Update of the Avatar/Update 33
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Update of the Avatar #33 – 2013.07.05: Starr Long Joins the Team, RTX Demo, and Darkstarr Rewards
Update 33 announced that veteran game producer Starr Long had joined Portalarium as executive producer of Shroud of the Avatar. It also previewed a public demonstration at RTX 2013 and introduced four time-limited Darkstarr-themed backer rewards.[1]
Starr Long joins the development team
Portalarium announced Long's appointment during RTX 2013 in Austin, Texas. The move reunited him with Richard Garriott in the fantasy role-playing genre: the two had previously worked together on Ultima Online and later collaborated at Destination Games. Before joining Portalarium, Long had spent four years as an executive producer at Disney.[1]
The announcement emphasized Long's experience producing online games and his intended role working with the crowdfunded project's community. Garriott was scheduled to introduce him formally during the following day's RTX presentation.[1]
Shroud of the Avatar at RTX 2013
The team planned to demonstrate an early build of Shroud of the Avatar at RTX on July 6. The build brought several core game mechanics together with original artwork created during the months following the game's crowdfunding campaign. The presentation was scheduled for the Austin Convention Center and an RTX livestream.[1]
Limited Darkstarr rewards
To mark Long's arrival and his Darkstarr persona, Portalarium announced four rewards for qualifying backers. Existing backers and new backers who pledged by July 31, 2013 were eligible according to their pledge tier.[1]
| Minimum tier | Reward | Description announced in Update 33 |
|---|---|---|
| $25 | Darkstarr Salute | An emote that backers could master and teach to other players. |
| $65 Founder | Darkstarr Cloak | A wearable cloak displaying the Darkstarr symbol. |
| $110 Virtual Collector | Darkstarr Metronome | A mechanical decoration intended for use beside virtual instruments. |
| $550 Citizen | Darkstarr Moondial | An outdoor decoration designed to track astronomical events in the game. |
The update closed with a reminder for Kickstarter backers to register on the official website and link their Kickstarter accounts so their rewards could be associated with their game accounts.[1]