General Gaming Article

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• Internal Microsoft Sales Video Stars the "Gmail Man"
• Ditch Your Point and Shoot: Five Reasons You Need an SLR
• ISOstick: Is It An Optical Drive Or A USB Stick?
• Browser Extension of the Week: Readability
• Google Fiber One Step Closer To Reality In KC
• Could Fox's New Streaming Video Policy Turn Web Viewers Into Dastardly Pirates?
• New Dell Server Warranty Offers Protection Against High Temperatures
• China Orders Businesses Offering Wi-Fi to Install Spy Software
• Asus Gets Official with $200 Eee PC X101 Netbook
• Tea Party Leader Pinched for Selling Pirated Software

Internal Microsoft Sales Video Stars the "Gmail Man" Posted: 28 Jul 2011 02:36 PM PDT We didn't get a lot of news out of the annual Microsoft Global Exchange sales meeting last week, but it appears one sneaky attendee has leaked an interesting sales video. Redmond is prepping their representatives to sell Office 365 over Google Apps, and the "Gmail Man" video is one tool being used to rally the troops. Microsoft isn't willing to own up to the video, but most pundits believe it is real. The video opens on the Gmail Man strolling down the street reading every one's mail. When asked just what he thinks he's doing, he explains that he's got to know what people are talking about to serve ads. Lame, right? The Gmail Man goes on to make inappropriate (and inaccurate) comments to everyone he sees.  The punchline of the nearly three-minute video is that, "Your email is your business. Google makes it theirs." Of course, this video is rife with hyperbole and half-truths, but it is a little funny. The advertising issue doesn't feel terribly significant to us, though. Hopefully Microsoft equipped the reps with more ammunition than this.

Ditch Your Point and Shoot: Five Reasons You Need an SLR Posted: 28 Jul 2011 12:19 PM PDT Like David vs. Goliath, only if David had gotten thoroughly whupped These days it seems like everybody has a camera. A teeny-tiny inexpensive camera. You'll find them built into cell and smart phones. You'll find them in notebooks, tablets, and personal music players. And the dedicated compact camera market has never had such selection. One look at prominent online retailers reveals, literally, thousands of point and shoot models – some that are so slim and so lightweight they'll virtually disappear in your pocket. So, if you have a camera integrated into your personal device or if you can get a perfectly decent purpose-built compact model for less than three hundred bucks (which you can), why on earth would you even consider dropping five, ten, even twenty times that much money on a full-blown SLR that's not only several times larger and several times heavier but also sucks up even more bucks when you start buying good lenses for it? Because with your iPhone or your CyberShot or your PowerShot, it's much, much harder or downright impossible to get a pic like this: Or this: Or this: Okay, so you won't get results like that without a little judicious post-processing either, but the point is that only with an SLR will you have the distance, the speed, the perspective, the depth of field (more on that shortly), the low-light performance, the quality of image capture, and the weatherproofing you need to ensure you can catch virtually any subject at any time. While many photographers jump into the hobby with a compact point and shoot and stay with that format forever, others inevitably feel frustrated over its limitations and make the ultimate leap to the big leagues. Yes, there are numerous concessions to be made, but for the truly addicted, and the truly passionate, those concessions are worth it. So…what exactly do you get with an SLR that you don't with a point and shoot? Let us count the ways… The Sensor At the heart of every digital camera ever made is a device called a sensor. A silicon chip housing millions of miniature pixels, the sensor is the device upon which the image is captured. The shutter button is depressed, et voila, the sensor captures the light that's allowed in. Like the cubic inches of a muscle car's engine or the speed of a computer's CPU or the length of a man's…er, thumb, the camera sensor has long been a bragging point amongst more macho types. "Dude, how many megapixels is your camera?" Yet it's not just the number of megapixels, but the physical size of the sensor (and therefore the pixels on that sensor) that really means something. And because the sensor in an SLR is several times that of a compact camera, it is thusly that much better at capturing light – an especially valuable attribute when a photographer is working in less than ideal conditions. Ultimately, SLRs take better, cleaner pictures, particularly in shadowy situations, than their compact brethren. The following shot was taken when the lighting was very poor indeed: Ah, but that's not the end of the sensor issue. Some SLRs have bigger, better sensors than others. For example, "full frame" SLRs such as the Canon EOS 5D Mark II have bigger sensors than those you'll see in "crop" SLRs such as the Canon EOS 7D or the Canon EOS 1D series. But these are topics for another time. The key thing to remember is that SLRs = bigger sensors = bigger pixels = better pictures, better performance, and less visible "noise." And crisper enlargements too. The Viewfinder There's clearly something to be said for lining up your images through the LCD screen of a compact "point and shoot" camera versus pressing your eye to the optical viewfinder of an SLR. For starters, using an LCD means you don't have to scrunch a whole camera up to your face – a real annoyance for those who treat their camera as a fashion accessory. Perhaps more importantly, many people find it more comfortable composing their photos – figuring out the artful side of their images – by looking at a screen held at a distance. There are practical benefits too. If, for instance, you find yourself shooting over the top of a crowd of people, holding your camera above your head, there's no way a viewfinder will work for you. In cases like this, an LCD is the only way to go. But the optical viewfinder of an SLR has several appealing perks, the most obvious of which is focusing. Simply, it's easier to judge when your subject is clear and pinpoint sharp when you're peering directly at a particular scene rather than a digital representation of it. And with an SLR, that's exactly what you're doing. Moreover, unlike the LCD of a compact camera – or even the electronic viewfinder found in some compact models – an SLR's optical viewfinder conveys precisely what your camera sees. It isn't marginally above or to the side, and it won't wash out in bright sunlight. And, because it isn't electronic, it won't deplete your batteries. Using a viewfinder also means you'll better stabilize your camera while you shoot. Think of it this way – a camera supported by two hands and a face is likely to be less shaky than a camera supported at arm's length. The less vibration, the sharper your photo. One other thing. Most recent vintage SLRs now offer something called "Live View," a feature that for the most part mimics the LCD of a point and shoot. It isn't quite as convenient because there's a slight delay as Live View engages (the SLR mirror physically flips out of the way), but SLRs with Live View essentially offer the best of both worlds. Interchangeable Lenses These days, the little, fixed lenses permanently attached to compact point and shoot cameras are better than they've ever been. Many offer admirable wide-angle perspectives that are ideal for landscape and real estate photography and for capturing large groups of people. But the real advances have come at the other end of the scale, where long-range telephoto capabilities (great for sports, birds, or anything you want to bring "closer" to the camera) have grown by leaps and bounds. You can now shoot some seriously long range stuff with sub-$400 point and shoots. But no matter how far the fixed lens of a compact camera extends or retracts, it'll never, ever match the performance or the versatility of an SLR's interchangeable lenses. Never. Granted, whether that even matters to you will depend on what you want from your photography. If you're in it to document events and vacations or to take web-sized snapshots you can share on sites like Facebook, there are plenty of top-rated compact cameras that'll do a great job. But if you're looking to go beyond the norm and are willing to pay the price to do so, welcome to the world of interchangeable lenses. Let's first look at wide-angle photography. Though some compacts now "open up" as wide as 24mm – appreciably broader than the 28mm standard of just a couple years ago – they pale in comparison to the 12mm or 10mm or even 9mm focal lengths available in dedicated SLR wide angle lenses. And make no mistake – the difference of even 10mm at the wide end is positively gargantuan. On the telephoto (long) end, the story is a bit different. Larger super-zoom "bridge" compact cameras such as the Canon SX30IS, at just $400, are equipped with fixed lenses that offer tremendous reach. Indeed, to match the range/distance of the SX30IS in the SLR market, you'd need to spend several thousand dollars on the lens alone. And even then it would weigh so much you'd need a tripod to support it. But here's the thing. In virtually every way, SLR lenses are superior. They focus more accurately and faster (great for sports photography, wildlife, and essentially anything that moves), they deliver better contrast and colors, they're made of better "glass" and components that will last a lifetime if not abused, and their "optics" are superior. In other words, you'll get none of the distortion or color fringing or inconsistencies you'll find in point and shoots. And you won't kill them with a few raindrops, either. Also, the pricier/better quality SLR lenses generally offer wider apertures (lens openings), which in turn allows more light to hit the sensor. Combine the bigger sensor of an SLR with a top-notch lens and you'll find you can photograph much darker subjects. Say, for example, you're taking pics of a bird in flight. Sure, the sky all around the bird is bright and easy to deal with. But the underside of the bird, facing the ground as it does, is lost in shadows. You'll need a wide aperture if you ever hope to capture those underside details. Aperture helps in other ways too. You know those photos where the subject is crisp and sharp yet everything behind and/or in front of it is blurred? Kinda makes the subject "pop," doesn't it? That's the effect caused by a small "depth of field," and it's precisely what a wide aperture will do for you. But, believe it or not, interchangeable lenses can be cost effective too. Yes, even a mid-grade lens will cost much more than an entire compact camera setup. But as we said earlier, the good ones are built to last and will always be in demand. Thusly, if you tire of a given lens after a few years or merely want to experiment with a different focal length, you can quite easily sell your current lens on the secondary market for just a wee bit less than you paid for it. The downside to interchangeable lenses, apart from the obvious additional cost, is a dirty sensor. You see, whenever you change an SLR lens, you essentially open up the camera and expose the interior to whatever conditions currently exist. If those conditions include blowing dust, loose dirt, or precipitation, chances are that some of it will enter your camera and lodge itself on your sensor, where it negatively impacts future photos. You can prevent a dirty sensor by protecting your camera when you change lenses, and you can clean a sensor after the fact, but dirty sensors are simply far less common with compact, fixed-lens cameras. Performance In compact cameras, the sensor is electronically activated. In an SLR, a real shutter actually opens and closes. The big difference here is the instantaneous response of the latter, a tremendous benefit to photographers needing to capture a fleeting moment or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And that's just one of the performance gains you'll find in an SLR. Another is the speed of continuous shooting. Say, for example, you're photographing your son's soccer game. With a compact camera, you can capture two or perhaps three images per second. Though that sounds pretty fast in the grand scheme of things, the reality is that things happen very quickly in the world of sport. Images taken just milliseconds apart can tell very different stories. If instead you had a midrange SLR such as the Nikon D7000, you could rattle off six frames per second. A Canon EOS 7D will give you eight. Other, pricier SLRs are faster than that. And let's not forget – the more pics you take in a given moment, the better chance you'll stand of having one or more perfectly in focus. We've already discussed the superior focusing speed of SLRs, an attribute that has quite a bit to do with the lens currently fitted to the camera. But startup time is faster too, and the memory buffer is bigger. And SLRs, with their comprehensive roster of buttons, rotary wheels, and assorted controls, help keep busy photographers away from perplexing menu screens. Indeed, experienced photogs can take a shot, adjust several key settings, and take the next shot without ever removing their eye from the viewfinder – all because they have an array of mechanical controls at their disposal. But for some, the magic of the SLR is over in a flash. More precisely, the flash. Flash photography is one of the most rewarding elements of the hobby. Those who master it will open themselves up to a world of creative lighting possibilities. Problem is that in order to get a handle on quality flash photography, one needs to separate oneself completely from the built-in flash found on most every camera. Not only are built-in flashes comparatively feeble, but they also generate harsh, direct light that does nothing to flatter whoever or whatever you shoot. Conversely, external flashes can be tailored to be whatever you want. Sure, they pack a wallop that'll flood subjects at distances built-in flashes could never touch. But they're also eminently controllable. You can dial them down so their impact is barely perceptible, you can move them off camera for effects like side-lighting, and you can add extra flash units – controlled with or without cable – to create stunning results even a seasoned pro would be proud of. But to dive full-speed into the flash photography game, you need a camera with a hot shoe (the mounting device for an external flash). Sadly, whereas all SLRs feature a hot shoe, very few compact cameras do. And even those that are hot shoe-equipped simply don't offer the level of flash control you'll find in an SLR. Thusly, if flash performance is your passion, there's simply no other place to turn. Manual Control Options Compact cameras are improving in this regard, and several now offer a bevy of manual control options. However, if you want total command over every facet of your camera's operation, if you have a hankering for photographic creativity, and if your inner artist is making itself known, there's no substitute for an SLR. With a single lens reflex camera, changing lenses is just the start. In fully manual mode, you can independently adjust all three elements of the "exposure triangle" – shutter speed, aperture, and ISO (the light sensitivity of the sensor, ISO can be increased in darker environments or decreased in full sunlight) – at any time. You can shoot in JPEG and have the camera apply post-processing, or you can shoot in RAW format and later take your images into an editing program to spruce them up. You can meter an entire scene, a smaller part of that scene, or a pinpoint in the middle of the scene. You can select single shot focusing or opt to have your focusing track moving subjects. You can choose where within the scene your camera focuses (the 7D, for example, offers 19 individual points) and govern the precision of those points. You can instruct the camera to take one shot when you press the shutter button, ask it to churn out a continuous low-speed or high-speed stream of pics, or put it in self-timer or remote-controlled modes. And you can make countless subtle adjustments to virtually every facet of the camera's operation – a serious boon for those who want to take their hobby beyond the norm. But Wait – There's Another Option In this feature, we've covered some of the primary pros and cons of an SLR versus a compact camera. There's a lot more to the story of course, and we'll hopefully address more of it in the near future. But in the meantime, we'd be remiss if we didn't alert you to a third format – a middle ground if you will between the two camps. Developed only recently, it's called "Micro Four Thirds," and it warrants at least cursory investigation. We'll save a thorough look at the Micro Four Thirds system for another time, but you need to know this: Micro Four Thirds cameras offer interchangeable lenses and many of the capabilities of SLRs, yet are smaller, less cumbersome, and noticeably less expensive. On the downside, Micro Four Thirds sensors are quite a bit smaller than those of SLRs, resulting in "noisier" photos. Furthermore, Micro Four Thirds cameras have no optical viewfinders and, thus far, only a fraction of the lenses available for SLRs. As we said, there's much more to the discussion. Making the leap from compact camera is not a decision to be taken lightly. Do you due diligence, read as much as you can, and perhaps rent an SLR for a weekend or two before you make a move.

ISOstick: Is It An Optical Drive Or A USB Stick? Posted: 28 Jul 2011 12:04 PM PDT "I remember when a TV was a TV," my grandmother told me the other day, "And a radio was a radio. Now you can get radio stations on your TV! And TV stations on your computer!" Her look of amazement confirmed that, in fact, (grand)parents just don't understand, but before you smirk at the story, remember that we may be in my incredulous grandmother's shoes one day. Consider the currently-in-development ISOstick: it's a flash drive and an optical drive in one! The ISOstick is a flash drive that tricks computers into thinking that the ISOs stored on it come from physical optical drives, ExtremeTech reports. If that sounds like it's made for running OSes on the fly, you're exactly right; there's even a built-in bootloader called "isosel" that helps you select which OS to launch if you've got oodles of Linux distros on the stick. "Some BIOSes only see the first drive a device presents, so isostick's optical drive comes first so you don't have to worry about not being able to boot from it!" the creator boasts on the Kickstarter page for the device. Plus, a read-only switch on the ISOstick protects against possible badware infections. The downside? Um, it doesn't actually exist yet. In fact, the creator of the ISOstick is currently raising funding on Kickstarter in order to keep the project going. If – or as we hope, when – it does hit the streets, it won't be cheap: expect to pay $100 for an 8GB ISOstick, $175 for a 16GB version, or $225 for 32GBs of faux-optical fun. Check out the ISOstick website and its Kickstarter page, which both go into extensive details about the guts of the device. If ISOstick sounds like something you're interested in, go ahead and toss the guy some pocket change – every little bit helps. At the time of publication, 129 backers had already donated $17,538 towards the $25,000 goal, with 25 days left til the donation deadline.

Browser Extension of the Week: Readability Posted: 28 Jul 2011 11:36 AM PDT There's a whole lot of information available on the internet, just waiting to be devoured. Unfortunately, a lot of it's damn hard to read. Often set in a terrible font or against the backdrop of eye-scarring page design an online article, no matter how awesome the content, can be difficult, if not impossible to read. Fortunately for Firefox and Chrome users, Readability is here to save the day... as well as your eyes and sanity. It's our Browser Extension of the Week, As its name suggests, Readability is an extension designed to make the web more readable. The extension provides users with the ability to strip any web-based article they're perusing of all page design, advertisements and other distractions, leaving nothing but story-pertinent text and photos to make for a superior screen-borne reading experience. If that's not enough for you, Readability also offers the option to save an article to read later, as well as the ability to send your content to a Kindle device. Each of these features can be accessed via user-mappable keyboard shortcuts, which in our humble opinion makes this extension one of the best friends any hardcore computer rocking reader could ever hope for. Be sure to check back every Thursday for another edition of Maximum PC's Browser Extension of the Week.

Google Fiber One Step Closer To Reality In KC Posted: 28 Jul 2011 11:33 AM PDT A net neutrality bill may be hacking its way through Washingtonian red tape as we speak, but its long-term success is far from certain. If you remember correctly, one of the matches that lit the neutrality debate was the threat of ISPs charging extra to provide quick access to popular websites like Google. Google, obviously, wants none of that crap. The company's plan to roll out 1Gbps fiber Internet to Kansas Cities (both of them) is not only a great community outreach program, it makes the Goog its own ISP – and the project's one step closer to reality. From the Google Fiber Team's blog: "If you're in Kansas City in the next few weeks, you may notice a few engineers walking around, consulting maps and surveying your street or neighborhood. These engineers are kicking off the next phase of Google Fiber—detail engineering." "Boots on the Ground," they call it. Basically, Google's engineers are measuring telephone poles around Kansas Cities to make sure all of their numbers jive for an early 2012 launch. It's great news for people from Kansas Cities, but we can't help but be a little jealous. We want 1Gbps in 2012, too! Image credit: Google Fiber

Could Fox's New Streaming Video Policy Turn Web Viewers Into Dastardly Pirates? Posted: 28 Jul 2011 11:02 AM PDT Fox just doesn't seem to get it. Around a week after Netflix's price hike sent irate customers into the arms of its competitors – like Hulu, which Fox has a stake in – the network announced, in a very customer UNfriendly move, that people who don't subscribe to cable, Dish Network or Hulu Plus would soon have to endure an eight-day delay between the time a show airs and the time it appears online. Customers didn't get angry, but they're just going to shrug their shoulders and go back to picking up Family Guy on P2P networks, anyways. That's what GigaOM theorizes, at least, and its case kinda makes sense. It cites numbers from Torrentfreak, who tracks Bittorrent trends each and every week. Apparently, when a show becomes available on a major streaming provider like Netflix or Hulu, its rate of P2P piracy drops dramatically. In fact, when Hulu launched in 2008, piracy of many of Fox's flagship shows dropped by up to a third. GigaOM says piracy rates could climb by similar rates when Fox's online viewing change takes effect. Fox's new streaming policy might even push paying subscribers who don't want to bother with authentication procedures into the inviting arms of P2P networks. We won't be able to know for sure how it's going to shake down until the paywall goes into effect on August 15th, but it will be interesting to check out Torrentfreak's data the following week. What about you, Max PC readers? Are you more likely to download Family Guy on P2P networks the night after it airs, or is waiting for a week no big deal?

New Dell Server Warranty Offers Protection Against High Temperatures Posted: 28 Jul 2011 10:32 AM PDT Being computer geeks, most of our wants and wishes skew towards things with processors and AMOLED displays. In this hot almost-August sun, we find ourselves wishing for something a little more simple – a nice, cool breeze. Not for us, but for all the poor fresh air-cooled servers around the country. Traditional thinking says hot winds and hot servers make for a melt-down margarita, but Dell's offering a warranty that guarantees its servers and storage devices can withstand the scorching summer heat. Fresh air cooling draws in and filters outside air to keep servers cool. It's more energy-efficient than using traditional large-scale chillers, but high outside temperatures make it difficult to keep the heat regulated in the summer. Enter Dell. The company announced today that it will warranty its two-socket 1U, 2U and tower servers to run for 900 hours per year at 104 degrees and 90 hours per year at 113 degrees (most US locations never see 90 hours of 113 degree heat over the course of a year). The change in warranty doesn't reflect a change in design, Computerworld reports; Dell's servers have been able to handle those temperatures for a while now, but the company's simply never certified them for use over 96 degrees.

China Orders Businesses Offering Wi-Fi to Install Spy Software Posted: 28 Jul 2011 07:48 AM PDT China's determination to police the Internet in any and every way it sees fit seems to have no bounds. The country's officials have outdone themselves this time by ordering all public spaces offering Wi-Fi access to install specific software police can use to identify people using the service, state media said today according to the Associated Free Press. That's bad from a privacy perspective, but it's also costly to a business' bottom line. Quoting figures from the China Business News, AFP says the software runs anywhere from 20,000 yuan (around $3,100) to 60,000 yuan (around $9,300). Rather than fork over that kind of cash, public places like bars and cafes are opting instead to cut off Internet access, despite Wi-Fi being hugely popular. "For a reason that everyone is aware of, we are temporarily stopping our Wi-Fi service," the Beijing-based Kubrick bookstore told the China Business News. Another option is to ignore the order, but according to cafe and restaurant owners in China, businesses caught doing so face a minimum 5,000 yuan (around $775) fine.

Asus Gets Official with $200 Eee PC X101 Netbook Posted: 28 Jul 2011 07:29 AM PDT Some people thought Asus was downright crazy when it said it was building a $200 netbook. That's not a whole lot more than an eBook reader, and it's certainly cheaper than most tablet PCs that are supposedly cannibalizing the netbook market. Well, Asus is proving the skeptics wrong with its $199 Eee PC X101, an ultrathin netbook that now has an official product page. Getting to that price point requires some sacrifices, and chief among them is the operating system. The Eee PC X101 runs MeeGo, an open-source mobile Linux OS designed for netbooks, entry-level desktops, nettops, and other devices. It's also saddled with a single-core Intel Atom N435 processor (N455 also available). Other mostly lightweight specs include a 10.1-inch LED backlit screen, 1GB of DDR3 memory (upgradeable to 2GB), 8GB SSD, 0.3MP webcam, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, a pair of USB 2.0 ports, audio jack, memory card reader, and 3-cell battery good for up to four hours of run time. Designed for maximum portability (minus the battery life, apparently), the X101 boasts a profile that's less than 0.7 inches and weighs under 2.03 pounds. There will be an option for Windows 7 Starter that will cost more, though pricing hasn't yet been announced. The baseline model will ship with MeeGo and and the Asus App store where users can go and download apps from the cloud. Image Credit: Asus

Tea Party Leader Pinched for Selling Pirated Software Posted: 28 Jul 2011 06:13 AM PDT Any college student will tell you it's not a party until someone gets arrested. If that's the case, the Grand Strand Tea Party just earned its party status, and possibly doomed its future. According to reports, authorities arrested Tea Party president Anthony Trinca for allegedly selling counterfeit software. Citing a police report, local news station WMBF News says Trinca's undoing came after one his customers purchased six Rosetta Stone language programs from him, each one advertised on Craigslist for $125 a pop. The victim says he sold two of the copies, and that one of his customers discovered the software was counterfeit. The victim then sought a refund from Trinca, who allegedly refused and essentially told the buyer to go pound sand. The victim claims he picked up four of the six purchased copies from Trinca's home, where he saw other programs he believes to be pirated software based on their low prices, including Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop. Following an investigation, local police arrested the 61-year-old Grand Strand Tea Party leader, along with his 23-year-old son Micheal Trinca. Both have been released on a $5,000 bond.

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MMO News

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• Eden Eternal
• Realm of the Titans
• Fiesta Online
• Runes of Magic
• Golfstar
• Iris Online
• Loong: The Power of the Dragon
• King of Kings 3
• World of Tanks
• Dungeons & Dragons Online

Eden Eternal Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:31 PM PDT Eden Eternal is a 3D anime inspired fantasy MMORPG where players become mysterious heroes with an extraordinary ability to wield magic. Start your adventure as a brave Warrior or Magician on a mission to save the world. Fight ferocious beasts, kill assassins, and battle other players in duels. Switch freely between 15 different playable classes. Tackle challenging quests while discovering the hidden secrets of the past. Help restore peace to the shattered utopia known as Eden. Publisher: Aeria Games Playerbase: High Graphics: High Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Medium PvP: Arena / Duels / Guild Battles Filesize: 1.74GB Pros: +Unique Class System. +Great graphics. +Excellent interface. +Fast-paced combat. +Pet option. +Soulmate dating feature. +Guild towns. Cons: -Shop items limited. –Lots of grinding. –Each class only has a handful of skills. –Generic storyline. –Gameplay can be repetitive at times. Overview Eden Eternal Overview Eden Eternal is a fantasy themed MMORPG that transports players into a world in desperate need of harmony. After several races migrated to a newly discovered continent for a fresh start they quickly found out from firsthand experience that old habits are hard to break. A disagreement about the direction their future should take erupted into firestorm ignited previous racial hatred and tension. A devastating war has left Eden in turmoil. Players step into the shoes of a mysterious hero with magical powers. Although their origin is still unknown they must take on the role of an Eternal Guardian fighting the evil plaguing the lands. Destroy an assortment of monsters and local beasts. Kill fierce boss creatures and other players. Complete challenging quests. Find a Soulmate or adopt a pet to assist in your journey. Similar to other X-Legend and Aeria Games' titles like Grand Fantasia and Kitsu Saga Eden Eternal has cool anime style graphics. Players are not limited to one class per character. As they progress new classes are unlocked which can be switched at random. All players start out as a human Warrior or Magician. There are 15 unlockable classes depending on a player's level. Heroic Traits – Leadership, Guardian, Apostle, Commando, Sanctum, Maverick, Adventurer, and Crack Shot. Classes: Warrior (no level requirement) – They are skilled soldiers equipped with heavy armor in the form of swords and axes. Their ability to easily take out opponents and yield high level of damage make them worthy adversaries. Warlock (level 55) – Warlocks borrow their power from the darkness. Their arsenal of magical tricks is overwhelming often leaving enemies quivering for mercy. Templar (level 60) – Deeply rooted in their religious beliefs these spiritual warriors call of the power of God to punish the evil terrorizing the lands. Ranger (level 65) – Rangers are very meticulous in their actions. They analyze opponents' weaknesses and execute blows that will do the most amount of damage. This class has mastered delivering devastating attacks from afar. Eden Eternal Screenshots Eden Eternal Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Eden Eternal Review By Ange Perdu Eden Eternal is a 3D anime style fantasy MMORPG set on a war torn continent where players become mysterious beings with incredible magical powers. Heroes serve as Eternal Guardians fighting the evil consuming the once peaceful world. Complete challenging quests and explore while slowly discovering the true origin of the race that emerged from the blue crystals. Kill beasts lurking around local villages or battle other players in fierce duels. Conquer dungeons with friends. Slay hundreds of monsters and bosses. Players can use any weapon, spell, or combative move of their choice by unlocking all 15 distinct classes and swapping freely. Find a sweetheart or summon pets to assist in combat. Becoming an Eternal Guardian, the Gameplay Heroes or Eternal Guardians begin their adventure in a local village near Limestone Mountain. Most of the gameplay involves completing quests and fighting monsters. Similar to other MMOs like Grand Fantasia the storyline is somewhat generic. Quests are given by NPCs scattered throughout the towns. The tasks vary from battling troublesome Mushroids to relying messages back and forth to commanding officers. Many of the missions consist of some form of combat. Collecting raw gemstones might require destroying intimidating Limestone Golems in the process. To accomplish a specific task a particular item may be required. A hammer must be used while fighting certain beasts to gather materials. Blowing a whistle will summon dangerous boss creatures to wage war with. The duties of an Eternal Guardian are endless. Kill hordes of Forest Imps, defeat Rainbow Angelly swarms, eliminate Eagle Gang Assassins, or sneak into a bandits' secret camp to destroy their supplies. Some quests are repeatable and aid in leveling. XP, coins, rare items, and occasionally fame or an achievement title is earned by completing quests. Players maneuver through the zones of Eden using their mouse, WASD keys, or the convenient auto-run feature by clicking on go from the quest log. Combat is fast-paced and surprisingly fun. Once initiated heroes use a mixture of physical and magical moves to conquer their opponent. Perform the Lightning Web, Fire Bomb, Perforation, Tornado, or Combat Cyclone. Depending on character's class and skill set there's a variety of mesmerizing spells that can be executed. Warriors to Warlocks Eden Eternal features a very unique class system. All players start out as warrior or mage with one heroic trait of their choice. There are 15 different unlockable classes with their own set of cool animated skills. The two meters at the bottom of the screen monitor experience. The first one gauges character XP while the second records class experience which is primarily gained through combat. Since class experience accumulates much faster players usually benefit by changing their hero from warrior to thief and so on. As a hero levels up new classes are unlocked. At any time except during combat Eternal Guardians can switch their current class. The requirements vary depending on a character's level and their previous or related class level reached. Although there are just a handful of skills per class players have the ability to alternate freely between them. In most games users are limited to the battle skills in their specific class. It only takes a quick click on the transform button to change a class. The process of leveling up each class's skills individually is relatively easy but involves a lot of grinding. Killing monsters, repeating quests, and clearing dungeons are necessary for a diverse hero. Players will have to devote a significant amount of time into building up their character. This option makes the game rather addicting. Class talents allow gamers who prefer one particular class over another to master it. Knowledge points are rewarded each time a character gain's a level in their class. These points are used towards specialized talents in the skill window. Continually improve talents to become the most powerful Bard or Shaman around. Battle Dogs & Sweethearts Eternal Guardians do not have to face evil alone. There is a pet companion option that permits heroes to add a Battle Dog in the form of an adorable Pug or massive Tiger. Pets can be trained to heal, attack, or perform tricks once a character reaches level 25. The Soulmate feature allows players to form a relationship and become sweethearts. Unlike other MMOs in this virtual world same-sex soul mates is legal. Players can be sweethearts with guys or girls regardless of their character's gender. It's also free to initiate dating status another cool aspect rarely seen. Couples receive lovers skills for the duration they're together. These skills vary like the Soulmate Instant Heal and give players an advantage during battles or difficult dungeon quests. Lovers can send each other special gifts, messages, and accumulate achievement points. The guild customization feature is also very impressive. Guild members can join their resources to construct their own town in Eden Eternal. Each town can have up to five established crafting structures. Set up farms, mines, altars, alchemy labs, foundries, and a magic pool. Build a monument in the town square. The polished anime-style graphics is similar to Kitsu Saga. There are breathtakingly beautiful backdrops and waterfalls. Guilds are able to create their own hangout spot within the game. Players can set up shops in their Guild Town to sell items to non-members as well. Travelling Merchants Items and accessories can be purchased at Merchant Shops or in the Item Mall. The weapons selection is decent. Purchase the Special Broadsword, Equilibrium Staff, Red Copper Bow, Scout Light Shield, Shell-Splitter Axe, Silver Scout Dagger, Versatile Mace, Highland Bow, Knight's Shield, and the coveted Spell Wand. Weapons sold at shops are usable by all classes. Buy Tiger Fighter Tunics, Water Spirit Robes, Thorn Flower Hats, Gleam Vestments, Defender Helmets, and Sprinter Brigandine. Most of the armor is dull giving Eternal Guardians the same appearance. There are no outfits or costumes that stand out. Players do have the option of using dyes to add color to their apparel. Dyes are available in sage, orange, dark grey, yellow, eggplant, coral, pale blue, and lavender. Mixing color palettes can be amusing for a second or two but it doesn't make up for the lack of garbs in the Merchant Shops. In the Item Mall gamers willing to spend real money can purchase rare pets and hard to acquire trinkets. The Razorback, little Labrador, and Shorthair Cat are available as companions. Adventure threads, Kimono, Eden Spectacles, the Legacy Bow, boosts, and more powerful health tonics are on sale. There's also a cool Holy Seraph's Wings that gives heroes an angelic appearance in the mall. Final Verdict: Great Comparable to other X-Legend titles like Grand Fantasia and Kitsu Saga there's a nice variety innovative features that adds to its appeal. Eden Eternal is a fun and addicting game. Instantly transform into another class. Become a Ranger, Illusionist, Knight, Martial Artist, and more. Wage war with an assortment of monsters, clear out dungeons, and duel other heroes. Complete challenging quests in a party, with pet companion, or your sweetheart. If you're one of those players that have a hard time choosing a class than Eden Eternal is definitely worth checking out. From its unique class system to the impressive Guild Town feature this game has a lot to offer MMO fans. Screenshots Eden Eternal Screenshots 123456► Videos Eden Eternal Videos Eden Eternal First Impressions Click here to view the embedded video. Links Eden Eternal Links Eden Eternal Official Site System Requirements Eden Eternal Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP / Vista CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3000 MHz / AMD Athlon 64 3000+ RAM: 1 GB HDD: 4 GB Free Graphics Card: GeForce 7600 / ATI Radeon Х1600 Recommended Specification: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 3000 MHz / Intel Core Quad 2400 MHz / AMD Athlon 64 6400+ or better RAM: 2 GB or more HDD: 4 GB or more Graphics Card: GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 4700 or better

Realm of the Titans Posted: 05 Feb 2011 09:07 PM PST Realm of the Titans is a 3D fantasy action MMO with DotA style gameplay. Work with allies to defeat the opposing team and destroy their base! A match making features ensures balanced games, and a varied selection of heroes keeps things exciting. Publisher: Aeria Games Playerbase: ?? Graphics: Medium Type: MMO EXP Rate: ?? PvP: Team Based Filesize: ?? Pros: +Match making feature. +Competitive gameplay. +Stat tracking & achievements. +Varied heroes to chose from. Cons: -Several similar games already available. -Steep learning curve. -No launch dated announced. Overview Realm of the Titans Overview Realm of Titans is the latest free to play game inspired by the widely popular Warcraft 3 custom map Defense of the Ancients (aka DotA.) With a gameplay style similar to League of Legends and Avalon Heroes, Realm of Titans should be instantly accessible to fans of the genre. Several new features like control points should shake things up and help the game stand out. Realm of the Titans will utilize a match making system to pair players with similarly skilled opponents. The game will also keep track of stats, and allow players to unlock achievements to access new content. Sign up for the beta today! Realm of the Titans Screenshots Realm of the Titans Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Realm of the Titans Review Coming Soon… Screenshots Realm of the Titans Screenshots Coming Soon… Videos Realm of the Titans Videos Realm of the Titans Preview Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links Realm of the Titans Links Realm of Titans Official Site System Requirements Realm of the Titans Requirements (estimates) Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP / Vista CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3000 MHz / AMD Athlon 64 3000+ RAM:  2 GB HDD: 5 GB Free Graphics Card: GeForce 7600 / ATI Radeon Х1600 Recommended Specification: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 3000 MHz / Intel Core Quad 2400 MHz / AMD Athlon 64 6400+ or better RAM: 4 GB or more HDD: 10 GB or more Graphics Card: GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 4700 or better

Fiesta Online Posted: 03 Mar 2009 04:42 PM PST Fiesta Online (or just Fiesta for short) is a 3D fantasy MMORPG.  The game has cute, cell-shaded, anime inspired graphics and lively music.  The game’s entire world is vibrant and has an upbeat atmosphere. Publisher: Outspark Playerbase: High Graphics: Medium Quality Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Low PvP: PvP Zones Filesize: ~1120 MB Pros: +Beautiful cel-shaded graphics. +Great interface. +Good skill progression system. +Solid Item crafting / resource gathering systems. +Easy to learn. Cons: -Only one stat point per level. -Repetitive combat. -Five starting classes. Overview Fiesta Online Overview Fiesta Online is another interesting MMORPG published by Outspark.  The game has three starting classes, each one of which has two job advancements; one at level 20 and the other at level 60.  The game’s most notable aspects are its attractive cel-shaded graphics and its solid item crafting system.  The game isn’t nearly as in-depth as some of the newer free MMORPGs, but Fiesta is still an all-around fun game well worth checking out.  The game’s four playable classes are: Fighter- Fighters are the generic ‘warrior’ archetype in Fiesta.  They are extremely capable in melee combat and have the most hit points and armor in the game.  They are proficient with both one-handed and two-handed weapons. Mage – Mages are the traditional offensive spell casting class in Fiesta. They can do a great deal of damage from a distance with their magic, but are extremely vulnerable in melee range.  They have low hit points and minimal defensive capabilities. Cleric - Clerics are experts at supporting party members in combat. They have a variety of healing and buff skills which make them incredibly valuable to a party.  They are the weakest class in the game but when they with a group they’re extremely useful. Archer – Archers are deadly with the bow.  They are fast and agile which allows them to deal damage rather quickly from a distance, but are vulnerable in melee combat. Trickster – A dual-wielding class that is capable of dealing large amounts of damage in short bursts. They are melee oriented and have decent HP. Fiesta Online Screenshots Fiesta Online Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Fiesta Online Review By Jaime Skelton Launched in 2007 in the United States by Outspark, Fiesta is a classic and well-known free-to-play anime-style MMORPG. Similar in ways to Fly For Fun, Asda Story, Dream of Mirror Online, and Mabinogi, Fiesta’s cel-shaded graphics and simple gameplay introduced many players to free-to-play MMOs. After a few years in the MMO market, Fiesta Online is still going strong, and there’s a few good reasons why. Choosing your Path Like any game, getting started in Fiesta Online requires going through character creation process. At the start of the game, you may choose only one of four classic classes – fighter, cleric, mage, or archer – and your gender. Character customization is extremely limited, offering only the chance to change your face, hair style, and hair color, each with only about three options each. For those concerned about the lack of classes, be reassured – each class becomes stronger with advanced classes at level 20, 60, and 100, the last of which offers a choice between two final specializations. Customization also comes in the ability to choose what extra stats are assigned each level in the "free stat" system. A Helping Bird Fiesta’s tutorial system is very limited and hands-on. For new players, a helpful NPC will offer a simple tip on picking up the first quests before sending them on their way. Tutorial tips come along instead with a bird-head alert in the upper right of the screen, offering explanations of each crucial game element, from combat and leveling to upgrading items and the mentor system. The alert also serves a dual purpose to let you know when new quests are available, and from whom. While the bird serves as a helper for those new to MMORPGs, many experienced players may find it aggravating, especially as it appears for each new character. The Classic Grind … Like many MMORPGs, Fiesta features a quest system to help players level as well as earn useful rewards. However, leveling takes the style of older MMOs, in which grinding is more crucial to gaining experience than questing. In fact, new players will discover this element before level 5; quests are given at a level before they can be reasonably completed by a new player with no assistance. For this reason, many players choose to grind out their early levels and skip quests entirely, as early level rewards are purchasable from vendors. … and the Value of Friendship The other option in starting off to the right foot, of course, is to have the help of friends, or at least, the kindness of passing strangers. A mentor-apprentice system exists for high level players to help out lowbies with bonuses for both, which can be one of the most efficient ways for a low level player to earn their experience. High level players may also choose to pass through and offer buffs or free potions and buff scrolls to low level players. Either of these ways can offer a powerful boost to players to make them strong enough to handle higher level mobs without being weak and risking death, or long rests after each enemy’s death. The final point to be made of this is that Fiesta is a game geared primarily for group efforts; solo players will struggle often without outside help or long grinds. Battling for Glory & Profit Like many classic MMOs, Fiesta utilizes a skill-on-use system, in which players may both auto-attack enemies and input skills used on an action bar, as they choose and are available. Special HP and SP stones are available to use to restore health and spell points, respectively. In between fights, players can also use "Home" to rest in their mini-house (a mushroom on default), and regenerate their stats. To earn money – used for buying gear and other useful items – players must sell what they find on the enemies they kill. While some "junk" is dropped, most of the items found are useful for the game’s crafting system, called Alchemy. Players can learn professions in this system as soon as they are created, and may choose two total professions from five – allowing them to produce enhancement stones, potions, scrolls, or change items into a higher or lower quality. Kingdom Quests & PvP There’s more to do than grind, quest, and craft in Fiesta, of course. For players who prefer PvE, Kingdom Quests become available every two hours. Designed for players anywhere from level 5 up and separated into level spans, they can be joined individually or with a party. Each quest has its own victory conditions that can be achieved by the players inside within a set time limit. Each player inside will earn a present box if they are successful, and may earn anything from materials, scrolls, and potions to enhanced and rare equipment. For PvP fans, once reaching level 20, several different zones become available for player versus player battling. Each city has its own battle zone, and several battlefields also become available. Guild wars are also available for those who are socially inclined to join a guild and participate in group PvP. The player versus player experience is only designed for showing off skill, and sometimes earning items and other perks like titles; experience is not rewarded. Final Verdict: Good Fiesta is easy to get into, with plenty for players to do in both PvE and PvP. It makes a particularly good introduction to free-to-play MMORPGs, with an active and helpful player base and plenty of regular maintenance from its publisher. What holds Fiesta back mostly is its grinding nature: any player who hates grinding is going to find Fiesta boring or frustrating. If you don’t mind a balance between grinding and quests, and enjoy a game that rewards cooperative gameplay, Fiesta has a lot to offer. Screenshots Fiesta Online Screenshots 1234► Videos Fiesta Online Videos Fiesta Online Character Creation Click here to view the embedded video. Fiesta Online High Level Video Click here to view the embedded video. Fiesta Online Official Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Fiesta Online Boss Battle Click here to view the embedded video. Fiesta Online Gameplay Footage Click here to view the embedded video. Links Fiesta Online Links Fiesta Online Official Site FiestaFan Wiki Fiesta Online Wikia System Requirements Fiesta Online System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 2000 CPU: 1.6 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent AMD processor RAM: 512MB Free HDD: 3.0 GB Free Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce MX or equivalent Recommended Specifications: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 2000 CPU: 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent AMD processor RAM: 1GB Free HDD: 3.0 GB Free Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce TI or Radeon 9200

Runes of Magic Posted: 10 Jan 2009 09:36 AM PST Drawing much of its inspiration from the mammoth MMORPG World of Warcraft, Runes of Magic brings to life the fantasy world of Taborea with beautiful 3D graphics, and with over 600 quests to complete offers players much in the way of content and features. With fully-realized dungeon encounters, unmatched character customization, a unique multi-class system, in-game player housing, and a growing community of over 2,000,000 – Runes of Magic guarantees something for everyone. Publisher: Frogster Interactive Playerbase: High Graphics: High Quality Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Medium PvP: Open / Duels Filesize: 6.7 GB Pros: +Fantastic character customization. +Unique multi-class system.  +Player housing. +Heaps of different PvP options. +Huge game world. +Fun end-game raiding. Cons: -Cash shop can imbalance the game.  -Sensitive language filter. -Similarities to WoW may deter some players. Overview Runes of Magic Overview Runes of magic is a feature rich MMORPG that uses a graphic style very similar to WoW’s. The familiar interface and animations help new players and MMO veterans adjust to the world of Taborea. The game supports both individual player housing and guild controlled castles located in separate instances. But what really sets Runes of Magic apart is the dual-classing system whereby characters can pick a second class at level 10. With a total of eight classes and two races (Human, Elf) to chose from, players can create truly unique characters. Classes: Warrior – Masters of armed combat. Warriors can use any close combat weapon and any type of armor besides plate. They deliver special strikes and blows which have various effects on their targets. Scout - Adapt at long-ranged combat, Scouts use their bows or crossbows to deal heavy damage. They are vulnerable at close range and rely on a series of evasive and delaying skills to keep enemies from closing in. Rogue - Specialized at inflicting deadly blows at a fast rate, rogues use daggers which can cause heavy bleeding or be coated in poison. They are very capable at doding blows, but their speed comes at the expense of armor and health. Rogues can also lay traps, scout, and increase a group’s income generation. Mage - Commanding the elements of fire and lightning, Mages deal heavy damage from afar. They possess direct damage, and area of effect spells. Mages can also cast barrier spells and strength buffs, adding to their utility. Priest (Human Only) - While priests can cast water based spells to deal damage, they primarily play a supportive role. Priests can cast healing spells, boost their allies stats, and even bring fallen comrades back from the dead. They can equip shields which aid their defense, but are still frail. Knight (Human Only) - Heavily armored fighters, Knights are the only class that can wear plate armor. Knights go into battle head-first equipped with shields and light-based attacks. They are the tanks of RoM and have the ability to draw their foes attacks towards themselves. Druid (Elf Only) - Attuned to nature, Druids are a versatile class capable of healing allies, casting damage over time spells, and even mind controlling opponents. Druids possess a special ability that allows them to gather Nature’s Power and unleash it at anytime to cast powerful spells. Warden (Elf Only) - Close combat specialists. Wardens can use a diverse set of weapons and can wear chain armor. Wardens can summon powerful pets to fight alongside them, and have access to magical spells which strengthen themselves and weaken their opponents. Runes of Magic Screenshots Runes of Magic Feature Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Runes of Magic Review By Cody 'Neramaar' Hargreaves To get it out of the way nice and early, and to give those that disagree with me a chance to respond without having to read the entire review, Runes of Magic is a WoW Clone. There, I said it. Have at me with your silver tongues and sharpened wits, exact your revenge upon my flesh, for I have gone where many have before, and branded a game a clone of World of Warcraft. The thing is, and this is where I might lose you, so pay close attention – I think that it's a good thing. I KNEW THIS LOOKED FAMILIAR… You see, throughout these past short years, years that have been particularly kind to the MMO industry, games have been cloning one another on an almost daily basis. Hell, if you wanna get real technical – any game portraying an open 3D world with a third-person perspective is a clone of the original Everquest – and although I can't think of it off the top of my head – Everquest is probably a clone of another, albeit less popular, MMO game. Cloning is simply part of the industry, and as much as I don't particularly like the idea – it's here to stay, and it's something we have to get used to. With Runes of Magic (henceforth referred to as RoM), it's different. They haven't simply cloned the gameplay style, or the character textures – they've pretty much cloned the entire damn game, right down the names of a large portion of the skills and spells. The biggest key difference between the two of them lies solely in the fact the RoM is free to play, and WoW is not. There is however a great many additions that have been added to the WoW formula in RoM, and therein lies salvation. FILLING IN THE BLANKS For the three of you reading this that have absolutely no idea what the WoW formula is, or any other standard MMORPG formula for that matter, it is simply the standard way that MMORPG games are played. You create a character, and spend a large quantity of your life making that character great, through killing monsters and gaining experience and equipment, thereby making your character stronger. Thanks to the countless content updates and additions to these games, this cycle is damn near never ending – and is the main contributor to the new 'MMO Addiction' craze that's taking the world by storm. This is the process that almost every MMORPG game takes – and is the same process that was perfected by Blizzard with WoW – hence the 11.5 Million active players. The reason I have never labeled any other game a WoW clone is because cloning this simple process of playing isn't really cloning WoW. Cloning the skills, environments, quests, and a plethora of other features however, is. There – only took me five paragraphs to explain why RoM is a WoW Clone, now on to why this is such a good thing. GO ON, FLAUNT IT The key here, and the thing that gives RoM so much of its undeniable charm, is in the improvements and additions that have been made to the formula – many of which are incredible additions that truly make the game. One such addition, also the one that I like the most, is in the character creation whereby players are able to choose the size of each of their individual body parts – giving each player their own individual look and style. Add to this over 30 different face and hair options, and you have a recipe for total character customization – a simple, yet highly appreciated addition to the game. MY HOME IS MY CASTLE Not enough customization you say? Then take a look at RoM's unique multi-class system that allows players to combine their main class (out of a possible Warrior, Knight, Rogue, Priest, Mage or Scout) with a second class – adopting all of their secondary skills and abilities. This allows for over 30 different class combinations in total and should be more than enough to help you stand out from the crowd. Hell – if you're really keen on appealing to your personal preferences, RoM even includes your very own house that you can use to store your loot and goodies, and decorate to your liking with furniture purchased through the in-game shop. Of course, to use the in-game shop, you'll need to get your credit card handy, and fork over some dough for a few diamonds. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER Diamonds are the in-game currency used in RoM, and can only be obtained by spending real hard-earned dollars – well – future real hard-earned dollars, as you'll need to use a credit card to make a purchase. Diamonds can be used to purchase a number of different things in RoM, from furniture for your house or upgrades for your weapons, to additional bag space and mounts to travel faster across the world, and although you don't need to purchase diamonds – you'll definitely want to, as they make the playing experience a lot more fun when you do. One downside to the game’s cash shop is that the most powerful enchantment items are only available through the cash shop. CAUSE AND EFFECT Also thrown into the mix in RoM is an older style PvP system in which you have full access to attack any player you choose provided that you are both above level 15. Of course, doing so will net you some negative karma – causing you to turn red and drop your equipment if you're killed. I've been a massive fan of this style of PvP back since the days when Lineage 2 was a top game, because you really have to think about who you kill as the repercussions can be deadly. There's nothing more fun then losing your cool with a party member, ganking them out of pure frustration, then running for your life from a horde of greedy gamers drooling over the weapons they might get if they can kill you. Of course, for every good part of a game, there is surely a bad part to follow, and at present, RoM could still use a lot of work. There's nothing especially game breaking to mention, just a few little kinks that need ironing out here and there. Things like bad translations, and in some areas, no translation at all. Missing sounds, such as the hooves of your horse as it gallops across the countryside, or the always expected 'chink' your mining pick should make as it hit's the rock – missing sounds like this really draw from the immersion, and show a severe lack of polish. Runes of Magic is the gold standard of the free-to-play MMO experience. Since its release back in early 2009, Runes of Magic has enjoyed numerous major content updates, called “chapters”, which added enormous amounts of new content to the game. As is, Runes of Magic is one of the most content rich free to play MMORPGs out there. Final Verdict: Excellent Runes of Magic didn’t just raise the bar, it continues to push it higher. It is a stalwart example of the glorious free-to-play gaming era that we have only recently begun to experience, and although it currently still has a number of flaws, it's already one hell of a gaming experience, and a must play for any MMO gamer. Since the game’s original release back in 2009, the game has enjoyed numerous major expansions called “Chapters” which introduced a lot of new content to the game. Frogster has done and continues to do a stellar job with Runes of Magic – making it one of the best free to play MMORPGs ever. Screenshots Runes of Magic Screenshots 123456► Videos Runes of Magic Videos Runes of Magic Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Runes of Magic Gameplay Video Click here to view the embedded video. Runes of Magic Official Trailer Video Click here to view the embedded video. Runes of Magic Combat  Video Click here to view the embedded video. Runes of Magic Housing Video Click here to view the embedded video. Links Runes of Magic Links Runes of Magic Official Site Runes of Magic Forums Runes of Magic Wiki [Great Resource!] System Requirements Runes of Magic System Requirements Minimum Requirements: Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz or equivalent RAM: 512MB or more HDD: 7 GB DirectX 9.0c compatible with 128MB RAM Video Card Recommended Specification: Intel Pentium 4 Core Duo 2.0 GHz or equivalent RAM: 1GB or more HDD: 7GB or more DirectX 9.0c compatible with 256MB RAM Video Card

Golfstar Posted: 03 Oct 2010 01:01 AM PDT Golfstar is a 3D golfing MMO. Create a custom avatar using a variety of clothing and accessories and play a few holes alone or with up to 30 other players. Golftstar has anime inspired character designs and allows simultaneous play, making multiplayer games much faster paced. Publisher: Gamigo Playerbase: Medium Graphics: Medium Quality Type: MMO EXP Rate: Medium PvP: N/A Filesize: 975 MB Pros: +All players can play simultaneously in multiplayer. +Variety of clothes and accessories available. +Up to 30 players per match. +Great interface Cons: -Very Similar to other Golfing games. -Few playable characters. -Limited golf-course variety. Overview Golfstar Overview Golfstar is a Korean developed golfing MMO being published in North America and Europe by Gamigo. The game was developed by Com2uS and has anime styled characters. The golf courses and surrounding environments are well rendered. Golfstar supports multiplayer matches of up to 30 players, and allows them to all play at once. This speeds up gameplay tremendously and is an improvement over several older golfing games. Like other golfing MMOs, players can customize their avatars and explore persistent shopping areas. As players progress, they’ll be able to learn passive skills that improve their stamina and strength. Golfstar competes with games like Pangya, Shot Online, and Tiger Woods Online. Graphically speaking, Golfstar looks fantastic and is well worth checking out for those interesting in golfing games. Golfstar Screenshots Golfstar Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Golfstar Review Golfstar Review There are few sports that have as much international appeal as golf: the polite atmosphere, the calculated shots, and the athleticism required have inspired even video game players. In recent years, golf games have made their way into the online arena, hoping to capitalize on the multiplayer aspect of online gaming. One of these games, Golfstar, is published by gamigo. While similar to Shot Online, as well as other golf games like Pangya and Tiger Woods Online, Golfstar still has plenty to offer the online golf fanatic. Take Your Pick Golfstar’s character creation is very limited: there are two male and two female stock characters, complete with a name, age, and biography, to choose from. These characters can be customized a little: each has two hair styles and a few hair colors, plus two faces, to choose from. Still, you’ll have the look of looking like one out of every four players, with the only distinguishing feature being the clothing you equip in-game. Fashion items also offer bonuses, however, so you still may end up looking pretty similar to the player you’re putting against. Teeing Off While Golfstar aims for fair realism, the controls during play are relatively simple. Swings take place in two phases; the first has you hold down the space bar to fill your power meter and letting go when the power is to your liking, while the second phase has you tap the space bar within a small aiming reticule on the ball itself (the closer to the center of the ball, the better the shot). This mechanic works the same for both regular shots and putts, with putts showing their power meter on the green itself instead of as a swing bar. There are a few additional controls as well. Using the mouse will let you aim left or right. Camera controls are also managed by the mouse, and three views, allowing you to focus on either the hole, the projected landing area, or the golfer, can be switched between with the keyboard. Golfers can also learn skills, which can be added to an action bar and used with standard 1-0 hotkeys for easy access. While these controls are easy to master for a beginner, the mouse controls are on a reverse axis, which may slip up a player from time to time. How’s the Weather? While the graphics and controls of Golfstar are softly realistic, the challenges facing golfers on the holes are not. Like Shot Online, Golfstar impressively takes into consideration all the factors affecting a golf game, from wind and slope, to weather and humidity. Every condition you come across on the course can and will affect your shot, making it important to take a full scan of your situation on each shot – an impressive feat sometimes, as each shot is limited by a time of 30 to 90 seconds. Get a Grip Golfstar is not just a free-for-all golf game; equipment and player statistics play a major part. The game features a full set of fashion items for players to equip (purchased with both the game’s in-game currency and in the cash shop), many of which affect a player’s stats. Clubs are also a major necessity in game, as are various items that can help improve a player’s accuracy, power, stamina, or control. As you play on courses, you gain experience and money. Experience will help you gain levels, which in turn grants you a few points that you can allocate between the four stats mentioned above. This is where players can really customize their experience, putting points in the stats that they are weakest at, as well as those they feel will give them an edge on the courses. Players also get to learn skills, special abilities that can be activated while on the course to help give their shots an edge. Get on the Course Already There are only four courses available in Golfstar right now, and they all look generally similar to each other with the exception of White Cliff, which offers some beach-like obstacles and background noise. Thankfully, there are several game modes to make things more interesting. These modes are stroke (a standard golf match with the lowest score winning), match (head-to-head per hole, with one or two people per team), skins (where players bet per hole to win in-game currency), and both competition and team competition, which can feature up to 30 players golfing at the same time. Not only does Golfstar allow a large number of players on the course at once, it also makes sure that golf play goes quickly by making all players play simultaneously. While this does give a little illusion that you’re playing alone, it also significantly speeds up the golf game – a usual problem for most golf MMOs. The game also supports guilds, and hosts a regular guild day every Friday in which guilds get boosted experience and rewards as they play on the greens. Final Verdict: Good Golfstar is one of the better golf games available online; it’s realistic, it’s fast, and it supports its community through in-game lobbies and guilds, helping make it feel like a little less of a lobby and more like a golfing community. However, the game also has a very limited amount of content, and follows the same style of equipment rules that many FPS games do – permanent equipment is almost nowhere to be found (even your starter set has a thirty day limit.) While you can earn money in game to pay for clubs, you’ll have to keep a close eye on your inventory to make sure you don’t go broke and lose out on valuable stats. If you’re looking for a more realistic golf game, this might be your best bet – just watch your pocketbook. Screenshots Golfstar Screenshots 1234► Videos Golfstar Videos Golfstar Gameplay Teaser Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links Golfstar Links Golfstar Official Site System Requirements Golfstar Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 2000 CPU: 1.0 GhZ Pentium 3 or Equivalent AMD processor RAM: 512 MB Memory HDD: 3 GB Free Graphics Card: GeForce 5200 / Radeon 9200 or better Recommended Specifications: OS: Windows Vista / 7 / XP / 2000 CPU: 2 GHz Pentium 4 processor RAM: 1 GB Memory HDD: 5 GB Free Graphics Card: GeForce 6600/ Radeon 9600

Iris Online Posted: 17 Aug 2010 11:21 PM PDT Iris Online is 3D fantasy MMORPG with a gypsy theme. Players can chose between three races and can explore the anime-inspired world of Arcana. Experience a unique environment centered on 22 tarot cards, including The Fool, The Chariot, and Wheel of Fortune. Publisher: gPotato Playerbase: Medium Graphics: High Quality Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Medium PvP: Duels / Colosseum Matches Filesize: ~ 2400 mb Pros: +3 playable races, 6 starting classes. +Unique tarot card feature. +Transform into monsters using cards. +Themed instanced dungeons. Cons: -Limited inventory space. -Familiar gameplay and character progression. -Visual style may not appeal to some players. Overview Iris Online Overview Iris Online is a free-to-play MMORPZG developed by Eyasoft, the same studio behind Luna Online. Like Luna, Iris boasts a cute, anime-inspired visual style. But don’t let the graphics fool you, Iris Online is a full-feature MMORPG with a unique gypsy theme. Tarot cards effect much of the world, including the twenty-two instanced dungeons, each of which have a different theme based off one of the cards. Players can collect monster cards off almost any enemy in the game and use them to transform into those monsters. PvP battle zones pit up to fifteen players near the same level against each other. Players progress by gaining experience and skill points. The game has a variety of races and classes to choose from. Human - Easily adaptable race that possess great strength and excels at technology. Fighter - Fighters rely on brute strength and large weapons to deal heavy damage at melee range. Mage - Arcane spellcasters who fight from a distance. They can buff allies, but are fragile in combat. Hybrid - Half-human, half-animal. Hybrids have high strength and stamina, though their knowledge of magic is limited. Warrior - Equipped with heavy armor, warriors are always at the forefront of battle where they can defend their allies. Rogue - Shrewd combatants that rely on speed and cunning. Rogues exploit vulnerabilities in their opponents. Elf - Elves are the oldest race in Arcana. They have unmatched knowledge and an affinity for nature Ranger - Trackers and outdoorsmen. Rangers are masters of stealthy movement and the gun. They can also use daggers. Shaman - Masters of fire, air, earth, and water magic. Shamans can summon elementals to aid them. Iris Online Screenshots Iris Online Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Iris Online Review By Erhan Altay Most anime-themed fantasy MMORPGs tend to be very similar, but once in a while a game like Iris Online comes along and adds a new twist to the genre. Iris Online is developed by the Korean studio Eyasoft and published in North America on Gala-Net's gPotato portal. Eyasoft is behind a number of anime styled games including Luna Online and the recent Legend of Edda, but Iris Online is different from those titles. It has a 'Gypsy' theme, which means the world is filled with tarot cards, carnivals, and circus themed areas and instances. Behind the brightly colored visual style is an in-depth MMORPG with varied races, classes, PvP options, and other features. Races of Arcana Iris Online entered beta testing in the middle of October in 2010, and with a 2.4 gb client size, its a fairly large game. Each account has five character slots per server, which is almost enough to cover the six starting classes. There are three playable races to chose from: Human, Hybrid, and Elf. Each of these has two distinct classes available, for a grand total of six. There are a few face, hair, and hair color options, but appearance customization is very limited overall. The character models themselves look great. After character creation, the game prompts players with an option to take part in the tutorial. It's short, and explains some of the original features found later in the game. There's also a reward for completing it, so new players should run through it at least once. Sign Up for the Circus The tutorial in Iris Online takes place in a circus-themed zone where players are introduced to a new aspect of gameplay in each room. The game supports both keyboard (W,A,S,D) and point-and-click controls which will please many gamers. Better still, the keyboard controls actually feel fluid. This is one of the few Asian developed free-to-play MMORPGs where I felt more comfortable using W,A,S,D over the mouse. Players can even jump by hitting the space bar, but this propels them far into the air and is rarely practical. After learning to move, the next quest explains a bit about the game's lore. Most gamers will skip past this, but just remember that the world is called Arcana, and the races had to work together to defeat some evil force long ago. Next, players can choose between three cat mounts. Mounts come in all shapes and sizes in Iris Online including giant cats, crabs, and so on. Newbies won't be able to keep their tutorial mount, it only serves to show them how to use one. The interface in Iris Online is simple, the map is opened by hitting 'M', the quest log opens with the 'L' key, and inventory with the 'I' key. The only major complaints with the interface are the limited inventory space of twenty-five slots that new players start with, and the inability to view maps beside the one a character is currently in. Fortune Telling One major feature that distinguishes Iris Online from other free-to-play games is its Gypsy theme. Tarots cards, which are still used by fortune tellers today, have perhaps the most well known aspect of Gypsy culture. These cards, and especially the twenty-two major ones, play an important role in Iris Online. Each of the original twenty-two instanced dungeons in the game are based off one of the twenty-two major Tarot cards. Veteran gamers may have come across these cards before in other games like the Persona or Ultima series. They include cards like 'The Fool', 'Judgment', and 'The Emperor.' The order that a person draws these cards is supposed to reveal something about their fortune, but in Iris they play a role in weapon customization, crafting, and monster summoning. The tutorial explains most of these features, but its important to note that besides the twenty-two major tarot cards, there are fifty-six minor ones. On top of that, nearly every monster in the game (including raid bosses) have a chance of dropping cards. The cards monsters drop come in two forms: one type can be attached to equipment Ragnarok Online style, while the other kind is used to temporarily transform into the particular monster that dropped it. Each monster has a unique set of skills, and buffs. Cards are also used in crafting and can be combined with other items to create completely new items. Character Growth Progression in Iris Online is fairly linear. Players gain experience by hunting and completing quests, but they also gain SXP (skill experience) independently of their base experience. When the SXP bar fills, players are rewarded with a skill point which can be distributed among the multple skill trees each class has. Each starting class has access to two or more weapon/spell types, and each is represented by its own skill tree. Rogues, for example, can use rifles or dual daggers. Shamans can specialize in divine or offensive magic. Fighters can specialize in two-handed swords, dual swords, or sword & shield skills. All classes have a passive skill tree which contains permanent boosts to health, damage output, or particular stats. It is possible to spread skill points across multiple specializations, but this is not recommended. Players can a free skill reset at level 30, when they can make their first job change, but must use a cash shop item if they mess up before or after that time. Base experience is a lot simpler. Players don't receive stat points as they level, they increase automatically and can be raised further with magic equipment and buffs. Besides skills, there is one extra layer of customization in the form of an elemental 'Force.' There are four forces to chose from: Helen (fire), Nero (water), Annes (wind), Dera (ground.) Why does Nero represent water? I'm not quite sure, but there are several translation quirks throughout the game and this may just be one of them. Point A to Point B Gameplay in Iris Online is heavily quest-based, and players are usually lead from one zone to the next in a linear path. New players start in the town of Terminus, which is in perpetual night and progress to hunting grounds that are at different times of the day. The assortment of quests should be familiar to MMORPG fans; kill quests, item gathering quests, and talk to NPC X quests. To auto-move to a location, players must bring up the map and click on a certain area. There's no quest objective to quest objective auto-navigation, which is actually a good thing since too much automation can make a game boring. Combat relies on actively using a variety of skills, as they usually have cool downs of a few seconds. Luckily, every class is equipped with an assortment of skills and mana regeneration is pretty high. Interestingly, spells and skills cost a percent of total mana, not just a set amount. This makes the MP recovery rate a very important stat for every class. The constant use of skills keeps combat exciting, and monsters in Iris Online start aggroing at an early level, which makes things more challenging. Early quests reward players with dozens of HP/MP potions, but these will run out eventually. There's no death penalty until level 10, and players are free to spawn right where they died. After level 10, death carries a small exp penalty, and resurrecting where you fell causes a debuff for several minutes. Carnival Games Iris Online has many small features that help round it out as a full-feature MMORPG. These include an auction house, the ability to open personal shop stalls, and a title system. Titles are earned in a variety of ways, the most common being consuming tokens dropped by monsters. Titles effect the stats of a character when equipped, and can have both positive and negative effects. A title geared towards casters may increase magic damage and intelligence, but may decrease strength. Iris Online also has several PvP modes on top of the standard duel. Every so often, players are prompted on whether they want to participate in a capture the flag or team deathmatch event. If enough players within a certain level range agree, everyone who chose to participate is teleported to an instanced Colosseum field where two sides (each with up to eighteen players) duke it out. The game keeps track of PvP stats, including total kills, deaths, and also rewards points towards the player's currently chosen 'Force.' Besides large-scale PvP events, players can also group up to clear instanced dungeons scattered across the world. You've Come a Long Way The visuals in Iris Online are very reminiscent of earlier anime-styled games, particularly Fiesta Online, Seal Online, and perhaps a bit of Rose Online thrown in. Being a newer game, it’s not much of a surprise that the graphics in Iris are better than those previous games. It’s a high quality title, and a slightly more mature alternative to Eyasoft's more chibi-oriented titles. Final Verdict: Great Iris Online may feel familiar at first glance, but it has a lot of depth and a unique theme. With three races and a large assortment of classes, Iris Online offers varied gameplay options but with a simple to understand progression system. Instanced dungeons, instanced PvP battlegrounds, and the multi-purpose card system all add up to make Iris Online a top-notch MMORPG. It doesn't breakthe mold enough to earn the top score, but it’s still a game well worth checking out. Screenshots Iris Online Screenshots 1234567► Videos Iris Online Videos Iris Online Cinematic Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Iris Online Gameplay Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Iris Online Gameplay – First Look Click here to view the embedded video. Links Iris Online Links Iris Online Official Site System Requirements Iris Online Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows  XP / Vista / Windows 7 CPU: Intel Pentium 4 2.0 Ghz RAM:  1 GB HDD: 3 GB Free Graphics Card: ATI Radeon 9500 / nVidia 5200 (128mb memory) Recommended Specification: OS: Windows Vista / 7 CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3.0 Ghz or better RAM: 2 GB or more HDD: 4 GB Free Graphics Card: Geforce 6600 GT / 256 mb video memory or better

Loong: The Power of the Dragon Posted: 17 Mar 2010 06:00 PM PDT Loong: The Power of the Dragon is a 3D fantasy MMORPG set in ancient China. The game has an original art style, a classless progression system, and boasts over 1000 quests. Take part in epic PvP battles that support up to 500 players! Publisher: Gamigo Playerbase: Medium Graphics: High Quality Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: High PvP: Castle Siege / Duels Filesize: ~ 2270 mb Pros: +Quest driven progression. +Varied weapon types. +PvP combat supports up to 500 players. +High quality animations. -Fluid gameplay & interface. Cons: -Familiar setting. -Mobs offer little challenge. -Poor English translations. -Quests & combat feel repetitive. Overview Loong: The Power of the Dragon Overview Loong: The Power of the Dragon is set in ancient China, but sets it self apart from other oriental themed MMORPGs with its unique art style and classless progression system. Chose from several weapon types, and learn skills from eight unique talent trees. Progression is heavily quest driven in Loong, and an auto-navigation feature makes traveling between objectives simple. Players unlock several skills during the first few levels, and also earn their first mount and pet early on. The game has fluid gameplay and controls that allow for keyboard and point & click movement. Weapon Types - Sword, Sabre, Polearm, Bow, Totem, Glove, Zither Talent Trees - Sword, Sabre, Polearm, Bow, Battle, Yang, Yin, Healing, Zither, Magic Loong: The Power of the Dragon Screenshots Loong: The Power of the Dragon Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Loong: The Power of the Dragon Review By, Erhan Altay Loong: The Power of the Dragon is an Asian developed MMORPG set in ancient China. The German publisher Gamigo is bringing the game to both the European and North American region. Despite the familiar setting, Loong is a high quality title with an original art style, innovative class system, and other interesting features. Not a Loong Wait Despite being released in China earlier this year, Loong is already ready for beta testing in the West. The game is a big budget project that is estimated to have cost over $10 million dollars to develop. Traditionally, MMORPGs took several years to move from Asia to the West, but the pace is definitely starting to pick up. Unlike most games out of China, Loong is a high quality MMORPG with great 3D graphics, cool attack animations, and high production value all around. At around 2.7 gb, the client size is pretty large, but the download shouldn't take long. Loong isn't Gamigo's first Chinese MMORPG. Martial Empires is an earlier high quality title, but that game is only open to European gamers. Luckily, Loong more than makes up for what we've been missing. Pick a Weapon, but not a Class The login screen in Loong is highly stylized and sets a good mood for the rest of the game. The loading screens are a bit odd, they include animated backgrounds and real images of ladies in sexy outfits. The character creation process is very streamlined. There are five hair styles, six hair colors, five face styles, and three outfits per gender. Several 'detail' options are also available which represent things like tattoos and scars. There's also an option to preview several high level armor designs on your character before creating it. Overall, appearance customization is rather slim, especially compared to some older MMORPGs like Martial Empires or Perfect World. Like Heroes of Three Kingdoms, players don't select a class in Loong. Instead, they chose from seven weapons: Sword, Sabre, Polearm, Bow, Totem, Glove, or Zither. The initial weapon selection has no effect on character progression, players are free to switch between them freely. Eventually, players will have to select which weapons to specialize in by distributing talent points among specific skill trees. Dragon Village New players start in Dragon Village where a number of NPCs offer simple talk quests and describe some of the game's basics. Movement can be done with either W,A,S,D or point-and-click. While most Asian MMORPGs fail at pulling off fluid keyboard controls, Loong does it excellently. I found myself using keyboard controls throughout my whole experience. There's a very simple auto-navigation system that helps players get to and from quest objectives. This means travel very simple, and also ensures players won't have to read any of the quest flavor text. The rest of the interface is well organized, 'b' opens the inventory, 'q' opens the quest log, 'k' brings up the talent trees, and so on. It's not until around level 6 that players start earning talent points, but they will receive 2 stat points every level starting at level 2. Those who follow the beginner quest lines will find themselves leveling rapidly, even without having to kill more than a few monsters. At level 5, newbies quality to leave Dragon Village and enter the zone of Dragon Castle. This zone serves as the capital city, but the surrounding areas are also the primary hunting grounds for the first few dozen levels. One, Two, Three The early level quests do a great job giving players equipment and consumable items, but players must eventually decide which weapons to specialize in. There are a total of ten talent trees in Loong, and it is recommended to focus on one during the early levels. It is possible to reset talent point distribution quite easily, especially while under level 30. Each weapon has a primary and secondary stat, so be sure to distribute talent and stat points favorably. The six stats are: Physique, Strength, Qi, Spirit, Agility, and Skill. Simply hover the cursor over any of them to find out what they do. Before long, player will unlock several skills in their chosen talent tree and be off using them in combat. Even without skills, the monsters in Loong barely put up a fight. Difficulty seems to be something Chinese developers in particular seem to ignore. Simply spamming 2-3 skills is enough to fell any monster near your level range. You'll barely receive any damage in return. This means there's no need to rest between battles, and the fact that no mobs under level 20 seems to be aggressive add up to a low sense of challenge. Player will simply move from one hunting ground to the next, stopping long enough to kill a few defenseless critters before moving on. Ride a Pony Loong introduces players to the game's pet system early on. Pets are called 'spirit beasts' and come in a variety of rarities and skills. Some can be ridden, others can pick up loot for their master. Players can transfer, or 'pour', some of their experience towards their pets to help them level up, and pets can even be equipped with special items. Several stats track the potency of a pet including 'potential' which measures the amount of skills the pet can eventually learn and its growth rate. A pet may look cute and small, but when mounted it grows into a full size steed. This is but one of many interesting animations. If a player clicks on the ground to move there, a splat of ink appears and vanishes. The game's animations are realistic, but with an artistic touch. Jumping (space bar) also functions a bit differently. After jumping, players appear to glide down slowly. Like so many recent MMORPGs, Loong also has a title system where players can equip titles that they've unlocked by completing quests or performing other tasks. There are a ton of other small features which, added up, make Loong a much more in-depth game. Crafting skills are separate from the talent tree, and include both resource gathering skills (like mining) and production skills. Cramped Quarters The experience in Loong is well paced, handing it quests gives a burst of experience and there are always plenty of quests available. The quest log even lists available quests which players can auto-navigate towards. Some quests are repeatable, but the sense of grind doesn't kick in until mid level. The game encourages some player cooperation in the form of a mentor/apprentice system. Players have to be at least level 50 to be a mentor, but there's no real reason to even talk to another person during the early game since the PvE offers so little challenge. Before long, players will find themselves having to throw away items since their inventory fills up so fast. New characters start with 20 inventory slots, but can increase this by using 'auxiliary bags' obtained in the item mall. There are plenty of convenience items like this for sale in the cash shop, but nothing that dramatically effects balance. Like Soul Order Online and Forsaken World, there's an odd feature that rewards players with some freebie items every few minutes. It's called 'Dragon Blessing' and the small interface menu for it is located near the middle of the screen. Users playing Loong on a small resolution will want to turn all these extra menus off since it can cramp the gameplay area. Another box appears on the left of the screen every time a player earns new attribute or talent points. Speaking of resolutions, the graphic options in Loong can be a little confusing. I couldn't figure out how to play in windowed mode, but I did discover a new mode where the game is nearly full-screen but the taskbar is still visible and you can launch other programs with Loong remaining in the background. Final Verdict: Good Loong: The Power of the Dragon is a high quality MMORPG with a familiar oriental setting. The classless, talent tree driven progression helps set it apart from its competitors. There are also a lot of small features that, combined, give Loong a high production value. The only problem is that due to the lack of difficulty, much of the early level combat feels repetitive. Its definitely a game worth checking, just be ready for some grind. Screenshots Loong: The Power of the Dragon Screenshots 123456► Videos Loong: The Power of the Dragon Videos Loong: The Power of the Dragon Cinematic Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Loong: The Power of the Dragon Gameplay Footage Click here to view the embedded video. Loong: The Power of the Dragon Gameplay Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links Loong: The Power of the Dragon Links Loong: The Power of the Dragon Official Site System Requirements Loong: The Power of the Dragon System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 CPU: 2.4 Ghz Intel P4 or equivalent RAM: 512 MB HDD: 4 GB Free Graphics Card: GeForce 5200 / Radeon 9550 Recommended Specification: OS: Windows Vista / 7 CPU: Pentium Dual Core E2140 or better RAM: 2 GB RAM or more HDD: 5 GB Free Graphics Card: NVidia 7600 GT / ATI X1600 XT

King of Kings 3 Posted: 08 Mar 2010 11:51 PM PST King of Kings 3 is a 3D, fantasy MMORPG with a strong emphasis on large-scale PvP battles. One of the most prominent features in King of Kings 3 is the unique city building system offered to guilds as they fight for control over regions in the game. Publisher: Gamigo Playerbase: Medium Graphics: Medium Quality Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: High PvP: Open / Guild Battles / RvR Filesize: ~ 1570 mb Pros: +Unique housing and city building system. +Very high level cap. +Flying mounts. +Varied PvP options. +Massive RvR battles. Cons: -Interface feels old. -Generic fantasy theme. -Limited PvE content. Overview King of Kings 3 Overview King of Kings is a 3D Fantasy MMORPG published by Gamigo with a strong emphasis on PvP battles. Players can create their own guilds and fight for control over land in the game world. Guilds that control territory are free to build their own cities. Graphically speaking, the game looks a bit dated, but it has a very strong emphasis on PvP. PvE fans aren’t completely ignored though, as the game boasts thousands of quests and a high level cap. Auto navigation features make progression simple, but players will have to wait until level 50 to make their first job change. Warrior - The most physically powerful class, able to carry the heaviest armor and most powerful weapons. Berserker - All out offensive fighters that can deal heavy damage at close range. Berserkers can dual-wield. Ranger - Versatile fighters that are masters of the bow and blade. Knight - Mounted fighters equipped with a lance and bow. Mage - Fragile in body, but powerful in mind. Mages can cast devastating spells from a distance. Sword Mage - Armed with crystal infused blades, Sword Mages can deal heavy damage but are still fragile. Conjurer - Conjurers can harness the power of nature to deal heavy damage to their opponents. Wizard - Masters of elemental magic, Wizards have high damage potential but rely on allies to project them. Cleric - A supportive class that can heal and buff allies during battle. Clerics are devout and benevolent soldiers. Scholar - True believers who are granted enormous healing abilities and the power of resurrection. Bishop - Bishops have learned from Mages and are capable of offensive and defensive abilities. Priest - The devotion of the Priest allows them to discharge pure holy light and call on angels for aid during battle. King of Kings 3 Screenshots King of Kings 3 Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review King of Kings 3 Review By Erhan Altay Tired of Grindfests? Looking for an MMORPG with an oldschool feel? King of Kings 3 may be what you've been waiting for. While it has a typical fantasy theme, the gameplay is geared towards PvP, and more precisely RvR (realm vs. realm) combat. Join one of seven warring realms and conquer the world of Tangramia. A Shattered Realm After centuries of warfare, the once united world of Tangramia split into seven rival realms: Germania, Lutetia, Britannia, Mediterrania, Anatolia, Polonia, and the New World. That last one aside, its obvious that the Roman Empire was the inspiration for Tangramia. Players can chose between any of the seven realms during character creation, but first they'll have to get through Gamigo's clunky account creation process. The German publisher Gamigo holds both the European and American licenses for Kings of Kings 3. Each account has three character slots per server, which is enough to create one of each of the three base classes: Warrior, Mage, and Cleric. There are a number of appearance customization options including around eleven hair colors and styles per gender. There are also several face styles and 'features' to chose from. Features covers things like tattoos, makeup, scars, and so forth. Players are asked to set a character password before finishing character creation as an added security precaution. The password must be at least eight characters, which makes it more bothersome than the four digit pin some games ask for these days. The character designs themselves aren't very detailed, but that's because the graphics quality in Kings of Kings 3 is dated. Familiar Beginnings After logging in for the first time, players are met with several screens of text that explain the backstory of Kings of Kings 3. It scrolls pretty fast, and I'm no speed reader so I missed about a quarter of it. It didn't seem to exciting, but it helps that there is some lore to the game. Each realm has its own starting area, but the newbie experience is pretty similar regardless of region. Being the good Turk that I am, I chose Anatolia as my realm. For those of you who slept during class, Anatolia is the geographic region where most of modern day Turkey lies. Like many other recent Asian MMORPGs, King of Kings has an auto-navigation feature that makes traveling and questing a breeze. Players start next to a quest NPC, and gain their first level simply by talking to him. A series of quests that involve talking to various NPCs around town, and eventually fighting nearby creatures come next. Players are rewarded with ample HP/MP potions along the way, along with a new weapon and pieces of equipment. It is highly recommend that players complete this beginner chain of quests, as it will take them to level eight or so in no time. It's much, much faster than grinding. Retro Look & Feel As I went about my newbie chores, I noticed that the interface and art style looked somewhat familiar to those in the now defunct Turf Battles. The visuals are much sharper than Turf Battle's, and the resolution options go all the way up to 1920×1980. But, the health and mana meters next to the avatar portrait on the top left, and the character and backpack screens all look like something from a classic action RPG. There are some nice visual touches such as swaying trees, and light waves breaking on the shore. Overall, the best that can be said of the graphics in KoK3 when compared to other recent, free-to-play MMORPG releases is that they are functional. Everything is brightly colored, easy to see, and thankfully there's none of that trendy bloom effect that makes everything unbearably bright. King of Kings 3 supports both keyboard (W,A,S,D) and mouse (point and click) controls. There are two hotkey bars, one activated by the function keys (F1-F12), and a smaller one activated by the number keys (1-0.) Besides skills, players can assign items such as health and mana potions to these slots. The Path to Glory The experience rate in King of Kings 3 is pretty high, but only if players stick to questing. Each level, players are rewarded with 2 stat point which they can distribute among six stats: Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Willpower, Stamina, and Luck. Players can hover their cursor over each stat to see what it does. Besides stat points, players receive a single skill point every level. Each class has its own skill tree consisting of 10 skills. Players must purchase skill books before they can place points in a given skill, along with meeting its other prerequisite. As with other MMORPGs, I find the need to go back to town to pick up a skill book totally pointless, but it is what it is. At level 50, each class can make its first class advancement to one of three available first classes. Warriors can become Berserkers, Rangers, or Knights. Mages can become Sword Mages, Conjurers, or Wizards. Clerics can become Scholars, Bishops, or Priests. Players are accompanied on their adventures by an Imamu, which is basically a fairy. These can perform a number of helpful tasks. They accumulate experience which they can transfer over to the player, and when they are summoned they can repair the player's equipment. Imamu can also automatically sell items in your backpack when your inventory is full. Players can set which items they want sold ahead of time so as not to lose rare drops. Besides Imamu pets, players can also collect a variety of mounts. Some quests reward players with temporary mounts, but more permanent ones can be purchased at higher levels. Lone Wolf King of Kings 3 has very linear progression, monsters are found in clumps and defeating these monsters boils down to spamming a single skill over and over again. There's no cool down to consuming HP or MP potions, and after the first dozen levels players will have to chug them during every fight. Those who can put up with the repetitive nature of early level gameplay can look forward to some pretty interesting PvP features. First and foremost, players can freely attack members of rival realms that intrude on their territory. It is also possible to disable the default peace mode which will allow a player to attack anyone they like, including members of their realm. The game discourages same-realm PKing (player killing) by increasing the chances of dropping items upon death for those who indiscriminately attack others. The game also keeps track of PvP victories and losses, and uses them to publish various ranking lists which are updated daily. Players can access these rankings via a button near their mini map on the top right of the interface. Founding a Kingdom Solo PvP is just the bottom layer in King of Kings 3. Players can go on to found guilds and participate in guild activities, including guild quests which pit guilds against each other. Players must be level 20 or higher to join or found a guild, and there are five guild ranks which determine how many members a guild can have (maximum of 28.) Once a guild reaches rank 3, its guild master can found a Legion. Legions are also ranked from 1-5, but are made up of entire guilds, not individual players. A rank 5 Legion can have up to seven guilds in it. Legions can also construct buildings on their own plots of land which provide benefits to all of its members. The leader of a Legion can embark of a series of quests to found his or her own Kingdom. Any would-be monarch will require a vast amount of resources, including gold and rare materials to found their Kingdom. Legion members can donate these resources to their leader who, if successful, will be rewarded with a unique royal mount, a monthly in-game salary, and the ability to fortify towns. Leaders of Kingdoms will also be able to populate their towns with NPC defensive workers, temples, workshops, and much more. Even players who don't have the time or stamina to work their way up this ladder can own a personal home that can be upgraded and decorated with an assortment of furniture. Find Your Niche The simple, but functional graphics make King of Kings 3 an approachable MMORPG for gamers whose computers might not be on the cutting edge. There are plenty of bonus features like a crafting system, and the ability to equip mounts with gear like saddles and armor, but the core PvE gameplay still involves taking turns swinging at stupid AI monsters. Players looking for an organized PvP experience will appreciate the detailed guild system in King of Kings 3, but the large number of factions worries me a little. Each server will need a lot of players to make it seem active, and whether or not King of Kings 3 can attract those numbers remains to be seen. Final Verdict: Good Despite a dated interface and graphic style, Kings of Kings 3 is a very functional MMORPG. The PvE content is not spectacular, but the PvP features make it worth the effort. The ability to organize large masses of players and participate in massive battles is appealing. Added extras like customizable player housing, and the ability to build entire cities are added bonuses. Screenshots King of Kings 3 Screenshots 1234► Videos King of Kings 3 Videos King of Kings 3 Cinematic Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. King of Kings 3 Gameplay Footage Click here to view the embedded video. King of Kings 3 Official Gameplay Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. King of Kings 3 Gameplay – First Look Click here to view the embedded video. Links King of Kings 3 Links King of Kings 3 Official Site System Requirements King of Kings 3 System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP/ 2000 / 98 / Vista CPU: 1.0 GHz Intel P3 or equivalent RAM: 512 MB RAM HDD: 2 GB Free Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce 5500 or better Recommended Specification: OS: Windows XP/ Vista CPU: 2.4 Ghz Intel P4 or equivalent RAM: 1024 MB (1GB)  RAM HDD: 2 GB Free Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce 6600 or better

World of Tanks Posted: 25 Feb 2010 06:44 PM PST World of Tanks is a 3D, team-based MMO shooter where players take control of World War 2 era tanks.  Gameplay in World of Tanks requires teamwork and strategy.  With over a hundred tanks to choose from and up to sixty players per battle, WoT offers conflicts of epic proportions! Publisher: Wargaming.net Playerbase: High Graphics: High Quality Type: MMO EXP Rate: High PvP: Team Based / Clan Wars Filesize: 1100 mb Pros: +Over 150 armored vehicles to command. +Historically accurate tanks of American, German, and Soviet design. +Up to 60 players per battle. +Unique gameplay. Cons: -No single player or PvE modes. -Steep learning curve. Overview World of Tanks Overview World of Tanks puts players in command of their very own World War 2 era battle tank.  WoT is a team-based game where two sides of up to thirty players each compete to destroy all opposing vehicles.  With 150 combat vehicles of American, German, and Soviet design, World of Tanks offers an in-depth gaming experience.  The publishers promise a historically accurate setting and action-oriented gameplay.  RPG elements also make an appearance, as players will be able to upgrade their tanks with new parts and crew members.  New recruits start with a light German or Soviet tank, but after accumulating experience and credits, they will be able to upgrade to heavier models.  Additionally, it will be possible to upgrade individual parts such as turrets, chassis, engines, guns, radios, and ammunition types. World of Tanks Screenshots World of Tanks Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review World of Tanks Review By Erhan Altay World of Tanks was first commissioned in 2009 and put into service in the second half of 2010.  The tank-based shooter is developed by Wargaming.net, a Russian studio behind several other historically themed video games.  World of Tanks is their first free-to-play title, and they've come in swinging strong.  World of Tanks boasts great graphics, ease of play, and plenty of customization features. New Recruit World of Tanks is set during the World War 2 era but also encompasses the years preceding and following that infamous conflict.  All of the vehicles, equipment, and environments are historically accurate and are drawn from the 1930s-1950s period.  The client size comes in at a bit over 1 GB, but won't take long to download since multiple direct download links are provided.  Players sign in using their email address and don't have to worry about character creation.  All new players start with a Soviet MS-1 and a German Leichttraktor.  These are light tanks and won't put up much of a fight, but they are versatile and enough to learn the ropes.  There's no tutorial or trial round to worry about, either.  Players can simply click the large red 'Battle!' button towards the top of the screen and get started. The Armory While World of Tanks is proud of its historic accuracy, it doesn't let history get in the way of gameplay. The game is easy to pick up and play, but difficulty to master. All matches involve two opposing teams of up to 30 players, for a total of 60 players per round. The most common game mode is team deathmatch, where players are randomly assigned to a team before the round begins.  Other modes include capture the flag and clan deathmatch, but new players will generally find themselves in the standard random team deathmatch mode.  World of Tanks supports a range of resolutions and gives players four graphic settings.  There's also an option to play in either full screen or windowed mode.  This is very helpful, since new players will spend a lot of their time dead, waiting for the round to end.  Having World of Tanks open in a window will allow players to cruise the web during down time.  Like NavyField, another war-themed MMO, newbies will find themselves dying in one hit, often unexpectedly.  This can be frustrating, but remember that World of Tanks is striving for realism.  This means driving full speed ahead at the enemy base by yourself is not a viable strategy.  Instead, the game requires teamwork, making use of terrain, and ambushing opponents. Test Drive The gameplay in World of Tanks was inspired by the tank-based combat in World War 2 Online, a subscription-based MMORPG several years old.  Fans of the Battlefield series will see similarities.  Tanks played a large role in Battlefield 1942, and are present in the more recent Battlefield Heroes.  In the Battlefield games, tank mechanics were almost arcade-like, and WW2 Online was a bit too complicated.  World of Tanks strikes the middle ground between those extremes.  Tanks are easy to control, but there's a lot of depth to their customization and stats.  Players move their tanks with WASD and control the camera and their turret with the mouse.  The default view is third-person, but can easily be changed by using the mouse wheel.  The game utilizes an interesting aiming system where the crosshairs shrink or expand depending on the action of the player.  While moving, the crosshairs expand making it difficult to hit a target.  After entering a stationary positions, the crosshairs start to shrink making it much more practical to fire.  The beginner tanks tend to move slowly, so it may take a while to make your way around the map.  Maps themselves are large enough to allow depth of movement and ambush, but not so large that it becomes impractical to get from one end to another.  A match ends either when one side is wiped out or if one team manages to capture the other side's base.  There are no respawns in World of Tanks.  If a player's tank is destroyed, they must spectate until the round ends. Customize and Accessorize At the end of each round players are rewarded with experience and credits whether they win or lose.  Credits are the main in-game currency and can be used to purchase new tanks, NPC crew members, or new parts for your current tanks.  There are five types of vehicles including light, medium, heavy, tank destroyers, and SPGs (artillery).  Additionally, each individual vehicle has multiple slots including turret, chassis, engine, and gun ports.  There are 2-6 versions of each part for each vehicle.  Just purchasing these parts or vehicles isn't enough, as players must first use their accumulated experience points to research the appropriate technology.  Each faction has its own tech tree.  This means its best to focus on either the American, German, or Soviet tank lines.  Distributing points across the three trees will just make it take longer to access powerful tanks and parts.  Even after their first round, players will have enough to start upgrading their starter tank.  The best place to start is probably with engine and track upgrades since these effect movement speed. In The Army Besides purchasing tanks and parts, players must recruit crew members to populate their vehicles. Crew members come in four types, Commander, Loader, Radio Operator and Driver. They gain experience with use and become more effective at their roles.  The loader helps lower the cool down time between shots, the driver speeds up movement, radio operators increase the range at which the minimap displays enemy units, and the commander improves aiming.  Players start with a full crew for their starter tanks, but must hire new recruits to populate additional tanks.  Crew members are free to recruit at the lower tier, but premium ones cost either credits or gold, the game's premium currency.  There are also multiple types of ammunition such as armor piercing and high explosive.  Each type of ammo has multiple variants, some of which cost gold.  Ammo is not infinite in World of Tanks!  Players will have to replenish their stock after each round or risk running low during combat. Casualties of War Like in Battlefield Heroes, it can be difficult for friends to jump into the same game in World of Tanks.  Sure, players can add each other as friends and try to join the same game, but the trouble with this is how fast matches fill up in World of Tanks.  That's a testament to the game's popularity, but it can prove frustrating.  The lack of a traditional lobby system definitely streamlines the process of finding a game, but comes at its own cost.  Another small complaint concerns shooting.  It’s difficult to tell where a shot lands, and this may be realistic, but it makes aiming that much more difficult.  If I knew where my last hit landed, I could better calibrate for my next shot.  New players should expect to die a lot, and to die a lot without scoring very many kills.  Enemy artillery can prove especially frustrating since their range allows them to kill while remaining unseen by most other tanks.  It's great to see the three major nations represented in WoT, but it would have been nice to see some tanks from the side of the British, Italians, or others.  It remains to be seen how the Russian World of Tanks does against the similarly themed Korean Tank Ace.  The two games will see final release at around the same time.  What ever the outcome, 2010 will be a great year for free-to-play gamers who also happen to be WW2 buffs. Final Verdict: Good World of Tanks is an easy to approach, tank-based shooter that has layers of depth to unravel.  Quickly jump into massive 30v30 battles, or take the time to customize one of the hundreds of tanks available in World of Tanks.  The game can be enjoyed in short bursts, or more competitively as part of a clan. Screenshots World of Tanks Screenshots 1234► Videos World of Tanks Videos World of Tanks Light Tank Gameplay Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. World of Tanks Gameplay Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links World of Tanks Links World of Tanks Official Site World of Tanks Wikipedia Entry System Requirements World of Tanks System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows 2000 / XP /Vista / 7 CPU: Pentium 4 2.0 Ghz RAM: 1 GB RAM HDD: 3 GB Free Graphics Card: nVIDIA GeForce 6800 series Recommended Specifications: OS: Windows 2000 / XP /Vista / 7 CPU: Pentium 4 3.0 Ghz or faster processor RAM: 2 GB RAM HDD: 3 GB Free Graphics Card: nVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT series / ATI Radeon X1600 series or better

Dungeons & Dragons Online Posted: 12 Sep 2009 03:34 AM PDT Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited is a 3D Fantasy MMORPG based on the classic D&D tabletop role playing game. Originally released as a subscription based game, Dungeons & Dragons Online is now free-to-play! Chose your class, race, skills, and feats then head off into the legendary city of Stormreach where adventure awaits! Publisher: Turbine Playerbase: High Graphics: High Quality Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Slow PvP: Duels / Arenas Filesize: 2.8 GB standard, 3.8 GB high res. Pros: +Detailed character creation process. +More or less faithful to the D&D 3.5 ruleset. +Fast paced gameplay. +Dungeons can be run solo or with parties. Cons: -Some races, classes, & areas require payments to access. -Difficult character progression, especially for those unfamiliar with D&D. Overview Dungeons & Dragons Online Overview Dungeons & Dragons Online is the latest formerly pay-to-play MMORPG switching over to the free-to-play model. The game is set in the fictional world of Eberron and remains faithful to the D&D franchise. Everything from geography to gameplay mechanics has been successfully ported from the tabletop game to the online virtual world. Unlike other PC games that use the D&D 3.5 ruleset (such as Neverwinter Nights) combat in  Dungeons & Dragons Online is fast-paced and feels more like the style found in action-RPGs; players must left-click to swing their weapon each time. The game world functions similarly to the system used in Guild Wars, where players interact freely in towns but all other areas are instanced. Dungeons are filled with puzzles and traps, which help give the game the same ‘feel’ as the tabletop role playing game. Races: Human - The most versatile of races. Humans are fast learners capable of playing as any class. +1 feat during character creation. Elf - The most ancient race in Eberron. Elves start with higher dexterity (+2) but lower constitution (-2.) Halfling - Tiny humanoids with high dexterity (+2) but low strength (-2.) Halflings are cunning and use their small size to their advantage in battle. Dwarf - A sturdy race of cave dwellers. Dwarves have high constitution (+2) but low charisma (-2). They are resistant to poison and many other spells. Dwarves also excel as craftsmen. Warforged* - A race of automatons originally built for battle. They have high  constitution (+2) but suffer from reduced wisdom (-2) and charisma (-2.) Warforged are immune to many effects such as poison, disease, and paralysis. Drow Elf* - The Drow are the dark cousins of the Elves. They start with high dexterity (+2), intelligence (+2), and charisma (+2) but reduced constitution (-2.) Classes: Melee Classes - Fighter, Barbarian, Paladin, Monk* Spellcaster Classes - Sorcerer, Cleric, Wizard, Favored Soul* Specialist Classes - Ranger, Rogue, Bard * These races/classes must be purchased before they can be selected. Dungeons & Dragons Online Screenshots Dungeons & Dragons Online Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Dungeons & Dragons Online Review By, Erhan Altay I first ran across Dungeons and Dragons (D&D for short) in a comic book shop when I was in grade school. Since then, I’ve played the venerable tabletop role playing game off and on again in my basement with bags full of dice, pencils, notebooks and plenty of hardcover instruction manuals. I always imagined D&D would make a great video game since almost all fantasy-themed video games already borrowed so much from it. Dozens of high quality games were eventually released based on the D&D franchise, including the Baulder’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, and Icewind Dale series.  Unfortunately, all of these titles lacked something that made D&D special – the social experience. You just can’t play D&D alone. Finally, in February of 2008, Turbine partnered with Wizards of the Coast to remedy this situation by releasing the MMORPG Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach. Death & Rebirth Dungeons & Dragons Online was originally released as a subscription based game where players had to pay $15 a month to access the game. During the time of release this was the standard model in the industry but with World of Warcraft as a direct competitor, things looked grim. Eventually the decision was made to re-launch the game as Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited which would be free-to-play with optional micropayments as the primary means of revenue. Fortunately, all the content updates that went into the game during its pay-to-play life are included in the newly re-launched version. Major updates to the game are known as modules, and there have been a total of eight thus far. Each module has added new dungeons, quests, items, gameplay fixes and so on. Several new races and classes have been introduced through modules, such as the Monk in module 7. New players do not need to know the history of the game in order to enjoy it, but should be aware that they are experiencing a game that has had years of refinement. Bring Out the Character Sheets! One of the most enjoyable activities in tabletop D&D is the process of creating a new character. Players choose their race, class, distribute stat points, skills points, and select their starting feats. The level of customization all these steps left open was mind boggling, and it was possible to spend hours researching the best build. Dungeons & Dragons Online manages to preserve that deep character creation process, but also to streamline it for players who just want to get on with it. There are three types of classes available: Melee, Spell, and Specialist. Ten of the eleven archetypes should be familiar to gamers, with the exception being the “Favored Soul” class. That class (along with the Monk) must be purchased before they can be selected, so new players don’t even have to worry about the cleric/sorcerer hybrid. As for races, there are a total of six, though two of them, the Warforged and Drow Elf, must be purchased before use. Each race has unique racial bonuses and flaws which are explained during character creation. The game offers players three predesigned ‘paths’ for each class, but also allows players to customize their skills and feats on their own. Paths can best be described as specializations. So for example a Ranger can chose to pursue skills and feats that allow him to proficiently duel-wield weapons or to perfect his long ranged bow and arrow use. Even after character creation, players can always switch paths or decide on their own what abilities to learn. The ability to multiclass adds yet another layer of complexity to the game, but new players should just stick to the pre made templates for their first character. Appearance customization is similarly in-depth with plenty of hair, nose, lip, eye, and ear options. Marooned on Korthos Island After the intricate character creation process players find themselves shipwrecked on Korthos Island which acts as a newbie area for the first two or three levels. An NPC guides players along a path towards a grotto where they run through a dungeon with an AI party, which includes a cleric, sorcerer, and rogue. A special buff prevents players from dying during this introductory dungeon, but it does serve as a good example of what gameplay is like in Dungeons & Dragons Online. A narrator acts as the ‘dungeon master’ and provides players with flavor text and instructions as they progress through an adventure. Dungeons generally contain plenty of secret treasures, traps, and optional areas which helps them feel like an authentic D&D adventure. I even had to use my ‘search’ skill to detect a hidden door during one of the early dungeons. Dungeons & Dragons Online loosely follows the 3.5 D&D rules which, among other things, means players have a limited amount of spells per day. Health points do not regenerate automatically while on an adventure, but players can rest at special rest shrines to restore their hp and daily spell limits. Real Time Combat Combat in Dungeons & Dragons Online resembles the gameplay in action-RPGs where players have to click or hold down the left mouse button to swing their weapons. For every swing, ability or spell the game automatically rolls the appropriate dice on the left hand side of the screen to determine whether players hit their target and how much damage they deal. All equipment is labeled in the same fashion as the tabletop game.  For example, a long sword might have a damage stat of ’1d8′ which means it deals 1-8 damage (plus any stat or ability modifiers) on each successful attack. For melee attacks, the twenty sided dice reigns supreme and players must roll a number that beats the defender’s AC (armor class.) Gameplay in D&D Online much more closely resembles Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance for home consoles than it does PCRPGs based on the D&D franchise, such as Neverwinter Nights. Overall, this is a good thing since it makes the game accessible to a broader audience who are more interested in hack & slash than strategy. The fact that dungeons are riddled with puzzles to solve, levers to switch on, and so on also help make the game more attractive to gamers who grew up playing Zelda and other console action-adventure titles. Instancing & Storytelling Dungeons & Dragons Online is set in the world of Eberron, which was originally a campaign setting for D&D. What sets Eberron apart from the traditional D&D fantasy landscape is the inclusion of non-medieval technologies such as trains, skyships and mechanical beings. The Warforged race is a good example of this since they were originally automatons constructed by the other races. Throughout their adventures players will encounter factories and other signs of industry, though all of this technology is powered by magic rather than fossil fuels in Eberron. The world itself is structured in a fashion similar to the way Guild Wars structures things. All areas outside towns are instanced for each individual player or party leaving only the towns as true persistent areas where players can interact freely. There are costs and benefits to this system but for D&D Online I feel it makes a good fit. Thick flavor text and lore are key components of any D&D experience and instancing is the only way to accommodate the experience of being the first person to venture into a forgotten cavern. If there were dozens of players already camping the elder gazer spawn, it just wouldn’t make much sense. Like with most MMORPGs, players are free to skip the quest dialogue but I would advise against it. There are far fewer ‘filler’ quests in D&D Online than there are in other MMORPGs. Almost every quest is tied to the ‘big picture’ of the area you’re currently exploring. For example, Kathos Island is beset by several troubles which players slowly learn are interlinked. Dungeons themselves are repeatable and come in four difficulty settings. The easiest method of clearing adventures is the solo mode which is only available to those playing by themselves. From my experience solo dungeons are a bit too easy. I plowed through every monster and boss I encountered and barely ever needed a rest. The rewards available in dungeons increase with the difficulty but the first few dungeons aren’t worth repeating since the entire first area serves as more of an introduction to the game than anything else. Stormreach & Beyond After clearing things up in Korthos Island, players are free to set sail towards Stormreach where more adventures await. Free players can experience the bulk of content available in Stormreach and its vicinity but additional adventure supplements must be purchased from the D&D Store with Turbine points. There are several in-game methods of earning Turbine points (such as hitting certain levels), so with persistence players can slowly unlock additional content. Players start with 50 points and can purchase additional points in amounts of 400, 900, 1500, and 5000. Discounts are given for volume with $6.25 buying 400 points and $49.99 yielding 5000. New classes & races cost around 590 points while adventure packs cost anywhere from 800-1000 points. New players won’t need to worry about purchasing new content for a long time since there are plenty of adventures to be had in Stormreach. The maximum level in Dungeons & Dragons Online is 20 which sounds low but the game has done a good job of breaking each level into various ‘ranks’ to keep the pacing tolerable. Additionally, the game throws plenty of equipment rewards your way with the completion of quests, so your character’s growth is always noticeable. Besides raiding dungeons, players can participate in PvP which was added in module 3. Besides challenging one another to duels, players can participate in all-out brawls in local taverns, which have free-for-all rings similar to the arenas found in the original EverQuest in towns like Qeynos. Even with these features, Dungeons & Dragons Online is not a PvP game, but having some competitive options never hurts. Final Verdict: Excellent Dungeons & Dragons Online is a high quality MMORPG with plenty of content to explore. The game has done a wonderful job converting the classic tabletop role playing adventure into a virtual world. Narrated storytelling, hundreds of instanced dungeons, and a comprehensive character progression process make D&D Online a must try MMORPG. Screenshots Dungeons & Dragons Online Screenshots 12345► Videos Dungeons & Dragons Online Videos Dungeons & Dragons Online Opening Cinematic Click here to view the embedded video. Dungeons & Dragons Online Character Creation Click here to view the embedded video. Dungeons & Dragons Online Tutorial Part 1 Click here to view the embedded video. Dungeons & Dragons Online Tutorial Part 2 Click here to view the embedded video. Dungeons & Dragons Online Gameplay Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links Dungeons & Dragons Online Links Dungeons & Dragons Online Official Site Dungeons & Dragons Online Wikipedia Entry System Requirements Dungeons & Dragons Online System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP / Vista CPU: P4 1.6GHz or AMD equivalent RAM: 512 MB HDD: 3 GB for standard, 5GB for High-Def Graphics Card: GeForce FX 5200 or Radeon 7600 64 MB Recommended Specifications: OS: Windows Vista / XP CPU: Pentium 4 3.0GHz or AMD equivalentor or better RAM: 1024 MB (1GB) or more HDD: 8.0 GB Free Graphics Card: GeForce FX 5600 / Radeon 9550 128MB or better

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