MMOG HORIZONS: EMPIRE OF
ISTARIA ANNOUNCES START OF IN-GAME VIRTUAL PROPERTY AUCTIONS.
September 30,
2004 MESA, Ariz. – Artifact Entertainment, the developers of Horizons:
Empire of Istaria today announced the commencement of in-game property auctions
for subscribers. Horizons, a massively multiplayer on-line game (MMOG), allows
subscriber characters to bid on over 1770 available plots of in-game land. Once
the auction is complete, the plot owner has the opportunity to build, or
contract other players to build, personal houses, and workable structures
ranging from a blacksmith shop to a jewelry center, to storage silo on that
property.
Groups of players
with similar interests who have banded together as a Guild may also pool their
resources to purchase a master Guild plot. When the associated Guild house is
complete, over 900 other Guild Plots are then available to guild members for
purchase and development.
Artifact
Entertainment’s CEO, David Bowman says, “In Horizons, crafting is an integral
part of community building and the player developed economy. The Istarian
Auction was necessary after our shard consolidation and provides a well-rounded
and equitable solution for many players who previously owned property.” Bowman
continued, “Right now Horizons has 20 trade and craft schools a player can join.
Our crafting system is well known to be intricate, specialized and fun.
Increasing the number of available structures a plot owner can develop on their
property continues our tradition of this robust crafting system.”
Istarian property
is available in many different sizes. Depending on the size of the plot a player
can construct a single building or, on larger plots, develop many buildings that
provide different benefits to the player and their community.
Player built
structures also feature new functionality. “Previously, player built personal
residences were simply meeting areas, now these homes can be used as inventory
storage for the many items a player accumulates through ordinary game play.”
stated Mr. Bowman. “If a character chooses to create the structure themselves
they earn crafting experience points in that crafting school; this is another
reward and incentive for players to experience all that Horizons has to offer.
This plot auction is the first of its kind in a massively multiplayer fantasy
world; it adds a new level of excitement to the game and allows players to form
a strategy to get the plot they want. The process for all 1,770+ plots will take
about 10 days to complete. To accommodate this auction we have added technology
and functionality to the game that can be used again and again.” said Bowman.
About Artifact Entertainment
Artifact Entertainment, founded in November 1999, is
a privately held software development company currently focused on the
subscription-based massively multiplayer online game, “Horizons”. Its mission
is to provide subscription-based quality online entertainment experiences using
superior technology, proven design methods, broad market appeal, customer
satisfaction and the highest quality staff. To find out more about Artifact
Entertainment, visit
www.artifact-entertainment.com.
About
“Horizons”
Developed by Artifact Entertainment and originally
published by Atari, the MMPORPG Horizons: Empire of Istaria launched in
December 2003 and currently boasts an avid following of tens-of-thousands of
players worldwide. The ability to
dynamically add content coupled with a first-rate crafting system has allowed
“Horizons’” fans to experience episodic content and the ultimate in
massive battles. Players are also able to take on 10 fantasy roles
ranging from dragon and elf to fiend and half-giant
while meeting friends that circle the globe. For more information on
“Horizons”, visit
www.istaria.com.
