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Earthrise shows off shiny new web digs
Speaking of website makeovers... The folks at Masthead Studios didn't want us to have all the fun! As such, today they've revealed some awesome new artwork and serious web chops by introducing their very own shiny new website. Gone is the ho-hum grey background and text-heavy central area. Added is a great illustration featuring a new version of the lady who has long graced the page. Thrill at the shiny newness of hills, valleys, and sci-fi artistic goodness. Of course, the new site also boasts a nice, clean, clickable interface showcasing the newest news, lots of media, backstory, community, and more. Additionally, the beta button is clearly sitting there waiting to be clicked on by those who haven't taken the leap as yet. So if you're a connoisseur of all things intarwebby, curious about the new shininess of Earthrise's website, or all about some hot beta signup action, then head on over and check it out.
Earthrise dev diary highlights West Horizon lore
Ready for more sci-fi lore, courtesy of the Earthrise dev team? If so, head over to MPOGD.com and check out the latest journal entry for the sci-fi MMORPG. Like the previous two installments, the piece focuses on the history of a particular location in the world of Enterra, and this time around that location is the West Horizon. The West Horizon is a name given to a section of inhospitable coastline by the region's original settlers. The area was home to various strains of mutant wildlife as well as toxic chemicals washed ashore by ocean currents. Over time, the pioneers terraformed West Horizon and eventually all of the nearby Sal Vitas Valley. The tranquility didn't last long however, as West Horizon soon came to host a Continoma-sponsored compound built to house the human test subjects from a secret government project. West Horizon also features a mysterious sect alternately referred to as the Alpha Principle and the Sisterhood (due to having exclusively female members). This secretive group reportedly believes that humanity must purge itself of all physical and mental taints, and has achieved a kind of immortality via a scientific process known as Crystomatrix. Check out the rest of the lore-centric details at MPOGD.com, and don't forget our previous Earthrise coverage that you may have missed.
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 devs detail The Arcology
MPOGD is back with another Earthrise developer journal, focused again on the sci-fi sandbox's seemingly substantial reservoir of lore and backstory. This time around, readers are treated to a brief history of The Arcology, a terraforming project begun by Continoma (one of Earthrise's major factions) at a point prior to the game's timeline. As gamers log into the world of Enterra for the first time, they'll discover that The Arcology now lies ruined and overrun with mutants and other unsavory predators looking to take a bite out of unwary clones and their allies. The research compound, located in the northern Atlas mountains, originally hosted a large variety of plants, animals, and organisms from the far corners of Enterra prior to its destruction in a cataclysmic event known colloquially as the "Backlash." Read all the grisly details over at MPOGD, and also be on the lookout for a new interview with the Masthead dev team coming soon, exclusively on Massively.
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.
Earthrise teases new beta screenshot, reminds players of SWG
"Well, short help's better than no help at all Chewie," said everyone's favorite sci-fi smuggler as an Ewok hugged his leg prior to the climactic ground battle in 1983's Return of the Jedi. Similarly, scattered tidbits of Earthrise information are better than no Earthrise information, and so we present to you the latest beta screenshot from Masthead Studio's forthcoming sandbox MMORPG. While we'd prefer beta invites for everyone and a release date, this random screenshot will simply have to do for now. As you can see, it features a player character checking out some sort of power gizmo thing-a-ma-doodle. Upon closer inspection, you'll also note that although they blacked out the player names in the chat box, they didn't black out the discussion which reads, in part, "this reminds me so much of SWG." Check out the shot above or in our Earthrise gallery below. %Gallery-48760%
Earthrise devs detail Autonomy
'Tis the season for Earthrise dev diaries, apparently, as MPOGD.com has surfaced with yet another one from the increasingly vocal developers at Masthead Studios. This time around, the focus is on the sci-fi sandbox game's lore as opposed to its skills and equipment, and the new piece delves deep into the who, what, when, where, and how of a place called Autonomy. This strangely-named section of Enterra functions as a sort of smuggler's haven, or as the article puts it, "a place of crime and corruption where castaways rot in their own sins." At first blush, it sounds a bit like a darker, danker Mos Eisley or Nar Shaddaa, albeit it with a mutant-infested penal colony known as The Nest lending a bit more dread to the general atmosphere. Check out the original article as well as our gallery below. %Gallery-48760%
Earthrise character build brings the pain
Things are starting to pick up on the Earthrise news front, and thank goodness. We gamers are a fickle and impatient bunch, and extended time out of the spotlight invariably brings cries of "vaporware!" and the like. Happily, Masthead Studios has begun to release more details regarding its upcoming sci-fi sandbox, including interviews, screenshots, and dev diaries. The latest diary appears courtesy of German fansite OnlineWelten and features the third in a series of character build articles designed to highlight aspects of the game's combat and equipment systems. Moving on from last week's featured avatar, a ranged specialist named Tommie, the Earthrise devs have unveiled Freddy, who looks to be Enterra's answer to the traditional tank archetype -- albeit with a hefty dose of offensive capability thanks to the game's use of skills over classes. The dev diary goes into great detail regarding Freddy's skill build and also drops a few hints about his equipment (which includes the Translunex Corporation's Agony flamethrower as well as power armor). "He can lay waste to a carefully planned team build and as such, is a primary target... Freddy is one of the most powerful builds in Earthrise," says the article.
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 dev diary details character builds
Bulgaria-based Masthead Studios, the developers behind the upcoming Earthrise sci-fi sandbox, have checked in with German fansite OnlineWelten for the second in a series of dev journals designed to shed more light on the enigmatic title. This week's piece focuses on character builds and details an avatar named Tommie who provides a jumping-off point for examining a few of the skill and gear options available to residents of Enterra. Tommie uses a combination of power armor and speed armor (Nova and Quicksilver, respectively), highlighting the ability to mix and match equipment bonuses in Earthrise. The character also uses a combination of weapon types including a long-range sniper rifle and short-range blades for melee encounters. The article also specifies a number of attack and buff abilities, though the Masthead team takes pains to elaborate on its desire to keep buffs in check. "We want to make sure that everyone knows that in Earthrise, buffs have very, very low durations and if you imagine having 10 of them at the same time -- well, this could prove quite difficult," says the article. Stealth on over to the full article for more details, including snippets regarding combat medic, assault, and concentration skills.
Earthrise reveals complex crafting screenshot
While the information flow from the Earthrise beta is a bit slower than we'd like, the team at Masthead is occasionally letting tidbits slip out into the wilds of the internet. In addition to last month's interview with studio head Atanas Atanasov and lead writer Momchil Dilov, Masthead has posted a beta screenshot showing off the sci-fi MMORPG's robust crafting interface. As ever, details are sketchy, but a thorough look at the shot reveals what seems to be a fairly complicated crafting system, with information on three separate processes (disassembling, recycling, and manufacturing) and a fourth, engineering, barely viewable at the bottom left of the main window. The screenshot also shows four variants of the item being crafted, in this case a Fasetech Rifle Chassis. While we don't yet have many details as to how the system works, we can say that the shot whets our appetite for the kind of in-depth crafting system that seems to have deserted the MMO scene in recent years, and we'll be keeping a close eye on the Earthrise beta. %Gallery-48760%
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 offers new insights into weaponry
Weapons are useful. Nearly any MMO player will be happy to expound on the virtues of them, and so it's no surprise that Earthrise will be featuring its own selection. The development team recently released information and a few renders of the weapons that will be coming out for the post-apocalyptic game, detailing shotguns, assault rifles, and precision rifles. the forum post also details that each skill line is tied to a specific item -- meaning that shotguns don't simply encompass firing shells, but an entire suite of abilities based around using a shotgun. Assault rifles are flexible, with both burst fire and sustained fire possible, as well as grenade launchers to give them area-of-effect attacks. Shotguns, meanwhile, specialize in close-range brutality, allowing for crowd control and quick dispatching of targets. Precision rifles take the "sniper" role, allowing players to hit single targets with extreme force over long distances. The full rundown can be found on the post on the official forums, which should be welcome news for players eager to hear more on the slightly-delayed science fiction MMO.
Earthrise delayed by robot assassin
MMO delays are as unsurprising as they are unwelcome, as it takes a superhuman feat of effort, scheduling and testing to get these mighty virtual behemoths out the door. So while it is sad news to Earthrise fans that this post-apocalyptic sci-fi MMO won't be seeing a Q2 2010 release date, delays like this are becoming more typical than not with big-budget titles. What is unexpected, however, is how Masthead made the announcement, eschewing the front page of the website in favor for an odd and decidedly quirky forum post. In it, the Earthrise team puts the blame for the launch delay, as well as the delay of an anticipated combat video, on a robot assassin named Jaberwokie: "This message is coming to you from the safety of our remote emergency office, as the few survivors have fled the main premises and are in safe, unknown locations in deep seclusion recovering from the recent accidental attack of evil robot assassin 'Jaberwokie.' Due to the demolition of key figures in Masthead development, it has unavoidably slowed down progress, delaying development and quite possibly resulting in a later than originally envisioned launch schedule. (Oops.) The good news is that we still have forums, and therefore an outside link to all of our caring and concerned community where will we continue to provide updates regarding development progress as we rebuild and repair operations so we may continue bringing the world of Enterra to life. As proof of our commitment to you, we have provided a picture of our sys admin who will keep the forums alive at all costs.
Masthead Studios and Interplay finalize agreement for Fallout MMO
We have another step forward in the long-running saga of the Fallout MMO. Late last week, Interplay announced that they had signed "definitive agreements" with Masthead Studios regarding Project: V13, the highly contested post-apocalyptic MMO. We knew this development was a possibility, but things have been delayed by the legal battles with Bethesda. Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, Herve Caen is the Interplay Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and gave an interesting piece of information: "This MMOG will have many unique features that we will disclose before launch of the public Beta in 2012." Project: V13 has been in development since November of 2007 (and highly anticipated by fans for the same amount of time), but has struggled along the way with problems including the court squabbling with Bethesda. This latest development is one in a series of small steps forward that Interplay is making, so we'll hold out hope for 2012.
The rewards of faction loyalty in Earthrise
The latest Earthrise Question of the Week is all about quests in the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMO. "Central to the PvE experience, quests in Earthrise are designed to help introduce the players to the tense cultural and political scene that shapes the two conflicting factions fighting for control over the island of Enterra," explains Moll, the game's Community Manager. There are faction-specific quests unique to either Continoma or Noir, but Earthrise's game mechanics will let players defect to a rival faction to experience another walk of life on Enterra island. Switching allegiances will not be a trivial matter, however, and the consequences a player assumes for doing so will limit how often most characters defect.
Masthead Studios delves into Earthrise crafting process
Earthrise creators Masthead Studios have already made clear that their forthcoming title will be a far future sandbox MMO, a post-apocalyptic setting where PvP will be a major aspect of gameplay. What hasn't been as clear is exactly how the extensive crafting process they've discussed in the past will actually work out in normal gameplay. Certainly we've heard a great deal about customization of crafted goods and the potential to become well-known for your own variations on items, but we never had a real overview of those game mechanics. That is, until now. Masthead aims to dispel any confusion surrounding Earthrise's crafting system in a two-part series of blog posts that kicked off today as part of their Question of the Week offering to the community. "The Crafting Process", part one of two, poses the theoretical example of a player -- let's call him "Tim" -- who clearly hates Burzun mutants. Enough so that Tim wishes to craft an assault rifle specifically tailored for killing this particular type of mutant. Masthead Studios walks the reader through the skills required to create such a weapon, the components that must be gathered, and how Tim will be able to extract needed resources from those materials.
General Dynamics UK touts near real-time 3D maps for soldiers
It looks like soldiers could one day have their own tab key of sorts to call up detailed, 3D maps at will, at least if the folks at General Dynamics UK have their way. As Physorg reports, they've developed a "near real-time" 3D map system that makes use of an array of different technologies including LIDAR, thermal imaging and x-ray backscatter techniques to not only display buildings and streets, but objects and people inside buildings as well. The use of LIDAR also promises to provide measurements of doors, windows, and alleys with "millimeter accuracy." All that obviously makes the system, dubbed Masthead, slightly less than portable, however, although General Dynamics says it'd be able to be carried in the back of a military vehicle or civilian 4x4, or in a plane for that matter. Of course, like most such projects, General Dynamics isn't just setting its sights to military applications, with it also touting Masthead's potential benefits for police forces in planning security measures for large events, to name one example.[Via Physorg]
