MMO Updates

MMO Updates


PAX Prime 2012: DDO has been busy

Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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PAX Prime 2012 Song of Druid's Deep redux
Dungeons and Dragons Online has been keeping its dev team incredibly busy. It wasn't too long ago that the Menace of the Underdark expansion came out, and hot on its heels came update 15, the Song of Druid's Deep. Did you blink? Have you missed some of what's been going on? Luckily for you, we caught up with the Turbine team at PAX and have everything you need to know to get up to speed.

Menace of the Underdark introduced the world of the Forgotten Realms by leading players through the Demonweb, into the Underdark, and out into Faerûn and the town of Eveningstar. The Song of Druid's Deep update sends out the first tendrils of adventure into the wide world around Eveningstar. Players have to deal with a growing corruption -- zombie-like plant beings and infected humans and dryads -- and chase it to its putrid heart. If you want an in-depth look at the update, be sure to read our hands-on article about the Druid's Deep experience.

Update 15 comes not only with new quests and monsters, but the digital version of the time-honored monster manuals. Players with monster manuals can earn rewards, including Turbine points for big achievements and exclusive creature companions for the biggest achievements, while keeping track of all the terrifying foes they've faced. Additionally, there is a variant of the Ruined Keep challenge called the Daybreak Ritual.

The team isn't slowing down. With plans for a few quality of life fixes in the very near future and update 16 in November, Turbine is keeping up its quick pace. Update 16 will bring in five new quests, another wilderness area, and an emphasis on creating real connection between the areas of Faerûn.

Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 31st - September 2nd, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about WildStar, PlanetSide 2, RIFT: Storm Legion, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: DDO has been busy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    WRUP: I wish I didn't have to know how to quit you edition

    Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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    What never was.
    I don't even know where to start with the big news from Friday. A game that's formed a huge portion of my professional career over the past three years is leaving, and... I don't know how to react to that. I know you usually expect WRUP headers to have some nonsense about cats forming an international coalition, but right now I just don't have it in me.

    The maudlin train stops there, I promise. You can tune in next week for what will doubtlessly be more of the same. Right now, it's time to talk about what the Massively staff will be up to over the weekend. We're also sharing our impressions of that game that launched on Tuesday. You might have heard about it here or there. So jump on past the break to see our plans for the weekend and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments.

    Continue reading WRUP: I wish I didn't have to know how to quit you edition

    MassivelyWRUP: I wish I didn't have to know how to quit you edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: How could studios 'sunset-proof' their MMOs?

      Posted: 01 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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      The Daily Grind How could studios 'sunsetproof' their MMOs
      It's a sad week for caped crusaders, I'll tell you that. Many of us current and former City of Heroes players were rocked by the news that the studio and game have been given the axe by their NCsoft overlords. Even though CoH was a little long in the tooth, it seemed like a stable title that was doing well enough for itself in the free-to-play space.

      Whatever the cause for City of Heroes' sunsetting (oh, I hate that term; it's too mellow for a terrible act), this may have the effect of making any player think, "If it happens here, it could happen to me and my game."

      Sunsets come for us all, my friends, but it doesn't mean that we have to run into them. You'd think that there are some things an MMO studio or publisher could do to sunset-proof their titles and give them as long a life as possible. But what would those steps be? What do you think these companies should do to keep their games going for as long as possible that isn't already being done?

      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: How could studios 'sunset-proof' their MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Repopulation's August update talks new models, engagements, and more

        Posted: 31 Aug 2012 08:00 PM PDT

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        The Repopulation's August update talks new models, engagements, and more
        If you've a hankering for a heaping helping of patch notes -- or you're having trouble sleeping -- the latest end-of-the-month update for The Repopulation is here. OK, that was mean, but wow there's a lot to read about for August!

        The sci-fi sandbox from Above & Beyond Technologies has added some new character models, tweaked the emote system, and implemented medical scanners, aerosol, and particle weapons. There's also some verbiage about a new engagement system that scales to the number of players present, along with various tweaks to the world and UI.

        The Repopulation is still in closed alpha testing. Learn more about the game on its official website.

        MassivelyThe Repopulation's August update talks new models, engagements, and more originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        MechWarrior Online shows off the Catapault

        Posted: 31 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT

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        Reach out and touch someone with your metal cylinders packed with explosives.
        Picture this scene: You log into MechWarrior Online and you're in the most beautiful map. You don't even want to fight, just enjoy the world around you. Birds are singing, the sun is shining, and there are more than two dozen missiles screaming through the air directly into your 'Mech's head. As your machine detonates, you'll know that you just got served an express load of missiles by the Catapault, a heavy 'Mech designed solely for delivering missiles at long range.

        Even at 65 tons, the Catapault packs on only 10 tons of armor. That's to conserve weight for its powerful jump jets and twin LRM-15 launchers. If you're not quite down on the game slang, that means this beast of a machine can jump and then unload long-range missiles on targets all across the map at will. Want to see it in action? Click on past the break to view the preview trailer.

        Continue reading MechWarrior Online shows off the Catapault

        MassivelyMechWarrior Online shows off the Catapault originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        PAX Prime 2012: SMITE

        Posted: 31 Aug 2012 06:30 PM PDT

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        SMITE's Ao Kuang
        The battle of the gods rages on at PAX Prime 2012 with Hi-Rez's upcoming MOBA title, SMITE. Not much has changed since the last time we saw the game at PAX East, but as the game draws ever-closer to launch, MOBA fans have quite a bit to be excited about. The game has added a few new gods since the last time we saw it (this time around I had the pleasure of playing as the Chinese dragon Ao Kuang), and according to Hi-Rez's COO Todd Harris, the studio is aiming to incorporate at least 30 deities prior to launch.

        On the topic of launch, Harris states that Hi-Rez is aiming for a first-quarter 2013 release (perhaps around February), though that date is by no means final. Regardless, MOBA players looking for a fun, frenetic, and accessible new title should keep their eye on the mythology-laden game as it continues to add more playable gods in the run-up to launch. And don't forget that you can register to participate in the game's beta right now by heading over to the SMITE official site.

        Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 31st - September 2nd, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about WildStar, PlanetSide 2, RIFT: Storm Legion, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

        MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: SMITE originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Betawatch: August 25 - 31, 2012

          Posted: 31 Aug 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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          Betawatch - Xulu Universe
          Remember that Otherland beta that was on and then off again? It's on again! In fact, its first open beta weekend kicked off today with a brand-new trailer.

          NASA's MMO has been renamed Starlite and joins Betawatch tonight, as does sandbox Xulu Universe and adult-themed Venus Rising, fka Orgia Romanus. And just to confuse you, Aeria announced beta signups for its latest title, Starlight Story.

          Finally, as reported last week, Knight Age's open beta launched on Tuesday. End of Nations' beta events will resume on September 7th.

          Journey onward for the complete Betawatch roundup.

          Continue reading Betawatch: August 25 - 31, 2012

          MassivelyBetawatch: August 25 - 31, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            PAX Prime 2012: World of Warplanes

            Posted: 31 Aug 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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            zoom zoom
            Tanks are old news. This is the time for warplanes -- World of Warplanes, in fact. Happily, we can talk about just that because we took some time at PAX and sat down with some Wargaming.net folks to take a look at the upcoming game.

            Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: World of Warplanes

            MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: World of Warplanes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              PAX Prime 2012: Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers

              Posted: 31 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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              PAX Prime 2012 Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers
              Perfect World Entertainment is giving the red carpet treatment to up-and-comers Neverwinter and RaiderZ at PAX Prime this weekend. The company has released two new trailers to show off during the convention alongside of demo stations at its booth.

              RaiderZ's trailer shows off several places and creatures from the game in an upbeat montage, while Neverwinter's takes us to Blackdagger Keep, where an undead pirate holds a grudge against those pesky living souls.

              Both titles will be present at PAX in Perfect World's booth (#3603). Going or not, you can check out the exciting trailers after the jump.

              [Source: Perfect World press release]

              Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers

              MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                MMObility: Holding on to Arcane Empires

                Posted: 31 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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                Arcane Empires logo
                Kabam, maker of MMORTS titles like Thirst of Night and Dragons of Atlantis, is back with a portable title that can be found only on the Google Play market. I stumbled upon one night, installed it for free, and soon found myself recognizing those old Kabam earmarks. It's hard to find high-quality MMOs for mobile devices. They're out there, and there are more coming into the market every day, but I wonder exactly how Kabam intended on spreading the word about Arcane Empires without featuring it on the official homepage. The MMORTS publisher has always seemed pretty savvy about the genre's formulas and how to make a successful game, so I have a feeling it must know what it's doing with the first mobile-only title in the lineup.

                When I check out mobile titles, I keep in mind that I might be mistaking convenience for fun. How many of us log into a game every day or every week only because the shortcut is sitting right there on our desktop or because the game rests on our phone or tablet just waiting to be touched?

                Continue reading MMObility: Holding on to Arcane Empires

                MassivelyMMObility: Holding on to Arcane Empires originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Some Assembly Required: Guild Wars 2 goes back to the future

                  Posted: 31 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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                  Some Assembly Required - Guild Wars 2 goes back to the future
                  Like a lot of you, I've been goofing around in Guild Wars 2 this past week. What does that have to do with Massively's sandbox column? Not much other than that I feel like ArenaNet's game has arrived at an interesting crossroads in the history of MMO development.

                  In one direction, you have World of Warcraft 2.0 and the continuation of the themepark model. In another direction, you have a sandbox akin to Ultima Online or Star Wars Galaxies. A third fork leads to the so-called sandpark hybrid. ArcheAge may live at the end of this road, and even titles like The Secret World and Age of Wushu can be said to mix both sandbox and themepark mechanics when it suits them.

                  ArenaNet
                  avoids all three paths with Guild Wars 2, though, and instead makes a fourth that's 80 percent themepark and 20 percent... well, I don't know what to label it. It's almost like the devs wanted to make a virtual world, though.

                  Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Guild Wars 2 goes back to the future

                  MassivelySome Assembly Required: Guild Wars 2 goes back to the future originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Paragon Studios closing, City of Heroes to sunset before the end of the year [Updated]

                    Posted: 31 Aug 2012 12:45 PM PDT

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                    Paragon Studios closing, City of Heroes to sunset before the end of the year
                    NCsoft is closing Paragon Studios due to a "realignment of company focus and publishing support," according to a blurb just posted on the City of Heroes website.

                    Community manager Andy Belford says that the superhero MMO will shut down before the end of the year, and recurring billing (as well as Paragon Market purchasing) will be discontinued immediately.

                    City of Heroes originally launched in 2004 as the world's first superhero MMORPG. Belford goes on to say that more information will be forthcoming over the next few weeks, including a firm cessation date as well as "what you can expect in game."

                    [Update: NCsoft has told IGN that it is aiming for a November 30th closure date.]

                    MassivelyParagon Studios closing, City of Heroes to sunset before the end of the year [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Torchlight II launches on September 20th

                    Posted: 31 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                    Torchlight II launches on September 20th
                    The hoped-for dukeroo between Diablo III and Torchlight II never quite materialized, mainly because Runic didn't manage to ship its dungeon-crawler in time to compete with the Blizzard behemoth's launch.

                    Torchlight II is still coming, though, and according to a new post on the game's official site, it's coming on September 20th. Runic CEO Max Schaefer provides us with the requisite PR soundbyte. "We worked incredibly hard to make sure we could release Torchlight II before summer's official end. Development will continue right up until we ship, and we couldn't be happier to be putting the finishing touches on a great game. We want to get it to the fans as quickly as possible. Honestly, we can't wait."

                    MassivelyTorchlight II launches on September 20th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    MMO Blender: Eliot's Copernican dream

                    Posted: 31 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                    Whoops, that was apparently the place I lived.  Well, spilled milk.
                    When I tried Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning for the first time, I fell in love. Not with the story, and not with the art, but with several elements of the actual game itself. The idea of having all of that brought into the MMO space filled me with a lot of excitement, but I had a feeling that we'd never actually see it come to pass.

                    For those of you who missed out on what happened with 38 Studios, possibly because you read the internet on some bizarre time-lapse system, here's the deal: We're never going to see Project Copernicus come to pass. Oh, sure, we might wind up with something that vaguely resembles that game, but odds are low. More likely the franchise is going to be sold off by the state of Rhode Island for a pittance, and if the game ever resumes production, it'll bear only the faintest traces of its origins -- some art assets and little else.

                    I'm not shedding tears over the world, though. In fact, I'm not going to shed tears at all because I think there's something to be built upon from the ideas of that single-player game, ideas that could make for an excellent MMO. And like any good gestalt, it reaches out to be something much more than the sum of its parts.

                    Continue reading MMO Blender: Eliot's Copernican dream

                    MassivelyMMO Blender: Eliot's Copernican dream originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      General gaming

                      General gaming


                      Lightning Returns, and Now She Knows About Timed Hits

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 08:00 PM PDT

                      PAX '12: 1001 Spikes Reveals the Secrets of an Abusive Mind

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 06:54 PM PDT

                      Have you ever played a deliberately devious old-school game like Spelunky, I Want to be the Guy, or Mega Man 9 and wondered -- as you die unexpectedly for the hundredth time -- "What kind of sick mind would make a game this cruel?" I certainly have. And today at PAX Prime, I finally got my answer. I stopped by Nicalis' space in the incredible Indie Games Megabooth to try my hand at 1,001 Spikes (formerly known as Aban Hawkins and the 1001 Spikes), a game specifically designed to play "gotcha" at every possible turn. It's a game that starts you off with 1,001 lives, not unlike Prinny: Can I Really be the Hero?, and it burns through them at a prodigious rate.

                      That Difficult Question: How to Decide Which Platform to Buy a Game For

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 01:35 PM PDT

                      Borderlands 2

                      Those of us fortunate enough to own more than one gaming system are faced with a tricky question anytime a multiplatform game is released: which platform should I buy it for? All other things being equal, there are some factors that make that decision much easier -- heavily discounted prices or serious technical issues, like those plaguing the PlayStation 3 version of Skyrim, can help to rule out certain versions. Continuing that example, you're still left to weigh a list of pros and cons if you own both a PC and Xbox 360. As I continue to debate which platform to to pick Borderlands 2 up for next month, I turned to the 1UP community to see how they deal with this enviable, first-world problem.

                      "I usually purchase the PS3 version of multiplatform titles, and it's honestly almost entirely down to growing up with a PlayStation and mentally associating it with playing the sort of games I enjoy," said 1UP board member ezrabinirib. "The only reason I sometimes purchase the 360 version of a game is if it uses the triggers for a large part of the gameplay (GTA IV, FIFA, most FPS games) because I hate using the L2/R2 buttons on the PS3 controller. It always feels like I'm breaking something."

                      SimCity and the Price of Community

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 11:37 AM PDT

                      1UP COVER STORY

                      Header

                      1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF AUGUST 27 | COMMUNITY IN GAMES

                      SimCity and the Price of Community

                      Cover Story: Maxis' updated simulation offers much in return for its imperious demands.

                      I

                       wasn't the only one who felt a bit of a stomach ache at Electronic Arts' announcement that Maxis' visually arresting SimCity sequel-cum-reboot will require players to be online at all times in order to play. Not only does it mean that SimCity can't be played on, say, the train, or while you're visiting your grandparents who still use dial-up Internet, it also means that (due to the game constantly checking in and permanently recording the state of your city) there'll be no sending disasters to ruin your hard work followed by a quick reset. Once Godzilla stomps your town, your town stays stomped. A classic SimCity tradition, upended by a single, heartbreaking decision.

                      Thankfully, EA has finally begin talking about the benefits of the game's online requirements. It's not all DRM and Origin! Maxis appears to be making a concerted effort to bring a genuine sense of community to SimCity, in both the typical video game sense of community (people collaborating and competing) as well as the "global village" meaning of the word.

                      MMORPG News

                      MMORPG News


                      Torchlight 2: TORCHLIGHT II Release Date Sept. 20th

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 10:03 PM PDT

                      TORCHLIGHT II Release Date Sept. 20th

                      August 31, 2012 - Seattle, WA - Runic Games, Inc. ("Runic Games"), a developer of PC and console game entertainment software in the United States, announced the official launch date of Torchlight II this morning at the kickoff of PAX Prime 2012.

                      City of Heroes: Paragon Studios and City of Heroes Closing

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 02:58 PM PDT

                      Paragon Studios and City of Heroes Closing

                      In a realignment of company focus and publishing support, NCsoft has made the decision to close Paragon Studios. Effective immediately, all development on City of Heroes will cease and we will begin preparations to sunset the world's first, and best, Super Hero MMORPG before the end of the year. As part of this, all recurring subscription billing and Paragon Market purchasing will be discontinued effective immediately.

                      World of Warcraft: GDC Online Honors Raph Koster and World of Warcraft

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 12:38 PM PDT

                      GDC Online Honors Raph Koster and World of Warcraft

                      Organizers of the Game Developers Conference® Online (GDC Online) have revealed that Raph Koster, a key industry veteran behind the prodigious massively multi-player online role-playing games (MMORPGs) Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, will be honored with the Online Game Legend Award at the third annual Game Developers Choice Online Awards. Blizzard Entertainment's influential World of Warcraft® MMORPG will be inducted into the Choice Online Awards Hall of Fame.

                      War of the Immortals: War of the Immortals Now Live on Steam

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 12:35 PM PDT

                      War of the Immortals Now Live on Steam

                      Perfect World Entertainment Inc. today announced that War of the Immortals, the popular free-to-play action MMO, is now available for download from Valve's Steam Network. Players who join will gain access to not only the full game but also the newest expansion, Lost Omen.

                      General: Frogster renamed to Gameforge Berlin

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 12:33 PM PDT

                      Frogster renamed to Gameforge Berlin

                      As previously announced, the former Frogster has now been renamed as Gameforge Berlin.

                      General: PointMMO, First Digital Distribution Platform for MMOs

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 12:30 PM PDT

                      PointMMO, First Digital Distribution Platform for MMOs

                      PointMMO, a new digital distribution platform focused on MMO games, was announced today. The platform provides publishers with the ability to self-publish and distribute their titles to a growing audience of dedicated MMO players. Unlike other platforms, PointMMO is completely focused on MMO games and the challenges MMO players have in finding new games, and getting into those games quickly.

                      World of Warcraft: Patches, Mists, and Mechanics

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 09:25 AM PDT

                      Patches, Mists, and Mechanics

                      In this week's WoW Factor, we look at Patch 5.0.4. Also, we stack the game up against some of the new MMO mechanics being seen in games recently.

                      DK Online: DK Online Dev Blog

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 08:49 AM PDT

                      DK Online Dev Blog

                      The latest journal from DK Online developers talks about some updates to the game. It's all about the Paladin! Find all the news you need to know for DK Online.

                      Seven Souls Online: Seven Souls Online

                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 08:01 AM PDT

                      Seven Souls Online

                      Our team had the chance to check out Seven Souls Online to add it to the scoreboard. Check out what Tyler had to say about this fast paced MMO.

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