Beta registration opens for Earthrise

By Oli Welsh Published 6 January, 2009

Bulgarian sci-fi MMO inches toward launch.

Bulgarian developer Masthead Studios has opened registration for the beta test of its science-fiction MMO, Earthrise.

Announced this time last year, Earthrise is set in a post-apocalyptic future dystopia where players choose to side either with an oppressive government regime or the resistance fighters that struggle against it.

The game blends RPG combat and character progression with the look and feel of a third-person shooter, much as the doomed Tabula Rasa did, and as Stargate Worlds promises to do.

Masthead is taking the sandbox approach to MMO design, with a player-driven economy, an open-ended factional system allowing you to switch sides, and an emphasis on player-versus-player combat.

Some of Earthrise's more intriguing features include options for offline character progression, items that decay over time, and free-form skill development with no classes or character levels.

Earthrise is one of a glut of science-fiction MMOs crawling over the horizon as developers seek to steer clear of World of Warcraft's domination of the fantasy market.

NetDevil's space-combat MMO Jumpgate Evolution is due for release early this year, with Stargate Worlds and Earthrise following, and Star Trek Online and Star Wars: the Old Republic beyond that.

You can sign up for the Earthrise beta by filling out an application form, and read more about the game at the official Earthrise site.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (15) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • DFawkes #1 3 years ago

    What's player-versus-combat? Is it a combat engine so complex you struggle against it?

    I'm fed up of the focus on PvP so many MMOs are having, I like PvE. Granted, WoW is the king of PvE and you're not going to topple it, but don't just focus on it's weakest area.

    Actually looks alright though, a bit Fallout-ish art direction.

  • Velios #2 3 years ago

    Hmm, the hairs on the back of my neck are not standing up.

  • DFawkes #3 3 years ago

    Wait a sec." Some of Earthrise's more intriguing features include options for offline character progression". This was why I loved Phantasy Star Online so much, and certainly has me intrigued. Not enough to sign-up, but I'm watching it now.

  • PearOfAnguish #4 3 years ago

    "items that decay over time"

    That doesn't sound fun.

  • Oli Verified Reviews Editor, Eurogamer.net #5 3 years ago

    Player-versus-combat is what it was like trying to do swordfighting in Pirates of the Burning Sea before the last patch.

    Thanks DFawkes - fixed.

  • Eraysor #6 3 years ago

    "items that decay over time"

    I can see that being extremely fun!

    EDIT: Pear beat me to it XD
    Edited by 1 at 06/01/09 @ 14:06

  • Benno #7 3 years ago

    At what point in the development process did the idea of decaying items seem fit?

  • PearOfAnguish #8 3 years ago

    Yes that's just what you want, grind for that rare item and have it degrade later on. Wonderful.

  • DFawkes #9 3 years ago

    I'm hoping they can't decay into nothing. If I had an epic weapon, I'd either be using it or stick it in storage, but if I do the later I want to be able to take it out after a year, repair it (using a skill and/or smith), and use it. I don't want to come back to a pile of dust.

  • CapnCloudchaser #10 3 years ago

    I like that there are more sci-fi MMO's coming out, but I kinda wish they were more like Phantasy Star Online with pretty colours and light sabers.. Maybe that's just me though.

  • DFawkes #11 3 years ago

    I just want PSO.

  • makememoo #12 3 years ago

    Sounds like a lot of decisions were made to try and increase the user retention while not spending money on development time. So many people focus on PVP because trying to implement PVE endgame raiding as well as Blizzard do now would bankrupt most development teams when added on top of creating the entire game as well.

  • levitate #13 3 years ago

    I hope for a good scifi MMO. This might be it.

  • levitate #14 3 years ago

    I've even signed up for the beta. Let's hope. Jumpgate Evo didn't want me so maybe I'll get lucky this time.

  • Orange #15 3 years ago

    PVP is far more interesting and dynamic than PVE, especially the fucking soulless boredom of pve raids. Even Blizzard have moved away from that shite.