MMO News |
- Spirit Tales Press Preview
- Bigpoint reveals Game of Thrones MMO
- Brick-Force begins closed beta
- Wakfu officially launches
- The Lord of the Rings Online previews Update 6′s new areas
- League of Legends introduces Fiora
- C9 finishes VIP testing
| Posted: 29 Feb 2012 03:36 PM PST Spirit Tales, published by KoramGame, is a new version of Glory Destiny Online, designed specifically for Western audiences. MMOHut had an opportunity to participate in a preview of the game, letting us get a first look at what you can expect from this whimsical fantasy adventure before it enters closed beta.  As always, our first task in the game was to create a character. Spirit Tales has three races: Gold Kirin, Maned Dragon and Lunar Fox. Each race has two classes, for six total starting classes. All classes show your beast form during creation, too. Male characters are fierce looking and animalistic in these forms, but females, unfortunately, suffer from a more simplistic design. We decided on a Lunar Fox Assassin, and proceeded to the customization screen. There is quite a selection for all the customization options (hair, face, race specials, tails, and skin color), which is refreshing to see. We were then treated to a cut-scene that provided some of the game’s lore: the three races once all mingled and traded together, living peacefully in the world. Suddenly, an invasion from the North forced them to band together to fight against these new foes. While the story is slightly cliché, the simple roots helped to expand a sense of the world we were entering.  After the opening sequence, we were taught how to quest through a small tooltip on the side of our screen. We also received our first quest from the village chief through this pop-up. Moving around in the world can be done with WASD and the arrow keys, as well as using click to move. The camera is rotated by holding the right mouse button. Right clicking interacts with most objects in game. After talking with the the item trader (like our quest directs us), we earn some experience, copper, and 15 health and mana potions. Nice. The beginning quests teach you about important NPCs and their functions, like the item trader, weapon trader, armor trader, and medic. Our next task is to kill some evil flowers that are attacking farmers.  This gives us our first taste of combat in Spirit Tales. Double left-clicking on an enemy starts auto-attack. Using skills is slightly different, as you must first place the skill on your action bar, and then press the corresponding number to map it to right click. Right click then uses that skill. It's a bit awkward at first, but it's also not terribly hard to get used to: all it takes is remembering to switch skills by pressing the action bar number, and then using right click to activate them. Once we've killed our eight flowers, we return to town as the triumphant hero. Loot from defeated monsters is handled automatically, which is nice. As we were killing flowers, we also leveled up. This yielded us a skill point, and another tooltip came up to help us learn to distribute it. Spirit Tales uses a skill tree system for each class, containing both active and passive skills. Many of the skills are tiered, meaning in order to learn the skill we have to put the requisite amount of points into the skill (usually three or five). Putting skill points into an ability costs currency in addition to the skill point. You can respec at any time before level 30; however, you're not refunded for the money spent on the skills.  The game also features an auto-routing system to easily get to NPCs and monsters. While the routing is generally fine, there were occasional obstacles that got us stuck. These are few and far between, fortunately. Spirit Tales allows for weapon crafting. These weapons far outclass anything else you can get at the level required to equip them. To craft a set of level 10 daggers, we had to collect raw ingredients. These items are somewhat rare, so some grinding was required. You can access information about each monster’s drops through the user interface, which makes finding what you need easier. We were also able to enhance our weapons and armor. The first three upgrades are guaranteed with the beginning upgrade items. After that, there is a good chance your item will be destroyed if you continue. Weapons gain more attack power, and armor gains increased stats, like HP, MP, Strength and Agility. Armor also has benefits for upgrading it further, shown at the bottom of each piece.  In the starting area, you get to choose one of three pets. Once you've reached level 15 and complete a quest, you can capture additional monsters by using rice balls. Monsters can also be fused together to gain additional skills and passive abilities. Spirit Tales also features a nice achievement system. There are many named monsters that are much more difficult to kill than the monsters around them. Each of these rare monsters, when killed, earns the character an achievement, and most also give a title. Titles aren't simply cosmetic, either. Every title we unlocked gave an additional boost; for example, Glorious Shield Soldier (one we obtained simply by doing quests) gave us a boost to attack speed and parry.  Spirit Tales holds a lot of promise. The game is colorful and easy to play. It also promises a lot of depth with the talent trees, pet system and crafting. Beta testing will begin soon, so if you're interested in vibrant, whimsical design and an entertaining experience overall, Spirit Tales might be the game for you. Keep your eyes peeled for more Spirit Tales features here on MMOHut.
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| Bigpoint reveals Game of Thrones MMO Posted: 29 Feb 2012 01:50 PM PST Games publisher Bigpoint has revealed that it will offer a first-look into the production of its Game of Thrones MMO at GDC. Created with the partnership of HBO and the development team of Artplant, the game is fully inspired by the television show, Game of Thrones (adapted from A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin). The game will be set in the medieval world of Westeros and its Seven Kingdoms. Game of Thrones will use the Unity engine, which also powers Bigpoint’s Battlestar Galactica Online. CEO and Founder of Bigpoint, Heiko Hubertz, stated:
Closed beta for the game is planned to begin in fall 2012.  Game of Thrones Screenshot Source:
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| Brick-Force begins closed beta Posted: 29 Feb 2012 12:47 PM PST Brick-Force, a unique new shooter published by Infernum, has begun closed beta testing. Closed beta will continue to invite players through several waves as the testing continues, and registration is still being accepted at www.brick-force.com. The new website offers an official home for the game, and will feature tutorials, media, community features, and a forum. The game is currently playable in six languages on the PC; browser-based versions and a sandbox mode for smartphones and tablets will be available later in the game’s testing phases.  Brick Force Gameplay Screenshot Source:
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| Posted: 29 Feb 2012 12:34 PM PST Square Enix (in North America) and Ankama (in Europe) have officially launched Wakfu today in both regions. Wakfu is available as a free download, with limited free content available for players. An optional monthly subscription ($6.00 per month) is available to grant access to premium content, which includes max level, additional game areas and story chapters, profession mastery, guild participation, and the ability to become governor. The launch also includes the debut of the cash shop, where players can purchase cosmetic items and exclusive content and services.  Wafku Gameplay Screenshot Source:
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| The Lord of the Rings Online previews Update 6′s new areas Posted: 29 Feb 2012 12:22 PM PST Turbine has released new details about the areas coming to The Lord of the Rings Online. Update 6: The Shores of the Great River will introduce seven new areas to the game: Thinglad, Parth Celebrant, Eorlsmead, Wailing Hills, Limlight Gorge, The Rushgore, and the Brown Lands. Along with dozens of new screenshots of these areas below, descriptions of each of these areas have been released as follows:
Thinglad Assist the sentinels of Lothlórien in patrolling their southern border and mediate relations between the Galadhrim and the Rohirrim of Stangard who have recently been clashing during patrols. At the same time, heroes are needed to scatted Orcs and Wargs that have moved into the area before they become a larger threat to the region. Geography: Thinglad is defined by its tall, grey trees with twisted, roots that drink deeply from the Great River. The forest is misty and shadowed while the skies are pale and as cheerless as the land itself. Lore: Once part of the Golden Wood, Thinglad has become a no man's land between Lothlórien and Rohan in the last 200 years. Parth Celebrant Confront troubles both living and undead upon the fields of Parth Celebrant where a great treason once befell Gondor. Bring redemption to the traitorous shades so they may rest or destroy them if they are beyond aid. Geography: The ruins of an ancient Gondorian keep, where brave soldiers once kept watch, stand at the southern edge of Parth Celebrant, overlooking the green plains. Lore: The site of the fiercest fighting during the Battle of the Fields of Celebrant, Parth Celebrant is also the site of a terrible betrayal. Gondorian soldiers allowed their fortress to fall to the enemy in exchange for safety and Eastern riches, condemning their countrymen to death. Eorlsmead Though the soldiers of Stangard are strong and fiercely loyal to their king, the village has fallen on hard times and hope is in short supply. Lift spirits by helping with shortages of food and supplies and thinning the numbers of hostile beasts in the area. Root out the source of mistrust and discontent amongst the council. Geography: Established on the highest rise in the rolling plains of Eorlsmead, the Rohirrim village of Stangard keeps its watch over the region. Lore: Though many men who serve at Stangard have been sent as punishment for recent, petty crimes, the village remains fiercely loyal to Rohan and Théoden, their king. Wailing Hills Many years have passed since the height of Rohan's strength along the Great River and Orcs and spiders have returned to the Wailing Hills. Drive out the Orcs and prevent them from allying themselves with the White Hand. Geography: The Wailing Hills are defined by the steep, rocky outcroppings, called tors, which stretch out from the Misty Mountains like long fingers. Statues of Cirion of Gondor and Eorl the Young rise from the earth as ancient symbols of friendship but Orcs, growing bolder, have begun to defile them. Lore: Hundreds of years ago, the forefathers of Rohan destroyed a great Easterling army in the deep valleys of the Wailing Hills to save the forces of Cirion, Steward of Gondor. The name of the land itself comes from the Rohirric word wael meaning "slaughter. Limlight Gorge Descend into the Limlight Gorge, where an unnatural storm has cast the land into deep shadow. Hunt fearsome trolls from the Misty Mountains who wander freely, no longer fearing the sun, and investigate the mysterious grove spreading at the base of the cliff beneath Fangorn Forest. Geography: Caught between the rugged Misty Mountains and the northern reaches of Fangorn Forest, Limlight Gorge is a dangerous and untamed wilderness. Here, the Limlight River gushes forth over falls and rapids as it flows eastward to join the Anduin. Lore: The appearance of the unnatural storms from the North and the encroachment of Fangorn from the South gives the area an uneasy feeling as unseen forces seem to fight for dominance over the canyon. Brown Lands Contend with an invading host within the desolate Brown Lands. Here the Rohirrim struggle to keep an old foe at bay while fortifying against their enemies' mysterious new allies. Geography: Ravaged thousands of years ago during a terrible war, the Brown Lands are nearly inhospitable and are filled with withered scrub and stones as far as the eye can see. Lore: It is believed that the Brown Lands were devastated by the power of Sauron himself nearly 3,000 years ago during the War of the Last Alliance. Before that, many beautiful gardens were tended here though little evidence of them now remains. The Rushgore Within the murky marshland of the Rushgore, ruthless brigands, once only a nuisance, have become a threat to the region. Pursue these brigands to reclaim priceless relics of Rohan and Gondor and extend aid to woodsmen who have found themselves overwhelmed while travelling north and now cannot leave. Geography: A treacherous marshland, the Rushgore serves as the buffer between the fields of Parth Celebrant and the bleak Brown Lands. The eastern end of the Rushgore is one of the few places at which the Anduin can be crossed without the aid of boats. Lore: Little is now known of the Rushgore and was known has been lost to time.
The Lord of the Rings Online: Update 6 Screenshots                    
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| League of Legends introduces Fiora Posted: 29 Feb 2012 11:42 AM PST League of Legends has prepared a new champion: Fiora, the Grand Duelist. The Fiora patch introduces the new champion, described as the “first true melee carry since the initial launch of League of Legends.” The champion offers a Lunge, Burst of Speed, Riposte, and Blade Waltz in her skill set. The patch also makes changes for several champions, including Lux, Olaf, and Ziggs, plus additional game tweaks including adjustments to colorblind mode and Co-Op vs. AI. League of Legends Champion Spotlight: Fiora, The Grand Duelist Source:
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| Posted: 29 Feb 2012 11:23 AM PST Continent of the Ninth Seal (C9) has finished its VIP testing phase, publisher Webzen announced. The test ended with a special event to allow testers and GMs to say goodbye to each other. Webzen reports the test has offered insight into improving localization and meeting player’s desires for the game. The test featured three playable characters and three playable continent choices, along with the Arena and Intrusion PvP system. Webzen hopes to launch the service for C9 by the summer. Webzen also publishes Archlord and the upcoming Arctic Combat, which will be shown alongside C9 at GDC.  C9 Gameplay Screenshot Source:
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