The latest news regarding the upcoming MMO; Jumpgate Evolution Online has just arrived.  Since E3, NetDevil has begun looking further into the PvP aspect of the game.  The game’s player vs player combat is currently being tested a tweaked.  NetDevil promised that we would see some more info regarding the PvP next month, and have assured us that this is still going to happen as planned.  The game’s progress is said to be going good and we can expect to hear even more PvP info later this year.

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Executive Producer Lance Robertson recently delved into the topic of cross-nation communication within NetDevil’s upcoming space MMORPG Jumpgate Evolution (JGE).

The ability to speak to nations (The Solrain Commonwealth, Quantar Paths, The Octavian Empire) other than your own has become a topic of interest within the JGE forums. Currently, nations are unable to engage in communications with other nations, in his forum post, Lance explains that this is a very intentional exclusion within the game. These nations are basically in all out war and only interact with each other through combat. If given the ability to speak to other nations, the feel of the game would be completely different, nations would have a tougher time being prideful, which is an integral part of the game.

Lance reflected upon successful MMORPG’s such as Dark Age of Camelot (DAoC) and World of Warcraft (WoW). Midgard vs. Hibernia vs. Albion in DAoC created battles of epic proportions in the Realm vs. Realm system, and the great rivalry between Alliance and Horde in WoW is only better fueled because players cannot speak to their enemies.

“We also don’t want to provide any in-game tools that could allow for any sort of “espionage game.” Rampant paranoia, defection or collusion weakens nations and undermines the team feeling of ‘we’re all in this together.’ If you prefer a game that provides for spying and back-stabbing then JGE may simply not be for you. Jumpgate is about the war, and about being part of a strong nation. Anything that goes on outside of the game will obviously be beyond our ability to police, but we’re not going to provide any in-game mechanisms for this undesired behavior.”

For more information on JGE communication you can visit their forums.

Space and Sci-Fi fans unite! Jumpgate Evolution, a new interstellar combat MMO from NetDevil has been gaining momentum in the weeks since E3 2010. The game is being touted as a combat-oriented one, and on the same coin, capable of  large-scale (100 vs. 100) warfare. In contrast to the popular incumbent, Eve Online, Jumpgate Evolution will center around twitch-based combat, and forego a heavily statistical approach in favor of a more streamlined one. That is to say, the developers want the player to focus almost entirely on battling it out, as opposed to non-combat (crafting and trading) systems.

Daeke, the Community Coordinator over at the Jumpgate official forums, recently compiled a list of user questions, and opened up about some of the broader aspects of the game.

Expected features:

• Massive, fast-paced space battles
• Pure combat focus
• Faction-based interaction
• “Event Sectors”
• Globally accessible banks

Daeke warns, “You’re not a space trucker, you’re a fighter pilot. JGE is a completely new animal. If you want a true space simulator, this may not be the game for you.”

NetDevil recently released a new screenshot for their upcoming title Jumpgate Evolution.

The shot takes us to the Quantar sector where an Octavius fighter is weaving and scouting his way through. It looks very cool, although it sort of looks like the ship is anchored directly into that milky-wayish looking thing in the background. I’m sure I’m wrong and its actually tied down to the very awesome Deep Space Nine looking space station behind it. Carry on NetDevil!

Jumpgate Evolution is slated for release on August 31, 2010.

This week the minds behind one of NetDevil’s current projects, Jumpgate Evolution, released a Community Q&A video. Taken during a small conference at E3, the video answers a number of questions about the game’s goals, battles, and gameplay.

Perhaps the most interesting answer dealt with the question of ship stats vs. skill, and which was more important. The answer was essentially that both were required to cement a player’s chance of victory. Said one of the Jumpgate Evolution developers, “If I’m a (level) 50 and you’re a (level) 10, you can still do damage to me but I will take you down eventually. You will need at least five (level) 10 buddies to defeat me.”

The developers also emphasized that Jumpgate Evolution is an objective-based game, and “not just a bucket of shooting”.

Jumpgate Evolution is a sequel to 2001’s Jumpgate: The Reconstruction Initiative. Set in space, the game features twitch-based combat and collision detection. NetDevil has not yet announced a release date.

If there are two things I like, they’re space ships and shouting. This video, provided exclusively by G4TV, has both. This trailer introduces the Jumpgate Evolution Octavius Faction, and gives fresh cause to be excited. Jumpgate Evolution has been a long time in coming, but let’s hope that when it finally arrives it inspires us half as much as this rousing orator.

For more information on JGE, visit the official site.

I’ll admit to having a soft spot for anything science fiction.  Aliens, spaceships, time travel, anything science-y pulls me towards it like a vast black hole.  NetDevil’s reincarnation of Jumpgate, appropriately titled Jumpgate Evolution, had my ear for some time.  Then the title went dark after being delayed from its June 2009 release date.

NetDevil’s Scott Brown created a new thread on the official community forum to let the community know that the game is alive and well.  In fact, his bullet point list details some of the drastic changes that have been made since missing its original release date.

-”Battlespace” returning to more of its simulator roots from Classic, really a place to practice not advance. I know this will make some of you happy in that advancing will only happen in “real” space not instant action type playing. I still hope to have some achievements/leader board materials form here but not likely to have any equipment or pilot advancing type effects.

-Lots of work on missions. With the new design team map layouts, mission stories, the types of things you do in missions, etc is all MUCH more interesting and varied than ever before. The kinds of things we can now do is very advanced.

-Better faction definition. The stories in the game really tell all about your faction and why you are at war with the others. The story is also darker than before with many of the missions you fly feeling more gray than the typical black and white always doing the good thing type story.

-PvP. Lots and lots of work on systems for PvP, new maps, new game play, new forms of advancement, player built battle stations, capturing sectors, etc. The scope and feel of the massive space battles you will be taking part in against other players will be, IMHO, what really sets us apart.

-AI functionality. Tons of work on making the AI both the right difficulty (it was way to easy before) and also varied in behavior.

Looks like a handful of core systems and mechanics have recieved complete overhauls.  Consider my interests perked, for the second time.

With so many changes in the works it is no wonder why Jumpgate Evoltion is still without a release window.

Lifetime; such a strong combinations of words to put together, also has a powerful impact in marketing campaigns. In light of Cryptic Studios releasing the pricing options for Champions Online this fall, I have to admit that lifetime subscriptions are an attractive option.

I hate to be the one to say this, but lifetime makes the most business sense. After much hacking on calculator keys, I figured out if you played for 3 years and paid monthly you’re blowing $540.00. If you went by way of 6 month payments, you’re paying $360.00 to play a superhero. Now, if you are playing for that long, as a life time subscriber your breaking even at the 13 month mark if you’re paying monthly. How many games did I dribble out monthly or bi-annual payments to? A lot.

This isn’t a new option offered by MMORPG studios, two years ago Turbine offered “founders” (people who played from the beta stages) a $200.00 lifetime subscriber offer, a hundred dollar discount over the regular rate. They both have a similar pricing plan; let’s look at it on paper:

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Today Codemasters accounced that Jumpgate Evolution has hit a lankmark of 250,000 plus beta signups, making it the biggest ever beta signup for them.  While 250,000 is an impressive number, it does not necessarily translate to sales.   Age of Conan broke the 1 million mark for beta signups, the largest beta signup ever, then bombed after it’s launch due to many many gameplay issues.

On the flip side, it does mean there is at least interest in the game.  I’m burned out on fantasy MMOs, so this one is on the very top of my list.

Jumpgate Evolution, currently in the Friends and Family testing phase, is an immersive space adventure that allows players to choose from one of three playable Nations and engage in an intense action-packed gaming experience.

Aside from Tabula Rasa, the last 5 or 6 MMO’s I’ve played have all been fantasy based and after Darkfall I’m now officially burnt out on fantasy games.   I’m now moving on to Sci-Fi or any other genre that doesn’t have swords, horses, medieval armor or bows.   Luckily for me Jumpgate: Evolution and Champions Online are right around the corner.  Jumpgate is set to release next month June 16th and Champions Online later in July.

I’ve made my opinion on Champions Online quite clear, I don’t really like it, but Jumpgate looks awesome and is definitely the game I’ll be picking up first.  On the off chance that Jumpgate is horrible, I might try out Champions depending on what other people are saying about it.  Then there’s also CrimeCraft and Global Agenda, two other non fantasy based MMORPGs set to release later this year.   So I guess I timed it just right cause there’s a slew of non fantasy games coming out.  Hopefully I’ll find a home somewhere, I crossing my fingers for Jumpgate.

On a side note, I’m just realized I’m awesome at graphics, I mean just look at how professional that image is.