General Gaming Article

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• No BS Podcast #185: No Star Wars Edition
• Google Report: Search Engine Results Fall Under First Amendment Protection
• HP Introduces "Sleekbooks:" Ultrabooks That Aren't Ultrabooks
• Wolfenstein 3D Turns 20, iD Showers Gamers With Gratis Goodies
• EA to Invest $80 Million into Next Generation Console Game Development
• Nvidia Plays Hardball with TSMC, Wins Priority Status for 28nm Chips
• HP Tells Ghosts Stories in London, Talks of Threat of Massive Cyber Attacks to Businesses
• EVGA's GeForce GTX 680 FTW Edition Comes in Two Flavors
• HP Announces Updated Pavilion Notebook Lineup for 2012

No BS Podcast #185: No Star Wars Edition Posted: 09 May 2012 11:41 AM PDT Coming to you only slightly late, it's the real Episode 185 of the No BS Podcast! Join Deputy Editor Gordon Ung, Online Managing Editor Alex Castle, and Senior Editor Nathan Edwards as we go an entire two hours without arguing about Star Wars! What do we talk about? Nvidia's dual-GPU GTX 690, AMD's answer to that, Trinity, Ivy Bridge (and the overclocking thereof), the merits of integrated graphics, and so much more. Then: Target vs Amazon vs Best Buy vs the IRS! A new computer in a Commodore 64 chassis! Testing headphones! MMOs! Diablo III! The Walking Dead game! And a dizzying number of reader questions answered!  And, of course, there's a new non-Star-Wars-related Rant of the Month, and buried at the end, an important announcement from Alex. Computer trouble? A secret to share? Opinions? Need advice? Just need to get something off your chest?  Email us at maximumpcpodcast@gmail.com or call our 24-hour No BS Podcast hotline at 877.404.1337 x1337--operators are not standing by. Subscribe: http://feeds.feedburner.com/maximumpc/1337

Google Report: Search Engine Results Fall Under First Amendment Protection Posted: 09 May 2012 11:09 AM PDT When Eric Cartman prettied himself up in makeup and started shouting "Whatever! I'll do what I want!" on a fictional Maury Povich talk show, he and South Park's creators were flexing the freedom of speech rights allowed to everyone in the United States. Now, Google may be getting ready to do what it wants, too; the company recently commissioned a report by a First Amendment scholar who concluded that Google's search engine results are constitutionally protected speech and shouldn't be subject to government anti-trust regulations. UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, the brains behind the claims, says that search engine results serve as the company's "opinion" about the query as asked by the searchee. "It uses sophisticated computerized algorithms, but those algorithms themselves inherently incorporate the search engine company engineers' judgments about what material users are most likely to find responsive to their queries," he writes in the 27 page report. Volokh also says that search engines are essentially media companies like the New York Times and CNN, so he claims that Google, Bing and co. should be afforded the same free speech rights as more traditional publications. Or, as PaidContent puts it, if the Times can spit out "All the news that's fit to print," the same right should apply to search results. PaidContent additionally points out that if that's true, Google would be within its rights to blacklist Yelp, which has been yelping about Google being a monopoly. Google has recently come under intense anti-trust scrutiny from both the United States and the European Union, which likely caused Google to commission the report. It's an interesting change of tactics for the Mountain View crew, which previously claimed that its results shouldn't be regulated because Google isn't really a monopoly: anybody can use Bing or Dogpile at any time. Now, Google (via the commissioned report) is essentially giving up on the neutrality claims and shouting "Whatever! Whatever! The constitution lets me do what I want!" What do you think: should Google be allowed to do whatever it wants with its search results? What do you think will happen in countries that don't have free speech protections? Google is a global business, after all.

HP Introduces "Sleekbooks:" Ultrabooks That Aren't Ultrabooks Posted: 09 May 2012 10:26 AM PDT In between ringing the warning bells about cyberspace boogeymen and rolling out refreshes to the Pavilion lineup, HP also took the time to answer a question we all knew was coming someday: when is an Ultrabook not an Ultrabook? The answer: when it's a so-called thin-and-light Sleekbook. Two new HP Envy notebooks carry the new name, which skirt the restrictions associated with the Intel-owned Ultrabook brand. A key distinction for Ultrabooks, of course, is that they have to be powered by Intel's Core processors. One of the two Envy Sleekbooks -- a 14-inch, $700 laptop -- in fact runs on Ivy Bridge, but the second model -- a 15.6-inch, $600 laptop -- sports an AMD APU, something that could never occur in an Ultrabook proper. The two Envy Sleekbooks also point out the price-based competitiveness of AMD's processors. The APU-powered Envy sports a bigger screen and "discrete-class graphics" while costing $100 less than the smaller Intel-powered Envy, which HP offers with "optional discrete graphics" that will only add to the price tag. The Intel model should be available today, while the AMD variant won't be shipping until around June 20th. Why could that be? *Cough* Trinity *Cough* A couple of actual Ultrabooks were announced, too. So whaddaya think: if HP and other manufacturers can whip together thin and long-lasting Ultrabook-like notebooks running on AMD processors, then simply call the doppelgangers by a slightly different name, does "Ultrabook" (with its very loose spec guidelines) even carry much value as a brand? The AMD Sleekbook is virtually identical to an AMD Ultrabook, after all, aside from the CPU at its heart.

Wolfenstein 3D Turns 20, iD Showers Gamers With Gratis Goodies Posted: 09 May 2012 10:11 AM PDT Long before there was Battlefield 3, there was Call of Duty, and before that, there was Quake and Doom. All those games can trace their lineage back even further, to Wolfenstein 3D, iD's awesomely innovative Nazi-hunting FPS adventure. Today marks a milestone for the classic franchise: B.J. Blazkowicz has been blasting SS guards and chaingun-wielding robo-Hitlers for a whopping 20 years. Even better, rather than just tooting its own horn, iD's showering gamers with freebie gifts to celebrate the anniversary. First up is a new 25 minute-long Director's Commentary, with spoken words by none other than gaming guru John Carmack himself. Seriously, it's awesome. Check out the whole thing in the embedded video below. If listening to the man behind the curtain doesn't pique your interest, iD's also made a browser-based version of the game, which you can play for free over on the Wolfenstein website. What, that still isn't good enough? Well, you're in luck -- the iOS version of Wolfenstein 3D is selling for the low, low price of FREE all day today. If you've got an iPhone or iPad, there's no reason NOT to go pick it up. Happy birthday, Blazkowicz; we'd hoist a beer in your honor but that'll have to wait until next year.

EA to Invest $80 Million into Next Generation Console Game Development Posted: 09 May 2012 08:39 AM PDT It's sort of a weird time for game developers and publishers. Despite a reluctance on the part of Microsoft and Sony to talk about and/or announce next generation console hardware, the current crop of consoles are gettting long in the tooth and, as many suspect, facing succession. It's already happening with Nintendo's Wii console as the Wii U draws closer to release, and within the next year or so, it's conceivable to think there will be a PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 in the wild, too. Despite the uncertainty, however, EA isn't holding back and intends to invest a healthy $80 million into developing titles for next generation consoles. Does EA know something we don't? "We intend to invest $80 million in gen-4 console development in fiscal 2013," EA CEO John Riccitiello said, according to GamesIndustry International. "We are strong believers that console will return to strong growth, representing great opportunity, one that is in lockstep with our digital plan." Hard copy sales dropped 7 percent for EA in the past year, and looking ahead, the games publisher expects another single-digit decline during its fiscal 2013 period (April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013). So, why isn't EA fretting, and why commit $80 million to developing games for consoles that haven't launched yet? For one, developing games for consoles is like having a license to print money. And secondly, EA expects digital sales to make up for declining hard copy sales. Riccitiello described the company's digital growth as being "robust," according to All Things D. And that's a fair assessment. EA raked in $1.2 billion in digital revenue last year, a 47 percent year-over-year increaase. FIFA 12 made $100 million in digital revenue all on its own, and looking forward, EA expects digital sales to total $1.7 billion in the next year.

Nvidia Plays Hardball with TSMC, Wins Priority Status for 28nm Chips Posted: 09 May 2012 06:40 AM PDT Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) may have underestimated the challenges involved with churning out 28nm parts, or perhaps the company is simply inundated with orders. In the end, it doesn't really matter what the problem is, as far as clients go, and when Nvidia reportedly threatened to place orders with TSMC's competitors, suddenly the GPU maker was bumped to the front of the line. It's been rumored that Nvidia considered giving 28nm orders to Samsung and/or Globalfoundries, and in attempt to stop that from happening, TSMC "has given priority to Nvidia for 28nm capacity," DigiTimes reports. Nvidia's recently launched Kepler series is built on a 28nm manufacturing process, and as any gamer will attest, finding a Kepler card in stock is an exercise in frustration. By being bumped up to priority status, the GPU shortage should begin to ease in the coming weeks. This is especially important for Nvidia as it begins to flesh out its Kepler line with an upcoming GeForce GTX 670 graphics card. Meanwhile, Qualcomm has also been given priority status after it, too, threatened to outsource production to competing wafer fabs. Image Credit: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

HP Tells Ghosts Stories in London, Talks of Threat of Massive Cyber Attacks to Businesses Posted: 09 May 2012 06:25 AM PDT Hewlett-Packard chief executive Meg Whitman might as well have been wearing a Boogeyman costume when addressing a crowd in London during an HP customer event. While there, she warned listeners that a mega-sized cyber terrorist attack is pretty much a foregone conclusion, that it's mostly a matter of when, not if, it will happen. But fear not, HP will be there to save the day, if you call upon the company. According to Whitman, a "cyber attack of 9/11 scale" has a high probability of taking place sooner than later, and HP customers would be wise to recognize the "threat of global terrorism" that's on the horizon, V3.co.uk reports. On a more comforting note, Whitman promised to "darken the skies with the magnitude of our response and will work your agenda, not ours," when it comes to dealing with cyber shenanigans. Only time will tell if HP's chief has a legitimate concern or if she's resorting to scare tactics to drive sales of enterprise security products. Either way, she brings up some valid points for businesses to think about. "With the influx of mobility and cloud, the access points [to businesses] are now infinite. Threats have become sophisticated, persistent, and unpredictable," Whitman added, according to ITPro.co.uk.

EVGA's GeForce GTX 680 FTW Edition Comes in Two Flavors Posted: 09 May 2012 05:57 AM PDT Nvidia's Kepler unveiling essentially amounted to a paper launch, but that doesn't mean the company's GPU partners are sitting around twiddling their collective thumbs. New derivatives of the GeForce GTX 680 graphics card are coming out all the time, the newest ones being a pair of FTW cards from EVGA with overclocked specs, a sturdier design, and even twice the amount of memory. The 'standard' GeForce GTX 680 FTW, if we can call it that, totes 'just' 2GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus. However, EVGA cranked the memory to 6208MHz, a 200MHz overclock that results in more memory bandwidth (198.66GB/s versus 192.2GB/s). EVGA also gave the GPU a bump in clockspeed, increasing the base and boost clocks to 1110MHz and 1176MHz, respectively, up from 1006MHz and 1058MHz. For people who plan to run ultra high resolutions, particularly when multiple monitors are involved, or for those simply looking for bragging rights, EVGA outed a 4GB version of the FTW edition. This one boasts the same GPU overclock, though the memory drops back down to reference specs. The other difference is that the 4GB card comes with a backplate. Both cards sport an 8 Phase PWM design, 8+6 pin power input, and Vapor Chamber cooling. MSRPs are $570 for the GeForce GTX 680 FTW and $630 for the GeForce GTX FTW 4GB w/ Backplate. Image Credit: EVGA

HP Announces Updated Pavilion Notebook Lineup for 2012 Posted: 09 May 2012 04:16 AM PDT Adding to the ongoing deluge of PC product line updates inspired by the launch of 3rd generation Intel Core i processors, Hewlett-Packard has announced a slew of Ivy Bridge-based notebook models across its various consumer laptop lines. But Ivy Bridge processors are not the only thing that sets HP's new laptops apart from their predecessors. According to the company, its 2012 Pavilion consumer notebook PCs are reflective of its new "Mosaic" design philosophy. Hit the jump for more. The new Ivy Bridge-powered Pavilion consumer notebook PCs announced by HP are all updates to existing dv- and g-series models with the exception of the m6, a completely new laptop that packs a large display in a "super-slim" design. Sporting a 15.6-inch diagonal LED backlit high-definition (HD) display, the brushed-aluminum Pavilion m6 will be available with both Intel and AMD processors, optional discrete graphics, optional backlit keyboard and dual speakers and subwoofer with Beats Audio. Further, the m6 will come preloaded with HP CoolSense, ProtectSmart and SimplePass. Other models in HP's 2012 Pavilion consumer notebook lineup are the dv7, dv6, dv4, g6 and g7. If your interest has been piqued then we suggest that you peruse the following pricing and availability information and hold your breath accordingly: HP Pavilion m6 will be available this summer at Best Buy, BestBuy.com and HP Direct with pricing to be determined. HP Pavilion dv4, dv6 and dv7 are expected to be available in the United States on June 20 with starting prices of $549.99, $549.99 and $799.99, respectively. HP Pavilion g6 and g7 are expected to be available in the United States on July 25 with starting prices of $449.99 and $499.99, respectively.

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MMO News

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• World of the Living Dead
• Bloody Bite
• SmashMuck Champions Gameplay – First Look HD
• Maestia Gameplay – First Look HD
• MMOHut Weekly Recap #84 May 6 – League of Legends, Rusty Hearts, Elder Scrolls, & More
• Gate of Darkness opens in Elsword
• Rappelz prepares for Epic VII launch
• Grand Chase introduces Leviathan
• Auto Club Revolution adds the McLaren MP4-12C
• Firekom announces Global Soccer

World of the Living Dead Posted: 09 May 2012 01:33 PM PDT World of the Living Dead is a survival horror themed MMO. With a massive zombie outbreak having been unleashed, it’s up to you and other survivors to scavenge a life together. Using a modified Google Maps interface, plan routes for supplies, avoiding the living dead. Train your survivors, raid other players for crucial supplies, and join a faction in order to better your odds of survival. Publisher: Ballardia Games Playerbase: ?? Graphics: Medium Type: MMORTS EXP Rate: ?? PvP: Enabled. Filesize: N/A Pros: +Unique theme and setting. +Use of Google Maps to plan raids. +Interesting take on post-apocalyptic and zombie themes. Cons: -Permanent death. -Limited information. Overview World of the Living Dead Overview World of the Living Dead is an RTS that puts you in control of an agent of the National Emergency Control and Relief Agency (NECRA). You’re locked in a secure bunker with several survivors of a zombie apocalypse, and it’s your goal to train them to survive. The game features realistic functions, such as needing food and clean water for the health of your people. The game uses a Google Maps interface in order to plan routes your colony will take to scavenge for food, water, weapons, and other necessary supplies. Various missions will be available to complete to help in the task as well. World of the Living Dead Screenshots World of the Living Dead Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review World of the Living Dead Full Review Coming Soon… Screenshots World of the Living Dead Screenshots Coming Soon… Videos World of the Living Dead Videos Official World of the Living Dead Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links World of the Living Dead Links Official Game Page System Requirements World of the Living Dead System Requirements Coming Soon . . .

Bloody Bite Posted: 09 May 2012 01:23 PM PDT Choose between being a bloodthirsty vampire, or rage-fueled werewolf in Bloody Bite. Conquer buildings in cities across the world, and expand them to spread your influence. Complete missions around the globe to unlock new areas to explore and develop. Join up with like minded fellows, form a clan, and conquer the world! Publisher: gamigo Playerbase: ?? Graphics: Medium Type: MMORTS EXP Rate: ?? PvP: Enabled Filesize: N/A Pros: +Browser based. +Quest based play. +Simple to learn. Cons: -Slow paced. -Limited information. Overview Bloody Bite Overview Bloody Bite allows players to play either a vampire or a werewolf, fighting against the opposite clan in a world set in the 1920s. Players conquer buildings in major metropolitan areas, and expand them to spread their influence. While in control of the local population, risks beget rewards; oppressed mortals provide more resources, but the greater the yoke, the more likely they are to rebel. Various missions exist in the game, some against legendary monsters of print and film. The game offers extensive customization options as well, from appearance, to weapons and armor, to pets. Bloody Bite Screenshots Full Review Bloody Bite Full Review Coming Soon… Screenshots Bloody Bite Screenshots Coming Soon… Videos Bloody Bite Videos Coming Soon… Links Bloody Bite Links Official Game Page System Requirements Bloody Bite System Requirements Coming Soon . . .

SmashMuck Champions Gameplay – First Look HD Posted: 09 May 2012 01:22 PM PDT To Learn More About the Game, Check out our Smashmuck Champions Page. Smashmuck Champions is a 3D Arena style MMO published by Kiz Studios. The playstyle is very similar to games such as League of Legends and BloodLine Champions. Players control one champion with unique abilities in one of four gameplay modes. In this video we check out the 3v3 capture the flag mode. The game is currently in closed beta. To learn more about Smashmuck Champions check out the official MMOHut Smashmuck Champions page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Maestia Gameplay – First Look HD Posted: 09 May 2012 01:09 PM PDT To Learn More About the Game, Check out our Maestia Page. Maestia is a 3d MMORPG published by Alaplaya. The game is set on a fairly large island where players have to collect all seven of the most powerful ‘Maestones’  in order to become the strongest player. Join either the Superion or the Temple Knights and fight for your faction in epic Realm vs Realm battles. The game is currently only available through Alaplaya to EU players. For some reason I was able to play the game from my computer in the US. If the game becomes available in the NA we will update this info accordingly. To learn more about Maestia check out the official MMOHut Maestia page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

MMOHut Weekly Recap #84 May 6 – League of Legends, Rusty Hearts, Elder Scrolls, & More Posted: 09 May 2012 12:55 PM PDT A quick look and discussion for every major announcement and update during the week! This week we discussed updates from the following games: League of Legends, Rusty Hearts, Elder Scrolls Online, Renaissance Heroes, Brawl Busters and Family Guy Online. The biggest news this week comes from the announcement that Bethesda the company behind the Elder Scroll series, announced The Elder Scrolls Online a MMORPG set in the TES universe. No word on whether the game is going to be F2P but early reports of the game show signs that it will not follow the same style of play that its predecessors followed. You can view all the individual news articles mention over at the MMOHut.com News section.

Gate of Darkness opens in Elsword Posted: 09 May 2012 12:18 PM PDT Elsword is celebrating the release of a new dungeon, the Gate of Darkness. The Gate of Darkness is a defense dungeon, in which players must defend against 15 waves of demons alone or with a team. The greater the difficulty completed, the better the rewards! Until June 4, players can collect event cubes in the Gate of Darkness, which will offer Magic Stones and El Shards. Players will also get a special cube including wyvern’s accessories just for logging in during the time period. Elsword is published by Kill3rCombo. Elsword Gate of Darkness Trailer Source: Demons Invade Online Action Game Elsword IRVINE, Calif. – May 9, 2012 – Calling all warriors to protect the El Crystal from the invading demons including three-headed Dark Bone Dragons! Elsword, the award-winning anime-style beat-'em-up game by Kill3rCombo, is introducing a new defense dungeon, Gate of Darkness. Players need to protect the gemstone in 15 waves of incoming demons by going solo or teaming up with other players. Players can receive more rewards by increasing the difficulty. Starting today until Monday, June 4, Elswordis hosting events to celebrate the new dungeon: Event Cubes: During the event period, players can collect special event cubes by defeating the demons in the Gate of Darkness dungeon. Collected cubes will provide various Magic Stones and El Shards; Log in Event: Just by logging, players will receive a special cube filled with the wyvern's accessories. In Elsword, gamers can choose from five specialized and customizable characters as they explore immersive maps and battle to complete dynamic quests. As players progress through the game, they can evolve their fighting styles by upgrading to new job classes and watch as their chosen character matures and gains more fierce abilities and combos. With intuitive and straightforward controls, Elsword offers players of all skill levels the chance to defeat enemies and deal damage, either on a solo mission or cooperatively in a party of up to four players. For those who welcome a challenge, Elsword also delivers action-packed player-versus-player (PvP) combat.

Rappelz prepares for Epic VII launch Posted: 09 May 2012 12:09 PM PDT Rappelz is preparing to launch its next expansion, Epic VII: Reanimation, on June 7. gPotato is helping players celebrate early with a three-week long log-in event, running from May 9 to June 3. Players who log in during each week will receive these rewards: May 9 to June 3: Double your experience every day you play with free Stamina Savers. Plus, receive a free permanent loot pet and earn a chance to win an item from the Grand Prize pool! See details below. May 9 to May 15: Boost your pet's experience by logging in to win 5 Animal Crackers May 16 to May 22: Protect your weapons from breaking with five E-protects May 23 to June 3: Win 5 more E-Protects and Animal Crackers by logging in all seven days Players who log in all three weeks will also be entered into a Grand Prize Pool, featuring a gaming mouse, 5,000 gPotatoes, and an iPad 3. Players who log in 22 days (at least) during the event will earn a free permanent loot pet. The event will also grant players 50% bonus experience until June 3, preparing for Epic VII. The new expansion will introduce a new Master Class dungeon for high level parties. gPotato also publishes Iris Online and Aika Online. Rappelz Gameplay Screenshot Source: Rappelz Announces Reanimation Expansion and Celebrates with a Login Event Play Rappelz to Win Everything from In-Game Items to a Brand New iPad 3! Sunnyvale, Calif. – May 9 2012 Rappelz Epic VII: Reanimation will arrive June 7, and the rewards begin today with a three week login event! Log in daily from May 9 to June 3 to win items like in-game experience boosters and weapons savers every single day. Play the whole time and automatically enter the pool to win a gaming mouse, 5,000 free gPotatoes, or the amazing iPad 3! Rappelz has packed the calendar with login rewards that begin today, May 9! Every player who logs in will receive the following rewards: May 9 to June 3: Double your experience every day you play with free Stamina Savers. Plus, receive a free permanent loot pet and earn a chance to win an item from the Grand Prize pool! See details below. May 9 to May 15: Boost your pet's experience by logging in to win 5 Animal Crackers May 16 to May 22: Protect your weapons from breaking with five E-protects May 23 to June 3: Win 5 more E-Protects and Animal Crackers by logging in all seven days Complete all these requirements and be automatically entered into the Grand Prize pool.  Ten lucky third place winners will receive one gaming mouse, the latest in point-and-click technology.  Five second place winners will get their very own gPotato shopping spree with an award of 5,000 free gPotatoes, and one spectacularly lucky first place winner will receive the incredible, brand new iPad 3! Rappelz will also increase the experience rate of all users by 50% for the entire duration of the event!  This will help players prepare for Reanimation's biggest addition: a mysterious Master Class dungeon for high level parties.  Rappelz will also give away a free permanent loot pet, able to gather items from every beast you slay, to everyone who logs in at least twenty-two days between May 9 and June 3. Rappelz Epic VII: Reanimation comes to life on June 7, with more information and great prizes available now! Check out the official Rappelz Epic VII: Reanimation preview and homepage for more details.

Grand Chase introduces Leviathan Posted: 09 May 2012 11:50 AM PDT Grand Chase’s character Dio has just gained his third job: Leviathan. Leviathan job allows Dio to use the Soul Reaver, a scythe, and utilize the Marble System to change weapon style and affects. This combined system will let players create new combos in dungeons and PvP. Until May 15, players can partake in a few Leviathan-themed events. By unlocking Dio’s Leviathan mission, players can earn bonus rewards including +10 Epic Reinforcement Stone Chests; players will get 20% bonus experience playing as Dio or as a member of Dio’s team, and the Leviathan’s Rage Package will be on sale for a 10% discount. Grand Chase is published by SG Interactive, which also publishes  Trickster Online and Project Blackout. Grand Chase Gameplay Screenshot Source: SG Interactive Unleashes the Leviathan in Grand Chase: Heroes The Third Job for Player-character Dio Unlocks the Deadly Soul Reaver Weapon and Brutal New Combo Abilities Irvine, Calif. - May 9, 2012 - A devastating new force awaits players in SG Interactive’s action massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Grand Chase: Heroes, with the release of the powerful Leviathan. As the third job for the powerful demon-born Dio, Leviathan introduces a new choice in play-style for Dio fanatics. The new job hinges around different battle stances – the Devil Pose for conquering dungeons and the Weapons Pose to excel in player-versus-player (PvP) combat. Dio’s third job is available now, and interested players can try out the character by registering for free on the official game page. Details of the Leviathan job include: The new weapon, Soul Reaver: The Soul Reaver is a scythe weapon that gives players a deadly edge in combat. It bristles with the power of the grim reaper, as its wrath has been wrought on scores of monsters and players alike. The customizable “Marble System:” The key to victory is adaptability. Players can customize their attack style and dominate the battlefield by changing the different weapon effects with Dio’s “Marble System.” New combos: The “Marble System” combined with the powers of the Soul Reaver will allow skilled combatants to create brand new combos to chain together vicious attacks. These new combos can control the battle or dominate enemies in PvP and dungeons. To help players get started with Leviathan, from now until May 15, SG Interactive will hold special events including: The “Leviathan is Here!” Event: Brawlers will earn bonus rewards including the +10 Epic Reinforcement Stone Chest, just by unlocking Dio’s Leviathan mission. Get a Taste of Dio’s Power Event: By playing as Dio or as a member of Dio’s team players will receive a 20% EXP boost in dungeons and PvP Leviathan’s Rage Package Sale: Players can purchase the Leviathan’s Rage Package at a 10% discount. Dio, tasked with destroying the dimensional portals that open up to the demon world, is forced to unseal more of his reckless power to deal with them. Leviathan builds on Dio’s existing jobs but gives players more customization and specialization to deal with foes. Players can alter his skills on the fly to be deadly in PvP or dungeons with the Weapon and Devil poses. Grand Chase: Heroes is a side-scrolling action MMORPG that allows up to six players to battle monsters in dungeons, or face off against other gamers in combat. Adventurers can engage in team battle and survival modes of gameplay, with each type supporting both tag and item matches. For more information and to play the game for free, visit http://grandchase.gamerage.com/

Auto Club Revolution adds the McLaren MP4-12C Posted: 09 May 2012 11:27 AM PDT The McLaren MP4-12C has zoomed into Auto Club Revolution. The McLaren’s current supercar joins the F1, and adds a new mid-engined car to the game’s roster of high performance vehicles. The car can see 100mph in 6.1 seconds thanks to its 600 PS twin-turbo engine. Players can learn more about this powerhouse in the game’s official forums. Auto Club Revolution is an online racing game and community published by Eutechnyx. Auto Club Revolution Gameplay Screenshot Source: MCLAREN MP4-12C COMES TO AUTO CLUB REVOLUTION® McLaren's Latest Supercar Joins Racing Game and Community's Car Roster 9th May 2012, London, UK. Eutechnyx has announced that the latest car to be added to Auto Club Revolution, its online racing game and car community, is McLaren's current supercar, the MP4-12C. Launched in Auto Club Revolution on the 8th May 2012, the MP4-12C joins McLaren's legendary F1 and adds another mid-engined monster to the game's ever-increasing roster of high-performance vehicles available to buy with the game's e-Bucks currency. First unveiled in 2009, the McLaren MP4-12C was launched in 2011 with a carbon fibre composite chassis and the 7-speed McLaren Seamless Shift dual clutch gearbox (SSG) with Pre-Cog functionality. The pure power of the 1434 kg car can be experienced when its 600 PS twin-turbo engine accelerates it to 100 mph in only 6.1 seconds. The official Auto Club Revolution forums will see a dedicated thread for the car's release, which will include all manner of information. Doug Wolff, team lead, Eutechnyx commented: "McLaren has always been at the forefront of car design, be it in Formula 1, on behalf of other manufacturers or under its own label, and the MP4-12C is absolutely emblematic of that combination of extreme skill, talent and artistry." He continues, "With the truly iconic McLaren F1 already in the Auto Club Revolution roster, we're overjoyed to be able to add the very latest summation of McLaren's automotive knowledge to our game and with the MP4-12C in place, we'll be looking forward to seeing even more fierce battles in the mid-engined supercar domain within the Auto Club Revolution community and leaderboards." Auto Club Revolution is a free-to-play online racing game and car community built in collaboration with the motor industry. Featuring officially licensed cars from over 50 of the world's leading motor manufacturers, it delivers a console quality racing experience to the free-to-play market while providing a social platform for owning, customising and enjoying cars online. The game features a wide range of custom and licensed race tracks including Silverstone and Circuit de Spa Francorchamps.

Firekom announces Global Soccer Posted: 09 May 2012 10:48 AM PDT Polish game developer Firekom has announced their debut title, Global Soccer. Global Soccer will be a free-to-play soccer themed MMO designed for players around the world. Players can choose their team position, build their abilities, and earn fame and fortune as a professional soccer player (footballer). Players will be able to compete against others at worldwide stadiums, socialize and join football clubs, strive to earn trophies, and spend their hard-earned game money on progress, better living quarters, and fame. The game’s city features a disco, restaurant, shopping center, park, beach, and other surprises.  Global Soccer is currently in open beta for different languages at www.globalsoccer.com.co. Global Soccer Gameplay Screenshot Source: Global Soccer – new MMO RPG sport game   FIREKOM proudly presents GLOBAL SOCCER. Firekom, a Polish game developing team, is proud to present its debut production, an online MMO game called Global Soccer – a virtual world which has been created to meet the needs of football fans from all over the world. Everyone can become a football star! Global Soccer is an online game designed to bring the passion of football into the virtual reality. First, players make up their mind as to what position they wish to play on. Then, all they need is a mixture of talent, skills and a bit of luck to become a rich and famous football star. Every Global Soccer players get the chance to build up their confidence, abilities and competence on the pitch. They can help the goalkeeper defend their goal, assist their teammates in attacking or shooting goals for the team. In other words do everything a good footballer should do to become a legendary striker, an epic midfielder or a significant defender. Since Global Soccer is an MMORPG, it becomes a place of meeting players from all over the world. One of the greatest advantages of the game is that the players get the chance to play with or against real people who might be miles away from one another. Not only can the players meet up at the different stadiums of GS but they are also able to socialize outside the pitch and create their common football clubs to reach out for the best trophies together. Moreover, they earn their own money which in turn can be spent to progress faster, to improve their standard of living as well as to gain prestige and fame. The ever-developing Global Soccer city offers many interesting places. There is a disco where you can have a drink, a restaurant to grab something to eat, a shopping center where the trendiest clothes can be bought as well as a park or a beach to take a deep breath, relax and contemplate the beauty of the world. There are also some mysterious surprises hidden around the whole city waiting for the players to discover them. What is more, the city is always alive and there is always something to do so it is never dull nor tedious but busy and vibrant. Global Soccer is in the open beta version and is already being tested. It is available in different language versions. As the Global Soccer family keeps growing, the number of testers keep growing. Everyone wishing to start their career as virtual footballers can become a Global Soccer tester as the developers always listen to the voice of their players and try to implement most of the changes they suggest into the game. In that way Global Soccer players are actively involved in the process of development of the game. The game is available on www.globalsoccer.com.co Visit the website and find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/Globalsoccermmo to find out more about the game and the players. Join the Global Soccer family and become a world-class football player.

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MMO Updates

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• Choose My Adventure: Patrolling the park
• Gravity Interactive announces free-to-play Maestia fantasy title
• Enter at Your Own Rift: Rift evolution
• TERA's senior producer looks at the game's past, present, and future
• The Daily Grind: Are virtual worlds still important?
• Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka
• Guild Wars 2 wants you to play with your friends no matter what
• Raptr rewards gamers for playing with discounts, beta keys, and more
• Star Wars: The Old Republic releases Episode I of the official podcast
• Pathfinder Online puts together a Kickstarter project
• Diablo III shows off the wrath of angels
• The Secret World announces first beta weekend
• The Soapbox: There is no gamer community
• CCP launching EVE Online drop pod into the stratosphere tomorrow
• Fallen Earth's May State of the Game letter showcases new Foothills PvP zone
• Analyst: SWTOR caused Dragon Age III delay
• Flameseeker Chronicles: Five things to love about Lion's Arch
• The Joker returns to DC Universe Online in upcoming DLC, The Last Laugh
• The Repopulation's end-of-April update includes genetic engineering, bug fixes, and lore updates
• Massively Speaking Episode 200: Bicentennial!

Choose My Adventure: Patrolling the park Posted: 09 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Polls, City of Heroes, Opinion, Free-to-play, Choose My Adventure Yes, Virginia, there is a game after character creation. With such extensive customization available, it is quite likely that I would have spent the duration of Choose My Adventure without ever actually logging in to play City of Heroes. For all of the hours I spent in character creation with all the options (enough to completely blow a fuse in your mind), it was easy to lose sight of the fact that there was actually a game to go play once I finally made my character. Now I see the real appeal of the VIP pass with all of those character slots; it has even me thinking wistfully of all the alts that could be. Luckily I have you folks directing me, forcing me past the costume creator and into my role as defender of truth and justice. If it hadn't been for you, I would have never embarked on my journey of flight and fricasseed evil doers in Atlas Park. Or participated in an impromptu street band performance. Yup, it is all your fault! And I'm looking forward to what we do next as we continue our City of Heroes adventures together. But first, let's take a look at what mayhem I caused... er, put an end to this past week. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Patrolling the park Choose My Adventure: Patrolling the park originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gravity Interactive announces free-to-play Maestia fantasy title Posted: 09 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play Gravity Interactive has announced the latest addition to its WarpPortal online service. The new game is called Maestia: Rise of Keledus, and it's scheduled to debut later this summer. Gravity says that the game, which is being developed by ROC Works, is "an eternal struggle for power and righteousness in a world where friends and enemies are not easily discernible." Maestia features instanced dungeons, guild and faction PvP, and traditional questing and crafting systems. Huge world bosses and epic class-based mounts round out the feature set, all of which is available via a free-to-play business model. You can view a ton of screenshots and a comprehensive features list at the official Maestia website. [Source: Gravity Interactive press release] Gravity Interactive announces free-to-play Maestia fantasy title originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Enter at Your Own Rift: Rift evolution Posted: 09 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, PvE, Opinion, Enter at Your Own Rift RIFT has seen a great deal of new content and features over the past year, and each update tends to generate a lot of buzz about things like new raid zones, new warzones, world events, and yes, even fishing. But there have been quite a few subtle (and not so subtle) changes to the core of the game -- that is, the rifts themselves. Last summer, Justin wrote a great piece wondering whether rifts were in "danger of collapsing," and his point was that they were a good idea on paper but needed tweaks in order to stay relevant to the game. It's worth looking back at the evolution of rifts over the past year to see what's changed since launch day. Read on for a look at what's new with rifts! Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Rift evolution Enter at Your Own Rift: Rift evolution originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

TERA's senior producer looks at the game's past, present, and future Posted: 09 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, Launches, TERA Saying that it "feels as though a giant weight has been lifted off our shoulders" now that TERA has launched, En Masse Senior Producer Brian Knox has turned his attention to the immediate and far future of the game. He says that the team is hard at work ironing out "pain points" for players, but his big passion is working to make the PvP experience even better and roll out the battlegrounds this summer. "I want to continue to slowly iterate our PvP-server rules," Knox said in an interview. "I think TERA's skill-based system is a natural fit for PvP players, and I want to develop a system that encourages and rewards PvP participants." Knox addressed the pace of the leveling experience (he says it should be a "smooth and even ride" if players follow the story and do all the quests), the price of teleportation scrolls (expensive for lowbies, affordable for veterans), and what to do at the endgame (answer: a lot). As more players reach the high levels, En Masse is preparing to juice up its nexuses and political system, both of which require a decent amount of participants to work. TERA's senior producer looks at the game's past, present, and future originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: MMORPG.com

The Daily Grind: Are virtual worlds still important? Posted: 09 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Second Life, The Daily Grind, Virtual worlds, Miscellaneous As part of the recent Massively Speaking bicentennial, we were reminiscing about the fact that Massively used to have a much heavier focus on virtual worlds. While we still touch on those from time to time, these types of "games" don't seem to be as hot as they once were. Or maybe they are and we're just not seeing it! From Habitat to The Sims Online to Second Life, there have been many attempts at constructing vibrant, community-driven virtual worlds that would draw in players looking to create dual lives that were flashier and more fantastic than their real lives. These games once were heralded as the wave of the future, but it seems as if that wave has since moved on to bashing things with their +4 Clubs of Exquisite Suffering. So what say you: Are virtual worlds still important? Are we trying to return to the concept by embracing sandbox principles? Are they best left to wither and die in the annals of history? 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: Are virtual worlds still important? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka Posted: 08 May 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Classes, Culture, Lore, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Races, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon As I mentioned in my Why I Play Star Wars: The Old Republic piece, Dark Forces and Jedi Knight were two of the Star Wars video games I enjoyed most. Obviously, this was before Knights of the Old Republic. In Jedi Knight, the main antagonist was Jerec. Although it's never mentioned where Jerec comes from or even what species he was, his most distinguishing feature is the cover over his eyes. At the time, players thought it was a type of cybernetic implant similar to that worn by Geordi LaForge in Star Trek: The Next Generation. It wasn't until the Tales of the Jedi comic book series that we learned that Jerec and others are a part of the Force-seeing humanoid species known as the Miraluka. If you choose to play a Jedi Knight or a Jedi Consular (or if you have 1.5 million credits to unlock it through the Legacy system), you can play as a Miraluka. I have been fascinated by this species since Jerec of Jedi Knight and Shoaneb Culu in the Tales of the Jedi after that. So this week, let's talk about this captivating species, its culture, its connection to the Force, and what its role is during the time of The Old Republic. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Miraluka originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2 wants you to play with your friends no matter what Posted: 08 May 2012 06:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game mechanics, Guilds, PvP, Guild Wars 2 "Whenever we design a new feature we always ask ourselves how it impacts our players' ability to play with their friends," ArenaNet's Eric Flannum stated about Guild Wars 2. In an interview focused on connecting players together, Flannum made it clear that the team was looking for every possible opportunity to pave the way for social hookups. Flannum addressed the specifics of how Guild Wars 2's servers work in relation to transfers. While there is a traditional paid transfer service (which can be used only every seven days), all players will have the ability to hop over to friends' servers as a guest. Player team-ups are further made possible by the dynamic level-adjusting system that scales players down to the zone they're occupying. This process is made easier by ArenaNet's decision to make friend lists and guilds account-wide instead of specific to a server. So while each guild has a home server, other chapters can exist elsewhere. Flannum also said that the team is carefully structuring its PvP system so that it will be free from potential abuse by server guesting. Guild Wars 2 wants you to play with your friends no matter what originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: PC Gamer

Raptr rewards gamers for playing with discounts, beta keys, and more Posted: 08 May 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Promotions, Miscellaneous Do you wanna earn fabulous prizes just for playing your favorite games? Of course you do. Well, you're in luck because Raptr has just announced its new Raptr Rewards program, which is "a program to reward active gamers with real rewards just for playing their favorite games." The program is "on track to offer over 350,000 rewards totaling $1.3 million [US] in value just in the first month of launch." The prizes that are available for dedicated players are myriad, ranging from discounts on Gunnar brand gaming eyewear to beta access for Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and much more. The full details of the available rewards and how to earn them can be found on the official Raptr site, so go check it out, then start playing for your prizes. [Source: Raptr press release] Raptr rewards gamers for playing with discounts, beta keys, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Wars: The Old Republic releases Episode I of the official podcast Posted: 08 May 2012 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Interviews, Patches, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic Amidst all the other news from Star Wars: The Old Republic, it's easy to overlook the fact that the game's staff has been at work on an official podcast for fans. The first episode of that podcast is now available. Hosts Brooks Guthrie and Eric Musco have made the podcast available for listeners on YouTube, and the inaugural episode features plenty for fans to enjoy, starting with an interview about the recently released patch 1.2 as well as future content for patch 1.3. The interview covers a number of topics regarding both the present and future patch, including elements such as the refinements to the guild bank system and some of the unexpected additions to the Legacy system (including rocket boots and the brawling system). Community coordinator David Bass also talks about the team's presence at PAX East 2012 as well as the team's convention plans for the rest of the year. So if you're a fan, be sure to give the podcast a listen just after the break. Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic releases Episode I of the official podcast Star Wars: The Old Republic releases Episode I of the official podcast originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Official podcast Episode I

Pathfinder Online puts together a Kickstarter project Posted: 08 May 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox Kickstarter has been getting a lot of attention from the gaming industry of late after a number of high-profile successes. It's even gained the attention of the team behind Pathfinder Online, the upcoming sandbox MMORPG based on the eponymous tabletop system. So instead of trying to secure venture capitalist funding for the project, the development team is reaching out directly to the fans via a new Kickstarter project to assemble a tech demo for the game. It's important to note that the project is only for funding a demo of the game, enough to show bigger investors that the interest in the game does exist. However, the development team has still assembled a number of bonuses for prospective players, including special forum membership, specialized tabletop game products, and promotional posters. If you're interested in seeing the game continue in development, it's well worth dropping by the Kickstarter page and dropping in some money when it goes live soon. Pathfinder Online puts together a Kickstarter project originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Pathfinder Online Tech Demo Kickstarter

Diablo III shows off the wrath of angels Posted: 08 May 2012 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Lore, News items, Diablo III Diablo III is fast approaching release in a week, but even now it's important to remember the roots of the series. The game's lore has always been based on the conflict between the High Heavens and the Burning Hells, and rather than simply create a trailer narrating that fact, Blizzard chose a more unique route. The new video available is simply titled Wrath, but it contains some important information about the lore at a pivotal moment in the war between angels and demons. Animated by Titmouse and directed by Peter Chung (best known for Æon Flux), the six-minute video is brief, but it should leave a last impression regarding the nature of the game's conflict and the stakes involved. Even if you're not planning on grabbing the game on launch in a week, it's well worth watching just for the animation alone, and if you are grabbing the game, it jumps right up to being a must-see. Continue reading Diablo III shows off the wrath of angels Diablo III shows off the wrath of angels originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Secret World announces first beta weekend Posted: 08 May 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Events, in-game, News items, The Secret World Beta weekends are all the rage these days, and now Funcom is getting in on the action. The studio has announced that its upcoming fantasy-horror MMO, The Secret World, will be the subject of a series of weekend beta tests, the first of which is beginning this weekend. From Friday until Sunday, players who were lucky enough to get their hands on beta keys via preorders or giveaways will be able to jump into the boots of a Templar initiate. After undergoing the proper procedures for joining the less-than-secretive secret organization, players will be whisked away to Solomon Island, New England, where they will be tasked with finding the source of the ancient evil threatening Kingsmouth. The full details of the beta weekend, including a handy-dandy FAQ, can be found over at The Secret World's official site. The Secret World announces first beta weekend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: The Secret World -- Beta Weekend 1

The Soapbox: There is no gamer community Posted: 08 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column. Some of our younger readers may not remember this, but a time existed when video games were not ubiquitous. Having a game console in your house was somewhat unusual, having a computer that could run games was also not a given, and being someone who played games meant you were part of a group. Sure, there were people who just played an occasional video game, but by and large, we were a single community. We were gamers. That was then, however, a world that existed in the wake of the '83 crash, one that thrived on limited technology and divided groups. I think in the years since then, we've witnessed the very idea dissolve, to the point that we don't currently have a gamer community. And I'd even go so far as to say that part of the bitterness between various groups of gamers is due to the fact that the community no longer exists. Continue reading The Soapbox: There is no gamer community The Soapbox: There is no gamer community originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

CCP launching EVE Online drop pod into the stratosphere tomorrow Posted: 08 May 2012 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Events, real-world, News items, Sandbox EVE Online players are well-accustomed to flitting about the depths of space in internet spaceships, but tomorrow, CCP Games will be taking its first jaunt into real-life space with the launch of a high-altitude balloon from just north of CCP headquarters. The balloon will carry a replica EVE pod (pictured above) containing the names of EVE Online players high into Earth's stratosphere before landing (hopefully) in the middle of Kleifarvatn, a lake on the Rekhjanes peninsula in Iceland. Iceland Telecom will be providing a live video feed and GPS tracking of the balloon, and three HD cameras aboard the balloon will allow fans to view the entirety of the balloon's journey after the pod is recovered (by the Icelandic Coast Guard, no less). For the full details and links to the live video stream and GPS tracking, just head on over to the official announcement at EVE Insider. CCP launching EVE Online drop pod into the stratosphere tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: EVE Insider -- Skyward Sphere

Fallen Earth's May State of the Game letter showcases new Foothills PvP zone Posted: 08 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Patches, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic, Sandbox Roamers of Fallen Earth's post-apocalyptic Grand Canyon province have long been awaiting the final release of the game's Global Territory Control update. Thankfully, the wait is almost over. But meanwhile, today's GamersFirst dev blog post aims to shed some light on some of the latest additions to the system. The spotlight of the post is set on the new PvP conflict area known as The Foothills. The zone is an abandoned settlement situated between Los Alamos and Citadel that "never quite made it." As a result, the various factions of Fallen Earth have taken to fighting for control of the area in order to further solidify their foothold in the region. The Global Territory Control patch is set to go live next Wednesday, so keep an eye on the official dev blog for more details as the update gets closer to launch. Fallen Earth's May State of the Game letter showcases new Foothills PvP zone originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Fallen Earth -- May State of the Game

Analyst: SWTOR caused Dragon Age III delay Posted: 08 May 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, Star Wars: The Old Republic There's been a lot of discussion following the recent EA earnings report in which the company announced that Star Wars: The Old Republic has 1.3 million subscribers, down from its previous 1.7 million mark. We've heard from the fans, the critics, and the studio itself -- now it's time for the analysts to contribute their side of the conversation. According to Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter, EA's investment in SWTOR has caused a delay in other projects at BioWare, particularly in Dragon Age III's case. The analyst noted that Dragon Age III's expected release window was delayed, and he says this is due to the enormous undertaking of SWTOR. "We believe that a significant portion of the BioWare team responsible for the game was reassigned to Star Wars in order to create content and fix bugs to keep the game's audience engaged," Pachter said. Delay or no, Pachter is upbeat about EA's future, especially in light of the earnings report's news that the company turned a profit. He says that the company will continue to grow, make money, and be a good bet for investors. Analyst: SWTOR caused Dragon Age III delay originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Gamesindustry International

Flameseeker Chronicles: Five things to love about Lion's Arch Posted: 08 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Video, Previews, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Family, Guides, Livestream Lion's Arch, the quintessential Tyrian player hub, has undergone quite the extensive renovation for Guild Wars 2. As a special treat for the last beta weekend, the city was made explorable to players for the first time -- and what a treat it was! After the Rise of Orr and the accompanying land shift, Lion's Arch as we knew and loved it in the original Guild Wars was flooded. It has been raised anew, very near the first city, and stands as a monument to piracy, desperation, and inter-species cooperation (not, perhaps, in that order). So what makes Lion's Arch awesome? It's one of six huge cities that are the thriving populatiion centers of Tyria as we find it in Guild Wars 2, and since it doesn't have one single race to lend it culture and purpose, you can bet it had better be pretty special. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Five things to love about Lion's Arch Flameseeker Chronicles: Five things to love about Lion's Arch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Joker returns to DC Universe Online in upcoming DLC, The Last Laugh Posted: 08 May 2012 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Previews, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, DC Universe Online DC Universe Online players, prepare yourselves: The Joker's back, and he wants to put a smile on your face. The Clown Prince of Crime is making his grand return to DCUO in the game's upcoming DLC pack, The Last Laugh. Not to be confused with the renowned crossover comic story arc, DCUO's The Last Laugh "will pit players against each other in high-intensity multiplayer brawls, feature an all-new weapon, and introduce new Light-Powered Legends PvP characters." The new weapon in question isn't much of a weapon at all, but if Captain America has taught us anything, it's that even a shield can be lethal in the right hands. Now players will be able to slam, bash, and wank to their hearts' content with the new shield weapon type. And players will need every trick they can get to succeed in the new Safe House Battles, which are 4v4 PvP brawls that involve players invading one anothers' safe houses in order to complete a number of objectives. So much for safe houses being... well, safe. Players thirsting for larger-scale combat will be at home in the new Headquarter Battles, which see eight heroes squaring off against eight villains as they try to take control of the Hall of Doom and the Watchtower, respectively. And finally, the game's first light-powered Legend characters will be making an appearance in The Last Laugh, allowing players to take control of the Green Lanterns' Kilowog and Sinestro Corps' Amon Sur. The Last Laugh will be available in June for free to Legendary members and for purchase on the market for Free and Premium players. For the full details, check out the official announcement at the DCUO site. The Joker returns to DC Universe Online in upcoming DLC, The Last Laugh originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: DC Universe Online -- Announcing The Last Laugh

The Repopulation's end-of-April update includes genetic engineering, bug fixes, and lore updates Posted: 08 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, News items, Sandbox Last month, we got our first look at the gameplay of Above and Beyond Technologies' upcoming sandbox title, The Repopulation. Today, the studio released its end-of-April 2012 update notes for the game, giving players a look at the ongoing tweaks and changes being made as Above and Beyond slowly ramps up to the beta stage. For the most part, the notes are your standard patch note fare: bug fixes, quality-of-life improvements, some UI tweaks, and so forth. But there are a couple of gems that stand out among the rest. For instance, players with the Genetic Engineering skill can do some gene-splicing to create their own unique pets. Currently there are 40 different hybrid and pure-species pets that can be genetically engineered, so the mad scientists in the crowd should have many options when it comes to playing God. The site's lore and bestiary sections have also been updated for the lore junkies out there. The full, rather expansive April update notes can be found on The Repopulation's official site, so if you're interested in all of the minutiae, just head on over there and check it out. [Thanks to Halldorr for the tip!] The Repopulation's end-of-April update includes genetic engineering, bug fixes, and lore updates originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: The Repopulation -- End of April 2012 update notes

Massively Speaking Episode 200: Bicentennial! Posted: 08 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, News items, Opinion, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous, The Elder Scrolls Online Massively Speaking Episode 200 is a nice round number, and people are supposed to celebrate those, right? Join us for a Very Special Episode, during which Shawn joins Justin and Bree to reminisce about the past, talk about the behind-the-scenes activities on the site, and drop a Tabula Rasa reference or two. Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@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. Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 200: Bicentennial! Massively Speaking Episode 200: Bicentennial! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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