Crowns of Power
Encyclopedia
Crowns of Power, also referred to as CoP, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game
(MMORPG
) that was launched live on August 21, 2008. It was developed
by Rampid Interactive
and its development can be credited to a team of 5 people made up by Peter Simard, Matt Ensign, Matt Tapply, Bogdan Iliesiu and Chris Bechard. The game is distributed off their main site through a free download, as well as other distributors such as Download.com
.
The director, Peter Simard, was interviewed by Deborah Marshall of Garage Games in September 2008 for successfully developing an MMORPG
with a pitifully small development team.
Crowns of Power was showcased by Rampid Interactive at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles
on June 2–4, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center
as an Exhibitor.
The game has also been reviewed by , where you can view the article.
A software package is installed via download that updates the game to its latest version. A free Rampid Gaming account is required to login and access the game.
category, drawing inspiration from the text-based MUD
genre of old as well as the traditional role-playing game
s like Dungeons & Dragons
, The Realm Online
, Meridian 59
and Everquest
.
In Crowns of Power, players create a character at the creation screen by selecting a unique name that they’re known as in game, their gender, hair, facial features and a color based spell school (IE: Red, White, Green, Black, Blue)
Players use their avatar, to adventure through a fantasy world called Arder. Players progress through the game by slaying mobs
and completing quests which yield experience point
s for levels and loot
like armor, weapons, potions, magical spell runes and artifacts.
Crowns of Power allows players to interact with others through role-play
, grouping, raiding and the joining of guilds
,. There is also the ability to duel players, converse with others in a World chat, trade and place items for sale in a player driven market.
The game world consists of 9 environmental zones and 4 dungeons that players can explore. Multiple instances of this world are available across various servers that can support small numbers of people online at a time.
“Mana,” like most other games of this genre, is the energy source that allows a player to cast spells. In Crowns of Power, some spells require additional “reagents” to cast, which is an item that is consumed upon casting the spell and can be purchased from non-player character
s (NPCs)or found off mobs
in the world. You expand your Mana by gaining levels, doing quests and discovering “Mana Nodes” throughout the world.
Each school of magic also gives the player access to a variety of “pets” (Minions that help the player) that they progress to through leveling. Most of the pets are creatures that are summoned in combat to assist in damaging a target mob until it is destroyed. Some schools like White and Green have access to permanent pets that stay with them even after combat is over, giving them the ability to buff the pets, making them more effective in combat.
Defining roles in Crowns of Power are established with “Force” spells that make the caster more powerful in a specific area at the cost of vulnerability in another. This is to help each school have a specific function that falls in place with most MMORPG
s, like a “Tank
”, Healer and “DPS” (Damage Per Second
).
and loot
for money/treasure, trading – players can use a trade channel to negotiate deals for cash, barter or place items up for sale in a player drive market, social interaction – players can communicate amongst one another in world chat, form groups to quest/adventure together and form guilds
that can own guild halls, Player Versus Player – Players can engage other players in PvP (Player versus Player
) combat if they’re a member of a guild, and if they can find another player online. Guilds also used to be able to siege other Guild Halls that did not belong to them, taking them by force back when the game had the required number of players for such an occurrence.
Players can adventure and explore the world of Arder solo, in a group or as a part of a raid. The lower levels of the game allow each player, regardless of spell school, the capacity to solo the content. As players progress through the game and attain higher levels, only certain combinations of spell schools will be effective at soloing and players will find it easier to progress by forming groups with others.
A group can be formed by up to 5 people without an experience penalty, provided that you can catch 4 other players online at one time. A group of 6-10 people is then considered a raid party and experience is drastically reduced. Due to the combination of spell schools, players do not have to seek out "cookie cutter" classes like some other MMORPG
s to fill the role of tank
, healer and DPS
. Forming groups is the most effective way to take on high end content which has a higher risk but greater rewards in the form of gold, loot and rare spells.
: Players can participate in player versus player
(PVP) combat using the /duel command that allows them to combat each other with no penalty for death, except for the glitch which causes players to die completely at the end of duels.
World PVP: Players who are in a guild and above level 20 can engage in PVP anywhere outside a "safe area." There are different penalties for death depending on your social status.
in the game. Each "game server" is a cluster of out-dated server machines working together..
Characters are confined to the server they were created on, preventing people from progressing on one server and moving to another server later. Once a character is created, it can only be played on that server.
In theory the servers could develop unique communities of friends, enemies and strategic alliances if the game were ever to attract a large user base. People often include their server name when identifying their character outside of the game.
, The Realm Online
, Everquest
and even World of Warcraft
.
All of the programming for Crowns of Power was done by Peter Simard, who also directed the project. Matt Ensign and Matt Tapply can be credited with jointly designing and creating the 3D environment of Crowns of Power, inspired by their shared history of gaming. Bogdan Iliesiu is the sole artist on the team and is responsible for the majority of 3D models and textures seen in the game world.
The development of Crowns of Power began in 2007 when Co-Owners Pete Simard and Chris Bechard committed company funds towards a development team to produce Rampid Interactive
’s first 3D based graphical game. After acquiring licensing for use of the Torque Engine that has been used to produce many other titles , they hired on a team to implement the design. The team started with Pete Simard as the Programmer/Director and Matt Ensign who was responsible for all content related tasks involved in the project as well as the development of the 3D world. Pete then hired on Bogdan Iliesiu as the sole artist of the team who can be credited for making most of the 3d models, including the main character models and a lot of the texture work seen in Crowns of Power. Matt Tapply was brought on shortly after to help develop the 3D world, create quests, implement itemization, create spell effects, AI and more.
Crowns of Power was first launched on August 21, 2008. The latest patch, version 1.16.0, has been widely recognized by players as rendering the game unplayable due to crashes every eight to fifteen minutes. The game has been abandoned almost entirely since September 2010, with the majority of players moving on to other MMORPGs.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
(MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
) that was launched live on August 21, 2008. It was developed
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
by Rampid Interactive
Rampid Interactive
Rampid Interactive is a game development and game publishing company that specializes in web applications and web based games. The company was established in Dover, New Hampshire in 2002 by co-founders Christopher Bechard and Peter Simard as a game and web site developer.Rampid Interactive’s...
and its development can be credited to a team of 5 people made up by Peter Simard, Matt Ensign, Matt Tapply, Bogdan Iliesiu and Chris Bechard. The game is distributed off their main site through a free download, as well as other distributors such as Download.com
Download.com
Download.com is an Internet download directory website, launched in 1996 as a part of CNET. Originally, the domain was download.com.com. The domain download.com attracted at least 113 million visitors annually by 2008 according to a Compete.com study....
.
The director, Peter Simard, was interviewed by Deborah Marshall of Garage Games in September 2008 for successfully developing an MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
with a pitifully small development team.
Crowns of Power was showcased by Rampid Interactive at the E3 Expo in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on June 2–4, 2009 at the Los Angeles Convention Center
Los Angeles Convention Center
The Los Angeles Convention Center is a convention center in the southwest portion of downtown Los Angeles. The LACC hosts annual events such as the Greater Los Angeles Auto Show and Anime Expo, and is best known to video games fans as host to E3...
as an Exhibitor.
The game has also been reviewed by , where you can view the article.
Business model
The business model for CoP includes:- Free downloadable client to give access to a large player base.
- No subscription fee/credit card required to play.
- An optional “Point Store” where players can upgrade their account with different enhancements using Crowns of Power points.
- Optional “Preferred Player” subscription that gives additional bonuses to an account.
A software package is installed via download that updates the game to its latest version. A free Rampid Gaming account is required to login and access the game.
Gameplay
Crowns of Power falls under the MMORPGMMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
category, drawing inspiration from the text-based MUD
MUD
A MUD , pronounced , is a multiplayer real-time virtual world, with the term usually referring to text-based instances of these. MUDs combine elements of role-playing games, hack and slash, player versus player, interactive fiction, and online chat...
genre of old as well as the traditional role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
s like Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
, The Realm Online
The Realm Online
The Realm Online, originally known simply as The Realm, is a second generation MORPG . The Realm Online is still being played by a small number of players, and is known as one of the few MMORPGs that is still dial-up friendly and easy to play.The Realm was launched in March 1995 for Windows...
, Meridian 59
Meridian 59
Meridian 59, abbreviated M59, is an online computer role-playing game first published by the now defunct 3DO Company. First launched online in an early form on December 15, 1995 and released commercially on September 27, 1996 with a flat-rate monthly subscription, Meridian 59 is often credited as...
and Everquest
EverQuest
EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...
.
In Crowns of Power, players create a character at the creation screen by selecting a unique name that they’re known as in game, their gender, hair, facial features and a color based spell school (IE: Red, White, Green, Black, Blue)
Players use their avatar, to adventure through a fantasy world called Arder. Players progress through the game by slaying mobs
Mob (computer gaming)
A mob, mobile or monster is a computer-controlled non-player character in a computer game such as an MMORPG or MUD. Depending on context, all such characters in a game may be considered "mobs", or usage may be limited to hostile NPCs and/or NPCs vulnerable to attack.-Purpose of mobs:Defeating...
and completing quests which yield experience point
Experience point
An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...
s for levels and loot
Looting (gaming)
Looting in a gaming context, specifically in massively multiplayer online games and MUDs, is the process by which a player character obtains items such as in-game currency, spells, equipment, or weapons, often from the corpse of a creature or possibly the corpse of another player in a PVP situation...
like armor, weapons, potions, magical spell runes and artifacts.
Crowns of Power allows players to interact with others through role-play
Role-playing
Role-playing refers to the changing of one's behaviour to assume a role, either unconsciously to fill a social role, or consciously to act out an adopted role...
, grouping, raiding and the joining of guilds
Clan (computer gaming)
In computer and video gaming, a clan or guild is an organised group of players that regularly play together in a particular multiplayer games. These games range from groups of a few friends to 1000-person organizations, with a broad range of structures, goals and members. The lifespan of a clan...
,. There is also the ability to duel players, converse with others in a World chat, trade and place items for sale in a player driven market.
The game world consists of 9 environmental zones and 4 dungeons that players can explore. Multiple instances of this world are available across various servers that can support small numbers of people online at a time.
Spell Schools
There are no “classes” in Crowns of Power, instead the player chooses a starter school of magic that is color based and later has the option upon reaching a certain level to have access to another school of magic.“Mana,” like most other games of this genre, is the energy source that allows a player to cast spells. In Crowns of Power, some spells require additional “reagents” to cast, which is an item that is consumed upon casting the spell and can be purchased from non-player character
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
s (NPCs)or found off mobs
Mob (computer gaming)
A mob, mobile or monster is a computer-controlled non-player character in a computer game such as an MMORPG or MUD. Depending on context, all such characters in a game may be considered "mobs", or usage may be limited to hostile NPCs and/or NPCs vulnerable to attack.-Purpose of mobs:Defeating...
in the world. You expand your Mana by gaining levels, doing quests and discovering “Mana Nodes” throughout the world.
Each school of magic also gives the player access to a variety of “pets” (Minions that help the player) that they progress to through leveling. Most of the pets are creatures that are summoned in combat to assist in damaging a target mob until it is destroyed. Some schools like White and Green have access to permanent pets that stay with them even after combat is over, giving them the ability to buff the pets, making them more effective in combat.
Defining roles in Crowns of Power are established with “Force” spells that make the caster more powerful in a specific area at the cost of vulnerability in another. This is to help each school have a specific function that falls in place with most MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
s, like a “Tank
Tank (computer gaming)
A tank is a style of character in gaming, often associated with a character class. A common convention in real-time strategy games, role-playing games, MMORPGs and MUDs, tanks redirect enemy attacks and/or attention toward themselves in order to protect other characters or units...
”, Healer and “DPS” (Damage Per Second
Damage per second
Damage per second is a term used with computer games to describe the average rate of damage inflicted over time. The term is especially common in massively multiplayer online role-playing games and is a key aspect of theorycraft...
).
- White (Light) – This school of magic is focused primarily on buffing and healing themselves and group members to mitigate damage and increase their chance of survival. White does have access to damage based spells (also known as Nukes), however they’re limited in number and power. White is one of only two classes that can summon permanent “pets” (also known as minions) that help aid themselves and group members by assisting with heals. White is the only class that is able to “rez” (Also known as Resurrect – A spell/ability that is cast on the corpse of a fallen player to summon them back to it). Force of Light increases the casters healing abilities at the cost of damage output and mitigation. As is the case with most MMORPGMMORPGMassively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
’s, a healer is essential in any high level group/raid.
- Red (Fire) – This school of magic is based on the element of Fire and is used primarily as a damage dealing school. It has the highest damage output of all the spell schools and has limited utility and protection. Force of Flame greatly increases the damage output of Red magic at the cost of taking more damage from would be attackers.
- Green (Nature) – This school of magic is based on the elements of Nature and its command of creatures and protective spells. Green has access to the most powerful “pets” in the game that are permanent. They have the most powerful protection spells for pets, as well as some powerful buffs for group members as well. Green also has access to several “DOTS” (damage-over-time) and Direct Damage spells. Force of Earth dramatically reduces the damage output of the caster and their pets in exchange for increased physical damage mitigation and increased taunting ability, allowing them to better tankTank (computer gaming)A tank is a style of character in gaming, often associated with a character class. A common convention in real-time strategy games, role-playing games, MMORPGs and MUDs, tanks redirect enemy attacks and/or attention toward themselves in order to protect other characters or units...
mobs.
- Blue (Mind) – This school of magic is based on the Mind. Its primary role is to control the flow of combat by Mezzing (term used for Mezmerise - a spell that incapacitates a target for a set duration of time) and slowing their attack speed. They can also enhance group member’s intelligence, attack speed and other defensive abilities with buffs. Blue does have access to some damage spells, however its main role is as a support/utility. Force of Mind allows the caster to Mez two targets simultaneously in exchange for reduced spell and pet damage.
- Black (Death) – This school of magic is based on the elements of shadow and death. Its primary role is to deal damage efficiently over time through the use of direct damage, DOTDot- Typography :* Full stop, also called period in American English, used as a sentence terminator and as a decimal separator in numerals - Typography :* Full stop, also called period in American English, used as a sentence terminator and as a decimal separator (decimal point) in numerals -...
s and “debuffs” (spells that weaken the target). They have the ability to gain life through their attacks, similar to a NecromancerNecromancyNecromancy is a claimed form of magic that involves communication with the deceased, either by summoning their spirit in the form of an apparition or raising them bodily, for the purpose of divination, imparting the ability to foretell future events or discover hidden knowledge...
/LichLichIn modern fantasy fiction, a lich is a type of undead creature. Often such a creature is the result of a transformation, as a powerful magician or king striving for eternal life uses spells or rituals to bind his intellect to his animated corpse and thereby achieve a form of immortality...
. Force of Death adds additional debuffs to targets with shadow effects on them, increasing the damage they take in exchange for decreased total Hit PointsHealth (gaming)Health is a game mechanic used in role-playing, computer and video games to give value to characters, enemies, NPCs, and related objects. This value can either be numerical, semi-numerical as in hit/health points, or arbitrary as in a life bar....
to the caster.
Social Dynamics
The social dynamics of Crowns of Power do not range greatly, as there are only twenty or so people still playing it. The game play consists of adventuring – players complete quests, kill mobs for experienceExperience point
An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...
and loot
Looting (gaming)
Looting in a gaming context, specifically in massively multiplayer online games and MUDs, is the process by which a player character obtains items such as in-game currency, spells, equipment, or weapons, often from the corpse of a creature or possibly the corpse of another player in a PVP situation...
for money/treasure, trading – players can use a trade channel to negotiate deals for cash, barter or place items up for sale in a player drive market, social interaction – players can communicate amongst one another in world chat, form groups to quest/adventure together and form guilds
Clan (computer gaming)
In computer and video gaming, a clan or guild is an organised group of players that regularly play together in a particular multiplayer games. These games range from groups of a few friends to 1000-person organizations, with a broad range of structures, goals and members. The lifespan of a clan...
that can own guild halls, Player Versus Player – Players can engage other players in PvP (Player versus Player
Player versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
) combat if they’re a member of a guild, and if they can find another player online. Guilds also used to be able to siege other Guild Halls that did not belong to them, taking them by force back when the game had the required number of players for such an occurrence.
Players can adventure and explore the world of Arder solo, in a group or as a part of a raid. The lower levels of the game allow each player, regardless of spell school, the capacity to solo the content. As players progress through the game and attain higher levels, only certain combinations of spell schools will be effective at soloing and players will find it easier to progress by forming groups with others.
A group can be formed by up to 5 people without an experience penalty, provided that you can catch 4 other players online at one time. A group of 6-10 people is then considered a raid party and experience is drastically reduced. Due to the combination of spell schools, players do not have to seek out "cookie cutter" classes like some other MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
s to fill the role of tank
Tank (computer gaming)
A tank is a style of character in gaming, often associated with a character class. A common convention in real-time strategy games, role-playing games, MMORPGs and MUDs, tanks redirect enemy attacks and/or attention toward themselves in order to protect other characters or units...
, healer and DPS
Damage per second
Damage per second is a term used with computer games to describe the average rate of damage inflicted over time. The term is especially common in massively multiplayer online role-playing games and is a key aspect of theorycraft...
. Forming groups is the most effective way to take on high end content which has a higher risk but greater rewards in the form of gold, loot and rare spells.
Raids
Raids can be formed to take on high end content areas designed for groups of players. The group system supports up to only 10 members per group or raid, but the chance of that many players being on one server at a time is now almost non-existant. Raiding gives you access to the hardest content and therefore a chance at the best loot.PVP
DuelingPlayer versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
: Players can participate in player versus player
Player versus player
Player versus player, or PvP, is a type of multiplayer interactive conflict within a game between two or more live participants. This is in contrast to games where players compete against computer controlled opponents, which is correspondingly referred to as player versus environment...
(PVP) combat using the /duel command that allows them to combat each other with no penalty for death, except for the glitch which causes players to die completely at the end of duels.
World PVP: Players who are in a guild and above level 20 can engage in PVP anywhere outside a "safe area." There are different penalties for death depending on your social status.
Social Status
- White Name - This player is an innocent, having not attacked anyone with a white name.
- Orange Name - This person is an outlaw. They have attacked an innocent player, but have not successfully killed them. Once a person with an orange name dies, they will return to innocent status
- Red Name - This person is a murderer. They have attacked and killed a white named player. When you die, murder status is not removed. To remove the murderer status, you must get a pardon which is voted on by the server.
Death Penalties
Like most games, there are penalties for death which vary depending on your status. Outlaws take a bigger hit to experience, money and items than innocents. Murderers take an even greater penalty.- Innocents ("White") - Minimal penalties for death (Only drop reagents).
- Outlaws ("Orange") - Harsher penalties for death, but still only drop reagents, food, and potions.
- Murderers ("Red") - Maximum penalties, dropping reagents, gold, potions, and low level spell runes.
Gods
The storyline for Crowns of Power ties into the existence of 5 primary gods that command the schools of magic. It takes place in a world called Arder, geographically located at the center of the universe.- The Goddess of Protection and Healing ("White"), Coralin the Enchanter. This Goddess is comforting, guiding and forgiving. Those who seek her powers are generally of a kind disposition, friendly and carefree. She provides a healing light, enables use of the Holy Shield, and summons a knight to your aid.
- The God of Fire ("Red"), Firecinder the Hellish. He is quick-tempered, deceptive and possesses insatiable anger. His devout followers tend to be thrill-seekers and those who thrive on fear. His powers include the ability to shoot fireballs, invoke the touch of flame, summon Goblins and other amazing feats.
- The Goddess of Nature ("Green"), Mage Morgandy. To those who revere her, she is a nurturing God, protective and giving. Her powers include the ability to make man’s skin turn to oak, the use of a poison thicket and the summoning of the jungle hulk.
- The God of Mind ("Blue"), Bluvicar Norvanir. This God is ethereal, extremely intelligent and tends to appeal to the most cerebral humans. He provides powers that will mesmerize opponents, stun them by use of mind blast and he can summon an illusion to betray and confuse.
- The God of Death ("Black"), Shadevast. Shadevast is a genderless God who can invoke a death wish, cripple and infest opponents, and summon skeletons to your aid. Shadevast’s most devoted followers are generally of questionable character and illusory, though you will find respectable humans among them.
Outdoor Zones
- Helmstead – This is the starting zone where you first appear when you create your character. It is designed to progress you to level 15.
- Tulorn - This is a small forest/town themed zone and is the second zone in level progression that players can explore around level 15-25.
- Styzzy Wastes - This is a half forest/half swamp themed zone and is the third zone in the level progression, available to players around level 25-30.
- Sanctum Mire – This is a swampy zone with ancient ruins, designed for players ranging in level from 30-35.
- Boulder Grove – This mountainous themed zone is designed for players ranging from level 35-40.
- Frigid Frontier – This zone has a harsh winter mountain theme, designed for players ranging from level 40-45
- Zhul’s Scar– This zone is a scorched wasteland that flows with lava and is designed for the high level players ranging from level 45-50.
- Scorching Sands – This is a desert themed zone that is also geared towards the high level players ranging from level 46-50.
- Plane of Nature – This is a wide open zone that is themed after the God of Nature. It is a high level raiding zone, designed for groups of 10+ people.
- Celestial Citadel - This is a raging mystical area that brings terror to you. In this starry sanctum resides terrifying dragons and other creatures alike. Beware as this is a raid zone and is non-soloable...
Dungeons
- The Crypt – This is a dungeon off of the starting zone, Helmstead. Players should venture into this dungeon around level 10-15.
- Blackspawn – This dungeon is off of the zone Tulorn and is designed for a group of 5 players ranging in level from 20-25.
- Cloister Prime – This is a high level dungeon that is off the zone Zhul’s Scar and is designed for groups of 5 players ranging in level from 45-50.
- Departed Terrace – This is the highest level dungeon off Scorching Sands, designed for groups of 5-10 people all level 50.
Servers
The game runs on two "game servers", usually named after major characters or bossBoss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
in the game. Each "game server" is a cluster of out-dated server machines working together..
Characters are confined to the server they were created on, preventing people from progressing on one server and moving to another server later. Once a character is created, it can only be played on that server.
In theory the servers could develop unique communities of friends, enemies and strategic alliances if the game were ever to attract a large user base. People often include their server name when identifying their character outside of the game.
Development
The conceptual design for Crowns of Power was heavily inspired by many of the games that preceded it, such as Meridian 59Meridian 59
Meridian 59, abbreviated M59, is an online computer role-playing game first published by the now defunct 3DO Company. First launched online in an early form on December 15, 1995 and released commercially on September 27, 1996 with a flat-rate monthly subscription, Meridian 59 is often credited as...
, The Realm Online
The Realm Online
The Realm Online, originally known simply as The Realm, is a second generation MORPG . The Realm Online is still being played by a small number of players, and is known as one of the few MMORPGs that is still dial-up friendly and easy to play.The Realm was launched in March 1995 for Windows...
, Everquest
EverQuest
EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...
and even World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
.
All of the programming for Crowns of Power was done by Peter Simard, who also directed the project. Matt Ensign and Matt Tapply can be credited with jointly designing and creating the 3D environment of Crowns of Power, inspired by their shared history of gaming. Bogdan Iliesiu is the sole artist on the team and is responsible for the majority of 3D models and textures seen in the game world.
The development of Crowns of Power began in 2007 when Co-Owners Pete Simard and Chris Bechard committed company funds towards a development team to produce Rampid Interactive
Rampid Interactive
Rampid Interactive is a game development and game publishing company that specializes in web applications and web based games. The company was established in Dover, New Hampshire in 2002 by co-founders Christopher Bechard and Peter Simard as a game and web site developer.Rampid Interactive’s...
’s first 3D based graphical game. After acquiring licensing for use of the Torque Engine that has been used to produce many other titles , they hired on a team to implement the design. The team started with Pete Simard as the Programmer/Director and Matt Ensign who was responsible for all content related tasks involved in the project as well as the development of the 3D world. Pete then hired on Bogdan Iliesiu as the sole artist of the team who can be credited for making most of the 3d models, including the main character models and a lot of the texture work seen in Crowns of Power. Matt Tapply was brought on shortly after to help develop the 3D world, create quests, implement itemization, create spell effects, AI and more.
Crowns of Power was first launched on August 21, 2008. The latest patch, version 1.16.0, has been widely recognized by players as rendering the game unplayable due to crashes every eight to fifteen minutes. The game has been abandoned almost entirely since September 2010, with the majority of players moving on to other MMORPGs.