DarkOrbit

DarkOrbit
Developer(s)	Bigpoint
Publisher(s)	Bigpoint
Platform(s)	Web browser
Genre(s)	MMOG
Mode(s)	Multiplayer

DarkOrbit is a massively multiplayer online game developed by Bigpoint Games. The game is set in outer space, where players control a spaceship to battle against non-player characters and other players. It is a two-dimensional flash game with around 65 million registered users, including several millions of active ones.^[1][2]

History

DarkOrbit was released on December 24, 2006.

Gameplay

At the start of the game, the player chooses between three companies: Venus Resources Unlimited (VRU), Earth Industries Corporation (EIC), and Mars Mining Operations (MMO).^[3] Players are given a short tutorial before being teleported to the home map. The object of the game is to gain wealth and power both individually and for the company.

Rank

Users are ranked using a mathematical formula based on a variety of factors, including level, honor, ship type, aliens destroyed, and more. The lowest rank is "Basic Space Pilot" and the highest rank is General (with only one in each company). Players level up by gaining experience through fighting aliens/ships and doing quests. Each level requires twice as much experience as the level before it. Higher-level players gain access to more maps up until level 17, when all maps are unlocked. Honor is acquired in a way similar to experience and allows players to sell resources for higher prices. Shooting down other players from one's own company will lower honor and overall rank.

Economy

DarkOrbit uses two types of currencies: credits and uridium. Uridium is more valuable and harder to obtain. *Many use a bot to acquire uridium from bonus boxes for free DarkOrbit has put 'scripts' into the game to catch the players using this and it has had some effect at stemming the tide. Some types of equipment and ammunition can be purchased using credits, but the most elite items can only be bought with uridium.^[1] However, for some of those elite items, there is an option to bid using credits. This auction system, in which players will not be refunded credits if they lose, is used to control inflation of credits.^[4] Many new items are not offered in trade. The P.E.T. 10 is a highly priced drone that increases with costs as the player levels it up. There are also several ship designs and ammo types that are never auctioned in game. At this time there is a new box to be picked up which costs 1500 uridium for a chance at winning needed items. The randomness of the distribution has come into discussion many times as they mirror the galaxy gate spins on payouts of junk ammo/ores.

Combat

DarkOrbit utilizes a real-time combat system. In combat, a variety of weapons can be used to destroy aliens and other players. These include laser cannons, laser ammunition, rockets, rocket launchers, and mines. Players need to click on their target to lock on before they can begin shooting. Successfully destroying an enemy will result in a "cargo box" containing ore being dropped that the player can take. If the destroyed ship is a player, it will cost 500 uridium to repair the ship, although the ship started with in the game is free to repair.

Players start of the game with a Phoenix, a free but easily destroyed ship. As the player advances in the game, he/she can buy better ships. There are a total of ten different ships that can be bought, with the Goliath and the Vengeance typically being regarded as the best ships.^[5] Ships can be equipped with a variety of items, including shield generators, speed engines, laser cannons, rocket launchers, ammunition, and many other accessories.

Clans

Players can join a clan if they pay 50,000 credits. Benefits of joining a clan include help from clan mates and clan payouts in the form of credits. However, most clans have a clan tax (between 1% and 5%) that is collected into the clans treasury daily. Clans can help players level up, gain credits and compete against other rivals.^[1][6]

Skylab

The Skylab is a system is used to produce and refine ores. These ores can then be sent to the player's ship and either sold for credits or equipped to enhance the ship.^[7]

Pilot Bio

The Pilot Bio is a relatively recent addition to DarkOrbit. Each pilot point can be used to acquire certain abilities that help the player in battle or other game functions. A player can have up to fifty pilot points in their bio. When certain skills are maxed out, they generate special effects, such as brighter lasers, rocket trails, etc.^[8]

Special Events

DarkOrbit has special events from time to time that can give players special rewards.

Jackpot Battle

The Jackpot battle is an event in which all players who sign up fight each other until only one ship is left surviving. The winning player will receive real cash (up to £10,000 or 10,000 worth of the local currency e.g. $10,000 for the USA or €10,000 for the Global Europe or local country servers)^[9] from DarkOrbit, based on how many "Jackpot dollars" they had. Jackpot dollars can be found in bonus boxes that are scattered across space.

Team Death Match

The Team Death Match is an event that in which ten ships from one company work together to kill ten ships from an enemy company. The winning team receives rewards at the end.

Space Ball

Space Ball is an event that takes place in the map 4-4, with the objective of scoring goals by shooting an NPC ball to your x-5 portal. After a goal has been scored cargo boxes are released around the portal containing uridium and ammunition.

Invasion

A event that is taken place in different maps, depending on your level. This event is made up of waves, each wave harder to pass than the one before. This event lets you rack up millions of credits and thousands of uridium. Repairs are free as long as you die "in" the invasion map.

Capture The Beacon

Capture The Beacon, like the traditional game capture the flag, is an event where all 3 companies have beacons in their x-2 maps which must be protected by the defending company, and captured by the attacking company, and taken back to their own x-2 map. Games are 1 hour long, company with most points gets a 1 hour prize such as x% more experience, honor, bonus box rewards, etc.

Community

The official DarkOrbit forums are powered by vBulletin. The forums provide a place for DarkOrbit to announce updates and events as well as a place for players to ask questions, discuss the game, and give suggestions. In addition, DarkOrbit's support can be contacted via email by players wishing to report a bug or make a complaint.

Reception

Joystiq called it an "insane shooter" with a mix of Asteroids and EVE Online.^[10]

See also

• Bigpoint Games

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Robota, Damian. "Kostenfalle Online-Spiele". PC Welt. http://www.pcwelt.de/news/PC-WELT-enthuellt-Kostenfalle-Online-Spiele-130183.html. Retrieved 22 June 2011. 
2. ^ Hemmerich, Lisa. "Das jüngste Erfolgsrezept im Internet". Der Bund. http://www.derbund.ch/digital/internet/Das-juengste-Erfolgsrezept-im-Internet-/story/14597487. 
3. ^ "DarkOrbit registration". DarkOrbit Help. Bigpoint. http://help.bigpoint.com/index.es?site=login&sid=09deb5cd4bff6aca3195ba7ae19f6ec3. Retrieved 23 June 2011. 
4. ^ "Trading post". DarkOrbit Help. Bigpoint. http://help.bigpoint.com/index.es?site=handel&sid=09deb5cd4bff6aca3195ba7ae19f6ec3. Retrieved 23 June 2011. 
5. ^ "4 Games Like DarkOrbit – Cool Browser Games". all games like.... http://allgameslike.com/darkorbit/. Retrieved 24 June 2011. 
6. ^ "Clan". DarkOrbit Help. Bigpoint. http://help.bigpoint.com/index.es?site=clan&sid=09deb5cd4bff6aca3195ba7ae19f6ec3. Retrieved 23 June 2011. 
7. ^ "Skylab". DarkOrbit Help. Bigpoint. http://help.bigpoint.com/index.es?site=skylab&sid=09deb5cd4bff6aca3195ba7ae19f6ec3. Retrieved 23 June 2011. 
8. ^ "Pilot Bio". DarkOrbit Help. Bigpoint. http://help.bigpoint.com/index.es?site=pilotsheet&sid=09deb5cd4bff6aca3195ba7ae19f6ec3. Retrieved 23 June 2011. 
9. ^ "Jackpot". DarkOrbit Help. Bigpoint. http://help.bigpoint.com/index.es?site=jackpot&sid=09deb5cd4bff6aca3195ba7ae19f6ec3. Retrieved 23 June 2011. 
10. ^ Beau Hindman (Jun 21st 2011). "MMObility: Fifty games for the mobile lifestyle | Massively". Joystiq. http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/mmobility-fifty-games-for-the-mobile-lifestyle/. Retrieved 2011-07-03. 

• "Bigpoint's DarkOrbit Now Available on Cell Phones - Wireless News at IGN". IGN. October 22, 2009. http://wireless.ign.com/articles/103/1037752p1.html. 
• "Press Releases - Bigpoint celebrates DarkOrbit’s 4th Anniversary". Gamasutra. 2010-12-14. http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/66604/Bigpoint_celebrates_DarkOrbitrsquos_4th_Anniversary.php. 
• "WeMade Announces DarkOrbit, Seafight And Farmerama Now Live - PC News at IGN". IGN. October 25, 2010. http://au.pc.ign.com/articles/113/1130303p1.html. 

External links

• DarkOrbit
• DarkOrbit Help
• DarkOrbit Forums