General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Stanford Researchers Teach Machines to Beat Captchas

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:06 PM PDT

captchaWe've all struggled with those often unreadable security Captcha codes from time to time, but if some new research out of Stanford is any clue, machines might be better at it than us very soon. By using machine vision algorithms, the Stanford team was able to defeat 66% of Visa's Captchas, 70% of those used by Blizzard, and about a quarter of Wikipedia's Captchas. This may spell trouble for a multitude of other sites, as well.

While some of these numbers might not sound like a huge problem, the team suggests that any hit rate over 1% means Captcha is too broken to continue in use. Since the cost associated with having a computer try again and again to solve the Captcha is so low, those with malicious intent could blow through this security measure with no problem. Most companies use various layers of security, but Captchas are relied upon heavily for weeding out bots. 

The Stanford team had no luck whatsoever with Google's ReCaptcha system, which is used widely. This indicates that the visual filtering an de-blurring techniques aren't entirely there, but its success with other systems could mean it's just a matter of time. 

Book Publisher Files Mass P2P Lawsuit

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 02:42 PM PDT

btWe wouldn't have thought that the "For Dummies" series of how-to books would have been in such hot demand online, but publisher Wiley and Sons has filed a mass p2p lawsuit alleging that its copyrighted work has been infringed. The case, filed in a New York federal court alleges that 27 John Does (identified only by IP address) shared several "dummies" books, although Wiley's popular "BitTorrent for Dummies" was not on the list.

"Defendants are contributing to a problem that threatens the profitability of Wiley," the complaint reads. Wiley goes on the say the exact monetary damage cannot be calculated, but it feels remuneration is warranted. Interestingly, Wiley and Sons is taking a more measured approach than movies studios that have employed similar methods in recent years. All 27 defendants are located in New York, and the infringements occurred just a few weeks ago. That avoids many af the pitfalls that have derailed litigation from the movie studios.

Other mass-lawsuits have aimed not at taking defendants to court, but to scare them into paying settlements. it's not clear if Wiley will get the names behind the IP addresses, or if they will go ahead with court cases. We're frankly a bit perplexed that a copmany which actually sells a book about how to use BitTorrent can do this. How do you feel about this development? 

November 2011: Power Up Your Social Media!

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 02:38 PM PDT

In the PDF archive of the November 2011 issue you can find:

  • Power Up Your Social Media!
  • The Ultimate Star Trek PC
  • NAS Box Showdown
  • Build It: 30-inch Gaming Rig
  • Head-to-Head: Chromebook vs. JoliBook
  • Ask the Doctor
  • Best of the Best
  • 9 Favorite Costumes from Comic-Con 2011
  • And a whole lot more!

Click the cover image on the right to download the PDF archive today!

Motorola Job Cuts On The Way, Will Cost The Company $31 Million

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 02:24 PM PDT

googleMotorola Mobility is moving full-speed ahead in preparation for the impending Google takeover, but not in the most pleasant of ways. The handset maker is preparing to fire about 800 workers and close several facilities. The estimated cost to Moto could be as high as $31 million, but when you've got Google money, that's chump change.

The vast majority of the costs associated with this endeavor come from the severance Motorola is going to have to pay to former employees, about $27 million in all. The remaining $4 million is likely going to come from costs associated with closing facilities. According to the company, these changes are aimed at improving the Motorola's long-term financial performance. That probably mean removing positions that will no longer be needed at Google.

We can't know for sure is this is going to affect the way Moto works in the phone business, but despite what Larry page says, the deal was probably more about patents than anything else. Shareholders are expected to approve the buyout on November 17.

Malware Removal Guide 2011: How to Get Rid of All The Latest Malware

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 01:57 PM PDT

Four steps that will keep your PC happy, healthy, and crap-free

Malware sucks. In the best-case scenario, it craps up your system with unwanted files and occasionally makes itself known in the form of a persistent pop-up window or annoying browser-based toolbar. In the worst-case scenario, malware completely takes over your desktop or laptop and ruins your life.

Your system slows to a crawl. You can't even boot into Windows in the time it takes you to walk to the kitchen and back. Your data gets sent off to a faraway Internet land or, worse, your actual keystrokes are recorded for some unsavory individual to see. Malware locks down your browser, making you unable to actually do any browsing without being carted off to some bogus domain. You can barely run a program in Windows without getting bombarded by fake advertisements, programs, and dancing people on your desktop.

We can't make this stuff up.

So what's a computer enthusiast to do? Step zero: Read this guide, because we're going to walk you through all the key details you need to know to both rid your computer of this junk and keep it free of downloaded nasties forevermore.

What's that? The first step doesn't involve files to download or utilities to blast malware from your system? Exactly. The most important thing you have to realize in order to fight the great malware war is that you, and you alone, are the first line of defense. You have only yourself to blame if your computer is completely overridden with problem-causing, yet preventable, programs.


The astute among you will notice that this isn't a proper security scan: It's malware, and it just made life very difficult for this system's user.

Much of the more annoying malware that you can accidentally befriend requires your cooperation in order to get on your system in the first place. You have to download and run an unknown file or agree to have a toolbar placed on your system as part of a software installation routine. You have to accept certain kinds of JavaScript or be fooled by scam websites that claim to be running a virus scan on your system (to name one such harrowing tale).

In short, you have to let your guard down.


Ignore this warning image (or any variant) when you're browsing the Internet, and you could be in for a world of digital hurt.

So how do you protect yourself against your own habits? Keep in mind this rule of thumb: If it's too good to be true, if it looks strange, or if it's completely unknown to you, don't run it. Don't install it. Don't accept it, don't hit "yes" to it, and don't let it get anywhere near your system. Google, Bing, and Yahoo are your friends. Use them to find more information about a given program before you agree to let it do anything on your system. Don't surf the Internet blindly, assuming that everything on a website is safe for your system to digest.

We mentioned that a bunch of malware can come through your browser—'tis a shame, we know. Vulnerabilities in browsers and plugins (and user error) can bring your system to its digital knees faster than you can spell the word "crap" in "crapware." So let's start with the simplest step: Stop using an outdated, insecure browser. Make sure you're at least sporting the latest version of one of the Big Three: Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Chrome.


Google Chrome uses a sandbox to better protect you from web attacks. And based on the limited number of successful hacks over the years, it's worked!

But which? Various research reports have dubbed each of these three browsers as the "best in class" against malware and other social-driven attacks. Our personal preference when it comes to safety is Google's Chrome browser for three reasons: First, it's the only browser to use sandboxing as its primary defense mechanism. This method combines a JavaScript virtual machine with an OS-level sandbox to prevent successful attacks against the browser's rendering engine from affecting a user's file system. Second, Chrome has been, hands down, the hardiest survivor of each year's Pwn2Own hacking contest at the CanSecWest security conference: Talk about a real-world verification of its security capabilities, eh? Third, Google updates the Adobe Flash and Acrobat Reader modules itself. So if you're running the latest version of Chrome, you're running the latest, most secure versions of Flash and Acrobat Reader available (click the wrench icon and About Google Chrome to verify that you're running the latest updates).


Firefox's NoScript add-on is an excellent tool for preventing page plugins from running on untrusted sites.

But we're just getting started. JavaScript vulnerabilities—including blatant attacks that rely on a user's cooperation to work—can just as easily affect your browser. If you're rocking Firefox, grab an extension called NoScript, which will allow you to disable a page's plugin elements (including Java­Script and Flash!) by default, unless you trust the site enough to give 'em a go. Chrome doesn't have an add-on for the same feature, but you can disable JavaScript by default in the browser's Under the Hood settings section. And if you want to specifically allow a site's JavaScript to function, just click the associated X icon in the browser's address bar to set up site-specific trust. Or, if you don't mind using a slight variant, you can do your best to mimic NoScript-like control using the NotScripts add-on.

Other extensions and add-ons worth wielding to fight the malware fight include Web of Trust, KB SSL Enforcer, Adblock, and HTTPS Everywhere.

 


Running a perfect browser setup only goes so far in the battle against malware: Remember, you are your own worst enemy. Assuming that malware could slip through the gates at some point, what are some of the free software tools you can use to equip your system with powerful protection before a rogue app gets out of hand?

First up, you'll want a comprehensive scanner running day in and day out to make sure that each and every bit of software you slap onto your computer gets a quick check. For that, we turn to none other than Microsoft's own Security Essentials app. Our reasons are simple: It's free and it works. Is it as comprehensive as a premium paid solution? No, but our rationale here is that it's better to have free AV that has updated definitions than a paid AV suite with a lapsed subscription.

Install Security Essentials and you'll get instant access to frequent Microsoft virus and spyware updates, in addition to a real-time scanning mechanism that protects your system from anything you download from the Internet (or, if you're fancy, anything on a USB device from the moment it's jacked into your system). MSE schedules nightly scans to run by default, but feel free to reschedule these for any time that suits you. Additional options let you set the exact parameters for when the scanning should start, which include the ability to restrict virus and malware hunts to periods when your CPU use is below a certain threshold.

Some of the very best antimalware apps on the market can be had for free, but with an asterisk: We're talking, of course, about SuperAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware. We're fans of Malwarebytes' offering, mainly because the freeware version of its powerful antispyware app gives you a few more features to tinker with than SuperAntiSpyware's. The hitch with both? No real-time protection, so make sure you set a mental task for yourself to run these apps on a daily or weekly basis.

If you want to get truly hardcore, be sure to grab ComboFix, as well. This app, often considered the "nuke it from orbit" option for certain nefarious bits of malware, uses the Windows Recovery Console to find and eliminate annoying malware. It doesn't protect your system up front, but it's a great tool to have in your back pocket when disaster strikes.


RKill is an excellent tool for detaching malware that won't stop running on your system: If it's running, it's not getting deleted by your antimalware apps.

So you're infected. Shucks. Malware comes in different forms and annoyance levels, depending on just how well the particular piece of offending software has entangled itself into your operating system. This makes it difficult for us to deliver a fix that fits every situation. However, we can at least give you a few helpful suggestions for freeing your PC from malware's clutches.

First off, see if a simple scan from Windows Security Essentials stops your issue dead in its tracks—likely not, but it never hurts to try the simplest solution before you start rolling up your sleeves a bit more. Update your definitions and select the full‑scan option, and then sit back and hope that Microsoft's scanner can fix your problem. No luck? Next, fire up Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, make sure your definitions are updated, and run a full scan on your system. If it catches an issue, great; if not, and your malware problem persists, it's time to get a little more creative. Fire up the utility RKill, and use it to try to force-stop any malware processes that happen to be running in your system's background. Run a full scan with Malwareybytes' Anti-Malware one more time.

If you're still out of luck, you'll want to reboot your system into safe mode (keep pressing F8 as the BIOS loads until you're given the option for safe mode) and repeat the same RKill/Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware step as before. You're doing this in an attempt to unhook whatever malware's plaguing your PC from the operating system itself: It's not getting wiped out because it's still active (and possibly protecting itself from your removal tools).

Still hurting? Fire up Combo­Fix and let the scanning and removal tool work its magic—if, for some reason, it can't remove whatever's affecting your system, you'll get a lengthy log that you can post on one of ComboFix's associated web forums for further assistance from qualified log parsers. At this point, it might be worth your while to check out other scanning tools not explicitly mentioned in this article, which range from Spybot Search&Destroy, to McAfee Labs Stinger, to GMER, to Sophos Anti-Rootkit, and the list goes on. And you might also benefit from grabbing a few live CDs, like AVG's Rescue CD or Hiren's BootCD, for malware and virus removal.


Booting a system into safe mode is a useful technique to prevent malware from starting—and to ensure that your antimalware apps catch it.

There are nearly as many tools for removing malware as there is malware to infect you. The better you can protect your PC up front, including training yourself to recognize potential malware when it presents itself and keeping it off your system to begin with, the less you'll have to fool with potentially complicated removal techniques later.

But if you have to go down this route, and simple scans aren't getting the job done, don't forget to try ripping active malware processes out of your operating system and booting your PC into safe mode. After that, exorcising these software demons from your system is all up to your tenacity, your search engine research skills, and your knowledge of third-party removal apps—Or, if worse comes to worst, your backup schedule. You know, a clean install is but a few clicks away!

So you're paranoid. We get it. There's nothing wrong with wanting even stronger security measures than those we've mentioned in this article. For the best-in-class prevention against debilitating malware and viruses, you have two options: a virtual machine or a "live CD."

A virtual machine is exactly what it sounds like: a pseudo operating system that runs within your existing operating system. Think Inception. Anything that happens to your OS‑inside‑an‑OS cannot break out of the dream. Applications, malware, drive formats, you name it: That which transpires within the virtual machine's operating system will never affect your actual operating system running one layer above it. Beware, though: Some malware can tell if it's running on a VM and won't activate if it is. This can make compromised software seem harmless, and could get you to lower your guard and install it on your real machine, where the malware will activate.

Our recommendation? Check out VirtualBox, a totally free VM that lets you install any Windows version you want.

You can also super-protect your primary system (or browsing experience) by running your actions off a live CD. A live CD is typically a version of the Linux operating system that's been installed on a physical disc or USB key. Restart your computer and boot off a live CD, and you'll find yourself within a self-contained OS that's free of malware and other problems the second you boot. Once you're finished, presto: Your changes can disappear and you'll be back to a brand-new version of the OS to boot into the next time you need it.

Our recommendation? Check out Xubuntu. It's not as graphically interesting as other Linux "buntus," but it does give you a bit more flexibility for running the operating system on lesser systems—like those with anywhere from 256 to 512 megabytes of RAM.

Chrome Web App of the Week: Fieldrunners

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 12:07 PM PDT

fieldrunEven though Chrome has proven itself to be a capable gaming platform, precious few of our favorite pre-existing titles have managed to make their way to our browser windows. Sure, Angry Birds and Plants versus Zombies is great, but even marquee titles can only be played for so long. Fortunately, Android and iOS legend Fieldrunners is ready for a little play time with Chrome. We've invested so many hours into this tower defense classic, we had to make it our Chrome Web App of the Week.

 Fieldrunners is tower defense at its best. Players are tasked with keeping an invading army out of their base by killing off as many of their troops as they can. Starting off with enough cash to purchase a few weapons, players place their armaments on the field of battle in the hopes of creating a kill zone. The more enemy troops you kill, the more cash you generate. This allows you to buy beefier weapons as well as upgrade your existing emplacements. Choose the right mixture of firepower, place it in the right pattern and your base defense will be an impassable wall of death. Get the mix wrong, and you may as well put out a welcome mat, because all your base? It belong to the enemy. Fieldrunners for Chrome is free to play, but gamers do have the option of paying a premium to unlock additional game levels and features.

 

We think that after a few minutes of playing the free version, you'll agree that paying for a little more action is definitely a worthwhile endeavor.

Be sure to check back every Monday for another edition of Maximum PC's Chrome Web App of the Week.

 

 

Bill Gates Takes Steve Jobs' Criticisms in Stride

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 11:12 AM PDT

There are a lot of adjectives to describe Bill Gates, the Harvard dropout who co-founded Microsoft and went on to become a billionaire. Before he passed away, Steve Jobs offered some of his own. He called Gate "unimaginative" and said of his nemesis, he "has never invented anything, which is why I think he's more comfortable now in philanthropy than technology." The verbal beat down didn't stop there.

"[Bill Gates] just shamelessly ripped off other people's ideas," Jobs is quoted as saying in his authorized biography.

Those words, now emblazoned in print and read by millions of people, put Gates in the unenviable position of responding while deciding whether to simultaneously take the high road by not returning pot shots at his deceased competitor, or take the gloves off and start swinging at Steve Jobs' ghost. Actually, it was ABC's Christiane Amanpour who put Gates in the hot seat by asking him to address those statements in a televised interview.

"Well, Steve and I worked together creating the Mac. We had more people on it, did the key software for it," Gates said. "So over the course of the thirty years we worked together, he said a lot of very nice things aboiut me, said a lot of tough things."

"He faced several times at Apple the fact that their products were so premium priced that they literally might not stay in the marketplace. So the fact that we were succeeding with high volume products, including a range of prices, because of the way we worked with multiple companies, it's tough. And so the fact that at various times he felt beleaguered, he felt like he was the good guy, we were the bad guys, you know, very understandable. I respect Steve. We worked together, we spurred each other on, even as competitors. None of that bothers me at all."

High road it is. You can watch the interview here.

Image Credit: Flickr Joi

Initial Ultrabook Sales Fall Short of Expectations

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 10:44 AM PDT

Intel came up with the Ultrabook category in hopes of blowing Apple's MacBook Air out of the water. Ultrabooks are supposed to be thin and light. They're intended to be powerful and well equipped with features. And they must be aesthetically pleasing, or at least that's Intel's vision for the Ultrabook category. And so far, Ultrabooks are all of these things, so why aren't they selling?

They're too friggin' expensive. That's the plain and simple truth, and the reason why sales are falling below expectations so far. According to DigiTimes, Acer and Asus reckon they'll move move 100,000 Ultrabooks by the end of the year, well short of their initial targets, which were set at two to three times that many.

Over in Taiwan, Acer's 13.3-inch Aspire S3 is selling for around $1,100, or about $100 higher than comparable MacBook Air models, DigiTimes says. You can find $1,000 Ultrabooks stateside, but not overseas.

Of course, the Ultrabook segment is brand spanking new, so it's too early to make any kind of determination, especially if prices start dropping down in the coming months.

Halloween Thrills: 15 Of The Scariest PC Games Of All Time

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 10:05 AM PDT

Halloween means different things to different people. For some, it means taking the kids out trick-or-treating; others use it as an excuse to dress like Lion-O and Cheetara and drink excessive amounts of alcohol. This gallery isn't for them. No, this gallery is for you, our fellow PC gamers, for whom Halloween is the perfect reason to turn off the lights, jack up the volume, and try not to pee your pants as angry demons, hungry aliens and the troubled ghosts of psychic children try to turn your virtual character's insides into your virtual character's outsides.

Below you'll find 15 of the scariest, spookiest, downright most horrifying games we've ever played, ranging from first person shooters filled with cheap scares to scripted adventures that include some of the most intensely troubling scenes we've ever seen. Sorry, Eternal Darkness and Clock Tower fans; this article's PC only. No doubt we've missed a hidden gem or two – including Dead Space, which narrowly missed the cut – so be sure to share your favorite scary games in the comments.

TouchPad Tablet Returns to Best Buy (and HP Officially Out of Stock)

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:53 AM PDT

Hewlett Packard over the weekend began sending emails to customers who signed up for updates on the TouchPad tablet to let them know the company is officially out of stock. Whatever remaining units HP had were sent off to retailers, but as far as HP's online inventory, it's been "depleted," HP said. For those of you still interested in snagging one of these fire sale tablets, Best Buy is one of the few places you'll be able to pick one up without an aftermarket price hike, albeit with a one very big caveat.

You have to purchase a new HP or Compaq laptop, desktop, or all-in-one computer. Starting on November 1 (tomorrow) at BestBuy.com and November 4 in Best Buy stores, a 32GB TouchPad tablet will cost $150 with the purchase of a qualifying HP or Compaq system. The offer is only available on the 32GB model, which means your chances of scoring a $99 TouchPad (16GB) are practically nil at this point.

What if you don't want a new HP or Compaq system, but are still interested in purchasing a TouchPad tablet at Best Buy? The electronics chain will happily oblige, provided you were recently hit in the head and would somehow agree to fork over $600 for the standalone device. Yeah, right.

So, should you take advantage of this deal if you happen to be in the market for an HP or Compaq system anyway? That all depends on how comfortable you are owning an obsolete, albeit low cost full-sized tablet. You'll still be able to surf the Web from your couch and post updates to Facebook from the can, but you'll also be able to do those things from Amazon's upcoming Kindle Fire, a $200 tablet that's 7-inches in size and anything but obsolete.

On a side note, some users have been successful in porting Android over to the TouchPad, and word on the Web is that HP is experimenting with putting Windows 8 on it.

Press Release
FAQ

MMO News

MMO News


MechWarrior Online formally announced

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 04:25 PM PDT

MechWarrior Online has been announced officially by Infinite Game Publishing and Piranha Game Inc.

Based on the popular MechWarrior series, MechWarrior Online will be free-to-play, and is scheduled to arrive in late 2012. Players will be able to command their own BattleMech and customize it through upgrades, weapon replacements, and armor improvements. Players may choose one of five great houses can battle in Conquest or Vs. Modes with friends, or go head-to-head on their own. The game also promises daily story updates and constant updates to add and change the world.

mechwarrior-online-atlas-concept

Mech Warrior Online Atlus Concept Art

Source:

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, October 31, 2011 — Infinite Game Publishing Inc.(www.infinitegamepublishing.com) and Piranha Games Inc. (www.piranha-games.com) have announced
MechWarrior® Online™ (www.mwomercs.com), the first officially licensed free-to-play title in the long-
standing and award-winning MechWarrior® franchise. MechWarrior Online is set to launch in the second
half of 2012 from newly formed digital publisher, Infinite Game Publishing.

Set in the year 3049 during the early stages of a massive interstellar war, MechWarrior Online puts
you in command of the most powerful war machine to ever walk the field of battle, the mighty
BattleMech™. Command your Mech™ and customize it to suit your battlefield role; upgrade systems,
replace weapons, and tweak armor with endless options.

MechWarrior Online lets players command at will: go head-to-head online alone or with friends in high-
octane Conquest and VS modes. Band together and form your own Mercenary Corp, invite friends and
battle other player-made Merc Corps for prestige and power. Pledge your allegiance to one of the five
great houses and fight for control of precious Inner Sphere planets.

You will play a key role in a dynamic and ever-changing universe where player exploits impact the world
around you and daily story updates and frequent content additions create epic changes to the Inner
Sphere universe and its many inhabitants.

MechWarrior Online delivers a rich online experience, rewarding everything a player does with
experience points, C-Bills, unlocks, and recognition. Upgrade skills and refine your role in gameplay
using an all-new leveling system, and up-to-the minute detailed player statistics allow you to compare,
track and share your progress with other players.

"We're excited to lead the MechWarrior franchise online for fans of the series," said Russ Bullock, co-
founder of Piranha Games. "We're proud to partner with Infinite Game Publishing, and are thankful for
the fans of the MechWarrior series that have been so patient for the next MechWarrior game to arrive.
Infinite Game is a partner who understands both the world of games publishing and the crucial technical
needs of today's AAA online gaming experiences. Together we are bringing fans epic next-generation
Mech combat online in 2012."

More information about MechWarrior Online at www.mwomercs.com.

Dungeon Fighter Online launches Act XIV

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:43 PM PDT

The first part of Act XIV, Delezie’s Nightmare, is now live for players of Dungeon Fighter Online.

The update introduces two new Ancient Dungeons, Ghost Train and Reshpon, Village of Pain, where two new dangerous and twisted bosses live. The Emblem System makes its debut to allow players to turn in emblems, found in dungeons or purchased from Daphne, into stat or skill boosts into their equipment. The Heaven Party will also let lower level players obtain rare and exceptional equipment – if they’re lucky enough to find the vendor in the dungeons.

Dungeon Fighter Online is published by Nexon, which also publishes MapleStory and Dragon Nest.

Dungeon Fighter Online: Act XIV Screenshots:

Source:

The Ghost Train Has Arrived

Two new Ancient Dungeons, Emblem System and Heaven Party now available in Dungeon Fighter Online, Halloween events now live

Halloween is serious business for Dungeon Fighter Online, the arcade-style massively multiplayer online game from Nexon. Act XIV: Delezie's Nightmare Part 1 is the latest update to hit the game, giving players access to two new Ancient Dungeons, the Emblem System, and the Heaven Party, which gives lower level players an opportunity to try on some serious high-end weaponry.

Players can now face an army of never-before-seen monsters in the Ghost Train dungeon, which is inhabited by ghosts looking to claim the souls of brave Dungeon Fighters. The hellish domain serves as home to the boss Pandemos Floo, a fearsome creature tied to a Seal of Destruction. Players can also explore Reshpon, Village of Pain, where a whole new militia of demons greet players to capture their souls. It is here that Dungeon Fighters will face Delezie the Plagued Apostle, a legendary boss who claims Reshpon as his eminent domain. But players be warned: Delezie's prime attack is a toxin that spews from his body, deforming its enemies. If Dungeon Fighters are blessed enough from the high heavens to defeat this terrifying foe, myriad rewards will be bestowed upon them.

The Act XIV update also allows players to boost their character's stats with the Emblem System. The emblems can be found as drops in various dungeons or purchased from NPC Daphne. Emblems range from iron grade to platinum, depending on how much of a stat or skill boost it will give to an avatar. Players can also boost their stats by obtaining Sacred weapons from Heaven Party, a new feature which allows Dungeon Fighters to acquire various rare and untradeable weapons normally reserved for higher level players. Since the Heaven Party appears randomly in selected dungeons, players questing solo or with a party will have to be at the right place at the right time to get their hands on some exceptional weapons Sacred weapons from Heaven Party can also be disassembled for materials which can then be used to purchase a class and level appropriate Heavenly Weapon Pot.

To play Dungeon Fighter Online for free, please visit http://dungeonfighter.nexon.net/.

You can also "like" Dungeon Fighter Online on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dungeonfighteronline

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Hear ye, hear ye! Castlot has entered open beta!

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 10:30 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

Castlot
ClapAlong's MMO venture into Arthurian myths and legends has transitioned out of closed and into open beta. Castlot is now available to try for any and all curious knights, and ClapAlong is not shy with the efforts to woo them to this round table.

In addition to featuring several improvements from the closed beta, including a newcomer's guide and ransack function, the open beta will feature daily login bonuses. ClapAlong is also promising to roll over 150% of any in-game currency you purchase to the live edition, even if you spend the currency in the closed beta. Finally, there are prizes to be had to the first player who spots and reports a bug, and to anyone who is willing to do a little Facebook promotion for the game.

This browser-based title gives players a choice between joining the "light" side of King Arthur or the "dark" side of Lord Blackmore. There's a variety of gameplay elements at work, including both turn-based and real-time combat depending on your particular venue.

You can sign up for the open beta over on the Castlot official site.

MassivelyHear ye, hear ye! Castlot has entered open beta! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Angels Online gets new expansion, new equipment

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

Angels Online - 2D anime gameplay screenshot
Angels Online's newest expansion is trading the dangerous jungles of primordial paradise for the heat of an Egyptian-style desert. Pharaoh's Lost Treasure is set in and around the city of Basil, and the expansion features new weapons and armor with "some of the best stats the game has to offer."

According to a new IGG press release, Angels Online's dev team spent a lot of time getting the look of the new expansion armor sets just right. For Mages, new purple robes offer both offensive and defensive bonuses. Light armor wearers will appreciate new bone designs that offer protection without restricting movement. Plate wearers aren't left out either, as they can acquire new sets that combine "rich culture, style, and durability." Head to the Angels Online website to learn more and to download the game.

[Source: IGG press release]

MassivelyAngels Online gets new expansion, new equipment originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Age of Conan dev update talks new House of Crom dungeon

    Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:30 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

    Age of Conan - House of Crom concept art
    It's time for another month-ending Age of Conan development update, and the October version doesn't disappoint. Craig Morrison gives way to a gaggle of AoC developers who are more than eager to talk about the new House of Crom content coming in the 3.0.2 patch.

    The House of Crom is actually composed of two large dungeons. One is a social playfield that supports multiple simultaneous groups while the other is a six-man instance like those found in Khitai. The encounters take place in the bowels of the Eiglophian Mountains and are designed for endgame players. Lore-wise, the dungeon is an ancient Atlantean temple which has recently been unearthed (and defiled) by the Vanir raiders invading northern Cimmeria.

    That's all fine and dandy, but what about phat lewtz? "We will be bringing in new Atlantean-themed items. Power-wise, the rewards will be on par with those found in the more difficult instances, and there will be all the regular token and trophy rewards that you would expect to find," says system designer Knut Jagels. The 3.0.2 patch is currently slated for the end of 2011, and you should head to the official website to check out the full dev diary while you wait.

    MassivelyAge of Conan dev update talks new House of Crom dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The story of saving APB

    Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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    APB
    While many of us are aware of the basics behind the rise, fall, and re-rise of All Points Bulletin, it's only been from a partial, fragmented perspective. GamesIndustry.biz conducted an in-depth investigation into the story of how GamersFirst swooped in to save the drowning APB, which barely had 130,000 registered users at the time of its shutdown last year.

    As the game and company went into administration, GamersFirst sent in a team to assess the title and see what could be done. The company decided to purchase it and convert it to a free-to-play model, although Bjorn Book-Larsson said that the price tag for the company was higher than initially anticipated: "It ended up not being a cheap deal for us, but obviously a lot cheaper than the initial development."

    In restructuring the development team, GamersFirst reduced the number of developers by 90% to make it more agile, often recruiting former Realtime Worlds employees who showed promise. "Our production designer used to be the lead QA person. He'd spent years taking notes on how things should have been different. Essentially, when I met him the first time he rattled off a huge list of what he thought should have been different. Just an insane amount. We just said, maybe we should just hire you as a designer," Larsson said.

    So far, it looks as though the restructuring and new focus is paying off, as APB Reloaded's beta is currently seeing five times as many players as those who registered for the box product last year.

    MassivelyThe story of saving APB originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Earth Eternal development on hold once again

    Posted: 31 Oct 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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    It's been a tough ride for Earth Eternal. We first heard about the original developer, Sparkplay, only days after Massively came into existence in 2007, and we've been following the company ever since. Earth Eternal was voted one of Beau's top F2P games in 2010, as it was enjoying quite a strong run that year -- even to the point where Sparkplay mentioned creating more games outside of EE.

    Well, that soon ended as the company ran into some serious financial problems that led to the game's hold status. Fast-forward a year, and the game was reborn with a new developer (TurnOut Ventures with OutBlaze)! It re-entered open beta status and looked to be on the road to recovery.

    Well, the rollercoaster is back on the descent, according to the game's forums. It turns out Earth Eternal's development is once again put on hold until further notice. The servers are still online and the game is still playable, but the small development team at TurnOut has been relocated to other projects. So right now, it seems to be a completely free game with no cash shop.

    We'll be sure to keep you up-to-date on any further news we hear.

    [Thanks to Keith for the tip!]

    MassivelyEarth Eternal development on hold once again originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    MV Guide: October 31-November 6, 2011

    Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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    Warrior Saga
    MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

    Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

    Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

    Continue reading MV Guide: October 31-November 6, 2011

    MassivelyMV Guide: October 31-November 6, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: What's the most iconic MMO city?

      Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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      WoW's Stormwind
      If you've ever tried to draw a map of the Earth from memory, you know that it's a difficult task, and yet I suspect that most of us could easily sketch out a map of the landmasses and cities of our favorite MMOs. While most MMOs scale significantly smaller than our real-world capitals, they're no less memorable. In fact, some cities practically serve as symbols of the game, from City of Heroes' Paragon City to Guild Wars' Lion's Arch to World of Warcraft's Stormwind. Be they hubs of commerce, zones for party-forming, or home to all your phat loots, we could probably navigate them blindfolded.

      Today we ask: What's the most iconic MMO city (and could you map it from memory)?

      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!

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the most iconic MMO city? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Go go Power Rangers Online! For real!

        Posted: 30 Oct 2011 09:00 PM PDT

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        Power Rangers Online
        Because we miss the '90s and the wonderful fads that it introduced to our culture, Korean developer Ntreev has announced the return of the fabled Power Rangers -- this time in MMO form. Officially unveiled on Friday in Seoul, Power Rangers Online is prepping for its first Korean closed beta, which should begin November 3rd with extremely limited numbers.

        The game is designed to be a side-scrolling action MMO based on the Power Rangers Mystic Force series. Player will make their own unique character but choose an iconic color (i.e., "class") from the show. As they level up, players can outfit their characters with gear other than the Power Rangers classic spandex-slash-biker motif.

        So far the beta consists of two "acts" with 14 stages and storytelling comic book-style sequences. If you're fully secure in who you are and have no compunctions about friends and family members questioning your viewing habits, you can look at some of the first screenshots in the gallery below and watch the teaser trailer after the jump!

        Continue reading Go go Power Rangers Online! For real!

        MassivelyGo go Power Rangers Online! For real! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        MMO Week in Review: Pink slips

        Posted: 30 Oct 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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        APB: Reloaded screenshot
        At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

        It's a dark time for MMO studios. Not a week after CCP Games' downsizing, both NCsoft and GamersFirst laid off employees this week, and though GamersFirst assured us that it remains committed to its games and has distracted players with the Occupy Free2Play promotion, gamers are still understandably concerned.

        Trick-or-treat your way past the cut for a peek at this week's other top stories.

        Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Pink slips

        MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Pink slips originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          EVE Evolved: The new player experience

          Posted: 30 Oct 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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          EVE Evolved title image
          Ever since a graph showing a downward trend in daily peak concurrent logins started to make the rounds on blogs, players have insisted that EVE Online's recent Incarna expansion has been a complete failure. I mentioned in an earlier article that we should really have expected this as the captain's quarters were primarily designed with new players in mind. Starting the game as an avatar, even one who's been grounded in his space-room by his space-dad, helps people identify with their characters in a way that bridges the gap between EVE and traditional avatar-based MMOs. By introducing a player to his character as a person rather than a ship, the new player experience may also help make the loss of a ship not such a big deal.

          It's all fine and well to theorise about Incarna's success or failure, but ultimately it's only new players who can make that determination. If the captain's quarters do their job of flattening that initially jarring part of EVE's learning curve, the expansion's effect on subscriptions would be to convert more free trials into paid accounts -- an effect that wouldn't be immediately noticeable until another exciting and heavily advertised gameplay expansion brings in large numbers of new players. To help figure out if the captain's quarters have been successful in that regard, we have to turn to people who have never played EVE before.

          In this week's EVE Evolved, I finally convince my friend Kajatta to try EVE for the first time. I delve into his first experiences with the game to find out what EVE does right and wrong in the new player experience.

          Continue reading EVE Evolved: The new player experience

          MassivelyEVE Evolved: The new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            RuneScape dev panel highlights incredible success of bot bans

            Posted: 30 Oct 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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            RuneScape title image
            Over the past few weeks, we've heard a great deal about browser MMO RuneScape's struggle against botting and RMT. The bot problem has become progressively worse over the past year, with bot makers countering every change developers made to stop their bots from working. This week developer Jagex celebrated bot-nuking day as it deployed a massive update designed to permanently stop all of the popular reflection and injection bots from working.

            At this year's annual RuneFest event, Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard presented a fantastic insider panel on the facts and figures behind bot-nuking day. Mark explained the company's position -- that normal players botting to speed up gameplay was counter to the goals of RuneScape. "We don't want your computer to play with our computer," he told attendees, "we want you to have fun with our community." Before delving into facts and figures, Mark reminded attendees of the element of unfairness that bots create. "I want to know that if I'm putting in 30 minutes this evening, that that 30 minutes is equal to everyone else's 30 minutes."

            Want to know how many million accounts were banned since bot-nuking day? Read on for a summary of the facts and figures from the talk and to watch the full video in HD.

            Continue reading RuneScape dev panel highlights incredible success of bot bans

            MassivelyRuneScape dev panel highlights incredible success of bot bans originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Rise and Shiny: Golden Age

              Posted: 30 Oct 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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              Golden Age screenshot
              I tend to think of myself as a connoisseur of MMORTS games. If you are not familiar with the genre, imagine an MMO that plays like a city-building sim combined with open warfare and sometimes trade. There are a lot of these titles out there, maybe a lot more than in other genres, and the popularity of the MMORTS seems to be growing. Every week I read about a new one or try a new one out. They are usually browser-based, so it's very possible that this low barrier to production allows for such mass production.

              Usually I play one and my love affair with it hardly gets off the ground. Generally I find much of the same design and gameplay I have found in dozens of titles. Sure, there are some subtle differences, but overall the gems in this category are few and far between.

              This week I tasked myself with playing Golden Age, the new MMORTS published by Aeria Games. Was it the same as every other one I've played before? Click past the cut and find out.

              Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Golden Age

              MassivelyRise and Shiny: Golden Age originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Fan-made My Little Pony MMO gathers a following

                Posted: 30 Oct 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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                Pony should pony pony
                Yesterday bronies across the world rejoiced as Kotaku reported on the production of not just one but two upcoming My Little Pony MMOs. Both My Little Pony Online and Equestria Online are set in the fictional world of the popular series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and use graphics and characters from that setting.

                On further investigation, both of the startup MMOs appear to be fan projects being developed without the official backing of copyright holder Hasbro Studios. As such, the projects may run into legal difficulties as they continue development using characters, artwork and names from the My Little Pony series.

                The cartoon series that inspired these fan projects was originally aimed at a young female audience, but its popularity among an adult male crowd grew when it became a huge internet meme. There may even be enough fans of the series to make an official MMO commercially viable, as developers on My Little Pony Online have noted a clear interest in the development of their game.

                MassivelyFan-made My Little Pony MMO gathers a following originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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