Filed under: A Tale in the Desert

One Shots: Woodland critters

by Brianna Royce May 13th 2012 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Galleries, Screenshots, A Tale in the Desert, EverQuest II, MMO industry, Opinion, Massively Meta, One Shots, RIFT, TERA, Miscellaneous

TERA isn't quite two weeks old, but it's already offering up some spectacular views. Kromic on the Dragonfall server paused while riding on his mount to take this shot. He writes in,

While doing some exploring on my trusty steed in TERA, I found a great view of the capital city Velika.

His screenshot is just after the cut, along with three more images of woodland critters doing their duty to spice up our MMO scenery.

MMObility: The argument for a time-limited server

by Beau Hindman Jan 6th 2012 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Screenshots, A Tale in the Desert, Business models, Culture, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, MMORTS, MMObility

If there is one thing we MMO gamers love about our favorite games, it's the fact that they go on almost forever. Even when we log off, the virtual worlds we inhabit exist without us. Players continue to adventure, craft and explore the game world as we sleep. It's exciting, and it separates MMOs from the rest of the gaming flock. But what if the world ended? What if the ending of the world was part of the gameplay, an understood happening that marked not only the end of one chapter but the fresh beginning of another?

Time-limited servers end, just as I described. While I have not seen the mechanic much in "standard" MMOs, only appearing really in a handful of titles like A Tale in the Desert, there are quite a few MMORTS titles that use it. In fact, some of the most popular MMORTS games out there use time limits in their games. It would seem that many players enjoy the occasional destruction or closing of their worlds.

Would the mechanic work for other games? How can mobile gaming benefit from the short-term servers?

The Game Archaeologist seals up 2011

by Justin Olivetti Jan 3rd 2012 at 1:00PM

Filed under: A Tale in the Desert, Asheron's Call, Dark Age of Camelot, EverQuest, Lineage, Meridian 59, PlanetSide, Shadowbane, Everquest Online Adventures, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous

You know what I love about the end of each year? The lists. Man, but I'm a sucker for lists, especially when they come in "best of" varieties. In the lull between Christmas and New Year's, there typically isn't a lot happening in the world of entertainment, so it's a good time to look back before we head forward.

And so it is for The Game Archaeologist. 2011 marks the second year I've been doing this column, and it's been one of my personal favorite series to write. Every week I'm learning more and more about the history of the MMO genre, and I'm encouraged to see just how much passion and interest there are for the titles that started it all and got us to where we are today.

So before we head into 2012, let's take one last glimpse back at the road we've traveled. If you've missed out on any of these columns or want to revisit your favorite classic MMO, I've compiled a huge list of everything I talked about this year, from histories to interviews to player stories. There's also a special request for you (yes, you) at the end of this column, so do me a favor and hit that jump!

The Game Archaeologist and the Classic MMOs in November

by Justin Olivetti Dec 6th 2011 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, A Tale in the Desert, Anarchy Online, Star Wars Galaxies, RuneScape, Free-to-play, The Game Archaeologist, Sandbox

It's seemed like every time I turned around in November, a spritely old-timer of an MMO was showing that it wasn't quite out of the running just yet. I mean, heck, we actually got word of a big change to Battleground Europe, prompting millions to throw their hands up and exclaim, "World War II Online is still actually online? Holy donkeys!"

In a way, I think these older MMOs get a free pass to escape the craziness of having to compete with more modern titles, and as such, they're more confident in their position and freer to pursue whatever is best for the game. You know, instead of trying to ape World of Warcraft (which probably aped them first in the great circle of apes).

So what's been going on with our favorite classic MMOs last month? Let's cast our UltraVision™ back on the events of November to see what's been up with four games and their communities.

A Tale in the Desert VI begins tomorrow

by Matt Daniel Dec 2nd 2011 at 7:30PM

Filed under: Historical, A Tale in the Desert, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Sandbox

A Tale in the Desert V is coming to a close, and of course that means that A Tale in the Desert VI is just over the horizon. For the uninitiated, this means that the current arc of events will be coming to an end and players will be starting from scratch. However, that doesn't mean that all was for naught.

Though the players themselves have to start anew, the achievements of Tale 5 remain in place. Players succeeded in building four new monuments, which will lead to four new Tests designed by the team's Oracles for Tale 6. The new Tale goes live at noon EST tomorrow, December 3rd, so you have one more night to prepare yourselves before another unique Tale begins. To get in on the action yourself, just head on over to the game's official site.

The Game Archaeologist spins A Tale in the Desert: A talk with Teppy

by Justin Olivetti Sep 20th 2011 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, A Tale in the Desert, Interviews, The Game Archaeologist, Sandbox, Crafting

I have to say, I have nothing but admiration for lone wolf-style developers who decide to pish-posh giant studio teams and massive budgets and jump into the game-making mosh pit anyway. Andrew "Teppy" Tepper is one of these visionaries who had an idea for a unique MMO and took it to fruition. I mean, most of us come up with "totally tubular" notions for online games, but how many of us make it happen? Outside of a couple of doodles on a Post-It, that is.

In our second week covering the fascinating sandbox world of A Tale in the Desert, The Game Archaeologist had the pleasure of sitting down with Teppy to get his perspective on how one man bootstrapped his way into the MMO world. He also dishes on the team's next MMO project, which we'll be talking more about on Massively later this week.

So what's it like to create the ultimate sandbox in Egypt of all places? Teppy, take it away!

The Game Archaeologist spins A Tale in the Desert: The highlights

by Justin Olivetti Sep 13th 2011 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, A Tale in the Desert, Culture, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous, Sandbox, Crafting

Readers of the ever-so-humble Game Archaeologist will recall that earlier this year I had the opportunity to exchange informative words with Dr. Richard Bartle, the creator of MUD. Since he was -- and is -- a highly opinionated designer, I asked him what he thought was the most innovative MMO from the last decade. The answer was short and succinct.

"A Tale in the Desert, he replied, then added: "Note that 'innovative' doesn't necessarily mean 'successful.'"

Right there is the crux of ATITD's unique position in the MMO industry. Instead of storming down a path well-traveled, it took a machete and made its own trail -- a trail down which few have followed. As Jef recently noted in Some Assembly Required, it is an "odd duck" of a game, skewing as far away from combat as possible to focus on two often-neglected aspects of MMOs: crafting and politics. Even though its population has pegged it as an eternally niche game, it's proven that constant fighting isn't the only thing that can draw an online community together.

This week we're going to look at some of the more unique features of this innovative yet diminutive MMO, which began telling its tale back in 2003.

Some Assembly Required: Is the sandbox dead?

by Jef Reahard Sep 2nd 2011 at 2:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, A Tale in the Desert, Darkfall, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Ryzom, Wurm Online, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Ultima Online, Free-to-play, Dawntide, Xsyon, Post-Apocalyptic, Perpetuum, Miscellaneous, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox, Crafting

Some Assembly Required - header with plans

Let's face it, folks, 2011 has been a fairly bad year for sandbox MMORPGs. Whether we're talking about the premature (and, ahem, forced) demise of Star Wars Galaxies, EVE Online's public relations disasters and its capitulation to the cash-shop-in-a-sub-based game fad, or Earthrise's rough launch, there hasn't been a lot to celebrate for fans of non-linear MMO gameplay in quite a while.

I've even had several friends ask me point blank: Is the sandbox dead? The short answer is not just no, but hell no. Join me after the cut for a few bright spots as we look to the future, take stock of the present, and try to forget about the past.

Rise and Shiny recap: A Tale in the Desert V

by Beau Hindman Aug 15th 2010 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Historical, Real life, Video, A Tale in the Desert, Events, in-game, Reviews, Hands-on, Casual, Rise and Shiny

A Tale in the Desert V is a non-combat crafting paradise. That might sound a little strange, but the developers encourage players to work together to accomplish bigger and better things, making them feel as though they are part of a community. I have tried the game at different times over the years but never really became more than a visitor. I was glad to be given the opportunity to check it out, but even after a week I still feel like I have barely scratched the surface. I have emerged from the tutorial a smarter citizen, but I know that around the corner, greater challenges wait.

The game is not without its flaws, however, although many of the issues might fade as systems and controls become more apparent. Still, I found myself a little frustrated when the game asked me to sit and literally watch grass grow. I did it, though, and found an odd game, filled with mysteries. In a good way, of course.

A Tale in the Desert launches Tale 5 today

by Eliot Lefebvre Aug 7th 2010 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Historical, A Tale in the Desert, Launches, MMO industry, News items

For all that the MMO industry is occasionally decried as being a large gathering of copycats, there are some interesting outliers amidst a field of fantasy kill-fests. A Tale in the Desert is a prime example -- set in ancient Egypt, with a focus on character interaction and nonviolent problem resolution, it's really in a class of its own. And with the new installment of the game launching today, it's the perfect time for players who aren't familiar with the game to start mingling with newcomers. The fourth installment wrapped up in July, which makes for a quick turnaround into the newest iteration.

Unlike many other games in the genre, A Tale in the Desert runs for a while, then rests and starts over with new systems in place. This installment is featuring new Foraging and Aquaculture mechanics, allowing new ways to harvest plants and the ability to grow papyrus. The game is free for the first 24 hours of play, and each iteration tends to last for around six months. If the idea of a combat-free, crafting-focused game appeals to you, now would be the perfect time to head out into the lands of the Pharaoh.

A Tale in the Desert 5 launches in August

by Jef Reahard Jul 16th 2010 at 11:30AM

Filed under: Historical, Real life, A Tale in the Desert, Expansions, News items, PvE

A Tale in the Desert, the long-running Egyptian life sandbox from eGenesis, has announced the impending launch of its fifth major iteration called, appropriately enough, A Tale in the Desert 5. If you're not familiar with the game, it features no combat as well as arguably the most in-depth crafting and trade skill system in the genre. Set against an ancient Egyptian backdrop, the title is also somewhat unique in that each major update, or telling, wipes the slate clean and gives players a fresh start in a new world. The game also features a high level of player control over the game world in the form of law making and player-designed tests that allow gamers to both compete and cooperate.

The upcoming version features a new fishing system that involves the catching of bait insects, rare fish, and fish processing to produce various resources. Additionally, creator Andrew Tepper has tweaked the mining system for the fifth telling, calling it "by far the most fun of any [mining system] yet released."

You can check out a free trial and get ready for the next telling at the game's official website.

Endgame arrives for A Tale in the Desert 4

by Rubi Bayer Jul 12th 2010 at 10:30AM

Filed under: Historical, A Tale in the Desert

A Tale in the Desert 4 is coming to an end, and as players begin to look toward Tale 5, eGenesis has an endgame surprise. The ATitD community will be voting on a Pharaoh and have a direct effect on how Tale 5 is presented.

Sami and Wahim are the candidates for Pharaoh, so to speak. Wahim is your status-quo option, so if you like the way things are in game that's the way to go. Sami, on the other hand, is all about change. If Sami becomes the Pharaoh in game, players will be able to invent seven new technologies. Technologies affect how things are crafted and built in the game, and since A Tale in the Desert is a crafting game, it's a chance for players to completely change the content of the game.

Keep an eye on the ATitD site for all the details and election results.

A Tale in the Desert offers free weekend, sneak peek at next update

by Rubi Bayer May 7th 2010 at 6:00PM

Filed under: Historical, A Tale in the Desert, Events, in-game, News items

If you're more a fan of crafting and socializing in MMOs rather than combat, but haven't checked out A Tale in the Desert yet, you're definitely missing out. The game is completely non-combat, focusing on advancement through player cooperation and crafting.

A Tale in the Desert sports an unusual system all around -- it launched in 2003 in its first "telling," which is a version or major update of sorts. The fifth telling is on the way in just a few months, but players are able to enjoy some special events in preparation while they wait.

If you're a former player who is interested in seeing how the game has progressed, A Tale in the Desert will feature a welcome back weekend for everyone to explore the game at no cost. It will certainly be worth your time, because the weekend event includes a sneak peek at the completely revamped mining system that will launch with the fifth telling. The event begins today and ends this Sunday at noon EST

A Tale in the Desert launches Test of the Orchestra

by Rubi Bayer Apr 16th 2010 at 9:00AM

Filed under: Historical, A Tale in the Desert, Patches, Crafting, News items

Fans of A Tale in the Desert are familiar with tests -- the game is a crafter's paradise and the test system is comprised of different quest lines that allow players to advance their chosen crafting field. Be it building, gathering, tailoring, or several others, something is offered for everyone. Now the game has introduced a brand new test that allows players to not only explore their musical sides, but to show it off in front of the rest of the community.

In The Test of the Orchestra -- available now on the main shard -- players will build a wide variety of instruments and round up a person to play each one. They will then compose a musical score to be played and judged by an audience of their peers, who will award points. The concert will be scheduled ahead of time and "open to the public" so to speak.

If you're not familiar with A Tale in the Desert, but this sounds interesting to you, they offer a brief free trial, so visit the site and see what you think!

A Tale in the Desert to launch new player driven server

by James Egan Jan 27th 2010 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Historical, A Tale in the Desert, Culture, Economy, MMO industry, Politics, Legal

A Tale in the Desert may not be the first game that comes to mind when you think of MMOs, but the title from independent developer eGenesis is something quite unique in this market. A Tale in the Desert isn't a combat-focused game at all, rather it's more about social, economic, and even legal systems in an ancient Egyptian setting. Players involved in a "telling" (a game arc) can even vote to determine the game's laws, which sets this title apart from most others.

eGenesis announced this week that they're launching a new server on February 20th, stating that it will give even greater control to players by allowing them to "completely control the timing of the telling." The new server will offer players an ancient Egypt that has yet to be built. In other words, it's an open environment where the players can have some degree of control over how that setting takes shape.

If the notion of a player-driven setting where the game's subscribers shape the play experience and surroundings appeals to you, have a look at what's coming soon to A Tale in the Desert.

Massively Features

Events Calendar

Name	Date
Cataclysm Launch	Dec 7, 2010
DCUO Launch	Early 2011

Massively Staff

Name	Title
Shawn Schuster	Editor-in-Chief
Brianna Royce	Senior Editor
Rubi Bayer	Community Manager
Brendan Drain	Contributing Editor
Eliot Lefebvre	Contributing Editor
Jef Reahard	Contributing Editor
Justin Olivetti	Contributing Editor
Krystalle Voecks	Contributing Editor
Larry Everett	Contributing Editor
Beau Hindman	Columnist
Edward Marshall	Columnist
Greg Waller	Columnist
Jeremy Stratton	Columnist
Karen Bryan	Columnist
MJ Guthrie	Columnist
Patrick Mackey	Columnist
Ryan Greene	Columnist
Lisa Poisso	Columnist