Paradox Interactive's Salem, the Crafting MMO, is shifting into open beta. Now any and all who wish to play around in a pseudo-realistic settler simulator can sign right up on the site.

Salem promises crafting and building in a persisent world, coupled with PvP and the threat of permadeath.

Paradox Interactive hosted the first Salem live stream today to give players a look at the upcoming free-to-play crafting MMO. The game is set in New England and features farming and building systems inspired by 17th century alchemy, as well as open PvP combat with permanent death. It's scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2012.

Watch the recording of the pre-alpha broadcast below to take a tour of Salem with Creative Director Bjorn Johannessen, Senior Producer Gordon Van Dyke and Code Gnome Fredrik Tolf. The broadcast starts about 14 minutes into the video.

Paradox Interactive just released a teaser trailer for Salem at Gamescom. Check it out below to get a feeling for the tone of the upcoming free-to-play crafting MMO, which is scheduled to launch in the second quarter of 2012.

In Salem, players taking the roles of intrepid colonists from the Old World seeking to make lives for themselves in New England. The game features crafting, farming and building systems inspired by 17th century alchemy, as well as open PvP combat with permanent death. As Paradox puts it, "peaceful farming communities will have to remain vigilant, lest they find their way of life turned upside-down by witchcraft, thievery or even murder."