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MMO Fans Can Now Schedule The Apocalypse
Let's face it--if you're looking to get into an MMO, you've got a lot of options. In addition to some of the more obvious picks, players have a slew of smaller titles to choose from as well. If you're making a commitment toward one of those smaller games, how can you be sure that it'll be supported in the long term? While there aren't any guarantees in gaming or anywhere else, it looks as though Masthead Studios has a pretty solid schedule for its upcoming game Earthrise in 2011.
Updates include adding the ability to salvage materials from the world starting in February, opening up siege territories in March, and adding player vehicles in April. Take a look at the game in action below, and read the complete schedule below.
Top Earthrise features included at launch:
* A unique post-apocalyptic setting where the cloned remnants of mankind battle to survive and rebuild.
* Highly customizable characters with over 100 different skills, abilities and tactics.
* No artificial imposed "class" restrictions.
* Fast-paced, action-packed combat featuring dynamic targeting, adaptive power armor and hundreds of high-tech weapons.
* Sophisticated player-versus-player (PvP) mechanics that let players fight for the established order, join the revolutionary underground, or carve their own bloody path as an independent criminal.
* Character progression that keeps players advancing in their development with no limits.
* An advanced market-based economy with in-game supply and demand based on player activities and interactions.
* Deep crafting mechanics that enable players to design and manufacture unique items from blueprints and raw resources.
Features to be released after launch:
Along with enhanced main game features, the Earthrise team will provide constant updates after release including new quests, new overall game content, bug fixing and server balance several times each month.
February 2011
* Exploration rewards – Players will be able to salvage materials and use them for crafting or personal advantage, adding increased benefits from exploration and practical knowledge of the world. Currently, crafting materials drop from loot.
March 2011
* Siege territories will open for conquest – The development team would like to allow players to grow their characters and get a foothold in the hostile world of Enterra before the territory conquest opens. This will give guilds more of an opportunity to organize their members in preparation for the day when everyone will rush to fight for control of the conquest territories that cover more than half of the Earthrise map.
* Additional combat skills and tactics – Although there are currently more than 250 combat abilities in Earthrise, the development team plans tocontinue to add new possibilities for character development.
* Added crafting blueprints – While the current crafting system of Earthrise features many options, the development team plans to add new opportunities and additional blueprints for the customization of craftable items.
April 2011
* Vehicles – Personalized player-crafted vehicles will be added.
Later in 2011
* Monster mines – Resource mines that are patrolled by monsters will be scattered around the world. When players free those mines, their resources will be available on the market.
Known issues in the current build which will be fixed following launch:
March 2011
* Graphics engine update – Rendering improvements of the Earthrise engine will be made, including higher FPS, better client performance and improved shadow effects.
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