Usually we tell the magazine about the game. But Love - an exception to the rule. In the sense that it - not a game, but an independent phenomenon. He does not fit into any frame, and very vaguely reminiscent of something you've seen before. Yes, the value of this phenomenon for mankind could be controversial. But still, pass it would demonstrate an inexcusable narrow-mindedness.
First meeting Love was created entirely by one man - Eskil Steenberg programmer. Back in 2007, he decided to create their own MMO-project. In his words implied that awaits us some extreme version of "Survivor" in which players work together to survive in a hostile world, and with zero elevate their settlement. Also been promised an opportunity in real time to build new buildings and change the landscape.
 | |  | This - not the work of surrealist, and a screenshot of Love. Get used to the picture of the game is simply impossible. | | In the hands of our friend blaster, which usually becomes your first weapon in the game. |
And here before us appeared Love - a project which is very difficult to find an analogy. You should not rely on the column "genre". C-line RPG game have in common only communicate with other players; c action - only the opportunity to shoot a blaster; co Strategies - the need to develop their village. In reality, most of all Love is like a complicated experiment to study the human psyche and the ability of people for joint action in extreme conditions. And we must have great courage to agree to participate in this experiment.
Be warned once: the world Love is harsh and unfriendly. If the usual MMORPG developers immediately take us under his wing, then Love you start your life lonely, insecure and lacking the slightest clue what to do next. Your first task - to find the nearest village and players to join the ranks of its residents. By and large, with this and start Love.
 | |  | The whole interface is represented by a set of Love zakoryuchek bottom of the screen. In fact, management realized conveniently, you just get used to. | | The generator - a source of energy, the only strategic resource of the world Love, vital to the settlements. |
There will be a city laid ... With the large influx of players the city resembles an anthill. Someone runs to explore, someone is standing on guard, from the ground jumping new buildings, but somewhere in the distance suddenly plain vzdyblivaetsya hills. Understand all this very difficult - but the deal will have, at least if you want to join in the game.
So, let's begin. The town is built around a Monolith - a key building in the event of the destruction that kills itself settlement. Wanting to destroy it enough: in addition to the settlement of players is near five cities managed by AI. Their people outperform in the development of people (at least at the start) and behave very aggressively.
Near the settlement, and may be other players, since the number of monoliths is rather large. You do not have to fight, but resources do not always have even a single settlement. We have never seen conflicts between human villages, but the players say that on other servers such cases.
 | Urban Programming |
Urban infrastructure development - the process itself is quite fascinating. Buildings can interact in a most peculiar way that allows to embody a very interesting combination. Over time, it's more like a lesson in science - at least, feels that the system devised a professional programmer.
A simple example. First we build the tower, which allows the use of walkie-talkie. Then put on the approach to the settlement bombometalku and tune its frequency - now it works every time included an intercom. Then we build a number of radar, which sends us on the radio signal, which intersect the motion. Voila! - Now all uninvited guests will be fired automatically.
Go ahead. The above-mentioned resources are represented by spheres, token'ami scattered around the world Love. In each of them contains the "seeds" of a building to be delivered to their settlement and land where you want to build. In addition, token'ah may be hidden tools or weapons (they, too, should immediately bring home - if they are available to all your mates).
Of all the instruments are of particular interest are those that make it possible to change the landscape, especially that created Steenburgen engine (see sidebar) allows you to manipulate on the fly. Of course, the possibility of players significantly curtailed, so that they could not redraw at their discretion throughout the world. But still no one disturbs the rock to build around the city, and then equip it in the cave.
 | |  | That's how this might look like enemies. Get used to it beforehand. | | In the surreal world of Love to distinguish the lighthouse from the warehouse is almost impossible. Fortunately, you can always see a hint in the corner. |
Cadres are No less important resource of the world Love - it's the players themselves. Or rather, their ability to find common ground between them. After all, if a monolith with the buildings - the heart and the flesh of any city, his blood - it's you and the other settlers. You build new buildings, collect token'y and protected in case of danger ...
Establishing a team game - a task no less difficult than finding new token'ov and Urban Development. The point here is not even that has to negotiate everything - where to put the building who are bored on guard if you want to build around the city of hills or not. Just in other online games, life is subject to strict rules, but anarchy reigns Love, and everyone can do anything. Try to agree on joint action in such circumstances.
But a team game brings serious dividends. Together, you can, for example, take a well-fortified castle AI-settlers: as long as one half of the assault brigade ballyhooed from the north, diverting the attention of the besieged, the other slips into the castle from the south and make all stored there token'y, without which the computer village can not exist.
| Quel Solaar - the engine of the future |
One of the main features of the game - Engine Quel Solaar, allowing on the fly to create new objects and edit the landscape at their discretion. Strindberg has created for his own site, which offers "a motor" for other developers. He also explains how to implement the editing of the landscape: each object has a number of parameters that define its position in space. With the change of the data is changing the landscape.
A key component of Quel Solaar is increasingly popular technology Verse - a protocol that allows software to work with graphics to share information on the web (thanks to him, for example, three of the architect can design a house together, working in different programs). Verse binds together all the components of the engine, and any changes are immediately displayed on the screens of all players.
The dark side of love However, in reality in the world Love is not all that bright. There he and the other side, which opens, is to abandon the slogan "fog of originality." A debit account for much.
No tools of communication and coordination, apart from direct chat, players have not. Therefore, the phrase on cooperation spoken above describe the ideal outcome. In fact, you may encounter a situation where nobody rushes to explain to newcomers, it takes a city at the moment and how it can help (at least, the author encountered the same problem on two servers).
In this case, returning to the city from the next campaign, you may find that construction, built by you from the blood and sweat produced token'a, was destroyed by someone who decided to stick to its place next beacon.
You can certainly find its own monolith and play alone. But in the end, you are bound to wonder - Why do all this? Seek in the game to nothing - even computer enemies can not overcome their city each time reborn in a new place. In the usual MMORPG you can play for the sake of leveling your character, for the opportunity to win all the more powerful enemies, and in Love? Develop the city for the very fact of development?
 | |  | Some sort of cable car that makes it easy to travel from place to place, admiring the beauty of the road. | | Before us - the enemy's defensive tower. I was just trying to get past it. |
The last word Love, of course, a diamond gaming - but so far not faceted. In the presence of the original concept, a unique game world, innovative technical solutions ... But the whole game they can not make up. Very few venture to look into the world of Love, even a few decide to stay there for long. And these few can understand.Love gives a sense of freedom and the unique experience of communicating with other people, some do not get in any other game.
| About Us |
2008. Eskil Steenberg first presents his project to the public, saying that to run Love to 200 active players. Around an unusual game quickly formed a fan community.
2009. Becomes aware that Love will be distributed through the service dx Networks. Simultaneously, the firm registers Steenberg Quel Solaar (consisting of him alone) for the operation of the game and engine.
2010. In March, ends beta test the game and starts selling of passwords for access to the Love.
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