IGM Forum Finds – Exile Online
In an industry littered with buzz words that no longer hold any sort of meaning – *cough* immersive *cough* – there are still a few keywords that will make my ears perk up every time. Words like, for instance, “sandbox”, “sci-fi”, and “cyberpunk”. Imagine then, how quickly I dropped everything to write tonight’s Forum Find when I saw Exile Online, a “Sci-fi Cyberpunk Sandbox MMO”.
As you might expect from an MMO, Exile Online features in-depth guild mechanics for managing clans, factions, and cooperative play. Other MMO (and RPG by association, as is often the case) staples such as diverse character customization and varied skill trees are present as well. The team is quick to point out that with a little hard work, it’s possible to max out every skill, so there’s little need to reroll characters. Fluidity and variety are the spices of life in Exile, so players can mix and match skills as they see fit without being locked into a specific class.
What peaks my interest though, are the player-controlled/owned houses and outposts, coupled with the ability to furnish your living space with a wide variety of accoutrements. (The forum post may or may not contain mention of a “gyrating pole dancing platform”…) I’m a big fan of being able to customize my home and character in games, so I’m glad Exile is offering such diversity when it comes to style. Exile Gaming Studio, the team behind the project, is also promising a fully player-driven economy, with a heavy emphasis on player-crafted items which are said to be even more powerful than anything found during loot drops.
Exile Online is still in pre-Alpha, but is gearing up to begin the search for playtesters soon. The game does not have an estimated launch date, and is currently only targeting Windows PCs. Anyone interested in getting in on the testing action can register here. Those looking to keep up with the game’s development are encouraged to visit the IGM Forum for continuous updates. Otherwise, Exile Gaming Studio can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and IndieDB. I’ll be keeping a close eye on Exile myself, so stay tuned to IGM as development progresses further along.
