PlaneShift (game)

PlaneShift is a cross-platform fantasy MMORPG in development. Client software is available for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X. It is produced by a developer community, founded by Luca Pancallo, and guided by the Atomic Blue non-profit organization. The engine code is based on the Crystal Space engine and therefore free software, but the copyright holder of the content is Atomic Blue and it is released under a proprietary license^{^*}.

The game is currently in the pre-alpha stage of development, at version 0.3, codenamed Crystal Blue. The first version, 0.1, was codenamed Atomic Blue and the next version, 0.2, was codenamed Molecular Blue. Molecular Blue was very feature limited, but drew a number of players because of its close-knit community. The Molecular Blue server was shut down on December 16, 2004. The current version, Crystal Blue, was released to the public as an open beta on December 24, 2004. The next version, 0.4, is codenamed Steel Blue.

As of May 2006, the game main server, laanx.fragnetics.com, has some 200,000 registered user accounts and 79,000 characters.^{The game forums have approximately 22,000 registered accounts^{[http://forums.hydlaa.com/}}.

Setting

PlaneShift is set inside a gigantic stalactite named Yliakum, which is divided into eight levels, of which the lowest two are flooded. Life in the stalactite is made possible by the presence of a giant crystal named The Azure Sun, which draws light from the surface of the planet. PlaneShift has 11 playable races, all of which have their own unique homelands and gameplay characteristics. Outside of Yliakum are the Stone Labyrinths, and through these the player character can access even more areas, such as the cave in which the stalactite hangs. In Crystal Blue, only the city Hydlaa and a part of the city Ojaveda are accessible.

Races

Several different types of player controlled races populate the world of Yliakum. However, in-game models have not yet been implemented for every race.

Humans
- The Xacha are taller than other humans, but less robust and physically weaker. They are also skilled magicians and are scientifically enclined.
- The Ylians are robust and have a well-proportioned body which enables them to work in every art.
Elves
- The Nolthrir are amphibious creatures with webbed feet and gills. They are good with magic, with the exception of fire spells.
- The Dermorians have copper colored skin and red to brown hair. They are good trackers and can survive in the most extreme of conditions.
Dwarves
- The members of Clan Stonebreaker are dwarves which have pale skin and are shorter than other dwarven races. They are skilled miners and are said to have made the Labyrinth.
- The members of Clan Hammerwielder are dwarves which are taller, and have a darker complexion than other dwarves. They are skilled weaponsmiths and jewellers.
Others
- The Lemurs have extremely pale skin. They are skilled artists and have superior mental faculties.
- The Kran appear as man-shaped rock statues. They are a race beloved of their creator, the god Talad.
- The Diaboli have shiny dark skin and a zest for social interaction and the pursuit of life's pleasures.
- The Enkidukai have a feline-like appearance and are intended to be graceful and stealthy creatures.
- The Klyros are winged creatures who love the aquatic areas of Yliakum and who are equally adept on land.
- The Ynnwns are a stoic race formed by the union of Diaboli and Elf, and have an aversion to all precious metals.

The Death Realm

While little is known about this dark land, legends tells that it is a bottomless chasm with stone walkways high in the air in which the dead fall into upon having lost their lives. Not many have returned from it, but some of those who have tell of a portal that opens into the living world.

Currency

The base currency in Yliakum is the Tria.

10 Tria = 1 Hexa
25 Tria = 2.5 Hexa = 1 Octa
100 Tria = 10 Hexa = 4 Octa = 1 Circle

Screenshots

Image:PlaneShift_screenshot_1.jpg|An Enkidukai mining for gold in the forest. Image:PlaneShift_screenshot_2.jpg|The Magic Shop in the forest. Image:PlaneShift_screenshot_3.jpg|Spell casting against a Tefusang in the arena. Image:PlaneShift_screenshot_4.jpg|Fighting a Clacker in the arena. Image:ArealPlaza.JPG|A screenshot of Hydlaa Plaza.

Open source development

The code of the game is open source under the GNU General Public License.

The artwork and rules are licensed under a custom license, the PlaneShift Content License, that protects artwork from modification and redistribution to keep the uniqueness of the setting. This license forbids redistribution and using the content for profit, and also using the game content on an unofficial server.

PlaneShift developers and content contributors must also assign the copyrights of their work to Atomic Blue, primarily to help protect the project as a whole.

The license system has also drawn some criticism from former developers and contributors. Probable source for their confusion is that such arrangements are not common in other open source projects. A vast majority of the contributors agree to the necessity of the license, however.

PlaneShift uses the Crystal Space game engine and the Crystal Entity Layer.

External links

Mac OS games | Linux games | Massively multiplayer online role-playing games | SourceForge games | Windows games