General Gaming Article

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• How To Check Your (Rooted) Android Phone for Carrier IQ
• Facebook Flaw Exposed Private User Photos
• Android Market Hits 10 Billion Downloads, Google Celebrates with 10-Day Sale
• Sol Republic Tracks Headphone Review
• 20 Great Games for Under $20
• Fortinet Reveals Top 8 Security Predictions for 2012
• 5 Essential Tips for Winter-Guarding Your Gadgets
• Intel, Micron Give Birth to World's First 20nm 128 Gigabit MLC Device
• AMD Shaves 800 Million Transistors Off Bulldozer Without Physically Changing The Chips
• And the Survey Says!: AT&T Last in Customer Satisfaction

How To Check Your (Rooted) Android Phone for Carrier IQ Posted: 06 Dec 2011 03:07 PM PST Discovering that user-activity logging program Carrier IQ might be loaded on your phone is like finding out there's a peeping tom in your neighborhood: You want to find out if your house was on the scumbag's route or not. Well, if you have a rooted Android phone, you can do just that, thanks to a utility by Trevor Eckhart, the dev responsible for uncovering this scandal. Eckhart posted an .APK that allows these Android users to test their devices for programs like CIQ, and it's available as a free and paid ($1) version. (The latter allows you to not only find the offending software, but also remove it.) His post over at XDA-Developers.com says: "It can be used to verify what logging is being done on your phone and where data is going to. It will assist you in manually removing parts you do not running (see post#1), or you can go pro for automatic everything (and support me)." Both The Verge and RedmondPie tested this on Samsung Galaxy SII devices, and in their cases, the tests came up negative. The Verge notes, however, that users in the related forums did experience a few issues, so you'll want to exercise caution if you give this a shot. For more info, or to download the free version, click here to go to the post at XDA-Developers.com. (Bear in mind, to get the pro version, users will have to install the free version first and then pay a buck over at the Android Market to get a pro key.) Again, this is for rooted Androids only. Oh, and before you install, you'll also want to enable "Unknown sources" in Settings > Applications. Are you going to give it a shot? If you do, be sure to report on your findings below.   TechnoBuffalo.com is a technology site created by a team of professional writers that are self-proclaimed tech-enthusiasts. Their articles cover a breadth of technology-related issues and topics from the everyday uses to the business side of the industry.

Facebook Flaw Exposed Private User Photos Posted: 06 Dec 2011 02:57 PM PST For a few hours today, Facebook users were able to snoop around in other users' private photos thanks to a flaw in the Facebook code. Interestingly, the issue was present in the abuse reporting tool. The flaw did not expose all a user's photos, but several choice snapshots could be harvested with the hack. Facebook patched the exploit, but not until the Internets snatched some of Zuckerberg's personal photos. Here's how it worked: a user could click the report "inappropriate profile photos" link on someone's page to start the process. If they selected "nudity or pornography" as the reason, the reporting tool would have the reporting party point out an offending photo to help the Facebook staff confirm the infraction. The issue being that the system would pull up even private photos here. If the two users were friends, the full-resolution version could be snatched. Facebook confirmed and fixed the problem shortly after it was reported, but it just goes to remind us that nothing you put on the Internet is truly private. Do you keep images on Facebook you'd prefer others not see?

Android Market Hits 10 Billion Downloads, Google Celebrates with 10-Day Sale Posted: 06 Dec 2011 02:36 PM PST As Google's Android platform continues to dominate smartphone sales, the big G has decided to update us all on a significant milestone. As of last weekend, the Android Market has exceeded 10 billion app downloads. According to Google, the current rate is more than 1 billion per month. In celebration of this momentous occasion, Google has worked with top app developers to sell some premium apps for just $0.10. The sale will run 10 days and includes some really stellar titles like Fieldrunners HD, Minecraft, Soundhound infinity, and Switfkey X. The best part, each day Google will be switching out the sale apps, so make sure to check back daily. Many of these apps usually sell for $6 or $7, but you can get them for next to nothing.  As OEMs continue to pump out new phones on a weekly basis, we expect the Android Market will continue to grow. It's worth noting that Google is just talking about total downloads, not sales in this announcement. Some developers claim that revenue from paid apps is still not where it should be. Will you be taking advantage of Google's generosity?

Sol Republic Tracks Headphone Review Posted: 06 Dec 2011 12:47 PM PST If you can find better $100 headphones, buy 'em! Money can't buy you love, but 100 bucks will buy you a better set of headphones than we would have thought possible before we strapped Sol Republic's Tracks to our noggin.  The Tracks feature a very unconventional design in which the ear cups slide up and down—or even completely off—a spring-plastic headband with a thick but short cushion at the top of its arc. The ear cups are large—nearly 1.5 inches thick—but generously padded. The design seems rugged enough, but it's not very portable (even if you dismantle it, remove the cable, and stash the components inside your computer bag).  We generally prefer circumaural designs that fit around our ears, as opposed to phones such as these, which rest on them. Circumaural phones are more comfortable to wear during long listening sessions, especially if you wear earrings. They're also more effective at both isolating you from outside noise, and preventing the music you're listening to from leaking into the environment, which might annoy people around you. Bowers & Wilkins managed to avoid both these problems with their exceptional P5 on-ear headphones (you can read our review here), but those phones are triple the price of the Tracks. The ear cups on Sol Republic's Tracks headphones slide up and down a spring-plastic headband.  After extensive testing, the Tracks proved to be more comfortable to wear than we had expected, and leakage was less of an issue than we'd anticipated. But the rubber material wrapped around the headphone cable made an irritating noise whenever it rubbed against our shirt collar (which was every time we'd turn our head). This problem is compounded by the fact that there are two cables, one for each ear cup. On the bright side, for Apple device users at least, the two cables come together in an inline three-button remote control with buttons for volume, pause/play, track forward/back, and (on the iPhone) accept/reject incoming call.  Turning our attention to the Tracks' performance, allow us to emphasize what we said at the beginning: These headphones sound much better than we expected them to for the price. We've been using the Accidental Powercut series of albums, published by Bowers & Wilkins' Society of Sound subscription music service, to evaluate headphones because these live dummy-head recordings were engineered specifically for headphone listening. First up was Sound of Rum's "Rumba," from Accidental Powercut 2. The Tracks did an excellent job of rendering rapper Kate Tempest's rapid-fire rhymes perfectly distinct. When we turned our ears to "Ant House," by the instrumental group Speakers Corner Quartet, the unusual combination of flute, cello, contrabass, and drums exposed the Tracks' limited ability to produce crisp highs, especially the drummer's rim shots and delicate cymbal work.  Listening to tracks in which individual instruments aren't so exposed, ranging from "If This is Goodbye," from the Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris collaboration All the Roadrunning, to "Aïr-Tombouctou," from Afro-rock-band Toumast's second album, Amachal, gave us an opportunity to evaluate the Tracks' bass performance. They're just a tiny bit flabby on this score, but the flaw is exposed only in A/B comparisons with more expensive phones, such as the aforementioned P5s.  Sol Republic delivers a solid pair of on-ear phones; we haven't heard anything better in this price range—or even slightly above it.

20 Great Games for Under $20 Posted: 06 Dec 2011 11:50 AM PST In today's gaming landscape where so many of the must-have new releases launch at 60 dollars, it's great that the PC is loaded with a ton of affordable alternatives. There are a lot of great games out there that cost less than twenty bucks apiece. Who cares about Battlefield 3 when we can get three, four, five, or even more games for the same price? True diamonds, but with a cubic zirconia price tag, these games span a variety of genres, from turn-based strategy to first person shooters to tower defense. They're all great games, and all cost less than twenty Washingtons.

Fortinet Reveals Top 8 Security Predictions for 2012 Posted: 06 Dec 2011 11:11 AM PST Tis the season for many things, like spreading holiday cheer, grabbing swank electronics gear on sale, and watching holiday classics like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story (funny movies no matter which, if any, holiday you celebrate this time of year). It's also the season for making lists. Fortinet, a Sunnyvale-based firm specializing in network security appliances, sent us a list of its Top 8 Security Predictions for 2012. There's reason to pay attention. Big botnets, 64-bit TDSS rootkits, leaked source code for the Zeus and SpyEye botnets, and anonymous hactivists declaring war on everyone are some of the events Fortinet predicted in last year's "Top 5 Security Predictions for 2011." So what do you need to look out for in 2012? Straight from the horse's mouth, here's Fortinet's new list in its entirety, a week before it's scheduled to hit the news wire: Ransomware to Take Mobile Devices Hostage Over the past few years, FortiGuard Labs has witnessed the evolution and success of "ransomware" (an infection that holds a device "hostage" until a "ransom" payment is delivered) on the PC. Mobile malware that utilize exploits have also been observed, along with social engineering tricks that lead to root access on the infected device. With root access comes more control and elevated privileges, suitable for the likes of ransomware. FortiGuard predicts the team will see the first instances of ransomware on a mobile device in the coming year. Worming into Android Worms, i.e., malware that is able to quickly propagate from one device to another, have by and large remained absent from the Android operating system, but FortiGuard Labs believes that will change in 2012. Unlike Cabir, the first Symbian worm discovered in 2004, Android malware developers most likely won't be using Bluetooth or computer sync to spread out because of their limited ranges. Instead, the team believes the threat will come from either poisoned SMS messages that include a link that contains the worm or through infected links on social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. Polymorphism Want a Cracker? There's no denying that Android-based malware has gotten more diverse and complex. In the last year: FortiGuard Labs has seen Android malware use encryption, embed exploits, detect emulators and implement botnets. But what they haven't seen yet is an example of polymorphism in action. Polymorphism is malware that is capable of automatically mutating, making it extremely difficult to identify and thus destroy. The team has previously encountered polymorphism on Windows Mobile phones and believes it's only a matter of time before the malware appears on Android devices. Clampdown on Network-Based Money Laundering Money mules, which typically consist of third party individuals electronically transferring money from one person or service to another and illegitimate payment processors, are critical components to a successful money laundering and fraud operation. Using anonymous fund transferring services, human networks and payment processor safe havens, cybercriminal syndicates have pretty much operated with impunity for years. How do you catch someone when you don't even know where they're located? FortiGuard believes that will change in 2012 [By this, are you saying in 2012 we expect to be able to catch these people?]. The recent arrest of ChronoPay CEO Pavel Vrublevsky's on the grounds of hacking Aerfolot's Website and preventing visitors from buying tickets, is a good example of the type of takedowns the team expects to see in the coming year. Public-Private Relationships in Security Last year FortiGuard Labs predicted they'd see an increase in global collaborative botnet takedowns. And they were right not only with botnet takedowns, but global collaboration period. Among globally-supported botnet takedowns were Rustock and DNS Changer while other international efforts helped take a massive scareware operation offline that siphoned $72 million in bank funds. Meanwhile, arrests were made against international members of Anonymous and LulzSec hacktivist groups. This crackdown will continue in 2012, and the team believes that much of it will be aided by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency's (DARPA's) public defense initiative. DARPA was recently granted $188 million budget and plans to use part of the money on initiatives to build a cyber defense team in the private sector. With recent movement, it seems likely that in 2012 we will start to see similar relationships formed worldwide. SCADA Under the Scope For over a decade, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition- (SCADA) based threats have been a concern, because they are often connected to critical infrastructure such as power and water grids that would have serious consequences if they were ever breached. This last year FortiGuard saw two examples of this in the form of Stuxnet, which compromised Iran's nuclear program and Duqu, a Stuxnet-like virus that used similar attack methods and stolen certificates. While Iranian officials confirmed the latter had infected systems in the region, no hostile industrial code has been found to date. However, it's clear the building blocks are now in place. The reality today is that critical infrastructure systems are not always operating on a closed circuit. New human machine interface (HMI) devices that interact with these systems are being developed by a number of different software and hardware manufacturers, and many have Web interfaces for logging in. And the FortiGuard team has seen historically that Web-based interfaces that interact with back end systems can many times be circumvented. Even more concerning is the migration to cloud-based SCADA services. This allows data storage and potential control of critical systems on a public cloud server – hence the security concern. Groups like Anonymous have already found an assortment of Web-based vulnerabilities simply by picking targets and scouring code. In 2012, FortiGuard predicts a number of SCADA vulnerabilities will be discovered and exploited with potentially devastating consequences. Sponsored Attacks The FortiGuard team often talks about Crime as a Service (CaaS), which is just like Software as a Service (SaaS), but instead of offering legal and helpful services though the Internet, criminal syndicates are offering illegal and detrimental services, such as infecting large quantities of computers, sending spam and even launching direct denial of service (DDoS) attacks. If you've got the money, there's a good chance you can find a CaaS provider to help you out. What FortiGuard sees evolving in 2012, is that instead of hiring a CaaS outfit for blanket attacks, they're going to see more strategic and targeted attacks on companies and individuals. This scope would include state or corporate sponsorship. Admittedly, this prediction will be tough to monitor because without "freedom of information" legislation in place, many of these discovered cases will be settled out of court with verdicts not being released publicly. For example, Russian payment processor ChronoPay allegedly hired a hacker to attack a direct competitor (Assist) in 2011. Hacking a Good Cause While Anonymous has been alive and kicking in one capacity or another since its formation on 4Chan.org in 2003, only in the last year have the loosely organized anarchists started using their power to attack large, high profile targets such as Sony. More hacktivist groups were formed in 2011 (most notably LulzSec), and more will likely rise in 2012. What FortiGuard found interesting about Anonymous towards the end of the year, was how the group started to use their power for "good." Case in point, they've recently threatened to unmask Mexican drug cartel members and they recently helped authorities break up a child porn ring. FortiGuard expects to see more examples of "hacktivist" justice meted out throughout 2012 along with a mix of attacks that border or cross the line of justice. It's enough to give you the heebie jeebies and should serve as a reminder to surf safely and use your gear intelligently (don't download Android apps from an untrusted source, for example). On a related note, be sure to check out our "Choose Your Defender! 10 Anti-Virus Programs Reviewed and Compared" feature.

5 Essential Tips for Winter-Guarding Your Gadgets Posted: 06 Dec 2011 10:56 AM PST Winter is coming, and the cold, icy weather can be brutal on more than just your head and hands — it's not too good for your devices either. If you live in a cold region, then you've probably got hats and gloves for yourself (maybe even some pelts), but what about all that tech you spent your hard-earned money on? Temperatures can play havoc with technology, from the blistering heat of summer to the freezing cold that many of us are about to experience. But don't fret. The cold may be coming, but there are things you can do to guard that gear. Here are a few tips that will soon have you laughing in the face of winter. Kick portables to the curb (or at least from your vehicle): If you've ever gotten into a car that has been sitting outside over a winter's night, then you know how freezing cold it can be. That heater just can't warm up fast enough, can it? Well, you don't want to subject your laptops, phones, tablets, mp3 players or gaming handhelds to that cold either. Yes, it's a little inconvenient, but so is a frozen hard drive or a cracked screen. If there's no choice, and you have to leave a gadget in the car, at least wrap it up in an extra scarf, jacket, sweater or any other layers you might have on hand. Handle condensation wisely: Sometimes, after being out in the tundra, condensation can form inside your device. The chances of this go up if you try to turn on your gadget while it's still cold. If you spot wetness — or, for that mater, you just dropped it in a sleety puddle on the sidewalk — DON'T power it on right away. I know, you want to see if it's still okay, but resist the urge. First, let it naturally come up to room temp, then put the device in some uncooked rice. (Make sure it covers it.) This is your best chance at getting rid of that moisture and salvaging your gadget. Turn your device off… completely: Running around with a sleeping laptop or netbook increases the odds (and potentially the magnitude) of damage that can happen if you let it fall — say, like on that icy patch in front of your house. Don't let it happen to you. Power your machine down completely before you head outdoors, just to be safe. Invest in a decent earbud with inline mic/call answer button: If you don't have to whip your phone out in the sub-zero temperature to answer calls, all the better. You can keep it safe and toasty warm in your pocket without missing calls if you have an earbud with an inline microphone/call answer button. Spend a couple of bucks and get a good one, a product that fits well and has good call clarity. (It does no good if you don't like using it because it's uncomfortable, or everyone sounds like Darth Vader on the other line. Personally, I like Etymotic.) You won't have to use gloved hands to fumble with a ringing cell phone — a scenario that has had me drop (and break) more than one smartphone. Get a case or sock: There are numerous tough cases, sleeves and the like for any gadget you can imagine. While you may prefer a naked look to your device, the extra padding is a good way to maximize protection — possibly even insulation. Think of it as a winter snuggie for your beloved. Use case scenarios differ, so depending on what and how you rock, there are also plenty of products out there to help, from capacitive gloves for touchscreen use to laptop warmers and portable power (cold temps can be hell on batteries), and everything in between. 'Tis the season for sales and promotions, so check out your favorite retailers and see what they have to offer. Got any other must-do tips for winterizing your gear? Share them below in the comments!     TechnoBuffalo.com is a technology site created by a team of professional writers that are self-proclaimed tech-enthusiasts. Their articles cover a breadth of technology-related issues and topics from the everyday uses to the business side of the industry.

Intel, Micron Give Birth to World's First 20nm 128 Gigabit MLC Device Posted: 06 Dec 2011 10:49 AM PST The joint collaboration between chip giants Intel and Micron has resulted in a new benchmark in NAND flash technology. Specifically, the two tech gurus announced the world's first 20nm (not just nanometer-class, but an actual 20nm process) 128Gb (gigabit) multilevel-cell (MLC) device they say is ideal for small form factor tablets, smartphones, solid state drives, and high-performance compute devices. It was developed through Intel and Micron's joint-development venture, IM Flash Technologies (IMFT), and is the first in the industry to enable a terabit (Tb) of data storage in a finger-tip size package by using just eight die. The new part offers twice the storage capacity and performance of IMFT's existing 20nm 64Gb NAND device, and meets the high-speed ONFI 3.0 specification to achieve speeds of 333 megatransfers per second (MT/s). "As portable devices get smaller and sleeker, and server demands increase, our customers look to Micron for innovative new storage technologies and system solutions that meet these challenges," said Glen Hawk, vice president of Micron's NAND Solutions Group. "Our collaboration with Intel continues to deliver leading NAND technologies and expertise that are critical to building those systems." Playing with 20nm NAND isn't without its challenges, and to make announcements like this possible, Intel and Micron used an innovative new "planar cell structure" that enables more aggressive cell scaling than conventional architectures. It's the first cell structure to integrate Hi-K/metal gate stack on NAND production, Intel says. Image Credit: Intel

AMD Shaves 800 Million Transistors Off Bulldozer Without Physically Changing The Chips Posted: 06 Dec 2011 10:29 AM PST Time to start firing the PR guys! As is the case with all technical products these days, AMD used a lot of lofty-sounding numbers and specs to make its new 8-core Bulldozer chips sound friggin' awesome in the company's press releases. Eight cores, four modules, a 315mm die area, two billion transistors – actually, scratch that last one. Over the past weekend, AMD contacted several publications and said that, um, somebody screwed up. Eight-core Bulldozer chips actually only have 1.2 billion transistors. Oops. The Inquirer provides the text of the message for our viewing pleasure: Last week, AMD confirmed the transistor count in the AMD FX CPU line-up at 1.2 billion, a correction from the earlier count of 2 billion. The earlier figure of 2 billion transistors was unfortunately shared in error. This correction is not the result of a new revision to the Bulldozer design. The correct count of 1.2 billion applies to all recently introduced 8-core AMD processors that are based on the new Bulldozer core - AMD FX family of desktop CPUs and AMD Opteron family of server and HPC processors. We apologize for the confusion. So, the bad news is that somehow, this slipped through the cracks until several weeks after the first reviews hit the streets. The good news is that since the drastic transistor reduction is due to clerical error rather than an actual revision to the chips, the results of our review still stand. The funny part is that 1.2 billion transistor number may still be a bit off. Joel Hruska at Extreme Tech took a look at the tech behind Bulldozer and speculates that the chips actually have at least 1.32 billion transistors – and that's "before we add I/O, integrated memory controller, or HyperTransport." Thoughts? Is this an embarrassing gaffe or much ado about nothing?

And the Survey Says!: AT&T Last in Customer Satisfaction Posted: 06 Dec 2011 10:26 AM PST After ranking last in a customer satisfaction survey conducted by Consumer Reports last year, AT&T had two options. The wireless carrier could lick its wounds and take steps to improve its image, whether real or perceived, or it could bury its head in the sand, because after all, who cares what thousands of people think? AT&T apparently chose the latter, and its reward is another last place finish. Consumer Reports questioned 66,000 of its subscribers on the service and customer support experience with both standard and no-contract wireless communications providers. And for the second year in a row, AT&T fell to the bottom of the pack. "Our survey indicates that subscribers to prepaid and smaller standard-service providers are happiest overall with their cell-phone service," said Paul Reynolds, electronics editor for Consumer Reports. "However, these carriers aren't for everyone. Some are only regional, and prepaid carriers tend to offer few or no smart phones.The major carriers are still leading options for many consumers, and we found they ranged widely in how well they satisfied their customers." On the opposite end of the spectrum, respondents rated Verizon tops among wireless carriers for two years running, "followed closely by Sprint." T-Mobile fell below both Verizon and Sprint, but still rated "significantly better than the higher-priced AT&T," Consumer Reports stated. How would you rank your wireless carrier? Are you happy with your carrier, or do you plan to switch when your contract is up (or sooner)?

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MMO News

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• Dragon Soul Gameplay – First Look HD
• Conquer Online now available for iPad
• APB: Reloaded available through Steam
• Neo Steam shutting down
• New Lime Odyssey screenshots revealed
• New expansion announced for Jade Dynasty

Dragon Soul Gameplay – First Look HD Posted: 06 Dec 2011 07:47 PM PST To Learn More About the Game Check out our Dragon Soul Page. Dragon Soul is a 3D PvP centric fantasy MMORPG published by Neonga – the same company behind A Mystical Land. The game’s visuals are a bit outdated, but the game still offers plenty of action for those looking for a PvP heavy game. The game’s most notable aspect is the fact that is has 8 factions that are in perpetual war as well as mounted combat. With only four playable classes the game lacks some variety. To learn more about Dragon Soul check out the official MMOHut Dragon Soul page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Conquer Online now available for iPad Posted: 06 Dec 2011 02:15 PM PST TQ Digital has made Conquer Online available for free on the iPad, starting today. Conquer Online for the iPad will continue to offer many of the same gameplay features as the PC version of the game. The platform utilizes its “tap-and-swipe” features to control movement and combat, offering a newly designed way of interacting with the MMO. TQ Digital also publishes Zero Online and Crazy Tao. Conquer Online: iOS Launch Trailer Source: Popular PC MMO Conquer Online Taps and Slashes its Way onto the iPad Today The First Completely Free-to-Play MMO on the iPad Available Now HONG KONG – December 6, 2011 NetDragon Websoft Inc, a leading online game developer and operator in China, announces that one of their most well-known free-to-play PC and Mac MMORPG games running for over eight years now, is making its debut on iTunes today—completely free for iPad! Conquer Online will be the first ever completely free MMORPG arriving on the iPad: no charge to download and no monthly subscription fee! Conquer Online for the iPad delivers an MMO experience that's as deep, rich and satisfying as its PC and Mac counterparts. The game offers more features than any portable MMO to date. An all-new trailer has been release today to celebrate the launch of the game. Set in ancient China, players will take on the role of a brave hero, with a massive amount of customization options, as the hero gallantly embarks on an adventure into this vibrant fantasy universe. Conquer Online features over 20 interactive in-game systems such as marriage (and divorce), your own customizable home, not to mention the countless ways to release your rage in the battlefield with competitions like the Guild Wars, Clan Wars, and arena fights! Master the six martial-arts classes to defeat monsters, complete quests and reach the top of your class. With quick, simple controls and navigation, MMO fans will be able to transition with ease to the iPad MMO experience. The game utilizes a "tap-and-swipe" control scheme. You can jump freely wherever you want by tapping on the map and can perform skills by hacking and slashing at the enemies with your finger. The controls are designed to feel natural and intuitive in the iPad MMO space. Conquer Online was the first MMO to introduce the free-to-play gaming model in the world back in 2003, and has since been converted into 10 different languages, amassing more than 10 million players from over 100 countries in its 8 years of life. The iPad version will also inherit a legion of features from the fully-fledged PC version of the game, so prepare to meet plenty of new friends, then create a new guild and set off to enjoy the heart of the adventure in Conquer Online! Download Conquer Online for free now in the app store! http://itunes.apple.com/app/conquer-online/id459012102

APB: Reloaded available through Steam Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:59 PM PST GamersFirst has announced that APB Reloaded, its revised version of APB (All Points Bulletin) made available free-to-play, is now available via Steam. Downloading and playing APB Reloaded through Steam also lets players keep their game up-to-date easily, as well as connect to the Steam community. APB Reloaded is still in open beta. GamersFirst also publishes Knight Online and Sword 2. APB: Reloaded Gameplay Screenshot Source: APB RELOADED JOINS STEAM NETWORK GamersFirst's Popular Free2Play® Open-World Cops and Robbers Now Available on Steam®. Irvine, Calif., December 6, 2011 – A leading publisher of Free2Play® massively multiplayer online games, GamersFirst (www.gamersfirst.com) announced today that the Company's blockbuster open-world third-person shooter, APB Reloaded, has joined the Steam® library of games. Steam® Valve's leading platform for digital content distribution and management allows players to directly download APB Reloaded to their systems. Gamers can also connect with other players and keep the game client up-to-date, all through one safe and convenient service. Available for download today, Steam members can now join the fight for control over the fictional world of San Paro while the game continues to refine itself through the open beta process. "GamersFirst is and always will be focused on our community, and being able to deliver the truly unique gaming experience that APB Reloaded offers to Steam subscribers only strengthens that commitment," said Rahul Sandil, SVP of marketing and business development for GamersFirst. "Steam and GamersFirst share a common passion for authentic gaming experiences and dedication to delivering the very best entertainment possible to the PC platform." In the world of San Paro, Criminals and Enforcers battle in an open-world environment to control territories, commit or stop petty crimes, and gain notoriety within their own organizations. Be it on foot or from the driver seat, APB Reloaded melds player-on-player combat within the immersive world of a city on the edge of total chaos. Powered by Epic's Unreal 3 engine, APB Reloaded features a robust set of customization tools second to none, providing gamers the ability to create the exact look of their in-game avatar, character symbols, clothing and even customize cars they drive.

Neo Steam shutting down Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:34 PM PST An email sent out to Neo Steam players has announced that the game will be shutting down on Feburary 8, 2012. Atlus Online’s version of Neo Steam is the last published version of the game available. December and January will grant players bonus experience, TP, and drop rates, while removing death penalties and granting unlimited Neo Steam. Players who still have Gears can use them in the Item Shop up until January 4; unspent Gears will convert to Atlus Crowns, useable in other Atlus Online games. Atlus Online also publishes Pandora Saga. Neo Steam Gameplay Screenshot Source: Thank you for sharing your time in Neo Steam and steampunking it up with us for the past two years. We take pride in being in the first Atlus Online title and the last-standing Neo Steam server in the world. It’s with deep regret that we must now announce: Atlus Online will shut down its Neo Steam service on February 8, 2012. Starting today, you and all your friends will be granted the benefits from all previously run server events in the upcoming months of December and January. That means more EXP, more TP, no death penalties, increased drop rates, unlimited Neo Steam, the works! We will hold nothing back in delivering the best Neo Steam has to offer. If you still have Neo Steam Gears, you will have access to the Premium Item Shop until January 4, 2012. All unused Gears will revert back to Atlus Crowns, ready for use with all current-and yet-to-be-announced-games. Citizen of Chrysalis, thank you for your support. Let’s celebrate together and go out with a bang! Respectfully Yours, Atlus Online

New Lime Odyssey screenshots revealed Posted: 06 Dec 2011 01:13 PM PST Aeria Games has released a new set of screenshots, straight out of the alpha test, for Lime Odyssey. You can check out these new screenshots below. Lime Odyssey is a fantasy MMORPG that features a dual class system (battle and profession), multiple playable races each with their own corner of the continent, plus pets, mounts, crafting, farming, and more. The game is expected to be available to the public in early 2012. Aeria Games also publishes Eden Eternal and Grand Fantasia. Lime Odyssey: Alpha Testing Screenshots Source: Aeria Games Releases Sneak Peek of Lime Odyssey Alpha Test Scenes Revealed from Testing Phase for Upcoming 3D Fantasy MMORPG SANTA CLARA, Calif.  – Dec. 6, 2011 – Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, today released new screenshots taken during an early-stage alpha test of Lime Odyssey: The Chronicles of Orta, its upcoming 3D massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Lime Odyssey is developed by Sirius Entertainment Co., Ltd., a Korean-based team composed of talented industry veterans, many of whom worked on the classic MMORPG Ragnarok Online. Lime Odyssey alpha test participants received the first outside glimpse of the game's immersive experience, which touts everything from multiple playable races to thousands of possible quests. Lime Odyssey boasts an array of engaging features, including a dual class system, pets, mounts, farming, extensive crafting, inspired 3D visuals, and an imaginative, colorfully-rendered continent filled with whimsical beasts. Lime Odyssey: The Chronicles of Orta features: Dual Class System – Choose from four battle archetypes (warrior, thief, mage and cleric) and adopt a profession (chef, tailor or blacksmith) in Lime Odyssey's double class system. Immersive World – Run, fly or swim across a huge continent. Each race claims a unique corner of Orta. Move freely through diverse regions on your trek to restore order. Pets, Mounts & More – Hatch a delightful animal companion, or acquire a more useful beast on your journey. Players can also start a thriving farm as part of their story in Lime Odyssey. Aeria Games is slated to release the epic Lime Odyssey adventure to the public, available in English for the first time, in early 2012. Interested players can visit the website to sign up for a chance to participate future testing: http://limeodyssey.aeriagames.com.

New expansion announced for Jade Dynasty Posted: 06 Dec 2011 11:06 AM PST Jade Dynasty has announced a new expansion, called Legacy, coming soon for its players. The expansion will deal with the new area of Incense Valley, introducing two new classes (Mages and Forta). A new instance, the Crimson Peaks Voidland, will be available for 10-25 players, making it the largest yet. New seasonal events, new exchange items, new Jade types, and new Treasure Boxes will also add to the new content list. Meanwhile, a major rebalancing will go through gear (including stronger Ethereal and Celestial gear) and combat (including faction skills). Character creation will also be boosted to offer new examples of each faction, new starting fashion gear, and the ability to preview high-level armor sets on the character. Jade Dynasty is published by Perfect World Entertainment, which also publishes Forsaken World and War of the Immortals. Jade Dynasty Gameplay Screenshot Source: Jade Dynasty: Legacy Announced Expansion to Popular MMO Features New Classes and Character Visuals (Foster City, CA) December 5, 2011 — Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), today announced a new expansion to its free-to-play martial-arts MMORPG, Jade Dynasty . In Jade Dynasty: Legacy, players explore the secretive Incense Valley while fighting through the massive multi-staged instance, which is larger than any other dungeon currently available in this game. “We couldn’t be more excited to publish a new chapter in the Jade Dynasty series,” said Dean Sakurai, Product Manager, Perfect World Entertainment. “Jade Dynasty: Legacy is our biggest update since ‘Vengeance (August 2010)’ and features two new classes, enhanced character visuals, new instances and numerous other content updates. With Jade Dynasty: Legacy we add tremendously to a gaming experience already shared by millions.” Key features include: • Two New Classes: Players can now choose between the powerful, fire-wielding Incense Valley Mages and the crippling, melee-astute Forta. • New Instance: The Crimson Peaks Voidland is the largest instance in Jade Dynasty, designed for groups of 10-25 players to face its many dangers and claim its secreted rewards. • Character Visuals: Character creation has been reworked, providing new visual examples of each faction, new starter fashions and even the ability to preview high-level armor sets. • Balance and Enhancement: Several facets of gear and combat have been reworked, from rebalanced factions skills to stronger Ethereal and Celestial gear. • Content Updates: New wedding and seasonal events, more items available for exchange with new Jade types, and more easily attainable Treasure Boxes are but a few of the many other changes.

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MMO Updates

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• Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter VI
• Grudge match: RIFT faction rivalry heating up for one-year anniversary
• Square-Enix preparing for Final Fantasy XIV recurring billing
• Massively Speaking Episode 177: Wonton hussy
• Ubisoft may be working on a Wii U MMO
• The Daily Grind: What MMO holiday event are you looking forward to?
• Issue 3 of Whiteout available for Champions Online players
• Not So Massively: It's a tactical online action MOBA-RPG MMO!
• Jade Dynasty: Legacy to introduce new classes, dungeon, and more
• Diablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking
• Allods Online implements Overwolf in-game overlay
• Lock and (re)load: BioWare preps us for The Old Republic's launch
• Undead Labs' writer talks story in zombie MMOs
• EverQuest II dev tour video details Beastlord, new Freeport, Mercs and more
• Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- The Fissure of Woe
• Star Wars: The Old Republic beta test attracts 2 million players
• Wings Over Atreia: In defense of PvP -- a carebear's conversion

Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter VI Posted: 06 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, RIFT All good things must come to an end, and that's the case for Drowning in Snow. We've been bringing you the chapters for several months now, but it's time for the story to fade off into the sunset, with the heroes riding off in triumph... Wait, no, that's not right at all. When we last left the adventurers Kira and Uriel, they weren't riding off in triumph. They were knee-deep in betrayal, which throws the entire story up to this point into question. So it does seem they've got a little adventuring left to do, doesn't it? Click on past the break for Prone Meridian, the final chapter in this exclusive piece of RIFT fiction, brought to you by the team at Trion Worlds and (of course) the team here at Massively. Or take a look at the previous five chapters if you've missed them before now, since this one won't make much sense otherwise. Continue reading Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter VI Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter VI originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Grudge match: RIFT faction rivalry heating up for one-year anniversary Posted: 06 Dec 2011 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, PvP, RIFT Worried that RIFT's Guardians and Defiants are less age-old enemies and more goofy odd couple roommates bumbling around to a laugh track? If faction chumminess concerns you, you'll be glad to hear that Trion Worlds is planning to escalate tensions between the two sides that will forever change the feel of the game. Trion said that it's already deep into the planning stages of heating up the conflict between the game's two sides, which is planned for next spring. The current Fae Yule festival is meant to be a quiet moment before everything explodes; a peace that is soon to be shattered. Design Director Hal Hanlin puts a date on the upcoming Factionopalypse: "We're planning to drive a wedge between the factions for the game's one-year anniversary." This puts the date of the event in early March 2012. Currently, while the two factions don't necessarily get along, they both are working toward the same goal of repelling the invading planar forces. It's just that they use different approaches and philosophies as they truck along. Grudge match: RIFT faction rivalry heating up for one-year anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GamesRadar

Square-Enix preparing for Final Fantasy XIV recurring billing Posted: 06 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Final Fantasy XIV The year-long free-play party for Final Fantasy XIV is nearly over, according to the most recent Square-Enix newsletter. The mailing thanks FFXIV customers for their support during the title's rocky maiden voyage, and also notes that recurring billing will officially commence on January 6th, 2012. Square plans to suspend all FFXIV service accounts on January 5th in order to ensure that no customers are charged without their consent, and the company suggests that fans who wish to continue to play the game renew and set up their payment methods on December 16th. Finally, Square is offering a discounted billing rate ($9.99 per month) that will last until the release of Final Fantasy XIV's 2.0 patch. More info is available via the game's official website. Square-Enix preparing for Final Fantasy XIV recurring billing originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Billing info

Massively Speaking Episode 177: Wonton hussy Posted: 06 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Podcasts, Culture, News items, Opinion, Humor, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous Massively Speaking Episode 177 returns this week with hosts Justin and Rubi discussing the week's MMO news, including Glitch's unlaunching, Lineage II's move to F2P, EVE Online's Crucible update, Justin's love for Bobby Kotick, and much more. Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@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. Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 177: Wonton hussy Massively Speaking Episode 177: Wonton hussy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Ubisoft may be working on a Wii U MMO Posted: 06 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST Filed under: New titles, Consoles, Rumors Could Ubisoft be developing an MMO for Nintendo's upcoming Wii U, of all platforms? There are a few indications that, yes, the studio is indeed doing just that. The first step in the puzzle comes from Ubisoft's Emile Gauthier, who posted the following tweet yesterday: "Ubisoft Quebec is working on a NEW AAA MMORPG Game and we need people to fill these very strategic positions." The link attached sends readers to Ubisoft's Facebook page, where a number of recently posted job descriptions are listed. These jobs include Senior Engine Programmer (Wii U -- AAA title), Network Programmer (Wii U -- AAA title), Tools Programmer (AAA MMO), Online Game Design Project Manager, Programmer Gameplay (MMO AAA), and Animation Art Director (MMO AAA). Since all of these have been lumped together and added within a few days of each other, one might come to the conclusion that it is for the same game -- a Wii U MMO. Of course, the MMO and Wii U title may turn out to be two separate projects, but in any case we're interested to see what Ubisoft has planned for our favorite game genre. Ubisoft may be working on a Wii U MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Twitter, Ubisoft Facebook Via: Kotaku

The Daily Grind: What MMO holiday event are you looking forward to? Posted: 06 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Events, in-game, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous December is here, and with it comes the usual crop of MMO holiday events. Developers may tweak events to fit the game lore or pull straight from the real-world holiday season, but the foundation of each celebration is usually similar. Special drops from enemies, seasonal quests with fun loot, and extra goodies in the cash shops can all be found throughout MMO-land during most of December. So what are you most looking forward to? Will you be sticking with the familiar, long-running traditions of Wintersday in Guild Wars? Are you hoping for more of last year's hilariously misinterpreted holiday traditions from the citizens of Fallen Earth's Wasteland? Or are you dying to check out RIFT's very first holiday celebration? What holiday event are you looking forward to and why? 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 holiday event are you looking forward to? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Issue 3 of Whiteout available for Champions Online players Posted: 05 Dec 2011 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online No job ever goes quite right, no matter how well you plan it. It's as true in Champions Online as it is anywhere else, and it's certainly the case in the latest installment of the Whiteout series. After all, the first two issues made it plenty clear that heroes would have their hands full dealing with a downed alien spacecraft, but now things are going from bad to worse for the Steelhead soldiers and the player characters. It seems there's another player involved in the game who hopes to get in on the wrecked ship... As with previous installments of the series, the new issue can be played by any character over level 11 and provides special rewards in addition to the usual mission benefits. But if you've already played through the mission, you can take a look at the game's latest Art Corner, which shows off the design of the mechanical antagonists plaguing the newest mission installment (and the subsequent ones as well, most likely). Issue 3 of Whiteout available for Champions Online players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Whiteout comic series, Art Corner: Cyberlord

Not So Massively: It's a tactical online action MOBA-RPG MMO! Posted: 05 Dec 2011 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Video, Game mechanics, New titles, Patches, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively, MOBA Enigmatic online game Land of Chaos Online launches this week, blending elements of MMO and MOBA gameplay into a third-person team deathmatch. League of Legends' competitive season two is underway, and this week Riot launched its season two competitive gaming website with an article on all the recent major developments. Heroes of Newerth saw some interesting competitive action of its own over the weekend with some surprising upsets in the finals of the North American Star league. This week we learned that Diablo III beta testers will soon be getting a taste of the real money auction house, and fansite DiabloFans has been digging inside the game files to unearth details of the Mystic follower and her array of equipment enchantments. Blacklight: Retribution opened its closed beta on Thursday 1st December, and Path of Exile received a huge patch as it draws closer to release. Bloodline Champions launched a charity pack containing a limited-edition avatar and title, with all the proceeds going to gaming charity Child's Play. Rise of Immortals reveals upcoming lion immortal Kavashiir and shows off its new crystalline creep models. Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other big online games that aren't quite MMOs. Continue reading Not So Massively: It's a tactical online action MOBA-RPG MMO! Not So Massively: It's a tactical online action MOBA-RPG MMO! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jade Dynasty: Legacy to introduce new classes, dungeon, and more Posted: 05 Dec 2011 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Expansions, News items, Free-to-play, Jade Dynasty, Dungeons Perfect World Entertainment announced today that it will be releasing a new expansion for its free-to-play MMORPG, Jade Dynasty. The expansion, known as Jade Dynasty: Legacy, is the largest single update to the game since 2010's Vengeance, and it brings quite a few new features to the martial arts title. For starters, heroes will be able to venture into the mysterious Incense Valley in search of -- what else -- powerful, delicious loot. Players will also be able to step into the shoes of two new classes: the pyromaniacal Incense Valley Mage and the completely uninformatively named Forta. These classes will no doubt be very helpful in the new Crimson Peaks Voidland instance, which will play host to a party of 10 to 25 players as they face its dangers in hopes of securing the treasures hidden within. A number of balance passes have been made as well, which will hopefully ensure a more fair and enjoyable experience. For the full details, head on over to the Jade Dynasty official site. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release] Jade Dynasty: Legacy to introduce new classes, dungeon, and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Diablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, Previews, News items Diablo III is not an MMO by any stretch of the imagination, but it certainly has some strong online elements like previous installments. It also has a lot of expectations to live up to, several of which are discussed in a recent PC Gamer interview with Wyatt Cheng and Andrew Chambers. Both designers discuss the challenge level of the new Inferno difficulty, which is aimed at max-level characters in good gear who have already completed the Hell difficulty level. They confirm that while it's meant to be brutal, it can be played and beaten solo -- although having a friend won't hurt. And speaking of getting by with a bit of help from one's friends, Cheng and Chambers both agree that twinking out new characters is a time-honored part of the game's tradition; their job as designers requires them to find ways to ensure that twinking is a fun process for players. It's the sort of interview that can leave fans wanting more of the game before it's released -- which ties in nicely to the fact that you can pre-order the Book of Cain (a collection of in-universe lore and artwork) on Amazon right now. And you can even take a look past the break to see what the book looks like. Continue reading Diablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking Diablo III game designers talk Inferno difficulty and twinking originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Diablo III: Book of Cain listing, Diablo III interview Via: Kotaku

Allods Online implements Overwolf in-game overlay Posted: 05 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online If you're similar to me -- my condolences if you are -- then you're probably very friendly with your alt and tab keys. Browsing the internet, chatting with your non-gamer heretic friends on AIM, and gaming all at once requires a certain mastery of alt+tab-fu. Allods Online, however, is looking to remedy this multitasking predicament, so it has enlisted the help of Overwolf. Overwolf is an in-game overlay that provides players with a means to browse the interwebs, IM friends on multiple protocols, record their gameplay, and more without ever leaving the comfort of their game windows. Overwolf will be bundled with all future Allods client downloads, and existing players can download the gPotato version of the application from Overwolf's official site. For the full details on the new partnership, head on over to the official announcement. Allods Online implements Overwolf in-game overlay originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Allods Online official site: Overwolf overlay

Lock and (re)load: BioWare preps us for The Old Republic's launch Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, Star Wars: The Old Republic With 15 days to go before Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch, it doesn't seem like there's much time to get everything stocked and ready before the year's biggest release happens. Fortunately, BioWare's helping us to run down the preparation list with a series of informative forum posts. First on the list is to make sure that SWTOR players have the latest version of the client installed on their computers. BioWare says that if you played the game prior to November 25th, you'll probably need to install a completely new client; if you played since, you should be good. There are instructions on the forums as to how you can check which version you have. Pre-orders are wondering about early access, which BioWare says is the same between the three editions of the game -- it only matters when you added your pre-order code, not which edition you purchased. More information about the early access program is coming later this week. Finally, BioWare is preparing to make major changes to SWTOR's forums following a December 10th outage, during which all posts and PMs will be erased (as will infractions!). New forums, including those covering crew skills, story, lore and PvP, will be added, and guild forums will be expanded significantly. Those just starting to learn about the game will appreciate the new player help forum and community blog that's coming with the update. Lock and (re)load: BioWare preps us for The Old Republic's launch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: SWTOR forums #1, SWTOR forums #2, SWTOR forums #3

Undead Labs' writer talks story in zombie MMOs Posted: 05 Dec 2011 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Consoles, Dev Diaries Don't look now, but there's another MMO jumping on the story bandwagon. This time it's Undead Labs' Class3 console game, and there's a new dev blog up on the title's official site that outlines writer Travis Stout's modus operandi. Stout is a huge fan of the zombie genre, and that's a good thing given Class3's focus on the walking dead and the creeptastic atmosphere surrounding them. So what does Stout see as a writer's main mission when it comes to the upcoming MMO? "Take the zombies out of the equation and be damn sure you've got a rock-solid story full of interesting, well-developed characters and exciting action," he explains. "Then put the zombies back in so those characters can smash their heads in with tire irons." Undead Labs' writer talks story in zombie MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Class3 dev blog

EverQuest II dev tour video details Beastlord, new Freeport, Mercs and more Posted: 05 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, EverQuest II, Expansions, Previews, News items, Free-to-play Sony Online Entertainment is getting the EverQuest II: Age of Discovery hype train up to full speed today with a new dev tour of the upcoming content. Emily Taylor, the game's Executive Producer, takes viewers through the new features that players can expect from the upcoming expansion. To start things off, she gives players a look at the new Beastlord class, which can tame creatures to utilize as Warders in order to alter its playstyle. We then get a look at the new and improved city of Freeport, which has been completely revamped. The city's four zones have been consolidated into one single zone, the visuals have been updated, and new questlines and content has been added. Finally, the tour stops off at the Seafarer's Roost Inn, where the new mercenaries can be hired -- for the right price, of course. So for the full video, click on past the cut and take a look. [Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release] Continue reading EverQuest II dev tour video details Beastlord, new Freeport, Mercs and more EverQuest II dev tour video details Beastlord, new Freeport, Mercs and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- The Fissure of Woe Posted: 05 Dec 2011 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Flameseeker Chronicles, Guides As 2011 draws to a close and hordes of hopeful Guild Wars 2 fans look to 2012 for a possible launch, people are beginning to turn eyes back to the Hall of Monuments. (No, stop that. We're not debating launch dates; I'm just saying.) It's been over a year since ArenaNet unveiled the Hall of Monuments calculator. I wrote the Road to 50 Hall of Monuments guide series right away, so you guys probably have the basics done and are looking at some of the more challenging parts of Guild Wars. If you're not familiar with the series, I definitely recommend you check it out -- there are separate guides for those who are starting with only three points, those who are aiming for 30 points, and those who want to go all 50. With that in mind, I want to spend some time on one of my favorite parts of the game: elite areas. If you've finished all three campaigns and the expansion -- preferably both in normal and hard mode -- and you're ready for a bigger challenge, it's time to take on the elite areas. I'll be focusing on one elite area each week while we wait for Guild Wars 2 news, so follow along and let's get you started on the first area: the Fissure of Woe. Ready, set, kill! Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- The Fissure of Woe Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars' elite areas -- The Fissure of Woe originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Wars: The Old Republic beta test attracts 2 million players Posted: 05 Dec 2011 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic It's no secret that Star Wars: The Old Republic is one of the most highly anticipated MMORPGs in recent memory, and the game's recently concluded public testing phase confirms the hype. The game's publisher, EA, announced that the SWTOR test phase drew in over 2 million players, and of those 2 million, 750,000 unique players jumped into the game over the Thanksgiving weekend alone. EA also shared some interesting statistics about the game's test players. Over the holiday weekend, players averaged about 12 hours of game time each for a grand total of over 9 million hours of playtime across the playerbase. If you didn't get a chance to try the beta, or if you simply couldn't get enough, you don't have much longer to wait. The game launches in about two weeks on December 20th, with pre-order head start beginning on the 15th. Star Wars: The Old Republic beta test attracts 2 million players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GameSpot

Wings Over Atreia: In defense of PvP -- a carebear's conversion Posted: 05 Dec 2011 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, PvP, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia Squealing in delight, the gamer continues down the list, eyes feasting on line after line of the perfect features. Everything ever wanted, dreamed of, right here. Could it be? Could this be The One? Visions of gaming nirvana dance about the gamer's mind. Oh the fun that shall be had! Almost quivering, unable to contain the excitement, eyes finally chance upon the line... wait, what's this? PvP? Window closed/box tossed back on the shelf. What a piece of garbage. Sound familiar? How many times have we heard the phrase "It would have been perfect without PvP" or see gamers just pass over a title that fit their wants and needs almost to a "T" just because of that one feature without even giving it a chance? How many people have been captivated by the beauty and promise of Aion but refrained from trying it because of two little words: "open PvP"? Plenty. Even among my own circle of friends I have heard that refrain many a time. To that I say: It's your loss. In fact, I propose that PvP can be not only tolerated but actually enjoyed by almost everyone. And this week's Wings Over Atreia is dedicated to showing you how. Poppycock! you say? Now, before you dismiss me out of hand, please consider where this declaration is coming from. No one can (accurately) accuse me of being a PvPer. In fact, I more fully fall into the quintessential carebear category than anywhere else -- I am a casual-ish player and a roleplayer. Even so, I can now make the following (qualified) statement: My name is MJ. And I like PvP.* Don't believe that you, too, can make this statement? Take the leap past the break for a look at some tips on how to come to enjoy this integral feature more and not let fear keep you away from Aion. Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: In defense of PvP -- a carebear's conversion Wings Over Atreia: In defense of PvP -- a carebear's conversion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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