4/22/00 - Latest News

Kazren sent this artile in from PC Gamer’s update s from Vol. 7 #5 May 2000.

This is a follow up from the, Where are they Now, snippet Enoreth posted on Middle Earth Online. This covers a few of the other fantasy games out there as well.

MIDDLE EARTH

Developer: Sierra

Publisher: Sierra

What it is:

A massive multiplayer oneline roleplaying game, set in Tolkien’s magical, mythical, fantasy setting. As Ultima Online and Everquest have proven, there’s a ravenous audience for fantasy worlds running 24/7, and none have the reputation or mainstream pull as MIDDLE EARTH.

Though little has been revealed about the game’s design, it’s likely that the art direction will follow the familiar epic tradition that has illustrated the novels for years.

Why we’re interested.

C’mon people, it’s Middle Earth. This is one of the greatest fantasy worlds ever created starring characters that have become legends outside the confines of a world that is ripe for exploration. It has so much history and lore, but will rely on players really buying into the setting to insure it remains true to that focus. With the movies set for release latter this year (I guess they don’t know it’s 2001), the timing is perfect to ride the new wave of fascination with Tolkien’s creation.

Original Release Date: Summer 2000

Current Release Date: Spring 2001

Why it’s taking so d**n long: During the Sierra reorganizations the original design team was replaced with a new group, new focus, and reinvigorated direction. Let’s just hope that’s enough to get the project on track to take full advantage of it’s incredible potential as both a game design and world to be shaped by fans.

WIZARDRY 8

Developer: Sirtech

Publisher: To be determined

What it is:

Considered one of the founding fathers of roleplaying genre, this series has always appealed to hardcore RPG fans. The party-based statistics-heave roots will remain intact in this eight iteration, as will the focus on story and character interaction. Expect a huge 3D world filled with all of the challenges, obstacles and rewa4rds that come with a classic roleplaying game.

Why we’re interested:

If you’ve ever played any of the previous games in the series, you know the reason. The attention to detail will be phenomenal, and no design shortcuts will be taken towater down any of the roleplaying elements or to artifically extend the playing time. Eleven races and 15 chracter classes, multiple starting points and endings, and the choice of a phased or continuous combat mode should make this one of the most ambitious roleplaying games since the last entry in the Wizardry series, CRUSADERS OF THE DARK SAVANT; rleased way back in 1992!

Original Release Date: Late 1998/Early 1999

Current Release Date: No official date has been announced, but Sirtech says that great progress is being made. We’re guessing we’ll see it sometime around the end of this year.

Why is it taking so long? The time killer has been the movie to a 3D world. Back when the project was started, 3D was stil in its infancy, and a lot of the work constantly had to be updated. And some of the game’s development resources were diverted as the company finished JAGGED ALLIANCE2.

WIZARDS AND WARRIORS

Developer: Heuristic Park

Publisher: Activision

What it is:

In the dim and distant past, this one went by the name of SWORDS AND SORCERY: COME DEVILS, COME DARKNESS. A classic roleplaying game in every sense of the term (expect medieval architecture, legendary monsters, loads of spells, and all the other accouterments), this should bear a passing rsemblance to the Wizardry series, as lead designer D.W. Bradley was the man at the helm of WIZARDRY IV through VII.

Why we’re interested:

D.W. Bradley is a well-respected name in roleplaying circles thanks to his contributions to the Wizardry series, so when he’s got something cooking, we’re immediately interested. And although the promised online play has been nixed for the initial rollout of the game, Heuristic anticipates that upcoming sequels will easily incorporate this feature thanks to the solid foundation that has been built for the series.

Original Release Date: October 1998

Current Release Date: Fall 2000

Why it’s taking so d**n long: With every hand0ff of this RPG (originally it was a Virgin title, then Westwood picked it up and now, finally , it belongs to Activision), the release dtae just keeps getting bumped. Even without the hot potatoe treatment, it’s unlikely the game would have been out already. Heuristic was more concerned with building a system that could carry its game into the fure, and they think they’ve done just that with WIZARDS AND WARRIORS.

Thanks Kazren for sending this in.