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Black Prophecy developer Reakktor Media on its last legs

Matt Daniel — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Economy, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

The future is looking a bit hazy for Black Prophecy developer Reakktor Media, as reports indicate that the studio "has begun the insolvency process" and is scrambling for work in order to keep itself afloat. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, Reakktor Media's managing director Kirk Lenke stated that "[the studio is] in a position to accomplish basically anything [that] is played right now, even if we were focused in the recent times on multiplayer mobile gaming," which may indicate an interest in developing games outside of the MMO genre.

Lenke also notes that the studio currently has a Diablo-esque sci-fi title in the early development stages. At any rate, we wish the best of luck to the folks at Reakktor Media. Even if things are looking pretty grim, here's to hoping that there's a silver lining in store for the studio.

Black Prophecy developer Reakktor Media on its last legs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy celebrates World Space Week with bonus events

Jef Reahard — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy, Promotions

Did you know that it's world space week? Yep, it is, and gamigo is leveraging the occasion to hype its free-to-play Black Prophecy MMORPG. A new company press release has the details, and they boil down to a couple of special events both in and around the space shooter.

First up is an XP boost that grants players a 25% increase on both missions and enemy kills. gamigo is also offering an additional 15% extra cash on all cash shop packet purchases.

Also of note is Black Prophecy's first official expansion. Episode 2: Species War is out now, and you can view an official trailer for the new content after the break.

[Source: gamigo press release]

Continue reading Black Prophecy celebrates World Space Week with bonus events

Black Prophecy celebrates World Space Week with bonus events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reakktor and gamigo release Black Prophecy tutorial videos

Jef Reahard — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

If you're having trouble sleeping at night, Reakktor and gamigo have a series of new Black Prophecy tutorial videos that just might do the trick. OK, that's mean, but the producers could stand to work on the monotone voiceover that drones throughout the entirety of three separate clips.

Happily, the clips themselves are pretty informative, and they cover interface basics, advanced UI features, and basic game functions. If you're new to MMOs or new to the world of Black Prophecy, it's probably worth spending the 10 minutes required to check them out (and of course you can do so after the break). Just make sure you've got a Red Bull instead of a glass of warm milk.

Continue reading Reakktor and gamigo release Black Prophecy tutorial videos

Reakktor and gamigo release Black Prophecy tutorial videos originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy preps for Episode 2: Species War

Larry Everett — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Patches, PvP, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

Black Prophecy's next patch is upon us: Episode 2: Species War launched on the game's public test server this morning. This patch opens up the Warzone section of the starmap. Warzones are contested areas, and as each faction conquers a zone, bonuses are granted to members of that faction. If a faction controls adjacent warzones, then pilots are awarded experience bonuses as well. Tyi and Genide pilots, all-out PvP is heading your way. Get ready!

The rules for conquering a warzone are simple. Each of these new zones consists of three outposts, a support sector, and a command center. Holding all three outposts simultaneously opens the pathway to the command center. Command centers have nine capture points with one active point at a time. If attackers control all nine points before 20 minutes, then the zone is theirs. However, if the defenders successfully prevent that from happening, they are rewarded for each capture point defended. Players of both factions gain points based on kills within the warzone sector.

Check the the new official screenshots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Black Prophecy Episode 2: Species War

Black Prophecy preps for Episode 2: Species War originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy unveils Space Superstar contest

Jef Reahard — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Contests, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

Feeling like a Black Prophecy superstar? The recently launched free-to-play space shooter is looking for a few good designers to take advantage of the game's character creation tools. The Space Superstar competition will feature three winners, one each in the categories of coolest, funniest, and most beautiful avatar.

What do you get for your trouble? Immortality (or at least, the MMORPG version of it). Each category champ will have their character entered as the new preset in Black Prophecy's character creator. The contest kicked off yesterday and it runs through Wednesday, August 3rd, so what the frak are you waiting for?

Black Prophecy unveils Space Superstar contest originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy launch-day interview

Matt Daniel — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Game mechanics, Interviews, Launches, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

Reakktor Media's space-faring MMO Black Prophecy saw its North American launch today, as well as its first major content update. We've already provided you lovely readers with a launch-day roundup for your perusal. To commemorate the game going live, we have a launch-day interview with gamigo's Executive Board Member Patrick Streppel. So strap yourselves in, kick your thrusters into overdrive, and jump past the cut for the full interview.

Continue reading Black Prophecy launch-day interview

Black Prophecy launch-day interview originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy North American launch day round-up

Jef Reahard — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

It's launch day for Black Prophecy, and while the impending blast-off probably won't generate as much publicity as last week's final space shuttle mission, it's nonetheless a day long remembered for fans of spaceships, sci-fi, and Reakktor's free-to-play followup to Neocron.

But wait a minute, didn't Black Prophecy launch last March? Why yes, yes it did... in Europe. Today marks the official North American street date, and Massively's got you covered in terms of all the Black Prophecy news that's fit to print.

Join us after the cut for recaps of the European launch, the North American closed beta phase, and a bunch of other blurbs to tide you over until you're able to strap into your very own internet spaceship.

Continue reading Black Prophecy North American launch day round-up

Black Prophecy North American launch day round-up originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Jul 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy heads into the Inferno with Episode 1

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

While we're still waiting for Black Prophecy to officially launch here in North America -- where it's still in open beta -- Reakktor Media is already going full throttle with the next update for the game called Episode 1: Inferno in Tulima.

In Episode 1, level 15+ players will head to Enzo's Enigmatic Emporium of Exotic Elegance (say that three times fast) to tackle a set of new missions. Black Prophecy is also adding an interesting progression obstacle in the form of bound sectors. To get to the next sector -- and next hub -- groups of players will have to duke it out with fairly tough enemies guarding the passageways.

Episode 1 will also include a better message system, in-game email, new jobs, additional missions, and a change in PvP rewards. Black Prophecy's first update is slated for an early July release. To help you during this nail-biting waiting period, why not help yourself to a complimentary screenshot below?

Gallery: Black Prophecy

Black Prophecy heads into the Inferno with Episode 1 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy launches North American open beta

Jef Reahard — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

E3 is still in full swing, but Reakktor and gamigo are already looking past the publicity-soaked annual gaming convention and into the future.

That future is now for North American fans of Black Prophecy, and today marks the beginning of open beta for the title that launched in Europe last March. Black Prophecy features real-time dogfighting, customizable ships, storylines, and open-world gameplay, all set against an interstellar backdrop punctuated by constant war and lush visuals. You can register for the open beta on the game's official website, as well as download the client. Be sure to check out all our previous coverage to get up to speed.

Black Prophecy launches North American open beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy stress testing U.S. servers this weekend

Jef Reahard — Wed, 25 May 2011 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Events, in-game, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

Black Prophecy may have debuted in Europe a couple of months back, but the free-to-play sci-fi title is still sitting on the launch pad here in the States. The date is drawing closer, though, as gamigo is gearing up to stress test the game's American servers beginning Thursday, May 26th.

The publisher is also offering an unspecified launch-day gift to players who log in and test from May 26th through May 29th. If you were part of the recent closed beta events, you're cordially invited to help break the servers this weekend, and you should be receiving an official email summons if you haven't already. You'll need your closed beta account credentials, which can be looked up under your gamigo master account if you've forgotten.

You'll also want to grab the American beta client and have a look at what's changed via the official forums.

Black Prophecy stress testing U.S. servers this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 May 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: Sequelitis

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 19 May 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: EverQuest II, Lineage 2, Neocron 2, Sword of the New World, Guild Wars 2, Everquest Online Adventures, Humor, Final Fantasy XIV, DUST 514, Vindictus, EverQuest Next, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

As a long-time movie buff, I've always been fascinated by sequels. I know, they have a terrible reputation and everyone gets this face like he's digesting a porcupine when discussing them, but there's something fun about them as well. I think we always want a good story to continue, to see what happens next, and to answer the question, "What would the first film be like if it were put in the hands of a complete boob?" It would be an entertaining trainwreck, that's what.

Even though the MMORPG genre is in its toddler stage, it's seen a number of sequels, prequels and spin-offs, just the same as other types of entertainment. Video game sequels for hit titles are safer financial investments than striking out into new territory, so it makes sense that MMO studios would follow this pattern as well.

Right now there are loads of MMO sequels and spin-offs in the works -- including EverQuest Next, PlanetSide Next, Guild Wars 2, Mabinogi 2, MapleStory 2, Phantasy Star Online 2, Dust 514, and even a possible Ultima Online sequel -- so it's safe to say that the trend won't be dying down anytime soon. However, today I want to look at 10 sequels that already made it to release and briefly examine how they stacked up to their predecessors. Oh yes, there will be blood after the jump -- and I will drink your milkshake!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Sequelitis

The Perfect Ten: Sequelitis originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: The shape of things to come

Krystalle Voecks — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Free-to-play, One Shots, Black Prophecy

With the NDA down on Black Prophecy and more and more people checking it out all the time, we're surprised we haven't seen more screenshots from this upcoming free-to-play sci-fi spaceship dogfighter mailed in to One Shots! Today's sleek image from Black Prophecy (with minimal UI) comes to us from Erik L., who writes in: "This is a view of the hyperspace chapel Apo Kata, which is one of the early hubs in the game. I think the view is a nice example of this good-looking game. If one just watches the surroundings for a short while, one can see the trails of ships leaving and arriving in the area."

If you're taking part in a beta that isn't under NDA, why not beat the crowds and send in some cool screenshots to us? It's easy to do. Gather a few images up and email them to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing in each picture. Your screenshot could be the next one we post on Massively!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

One Shots: The shape of things to come originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy North American closed beta begins

Jef Reahard — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Launches, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

It's only been a couple of days since the official European launch of Reakktor's Black Prophecy, but North American fans of the free-to-play sci-fi title have been feeling left out in the cold due to a general lack of availability. Happily, gamigo and Reakktor have posted a news blurb on the game's website officially announcing the start of the North American closed beta.

Reakktor also states that the first thousand invites have been sent, with more coming very soon, in addition to beta key giveaways with various gaming press outlets. While there's no word on an official American launch date as of yet, we can tell you that Massively has a few beta keys up our sleeves, so stay tuned for further details.

Black Prophecy boasts real-time combat, modular ship design, and a deep crafting component, all married to a state-of-the-art graphics engine and wrapped in an enthralling sci-fi backstory.

Black Prophecy North American closed beta begins originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy blasts off in Europe today

Jef Reahard — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

T-minus three, two, one... and that sound you hear is the latest space-based MMORPG lifting off the launch pad, heading for the stratosphere and the stars beyond. At least, that's what gamigo and Reakktor are hoping when it comes to Black Prophecy, which officially takes a bow in Europe today.

Beta characters, clans, and clan sectors will be wiped for the kickoff, and Black Prophecy will initially feature both an English and a German server. Snowcrash (no, not that one) has posted a note informing customers of impending forum downtime and has also let us know that game updates will be available via the launcher application while the launch-day forum restructuring is in progress.

"This is not an end. It's a beginning; the foundation is laid and we will now move forward with the continued development of Black Prophecy after its release," says assistant production manager Chris "Snowcrash" Schutt. While you're waiting to log in -- or stuck at work -- check out our coverage roundup after the cut and get caught up on the biggest Black Prophecy news items from the past few months.

Continue reading Black Prophecy blasts off in Europe today

Black Prophecy blasts off in Europe today originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamigo buys Black Prophecy, buys into Reakktor Media

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Massively Meta, Black Prophecy

When it comes to free-to-play games, we don't often see the licensing companies buying titles outright. Normally, we're prone to seeing licensing agreements until a game has launched or when two companies have a history of working together quite a lot. Nonetheless, today gamigo proved that it really believes in how much players are going to enjoy its upcoming space dogfighter, Black Prophecy, by buying all rights and trademarks related to the game from Reakktor Media.

The other interesting piece of news is that at the same time as the Black Prophecy acquisition, gamigo also opted to pick up nearly 20% of Reakktor Media. All remaining shares of Reakktor Media remain under the control of the company's CEO, Kirk Lenke, which effectively puts all development control moving forward between Reakktor and gamigo.

If you really don't care about corporate merges and buyouts, then there's still a nugget of news to be gleaned for you. In amongst all the happy congratulations and notes about how this will make things better and easier for the two companies was a note that we should "[look] forward to seeing Black Prophecy go live in the very near future." (Emphasis theirs.) Whether it will simply mark open beta or something more, we'll have to wait and see.

Gamigo buys Black Prophecy, buys into Reakktor Media originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: January 24th - 31st

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, 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 games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers.

Are you worried about missing out due to your schedule? Don't be, because we'll be Livestreaming at various times during the afternoon and evening both weekdays and weekends, so you're sure to find something great up and running at a good time! If you miss a Livestream, we've got you covered there too! Just check out the "latest videos" section of our channel to find past Livestream events to view at your leisure.

We've got several of our regular games on this week's schedule, along with some newcomers. Do you have a game you'd love to see on our Livestream channel? Let us know in the comments section. For now, if you're looking to check out some new games or see your favorite game from a new perspective, follow along after the cut for this week's installment of MV Guide!

Continue reading MV Guide: January 24th - 31st

MV Guide: January 24th - 31st originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video shows off voicework in Black Prophecy

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, New titles, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

As every day passes, more and more people are joining the Black Prophecy beta testing. Slowly, the localizations are being smoothed out, and even more goodies are being added into this hotly anticipated sci-fi space dogfighter MMO. For those of you who haven't quite made it in as yet, as well as those who have but are curious about the nuts-and-bolts, Gamigo and Reakktor Media have released a video today that offers an interesting look at ongoing behind-the-scenes production.

In this video, we take a trip to Periscope Studios and T-Recs Studios to watch just a little bit of how the voicework is done. Along with that, we're treated to a look at just how they get the voice to match the mouth animations of the NPCs without it looking completely silly or taking obnoxious amounts of time. Whether this upcoming free-to-play game is on your personal radar or you're more the type who is fascinated with the overall industry, it's a video worth spending a few minutes of your life to check out. We've embedded this new behind-the-scenes video after the break for your viewing pleasure.

Continue reading Video shows off voicework in Black Prophecy

Video shows off voicework in Black Prophecy originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: January 17 - 24, 2011

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, 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 will be logging in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We'll have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers.

Are you worried about missing out due to your schedule? Don't be, because we'll be Livestreaming at various times during the afternoon and evening both weekdays and weekends, so you're sure to find something great up and running at a good time! If you miss a Livestream, we've got you covered there too! Just check out the "latest videos" section of our channel to find past Livestream events to view at your leisure.

We've got several of our regular games on this week's schedule, along with some newcomers. Do you have a game you'd love to see on our Livestream channel? Let us know in the comments section. For now, if you're looking to check out some new games or see your favorite game from a new perspective, follow along after the cut for this week's installment of MV Guide!

Continue reading MV Guide: January 17 - 24, 2011

MV Guide: January 17 - 24, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy drops NDA, gears up for open beta

Krystalle Voecks — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

Have you been dreaming of the day when you could fly through space and shoot folks down, dogfighter-style? Did you think that the best part of Star Wars Galaxies was the Jump To Lightspeed addition? Well, if that's the case, then you're in for a treat as the NDA has finally been lifted on Reakktor Media's space battletastic MMO, Black Prophecy. As of today, all players are allowed to post screenshots, videos, and talk about everything they've seen in the last several months of testing since Black Prophecy was picked up by gamigo and worked into its current incarnation as a free-to-play game.

Also of note is that all of the beta forums for the game are wide open as well, giving curious folks a chance to sift through all the threads there for an inkling of how the game has been progressing, and what players can expect. We here at Massively will be publishing our own first impressions and gallery in the coming days -- and there will undoubtedly be a livecast in the mix for those curious to see it in action. If you still haven't made it into the closed beta, never fear: Open beta is expected to begin sometime in the first part of 2011, which isn't too far away. If you did make it in to this stellar shooter beta, feel free to drop your thoughts about the game in the comments below!

Black Prophecy drops NDA, gears up for open beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Dec 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Black Prophecy UI details brought to light

Jef Reahard — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

Black Prophecy fans are a patient lot, and in the case of the founder of the Prophecy Nation website, quite enterprising as well. Travis, otherwise known as "Nexiom," has helped fill the void of information about the long-in-development space shooter with an interesting breakdown of the game's interface. In the second installment of a two-part article making use of existing screenshots, he paints a picture of what the free-to-play title's UI probably functions like, all without breaking the beta NDA.

The article boasts a healthy complement of images and helpful annotations; it also delivers some interesting insights and speculation. Chief among these are the author's guesstimates as to the functionality of certain buttons (possibly target locking, communications, and trade). Check out the full piece at Prophecy Nation.

More Black Prophecy UI details brought to light originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy fan finds fun in interface functions

Larry Everett — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

More and more science fiction MMOs are making their way to the market. One of the most highly-anticipated ones is Black Prophecy. This twitch-based, third-person, space sim is currently being developed by free-to-play developer Gamigo. Since the game has entered closed-beta, fans have been itching for news, but Gamigo has not released much news since then. This silence prompted fansite owner Travis "Nexiom" to spend some time examining the user interface of his favorite game.

Prophecy Nation decided to help out fans by providing news of its own. Nexiom gathered all the screenshots and videos of Black Prophecy and thoroughly examined each one to piece together an in-depth analysis of the game's user interface. His first entry studies the user interface aboard space stations and the general player menu. This includes the ship/character information, skills, inventory, starmap, and many more display items.

Before anyone comments that he is breaking some sort of NDA by posting this information, Nexiom assures us that he is not in the closed beta and all the screenshots were taken from previously released images.

Catch all the information over at Prophecy Nation. You are also welcome to sign up for closed beta at the official Black Prophecy website.

Black Prophecy fan finds fun in interface functions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy's clan system outlined in new update

Krystalle Voecks — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Game mechanics, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

Have you been hungry for more information on Reakktor Media and gamigo's upcoming free-to-play space dogfighter, Black Prophecy? Well then, today's update on clan systems will undoubtedly be welcome news for those of you who can't wait to fly with friends. Some of the mechanics are very familiar, such as a clan leader being able to assign ranks and responsibilities to certain members, as well as the ability for the clan to create their own logo using an in-game editor.

Other aspects of the Black Prophecy clan system deal with familiar mechanics turned on their heads -- such as how clan stations will be handled. The word is that players will have to complete faction missions and gather enough resources and members, then they will be able to request their own chunk of space in which to build their clan station. Players will also be able to decide if the station will be opened up to others players in the faction that they're allied with, or if it will be kept for the clan members alone; thus removing any fear of getting your station blown to heck in the middle of a giant PvP clan war. Each station will be comprised of a central command module that will house up to 10 players comfortably, and offer some small vendor aspects. From there, players can add on more modules to their station to not only unlock more room and additional perks, but also more faction missions.

Overall, it certainly sounds like an ambitious yet fun system. Check out the shiny new screenshots below, then pop over to the Black Prophecy forums for the specifics on the clan system!

Gallery: Black Prophecy

Black Prophecy's clan system outlined in new update originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy wins "Best of Free-to-Play" at Gamescom

Rubi Bayer — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

Gaming publications Gamestar and GamePro were keeping an interested watch on the happenings at Gamescom last week, and earlier this week they handed out their own round of awards.

Gamigo and Reakktor Media received top honors in the free-to-play category for Black Prophecy, beating out several other nominees including Battlestar Galactica Online and Mytheon, another Gamigo game. "We feel quite honored. This award is recognition for all the hard work our team has put in over the past few years," said Kirk Lenke, CEO of Reakktor Media.

The full story can be read on Gamestar's site in the original German or an English translation.

Black Prophecy wins "Best of Free-to-Play" at Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy crafting detailed

Jef Reahard — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy

If you're looking for a space-based MMO with lots of pew pew and seat-of-the-pants piloting, Black Prophecy is probably already on your radar screen. If you're looking for a space-based MMO that has a bit of crafting complexity, take a second look at the upcoming free-to-play MMO from Reakktor and Gamigo.

In addition to modular ship-building, Black Prophecy also features a traditional crafting system for ship and station components. The game boasts three resource types: metal, plasma, and gas. Metals, as you'd expect, make up modules and weapons, whereas plasma serves as the crafter's source of power. Gas is required for high-performance computer production and for the ubiquitous hyperspace drives. All three resources can be salvaged from space junk as well as procured from successful missions.

How do you put all these parts together to construct the ultimate interstellar interceptor? With blueprints of course, which are found in the wreckage of old starships. Once blueprints have produced a module, they can't be reused. If crafting fails, however, you get to keep the blueprint (but not the resources) and try again. Finally, Black Prophecy's crafting system will feature optional items called constructors. These units are used during the crafting process to enhance success chances or shorten construction time, and may be modified or repaired by players.

Gallery: Black Prophecy Crafting

Black Prophecy crafting detailed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Building your ship in Black Prophecy

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Real life, Game mechanics, Black Prophecy

From the Millennium Falcon to the Enterprise, every space jockey knows that a well-built ship can make the difference between life and death. In Black Prophecy, players will not only get to pilot some of the most lethal spacecraft known to the Tyi and Genide factions, but be able to modify and tweak them to perfection.

Recently, Reakktor unveiled the blueprints for successful starfighter construction. While each type of ship has a different look to it, the general layout of ship modules will be the same. Each fighter is made up of several components, such as the cockpit, wings and engines, and these components can house a variety of offensive and defensive tech. Weapons, rocket launchers and shield generators are all part of the ship builder's menu in Black Prophecy.

However, it will take strategy and planning to properly equip your ship. Players need to level up certain skills just to be able to equip some modules, and you'll need to check that your components are compatible with each other. Reakktor claims that the chosen components will be the deciding factor in a ship's abilities, transforming it from a swift prowler to an invulnerable (yet plodding) tank depending on what's used.

Gallery: Black Prophecy

Building your ship in Black Prophecy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy enters closed beta

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, News items, Black Prophecy

Gamigo and Reakktor Media made an announcement this morning that many fans have been looking forward to: Black Prophecy is entering closed beta. We've been following this game with interest here at Massively, enjoying a hands-on look as well as a series of Q&A sessions with the developers.

If you're unfamiliar with Black Prophecy, it's described as a sci-fi space action MMO, and has been getting a fair amount of attention from MMO fans. It looks like the developers are taking things slowly and making sure it's done well: "The focus during the first phase of testing will be on server and program stability." For that reason, this first round of closed beta won't be open to thousands of players -- only about a hundred will make it in and go on to make their attempts at crashing the server.

Signups for closed beta are going on now, so head to the signup page if you're interested, and good luck.

Black Prophecy enters closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC10: Massively's day 4 roundup

Jef Reahard — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Screenshots, Video, Aion, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Events, real-world, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, Champions Online, DC Universe Online, Black Prophecy, Vindictus

Day four of the Game Developer's Conference is in the books, and was one for the books as well. Massively managed to score a number of interviews, hands-on features, and we even got our mug in front of the cameras at one point during all the craziness. As you're aware by now, there is still much more to come from our trip to San Francisco, so take this opportunity to catch up on any stories you may have missed.

Be sure to check back tomorrow for our final day coverage as well as a wrap up of all our favorites from the show.

GDC10: Massively's day 4 roundup originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy networking physics explained

Jef Reahard — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, Black Prophecy

Reakktor Media Technical Director Cyrus Preuss is back with his fourth and final dev diary regarding Black Prophecy's game physics. This time around, the focus is on the networking side of the equation, and the article does a good job of presenting the Reakktor team's networking challenges to the lay person.

"It must be noted that we are talking about a real first-person, respectively third-person MMO. So no server-sided dice play but real physical hit detection," Preuss says. "All of these mechanisms serve to determine what actually happens as precisely as possible. Every parameter adjustment has "logical" consequences as well as side effects that you can only track down with precise analysis."

Whether you're a physics major, or your eyes gloss over at the thought of balancing your checkbook, it's clear that Black Prophecy is a labor of love for Reakktor.

Hit this link to jump to the original article, as well as the first, second, and third parts of the Game Physics dev blog. Also be sure and stick with Massively all week as we will be interviewing the Reakktor team at GDC 2010.

Black Prophecy networking physics explained originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: How do you feel about 2010's MMOs?

Kyle Horner — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, Opinion, The Daily Grind

The year is still young and lots of MMOs are on schedule to release before it's over. So far, we've been able to see what Star Trek Online has to offer, but many people continue to look forward to LEGO Universe, All Points Bulletin and Final Fantasy XIV. However, we would like to know how you feel about MMOs this year. Does it seem like a pretty good year or are you thinking perhaps 2011 is going to be the big year for the genre, and why?

It certainly seems like this year has already been pretty decent, given that Black Prophecy has a publisher now and we've yet to encounter any saddening shutdowns or cancellations of titles still in development. Plus, the free-to-play market is really starting to come into its own with great news for Dungeons and Dragons Online and a recent-but-remedied Allods Online hiccup. We're taking a positive outlook, but how about you?

The Daily Grind: How do you feel about 2010's MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Mar 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Mission Systems

James Egan — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Interviews, New titles, PvP, Quests, PvE, Massively Interviews, Black Prophecy

Massively has been following the development of the sci-fi MMO Black Prophecy very closely, and was pleased that the title's developer Reakktor Media wanted to do a series of focused Q&As with us on several aspects of the game. Our last such Q&A started at the beginning with character creation, but in our second installment of the Black Prophecy interview series we discussed the game's mission design. To that end, we posed some questions to Lorenz Dames, the Lead Game Designer on Black Prophecy.

Lorenz explained a great deal about how Reakktor is approaching solo content vs. group-oriented gameplay. He also told us how Reakktor Media is merging the completion of mission objectives with dogfighting your fellow players through PvP missions, where other players will try to counter your efforts to complete goals. Our interview should provide Black Prophecy fans with a solid overview of the game's mission design, which will be an essential aspect of the sci-fi MMO's gameplay.

Gallery: Black Prophecy

Continue reading Massively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Mission Systems

Massively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Mission Systems originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Balancing realistic physics with fun in Black Prophecy

James Egan — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, New titles, Black Prophecy

The latest info about the sci-fi MMO Black Prophecy, currently in development at Reakktor Media, comes in the form of a series of dev blogs from the game's Technical Director, Cyrus Preuss. As with his two previous blogs, Cyrus gets down into the nuts and bolts of how the game's physics work, which may be of interest to those who'd like to know more about the underlying systems that will govern Black Prophecy's space combat.

His rather technical dev blog is all about interaction with the physics engine. It especially deals with balancing the realism that some players want with the need to throw aspects of that realism to the wind, in favor of game mechanics that are simply more fun. He also discusses how the physics engine will relate to space stations, capital ships, and weapon physics. Black Prophecy fans interested in this kind of a look at the game can read all about it in "Interaction with the Physics Engine" on the game's official site.

Balancing realistic physics with fun in Black Prophecy originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Character Creation

James Egan — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, New titles, Massively Interviews, Black Prophecy

Black Prophecy is one of the hotly anticipated games on the horizon that sci-fi MMO fans have been wanting to hear more about. Until recently though, Reakktor Media wasn't quite ready to reveal many of the specifics of what the game will offer. We've known that Black Prophecy's gameplay will differ from titles in the genre like EVE Online -- with Reakktor's game a bit more accessible in terms of learning curve and with a more dynamic feel to piloting space ships. Plus, if the screenshots and video footage are an accurate indication, Black Prophecy will be visually stunning as well.

Business-wise, things have recently changed for the better at Reakktor Media and the Black Prophecy project is once again moving ahead at full speed. More info about this title is on the way as well; Reakktor was kind enough to agree to do a series of focused Q&As at Massively about various facets of the game. Over time, this series will cover topics ranging from Black Prophecy's modification system to details about how players will build space stations. Since we're going to look at some of the fundamental aspects of Black Prophecy, it makes sense that we'd begin this series where the players themselves will begin -- at character creation.

In our first Q&A in this series, Massively spoke with Jens Kortboyer, Lead Artist on Black Prophecy, who walked us through the design decisions Reakktor made in creating the look of the Genides and Tyi characters, as well as the visual choices players will have when starting out.

Gallery: Black Prophecy

Continue reading Massively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Character Creation

Massively's Black Prophecy Q&A: Character Creation originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy technical director on game's physics

James Egan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Black Prophecy

Black Prophecy from Reakktor Media is a sci-fi MMO that may ultimately be a bit more accessible to some gamers than reigning sci-fi champ EVE Online. It will be a very different sort of game than EVE, though. In fact, there is still much about Black Prophecy that has yet to be revealed, but the title's certainly got potential from what we've learned so far. While we're hoping to have more information for you about Black Prophecy in the coming months, the team at Reakktor Media is keeping fans up to date with dev diaries explaining some of the different facets of the game. The latest series of these blogs on the game's physics is being written by Black Prophecy's Technical Director Cyrus Preuss, which he continues today by focusing on the physics engine itself.

His dev diary is a bit technical, but not all that difficult to follow either. Cyrus explains the concepts of the "physics loop" and the factors which ultimately define the game environment in space. (This includes collision detection, which triggers particle effects and sound effects, but there's quite a bit more to it than that.) If you're curious about this aspect of Black Prophecy's game design, have a look at Cyrus's dev diary or jump into the discussion by the fans on the game's official forums.

Black Prophecy technical director on game's physics originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The aesthetics of Black Prophecy's Genide faction

James Egan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:15:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Black Prophecy

We had some good news about Black Prophecy the other day and how things are looking up for the game's developer Reakktor Media. We're hoping more info will be revealed about the game in the coming months, and now they've released a dev blog on the art direction of the game's Genide faction. Whereas the Tyi faction is a cybernetic offshoot of humanity the Genides embrace biogenetic manipulation in their pursuit of perfection. The aesthetics of what the Genides have become is the focus of Black Prophecy Art Director Nick Ebenhoch's dev diary.

Nick kicks it off by explaining the significance of the Genide faction logo and what the symbol was designed to represent. Unlike the more utilitarian Tyi faction which favors a modular complexity, the Genide's cleaner, minimalist aesthetic sense permeates everything they create. This is seen in the smooth and tall look of their various space ships, which have vertical wing orientation rather than the standard horizontal orientation typically seen on such vessels, explains Nick.

Continue reading The aesthetics of Black Prophecy's Genide faction

The aesthetics of Black Prophecy's Genide faction originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Reakktor Media financial woes resolved, full speed ahead for Black Prophecy

James Egan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, Legal, Black Prophecy

Those following the news surrounding development of sci-fi MMO Black Prophecy from Reakktor Media know there's been a significant hurdle to this title seeing the light of day -- the issue of insolvency. When parent company 10Tacle filed for insolvency, this adversely impacted subsidiary Reakktor Media and threatened continued development of Black Prophecy, which Reakktor addressed in an interview with Massively in April.

It was announced today that their restructuring plan has been successful, and that their insolvency plan saved the jobs of all 36 employees at the company. Even better, Black Prophecy is on track for a release next year, according to the press statement released by the HERMANN law firm which oversaw the insolvency proceedings.

Continue reading Reakktor Media financial woes resolved, full speed ahead for Black Prophecy

Reakktor Media financial woes resolved, full speed ahead for Black Prophecy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy newsletter updates fans on the game

James Egan — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Black Prophecy

The sci-fi MMO Black Prophecy from developer Reakktor Media still has a few significant hurdles to clear before release, but it's looking to be an interesting title from the gameplay footage we've seen thus far. As they continue to develop Black Prophecy and seek a publisher to help them expand their reach into multiple markets, Reakktor Media has been updating the community on the game's status.

They've just released their eighth Black Prophecy newsletter that hits on the media coverage they've received in the last month (along with the latest art assets), a look into the game's art direction, and the "Pimp My Ship!" that's happening on the official forums. Also, if you're curious about what will differentiate this game from other sci-fi MMOs currently on the market, be sure to have a look through Massively's Black Prophecy coverage.

Gallery: Black Prophecy

Gallery: Black Prophecy Concept Art

Black Prophecy newsletter updates fans on the game originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The art direction of Black Prophecy's gearheads

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, New titles, Previews, Black Prophecy

With all the buzz about space MMOs that are exploring the final frontier or participating in archaic representative democracy, it can be easy to lose sight of Black Prophecy, the upcoming game from German developer Reakktor Media. However, that doesn't make the news about it any less exciting, and it's surprising how much information can be packed into even a simple developer diary about the art direction of one of the game's factions. The Tyi faction, a race of superhuman cyborgs that now consider themselves beyond their parent race, are under examination this time, with a detailed look at how the Tyi aesthetic and philosophy are conveyed through ship designs.

As one would expect from a race accustomed to replacing body parts as fashion or necessity dictates, the Tyi ships are designed with a very modular nature, far more exposed and mechanical than the smooth and sanitized looks seen from other factions. The developer diary talks about the construction of the ships and the stations, as well as showing off several visually stunning pictures that help demonstrate the hard-edged technological feel the faction will bring. If all of that piques your interest -- which it very well might do -- you might want to sign up for the upcoming beta, and get a chance to see Black Prophecy in action.

The art direction of Black Prophecy's gearheads originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy Creative Director on state of the game

James Egan — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, New titles, Black Prophecy

It's clear from the comments on our Black Prophecy posts that a number of Massively readers are looking forward to this latest sci-fi MMO from Reakktor Media. They've been releasing more info periodically but it seems Reakktor is still in stealth mode when it comes to any big reveals about the game, given they're in the process of finding a publisher. Still, they've been dropping more info about the title and the latest Black Prophecy interview we've come across is over at ZAM, with Creative Director Timo Krahl. The interview hits on some of what we've heard before about the game's lore written by Michael Marrak and the core game mechanics, but there's some new info there as well.

Specifically, the interview explains some of the technical efforts Reakktor has put into developing Black Prophecy. Timo comments to ZAM, "We are getting very close to our aspiration of providing a nearly cinematic game experience." If you're curious about what Reakktor hopes to deliver with that game experience, give the ZAM interview with Timo Krahl a read and check out the the new screenshots as well.

Black Prophecy Creative Director on state of the game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy's unique art style blends realism with the unreal

James Egan — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Black Prophecy

The Black Prophecy creators at Reakktor Media have begun a series of developer diaries, showcasing the game and their individual contributions to making this sci-fi MMO a reality. The first Black Prophecy developer diary is written by Nick Ebenhoch, the game's Art Director, and gives us a peek into the game environment. Nick explains how they wanted to create an environment that has elements of realism in an unreal environment. Nick says, "This was realized by the use of strong colors that you usually don't see in a space environment."

The colors used in a given setting are used to create a mood. "Sectors with ice elements are kept bluish, while 'Pan's Junkyard', a huge space cemetery, is kept a brownish color tone to let the sector appear dirty and rusty," Nick says. "Our goal was to create a distinctive atmosphere for each sector, from nearly romantic right up to dark and threatening."

Continue reading Black Prophecy's unique art style blends realism with the unreal

Black Prophecy's unique art style blends realism with the unreal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy interview highlights game's tactics

James Egan — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, New titles, Black Prophecy

It's safe to say that there are more than a few gamers out there who would like alternatives to the numerous fantasy MMO titles on the market. For many, this means sci-fi MMOs. The game companies that are developing these sci-fi games aren't necessarily the Blizzards and SOEs of the MMO industry; it's often smaller companies like Masthead Studios and Reakktor Media creating something a bit different from what we've played before.

In the case of the spaceship-centric Black Prophecy, the game is well into development but they're still seeking a publisher. Reakktor told Massively they're in talks with potential publishers, but until they make an announcement we're following along with what news there is about the game. This led us to a brief interview at Thirteen 1 with Black Prophecy Community Manager Christian Schuett.

Continue reading Black Prophecy interview highlights game's tactics

Black Prophecy interview highlights game's tactics originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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