With our new column Respec, we want to take a look back at the past week and especially focus on developments and interesting news from the indie scene – which does not mean that “larger” titles have to be left out.
Shroud of the Avatar
Last Thursday, September 24th, the Pre-Alpha Release R22 of the upcoming “Selective Multiplayer Games” Shroud of the Avatar was launched. With this, some new game elements were introduced. It is now possible to fish, which can yield delicious fish on one hand, but also interesting items on the other.
In addition, players can now play musical instruments and either “freestyle” or arrange songs and create a file that automatically plays the song at the press of a button. This has already led to concerts in the cities of the world. Two new starting areas have also been introduced, which emphasize the single-player aspect of the game. You now start on a floating island and answer questions from a gypsy, which determine the values and starting location of the hero. Shroud of the Avatar is still in a very early stage and will definitely not be released this year!
For more about the game, visit our SotA theme page and for Release 22 on the official website of Shroud of the Avatar (Source: shroudoftheavatar.com).
Hex: Shards of Fate
Cryptozoic Entertainment, the development studio behind the online card game Hex: Shards of Fate, has been in a legal dispute with Wizards of the Coast, who hold the rights to the card game Magic: The Gathering. Allegedly, Hex was too similar to Magic. But now an agreement has been reached between the two companies. Hex: Shards of Fate will continue as usual. Fans need not worry that the game will be discontinued or significantly altered. However, both companies are not discussing the specifics of this agreement. Well, the main thing is, you can continue to play Hex!
Official website of: Hex – Shards of Fate: hex.gameforge.com.
Ark: Survival Evolved
With “The Last Stand,” the final event of the mode “Survival of the Fittest” has now started. This will take place until October 24th. The finale is meant to pit 230 survivors against each other in a large match to ultimately determine the winner. However, this event does not mean that “Survival of the Fittest” is over. There will simply be no new events this year. Next year, though, it will continue again. “Survival of the Fittest” has developed into an extremely popular game mode of the dino MMO Ark: Survival Evolved. One might almost say that the “mod” is following a similar path as “Defense of the Ancients” did for Warcraft 3. The gameplay mechanics might become even more widespread.
For more info, visit our Ark – Survival Evolved page or Ark on Steam.
Wild Terra
Last weekend, an open test weekend for the sandbox MMORPG Wild Terra took place. The developers aimed to test the game systems with more participants.
Don’t know Wild Terra? It’s a relatively unknown small MMORPG that is reminiscent of Ultima Online. It combines MMO and survival elements. You start with nothing but a loincloth in a fantasy world and gradually have to acquire everything. You craft your first weapons, hunt animals for food and resources, and build your first small wooden hut. The further you progress, the more powerful you become and can eventually build your own fortress and rule a kingdom with the support of other players. Due to the open PvP system, raids or larger wars are possible at any time. It is played from an Ultima Online-like perspective.
Interested in Wild Terra? Then check out the official website playwildterra.com .
Romero’s Aftermath
If horror film legend George Romero is involved in a zombie MMO, then it sounds interesting. However, there is also some skepticism about Romero’s Aftermath, as the online game is developed by the makers of WarZ, which had to be renamed to Infestation: Survivor Stories due to a trademark dispute. However, the game did not go down well with gamers, partly due to insults directed at players by the developers and misleading feature lists. The developers have now parted ways with the previous publisher and want to give it another try while avoiding the “stupid mistakes of the past”.
The zombie game is based on H1Z1 and offers an open world and sandbox elements. Fighting against zombies and hostile players is the main focus. If someone wants to have a look, they can do so in the newly launched open beta. However, only if they meet certain requirements – including having played at least 100 hours of Infestation: Survivor Stories. Well, who knows if you can find that many players?
Official website of Romero’s Aftermath: willyousurvive.com.
We are very excited to see what happens this week in the world of MMOs and will report back to you next Monday!
P.S.: How do you like Respec? Do you have any wishes or ideas regarding the implementation? We will also align this new series according to your wishes, so that you can help shape it.
