General Gaming Article

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• Official: Verizon Galaxy Nexus December 15th for $299
• Nokia Lumia 710 Hits T-Mobile January 11 for $49.99
• Judge Dismisses Sony "Other OS" PS3 Class Action
• AMD Catalyst 11.12 WHQL Now Available for Download (and 12.1 Preview Driver, Too)
• Where Does webOS Go From Here?
• Funny Man Louis C.K. Drop Kicks DRM and Laughs All the Way to the Bank
• Microsoft: Angriest Android Users Get a Free Windows Phone
• U.K. Judge Approves Live Tweeting and Other Text-Based Communications in Court
• How to Benchmark Your Android Phone for Free
• Intel Launches DX79TO Motherboard For Frugal(ish) Sandy Bridge-E Adopters

Official: Verizon Galaxy Nexus December 15th for $299 Posted: 14 Dec 2011 02:38 PM PST Perhaps the folks at Verizon have a sick sense of humor; they enjoy letting things hang out there until the last possible minute. Verizon announced just minutes ago that the long-awaited Samsung Galaxy Nexus will be available tomorrow, December 15th for $299 on-contract. This comes after multiple rumors of delays and more speculation than you can shake a phone at. The Galaxy Nexus is the newest in Google's line of stock flagship phones. This iteration has a stunning 4.65-inch Super AMOLED HD screen at 1280x720, a 1.2GHz dual-core OMAP processor, and a 5MP camera. The Verizon version differs from the international HSPA+ edition in that it has an LTE 4G radio and 32GB of internal storage. Also, it is actually for sale in America. The Galaxy Nexus is Google's Android 4.0 launch device, which brings a number of new features like face unlock, on-screen buttons, and a revamped user interface. Anyone planning to pick one up tomorrow?

Nokia Lumia 710 Hits T-Mobile January 11 for $49.99 Posted: 14 Dec 2011 02:19 PM PST The first Nokia Windows Phone 7 device is about to hit American shores, and it's coming to none other than... T-Mobile? It might not be the network people were hoping for, but it's also not the device either. The Lumia 710 is the budget-friendly Nokia handset, and is going to sell for $49.99 on a 2-year contract. No one looks to be carrying the higher-end Lumia 800. The Lumia 710 has a curved design with a good-quality 3.7-inch LCD at 480x800 resolution. Inside is a 1.4GHz Snapdragon processor, 512MB of RAM, a 5MP camera, and 8GB of storage. The meager storage is helped a little by the 25GB of integrated MIcrosoft SkyDrive space. The device will run on T-Mobile's HSPA+ network, called 4G by the carrier. The software is mostly stock Windows Phone, although there will be Nokia's turn-by-turn Drive app, a T-Mobile account manager, ESPN app, and a few others. This mid-range device can be yours on January 11.

Judge Dismisses Sony "Other OS" PS3 Class Action Posted: 14 Dec 2011 02:05 PM PST Back in mid 2010, Sony made the decision to remove a feature from the PS3 firmware that was much beloved by the modding community. Of course we're referring to the "Install other OS" option. Well, a cadre of angry nerds filed a class action suit shortly thereafter, but a judge has just dismissed the case once and for all. Judge Richard Seeborg expressed sympathy for the plaintiffs, but ruled that the case lacked merit. In accordance with applicable law, he found that the distressed gamers failed to show they were legally entitled to the feature. In February of this year the same court struck down most of the case, but allowed the aggrieved party to amend the complaint. This time it's game-over. Users of the classic "fat" PS3 that wanted to continue running Linux on the device had to give up Blu-Ray playback and PSN access. While many found this unacceptable, it looks like Sony won't be penalized for making them choose.

AMD Catalyst 11.12 WHQL Now Available for Download (and 12.1 Preview Driver, Too) Posted: 14 Dec 2011 01:16 PM PST AMD this week rolled out a couple of new Catalyst driver packages to play with, one of them a finished build (Catalyst 11.12 WHQL) and the other a preview driver with support for AMD HD3D technology in conjunction with CrossFireX configurations and a new Stereo 3D mode over HDMI 1.4a (Catalyst 12.1). The Catalyst 11.12 download delivers official support for the OpenGL 4.2 specification, enables support for AMD HD3D technology when using a 3x1 Landscape Eyefinity display group, and makes improvements to better facilitate the enabling and control of the Dual Graphics within the Vision Engine Control Center, according to the release notes. Otherwise, Catalyst 11.12 is mostly a bug-fix release with several resolved issues for Windows 7 users. For those interested in the Catalyst 12.1 preview driver, AMD says you can expect improved performance of 10-15 percent in Skyrim when multi-sample anti-aliasing is enabled on Radeon HD 6900 Series cards for single GPU and CrossFireX configurations. Catalyst 11.12 Release Notes

Where Does webOS Go From Here? Posted: 14 Dec 2011 12:10 PM PST Praise tech Jesus, webOS still has a pulse! The mobile OS seemingly doomed to a cold eternity in a digital graveyard has been granted an open source reprieve. Great! Only question is, what comes next? Obviously webOS is a platform built for smartphones and tablets, but HP making it open source means people can find some weird uses for the little OS that could. How would webOS be best put to use? We already know we'll probably see another tablet from HP. They've conceded that much and we like that. A lot. But we've got some other ideas for how webOS could be used. HTC Phones HTC makes fantastic, well-built hardware, and is generally open to building devices for any viable platform. WebOS has always run on hardware that could have been better. HTC is also caught between Google and Microsoft in the patent wars, which has left them resorting to paying licensing fees to the latter in order to continue making Android phones. Unlike Samsung, they don't pull revenue from other areas of tech, so they have no choice but to oblige. With HP already stating that they have no plans to make any more phones, this could be HTC's chance to step in and produce something really badass. Amazon Devices We know Amazon has pledged allegiance to Android (for the time being). But one can't help but feel like Amazon could build a better user experience on top of webOS. The lack of apps is certainly an issue, but between HP's pledge of support and someone like Amazon beating the webOS drum, it seems logical that they could get some heavyweight devs to contribute, no? Computers When HP first bought webOS, they hinted that webOS would make its way onto laptops as a sort of lightweight, battery-friendly client for checking email and browsing the web. Microsoft is already heading in this direction with their Metro UI, so it doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility that HP—or another laptop maker—would bake webOS into future offerings. Worst case scenario, this could make an excellent experimental UI for that netbook or obsolete laptop you gave up on a couple of years ago. Printers We're not really all that excited by this, but it's inevitable. HP has a preternatural fixation with printer innovations, and infusing their hardware with webOS is something they have yet to shut up about. Do you need multitasking and notifications to print coupons? No. Do printers need a mobile OS to prevent killer viruses? Probably not. But whatever, if this somehow makes HP money and keeps them interested in webOS, I'm for it. Gaming Device I'd love to see someone build a dedicated gaming device powered by webOS, which is extremely compatible with HTML5 standards, including WebGL. Touchscreen gaming is great, but there's no denying the luxury of having buttons. A webOS gaming device could provide a safe haven for indie developers interested in serving up fun and awesome games, and who don't want to deal with the politics of Apple and Sony and Nintendo, or worry about whether future Android updates will make their lives hell. Smart Home Android is making a push to be the official software of the smarthome. But seeing as anyone who makes an Android-powered product has to pay out licensing fees to the likes of Microsoft, I can't see taking off. What if webOS became the official smart home standard? Washing machines that notify you when a load is clean. Wi-Fi controlled lights. Power usage monitoring. Wireless locks. The possibilities are endless—and, for devs, free. Smart Camera Yes, smartphones are taking over the territory once claimed by point and shoots, but what if a camera maker imbued their dedicated shooter with a mobile OS? Not only can you wirelessly shoot photos to your computer or Twitter or Facebook (which some cameras can do now), but you'd get an intuitive touch interface and the potential to have apps which can add filters and functionality to powerful hardware. IPTV Box WebOS could hypothetically be used to power an IPTV box, and that would make sense, since streaming video in the living room is the absolute future (and in a lot of homes, present) as far as I'm concerned. But aside from total freedom, is webOS really the best avenue for such a solution? Considering an IPTV build would have to be skinned, and apps selection is beyond paltry, webOS provides no advantage over building something with straight Linux. Purgatory Or webOS becomes Unix, with no support and no broad interest, languishing in platform purgatory. Hopefully not! But hey—it might actually beat printer hell. Gizmodo is the world's most fun technology website, focused on gadgets and how they make our lives better, worse, and more absurd.

Funny Man Louis C.K. Drop Kicks DRM and Laughs All the Way to the Bank Posted: 14 Dec 2011 12:04 PM PST The comedy stylings of Louis C.K. isn't for everyone. For example, monks probably won't appreciate his vulgar language, and those British Royal Guards in England hardly laugh at anything. Screw them both, because not only is the guy hilarious (check him out on YouTube when you're not at work or around children), but he proved you can make a handsome profit on digital downloads without applying the shackles of DRM. "People of Earth (minus the ones who don't give a shit about this): it's been amazing to conduct this experiment with you. The experiment was: if I put out a brand new standup special at a drastically low price ($5) and make it as easy as possible to buy, download and enjoy, free of any restrictions, will everyone just go and steal it? Will they pay for it? And how much money can be made by an individual in this manner?," Louis C.K. wrote on his website. After just four days Louis reports he's sold over 110,000 copies for more than half a million dollars. He sold 50,000 copies and collected $250,000 in the first 12 hours alone, at which point he had already broke even on the cost of production and website. "Minus some money for PayPal charges etc, I have a profit around $200,000 (after taxes $75.58). This is less than I would have been paid by a large company to simply perform the show and let them sell it to you, but they would have charged you about $20 for the video," Louis C.K. explains. "They would have given you an encrypted and regionally restricted video of limited value, and they would have owned your private information for their own use. They would have withheld international availability indefinitely. This way, you only paid $5, you can use the video any way you want, and you can watch it in Dublin, whatever the city is in Belgium, or Dubai. I got paid nice, and I still own the video (as do you). You never have to join anything, and you never have to hear from us again." He's preaching to choir as far as we're concerned, though he hardly needs to say anything. Making a $200,000 profit in just four days on a $5 download speaks a louder message than his lengthy blog post. If you have a sense of humor, aren't offended by vulgar language, and want to flip the finger at DRM, you can purchase his video here.

Microsoft: Angriest Android Users Get a Free Windows Phone Posted: 14 Dec 2011 11:31 AM PST Been burned by Android malware? If so, Microsoft wants to hear from you, via Twitter, for a chance to score a free Windows Phone device. Microsoft's promotion ties into the recent RuFraud Android scam, in which third-party apps masquerading as legitimate programs like Angry Birds rack up premium SMS charges on the sly. Microsoft wants users to post their #droidrage story as it attempts to capitalize on the hysteria. "More malware on Android! bit.ly/rt7dpD Been hit? Share yr #droidrage story to win a #windowsphone upgrade. 5 best (worst?) win!," Microsoft's Ben Rudolph posted to Twitter. Microsoft's promotion has drawn some horror stories already, but it's also backfired with numerous tweets taking the Redmond software maker to task. "Android malware victims offered free WinPhones by MS (Haven't they suffered enough?)," @deadlymedia tweeted.

U.K. Judge Approves Live Tweeting and Other Text-Based Communications in Court Posted: 14 Dec 2011 11:02 AM PST Journalists are now allowed to fire off live text-based communications, such as mobile email, social media (including Twitter), and Internet enabled laptops in and from courts throughout England and Wales without asking for permission, a U.K. judge ruled. Prior to the ruling, reporters would have to issue a request, but that rule has now been removed. "The normal, indeed almost invariable, rule has been that mobile phones must be turned off in court," the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales wrote in a new guidance (PDF) issued today. "There is however no statutory prohibition on the use of live text-based communications in open court." Judges still have the power to limit live text-based communications if they think it will pose any kind of problem for the trial, but it's not something they really anticipate. "It is presumed that a representative of the media or a legal commentator using live, text-based communications from court does not pose a danger of interference to the proper administration of justice in the individual case," the guidance continues. "This is because the most obvious purpose of permitting the use of live, text-based communications would be to enable the media to produce fair and accurate reports of the proceedings. As such, a representative of the media or a legal commentator who wishes to use live, text-based communications from court may do so without making an application to the court." Non-reporters must still ask permission like before. Furthermore, if the number of electronic devices becomes a distraction or interferes with the court's own sound recording equipment, a judge may limit their use.

How to Benchmark Your Android Phone for Free Posted: 14 Dec 2011 11:00 AM PST Car nuts race their rides to see whose machine is the fastest. Fitness fanatics run marathons to test their physical limitations and endurance against that of their fellows. Geeks and gearheads? Our battles are fought and won on the basis of how capable our hardware is. While our desktops and laptops might be a thing of wonder to behold, carrying them around with us for the sake of collecting the accolades we deserve isn't always convenient. Carrying around a smartphone or tablet, however, is. Benchmarking also provides the added benefit of telling you how well your phone manages the current version of your handset's operating system and apps, as well as whether future OS upgrades will slow all that zippy mobile computing hotness to a bag of sluggish hardware fail. If you're the owner of an Android handset, there's a lot of options out there to see how hard your phone rocks. Here's three of our favourite free benchmarking tools, along with the reasons why you should use them.  BenchmarkPi BenchmarkPi gauges processor efficiency so well it'd make a grown man cry. The genius of BenchmarkPi is in its simplicity: By tasking how quickly your handset is able to calculate Pi to a particular number of decimal places, BenchmarkPi is able to ascertain how powerful your processor is. Additionally, the app is great at being able to tell whether or not your device is being overtasked by other programs running in the background, making it easyto  troubleshoot problem apps. If you're feeling competitive, you're in luck: BenchmarkPi also maintains a constantly updated list of the top 300 Android phones out there, ranking them by their processing power.  Battery Graph The harder your smartphone has to chug in order to crunch the numbers necessary to do important work like running a session of Minecraft Pocket Edition, the less juice your battery will have left for lower priority tasks such as calling your loved ones to assure them that you're still alive and well despite the Creeper's best efforts. Battery Graph is designed to run in the background on your handset while you go about your business. Start it up when you turn on your phone, and check it out at the end of the day. While you're busy, texting, finding your way with Google Maps or having a jaw-wag with a co-worker via Skype, Battery Graph will quietly collect data on how each hoop you force your phone to jump through effects its battery. To snag a balanced benchmark of your battery's performance, drain it all the way down and then charge it completely before starting. In order to paint a true picture of your battery's performance, we recommend running Battery Graph over several days under normal operating conditions. Doing so will let you discover what applications and times of day take the biggest bite out of your battery's life, as well as show you how long your battery lasts during an average day.  NenaMark 1 & 2 Available in two different flavors—one for high-end Android phones and the other for handsets wielded by mere mortals—NenaMark is one of the easiest ways to benchmark your phone's GPU performance for free. By measuring the number of frames per second your smartphone can crank out in the face of parametric surfaces, varying light models, particles and reflections, NenaMark is able to ascertain whether your phone's takes graphical hits like a champ or glass-jawed featherweight. Your handsets results can then be measured against those of other makes and models to see how your phone ranks.

Intel Launches DX79TO Motherboard For Frugal(ish) Sandy Bridge-E Adopters Posted: 14 Dec 2011 10:46 AM PST Want to make the jump to LGA2011 and Sandy Bridge-E but don't quite need all the bells and whistles of the DX79SI? Intel might just have the alternative motherboard for you. The company's new DX79TO mobo is basically a stripped-down version of its bigger DX79SI brother with fewer bells and whistles. The question is, are the enthusiast-type buyers who are already making the jump to Intel's latest and greatest chips willing to dump features for a modest price discount? The DX79TO sports most of the same specs as the more expensive version, but is missing a front USB 3.0 port, a PCI-E 3.0 x8 slot (replaced by an x1 slot), a pair of audio jacks (the DX70TO is six-channel instead of eight-channel), an S/PDIF port and an Ethernet connection. VR-Zone reports that the heatpipe that connects the lower heatsinks on the DX79SI has been replaced by simple metal connects, as well. It still comes decently stocked, though, with two 6 Gbps SATA ports, four 3 Gbps SATA ports, eight USB 2.0 ports, two back-side USB 3.0 ports (via NEC controller), CrossFireX and SLI support, quad channel/eight DIMM memory, two PCI-E x16 slots and more. Check out Intel's product briefing for a full list of specs. So, enthusiasts (since you're reading Maximum PC, we assume you're enthusiasts): does the DX79TO catch your eye, or would you rather spend the extra money and snag a DX79SI? Some quick Google Shopping browsing shows the TO selling for around $210 to $235 (even though Intel suggests a MSRP of $205-ish), while the SI is available for $260 at Newegg. Is the lower price worth the lost features?

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MMO News

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• Sword Girls Gameplay – First Look HD
• Draconians awaken in Luna Online
• Rufus revealed for Grand Chase
• Aion going free-to-play in Europe

Sword Girls Gameplay – First Look HD Posted: 14 Dec 2011 12:17 PM PST To Learn More About the Game Check out our Sword Girls Page. Sword Girls is a 2D browser based anime inspired trading card game MMO published by ChangYou – the same publisher behind Dragon Oath, Zentia, and several other free to play titles. Like Pokemon TCG Online, Eredan iTCG, Urban Rivals, and Yu-Gi-Oh! Online – players in Sword Girls must build their own decks and battle against others online. One of the game’s most notable features is its top notch card art. The game’s art was designed by many world renowned anime and manga artists and is unique to Sword Girls. Players can battle against each other or do some “PvE” against AI opponents in the game’s “dungeon”. Those who enjoy TCG style games should be able to find something to like in Sword Girls.  To learn more about Sword Girls check out the official MMOHut Sword Girls page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Draconians awaken in Luna Online Posted: 14 Dec 2011 11:07 AM PST Luna Online has launched its latest update: Draconian Awakening. The update introduces the new Draconian Temple Dungeon, located in the Ruins of Ancient Elpus. This new area offers new zones, quests, weapons, and armor. Weather makes its first fall in Luna Online, granting players boosted experience, item drops, and money drops, when snow, flowers, and leaves fall from the sky. The game’s Guild Tournament is now set to run more often, while players can also earn housing points by using the Slot Machine every ten minutes. Luna Online is also hosting a holiday event, where players can find mysterious gifts off monsters, which contain costume parts; or defeat tree monsters to grow their own trees. Luna Online is published by GPotato, which also publishes Flyff: Fly For Fun and Allods Online. Luna Online Gameplay Screenshot Ruins of Ancient Elpus Source: Luna Plus: Draconian Awakening Now Live! Luna Plus Launches a New Dungeon, New Systems, Holiday Events and More Sunnyvale, Calif. – December 13th, 2011 Brave the chill of a snow fall or the anger of a phantom beast with Draconian Awakening, the latest update to the adorable MMORPG Luna Plus.  A new dungeon, new zones, new weapons, new armor, and newly implemented systems await players today! In the depths of the Draconian Temple Dungeon, located in the Ruins of Ancient Elpus, Drapia's restless spirit stirs with malcontent as he rises from his grave to reap revenge.  He isn't the only enrage beast to appear in Luna however, as field monsters everywhere now have the chance to reincarnate as golden fiends, dropping valuable items when defeated.   It is up to the most skilled players to tame these monsters before disaster strikes. Plus!  The skies will be filled with buffs with the newly implemented weather feature.  Fluffy snow, beautiful flowers, petals, and an abundance of leaves will now rain down from the heavens upon each adventurer, awarding them with increases in experience, item drop rates, and money drop rates. The rewards don't stop there though with the arrival of brand new systems and items!  Guild Tournament will be running more often than ever before, awarding warriors with new and highly coveted armor and weapons.  They'll also have their chance at winning big with the new Slot Machine Feature, giving lucky players precious housing points every 10 minutes. To celebrate, Luna is running even more events and prizes during the holidays!  Players can defeat tree monsters to grow their very own trees, the perfect decoration for anyone's home this season.  Regular monsters will additionally be dropping mysterious gifts, possibly containing items like the Santa costume, or parts to the more popular reindeer costume, snowman costume, and even the sleigh mount!

Rufus revealed for Grand Chase Posted: 14 Dec 2011 10:40 AM PST Grand Chase is preparing to release a new character into its world: Rufus. Rufus will arrive on December 20. Driven to become the greatest bounty hunter, Rufus now seeks to solve the mystery behind a blue flame he discovered on his return to the Underworld. Players will earn a Crystal of Other Worldly Powers every day they log in until December 20, with additional Crystals rewarded for extra time logged in. These crystals can be combined in a set of ten to create a Rufus Mission Voucher. Players can also earn this voucher by clicking on a special alarm clock that appears on December 17 at 3pm Pacific (6pm Eastern). Obtaining these vouchers will also reward the player with the Rufus’ Justice Bounty Hunter Coordi set. Grand Chase is published by SG Interactive, which also publishes Trickster Online and Project Blackout. Grand Chase: Rufus Wilde Artwork Source: SG Interactive Introduces Rufus – Vicious New Gun-for-hire in Grand Chase: Chaos Rough Up Baddies for Bounty with the Latest Fighter to Join the Game Irvine, Calif. – Dec. 14, 2011 – SG Interactive is unveiling a mysterious character in its massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Grand Chase: Chaos. Rufus Wilde, a bounty hunter with a checkered past, brings a whole new style of combat for players to master: with the deadly firearm Eyetooth, Rufus excels at delivering close and mid-range attacks and stunning enemies with powerful, summoned weapons. Fans of Grand Chase: Chaos can preview Rufus now, before his debut on Tuesday, Dec. 20, and new users can sign up to check out the latest addition to the game, by registering for a free account at the game's official page. After being abandoned and driven by his resentment towards his estranged father, Rufus Wilde set out to surpass his father's abilities and become one of the world's greatest bounty hunters. He spent many years as a lone wolf honing his skills and perfecting his deadly trade, and after the end of a lengthy pursuit in the Mundane World, Rufus prepared to return to the Underworld until he suddenly discovered an enigmatic blue flame. Now, players can help the gun-for-hire uncover the mystery behind the source of the blue flame. To prepare for the new character, SG Interactive is hosting in-game events to unlock a special mission for Rufus. The events include: Log In and Play: Until Dec. 20, players will receive a Crystal of Other Worldly Powers for each day they log in. By staying logged in, players will receive additional crystals. Any player who collects 10 crystals can combine them to create the Rufus Mission Voucher. Just In Time: Players who are in-game on Dec. 17 will see a red alarm clock go off at precisely 3 p.m. PST / 6 p.m. EST. Any player who clicks on the alarm clock will receive the Rufus Mission Voucher. Any player who receives the Rufus Mission Voucher from either event will also get the Rufus' Justice Bounty Hunter Coordi set, which includes the special Justice Bounty Hunter skin and Eyetooth weapon.

Aion going free-to-play in Europe Posted: 14 Dec 2011 10:23 AM PST NCSoft has announced that in Europe, it is teaming up with free-to-play publisher Gameforge to offer Aion free to play. The change is being done to encourage new players to join Aion Europe. Free players will be able to level up to 55, and will have full access to game content, with restrictions on chat and trade. Players can continue to purchase a gold subscription to unlock those features, plus add additional bonuses like experience and instance cooldowns. NCsoft also publishes Lineage II and City of Heroes. Gameforge also publishes Metin 2 and 4Story. Aion Gameplay Screenshot Source: New publisher for Aion – in association with Gameforge, MMO will be free to play from Spring 2012. There’s good news: from February 2012, Aion will be switching to a free-to-play model – the monthly subscriptions will then be history! For the switch-over, NCsoft has teamed up with the German publisher Gameforge. The Gameforge Aion-Team consists of 38 employees and they will soon be responsible for the running of the game across the whole of Europe. Together with NCsoft they will continuously further develop and create new content for Aion in order to offer you a unique gaming experience – and all for free. Why are we switching to free-to-play? Switching to free-to-play opens the lands of Atreia up to new adventurers. As more Daevas take to the skies, the increase in population will make for a more diverse and expansive community for newcomers and existing fans to enjoy. What will the change mean for you? What will happen to your existing account? All the answers to such questions can be found in our extensive FAQ. If there is something in particular that you are not sure about and that isn’t covered by the FAQ, then you are very welcome to send us your question via email to support@aionfreetoplay.com. We will get back to you with an answer as fast as we can. As soon as there is more information on Aion and the switch to free-to-play, you will find it here. We will keep you up to date and we look forward to all and any feedback you have to give us! Kind regards, The Gameforge Aion-Team

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MMO Updates

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• Vindictus Europe getting new dungeon content, transformation skill
• RuneScape warms our hearts with subscription deal
• Nexon raises $1.17 billion from IPO, stock subsequently drops
• On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me...
• Fable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer
• Namaste Entertainment trumpets upcoming Storybricks beta
• ArenaNet unveils the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer
• Square Enix Members server hacked, personal info possibly compromised
• The Daily Grind: Have you ever had a last-minute change of heart?
• Aion going free-to-play in Europe
• Stephen D'Angelo promises 'one more surprise' for Star Trek Online in December
• Ring in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End
• Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule
• The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights
• Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated]
• SOE gears up for Star Wars Galaxies' closing events
• Hyperspace Beacon: Best of...
• Paragon Studios announces the fall of the Statesman
• The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind
• Massively Speaking Episode 178

Vindictus Europe getting new dungeon content, transformation skill Posted: 14 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Vindictus, Dungeons, Crafting Nexon Europe is preparing for the biggest Vindictus update of the year. The Cohlen in Flames content package brings fire and brimstone to the online action title in the form of Resenlian's Labyrinth, which Nexon describes as "a deeply intense myriad of twisted, dark corridors and skull-lined murderous dungeons." New skills are coming too, foremost among them the transformation ability that features both a temporary boost in ability and a permanent (i.e., irreversible) decision to walk the path of the Paladin or that of the Dark Knight. There's also a new town in the update, and Rocheste features many new characters and side quests as well as the chance to create personal weapons via the new expertise system. Finally, Nexon is raising the level cap to 70, and you can get a glimpse of the update in the Cohlen in Flames and Transformation videos after the break. Continue reading Vindictus Europe getting new dungeon content, transformation skill Vindictus Europe getting new dungeon content, transformation skill originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: 1.07 patch update

RuneScape warms our hearts with subscription deal Posted: 14 Dec 2011 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Promotions Is the frigid winter closing in, encasing your life in ice and gaming frustration? Or, for those of you who live in Florida, do you have to suffer the indignities of wearing a windbreaker when you go outdoors? Jagex is here to help by offering a sunshiny deal on a six-month subscription to RuneScape. Until January 4th, 2012, RuneScape players can sign up for six months of membership for the price of four, which basically gives two free months of premium service. As if that wasn't enough, Jagex is also handing out spiffy reversible ice masks -- with angry and happy sides -- to those who snag this deal. RuneScape's membership starts at $5.95 a month, and upgrades the free-to-play title with additional quests, landscape, minigames, player housing, and no advertisements. RuneScape warms our hearts with subscription deal originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: RuneScape

Nexon raises $1.17 billion from IPO, stock subsequently drops Posted: 14 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Business models, Economy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Miscellaneous Korean online gaming giant Nexon has raised $1.17 billion from its initial public stock offering. The filing stated that Nexon has 1.2 billion registered players, 77 million of which were active as recently as September 2011. CFO Owen Mahoney says the company's expertise made it an attractive proposition for new shareholders. "We can really bring a lot to the table. We know how to tune a game so that people will play it for months on end," he explained. Nexon's IPO was the largest on the Tokyo Stock Exchange this year, and as a result the company is now valued somewhere between $7.69 billion and $8.97 billion according to GamesIndustry.biz. Even so, Nexon's stock price slipped by 3.9 percent on its first day of trading. Nexon raises $1.17 billion from IPO, stock subsequently drops originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GamesIndustry.biz

On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me... Posted: 14 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Contests, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Giveaways On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me... two warring factions! On the first day of giveaways, Turbine gave to me... a lifetime VIP! Welcome to day two! BioWare is joining the lineup today with... well, double-bladed sabers and dancing Twi'leks. It may not invoke the hilarity of the holiday machinima, but the Star Wars: The Old Republic crew is going to make one Massively reader very happy with a digital copy of SWTOR! Our winner will receive a retail code for the standard digital edition of the game, so if you're ready to jump into SWTOR for free, read on to see how to enter! Check out our contest rules below to make sure you're eligible, then leave a comment here telling us about your first TOR character. What kind of character will you make right away on launch day? The entry deadline is tomorrow, December 15th, at 10:00 a.m. EST. We'll choose and contact a winner as soon as the deadline arrives. Best of luck! On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me... originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer Posted: 14 Dec 2011 06:45 AM PST Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, News items, Miscellaneous Is the world of Albion coming to an MMO near you? That's up for speculation thanks to a job advertisement on Microsoft's career board. The software giant, which owns Fable developer Lionhead Studios, is seeking a programmer "who enjoys playing MMO games and has significant experience with the workings of a massive online multiplayer environment." Further requirements include "a minimum of one shipped MMO as a network programmer." Lionhead shipped Fable III in October of 2010, and the company is rumored to be developing a "controller-based" Fable IV in 2013, according to Eurogamer. When contacted by Eurogamer, Lionhead had this to say in an official statement: "Thanks for checking in with us! We're happy to tell you all about what we're working on. Just apply, get hired, and we promise to spill our guts!" Fable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Microsoft Talent Network Via: Eurogamer

Namaste Entertainment trumpets upcoming Storybricks beta Posted: 14 Dec 2011 06:30 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Video, Dev Diaries, Miscellaneous, Sandbox If you're part of the crowd that grouses at unoriginality in the MMO genre and are craving a fresh breath of minty innovation, then you might have been intrigued at the ideas put forth by Namaste Entertainment's Storybricks toolset earlier this year. But when would this become reality? Turns out the answer is sooner than you'd think. Namaste announced that Storybricks' beta is scheduled for February next year, and if you want to check it out, all you need to do is sign up for the newsletter and you'll be on the list. The beta will be a "skeletal version" of the toolkit without the associated game, but it should allow players to fiddle around with creating their own MMO scenarios and worlds. During the beta process, the devs will be actively creating Storybricks content and releasing it for testing as well. To cement the good news, Lead Designer Stephane Bura and MMO Architect Brian "Psychochild" Green have put forth their first developer diary talking about the lead-up to beta and what is planned for early next year. Feast your eyeballs and eardrums on the excitement after the jump! Continue reading Namaste Entertainment trumpets upcoming Storybricks beta Namaste Entertainment trumpets upcoming Storybricks beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Namaste Entertainment Via: Storybricks Facebook page

ArenaNet unveils the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer Posted: 14 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, News items, Guild Wars 2 Broken embargoes and leaked videos aside, longtime fans of Guild Wars 2 are expressing a complete lack of surprise at today's Mesmer reveal. ArenaNet finally unveiled the long-awaited eighth class this morning: the iconic Mesmer, the class that's been nearly synonymous with the Guild Wars name since 2005. OK, maybe that's a little on the dramatic side, but after fans waited through seven other classes, two books, and quite literally years of development news, it's Kind of a Big Deal. Now it's finally here, so what's it like? Let's take a closer look at the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer class. Continue reading ArenaNet unveils the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer ArenaNet unveils the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Square Enix Members server hacked, personal info possibly compromised Posted: 14 Dec 2011 05:30 AM PST Filed under: MMO industry, Legal, Miscellaneous Square-Enix has sounded the klaxons and let out the guard dogs in response to an "unauthorized access" on one of its Square Enix Members servers. The web service was taken offline in North America and Japan while the company investigates the situation and determines how serious the problem is. Fortunately, it doesn't appear as if credit card information is at stake, although some users' personal information may be: We are assessing the full extent of this potential breach to determine what data, if any, was compromised and will provide more details as soon as possible. While some personal information may have been accessed, we can confirm that there is no possibility of any credit card information leak from this incident, since the server in question stores no credit card information. We estimate that the suspension will continue for a few days until we complete our investigation and counter-measures. We will update you as we learn more. Square Enix Members is a loyalty program that dishes out rewards in exchange for players who register Square-Enix games with the service. The website does store users' names, addresses, usernames, and passwords. Square Enix Members server hacked, personal info possibly compromised originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GamesIndustry.biz

The Daily Grind: Have you ever had a last-minute change of heart? Posted: 14 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous People who know me know I'm a planner when it comes to video games. I'm always planning what type of character I'm going to roll, how I'm going to level, what my goals will be, and so on. It's fun to plan, which sometimes carries with it the benefit of removing stress from making impromptu decisions that can affect your long-term gaming career. That said, I've certainly not been immune to making last-minute changes. Maybe I'm totally dedicated to rolling a certain class, but once that character creation screen is up there, I trust my gut and go with something different. Or I'll spend months saying that I have absolutely no urge to play an upcoming MMO, but at the 11th hour I break down and buy it. Has this ever happened to you with MMOs? Have you ever had a last-minute change of heart when it came to a major (or even minor) decision? How did it turn out? 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: Have you ever had a last-minute change of heart? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aion going free-to-play in Europe Posted: 14 Dec 2011 03:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, News items, Free-to-play "In the last few months the lands in Atreia have become more and more deserted. We want to reinvigorate the world of Aion and attract new adventurers to the towns to take to the skies as Daevas." So says the Aion team in a surprising announcement overnight. NCsoft has teamed up with Gameforge to bring free-to-play Aion to the European servers (yet). The change is scheduled to take place in February of 2012, and will not affect the NA servers. The new Aion free-to-play site is set up to answer all of players' immediate questions and concerns, featuring an extensive FAQ and an outline of the three account types that will be available. Check out the free-to-play trailer beclow, and you can find all of the details on the new Aion F2P site. Continue reading Aion going free-to-play in Europe Aion going free-to-play in Europe originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Eurogamer

Stephen D'Angelo promises 'one more surprise' for Star Trek Online in December Posted: 13 Dec 2011 07:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries Star Trek Online's Stephen D'Angelo is one of the game's biggest cheerleaders, and it shows in his latest developer diary. "December has been an amazing month," he begins, citing the release of Season 5, new starships, and the Duty Officer system. He highlights the game's first holiday, Q's Winter Wonderland, and the minigames and activities in which the players can participate to get the most out of this whimsical event. Of course, it's not all fun and games when serious prizes, like a holographic bridge officer or a Jem'Hadar Attack Ship, are on the line. D'Angelo also says that a Duty Officer mini-event is on the docket for the month, as will "one more fun surprise." He concludes his letter by sharing the news that the team is now focusing on February's Dominion Episodes and ground skills/UI improvements. Stephen D'Angelo promises 'one more surprise' for Star Trek Online in December originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Star Trek Online

Ring in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End Posted: 13 Dec 2011 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Warhammer Online, News items Amidst the news of server merges, Warhammer Online fans could probably use something to celebrate, something to lift the spirits a bit. So it's fortunate that the annual Keg End celebration is just around the corner, giving everyone a chance to get drunk and rowdy even by the already aggressive status of the world's inhabitants. Running from December 14th until January 4th, Keg End is a chance to celebrate in style in the Dwarven tradition. The rewards for the event haven't changed much this year, with the usual assortment of Party Kegs, Keg Taps, and Battlebrew Backpacks. There are giants roaming the field looking for their own ale and a handful of sporting battles, and there are plenty of special drinks to be sampled just for the event. So get yourself ready to log in tomorrow and take a nice roll through fields filled with blood, beer, and battle. Especially beer. Ring in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Keg End is coming!

Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule Posted: 13 Dec 2011 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Lore, RIFT All in-game holiday festivals were not born equal, but they do seem to share a family resemblance when it comes to being merry and bright. RIFT's Fae Yule is but one of many, many Christmastime MMO holidays that we're witnessing this month, but the team at Trion Worlds is looking to make it stand out from the rest of the crowd with its depth and sense of fun. So why do the inhabitants of Telara celebrate Fae Yule and take time out of their busy schedule of slaughter and soul-absorbing to decorate the town and scarf down bucketfuls of eggnog? What do they sing about when gathered around a crackling fire? What kind of present is appropriate for the fellow who already has the gift of immortality? It's time to sit on Trion's lap and ask for your greatest wish in game while jolly St. Hartsman tells you all about the lore and in-game goodies behind RIFT's festivities. Ho-ho-hit that jump and let's get started! Continue reading Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights Posted: 13 Dec 2011 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Meridian 59, MMO industry, Free-to-play, The Game Archaeologist A colony founded through a magical nexus, Meridian 59 had it all going on -- until, that is, the portal to the colony collapsed and it was left to fend for itself. Monsters swarmed over the land, politics split the community into factions, and adventurers were called to rise up and become the heroes that were desperately needed. And all it took was $10.95 a month and an internet connection. Welcome to 1996 and one of the very first -- if not the first (more on that later) -- graphical MMOs to hit the scene. Meridian 59 may not have been one of the biggest games in the genre, but it was arguably one of the most important, the John Adams to World of Warcraft's Abraham Lincoln. If you were wondering, Darkfall was Chester A. Arthur. It seems fitting to end 2011 by touching upon this significant title that, against all odds, continues to operate today. Meridian 59 weathered studio shutdowns, newbie developers in every sense of the word, and a world that wasn't quite sure what to make of these fancy-schmancy massively interactive roleplaying games. MIRGs! Oh, that would've been such a better acronym, but I digress. Let's set the wayback machine to 1978 to see how one amateur game led to another that led to the birth of an industry. Continue reading The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated] Posted: 13 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, Previews, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic You may think that now that Star Wars: The Old Republic's early start underway and moving nicely, the developers over at BioWare are sitting back and enjoying a celebratory glass of champagne (or bottle of whiskey). You would be wrong, however, because a new post on the official site shows that BioWare is already looking toward the future. But what can players expect from the future of The Old Republic? Guild functionality is high on the priority list, and players can expect everything from guild banks to guild capital ships in the future. UI customization is also "a very big priority" to BioWare. The studio also has "an entire team dedicated to adding content and features to [PvP]." The space system, the legacy system, and the galaxy as a whole are also on board for future updates. For the full details, just head on over to the official SWTOR site. [Update: The team has also just posted an address to those who are not yet part of the early access pre-launch. We've included the contents of the message behind the break. Thanks to Onyx for the tip!] Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated] Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Star Wars: The Old Republic -- What's next for The Old Republic? Via: PC Gamer

SOE gears up for Star Wars Galaxies' closing events Posted: 13 Dec 2011 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, MMO industry, New titles, Star Wars Galaxies, Sandbox A long time ago, in a game industry far, far away, there was an MMORPG called Star Wars Galaxies. It made a lot of people happy (and sad), hung around for eight plus years, and is now being forced into an early retirement by the next big thing. Before it rides off into the twin sunset, SWG is holding a series of farewell events. According to the patch notes for today's update, the Galactic Civil War score will be frozen on Wednesday, December 14th at midnight EST, at which time Jabba's event kicks off near the Sarlacc Pit in the deeps of the Tatooine desert Three more events will begin at server restart on Thursday, December 15th, sometime around 7:00 a.m. EST: one near the Research Outpost on Endor, one in the Nub Shanda zone of Coronet, Corellia, and one in the city of Theed on the planet Naboo. Massively's Karen Bryan and the rest of the SWG-fans among the Massively staff will be livestreaming the final countdown on the Starsider server on Thursday, starting at 11 p.m. EST. Join us as we reminisce about and salute this groundbreaking sandbox. SOE gears up for Star Wars Galaxies' closing events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: SWG forums

Hyperspace Beacon: Best of... Posted: 13 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Classes, Game mechanics, Launches, Lore, New titles, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guides, Hyperspace Beacon, Crafting If you pre-ordered the game early enough, then you should be in Star Wars: The Old Republic's early access by the time you are reading this. I hope you're having a good time. Look me up on the Lord Adraas server. My name there is Shaddoe. Don't be scared -- I may roleplay my character. Even if you didn't pre-order in time, you'll want your SWTOR fix, and I have the solution for you right here: the Hyperspace Beacon. Each week for the last year and a half, I have written a guide to the world of Star Wars: The Old Republic, covering everything from lore and game mechanics to speculation and community. Ultimately, I hope to better prepare you for the launch of this highly anticipated MMO. However, 67 articles can be tough to sift through, so I've narrowed down the list to the best of the best. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Best of... Hyperspace Beacon: Best of... originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Paragon Studios announces the fall of the Statesman Posted: 13 Dec 2011 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Lore, Previews, News items, Free-to-play Prepare for a shock, City of Heroes players. One of the game's most symbolic characters, Statesman, is going to die. In true comic-book fashion, Paragon Studios has announced the impending death of the leader of the Freedom Phalanx. But players will, of course, have their parts to play as well. They will be tasked with "unraveling the scheme that leads to the demise of our intrepid hero." And players will be able to do just that when Signature Story Arc #5 goes live in January. The update will be available free next month to VIP players. Premium players can purchase it from the cash shop if they please. So brace yourselves, City of Heroes players, for the fall of an icon. Villains are free to celebrate now if they wish. [Source: NCSoft and Paragon Studios press release] Paragon Studios announces the fall of the Statesman originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind Posted: 13 Dec 2011 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Business models, Economy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Soapbox Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column. You're no doubt aware of a certain sci-fi MMORPG that's launching this week. As is the case each time a new major title releases, I'm curious to see how (or if) the developers will deal with the inevitable real-money trade. BioWare has been fairly quiet about gold-farming and the steps it may take to combat it, which isn't too surprising given the unglamorous and often controversial subject matter. Few game devs mention their anti-RMT plans prior to launch, but plenty of dev teams complain about RMT after their game has been released. And yet, the usual solutions to black market currency trading are continuously ineffective at stopping it. Continue reading The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Speaking Episode 178 Posted: 13 Dec 2011 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Podcasts, Culture, Opinion, Humor, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous Massively Speaking Episode 178 returns this week with hosts Justin and Rubi discussing the week's MMO news, including Warhammer Online's continued server merges, World of Tanks and their shiny new Guinness World Record, Final Fantasy XIV finally charging for their game, EverQuest II's expansion launch, and some things about a Star Wars game that's supposed to launch sometime soon, I forget when. 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 178 Massively Speaking Episode 178 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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