Icarus Studios and the Fallen Earth development team have announced that new items will be added to both the in-game store and at in-game merchants. Players will be able to purchase additional character slots as well as expanded slots for pets and mounts.

The Fallen Earth store is about to get some new inventory! We previously introduced the option for two additional character slots and soon we’ll be adding the option for additional pet and mount slots--perfect for Wastelanders on the go.

Rewards Merchants will also be receiving a hot, new item—The Respirator. This stylish gas mask will provide resistances to acid, radiation, poison, disease and lower resistances to fire and cold.

Look for these items soon!

Read more here.

Our sister site, MMORPG.com is featuring a new developer diary from the good folks at Icarus Studios. The diary takes a look at the newly overhauled starter area called Boneclaw. There are screens and more to show off what devs have accomplished so be sure to swing by to check it out!

Looking back, Boneclaw used to be insanely ugly. It was flat, empty, and gray. It was so huge that it was a pain for players to navigate. Because Boneclaw is a starter town and the basis for so many players to form their first impressions of the game, this was unacceptable.

Read more Fallen Earth: Boneclaw Reborn at MMORPG.com.

As of this writing, Fallen Earth servers are down to update to v1.7.4 which includes new terrain models, bug fixes, and enhancements. In addition, the Icarus Studios team has announced that they are throwing in some nifty presents for all good little Wastelanders.

Greetings Wastelanders,

The server will be down tomorrow from 8 to 11 a.m. EST (GMT -5) as we update to patch v1.7.4. As a special holiday bonus, we’re throwing in some presents from the dev team in the form of additional, random nodes. Look for gift boxes filled with festive sweaters, jackets and hats to stay warm during the winter season!

Check out the patch notes here. More info on the full respec and Pristine Recombinant Injector here.

Source: Fallen Earth official site.

Fallen Earth devs have announced that the 1.7.4 patch will be deployed on all servers on Wednesday, December 15th. Among other things, the new patch brings online the terrain enhancement and a new cockroach pet.

If you’re in search of a new companion this holiday season, the Wasteland’s got ‘em—we’re talkin’ roaches! They may try to smuggle some of your grub, but these handsome vermin make for great company…

In addition to a new pet, a slew of great new features are on their way with the launch of patch v1.7.4!

Get ready for our combat changes, an improved tutorial, AP Spent Cap, new Random AP system, terrain enhancements and world PvP updates (including experience granted for PvP kills). Not to mention a rebuilt Boneclaw.

To help accommodate Wastelanders to the combat updates, we’ll be mailing all current, non-deleted characters a Pristine Recombinant Injector in-game for a full respec, should you desire.

Read the full v1.7.4 patch notes here.

Icarus Studios and the Fallen Earth development team have announced the Holiday Apocalypse Challenge where players can win prizes as diverse as iPhone and a custom Fallen Earth PC rig. Between now and January 7, 2011, all players have to do is log in for a chance to win any one of several prizes. Each day that a player logs in increases the chance of winning.

1 Grand Prize winner will receive:

• Fallen Earth Custom PC Gaming System
  • AMD Phenom™ II X4 Processor 955 3.2GHz
  • ATI Radeon HD5850 Graphics Card
  • Thermaltake Toughpower Grand 750 watt supply
  • Patriot Memory 4GB DDR3, 1333mhz
• Thermaltake BlacX 5G docking station
• Tt eSPORTS BLACK Gaming Mouse
• Tt eSPORTS CHALLENGER Pro Gaming Keyboard
• Fallen Earth BattleMat Gaming Mouse Pad
• Fallen Earth Decal set
• In-game vehicle: Interceptor

Read more here.

Icarus Studios and the Fallen Earth team are inviting players to a holiday social event on Saturday, December 18th at 2 p.m. EST. Players attending will score a Yuletide beanie and will have the opportunity for a Secret Santa-type event to give needy players some much needed equipment.

t’s that time of year again in the Wasteland… we may not know the exact date of the holiday, but we’re pretty sure merry-making begins sometime soon! And this year, we’re hosting a special Holiday Social at the Depot 66 amphitheater (waypoint 4407735, 3493471) at 2 p.m. EST on Saturday, December 18. Join hosts Carlin and PixiStix for this special occasion!

All players (new and existing) are welcome to attend and all attendees will receive an in-game Yuletime Hat (otherwise known as a holiday beanie) as well as other festive goodies, such as eggnog and candy canes.

As a bonus, and for all the needy survivors out there, we’re arranging a wasteland-style “Secret Santa” during the social. If you’d like to participate, please mail items in-game to Carlin with the subject “Secret Santa” and your character name. Gifts will be passed to recipients at random at 2:45 p.m. EST, with gift and donor’s name announced in chat.

No need to RSVP (it’s the apocalypse after all), just put on your best gear and come celebrate!

P.S. Please leave weapons in your pack/vault/vehicle etc. Party crashers will be “escorted” off the premises IMMEDIATELY. Thanks!

Read the post here.

Fallen Earth players who want to check out the new combat improvements and terrain enhancements will want to log into the public test server starting today. The latest version of Fallen Earth, v1.7.4, will be hitting the PTS after downtime to load the new version. Devs will be posting 'hot spots' on the PTS forums that they would like players to explore and give feedback on.

Terrain enhancements, combat improvements, a revamped tutorial and a ravaged Boneclaw await survivors! We’ve also made adjustments to Faction Control Points, World PvP, the AP Spent Cap and more.

Check out the full patch notes here!

Read more here.

High on a Wastelander's wish list for Christmas is unlimited ammo. Icarus Studios and the Fallen Earth dev team have granted players and early gift in the form of unlimited Blood Sports ammo for an indefinite period of time. Now if that isn't getting into the holiday spirit, nothing is!

For Example:

Fragmeister has a revolver and his ammo counter at the top of the screen says 6/100. As he fires his weapon, the first number will decrease. Once the counter reaches 0 and Fragmeister reloads, he will again see 6/100. None of Fragmeister's original ammo has been lost.

As a reminder, weapons and armor no longer decay in Blood Sport arenas. Check out details on how to join a Blood Sport arena here!

*This does not apply to rocket launchers, grenade launchers or to weapons that you can throw (grenades, bombs, acid, etc.).

Read more here.

Fallen Earth developers have a lot of new features and game play opportunities coming to the public test server. As a result, devs are asking players to log onto the PTS on December 4th to give feedback and to earn reward points too.

Look for updates to the PTS next week as we add terrain enhancements, improvements to the combat system, the current state of Boneclaw and tutorial changes! We’ll also be incorporating an AP cap, unlocking mutations from factions and more!

Then, be sure to join the dev team on the PTS Saturday, December 4, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST (GMT-5). Challenge the devs, ask questions, provide feedback and earn some Reward Points for your participation!

Read more at the Fallen Earth site.