General Gaming Article

---

• 13 Of the Most Realistic Gaming Screen Shots
• Microsoft, Google Trade Barbs Over Former's Patent Tactics
• Right Place, Wrong Time: 9 Technologies Born Before Their Time
• Capitol Police Investigating Tweet from The Onion
• Microsoft Closer to Xbox TV Service
• Firefox 7 Bug Casts Invisibility Spell on Some Add-ons
• Amazon's Silk Browser A Privacy Threat?
• Nokia to Axe 3,500 Jobs and Shutter Factory in Romania
• Browser Extension of the Week: Remember The Milk for Gmail
• Is Chrome Set To Dethrone Firefox?

13 Of the Most Realistic Gaming Screen Shots Posted: 29 Sep 2011 03:44 PM PDT Let's face it: the rate in which games are growing is exponential; we dare any of you to look at a 'groundbreaking' game from ten years ago and not giggle a little. It's scary, awesome, and a little unnerving.  We're rapidly getting to the point where it's going to become difficult to differentiate between the video game world and reality (a prime example being the ArmA 2 snafu made by ITV earlier this week), so we decided to compile our favorite realistic looking titles from the past two years or so.  What did we miss? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft, Google Trade Barbs Over Former's Patent Tactics Posted: 29 Sep 2011 03:18 PM PDT The Microsoft patent juggernaut keeps on rolling. As you all know, Microsoft has managed to force yet another bright star in the Android firmament to sign a patent licensing deal with it. Redmond's patent deal with Samsung, which requires that the latter pay royalties to MS for every Android device it sells, hasn't gone down too well with archrival Google. The search engine giant on Wednesday called the Windows developer on the carpet for its tactics. "This is the same tactic we've seen time and again from Microsoft. Failing to succeed in the smartphone market, they are resorting to legal measures to extort profit from others' achievements and hinder the pace of innovation," Google said in a statement on Microsoft's deal with Samsung. "We remain focused on building new technology and supporting Android partners." Despite the huge internal celebrations over the company's latest patent conquest, it didn't take too long for Microsoft to hit back. Microsoft's head of communications, Frank X. Shaw, responded by condensing the 48-word Google statement to just one: "Waaaah." Shaw then encouraged the Mountain View company to "read paragraph 5 of our blog on the topic." Paragraph 5 of the said blog post reads: "We recognize that some businesses and commentators – Google chief among them – have complained about the potential impact of patents on Android and software innovation. To them, we say this: look at today's announcement. If industry leaders such as Samsung and HTC can enter into these agreements, doesn't this provide a clear path forward?"

Right Place, Wrong Time: 9 Technologies Born Before Their Time Posted: 29 Sep 2011 03:17 PM PDT While it's a fact that some lame-o ideas flat-out just won't die, no matter how long in the tooth they are – VHS tapes, dial-up Internet and DRM, anyone? – the inverse is also true. Sometimes, truly groundbreaking ideas pop onto the scene long before the mainstream is ready to embrace it. Rather than praising the success stories, this article takes a look at the lesser known forefathers that made best sellers like the iPad and Hulu Plus possible. Grab a seat and raise a toast to these technologies born before their time; without them, modern life wouldn't be as comfy and convenient as we know it. Tablet PCs Image credit: edibleapple.com Let's get started with the 800 lb. gorilla in the room: tablet computers. Contrary to what Apple would have consumers and the worldwide courts believe, tablets didn't begin with the iPad. The concept has been around in pop culture for a long, long time – in fact, Samsung recently pointed to the appearance of a tablet in 2001: A Space Oddysey when Apple tried slapping the Galaxy Tab with an injunction request in the U.S. While it's true that the iPad thrust tablets into the limelight, the Apple portable wouldn't have even been created without the legion of unsuccessful tablets that came before it. Plenty of people – including the group mind at Wikipedia – consider the Microsoft Tablet PCs that popped up in the early 1990s as the father of the tablet. Pfah! Tablet-like computers have been around much longer than that. As our evil twins at MacLife.com point out in their excellent "5 Tablet Blasts From the Past" article, Samsung's GRiDpad popped up in 1989, and Apple itself failed with the Newton MessagePad before the iPad and the Apple Graphics Tablet (which interfered with radio signals and raised the FCC's hackles) way back in 1979. Admittedly, the Graphics Tablet and the early 1980s Pencept tablets needed to be hooked up to a separate computer in order to work, but hey, it still kinda counts. Every tablet failed in varying degrees of spectacularness, however, until Steve Jobs hypnotized the world with the iPad in 2010. Instant Boot Image credit: hpmuseum.net PCs that boot instantly are the holy grail of computing. Even if you think tablets are more of a novelty than a useful piece of hardware, you can't deny that their speedy boot times are awesome. News flash: fast boots have been around a lot longer than iPad 2 and ASRock, n00bcakes. In fact, the oddly innovative HP Omnibook 300 sported even faster boot times than Apple's flagship tablet way back in 1993. How'd they do it? By keeping nearly everything – including Word, Excel, and the entire Windows 3.1 operating system – off of the hard drive and running it from ROM memory, instead. The nifty trick created a boot time that was really, truly damned near instantaneous. The 2.9 lb. portable PC packed in a couple of other interesting features, too; it contained a mouse that popped out of the notebook's casing and, in a pinch, it could run on 4 AA batteries. Unfortunately, with a starting price of just a hair under $2000, the Omnibook 300 never really took off. Batteries These days, it's difficult to remember a time without batteries. Sometimes, it seems like everything but the kitchen sink requires a two or ten of the expensive little electricity tubes in order to run. Thomas Edison was in the battery business way back in 1900, and Alessandro Volta invented the first real battery in 1800. But even though batteries seem to have caught on right away, some controversial archaeological evidence suggests that the first battery may have been created over 2,000 years ago in Mesopotamia. Image credit: technology.am Archaeologists have found a number of "Baghdad batteries" near – duh – Baghdad, Iraq. The terracotta jars have a hollow copper cylinder inside, which houses an iron rod in its center. A stopper at the top of the jar keeps the iron rod from contacting the copper, but it isn't watertight; the copper tube can fill with liquid. This odd design led an archaeologist named Wilhelm Koenig to speculate in the 1940 that the ancient Mesopotamians used to fill the jars with lemon or grape juice to create an electrochemical reaction and electroplate gold on to silver objects. After World War II, an American named William Gray whipped up some replicas and filled them with grape juice. Lo and behold, the Baghdad battery responded by spitting out 2 volts of energy. Other archaeologists dispute the theory and argue that the Baghdad batteries aren't batteries at all, but were instead used to hold scrolls. We're not scientists, but the idea of ancient Mesopotamians screwing around with electricity and rocking gold plated jewelry is just too juicy to give up on, so we'll toss our hat in Koenig's ring. CDs/Digital Music Remember the last time you rushed out to your local music store to pick up a hot new cassette tape by one of your favorite artists? Yeah, us either. The digital revolution has taken the music world by storm, leading to the meteoric rise of iTunes, Pandora, and the lawsuit-churning arm of the RIAA. Before that, the 1990s were ruled by gargantuan CD sales. None of it would have been possible without James Russell, who created the first digital-to-optical playback device way back in 1970 – and was promptly ignored by music companies. Russell's primitive CDs were photosensitive platters encoded with one micron-wide "bits" of binary data, which were read by a laser and converted into audible sounds by a computer. Russell and Battelle, his employer, began shopping the technology around to potential licensees in 1974, including recording industry giants Sony and Philips. They didn't bite, but in 1979, the two companies began internal development of digital audio discs. Sounds familiar, eh? A little too familiar: in 1988, Optical Recordings Co. – which held the rights to Russell's patents – received a $30 million infringement settlement from Sony and Philips. Unfortunately, Russell never saw a dime, but music lovers around the world still owe him their gratitude. Image credit: The Seattle Times     QR Codes The face of suck. Image credit: garrickvanburen.com What, two articles that talk about CueCat in the span of a month? Yep. That's how crappy it was. Those QR codes popping up in ads, newspapers, magazines and soda cans owe a big debt of gratitude to that creepy little plastic white Cat. Not because it paved the way for QR codes; oh no, that technology was around before CueCat, even if it didn't become popular until recently. QR codes owe CueCat some thanks because CueCat showed everyone how not to do scannable bar codes. Start with the hardware necessary to scan the codes; whereas anybody with a smartphone can now kickstart a QR code, accessing CueCat codes could only be done with that goofy cat-shaped device manufactured by Digital Convergence. The company did a decent job of getting the units out to the public, but unfortunately, they did an indecent job of collecting personal data from users; they kept track of consumers by utilizing the unique serial identifier tied to each device and the log-in data needed to use it. When tech-savvy CueCat users began blocking the data CueCat transmitted to Digital Convergence, the company responded by pointing to its user agreement, which stated the CueCat readers were simply on loan rather than the property of the end user – giving users no right to "declaw" the CueCat. People just stopped using them, instead. Smooth move, Digital Convergence. It didn't help that the CueCats themselves felt cheap and were a pain in the neck to use. The Mouse Image credit: finestdaily.com The mouse? Who the heck can picture computing without that old standby? Aside, um, from keyboard shortcut junkies and Apple users hooked on the whole Gestures thing, of course. But believe it or not, the mouse wasn't accepted as an integral part of the PC experience when it was created way back in the mid sixties. Douglas Engelbart and Bill English of the Stanford Research Institute created the first mouse, and it was literally a lumbering monstrosity compared to today's sleek laser-sporting peripherals; it was built out of a large brick of wood, with two perpendicular metal gear wheels inside and a small button in its upper-right corner. Why the upper-right corner? Who knows? Maybe Engelbart had a strong pinky. The duo dubbed the device "mouse" thanks to the tail-like cord that snaked out of the bottom of the peripheral to attach to a computer. Telefunken introduced a version that used a ball, rather than perpendicular gears, shortly thereafter and shipped a mouse with every computer it sold, but the mouse didn't hit the mainstream until 1984. That's when the Apple Macintosh hit the mainstream and thrust the Lisa Mouse into the limelight. Even then, there were doubters: at the time, John Dvorak said "There is no evidence that people want to use these things." On-Demand Television: Two Spectacular Failures As download speeds get faster and cable bills skyrocket, more and more people are turning to streaming services like Hulu Plus, Netflix and Apple TV to fill their video viewing needs. Each of the services has had its fair share of hiccups, to be sure – what the hell are you doing these days, Netflix? – but they've all seen relatively decent success, unlike some of their interactive TV forefathers. Interactive Television First up is Qube, a service that Warner Communications rolled out in the Cleveland area in 1977. Qube had a lot of things going for it; it offered a ton of channels for the time period, with 30 in total; those 30 channels were split between 10 normal channels, 10 on-demand pay-per-view movies and events – a cable first – and 10 channels that showed off the platforms interactive abilities, two of which would go on to become MTV and Nickelodeon. Watchers could, for example, answer surveys and polls to provide instantaneous feedback while watching a presidential debate. Qube was incredibly well received and soon expanded to several other cities, but it was also incredibly expensive to implement and run. High operating costs caused Qube's demise and almost took Warner Cable down with it. Check out this link for a full history of the interesting experiment. Image credit: IPriori.com Streaming Video Then came Akimbo. Introduced in 2004, Akimbo offered the same basic service that Hulu does today: streaming, on-demand television. It required a $230 set-top box and a broadband connection; those were the first two strikes against it in the world of 2004. The third strike and most deadly strike was a lack of engaging content. Netflix and Hulu still struggle with content providers worried about devaluing their content; in 2004, the traditional music industry was in the midst of being demolished by the digital music revolution and television producers were worried Akimbo would bring the same troubles to their neck of the woods.   Image credit: informitv.com While Akimbo managed to snag a deal with Turner Broadcasting to bring CNN and Cartoon Network shows to the service, and it also offered a selection of educational content by A&E, the History Channel and National Geographic, most of the shows available were foreign or only of interest to ultra-niche groups, such as yachters or billiards fans. Users also had to pony up a $10/month subscription fee, and "premium content" cost extra while being simultaneously chocked full of ads. As innovative as streaming video was at the time, those limitations and price concerns kept Akimbo from ever really taking off. The company shut down the service in 2007 and closed its doors in 2008. Netbooks Thanks to tablets, netbooks aren't selling at quite the same "Get 'em while they're hot" pace of a few years back. While the little laptop's time in the limelight may have been brief, it came on the shoulders of a line of spectacular failures. The rumored yet never released Palm Foleo. Image source: Engadget Remember that failed Newton tablet that we mentioned earlier? The Apple eMate 300 netbook ran the same Apple Newton OS. As if that wasn't a bad enough omen, the eMate 300 was the portable computer of choice for Batgirl in the craptastic "Batman & Robin" movie. Apple pulled the plug on the entire Newton line in 1997, when the eMate 300 was barely a year old. On the other hand, Psion's diminutive netBook is remarkable not because it failed so hard in the early 2000s – which it did – but because it started slinging cease-and-desist letters to manufacturers, suppliers and even enthusiast websites that used the term "netbook" when it became popular in 2008. The US Patent Office put a halt to that pretty quickly, a surprising move considering the USPTO's track record. Let's end this shindig on an ironic note: one of the most spectacular netbook failures never even came to market and serves as a highlight of the now-defunct Palm's stunningly poor business sense. Palm announced the Palm Foleo, a Linux-based subnotebook computer, in May 2007. Palm envisioned it as being the perfect companion device for smartphones, and like the Omnibook 300, it was supposed to sport an instant boot feature. Unfortunately, Palm was already in the first revolutions of its death-spiral down the toilet drain, and the Foleo was canceled a scant three months after its announcement as part of the company's decision to focus on smartphones and PDAs. The irony? The netbook craze took off just after the death of the Foleo. If the PC had made it to market, it would've been the first netbook available during the feeding frenzy – and possibly made Palm oodles of money. Oh, well. The End…? So, what did we bungle? What did we forget? Which little-used gadget is going to be the next technology to hit it big? Let us know in the comments!

Capitol Police Investigating Tweet from The Onion Posted: 29 Sep 2011 03:17 PM PDT Most of us know that when America's favorite news source, The Onion says something, it's a joke. Not so with the US Capitol police, who are investigating a tweet sent by The Onion this morning. "BREAKING: Witnesses reporting screams and gunfire heard inside Capitol building," the tweet read.  The Onion had a story up today about Congress taking schoolchildren hostage, and demanding $12 trillion for their safe release. Funny, right? But the tweet referencing that story was alarming to many users and the Capitol police are treating this matter seriously. Without context, and after being retweeted, it's alarming indeed. It's hard to say if the cops will realize this is the Onion, and let things go, or press on. Even as a joke it's in bad taste, but does this rise to the level of a criminal matter? It's also worth noting this tweet is still up.

Microsoft Closer to Xbox TV Service Posted: 29 Sep 2011 03:02 PM PDT It's no secret that Microsoft has intentions to make the Xbox 360 a more robust home entertainment device, and the rumors have been that they intend to do that by getting more video content. According to Bloomberg, Redmond is in talks with Comcast and Verizon to get pay TV content on the console. New streaming offerings could be announced as early as next week. It was back at E3 that Microsoft talked up TV services, but other than an ESPN tie-in, little has come of it. In addition to working with cable operators, deals are being worked out with channels like HBO and Bravo. This could come together to make Microsoft a real competitor in digital video streaming. This couldn't be a better time to do it either. Netflix is still dealing with the PR nightmare kicked off by the announcement that the company would be splitting in two. Do you think Microsoft's console gives them the necessary leverage to compete?

Firefox 7 Bug Casts Invisibility Spell on Some Add-ons Posted: 29 Sep 2011 02:42 PM PDT Just a day before the release of Firefox 7, Justin "Fligtar" Scott, product manager for add-ons at Mozilla, touched on the impact of Firefox's current 6-week release cycle on add-on compatibility. Even as he proudly revealed that the open-source outfit had managed to preserve the compatibility of 99% of all add-ons hosted with it while moving from version 6 to 7, Scott conceded that add-ons not hosted on addons.mozilla.org continue to be a problem. However, as it later turned out, they are not the only problem. Writing on the Mozilla add-ons blog on Wednesday, Scott notified Firefox users about the discovery of "an issue in which some users may have one or more of their add-ons hidden after upgrading to the latest Firefox version, affecting both desktop and mobile." "These add-ons and their data are still intact and haven't actually been removed. We paused new updates to Firefox to minimize the potential impact on users and will soon release an update [version 7.0.1] to fix this issue and ensure all your add-ons are visible and usable," he wrote. For those of you who have had enough of your favorite add-ons playing hide-and-seek with you, Mozilla has come up with an interim fix in the form of the Add-on Recovery Tool (download). Apparently, the bug also affects Thunderbird 7. But luckily the above add-on works with the email application as well.

Amazon's Silk Browser A Privacy Threat? Posted: 29 Sep 2011 02:34 PM PDT When Amazon introduced the Kindle Fire tablet, the cloud accelerated Silk browser was one of the headlining features. While the speed and ease of use supposedly offered by Silk is intriguing, some privacy-minded folks are a little concerned. Since all your traffic is passing though Amazon, your browsing history could be at risk. Silk will work by connecting directly to the Amazon EC2 computing cloud. Here, web content will be cached and compressed by Amazon's super-fast back end, and pushed down to the device upon request. The problems start in with the fact that Amazon will retain all the URLs and IP addresses you access for up to 30 days in their cloud. The retailer will also use a certificate to run an SSL proxy, thus allowing them to accelerate HTTPS content as well. Because all of your communications are stored, that makes the data vulnerable to intrusion, or more likely, to law enforcement warrants. There is an 'off-cloud' mode that user can opt into, and Amazon claims that there is no personally identifiable information in the data blocks. Do you trust Amazon on this?

Nokia to Axe 3,500 Jobs and Shutter Factory in Romania Posted: 29 Sep 2011 12:11 PM PDT Job security is a tough thing to come by these days at Nokia. As part of yet another major restructuring effort, the world's largest handset maker is handing out pink slips to 3,500 employees and closing one of its shops in Romania. The latest round of job cuts are on top of the 4,000 Nokia announced back in April. This is a big blow to Romania. Nokia's Cluj factory in Romania, which opened four years ago, is home to 2,200 employees. Reuters says the plant turnover is comparable to 1.3 percent of Romania's GDP from last year. Nokia's other 1,300 job cuts will affect its Location & Commerce business unit in Malvern, Pennsylvania, but that might not be the end of it. The handset maker is also considering slashing jobs at its plants in Finland, Mexico, and Hungary. "We are seeing solid progress against our strategy, and with these planned changes will emerge as a more dynamic, nimble, and efficient challenger," said Stephen Elop, Nokia President and CEO. "We must take painful, yet necessary, steps to align our workforce and operations with our path forward."

Browser Extension of the Week: Remember The Milk for Gmail Posted: 29 Sep 2011 11:51 AM PDT Having your Google Calendar and Gmail available for use everywhere you go is a productivity godsend (or a curse, depending on how you look at it), making it possible to stay in touch and plot out your life no matter where you roam. That said, both of Google's web applications lack anything even close to a useable task management system baked into their interfaces. Fortunately, Remember The Milk's got a solution to this problem, and we feel it's slick enough to be our Browser Extension of the Week.  Remember The Milk for Gmail allows users of Remember The Milk's incredibly versatile online task management service to access their task list through their Gmail interface in Chrome or Firefox. In order to use the extension, you'll need to have a Remember The Milk Account. The good news is that getting one doesn't cost a thing.  After signing up for an account and adding the extension to your browser, navigate to your Gmail interface and boom--you'll find email and task management has been rolled into one big awesome mashup.  Remember The Milk for Gmail automatically syncs with your RTM account, allowing you to review, edit and add new tasks from inside of your Gmail interface. It's even possible to link tasks to specific pieces of mail, Google Calendar events, and Google Contacts. If at any time you decide that you can't bear the thought of how many tasks are awaiting your attention, just click the left side of the Remember The Milk for Gmail interface to tuck it away, out of sight out of mind. Be sure to check back with us every Thursday for another edition of Maximum PC's Browser Extension of the Week.

Is Chrome Set To Dethrone Firefox? Posted: 29 Sep 2011 11:35 AM PDT For years, the browser race was a one-horse affair: it was Internet Explorer's way or the highway. Then Firefox crawled out of the Netscape wreckage and established itself as a viable, free alternative to Microsoft's bundled software. Google's Chrome may be the feisty new kid on the block, but a new report says it very well may unseat Firefox by the end of the year for the worldwide number two slot in the cut-throat browser wars. Computerworld sifted through the data pumped out by StatCounter in order to make the claim. Just yesterday, Firefox's share of the market stood at 26.8 percent, while Chrome clocked in just below that at 23.6 percent. The publication made the prediction based on Chrome's astonishing growth rate; Google's browser has making big gains in market share while both Firefox and Internet Explorer have both been seeing slight decreases. Going by StatCounter's numbers, and assuming current usage trends continue, Chrome should just about break even with Firefox in November and surpass its rival in December. Gregg Keizer, the author of the article, admits that the browser data from Web metrics company Net Applications looks very different. That firm only has Chrome claiming 15.5 percent of usage, with Firefox claiming 22.6 percent. But that firm's overall trend matches StatCounters; Chrome is rapidly gaining ground while users slowly slip away from Firefox and IE. If current trends remain the same, Keizer reports that Chrome should surpass Firefox usage by mid-November in Net Applications' metrics. No matter whose numbers you use, one thing's for certain; Chrome's rise has been nothing short of meteoric. Have you defected to Google's browser, or are you still a Firefox fan?

You are subscribed to email updates from Maximum PC - All Articles To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

MMO News

---

• MapleStory: Ascension now live
• SG Interactive launches GameRage portal
• Conquer Online coming to iPad
• Wrath of Heroes
• GhostX now in open beta
• Dragon Nest officially launches with Saint’s Haven
• Rusty Hearts announces Awakening update

MapleStory: Ascension now live Posted: 29 Sep 2011 05:16 PM PDT Ascension is the latest update to hit MapleStory servers, and features an upgrade to the wedding system and more. For players looking to get involved with the in-game wedding system, a new structure has been set up which requires players to sign documents of commitment. As players stay together in their marriage, they will earn rewards based on their commitment level (including stat boosting rings and a “love chair”). The update also introduces Monster Park, a new area with quests where players can face old and new monsters that are plenty powerful. MapleStory is published by Nexon, which also publishes Mabinogi and Dragon Nest. MapleStory Gameplay Screenshot Source: MapleStory's Ascension Update Now Live For the 75 percent of players who have seen their online marriages end in disaster in Nexon's 2D side-scrolling massively multiplayer online game MapleStory, help is on the way. The game has received a complete wedding system upgrade as part of its Ascension content update, which is available now. Last year in North America, 26,982 in-game marriages were performed with a price tag of $25 per wedding. Of those marriages, 20,344, or 75 percent, have since been annulled at the players' request. With the Ascension update, Nexon hopes to create a more harmonious environment for betrothed Maplers with a restructuring of the wedding system. For players looking to celebrate their love in Maple World, the groom-to-be must visit Moony the Wedding Jeweler to purchase an engagement ring, which he can use to propose to his bride. Once the bride accepts, the engaged couple must sign a document of commitment, which prompts High Priest John to begin the wedding arrangements. After the arrangements are made, via a cash shop reservation ticket, the wedding proceeds with reveling friends, family and even a wedding photographer. To reward players for honoring their matrimony, wedding rings can be exchanged for 30-day commitment rings and 100-day commitment rings. For each commitment level, unique special in game items will become available to the happy couple, which include even stronger stat boosting rings, a love chair and more. Hot on the heels of Chaos' rampage through MapleStory, which introduced PVP, Ice Knight battle mode, a personality trait system and more, Ascension also ramps up party quests for players itching to level up with their guild mates.  Monster Park, which is owned and operated by the friendly and ambitious Speigelmann, swarms with monsters both familiar and new. Players who progress through the story will learn that Speigelmann has ties to some of the most powerful monsters in the game, and the park may be more dangerous than it seems.

SG Interactive launches GameRage portal Posted: 29 Sep 2011 04:49 PM PDT A new gaming portal “GameRage” is now available for players of SG Interactive’s games, including Grand Chase, Pangya, Trickster Online, Project Blackout, and CrossFire Europe. Allowing players to connect to and manage their games through the portal, GameRage will also feature centralized contests and events, a reward zone, a Wall of Fame, and a “mission zone” where players can check out their achievements and milestones (starting with Project Blackout). GameRage is free to access at gamerage.com. GameRage Screenshot Source: SG Interactive Launches GameRage Portal New Online Portal Connects Gamers Around the World IRVINE, CALIF. – September 29, 2011 – SG Interactive, a leading global publisher of online games, is giving gamers a new way to access their favorite titles with the launch of its new online gaming portal, GameRage. The new portal will provide access to the SG Interactive’s entire line of free-to-play games, Grand Chase, Pangya, Project Blackout,Trickster Online, and Crossfire Europe, which recently entered Open Beta testing. GameRage will serve the gaming communities from each of SG Interactive’s titles, as well as provide the gamers with other features, including: Centralized Contests and Events – the SG Interactive community is driven by a multitude of in-game events and contests. To kick things off, players who post a review of GameRage on the game forums will have a chance to win amazing prizes, such as a new laptop, 23.6″ LED monitor, gaming keyboard and mouse, or Rage Points, the universal currency used in every game serviced by GameRage. Mission Zone – gamers can check out their own achievements and compare the accomplishments and milestones of other users in any GameRage title. Project Blackout will be the first to implement this with the rest of SG Interactive’s titles to follow shortly. Reward Zone – GameRage will feature a “Wall of Fame” page where recent winners of in-game events are immortalized. “Since we launched our first online game in the U.S, our community of gamers has become one of the fastest growing in the world,” said Chris Lee, CEO of SG Interactive. “We wanted to provide a simpler way to merge the communities for all of our titles, and GameRage will do exactly that. Gamers from each of our titles can now interact with the larger community, participate in contests and events and earn rewards through GameRage – what better way to ramp up healthy competition?” GameRage is currently live and gamers can register and begin participating in contests by visiting http://www.gamerage.com.

Conquer Online coming to iPad Posted: 29 Sep 2011 04:18 PM PDT Conquer Online, an MMORPG published by TQDigital since 2003, has announced that it will soon be arriving on the iPad mobile platform, with the same free-to-play model currently in place for other PC and Mac gamers. Conquer Online will feature six playable classes with their own unique skill trees, an apprentice system, in-game housing, social options including marriage, mounts, guilds, and PvP. The trailer for the iPad version is below. TQDigital also publishes Eudemons Online and Crazy Tao. Conqueror Online iPad Trailer: Source: Conquer Online, first in the PC MMO space to launch a successful free-to-play MMO in 2003, is now making itself available to even more players. The game is coming soon to iPad, and will be completely free to download with no monthly subscription fee. Now, Conquer Online will have something to enjoy for every type of MMO fan. • Battle-hardened warriors will enjoy the diversity of a diverse selection of six different playable classes and massive skill trees. • Take on an apprentice or find a mentor to learn the ropes and gain more experience on the battlefield. • Kick back with friends by building and furnishing your own in-game House for social gatherings. • Love, marriage and divorce are an integral part of the social nature ofConquer Online! • Mount up, join a respectable Guild and challenge other players in a PvP environment.

Wrath of Heroes Posted: 29 Sep 2011 04:14 PM PDT Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes is a 3D PvP online combat arena, designed to pit players against each other in three-team combat. Players can swap heroes mid-game and challenge each other for a chance at victory. Publisher: EA Playerbase: - Graphics: Medium Type: Multiplayer Online Battle Arena EXP Rate: - PvP: 3 Team Scenarios Filesize: ~800 MB Pros: +Team-oriented combat. +Quick matches. +6v6v6 gameplay. +Ability to change hero mid-battle. Cons: -Limited skills. -Less tactical combat than Warhammer Online. Overview Wrath of Heroes Overview Wrath of Heroes sheds away the grinding, leveling, and gear-search from its predecessor, Warhammer Online, and lets players jump right into the action. Between multiple scenarios, players can change their hero at the start of the fight and upon each death, choosing from some classic Warhammer classes and combinations. Players are placed in teams of up to six and battle in three-team combat for victory and prestige. Wrath of Heroes Screenshots Coming Soon Wrath of Heroes Featured Video Full Review Wrath of Heroes Review Coming Soon Screenshots Wrath of Heroes Screenshots Coming Soon Videos Wrath of Heroes Videos Coming Soon Links Wrath of Heroes Links Wrath of Heroes Official Site System Requirements Wrath of Heroes System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 CPU: Pentium 4 or higher RAM: 256 MB HDD: 2 GB free Graphics Card: GeForce FX5200 or higher Recommended Specifications: OS: Windows XP / Vista / 7 CPU: Pentium 4 or higher RAM: 512 MB HDD: 4 GB Free or more Graphics Card: GeForce 6200 or higher

GhostX now in open beta Posted: 29 Sep 2011 04:05 PM PDT GameKiss has announced that GhostX Ultimate is now in open beta. GhostX Ultimate is a revision to the original GhostX, where players join with Nanobots to fight away invading monsters from another realm. The new version includes a host of content updates, including new mounts, and open beta will also gift players with 5,000 GKash to customize their characters in the new item shop. GameKiss also publishes FreeStyle. GhostX Gameplay Screenshot Source: September 28, 2011 — GameKiss.com, a leading global online game portal, just started hosting Open Beta for GhostX Ultimate. The game is a complete revamp of the older GhostX game that features pet-like Nanobots that help gamers fight back monsters from another realm. “We are very pleased to offer this amazing do-over for the game,” said GM Roberto. “We invite any RPG lovers out there to come try GhostX Ultimate. The innovative Nanobot system combines the traditional MMO class elements of warrior and cleric, but these Nanobots also happen to be loveable pets with their own unique personalities. It’s super-fun to join forces with your Nanobots to smack monsters more and more and get the highest combos!” There have been many new content additions to the game including strange new mounts that let players more quickly explore the urban landscape of GhostX Ultimate. The game can be downloaded and played completely for free at http://www.gamekiss.com — as a special open beta bonus, GameKiss is awarding all accounts with a free amount of 5,000 GKash to fully customize their characters in the brand-new Item Shop.

Dragon Nest officially launches with Saint’s Haven Posted: 29 Sep 2011 03:28 PM PDT Dragon Nest (for North America and Oceania) has moved out of open beta and has officially launched today. The launch comes with a new update that introduces Saint’s Haven, a new city that includes new main quests, daily quests, and more. The level cap has been raised to 32, introducing new skills for each character specialization. Also added are over 250 achievements, ten dungeons, faction vendors, and a new season of PvP ladder shop gear. Dragon Nest is published by Nexon, which also publishes Vindictus and Dungeon Fighter Online. Dragon Nest Gameplay Screenshot Source: Nexon America Launches Dragon Nest, Ushering in a New Era of Action RPG Fun New content added today for both new and max level players LOS ANGELES — September 29, 2011 — Today Nexon America brings the open beta test of Dragon Nest to a close and seamlessly transitions the game into a live, commercial launch. With today's Dragon Nest launch, Nexon is releasing an expansive content update for the PC-based action massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), which includes a new central town, danger-filled dungeons, and an increased level cap. To download and play Dragon Nest for free, go to: http://dragonnest.nexon.net. Dragon Nest follows the story of a band of adventurers as they battle corrupt dragons and their followers in order to save Verathea, the once pure and beautiful world created by the goddess Althea. Players enter this world, join their friends and battle hordes of evil creatures and boss monsters bent on destroying Verathea. "Dragon Nest represents the next big step Nexon is taking to bring exciting, engaging and accessible content to audiences in North America and beyond," said Daniel Kim, CEO of Nexon America. "After witnessing the overwhelmingly positive response to the game during its open beta test, we're confident that Dragon Nest will raise the bar for what an action MMORPG can be." The launch of Dragon Nest brings the open beta test to a close, where servers were packed to capacity by excited players who quickly delved into every nook and cranny of the colorful world. During the open beta test, players accomplished some amazing feats, such as: Players completed 103,387,490 dungeons 439,988 characters reached level 15 and attained the first subclass specialization 206,214 characters reached the game's prior level cap of 24 More than 2,957,400 player deaths occurred in dungeons on Abyss mode, the game's hardest difficulty level The boss responsible for the greatest number of player deaths was General Ummamba, the final boss from the Minotaur's Nest encounter The most anticipated addition to Dragon Nest that's part of today's launch is the addition of Saint's Haven, a sprawling new city filled with vibrant characters. In addition to the quests that advance the main storyline, new daily quests will be available which players can complete for epic quality rewards. Also part of today's update is an increased level cap of 32. Additionally, each character specialization will have six to eight new skills to master. Ten new dungeons are being added as well, allowing players the opportunity to put their newfound skills into action. For the achievement junkies, players can earn more than 250 new achievements stemming from the new dungeons and quests. For fans of Dragon Nest's award-winning player versus player (PvP) game modes, a new season of PvP ladder shop gear will be available for max level players to earn. Faction vendors will also make an appearance for the first time, offering players who have earned high standing among the world's various factions the chance to earn unique items and discounts. Dragon Nest is available to play for free for residents of the United States, Canada and Oceania. Players who participated in the open beta test retain all of the characters, items (including goods purchased from the cash shop) and other enhancements they've made, making for a seamless transition into a fully launched environment. For the latest news and information on Dragon Nest and to download and play for free, visit http://dragonnest.nexon.net.

Rusty Hearts announces Awakening update Posted: 29 Sep 2011 03:04 PM PDT Rusty Hearts will launch its first major content update, dubbed “Awakening,” on October 11. The update expands the Cathedral hub, increases the level cap to 30, and introduces tons of new content including over 120 quests and 500 items for players within the continued storyline that places the crew in search of Lord Vlad. New dungeons will include the Steamworks, Collapsed Halls, Public Baths, and the Guest Villa. Rusty Hearts is published by Perfect World Entertainment, which also publishes Forsaken World and Jade Dynasty. Rusty Hearts: Awakening Screenshots Source: RUSTY HEARTS GIVES PLAYERS WHAT THEY’VE BEEN ASKING FOR WITH FIRST MAJOR UPDATE, AWAKENING September 28, 2011 – Foster City, Calif. – Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a wholly owned US subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), announces ‘Awakening’, the first major content update for Rusty Hearts, its hack n’ slash dungeon crawler MORPG, which will be available on October 11, 2011. This major addition to the fast-paced beat ‘em up game features content that will uncover the history of Curtis Castle and expand the areas in the Cathedral hub world including an increased level cap to level 30, brand new dungeons, a second underground training facility, hundreds of new items, several new skills and weapons for each character, as well as over 120 new rich quests that will allow players to uncover more of Rusty Heart’s lore and storyline. In search for signs of Lord Vlad and his missing fiancé, Frantz and his heroic friends unintentionally resurrect Thanatos, an ancient demon of death, from a sealed statue. While the group is pushed towards a forced alliance with Thanatos, another internal conflict begins as Lord Curtis, the last mortal tyrant of Curtis Castle rises from the grave with a raging surge to expel Lord Vlad, leader of the vampire armies, and all intruders that stand in his way. “Since the simultaneous open beta launch and full release for Rusty Hearts less than a month ago, players can’t get enough of the game and have been asking for more exciting content,” said Mark Hill, Game Producer for Rusty Hearts. “Now players will need to be ready to do their very best to conquer the game’s new dungeons that also feature subdungeons within themselves, while defeating new and stronger epic bosses with abilities to viciously attack from below, deliver freezing blasts, and summon healing minions.” Among a slew of exciting features and a plethora of new content, the ‘Awakening’ update highlights new dungeons to raid and dominate: •    Steamworks – Battle Lord Vlad’s comrades and be very careful as you step into a world of machinery and traps. This maze of broken pipes releases hot fumes and poisonous gases that require nerves of steel. •    Collapsed Halls – Overthrow enemies lurking in the shadows while navigating your way through halls of ruins. Rumor has it that those who have entered have never returned, yet can still be seen wandering these halls. •    Public Baths – Haunted with wicked minions, find your way through these baths without losing your towel or cool as you encounter a variety of mean bosses including giant ogres, archers, and well-equipped shark-men. •    Guest Villa – Meet new tenants and discover the reason for the unfinished renovations on this warehouse turned into cryptic villa. New players can learn more details, sign up and download Rusty Hearts for free at http://rustyhearts.perfectworld.com/ Join the Rusty Hearts community here: http://www.facebook.com/RustyHeartsGame

You are subscribed to email updates from MMO Hut To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

MMO Updates

---

• Huge crafting changes in store for Final Fantasy's 1.19 patch
• Players of the world vs. Malephar: Fiesta Online creates the ultimate showdown
• Captain's Log: What's your (energy) type?
• Dark Age of Camelot gears up its newbies
• Star Trek Online outlining the road to free-to-play
• Blizzard's not talking about its unannounced MMO at BlizzCon this year, either
• The Daily Grind: What MMO will never see the light of day?
• More talk of an Avatar MMO surfaces from director James Cameron
• BlizzCon 2011 brings in Foo Fighters for concert -- and to fight the foo
• Choose My Adventure: RIFT sealed
• Brian Clayton on the City of Heroes Freedom launch
• WildStar gives players a taste of the sound of the world
• Massively Exclusive: Eden Eternal teases the Templar
• A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Freedom content
• Video interview with Chris McDonough reveals more details on World of Darkness
• Enter at Your Own Rift: Tackling the question of which is better
• PlanetSide 2 devs answer questions via Twitter
• Steam Daily Deal features RIFT for less than a value meal
• One Shots: Come up, enjoy the view!
• Massively Speaking Episode 167
• LotRO dev diary talks Dunland, new dev tools
• Free for All: Smedley helps us understand free-to-play
• Allods Online's Undaunted update coming October 11th
• FFXIV takes to YouTube Live for its one-year anniversary

Huge crafting changes in store for Final Fantasy's 1.19 patch Posted: 29 Sep 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Final Fantasy XIV, Crafting Final Fantasy XIV players are still eagerly waiting on the delayed patch 1.19, a patch that seems to grow bigger by the day. If you're into crafting, then 1.19 will be the equivalent of a full-scale renovation of your favorite hang-out spot. Square-Enix posted the work-in-progress list of 1.19 crafting changes on the Final Fantasy XIV forums, and it is truly a List of Lists. If you like to scroll, then you're going to be in heaven. This comprehensive list includes new recipes, updated and abolished recipes, and all of the changes to places where you can find, buy and sell materials needed. Several of the new recipes coming with 1.19 won't require as many materials, and fearing an unbalanced economy because of that, the devs have reduced the amount of mats needed for intermediary parts recipes and how much those recipes produce. The devs are also removing the need for copper ingots entirely, as the material will no longer be needed for any recipes. Huge crafting changes in store for Final Fantasy's 1.19 patch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Final Fantasy XIV forums

Players of the world vs. Malephar: Fiesta Online creates the ultimate showdown Posted: 29 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Free-to-play The colorful Fiesta Online -- the party MMO that is always prepared to breakdance if someone turns on a beat -- has conga'd forward with its latest update: Malephar's Lair. Named for a nasty centaur who doesn't play well with others, the update has plenty of new challenges for high-level players. Geared-up level 105 players can attempt to take Malephar down in his fortress, but before they do so they'll have to beat a pair of mini-bosses that serve as gatekeepers to the encounter. Take him down, and new legendary weapons will be yours for the taking! The update also includes 10 additional sets of armor, class balances, repeatable quests for those levels 89 and higher, and a special unicorn mount that lasts for just a week and can only be obtained by excelling in the guild tournaments. [Source: gamigo press release] Gallery: Fiesta Online Players of the world vs. Malephar: Fiesta Online creates the ultimate showdown originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Captain's Log: What's your (energy) type? Posted: 29 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Captain's Log Captain's Log, Stardate 65244.9... Hello, computer (and players)! Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear meeeeeee, happy birthday to me. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Yes, today is my birthday, and the best present I could receive is being able to share this week's Captain's Log with you all. As we get closer and closer to the F2P re-launch of Star Trek Online, I expect that there will be new captains tuning into this column each week, so to help support our new comrades in between the weeks that feature an influx of breaking news and developments, I am going to be taking some time to educate everyone on a few of the game's mechanics. When I first started playing STO, I often found myself wondering about many of the choices available to my different characters. From armor to shields, deflectors to engines, and kits to weapons, there is an endless array of options that we can decide to play with and use. One of the most frequently asked questions I get from new players is, "What is the best energy type to use for my ship's weapons?" In the past, when I really did not know much, I would choose my type by the color it emitted. I now know that "pretty" does not equal "power." While each type has its own special bonuses, it's up to you to decide which to use and why. Here's to hoping I can aid in that decision. Ensign, warp 10! Let's take a look at the spectrum of colors and their abilities... Continue reading Captain's Log: What's your (energy) type? Captain's Log: What's your (energy) type? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dark Age of Camelot gears up its newbies Posted: 29 Sep 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Dark Age of Camelot, Game mechanics, Dev Diaries As part of Mythic's continued efforts to introduce a "New User Journey" experience that's friendly to Dark Age of Camelot beginners, the studio has turned its attention to the ever-crucial subject of gear. In a new dev diary by DJ Frazier, the dev spells out the problem: "For a new player who wanders into battlegrounds, especially ones like Thidranki or Molvik, they will often find themselves losing almost every fight they encounter, simply because they are playing against people who have had a chance to outfit themselves out in the best equipment they can find for their level range." Because the team fears that this armor disparity proves to be a dealbreaker for many newbies, the devs are retuning the gear that players get during their leveling up process to be more durable and competitive on the battlefield. The two main paths of leveling -- PvE questing and RvR battlegrounds -- will both offer solid picks of gear when patch 1.110 hits. Players who risk the battlegrounds will find themselves in possession of top-notch weapons and armor, whereas those who choose to quest will find themselves "90% of the way there" with their gear. Hopefully, these changes will create an environment that's much more welcoming to newcomers to DAoC. Dark Age of Camelot gears up its newbies originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Dark Age of Camelot

Star Trek Online outlining the road to free-to-play Posted: 29 Sep 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Previews, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play The conversion to free-to-play isn't here yet for Star Trek Online, but it's on its way. And like so many things in the franchise, it's starting off with a sacrificial redshirt. Specifically, it's kicking off with the advent of the RedShirt test server for the game, as explained in the first "Path to F2P" blog entry on the official site. It's not that Tribble, the longtime test server, is being removed altogether -- instead, it's being repurposed to allow current subscribers a preview of the game's upcoming conversion. According to executive producer Stephen D'Angelo, Tribble will reopen for players on the 29th, although it will not be accepting character transfers upon opening. This is intentional, as the development team wants players to test out the new early portions of the game and enjoy the revised experience. It's the start of what promises to be a long path, but current subscribers and the team behind the game get to walk it one step at a time. Star Trek Online outlining the road to free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: STO dev blog

Blizzard's not talking about its unannounced MMO at BlizzCon this year, either Posted: 29 Sep 2011 06:30 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles Remember that one time when Blizzard accidentally leaked some info stating that it's working on a new MMO (codenamed "Titan"), and we all got excited? And then BlizzCon happened, and we all thought the studio would tell us more, but it didn't? And then remember when that happened the next year, too? Well, it's happening again this year. In a clarification statement to IGN, Blizzard has confirmed that it will not be discussing the "unannounced MMO" during BlizzCon 2011. This following a VentureBeat interview with M2 Research senior analyst Billy Pidgeon who predicted that news of Titan must be breaking at this October's event. Oh well, we still have emote dance contests and the Foo Fighters, right? Blizzard's not talking about its unannounced MMO at BlizzCon this year, either originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: IGN

The Daily Grind: What MMO will never see the light of day? Posted: 29 Sep 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous MMO veterans probably remember DAWN, an "MMO" planned by Glitchless, which famously spawned the a company is at steak! meme before anyone called them memes. DAWN promised more features than any MMO had ever seen: permadeath, reproduction, player police and prisons, home construction, enforced roleplaying. You name it, Glitchless claimed it'd be in the game. And it would have likely been an amazing sandbox... if it hadn't been a scam meant to fool the gullible. We've all come across games that scream vaporware, even if the developers aren't exactly in on the joke. Today, we want to know what MMO out there has you convinced it'll never actually launch, and why. Is it because of dodgy developers biting off more than they can chew? A skittish publisher with a track record for early cancellations? A naive or dated pricing scheme, graphics set, or understanding of the competition? Whatever the reason, tell us: What upcoming MMO will never see the light of day? 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: What MMO will never see the light of day? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

More talk of an Avatar MMO surfaces from director James Cameron Posted: 28 Sep 2011 09:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items Hollywood IPs don't have the greatest track record when it comes to making the transition to the MMORPG space, but celebrated film director James Cameron recently told IGN that he thinks his Avatar franchise is up to the task. In an interview that touches on 3-D entertainment, single-player gaming, and real-world themepark rides, Cameron also says that "Avatar is a perfect IP for an MMO." The massively multiplayer portion of the project seems to be in its infancy, as the director notes that the fictional universe established in the 2009 blockbuster needs to be fleshed out and expanded via the upcoming sequels before consumers can fully grasp how big Avatar really is. "The film is really just a leaping off point," Cameron says, "so we've got to create a rich and diverse world that lives well beyond the films." This isn't the first time that scuttlebutt about an Avatar MMO has hit the intarwebs. Cameron's producing partner Jon Landau floated the topic in early 2010, and UbiSoft originally planned to release an Avatar MMO in conjunction with the film's holiday 2009 debut. More talk of an Avatar MMO surfaces from director James Cameron originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: IGN interview

BlizzCon 2011 brings in Foo Fighters for concert -- and to fight the foo Posted: 28 Sep 2011 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Events, real-world, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous Are you ready to rock? I SAID, ARE YOU READY TO ROCK? Oh, you are? Well then, you had better hope you already have a ticket to this year's BlizzCon, as the Foo Fighters are planning to take the center stage for a concert to end all concerts. The Foo Fighters join Ozzy Osbourne and Tenacious D as the latest headlining act for Blizzard's annual convention. It's become tradition to end the weekend with a huge concert, and Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl is prepared to give the crowd an experience like no other: "We're pretty sure that in the future, music historians will look back at BlizzCon 2011 as the unquestionable pinnacle of Foo Fighters' long and illustrious career. We look forward to living up to that prediction by bringing the Horde and Alliance together to rock the hell out of Anaheim next month." While BlizzCon is already sold out, there are virtual tickets and DirecTV options still available for die-hard fans. The convention will take place in California's Anaheim Convention Center on October 21st and 22nd. BlizzCon 2011 brings in Foo Fighters for concert -- and to fight the foo originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: WoW Insider

Choose My Adventure: RIFT sealed Posted: 28 Sep 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Galleries, Screenshots, Opinion, Choose My Adventure, RIFT Here we are: the last hurrah, the final hour, the closing curtain, the rift sealed. Although it would be unfair to say that I have done everything in RIFT, I believe my experience has been well-rounded. I have done PvP, invasions, solo content, and group content -- even a little bit of resource gathering and crafting. One thing I can say with all certainty is that RIFT has a lot to offer, and the developers at Trion have put a lot of good work into the game. Beyond the cut, I would like to break down my general experiences in game. Some were good; some were bad. Unfortunately, if you are looking for a straightforward review, then you're not going to find that here. RIFT is a complex game, and depending on what you're looking for, your experience will vary. Most of what you obtain from this game will be proportionate to how much you personally put into it. But instead of rambling on here, I'll explain what I'm talking about beyond the break. Follow me there. Gallery: CMA: RIFT Continue reading Choose My Adventure: RIFT sealed Choose My Adventure: RIFT sealed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Brian Clayton on the City of Heroes Freedom launch Posted: 28 Sep 2011 06:30 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Business models, Interviews, Launches, News items, Free-to-play City of Heroes has launched its free-to-play hybrid model at long last, and all that remains for players to do is enjoy all of the options that City of Heroes Freedom provides. Well, and possibly wonder what the game's development schedule will look like from here on out, maybe ask a few questions about the pricing in the store, debate which player options have the most value, and so forth. Come to think of it, there are a lot of things to still be done. We had the opportunity to ask a few questions of executive producer Brian Clayton about what's going on behind the scenes of City of Heroes Freedom. Jump on past the break for a postmortem of the launch, discussions of what's to come in the store from here on out, and more information about what VIPs can expect from future updates. Continue reading Brian Clayton on the City of Heroes Freedom launch Brian Clayton on the City of Heroes Freedom launch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

WildStar gives players a taste of the sound of the world Posted: 28 Sep 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Previews, News items, WildStar It's hard not to find something familiar in WildStar's fusion of the wild west aesthetic with the exploration of an unfamiliar planet in deep space. That having been said, most people anticipating the game would likely find nothing to fault with that combination in terms of visuals. But what will the game sound like? That's what this week's WildStar Wednesday addresses, with a piece by Jeff Kurtenacker about composing the music you'll hear in-game. As Kurtenacker puts it, the biggest challenge as a composer is to create music that combines the game's diverse thematic points into a unified score, producing the right mixture of wonder, adventure, and a bit of old frontier exploration. But if all the technical discussion of composition is a bit beyond you, the post also includes two sample tracks from the game's soundtrack, a chance for players to get a sense of what to expect from the finished experience. The tracks are brief, but they're certainly the sort of thing that gets you in the mindset of the game -- and that's just what they're there for. WildStar gives players a taste of the sound of the world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: WildStar Wednesday: The recipe for perfect music

Massively Exclusive: Eden Eternal teases the Templar Posted: 28 Sep 2011 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, News items, Free-to-play Earlier this week, Aeria Games announced that a new update would be coming to Eden Eternal sometime early in October. One of the features planned for said update is a new class, the Templar. To tease Eden Eternal fans, Aeria has given us a short trailer showcasing a Templar and his magic-wielding friend going toe-to-toe with a number of monsters. For the full trailer, head on past the cut, and then click over to Eden Eternal's website to play for yourself. Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Eden Eternal teases the Templar Massively Exclusive: Eden Eternal teases the Templar originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Freedom content Posted: 28 Sep 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Business models, Expansions, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter So last week, I had meant to cover all of the impressions from the head start of City of Heroes Freedom. What I actually managed to cover was the Paragon Market, which is to the whole of City of Heroes what my nose is to the rest of my face. It's not the first time that a small part has taken over a column, though, and so we're bravely forging ahead into the actual content updates that came along with this patch. And let's be honest, they're pretty significant -- a new zone, a new signature arc, changed power pools, and so forth. Unfortunately, my time with the new content hasn't been as extensive as I would have liked, so there are some parts of the update that I really haven't gotten to sink my teeth into just yet. But I can definitely offer my feedback on what I have seen so far and hopefully rectify the stuff that I've still missed out on in the near future. So is this update all that and a bag of chips, or is it somewhat less awesome than advertised? Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Freedom content A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Freedom content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video interview with Chris McDonough reveals more details on World of Darkness Posted: 28 Sep 2011 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Horror, Video, Interviews, Previews, News items, World of Darkness, Miscellaneous There are a lot of gamers pretty interested in World of Darkness, and it's not hard to see why. The game is based in lore that's still hugely influential in the arena of tabletop gaming, and it's hard to imagine a developer better suited to labyrinthine political dramas than CCP. Machinima.com had a chance to chat with Chris McDonough during the recent Grand Masquerade, where McDonough revealed a few more tidbits about what the game would incorporate and how it would cater to existing fans of the property. As McDonough puts it, the overall goal is to bring some of the feel of the game's many LARP activities into the MMO space, with the focus on player and character interplay in a sandbox environment. The full interview also discusses the spread of the overall property, why the team decided to focus on vampires initially, and more about what players can expect from the game world. View the full interview after the break. [Thanks to Pilgrim for the tip!] Continue reading Video interview with Chris McDonough reveals more details on World of Darkness Video interview with Chris McDonough reveals more details on World of Darkness originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Enter at Your Own Rift: Tackling the question of which is better Posted: 28 Sep 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Opinion, Races, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift From the first day that RIFT launched, an endless debate has erupted around one central issue. Players have chosen their sides and dug in deep defending them. It's led to countless arguments and a six-month battle that gets worse with each passing day. For this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I've decided to tackle this debate head on and really look at what divides the two sides. That's right -- the time has come to finally decide which is better: Guardian or Defiant. Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Tackling the question of which is better Enter at Your Own Rift: Tackling the question of which is better originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

PlanetSide 2 devs answer questions via Twitter Posted: 28 Sep 2011 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2 MMO Crunch has the details on Sony Online Entertainment's PlanetSide 2 Twitter question-and-answer session that went down on September 16th. The chat covered a lot of ground and answered quite a few of the PlanetSide nation's most burning questions. What kinds of questions? Well, there are bits about customizable armor, bunny hopping, strafing, sun glare as it affects pilots, online vs. offline skill training, and dozens more where those came from. PlanetSide 2 fans will also be happy to know that each of the game's continents will support over 2000 simultaneous players, and said continents will feature varied environments including snow-covered terrain, glaciers, and forests. Check out an abbreviated list of discussion points after the break. Continue reading PlanetSide 2 devs answer questions via Twitter PlanetSide 2 devs answer questions via Twitter originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: MMO Crunch

Steam Daily Deal features RIFT for less than a value meal Posted: 28 Sep 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, News items, RIFT RIFT's Ashes of History game update went live today, and as if to celebrate the occasion, the game is on sale for 75% off on Steam. That's right, a $30 value can be yours for a mere $7.50. But be sure to act quickly; the sale ends tomorrow. If you're interested in the deal, just head on over to the game's Steam page to snag it for yourself. Steam Daily Deal features RIFT for less than a value meal originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Save 75% on RIFT -- Steam

One Shots: Come up, enjoy the view! Posted: 28 Sep 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, One Shots We've got another World of Warcraft screenshot on today's One Shots, thanks to Massively reader Tim: Back in the days of The Burning Crusade, when I still played, I caught myself looking at an amazing scene while flying around to turn in some reputation quests. Aldor Rise looked like a scene from a painting, and my screenshot button agreed. We've got a little surprise for you -- this is One Shots' final week. Friday will be the last edition of this feature, but don't fret. One Shots is stepping aside to make room for something new here at Massively, and we think you're going to love it. Watch the site beginning Monday, October 3rd to see what's new! For now, if you want to make one final contribution to One Shots, you've still got a few days left. Grab your favorite screenshot, 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: Come up, enjoy the view! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Speaking Episode 167 Posted: 28 Sep 2011 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, Interviews, News items, Opinion, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous Massively Speaking Episode 167 is back as Shawn and Rubi discuss the week's biggest MMO news, including City of Heroes: Freedom's launch and the announced retail release date for Star Wars: The Old Republic. In the second half of the show, Shawn's joined by PitchBlack Games founders John Kenison and Warren Weems to discuss their upcoming sci-fi MMO, Prime: Battle for Dominus. Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to shawn@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes. Massively Speaking is the official podcast of Massively.com. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Shawn Schuster and Community Manager Rubi Bayer, Massively Speaking takes on the week's biggest news and dev interviews with plenty of opinion, rants, and laughs thrown in for good measure. Join us every Wednesday afternoon to listen in and see what we'll say next! Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 167 Massively Speaking Episode 167 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

LotRO dev diary talks Dunland, new dev tools Posted: 28 Sep 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play Lord of the Rings Online's latest dev diary is hot off the presses, and to no one's surprise, it's all about Dunland (i.e., the new content region released in this week's Rise of Isengard expansion). Turbine's Jessie "Vastin" King is your guide to what's new and exciting in virtual Middle-earth, and the blog entry is heavy on LotRO's story elements as it explains the devs' approach to setting the game slightly off the path trod by Tolkien's famous fellowship. "It's in these areas where interesting characters, environments and stories lay in the tantalizing realm of suggestion," King explains. The dev blog also mentions a new approach to dynamic quests, NPCs, and events, and King says that the expansion is just the beginning as Turbine seeks to make its version of Tolkien's world that much more immersive. "As we settle into the use of some of these new tools, you should discover yourself in the midst of more dramatically changing towns, actively engaged NPC's, and roiling conflicts," the diary states. LotRO dev diary talks Dunland, new dev tools originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Dunland dev blog

Free for All: Smedley helps us understand free-to-play Posted: 28 Sep 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Business models, Interviews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Free for All, Miscellaneous John Smedley has been in this business a long, long time. Under his eye, Sony Online Entertainment has released some of the most influential and controversial titles out there. It should surprise no one that he has had to become very flexible when it comes to his customers, but he's also very decisive when it comes to fluctuations in the market. One of those fluctuations is the coming of free-to-play gaming and unlimited trial payment models. Of all the audiences in the world of gaming, SOE's tend to skew a bit older. These are players who might not appreciate all changes and who definitely know what they like. And so when Smedley and SOE released freemium titles like Free Realms and rolled out free versions of one of their most popular titles, EverQuest II, some said it would be the end of SOE. Well, they're still here. And Smedley was kind enough to take some time to talk to me about this very subject. Click past the cut for more! Continue reading Free for All: Smedley helps us understand free-to-play Free for All: Smedley helps us understand free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Allods Online's Undaunted update coming October 11th Posted: 28 Sep 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online The latest Allods Online press release features the words "more dangerous enemies" in both italics and a big, bold capitalized font. As such, we're thinking that gPotato is keen on highlighting the fact that the game's latest update is going to give players quite a challenge. We'll find out for sure on October 11th, as Allods' Undaunted update brings new bosses, more astral demons, and "a harrowing survival mode" to Astrum Nival's $12 million free-to-play opus. The patch is geared toward high-level players, but never fear newbs, you haven't been forgotten. Undaunted features a "refreshed" new player experience as well as a streamlined UI that gPotato says makes it "easier than ever to take charge of the action." [Source: gPotato press release] Allods Online's Undaunted update coming October 11th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

FFXIV takes to YouTube Live for its one-year anniversary Posted: 28 Sep 2011 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Final Fantasy XIV, Community Q&A Lights... camera... internet connection... aaand action! To celebrate Final Fantasy XIV's first anniversary, Square-Enix's Naoki Yoshida will be taking the stage for a live edition of the Producer's Letter. This event will happen on October 4th at 8:00 p.m. EDT on YouTube Live. Yoshida will use the time to field player questions from around the world and will also talk about the future of the title as it heads into its second year of operation. Final Fantasy XIV will celebrate its first anniversary on September 30th. For Massively's musings on where the game's been and where it's going, make sure to check out this past week's Mog Log for the full skinny! FFXIV takes to YouTube Live for its one-year anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: FFXIV Core

You are subscribed to email updates from Massively To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610