General Gaming Article

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• AOC e2243Fw Review
• Future Interfaces: 15 Peripherals Straight Out of Science Fiction
• Browser Extension of the Week: The Weather Channel for Chrome
• GameStop Stops Selling Deus Ex: Human Revolution After Being Caught Removing Coupons From New Copies
• Anonymous Reveals Nude Pics Of BART Spokesman Linton Johnson
• Digital Storm Debuts Cryo-TEC Cooling System with Sub-Zero Temperatures (Photos Inside)
• Lenovo COO Rory Read Sees Greener Grass at AMD, Accepts CEO Position
• New Version of Ad-Aware Internet Security (Version 9.5) Now Available for Download
• Iomega Announces 12-bay NAS for Enterprise
• Apple Investors Cautious Going into Post Jobs Era

AOC e2243Fw Review Posted: 25 Aug 2011 01:06 PM PDT This super-thin display also has a super-thin price AOC's e2243Fw made a strong first impression on us: A glossy, piano-black frame houses this remarkably thin, 21.5-inch LCD monitor. In addition to being only 1/2-inch from front to back, it's also extremely lightweight and flexible—and has a budget price, too. The entry-level price of $150 gets you TN technology and a WLED-backlit screen with a standard 16:9 aspect ratio and 1920x1080 resolution. It doesn't, however, get you HDMI or DisplayPort. The six‑pound display has a round base holding sensors that, when touched, activate an onscreen display—a neat trick if it weren't so clunky. Attempting to navigate the menu was an unwieldy experience, as the buttons on the base are unintuitive and lack the ability to move up and down through the menu. Even worse, the OSD menu consists of large, confusing icons, and it's frustratingly easy to press the wrong button or to accidentally take a step back to the previous submenu. Only 1/2-inch thin, the e2243Fw weighs a mere six pounds. One of the notable things about the display is its ability to tilt back to a 90-degree angle for easy wall mounting via VESA mounts. However, the e2243Fw requires a power brick—something that's unlikely to look good dangling down your wall. Also, despite the 90-degree tilt, there is no ability to move the display from left to right, which comes in handy for desktop use. And frankly, we'd be much more likely to use a 21.5-inch panel on our desktop than our wall. When moving the display on its base, not only did we find ourselves accidentally pressing the base (and therefore the menu buttons), we also noticed that the neck of the stand put pressure on the display, causing strange pressure-point patterns to warble across the screen. Moving the display also often caused it to flicker off for a moment before springing back to life. Chassis attributes aside, the display produced clear details and colors that were comparable to our zero-point display, a Dell U2410, albeit a shade darker. Adjusting the brightness and settings in the menu helped some, but the reds and greens didn't quite pop like we wanted: The e2243Fw was still a few shades cooler than our zero-point. During our DisplayMate testing, the e2243Fw suffered in the Pixel Tracking screens, where it produced some digital noise in images, as well as in the White-Level Saturation tests, where it produced some compression artifacts. It also struggled to produce accurate colors, and to render those colors smoothly and consistently—as well as to produce the full spectrum of grays seamlessly. It also experienced difficulty with the Video Bandwidth Index and Gamma Correction tests, where there was evidence of over-peaking and inaccuracy in the gray-scale and color mixtures, respectively. However, during our Blu-ray watching/gameplay testing, the e2243Fw did a solid job. In our viewing of V for Vendetta, it matched the zero-point monitor nicely. The only discrepancy was the level of detail in shaded or dark backgrounds, where the e2243Fw was a little weak, although adjusting the brightness did alleviate the issue some. Similarly, while playing Arkham Asylum, the e2243Fw consistently displayed clear images and solid colors. We didn't experience any lags, artifacts, or ghosting and were pleased overall with the display's real-world performance. Despite its awful menu and budget feel, the e2243Fw does a decent job where it really counts. $150, us.aoc.com

Future Interfaces: 15 Peripherals Straight Out of Science Fiction Posted: 25 Aug 2011 12:28 PM PDT Futurists, computer scientists, and trendsetting analysts all agree – the personal computer, particularly in its current configuration, probably won't be with us too much longer. And we understand the reasoning. The PC is a space hog in a world where space is increasingly at a premium, it's an energy hog at a time when energy is both costly and precious, and it's no longer the driver of the technology industry it once was. That honor now goes to all those nifty little pads and pods and tabs we suddenly can't seem to live without. The long-in-the-tooth desktop, meanwhile, has already been relegated by some to dinosaur status. Yet as much as it's been beaten down, as much as its fate seems sealed by a world that now craves mobility and a technological revolution that's now revolving in other directions, the PC isn't going anywhere anytime soon. It remains the workhorse of the workforce, the finest tool in the arsenal for visual arts, and the panacea for non-console gamers everywhere. Having said that, the PC is clearly entering a state of flux. And as it does, we thought we'd take a look at what might (and in some cases, will) happen to those devices that surround the granddaddy of high tech. For as much as the familiar PC "box" will shape-shift over the coming years and decades, so too will the peripherals that allow us to interact with it. Here then is a rundown of fifteen peripheral devices and concepts we feel are notable for their evolutionary stance, even if they may be flawed in current form. We've loosely arranged them in order of when they have – or when they might – be available in the consumer marketplace.

Browser Extension of the Week: The Weather Channel for Chrome Posted: 25 Aug 2011 11:24 AM PDT   As the world stands upon the cusp of the month of September, the first of the autumn leaves have already started to fall for many of us. It's a special time of year when Mother Nature makes the transition from trying to kill us with months and months of unbearable heat, tornadoes and floods to doing her best to do us all in with two season's worth of hurricanes, a few more tornadoes and bone-chilling cold. While we can't stop her soulless onslaught, it is possible to leave the house in the morning feeling just a little more prepared for the weather that's being dumped on us, thanks to The Weather Channel for Chrome, our Browser Extension of the Week. The Weather Channel for Chrome is a slick little extension that resides in your browser's navigation bar. Designed to provide at-a-glance information on the current weather conditions for up to nine different areas around the world, The Weather Channel for Chrome makes it easy to keep track of what's going on outside, no matter where you are. By clicking on the extension's icon, users can receive a detailed 36-hour forecast including information such as UV Index, temperature, Wind Direction, and barometric pressure. Oh, and for all of you masochists out there, the extension also provides access to the Weather Network's television programming guide. Who could ask for more?  Be sure to check back with us every Thursday for another edition of Maximum PC's Browser Extension of the Week.

GameStop Stops Selling Deus Ex: Human Revolution After Being Caught Removing Coupons From New Copies Posted: 25 Aug 2011 10:24 AM PDT If you're in the market for a copy of the awesome-looking Deus Ex: Human Revolution, you might want to pick it up pretty much anywhere but GameStop.  Square Enix, the publisher of the game, decided to include a coupon in the retail packaging of the PC version that allows you to play DXHR for free on Square's OnLive gaming service. The problem is, GameStop plans on offering its own streaming gaming service soon and already doesn't take kindly to competitors. The bigger problem is, GameStop began ripping open all the new copies of the game and yanking out the OnLive coupons. Ars Technica reported the crappy practice yesterday and even included screenshots of an email from Josh Ivanoff, a Field Operations Manager with GameStop. In the email (shown above), Ivanoff says "Please immediately remove and discard the On Live coupon from all regular PC versions of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Our desire is to not have this coupon go to any customers after this announcement." When questioned by Ars, GameStop's spokeswoman confirmed the coupon removal. The backlash across the Internet was intense and immediate. GameStop's response? They've now pulled all copies of the regular PC edition of Human Revolution from the store shelves. That's right – you can't buy the PC version of DXHR at GameStop now. Every single copy will be sent back to Square Enix and replaced with a new, coupon-less version, freebies to customers be damned. If you want to score a boxed copy that still includes the code for the free OnLive version – or just want to tell GameStop with your dollars that nobody likes a jerk – be sure to pick up Deus Ex: Human Revolution somewhere else.

Anonymous Reveals Nude Pics Of BART Spokesman Linton Johnson Posted: 25 Aug 2011 10:15 AM PDT The human language is a funny thing. In most circumstances, the words "Anonymous nude photos online" could land you in some pretty hot water with your significant other. Not today, though. On August 25th, "Anonymous nude photos online" translates into "Anonymous posts nude photos of BART spokesman Linton Johnson online in an escalation of its war with the San Francisco transit system." Anonymous has been beating on BART and calling for Johnson's resignation ever since the transit system disabled cellular service during an August 11th protest about the shooting of a homeless man by a BART officer. Graham Cluley at Sophos reports that at the time, Linton Johnson claimed that the transit authority "didn't try to shut down the protest. They simply turned off the cell service so it couldn't become viral. It really is just a cost-benefit analysis of where your freedom of speech begins to threaten the public safety." Anonymous took offense and opened virtual fire with #OpBart. Obviously, either Johnson or someone close to him hasn't been very careful with his pictures; Anon recently created a blog that put Johnson's johnson on display for the world to see. The BART spokesman appears in a shirt that says STIFF, no less. The website has already been taken down, but Cluley managed to grab the pic above before it was lost to the aether. Linton's johnson (and his face) is obscured here, but it was in full un-pixelated glory on the Anonymous website. You can see pics with Johnson's face displayed on Gawker, if you want. Out of respect, we decided not to post them here. The man in the pictures hasn't been officially confirmed as Johnson, but it sure looks like him. We are certain about two things: you shouldn't put nude pictures of yourself on any computer connected to the Internet if you don't want them on the Internet, and, checking out the photos, that looked like one hell of a party.

Digital Storm Debuts Cryo-TEC Cooling System with Sub-Zero Temperatures (Photos Inside) Posted: 25 Aug 2011 09:45 AM PDT Boutique outfit Digital Storm is once again dipping its system building fingers into sub-zero territory with the launch of its Cryo-TEC Cooling System. This chilly cooler is essentially a redesigned version of Digital Storm's Sub-Zero Liquid Chilled system and is now smaller and more powerful than before by way of direct contact heat dissipation technology. Digital Storm describes the new model as a "radical leap forward in cooling technology," a claim made possible by placing the processor in direct contact with the thermo-electric cold plate. The Cryo-TEC Cooling System also includes a custom control board that automatically optimizes cooling power and efficiency, Digital Storm says. The Cry-TEC is also $500 less expensive than the previous Sub-Zero cooling apparatus. It's offered in four different gaming computers, or "Levels," as Digital Storm dubs them. The Level 1 setup starts at $3,968 and includes: Intel Core i7 2600K processor Asus Sabertooth P67 motherboard 8GB DDR3-1600 Corsair Dominator DHX memory Nvidia GTX 580 videocard Western Digital 1TB Black Edition hard drive (7200RPM, 64MB cache) 24X DVD burner Corsair Pro Silver 1050HX power supply (1050W) The above system setup also includes a "Stage 3" overclock with Digital Storm goosing the processor to somewhere between 4.9GHz and 5.2GHz. Starting at $6,931, the Level 4 machine is built around an Intel Core i7 990X processor, 12GB of memory, and three GTX 580 videocards for tri-SLI bragging rights. All four machines can be custom configured. Product Pages: Level 1; Level 2; Level 3; Level 4 Image Credit: Digital Storm

Lenovo COO Rory Read Sees Greener Grass at AMD, Accepts CEO Position Posted: 25 Aug 2011 09:09 AM PDT Forget about the East coast earthquakes, all the moving and shaking of late is taking place in Silicon Valley and other technology hotspots. This past week alone has seen HP's TouchPad emerge as the most sought after tablet, Steve Jobs resign as CEO of Apple, Acer post a quarterly loss for the first time in company history, and AMD finally pick a new captain. AMD today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Rory P. Read as the company's new skipper, or more officially, President and Chief Executive Officer. The chip maker plucked Mr. Read from U.S.S. Lenovo, where he served as President and COO. "Rory is a proven leader with an impressive record of driving profitable growth," said Bruce Claflin, Chairman of AMD's Board of Directors. "He is ideally suited to accelerate AMD's evolution into the world's leading semiconductor design company. As President and COO of Lenovo he helped take the company into dynamic new markets while growing market share and expanding profitability. His sound strategic thinking and natural customer orientation will help amplify the voice of the customer inside AMD." AMD credits Mr. Read with driving double-digit growth at Lenovo, as well as reversing operating losses and maintaining consistent profitability. Lenovo wasn't as specific in its praise of Mr. Read, but did offer up a few kind words that would indicate he didn't burn any bridges by leaving. "Rory Read has made a significant contribution to our success during his time as president and COO at Lenovo. His selection as CEO of AMD is a great reflection of the way the industry views Lenovo's talent and our performance," Yang Yuanqing, CEO of Lenovo, said in a statement. Lenovo said it has no immediate plans to name a new President and/or COO. Over at AMD, interim CEO Thomas Siefert will return to his role as Senior Vice President after filling in for former CEO Dirk Meyer since January 2011. Image Credit: Lenovo

New Version of Ad-Aware Internet Security (Version 9.5) Now Available for Download Posted: 25 Aug 2011 08:45 AM PDT The folks over at Lavasoft, not to be confused with Lavalys, makers of the defunct Everest utility that was picked up by FinalWire and rebadged as AIDA64, just released Ad-Aware 9.5 Free Internet Security and Ad-Aware 9.5 Pro Internet Security. Lavasoft's software mechanics stripped the core program of its bloat and tweaked the scan engine. Launched exclusively with CNet's Download.com, the new suites weigh just 12MB, down significantly from 130MB, at least initially. Once executed, the installer fetches 80MB of additional data online, which is still an overall reduction compared to the previous builds. CNet claims the programs should be anywhere from four to eight times faster than version 9.0.5, though noted the Smart Scan was actually slower in real-world tests. The free version of Ad-Aware 9.5 Internet Security includes malware protection, basic real-time protection, genocode detection technology, behavior-based heuristics, rootkit removal, a malware removal tool, a scheduler, and automatic updates. Included in the Pro ($30) version are a few upgrades, including "expert" real-time protection, advanced rootkit removal, tweaks to speed up PC start time, a Do-Not-Disturb mode, and technical support. Ad-Aware 9.5 Free Internet Security Ad-Aware 9.5 Pro Internet Security Question for Maximum PC readers: As we gear up for our next annual antivirus roundup, is this one of the programs you would like to see make the cut? Sound off in the comments section below. Image Credit: Download.com

Iomega Announces 12-bay NAS for Enterprise Posted: 25 Aug 2011 07:56 AM PDT Iomega's new StorCenter px12-350r is a rackmount network storage array (NAS) for small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and distributed enterprises. The px12-350r replaces the ix12-300r as Iomega's flagship rackmount NAS and comes loaded with 12 bays with support for up to 36TB, though SMBs can also opt to slap high performance solid state drives (SSDs) in there as well. The 2U form factor rackmount NAS comes in two base configurations, one with four 2TB drives and another with four 3TB drives. Both of these sport an Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 processor clocked at 3GHz, 4GB of DDR2 memory, four GbE LAN ports, RAID 0/1/10/5/6 support, iSCSI, three USB 2.0 ports (one front, two rear), full Hyper-V Live migration support, embedded AXIX Video Hosting System (AVHS), and according to Iomega, the px12-350r is also the only NAS in the world to support Avamar deduplicating backups. Pricing starts at $6,000 for the 8TB model and $7,000 for the 12TB model. An 8TB expansion pack is available for $1,400, 12TB for $1,700, and 128GB SSDs for $400 each. Product Page Image Credit: Iomega

Apple Investors Cautious Going into Post Jobs Era Posted: 25 Aug 2011 07:29 AM PDT The collective cry from Wall Street this morning is, "They took our Jobs!" Wait, that might have been what was beaming from a repeat episode of South Park. In any event, Apple investors are trying to figure out what life will be like in the Cupertino camp after Steve Jobs dropped a bombshell late yesterday announcing his resignation, effective immediately, with former COO Tim Cook stepping in as his replacement. Apple shares initially dropped by more than 5 percent last night in after-hours trading, but after sleeping on the news, investors woke up less panicked and opened th trading day at $365, down $11.18 from before the surprise announcement, or 3 percent, according to Mercury News. It's now trading at $317, down less than one-and-a-half percent. Analysts aren't terribly worried about life after Jobs, who has been on medical leave since January and will stick around as chairman. In the short term, analysts believe Apple will rake in $120 billion in sales by the end of the year, and there's already a roadmap for the next several years. "There's no downside in the short term," said Van Baker, an analyst at Gartner. "We'll have to see if there's a downside in the long term." Depending on how his health holds up, Peter Misek with Jefferies & Co. says "Jobs will be able to continue to offer his insights and visions for the future of Apple," according to USA Today. In other words, his resignation as overlord isn't nearly as damaging as when Luke Skywalker fired a pair of proton torpedoes into a thermal exhaust port on the Death Star.

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MMO News

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• Ragnarok Online hosts level up event
• Heroes of Newerth Gameplay F2P
• Global Agenda announces free expansion
• Rusty Hearts begins closed beta phase 2

Ragnarok Online hosts level up event Posted: 25 Aug 2011 01:29 PM PDT Ragnarok Online will be running a special “From Novice to Hero” event from August 24 until September 6. During the event, all new characters will level at double normal speed at base levels under 70, 1st class, Expanded, and Transcendent 1st Class up to level 50, and Super Novice up to 70. All players will also get one free character slot on Ymir or any other server for permanent free-play. The Super Novice class has also been expanded to add new skills and levels to obtain. Ragnarok Online is published by Gravity Interactive (WarpPortal), which also publishes Rose Online and Dragon Saga. Ragnarok Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: The best MMO in the world is only at its best when played with friends. Now is the best time to join your friends and play Ragnarok Online, now is the time to go from being a Novice to being a Hero! MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (August 24, 2011) – The latest development in Ragnarok Online is the expansion of the ever stalwart Super Novice! And in celebration all interested players are invited to join Ragnarok Online and get into the action faster than ever with the Ragnarok Online: From Novice to Hero Event. The world of Ragnarok Online has always been blessed with stalwart heroes to battle for what is right in Rune Midgard. Each of those heroic stories start with a young Novice, new to the world and just starting on his or her journey. WarpPortal is proud to celebrate the journey from Novice to Hero from August 24 – September 6th! During the Celebration all new characters will achieve early leveling at double normal speed! Base levels under 70, levels twice as quick! 1st Class, Expanded and Transcendent 1st Class Job levels up to 50 are Double speed too! Super Novice up to Job 70 is also sped up! All accounts will also receive 1 free Character slot on Ymir, or any of our servers, which will allow permanent Free-play! Expansion of the Super Novice Class! The Super Novice Class will be expanded as well on August 24th! Allowing new skills to be learned, higher levels and greater stat customization than ever before! This is a perfect time to invite friends to play or to start your own Ragnarok Online Adventure, find new friends and make new legends!

Heroes of Newerth Gameplay F2P Posted: 25 Aug 2011 01:21 PM PDT To Learn More About the Game, Check out our Heroes of Newerth Page. Heroes of Newerth is a 3D MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) style MMO published by S2Games – the same company behind Savage and Savage 2. In its core, Heroes of Newerth plays a lot like Avalon Heroes, League of Legends, Realm of the Titans, Rise of Immortals and other “DotA” inspired titles. The game went free to play in late July, 2011 to better compete with League of Legends. Like LoL, heroes must be purchased using in game silver coins before they can be used with free heroes being rotated regularly. To learn more about Heroes of Newerth check out the official MMOHut Heroes of Newerth page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Global Agenda announces free expansion Posted: 25 Aug 2011 12:37 PM PDT Global Agenda has announced its newest expansion, Recursive Colony, which will be free for all players. The expansion includes a huge list of feature, including new instanced content for PvE and PvP and a new Open Zone. Daily quests, new missions in Spec Ops for High/Max/UltraMax, new PvP maps (Push Dust, Colony Caverns), revised intro missions, cross-instance chat channels, along with new enemy bots, dyes, flair, trails, pets, and blueprints will all be part of the update set for fall. Global Agenda is published by Hi-Rez Studios, which is also developing Smite. Global Agenda Gameplay Screenshot Source: Global Agenda's Largest Expansion Coming Early Fall and Free To All Players Recursive Colony themed Open Zone and Co-Op content playable at PAX Prime 2011 ATLANTA – August 25, 2011 –Today, Hi-Rez Studios announced that the Recursive Colony expansion to Global Agenda will be released in early Fall and will be available to all players with no purchase required.  Version 1.5 will be the largest content update in the history of Global Agenda.   Attendees of the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in Seattle, WA can be the first to play the new content this weekend within the Hi-Rez Studios booth #252. Global Agenda, the award-winning squad-based shooter MMO, was the first free-to-play game on Steam and has received numerous content updates since release.  But the upcoming Recursive Colony expansion is significant in that it introduces a brand new Open Zone, the first such addition since the Sandstorm expansion last summer. "Players seeking a quest-driven, narrative experience post level 20 can now level-up in the new Open Zone as an alternative to, or in addition to, our instanced missions", says Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Studios COO. "We've also included a new set of instanced PvE and PvP content for players at all levels." Version 1.5 is themed around the Recursive Colony – an electronic, hive-mind faction of robots constructing robots and intruding upon the player social hub of Dome City. Notable expansion additions include: ·  New Open Zone with several instanced missions, quest chains, mid-high level content, vendors, social spaces ·  New enemy bots – encountered within Open Zone as well as instanced missions ·  Daily Repeatable Quests – for solo agents and teams. Some quests take place in zones, while others send teams into Recursive Colony hive nodes and ruins. These quests include new 4-man defense Raid missions – now available to smaller groups (1-4) at lower levels (20+) ·  New Dyes, Flair, and Trails – rewards for winning missions, completing daily quests,  rare bot drops, others given via achievements ·  New Pets – new pets available as rewards and crafted items. ·  New Blueprints – for consumables and mods ·  Easier crafting – components now within the zone, to help with leveling crafting skills ·  New High/Max/UltraMax missions entering the Spec Ops queues ·  New PvP Map – Push Dust will be entering the Merc queue from Beta ·  New PvP Acquisition/CTR Map – Colony Caverns will be entering the Beta Queue ·  Revamped Intro Missions – Tutorials now include class-specific elements to help train new players ·  Some quests now affect the state of the world (example – Brownouts in Dome City…) ·  Ability to transfer between different Open Zone instances (and VR Arena) ·  Open Zone cross-instance chat channels ·  Disconnect to Character Select Screen without re-login ·  Improved Vendor Item Previewing

Rusty Hearts begins closed beta phase 2 Posted: 25 Aug 2011 11:47 AM PDT Rusty Hearts, Perfect World Entertainment’s new action MMO, has begun its second phase of closed beta testing. The new closed beta test comes with new updates, including a town restructure that removes portal gates, lets players compare their information to each other, adds new side quests through the Wanted Board system, and redesigns the skill tree. Also in the update are PvP adjustments and high level arenas, a new advanced crafting system, an item quality system, and improved looks for crafted weaponry. As a reward for testers, all those who log in the first twelve hours of the beta will gain a costume item. Perfect World also publishes Forsaken World and Battle of the Immortals. Rohan Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: RUSTY HEARTS KICKS OFF CLOSED BETA PHASE 2 TODAY August 25, 2011 – Foster City, Calif. – Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a wholly owned US subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), is pleased to begin the second phase of closed beta testing for its hack and slash, dungeon crawling MORPG Rusty Hearts today. All players that log into Rusty Hearts within the first twelve hours of the Phase 2 launch will automatically be granted a free costume item that will be permanent throughout the open beta. Followed by a fresh patch installation, the second phase will allow players to keep their characters and achievement levels from Phase 1 and offer even more variety to the game’s features. “We are ecstatic that Rusty Hearts has attracted thousands of gamers during the closed beta,” said Mark Hill, Game Producer for Rusty Hearts . “We’d like to thank the dedicated community of players for their enthusiasm and the incredible amount of feedback we’ve received.” Based solely on player feedback, Phase 2 will include these new updates and enhancements: •    Complete Town Restructure – Removal of portal “gates” allows for easier and more efficient travel through the game’s outer hub worlds with less waiting in loading screens. •    PvP System Adjustments – While experiencing an overall balanced PvP system, Intermediate and Advanced PvP arenas are now open for higher level players to face off against similarly ranked opponents. •    Player Comparison Information – Compare your stats to other players and opponents, as well as help new players find the best way to manage their characters. •    New Side Quest System – Track down ever-changing enemies and their locations with a wide array of quests displayed on Wanted Boards •    Revamped Skill Tree System – Effectively manage your skill points to build upon previous skills and acquire new abilities •    Advanced Crafting System – Dismantle unique items to obtain valuable materials that can be used for crafting advanced items including special weapons. •    Deeper Item Quality System – A wider range of ranks have been added to weapons and gear in order to show their level of quality in greater detail. •    Enhanced Looks for Weaponry – Get a completely new look for weapons that you have crafted compared to weapons that are picked up as loot drops. Join the beta at http://rh.perfectworld.com/closedbeta/. For more information on Rusty Hearts, visit http://rustyhearts.perfectworld.com/.

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MMO Updates

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• Rusty Hearts' closed beta swings into phase 2
• EverQuest II's GU61 going live today
• Perpetuum update outlines new assigments and more
• Hi-Rez prepping Global Agenda's largest expansion
• EverQuest II beefs up its free trial
• The Daily Grind: What was the best change made to your favorite MMO?
• New video shows creation of EverQuest II raptor concept
• World of Tanks mirrors history with Battle for the Dnieper special event
• Faxion Online closing the doors of heaven and hell
• A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Trolls
• Turbine confirms five new LotRO instances by the end of the year
• SWTOR lead spills the beans about the Eternity Vault raid
• gPotato announces Sevencore, releases gameplay trailer
• Massively Speaking Episode 162
• Funcom teases Age of Conan Turan armor
• One Shots: All that's missing is a drink with a little umbrella in it
• New Darkfall video shows off bone armor
• Exclusive: Referee Ruby plays Treasure War in Free Realms
• Enter at Your Own Rift: A party guide for the fashionably late

Rusty Hearts' closed beta swings into phase 2 Posted: 25 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Events, real-world, Free-to-play, Massively Event Coverage It's an exciting time for the hyper-kinetic Rusty Hearts, as the title not only is moving into its second closed beta phase today, but is ramping up for a blockbuster appearance at this week's PAX. Perfect World is upping the ante for potential testers, offering a free costume item for those who log into the game in the first 12 hours. This costume piece will persist through open beta, so there's no worry it's going away anytime soon. Rusty Hearts' closed beta phase 2 is also increasing the amount of content available in the game, including a complete town restructure, a fine-tuning of the PvP system, the ability to compare yourself to other players, a side quest system, a revamp of the skill tree, advanced crafting, and unique cosmetic looks for crafted weapons. If you don't have the pleasure of attending PAX, the Rusty Hearts dev team has a present for you anyway: the full PAX walkthrough video that will be on display at the convention. You can check it out after the jump! Continue reading Rusty Hearts' closed beta swings into phase 2 Rusty Hearts' closed beta swings into phase 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EverQuest II's GU61 going live today Posted: 25 Aug 2011 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play Those of you trying to log into EverQuest II this morning may have been greeted by a crashing launchpad or some variation on the standard "service offline" message. Fear not, as it's patch day, and the servers will be back sooner rather than later (we hope). Game Update 61 is in the offing, and EQ2Wire has an extensive breakdown of the patch notes for what is one of the more significant non-expansion updates in the history of the game. Aside from the alternate advancement tweaks, the most significant change is a complete loot and itemization revamp. This means that there's no reason to restrict yourself to the "Golden Path" when it comes to leveling your characters. Norrath is one of the largest and most diverse game worlds in existence, and you should now see level-appropriate loot no matter where in the world you adventure. Also of note are new dungeons that scale between levels 60 and 90, as well as the house rating system, a native video-capture and YouTube publishing feature, and the ability for your Fae and Arasai characters to fly at level 85 and up. Finally, the official EQII site has a lengthy new lore passage related to the update, and you can bone up on what's happening with the War of Zek while you're waiting for the servers to restart. EverQuest II's GU61 going live today originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Perpetuum update outlines new assigments and more Posted: 25 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Perpetuum, Dev Diaries, Sandbox It's been a few weeks since we've heard from the Perpetuum dev team, but all is apparently well as Avatar Creations has been working feverishly on the new features detailed a while back. This month's blog update focuses on new assignments, and there are 16 of them spread among the game's three main Alpha terminals. Avatar has also gifted players with new assignment types, including mining, harvesting, production, transport, and combat varieties. The devs have also tweaked Perpetuum's facility relations mechanics, with the largest change being a reduction from nine corporations per faction to a more manageable three. Finally, new random NPC spawns are being introduced, and there will be a small chance of encountering new elite NPCs as well. Along with substantial health increases, these guys boast significantly better drop rates. Read all the rest of the details at the official Perpetuum dev blog. Perpetuum update outlines new assigments and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hi-Rez prepping Global Agenda's largest expansion Posted: 25 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Global Agenda Hi-Rez Studios has big plans for Global Agenda, and the autumn months will see the sci-fi shooter's largest expansion to date made available to everyone for free. The Recursive Colony patch (version 1.5 if you're counting at home) will include a new open zone with instanced missions, quest chains, social spaces, and mid- to high-level content. New enemies, daily repeatable quests, and further avatar customization options are also on the way. "Players seeking a quest-driven, narrative experience post level 20 can now level up in the new open zone as an alternative to, or in addition to, our instanced missions," said Hi Rez's Todd Harris. "We've also included a new set of instanced PvE and PvP content for players at all levels." Said PvP content takes the form of a new mercenary map (Push Dust) and a new acquisition map (Colony Caverns). Finally, if you're going to be at PAX Prime this weekend, stop by the Hi-Rez booth (number 252) and be the first to check out the new content. Hi-Rez prepping Global Agenda's largest expansion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EverQuest II beefs up its free trial Posted: 25 Aug 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Free-to-play, Promotions Sony Online Entertainment is going to great lengths to rope in prospective EverQuest II players, as today the company announced that it is vastly improving its free trial for the game. Assuming that you're not interested in EQII's free-to-play version, you might want to check out these changes and see if they're enough to tempt you into a taste or two. The beefed-up trial includes two weeks -- 14 days -- of commitment-free play in the core game plus the first seven expansions up through the recent Destiny of Velious. In addition, SOE is sweetening the deal by giving trial players a Superior Experience potion that bumps up advancement for two hours, as well as a Green Journeyman's Cloak that contains a respectable 25% speed boost. It's a good of as time as any to give EverQuest II a try, especially since the much-anticipated GU61 lands on the live servers today. EverQuest II beefs up its free trial originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What was the best change made to your favorite MMO? Posted: 25 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous Change can be a very scary thing, which is why many of us resist it. Yet change is also a regular fact of life in an MMO, and so we're forced to roll with it whether we want to or not. In the space of a single content patch, update, expansion, or even hot fix, our entire virtual world can be turned upside-down. Our class can be nerfed into extinction, game mechanics can change the very way we play, and the world can grow and develop in most unexpected ways. The unknowable power of change is one of the reasons why I love MMOs and why it appeals to so many. So instead of focusing on the negative side of change, let's focus on the upside. What was the best change made to your favorite MMO? It can be anything as minor as a bug fix to something as huge as a full-game revamp. If you had to point to one change as the best idea the devs ever had (or co-opted), what would it be? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind! The Daily Grind: What was the best change made to your favorite MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New video shows creation of EverQuest II raptor concept Posted: 24 Aug 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, EverQuest II, Culture, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries It's not often that we get to see behind the curtain on our favorite MMORPGs, and Sony Online Entertainment has teamed with PC Gamer to give us one of those opportunities. EverQuest II recently released a slew of new mounts, among them flyers, gliders, and leapers that give players the ability to soar over the wilds of Norrath like never before. SOE production artist Nate Temple kept a video record of his concept design for one of the game's new raptor leapers, and we get to see the complete sketch unfold before our eyes thanks to the time-lapse wizardry on display in the five-minute clip. Temple shows off his mad Photoshop skills and provides a good bit of interesting commentary, so jump past the cut to check it out! Continue reading New video shows creation of EverQuest II raptor concept New video shows creation of EverQuest II raptor concept originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

World of Tanks mirrors history with Battle for the Dnieper special event Posted: 24 Aug 2011 06:30 PM PDT Filed under: Historical, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, World of Tanks Wargaming.net has long touted World of Tanks' historical accuracy when it comes to its tanks' designs and specs. The studio very clearly knows its history, as evidenced by the forthcoming Battle for the Dnieper event. The event, which commemorates a massive World War II battle involving nearly four million people, brings players a couple of opportunities. For starters, from August 25th to 26th, all profit gained by players using the Hummel, SU-8, and M41 SPGs will be doubled. Players will also be able to rename tanks and purchase new ones at highly discounted prices. Topping off the event is the Call of Heroes contest, which challenges players to see who can acquire the highest number of achievements before the end of the contest on August 29th. So what are you waiting for, soldier? Get out there and show everyone else who the real hero is. World of Tanks mirrors history with Battle for the Dnieper special event originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Faxion Online closing the doors of heaven and hell Posted: 24 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Faxion Online It may not have had a long life, but Faxion Online's certainly was memorable. The PvP-centric MMO with the unique heaven-and-hell theme has announced that it is closing its doors within the month, following rumors that the entire team had been laid off. In a brief statement posted on the forums, players were notified of the game's closure, which will occur in a couple quick stages. This week, players will not be able to register for the game, download it, or use the store, while the servers will be powered down within 30 days from today. "We're eternally grateful for all the support, feedback, and competition our players have provided through thick and thin," the announcement stated. "Faxion's development was a Herculean effort that some said was impossible given the timeframe and resources we had, and we're proud to have delivered a PvP-driven experience that people could enjoy. Alas, all good things must come to an end." Faxion Online launched on May 26th this year, making this one of the quickest demises of an MMO since last year's All Points Bulletin. We at Massively wish the best for Faxion's staff in the coming months. Faxion Online closing the doors of heaven and hell originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Trolls Posted: 24 Aug 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Lore, Opinion, A Mild-Mannered Reporter The low-level gangs that heroes face in City of Heroes follow a pretty set pattern. At the absolute bottom are street thugs with a little bit of superhuman muscle at the very top, just enough to remind you that you are in a city swarming with mutants and magic and all of that fun stuff. One step up, however, and you start to find gangs that are just a little more vicious, ones that genuinely couldn't thrive at all outside of the superheroic milieu. That's where the Trolls sit -- as a group of legitimately superhuman street thugs mostly kept in line by their own issues. The Trolls are most likely the first villain group out of the starter areas that you'll encounter in numbers, if for no other reason than the simple fact that they're swarming the Hollows. You're also likely to start running into them if you deal with the Skulls long enough because the Skulls are what keeps the Trolls up and running. Trolls aren't like their lower-level counterparts -- they suffer from a disease, and feeding that ailment is the source of their power and reputation. Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Trolls A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Trolls originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Turbine confirms five new LotRO instances by the end of the year Posted: 24 Aug 2011 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Patches, Free-to-play, Dungeons While a new expansion is usually a cause for celebration, some Lord of the Rings Online players have expressed disappointment that September's Rise of Isengard lacks new instances outside of the much-ballyhooed 24-man raid. Between convention appearances, Turbine's Sapience confirmed on the forums that while Isengard players won't be enjoying any additional three-man or six-man dungeons, more will come by the end of the year in Update 5: We are currently preparing five new instances for release post-Isengard. Rise of Isengard will be released on September 27 along with a 24-player raid. There will be 3 three-player, 1 six-player and 1 twelve-player instance released in Update 5, the first update after the release of Rise of Isengard. These instances will be free to any player who has pre-purchased the Rise of Isengard expansion or who purchases after launch via the Turbine web store. Update 5 will be available before the end of the year. Rise of Isengard will be on display at Turbine's booth this weekend at PAX in Seattle. Turbine confirms five new LotRO instances by the end of the year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SWTOR lead spills the beans about the Eternity Vault raid Posted: 24 Aug 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Endgame, PvE, Star Wars: The Old Republic At Gamescom this past week, Star Wars: The Old Republic concentrated on showing off endgame to prove to players that it is indeed an MMO. At the press conference just prior to the convention, Lead Designer Gabe Amatangelo demonstrated the very first part of the Eternity Vault raid content you will find in TOR. The demonstration group wiped on the second encounter, but we were assured that there was more. But how much more? Thanks to The-Force.eu, we now know. Amatangelo explained the encounters to the German fansite as follows: "The Eternity Vault has five. It has five encounters. 'Bosses' is such a loose term. One of them, you have to hack this puzzle. You've got to split up the group, and you've got to fight back a bunch of different waves while people are trying to solve a puzzle in tandem." This information should comfort some fans of the game; there is more to this dungeon than a simple tank-and-spank. More SWTOR information is headed our way as we gear up for PAX. Stay tuned this weekend as we give you the latest information from our reporters on the show floor in Seattle. SWTOR lead spills the beans about the Eternity Vault raid originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

gPotato announces Sevencore, releases gameplay trailer Posted: 24 Aug 2011 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play Earlier this month we brought you the scoop on Sevencore, a free-to-play sci-fi fantasy hybrid being developed by Noria and published by gPotato. Today, ZAM brings us the details of the title's official announcement along with the first official gameplay trailer. The video clip features plenty of single-player PvE footage as well as a plethora of nifty environmental vistas. There's also a brief look at a few of the mounts that gPotato is highlighting in the game's early marketing materials, as well as some sort of racing event featuring pedal-to-the-metal hovercraft action. Check out all that and more after the break. Continue reading gPotato announces Sevencore, releases gameplay trailer gPotato announces Sevencore, releases gameplay trailer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Speaking Episode 162 Posted: 24 Aug 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, Culture, Opinion, Humor, Massively Speaking Massively Speaking Episode 162 is back this week to bring you all the latest MMO news with your hosts Shawn and Rubi. It's a slow week as we sit between Gamescom and PAX Prime, but there's still stuff to talk about, including the newest info on the NASA MMO, APB Reloaded's retail launch info, The Secret World's large-scale PvP, the Guild Wars 2 crafting system demo, and more! If you're interested in learning more about the Game Programming Instructor position Shawn has mentioned on previous episodes, check out the job listing or contact Shawn for more info. Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to shawn@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes. Massively Speaking is the official podcast of Massively.com. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Shawn Schuster and Community Manager Rubi Bayer, Massively Speaking takes on the week's biggest news and dev interviews with plenty of opinion, rants, and laughs thrown in for good measure. Join us every Wednesday afternoon to listen in and see what we'll say next! Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 162 Massively Speaking Episode 162 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Funcom teases Age of Conan Turan armor Posted: 24 Aug 2011 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Age of Conan, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play We still don't have a release date for Age of Conan's next content drop, but the Savage Coast of Turan adventure pack is nonetheless looking pretty spiffy. How's that, you say? Well, Funcom has teased a couple of new screenshots featuring gear from the new pack, and you can see for yourself at the AoC Facebook page. There's a pair of male and a pair of female models on display (and unlike most fantasy MMOs, Age of Conan continues its tradition of providing actual armor for the fairer sex as opposed to thongs and heavy metal bras). The only question that remains is where will players get the bag or bank space to hold the new sets? Funcom teases Age of Conan Turan armor originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

One Shots: All that's missing is a drink with a little umbrella in it Posted: 24 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Free-to-play, One Shots Eden Eternal got a huge content update earlier this month, and fans have been enjoying the increased level cap, new dungeons, new zones, and more. Massively reader Benjamin took a minute to get a snapshot of one of the new zones for One Shots: This is a screenshot I took of the new zone Delphi Forest in Eden Eternal. I find the graphics themselves aren't technically impressive, but the developers have managed to create a unique and colourful atmosphere with what they have. There are also nice touches like butterflies and glowing spores flying around. Those things, combined with an impressive day/night cycle, give this game's environments a really magical feel. We're looking at the best MMO environments all this week. Do you have a favorite landscape, particularly eye-catching weather effect, or hidden jewel in an out-of-the-way location? Snap a screenshot of your favorite MMO area, tell us a bit about what and where it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. Next week we'll be revisiting another old favorite of One Shots: bug week. Whether it's unwanted guests in cutscenes, funny graphic glitches, or a prank you played on a buddy, we want to see. Send your screenshots in and we'll feature them in next week's One Shots! Gallery: One Shots: 2011 One Shots: All that's missing is a drink with a little umbrella in it originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Darkfall video shows off bone armor Posted: 24 Aug 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Darkfall, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items Aventurine missed its usual Friday update last week, and we can only hope it's because the devs were too busy working on Darkfall 2.0 to bother with blogging. The latest Darkfall media sneak peek is out today instead, and it features a brief look at more of the new armor fans are looking forward to in a future patch. The armor is called bonescale, and before the clip is over, viewers will also get a glimpse of a new nasty called the necroguardian. Long-time Darkfall players may recognize the creature as an offshoot of the old obsidian golem, albeit with a bit more attitude this time around. As far as the armor goes, the blog entry also says that it will be a high-end medium set that will require special components to craft. So when can we expect to see the bonescale, the necroguardian, and the rest of Darkfall 2.0? That's still up in the air, as Aventurine makes no mention of a release date for its massive game overhaul. Continue reading New Darkfall video shows off bone armor New Darkfall video shows off bone armor originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Exclusive: Referee Ruby plays Treasure War in Free Realms Posted: 24 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Free-to-play, Browser, Trading card games, Humor, Free Realms, Kids Referee Ruby is back again this week with another exclusive Free Realms video, this time showing off the Treasure War card game. Accessible through Greenwood Forest, Treasure War is a simple, card-styled rock-paper-scissors game in which players pit their cards against opponents' cards in an attempt to steal -- you guessed it -- treasure. The game features three modes: Quickplay, for low-risk, speedy, and fun matches vs. other players; Campaign, which requires the participant to face off against increasingly difficult NPCs for prizes; and Tournament, a competitive version of Quickplay that offers lucrative rewards. Ruby notes that Treasure War isn't a standard TCG in which you build a custom deck; instead, your cards are chosen at random from your collection by the game itself. Of course, the Free Realms cash shop sells gems that can boost your odds of winning if you really need that extra edge. You can also purchase card packs for a chance at rare prizes like the glowy phoenix mount Ruby's riding at the end of the trailer. Enjoy the full video just behind the break! Continue reading Exclusive: Referee Ruby plays Treasure War in Free Realms Exclusive: Referee Ruby plays Treasure War in Free Realms originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Enter at Your Own Rift: A party guide for the fashionably late Posted: 24 Aug 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Opinion, RIFT, Guides, Enter at Your Own Rift Last week, Justin presented a great overview of what's on the horizon for RIFT via his interview with Trion CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman. On August 25th, everyone is invited to celebrate RIFT's six-month birthday, with special events and prizes for the next seven days. New and returning players get to play for free, while subscribers get lots of special perks like extra experience, increased drops, and even a special birthday gift at the end of the celebration. Curious about why players names are certain colors? Having a hard time deciphering an acronym? Wondering how you can find the calling and level of someone talking in open chat? Read on for some helpful game tips for those who are thinking of checking out the game (and perhaps a few tips that even veterans might appreciate)! Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: A party guide for the fashionably late Enter at Your Own Rift: A party guide for the fashionably late originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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