In 1997, three folks decided to make an online space game for the PC. The group called their company NetDevil and called their game Jumpgate. With a team that eventually totaled six people, they made their dream come true as they released their MMO Jumpgate to stores via publisher 3DO in September 2001. It was different from other space based games that have launched since then in the fact that Jumpgate was more like an MMO Wing Commander; players didn't point and click to pilot ships; they had to be good pilots and actually fly the ships.
The company has since dealt with some developments both good and bad, including seeing 3DO leave as the publisher only a few months after its launch and NetDevil basically taking control of the distribution and updates to the original game. However NetDevil kept the game alive with expansions and improvements over the last several years and kept a small but loyal audience playing the game. Indeed, NetDevil still makes a profit on the game today with a team of eight people supporting Jumpgate at their offices (they have not officially revealed how much money they make on the game nor their official subscription numbers). #####TRUNCATE####
Now NetDevil has gotten much bigger, launching their car combat MMO AutoAssault in the spring of 2006 and with over 65 people currently in their newly launched Louisville, CO offices they continue to support both games and develop upcoming projects like the FPS Warmonger and the toy based MMO LEO Universe. However, they have also not forgotten their roots and with only a small dev team of eight people, NetDevil is planning to release the biggest update to Jumpgate since its launch six years ago. Jumpgate Evolution was officially revealed this past weekend at NetDevil's 10th anniversary celebration and FiringSquad got to see a live demo of the game in action and learned a bit more about their plans for the game.
The biggest change one immediately notices in the new Jumpgate Evolution is the graphical upgrade. Spaceship and space station models have gotten a higher polygon count and high res textures have been put in place. The game's producer, Hermann Peterscheck, told us that nothing has been retained from the original game's graphics; they have started from scratch for the new version. Visual effects have gotten a boost from bright weapons fire to engine contrails to big explosions. Even the game's trademark jumpgates have been changed to have a Stargate-like water visual effect. The game's graphics engine is based on DirectX9 which means that older WindowsXP PC should have no problems running the game well. There are currently no announced plans to give the game a DirectX10 upgrade but Peterscheck told us they do plan to have Jumpgate Evolution work with Windows Vista.
If it was just a graphical overhaul, that might be enough for old players and new to check out the game. However, Jumpgate Evolution will have a bigger emphasis on NPC and AI missions so that you don't feel like you are just playing against other players. It also will make the game universe look and feel like its filled with ships and activity rather than an empty amount of space. In the live demo we got to see some examples of the game's AI and combat (ship control can be handled with either mouse/keyboard or joystick set-ups). AI ships in the game didn't seem like they were push-overs; they fired on their own when they saw our small fighter vessel and it took a little while to out-maneuver and blow them up.
Combat isn't the only thing Jumpgate Evolution players can do. Just like the original game, the new version will also have a deep economic and trading system which will allow players in the game to mine and locate valuable materials and items and trade routs will also be important to locate and use. Players will also be able to own their own space stations to expand their empires. Players with their own stations will be able to expand their structures through the use of add-on modules.
The folks at NetDevil are already taking sign-ups for the beta test of Jumpgate Evolution but it's still not clear yet when beta testing or the full launch of the game will happen. NetDevil execs also wouldn't comment at this time about how current Jumpgate subscribers will be able to upgrade to the new version when it is launched nor what the final price will be to buy the game nor if there will be any monthly fees involved. However with years of experience behind them its clear that the NetDevil team is aiming to make Jumpgate Evolution a game that will please the long time players of the original as well as bring in a bunch of new recruits. Look for more info on the game in the months ahead leading to the game's relaunch.
only that you need to pay monthly... >_>
