A small team of independent developers, headed up by Britton LaRoche of Amped Labs, is currently working on what it describes as an online role-playing first-person shooter named Rise of Power. Set in the year 2056, the game will see players entering an ongoing battle between the police and the forces of the underworld.

　　Intriguingly, the game will take place in a persistent world, and although players will have the option to switch sides at will, their statistics will be tracked at all times, enabling them to advance through the ranks as they develop new skills and gain experience. Cash will also play a role in the game, and players will be able to use the contents of their bank accounts to purchase weapons, bots, and vehicles to aid them in battle.

　　The first player to achieve the rank of emperor will be declared the winner of the game, but to do that players will first have to achieve the rank of general and play their army off against those of other generals until only one remains. Applications for the beta test are currently being accepted by Amped Labs, although to be eligible, players are required to part with $19.95 to help fund the game's development and allow them to download the full version of the game weeks before it arrives on store shelves.

　　No release date for Rise of Power has been announced at this time, but Amped Labs has stated that the game will be played on free servers. Further information on Rise of Power is scarce at present, but we'll bring you more information on the game as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, you might like to check out the official Rise of Power Web site, which, among other things, features developer profiles and details of the game's back story.