April23rd 2012; London, UK: From today, acclaimed Free-to-Play Strategy game, Illyriad, will switch from a randomly-generated world biology, to an organic and emergent model.

Simplistic random distributions of animals and troops have been replaced with a coherent, logical model, encompassing different animal habitats, breeding, and migration. The mathematics behind the calculations include over 1,500 variables, and the game database tracks thousands of non-player populations, whose numbers and attitudes will be determined by players' interactions with them.

"The depth of Illyriad has always been important to us as developers, just as it has been important to our players, and has been noted by the press," explains Illyriad's founder, James Niesewand.

"So we wanted the non-player populations to behave sensibly, and organically, in response to players' actions. As an example, animal populations in Illyriad have previously appeared randomly; now, each pack or herd of animals will be tracked in real time, its population increasing over time, and the pack splitting when the population grows to a certain point. Players will be able to dramatically impact the sizes of animal populations, which will have multiple consequences."

These changes are not only an evolution in the design of strategy games. They are also an important step in the growth of Illyriad itself, a necessary precursor to an overhauled trade and economic system, and further development of the NPC Factions systems, expected later this year.

Illyriad's latest release, including organic animal populations, and other features, goes live from today.

About Illyriad:

"An epic RTS but with killer lore and an awesome community." – Massively.com
"I could tell right away that this game was special." – ThriftyGamer
"Illyriad has a great niche…. There is plenty to do and I would suggest that everyone with a few minutes goes and checks it out." – Vagary.tv

http://www.illyriad.co.uk/press/Reviews

Illyriad is a browser-based Massively Multiplayer strategy game, in which players take control of cities, engaging in city-building, quests, diplomacy, warfare and trade. Developed by London-based Illyriad Games Ltd., Illyriad went live in 2010 and was officially launched on May 16th 2011.

http://www.illyriad.co.uk/