Blue Mars (video game)
Blue Mars was a massively multiplayer online virtual world (MMOVW) developed by Avatar Reality, Inc. and later acquired and relaunched by FTD Corporation. It was built on the CryEngine 2 game engine, renowned for its graphical fidelity and advanced rendering capabilities.
The core gameplay in Blue Mars centered around exploration, socialization, and the creation and trade of virtual content. Players customized their avatars and explored the diverse environments of Blue Mars, which were intended to simulate future Martian colonies. These colonies featured a variety of urban and natural landscapes, providing diverse opportunities for player interaction and creation.
Key features of Blue Mars included its robust avatar customization system, allowing players to create highly detailed and personalized virtual representations of themselves. The game also featured a content creation system that allowed users to design and sell virtual items, clothing, buildings, and other objects within the game world, fostering a player-driven economy.
Blue Mars distinguished itself from other virtual worlds through its focus on high-quality graphics and immersive environments. The detailed environments and realistic avatar rendering contributed to a sense of presence and engagement for players.
Despite its technological advancements and initial promise, Blue Mars struggled to attract and retain a large player base. Several factors contributed to this, including the high system requirements required to run the game effectively, a complex content creation system that posed a barrier to entry for some users, and difficulties in building a cohesive and engaging community.
After its initial release and subsequent relaunch by FTD Corporation, Blue Mars eventually ceased operations. While the game is no longer active, it remains notable for its ambition in pushing the boundaries of graphical realism and user-generated content within the virtual world genre. Its innovative use of CryEngine 2 left a lasting impression and influenced subsequent developments in MMOVW technology.