landed (and we hope they did safely), Stamos has been found at MMO dev Mindfuse. There she will oversee design and production of the studio's "advanced-casual" MMO, Gathryn, along with "all future MindFuse titles." Good luck, Isa ... and may the (ahem) ... ForceTM be with you.
Gathryn incorporates new engine technology
The World of Gatheryn, an MMO which, despite its name, is not about mining nodes and chopping wood, has just announced its implementation of the Simultronics HeroEngine for this upcoming Victorian-age MMO.In a statement by Joseph Walters, Lead Designer and Chief Executive Officer of MindFuse Games, we get an explanation of why these "off-site" engines are becoming so popular for smaller MMO developers like MindFuse, "The engine enables our team to spend time creating the experience instead of recreating the already-proven type of server side MMOG technology that Simutronics has built so effectively."Be sure to check out more information on the Gatheryn MMO, as well as what this Simultronics HeroEngine has to offer.
MindFuse's The World of Gatheryn detailed, kinda dated
MindFuse Games, which a couple of weeks ago announced it had raised $1 million in funding for a Victorian-themed MMO, sent out a press release yesterday officially announcing and providing details about the game, which is called The World of Gatheryn. Gatheryn is not merely Victorian, as we originally reported -- there are steampunk elements too.The focus seems casual, although the graphics are quite strapping for an independent game. MindFuse promises character customization, apartments, and puzzles, while specifically singling out violent conflict as a no-go. It seems to be a mostly laid back, friendly, social affair, but aimed at grown ups rather than pre-teens, in contrast to a lot of other casual titles.When we say the game has been pseudo-dated, it's a bit of a stretch: the press release says it'll be released in 2009. When in 2009? Your guess is as good as ours, but we'll bet it's not soon.
