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MMO News

Fists of Fu shutting down
Alliance of Valiant Arms joins Steam
New character joins Mini Fighter

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 05:36 PM PDT

Fists of Fu, Outspark’s 2D martial arts brawler, will be shutting its servers down on July 13, just a month from now. No reason has been given for the shut down.

Outspark is currently working with the game’s developer to migrate the game’s database of characters to another publisher. Outspark will also be refunding parts of all Fists of Fu purchases made since March in Sparkcash, plus giving all players an additional compensation package (yet to be detailed).

Outspark also publishes Secret of the Solstice and Fiesta Online.

Fists of Fu Gameplay Screenshot

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Dear Fu-natics,
We appreciate all the support that the Fu-natics have given Fists of Fu since we opened service. We have enjoyed the great community you have created here at Outspark and for all of the wonderful memories shared along the way. So it is with much sadness that we must announce that the Fists of Fu service will be closing on July 13, 2011.
We are currently in discussion with COG, the developer of Fists of Fu, on whether or not the gameplay database can or will be migrated to another publisher. If a decision to migrate is made, we will let all players know and outline the process for migration. However, at this time there is no immediate plan for a migration. If this changes, we will message players to let them know.
We understand that this closure is sad news and hope that you can still find a home in the many other Outspark games available. We are preparing a compensation package that will take into consideration the time and energy you have invested into Fists of Fu.
In addition, we will be partially compensating purchases of Fists of Fu items made from March onwards based on the following policy:
Purchases made in March 2011 will receive 20% of the Sparckash value spent.
Purchases made in April 2011 will receive 30% of the Sparkcash value spent.
Purchases made from May 2011 onwards will receive 50% of their Sparkcash value spent.
Specific details on the compensation package and other information, including redemption codes, will be sent via email by June 30, 2011. Please make sure you are receiving official emails from Outspark.
The Fists of Fu store will be closing shortly.
In addition, we would like to invite all Fists of Fu players to the Luvinia CBT. More details will be sent via email.
Once again, we greatly appreciate all the time, effort, support, and love that Fu-natics have provided to Fists of Fu and Outspark during the life of the game, and look forward to seeing you continue your relationship with Outspark.

Alliance of Valiant Arms joins Steam

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 11:51 AM PDT

Alliance of Valiant Arms is now available to download and play through Steam. The game remains free through the Steam Shop.

Playing through Steam will let players also purchase G-Coin through Steam, play with the rest of Alliance of Valiant Arm players, and – on June 19 – get an exclusive weapon, the British L85A2.

Alliance of Valiant Arms is published by Ijji, which also publishes Soldier Front, GunZ, and Lunia.

Alliance of Valiant Arms Gameplay Screenshot

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ijji.com's Alliance of Valiant Arms Joins Forces with Steam's Army of more than 30 Million Gamers
Valve's leading online game distribution platform ventures into free-to-play gaming with ijji.com's modern warfare first-person shooter
Irvine, Calif. – June 14, 2011 – Grab all the "boom sticks" you can, because this war is about to get much bigger . Alliance of Valiant Arms(A.V.A), ijji.com's Unreal Engine 3-powered multi-player online first-person shooter (MOFPS), will be available starting today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific via Steam, Valve®'s digital distribution platform for PC and Mac games. This partnership with ijji.com is part of Steam's initiative to support the ever-growing free-to-play gaming market, one of the fastest-growing verticals of the gaming industry – and connects A.V.A to a potential audience of 30 million Steam gamers.
"It's no secret that Steam had its biggest year-to-date in 2010, surpassing 30 million users," said Sirgoo Lee, CEO of NHN USA, which operates ijji.com. "So when we started discussing how to expand A.V.A's scope, we found that Steam was the perfect digital platform for us. From the beginning, we set out to make A.V.A the highest-quality and most engaging MOFPS possible. Steam's services will help us reach a new audience and bolster A.V.A's great community."
Alliance of Valiant Arms is fully integrated with Steamworks, a first for a free-to-play game. As part of the integration, gamers can purchase G-Coin, A.V.A's virtual currency for premium items, through the Steam store. Steam also offers cross-platform play, allowing Steam users the ability to play Alliance of Valiant Arms with those who play the game directly through ijji.com's portal. Steam will feature Alliance of Valiant Arms on Sunday, June 19, 2011 with an exclusive in-game item – the British L85A2 rifle, for all users who play the game that day.
In A.V.A, modern warfare hits combat zones around the globe where a formidable battle has broken out between the EU and the NRF. Players are tasked with picking a side and squaring off in an unprecedented battle amongst skyscrapers and deserted city blocks. With the signature quick-fragging action of the Unreal Engine 3, combat escalates quickly and tensions run high as players anticipate a bloody clash around every corner. Europe has yet to see more ominous missions or relentless enemies as seen on the streets of Alliance of Valiant Arms.
Alliance of Valiant Arms was developed by Redduck and licensed to ijji.com for North American and European distribution by Neowiz Games. For more information about Alliance of Valiant Arms, please visit http://www.ava.ijji.com.

New character joins Mini Fighter

Posted: 14 Jun 2011 11:34 AM PDT

Mini Fighter Online has added a new character – Tom, the Muay Thai Master.

To celebrate, from June 14 until July 7, players who obtain a Tom character card (through card fusion or through the Random Box) can get the Muay Thai Master, a one-day item that offers a cosmetic sign of your Muay Thai prowess behind your character. This item can be earned once a day. Other new items have arrived in the game’s shops.

Mini Fighter is published by Netmarble, which also publishes Uncharted Waters Online.

Mini Fighter Online Gameplay Screenshot

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MMO Brawler Mini Fighter gets New Challenger: Tom the Muay Thai Legend
Muay Thai Master Bonus Event starts today!
SEOUL, South Korea – June 14, 2011
CJ E&M Games today introduced Tom, a new character for Mini Fighter, the free-to-play online multiplayer sensation that combines fighting and role-playing elements for an exhilarating experience. A master of the "Art of Eight Limbs," Tom is a ferocious challenger with a penchant for lightning-quick strikes. To celebrate his arrival, players can participate in the Muay Thai Master Bonus Event to receive special upgrades. Meet Tom and join the battle today in this side-scrolling brawler!
Skilled in Muay Thai, Tom is a formidable fighter prepared to take on the challenges that await him. Since he was a boy, Tom has idolized the legendary warrior Nai Khanom Tom, even naming himself after him. Through a lifetime of hard work and training, Tom has become an experienced warrior of Muay Thai. With a steel-strong body and furious flying kicks, Tom is a formidable fighter. His flawless techniques allow him to subdue enemies with ease, while his dazzling looks charm the ladies.
Muay Thai Master Event: June 14th to July 7th
To promote the new character, CJ E&M Games is hosting an exciting promotion via their popular gaming portal, Netmarble. From June 14th to July 7th, players will receive Muay Thai Master after obtaining a Tom character card, either through card fusion or by purchasing a Random Box. Muay Thai Master is a unique 1-day item that makes a sign appear behind your character, demonstrating to others that you are a master of Muay Thai.
In addition, the 6-Star Dungeon Set has been updated in Camila's Gold Shop.
To accept the Mini Fighter challenge and battle your way to the top, please visit http://global.netmarble.com/minifighter
Watch Tom’s video trailer on Facebook
Learn more about Tom

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Massively's E3 2011 awards and impressions

Posted: 15 Jun 2011 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: Galleries, Events, real-world, Opinion, Massively meta, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage

Every June, the Electronic Entertainment Expo rolls into the Los Angeles Convention Center to showcase the best of the best in video games and accessories.

This year, we had more staff members on hand than ever, which allowed us more coverage from the floor and more hands-on time with the demos. As with last year's awards, we're happy to present the best of the best, straight from those of us who were there. Award categories include Best Booth, Best Trailer, Best Newcomer, MMO of the Show and Most Anticipated Project. Plus, we decided to say a few additional words about some categories that weren't awarded, like Best Presentation, Biggest Surprise, and Best of the Rest.

So follow along after the gallery for more on what we thought of E3 2011.

Gallery: E3 2011: MMO Booths