13 May 2010 | |
iTZKooPA
My guess: Pixiestixy has already pre-ordered this for cuteness.
There you have it folks, a second Marvel MMOG from Gazillion Entertainment is coming, entitled Marvel Super Hero Squad Online.
Unlike the prosperous DC Universe Online that we’ll be seeing at E3, the road to a Marvel MMOG has been long and hard. When Microsoft teamed up with Cryptic Studios people took notice. But Marvel Universe Online failed to materialize (Cryptic Studios eventually put out its effort as Champions Online). Today marks an entirely new effort by Gazillion Entertainment. Coincidentally, Gazillion picked up the pieces of Marvel Universe Online and is targeting that as a more mature MMOG for 2012.
The astute readers may recall hearing that company name a few weeks back. Lee Hammock, former Lead Game Designer for Fallen Earth, was hired away by Gazillion to be a Story Designer for the Marvel MMOG. Hammock is now working for Gargantuan, one of Gazillion’s subsidiaries, and a developer associated with take two of Marvel Universe Online.
Hit the jump for more information and the first screenshots. Continue Reading
23 April 2010 | |
iTZKooPA
The new mutation of Graboids! Find a rock!
It’s taken the company a few weeks, but Fallen Earth finally has a replacement in line for the departing Lee Hammock. My main gripe of Fallen Earth’s most recent State of the Game address was that the company didn’t layout any restructuring plans. It was just a goodbye, brush-it-under-the-table, nothing-to-see-here mention. Now players can finally rest easy knowing that someone (actually, it seems like two people) will replace the Lead Game Designer.
Fallen Earth announced not one, but four position changes for the development stuff. All of which come from within the company and have been a part of it for at least three years. Basically, they know the game as well as anyone.
- Wes Platt – Director of Content Development
- Marie Croall – Senior Game Designer (closest replacement for Hammock)
- Greg Roth – Senior Systems Designer
- Josh Peery – Content Team Lead (the backup)
Marie and Wes will be available for a little one-on-many dev chat next Tuesday, April 29, at 3:00 PM EST via Twitter.
During the creation of this very post I received an e-mail from Fallen Earth with more exciting news. The Blood Sports patch, v1.4 which we previewed during PAX East, will be going live on May 7. It’ll include four PvP areas, 500+ achievements, the Clan Wars system, a huge new sub-sector called Deadfall and the Blight Wolf Mount.
Check out the preview for the full details on Patch v1.4.
12 April 2010 | |
iTZKooPA
The little independent MMOG that could just debuted its latest State of the Game address. You can read it here before diving into my thoughts.
The address started off exactly where it needed to, with Lee Hammock’s departure from the Lead Game Designer position. To my knowledge, his replacement has not been named. The official address made no mention to a successor, interim or permanent. That was fairly shocking to me. Many players view Lee Hammock as the heart and soul of Fallen Earth, reasonable or not. Without “The Beard Man,” the company has no public face – shrouded behind a thick face mane, mind you – and subscribers may start to get worried.
No Fallen Earth, LLC, my fears have not been assuaged. The pathetic attempt to distract me with information on the upcoming patch will not work! I am strong. Stop dangling those shiny things in front of me! Wait, Clan Wars you say?
Hit the jump to see if iTZKooPA can regain his train of thought. Continue Reading
6 April 2010 | |
iTZKooPA
Coming out of left field yesterday was the announcement that Lee Hammock, the man who helped shape Fallen Earth into the burgeoning MMOG that it is today, will be leaving the company. Lee was a part of the Fallen Earth team for over four years. He was staple in community shenanigans, helped shape the humor of the title, and is just a friendly guy to have a beer with. “The Beard Man” gave his soul, hell, even his beard, to the game. Continue Reading
