Special Beta-A opens today for A Tale in the Desert 2 - by Raya

A special early beta of A Tale in the Desert II will begin on Tuesday, August 10 at 12:00 Noon EST (GMT-0500). This beta will be open to all with an open (paid) account on ATITD, and also to FilePlanet subscribers. ATITD players can retrieve a key using their avatar's Utility menu, and FilePlanet subscribers should receive their keys by email starting at noon.

The end game of what is referred to as the "First Telling" of this Tale in the Desert has been eagerly anticipated for months. Players are scrambling to finish the monuments required to complete the tasks originally set by the Mysterious Stranger and to signify the end. In the words of Andrew L. Tepper, head dev at eGenesis:

"Collectively, this community has spent over two million hours building this 'perfect society,' everything from the most humble camps to great monuments that will live through future tales in the desert. Like a traditional society we've wrestled with questions about law, about trading freedom for security. We've pondered the best way to deal with troublemakers. We've created true art, and have become art critics. We've designed puzzles to challenge each other, and become aficianados of those puzzles. I've watched as players have grown from novices to respected members of this world.

"Great stories, ones that I never could have predicted, have unfolded, to my delight and surprise."

Tepper goes on to announce the premise behind Tale 2 with this piece of information from Pharaoh (the in-game persona of Tepper himself):

"Soon, our children will rule this land. They, too, will need strengthening. They, too, will need their virtue tested, so that they may become powerful and good.

"We must become the stranger. We must create new challenges for our children, we must create new Tests for them to pass. The last thing we must do, before we pass from this world, is leave behind the greatest monuments of our civilization: the Tests that will strengthen the next generation.

"Someday, our children will create Tests for our grandchildren. In this way, our legacy will be immortal, our civilization will live forever."

In keeping with the strong role-playing aspect of the game, Pharaoh foretells that Tale 2 will involve Tests, as did Tale 1, what kind we don't know yet. But anticipation among the thousands of hard-core players runs high.

However, even if you don't have a paid account now, you have a chance for open beta to find out for yourself.

Open beta for A Tale in the Desert II will begin on Friday, August 13 at 12:00 Noon EST (GMT-0500).

Tepper advises: "Although no key is required to get into the open beta, if you do have one from FilePlanet (even a free one), there's a cool little bonus to pick up in the game. Did anyone see a man dressed in a funny green hat?"