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This was one of the internet's original Massively multiplayer online role-playing shooting games. Terra is a virtual world played from the first-person perspective with one of several vehicles, originally limited to a medium tank (Rhino), light scout vehicle (Goat), or a heavy long-range self-propelled howitzer (Buffalo). A light attack helicopter (Shrike) was added sometime in 1997 and several other vehicle types have been added since, including a heavy tank (Armadillo) and fast laser-armed recon vehicles both land (Scarab) and air (Phoenix). Also, stationary fort defenses which existed from the start of the game (Thugs) as AI's have been made player-usable. The game has some role-playing aspects to it as each player makes a character whose statistics are tracked continuously. Each player aligns themselves with a clan, and all players start in one of two clans called the "Desert Rats" or "AMOK". Players move from these two beginner/introductory clans by either pledging to existing primary clans or by forming their own clans. While many players do form their own clans most shortly wind up with established large clans since the Terra environment tends to not be friendly to such independent-minded players. Eventually Kaon chose to pursue other directions and allowed the game to stagnate and die. Then along came a gaming group called Jacked-In who added several variations of the Goat as well as a heavy tank (Armadillo) and the failed jet-pack (JOE). Their involvement ended less than pleasantly and Terra went off-line sometime in 2003. That wasn't the end of it however. After several months a player named "Rooster" worked out an arrangement with Kaon to bring the game back and it ran another two years. During this third incarnation, the a majority of the Jacked-In changes (second incarnation) were removed and the game took a new direction, including adding a new watercraft (Barracuda). In early 2005 this arrangement also ended rather abruptly, much to the dismay of the loyal player base. In November 2005, Terra was brought back once again by "Terminox" under a contractual arrangement with Kaon. "Jenga" and "Beast" were invited to return to the fold as developers. With help from the "JKR", "Deft" and other long time players the game was quickly brought back on-line and has been running continuously since. The game's graphics have received several significant face lifts and further development is ongoing. The player base has continued to expand. The game is run by volunteers and from donations. It is a free game to this day. Players are given rank status for the kill ratios they have attained. Higher rank means more privileges, although some of that is controlled by the clan leader for clan security reasons. |
