General Gaming Article

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• Best PC Part I Ever Spent My Hard Earned Cash On Contest
• Facebook Says "Smoking Gun" Evidence Proves Ceglia to be Fraud
• Pwnie Awards Handed Out, (Most) Winners Cover Face In Shame
• How To Remove Your Personal Information From Background Check Websites
• Several US ISPs Hijacking And Redirecting Their Customers' Search Queries
• Cool Site of the Week: Zooniverse
• XFX Radeon HD 6990 Review
• Nvidia Confirms Kepler GPU Delayed Until 2012
• TDK Announces Upcoming Launch of Industrial SSD Line
• Mach Xtreme Tries Selling Street Cred with Urban Series DDR3 Modules

Best PC Part I Ever Spent My Hard Earned Cash On Contest Posted: 05 Aug 2011 04:51 PM PDT Earlier this week, we asked y'all to send us photos of the best PC or PC-related item you've ever spent your hard earned cash on. Well, after much time sorting through all the entries, sizing photos, uploading photos and randomly picking a winner, we've got the list of the things you readers are most pleased to have purchased, with the original reader captions included. Here they are - the sixty-one items that you, our readers, can enthustastically point at and proudly say you're glad you spent your ultility/grocery/bail money on. Apparently, lots of you own (and fanatically love) your R.A.T. mouses, and some of you shell out plenty of skrilla on your displays. The winner of the ThermalTake Shock One Gaming Headset is in there too - many hearty congrats to Rafi Jarjous (please send the webmaster your address Rafi!). Click through to see what else made it in!

Facebook Says "Smoking Gun" Evidence Proves Ceglia to be Fraud Posted: 05 Aug 2011 02:29 PM PDT When New York resident Paul Ceglia made the shocking claim last year that he owned half of Facebook, there was a palpable mixture interest and disbelief on the Internet. After some legal wrangling, Facebook has now said they have the "smoking gun" proving that Ceglia fabricated the claims. As for what it is, Facebook isn't saying. Ceglia was ordered last month to hand over his computers to Facebook so they could be examined. Ceglia claimed to have emails and contracts proving that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg signed over control of the company to him. It was the data on his computer that has convinced Facebook's investigators that Ceglia is a fraud. The next hearing is scheduled for August 17, where Facebook will seek to make the evidence public. Facebook is valued at nearly $70 billion on the private market. Do you think Ceglia will see any of that?

Pwnie Awards Handed Out, (Most) Winners Cover Face In Shame Posted: 05 Aug 2011 11:57 AM PDT The Black Hat conference is a great place to go if you want to learn how to, say, hack an insulin pump or get around the traffic-shaping practices of your ISP. But Black Hat's about more than a sharing of ideas; it's also a time of celebration. Well, maybe not if you're one of the companies who win one of those non-coveted Pwnie awards, but for everybody else, at least. Can you guess who won the Pwnie for the Most Epic Fail of the past year? C'mon, sure you can. Yeah, you're right. Sony won the award in a landslide! In fact, after watching the PlayStation Network burn down and continue smoldering for close to a month, TG Daily reports that no other company was even up for the award. All five nomination slots went directly to Sony. Unsurprisingly, nobody from Sony stepped forward to claim the award. They hand out Pwnies for other things, too: Yahoo! News reports that the Iranian nuclear program-halting Stuxnet – which got mentioned in one of our features yesterday – won the Pwnie for Epic Ownage, pulling ahead of a fierce group of nominees that included Anonymous, Lulzsec and Bradley Manning of Wikileaks fame. RSA won the Pwnie for Lamest Vendor Response after they told their customers that it wasn't a big deal that their SecurID tokens were compromised. Famous iPhone and PS3 hacker Geohot won the Pwnie for Best Song for the rap he posted on YouTube after finding out he was being sued by Sony. Check it out if you want. The awards were unveiled on August third; you can check out a more complete list of winners on the Pwnies website.

How To Remove Your Personal Information From Background Check Websites Posted: 05 Aug 2011 11:28 AM PDT After our social media background check, are you afraid of what a future employer may find out about you? Rest easy as we have some tips to help you remove your personal information from more than a dozen online background check websites. How Do These Sites Get My Information? There are hundreds of online background check websites that gather information on people. In the US, these online databases are populated with information from public records like real estate transactions, arrest records, court cases, marriages, divorces, etc. Before the Internet, investigators would have to go to the local town hall or the state records office and request this public information in person. Now with databases a dime a dozen, most of this information is readily accessible if you know where to look. A background check website will both mine these public databases and obtain demographic information from marketing companies. If you're young, you're paper trail is likely small, but if you're older, the amount of publicly available information can be staggering. What They Know About You Most of this information is not as salacious as those party pics from the Bahamas, but you may not want your future boss finding out you recently went through a messy divorce. Before you start the removal process, you'll need to find out what information these companies have, if any. We used Social Intelligence for our background check, but there's a dozen or more big players that focus primarily on public information and not your social networks. It's these public databases that we'll look at here. You'll need to go to the following sites and search for your name, address, and age.     * Intelius.com     * Acxiom.com     * MyLife.com     * ZabaSearch.com     * Spoke.com     * BeenVerified.com     * PeekYou.com     * USSearch.com     * PeopleFinders.com     * PeopleLookup.com     * PeopleSmart.com     * PrivateEye.com     * WhitePages.com     * USA-People-Search.com     * Spokeo.com     * PublicRecordsNow.com     * DOBSearch.com     * Radaris.com Compiled by pibbman, these sites are considered the major players and have information that is scraped by smaller sites. Once you confirm a site has your information, mark it off and prepare to move onto the next step which is the removal process. How Do I Purge My Information From These Sites? Here's the hard part. Removing your information won't be easy as there's no one place that'll remove everything for you. Each site has different contact information and different procedures for removal. Some require you to fill out an Internet form, others require you to call and some even ask you to fax your driver's license to confirm your identity. If you send in your driver's license, make sure you black out all information except your name, address and DOB. Only give these companies the bare minimum they need to identify you and nothing more. This contact list compiled by LawyerCT will help you get started. Be prepared to spend a lot of time pouring through these websites, compiling the information they need and sending it to them. They don't make it easy and you'll be irritated by emails that bounce and fax numbers that don't answer. Relax and drink a cold beer while you do this, it'll help. If you can't stand this process, there are record removal companies that'll do this on your behalf for a fee. These companies may not be 100% effective, though, as some background check websites won't honor a removal request from a third-party. You and only you can ask for your information to be removed. I Did It, It's Done, Now What? Breathe easier knowing you have erased some, if not all, of your public information from these aggregators. This is only the beginning, though. You'll need to keep checking back to make sure new information does not appear. Try to keep yourself out of their radar. Don't get arrested or fight a legal battle. And if you get married, be ready to start this process all over again.     Gizmodo is the world's most fun technology website, focused on gadgets and how they make our lives better, worse, and more absurd.

Several US ISPs Hijacking And Redirecting Their Customers' Search Queries Posted: 05 Aug 2011 11:18 AM PDT What do you expect to come up when you search for a term in Google or Bing? Page after page of relevant results, right? Wrong, buster – at least if you're a customer of an ISP that engages in search query redirection. Late last night, a report surfaced that reveals that several ISPs, with the help of a company called PaxFire, have secretly been hijacking your traffic when you search for a certain major keywords. Why? Revenue, of course. NewScientist broke the news, and the EFF has chimed in with tons of additional information. Hints of redirected traffic first surfaced earlier this year, when two research papers pointed out that all or most of the traffic directed at Bing, Yahoo! and Google were being redirected by some ISPs. Two separate investigations, conducted by the EFF and the ICSI Networking group, unveiled that HTTP proxies operated "either directly by Paxfire, or by the ISPs using web proxies provided by Paxfire ," are the ones behind the deed. The redirecting only kicked in when major keywords, like "Apple," "Dell" and "Bloomingdales," were searched for. According to the reports, Paxfire selectively hijacks the traffic and redirects it to a marketing company, which instantly reroutes it to the homepage of the retail company being searched for. It happens without notification or consent of the user, and everybody along the chain gets a cut of the advertising commission – again, except for the user. If you search for "Kindle," you're sent to Amazon – no matter what the intent behind your search is. And Paxfire's privacy -- ha! -- policy says that may retain records of a users' queries. Does that apply for people who don't know their traffic is being hijacked? Want names? We got names. The EFF and ISCI identified the following ISPs as actively involved in search hijacking: Cavalier, Cincinnati Bell, Cogent, Frontier, Hughes, IBBS, Insight Broadband, Megapath, Paetec, RCN, Wide Open West, XO Communication, Fuse, and DirecPC. Additionally, Charter and Iowa Telecom hijacked search traffic in the past, but stopped within the past year. The shady ISPs have several million customers between them. Edit: Ars Technica is reporting on a similar finding by a Microsoft/Polytechnic Inst. of NY team. They've added Spacenet, Onvoy and SDN to the list of offenders and say that 2 percent of all US Internet users are affected by the nefarious practice. The EFF calls out several of the marketing affiliates profiting from the search hijacking: "The affiliate programs involved include Commission Junction, the Google Affiliate Network, LinkShare, and Ask.com." Note that the Google Affiliate Network isn't Google itself – in fact, NewScientist says Google complained to ISPs about the traffic hijacking earlier this year. Check out the NewScientist article and the EFF post for lots more information about the issue, especially if you're a customer of one of those ISPs. The EFF recommends running a Netalyzr test to see if you're affected by the problem. They also recommend installing the HTTPS Everywhere extension if you're a Firefox user; the encryption will prevent selective hijacking from occurring. By the way, today, Reese Richman, a NY law firm, filed a class-action suit against both Paxfire and one of the offending ISPs, NewScientist reports.

Cool Site of the Week: Zooniverse Posted: 05 Aug 2011 10:58 AM PDT Playing host to an infinite number of cat videos, game demo downloads, poker portals and celebrity gossip sites as it does, it's easy to forget that the internet can also be a bastion of knowledge, education and innovation. Fortunately for web surfers interested in leveraging the online universe for more than rocking a fews choice memes, Zooniverse has got you covered. A bastion of citizen science, discovery and education, Zooniverse invites individuals from all walks of life to take part in scientific endeavors that stand to benefit us all. After signing up for an account, users have the opportunity to assist scientists from a wide variety of disciplines to wrangle the massive amounts of data they deal with as part of their work. Currently, research topics include searching for planets outside of our solar system, mapping our galaxy, recovering weather data from the turn of the 20th century, attempting to capture a supernova on film and transcribing 1000 year old writings of the citizens of Oxyrhynchu. If those sorts of things won't make for some interesting dinner conversation, nothing will. All that's required to take part in most of the citizen science projects hosted by the site is a willingness to offer up some of your free time and the desire to take part in a search for knowledge that in the days to come could help to shape how we understand our world, or even our universe. Be sure to check back every Friday for another edition of Maximum PC's Cool Site of the Week.

XFX Radeon HD 6990 Review Posted: 05 Aug 2011 10:37 AM PDT Just how good is this rare beast of a card? When we took a look at the reference version of AMD's Radeon HD 6990, we found a board that was impressive on a number of fronts, though not all the impressions were positive. The HD 6990 builds in two full Radeon HD 6970 GPUs onto a single board, each with its own 2GB of frame buffer. In our initial testing, performance looked to be very fast, but the reference board was also pretty noisy under load. So we waited to get a shipping board from one of AMD's many board partners in order to formally review a real product. And we waited. And waited some more. (Bear in mind that availability of Nvidia's GTX 590 isn't much better.) At last, XFX shipped us an actual retail Radeon HD 6990, so we're finally able to render a verdict on AMD's killer card. Before we dive into benchmarks and observations, it's worth recapping the specs and features of the card, and its GPUs. This card packs two HD 6970 GPUs, 4GB of fast GDDR5, and one noisy cooling fan. The Radeon HD 6990 has five total display connectors, though it does cut back on the variety compared to the HD 6970, with four Mini DisplayPort connectors and a single dual-link DVI connector. XFX includes a pair of Mini DP–to–single-link DVI adapters (one passive, one active) plus one Mini DP–to-HDMI adapter in the box. With two GPUs and 4GB of GDDR5, this is a big card—over 12 inches long. It also requires two 8-pin PCIe power connectors. It's also worth looking at core clock differentials. Nvidia reduces the core clock speed of its dual-GPU GTX 590 card by more than 20 percent, from 772MHz to 607MHz. By contrast, AMD lowers the core clock speed of the HD 6990's GPUs by only about 6 percent. It could be that AMD's GPUs are more power efficient, or simply that AMD is being more aggressive about its overall design. Given the HD 6990's noise level under load, we suspect a little of both. As with the reference card, the XFX card has that overclocking mini-DIP switch that allows you to push the clock speed up to 880MHz—the same core clock as a single-GPU HD 6970 card. However, XFX puts a giant yellow caution sticker over this switch. Given that rather dire warning, we tested the card at its default 830MHz clock speed. Now that we understand a bit more about the key features, let's look at performance. AMD's HD 6990 wins seven of our benchmarks, ties in one, and loses to Nvidia's GTX 590 in the remaining three. The 6990's maximum power draw is marginally lower. All of the games we tested support CrossFireX; if you're running an older game that doesn't support AMD's dual-GPU technology, you'll only see the performance of a single HD 6970. However, AMD's done a ton of work with its drivers, and all the current-generation games we've tested get a solid performance boost. On the other hand, the XFX HD 6990 is considerably louder at full throttle than the GTX 590. Clearly, AMD has some work to do with its cooling solution to reduce noise levels. Or maybe AMD is just pushing those 40nm-based 6970 chips a little too hard, even at the lower clock speeds. As you might suspect given the fan noise, the HD 6990 gets quite hot at full load, so you'll definitely want a case with robust airflow. The bottom line: XFX is shipping the fastest graphics card you can buy—that is, if you can find one. Availability is still very tight, and if you order one, expect it to be backordered for several weeks. It's also quite hot and quite loud, so be aware of that before buying. And all that performance comes at a price—the HD 6990 is also the most expensive card you can get, with prices ranging from $700-$800 depending upon the seller. Still, if you're really looking for raw speed in a single graphics card—noise, heat, and price be damned—the HD 6990 is the frontrunner. $700-800, www.xfxforce.com

Nvidia Confirms Kepler GPU Delayed Until 2012 Posted: 05 Aug 2011 10:21 AM PDT Nothing gets PC gamers drooling like the prospect of a new and improved GPU. If that's true, Nvidia fans must be suffering from a serious case of dry mouth. It's been almost a year since the company announced a GPU road map that promised to launch the new 28nm Kepler in the second half of 2011. Well, it's the second half of 2011, and we haven't heard much about Kepler since. Maybe it was an embarrassed silence; today, the company confirmed that Kepler won't be hitting the shelves until 2012. Rumors about a delay have been swirling around the Internet for a while now. We reported on it early last month, in fact. At the time, the rumored-but-now-confirmed delay was chalked up to poor production yields. Today brings word of an official delay. "Although we will have early silicon this year, Kepler-based products are actually scheduled to go into production in 2012. We wanted to clarify this so people wouldn't expect product to be available this year," Nvidia spokesman Ken Brown told X-bit Labs. So what else does Nvidia have to say about the pushed-back date? Nothing. Ken Brown didn't touch on the production yield rumors or offer any other sort of explanation. Delays seem to be par for the course for Nvidia's new GPUs – Fermi, Kepler's predecessor, suffered from repeated delays itself. Could pushing back Keplar have much of an effect on the scheduled 2013 release of Maxwell, the next GPU on Nvidia's road map?

TDK Announces Upcoming Launch of Industrial SSD Line Posted: 05 Aug 2011 09:36 AM PDT TDK is evidently stoked about its SDG3B solid state drive line, so much that it's announcing the launch of these industrial SSDs a month before release. Dubbed SDG3B, these SATA 3Gbps SSDs come equipped with TDK's GBDriver RS3 controller ICs. The focus here is on data reliability instead of balls-to-the-wall performance, and underscoring that point is the complete absence of cache. Even without any cache, TDK says the SDG3B line supports an effective read speed of 160MB/s. Write speeds are even more pedestrian, with versions using single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash memory rated at up to 60MB/s, and multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory-based drives just 25MB/s. What the SDG3B drives lack in performance, they make up for in other areas, such as auto-recovery functions, a power interruption tolerance algorithm, ECC function scalable to 44-bit/sector, an auto refresh function to defend against power supply problems, an advanced static wear leveling function and data randomizer (both developed by TDK), SMART support, and 128-bit AES encryption. These drives are intended for industrial equipment and embedded devices, such as thin client PCs, tablets, automotive applications, office equipment, karaoke machines, and so forth. Image Credit: TDK

Mach Xtreme Tries Selling Street Cred with Urban Series DDR3 Modules Posted: 05 Aug 2011 09:16 AM PDT If Ali G had any interest in owning a computer, we'd be willing to bet ten pounds of bling he'd insist on Mach Xtreme's new Urban Series DDR3 DRAM, if not for his PC than at least fashioned into some sort of jewelry. These funky looking modules sport regular sized heatsinks with graffiti style graphics, and if you're into that sort of thing, this will probably be the coolest memory you've ever seen. Mach Xtreme's Urban Series ship as 4GB modules, either individually or part of an 8GB dual-channel kit. They're rated at 1333MHz at 1.5V with 9-9-9-27 timings. Getting back to the graffiti style heatsink, Mach Xtreme claims it's made of "specially imported top grade Japanese aluminum," as opposed to, well, we're not entirely sure. Maybe all those RAM kits using non-imported top grade Japanese aluminum that have a tendency to, well, we're not sure of that either. In any event, Mach Xtreme says it hand tests each module, where the benefit is a bit more obvious (less chance of receiving a dud). No word on price or availability. Image Credit: Mach Xtreme

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MMO News

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• Galaxy Online & 2029 Online shutting down
• Voyage Century adds new instance
• S4 League Launches Season 2
• Team Fortress 2 Gameplay – MMOHut Community Event
• Spiral Knights adds new PvP arena
• Closed beta revealed for Planet War
• Eden Eternal
• Shaiya
• Fiesta Online
• Runes of Magic

Galaxy Online & 2029 Online shutting down Posted: 05 Aug 2011 04:36 PM PDT IGG has announced that it will be shutting down Galaxy Online and 2029 Online. Galaxy Online’s servers will shut down fully on August 25, while 2029 Online shut down its servers last week. The shutdowsn are due majorly to the launch and success of the newer version of the game, Galaxy Online II, available via client or browser-based versions. Players will be able to transfer their Galaxy Online Mall Points into Galaxy Online II tarting on August 25, up until September 26. Players can also claim a special newbie pack as thanks for their participation in Galaxy Online. IGG also publishes Wonderland Online and Tales of Fantasy. Galaxy Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: Dear Galaxy Online Player, First of all, please allow us to show our gratitude for your continued support for Galaxy Online! Since the Closed Beta test started in February of 2009, Galaxy Online has been very popular with all manner of players for its fun features. Nevertheless, the march of progress continues, and with the success of Galaxy Online II, we will soon be closing down Galaxy Online permanently. This includes all servers and services offered for Galaxy Online. The closing of the Galaxy Online and its servers will be done slowly, starting on July 29th EDT (GMT-4). We hope you will continue to support us by playing Galaxy Online II, which is enjoying immense success on Facebook and in client-based form. We are especially proud of the recent debut of the browser-based version of Galaxy Online II ( http://galaxy.igg.com/index.php) which just opened on June 22nd. We invite you to come give the sequel a shot, and we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results. The following details the schedule we will be using for the shutdown of Galaxy Online. 1. At 5:00am EDT (GMT-4) on August 5th, we will remove all functionality for activating Galaxy Online and purchasing Galaxy Online Mall Points. 2. At 5:00am EDT (GMT-4) on August 25th, we will close all Galaxy Online servers and the official forum permanently. At 5:00am EDT (GMT-4) on September 26th, the related mail services, Live Support and any other customer services will be closed. 3. At 5:00am EDT (GMT-4) on August 25th, we will release a new webpage specifically for transferring Galaxy Online Mall Points into Galaxy Online II. Each player will receive 100 additional Galaxy Online II Mall Points when transferring Galaxy Online Mall Points into Galaxy Online II. 4. At 5:00am EDT (GMT-4) on September 26th, we will close the page for transferring Galaxy Online Mall Points into Galaxy Online II. Note: On the Galaxy Online Mall Points exchange page, players will also be able to sign up for Galaxy Online II and claim an exclusive Newbie Pack. As we prepare to say goodbye to Galaxy Online, we want to say thanks to everyone who helped us pioneer one of the best space strategy games ever developed. You all made the success of this game possible and we will always appreciate it. IGG official site: http://www.IGG.com Galaxy Online official site: http://galaxy.igg.com Dear 2029 players, It has been an interesting 3 years since the official 2029 Online. We’ve seen so many wonderful things in that time and players have embarked on many memorable adventures. Unfortunately, 2029 needs a major overhaul to take care of the many bugs and flaws in the current design and our contract with the developers has expired. This means that we will be ending all 2029 operations, and all player data will be deleted. Termination Schedule Time Event July 13th Close FO points exchange July 14th Everything in the Item Mall is available now for 0 points July 22nd Close 2029 server August 23rd Close related 2029 customer services (Live Support, Email) August 23rd Close 2029 official website and forum To compensate players for the support they’ve given us over the past 3 years, we’ve prepared some special compensation as we wrap up this game. 1.      After the 2029 points exchange closes on July 13th, Everything in the Item Mall is available now for 0 points!!! Have a blast as the clock ticks down on 2029 Online!! 2.      We are recommending that after 2029 closes, players take a look at our other games and being a part of the best gaming community in the world. If strategy games are what you like, then we suggest giving Galaxy Online 2 a try. It is a space-based strategy game that has been optimized for play on Facebook and has been quickly growing in popularity since its debut a short time ago. As long as you are a current 2029 player with 2029 points, we will also be offering great deals on exchanging these points for GO2 points. A.     Until 11:59pm, May 18th, 10% of all current 2029 points will be automatically transferred to GO2 points.Click the jump to transfer points now B.     Until 11:59pm, July 12th,  Right now players can transfer the rest of their 2029 points into GO2 points at a rate of (2029) 1: 1.1 (GO2)Click the jump to transfer points now. C.      Even more exciting is the large points bonus our VIPs will get by switching to GO2. To check out the Galaxy Online II homepage, visit here. 3.      After the 2029 server closes on July 22nd, all remaining players will have the rest of their 2029 points automatically converted to IGG points at a rate of 1: 1.5. (These IGG points cannot be transferred into Galaxy Online 2 points.) These points can then be converted into game points for any IGG games that catches your fancy ( Games on Facebook aren’t included ) ! All 2029 points that have been converted will be deposited into players IGG accounts by 12:00am on July 25th. 5.      All VIP players in 2029 will continue to enjoy their IGG VIP service benefits. Visit our VIP page for more on how to become a VIP. Thanks again to all you passionate and devoted fans of 2029 Online. We hope you find another IGG game that captures your imagination like 2029 did. To see the full lineup of IGG games available, check out our official website here. IGG 2029 Online Team

Voyage Century adds new instance Posted: 05 Aug 2011 04:17 PM PDT Voyage Century released an update today.  It introduces a new instance  in the Strait of Gibratlar.  The instance features two hostile camps with cannons, ships with high durability and movement speed, and various waves required to advance.  If successful, players can expect to receive great rewards and praise. Voyage Century is published by IGG, which also publishes Tales of Pirates II and Angels Online. Voyage Century Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: Voyage Century: Brave the New Strait of Gibraltar Instance The latest update for Voyage Century Online (http://vc.igg.com) features a new instance set in the dangerous waters of the Strait of Gibraltar. The long and narrow Strait of Gibraltar is the only way for ships to get from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic, so naturally the area is often plagued by pirates. If you can never get enough action on the high seas, then you'll want to set a course for this challenging new instance. History After Isabella I of Castilla married Ferdinand II of Aragon, their united lands became the kingdom of Spain. The Muslims of the Iberian Peninsula were compressed into Granada and the strait was gradually taken by the Spanish. As the Ottoman Empire grew in strength, Muslims tried to retake the Iberian Peninsula and hired mercenary pirates to rob ships in the Strait. The pirate king Red Beard attempted to rescue Granada while based in Algiers in northern Africa, so Christian forces fought both Muslims and pirates in the area. Gibraltar Instance The entrance to the new Gibraltar Instance is in the Strait. The Gibraltar Battlefield is long and narrow. The two hostile camps are located on opposing sides. Each is guarded by cannons, so ships that get too close will be fired upon. In the center of the Strait, the Ottoman (or Osmanlis) forces attack from the left side using heavy flagships and many other types of ships. Some of these ships have very high durability and movement speed. A player's ship can be destroyed quickly as the result of grappling tactics. There are often 3 or 4 enemy ships each round, so even if a player destroys one, his ship may still succumb to the others. If players successfully defeat 10 Osmanlis ships, they can enter the Oamanlis camp. Next they must destroy another 3 enemy flagships and break through 3 groups of pirate ships. Then there comes the real challenge, as players encounter General Bali Basha leading more pirates from his Allah Ship. Players who prevail against these odds will earn rewards and praise for their boldness. Will you be one of the victors, or will you be forced to abandon ship? Log in today and find out! Visit the official Voyage Century site at http://vc.igg.com for the latest news and updates. Visit http://www.igg.com to learn more about IGG's growing family of games.

S4 League Launches Season 2 Posted: 05 Aug 2011 04:03 PM PDT S4 League has launched Season 2, “Iron Eyes,” on its servers today. The new update adds two new maps, Skyline and Iron Heart, that feature brand new aerial based combat.  A new siege game mode is also introduced, which encourages players to capture enemy bases while supporting their allies.  The update also adds new costumes. S4 League is published by alaplaya, which also publishes Avalon Heroes and Land of Chaos Online. S4 League Gameplay Screenshot Source: S4 League: Season 2 "Iron Eyes" Is Live, Locked and Loaded Latest Expansion Features New Maps and a Strategic New Gameplay Mode MUNICH – August 1, 2011 alaplaya, the leading international free-to-play gaming portal, today announced that S4 League: Season 2 "Iron Eyes," the expansion to its popular online third-person shooter S4 League, is now available for download. This action-packed expansion is the second installment in a series of major updates, and introduces new maps, costumes, and an action-packed new game mode. To see Iron Eyes in action, check out the Season 2 trailer online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghjnVRAMPAI. This latest installment encourages players to use relentless force in destroying their opponents. New maps, such as "Skyline" and "Iron Heart," feature dangerous aerial gameplay and unruly nuclear reactors that will weed out the weak and reward the strong. The new expansion also introduces an all-out team warfare game mode called "Siege" Mode. In the midst of a chaotic gunfight, players must capture the enemies' base, killing opponents and assisting allies to acquire the points need to claim victory. For more details about S4 League: Season 2, as well as info on how to join the fight today, check out the official S4 League website at http://s4.alaplaya.net/

Team Fortress 2 Gameplay – MMOHut Community Event Posted: 05 Aug 2011 03:56 PM PDT To Learn More About the Game Check out our Team Fortress 2 Page. Team Fortress 2 is a MMOFPS developed by Valve, long ago released as a full-feature game, and now released to the free to play market. The players play the role of one of 9 classes divided in two teams (RED and BLU) as they fight over a variety of objective in a plethora of different modes. Team Fortress 2 holds the reputation of being one of the best online FPS currently available, and boasts a complete item and crafting system to boot. Its cartoon-y action is fast, deadly, and incredibly addictive! To learn more about Team Fortress 2 check out the official MMOHut Team Fortress 2 page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Spiral Knights adds new PvP arena Posted: 05 Aug 2011 03:52 PM PDT Spiral Knights has launched a new player versus player mode, available in King Krogmo’s Coliseum. In the Coliseum, players can duel each other for a chance to win special Krogmo Coins, which can then be traded in for valuable prizes usable in PvP or PvE. For a limited time, players who complete their first battle will earn a Spiral Bombhead Mask. A special $25 bundle is also on sale and includes Crystal Energy, unique costume items, and starter items to help players in the Coliseum. Spiral Knights is published by SEGA. Spiral Knights Gameplay Screenshot Source: Three Rings Adds (Literally) Explosive PvP to Spiral Knights New PvP Event the First of Many Coming to Spiral Knights SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON – August 4, 2011 SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe, Ltd. today announced that a brand-new Player vs. Player mode has been added to Spiral Knights™, the retro-inspired multiplayer action-RPG created by renowned developer Three Rings. Starting today, brave knights can duel each other in a newly-sanctioned arena under the gaze of King Krogmo, with the winners of these intense battles coming away with fantastic in-game prizes. To commemorate the new addition, SEGA and Three Rings will be awarding the Spiral Bombhead Mask to all players who complete their first PvP battle, regardless of the match's outcome. A special package, consisting of Crystal Energy, unique costumes, and more, will be available for sale for a limited time. To download Spiral Knights and visit the Clockworks of Cradle today on PC and Mac, visit the Steam store. King Krogmo's Coliseum is a vacation getaway for monsters all across the land, boasting a superb resort for fiends who wish to take a break from terrorizing the adventurous knights of Haven. Within the Coliseum, knights from all over The Clockworks battle each other in action-packed duels, with the winners being rewarded special tokens called Krogmo Coins by King Krogmo himself. In turn, these tokens can be used to claim rare and powerful prizes, which can be used either in the arena or in perilous dungeons. For a limited time, players can also purchase a special bundle package of goodies valued at $45 for just $24.95, which includes: 9,500 Crystal Energy Unique costume helm, Plasmatech Bombhead Mask Unique costume armor, Plasmatech Demo Suit 5 Mist Tanks 10 Krogmo Coins 5 Krogmo Coin Boosters 1 commemorative artifact For more information on the world of Spiral Knights, please visit: http://www.spiralknights.com.

Closed beta revealed for Planet War Posted: 05 Aug 2011 03:31 PM PDT Planet War, YooGames’ newest browser-based space-MMO, has announced its closed beta will begin on August 9. Planet War is a real-time strategy game, where players can build spaceships and explore the galaxy, discover alien civilizations, learn new technologies, build alliances, and use military and diplomatic prowess to expand their territory. The closed beta will feature multiple events, not yet announced. YooGames also publishes Batheo and Warrior Saga. Planet War Gameplay Screenshot Source: YOOGAMES ANNOUNCES THE CLOSED BETA DATES FOR EPIC SPACE MMO, PLANET WAR Starting August 9th Players Can Experience The Futuristic Real-Time Strategy Of Planet War Shanghai, CHINA – August 5, 2011 – YooGames, an international publisher of online web titles, today revealed the start date for the closed beta for its newest title, Planet War.  An epic space game with no downloads or additional software required, players can hop right into the fun by visiting http://www.yoogames.com/planetwar/ and playing in the closed beta beginning next week on August 9th. The closed beta test will be celebrated with multiple events which will be announced soon. Planet War draws its inspiration from famous sci-fi novels and heroes, in hopes to break away from the traditional ancient time periods of similar games and to create a futuristic strategy game to appeal to the many sci-fi fans of the galaxy. This real-time browser game focuses on allowing the player to develop his military strategies as well as their political strategies to get ahead. In Planet War, players build aircraft carriers to navigate the stars and Milky Way to explore and learn of the ancient alien civilizations. Players can explore the alien technology and build alliances with many alien races to help develop the vast galaxy. Players can build space fleets continuously, explore the unknown star systems with other players and npc’s, and navigate different foreign policies with the purpose of achieving common development and the growth of the Milky Way. To sign up for the closed beta test, players can visit the official site at http://www.yoogames.com/planetwar/

Eden Eternal Posted: 21 Jun 2011 06:31 PM PDT Eden Eternal is a 3D anime inspired fantasy MMORPG where players become mysterious heroes with an extraordinary ability to wield magic. Start your adventure as a brave Warrior or Magician on a mission to save the world. Fight ferocious beasts, kill assassins, and battle other players in duels. Switch freely between 15 different playable classes. Tackle challenging quests while discovering the hidden secrets of the past. Help restore peace to the shattered utopia known as Eden. Publisher: Aeria Games Playerbase: High Graphics: High Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Medium PvP: Arena / Duels / Guild Battles Filesize: 1.74GB Pros: +Unique Class System. +Great graphics. +Excellent interface. +Fast-paced combat. +Pet option. +Soulmate dating feature. +Guild towns. Cons: -Shop items limited. –Lots of grinding. –Each class only has a handful of skills. –Generic storyline. –Gameplay can be repetitive at times. Overview Eden Eternal Overview Eden Eternal is a fantasy themed MMORPG that transports players into a world in desperate need of harmony. After several races migrated to a newly discovered continent for a fresh start they quickly found out from firsthand experience that old habits are hard to break. A disagreement about the direction their future should take erupted into firestorm ignited previous racial hatred and tension. A devastating war has left Eden in turmoil. Players step into the shoes of a mysterious hero with magical powers. Although their origin is still unknown they must take on the role of an Eternal Guardian fighting the evil plaguing the lands. Destroy an assortment of monsters and local beasts. Kill fierce boss creatures and other players. Complete challenging quests. Find a Soulmate or adopt a pet to assist in your journey. Similar to other X-Legend and Aeria Games' titles like Grand Fantasia and Kitsu Saga Eden Eternal has cool anime style graphics. Players are not limited to one class per character. As they progress new classes are unlocked which can be switched at random. All players start out as a human Warrior or Magician. There are 15 unlockable classes depending on a player's level. Heroic Traits – Leadership, Guardian, Apostle, Commando, Sanctum, Maverick, Adventurer, and Crack Shot. Classes: Warrior (no level requirement) – They are skilled soldiers equipped with heavy armor in the form of swords and axes. Their ability to easily take out opponents and yield high level of damage make them worthy adversaries. Warlock (level 55) – Warlocks borrow their power from the darkness. Their arsenal of magical tricks is overwhelming often leaving enemies quivering for mercy. Templar (level 60) – Deeply rooted in their religious beliefs these spiritual warriors call of the power of God to punish the evil terrorizing the lands. Ranger (level 65) – Rangers are very meticulous in their actions. They analyze opponents' weaknesses and execute blows that will do the most amount of damage. This class has mastered delivering devastating attacks from afar. Eden Eternal Screenshots Eden Eternal Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Eden Eternal Review By Ange Perdu Eden Eternal is a 3D anime style fantasy MMORPG set on a war torn continent where players become mysterious beings with incredible magical powers. Heroes serve as Eternal Guardians fighting the evil consuming the once peaceful world. Complete challenging quests and explore while slowly discovering the true origin of the race that emerged from the blue crystals. Kill beasts lurking around local villages or battle other players in fierce duels. Conquer dungeons with friends. Slay hundreds of monsters and bosses. Players can use any weapon, spell, or combative move of their choice by unlocking all 15 distinct classes and swapping freely. Find a sweetheart or summon pets to assist in combat. Becoming an Eternal Guardian, the Gameplay Heroes or Eternal Guardians begin their adventure in a local village near Limestone Mountain. Most of the gameplay involves completing quests and fighting monsters. Similar to other MMOs like Grand Fantasia the storyline is somewhat generic. Quests are given by NPCs scattered throughout the towns. The tasks vary from battling troublesome Mushroids to relying messages back and forth to commanding officers. Many of the missions consist of some form of combat. Collecting raw gemstones might require destroying intimidating Limestone Golems in the process. To accomplish a specific task a particular item may be required. A hammer must be used while fighting certain beasts to gather materials. Blowing a whistle will summon dangerous boss creatures to wage war with. The duties of an Eternal Guardian are endless. Kill hordes of Forest Imps, defeat Rainbow Angelly swarms, eliminate Eagle Gang Assassins, or sneak into a bandits' secret camp to destroy their supplies. Some quests are repeatable and aid in leveling. XP, coins, rare items, and occasionally fame or an achievement title is earned by completing quests. Players maneuver through the zones of Eden using their mouse, WASD keys, or the convenient auto-run feature by clicking on go from the quest log. Combat is fast-paced and surprisingly fun. Once initiated heroes use a mixture of physical and magical moves to conquer their opponent. Perform the Lightning Web, Fire Bomb, Perforation, Tornado, or Combat Cyclone. Depending on character's class and skill set there's a variety of mesmerizing spells that can be executed. Warriors to Warlocks Eden Eternal features a very unique class system. All players start out as warrior or mage with one heroic trait of their choice. There are 15 different unlockable classes with their own set of cool animated skills. The two meters at the bottom of the screen monitor experience. The first one gauges character XP while the second records class experience which is primarily gained through combat. Since class experience accumulates much faster players usually benefit by changing their hero from warrior to thief and so on. As a hero levels up new classes are unlocked. At any time except during combat Eternal Guardians can switch their current class. The requirements vary depending on a character's level and their previous or related class level reached. Although there are just a handful of skills per class players have the ability to alternate freely between them. In most games users are limited to the battle skills in their specific class. It only takes a quick click on the transform button to change a class. The process of leveling up each class's skills individually is relatively easy but involves a lot of grinding. Killing monsters, repeating quests, and clearing dungeons are necessary for a diverse hero. Players will have to devote a significant amount of time into building up their character. This option makes the game rather addicting. Class talents allow gamers who prefer one particular class over another to master it. Knowledge points are rewarded each time a character gain's a level in their class. These points are used towards specialized talents in the skill window. Continually improve talents to become the most powerful Bard or Shaman around. Battle Dogs & Sweethearts Eternal Guardians do not have to face evil alone. There is a pet companion option that permits heroes to add a Battle Dog in the form of an adorable Pug or massive Tiger. Pets can be trained to heal, attack, or perform tricks once a character reaches level 25. The Soulmate feature allows players to form a relationship and become sweethearts. Unlike other MMOs in this virtual world same-sex soul mates is legal. Players can be sweethearts with guys or girls regardless of their character's gender. It's also free to initiate dating status another cool aspect rarely seen. Couples receive lovers skills for the duration they're together. These skills vary like the Soulmate Instant Heal and give players an advantage during battles or difficult dungeon quests. Lovers can send each other special gifts, messages, and accumulate achievement points. The guild customization feature is also very impressive. Guild members can join their resources to construct their own town in Eden Eternal. Each town can have up to five established crafting structures. Set up farms, mines, altars, alchemy labs, foundries, and a magic pool. Build a monument in the town square. The polished anime-style graphics is similar to Kitsu Saga. There are breathtakingly beautiful backdrops and waterfalls. Guilds are able to create their own hangout spot within the game. Players can set up shops in their Guild Town to sell items to non-members as well. Travelling Merchants Items and accessories can be purchased at Merchant Shops or in the Item Mall. The weapons selection is decent. Purchase the Special Broadsword, Equilibrium Staff, Red Copper Bow, Scout Light Shield, Shell-Splitter Axe, Silver Scout Dagger, Versatile Mace, Highland Bow, Knight's Shield, and the coveted Spell Wand. Weapons sold at shops are usable by all classes. Buy Tiger Fighter Tunics, Water Spirit Robes, Thorn Flower Hats, Gleam Vestments, Defender Helmets, and Sprinter Brigandine. Most of the armor is dull giving Eternal Guardians the same appearance. There are no outfits or costumes that stand out. Players do have the option of using dyes to add color to their apparel. Dyes are available in sage, orange, dark grey, yellow, eggplant, coral, pale blue, and lavender. Mixing color palettes can be amusing for a second or two but it doesn't make up for the lack of garbs in the Merchant Shops. In the Item Mall gamers willing to spend real money can purchase rare pets and hard to acquire trinkets. The Razorback, little Labrador, and Shorthair Cat are available as companions. Adventure threads, Kimono, Eden Spectacles, the Legacy Bow, boosts, and more powerful health tonics are on sale. There's also a cool Holy Seraph's Wings that gives heroes an angelic appearance in the mall. Final Verdict: Great Comparable to other X-Legend titles like Grand Fantasia and Kitsu Saga there's a nice variety innovative features that adds to its appeal. Eden Eternal is a fun and addicting game. Instantly transform into another class. Become a Ranger, Illusionist, Knight, Martial Artist, and more. Wage war with an assortment of monsters, clear out dungeons, and duel other heroes. Complete challenging quests in a party, with pet companion, or your sweetheart. If you're one of those players that have a hard time choosing a class than Eden Eternal is definitely worth checking out. From its unique class system to the impressive Guild Town feature this game has a lot to offer MMO fans. Screenshots Eden Eternal Screenshots 123456► Videos Eden Eternal Videos Eden Eternal First Impressions Click here to view the embedded video. Links Eden Eternal Links Eden Eternal Official Site System Requirements Eden Eternal Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP / Vista CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3000 MHz / AMD Athlon 64 3000+ RAM: 1 GB HDD: 4 GB Free Graphics Card: GeForce 7600 / ATI Radeon Х1600 Recommended Specification: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 3000 MHz / Intel Core Quad 2400 MHz / AMD Athlon 64 6400+ or better RAM: 2 GB or more HDD: 4 GB or more Graphics Card: GeForce 8800 / ATI Radeon HD 4700 or better

Shaiya Posted: 12 Jan 2009 08:39 AM PST Shaiya, another successful MMO game that combines some very interesting innovation with a very stock standard MMORPG styled engine. Slay terrible beasts, wield powerful weapons – just try not to die, as  in some modes of Shaiya, death is permanent. Publisher: Aeria Games Playerbase: Medium Graphics: High Quality Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Medium PvP: Duels / Faction based Filesize: 955MB Pros: +Good interface. +Easy to learn quest and battle systems. +Unique radar and map.  +Perma-Death system. +Innovative ‘Dueling / Wager’ system. Cons: -Difficult to progress in the beginning.  -Slow experience gain on some difficulties.  -Limited character customization. Overview Shaiya Overview While Shaiya brings little innovation to the table in terms of gameplay, providing players with a simple and familiar MMORPG environment to discover and explore, its unique ‘Ultimate Mode’ – whereby a players character is deleted upon death, should attract elitist players from across the globe. With several race and class choices, an interesting backstory, and a beautiful world to enjoy, Shaiya should provide an enjoyable MMORPG experience to fans of the genre, but won’t be attracting many newcomers to the scene. Shaiya Screenshots Shaiya Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Shaiya Review By Cody 'Neramaar' Hargreaves It seems that Aeria Games, a widely successful publisher of free-to-play MMO games these past few years, have their hand in more than one cookie jar nowadays. Chances are you've played one of their games by now yourself – hell, with Last Chaos, DOMO, Project Torque, Twelve Sky and the new Megaten acting as just a small few of the games under their over-sized belt, it's fast becoming hard not to have played at least one of them. Today we'll be taking a peek at one of their better known additions: Shaiya, a game of elves and dwarves, magic and fantasy, archers and… well, you probably already know the rest. TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING Yes, I'm taking a shot at the vast overpopulation our beloved fantasy MMORPG genre seems  to be experiencing so often these days. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry in the gaming business has been trying their hand at developing the next World of Warcraft for some time now. My problem with this? Well… I'm starting to get a little bored of it all to be completely honest. I mean really, how many fantasy RPGs modeled from the same concept do they think we gamers can put up with? We're going to get tired of it sooner or later… surely they must know this? They do know this… right? To clarify, I'm not having a go at Shaiya. It does draw much of its style from the popular NCSoft title Lineage 2, but not nearly enough for me to be upset by it. No, I'm just ranting I suppose. I do that a lot, so you know. Shaiya is more or less your stock standard grinding style fantasy MMO, however, it does have one or two added flavors to spice up the soup. The most noticeable of which being the simple fact the before you begin playing Shaiya, you are asked to choose your difficulty. CHOOSE WISELY You begin by creating a character as you normally would in an MMORPG.  You have several of the standard race and class archetypes available to you, such as Humans and Elves, Assassins and Priests – except once you have finished, you will need to decide just how 'hardcore' you really are. Easy Mode has been reserved for the newer players in the land of MMOs, and as such has been vastly limited. The experience gain has been doubled, but the level cap has been lowered to 30 – and no special skills are available at all. Normal mode is the standard mode in Shaiya where most players will begin, as players must first achieve level 40 in this mode before they are eligible for Hard mode. Hard mode, while forcing players to level much slower than normal mode, gives access to much more powerful spell and ability upgrades. Ultimate mode, reserved for only the most hardcore of players, has no increase in difficulty over Hard mode, but provides players will all-new spells, abilities and equipment not found in the previous modes. The catch? What was it again? Oh. Right. If you die, your character is deleted. WAIT… DELETED? LIKE, FOREVER DELETED? Yup, Shaiya Ultimate mode has perma-death enabled, and aside from its high level of violence and apparent depravity (I've seen no such thing as of this point in time), it's really the only thing Shaiya has going for it by way of innovation, or creativity. The remaining elements of the game, as mentioned above, are comprised of your stock standard MMORPG elements. There aren't really as many quests as I generally like, forcing players to spend a lot of time grinding their way up through the levels, but that's not always a bad thing. It's just a little boring really… and with today's growth in technology, many gamers – myself included – will probably be looking for something more. Gameplay isn't everything though, I mean, I've played countless poorly constructed and repetitive RPGs in my time purely for the story, and given the half-decent back-story given in Shaiya I was really hoping to get sucked in. Naturally, I was sadly disappointed to learn that there was very little in the way of a consistent storyline too. See? Stock standard MMORPG. Amirite!? HEY, AT LEAST IT LOOKS GOOD Shaiya does have one thing going for it; it looks, and sounds amazing. The graphics (while soon to be dated with the way things are going) are superb and really help bring the game to life. The musical scores and sound effects also help greatly with immersion… if of course immersion was another name for 'zoning out' and forgetting that you're grinding (I don't much like grinding, okay? Great.). I'm probably being too hard on Shaiya, venting my anger toward the 'cloning' attitude the MMORPG scene is taking these days, and improperly taking it out on one game. As far as playable MMORPG experiences go, Shaiya is certainly a good choice. It has everything you could want in an MMO and more, and I like the path they've taken with the Ultimate mode – although I'm still not quite sure if a grinding game is a good candidate for a perma-death system or not. I mean, tell me you wouldn't be just a little upset if you were mob-ganked with a level 50 Ultimate character. I mean… damn. It's harsh – but it would make you think about your decisions a bit more I bet. Final Verdict: Good Despite it's similarity to many other MMORPGs, and its lack of any truly compelling gameplay functions, Shaiya is a more than capable Fantasy MMORPG, and a standout contender in the field. Its innovation and creativity towards difficulty will not be forgotten quickly… particularly by those that die playing in Ultimate mode. Screenshots Shaiya Screenshots 123► Videos Shaiya Videos Shaiya Gameplay Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Shaiya PvP Footage Click here to view the embedded video. Shaiya Cinematic Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Shaiya Character Creation Click here to view the embedded video. Shaiya Boss Fight Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Links Shaiya Links Shaiay Wikipedia Entry Shaiya Official Site Shaiya Wikia System Requirements Shaiya System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP or Vista 32 CPU: Intel Pentium 4 class processor or AMD Athlon XP, at 1.5 GHz or faster RAM: 512MB of RAM or more HDD: 5 GB Free Space Graphics Card: GeForce FX class or ATI Radeon 9600 with 128MB of dedicated VRAM or better Recommended Specification: OS: Windows XP/ 2000 / Vista CPU:Intel Pentium 4 Class Processor Dual Core at 2.0 GHz or faster RAM: 1GB of RAM or more HDD: 1.8 GB of HDD space, plus additional for new game content Graphics Card: GeForce XT Class with 256MB of dedicated VRAM 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. 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. 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 Click here to view the embedded video. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 1234► Videos Fiesta Online Videos Fiesta Online Character Creation Click here to view the embedded video. Fiesta Online High Level Video Click here to view the embedded video. Fiesta Online Official Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. Fiesta Online Boss Battle Click here to view the embedded video. Fiesta Online Gameplay Footage Click here to view the embedded video. Links Fiesta Online Links Fiesta Online Official Site FiestaFan Wiki Fiesta Online Wikia 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

Runes of Magic Posted: 10 Jan 2009 09:36 AM PST Drawing much of its inspiration from the mammoth MMORPG World of Warcraft, Runes of Magic brings to life the fantasy world of Taborea with beautiful 3D graphics, and with over 600 quests to complete offers players much in the way of content and features. With fully-realized dungeon encounters, unmatched character customization, a unique multi-class system, in-game player housing, and a growing community of over 2,000,000 – Runes of Magic guarantees something for everyone. Publisher: Frogster Interactive Playerbase: High Graphics: High Quality Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: Medium PvP: Open / Duels Filesize: 6.7 GB Pros: +Fantastic character customization. +Unique multi-class system.  +Player housing. +Heaps of different PvP options. +Huge game world. +Fun end-game raiding. Cons: -Cash shop can imbalance the game.  -Sensitive language filter. -Similarities to WoW may deter some players. Overview Runes of Magic Overview Runes of magic is a feature rich MMORPG that uses a graphic style very similar to WoW’s. The familiar interface and animations help new players and MMO veterans adjust to the world of Taborea. The game supports both individual player housing and guild controlled castles located in separate instances. But what really sets Runes of Magic apart is the dual-classing system whereby characters can pick a second class at level 10. With a total of eight classes and two races (Human, Elf) to chose from, players can create truly unique characters. Classes: Warrior – Masters of armed combat. Warriors can use any close combat weapon and any type of armor besides plate. They deliver special strikes and blows which have various effects on their targets. Scout - Adapt at long-ranged combat, Scouts use their bows or crossbows to deal heavy damage. They are vulnerable at close range and rely on a series of evasive and delaying skills to keep enemies from closing in. Rogue - Specialized at inflicting deadly blows at a fast rate, rogues use daggers which can cause heavy bleeding or be coated in poison. They are very capable at doding blows, but their speed comes at the expense of armor and health. Rogues can also lay traps, scout, and increase a group’s income generation. Mage - Commanding the elements of fire and lightning, Mages deal heavy damage from afar. They possess direct damage, and area of effect spells. Mages can also cast barrier spells and strength buffs, adding to their utility. Priest (Human Only) - While priests can cast water based spells to deal damage, they primarily play a supportive role. Priests can cast healing spells, boost their allies stats, and even bring fallen comrades back from the dead. They can equip shields which aid their defense, but are still frail. Knight (Human Only) - Heavily armored fighters, Knights are the only class that can wear plate armor. Knights go into battle head-first equipped with shields and light-based attacks. They are the tanks of RoM and have the ability to draw their foes attacks towards themselves. Druid (Elf Only) - Attuned to nature, Druids are a versatile class capable of healing allies, casting damage over time spells, and even mind controlling opponents. Druids possess a special ability that allows them to gather Nature’s Power and unleash it at anytime to cast powerful spells. Warden (Elf Only) - Close combat specialists. Wardens can use a diverse set of weapons and can wear chain armor. Wardens can summon powerful pets to fight alongside them, and have access to magical spells which strengthen themselves and weaken their opponents. Runes of Magic Screenshots Runes of Magic Feature Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review Runes of Magic Review By Cody 'Neramaar' Hargreaves To get it out of the way nice and early, and to give those that disagree with me a chance to respond without having to read the entire review, Runes of Magic is a WoW Clone. There, I said it. Have at me with your silver tongues and sharpened wits, exact your revenge upon my flesh, for I have gone where many have before, and branded a game a clone of World of Warcraft. The thing is, and this is where I might lose you, so pay close attention – I think that it's a good thing. I KNEW THIS LOOKED FAMILIAR… You see, throughout these past short years, years that have been particularly kind to the MMO industry, games have been cloning one another on an almost daily basis. Hell, if you wanna get real technical – any game portraying an open 3D world with a third-person perspective is a clone of the original Everquest – and although I can't think of it off the top of my head – Everquest is probably a clone of another, albeit less popular, MMO game. Cloning is simply part of the industry, and as much as I don't particularly like the idea – it's here to stay, and it's something we have to get used to. With Runes of Magic (henceforth referred to as RoM), it's different. They haven't simply cloned the gameplay style, or the character textures – they've pretty much cloned the entire damn game, right down the names of a large portion of the skills and spells. The biggest key difference between the two of them lies solely in the fact the RoM is free to play, and WoW is not. There is however a great many additions that have been added to the WoW formula in RoM, and therein lies salvation. FILLING IN THE BLANKS For the three of you reading this that have absolutely no idea what the WoW formula is, or any other standard MMORPG formula for that matter, it is simply the standard way that MMORPG games are played. You create a character, and spend a large quantity of your life making that character great, through killing monsters and gaining experience and equipment, thereby making your character stronger. Thanks to the countless content updates and additions to these games, this cycle is damn near never ending – and is the main contributor to the new 'MMO Addiction' craze that's taking the world by storm. This is the process that almost every MMORPG game takes – and is the same process that was perfected by Blizzard with WoW – hence the 11.5 Million active players. The reason I have never labeled any other game a WoW clone is because cloning this simple process of playing isn't really cloning WoW. Cloning the skills, environments, quests, and a plethora of other features however, is. There – only took me five paragraphs to explain why RoM is a WoW Clone, now on to why this is such a good thing. GO ON, FLAUNT IT The key here, and the thing that gives RoM so much of its undeniable charm, is in the improvements and additions that have been made to the formula – many of which are incredible additions that truly make the game. One such addition, also the one that I like the most, is in the character creation whereby players are able to choose the size of each of their individual body parts – giving each player their own individual look and style. Add to this over 30 different face and hair options, and you have a recipe for total character customization – a simple, yet highly appreciated addition to the game. MY HOME IS MY CASTLE Not enough customization you say? Then take a look at RoM's unique multi-class system that allows players to combine their main class (out of a possible Warrior, Knight, Rogue, Priest, Mage or Scout) with a second class – adopting all of their secondary skills and abilities. This allows for over 30 different class combinations in total and should be more than enough to help you stand out from the crowd. Hell – if you're really keen on appealing to your personal preferences, RoM even includes your very own house that you can use to store your loot and goodies, and decorate to your liking with furniture purchased through the in-game shop. Of course, to use the in-game shop, you'll need to get your credit card handy, and fork over some dough for a few diamonds. DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER Diamonds are the in-game currency used in RoM, and can only be obtained by spending real hard-earned dollars – well – future real hard-earned dollars, as you'll need to use a credit card to make a purchase. Diamonds can be used to purchase a number of different things in RoM, from furniture for your house or upgrades for your weapons, to additional bag space and mounts to travel faster across the world, and although you don't need to purchase diamonds – you'll definitely want to, as they make the playing experience a lot more fun when you do. One downside to the game’s cash shop is that the most powerful enchantment items are only available through the cash shop. CAUSE AND EFFECT Also thrown into the mix in RoM is an older style PvP system in which you have full access to attack any player you choose provided that you are both above level 15. Of course, doing so will net you some negative karma – causing you to turn red and drop your equipment if you're killed. I've been a massive fan of this style of PvP back since the days when Lineage 2 was a top game, because you really have to think about who you kill as the repercussions can be deadly. There's nothing more fun then losing your cool with a party member, ganking them out of pure frustration, then running for your life from a horde of greedy gamers drooling over the weapons they might get if they can kill you. Of course, for every good part of a game, there is surely a bad part to follow, and at present, RoM could still use a lot of work. There's nothing especially game breaking to mention, just a few little kinks that need ironing out here and there. Things like bad translations, and in some areas, no translation at all. Missing sounds, such as the hooves of your horse as it gallops across the countryside, or the always expected 'chink' your mining pick should make as it hit's the rock – missing sounds like this really draw from the immersion, and show a severe lack of polish. Runes of Magic is the gold standard of the free-to-play MMO experience. Since its release back in early 2009, Runes of Magic has enjoyed numerous major content updates, called “chapters”, which added enormous amounts of new content to the game. As is, Runes of Magic is one of the most content rich free to play MMORPGs out there. Final Verdict: Excellent Runes of Magic didn’t just raise the bar, it continues to push it higher. It is a stalwart example of the glorious free-to-play gaming era that we have only recently begun to experience, and although it currently still has a number of flaws, it's already one hell of a gaming experience, and a must play for any MMO gamer. Since the game’s original release back in 2009, the game has enjoyed numerous major expansions called “Chapters” which introduced a lot of new content to the game. Frogster has done and continues to do a stellar job with Runes of Magic – making it one of the best free to play MMORPGs ever. Screenshots Runes of Magic Screenshots 123456► Videos Runes of Magic Videos Runes of Magic Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Runes of Magic Gameplay Video Click here to view the embedded video. Runes of Magic Official Trailer Video Click here to view the embedded video. Runes of Magic Combat  Video Click here to view the embedded video. Runes of Magic Housing Video Click here to view the embedded video. Links Runes of Magic Links Runes of Magic Official Site Runes of Magic Forums Runes of Magic Wiki [Great Resource!] System Requirements Runes of Magic System Requirements Minimum Requirements: Intel Pentium 4 2.0 GHz or equivalent RAM: 512MB or more HDD: 7 GB DirectX 9.0c compatible with 128MB RAM Video Card Recommended Specification: Intel Pentium 4 Core Duo 2.0 GHz or equivalent RAM: 1GB or more HDD: 7GB or more DirectX 9.0c compatible with 256MB RAM Video Card

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