Atari announced that the English language version of Turbine’s DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE™: Stormreach™, the first massively multiplayer online (“MMO”) role-playing game inspired by the legendary pen and paper game, has launched today in Europe. The localized German and French versions of the title are on schedule to launch on March 23rd and 24th respectively.
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach is a unique experience where players must use their combat skills and wits to survive dangerous dungeons, fiendish traps and foes that punish the foolish. The game seamlessly combines the beautiful world of Eberron®, the classic D&D® v3.5 Edition rules, and the latest innovations in online technology into a breathtaking gaming experience like no other. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® is under license from the Hasbro Properties Group, the intellectual property development arm of Hasbro, Inc.
“DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach offers fresh and exciting gameplay that captures the true spirit of the D&D adventures that we grew up with,” said Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc. “We are confident that the game will appeal to MMO gamers and D&D fans alike.”
“With the European Limited Edition and the advance head start programme for France and Germany we’ve worked hard to give the fans something special at launch,” said Cyril Voiron, Marketing Director, Atari Europe. “DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach is a magnificent milestone in online role-playing games and the first time D&D has been realized in the massively multiplayer online realm.”
“Players around the world will appreciate Turbine’s faithful adaptation of D&D’s party-based adventures - a system that has made the pen and paper game a powerful brand for over 30 years,” said Jeff Burdeen, vice president for the Hasbro Properties Group.
In addition to the standard game, the European DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach LIMITED EDITION will be available at selected retailers from launch. Packaged in a high quality aged-effect presentation box, the limited edition contains the full game, a guest pass which allows the player to invite a friend to join them in Eberron for five days, two CD’s containing artwork and music from the game, an A3 full colour poster and two collectible miniature D&D figurines. The game case also contains a playable demo of Atari’s recent D&D PC title Dragonshard.
As a bonus for French and German fans waiting for the localized game, Atari, Codemasters and Turbine are offering pre-order customers in those countries an advance head start program allowing them early access into the fully localized version of DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach. French and German players who pre-order the title can gain access into the live localized game and begin building up their character from March 17th, a week before the public launch date.
Developed by Turbine and published by Atari, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: Stormreach is the first and only massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the world-renowned DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® brand franchise from Wizards of the Coast, Inc, a subsidiary of Hasbro.
Key features:
• Authentic D&D Characters
Create a custom character from D&D’s newest campaign setting, Eberron, choosing from nine classes (barbarian, bard, cleric, fighter, paladin, ranger, rogue, sorcerer and wizard) and five races (human, elf, halfling, dwarf or warforged) plus hundreds of skills, feats and looks. The result is a countless number of possible combinations. Characters will need both wit and brawn to complete quests and advance over time.
• Fast-Paced Combat
A unique Active Combat control system requires tactical thinking and quick reflexes as much as character abilities and skill. Characters will battle in real-time and have the ability to block with shields, dodge to the side and tumble away from enemy attacks. Unlike other online roleplaying games, the outcome of the battle is not solely determined by statistics - player skill is an important factor in succeeding in combat.
• Dangerous Dungeons
Players must face devious traps, intricate puzzles and fierce monsters in their quest for treasure and rewards. Private instanced adventures minimize the interference from party outsiders and reward players for the cooperative completion of quest objectives, eliminating the sense of repetitive combat found in other massively multiplayer online games.
• Instant Adventure
When undertaking a quest in the bustling frontier city of Stormreach, players will be instantly transported into the quest environment to begin their adventure, reducing tedious travel and waiting.
• Authentic Party-Based D&D Gameplay
Coordinate tactics with the game’s integrated voice chat system to experience D&D the way it was meant to be played - in a small party setting. Players will need to create balanced parties including a variety of character classes in order to complete their quests.
