If you were fortunate enough to attend this year's GDC, it's possible you caught a glimpse of ASTA, the new fantasy MMO from NHN. The title, formerly known as Project E:st, is powered by the CryEngine3 and boasts some of the more impressive visuals in the MMO space.
Assuming you can make it to Cologne, Germany, for this year's Gamescom (August 17th through the 21st), you'll get another opportunity to see ASTA in action since NHN will be offering visitors "a first look at the captivating world [...] as well as the opportunity to chat with the developers and learn more about character development, guild evolution, competitive play, and many other features," according to a new press release.
ASTA is being developed by Polygon Games (which includes a core group of designers who previously worked on Rohan: Blood Feud), and it takes place in a world inspired by Asian myth. Gameplay elements include realm vs. realm, PvE questing, raids, and crafting.
Reader Comments (17)
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 12:45PM (Unverified) said
CryEngine3? MMO? Tell us more of this ASTA,
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 1:04PM Anciegher said
Looking beautiful. I'm interested in seeing more of this game!
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 1:18PM (Unverified) said
Is the woman's back broken in the picture?
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 1:19PM Saker said
The screenshots are ok, but some of them look surprisingly cartooney. ArcheAge definitely looks better to me. There's basically no information on their website about actual gameplay mechanics.
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 1:21PM Bladerunner83 said
Anything with the CryEngine3 is going to look spectacular, but the big question is, will it be a polished game or a feature rich? I'd hate to see another AoC hit the market, but then again I'd hate to see another WoW too; will the pain ever stop? Can there be a median? And I dont think they can actually call it RvR, I was under the assumption that DAoC trademarked that phrase?
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 1:37PM Dril said
@Bladerunner83
"I'd hate to see another AoC hit the market"
Why? It's a much better game than people give it credit for, just like EVE is much easier to understand than people say it is. Never believe the hype, positive or negative, and ESPECIALLY don't believe it 2 years after launch :P
"I'd hate to see another WoW"
We need another classic WoW, since nothing fills that void. If something came along promising classic WoW, I'd play it.
"And I dont think they can actually call it RvR, I was under the assumption that DAoC trademarked that phrase?"
It's not a trademark, as far as I'm aware. Primarily because: WAR used it, and others have done so for many a year.
Reply
"I'd hate to see another AoC hit the market"
Why? It's a much better game than people give it credit for, just like EVE is much easier to understand than people say it is. Never believe the hype, positive or negative, and ESPECIALLY don't believe it 2 years after launch :P
"I'd hate to see another WoW"
We need another classic WoW, since nothing fills that void. If something came along promising classic WoW, I'd play it.
"And I dont think they can actually call it RvR, I was under the assumption that DAoC trademarked that phrase?"
It's not a trademark, as far as I'm aware. Primarily because: WAR used it, and others have done so for many a year.
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 2:01PM Bladerunner83 said
@Dril
" Why? It's a much better game than people give it credit for, just like EVE is much easier to understand than people say it is. Never believe the hype, positive or negative, and ESPECIALLY don't believe it 2 years after launch :P "
I played AoC for about a year, it looked amazing but the controls are crap, hesitation when initially walking and the awful combat system, "swing left, 1, 1, 1, swing right, 3, 3, 3, crack them on the head, 2, 2, 2. then level 40 hit, and I get 2 more buttons lol, ridiculous.
" We need another classic WoW, since nothing fills that void. If something came along promising classic WoW, I'd play it. "
I currently play WoW and I am tired of seeing these wana-bee copies everywhere, It would be nice to see another spectacular game come, but another WoW, why? We already have a WoW and its awesome. LOL, get over it the classic days are gone.
" It's not a trademark, as far as I'm aware. Primarily because: WAR used it, and others have done so for many a year. "
WAR used RvR because the company that made DAoC, made WAR. They can claim their own material without copyright. Anyone else that you can think of?
Reply
" Why? It's a much better game than people give it credit for, just like EVE is much easier to understand than people say it is. Never believe the hype, positive or negative, and ESPECIALLY don't believe it 2 years after launch :P "
I played AoC for about a year, it looked amazing but the controls are crap, hesitation when initially walking and the awful combat system, "swing left, 1, 1, 1, swing right, 3, 3, 3, crack them on the head, 2, 2, 2. then level 40 hit, and I get 2 more buttons lol, ridiculous.
" We need another classic WoW, since nothing fills that void. If something came along promising classic WoW, I'd play it. "
I currently play WoW and I am tired of seeing these wana-bee copies everywhere, It would be nice to see another spectacular game come, but another WoW, why? We already have a WoW and its awesome. LOL, get over it the classic days are gone.
" It's not a trademark, as far as I'm aware. Primarily because: WAR used it, and others have done so for many a year. "
WAR used RvR because the company that made DAoC, made WAR. They can claim their own material without copyright. Anyone else that you can think of?
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 3:01PM Dril said
@Bladerunner83
The combat system was literally exactly the same as everything else, but with more buttons. It was quite refreshing for a bit.
Classic may be over...so what? I still enjoyed it (and TBC) a lot. I want them back.
Realms Online and that new game with Sanya Weathers both mention it I think.
Reply
The combat system was literally exactly the same as everything else, but with more buttons. It was quite refreshing for a bit.
Classic may be over...so what? I still enjoyed it (and TBC) a lot. I want them back.
Realms Online and that new game with Sanya Weathers both mention it I think.
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 1:48PM dragonandante said
Hmm, I'm hungry for more info.
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 2:16PM aurickle said
Honestly, I'm not seeing anything about the screen shots to impress me. Take WoW and put an Asian spin on things -- the result would look exactly like this. The ground is just plain color mapping with a few objects scattered around. Walls are also just color mapped. The only thing that's actually spectacular is the water.
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 3:47PM Boojum said
If anyone is curious there are gameplay videos of this up on Youtube from the G*Star 2010 Korean Gaming Expo.
Doesn't look to be breaking the mold with gameplay and the graphics aren't all that super.
Still I believe this project started on Cryengine 2, seems they only recently moved across to Cryengine 3 so perhaps the gameplay vids were from the Cryengine 2 build.
Doesn't look to be breaking the mold with gameplay and the graphics aren't all that super.
Still I believe this project started on Cryengine 2, seems they only recently moved across to Cryengine 3 so perhaps the gameplay vids were from the Cryengine 2 build.
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 7:03PM (Unverified) said
This used to be project E:ST they revealed a trailer over a year ago you can view it and screen shots at their facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-EST/342267519573
been connected to them and waiting for news for a long time! so thanks :)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-EST/342267519573
been connected to them and waiting for news for a long time! so thanks :)
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 7:08PM (Unverified) said
Also:
ASTA teaser trailer (not the old project e:st one) can be found here:
http://www.mmoreviews.com/nhn-corporation-presents-its-upcoming-mmo-asta/
ASTA teaser trailer (not the old project e:st one) can be found here:
http://www.mmoreviews.com/nhn-corporation-presents-its-upcoming-mmo-asta/
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 11:11PM PhelimReagh said
@(Unverified)
For a cinematic teaser trailer, lets just say my socks are still firmly on. It doesn't seem to be pushing the graphical envelope in any way, though I respect that companies probably took a lesson from WoW's "make it playable on integrated cards" book. FFXIV, as I understand it, was a graphics masterpiece, but appears to have been an epic turd.
So while graphics doesn't mean everything to me, I'm hoping that there's something revolutionary in the gameplay to set this game apart in any way.
Reply
For a cinematic teaser trailer, lets just say my socks are still firmly on. It doesn't seem to be pushing the graphical envelope in any way, though I respect that companies probably took a lesson from WoW's "make it playable on integrated cards" book. FFXIV, as I understand it, was a graphics masterpiece, but appears to have been an epic turd.
So while graphics doesn't mean everything to me, I'm hoping that there's something revolutionary in the gameplay to set this game apart in any way.
Posted: Jul 7th 2011 11:41PM (Unverified) said
This is not ArcheAge, so why is it worth attention?
Posted: Jul 8th 2011 9:11AM Rowlf said
Looks like this could be a good one :)
Also the first wallpaper is sweeeeet!
Also the first wallpaper is sweeeeet!








