General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Picasa Granted Nearly Unlimited Storage Thanks to Google+

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 02:32 PM PDT

picasaThe changes kicked off by the Google+ launch continue to reverberate through other Google products. Google's photo sharing and storage service, Picasa is getting a change for the better. For users of Google+, any photos uploaded to the social service are stored on Picasa and there is no storage limit. That's right, nearly unlimited storage.

There are a few restrictions on the nature of the content, though. Images are scaled down to no larger than 2048x2048 pixels, but video up to 1080p and less than 15 minutes in length is allowed. Images manually uploaded to Picasa that are larger than allowed will count against the 1GB of free Picasa space. After that, all photos will be resized. 

Non-Google+ users can still get unlimited space, but their photos will be scaled down to 800x800. The same 1GB limit is in effect for manual uploads to Picasa of larger photos. Users on Android devices that use Google+ can have all their images and video uploaded to Google+ automatically in the background.

This new Picasa policy, along with the improved tagging accompanying Google+ should be a real win for users. It also helps Google out by making it easier for users to share content and get invested in Google+.

Google+ to Get Developer API Soon

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 02:16 PM PDT

vicOne of the things that has made Twitter such a success, even as Facebook continues growing, is its API access. Having an API allows developers to plug into a service to improve the experience and ecosystem. Google+ has only been live for a few days, but Google's Vic Gundotra told Cnet that API access is coming soon.

Gundotra's last post was that of VP of platform evangelism. Most readers will recognise him from his Google I/O talks when he dealt with Android. Frankly, Gundotra knows how to bring developers into the fold. 

It is unsurprising that Google+ launched without a firm developer API. It is still in closed beta and many features are likely to change. When Google has cleaned up the rough edges, we expect developers to get a crack at it. For the time being, interested developers can contact Google to be notified when the API rolls out.

Google in Early Talks to Buy Hulu

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 01:58 PM PDT

huluAccording to the LA Times, one of the mysterious parties that's been in talks to buy Hulu is none other than Google. Also involved in the preliminary negotiations are Microsoft and Yahoo. Google is reportedly interested in Hulu due to its reach in video advertising, a field Google pioneered with YouTube.

Hulu's rights to stream current season TV are certainly of great interest, as well. Google recently launched a video rental service within YouTube for feature films, and the rights they would acquire from a Hulu buy would flesh out the catalog nicely. 

One major issue with a Google deal is the possibility that licensing agreements could dry up after a buyout. There are already rumors that Hulu subscribers could eventually be forced to prove they have a cable subscription, and future licensing deals are not guaranteed.

Google already has a contentious relationship with Hollywood, and may have trouble renewing the necessary deals. Do you think Google could make Hulu a better service, or is the search giant just bidding up its competition?

13 Stages In The Evolution of the Mouse

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 01:30 PM PDT

Mice—they're something we PC enthusiasts tend to take for granted. After all, once you've specced out your new rig with a blazing fast processor and a video card the size of a VCR, what's it really matter what we use to move the pointer around?

They're easy to forget, because the baseline options we have today are exponentially better than what we had just a decade ago. To refresh your memory, we've put together a list of 13 mice that introduced major new features and blew open new markets. Read on for a lesson in the history of the mouse!

Samsung Outs More Series 9 Models, MacBook Air Seen Cowering in a Corner

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 12:54 PM PDT

Samsung today added five new models to its Series 9 line of ultra-thin laptops, and no one can accuse the company of bringing a knife to a gun fight. Certainly not Apple, whose MacBook Air is still slinging Intel's Core 2 Duo weaponry, at least until the upcoming refresh. In the meantime, the new Series 9 models roll into the war zone armed with Core i3, i5, and i7 canons, mighty big weapons given their stature.

There are three new 13.3-inch and two new 11.6-inch Series 9 models, the latter of which will begin shipping in August. Available right away are the NP900X3A-B01US (1.6GHz Core i5 2467M, 4GB of RAM, 128GB SSD) for $1,349, NP900X3A-B02US (1.6GHz Core i5 2467M, 4GB of RAM, 256GB SSD) for $1,649, and NP900X3A-A05US (1.6GHz Core i7 2617M, 6GB of RAM, 256GB SSD) for $2,049.

The 11.6-inch models will consist of the NP900X1B-A02US (1.3GHz Core i3 2357M, 2GB of RAM, 64GB SSD) for $1,049 and NP900X1B-A01US (1.3GHz Core i3, 4GB of RAM, 128GB SSD) for $1,249.

All five models sport an LED-backlit display with a 1366x768 resolution, brushed aluminum chassis, USB 3.0, Windows 7 Home Premium, and FastStart technology.

Series 9 Homepage

Image Credit: Samsung

Cool Site of the Week: MIT OpenCourseWare Program

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 12:30 PM PDT

Let's face it, summer is no friend to your brain. When you're not busy killing it with beer, late night campfire parties or Michael Bay movies (seriously, he needs to be stopped), your poor grey matter gets boiled inside your noggin from taking on too much direct sunlight during weekend trips to the beach. To make up for the annual beating visited upon your poor noodle, we recommend treating it to some of the best free education on offer anywhere in the world. Do your brain a solid and direct your browsers to Massachusetts Institute of Technology's OpenCourseWare Program, our Cool Site of the Week.

In operation since 2001, the MIT OpenCourseWare Program website currently plays host to over 2000 individual lectures covering 33 academic disciplines as taught by some of the greatest minds in the world. MIT provides visitors to the site with full course notes, problem sets and solutions, reading lists and in some cases, even videos. The materials are free to use, copy, and redistribute by anyone, anywhere in the world.

To date, over 71 million individual users from 215 countries have taken advantage of what the MIT OpenCourseWare website has to offer; providing self-learners and educators with access to some of the best educational materials available anywhere in the world.

Be sure to check back every Friday for another edition of Cool Site of the Week.

GPU-Z Update Improves Startup, Adds Detection for More Sandy Bridge GPUs

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 10:40 AM PDT

In the latest issue of Maximum PC (August 2011, or Volume 16 No. 8), we highlight GPU-Z on page 54 as one of "49 Lil' Apps" that can be downloaded for free and are less than 3MB in size. It's our go-to utility for knowing almost everything there is to know about our system's graphics chip, including clockspeeds, die size, and even its release date, and it works with both AMD and Nvidia GPUs. Since going to print, TechPowerUp released a new version -- GPU-Z 0.5.4 -- with a barrel full of new features and fixes.

TechPowerUp promises a "considerably improved startup time on ATI cards," and it's faster on Nvidia as well. In addition to faster loads, the new version adds detection for more Intel Sandy Bridge GPUs, variants of GT 220 and GTS 450 cards, faked cards based on GTS 250, 9600 GT, and NV41M, and a bunch of other GPUs.

GPU-Z 0.5.4 also includes improved rendering on high DPI screens, fixed ROP count reading on AMD Radeon HD 6790 cards, fixed OpenCL detection on some Nvidia drivers, and memory size reading support for AMD Fusion GPUs, to name just a few.

You can view a full list of changes and download the latest version with or without an Asus ROG skin here.

AMD Catalyst Hotfix Available for New Llano Processors

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 09:50 AM PDT

AMD's launch of two Llano A-series desktop APUs yesterday comes a little over two weeks after the CPU/GPU maker made available its Catalyst 11.6 driver package. For whatever reason, AMD chose not to bake in support for its then soon-to-be-released A8-3850 and A6-3650 APUs, but don't despair, there's a hotfix available if you plan on running one of these chips.

The AMD Catalyst 11.6a hotfix also adds support for the A8-3800 with Radeon HD 6550D (same as the A8-3850) and A6-3600 with Radeon HD 6530D (same as the A6-3650). Otherwise, there isn't anything new in this hotfix.

In case you missed it, the Catalyst 11.6 drivers promise performance gains in a handful of titles, including Crysis, F1 2010, Far Cry 2, HAWX, and the Unigine Open GL tests. It also adds a few new features, such as Steady Video, Image Stabilization brought to you by YouTube, and decode acceleration of MPEG-4 part 2 content in Microsoft video player applications (through MFT support) for all Radeon HD 6000 cards.

AMD Catalyst 11.6a Hotfix

Facebook, Comcast Among Most Hated Companies in U.S., Newegg Most Loved

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 09:25 AM PDT

Does Facebook, as a company, make your blood boil? What about MySpace? And should we even bother asking about Comcast, one of the largest cable companies in the world, and also No. 4 on the list of companies customers hate most, as indicated in the American Customer Satisfaction Index? Those three scored 64, 63, and 59, respectively, on a 0-100 scale intended to represent company-level satisfaction.

Business Insider used the ratings to put together a list of the top 19 most hated companies in America, with Potomac Electric taking the No. 1 spot and Bank of America ranking No. 19. In addition to Facebook (No. 10) and MySpace (No. 9), several tech companies made the list, including Dish Network (No. 18), Cox Communications (No. 17), AT&T Mobility (No. 14), Charter Communications (No. 5), and Time Warner Cable (No. 3).

"These are not terribly competitive industries, as the switching barriers for most of them are quite high," ASCI's David VanAmburg told BusinessInsider. "In other industries, like the food or clothing sector, the competition is huge. They bend over backwards to make customers happy, because they have to."

On the flip side, a handful of tech companies scored high on the list, including Amazon (87/100), Apple (86/100), Netflix (86/100), Newegg (84/100), Overstock (83/100), and Ebay (81/100).

Which companies do you have the biggest beef with? And which are your favorites?

Adobe Tries to Poach Apple Users with Discounted Switcher Program

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 08:57 AM PDT

It's on like Donkey Kong in the video editing space. In an attempt to entice Apple Final Cut Pro and/or Avid Media Composer customers to make the switch to Adobe software, Adobe today announced an upgrade program that will allow users of any version of the aforementioned Apple products to switch to Creative Suite CS5.5 Production Premium or Premiere Pro CS5.5 at a 50 percent discount.

"We're hearing from video professionals that they want pro level tools that address cutting edge work but also allow them to use legacy footage and workflows," said Jim Guerard, general manager and vice president of professional video and audio, Adobe. "At Adobe we've been in the trenches with video pros for years and with Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 and CS5.5 Production Premium we've delivered professional-grade tools that are already being battle-tested by some of the most innovative filmmakers, broadcasters and video pros."

Eligible Adobe suite and point product customers also qualify for the program, but Adobe's Switcher program is really a well-timed and non-coincidental response to video professionals raging over Apple's recent launch of Final Cut Pro X, a rewrite of Apple's top-shelf video editing software with some major omissions, not the least of which is no direct import capability for Final Cut Pro 6/7 projects. The release sparked an online petition with nearly 6,700 signatures demanding that Apple either make some key changes to the software, or auction off the source code to Final Cut Pro 7.

Adobe's Switcher program will end September 30, 2011.

MMO News

MMO News


Wonderland Online offers come-back capsule

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 11:48 AM PDT

With the approach of its latest update (Version 6.0) for Wonderland Online, IGG is offering a special comeback promotion for players who have recently quit.

The special is good from June 27 until July 27. To qualify, players must have been registered for the game and have logged in between July 1, 2010 and May 27, 2011, but have not logged in to play between May 28 and June 27, 2011.

Those who qualify can register for the event on the event page; IGG will reward them with a 5% experience capsule.

IGG also publishes Angels Online, FreeSky Online, and GodsWar Online.
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Wonderland Online Gameplay Screenshot

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The new version of Wonderland Online is almost ready, but many players who have been waiting for it are not. Version 6.0 Plus: Treasure and Trouble includes a wide assortment of new content, but due to the long wait between the last major update and this one, many players have moved on to other games. IGG is inviting them back to experience all the new content coming soon by offering qualified returning veterans an EXP capsule to give them a nice leveling boost.

From June 27th to July 27th EDT (GMT -4), players who have registered and logged into the game between July 1, 2010 and May 27, 2011, but have not logged in between May 28, 2011 and June 27, 2011 are qualified to participate and receive the capsule.

All qualified veterans should register for the event on the event page . IGG will then verify all account details and reward veterans with a 5% EXP Capsule.

Spread the word about the upcoming release of Version 6: Treasure and Trouble, and invite your old friends to return so you can conquer it together!

Visit the official Wonderland Online site at http://wl.igg.com for the latest information about the Treasure and Trouble expansion. Visit http://www.igg.com to learn about IGG's growing family of games.

Redcoats are coming – to Realms Online

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 11:29 AM PDT

July 4 is being celebrated in Realms Online for the next two weeks with a special event: Dawn of Freedom.

Players must defeat the undead redcoat zombie forces as they invade the warzone. Rewards include special Independence Day costumes. Players can also see GM-sponsored fireworks show, hide and seek events, plus other special Independence Day themed giveaways and shop items.

Realms Online is published by GameSamba, which also publishes Remnant Knights.
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Realms Online Gameplay Screenshot

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REALMS ONLINE CELEBRATES 4TH OF JULY WITH TWO WEEK EVENT

July 1, 2011— In GameSamba’s free-to-play MMORPG Realms Online, the Redcoats are coming—and they want brains! Starting Friday, July 1st, get ready for two weeks of 4th of July festivities as players must purge the warzone of the invading redcoat zombie forces. Killing the zombies and keeping their realms safe will allow players to earn special Independence Day costumes, modeled after colonial era clothing.

Not only will players be able to defeat undead foes, but they’ll also enjoy a number of other activities, including firework shows put on by Realms GMs, American Flag banners playing the national anthem throughout the world, Find the GM, Bonus XP events, and more. In addition, special 4th of July items such as fireworks and Uncle Sam hats will be added to the cash shop, available for purchase for the duration of this event. These and other items will also be awarded to players for participation in events.

Joining in on the July festivities is a special sneak peek at the upcoming unicorn mount. A code will be available for one week on the Realms Online Facebook page, also starting July 1st, which will reward players with free week-long usage of the unicorn before it’s available in the shop.

For more information on these and future Realms Online events, you can check out the  events calendar on the  official Realms Online website. You can also watch the  event announcement video on the  Realms Online YouTube Channel.

Eden Eternal announces new expansion

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 11:02 AM PDT

Eden Eternal’s first expansion and major content update has been announced, and is scheduled to release in early July.

The update will add a new playable race, the Zumi, who are described as “mouse-like creatures with affection for invention and commerce.” Also being added are new dungeons, and a ranking reward system for the top players and guilds each month (per server).

Eden Eternal is published by Aeria Games, which also publishes Kitsu Saga, Dream of Mirror Online, and Grand Fantasia.

edeneternal_rock_golems

Eden Eternal Gameplay Screenshot

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Aeria Games Announces Upcoming Content for Eden Eternal

New Zumi Race, Extra Dungeons Set for Early July Release

SANTA CLARA, Calif.  – June 30, 2011 – Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, today announced the upcoming release of its first major content update to Eden Eternal. The patch, scheduled for an early July release, includes new endgame content and introduces the Zumi race.

The Zumi are small, mouse-like creatures with affection for invention and commerce.  They hail from the distant, parched deserts of the southeast and traveled to the central continent to take advantage of rich trade opportunities. For the first time, players will be able to start their journey as one of the industrious Zumi. The new playable race is just one of several upcoming expansions to Eden Eternal.

The content update includes:

·        New Playable Race – Players will now have the ability to create a new character and play as one of the Zumi race. Take advantage stat bonuses for certain classes and check out the Zumi-only starting zone!
·        New Dungeons – The challenges keep coming with additional high level dungeons for players to explore. Encounter new bosses, discover new treasures and learn more than you ever imagined about your heroic destiny.
·        Ranking Reward System – Each month top players and guilds from each server will be rewarded for their efforts with rare and valuable prizes.

Eden Eternal is an anime-style Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) created by award-winning developers X-Legend Entertainment.  Like every title at Aeria Games, Eden Eternal is free to play and does not require a subscription fee. For more information on Eden Eternal, please visit http://edeneternal.aeriagames.com.

Aida Arenas Gameplay – First Look HD

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 11:00 AM PDT

To Learn More about the game check out our Aida Arenas Page.

Aida Arenas is a 3D anime inspired fantasy action MMORPG published by GamerKraft – the same company behind FreeJack and Priston Tale 2. The game plays a lot like Grand Chase, Elsword and Lunia – as the game features a persistent world town, but instanced dungeons and zones outside of town. Up to 4 players can play cooperatively while up to 16 players can battle in PvP mode. This video was recorded in closed beta for the game and a new video will likely be done after open beta begins. To learn more about Aida Arenas, check out the official MMOHut Aida Arenas page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Battlefield Heroes offers free Party Packs

Posted: 01 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT

Wake Island, a new map, is coming in a few weeks to Battlefield Heroes. The game has also been localized in more languages.

Players who also log in between June 30 and July 8 can get two free Party Packs as a bonus summer event (one Royal, one National): each includes 77 Battlefunds, 25 Festive Flares, a permanent party hat, and a 7 day Birthday Suit rental.

Battlefield Heroes is published by EA, which also publishes BattleForge.

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Battlefield Heroes Gameplay Screenshot

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Summer is heating up for all Battlefield Heroes players!

Battlefield Heroes™, the hit arcade cartoon shooter, is turning up the heat this summer! To celebrate the game’s second anniversary and the surpassing of 8 million players worldwide, EA has something special in store for all Battlefield Heroes players. Wake Island,one ofthe Battlefield franchise's most popular maps is coming to Battlefield Heroes later this month. And that's not all! Players can log in between June 30, 2011, 11PM, GMT and July 8, 2011, 8.00, GMT to receive two free Party Packs*: one Royal and one National. Each Party Pack will include 77 Battlefunds, 25 Festive Flares, a permanent exclusive Party Hat, and a 7 day rental to play in a Birthday Suit! To claim their free Party Packs, players can log in at www.battlefieldheroes.comthen look in the "My Stuff" menu and select "Rewards".

EA is also proud to announce that Battlefield Heroes is now fully localized in eight new languages, including: French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Turkish and Russian. With English and German previously available, Battlefield Heroes is now live in a total of ten languages worldwide.

Battlefield Heroes is a Play4Free third-person shooter that brings classic Battlefield gameplay to a mass audience. The game features fun, cartoon-style graphics and gameplay that caters to players of all skill levels. Battlefield Heroes is easy to pick up and play but has robust character customization and sticky online features so gamers can spend hours building up their characters and conquering the world.
Battlefield Heroes is leading EA's web-focused free-to-download, free-to-play business model which generates revenue through advertising and micro-transactions. With zero barriers to entry, now anyone can be a hero on the battlefield!
Learn more about the game at www.battlefieldheroes.com or follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/bfheroes) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/bfheroes).

Pangya announces July 4th event

Posted: 30 Jun 2011 08:12 PM PDT

From July 4 to July 13, players of Pangya can earn special prizes.

Players must simply be logged in, either playing on a course or in a lounge, for a chance to enter and win an hourly raffle. Each hour, fireworks will pick a few players to win items, including Band, Punky Waiter, Club, SSAF, and Black Widow Sets; Elfen Ears; Rings; Cards, and Pang.

Pangya is published by SG Interactive, which also publishes Grand Chase and Trickster Online.

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Pangya Gameplay Screenshot

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Independence Day Brings Big Bangs and Bigger Prizes to Pangya: United

IRVINE, Calif. – June 30, 2011
SG Interactive today announced the start of a special Fourth of July-themed Fireworks Event for players of casual golf game Pangya: United. The event, which blasts off on July 4, 2011, will run all the way until July 13, 2011, and gives players the chance to win a rare selection of special, in-game items. To participate, players simply have to sign-in to Pangya and play a course or hang out in a lounge room. Every hour the fireworks will flare, picking a number of players to win items.

Rare items up for grab include:
• Band Sets
• Punky Waiter Sets
• Club Sets
• SSAF Sets
• Black Widow Dresses
• Elfen Ears
• Rings
• Cards
• Pang
• AND MORE!
For more information about Pangya and the Fireworks Event, please visit the official website at http://pangya.ntreev.net.

Lucent Heart Gameplay – First Look HD

Posted: 30 Jun 2011 11:44 AM PDT

To Learn More about the game check out our Lucent Heart Page.

Lucent Heart is a 3D anime inspired fantasy MMORPG published by Gamemania (Beanfun) – the same company behind Hero:108 Online. The game actually labels itself as a “dating MMORPG” and is certainly one of the first if not the first free to play game to label itself as such. The game has a fair variety of playable classes and a unique zodiac system which expands the games variety quite a bit – as each zodiac sign has its own set of skills. To learn more about Lucent Heart, check out the official MMOHut Lucent Heart page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Spiral Knights

Posted: 22 Jan 2010 08:19 PM PST

Spiral Knights is a 3D Action MMO with bright animated graphics. Play cooperatively and clear dozens of stages, each with various monster and puzzles to solve. The look and feel of Spiral Knights is reminiscent of dungeon crawlers, particular games like Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure.

spiral-knights-gameplay

Publisher: Sega
Playerbase: Medium
Graphics: Medium Quality
Type: MMO
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: N/A
Filesize: 300 MB

Pros: +Cooperative gameplay. +Fast paced, action oriented. +Varied game modes, environments, and monsters.

Cons: . -Dated graphic effects. -Repetitive gameplay. -Somewhat dependent on cash shop for steady progression.

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Overview

Spiral Knights Overview

Spiral Knights is an MMO that looks very interesting. As a co-op dungeon crawler, Spiral Knights offers fast paced gameplay through carried environments. The game will be stage based and players will be able to chose from various character types, customizing them as they go along. Not much is known about the game and the official site only offers some flavor text about the story. The teaser video released shows exciting gamepay and a graphic style that resembles the cartoony Zelda games popular on the Nintendo DS and GameCube, particularly the Zelda Four Swords series.

Spiral Knights Screenshots

Spiral Knights Featured Video

Click here to view the embedded video.

Full Review

Spiral Knights Review

By, Jaime Skelton

Spiral Knights Review

Many games start with you crash landing on an unfamiliar planet, needing the help of new friends to
survive. The struggle to exist in an unfamiliar land is a common trope in video games. Spiral Knights,
developed by Three Rings (makers of Puzzle Pirates) and published by Sega, manages to pull it off
with cute wit and style. Graphically similar to games such as Zodiac Online and Fairyland Online,
Spiral Knights brings forth some interesting, unique game-play mechanics. These features set Spiral
Knights above and beyond similar top-down MMORPGs.

Keep It Simple; Jump Right In!

Character creation may make the game seem fairly limited. There are only three helmet, three
armor and five color schemes to choose from. There is no gender selection – one helmet does make
you "female" by adding pigtail looking tufts. Outside of choosing a personal color and your name,
that’s all you’re given. There are neither classes nor races to choose from in Spiral Knights. In fact,
your character is defined solely by the equipment you use.

Once you’ve created a character, you’ll find yourself near a crashed escape pod. The first few areas
of the game teach you how to move, attack, change weapons, pick up objects, and how to handle
certain enemy types. The controls are very simple to learn and understand. The game can be played
with the mouse alone, as movement and combat are controlled with the left and right mouse buttons
respectively, in the direction the cursor faces.

Into the Mist

The user interface itself is clean and out of the way. The upper left contains various game menus,
including the main menu, the social menu and the uplink menu (the game’s mail system). The top right
hosts your mini-map, and also includes your character information, equipment arsenal, and crowns, the
in-game currency. The bottom left houses the chat pane.

At the bottom right of the screen, your energy is shown. There are two types of energy in Spiral
Knights: Mist and Crystal energy. Mist energy is the standard energy bar, while Crystal energy is
additional energy purchased through the cash shop. You start with a maximum of 100 Mist energy.
Adventuring in the Clockworks uses Mist energy to go down floors, use gates, activate friendly
NPCs, and more. Once at zero energy, you’ll be unable to advance, and must wait for your energy to
replenish. It takes about 15 minutes to recharge one unit of energy, so expect to wait around 24 hours
for energy to fully recharge.

Going Spelunking

After the tutorial quests that deliver you to Haven, the game’s hub, Spiral Knights becomes open-
ended. This can be a jarring experience. Your gameplay goal is to reach the core of the planet by
getting to the deepest level (called stratum). Going deeper into the dungeon involves activating gates,
which is done using minerals found while exploring, plus a small crown cost to access later strata. The
minerals you use along with the time of day determines the stratum’s theme, or the types of monsters
you’ll find. This system ensures gameplay varies from day to day.

Spiral Knights does require some social interaction. By default, entering the Clockworks will partner
you with up to three other players. There are options for solo play, however, there are several advantages to traveling with other Knights. Minerals, Heat and crowns are all equally shared, not divided, across the party. There is also strategic value to multiple players in combat.

Experience – How It Work?

Spiral Knights does not feature a traditional character progression system. Characters do not level
up; instead, a character’s equipment gains experience, called Heat. Each piece of equipment can gain
up to ten levels through gathering Heat. The game includes swords, guns, bombs, armor, helmets,
and shields. Some pieces of equipment can be upgraded to the next tier once they are level ten, using
crafting components found in the dungeons. There are also trinkets to equip, with various stats and
abilities, though these do not grow in level. Leveling is on a curve; early levels are easier to gain,
while later levels require higher amounts of Heat. However, it’s never terribly daunting to get a piece
of equipment to level ten, and unlike other MMOs, there is no risk of your equipment breaking through
upgrades.

As you explore, you’ll find crafting materials in addition to minerals. These materials can be used to
create new equipment or upgrade existing pieces. Vendors sell random recipes throughout the day,
and it can sometimes be difficult to obtain the recipe you need. The interface is fairly straightforward
and intuitive, making it easy to make what you need and move on. It’s made easier due to Alchemy
Machines being found almost everywhere.

Friends and (future) Foes

Players can join guilds, which are a great way to gather groups for various adventures. In addition to
their own special chat channel, guilds have the benefit of a guild hall, where guild members can craft
and socialize. It takes 500 energy and 1000 crowns to start a guild, so some purchase of Crystal energy
will be required.

PvP is currently disabled; however, there are plans to reintroduce it in the future – there is no known
ETA when this will be. Battles will be four person free-for-all arenas with four tiers of combat. Each
tier places various restrictions on equipment, except the top tier where anything goes. Each tier also
will have progressively higher crowns cost to participate.

Final Verdict: Great

Spiral Knights is a whimsical, fun adventure into the unknown depths of a planet. The simple combat
system, coupled with a vast array of equipment, is engaging enough to bring players back. The major
downside of the game is the lack of in-game information, although the publisher maintains a wikia
page. With the unique way dungeons are created with random elements ensures no two adventures are
quite the same. With a positive grouping experience and friendly atmosphere, Spiral Knights offers a
casual, drama-free gaming experience. Even hardcore gamers will find plenty of things they can do.

Screenshots

Spiral Knights Screenshots

Videos

Spiral Knights Videos

Spiral Knights Gameplay Video

Click here to view the embedded video.

Links

Spiral Knights Links

Spiral Knights Official Site

System Requirements

Spiral Knights System Requirements

Windows & Linux

  • Windows XP, Vista or 7
  • Java 1.5
  • Display 1024×600
  • 1.3 GHz processor
  • Graphics: 64mb Video Memory. GeForce 5 series, ATI Radeon 8500. Latest video driver.
  • Memory: 512mb for Windows XP or 1gb for Windows Vista/7
  • 300MB Hard drive space

Mac

  • OSX 10.4
  • Java 1.5
  • Display 1024×600
  • 1.3 GHz processor
  • Graphics: 64MB Video Memory. GeForce 5 series, ATI 8500. Latest video driver.
  • 1GB memory (1000MB)
  • 300MB hard drive space

The Lord of the Rings Online

Posted: 07 May 2009 11:36 PM PDT

The Lord of the Rings Online is a 3D, fantasy MMORPG based on the now legendary LotR franchise. With characters from the movies and books, LotRO is sure to entice fans, but there’s plenty here for those unfamiliar with the story. A massive game world, an interesting PvP mode that allows gamers to play as monsters, and player housing are just some of the features this game has to offer.

the-lord-of-the-rings-online-overview

Publisher: Turbine
Playerbase: High
Graphics: High Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: Duels / Battlegrounds
Filesize: 6.6 GB / 9.5 GB (high rez)

Pros: +Well established backstory/lore. +Story-driven gameplay. +Player housing. +Rewarding quests. +Titles to earn and Hobbies to learn.

Cons: -Huge download and slow install. -Feels like a single player game at times. -PvE offers no challenge during early levels.

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Overview

The Lord of the Rings Online Overview

Lord of the Rings Online is a formerly pay-to-play MMORPG that is now free-to-play!  The game places a heavy emphasis on story and lore. Right from the start, players are thrown into the thick of things with interactive quests. Players are only given the option of choosing between the ‘good’ or ‘free’ races which include Humans (referred to simply as ‘Man’), Dwarves, Elves, and Hobbits but can play as monsters in special PvP battles starting at level 10. There are a total of nine classes available, though not all are available to all races. PvP in LotRO is a bit different than most MMORPGs; players fight in large battles either as special level 50 monsters or as their normal characters.

The 9 Classes Are:

Burgler - The rogue-like class of LotRO. Buglers fight with daggers and excel at debuffing and crowd control. They can deal heavy DPS as well but have now defense and health. Races: Man, Hobbit.

Captain - A class unique to the race of Man. Captains can use a large variety of armors and weapons. They control pets, have buffing abilities and are capable of tanking. Races: Man.

Champion - A melee DPS class that has several area of effect (AoE) moves. Champions can dual-wield and tank when they need to but are mainly concerned with dishing out damage. Races: Man, Elf, Dwarf.

Guardian - The main tanking class of Lord of the Rings Online. Guardians can use most weapon types and all armor types. They can deal moderate damage, but are most useful in absorbing damage for their allies. Races: Man, Elf, Dwarf, Hobbit.

Hunter - The classic archer archetype. Hunters deal heavy damage from a distance using bows, but have lower defense and health than the melee-oriented classes. All races can play as hunters.

Lore-Master - A multi-purpose spell casting class. Lore-Masters hurl spells from a safe distance, summon pets, and are capable of crowd control (CC.) Races: Man, Elf.

Minstrel - Minstrels sooth their allies wounds with enchanting songs and boost their fighting potential with powerful chants. Since they are the main supportive class in he game, the Minstrel class is available to all classes.

Rune-Keeper - The main offensive spell casters. They hurl powerful spells at their targets but are also capable of healing their allies. With low defense and health, they must be defended by their allies. Races: Elf, Dwarf.

Warden - A jack-of-all-trades melee class that uses medium armor and several weapon types, including throwing javelins. Wardens are mainly concerned with dealing damage, but can serve as off-tanks. Races: Man, Elf, Hobbit.

The Lord of the Rings Online Screenshots

The Lord of the Rings Online Featured Video

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Full Review

The Lord of the Rings Online Review

By Erhan Altay

The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy brought J.R.R Tolkien's classic,  high-fantasy franchise back into the mainstream. Following the release of each movie, new editions of the books and licensed video game tie-ins quickly hit the shelves. Most of these games were short-lived and mediocre at best, but one lives on and continues to prosper. The Lord of the Rings Online was officially released in 2007 by Turbine, the same company behind the early MMORPG hit Asheron's Call and the now free-to-play Dungeons and Dragons Online. The game enjoyed modest success as a subscription-based game, but after Turbine's success with the free-to -play relaunch of DDO, it was announced that The Lord of the Rings Online would be converted to a free-to-play MMORPG.

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A Game of Epic Proportions

LotrO is still a relatively new game, but it has already gone through several patch cycles and had two expansion packs released. Astonishingly, the client download is at least 6.6 GB. I say at least because a high res client is also available at over 9.5 GB. Even after the download, players have to go through a long installation and patching process so be sure to start it overnight. After getting all that settled and launching the game, players are welcomed by a fancy cinematic that outlines the game's lore. The Lord of the Rings Online takes place as the Fellowship are on their way to Mt. Doom. The Free People of Middle Earth are at war with the forces of Angmar, which is lead by the head of the Nazguls, the Witch King. Each of the four races (Men, Elves, Dwarves, and Hobbits) have a short intro video that players can watch during character creation. Each account has two free character slots though more can purchased via the cash shop. The game deviates from the movie/lore slightly by allowing caster classes (true magic users seem to be a rare and dying breed in the LotR canon) and making Hobbits powerful enough to compete with the other classes in combat. Players cannot chose 'evil' races, but can play as monsters in special PvP modes which we'll discuss later.

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The Free People

Appearance customization is robust.  Each race has several variants; players can be a dwarf from the Misty Mountains or from the White Mounts. A human character can hail from the realms of Rohan, Gondor, or other famous locales. Members of the same race from different locations have different hair and eye color options, which gives the game extra depth. Besides the regional features, there are the standard compliment of hair, face, lip, and eye style customization. The total number of races is rather limited (four) but the nine available classes should make up for it. Not all races can play as all classes, so refer to the overview section for additional information. The Warden and Rune Keeper classes are not available to free players and must be unlocked through the premium shop.  After character creation, each race starts in a unique area where they are given the option of running a tutorial instance. I'd suggest accepting this tutorial only because it has story elements that help 'immerse' players in the game world. LotRO puts great emphasis on story-driven progression, as there are many 'drama events' where players watch as special events occur. Even the quest and NPC dialogue is well written, especially compared to most other free-to-play MMORPGs.

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Questing All the Way

The first generation of MMORPGs had quests as optional side activities with only a few being required. Since the release and popularity of World of Warcraft, almost all games have adopted the quest-centric method. LotRO is no different, as players have a quest log which can hold up to forty quests; almost every NPC in town is likely to have an errand for you to run. Grinding is completely discouraged, as killing mobs yields little experience. It is by completing quests and handing them in that players have any chance of leveling. Questing is further encouraged by the 'deed' and 'title' features. By completing all available quests, players accomplish deeds, which grant special trait bonuses and titles. Some deeds are simple to complete while others take many hours to earn. The emphasis on quests and story mean you'll never be left wondering what to do next, but the trade off is that the game often feels like a single player venture.

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Training and Progression

Each level, players can train new skills (active or passive) at their class specific trainers located throughout Middle Earth. There are six stats in LotRO, but they increase on their own without player input. Besides skills and stats, each player has certain traits. There are several types of traits: racial, class, virtue, and legendary. These are obtained in a variety of methods, by completing deeds, reaching certain levels, or participating in PvP.  The trait system helps differentiate members of the same class and ensures that no two characters are identical. The experience rate is generally fast-paced; it took me around forty-five minutes to hit level 6 on my first character while goofing off. Originally, the max level was 50, but with the most recent expansions, it has been raised to 65. Starting at level 10, players can create a monster character that begins at the max level and fights against regular characters of level 40 or higher. This Monsters vs Free People PvP mode is one of LotRO's more interesting and unique gameplay features.

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Tech Specs

The Lord of the Rings Online is a very flexible game. As mentioned earlier, there are two available clients (standard and high resolution) as well as a multitude of graphic options to chose from. This means the game works on a wide range of machines and can look quite ugly or beautiful depending on the available computing power. If your machine can handle it, I highly recommend getting the high res client, as it really is a whole different experience. The game's soundtrack has also been hailed as a masterpiece. It received so much attention that Turbine has released a sixty-one track OST as a free download on their site. Fans can listen to all the tracks on RPGMusic.org

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You Shall Not Pay!

Overall, LotRO is what you would expect from the granddaddy of all fantasy franchises. It's more story-driven than most MMORPGs, but still encourages grouping with dozens of high level instances. Groups are called 'fellowships', while guilds are referred to as 'kinships', which adds some unique flavor to the experience. Players can perform special moves while in groups, but it isn't enough to entice early level group activity. You'll likely play on your own until the very high levels. Players don't have to know anything about Lord of the Rings to enjoy the game; it might even help to not be familiar with the franchise since that will prevent you from comparing your mental image of Middle Earth with the one presented in the game. Lord of the Rings Online went free -to-play in September 2010, but still supports an optional subscription. Players are also free to purchase premium features piece meal. Permanent stat bonuses, additional inventory slots, and other goods are all available in the cash shop. The game can be enjoyed without dropping a dime, but some premium items do give players large advantages. This isn't much of concern in LotRO since it is mainly a cooperative, PvE experience. PvP plays a much smaller role than in most MMORPGs.

Final Verdict: Great

The Lord of the Rings Online holds true to the franchise and offers a very linear, story-driven experience. There are always plenty of quests to do, new areas to explore, and deeds to accomplish. The inability to play as the 'evil' races is somewhat made up for with the ability to play as monsters in special PvP zones. LOTRO is a full-feature MMORPG with high production value. Now that it's free-to-play, everyone should check it out.

Screenshots

The Lord of the Rings Online Screenshots

Videos

The Lord of the Rings Online Videos

The Lord of the Rings Online Free to Play Commercial

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The Lord of the Rings Online Free to Play Trailer

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The Lord of the Rings Online Gameplay – First Look

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System Requirements

The Lord of the Rings Online Requirements

Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows  XP
CPU: Pentium 4 1.8 GHz or AMD Equivalent
RAM: 512 MB Free
HDD: 7.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: 64 MB GeForce 3 or ATI Radeon 8500

Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows XP / Vista
CPU: Pentium 4 2.8 Ghz / AMD Equivalent
RAM: 1024 MB or more
HDD: 10.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: 128MB Geforce 6800 / ATI Radeon X850 or better

Fiesta Online

Posted: 03 Mar 2009 04:42 PM PST

Fiesta Online (or just Fiesta for short) is a 3D fantasy MMORPG.  The game has cute, cell-shaded, anime inspired graphics and lively music.  The game’s entire world is vibrant and has an upbeat atmosphere.

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Publisher: Outspark
Playerbase: High
Graphics: Medium Quality
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: Low
PvP: PvP Zones
Filesize: ~1120 MB

Pros: +Beautiful cel-shaded graphics. +Great interface. +Good skill progression system. +Solid Item crafting / resource gathering systems. +Easy to learn.

Cons: -Only one stat point per level. -Repetitive combat. -Five starting classes.

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Overview

Fiesta Online Overview

Fiesta Online is another interesting MMORPG published by Outspark.  The game has three starting classes, each one of which has two job advancements; one at level 20 and the other at level 60.  The game’s most notable aspects are its attractive cel-shaded graphics and its solid item crafting system.  The game isn’t nearly as in-depth as some of the newer free MMORPGs, but Fiesta is still an all-around fun game well worth checking out.  The game’s four playable classes are:

Fighter- Fighters are the generic ‘warrior’ archetype in Fiesta.  They are extremely capable in melee combat and have the most hit points and armor in the game.  They are proficient with both one-handed and two-handed weapons.

Mage – Mages are the traditional offensive spell casting class in Fiesta. They can do a great deal of damage from a distance with their magic, but are extremely vulnerable in melee range.  They have low hit points and minimal defensive capabilities.

Cleric - Clerics are experts at supporting party members in combat. They have a variety of healing and buff skills which make them incredibly valuable to a party.  They are the weakest class in the game but when they with a group they’re extremely useful.

Archer – Archers are deadly with the bow.  They are fast and agile which allows them to deal damage rather quickly from a distance, but are vulnerable in melee combat.

Trickster – A dual-wielding class that is capable of dealing large amounts of damage in short bursts. They are melee oriented and have decent HP.

Fiesta Online Screenshots

Fiesta Online Featured Video

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Full Review

Fiesta Online Review

By Jaime Skelton

Launched in 2007 in the United States by Outspark, Fiesta is a classic and well-known free-to-play anime-style MMORPG. Similar in ways to Fly For Fun, Asda Story, Dream of Mirror Online, and Mabinogi, Fiesta’s cel-shaded graphics and simple gameplay introduced many players to free-to-play MMOs. After a few years in the MMO market, Fiesta Online is still going strong, and there’s a few good reasons why.

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Choosing your Path

Like any game, getting started in Fiesta Online requires going through character creation process. At the start of the game, you may choose only one of four classic classes – fighter, cleric, mage, or archer – and your gender. Character customization is extremely limited, offering only the chance to change your face, hair style, and hair color, each with only about three options each. For those concerned about the lack of classes, be reassured – each class becomes stronger with advanced classes at level 20, 60, and 100, the last of which offers a choice between two final specializations. Customization also comes in the ability to choose what extra stats are assigned each level in the "free stat" system.

A Helping Bird

Fiesta’s tutorial system is very limited and hands-on. For new players, a helpful NPC will offer a simple tip on picking up the first quests before sending them on their way. Tutorial tips come along instead with a bird-head alert in the upper right of the screen, offering explanations of each crucial game element, from combat and leveling to upgrading items and the mentor system. The alert also serves a dual purpose to let you know when new quests are available, and from whom. While the bird serves as a helper for those new to MMORPGs, many experienced players may find it aggravating, especially as it appears for each new character.

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The Classic Grind …

Like many MMORPGs, Fiesta features a quest system to help players level as well as earn useful rewards. However, leveling takes the style of older MMOs, in which grinding is more crucial to gaining experience than questing. In fact, new players will discover this element before level 5; quests are given at a level before they can be reasonably completed by a new player with no assistance. For this reason, many players choose to grind out their early levels and skip quests entirely, as early level rewards are purchasable from vendors.

and the Value of Friendship

The other option in starting off to the right foot, of course, is to have the help of friends, or at least, the kindness of passing strangers. A mentor-apprentice system exists for high level players to help out lowbies with bonuses for both, which can be one of the most efficient ways for a low level player to earn their experience. High level players may also choose to pass through and offer buffs or free potions and buff scrolls to low level players. Either of these ways can offer a powerful boost to players to make them strong enough to handle higher level mobs without being weak and risking death, or long rests after each enemy’s death. The final point to be made of this is that Fiesta is a game geared primarily for group efforts; solo players will struggle often without outside help or long grinds.

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Battling for Glory & Profit

Like many classic MMOs, Fiesta utilizes a skill-on-use system, in which players may both auto-attack enemies and input skills used on an action bar, as they choose and are available. Special HP and SP stones are available to use to restore health and spell points, respectively. In between fights, players can also use "Home" to rest in their mini-house (a mushroom on default), and regenerate their stats.

To earn money – used for buying gear and other useful items – players must sell what they find on the enemies they kill. While some "junk" is dropped, most of the items found are useful for the game’s crafting system, called Alchemy. Players can learn professions in this system as soon as they are created, and may choose two total professions from five – allowing them to produce enhancement stones, potions, scrolls, or change items into a higher or lower quality.

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Kingdom Quests & PvP

There’s more to do than grind, quest, and craft in Fiesta, of course. For players who prefer PvE, Kingdom Quests become available every two hours. Designed for players anywhere from level 5 up and separated into level spans, they can be joined individually or with a party. Each quest has its own victory conditions that can be achieved by the players inside within a set time limit. Each player inside will earn a present box if they are successful, and may earn anything from materials, scrolls, and potions to enhanced and rare equipment.

For PvP fans, once reaching level 20, several different zones become available for player versus player battling. Each city has its own battle zone, and several battlefields also become available. Guild wars are also available for those who are socially inclined to join a guild and participate in group PvP. The player versus player experience is only designed for showing off skill, and sometimes earning items and other perks like titles; experience is not rewarded.

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Final Verdict: Good

Fiesta is easy to get into, with plenty for players to do in both PvE and PvP. It makes a particularly good introduction to free-to-play MMORPGs, with an active and helpful player base and plenty of regular maintenance from its publisher. What holds Fiesta back mostly is its grinding nature: any player who hates grinding is going to find Fiesta boring or frustrating. If you don’t mind a balance between grinding and quests, and enjoy a game that rewards cooperative gameplay, Fiesta has a lot to offer.

Screenshots

Fiesta Online Screenshots

Videos

Fiesta Online Videos

Fiesta Online Character Creation

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Fiesta Online High Level Video

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Fiesta Online Official Trailer

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Fiesta Online Boss Battle

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Fiesta Online Gameplay Footage

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System Requirements

Fiesta Online System Requirements

Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 2000
CPU: 1.6 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent AMD processor
RAM: 512MB Free
HDD: 3.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce MX or equivalent

Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows XP / Vista / 2000
CPU: 2.0 GHz Pentium 4 or equivalent AMD processor
RAM: 1GB Free
HDD: 3.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce TI or Radeon 9200

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