Russians Skating On Thin Ice

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Russians Skating On Thin Ice
February 26th 2002, 13:57 CET by m0nty

Nikita, makers of the only computer game played by cosmonauts on the Mir space station, is working on what it claims is the first ever Russian MMORPG, tentatively entitled Sphere (or Sfera in the mother tongue). A charming interview by producer Stepan Zotov with Daily Telefrag details the standard Tolkien-influenced elf fest, but the similarities with Croteam are interesting. Can Nikita inject a fresh Eastern European flavour into a tired American-dominated genre, like Serious Sam did for the FPS?

We all know how the Norwegian-sourced Anarchy Online has gone, so the history of European MMORPGs is not without its contentious products, but some continental projects are showing some signs of innovation. For instance, the Interactive division of Paris-based corporate developers Vircom is working on two online RPG titles: Dune Generations, based on the latest TV series adaptation of Frank Herbert's sf novels; and Black Moon Chronicles, which will bring to life a long-running French graphic novel series when it is released in March.

The problem is this: Serious Sam managed to spruce up the shooter by going old skool with masses of dumb monsters, and concentrating on adrenaline inducement. How can anyone, particularly a Russian developer with no experience at online gaming, come up with a thrilling game atmosphere/playstyle in the MMORPG genre which can knock our socks off like SS did? Isn't everyone sick of the levelling treadmill, and the Tolkien milieu? How can elves be exciting any more? Will we have to wait for Tetris: The PIG?

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#80 by Bailey
2002-02-26 20:29:03

For the record, CCP are likeable folk. At the time I was writing for the flesh-eating disease that was DTN, I had a little fun with CCP's poor grasp of how acronyms work, (i.e. actually involving letters used in the phrase being abbreviated) so they gave us a live Q&A session and offered a handful of beta passes once the game went press-friendly status. They seemed rather amused by their fans going absolutely bugfuck over my gentle teasing.

However, the idea of a Homeworld-esque RTS GIP doesn't really appeal to me, so I've not really followed their product since. Beautiful screenshots though.

#81 by Dev
2002-02-26 20:48:32

Yeah, the folks at CCP really seem to be nice people.. judging from the responses they have left on the Eve "official forum". On an unrelated note, the developers for Elder Scrolls Morrowind really seem to be on the ball and polite to their fans. If you can get a development group that is as friendly and capable as the Bethesda Softworks peeps, directly behind an MMORPG.. you've got it made imho..

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#82 by Michael
2002-02-26 21:44:28

All of the MMOG you ever really need: Progress Quest

#83 by Post-It
2002-02-26 22:01:26

I'm not quite sure why but, this little movie clip reminded me of alot of Joker's arguements here on PC. ;)

#84 by Bailey
2002-02-26 22:04:43

Dev

Yeah, the folks at CCP really seem to be nice people.. judging from the responses they have left on the Eve "official forum".

Link?

Sir, you are seriously hunting my wumpus.

#85 by crash
2002-02-26 22:05:57

Hugin:

Man, crash ate his cranky flavored Wheaties this morning.

naah, i'm just trying to cut back on my emoticon usage. turns out i need them more than i'd like to admit. feh, i say. no crankier than normal. don't eat wheaties, though. don't really have breakfast, come to think of it.

Creole Ned:

Does anyone else find "EOD" already as annoying as "SKO"?

i might if i knew what it meant, or if i cared enough to find out.

- if you can laugh at it, you can live with it. -

#86 by Duality
2002-02-26 22:09:49

don't eat wheaties, though. don't really have breakfast, come to think of it.

Maybe that's why you're so cranky.

-duality
... disguised as a genderless burrow owl ... 6.0!

#87 by Bailey
2002-02-26 22:21:35

crash

naah, i'm just trying to cut back on my emoticon usage.

Preach on, true soldier.

Sir, you are seriously hunting my wumpus.

#88 by _Fury_
2002-02-26 22:22:49

,,|,, (O_o) ,,|,,

#89 by jafd
2002-02-26 23:03:22

#60

And jafd satisfies even my wildest sexual desires.

If I had known you were going to be the tiresome jackass that you've been for the last ten months, I really would have cybered with you when you asked me to, instead of just telling you to fuck off. It would have ultimately been less nauseating.

Now, with a new version of PC, comes a new sole instance of me telling you to fuck off. At least there's something you're good at.

Fuck off.

Any chance you can like...make your friend have some bad luck?

Well, he could show her your posts and attribute them to him. That'd keep any sane woman as far away as possible.

choose any two: Cheap, Fast, Good.

#90 by jafd
2002-02-26 23:26:53

i might if i knew what it meant, or if i cared enough to find out.

End Of Discussion. Blame Morn.

choose any two: Cheap, Fast, Good.

#91 by crash
2002-02-26 23:37:29

oh, ok. close cousin of EOF. should have figured that out. feh.

- if you can laugh at it, you can live with it. -

#92 by jafd
2002-02-26 23:42:26

I really recommend a breakfast. Not having a daily morning meal has a tremendous effect on one's cognitive capacities.

Fruit is good.

choose any two: Cheap, Fast, Good.

#93 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:19:29

#84 by Bailey:
Link?
---
<a href="http://board.eve-online.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=4&CAT_ID=3&Forum_Title=EVE+General+Discussion">Eve Forum - General Discussion</a>

Dunno if links are alright, but that one leads to the Eve discussion board.

Check out some of the posts, every so often one of the CCP guys drop a tidbit of info, they seem to interact very well with the fans.

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#94 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:20:19

Okay, either I screwed up the html.. or I'm just a planetcrap newb (Yup, that is assured)

Anyway, there it is..

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#95 by Bailey
2002-02-27 00:27:44

Try this.

Now, got some specific links/examples? I'd sooner put out my eyes than peruse a fan forum.

Sir, you are seriously hunting my wumpus.

#96 by Bailey
2002-02-27 00:27:22

Try this.

Now, got some specific links/examples? I'd sooner put out my eyes than peruse a fan forum.

Sir, you are seriously hunting my wumpus.

#97 by Bailey
2002-02-27 00:26:47

Try this.

Now, got some specific links/examples? I'd sooner put out my eyes than peruse a fan forum.

Sir, you are seriously hunting my wumpus.

#98 by Morn
2002-02-27 00:26:41

See the "craptags" help box below the comments form for some help on how to make links.

Hendrik "Morn" Mans - morn@planetcrap.com

#99 by Morn
2002-02-27 00:26:19

See the "craptags" help box below the comments form for some help on how to make links.

Hendrik "Morn" Mans - morn@planetcrap.com

#100 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:23:48

Note to self, url formatting instructions on bottom of page.
Self takes note. ;p

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#101 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:22:45

Note to self, html formatting instructions on bottom of page.
Self takes note.

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#102 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:22:23

Note to self, html formatting instructions on bottom of page.
Self takes note.

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#103 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:25:31

Err.. I should have read the instructions on the bottom of the page.

Another case of RTFM! vgo vgz vav? :|

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#104 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:21:58

Note to self, html formatting instructions on bottom of page.
Self takes note.

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#105 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:36:51

Shit, multiple posts.. I've probably got 4 resubmits and revisions coming :|

Yeah Morn, sorry about that.. I didn't see it until it was too late.

*sigh*, today feels like Monday.

Bailey, yes.. I'll dig up some examples. I know you have no reason to trust me on this, but.. I've run across a couple of great examples. I'm going to grab a bite to eat, then stick a few up later tonight.

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#106 by Warren Marshall
2002-02-27 00:39:25

What's with all the multi-posting?

#107 by Creole Ned
2002-02-27 00:42:25

They're trying to top your post count, Warren. ;)

#108 by Bailey
2002-02-27 00:42:51

It's keee-razy!

Sir, you are seriously hunting my wumpus.

#109 by Bailey
2002-02-27 00:44:38

Dev

Bailey, yes.. I'll dig up some examples. I know you have no reason to trust me on this, but.. I've run across a couple of great examples. I'm going to grab a bite to eat, then stick a few up later tonight.

Heh, it's not a matter of trusting you, anyone making claims of that sort must provide links around the 'Crap. For reference if nothing else.

Sir, you are seriously hunting my wumpus.

#110 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:45:57

A note about a MySQL database comment rework - slow site(or something) came up 10 minutes ago.. of course I didn't see it before I mashed the post button 6 times :| apologies folks.

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#111 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:49:11

Bailey:

"Heh, it's not a matter of trusting you, anyone making claims of that sort must provide links around the 'Crap. For reference if nothing else."

Ayup, that makes sense. I'll post it later tonight assuming I remember. If I don't, I'll get to it tomorrow morning.

/me ties a string to his finger.

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#112 by Bailey
2002-02-27 00:55:14

I'll be sure to nag you mercilessly should you forget.

Sir, you are seriously hunting my wumpus.

#113 by Dev
2002-02-27 00:56:07

I would expect nothing less.

"If it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic." -- Lewis Carroll

#114 by crash
2002-02-27 01:51:38

hm. the earlier parts of these b0rked threads remind me of being on too much nitrous at the dentist's office after lying about how much pain i'm really feeling.

or, y'know, not.

either way.

- if you can laugh at it, you can live with it. -

#115 by HiredGoons
2002-02-27 08:30:37

Bald-faced thread hi-jack:

To the hardware gurus out there.

Equipment: I have a machine with a slave Maxtor drive (about 2 years old), and I am running Win98.

Problem:Twice in the past month, Windows 98 has refused to find it.  There has been no new hardware or software installed on this machine.  Norton anti-virus definitions are up to date and the system scans clean.

Current workaround:  Turning off the computer, opening the case and re-attaching the power and IDE cables.  I'm not sure why this works, but it does.  Both times, the cables appeared to be in prior position prior to readjusting.

Questions:  WTF?  Impending drive failure? QED fluctuations?  Thanks

#116 by Mad_Dog
2002-02-27 08:40:55

Could be the ide cables have built up corrosion. Try swapping them out next time.

Really, I've seen wacky computers being fixed by replacing the ide cable way too many times. It's wacky, WACKY I tells ya!

#117 by m0nty
2002-02-27 09:29:43

Speaking of avatar pics, here's some headshot action for those of you curious as to what Lum and Tweety look like. It's comforting to know that if this Mythic gig doesn't work out, Lum can always get a job as body double for George Lucas. The rest of the pics of the interviewees for Avatars Offline are also instructive. Raph Koster, in particular, looks evil.

#118 by m0nty
2002-02-27 09:45:51

Oh, and thanks to Bailey for the above link. Now stop complaining, bitch!

#119 by Bailey
2002-02-27 10:11:38

Booyah.

Sir, you are seriously hunting my wumpus.

#120 by jafd
2002-02-27 11:00:58

How many neuter characters does Quake 3: Arena have?

choose any two: Cheap, Fast, Good.

#121 by Gunp01nt
2002-02-27 11:43:33

yeah I'm surprised noone posted something about neuter characters when they saw all those double and triple posts... :)

<<< Do you believe in a god that tells you lies or do you believe in me? >>>

#122 by deadlock
2002-02-27 12:18:10

Right, so the long and short of it is that I'm a single window lovin' freak. Fair enough.

Actually, the main reason I asked about that is that for some reason IE takes an annoying amount of time to open a new window. Probably something to do with the fact that I tend to view web pages inside Outlook (I telt you, I'm a freak). Although it's an IE active control that Outlook uses, when a link opens a new window, a new IE process is spawned.

So, there are two solutions to my problem: get used to extra windows (if ONLY MS would get their fingers out of their arses and sort out tabs - Galeon is the bizbomb for this feature) or stop using my email client as a fucking web browser.

Oh and er.... Russian MMORPIGPGs are the new nazis. Or something. Actually, I envy all of you MMOG-lovin bastards; you obviously have a respectable amount of bandwidth to be able to run something like these. Gits.

deadlock

bleh

#123 by Gunp01nt
2002-02-27 12:41:26

the jacker:

Plus I thought Hollanders were like "If you're a friend of mine don't mess with my sisters, I don't like it."

normally I would be but in this case it's self-interest... who would I rather have for a brother in law, you or my friend? hmmmmmmmm curieus man

<<< Do you believe in a god that tells you lies or do you believe in me? >>>

#124 by Darkseid-D
2002-02-27 13:43:43

Am I evil ?

why, yes I am.

Ds

Never argue with an idiot, theyll drag you down onto their level, then beat you with experience.

#125 by The_Joker
2002-02-27 14:59:12

#123 Siem:

Well since I just saw you making out with jafd on the other thread, everything is becoming clear to me. Talk about revelations. What a day what a day.

BTW, I like Darkseid-D's sig.

Joker, Ph.D. Procedural Assholian Behaviour, Pedophilosopher
- All your ass are belong to my wang Jafd. Prepare to are penetration.

#126 by The_Joker
2002-02-27 15:25:32

#83 Post-it:

That was funny, it's kinda how I am with girls in real life.

#89 Buttfucked Alien:

Whoa, IT SPOKE TO ME. Things can't possibly get worse for me today.

Please excuse me now while I stare at Caryn's avatar and get busy. Pixels have never looked so sexy!!

Joker, Ph.D. Procedural Assholian Behaviour, Pedophilosopher
- All your ass are belong to my wang Jafd. Prepare to are penetration.

#127 by Duality
2002-02-27 15:26:24

Although with a name like "Sanya" ... I'd be expecting some sort of tanned goddess or something.

-duality
... disguised as a genderless burrow owl ... 6.0!

#128 by The_Joker
2002-02-27 15:28:31

Joker, Ph.D. Procedural Assholian Behaviour, Pedophilosopher
- All your ass are belong to my wang Jafd. Prepare to are penetration.

#129 by Gunp01nt
2002-02-27 15:31:24

Joker is pissed cause he aint getting any.

<<< Do you believe in a god that tells you lies or do you believe in me? >>>

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