GDC 2008: Earth Eternal
 | In a continuing trend of web-based games, Earth Eternal is looking to make its mark with a mystical world based on a factual Earth. Players will have a unique experience in character play as classes are multi-dimensional, and you create and nurture Groves that act as your safe haven in many ways. Scheduled for release somewhere between late summer 2008 and early 2009, Earth Eternal is a free-to-play title seeking to find its niche in the growing market of this type of MMO. I had an opportunity to sit down with Matt Mihaly, CEO and Creative Director at Sparkplay Media, and David Kaye, VP of Business Development, last week at GDC in San Francisco. |
One of the unique aspects of Earth Eternal is the class system. In a traditional MMO, players select their class at or near character creation, and are provided options based on that class with which to improve their character with skill points or something similar. In Earth Eternal, however, one is not strictly limited to a specific class as you gain experience and levels. You can eventually train your character to learn skills traditionally held by other classes. This allows you to truly become “uber” in terms of abilities, and possibilities. |  |
 | Groves are another interesting concept being brought by EE. Rather than your traditional player housing, and sitting or laying down to rest, drinking or eating to regenerate, etc., you will build and nurture a Grove. This does act as your house and you will be able to place items within them. However, Matt described them more to me as a player’s own private island within which they can build their own community. This is where you will gain your restorative health, as well as additional bonuses depending on your faction, your creatures, personal items, etc., even while you are not within the Grove. So this area will be your “hub” of operations, so to speak, and should be considered a very important part of your overall game play. For the crafters out there, I wouldn’t recommend that you look to Earth Eternal if that is where your heart truly lies. There will be no crafting in the game at release, although Matt indicated that it is planned for some time in the future. I know how disappointing that will be to some, yet take heart in the fact that Sparkplay Media is definitely aware that crafting is an important part of any MMO and they are looking to bring a great system in at a later date. Of course we would all like to have pets and mounts to ride – there’s nothing cooler than swinging your leg up over the back of some mammoth beast and chasing down your opponent. Sadly, mounts are still in the concept stages within Earth Eternal. Pets, however, are not, especially for those following the path of the Druid. Being an optimist, I am confident that all manner of pets will be available for everyone at a later date, and that we will be able to ride one of the dragons, or maybe have a Shroomie for a pet! |
All in all, I believe that Earth Eternal will be a nice break from the traditional MMO with its cute character races, nice twist on the concept of what player housing should be, in terms of the Groves, and the innovation of letting players actually play the full game, without having to create new characters to experience each class. Add to this that there is no level cap within Earth Eternal, and you have the makings of a long-term title for the casual gamer. Keep an eye on this one – I think we all might be very pleasantly surprised.
Maggie "AutumnKiss" Olsen
Senior Editor, Zam Network