It's been nearly two months since the launch of Earthrise, and Masthead Studios is moving forward with long-term development plans for the sci-fi sandbox MMORPG. In a press release this morning, the Bulgaria-based dev team laid out a list of new features planned for integration in April and May.
Citizens of Enterra will be getting some direction in the form of minimap quest hint indicators, alleviating the confusion that often results when searching for various objectives. Earthrise crafters will be able to produce paint that can be used on armor, weapons, and vehicles, and guild diplomacy mechanics will give leaders the ability to both declare war and cultivate allies.
As a result of the February Choose Your Game Feature voting, resurrection mechanics will be coming to Earthrise, and player parties will also be able to share battle points and karma from defeated enemies. Finally, various technical and performance-related tweaks are in the offing, including customizable chat windows, a friends/ignore list, AI improvements, and shadow enhancements.
Reader Comments (16)
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 10:15AM jpkustra said
Two Month Roadmap:
1) Sell more boxes.
2) Collect two more months of subs and then close the doors.
1) Sell more boxes.
2) Collect two more months of subs and then close the doors.
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 10:43AM Comrade Domovoi said
@jpkustra
OH YOU DOG YOU! While I don't agree with what you say I agree fully with the sentiment, game is a big old pile of junk. I'll be waiting for it to improve and a free trial. At launch, and even now just by sifting through the forums you can see that all is not fun in Enterra.
Reply
OH YOU DOG YOU! While I don't agree with what you say I agree fully with the sentiment, game is a big old pile of junk. I'll be waiting for it to improve and a free trial. At launch, and even now just by sifting through the forums you can see that all is not fun in Enterra.
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 4:27PM DancingCow said
@jpkustra
I disagree.
I was interested in but didn't buy Earthrise specifically because unlike other developers, Masthead were honest about the state of the game before they released it.
That's not what you do if just want to maximise box sales.
Reply
I disagree.
I was interested in but didn't buy Earthrise specifically because unlike other developers, Masthead were honest about the state of the game before they released it.
That's not what you do if just want to maximise box sales.
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 11:34AM Krayzjoel said
LOL I didnt even know this game actually launched.I thought it was in beta still. It didnt get much press then as I usually keep up on things MMO. Guess not here. LOL
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 11:54AM Jef Reahard said
@Krayzjoel
Or you just haven't looked.
I penned an in-depth impressions piece shortly after launch, and our Earthrise category covers most everything that's gone on with the game.
http://massively.joystiq.com/category/earthrise
Reply
Or you just haven't looked.
I penned an in-depth impressions piece shortly after launch, and our Earthrise category covers most everything that's gone on with the game.
http://massively.joystiq.com/category/earthrise
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 12:05PM Dunraven said
It's sad that the game is struggling , I know that there is a considerable market for a Sandbox MMO, but it needs to be a well-polished engaging sandbox.
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 12:22PM Jef Reahard said
@Dunraven
I'm hoping it follows Darkfall's trajectory. Tbh, Earthrise is in better shape than Darkfall was at launch, and the latter has since become a very solid game that continues to grow.
Reply
I'm hoping it follows Darkfall's trajectory. Tbh, Earthrise is in better shape than Darkfall was at launch, and the latter has since become a very solid game that continues to grow.
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 1:58PM Jim Cricket said
@Dunraven
Can we put the stake in the sandbox genre yet?
Consumers can be forgiven for coming to the conclusion that sandbox = crap.
Whereas themepark = guarantees a minimum level of fun.
Reply
Can we put the stake in the sandbox genre yet?
Consumers can be forgiven for coming to the conclusion that sandbox = crap.
Whereas themepark = guarantees a minimum level of fun.
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 3:20PM Jef Reahard said
@Jim Cricket
That's pretty short-sighted to be honest. Plenty of current sandboxes are fun for certain types of players, and arbitrarily declaring the genre dead smacks of both ignorance and self-importance.
Xsyon is buggy as all hell, but I love it and play it daily. I'm sure others feel the same about Earthrise.
The first 50-odd themepark games I played were indeed fun, and then I realized that every one of them is the exact same title. Whatever floats your boat though.
Reply
That's pretty short-sighted to be honest. Plenty of current sandboxes are fun for certain types of players, and arbitrarily declaring the genre dead smacks of both ignorance and self-importance.
Xsyon is buggy as all hell, but I love it and play it daily. I'm sure others feel the same about Earthrise.
The first 50-odd themepark games I played were indeed fun, and then I realized that every one of them is the exact same title. Whatever floats your boat though.
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 11:15PM Transientmind said
@Aganazer
Gotta agree with Ags on this one. I've been very interested in all the sandbox titles and if it weren't for FFA PVP, I'd have subbed to some.
(Including my frequent on-again-off-again relationship with Spreadsheets Online: Sociopaths in Space.)
Reply
Gotta agree with Ags on this one. I've been very interested in all the sandbox titles and if it weren't for FFA PVP, I'd have subbed to some.
(Including my frequent on-again-off-again relationship with Spreadsheets Online: Sociopaths in Space.)
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 2:37PM Trippin Ninja said
Was so excited for this one but I can't bring myself to fork over the dough for it in it's current state. I hope Jef is right and with time this game becomes a solid title. And let's not put a stake in sandboxes yet, how about someone actually throw a decent amount of resources into creating one instead. Also a sandbox without FFA open pvp would be nice for carebears like me. ;-P
Posted: Mar 31st 2011 3:22PM Jef Reahard said
@Trippin Ninja
Keep your eye on ArcheAge. They're throwing a lot of money and polish at it, and though it does have elements of FFA PvP, you'll be able to ignore it if you wish.
Reply
Keep your eye on ArcheAge. They're throwing a lot of money and polish at it, and though it does have elements of FFA PvP, you'll be able to ignore it if you wish.
Posted: Apr 3rd 2011 9:52AM BGExorcist said
As far as i know my country, this is done with extremely low budget and lots of unpaid work. Cant wish them anything but good luck on their project.
Posted: Apr 6th 2011 1:18PM socialenemy2007 said
really wanted it to succeed. the environment was breathtaking to explore, but the endless bugs and desync ruined it.
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