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| 2002, EverQuest teams with Sword&Sorcery for a paper RPG version of game. |
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Previews: Anarchy Online
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Anarchy Online
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| Awesome Buildings. |
Anarchy Online
Developer: FunCom
Publisher: FunCom
Genre: CyberPunk
Released: 06/27/01
Advancement System: Professions/Skill Based
Player vs. Player Combat: Yes (restricted)
Competitors: Planet Side.
"Enter the world of Rubi-Ka!"
Step almost 30,000 years into the future, to an age where common surgical implants and microscopic nanobots can relieve most forms of human suffering... or transform even a child into a weapon of destructive force.
This is the game world of Anarchy Online, the first massively multi-player online game set in a science fiction setting. Humanity has expanded and large parts of the known universe have been colonized. Rubi-Ka is a red and barren desert planet in a remote part of the universe. A seemingly insignificant planet, made important by its presence of a rich notum ore, a precious substance instrumental in taking the all-important nano-technology to the next level of development.
Colonies were established on the planet by a Mega-Corp called Omni-Tek that saw the value of the Ore and quickly established a monopoly upon the planet (taking almost 800 years) and the trade market. Soon Omni-Tek found it self faced with rebels who were unhappy with the policies enforced by the mega-corp and rebellions arose with various factions all fighting for their group/guild/union beliefs divided into clans.
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| Formation of Ranks. |
Within the game, you can choose to play from one of four breeds (races); the Homo Solitus a breed most similar to an original human being, Homo Atrox a breed of Homo Solitus genetically manipulated for enormous strength and stamina along with their dedicated and loyal nature to extract notum, Homo Opifex a breed native to Rubi-Ka descended from the original Homo Solitus colonists who are agile and cunning and the Homo Nano a breed constructed especially to control Nano-bots.
To go along with each of the four breeds players can choose from one of twelve different professions in the game that will help influence the final performance of the character. Each profession has an affinity for specialization, but there are several ways of playing each profession successfully. Be it Adventurer, Agent, Bureaucrat, Doctor, Enforcer, Engineer, Fixer, Martial Artist, Meta-Physicist, Nano Technician, Soldier, or Trader, where each profession has it's own specializations and disadvantages inherent.
Not only is the world of Rubi-Ka a massive planet filled with alluring beauty and perilous wildlife, but they also have options for player housing in the form of apartments within the cities. Built in quest engines called Mission Generators where you earn Tokens and gain the ability to improve skills, but also the option to form guilds into clans either part of the rebel Clans, the mega-corp Omin-Tek, or to dicalre you and yours Neutrals.
Taking the game one step nearer for those who play in a limited timespan, Solo players are welcome as well. Per Gaute Godager the Game Director for Anarchy Online, you can solo through a large part of your gaming experience, if this is indeed what you want to do. Something that is a definite boon for the casual gamer.
Expansions:
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| Taking to the Skies. |
Shadowlands (In Development) adds a new twist to the world of Rubi-Ka that will take the game from its present, strict science fiction focus, to a game with metaphysical proportions on the other side of the planet. With nine new zones, and a new city called Jobe formed by 28 renegade Meta-Physicist's and Nano Techs that floats above the ground on anti-matter pods, broken into three districts to explore with corporate HQs, workshops, secret laboratories, and embassies for all factions, specialist shops with unique nano programs for all professions, and large recreational areas.
Comments: There can be no doubt if it had not been for the Themis Group stepping in, Anarchy Online would be a thing of the past. AO had to tie for the second worst launch upon release of a game in the year 2001. The game was unplayable, for those who could play there were server drops. Low frame rates. Memory leaks. No content. Exploits. You know the story. Luckily word got out to the player community before many invested time and cash into the game. Sales at release averaged only about 35,000 accounts becoming registered. For a MMOG that's a pretty low number. What was to become the first Sci-Fi game in the market, and opening a new genre to the players in MMO gaming, it was horrendous to say the least.
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| Scenic Landscapes. |
FunCom aware of the issues worked hard to correct and repair the damage done. Enter the Themis Group, consultants from the Gaming Community who are a game service solutions provider. Goals for the Themis Group to reach with Anarchy Online were:
- Building more friendly, less formal community relations with more frequent commentary by AO insiders and greater opportunities for player input;
- Decreasing in-game petition and e-mail response times, creating better tools for customer service personnel to solve problems;
- Expanding the event program to help make AO's four-year story arc come alive to the players;
- Improving the experience for new players with an expanded greeter (introduction) program;
- Moving towards a "zero surprises" philosophy with regards to player notification of fixes and changes;
- Prioritizing development efforts on issues (such as bugs) which are most damaging to player satisfaction. By all accounts those goals were attained. Anarchy Online today is an impressive looking game delving into the realms of Science Fiction and CyberPunk. With a four-year story arc and an ongoing Episodic Storyline, with stunning visual effects and landscapes as well as a rich background history. Players who take advantage of the free trial are becoming addicted to the game for it's unique aspects saying, “It's actually a fun game, and pretty decent.”
Anarchy Online is a definite game to check out even if only for the trial period.
Discuss: Time has no meaning...
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