icarus-studios
Latest
The Daily Grind: What do you want to see in a post-apocalyptic MMO?
Sure, you could point to my heavy Fallout 3 playing lately, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't think the genre was long overdue for a post-apocalyptic MMO. The good news is that there are companies working towards that end, like Icarus Studios' Fallen Earth, for example. This got me to wondering - with so many different spins on what a post-apocalyptic future would be like (the only thing they seem to agree on is that there's a lot of rubble strewn about) what kind of things would you want to see in a post-apocalyptic MMO? Would you like to see interesting mutations to irradiated humans? Perhaps you're looking for civilzation to be more Thunderdome and less Megaton? Would there be high-tech weapons to scavenge in underground vaults, or would everything be put together from scraps and creativity? How about transportation?
Fallen Earth dev interviews continue with "Funslayer"
As we reported on their first dev interview, the Fallen Earth team is doing a great job at keeping us excited and informed on the progression of the game and the team involved. In this fourth dev interview, we hear from "Funslayer", Lead Scripter on the Fallen Earth MMO project.As with the previous dev interviews, we hear about the basic essentials, like favorite color and underwear preference. These are certainly the types of questions every player needs to know about their game's developers. Yet the important part comes after the introduction, when forum-goers get to ask the real questions. We learn quite a bit about the game's tutorial, NPC AI, and where he got that awesome nickname. Check out the entire 3-page thread in the Fallen Earth forums for more on this Q&A, and be sure to check out the previous and upcoming dev interviews as well.
Fallen Earth state of the game details, well, everything
Fallen Earth -- a post-apocalyptic MMO -- went through a lot of changes in 2008, but it seems as though it was all for the better. Now with the 'State of the Game' post for January 2009, the game is in the spit 'n shine stage and teams are going back over things that need to look as good as their more recent work. Here's what the game is touting as of right now: 75,000+ text strings Almost 5,500 missions 6,000+ items 14,000+ unique characters/creatures 143,000+ in game objects 70 towns 600+ hrs of content Wow, our eyes required bulging at the last item on that list. Granted, we're assuming that's an assertion of both questing, killing and various free-form styles of gameplay like PvP.But that's not all, Icarus Studios has also hired a PR firm to start getting the game's name out on both the web (hello!) and at gaming conventions as well. We're excited for the game to move from alpha and into beta in the coming months so we can finally get our perfectly sanitized hands on it. Yes, we promise -- lots of disinfectant.
New Fallen Earth teaser trailer released
The developers at Fallen Earth have recently released the first video trailer in a series they're aiming to release to help educate fans on the game's story line, factions and missions.This teaser trailer introduces us to the six rival factions in the game. This is not new info to those who have been following along, but it's always nice to get a bit of info in video form. We also get a view of the Hoover Dam, which is described as the last bastion of civilization in the game's post-apocalyptic setting. Check out the full trailer just after the cut below.
Meet the Fallen Earth dev team
The developers at Fallen Earth are certainly doing the whole community relations thing the right way, it seems. In addition to special events like Day with the Devs, their forums are bursting with activity. The game's community manager, know as Tiggs, has arranged a series of interviews with the developers where fans of the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO can ask questions of a certain dev when it's their turn.For the inaugural interview, we hear from PirateEye, a 3D Animator on the game. While some of the questions are simply a fun way to be silly with the forum members and fans, this seems a great way for people to become more involved with who is making the game. Long gone are the days of unnamed artists and programmers working behind the scenes on our favorite games. This is the age of the developer rock star![via WarCry]
Vivox to provide voice services for 38 Studios' upcoming MMO
Announced today at the Austin Game Developers Conference, Vivox has struck a deal with 38 Studios to provide all of their voice services for the studio's upcoming MMO. You may remember 38 Studios as the powerhouse that employs such rockstar names as Curt Schilling, R.A. Salvatore and Todd McFarlane. Their current MMO project, codenamed Copernicus, will use the same in-game voice technology of EVE Online, Second Life and upcoming titles from SOE, Icarus Studios and NCsoft.Check out the complete press release after the jump for more information on how Vivox plans to work with 38 Studios, and what 38 Studios says about the collaboration.
Icarus Studios demos iPhone MMO software this week
Icarus Studios -- developer of Fallen Earth and the associated Icarus Platform virtual world development tools --announced via press release that this week it is demonstrating its 3D MMO platform running on Apple's iPhone at the Austin Game Developers Conference.The demo is modest -- a "360-degree panoramic tour of a sample virtual world location." Users control the camera with the phone's accelerometer. Apple recently threw down the gauntlet, saying that the iPhone and the iPod Touch platforms are "the best portable device for playing games." No reason that future can't include MMOs, right?The iPhone client is scheduled to launch in Q1 of 2009. Does this mean that within months everyone on the New York subway, the Chicago El, and the London Underground will be immersed in a never-ending, time-sinking quest for teh phat lewtz?
New Fallen Earth vehicles revealed
The latest update to the Fallen Earth website is all about vehicles; it features pictures of five never-before-seen cars and bikes from the game, four of which are actual in-game models.The article describes what players can use vehicles for. They can, of course, be used for rapid transportation. But they can also be used for item storage -- a portable vault, if you will. Unfortunately, vehicles with more storage capacity will use more fuel, which can be quite costly. Vehicles can also be used in combat, although apparently repairing them will also be very expensive. Visit the site for more details.Fallen Earth is a post-apocalyptic MMORPG developed by a studio also called Fallen Earth, which is associated with North Carolina-based Icarus Studios. We've been following the game for a while, but most of what we've seen so far has been info pages just like this one. [Via MMORPG]
Fallen Earth shows off character model improvements
Icarus Studios has put out another Fallen Earth update, the post-apocalyptic MMOG set in the year 2156. Fallen Earth's graphics underwent a visual facelift back in March and we've been seeing the results from that in before and after images. It's about graphical details that will really set your MMOG apart because visuals, imagery, the user interface it all needs to gel well and look fantastic to make a positive first impression. The more graphical details the better as long as graphical boundaries aren't pushed to a point where gameplay or playability is sacrificed. The latest graphical revamp shows off how far the old Fallen Earth character models have progressed. The key differential is in faces, hair styles, and equipment. While the artistic style is still the same, the art team has updated clothing, weapons and armor enhancing and adding more depth to character models. A wide variety of customization options like tattoos and face paint are also available which will allow players to create a truly unique appearance for their characters.
Fallen Earth dev update reveals new info on loot drops and more
The year is 2156, and the Grand Canyon is one of the last inhabitable places on Earth. It's all due to the Shiva plague that wiped out ninety percent of the world's population and left a mutated mess in its wake. There is no corporation or government control as we know today and six factions remain competing in a tug-of-war. All that really matters is that you have enough ammo to blow away your next enemy. That's Fallen Earth, a post apocalyptic MMOG from Icarus Studios, and there are some recent developments that stem from this necro-bump on the alpha milestone announcement but this time it comes packaged with new before and after shots. The real news comes in the latest round of questions and answers on the official Fallen Earth forums by Lead Developer, Lee Hammock. Seven questions in all are answered. Regarding realistic loot drops depending on equipment and NPC type, in Fallen Earth if you kill an NPC that is wearing advanced armor, Kevlar or titanium components will drop. Most MMOGs eschew realistic looting rules; everyone has killed an NPC decked out in a full suit of blazing bad ass weaponry only to loot moldy cheese from its well dressed corpse. Completed items will drop as well, but components will be the common drop. The other big revelation is that in two months Fallen Earth will be nearing content completion as work on polish is underway. [Via, Warcry]
Fallen Earth is feature complete and alpha ready
Fallen Earth, a post apocalyptic MMOG set in the year 2156, has officially hit the alpha milestone. A working foundation is up and running that consists of clans, raids, PvP, auction house, and in-game mail. Tons of improvements were made over the past six months to get to the alpha stage and the hard work is paying off. The art department made huge strides in the vehicular arena by creating an array of new vehicle models from muscle cars to motorcycles to all-terrain vehicles. The graphics engine showcases new and improved effects, textures, models, and more robust environment options. When it comes down to the bread and butter, over three thousand missions have been implemented, not a surprise since we reported earlier implemented content was already 75% complete. Hopefully, it won't be long now until we are running around Fallen Earth's Grand Canyon setting and throwing some Molotov cocktails around! Icarus Studios isn't accepting public beta or alpha applicants yet, but be sure to sign up to the Fallen Earth newsletter so you don't miss out when the application process does ramp up.[via Warcry]
Fallen Earth's hit and damage system explained
Let's face it, we love to kill stuff in our games. It doesn't even have to be a multiplayer game where we kill each other; we just like to kill stuff, period. In this regard, when a new MMO releases, we're always curious about the combat system. Age of Conan's combat system seems to be a big hit among players, which adds so much to the overall game experience.So when we hear about the hit and damage system in Fallen Earth, and how it will work within the game, we're even more excited about this upcoming Icarus Studios title. Apparently, as we already know, there will be a first-person and third-person view mode, but these will also change while in aim mode. It sounds to us that the whole aiming process will be handled much as is done in Tabula Rasa, except not as much of the automatic or "sticky" aiming. There's also a good discussion on weapon types and weapon damage in this article, some of which gets fairly specific when it comes to what damage these weapon types will do exactly. The rest of the damage system seems fairly straightforward, with defense skills, attributes, resistances, mutations and special items all playing a role in how protected you will be from the various weapon damage.
More details from Fallen Earth interview
Italian gaming site Alter Ego has an interview up with Lee Hammock, lead game designer of Icarus Studios, about Fallen Earth. It's a short piece, but chock-full of great information for those hungry to learn more about what FE is all about. Note: The first section of the page is in Italian; scroll down for the English version.Hammock dishes up some radioactive dirt on the game's factions and what their philosophies are; mentions that there might be a comprehensive hit box for attacking an enemy (for example, you could shoot someone in the foot, but a head shot would do much more damage); the state of PvP; and what sounds like a rich crafting system.The game's site says in its FAQ that "It'll be done when it's done", and as difficult as that may be to hear for those of us who are itching to get our hands into some Road Warrior-style mayhem, it's a strategy that's worked well for Blizzard; there's no reason to think it shouldn't work as well for Icarus Studios.[Thanks, Nolvadex!]
Pieces start falling into place for Fallen Earth
The Fallen Earth forums were alive with the sound of falling chunks of information yesterday as the devs from Icarus Studios answered seven more questions about their post-apocalyptic MMO. At launch players won't be able to upload their own clan symbols, mainly because it's a headache for the devs to inspect each one of them. While it is a mature game with a bit more leeway, it still takes an incredible amount of manually intensive labor to make sure some wanker isn't trying to sneak something absurd into the game. Deep in the heart of the Las Vegas desert the real Lake Mead is "alive and well" with water skiers and jet skiers. The virtual Lake Mead found in Fallen Earth won't be ready for prime time when the game goes live, but will come online through a later expansion. However, it too will be accessible via the Hoover Dam. Just like in real life.The Sneak/Stealth skill is made up of both active and passive parts. The "I heard something" part is passive, while the "I think you're an enemy faction member in disguise!" part is active and requires a player to activate an ability on the target. Hopefully, this MMO won't sneak past the gaming populace when it drops because the more we learn about it the better it sounds.
Fallen Earth reveals info on mounts and more
In this week's Fallen Earth Question of the Week, we get a special treat. Not only are there eight questions answered by the FE Community Manager "Moonshadow", but the answers to these questions may reveal more than we've heard about the game in a long time.According to the comments on the post, players seem mostly concerned with the newest info on mounts. There will be both horses and vehicles, as far as we know, and they can both be created through a crafting system. This is exciting to think we can build our own cars, but does this mean we can build horses too? Will it be through genetics, or a hybrid mechanical horse? It isn't clear just yet, but we do know that there will be a wide variety of mount types that are able to be crafted through this system using skills and inputs that can create the specific mount you want. Also, it is reported that these mounts will despawn when you get a certain distance away from them. Does this mean we will be able to use the mounts as cover from enemy fire? Poor horsey.
Updates fall onto a Fallen Earth
The gang at Fallen Earth released four new images and some new nuggets o' knowledge about their upcoming end-of-the-world MMO. The images show off the updated graphics engine. While the landscapes look great we're a bit concerned about the rigidity of the humans. Granted, this game is a long ways off from being released so it's too early to lose sleep over.They're working on a new tutorial level as well as finishing out the starter towns of Zanesville and Needle Eye. They're also revising a bunch of items and balancing out creature abilities. A question was raised by the community asking if 64 equipment slots was enough space given that crafting will be a big emphasis. Crafting = lots of raw materials, which takes up a lot of space. There are three options to offset the limited space. First are clan banks, which are accessible just like a bank vault. Next, players can store gear either in their vehicles or on their horses. Each will have different storage capabilities. Lastly, each player will have their own personal vaults set up by sector. Granted, this means there will be some back and forth running, but it does provide a large amount of storage space, which should offset any headaches.Three more questions were answered about the state of Fallen Earth, so if you're interested in this post apocalyptic MMO, head over to the forums for all the lowdown.
Fallen Earth gets broken down
Lee Hammock, lead designer for Icarus Studios' Fallen Earth, recently gave a very nice, quick break down of what to expect in their upcoming "end of the world as we know it" MMO.There will be no classes; players will be able to allocate points however they want in order to advance their character's stats. Players will eventually have to choose which faction they want to belong to (Chota, Techs, Vistas, Enforcers, Travelers, Lightbearers) however, and it's a choice not to be taken lightly. Each character gets 22 equipment slots, six of which are dedicated to weapons. Armor and weapons have a set durability, and player generated content will be very popular. To help make your character unique, the game will include dynamic clothing (ski masks that roll up, baseball hats can be worn forwards or backwards, jackets can be unzipped, etc.) and an assortment of customizable options (i.e., war paint, tattoos, body piercings, facial hair).
Icarus Studios switches from mySQL to Informix
Icarus Studios, an MMO middleware developer specializing in zoneless next-gen MMO platform technology has made the shift to migrate their underlying tech away from widely used open-source SQL database, mySQL, and instead has migrated to IBM's Informix Dynamic Server. Icarus was able to switch from mySQL to Informix rapidly and apparently fairly painlessly, with Fallen Earth - a post-apocalyptic MMORPG built in Icarus' middleware - running on the new high-performance database systems.
Falling back to Earth
Fallen Earth is an upcoming MMO from Icarus Studios set in the year 2154, long after a plague known as the Shiva has killed off 90 percent of the world's population. Those who remain have divided into six factions (Children of the Apocalypse, Travelers, Enforcers, Techs, Vistas, and the Lightbearers) all struggle for dominance as they try to rebuild on the ashes of a fallen earth. I geek out at all things post-apocalyptic. One of my favorite flicks is The Road Warrior (aka Mad Max 2). My favorite book is Stephen King's The Stand. Don't even get me started on the Fallout series (so yes, I am completely geeked about Fallout 3!). And I weeped a little when Auto Assault bought the farm. Now, combine all those apocalyptic bits and pieces, roll 'em all together and you got Fallen Earth. Supposedly. Hopefully. The guys at Icarus updated the FE community a few days ago and things appear to be moving along accordingly. Seventy towns have been laid out with fifty or so functional (not polished, functional). Nearly 3,000 missions have been created and upwards of 7,500 items are locked and loaded into the database. The guys answer five burning questions (like how many weapons players have access to at one time, what recipes will be available to what factions, and so on). When is it coming out? Well, when it's done of course. For all the details check out the Fallen Earth forums.
