It's no secret that since its release PC players have been anxiously awaiting news, of any kind, of a proper PC release of Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption. And now with the sequel on the horizon this prospect is starting to look less and less likely. Which is where Wild West Online steps in, a new MMO from 612 Games that looks to scratch that Wild West itch. And so far, it looks pretty good.

Silly fist bumping whilst walking animation aside, Wild West Online features great looking, and authentic, Western environments. From forests to deserts to small towns with a single Saloon and Sheriffs station, this look at Alpha gameplay is visually impressive.



Throw in systems and mechanics where you can grab bounties from the Sheriff's office, steal whiskey from a Saloon's backroom, and ride out to a safe house, and it's clear the Wild West Online is a passion project inspired by games like Red Dead and other examples of the genre -- like Deadwood, Westworld, and Spaghetti Westerns from the 1960s.

And it's ambition and scope is commendable.

In Wild West Online YOU choose your path. How you play the game and how you interact with other players is up to you. WWO's many and diverse dynamic gameplay systems will accommodate a variety of different play styles and moral dispositions.

Do you want to be a prospector and mine for gold? Mine away! But be ready to fend off those who would rather let you do all the hard work then try to steal your claim. Of course, if you're a little wet behind the ears in a gunfight, you could always hire other players to protect you.

Do you want to lie, cheat, rob, murder and generally carouse your way across the West. You bet you do, outlaw! But watch your back, some players will choose to stay on the right side of the law and become Deputies and Bounty Hunters. These men (and women) are charged with hunting down the likes of you, and bringing you in, dead or alive.

Play alone or form a posse with your friends. Join one of the many bandit clans or create your own and recruit others to fight for control over contested territories.

For more info, and to sign-up for Alpha Access, head to the official site.