HORIZONS CHANGES HANDS… AGAIN

While reading friday’s GU Comics strip, I discovered that Tulga Games has sold Horizons: Empire of Istaria to EI Interactive. If you recall, awhile back I mentioned that Tulga had announced an expansion for Horizons and that the game’s future seemed to be looking up.

Details are sketchy at best right now, but it appears those hopes for Horizons making a comeback have been dashed. Word is Tulga released all of their staff related to Horizons and that key team members, such as David Bowman, are no longer in the long-term picture for Horizons. Further, EI has not yet decided whether or not they will be hiring any of the now unemployed Horizons development team and while EI Interactive bought the rights to all work done on Horizons, including the upcoming expansion Settlements, EI is now reviewing whether or not they will pursue finishing said expansion. For those looking for more details on the Horizons situation, head over to mmorpg.com where they have an interview with Ed Andercheck of EI Interactive.

I don’t really know what to say here. From everything I had heard, Tulga was actually turning the corner on Horizons and the future of the game was looking up. Based on what I’ve seen of EI Interactive so far, I can’t say the future is that bright – and it saddens me. Here’s to hoping Horizons survives this challenge as well.

Click here for our earlier story on the Horizons expansion, here for the GU Comics strip, here for GU Comics discussion thread about what’s going on and here for the mmorpg.com interview.

HORIZONS: EMPIRE OF ISTARIA EXPANSION ANNOUNCED

Tulga Games has announced the first expansion for their mmog Horizons: Empire of Istaria. The expansion, tentatively titled “Horizons: Settlements” will be provided free via download to those who already have the game, as well as in a bundle with the original game for $19.99. I both beta tested Horizons and played it at launch, and I’ve got to say that I loved the game. To date, there still isn’t a game featuring as deep of a crafting system or a character class system as flexible as Horizons in my opinion.

I left the game because unfortunately, the folks behind it (Artifact Entertainment at the time) just didn’t have the cash on hand to properly maintain the game, and after awhile there was just a complete lack of content. A man can only kill “cursed wolves” for so long, you know? Anyway, it’s very nice to hear that there’s some hope for the game yet, and who knows, they may even get my subscription money again someday. Big thanks to drkphreakx for the tip. Click here for the press release.