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| | Title:
Huxley
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System:
Xbox 360
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Genre:
MMO
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Publisher:
Webzen
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Developer:
Westwood Studios
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Release:
Q4 2006
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Online:
Yes
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ESRB:
Rating Pending (RP)
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Scarcely based on the eloquent and well-written title by Aldous Huxley, Webzen’s next-gen MMOFPS takes concepts, influences, and inspiration from A Brave New World. Webzen mixes Aldous Huxley’s ideas with post-apocalyptic atmospheres and futuristic technology in their upcoming game, Huxley. This massive, gorgeous looking game will also be running on modified Unreal 3.0 technology. Webzen is also using proprietary networking technology, in conjunction with the Unreal 3.0 engine, to allow up to 5000 players to play across each of the game’s servers.
Considering that this game is being labeled (what will presumably be the name of a new genre) as a Persistent World MMOFPS, players will have a multifarious amount of content to engage in both on-line and off-line. A Persistent World actually refers to the state of gamers keeping their stats, and changing the world effects around them. In most MMORPGs the entire game world is changing constantly...being affected by clans and guilds who are vying to control cities or resources. The same logic applies to Huxley. Gamers won’t log on or log off and lose status, stats, or progress that they, or their fellow clan/guild, have accomplished. Everything that happens or is affected in the on-line world of Huxley, like any other MMORPG, will stay even after gamers log out.
Interestingly enough, the game will allow players to do battle both on-line and off-line. In the on-line modes, players will still have quests and PVP battles. However, PVP encounters in this game are handled differently than most MMO games; it’s a FPS MMO game and things could get out of hand with bullets flying everywhere all the time. Designated areas have been setup in Huxley to allow players to engage in PVP, clan/guild battles that will allow for up to 100vs100 deathmatches. That many players going at it at once almost seems unfathomable, but in Huxley that possibility will be a reality. Players who have acquired stats, skills, or weapons from quests, etc., will keep all their stuff when engaging other players on the battlefield. This added element of RPG stratagems will definitely tip a balance toward a lot of cooperative teamwork. Although, cooperative team-play won’t be used to simply complete quests or to help fellow clan members become stronger, but also to help every member to be as effective as possible in PVP battles.
Clans and guilds will also have a substantial role in this game, just like in other recent MMORPGs that have territories which can change hands on a whim. Clans or guilds that manage to attack or capture a sector successfully will be rewarded with the resources of that area, primarily Lunarites. So long as a clan/guild holds dominance over a specified territory, members of the group will receive bonuses or rewards from the Lunarites they’ve acquired. Like a war-torn version of tug-of-war, gamers in clans or guilds will be battling each other for dominance over sectors rich in resources. In turn, this on-line aspect of the gameplay will probably be very competitive and will make for some interesting player interactions.
When not playing on-line, the game still allows players to venture about, interact with NPCs and carry out individual quests. Remarkably, everything you earn on-line will stay with your character off-line, and everything you earn, gain or recover off-line, will carry over when playing on-line. Developing one’s character will allow players to acquire equipment and items for their body, head, arms, and boots. The game will also come with a fully customizable facial feature. Presumably, the facial customizing will probably be on par with something we’ve seen from EA Sports games, or more recently, their Godfather game. Players, hopefully, won’t have to worry about traveling around the world of Huxley and spotting their dreaded clones wherever they go (a continuous problem in most MMORPGs.) Although, hopefully the armor and weapons will be as diverse as the character creation tools, so people won’t have to worry about dressing like clones, either.
The world of Huxley is absolutely massive. Players can venture about cities that are approximately eight square-kilometers. The one city on display seemed a bit more like a metropolis, as it contained different areas of ample proportions. The towns also have an illustrious orientation to them that mirrors something from newer Final Fantasy games. Most notably, though, the mix of multiple cultural structures and architecture that resemble a post-apocalyptic world are as stunning as they are diverse.
Cities have also been optimized to support public transportation for players to get from one sector/area to the next, with ease. Subways, armored carriers, and personal vehicles are among the list. For now, it appears armored carriers were only there to transport players to PVP arenas. Subways, while not demonstrated, are said to take players to different areas quickly, within a city or possibly to another city. While the list hasn’t been revealed yet as to how many vehicles will be in the game, gamers will also be able to acquire personal vehicles to transport them around. Conveniently, vehicles will help players travel from one place to the next in the massive world of Huxley. The only other thing that hasn’t been revealed is whether players can do battle in vehicles or not.
On a final note, it’s imperative to get across that this game is an FPS set in the premise of an MMORPG. Gamers will run-and-gun like any other shooter game (viz., Unreal, Quake, Halo) but have all the accessibility of upgrading, exchanging and exploring within an ever-expanding RPG world. From market places to economic structures, this game houses everything that makes current-day RPGs (and MMORPGs) so much fun. At the same time, though, Huxley has all the intensity and visual grandeur of the latest and greatest first-person shooter. Webzen’s amazing PWMMORPFPS (that’s way too long) for the Xbox 360 and PC should be making an appearance on store shelves this holiday season.
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