Fallen Earth is one of those games that seems like it has been in the pipeline forever.

And in gaming terms it nearly has; five years of production can sometimes see a game fall to pieces or simply get overtaken.

But the massive undertakings of those making Fallen Earth – a incredibly huge map that takes 12 hours to traverse by foot, a log of 5600 missions – means the game will definitely receive some attention when it is finally published.

The game is focused around a factional, post-apocalyptic scenario in the Grand Canyon.

Icarus Studios is working hard to make its game standout from the other MMOs quickly springing up and providing competition.

For a start, less focus will be given to the role of ‘leveling up’ in Fallen Earth than in most other MMOs.

Players will level but it will take much longer (about 15 to 20 hours) and instead the makers say they want the focus to be on the experience rather than the objective or end result.

The game will play like a shooter but will have a heavy RPG element. For example, you will be regularly shooting at enemies but everytime you strike one, RPG characteristics (attack and defence values) will come into play and determine damage.

Plenty of work has gone into the vehicle set from the game, with a real attempt to make traveling the cast expanses of the Grand Canyon seem real.

Fallen Earth will be released in late 2009.