General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Colorful's Working On A Massive, Passively Cooled GTX 680 Graphics Card

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 11:18 AM PDT

If you're building a silent PC, nothing beats a passively cooled GPU. Ditching all those spinning fans works wonders for noise levels! Unfortunately, most passively cooled video cards tend to be less-powerful models; with great power comes greater thermals, after all. Colorful, a Chinese graphics card maker, is bucking that trend and working hard to bring a fanless GTX 680 to the market.

The iGame GTX 680 trades in the traditional fan for two massive aluminum heatsinks, each of which sports seven 6mm copper heatpipes and 140 cooling fins. Six 8mm copper heatpipes handle the heat exchange between the two heatsinks, bringing the grand total up to two heatsinks, 20 heatpipes and 280 cooling fins with over 200 square meters of combined cooling area.

Yep, it's big.

We don't know quite how big, though: Colorful hasn't come clean with any final specs or measurements for the passively cooled iGame GTX 680, nor pricing or release information. The prospect of a dead-silent GTX 680 is mighty intriguing, though, and we hope to hear more in the near future.

Check out all a bunch more pics in the gallery below, all of which come courtesy of EXPreview.

Via Geek.com and EXPreview

Gigabyte Outs The Aivia Xenon, A Mouse/Touchpad Hybrid

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 10:48 AM PDT

Have you ever looked down at your mouse and said to yourself, "You know, I wish this doubled as a touchpad"? If so, your days of peculiar self-musing are over, as Gigabyte recently launched an intriguing new device called the Aivia Xenon dual-mode touchpad mouse. (Try saying that three times fast!) It's like the input equivalent of a mullet, except this bad boy's all business in the front and the back.

A handy-dandy switch on the side lets you switch between the two modes. It looks a bit oddly shaped (and probably uncomfortable) for a mouse -- in fact, the pictures make it look more like an itty bitty router than anything else -- but the Aivia Xenon sports a 1000dpi resolution and supports several multi-touch gestures when it's in touchpad mode. If you're the presenting type of person, the mouse/touchpad/whatever can operate up to 30 feet away from its base computer and packs in "Aivia Painter software" that allows you to mark up any document you have open.

Check out more info over on the Aivia Xenon page at the Gigabyte website.

Rumor: HP Ditching Windows RT Tablet Plans Due To Microsoft Surface, Others May Follow

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 10:23 AM PDT

Microsoft's Surface tablet sure looks nifty, but will it cost the company the support of its OEM partners? Several sources have said that OEMs are mighty, mighty displeased that Microsoft took a heavily hands-on role in the design approval of other companies' Windows tablets, only to soon thereafter introduce a kick ass-looking Windows tablet of its own. LG bowed out of the tablet game the very night that the Surface was announced, and a new report says the shenanigans may cause HP to yank its Windows RT plans, too.

TechCrunch pointed us towards SemiAccurate -- not the most confidence-inspiring name, there, though it refers to the semiconductor industry -- whose multiple sources say that HP is scrapping its Qualcomm-based Windows RT tablet in response to Microsoft's questionable antics and the rumored sky-high $85 price tag for licensing Windows RT.

"With Microsoft mandated awful designs and a $90 OS tax that Microsoft doesn't have to pay, that would be about 15% of the rumored $600 MSRP, OEMs can't hope to be competitive," SemiAccurate's Charlie Demerjian writes.

The site's sources claim that other OEMs are considering jumping off the Windows RT ship before it even makes its maiden voyage. No technology partners have come public with complaints about the way Microsoft handled Surface, but when AllThingsD asked Steve Ballmer what OEMs thought of the surprise announcement, all he would say is "No Comment."

"If Microsoft had access to its OEM designs and knew what they were going to ship and how they were to be priced and marketed, can PC OEMs ever trust Microsoft?" industry analyst Patrick Moorhead -- a longtime AMD exec and OEM partner -- asked on Forbes.

What do you think: can they?

UPDATE: HP has confirmed they'll be skipping Windows RT to focus on x86-based tablets, though an HP spokesman told Bloomberg that the company reached that decision prior to Surface's unveiling. He didn't say why the company waited until today to make the decision public.

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 07:43 AM PDT

Nexus 7

It's been a week dominated by Google. The Nexus 7 tablet looks to finally be the product that we've all been waiting for – a decent Android tablet for under £200.

We've had a play with it and can report that we like it very much….

Hands on: Google Nexus 7 review

Ever since Android starting making its way onto tablets the market has been crying out for an aggressively priced product. So it's not before time that Google finally launches its own device, a 7-inch, 8GB tablet for just £159. The Nexus 7, which weighs in at just 340g, packs a 7-inch screen with 1280x800 resolution and is powered by a quad core Nvidia Tegra 3 CPU, is also available in 16GB flavour for £199. For the money you're getting so, so much: a quad core Tegra 3-powered device with a 12-core GPU and a HD screen. Then there's the most advanced version of Google's Android, and the fact you can get a wealth of new content in the shape of magazines and an ever-growing library of content in the video department.

Nexus Q

Hands on: Google Nexus Q review

Along with the Nexus 7, Google also just announced an Android-powered media streamer named the Nexus Q. Think Apple TV with open standards but an even higher price. The idea is that you marry the Nexus Q with your Android smartphone or your Nexus 7 tablet, and stream music or movies through it to your TV. Google is obviously taking shots at Apple and its iOS and Apple TV setup. That said, the Nexus Q is a whopping $299 (through the Google Play store). That's a lot to pay for a device that essentially does less than competing solutions, and offers a confusing counter to the Nexus 7's reasonable pricing. We look forward to giving the Nexus Q a proper test, but for the time being that price looks a little bit too high.

11-inch MacBook Air 2012 review

MacBook Air 2012 review

While Apple doesn't own the exclusive rights to the super-skinny notebook guest list any longer, it is still the market leader. But while the latest MacBook Air impressed us greatly, the wow-factor has worn off slightly, due to this being the third iteration of the current design. In a market becoming densely populated with slim-line laptops from a massive range of manufacturers, Apple still holds the trump card with the MacBook Air - but only just. And as such, we fully expect a design overhaul from the Cupertino-based tech giant in 2013.

LG Optimus L7 review

LG Optimus L7 review

The LG Optimus L7 may have style, but it doesn't quite hit the mark compared to the competition, with too much thought put into the design making the user experience feel forgotten and rushed. It does have a decent 4.3-inch display which provides strong, vivid colours and smooth video playback. The inclusion of NFC is a nice feature, along with the programmable Tag+ sticker included in the box, which makes the technology more useful than just having NFC alone on the handset. We were also impressed with the battery in the Optimus L7, which can easily last a couple of days with moderate use. But all these useful features are sadly put on the back burner thanks to the incredibly slow processor and user experience.

This week's other reviews...

Camera lenses

Hands on: Olympus 75mm f/1.8 lens review

Cases

Corsair Vengeance C70 review

Enermax Fulmo GT review

Compact Cameras

Nikon Coolpix S4300 review

Hands on: Olympus TG-1 review

Desktops

Chillblast Fusion Cosmos review

DSLR/Hybrids

Nikon D3200 review

Flash memory cards

Lexar Professional 133x SDXC 64GB review

Graphics cards

AMD Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition review

Laptops

Toshiba Satellite P875-102 review

Samsung Series 5 550P review

MSI GT70 review

Acer Aspire V3 review

Advent Monza N2 review

Hands on: Dell XPS 14 review

Hands on: Dell XPS 15 review

Media streaming

Hands on: Google Nexus Q review

Mobile phones

Samsung Galaxy SIII (AT&T) review

Operating systems

Hands on: Windows Phone 8 review

Hands on: Android 4.1 review

Printers

Epson Stylus Photo 1500W review

Software

Serif PhotoPlus X5 review

Tablets

Storage Options Scroll Extreme 9.7-inch tablet review

AMD Catalyst 12.6 Drivers Now Available to Download

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 07:17 AM PDT

A new Catalyst software suite, version 12.6, is available from Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) for Radeon and FireStream graphics card owners. The new driver packages, which play nice with Windows XP on up to Windows 7, offer up additional Dual Graphics Technology profiles for a handful of DirectX 9 games, and also stomp out a series of bugs that are mostly applicable to Windows 7.

Otherwise, there isn't a ton going on with the new drivers, which is somewhat disappointing now that AMD has moved away from a monthly Catalyst release schedule. At the same time, those seeking performance boosts are free to give AMD's Catalyst 12.7 beta drive suite a spin.

The 12.7 beta release improves performance by up to 25 percent in Skyrim, up to 20 percent in Total War: Shogun 2, and up to 12 percent in Wolfenstein MP, as well as improvrd performance by single-digit percentages in more than half a dozen other titles.

AMD Catalyst 12.6 Release Notes
AMD Catalyst 12.7 Beta Release Notes

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RIM CEO "Not Satisfied" with Financial Results; Neither are Investors

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 06:54 AM PDT

Research In Motion (RIM) on Thursday evening posted a $518 million net loss for its first fiscal quarter of 2012, representing a 33 percent drop in revenue over the previous quarter and 43 percent decline from one year ago. It was not the financial picture RIM wanted to paint, but certainly the one many were expecting, at least to an extent. Nevertheless, RIM's stock is taking a beating, trading for around 15 percent less than prior to the announcement.

The straight up numbers weren't the only sad story the Canadian company told investors. RIM, which is hedging its bets on BlackBerry 10, said that the first smartphones to run on the upcoming platform won't see the light of day until next year, thus missing the all-important holiday shopping season.

"Our first quarter results reflect the market challenges I have outlined since my appointment as CEO at the end of January. I am not satisfied with these results and continue to work aggressively with all areas of the organization and the Board to implement meaningful changes to address the challenges, including a thoughtful realignment of resources and honing focus within the Company on areas that have the greatest opportunities," said Thorsten Heins (PDF), President and CEO. "Our top priority going forward is the successful launch of our first BlackBerry 10 device, which we now anticipate will occur in the first quarter of calendar 2013."

Mr. Heins expects BlackBerry 10 to deliver a "ground-breaking next generation smartphone user experience," and those lofty expectations are part of the reason for the delay.

"RIM's development teams are relentlessly focused on ensuring the quality and reliability of the platform and I will not compromise the product by delivering it before it is ready," Heins added.

The late late launch may sting investors, who are stinging back by offloading RIM's stock at discounted prices, but in the long run, it's probably better that RIM flush away any bugs rather than repeat the launch of a half-baked product, as many viewed the PlayBook tablet when it first came out.

Image Credit: Research In Motion

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Adobe Not Developing Flash Player for Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 06:31 AM PDT

Upcoming Android 4.1 Jelly Bean devices, starting with Google's recently unveiled Nexus 7 tablet, will not receive official Flash Player support from Adobe. Moreover, Adobe announced plans to pull Flash Player from the Google Play Store on August 15 for unsupported devices, and while you can expect Flash updates to roll out for older hardware running Android 4.0 or earlier, it's clear the future lies in HTML5.

"Devices that don't have the Flash Player provided by the manufacturer typically are uncertified, meaning the manufacturer has not completed the certification testing requirements. In many cases users of uncertified devices have been able to download the Flash Player from the Google Play Store, and in most cases it worked. However, with Android 4.1 this is no longer going to be the case, as we have not continued developing and testing Flash Player for this new version of Android and its available browser options. There will be no certified implementations of Flash Player for Android 4.1," Adobe confirmed in a blog post.

If Flash Player already exists on a device prior to upgrading to Android 4.1, Adobe recommends uninstalling it after jumping to Jelly Bean. Otherwise, you can expect "unpredictable behavior," Adobe said.

This isn't as sudden as it might seem. In reality, Adobe waved the white flag with Flash on mobile devices some time ago, announcing in November 2011 that it "will no longer continue to develop Flash Player in the browser to work with new mobile device configurations," choosing instead to "increase investment in HTML5."

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Offline Editing Returns to Google Docs

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 06:09 AM PDT

After being absent for over a year, offline functionality finally returned to Google Docs in September 2011.  This time, though, things were slightly different as the feature was powered by HTML5 and not Google Gears, and offline access was restricted to viewing alone. On Thursday, the second day of Google's annual I/O developer conference, Google made things much better by announcing the return of offline document editing for Chrome and Chrome OS.

"No internet connection? No big deal. With offline editing, you can create and edit Google documents and leave comments. Any changes you make will be automatically synced when you get back online," Clay Bavor, director of product management for Google Apps, on the official Google Docs blog.

"You can enable offline editing from the gear icon in Google Drive and find more detailed instructions for getting set up in the Help Center. Note that you'll need the latest versions of Chrome or ChromeOS to edit offline. We're also working hard to make offline editing for spreadsheets and presentations available in the future."

But Google did not stop there. It also announced another highly sought-after feature: Drive for iOS. The Google Drive app is now available in the App store for iDevices running iOS 5.0+.

Rice University Showcase Spray-Paintable Battery Technology on Lighted Bathroom Tiles

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 06:01 AM PDT

Researchers from Rice University have cooked up a rather interesting and promising battery technology capable of turning any surface into a lithium-ion battery. The technology consists of five spray-painted layers that make up all the components of a traditional battery, including two current collectors, a cathode, an anode, and a polymer separator in the middle. All that remains is a power source, and as the researchers demonstrated, spray-paintable batteries can be combined with solar cells.

"This means traditional packaging for batteries has given way to a much more flexible approach that allows all kinds of new design and integration possibilities for storage devices," said scientist Pullickel Ajayan, Rice's Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and of chemistry. "There has been lot of interest in recent times in creating power sources with an improved form factor, and this is a big step forward in that direction."

The researchers describe each layer as an "optimized stew." It starts with a current collector as the base, which is a mixture of purified single-wall carbon nanotubes with carbon black particles dispersed in N-methylpyrrolidone. A second cathode layer is made with lithium cobalt oxide, carbon, and ultrafine graphite (UFG) powder in a binder solution. The third layer is a polymer separator paint of Kynar Flex resin, PMMA, and silicon dioxide dispersed in a solvent mixture. On top of that sits an anode made of a mixture of lithium titanium oxide and UFG in a binder, and the last layer consists of a negative collector constructed with conductive copper paint diluted with ethanol.

To demonstrate the technology, the researchers applied spray-paintable batteries to a number of surfaces, including a series of bathroom tiles connected in parallel. It was topped off with a solar cell to convert white laboratory light into power, which the spray-paintable batteries used to illuminate a set of LEDs that spelled "RICE" for six hours with a steady stream of 2.4V.

An extensive examination of the science behind it all appears in Nature's online, open-access journal Scientific Reports.

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Microsoft's Windows 8 Upgrade Plans Surface

Posted: 28 Jun 2012 10:20 PM PDT

At the time of the Windows 8 Release Preview's release last month, Microsoft spilled the beans on a special upgrade offer for those who buy eligible Windows 7-based PCs between June 2, 2012 and January 31, 2013. It did not reveal anything regarding the upgrade path for existing Windows users, though. But you may no longer have to wait until an official announcement from Redmond to know where you stand on the road to Windows 8, as a veteran Microsoft watcher claims to have the scoop on Microsoft's Windows 8 upgrade plans.

According to ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft has already made some of its partners aware of its Windows 8 upgrade plans.  The information Foley received from her "contacts" points to a large number of upgrade paths to Windows 8, starting all the way back from Windows XP.

As per the report, the only users who will be able to keep their settings, personal files, and applications intact are: those upgrading to Windows 8 from Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, and Windows 7 Home Premium; those upgrading to Windows 8 Pro from Windows 7 Starter, Windows 7 Home Basic, Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, and Windows 7 Ultimate; and those upgrading to Windows 8 Enterprise from Windows 7 Professional and Windows 7 Enterprise.

While Windows Vista users with SP1 installed will reportedly be able to retain their personal data and system settings, users upgrading from Windows Vista without SP1 installed and Windows XP( SP3 or higher) will have to be content with retaining just their personal data.

Gameforumer.com

Gameforumer.com


The Pillars of eSports

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 03:04 PM PDT

FG_AUTHORS: Amit Teli

The Pillars of eSports

Last week, we discussed what the term eSports meant and made a case for why people might enjoy it. This week, we talk about the core games and franchises that make up the eSports scene. 

Just as traditional sports include different games like football, baseball, and hockey, eSports are comprised of many diverse games that are considered competitive. Titles like StarCraft...

The Pillars of eSports

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 03:04 PM PDT

FG_AUTHORS: Amit Teli

The Pillars of eSports

Last week, we discussed what the term eSports meant and made a case for why people might enjoy it. This week, we talk about the core games and franchises that make up the eSports scene. 

Just as traditional sports include different games like football, baseball, and hockey, eSports are comprised of many diverse games that are considered competitive. Titles like StarCraft...

The Pillars of eSports

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 03:04 PM PDT

FG_AUTHORS: Amit Teli

The Pillars of eSports

Last week, we discussed what the term eSports meant and made a case for why people might enjoy it. This week, we talk about the core games and franchises that make up the eSports scene. 

Just as traditional sports include different games like football, baseball, and hockey, eSports are comprised of many diverse games that are considered competitive. Titles like StarCraft...

Using Kinect In All The Wrong Places

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 02:50 PM PDT

FG_AUTHORS: Amit Teli

Using Kinect In All The Wrong Places

I was watching a movie on my Xbox 360 the other night, when I had to go upstairs. The controller had long turned itself off. My hands were full of empties. Rather than drop everything onto the floor (my immediate instinct), I just said “Xbox, pause,” and the system obediently put the action on hold. I couldn’t help but agree with my wife as I trotted...

Special Edition Podcast: Gears of War: Judgment

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 02:44 PM PDT

FG_AUTHORS: Amit Teli

Special Edition Podcast: Gears of War: Judgment

Gears of War fans are a vocal bunch. We turned to our readers for questions about the game to ask Epic's director of production, Rod Fergusson. He swung by the Game Informer office to record a special Gears of War: Judgment podcast, where he answers the big questions about Judgment.

In this special edition podcast Dan Ryckert and I present the community's questions to...

A.I.G. Said To Be in Talks To Sell Units

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 01:38 PM PDT

FG_AUTHORS: Amit Teli

The American International Group is close to a deal to sell two Japanese life insurance units to Prudential Financial for at least $4 billion, people briefed on the matter told DealBook on Tuesday. If completed, the deal for the two units, the AIG Star Life Insurance Company and the AIG Edison Life Insurance Company, would be the latest by A.I.G. to raise money to help...

A.I.G. Raises $17.8 Billion in Unit’s Stock Sale

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 01:38 PM PDT

FG_AUTHORS: Amit Teli

American International Group sold shares in its Asian life insurance unit — considered one of A.I.G.'s crown jewels....

A.I.A.’s I.P.O. Is Good For Everyone Involved

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 01:24 PM PDT

FG_AUTHORS: Amit Teli

The $30.5 billion offering will most likely give A.I.G. around $20 billion, with which to pay part of its bailout by American taxpayers....

Raising Cash From the Less Usual Places

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT

FG_AUTHORS: Amit Teli

Raising Cash From the Less Usual PlacesObtaining additional cash to pay for expenses like senior living care no longer necessarily means fire sales of the house and stocks....

Prudential Sells Stock to Raise $1 Billion

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 01:09 PM PDT

FG_AUTHORS: Amit Teli

Prudential Financial sold sold more than 18.3 million shares to help pay for two units it is buying from the American International Group....

MMO News

MMO News


Summer Events Are Live In ROSE Online

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 03:07 PM PDT

ROSE Online has launched a series of summer events for its players.

Starting today and running through July 31, players can participate in the “Login and Get Loot” event, getting one entry for every daily ROSE Online login to have a chance at Item Mall Point and Visa Gift Cards. A new refer-a-friend event will reward players who recruit their friends to play in July; recruiting one friend will earn a Judy’s Box, and sharing can also earn the player bonus WP energy. Also going on is a GoCash promotion; through August 28, players can earn a limited edition Drinking Hat (250 HP, 150  MP) for redeeming a Go Cash game card in an increment on $7 on Thursday.

ROSE Online is published by Gravity Interactive, which also publishes Ragnarok Online and Dragon Saga.

52625  420x310 rose online 2012 summer

ROSE Online Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

ROSE ONLINE STARTS OFF SUMMER WITH A FULL MONTH OF SPECIAL EVENTS

 

Valuable Prizes Are Up For Grabs

 

Marina del Rey, California – June 29, 2012 – Gravity Interactive, a publisher of exciting massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), today announced that it has launched a series of summer events for its popular MMORPG, ROSE Online. "Roserians" can participate in the events all month long starting today, June 29th, and take their shot at winning cool in-game items and Visa gift cards. Players can grab a friend at dive in at www.roseonlinegame.com.

 

All month long players will have a chance to win Item Mall Points and Visa Gift Cards in the "Login and Get Loot" event. All players have to do is log onto ROSE Online and they're entered to win. It's that easy! For every daily ROSE Online login, players will get another chance to win. This event is happening all month long, so players should grab their friends and start logging in today through July 31st!

 

Summer is all about hanging with friends and so is the latest refer-a-friend event, "Playing with Friends Just Keeps on Getting Better!" During the entire month of July, players can invite friends to play their favorite game with them and be rewarded! For recruiting one friend, players will receive a Judy's Box (1 box limited per WarpPortal account). In addition, players using the "Friends with Benefits" program can send friends a link or just share on their favorite social network site and let friends hook them up with bonus WP Energy! If a player, using "Friends with Benefits" recruits a friend from now until July 31st, and they make a payment, players will earn 30% of the WP Energy value they purchased instead of the regular 10% bonus.

 

Roserians can also participate in the GoCash promotion happening now through August 28th. Every Thursday following a GoCash game card redemption increment of $7 on the WarpPortal, players will receive a limited edition Drinking Hat (HP +250, MP +150), great for those hot summer days, in their game accounts event storage!

 

Further event details can be found at www.roseonlingame.com

 

Players can get all the latest information from the official ROSE Online Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/playrose as well as get a chance to post awesome summer fun screen shots.

 

Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict Begins Closed Beta

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 02:23 PM PDT

Gamigo has announced the start of closed beta for Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict (previously “Nexus Conflict”).

Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict is a real-time strategy game based on the Black Prophecy universe. Players can take command of eighteen different ship types, and can focus on a role of tank, healer, or damage dealer in a tactical setting. The game also features a PvP mode with match-making, 30 different regions (22 of them conquerable), hundreds of ship modules for customization, a skill system, and more.

Gamigo also publishes Black Prophecy and Jagged Alliance Online.

49650  420x310 nexus conflict 4

Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

Closed beta testing of Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict begins

Hamburg, June 22, 2012 – It’s time to take the bridge in Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict, where a select group of space captains can now wage tactical battles in their massive battleships during closed beta testing.

This free-to-play real-time strategy game by gamigo is based on the well-known universe of Black Prophecy. It lets players take command of battleships that are up to 1.5 kilometers long and can be individually equipped with a wide variety of modules and weapons. This gives players the choice of which of the classic MMO roles – tank, healer, damage dealer – they would like to take on in battle. Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict includes a comprehensive PvP mode with a matchmaking system. Tyi and Genides are mired in a continual battle for control of important regions within the Nexus.

Features of Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict at a glance:

  • Players command individually equipped battleships in tactically challenging real-time battles in space
  • 18 different ship types (from small corvettes to gigantic cruisers)
  • 30 regions, of which 22 can be conquered
  • more than 350 ship modules allow for comprehensive upgrades and individualized equipping of battleships
  • Skill system
  • Players take on tactical roles in a group: tank, healer, damage dealer
  • high-quality 3D graphics thanks to the Unity engine

 

Rapid Assault Hits Closed Beta And Kickstarter

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 01:57 PM PDT

Rapid Assault, a PC tactical shooter from Cornered Rat Software, is preparing to go into beta.

Currently in closed beta, Rapid Assault is scheduled to release later this year. The first planned release, called the D-Day Pack, will include World War II settings to offer a blend of tactical shooter with tank combat. Players face off in different scenarios that include capture, defend, destroy, and deathmatch objectives. Maps support anywhere from 8 vs 8 on smaller maps designed for quick action, to 64 players on large scale maps. The game will be available for a free download and include a free playable map; additional scenarios and units are purchased through DLC packs.

To aid for the last push for release, Cornered Rat Software is hitting up Kickstarter to look for a final source of financing. Different contributions will earn funders special game rewards, swag, or the chance to party with the developers at launch.

Rapid Assault Screenshots:

Source:

PC Tactical Shooter Targets Kickstarter
RAPID ASSAULT bets on blend of first-person shooter, armor tactics and famous WWII battles for success in crowdfunding final development cycle.
Bedford, Texas (PRWEB) June 28, 2012

Texas game studio Cornered Rat Software has moved into closed Beta testing with their newest game, RAPID ASSAULT (http://www.rapidassaultgame.com). The game targets the PC tactical shooter & simulation games market and is scheduled to release later this year.

RAPID ASSAULT D-DAY PACK, the first of several planned releases, mixes fast action online play and historical WWII settings with a flavor for realism delivering a classic tactical shooter featuring exciting tank combat.

RAPID ASSAULT allows players to create or join WWII-themed scenarios on huge multiplayer maps with defined objectives like capture, defend, destroy and deathmatch. Gamers will experience a heart-pounding dash off a Higgins boat as they work to storm the cliffs at “Dog Green”, dodging murderous German LMG fire and explosions that send plumes of sand, smoke and debris into the air. Other scenarios offer up exciting combined-arms game play, pitting steel beasts like the German Tiger tank and the American Sherman against each other and against infantry armed with deadly shoulder mounted weapons. The game features many different terrains/maps which host various game scenarios. Some are built for instant action 8 vs 8 while others are multiple objective scenarios on huge maps that support up to 64 players.

RAPID ASSAULT will be a free download with a free playable map and the ability to unlock more scenarios and units through the purchase of DLC packs available at launch.

Cornered Rat Software is targeting a fall release for the PC and plans to use Kickstarter as a source for a final round of financing.

Kickstarter.com is a community-driven website designed as a funding source for creative projects. It allows fans and backers to contribute money towards goals outlined by the developer. In return the developer provides a variety of rewards based on contribution levels. The RAPID ASSAULT Kickstarter project offers 5 unique rewards levels that include things like t-shirts, free content, special in-game recognition, getting your face on a character and even attending a private launch party with the developers of the game.

Cornered Rat Software has outlined the features and tasks remaining to bring RAPID ASSAULT out of beta testing and into public, commercialized release and is seeking $100,000 to fund the final production push. Details are available at http://www.rapidassaultgame.com/kickstarter

More details, images and video about RAPID ASSAULT are available at http://www.rapidassaultgame.com and #rapidassault on Twitter.

Guan Yu Arrives In Smite

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 11:36 AM PDT

A new patch for SMITE’s closed beta has released a new god, along with other updates.

Guan Yu, the Saint of War, is introduced to the roster with the update. Guan Yu’s passive gives him physical and magical protection when near structures; his other skills include Tranquil Gift (a heal), Warrior’s Will (a charge and slow), Taolu Assault (a debuff/AoE), and Tactician’s Advantage (a slowing, silencing, stunning attack). Other game tweaks and fixes are also included in the patch.

SMITE is published by Hi-Rez Studios, which also publishes Tribes Ascend and Global Agenda.

SMITE: Guan Yu (B-Roll)

Source:

SMITE Closed Beta Version 0.1.944.1 is scheduled to be released on Friday, June 29, 2012. The servers will be down for up to several hours while the patch is deployed.

New God!

  • Guan Yu, the Saint of War
    • Passive – Fortified Defense
      • Guan Yu gains +20 physical and magical protection when he is near friendly or enemy structures.
    • Tranquil Gift
      • Guan Yu's tranquil leadership is infectious and, when focused, heals himself and his allies for 50/85/120/155/190 (+50% of your magical power). Healing friendly gods reduces all cooldowns by 2s. Cost – 50/60/70/80/90 mana. Cooldown – 6s.
    • Warrior's Will
      • Guan Yu charges forward, his Green Dragon Crescent Blade extended in front of him. After passing through the area, enemies are damaged for 90/150/210/270/330 (+60% of your magical power) magical damage and slowed by 25% for 2s. Hitting enemy gods lowers all cooldowns by 2s. Cost – 50/60/70/80/90 mana. Cooldown – 6s.
    • Taolu Assault
      • Guan Yu spins his blade in a controlled but furious display, slicing enemies for 20/30/40/50/60 (+20% of your magical power) magical damage every .4s for 4s. Each hit debuffs the enemies protections by 10 while buffing Guan Yu the same amount, up to 30, for 3s. Guan Yu is immune to knockback for the duration. Cost – 60/65/70/75/80 mana. Cooldown – 13s.
    • Tactician's Advantage
      • Guan Yu attacks 3 times. Enemies hit take damage of 100/125/150/175/200 (+30% of your magical power) magical damage and are slowed by 25% for 2s. Enemies hit a 2nd time take damage +50% and are silenced for 2s. Enemies hit a 3rd time take damage +100% and are stunned for 2s. Guan Yu is immune to crowd control for the duration. Cost – 80/90/100/110/120 mana. Cooldown – 90s.

General:

  • End of Match Lobby tweaks:
    • Player name now shows on the left instead of god name.
    • Changed Wins to Victory.
    • Moved Deaths over Assists.
  • Skin cards now appear on the transition screen into a match.
  • Blue targeting arrow is now on by default.  You can disable this from the settings menu.
  • Chat box while in party chat will no longer lose focus.
  • Ground targets are now cancelled when dying.
  • Players that reported their screen going black when playing certain gods has been addressed.
  • Muting teammates is now working again.
  • Kills that occur before the match starts now properly gives players credit.
  • Match invite no longer shows 00:00 on the timer after accepting the invite.
  • Match invite no longer shows '…of 9 players' and will always say '…of 10 players'.
  • Fixed an issue where players disconnecting would not preserve their respawn time.

HUD:

  • While selling items at the store, players abilities and items would disappear from their hud.  This should no longer occur.

Gods:

  • Hades
    • Magical protection now increases .9 per level, as intended.
    • Pillar of Agony
      • Damage now does not require line of sight.
  • Hel
    • Hel's auto attack now properly activates on-hit items, like Polynomicon.
  • Vamana
    • Passive – Sleeping Giant
      • Taking damage from enemy gods now properly reduces the cooldown of Vamana's ultimate at all ranks.
      • Each hit from enemy gods now reduces the cooldown of his ultimate by 1s each hit instead of 2s.

C9 Begins Open Beta

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 11:12 AM PDT

Webzen has announced the launch time of Continent of the Ninth Seal (C9)’s open beta.

Open beta will begin on June 30 (Saturday) for all players. Select players have had Early Access since June 27, giving them a three day head start. The open beta will include four classes: Fighter, Hunter, Shaman, and Witchblade.

C9 has also been chosen as an official title for the Game and Game World Championship 2012 global tournament, which will have its European finals in August and American/German finals in October. The Championship Finals will take place at G-Star 2012 in South Korean in November.

Webzen also publishes Archlord and Arctic Combat.

C9 Launch Trailer

Source:

The Open Beta for 'C9' starts June 30th

WEBZEN Inc. (WWW.WEBZEN.COM), the Next Generation of Free-to-Play Online Games, begins the OBT (Open Beta Test) for the Unrivaled Action RPG C9 (Continent of the Ninth Seal).

 

On June 30th Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), the OBT of C9 will begin, following the Early Access Event which has been ongoing since June 27th. Up to this day, WEBZEN focused on content development, localization, and various events to meet the player's feedback to create a player-oriented game. For this, C9 had three previous beta tests, and the 'C9 Championship' finals that was successfully held during 'E3 2012' in Los Angeles, America.

 

C9 is a highly anticipated Action RPG game featuring but not limited to diverse PVP combat, endless skill combos, precise controls, and ultimate fury skill. With the start of the OBT, the classes available to play are Fighter, Hunter, Shaman, and Witchblade. Witchblade is one of the most anticipated classes in C9 that was added from the OBT that can specialize in either ranged frozen magic or splendid aerial combos.

 

Additionally, C9 has been chosen as an official title for 'Game and Game World Championship (GNGWC) 2012' global tournament event annually hosted by KOCCA (Korea Creative Contents Agency). This tournament will commence Europe region's Finals in August, 2012 at 'Gamescom', Germany along with America finals in October. Finalist of each qualifying round will be given an invitation to the Championship Finals at 'G-Star 2012', South Korea, in November this year.

 

Jihun Lee, Head of Global Publishing, said, "We have been focusing on content development and to advance C9 into the world of e-sports." He also said, "We hope many players will participate in the OBT and experience the new level of Action RPG".

 

More information about the Action RPG 'C9' can be found at the official Facebook community (www.facebook.com/C9Webzen) and website (c9.webzen.com).

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Mists of Pandaria opening cinematic will premiere at gamescom 2012

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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Mists of Pandaria screenshot
Folks attending gamescom 2012 in Cologne, Germany will be the first to feast their eyes on the opening cinematic for World of Warcraft's next expansion, Mists of Pandaria.

Blizzard will also be showcasing the game itself as well as Diablo III and StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. Players can check out the games and also meet members of the development team. If you happen to be at the convention, be sure to check out the company's booth in Halle 6.1 (B21) at the Koelnmesse.

MassivelyMists of Pandaria opening cinematic will premiere at gamescom 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Firing Line: Heroes & Generals dev talks planes, boats, and massive FPS action

Posted: 29 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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The Firing Line - Heroes & Generals interview
I've become fairly obsessed with Heroes & Generals lately. The browser-based World War II shooter-cum-strategy game is still in beta, but it's wicked fun to play (and to watch). If you missed our previous coverage, you'll need to know that H&G is the brainchild of Reto-Moto, a firm composed of Hitman franchise veterans based in Copenhagen.

Reto-Moto game director Jacob Andersen was kind enough to field a few of my questions regarding the title's claim to massive FPS action. He also talked at length about the merits of connecting with the fan community as well as the game's aerial, amphibious, and ground-based aspirations. Join us after the cut.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Heroes & Generals dev talks planes, boats, and massive FPS action

MassivelyThe Firing Line: Heroes & Generals dev talks planes, boats, and massive FPS action originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Square Enix ranks highest in average salary for Japanese game companies

    Posted: 29 Jun 2012 08:30 AM PDT

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    Square Enix
    If making the most money is a top priority when choosing which gaming company to work for (as if working on games isn't enough!), the go-to company in Japan is Square Enix. According to Nensyu Labo, a company that analyzes salary and income in the island nation, Square Enix ranks at the top of gaming companies for average annual salary. And the race wasn't close either; employees at the company that brings us Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV make on average more than twice as much a year as the next closest competitor, Sony, 21.68 million yen ($273,057) to 9.23 million yen ($116,253).

    For a look at what other companies made the top 10 list, check out the rankings.

    MassivelySquare Enix ranks highest in average salary for Japanese game companies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Alpha begins for The Repopulation, first day captured on video

    Posted: 29 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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    The Repopulation
    Many sandbox fans have been eagerly anticipating The Repopulation for a chance to take a personal look at the sci-fi game. For a lucky number of testers, that chance is now; the gates have opened and the first wave of alpha testers have ventured in to experience the world first-hand and help test the game as it moves ever closer to launch. In celebration, Above and Beyond Technologies released a short video highlighting footage from the first day of alpha.

    What activities do sandbox-hungry players do once they get in? Quite a few dive into structure building while others light up their screens with firefights as they test combat out on various creatures. At least one decides to take a load off and relax by taking advantage of the ability to sit in chairs.

    For a taste of the alpha action, check out the video after the cut. And for a chance to participate in the alpha, sign up via the application form.

    [Source: Above and Beyond Technologies press release]

    Continue reading Alpha begins for The Repopulation, first day captured on video

    MassivelyAlpha begins for The Repopulation, first day captured on video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      SOE Live tickets go on sale

      Posted: 29 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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      SOE Live opens registrations
      It may no longer be Fan Faire in name, but SOE's annual fan festival still has the same spirit and focus. The newly branded SOE Live has opened up registrations for this fall's convention, and the studio is offering discounted prices if tickets are purchased now.

      SOE Live will take place from October 18th through the 21st at Bally's Casino in Las Vegas. The all-access pass for the event is $139, but if you register before August 1st, you can secure a discounted price of $119. Day passes will go for $39 if you're interested in just attending for a day, and evening passes (which just allow access to late-night activities) are $99 a pop. The studio welcomes families, as children ages 12 and below can get in for free.

      The festival has a full schedule, including dev panels, tournaments, giveaways, and parties. Players can shell out an additional $50 to have Sunday brunch with the devs, or $40 for a laser tag event.

      MassivelySOE Live tickets go on sale originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Will you be playing Guild Wars 2?

      Posted: 29 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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      Will you be playing Guild Wars 2
      By now I'm sure you've heard the announcement that Guild Wars 2 will launch on August 28th, 2012. With pre-purchase incentives already in place, many of the franchise's most hardcore fans have been participating in the beta weekends and are anxiously awaiting the headstart that will begin on August 25th.

      But not every MMO fan is 100% convinced that this will be the second coming. We've heard from several of you who will be either skipping the game entirely or simply waiting a few months until the newness wears off and the bugs are squashed.

      So how about you? Will you be playing Guild Wars 2 from day one? From the pre-purchase headstart? Maybe four months later? Let us know in the comments!

      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: Will you be playing Guild Wars 2? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Secret World community guide

        Posted: 29 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT

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        The Secret World community guide
        Today marks the beginning of the end of the world -- you know, if you believed in that conspiracy theory stuff. And if you so happened to buy into all that, then you probably are pinning your hopes on a few stalwart souls to wedge themselves between you and the forces of the apocalypse.

        Those brave people are beginning to wage war in The Secret World as of today (if they have early access and a copy of the necronomicon, of course). As per tradition here at Massively, we want to give everyone a fighting chance by putting as much information at your fingertips as possible. So presented for your approval is our community guide to TSW.

        Because information is power -- now more than ever.

        Continue reading The Secret World community guide

        MassivelyThe Secret World community guide originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Stephen Reid is 'on again' with Gazillion Entertainment

          Posted: 28 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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          Stephen Reid is 'on again' with Gazillion EntertainmentStephen Reid, most recently one of the folks steering the consular ship that is the Star Wars: The Old Republic community, has found a home (once again) with Gazillion Entertainment. The industry vet has worked as Gazillion's Community Director previously and says he's both really happy and "strangely nervous" to be back to the job and working on Marvel games. "The future of gaming isn't certain and a 'job for life' doesn't exist. All you can do is follow your passion and your heart and hope it leads somewhere great. That's what I've done for my entire career, and I'm not going to stop now."

          Reid's now working on the up-and-running Super Hero Squad Online and the soon-to-be-launched Marvel Heroes. If you want to know more about the move, hit up his Tumblr post or listen in on this TORWars.com podcast.

          MassivelyStephen Reid is 'on again' with Gazillion Entertainment originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Ask Massively: I would like to play WildStar now please OK edition

          Posted: 28 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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          Also, I'm pretty sure this is a surreptitious shot of a male Aurin.  Or just a non-stereotypical female Aurin.  Either of which is awesome.
          At Massively, we all have our pet games, games that we follow with interest and that we want to do well. Some of mine are quite obvious, but if you weren't aware that WildStar is on that list, well, now you know. Come on, it's like Walt Disney's Firefly as an MMO and man everything I see about it just makes me want to start playing yesterday. This is kind of related to the fact that we had two separate interviews about it this week, if you hadn't guessed.

          It's also somewhat related to this week's Ask Massively questions, seeing as how one of those questions is about the games that we hate. Yes, I know, I did a topical introduction; I'm very ashamed of myself. I also answer a question about fantasy worlds in the distant future. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, send it along to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.

          Continue reading Ask Massively: I would like to play WildStar now please OK edition

          MassivelyAsk Massively: I would like to play WildStar now please OK edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Diablo III restrictions for unverified players changed slightly

            Posted: 28 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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            Ironically, if you digitally purchase World of Warcraft you can start playing immediately with no restrictions.
            Digital purchasers of Diablo III face a special sort of torment. No, it's not extra content; it's the game restricting players whose credit card information has not yet been verified. Unfortunately, when these restrictions were first put into place, they had the unfortunate side effect of hard-capping the player level at 13 and preventing any progress beyond the first boss of Act I. That was acknowledged as a bug, one that has now been corrected, to the great relief of players everywhere.

            The other restrictions on unverified players are quite intentional and remain in place, including a prohibition on any use of the auction house and an inability to join public games. Players will find these restrictions lifted as soon as their information is verified, but the official post outlining the prohibitions states that this process can still occasionally take up to 72 hours. So if you need to dive right into the game and can't risk having some restricted play, maybe you should go ahead and buy a boxed copy.

            MassivelyDiablo III restrictions for unverified players changed slightly originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Cryptic ups security with Account Guard

            Posted: 28 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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            Cryptic ups security with Account Guard
            Account Guard is not the name of a two-bit villain in Champions Online or a featured episode in Star Trek Online but instead a new security system that Cryptic Studios is installing for its games and websites. The system promises to track which computers you've logged in from and block unauthorized access to your accounts.

            If your account is compromised, the system will slam the doors closed on your games and send you an email with all of the details. The email also contains a one-time unlock code. This code allows players to open their accounts in the event of a mistaken intrusion.

            This system sounds very similar to Trion Worlds' coin lock mechanism. Players have a choice whether or not to participate in Account Guard, as they can opt out of the service through the account page. The studio has posted a FAQ with more answers to particular scenarios.

            MassivelyCryptic ups security with Account Guard originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Summoner's Guidebook: Items and runes for League of Legends' attack damage champions

            Posted: 28 Jun 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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            The Summoner's Guidebook Items and runes for League of Legends' attack damage champions
            Attack damage is a universal thing for most League of Legends champions to build. Even characters that do not normally build AD are commonly played as AD in "joke builds." AD champions also have some of the widest variety of items available. There are a fair number of caster and tank items and a handful of hybrid items, but items that bolster physical attacks are everywhere.

            This can cause some confusion in what to build, and today we're going to talk about what gives you the most bang for your buck. This article will focus heavily on offense rather than defense for AD champions. We'll cover defense in a later week.

            Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Items and runes for League of Legends' attack damage champions

            MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: Items and runes for League of Legends' attack damage champions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Eric Flannum talks Guild Wars 2 mechanics

              Posted: 28 Jun 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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              Guild Wars 2
              We know you Guild Wars 2 fans are over the moon about the recently announced release date, but the news doesn't stop there! Eric Flannum, the game's lead designer, has just tackled some questions from Guild Wars 2 Junkies.

              The interview took a good hard look at World vs World. To begin with, Flannum addresses concerns about people not being able to play WvW on busy servers during peak hours, saying that there's a queue for the center WvW map that players can enter while playing PvE or any of the Borderlands home maps. Additionally, for a short while around the game's launch, players will be able to transfer servers at a reduced fee, which will hopefully aid in the even spread of players across servers and help people find the WvW server that suits their style. He states that the current looting system for WvW is under review, with the goal of keeping WvW looting similar to that in PvE. In response to concerns about the travel time around WvW maps, Flannum points out that captured keeps can be upgraded with waypoints for quicker travel. He also highlights WvW-specific armor, achievements, and titles as character advancement options for WvW players.

              A few other aspects of the game were covered as well. The question of allowing players to choose their starting weapons in character creation was brought up; Flannum says that's actually a part of the game at one point, but it was discarded once it was clear it gave newer players a disadvantage. He explains that some of the animation issues players complained about are due to bugs that will be fixed, while others are due to the fact that while transition animations are in place for switching directions, characters actually start moving immediately in the new direction as opposed to transitioning from one movement to another.

              For all the little details, be sure to catch the full interview, complete with a teasing non-answer about whether or not we'll see the Sylvari or Asura in the last beta weekend.

              MassivelyEric Flannum talks Guild Wars 2 mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              CCP addresses EVE faction warfare exploit, players punished

              Posted: 28 Jun 2012 12:30 PM PDT

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              EVE Online title image
              Last week we brought you the story of five EVE Online players who gamed the new faction warfare mechanics to produce trillions of ISK worth a total of $175,000 US. The players who found the exploit did report it for developers to fix, but not before abusing it for a full two weeks. CCP Games spent the week deliberating and today released its official statement on the exploit and the punishments those involved will face.

              As market manipulation has always been a legal part of EVE's sandbox gameplay, the lines between exploit and gameplay were not as clear in this case as they could have been. The accounts of those involved will remain in good standing, but all of their ill-gotten gains will be completely removed. The five offenders will essentially be rolled back to where they were before the exploit happened. CCP reminded players that there are rewards for reporting an exploit to developers and that abusing an exploit before reporting it is not considered responsible disclosure.

              MassivelyCCP addresses EVE faction warfare exploit, players punished originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Ragnarok Online classic server coming on June 29th

              Posted: 28 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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              Ragnarok Online - clown dudeIf you're a Ragnarok Online fan who is prone to nostalgia, you'll be happy to know that Gravity Interactive has just announced a new initiative bound to put a smile on your face. The firm is gearing up to deploy a new classic server that uses all of "the original game settings and physics."

              Gravity says that the Ragnarok community has been asking for a throw-back shard for years. Now that it's here, fans of the 10-year-old title can choose between the current version and "its more simple and classic form." Ragnarok originally launched in Korea in August of 2002 before coming to North America in June 2003.

              The new server is scheduled to go live on Friday, June 29th.

              [Source: Gravity Interactive press release]

              MassivelyRagnarok Online classic server coming on June 29th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Guild Counsel: Adam Trzonkowski on guild leading and Kickstarter success

                Posted: 28 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                The Guild Counsel
                Adam "Ferrel" Trzonkowski is on a roll of late. He's a successful veteran guild leader, an accomplished author, and most recently, a Kickstarter success story. He's used his experiences in guild and raid management to pen two advice manuals: The Guild Leader's Companion and The Raider's Companion, the second of which was successfully funded through a Kickstarter campaign. And just a few weeks ago, he wrapped up his second Kickstarter fundraising drive for his new project, The Guild Leader's Companion 2nd Edition.

                Massively had a chance to speak with Adam and pick his brain about leadership, writing, and Kickstarter. Whether you're looking for advice on handling guild drama, seeking a little help getting started with your own writing project, or looking for his secret to Kickstarter success, you'll find the answer after the cut!

                Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Adam Trzonkowski on guild leading and Kickstarter success

                MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Adam Trzonkowski on guild leading and Kickstarter success originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Uncharted Waters Online expands to include The Wild West

                  Posted: 28 Jun 2012 10:30 AM PDT

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                  Uncharted Waters Online
                  Yippee-kai-ya and get along li'l doggies! The Wild West is coming to Uncharted Waters Online, bringing with it the chance to explore and discover national monuments in the prairies, grasslands, and steppes of the North American continent. The Great Plains expansion, the third chapter of the Tierra Americana expansion, also introduces a new colony that is the only place in the world where certain grains can grow, which encourages players to build their own cities in that region.

                  What else can seafaring adventures expect in this expansion? The chance to visit the scholarly city of Oxford, the ability to learn the pirate code, new vessels, and new ways to store stuff are all included. And what better way to celebrate a new expansion than by participating in the Epic Sea Feud from June 28th through the 30th? Hoist the anchors and join the fray!

                  [Source: CJ E&M press release]

                  MassivelyUncharted Waters Online expands to include The Wild West originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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