Otherland MMORPG Announced!

Best-selling author Tad Williams’ Otherland series is quite possibly one of the most thrilling virtual reality novel series of our time. In 2012, gamigo and dtp entertainment will bring an incredibly elaborate free-to-play online game based on the novels to Europe and North America. The two Hamburg-based publishers have signed a license agreement that gives gamigo the exclusive rights to publish the game online in the West while dtp focuses on the retail version of the game.

The dtp studio RealU, an international team made up of experienced developers, has been working on the action-packed and story-driven MMORPG built on the Unreal 3 engine since 2006.

Otherland features lush landscapes, highly-detailed character models and top-notch effects thanks to the state-of-the-art technology of the Unreal Engine 3. The developers had a wealth of material to draw upon when creating the highly-varied mulitverses. There is little to limit the imagination in virtual reality, making an endless variety of settings imaginable. “Eight Squared” is a classic medieval world with fairy-tale castles and massive chess pieces floating the air. Mars is hardly a red wasteland but instead boasts impressive Oriental buildings. Additional worlds are already in development.

The “non-targeting system” makes fighting in Otherland focused on the action. The game features long-range weapons such as bows or guns as well as weapons designed for melee combat such as clubs, swords and lances. Attacks are not aimed at a specific target, so sweeping blows or mighty swings will hit all enemies within range! Position and separate targeting are important aspects of battles, making them far more dynamic and intuitive.

Socializing plays a huge role in Otherland. In the colorful neon gorges of the “Lambda Mall”, players can make plans to meet up for a chat in one of the many bars to unwind from the hubbub of battle. They can also take part in a variety of mini-games such as dancing competitions or aerial combat. The Lambda Mall is a central meeting place, a shopping center and a place for relaxation, all rolled into one.

Those who prefer to have their own private place to relax can create their own little realm in “MyLand”. Throughout the multiverse, players can gather what is known as “eDNA” from opponents. After collecting enough eDNA, they will be able to place, among other things, creatures to protect them in the MyLand.

Closed beta testing for Otherland is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2012. Registration for beta testing is now open at http://otherland.gamigo.com/.