Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising
Encyclopedia
Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising (abbreviated as G&H or GnH) is the title of an MMORPG
made by Heatwave Interactive
. The game is set in the world of Ancient Rome
, and combines historical elements and enemies (Etruscans, Faliscans, etc.) with mythological ones (Cyclops
, Gorgons, etc.). Players can select era-appropriate classes from Soldiers, Gladiators, Mystics and Priests, each of which can be aligned with an Olympian god
(such as Jupiter
or Mars
).
Originally developed by Perpetual Entertainment
, the game was put on indefinite hold in October, 2007. In February, 2010, Heatwave Interactive announced it had acquired rights to the game and planned to continue its development. The game was released in June, 2011.
, and was slated for release in the 4th quarter of 2005, and then pushed again for 2008, but due to the challenge to develop both 'Gods and Heroes' as well as Star Trek Online
, the company decided to hold the development indefinitely. The game had been in closed beta since October 2006, but was shut down the day of hold announcement.
Sony Online Entertainment
was named as the publisher and distributor for the game in North America, but had no hand in the development of the game.
The game reached a state of closed beta test. Only a few people were granted beta keys at the time. Beta keys were given away in random intervals on the official homepage. However, it was announced that the game's development would be put on indefinite hold, due to the developers shifting their focus to Star Trek Online
, and the beta server was closed. Perpetual Entertainment, now known as P2 Entertainment, has since announced its dissolution.
, Gladiator
, Mystic
, Priest
. Each class could serve one of two gods: Soldiers serve Minerva or Mars; Gladiators serve Fortuna or Jupiter; Priests serve Juno or Pluto; and Mystics serve Trevia or Bacchus. Each God or Goddess grants his or her follower unique God Powers that supplement the character's class abilities.
These minions include warriors, ranged attackers, casters, and mythological creatures. These hirelings utilize an AI system enabling them to heal you, attack, defend, form up in various formations and learn special moves. In addition, each god makes a different mythical minion available to their scions. In addition to the AI, players have the ability to control all aspects of their minions, such as telling a healer minion to heal a specific player, as well as customizable squad formations.
As a character's level progresses, they gain the ability to control more minions at once, until a character had a full squad with four minions. Each party member will be able to bring up to 4 minions with them in a party. There will be challenges, quests, and some instances that would have limitations on the number of minions you would be able to bring along.
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
made by Heatwave Interactive
Heatwave Interactive
Heatwave Interactive is an Austin, Texas based video game developer founded in 2007 by Anthony Castoro and Donn Clendenon.-Titles:Heatwave has developed games and apps for several platforms:* iSamJackson, an application featuring voice clips of Samuel L...
. The game is set in the world of Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
, and combines historical elements and enemies (Etruscans, Faliscans, etc.) with mythological ones (Cyclops
Cyclops
A cyclops , in Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, was a member of a primordial race of giants, each with a single eye in the middle of his forehead...
, Gorgons, etc.). Players can select era-appropriate classes from Soldiers, Gladiators, Mystics and Priests, each of which can be aligned with an Olympian god
Twelve Olympians
The Twelve Olympians, also known as the Dodekatheon , in Greek mythology, were the principal deities of the Greek pantheon, residing atop Mount Olympus. Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hestia, and Hades were siblings. Ares, Hermes, Hephaestus, Athena, Apollo, and Artemis were children of Zeus...
(such as Jupiter
Jupiter (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter or Jove is the king of the gods, and the god of the sky and thunder. He is the equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon....
or Mars
Mars (mythology)
Mars was the Roman god of war and also an agricultural guardian, a combination characteristic of early Rome. He was second in importance only to Jupiter, and he was the most prominent of the military gods worshipped by the Roman legions...
).
Originally developed by Perpetual Entertainment
Perpetual Entertainment
Perpetual Entertainment, founded in March 2002, was an American developer, publisher and operator of networked multiplayer games and MMORPGs. Their headquarters were in San Francisco, California, USA. From October 2007 to February 2008 the company was known as P2 Entertainment...
, the game was put on indefinite hold in October, 2007. In February, 2010, Heatwave Interactive announced it had acquired rights to the game and planned to continue its development. The game was released in June, 2011.
Initial development
The game was originally announced on March 9, 2005 by Perpetual EntertainmentPerpetual Entertainment
Perpetual Entertainment, founded in March 2002, was an American developer, publisher and operator of networked multiplayer games and MMORPGs. Their headquarters were in San Francisco, California, USA. From October 2007 to February 2008 the company was known as P2 Entertainment...
, and was slated for release in the 4th quarter of 2005, and then pushed again for 2008, but due to the challenge to develop both 'Gods and Heroes' as well as Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online, often abbreviated as STO, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Cryptic Studios based on the popular Star Trek series created by Gene Roddenberry. The game is set in the 25th century, 30 years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis...
, the company decided to hold the development indefinitely. The game had been in closed beta since October 2006, but was shut down the day of hold announcement.
Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment is a game development and game publishing division of Sony that is best known for creating massively multiplayer online games, including EverQuest, EverQuest II, The Matrix Online, PlanetSide, Star Wars Galaxies, Free Realms, and Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, DC Universe...
was named as the publisher and distributor for the game in North America, but had no hand in the development of the game.
The game reached a state of closed beta test. Only a few people were granted beta keys at the time. Beta keys were given away in random intervals on the official homepage. However, it was announced that the game's development would be put on indefinite hold, due to the developers shifting their focus to Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online, often abbreviated as STO, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Cryptic Studios based on the popular Star Trek series created by Gene Roddenberry. The game is set in the 25th century, 30 years after the events of Star Trek Nemesis...
, and the beta server was closed. Perpetual Entertainment, now known as P2 Entertainment, has since announced its dissolution.
Early reception
Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising was well-received at 2006's E3, receiving Allakhazam's Best of Show Award; TenTonHammer's Best of Show Award; MMORPG.com's Game of Show and Best Graphics Awards; Stratics' Best Gameplay Award; and GameAmp's Best Gameplay Award.Ongoing development
On February 22, 2010, it was announced that Heatwave Interactive had acquired the rights to the Gods & Heroes, previously developed by Perpetual Entertainment, and that development was back underway. When asked at that time when the game would be released, Heatwave Interactive CEO Anthony Castoro estimated a "window of about a year to 18 months."Player classes
There are four anticipated classes of character: SoldierSoldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, Gladiator
Gladiator
A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...
, Mystic
Mysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
, Priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
. Each class could serve one of two gods: Soldiers serve Minerva or Mars; Gladiators serve Fortuna or Jupiter; Priests serve Juno or Pluto; and Mystics serve Trevia or Bacchus. Each God or Goddess grants his or her follower unique God Powers that supplement the character's class abilities.
Minions
In previous development, minions were touted as one of the game's unique features. There were several different ways to collect the more than 130 minions available in the game. You can hire the minions to join your camp for a fee, earn minions as quest rewards, get minion contracts as loot drops or earn their respect by beating them in combat situations.These minions include warriors, ranged attackers, casters, and mythological creatures. These hirelings utilize an AI system enabling them to heal you, attack, defend, form up in various formations and learn special moves. In addition, each god makes a different mythical minion available to their scions. In addition to the AI, players have the ability to control all aspects of their minions, such as telling a healer minion to heal a specific player, as well as customizable squad formations.
As a character's level progresses, they gain the ability to control more minions at once, until a character had a full squad with four minions. Each party member will be able to bring up to 4 minions with them in a party. There will be challenges, quests, and some instances that would have limitations on the number of minions you would be able to bring along.