One of the games which caught my eye at E3 in June was End of Nations, a massively multiplayer online real time strategy game. End of Nations is being developed by Petroglyph Studios; a studio created by ex-Westwood employees (Command & Conquer, Dune II). Apart from its relatively unassuming, yet impressive, showing at E3, the game has remained below the radar.
Why you should care
End of Nations is pegged as being the first true MMO-RTS, and promises a massive consistent battlefield with as many as 50 player controlled armies battling it out for supremacy.
Players will be able to choose their preferred Commander class, each of which has certain strengths and weaknesses. Borrowing from RPGs, it will have an experience point system that will allow players to level up their commanders, unlocking special abilities.
A level cap of 50 has tentatively been set in place, and players will be able to customize their units using their “manufacturing skill”. Apparently this will work in a similar fashion to crafting in traditional MMORPGs. Players will be able to gather raw materials, as well as loot from combat which can be traded, or used to build special vehicles, ammunition, repair kits and other cool stuff that will bolster their army.
Not only will your units have customizable features, but it will be possible to give them specialised paint-jobs. It will also be possible to form guilds with fellow players.
Like traditional RTSs, players will be able to build and maintain a primary base, and resource management will be included via “load out points”. Players cannot attack your main base, which means you will be safe when offline. It will be possible to add buildings which increase units’ performance, or add special abilities such as calling in air-strikes. You will also be able to build “forward bases” on the front lines, but these will be vulnerable to attack.
The game will feature a player vs. player component, as well as player vs. environment. It will be possible to play private instances with no influence from other human players, and the average map will take anywhere between 15 minutes and 6 hours to complete.
End of Nations will charge a monthly subscription fee, although a number has not been finalised just yet. It will be released exclusively for PC sometime in 2011.
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