Black Prophecy
A space combat MMO that launched in 2011 and shut down in 2012.
Black Prophecy was a space combat MMOG for Windows, developed by Reakktor Media GmbH and published by gamigo AG. It first launched in Europe on 21 March 2011, with other regional releases following. The game's servers were shut down on 26 September 2012, following an announcement from Reakktor in August of that year.
Set in the 26th century, the game's conflict centered on two human-derived factions. The Tyi (Tactical Yeomen Inhabitants) were cybernetically enhanced, granting them physical and mental endurance, radiation resistance, redundant organs, multilingual ability, and faster data processing. The Genides were genetically perfected humans, requiring little sleep, healing quickly, communicating telepathically, resisting disease, and detecting ultra- and infra-sounds. Both factions sought territorial dominance, which brought them into conflict with the Restorers, an ancient alien race known for destroying other civilizations.
Gameplay focused on player-versus-player and player-versus-environment combat. Players received missions from characters or hub terminals, and teams of up to ten could undertake harder missions with better rewards. PvP offered no bonuses beyond mission rewards. The only death penalty was a five-minute stacking debuff to ship stats; destroyed ships left no wrecks and resurrected instantly, retaining all inventory items.
Players gained levels through mission experience, allocating points to increase stats or a tactics stat for combat maneuvers like U-turns and speed boosts. Equipment level was tied to stats. Common items were bought from NPC dealers on stations, while advanced items were looted or crafted. Trading between players required manual meetings and a trade window, as no auction or market system existed. Crafting used a random-number system similar to Korean MMORPGs: players obtained a blueprint and resources, docked at a station, selected the crafting menu, and placed the blueprint. The result was shown before crafting began, which took time based on the item's level. Players could do nothing else during crafting, and only one item could be made at a time. Crafting could fail, consuming all resources, or produce a perfect item with better stats, which could be sold at high prices.
A key feature was modular ship design. Players acquired modules—engines, turrets, rocket launchers, shield generators—to customize their ships
- Developer
- Reakktor Media GmbH
- Publisher
- gamigo AG
- Platform
- Microsoft Windows
- Release Date
- 21 March 2011 (Europe)
- Shutdown Date
- 26 September 2012
- Genre
- 3D real-time space combat massively multiplayer online game
- Business Model
- Freemium
Quick Facts
- Title
- Black Prophecy
- Developer
- Reakktor Media
- Publisher
- gamigo AG
- Engine
- Gamebryo
- Released
- 21 March 2011
- Genre
- MMORPG Space simulation
- Modes
- Multiplayer
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Black Prophecy was developed by Reakktor Media GmbH, starting in late 2006 with a team of 50 people. Originally planned for a 2009 release by parent studio 10tacle Studios, it was premiered at the 2007 Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany. After 10tacle's bankruptcy in August 2008, Reakktor confirmed their commitment to development. Gamigo later acquired the trademark rights and published the game under a free-to-play model. The setting and story were developed by Sci-Fi author Michael Marrak. The open beta began in February 2011, and the game was released in Europe on 21 March 2011.
Reader's Guide
Black Prophecy's significance lies in its attempt to deliver a space combat MMO with a freemium model, focusing on player versus player (PvP) and player versus environment (PvE) combat. Its modular ship design allowed players to customize ships with engines, turrets, rocket launchers, and shield generators, with weight affecting speed. The game featured a crafting system based on random numbers, similar to Korean MMORPGs, with a chance of failure or perfect crafting. Players could form teams of up to ten, gain levels through missions, and allocate points to stats and tactics for combat maneuvers. The death penalty was a stacking debuff lasting five minutes, with no ship wrecks and instant resurrection. Player clans could build and expand their own stations. Despite these features, the game faced financial issues and was discontinued on 26 September 2012, just over a year after its European launch. Its legacy is as a short-lived but ambitious title in the space MMO genre, remembered for its action-oriented gameplay and modular ship system.
Did You Know?
- Black Prophecy was developed by Reakktor Media GmbH and published by gamigo AG.
- The game's setting and story were developed by Sci-Fi author Michael Marrak.
- The crafting system had a chance to fail, losing all resources, or produce a perfect item with better stats.
- The game had no auction or market; players had to meet in person to trade items and currency.
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