Exclusive: Arctic Lights

"Caroline, a decidedly average girl from the average Middle North, has just arrived in Corin. The once quiet town has recently become a cultural phenomenon after reporter James Mallory published a story in the (aptly named) paper Empire News. Mr. Mallory detailed the adventure and excitement of the Native Corinian tradition of dog sledding, known only as a winter pastime and a sport with as much renown as boxcar races in the rest of the Western Continent. Now aspiring dog sledders, adventurers, and unabashed tourists are pouring into town from the Cross Continental Circuit train, and they're bringing modern society with them. Many Native Corinians embrace the change, but still others fight to protect their ancient traditions and cultures. With the space that separates the Middle and Far Noth quickly disappearing, and the world on the brink of a technological revolution, whose side will you be on?

Arctic Lights is a unprecedented mix of simulation game, role play, and the age old art of storytelling. Train, race, and breed teams of dogs; experience the community-focused environment and get to know your fellow players; role play your own character's journey in Corin; and follow along with the storyline as Caroline watches the evolution of Corin in a new age."

Anyone else stalking this? I mean, seriously? I have been drooling over this since Frivolity had been searching for coders on FP. After just reading a bit of what she was planning, I fell in love. It's super original and has a lot of depth. Plus, after just reading Call of the Wild, I'm even more obsessive than usual.

There's still a lot unknown about AL. There are features not spoken of, I'm sure, and we don't know what all plot elements will be instilled into the game. However, one unique element is understood by anyone who has bothered to look at the website: this is not just a game, it's a story. There is life in this game. It's a completely original experience. This has taken the sim to a new level, one that will be hard to match in the future.

I've said this before on many occasions: once the gameplay becomes redundant, all the sim has to rely on for players to keep coming back is the community. Amazingly, AL has defied my logic. The story is not repeated at each new member registration -- people won't be leagues ahead of you. It's an interactive and real time plot. You get the experience the fictional world growing and changing.

At least, by speculation from what I've read and seen. Seeing what has been written and hearing the plans for the future, I can only assume that the storyline evolves to something that will grip players and create a legend in its own right. I currently don't have an alpha account (I do plan on buying one at some point), so I will be sure to adjust what I've said in the future if necessary.

Now for the official stuff. Frivolity, the creator of AL, has granted me with exclusive content. I have three screenshots of the site with its new layout, various art images, and snippets of storyline. Currently, you can only find some of these on Optimus Venatus, so please enjoy and give me the appropriate amount of gratitude -- kidding! However, if you do choose to admire my connections, the credit really should go to Frivolity being amazing. After, AL was her idea and I wouldn't have much to talk about without her influence.

IMAGE PREVIEWS

All images have been resized. Please click to see full version.

Index

Library

Herbs

Map

Angie

Owl Icon

(Actual Size)

STORY SNIPPETS

Edited the quotations for my own devices. Everything else is © to Frivolity.

"Suddenly Caroline noticed the movement of the train had begun to change. Ever so slowly they were finally, finally coming to a halt. The trees grew sparse around them as they came into a sort of clearing, and pressing her cheek against window she could just see the tiny building that must be Corin's station. The combination of the freezing chill of the glass and the almost overwhelming excitement completely eradicated any exhaustion that may have been creeping up just moments ago, and Caroline dove beneath her seat to retrieve the large duffel back full of her clothing. Several assorted food wrappers and a half eaten sandwich were also excavated, and Caroline did her best to sweep them into some sort of pile for whoever would be cleaning up after her.

Sensing her excitement, Koda was now pacing in circles around their compartment, his tail wagging excitedly. Caroline stood up, bag over her shoulder, and feeling as if her tail would be wagging as well, should she have had one. A moment later she realized that she had stood up rather prematurely, and sat back down again, knees bouncing. When she could feel the train coming to a full halt, she stood up once more, readjusting her bag. Finally they did reach the platform, and she found herself sitting abruptly back in her seat again, the force of the stop throwing her back.

As soon as they were steady, Caroline was up. Koda let out a small whine and then a bark as one of the stewards came to gesture at the correct door to exit. He gave her a bit of a reproachful look over the wrapper pile, to which Caroline smiled apologetically at him. That was all she could muster, however, before momentum carried her down the tiny train corridor and bursting out the train doors, Koda at her heels."

*** 

"Once there was a mountain.

Sprawling around its base in effortless tendrils was a forest, its noises continuously softened by the snow piled around its roots and dusted over its evergreens. The forest had been there for as long as anyone could remember, even possibly as long as the mountain. As the Elders explained it, it is because the forest is so old that stories tend to be caught amid its branches, like kites tossed in the wind.

Tucked in the bends of the woods is a town named Corin. The locals have varying accounts on how exactly Corin came to be, none of which are particularly believable. By all accounts it is safe to say that Corin was built by the native peoples a very long time ago, a mutual agreement among friends, beneath the mountain they had always known.

Caroline rubbed her gloved hands together in an effort to create some sort of warmth. From the Middle North, she was used to cold weather, but not anything like this. Keeda whined softly at her side, looking somewhat longingly at the town only a short walk ahead of them. Caroline took a deep breath. She had read about Corin in the newspaper, about the races through the forest and the incredible dogs bred here. It seemed like something out of a fairytale; the perfect adventure. Caroline set her jaw and began making her way into town. 'Come on, boy.'"

*** 

"It suddenly occurred to Caroline that she was walking without much of a purpose. She knew that there was an Inn here, but had no idea of where it was exactly, and had already walked so far that she was almost in front of the large stone building. Looking back as she walked, she wondered if maybe the red building looked somewhat Inn-ish, and was just about to turn back around when she ran face-first into something very tall and very solid. Luckily for Caroline, it also had arms and hands, and with these it grabbed her by the shoulders before she went reeling backward into the snow.

Steadying herself, Caroline looked up to find herself face to face with a handsome but irritable-looking Native man. 'New in town?' he asked her sardonically, releasing his strong grip on her shoulders.

'I-I'm so sorry, I should have been watching where I was going...'

'Possibly would have been a good idea,' he answered.

Blushing, Caroline looked down at the ground, not sure what to say in reply.

Sighing apparently to himself, the man asked her, 'What was it that you were looking for?' in a voice that made it sound as if he would regret asking her later.

Still too embarrassed to look him in the eye, she mumbled, 'I just got off the train, and I was looking for the local inn...'

'Of course.' he said, already sounding bored. He sized her up and down for a moment. 'I can take you there, if you don't mind making a stop first.'

'Oh, you don't have to --'

'No, but given your track record it might be best.' he said, cutting off any excuse she had.

Blushing more profusely, Caroline shut her mouth and nodded."

*** 

Surely you are all excited now, yes? I had asked Frivolity to add something if she'd like, which she did. Yes. More exclusive stuff for you. My, aren't you all so very lucky?

"Hmm... Well, the best description is really the one located on the site's main page. Beyond that, I would just say that it's the first sim I know of that involves such a complex storyline. The story updates will be written much like a novel. I'm hoping to really integrate all three aspects (game/rp/story) in a way that doesn't feel disjointed. The game itself will be different from most dog sims in that rather than racing individual dogs, you'll need to combine seven into a sledding team, taking care to match each dog's skills with the position it's assigned to. There's a few other tricks up my sleeve here and there, that you'll just have to wait till December for!"

For all of you who cannot purchase alpha accounts, I do recommend marking your calender. The tentative release date is DECEMBER 21st of this year. It may seem like a long way away, but the wait will be worthwhile. Until then, you can join the preforums and get to know Arctic Lights' future community. Below, you can find links to the site and preforums, as well as Frivolity's forum "Pro Sim Union."

Arctic Lights

Preforums

Pro Sim Union