When it rains, it pours, and the BioWare Austin team behind Star Wars: The Old Republic has been caught in a veritable monsoon of crappy circumstances. Just a few weeks back, an EA earnings statement revealed that the MMO had lost about a quarter of its subscribers during the last financial quarter. Execs said it was simply free trial players cycling out of the game, but BioWare announced yesterday that it had laid off some of the SWTOR team.
Hey folks, since you're reading this you may likely have heard that we've done some restructuring here on the SWTOR team. Sadly, we are bidding farewell to some talented, passionate and exceptionally hard-working people who helped make SWTOR a reality. Impacting people's lives this way is always very hard, but we're ensuring the affected people are treated with dignity, fairness and respect.
BioWare didn't announce the exact number of employees affected, but Internet scuttlebutt said the axe hit a fairly large percentage of the team. Nevertheless, Zeschuk and Muzyka said they "still have a very substantial development team working on supporting and growing the game," with new content and features planned for upcoming days.
SWTOR hasn't exactly taken the galaxy by storm the way EA and BioWare hoped it would. Have you played around in SWTOR? What did you think of it? Do you think premium subscriptions still have a role in this increasingly free to play MMO world?
If you're getting sick of waiting for a slice of your very own Raspberry Pi mini-PC, fear not; the cavalry will soon be arriving thanks to an unexpected rival: Via, the longtime mobo makers. Yesterday, the company announced its Pi-like "APC 8750" board, a $50 Android-powered PC complete with processor, memory and a host of I/O ports.
The Via APC fits into any mini-ATX or micro-ATX case even though it's based on a new "Neo-ATX" form factor, measuring in at just 17cm by 8.5cm. This particular Android 2.3 Gingerbread variant has been optimized for keyboard and mouse input. The mini-PC sports 4 USB 2.0 ports and HDMI, VGA, Ethernet, micro SD and audio/mic connections for all your interfacing needs.
Hardware-wise, the APC rocks an 800MHz VIA processor along with a memory combo of 512MB of DDR3 and 2GB of NAND. The system is capable of pumping out 720p graphics via its HDMI port; that, combined with the Ethernet connectivity, may just make the APC 8750 an attractive little $50 media streamer for Netflix lovers and HTPC enthusiasts on a budget. The Raspberry Pi, however, can stream a full 1080p feed and comes with its own power supply -- something the APC 8750 lacks.
Via claims the APC 8750 consumes just 4W when idle and 13.5W under max load.
Interested? Head on over to the APC website, where you can find out more about the $50 Android PC and sign up to receive an email notification when the diminutive board launches. Via expects the APC 8750 to start shipping in early July.
As any SSD owner can tell you, fast boot times are a wonderful thing! Except for, well, when they're not. Microsoft's been working hard at reducing the boot times in Windows 8 and to hear them tell it, your home screen pops up so fast that there simply isn't enough time to mash on the trusty ol' F2 or F8 if you need to muck around in the BIOS or enter Safe Mode. Rather than shrugging their shoulders and leaving users to press a key in a 200ms window, Microsoft instead created a new "Boot Options" menu.
Basically, you won't be able to access boot options during the actual boot-up process anymore unless some sort of error prevents Windows 8 from starting properly, in which case the Boot Options menu you see above will appear. You'll also be able to access the Boot Options from the Advanced Startup portion of the General options menu, after the PC has launched. Finally, holding down the Shift key and clicking "Restart" on the shut down menu will restart the PC and bring up the Boot Options menu.
One caveat: the new options only apply to computers with a UEFI BIOS. Don't have UEFI? You'll still get the button-mashing prompt during boot-up. Check out the Building Windows 8 blog for waaaaaay more information, or watch the video above to get a sense of just how fast the Windows 8 boot times can be.
Listen, anyone who claims we're living in, or are on the verge of, the post PC era clearly isn't paying attention. All one needs to do is focus on Lenovo, a company that, quite frankly, is kicking ass and taking names, and not by selling tablets and smartphones, but by hawking PCs around the globe. To wit, Lenovo's worldwide PC shipments increased 44 percent year-over-year, compared to an admittedly anemic 4.6 percent year-over-year average industry growth rate (emphasis on 'growth'), and for the tenth consecutive quarter was the fastest growing among the top four PC vendors.
Indeed, the PC sector is alive and well, and Lenovo is rolling in the dough as a result. Lenovo today announced results for its fourth fiscal quarter and full year ended March 31, 2012, noting a full-year record sales of $29.6 billion, which is up 37 percent compared from 2010/2011. It's been a remarkable run, with Lenovo beginning its 2011/2012 period as the world's fourth largest PC vendor and finishing as the second largest.
"The 2011/2012 fiscal year was a record-setting year for Lenovo, where we set an all-time high for revenue, shipment, market share and pre-tax income. Our fiscal year ended impressively with strong momentum. Lenovo's global PC shipments grew by 35 percent year-over-year, outperforming the industry by ten times, global market share increased by three percentage points, and net profit jumped by 73 percent year-over year," said Yang Yuanqing, Lenovo Chairman and CEO. "During the fourth fiscal quarter, Lenovo was the fastest growing among the top PC vendors in Global Emerging Markets, and Commercial Markets, as well as Consumer Markets and Mature Markets, where for the first-time ever, we reached double-digit market share in both.
Lenovo's gross profit for its fourth fiscal quarter grew to $806 million, up 34 percent year-over-year. PC shipments for the entire year jumped 34.9 percent. So, what comes next and how does Lenovo go about sustaining this kind of high level performance?
"With the emergence of multiple devices such as smartphones, tablets and smart TV, our industry is entering the PC+ era. Lenovo is focused on leading the PC industry, and building upon that leadership in the PC+ era," Yuanqing added.
The next time you go shopping for a high definition television, don't be surprised to find that TVs from Sony and Samsung consistently cost more than the competition. The reason, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal, is that both are forcing new policies on retailers forbidding them from advertising or selling TV sets for less than predetermined price points by each respective manufacturer. The policies apply to both online and brick-and-mortar sales.
Tough times have hit the TV industry, and for the third consecutive year, the average selling price (ASP) for flat-panel TVs has taken a backwards slide, dropping to $545 in 2011, down 15 percent from $644 in 2009. Meanwhile, the average panel size is going up and now sits at 38 inches, up from 33 inches four years ago.
For the most part, it seems as though retailers are okay with these new policies. WSJ points out that sagging prices have hurt chains like Best Buy and Target, both of which face intense online competition. So what do online vendors think?
"This allows us to make a reasonable profit," Billy Abt, co-president of Abt Electronics, told WSJ.
According to Mr. Abt, profit margins are sometimes as low as $10 on some $2,000 sets.
It hasn't been much of an ARM wrestle in the tablet space up to this point, and it's not because AMD and Intel haven't talked the talk. For the most part, they just haven't walked the walk, which has allowed ARM to dominate the category. That could change once Windows 8 comes into view in a few months, and if Microsoft's upcoming Metro infused OS proves popular on touchscreen tablets, you can expect a dogfight between AMD and Intel.
Intel hasn't been shy about saying it plans to compete in the mobile device category, but what about AMD? According to DigiTimes, AMD is readying the release of its Hondo processors, which are low power chips built around the company's 40nm Bobcat architecture. Hondo processors boast a power consumption of just 4-5W, 1-2 processing cores, and on-die DirectX 11 graphics. These will go up against Intel's Clover Trail-W CPUs.
Following Hondo, AMD will roll out Tamesh processors in 2013. These second generation ultra low power APUs will feature AMD's Jaguar architecture with additional power enhancements and performance improvements.
Good news if you own an Amaze 4G smartphone from HTC. For those of you who do, HTC just released an update to Android 4.0, the latest and greatest open source mobile operating system from Google more deliciously known as Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). Owners of HTC's Thunderbolt and Desire HD smartphones aren't as lucky, having to wait perhaps until August, or longer, receive an ICS upgrade, according to HTC's newly published Android 4.0 roadmap.
"The majority of devices will receive upgrades in June and July 2012 and we expect to finish upgrades in August 2012 for all announced devices," HTC explains.
Why do some take longer than others, especially now that ICS has been out for awhile? As HTC tells it, "Because of partner and network testing, and approval processes for device updates, it can take up to 45 days for all carriers and countries to get the update after a rollout has begun."
The real unlucky bunch are those rocking devices with 512MB ROM or less, because generally speaking, those will not be upgraded to Android 4.0, HTC says. These include the HTC ChaCha, Salsa, Wildfire S, Explorer, and other smartphones, and HTC tablets such as the Flyer, EVO View 4G, and Jetstream.
As Digital Trends points out, some of HTC's devices will be in a holding pattern for ICS when Android 5.0 has been announced. Factoring in a rollout period that could be as long as 45 days, it could be September before phones such as the HTC Thunderbolt are upgraded, almost a full year after Google announced ICS.
Wargaming.net has announced the launch of Update 7.4 for World of Tanks.
The update introduces two new game modes: Encounter Battle (two sides fight over one base) and Assault (attackers with better combat abilities facing off against the defenders). Two new maps also make their debut: Wide Park and Airfield.
In addition, the French tech three has expanded with two armory lines: seven long range SPGs (Renault BS, Lorraine 39 L AM, AMX 105 AM, AMX-13 F3 AM, Lorraine 155 (50), Lorraine 155 (51), Bat. Chatillon 155) and eight new tank destroyers (Renault FT AC, Renault UE 57, Somua Sau 40, S 35 CA, ARL V 39, AMX AC de 100, AMX AC de 120, AMX 50 Foch.) Also introduced are two new premium combat vehicles, the IS 6 (tier VIII) and the German Jagdtiger (tier VIII).
Wargaming also publishes World of Warplanes.
World of Tanks “AMX 50 Foch” Gameplay Screenshot
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Update 7.4 for World of Tanks Presents New Game Modes, Maps and Combat Vehicles
23rd May 2012 — Wargaming.net, the award-winning global videogame publisher and developer, announced today Update 7.4 for their distinguished free-to-play MMO World of Tanks introducing a wide range of new gameplay features.
The key innovation of the update is the introduction of two new game modes – Encounter Battle and Assault. The Encounter Battle mode invites two sides to fight for one base. The Assault sets the players in the roles of attackers and defenders where the former have superior combat capabilities.
"With the current version we are proud to introduce two unique game modes, which could be really exciting and challenging for those who prefer complicated combat assignments", noted Mike Zhivets, producer of World of Tanks project. "The fans of French armored vehicles will also be pleasantly surprised with a rich collection of long range SPGs and tank destroyers, which definitely will make the game more tactically oriented and strategically planned."
The game's French tech tree armory is significantly strengthened with two new armory lines. Seven French long range SPGs including Renault BS, Lorraine 39 L AM, AMX 105 AM, AMX-13 F3 AM, Lorraine 155 (50), Lorraine 155 (51), Bat. Chatillon 155 will please amateurs of thoughtful combat decisions and slow-pace military ground action.
Update 7.4 is also intended to challenge the tankers by introducing eight new French tank destroyers: Renault FT AC, Renault UE 57, Somua Sau 40, S 35 CA, ARL V 39, AMX AC de 100, AMX AC de 120, AMX 50 Foch, capable to induce serious damage and cause problems to the existing vehicles in the game.
Along with the French tech tree expansion, the update presents gamers with serious reinforcements in terms of long anticipated new premium combat vehicles – Soviet made heavy tank IS 6 (tier VIII) and German Jagdtiger, also called JagdTiger mit 8.8cm KwK 43 L/71 (tier VIII).
Two more new maps are awaiting the gamers in the update. The first one called Wide Park invites to fight among the half ruined buildings and park location of a badly burned German town. Bums of heavies will have lots of joy by planning deadly ambushes in the dense labyrinth made of the ruins and numerous trees using them as excellent cover opportunities for assault. The second map Airfield takes the players away to the airfield somewhere in the North Africa. The location is decorated with antique ruined antique temples, palm trees and beautiful Mediterranean Sea sights. Rocky hills provide excellent shooting points for those who prefer "high ground" strategy.
World of Tanks is the first and the only team-based, massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armored warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with other steel cowboys all over the world. Your arsenal includes more than 150 armored vehicles from America, Germany, the Soviet Union, and France, carefully detailed with historical accuracy.
A flexible system of authentic vehicle upgrades and development allows you to try any of the vehicles and weapons in the game. Whether you prefer to exhaust your foes with fast and maneuverable light tanks, make deep breaches in enemy lines with all-purpose medium tanks, use the force of giant tanks to eliminate opposing armored forces, or become a heavy sniper with long-range howitzers, each unit type has its own advantages and can be extremely effective when operated by a true tank ace.
But being a great tank commander alone isn't enough to win! In World of Tanks, it's all about teamwork. Victory is achieved by combining your combat skills with those of the other members of your team, each playing their own role on the battlefield. Just add your favorite strategy to build your own steel empire and manifest the indisputable authority of the tank power!
Joymax has launched the first summer update for Digimon Masters Online.
The update introduces several new Digimon, including Ropemon, Starmon, Wormmon, TyrantKabuterimon, and AncientTroiamon. A series of events give players gift packs for catching new Digimon; introduce daily quests; and let players have a chance to earn Mercenary Eggs for several Digimon. Players can also boosts to experience: 100% EXP during weekdays and 200% EXP boost during the weekends until June 19.
Joymax also publishes Silkroad Online and Karma Online.
Digimon Masters Gameplay Screenshot
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UNLEASH A NEW LEVEL OF POWER IN DIGIMON MASTERS
Two New Burst Mode Digimons And Three Mercenaries Arrive
Seoul, Korea–May 23, 2012— Joymax, leading online game developer and publisher, announced today the launch of their first summer update for the wildly popular 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. With a massive five new Digimon, and a slew of events for current and returning players, all tamers should immediately dash over the Joymax portal at http://www.joymax.com/portal
A slew of new Digimon have arrived to strengthen the DATS team! New Mercenaries will also be joining the ranks, including Ropemon, Starmon, and Wormmon. Two new burst mode digimons have also emerged: TyrantKabuterimon, and AncientTroiamon are now available to the lucky tamers who own Tentomon, and Palmon. With the recent addition of Dracomon Blue and Dracomon Green as rare drops, there’s never been a better time to create a killer team. Train your new team with 100% EXP during weekdays and a massive 200% EXP boost during the weekends from now until June 19th.
Also arriving are a variety of events for active characters. Current users have the opportunity to catch a new Digimon and be rewarded with a gift pack including Star Fragments and Evoluters. Daily quests are also now available, where players can perform favors for the DATS NPCs to gain a variety of rewards. Collect pieces of rope, star fragments, and leaves to exchange for lucrative rewards, including Mercenary Eggs for Tentomon, Gabumon, Salamon, and more!
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 gameseamlessly 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/
Star Supremacy, originally published by Barbily (and now LeKool), has now launched on Aeria Games.
Star Supremacy features strategic 2D space combat. Balancing internal strategy with warfare, players can choose from one of three factions (Seekers, Altrairians, and UEO) to conquer the galaxies. Players are promised with constant choices and challenges throughout the game to feel their impact in the world. You can find out more about the game on our Star Supremacy page.
Aeria Games also publishes Crystal Saga and Golden Age.
Star Supremacy Gameplay Screenshot
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Aeria Games Launches Stunning Browser-Based MMORTS, Star Supremacy
Popular Free-to-Play Game Brings New Space Combat and Colony Building Experience to Browsers
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – May 23, 2012 – The excitement and challenge of exploring the uncharted frontiers of space while blasting opponents in heated battles comes to web browsers with the sci-fi themed Star Supremacy. Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, announced today the launch of the new browser-based massively multiplayer online (MMO) game. Star Supremacy offers immersive real-time strategy (RTS) gameplay, challenging players to both build and protect their fledgling colonies from hostile forces.
Featuring vibrant 2D graphics in both planetary and space environments, Star Supremacy balances the tasks of building structures, amassing a huge and powerful fleet of warships, and strategically using that fleet to decimate opposing forces.
Players can choose from three unique factions, each with their own distinct strengths. The Seekers are an easily accessible faction and excel at fast construction and expansion with bonus building speed. The Altairians are a strong defensive race that also harvests resources very efficiently. The third faction, the UEO, offers boosts to weaponry and has access to the strongest ship in the game—the Battleship—for a strong military presence.
Combat in Star Supremacy is not only strategic, but also interactive, allowing the player to control which fleets engage the enemy and when they use their special abilities. Players can also choose whether to raid resource nodes for a one-time haul or capture them and create a trade route. Likewise, attacking enemy colonies involves either stealing resources through a small assault or obliterating the colony with an all-out attack. The many choices that players make will directly affect the outcome of combat and ensure that warfare in Star Supremacy is a dynamic and highly strategic affair.
Star Supremacy is entirely browser-based and does not require a download, and like all Aeria Games titles, it is free-to-play. Players can register and begin their domination of the galaxy today at http://www.starsupremacy.aeriagames.com.
Aeria Games Launches Stunning Browser-Based MMORTS,
Star Supremacy
Popular Free-to-Play Game Brings New Space Combat and Colony Building Experience to
Browsers
SANTA CLARA, Calif.– May 23, 2012 – The excitement and challenge of exploring the uncharted frontiers of space while blasting opponents in heated battles comes to web browsers with the sci-fi themed Star Supremacy. Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, announced today the launch of the new browser-based massively multiplayer online (MMO) game. Star Supremacy offers immersive real-time strategy (RTS) gameplay, challenging players to both build and protect their fledgling colonies from hostile forces.
Featuring vibrant 2D graphics in both planetary and space environments, Star Supremacy balances the tasks of building structures, amassing a huge and powerful fleet of warships, and strategically using that fleet to decimate opposing forces.
Players can choose from three unique factions, each with their own distinct strengths.The Seekers are an easily accessible faction and excel at fast construction and expansion with bonus building speed. The Altairians are a strong defensive race that also harvests resources very efficiently. The third faction, the UEO, offers boosts to weaponry and has access to the strongest ship in the game—the Battleship—for a strong military presence.
Combat in Star Supremacy is not only strategic, but also interactive, allowing the player to control which fleets engage the enemy and when they use their special abilities. Players can also choose whether to raid resource nodes for a one-time haul or capture them and create a trade route. Likewise, attacking enemy colonies involves either stealing resources through a small assault or obliterating the colony with an all-out attack.The many choices that players make will directly affect the outcome of combat and ensure that warfare in Star Supremacy is a dynamic and highly strategic affair.
Star Supremacy is entirely browser-based and does not require a download, and like all Aeria Games titles, it is free-to-play. Players can register and begin their domination of the galaxy today at http://www.starsupremacy.aeriagames.com.
Taiwanese developer Insightsoft Entertainment has announced Vampire Lord Online.
Vampire Lord Online features a vampire-themed setting, where players take on the immortal bloodlines in search for missing human memories. The game promises to combine role-playing with strategy, eliminating traditional classes, and explore a series of stories examining the secrets of life and death.
Vampire Lord Online Trailer
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Insightsoft Overturns Traditional Games with Vampire Lord Online
Insightsoft Entertainment, developer of online games in Taiwan, announced a brand new animated MMORPG: Vampire Lord Online. This game will lead players into a whole new world of vampires. Players will become part of the immortal bloodlines whose mission is to overturn the ancient fate and look for missing human memories.
Vampire Lord is free to play and combines the role-playing with the strategy management. It integrates the popular vampire story of the movie, the fiction and the animation into the western fantasy background. In this game, players get rid of the traditional classes but will become handsome, beautiful and elegant vampires who have inherent abilities and eternal missions across the centuries. Even if it's filled with cruel and bloodthirsty atmosphere in the night, the characters insist on the goodness of human nature and believe there is still a narrow hope in the darkness.
Vampire Lord satisfies the players' dreams through creative vampire stories. During this long journey, players will meet all kinds of people including the human, the wolf, the dog slave, the serpent, the lizard, other evil bloodlines and so on. Players have to explore the secrets of life and death from the mystery stories. If players want to become the special vampire in the dark world and are interested in Vampire Lord, please pay attention to the official website.
Riot Games has released details for its Darius patch in League of Legends.
Summoner’s Rift will get a facelift, updating the map’s look and making it perform better for low settings. The HUD has been rebuilt with frame rate improvement on all settings, plus new visual improvements and the addition of minion kills. Ashe gets a visual upgrade to meet new quality standards. Players will now be more aware of turret damage, as a sound and icon will display when players are targetted by them. Ranked Solo/Duo Queue will only allow unlocked champions (and not the free to play rotation), while solo queue players will get some better chances in Normal Draft when meeting up with premades.
Other improvements are also included in the patch, along with the debut of Darius, the Hand of Noxus. This champion (featured in the spotlight below) is an axe-wielding melee fighter with bleeds and devastating attacks.
League of Legends Champion Spotlight: Darius, the Hand of Noxus
Firefall’s development team at Red 5 Studios has released a new monthly developer update, revealing new plans and changes for the shooter.
In a concern about focusing on progression and returning to skill-based combat, the development team has decided to get rid of levels entirely. Instead, players can spend experience on the abilities, weapons, and mechanics of their choice to specialize and progress their characters. This change will also make resource gathering more meaningful as players develop and build out their tech. The system will be built on tiers which will have weight restrictions, that offer meaningful choices about the tech that players put into their frames. These tiers will come in differing weight restrictions, and will also allow for future tiers such as tournament tiers and experimental tiers for specialized combat.
Hear all of what the team had to say in the video below!
Frogwares has announced a server merge for World of Battles: Morningstar, which recently launched on Steam.
The server merge will unite all players into a single battlezone, making it easier to find players and level up clans. Clans from US and European Server 2 will be resettled in the new Beast Folk, Amazon, Barbarian, and Dark Elf Regions without losing their current provinces. As a special bonus, Frogwares is offering a two-for-one bonus for players who purchase Gems at any rate.
World of Battles: Morningstar Gameplay Overview
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World of Battles: Morningstar Celebrates Massive Server Merge with Double Gems Promotion
Multiplayer Real-Time Strategy with a War-Gaming Twist, Now on Steam
PARIS – May 22, 2012 – Renowned PC developer Frogwares today announced a massive server merge for World of Battles: Morningstar — the free-to-play online real-time strategy game (RTS). Recently launched on Steam, this merge will unite every server into one giant battle zone, making it easier to find opponents and level up your clan. To celebrate, Frogwares are offering a two-for-one promotion to any player who purchases Gems, instantly doubling your investment! The game blends tabletop war gaming with fast RTS action. To see for yourself, check out World of Battles: Morningstar on Steam today!
As of today, the Global Map is truly global! Eight of the nine total regions are now open, and clans from every server will be transferred into this one epic battleground. Clans from the US and European Server 2 will be resettled in the new Beast Folk, Amazon, Barbarian and Dark Elf regions, without losing any of their existing provinces. However, the most mysterious and rich region in the center of the Global map will still be hidden by the fog of war.
Don't forget to pick up some extra Gems, now available at half price!
Airmech allows players to take control of a transforming mech, and pilot it in action filled games. The game offers competitive, cooperative, and solo game modes. Each robot has their own unique abilities available, and can select a number of support units to aid them. Playable directly using Google Chrome, Airmech promises players a game that will leave them wanting more!
Publisher: Carbon Games Playerbase: ?? Graphics: Medium Type: MMO EXP Rate: ?? PvP: Team-Based Filesize: N/A
Pros: +Action and RTS blending. +Unique units and robots. +Fast-paced gameplay
Cons: -Requires Chrome or a download. -Offline play restrictions. -Limited information.
Overview
Airmech Overview
Airmech is an action RTS when you control a transforming mech. The game offers a variety of modes: cooperative, competitive, and solo play are available. Players may also play solo offline, though they will only receive benefit from their first 90 minutes each day. The game can be played directly in Google Chrome, or can be downloaded. The game is constantly added new pilots and units, so players may always find a different experience waiting for them in every game.
Gamania Digital Entertainment (publishers of Bright Shadow, Lucent Heart, and Divina) have revealed a new private event to showcase Core Blaze.
A special gameplay demo was created for the invitation-only VIP Experience, which will take place on June 7th at loftSEVEN in Los Angeles. The preview will let the press see new content, instances, and missions in the changing weather and situational gameplay of Core Blaze. The demo is a result of the positive feedback from the US and European press after seeing Core Blaze in Taiwan at the Gamania Game Show, which encouraged Gamania to push for an English-language version.
To get a glimpse of what we saw in Taiwan, check out our Core Blaze Preview from GGS 2011.
Core Blaze: The VIP Experience
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Gamania Announces Core Blaze: The VIP Experience, Thursday, June 7th
New action MMO gets first ever hands-on experience in North America at exclusive press event
TAIPEI, Taiwan – May 22, 2012 – Gamania Digital Entertainment Co. Ltd. today announced Core Blaze: The VIP Experience – a private press demo day taking place on Thursday, June 7th, to showcase their open-world, Unreal Engine 3 powered, action MMO game for the first time ever on US soil. In Core Blaze, players define their roles and skillset by equipping weapons, and interacting with and adapting to a dynamic in-game environment. This invitation-only VIP event will bring some of the greatest elements out of Core Blaze and into the real world at loftSEVEN in downtown Los Angeles. A special teaser trailer for the event was released today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnLmMvAHYWg&feature=youtu.be
A new gameplay demo was created exclusively for the VIP Experience and will give lucky previewers hands-on access to never-before-seen content, like intense multiplayer co-op and battle modes, as well as new instances with new missions and bosses across every corner of the game's vast, vivid world. Following its world premiere at the 2011 Gamania Game Show in Taiwan, Core Blaze received an unexpected amount of positive feedback from US and European press. Taking heed, Gamania promptly expanded their original gameplan and began localization for an English-language version of Core Blaze.
Core Blaze: The VIP Experience will give reporters a break from the busy show floor, as they relax in plush demo pods and become fully immersed in their ever-changing surroundings. Appointments may be limited, but Gamania is coming in full force –- the venue will be transformed beyond belief, designed to reflect in-game aesthetics like changing weather patterns and situational gameplay. The event will also feature a Core Blaze concept art gallery, cosplay, cocktails, finger foods, gigantic weaponry and other undisclosed forms of awesome, with transportation provided from the Los Angeles Convention Center (or downtown hotels) to loftSEVEN for all registered attendees.
Little Space Heroes is an MMO designed for children under 12. When an evil robot steals all the glows in the galaxy, Ace and his pals Kira, Sparky, Krill, and Zed invite you to become a cadet and master the use of your Bubble Blaster, Jetpack, and Starjet in order to find the robot and bring back all the Glows to the galaxy! Parents will appreciate the safe, fun, and educational nature of the game as well.
Publisher: Bubble Gum Interactive Playerbase: ?? Graphics: Medium Type: MMORPG EXP Rate: ?? PvP: No Filesize: N/A
Pros: +Family friendly. +Interactive games and events. +Lots of things for children to do.
Cons: -May not appeal to older gamers. -Premium account required for certain things. -Limited information.
Overview
Little Space Heroes Overview
Little Space Heroes allows children 6-12 to explore a galaxy full of surprise. Players will need to learn how to use their bubble blaster, their jetpack, and their starjet, and travel across worlds, making new friends and searching for the Glows. The game offers quest based progression, along with badges to show off to your friends. Challenge your friends as well in races and minigames, to encourage healthy, friendly competition. All of these activities can be done for free.
If you're looking for a free-to-play browser-based MMORTS title, there are plenty of them out there. The latest such comes courtesy of Aeria Games. The company is launching Star Supremacy, a sci-fi RTS title featuring 2-D graphics in both space and planetary environments.
Players can choose from three different factions (the Altairians, the Seekers, and the UEO) and then set about gathering resources and building fleets before heading into combat. Aeria says that its title boasts quite a bit of gameplay choice, many of which "will directly affect the outcome of combat and ensure that warfare in Star Supremacy is a dynamic and highly strategic affair."
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter has a dim view of MMO assets following the lukewarm performance of Star Wars: The Old Republic. "Nobody is buying MMOs after Star Wars fizzled," Pachter told Joystiq. The context surrounding the statement involves the valuation of 38 Studios in the wake of its Copernicus melt-down.
"There is just no demand for game assets right now, as THQ proved when it tried to sell the Warhammer MMO. I think [Electronic Arts] could step in, since they are the publisher, so you might see some alternative way to get 38 some bridge financing," Pachter said.
Two new game modes are coming to World of Tanks. Encounter battle and assault will both debut with the 7.4 patch, as Wargaming.net looks to up the ante in terms of complicated combat assignments.
The patch will also expand the French tank tree as well as add two new maps to the mix. The first map is called Widepark, and it takes place amidst the ruins of a bombed out German town. The second map is called Airfield. It transports players to a Mediterranean location surrounded by temple ruins and rocky hills.
The most noteworthy 7.4 changes, though, are the game modes. Encounter battle "invites two sides to fight for one base," according to a Wargaming.net press release. Assault "sets the players in the roles of attackers and defenders where the former have superior combat capabilities," the company says.
Want to get your Vanarch's mug on the front page of the TERA website? Now you can thanks to a new campaign poster contest sponsored by En Masse Entertainment. What the heck is a Vanarch? It's the player politician who oversees various provinces in the world of Arborea. Vanarchs can open shops, enable or disable open PvP, raise taxes, and basically affect the game world (and other players) in ways that are off-limits in your average themepark MMO.
The contest rules are pretty simple. You'll need to include your campaign poster, along with a short paragraph extolling the virtues of your candidate, in an email to En Masse. You'll want to be quick about it too, as the submission period ends tomorrow.
This week's election cycle ends the day after, and you can view the election calendar at the official TERA website.
Want the latest Dungeons and Dragons Online expansion screenshots? We've got them for you in our gallery below, and they focus on dryads and werewolf monsters from the forthcoming Menace of the Underdark patch. The shots are set in the Eveningstar region of the Forgotten Realms, which players will initially encounter after porting over from DDO's original Eberron locale.
Menace of the Underdark will add quite a bit of new content to DDO, including a new Druid class, epic destinies, and an old familiar campaign setting. The expansion is now available for pre-order on Turbine's website. It launches on June 25th.
Launch bugs, server problems, and silly single-player online requirements didn't stop Diablo III from becoming the biggest launch in the history of PC gaming. Blizzard has announced that the game sold over 3.5 million copies during the first 24 hours that it was available for purchase. A week later, some 6.3 million of you are playing it (and that figure doesn't count the folks in Korean internet cafes, where the game enjoys a 39 percent share as of yesterday).
Blizzard's Mike Morhaime apologized for D3's various launch issues but said that the firm is pleased with feedback thus far. "We're especially proud of the gameplay feedback we've received from players worldwide. We're pleased that Diablo III has lived up to players' high expectations, and we're looking forward to welcoming more players into Sanctuary in the days ahead," he said.
Ignited Games released a major content update to its free-to-play fantasy MMO Rosh Online that not only adds more gameplay features, but also introduces a number of new systems and changes to enhance the player experience.
Along with a mysterious new island and dungeons to explore, new armor and weapons, improved boss monsters, three craftable bear mounts, and an increased level cap (up to 75), this update offers more functionality with modifications to the UI, an inventory sort function, a craft tooltip, and an auto-walk system to get players to NPCs and quest mobs.
If that doesn't sound like enough, a new dismantle system for creating unique crafting items and the ability to view players' equipped items are also being introduced. More details are available in the patch notes.
"Hey you!" hisses a voice from a nearby dark alley. "How would you like to be a game designer for a day? It'll just cost you one kidney!"
"Well golly, mister," you reply, stepping into the shadows. "I have two of those, and I've always wanted to try my hand at fixing everything that's wrong with the industry, starting with the snow zone in Mutant Hamsters Online. The pixel shading for the Blue Spruce trees has never been right..."
"I'll let you make a class. Just one class," the voice interrupts. "And you get unlimited snack bar access."
"Deal!" you exclaim. "Now where do you want this kidney?"
Believe it or not, that could happen to you! But let's hope it doesn't and instead engage in hypothetical daydreaming: If you could design a class for your MMO, what would it be?
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!
Earlier tonight we got word of a rumor regarding Fallen Earth's development team dwindling down to three remaining content designers: a scripter, an artist and a game designer. Concerned over what has turned out to be a horribleweek of layoffs, we shot an email to GamersFirst who quickly responded:
"We had a large contractor crew on FE and we are focusing on creating our own employee pool to manage the game. We did decide to not renew some of our contractors. As you probably know that we are going to focus on our own home grown IPs like APB Reloaded, Fallen Earth, Hailan Rising and Taikodom. We have already stopped servicing Knight Online and we will be stopping service of War Rock from June 1. As a result we will using our own pool of experienced staff to manage the complete operations of Fallen Earth. Key game design folks like Marie still continue to be at the helm in North Carolina. Fallen Earth has also been licensed in South America and we will close to licensing it in Russia, Turkey and Asia. We are absolutely committed to making it grow across the globe."
While it appears that the game itself is not in trouble, we'll be sure to keep our eye on the situation for further developments.
Whenever you get really into a new hobby, it's natural to want to blab about it to anyone who drifts into your gravitational field. That's why we all talk about MMOs, right? It's also why any friends, family members, and coworkers have had to put up with excited rambling about my discovered love for Geocaching.
Some of you probably know Geocaching, as it's been around for over a decade now. For those of you who haven't, it's a worldwide treasure hunt that involves over a million and a half "caches" of various sizes that are hidden and then marked with GPS coordinates. Players head to the official site or one of the open-source projects to get the coordinates and go hunting for them. There's a useful two-minute introduction to this hobby on YouTube if you're curious.
I noted on our Massively Speaking podcast that Geocaching has a lot in common with MMOs: Both encourage questing and exploration, both have treasure to be found, and both plug you into a community of adventurers. Listener Terrence heard this and send in an email with an interesting revelation that ties these two hobbies even closer together, as a game developer brought his online world to a real-world location.
In response to increased agitation among impatient fans, ArenaNet's Martin Kerstein graced the Guild Wars 2Facebook page with a bit of confirmation: There will be no beta weekend event this coming weekend. This stretches the BWE schedule longer than the one-per-month that the team is trying to adhere to, but Kerstein included some explanation that will hopefully keep fans from panicking.
Our BWE1 was super successful, we exceeded our expectations. As some of you might have experienced first hand, this lead to some technical issues. To make sure we are not running into the same situation for BWE2, we recently had a stress test, and we are currently deploying a lot of additional hardware in our datacenters.
We will be able to tell you exactly when BWE2 will take place as soon as all the hardware has been deployed.
While this wasn't met with glee by most fans, the news does allow folks to carry on with their lives and make full use of the upcoming holiday weekend. Moreover, the wait will likely be worthwhile, as additional hardware to support the player flood that will descend on the data centers for the next BWE will mean greater enjoyment for more people.
It looks like Forsaken Studios is piling onto the Kickstarter bandwagon to help raise funds for its upcoming sandbox title, Embers of Caerus. The studio has set a funding goal of $25,000 US to "fuel the development and production of [the studio's] prototype, bring [the game] to the attention of the major players in the industry, and help put Embers of Caerus firmly on the MMORPG map."
The 25 grand will specifically be used "to cover software licenses and development costs," and the studio vows that "every single cent pledged will be put toward this goal." Of course, as with any successful Kickstarter campaign, Forsaken Studios is putting forward a number of nifty bonuses for its backers, ranging from beta access to dinner with the devs and a tour of the Forsaken Studios office. If you want to help the studio reach its funding goals, you've got until Tuesday, June 19th, to head over to the Kickstarter page and chip in.
Some people no doubt see the venerable Dark Age of Camelot as a relic. But you know what's even more of a relic? The game's Relics. These powerful items have received an overhaul in the latest patch; the items have been moved to central locations in each Realm that cannot be captured or claimed. Players carrying Relics have also become more visible and slightly less mobile, and special Envoys have been added to help defend Relics from capture.
The patch also updates several class abilities. Bonedancers get a new spell to target a region on the ground, while Friars and Valewalkers both gain a rear snare. On the flip side, toxic direct damage poisons have all seen a slight downgrade in effectiveness for balance reasons. Dark Age of Camelot players can see the full list of changes in the patch notes, and while it's not a major content patch, the changes should spice up the game's ongoing realm warfare.
I pretty much went all Norn for the stress test last week. Alone (like a true Norn), I ventured to the highest, loneliest peaks of Snowden Drifts, swam in the darkest ice caves, and faced the largest metric crap-ton of Sons of Svanir imaginable.
As my Necromancer slid what felt like the nine hundredth Son off of her dagger blades, I took the time to look around soak up the view; there's nothing quite like rallying three times in a fight against a whole passel of renegade Norn to make a girl really appreciate the scenery.
Say what you will (and this being the Internet, many folks do) about whether or not having to zone between maps is, like, the ultimate sign that the game isn't truly "massively multiplayer," but each and every map we've seen so far in Guild Wars 2 is packed to the brim with excitement.
The team at Red 5 Studios has been working hard on making Firefall the best game it can be, and as it turns out, that happens to be a game without traditional levels. A new video blog featuring lead designer Scott Youngblood and development VP James Macauley drops the news that the level system is being discarded and replaced with a much more organic system for player growth.
Under the new system, players still earn EXP. That EXP will be spent on specific upgrades at a player's discretion rather than marking off specific levels, allowing you to unlock the upgrades that feel relevant in the order you want them. It also places less emphasis on levels in head-to-head matchups, something Macauley stresses is important to the team.
There's more than just the removal of levels at work, however; the development team is also overhauling crafting to be more complex and rewarding as well as developing a new system of equipment tiers to keep players advancing. The full diary just past the break only gives brief glimpses of several new systems, but Firefall fans should be quite happy with what's over the horizon.
We've been following the mass reports of hackers bypassing passwords and authenticators to rob Diablo III accounts blind, and now we have a new twist on the story. While Blizzard confirmed "an increase in reports of individual account compromises," the studio says it has no hard evidence that hackers have found a way to skirt around the authentication system.
Community Manager Bashiok said that the company is taking the claims "extremely seriously" and is investigating the rash of account compromises. "Despite the claims and theories being made, we have yet to find any situations in which a person's account was not compromised through traditional means of someone else logging into their account through the use of their password," he said. "While the authenticator isn't a 100% guarantee of account security, we have yet to investigate a compromise report in which an authenticator was attached beforehand."
Blizzard is assisting compromised customers by restoring stolen items and rolling back their accounts. The studio has a post up on its forums to help players protect their accounts and get assistance if theft occurs.
Summer is almost officially upon us, and you know what that means: summer blockbusters! But we're not talking about the movies; we're talking about City of Heroes' Summer Blockbuster Event, which will put players in scenarios straight out of huge summer films, but with a special Paragon Studios twist.
The double-feature begins with Time Gladiator, which puts players in the coliseum's spotlight as they go head-to-head with opponents pulled from across the annals of time, such as "deadly assassins, outlaw gunslingers, cybernetic soldiers... and the mighty God-Champion." Of course, if suave subterfuge is more your style, perhaps The Casino Heist will tickle your fancy. Ocean's Eleven's got nothin' on this scenario, which puts players in charge of busting up the Tyrant's Palace Casino. Of course, they'll have to do something about the Tyrant's "armed guards and state-of-the-art security" first. The Summer Blockbuster Event goes live on July 10th, so grab some popcorn and get ready for action.
Turn over the engine and light up the jet thrusters because MechWarrior Onlineis stomping into closed beta this week. Anyone who registers on the official site has a chance to check out the hot 'mech action before the rest of the crowd. While the beta is currently limited to North America, there is no IP blocking, so anyone can jump in as long as he or she doesn't mind a little lag.
Perhaps of more interest is Piranha Games' announcement of its founder's program, code-named Operation Inception. Yes, we guess the devs saw the movie too. While MWO will be free-to-play with optional microtransactions, Operation Inception lets players invest their money up-front to get special goodies and an early start to the game.
Players can buy into the founder's program starting June 19th. It will come in two tiers: a $30 veteran package and a $60 elite package. The veteran package includes $40 of in-game currency, a month of premium account status, a founder's tag, and early access. The elite package includes $80 of in-game currency, two months of premium status, the founder's tag, early access, and an exclusive BattleMech.
Early access for MechWarrior Online begins July 17th.
With Arcane Legends, Spacetime Studios is going back to its fantasy roots. Instead of Pocket Legends' more traditional MMO combat, however, Arcane Legends will feature action combat full of combos and button-mashing. During the combat, a rage meter will allow players to activate powerful abilities when it's completely full.
The three classes announced for the game are the Warrior, Rogue, and Sorcerer. Arcane Legends will support both co-op and PvP gameplay.
CEO Gary Gattis thinks that Arcane Legends is different enough from previous Spacetime endeavors to justify its development: "With every Legends title we are focused on bringing something distinct to cross-platform gaming. With Arcane Legends we set out to create an action RPG with a clever and funny story, meaningful multiplayer gameplay and above all furious fast-paced tactical combat."
Massively will be getting its first look at Arcane Legends at E3 next month.
Massively Speaking Episode 202 is hot at the scene of the 38 Studios disaster, and without hyperbole we can say that this is more tragic than Pompeii, the Titanic, and Showgirls combined. Will Curt Schilling's dream team survive this financial crisis? We brought expert analyst Eliot Lefebvre on the podcast to give us his opinion.
Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page:
After monthsandmonthsofteasingus, Gazillion Entertainment has finally officially released new details about its upcoming new title, the free-to-play Marvel Heroes. The press release claims that the game will take "the MMO category to a completely new level of excitement and engagement" by combining "the energy of action role-playing games with the breadth and immersion of the MMO genre."
Players can now get their first look at Marvel Heroes with the title's first teaser trailer, which features gameplay footage interwoven with some rather menacing shots of a certain Victor Von Doom, who seems to have gotten his titanium-plated hands on what appears to be the Cosmic Cube, an artifact that gives its bearer the power to bend reality to his will. We're not sure what Doc Doom plans to do with the Cube, but we know that it can't possibly be anything good. Presumably it will be up to the players to put a stop to Doom's nefarious plans and return the Cube to its rightful place, but until we find out more, head on past the cut and enjoy the trailer in all of its super-goodness.
[Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release]
[Update: IGN has a preview of the game that discusses in detail its Diablo roots.]
CCP is a pretty polarizing topic in MMO circles these days. Whether you love or hate the studio's flagship EVE Online title and the community that surrounds it, one thing you can't say is that the devs lack a work ethic. Today marks the release of EVE's17th expansion, and when we say expansion, we don't mean a glorified content patch that's been dipped in PR sauce.
Inferno boasts a reworked war declaration system, substantial faction warfare updates, a new mercenary marketplace, enhanced graphics, new missile and launcher effects, and a host of other features focusing on everything from inventory to new modules and ship balancing.
CCP has also released a slick new Inferno trailer, which we have for you right after the cut.
You read that headline right: Star Trek Online will be introducing player starbases in its upcoming Season 6. For the first time in the game, fleets will be able to band together to build a virtual home in the icy blackness of space.
The project was spearheaded by Cryptic Lead Artist Jeremy Mattson, who was given the task of conceptualizing and designing this core feature of the path. Mattson sent us an exclusive developer diary to take us through this process, starting with his examination of starbases in Star Trek's canon all the way through the construction and finished product.
CCP has released a new DUST 514-focused developer video. The clip is titled Welcome to New Eden, so if you're looking for any new tidbits about the upcoming sci-fi MMOFPS, you probably won't find them here.
If you're a DUST newb, on the other hand, this one's for you, as it gives you a rundown on what sets the game apart from its legions of FPS competitors. In a nutshell, the difference-maker is EVE Online and the way that DUST integrates with a pre-existing game, economy, and playerbase on a scale that is basically unheard of.
As producer Thomas Farrer puts it, "DUST is different pretty much by virtue of what it really is. DUST is a persistent FPS on PlayStation 3. Not only is it directly linked to EVE Online, a PC MMO, it's set directly within the EVE Online universe." Warp past the cut for a look at the full clip.
When it rains, it pours, and the BioWare Austin team behind Star Wars: The Old Republic has been caught in a veritable monsoon of crappy circumstances. Just a few weeks back, an EA earnings statement revealed that 
Listen, anyone who claims we're living in, or are on the verge of, the post PC era clearly isn't paying attention. All one needs to do is focus on Lenovo, a company that, quite frankly, is kicking ass and taking names, and not by selling tablets and smartphones, but by hawking PCs around the globe. To wit, Lenovo's worldwide PC shipments increased 44 percent year-over-year, compared to an admittedly anemic 4.6 percent year-over-year average industry growth rate (emphasis on 'growth'), and for the tenth consecutive quarter was the fastest growing among the top four PC vendors.
The next time you go shopping for a high definition television, don't be surprised to find that TVs from Sony and Samsung consistently cost more than the competition. The reason, according to a report in 
It hasn't been much of an ARM wrestle in the tablet space up to this point, and it's not because AMD and Intel haven't talked the talk. For the most part, they just haven't walked the walk, which has allowed ARM to dominate the category. That could change once Windows 8 comes into view in a few months, and if Microsoft's upcoming Metro infused OS proves popular on touchscreen tablets, you can expect a dogfight between AMD and Intel.
Good news if you own an Amaze 4G smartphone from HTC. For those of you who do, HTC just released an update to Android 4.0, the latest and greatest open source mobile operating system from Google more deliciously known as Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS). Owners of HTC's Thunderbolt and Desire HD smartphones aren't as lucky, having to wait perhaps until August, or longer, receive an ICS upgrade, according to HTC's newly published Android 4.0 roadmap.
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 
