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Earthrise - GDC First Look Interview
Managing Editor Jon Wood recently spoke with the guys from Masthead Studios, the company developing the post-apocalyptic MMORPG Earthrise. In the interview, they talk about advancement, setting, PvP and more!
While at GDC, I had the opportunity to sit down with the guys from the upcoming post-apocalyptic MMORPG Earthrise. The company behind the game is Masthead Studios and we were lucky enough to have a chance to talk to George Petrov and Nikolay Stoyanov about the game.
The Setting
Earthrise is an appropriate title, as the game takes place at a time when the world was nearly wiped out and the few remnants of humanity that still exist either exist in a “utopian” society or live in a and work for a rebel distopia.
As the Masthead guys were explaining the game to me, they described it as a kind of post-apocalyptic world, but were careful to point out that while everyone, upon hearing post-apocalyptic, thinks of Mad Max. That’s a comparison that the guys tell me is inaccurate. While this game still takes place in a post-apocalyptic world, George and Nikolay said that we should think more of the movie Minority Report than Mad Max.
“The game,” they said, “just isn’t that dark.” Instead, the team is trying to present a setting that isn’t artificially dark or light, instead the Bulgaria-based team is focusing on a more realistic look. “People are tired of stylization,” said George. “We’re trying to make it as realistic as possible.”
Now that we have an idea of the look of the game, let’s talk just a little bit about setting. We know that the game is set on Earth, but the guys tell us that the apocalyptic disaster has seen to it that the only area left for humans. This island also happens to be the location of a genetic bank, put there in case of an apocalypse so that humanity can start again.
Now, I don’t know if it’s a case of art imitating life or just a wacky coincidence, but it just so happens that over the last few days, the news has been peppered with stories on a Doomsday Seed Vault that exists on a northern Norwegian island. Its purpose is to safeguard seeds from plants around the world in case of some kind of disaster. Conspiracy theorists are already claiming that the vault is and will be used to house human genetic samples as well.
The Conflict
Well, if the vault were used to house human genetic material, we would be one step closer to realizing the world of Earthrise. In the game, using the genetic bank, a society has risen on the island. Known as Continoma, this fascist regime has the best technology and all of the benefits of a big corporation, including a population that can die and then be artificially reborn. The guys have told us a little bit about Synthia. Synthia is a character that the team has created in the game who is shot every day by her boss and then re-born to do it all over again.
If this sounds horrible to you, then you may be one of the players who chooses to live and fight for Noir, the second faction in the game, made up of rebels who fight the rule of Continoma.
;)
From a game play perspective, players are allowed to choose which side they take, but even then aren’t limited to their decision.
“Earthrise is about freedom and a player not being penalized for their decisions,” said George. “We want the players to try all of the available options.”
Game Features
While the game is still early in the development stage and many decisions have yet to be made, I did manage to get a few tidbits of information on the features that they know will be in the game:
During the interview, the guys were adamant about the game being about player freedom and player choice, so it shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anyone when I say that the game’s advancement is skill based rather than level based. There are no levels and no classes, only skills that allow the player to advance in his or her own way.
“We feel this gives the players the power to try every part of the game.”
Next, we talked a little bit about PvP. After hearing that the advancement was skill-based, something that MMORPG players have been asking for in a new MMO for quite some time, I thought that it would be best to find out if PvP would be a crowd pleaser as well.
PvP in Earthrise will be open and anyone can attack anyone. After telling me that, the guys were pretty quick to point out that the entire game isn’t just a free-for-all. In certain zones, there are consequences to killing another player and police or guards will come to punish you. Fortunately for you PvP lovers out there, there will be plenty of areas that are lawless.
Wrap Up
Hearing even about these few features is going to cause quite a stir in the MMORPG community as players who have been desperately asking for a skill-based MMO to play may finally get what they are looking for.
That being said, the game is still in the very early phases of development. The guys tell us that they are developing both the game and the engine at the same time and that they are working toward launching a technical alpha in the near future.
The last bit of information that I was able to pull from the Masthead guys was in regards to their business model. As of right now, it appears as though Earthrise will be a subscription-based game with a fee hovering right around the average for a “world class” MMO.
Wasn't masthead studios in Bulgaria? Check their site...
It all sounds so shiny, like I sound when going for a job interview.
Yes it's in Bulgaria.
The idea fo freedom of choice between factions combined with true skill-based system, dynamic PvP and flexible crafting is one of the best so far. And Masthead truly want to give the players what they want.
Of all the games im following this is the one I am most interested in.
EARTHRISE FTW!
All i have to say is AEON FLUX anyone
We've seen a few of these companies popping up claiming they're making a 'world class' MMORPG. So far none of them have managed it, as evidenced by the train wrecks of those games that failed in 2007. We'll have to see if there are going to be any repeats.
The whole system is exactly like EVE (without spaceships and such)
EVE= No levels, just skills--- There are four races, ancestry lines, and jobs that set up your attributes differently... but don't effect anything else (all skills are learnable)
PVP in "high security" areas-> Police come and take you out for killing other players..
I personally enjoy this system much more than cookie-cutter mmo's. I'll have to follow this one!
No matter how hard I try not to go down the path, all I think about when I read about this game is Darkfall. (with a SCI-FI twist). Well, nice to see at least two companies are working on skill based games, one day we may actually get to play a new one.
I am beyond excitement when i think about a classless level-less game system! THANK GOD a company is breaking the lame mmo treadmill mold. Finally! a Skill-based system!
Synthia makes me think of "The Sixth Day", and the one area humans can survive in makes me think of "Ultraviolet"s SETTING - not the plot :D I've never seen Minority Report though...
I like skill based advancement for starters - looks like the only other MMO on my to-watch list though, up there next to TCoS
EDIT: Forgot about Aeon Flux - that kind of encompasses both of those ideas, doesn't it?
Ehmm sorry to break your mold. Star Wars Galaxies Pre-NGE was fully skill-based! You had complete freedom back then in SWG. That's why it was such an awesome game back then.
It's just SOE that ruined such an awesome skill based system and dumbed it down to level-based console poo with NGE :(
That being said, the game is still in the very early phases of development. The guys tell us that they are developing both the game and the engine at the same time and that they are working toward launching a technical alpha in the near future.
Caution Flag
you hit it right on the head my friend. it was exactly what i was going to point out. you could be rebel or imperial, but still be in guilds that were either faction, and there was no level system just skill trees in different classes. the good ol days...
"...the game’s advancement is skill based rather than level based. There are no levels and no classes, only skills that allow the player to advance in his or her own way."
Did..did, I hear correctly? Huzzah for not following the crowd!
"That being said, the game is still in the very early phases of development."
See you in 2012
Haha, funny line. I had similar thoughts. As a designer, you can say anything you want about what the game is going to be like while it's "in early phases" of delevopment. Two years from now, the quote will be...
"we tried to implement <insert incredible concept here> as we promised, but couldn't get it to work the way we envisioned it. We had to scrap it and redesign the current system in the game as it stands".
Good article mmorpg.com. Cant wait to read more info about this game
Don't be pessimistic till more details are released - the more support for good ideas and contributions early on, the harder they'll try to put said ideas in to the concrete game :)
Besides, pessimism is for real life :D Games are all about optimism - or at least getting away from that other thing people call "reality"
Im really excited for this one!
Like Kyleran said, it's reminds me of Darkfall. But with sci-fi theme.
This one can be big!
Finally? there is already one in developement if u forgot. Darkfall. And what i have been read about earthrise... seems that they do many same things.
I agree. Unknown devs trying to make a game is hard enough, but to have to make an engine plus the game is really stacking the odds against them. Doesn't mean they can't do it, but it'll take alot longer than devs using a proven game engine. Will wait and see how this one goes before getting too excited. Does look interesting if they pull it off, though.
OOOO OUCH!!! ya thats kinda insulting this awsome game right from the get go, comparing it to a game with 2001 graphics. The difference between THIS game and DF is alot of things such as:
-Will actually be released..
-The Devs of DF "supposedly" have more of a completed game at this point, yet they didnt even go to the convention which would have scored them some attention and possibly a publisher (not the best ones...but one nonetheless) EARTHRISE Devs went to the Convention, had a blast, and even gave us some news and a couple awsome screenshots...but they arent jerking our chains and they are keeping us updated every step of the way.
I could keep going but in the end its nothing compared to DF, cuz its just better...plain and simple.
And to the one guy that mentioned the old SWG...well ya it WAS skill based...not anymore... Earthrise is going to take that idea and actually run with it and not have to worry about some crappy NGE so called enhancement.
Well I really don't see you point here. Your arguments are very poor. You might not see some similarity with other games, but we do. We don't say that it's bad or sucks. We acctually are open minded and wish that this game will come out.
* 2001Graphics, Ok here you failed.
* Conventions - Darkfall devs have been on convantions.
* Publishers - They have publishers that are willing to publish their game.
* Nothing compared to DF/SWG - If you are in such denial I guess nothing can change you opinion.
* Your statement against others post are just trolling.
Here you have Tasos (DF Dev) at one gameconvention
You also need to take a look at W.E.L.L. online too! That one is also skill based! Here's the link www.Wellonline.com
Sigh. It sounded really promising... right up to the point where it said open PvP.
I have never played any game (including EVE Online) where open PvP works. Every single time, it devolves into gank squads (maybe fun) and gankees (definitely not fun) unless you join one of the big PvP guilds. Why do devs insist on open PvP in far too many games?
I guess this is another mostly promising game I won't be playing.
looks like another dev teams has balls like aventurine (darkfalls dev team) hopefully atleast one of them comes out and is good
Nice to hear the things I expect to find in a MMO.
I'll be following this one closely. I really hope they can pull it off.
I don't want them to rush to get it done and out and have it be horrible.
A good game is worth waiting for .
It's ok, Wilcoxon, you already know about Fallen Earth.