General Gaming Article

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• Cedar Trail Successor Could Be a 22nm SoC with Ivy Bridge Graphics
• Facebook, Senator Threaten To Fight Social Media Password-Seeking Employers
• WHQL-Certified GTX 680 Drivers Limit Sandy Bridge-E To PCI-E 2.0 Speeds
• ISPs To Start Policing The Net More Actively At Government's, RIAA's Urging
• Google Maps Update Adds Greater Detail to 3D Landmarks

Cedar Trail Successor Could Be a 22nm SoC with Ivy Bridge Graphics Posted: 23 Mar 2012 05:17 PM PDT Once abuzz with plenty of activity, the netbook segment wears a deserted look nowadays. PC vendors don't seem to be interested in netbooks anymore and have turned their attention elsewhere. But Intel, despite its aggressive ultrabook push, still continues to view these diminutive devices as a "sustainable business." Even though Cedar Trail hasn't really set the world alight, the chipmaker doesn't quite seem ready to give up on netbooks yet. Hit the jump for Intel's future plans for netbooks. Cedar Trail's successor has been revealed to be a 22nm system-on-chip (SoC) called "Valley View" in a recently leaked roadmap from embedded systems company Advancetech. Going by the leaked information, we're looking at a fan-less SoC with up to four CPU cores, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, USB 3.0 support and around four times the graphical performance of its predecessor. The massive improvement in graphical performance is reportedly down to the use of Ivy Bridge graphics, unlike Cedar Trail which packs PowerVR SGX545 graphics. Valle yView is, in the words of Jesse Barnes of Intel's Open-Source Technology Center, a "Cedar View-like chip but with an Ivy bridge graphics core." According to Linux hardware site Phoronix, Intel has already released open-source driver code to support Valley View. The code points to the presence of something called the "Pondicherry" memory arbiter, support for two DisplayPort displays, and HDMI output support. Image Credit: The Verge

Facebook, Senator Threaten To Fight Social Media Password-Seeking Employers Posted: 23 Mar 2012 11:17 AM PDT Usually, it takes far-reaching government bills or the mention of DRM to prod geeks into picking up their proverbial torches and pitchforks and expressing outrage en masse, but Wednesday's news of employers asking job applicants for their Facebook passwords caused a crapstorm of Netflix-price like proportions. Turns out, everyday folks aren't the only ones angry about it: a Connecticut Senator and Facebook itself whipped out threats of legislation and lawsuits, respectively, if the privacy-invading practice continues. "For an employer to ask to have a password or login information is like asking for the keys someone's home so as to be able to rummage through drawers or files. There's simply no justification for it," Senator Richard Blumenthal told CBS earlier today. The Senator also said he is writing a bill that would outlaw employers asking for applicants' social media login information. Erin Egan, Facebook's Chief Privacy Officer, addressed the issue head-on in a message on the social network this morning. Besides pointing out the fact that companies that rifle through applicants' social profiles could be opening themselves up to potential discrimination and information protection liabilities, Egan also threatened the wrath of Zuckerberg on any company that asks for users' login credentials: We'll take action to protect the privacy and security of our users, whether by engaging policymakers or, where appropriate, by initiating legal action, including by shutting down applications that abuse their privileges… it is important that everyone on Facebook understands they have a right to keep their password to themselves, and we will do our best to protect that right. We're guessing any company would tremble at the thought of losing their Facebook account in these social media-crazy days, but do you think new laws should be put on the books to make employer login-mining illegal?

WHQL-Certified GTX 680 Drivers Limit Sandy Bridge-E To PCI-E 2.0 Speeds Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:34 AM PDT If you've dropped the dough on a spiffy new enthusiast-level Sandy Bridge-E processor, you may decide to drop a corresponding level of dough on a spiffy new enthusiast-level Nvidia HTX 680 graphics card. (If so, we salute your Maximum-ness.) There's just one little caveat you should be aware of, however; Nvidia's initial WHQL drivers for the GTX 680 nerfs data transfer levels to slower PCI-E 2.0 speeds, rather than the blazing fast enthusiast-level PCI-E 3.0 x16 speeds the X79 chipset is capable of. Hopefully it's just a short-term bump in the road due to software validation issues rather than a long-term hassle. Nvidia owns up to the slowed speeds on its specification page for the graphics card: GeForce GTX 680 supports PCI Express 3.0. The Intel X79/SNB-E PCI Express 2.0 platform is only currently supported up to 5GT/s (PCIE 2.0) bus speeds even though some motherboard manufacturers have enabled higher 8GT/s speeds. There is some good news, however: TechPowerUp reports that the pre-launch drivers shipped on the disc that comes with the GTX 680 enable PCI-E 3.0 on compatible Sandy Bridge-E systems. Basically, if you're a SB-E owner who feels the need for that extra data transfer speed, you can stick with the included pre-launch drivers for now and hold off on any new drivers updates until Nvidia comes up with a fix.

ISPs To Start Policing The Net More Actively At Government's, RIAA's Urging Posted: 23 Mar 2012 10:24 AM PDT Why would Big Brother bother watching you if he can get his best buddies to keep tabs on your activities for him? While a recent announcement that eight major ISPs would voluntarily implement measures to combat cybersecurity threats seems relatively benign enough (and probably even downright helpful), those same ISPs will start policing their pipes another way by July 12; by then, most Internet service providers are becoming a copyright rent-a-cops for the RIAA and MPAA. What ever happened to the dumb tubes idea? We've already covered the ISPs' upcoming "graduated response" copyright policy, complete with possible education seminars, throttled surfing speeds, and any other  nebulous "measures that the ISP may deem necessary to help resolve the matter." Here's the original post if you missed it the first time around. Last week, RIAA boss Cary Sherman said that the enforcement policy -- which major providers like Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, Cablevision and Time Warner Cable have voluntarily agreed to implement -- will start running full throttle (Ha! Get it?) by July 12. By the way, the White House called the ISP-content creator union a "a positive step and consistent with our strategy of encouraging voluntary efforts to strengthen online intellectual property enforcement and with our broader Internet policy principles, emphasizing privacy, free speech, competition and due process." In somewhat related news, Computerworld reported yesterday that eight major ISPs -- including AT&T, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, T-Mobile and Verizon Communications -- have agreed to start another voluntary monitoring program; policing their networks for nasties like botnet activity, domain name fraud and route hijacking. The program came at the urging of the FCC, which also recommended specific actions for the ISPs. Unlike the copyright cop deal, the FCC-urged program won't result in possible disconnection; instead, the ISPs have pledged to implement DNSSEC and educate, inform and assist subscribers who have been tricked into a botnet.

Google Maps Update Adds Greater Detail to 3D Landmarks Posted: 23 Mar 2012 04:50 AM PDT Some of the world's best known buildings have long been represented by 3D models in Google Maps, but they have never been closer to resembling their real-life counterparts. A recent update to Google Maps has given these 3D landmarks a much-needed facelift. Hit the jump for more. As part of this update to Google Maps, over a thousand landmarks around the globe have had their 3D likenesses enhanced with greater detail. This has been done in order to enhance their accuracy and usefulness, according to Paul Messmer, a Google Maps software engineer. "Say, you're looking out your hotel room window in Florence for the first time; it's much easier to get a sense of your location by simply comparing the shapes of buildings on the map to what you see out your window," Messmer wrote in a blog post. "By combining 3D buildings with other Google Maps features like Street View and driving directions, you'll have the most advanced 'tourist map' on the planet." These updated 3D models have so far only made it to the basic version of Google Maps, and both Google MapsGL and the mobile version are still awaiting their arrival. While Google MapGL should receive the update "soon," there is no word on its availability on the mobile version.

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MMO News

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• Juggernaut introduces new companions and more
• C9 announces PvP Championship Tournament
• Meet Divina’s Sidekicks
• Spirit Tales features developer interview
• BigLittleBang
• A statistical look at Blacklight Retribution
• Digimon Masters announces new player events
• Forge of Empires announces closed beta

Juggernaut introduces new companions and more Posted: 23 Mar 2012 02:40 PM PDT Mail.Ru has released a new update for its browser game Juggernaut. The update introduces new female companions, including Ariana, the Amazon, whose assistance must be earned through a questline. Clans can now battle each other (or NPCs) for control of mines, where they gain hourly supplies for a week if victorious. The Maritime Front also gets a new feature, where the front status informs players about the ongoing battle and new bonuses prevent unfair mismatches. The update also introduces premium accounts, where players can ( after level 8 ) gain bonus inventory space, choose where to revive, increased stats, and a passive skill which grants them special loot. Mail.Ru also publishes RiotZone. Juggernaut: Amazon Artwork Source: Female support for mighty warriors New content update in Juggernaut features companions, new PvP modes and premium accounts     Hamburg, March 23rd 2012. Leading publisher Mail.Ru Games announces today the launch of a new content update for their successful Dark Fantasy browser game Juggernaut. New in-game features like female companions, capturing mines as new resources for clans and new bonuses as means of balancing on the PvP battleground Maritime Front enhance the world of Haradan. Additionally players now have the opportunity to profit from premium accounts with several convenient extras.   Walk on the wild side with Ariana, the Amazon With the new content update, players get support in battle: Several female companions assist Haradan’s warriors in their fights. The first one is Ariana, the Amazon – a woman as deadly as she is beautiful. In order to gain her trust and friendship, players undergo a gripping questline and prove their worth. Companions gain, likewise player characters, experience points which apply for skills like healing. Special armaments affect stats and attacks for Ariana and her kind.   New recourses for clans Expanding clan buildings costs a lot of wood, stone and other resources. How great would it be to have access to larger quantities of them. From now on clans battle each other for the supremacy over a mine – and if there is no matching clan online, NPC fill up the opposing team. Victors gain hourly supplies for one week.   The popular battleground Maritime Front receives a new feature: the front status which offers information the battle going on. Special bonuses prevent unfair mismatches, for instance if one faction has fewer players than the other. In this case the inferior side gains additional health and strength while the stronger one takes in more gold.   More convenience with premium accounts From today on Mail.Ru Games offers optional premium accounts. Starting with level eight, players gain access to comfort features like more inventory space, revival at a location of their choice and increased stats. Furthermore, premium account holders obtain special loot from beaten enemies via the new passive skill “Archaeologist”.

C9 announces PvP Championship Tournament Posted: 23 Mar 2012 01:37 PM PDT Webzen has announced their first PvP tournament for Continent of the Ninth Seal (C9). The tournament, called the “2012 C9 Championship Tournament,” is scheduled to be held before the official game launch in May, and will require registration and mission completion. The tournament will reward benefits and other perks for future tests. C9 will begin open beta in April, starting on April 15 and running until May 6 (with media getting a few days head start). The open beta will introduce new PvP and PvE content from the earlier VIP tests. The game intends to launch this summer. Global C9 Monster Hunt Trailer: Source:  [WEBZEN] 2012 'C9' PvP Championship Tournament Announced with Beta Test WEBZEN Inc. (WWW.WEBZEN.COM), the Next Generation of Free-to-Play Online Games, announced their first PvP Championship Tournament for the Action RPG 'C9' (Continent of the Ninth Seal) to be held prior to the official global launch.   Last February, the first global VIP test for C9 had finished, and to take the next step, WEBZEN is preparing to receive registrations for the '2012 C9 Championship Tournament' held this coming May. Users who wish to compete must enter through the registration page and accomplish a mission to participate. Those who join the tournament will receive various and unique benefits in future tests.   In preparation for the tournament, C9 will open the beta test that starts in April. At first, WEBZEN will prepare a media focused beta test exclusively for media that starts on April 12th. Afterwards, from the 15th, users will be able to join the beta test that continues until May 6th to complete the missions for the tournament participation in May. Also, more contents for both PvE and PvP that were not revealed in the first VIP test will be revealed during this beta test.   Jihun Lee, Head of Global Publishing, said, "The localization for global c9 is underway, covering both official and non-official feedback as much as possible to meet the users' needs." Also he said, "We will focus on the localization and development to launch the official service this summer."   Meanwhile, WEBZEN participated in GDC 2012 held at San Francisco from March 7th to the 9th with C9 and ARCTIC COMBAT which received positive responses from visitors and various game media.   More information about the Action RPG 'C9' can be found at the official Facebook community (http://www.facebook.com/C9Webzen) and website (http://c9.webzen.com).

Meet Divina’s Sidekicks Posted: 23 Mar 2012 12:58 PM PDT Batman had Robin. Brain had Pinky. You've got Sweet Mouse or Gloomy Bunny. In beanfun's newest MMO, Divina, you don't need secret headquarters or fancy technical wizardry to attract a Sidekick of your own – just reach level 10 and complete an easy quest! Then, before you're whisked away to the game's main city, you'll become the proud owner of either a pink or aqua-colored gem, containing a Sweet Mouse or Gloomy Bunny Sidekick. D'aaaawww, sho cuuuuuute! Don't be fooled by the gem's glittery exterior! Beneath its shining surface lies a most formidable beast… *headfloor* Your Sidekick may start out snarky, but the more you get to know him by using the "Talk" function, the more he'll come to appreciate having you for a master.  Find out which topics interest your Sidekick and gain "Favor" faster. The greater the Favor (i.e. the level of love your Sidekick has for you), the better the outcome when he's fighting, fusing, retrieving or refining for you! But you can't just nurture your Sidekick's spirit; you've also got to expand his mind through the "Teach" function. For every lesson, your Sidekick will gain a level and one of his stats (your choice) will increase by one point. Sweet and smart. When your Sidekick reaches level 11, depending on the stats you've assigned, your "Beginner" class Sidekick can become either a "Magician" or a "Warrior". This is the first of three class changes your Sidekick will undergo, with each milestone offering more possible classes. Your Sidekick will level quickly and can reach up to 10 levels above your own. Each Sidekick also has its own action bar, which allows you to customize how they'll react in and out of battle – which skills they should use, if they should follow or wait, and the option to have them fight aggressive foes automatically. Surprise monster aggro? No problem! …Which is especially helpful for those times when monsters decide to pop right on top of you. Be careful of how you adjust your Sidekick's settings. If you're ambushed by a mob of aggressive monsters and your Sidekick is set to automatically take out anything that threatens you, but not to follow you, he'll stay behind and defend your honor to the last tick of his HP! Not only are Sidekicks willing to die for you, they'll even do your dirty work! If properly trained, you can send your Sidekick off to discover rare treasures, including hard-to-find materials and items of clothing. Your Sidekick can also handle the tedious tasks of refining weapon and core cards – items that you can use to craft weapons and Divine Wheel pieces – or fusing ores into raw stones that can increase the stats of those weapons and Divine Wheel pieces. …There was a shirt hidden in the desert? With all of the functions they can perform – fighting, treasure-hunting, gathering cards or fusing ores – Sidekicks are one of the most valuable systems in Divina. Take good care of your Sidekick and become a part of your own dynamic duo!   (Minus the tights.)   About Divina Divina is a free-to-play (F2P), whimsical 3D Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) set in a vibrant and colorful fantasy world filled with Gods, Demons, and a mixture of mythologies. Players will go back in time to uncover the truth about the Gods and Demons in an epic quest to save Yggdrasil – the World Tree – and prevent Ragnarok – the end of the world. Divina offers a rich MMO experience containing thousands of quests, hundreds of unusual monsters, unique areas, and a wide variety of gameplay features that will captivate players for hours on end. Divina's Closed Beta is coming soon and registration is currently open at the official website: http://us.beanfun.com/divina/

Spirit Tales features developer interview Posted: 22 Mar 2012 01:50 PM PDT KoramGame, publisher of Spirit Tales, has just posted a new interview with the game’s developer, X-Legend. The interview, which can be found in full here, discusses dungeons, player versus player, boss pet eggs, fashion designs, camera angle, and even Eden Eternal. Spirit Tales is currently in closed beta. To find out more about the game, check out our exclusive preview! Spirit Tales Gameplay Screenshot

BigLittleBang Posted: 22 Mar 2012 12:58 PM PDT BigLittleBang offers kids and adults alike an opportunity to explore their musical creativity, regardless of their aptitude. Players can create their own avatar, explore planets, and create music with other players online. The game offers a safe, friendly environment for children to connect to their friends, and controls and privacy setting for parents, letting the whole family experience the musical adventures. Publisher: Podscape Playerbase: ?? Graphics: Medium Type: MMO EXP Rate: ?? PvP: No Filesize: N/A Pros: +Musical-based gameplay. +Kid friendly. +Interesting game concept. Cons: -Very little in-game guidance. -Limited information available. Overview BigLittleBang Overview BigLittleBang is a musical exploration game where children can visit different planets, and create songs by themselves or with friends. The game offers parental controls for privacy and security, and lets children connect with their friends in an open environment. With graphics based on the Unity3D engine, the game is easy to play, and fun for all ages. BigLittleBang Screenshots BigLittleBang Featured Video Click here to view the embedded video. Full Review BigLittleBang Full Review Coming Soon… Screenshots BigLittleBang Screenshots Coming Soon… Videos BigLittleBang Videos BigLittleBang: First Contact Click here to view the embedded video. Links BigLittleBang Links Official Game Page System Requirements BigLittleBang System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP/Vista (PC), OSX (Mac) CPU: Intel Centrino/AMD Sempron processor (Mac: Intel Only) RAM: 1GB Unity Web Player

A statistical look at Blacklight Retribution Posted: 22 Mar 2012 10:31 AM PDT Perfect World Entertainment has released a new video that takes a statistical look at Blacklight Retribution. The video goes over several statistics of the game so far in its beta testing, and showcases footage of the game. Blacklight Retribution is set to launch on April 3. Perfect World Entertainment also publishes Forsaken World and Rusty Hearts. Blacklight Retribution: By the Numbers:

Digimon Masters announces new player events Posted: 22 Mar 2012 10:23 AM PDT Digimon Masters Online is introducing new events for guilds and returning Digimon Masters. A new Guild contest, plus the Celebration of Guilds, will reward new guilds with start-up rewards and other guilds for their time together as they defeat bosses. Returning Tamers will find several reward events to welcome them back, and even new players will find events that grants them extra experience and a speed boost. Other festival events will reward players with Evolutors, experience, and bonus packages. Digimon Masters is published by Joymax, which also publishes Karma Online and Silkroad Online. Digimon Masters Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: GUILDS TO SHINE IN DIGIMON MASTERS Celebrating the biggest update with new and shiny Rewards March 22, 2012— Joymax, leading online game developer and publisher, announced today a new contest for Guilds, alongside returner rewards for their online massive multiplayer title, Digimon Masters. A fantastic universe where our world and the Digital World are closer than anyone would have imagined is about to change in ways never expected! Digimon Masters continues the story and heightened sense of urgency found in the Digimon anime. Both new and returning tamers will be lavished with extravagant gifts in the coming weeks. In addition, there are special events to get free evolutors. Players who want to join in on the fun can sign up at http://www.joymax.com/dmo/Property_Front.aspx?WorkUrl=http://dmocp.joymax.com/Teaser/20120306_BigUpdate/Intro.aspx Guilds are an important part of every MMORPG: they create a bond between players that allow them to overcome challenges and forge relationships that move beyond the scope of just the game. The new Celebration of Guilds event rewards those who have been together from the start and encourages the formation of new guilds with start-up rewards, such as honorable top guild avatar (outfit). Tamers can watch the official Digimon Masters Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/digimonmasters for winner’s announcements throughout the Celebration! Joymax is also extending a hand and invitation for Tamers who have left Digimon Masters to return! To celebrate their return a number of new events have been launched to cheerfully welcome back everyone who had departed. New players are also being welcomed with open arms with a special EXP event and the brand new Speed boost event where every tamer runs faster and fights wiser. New items are also available to tamers large and small, including a new line of Portable items: Portable Scanner, Portable Return, Portable Package, and Portable Archives can now be purchased from the DigiShop and used whenever needed, including in the four new zones and with the three new Digimons: Guilmon, Candlemon, Kuzuhamon. Digimon are well known all over the globe as part of the famous Japanese TV animation series. Digimon Masters is the first ever 3D online game based on the Digimon universe with more than 1,000 characters featured from seasons 1 through 5 of the series. Not only is it faithful to the art design, Digimon Masters closely follows the original story that will satisfy both loyal fans of the series as well as the average gamer. The game seamlessly combines pet training simulation with role-playing elements to deliver a one of a kind gaming experience. Featuring real-time combat, Gamers will be thrilled with the challenges brought forth by real-time combat which requires quick thinking and good reflexes. Players can also become one of 8 Royal Knights. Royal Knights are Digimon who are in charge of each area in the Digital World. Leaders of a guild that conquers one of these areas can become a Royal Knight who has the right to impose taxes along with other perks and obligations. To get the latest information and regular contests for amazing prizes, players are encouraged to follow the official Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/digimonmasters Players can also check out more details at http://twitter.com/dmojoymax/

Forge of Empires announces closed beta Posted: 22 Mar 2012 10:12 AM PDT InnoGames has announced that Forge of Empires will begin closed beta testing on March 29. The closed beta will admit a few thousand players, chosen from people who have registered on the website or have received a key from giveaways from the InnoGames Facebook page. Forge of Empires will introduce a new update with the beta, that includes improved battle mechanics, a messaging system, and a new trading system that lets players swap resources and goods with players and NPCs. InnoGames also publishes Tribal Wars and Grepolis. Forge of Empires Gameplay Screenshot Source: Forge of Empires: Closed Beta Start Announced! InnoGames adds features as game will enter next stage on March 29 Hamburg, March 22, 2012.Today InnoGames announced that the brand new strategy browser game, Forge of Empires, will begin a closed beta on March 29. During this phase, a few thousand players will get the chance to try the game hands-on for the first time. Prior to the beta, 500 testers were providing InnoGames with valuable feedback in an “Exclusive Preview”. The closed beta can be accessed by pre-registering on www.forgeofempires.com or visiting the InnoGames-Facebook page, where keys will be given out daily. With the start of the closed beta, Forge of Empires will also implement some fresh components. On top of improved battle mechanics and a messaging system, the new trading feature will allow players to finally exchange rare goods, like honey or gold – with NPCs as well as with other players. This allows one to focus on a limited number of various goods buildings. Additionally, InnoGames will add more features over the course of the closed beta, some of them in direct response to player feedback during the Exclusive Preview. Forge of Empires is a browser-based strategy game that allows players to create a city and develop it from the Stone Age and onward throughout the centuries. Players can create a vast empire through military campaigns and skillful dealings. InnoGames provides additional information in the game’s very own blog.   With about 75 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the world’s leading developers and providers of online games. The Hamburg-based company has scored major successes with games such as Tribal Wars, The West and Grepolis.

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Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

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• Beach Volleyball Online MMO Review
• Aion prepares for Free to Play in North America
• NetEase prepares big reveal for Game-X
• Dark Souls is this Generation’s Best 8-bit Game
• Game Over For GAME?
• BattleForge MMO Review
• Blade & Soul (CN)

Beach Volleyball Online MMO Review Posted: 23 Mar 2012 06:13 AM PDT Beach Volleyball Online is a 3D Volleyball themed sports MMO with some emphasis on social interaction. The game mixes virtual world social elements with intense volleyball gameplay elements and offers some solid graphics.     Publisher: Omniverse Games Playerbase: Low Graphics: High Quality Type: MMO EXP Rate: Medium PvP: N/A Filesize: ~300 MB Website: http://www.bvogame.com/ Pros: +First volleyball themed MMO. +Plenty of  items in the game's store. +Spectators can bet on the outcome of a game. Cons: -Few game modes. -Some latency issues.  -Dull gameplay. -Poor English translations. -Game prone to crashing / bugging out.   Beach Volleyball Online is the first volleyabll themed MMO out there! It's published by Omniverse Games and offers a unique blend of actual gameplay and social elements – sort of like Snail Game's ShowUp. Like any other beach themed volleyball game, Beach Volleyball Online, as expected, has gorgeous female character models! After all, what's a beach volleyball themed game without hot chicks? Beach Volleyball Online offers various modes of play with a maximum of six players on the court at once. One of the more interesting game modes is the Audience Better Mode which, as the name implies, allows spectators to place bets on the outcome of the game. Players are rewarded with experience and money based on their performance in each match. While off the court, players are encouraged to explore the 'virtual world' elements of the game while also socializing and making friends. Upon making a character, players must choose from one of the three playable classes, which are: Offensive – They have high "Spiking and Strength" stats but weaker "Setting and Receiving" stats. They are the primary offensive class in Beach Volleyaball Online and should play aggressively. Defensive – They have high "Setting and Receiving" stats but weaker "Spiking and Strength" stats. They are great for assisting. Strategic - They are basically a combination of the offensive and defensive classes. They are capable in all aspects of the game, but not particularly strong in any one attribute.   Beach Volleyball Online System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP/ 2000 / 98 / Vista CPU: 1.5 GHz Intel P4 or equivalent RAM: 512 MB RAM HDD: 2.5 GB Free Graphics Card: Direct x 9 Compatible VGA card Recommended Specification: OS: Windows XP/ Vista CPU: 2.4 Ghz Intel P4 or equivalent RAM: 1024 MB (1GB)  RAM HDD: 2.5 GB Free Graphics Card: Direct x 9 Compatible VGA card

Aion prepares for Free to Play in North America Posted: 23 Mar 2012 03:30 AM PDT [Game website] Well, the game is literally free now, since players can get to level 40 without paying any costs. Once 11th April hits, the game will be completely free. What’s more, there will be a server merge (link) in just a few days’ time to “celebrate” this new era in Aion.Below is the latest trailer from NCsoft about the upcoming major 3.0 update, Ascension, which is free as well. I first played Aion when it came out in 2009 and even did an article on it (link). I am now back with a new account, quietly playing during my spare time to continue where I left off in my previous adventure. Can’t wait to see more players flood the servers! Find similar article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/03/aion-prepares-for-free-to-play-in-north.html

NetEase prepares big reveal for Game-X Posted: 22 Mar 2012 09:30 PM PDT Although NetEase is the number 2 online gaming company in China, it was not able to break into overseas market in its 15 years of existence, quite similar to number 1 Tencent Games. Or perhaps they did not even both about it. Apparently, that is going to change with its upcoming self-developed title, codename Game-X. Nothing is known about the title now, with a shadow floating on the teaser page martial arts-like. But the first few screenshots of the game tells a different story. You can see heavy metal element, bordering on a steampunk theme while retaining a Western-style architecture design. The big reveal is happening on 30th March, which is next week, and NetEase teased the game will be going global. Check back soon for details! Find similar article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/03/netease-prepares-big-reveal-for-game-x.html

Dark Souls is this Generation’s Best 8-bit Game Posted: 22 Mar 2012 09:30 PM PDT You probably just wandered into the wrong area too soon.. Posted: 21 minutes ago by  smokeyflea I didn’t look up anything on the game, so I’m pretty proud of playing it without spoilers (except maybe trading experiences with a friend) I remembered taking down the red dragon in Demon’s Souls, so of course trying the same thing in Dark Souls was natural… So I did get the Drake Sword.  I used that for half the game when I decided to change weapons… Drake Sword was EASY mode.. and to think such a thing was offered up within the first hour or two of the game. As for Divine wepaons, I made one thinking I would need it in the Catacombs, and it was helpful, but for Tomb of Giants, which I didn’t come back to until much later, I was using a Fire Zweihander which seemed much more powerful, and the enemies don’t revive down there anyway (sure the Nito fight, but that was over pretty fast, I didn’t even realize the enemies respawned my first time there). For a game that advertises itself as being hard, as you say, it really seemed much easier than Demon’s Souls.   Obviously if you go wondering into an area you aren’t supposed to, you’ll get destroyed, but if you progress in the game as you feel you’re suppose to, it’s not so hard.. easier than Demon’s Souls I’d say. Dark Souls seems to be much more hack and slash.. block and attack, than Demon’s Souls…  Is it just me, or did Demon’s Souls require you to learn the enemies, especially the bosses, much more than Dark Souls does?  In Dark Souls it seems like the same tactic works on 95 percent of all enemies. Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/features/dark-souls-generation-8-bit-game

Game Over For GAME? Posted: 22 Mar 2012 09:30 PM PDT GAME Group, Europe's biggest high street games retail chain, is set to go into adminstration within the next few days. The industry giant has flounered financially in the last few months and its share price hit an all-time low of around 2 pence this week before trading was suspended. Since then, the retailer has announced its plans to appoint an administrator with the intention of salvaging at least a small part of its 600 UK stores. "GAME has announced its intention to enter into voluntary administration as of yesterday," saidAndy Payne, CEO of Mastertronic Group and games industry trade body The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE). "As such there is now a 10-day window or moratorium for its bankers to seek the best deal for the stakeholders the staff, shareholders, suppliers, creditors and customers. So, right now, we are all on a knife-edge." With wages, rent, VAT and banks owed, GAME needs around £180 million by Monday to avoid immediate collapse. Find similar article at: http://www.totalpcgaming.com/latest-pc-news/game-over-for-game/

BattleForge MMO Review Posted: 22 Mar 2012 06:12 PM PDT BattleForge is a 3D fantasy MMORTS/TCG hybrid wherein players battle for map dominance by using cards to summon units, structures, and cast spells on their opponents.  With full fledged single-player campaigns and fast paced 1v1 & 2v2 PvP duels, BattleForge is a unique mix of gameplay elements that work together flawlessly.     Publisher: Electronic Arts Playerbase: Medium Graphics: High Quality Type: MMO EXP Rate: Medium PvP: 1v1 & 2v2 battles Filesize: 90 MB installer, 2GB+ patch Website: http://www.battleforge.com/en/ Pros: +Fast-paced gameplay. +Well integrated RTS & TCG elements. +Rewarding single player content. +Upgradable cards, customizable decks. Cons: -Repetitive scenarios. -Limited unit formations. -Poorly developed story/lore. -Repetitive scenarios.   BattleForge is an original game that mixes classic PC RTS (real time strategy) gameplay with a TCG (trading card game) concept.  To EA and Phenonmic's credit, the two elements are made to work well, making BattleForge an enjoyable, unique MMO gaming experience.  The production value of the game is what you would expect from a premium Western developer – the graphics are bright and vibrant, while the music score and voice acting only enhance the quality.  Originally released as retail game with a free demo, BattleForge is now entirely free-to-play, with optional micro transactions for additional booster packs.  Spell, building, and unit cards in Battleforge belong to one of four element types, and they are: Fire - Aggressive cards that deal heavy damage. Frost – Defensive cards.  Frost units absorb damage well and have access to powerful towers. Nature - Focused on control and creature cards.  Nature has powerful siege weapons and units with healing abilities. Shadow – Necromancy and destruction are the hallmarks of this element.  Shadow creatures include the undead and wicked beings like witches.       BattleForge System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP/Vista CPU: 1.8GHz AMD64 or Intel Core RAM: 512 MB HDD: 10.0 GB Graphics Card: NVidia GeForce 6000-Series or better, ATI Radeon 9500 Recommended Specifications: OS: Windows Vista / XP CPU: Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz or better RAM: 1024 MB (1GB) or more HDD: 12.0 GB Free Graphics Card: GeForce 7000 or better

Blade & Soul (CN) Posted: 22 Mar 2012 03:29 PM PDT With the development team of NCsoft’s Blade Soul having a mega celebrity status in the eyes of  both gamers and media in China, it is hard to let them leave the country without a few rounds of interview. Chinese gaming website 17173.com managed to throw some questions at them, and here are the answers below! The guy on the left is from Tencent Games while the gentle giant on the right is… You ain’t a fan if you need me to tell ya! A: Closed Beta 3 in Korea is unconfirmed currently, but we will be announcing the exact date within these 2 months. Closed Beta 3 will see a major update and change for the skill system. The Summoner class will be added, including new a new level cap, new monsters and cross-server auctions. A: What I can divulge is that the Summoner is played differently from the other classes, gameplay style is easier and more relaxed while not repetitive. A: We want to polish up the game and bring a higher quality client to the gamers, hence the delay. A: Blade Soul is currently near the end of the development phase for commercial release. While pleased with most parts, there are some areas which we feel need improvement. We will be updating the game regularly to resolve these issues. A: Apologies, it is inconvenient to answer this question as it is out of our expertise. Find similar article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/03/blade-soul-cn-brief-interview.html

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