Horizons To Start In-Game Virtual Property Auctions

The full press release to follow:

MMOG HORIZONS: EMPIRE OF ISTARIA ANNOUNCES START OF IN-GAME VIRTUAL PROPERTY AUCTIONS

September 30, 2004 MESA, Ariz. Artifact Entertainment, the developers of Horizons: Empire of Istaria today announced the commencement of in-game property auctions for subscribers. Horizons, a massively multiplayer on-line game (MMOG), allows subscriber characters to bid on over 1770 available plots of in-game land. Once the auction is complete, the plot owner has the opportunity to build, or contract other players to build, personal houses, and workable structures ranging from a blacksmith shop to a jewelry center, to storage silo on that property.

Groups of players with similar interests who have banded together as a Guild may also pool their resources to purchase a master Guild plot. When the associated Guild house is complete, over 900 other Guild Plots are then available to guild members for purchase and development.

Artifact Entertainment’s CEO, David Bowman says, (In Horizons, crafting is an integral part of community building and the player developed economy. The Istarian Auction was necessary after our shard consolidation and provides a well-rounded and equitable solution for many players who previously owned property.) Bowman continued, (Right now Horizons has 20 trade and craft schools a player can join. Our crafting system is well known to be intricate, specialized and fun. Increasing the number of available structures a plot owner can develop on their property continues our tradition of this robust crafting system.)

Istarian property is available in many different sizes. Depending on the size of the plot a player can construct a single building or, on larger plots, develop many buildings that provide different benefits to the player and their community.

Player built structures also feature new functionality. (Previously, player built personal residences were simply meeting areas, now these homes can be used as inventory storage for the many items a player accumulates through ordinary game play.) stated Mr. Bowman. (If a character chooses to create the structure themselves they earn crafting experience points in that crafting school; this is another reward and incentive for players to experience all that Horizons has to offer. This plot auction is the first of its kind in a massively multiplayer fantasy world; it adds a new level of excitement to the game and allows players to form a strategy to get the plot they want. The process for all 1,770+ plots will take about 10 days to complete. To accommodate this auction we have added technology and functionality to the game that can be used again and again.) said Bowman.

About Artifact Entertainment
Artifact Entertainment, founded in November 1999, is a privately held software development company currently focused on the subscription-based massively multiplayer online game, (Horizons). Its mission is to provide subscription-based quality online entertainment experiences using superior technology, proven design methods, broad market appeal, customer satisfaction and the highest quality staff. To find out more about Artifact Entertainment, visit www.artifact-entertainment.com.

About (Horizons)
Developed by Artifact Entertainment and originally published by Atari, the MMPORPG Horizons: Empire of Istaria launched in December 2003 and currently boasts an avid following of tens-of-thousands of players worldwide. The ability to dynamically add content coupled with a first-rate crafting system has allowed (Horizons’) fans to experience episodic content and the ultimate in massive battles. Players are also able to take on 10 fantasy roles ranging from dragon and elf to fiend and half-giant while meeting friends that circle the globe. For more information on (Horizons), visit www.istaria.com.