MMO Updates

MMO Updates

Newest Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter addresses design philosophy and summer events

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 10:30 AM PDT

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The US is currently experiencing a bit of a heatwave, the sort of thing that doesn't really call for any reminders about the time of year. Apparently Japan hasn't been exempt from the heat either, according to the most recent Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter from Naoki Yoshida. But that won't stop the game's staff from rolling out a new summer event celebrating the heat of summer, as well as promising to introduce a familiar enemy well-known for getting things a little bit hotter.

Most of this installment of the producer's letter is given over discussion about the design philosophy of the game, both for this week's patch 1.18 and moving forward. As Yoshida puts it, he wants to create the feeling for players that the game will be accessible on each individual's schedule, with accommodations for players who can only play for a little while each day as well as those with more time to enjoy the game. Take a look at the full post for a clear picture of how the philosophy applies to Final Fantasy XIV's combat, transport, and future content. There's also a new interview available from the Eorzeapedia team covering content in 1.19 and beyond.

MassivelyNewest Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter addresses design philosophy and summer events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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End of Nations video features factions and explosions

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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Trion Worlds is known primarily for its wildly successful RIFT MMORPG, but that will soon change thanks to an upcoming MMORTS called End of Nations. The title, developed by real-time strategy specialist Petroglyph (and published by Trion) is a two-faction romp through a future earth that has been decimated by war and is teetering on the brink of societal collapse.

Today, Trion and Petroglyph have released a three-minute trailer for the game that touches on the lore behind the opposing player factions. The clip also features more explosions than your average Michael Bay film, but we'll get to that in a minute. The Liberation Front and the Shadow Revolution factions are mortal enemies who share a common goal: the destruction of the tyrannical Order of Nations. Said destruction involves a lot of things blowing up, and despite the fact that the video features a few talking heads pontificating on factional lore, the focus is on gameplay-related mayhem.

Helicopters, tanks, and even closing title screens are liable to burst into flaming fireballs at any moment, and fans of gratuitous military violence will no doubt want to click past the cut to check out the full trailer.

Continue reading End of Nations video features factions and explosions

MassivelyEnd of Nations video features factions and explosions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO gives us a glimpse into Isengard's Dunland

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 09:30 AM PDT

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Dunland, one of Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard's three new zones, promises to be a treat for bold Hobbits and nebbish Elves alike. Today we've gotten a better picture of what Dunland will look like as Turbine's released six screenshots giving us a feel for the wide range of vistas we'll be encountering.

Dunland is located at the southern reaches of the Misty Mountains, with hilly, swampy and woodsy areas awaiting our discovery. The zone is dominated by the many clans of the Dunland peoples who are being tempted by Saruman into joining the forces of the Enemy.

We've got a little over two months to go until LotRO's latest expansion hits the streets, so take your time to peruse all six of these new screenshots in the gallery below:

Gallery: Lord of the Rings Online Core Gallery

MassivelyLotRO gives us a glimpse into Isengard's Dunland originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ArcheAge video shows six minutes of scenery

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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ArcheAge fans have been aching for news updates since the close of the title's latest Korean beta last May. XL Games is presumably hard at work processing feedback and adding functionality, as we haven't heard a peep from Jake Song's dev team in quite some time.

Fortunately, our friends at AAPortal are parceling out various bits of video footage captured during CBT3. Last week we got a look at an ArcheAge cityscape by way of a parkour clip, and today we're treated to a six-minute montage of the game's stunning scenery. The footage takes us on a journey across tranquil meadows, arid deserts, and rocky shorelines, and even along for the ride as a player chases an airship (and later boards it, leading to some spectacular high-altitude nighttime vistas).

Head past the cut to check it out, and mosey on over to AAportal for the source post.

Continue reading ArcheAge video shows six minutes of scenery

MassivelyArcheAge video shows six minutes of scenery originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima Online begins testing Publish 71.0

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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You'd think that an MMO well into its golden years like Ultima Online would slow down to take advantage of senior citizen menu options, bingo night, and yelling at youngsters to get off the lawn. But, no, the dev team is instead running like they've never run before, as a new update on the test shard Origin can attest.

Yesterday, the highly anticipated Publish 71.0 was pushed to the test server for players to tinker around and explore. The patch notes tell a tale of many, many balance changes and tweaks, along with plenty of brand-new buff icons. Fishing's also been treated to somewhat of an overhaul with the patch, as additional trophies are being installed and schools of magical fish will begin to move around in order to keep you guessing. There's even a special sea encounter with Charybdis that is only available to dedicated fishermen.

To check out all of the nitty-gritty details and bug fixes that are coming with 71.0, head on over to Ultima Online to read the notes!

MassivelyUltima Online begins testing Publish 71.0 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Remember in Vein

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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It's no secret that several Massively staffers are looking forward to TERA. Just yesterday, in fact, we were lamenting the lack of TERA news and wondering when we might get another glimpse of Arborea. En Masse to the rescue, then, as today we're happy to bring you the latest lore exclusive for the upcoming fantasy MMORPG.

Penned by lead writer David Noonan, this Day in the Life installment is called Remember in Vein and concerns the fearsome vulcans. TERA vulcans are quite a bit different from the vulcans familiar to most sci-fi and fantasy fans, though the former do have pointy (if rather large) ears. Head past the cut to read the lore and get a glimpse of our exclusive screenshots.

Continue reading Massively's exclusive TERA lore: Remember in Vein

MassivelyMassively's exclusive TERA lore: Remember in Vein originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What's your favorite summer zone?

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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I've not always been the biggest fan of summer in general. The smells aren't as strong as spring or autumn, the days are too hot, the sweat is annoying, and wasps seem to think that they can set up shop everywhere. But still, it's nice to have long sunny days and the opportunity to wear hot pants whenever I feel like it. Er, whenever you feel like it.

Sanctum in RIFT feels like a wonderful "summer" zone to me, kind of like a resort town that happens to train and equip armies of mercenaries as a side project. I love looking down at the sparkling ocean, listening to the cries of the gulls, and feeling my stress wash away. Level? Who needs to level? Bring me another Mai Tai, garçon!

So in the spirit of summer, today we'd like to get your thoughts on your favorite summer zones in MMOs. Which zones exude the languid tone of vacation to you? If you had to retire on a virtual beach somewhere, where would it be? And how would you deal with the raving hordes of cannibal chimps?

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: What's your favorite summer zone? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Forsaken World update bringing mounted combat, level increase, and more

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 07:00 PM PDT

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Forsaken World has only been live since March, but it's already time for a meaty content update. Perfect World Entertainment has just issued a press release that sings the praises of the forthcoming Chains of Kluer patch, and the August update boasts a fair bit of new and shiny (including the opportunity for level 70 players to fight the titular ogre who is imprisoned beneath Freedom Harbor).

The patch is also bringing a new hunting festival and a "pet-catching" dungeon to Forsaken World, as well as level three guild base unlocks and a level cap increase (from 70 to 80). Finally, players will be able to fight more efficiently thanks to mounted combat, as well as send their pets on daily quest errands. Read all about the Chains of Kluer update at the official Forsaken World website.

MassivelyForsaken World update bringing mounted combat, level increase, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Troy Online announces open beta

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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We may be smack dab in the middle of the dog days of summer, but there's plenty of cool stuff to do inside if you're into MMORPGs. The latest diversion takes the form of Troy Online's open beta. While there's a conspicuous absence of Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom, there are three traditional fantasy classes, 49 levels, and plenty of excuses to engage in free-to-play PvE and PvP.

ALT1 Games is kicking off Troy's open beta phase on August 12th, and the testing period will be used primarily to finalize features, balance, and latency issues. The open beta will also see all quests and quest arcs, the maximum level cap, and all available zones introduced to the live game in order to get ready for the impending commercial release.

You can read more about Troy, as well as register for an account and a beta slot, at the game's official website.

MassivelyTroy Online announces open beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Trek Online's Dine with the Devs event details

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 05:00 PM PDT

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With San Diego Comic-Con right around the corner, attendees are making their final plans on what events and attractions they are going to visit in the historic city by the bay. While there is always a decent turn out of Star Trek fans, many Star Trek Online players have always hoped for a stronger presence from Cryptic. Whether it be a panel interview, a booth, or even just a casual meet-up, Captains want to connect with their developers. Well, dreams are about to come true!

Priority One, the STO podcast for which I am Executive Producer, will be hosting the first ever Dine with the Devs event this Friday evening, July 22nd. While not affiliated with Massively, this casual meet-up will take place off-site at a local restaurant in the San Diego area. As we dine on the patio, the devs in attendance will be answering players' questions about the game and explaining their roles on the project. It is important to note that each attendees' expenses are their own responsibility. For more information, including location and time, visit the information page.

MassivelyStar Trek Online's Dine with the Devs event details originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Mythica

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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While Microsoft may be the big cheese when it comes to operating systems and worldwide domination, for whatever reason the company has the absolute worst of luck (or worst of decision-makers) when it comes to MMOs. Microsoft Game Studios has proven remarkably skittish when it approached the swimming pool of online RPGs, choosing to dip a toe into the water, give a girlie scream, and run away without taking the dive.

True Fantasy Live Online had a bumpy ride with the studio, Marvel Universe Online circled the drain faster than my morning shower, and the less said about its relationship with Vanguard's development, the better. But there was yet another aborted project that Microsoft jumped into -- and then back out of -- between 2003 and 2004, and in my opinion, it was the one the company should've stuck out to completion.

I remember when Microsoft first announced Mythica, because I thought "This is gonna be cool." Vikings, Norse mythology, gods made flesh, and a big-name studio funding limitless adventures. In the pre-World of Warcraft era, the field was wide open for a company to come up and rival Sony Online Entertainment for the crown, so why not this one? But... cold water, skittish toes, and another MMO kicked the bucket before it saw the light of its first day.

Take my hand (don't worry, I washed today) and we shall travel back to Ragnarök and beyond!

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Mythica

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Mythica originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA play diary takes you to the Oblivion Woods

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 03:00 PM PDT

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TERA news has been at a premium lately, and aside from yesterday's BAM reveal, it's been all quiet on the Arborean front for some time now. Luckily, En Masse has graced us with its latest TERA community play diary, and our intrepid hosts -- Jason "BrotherMagneto" Mical and Evan "Scapes" Berman -- are back to guide us through the upcoming title's fantasy dreamscape.

This time, the pair are causing all sorts of trouble in and around TERA's Oblivion Woods, and there's a bit of discussion about new spells (including AoE heals and a crowd-control ability known as Ishara's lullaby). As per usual with the community play diary series, there are also several gorgeous screenshots to be had, so head to the official TERA website and have a look.

MassivelyTERA play diary takes you to the Oblivion Woods originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: And the rocket's red glare

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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I searched high and low for an old Tabula Rasa screenshot for my turn at the One Shots helm today, but hooking up old hard drives did not sound like a fun morning to me. So I've decided to show off my new bazooka (that I'm borrowing from the clan) on my Fallen Earth character, Ampersand.

I'm a huge fan of the guns in Fallen Earth, and this Omega Arms Valkyrie will literally blast your face off. It looks a bit odd on a scrap-armored CHOTA, but I'm willing to break immersion to melt some faces.

All this week, we Massively writers are spotlighting some of our personal favorite One Shots. What exciting stories revolve around our screenshots? Stay tuned to find out. Next week, after staff picks week, will be free-for-all week for you, our readers. Send any eye-catching, beautiful, scary, or generally epic screenshot to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll pick the best of the best for next week's One Shots!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

MassivelyOne Shots: And the rocket's red glare originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Final Fantasy XIV previews upcoming outposts

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 01:30 PM PDT

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As patch 1.18 draws close for Final Fantasy XIV, the development team has been stepping up the rate of previews. The latest one highlights a feature discussed previously but not seen for some time: the addition of several outposts across the landscape, hubs for adventurers to explore as they take part in new content. Six outposts are listed in the newest preview, two for each of the major regions in the game and each with a distinct thematic focus.

Each of the outposts listed highlight the environment of the nearby city-state -- the outposts in Gridania are concerned with hunting and maintaining security in the wood, while Ul'dah's settlements focus on more mercantile and mineral concerns. In addition to the stops for adventurers, beastman settlements are said to be on the plate for patch 1.18 later this week. Final Fantasy XIV players who can't wait to see the new hubs can take a look at the preview for a glimpse at the expanding and improving environment.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV previews upcoming outposts originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Podcast race

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 01:00 PM PDT

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For a game that has yet to release, the number of people who closely follow Star Wars: The Old Republic astounds me still. If you follow the Twitter feed, you will practically see a new fan site pop up daily. Granted, a good chunk of these sites fizzle away as quickly they are built -- it's kind of the nature of the beast. Running a fansite takes a lot of work, and most people who set out to make a fan site are not ready to make that kind of commitment. Having run fan sites in the past, I can tell you that even when you think you're ready, you're not ready.

Although it's not unique for a game to have a podcast revolving around it, Star Wars: The Old Republic is gifted with a very large audience, and with that an exorbitant number of fans willing to devote time to making a podcast. We have already mentioned the podcasts of Darth Hater, TOROcast, and Mos Eisley Radio in the past, but since then there has been slue of new podcast that are giving these other guys a run for their money.

After the break, I will introduce you to some of the newer shows that I enjoy or maybe one of those those who I believe has really stepped up the game since the last time I've talked about them. Start up the holoprojector and follow me!

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Podcast race

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Podcast race originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Soapbox: In defense of consequence

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 12:30 PM 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.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I've gathered you here today to present to you a defense for a feature that has been all but forgotten in recent MMOs, and which tends to solicit uproar from entire communities if it's so much as mentioned. That feature, as you may have guessed from the title, is consequence.

One of the things that initially drew me to Massively, and inadvertently led to my writing for them, was Sera Brennan's columns, which frequently covered the topic of persistence in MMOs. I'm a die-hard, borderline militant advocate of increasing the levels of persistence in games, and I feel that implementing consequences for players' actions is a huge part of taking MMOs from generally mindless games to true persistent worlds. "But Matt," you say, "I don't want a persistent world. The one I live in is hard enough as it is! I just want to play a game and unwind, not have to master goblin economical theory as it relates to the sociopolitical climate of an imaginary universe." And that's just peachy! There are dozens of games on the market tailored to players such as yourself, but only a select handful tailored to players such as myself who desire a more immersive world to live in during their spare time. The incoming rant, obviously, is geared toward that type of player.

Continue reading The Soapbox: In defense of consequence

MassivelyThe Soapbox: In defense of consequence originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New PlanetSide 2 screenshots show troops in action

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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In our opinion, there can't be enough news about Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming PlanetSide 2 these days, which is why we'll enthusiastically shake hands with Tony Park if we ever meet him. Park heads up The9, the Chinese publisher for PlanetSide, and he's posted a couple new screenshots of the hot title on his blog.

These PlanetSide 2 pics show armor-clad soldiers getting into position for action. It's interesting to note the distinctive colors that will surely help teammates differentiate friend from foe.

We heard a lot about this sequel to SOE's PlanetSide at Fan Faire, including the trailer, a general overview of the game, and an in-depth look with the developers. You can eyeball the new pics in the gallery below!

Gallery: PlanetSide 2

MassivelyNew PlanetSide 2 screenshots show troops in action originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: Creating a hidden-object mobile MMO

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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Around the time we left for E3, I discovered some of the hidden-object games published by Big Fish Games. I have enjoyed puzzle games in the past, but these seemed to have a nice, dependable quality to them that I had not seen before. On the way home -- during the last several hours of our trip, when it became hard to settle down -- I pulled out Moonfell Wood, a lovely hidden-object game set in a magical world of fairies and princesses. (I think the target audience was obvious.)

It was just a trial, but it was very relaxing. The music was nice and the puzzles were challenging but not mind-crushing, and my wife would look over my shoulder once in a while to point out one of the objects or to help solve a puzzle. It really got me to thinking: could a hidden-object MMO be created for the mobile market?

I think it could. Click past the cut and let's discuss it.

Continue reading MMObility: Creating a hidden-object mobile MMO

MassivelyMMObility: Creating a hidden-object mobile MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Square Enix invites Championship Manager into the MMO club

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 10:30 AM PDT

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The incredibly popular football (read: soccer) video game franchise Championship Manager is about ready to take the jump into MMO-space -- and Square Enix will be there to hold its hand all the way.

The studio announced today that it will be publishing Championship Manager: World of Football, a free-to-play browser-based title for sports fanatics. Developed by Beautiful Game Studios and Shanda Games, Championship Manager will initially launch in China with a possible international release later down the road. A beta for the title is to be announced shortly.

This is a further indication of the shape of the partnership between Square Enix and Shanda Games, which we reported on last year. The Championship Manager franchise dates back to 1992, with recent versions created by Beautiful Game Studios.

MassivelySquare Enix invites Championship Manager into the MMO club originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Shri Krishna

General gaming

General gaming

Pokemon Head Discusses the Pains of 3DS Development

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 07:05 AM PDT


It's been a pretty busy first half of 2011 for everyone at The Pokémon Company -- the English version of Pokémon Black/White touched down in March; Pokédex 3D was released for free on the 3DS last month; and Pokémon Rumble Blast was just announced for a October 3DS release in America. For Pokémon Company head Tsunekazu Ishihara, it's all part of his team's effort to keep users excited and keep the fun flowing.

"The core idea with the Pokédex is to get people to play Pokémon Black/White on the 3DS," he told Famitsu magazine this week. "Figuring out how to encourage that and how to use the 3DS feature set was what led to the Pokédex. There are still a lot of gamers we'd like to get playing Pokémon Black/White, and there are new methods of play that we wanted to introduce to people already playing the game. When the 3DS concept started going around, the first idea that came up was to create what was essentially the ultimate Pokédex. If we were going to go through with it, we definitely didn't want to put in a halfhearted effort."

For a free product, Pokédex 3D is indeed pretty extensive, although Ishihara admitted that it hasn't been downloaded quiet as much as his company had hoped quite yet. "People that have played it are giving us high marks for it," he said, "but to be honest, I think we're still just getting started in terms of distribution. I get the impression that a lot of 3DS users have yet to update their system software [the newest update was released early June] -- something that I hope more people get active on, because then they'll be able to use the Pokédex. A lot of gamers want us to cover the entire Pokédex for every region of Pokémon, too, and with what we've learned through using SpotPass, I'd definitely like to expand the Pokédex going into the future."

Japanese Developers, Gamers Sound Off On PS Vita

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 06:32 AM PDT


Japan's Famitsu magazine recently announced the results of a PlayStation Vita survey they conducted among both readers and members of the nation's game industry -- and if their responses are any indication, Sony definitely doesn't have to worry over whether people are excited or not about the upcoming portable.

According to the survey, over 87 percent of Japanese gamers have an interest in purchasing a Vita, with 44.8 percent saying they intend to buy it on the day of release. 54.9 percent thought the system was "inexpensive" at its price point of 24,980 yen ($249) for the Wi-Fi model, and 58 percent said they'd opt for the Wi-Fi version over the 3G one

Those are pretty remarkable figures, but the Japanese developers Famitsu talked to seem even more excited about the Vita than gamers. "I got to touch the actual system for the first time at E3, but it's really amazing," commented Tomonobu Itagaki, the former Tecmo/Team Ninja director who now works for Valhalla Games. "I think the fact they're releasing a system that comes so close to the PlayStation 3's specs when the PS3 is still a primary platform in the marketplace is especially worth noting. I've worked on a portable game only once in my career, but I think I'm going to need to change my stance toward portables, and I think the game business will need to join me on that. Either way, I need to hit the state-of-the-art with a high-end project -- if it winds up that portables are as powerful as consoles, then where does that leave consoles?"

Suda51 Talks Up Lollipop Chainsaw

Posted: 20 Jul 2011 06:03 AM PDT


If you're familiar at all with the work of Grasshopper Manufacture and its president Goichi "Suda51" Suda (above), it should come as no surprise to you that their latest game involves a cheerleader in a skimpy outfit using a chainsaw to dismember zombies inside a West Coast high school. It also shouldn't surprise you to learn that Grasshopper already has a US and European publisher in place for the title.

Lollipop Chainsaw, an Xbox 360/PlayStation 3 title first announced in this week's issue of Famitsu magazine in Japan, stars a girl named Juliet Starling who, on the occasion of her 18th birthday, is on her way to San Romero High School to meet up with her boyfriend. Instead, she finds the place infested with zombie-fied versions of her classmates. It should be obvious by the game's title what comes next.

"Actually I've wanted to do a crazy horror-action game like this set in a school for a while now," Suda commented. "Something where the classrooms, corridors, gymnasium and so on are suddenly transformed into something completely different. I was also working on a game concept centered around using a chainsaw as a weapon, and once the idea for the Juliet character began to form, it was just a perfect fit."

Final Fantasy Type-0 Coming to Japan in October

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 09:59 PM PDT


Final Fantasy Type-0 has been given a release date. Just a few weeks after we found out it's at about the 80% complete mark, Square Enix has announced the game will be available in Japan on October 13.

As it's a particularly large game for PSP, it'll require two UMDs. That's not the only detail that makes it different than most PSP games -- it'll cost more, too. Whereas the average PSP game goes for 5,040 yen (just under $64 USD) in Japan, Type-0 will cost 7,700 yen (more than $97), according to Andriasang.

As you'd expect, there was no sign of a United States release date. Tetsuya Nomura indicated earlier this month that an overseas release was possible, but no decisions on the subject have been made. More than likely, given the state of the PSP in the U.S. (not to mention JRPGs), the game won't be seen here until it hits the PSP Remaster line on PlayStation 3.

Hulk Hogan and a Porn Star Lend Their Voices to Saints Row: The Third

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 05:36 PM PDT

Hulk Hogan

Saints Row is centered around its zaniness, so it's only right that each game feature some well-known celebrity voices to make everything that much more surreal. Saints Row 2 had Neil Patrick Harris, Michael Dorn, and Keith David, and for Saints Row: The Third, a former porn star and the Hulkster have been tapped to lend their voices.

THQ's announcement on the first wave of celebrity voice actors for The Third includes Sasha Grey, a former porn star who has since begun dabbling in acting and modeling. She'll play the role of Viola DeWynter. Angel De LaMuerte, a "legendary professional wrestler," will be played by Hulk Hogan, the former WWF/WWE wrestler who now, even at the age of 57, has the occasional wrestling match in TNA Wrestling, a WWE competitor. Rounding out the cast is Daniel Dae Kim, who will again assume the role of Johnny Gat, one of the leaders of the Third Street Saints.

More celebrity voice actors are to come, according to THQ -- this is only the first bunch. There's plenty of time for more reveals to come, as The Third won't be out until November 15.

Captain America: Super Soldier Review

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 05:15 PM PDT

Superhero games should make you feel what it's like to step into the shoes of someone special. They should let you experience what it's like to wear the cape, strap on the belt, and feel power flowing through your veins. In short, the best superhero games make us feel extraordinary.

Captain America: Super Soldier is anything but.

Batman: Arkham City Collector's Edition Includes a Statue, But No Game Case

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 04:23 PM PDT

Batman Arkham City

Like any other big game release these days, Batman: Arkham City will be getting the obligatory Collector's Edition this fall.

The big highlight of this particular CE is a custom Batman statue made by Kotobukiya, which has produced Star Wars and Dead or Alive statues, among other things, in the past. It also packs in a collectible art book, digital album, copy of animated movie Batman: Gotham Knight, and early access to both the Iceberg Lounge Challenge mode map and a Dark Knight Returns skin.

The game disc, as seen in the image above, is located in the front flap of the art book. It's a questionable place to put it, as many people would prefer either the same box that buyers of the standard edition will get or an exclusive, CE-only box -- not a sleeve in the front of the art book.

Catherine Review

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 03:57 PM PDT

If you had to put a name on it, I suppose you'd call Catherine a puzzle game. After all, a sizable portion of the game -- well more than half of it -- is spent pushing and pulling boxes in a series of challenges that can trace their ancestry straight back to Sokoban. A paternity test would probably show traces of Crazy Climber, Mr. Driller, and Intelligent Qube DNA in there, too, but ultimately this is a straight-up box-pushing game gussied up with stylish graphics and nightmarish hazards: Spike traps, slippery ice panels, explosives, terrified sheep, giant babies, vengeful zombie fiancées -- you know, the usual.

As puzzle games go, Catherine is really good. The challenges in the main game aren't completely limited to a single solution; there's room for plenty of improvisation and lateral thinking. The important thing is to reach the top of each stage before the bottom falls out beneath you, which is a lot harder than it sounds. Catherine is infamously difficult, and Atlus even toned down the U.S. release to make it feel less punishing. Nevertheless, even the easy difficulty setting becomes hair-pullingly difficult about mid-way through. As for hard mode, it starts out merciless and will quickly fill your mind with thoughts of murder -- of murdering yourself, perhaps, or possibly the cruel developers. Yet even at its most vicious, the game is addictive, and it's fairly generous about handing out retry opportunities. From start to finish, it has that great "one more try" feel to it.

Rumored GoldenEye 360/PS3 Port Screenshots Leaked

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 02:55 PM PDT

GoldenEye Reloaded

Screenshots of what is allegedly an HD remake of GoldenEye 007 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 appear to have been leaked.

Activision is set to announce a new James Bond game this week at Comic-Con. It's rumored to be something called GoldenEye Reloaded -- domain names for various versions of that name (with and without the added "007") were registered last month, sparking speculation of an HD remake of last year's Wii game, which itself is a remake of the classic N64 shooter.

The Darkness II Won't be Quad-Wielding Until 2012

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 01:40 PM PDT

The Darkness II

Right on the heels of several other game delays, 2K Games announced today that The Darkness II has slipped into 2012. Originally scheduled for release this fall, it's now set to be out for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on February 7, 2012 in North America, followed on February 10 internationally.

The Darkness II, a sequel to the 2007 FPS The Darkness, is, like its predecessor, based on the comic book series of the same name. The comic series got its start in 1996; for its 15-year anniversary, this week's San Diego Comic-Con will be home to a special panel on the series that will feature the upcoming videogame. The panel is to take place on July 21 from 12pm to 1pm Pacific in Room 9 of the convention center.

The game will be playable at the event, allowing attendees to check out the new "Quad-Wielding" system. As if dual wielding a pair of guns wasn't enough, The Darkness II lets you do that in addition to using a pair of Demon Arms to slash, grab, and throw things around. Thus, quad wielding.

Posted by Shri Krishna

MMO updates

MMO updates

Age of Wulin (CN) - CEO speaks out over CBT keys sale

Posted: 19 Jul 2011 08:22 AM PDT


A few days ago, I posted about Age of Wulin (CN) selling Closed Beta keys in packages over in China. This move left many players frustrated, given that the martial arts MMO is highly anticipated and already seen a few delays. Despite the hiccups, the community was very supportive and continued to stand behind the developer, Snail Games. With much fury vented on various gaming forums, Snail Games' CEO Mr Shi Hai (below) has finally spoken out on the topic with 17173, one of the country's top gaming website. DO note that the English server for Age of Wulin will be published by gPotato Europe (official website).


Q: How did the plan of selling Closed Beta keys happen? Why aren't they given out free like other games'?

A: Actually, the whole process of selling CBT keys isn't complicated. We thought of opening the game and let everyone try it out right after internal testing, but we realized the need to conduct a large scale testing first (CBT) before allowing everyone in. Age of Wulin is highly anticipated and it is not a polished product, hence we need to do the limited testing first with the masses. But how do we choose who to play and test the game for us?

Many people believe that Snail Games have the ability and strength to make Age of Wulin a success. When players' level of expectation meets what we feel the game should receive, we need to know how many players will be willing to fork out for a Age of Wulin CBT key despite Snail Games being "nothing". We believe these users are the ones who support us the most, and on our part we will provide them with the best we can offer. These players will also be part of the community to help us polish Age of Wulin.

Some people are calling us money suckers, which is normal and we are fine with it. Everyone views certain issues differently. We feel that we have done nothing wrong and in fact we are "enjoying" this process.


Q: We (17173) did a survey recently and 66% of the votes did not accept Snail Games putting the CBT keys for Age of Wulin on sale. What is your thought about this?

A: This Closed Beta phase is quite complete (features wise). If players are not willing to fork out for a CBT key, they are not helping the game's cause. And when such players are given free entrance into the CBT phase, they will only lament and rant about certain things which are not doing as intended. As such, having a certain restriction is a good thing. If they do not want to cross this "barrier", they can wait a few months to play when the game opens up to everyone.

Why must we follow what other games do? We do not feel that anything wrong is done here. We are only looking for loyal players who are willing to buy a CBT key despite knowing the risks of testing a non-perfect version of the game. There is actually not much problem with this thinking from our point of view.


Snail Games is no doubt a proud MMO development company, we did not have glorious results in the past but we are proud of the choices we made. Why? Snail Games believe we are acting based on a common cause for the benefit of everyone, we hope players understand this.

Q: Do you feel the 2 packages (priced at 149 and 249 Chinese Yuan) are overpriced?

A: I do not want to talk about some details behind the plan or make players feel that we are just selling the CBT keys outright. Here are some facts. Each of the package contains a 100 Chinese Yuan top-up card, a 30 Chinese Yuan monthly card and various collectibles.

From the way things are at now, there might be a small chance of having no character and data wipes when transiting from Closed Beta to Open Beta. In order to let players try out the content which requires payment, we are going to give some rewards to them during Open Beta including unique titles and in-game items.

If the players feel this is worth the amount required, they are welcome to try the game out. If not, they can wait till Open Beta starts. This plan has not hurt anyone, we are doing what we feel is right.


Q: You talked about having no data wipe from Closed Beta to Open Beta. Is this detail confirmed?

A: Sometimes, due to the scale of the testing, there are data wipes when moving on to the Open Beta phase. Although the chances of having a data wipe for Age of Wulin is low, nothing is confirmed at this moment.

Q: Will all features be available in Closed Beta?

A: Of course. For the first client, all basic features will be available for players. I can confirmed that this Closed Beta phase will last longer than 2 months. If anyone is displeased about this arrangement, I apologize on Snail Games' behalf.

Q: How many packages are you expecting to be sold out? How much CCU are you aiming for to view the CBT phase as a success?

A: We expect a high number of sales for the CBT packages. I urge everyone to embrace Snail Games' stand on this Closed Beta promotion. We didn't have a highly successful title before and developing Age of Wulin is risky for us as well, but we have confidence. A company without a mainstay title in the past selling CBT keys is unheard of in China, hence we are doing it. For the 66% who opposed this idea, I encourage them to think through carefully, do not buy if you cannot afford, but buy if you really like the game.

I don't think the CCU or number of players online will be a problem. Age of Wulin is a quality online game, and the gamers have already bought the keys as well, it will be hard for them not to be online. This is also one of the motives behind the sale of CBT keys.

Q: In the packages, there is the 100 Chinese Yuan top-up card which more or less confirms Age of Wulin having a cash item shop. But will the actual game be using another type of payment model in order for players to play?

A: We are unable to officially announce the actual payment model yet. Over the months, some fees will be reduced, some will be increased and some other prices will be tweaked after discussions with the community. We do not want players to see Snail Games as a money-only company.

Posted by Shri Krishna
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