A Tale in the Desert

Point-n-Click, MMORPG/Adventure

February 2003

eGenesis
eGenesis (published exclusively online)

Third Person

[Ed. Note: First 24 hours of gameplay are free; a $13.95 (U.S.)/month subscription is required thereafter. Download of game client is also free.]

"A Tale in the Desert ('A Tale') takes the MMORPG [Ed. note: Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game] genre to a new level and should appeal to those who would rather think than fight and to those who would rather create than destroy. Set in ancient Egypt, this game recreates civilization in a persistent world driven by other players. 'Persistent' means that the game continues whether or not you are playing...The most unique feature of A Tale is that there are no weapons and no beasts...Unlike combat-based MMORPGs, the world of A Tale is not apt to be invaded by teenagers running wild in their search for bigger swords and better armor. For the adventure gamer, this is all great news!

"The stated objective of A Tale is '...to build the ideal community by perfecting the Seven Disciplines of Man.' These disciplines include architecture, leadership, conflict, art, worship, thought, and the human body. Each discipline has specific skills that can be learned at Universities and Schools.

"With A Tale, eGenesis provides a framework for players create their own game. There do not appear to be preprogrammed events or non-player characters (NPCs) that drive the story. Instead, you are given the basic building blocks of civilization and people to interact with. The results are fascinating.

"There are a couple of drawbacks to A Tale, which are inherent to the world of MMORPGs. Lag (delayed response time) is a battle that all developers fight when providing an online graphic environment to many concurrent users. For the most part, the response time when playing A Tale was acceptable. However, there were periods during which the lag was so bad that the game was unplayable over a DSL connection. I’m confident that eGenesis will address this and make improvements, as needed.

"Secondly, to immerse your self in any MMORPG requires a substantial investment of time. This is not a game that can be played on occasion or finished in a few weeks. This is an ongoing experience that only be fully appreciated if you are willing to dedicate regular time to build cooperative relationships, explore the landscape, and develop your character.

"In truth, I have only glimpsed a fraction of the potential that A Tale offers. You can’t begin to experience the complexities of this game or reap its full benefit during a review period. If I had more free time right now, I would embrace A Tale with all of my gaming heart and dive deep into Egypt...I would strongly encourage any who have the time and inclination to give A Tale a try, as it is a wonderful departure from the traditional MMORPGs and offers a host of possibilities for the adventurer."