Space Cowboy Online

Space Cowboy Online was an MMO space shooter, formerly published by Gala-Net. Recently the Gala-Net servers were shut down, and it was taken over by GameForge and renamed Air Rivals. There are currently two servers available: Helix and Orion. The basic gameplay still remains the same despite the switch, and it remains popular.

Unlike other MMOs, Space Cowboy Online, or Air Rivals, focuses not on human characters, but rather aircraft known as gears. Players start with one and, by dogfighting aerial monsters and levelling up, gain access to new areas. The game also is heavily PVP-oriented at the higher levels, and there is a strong sense of competitiveness among players of the two opposing factions, known as BCU and ANI.

Gears
Also known as aircraft, Gears are the core gameplay mechanic of players. While some interaction between players occur in cities, outside cities players are always in their aircraft. There are four types of Gears.

A-Gear: Perhaps the oddest gear in the game, the A-Gear is lesser known as the "Anima Mortar". It has the added ability to land anywhere and become essentially a mobile AA gun.

I-Gear: The fastest, the I-Gear is the bread-and-butter air-to-air combat fighter, capable of firing large amounts of missiles at once. It specializes in evading enemy attacks and dealing damage. It is also known as the "Idle Sniper".

B-Gear: Also known as the Brady Burg, the B-Gear is a powerful fighter/bomber aircraft. It takes the role of "Mage" type characters in fantasy RPGs.

M-Gear: Also known as the "Meadow Burgle", the M-Gear is a support unit, similar to a white mage or healing class in an RPG. Unlike said characters, however, the M-Gear is more than capable of defending itself. It has the uncanny ability to hover and act as a gunship.