MMO Updates

MMO Updates

Black Prophecy releases first content update, launches tomorrow in NA

Posted: 12 Jul 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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It's a big week for Black Prophecy, as Reakktor Media's starchild both lights the fires of a North American launch and kicks the tires of its first content update.

While Black Prophecy has been released in Europe for some time now, tomorrow will see the official start of the North American servers. So if you've been itching for free interstellar combat in the region, then you've got less than 24 hours to go!

Along with the NA launch is the release of Episode 1: Inferno in Tulima. This sizable update is adding a new mission hub, a new sector set, additional stories, ship specials, an email system, and the ability to reset player skills.

You can read the full patch notes for Episode 1 over on the Black Prophecy forums, and then hit the jump to check out the exciting trailer!

Continue reading Black Prophecy releases first content update, launches tomorrow in NA

MassivelyBlack Prophecy releases first content update, launches tomorrow in NA originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter II

Posted: 12 Jul 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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Last April, Massively brought you the first part of an exclusive RIFT lore reveal called Drowning in Snow. The story introduced Kira Thanos and Uriel Chuluun, a pair of Defiant agents about to embark on an important mission given to them by the Faceless Man.

Today we bring you the story's second installment which finds our heroes riding deep into the snowbound wilderness near Iron Pine Peak. Chapter two boasts quite a bit more action than its predecessor, and our protagonists must contend with a water rift and the havoc it inevitably brings (including a monstrous crab-like creature intent on making a meal out of Uriel). Turn the page for the very latest in RIFT lore.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter II

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: RIFT - Drowning in Snow, Chapter II originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online

Posted: 12 Jul 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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Let's begin with a little personal history. Back in 2008, I decided to get into the blogging scene by jumping on board the latest MMO hotness -- in this case, Warhammer Online. As I was growing increasingly tired of World of Warcraft, WAR seemed to offer a refreshing alternative: a darker world full of brutal PvP and awesome new ideas. So I joined the elite ranks of bloggers (hey, stop laughing so hard) and spent the better part of two years jawing about Mythic's latest fantasy project.

And while Warhammer Online was, in my opinion, a solid product, it certainly failed to live up to the extremely high expectations held by both the development team and the players. No matter how it turned out, I really enjoyed talking about WAR, especially in the days leading up to its launch.

One of the first articles I ever wrote for my blog WAAAGH! dealt with the first attempt to bring Warhammer Online into the MMO genre (as a fun aside, it was one of the first times I got my name on Massively!). It's a "what if?" tale that's tantalizing to consider -- an entirely different studio, Climax Online, creating a much darker version of Warhammer than we've ever seen online. The tale of the game's rise and fall (and subsequent rise and fall again) captivated me, and I wanted to expand my old article as part of our recent series into exploring MMOs canceled before their launch.

So what if Climax had brought Warhammer Online to bear? Would it have eclipsed Mythic's vision or been its own animal? Hit the jump and let's dive into the pages of ancient history!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Climax's Warhammer Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: Decent challenge

Posted: 12 Jul 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

The ancestors of modern humans had a lot to contend with, but I'm willing to bet that the seeds of MMO gamers existed even in those days. There had to have been at least one person who looked at a wooly mammoth, a titantic mass of tree-trunk limbs and tusks and fur, and announced "I bet you get great loot for killing that thing!" And as it turned out, he was right, assuming "great loot" means "meat for food and fur for clothing."

I'm exaggerating, naturally; everyone knows that ancient humanity spoke Norwegian, not English, and it's a well-known fact that the term "loot" was first coined in the Canterbury Tales along with "spawn camper." But that need for a challenge is still there, the central idea that in order to get something really awesome you have to overcome a big obstacle. Which is why challenge is such a thorny issue for MMOs and always has been, because one person's challenge is another person's irritation.

Continue reading The Soapbox: Decent challenge

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Decent challenge originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Does a class' popularity influence your desire to play it?

Posted: 12 Jul 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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There are a few constants that dog my adventures into every MMO. I will play a female character even though I am a man, I will go nuts over pet classes if they are available, I will probably create a legion of alts before ever hitting the level cap, and I will wear stylish hats even if the stats aren't the greatest. But above all of that, the biggest constant in my playing career is that I almost always refuse to pick MMO classes that are extremely popular.

I think it's because I -- like probably most of you -- like to feel unique in games, even though it's usually difficult to achieve. Choosing a class that's in the minority helps with that feeling, and conversely, going with the FOTM or whatever the kids are calling it these days makes me feel like I've got my unique snowflake status revoked.

So is this insane? Do you allow class popularity to influence your desire to play it, or do you just go with whatever sounds like the most fun?

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: Does a class' popularity influence your desire to play it? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIFT's offers limited-time subscription discounts

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 08:00 PM PDT

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Getting into the RIFT groove and certain you'll be sticking it out for a while to come? Then there's a way you could be saving some money as well by signing up for one of Trion Worlds' new subscription plans during the "Summer of Savings" period that began this month.

By committing to three, six or 12-month subscriptions, players can enjoy RIFT for a substantially lower monthly cost than the standard $14.99 fee. The three-month option comes out to be $12.29 per month, the six-month is $10.29, and the annual option is $8.99.

It's interesting to note that these prices are close to those set by Trion for pre-order founders. A player using founder's pricing can pay $59.94 for a six-month subscription while a Summer of Savings customer will shell out $61.74 for the same service.

As with founder's pricing, players can lock in these discounted rates -- as long as they stay subscribed to the game. The small print informs us that if a promotional subscriber discontinues service and then re-ups later on, he or she will have to revert to standard pricing.

MassivelyRIFT's offers limited-time subscription discounts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Battle of the Immortals Titan update coming this Wednesday

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 07:00 PM PDT

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Are you excited for Titan? No, not that one, we're talking about the new content update coming this week to Battle of the Immortals. That's right, Perfect World Entertainment has graced us with a release date to go along with the dev blogs we've been featuring over the past couple of weeks.

The patch will hit the live servers on Wednesday, July 13th, and in case your anticipation isn't quite where it should be, PWE has just released a new Titan trailer to further whet your appetite. The one-minute clip is packed with in-game footage that includes glimpses of the new instances as well as some spiffy shots of the soul gear that's coming soon to every class.

You'll also see some boss fights, including a brief look at the god-king Kronos. Sound good? Well, what are you waiting for? Check out the clip after the cut!

Continue reading Battle of the Immortals Titan update coming this Wednesday

MassivelyBattle of the Immortals Titan update coming this Wednesday originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIV previews the newest instanced dungeon

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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With a confirmed date finally in place for Final Fantasy XIV's patch 1.18, players are eagerly anticipating both the new content and the new changes to systems. The past several days have seen previews for system updates, but today players are being treated to a sneak peek at one of the new dungeons, including a short video detailing an excursion into the Dzemael Darkhold. And while the preview does feature a rather notable adversary at the end, it's hardly the only interesting element on display.

As with the earlier preview, the dungeon is hinted to have both Imperial forces and more primal ones working in concert to make the twisting passages more dangerous for adventurers. The Darkhold is the higher-level of the two dungeons, aimed at parties of eight at rank 40 and up. Final Fantasy XIV players should glance at the lore-filled preview as well as the video teaser, embedded just past the cut.

Continue reading Final Fantasy XIV previews the newest instanced dungeon

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV previews the newest instanced dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Check out the Luvinia Online closed beta with our key giveaway!

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 05:00 PM PDT

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Luvinia Online entered closed beta last Friday and things are progressing nicely. Outspark is offering all sorts of incentives and events for testers, so if you're interested in joining the fun, we've got you covered!

Outspark has shared 1,000 beta keys with us, so head to our giveaway page to claim one for yourself. Then Log in to your Outspark account, or click on the "Sign Up" button on the right side of the top toolbar to create a new account. Enter your beta key, download the Luvinia client, and you're on your way to monster-killing and bug-hunting!

Enjoy the game, and thanks to the Outspark team for providing the keys!

GET YOUR KEY

MassivelyCheck out the Luvinia Online closed beta with our key giveaway! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lost Pages of Taborea: Comparing EVE's PLEX and PvP to RoM's

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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I was prepping for a Guild Wars 2 comparison with Runes of Magic, but in light of the current buzz in the air, I'm moving my EVE Online comparison up.

A couple of interesting blocks fell into place this week that fit well with a look at how EVE and RoM allow money to circulate through the economies, and how PvP works in conjunction with it. While there's no contest as to which MMO has the more robust economy, there are still similarities that fit the pay-to-progress comment Mr. Simon Ludgate made in a recent Gamasutra article.

Swarming around the above topics is the question of how much it costs to stay competitive in RoM, which I've also been working on. What does Gamasutra's article have to do with RoM, how much does it cost to be competitive and how are economies similar in these two MMOs? You can also read my memorandum to all EVE PvPers. Set your jump-point past the break to see.

Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Comparing EVE's PLEX and PvP to RoM's

MassivelyLost Pages of Taborea: Comparing EVE's PLEX and PvP to RoM's originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flameseeker Chronicles: Who wants to go kill some afflicted?

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 03:00 PM PDT

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These winds, they are a changin'.

Sorry, sorry. I couldn't resist. Anyway, the first round of Winds of Change content dropped Thursday night, so the Guild Wars community is abuzz with talk of the new content, costumes, and enemies in Cantha.

Several members of our guild were sitting around playing the "What do you wanna do? Eh, I dunno, what do you wanna do?" game when Winds of Change arrived, so we were all pretty much free. Six of us bolted for Kaineng Center, partied up, jumped on vent, and took off.

We were in for a bit of a surprise. You see, most of us have been playing for a very long time and are pretty comfortable with normal-mode content. We threw in a couple of hero monks, loaded up some standard builds, and off we went. We were treating it like a casual exploration thing, heading out to see what was out there.

Whoops. The Live Team has been working overtime, I see. We slunk back to town to lick our wounds and tried again, this time with more (relative) success. So how was it? Follow along after the jump and let's take a look!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Who wants to go kill some afflicted?

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Who wants to go kill some afflicted? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Welcome to character week!

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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As always, Monday kicks off a brand-new theme here on One Shots! We're taking a look at your favorite characters, beginning with reader Teranu:
Setsujinneko is the product of excessive dabbling in Champions Online's remarkably robust character creator. She's a flat-chested, gun-toting, naked, furry catgirl - and she's one of the less out-there characters I've made in the game! (Others include a tattooed demon-like little girl with super strength that fights in her skivvies, the "creator" of Setsujinneko who turned herself into a part-wolf anthromorph and fights with a tech-bow, and a magician lady cursed into the form of a bipedal jackal with goat legs and bull horns.)

Though she looks superficially cute, I tend to think of her as a hard-nosed, humorless mercenary who only takes advantage of her preternatural feline reflexes and flexibility -- as well as the tech provided by the aforementioned wolf-girl -- to more easily attain what she wants. And what she wants, naturally, is moolah. She's also genre-savvy and makes sure to side herself with whomever is most likely to make it out of a given encounter alive, and with their freedoms intact.

I absolutely love the fact that the game gives me the ability to create such outrageously outlandish character designs -- the kind of stuff you'd never, ever see in an actual comic book (or anything, really) because it's just too niche or unmarketable. I hope to see plenty of MMOs in the future follow suit -- maybe not quite as ridiculously variable, but at least giving me the options I need to create characters that no developer would risk having as a major part of the story.
We've taken a look at all of your accessories over the past weeks on One Shots: weapons, armor, mounts, and pets, but now it's time to turn the spotlight on the star of the show. We want to see you -- well, your character. Snap a screenshot of your favorite character in your favorite MMO. Let us know about him or her by sending the screenshot, your name, and some information about the character to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it here on One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: Welcome to character week! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wings Over Atreia: Class builds -- Cleric

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 01:00 PM PDT

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Last week we discussed how personality influences class choice, so after some deep reflection, you have decided that it is time to reveal your true nature and be reborn as a cleric in Aion! Either that, or maybe you just wanted to solo some dungeons to horde all the loot. *cha-ching* Perhaps you already became one to impress that really cute voice in vent who is always looking for a healer. Whatever your reason, the life of servitude is for you. Now what?

Welcome to Build-a-Cleric. While some Daevas are content to just play with what they get from drops or quests, a number actually want to outfit their characters the best they can. Even if leveling too quickly to worry about uber gear thanks to mentoring and an easier grind, it is never a bad idea to keep an eye on endgame. And with the plethora of manastones, armor sets, weapons, and stigmas available -- not to mention advice, both solicited and unsolicited -- it can be a daunting task to maximize your potential. So to help you wade through the possibilities, Wings Over Atreia will be exploring each class individually and highlighting popular and effective builds. With any luck, some advance knowledge will help you make informed decisions and avoid the catastrophes of expending all of your energies in obtaining the wrong gear for your needs. Nothing shouts broke like having to re-socket entire sets or enchant new ones!

Roll up your sleeves and explore various builds for Aion's Cleric class after the cut.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Class builds -- Cleric

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Class builds -- Cleric originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively Extra: Our impressions of Rise of Immortals

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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When upcoming MOBA Rise of Immortals first appeared on the scene, it took us a little by surprise. The crop of recent DotA clones has made the market crowded, and giants like League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth have significantly raised the bar in both graphics and gameplay over their predecessors. RoI looked initially like a lower-budget MOBA from a smaller and less experienced development team trying to compete above their weight category, but developer podcasts showed Petroglyph's plans to differentiate the game from its peers.

Rather than trying to topple the giants of the genre by competing on the same terms, Petroglyph has opted to evolve the DotA model and test less explored areas of the emerging MOBA market. The game adds a greater than expected level of persistence through player levels, a talent system and minor strategic items that remain between games. To help lower the genre's typically high barrier to entry, RoI also features a three-player co-operative PvE mode in which players can test out immortals and gain persistent levels before engaging in competitive play. It's a necessary gamble if Petroglyph hopes to take on the giants of the industry, and one that might very well pay off.

In this collaborative hands-on impressions piece, Patrick Mackey, Matthew Daniel and I give our verdict on the current state of the RoI open beta.

Continue reading Not So Massively Extra: Our impressions of Rise of Immortals

MassivelyNot So Massively Extra: Our impressions of Rise of Immortals originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dawn of Fantasy reveals Online Kingdom mode

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 11:30 AM PDT

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"You must pursue an epic storyline of betrayal, blood, and resource-management in the aftermath of a mighty war," proclaims the latest press release for Dawn of Fantasy. If that sounds right up your alley, you'll want to check out the MMORTS title from 505 Games as it picks up a head of steam in its ongoing summer beta.

505 is highlighting the game's Online Kingdom mode in its latest media blast, and the gameplay features three campaigns, nine starting regions, and persistent PvP, all rolled together in a rather tasty MMO/RTS/RPG sandwich. Even better is the fact that Online Kingdom is just one of the game's modes, and you can read up on a couple of others -- including Stronghold Defense and Kingdom Wars -- via our earlier coverage. When you're finished, head to the official Dawn of Fantasy website to sign up for the beta.

MassivelyDawn of Fantasy reveals Online Kingdom mode originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively: Dota 2 is going to be freaking awesome

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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Welcome to Not So Massively, our weekly roundup of the top news from popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and other multiplayer online games that aren't quite MMOs. Published every Saturday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Rise of Immortals, Bloodline Champions, and more.

In the last few years, the PC game market has seen a resurgence of competitive and co-operative online games. Some fit neatly into the category of MMO and others are traditional multiplayer match-based games, but the lines between the two have begun to blur. MOBAs and similar online games offer ongoing development a level of persistence that's closer to Guild Wars than Counterstrike, putting them firmly in the gray area we love to talk about in Not So Massively.

Last week we brought news of an ongoing legal battle between FireFall developer Red 5 and its publisher Webzen. Both Heroes of Newerth and Bloodline Champions announced details of upcoming sponsored competitive tournaments for players with cash prizes. New details were revealed for League of Legends' female tank champion Leona, Heroes of Newerth's ranged anti-juking hero Emerald Warden and Rise of Immortals ranged damage-dealing immortal Balak.

In this week's Not So Massively, we look forward to Dota 2 gameplay being showcased at next month's Gamescom convention and tell you how you could be in with a chance to win one of five Heroes of Newerth account keys worth $30 US. We also finally get to see LoL champion Leona in action this week, and enjoy two helpings of LoL fanart, cosplay and original music in Summoner Showcases 35 and 36. Finally, we find out that the Aida Arenas closed beta has been postponed indefinitely, and we get some hands-on time with the Rise of Immortals open beta.
http://massively.joystiq.com/tag/Heroes-of-Newerth

Continue reading Not So Massively: Dota 2 is going to be freaking awesome

MassivelyNot So Massively: Dota 2 is going to be freaking awesome originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Shri Krishna

MMO updates

MMO updates

Seven Core - New media released

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 09:01 AM PDT


Phew, the last time news about Seven Core was posted was almost 2 years ago, in October 2009 with a post I made here. Though scheduled to be published by gPotato in the English market in 2010, the development phase apparently got delayed. Developed by Korean studio Noria, the Korean publisher was also confirmed a few months back as High1 Entertainment.


Much info was posted in my previous thread, but I will briefly go through them again. New features revealed include a dynamic trade system (not detailed) and also PvP on large scale maps. There are no fixed classes, but it seems like each of the 3 races are stuck with the same melee and ranged weapons (enlarge 1st picture below). There will be mounted combat taking place in the skies, on land and underwater. Not much new info was revealed with the opening of the Korean teaser site, so stay tuned for more details!
Posted by Shri Krishna

General gaming

General gaming

Microsoft Proves How Serious (or Not) it is About PC Gaming

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 06:16 PM PDT

PC Games home on Xbox.com

Despite its insistence at certain E3 press conferences in the past, there has been the perception for quite a long time now that Microsoft doesn't really care about PC gaming. The first two Halo games were ported to PC, as was Gears of War, but subsequent titles in either series have been 360-only -- even Halo Wars, an RTS that would have been right at home on a keyboard and mouse. We go for long stretches of time without seing any Microsoft-published titles on the platform, and despite its attempts to create a more universal experience for playing games on PC through Windows Vista's Game Explorer Guide and Games for Windows, Valve has already provided that and much more with Steam.

Microsoft's initial efforts with Games for Windows Live brushed many the wrong way, largely due to the fact that it expected PC gamers to pay for the service. Once that requirement was dropped, there was less to complain about. Even so, to this day that hasn't stopped people from wishing Games for Windows Live titles instead used Steamworks or some other equivalent. But at least Games for Windows had its own presence. Microsoft changed that today -- as previously announced, Microsoft has transitioned the Games for Windows Marketplace from GamesForWindows.com to Xbox.com.

Xbox.com's July update went live a short while ago, with Games for Windows integration being the biggest addition. Xbox.com looks just as it did before -- with no mention of PC gaming on its homepage -- except "PC Games" has now been added as a link under the "Games + Marketplace" drop-down menu. Hardcore PC gamers are already displeased they're being lumped in with Xbox owners on a decidedly console-centric site, but the way PC games are relegated to a spot just above "Avatars" in the site's navigation isn't going to help matters, either.

ModernWarfare3.com is One Big Troll, Promotes Battlefield 3

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 05:12 PM PDT

Battlefield 3 website

Not everyone knows the exact URL of the website they're looking for, nor does everyone go right to a search engine when they don't know something. Someone looking for information on the next Call of Duty game, Modern Warfare 3, might simply try typing in ModernWarfare3.com to see where it takes them. As it turns out, Activision doesn't own the domain, and visiting the site redirects you to the official website of MW3's biggest competitor, Battlefield 3.

ModernWarfare3.com used to be home to a site that masqueraded as the official website for the game, except it contained negative descriptions of it. A partially broken Google cache version shows it hosted a YouTube video slamming MW3 for looking just like Modern Warfare 2, as well as the following description:

"Modern Warfare is crap. On November 8, 2011, the most over-hyped first-person action series of all-time returns with the copy and paste sequel to the lackluster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Check out the E3 2011 gameplay demo featuring the Black Tuesday level for a look at the epic fail of the campaign. Pre-Order Call of Duty MW3 Today for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC to secure exclusive bonuses only available online for Modern Warfare 3 fanboys who don't know that Battlefield 3 is the better game."

Final Fantasy Rhythm Game Coming From Retro Game Challenge, Electroplankton Developer

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 04:27 PM PDT

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

Theatrhythm might not be the sort of Final Fantasy game that 3DS owners were hoping for, but it is coming from a developer with some quality games under its belt. The game is in development at Indies Zero, the studio responsible for Retro Game Challenge, Retro Game Challenge 2 (which has yet to be officially brought to North America), and Electroplankton.

That's good news, even if the name continues to sound and look strange. As its newly launched website puts it, Theater + Rhythm = Theatrhythm. By that logic, Team Fortress 2 should be called Cartoonplosion, a name I can't help but think is also better than Theatrhythm.

Trench Trademark Owner Not About to Let "Trenched" be Released in Europe

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 03:17 PM PDT

Trenched

Trenched is still not out in Europe because of "unexpected challenges with distribution." What that really means, we learned at the end of June, was that a board game designer by the name of Rui Alípio Monteiro owns a trademark on "Trench." In other words, developer Double Fine and publisher Microsoft can't simply release the game as-is in Europe. After initially declining to say much of anything on the subject, Monteiro has now provided a statement on the situation and his intent to turn his Trench into a videogame.

According to the statement, sent to Eurogamer by way of Portuguese company Criações a Solo, the trademark was granted in the European Union in September 2009, followed by a filing on June 18, 2010 in the United States. The Microsoft-owned "Trenched" trademark was filed on May 13, 2011.

"He also owns the international Certificates regarding the visual aspect of the game and components," the statement reads. "Although the original idea was to produce a board game, he has also registered the trademark for electronic Games, since part of Rui Alípio Monteiro's global project is to turn Trench into an appealing electronic game, already in the development phase."

Ms. Splosion Man Review

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 03:01 PM PDT

Call me old-fashioned, but my favorite platform games are not draconian time-trial-a-thons like Super Meat Boy, but good old larger-scale stuff, like the Super Mario series and most everything that imitated it. Which is why it's such a delight to see something like Splosion Man gain some popularity, make some money, and now get a sequel in the form of Ms. Splosion Man.

Although really, Splosion Man (and Ms.) is more of a hybrid of both those kinds of platformers, with longer stages that are peppered with devious tricks and traps that often require you to take a few tries until you nail the timing and get yourself ever closer to the finish line. Like her counterpart, Ms. Splosion Man is a rogue scientific anomaly trying to escape the doofy lab techs of Big Science by "sploding" all through the Science facilities and subsequent conglomerate-owned locales. Sploding is essentially jumping -- a triple-use ability that gets Ms. SM up and over (sometimes way up and way over) every obstacle that comes in her way.

Almost $6 Billion Spent by U.S. Gamers in Q1 2011

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 02:34 PM PDT

Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D

Roughly $5.9 billion was spent on videogame hardware, content, and accessories in the United States during the first quarter of 2011, according to the NPD Group. That's an increase of 1.5% as compared with the same period during the first quarter of 2010.

$2.03 billion of that figure was spent on new, physical videogame software purchases, a figure that includes PC games sold at retail. Another $1.85 billion came from "other monetization methods," a vague term that includes things like used games, subscriptions, game downloads, downloadable content, game rentals, mobile games, and social network games.

The NPD Group has been criticized of late for restricting the amount of information it shares with the media, in particular specific sales figures for games and hardware. EA earlier this year made it clear it looks down upon using NPD data for videogame sales as it "see[s] NPD's data as a misrepresentation of the entire industry." NPD, for its part, has attempted to expand its coverage beyond that of new, physical sales, something it reiterated in a press release about the Q1 figures distributed earlier today.

Valve's Team Fortress 2, Portal, and L4D Comics Coming Together in Book Form

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 02:04 PM PDT

Saxton Hale TF2 comic

Even if you're not a Team Fortress 2 player, the comics Valve has produced for the game's website provided a reason for anyone to visit from time to time. The line of Saxton Hale comic strips have amused me to no end, and Valve has also released promotional comics for the Left 4 Dead and Portal franchises, albeit less hysterical ones. For those who prefer to read these sorts of things away from a computer screen, Dark Horse Comics is putting together a compilation of these comics for a book due out later this year.

The 304-page hardcover book, Valve Presents: The Sacrifice and Other Steam-Powered Stories, includes comics from all three franchises according to a description provided to Comic Book Resources. It wasn't clear if it'll include every comic released to date or if new ones will be created for the book. We've asked Valve for clarification on its contents.

Valve Presents will be released on November 16 for an MSRP of $29.99.

Free Tokyo Game Show Tickets Up for Grabs, Just Pay for Everything Else

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 12:32 PM PDT

Tokyo Game Show 2010

The organizers of the annual Tokyo Game Show are giving away 200 tickets to attend this year's show (running from September 15 through September 18). While the tickets are free, unfortunately everything else that is involved with taking a trip to the other side of the world -- like airfare, a hotel, and so on -- isn't provided.

Should you be able to afford all of those things, you'll need to have someone to bring and either a Twitter or Facebook account. Those on Twitter need to follow the official TGS account and a tweet a wish about going with the hashtag "#tgs2011ticket" by August 31. Facebook users have to write on the wall of the TGS page and need a valid e-mail address registered to their account. The comment must start with "See you @ tgs#" and talk about what you want to see most at the show.

The Today Show: It's "Weird" for Men Over 30 to Play Games

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 11:23 AM PDT


Playing games when you're over the age of 30 is "weird," The Today Show has declared. Friday's show hosted a segment called "The Other View: Getting a Guy's Perspective on Love" where women send in questions about men to be answered by advertising exec and television personality Donny Deutsch. The final question read, "What's up with men and videogames? Do you think it's OK for men to play videogames in their 30s and over?"

The woman reading the question could barely make it through without laughing at the notion, and it was immediately met with another of the show's hosts declaring, "That's weird." Deutsch said, "The answer's no. ...When you're in your 30s, there should be something more on your mind or attention than videogames." The consensus was that it's acceptable if games are being played with a child, but it was agreed that wasn't what was being asked.

You could say I have a slanted view on the subject as someone who both plays videogames and writes about them, but were this question asked about watching movies or reading books -- as if it ever would be -- you can bet it would be found perfectly acceptable. Playing videogames, however, continues to have a stigma in many people's minds despite the fact that Wii, DS, Facebook, and mobile games have all gotten more people playing games than ever before.

Ms. Splosion Man Takes a Shot at Capcom Over Copycat

Posted: 11 Jul 2011 10:50 AM PDT


The sequel to Splosion Man, Ms. Splosion Man, will be out this week, and those who play through enough of the game will get to witness a shot that developer Twisted Pixel has taken at Capcom.

It might sound like a random thing to do, but there's a reason for it. Capcom released an iOS game last December called MaXplosion. It was a pretty clear rip-off of Splosion Man, prompting Twisted Pixel CEO Michael Wilford to say the "similarities are pretty nauseating" and that it "is a complete theft." Due to the two companies' respective sizes, the developer decided not to take any legal action, and instead continued to focus on making games. "We just need to keep our heads down making the next thing so that Capcom has something to steal next year," he joked.

What Twisted Pixel was working on was Ms. Splosion Man. Joystiq noticed that a secret area of the game contains a crack about Capcom and what happened, although, as Joystiq notes, Capcom has previously tried to distance itself from the game, pointing out that it was developed by a different division of the company.

Posted by Shri Krishna
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