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Asheron's Call (AC) is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy fantasy] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game Massively multiplayer online role-playing game] delevoped by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbine,_Inc. Turbine, Inc.] released on November 2, 1999.
[[File:Archive Turbine 2013 center image.png|right]]


== History ==
== Asheron's Call ==
Asheron's Call (AC) was a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fantasy fantasy] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massively_multiplayer_online_role-playing_game Massively multiplayer online role-playing game] developed by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turbine,_Inc. Turbine, Inc.] released on November 2, 1999.


=== Early Development and Beta Testing ===
* Asheron's Call 1 and 2 services ended on January 31st, 2017. [https://www.asheronscall.com/en/forums/showthread.php?73423-Asheron-s-Call (source: forum post)]
* [[Asheron's Call Beta]]
* Asheron's Call private servers were not released. [https://www.asheronscall.com/en/forums/showthread.php?73423-Asheron-s-Call&p=753848#post753848 (source: forum post)]


=== Release ===
=== Game Info ===
* [[Release]]
''See also: [[List of Categories]]''


=== Dark Majesty ===
The following list is not exhaustive.
* [[Dark Majesty]]


=== Throne of Destiny ===
* Dereth
* [[Throne of Destiny]]
** [[Creatures]]
** [[Locations]]
** [[Lore]]
** [[NPCs]]
** [[Quests]]
* Gameplay
** [[Allegiances]]
** [[Combat]]
** [[Housing]]
** [[Magic]]
** [[Fellowships]]
** [[Game Mechanics]]
* Player Characters
** [[Character Races]]
** [[Character Creation]]
** [[Skills]]
** [[Augmentations]]


=== 100th Update ===
=== Asheron's Call Updates ===
* [[Ancient Powers]]
==== Game Release and Expansions ====
{|class="wikitable"
! 1999<br>[[Release]]
! 2001<br>[[Dark Majesty (expansion)|Dark Majesty]]
! 2005<br>[[Throne of Destiny (expansion)|Throne of Destiny]]
|-
| [[File:Asherons Call Original Box.jpg|115px|link=Release]]
| [[File:Asheron's Call Dark Majesty Box.jpg|110px|link=Dark Majesty (expansion)]]
| [[File:Asheron's Call Throne of Destiny Box.jpg|105px|link=Throne of Destiny (expansion)]]
|}


=== 10th Anniversary Update ===
==== Major Monthly Updates ====
* [[Asheron's Call 10th Anniversary Event Preview]]
* See [[Patches]] for a list of all the regular monthly updates made to Asheron's Call.


== Game Features ==
{|class="wikitable"
! Event
! Main Content/Features
|-
| [[File:Ancient_Powers_Splash_Screen.jpg|250px|link=Ancient Powers]]
| '''August 2008: 100th Update'''
* [[Societies of Dereth]]
* [[Land Control]]
* 7th [[Loot|Loot Tier]]
* New [[Item Sets]]
|-
| [[File:Gears of Change Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Gears of Change]]
| '''October 2009: 10th Anniversary Update'''
* [[Quest Journal]]
* [[Gearcrafting]] Skill
* [[Two Handed Combat]] Skill
* [[Trinkets]]
* [[XP Passup|Quest XP Passup]]
|-
| [[File:Shedding Skin Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Shedding Skin]]
| '''April 2010: "Big" Update'''
* [[Tailoring]]
* [[Barbers and Hairstyles]]
* [[Aetheria]]
* Playable Shadows
|-
| [[File:From Darkness, Light Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=From Darkness, Light]]
| '''December 2010: "Big" Update'''
* [[Olthoi Play]]
* [[Luminance]]
* [[Void Magic]]
* Playable Empyreans
|-
| [[File:Lost City of Neftet Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Lost City of Neftet]]
| '''May 2011: "Big" Update'''
* New level 180+ hunting and questing area
* [[Contracts]]
* Prismatic Ammunition
* Shield Tailoring
* Alternate Currency Exchangers
|-
| [[File:Master of Arms Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Master of Arms]]
| '''February 2012: Skill System Overhaul'''
* [[Dirty Fighting]]
* [[Dual Wield]]
* [[Finesse Weapons]]
* [[Heavy Weapons]]
* [[Light Weapons]]
* [[Missile Weapons]]
* [[Recklessness]]
* [[Shield]]
* [[Sneak Attack]]
|-
| [[File:The Risen Princess Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=The Risen Princess]]
| '''August 2012: "Big" Update'''
* Weather Effects
* New quests and hunting areas
* [[Atlan Weapons]] Update
* [[Isparian Weapons]] Update
* [[Exploration Society Letters]] Update
|-
| [[File:Balance of Power Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Balance of Power]]
| '''February 2013: "Big" Update'''
* New UI
* Legendary cantrips introduced
* New [[Summoning]] skill introduced
* [[Loot]] Tier 8 introduced
* Creature loot tiers adjusted
|-
| [[File:Emotions Unbound Splash Screen.jpg|250px|link=Emotions Unbound]]
| '''August 2013: "Big" Update'''
* [[Tailoring|Weapon Tailoring]] introduced
* New [[Loot]] Tier 8 hunting area, the [[Rynthid Infested Plains]], introduced
|}


=== Character System ===
=== Rules ===
* [[Character Creation]]
By playing Asheron's Call, all players agree to the following documents:
* [[Character Templates]]
* [http://support.turbine.com/link/portal/24001/24047/Article/4063/AC-Code-of-Conduct-COC Asheron's Call Code of Conduct (CoC)]
* [[Skills]]
* [http://support.turbine.com/link/portal/24001/24047/Article/4456/Asheron-s-Call-End-User-License-Agreement-EULA Asheron's Call End User License Agreement (EULA)]
* [[Attributes]]
* [http://support.turbine.com/link/portal/24001/24047/Article/5494/Asheron-s-Call-End-User-License-Agreement-United-States Asheron's Call End User License Agreement (United States)]
* [http://asheronscall.com/en/content/asherons-call-terms-service-united-states Asheron's Call Terms of Service (ToS)]
 
== History of Asheron's Call ==
:[[#top|Back to top]]
 
=== 1994 - 1999 ===
==== Game Development ====
* Development of Asheron's Call began in 1994 after Turbine and Microsoft had entered into a developer/publisher agreement where legal ownership of the property and subsequently-developed properties were owned by Microsoft.(source?)
* All of the games [[Servers]] and the initial beta testing were also hosted on Zone.msn.com as part of the publishing agreement with Microsoft.
* "Empyrean" was the code name Microsoft used to refer to Asheron's Call in 1997 when the game was still in development. <ref>1997/07 ZDNet - [http://web.archive.org/web/19990921232852/http://www1.zdnet.com/familypc/content/9706/e3/03online.html Let the Online Games Begin]</ref>
''Click image for full size version.''
<gallery caption="Early Development Screenshots">
File:Alpha - Player Screen 3.gif|
File:Alpha - Player Screen 2.jpg|
File:06001AA0.png|
File:Alpha - Player Screen.jpg|
</gallery>
 
=== 1999 ===
==== Beta Testing and Release ====
* The AC Beta consisted of three phases which spanned from May until October of 1999.
** See the [[Asheron's Call Beta]] page for full details and links.
 
* Other important events that occured before and during beta testing:
** Turbine's beta page, <nowiki>http://www.zogblaster.com/tweb/asherons-call</nowiki>, goes live.
*** See the ACCWiki's [[Zogblaster Archive]] to take a look back at the site.
** Microsoft's Asheron's Call page, <nowiki>http://www.microsoft.com/games/zone/asheronscall/</nowiki>, goes live.
*** See the ACCWiki's [[Microsoft Games Archive]] to take a look back at the site.
 
* November 2, 1999 - AC goes retail, it is the third major MMORPG to be released at this time.
 
=== 2000 - 2003 ===
==== Microsoft Gaming Zone ====
In addition to the hosting of the game [[Servers]], all AC announcements including patch teasers, rollout articles, letters to the players and patch notes were released onto the AC section of the Microsoft Gaming Zone. Some announcements were also made on the Microsoft Games AC site.
* See the ACCWiki's [[Microsoft Zone Archive]] and [[Microsoft Games Archive]] to take a look back at the sites.
* ''See also: [[:Category:Microsoft Zone Archive]], [[:Category:Microsoft Games Archive]] and [[:Category:Event Announcements]].''
 
==== Solclaim server goes live ====
The first Asheron's Call server to be added since the game's release goes live on 6th of June 2000.<ref>05/25/2000 Microsoft Zone - [[Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/A New World Soon to Open in Asheron's Call|A New World Soon to Open in Asheron's Call]]</ref>
 
==== Wintersebb server goes live ====
The second server goes live on January 24th 2001 to accommodate the ever increasing population of Asheron's Call.<ref>01/24/2001 Microsoft Zone - [[Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/Wintersebb Opens!|Wintersebb Opens!]]</ref>
 
==== Microsoft announces the AC expansion pack: Dark Majesty ====
Microsoft announces on June 25th 2001 that the Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty Expansion Pack will be available later in the year. The expansion pack would include the original Asheron's Call, new additions such as housing and storage, and the new landmass [[Marae Lassel]] including many new creatures, dungeons and quests.<ref>06/25/2001 Microsoft Games - [[Microsoft Games Archive/Dark Majesty|ASHERON'S CALL: DARK MAJESTY EXPANSION PACK AVAILABLE THIS HOLIDAY]]</ref>
 
==== Turbine buys Asheron's Call license back ====
Turbine bought back all franchise rights from Microsoft in 2003<ref>12/17/2003 Turbine Games - [http://web.archive.org/web/20031220175022/http://www.turbinegames.com/news/article.php?article=25 TURBINE TO BUY ASHERON’S CALL FRANCHISE FROM MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS]</ref> and consequently took responsibility for server hosting. The servers remained at a facility in Washington State until 2008 when all server hardware was replaced and relocated to a facility in Massachusetts near Turbine headquarters. Due to various quality of service issues that caused extended downtime the servers were moved to a new facility on March 30th, 2009.
 
=== 2004 ===
==== Turbine unlocks Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty for all AC subscribers ====
Turbine announces that all Dark Majesty content will be available to every subscriber regardless of whether they have purchased the expansion pack in the past or not. <ref>02/04/2004 Turbine Games - [http://web.archive.org/web/20040406001532/http://www.turbinegames.com/news/article.php?article=27 TURBINE UNLOCKS ASHERON’S CALL: DARK MAJESTY® FOR ALL AC1 SUBSCRIBERS]</ref>
 
==== Turbine Green Lights AC Expansion Pack: Throne of Destiny ====
An announcement is made that fans of the award-winning online role playing game Asheron’s Call® will receive a new expansion pack in early 2005.<ref>04/13/2004 Turbine Games - [http://web.archive.org/web/20040602230359/http://ac.turbinegames.com/index.php?page_id=229 Turbine Green Lights AC Expansion Pack]</ref> The name of the expansion is announced at a later time.
 
=== History Articles ===
* [http://www.mit.edu/~jonmon/Business/Turbine/ The Turbine Story] - In depth history written by the founder of Turbine Entertainment, [[Turbine Developers#Jon Monsarrat|Jon Monsarrat]].
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20001202123100/http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20000525/ragaini_01.htm Postmortem: Turbine Entertainment's Asheron's Call] - Behind the scenes account of what went right, what went wrong. Written by [[Turbine Developers#Toby Ragaini|Toby Ragaini]], one of the original developers.
 
=== Game Awards ===
<gallery widths=150px heights=150px perrow=4>
File:Gamespytop50.jpg|[http://web.archive.org/web/20011212072729/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/july01/top503as/ July 2001 - GameSpy's Top 50 Games of All Time]
File:Gamespottop10.jpg|[http://web.archive.org/web/20010611140953/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/features/0,12059,2717326-3,00.html April 2001 - Gamespot's Top 10 Multiplayer Games of All Time]
File:Bigaward.jpg|[http://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2000&idGameAwardType=15 2000 - The Academy Interactive Arts & Sciences - Adventure/RPG of the Year]
File:award_gamezilla.gif|[http://web.archive.org/web/200011170837/http://www.gamezilla.com/reviews/a/ac.asp 1999 - Gamezilla's Game of the Year]
File:award_gamersvoice_sm.gif|[http://web.archive.org/web/20000301114949/http://www.gamersvoice.com/special/gca-1999-12.asp 1999 - Gamer's Voice - Best Online/Multiplayer Game]
File:ac_award1.jpg|[http://web.archive.org/web/19991110013120/http://gamersvoice.com/special/e3-99-awards-4.asp 1999 - Gamer's Voice - Best of E3 Awards]
File:award_cnet_sm.gif|[http://web.archive.org/web/200011091859/http://www.gamecenter.com/Features/Exclusives/Awards99/ss02p.html 1999 - Gamecenter's RPG of the Year]
File:Gameindustrynewsgoty.png|1999 - Game Industry News' Game of the Year
File:awarditself2.gif|[http://web.archive.org/web/20000229034710/http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/specials/awards99.shtml 1999 - IGN Vault Network Awards: Outstanding Technical Achievement]
</gallery>
 
==== Related Articles ====
* [[Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/2001 AIAS Awards|2001 AIAS Awards]] - Asheron's Call scores two nominations -- including "PC Game of the Year"!
* [[Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/Asheron's Call Wins Gaming's Equivalent of the Oscar|Asheron's Call Wins Gaming's Equivalent of the Oscar]] - At this year's E3 convention, the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences dubbed Asheron's Call the Adventure/Role-Playing Game of the Year. Awards from the AIAS are among the highest honors bestowed in the gaming industry.
* [[Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/Best-of-the-Year Awards|Best-of-the-Year Awards]] - Gamezilla joins Gamecenter and Gameindustry.com in giving AC top honors.
* [[Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/More Rave Reviews for Asheron's Call|More Rave Reviews for Asheron's Call]] - Gameindustry.com gave AC their 1999 Best Overall Game of the Year award, and several other sites have recently queued up with accolades, too.
* [[Microsoft Zone Archive/News & Events/Stellar Review from Computer Games Online|Stellar Review from Computer Games Online]] - Cindy Vanous gives Asheron's Call 4 ½ out of 5 stars and a detailed critique.
 
=== Gaming Website Articles ===
==== Reviews ====
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000124101032/http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/asheron_a.shtm GameSpy - 84%]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=ashcall Adrenaline Vault - 4/5]
 
* Computer Games Online - 4.5/5
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://dailyradar.com/reviews/game_review_389.html Daily Radar - Hit]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/asheron Eurogamer - 8/10]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.eurogamer.net/content/asheronr Eurogamer - 9/10]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://firingsquad.gamers.com/games/asheronscall/ Firing Squad - 4/5]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000303135636/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3437,00.html Gamecenter - 8/10]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.gamesdomain.com/gdreview/zones/reviews/pc/dec99/ashcall.html Games Domain]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.zdnet.com/gamespot/filters/products/0,11114,188393,00.html GameSpot - 8.6/10]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000303114617/http://www.happypuppy.com/win/reviews/asheronsca-win-1.html Happy Puppy - 9/10]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://pc.ign.com/reviews/11330.html IGN PC - 6.4/10]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/reviews/ac.shtml RPG Vault - Special Report]
 
==== Previews ====
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/november00/acevent/ GameSpy - Should the Stars Fall "Dream Event"]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20020131012014/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/september00/acevent/index.shtm Gamespy - Twilight's Gleaming Event]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://dailyradar.com/previews/game_preview_11.html Daily Radar]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://desslock.gamespot.com/features/asheronscall/index.html Desslock's RPG News]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://firingsquad.gamers.com/games/asheronpreview/ Firing Squad]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000817183828/http://www.ga-rpg.com/previews/asheronscall/ GA-RPG]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000201150133/http://www.gamecenter.com/Peeks/Asheron/? Gamecenter]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/19990508202525/http://pc.ign.com/previews/11330.html IGN]


=== World ===
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/previews/asheron.shtml RPG Vault]
* [[Locations]]


=== Story ===
* July, 1997 - [http://web.archive.org/web/19990921232852/http://www1.zdnet.com/familypc/content/9706/e3/03online.html ZDNet]
* [[Lore]]


== Rules ==
* July, 1998 - [http://www.gamespot.com/features/rpg98/ash.html Gamespot]
By playing Asheron's Call, all players agree to the following documents:
 
*[http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=463 Asheron's Call Code of Conduct (CoC)]
==== Interviews ====
*[http://ac.turbine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=481 Asheron's Call End User License Agreement (EULA)]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.gamespy.com/interviews/february01/aog14/ GameSpy - Sean Huxter, Art Director]
*[http://www.turbine.com/news/56 Turbine Terms of Service (ToS)]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://ac.xrgaming.net/index.php3?library=logs/letoile1 Crossroads of Dereth - Chris L'etoile]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000305003719/http://desslock.gamespot.com/features/asheronscall/interview.html Desslock's RPG News - Toby Ragaini, Lead Designer and Jon Grande, Product Planner]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.activewin.com/interviews/microsoft/2.shtml ActiveWin - Scott Herrington]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.cdmag.com/Home/home.html?article=/articles/009/067/asherons_call_interview.html Computer Games Online - Jon Grande and Jeremy Gaffney]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000817155725/http://ac.drtwister.com/diary/dia-booth-061500.shtml Dr. Twister - Jason Booth]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.eurogamer.net/features.php3?name=i_scotth Eurogamer - Scott Herrington, Producer]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://pc.ign.com/news/8014.html IGN PC - Toby Ragaini, Lead Game Designer]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/interviews/ppizer.shtml RPG Vault - Patricia Pizer, Lead Designer]
 
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://rpgvault.ign.com/features/mini/eri1.shtml RPG Vault - Eri Izawa, Designer]
 
==== Other ====
* [http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/features/reviews/ac_a.shtml RPG Vault - Special Report with AC Producer Scott Herrington]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011222011642/gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2823435,00.htm Asheron's Call Dark Majesty hits #1 in PC Games Sales]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20120725192030/http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/november00/acitems/index.shtm GameSpy - Top 10 Asheron's Call Items]
 
=== Developer Diaries ===
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.gamespy.com/devdiary/november00/acevent1/ GameSpy - Developer Diary, Part 1]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.gamespy.com/devdiary/december00/acevent2/ GameSpy - Developer Diary, Part 2]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.gamespy.com/devdiary/december00/acevent3/ GameSpy - Developer Diary, Part 3]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.gamespy.com/devdiary/december00/acevent4/ GameSpy - Developer Diary, Part 4]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011030141931/http://www.gamespy.com/devdiary/january01/acevent5/ GameSpy - Developer Diary, Part 5]
 
== Archives ==
=== Main Archives ===
* [[:Category:Turbine]]
** [[Microsoft Games Archive]]
** [[Microsoft Zone Archive]]
** [[Zogblaster Archive]]
** [[:Category:Event Announcements]]
** [[:Category:Featured Articles]]
 
=== Developer Chats ===
{|border=0 cellpadding=5
|-valign=top
|
* [[Developer Chat - 1999/08/06]]
* [[Developer Chat - 1999/11/03]]
* [[Developer Chat - 1999/12/01]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/02/03]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/03/14]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/04/12]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/05/10]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/06/15]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/07/18]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/08/16]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/09/20]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/10/18]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/11/21]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2000/12/20]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/01/17]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/03/28]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/05/02]]
|
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/07/05]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/07/17]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2001/09/25]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/02/06]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/03/12]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/05/01]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/06/06]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/06/20]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/08/13]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/09/23]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2002/11/01]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2003/01/28]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2004/01/14]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2006/04/18]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2007/03/16]]
* [[Developer Chat - 2008/09/30]]
|}
 
=== AC News Archives ===
* [[News Archive - 2013]]
* [[News Archive - 2012]]
* [[News Archive - 2011]]
* [[News Archive - 2010]]
* [[News Archive - 2009]]
* [[News Archive - 2008]]
* [[News Archive - 2007]]
 
== Images ==
Click image for full size version.
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== References ==
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[[Category:Turbine]]
[[Category:Turbine]]
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Latest revision as of 08:10, 13 November 2020

Asheron's Call

Asheron's Call (AC) was a fantasy Massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Turbine, Inc. released on November 2, 1999.

Game Info

See also: List of Categories

The following list is not exhaustive.

Asheron's Call Updates

Game Release and Expansions

1999
Release 		2001
Dark Majesty 		2005
Throne of Destiny

Major Monthly Updates

  • See Patches for a list of all the regular monthly updates made to Asheron's Call.
Event Main Content/Features
August 2008: 100th Update
October 2009: 10th Anniversary Update
April 2010: "Big" Update
December 2010: "Big" Update
May 2011: "Big" Update
  • New level 180+ hunting and questing area
  • Contracts
  • Prismatic Ammunition
  • Shield Tailoring
  • Alternate Currency Exchangers
February 2012: Skill System Overhaul
August 2012: "Big" Update
February 2013: "Big" Update
  • New UI
  • Legendary cantrips introduced
  • New Summoning skill introduced
  • Loot Tier 8 introduced
  • Creature loot tiers adjusted
August 2013: "Big" Update

Rules

By playing Asheron's Call, all players agree to the following documents:

History of Asheron's Call

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1994 - 1999

Game Development

  • Development of Asheron's Call began in 1994 after Turbine and Microsoft had entered into a developer/publisher agreement where legal ownership of the property and subsequently-developed properties were owned by Microsoft.(source?)
  • All of the games Servers and the initial beta testing were also hosted on Zone.msn.com as part of the publishing agreement with Microsoft.
  • "Empyrean" was the code name Microsoft used to refer to Asheron's Call in 1997 when the game was still in development. [1]

Click image for full size version.

  • Early Development Screenshots

1999

Beta Testing and Release

  • The AC Beta consisted of three phases which spanned from May until October of 1999.
  • Other important events that occured before and during beta testing:
    • Turbine's beta page, http://www.zogblaster.com/tweb/asherons-call, goes live.
    • Microsoft's Asheron's Call page, http://www.microsoft.com/games/zone/asheronscall/, goes live.
  • November 2, 1999 - AC goes retail, it is the third major MMORPG to be released at this time.

2000 - 2003

Microsoft Gaming Zone

In addition to the hosting of the game Servers, all AC announcements including patch teasers, rollout articles, letters to the players and patch notes were released onto the AC section of the Microsoft Gaming Zone. Some announcements were also made on the Microsoft Games AC site.

Solclaim server goes live

The first Asheron's Call server to be added since the game's release goes live on 6th of June 2000.[2]

Wintersebb server goes live

The second server goes live on January 24th 2001 to accommodate the ever increasing population of Asheron's Call.[3]

Microsoft announces the AC expansion pack: Dark Majesty

Microsoft announces on June 25th 2001 that the Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty Expansion Pack will be available later in the year. The expansion pack would include the original Asheron's Call, new additions such as housing and storage, and the new landmass Marae Lassel including many new creatures, dungeons and quests.[4]

Turbine buys Asheron's Call license back

Turbine bought back all franchise rights from Microsoft in 2003[5] and consequently took responsibility for server hosting. The servers remained at a facility in Washington State until 2008 when all server hardware was replaced and relocated to a facility in Massachusetts near Turbine headquarters. Due to various quality of service issues that caused extended downtime the servers were moved to a new facility on March 30th, 2009.

2004

Turbine unlocks Asheron's Call: Dark Majesty for all AC subscribers

Turbine announces that all Dark Majesty content will be available to every subscriber regardless of whether they have purchased the expansion pack in the past or not. [6]

Turbine Green Lights AC Expansion Pack: Throne of Destiny

An announcement is made that fans of the award-winning online role playing game Asheron’s Call® will receive a new expansion pack in early 2005.[7] The name of the expansion is announced at a later time.

History Articles

Game Awards

Related Articles

Gaming Website Articles

Reviews

  • Computer Games Online - 4.5/5

Previews

Interviews

Other

Developer Diaries

Archives

Main Archives

Developer Chats

AC News Archives

Images

Click image for full size version.

References

  1. ↑ 1997/07 ZDNet - Let the Online Games Begin
  2. ↑ 05/25/2000 Microsoft Zone - A New World Soon to Open in Asheron's Call
  3. ↑ 01/24/2001 Microsoft Zone - Wintersebb Opens!
  4. ↑ 06/25/2001 Microsoft Games - ASHERON'S CALL: DARK MAJESTY EXPANSION PACK AVAILABLE THIS HOLIDAY
  5. ↑ 12/17/2003 Turbine Games - TURBINE TO BUY ASHERON’S CALL FRANCHISE FROM MICROSOFT GAME STUDIOS
  6. ↑ 02/04/2004 Turbine Games - TURBINE UNLOCKS ASHERON’S CALL: DARK MAJESTY® FOR ALL AC1 SUBSCRIBERS
  7. ↑ 04/13/2004 Turbine Games - Turbine Green Lights AC Expansion Pack
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