Get involved with Microsoft’s MMO world record attempt in Age of Ascent

Video game studio Illyriad is looking to score a new Guinness World Record and smash the previous holder for the largest video game player vs player (PvP) battle. Taking place this Friday, March 14, Microsoft is seeking players to participate in this world record attempt and stress test the public alpha of Illyriad’s new title, Age of Ascent.

Not familiar with Age of Ascent? It’s a new space-based resource and battle game. What makes this interesting and on-topic for Microsoft is Windows Azure is powering the online title, and it’s a browser game – perfect for those who don’t have much storage space free or the fastest computer in the world.

Say hello to the "Ultra" MMO (Massive Multiplayer Online) experience. Those who have been seeking a new game full of combat with thousands of players involved, this could well be the next best thing. Think action. Lots and lots of action.

Age of Ascent

"There be ships everywhere, captain."

It’s easy to get started. There’s nothing to install, no accounts to be created, and all that’s required is for players to visit the URL (www.ageofascent.com), be assigned to either team and you’re in-game. If you're thinking of participating, bookmark the website today for more convenient access.

James Niesewand, CEO of Illyriad explains the concept:

"It's essentially trying to prove the worth of some of the technology that we are working with, namely WebGL and Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud technology. WebGL allows games to run natively in your browser without downloads, installs, or plugins."

If you’re available on Friday, March 14th, be sure to get involved and encourage friends and family to pop along. The two parties do urge participants to tweet and share their experiences while in-game, using the hashtag #ageofascent.

Check out the official website for more information. Further reading:

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.