A new game is currently under development with some intriguing concepts never
before seen together in a single MMO. Saga Kingdomes is the sequel to SAGA an
intreguing MMORTS released in 2008 that focused on questing with armies rather
than PvP battles. The new title promises to use feedback from hundreds of
thousands of former players to expand on the features that made the game popular
and add many new enhancements to transform the game more into a massive RPG game
with armies than an RTS. The game is currently up on Kickstarter at
http://www.sagakingdoms.com and has
already revealed quite a bit about the new design.
The most fascinating feature is how this new game is treating the units that
make up player armies. Each unit in Saga Kingdoms is lead by a hero who is as
detailed as an avatar you may have created in your favorite MMORPG. These heroes
gain levels, have class specific abilities and can equip magical items such as
weapons, armors jewelry and trinkets. There are actually hundreds of different
heroes, allowing for incredible variety when creating your army.
Saga Kingdoms takes the hero concept even further with their mobile tie-in. The
game is being developed both for the desktop, Windows, Mac and Linux as well as
for Android and iOS. The mobile game is an RPG described as being similar to
Diablo and Torchlight, allowing players to use any of their heroes to go on
monster slaying adventures. Both versions of the game are connected, and loot or
experience acquired in one will carry over to the other.
This transformation from RTS to RPG and back is a concept never before
attempted, but was designed to allow players to continue making progress while
away from the home or office without having to deal with a tiny RTS interface
and by trying something fresh. "We felt that the every MMO should allow players
to develop a connection with their characters and could think of no better way
than to allow players to go on individual adventures with their champions", Said
Slava Zatuchny, CEO of the indie studio. "We want to give our players the
experience MMORPG players have enjoyed in an RTS game."
Just like the best MMO's, Saga Kingdoms is all about the story. Six factions
battle for control of Gaia each with their own agenda but sometimes forced into
unconventional alliances. Orcs battle side by side with undead or dark elves,
and wood elves can be seen marching into battle with dwarves. There was even a
feature movie recently revealed at the Tokyo Game Show about the Saga World,
titles "The Shadow Cabal".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ygi5PTpxd4
Saga Kingdoms is looking more like a massive MMORPG than an MMORTS with every
feature that is revealed. The the main distinction being that each player
controls a central capital and fights with armies containing multiple avatars
and their followers rather than just one. Other popular MMO elements present are
item crafting, guilds, and most important questing. The game will have hundreds
of quests and group quests where players can get together to fight epic
encounters for equally epic loot.
The Kickstarter is trying to raise $100,000 to get to open beta, with 28 days to
go and already at 8.5% as of this article. "We have always depended on the
feedback of our players for our design choices and now ask for their help to
allow us to remain indie with the freedom to put those designs into what we know
will be an amazing game" said Slava Zatuchny.
Check out all the full project details at
http://www.sagakingdoms.com and post your questions for the developers.
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