Tribes: Ascend beta deploying November 4

Tribes: Ascend, Hi-Rez Studios' free-to-play resurrection of the classic team-based first-person shooter series, is ready to be tested. Hi-Rez is now looking for beta testers to help it get the game ready for release this holiday.

There are a couple of different ways to get into the beta, with the purchase of the VIP Starter Pack serving as the only way to guarantee a spot. The Starter Pack includes admission to all phases of the beta, VIP status, a 30-day booster, and 800 Tribes Gold. The Starter Pack costs $30 (euro 25; GBP 20), which is a 33 percent discount on the purchase price of individual items in the pack.

Those not interested in prepurchasing can head to the Tribes: Ascend website and register for a chance to be selected. The first phase of the beta, set to launch on November 4, will include a subset of the content and features slated for the final release.

Hi-Rez is crafting Tribes: Ascend as a successor to Tribes 2, which received wide acclaim upon its release for the PC in 2001. The game will make use of Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3 middleware, and Hi-Rez hopes to maintain the game's signature gameplay of fast-paced online shooter action that emphasizes teamwork and strategy.

Tribes: Ascend is expected to launch for the PC in 2012. For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.