Steampunk
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Massively's interview with Atlus Online
Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Jeffrey Hong, marketing coordinator for Atlus Online and Neo Steam. It's been awhile since we were able to talk one-on-one with the steampunk MMO developer, so we decided to ask a few questions about the game's current progression, the often-overlooked deep lore and the recent addition of 100 new games to Atlus Online's portal.So if you're a Neo Steam fan, or just curious about the game, keep reading after the jump for our complete interview with Atlus Online.
Video: Comptometer does broadcast controls the steampunk way
If you build a specialized type of hardware which, by design, rarely arouses emotions of physical desire in the general populace, you can see how you might have a bit of a challenge promoting your wares. How you get around that tiny issue is by pulling off a stunning steampunk mod while retaining the full functionality of the hardware, as British company Hi Tech have done with their Comptometer. The server controller, customized for use in live video broadcasting and editing, has already won a design award for what we understand to be "general awesomeness" and an unmissable video of its obscure workings lays just past the break.[Via TechnaBob]%Gallery-74425%
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!
Steampunk mouse, now with 100 percent more skull
If Lord Byron had been hip to this newfangled computer thing way back in his day, this might just have been the sort of peripheral he'd have been sporting. Made from a real sheep's skull -- and real brass, though that's somehow less interesting -- this mouse has everything a megalomaniacal world conqueror needs to feel at home: fine ornamental detailing, the soothing texture of real bone, and the enticing mental image of crushing skulls every time you click. There's not much wiggle room here, you'll either love it or loathe it, but don't fret about the sheep, it died of natural causes. More pics after the break. [Via Technabob]
Mechanical cheetah comin' atcha!
Actually, it's just a sculpture with articulated joints, but by all the gods of steampunk, it looks glorious. The product of 60 hours' labor and a selection of used transmission parts, disemboweled household appliances, and 20-gauge steel, the mechanical cheetah stands 24 inches tall and 50 inches long. It looks like a stripped down robocat skeleton, and its joints can be maneuvered to mimic the movements of the real feline or to strike some downright awesome poses. Hit the source link for video of the mech cheetah simulating a run, as well as creator Andrew Chase's thoughts on the project, or click past the break for more images -- including a bonus snapshot of a mech giraffe.
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.
Steampunk PS3 mod is deliciously weathered
Designed by Brass Goggles as part of a contest for Codemasters' Damnation, the above PS3 is about as cool as a console can get. Sure, we've seen our fair share of mods in our day, but, just look at this thing! From the weathered wood down to the slightly tarnished brass, we're absolutely smitten with this PS3. If you want to see more of it, then check out some pics here. And, if you won it, we totally want to invite you over for bludgeoning and theft tea and biscuits![Via GameSetWatch]
Neo Steam fires up the live servers
If you've been waiting for a fun, Free-to-play part-magic, part-steampunk adventure to check out, then you'll be glad to know that Neo Steam has thrown open the gates for everyone as of this weekend. Whether you are more interested in rolling up a magic/steampunk hybrid character from the Elerd Kingdom, or one of the more devoted science-tech steampowered followers of the Republic of Rogwel, there's more than enough to explore, see and do in this new world. Addded to the overall fun of launch, the team over at Atlus Online are also throwing a couple of Neo Steam launch contests for everyone. The first of these is a screenshot contest, where entrants should be aiming for the funniest or "epic-est" screenshots. Considering how utterly freaking adorable some of the denizens of Chrysalis are - and how cool thier weapons are - this shouldn't be too terribly hard. The next competition is for those more of a musical nature; Chrysalis' two nations are looking for national anthems! The winners in each competition will be given nifty Neo Steam (in-game or out-of-game, depending) swag, perfect for showing off your steam-style. In either case, there's only a limited time to enter, so it's best to get started soon! %Gallery-48931%
Mechanical Memory Key stores your data with the precision of an Antide Janvier timepiece
Listen up, steampunkers: Have you been having a hard time finding an appropriate USB thumb drive to wear on a gold chain next to your pocket watch? Artype's 16GB Mechanical Memory Key is a handcrafted beaut, with materials that include Purpleheart for the case and twenty-six rubies. When this device is drawing USB power it glows green from beneath the gears, taking you back to your days as a hacker during the reign of Queen Victoria. Sadly, the device pictured above has already been sold, but at $165 a pop we're sure this particular artisan has plenty more of these guys in the works. Two more glamor shots for you after the break.[Via Boing Boing]
Neo Steam editor Jason Ruper on bringing steampunk to MMOs
One of the upcoming free-to-play titles that Massively had a chance to see this month is Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent from Atlus. Our hands-on gallery feature is a good introduction to the look and feel of the game world, but now that Neo Steam is in open beta, we're expecting more info about the game to be forthcoming. We came across a ZAM interview with Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent lead editor Jason Ruper, conducted by Andrew "Tamat" Beegle. Ruper gives some background on the game's setting and lore, saying, "The game has a lush, fantasy-steampunk setting, and everything -- from the machine wasteyards and polluted rivers to the rickety vehicles and the ancient ruins from before the shattering -- contributes to this setting and reminds you that your nation is in a state of reconstruction as well as in the middle of a cold war."
Neo Steam launches into open beta, promises beta accounts will become permanent characters
Not only has Atlus Online begun their open beta of their first game, Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent, but they've also unleashed a second piece of interesting news -- characters created during beta will be available when the game goes live.Yes, that's right, Atlus Online will not be doing the standard database purge once the open beta is over and switched into live mode. All of your hard work leveling up your characters during the open beta will roll over into the live game.Plus, Atlus will be giving one lucky tester a set of handcrafted steampunk goggles created exclusively for Neo Steam. The goggles are shown in the picture above and they don't look too bad, if you ask us. All you have to do to be entered is simply play in the open beta and hit level 20! That's it!You can run on over to the Neo Steam website and grab the open beta until June 8th, or visit our sister site, Big Download, for the client as well..
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%
New Damnation multiplayer trailer features acrobatic cowboys
So here it is, folks. The second game in 2009 to have an individual and somewhat unique premise with a less than flattering visual accompaniment (not to mention bland, seen-it-before looking gameplay). But hey, let's give it a fair shake -- we haven't laid our grubby, jaded mitts on the game yet, so it'd be unfair to prejudge.What we can glean from the trailer is this: the totally sweet, Raiden-esque sword action seen in previously released clips seems to have all but left in the multiplayer-combat focused video above. In it's place? "Verticality." At least we can still flip around like most ... cowboys. That's what cowboys do, right? Right?!
The Digital Continuum: Blizzard's mysterious MMO Part 2
Everything from BioWare's upcoming Dragon Age -- which leans a little more towards classic fantasy with elves and dwarfs -- to the aforementioned Warhamchine, which while heavily steampunk also carries many dark fantasy connotations. It's not a term you hear too often, but Science Fantasy is something everyone probably quite familiar with: Star Wars. This is basically a world where, while science fiction is seemingly the source setting, fantasy is always lurking somewhere in the background.
The Digital Continuum: Blizzard's mysterious MMO
We've got a good reason to believe that Blizzard's next MMO is in actuality a new IP, which means it's the perfect time to discuss the potential of this newly crafted world. Assuming that Games Workshop isn't the inspiring factor for yet another Blizzard game, I'll lay out five settings that I hope will catch a few of you off guard.Here's the thing about Blizzard, they rarely stick to vanilla settings. Diablo is the only real exception, but even it had the addition of the Japanese inspired Assassin class and Celtic inspired Druid class. StarCraft's races range over a several influences and Warcraft pulls stuff from all over the place, chief among them being some steampunk.Will it be the same for this new IP?
Peace be damned in latest Damnation trailer
Blue Omega's Damnation is set for release at the end of this month, and we don't have to tell you how interesting the combination of steampunk and the wild west is. This latest trailer features lead designer Jacob Minkoff detailing Prescott Standard Industries, the manufacturer of just about every piece of technology there is in the world of Damnation and the evil force looking to conquer the United States. As interesting as steampunk itself is, we have to say that evil dictators bent on domination just aren't cool. Not at all, and, frankly, we think someone could use a hug.
Massively Hands-on: Neo Steam
Yesterday, Massively was invited to the first official developer tour and hands-on for Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent. This tour took us through some of the game's gorgeous landscapes, travel mechanics, pet system, mounts, PvP and even a light-hearted race around the fountain in the middle of town square. You may remember our coverage and first look at Neo Steam at GDC earlier this year. Since then, the game has come a long way, and this hands-on tour will show the latest and most current state of the game as we enter the beta stages. Follow along by clicking on the first image in the gallery below for a closer look at our time with Neo Steam.%Gallery-63388%
First official confirmation that new Blizzard MMO is original IP
While we've had reason to believe that Blizzard's next MMO would be a new IP, but this marks the first occasion that we've had some kind of official confirmation of our speculation.In a post on the official World of Warcraft forums, Blizzard community manager Zarhym came out and said the new MMO was in fact an original IP, saying, "We have nothing to advertise for the new MMO because it's a shell of a game thus far. We've already stated it'll be a brand new franchise, which means the lore, art, and game play are being developed entirely from scratch. It's an overwhelming process, but a process through which we excel. Our track record supports this." While it's no press release or big event reveal, this is certainly the closest we've come to someone officially with Blizzard saying that, yes, it's not a previously created franchise.So now that speculation on whether or not it's a new IP is over, we can begin to speculate on what genre this new IP will be! Science fiction, steampunk, cyberpunk or another fantasy setting? It's hard to say, although our hopes go for something decidedly not fantasy since Blizzard has already spent plenty of energy in those genres up to this point.
European NeoSteam reveals closed beta
We've spoken about Neo Steam a few times now as the upcoming steampunk MMO being re-engineered for English speaking audiences by Atlus Online, the new division of Atlus Games. What we haven't mentioned, however, is that there will be two versions of Neo Steam for English audiences -- the Atlus American version and Gamigo's European version.Gamigo has recently thrown open the doors on their open beta test for Neo Steam, letting all interested parties enter the battle between Rogwel and Elerd. For the sake of not confusing the two games, Gamigo has subtitled their version "Steam Wars Begin" while Atlus has dubbed their version, "Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent," as we have reported on before.So if you're itching to see what exactly Atlus is working on, you can jump over to Gamigo to sign up for a free account and check out the game. We're excited to see what exactly Atlus is adding to Neo Steam, as they've said before that their localization is going beyond just a short translation and name changes
