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Taikodom zooming toward closed beta
A couple of years ago at at E3, we got our first look at the Brazilian sci-fi space shooter, Taikodom, which had been developed by Hoplon Infotainment. What we saw there definitely caught our eye. GamersFirst network had seen the potential in this fast-paced dogfighter as well, and were working on an English localization, as well as improvements to the game to make it the free-form twitch-based space combat game many have been asking for. At this last E3, we had the chance to spend some time with the updated version, which once again had us dreaming of huge space battles. As of this morning, emails are going out, offering closed beta signups on the US Taikodom site. Forum posts indicate that closed beta may be a few weeks off, and no official dates have been released as yet. Still, if you've been curious about the game, are willing to hunt bugs and provide feedback, then now is the time to head over to the GamersFirst site and get signed up. If, instead, you'd prefer something a little more polished -- where your characters won't get nuked repeatedly -- then you may want to wait until open beta rolls around. %Gallery-95561%
E3 launches into space Taikodom-style!
There are not many games that truly give the player the feel of what it is like to fly a starship in space. In fact, even some of the MMOs that label themselves as sci-fi are often just fantasy games with a futuristic paint job. And if you're looking for, more specifically, a free-to-play sci fi MMO, you will find but one game, and that game is Taikodom, the Brazilian-born, space-action game. If this game seems familiar, it's because it was recently acquired by GamersFirst, who have really put production of this title into full gear. Massively was lucky enough to to get our hands on the current incarnation of this game -- pre-beta! -- at E3. Set some 300 years in the future, Taikodom tells us that Earth -- or at least, Earth as we know it -- has completely changed. We are no longer able to set foot on the soothing surface of our blue-green homeworld. Instead, groups of space stations called Nodes are now our homes. Corporations run these nodes, and each has its own distinct faction and personality. Humanity now explores the galaxy in starships, which simulate and repeat familiar sights and sounds back to us. Hyperspace between Nodes is traversed via giant disc-shaped stations called, predictably, jumpgates. Explore this vast and exciting galaxy with us after the break! %Gallery-95561%
GDC10: Taikodom coming to North America
Taikodom is a game that's been around for a while, but not in the US. If you're familiar with the game and have been wanting to give it a try, it looks like you're going to get your wish. Taikodom is coming to the US with a closed beta this summer, and a planned launch for winter of this year. If you're unfamiliar with the game, it's a space-themed MMO that is reminiscent of EVE Online in its economy, combined with twitch-based combat to keep things interesting. Producer Joseph Willmon describes gameplay in more detail: "Let's say that some pirates spawn in an area where there are asteroids that offer a certain type of ore. Because those pirates are there, it makes the ore harder to get, which means that prices on this ore may go up. As the pirates persist in the universe, they may all begin to gather there and begin to expand out further in space, getting so bold to attack a nearby colony. That colony will begin offering missions to the players to go take out the growing pirate threat. If the pirates aren't destroyed from that, then they might build their own colony with a space station in that system and become even harder to kill, requiring a player corporation to go to war with them..." Several structural details for this winter's release are already in place: Taikodom will be running on multiple servers, but the extra ones appear only as needed to keep individual server population up. In addition, there are plans to release the core game first in a free-to-play format and later add more missions and content with a purchase option to build upon the free game. (Edit: Joe Willmon would like us to clarify that none of the content will be for purchase. All content updates to the game will be free.) Follow along after the jump for the trailer video, and we'll keep an eye out for more beta news on Taikodom as it arrives!
