First look: Mourning

Romania-based game developers Quad Software and Maxim Software are currently working on Realms of Torment, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in a persistent medieval fantasy world. Players will create a character of one of six playable races, and they will explore the gameworld's various regions, interact with other players, and engage in country vs. country warfare.

The developer hopes the game's player-run economy system, in which players themselves will set prices and sell items, will help distinguish it from the numerous other current and upcoming online games. In addition, the game's character advancement will be based entirely on skills and statistics rather than levels.

The game is built on the developers' proprietary Abyssal 3D game engine, which is designed to take advantage of the graphics-processing power of GeForce video cards. It will use skeletal and morphing animation to create realistic character movement, and it will feature environmental effects like wind, day-night cycles, and even eclipses.

Realms of Torment will enter beta testing later this summer and is scheduled for release in early 2003. We've posted some early screenshots from the game that show off some of the characters and environments players will encounter. For more information, visit the official Realms of Torment Web site.