2010.11.18pressrelease

VIRTRIUM LLC ANNOUNCES LOOT SYSTEM REVAMP

COMPANY CONTACTS:

Virtrium LLC - Rick Simmons, President / CEO, rick.simmons@virtrium.com

VIRTRIUM LLC ANNOUNCES LOOT SYSTEM REVAMP

November 18, 2010 PHOENIX, Arizona - Today Virtrium LLC announced the completion of a revamp of one of the core systems of the game, the loot system. Gaining loot is one of the core goals for any player, and it drives the game economy for all players, so this change will effect all players regardless of of their level of experience.

The Loot Revamp is something that the team has wanted to undertake for quite a while but the underlying structures needed to be in place before they could. Lead Designer Jason Murick had this to say about the timing of this revamp “We put some other major changes on hold while we focused as a team on this core system. We decided that without a solid foundation for how players would obtain everything from coin to new gear in place, it didn’t make sense to continue to revamp different areas of the world.”

“We did everything from introducing ‘junk loot’ dropped by mobs in place of coin to adding ‘broken items’ that players can collect and repair with this update,” said the game’s Producer Heather Rothwell. “Items dropped needed to be more appropriate to the world of Istaria, and it just didn’t make sense for every wolf and elemental in game to be carrying a pouch full of coin. We wanted players to still have the coin, but now they earn it through items which drop and are sold to special vendors in game for a higher return, rather than a regular pawnbroker.”

The team plans to release this update later this year.

More information about Istaria can be found at http://www.istaria.com/

ABOUT VIRTRIUM - Virtrium LLC, founded in July 2006, is a privately held software development company founded to support the games and technology behind the massively multi-player online games market. Virtrium brings real, applied experience in technology design, development and implementation for the software and techniques behind MMO products – as well as experience behind product launch and continued development in a live, production environment. The company's mission is to provide software technologies and support services that enable the growth of niche entertainment products within the massively multi-player online games market. To find out more about Virtrium LLC, visit http://www.virtrium.com.

ABOUT ISTARIA: CHRONICLES OF THE GIFTED - Released in December 2003 as Horizons: Empire of Istaria and renamed in 2008 as Istaria: Chronicles of the Gifted, Istaria boasts a dedicated following of players worldwide. 2008 saw a significant crafting expansion, massive plot revamp and the re-branding as Istaria: Chronicles of the Gifted, demonstrating Virtrium's deep commitment to expand development and re-establish story as a significant feature of the game world. The ability to play as a flying Ancient Dragon, coupled with comprehensive crafting and community construction, allows Istaria fans to experience, explore and create a world epic in scope. Players are able to take on the role of Dragon, or one of 10 other races ranging from the lawful Elf to dark Fiends, as well as more unusual forms, such as the cat-like Saris and horned Satyr. For more information on Istaria: Chronicles of the Gifted, visit http://www.istaria.com