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Destiny has been described as a firstperson shooter that incorporates roleplaying and massively multiplayer online
game (MMO) elements, but its developer,
Bungie, has avoided defining Destiny
as a traditional MMO game. Instead, the
game has been referred to as a “sharedworld shooter,” as it lacks many of the
characteristics of a traditional MMO game.
For instance, rather than players being able
to see and interact with all other players in
the game or on a particular server - as is
the case in many conventional MMO games
- Destiny includes on-the-fly matchmaking
that allows players to see and interact
only with other players with whom they
are “matched” by the game. Events may
happen in-game that are not necessarily
controlled or planned by the developer,
which will help to create a dynamic
developing experience for Bungie and a
dynamic playing experience for gamers.
Destiny is set in the 28th century, a postapocalyptic future. The setting follows
a prosperous period of exploration,
peace, and technological advancement
known as the Golden Age. In a universe
where humans have spread out and
colonized planets in the Solar System, an
event known as “the Collapse” saw the
mysterious dissolution of these colonies,
the end of the Golden Age, and mankind
teetering on the brink of extinction. The
only known survivors of the Collapse are
those living on Earth, who were saved by
“the Traveler,” a white, spherical celestial
body, whose appearance centuries before
had enabled humans to reach the stars.
The Traveler now hovers above the last
safe city on Earth, and its presence allows
the Guardians - the defenders of the City the ability to wield an unknown power, only
referred to as “The Light.”
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Upon mankind’s first attempt to repopulate
and reconstruct after the Collapse, it is
discovered that hostile alien races have
occupied mankinds former colonies and
civilizations, and are now encroaching
upon the City. Throughout the game,
players have to combat aggressive aliens
who have occupied the Solar System.There
are four separate races in the game, each
occupying different planets:The Fallen are
an insectoid race of nomadic pirates who
scavenge ruined settlements on Earth,
the Moon, and Venus for resources; The
Hive are a macabre race of ancient aliens
who have created massive underground
settlements beneath Earth and the Moon’s
surface;The Vex are semi-organic androids
who are attempting to seize control of
Venus, Earth, and Mars by turning them
into their machines, which they have
already done to Mercury.
Finally, the Cabal are a military-industrial
empire of massive amphibians who have
established huge fortifications on Mars.
Every race utilizes different strategies and
weapons in combat. The Fallen possess
cloaking and short-range teleportation
technologies to increase their mobility. The
Hive use superior numbers to overwhelm
their opponents in close quarters, while
more elite units attack from a distance. The
Vex utilize hard-light shields and teleport
units of infantry into the battlefield enmasse. The Cabal rely on heavy armour,
ballistic shields and jump packs to combat
players. All of these races are hostile
towards each other, as they can often be
observed attacking one another in-game
for territorial dominance. The player takes
on the role of one such Guardian, and is
tasked with reviving the Traveler while
investigating and destroying the alien
threats, before humanity is completely
wiped out. Destiny centres on the journey
of the Guardians, the last defenders of
humanity, set to protect Earth’s last city.