General Gaming Article

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• Casio Agrees to Linux Patent Deal with Microsoft
• HTC Rhyme is a Phone for the Ladies, Coming to Verizon for $199
• 11 Innovative Notebook Concepts
• Comcast's $10 Internet for Low-Income Families Available Nationwide
• Kaspersky Rolls Out Universal Protection for PCs and Mobile Devices
• Windows 8 Dev Tablets Up For Sale On eBay
• Fast Forward: Another x86 Growth Spurt
• Study: A Third of American Adults Prefer Texting to Talking
• Google+ Throws Open Its Doors, Tosses Out Invite System
• Researchers Break Open SSL/TLS Decryption

Casio Agrees to Linux Patent Deal with Microsoft Posted: 20 Sep 2011 04:36 PM PDT Despite claiming that Linux infringes on over 235 of its patents for a number of years now, Microsoft has always promised to deal with competitors that make Linux-based products with a fair degree of restraint. Of course, this only applies as long as such competitors don't "free ride on our innovations" and refuse to sign licensing deals (case in point: Motorola). Anyways, this approach seems to be producing the desired results as more and more companies are falling in line. The latest company to sign a Linux patent-protection deal with Microsoft happens to be Casio. The two companies announced Tuesday that they have "entered into a broad, multiyear patent cross-licensing agreement that, among other things, will provide Casio's customers with patent coverage for their use of Linux in certain Casio devices." According to the press release, this deal builds on an already strong relationship between the two companies. But we are not sure if that's how Casio truly feels about this deal. "We're pleased to reach an agreement and to see continued recognition of the value of our patent portfolio, particularly as it relates to operating systems," said Horacio Gutierrez, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel of Intellectual Property Group at Microsoft. Even though the press release did confirm that Microsoft is being compensated by Casio, the exact amount and the terms of the deal remain confidential. But for those of you who love numbers, it did go onto reveal that this deal is the latest in over 700 licensing agreements the Redmond outfit has signed since the launch of its IP licensing program in December 2003.

HTC Rhyme is a Phone for the Ladies, Coming to Verizon for $199 Posted: 20 Sep 2011 03:06 PM PDT HTC and Verizon have announced a somewhat unique device today. The long-rumored HTC Rhyme has been announced and Big Red is looking to get the ladies interested in this device. The Rhyme has mid-level hardware, a few included accessories, and a glowing charm. Oh, and it's purple. Yep, HTC and Verizon have the female demographic totally figured out, right? The Rhyme packs a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S2, 768MB of RAM, a 5MP rear camera, and VGA front sensor. This phone is 3G-only; no LTE radio on board here. The software on the Rhyme is a slightly tweaked build of Sense UI on Android 2.3. Some of the more flashy visual elements have been yanked, because you know, women apparently. The Rhyme will cost $199 on contract, but comes with some passable headphones, a speaker dock, and the glowing notification charm. Users will plug the charm into the headphone jack, and it glows when a notification has been received. It's not a bad deal, but the whole lady-phone thing seems a bit contrived to us.

11 Innovative Notebook Concepts Posted: 20 Sep 2011 02:47 PM PDT For all its crazy improvements in speed and power, the desktop computer has had basically the same form factor for the past two decades or so. The same can't be said of the laptop computer. From its bulky, barely-portable origins to the sleek ultrabooks of today, the laptop has always been a breeding ground for innovative hardware. And while sometimes those innovations have stuck (the clamshell design and trackpads, for instance), others have been a little bizarre. We've collected 11 of our favorite outrageous laptop concepts into one gallery—read on to check it out.

Comcast's $10 Internet for Low-Income Families Available Nationwide Posted: 20 Sep 2011 02:45 PM PDT Comcast has officially expanded its low-cost Internet Essentials program nationwide today. This service offers $10 per month internet access to low-income families, as well as access to $150 computers. The speeds aren't what users of the regular cable internet service will see, at just 1.5Mbps, but Comcast has agreed to keep Internet Essentials alive for at least three years. To qualify for the program, families must have at least one child that would qualify for reduced-cost lunch in public schools. In addition the the deal on service and PCs, families would also not be charged for equipment rental or installation. FCC chairman Julius Genachowski was at the DC launch today to praise Comcast for bridging the "digital divide." Although, Comcast should not be given too much credit for the move. This program is part of the deal the cable operator struck in order to purchase NBC-Universal earlier this year. Still, Internet Essentials is a good thing.

Kaspersky Rolls Out Universal Protection for PCs and Mobile Devices Posted: 20 Sep 2011 12:43 PM PDT The folks at Kaspersky just dropped us a line to let us know about its new Kaspersky One security product. As the name implies, Kaspersky's goal is to provide universal security for multiple devices with a single offering. That includes PCs (desktops and laptops), smartphones, and Android-based tablets. The idea is simple. With Kaspersky One, you're purchasing a single license that unlocks security software for multiple devices and is available in increments of three, five, or ten. You then use the single license key to protect any combination of Windows or Mac PCs, Android smartphones and tablets, Symbian devices, Windows Mobile phones, and BlackBerry smartphones. "Each of these devices can be protected with Kaspersky One, which provides security that is optimized for each device to ensure maximum performance and protection. Since Kaspersky One provides a single universal license that works on all your devices, there is no need to juggle different subscriptions for each device," Kaspersky explains. "After Kaspersky One has been installed using a single, simple interface, customers have full access to our latest databases of threat information, which updates your Kaspersky Lab software automatically to neutralize emerging malware. Users also have free access to the latest versions of the Kaspersky Lab applications throughout their license period." A major benefit to this approach is that you don't have to spend a fortune buying separate security products for each type of device, though this is still a premium priced product. Kaspersky One will be available on October 17 for $80 (three devices), $100 (five devices), and $150 (ten devices). Image Credit: Kaspersky

Windows 8 Dev Tablets Up For Sale On eBay Posted: 20 Sep 2011 11:13 AM PDT Screw the Emmys! The best gift bags of the past week came at Microsoft's BUILD conference. The Redmond crew put their money where their mouths were and provided 5,000 developers with a tablet based off of the Samsung Series 7 Slate and packing a version of the Metro-tized Windows 8 Developer Preview. Theoretically, the gift was supposed to spur on app development for the upcoming operating system; instead, some not-so-gracious recipients have turned the tablets into quick cash on eBay. Computerworld reports that fifteen of the tablets have been sold on the site, with the most expensive fetching $4,000. The average unit is sold for $2,844, but on the plus side, most offer free shipping. There are two still available, but you'll need to pony up at least $1,500 to make the minimum bid requirement for the items. Anybody can download the Windows 8 Developer Preview directly from Microsoft, which may be why some cash-strapped devs have turned to the allure of a quick buck. The tablets given away at BUILD differ slightly from the standard Samsung Series 7 Slate in several ways, most notably in that they include a 3G radio – and a free one-year 3G contract with AT&T.

Fast Forward: Another x86 Growth Spurt Posted: 20 Sep 2011 10:40 AM PDT Any other 33-year-old who noticed a sudden growth spurt would run to a doctor, but it seems that Intel's x86 architecture will never stop growing. New extensions appeared this year in Sandy Bridge processors, more are coming in next year's Ivy Bridge, and still more will come in 2013 with a processor code-named Haswell. Is the x86 growing stronger or fatter? Stronger! True, the extensions add more complexity to what is already the world's most complex microprocessor architecture—and one of the oldest active architectures, having been born in 1978. But the extensions are mostly brain cells, not cellulite. This year, Intel's Sandy Bridge and AMD's Bulldozer processors introduced the Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX). Besides adding many new programming instructions, AVX doubles the width of the 128-bit registers that Intel introduced in 1999 with the Streaming SIMD Extensions (SSE). Most AVX instructions perform vector floating-point arithmetic and are useful in a variety of applications, from games and graphics to scientific and engineering computing. Next year's Ivy Bridge will add a few more instructions to the Sandy Bridge design and will be the first chip manufactured with Intel's 22nm tri-gate transistor technology. The most interesting instruction accesses a new on-chip true random-number generator. True random numbers are vital for security and are superior to software-generated pseudo-random numbers. The big growth spurt comes in 2013 with Haswell, a next-generation CPU design. Haswell will introduce AVX2 and FMA3, which add hundreds of new or improved instructions for vector integer arithmetic and floating-point operations. As with AVX, the applications are varied, but media processing should get a boost. After studying Intel's 595-page AVX/AVX2/FMA3 programming manual, I think these extensions will bulk up the x86 with lean muscle, not flabby fat. Besides, who would want to power a 2013 computer with a 1978 processor? Tom Halfhill was formerly a senior editor for Byte magazine and is now an analyst for Microprocessor Report.

Study: A Third of American Adults Prefer Texting to Talking Posted: 20 Sep 2011 10:37 AM PDT If you end up going straight to voicemail when calling up a friend or co-worker, it doesn't necessarily mean their phone is dead or even that they're unavailable. They could be screening calls. According to a recent study, nearly a third of Adult Americans would rather text message back and forth than actually speak on their mobile device. Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project discovered that around 8 out of 10 (83 percent) adult Americans own cell phones, and of those, 73 percent send and receive text messages. Out of that 73 percent, nearly a third (31 percent) say they'd rather text than talk. Not surprisingly, "young adults are far and away the most active users of texting messaging." Their numbers hang way above other demographic groups, with 95 percent of 18-29 year olds saying they use their phones for texting. These users send or receive an average of 87.7 text messages on any given day. The lower the age group the more text messages there are flying back and forth. Pew Research found that 18-24 year olds swap 109.5 text messages per day, or more than 3,200 per month. You can read the full report here (PDF).

Google+ Throws Open Its Doors, Tosses Out Invite System Posted: 20 Sep 2011 10:36 AM PDT Even though Google used an invitation system to control access to its new Google+ social network, the thing took off like gangbusters. It was the fastest network to ever reach 25 million visitors in its first month, and Facebook has been rolling out feature after feature that look suspiciously similar to offerings on the Goog's service. If you couldn't score an invite and have been wondering what all the hub-bub was about, today's your day; Google+ is now open to all comers. Google had already made 91 improvements to Google+ prior to today. Early this morning, the company's SVP of Engineering, Vic Gundotra, tossed up a blog post outlining nine new features. The new open door policy was number 100. How's that for poetic? "For the past 12 weeks we've been in field trial, and during that time we've listened and learned a great deal," Gundrota wrote. "We're nowhere near done, but with the improvements we've made so far we're ready to move from field trial to beta, and introduce our 100th feature: open signups. This way anyone can visit google.com/+, join the project and connect with the people they care about." You heard the man; feel free to go visit the site and poke around if you haven't yet. In the meantime, new adopters may want to check out our Cheat Sheet for G+ as well as the technique for disabling email notifications from the service.

Researchers Break Open SSL/TLS Decryption Posted: 20 Sep 2011 10:22 AM PDT Cynics say that the world runs on money, but money wouldn't run as smoothly on the World Wide Web if it wasn't for SSL/TLS. It's the go-to encryption protocol for a lot of the Internet, and it's supported by every major browser and many of the top websites around. But how secure is it? A pair of security researchers plan on demonstrating a serious TLS security flaw at the Ekoparty security conference later this week, and they plan on doing it with a bang: by decrypting a Paypal authentication cookie. Thai Duong and Juliano Rizzo call their snippet of JavaScript code BEAST, which is a snazzy acronym for "Browser Exploit Against SSL/TLS."  It works in conjunction with a network sniffer. While most other SSL breaches involve spoofed authentication certificates, BEAST takes a different tactic and actually breaks the encryption spit out by the TLS protocol block by block. "BEAST is different than most published attacks against HTTPS," Duong told The Register. "While other attacks focus on the authenticity property of SSL, BEAST attacks the confidentiality of the protocol. As far as we know, BEAST implements the first attack that actually decrypts HTTPS requests." Rizzo claims BEAST can decrypt the Paypal cookiein less than 10 minutes, and plans to prove in the Buenos Aires security conference. The good news: only TLS 1.0 connections are vulnerable to the exploit, and TLS 1.1 and 1.2 were released in 2006 and 2008, respectively. The bad news: upgrading to 1.1 or 1.2 can often break applications based on the widely popular TLS 1.0 protocol, so most browsers and major websites don't offer support for the newer versions, despite the fact that TLS 1.0 is over 10 years old. Maybe Rizzo and Duong's exploit will kick browsers in the butt and increase conversion rates?

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MMO News

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• Guild war system arriving in Scarlet Legacy
• Hellbreed now available in North America
• Star Supremacy begins closed beta

Guild war system arriving in Scarlet Legacy Posted: 20 Sep 2011 04:35 PM PDT September 21 will bring a new update to Scarlet Legacy, introducing (among other features) the guild war system. The Guild War system lets players combat with up to 6 guilds at a time (up to 120 players total) in a “battle royale” style competition. Players who destroy their rival guild bases will earn special rewards and guild benefits. New combat skills will be available for players between level 46 and 50, along with 80 new quests, 50 new items, four new types of pets and 130 new crafting recipes. A new outdoor field map (Faery Late) and ten player dungeons, plus a new Demon Lair (PvP) event and new mini games, also round out the content. Scarlet Legacy is published by GamesCampus, which also publishes Asda 2 and Heroes in the Sky. Scarlet Legacy Gameplay Screenshot Source: SCARLET LEGACY INTRODUCES GUILD WAR SYSTEM, OVER 80 NEW QUESTS, AND MORE THAN 600 NEW ITEMS IN ITS LATEST UPDATE LAUNCHING TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 21st Players Can Now Level To 50 With Over 60 Skill Level Enhancements, 40 New Martial Arts Stances And Much More-Starting September 21st Sunnyvale, Calif. -  (September 20, 2011) – Leading online game publisher, GamesCampus.com (www.GamesCampus.com), announced today that a brand-new content update for its fantasy MMORPG Scarlet Legacy will go live tomorrow, September 21st.  The new content update boasts a variety of new features including a massive Guild War system update, new skills, maps, dungeons, items and crafting recipes, mini-games, four new pets and a whole lot more.  To check out the latest update and participate in the open beta, players can visit http://scarletlegacy.gamescampus.com/. This exciting new update has something in store for everyone, and starting tomorrow players can experience exciting new combat skills for levels 46-50 including more than 60 skill level advancements and 40 martial art stances.  Players will embark on more than 80 all-new quests and discover a new store complete with over 50 new and improved items, more than 130 crafting recipes and new equipment featuring four sets of “Epic Purple” equipment. The latest update will also introduce a new outdoor field map, Faery Lake, and ten player dungeons! For PVP enthusiasts, there is the Demon Lair event and new mini-games will be featured in the Scarlet Legacy Arenas.  Additionally, those level 46-50 will enjoy four new types of pets and their pet talents along with Princess Dialog for the Magic Mirror! The new Guild War system will allow 6 Guilds to join at a time with up to 120 players in a battle royale competition to destroy their rival guilds’ bases and receive powerful item rewards and Guild benefits. “This is such an exciting time for Scarlet Legacy; the open beta test is going strong and the response from players has been really positive,” said Uyen Uyen Ton Nu, Head of Marketing at GamesCampus.com.  “We have a lot to offer in this new content update and we hope fans will enjoy everything we are releasing tomorrow.” Scarlet Legacy offers tactical combat with stylishly cinematic animation, plenty of character customization options, and numerous PvP modes and battlefields. There are four classes to choose from at the beginning;  with each having access to multiple unique talent trees, bonus granting Martial Arts combat Stances, and evolving skills which allow for far more personalized progression. Scarlet Legacy is a complete MMORPG with crafting profession skills, mounts, pet customization and mutation systems, and dozens of in-world mini-game events.

Hellbreed now available in North America Posted: 20 Sep 2011 03:23 PM PDT Gameforge’s browser-based action RPG, Hellbreed, is now available for US players. Hellbreed offers single and multi-player modes, three character classes (Archer, Warrior, and Siege Master), over 150 levels and 250 monsters, and uses its own proprietary game engine. It also will feature an orchestral soundtrack produced by the Philharmonic Orchestra. The game’s latest patch, released Monday, also applied a host of bug fixes and game tweaks to improve the game for all levels of players. Gameforge also publishes 4Story and Tanoth. Hellbreed Gameplay Screenshot Source: Gameforge’s Online Action RPG Hellbreed Now Available in the US Hack-and-Slash Browser Game Pays Homage to Top RPG Classics Hack-and-Slash Browser Game Pays Homage to Top RPG Classics KARLSRUHE, Germany – Sept. 20, 2011 – Gameforge, Europe’s leading provider of free-to-play online games, today announced the availability of Hellbreed, a free-to-play browser game that pays homage to top RPG classics. First introduced at Gamescom 2010, Hellbreed puts players against monsters and otherworldly creatures in the chaotic world of Manjuri, a devastated kingdom split into multiple dimensions by wrathful gods. Through more than 150 fast-paced levels, players will battle 250 different types of monsters in single player and multiplayer modes to unite the fractured world of Manjuri. Featuring rich character customization, players can choose from three different classes: the nimble Huntress, an archer who can summon animals and transform into a werewolf, the heavily armored Warrior, a fighter skilled in one and two-handed weapons, or the Siege Master, a fist-to-cuffs brawler with the power to summon mighty war machines during battle. “Hellbreed has transformed browser-based role-playing games by appealing to fantasy fans who love deep RPGs,” says Markus Windelen, Vice President Web Games at Gameforge. “With a rich mythology and a proprietary graphics engine, we feel Hellbreed will engage fans of retro-styled RPGs for hours with tons of customization options and challenging gameplay.” The Phire 2.5D Engine, developed by Gameforge, sets a new standard in browser-based game graphics, delivering fluid gameplay without inconvenient loading times. Utilizing an isometric design, the Phire 2.5D Engine creates a top-down 3D effect in the browser that presents each environment in vivid detail. Working with the renowned Belarusian Philharmonic Orchestra, Gameforge’s Hellbreed will be released with an original orchestral soundtrack, incorporating 21 new compositions. Infused with the music culture of the Slavic regions, the Philharmonic Orchestra’s use of strings provides for an enjoyable musical experience that brings the dark world of Manjuri to life.

Star Supremacy begins closed beta Posted: 19 Sep 2011 03:27 PM PDT Star Supremacy, Barbily’s free-to-play, browser-based space conquest and strategy MMO, will begin closed beta tonight, September 19, at 8 pm PST.  Once the closed beta starts, players will be able to activate their beta keys. Events for closed beta include rewarding the top bug reporters with free Barbily Credits, B-Creds for writing articles and forum posts about Star Supremacy, and B-Creds for the top ten ranked characters after the first two weeks of closed beta. All rewards will be paid out when the game launches commercially, so they can be used for the live game. Star Supremacy Gameplay Screenshot Source: Star Supremacy Starts Closed Beta and Invites Players to Join Suzhou, China – September 19, 2011 – We are glad to remind you the Closed Beta Launch of our great free sci-fi MMORTS Star Supremacy. The Closed Beta will start at 8:00pm 19th Sept PST. You can activate your account using your free beta key then! Prepare your tactics, charge your lasers and plan your path of colonization before our big launch. Will you be the victor and can you prove your worthiness of command in a hostile universe? Don't forget to join the great space adventure on 19th Sept 8:00pm PST.  Check out the events we are having here. Please check out the official website for more information, announcements, and events as Star Supremacy launches or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/Star_Supremacy and Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Star-Supremacy.  You can also follow us on Raptr at http://raptr.com/game/Star-Supremacy. We hope to see you all in game!

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MMO Updates

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• Win an Ultimate Comics Spider-Man character in Super Hero Squad Online
• Aeria Games acquires Punch Entertainment, brags about growth
• Star Supremacy enters the closed beta event horizon
• Dragonica's New Origin expansion launches today
• LotRO dares you to photograph the White Hand of Saruman
• LEGO Universe introduces Ninjago expansion
• Fallen Earth devs answer your F2P questions
• SWTOR's Damion Schubert pulls some ideas off the Wall of Crazy
• The Daily Grind: Do you participate in guild events?
• MapleStory Adventures scores 3 million players -- before it even launches
• Newest version update lands for Final Fantasy XI
• Guild Wars 2 designers deliver more Asura goodies: Inquest and Golems
• Not So Massively: Bloodline Champions gets a revamp
• John Smedley talks free-to-play across the industry
• Flameseeker Chronicles: Asura week wrapup
• Wings Over Atreia: Aion anniversary, take two
• Firefall adds pets for you to cuddle... and kill
• One Shots: Flying high!
• Take a ride through LotRO's Gap of Rohan with a new walkthrough video
• CCP working on EVE ship spinning patch
• Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy
• Online gamers solve microbiology puzzle, contribute to anti-HIV solutions
• GamersFirst teams up with Adknowledge for virtual currency offers

Win an Ultimate Comics Spider-Man character in Super Hero Squad Online Posted: 20 Sep 2011 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Classes, Free-to-play, Kids, Promotions, Super Hero Squad Online In Marvel's Ultimate Comics edition of Spider-Man, Peter Parker is dead and Miles Morales has stepped up to become the new friendly neighborhood webslinger. As with any reinvented superhero, you know a costume redesign is not far behind. To mark this solemn-yet-cool occasion, Gazillion is giving Super Hero Squad Online players the opportunity to add Ultimate Comics Spider-Man to their roster. The character not only comes with a sleek new look, but special powers and emotes. Unfortunately, there can only be 30 recipients of this limited-edition superhero. SHSO players are encouraged to enter in the code "MILES2011" on the official website for a chance to win one of these characters. The sweepstakes ends on the 28th, so sling your web fast and true if you want in on the fun! [Source: Gazillion press release] Win an Ultimate Comics Spider-Man character in Super Hero Squad Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aeria Games acquires Punch Entertainment, brags about growth Posted: 20 Sep 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Miscellaneous Even if you've never heard of Aeria Games, chances are you've heard of one of the company's free-to-play MMO titles. A new press release touts the California-based firm's recent growth, and boasts of its desire to cater to "hardcore and medium-core players who play as much as four hours per day." Aeria's latest acquisition includes the internal development team at Punch Entertainment as well as an unnamed iOS and Android game that will soon be added to a stable of titles that numbers over 30 strong, including Shaiya and Eden Eternal. "As we move forward, we will continue to form strategic partnerships and grow our development teams while building and acquiring more engaging content to reward our dedicated power gamers," said Aeria CEO Lan Hoang. [Source: Aeria press release] Aeria Games acquires Punch Entertainment, brags about growth originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Supremacy enters the closed beta event horizon Posted: 20 Sep 2011 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Browser, Promotions If you have been looking for a space-themed online real-time strategy title, Star Supremacy may be the thing to quench your intergalactic thirst. In the game, three human factions find themselves at odds in the depths of space, and only by engaging in all-out warfare can a victor be declared. It's free, it's browser-based, and it's at a closed beta near you. Star Supremacy announced that its closed beta program starts today and can be joined by any space pilot who happens to possess... the key. Where do you get... the key? It's actually not too hard, as the official site lists a slew of participating partners that will gladly give you one of their... keys. The game is also giving away in-game currency and items to players who participate in one of four beta events. These rewards are designed to be incentives for good beta testing behavior, as they lure players into submitting bug reports, providing feedback, and promoting Star Supremacy. Star Supremacy enters the closed beta event horizon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dragonica's New Origin expansion launches today Posted: 20 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dragonica Online, Dungeons Today's a big day for Dragonica fans, as the two-year-old title is gearing up to launch its New Origin - Rise of the Drakan expansion this afternoon. A new press release from Gala Networks Europe tells us that the patch is the biggest in the game's history and includes a new race, new dungeons, new mounts, a fellowship party system, and a level cap increase. As the title suggests, the new race is the Drakan, and it's unlocked once players reach level 20. There are two new Drakan classes, the Amazonian and the Shaman, and both of them are playable to the new level cap (80). Once you've obtained your spiffy new Drakan warrior and explored the new Drakan town of Kareuza, you'll probably want to partake of the game's new dungeon system. Parties are now able to brave the depths of Dragonica's dungeons with eight players (up from the previous four), and the expansion introduces a couple of new instances in the form of the Akia Cave and Black Claw Nest. More info is available on the game's official website. [Source: Gala Networks Europe press release] Dragonica's New Origin expansion launches today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

LotRO dares you to photograph the White Hand of Saruman Posted: 20 Sep 2011 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Contests, Expansions, Free-to-play Rise of Isengard launches next week for Lord of the Rings Online, and Turbine is trumpeting the expansion the best way it knows how: by encouraging players to dip their hands in white paint and slap everything in the world around them. OK, maybe not that extreme, but close enough! With the studio's White Hand of Saruman contest, LotRO players are tasked with photographing people, objects or environments plastered with the iconic sigil of Isengard's key bad guy. Turbine's not encouraging players to flirt with the wrong side of the law, as it adds the disclaimer "Permanently defacing property or committing illegal acts is not permitted" to the contest rules. Players can download the white hand template from the contest website, set up an interesting picture, and then submit it for a chance at one of several prizes. These prizes include a custom-built Alienware PC, lifetime memberships to LotRO, and in-game Turbine Points. The contest will end on November 15th, after which the winners will be declared. LotRO dares you to photograph the White Hand of Saruman originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

LEGO Universe introduces Ninjago expansion Posted: 20 Sep 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Trailers, Video, Expansions, Free-to-play, LEGO Universe, Kids, Family Who doesn't like ninjas? Well, except for pirates, I guess. Now LEGO Universe has both, as its newly announced Ninjago expansion brings the world of the Ninjago LEGO toys and the Masters of Spinjitzu film to the MMO. In addition to inserting over 100 new ninja-themed missions, this "largest expansion to the game yet" will raise the level cap to 45 and introduce new weapons, new enemies, and new gear -- all just in time for next month's first-year anniversary for the game. The expansion is free for all premium members starting today, and you can check out the screenshot gallery below and launch trailer just after the jump. [Source: LEGO Universe press release] Continue reading LEGO Universe introduces Ninjago expansion LEGO Universe introduces Ninjago expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fallen Earth devs answer your F2P questions Posted: 20 Sep 2011 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic, Dev Diaries You've got questions about Fallen Earth's free-to-play conversion, and the dev team's got answers. The latest Fallen Earth blog entry spills the beans on everything from what happens to existing subscriptions to character slots to various functionality limitations. Surprisingly, GamersFirst is allowing free-to-play customers to make use of the auction house, mail, and trading systems, but this may change "if gold farmers get totally out of control." There's also good news for pre-existing Fallen Earth subscribers who would like to convert to a free-to-play account but are worried about losing access to their alts. "If you had ever bought the game or paid for a subscription, those character slots were included with your game, so they belong to you regardless of the change in business model," writes Joseph "Linus" Willmon. Head to the official Fallen Earth dev blog for more. Fallen Earth devs answer your F2P questions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SWTOR's Damion Schubert pulls some ideas off the Wall of Crazy Posted: 20 Sep 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic Many of you have already heard Lead Systems Designer Damion Schubert talk about the infamous Wall of Crazy. Schubert explains it as a wall full of sticky notes, each one with an idea someone somewhere would like to see implemented into Star Wars: The Old Republic. Most of these are extra game systems that have no direct impact on the core game, such as UI tweaks or minigames. At this point in development, the ideas on the Wall of Crazy have to stay on the Wall of Crazy until after launch. However, in a recent interview with TORWars, Schubert reveals that he was able to bump the priority of a couple of ideas so that we may actually see them at release: Of particular note, the dressing room made it in (alt-rightclick to preview an equipment piece's appearance on you or your companion). The ability for group leaders to mark targets with symbols his party members can see just went in. We also have a couple of minor features we're putting in designed to make it easier for players to find and form groups -- features I'm more willing to talk about once we've vetted them as improvements to the game in general. The obvious implications of marked targets should excite any raid leader, and perhaps the dressing room is the first step toward the fabled appearance tab. We will all find out for sure when the game launches -- when is that, again? SWTOR's Damion Schubert pulls some ideas off the Wall of Crazy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Do you participate in guild events? Posted: 20 Sep 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous The biggest representation of the social aspect of MMO gaming is a player's guild, clan, or kin. (Or supergroup, or linkshell, you get the idea.) Whether it be a tiny group of friends or a huge roster of players with a similar overarching goal, this is the group you can turn to first for help and company in game. Most groups will have some sort of organized event on a semi-regular basis. RIFT's Gaiscioch Family, for example, has organized a huge ongoing event. Many guilds in various games acknowledge their members' busy lives by setting aside a designated night and time to play together. Today we want to know what you think: Are these things your cup of tea, or do you prefer to jump in and out on a more spur-of-the-moment basis? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind! The Daily Grind: Do you participate in guild events? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

MapleStory Adventures scores 3 million players -- before it even launches Posted: 19 Sep 2011 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Browser The Facebook spin-off of MapleStory has hit a big milestone today -- a very big one indeed. Nexon announced that MapleStory Adventures crossed the three million registered player threshold. This feat is more incredible when you consider that the game is still in open beta. MapleStory Adventures is Nexon's first Facebook game, and it is soon to be joined by the company's second: Wonder Cruise. Nexon's been making strategic moves into the social gaming market this year, including a recent partnership with developer 6waves Lolapps. The company saw an impressive 59% increase in revenue last quarter. MapleStory was an obvious choice for a Facebook conversion, considering that the title was already in 2-D and has a mass-market appeal. While MapleStory Adventures is similar in many ways to its predecessor, some elements have been simplified for the platform, such as the number of classes and skill trees. MapleStory Adventures scores 3 million players -- before it even launches originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Newest version update lands for Final Fantasy XI Posted: 19 Sep 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Consoles It's time for players to advance once again in the latest update to Final Fantasy XI. Another increase to the game's level cap has gone live with this patch, with the new cap set to 95, just a stone's throw away from the promised height of 99. But the addition of the newer cap and all that it entails isn't the only thing of note with this update, which includes new battlefields, the next installment in the Voidwatch battles, and of course a plethora of new items and balance tweaks. Along with those major changes comes a host of smaller updates, including a long list of items that can be sent through the mail to other characters on the same account and the addition of Grounds of Valor tomes to several areas previously lacking them. Dynamis has also received another pass of updates, up to and including the option for players to resell any timeless hourglasses they no longer have a use for. It's a good day to be a Final Fantasy XI player, even if waiting for the update to download might feel like an eternity. Newest version update lands for Final Fantasy XI originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2 designers deliver more Asura goodies: Inquest and Golems Posted: 19 Sep 2011 06:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Lore, New titles, Guild Wars 2, Races Other games have Dwarves or Gnomes for their token cutesy miniature race, but filling this role for Guild Wars 2 are the Asura. Last week, ArenaNet devoted a whole week to these spunky munchkins, expounding on everything from their history to architectural influences. Today, Designers Jon Peters, Jeff Grubb, and Ree Soesbee delivered an extra dose of Asura by giving us the lowdown on the Inquest and battle suit Golems. First, Grubb and Soesbee told PC Gamer that the Inquest wanted to be the culture that invented the device that would take down the elder dragons, and its members are willing to do whatever it takes to come out on top. Grubb explained, "Most Asuras will not experiment on sentients. That's one of those things that's just not a good thing. The Inquest don't have that limitation. They are more willing to not just manipulate, but to harm others because they've made the judgment that they're superior and therefore have the right to do what they will without worrying about you." Jon Peters was a little less verbose regarding the Asura's battle suit skills, mostly because these abilities are still in development. However, we learned that although the battle suit is designed for a single operator, when a battle suit is called, any race can pilot it. And when asked if these mechs could be used in PvP, Peters replied, "In World vs World vs World PvP, absolutely yes! In competitive PvP the battle suit will get banned from tournaments." We hope you caught all of ArenaNet's Asura-related activities last week. If not, we have everything you need to know right here, including a wrap-up in today's Flameseeker Chronicles. Guild Wars 2 designers deliver more Asura goodies: Inquest and Golems originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not So Massively: Bloodline Champions gets a revamp Posted: 19 Sep 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Video, Game mechanics, New titles, PvP, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Not So Massively Welcome to Not So Massively, our weekly roundup of the top news from popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and other multiplayer online games that aren't quite MMOs. Published every Monday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Rise of Immortals, Bloodline Champions and more. The big news for MOBA fans this week is the release of Bloodline Champions' colossal Dawn of the Relics update, which has breathed new life into the impressive indie title. Rise of Immortals reveals details of its first post-launch Immortal Trovoc this week, and he's a great big freakin' dragon. In addition to releasing a champion spotlight on Riven, Riot Games this week published new information on how minions will feature in League of Legends: Dominion's point-capturing gameplay. Blizzard revealed this week that PayPal will be handling sales in Diablo III's controversial real-money auction house. In preparation for opening the D3 beta to the public, Blizzard also released a series of new class pages and a Diablo III skill calculator. Fans of the Tribes series will be glad to know that its online multiplayer sequel Tribes: Ascend has officially started accepting applications to join the upcoming closed beta. Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other online games that aren't quite MMOs. Continue reading Not So Massively: Bloodline Champions gets a revamp Not So Massively: Bloodline Champions gets a revamp originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

John Smedley talks free-to-play across the industry Posted: 19 Sep 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous If you've somehow missed the news from earlier today, John Smedley had a chat with us about the impending switch to a free-to-play model for DC Universe Online. So it might not come as a big surprise that he's penned a recent editorial on GamesIndustry.biz regarding the current state of MMO business models and where the industry is heading. It also probably won't surprise most people to see that he envisions the free model overtaking subscriptions, but his reasoning might. As Smedley sees it, free-to-play has a number of advantages, but one of the big ones is that it levels the playing field between big developers and smaller outfits when the games can both be played up-front without an initial investment. It's also more commonly accepted as a worldwide model, which matters in an industry that increasingly looks to other markets aside from the US. Sony Online Entertainment is slowly moving into the free-to-play realm itself, and only time will tell if the model will be a success for DCUO, but it's interesting to see the thought process behind the model expanding on a regular basis. Look for our own interview with Smed regarding his thoughts on the growing free-to-play trend, coming soon. John Smedley talks free-to-play across the industry originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Flameseeker Chronicles: Asura week wrapup Posted: 19 Sep 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Races, Flameseeker Chronicles The videos have been watched, the stories have been read, the short jokes have been made, and we lumbering Bookahs have been put in our collective place. Guild Wars 2's Asura Week is over, bringing with it the end of Guild Wars 2 race reveals. We've now had an in-depth look at all five races of Tyria, and I have to say that these little guys might be my favorite. I was pretty enamored of them after logging some Asura playtime at PAX, and I loved getting to know their cocky little selves even better this week. Follow along after the jump and let's take a look at some of the highlights of Asura Week! Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Asura week wrapup Flameseeker Chronicles: Asura week wrapup originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wings Over Atreia: Aion anniversary, take two Posted: 19 Sep 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia Time to double the candles on the cake for Aion! That's right -- just two short years ago on September 22nd, the world of Atreia opened its skies to a swarm of aspiring Daevas. After a rocky start including horrendous launch week queues, some Daevas folded their wings and left for bluer skies (*cough cough* nothing to see here, move along) while others stuck it out through thick and thin and grind. But even of those who flitted off, many found their way back into Aion over the last two years. And why not? Much has changed. In the past year, NCsoft has added and tweaked the game to make it a better experience for veteran and returning players alike. And that is on top of the many additions brought about in the game during the first year! This is not your 2009 game; Aion has more content and more options. Sometimes, less is even more -- there is even less grind. Now what's a celebration without... celebrating? NCsoft is offering goodies galore to citizens of Atreia throughout the month-long anniversary celebration. And so that no Deava is left out of the festivities, a 10-day reactivation event will take place beginning at 11:00 a.m EDT on September 22nd and running until 11:00 a.m. EDT on October 2nd. All inactive accounts in good standing on or before September 14th are eligible for reactivation. Wondering what exactly you are missing? Catch a breeze and float past the cut as Wings Over Atreia looks at how Aion has evolved over the past 12 months as well as what gifts, goodies, and events await Daevas during the celebration. Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Aion anniversary, take two Wings Over Atreia: Aion anniversary, take two originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Firefall adds pets for you to cuddle... and kill Posted: 19 Sep 2011 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, Previews, Free-to-play, MMOFPS Just in case you thought Firefall was going to be nothing but guns, ammo, and models toting guns and ammo, Red 5 wants us to know that there's a softer side to the game for those who love fluff. Talking with Shacknews, Mark Kern revealed that the shooter MMO will include a pet system for grizzled combat veterans who can't bear to leave the base without the security of Rygel and Princess Pebbles. Of course, this being a red-blooded shooter, Firefall's pet system can't stop with extended grooming and cuddles. "We had had to do little things to actually make it interesting," Kern explained. "Not only can you get a pet, but we're thinking that there's actually an item you can buy in the store to load your gun with special ammunition so you actually shoot the other guy's pet." Red 5 will be hosting an upcoming promotion starting on Wednesday called Crystite Challenge that will give fans a chance to get into the beta and unlock a Penny Arcade "The Merch" pet. "The Merch is awesome because he's all about merchandising and he fits with our item-based theme," Kern said. Firefall is currently in beta and gearing up for a December launch. Curious onlookers would do well to check out Massively's hands-on impressions of the title from PAX. Firefall adds pets for you to cuddle... and kill originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

One Shots: Flying high! Posted: 19 Sep 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Free-to-play, One Shots We're all about aerial shots this week, and we're starting with a submission from Massively reader Chaz: This screenshot is one of the airships in Dungeons and Dragons Online flying over the Stormreach Marketplace. They act as guild halls for guilds, and you can see them traveling above the world night and day. Now it's your turn! Show us your favorite aerial image -- whether it be taken from the ground looking up or from atop a high-flying mount, we want to see! Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots! Gallery: One Shots: 2011 One Shots: Flying high! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Take a ride through LotRO's Gap of Rohan with a new walkthrough video Posted: 19 Sep 2011 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Previews, News items, Free-to-play Lord of the Rings Online is gearing up for the release of its next expansion, Rise of Isengard, and the fine folks at A Casual Stroll to Mordor have your needs covered. After the recent Dunland walkthrough video, the Gap of Rohan is up for display. Of course, fans of the series will recognize Rohan as the home of the horse-loving Rohirrim. But even players encountering the lands of the Horse Lords for the first time will find plenty to love (and plenty to kill). The video shows off some gorgeous scenic landscapes, a variety of cities and settlements, and of course plenty of baddies just waiting to be whacked. Just saddle up and ride on past the cut for the full video. Continue reading Take a ride through LotRO's Gap of Rohan with a new walkthrough video Take a ride through LotRO's Gap of Rohan with a new walkthrough video originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

CCP working on EVE ship spinning patch Posted: 19 Sep 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Sandbox Incarna haters rejoice! OK, maybe rejoice is too strong a word, but surely the return of ship spinning is worth a smile or two, amirite? Today's second piece of EVE Online news comes courtesy of Torfi Frans Olafsson's latest blog post. In it, he mentions how CCP is rethinking its captain's quarters design and working toward reimplementing the ability for bored pod pilots to rotate their cameras around their active ship while docked. The ability disappeared with the introduction of full-body avatars in last summer's Incarna expansion, and Olafsson says that soon "you will simply be able to board and unboard your ship, toggling between captain's quarters and ship spinning mode." Incarna's hefty graphical requirements have also inconvenienced players logging in via "craptop" portable computers that lack gaming-quality hardware, and the post says that fixes for this are on the way as well. Finally, there are a few blurbs about improvements to captain's quarters shaders and new turret graphics. Read all about it at the official EVE website. CCP working on EVE ship spinning patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy Posted: 19 Sep 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, Opinion, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic, Lost Pages of Taborea For months now, it's been no secret that Runes of Magic's economy has been out of whack. I've been sitting on this article, watching and waiting to see what would happen next. The assumption, of course, is that I think something will happen. I keep thinking that Runewaker, Frogster and RoM will align like stars to zap the economy back to its previous state, or that RoM's economy will act like a large, slowly deflating balloon, but nothing's happened for months. That's not to say the something that could happen will never happen. This period of severe inflation is a drop in the bucket compared to the life of the game. But what if the economy stays the way it is? I've stopped asking questions that pointed and started asking how this new economy makes sense. I don't think anything is more wrong with the economy now than it was before. Prices are higher, much higher, on everything. For some, that's enough of a problem, but is it a problem for the operation of RoM? In this week's Lost Pages of Taborea, follow me down the rabbit hole to see how the weird might actually be normal. Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy Lost Pages of Taborea: State of the economy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Online gamers solve microbiology puzzle, contribute to anti-HIV solutions Posted: 19 Sep 2011 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, News items, Massively meta, Miscellaneous Hey guys, look! Gamers are good for something! After struggling for some time to successfully map the structure of M-PMV, "a protein involved in a virus that causes a form of simian AIDS," scientists decided to hand the task off into more capable hands. Unfortunately, the only hands they could find were those of online gamers. Always willing to rise to a challenge, however, the gamers didn't disappoint. Through the use of a program called Foldit, which takes the mapping of molecular structures and transforms them into a sort of puzzle game, gamers (particularly a group calling themselves the Foldit Contenders) were able to successfully map the protein. Scientists hope that the crowdsourced solution can be used to design new drugs, such as treatments for HIV. Way to prove our worth to society, folks. You've made us proud. Online gamers solve microbiology puzzle, contribute to anti-HIV solutions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

GamersFirst teams up with Adknowledge for virtual currency offers Posted: 19 Sep 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, All Points Bulletin, Crime, Post-Apocalyptic, Miscellaneous Free-to-play gamers seem to have no problems paying real-world money for virtual items in their favorite MMORPGs. GamersFirst hopes that its customers will feel similarly about its new partnership with Adknowledge. Who, or what, is Adknowledge? It's the largest privately owned advertising network on the internet, and it's also the parent company of Super Rewards (and you may remember that name in connection with the infamous "offer wall" faux pas attached to Turbine's Dungeons and Dragons Online MMO). Adknowledge's AdStation program allows gamers to earn in-game currency by completing extra-game tasks including watching videos, taking surveys, and subscribing to various online services. This generates advertising leads for Adknowledge clients, and a new GamersFirst press release calls it "a great opportunity for us to get our titles in front of their vast global network." Said titles include APB Reloaded and Fallen Earth, but thus far GamersFirst has not released details on how the games will be affected. [Source: GamersFirst press release] GamersFirst teams up with Adknowledge for virtual currency offers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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