LOS ANGELES-- (May 11, 2000) – Ubi Soft Entertainment announced Dragonriders - Chronicles of Pern, an adventure that is a breed apart with its fantastic imagery and impressive storyline. Based upon the Chronicles of Pern series by best-selling science fiction/fantasy author, Anne McCaffrey, Dragonriders guides you through the world of Pern in a dazzling 3D Adventure/RPG game on Sega Dreamcast.
It has been many Turns since the world of Pern has subsided the threat of the dreadful Threads. However, D’knor, Dragonrider of bronze Smanth, senses the unrest of the land as new dangers arise from ones once called friends. Join D’knor as he explores Pern in search of answers in a world filled with chaos, that will bring him to the ultimate confrontation, before a new order can exist.
The story unfolds shortly after the death of the Weyrwoman of Fort Weyr, as D’knor begins his advancement through the ranks of the Bronze riders. A deadly disease is separating the weak from the strong, killing many of the riders and leaving the weyr vulnerable to the menacing undercurrent that threatens the land.
Set within a foreboding world, Dragonriders will thrust players into a 3D world filled with challenging quests, secret sub-missions and diverse puzzles to complete. Character development, alongside the mastering of various skills, will assist the player to progress through the game and ranks. In addition, the player’s dragon will be endowed with increasing abilities, ultimately becoming the player’s most powerful ally.
Keeping true to Anne McCaffrey’s original vision, Dragonriders introduction to the console and PC will allow players to embark on elating adventures in the world of Pern. Sure to stimulate and tantalize a player’s every sense, Dragonriders soars as breathtaking visuals reveal the realistic middle-age environments of Pern. Implementing an active time system throughout the game, Dragonriders will cycle through day and night sequences on a constantly running clock to give the player a sense of urgency.
Anne McCaffrey's first story was published by Sam Moskowitz in Science Fiction + Magazine and her first novel was published by Ballantine Books in l967. By the time the three children of her marriage were comfortably in school most of the day, she had already achieved enough success with short stories to devote full time to writing. Her first novel, Restoree, was written as a protest against the absurd and unrealistic portrayals of women in s-f novels in the 50s and early 60s. It is, however, in the handling of broader themes and the worlds of her imagination, particularly the two series, The Ship Who Sang and the 19 novels about the Dragonriders Of Pern that Ms. McCaffrey's talents as a story-teller are best displayed.