Lineage (video game)

Infobox VG| title = Lineage


developer = NCsoft
publisher = NCsoft
designer =
engine =
released = September 3rd, 1998
genre = MMORPG
modes = Multiplayer
ratings = ESRB: Teen (T)
platforms = Windows, Mac OS X
media = CD, download
requirements =
input = Keyboard, mouse

"Lineage" ( _ko. 리니지) is a medieval fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) released in 1998 by the South Korean computer game developer NCsoft. It is most popular in Korea and is available in Chinese, Japanese, and English language versions. The game was designed by Jake Song, who had previously designed "", another MMORPG.

"Lineage" features 2D isometric-overhead graphics similar to those of "Ultima Online" and "Diablo II".

"", a "prequel" set 150 years before the time of "Lineage", was released in 2003.

Gameplay

Lineage's stat, monster, and item system was originally largely borrowed from "NetHack" with MMO elements added.

Players can choose one of five character classes: Elf, Dark Elf, Knight, Prince, or Magician. Princes are the only class that can lead a blood pledge, which is Lineage's term for a guild or clan. Dark Elfs were introduced to the game after the other classes.

Game play is based primarily upon a castle siege system which allows castle owners to set tax rates in neighboring cities and collect taxes on items purchased in stores within those cities. It features classic RPG elements reminiscent of "Dungeons & Dragons", such as killing monsters and completing quests for loot and experience points, levels, character attributes (charisma, strength, wisdom, etc.), and alignments (neutral, chaotic or lawful).

Player versus player combat (also known as PVP) is extensive in "Lineage". Players can engage in combat with other player characters at any time as long as they are not in safe zones such as cities. By joining a "bloodpledge" (an association of players almost like a clan in other games) players become eligible to engage in castle sieges or wars between bloodpledges.

ubscription history

NCsoft has reported that "Lineage" had at one point more than three million subscribers, [http://www.mmogchart.com/Chart1.html MMOGChart Subscribers] ] most of them in Korea.

As of April, 2008, "Lineage" has a little under 1 million active subscriptions. [ [http://www.ncsoft.com/eng/nccompany/ir_data_report04.asp 1Q FY2007 Earnings Release(Consolidated)] ] Only "World of Warcraft" has substantially more active subscriptions, with over 10 million.

The magnitude of the number Korean subscribers compared to other countries has sparked a number of theories. A ban on some Japanese imports until 1998 has been cited for delayed growth in its video game console market.

Origin of "Lineage"

The title "Lineage" came from a series of comic books with same title "Lineage" by Shin Il-sook, and the servers of "Lineage" are named after the characters of the comic book. It is a fantasy story where a rightful prince reclaims the throne from the hands of a usurper. When first created, the game closely resembled the original work. As developers have added new features, however, the fictional universes of the two works have gradually diverged. [cite web
url = http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA516033.html
title = Meet the Gamers
accessdate = 2007-01-28
last = Squire
first = Kurt
coauthors = Constance Steinkuehler
date = 2005-04-15
work =
publisher = LibraryJournal.com

]

References

External links

* [http://www.lineage.com/ US Official Lineage site]
* [http://www.lineagedb.com/ Lineage Database]
* [http://www.lineage.com.hk/ HK Official Lineage site]