Fallen Earth

Fallen Earth Mobile Companion App Launches

stargrace June 8, 2010 1Comment

Yes, I picked up this app for my ipod, and this week I also managed to pick up a WoW authenticator which I’m pleased as punch about (not to mention it came with a cute little in game puppy pet). I love games that add apps for people, and I’m looking forward to exploring this one. I’m not currently in a guild in Fallen Earth, so if you happen to be in one and are looking for more members, please let me know!

ICARUS STUDIOS, AFK INTERACTIVE LAUNCH FALLEN EARTH MOBILE COMPANION APP

Compatible for iPhone, Android

Cary, NC – June 8, 2010 – ICARUS STUDIOS and Fallen Earth, LLC, developers of the self-titled massively multiplayer online game (MMO), today announced the launch of the Fallen Earth Companion App with partner AFK Interactive, available for iPhone and Android devices. The app allows players real-time access to the live game server, where they can check in-game mail, view auctions, send and receive chat messages and more!

“The development of the iPhone application has allowed our team to extend the capabilities of Icarus Studios’ xScape Platform,” said Phil Hall, CEO of Icarus Studios. “The degree of mobile interactivity is unparalleled. Players now have the ability to interact with the live game server in ways that, until now, weren’t possible without a PC.”

Making life in the apocalypse a little easier for survivors, the Fallen Earth companion app feature set includes the ability to:

• Check in-game mail
• Interact with clan members and online friends
• Visit the auction house to browse bids and keep tabs on auctions
• View available crafting recipes and check progress on those active
• Examine character profiles and equipped gear
• Access the world map

The iPhone application also allows players to view all acquired achievements, those in progress and their overall achievement score.

As development on the app continues, players can expect to see future updates available through the Fallen Earth online store. The next slated update for the app, available in the coming months, will include the ability to send in-game mail and attachments as well as craft new items and buy and sell at the auction house.

“The Fallen Earth app is a taste of the future of mobile connectivity,” said Doug Dyer, president of AFK Interactive.  “It’s really the first of its kind with this much real time, connected functionality across multiple platforms and, at AFK, we’re betting it’s just the beginning.”

The Fallen Earth companion app is a one-time download and available today for both compatible platforms. Players may purchase the app directly from iTunes or through the Google Android App Store for $1.99 (USD). The Blackberry app will be available in the coming weeks and may be purchased directly through Blackberry App World for $2.99 (USD).

A network connection and active game account are required for use.

For more information about the Fallen Earth Companion App, visit the FAQ at www.fallenearth.com/mobilefaq.

Learning the Fine Art of Combat

stargrace November 20, 2009 1Comment

In my previous post on Fallen Earth I was asked how combat worked, what I thought of it. Since I’m 100% newb when it comes to the combat of Fallen Earth (and similar games) I’m going to talk about it from that perspective. I’ve never played shooting games (which I’ve stated before) and aiming is (at the moment) uncomfortable for me – but I’m getting the hang of it.

The first thing I really had to learn, and I had to learn fast, was how to switch my weapons around during combat. Control 1 and Control 2 will move between the first two weapons, but you’ll want to look at your weapon screen to find out the hot keys for the rest. I can’t remember them off the top of my head. Some times I’d want to start out with a ranged attack, and then move closer to my target. I had one major problem with this and it’s from years of playing nothing but my fantasy based MMOs. I don’t use WASD to move, I use my number pad. I don’t use my mouse for gaming. In Fallen Earth you must adapt and learn how to move with the WASD (and some times q and e) keys. This will save you a LOT of difficult game play later on. If I were used to those keys I wouldn’t have nearly as many issues as I do now. The game works (as I imagine) any shooter game would work. You move your character with your left hand, and you aim and shoot (or aim and smack if you’re using a melee type weapon) with the mouse. The controls are pretty simple, and if you’re already used to them you’re already ahead of me.

A few other things I had to get used to. While you can click and target a mob, you can’t auto attack per say that I can see. You have skills that you can hit before you’re even in combat, and it will cue them for once your actual attacks start. Hitting the center key on the mouse pad causes you to enter (or exit) combat mode, it brings up the little round circle in the center of the screen that indicates where you’re hitting. Once you’ve got a target, the right and left mouse buttons will cause whatever you have equipped to attack whatever you’ve focused your circle on. Of course mobs (and players) don’t stand still, so you’re constantly moving your character around, moving your aiming around, and trying to coordinate all of that to go off together all at once. Again, I’ve never done any of this until I started playing Fallen Earth, so I don’t have years of expertise to back me up. It’s going to take a lot to get used to. I felt better knowing I wasn’t the only one who had to get used to control, as Wpus who was trying out the game with me decided to accidentally blow up the ATV you’re asked to ride in the tutorial. He’s also shot his mount Old Mare a few times. Thank goodness you can repair those.

The combat is fun, a LOT of fun. I enjoy being able to have so much control over my movement, and aiming. I love attacking from range (and cackling gleefully though I’ll deny it if anyone asks) while I walk up to melee range and then taking out my wooden plank to lay a few smacks. So far things have been simple enough that I feel like I’m being eased into it rather then flung head first. The tutorial gets you pretty familiar with the basics, and the first few quests I’ve picked up have helped out a lot. If you’re not a quest person I would highly suggest you try to be one. I’ve spent three hours (roughly) in game, and I’m level 2. There’s so much to see. I squealed like a child when I realized that the pylons surrounding some junk car could actually be moved and toppled over, and rolled down the street. It’s those things that make me want to play more.

Hopefully that explains the very very basics to combat, at least the things I’ve learned so far. I’ll write more about my adventures as soon as I have a little more free time!

Exploring Fallen Earth – First Impressions

stargrace November 17, 2009 1Comment

I managed to get myself a 15 day trial to Fallen Earth – a game that numerous bloggers in our tight knit community have been talking about for the past few months, but I had not found the time to play. Actually this is my 2nd 15 day trial as I didn’t even manage to log in for the first one. Thankfully I didn’t have too long of a patch to get back up to speed, and within the hour I was in game at the character selection screen.

A few things to keep in mind as I write about this game. First of all, the genre is completely new to me. I’m not a fan of zombies, or anything post-apocalyptic. In fact you could go as far as to say that it scares me pretty bad. I’ve also never played a first person shooter before, or in fact ANY shooter game besides duck hunt for the nintendo, and I’m not even sure that counts. I do love using ranged attacks in my ‘general’ MMO choices, rangers, casters, healers who stand at range, etc but for ‘most’ of my MMO choices there’s no aiming involved. Nor do a great many of them have complex weapons, and I certainly don’t have to (typically) swap out my crossbow for a two handed wooden board. Until today.

There were a few commands I wanted to learn right off the bat. No, not how to attack – but me being me, I wanted to know how to free the mouse so I could view the face of my character for screen shots. Turns out that command is alt + holding down the right mouse button. Want to get rid of the UI? Alt + F10 will do that for you. These are things I couldn’t figure out right away, as the tutorial was trying to explain to me that I would need to swap weapons, scavenge corpses, and – oh hey is that a dead body over there? I wonder if they were carrying anything.

Some people break for shinies, I now break for corpses. Plant, animal, person, it matters not. If it’s not moving (and some times even if it is) chances are I’m there trying to glean something off of it.

The story line was great, and once I got through it and started watching the ‘lifenet’ video that your ‘clone’ (character) starts watching once they’ve revived I just about had an accident I was laughing so hard. I loved the humor in such a dark themed video game. If you’re not a fan of blood, guts, rotting things and gross icky stuff then this game probably isn’t for you. If you can look past that (which I am currently doing) you’ll find out just how much of a gem it is. As an example the first thing you’re sent to do is grab an axe out of some corpses head to use. Hey, he’s not going to be using it after all.

I’m still level 1, but again this is ‘one of those’ games where you don’t want to pay attention to what level you are. Exploring quickly became a big deal to me as I was sent out after chickens and ended up.. well I’m not quite sure where. The community was great and friendly, and it wasn’t THAT crowded when I was wandering around, which probably helped. I’ve played barely two hours into the game, and I’m already loving crafting (more about that later, I haven’t even really started and I know I love it). Will I play past the 15 day trial? Not sure yet. It’s a money and time thing more then a unsure about the game thing at this point.

Playing? Let me know who your character is and I’ll add to my friends list. You can find me there as Ellithia, and no doubt I’ll have a LOT more questions as time goes on.