Tag Archive

Jumpgate Evolution, shooty footage

Written by Jim Rossignol on September 8, 2008.

Reader Handsdown spotted that there’s another remnant of PAX footage that we hadn’t yet posted - the cam-footage of Jumpgate Evolution in action. I do believe this is the first time we’ve seen the game played live, and it’s clear that it’ll be important to see how this works as an action game, as much as an MMO. NetDevil were very much inclined to talk up their action-game with AutoAssault, so I hope they’re able to pull it off with more precision in this, their second run at the Jumpgate concept. The footage we see here sees the player taking on some enemy ships - it’s pretty, if rather slow-paced. I suspect with a group of people we could see some interesting space-combat dynamics, especially if NetDevil figure out some ways for players to support each other in that classic MMO way. Take a look at the trailer after the jump, I think you’ll be intrigued.
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Lego Universe: Show us the game!

Written by Jim Rossignol on August 25, 2008.

The most recent Lego Universe video is a “behind-the-scenes” documentary advert which shows tantalising glimpse of the game, without actually giving us anything concrete. It’s largely annoying PR fluff. Honestly, it’s awesome that they’re having fun making the game and everything, but the rest of the world just wants to see it running! Show us the footage! Clickwards for the video.
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Jumpgate: “Darkness this, darkness that”

Written by Jim Rossignol on August 22, 2008.

There sure is a lot of darkness in the Jumpgate universe, at least if this new trailer is to be believed. Well, it is space, I suppose. Anyway, this has some in-engine (if not in-game) splendidness, and it all looks rather pretty indeed - darkness permitting. And it’s about time someone came up with an alternative to that space MMO, so I’m rather anxious to get hold of the beta and get playing. Could this be NetDevil’s great redemption? Have a nose at our recent interview if this tickles your space-glands.

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Jumpgate Beta Signups

Written by Jim Rossignol on June 27, 2008.

There’s an outside chance that Jumpgate Evolution is going to be really good. Netdevil don’t have the best track record but, well, there’s just something about what we’ve seen so far that intrigues me. Not that free-flight space MMOs haven’t crashed and burned before, or that it’s ever going to supplant the many years I’ve spent in Eve Online but… let’s just say I don’t quite sign on to the idea that every MMO for the next five years is necessarily going to be a waste of time. If any of them grab me, it’s likely to be this one.

Anyway, all of that waffling goes by way of announcing that the beta signups have started. I’ll be in there as Eurogamer’s embedded reporter, so I expect to see some of you in there too. For a little more information check out our recent Jumpgate Evolution developer interview.

LEGO Universe Details

Written by Jim Rossignol on May 4, 2008.

Reuters have revealed some of the first details on the LEGO Universe MMO, having talked to project director Mark William Hansen. From what we’ve managed to gather from this article and early discussion of the project at GDC, this could be the first children’s MMO with mass appeal. Crucial to its success will be getting this bit right:

Most social online worlds have their own currency or monetary system, and Lego Universe will also require users to spend virtual money to buy virtual bricks. But rather than winning or beating an opponent, players build capital by spending time in the game.

“The more a child plays, they collect more coins and more bricks. The more you play, the more you get to build things,” Hansen said.

If it can be a game purely of building and simply economics, it might just avoid the level-grind trap. What’s most fascinating, however, is the news that there will be a fully fledged LEGO building system in the game, and that users will even be able to order their creations and have the actual plastic kit delivered to their door…

NetDevil on Auto Assault and JumpGate Evolution

Written by Jim Rossignol on April 9, 2008.

NetDevil have had an interesting journey. They’re a privately owned, Colorado-based company that started out by making a niche space-combat MMO, Jumpgate, in 2001. They then went on to create the disastrous post-apocalyptic vehicle combat MMO Auto Assault in 2006 - a game so unpopular that it was switched off just over a year after release by owners NCSoft. Now NetDevil are back on track and working on two projects: a remake of their original MMO, JumpGate Evolution, and the LEGO Universe MMO. Both are looking extremely promising, but in this interview with executive producer Hermann Peterscheck we focus on lessons learned from the failure of Auto Assault, and what we can expect from this second attempt at Jumpgate.
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Making Of Jumpgate: The Reconstruction Initiative

Written by Kieron Gillen on April 4, 2008.

[With Jumpgate Evolution incoming and Space week entering its final quasar-packed moments, I though it an opportune moment to dig out an Old Making Of I did about the original Jumpgate. I spoke with their Ryan Seabury at an AutoAssault press-event, way back then. The article originally appeared in PCF and has been slightly edited.]

You never know what to expect at a press event. Sometimes it’s simply you being locked in a tiny room with a sinister east-European man for eight hours, demonstrating the unique merits of their ultra-special hexes. In this case, I’ve spent the last five hours running around obstacle courses and similar outdoors pursuits in the company of NetDevil’s Design Director, Ryan Seabury. It’s an actual press junket. Sadly, there’s little chance to actually point a dictaphone in his direction and talk like gentlemen. Just before we’re whisked in separate directions, I manage to grab five minutes of recorded chat with him. Luckily, Ryan speaks and with enough passion, enthusiasm and speed to fit thirty minutes of normal talk inside this relatively brief frame.
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Codemasters Sign JumpGate: Evolution

Written by Jim Rossignol on February 1, 2008.

Auto Assault and Lego Online devs NetDevil haven’t given up on their original MMO project, JumpGate, and the whole thing is getting a reboot with JumpGate: Evolution. A developer chatlog over on Stratics confirms that the game is set to be published by the online wing of British publishing house, Codemasters.

The game should offer a rather different flavour of space MMO than Eve Online, as it’s an Elite-style free-flight system, rather than point and click menu-based controls. It’s also sharded, and rather less heavy on the PvP; mixing both PvE combat and player-on-player action between safe and open-combat zones across the game.