Campbell
Sun, 29 Mar 2009, 19:48
Here is a massive interview about Earthrise taken from Massively.com (http://www.massively.com/2009/03/29/gdc09-massively-previews-earthrise-page-2/) Lots of information here. Check the news item below this one for a trailer that was posted yesterday. A lot of pictures were granted to Massively, rather than try to include them I created a picture album linked to my forum name that has them in it. Go check those beauties out.
The futuristic game Earthrise is one of the upcoming sci-fi massively multiplayer games that we can see on the horizon. It's the first MMO developed by Sofia-based Masthead Studios and features the post-apocalyptic setting of a world divided between utopian idealism and revolution. Massively had a chance to sit down with Masthead Studios CEO Atanas Atanasov at the Game Developers Conference 2009 where he gave us a walkthrough of Earthrise, shedding some light on what this new title may bring to the MMO world.
When you think of a post-apocalyptic setting, it's likely the first images that will come to mind are a barren, burned out wasteland. Masthead Studios is putting their own spin on the genre though, with some areas being technologically advanced while others remain lush and green -- places of natural beauty unspoiled by the global devastation beyond Enterra. Of course you can't set the tone for a world after the burn without ruins, and Earthrise will have those areas as well. They aim to deliver on a large, seamless world with no loading screens, where players will be able to move quickly from location to location. Atanasov says, "The map is quite big compared to most current MMOs. It's as big as World of Warcraft with all its expansions and there are even some smaller islands which add to the size of Earthrise."
Masthead Studios plans to continue expanding the world as time goes on. Atanasov estimates Earthrise will release one expansion per year, each adding more content to the current territory while opening up new areas for exploration. In true 'sandbox' style (where players are given free reign to explore and conquer the world), territorial control and sieges is a defining feature of Earthrise. Guilds will hold regions and make land grabs for what their rivals occupy. You'll be able to establish your guild in a location with economic and military advantages and dig in, because it's certain that opposing guilds will want to take it from you.
During the walkthrough, Atanasov showed us Earthrise in its current stage of development, with particular emphasis on the interplay between skills, abilities, and "tactics." There are 27 core skills presently, he explains, with specific abilities linked to each skill for a grand total of 270 abilities that players can try to obtain. In broad terms those abilities center around damage and damage-over-time, defense, and healing, but Earthrise's use of skillpoints is a different twist on the standard MMO system of leveling up. Indeed, Earthrise doesn't actually have levels or classes for that matter. The game uses a mix of real time skillpoint gains and offline character advancement.
Skillpoints are earned through killing monsters (mutants) and completing quests, and players can then pump their earned skillpoints into abilities within skill trees. Once a player spends those points, abilities become active but go into a type of 'abilities container'. This is because you can customize or modify your skills with tactics, Atanasov says.
There are 50 tactics in total, in 5 categories with 10 tactics per category. Tactics provide additional effects to your skills. For example, increased damage, faster cooldown and use of skills, and healing bonuses. While the extensive skill (27), ability (270), and tactic (50) choices could seem like a mini-maxer's wet dream, Masthead Studios doesn't want the combinations to become too powerful and are reigning in some of them for the sake of balance.
"Stances" are another dimension to gameplay, particularly in combat. Once chosen, a stance becomes a permanent aspect of your character, non-upgradable because it's powerful in its own right. A battle stance will impart combat advantages but there's a tradeoff, such as being unable to call upon other abilities while the stance is active. A healing stance would come with the drawback that the character remains stationary while healing up, adding to the risk of being attacked.
While Earthrise doesn't have a standard class system, the skills and abilities (complemented by tactics) will allow for different roles, akin to classes, but a character won't be bound into a particular role. Atanasov mentions a few of the possibilities open to Earthrise players: skills related to support and supply will be used in healing, while drone control will allow players to control pets (*violent* pets). He adds that ranger skills will allow for stealth, cloaking, and disguise. Solo players rejoice!
Simply possessing the requisite skills isn't enough to perform all tasks, though. It's really about the gear. If you're a skilled drone user and are geared up for turning your steely pets upon your opponents, you won't be able to heal others even if you possess the skills needed. Likewise, if that same character is equipped for a healing role, their drone control skills won't come into play. You need to choose your gear carefully because that determines what you can accomplish out there.
Earthrise's system of pairing your gear with your skills means that players don't necessarily need to roll specialized alts, as the game's system doesn't restrict players from gaining abilities in different skill categories.
The struggle for dominance
Earthrise will be a very PvP-centric title, with open PvP and full looting adding greater risk to combat. How long will players have to loot fallen opponents (or allies)?
Atanasov says, "There will be a time limit. Right now we're planning for 30 seconds, which means that once you die nobody can pick up your inventory for that first 30 seconds. So you have the time to choose whether or not you want your inventory back," at a cost, of course.
A key game mechanic that's central to Earthrise's combat is a player's "battle rating" which is a numerical ranking of how tough you are (as presently skilled/equipped) and conversely how tough your opposition is. Your own battle rating and that of your opponents determines the experience you can gain from defeating them, or how juicy a target you are to them.
Your battle rating is determined by a few factors. The armor and weapons you equip and the abilities you've learned largely dictate battle rating. A target's battle rating will be visible to you and determines how much experience you'll get from taking down a mutant or other opponent.
The battle rating system will also give players flexibility in how quickly they advance. For example, you may be very strong but if you want greater experience gains from taking on weaker opponents you can choose to use weaker gear to match. In effect, you lower your own battle rating but earn more rewards by facing a greater challenge. The battle rating system isn't just a system that determines individual gains, it will also carry over to groups. Atanasov says, "I would say it's very unique in the MMO field. Nobody has tried it so far. I hope it will work well and will bring some new ideas to the future of MMO games."
Strictly for the hardcore?
A question that lingers given how PvP-centric Earthrise is, paired with full looting, is whether this game is strictly for the hardcore PvP-er. It's not, according to Atanasov. He says, "We have provided a lot of options for players who want to feel protected. First, we'll have some secure zones for players who don't want to engage in PvP. We'll also have options to insure your items and get them back."
Some areas on the map will have high security, which Atanasov likens to another prominent sandbox MMO. "Think of them like EVE Online's security," he says. "Where there are different security levels depending on the area you're in. The further you go from civilized locations the less secure the area will be. Generally, in a more secure area if you are attacked by a player it is very likely this player will be killed by guards. But you go to an area with zero security, there is no chance that someone will help you." You can shoot players anywhere *except* within the game's two major cities. Once you venture outside of the ivory tower, you take your chances.
Crafting
Earthrise also features an in-depth crafting system, where a high degree of customization is possible. The game's crafting skills function similar to the combat-focused skills in that there are categories to choose from, with other options contained within. Those skills allow you to imbue the finished crafting product with certain stats and advantages. Crafting is done via two separate processes -- Design and Manufacturing. The Design process allows a player to add item enhancements to "recipes" which take form through Manufacturing, and can even be used for mass production.
Factor in that all items used in Earthrise are subject to wear and tear, hence continual demand, skilled crafters with some market savvy can establish a name for themselves while reaping profits.
A perspective on Earthrise
In a nutshell, Earthrise is a post-apocalyptic MMO where players will align with organizations (factions) as guilds clash with one another over finite resources. In some respects Earthrise's sandbox design bears similarities to a terrestrial EVE Online: a player-driven economy; open PvP system; war declarations between guilds; no class limitations; and offline character progression.
But this is where the similarities end. Earthrise is distinguished by a unique approach to MMO design (particularly its skill and tactic dynamic), as well as its aftermath backstory -- one of a world burned out where only the chosen elite remain. Strife engulfs their new utopian world when the shadow government Noir clashes with the Continoma technocratic regime, which holds the key to genetic immortality. Fans of lore in sci-fi games should have a fair amount of material to keep them interested and we're hoping that Masthead Studios has more on the way.
We now have a firm idea about some of the game mechanics of Earthrise as they presently stand in early beta, but what's not apparent yet is how the developers will approach the ideas of freedom and player-politics in the game. This is as integral to the success of a sandbox MMO as the design aspects.
It's far too soon to say what kind of game Earthrise will shape up to be, and some details I've mentioned in this Earthrise preview could change by release. Earthrise is the first MMO developed by Masthead Studios, thus they don't have an established track record we can look at as some potential indicator of what to expect. Regardless, this writer is optimistic about the potential for Earthrise to bring some new dimensions to massively multiplayer online games.
If you're excited by the prospect of piloting mechs in combat, crafting customizable items, or struggling for guild supremacy through siege warfare in an open world that the players control, Earthrise may just be a contender for your gaming time.
We have confirmation that Earthrise will operate on a subscription model, pricing to be determined but is expected to be in line with other subscription titles on the market. A firm release date for the game hasn't been announced yet, but Earthrise is currently in a friends and family beta. Some of those gamers who've signed up for beta testing, however, might want to keep an eye on their inboxes this May.
Massively will be continue to follow Earthrise as it nears release, but for the time being, we leave you with the GDC09 Earthrise demo trailer, best viewed in HD.
The futuristic game Earthrise is one of the upcoming sci-fi massively multiplayer games that we can see on the horizon. It's the first MMO developed by Sofia-based Masthead Studios and features the post-apocalyptic setting of a world divided between utopian idealism and revolution. Massively had a chance to sit down with Masthead Studios CEO Atanas Atanasov at the Game Developers Conference 2009 where he gave us a walkthrough of Earthrise, shedding some light on what this new title may bring to the MMO world.
When you think of a post-apocalyptic setting, it's likely the first images that will come to mind are a barren, burned out wasteland. Masthead Studios is putting their own spin on the genre though, with some areas being technologically advanced while others remain lush and green -- places of natural beauty unspoiled by the global devastation beyond Enterra. Of course you can't set the tone for a world after the burn without ruins, and Earthrise will have those areas as well. They aim to deliver on a large, seamless world with no loading screens, where players will be able to move quickly from location to location. Atanasov says, "The map is quite big compared to most current MMOs. It's as big as World of Warcraft with all its expansions and there are even some smaller islands which add to the size of Earthrise."
Masthead Studios plans to continue expanding the world as time goes on. Atanasov estimates Earthrise will release one expansion per year, each adding more content to the current territory while opening up new areas for exploration. In true 'sandbox' style (where players are given free reign to explore and conquer the world), territorial control and sieges is a defining feature of Earthrise. Guilds will hold regions and make land grabs for what their rivals occupy. You'll be able to establish your guild in a location with economic and military advantages and dig in, because it's certain that opposing guilds will want to take it from you.
During the walkthrough, Atanasov showed us Earthrise in its current stage of development, with particular emphasis on the interplay between skills, abilities, and "tactics." There are 27 core skills presently, he explains, with specific abilities linked to each skill for a grand total of 270 abilities that players can try to obtain. In broad terms those abilities center around damage and damage-over-time, defense, and healing, but Earthrise's use of skillpoints is a different twist on the standard MMO system of leveling up. Indeed, Earthrise doesn't actually have levels or classes for that matter. The game uses a mix of real time skillpoint gains and offline character advancement.
Skillpoints are earned through killing monsters (mutants) and completing quests, and players can then pump their earned skillpoints into abilities within skill trees. Once a player spends those points, abilities become active but go into a type of 'abilities container'. This is because you can customize or modify your skills with tactics, Atanasov says.
There are 50 tactics in total, in 5 categories with 10 tactics per category. Tactics provide additional effects to your skills. For example, increased damage, faster cooldown and use of skills, and healing bonuses. While the extensive skill (27), ability (270), and tactic (50) choices could seem like a mini-maxer's wet dream, Masthead Studios doesn't want the combinations to become too powerful and are reigning in some of them for the sake of balance.
"Stances" are another dimension to gameplay, particularly in combat. Once chosen, a stance becomes a permanent aspect of your character, non-upgradable because it's powerful in its own right. A battle stance will impart combat advantages but there's a tradeoff, such as being unable to call upon other abilities while the stance is active. A healing stance would come with the drawback that the character remains stationary while healing up, adding to the risk of being attacked.
While Earthrise doesn't have a standard class system, the skills and abilities (complemented by tactics) will allow for different roles, akin to classes, but a character won't be bound into a particular role. Atanasov mentions a few of the possibilities open to Earthrise players: skills related to support and supply will be used in healing, while drone control will allow players to control pets (*violent* pets). He adds that ranger skills will allow for stealth, cloaking, and disguise. Solo players rejoice!
Simply possessing the requisite skills isn't enough to perform all tasks, though. It's really about the gear. If you're a skilled drone user and are geared up for turning your steely pets upon your opponents, you won't be able to heal others even if you possess the skills needed. Likewise, if that same character is equipped for a healing role, their drone control skills won't come into play. You need to choose your gear carefully because that determines what you can accomplish out there.
Earthrise's system of pairing your gear with your skills means that players don't necessarily need to roll specialized alts, as the game's system doesn't restrict players from gaining abilities in different skill categories.
The struggle for dominance
Earthrise will be a very PvP-centric title, with open PvP and full looting adding greater risk to combat. How long will players have to loot fallen opponents (or allies)?
Atanasov says, "There will be a time limit. Right now we're planning for 30 seconds, which means that once you die nobody can pick up your inventory for that first 30 seconds. So you have the time to choose whether or not you want your inventory back," at a cost, of course.
A key game mechanic that's central to Earthrise's combat is a player's "battle rating" which is a numerical ranking of how tough you are (as presently skilled/equipped) and conversely how tough your opposition is. Your own battle rating and that of your opponents determines the experience you can gain from defeating them, or how juicy a target you are to them.
Your battle rating is determined by a few factors. The armor and weapons you equip and the abilities you've learned largely dictate battle rating. A target's battle rating will be visible to you and determines how much experience you'll get from taking down a mutant or other opponent.
The battle rating system will also give players flexibility in how quickly they advance. For example, you may be very strong but if you want greater experience gains from taking on weaker opponents you can choose to use weaker gear to match. In effect, you lower your own battle rating but earn more rewards by facing a greater challenge. The battle rating system isn't just a system that determines individual gains, it will also carry over to groups. Atanasov says, "I would say it's very unique in the MMO field. Nobody has tried it so far. I hope it will work well and will bring some new ideas to the future of MMO games."
Strictly for the hardcore?
A question that lingers given how PvP-centric Earthrise is, paired with full looting, is whether this game is strictly for the hardcore PvP-er. It's not, according to Atanasov. He says, "We have provided a lot of options for players who want to feel protected. First, we'll have some secure zones for players who don't want to engage in PvP. We'll also have options to insure your items and get them back."
Some areas on the map will have high security, which Atanasov likens to another prominent sandbox MMO. "Think of them like EVE Online's security," he says. "Where there are different security levels depending on the area you're in. The further you go from civilized locations the less secure the area will be. Generally, in a more secure area if you are attacked by a player it is very likely this player will be killed by guards. But you go to an area with zero security, there is no chance that someone will help you." You can shoot players anywhere *except* within the game's two major cities. Once you venture outside of the ivory tower, you take your chances.
Crafting
Earthrise also features an in-depth crafting system, where a high degree of customization is possible. The game's crafting skills function similar to the combat-focused skills in that there are categories to choose from, with other options contained within. Those skills allow you to imbue the finished crafting product with certain stats and advantages. Crafting is done via two separate processes -- Design and Manufacturing. The Design process allows a player to add item enhancements to "recipes" which take form through Manufacturing, and can even be used for mass production.
Factor in that all items used in Earthrise are subject to wear and tear, hence continual demand, skilled crafters with some market savvy can establish a name for themselves while reaping profits.
A perspective on Earthrise
In a nutshell, Earthrise is a post-apocalyptic MMO where players will align with organizations (factions) as guilds clash with one another over finite resources. In some respects Earthrise's sandbox design bears similarities to a terrestrial EVE Online: a player-driven economy; open PvP system; war declarations between guilds; no class limitations; and offline character progression.
But this is where the similarities end. Earthrise is distinguished by a unique approach to MMO design (particularly its skill and tactic dynamic), as well as its aftermath backstory -- one of a world burned out where only the chosen elite remain. Strife engulfs their new utopian world when the shadow government Noir clashes with the Continoma technocratic regime, which holds the key to genetic immortality. Fans of lore in sci-fi games should have a fair amount of material to keep them interested and we're hoping that Masthead Studios has more on the way.
We now have a firm idea about some of the game mechanics of Earthrise as they presently stand in early beta, but what's not apparent yet is how the developers will approach the ideas of freedom and player-politics in the game. This is as integral to the success of a sandbox MMO as the design aspects.
It's far too soon to say what kind of game Earthrise will shape up to be, and some details I've mentioned in this Earthrise preview could change by release. Earthrise is the first MMO developed by Masthead Studios, thus they don't have an established track record we can look at as some potential indicator of what to expect. Regardless, this writer is optimistic about the potential for Earthrise to bring some new dimensions to massively multiplayer online games.
If you're excited by the prospect of piloting mechs in combat, crafting customizable items, or struggling for guild supremacy through siege warfare in an open world that the players control, Earthrise may just be a contender for your gaming time.
We have confirmation that Earthrise will operate on a subscription model, pricing to be determined but is expected to be in line with other subscription titles on the market. A firm release date for the game hasn't been announced yet, but Earthrise is currently in a friends and family beta. Some of those gamers who've signed up for beta testing, however, might want to keep an eye on their inboxes this May.
Massively will be continue to follow Earthrise as it nears release, but for the time being, we leave you with the GDC09 Earthrise demo trailer, best viewed in HD.