Tribes: Ascend Explained

Tribes: Ascend
Developer:Hi-Rez Studios
Publisher:Hi-Rez Studios
Designer:Scott Zier
Programmer:Mick Larkins
Artist:Sean McBride
Composer:Chris Rickwood
Series:Tribes
Engine:Unreal Engine 3
Released:April 12, 2012
Genre:First-person shooter
Modes:Multiplayer
Platforms:Microsoft Windows

Tribes: Ascend is a free-to-play first-person shooter developed and published by Hi-Rez Studios for Microsoft Windows, as part of the Tribes series. Aspects from previous Tribes games such as jetpacks and skiing are featured in the game.[1]

History

The game entered open beta on February 22, 2012[2] (with some modes disabled such as Rabbit) and was officially released on April 12, 2012.[3] In February 2013, Hi-Rez released a Game of the Year Edition, which unlocked all classes, weapons, equipment, and perks in a single package.[4] [5] In July 2013, Hi-Rez halted further development on Tribes: Ascend to focus on Smite,[6] citing lackluster financial returns from Tribes: Ascend and Global Agenda.[7] Despite the previous statement, a small team resumed development in August 2015.[8] In December 2015, Hi-Rez Studios announced a patch, called Out Of The Blue, for the game which introduced major changes. Due to the nature of the patch, the company reverted all previous in-game purchases.[9] The final update, dubbed Parting Gifts, was released on September 29, 2016.[10] Sean McBride, creative director of Tribes: Ascend, likened the game's history to be “death by a thousand cuts”.[11]

Gameplay

Loadouts and Classes

Tribes: Ascend features a class-based loadout system. Each loadout specifies what type of armor the player has, along with what weapons and items they carry. Each loadout supports two in-hand weapons, a set of belt items such as grenades or mines and a pack. Hi-Rez also sold cosmetic items such as player skins, along with boosters that allowed players to gain experience points at a faster rate.

GOTY edition

There were three possible sizes of armor to choose: light, medium and heavy, with three loadouts in each weight group (for a total of nine). Players can select which loadout to use either when first joining a game, respawning, or at an inventory station. Loadouts may be acquired either through an upfront payment, or through playing the game and earning experience points, which can be used to purchase classes, weapons, perks, and upgrades.[12] Paid-for loadouts are available to the user immediately, while those who unlock them through playtime have a much longer wait. Upgrades to armor, weapons and perks are unlocked based on how much players use them in-game, but can also be purchased by experience points. Players were given three free classes when first starting the game, each wearing light, medium and heavy armor respectively.[13] Players earn in-match credits during matches for killing enemies, repairing structures or capturing objectives. Credits were then used to buy vehicles, supply drops, Tactical strikes, Orbital strikes, and base upgrades.[14]

OOTB edition

After the Out Of The Blue update in December 2015, the game experienced a reduction of playable classes. The nine available classes were condensed into three weight groups. Base upgrades were removed, along with Supply Drops, Tactical Strikes, in-match credits, and Orbital Strikes.[15] All monetization features such as paid classes, experience boosters, and weapons were removed or made free of charge.

Game modes and maps

The map Katabatic, which originally appeared in Tribes 2, has been remade in Tribes: Ascend[16] along with some other maps appearing in previous games in the series.

Ranking system

The ranking system is a vanity reward for players but used to be an element for the removed in-game queue system. Each level of a rank has a unique rank title and insignia. Players begin as a rank 1 ("Recruit") and earn ranks as they play the game. Each players' current rank insignia is displayed next to their name on the in-game scoreboard. Rank title and insignia are shown to an enemy player that the player has recently killed (displayed on the kill-cam screen). A summary report of rank experience earned is displayed on the post-match scoreboard screen at the end of each map. An experience bar is also present.

Console port

A port to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 were originally planned but scrapped due to the game's free-to-play business model.[17]

Reception

Tribes: Ascend was met with positive reception, with IGN giving the game a 9/10. It has a Metacritic rating of 86.[18]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lahti . Evan . 11 March 2011 . Shazbot! Tribes: Ascend announced. Multiplayer-only, coming this year, has trailer . 24 March 2012 . PC Gamer . Future Publishing . 22 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322214122/http://www.pcgamer.com/2011/03/11/shazbot-tribes-ascend-announced-multiplayer-only-coming-this-year-has-trailer/ . live .
  2. Web site: Kolan . Nick . 2012-02-22 . Tribes Ascend Entering Open Beta . 2023-02-06 . IGN . en . 2023-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206031704/https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/02/22/tribes-ascend-entering-open-beta . live .
  3. News: Tribes: Ascend release date announced . . 9 March 2012 . 6 February 2023 . 6 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206022907/https://www.eurogamer.net/tribes-ascend-release-date-announced . live .
  4. Web site: Tribes: Ascend Game of The Year Edition Now LIVE . 2013-08-21 . .hirezstudios.com . 2013-10-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131024062131/http://www2.hirezstudios.com/hi-rez/latest-news/view/hi-rez-studios-blog/2013/02/14/tribes-ascend-game-of-the-year-edition-now-live . live .
  5. Web site: 2012-06-27 . Tribes: Ascend on Steam . 2013-08-21 . Store.steampowered.com . 2013-08-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130813143457/http://store.steampowered.com/app/17080 . live .
  6. News: 2013-07-12 . No major updates for Tribes Ascend in the next six months . en-gb . Eurogamer.net . 2023-02-06 . 2023-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206022907/https://www.eurogamer.net/no-major-updates-for-tribes-ascend-in-the-next-six-months . live .
  7. News: 2013-09-13 . Tribes Ascend dev Hi-Rez addresses players' "misinformed conclusions" . en-gb . Eurogamer.net . 2023-02-06 . 2023-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206022905/https://www.eurogamer.net/tribes-ascend-dev-hi-rez-addresses-players-misinformed-conclusions . live .
  8. Web site: Pereira . Chris . August 28, 2015 . Two Years After Development Ceased, Tribes: Ascend Being Supported Again . August 29, 2015 . . August 29, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150829225639/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/two-years-after-development-ceased-tribes-ascend-b/1100-6430157/ . live .
  9. Web site: Out of the Blue Tribes:Ascend Version 1.1, December 10th, 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20151214145737/http://www.hirezstudios.com/tribesascend/home/latest-news/view/tribes-ascend-blog/2015/12/10/out-of-the-blue-tribes-ascend-version-1.1-december-10th-2015 . 2015-12-14 . 2015-12-11. Out of the Blue Tribes:Ascend Version 1.1, December 10th, 2015
  10. News: Joe Donnelly . 2016-09-29 . Tribes: Ascend will not receive further updates . en . PC Gamer . 2023-02-06 . 2023-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206022903/https://www.pcgamer.com/tribes-ascend-is-no-more/ . live .
  11. News: Joe Donnelly . 2016-09-29 . Tribes: Ascend will not receive further updates . en . PC Gamer . 2023-02-06 . 2023-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206022903/https://www.pcgamer.com/tribes-ascend-is-no-more/ . live .
  12. Web site: HiRezTodd . 29 June 2011 . Why Loadouts? . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110923233328/http://forum.hirezstudios.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=234&t=37698&start=0 . 23 September 2011 . 14 March 2012 . Hi-Rez Studios.
  13. Yak Cast 50 Interview with Todd Harris from Hi-Rez Studios . Yak Cast . WordPress . August 2011 . 24 March 2012.
  14. Tribes: Ascend Hands On Demo With Todd Harris - PAX Prime 2011 . 29 August 2011 . ClevverGames . YouTube . 24 March 2012.
  15. News: O'Connor . Alice . 2015-09-07 . Tribes: Ascend's First Patch In Over 2 Years . en . Rock, Paper, Shotgun . 2022-11-30 . 2022-11-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221130185449/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/tribes-ascend-out-of-the-blue-update . live .
  16. Tribes Ascend - Interview vidéo avec Todd Harris - Gamescom 2011 . 21 August 2011 . obsidiafr . YouTube . 24 March 2012.
  17. News: 2012-05-03 . No plans for Tribes: Ascend on PS3 and Xbox 360 . en-gb . Eurogamer.net . 2023-02-22 . 2023-02-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230222070838/https://www.eurogamer.net/no-plans-for-tribes-ascend-on-ps3-and-xbox-360 . live .
  18. Web site: Tribes: Ascend for PC Reviews . 2013-08-21 . Metacritic . 2020-11-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112024351/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/tribes-ascend . live .

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