| Black Prophecy | |
|---|---|
Official logo for the game |
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| Developer(s) | Reakktor Media |
| Publisher(s) | gamigo AG |
| Engine | Gamebryo |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release date(s) | March 21, 2011 (EU) |
| Genre(s) | MMORPG Space simulation |
| Mode(s) | Multiplayer |
Black Prophecy is a 3D real-time combat space massively multiplayer online game by Reakktor Media GmbH, the creators of Neocron.[1]
Reakktor Media started the open beta test phase of the game on February 2011,[2] and they have teamed up with German distributor gamigo AG to publish the game.
Black Prophecy was launched in Europe on March 21, 2011.[3] The US-version has recently been launched. The game uses Freemium model, featuring premium shop where players can buy various in-game items, such as weapons and armors.
Contents |
Black Prophecy's setting and story have been developed by Sci-Fi author Michael Marrak.[4]
The game is set in the 26th century, where mankind has expanded across the galaxy, yet only few of its colonies are controlled by humans. Two main factions dominate space: the cybernetically enhanced humans the Tyi and the biogenetically perfected humans the Genides. On their quest for territorial domination they enter the territory of an ancient alien race called the Restorers, who exhibit a destructive behaviour to other civilizations.[5]
The player is asked to join one of these two dominant races of humans to uncover the mystery of the Restorers and grant the survival of the human species.
Two main factions dominate the game:
The Tyi (abbreviation for Tactical Yeomen Inhabitants, pronounced Tai) are a race of cybernetically enhanced superhumans, with great strength and endurance, both physically and mentally. They are resistant to radiation, have independent bloodstreams as well as backup organs, speak all languages and are true multitaskers. They also gather and process data at an increased rate.[6]
The Genides are a race of genetically perfected humans, designed to be able to better resist the unusual and partially hostile environments in space and on the colony planets. They require very little sleep, heal wounds quickly and can communicate telepathically. In addition, most of them are resistant to disease and epidemics, think faster, can detect ultra- and infra-sounds and have a long life expectancy.[7]
The game is action-oriented, focusing on player versus player (PvP) and player versus environment (PvE) combat and missions.
Up to ten players can form a team and participate in team missions, which typically have an increased difficulty and better rewards compared to the solo missions.
Currently there are no bonuses for PvP combat other than the PvP mission rewards.
The only death penalty is a stacking debuff to some of the ship's stats, which lasts for 5 minutes. After being destroyed, player ships leave no wrecks and are instantly resurrected. Players retain all the items that were in their ship's inventory before death.
Players gain levels by getting experience from completing various missions. Each new level adds 3 or 5 points which players allocate to increase the stats of their choice. Each stat determines the maximum level of equipment a player can use. For example, a level 10 mechanical stat allows the use of any mechanical weapons up to level 10. The points can also be allocated in tactics stat, which allows players to perform various combat maneuvers, such as U-turn and speed boost. Common items can be bought from the non-player character (NPC) dealers, which are present on most stations, but more advanced items can only be looted from enemies or crafted by players.
The game has no way to automate the trading process between players, it has neither an auction nor a market - the only way to trade for the players is to agree to meet in a certain place and transfer items and currency manually through the trading window.
The crafting system is similar to the one used in Korean MMORPGs, since it is based on random numbers. First, a player must obtain a blueprint and the resources required for crafting. Then the player docks at a space station, selects the crafting menu, places the blueprint on the corresponding slot and then checks the end result, which is shown before the crafting process start. Then the player starts the crafting process, which takes an amount of time based on the end product level. While crafting, the player cannot do anything else, and only one item can be crafted at a time.
If all goes well, the player gets their product after the crafting is finished. The process has a chance to fail, in which case no product is produced and all of the resources used in production are lost. There is also a chance for a perfect crafting, which produces an item with stats better than originally anticipated. Such items can be sold for a very high price to other players.
A notable aspect of the game is the modular ship design, where players are able to acquire different modules (cockpits, wings, engines) of different levels in order to customize their ships in many ways. Most of the modules can also be modified, increasing some of their stats.
The game also features an award and medal system, similar to an achievements system, where players can earn medals and awards for performing specific tasks.
Player clans are allowed to build their own stations and expand them through a module system to add different functionalities, similar to the NPC stations.
The game has three ship views available - two first person views from inside the cockpit with cockpit frame and the interface visible in one case and only the interface visible in the other, and a third person view of the ship.
Development on Black Prophecy started in late 2006[8] with a team of 50 people.[9] Originally planned to be released in 2009 by Reakktor's parent studio, 10tacle Studios, it was premiered during the 2007 Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. The first website for the game was put online on August 21, 2007, just in time for the convention.[10]
At the 2008 E3 a new trailer was debuted and the registration for the closed beta was opened.[11]
After 10tacle's bankruptcy announcement on August, 2008, Reakktor released a statement confirming their commitment to the development of the game.[12]
The new website for the game was launched on March 5, 2009, and on April 8, 2009 the official forums were opened to the public.[13] The game was released on March 21, 2011 in Europe and is currently in Open Beta in North America.