Shattered Galaxy update details

GameSpot recently talked to Terry Park, the director of Shattered Galaxy for Nexon, about the upcoming patch for its innovative online real-time strategy game. According to Park, the developer has just completed the primary stages of testing with the new patch, which will include three new units and four new special abilities. The new units include the virus, an infantry unit, and the mantlet and the triage, two new mobile units.

The virus is part of the Sci-Frame chassis class, and it features two new abilities. Its first ability lets the virus infect enemy units with a toxin that will drain the unit's health over time. Its second ability lets the virus charge up a special meter, and once full, it can target a unit and cause it to self-destruct, causing heavy area damage.

The mantlet mobile unit is an armored tank that can transform into a fortified bunker. When in bunker mode, the mantlet can protect up to four infantry units from enemy fire. It can also be used as a strategic roadblock to slow down enemy advancements toward tactical locations, such as points of contention and energy regeneration pads. The triage mobile unit acts as a battlefield hospital, and it can help regenerate health for several damaged infantry units simultaneously. Both the triage and mantlet units are part of the new Sci-Rigs chassis class.

Along with the new units and abilities, the upcoming patch will feature four new high-quality tilesets--an improved grassland tileset and new ice, desert, and lava tilesets. The patch will also include more than 50 new maps designed to place an emphasis on tactics and huge amounts of destruction.

The patch also will add the ability to differentiate factions through their units and items. The developer will be able to offer exclusive technologies and units to each faction. Nexon plans to introduce this new feature gradually, beginning with events in which factions battle each other for the first faction-exclusive items, like rare alien technologies.

The developer also plans to add new story elements to the game, including the final chapter of the Abomination experiments and a massive galactic war between two planets. The patch also includes a new political ability for the Overlord and council of each faction to "mute" players.

We've posted some new screenshots in the gallery above. They show off some of the new features and enhancements that are included in the upcoming patch. For more information about Shattered Galaxy, winner of GameSpot's most innovative game and best multiplayer strategy game awards for 2001, read our full review of the game.