Project Atlas is the codename for the upcoming multiplayer real-time strategy game from indie developers Artillery and eSports legend Day[9]TV.
There isn’t a lot of information about the exact nature of Project Atlas‘s gameplay, story, or art, but we can discern some information from the Artillery blog. Unlike in other RTS games where you play as an entire race consisting of 10-15 different units, Atlas will take a page from MOBA design, asking players to form smaller squads headed up by a main hero with only three accessible unit types. This unit restriction will not only streamline Atlas‘s gameplay, allowing it to be more accessible to casual gamers, but it will help to reinforce the cooperative nature of the game. As some objectives will only be able to be completed with specific unit types (whether hero-classed or otherwise) or specific numbers of players, players may find themselves designing their squads with specific playstyles in mind. Atlas‘s implementation of squads also allows for a simplified control scheme; game-losing misclicks and stagnation when targeting specific units will be a thing of the past.
It is clear from the blog that the developers have also spent a good deal of time evaluating the psychology of seasoned RTS players. The placement of objectives and collectable resources will play a key role in player interactions and strategic army manoeuvring. Project Atlas‘s developers are striving to find a balance between encouraging defensive and offensive tactics; players shouldn’t to be too afraid to attack one another, but the repercussions of instigating a failed battle will not be insignificant. Much of this balancing requires lengthy periods of iteration and reiteration, which explains why rigorous playtesting forms the cornerstone of Project Atlas‘s design and development process.
This December, the Project Atlas developers are looking to add an additional 1000 RTS enthusiasts to their testing group. Space is incredibly limited, so if you are looking to shake up your gaming routine with a technologically innovative browser-based game, you can sign up to their mailing list to receive updates about future testing opportunities.
UPDATE: This Alpha Is No Longer Available
