"Rage Online (Astral World)

Author: Denis Kublitsky
Source: PC GAMES number in January 2010	22.01.2010

At the moment, "Rage Online" are at the stage of open beta testing, but the box with the client being sold in stores, running for seven servers, so that the output of the game can be considered valid. Everyone knows that the first "Rage" came out over ten years ago, but not many people know that their history began with the concept of multiplayer online project. It was called Moonseven, and the game world was divided into parts and consisted of the moons orbiting the planet. Agree, looks like a great floating in the Astral Rage! But then, in 1996, to find funding to develop such a project, it was nearly impossible. Even in the West to online games (MMORPG term came later) were skeptical, to say nothing of Russia! "Rage: Print secrets" are single-player game, but had a very high-quality multiplayer. And in subsequent games in the series - "Rage 2" and "cursed is the ground" - multiplayer modes are more interesting. Creating a full-fledged online-games series in the universe was only a matter of time, and ten years after the inception of the idea first "Rage" began to develop a multi-user extension. About Us 1996: Created the concept of MMO-project with the working title Moonseven. The company "Buka" agreed to fund the development, provided that the game will be single player. Since work began on the first "Rage". 2006: Founded company Nival Online, which broke the localization and publishing of online multiplayer games in Russian. Began to develop his own project company - Allods Online. 2009:: Astrum Online Entertainment and the company Nival Online brands combined. On July 6 the company begins to operate under a unified brand and renamed Astrum Astrum Nival. Beckoning Astral According to the legend of the world, between the events of "Cursed Land" and "Rage Online" has been more than 200 years. During this time, the universe has changed a lot: progress is not standing still, residents Sarnauta learned to travel through the Astral, not only with teleports, but the flying ships. Solely to research and wandering is not limited to: adventurers had to fight both the demons inhabiting the Astral, and with the courts of the opposing side - the war authoritarian empire and free the League is still going on. Battle of the astral vehicle is one of business cards Allods Online . But to acquire their own boat can only be circulated a character to its maximum level, and to build a ship to take several months.For this reason, no one has ever seen, what is there in the Astral, because its way into the world Allods all players start with small things - create your own character. This store in Nezebgrade looks like a Soviet grocery store 80 years. One of the references to our glorious past is not - maniac Andrew Chikatilin. National flavor As you already know the story of Velimir in "Rage Online, there are two opposing sides, representing the two poles of our nation's history. If you are closer to the soul birches, churches, nobles and knights - Choose League. Empire is similar to the Soviet Union - Stalin's empire here, an authoritarian structure of the state, the almost complete absence of entertainment, drums kvass and delis. League represent kaniytsy (tall men with light skin), the elves with wings and gibberlingi - small furry animals, very strongly tied to his family and trying to travel with his brothers and sisters. Under the roof of the Empire gathered hadagantsy (people-Southerners with dark skin and an increase below kaniytsev), Orcs, whose image is copied from the football fans, and the rebels MEM - half-undead, half mechanisms, hiding their faces behind masks. Crumbs gibberlingi - a unique find nivaltsev. But why the furry animals are carnivorous teeth? Sometimes the best way to quickly pass an assignment - to die and appear at the resurrection. As you can see, except gibberlingov who travel three, the usual set of races: humans, elves, orcs and undead. Classes of characters are also standard for all RPG and multiplayer games in particular: warriors, rogues, paladins, priests, necromancers, sorcerers, shamans. Several distinguished mystics, acting on the mind of the enemy, but these classes is in Everquest 2 and Vanguard. At the peak of the rest of the MMO, where the ability to normally divided into racial and class, the "Rage-line" from each bunch of race-class "there is a unique skill. For example, kaniysky warrior can temporarily increase your armor - protection from physical damage and hadagansky - protection from magic. On the other hand, World of Warcraft, the priests also have the ability, depending on the race, but there it is true only for one class, so in this regard "Rage" developing an old idea. Ruble saves time "Rage Online - shareware game. Create an account, download the client (about 3 GB) and start playing is completely free and real money are invited to purchase additional features and items. Gaming store, shop here called curios, works on the principle of "money = time", not "money = power", as in many other shareware MMO. This means that all the products displayed in the shop of rarities, you can get in the game without paying a penny for this. For example, doing one of the primary tasks, you get a bag of 24 cells, whereas the original character in a backpack with 18 cells. However, the commission is extremely boring and long - have to kill at least several hundreds of monsters. Therefore, those who do not want to fool with the job can get a similar bag in the shop of rarities for 10 crystals (a crystal - 1 ruble). Or, say, living and dead water (required for redistribution of skills and milestones in the development of character) can get a small chance of the game at senior levels, or buy in the shop of rarities. The situation is similar with potions temporarily reinforcing the character: if you do not want to look for an alchemist who cook needed infusion, they can be bought for real money. We do not undertake to judge, this system is better or worse than the traditional model of a monthly subscription, let everyone decide for himself. In any case, among the fans of multiplayer games is enough supporters and shareware games, and MMO with a subscription. Kill me a long time Nivaltsy never hide the fact that they want to bring in "Rage Online best elements of western and eastern MMO, adding to them the original setting - the world Sarnaut. If you've played WoW, then in the "Rage" feel at home: a stylized graphic-like interface (up to the icons), the standard set from the category of "kill, collect, bring, as well as a repeatable order (some can be done indefinitely, other - once a day). In tasks and dialogue could not have done without reference to our way of life and global culture: on arrival in Nezebgrade citizens of the empire should be registered, kvass restores mana, and energy of the city nurtures KhNPP - hadaganskaya astral-power station. While playing the character of the League you will visit the mysterious island where they were seen polar bears, there is some unknown force, and someone flushes the air provisions. Why are there! One elf wants to write a book that is going to be called "Mysterious Island" or "Lost", and for that asks to find a birch bark, quill and ink. But in "Rage Online" Nothing is so easy, and in most cases, your items would have to produce power. It is noticeable that the combat system is also designed with an eye to the World of Warcraft. While each soldier has a role in the group (think of the classic "tank", healer and magician), with a corresponding development of character, any class can play solo. Correctly picking a character outfit, sharing skills and Milestones (talents, allowing to specialize the character), we can strike a balance between protection and damage. But even in this case, the murder of an ordinary monster of equal level turns into a duel and could easily take more than a minute! Disappointing and that the effectiveness of any skill in battle with the same opponent may differ at times: the impact of the characteristics and the calculation of damages in "Rage" is too complicated, hence the wide variation in the damage done.Also, the game is completely absent avtoataka - in practice, this means that the loss of connection to the server your character has no chance to finish off the enemy. And this is just the tip of the iceberg: every patch reshapes the balance of classes, forcing the search for effective strategies to fight from the ground and separating the clear favorites in the PvP-player battles with players. After the death of a character finds himself in purgatory, and must wait for the queue for a resurrection. Waiting can be reduced by spending a drop of myrrh. Some tasks can be performed close to the character who gives them. For example, to collect the flowers growing there in the pots. Bright future? But chide the game you want, not only for this: in "Rage Online RPG fans not familiar mini-map: though the key points and characters that are located nearby, marked icons visible, even through walls, constantly having to open a" big "map location. Quest log does not remember the last active job, constantly returning to the first request in the list, and active objects in the world are highlighted weak and often difficult to find. The flow of artisan skills that allow you to create objects for long enough, and the very establishment of the things done in the form of mini-games where the outcome depends on chance. However, this is offset by non-standard mechanics of an item. Not without its technical problems and shortcomings: character animation is lame, some tasks can not be performed because of bugs, and music (by the way, excellent) disappears and begins playing again for no apparent reason. But consider this an absolute evil is not necessary: ​​shortcomings and mistakes - one of the milestones in the formation of any multiplayer game, and "Rage Online, we hope, will not be an exception. Yes, and please all do not get: one searches in the game something of their own, and moments that cause a veteran of the genre yawn, great beginner can enjoy. That's why we recommend "Rage Online" in the first place to those who have never played in multiplayer games. Available, in our opinion and in Russian - what else is needed to explore the genre is gaining popularity? Is that an hour or two of free time. Even setting designed for one player to perform better in the group.And faster and safer. The initial zone with the game for a representative of the League are very different from those that will see the men who chose the side of the Empire. Not without escort quests when you need to hold a friendly character, protecting it from monsters.