User:An Adventurer/Early Story and Game Development

From an an internet archive of http://www.zdnet.com/familypc/content/9706/e3/03online.html:

Empyrean

In an effort to bring online games to the masses, Microsoft is launching Empyrean (code name) this winter at its Internet Gaming Zone. This fantasy, real-time, role-playing game takes place in a 32- by 32-mile virtual world and supports 3000 players simultaneously. If you're nervous about taking the plunge with the hard-core gamers, don't be -- newbies are considered assets, so they aren't killed off right away. Note, however, that while most of the games in the Internet Gaming Zone are free, Empyrean will charge a fee. But it will likely be worth every penny.

How Turbine Entertainment was Founded Page 4:

"We had hired a game designer, Toby Ragaini, who built the backstory for the game."

The Reign of Alfrega:

"Queen Alfrega, a slim, flame-haired figure dressed in winterblue silks from the Garondish lands, stood grappling with an assailant."

The Glorious Reign of Empress Kou-an

"The Gharu’ndim, sometimes called the Garondish by outsiders,"

Beta & Other Early Maps

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  Beta Map
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  Early Aluvian Realm from Zogblaster.com
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  Early Gharu'ndim Kingdom from Zogblaster.com
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  Early Sho Nation from Zogblaster.com
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  Early World Map
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  Dereth at Release