<s>
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Soulblighter	I-Application
is	O
a	O
1998	O
real-time	B-Application
tactics	I-Application
video	O
game	O
developed	O
by	O
Bungie	O
for	O
Windows	B-Application
and	O
Mac	B-Application
OS	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Published	O
by	O
Bungie	O
in	O
North	O
America	O
and	O
by	O
GT	O
Interactive	O
in	O
Europe	O
,	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
also	O
ported	O
to	O
Linux	B-Application
by	O
Loki	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
the	O
second	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
Myth	B-Application
series	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
sequel	O
to	O
Myth	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1999	O
,	O
an	O
expansion	O
pack	O
,	O
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Chimera	I-Application
,	O
was	O
released	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Developed	O
by	O
the	O
Badlands	O
mapmaking	O
group	O
,	O
in	O
association	O
with	O
Bungie	O
,	O
Chimera	O
is	O
set	O
ten	O
years	O
after	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Originally	O
released	O
as	O
a	O
free	O
download	O
,	O
Chimera	O
was	O
later	O
published	O
by	O
Bungie	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
Total	O
Codex	O
bundle	O
,	O
incorporating	O
it	O
into	O
the	O
official	O
Myth	B-Application
canon	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
2001	O
,	O
a	O
third	O
Myth	B-Application
game	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
Myth	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Wolf	I-Application
Age	I-Application
,	O
set	O
one	O
thousand	O
years	O
prior	O
to	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
,	O
and	O
developed	O
by	O
MumboJumbo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
sixty	O
years	O
after	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
,	O
the	O
game	O
tells	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
the	O
resurgence	O
of	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
a	O
supporting	O
antagonist	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
titular	O
Fallen	O
Lords	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Determined	O
to	O
defeat	O
the	O
forces	O
of	O
Light	O
who	O
vanquished	O
his	O
master	O
,	O
Balor	O
,	O
and	O
conquer	O
the	O
free	O
cities	O
of	O
the	O
world	O
,	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
resurrects	O
the	O
Myrkridia	O
,	O
a	O
race	O
of	O
flesh	O
eating	O
monsters	O
not	O
seen	O
in	O
over	O
a	O
thousand	O
years	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Standing	O
against	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
is	O
Alric	O
,	O
the	O
main	O
protagonist	O
in	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
,	O
and	O
now	O
King	O
of	O
The	O
Province	O
,	O
who	O
must	O
rally	O
humanity	O
to	O
fight	O
a	O
war	O
they	O
never	O
expected	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Chimera	O
is	O
set	O
ten	O
years	O
after	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
and	O
tells	O
the	O
story	O
of	O
three	O
veterans	O
of	O
the	O
campaign	O
against	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
who	O
band	O
together	O
to	O
fight	O
a	O
mysterious	O
sorceress	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soulblighter	B-Application
was	O
a	O
critical	O
success	O
,	O
with	O
reviewers	O
feeling	O
it	O
improved	O
on	O
virtually	O
every	O
aspect	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
cited	O
better	O
,	O
more	O
detailed	O
graphics	O
,	O
enhanced	O
sound	O
effects	O
,	O
more	O
varied	O
gameplay	O
,	O
better	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
more	O
intricate	O
and	O
varied	O
level	O
design	O
,	O
and	O
a	O
more	O
user-friendly	O
interface	O
and	O
control	O
scheme	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Critics	O
were	O
also	O
impressed	O
with	O
the	O
improvements	O
made	O
to	O
online	B-Application
multiplayer	I-Application
mode	I-Application
,	O
and	O
praised	O
the	O
variety	O
of	O
options	O
available	O
to	O
players	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Myth	B-Application
series	O
as	O
a	O
whole	O
,	O
and	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
in	O
particular	O
,	O
supported	O
an	O
active	O
online	O
community	O
for	O
over	O
a	O
decade	O
after	O
the	O
official	O
servers	B-Application
went	O
offline	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
most	O
recently	O
active	O
Myth	B-Application
development	O
group	O
is	O
Project	O
Magma	O
,	O
an	O
offshoot	O
of	O
MythDevelopers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
groups	O
have	O
worked	O
to	O
provide	O
ongoing	O
technical	B-General_Concept
support	I-General_Concept
for	O
the	O
games	O
,	O
update	O
them	O
to	O
newer	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
,	O
fix	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
,	O
release	O
unofficial	O
patches	O
,	O
create	O
mods	O
,	O
and	O
maintain	O
online	O
servers	B-Application
for	O
multiplayer	O
gaming	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Soulblighter	I-Application
is	O
a	O
real-time	B-Application
tactics	I-Application
game	O
;	O
unlike	O
real-time	O
strategy	B-Application
games	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
does	O
not	O
have	O
to	O
engage	O
in	O
resource	O
micromanagement	O
or	O
economic	O
macromanagement	O
,	O
does	O
not	O
have	O
to	O
construct	O
a	O
base	O
or	O
buildings	O
,	O
and	O
does	O
not	O
have	O
to	O
gradually	O
build	O
up	O
their	O
army	O
by	O
acquiring	O
resources	O
and	O
researching	O
new	O
technologies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
single-player	O
mode	O
,	O
only	O
Light	O
units	O
are	O
playable	O
,	O
but	O
in	O
online	B-Application
multiplayer	I-Application
mode	I-Application
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
control	O
both	O
Light	O
and	O
Dark	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
To	O
select	O
multiple	O
units	O
of	O
different	O
types	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
can	O
either	O
"	O
shift	O
click	O
"	O
(	O
hold	O
down	O
the	O
shift	B-Device
key	I-Device
and	O
click	O
on	O
each	O
individual	O
unit	O
)	O
or	O
use	O
"	O
band-selection	O
"	O
(	O
click	O
and	O
hold	O
the	O
mouse	B-Device
button	O
on	O
a	O
piece	O
of	O
ground	O
,	O
then	O
drag	O
the	O
cursor	B-Application
across	O
the	O
screen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
causes	O
a	O
yellow	O
box	O
to	O
appear	O
,	O
which	O
grows	O
and	O
shrinks	O
as	O
it	O
follows	O
the	O
cursor	B-Application
's	O
movement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
instantly	O
select	O
all	O
units	O
on	O
screen	O
,	O
irrespective	O
of	O
type	O
,	O
by	O
pressing	O
the	O
enter	B-Device
key	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
also	O
assign	O
manually	O
selected	O
unit	O
groupings	O
to	O
a	O
specific	O
key	O
on	O
the	O
keyboard	B-Device
,	O
and	O
when	O
that	O
key	O
is	O
pressed	O
,	O
it	O
instantly	O
selects	O
the	O
desired	O
group	O
of	O
units	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
is	O
accomplished	O
by	O
pressing	O
the	O
left	O
or	O
the	O
right	O
arrow	O
key	O
or	O
moving	O
the	O
mouse	B-Device
to	O
rotate	O
the	O
direction	O
of	O
the	O
units	O
as	O
they	O
move	O
to	O
the	O
selected	O
location	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
selecting	O
a	O
group	O
of	O
units	O
,	O
the	O
player	O
must	O
press	O
the	O
corresponding	O
formation	O
button	O
on	O
the	O
keyboard	B-Device
,	O
and	O
then	O
click	O
on	O
the	O
ground	O
where	O
they	O
want	O
the	O
units	O
to	O
form	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
a	O
single	O
unit	O
is	O
selected	O
,	O
information	O
about	O
that	O
unit	O
appears	O
in	O
the	O
"	O
Status	O
Bar	O
"	O
at	O
the	O
top	O
of	O
the	O
HUD	B-Application
;	O
the	O
unit	O
's	O
name	O
,	O
a	O
brief	O
biography	O
,	O
how	O
many	O
kills	O
he	O
has	O
,	O
how	O
many	O
battles	O
he	O
has	O
survived	O
,	O
and	O
(	O
if	O
he	O
is	O
capable	O
of	O
carrying	O
items	O
)	O
his	O
inventory	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
HUD	B-Application
also	O
features	O
a	O
transparent	O
overhead	O
mini-map	O
,	O
which	O
displays	O
information	O
about	O
the	O
current	O
battlefield	O
;	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
field	O
of	O
vision	O
is	O
indicated	O
by	O
a	O
yellow	O
trapezoid	O
,	O
enemy	O
units	O
appear	O
as	O
red	O
dots	O
,	O
friendly	O
non-playable	O
units	O
as	O
blue	O
dots	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
player	O
's	O
army	O
as	O
green	O
dots	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
movements	O
can	O
be	O
carried	O
out	O
via	O
the	O
keyboard	B-Device
and	O
mouse	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Using	O
the	O
mouse	B-Device
to	O
move	O
backwards	O
,	O
forwards	O
,	O
left	O
and	O
right	O
is	O
accomplished	O
by	O
moving	O
the	O
cursor	B-Application
to	O
the	O
top	O
,	O
bottom	O
,	O
left	O
or	O
right	O
of	O
the	O
screen	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
player	O
can	O
also	O
select	O
preferences	O
to	O
allow	O
them	O
to	O
control	O
rotation	O
and	O
orbiting	O
via	O
the	O
mouse	B-Device
,	O
by	O
moving	O
the	O
cursor	B-Application
to	O
the	O
top	O
and	O
bottom	O
corners	O
of	O
the	O
screen	O
,	O
respectively	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Zooming	O
can	O
be	O
controlled	O
by	O
either	O
the	O
keyboard	B-Device
or	O
mouse	B-Device
wheel	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Like	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
,	O
selecting	O
and	O
commanding	O
units	O
forms	O
the	O
basic	O
gameplay	O
of	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
battles	O
are	O
more	O
complex	O
than	O
simply	O
commanding	O
units	O
to	O
attack	O
the	O
enemy	O
,	O
with	O
strategy	B-Application
and	O
awareness	O
of	O
the	O
conditions	O
of	O
the	O
battlefield	O
,	O
and	O
even	O
the	O
weather	O
,	O
also	O
playing	O
important	O
roles	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
it	O
was	O
released	O
,	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
could	O
be	O
used	O
for	O
multiplayer	O
gaming	O
on	O
bungie.net,	O
or	O
via	O
a	O
LAN	B-General_Concept
on	O
PC	B-Device
or	O
AppleTalk	B-Application
on	O
Mac	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
winner	O
is	O
the	O
team	O
with	O
the	O
most	O
points	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
)	O
,	O
"	O
Steal	O
The	O
Bacon	O
"	O
(	O
somewhere	O
on	O
the	O
battlefield	O
is	O
a	O
ball	O
;	O
the	O
object	O
is	O
to	O
get	O
the	O
ball	O
and	O
keep	O
it	O
away	O
from	O
the	O
opponents	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
winner	O
being	O
the	O
last	O
team	O
to	O
touch	O
the	O
ball	O
)	O
,	O
"	O
Territories	B-Application
"	O
(	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
flags	O
are	O
on	O
the	O
battlefield	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
winner	O
being	O
the	O
team	O
to	O
capture	O
and	O
hold	O
the	O
most	O
flags	O
)	O
,	O
"	O
Body	O
Count	O
"	O
(	O
team	O
deathmatch	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
"	O
King	O
Of	O
The	O
Hill	O
"	O
(	O
a	O
hill	O
on	O
the	O
map	O
is	O
marked	O
with	O
a	O
flag	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
hill	O
captured	O
when	O
one	O
or	O
more	O
of	O
a	O
team	O
's	O
units	O
move	O
within	O
a	O
certain	O
range	O
of	O
the	O
flag	O
and	O
eliminate	O
any	O
enemy	O
units	O
in	O
the	O
same	O
area	O
;	O
the	O
winner	O
is	O
the	O
team	O
who	O
controls	O
the	O
hill	O
for	O
the	O
longest	O
amount	O
of	O
time	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
sixty	O
years	O
since	O
the	O
Great	O
War	O
,	O
when	O
Connacht	O
,	O
the	O
hero	O
who	O
saved	O
the	O
world	O
from	O
the	O
Myrkridia	O
one	O
thousand	O
years	O
previously	O
,	O
returned	O
in	O
the	O
guise	O
of	O
Balor	O
,	O
and	O
with	O
his	O
lieutenants	O
,	O
the	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
,	O
attempted	O
to	O
destroy	O
humanity	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
an	O
age	O
of	O
peace	O
and	O
prosperity	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
Dark	O
existing	O
only	O
in	O
stories	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
fate	O
of	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
Balor	O
's	O
chief	O
lieutenant	O
,	O
remains	O
unknown	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
clear	O
the	O
village	O
,	O
and	O
learn	O
the	O
grave	O
robbing	O
leads	O
to	O
the	O
keep	O
of	O
Baron	B-Application
Kildaer	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
his	O
dying	O
words	O
,	O
he	O
reveals	O
the	O
undead	O
are	O
led	O
by	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
rest	O
of	O
The	O
Legion	O
make	O
it	O
to	O
a	O
World	O
Knot	O
and	O
teleport	O
to	O
Madrigal	O
,	O
where	O
they	O
inform	O
Alric	O
of	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
's	O
return	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
News	O
soon	O
arrives	O
that	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
has	O
sacked	O
several	O
cities	O
as	O
he	O
moves	O
towards	O
Madrigal	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
Shiver	O
,	O
a	O
Fallen	O
Lord	O
killed	O
during	O
the	O
Great	O
War	O
,	O
has	O
been	O
resurrected	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
detachment	O
locate	O
and	O
release	O
him	O
,	O
and	O
he	O
advises	O
them	O
to	O
head	O
north	O
to	O
enlist	O
the	O
aid	O
of	O
the	O
Trow	B-Application
,	O
allies	O
of	O
his	O
in	O
ancient	O
times	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Legion	O
do	O
so	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Trow	B-Application
agree	O
to	O
join	O
the	O
fight	O
against	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
detachment	O
,	O
The	O
Deceiver	O
and	O
the	O
Trow	B-Application
head	O
south	O
and	O
meet	O
with	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
The	O
Legion	O
,	O
learning	O
Tandem	O
has	O
fallen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
His	O
plan	O
is	O
to	O
find	O
the	O
Ibis	O
Crown	O
in	O
the	O
city	O
's	O
haunted	O
catacombs	B-Application
,	O
and	O
reclaim	O
the	O
title	O
of	O
Emperor	O
,	O
rallying	O
humanity	O
behind	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
small	O
group	O
of	O
volunteers	O
enter	O
the	O
crypts	O
of	O
the	O
city	O
and	O
find	O
the	O
Crown	O
,	O
with	O
Alric	O
declared	O
the	O
new	O
Emperor	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
journeymen	O
resuming	O
their	O
position	O
as	O
the	O
Emperor	O
's	O
Royal	O
Guard	O
;	O
the	O
Heron	B-Application
Guard	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
successfully	O
find	O
the	O
fragment	O
,	O
enter	O
the	O
Tain	O
,	O
and	O
kill	O
The	O
Summoner	O
,	O
cutting	O
off	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
from	O
the	O
Myrkridia	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Acting	O
on	O
his	O
own	O
authority	O
,	O
The	O
Deceiver	O
then	O
attacks	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
's	O
camp	O
,	O
but	O
he	O
and	O
his	O
men	O
are	O
captured	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Deceiver	O
attacks	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
who	O
turns	O
into	O
a	O
murder	O
of	O
crows	O
to	O
escape	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
detachment	O
then	O
meet	O
a	O
scouting	O
party	O
near	O
Silvermines	O
;	O
Alric	O
and	O
The	O
Legion	O
are	O
moving	O
to	O
attack	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
but	O
have	O
been	O
pinned	O
down	O
by	O
Shiver	O
,	O
whom	O
The	O
Deceiver	O
immediately	O
heads	O
to	O
confront	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Shiver	O
dead	O
,	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
is	O
forced	O
back	O
against	O
the	O
Cloudspine	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alric	O
and	O
The	O
Legion	O
pursue	O
him	O
,	O
and	O
Alric	O
breaks	O
the	O
rock	O
on	O
which	O
he	O
stands	O
,	O
plunging	O
him	O
to	O
his	O
death	O
in	O
the	O
molten	O
lava	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
's	O
death	O
,	O
the	O
narrator	O
learns	O
of	O
"	O
The	O
Leveler	O
"	O
,	O
an	O
immortal	B-Application
evil	O
spirit	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soulblighter	B-Application
was	O
not	O
The	O
Leveler	O
;	O
he	O
tried	O
to	O
force	O
the	O
cycle	O
,	O
and	O
as	O
a	O
result	O
may	O
have	O
broken	O
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
When	O
Alric	O
restored	O
the	O
Cath	O
Bruig	O
Empire	O
and	O
reformed	O
the	O
Heron	B-Application
Guard	I-Application
,	O
Four	O
Bear	O
Silent	O
Oak	O
chose	O
to	O
remain	O
a	O
journeyman	O
,	O
electing	O
to	O
lead	O
a	O
life	O
of	O
scholarship	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fenris	O
then	O
receives	O
a	O
letter	O
from	O
Baron	B-Application
Geoffrey	O
Volsung	O
begging	O
him	O
for	O
help	O
,	O
as	O
he	O
believes	O
Kyrilla	O
has	O
put	O
in	O
motion	O
a	O
plot	O
to	O
assassinate	O
him	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bungie	O
conceived	O
of	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
prior	O
to	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
in	O
1997	O
,	O
with	O
the	O
only	O
thing	O
that	O
would	O
prevent	O
them	O
from	O
making	O
it	O
being	O
if	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
was	O
a	O
commercial	O
failure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
One	O
of	O
their	O
main	O
goals	O
with	O
the	O
sequel	O
was	O
to	O
include	O
numerous	O
gameplay	O
aspects	O
and	O
game	O
mechanics	O
which	O
they	O
had	O
wanted	O
to	O
feature	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
,	O
but	O
had	O
been	O
unable	O
to	O
implement	O
due	O
to	O
time	O
constraints	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Alex	O
Seropian	O
,	O
co-founder	O
of	O
Bungie	O
,	O
explained	O
that	O
"	O
there	O
were	O
still	O
some	O
things	O
at	O
the	O
end	O
of	O
Myth	B-Application
that	O
we	O
wanted	O
to	O
do	O
,	O
but	O
we	O
just	O
ran	O
out	O
of	O
time	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Myth	B-Application
was	O
a	O
terrific	O
product	O
,	O
but	O
we	O
knew	O
we	O
could	O
do	O
a	O
lot	O
better	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Of	O
the	O
initial	O
planning	O
for	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
Seropian	O
said	O
:	O
</s>
<s>
New	O
to	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
were	O
moving	O
3D	O
models	O
within	O
the	O
gaming	O
world	O
,	O
something	O
none	O
of	O
Bungie	O
staff	O
had	O
ever	O
created	O
before	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
original	O
game	O
featured	O
the	O
same	O
kind	O
of	O
3D	O
polygonal	B-General_Concept
models	O
,	O
none	O
of	O
them	O
moved	O
,	O
and	O
implementing	O
this	O
feature	O
proved	O
to	O
be	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
biggest	O
challenges	O
the	O
team	O
encountered	O
in	O
making	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
this	O
level	O
,	O
which	O
is	O
set	O
in	O
a	O
large	O
castle	O
,	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
had	O
to	O
be	O
rewritten	O
as	O
two	O
enemy	O
units	O
could	O
be	O
right	O
beside	O
one	O
another	O
but	O
not	O
be	O
able	O
to	O
see	O
each	O
other	O
because	O
of	O
a	O
wall	O
between	O
them	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Writing	O
this	O
new	O
code	O
into	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
scripting	I-Application
language	O
proved	O
especially	O
difficult	O
for	O
the	O
programmers	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
,	O
the	O
cutscenes	O
had	O
been	O
created	O
by	O
an	O
American	O
animation	O
studio	O
,	O
but	O
had	O
received	O
a	O
mixed	O
response	O
from	O
both	O
the	O
developers	O
and	O
fans	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
with	O
some	O
feeling	O
they	O
felt	O
cartoony	O
,	O
and	O
were	O
tonally	O
disconnected	O
from	O
the	O
rest	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
something	O
the	O
team	O
wanted	O
to	O
ensure	O
was	O
not	O
repeated	O
in	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
terms	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
graphics	O
,	O
as	O
with	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
,	O
each	O
level	O
in	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
is	O
constructed	O
on	O
a	O
polygonal	B-Algorithm
mesh	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
mesh	B-Algorithm
used	O
is	O
four	O
times	O
finer	O
than	O
in	O
the	O
original	O
,	O
and	O
hence	O
the	O
graphics	O
are	O
more	O
detailed	O
and	O
smoother	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Also	O
like	O
the	O
first	O
game	O
,	O
although	O
the	O
game	O
world	O
itself	O
is	O
fully	O
3D	O
,	O
the	O
characters	O
populating	O
each	O
level	O
are	O
2D	O
sprites	O
;	O
those	O
in	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
have	O
many	O
more	O
frames	O
of	O
animation	O
than	O
those	O
in	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
,	O
and	O
so	O
move	O
much	O
more	O
smoothly	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
November	O
21	O
,	O
the	O
team	O
held	O
a	O
meeting	O
,	O
discussing	O
whether	O
to	O
continue	O
to	O
aim	O
for	O
the	O
Christmas	O
deadline	O
,	O
or	O
work	O
to	O
incorporate	O
all	O
of	O
the	O
still-evolving	O
gameplay	O
ideas	O
and	O
fix	O
every	O
bug	B-Error_Name
,	O
which	O
would	O
mean	O
almost	O
certainly	O
missing	O
the	O
deadline	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Deniz	O
ultimately	O
argued	O
the	O
team	O
should	O
continue	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
gameplay	O
and	O
fix	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
,	O
but	O
they	O
would	O
also	O
need	O
to	O
accept	O
that	O
not	O
every	O
detail	O
they	O
wanted	O
to	O
add	O
was	O
going	O
to	O
be	O
included	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
By	O
December	O
7	O
,	O
the	O
entire	O
Bungie	O
staff	O
were	O
either	O
playtesting	O
the	O
game	O
or	O
fixing	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
day	O
the	O
game	O
was	O
shipped	O
to	O
stores	O
,	O
Bungie	O
's	O
head-office	O
was	O
contacted	O
by	O
their	O
Japanese	O
publisher	O
,	O
who	O
informed	O
them	O
a	O
woman	O
working	O
on	O
the	O
Asian	O
translation	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
had	O
discovered	O
a	O
major	O
bug	B-Error_Name
in	O
the	O
Windows	B-Application
version	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
She	O
had	O
installed	O
the	O
game	O
in	O
the	O
root	B-Application
directory	I-Application
of	O
her	O
hard	B-Device
drive	I-Device
,	O
and	O
then	O
used	O
the	O
uninstall	B-Application
program	I-Application
to	O
uninstall	B-Application
it	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
was	O
successfully	O
uninstalled	B-Application
,	O
but	O
much	O
of	O
the	O
contents	O
of	O
her	O
hard	B-Device
drive	I-Device
were	O
also	O
erased	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
the	O
one	O
hand	O
,	O
they	O
could	O
say	O
nothing	O
,	O
and	O
quietly	O
fix	O
the	O
bug	B-Error_Name
in	O
a	O
patch	O
that	O
would	O
be	O
immediately	O
made	O
available	O
for	O
download	O
on	O
their	O
website	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
favor	O
of	O
this	O
course	O
of	O
action	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
argued	O
that	O
installing	O
a	O
game	O
to	O
the	O
root	B-Application
directory	I-Application
of	O
a	O
hard	B-Device
drive	I-Device
was	O
an	O
unusual	O
thing	O
to	O
do	O
,	O
something	O
there	O
was	O
little	O
chance	O
of	O
anyone	O
repeating	O
,	O
and	O
so	O
it	O
was	O
unlikely	O
anyone	O
would	O
ever	O
encounter	O
the	O
bug	B-Error_Name
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bungie	O
also	O
issued	O
a	O
statement	O
on	O
their	O
website	O
telling	O
players	O
who	O
had	O
managed	O
to	O
get	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
v1.0	O
to	O
uninstall	B-Application
the	O
game	O
by	O
manually	O
dragging	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
folder	O
to	O
the	O
recycle	O
bin	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
release	O
of	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
Bungie	O
included	O
two	O
programming	B-Application
tools	I-Application
called	O
"	O
Fear	O
"	O
and	O
"	O
Loathing	O
"	O
,	O
which	O
allowed	O
players	O
to	O
create	O
new	O
units	O
and	O
maps	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Both	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
and	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
had	O
been	O
created	O
using	O
four	O
tools	O
developed	O
by	O
Bungie	O
themselves	O
;	O
"	O
Tag	O
Editor	O
"	O
edited	O
the	O
constants	O
stored	O
in	O
the	O
cross-platform	O
data	B-General_Concept
files	I-General_Concept
;	O
"	O
Extractor	O
"	O
handled	O
the	O
2D	O
sprites	O
and	O
the	O
sequencing	O
of	O
their	O
animations	O
;	O
"	O
Loathing	O
"	O
acted	O
as	O
the	O
map	O
editor	O
;	O
and	O
"	O
Fear	O
"	O
dealt	O
with	O
the	O
3D	O
polygonal	B-General_Concept
models	O
such	O
as	O
houses	O
,	O
pillars	O
,	O
and	O
walls	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Speaking	O
of	O
Fear	O
and	O
Loathing	O
,	O
The	O
Fallen	O
Lordss	O
producer	O
and	O
programmer	O
Jason	O
Jones	O
explains	O
:	O
"	O
Loathing	O
is	O
basically	O
the	O
map	O
editor	O
for	O
Myth	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fear	O
takes	O
care	O
of	O
all	O
the	O
models	O
;	O
it	O
is	O
used	O
to	O
import	O
the	O
3D	O
rendered	O
models	O
into	O
Myth	B-Application
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Loathing	O
was	O
specifically	O
built	O
around	O
the	O
Myth	B-Application
engine	O
and	O
allowed	O
the	O
team	O
to	O
modify	O
the	O
3D	O
landscape	O
,	O
apply	O
lighting	O
,	O
determine	O
terrain	O
type	O
,	O
script	O
the	O
AI	B-Application
,	O
and	O
position	O
structures	O
,	O
scenery	O
,	O
and	O
enemies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
For	O
example	O
,	O
in	O
April	O
1999	O
,	O
they	O
issued	O
a	O
press	O
release	O
regarding	O
the	O
World	O
War	O
II	O
total	O
conversion	O
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	O
Recon	O
,	O
saying	O
that	O
"	O
this	O
kind	O
of	O
plug-in	B-Application
was	O
exactly	O
what	O
the	O
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
tools	O
were	O
intended	O
to	O
inspire	O
,	O
and	O
is	O
an	O
excellent	O
sign	O
that	O
Myth	B-Application
mapmakers	O
are	O
taking	O
this	O
game	O
world	O
in	O
fascinating	O
new	O
directions	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
originally	O
supported	O
both	O
software	O
rendering	O
and	O
3dfx	O
's	O
Glide	B-Operating_System
hardware	O
acceleration	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soulblighter	B-Application
originally	O
supported	O
software	O
rendering	O
,	O
all	O
3dfx	O
and	O
Rendition	O
GPUs	B-Architecture
,	O
and	O
any	O
graphics	B-Device
cards	I-Device
that	O
supported	O
Direct3D	B-Application
for	O
Windows	B-Application
and	O
QuickDraw	B-Operating_System
3D	I-Operating_System
for	O
Mac	B-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
game	O
also	O
supported	O
3D	B-Application
audio	I-Application
,	O
specifically	O
Aureal	O
Semiconductor	O
's	O
A3D	O
and	O
Creative	O
Labs	O
 '	O
EAX	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1999	O
,	O
Bungie	O
re-released	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
for	O
Mac	B-Application
OS	I-Application
and	O
Windows	B-Application
as	O
part	O
of	O
a	O
special	O
edition	O
called	O
Myth	B-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Total	I-Application
Codex	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
bundle	O
included	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
,	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
v1.3	O
(	O
Bungie	O
's	O
last	O
official	O
update	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
)	O
,	O
the	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
expansion	O
pack	O
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Chimera	I-Application
(	O
developed	O
by	O
the	O
Myth	B-Application
mapmaker	O
group	O
Badlands	O
,	O
in	O
association	O
with	O
Bungie	O
themselves	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
official	O
Strategies	O
and	O
Secrets	O
guides	O
for	O
both	O
of	O
the	O
main	O
games	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soulblighter	B-Application
was	O
later	O
ported	O
to	O
Linux	B-Application
by	O
Loki	O
Entertainment	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
June	O
2000	O
,	O
Take-Two	O
Interactive	O
,	O
who	O
had	O
purchased	O
19.9	O
%	O
of	O
Bungie	O
's	O
shares	O
in	O
1999	O
,	O
acquired	O
the	O
Oni	B-Application
and	O
Myth	B-Application
intellectual	O
properties	O
after	O
Bungie	O
was	O
purchased	O
outright	O
by	O
Microsoft	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Take-Two	O
'	O
s	O
first	O
Myth	B-Application
release	O
was	O
Green	B-Application
Berets	I-Application
:	I-Application
Powered	I-Application
by	I-Application
Myth	I-Application
II	I-Application
in	O
July	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Set	O
in	O
the	O
Vietnam	O
War	O
,	O
Green	O
Berets	O
is	O
a	O
total	O
conversion	O
of	O
the	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
engine	O
,	O
and	O
includes	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
the	O
Fear	O
and	O
Loathing	O
tools	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Developed	O
by	O
mapmakers	O
from	O
within	O
the	O
Myth	B-Application
community	O
,	O
in	O
association	O
with	O
TalonSoft	O
,	O
Green	O
Berets	O
also	O
features	O
eight	O
new	O
multiplayer	O
maps	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
option	O
to	O
use	O
Green	O
Berets	O
units	O
while	O
playing	O
the	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
single-player	O
campaign	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Take-Two	O
'	O
s	O
second	O
release	O
was	O
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Worlds	I-Application
in	O
October	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Worlds	O
includes	O
a	O
copy	O
of	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
the	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
Strategies	O
and	O
Secrets	O
guide	O
in	O
PDF	B-Application
form	O
,	O
and	O
two	O
disks	O
of	O
fan-created	O
single-player	O
campaigns	O
,	O
multiplayer	O
maps	O
,	O
and	O
gameplay	O
mods	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
the	O
official	O
Bungie.net	O
Myth	B-Application
servers	B-Application
closed	O
in	O
February	O
2002	O
,	O
the	O
Myth	B-Application
series	O
continued	O
to	O
have	O
an	O
active	O
online	O
fanbase	O
for	O
over	O
a	O
decade	O
,	O
particularly	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
Bungie	O
released	O
the	O
Total	O
Codex	O
bundle	O
in	O
1999	O
,	O
which	O
contained	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
v1.3	O
,	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
v1.3	O
and	O
the	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
expansion	O
pack	O
,	O
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Chimera	I-Application
,	O
they	O
ceased	O
working	O
to	O
develop	O
the	O
game	O
's	O
source	O
code	O
,	O
as	O
Microsoft	O
,	O
who	O
purchased	O
the	O
company	O
in	O
2000	O
,	O
wanted	O
them	O
to	O
concentrate	O
on	O
Halo	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
blessing	O
of	O
Take-Two	O
,	O
Bungie	O
released	O
their	O
entire	O
archive	O
of	O
Myth-related	O
materials	O
to	O
MythDevelopers	O
,	O
including	O
the	O
source	O
code	O
,	O
artwork	O
,	O
all	O
creative	O
files	O
,	O
and	O
documentation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MythDevelopers	O
were	O
also	O
granted	O
access	O
to	O
the	O
source	O
code	O
for	O
Myth	B-Application
III	I-Application
:	I-Application
The	I-Application
Wolf	I-Application
Age	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
developed	O
by	O
MumboJumbo	O
in	O
2001	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Bungie	O
also	O
open	B-Application
sourced	I-Application
their	O
Myth	B-Application
metaserver	B-Application
source	O
code	O
in	O
2002	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
their	O
initial	O
focus	O
was	O
on	O
the	O
bug-ridden	O
release	O
version	O
of	O
The	O
Wolf	O
Age	O
,	O
they	O
also	O
worked	O
to	O
update	O
the	O
first	O
two	O
games	O
to	O
newer	O
operating	B-General_Concept
systems	I-General_Concept
on	O
both	O
Mac	B-Device
and	O
PC	B-Device
,	O
fix	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
,	O
and	O
create	O
unofficial	O
patches	O
to	O
enhance	O
both	O
the	O
games	O
themselves	O
and	O
the	O
mapmaking	O
tools	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
developed	O
their	O
own	O
library	B-Library
,	O
dubbed	O
the	O
Myth	B-Application
Core	O
Library	B-Library
,	O
which	O
provided	O
networking	O
,	O
input	O
routines	O
,	O
and	O
other	O
low-level	B-Language
functions	I-Language
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
was	O
part	O
of	O
their	O
deal	O
with	O
Take-Two	O
,	O
as	O
they	O
could	O
n't	O
incorporate	O
anything	O
into	O
the	O
games	O
which	O
they	O
would	O
be	O
unable	O
to	O
give	O
Take-Two	O
the	O
rights	O
to	O
should	O
the	O
company	O
ever	O
ask	O
for	O
the	O
source	O
code	O
back	O
;	O
all	O
modifications	O
remained	O
the	O
intellectual	O
property	O
of	O
Take-Two	O
,	O
who	O
were	O
free	O
to	O
use	O
them	O
in	O
a	O
future	O
commercial	O
version	O
of	O
Myth	B-Application
,	O
if	O
they	O
ever	O
wanted	O
to	O
re-release	O
an	O
upgraded	O
version	O
of	O
one	O
or	O
more	O
of	O
the	O
games	O
,	O
or	O
incorporate	O
the	O
modifications	O
into	O
the	O
development	O
of	O
a	O
new	O
Myth	B-Application
game	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
MythDevelopers	O
disbanded	O
in	O
December	O
2003	O
,	O
with	O
Project	O
Magma	O
becoming	O
the	O
main	O
development	O
group	O
for	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
and	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
and	O
FlyingFlip	O
Studios	O
for	O
The	O
Wolf	O
Age	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
From	O
2003	O
to	O
2018	O
,	O
Magma	O
released	O
several	O
major	O
patches	O
for	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
,	O
each	O
of	O
which	O
featured	O
fixes	O
for	O
bugs	B-Error_Name
,	O
graphical	O
problems	O
,	O
gameplay	O
problems	O
,	O
and	O
interface	O
issues	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
improve	O
the	O
Fear	O
and	O
Loathing	O
tools	O
and	O
the	O
online	B-Application
multiplayer	I-Application
mode	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soulblighter	B-Application
received	O
"	O
generally	O
favorable	O
reviews	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
concluded	O
:	O
"	O
Bungie	O
basically	O
improved	O
all	O
the	O
good	O
features	O
in	O
Myth	B-Application
;	O
added	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
gameplay	O
,	O
multiplayer	O
,	O
and	O
graphical	O
enhancements	O
;	O
and	O
then	O
threw	O
in	O
some	O
slick	O
and	O
powerful	O
editing	O
tools	O
to	O
boot	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
also	O
lauded	O
the	O
graphics	O
and	O
multiplayer	O
mode	O
,	O
concluding	O
"	O
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
offers	O
the	O
best	O
real-time	O
strategy	B-Application
experience	O
in	O
the	O
industry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
has	O
everything	O
that	O
made	O
Myth	B-Application
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
games	O
of	O
last	O
year	O
,	O
plus	O
a	O
free	O
set	O
of	O
steak	O
knives	O
...	O
</s>
<s>
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
is	O
simply	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
best	O
sequels	O
ever	O
designed	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
IGN	O
's	O
Tal	O
Blevins	O
scored	O
it	O
8.9	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
,	O
praising	O
Bungie	O
for	O
seeking	O
fan	O
feedback	O
from	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
,	O
and	O
implementing	O
the	O
most	O
requested	O
changes	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
breathes	O
enough	O
new	O
life	O
back	O
into	O
this	O
series	O
to	O
qualify	O
as	O
an	O
incredibly	O
fun	O
game	O
with	O
tons	O
of	O
replayability	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
PC	B-Device
Zones	O
Paul	O
Mallinson	O
scored	O
it	O
8.5	O
out	O
of	O
10	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
He	O
praised	O
the	O
improved	O
controls	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
enhancements	O
made	O
to	O
the	O
game	O
engine	O
,	O
concluding	O
:	O
"	O
If	O
you	O
liked	O
the	O
original	O
Myth	B-Application
,	O
you	O
'll	O
love	O
this	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Graphically	O
,	O
Soulblighter	B-Application
is	O
much	O
better	O
,	O
and	O
there	O
's	O
not	O
much	O
wrong	O
with	O
the	O
gameplay	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Add	O
all	O
these	O
things	O
together	O
and	O
you	O
have	O
to	O
conclude	O
that	O
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Soulblighter	I-Application
is	O
undoubtedly	O
an	O
excellent	O
package	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
CNET	O
Gamecenter	O
named	O
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
the	O
best	O
Macintosh	B-Device
game	O
of	O
1999	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
a	O
finalist	O
for	O
Computer	O
Games	O
Strategy	B-Application
Pluss	O
1998	O
"	O
Real-Time	O
Strategy	B-Application
Game	I-Application
of	O
the	O
Year	O
"	O
award	O
,	O
which	O
ultimately	O
went	O
to	O
StarCraft	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Next	O
Generation	O
reviewed	O
the	O
PC	B-Device
and	O
Mac	B-Device
versions	O
of	O
the	O
game	O
,	O
rating	O
them	O
four	O
stars	O
out	O
of	O
five	O
,	O
and	O
stated	O
that	O
"	O
Myth	B-Application
II	I-Application
:	I-Application
Soulblighters	I-Application
charm	O
lies	O
in	O
a	O
bundle	O
of	O
improvements	O
and	O
high	O
production	O
values	O
that	O
make	O
the	O
parts	O
greater	O
than	O
the	O
whole	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
it	O
may	O
not	O
have	O
reached	O
WarCraft	O
or	O
C&C	O
status	O
yet	O
,	O
the	O
series	O
is	O
deservedly	O
a	O
growing	O
legend	B-Application
in	O
its	O
own	O
time	O
"	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Soulblighter	B-Application
considerably	O
outsold	O
The	B-Application
Fallen	I-Application
Lords	I-Application
,	O
which	O
had	O
been	O
Bungie	O
's	O
best	O
selling	O
game	O
up	O
to	O
that	O
point	O
.	O
</s>
