Project: Gorgon

[Morreion]

Project: Gorgon official site

What is Project: Gorgon?

Project: Gorgon is a 3D fantasy MMORPG (massively-multiplayer online role-playing game) for PC & Mac with a quirky, original feel. It freely mixes ideas from older MMOs, newer MMOs, and a whole bunch of new ideas never before seen in any MMO.

It’s designed for players who want to explore a deep world with complex game systems and a tight-knit community that is friendly enough to actually chat while they group. Think Asheron’s Call crossed with EverQuest crossed with the emergent gameplay of NetHack.

To make the world feel more immersive, Project: Gorgon revives some great ideas from older MMOs that have been forgotten. For instance, if you have items you don’t want, you can toss them on the ground – maybe somebody else will want them. If you sell something to a vendor, those items are available for other players to buy. If you’re on fire and near a lake, jump in the lake to put the fire out!

We’re also taking a cue from older MMOs and not holding your hand quite so much. There are tutorials, of course, but once you’re playing the game we don’t want to tell you exactly where to go – we want you to explore. The world is full of intricate game systems, connected in unusual ways. Project: Gorgon heavily rewards exploration. Go poke in corners, try out weird ideas, and see what you find!

At the same time, this is a thoroughly modern MMO with a robust combat system, quests, guilds, and all the other stuff you’ve come to expect from the genre. We’re also working on new ideas to foster the community. We want Project: Gorgon to have one of the friendliest communities out there.


Project Gorgon seeks Kickstarter funding (Massively)

Is your Kickstarter fund depleted yet? Designer Eric Heimburg is hoping that you've got a bit more money left in there for his small-scale game, Project Gorgon. A long post on the game's official site outlines several major updates to the game's systems as well as what the Kickstarter funding will be used for, with an eye toward an official launch date in fall/winter of 2015.

Heimburg's post explains the current state of the game's testing, including what is working and what is not in the current build. He also explains why some skills level faster than others; Necromancy, for example, requires you to fight a boss, while Swords can be advanced from the start of the game. Take a look at the site if it seems like your sort of game and consider funding it if you like what you see; Heimburg states that while he'd like to bring on additional staff, he won't allow extra funding to change the launch date.


Project Gorgon engages its second Kickstarter campaign (Massively)

After its Kickstarter campaign fizzled back in 2012, Project Gorgon and its team regrouped to prepare a second, and hopefully successful, crowdfunding drive. The campaign launched a couple of days ago and is attempting to rake in $100,000 in pledges before the end of its 30 days.

Project Gorgon bills itself as "an indie MMORPG with the deep gameplay of the classics, all the features of a modern game, and a unique immersive feel." The team promises a virtual world with a focus on exploration without signposts and immersive aspects such as being able to write in-game books for others to read. Project Gorgon also allegedly rewards certain types of gameplay with "behavior badges."

Project Gorgon has been in development for four years and is nearing the production stage. The game is actually playable in an early state right now, so if you're curious, you can check it out before deciding whether or not to sponsor its development.


Project: Gorgon - A new approach to MMOs (Kickstarter)

*Shopkeepers really keep inventory, so you can buy the items other players sold them. Want to help out the newbies? Sell your cast-off uber weapons to the shopkeep in the newbie zone and watch them go to town.

*Each non-player character (NPC) you meet has their own goals and interests, and rewards players that choose to be their friend.

*You can inscribe messages on items, write books, even leave notes for other players. Make your name as an in-game poet, or just record your best kills on your sword.

[Morreion]

Ambitious Project Gorgon is back on Kickstarter (MOP)

Third time’s the charm for Project Gorgon’s Kickstarter, right? We hope so, as the ambitious indie fantasy sandpark is asking for a modest $20,000 to further its development. Unlike most Kickstarter MMOs, Gorgon has already been greenlit on Steam. The game’s alpha is also freely available to the public, so there’s nothing stopping you from seeing whether or not Asheron’s Call veteran Eric Heimburg’s feature-rich sandpark mashup is worthy of your time and money.

Gorgon has “a heavy concentration on discovery and exploration,” according to the Kickstarter intro vid. The game’s other big thing is immersion, and in addition to a robust skill-based progression system, the title features player-managed shops and stalls, player-created quest content, story-focused live events, and shopkeeper NPCs whose inventory depends on what other players sell them.


Project Gorgon nears funding goal, reveals new races [Updated] (MOP)

07/31/2015 1:51:18 p.m. EDT: Project Gorgon has just broken its Kickstarter funding goal. Congrats!

“If we are able to surpass our initial goal, we will be able to expand upon current and planned game features!” the team posted. “We have great ideas that add unique twists to many of the MMO features that you have come to enjoy, and some new ones that you have yet to experience.”

While there are currently three races in the playable alpha, Project Gorgon has plans to add three more for launch. The team revealed models for two of them, the Orc and Fae races, while keeping the third race under wraps.


Project Gorgon might not wipe before launch, adds Dwarf stretch goal (MOP)

Big things are afoot for the Project Gorgon Kickstarter. The campaign, which passed its $20,000 crowdfunding goal this past Friday, put up two new stretch goals over the weekend to encourage further donations.

At $25K, the team will add a unique mount skin for backers, with those who donate $75 or more getting to try it out during testing. If the campaign hits $30K, all backers will be able to play the Dwarf race during the alpha and beta period.

In other news, the devs stated that they might not be fully wiping the servers between now and launch: “We currently have no plans for a complete server wipe at launch. However, we may reset certain skill levels and items related to the economy during testing and/or at launch. We want to encourage players to invest significant playing time during the testing phase and we view this as an incentive for them doing so.”


The Daily Grind: How long did you spend in Project Gorgon’s tutorial? (MOP)

I got sucked into Project Gorgon last night, and I spent over two hours wandering around the game’s tutorial cave. There’s a lot to see and do and learn, and that was before I picked up the autopsy skill and took a perverse sort of pleasure in examining every NPC corpse to see who had killed it and how they had killed it.

Plus, autopsy XP.

Anyway, one of these days I should probably get out of the tutorial cave, but there are some off-the-map areas that I haven’t explored yet, as well as some sort of scary boss that the game warned me not to engage without a group. What about you, MOP readers? Are you playing Project Gorgon, and if so, how long did you spend in the tutorial cave?

Comment:

projectgorgon.com/wiki/Main_Page should give some idea. There's a great variety of skills, some beast forms/special playstyles, various mechanics/systems, several dungeons, a level cap of 60 (I think?), a ton of quests, and 5 open world zones.

Game has a very surprising amount of depth for a pre-alpha.


Project Gorgon unveils musical stretch goals (MOP)

The Project Gorgon Kickstarter is humming along nicely this time around, and the developers have already passed the $25,000 stretch goal. So what’s next on the agenda? Music! Two new stretch goals have been added for the $35,000 and $40,000 targets, and both of them should produce a sound soothing to the ears.

At $35,000, developers will expand what can be done with the various instruments already slated for the game, adding in new musical loops, a seventh instrument, and even animal forms getting in on the action. Meanwhile, at $40,000 the game is going to add in the Bard skill line, which can be combined with other skills to make a character well-versed in buffs or crowd control as desired.


Project Gorgon unveils the Fae and answers community questions (MOP)

Another player race has been unveiled on the Project Gorgon Kickstarter page, the Fae. If you like playing a magical race that flits around while mastering magical combat techniques that other races can’t, it’s exactly the sort of race you want. Fae are both more receptive to the effects of potions and food and more susceptible to injury, so you may not want to put them on the front lines of a given battle.

The project also hosted a community Q&A session via Teamspeak, with a transcript available on the official forums. The team is currently balancing the dungeon rewards and the dungeon sizes, with most dungeons aiming for three-person groups and a handful of larger or smaller options on the side. There’s plenty of information for fans who have taken part in testing or just onlookers curious about the game, so take a look at the full transcript for more details; an audio file should be along soon.


Project Gorgon hits musical expansion stretch goal (MOP)

With 12 days left to go in its Kickstarter campaign, indie MMO Project Gorgon is crossing off stretch goals left and right. The fantasy title recently crossed the $35,000 barrier, which means that the developers will work on expanding the player music system to include new song loops, a new instrument, and even the ability for animal forms to join in the fun.

Because if you’re a cow, you should totally be able to play cowbell, are we right?

Speaking of music, the next stretch goal at $40,000 will unlock the Bard skill, which opens up options for buffing and crowd control. If you’re interested in Project Gorgon, stay tuned for a special interview with its creator on the Massively OP Podcast later today!


Massively OP Podcast Episode 25: Project Gorgon interview (MOP)

[Morreion]

Project Gorgon goes early access on Steam











An example of how quirky the game is:

Project Gorgon adds nature appreciation and flower arrangement (MOP)

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the rumors were true: Flower arrangement has come to Project Gorgon, along with a related skill called nature appreciation. You can scoff at this “flower power” all you like, but it actually sounds as if picking daisies in the game will benefit the player greatly.

“Using flowers now requires a new skill called nature appreciation,” explained lead developer Eric Heimberg. “This was done because flowers are actually intended to be very important at high levels of play, and it didn’t make sense to gate their use on a different skill. Unfortunately that means in the short term you won’t be able to use your flowers until you level up this skill.”

Here’s how far indie MMORPG Project Gorgon has come in two years (MOP)

“Since the Project: Gorgon Kickstarter Campaign ended, we have implemented: New Website and Forums; Multiple new zones; A completely new tutorial experience; Dozens of new skills; Increased skill levels; Complete overhaul of the power system; Complete overhaul of equipment bonuses; New Animal Forms; New Animal items; Created and implemented an Animal Town; Created new quest systems; Created New NPCS; Added Guilds; Added Guild Missions; Added Player Vendors; Added dispensers; Added Work Orders; Added the ability to drown; Updated many game systems and functions; Implemented and Updated the in-game day/night cycle."

An interesting article about Asgeron's Call players looking for a new MMO to play- Project Gorgon appeals to old AC players.

The MMO outcasts searching for new worlds to call home (PCGamesN)

One Asheron’s Call veteran, West5ide, says that Project: Gorgon scratches an itch, even if it is too early to call it a true successor to the defunct MMO. He praises how, similarly to Asher’s Call, it evokes a sense of “the unknown,” and champions a hands-off approach that lets you figure the game out for yourself. “There are limited fast-travel options so you pretty much trek anywhere you need to go, adding to a sense of discovery,” he tells me. “Stuff like crafting and skills are left mysterious, and the graphics are the icing on the cake. They actually add to that nostalgic feeling.”

Another player, Sasho, is part of a large guild in Project: Gorgon called Asheron’s Legacy, which is made up predominantly of former Asheron’s Call players. He suggests that the draw of Project: Gorgon has nothing to do with any modern metrics of what constitutes a great MMO.

“From a certain point, people didn't log into Asheron’s Call to play the game, we logged on to see each other - the game was just the excuse,” he says. “The spirit of the AC community never died, so when looking for a new place to hang our coats, the question wasn’t ‘which MMO is best?’, but ‘Where can I find my old friends?’. And, honestly, Project: Gorgon is an amazing game.”

...He outlines Gorgon’s unique qualities. Instead of relying on character classes, for example, you develop your character as you please, based on skills that include elements such as Psychology, Battle Chemistry, and numerous animal forms. Survival elements like character temperature and metabolism play a part, gating is non-existent, and you can curry favour with NPCs to uncover lore or gain access to dialogue, lore, and quests. I suggest that these features are not necessarily unique to Gorgon, and that perhaps the game’s appeal relies on holding onto a precious piece of the past. Sasho acknowledges this, but elaborates that it is also because Gorgon is a fledgling project; a new, uncharted world.

MOP's Choose My Adventure series visits Project Gorgon:

Choose My Adventure: Starting fresh in Project Gorgon
Choose My Adventure: Yes, Project Gorgon is a weird game
Choose My Adventure: Brain bug mischief in Project Gorgon
Choose My Adventure: Grinding away in Project Gorgon
Choose My Adventure: Wrapping up our adventures in Project Gorgon
Choose My Adventure: Farewell to Project Gorgon


This is a very useful guide-

Massively OP’s guide to the Project Gorgon starter island (MOP)

After a truly bizarre character creation experience, in which your avatar is killed-slash-mind-wiped, you’re dumped on a relatively square island and left to your own means. This is Anagoge Island, an old testing ground for magical adepts and currently the home to a handful of fellow amnesiacs and a whole lot of hostile wildlife. The water around the island is filled with devil sharks and there’s no clear way off. So the primary goal of your initial journey is clear: find a way to escape the island.

If that’s the main goal, then I would posit that the secondary goals are just as important. Anagoge is full of new skills to learn — something around 15 that I counted — and since your character is developed through these skills, it’s pretty vital that you snap up as many as possible. There are also systems to learn, gear to collect, and a handful of recipes and abilities to be gained that can all give you a head start when you leave the island for the game proper.

One of the very first things that you should do once you get used to the interface is to make a keybind for “select next non-combatant.” This will target hard-to-see items and interactable objects in the world, and it is absolutely indispensable in your adventures. As much as your inventory space allows, pick up everything, as you never know what items may have a use down the road.

Project Gorgon has officially launched on Steam early access with a big sale (MOP)

...Project Gorgon has officially gone into Steam early access as of today, bringing the game out of its years-long public alpha and into its next phase.

The MMO is 25% off through March 19th, meaning that you can pick up this buy-to-play title for $30. The website also received a facelift to mark the occasion. Early access is planned to run for about a year, at the end of which players will be able to retain their characters and skills, but items will be wiped for the launch.

For the uninitiated, Project Gorgon is “a fantasy MMORPG that features an immersive experience that allows the player to forge their own path through exploration and discovery. You won’t be guided through a world on rails, and as a result there are many hidden secrets awaiting discovery. Project Gorgon also features an ambitious skill-based leveling system that bucks the current trend of pre-determined classes, thus allowing the player to combine skills in order to create a truly unique playing experience.”

Jaema and Iare trying this game out- I'll hopefully have a My Gaming Diary entry about it fairly soon!

[Regolyth]

Did you notice the task you could perform in the first video at the 4:01 mark? LOL

[Morreion]

The game is quirky and has a snarky sense of humor at times. You actually gain experience in the Death skill when you die! lol

[Regolyth]

Haha... become a GM in Death. Maybe it comes with an awesome scythe.