General Gaming Article

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• iBuypower Erebus Review
• Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean Reach 16.7 Percent Android Penetration
• Windows 7 Gets Ready to Leapfrog Windows XP on Desktop
• Facebook Stock Hits New Low, Keeps Sinking
• Bid Farewell to Intel's Atom D2700 Processor
• RIM to Launch 4G LTE PlayBook August 9 in Canada; U.S. and Other Territories in Coming Months
• Apple, Judge Both Ticked at Samsung for Leaking Rejected Evidence to Press
• Commodore 64 Turns 30 Years Old, Still the Best Selling PC of All Time

iBuypower Erebus Review Posted: 02 Aug 2012 02:27 PM PDT Boutique look and feel without the boutique price WE USED TO SAY that iBuypower should really be named iStealpower, because we've never understood how the company can sell such well-configured systems for such low prices. With its new Erebus line, iBuypower is maintaining its low-price strategy while stepping upmarket to compete with boutique vendors. Is the Erebus priced low enough to purchase on a whim? No, but considering what iBuypower packs into the rig, it's a pretty good deal. First up: The Erebus uses a custom NZXT-built case that takes its cues from Corsair's groundbreaking 800D. Not to be upstaged, the Erebus case is almost an inch or two bigger in all dimensions, and it's designed to be jam-packed with rads. The Erebus we reviewed had a massive quad radiator plus two dual radiators—with room for more. The Erebus case is designed for water cooling, and that quad radiator is integrated into the top of the unit with a plug you can use to top off its reservoir. It's an impressive case, with the only major ding against it being its pass-through USB 3.0 cables—that's so 2011. You'll be hard pressed to find a new motherboard that doesn't use internal USB 3.0 headers. The Erebus is built within a massive tower akin to Corsair's 800D and is fully outfitted for water cooling. iBuypower stuffs a liquid-cooled 3.2GHz Core i7-3930K inside the Erebus, along with an Asus Rampage IV Extreme board, 32GB of DDR3/1600, a 1,200-watt Corsair PSU, a 120GB Force GT SSD, a 2TB hard drive, and a pair of liquid-cooled EVGA GTX 580 cards. The magic here is the 3.2GHz Core i7-3930K. It's the little brother of the Core i7-3960X, with the main difference being the loss of 100MHz off its top speed, and a cache that's cut down from 15MB in the X to 12MB in the K. Both procs seem equally adept at overclocking, though, and iBuypower takes the K to a very stable 4.7GHz. We ran Prime95 on the box for several hours with no issues. We also ran the GPUs overnight with no instability. So how does the Erebus perform? Quite well. It managed to set a record in ProShow Producer 4.0, just edging out the Maingear Shift we reviewed in our February 2012 issue. In terms of its application performance, it's pretty much dead even with the Sandy Bridge-E machines we've reviewed from Falcon Northwest, Digital Storm, and Maingear. That's good company to be in. Where the Erebus falls behind—by just a bit—is gaming performance. It's not terrible—two liquid-cooled GeForce GTX 580s can't be terrible—but the Falcon Northwest Mach V used overclocked 580s with 3GB frame buffers. The Digital Storm HailStorm had tri-SLI'd 580s. And Maingear went plumb crazy with essentially quad-SLI'd 580 cards. In most games, you won't see a difference; in fact, iBuypower's rig runs close to the others in Far Cry 2 and STALKER even at 2560x1600. But in the synthetic 3DMark11 and DX11 Unigine Heaven 2.5 tests, the iBuypower lags, coming in last place with 34fps in Heaven. Maingear scores best, with 69fps; tri-SLI, FYI, will give you 50.8fps, and the 3GB GTX 580 cards hit 42fps. The real story here is iBuypower's pricing: The Falcon weighs in at $6,993, the Digital Storm at $7,640, and the Maingear is just nuts at $8,876. Priced at $5,000, there's no denying that the Erebus is a steal. It doesn't sport a fancy paint job, but it's no slouch in performance and looks pretty damn nice, too.

Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean Reach 16.7 Percent Android Penetration Posted: 02 Aug 2012 12:41 PM PDT It would be silly to sit here and pretend that fragmentation doesn't exist in the Android ecosystem, or that Android 4.0.x (Ice Cream Sandwich) and 4.1.x (Jelly Bean) are going to reverse unify Android devices. Be that as it may, the latest Android builds are making headway, particularly Ice Cream Sandwich, which is now installed on 15.9 percent of all active Android devices. Jelly Bean adds another 0.8 percent to the pool of devices running an Android 4.x build, and though that's a rather meager number, also keep in mind that it practically just came out and is only available (officially) on the Nexus 7 tablet. Put into perspective, that's not bad. Android 2.3.x (Gingerbread) still claims the lion's share of Android devices with a 60.6 percent share of active Google devices, followed by Android 2.2 (Froyo) at 15.5 percent, Android 2.1 (Eclair) at 4.2 percent, and Android 1.x (Cupcake and Donut) accounting for a combined 0.7 percent, which is less than Jelly Bean. Image Credit: Android Developers Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Windows 7 Gets Ready to Leapfrog Windows XP on Desktop Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:39 AM PDT Windows 7 is two months away from becoming the second newest consumer desktop operating system from Microsoft (it already is, if you count the Windows 8 Release to Manufacturing, or RTM), but will it surpass Windows XP in market share before Windows 8 is made generally available to the public? It's going to be a tight race, but it looks like Windows 7 will jump ahead by the end of August. That prediction is based on data from Net Applications, which has Windows 7 usage pegged at 42.21 percent. Windows XP's share of the desktop market is just slightly higher at 42.86 percent, and barring any surprises, it will give up the lead by the end of the month. Looking back a year ago, it was quite a different picture. At the end of July 2011, Windows XP accounted for 52.8 percent of the worldwide desktop OS market, compared to Windows 7 at 29.66 percent. Windows 7 has made up considerable ground since then, and while the impending release of Windows 8 threatens to stagnate 7's OS growth, it could also boost it if users don't warm up to the Metro UI. Are any of you still rocking Windows XP? Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Facebook Stock Hits New Low, Keeps Sinking Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:52 AM PDT Facebook's much anticipated initial public offering (IPO) turned out to be a pretty big disappointment, and things have only gotten worse since then. The social network's share price fell to $20.88 by the end of Wednesday's trading session, which is 45 percent below its IPO price of $38 and a new low price, dipping below the previous low of $21.61, which occurred a day earlier. The falling stock price is in reaction to Facebook's quarterly earnings report last week. Investors weren't all that keen on the results, even though revenue was a third higher than a year prior. Analysts and investors are skeptical of Facebook's ability to grow its business long-term, and the market is reacting to those concerns. As of this writing, Facebook's stock has dipped another 2.71 percent to $20.32. Equally concerning to the falling share price is the loss of top level talent, as noted by AllThingsD. It's hard enough to right a ship that appears to be sinking, but even tougher when those manning the ship start jumping overboard. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Bid Farewell to Intel's Atom D2700 Processor Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:25 AM PDT It's not always easy to say goodbye, but in some cases, well, it just plain feels good. Intel's discontinuation of its Atom D2700 processor is one of those moments. With the third quarter now well underway, Intel killing off its fastest Atom processor, as the D2700 is has been tagged with an End of Life (EOL) label. So, why does it feel good to say goodbye in this case? Plain and simple, Intel's Atom architecture feels a little long in the tooth. One could argue that Intel's Atom line has always felt that way, and we wouldn't begrudge them for it. The Atom D2700 is a 10W dual-core processor clocked at 2.13GHz with 1MB of L2 cache and support for up to 4GB of DDR3-1066 memory. The integrated graphics core is clocked at 640MHz. That's fine for low-power applications, but at $52, it was a rather expensive slice of netbook silicon. With much more powerful Ultrabooks (Intel) and ultra thins (AMD) coming down in price, it's hard to shed a tear about anything netbook related. For those of you who don't agree, not to worry, the D2700 hasn't been completely phased out yet. Shipments will continue until the end of September, and parts will likely linger in the market place for some time after. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

RIM to Launch 4G LTE PlayBook August 9 in Canada; U.S. and Other Territories in Coming Months Posted: 02 Aug 2012 07:49 AM PDT Our readers who live north of the border will be the first to get their hands on Research In Motion's (RIM's) upcoming 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet when it launches in Canada on August 9, 2012, RIM announced today. Customers living in the U.S., Europe, South Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean will have access to the updated device "in the coming months," though no specific time frame was given. "We're excited to bring customers the first BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with support for 4G LTE networks," said David J. Smith, Executive Vice President, Mobile Computing at Research In Motion. "The new 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook offers a broad range of premium features, including a stunning 7 inch display, front and rear facing HD video cameras, HDMI out and stereo speakers, and it also offers premium performance on high speed cellular networks, helping customers to be more productive than ever and to make the most of their time on the go." The 4G LTE version of RIM's PlayBook is the same as the current version, except of course the new model supports wireless 4G LTE networks. It will ship with the latest BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2 software and come pre-loaded with various apps and tools. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Apple, Judge Both Ticked at Samsung for Leaking Rejected Evidence to Press Posted: 02 Aug 2012 07:06 AM PDT The patent dispute between Apple and Samsung isn't just an ugly affair, it's turning downright fugly. Samsung managed to tick off both Apple and U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh by sharing evidence with the press that was ruled inadmissible, specifically a set of PowerPoint slides showing Apple did to Sony what the company claims Samsung has done to them -- copying designs. According to InformationWeek, the slides cite comments from an interview with Apple designer Shin Nishibori in which he said he conceived the iPhone design by studying Sony's Walkman design concepts. Judge Koh refused to allow them as evidence, much to the chagrin of Samsung's legal team. "In 36 years of trial work, I have never begged the court for anything. I'm begging the court now to reconsider," John Quinn, one of Samsung's lead attorneys, implored the court. Judge Koh at one point threatened to sanction Quinn for talking over her response. Plain and simple, the slides were rejected as evidence, so Samsung shared them with the press, which are posted at AllThingsD. Naturally, this didn't sit well with either Apple or Judge Koh. Apple has asked Judge Koh to issue sanctions against Samsung for tampering with the jury, according to Arstechnica, calling it a "deliberate attempt to influence the trial." Samsung contends it never issued a press release, just "a brief statement" to select members of the press, and did so after the jury was already selected. Buckle your seat belts, folks, this ride's just getting started. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Commodore 64 Turns 30 Years Old, Still the Best Selling PC of All Time Posted: 02 Aug 2012 06:21 AM PDT Like many 30-somethings, the Commodore 64 provided me with my first glimpse into the world of PC gaming. I remember giggling when enemies would kill themselves out of shame if I managed to hop past them in The Last Ninja, and being delightfully frustrated with the puzzles in Maniac Mansion. Karnov, WWF WrestleMania, and Jordon vs Bird: One on One were three other titles that were frequently loaded. As primitive as each of those games are compared to today, it's still hard to believe that the Commodore 64 platform is 30 years old. What's even more mind boggling is that it's still the greatest selling single PC model ever. The first Commodore 64 system was released in August 1982 for $595. As its name suggests, the C64 had 64K of RAM. More importantly, it had decent sound and graphics (16 colors!) for its era, along with TV output. The NTSC version shipped with an 8-bit MOS Technology 6510 processor clocked at 1.023MHz. That's all less than pedestrian by today's standards, but in 1982, it was quite the machine. Sales estimates range from over 12 million units up to 17 million units during the course of its life. So, what has become of Commodore since then? The original company filed for bankruptcy in 1994, and while you can no longer purchase real Commodore systems, a company called Commodore USA has licensed the trademark and sells PC clones. These systems are essentially mini-ITX nettops dressed up in C64 digs and come with Commodore 64 emulation software. What was your first PC? Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

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MMO News

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• Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict – Early Closed Beta Preview
• Blacklight Retribution Hosts $1,000 Daily Contest
• World Of Battleships Gets Name Change
• Bomb Battle Mode Arrives In MicroVolts
• League of Legends Group Gameplay with James / Darren / Mike / Isaac
• Nadirim Launches On Aeria Games
• Tad Williams discusses Making of Otherland

Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict – Early Closed Beta Preview Posted: 02 Aug 2012 03:43 PM PDT Black Prophecy amazed players by offering a 3D sci-fi MMO with amazing graphics, a compelling storyline, and excellent controls.  Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict seeks to build on that, shifting the focus from the smaller starships of Black Prophecy to the gargantuan battle cruisers.  The massive ships are, as the game puts it, where legends are born.  MMOHut had a chance to participate in the early closed beta.  How does the game fair when placed against its predecessor? Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict boasts some incredible graphics and animations, something Black Prophecy itself is known for. After watching a dazzling opening cinematic, we were given the option to choose between the Tyi and Geniden. Although there seems to be little difference between the two, we opted for Geniden because we liked the faction symbol – a true gamer decision. Once in game, we're deposited onto a space station hangar.  This screen is something you'll get used to, as it becomes a frequent main screen during gameplay.     The game provided a quick, early tutorial on how to access our ship, how to equip our ship with an afterburner, and how to use the star map. The star map shows various systems and sectors in Nexus Conflict, and is another commonly used screen for finding missions. Our first objective was to travel to Cryo Prime to learn basic movement. Cryo Prime treated us to a very lovely, very massive blue dwarf star.  The game had set up several waypoints for us to follow, and taught how to control the camera, how to move to targets, the use of afterburners, and warping.  All of these actions can be accomplished by either clicking the target in the right side bar or using keyboard shortcuts.     After completing the mission, we're given yet another tutorial on how to equip modules to our ship.  Modules are assorted upgrades, with effects like decreased incoming damage or shield repair. We're also provided our first weapon – a laser – and taught how to purchase ammunition and other goods from the shop.  After equipping it, we're given yet another training mission on Cryo Prime for combat, so off we go! Here, combat is the key.  The first target we're given doesn't fight back, so after getting in range of our laser, it's quickly destroyed without a challenge.  The ship also dropped a container, providing us some loot for our efforts.  Our second target is a little bit tougher: a pirate ship.  This one also fights back, and flees from us at the same time.  At some point during this exercise, we managed to change our camera view to the pirate ship; we had no idea where we were in relation other than the laser beams still firing from our ship.     Once the pirate ship had been destroyed, we're ushered back to the station, given another upgrade, and a squadron to equip.  Squadrons are like the jets stationed on an aircraft carrier.  They can launch from your ship and help against opponents, or guard your ship defensively. We're also introduced to the constructor, which increases the parameters of items, making them more powerful and/or potent. Next, we're educated on skills.  There are six different skill trees available, and there are a lot of skills per tree to learn.  After developing our skill with light lasers even further, the game leads us along to the next mission:  Player versus Player combat.  However, there were no PvP missions going at the time, so we were stuck.  At some point, we managed to go back to the station, and the game gave us credit for completing the PvP mission anyway.     The end of the tutorial marked the end of Nexus Conflict's coherency.  We tried buying a new weapon, only to find the ammunition for the weapon was grossly out of our budget (hardly an expected turn of events, especially for a newbie).  We also explored the star map and found a set of beginner missions, but the pirate ship we faced ended up destroying us time and time again. Eventually, we ran out of credits, and were unable to complete missions to earn more. It's possible we were simply awful at the game; unfortunately, there seemed to be no direction from the tutorial into further gameplay to help us build our skills. Luckily, an update is forthcoming to address a few of the issues we faced while playing.  The main story of Nexus Conflict will be brought more into focus, providing more missions, more objectives, and more direction for players to explore.  Drops will be added that can be processed in the constructor for special missions as well, adding variety to what you can expect in PvE.  Shops are being reworked; standard modules will always be available, and black market with rotating equipment will be added.     Player versus player is also getting an overhaul.  First, an instant action button is being implemented, allowing you to jump right into a PvP match.  Players will need to defend their station, in addition to destroying the enemies.  This gives more incentive to team up with others, use some solid tactics, and make the experience much better.  The update will also introduce clans, so you can join with people you work well with.  Trading between players will also be allowed, giving more means to get stronger ships. Overall, Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict is a very gorgeous looking game that needs a bit more direction towards making it a complete package.  Positive changes are coming for the game, and while it's still very much in development, the team seems very dedicated and hopeful to give it the same level of attention as Black Prophecy.  The upcoming changes are a great start, and will definitely improve the tactical shooter portion of gameplay as the game is intended.   Learn more about Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict on MMOHut’s Black Prophecy: Nexus Conflict page.

Blacklight Retribution Hosts $1,000 Daily Contest Posted: 02 Aug 2012 02:22 PM PDT Perfect World Entertainment has announced a new contest for Blacklight Retribution. “30 Days of Fight” will give away $1,000 (US) every day between August 16 and September 14. Players will qualify by earning tickets by either completing a match (1 ticket) or winning a match (two tickets); more tickets can be earned through completing more matches each day. A random drawing from all tickets for the day will earn one player $1,000. Perfect World also publishes Rusty Hearts and Forsaken World. Blacklight Retribution: 30 Days of Fight! Source: The Blacklight Retribution team is excited to announce that it will be giving away $1,000 US dollars a day during the upcoming ’30 Days of Fight’ event. From Thursday, August 16 through Friday, September 14, one player will be selected to win $1,000 dollars each and every day. During the ’30 Days of Fight’ event, players who complete a match in the critically acclaimed, free-to-play, FPS Blacklight Retribution , will receive one ticket. Those who win a match will receive two tickets. At the end of each day, a random drawing will be held to determine who will walk home $1,000 dollars richer. More tickets mean more chances to win. Blacklight Retribution players are encouraged to complete and win as many matches as possible to increase their chances of winning. “We can’t wait to see the competition heat up once we start upping the stakes with a grand prize of $1,000 dollars on the line every day for 30 days,” said Product Manager Clifton Chu. “Following the recent launch of Blacklight Retribution on Steam, we think the ’30 Days of Fight’ will be an amazing and fun challenge to players. Everyone better get ready to skip work and start training right now.”

World Of Battleships Gets Name Change Posted: 02 Aug 2012 01:11 PM PDT Wargaming has announced that its upcoming naval MMO, World of Battleships, has been renamed World of Warships. World of Warships will continue to focus on the same gameplay and combat as before, simply under a new name; it will also be included in the common economic system between World of Tanks and World of Warplanes. Wargaming CEO Victor Kislyi stated: “The company is gearing up, and so are its titles. In addition to more accurately reflecting the game’s core essence, World of Warships™ will correspond more closely to the framework of our Wargaming universe."   World of Warships Gameplay Screenshot Source: Wargaming Renames World of Battleships to World of Warships New Title to Better Reflect Wargaming Universe 2nd August 2012 — Wargaming, the award-winning global video game developer and publisher, today announced that its upcoming naval MMO action game, World of Battleships, has been retitled to World of Warships™. All further references to the game and its development will continue under the new title. "The company is gearing up, and so are its titles," said Victor Kislyi, CEO of Wargaming. "In addition to more accurately reflecting the game’s core essence, World of Warships™ will correspond more closely to the framework of our Wargaming universe." While the game has changed its title, the gameplay hasn't. World of Warships™ will still focus on straightforward naval action gameplay, including accessible controls, historically accurate vessels and combat, as well as a deep and engaging upgrade and customization system. World of Warships™ will also be included in the Wargaming.net common economic system that will allow players to distribute resources between the three titles. World of Warships™ is scheduled to set sail in 2013.

Bomb Battle Mode Arrives In MicroVolts Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:50 AM PDT Rock Hippo Productions has announced the launch of Bomb Battle mode for MicroVolts. The update that launched today introduces a new competitive mode, Bomb Battle, in which teams work to prevent each other from planting and arming bombs through defusing them before the time runs out. A new map, Cargo, places players on a semi-truck full of boxes and cargo. Also new are new costume parts and Laser weapons for Naomi and Pandora. Ongoing events include the Micro-lympics, including a Fencing Tournament on August 8 and a Shooting Competition on August 10. Rock Hippo also publishes Brawl Busters. MicroVolts Gameplay Screenshot Source: BOMB BATTLE MODE BLASTS INTO MICROVOLTS Save Micro World From Mass Destruction Markham, Canada August 2, 2012 – Rock Hippo Productions Ltd. announced today the launch of the new objective-based strategy mode “Bomb Battle” for the cartoon-style third-person shooter, MicroVolts. Together with a new map, new weapons and special events, Bomb Battle blasts into Micro World with a vengeance. Players can visit www.MicroVolts.com to get started. The Micro World is under threat, and only the swiftest and mightiest MicroVolters working as a team can save it! The latest competitive mode, Bomb Battle, will have MicroVolters working overtime to prevent the enemy from planting and arming the bomb. Enemy success means it’s up to players on the opposing team to defuse the deadly bomb before it blows up. MicroVolts also introduces a new map, Cargo. Toys are the most precious shipment in the new Cargo map and players will fight it out aboard a fast-moving 18-wheeler that’s headed down the never-ending Micro World road! Also new to the MicroVoltsCapsule Machine are weapons and parts straight from another dimension. New Laser Blades and Laser Rifles are bringing the fight to galactic proportions with futuristic costume parts for both Naomi and Pandora! MicroVolters cans still join in with their Clans and duke it out for Gold, Silver or Bronze Weapons sets in the Micro-lympics. Other exciting events include the Fencing (Close Combat) Tournament on August 8th and a Shooting Competition on August 10th where players will aim for headshots of MicroVolts GMs’! Players can also look forward to the all new and revamped MicroVolts website being launched on Friday! For all the latest event details or to view the latest screen shots, trailer and download the game for free, visit www.MicroVolts.com .

League of Legends Group Gameplay with James / Darren / Mike / Isaac Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:09 AM PDT   Some fun League of Legends gameplay with James (Caitlyn), Darren (Ahri), Mike (Wukong) and Isaac (Alistar). And by fun, I mean brutal. Darren and I are the only ones who know how to play, but the game itself was still entertaining. James, Mike and Isaac are completely new to the MOBA genre, but have been playing other free to play games for a while now. They’ll formally introduce themselves in a later video.

Nadirim Launches On Aeria Games Posted: 02 Aug 2012 11:07 AM PDT Aeria Games has announced the launch of Nadirim on its network. Nadirim, originally (and concurrently) published by Twisted Tribe, is an Arabian Nights themed browser-based MMO. The game offers three classes (Warrior, Sage, and Rogue) and features turn-based grid combat. You can find out more about the game on MMOHut’s official Nadirim page. Aeria Games also publishes Golden Age and Crystal Saga on its portal. Nadirim Gameplay Screenshot Source: EXOTIC MMORPG NADIRIM NOW AVAILABLE ON THE AERIA GAMES PLATFORM Aeria Opens Portal Through Web Browsers to Free-to-Play Arabian Wonderland SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Aug. 02, 2012 – Get ready to discover the vast riches of the desert without even needing a magic lamp. Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, today announced the launch of Nadirim, a popular browser-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) on the Aeria Network.   Putting a unique spin on the MMO genre, Nadirim immerses players in an exotic fantasy world heavily inspired by the fables and myths of the Arabian Nights. Taking the role of a Warrior, Sage, or Rogue, players will adventure alongside menacing beasts, mystical Djinn, and cunning thieves right out of legend!   Nadirim features a vast open world full of bustling towns and remote oases separated by the treacherous desert sands. The turn-based combat takes place on a grid, in which strategic positioning is just as important as powerful abilities. When players get into a jam in combat, they can put out a call for help to other nearby adventurers, who can then seamlessly join the battle—as well as reap the rewards of victory!   Nadirim is browser-based and does not require a download, and like all Aeria Games titles, it is free-to-play. Interested players can head right into this Arabian fantasy world now at http://nadirim.aeriagames.com.

Tad Williams discusses Making of Otherland Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:21 PM PDT Tad Williams and the Otherland crew have put together a new Making Of video, discussing Five Isle.  Based on the Chinese elements – Wood, Water, Earth, Fire, and Metal — the team showcases the artistic quality for each separate island.  Graphics and audio both are themed on each item, and on harmony in general.  Each of the islands is disconnected, and the player characters represent the harmony being brought back to a shattered land.  The area is about the what-if, and leads players to discover what exactly has happened, and what is going on. Otherland will be published by gamigo, who also publishes Black Prophecy and Jagged Alliance Online. Otherland “Making Of” Video

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MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com

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• Preview: MechWarrior Online
• Nintendo: Wii U offers deeper, asymmetrical multiplayer
• Find out why New Little King's Story isn't on the Wii
• PSU insurers to take up pricing directive issue with govt
• Nod for Govinda, Ganesh fete medical insurance
• Facebook Stock Hits New Low, Keeps Sinking
• Bid Farewell to Intel's Atom D2700 Processor
• RIM to Launch 4G LTE PlayBook August 9 in Canada; U.S. and Other Territories in Coming Months
• Apple, Judge Both Ticked at Samsung for Leaking Rejected Evidence to Press
• Commodore 64 Turns 30 Years Old, Still the Best Selling PC of All Time

Preview: MechWarrior Online Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT The MechWarrior property is an oldie. Perhaps even unrecognizable to some, as there hasn’t been a proper entry in like ten years; I know it in name and concept only, having seen box art or occasional screens. Accordingly, I was not quite prepared for what I was getting myself into with MechWarrior Online. These robots are decidedly measured and deliberate in their actions. I’m used to fleetfooted, humanoid mechs the likes of Gundam, Evangelion, Gurren Lagann; anime, in short. MechWarrior’s machines are much more like frighteningly advanced tanks and you feel like the operator, heightened by the in cockpit view, in what is much more of a simulation experience than a crazy robot shoot-‘em-up. These death machines feels like the sort of thing you would oppress a people with. MechWarrior Online (PC) Developer: Piranha Games Publisher: Infinite Game Publishing Release: August 7, 2012 More and more titles are embracing the free-to-play market and MechWarrior Online is among them. With recent, praised releases like Blacklight Retribution and Tribes: Ascend, as well as the upcoming, mech-based Hawken, visual fidelity up to current standards is basically expected of Western free-to-play games. As such, MWO boasts some high-fidelity visuals and DirectX11 support. That being said, the art direction largely leans towards a dank and war-torn direction. The levels I played felt rather similar, despite changes in color tone. There was a snow-blindingly white locale, a rainy, mountainous evening, a level with a sickening greenish industrial flair and smoke stacks, a washed out, crumbling urban environment, and so on. Everything feels quite desolate and the levels are mostly open outdoor environments -- these battle mechs need room to strut their stuff -- so there is an air of familiarity about them, despite the changes in terrain and lighting. However, I’m sure these subtle stage differences are going to be important factors to consider for someone who knows the game well and isn’t in their equivalent of a first day behind the wheel. The devil’s in the details and there are details here for days, to the point of intimidation. It’s not the most accessible title around. It took me a while just to get acclimated to the vehicular piloting of the mechs and it wasn’t until I was just about ready to call it a night that I claimed my first victim. Giants robots are hard to destroy, even if you have your own giant robot. Who would’ve thunk it? For the uninitiated, as I was, down (s) and up (w) control your throttle forward and backward, setting your mech to a constant speed. Right (d) and left (a) point the mech in the direction you want it heading, while your pilot looks around freely relative to where your mouse is pointing, though you can no longer look around a full 360 degrees (at least not in the ones I used) like an inquisitive owl. Otherwise, the scheme is familiar. Click the mouse to fire your lasers (or, sometimes, other weapons), space to jump for mechs outfitted with such an ability, and so on. Oh, and a super neat controller is in the works, too, though I didn’t get to use it. Simulation! These lumbering hulks can absorb a lot of punishment and your lasers overheat with quickness when overused, which causes a temporary system-wide shutdown, leaving you vulnerable. Again, it’s a slow-moving affair. Teamwork, restraint and thoughtful piloting seemed imperative, giving confrontations a dogfight sort of volley as you trade strangely whimsical red and green pew pews of laser. Mechs are armored differently and will take a lot of damage to different portions before finally sustaining critical damage, rendering you a scrap heap for the remainder of the present match. In addition to the combat, there is an extensive warehouse for playing robot dress up, as well as selecting pilot perks. BattleMechs can be outfitted with different armor, weapons and color schemes. Also in this depot, you can choose between your available battle bots, which come in light, medium and heavy varieties. During my hands-on time, there were about a dozen available, all of which had dull names like HBK-46 or the slightly more colorful Ranger, instead of cool ones like Deathscythe, but I guess you can’t fault them for that. These are heavily industrialized, realistic death machines, after all. Once you begin to swap out parts, the possibilities are rather staggering. Each individual piece -- head, torso, arms, legs -- has applicable weapons or armor to change and more still to buy. It remains to be seen how viable all of the possible builds will be, but, for the time being, they’re possible, and should work towards giving your mechano-man a distinct feel that conforms to your play style. Equally up in the air is how purchasable content, like parts, will affect stat differences, or how viable a completely (real-world) purchase-free build will be; balance, in short. I’m quite interested to see how the well traveled MechWarrior property adapts to this free-to-play model, especially with sexy up and comer Hawken right on its tail. There’s definitely a learning curve to it, which could keep new players from investing the time it takes to learn its nuanced, restrained combat, without the impetus of making the most use of their money spent. Given its niche, the steady influx of newbies could also frustrate those who are deeply invested in its sim-like style, upsetting match balance. In the mean time, you can head over to the MechWarrior Online site to reserve your pilot name, lest some cretin swoop in and filch your moniker.

Nintendo: Wii U offers deeper, asymmetrical multiplayer Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT Nintendo president and unconfirmed soap-eater Satoru Iwata has declared that the Wii U shall host unique and deep multiplayer experiences. According to Nintendo, the differences between the Wii U and Wii controllers open the floor for "asymmetrical" gameplay. Huh.  "We plan to release the Wii U system, the successor of Wii, in the year-end sales season of 2012," said Iwata in Nintendo's financial report. "Wii U has a new controller named the Wii U GamePad with a 6.2 inch touchscreen. With the combination of the Wii U GamePad and a TV screen, players can enjoy gameplay that takes advantage of two screens whose positional relationship is not fixed. "Also, for multi-player games, Wii U makes asymmetric gameplay possible, which means the role of a player using the Wii U GamePad is different from the other players using the conventional Wii Remote controllers." Of course, this is all true in theory. Whether publishers take advantage of this potential (clue: they won't) is another matter entirely.  Nintendo Wii U will offer deeper gaming experiences - Iwata [Wii U]

Find out why New Little King's Story isn't on the Wii Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT I loved Little King's Story on the Wii, if only for the fact that it abandoned useless waggle in favor of a streamlined, simple control system. It seems as if a lot of other people did too, but that raw excitement isn't enough to warrant a Wii sequel, as the next title is slated exclusively for the Playstation Vita. Up until now, we had no real idea of why this was the case, but producer Takanori Murayama shed some light on the subject in a Q&A with Game Informer yesterday. He cited three main reasons for choosing the Vita over the Wii: the Vita's touchpad, HD graphical support, and better online/network/transaction support.  Of course, all of these reasons against a Wii sequel are expected to be addressed with the upcoming Wii U (although true network support is yet to be seen), so a Wii U port is probably not out of the question. There's a few other tidbits in the Q&A that are interesting as well, like an explanation of coop, and DLC plans. New Little King's Story Q&A [Game Informer]

PSU insurers to take up pricing directive issue with govt Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT Worried over the finance ministry's latest directive on pricing of the risks, the chief executives of four public sector general insurance companies that control 60 per cent of the market share

Nod for Govinda, Ganesh fete medical insurance Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT The BMC standing committee on Wednesday approved a proposal to medically insure all participants of Govinda and Ganesh immersion celebrations in view of the accidents that take place during the festive season.

Facebook Stock Hits New Low, Keeps Sinking Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT Facebook's much anticipated initial public offering (IPO) turned out to be a pretty big disappointment, and things have only gotten worse since then. The social network's share price fell to $20.88 by the end of Wednesday's trading session, which is 45 percent below its IPO price of $38 and a new low price, dipping below the previous low of $21.61, which occurred a day earlier. The falling stock price is in reaction to Facebook's quarterly earnings report last week. Investors weren't all that keen on the results, even though revenue was a third higher than a year prior. Analysts and investors are skeptical of Facebook's ability to grow its business long-term, and the market is reacting to those concerns. As of this writing, Facebook's stock has dipped another 2.71 percent to $20.32. Equally concerning to the falling share price is the loss of top level talent, as noted by AllThingsD. It's hard enough to right a ship that appears to be sinking, but even tougher when those manning the ship start jumping overboard. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Bid Farewell to Intel's Atom D2700 Processor Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT It's not always easy to say goodbye, but in some cases, well, it just plain feels good. Intel's discontinuation of its Atom D2700 processor is one of those moments. With the third quarter now well underway, Intel killing off its fastest Atom processor, as the D2700 is has been tagged with an End of Life (EOL) label. So, why does it feel good to say goodbye in this case? Plain and simple, Intel's Atom architecture feels a little long in the tooth. One could argue that Intel's Atom line has always felt that way, and we wouldn't begrudge them for it. The Atom D2700 is a 10W dual-core processor clocked at 2.13GHz with 1MB of L2 cache and support for up to 4GB of DDR3-1066 memory. The integrated graphics core is clocked at 640MHz. That's fine for low-power applications, but at $52, it was a rather expensive slice of netbook silicon. With much more powerful Ultrabooks (Intel) and ultra thins (AMD) coming down in price, it's hard to shed a tear about anything netbook related. For those of you who don't agree, not to worry, the D2700 hasn't been completely phased out yet. Shipments will continue until the end of September, and parts will likely linger in the market place for some time after. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

RIM to Launch 4G LTE PlayBook August 9 in Canada; U.S. and Other Territories in Coming Months Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT Our readers who live north of the border will be the first to get their hands on Research In Motion's (RIM's) upcoming 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook tablet when it launches in Canada on August 9, 2012, RIM announced today. Customers living in the U.S., Europe, South Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean will have access to the updated device "in the coming months," though no specific time frame was given. "We're excited to bring customers the first BlackBerry PlayBook tablet with support for 4G LTE networks," said David J. Smith, Executive Vice President, Mobile Computing at Research In Motion. "The new 4G LTE BlackBerry PlayBook offers a broad range of premium features, including a stunning 7 inch display, front and rear facing HD video cameras, HDMI out and stereo speakers, and it also offers premium performance on high speed cellular networks, helping customers to be more productive than ever and to make the most of their time on the go." The 4G LTE version of RIM's PlayBook is the same as the current version, except of course the new model supports wireless 4G LTE networks. It will ship with the latest BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2 software and come pre-loaded with various apps and tools. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Apple, Judge Both Ticked at Samsung for Leaking Rejected Evidence to Press Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT The patent dispute between Apple and Samsung isn't just an ugly affair, it's turning downright fugly. Samsung managed to tick off both Apple and U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh by sharing evidence with the press that was ruled inadmissible, specifically a set of PowerPoint slides showing Apple did to Sony what the company claims Samsung has done to them -- copying designs. According to InformationWeek, the slides cite comments from an interview with Apple designer Shin Nishibori in which he said he conceived the iPhone design by studying Sony's Walkman design concepts. Judge Koh refused to allow them as evidence, much to the chagrin of Samsung's legal team. "In 36 years of trial work, I have never begged the court for anything. I'm begging the court now to reconsider," John Quinn, one of Samsung's lead attorneys, implored the court. Judge Koh at one point threatened to sanction Quinn for talking over her response. Plain and simple, the slides were rejected as evidence, so Samsung shared them with the press, which are posted at AllThingsD. Naturally, this didn't sit well with either Apple or Judge Koh. Apple has asked Judge Koh to issue sanctions against Samsung for tampering with the jury, according to Arstechnica, calling it a "deliberate attempt to influence the trial." Samsung contends it never issued a press release, just "a brief statement" to select members of the press, and did so after the jury was already selected. Buckle your seat belts, folks, this ride's just getting started. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Commodore 64 Turns 30 Years Old, Still the Best Selling PC of All Time Posted: 02 Aug 2012 05:01 AM PDT Like many 30-somethings, the Commodore 64 provided me with my first glimpse into the world of PC gaming. I remember giggling when enemies would kill themselves out of shame if I managed to hop past them in The Last Ninja, and being delightfully frustrated with the puzzles in Maniac Mansion. Karnov, WWF WrestleMania, and Jordon vs Bird: One on One were three other titles that were frequently loaded. As primitive as each of those games are compared to today, it's still hard to believe that the Commodore 64 platform is 30 years old. What's even more mind boggling is that it's still the greatest selling single PC model ever. The first Commodore 64 system was released in August 1982 for $595. As its name suggests, the C64 had 64K of RAM. More importantly, it had decent sound and graphics (16 colors!) for its era, along with TV output. The NTSC version shipped with an 8-bit MOS Technology 6510 processor clocked at 1.023MHz. That's all less than pedestrian by today's standards, but in 1982, it was quite the machine. Sales estimates range from over 12 million units up to 17 million units during the course of its life. So, what has become of Commodore since then? The original company filed for bankruptcy in 1994, and while you can no longer purchase real Commodore systems, a company called Commodore USA has licensed the trademark and sells PC clones. These systems are essentially mini-ITX nettops dressed up in C64 digs and come with Commodore 64 emulation software. What was your first PC? Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

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MMO Updates

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• ArenaNet's Chris Lye talks about the impending death of the subscription model
• Arabian-themed Nadirim now available through Aeria Games
• Chaos Theory: The Secret World's one-month checkup
• World of Battleships rechristened World of Warships
• Guild Wars 2 provides a visual overview of World vs. World
• WildStar shows off its housing system
• KingsIsle discusses Wizard101, pet upgrades, PvP, and pirates
• The Daily Grind: Will you play SWTOR when it's F2P?
• MechWarrior Online showcases the Atlas [Updated]
• ArenaNet devs discuss PvP tournaments and e-sports
• EverQuest II outlines August update plans including the launch of SOEmote
• Investment group predicts positive returns for Star Wars: The Old Republic following free-to-play announcement
• City of Heroes previews new powersets and other Issue 24 changes
• Free for All: The best weather systems in free-to-play
• Enter at Your Own Rift: What Scott Hartsman's AMA portends for RIFT
• Guild Wars 2 stress test scheduled for tomorrow
• The War Z gets a new website, 100,000 beta registrations in 24 hours
• Dark Vale releases Forge gameplay video, 'Kick-Finish' campaign
• Massively Exclusive: RaiderZ boss fight video
• The Repopulation recaps July alpha testing, updates
• Cryptic producer: Star Trek Online 'not dying by any means'
• Dragon Knights launches website, introduces the Sorceress

ArenaNet's Chris Lye talks about the impending death of the subscription model Posted: 02 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2 In a recent interview, ArenaNet's global brand manager Chris Lye sat down and talked about the future of payment models in MMORPGs. Lye advised up-and-coming businesses to avoid the assumption that the subscription model is the best as that model is past its prime and on the decline. Guild Wars 2, set to launch on August 28th, ascribes to the "pay to own" model where players simply make a one-time purchase of the box in order to play the full game. Lye remarks that he understands why developers wouldn't want to add the risk of trying a new business model on top of the risk of developing an MMO. However, he feels that "any developer who wants to be successful in today's market needs to take a really hard look and say 'Do we really want to use a subscription, is that the best thing for this game?' In many cases I don't think it is." The subscriptionless model, however, isn't without possible drawbacks. Lye acknowledged that ArenaNet has some concerns about whether the community will be more difficult to police due to the sheer numbers of players. ArenaNet's Chris Lye talks about the impending death of the subscription model originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Polygon interview

Arabian-themed Nadirim now available through Aeria Games Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Browser Nadirim, the Hungarian-made browser-based free-to-play game inspired by the myths and fables of the Arabian desert, is now available through the Aeria Games network. Aeria added the Arabian-themed fantasy game to its vast array of other free-to-play titles. Players looking for something a bit different than the standard medieval fantasy fare can jump into the role of Rogue, Warrior, or Sage and delve into a landscape of vast, unforgiving deserts punctuated by remote oases or wander through bustling towns. Although the world is open, combat is turn-based and takes place on a grid, making strategy an important element of the battle. Additionally, players who find the battle going against them can call for the aid of other adventurers who can join in the fight and assist. The game is available to play now, and like all Aeria Games titles, there is no download or subscription needed. [Source: Aeria Games press release] Arabian-themed Nadirim now available through Aeria Games originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chaos Theory: The Secret World's one-month checkup Posted: 02 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Bugs, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, PvP, Opinion, The Secret World, Chaos Theory Huh, has it been a month already? Time flies when you're having fun, I guess, and yep, I'm still having quite a bit of it in The Secret World. Yesterday brought us the big 1.1 patch, the one patch to rule them all (thus far), and the first post-launch content drop. Funcom has famously promised updates like this on a monthly basis, and as first starts go, this was a good'un. We got seven new story missions (five of which were the meaty investigation variety), all of them chock-full of interesting stuff to do and interesting cutscenes to ogle. All of that said, the one-month mark is also when subscription MMOs find out whether they've got staying power or whether they're going to bleed, and if Funcom wants The Secret World to fall into the former category, it's still got a bit of work to do. Continue reading Chaos Theory: The Secret World's one-month checkup Chaos Theory: The Secret World's one-month checkup originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

World of Battleships rechristened World of Warships Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, News items, War, World of Warships In a move to make the title more congruent with the entire Wargaming universe, the game formerly known as World of Battleships has been redubbed World of Warships. The studio, however, emphasizes that the change is in moniker only; nothing has changed gameplay-wise for the upcoming free-to-play naval game where players get to participate in sea-faring combat using historically accurate vessels. Additionally, World of Warships will also be included in the Wargaming.net common economic system that will allow players to distribute resources between all three titles. The game is scheduled to launch next year. [Source: Wargaming press release] World of Battleships rechristened World of Warships originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2 provides a visual overview of World vs. World Posted: 02 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, PvP, Guild Wars 2 If you felt disappointed that ArenaNet left Guild Wars 2's World vs. World out of its video splurge last week, consider this: Maybe the studio was saving the best for last. In any case, today we're finally treated to an overview of the WvW system in the game, narrated by the devs. World vs. World is arguably the centerpiece of PvP combat in the game. Taking place across four massive maps, WvW pits three factions of players against each other in an attempt to conquer keeps, control supply lines, and bring the pain to their fellow man (or Sylvari). You can check out the WvW video after the jump! Continue reading Guild Wars 2 provides a visual overview of World vs. World Guild Wars 2 provides a visual overview of World vs. World originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Guild Wars 2 Twitter

WildStar shows off its housing system Posted: 02 Aug 2012 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Video, Humor, WildStar, Housing Carbine Studios' WildStar has yet to leave the starting gate, but already this filly looks to have legs. The studio announced that not only will the sci-fi fantasy title have a housing system, but that it will be a major component to a player's experience in the game. According to Carbine, WildStar's housing is "more than a house and a plot of land, it is a destination within the game that they can make their own and use to their advantage." Housing will be available for all classes and paths. We have both a video and a FAQ concerning this exciting system after the jump! [Source: NCsoft press release] Continue reading WildStar shows off its housing system WildStar shows off its housing system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

KingsIsle discusses Wizard101, pet upgrades, PvP, and pirates Posted: 02 Aug 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, Launches, New titles, Previews, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Trading card games, Races, Casual, Massively Interviews, Kids, Wizard101, Family, Pirate101 If you've found yourself going crazy over raising pets in the hugely successful Wizard101, worry no longer! We called up Fred Howard, KingsIsle VP of Marketing, to discuss some of the upcoming changes en route to one of the most popular activities in Wizard101. These pet changes are underway thanks in large part to a very passionate, informed community of players who have been asking for specific tweaks for quite a while. Pets aren't just for looks in Wizard101; they can level, aid in combat, and be hatched from eggs. There's even a fan-made Petnome Project to break down each pet and its abilities. We also virtually twisted Fred's arm and got a few comments about Pirate101, KingsIsle's next MMO. Fans of PvP will also be pleased at what he had to say. Just click past the cut and we'll break it down for you. Continue reading KingsIsle discusses Wizard101, pet upgrades, PvP, and pirates KingsIsle discusses Wizard101, pet upgrades, PvP, and pirates originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Will you play SWTOR when it's F2P? Posted: 02 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind, Star Wars: The Old Republic So Star Wars: The Old Republic going free-to-play is about as surprising as Tatooine's twin suns rising over the Dune Sea. The game has bled a considerable amount of subs since its December 2011 launch, and while it's far from a failure, it's also not quite the success that some predicted. Is a lower entry barrier enough to keep the game relevant, though, particularly in light of Guild Wars 2's impending launch? It's hard to say, but the next few months sure will be interesting to watch. So what about you, morning crew? Will SWTOR's new business model draw you (back) into the fold? 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: Will you play SWTOR when it's F2P? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

MechWarrior Online showcases the Atlas [Updated] Posted: 01 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Video, Classes, News items, Dev Diaries, MechWarrior Online Last week we showed you MechWarrior Online's light-weight Jenner model, which is available as part of the MWO Founder Package. This week it's the Atlas' turn in the spotlight. The Atlas weighs in at 100 tons, roughly three times the weight of the more agile Jenner, and has a deadly combination of long- and short-range missiles, four medium lasers, and an autocannon. Because of the weight and weaponry that make it deadly, the Atlas isn't known for being light on its feet. Anyone driving an Atlas will have to have a keen understanding of the battlefield in order to not get caught from behind before being able to bring the mech's technological terror to bear. Skip below the cut to witness the power of this fully armed and operational battlemech! [Edit: Took out the word "exclusively" for the Jenner in the Founder's package as non-Founders can also earn this mech.] Continue reading MechWarrior Online showcases the Atlas [Updated] MechWarrior Online showcases the Atlas [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Here's the Atlas

ArenaNet devs discuss PvP tournaments and e-sports Posted: 01 Aug 2012 06:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, PvP, News items, Guild Wars 2, Community Q&A Guild Wars 2 is getting steadily closer to release, but players are as hungry as ever for every little detail about the game. ArenaNet devs Jonathan Sharp and John Corpening took some time to scratch the unrelenting itch of curiosity in an interview with Guild Wars 2 Guru. The game's normal structured PvP tournaments will be restricted, for technical reasons, by region. Worldwide tournaments will still be possible but will be dealt with "in a manner outside of the online tournament system." Before automated tournaments, players will be able to see the maps that will be used for each of the three rounds of the tournament but unable to see the composition of enemy teams. As things stand now, players will be able to change builds between rounds, but the devs are still looking for further feedback about that particular bucket of fish. Game formats other than the conquest that currently serves as the current primary PvP mechanic aren't out of the question for the future, but the team wants the game to start off with something that is easily approachable. ArenaNet hasn't really made a secret out of e-sports plans for Guild Wars 2. To that end, a spectator mode is high on the list of additions to the game, but the only timeframe devs are giving is "when it's ready." While the devs can't say much yet about plans for PvP publicity and ranking systems, they are hoping for Guild Wars 2 to prove itself as an e-sport and are committed to the original intention of letting players jump in and be competitive in PvP right off the bat. Check out the original interview for every breathtaking tease, hint, and detail. ArenaNet devs discuss PvP tournaments and e-sports originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Guild Wars 2 Guru PvP interview

EverQuest II outlines August update plans including the launch of SOEmote Posted: 01 Aug 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Free-to-play Looking forward to having your EverQuest II character's facial expression match your own during frustrating content? Then you'll be happy to know that according to the latest roadmap for the game, the SOEmote feature is going live on August 7th, complete with new options to see your own face on screen, auto-enable the feature with an attached webcam, or see your group members more clearly displayed when the feature is enabled. But SOEmote isn't the only thing on deck for this month, as the game is also bringing in a new chance for players to win prizes by participating in instanced minigames. A new set of ethereal weapons is being added as well; the weapons promise to be powerful additions to the arsenal of any players lucky enough to locate them. If you need to know more about what the SOEmote features will look like or what the developers have planned for holiday events during August, the update planning list has your back. EverQuest II outlines August update plans including the launch of SOEmote originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: August update plans

Investment group predicts positive returns for Star Wars: The Old Republic following free-to-play announcement Posted: 01 Aug 2012 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Star Wars: The Old Republic Yesterday's bombshell from Star Wars: The Old Republic has prompted the usual spirited debate among fans over the game: Is this a last gasp before it dies or a smart move in the current MMO marketplace? Wedbush Securities believes it's the latter, with analyst Michael Pachter stating that the news from Electronic Arts is positive and that the change in business models should result in a significant profit for the game. Pachter described Wedbush's reaction as "incorrigibly positive," with specific emphasis on EA's digital catalogue and the free-to-play shift for Star Wars: The Old Republic. According to his analysis, the change in business models will remove the most significant hurdles from potential players, leading to a net increase in revenue from the game. The market as a whole responded positively to the financial news, with EA's stock rising six percent as a result of the call. Pachter has previously been critical of the MMO market, having claimed in early July that subscriber numbers have peaked for the industry as a whole. Investment group predicts positive returns for Star Wars: The Old Republic following free-to-play announcement originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Wedbush remains "incorrigibly positive" about EA

City of Heroes previews new powersets and other Issue 24 changes Posted: 01 Aug 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, City of Heroes, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play Getting new powers in City of Heroes is always a reason to be excited, especially when they fill out a gap you hadn't even realized existed beforehand. The most recent livestream from the staff at Paragon Studios has unveiled two sets that do precisely that. Martial Combat (a secondary for Blasters) and Martial Assault (a secondary for Dominators) allow you to mix in some melee attacks to an otherwise ranged character, a requested addition following the introduction of more "mundane" sets such as Dual Pistols. Both sets feature a fair number of melee powers as well as the support and utility powers that players expect for the archetypes in question, including a few ranged attacks for Martial Assault and some familiar self-buffs for Martial Combat. (And Caltrops is in there, in case you were worried.) As the header image shows, this is only the tip of the iceberg for Issue 24's changes (since that image has Marauder in Ms. Liberty's usual haunt)... but it's certainly worth watching the full demonstration after the break. Continue reading City of Heroes previews new powersets and other Issue 24 changes City of Heroes previews new powersets and other Issue 24 changes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: I24 preview image

Free for All: The best weather systems in free-to-play Posted: 01 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, Ryzom, Wurm Online, Opinion, Roleplaying, Mabinogi, Free for All, Miscellaneous Perhaps someone can explain my obsession with in-game weather systems. I remember interviewing the lead designer for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes a few years ago. I had to stop him and ask for more details about the weather system the game used. He told me it was on a separate server, a pretty fancy program that ran independently of the rest of the game. It sounded as if he was telling me that there were real storms brewing in the game and the system knew when and where they were happening. I was fascinated. How cool it is to imagine in-game clouds forming at one point of the world and slowly moving across the land until the sky begins to rain on your character's head? Sadly, in-game weather seems to be either a low priority or a hard system to tackle. I'm guessing it's a combination of both. So I searched out those few MMOs that feature an impactful weather system. Not coincidentally, they also happen to be some of my favorite MMOs. Continue reading Free for All: The best weather systems in free-to-play Free for All: The best weather systems in free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Enter at Your Own Rift: What Scott Hartsman's AMA portends for RIFT Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, Opinion, RIFT, Community Q&A, Enter at Your Own Rift The Trion team is nothing if not persistent. In an elaborate plot involving Dr. Pepper and a one-way locked office, the devs were able to finally get Trion CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman to participate in an Ask Me Anything session on Reddit. It was an engaging discussion that touched on a variety of topics, from up and coming titles such as End of Nations to Hartsman's journey from GM of the MUD Scepter of Goth to his time with SOE and his current endeavors with Trion. We learned that he's a pretty hardcore raider, that he plays incognito, and that his raid drink of choice is Grimbergen Blonde. But the focus of the conversation was RIFT, and while he didn't shed too much light on the upcoming expansion, he did drop a few hints about what we might see in the future. In this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, we'll look at some of the highlights! Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: What Scott Hartsman's AMA portends for RIFT Enter at Your Own Rift: What Scott Hartsman's AMA portends for RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2 stress test scheduled for tomorrow Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Guild Wars 2 How's the wait coming for Guild Wars 2's launch? Are you suffering from the shakes or uncontrollable outbursts of grief and withdrawal? ArenaNet's got the stuff you want, and it's willing to give you a taste of the beta during a four-hour stress test tomorrow. Anything more than that is going to cost you. This brief stress test will take place on August 2nd from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT. It's uncertain whether players will be able to play characters from previous beta events or there will be a wipe. According to the Facebook announcement, this test will be used for active fine-tuning: "Unlike previous stress tests, we will be actively working on the game during the event, so you might experience connectivity problems or discover features that are not working as designed. Any issues you experience are a result of the rigorous conditions of the stress test, and are in no way representative of the state of the game at launch." Guild Wars 2 stress test scheduled for tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Facebook announcement

The War Z gets a new website, 100,000 beta registrations in 24 hours Posted: 01 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Horror, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Sandbox The War Z has a spiffy new website, but more importantly it also has more than 100,000 people banging on its closed beta doors. The newly announced zombie apocalypse MMO has generated a ton of interest in the gaming community over the last couple of weeks, primarily due to its survival simulation sandbox pedigree and its seeming similarity to white-hot mod darling DayZ. The War Z is currently in alpha, and the devs say that closed beta is "planned for the very near future." There's also a pre-order link on the new website, but as of press time it leads to a beta registration box. [Source: Hammerpoint Interactive press release] The War Z gets a new website, 100,000 beta registrations in 24 hours originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dark Vale releases Forge gameplay video, 'Kick-Finish' campaign Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play We told about you about Forge a couple of weeks ago, and today we're happy to bring you the first alpha gameplay footage of the new PvP-centric title. Dark Vale Games has been working on its Unreal 3-based action title for a while now, but this is the first chance we've had to see it in action. The indie outfit is banking on its ability to appeal to gamers who are fed up with grind-gated PvP in MMORPGs, and Forge aims to fill the skill-based action and strategic PvP niche that most MMOs gloss over. To be honest, we're not quite sure how "MMO" Forge will end up being. We do know that it features five classes with 30 to 40 abilities each (and nine usable at any given time). Outside of that, we'll have to take Dark Vale at its word when it says that Forge is an "incredible online experience that rewards players for developing skills, not grinding for gear." The firm has also announced a "Kick-Finish" campaign designed to help the team release on-time and on-budget without resorting to publishers or outside investors. Be sure to check out the gameplay clip after the cut. [Source: Dark Vale press release] Continue reading Dark Vale releases Forge gameplay video, 'Kick-Finish' campaign Dark Vale releases Forge gameplay video, 'Kick-Finish' campaign originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Exclusive: RaiderZ boss fight video Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Free-to-play With RaiderZ's closed beta rapidly approaching, it's not a half-bad idea to see the game in action before deciding to make the leap into it or not. Massively has obtained footage of a boss fight that shows a group of players taking on a mighty stone golem that's being piloted by a rather cute goblin. RaiderZ will go into closed beta on August 8th, and Perfect World wants to remind players that those who sign up for the beta will get a chance to win tickets to the sold-out PAX later this month. Senior Producer Mark Hill hopes that the company can build on the foundation it's already set for the game: "Players who already got a chance to try RaiderZ during the Alpha Test phase can also look forward to striving towards a new level cap of 30, exploring the Makot Village, and much more." You can watch the boss fight video after the cut! Gallery: RaiderZ Gallery Continue reading Massively Exclusive: RaiderZ boss fight video Massively Exclusive: RaiderZ boss fight video originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Repopulation recaps July alpha testing, updates Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, Patches, News items, Sandbox Above & Beyond Technologies has released its end-of-the-month progress report for The Repopulation. It's a massive information dump, and the tl;dr version is that the sci-fi sandbox is doing quite well after a solid month of alpha testing. Highlights include new double-tap movement abilities, various improvements to the game's action mode, and extensive polish passes on "every skill line and ability." While the changes seem to lean heavily on combat-related gameplay at first glance, the title "isn't just a game about combat," according to the devs. "Crafting and harvesting types also have many new toys to play with," the say. The Repopulation recaps July alpha testing, updates originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: End of July update

Cryptic producer: Star Trek Online 'not dying by any means' Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play Cryptic executive producer Dan Stahl has taken to the Star Trek Online forums to provide what he calls "some rumor control." Much of his lengthy post concerns specific game-related updates and oft-raised player concerns, but the most interesting factoids deal with the game's (and Cryptic's) profitability and performance. "Cryptic was sold because it was a profitable business and worth at least $50 million to Perfect World," Stahl writes. "STO is not dying by any means and continues to grow stronger. Just last month we took over as the top performing game for Perfect World in North America." He goes on to say that the development team is expanding and that several positions remain open. [Thanks to The Grand Nagus for the tip!] Cryptic producer: Star Trek Online 'not dying by any means' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: STO forums

Dragon Knights launches website, introduces the Sorceress Posted: 01 Aug 2012 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Classes, Free-to-play Aeria Games' latest contender in the MMO ring now has a few more details to flesh it out. Dragon Knights (also known as DK Online) launched its official website and released a spotlight on the game's first class, the Sorceress. The website is packed full of information about this quirky title, including guides, details on the game's unique morphing system, and descriptions of how Dragon Knight's castle siege system will play out. Players can sign up for the upcoming closed beta on the site as well. The Sorceress is strong in the ways of elemental magic and wields both fire and ice spells to great effect against foes. You can get a glimpse of this class in a new video after the jump! [Source: Aeria Games press release] Continue reading Dragon Knights launches website, introduces the Sorceress Dragon Knights launches website, introduces the Sorceress originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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