MMORPG Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising has had a bumpy ride. Originally in develop by Perpetual Entertainment, who also at the time owned the Star Trek franchise, it became defunct when Perpetual closed its doors several years ago. Star Trek was sold to Cryptic, who then chucked everything Perpetual had done on the game and made their own version. However, Gods & Heroes sat in limbo for several years until Austin developer Heatwave Interactive took up the reins. Two years ago, they announced development had begun on the title and today, the game finally gets to see the light of day, as it launches across North America. The game will launch in Europe on June 24th.

Many MMOs of today have chucked the subscription model, but Gods & Heroes stays true to its history. After purchasing the initial box or the digital download, players will receive 30 free days to experience the game, after which there will be a $9.99 monthly subscription fee. It’s almost odd talking about a subscription cost, in the current age of free-to-play, but we really do prefer that model rather than getting nickel-and-dimed for all the little extras. Here’s some details of the game from the press release:

Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising is a full-scale action-adventure MMORPG set amid the familiar landmarks and legendary environments of ancient Rome. Each player’s character is a Demigod, a child of both god and mortal, and celebrated Hero who must battle an ancient enemy that has returned to topple the empire and avenge their defeat at the hands of the Olympian gods. Unique gameplay features include:
•Squad-Based Minion System - Players create, customize and command a squad of minions that level up with them in combat. As players advance through the game, they recruit from over 130 unique minions, each with specific roles and powerful abilities.
•Massive Estate System - Unlike any MMO housing system, players are given a huge tract of land to build upon. They must rebuild the structures destroyed by the Telchinist Cultists to recruit and upgrade their army of minions. Only then can a player become powerful enough to hunt down and defeat the evil Telchinists and regain their honor.
•Tandem Combat Action - Wield an arsenal of weapons and the powers of the gods themselves to perform combat moves which can be linked together, including dramatic finishing moves for intense battle sequences.

We look forward to checking the title out ourselves at some point, since it’s a game a long time in the coming and, back in 2005, we were excited for it. For more information on the game and how to buy it, check out the official Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising website.