General Gaming Article

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• LG Expected to Launch P880 Quad-Core Android Phone
• HTC Rumored to be Working on Streaming Music Service
• Comcast Loses 17,000 Cable Customers in Q4, Is Rightfully Giddy
• Microsoft AV Flags Google.com As A Severe, Exploit-Filled Threat
• Pre-Order Mass Effect 3 on Origin and Get Battlefield 3 Free for PC
• Nifty "Kinect For Media Center" Application Does Exactly What You'd Expect
• Apple Turns Attention to Bankrupt Kodak as Relentless Patent Litigation Continues
• Gigabyte, HWBot Join Forces For AMD-Focused "Spring Extreme" Overclocking Competition
• CyberPower PC Unleashes Zeus Gaming Desktops (Sans Thunderbolt)
• SanDisk Announes 'Extreme' Solid State Drive Series for Performance Junkies

LG Expected to Launch P880 Quad-Core Android Phone Posted: 15 Feb 2012 03:06 PM PST LG has not had the same presence in Android as the likes of Motorola, Samsung, and HTC, but the company might be looking to change that at the upcoming Mobile World Congress show. The details on LG's new flagship device (currently called P880) have been leaked, and it's looking like a real monster with a quad-core processor, and HD screen among other goodies. The P880 will be one of the first smartphones to ship with the quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 SoC. This part is already shipping in tablets, but it will be a big step for phones, and is producing some incredible benchmarks in the leaked screenshots. To keep that chip chugging along, the P880 will come with a 3000mAh battery. The screen will also eat up juice with its 1280x720 resolution.  The P880 will also be LG's first Ice Cream Sandwich phone. The leaked screens show version 4.0.3 and the newest version of the Linux kernel for Tegra. LG doesn't have the best reputation for software updates, but at least this one ill be running the latest and greatest when it comes out, unlike last year's Optimus 2X.

HTC Rumored to be Working on Streaming Music Service Posted: 15 Feb 2012 02:44 PM PST As it searches for a way to turn its fortunes around, struggling phone maker HTC is reportedly investigating the possibility of launching its own music streaming service. The client would be built into the default music app on all of HTC's Android devices, and possibly as an add-on for Windows Phone. The company is, as expected, cagey about answering any questions at this point. HTC took a large ownership stake in Beats Audio last year, and has been shipping phones with Beats technology for the last few months. So maybe a music service would fit right in. HTC has also shown an interest in bringing special services to HTC Sense, the company's user interface used on Android. There is already an HTC movie streaming service, and upcoming phones will include 50GB of Dropbox storage for users. Talks with Spotify apparently went nowhere, which may have led to the development of an in-house solution.  Sources are saying that HTC could announce the service later this month at Mobile World Congress. Samsung has pulled back on MWC this year, so that could give HTC the opening it needs to make an impact.

Comcast Loses 17,000 Cable Customers in Q4, Is Rightfully Giddy Posted: 15 Feb 2012 11:17 AM PST Every quarter it's the same old story for cable companies. Subscriber losses have become the norm as streaming continues to pluck more viewers away from tethered cable, and in the fourth quarter of 2011, Comcast lost 17,000 TV customers. That might have been cause for panic a decade ago, but in today's landscape, Comcast has reason to celebrate. Comcast hasn't lost as few as 17,000 cable subscribers in five years, and compared to 2010, last quarter's losses were a drop in a bucket. In same quarter one year earlier, Comcast reported 135,000 cable subscriber losses, or about eight times as many as Q4 2011. "Last year was a very important year for our company. Cable continued to drive innovation, increase new product introductions and transform the customer experience, and we successfully integrated NBCUniversal," said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast. "We also reported strong financial and operating results in both the fourth quarter and for the full year. Specifically, cable had another terrific quarter of improving customer metrics, demonstrating that our new XFINITY brand and our intensified focus on service and innovation are making a real difference." That's right, Comcast lost 17,000 cable subscribers and still described it as a "terrific quarter" for cable, which underscores the expectations in today's streaming landscape. In terms of overall revenue, Comcast collected over $15 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter of 2011, a 54.7 percent year-on-year increase.

Microsoft AV Flags Google.com As A Severe, Exploit-Filled Threat Posted: 15 Feb 2012 11:09 AM PST Valentine's Day is for lovers, as the saying goes, and Microsoft spent the day showing Google just how much it cares. A faulty security update  pushed out alongside several other patches yesterday caused Internet Explorer to incorrectly flag Google.com -- yep, the most visited website in the universe and the homepage of scads of users -- as being a severe threat called Exploit:JS/Blacole.BW. Oops! As you might expect, the Internet was quickly ablaze with a virtual horde all asking the same penetrating question: WTF? No, Google wasn't serving up malware. It turns out that the culprit was bad code in updates for Microsoft Forefront and Microsoft Security Essentials, ZDNet explains. Fortunately, Microsoft squashed the bug fairly quickly; by the end of the day yesterday, new updates were pushed out to fix the problem. It makes you wonder just what the hell kind of testing goes on over in Redmond, though -- especially since Microsoft AV products just went on a Google Chrome-deleting splurge last September when another false positive mistakenly identified the browser as the ZeuS Trojan.

Pre-Order Mass Effect 3 on Origin and Get Battlefield 3 Free for PC Posted: 15 Feb 2012 10:54 AM PST We don't post a ton of deals here on Maximum PC, but when we do, they're pretty sweet. With that in mind, we thought you'd like to know Electronic Arts is giving away free copies of Battlefield 3 for PC when you pre-order Mass Effect 3 from Origin. That's a $60 value folks (or around $45 if you do a bit of shopping around) for a game we're pretty fond of. You can pre-order Mass Effect 3 on any platform you want (PC download, PC boxed copy, PlayStation 3, or Xbox 360), but your copy of Battlefield 3 is a digital version for PC and is valid only for those who don't already own a copy. The offer expires March 5, 2012, with free download codes to be emailed no later than March 8, 2012. Additional fine print stuff: OFFER EXPIRES MARCH 5, 2012. VALID ONLY ON NEW PURCHASES OF MASS EFFECT 3 ("PRODUCT") FROM THE ORIGIN STORE AT WWW.ORIGIN.COM AND ONLY FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A DIGITAL VERSION OF BATTLEFIELD 3 ("BF3"). CUSTOMERS WILL BE EMAILED THE CODE FOR BF3 BY MARCH 8, 2012. VALID ONLY IN US AND CANADA. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER, GIFT CARD, REBATE OR OTHER DISCOUNT COUPONS. LIMIT ONE OFFER PER PERSON. CUSTOMERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHIPPING, HANDLING AND APPLICABLE SALES TAX. OFFER MAY NOT BE SUBSTITUTED, EXCHANGED, SOLD OR REDEEMED FOR CASH OR OTHER GOODS OR SERVICES. RETAILERS, DISTRIBUTORS AND EMPLOYEES OF ELECTRONIC ARTS INC. AND THEIR AGENCIES/AFFILIATES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED, TAXED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. INTERNET CONNECTION AND ORIGIN ACCOUNT (EA) REQUIRED. YOU MUST BE 13+. EA MAY RETIRE ONLINE FEATURES AFTER 30 DAYS NOTICE POSTED ON WWW.EA.COM/2/SERVICE-UPDATES. PC PRODUCT REQUIRES ACCEPTANCE OF END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT. ACCESS TO PC ONLINE FEATURES LIMITED TO ONE ORIGIN ACCOUNT (EA). More details and ordering information here.

Nifty "Kinect For Media Center" Application Does Exactly What You'd Expect Posted: 15 Feb 2012 10:47 AM PST Have you ever been browsing through your Windows Media Center library, stopped on your significant other's stockpile of Jersey Shore episodes, and wave your hands dismissively before continuing on to Netflix? Some new tech lets that disgusted gesture alone speed you away from Snooki's yawn-inducing antics. The straightforwardly named "Kinect for Media Center" software taps into Kinect for Windows and adds both voice and gesture controls to your Media Center browsing experience. The software supports add-ins (like Netflix and Heatwave) as efficiently as it does the normal Media Center interface, as you can see in the demo video above. It doesn't include support for the 360 or any other Media Center extender, however. A whole range of motion and voice controls let you boss your PC around -- all of which can be seen at the Kinect for Media Center web page -- and "advanced Voice features" keep audio coming from your speakers from accidentally controlling Media Center. The speed of your gestures determines the velocity of the UI movement, too. Not too shabby, if you're into the "arm-swinging, sweet-talking" control thing. If you are into it, you'll need a PC with a dual-core, 2.66 GHz processor, at least 2GB of RAM (although 4GB is better), Kinect for Windows -- duh -- and a copy of the Kinect for Media Center software, which developer Brad Mauk is selling for $7 a pop. So, does the thought of controlling Media Center with your arms and mouth interest you? Would you be likely to pick this up if you used a dedicated HTPC with your TV? Thanks to Engadget for pointing this out!

Apple Turns Attention to Bankrupt Kodak as Relentless Patent Litigation Continues Posted: 15 Feb 2012 10:29 AM PST When it rains, it pours, and as if Kodak didn't have enough to worry about already as it ditches the camera business and tries to figure out how to pay back movie studios millions of dollars it owes in unpaid rebates, all while declaring bankruptcy, Apple has decided it wants to dump a patent infringement suit to the company's pile of problems. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple believes Kodak is infringing on a number of patents that relate to various technologies used in printers, digital cameras, and digital picture frames. Apple, which doesn't need to seek permission from a bankruptcy judge to sue Kodak over patent claims, took the step precautionary of announcing its intentions in a court filing yesterday. "Apple requests express authority from this court before it initiates the actions out of an abundance of caution," Apple's lawyers wrote in the filing, according to Bloomberg. This has been an ongoing thing between Apple, Kodak, and Research In Motion (RIM). It dates back to 2010 when Kodak sued Apple and RIM for allegedly infringing patents relating to technologies found in smartphone cameras. The issue was never fully settled, and Apple later fired back with a lawsuit of its own saying it was the rightful owner of an image-preview patent that's at the heart of all this.

Gigabyte, HWBot Join Forces For AMD-Focused "Spring Extreme" Overclocking Competition Posted: 15 Feb 2012 10:11 AM PST Few acts manifest the Maximum PC ethos as much as overclocking. Overclockers with something to prove have long been able to post their various benchmarking scores on HWBot to determine the king of the processor-pushing hill; now, that drive for MOAR can earn more than just bragging rights. Gigabyte just announced it has teamed up with HWBot for the "Gigabyte Spring Extreme Competition." Tinkerers with Gigabyte mobos and AMD processors are invited to try to push their systems to the (almost) breaking point, and the three people with the most prolific overclocking prowess will earn brand-spankin'-new Bulldozer-friendly mobos. The overall winner nabs the high-end GA-990FXA-UD7, while the runner-up and second runner-up will walk away with the GA-990FXA-UD5 and GA-990FXA-UD3, respectively. Of course, every competition needs rules, and the Spring Extreme Competition has four benchmark "stages" designed to separate the best from the rest. Contenders need to submit benchmark scores from Wprime 32M, Super PI 32M, PiFast, and PC Mark 05. In case of a tie, the PC Mark 05 score will be used as the tiebreaker. If you're rig meets the specific AMD/Gigabyte criteria needed to enter the contest, you have until March 15th to submit your benchmark scores. Head over to the Spring Extreme Competition page on HWBot for more info, including detailed information for the requirements for each stage of the event. Now get to tweaking!

CyberPower PC Unleashes Zeus Gaming Desktops (Sans Thunderbolt) Posted: 15 Feb 2012 09:58 AM PST Boutique system vendor CyberPower PC is out to prove that Zeus doesn't need a Thunderbolt to whip up a storm (but we'll gladly take USB 3.0, thank you very much). Zeus is the name of CyberPower PC's newest gaming desktop line with half a dozen models to choose from, including the Zeus Thunder 1000, 2000, 3000, and MAX, all of which feature Intel processors, and the Zeus Lightning 1000 and 2000 models built around AMD's FX platform. All six systems are housed in NZXT's Switch 810 Hybrid full-tower chassis. The least expensive of them all is the Zeus Lightning 1000, which starts at $1,000 (or less, if you downgrade certain default components) and includes an AMD FX-8120 eight-core processor with CyberPower PC's Pro OC option (overclocked by 10 percent or more), CoolIT ECO II-240 liquid cooling system, Gigabyte GA-970A-D3 motherboard, 8GB of DDR3-1600 memory, AMD Radeon HD 7750 graphics card, 2TB SATA 6Gbps hard drive (7200 RPM, 64MB cache), 24X DVD burner, 800W power supply, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. If you prefer to roll with Intel, the Zeus Thunder 1000 runs $1,325 for a baseline configuration that's mostly similar to the Lightning, but with an Intel Core i7 2600K processor overclocked by 20 percent or more (Extreme OC), Asus P8Z68-V LX motherboard, 16GB of DDR3-1600 memory, and an AMD Radeon HD 7770 graphics card. If you drop down to the same Radeon HD 7750 and 8GB of RAM found in the Lightning 1000 system, the price drops with it to $1,216. Zeus Desktops Image Credit: CyberPower PC

SanDisk Announes 'Extreme' Solid State Drive Series for Performance Junkies Posted: 15 Feb 2012 08:20 AM PST If the high prices of mechanical hard drives has you feeling blue, perhaps you should use it as an excuse to kick a little green at a high performance solid state drive instead. You won't save any money by going that route, but if it's a matter of principle, or if you've been shopping a fast SSD anyway, SanDisk is hoping you'll consider its new Extreme SSD line. The new drives are available in 120GB ($200), 240GB ($400), and 480GB ($750) capacities with varying levels of performance. Starting with the smallest one, the 120GB drive boasts up to 550MB/s sequential read and up to 510MB/s sequential write speeds, along with up to 23K random read and up to 83K random write IOPS. Performance numbers are similar for SanDisk's 240GB Extreme SSD, which features the same sequential read (550MB/s) and random write (83K IOPS) performance, but slightly better writes (up to 520MB/s sequential) and random read performance (33K IOPS). Finally, SanDisk's 480GB model offers up to 540MB/s sequential read and up to 460MB/s sequential write performance, up to 44K IOPS for random reads, and up to 45K IOPS for random writes. Interestingly, SanDisk rates the MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure) on the 480GB at 1.4 million hours, compared to 2 million hours for the 240GB model and 2.5 million hours for the 120GB model. All three capacities will ship sometime later this year. Product Page Image Credit: SanDisk

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MMO News

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• Requiem makes international service merge
• Allods Online prepares Game of Gods
• Eligium begins open beta
• Seven Souls Online begins closed beta

Requiem makes international service merge Posted: 15 Feb 2012 03:27 PM PST Gravity Interactive announced today that it will migrate the Korean service of Requiem to North America. The migration will take place on March 7, allowing both Korean and North American players to share the same servers. To help players after the migration, several events will take place, including a global drop of green and blue rice cakes, a raid boss summoning event, and a chance maker event for double loot from bosses. Gravity Interactive also publishes Ragnarok Online and Dragon Saga. Requiem Gameplay Screenshot Source: REQUIEM: Memento Mori WELCOMES KOREAN TEMPERIONS WITH NEW EVENTS AND CHALLENGES MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (February 15, 2012) – WarpPortal's dark fantasy MMORPG REQUIEM: Memento Mori announced today that Korean Requiem service will be migrated to North American Requiem service to concentrate resources and provide a better service to Requiem players. The migration is scheduled to take place in March 7, 2012. To help Korean Requiem players acquainted after the migration, Requiem: Memento Mori will be hosting the events listed below: Green rice cake & blue rice cake global drop event for all players. Raid boss summoning event. Chance maker event for doubled dropped loot from bosses. "We hope Korean Requiem users feel welcome and enjoy their new home on our servers" states Casey Wing, Producer for Requiem in North America. "We are preparing many events and challenges for Korean players to enjoy, and we also want to make sure that they have fun playing with our North American players currently playing in our server."

Allods Online prepares Game of Gods Posted: 15 Feb 2012 02:00 PM PST The latest major update, Game of Gods, is hitting Allods Online in North America and Europe. The update introduces a fourth layer of Astral Space, guarded by demons and filled with 15 unique allods. Available inthis update is the new Dead City raid (with ten bosses), the Witch’s Hollow area designed for Skirmishes (PvP territory wars), a beautification of Nezbgrad, and the new support-class, Bard. The update also introduces a Currency Exchange system. Special events will be held to celebrate the new patch, including log-in bonuses for North American players, experience bonuses, and song writing contests. Allods Online is published by gPotato, which also publishes Aika Online and Luna Online. Allods Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: Allods Online: Game of Gods Launches into a New Era Explore a New Class, New Zones, New Quests, New PvP Modes, and More! Sunnyvale, Calif. – February 15, 2012 The old era has ended and the new era has begun! Allods Online: Game of Gods brings a completely new play experience to North America and Europe with fresh zones, rich content, and revamped systems – including the brand new Bard archetype, new PvP Skirmish zone, and new end-game Dead City raid. Game of Gods brings over a year's worth of content to the rich world of this blockbuster MMORPG. Explorers have discovered the fourth layer of Astral Space, a zone guarded by giant demons and populated with 15 unique allods, and stumbled upon the long lost Dead City raid with its 10 legendary bosses. The battle for control of this expanding world has grown even more intense, with bands of 12 meeting regularly in Witch's Hollow to compete in PvP territory wars called Skirmishes. Even familiar places now have more to offer with the completion of the long-awaited Nezebgrad Beautification Project, enriching the industrial city with more of Allods Online's famously lavish world design. Lovers of beauty will also enjoy kicking back in the gorgeous new Tropical Allod with its butterfly hunts, cocktail mixes, and competitive crab races. The warriors of Sarnaut can even indulge in a bit of karaoke, though the newly introduced support-class Bard archetype may be better-suited than most! Allods Online: Game of Gods also introduces the brand new Currency Exchange system which opens up the game experience by allowing players to trade in-game gold for gem shards (boutique coins in Europe). These can be used to customize the decorations for Astral ships, alter a character's appearance in the Hall of Changes, or test the odds at the new Prophetic Cards lottery. North America welcomes players to the new expansion with an ongoing log-in event that awards prizes for each day logged in through February 21 as well as a double EXP event that will last until February 28. Players have also been invited to welcome the new Bard class by showing off their own songwriting skills in exchange for prizes and the chance to have their song performed by a member of the Allods team! Europe ushers in Volume 5 with a competition for players gunning to make the all-new Bard archetype a key character in their Allods Online account. The first player on each server to reach end game with a Bard will win fabulous prizes. Allods Online Pimp My Build also returns with today's launch, offering everyone a chance to win more prizes by showing off their favorite character archetype builds. These many exciting additions bring a fresh and all-new experience to Allods Online: Game of Gods, so if you haven't seen the game recently, you haven't seen it at all! Visit the official websites in North America and Europe to experience the new Allods and start your truly free-to-play adventure today.

Eligium begins open beta Posted: 15 Feb 2012 12:49 PM PST Open beta begins for Eligium, Frogster’s newest MMO, today. The open beta will run for several weeks, and will reward the most active open beta testers with yet-to-be-announced incentives. The open beta is currently only available in English, but the localization process is in place for German, Polish, and French languages. Open beta also features no character wipes, several events and contests, and more. To celebrate, Frogster has released a new trailer for the game, below. Frogster also publishes Runes of Magic. Eligium Open Beta Trailer: Source: Be part of the ELIGIUM Open Beta Test The game is open to everyone Berlin, 15.02.2012: As announced last week, the open beta phase of Frogster's new MMORPG ELIGIUM – The Chosen One will start today at 4 pm (CET). The open beta is planned to run for the next few weeks during which Frogster will count on player activity and bug reporting. Special rewards for the most active open beta testers will be announced soon. Localization – the heart of the matter! During the open beta phase and at the moment of its official release, ELIGIUM – The Chosen One will only be available in English. Thereafter, the game will also be released in German, Polish and French. The text awaiting translation is the equivalent of four times the entire trilogy of "Lord of the Rings" and double the amount translated for other popular Frogster games. Are you ready for battle? As promised, no created characters will be wiped following the open beta phase. Furthermore, ELIGIUM's Community Managers have planned numerous events and competitions during the open beta phase. To take part in the open beta test, register on ELIGIUM's official website www.eligium.com. Don't forget to visit our official profile on Facebook.

Seven Souls Online begins closed beta Posted: 15 Feb 2012 11:33 AM PST Neowiz Games has announced the beginning of closed beta testing for its newest MMORPG, Seven Souls Online. Registration is still being accepted on the game’s website. Several contests will be held during the test, including rewarding the top seven bug-reporting players with an iPad 2. A screenshot contest will reward the five most popular and iconic player-submitted screenshots for the game with a Burning Ghost Mount. Seven Souls Online features a blend of both Eastern and Western cultures with science-fiction, and offers three classes: Manatech Rebels, Imperial Guards, and Exiled Avengers. Neowiz also publishes the North American version of War of Angels. Seven Souls Gameplay Screenshot Source: NEOWIZ GAMES Begins Closed Beta Testing for Seven Souls Online Select Players Can Now Explore and Battle Throughout the World of Akkadia Los Angeles – Feb. 15, 2012 – The bloody battlefields of Akkadia are now open to select closed beta testers in the new free-to-play massively multiplayer online game (MMORPG)Seven Souls Online from NEOWIZ GAMES. Seven Souls Online is currently accepting registration for new closed beta testers at the game’s official website, http://www.sevensoulsonline.com. The closed beta for Seven Souls Online has several in-game opportunities for testers to win prizes, including: The Great Bug Hunt – Closed beta testing is about reporting bugs, so the top seven players to submit the most useful bugs to developers, including a screenshot and a direction, will each win an iPad 2. Players can submit as often as they like, but only relevant bugs will count towards the final tally. Iconic Screenshot Contest – Beta testers can submit their top entry for the screenshot that best represents Seven Souls Online on the game’s forums. After voting on the forum, the five players with the most popular images will win the ultra-rare “Burning Ghost Mount.” In Seven Souls Online, players unleash their inner demon in a fantasy world that combines the ancient East and West, as well as elements of science-fiction. Players can choose from three character classes, the magic-enhanced Manatech Rebel, the savage Imperial Guard and the cunning Exiled Avenger, and then slaughter their way through vast armies of enemies. For full info on these contests and others during closed beta, fans can “Like” the game on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/officialsevensouls for additional information and updates. Register for free to be a closed beta tester on the Seven Souls Online website, http://www.sevensoulsonline.com/.

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MMO Updates

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• Aeria reveals Lime Odyssey Turga cinematic
• Guild Wars 2 console version confirmed
• Editorial examines MMO mentoring, community dynamics
• New Secret World ARG puzzle hidden on Funcom website
• Webzen giving away fully geared high-level characters
• Aika prepares for battle on March 8th with Epic II: Hestia
• The Daily Grind: What will your favorite MMO look like in 20 years?
• Allods Online releases Game of Gods patch notes [Updated]
• Final Fantasy XIV previewing player residences for patch 1.21
• Reports of EverQuest Mac dying have been greatly exaggerated
• Bigpoint goes live with Pirate Storm
• ArenaNet closes the book on Guild Wars' Winds of Change
• Star Wars: The Old Republic to launch in the Asia Pacific region on March 1st
• City of Heroes introduces the super pack, players respond with rage
• Gazillion shutting down Fortune Online
• Going toe-to-toe with TERA's first beta weekend
• Flameseeker Chronicles: Big changes
• Hyperspace Beacon: Finally 50
• The Soapbox: TERA's rocky road to release
• WAR producer's letter talks bug fixing, patch schedules
• The Game Archaeologist mourns the end of EQMac

Aeria reveals Lime Odyssey Turga cinematic Posted: 15 Feb 2012 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Races Aeria Games has revealed another opening cinematic from its Lime Odyssey MMORPG. This time around, the focus is on the Turga, a lion-like race that lives in a meadow called the Tumbara Plain. The Turga possess "deep faith and brute strength," and their lives are centered on discipline, honor, and willpower. In mechanical terms, the Turga represent one of three playable Lime Odyssey races, and they begin their journey on the West Tumbara Plain of North Orta. The village is a stone's throw from Talunvara Canyon, the area's first dungeon that will test the mettle of the Turgas brave enough to enter it. Head past the break to get a look at the Turga cinematic. [Source: Aeria Games press release] Gallery: Lime Odyssey Core Gallery Continue reading Aeria reveals Lime Odyssey Turga cinematic Aeria reveals Lime Odyssey Turga cinematic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2 console version confirmed Posted: 15 Feb 2012 08:45 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play, Consoles, Blade & Soul Guild Wars Insider has the scoop on the confirmation of a Guild Wars 2 console version at some point after the game's PC client goes live. The source is an NCsoft earnings call, during which a couple of console-specific statements are made. The call also mentions beta testing for the upcoming fantasy game. "In March and April there will be large-scale testing for GW2; depending on results of testing a finalized commercialization schedule will be determined. [The] console version will be launched separately from [the] PC [version] at a later date," the fan site reports. NCsoft also says it will be considering "seasonality factors" when determining "final commercialization" for both Guild Wars 2 and Blade & Soul. Head to Guild Wars Insider for more, including audio of the call. Guild Wars 2 console version confirmed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GW Insider

Editorial examines MMO mentoring, community dynamics Posted: 15 Feb 2012 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, EverQuest II, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Opinion, Free-to-play, RIFT, Final Fantasy XIV A wise man once described current-gen MMOs as "playing alone together." OK, truthfully I don't know who said that, nor do I know if he is particularly wise, but it resonated (and it's also applicable to a new editorial at Gamasutra that focuses on improving the community aspects of our favorite genre). The piece looks at several current games -- including Final Fantasy XIV, RIFT, and Dungeons and Dragons Online -- and analyzes how they both succeed and fail at bringing players together. Particular attention is paid to mentoring systems, though EverQuest II's (perhaps the best in the industry) is omitted. What ultimately emerges from the lengthy read is a portrait of a challenging issue that has its roots in both operational and design considerations, and while the piece doesn't offer any particular solution, it does provide quite a lot of food for thought. Editorial examines MMO mentoring, community dynamics originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Gamasutra

New Secret World ARG puzzle hidden on Funcom website Posted: 15 Feb 2012 07:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World Have you figured out Funcom's newest brain-teaser for The Secret World? We haven't, and we'd take kindly to whatever tips you have to offer. What's that, you say? You didn't know there was a new TSW puzzle? Well, head to the official Funcom website. Once you're there, single-click on something that isn't a link (the red title text that says The Secret World should work), and then type in the number 33. If you do it correctly, you should eventually see a bunch of glyphs, and we're assuming they're written in some sort of Runic script. That's about where our knowledge stops, though, so check out the forum thread and let us know what you find out! New Secret World ARG puzzle hidden on Funcom website originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: TSW forums

Webzen giving away fully geared high-level characters Posted: 15 Feb 2012 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Promotions Have you ever played an MMORPG and thought, wow, this would be fantastic if I could ditch the pesky progression? If so, Webzen has a promotion for you. It's called Skip the Low, Jump to High, and it kicks off today and runs through March 14th. The company is giving away free high-level characters and items in ArchLord, Soul of the Ultimate Nation, and MU Online. ArchLord players will receive level-60 characters that are fully geared, while S.U.N. fans can look forward to level-90 toons with gear and level-up boxes. Last but not least, MU players will get level-220 characters and +9 weapons and armor. But wait, there's more! MU is offering double XP during the promotion period, and S.U.N. is bringing a new server online. [Source: Webzen press release] Webzen giving away fully geared high-level characters originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aika prepares for battle on March 8th with Epic II: Hestia Posted: 15 Feb 2012 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Expansions, Patches, Free-to-play, Aika Aika players may have seen strife and war, but they may be unprepared for the sheer magnitude of devastation heading their way. On March 8th, the game will receive its latest major update, Epic II: Hestia, and the world will never be the same again. Epic II: Hestia is a top-heavy expansion for the game, bringing plenty to see and do for level-capped players. Not only will it be adding several new regions to the game, but 24-person level-80 raids and a half-dozen additional gear sets as well. To assist players in preparing for the epic (II) conflict, gPotato is giving all players level 60 and below a 50% XP boost so that they can get into the endgame by the time March 8th rolls around. You can check out a few screenshots from the upcoming expansion below! [Source: gPotato press release] Gallery: Aika Epic II Aika prepares for battle on March 8th with Epic II: Hestia originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What will your favorite MMO look like in 20 years? Posted: 15 Feb 2012 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous Even though we've certainly seen some short-lived MMOs in our time, the average lifespan and half-life of a title is still up for grabs. Considering that titles like Ultima Online and Meridian 59 are creeping ever closer to the two-decade mark, I think it's conceivable that some of the very MMOs we play today might still be around in 20 years. So assuming that they don't go belly-up or invent free-free-to-play-supreme editions that sinks them for good, what do you think your current MMOs might look like in the year 2032? Will we be playing World of Warcraft in holodeck simulators, be teaching Star Wars: The Old Republic in grade-school classrooms, or be experiencing EVE Online's radical "walking in spaceships" feature? Cast your prognosticating abilities far into the future and tell us what we have to look forward to with our favorite games! Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind! The Daily Grind: What will your favorite MMO look like in 20 years? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Allods Online releases Game of Gods patch notes [Updated] Posted: 14 Feb 2012 08:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online If you're looking forward to the latest Allods Online expansion, Game of Gods, you've only got one more day to wait. But if you can't even wait that long without some kind of updates, then you're in luck. The patch notes for version 3.0 have been posted, giving players a full rundown of all the changes and additions coming to the game in light of this sweeping expansion. And it's not just the marquee features being brought in -- there are plenty of smaller changes, quality of life improvements, and other little gems. The marquee items, of course, are all still there. The game's level cap will be raised to 51, and the new Bard class will be added to the game for players to enjoy. New areas and new ship mechanics are also being added to keep players engaged. But there are other new features, such as the addition of "overflow" slots to player bags, stat rearrangement for caster classes, and new performance options for older computers. It promises to be a huge patch, so before you go playing tomorrow, peruse the patch notes today. [Update: Added the new expansion trailer after the cut.] Continue reading Allods Online releases Game of Gods patch notes [Updated] Allods Online releases Game of Gods patch notes [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Version 3.0 Patch Notes

Final Fantasy XIV previewing player residences for patch 1.21 Posted: 14 Feb 2012 07:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV Among all the cues that Final Fantasy XIV took from Final Fantasy XI, there was an obvious omission -- housing. Players have been forced to live without private rooms thus far in the game, but in patch 1.21, that's going to change. The first version of housing will be rolled out with the next major patch, with a small explanation having just recently been posted to the official site. Following the patch, players can acquire a private residence after completing a quest handed out in the inn. These quests can be accepted any time after a player finishes the first installment of the storyline quest, making them rather easy to pick up. When logging out in a private room, players will acquire rest experience to hasten leveling, replacing the previous system of Guardian's Aspect. While it's a bare-bones implementation, it's a foundation to ensure that the game's major revamp coming in November will have something to build off of -- and there's more promised for the future. [Thanks to Derrick for the tip!] Final Fantasy XIV previewing player residences for patch 1.21 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Private Player Residences

Reports of EverQuest Mac dying have been greatly exaggerated Posted: 14 Feb 2012 06:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items, Mac Nothing gold can stay, it seems. EverQuest on the Macintosh, affectionately dubbed EQMac, was announced as facing a shutdown in wake of the game's impending free-to-play transition. John Smedley confirmed this, players mourned, and our own stalwart Game Archaeologist lamented its passing. And so, as the game approaches its final month, Smedley has... apparently rescinded the entire thing via a late-night Twitter post that has taken the entire EQMac community by surprise. Yes, there is apparently both a Santa Claus and a Tooth Fairy, because John Smedley has stated that not only are the EQMac fans "a wonderful group of players," the game will be left running. Better yet, it will continue to run as-is and with no subscription fees. If you're part of the fanbase, no, you don't need to pinch yourself, this is actually a thing that is happening. Further details are to be announced soon, but just the facts alone should make fans very happy. Reports of EverQuest Mac dying have been greatly exaggerated originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Smedley's late-night tweet

Bigpoint goes live with Pirate Storm Posted: 14 Feb 2012 06:00 PM PST Filed under: New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Miscellaneous Pirate Storm: Death or Glory, a free (you guessed it!) pirate-themed game from Bigpoint, is now live! Hop into the game to act out all your piratical dreams: fighting sea beasties, swash-buckling with the most fearsome of foes, and pursuing that whimsical mistress, fortune. Pirate Storm has been launched worldwide and is available in more than 24 languages. It's designed to be beginner-friendly while retaining exciting and challenging missions. Bigpoint's team isn't a stranger to making pirate games -- Seafight and Kultan are other titles it's put out in the same genre -- but the company appears to be taking special pride in this new title. The game world boasts12 different maps spread across three regions, customizable ships and armors, and all the interactive fun of buddy lists, groups, and a guild system. So what's your delay? Those sea serpents are waiting. [Source: Bigpoint press release] Bigpoint goes live with Pirate Storm originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

ArenaNet closes the book on Guild Wars' Winds of Change Posted: 14 Feb 2012 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, MMO industry, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play If you missed the Winds of Change arc that's bridging the gap between Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2, now's a great time to head to the official ArenaNet blog to catch up. The devs have provided a handy summary post and a bit of an explanation for their narrative goals as both Guild Wars and its highly anticipated sequel move forward. ArenaNet also acknowledges the community feedback regarding the difficulty of the Winds of Change content, and the firm says that initially "the difficulty was getting in the way of people enjoying the story, making it far more of a slog than we'd intended and actively undermining their enjoyment of it." Happily, recent updates have led to "major balance tweaks" and second looks at both normal and hard-mode content, so if you were frustrated before, it's worth your time to give it another go. ArenaNet closes the book on Guild Wars' Winds of Change originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: ArenaNet blog

Star Wars: The Old Republic to launch in the Asia Pacific region on March 1st Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic On launch day, fans of Star Wars: The Old Republic were able to start logging into the game simultaneously across the world... assuming "the world" meant North America and Europe. The Pacific regions were unfortunately deferred to a later launch date, something that provoked some ire from fans in that area. However, the wait is now over for an official launch day. A launch of March 1st has been announced for Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. Naturally, there are fans in those regions who would prefer to play on regional servers but have already started play on existing servers via imported copies of the game. BioWare is promising that players in these regions will be able to transfer characters for free for a limited time following the launch date, allowing everyone to move to regional servers if desired. The game is also available for pre-order now, so if you're in the affected region and want a copy, best take a look at stores near you for order options. Star Wars: The Old Republic to launch in the Asia Pacific region on March 1st originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: SWTOR Asia Pacific launch

City of Heroes introduces the super pack, players respond with rage Posted: 14 Feb 2012 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, News items, Free-to-play It's the latest craze sweeping the free-to-play marketplace -- the grab bag! Pay money, open it up, and roll the dice to see what you get. City of Heroes is getting in on the action with the Super Pack, a random grab bag containing a chance at pieces from a new costume set, special Enhancements, and various other gewgaws for players to purchase. Or more accurately, for players to hopefully purchase, seeing as how the grab bag is totally random and may contain nothing of use. Do you want to pay money in a store for a chance at getting valuable rewards for your in-game character? Judging from previous community responses, we'd guess the answer is "no." However, the reaction from the City of Heroes community has been... well, still "no." While some players are reporting that the drop rates aren't too bad on a whole, there's a definite discontent about this grab bag among the players. Even if it does contain neat new pieces, the addition has a ways to go to win over the hearts of the players. City of Heroes introduces the super pack, players respond with rage originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Featured Items at the Paragon Market, Unofficial Super Pack Feedback Thread

Gazillion shutting down Fortune Online Posted: 14 Feb 2012 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual Gazillion's new Fortune Online title is headed for the scrap heap, according to our friends at Joystiq. The Diablo-style browser MMO was born of a desire to simplify dungeon crawling for casual gamers, but apparently it's taking too much time (and too many resources) away from Gazillion's Marvel projects. "We will continue delivering and refining content for Super Hero Squad Online, along with building and developing the Marvel Heroes game," a Gazillion spokesman told Joystiq. The firm also denied speculation that it is preparing for a Disney acquisition, and it declined to announce a timetable or job losses resulting from the Fortune closure. [Thanks to Space Cobra for the tip!] Gazillion shutting down Fortune Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Joystiq

Going toe-to-toe with TERA's first beta weekend Posted: 14 Feb 2012 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, Opinion, Hands-on, TERA Over the past months, many fans of En Masse Entertainment's upcoming "real action combat" title TERA have been wondering whether the game will ever see the light of day. Between sparse development details and word of legal troubles, TERA's future seemed to be in constant jeopardy as cries of "vaporware!" grew steadily louder. Well, those voices can finally have a bit of a reprieve because over the course of this past weekend, players were able to jump into the world of Arborea and experience TERA's action combat firsthand. I was among those players, and after a joy-filled romp through TERA's gorgeous landscapes (thanks in no small part to my fabulous guild -- hi Territ!), I'm ready to conjure up some thoughts that will hopefully somewhat resemble my impressions of the closed beta weekend. So if you want to know whether the game's real action combat hits the mark or it's a swing and a miss, follow me past the cut and let's take a look. Continue reading Going toe-to-toe with TERA's first beta weekend Going toe-to-toe with TERA's first beta weekend originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Flameseeker Chronicles: Big changes Posted: 14 Feb 2012 01:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Events, in-game, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles The last chapter of Guild Wars Beyond's Winds of Change was released just a handful of days ago, bringing nine new quests, fancy weapons, fresh rewards, and a heaping helping of story to the land of Cantha, not to mention a significant update to the way ArenaNet is telling the tale. Miku's Tale in particular boasts a few distinct differences from earlier parts of this storyline -- largely, the consensus seems to be, for the better. There was a fair bit of griping after the first portion of Winds of Change went live and a widespread agreement that something was not quite right about the way the quests at the start of Winds of Change were being handled. ArenaNet responded to this with promises to go back and retune quests, mostly in response to the argument that mobs were too hard. While I certainly understand a fiendish level of mob difficulty acting as an intimidating gateway to players less comfortable with fighting in Guild Wars, I don't think it was really the heart of the problem with the earlier Winds of Change content. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Big changes Flameseeker Chronicles: Big changes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyperspace Beacon: Finally 50 Posted: 14 Feb 2012 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Endgame, Opinion, Roleplaying, Humor, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon I see you there -- you've made a name for yourself in Star Wars: The Old Republic, but where do you really fit within these wars? I know what you're thinking: What is this guy trying to sell? Stick with me for a moment; I'm not just a used-speeder salesman (speeders are way over-priced, by the way 00 it's 570 thousand creds just for licensing, and the Empire's making a killing on that). I wanna talk to you about what you do after you conquer the galaxy Of course, you've taken a bit of time to explore this wondrous universe. If you're a space explorer extraordinaire like I am, then you've danced with your share of Twi'leks on Nar Shaddaa. It's a good thing they have enough Twi'leks to balance out the Hutts, amirite? Hoth was cold, of course, but there's nothing like a war and a couple of Wampa battles to warm the blood. And what's up with the Voss? People who wear such funky make-up shouldn't be that stuffy. Still, it does make me think: How many Voss can fit in a speeder? The galaxy is yours, and you're now a Darth or a Moff or something. Do you sit back and twiddle your thumbs? Of course not! A new game begins. It's a vastly different adventure than the one you just finished, but the features are still shiny. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Finally 50 Hyperspace Beacon: Finally 50 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Soapbox: TERA's rocky road to release Posted: 14 Feb 2012 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, Opinion, TERA, 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. What a difference a year makes, eh? February of 2011 found me drooling over my keyboard as I devoured all the screenshots and gameplay footage leaking out of TERA's Korean launch (yes, the westernization process really has been dragging on for a year). Fast-forward 12 months and the game is losing a little bit of its luster because of certain En Masse decisions and in spite of the fact that the firm has a potentially awesome MMO on its hands. Continue reading The Soapbox: TERA's rocky road to release The Soapbox: TERA's rocky road to release originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

WAR producer's letter talks bug fixing, patch schedules Posted: 14 Feb 2012 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Bugs, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Warhammer Online, News items Hey kids, it's time for another Warhammer Online producer's letter (no, it's still not dead, doomsayers). The dev team is currently hard at work on the 1.4.5a patch, and in case you were wondering, that little "a" basically indicates additions to the previous 1.4.5 update. Said additions will take the form of "functionality, messaging, and tweaks to the fortresses and relics," all of which are still being discussed on the official WAR forums. Next up is the 1.4.6 patch, and Mythic has switched gears to focus on bug fixing instead of the previously planned open RvR tweaks. There are also some additional items of interest on the horizon, including a new live event and some changes to crafting. Head to the WAR Herald to read up on all the details. [Thanks to Benjamin for the tip!] WAR producer's letter talks bug fixing, patch schedules originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Producer's letter

The Game Archaeologist mourns the end of EQMac Posted: 14 Feb 2012 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Culture, Free-to-play, The Game Archaeologist In 2003, Sony Online Entertainment tried an experiment to reach out to the (then) small-but-growing community of Mac users. The company released EverQuest Macintosh Edition -- quickly abbreviated to EQMac -- which incorporated the core game and the first four expansions of EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark, The Scars of Velious, The Shadows of Luclin, and The Planes of Power. Because EQMac was a separate version of the game, SOE segregated Apple players on their own server called Al'Kabor and then, for all intents and purposes, abandoned them as the "real" EverQuest continued to expand and advance. While the population didn't exactly explode, especially as the progression of time rendered EQMac stuck in a type of video game amber, a singular community of dedicated, helpful players formed, and they became proud of their hardcore home. According to many of them, EQMac was the way EverQuest was always meant to be played, frozen in time at the release of one of the game's best expansions. It was a mark of pride to say that you played on Al'Kabor, especially now as massive AAA MMOs dwarf the original EQ -- to say nothing of this odd EQ spinoff. Yet, as SOE posted, "all good things must end," and with the news that EverQuest is being prepped for free-to-play, EQMac players learned that they would not be joining the rest. Unless higher powers intervene, on March 29th, Al'Kabor will be turned off for good. As such, I felt this was a good time to look briefly at the history of this unique title and the testimonies of its passionate fans. Continue reading The Game Archaeologist mourns the end of EQMac The Game Archaeologist mourns the end of EQMac originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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