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Project Mercury Is Now Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning

38 Studios has finally announced a name for one of its two titles.

38 Studios' and Big Huge Games' mysterious "Project Mercury" will remain largely mysterious until San Diego Comic-Con, but the powers that be have at least revealed its name and a release window. It's now called Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and it'll hit store shelves at some point in Fall 2011 for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an open-world RPG with a focus on fluid combat. While we won't know if it'll deliver on that just yet, it's plain that 38 Studios has the right kind of lead talent to support the endeavor. Ken Rolston, the lead designer behind the last two Elder Scrolls releases, is at the helm of Amalur. He's being joined by the brush of Todd McFarlane and the pen of fantasy writer R.A. Salvatore. 


 This is a professional recreation of what this game won't be like.
 This is a professional recreation of what this game won't be like.
In a statement, Rolston said, "In Reckoning, we started with Bob and Todd's exceptional Kingdoms of Amalur game setting and imagery. On that foundation we built the open-world exploration, vast narrative, and character customization fans expect from the best RPGs." 

"And we've added something new that we've always wanted from the genre--a fast-paced, graphically stimulation action combat experience with fluid control and immersive, discoverable gameplay fans haven't seen before in other fantasy RPGs," Rolston added.

No other details were given this morning. A panel for the game, consisting of studio owner Curt "Bloody Sock" Schilling, Todd McFarlane, R.A. Salvatore, and Ken Rolston will be hosted at Comic Con.  According to the press release, attendees of this panel "will be among the first to see the world debut" of the game's trailer. Punch and pie at the panel remain unconfirmed, but a collectible poster designed by McFarlane will be distributed during.      

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BradNicholson

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Edited By BradNicholson
38 Studios' and Big Huge Games' mysterious "Project Mercury" will remain largely mysterious until San Diego Comic-Con, but the powers that be have at least revealed its name and a release window. It's now called Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and it'll hit store shelves at some point in Fall 2011 for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is an open-world RPG with a focus on fluid combat. While we won't know if it'll deliver on that just yet, it's plain that 38 Studios has the right kind of lead talent to support the endeavor. Ken Rolston, the lead designer behind the last two Elder Scrolls releases, is at the helm of Amalur. He's being joined by the brush of Todd McFarlane and the pen of fantasy writer R.A. Salvatore. 


 This is a professional recreation of what this game won't be like.
 This is a professional recreation of what this game won't be like.
In a statement, Rolston said, "In Reckoning, we started with Bob and Todd's exceptional Kingdoms of Amalur game setting and imagery. On that foundation we built the open-world exploration, vast narrative, and character customization fans expect from the best RPGs." 

"And we've added something new that we've always wanted from the genre--a fast-paced, graphically stimulation action combat experience with fluid control and immersive, discoverable gameplay fans haven't seen before in other fantasy RPGs," Rolston added.

No other details were given this morning. A panel for the game, consisting of studio owner Curt "Bloody Sock" Schilling, Todd McFarlane, R.A. Salvatore, and Ken Rolston will be hosted at Comic Con.  According to the press release, attendees of this panel "will be among the first to see the world debut" of the game's trailer. Punch and pie at the panel remain unconfirmed, but a collectible poster designed by McFarlane will be distributed during.      
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lil_cheeks

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Edited By lil_cheeks

this is kinda neat!

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SmoovLT

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Edited By SmoovLT

Fluid combat huh????  We'll see about that!
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armaan8014

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Edited By armaan8014

I'm keeping my eye out for this now!

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Cypher

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Edited By Cypher

You know, Brad, you could NOT include a shitty, pointless image in the news. That'd work just fine.

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JJWeatherman

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Edited By JJWeatherman

RIIIIIIICH GAAAALLLLUUUUP!!!!

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RagingLion

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Edited By RagingLion

Well those sentiments are exciting if they can be borne out in the final game.  I might even buy it!  But there's a long way to go first and a lot to prove in the meantime.

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Cincaid

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Edited By Cincaid

Haha, I read it as "Kingdom of Amature"

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leviathan

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Edited By leviathan

hope the combat is better than it was in oblivion.

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DanielJW

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Edited By DanielJW

Looking forward to Rich Gallup's lazy ass finally putting something out. :D

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NoXious

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Edited By NoXious

The gore looks amazing, this could beat Dragon Age in terms of blood!

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Woodwater

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Edited By Woodwater

If the game is half as good as the star power behind those names it'll be a masterpiece.

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Crono

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Edited By Crono

I thought they were making an MMO?

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TwoLines

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Edited By TwoLines

That sun is NOT happy about Mr. Stickman killing that poor fellow over there.

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Philva

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Edited By Philva
No Caption Provided
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FireSketch

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Edited By FireSketch

Of course, as soon as the Bombcast hits later we'll have more exclusive details, exclusively for Giant Bomb, exclusively.

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A_Wet_Shamwow

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Edited By A_Wet_Shamwow

i was hoping for Lincoln force

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CharlesSurge

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Edited By CharlesSurge

Sounds good!

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HeadNodShy

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Edited By HeadNodShy

Sounds promising?

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bigchief

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Edited By bigchief

I dunno, there's still time for polish of course, but I'm just not feeling that screenshot. Maybe it's the cell shading.

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dubios451

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Edited By dubios451

I take back anything disparaging I ever thought about Mr. Nicholson, that picture is pure gold.

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cap123

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Edited By cap123

I think Brad should design the cover art of every game ever made, he should have a monopoly on the art like the guy who takes pictures of fast food burgers.

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MjHealy

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Edited By MjHealy

I will buy this game just to take pride in the fact that I am putting food on Rich Gallup's table.

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crusader8463

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Edited By crusader8463

It will be hilarious if these games bomb horrible when they finally announce them, or if they finally reveal them and they just look like any other generic RPG of the month. Whenever people build stuff up like this it's always a let down when you see the final product because nothing can ever live up to what peoples imaginations can think up. The longer you let things build up in peoples imaginations the bigger the let down will be when it finally comes out.
 
Time will tell, but I'm always very skeptical when companies keep saying things like "Just trust us, it's going to be amazing!" over and over again.

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Death_Burnout

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Edited By Death_Burnout
@MjHealy said:
" I will buy this game just to take pride in the fact that I am putting food on Rich Gallup's table. "

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ZmillA

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Edited By ZmillA

I like what I hear so far

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Dany

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Edited By Dany

There is too much investment in this game from the GB community and possibly the staff that when it comes out, it will be the worst shit storm to ever hit the forum

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Mmmslash

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Edited By Mmmslash
@MjHealy said:
" I will buy this game just to take pride in the fact that I am putting food on Rich Gallup's table. "
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wolf_blitzer85

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Edited By wolf_blitzer85

If this fluid combat works anywhere near as good as Batman: AA then I am totally on board.

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Ronald

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Edited By Ronald

If the final game doesn't live up to the graphical prowess of Nicholson's concept art then I am out.

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SonicFire

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Edited By SonicFire

The name of the game does not give me confidence... "Fantasy nonsense: the semicolon"! 
  
I'd hope it's great anyways...

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GreyFox

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Edited By GreyFox

The name of the game is so bland that I'm sure I will not remember it in a few hours.

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WinterSnowblind

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Edited By WinterSnowblind

I'll reserve judgement of the game, but the title is pretty horrible.
Amalur is a pretty bad fantasy world name..  Only mildy better than Antaloor.

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Gav47

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Edited By Gav47
@SmoovLT said:
" Fluid combat huh????  We'll see about that! "
My thoughts exactly. 
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ht101

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Edited By ht101

It's nice to know that Rich really has been working on something so we know he's earning his paycheck.  Now get him on the Bombcast so he can talk about it.

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Siphillis

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Edited By Siphillis

Angry sun is angry.

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MrGtD

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Edited By MrGtD
@Siphillis said:
" Angry sun is angry. "
He looks more bummed out than anything.  I think he had plans with his friends to go see Inception tonight, and they all dropped out, so he can't go, and he really wants to see it.
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Yelix

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Edited By Yelix

I'm sure it will at least be a fun open-world Western RPG. Even ones with ridiculous bugs like Fallout 3 managed to steal days of my life away.
Also, Nicholson, keep up the good work with the artist's renditions.

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bobthecannibal

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Edited By bobthecannibal

Awesome pic Brad. I hope this ends up on the back of the box

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CaptainTightPants

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YES, more professional recreation drawings Mr. Nicholson.

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MeatSim

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Edited By MeatSim

Rich Gallup the game!

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buzz_killington

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Edited By buzz_killington

Since it is set in the same universe as Copernicus, I believe that game will be called Kingdoms of Amalur: Something Else.

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ArbitraryWater

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Edited By ArbitraryWater

That title... is the single most generic thing I can think of. I probably won't be able to remember it in a few hours. Nonetheless, one Richard Gallup has talked quite a big game about his company's product. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.

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Nac

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Edited By Nac

Pretty awful name!

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Glitch

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Edited By Glitch

Aw, no references to Rich Gallup in the article?

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Edited By splodge
@Cypher said:
" You know, Brad, you could NOT include a shitty, pointless image in the news. That'd work just fine. "
Sheesh lighten up. I quite like it.
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watkinzez

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Edited By watkinzez

The heading for this story should have been "New game with music by Grant Kirkhope".
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Spike94

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Edited By Spike94

I for one am freakin' stoked. And beautiful picture, Brad A (Brad 1 is Mr. Shoemaker, naturally...but you're Brad A, so you're both in 1st).
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ArmedBear

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Edited By ArmedBear

Rich Gallup: I Might Actually Do Something: The Game

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natetodamax

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Edited By natetodamax
@Cypher said:
" You know, Brad, you could NOT include a shitty, pointless image in the news. That'd work just fine. "
He does that with every article. Makes it look longer.