Codemasters today unveils the next generation of MMORPGs as the breathtaking world of Dragon Empires is revealed for the first time at E3.

Dragon Empires is a huge advancement for the online gaming market and delivers a title that is hugely exciting in its scope. Not just for the MMORPG hardcore, its genre-leading landscaping and character graphics engine creates visuals makes it a world that is begging to be explored.

Making MMORPGs far more appealing than anything that’s gone before it, Dragon Empires creates an alternate life for everyone in a world of staggering scenery, intriguing landscapes… a world of danger with embattled clans… a world of where economics and politics can be even more dangerous. A world whose lands are protected by mighty empire dragons… a world where everyone’s created equal but some will become leaders, some will rule cites and one will rule the world.

In Fortitude, the world where Dragon Empires takes place, players live out extraordinary existences in a unique fantasy world. Created with the help of leading author Piers Anthony, the game is set when magic is plentiful and the lives of humans and dragons are intertwined. The world is Player Vs Player and Clan Vs Clan so that as well as fighting monsters, players engage in combat with each other.

Fortitude is a deeply rich environment combining real world elements of economy and politics with fantasy provided in Piers’ own unique style.

Players will be able to live their lives following any inclination. All players joining Dragon Empires are created equal and through learning skills and collecting better items will improve their character’s abilities.

Players gain abilities solely from the combinations of items they wield and the skills they have learned. For example, a magician (a character who has learned one of the magical skills) who holds The Orb of Light and the Scroll of Fire will get abilities such as fire ball and ring of fire. The same player with the same Orb but with the Scroll of Void will get abilities like Void Storm and Dark Spike.

REAL COMBAT, REAL TIME
In Dragon Empires player vs player combat, rather than just co-operative combat against monsters, is always possible. Combat is real time and engaging an attack is as easy as walking up to a target and using spells or weapons on them.

There are mechanisms to stop the world turning into anarchy; the basic rule being that, while a player can attack anyone, if they do it outside a formal clan combat (siege or duel) they will become an outlaw in the empire where the attack took place. Outlaws become an instant target and can be hunted down by other players or face the wrath of the city’s protectors – the dragons.

Players can group together in tribal clans and clans can take over cities. Once holding a city, clans determine the manufacturing that occurs in the city and set taxes. Clans gain titles from the tax they raise in all the cities held. City rulers can displace rival cities in a game of political support where cities are identified as being vulnerable to siege. Cities that are vulnerable to siege can then be taken in battle.

TRADING POSTS
However, players don’t have to spend their lives fighting and conquering. Perhaps a pivotal role in Dragon Empires’ economic structure is more attractive?

Fortitude’s economy is production, supply and demand orientated and completely driven by its players. All items in the world – apart from a very few special items – have to be made by the players’ workers in their own factories.

The economy revolves around the manufacture and trade in these objects and items. Manufacturing also requires resources to be moved around the world through the monster and outlaw infested countryside by the players according to the laws of supply and demand. The players set prices for goods in an automated market system.

However, nothing lasts forever and all items produced in Fortitude will wear out with usage. Therefore players will need to ensure the ongoing manufacturing of items in order to continue trading.

Trading can also include services: a trader can pay a fighter for protection. Someone with base materials can pay a sword maker to make swords to sell on. Clan leader will even be able to hire a mercenary to fight for his clan on a limited basis.

NATURAL FORCES
The busy world of Fortitude is thriving in natural forces too. A full climate engine has been created based on a real weather model and results in naturally evolving climatic effects, such as heat rising causing clouds to expand and therefore creating rainfall. Lightning, rain, snow, blizzards, shimmering water and fog are all to be seen when experiencing the world.

The climate model also provides for a wide range of naturally evolving land environments including sandy deserts, hot plains, tropical forests, misty swamplands, lush grasslands and treacherous icy mountains.

Players will be able to experience the world in third or first person. With the game’s draw distance at almost a mile, it gives the player a feeling of seeing as far as the eye can see.

Dragon Empires’ Beta Test programme is scheduled to begin this summer and Codemasters is eager to sign up further Beta Testers. To be one of first to sample life in the game world and help shape Dragon Empires, gamers can sign up for the Beta Test at: http://www.codemasters.com/dragonempires/beta_form.php

The English language version of Dragon Empires is scheduled to be available this winter for PC gamers. The game will be launched as a boxed product with players subscribing on a monthly basis to play.

The game’s web site, including its forum, IRC chat and Beta Test programme, is located at: http://www.codemasters.com/dragonempires
 

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