Allods Online is going to release a new update titled Autumn Wind

MMO Update: Allods Online is going to release a new update titled Autumn Wind

 Allods Online is going to release a new update titled Autumn Wind on October 30. The update comes with changes to its interface, changes in the Xadaganian female model and additions to the craft systems and to the popular skirmish system.

World of Warcraft Mega Bloks commercial airs

MMO Toys: World of Warcraft Mega Blocks commercial airs

World of Warcraft Mega Bloks commercial airs

Don't call them "LEGOs" or "Blocks," although we would forgive you if you did make one of these common mistakes when dealing with Mega Bloks. The definitely-not-LEGO toymaker is releasing a series of World of Warcraft sets and now has the commercial to prove it.

The 30-second spot shows the creation of Stormwind castle, one of the Horde zeppelins, and several action figures of WoW characters (including Arthas). Each has interchangable armor, which is right in step for what you'd expect from an MMO franchise.

Dungeon & Fighter – New zombie mode for Halloween

MMO News: Dungeon & Fighter – New zombie mode for Halloween


Nexon Korea added in a new zombie mode for Dungeon & Fighter recently, just in time for the Halloween season. In this mode, a minimum of 6 (maximum 8) level 15 characters will enter the dungeon, where 2 players will be randomly changed into zombies. [Read more at Gameforumer.com]

Winged Beasts to Take Flight in Newly Announced Dragon's Prophet

MMO News: Winged Beasts to Take Flight in Newly Announced Dragon's Prophet 


Winged Beasts to Take Flight in Newly Announced Dragon's Prophet 


Last night at its annual fan event, SOE Live, Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announced a new licensing and publishing partnership with Runewaker Entertainment to bring the fantasy massively multiplayer online game (MMO) Dragon's Prophet™ to North America. Developed by Runewaker Entertainment, Dragon's Prophet transports players to the dragon-filled, beautiful world of Auratia, where they can capture, train and ride dragons. 
MMO News: DC Universe Online's Upcoming DLC Pack: Home Turf 



DC Universe Online's Upcoming DLC Pack: Home Turf 



Heroes and Villains will soon have a place to call home as Sony Online Entertainment, LLC (SOE) today announced Home Turf, its sixth downloadable content (DLC) pack for DC Universe™ Online (DCUO). Available in early 2013 for download on the PC and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Home Turf will introduce customizable housing for the first time to the popular massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, providing players with a base of operations, and all-new customizable backdrops for super-charged combat. 

Aion Released Shooting Star Preview Trailer

MMO Update: Aion Released Shooting Star Preview Trailer 





Aion Released Shooting Star Preview Trailer 

With the reveal of the new class 'Shooting Star', many of you must be more and more interested in this new class in Aion 4.0. Several days ago, you've seen the concept arts of the new class, today you are going to check out the preview trailer of the Shooting Star.

Saga Kingdoms Releases Kickstarter Page, Quest System Revealed

MMO News: Saga Kingdoms Releases Kickstarter Page, Quest System Revealed 


Saga Kingdoms Releases Kickstarter Page, Quest System Revealed 


If you are a crazy game fans, that you must know saga, a 2008 MMORTS with collectible card game-like elements. Saga Kingdoms is the continuation of that franchise, seeking to create a MMORTS with more of a focus on co-op and quests than the pure PvP of contenders past. Here are some early details on how this questing system will function.

Cabal II: First English Server Announced

MMO Release: Cabal II - First English Server Announced 


Cabal II: First English Server Announced
The first English (and overseas) server for Cabal II will made by Southeast Asia publisher, Asiasoft, which has its headquarters in Thailand offices in various SEA countries such as Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. Asiasoft will be publishing Cabal II in the English and Thai languages for 3 years.

Wizardry Online Beta Begins October 29th

MMO New Launch: Wizardry Online Beta Begins October 29th 


SOE Live: Wizardry Online Beta Begins October 29th



Wizardry Online's beta will begin on October 29, Wizardry Online is a hardcore MMO spin on the classic dungeon romp game play of Wizardry, featuring permadeath, fiendish monsters, and brutal traps.

Guild Wars 2 - Dealing With Mesmer Clones in PvP

Short MMO News: Guild Wars 2 - Dealing With Mesmer Clones in PvP 


Guild Wars 2 - Dealing With Mesmer Clones in PvP


Hey everyone, today I am a bit enrage and mad at something that is going on in 'World vs World', I will try to be polite but the nature of what I am going to say can be a bit harsh to some people. Just in case, it had something to do with mesmers!!!! 

EverQuest & EverQuest II Expansions Dated

Short MMO News: EverQuest & EverQuest II Expansions Dated 


EverQuest & EverQuest II Expansions Dated

SOE has announced the launch date for the next two expansions to the EverQuest franchise at SOE Live. 

Assassins and Aimons: New Class and Race Coming to SEVENCORE

MMO Short News: Assassins and Aimons: New Class and Race Coming to SEVENCORE


Assassins and Aimons: New Class and Race Coming to SEVENCORE 





Gala Networks Europe, one of the leading free-to-play games publishers and operator of the www.gPotato.eu portal, today announces the addition of new in-game contents to its recently launched fusion fantasy MMORPG SEVENCORE: From November 1st, 2012, onwards, players will be able to also dive into their adventure by playing assassin class characters, as well as to choose from a new race, called Aimons. Furthermore, the level cap will be raised to 95.

WoW Mists of Pandaria Updates to Patch 5.1

WoW Mists of Pandaria Updates to Patch 5.1

WoW Blue Tweets - Patch 5.1 
Blizzards most Cash Cow: WoW renowned as World of Warcraft keeps its next foot to Patch 5.1 with the Launch of Mists of Pandaria. A Uniqueness in Character "Panda" or Bear" which specializes in Monk ability.

Go Gamers Pay more and Get More Goodies..... At Last empty your Pockets (become Poket).. :)

WoW Pets - Mists of Pandaria

WoW Pets - Mists of Pandaria 


WoW Pets - Mists of Pandaria









Blizzard Entertainment launches new pets for their Milking Cow or Cash Cow: Mists of Pandaria with lots of Petties to assist with What do you Say??? More Cash you pay and get some goodies to assist you with??? :( :)

RaiderZ Highlights Rietz with New Trailer and Screens

RaiderZ Highlights Rietz with New Trailer and Screens 

RaiderZ Highlights Rietz with New Trailer and Screens As the October 24, 2012 open beta launch for RaiderZ draws near, the team is excited to share a brand new trailer highlighting the city of Rietz.

Short MMO Review: District 187- Sin Streets

Short MMO Review: District 187- Sin Streets 

 Showing You What's Real – District 187: Sin Streets Review 

District 187: Sin Streets has recently come out on Open Beta, updating its map and weapon selection. But is it worth playing? Should you take the time to download and play District 187, as opposed to more popular online first-person shooter (FPS) games such as Alliance of Valiant Arms or Blacklight: Retribution? 

Aion 4.0 – NCsoft reveals Shooting Star preview trailer

Aion 4.0 – NCsoft reveals Shooting Star preview trailer

1 of the 3 new upcoming classes for NCsoft's Aion version 4.0, the Shooting Star class got its first preview trailer earlier. This made me realize why Blade & Soul's new class isn't a gunner-type, but rather a melee one. NCsoft will be missing from G*Star 2012, with the focus probably on Aion 4.0 [Read more at Gameforumer.com]


Rise and Shiny revisit: Dark Age of Camelot

 Rise and Shiny revisit: Dark Age of Camelot

About once a year I like to take a look back at Dark Age of Camelot, the classic PvP MMO by Mythic Entertainment, just to reassure myself that older MMOs are still some of the best around. Dark Age of Camelot comes from that older crop of titles like Asheron's Call and EverQuest, games that still shine despite their age. Of course the next logical question is, "If these games are still so good, why aren't more of us still playing them?" There's an easy answer, really. First of all, we don't spend time sitting around listening to our favorite albums or watching our favorite movies constantly, but we still appreciate them, possibly more than we did when we first found them. Next, all games are finite for us as individuals. There is no MMO that offers endless content if we take away the endless player-made content that comes from roleplay or exploration.
Dark Age of Camelot character creation screenshot
No matter how good a game like Dark Age of Camelot was and still is, many of us have already experienced it quite a bit. It's only human to become slightly bored with something we've played with time and again. But once again, I've spent a week in a game that shows it's always a good thing to check back on our favorites. They just might surprise you all over again.


RIFT drops Storm Legion NDA, livecasts player housing tour

RIFT drops Storm Legion NDA, livecasts player housing tour
 
 
As RIFT enters its second beta weekend for Storm Legion, the team at Trion Worlds announced that the NDA for the expansion is now lifted. In addition to all of this craziness, the devs took players on a livestream tour of the new player housing system.

In the livestream, the dimensions of Granite Falls Inn, Faen's Retreat and Dormant Core were shown off. Players are able to have multiple dimensions, with the first two available for free. At the launch of Storm Legion, there will be 250 objects included in the system with more to come.

Dimensions can be set to either private or public, with the latter being able to hold up to 200 people at once. Public dimensions have a rating system, may be joined randomly, and can have the option to allow visitors to add their own creations as well.

You can watch the full dimensions video after the jump, and stay tuned for Massively's hands on with the beta!
 

Do you play some games inactively?

Grind Your Mind: How Do you play some games Actively or Inactively?

 Of course, to really play a game actively you'd need to be powering the computer yourself via bicycle.

I can log into RIFT any time I want. I have my subscription active, and I'm perfectly happy to give Trion Worlds my money on a monthly basis. But my actual playtime with the game is spotty at best. Despite this, I still describe myself as playing the game, because I am still playing, just not in an active capacity. An inactive capacity, if you will.

With free-to-play becoming the dominant business model in the MMO genre, it's easier than ever to be an inactive player in your game of choice. You jump in for a couple of days, let the game sit for a week, then jump back in without any real penalties. You don't have to stick with any game longer than you want to. Still, there are games that require a subscription to play, and some people will pop into a free-to-play game to buy new things and then jump right out. So what about you? Is there a game that keeps getting your money even though it's not an active part of your play rotation?


Gameforumer's Basic Promo Videos at YouTube

Recently one of our Author AmitTeli Uploaded 2 new videos to YouTube 1) Youtube for Gameforumer.com. 2) Youtube Video of Gameforumer PC Tech. Even though they are a very basic video we still recommend it to our viewers (Guests) and readers. Hope you enjoy watching them. We have disabled the commenting system as we wanted [Read more at Gameforumer.com]

Skylanders Giants a Review

MMO News: Skylanders Giants a Review


A Review of Skylanders Giants Skylanders was one of the biggest surprises of 2011. Pretty much everyone expected it to be a cheap cash-in of 90s nostalgia to sell toys to unsuspecting kids — and boy, were we wrong. It was actually a pretty fun, serviceable action game [Read more at Gameforumer.com]

Rift: Storm Legion NDA Drops, Beta 2 Begins

Short MMO News: Rift -  Storm Legion NDA Drops, Beta 2 Begins


Storm Legion NDA Drops, Beta 2 Begins

Trion Worlds has announced that the second beta event for the upcoming RIFT expansion, Storm Legion, is now underway and will run through the weekend. Additionally, Trion has lifted the NDA on Storm Legion, so feel free to discuss the expansion to your heart's content!


PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th 2012

MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012


SOE Live 2012  PlanetSide 2 launch date announced 


Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July, is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether it'd be finished in time.

During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be "finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE] think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now, saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players' feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know what works better and what doesn't."

PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th 2012

MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012


SOE Live 2012  PlanetSide 2 launch date announced 


Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July, is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether it'd be finished in time.

During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be "finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE] think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now, saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players' feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know what works better and what doesn't."

PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th 2012

MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012


SOE Live 2012  PlanetSide 2 launch date announced 


Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July, is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether it'd be finished in time.

During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be "finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE] think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now, saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players' feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know what works better and what doesn't."

PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th 2012

MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012


SOE Live 2012  PlanetSide 2 launch date announced 


Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July, is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether it'd be finished in time.

During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be "finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE] think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now, saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players' feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know what works better and what doesn't."

PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th 2012

MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012


SOE Live 2012  PlanetSide 2 launch date announced 


Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July, is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether it'd be finished in time.

During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be "finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE] think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now, saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players' feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know what works better and what doesn't."

PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th 2012

MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012


SOE Live 2012  PlanetSide 2 launch date announced 


Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July, is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether it'd be finished in time.

During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be "finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE] think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now, saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players' feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know what works better and what doesn't."

PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th 2012

MMO News: PlanetSide 2 launching November 20th, 2012


SOE Live 2012  PlanetSide 2 launch date announced 


Already alerted to the fact that tonight would be the night, PlanetSide 2 fans have been waiting with bated breath for the official launch date announcement at SOE Live. And now, the magic words have been uttered: PS2 will go live on November 20th, 2012. The beta, which began in July, is held up by devs as a real and honest beta in which systems are tested, rather than a soft launch. But some players wondered whether it'd be finished in time.

During a press conference before the announcement, Creative Director Matt Higby addressed this concern by reminding players that an MMO will never be "finished" as in completed or done. As he put it, the game is "not finished because it's finished; it's finished when it's at a level [SOE] think[s] it should be." He further outlined the state of beta now, saying that the development team has turned the corner, moving from just implementing mechanics that were planned to reacting to beta players' feedback to improve and adjust the game. He emphasized, "Now we know what works better and what doesn't."

DC Universe Online's next DLC introduces player housing

MMO News: DC Universe Online's next DLC introduces player housing


DC Universe Online's next DLC introduces player housing 
Currently, player heroes in DC Universe Online can experience the same world as the iconic comic book heroes. They walk the same streets, see the same sights, and even fight the same villains. Players even interact with the legendary heroes themselves. But there was always one part of the experience that was missing. What super-hero experience is complete without a Batcave to call your own? Now, with DCUO's next DLC, called Home Turf, Sony Online Entertainment is filling that void: Players will have personal secret lairs.

What's better than having a your own place to get away from the rigors of crime fighting in Gotham or Metropolis? Having a place you can personalize to your own style and tastes! And while having a place to hang your cape is all well and good, DCUO is going to offer more than just a private space. Not only will players be able to decorate their lairs, but they will be able to engage in battles right within their own four walls. Friend or foe, you're having company over, super-hero style!

Star Trek Online shows off the Azure Nebula event

MMO News: Star Trek Online shows off the Azure Nebula event


Captain's Log, stardate 25673.4.  Phil got us captured by Tholians and we all agreed he's a stupid jerk. 

Sometimes you can't help but feel a little blue. Maybe it's because you're overtired, maybe it's because you don't have as much money as you want, or maybe it's because you've been trapped in the Azure Nebula by Tholians. Admittedly that last problem is pretty much only applicable for Romulan ships in Star Trek Online's upcoming Season 7, but it's still relevant to players, since they'll be the ones tasked with rescuing the captured ships for fun and profit.

The new event will be accessible via a queue system for players at Vice Admiral/Lieutenant General rank or higher. Several Tholian prisons have been set up through the nebula, and players will be tasked with freeing as many ships as possible within a time limit. Bigger ships mean greater rewards, but they're also guarded by more formidable Tholian warships. Success rewards players with both fleet commendations and new Romulan commendations, a fitting prize for making wayward ships feel a little less blue.
 


New super heroes arrive to Marvel Universe

MMO Update: New super heroes arrive to Marvel Universe

Gazillion Entertainment has announced that Jean Grey, Nova and Luke Cage are going to join Marvel Universe . These iconic super heroes join the 25 heroes that the game already have that includes Spider-man, Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk and Wolverine. Source of information: Gazillion Entertaintment press release

Guild Wars 2 has announced its first major content update, Shadow of the Mad King

MMO Update: Guild Wars 2 has announced its first major content update, Shadow of the Mad King


 On 22 October, Guild Wars 2 is going to release its first major content update, called the Shadow of the Mad King. “Halloween has a long history in Tyria, and in times past was always marked by the spirit of Mad King Thorn cavorting among the people unleashing his own brand of insanity.

Rift: Surpassing Azeroth

MMO Short News

Surpassing Azeroth
There is no question that World of Warcraft has been the top dog in the pack for many years. But we contend that Rift is beginning to beat the leader at its own game. Find out why we say that and then let us know what you think in the comments.

The War Z: Early Beta Access Launches at 2:30pm Pacific

MMO Short News

Early Beta Access Launches at 2:30pm Pacific
Confirmed via The War Z's official Facebook page, the game's early beta access will begin at 2:30pm Pacific, 5:30pm Eastern.

Defiance: Meet Nathan Richardsson

MMO Short News

Meet Nathan Richardsson
The Defiance website has been updated with a new interview with Nathan Richardsson. For those not in the know: Richardsson was announced as the brand new Executive Producer for Defiance and comes with a wealth of experience from CCP Games.

Diablo 3: Server Maintenance Oct. 16th to Pave Way for 1.05

MMO Short News:


Server Maintenance Oct. 16th to Pave Way for 1.05
The Diablo III forum has been updated with the announcement that server maintenance will be conducted on all regional servers on Tuesday, October 16th. The express purpose of the maintenance is to bring patch v1.05 to live status

Pirate 101: Official Launch Day Arrives







Official Launch Day Arrives
KingsIsle has announced that the doors have swung open on Pirate 101, the latest game from the Austin studio. Like its predecessor, Pirate 101 is a family friendly offering, this time focusing on pirate-y goodness.

Guild Wars 2: ArenaNet Programmers Speak to the Challenges of Coding Tyria

ArenaNet Programmers Speak to the Challenges of Coding Tyria

Our own Garrett Fuller was at GDC Online this past week, and spoke with several members of ArenaNet's programming team for Guild Wars 2, including Cameron Dunn, Studio Technical Director, Braeden Shosa, Gameplay Programming Team Lead, Chad Taylor, Engine Programming Team Lead, and Stephen Clarke-Willson, Server Programming Team Lead.

DayZ: Interior Work In Progress Screens







Interior Work In Progress Screens 

Bohemia Interactive has posted a new (and short) developer blog on the DayZ site. Packed away within the blog are several awesome screenshots showing off interiors the team has been working on lately. They are clearly labeled "works in progress" but look pretty dang good already!

Rift: Dimensions Live Stream Event on Friday



Dimensions Live Stream Event on Friday 


Trion Worlds and the Rift team have announced that a live stream event will take place this Friday, October 19th. The team has plans to show off the new Dimensions feature that will arrive with the Storm Legion expansion. Dimensions are fully customizable living spaces for player

General gaming

General gaming


Dissecting the Horror: The Mysteries of Spec Ops The Line

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 05:31 PM PDT

Feature

1UP COVER STORY

Header

1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF OCTOBER 15 | GAMING'S GREATEST MYSTERIES

Dissecting the Horror: The Mysteries of Spec Ops The Line

Cover Story: Writer Walt Williams discusses the enigmatic beats of this year's biggest surprise.

W

hen we look back on 2012 decades from now, I have no doubt that one of the defining titles will be Spec Ops: The Line. 2K Games managed to use the framework of a third-person shooter to create a horrific tale of what war does to man. Spec Ops tackled topics and utilized a lens our medium has rarely dared to dabble in. Its depictions of PTSD, justified murder, and moral ambiguity contributed countless emotional beats that lingered with the player long after the credits rolled. 1UP had a chance to sit down with writer Walt Williams and discuss his story's inspirations, ramifications, and ultimate goals in the continuing maturation of our medium.

1UP: So just kicking things off... At the start, I'm wondering how the story came to be. Was it the setting first? Did you always know this was going to be Dubai? Or did you start writing the story and all of a sudden the setting... We need to have this place with such a stark juxtaposition between the lavish and the impoverished...

Call of Duty Elite Simplifies Itself By Going Free For All

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:46 PM PDT

Call of Duty Black Ops II Season Pass

The way Call of Duty Elite -- the subscription service for the massively popular FPS series -- worked never really seemed like the most sensible way to go. By having free and premium tiers, there was always a great deal of confusion among gamers, and this led to some unfair criticisms about how the money-hungry Activision was charging for stat-tracking services other games offered for free when, in reality, that was not the case. As Elite approaches the beginning of its second year in existence with the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops II next month, Activision is doing the sensible thing: it's making Elite (sans downloadable content) free for everyone to access.

When it was originally launched last year, the $50-per-year version of Elite offered a year's worth of downloadable content, extra storage for replay videos, the ability for clans to level up, tournaments with real-world prizes, and Elite TV. The DLC was obviously the big attraction, as on its own that same content would cost $60. But the manner in which DLC was handled was not immediately apparent: If I purchase an Elite membership this past June, do I get all of the previously released content? Do I get Black Ops II DLC released prior to next June? It was needlessly confusing.

The Unfinished Swan Review: Abstract Art

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 02:50 PM PDT

1UP COVER STORY

Header

1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF OCTOBER 15 | GAMING'S GREATEST MYSTERIES

The Unfinished Swan Review: Abstract Art

Cover Story: A gentle storybook comes to life in another excellent addition to the PSN library.

G

iant Sparrow had me at hello, although their greeting was a bit on the untraditional side. Upon entering the world of The Unfinished Swan, the very first thing a player can do is toss a ball of black paint onto the stark-white canvas of a three-dimensional world. The entire game is built upon variations of this wildly simple action, but the sheer joy that comes from filling in the geography of Swan's environments immediately demanded my attention. After playing through the brief, but lovely title multiple times over the course of a single day, it became clear to me that Giant Sparrow has created a PSN title that embraces the pleasures of exploration, all through the guise of a Golden Book come to life.

You play as Monroe, an inquisitive boy stuck in a world comprised of questions. At the birth of his adventure, he finds himself amidst the infinity of a featureless landscape, and armed only with a supply of paintballs. Every ball of paint that you hurl answers countless riddles about the environment around you, and in such, Monroe's journey through this magical kingdom is inherently tied to the core act of uncovering the secrets of the world. Each area of The Unfinished Swan is uniquely gorgeous in a way that ties in with the core mechanics of that given moment. When you're painting in the world around you, the final artistic result stems directly from the type of player that you are. Those who go trigger happy and flood the world with color will find themselves in an environment that looks wildly different from someone who plays the game with an eye for conservative minimalism.

Cover Story: Gaming's Greatest Mysteries

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:02 PM PDT

Feature

1UP COVER STORY

Header

1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF OCTOBER 15 | GAMING'S GREATEST MYSTERIES

Cover Story: Gaming's Greatest Mysteries

Join us all this week for a thorough exploration of digital enigmas.

It's no coincidence that some of the most popular games of all time contain their share of secrets; both Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda kept people talking long after they defeated the final boss, if only to share intel on hidden items, warps, and Easter eggs. The answer to some mysteries, like Samus Aran's gender, became common knowledge after hitting the pages of Nintendo Power, but these early examples taught us all that poking and prodding at a game's exterior could eventually yield a beautiful bounty. And though modern games tend to overexplain themselves for the benefit of a wider audience, contemporary developers have learned from these classics of the 8-bit era, causing most new releases to include at least a handful of squirreled-away secrets for the most diligent of players.

The advancement of narrative in gaming would eventually present many opportunities for mystery, as games that show rather than tell fill our minds with questions and leave us wanting more. Stories that don't end with a definitive conclusion keep us wrapped in discussion years after their original release, as we've seen with titles like Ico, Silent Hill 2, and Portal. (Though fans of Mass Effect don't seem to appreciate this approach.) And these mysteries aren't just limited to the games themselves; the fickle, unpredictable nature of the industry brings forth even more head-scratching opportunities, as projects and people fade from relevance, never to be seen again. Needless to say, with so many of its elements shrouded in mystery, our little hobby does an excellent job of appealing to the natural curiosity of the human brain.

Among the Missing: Notable Games Lost to Time

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 01:01 PM PDT

Feature

1UP COVER STORY

Header

1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF OCTOBER 15 | GAMING'S GREATEST MYSTERIES

Among the Missing: Notable Games Lost to Time

Cover Story: Why we can't play some intriguing pieces of game history.

I

n a perfect game industry, nothing would be lost. Developers would back up every project assiduously. Companies would archive every scrap of data. And every commercially released game would be perfectly stored by anyone who bought it. Yet ours is not a perfect game industry, and even today's technology allows a few games to slip into oblivion. A look back into earlier eras reveals that some games were rescued by pure luck, while other endangered titles have never bobbed to the surface.

We discuss canceled games in another feature this week, and here we explore those lost games that were apparently complete. Some vanished just before hitting stores, and a few even disappeared after they were available to the public. All of them share one unfortunate trait: they haven't yet been rediscovered in an age where the great majority of older games are preserved and disseminated for anyone to enjoy.

All the World's a Stage in Sony's The Puppeteer

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 09:12 AM PDT

Puppeteer

The framing device of a video game can often have a profound effect on a its presentation, especially if used creatively. Games like Viewtiful Joe, LittleBigPlanet, and Kirby's Epic Yarn each present their own unique devices and closely tie them into game play. Just think of those cardboard cutouts, the strips of duct tape on the sets, and the adorable hand-stitched nature of LittleBigPlanet's world, and you'll realize how perfectly it represented the idea of a canvass for virtual do-it-yourself ideas.

Revealed this past August for the PS3, Puppeteer takes a similarly inspired approach -- one where the game takes place on a theatrical stage and resembles a 3D animated puppet show of sorts. Surprisingly, the title comes from a diverse set of talent that include Sony's Japan Studio, Gavin Moore as game director (formerly the lead animator on The Getaway), lead game planning by Kazunobu Sato (formerly a lead character designer on Siren and Siren 2), and producer Takashi Mizutani -- who previously served as a lead artist for three installments of the Metal Gear Solid series.

MMOGaming News

MMOGaming News


SWTOR Patch 1.5 HK-51 Companion Sneakpeak

Posted:

SWTOR Patch 1.5 HK-51 Companion Sneakpeak


SWTOR's upcoming patch 1.5 will bring out a quest that allow players to receive the famous HK-51 Assassin Droid as a companion. I was able to obtain this companion on the PTS and I want to give you guys a sneak peak at this newest companion coming to SWTOR with patch 1.5.

Defiance Launches New Trailer for its TV Show

Posted:

Defiance Launches New Trailer for its TV Show


Watch the show. Play the game.Change the world. Yes, that's what Defiance has been advertising. Now Syfy channel has released a new trailer for its TV serie attached to the MMOG Defiance. The show and game are both due out in April, 2013.

Patch 5.0.5 Hotfixes - October 12

Posted:

Patch 5.0.5 Hotfixes - October 12


Patch 5.0.5 Hotfixes - October 12

Dragon Nest CN Halloween 2012 Costume and Weapons

Posted:

Dragon Nest CN Halloween 2012 Costume and Weapons


Here are the latest costume and weapons for cDN Halloween 2012. Check them out!

Riot Released League of Legends Community Infographic

Posted:

Riot Released League of Legends Community Infographic


Riot Games recently released a new infographic that shows how League of Legends stacks up against other popular games with online play such as Halo, Call of Duty and others.

Mists of Pandaria - Patch 5.1 Changes and additions

Posted:

Mists of Pandaria - Patch 5.1 Changes and additions


Mists of Pandaria - Patch 5.1 Changes and additions

District 187: Important Information Regarding Regional Servers

Posted:

District 187: Important Information Regarding Regional Servers


Since District 187: Sin Streets kicked off open beta test on October 8th, the development team had posted a notice to remind players that playing on their regional servers will improve gameplay and latency issues for all.

LOTRO: Riders of Rohan Expansion Launches With New Trailer

Posted:

LOTRO: Riders of Rohan Expansion Launches With New Trailer


Today, Turbine celebrates the launch of the Riders of Rohan expansion for its award-winning MMO, The Lord of the Rings Online. Players across North America and Europe can purchase and play Riders of Rohan for PC now by visiting the Lord of the Rings Online site.

The State Of The MMO Genre: 2012 Edition!

Posted:

The State Of The MMO Genre: 2012 Edition!


Whats up gamers im your host Zach Sharpes here with my annual series "The State Of The MMO Genre" where I give you guys my opinion on the Biggest Flop, Biggest Innovation, and the Biggest Success of the year. Keep in mind this is all interactivity based, so make sure to post your opinions down in the comment section below.

Core Online Closed Beta on Oct. 17th

Posted:

Core Online Closed Beta on Oct. 17th


Entwell's upcoming MMO CORE ONLINE will have its five-day first CBT on October 17th. The registration page opened up on October 14th to 15th.

DAYZ Interior Work-in-progress Screenshots

Posted:

DAYZ Interior Work-in-progress Screenshots


Interior work in progress screenshots taken from inside DayZ standalone.

New War of the Roses Content Updates Announced

Posted:

New War of the Roses Content Updates Announced


NEW YORK – October 15, 2012 – The battles within War of the Roses have been brutal to say the least, but soon players will receive a whole new arsenal to wield havoc with on the field. Paradox Interactive and Fatshark today revealed more details on new content coming to medieval melee action title War of the Roses, including brand new sets of weaponry and armor, additional game modes, and some wintry new maps.

Transformers Universe Trailer Unveiled, Beta Registrations Open

Posted:

Transformers Universe Trailer Unveiled, Beta Registrations Open


Jagex announced today the official Beta Registration for its upcoming MMO Transformers Universe. This is a browser game, but I believe you will be exciting like us.

Warpportal Treats Players to Fright Extravaganza!

Posted:

Warpportal Treats Players to Fright Extravaganza!


Gravity Interactive, a publisher of MMORPGs, invites players and fans alike to participate in spooky celebrations in all of WarpPortal's games such as: Ragnarok Online, Rose Online, Requiem: Memento Mori, Dragon Saga and Maestia: Rise of Keledus.

Total Pageviews

statcounter

View My Stats