THE ONLINE COMMUNITY THAT BUILDS TOGETHER WILL FIGHT TOGETHER IN CODEMASTERS' "DRAGON EMPIRES".

"With the contributions we're getting through direct contact and the forums, Dragon Empires is set to be one of the best designed and widely appealing MMORPGs available," says Ted Carron, Dragon Empires' producer.

"We've definitely attracted a valuable community already. It's also great to use the community as a sounding board for the play concepts and direction."

Working with key members of the community, the game's development team has already integrated ideas based on character personalisations, the skills-based progression system and fine tuning the combat system

For the character personalisation system, community members made it clear that a very flexible character creation system is essential. As a result, the game will allow players to personalise their characters with millions of permutations.

Community members are also vocal on issues with character class systems used in other MMORPGs, which can lock you into one class from the start. As a result of discussions, the traditional class system will be updated for Dragon Empires with an innovative system where all characters start equal and build their character specialisation by acquiring skills.

Additionally, the eagerly anticipated player versus player combat system has been influenced through collaboration; including the adoption of a real time combat system instead of a "click attack and stand back approach", which many MMORPG players say is unappealing.

Codemasters is eager to sign up more Beta Testers. To be one of first to sample life in the world of Fortitude and help shape Dragon Empires, gamers can sign up for the Beta Test at:
http://www.codemasters.com/dragonempires/beta_form.php

The English language version of Dragon Empires is scheduled to be available this autumn for PC gamers. The game will be launched as a boxed product with players subscribing on a monthly basis to play.

The game's web site, including its forum, IRC chat and Beta Test programme, is located at: http://www.codemasters.com/dragonempires

ENDS

ABOUT DRAGON EMPIRES
Dragon Empires promises to be a groundbreaking MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). The world will be filled with embattled clans, each striving to prove their superiority in head-to-head group combat, as they aim to rule magnificent cities and, ultimately, empires. Dragon Empires is set in an age of sorcery, where magic is plentiful and the CODEMASTERS WEB SITElives of humans and dragons intertwined. The world is made up of 100 lands spread over five empires, and is a world where player-to-player combat is always possible but its strongholds are guarded and policed by fiercely protective dragons.