Escape From City 17 Part 1

We scored an exclusive interview with Apostol Apostolov, the Lead Game Designer for the upcoming sci-fi MMO Earthrise, which is getting ready to enter its first beta phase. We learned a little more about the economy, insurance and looting of items in PvP, how players will be able to control the market, and the unprecedented level of power that crafters will receive. So here’s the beef:

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SC: So, can you please summarize what Earthrise is all about in a few sentences for me?

AA: Earthrise is a post-apocalyptic, science-fiction MMORPG set in the future of mankind, where a world-shattering war has brought about the end of our civilization and widespread mutation among the flora and fauna. A project to preserve humanity has allowed our race to survive and flourish once again in the futuristic city of Sal Vitas. Reaching new technological heights and turning humanity immortal through access to cloning facilities, a power-hungry corporation-gone-government Continoma plays God by choosing who is reborn and who is forever lost.

After a failed coup de grace, a rogue organization called Noir is formed to lead the opposition in armed conflict to bring freedom to the Sal Vitas’ citizens. As players enter the game, they will find themselves not only caught in the tense political situation among the two factions, but also the rising entrepreneurship that allow players to shape the world through the most powerful weapon of all – market influence. Earthrise is a post-apocalyptic game of political intrigue, military action, economic rivalry and global guild-based warfare for the resources that the island holds – a skill-based, level-less game where players are free to shape their fate and every action has consequences.

SC: The features that caught my eye the most were the lack of a level cap and the skill-based advancement system. How did the idea for a skill-based advancement system come about?

AA: The concept of skill-based character development with no artificial limitations was one of the design foundations that Earthrise has been built upon from the very beginning. We wanted to craft a game where players did not feel constrained and were able to experiment and customize their character as they choose the exact style of play that suits them. As science-fiction games concentrate on realism rather than heroic tales of power, we knew Earthrise had to provide players with a system flexible enough to handle the variety that the game promises, and the skill-based system was the only type of mechanic that could deliver what it promised.

SC: Did you take any inspiration from games like EVE Online, Dragonrealms, or any other MMORPGs that also utilize skill-based advancement systems?

AA: Probably the strongest design inspiration when designing the skill-based advancement system has been drawn from the grand-daddy of MMO games – Ultima Online. We believe that game deserves a lot more praise and attention than it has received recently. At the same time, Earthrise is different as it allows players to learn all skills rather than juggle between them – availability of skills is tied to the equipment that players choose to wear. Also, we bring customization to a new level with Tactics – enhancements integrated deep into a special attack that allow players to fine-tune their properties to enhance their play style.

SC: And the lack of a level cap, that hasn’t been done too often before in MMORPGs. Obviously it creates unique balance issues between power-gamers and casual players. What made you decide to go without a level cap, and what kind of challenges has it created for the development team?

AA: While a level system and a level cap allows designers to create balanced and digestible system for many players to enjoy, we wanted to provide players with a system that valued customization and flexibility above the accumulation of raw power and gear. But as we added more and more interesting abilities and variety of skills, it became obvious that the biggest challenge will be balance! With hundreds of abilities spread over dozens of skills, we’re constantly finding new and inventive ways to create interesting character builds… some of them probably too “interesting”, so a lot of time and effort goes into tweaking the gameplay system to allow a fair and fun game for all players of all player styles and player skill levels.

SC: I understand there’s something of an offline component to Earthrise too. Is it going to provide real benefits to players? Other than cash, what kind of perks will there be?

AA: Players will not only receive a monetary income from their choice of an offline profession, but also have a chance to receive a small reward that ties in with the economy of the game world. We will have more information about this in the future.

SC: Speaking of monetary income, tell me a bit about the economy for Earthrise.

AA: The economy of Earthrise is completely player-run open market, with a heavy emphasis on the importance of inventive designers and dedicated manufacturers to populate the market with the most powerful and useful items. Unlike other games, Earthrise takes away most of the item customization from the end user and puts it in the hands of the crafter, who can use Technologies and Designs to create unique items for every possible situation. This gives crafters an unparallel influence in the game world and a viable profession that could bring immense riches to those who handle their craft right. It also brings interesting problems to the whole server population – if an item is not yet designed and manufactured, it would not exist. So there’re hundreds if not thousands of niches that crafters can fill in as they care for the needs of their customers.

SC: As I’m sure you’re aware, economies in MMORPGs can differ drastically. Compare, for instance, Warhammer’s relative lack of focus on in-game currency, compared to EVE, where in-game currency has a fairly significant role. Where will Earthrise fit on the scale?

AA: We are definitely siding with EVE on the importance of in-game economy. Like in real life, money in Earthrise will have an incredibly powerful role. While offline professions make it reasonably easy to acquire enough money to buy a standard suit of armor and a weapon of choice, when it comes to buying customized, uniquely designed gear that works best for your gameplay style and role in your guild, it quickly becomes an expensive investment. Add to this the fact that all items wear with time and that one crucial mistake not to insure your inventory could lead to a disastrous full loot in favor of your opponents, and item investment becomes a constant flow rather than a one-time investment until the next tier of power. This makes personal budget management an important part of your adventurous life, as you always have to plan a couple moves ahead.

SC: Will the game come from a first or third person perspective?

AA: The game will provide a third person perspective, allowing players to experience the presence of their character within the vibrant environment of the game world rather than experience in a limited fashion through their player’s viewpoint. The third person perspective camera also allows freedom of the camera that is not available to first person games.

SC: Will it be a twitchy shooter like Planetside? Or will dice-rolls play a larger role like in Tabula Rasa?

AA: Earthrise is first and foremost a role-playing game, but that doesn’t mean it has to play by the tradition of dice-heavy computations that could take all the life out of a dynamic combat. Combat system is very simple at its core, with streamlined, dynamic combat system that rewards player skill and puts heavy emphasis on skills and their use to achieve spectacular combinations and synergies either alone or in a team. The way Abilities will combine with Tactics, it will open ground for a staggering amount of different builds and combinations and we believe it will be the portion of the game players will want to explore first.

SC: Earthrise is currently taking signups for a closed beta. Any word on when that’s going to go live, and when you expect to be ready (approximately) for an open beta?

AA: It is too early to tell that. Right now we are focused on the closed beta process.

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Our thanks to Apostol Apostolov and Masthead Studios for giving us this interview. Keep an eye on Stratics Central for the latest information and news on Earthrise as it moves into the beta process.

Lolifish?

The Turritopsis Nutricula is able to revert back to a juvenile form once it mates after becoming sexually mature.

Marine biologists say the jellyfish numbers are rocketing because they need not die.

Dr Maria Miglietta of the Smithsonian Tropical Marine Institute said: “We are looking at a worldwide silent invasion.”

The jellyfish are originally from the Caribbean but have spready all over the world.

Turritopsis Nutricula is technically known as a hydrozoan and is the only known animal that is capable of reverting completely to its younger self.

It does this through the cell development process of transdifferentiation.

Scientists believe the cycle can repeat indefinitely, rendering it potentially immortal.

While most members of the jellyfish family usually die after propagating, the Turritopsis nutricula has developed the unique ability to return to a polyp state.

Having stumbled upon the font of eternal youth, this tiny creature which is just 5mm long is the focus of many intricate studies by marine biologists and geneticists to see exactly how it manages to literally reverse its aging process.

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