Dark Majesty Preview

Computer Games Online has taken a close look at Dark Majesty, the upcoming expansion for Asheron's Call, and written up a preview of what to expect when it's released. Here's a taste:

    The expansion comes with one more new feature, and this one is arguably the most compelling: player housing. Turbine will add nine different styles of houses to the game six tiny cottages, two larger, multi-floor villas, and one enormous, rambling mansion that weighs in as the second largest structure in the game world. Existing players will be able to see and interact with the houses, but only players that purchase the expansion will be able to own them. Each house has a glowing crystal outside; click on the crystal to discover whether or not the house is vacant, and how much it costs. You will have to pay rent on a regular basis every fifteen days (in real time). There is a fifteen-day grace period if you are short on cash; after that, the bank forecloses (so to speak) and all items in the house vanish.