Filed under: Fallen Earth

Wasteland Diaries: New paint job

by Edward Marshall Jul 30th 2010 at 10:00AM

Filed under: Fallen Earth, Events, in-game, Patches, PvP, MMOFPS, Wasteland Diaries, Post-Apocalyptic

The Fallen Earth 1.6 patch is a couple days old now, and I've had a chance to check out some of its features. I've painted more vehicles than Earl Scheib this week. I was able to test the respec injectors on the Public Test Server (PTS). I haven't tried them on the live server yet, but I have a few misallocated points that aren't serving much of a purpose. I was able to run through the new, extended tutorial with a brand-new clone. And the Fallen Earth team has given us the ability to flag ourselves for PvP anywhere, anytime. This should prove interesting.

If you have been waiting on the sidelines for the next patch or are wondering what new things are in store for us, I will give you a breakdown of the new stuff I have been able to check out myself after the cut. The patch is only a few days old, but I have been trying to experience the new features to the fullest in that short time.

Fallen Earth patch 1.6 arrives today

by Rubi Bayer Jul 28th 2010 at 11:30AM

Filed under: Fallen Earth, Patches, PvP, News items, Post-Apocalyptic

The Wasteland is temporarily closed for maintenance. The Fallen Earth servers are down, and when they come back up at 1 p.m. eastern, you can expect to see a lot of changes thanks to patch 1.6. The game's patch notes, posted last night, gave us an idea of what to look for.

You'll find quite a few minor fixes and changes with this patch. Cars will be pink, orange, and powder blue. Doors will be fixed, weapon sounds will be improved, and floating items will be brought down where they belong..

It's not all just cosmetic, though. If you've been putting off heading to Monkeytown to get that song stuck in your head and pick up a set of monkey wrenches, it's too late -- the town is gone, replaced by new missions and a repeatable town event. Check them out to find out what happened in Monkeytown.

Minor Respec -- a welcome addition that allows you to to reallocate 5 AP -- will arrive with this patch, as will an extended tutorial that will help new players a bit more. If PvP is more your thing, you'll be happy to know that once the servers are back up, you can type /pvp and flag for PvP anywhere in the world, not just designated PvP areas.

There is even more to be seen, and the patch notes make for a good read while you're waiting for the servers to come back up, so check them out on the Fallen Earth forums.

Bring a little color to your ride in Fallen Earth

by Eliot Lefebvre Jul 27th 2010 at 9:00PM

Filed under: Galleries, Fallen Earth, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Post-Apocalyptic

As you scour the wastelands in Fallen Earth, most likely you're taking advantage of the situation by getting yourself a vehicle. Not just any vehicle -- you want something that's flashy, functional, and durable. A fair amount of storage would help, too. Yet for all the options given to players, you've been largely restricted to the main colors of the game world for your new roadster until now. The first phase of color customization is hitting the live servers tomorrow, and it brings with it the option to pay a Garage Manager a fee and pimp your ride with a nice new paint job.

Four paint and dye kits are being added to the crafting of dyes, with each one working on a different range of vehicles and offering the same selection of colors. On top of that, there are eight additional kits of higher rarity -- three of which are found out in the world, and five of which are crafted from new rare components. While our preview gallery doesn't seem to include Safety Orange, Hot Pink, or Powder Blue among its selection, you can take a look to see just how slick your Fallen Earth wheels will look after the patch.

Gallery: Fallen Earth color customization

Wasteland Diaries: The end

by Edward Marshall Jul 23rd 2010 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Fallen Earth, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Roleplaying, MMOFPS, Wasteland Diaries, Post-Apocalyptic

When I first heard about Fallen Earth, the first thing that piqued my interest was the post-apocalyptic setting. The second thing was the FPS-style gameplay and the third thing was the factional PvP. I was delivered the setting in spades; I got a good, healthy dose of FPS action. I will admit, I got a good deal of PvP as well, but not much of it was factionally driven. The understanding I had of what to expect when I hit max level was enforcers and CHOTA squaring off for control of a town, slugging it out for hours on end. But in reality I got sporadic random battles or clan warfare. PvP was supposed to be the endgame material. At least that was the impression that I got.

In this post I will look at the current state of Fallen Earth's endgame, and what we might expect to change from the information garnered from the recent State of the Game. Many people aren't sure what to do in the game once they hit the level cap. After the cut I will take a look at the state of Fallen Earth's endgame and where I expect it to go given the recent announcements.

Fallen Earth PTS patch features respecs, pretty colors

by Jef Reahard Jul 23rd 2010 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Patches, PvP, News items, Post-Apocalyptic

If you haven't yet put in an appearance on Fallen Earth's public test server (PTS), there's no time like the present. The game's newest patch, 1.6, has just been pushed to the PTS shard, and it's ripe for all the poking, prodding, and pummeling that players can muster.

The update brings a boatload of new features to the wasteland, including arboreal graphic enhancements, a revamped newbie tutorial, minor respec points, custom vehicle paint colors, and PvP flagging. Grab your respec injectors from mutagenics merchants and type /pvp to prep your clone for all the ganking action you can handle (and type /pvp again when you've had enough).

Read all about it on the official site as well as the official forums.

Fallen Earth offers freebie time for old subbers

by Jef Reahard Jul 21st 2010 at 9:00PM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, News items, Post-Apocalyptic

Missing the rusted hulks of automobiles, radioactive pools of standing water, and the rest of the visual splendor that is Fallen Earth's ravaged wasteland? Fear not, as Icarus Studios has your fix in the form of two free weeks of unrestricted gameplay (if'n you're a former subscriber).

If you've played the post-apocalyptic sci-fi MMORPG at any point in the past, whether on a trial or fully paid account, you're eligible to receive two weeks for free if you reactivate your subscription (or sign up for one, in the case of trial players). Fourteen days seems like the sweet spot for seeing a little bit of what the game has to offer. "That's enough time to re-join fellow clones or an old clan, take out some nasty raiders, craft and sell some goods, utilize a respec and get yourself a handsome mount," says the press release on the official Fallen Earth website.

Check out all the details and when you're ready, reactivate your account instantly.

One Shots: Don't need nothin' but a good time

by Krystalle Voecks Jul 21st 2010 at 2:00PM

Filed under: Screenshots, Fallen Earth, One Shots, Post-Apocalyptic

After a long, hard day of fighting off myriad things that are hell-bent on your destruction, it's time to relax! Of course, if you're lucky enough to know about it ahead of time, you can catch some great in-game events going on courtesy of Fallen Earth's numerous clans. Today's One Shots comes to us from The Deacon, who recently popped in to one such event for some beer and music -- definitely a great way to end a day. He writes in:

"Every Thursday, the Invicta clan hold a community wide Bike rally at a bar in New Flagstaff, complete with a live DJ! Here is a shot of me mid-headbang, rocking out in the mosh pit just after I arrived."

Have you taken part in a community-driven event recently? If so, we'd love to see some screenshots of it. Just email them in to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. Also, please try to make sure your image is at least 1024 pixels wide -- we hate not being able to use smaller ones because they don't fit in the gallery!

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

Fallen Earth state of the game: silent does not mean distant

by Rubi Bayer Jul 15th 2010 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Fallen Earth, Patches, News items, Post-Apocalyptic

The Fallen Earth developers have released the latest state of the game, and they may have been quiet lately, but they've been hard at work behind the scenes.

Upcoming changes run the gamut from cosmetic items such as color customization on vehicles to gameplay-affecting additions like respec availability. Many of the additions and changes will start small and be upgraded and expanded over time. The respec injectors, for example, will begin as a merchant item, and eventually players will be able to craft their own.

They didn't stop with colors and respecs, though. We got an update on the long-awaited addition of Sector Four as well. Rather than a huge expansion, sector four will be introduced as a series of counties over the next year. PvP is going to get a bit scarier in the future -- rather than having designated PvP zones, a player can flag for PvP anywhere he or she chooses.

These few things are only the beginning. Housing, an improved auction house and a better leveling curve are just a few examples of the new content coming to Fallen Earth in the near future. Check out the full state of the game for all the details.

One Shots: Like tears in rain

by Krystalle Voecks Jul 12th 2010 at 2:00PM

Filed under: Screenshots, Fallen Earth, One Shots, Post-Apocalyptic

After a long day running through the wastelands of Fallen Earth, Sparth takes a moment to reflect, perched atop a roof. While he's unlikely to be in any fear of his lifespan ending altogether like another who once sat crouched in the rain, we're certain that there's at least a mild sense of unease. After all, the wasteland is certainly no cakewalk -- even with weapons!

With that said, here's the short and sweet note that Sparth sent in to us with this lovely image showing off the recently integrated weather effects in Fallen Earth. He writes: "[Here is a picture of] my Enforcer alt in Traders Flat, the Sector 3 capital city. It was taken at night with a beautiful rainstorm."

Are you tooling around in the post-apocalyptic world of Fallen Earth? If so, we'd love to see some screenshots from your adventures. Send those in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here and give you the credit for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

Wasteland Diaries: Fansites

by Edward Marshall Jul 9th 2010 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Fallen Earth, MMOFPS, Wasteland Diaries, Post-Apocalyptic

Finding your way through Fallen Earth can be daunting at times, but there is help out there. Sometimes the people in the game might not be the most knowledgeable or helpful lot. I said sometimes. Luckily for us, even though Fallen Earth has a relatively small community, it is populated with knowledgeable and helpful people. If something has you stumped, and you just can't seem to find anyone in-game that can help you, there are alternatives. Most of your simple problems can be solved in the help channel by a HazMat Team member or by other players in region chat.

Some of your more complex problems may require a bit of research. Researching can be quite fruitless if you don't know where to look. After the cut, I'll give you several resources that you should bookmark immediately if you haven't already. Some of these resources are more up-to-date than others, but even out-dated information is still better than nothing.

Fallen Earth boss-killing event in the works

by Jef Reahard Jul 9th 2010 at 10:00AM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Events, in-game, News items

Think your wasteland clone is tough enough to stand toe to toe with a giant mutated fungus named Deathspore? If so, put your money where your mouth is and join Fallen Earth fansite Broken Future for a series of community boss take-downs. Currently scheduled for Thursday, July 15th at 11pm eastern, the party will leave from Jimbo's Cracked Egg in Needle Eye in search of adventure, excitement, and (hopefully) coming home alive.

"Bring your combat gear and prepare for a night of fun. If the event goes well, I have a little surprise in store for everyone at the end. So hope to see you all there and take care," says Broken Future's Jkillz in a post on the official Fallen Earth forums. Check out the news posting for all the details.

Fallen Earth developers want you to read their mail

by Rubi Bayer Jul 8th 2010 at 10:00PM

Filed under: Fallen Earth, Culture, Post-Apocalyptic

It's been a little over a month since members of the Fallen Earth dev team asked for snail mail from the players, and they've gotten their wish.

Typed and handwritten, serious and funny, the letters came in from quite a few fans, and the developers of Fallen Earth have posted a few of the standouts. They're definitely worth a look -- the fill-in-the-blanks letter gets extra hilarity points -- and the devs are certainly open to more. They promise to write back and maybe even include a little gift. Check out the information page for the details, put pen to paper, and watch for your letter to be posted on the Fallen Earth site!

Fallen Earth preps Texas Invasion Celebration

by Jef Reahard Jul 6th 2010 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Events, in-game, News items, Post-Apocalyptic

Icarus Studios is gearing up to celebrate an interesting Fallen Earth anniversary of sorts, as plans for the Texas Invasion Celebration are afoot. Last year, a horde of angry Texans invaded the Grand Canyon province and caused a temporary cessation of clone-on-clone violence as LifeNet survivors banded together to fend off the horde and protect the region's resources.

This year, survivors can celebrate the one year anniversary of the victory, and Fallen Earth GMs will be there to hand out festive prizes and loot leftover from the battle. One other important point is highlighted in the event press release. "Please be advised that Tiggs (GM) is a Texan. Offensive and/or obscene Texan remarks may result in [the]death of your clone, teleporting and/or no goodies. Just sayin."

Check out all the details on the official site.

Wasteland Diaries: Capstones

by Edward Marshall Jul 2nd 2010 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Fallen Earth, Game mechanics, Endgame, MMOFPS, Wasteland Diaries, Post-Apocalyptic

Capstones in Fallen Earth are powerful abilities that can be learned at level 45. In the literal sense. a capstone is the final stone placed in the top of a wall. In the figurative sense, it is an important achievement. Either way, it is a final step; something that will be realized at the end. Well, now that the level cap is 50, capstones aren't max level abilities anymore. If our level progression continues to 150 (as was the original plan), eventually we will be able to achieve about half of the capstone abilities without even trying. So, let's enjoy them while they aren't a dime-a-dozen, shall we?

After the cut I'll give a brief summary of each capstone and its requirements. It's important to know what each capstone does before building a character, as some builds will benefit greatly from certain capstones. In many cases, Fallen Earth's capstones are goals for certain builds, and the theme of the build works hand-in-hand with its capstone.

Fallen Earth companion app released on Blackberry

by Eliot Lefebvre Jun 28th 2010 at 9:00PM

Filed under: Fallen Earth, Launches, News items, Mobile, Post-Apocalyptic

Fallen Earth has been pushing its mobile app with quite a bit of vigor ever since it was released on both the iPhone and the Droid a few weeks ago. And it's with good cause -- the app allows for players to take care of a number of more tedious play elements while on the go, freeing up in-game time for more exciting endeavors. While the functionality of the software hasn't been expanded, the user base certainly has, as the mobile companion is now available for Blackberry phones and devices as well.

Available via Blackberry App World for $2.99, the ported release offers all the functionality of the original Fallen Earth application. That means players can browse the auction house, check in on the world map, keep track of crafting, and interact with both friends and clan members. For a full picture of the features, players are encouraged to check out the official release and FAQ for the prior versions, which apply equally for the latest release. Whether you're wandering as much as your favorite clone or just want to browse auctions at work, the expanded potential user base is a good thing for the game's players.

Massively Features

Events Calendar

Name	Date
GenCon Indy	Aug 5-8, 2010
SOE Fan Faire	Aug 5-8, 2010
Xsyon Prelude Launch	Aug 15, 2010
GamesCom Expo	Aug 18-22, 2010
Earthrise Launch	Q3 2010
Dragon*Con	Sep 3-6, 2010
PAX Prime	Sep 3-5, 2010
Final Fantasy XIV Launch	Sep 30, 2010
GDC Online	Oct 5-8, 2010
LEGO Universe Launch	Oct 26, 2010
DCUO Launch	Nov 2, 2010

Massively Staff

Name	Title
Shawn Schuster	Editor-in-Chief
Seraphina Brennan	Senior Editor
Brianna Royce	West Coast Editor
Dan O'Halloran	Features Coordinator
Brendan Drain	Contributing Editor
Eliot Lefebvre	Contributing Editor
Jef Reahard	Contributing Editor
Justin Olivetti	Contributing Editor
Krystalle Voecks	Contributing Editor
Rubi Bayer	Contributing Editor
Tateru Nino	Contributing Editor
Beau Hindman	Columnist
Edward Marshall	Columnist
Greg Waller	Columnist
Jeremy Stratton	Columnist
Larry Everett	Columnist
MJ Guthrie	Columnist
Patrick Mackey	Columnist
Ryan Greene	Columnist
Lisa Poisso	Columnist