| Pockie Pirates Posted: 11 Jul 2012 03:46 PM PDT From the team that brought you Pockie Ninja comes Pockie Pirates! Based on the anime One Piece, players embark on a journey as a young pirate, searching out legendary treasures to become the King of the Pirates. Enemies are many, however, and seek to stomp out this dream of yours. With friendship, courage, determination, and youthful spirit, set sail on the seas to face your destiny.  Publisher: Game321
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: Medium
Type: MMO
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: Duels
Filesize: ?? Pros: +Large world with many islands. +Design your own pirate ship. +Side-scrolling combat. Cons: -Gameplay may not appeal to some. -Limited information available.
  
OverviewPockie Pirates OverviewPockie Pirates is a mix of side-scrolling RPG centered on becoming a pirate. Along the way, you build your crew to support your strengths and make up for your weaknesses. You battle pirates alone, or with friends, and can decorate and design your own ship. The ship also functions as a means to make money, by fishing or searching for treasures. Items called Demon Fruits can also be found, which teach various abilities when you find them. Pockie Pirates ScreenshotsPockie Pirates Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewPockie Pirates ReviewComing Soon… ScreenshotsPockie Pirates ScreenshotsComing Soon… VideosPockie Pirates VideosPockie Pirates (CG) Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. LinksPockie Pirates LinksOfficial Game Site System RequirementsPockie Pirates System RequirementsComing Soon. . . |
| Dragon Knights Posted: 11 Jul 2012 03:23 PM PDT Dragon Knights thrusts players into a world under constant threat of the evil dragon Kharvag. Adventure through exotic and vibrant locations, while searching for answers to the dragon’s reawakening. Participate in large scale, guild versus guild PvP. Become an elected official, and dictate the direction of other officers. Transform into vicious creatures, taking on no only their form, but their powers as well!  Publisher: Aeria Games
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: High
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: Yes
Filesize: ?? Pros: +Highly detailed world and storyline. +Political system for increased depth of play. +Transform into monsters. Cons: -Generic gameplay. -Political system may alienate players. -Limited information available.
OverviewDragon Knights OverviewDragon Knights lets you control a hero of the order the game is named after. You can choose from several races and classes, letting you develop your character in your own way. The game features a wide variety of content, from questing and dungeons, to monster transformation, and even a political system that you can get involved with. The game also features large scale PvP battles, and even castle sieges. Dragon Knights ScreenshotsDragon Knights Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewDragon Knights ReviewComing Soon… ScreenshotsDragon Knights ScreenshotsComing Soon… VideosDragon Knights VideosDragon Knights Official Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. LinksDragon Knights LinksOfficial Game Site System RequirementsDragon Knights System RequirementsComing Soon. . . |
| Universal Monsters Online Posted: 11 Jul 2012 03:02 PM PDT Universal Monsters Online takes creatures from the silver screen, and puts them right into your web browser. Control your favorite monster in fierce battles, using your skills and smarts to survive and defeat your opponents. Equip your monster with various items to improve their performance. Engage in fierce arena play in your browser, with no client to install!  Publisher: Bigpoint
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: Medium
Type: MMO
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: Yes
Filesize: ?? Pros: +Officially licensed monsters from Universal Studios. +Browser-based MOBA. +Unity3D engine gives strong graphics. Cons: -Average MOBA style. -Limited Information available.
OverviewUniversal Monsters Online OverviewUniversal Monsters Online is an browser-based multiplayer online battle arena. The game uses famous monsters from Universal Studios, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolf Man, and pits them all against each other. Each monster has their on set of skills to help them in battles, both offensive and defensive. You can also purchase items to enhance each of the monsters with various attributes that can give you an edge. Universal Monsters Online Screenshots Full ReviewUniversal Monsters Online ReviewComing Soon… ScreenshotsUniversal Monsters Online ScreenshotsComing Soon… VideosUniversal Monsters Online VideosComing Soon… LinksUniversal Monsters Online LinksOfficial Game Site System RequirementsUniversal Monsters Online System RequirementsComing Soon. . . |
| Rapid Assault Posted: 11 Jul 2012 02:46 PM PDT Rapid Assault pits players in a large scale war with both infantry and tanks. With multiple modes to play in, players can also choose to play in first- or third-person. The maps are large, and historically based and can host up to 64 players at one time. With personal and team scoring and achievements available, destructible environments, and a focus on tactical play, Rapid Assault brings a level of realism to the genre.  Publisher: Playnet
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: Medium
Type: MMOFPS
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: Yes
Filesize: ?? Pros: +Realistic physics for tanks, guns, and objects. +Maps based off of real world battlefields.. +Combat is tactical and fast paced. Cons: -Learning curve may turn people away. -Similar to other games on the market. -Limited information available.
OverviewRapid Assault OverviewRapid Assault is a fast-paced tactical shooter with realistic physics and gameplay. The game features objective based combat, with both infantry and tanks manning the field. The game offers a few different modes of play, such as death match and capture and defend. Up to 64 players can compete on each of the large maps, which are based on historical battlefields. Rapid Assault lets you play in either first or third person, and gives you both personal and team scoring at the end of a battle, as well as achievements based off of both. Rapid Assault ScreenshotsRapid Assault Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewRapid Assault ReviewComing Soon… ScreenshotsRapid Assault ScreenshotsComing Soon… VideosRapid Assault VideosIntroduction to Rapid Assault Click here to view the embedded video. LinksRapid Assault LinksOfficial Game Site System RequirementsRapid Assault System RequirementsComing Soon. . . |
| Phantasy Star Online 2 Posted: 11 Jul 2012 01:58 PM PDT Phantasy Star Online 2 brings the classic gameplay of the original to a new generation. Fight in real time, engaging your enemies with punishing combination attacks and crushing magic. Create a hero and customize with a complete toolkit of customization options. Choose between the hardy humans, the genetically modified Newmans, or the completely robotic CAST, and develop your class with a great deal of flexibility. Choose your favorite weapon from a wide variety of choices, and set forth into the world!  Publisher: SEGA
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: High
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: ??
Filesize: ?? Pros: +Gorgeous graphics and setting. +Classic gameplay with new twists. +Comprehensive character creation. Cons: -Only three playable races and classes. -Limited information available.
OverviewPhantasy Star Online 2 OverviewPhantasy Star Online 2 is a direct sequel to the original Phantasy Star Online, which spanned across several different platforms. Combat in the game is real time, and combination based. You can also use powerful counterattacks to protect yourself and damage opponents. Customization in the game is much greater than previous incarnations of the game as well, giving a full variety of options to choose to create your character to stand out from everyone else. There are a variety of weapons to choose from, melee, ranged, and magical alike. Randomized challenges will await players across the game, and will be capped off with difficult bosses that will take more than just brute force to bring down. Phantasy Star Online 2 ScreenshotsPhantasy Star Online 2 Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewPhantasy Star Online 2 ReviewComing Soon… ScreenshotsPhantasy Star Online 2 ScreenshotsComing Soon… VideosPhantasy Star Online 2 VideosPhantasy Star Online 2: Western Announcement Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. LinksPhantasy Star Online 2 LinksOfficial Game Site System RequirementsPhantasy Star Online 2 System RequirementsComing Soon. . . |
| Rusty Hearts Announces Reborn Expansion Posted: 11 Jul 2012 01:38 PM PDT Perfect World Entertainment is preparing to launch Reborn for Rusty Hearts. The Reborn expansion will introduce new content for high level players, new areas and features for low-level and new players alike. It will also introduce new Weapon Focuses and skill sets for each character, plus a new Pet System and weekly ranked PvP. The expansion is set to launch on July 24. Perfect World Entertainment also publishes War of the Immortals and Forsaken World. Rusty Hearts: Reborn Expansion |
| The Do’s and Don’ts of Cash Shops Posted: 11 Jul 2012 12:46 PM PDT By. M. Hauschel If you're playing a F2P game, more chances than not, there is some version of a cash shop in that game. To be fair to developers, they need to make money somewhere and cash shops provide that income. While cash shops are not inherently bad, some developers make terrible decisions when implementing the system. (Yes, I'm looking at you EA.) Whether you call them cash shops, premium stores, microtransactionators of doom, etc., the ability for developers to create more content, manage and run the game relies on some sort of an income. Cash shops provide this income, especially for games that are F2P, through the route of microtransactions. Providing players options of customizable appearances like skins, amour, outfits, accessories, boosts, abilities, etc., through a cash shop players are given the freedom to create a character of their own by way of paying for such options. So, what's the downside of such a system? Super OP! The first red flag of a cash shop gone wrong is when the cash shop provides options that can drastically affect game play. If game play heavily relies on combat, a cash shop providing a purchasable item that improves combat or allows a player to purchase a hero that has overpowered abilities compared to the free characters, that cash shop is destroying the playability of said game. A glaring recent example of this is BioWare Mythic's Warhammer: Wrath of Heroes. The hero, Glowgob, can give a team huge advantages compared to a team without such a hero. He can heal himself and his team at a pace that is nearly unstoppable, because he doesn't use mana. I'm sure the studio would argue that if you play enough you can save up enough in-game currency to purchase Glowgob for yourself for free, but that's a serious understatement of such a task. First off, the premise of WOH is that this game is for casual gamer, that's why the RPG aspect of the game was not incorporated and why matches are 15 minutes long. Each day you can spin to win gold, which on average is about 500 gold. Sure, you can play for months and save up to buy Glowgob (Which, by the way, costs 60,000 gold) or you can pay $15 to have him, right now. The paying players and non-paying players become overwhelmingly imbalanced when in-game currency is essentially worthless. When cash shops function as they do in WOH it creates a game that is "Pay 2 Win". Playing for free is severely outweighed by the reality of time needed invested in collecting enough in-game cash for the player base to be evenly matched. This has been one of the biggest criticisms of F2P games, and unsurprisingly became EA's business model for their F2P games. 
More Hats! The focus of cash shops can't be on vastly improving your abilities in game. More so, it should focus on aspects less intrusive on game play. League of Legends has done an excellent job in having a cash shop, but not having it hinder game play for non-paying players. Instead, the cash shop features cosmetic purchases, boosts, etc. A player can choose a specific style skin for a hero of their choice, and in no way does this change the aspect of game play. Instead it gives people the option to stand out from the crowd and express themselves. Much like TF2's shop that allows players to buy hats. These are options that players can buy, that have little effect on game play. Spending $20 on a hat may sound ridiculous to an outsider, but for someone who spends a lot time in game, it's a small investment to look silly and to create an experience that's more enjoyable. Stop Telling Me To Shop! A cash shop is not inherently annoying, but it has the potential to make you want to throw your monitor at a wall. By far the most annoying quality a cash shop can have, is how often said cash shop presents itself to a player. When a cash shop is subtle and presents itself at appropriate moments, a player can appreciate the sentiment and decide whether or not purchase a product. But when a cash shop intrudes during game play, constantly reminding a player that their experience can be improved by dropping dough on different aspects, it can easily turn off a player from a game. 
There's a fine line between informing players and pestering them. If the virtual goods are an integral part necessary in order to enjoy the game, there might be something wrong with the game. When a game relies too heavily on the cash shop, developers need to reevaluate the product they created. While a cash shop provides services to players and can improve your playing experience, there are plenty of ways a cash shop can turn a game sour. In the surge of F2P games hitting the market, and with F2P expanding to consoles, cash shops will become more prevalent, which means there are plenty of potential games that can be ruined (or improved) by cash shops systems. |
| Star Wars The Old Republic Announces Free Trial Posted: 11 Jul 2012 11:34 AM PDT EA and Bioware have announced a free trial program for Star Wars: The Old Republic. The free trial lets players experience up to level 15 without a time limit. Trial players will get access to all eight character classes, can visit their Origin World and Capital World, can participate in PvP Warzones, and go through a Flashpoint. The trial is only available for players who have not had a previously active SWTOR account, although players who participated in Weekend Pass Free Trials or Friends of Star Wars: The Old Republic Trials are also welcome to use the new trial.  Star Wars: The Old Republic Gameplay Screenshot Source: Announcing the Star Wars: The Old Republic Free Trial
Today we are excited to announce the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ Free Trial*. Now you will be able to live out your very own Star Wars™ saga with thousands of other players up to level 15 with no charge or time limit! The Star Wars: The Old Republic Free Trial allows individuals, without a previously active Star Wars: The Old Republic game account, to see a portion of what the game has to offer with no payment method required. Free Trial participants will experience the opening adventures of each of the eight character classes in the game. Players will explore their classes’ Origin World, and may even have the opportunity to visit their faction's Capital World! Additionally, Free Trial players will have the chance to face off against other players in Player-vs.-Player Warzones, or join up with friends and play through a Flashpoint. Players who have previously participated in one of the Weekend Pass Free Trials or the Friends of Star Wars: The Old Republic Trial are also eligible to join this new free trial! Visit www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com/trial to create your account, download the game, and begin your free trial experience! Have questions? Visit the Free Trial FAQ for more details. Be sure to check back to www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com, as well as our Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates!
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| PlanetSide Releases New Video And Beta Hints Posted: 11 Jul 2012 11:06 AM PDT Sony Online Entertainment has released a new developer video for Planetside 2, including new game details and a hint at closed beta testing. The video reveals that Planetside 2 is planning to begin closed beta within a month, including a technical test to test server stability and load. Planetside veterans will get priority access to the beta. The video also discusses some of the live events that Planetside 2 will be present at, including SOE Live; how E3 went for the Planetside 2 team; recent Planetside events; the Infiltrator class; and more. Sony Online Entertainment also publishes EverQuest and PoxNora. PlanetSide Command Center: Episode One |
| More Born To Fire Details Released Posted: 11 Jul 2012 10:41 AM PDT Aeria Games has released new information about its upcoming MMOFPS, Born to Fire, as well as launching its website. Born to Fire will feature a class-based system, featuring five classes: Dual Gunner, Point Man, Ranger, Sniper, and Heavyfire EX. Each class will have its own strengths and weaknesses, and can synergize better with some others, making team play crucial. Three game modes will launch with Born to Fire – Deathmatch, Bomb Defusal, and Siege – along with twelve maps. Other features will include observer functionality, windowed mode, and replays. Born to Fire is now accepting closed beta sign-ups. Aeria Games also publishes Wolf Team and Repulse.  Born to Fire Gameplay Screenshot Source: New gameplay features emerge for upcoming MMOFPS Born to fire Aeria Games Launches Full Website for Team-Based Free-to-Play Shooter SANTA CLARA, Calif. – July 11, 2012 – Like a hail of bullets, a bevy of new information has been released for the new massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS), Born to Fire. Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, today announced the full site launch for the team-based shooter, detailing its many customization options, modes, maps, and gameplay features. Born to Fire is currently in development and accepting closed beta sign-ups. Born to Fire offers a robust, class-based system with meticulously balanced FPS gameplay. Each of the five unique classes in the game, from the deadly Dual Gunner to the shotgun and riot-shield wielding Point Man, have unique strengths and weaknesses that players must exploit in combat. Each class can synergize with certain others, ensuring that victory is a team effort. There will be three game modes to choose from—Deathmatch, Bomb Defusal, and Siege—each offering a different style of play. Born to Fire is planned to launch with 12 maps over which teams can battle, each one finely tuned to the same high level of balance present throughout the whole game, with a plethora of additional maps and modes on the way. The game is also packed with features appealing to the competitive gamer. In-game observer functionality and a windowed mode optimized for streaming allow for anyone to easily view a competitive match. These features are complemented by the versatile replay function—replays can be viewed from the perspective of any participating player, or even from a free floating camera. Players will also have the unique option of saving a replay as a simple .AVI file so that even friends without the game client will be able to view it. Like all Aeria Games titles, Born to Fire will be free to download and play. Players can sign up for the upcoming closed beta now at http://borntofire.aeriagames.com. Please visit the Facebook page for more information.
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