The massively multiplayer on-line role playing game (MMORPG), several years in its evolution, has hit a series of milestones. Dawn, an upcoming MMORPG from Glitchless, promises the ability to not only participate in a world of mind-boggling size and complexity, but also to create the civilization aspect of the world.
Taking a quantum leap in interactivity, developer Jeff Friedman has a plethora of surprises in store for the MMORPG user accustomed to a flat on-line universe where the sole power to create and organize is entrusted to a series of game masters and developers. Friedman recently offered an enticing glimpse into his ideal on-line role playing design in an interview with IGN.com. Interested role players can sign up for the beta test.
Dawn is not the only recent divergence from the myriad of existing, but similar MMORPGs. Eve, unlike Dawn, separates itself from the standard MMORPG not in gameplay, but in game situation. Leaving the common fantasy setting of Medieval Europe (or a rough approximation thereof), Eve, a Crowd Control Productions development, charts new territory in the void of space. Playing as a trader or a member of an expansive space empire, players of Eve will spend most of their time on-ship, hurtling through the deadness of the galaxy. Thorolfur Beck of CCP explained the galaxy of Eve in an interview with RPG Planet. Further details on Eve can be found at the game's site.
For the gamer not entirely satisfied with the human race itself, World Fusion has a treat for you, a new MMORPG named Atriarch. Set on the completely alien world of Atriana, Atriarch offers a complete divergence from all of its competitors. Like Dawn, Atriarch uses a new way of spawning characters. In Dawn, characters begin as infants, raised by a family. Death is permanent. Atriarch, on the other hand, spawns characters also as offspring, but the ability to restart a character as an offspring of the original character offers a bit more continuity. IGN's RPG Vault offers a sneak preview, as does the Atriarch home page.
With the variety of next-generation MMORPGs emerging in an increasingly competitive on-line role playing market, the gamer should have no trouble finding a game that suits his or her tastes. Only time will tell what formula will lead to success
Posted by justin at October 21, 2002 05:48 PM