Charting the Future of Ember Sword
As we look ahead with optimism, it is important to acknowledge the rough seas that we navigated through in 2023. It was, without a doubt, a challenging year for all of us in the games and blockchain industries. However, as 2024 has progressed, the landscape appears not only different but also promising. It is in these moments that everyone has to dig deep and fight, hold on to your core values, as true pioneers leading the charge into a new dawn of gaming. A dawn that is better for everyone, the players, the developers, and publishers, where through better technology, all our boats rise together with the tide.
Forging the Future of MMORPGs
As Ember Sword’s Early Access launch draws near, I can’t help but reflect on the incredible journey we’ve been on together. This isn’t just another game launch for us — it’s the culmination of years (and years) of hard work, true passion, and a shared vision to evolve gaming and the MMORPG genre to a modern standard, for the modern gamer.
From the very beginning, Ember Sword has been a labor of love, driven by the desires and aspirations of our team, and our amazing community. You’ve been with us every step of the way, shaping the game’s direction through your invaluable feedback and unwavering support. The game has come a long way since its inception, from 2D, to Isometric 3D, to 360 Freeview, to having its own dedicated game engine. We’ve evolved every step of the way with your feedback, and your help.
We didn’t set out to simply create another MMORPG; our goal was to craft an experience that truly puts the power back into the hands of the players. An experience that redefines what it means to be a part of a living, breathing virtual world, an experience that allows everyone, across the globe, to participate on equal terms without the need for a super computer, or the greatest internet connection in the world.
Our innovative approach also means that you can dive into our world with zero hassle, there’s no installations, no patches, and no frustrating weekly downtimes, all thanks to our cutting-edge data streaming technology that allows seamless playing and connection from across the globe in an unprecedented fashion. The technology we have created, not only breaks down the barriers of entry but also ensures that your experience is smooth, uninterrupted and optimized.
As developers, we’re humbled by the opportunity to bring this shared dream to life, to truly push the boundaries of what is possible with modern technology. But, it’s our community of pioneers — united by a shared passion for innovation and an unquenchable thirst for new adventures — that has made Ember Sword truly special. And I, and we, thank you for your dedication and trust over the years. It means the world to us.
Right now, we are still hard at work aiming to get an Early Access version of the game into your hands this year. The in-game $EMBER token release represents a critical and exciting milestone in that journey.
The $EMBER token isn’t merely a new in-game token; it’s a testament to our commitment to push the boundaries of what a massively multiplayer experience can be. By seamlessly weaving cutting-edge blockchain technology into the fabric of Ember Sword, we’re empowering our community with influence and ownership over the game’s evolving narrative.
With the $EMBER token, we’re laying the foundation for a truly player-driven experience, where your choices, your actions, and your voices will shape the destiny of this vast, living world.
Furthermore, we’ve ensured that Ember Sword’s economy is built on a foundation of player respect and satisfaction. With no loot boxes, no subscription fees, and a monetization model focused on customization and collecting, rather than buying power, we are setting new standards in how game economies operate. Your contributions to the game world matter, and they shape the environment for everyone.
We promise a game that evolves with its community. The land you own and the decisions you make influence the very essence of Ember Sword’s universe. This player-driven dynamic is not just about providing entertainment; it’s about offering a canvas where your actions lead to visible and meaningful outcomes.
The Road Ahead ‘24–25
The second half of 2024 heralds a time for real, tangible change. Projects that have weathered the storm are not just survivors; they are innovators and leaders. There can be no doubt, that we certainly have not seen the pinnacle of this technology, and its use for and in video games, not by a long shot, there are new inventions, new methods, new cases springing up every year, every month, all changing the way we use, adopt and implement this exciting new Web3, and it important to remain agile and lean to be able to adapt swiftly and effectively to the ever-evolving landscape of gaming and blockchain technology.
At Bright Star, we place our players at the core of everything we do. We are dismantling the barriers that keep blockchain novices from engaging deeply with our games. Simplifying the onboarding process and reducing the complexity of blockchain interactions are among our top priorities. We understand that the essence of gaming is in how you feel, being rewarded through immersive experiences, newfound friendships, glorious achievements and memorable moments crafted both together with others, and alone, to be acknowledged for your efforts, the time you spend, the tenacity, willpower and dedication, all these factors revolve around the power of players to shape their own destinies within these digital realms, to truly carve their own paths, on their own terms. This philosophy is a cornerstone of our past communications and remains a guiding principle for Ember Sword as we move forward.
Craft, Vision, and Innovation at the Forefront
Our commitment to excellent gameplay remains unwavering. We believe that the foundation of any great game lies in its gameplay. To this end, our development team is harnessing both our proprietary technology and the latest in web3 advancements to create a seamless and immersive experience for all players. Our vision extends beyond current trends, aiming to set new benchmarks in gaming that are dictated by innovation and player satisfaction.
HARD FUN: Mechanical Fun
- Ember Sword offers a gameplay experience that is challenging and rewarding. Mastery takes time and effort, ensuring that players stay engaged and motivated. The intricate mechanics require clever thinking and skill development, providing a deep sense of accomplishment as players progress and refine their abilities.
COLLABORATION/CONFLICT: Social Gameplay
- Ember Sword emphasizes the importance of social interactions, both cooperative and competitive. Players must team up to tackle challenging content and achieve success. The game’s design fosters a strong community, where alliances and rivalries drive the dynamic and evolving world, making every interaction meaningful.
ADVENTURE: Choose Your Own Path to Glory
- In Ember Sword, players are given the freedom to carve their own path. The player-driven universe allows for a multitude of adventures and quests, catering to different playstyles and preferences. This open-world approach ensures that each player’s journey is unique, with personal choices and actions shaping their destiny and the world around them.
Ember Sword: 2024 Roadmap Highlights So Far…
We have been working hard since our October playtest in 2023. We heard your feedback and have been heads down since then implementing some major upgrades to the game. While it may seem like we have been a little quieter, rest assured, we are excited to unfold significant advancements that promise to redefine Ember Sword into the best it can be.
The focus initially was to get our combat to the best place it can be, to truly make it fun, engaging, and feel rewarding when you use the various attacks and abilities. This happened through new specialized groups with one goal in mind, make this fun, and keep going at it until it feels amazing. Everyone went into it head-on, spending both time investigating other games of note, exploring different playstyles, reading into tons of player feedback from our playtests, and talk to our beloved game testers, in the end, we emerged with something special we feel is a perfect basis for Ember Sword, and something we can continue to work on, continue to enhance, without fundamentally changing what makes it great.
What especially stands out to me, is through our journey and changes since 2023, is how much more of a wonderful experience Ember Sword is now, from the smooth new movement, being able to use the keyboard in the form of WASD movement — this was also one of the most requested updates during our previous playtest — one which I can fully agree with, as it brings another dynamic to the player experience, especially when now combined with our new 360 degrees free look camera, it feels and plays much more fluid, more much immersive, and in my humble opinion as a former professional gamer, I believe these are some of the most crucial features to get right for a game to play well.
I personally have a ton of fun testing out our new developer updates every week, and I constantly see the game evolving everywhere for the better, whether it be in movement, controls, lightning, graphics, how NPCs interact and operate, it’s a joy to behold and witness come more and more alive.
These days the team is working on, among other things, the procedural generation tools, to help us enhance more of Solarwood, and what I’ve seen the tool create looks great, and I have a high degree of confidence for how the complete world will turn out in its entirety. I think one of the main things that gets you immersed in an MMO, is how it feels in its entirety, and with Ember Sword, we are truly looking to give you that immersive feel that sticks with you — and this is just Solarwood, we will be adding more content to the map and eventually adding new nations as we move ahead, and they will all have their own unique feel and style.
To sum up:
Camera and Controls
- Transitioning to a standard 360° view and adopting WASD controls have significantly improved gameplay immersion and responsiveness. This change makes navigating and interacting with the world more intuitive and engaging.
Abilities and Combat
- We’ve overhauled abilities for our primary weapon type, the Sword and Shield, ensuring dynamic and engaging combat scenarios. This revamp enhances strategic depth and player satisfaction in battles.
Server Optimization
- By launching with a phased approach to regional servers, we’re minimizing latency, enhancing responsiveness, and ensuring a smooth gameplay experience across different geographical locations.
Visual and Auditory Feedback
- Enhancements in visual and sound effects have made the game more satisfying to play, ensuring actions feel impactful and rewarding.
Early Access Launch
- Slated for later this year, Early Access will introduce players to a portion of the Ember Sword world, focusing initially on the region of Solarwood. This phase is crucial for iterative feedback and continuous improvement.
Community-Driven Development
- Through closed and open testing phases, we’re incorporating community feedback directly into development, ensuring that Ember Sword evolves in ways that resonate with our players.
Creature Behavior Overhaul
- We have upgraded our creatures to be more engaging, featuring new behaviors, aggro rules, and NPC logic. These enhancements create a more dynamic and immersive environment.
Trading
- Player trading for off-chain items related to character progression is now available. We’re designing our initial UI and look forward to watching the trading activity unfold this year.
In-Game Economy
- We have built tools to incorporate an early access version of the Ember Sword on-chain economy. This system aims for a stable and rewarding ecosystem, putting players in control of their collectibles and rewards.
Character Customization
$EMBER Token: A Cornerstone of Our Ecosystem
The introduction of the $EMBER token is not merely an addition but a cornerstone of our strategy to empower the community. This token will enhance the gaming economy, allowing for unique in-game interactions and rewards. It represents our commitment to merging traditional gaming fun with innovative blockchain technology and gives players the rewards and transparency they deserve for the time they spend in the game.
Building Ember Sword: Our Journey Together
In the realm of game development, the decision to build an MMORPG is not one we took lightly. The challenges are immense, some might even call it foolish. But at Bright Star, we see these challenges as opportunities. Crafting a universe that evolves, engages, and excites thousands, perhaps millions, is not just a technical task… It’s a calling.
From the start, Ember Sword was envisioned as more than just a game. Drawing from my personal experiences as a pro-gamer the First-Person-Shooter (FPS) Counter-Strike and later World Champion at World of Warcraft. It’s a new frontier in digital interaction, an experiment in community and technology. We aren’t just developers; we’re players, dreamers, and creators just like you, committed to building a world that thrives on collaboration and innovation.
Our journey has been about pushing boundaries and pioneering new experiences. It’s about the thrill of creation and the bond it forms among us. Every line of code, every model, every quest is a piece of a larger story that you, our players and fellow entrepreneurs, help write every day.
As we approach the launch of Ember Sword, we invite you to join us in this ambitious adventure. It’s a daunting path, but it’s one we walk together. And while the task is monumental, so too is the reward: being part of something groundbreaking, something larger than ourselves.
Ember Sword is more than just our creation, it’s our shared vision for the future of gaming. It’s a place where your actions have weight, where your decisions shape the world, and where your presence makes a difference. This is our revolution in the MMORPG genre, crafted with passion, driven by innovation, and inspired by the community it serves.
To every gamer who dreams of impossible worlds and every entrepreneur driven by a vision others deemed unreachable, we’re with you. Together, we can turn these dreams into reality. Let’s show the world what’s possible when determination and creativity unite. Let’s make Ember Sword a home for all who seek adventure and connection in the digital age.
And if you haven’t signed up for an account yet — now is the time to do so. You will be among the first to access the Test Net Play Testing, Early Access Release, and of course — be privy to those coveted $EMBER token airdrops coming your way very soon.
Thank you for your passion, and thank you for your trust in our vision. Let’s continue to shape this digital world together, crafting not just a game, but a legacy.
