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The Daily Grind: Are we witnessing the bursting of a gaming bubble?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Economy, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Opinion

The last few weeks have cast a dark shadow over the MMO gaming industry. At a time when MMOs release seemingly every other day and big blockbusters are just over the horizon, MMO companies are canceling titles, shelving games, cutting back, changing models, and laying off staff. CCP Games dropped employees and slowed its development pace; NCsoft and GamersFirst followed suit, though with assurances that their games would proceed as usual. In the last few days alone, we saw Gameforge let go both developers and titles, TurnOut halt development on Earth Eternal, and both LEGO Universe and Troy Online announce impending shutdowns.

What do you think? Are we dealing with a "gaming bubble" on the verge of bursting? Did MMOs become too popular too fast, such that the industry is now bloated and unsustainable? Is a culling of the MMO herd a necessary evil to improve the overall quality of MMOs? Or is this flurry of layoffs and closures merely a coincidence, a temporary downsizing due to end soon?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Are we witnessing the bursting of a gaming bubble? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal development on hold once again

Shawn Schuster — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Free-to-play, Virtual worlds, Earth Eternal

It's been a tough ride for Earth Eternal. We first heard about the original developer, Sparkplay, only days after Massively came into existence in 2007, and we've been following the company ever since. Earth Eternal was voted one of Beau's top F2P games in 2010, as it was enjoying quite a strong run that year -- even to the point where Sparkplay mentioned creating more games outside of EE.

Well, that soon ended as the company ran into some serious financial problems that led to the game's hold status. Fast-forward a year, and the game was reborn with a new developer (TurnOut Ventures with OutBlaze)! It re-entered open beta status and looked to be on the road to recovery.

Well, the rollercoaster is back on the descent, according to the game's forums. It turns out Earth Eternal's development is once again put on hold until further notice. The servers are still online and the game is still playable, but the small development team at TurnOut has been relocated to other projects. So right now, it seems to be a completely free game with no cash shop.

We'll be sure to keep you up-to-date on any further news we hear.

[Thanks to Keith for the tip!]

Earth Eternal development on hold once again originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: The rise of the browser

Beau Hindman — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Browser, Miscellaneous, MMObility

Over the last week I have been obsessing over Glitch, the new browser-based MMORPG brought to us by Tiny Speck. I will go into details of why in my Rise and Shiny column, but for now, let's just say that I think it is one of the greatest things I have come across in a long time. For the record, I was talking about Glitch before it was popular (that hipster cred should get my a free pair of glasses in Glitch!) and was excited about starting this column because of games like Glitch.

In short, I knew that the browser market was huge, and I knew it was only going to grow bigger. Yes, I know what you're thinking, and yes I am claiming that we are starting to see the end of the heavy-duty client and demand for expensive hardware and upgrades. It's a big prediction, but click past the cut and let me explain.

Continue reading MMObility: The rise of the browser

MMObility: The rise of the browser originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal pushes the do-over button as it goes into open beta

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Contests, Free-to-play, Earth Eternal, Kids, Post-Apocalyptic

Clinging to the last vestiges of life, Earth Eternal has been brought back from the brink of destruction for another try at glory, as Outblaze announced that the game has gone into open beta mode as of today.

Players interested in seeing what the new and revised version of Earth Eternal looks like are encouraged to sign up for the beta on the website and jump into the game post-haste. Testers will not only get to see the newest features in the game, but will receive a nice in-game goody bag with a banner, helmet and XP boost. There's also a special reward for those who hit level 30 or higher during the beta period.

This unique MMO combines a hodge-podge of seemingly contradicting flavors -- including a post-apocalyptic setting, sentient animals, and magic across Europe -- and melded it together into a delightful concoction. If you're interested in what we think about Earth Eternal, you'd do well to check out Beau's Rise and Shiny impressions of the title!

Earth Eternal pushes the do-over button as it goes into open beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Earth Eternal

Beau Hindman — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, Video, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Races, Casual, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

This week I was lucky enough to revisit Earth Eternal, the independent browser-based game that features a future ruled by animals. For a long time, players feared that its recent disappearance meant the end of the game. Then, we were told that a foreign company bought it and planned on revamping it and returning it to life. I'll be honest and say that I never thought I would see it happen. So few MMOs, independent or not, get a second chance at anything.

Yet, here we are. The game has returned and it is in a fully playable state. I was so surprised that I didn't really believe it until I was making a character and entering the game. A few things have changed, some have improved and others were worse.

Click past the cut and I'll tell you all about it!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Earth Eternal

Rise and Shiny recap: Earth Eternal originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: Oh em gee, have I become a furry?

Beau Hindman — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Video, EverQuest II, Culture, Opinion, Vanguard, Free-to-play, Races, Earth Eternal, Humor, Kids, Free for All

Before I ask you to jump past the cut to read the rest of my article, I thought it would be cool to explain my interpretation of the "furry" culture. I want to do this so that you, fair reader, aren't icked out simply by the title of my article. I decided to divide the furries into three levels all of this based on my observations and Google-searching.

At level one are the fans of anthropomorphic critters. Essentially, these are the fans of playing the animal races in different games, reading about them in books, and who think that there is something cool about an animal walking and talking like a human. At the very least, this level has no problems playing the pigman in the latest MMO.
Level two are the people who are fans of animal and human crossings, but take it a step further by feeling slightly connected to the creatures. They might have some spiritual connection to them, or simply think they are the best thing yet. They might also enjoy dressing up as a furry critter.
At level three we have the fans who take it even further. Yes, these are the furries you hear so much about. These are the ones who are not only into anthropomorphic creatures, but are into them (if you get my meaning.) They often feel an attraction to bipedal cats or human-like goats. Their dress-up is often accompanied by sessions of roleplaying as animals or hybrids.

Now, which level am I? While I think you can guess, click past the cut and I'll explain.

Continue reading Free for All: Oh em gee, have I become a furry?

Free for All: Oh em gee, have I become a furry? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: August 1-7, 2011

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's scheduled for this week!

Continue reading MV Guide: August 1-7, 2011

MV Guide: August 1-7, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Castle Empire

Beau Hindman — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Screenshots, Video, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, MMORTS, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

Over the last week I have been enjoying some time in the so-new-it's-in-closed-beta Castle Empire. I have been struggling with how to describe exactly how the game makes me feel, since I am terrible at writing up exact details that end up making my article sound like the bland page of a wiki instead of a column based solely on this one dork's opinion. During my dog walks (I do my best thinking then), I try to come up with catchy arrangements of different words that would let you fair readers know the type of fun I had with the game, but more often than not, I would forget what I was thinking by the time I got back to the house. At one point I thought about wearing one of those goofy bluetooth headsets so I could dictate my thoughts while walking, but I feared getting my butt beaten in by the cooler elderly folks in the neighborhood.

Luckily, I finally stumbled upon a great example that, in all actuality, is not really a great example. It'll give you a good idea, I hope. So click past the cut and let's talk about this wonderful new MMORTS I found.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Castle Empire

Rise and Shiny recap: Castle Empire originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal still alive, reborn as Ikimonogatari

Jef Reahard — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Earth Eternal

Earth Eternal has been in a strange sort of limbo since last summer when Sparkplay Media all but folded. The company closed down both the game and the website and also laid off all but two employees as of August 2010. The first of the year brought a glimmer of hope in the form of the title's acquisition by Sankando as well as a fresh round of fan discussion.

Since then, it's been all quiet on the Earth Eternal front, but the silence was broken a few hours ago via the game's Twitter feed. While the amount of information is far from overwhelming (the tweet acknowledges that Earth Eternal has been reborn as Ikimonogatari and links to the new website), it's good to see that the game may yet return in some form or fashion.

Earth Eternal still alive, reborn as Ikimonogatari originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal showing signs of life

Krystalle Voecks — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Earth Eternal

We'd heard about Sparkplay Media's issues with raising further funding to continue its independent anthropomorphic MMO, Earth Eternal. When the game and overall site dropped offline a few weeks ago without any further official statement, we figured that time had run out, and it was simply the sunsetting of another MMO. That's why we were surprised to see both the Earth Eternal Facebook and Twitter accounts light back up, if only to let us know someone's still there -- and that there's still hope.

The message on Facebook notes, "...our ISP pulled the plug for non-payment, which was expected. I wasn't able to give you any warning, unfortunately, because I was at Burning Man and completely out of reach for the week that it went down. Full backups of all the data exist and the company that is in the process of buying Earth Eternal will be starting it back up again in the nearish future." As to what company is seeking to purchase the game and how fast this process will be moving, we have no idea. However, we're certain that this nugget of reboot hope is welcome news to those who were enjoying this kitschy, yet fun, title. With any luck we'll be hearing something from a representative of Sparkplay before too long.

Earth Eternal showing signs of life originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal facing the prospect of shutdown

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Earth Eternal

There's incredibly bad news today about Earth Eternal, the free-to-play browser-based MMO from Sparkplay Media. Or we should say formerly from Sparkplay Media, as it appears that hard times have hit the company with resounding force. In an extremely sad letter, CEO Matt Mihaly has informed players that Sparkplay Media has been all but shut down, with only two remaining employees (including himself) taking care of closing down the company and trying to sell the game to another service provider.

Although the game is not currently being shut down, Mihaly is frank about its prospects: it entirely depends on whether or not another company will pick up the hosting costs of running Earth Eternal. For the time being, the game has made all of its microtransaction items free for all players, in hopes that whatever the game's ultimate fate, players can enjoy it for a little while longer. Our consolations go out to the team behind the game, and we offer our sympathies for what has no doubt been a painful process for the entire staff.

Earth Eternal facing the prospect of shutdown originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Zentia

Beau Hindman — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Events, in-game, Reviews, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Casual, Kids, Family, Rise and Shiny

Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play, indie or unusual game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet each Tuesday and Friday night at 9 p.m. EDT (8 p.m. CDT), followed by this column the Sunday after. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau@massively.com or Twitter me @Beau_Hindman.

It's hard for a game to strike a perfect balance of fun and challenge. In fact, I'd say it's the result of otherworldly forces as much as it is the hard work of the developer. Many of the greatest games I have ever played are a conglomerate of many factors that were beyond the control of the artists, writers and producers who first crafted the world. Sometimes, the crew must simply hope that its ship floats, and that it happens to set her to sail just as the weather is perfect.

Then a game like ChangYou's Zentia comes along, a game that has all the wonderful qualities I am looking for -- as the result of some very smart, specific design choices made by some very creative people. Sure, I discovered the game on accident (I wasn't actively looking for a game the day Zentia fell into my lap), but the game has obviously been crafted with precision and care.

If you'd like to read up on some of the details of the game, you can check out our E3 coverage here, or read an article of mine here. Also, you can get your closed beta key here. Otherwise, see me after the break, and be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Zentia

Rise and Shiny recap: Zentia originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal releases new patch, revamped models

Beau Hindman — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Earth Eternal

Earth Eternal unveiled their new take on bears, deer, robots and other odd races today in their latest patch. We've suggested to change the appropriately named "New Character Models" to "From Flab to Fab." Not only do the character models look better, but now they can spin on a dime to auto-face enemies. Instant travel between henges is also possible, as well as the ability to teleport directly to your friends! We've discussed the game before and even added it to a favorites list, so read up on it if you'd like.

Armor looks and stats have also been tweaked and many other fixes have been put in. This is a very large patch, so it would be a good idea to visit the official forum post to read all the details.

Earth Eternal releases new patch, revamped models originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: My top five F2P games

Beau Hindman — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Free for All

You know, I think I have a pretty clear mission here at Massively. I want to do my part to point out anything different or fresh to help keep this special genre of entertainment going in a good direction. If I can introduce 20 people to five new games, then I think I did a pretty good job. It can be a pretty rough trip, sometimes, as I wade through horribly designed websites and illegible fonts to fish up some independent gem or two.

Over the last few years, I have discovered that my playstyle has changed to meet the demands of my curiosity. The games that I enjoy the most allow me to come and go, like a faithful dog that meets me after a long days work. They have to meet certain criteria, and even then have to be flexible enough to bend to my MMO ADD.

So, here's a short, very short, list. This is the hardest list to write, not because it is hard to fill, but because it is almost impossible to cut off. Read on and see if you agree with my top five favorite free-to-play MMORPGs. (In no particular order.)

Continue reading Free for All: My top five F2P games

Free for All: My top five F2P games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Earth Eternal

Beau Hindman — Sat, 29 May 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Reviews, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, Rise and Shiny

Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet each Tuesday and Friday night at 8 PM Central time, with a recap column on Saturday. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau at massively dot com.

I have been a fan of Earth Eternal since participating in the very unplayable closed beta, but never really got far beyond the first few levels. Lately, though, I have fallen in love with the toy-like nature of the game; it's bright, shiny and plastic. It can run on a netbook (I know, I ran it on mine) and looks pretty good considering the low hardware requirements needed to run it. While I have to admit being initially turned off by the "furry" nature of the game, I later found the community to be almost completely helpful and friendly. I'm glad I decided to take a deeper look at the game over the last week.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Earth Eternal

Rise and Shiny recap: Earth Eternal originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Walk softly and carry a big hammer

Krystalle Voecks — Sat, 15 May 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Free-to-play, One Shots, Earth Eternal

Games like Earth Eternal which offer the ability to launch from a browser have piqued the curiosity of players -- we hardcore MMO geeks are all about interesting innovations. But it's not just the ability to launch from the browser that intrigues players -- it's the fun, stylized take on fantasy that keeps many coming to Sparkplay Media's free-to-play game. Today we have a picturesque screenshot from Massively regular commenter, Ripper McGee, showing off a view from an early area. He writes in to explain: "Here's a simple shot of my new clockwork knight, Django Fett, against the night sky and shattered moon in Earthrise, the final tutorial zone in Earth Eternal."

Are you playing a game we don't get a chance to see all that often? Why not share your experiences and views with us here on One Shots. It's easy to do. Just grab a great screenshot and send it in to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it here for everyone to check out and give you the credit for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

One Shots: Walk softly and carry a big hammer originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 May 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal celebrates Zombie Awareness Month

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 11 May 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Earth Eternal

Did you know that May is Zombie Awareness Month? Well, now you do, as do the folks at Earth Eternal. They've prepared for the event in the nick of time -- hordes of undead are invading the lands of Earth Eternal, threatening the land and the beasts that inhabit it. What's worse, rumors are flying that some of the beasts are assisting the zombies, as well as "glorious rewards" promised to those who help feed their appetites.

The heroes of Bremen, Heartwood, and Camelot need your aid in defeating the zombie invasion. Log in to Earth Eternal every weekend this May to warn the people, defend the beasts, and learn the secret behind the zombie invasion and strange alliances being formed.

The first event is this weekend, May 15th - 16th. Sparkplay warns players to be careful: "zombies may not be fast, but they are everywhere!"

Earth Eternal celebrates Zombie Awareness Month originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal celebrates Earth Day with in-game contest

Rubi Bayer — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Earth Eternal

Many MMOs celebrate the same events in game, such as Thanksgiving/Fall, and the various winter celebrations, but Earth Eternal takes a bit of a different approach in celebrating Earth Day.

It's an obvious choice for Earth Eternal, where the storyline revolves around a world in which mankind has wiped itself out, and anthropomorphic beasts have reclaimed the planet. All is not well in this alternate earth, though. Sinister Rotted Treekin are showing up in part of this two-day Earth Day event.

Rotted Treekin will spawn throughout the world, threatening Innocent Treekin, who will call for players to come to their aid. Players who respond will be able to enter the contest and compete for some great prizes: "Participants will be competing for the esteemed title Boss Lumberjack, complete with winning a collectable plush Shroomie hat and a forum article dedicated to their combat prowess."

The contest kicks off on Earth Day, which is this Thursday, April 22, and continues for two days. Take a screenshot of your battle and send it in to enter. The winner will be announced in-game at 5 p.m. PST on April 23, so good luck to all of you!

Earth Eternal celebrates Earth Day with in-game contest originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal updates items, offers client download

Jef Reahard — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Earth Eternal

Sparkplay brings word of a significant update to their free-to-play MMORPG Earth Eternal. The patch features major changes to both the in-game content as well as the client itself, which is now available for download in addition to the traditional browser-based interface.

The game world now features the new entry zone of Bastion Island, a comprehensive rework of the Mushroom Isle starter area, and a total item revamp to prepare for forthcoming PvP tweaks. Included in the item update are new high level items as well as a new classification system that breaks items down into categories. Sparkplay hopes the changes will enable players to sort at a glance and manage valuable items more efficiently. Finally, armor is now wearable by every class, adding to both visual and utility customization.

Check out the Earth Eternal website for further details or to register and grab the client. Plus, take a trip after the break to check out the teaser trailer for Bastion Island and the war against the Anubian army!

Continue reading Earth Eternal updates items, offers client download

Earth Eternal updates items, offers client download originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal takes players Down Below

Krystalle Voecks — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, New titles, Patches, News items, Earth Eternal

The team over at Sparkplay Media have been hard at work polishing up Earth Eternal as they move towards the game's eventual release. This dedication to the 'it's done when it's done' MMO development is certainly a great thing to see -- especially when it comes hand in hand with fun new content!

The newest patch, 0.8.5, adds a spooky new dungeon called The Down Below for players to explore. This area is an excavated ruin in Midland between New Badari and Grunes Tal that offers players 10 enormous new areas and 30 named mobs just perfect for groups of 5 level 33 to 36 players. There are also a bunch of fixes and updates in patch 0.8.5 that players of all levels will definitely want to read up on.

The Earth Eternal beta is open for any and all people who have been interested in the game, but haven't had a chance to try it out. So if checking out browser-based MMOs where you get to play animals, robots, or demons sounds like something you'd enjoy, head on over to the Earth Eternal site and get signed up to play!

Earth Eternal takes players Down Below originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sparkplay Media secures more funding, may introduce new projects outside Earth Eternal

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Earth Eternal

Sparkplay Media, the team behind the browser/client hybrid free-to-play title Earth Eternal, has just wrangled up an additional 2.8 million dollars in investments, according to a filing within the SEC.

The team is certainly showing growth, as noted in a recent interview with the new lead designer on Earth Eternal when he asks for more members on his team, but VentureBeat believes that Sparkplay is experimenting on more projects outside of Earth Eternal.

Currently their job page speaks otherwise, as Sparkplay is looking for more developers to be placed onto the Earth Eternal team. But, even if the company isn't working on new projects, more investments are only good news as it means more ambitious updates will likely be coming to Earth Eternal in the coming year, thanks to more people working on the project.

[Thanks for the tip, Ripper!]

Sparkplay Media secures more funding, may introduce new projects outside Earth Eternal originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's Thanksgiving 2009 MMO wrapup

Rubi Bayer — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Super-hero, Dungeons and Dragons Online, EverQuest, Guild Wars, Events, in-game, News items, War, Free-to-play, Browser, Earth Eternal, Champions Online, Dragonica Online

It's that time of year again -- Thanksgiving is tomorrow and all things turkey related have invaded the MMO world: hunting turkeys, eating turkeys, exchanging turkey parts for rewards, wielding turkey weapons, and even wearing turkeys on your head. Sending yourself into a tryptophan coma isn't the only thing to do, though. You'll find some non-turkey related PvP here and there, opportunities to spread Thanksgiving blessings, and even some new content. And of course, Thanksgiving bonuses, treats, and souvenirs are everywhere. Follow along after the jump for a look at what's going on for Thanksgiving.

Continue reading Massively's Thanksgiving 2009 MMO wrapup

Massively's Thanksgiving 2009 MMO wrapup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal hits open beta

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Earth Eternal

You ever want to play an MMO in your browser? Well now you can! Sparkplay Media's Earth Eternal has finally made the leap into open beta, and joining is as easy as a few button clicks.

All you have to do to check out the free-to-play MMO with 22 races is go to their website and sign up for an account. That's it. It's really, really just that easy. After your account is made, you can play Earth Eternal in your browser, or you can grab the actual client and run it separate from your browser.

If you like the game and want to throw some money its way, you might want to consider doing it during the open beta. For the month of October, any game credit purchases will have an extra 20% credits thrown in for your purchase. So if you grab 1,000 credits, you'll get 1,200 instead.

So, what are you waiting for? Jump on over to the EE website and sign up. It's easy!

Earth Eternal hits open beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Updated] Stress test Earth Eternal, get a cool hat

Krystalle Voecks — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, News items, Free-to-play, Earth Eternal, Giveaways

Are you a big fan of fantasy? Like exclusive items? How about helping to stress test games? If you answered "yes" to all three of those questions, then listen up! Our friends over at SparkPlay Media have sent over another shiny batch of 1,000 beta keys so those people who are interested can get involved with a new round of beta testing in Earth Eternal starting at 12:00 PM Pacific tomorrow. As a thank you for making it online, testers who are in at 2 PM Pacific (Saturday, September 26th) will get this special Earth Eternal hat that we think looks sneakingly like the stylish one worn by Tim the Enchanter. We're told the EE logo on the front sparkles too, so be sure to get there early!

All you have to do if you want in on all the fun is to head over to the Massively code-giving-out-site-thing, read the instructions, and click the button. Or click the button and then read the instructions. It's really not too terribly hard to do - and hey, it gets you in to the Earth Eternal beta! Then show up tomorrow at 12 PM Pacific (3pm Eastern) and hang around until 2:00 PM Pacific (5pm Eastern) to net yourself one of these funky hats. With your new hat, you can then run around warning everyone about those killer rabbits and their nasty sharp pointy teeth. Hopefully they'll believe you, unlike those who doubted the word of Tim.

[Edited to show updated times]

[Updated] Stress test Earth Eternal, get a cool hat originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Come test Earth Eternal tonight, get a special beta gift

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, Casual, Earth Eternal, Giveaways

There's nothing we love here at Massively more than giving our devoted readers the chance to get into betas whenever we can. That's why when Sparkplay Media contacted us today to ask if we could help them fill their servers to bursting with gamers who were interested in their upcoming anthropomorphic fantasy game Earth Eternal, we knew just what to do. So, we asked for a bunch of beta keys to give out! They were all too glad to give us a large bundle, which we've now set up on our beta key server for you to grab.

But if free beta keys weren't fun enough, Sparkplay decided to make the deal even more interesting by offering a very special beta item available to any and all testers who log in tonight at 5PM Pacific (8PM Eastern). All you have to do is play some Earth Eternal and help them push the servers hard. Testers who show up and give them a hand during that time-frame will get a special "Beta Beast" Earth Eternal banner to display. So if you've been curious about this casual-friendly fantasy MMO, then be sure to go snag one of the beta codes and pop by tonight at 5PM Pacific to lend a hand.

Come test Earth Eternal tonight, get a special beta gift originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fileplanet wants you to play Earth Eternal really badly

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Earth Eternal, Humor

What's this taking up one of the center links on Fileplanet? Is it the upcoming MMO Earth Eternal? Why yes it is! Sparkplay Media's Earth Eternal has made it to the top of the free games listing... except for the fact that EE is still in closed beta.

Fileplanet's link, while enticing, will not get you instant access into the closed beta. What it will do, however, is sign you up for an account that will let you be eligible to be selected for the closed beta. It will not let you play the game immediately, but it will certainly net you a chance at playing sooner rather than later.

According to Sparkplay Media, Fileplanet will be involved with getting the game and the word out there, but it seems they've jumped the gun in releasing their link for the game. It's cool, we all make mistakes.

As to what special in-game items Fileplanet members will be receiving for signing up and playing, well, that's still a secret to everybody.

Fileplanet wants you to play Earth Eternal really badly originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Matt Mihaly talks microtransactions and Earth Eternal

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Culture, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Earth Eternal

It looks like we're not the only ones on the block to talk to Matt Mihaly, as Gamasutra has recently sat down with the Sparkplay Media CEO. The topic of the conversation: microtransactions.

Matt's no stranger to microtransactions, having utilized them back with Iron Realms Entertainment and their many MUD games. His talk with Gamasutra starts out focusing on how microtransactions can generate a very modest income, but mainly center on a small segment of the game's population paying the most to play the game.

Beyond microtransactions, Matt gives a few very interesting details about the development of Earth Eternal and how it reached the form it's in today. Did you know that originally Earth Eternal was going to be a hyper-violent and hyper-sexualized fantasy MMO before it evolved into the playful multi-race animal/fable theme? No? Then you might want to check out the full article, as there's more where that came from regarding the game's evolution.

Matt Mihaly talks microtransactions and Earth Eternal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part Two, pg. 2

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Browser, Earth Eternal, Massively Interviews

Massively: Is there any MMO that has influenced your work on Earth Eternal, and if so how did it influence you?

Ryne Anderson, programmer: Absolutely! One of the most enjoyable aspects in working with games is digging into the titles that you really enjoy and seeing if you can't make them a bit better by throwing your own unique spin on them. Of note, World of Warcraft has been my shining beacon throughout the project. The simplicity of getting a player into the action opened the floodgates to people who might have previously been intimidated by the stigma that MMO's were for 'hardcore' players. Earth Eternal aims to not only meet, but exceed the accessibility of the current 3D MMOs, by not requiring a monthly subscription or up-front payment to play- all within a very polished game world that you can play in a browser.

What Earth Eternal race represents you the best and why?

Ryne: Being a technical guy myself, it is without a doubt the Clockwork. First and foremost, his look is amazingly different from all of the other races in Earth Eternal. Secondly, let's face it: robots are awesome! (Unfortunately though, I can't be a robot ninja in Earth Eternal...yet.)

If you could pick out your favorite part of Earth Eternal, what would it be and why?

Ryne: As hinted above, I'm really into accessibility for any type of player. To me, if we can get a player, from seeing our webpage, to in the game killing monsters in five minutes or less, that's a huge win for both us and the player. I believe we have succeeded in this, as our intro area not only looks beautiful, but gets players into the action right away.

What has been the most difficult obstacle for you to overcome in your work on Earth Eternal?

Ryne: Making any sort of game is always a learning process, and sometimes simple issues turn out to be much larger when you try to lay out all the details. For me, the most difficult part of making an MMO is keeping the client and server in sync at all times. It's a trade-off between being responsive to the commands issued by the player and validating that they are actually allowed to do those commands on the server.

What are some of the limitations/problems you encounter when coding for both a client and a browser-based game? How have you guys overcome that?

Ryne: Honestly, getting the game running in the browser isn't a monumental task. It requires a bit of touch-up every time a new browser version comes out, but the plugin we have is fairly solid. The difference between the browser and client version are pretty minimal. Having said that, since we are running in a browser we want the game to be able to run on as many computers as possible, and optimizing for all sorts of different configurations is always quite a challenge.

Thank you so much to the Sparkplay Team for lending the time to answer our questions! If you're interested in Earth Eternal or would like to put your name into the hat for the closed beta, stop by their website!

Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part Two, pg. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part Two

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Browser, Earth Eternal, Massively Interviews

Yesterday we introduced you to the lead designer and concept artist from Sparkplay Media, the makers of the upcoming free-to-play MMO Earth Eternal. Today we have more behind the scenes action for you as we continue our "Meet the Sparkplay Media Team" feature and introduce you to the lead writer and one of the programmers that work so diligently on this new MMO.

In today's feature we get the inside scoop on the microtransaction store and story from Sparkplay's CEO and lead writer of Earth Eternal, Matt Mihaly. Plus we're also getting a peek inside what goes on during the coding of Earth Eternal with Ryne Anderson, one of the programmers.

Continue reading Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part Two

Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part Two originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part One, pg. 2

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Browser, Earth Eternal, Massively Interviews

Massively: Is there any MMO that has influenced your work on Earth Eternal, and if so how did it influence you?

Alex Madrigal, Concept Artist: I've been pretty active with MMOs for about seven years now. I've played Final Fantasy XI the most, but I've spent a serious amount of time in World of Warcraft as well. I've dabbled in Everquest 2, Lineage II and most recently Dragonica. Artistically, I've picked something up from each of the games I've spent considerable amounts of time with.

What Earth Eternal race represents you the best and why?

Alex: I'd have to say that I'm probably most like the Ursine. I'm big, tough and hairy. Also...not so much tough, but definitely cuddly!

If you could pick out your favorite part of Earth Eternal, what would it be and why?

Alex: My monster designs. That will probably (definitely) come across as conceit, but the time spent with the team discussing, designing and fine tuning the monsters was probably the most fun I've had working on this game. To take something from a simply stated verbal concept and then see it grow through the stages of development is always exciting. Getting to draw strange things and seeing them show up in a 3D virtual space is a hoot. Plus it does my ego good when I hear people say that they think the designs are cool. And if you manage to find monsters you think aren't so cool - I didn't do those. [Laughs]

What has been the most difficult obstacle for you to overcome in your work on Earth Eternal?

Alex: Doing user interface work. Having come from an animation background, jumping headfirst into designing a UI was a hell of a hurdle. Dealing with a whole new set of technical limitations and rules was difficult at first. For my first UI, I'm pretty happy with the end result, but I prefer the pencil and paper/Photoshop route instead of shifting around tiny pixels.

What has influenced your art style for Earth Eternal? Why this art style?

Alex: I wish I could say that I was on the ground floor to help decide the artistic style for the game, but I actually came on as the concept artist about a year after the game's development started. I've been following a style set by another group of artists, but I have taken the opportunity to slather it in a healthy coating of my own personal style when possible. I'm heavily influenced by European graphic novel artists, and I really enjoy classic fairy tale illustrations. Things with visual texture and very rhythmic line work. Earth Eternal has rich lore and to me, it feels like a fairy tale world. I try to implement that kind of stuff wherever I can.

Come back tomorrow for part two, when we get to speak with the lead writer, Matt Mihaly, and one of the programmers, Ryne Anderson!

Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part One, pg. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part One

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Browser, Earth Eternal, Massively Interviews

Here at Massively we recently got the chance to sit down with a couple members of the Sparkplay Media team and pick their brains about their upcoming MMO, Earth Eternal. However, these guys had a lot to say to us! So much so that we couldn't fit it into one of our standard interviews!

So that's why we're bringing you "Meet the Sparkplay Media Team," a two part feature article with all of the info and answers that we've been exposed to. Today and tomorrow you're going to get to know the lead designer, a concept artist, lead writer (and moonlighting CEO), and one of the programmers behind Earth Eternal.

Today we're sitting down with Greg Chapman, the lead designer, and Alex Madrigal, one of the concept artists. If you wish to comment on today's interviews, please do so on page two of our interviews. Otherwise, hit that continue reading button and come on in!

Continue reading Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part One

Meet the Sparkplay Media team: Part One originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively speaks with Sparkplay Media's CEO on Earth Eternal pt. 2

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, New titles, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Earth Eternal, Massively Interviews

How have the launches of FusionFall and Free Realms affected Earth Eternal? Have you changed your development or goals in any way because of the success of those two games, or have you stayed the course and continued to build things your way, disregarding those two games?

Not really, no. Games like Runescape and Habbo have had more influence on our plans than either of those two games, simply because they're so much bigger. FusionFall and Free Realms have gotten a lot of press in the last year, but neither of them have achieved the level of success that games like Runescape and Habbo have.

Actually, nobody really knows how Free Realms is doing outside of SOE. Three million registrations doesn't tell you much about how many active players they have as you don't know how quickly players are churning out of the experience. With the massive dollars they spent on marketing too, it'd be surprising if they couldn't get a few million registrations. The challenge for them (and everyone else in this space, including us) is to convert that fleeting attention into long-term, loyal players.

"We're more in the vein of a classic fantasy MMO than a collection of minigames."

How will Earth Eternal separate itself from the growing free-to-play genre in America? What will make this game stand out?

We're a different kind of experience from FusionFall or Free Realms. We're more in the vein of a classic fantasy MMO than a collection of minigames. I think where we stand out is by offering the best browser-based fantasy MMO out there. We've made the decision to have no humans, elves, or dwarves (or gnomes, hobbits, or anything else too close to human), preferring instead to offer everything from humanoid lizards and falcons to the Clockwork and Yeti. We're definitely fantasy but we want to stay away from the pack, almost all of whom have the humans/elves/dwarves thing going on. We've also got an enormous number of races for players (unlike the two games you mentioned) - 22 at launch.

Considering all of Earth Eternal's development, what part of the game are you the most proud of? What is that one feature you can't wait to show off?

The number one thing I'm proud of is how much our team has managed to do on relatively little funding for an open world 3D MMO (about five million dollars.) As far as game features go the biggest feature I'm looking forward to showing off is our Groves system, which will be introduced at final launch, a few months after we go into open beta.

Thanks so much for your time, Matt!

Massively speaks with Sparkplay Media's CEO on Earth Eternal pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively speaks with Sparkplay Media's CEO on Earth Eternal

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, New titles, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Earth Eternal, Massively Interviews

With Sparkplay Media's first game, Earth Eternal, going into beta, we got the chance to sit down with the CEO of the company, Matt Mihaly, and pick his mind on a variety of things related to setting up shop in the free to play genre.

Matt's no stranger to the massively multiplayer space, holding a strong background as the CEO and founder of Iron Realms Entertainment, a company dedicated to creating multi-user dungeons (MUDs) including Imperian, Aetola, Achaea, and Lusternia. If that wasn't enough, Achaea was one of the first games to introduce the sales of virtual goods, making him one of the pioneers of the base that free-to-play games now stand on.

So what's his thought process behind Earth Eternal? What are some of the things we can expect from the MMO that's sporting over 22 races? Hit the continue reading link, and find out!

Continue reading Massively speaks with Sparkplay Media's CEO on Earth Eternal

Massively speaks with Sparkplay Media's CEO on Earth Eternal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal opens sign ups for closed beta test

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 20 May 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Earth Eternal

Interested in running around a browser-based MMO fantasy world filled with over 22 races? Yes? Then you need to get over to Earth Eternal's website and sign up for their recently announced closed beta test!

Earth Eternal is an an MMO that's all about what happens when humanity ceases to exist and the Earth is roamed by beasts of myth once more. It's also free to play and will run on almost any computer thanks to a client that runs inside of the browser, similar to Cartoon Network's FusionFall. Players will find a wide variety of features available, including multi-classing abilities, customizable housing in the form of "groves," and a design emphasis on small groups rather than huge raids.

There's still no release date announced for Earth Eternal, but we're guessing that with the closed beta happening so soon, there can't be much time left before the release date is fully confirmed.

Earth Eternal opens sign ups for closed beta test originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earth Eternal beta draws nearer

William Dobson — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, Free-to-play, Races, Earth Eternal

Furry free-to-play MMO Earth Eternal has hit their fans with a newsletter, and they bring word that a beta phase of testing is not far away now. Even better, they are offering a way for people to get into their beta pre-selection pool. By signing up at the game's website and completing their Earth Eternal Spring 2009 Survey, you'll have a chance of being chosen to participate in the closed beta. The survey closes on the 25th of May, and no further entries will be taken after that point.

Website users can also earn community points by posting, taking part in polls, rating art and playing a mini-game called Shroomie's Search. There is a new Race Gallery featuring a staggering 22 playable animal and monster races, and each entry includes a "Creature Info" section revealing the background of said beasties. If this community ever has a get-together, there'll be one heck of a diverse cosplay gallery to show for it.

Earth Eternal beta draws nearer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 May 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sparkplay LF Community Manager, PST

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Earth Eternal

If you've been looking for a game that offers something off the beaten path - or a job in a gaming startup with potential in San Francisco - then you may be interested in the opportunity over at SparkPlay Media. According to a recent posting on their website, they're looking for a Community Manager for their upcoming MMO, Earth Eternal. They're looking for the normal medley of things for anyone who will work heavily as a liason between community and the internal customers; creativity, organization, communication, experience and excitement.

That said, if you're in the Bay Area, have games industry experience, and are looking for a way to get into the MMO side of things, be sure to check out their job posting. For the rest of us who are just a wee bit too far away for the commute, we'll have to content ourselves with a gallery of tasty screenshots from Earth Eternal for now.

Gallery: Earth Eternal

Sparkplay LF Community Manager, PST originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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F2P Earth Eternal gears up for 2009 launch

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, New titles, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Earth Eternal

Here at Massively, we understand that free-to-play games are gaining in popularity lately. This is a trend that might just rise before it ever fades away. The business model of F2P makes sense to some (not all), and the icing on the cake for a casual player is a browser-based environment. Marry the two and you have games like RuneScape, but what if you're looking for something more... updated?

Enter Earth Eternal. We haven't heard anything from the Earth Eternal team in awhile, but this game seems to have a lot to offer for a "younger" or more casual audience, in addition to escaping the tired old tradition of having humans as the main playable character. Although the game is not yet ready for prime-time, you can monitor its development over at their gorgeous new website. There's a video trailer, some screenshots, brand new forums and more to enjoy.

F2P Earth Eternal gears up for 2009 launch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Furries let their tails down in Earth Eternal

Brenda Holloway — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, New titles, Free-to-play, Races, Earth Eternal

It's been awhile since we checked in on Sparkplay Media's furry animal MMO, Earth Eternal. The story goes that, eons ago, the creatures known only as "Man", once the greatest of all living things, poisoned the Earth and warred amongst themselves, making themselves extinct. The gods and other elder creatures who had more or less left Man to their own devices, decided to give that whole"mortal creature" thing another try, cleaned up the Earth, and placed the Beast people on it.

Earth Eternal will be a free to play, Runescape-like MMO where you play one of sixteen different animal races in a land of adventure and high fantasy. The game runs with a small client that downloads new areas in the background as you encounter them. As well as the usual quests, adventures and dungeon crawls, EE players will be able to make their own Groves, areas of the world of their own design, in two parts. The public part will be above ground, but there will be an equally extensive portion below ground that can be set to be as private as you like. Pictured above is a shared Grove; they can be quite elaborate.

We estimate about ... three hours after it goes live before someone makes a Grove named The Island of Misfit Toys. It's not gonna be the kind of place you bring your children, either. Check out the latest teaser video after the break.

Continue reading Furries let their tails down in Earth Eternal

Furries let their tails down in Earth Eternal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In Development: Earth Eternal

Akela Talamasca — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Galleries, Interviews, New titles, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Races, Earth Eternal

Earth Eternal is an upcoming MMO by developer Sparkplay Media, and it's definitely something different. In EE, you'll be able to play as one of 16 races, each one an anthropomorphized animal form, known collectively and colloquially as 'Furries'. It should be noted that Sparkplay apparently didn't even consider the Furry lifestyle when they created EE; they're more fans of the talking animal genre of fantasy films, as put forth by Disney, et al.

Gamebunny recently caught up with CEO and Creative Director Matt Mihaly for a second interview concerning the game and everything that's happened since their first conversation. There's no hard release date so far, but it will be a free-to-play MMO, so if you're at all interested, give these interviews a look and start thinking about what sort of animal you most identify with; chances are it's in the game! Personally, I'm dying to be a plant creature, as shown above, running around in my own little pot and everything!

[Thanks, David!]

In Development: Earth Eternal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iron Realms births Sparkplay Media, new 3D-focused company

Chris Chester — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:46:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Browser

Iron Realms Entertainment, who you you might (or might not, more than likely) remember from such text-based MMOs as Achaea: Dreams of Divine Lands, Lusternia: Age of Ascension, and Imperian: The Sundered Heavens, has taken their brand in a new direction, creating a separate company named Sparkplay Media from the division working on their upcoming browser-based 3D property, Earth Eternal. That's right folks, 3D!

Evidently, they didn't feel as though text-based adventures and the new 3D IPs should exist under the same banner, so the Sparkplay Media name will be used for Earth Eternal, which is scheduled for 2008, in addition to all subsequent games in the same three dimensional vein and Iron Realms will continue to be used for their text-based games. If your interest is piqued at all, check out the video after the jump for some early in-game footage of Earth Eternal.

[Via Warcry]

Continue reading Iron Realms births Sparkplay Media, new 3D-focused company

Iron Realms births Sparkplay Media, new 3D-focused company originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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