Exarch Online

Exarch Online is a cancelled PC MMORPG by Realm Interactive and NCSOFT. It was to be a fast-based action MMO that looks and plays like Diablo meets World of Warcraft.

Plot
It has been ten millennia since the Great Cataclysm destroyed humanity. In a world of greed and struggle for power, only the tough can survive. The gameplay was to be PvP heavy on a pop down isometric perspective.

Gameplay
There was to be four different races to be: human, elf, Raythe, and whatever the other one is. Each race would have it's own stats and skills.

The sci-fi fantasy setting allow for medieval-futuristic equipment mix ups. Monsters would include Oroks, Whiskers, Mutants, Robots, Shadow Spawn, Brigands, Raiders, etc. The character art would be done by Joe Madureira!

The quest system was heavily focused on in development. You've got your standard story-line main quests but also sidequests you'll find by accident. This makes the user experience feel dynamic.

Development
Exarch began life as Trade Wars: Dark Millennium. It was to be a 3D version of the popular BBS game series.

In 2002 the game was named Exarch Online to appease NCSOFT. In 2003 Realm Interactive was acquired by NCSOFT.

Cancellation
Exarch was cancelled by Realm in 2004. NCSOFT picked up the project and heavily retooled it with much humour. It was renamed to Dungeon Runners and launched, which eventually shut down in 2010.

Timeline:
 * 2001: announced as Trade Wars: Dark Millennium.
 * 2002: renamed to Exarch Online
 * 2003: Realm Interactive acquired by NCSOFT
 * 2004: cancelled
 * 2005: rework begins
 * 2007: released as Dungeon Runners

Video
Trailer.