"Tribes: Ascend is targeted for release in late 2011 as a digital download on Windows PC and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Additional platforms are currently under consideration as well."
Two different trailers that were based off of the official one by Hi-Rez were made by a fan, and they are honestly far better, so please please check them out! If you're not familiar with Tribes, he uses clips from Tribes and Tribes 2. Full screen it in HD for maximum goosebumps.
Check out his videos if you're interested in the 2nd trailer, simply titled Tribes: Ascend - Rise Again #2
Although no game footage has yet been released, this announcement has made me as giddy as a school girl. No FPS in the history of gaming has come close to matching the experience you get from the Tribes series.
It's a massive team based shooter, that has boasted servers as big as 64vs64 in the past(although it's usually more like 16vs16 for less cluttered game play). The most popular game type by far in Tribes is capture the flag, but there are many game types that are commonly played as well such as 1vs1 duel, team arena, siege, and rabbit.
So why Tribes? Let's just ignore the massive tactical and strategical depth for a second that comes with assigning a large # of different positions and coordination between the large number of other players on your team. Let's not get into the unmasterable skill that comes from leading shots at extremely high speeds and difficult angles. Let's not get into the very high level of concentration and focus that is required to react to that 1 second when an enemy comes in at blazing high speeds to grab your flag when 6 other enemies are raining green death on top of you.
The real magic about the Tribes series, is flight! You're able to "ski" with very little friction along sloped terrain to make routes to the enemy flag or base at high speeds, and are able to launch high into the air with the aid of jetpacks. Skiing was originally a bug in the very first Tribes release, but it has become the defining aspect of the entire Tribes series.
Until Starcraft 2 came out, I was playing the various Tribes series competitively for the last 10+ years under the ID Julius(for you other tribes fans). It has completely ruined every other FPS out there for me, and here is a little taste of why.
This is probably the most popular match in all of Tribes 2, between two of the very best teams in the prime of the games life. Matches are played in a Bo3, and this is the 3rd and final map played between the 2 teams. Unfortunately the quality of the video is a little sub-par.
So, sorry for the long winded OP that doesn't have much to even do about Tribes: Ascend, but since there isn't actually any content about the game released yet, I'm just trying to introduce Tribes to those who haven't played it yet I've probably done a terrible job and left a ton of information out, so please ask me about more game clips or movies etc. and I'll be happy to provide!
On March 22 2011 07:20 Uranium wrote: Just FYI the official Tribes 2 servers are down but the game is still alive. There is a free download of the full game client at http://www.tribesnext.com/. There are still plenty of servers with active players for this game so check it out! Goon Haven is the most popular if you want to get a feel for the massive action.
I never really got into the tribes series, this makes me wanna go check out the older ones. Do you know if PC and XBOX will be playing on the same server or separate ones?
I played many hours of tribes when I was in middle school, back in the 56k days. Was never really that great at it though =/, ended up playing more UT99. The disc launcher is one of THE iconic weapons of FPS gaming along with the flak cannon, shock rifle, and AWP imo and its good to see it come back.
On March 22 2011 05:21 Chairman Ray wrote: I never really got into the tribes series, this makes me wanna go check out the older ones. Do you know if PC and XBOX will be playing on the same server or separate ones?
I've been looking around and I don't believe that information has been released yet. I'm not familiar with this happening in other games though, is it common to have separate servers for different platforms?
tribes will always be the pinnacle of team play. flag runners, chasers, heavy offense defense, base defense, mid fielders, mobile bases, flag stand defenders.
the whole team vs team matches where everything is planned out, everyone has a job, so unique and so vital. and it all goes to sht when mortars start flying. tribes1/2/vengeance. grapple is the single greatest utility weapon ever. you were god damn batman
On March 22 2011 06:21 Khaymus wrote: What do the inventory stations/sensors do? This game looks badass =D
There are 3 different armor classes in Tribes. Light, medium, and heavy. Light moves the fastest but has the least amount of health, and can carry a sniper rifle, which only those in light armor can use. Heavy moves the slowest but has the most health, and gets access to the Mortar, which is used to launch slower green blobs that cause massive damage when they blow up, useful for killing an enemies base assets. Medium is inbetween those and is often used to deploy turrets(which light can't) because they're more mobile than heavies. You spawn in light armor, and need to use the inventory stations to gain access to different weapons/deployables and armor classes, so it was important that someone on your team(a "Heavy Defense" or "Farmer") was there to defend and repair your base should it go down.
Every person has access to a "command circuit" which shows where your teammates are around the map. With the aid of sensors, your command circuit would show you where enemies are that are in a certain range to the sensors, so it was important that your heavy offense took them down so they couldn't see where the rest your offense was coming from.
On March 22 2011 05:21 Chairman Ray wrote: I never really got into the tribes series, this makes me wanna go check out the older ones. Do you know if PC and XBOX will be playing on the same server or separate ones?
I've been looking around and I don't believe that information has been released yet. I'm not familiar with this happening in other games though, is it common to have separate servers for different platforms?
It happened for only one game as far as I know, "Shadowsomething" Xbox people could play against PC people, problem is xbox people literally got raped by pc people every single game xD
Tribes is the only team based FPS series that matters; everything else is just pretending. While the execution of the Tribes series has always been a little... rough... given that it's not a powerhouse like Blizzard or Valve heading it up, the fundamentals of the series are still years and years ahead of any other FPS in my opinion.
In other FPSes aiming is a matter of pointing and firing with a correction for recoil/drop-off. If you get a rocket launcher then you get to have a little interest in leading and projectile travel time. In Tribes aiming is an art. You EARN your hits in Tribes and restrictive movement through your shots can be just as important as the shots that you actually do hit.
I'm super hyped for even the possibility that it will return to form with a solid sequel.
Super disappointed this is coming to XBox. Either it's going to be unplayable for Xbox crowd or it's going to not be Tribes.
OMG yes I must find my Tribes 2 install and play now. I'm definitely buying Ascend when it comes out as well; hopefully it'll be better than Tribes: Vengeance :/
Just FYI the official Tribes 2 servers are down but the game is still alive. There is a free download of the full game client at http://www.tribesnext.com/. There are still plenty of servers with active players for this game so check it out! Goon Haven is the most popular if you want to get a feel for the massive action.
@OP you should link that site in the OP so people will play . Maybe we can get some TL Let's Play action going on one of the servers.
wow this is great news i was a huge tribes fan 1 and 2 and anything about this series is just awesome to hear. I have big hopes for this and cant wait for more information about it, such great memories from this!
I just played in a Tribes 2 match just now. So intense. The only games I play currently are Tribes 2 and Starcraft 2. Everything else for me is just meh ;/
I would love to give this game a try. I loved Quake 3 for the crazy rocket bouncing and all that...so this game seems to fit in that "twitch" category.
Love how much you have to lead people to hit them. ^^ My kinda game!
EPT
I've probably done a terrible job and left a ton of information out, so please ask me about more game clips or movies etc. and I'll be happy to provide! 
. Maybe we can get some TL Let's Play action going on one of the servers.
