General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Asus Transformer Pad Infinity Packs More Pixels Per Inch Than The Macbook Pro's Retina Display

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 11:16 AM PDT

Apple ain't the only one who can make pixelicious gadgets. Asus has been at the forefront of the Android tablet scene, and its forthcoming Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 -- basically, a souped-up version of the top-rated Transformer Prime tablet -- packs a 1,920-by-1,200 resolution into a 10.1-inch Super IPS+ display that's rated for 600 nits of brightness. That 224ppi isn't quite up to the iPad's 264ppi, but it's a hair better than the new Macbook Pro screen that's been drawing rave reviews.

The Transformer Pad Infinity TF700 also sports a slight boost to the clock speed of its Nvidia Tegra 3 processor and slightly faster RAM than the Transformer Prime, The Verge reports. It also introduces a plastic strip to the formerly 100 percent aluminum body, presumably to help alleviate the GPS woes that plagued the Transformer Prime after it launched.

An LTE-enabled model sporting Qualcomm's Snapdragon S4 rather than a Tegra 3 is slated to appear, but the only pricing and release dates Asus have owned up to so far have been for the Wi-Fi variants, which will hit stores shelves the week of July 16th in 32GB and 64GB for $500 and $600, respectively. The highly-regarded keyboard dock will set you back another $150 smackers.

Falcon Northwest's "Tiki" PC Mixes Big Performance With A Small Frame, Tosses In A Polished Granite Base For Good Measure

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 10:24 AM PDT

Falcon Northwest maintains a strong reputation among PC enthusiasts. Part of the way the company keeps its focus is by offering a limited number of products; when it comes to Falcon Northwest desktops, you've the Talon, the FragBox, and the Mach V, but that's it -- or, at least it was until today. The new Tiki desktop is a slim and slender compact PC that's 40 percent smaller than the already diminutive FragBox, but it can still pack a wallop component-wise. Plus, it comes with a solid 6 lb. granite base to keep the tower sitting firm and pretty.

Despite only having a 4-inch wide and 13-inches tall frame, the liquid-cooled Tiki nevertheless crams a lot of hardware into its interior. Falcon Northwest's baby can include Core i7 Ivy Bridge chips, up to 16GB of RAM, the latest Nvidia GTX 600-series graphics cards and up to 4TB of storage using a mix of two SSDs and a standard HDD.

"Tiki is a showcase of how far the PC industry has come in just the past year," Kelt Reeves, president of Falcon Northwest, said in the company's press releases. "CPUs and graphics cards have taken massive leaps in performance and power efficiency. Tiny solid-state storage has become affordable, and the miniaturization of motherboards all mean that your average tower PC is now much bigger than it really needs to be. With Tiki, we solved the heat and noise challenges involved in getting rid of all that excess space."

Stuffing that kind of power into that small of a machine doesn't come cheap, however; the base configuration -- which packs a 3.1GHz Core i5-3450, a GTX 560 Ti, 8GB of RAM and a 2TB Western Digital Caviar Green HDD -- costs just shy of $1,900 with top-of-the-line setups going for a hair under $5,000.

You can configure a Tiki over at the Falcon Northwest website right now, but finished units aren't expected to ship until early July.

Internet Campaign Raises $650,000 for Bullied Bus Monitor

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:08 AM PDT

Remember Karen H. Klein, the upstate New York school bus monitor driven to tears from a barrage of mean spirited insults and taunts from a group of middle school kids? The Internet community at large hasn't forgotten, and continues to donate to what was originally intended to be a $5,000 fund to send Ms. Klein on a "vacation of a lifetime," but quickly ballooned into what will likely end up a tax free retirement fund worth at least $650,000.

The online fundraising effort has raised over $646,000 to date, far surpassing the original goal with 26 days still remaining. Additional donations are now trickling in at a far slower pace, but it doesn't matter, Ms. Klein has more than enough to retire as a bus monitor, where she was making $15,000 and change annually. Wondering what she'll do with the money?

According to People.com, Ms. Klein plans to invest some of the money and donate a portion to charity, as well as to family members, some of which have kids with autism and Down syndrome. She'll have plenty to do both if the money ends up being exempt from taxes.'

"As a general rule, there are no income tax implications to the recipient/donee of a cash gift," tax lawyer Joanne Clark, Esq., told Mashable in an email. "If she invests that cash, she would be responsible for income taxes on any income derived from it."

At least three of the children who taunted Ms. Klein in the video have written letters of apology to the school bus monitor, as have some of the parents.

Here's What Google's Upcoming Nexus 7 Tablet Looks Like

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:33 AM PDT

The Internet is the ultimate tattletale, blabber mouth, and gossip queen. If there's a secret to be heard, the Internet usually knows about it, and then turns around the tells the world. Or in this case, shows the world. The latest bit of gossp revolves around Google's upcoming Nexus 7 tablet to be revealed at the company's I/O Conference this week, at least officially. Unofficially, the Web is waving around a leaked training document detailing the Nexus 7, including what it will look like.

Google's document somehow landed in the hands of Gizmodo Australia, which is hosting images of the front, side, and back of the Nexus 7. It's a rather simple looking device with a textured finish and "Nexus" logo on the back.

As previously rumored, the document supposedly confirms Asus had a hand in building in the device. it will have a 1.3GHz quad-core Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, and come with 8GB or 16GB of internal storage. Other features include an IPS panel with a 178-degree viewing angle and 1280x800 resolution, 1.2MP front-facing camera, NFC support, and up to 9 hours of run time. The Nexus 7 will also be the first device to run Jelly Bean, which Google is labeling as Android 4.1, not 5.0.

The Nexus 7 will cost $199 for the 8GB version (same as Amazon's Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble's 8GB Nook Tablet) and $249 for the 16GB version (same as B&N's 16GB Nook Tablet).

Image Credit: Google via Gizmodo Australia

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Sony, Panasonic Working Together to Push OLED TV Panels into Living Rooms

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:10 AM PDT

The next high definition television you buy might feature an OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panel. Sure, OLED displays are comparatively pricey and in short order compared to LCD (liquid crystal display) TVs, but rivals Sony and Panasonic have put aside their competitive differences to jointly develop the next wave of OLED panels and modules for HDTVs and other large-size displays.

By leveraging and integrating each company's core and printing technologies, Sony and Panasonic aim to mass produce low-cost, high-resolution OLED panels and deliver them to the market place starting in 2013.

In a joint press release, both companies are quick to point out their experience with OLED panels up to this point. Sony, for example, lays claim to having launched the world's first OLED TV in 2007 (shown in thumbnail image), and has been actively promoting and researching the development of next-gen OLED technologies ever since. Panasonic, meanwhile, owns production equipment capable of various OLED printing methods and has been researching flexible OLED panels.

As excited as Sony and Panasonic are with their new BFF status, they have their work cut for them in pushing OLED displays to the mainstream. Large size OLED panels don't come cheap, nor without competition. LG recently announced plans to ship a 55-inch OLED TV in the U.S., South Korea, and select European countries in July for a cool $10,000.

Image Credit: Sony

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Lian Li's PC-V750 Chassis Supports Big Size Motherboards, Leaves a Small Footprint

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:45 AM PDT

"Short" and "Full Tower" aren't a pair of descriptors that typically go together, but then again, Lian Li claims its new PC-V750 computer case isn't your typical enclosure. The PC-V750 is a "short full tower," as Lian Li describes it, and if you build a system inside it, the power supply goes in front, a design decision that allows it to "hold the hardware that enthusiasts desire while keeping a smaller footprint."

The PC-V750 measures 9.05 inches (W) by 17.32 inches (H) by 23.07 inches (D) and is constructed of brushed aluminum. Despite its short stature, Lian Li says you can cram an E-ATX size motherboard in the PC-750 and proceed to load it up with hardware, including up to six 3.5-inch drives with hotswap capabilities and a single 2.5-inch drive, or up to two more 2.5-inch drives if only four 3.5-inch drives are in the cage.

There's a place for the power supply beneath the storage bay with ventilation slits and a removable filter. Cable cutouts run along the bottom of the motherboard tray to route wires up and behind. There are two 120mm fans up front, another two on top, and one more in the rear. Rounding out the feature-set are two USB 3.0 ports, a single USB 2.0 port, eSATA, and HD audio ports on the front of the case.

Lian Li didn't say how much the PC-V750 costs or when it will ship.

Image Credit: Lian Li

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Rumor: Game Streaming Service Gaikai on the Block

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:39 AM PDT

The recent leak of an internal Microsoft document related to the Xbox 360's successor has brought to light the software giant's wariness of cloud gaming services like OnLive, which it identified as a "potential acquisition target" in the 2010 document. Of course, no such acquisition has taken place so far. But if Microsoft is still considering buying a cloud gaming company, another less expensive company may be up for sale.

According to Fortune's Dan Primack, OnLive's lesser-known rival Gaikai is on the block and the asking price is north of $500 million. His sources have told him that the company has already hired bankers to help sell itself. While this is still a rumor, the alleged asking price is considerably less than the billion-dollar figures usually tossed around when the subject of OnLive's possible worth comes up for discussion.

Despite having been in OnLive's shadow all these years, Gaikai has started to come into its own lately with a number of important partnerships, including deals with both Samsung and LG for delivering cloud-powered games to their smart TVs.

MMO News

MMO News


Sin Streets

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:14 PM PDT

Sin Streets takes place at the end of the 21st century, where the world’s economy is destroyed. Money means everything, and even good deeds come at a price. The wealthy control the power, and the power control the government. However, there are still some that fight against these ideas, and wars have broken out in the cities against these two factions.

52415  320x240 sin streets01

Publisher: CJ Games Global
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: Medium
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: Enabled
Filesize: ??

Pros: +Extensive guild system. +Multiple achievements. +Clans can claim territories.

Cons: -Somewhat generic gameplay. -Limited information available.

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Overview

Sin Streets Overview

Sin Streets is an MMO where two factions compete for control of territory. The game offers a very developed guild system, allowing you to join your friends and compete in special clan-only matches. The game boasts a high number of achievements to unlock, with daily missions, increased rank, various rewards, and more available for completing them. Clans can also claim streets as their own, which gives the clan bonuses.

Sin Streets Screenshots

Full Review

Sin Streets Review

Coming Soon…

Screenshots

Sin Streets Screenshots

Coming Soon…

Videos

Sin Streets Videos

Coming Soon. . .

Links

Sin Streets Links

Official Game Site

System Requirements

Sin Streets System Requirements

Coming Soon. . .

 

 

Monarch

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT

Monarch blends together elements of large-scale strategy in an MMO environment. Utilize the special troop feature to give yourself the best complement of soldiers possible. Equip, level, and buy and sell good for them to increase their prowess in combat. Control the battlefield with expert strategy to defeat any opposition that might challenge you!

52412  320x240 monarch sc 03

Publisher: CJ Games Global
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: High
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: Enabled
Filesize: ??

Pros: +Unique troop feature to develop your army. +Outstanding graphics and gameplay. +Large scale battles.

Cons: -Item based microtransactions. -Limited information available.

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Overview

Monarch Overview

Monarch is a unique MMORPG that also focuses heavily on its strategy elements. You can use the game’s troop function to hire, equip, and train your army to fight for you. The game offers massive siege battles, with up to 200 players at a time. You develop your main character by successfully leading your troops, which unlocks additional abilities. The game uses an engine specifically designed to maximize performance in large battles, while still being visually striking.

Monarch Screenshots

Full Review

Monarch Review

Coming Soon…

Screenshots

Monarch Screenshots

Coming Soon…

Videos

Monarch Videos

Coming Soon. . .

Links

Monarch Links

Coming Soon

System Requirements

Monarch System Requirements

Coming Soon. . .

 

 

Hounds

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:44 PM PDT

You are one of the Hounds, an elite combat force whose duty it is to protect humanity. Participate in five different game modes to find something that suits your style perfectly. From solo missions, to large scale player-versus-player combat, Hounds ill have you grabbing your gun to protect the world!

52408  320x240 hounds sc 01

Publisher: CJ Games Global
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: High
Type: MMO
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: Enabled in specific modes
Filesize: ??

Pros: +Unique blend of an RPG and an FPS. +Five different modes of play. +Mission based gameplay.

Cons: -Solo players have limited options. -Not enough information available.

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Overview

Hounds Overview

Hounds is a cross between an MMORPG and an MMORTS. Dubbed an MMORPS by the publisher, Hounds has you in the role of a mercenary sent to protect the world from threats to humanity. The game offers five different modes of play: single player, co-op multiplayer, PEvPE Scenarios, PvP Battlegrounds, and boss raids. Joining or creating a guild gives you the opportunity to have your own hideout, to chat and plan missions. The game functions off of mission-style gameplay; once you’ve completed the objectives in one area, you’re free to move to the next.

Hounds Screenshots

Full Review

Hounds Review

Coming Soon…

Screenshots

Hounds Screenshots

Coming Soon…

Videos

Hounds Videos

Coming Soon. . .

Links

Hounds Links

Coming Soon

System Requirements

Hounds System Requirements

Coming Soon. . .

 

 

Bloody Hunter

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:30 PM PDT

When a mysterious explosion tears open a dimensional rift, it’s up to the Bloody Hunter squad to get to the bottom of things. Time and space both overlap on the planet Xanadu, and it’s up to Cato, the swordsman, Boram, a Korean fighter, and Farrell, a ranger, to discover the truth, and return to their own time and space. The battles are vicious, bloody, and action-packed, so come prepared!

52402  320x240 bloodyhunter sc 04

Publisher: CJ Games Global
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: High
Type: MMO
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: Yes
Filesize: ??

Pros: +Brawler style gameplay. +Multiple modes of gameplay. +Spectators can bet on PvP matches.

Cons: -Only three playable characters. -Limited information available.

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Overview

Bloody Hunter Overview

Bloody Hunter allows you to choose from one of three playable characters in order to figure out the mystery behind the explosion that caused a time paradox on the planet Xanadu. The three characters all bring different styles of fighting to the game: sword, fist, and gun. Bloody Hunter features a tournament system, with up to 16 players being able to compete at the same time. Spectators can also place bets on who will win the match to make extra currency. The game also features five grades of arena play, from beginner to advanced, and you can quickly climb your way up if you’re skilled. Single player and co-op dungeons also exist for those more interested in PvE.

Bloody Hunter Screenshots

Full Review

Bloody Hunter Review

Coming Soon…

Screenshots

Bloody Hunter Screenshots

Coming Soon…

Videos

Bloody Hunter Videos

Coming Soon. . .

Links

Bloody Hunter Links

Coming Soon

System Requirements

Bloody Hunter System Requirements

Coming Soon. . .

 

 

Team Fortress 2 Prepares Pyromania Update

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 03:11 PM PDT

In celebration of the upcoming Pyro class short release, Team Fortress 2 is launching a Pyromania Update.

The first revealed plans for the update is Doomsday. This new map sends one team on a transport mission to send recalled Mann Co. Australium to Poopy Joe’s rocket on a mission in space. The map will include 11 new achievements, including Lift-Offed, Best Case Scenario, and The Fight Stuff.

Two more days of update content will be announced this week as Valve prepares to reveal the class short.

42516  420x310 team fortress 2 screen

Team Fortress 2 Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

You read that right (presumably): the long-awaited final Meet the Team short, Meet the Pyro, is dropping in less than three days, and we decided to assemble a massive update to celebrate it.

That only left the issue of what to call the update. Luckily, at the very moment we were thinking about it, someone turned on the radio. Guess what song was on? That’s right: ‘Safety Dance’.

“That’s a pretty catchy song,” we said. “Who sings that?” Well, we don’t want to upset you, so we won’t type it here, but suffice it to say the band that wrote ‘Safety Dance’ has the most unthinkably offensive name we’ve ever heard.

Then ‘Rock of Ages’ came on, off Def Leppard’s album Pyromania, so we turned off the radio because it wasn’t helping. Suddenly, no thanks at all to music, we came up with the name on our own: The Pyromania Update.

Day One of Pyromania reveals Doomsday, a new map with a brand new game mode that lets you relive one of the darkest days in TF history. It’s all pretty heartwrenching, until you discover you’ll get achievements, which are also detailed in today’s update.

Keep your eyes open, folks. We’ll be announcing a bunch of new stuff this week, right up until the premiere of Meet the Pyro this Wednesday.

MMOHut Weekly Recap #91 June 24 – Grand Fantasia, Dragon Saga, Flyff, Warren Story, & More

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 02:36 PM PDT

A quick look and discussion for every major announcement and update during the week! This week we discussed updates from the following games:Grand Fantasia, Sprit Tales, Dragon Saga, World of Tanks, Flyff, Carte, Warren Story, Vindictus and Web Koihime Musou. The biggest news this week comes from Gpotato for Flyff Gold. Flyff Gold is a new version of the popular Flyff MMORPG. The new version features new game systems while improving older ones. New interfaces, guild siege events and shops are among some of the newer features introduced. Check out all the individual news articles mention over at the MMOHut.com News section.

Gameglobe Begins Closed Beta

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 02:07 PM PDT

Bigpoint and Square Enix have announced the start of closed beta testing for Gameglobe. Beta applications are still being accepted.

Gameglobe is a virtual world in which players can create, share, and play games with a community of other gamers. Fully browser-based, Gameglobe has earned several awards already, including PC Gamer’s Most Valuable Game Award and Best of E3 from 1up.com.

You can find out more about Gameglobe on our profile page.

52398  420x310 gameglobe play screen01

Gameglobe Gameplay Screenshot

Dungeons And Dragons Online Launches Menace Of The Underdark

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:33 PM PDT

Turbine has released the first expansion for Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark.

The expansion adds three new adventure packs: The King’s Forest, the Underdark, and The Demonweb. The level cap has been raised to 25, with new epic enhancements available in the new level range. New Eveningstar Challenge quests become available for players levels 15 to 25. Finally, a new class – the Druid – makes its debut. The expansion must be purchased to experience the new content, although the Druid class and Eveningstar Challenge Pack will be free to players who are VIPs.

Turbine also publishes The Lord of the Rings Online.

Dungeons & Dragons Online: Beyond the Web Part 4

Source:

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE®: MENACE OF THE UNDERDARK™ LAUNCHES TODAY

 

Players Can Now Explore areas of the Forgotten Realms in the

First Major Expansion To The Award-Winning MMO

 

NEEDHAM, MA – June 25, 2012 – Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announced today that Dungeons & Dragons Online®: Menace of the Underdark™, the first expansion to the award-winning free-to-play massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG), has now gone live. This expansion ties into Wizards of the Coast's 'Rise of the Underdark' campaign and gives Dungeons & Dragons fans the ability to engage with the drow narrative on the PC platform. Menace of the Underdark can be purchased now at http://underdark.ddo.com/ or on Steam™.

"Today marks a major milestone as we release our first premium expansion to Dungeons & Dragons Online," said Fernando Paiz, Executive Producer of Dungeons & Dragons Online, Turbine. "Menace of the Underdark delivers a wealth of content for our players and introduces significant engine upgrades that allow us to bring to life in a striking, visually impressive manner two of the most requested features, the new Druid class and access to the Forgotten Realms setting."

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE: MENACE OF THE UNDERDARK FEATURES:

 

  • Ø Three New Forgotten Realms Adventure Packs — Featuring a multitude of epic adventures, unprecedented new wilderness areas with challenging objectives, a host of dungeons, and more!

 

  • o The King's Forest: Explore deep into the King's Forest and defend the village of Eveningstar from Lolth's Drow legions.
  • o The Underdark: Venture down into the Underdark and confront Lolth's elite followers in the Drow city of Sschindlyryn.
  • o The Demonweb: Journey to Lolth's home plane, battle demon hordes and confront the spider goddess herself as you attempt to stop her scheme.
  • Ø Attain Epic levels to 25! – Deadly battles and high-speed action continue as you advance your character to the Epic level 25!
  • Ø Introducing Epic Destinies — Attain epic enhancements as you progress through levels 20-25!
  • Ø The Druid Class: Wield nature's magic or transform into a powerful animal form as you play the all new shape-shifting Druid class!
  • Ø Eveningstar Challenge Pack: New challenge quests for levels 15-25!

 

Battle of Yggdrasil Announces For Mu Online

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:05 PM PDT

Mu Online has begun registration for its newest tournament, The Battle of Yggdrasil.

The tournament will hold registration until June 28, and will begin on July 7. Players must register in teams of seven and apply on the game’s official website. Only 32 teams, based on the amount of time spent on Yggdrasil, the game’s new server, will qualify to compete.

The tournament will provide pre-set characters to its players, and winners will be determined in a bracket in a three out of five match up. Over $15,000 in prizes will be awarded, including both cash and WCoins.

Webzen also publishes Archlord and Arctic Combat.


Mu Online: PvP Trailer

Source:

Who Will Dominate the 'The Battle of Yggdrasil' in MU:eX700

 

 

WEBZEN Inc. (WWW.WEBZEN.COM), the Next Generation of Free-to-Play Online Games, announced that the online PvP tournament, 'The Battle of Yggdrasil', will be held for the MMORPG 'MU:eX700'.

 

Last May 31th, WEBZEN released the first expansion 'MUex:700' along with the new server 'Yggdrasil'. To celebrate the opening, a PvP tournament will take place where all players in this server will have a chance to participate.

 

The ongoing registration ends on June 28th and the tournament itself will begin on July 7th. To register as a team, players must gather 7 team members and apply through the official website (muonline.webzen.com). 32 teams will qualify to participate in the tournament that will be selected by the amount of play time in the new server, 'Yggdrasil'.

 

For a fair battle, pre-set characters will be provided to the players prior to the tournament. The final tournament will be a best three out of five battle. With a total of $15,000 in prizes, various rewards will be given to the winners and participants.

 

Jihun Lee, Head of Global Publishing, said "We have prepared this tournament for all users who have supported MU Online throughout the years." Also he said, "We hope that this tournament will last as a memorable event for the players of MU:eX700."

More information on the MMORPG 'MU:eX700' and PvP Tournament can be found on the official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MUWEBZEN) and website (event.webzen.com/mu/Gate/ex700_event).

 

Warface E3 Gameplay Commentary

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 11:24 AM PDT

 

We are wrapping up our E3 coverage with some gameplay footage captured for the new FPS Warface. While F2P shooters often find it difficult to distinguish themselves from others, Warface goes above and beyond what is expected to deliver a refreshing experience. In the video above I was able to test out the new PvE mode offered in the game. I quickly realized that this mode was more then just window dressing and actually offered a substantil challenge and more importantly, it was extremely fun! Check it out above and let us know in the comments what you think of the new shooter from Crytek!

 

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Captain's Log: Star Trek Online rolls with the changes

Posted: 25 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , ,

STO Ursine header
Changes are an inevitable part of life and business, and Cryptic Studios has seen its fair share of them in the past few years. This week is no different, and Star Trek Online has been the focal point.

Several moves, both positive and negative, have been made by the developer as it continues its merger with Perfect World and prepares Star Trek Online for the initial testing of the new fleet advancement system on the Tribble test server.

Pushing past the departure of a beloved developer, Cryptic is releasing a new duty officer promotion, shuttling parts of Season Six to the test server, and making a few alterations to the current game as well as becoming more integrated into its parent company's growing brood.

Not everything has gone smoothly.

Continue reading Captain's Log: Star Trek Online rolls with the changes

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Star Trek Online rolls with the changes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    City of Steam offers personalized alpha tour via contest

    Posted: 25 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , ,

    City of Steam screenshot
    Have you ever wanted to stroll through a game before anyone else, taking the first steps in an untouched world and exploring areas unknown to other gamers? The devs at City of Steam are offering just that chance with an exclusive personalized tour of the fantasy steampunk game during these early stages of development.

    Unlike many contests where you just submit your name for a random drawing, tour hopefuls need post why they believe the tour should be given to them as their entry. Preference will be given to active community members, so be sure to jump in and start taking part in discussions on the forums to increase your chances! The lucky winner will then get to invite two friends along to peek into new aspects of the game all while chatting with the tour guide developers.

    So brush up on those writing skills and dazzle the judges or just check out the other entries. In the meantime, tell us: If you were the winner, would you prefer to tour the game as a Goblin or a Draug?

    MassivelyCity of Steam offers personalized alpha tour via contest originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    E3 2012: Dragon Eternity's cross-platform warfare and weddings

    Posted: 25 Jun 2012 08:30 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Dragon Eternity
    Harken back, o reader, to ye olden days of E3 2012, if thou canst recall, as a great and powerful force of dragons has arrived among us. OK, so E3 wasn't that long ago (although it often feels like it), but something dragon-like has certainly surfaced: During the expo, I saw an impressive demo of Dragon Eternity, a cross-platform fantasy MMO from Game Insight, and as of this morning, the embargo on all the details of that demo has finally lifted. Hit the break and I'll tell you all about it!

    Continue reading E3 2012: Dragon Eternity's cross-platform warfare and weddings

    MassivelyE3 2012: Dragon Eternity's cross-platform warfare and weddings originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark goes live

      Posted: 25 Jun 2012 08:15 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , , , , ,

      Dungeons and Dragons Online Menace of the Underdark goes live
      Hope your dice are polished and your character sheets fresh from the copier: Dungeons and Dragons Online's first expansion has gone live on Turbine's servers. Menace of the Underdark is now available for all players who have purchased the digital expansion pack from the studio.

      Menace of the Underdark represents a sizable addition to the game. With it, DDO is expanding into the Forgotten Realms campaign setting and offers a new class, the Druid. Players will also be able to level up to 25 and expand their characters with the epic destinies system.

      "Menace of the Underdark delivers a wealth of content for our players and introduces significant engine upgrades that allow us to bring to life in a striking, visually impressive manner two of the most requested features, the new Druid class and access to the Forgotten Realms setting," said Executive Producer Fernando Paiz.

      While you patch up the game, you can check out the last of Menace of the Underdark's developer interviews after the jump!

      [Source: Turbine press release]

      Continue reading Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark goes live

      MassivelyDungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark goes live originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        MV Guide: June 25 - July 1, 2012

        Posted: 25 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT

        Filed under: , ,

        Mists of Pandaria
        MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

        Every week, the Massively Stream Team logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises each week, so you'll find a variety of titles to watch. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, or simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

        Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule, and let us know if there's a specific game you'd like to see streamed next week!

        Continue reading MV Guide: June 25 - July 1, 2012

        MassivelyMV Guide: June 25 - July 1, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Blade & Soul takes over the top spot in Korea, dethroning Diablo III

          Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:45 AM PDT

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          Blade & Soul takes over the top spot in Korea, dethroning Diablo III
          Just two days ago, Blades & Soul opened its doors to players for the Korean open beta test, clocking an impressive wave of users and a third place finish in popularity behind Diablo III and League of Legends. Now the new fantasy MMO has leapfrogged over both games to claim the number one spot. One feature that helped cinch Blade & Soul's rise in popularity was the lack of any server maintenance over the weekend, something the deposed leader couldn't claim when it launched. Want to see what all the fuss is about? Check out the two new studio-released PvP videos after the break.

          NCSoft also laid ongoing rumors of the game going free-to-play to rest by announced the game's pricing: a monthly fee of 23,000 Korean Won (about $19.81 in the U.S.) will begin on June 30th.

          Continue reading Blade & Soul takes over the top spot in Korea, dethroning Diablo III

          MassivelyBlade & Soul takes over the top spot in Korea, dethroning Diablo III originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Final Fantasy XI the most profitable in the franchise

          Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:30 AM PDT

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          Final Fantasy XI the most profitable in the franchise
          Behold the power of MMOs to generate a Fort Knox of income. Square-Enix announced that out of all of the Final Fantasy games, from 1987 through today, Final Fantasy XI has been the most profitable.

          This comes from Square-Enix President Yoichi Wada, who was hyping the title over the weekend amid the news of its upcoming expansion. Wada also said that if you tallied the accumulated play time of all current FFXI players, you'd end up with a mind-boggling 200,000 years /played.

          Final Fantasy XI recently celebrated its 10th anniversary and announced its first new expansion in six years, Seekers of Adouli.

          MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI the most profitable in the franchise originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          RIFT's Update 1.9: An interview with Scott Hartsman and Hal Hanlin

          Posted: 25 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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          Conquest, Mentoring, and Summer Fun  Trion talks Update 19
          "It's about more players being able to do more things with each other." That's how Trion CCO and RIFT Executive Producer Scott Hartsman described the core goal behind Update 1.9. And based on the upcoming changes, it looks like there will be plenty of opportunities for both. From Conquest, to mentoring, to low level instant adventures, to the new 10-man sliver, and even the arrival of global chat across all servers, the world of Telara has several exciting new changes on the way.

          Massively sat down with Scott Hartsman and Design Director Hal Hanlin for a roundtable discussion about what's in store for 1.9. Read on for highlights, and a look at what's coming from this rather beefy Game Update.

          Continue reading RIFT's Update 1.9: An interview with Scott Hartsman and Hal Hanlin

          MassivelyRIFT's Update 1.9: An interview with Scott Hartsman and Hal Hanlin originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Daily Grind: Has a cash shop ever killed a game for you?

            Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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            Allods Online
            Oh, Allods Online. You could cure cancer, end poverty, and kick off another green revolution, but some people would still hate you. It's not fair, really. You're beautiful. You have neat Russian steampunk elements and elves and gibberlings and bards and really great hair. You have freakin' dirigibles as player housing. But none of that matters because of your cash shop -- specifically, the extremely high prices in your cash shop when you launched compared to the prices charged by the rest of the industry.

            Players found that cash shop (and the subsequent holy charms bait-and-switch) greedy and unforgivable. We're reminded of this every time we post something innocent about the game and inadvertently cause our commenters to spasm with angry mourning, even when the original complaints have long been addressed. Gamers just don't forget these things. They won't give Allods another chance because of the initial sting of the microtransactions.

            So when has a cash shop killed a game for you? Is there anything that game could do to win you back, or is your grudge eternal?

            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!

            MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Has a cash shop ever killed a game for you? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              The Secret World begins early access this Friday

              Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:45 AM PDT

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              The Secret World acreenshot
              If you haven't settled on a faction yet for Funcom's intrigued-laced MMO The Secret World, you might want to consider shifting your decision-making into a higher gear or investing in a three-sided coin -- the time of the Templars, Illuminati, and Dragons is at hand. The three-way faction PvP will commence this Friday, June 29th for those who have pre-ordered the game. Players who have opted not to pre-order will find the game in stores starting June 3rd and can join the world on that date.

              If you'd like to take advantage of the early access (and possibly kiss your weekend goodbye), there is still time to pre-order via the official site.

              MassivelyThe Secret World begins early access this Friday originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 07:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              MMO Week in Review: Conquest

              Posted: 24 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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              RIFT
              At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

              Even if RIFT isn't your cup of tea, you're probably still impressed at how speedily Trion has brewed it. The studio will launch the Conquest patch next week, complete with a mentoring system and three-faction PvP, to be followed this fall by the Storm Legion expansion, which as we learned this week will come bundled with the original game for newcomers and a tidy discount for loyalists. Those of you thinking of taking another sip of Telara ought to check out our RIFT guide for new and returning players.

              Our other top MMO stories of the week are steeping beyond the cut.

              Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Conquest

              MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Conquest originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Hiromichi Tanaka is retiring from Square-Enix

                Posted: 24 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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                For each new horizon, a departure.
                If you know the history of Square-Enix, you know the name Hiromichi Tanaka. More recently, if you've had anything to do with either Final Fantasy XI or Final Fantasy XIV, the name will also strike a chord, as Tanaka was the driving force behind both games. At the end of last week's VanaFest convention in Japan, Tanaka announced that he will be stepping down from his current position as producer of Final Fantasy XI and leaving Square-Enix, citing health issues that he declined to elaborate upon.

                Tanaka's role on the FFXI staff will be filled by Akihiko Matsui, who previously briefly served as the game's director before moving on to work as Final Fantasy XIV's battle designer following the game's troubled launch. This announcement comes in the wake of several major announcements regarding FFXI during VanaFest, including the promise of a new boxed expansion next year and a new UI for the game with the new expansion.

                MassivelyHiromichi Tanaka is retiring from Square-Enix originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                EVE Evolved: The great ship overhaul

                Posted: 24 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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                EVE Evolved title image
                One of EVE Online's most important features is that the game is constantly updated to avoid falling behind the development curve and being overtaken by new titles. The EVE we have today bears little resemblance to the primitive sandbox released in 2003 thanks to major graphical overhauls every few years and iteration on gameplay systems. I think that's a big part of why people start playing EVE; they know that the game will still be alive and kicking years from now and will look as good as anything else on the market.

                EVE remained largely unchanged from March 2009's Apocrypha expansion until Crucible at the end of 2011, but since then, CCP has made huge leaps in iterating on ship graphics and gameplay. This week we saw an impressive new video of the revamped Drake model, and CCP announced details of a complete mining barge and frigate revamp due to hit the servers before this year's winter expansion. These changes seem set to put a sizeable dent in EVE's notoriously steep learning curve.

                In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the recent graphical updates to EVE's ships and explore the upcoming ship overhauls in more detail.

                Continue reading EVE Evolved: The great ship overhaul

                MassivelyEVE Evolved: The great ship overhaul originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Navigating Phantasy Star Online 2's Japanese open beta

                  Posted: 24 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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                  Navigating Phantasy Star Online 2's Japanese open beta
                  The good news is that Phantasy Star Online 2 is now in open beta, and it's free so everyone can come and check out how this sequel to the hit console series is developing. The bad news is that the beta currently only comes in the Japanese version, so while you can download the client, unless you can read Kanji, you might be a little lost.

                  Fortunately, the Phantasy Star Fan Blog is here to help with a guide that walks you through every stage of the beta process -- even if you're not a native Japanese reader. From registering and setting up the beta to fighting and grouping, this guide has it all covered. So if you're willing to do a little cross-referencing, you too could be enjoying PSO2 in no time at all!

                  Over 41,000 players simultaneously logged on to the beta a week ago, and the developers have pushed the level cap up to 30 as those numbers keep on climbing. Sega plans to release PSO2 later this summer on the PC, PlayStation Vita, and smartphones. There is currently no word as to when an English client will be released.

                  MassivelyNavigating Phantasy Star Online 2's Japanese open beta originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  One Shots: This old house

                  Posted: 24 Jun 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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                  One Shots - This old house
                  It'd be easy for me to sit back and say that games without housing are just lazy, so that's exactly what I'm going to do. Well, that and feature a few awesome reader screenshots of games with housing in today's One Shots! Contributor Mayrin earns the top slot this week with this image of her home in Wurm Online, a much-beloved sandbox around these parts. She writes:
                  This is a screenshot of my house, originally taken last September. It's a stone house built back before Wurm Online had inner walls, so it's U-shaped to suggest different rooms inside. The left side is our kitchen area (the wisp of smoke over the house is from our oven), and the right side has our beds, while the center area is used mostly for storage. The gold shape near the oak tree on the left is an altar to Vynora (one of Wurm's deities); the silver one peeking out from behind the right tree is a Fo altar. Right off the path is a "spirit castle," which is used to send mail to other players. It's located where the village of Allure once stood on the Independence server.
                  Mayrin's entry is tucked behind the break alongside a few other residential beauties!

                  Continue reading One Shots: This old house

                  MassivelyOne Shots: This old house originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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