General Discussion

Stray Bullet Games begins work on a new in-house MMO based on an original intellectual property.

Stray Bullet Games has begun an exciting new era with the development of a new massively multiplayer online (MMO) game. The new project is based on an original intellectual property conceived in-house, and while the concept phase is ongoing we are actively developing a proof of concept prototype.

With this new project, Stray Bullet is committed to creating a fully-realized, ongoing online conflict that combines furious action with tactical and strategic game play. In the game to come characters, guilds, and global factions will engage in meaningful, exciting, and fun mass combat. To realize this vision the team is drawing upon our experience, the lessons learned developing and supporting Shadowbane, and is looking outside the MMO genre to strategy and tactical games for inspiration.

While it is still too early to release extensive details on the game, says Frank Lucero, Vice President of Product Development and COO, we have a firm hand on what the game will and will not be. We have taken what we've learned and applied it to every aspect of the design and development of the game.

Mike Madden, the Creative Director, had more to say about the design process for the new project. We have two guiding principles: Rely upon the familiar and Be bold. Madden explained further; In setting, systems and game play, we want to build on a firm foundation of features that are familiar and comfortable to MMO players, making the game as inviting and accessible as possible. We see no need to innovate in areas MMOs already do well. At the same time, in areas that do require innovation to achieve our goals, Stray Bullet will never think small.

Stray Bullet has already decided not to create its own game engine. We are dedicated to using middleware technology solutions whenever possible, says Ala Diaz, Stray Bullet's Technical Director. This lets us minimize risk by focusing developer efforts on fun game play and entertaining experiences instead of new technologies and MMO infrastructure.

One of the key aspects of the new project is its look and feel. Our goal is to create a dynamic art style that is timeless, and that will create passion and excitement within the studio and MMOG community, says Ivan Enriquez, the Art Director at Stray Bullet Games. We are building an unbeatable team of highly talented artists, with years of industry experience. We hope you find this small sample as exciting as we do.

When I see the passion and excitement this new project has already generated in every member of the team, I'm thrilled, says Mark Nausha, President and CEO. In a few short months Stray Bullet has generated strong buzz, and I'm very pleased with the amount of interest we are seeing in our studio and this new project. This team has the experience, the tools, and the talent to make Stray Bullet a force in the MMO game space, and this new project begins the journey.

Due to the stage the project is currently in, Stray Bullet Games will not be releasing additional details on the project in the near future but we look forward to bringing you more conceptual art as it develops.

While Stray Bullet Games currently only has an open position for a Junior Programmer, the company is always on the lookout for highly motivated individuals. If you are interested in pursuing a career in the burgeoning market of online entertainment, please don't hesitate to send us your resume and/or portfolio electronically to bullseye@straybulletgames.com.

Read more here.

As an avid MMO player I look forward to hearing more info on this project. Shadowbane was a great innovative game, and I am glad to know the developers are starting on a new amibitous project. We need more PvP focused MMO's.

Best wishes Stray Bullet!

Given the company's background in Shadowbane, I hope it is a PvP-focused game—which is not to say it can't also have great PvE content. I am glad they have chosen to buck the trend and come up with an "original intellectual property," as they put it.

“Stray Bullet is committed to creating a fully-realized, ongoing online conflict that combines furious action with tactical and strategic game play. In the game to come characters, guilds, and global factions will engage in meaningful, exciting, and fun mass combat.”

This definitely sounds PvP-ish. I think they should keep an eye on AoC and see if their player-skill based combat system actually works. From the only two images shown so far, I am guessing some sort of fantasy/sci-fi blend with a dash of post-apoc. Sounds pretty good to me.

Stray Bullet Games says they're making a new MMROPG.

See how easy that is to say?  The above sentence contains ALL of the information contained in the media announcement.

Next time try EDITING something, instead of just mindlessly cutting and pasting entire pages full of some coke-addicted marketing idiot's completely meaningless hype-speak.

Originally posted by jkp0317
I know this will sound kind of petty......but whatever you do please enable WASD movement and industry standard camera controls.  This has proven to be the single largest barrier to entry for myself and my friends to Shadowbane.

Originally posted by opusaug
Hey guys, how about telling us what the game is about?  I really don't care how "bold" you are if there's no real point to it.  At least give us the slightest hint of a plot.

Hehe, that was the first thing i thought of when i read the artical it doesn't let any news drip about the actual game but then i read hte almost last sentence ;)

" Due to the stage the project is currently in, SBG will not be releasing additional details on the project in the near future..."

But what i have seen from the art it kinda looks like a sort of Mystical Conan like Sci-fi mmo....maybe ......

I hope this game will bring forth more then a combat related mmorpg, i just wish someone had the spirit to really creat a mmorpg again, i know VSoH is doing its best and maybe Lotr.Online will become abit more then we are used to till now, but i'm still missing the reall mmorpg where combat isn't the main focus but actualy every proffesion should be , this can either be a Cook, Bankers, Shopowners ect ect. When a mmorpg has a max cap for example lvl60 then i would wish that regardless what proffesion you would take they all would make it so that you are able to make it to lvl 60, afcourse this would mean years and years of development to balance everything as you need to build rest