MMORPG.com News Manager Keith Cross caught up with Lee Hammock, the Lead Designer from the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMORPG, Fallen Earth and asked one simple question: What's new in Fallen Earth since the Austin Game Developer's Conference?

While at the Game Developers Conference I had the opportunity to chat with Lee Hammock, Lead Designer for Fallen Earth. My first look at Fallen Earth was at the Austin Game Developers Conference, where Lee gave me the beginner’s tour. Before that, all I knew of Fallen Earth was that it was a post apocalyptic MMO built on the topography of the Grand Canyon. I said in a blog last week that it was great talking to Lee because he’ll answer your questions before you ask them. At the GDC in San Francisco my first, and pretty much only question was, “What’s new since AGDC?”

Lee told me that 75% of the game’s content is in, though much of it still needs polish. So far they have between three and four thousand missions ready to go. These missions will take players beyond the desert terrains that we’ve already seen in Fallen Earth, and move them on to greener pastures, and I literally mean greener pastures. At the Fallen Earth booth they had a demo of the game running, and a trailer running on a loop on another screen. In the demo, Lee took me to a grassy field that stretched far off into the distance.

Read it all here.

Good info.

Shows they are comming along rather fine for a small company.

Oh but next time? Ask more questions, and don't quit until you have 10 pages of screenshots and tidbits from Lee! I know Lee wouldn't mind help you with that

still hopefull that they will have a raw and believeable  aftermath game  that doesnt reduce the gameplay to a boring processed  killing/level arena.

unless they’re armed with the finest weapons of the post-apocalyptic era, such as the mighty hockey stick

I just about fell of my chair laughing at that one.

heh, i hear about games that sound so awsome early in development, and then closer to release it sounds blander and simpler due to the release of the "fine print" ...... FE on the other hand .... theres no fine print, and the content is the same as the last q/a 10 months ago, wich is great. It means they are staying on track, and i have a feeling this game will be great.

"On the horizon I could see the distinct form of an old roller coaster track rising and falling in the distance. It looked like it could be a functioning roller coaster but I was assured it wasn’t, because really, who would run a roller coaster in a plague-ravaged nuclear wasteland?"

I would.

Step right up, folks!! Bring some fun into your dreary existence with this great blast from the past!!! Ride tickets are only 3 parts each!! Bring me your plant parts, computer parts, auto parts, body parts, all parts welcome!! Come ride the Apoco-coaster!!!!

Fallen Earth, Earthrise, and Champions online are the 3 MMO I look forward to most.

Hopefully at least one of these will produce the goods.

Still waiting . . . .

It all sounds great.  It always did.  Icarus looks to be a very capable developer, and I am looking forward to Fallen Earth, even after the very long development of the game.  I just hope we see it before the end of the year.

This game sounds like it has real potential, though the long, long LONG development time is a tad discouraging.

Am I correct in assuming this will be a subscription-based MMO?

One of the things that has impressed me about this game (after looking through the game's website) is the depth and creativity of the lore that they have created. It all sounds plausible and fun, and all six of the factions sound distinct, well-thought-out, and intriguing. I'd love to be writing for a game like this -- and there are not many games I can say that about.

I have definitely added this MMO to my "watch list."

I am glad now there are several sci-fi themed MMORPGs in the world. Between this, Earthrise, Stargate Worlds, and jumpgate revolution, there must be one that will be good.

Every new release gives us new hope. So here's hoping Fallen Earth will have a great release when it's ready.

Originally posted by tmr819

This game sounds like it has real potential, though the long, long LONG development time is a tad discouraging.

Am I correct in assuming this will be a subscription-based MMO?

One of the things that has impressed me about this game (after looking through the game's website) is the depth and creativity of the lore that they have created. It all sounds plausible and fun, and all six of the factions sound distinct, well-thought-out, and intriguing. I'd love to be writing for a game like this -- and there are not many games I can say that about.

I have definitely added this MMO to my "watch list."

(Vanguard, EQ2, Tabula Rasa, just to name a few.)  Tabula is still having to patch in upper level content, and vanguard well.. needed months and months of beta before it was released.. but was forced to release due to financial issues.)  EQ2 had faced huge uphill battle to regain the trust and loyalty it has now.. Vanguard hasnt gotten there yet.

Its kinda why they wont set a release date... it will be released when its finished.. and not before then.

As for me.. Ive been hooked on Fallen earth since first seeing the video interview at http://www.fallenearth.com/article.php?article=13

Just remember..Good things come to those who wait...

I'm pleased to see Icarus is making good progress on there project. I've always had a good impression of the company because its making steady progress and letting us all know in plain black and white whats going on.

Only problem with this game is that it is level based. So the FPS element will be less than it could.

Originally posted by Saorlan

Only problem with this game is that it is level based. So the FPS element will be less than it could.

It has been stated explicitly and repeatedly, by the devs, that this game will NOT be level based in the way it is done in WoW, EQ2 and NGE-SWG. Each of the particular skills a person has , has number associated with it, and total skill points may act as a key in entering new areas, but there are NO LEVELS. Thank goodness. There are to be no set classes, only skills to build a character with.

 Also, according to the devs, combat and crafting skills will not be counted together in the way points are allocated. Some combat skills, according to the plan, will be used to augment crafting skills.  For instance, the highest level/complexity rifle a crafter can make, will be a combination of the crafter's rifle skill and ranged weapon crafting skill.

Many of us are looking forward to this game. Plenty of good info in the Fallen Earth section here and at the official site, www.fallenearth.com .

I always get a smile on my face when i see a new update for Fallen Earth. For so many other small indie developers its a constand fight between trolls and fanbois on the forum. Fallen Earth forums are always so calm and laid back. I like that.

thank you sweet lord, thank you so much.

do not ask about captain pouches. there is no wombat.

Originally posted by Saorlan

Only problem with this game is that it is level based. So the FPS element will be less than it could.

are you serious? is this a troll attempt?

Originally posted by Saorlan

Only problem with this game is that it is level based. So the FPS element will be less than it could.

skill point/ap point management is much more important than base level.