Contrary to many of Derek Smart's previous expansive computer titles, Line of Defense will be "streamlined" to focus on a small corner of the galaxy. In a new dev blog, Smart outlines the scope of the MMO's territory and how it connects to his previously established game universe.
Line of Defense consists of four space regions, each with its own planets and moons. The regions are connected by jump gates in the Sirius/Barnard's Star systems pathway. However, when the game first launches, players will only have access to the planet of Lyrius, with other planets and moons coming afterward.
Players can teleport from base to base on planets using Dynamic Jump Pads or can transfer to a station via a carrier. Jumpgates, however, will allow players in vehicles to traverse entire regions. But probably the most interesting mode of transportation is to let loose with an orbital drop from a space station down to the planet surface below.
The one thing that Line of Defense won't have, however, is the ability to seamlessly transition between planets, bases, and regions without loading screens.
Reader Comments (19)
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 4:02PM OneEyeRed said
I would like for you to offer me a "Line of Defense" to escape any and all BS that involves the not so smart Derek.
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 4:22PM (Unverified) said
I believe 'jumping out of an airlock' is how most employees exit this company once they realize Derek Smart is involved.
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 8:20PM Scarecrowe said
@(Unverified)
When I saw the headline, I wondered how many posts would pass before someone capitalized on it. I bet 5 -- you, sir, beat my estimations. Good job!
Reply
When I saw the headline, I wondered how many posts would pass before someone capitalized on it. I bet 5 -- you, sir, beat my estimations. Good job!
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 4:47PM edgecrusherO0 said
Please stop reporting on this. Don't give this asshat any publicity, he doesn't deserve it.
Posted: Mar 29th 2012 3:17AM avaloner said
@edgecrusherO0 What about the rest of the people who work for the company and have families to feed? If the game is good then I don't care who it is from. I think good on Derek Smart for trolling right back at the trolls, wish more devs would do this.
Reply
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 5:40PM (Unverified) said
@edgecrusherO0
While he doesn't deserve it, I doubt that will lead to any form of press boycott any time soon. At least, not unless Mr. Smart threatens to sue someone for bad coverage again...
Seriously, though. I'm certain Justin is more than capable of stating it, but the stance Massively has always taken in the past is that they, as something sort of like journalistic professionals, attempt to maintain a neutral stance in the field. While editorializing is a minor crime of commission, knowingly failing to report anything at all would be an unforgivable crime of omission. If something is stated, you and I may have an informed opinion, but if nothing at all is mentioned, we are relegated to ignorance.
While he doesn't deserve it, I doubt that will lead to any form of press boycott any time soon. At least, not unless Mr. Smart threatens to sue someone for bad coverage again...
Seriously, though. I'm certain Justin is more than capable of stating it, but the stance Massively has always taken in the past is that they, as something sort of like journalistic professionals, attempt to maintain a neutral stance in the field. While editorializing is a minor crime of commission, knowingly failing to report anything at all would be an unforgivable crime of omission. If something is stated, you and I may have an informed opinion, but if nothing at all is mentioned, we are relegated to ignorance.
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 6:20PM Jergis said
@(Unverified) That only works if they actually reported on the multitude of Indie mmos out there that have A. similar player base (or, heavens help us, more players than DS's games) and B. similar scope.
They don't.
At this point, i firmly believe they include DS stuff to up page hits and ignore the indie industry as a whole (unless beau writes one of his occasional good articles) as it doesn't generate the views.
Purely conjecture, but lots of other companies and games are serving more players, more consistently, than 300ad or QOL, yet they get little to no coverage. Shame. I'd be more inclined to put up with mention of LoD if they gave those other games more consistent coverage like they do DS.
Jergis
Reply
They don't.
At this point, i firmly believe they include DS stuff to up page hits and ignore the indie industry as a whole (unless beau writes one of his occasional good articles) as it doesn't generate the views.
Purely conjecture, but lots of other companies and games are serving more players, more consistently, than 300ad or QOL, yet they get little to no coverage. Shame. I'd be more inclined to put up with mention of LoD if they gave those other games more consistent coverage like they do DS.
Jergis
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 11:26PM ShawnSchuster said
@Jergis
You're always welcome to send us tips via the tips line linked at the top of the page at any time. This is something that anyone can do at any time about any indie game that they would like to see covered.
Reply
You're always welcome to send us tips via the tips line linked at the top of the page at any time. This is something that anyone can do at any time about any indie game that they would like to see covered.
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 5:43PM Macabre 13 said
Oh look, another Line of Defense article with "Derek Smart" plastered all over it.
And they said they want it to be "about the game"... LOL!
The fact that "derek-smart" is even a tag makes it that much more hilarious.
And they said they want it to be "about the game"... LOL!
The fact that "derek-smart" is even a tag makes it that much more hilarious.
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 6:14PM Brianna Royce said
( @Macabre 13 We tag all developers we mention in our articles! )
Reply
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 6:37PM Macabre 13 said
@Brianna Royce
His development studio is called Derek Smart? Wow, the ego knows no bounds... lol.
Reply
His development studio is called Derek Smart? Wow, the ego knows no bounds... lol.
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 5:45PM Maseno said
"Contrary to many of Derek Smart's..."
Stopped reading right there. Anything that has his name attached to it is, and will be a pile of trash.
Stopped reading right there. Anything that has his name attached to it is, and will be a pile of trash.
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 6:19PM pid said
those planets don't even look like spheres. they look like textures downloaded from internet by searching them with google image and then filtered with photoshop (texture and emboss).
i can do the same in 12 minutes tops.
i can do the same in 12 minutes tops.
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 6:22PM (Unverified) said
Derek Smart bashes Planetside and this is what it sounds like a clone of Planetside. All modes of travel was the same in planetside but what Planetside did have that Derek Smart does not, is more than one planet. He really thinks this will compete with planetside 2 then I think the best thing for him to do is sit on his own virtual world on his own and get out of the media spot light.
Then again his EGO would not fit in any virtual world no matter how big the map was.
Then again his EGO would not fit in any virtual world no matter how big the map was.
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 7:32PM (Unverified) said
In before Derek Smart shows up and starts fighting with all the people that just insulted him and his games..
Posted: Mar 28th 2012 7:56PM mmogaddict said
Derek Smart is to Game Design what Uwe Boll is to the Film Industry.
Now there is an idea.
Uwe Boll could make a film about one of Derek Smarts Games. Maybe that's what happens on 21st December 2012 and the planet get's sucked into a blackhole of awefulness.
Now there is an idea.
Uwe Boll could make a film about one of Derek Smarts Games. Maybe that's what happens on 21st December 2012 and the planet get's sucked into a blackhole of awefulness.
Posted: Mar 29th 2012 3:05AM EuchridEucrow said
@mmogaddict
Now if we could only get Uwe and Derek to square off in the ring...
Reply
Now if we could only get Uwe and Derek to square off in the ring...
Posted: Mar 29th 2012 2:55PM Ryukan said
@mmogaddict
"Derek Smart is to Game Design what Uwe Boll is to the Film Industry."
Hehe, same thing I commented in the previous Derek Smart/LoD article on Massively.
At least Uwe does not take himself that seriously and rather than spew worthless crap out of his mouth like Smart does at his critics Uwe challenged his critics to put up or shut up.
@EuchridEucrow
I would pay to see Uwe beat the crap out of Smart.
Reply
"Derek Smart is to Game Design what Uwe Boll is to the Film Industry."
Hehe, same thing I commented in the previous Derek Smart/LoD article on Massively.
At least Uwe does not take himself that seriously and rather than spew worthless crap out of his mouth like Smart does at his critics Uwe challenged his critics to put up or shut up.
@EuchridEucrow
I would pay to see Uwe beat the crap out of Smart.
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