FALLEN EARTH, LLC announces Fallen Earth is live and accepting new players into their self-titled MMORPG thanks to the joys of digital distribution, as the boxed version is not expected on store shelves until the end of this month. Here's the full announcement:

Raleigh, NC -September 22, 2009 - FALLEN EARTH, LLC announced the commercial launch of its self-titled massively multiplayer online (MMO) game today. The game is scheduled to reach retailers nationwide by September 30. Additionally, fans can download Fallen Earth digitally from Direct2Drive, Steam and the Fallen Earth store for instant access to live service today.

"The thoughtful development and diligence of our team is realized in a physical product, and that's exciting," said Jessica Orr, product manager for Fallen Earth. "We are pleased to add another avenue of purchase for our fans in conjunction with our existing digital sales."

Fallen Earth combines the accuracy of first-person shooter style games with the depth and character advancement of a role-playing game. The game features a classless advancement system, a real-time crafting system in which players can make 95 percent of in game items, six unique factions, 70 towns and more than 1,000 square kilometers of zoneless territory to explore. Set in 2156 after the deadly Shiva virus and nuclear holocaust devastated the Earth, survivors are left with the choice to rebuild civilization and rise above the destruction or to embrace the chaos and tear down what's left of the old world.

Fans can gain immediate access to the game today by digitally downloading through Direct2Drive, Steam and the Fallen Earth store. All purchases offer a free 30-day subscription. Check individual web sites for purchase offers and terms.