General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Rumor: OCZ's On The Selling Block, With Seagate or Micron Looking To Buy

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 11:10 AM PDT

Here's an interesting tidbit for those Maximum PC readers who were wondering why the two biggest players in mechanical hard drives have yet to seriously jump into the SSD waters: OCZ's shares are currently spiking after insider rumors claimed that Seagate and Micron are considering buying out the company.

Seagate is said to be the most likely buyout candidate. Fudzilla was the first to report that OCZ may be on the market; Reuters ran with the story and got FBN Securities analyst Shebly Seyrafi to pony up the following tasty tidbit:

"I'm hearing the same rumors ... I can only say that after the last quarter, when OCZ's cash situation became more challenging, they would be more willing to enter into a deal."

Bloomberg reports that OCZ's quarterly results were towards the lower end of the company's previous estimates, partly because of cash flow woes and other issues stemming from the supply chain. At times, OCZ was rumored to be simply unable to afford to build SSDs as quickly as consumers were willing to buy them. Seagate's massive pull and mountains of cash could help prevent those types of problems going into the future, while the benefits OCZ would bring to SeaGate (or anyone else, for that matter) is fairly obvious.

The current stock market price tag for OCZ is hovering around $375 million after the rumor-fueled spike in share prices. Fudzilla expects Seagate to offer much more than for the company. It also says OCZ will continue to operate as a separate brand or company if purchased.

Do you think that a Seagate acquisition of OCZ would help both companies, or would there be unintended consequences for one party or the other?

SOPA Blackout Leaders Launch The Internet Defense League

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 10:38 AM PDT

Critics say that the collective interwebz can never again generate as much political pressure as it did in the days leading up to the SOPA/PIPA votes. A new organization scoffs at the idea and promises to sound a warning alarm whenever the open Internet is threatened. The idea behind The Internet Defense League sounds lofty, but the group already has many of the major forces behind the blackout on board and ready to spring to action.

The idea is simple: websites that sign up to join the Internet Defense League will be sent a snippet of code to publish whenever a new threat endangers the Internet. If the website owner decides to publish the code, the warning message is broadcast on his or her website. Done!

"Think of it like the internet's Emergency Broadcast System, or its bat signal!" the IDL's website proudly proclaims. In fact, the group plans on shining bright bat signal-esque spotlights in the sky in five cities across the globe Thursday night to celebrate the organization's launch -- a move timed to coincide with the release of the new Batman movie. Of course, since this is the Internet we're talking about, the IDL will be lighting up the sky with CAT signals, not bat signals.

The EFF, Wordpress, Mozilla, Reddit, the Cheezburger Network,  AccessNow, TechDirt, Grooveshark, Fark, Tor, Free Press, TorrentFreak, Public Knowledge, Open Congress, BoingBoing and plenty more are already on board, so the IDL ideal already has a wide reach. You can read the full list of participants here.

The only thing left to see is the effectiveness of the Internet Defense League. Will they save the warning call for truly important legislation or deaden Netizens' caring with daily "Boy who cried wolf"-type alerts? Do you think the IDF will be effective -- or even needed?

SilentMaxx Offers A Silent, Passively Cooled Sandy Bridge-E Gaming PC With Discrete Graphics

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 10:14 AM PDT

What's even cooler than rocking a powerful Sandy Bridge-E rig supplemented with discrete graphics? Rocking a powerful Sandy Bridge-E rig that's supplemented by discrete graphics and runs completely silent thanks to gargantuan passive coolers. Sound crazy? It is, but the PC builders at Germany's SilentMaxx are offering just that in silent system built around the company's crazy TwinBlock passive cooler, which chills out 100W TDP CPUs with the help of ten copper heatpipes and two utterly massive heat sinks.

The base version of the Fanless I-850 Gamer PC costs the equivalent of $1,569 and includes a 3.6 GHz Core i7-3820, 8GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, Gigabyte X79-UD3 mobo, a passively cooled Radeon HD 7770, and a hard drive silencer that doubles as a heatsink. Thinking that graphics card is a bit weaksauce for a Sandy Bridge-E build? You're right, but fear not: SilentMaxx offers a ton of customization options, maxing out with passively cooled GTX 580, GTX 670 or Radeon 7970 offerings, 32GB of RAM, a pair of 512GB SSDs and a 3.3GHz Core i7-3960X. Be warned: the cost doesn't include shipping, which could be a hefty bill if you're bringing it over to the U.S.

That seems like a lot of firepower with a lot of heat generation, but SilentMaxx claims the aforementioned monster TwinBlock cooler, passive GPU cooling and custom-designed ventilation-friendly tower should keep things quiet and cool enough. The company even puts its money where its mouth is with a 24 month, no-questions-asked warranty.

Props to Olivier at Fanless Tech for bringing our attention to this passively cooled powerhouse.

Strong Growth at PayPal Fuels eBay's Second Quarter Surge

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 09:10 AM PDT

Auction site eBay is rolling in riches as its online business continues to boom. Revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012 spiked 23 percent year-over-year to $3.4 billion, eBay said. Second quarter income on a non-GAAP basis reached $730 million, up 16 percent compared to one year ago, while GAAP income hit $692 million. PayPal is a big reason why eBay is doing so well these days.

By acquiring PayPal, eBay is able to double-dip its commissions from auction sales by sellers who accept the online payment service. PayPal now has over 113 million active registered users, which is 13 percent more than it had last year. The end result is that PayPal revenue is skyrocketing, jumping 26 percent compared to last year, "driven primarily by increased penetration on eBay," the auction site stated in its Q2 report.

Going forward, eBay sees big potential in tapping into the mobile market.

"Mobile continues to be a game changer. We now expect eBay and PayPal mobile to each transact $10 billion in volume in 2012 -- that's more than double 2011, a staggering surge in mobile shopping and payments on devices that did not exist just a few short years ago," eBay said.

For the full year, eBay expects to close out 2012 with anywhere from $13.8 billion to $14.1 billion in net revenue.

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Eating Crow: U.K. Judge Orders Apple to Say Samsung Didn't Copy iPad

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 08:02 AM PDT

Nobody likes to eat crow, but what do you do when a judge in a court of law hands you plate full of it and orders you to shove it down your gullet? The answer to that question is forthcoming. Apple, which has been on a crusade to bury Samsung for allegedly copying the look and feel of its iPad and iPhone devices, was ordered by a U.K. judge to flip the script and take out ads stating Samsung is innocent.

Judge Colin Birss ordered Apple to post a message on its website for six months saying Samsung's Galaxy Tab doesn't copy the iPad's design, according to a Bloomberg report. On top of that, Apple is ordered to post the same notice in newspapers and magazines. As you can imagine, Apple isn't happy with the decision.

Richard Hacon, one of the lawyers representing Apple, said it's the same as having to post an advertisement for the competition. "No company likes to refer to a rival on its website," Hacon added.

Birss is the same judge that previously said Samsung's Galaxy Tab devices are "not as cool" as Apple's iPad, and therefore the two aren't likely to be confused with each other.

Image Credit: Flickr (foxypar4)

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Security Gurus Knock Out Grum Botnet, Curtail Spam by 18 Percent

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 07:06 AM PDT

If your junk mail folder seems smaller as of late, there's good reason for that. Computer security experts collaborated to take down Grum, the world's third largest botnet, which they say was serving up 18 percent of spam around the globe by way of 18 billion spam messages every 24 hours. A few more victories like that and it may become easier to buy fake Rolex the old fashioned by -- by seedy looking individuals wearing trench coats.

Security firm FireEye has been preaching about the importance of focusing on known command control (CnC) servers, and that strategy seems to be paying off. Shutting down Grum took a concerted effort from multiple agencies, as it maintained CnC servers in three different locales. It started by neutralizing Grum in the Netherlands and Panama, after which new servers popped up in Russia and Ukraine.

FireEye Malware Intelligence Lab researcher Atif Mushtaq kept at it, tracing Grum's whereabouts and alerting the proper people. His efforts paid off, and as of Wednesday morning, "all six new servers in Ukraine and the original Russian server [along with the Dutch server] were dead," Mushtaq stated in a blog post.

It's probably only a matter of time before Grum (or something similar) rears its ugly head again, but it's not as simple as creating a new server. According to Mushtaq, the cyber criminals responsible for Grum would have to build an entirely new botnet and infect hundreds of thousands of machines for a repeat performance.

Image Credit: Flickr user SeeMidTN.com

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Waiting for Windows 8? Mark Your Calendars for October 26th

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 06:05 AM PDT

Well, it's official folks. Microsoft is shipping Windows 8 to the general public on October 26, just five days prior to Halloween and just over three years since the launch of Windows 7 on October 22, 2009. The Redmond outfit previously said Windows 8 would release to manufacturers (RTM) in August and to the general public sometime in late October, the latter of which is when customers will be able to buy new hardware with the touch-friendly OS pre-installed, or upgrade existing systems or (build new ones) using off-the-shelf (or downloadable) copies.

Microsoft's Communications Manager, Brandon LeBlanc, posted the release date on the official Windows Team Blog, confirming reports that Steven Sinofsky, President of the Windows and Windows Live Division, made the announcement at Microsoft's annual sales meeting.

There's a lot at stake for Microsoft and the PC industry as a whole with the launch of Windows 8, which is heavily geared towards touch-screen computing. For consumers, it's a potential low cost gamble, at least for those who take advantage of Microsoft's $40 upgrade offer announced earlier in July.

Image Credit: Microsoft

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MMO News

MMO News


Elsword Raises Level Cap; Launches Two New Areas

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 04:36 PM PDT

Kill3rCombo has released a brand new update for its manga-inspired brawler Elsword, which raises the level cap to 56, and releases two new levels.

Players will defend the city of Hamel from shadow demons, while searching for the power of Nasod.  The Ancient Waterway and The Heart of the Ancient Waterway are the two new areas, designed to challenge players with new bosses.  The newest playable character, Chung, also receives a brand new costume: the El Officer costume.

Players who play at least an hour a day have a chance to win various prizes, including an Elsword-themed iPad, Amazon gift cards, and in-game items.

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Elsword Gameplay Screenshot

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Elsword Unveils Jaw-Dropping New Levels and Increased Level Cap

IRVINE, Calif. – July 19, 2012 – This week, players of the manga–inspired massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) Elsword will be able to dive deeper into the once pristine seaside kingdom of Hamel, as Kill3rCombo debuts two new levels, increases the level cap to 56 and offers highly-prized gear, including the El Officer costume for the newest playable character, Chung. Not only does the new content give players a chance to further unravel the mysteries of a brand new continent, but the coveted Chung El Officer costume was released specifically due to popular demand.

Players will venture deep into the heart of Hamel in search of the power of ancient Nasod, while defending the city from invading shadow demons. In the Ancient Waterway, gamers will come face-to-face with Taranvash, a monstrous hound who guarded Hamel before being driven mad by the invading forces. In the Heart of the Ancient Waterway, fearless heroes must evade fiendish traps at the mechanized core of Hamel's waterworks before taking on Victor, a giant demonic wrestler with a penchant for body slamming.

In addition to the new content, players making Elrios their home away from home will have an added incentive to do so in July. By playing at least an hour of Elsword each day, players have the chance to win numerous prizes, including a new Elsword-themed iPad as well as Amazon gift cards and in-game prizes. To learn more visit: http://www.elswordonline.com/everyday-elsword/.

In Elsword, gamers can choose from six specialized and customizable characters as they explore an immersive world and battle rivals to complete dynamic quests. As players progress through the game, they can evolve their fighting styles by upgrading to new job classes, learn deadly new abilities and master combo attacks. With intuitive and straightforward controls, Elsword offers players of all skill levels the chance to experience the thrill of victory in combat, either on solo missions or cooperatively in a party of up to four players. For those who welcome a challenge, Elsword also delivers action-packed PvP combat.

Rusty Hearts reveals new information about Reborn expansion

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 04:28 PM PDT

Perfect World Entertainment has revealed more information about the release of Rusty Hearts: Reborn, set to launch on July 24.

Many changes are in store for the game. New weapons for each character will be available, giving a whole new focus for each of them.  All players will have access to a brand new avatar — Edgar Grosvenor — for free.  A PvP ladder system will be introduced, granting rewards each week to the top players.  A new starting experience is being added, to help new players, and give veterans some new scenery when they start a new character.  New pets will be launched that will assist players in their dungeoneering.  Players who form full groups will have access to hidden dungeons and bosses.  A master/apprentice system will be implemented as well, making it easier for new players to learn from seasoned veterans.  Finally, a new training dungeon will be added to practice combos and skill interactions.

Perfect World Entertainment also publishes Perfect World International and Forsaken World.

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Rusty Hearts Gameplay Screenshot

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Rusty Hearts: Reborn – New screens and details

As the July 24, 2012 launch date for Rusty Hearts: Reborn, the first major expansion for Perfect World Entertainment's free-to-play MMO brawler draws near, the Rusty Hearts team is excited to share more details and new screens for a closer look at the largest update the game has seen since it first launched.

“We're absolutely pumped about the upcoming expansion,” said Senior Product Manager Mark Hill. “In many ways, Rusty Hearts: Reborn represents a true rebirth for the brawler with a brand new starting area, a dramatic shift from the game’s gothic and dark aesthetic to a introduce bright, outdoor areas, and of course, a brand new Weapon Focus for each character. Whether you’re a new or veteran player, there’s never been a better time to jointhe Rusty Hearts community!”

Rusty Hearts: Reborn major features:
New Job Focus: Wield new weapons and learn new skills for each character.
Free Avatar: All players will have access to special character Edgar Grosvenor for free.
PvP Ladder: Compete to climb the ladder and earn rewards each week.
New Starting World Hub: A brand new forest area for new players and veterans starting a new character.
New Pets and System: Introducing pets that will fight, heal, and buff players as they battle through dungeons.
Hidden Dungeons and Bosses for Parties: Rewards offer players who form full parties with access to new enemies and dungeons.
Master-Apprentice System: New system encourages veteran players to help new players learn the game, offering rewards to both.
Training Dungeon:  Practice new skills, set your combos, and perfect your fighting style to raise your dungeon Style Points score through the roof.

The best part: Rusty Hearts is 100% free!

Sevencore Announces Closed Beta

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 04:18 PM PDT

Registration for the Sevencore closed beta test is now available on gPotato’s website.

Set in a vibrant, mysterious world, Sevencore focuses on its mounted combat system.  Raise your companion or mount from an egg, and watch them learn various skills to assist you in combat.  Choose from one of three classes:  Warrior, Magician, and Gunner.  Large guild versus guild battles will dominate the landscape, and to the victor go the spoils of controlling tax rates, item prices, and more, for all players who enter your region.

The closed beta will be rewarding participants with a variety of items, such as an exclusive cloak or a wolf mount.

gPotato also publishes AIKA Online and Allods Online.

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Sevencore Gameplay Screenshot

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Sevencore Announces Closed Beta

Train Custom Battle Mounts and Seize Control of an Entire Region

Sunnyvale, Calif. – July 19, 2011 Registration is now open for the closed beta of the upcoming fantasy MMORPG Sevencore!  The highly anticipated closed beta test (CBT) will begin August 9th, inviting players to test the uniquely diverse mounted combat system, treacherous PvP Occupation War, and other exciting features for eleven electrifying days.  Sign up now on the newly redesigned official website!

Sevencore delves into a vibrant world of ancient mysteries and vast landscapes with an assortment of unique mounts to raise and fight with.  Monsters from the wild can be obtained and raised from eggs, becoming powerful fighting companions and skilled mounts. They gain a variety of unique combat skills which allow them to fight beside their masters or ride directly into the fight with their rider aboard in Sevencore's singular mounted combat system.

Charge into daily Occupation Wars, guild vs guild battles that determine leadership for entire world regions, and win the power to control tax rates, item prices, and more for all players who enter your region. To win these rights, guilds will have to utilize the various skills of Sevencore's three powerful character classes – Warrior, Magician, and Gunner – to climb their way to the top and hold their seat against opposing guilds.

Joining the beta instantly gives players the chance to win rewards like the Sevencore CBT Cloak or a specially designed Wolf Mount. This fearsome Wolf can summon additional wolves to fight with him and increase his allies' attack power by 90% with a fearsome howl.

Sevencore's in-depth character customization, powerful mounts, and cut-throat politics will come alive August 9th!  Sign up for the closed beta now at the official website.

Vindictus launches Kai

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 03:57 PM PDT

Nexon has released a new character to Vindictus today — the mercenary archer Kai.  This allows teams to have ranged attack support to take down the hordes of monsters.

Kai features both close range and long distance skills alike, such as Ricochet Shot and Arrow Storm.  A wide variety of customization options are also available in the shop.  Players who create a new Kai character from now until July 23 will receive a support box containing a powerful weapon, seven day passes for inner armor and hair, and five customizations.

Nexon also publishes Mabinogi and Maple Story.

Vindictus “Kai” Trailer

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Nexon's Vindictus adds new mercenary, Kai

Kai brings high-powered archer skills to the visceral world of Vindictus

Nexon America has released new content into its high-intensity, real-physics based MMORPG, Vindictus. The new content features the mercenary Kai, who brings ranged weapons and skills to the game.

The Kai character comes armed with a high-powered bow, allowing teams to have ranged attack support while taking down the hordes of fierce monsters inhabiting Vindictus' dungeons. Kai has versitile archer skills that allow attacks up close as well as at a distance. Skills include the Ricochet Shot that defies physics as it bounces of multiple targets; the Arrow Storm that drops a shower of arrows on groups of enemies; and the Chain Link that ties and smashes two enemies together with explosive damage.

Kai also comes with a wide variety of customization options that are available in the Avatar Shop. The shop features Kai-specific costume items including hair, armor and other decorative items.

To celebrate the arrival of Kai to Vindictus, Nexon is providing all players who create a Kai character from now through June 23 the "Kai Support Box." The box contains the powerful Kobold Bow, a seven-day unlimited inner armor pass, a seven-day hair pass and five "Kai's Buying" character enhancements.

The new Kai content is available to download and play for free at: http://vindictus.nexon.net

Aeria Games Announces Tiberium Alliances

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 03:45 PM PDT

Aeria Games has announced the launch of Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances on its global network.  The game will support eight different language versions: English, Polish, Turkish, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese.

Tiberium Alliances focuses on the strategy that the Command & Conquer series is known for, giving players the ability to control the world.  Players must manage their resources and army, as well as developing their base in PvE and PvP situations.  Alliances with other players will ensure a strong backing whether going on the offense, or being forced to defend.

Aeria Games also publishes Battlefield Heroes and Lord of Ultima.

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Command & Conquer Tiberium Alliance Gameplay Screenshot

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Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, has launched EA's hit MMORTS, Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances, on Aeria's global network. Tiberium Alliances is the latest awesome release from Aeria Games' multi-game deal for EA's Play4Free game portfolio, following the highly successful launches of fan favorites such as Battlefield Heroes, Need for Speed World, and Lord of Ultima. This new installment in the popular Command & Conquer franchise is now available on the Aeria Games network in eight supported languages: English, Polish, Turkish, Italian, French, Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese.

Set in the Command & Conquer Tiberium universe, Tiberium Alliances faithfully incorporates the series' tried and true real-time strategy gameplay into a convenient browser-based game. Players will fight for world domination as the commander of their own base, manage and optimize their resources, and command their armies in both PvP and PvE combat scenarios. Building alliances with other players to support and strengthen each other will be crucial to surviving and thriving.

With the launch of Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances, Aeria Games' global audience of over 40 million players can experience the deep, strategic gameplay that has been a hallmark of the series. For more information, please visit http://commandandconquer.aeriagames.com.

Drakensang Online Offically Launches

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 03:27 PM PDT

Bigpoint has announced that Drakensang Online has ended its beta testing and has officially launched.  To celebrate, there will be several in-game events for everyone to participate in.

Drakensang Online boasts over nine million registered players worldwide, and its hack-and-slash gameplay has won the game numerous awards.  Players choose from three different classes, and develop their characters through the talent system the game provides.  Content is updated weekly to keep the game fresh and constant.  Players can also craft items, collect pets, and participate in several different PvP modes.

Bigpoint also publishes Battlestar Galactica Online and Pirate Storm.

Drakensang Gameplay Trailer

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Drakensang Online, the award-winning online hack-n-slash MMORPG from Bigpoint, is celebrating the end of its beta with nine million registered players! To mark the occasion, the development team is staging a number of in-game events.

With the recent Atlantis update, the game world and content is now four times as big as when the action RPG first released in open beta almost a year ago. High time to check the game out (again) and give all the new features a thorough review!

To show off the game's biggest content update since launch, with the new continent of Atlantis, Bigpoint has released a new trailer featuring many of the monstrous mobs that stand in the way of heroic players as they make their way to battle the new endboss Gorga.

Heroes of Newerth to offer All Heroes Free

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 03:08 PM PDT

S2 Games has announced that all heroes will be available for free starting Friday, July 20.  In addition, players can also play any game mode at no cost.

All 107 heroes will be able to be played by anyone, allowing newcomers to the game the ability to experiment and try out champions to find one that suits them.  Early release champions can still be purchased up to four weeks before their release to the public.  Anyone who has purchased a hero prior to July 20 will receive a refund.  You will also receive a Mecha Gemini avatar for free.  All Legacy players will be receiving substantially more rewards for each match played.

Heroes of Newerth “All Heroes Free” Trailer

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Heroes of Newerth to Offer All Heroes Free

New Model Gives All Players Access to Entire Released Hero Pool

All Heroes Free Starts Friday, July 20

Kalamazoo, MI (July 19, 2012)—Starting tomorrow, every player will have immediate access to the entire released hero pool for the award-winning Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) title Heroes of Newerth (HoN), developed and published by S2 Games. Making Heroes of Newerth a truly free-to-own game, the All Heroes Free game model will level the HoN playing field by allowing any user to own all of the heroes and play any game mode at zero cost.

"We are very excited to announce All Heroes Free, which gives every player access to our ever-growing hero pool," said S2 Games co-founder and CEO Marc DeForest. "After months of internal discussions and monitoring community feedback, it's clear that All Heroes Free is the perfect next step for HoN."

Prior to this new game model, players could take advantage of a weekly rotating free pool of 16 heroes with the option to purchase individual heroes with in-game or real world currency. Heroes of Newerth's new All Heroes Free model will launch on Friday, July 20th, giving players immediate access to all 107 released heroes. Early Access heroes will still be available for purchase under a four-week trial period, but with free access to the entire hero pool, players will be able to enjoy the game in its entirety without limitation. HoN is a game of options and variety, where no two games are alike, and offers an experience almost completely player driven. The All Heroes Free model makes HoN more welcoming for new players and friends of current players, as everyone gains access to any hero of their choosing.

"As gamers, we all know that games are more fun to play with friends, and All Heroes Free will make it easier for players to bring their friends to the game," said Heroes of Newerth Director Pu Liu. "This new model will also level the eSports playing field, as all players will be able to build their skills and advance their strategies with any hero they choose."

With the launch of All Heroes Free, any player who purchased a released hero with in-game or real world currency within fifteen days before July 20th will receive a refund. Plus, any player who has ever purchased a hero with real world currency will receive the new and exclusive Mecha Gemini avatar for free, including Legacy players. Mecha Gemini is the super robot avatar of the popular HoN hero Gemini, who will be prowling the lanes of Newerth waiting for the right moment to strike.

In addition to the avatar, all Legacy players will begin earning more rewards for each match played. Added DeForest: "Legacy players are the backbone of HoN, and there's no way we would be where we are today without them. Their early commitment to the game is irreplaceable, and as HoN continues to evolve, we are always looking for new ways to show our appreciation."

S2 Games is also working on rolling out a much-anticipated new game mode, with the working title "Gated Mode", which will offer new players a more controlled environment in which to learn HoN. "With All Heroes Free and the upcoming Gated Mode, we're really focusing on our new player experience and helping our current players bring their friends into the game," added Liu. "Gated Mode will allow new players to get into the game faster and easier by pairing them with a smaller group of carefully selected heroes and thereby lessening the initial burden of knowledge."

Visit HeroesofNewerth.com for more details on GameHoN and the new match reward system. Join S2 Games and Heroes of Newerth on Facebook and Twitter.

 

 

 

 

Wargaming Announces World of Tanks Championship Tournament

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:53 PM PDT

Wargaming has announced the opening of registration for the upcoming International Ural Steel Championship 2012 for World of Tanks.  Players will have a chance to win the grand prize of $77,000 by competing.

The tournament will feature 16 top teams from America, Europe, Russia, China, and Southeast Asia.  Six maps have been chosen for the tournament as well.  The grand finals will take place in September in Moscow, Russia.

Sign ups for the tournament can be found on the North American and European websites for World of Tanks.

Wargaming also publishes World of Battleships and World of Warplanes.

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World of Tanks Gameplay Screenshot

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Wargaming Announces details for the Second Annual International Ural Steel Championship 2012 held in Moscow, Russia

Registration Opens today for the Premiere World of Tanks Competition and the Chance to win $77,000

MINSK (RUS) – Jul. 17, 2012 – Today, Wargaming – the award-winning game developer and publisher – announces the opening of registration for its upcoming International Ural Steel Championship 2012 for its flagship MMO action game World of Tanks. Registration begins today and will continue through July 31, 2012.

"World of Tanks has become a global eSport discipline," says Victor Kislyi, Wargaming CEO. “The game is turning into a massive communication platform that merges together gaming communities of different countries and regions."

Sixteen teams of the world's best World of Tanks gamers from America, Europe, Russia, China, and Southeast Asia will compete on six battle maps for their shot at the bragging rights of Ural Steel Championship 2012 winner and a prize purse of $77,000 USD. The Grand Finals will take place on September 15th – 16th at USH CSKA in Moscow, Russia.

The tournament is organized by Wargaming in partnership with the Russian Cyber-sport Federation and powered by UralVagonZavod, one of the largest scientific and industrial complexes in Russia and the largest Main Battle Tank manufacturer in the world.

"We’ll continue to encourage and support eSport events like Ural Steel in the future, providing attractive prizes and contributing our skills and knowledge to make these events even more exciting," states Kislyi. The first Ural Steel Championship was held last year and became a virtual battleground for more than 40,000 players from nearly 30 countries.

Sign up for Ural Steel 2012 here:

North America: http://worldoftanks.com/uc/tournaments/101-Ural_Steel_2012/

Europe: http://worldoftanks.eu/uc/tournaments/58-Ural_Steel_World_Tour_%28Qualifiers%29/

Dragon Saga Launches Dragonkin Update

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:38 PM PDT

Dragon Saga has launched its latest update, Dragonkin, today.  The update is part of a massive expansion taking place throughout the year as part of the Legendary Update.

The update brings new combo skills to both the Twin Fighter and Shaman classes.  New combo skills are gained as the characters level up.

To celebrate the launch, Dragon Saga will be launching the Sunflower Event tomorrow.  Leveling up the sunflower pet from a seed to a fully grown flower will offer special items.  Special achievement medals and a new gasha box are just a couple things to look out for.

Dragon Saga is published by Gravity Interactive, who also publishes Maestia and Ragnarok Online.

Dragon Saga “Dragonkin” Trailer

DRAGON SAGA LAUNCHES DRAGONKIN UPDATE

Devastating New Combo Skills Now Released

Marina del Rey, California -July 19, 2012 – Gravity Interactive, a publisher of exciting massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), has launched its Dragonkin Combo Skill update for the popular mystical MMORPG, Dragon Saga. This latest update is part of a massive expansion that will progress throughout the year as part of the game’s Legendary Update. To kick off the latest patch, new reward items and special events are available now! Players can visit http://playdragonsaga.com/ to test out the latest skills and join in the action.

The new Dragonkin Combo Skill update brings spellbinding action into play with combo skills added to both Twin fighter and Shaman classes, and what’s more, the new combo skills are unsealed as characters level up (Lv. 1, 20, 30, 40). For an even closer look at how this legendary update is progressing, players can check out the latest video at http://youtu.be/Pqn2SCoXFWU.

“It’s an exciting time for Dragon Saga as it undergoes this major expansion, and we’re excited to release this next patch, said Vince Kim, Dragon Saga Producer at Gravity Interactive. “We encourage all players to be on the lookout for all that is to come this summer from Dragon Saga.”
To celebrate the latest Combo Skill update, Dragon Saga will introduce the Sunflower Event starting tomorrow. Players can level up the special event sunflower pet from a mere seed to a full grown flower to receive special reward items! Special Achievement Medals and a Summer Festival Gift Gasha Box that includes sunflower costume pieces are some of the exciting reward items to look forward too.

Join now at the Dragon Saga Portal , or follow the official Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/playdragonsaga

Maestia Launches Open Beta

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 02:23 PM PDT

Gravity Interactive has announced the open beta for their new MMORPG Maestia has offically launched.  With the launch comes a higher level cap, now up to 59.  Those who made it to max level in closed beta will also be able to keep their character name.

In addition to the level cap increase, all classes received an improved talent tree available to them.  Abilities have been streamlined into three tiers, making it much easier to figure out talent roles.  Two new areas and dungeons have also been released with the raise in level cap.

Open beta also marks the release of the Mercenary system.  Players can mark themselves as available for hire with the system when they log off, allowing other players to hire them.  Once the player logs back in, they will have received extra experience and currency.

Gravity Interactive also publishes Requiem and Ragnarok Online.

18158  420x310 maestia priest

Maestia Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

MAESTIA:RISE OF KELEDUS ROMPS INTO OPEN BETA

Level Increase, Talent Tree Improvements, and Mercenary System Now Live

Marina del Rey, California – July 19, 2012 – Gravity Interactive, a publisher of exciting massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), launched today the start of open beta testing for their highly anticipated Maestia: Rise of Keledus. Whether choosing to be a Guardian or a Knight, players begin by marching directly to http://www.playmaestia.com/, and Registering to be part of the exciting open beta, which includes the feedback from the closed beta testers.

“Maestia’s closed beta test was a huge success, and we took the lessons learned from our players and GMs, and are already hard at work on a number of changes we’re excited to unveil during the open beta test,” said Jay Choi, Chief Operating Officer at Gravity Interactive. “Much like the closed beta, we’re opting to keep this test period short and intense, so we can gather feedback from our most loyal players, with the game’s official launch not far behind!”

Numerous changes have occurred since the closed beta ended on June 21st. Chief among them is players are now able to reach level 59, up from 40. Though all past progress was wiped during the preparation for open beta, those who made it to max level during the closed beta retain their character name. To support these additional levels, two new sections of the game are now open, as well as two additional dungeons, both available as normal and expert mode.

The open beta also unveils a vastly improved talent tree for all classes. Abilities have been streamlines into three loose tiers, making it easier for players to distinguish various talent roles. Rangers will now find bow skills in their topmost tier, while daggers will be the lowermost tier, with utility abilities sandwiched between the two. Warriors will find their tanking abilities at the top, their damage abilities on the bottom, and utility through the middle.

Want to make some extra EXP and currency while logged off? Need some help on a tough quest or dungeon? Try out the Mercenary System, available now in open beta. Players can loan out their characters while offline to the mercenary system, where other players may hire them for a cost. When the player returns, they will have earned some extra experience and money, courtesy of the mercenary system!

Maestia: Rise of Keledus is a fully fleshed fantasy MMORPG that is free to download and play. Follow a captivating storyline and launch head first into the eternal struggle for power and righteousness. Join fellow players in parties to challenge Instance Dungeons or band together in guilds for small and large scale faction battles. Adventure in an ever-growing world filled with quests, crafting, an advanced Mercenary system and more.

Ride epic mounts determined by your class, take on massive world bosses designed to challenge a full party of players, craft the strongest weapons and armor or tame magical pets to fight at your side. All will be brought to life in a fantastical world filled with a lush art style showing both the dark and light side of a world thrown into a deep conflict that must be survived before it can be resolved.

MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com

MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com


Amazon Flash Drives Put Cloud Into Overdrive

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:01 AM PDT

You'll find it inside the top-secret data centers that run Google. It provides extra speed at Apple, Facebook, Dropbox, and countless other operations across the web. And now, Amazon is offering it up to the rest of the world via its massively popular cloud service, letting you slip it under your own online applications -- without actually installing it in your own data center. What is it? It's flash -- the super-fast storage hardware that's gradually replacing traditional hard disks across the web and beyond.

With Mayer at Helm, Will Geeks Give Yahoo a Second Glance?

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:01 AM PDT

The surprise announcement this week that Yahoo had tapped Google geekstar Marissa Mayer as its new CEO got a lot of people talking about the troubled web portal. But would any of them actually want to work there?

Nintendo Download: Son of Daedalus edition

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:01 AM PDT

Nintendo Download: Son of Daedalus edition screenshot

It looks like that wise-cracking angel Pit is getting yet another re-release this year, in the form of Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters (3DS VC, Game Boy, $3.99). As long as you're a fan of the NES original, I think you'll like this Game Boy iteration. If you want to learn the real legend behind Icarus, watch this awesome and depressing Jim Henson's Storyteller episode (with bonus young Dumbledore!).

The other games on offer are Tumble Pop (3DS VC, Game Boy, $2.99), Phantom Thief Stina and the 30 Jewels (3DS eShop, $4.99), Masyu by Nikoli (3DS eShop, $4.99), Rabi Laby 2 (DSi, 200 Points), and Petit Computer (DSi, 800 Points).

Out of all these, I'd quasi-recommend Tumble Pop, but even then, the arcade original is better. The sale of the weekend is Mario's Picross, which is $2.99 (a whole $1 off, holy sh*t!).

RIM Wants Your Friends To Know When You’re Rage Texting

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:01 AM PDT

A just-surfaced patent application from Research in Motion (RIM) details a smartphone feature that determines a sender's emotional state while texting. It all keys into accelerometers, cameras and galvanic skin response sensors.

Priston Tale 2 (KR) - Game closure confirmed

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:01 AM PDT


According to foreign reports, Priston Tale 2 Korea will be closing its servers come 30th August, bringing a run of around 5 years to an end. Some reasons given include the game lacking competitiveness in the saturated MMO market, dwindling player numbers and of course, inability to add anything new to the game itself. Priston Tale 2 was always in the shadows of the highly popular prequel, Priston Tale, and it should be the first game I know where the sequel shuts down first. The Europe English server can be found here (link), while the North American server never took off (link).


GUNS and ROBOTS - Enter the wild robotic west

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:01 AM PDT


[Press release] Masthead Studios, a leading independent game developer, announced today information about their upcoming title GUNS and ROBOTS set to release in December 2012. GUNS and ROBOTS is engaging third person online shooter with inventive character design and an endless list of customization features. From incredible battle mechanics to funny looking robots, the players will be able to set their own game play. The best of them will be able to climb up in rankings and unlock various achievements. Different scenery and free movement all over the map will assure that players will have great in-game experience.

Masthead will utilize Unity engine to craft the graphics and atmosphere in the game, as well as to handle its dynamic combat mechanics. Pinpointing enemies with multiple weapons simultaneously is one of the features that players will experience. They will choose battle tactics according to their own game play style. Every player will have personal construction site or BIG. BIG (Burn-In Garage) will be the personal space for maintenance. It will provide each player the option to build his character from scratch to the ultimate killing machine. There will be all sorts of breakable objects so every player will be able to test their shooting skills while assembling their robot.

Masthead Studios is thrilled to share first look of their newest title GUNS and ROBOTS. Teaser trailer is now available on the web page of the game at www.play-gar.com. The new video introduces a Western battle arena leaving viewers breathless beneath steel in a desolate setting. The trailer also depicts two main characters armed to the teeth and ready to engage in a duel.


Besides the usual genre features the game provides each player with their own scenario. The game play will be created by the player which will give him a wide variety between different battle tactics." We are working to create a fun and entertaining game for all players which will bring them entirely different online experience" said Atanas Atanasov, CEO of Masthead Studios. "The most standout feature is the personal garage where players can spend time to test the look, movements and weapons of each robot configuration." The game is to be offered in a free-to-play format.

About GUNS and ROBOTS

GUNS and ROBOTS is engaging third person online shooter with inventive character design and an endless list of customization features. The game combines fun art with almost unlimited game play. The characters are able to move freely all over the maps, engage in battles, climb up the rankings and unlock various achievements. They will be able to choose their equipment from variety of weapons and over 150 different parts. The incredible battle mechanics combined with funny looking robots adds a whole new perspective to the genre. Read more about GUNS and ROBOTS at www.play-gar.com

Your lethal arsenal of weapons and different game mods allows you to create the perfect killing machine to your liking – scary, huge, small, fast or even fun. GUNS and ROBOTS combines fun art with almost unlimited game play.
  • Customizable characters with wide variety of weapons and over 150 different parts.
  • Enjoyable and extremely funny online arena battles where you literally blast your way through
  • Stunningly textured artwork
  • Adrenaline-pumping game play during many levels adding a new dimension to the TPS category
  • Dynamic combat experience
  • Custom designed arena to test the look, movements and weapons of each robot configuration
  • Team up with friends and fight together against other players
  • Pinpoint enemies with multiple weapons simultaneously
  • Best of all, Guns and Robots is Free to Play

Rumor: OCZ's On The Selling Block, With SeaGate or Micron Looking To Buy

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:01 AM PDT

Here's an interesting tidbit for those Maximum PC readers who were wondering why the two biggest players in mechanical hard drives have yet to seriously jump into the SSD waters: OCZ's shares are currently spiking after insider rumors claimed that SeaGate and Micron are considering buying out the company.

SeaGate is said to be the most likely buyout candidate. Fudzilla was the first to report that OCZ may be on the market; Reuters ran with the story and got FBN Securities analyst Shebly Seyrafi to pony up the following tasty tidbit:

"I'm hearing the same rumors ... I can only say that after the last quarter, when OCZ's cash situation became more challenging, they would be more willing to enter into a deal."

Bloomberg reports that OCZ's quarterly results were towards the lower end of the company's previous estimates, partly because of cash flow woes and other issues stemming from the supply chain. At times, OCZ was rumored to be simply unable to afford to build SSDs as quickly as consumers were willing to buy them. SeaGate's massive pull and mountains of cash could help prevent those types of problems going into the future, while the benefits OCZ would bring to SeaGate (or anyone else, for that matter) is fairly obvious.

The current stock market price tag for OCZ is hovering around $375 million after the rumor-fueled spike in share prices. Fudzilla expects SeaGate to offer much more than for the company. It also says OCZ will continue to operate as a separate brand or company if purchased.

Do you think that a SeaGate acquisition of OCZ would help both companies, or would there be unintended consequences for one party or the other?

SOPA Blackout Leaders Launch The Internet Defense League

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:01 AM PDT

Critics say that the collective interwebz can never again generate as much political pressure as it did in the days leading up to the SOPA/PIPA votes. A new organization scoffs at the idea and promises to sound a warning alarm whenever the open Internet is threatened. The idea behind The Internet Defense League sounds lofty, but the group already has many of the major forces behind the blackout on board and ready to spring to action.

The idea is simple: websites that sign up to join the Internet Defense League will be sent a snippet of code to publish whenever a new threat endangers the Internet. If the website owner decides to publish the code, the warning message is broadcast on his or her website. Done!

"Think of it like the internet's Emergency Broadcast System, or its bat signal!" the IDL's website proudly proclaims. In fact, the group plans on shining bright bat signal-esque spotlights in the sky in five cities across the globe Thursday night to celebrate the organization's launch -- a move timed to coincide with the release of the new Batman movie. Of course, since this is the Internet we're talking about, the IDL will be lighting up the sky with CAT signals, not bat signals.

The EFF, Wordpress, Mozilla, Reddit, the Cheezburger Network,  AccessNow, TechDirt, Grooveshark, Fark, Tor, Free Press, TorrentFreak, Public Knowledge, Open Congress, BoingBoing and plenty more are already on board, so the IDL ideal already has a wide reach. You can read the full list of participants here.

The only thing left to see is the effectiveness of the Internet Defense League. Will they save the warning call for truly important legislation or deaden Netizens' caring with daily "Boy who cried wolf"-type alerts? Do you think the IDF will be effective -- or even needed?

SilentMaxx Offers A Silent, Passively Cooled Sandy Bridge-E Gaming PC With Discrete Graphics

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:01 AM PDT

What's even cooler than rocking a powerful Sandy Bridge-E rig supplemented with discrete graphics? Rocking a powerful Sandy Bridge-E rig that's supplemented by discrete graphics and runs completely silent thanks to gargantuan passive coolers. Sound crazy? It is, but the PC builders at Germany's SilentMaxx are offering just that in silent system built around the company's crazy TwinBlock passive cooler, which chills out 100W TDP CPUs with the help of ten copper heatpipes and two utterly massive heat sinks.

The base version of the Fanless I-850 Gamer PC costs the equivalent of $1,569 and includes a 3.6 GHz Core i7-3820, 8GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, Gigabyte X79-UD3 mobo, a passively cooled Radeon HD 7770, and a hard drive silencer that doubles as a heatsink. Thinking that graphics card is a bit weaksauce for a Sandy Bridge-E build? You're right, but fear not: SilentMaxx offers a ton of customization options, maxing out with passively cooled GTX 580, GTX 670 or Radeon 7970 offerings, 32GB of RAM, a pair of 512GB SSDs and a 3.3GHz Core i7-3960X. Be warned: the cost doesn't include shipping, which could be a hefty bill if your bringing it over to the U.S.

That seems like a lot of firepower with a lot of heat generation, but SilentMaxx claims the aforementioned monster TwinBlock cooler, passive GPU cooling and custom-designed ventilation-friendly tower should keep things quiet and cool enough. The company even puts its money where its mouth is with a 24 month, no-questions-asked warranty.

Props to Olivier at Fanless Tech for bringing our attention to this passively cooled powerhouse.

Strong Growth at PayPal Fuels eBay's Second Quarter Surge

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 05:01 AM PDT

Auction site eBay is rolling in riches as its online business continues to boom. Revenue for the second quarter ended June 30, 2012 spiked 23 percent year-over-year to $3.4 billion, eBay said. Second quarter income on a non-GAAP basis reached $730 million, up 16 percent compared to one year ago, while GAAP income hit $692 million. PayPal is a big reason why eBay is doing so well these days.

By acquiring PayPal, eBay is able to double-dip its commissions from auction sales by sellers who accept the online payment service. PayPal now has over 113 million active registered users, which is 13 percent more than it had last year. The end result is that PayPal revenue is skyrocketing, jumping 26 percent compared to last year, "driven primarily by increased penetration on eBay," the auction site stated in its Q2 report.

Going forward, eBay sees big potential in tapping into the mobile market.

"Mobile continues to be a game changer. We now expect eBay and PayPal mobile to each transact $10 billion in volume in 2012 -- that's more than double 2011, a staggering surge in mobile shopping and payments on devices that did not exist just a few short years ago," eBay said.

For the full year, eBay expects to close out 2012 with anywhere from $13.8 billion to $14.1 billion in net revenue.

Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

 

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


ArcheAge's fifth Korean closed beta coming in August

Posted: 19 Jul 2012 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , ,

ArcheAge screenshot
ArcheAge fans have something to look forward to next month: Thirteen thousand testers will be invited to take part in ArcheAge's fifth Korean closed beta test scheduled from August 16th through the 31st. XLGAMES also announced that the engine merge has completed and CBT5 will be presented on CryEngine3.

XLGAMES is calling CBT5 a "grand rehearsal for the open beta;" the open beta is currently planned for the end of the year. The company is looking forward to hearing testers' feedback on housing, marine content, and updated quests in this beta session.

[Source: XLGAMES press release]

MassivelyArcheAge's fifth Korean closed beta coming in August originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    RuneScape reaches 200 million users mark

    Posted: 19 Jul 2012 09:30 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , ,

    RuneScape
    You could say RuneScape has grown a bit since its launch way back when. In fact, Jagex announced that the popular free-to-play browser game has reached 200 million users! Hailing from over 150 different countries, RuneScape players could actually make their own country: The game's population is almost nine times that of Australia and over three times that of the United Kingdom.

    Jagex released other fun facts relating to the booming populace of RuneScape. For instance,
    players catch more than eight billion fish each year (enough to encircle the globe 20 times), amassed 58,000 times more gold than is held in Fort Knox, and have logged more than 443 billion minutes of game time since launch. Twenty-seven players meet their death every second.

    For the next three days, RuneScape is holding a celebration worthy of this achievement that includes a newly discovered demon with 200 million hitpoints! Join the festivities in-game and check out some screenshots -- including a comparison shot of Druids Circle then vs. now -- in the gallery below.

    [Source: Jagex press release]

    Gallery: RuneScape

    MassivelyRuneScape reaches 200 million users mark originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Bigpoint company shake-up includes closing mobile games development

      Posted: 19 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , , ,

      Bigpoint company logo
      German online games publisher Bigpoint, best known for free-to-play and browser games, will be dumping its mobile games development side very soon. Two managing directors, brothers Tobias and Philip Reisberger, and the chief communications officer, Nils Holger Henning, will be exiting the company to pursue work in mobile gaming elsewhere. Bigpoint CEO Heiko Hubertz stated that of the approximately 10 games that were in development, "some of them are finished and will launch in the next few weeks but most of them will be completely closed and shut down."

      Bigpoint is not abandoning mobile games completely; it is looking to assist and support external development teams. The company has stated it is focusing on game development and distribution and plans to open more offices globally.

      MassivelyBigpoint company shake-up includes closing mobile games development originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Blizzard acknowledges Diablo III always-on Is DRM

      Posted: 19 Jul 2012 08:30 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , , , ,

      Blizzard acknowledges Diablo III alwayson Is DRM
      Despite weeks of insisting that Diablo III's internet connection requirements were all about improving the experience for gamers, Blizzard has finally copped to the fact that the feature was actually designed to prevent piracy.

      "While we've never said that this requirement guarantees that there will be no cheating or game cracks, it does help us battle those problems," Blizz co-founder Mike Morhaime said in a D3 state-of-the-game post.

      As Rock, Paper Shotgun points out, Morhaime claims to "fully understand the desire to play Diablo III offline" despite the fact that the game was "designed from the beginning to be an online game that can be enjoyed with friends." The online requirement "is the best way for us to support that design," Morhaime writes.

      MassivelyBlizzard acknowledges Diablo III always-on Is DRM originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      D&D Online showcases two more Menace of the Underdark dungeons

      Posted: 19 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , , , , , ,

      Dungeons & Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark screenshot
      If you have the urge to hack-and-slash your way through some undead or test your mettle against a new type of demon, Dungeon and Dragons Online's recent expansion Menace of the Underdark has just the two dungeons for you. The Unquiet Graves dungeon features Drow necromancers desecrating a once-peaceful graveyard and constantly reanimating the bodies of the dead. The second dungeon -- The Deal and the Demon -- pairs players with the notorious mercenaries, the Yugoloth, to get rid of a demon lord deep inside the Demonweb.

      Peer into these new dungeons in the gallery below.

      [Source: Turbine press release]

      MassivelyD&D Online showcases two more Menace of the Underdark dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Ask Massively: Owls, the bears of the sky edition

        Posted: 19 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT

        Filed under: , , , , , ,

        Give a hoot, don't dump a bunch of toxic waste in the woods for no good reason.  I live there, man.  Do I leave my droppings in the middle of your freaking living room?  Not cool.  Not even remotely cool.
        It is important in these troubling times that we understand what things are in relation to other things. Dogs, for example, are very clearly the sea lions of the land. Volcanoes are the ulcers of the earth, camels are the ships of the desert, and hoodies are the kangaroo costumes of the non-Australian. But what are owls? Owls are the bears of the sky, my friend. Inversely, bears are the owls of the land. I hope this makes your day-to-day life significantly easier.

        Now that I've gotten one of your major questions out of the way, I guess I can move on to finish up with the rest of Ask Massively, which discusses free-to-play profits versus sub profits and more about our comment system. (For the record, our comment system is the smoke signal of the site, if smoke signals also involved smiley faces and memes.) If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, mail 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: Owls, the bears of the sky edition

        MassivelyAsk Massively: Owls, the bears of the sky edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Chaos Theory: The Secret World's single-server tech

          Posted: 19 Jul 2012 07:00 AM PDT

          Filed under: , , , , , , ,

          Chaos Theory: The Secret World's single-server tech
          Something went missing during this month's launch of The Secret World. Do you know what it was? No, snarkonauts, it wasn't "fun." The game is certainly an acquired taste, but it's nonetheless doing pretty well for itself in terms of word-of-mouth and happy early adopters.

          No, what was missing was a parade of lengthy launch-week queues (and QQs for that matter). I've been present for every AAA MMO kickoff since Star Wars Galaxies in 2003, and The Secret World marks the first time I've been able to log in when (and where) I wanted to log in on day one.

          RIFT, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Aion, Lord of the Rings Online -- all of these were "polished" launches by most accounts, and yet all of them featured horrendous launch queues that often stretched from minutes to hours. Why was The Secret World so different?

          Continue reading Chaos Theory: The Secret World's single-server tech

          MassivelyChaos Theory: The Secret World's single-server tech originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Daily Grind: Can we talk about Batman?

            Posted: 19 Jul 2012 06:00 AM PDT

            Filed under: , , , , ,

            Batman
            This is a Daily Grind about Batman. Why Batman, you ask? Mainly because he makes other superheroes look like derps. Oh, and we hear there might be a new Bat-flick coming out sometime or other. We're not sure exactly when, though. For all we know it could be this week.

            This Batman Daily Grind doesn't have much to do with MMORPGs, unless you count the fact that Batman appears in DC Universe Online. We could fumble around for another feeble excuse to tie Batman to Massively's mission statement, but we won't. We'll just reiterate the fact that he kicks ass, and we'll humbly beg your pardon for talking about him all morning.

            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: Can we talk about Batman? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              A look at the Farmer's Faire in Lord of the Rings Online [Updated]

              Posted: 18 Jul 2012 07:00 PM PDT

              Filed under: , , , , ,

              Just line up in an orderly fashion, you'll all have the chance to gorge while the people down in Rohan starve.
              A riddle for the Lord of the Rings Online players in the audience: If you have every hobbit in Bywater gathered around tables and eating relentlessly, what do you have? Why, the Farmer's Faire, of course. (Or an average hobbit meal-time.) For those of you not familiar with this combination farmer's market and summer event, Lauren "Budgeford" Salk has written up a rundown of the events at the Faire as well as an explanation of what goes into improving the holiday events as the years go on.

              Players who wish to enjoy the festivities will need to be on-hand to help Mayor Whitfoot sample all of the fine wares of the festival and add seasoning to some of the more bland offerings. They'll also be asked to run security, turning out hobbits who have become too drunk and possibly quelling a wine-induced bit of mischief. Salk goes on to explain how she and the rest of the team make a point of polishing and updating event content every year to ensure that even veterans have something new to enjoy. If you can't wait to find out more about dealing with overstuffed hobbits, there's plenty to devour in the diary.

              [Update: Farmer's Faire has been postponed until July 26th.]

              MassivelyA look at the Farmer's Faire in Lord of the Rings Online [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Shadowrun Online aims for Kickstarter funding

              Posted: 18 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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              Dragon over a futuristic city?  Good fundamentals, guys.
              Are you excited about the prospect of being able to play Shadowrun Online? You might want to vote for that with your wallet, as the developers have just put up a Kickstarter project to help fund further development of the title. But if you thought that the title would be setting the bar low for a browser and mobile-based client, think again -- the project is aiming for $500,000 total by August 14th.

              Like every Kickstarter project, the game offers increasingly visible rewards to those inclined to drop the money, culminating in the $10,000 reward level that puts your face on billboards in the game. Lesser rewards include special backer images, guaranteed beta access, and of course, the gratitude of the project managers. So if you can't wait for the joy of playing a Decker in an online game, jump on over to the project and lay down your cash.

              [Thanks to Hue for the tip!]

              MassivelyShadowrun Online aims for Kickstarter funding originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Choose My Adventure: At the end of TERA

              Posted: 18 Jul 2012 05:00 PM PDT

              Filed under: , , , , , ,

              The headers were always a joy to make, I'm going to put that right out there.
              All good things must come to an end, including my run of Choose My Adventure. There have been high points and low points, good parts and bad, but there's only so much time to cover the game. And so I leave TERA, confident that while I may have missed points, at least I have a broad sense of the game. That's certainly less... straightforward than previous installments of this column have been for me.

              My impressions of TERA have really been all over the map. There are things I absolutely love about the game, but a lot of them are minor touches. There's one part that I think is absolutely brilliant, and a lot that's absolutely juvenile. The game has a lot of systems that are essentially filling space without adding anything. And as a result, it's really hard to classify the whole game as being good or bad or neutral.

              Continue reading Choose My Adventure: At the end of TERA

              MassivelyChoose My Adventure: At the end of TERA originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                John Riccitello discusses the impact of the free-to-play market on Star Wars: The Old Republic

                Posted: 18 Jul 2012 04:00 PM PDT

                Filed under: , , , ,

                Expect the usual scum and villainy in the comment section, oh discerning reader of alt text.
                Rumors continue to swirl about whether or not Star Wars: The Old Republic will embrace the free-to-play model. In a recent interview, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitello threw a bit more fuel on the fire by stating that the company is looking at different models to help make Star Wars: The Old Republic accessible to the largest number of people. The recent unlimited trial of the game is the first of several steps designed to lower the game's barrier to entry for new players.

                Riccitello explains that the biggest problem facing the game is competing against the currently massive free-to-play market, which he describes as a major challenge to any game launching with a subscription model. Despite this, there's no direct confirmation that the game will be embracing the free model in the near future. The full interview can be found on CNBC with further commentary from Riccitello regarding the growing impact of digital distribution and EA's longer plan over the next several years.

                MassivelyJohn Riccitello discusses the impact of the free-to-play market on Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Too many choices

                Posted: 18 Jul 2012 03:30 PM PDT

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                A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
                We've gotten a lot of new powersets in City of Heroes ever since the game went free-to-play. This is something that I've talked about before: There's rather uncomfortable cycle during which a new set is released full of bugs, but it gets played for a month before the next set comes out and you stop thinking about the old one. And that's definitely a potential problem, but with the release of the new Water Blast set, I'm thinking that there's a much more coherent one in mind.

                Specifically, I'm thinking for the first time that maybe there's something to the old issue of being locked into a power set after character creation.

                Don't get me wrong -- I don't think Water Blast is overpowered or underpowered. It actually looks like it makes better use of a new mechanic than did the last big ranged set. But we now have an absolute surfeit of options for playing a Blaster, and as the game gets more and more endgame-heavy, I'm starting to wonder how long it will be before players get tired. We're seeing a different sort of power creep here: We just have too many choices for a new character.

                Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Too many choices

                MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Too many choices originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Free for All: Why the unlimited trials of RIFT, WoW, and Ryzom are perfect for me

                  Posted: 18 Jul 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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                  RIFT screenshot
                  I think there are some pretty basic but complicated concepts going on behind MMO gaming. There always have been. There's some sort of driving force that makes many of us want to reach that max level or grab every last achievement or (in my case) get to a comfortable level and stay there. I did it in Vanguard: Saga of Heroes: I reached level 32, cast a spell to stop my character from gaining anymore experience, and continued playing and exploring the game. Not only was I tired of leveling, but I knew that if I continued to level, I would probably continue to try to level. Like I said, it's a basic driving force. We all have them inspiring us to play in different ways.

                  I don't want to reach max level. Not really, anyway. I want to have a unique character, one who is fragile in some ways and strong in others. When I do reach higher levels, I start to feel generic and a bit too powerful. I want to have some force stop my character, to give him his own maximum level while others reach the true maximum level.

                  Unlimited free trials have shown me just how fun it is to have a sort-of-max-level character within a game filled with other max levels. It's like playing a different race or class, something unique.

                  Continue reading Free for All: Why the unlimited trials of RIFT, WoW, and Ryzom are perfect for me

                  MassivelyFree for All: Why the unlimited trials of RIFT, WoW, and Ryzom are perfect for me originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Enter at Your Own Rift: The joy of mentoring

                    Posted: 18 Jul 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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                    Enter at Your Own Rift The Joy of Mentoring
                    One of the reasons I like RIFT so much is that it has similar features to my other favorite MMO, EverQuest II. That's not really surprising, since RIFT's Executive Producer is Scott Hartsman, who was formerly EQII's Senior Producer and Creative Director. Since mentoring is one of the cornerstones of Norrath, it's something I was hoping would make its way into the world of Telara. But mentoring in RIFT is a little different what's in EQII, and it's worth taking a closer look at those changes because they've broken the major hurdle to allowing high- and low-level players to do things together. In fact, I think mentoring is something that every level-based MMO should add as a standard feature.

                    Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: The joy of mentoring

                    MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: The joy of mentoring originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      MechWarrior Online reveals Centurion mech

                      Posted: 18 Jul 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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                      MechWarrior Online
                      Been looking for the perfect mech in MechWarrior Online? Not been able to find it? Today's reveal of the Centurion mech and its variants may be the answer to your troubles.

                      This new mech has good speed and medium armor without sacrificing the deadliness of its walking arsenal. That balance makes it an excellent mech for getting the feel of the game and an idea for how you'd best like to play. Three variants of the mech allow for a little more customization of playstyle.

                      The CN9-A and CN9-AH variants are toting 8.5 tons of armor. The CN9-A has weapons for any range, while the CN9-AH exchanges close-quarters weapons for greater ranged hostility. The CN9-AL has an impressive 11 tons of armor strapped on and bears lasers where the other variants have cannon.

                      Check out the official post for all the details, or skip below the jump to see the introduction video for yourself. Apparently the MWO team is in a revealing sort of mood because a Spider mech design was also posted today.

                      Continue reading MechWarrior Online reveals Centurion mech

                      MassivelyMechWarrior Online reveals Centurion mech originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      ArenaNet presents WvW improvements and server list for final Guild Wars 2 beta

                      Posted: 18 Jul 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                      Guild Wars 2
                      With the final Guild Wars 2 beta just days away, ArenaNet has been putting out scads of information regarding what players can expect over their weekend in-game. We've already told you about the Asura and Sylvari being playable, new areas being opened up, and the new PvP map. Today ArenaNet added to the heap of updates with some information about world vs. world. The last BWE helped the team find some issues and bugs in the WvW matchmaking system, leading to some rather unbalanced matches. As a result, the server standings from that weekend won't be published, but systems designer Mike Ferguson says that those bugs have been patched up and more factors have been added to the formula to improve its accuracy.

                      In answer to some concerns about launch, Ferguson announced that the 24-hour match length that players are familiar with from the betas will be used until servers are consistently being matched properly. At that time, matches will move to the two-week format that WvW is meant to take.

                      In the same post, Ferguson listed the servers available for the final beta, which is noticeably shorter than the previous list. The world population limit has been "greatly increased," due both to the additional areas that will be open for player exploration and to some adjustment in how the team is handling its tech. Players should note that this is the initial list and the team is prepared to launch new worlds should the need arise.

                      Refer to the original blog post for the full world list.

                      MassivelyArenaNet presents WvW improvements and server list for final Guild Wars 2 beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Rule your own allod in Allods Online's new expansion

                      Posted: 18 Jul 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                      Rule your own allod in Allods Online's new expansion
                      It's only been a few days since gPotato announced a new server for Allods Online, but today the firm has even more exciting news for fans of its free-to-play fantasy MMO. An expansion called New Horizons is coming on August 8th alongside the new server launch.

                      Quite a bit of content is in the offing, including the ability for players to build, design, and rule their own allod (which is basically an island in the game's vast expanse of magical space known as The Astral).

                      The expansion also brings ship-to-ship combat, territorial and trade wars, and mercenary characters to the table. These mercs can be called upon to join parties and take down tough content that's not normally tenable for solo players or small groups. The mercs will take a share of the loot spoils, though. That's not all there is to the new patch, but you'll need to head to the official Allods website to find out more.

                      [Source: gPotato press release]

                      MassivelyRule your own allod in Allods Online's new expansion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jul 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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