MMOGaming News

MMOGaming News

Report - North Korea Hiring Hackers to Farm Gold to Fund the Government

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According to the report of New York Times, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has found a hacker group comprise of graduates of North Korea's elite science universities, to farm gold to raise money for the government. Continue reading Report - North Korea Hiring Hackers to Farm Gold to Fund the Government.

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League of Legends Patch Preview 1.0.0.123

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Preview of some of the major changes coming into the next patch for League of Legends. Continue reading League of Legends Patch Preview 1.0.0.123.

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Tribes: Ascend to Start CBT in September, OBT in Late Fall

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Tribes franchise seemed be dead until Global Agenda developer Hi-Rez Studios announced plans to release a traditional multiplayer shooter game, Tribes Ascend. The game was shown for the first time in public at QuakeCon 2011. Continue reading Tribes: Ascend to Start CBT in September, OBT in Late Fall.

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Nexon Concludes MapleStory's Chaos Update Series with Age of Triumph

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It has been quite the eventful summer for Maple World as 'Chaos' continues to roll out massive content updates to Nexon's side-scrolling action MMO, MapleStory. To conclude the Chaos series, Nexon has announced the Age of Triumph, a huge update that brings unique content exclusively to those players who traverse Maple World on Global MapleStory servers. Continue reading Nexon Concludes...

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Dragon Nest SEA Open Beta Dated on August 16

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Shanda Games International today announced the concrete date for Dragon Nest SEA open beta. Starting from August 16, the gate of Lagendia will open to all brave men. Continue reading Dragon Nest SEA Open Beta Dated on August 16.

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Weekly Shot: Dragona Online CBT: Beauty On Screen

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We are so glad that there are more and more players join our Weekly Shot Event. I am getting worried about that it will be a toss-up to decide who is the winner. Continue reading Weekly Shot: Dragona Online CBT: Beauty On Screen.

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Crossfire Coming to Europe Soon, CBT Dated August 31

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SG Interactive today announced that Crossfire Europe, a free online First Person Shooter (FPS), will be coming to European gamers very soon, with a Closed Beta Test (CBT) scheduled to begin on Aug. 31, 2011. Developed by SG Interactive's parent company SmileGate, Crossfire is one of the most popular online games in the world, setting an impressive record of 2.8 million concurrent users across the...

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[Hot Blog] Rusty Hearts CBT Review Part 01

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For now, the choice boils down to three characters, while the fourth will be unlocked later. Frantz is a typical vampire in-your-face jack of all trades. Angela uses magic while Tude is a brawler with quick reactions. What I have noticed is that the game is friendly to beginners. Continue reading [Hot Blog] Rusty Hearts CBT Review Part 01.

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Get Prepared for Sylvari Week in Guild Wars 2

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Guild Wars 2 fans are going to get excited next week! At this year's gamescom, gamers in Europe will get a chance to play the sylvari, one of the most anticipated races in Guild Wars 2 for the first time. ArenaNet has listed the plan for the whole week as fellows: Continue reading Get Prepared for Sylvari Week in Guild Wars 2.

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Pirate-themed MMORTS Picaroon - Nations Challenge Awaits You

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Nice Technology Ltd, developers of the pirate-themed MMORTS game Picaroon, invites you all to compete in a special month long challenge game. Continue reading Pirate-themed MMORTS Picaroon - Nations Challenge Awaits You.

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Unlimited Detail: Interview with the Aussie Tech Company Euclideon

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To try and give a little more insight into Unlimited Detail, I had the chance to interview the Aussie Tech Company and I hope this sheds a little more light on some of the concerns amongst the community. Continue reading Unlimited Detail: Interview with the Aussie Tech Company Euclideon.

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Posted by Shri Krishna


General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

Microsoft Potentially Dropping Dolby Support in Windows 8

Posted: 07 Aug 2011 01:13 PM PDT

DolbyNative media playback support has been steadily improving in Windows over the years, but what most people don't realize is that this functionality comes at a price. Dozens of third party licensing agreements are needed to playback all the different forms of audio and video you're likely to stumble across, and over the years Dolby has benefited quite handsomely from the inclusion of its Dolby Digital Plus pack into Microsoft's operating systems. 

Dolby's offerings are one of the key technologies behind native DVD support in Windows, and on Friday the company was forced to admit to investors Microsoft has indicated it will not be licensing any Dolby products in Windows 8. This doesn't necessarily mean that Microsoft is dropping DVD playback support entirely; rather it may simply mean that they are shopping around for a better deal. 

Investors as you can imagine weren't impressed by the news, and reacted by slashing the company's shares by almost 18 percent in just one day. It's too early to tell what Microsoft will offer on the DVD front going forward, but when you consider that Intel anticipates optical drive-less Ultrabooks to make up 40 percent of laptop sales by 2012, spinning media might not be something they need to worry about for much longer. 

India’s $35 Laptop Goes Into Mass Production For Use In Schools

Posted: 07 Aug 2011 06:48 AM PDT

Low Cost PCWhen the folks over at One Laptop Per Child set out on a mission to build a sub $100 laptop for developing nations, we wished them on their mission. It is after all, a great cause. When India announced that it would begin building $35 ultra-low-cost laptop for students however, we called them mad, stark raving mad. Turns out India's minister for human resource development was determined to prove us all wrong, and this week has announced they will be producing more than one million of the devices which will be sold to colleges and universities across the country.

For $35 one wouldn't expect much in the way of performance, but sources at PCWorld have confirmed that each device would include a touchscreen display, Wi-Fi/USB, 2GB of Ram, and a physical keyboard. The device itself is also rumored to be powered by a 2-watt power supply for use in regions where the power grid is less reliable. 

We aren't ready to give up our day jobs as full time skeptics just yet, but what we've seen so far is pretty impressive, and could revolutionize the ultra-low cost PC movement in developing nations if it's successful. 
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMO Updates

MMO Updates

The Anvil of Crom: Deconstructing the dev update - PvP Edition

Posted: 07 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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It's been quite a while since I devoted an Anvil of Crom entry to deconstructing one of Craig Morrison's monthly Age of Conan development updates, and what better time to resurrect an old tradition than on the heels of one of the lengthier producer letters in recent memory.

The end-of-July document took a decidedly pro-PvP approach, and since I've been spending the majority of my game time on the new Blood and Glory server lately, reading between the lines on the bossman's latest state-of-the-game manifesto seems like the thing to do.

Join me after the cut for a bit of discussion on PvP, the future, and a bunch of interesting bullet points.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Deconstructing the dev update - PvP Edition

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Deconstructing the dev update - PvP Edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Chat: Racial edition

Posted: 07 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

A variety of playable races is usually a big selling point for MMOs. If we're going to play in a fantasy world, the ability to step outside of our human skin is icing on the cake. We had quite a bit of discussion of various playable races here at Massively this week, so follow along after the jump to see what everyone had to say!

Continue reading Global Chat: Racial edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Racial edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What existing game would you like to see on a console?

Posted: 07 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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Console MMOs have always been a limited breed, due in no small part to the limited lifespan of consoles versus PCs. That hasn't stopped developers from trying, but somehow the games that are set to be ported to consoles later never quite make the transition -- Age of Conan and Champions Online both stand out as games that promised a console adaptation and then later reversed that promise. Most developers don't even promise that a game will eventually be on a console, either from lack of desire or lack of resources.

Despite this, there are no shortage of games that prompt the thought of playing on a console. Action MMOs in particular frequently focus on a control scheme that would feel natural on a gamepad, even if the game isn't intended for play on your television. So today we ask you -- what currently-active MMO would you like to see available on consoles as well, even if the odds of that happening are somewhere around nil?

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 existing game would you like to see on a console? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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North Korea employing MMO hackers to fund government

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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What's a dictator to do when his third-world economy is wheezing along on its last legs? Hack some video games, of course! According to a report in the New York Times, North Korea's Kim Jong-il unleashed an army of young computer crackers on popular South Korean online gaming portals to find ways to make quick cash.

South Korean authorities claim that a squad of approximately 30 hackers operated from a base in China and were given the mission of breaching online gaming servers (including those of the immensely popular Lineage) to set up bot factories and automated farming collectives. The digital booty was then sold to gamers for a reported $6 million over two years.

Chung Kil-hwan, a senior officer at South Korea's International Crime Investigation Unit, says that the hacker group "reports to a shadowy Communist Party agency called Office 39, which gathers foreign hard currency for Mr. Kim through drug trafficking, counterfeiting, arms sales, and other illicit activities."

MassivelyNorth Korea employing MMO hackers to fund government originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: RIFT's Drowning in Snow, part three

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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Today we've got a special treat for all of you RIFT lore junkies out there. That's right, it's time for Part 3 of the ongoing Drowning in Snow series. This episode sees the deadly Kelari assassin Kira Thanos and her companion Uriel fighting their way through an onslaught of water rifts and Abyssal Cultists. Will they make it out alive, or will they be engulfed by the salty waters of the elemental plane? Follow on past the cut for the next installment of Drowning in Snow and find out for yourself.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: RIFT's Drowning in Snow, part three

MassivelyMassively Exclusive: RIFT's Drowning in Snow, part three originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: On a grand scale

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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Wurm Online is center stage again for today's One Shots, and today's entry illustrates the huge scale available for player-created content. This one is a submission from two Massively readers, Acesfury and Shoden, co-mayors of the city of New Eminence:
Sorry I couldn't make it a single screenshot, but it's simply too big a place to fit in one image. New Eminence was constructed at the opening of the Freedom server over two years ago. Myself and two others decided the top of the island would be a great place for our new city.

However, going from the bottom to top and vice versa wasn't an easy task. This simple fact required the construction of the Eminence Ramp simply to give us better access. Since we had already planted the city up top we built the ramp from the top down and really had no idea how large it was going to become. The hill side was all forest, you couldn't see how high we actually were. It took over 400hrs by two players over a six-week period to complete the ramp and open up access.

The Upper City has gone through many reincarnations and reconstructions finally coming the the final version (shown in screen #2). With the excess dirt being generated at the city by all the changes we carted it down and built the port at the base of the ramp to better store and secure our ships. The port is over 30,000 units of dirt to push the land out into the water and create the wharves shown.
The alternate views of New Eminence can be seen after the jump. We've got one day left in Some Assembly Required week, so if you've haven't gotten around to sending an image of your favorite creation, the time is now!

Next week's theme is pop culture in MMOs. Developers sneak references in all over games, whether it be via NPCs, quests, or items, and we want to see your favorites. Grab a screenshot, tell us a bit about what it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. We'll be featuring the best of these next week.

Continue reading One Shots: On a grand scale

MassivelyOne Shots: On a grand scale originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Tattered Notebook: Great Sprockets, Tinkerfest is here!

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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As I've indicated in past columns, I'm not a fan of Gnomes. In general, my history with them has been checkered at best. It could be my rejected application to the Anklebiters of Prexus, or perhaps it was watching Corka the Gnome perform leaping backstabs on players to pass the time in Emerald Jungle during a warrior epic camp. Most likely, it was the years of Gnomish abuse, as I tried in vain to verbally spar with Corka, only to wind up on the losing end of the battle. Whatever the reason, I view Gnomes the same way that the Grinch used to view Whos down in Whoville.

But when it comes to Tinkerfest, the Gnomish festival held every year over in Steamfont, I have decidedly mixed feelings, because I love steampunk, and this year's Tinkerfest event has lots of new items that almost make it worth spending time at Gnomeland Security.

I was faced with a dilemma: should I go hang out with Gnomes and build up my steampunk collection? In this week's Tattered Notebook, I decided to don my Environmental Hazard Suit 3000 and march straight into the lion's den, to take a look at Tinkerfest 2011.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Great Sprockets, Tinkerfest is here!

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Great Sprockets, Tinkerfest is here! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 06 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Posted by Shri Krishna

General gaming

General gaming

Skyrim Already Feels Like Bethesda's Best Game

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 06:35 PM PDT

Getting a firm grasp of Skyrim's scope in under an hour is an absolutely impossible feat -- I don't care what any other preview says, period. Bethesda has crafted such a large and all-encompassing realization of the Elder Scrolls universe in this newest installment, that dipping your toe into the pool only results in your entire leg being dragged into the water by the game's vicious undercurrent.

The character creation alone could easily clutch players within the intricacies of every single detail of their avatar. Ranging from a selection of races, each have received a considerable facelift not just in terms of fidelity, but in tone. The high arched brows of Elves now imply a sinister touch to their character; the slick scaled skin of the Argonians lavish a specular sheen unique to their race alone. The Khajiit emanate plumes of fur from every patch of their body, and Humans have distinct and recognizable features that separate them as races. This serves as an example of how every shortcoming that you could have thought of from Oblivion seems to have been fully addressed in its long awaited sequel.

Dishonored's Stealth Features Less Sneaking And More Stabbing

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 04:35 PM PDT

Harvey Smith looks nervous as he waits for the press to file in for the first public showing of Arkane Studios' Dishonored.

His partner in crime, fellow co-director Raf Colontonio, stands by him at the podium as everyone begins to settle into the demo room. Smith, an Austinite whose hipster-like appearance and youthful attire mask his many years of experience, begins to tell the room about his current project.

Posted by Shri Krishna

MMORPG News

MMORPG News

General: Star Legends Beta On Android Market - Update on iOS Delay

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 01:34 PM PDT

Spacetime Studios has made the announcement that Star Legends, their follow up to Pocket Legends, has now seen its Beta released on the Android Market. Meanwhile, they provide an update on the delay behind Apple getting on board with the Star Legends Beta in their App Store.

DC Universe Online: Producer Letter: Mega Servers Are On Their Way

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 01:23 PM PDT

The announcement came down yesterday that DC Universe Online and Sony Online Entertainment will be implementing their long-talked about Mega Servers starting effective this Monday with European-Based PC users. Check out the producer letter from DeadMeat over at the Official DC Universe Online Website.

Aika: Epic II: Exodus Begins August 11th

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 01:08 PM PDT

Aika is launching into a new era with the upcoming release of Epic II: Exodus, the first expansion for the critically acclaimed MMO. Adventure to the new island of Traband and traverse a frozen wasteland, slaying ferocious new monsters, completing new quests and stare down war between factions.

MapleStory: Nexon Concludes MapleStory's Chaos With Loads of New Content

Posted: 06 Aug 2011 12:58 PM PDT

To bring Chaos to an end, the MapleStory team over at Nexon have announced The Age of Triumph, a "huge" update that brings unique, exclusive content only to those players who wander Maple World on Global MapleStory servers. Check it out.

General: Blizzard Grabs for Cash

Posted: 05 Aug 2011 03:46 PM PDT

The story of the week for the last seven days comes by way of the news coming out of Blizzard regarding the Real-World Money Auction House that's going to be making its way into Diablo 3 when the highly anticipated title hits the shelves. What repercussions will the MMO industry see from Blizzard's decision to go this route? That's what we take a look at this week in our Story of the Week
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMOGaming News

MMOGaming News

The True Sandbox!! The Right Thing for You??

Posted:

Sandboxes are special games, so special that you can even count with your fingers how many mmo sandboxes exist right now. If you see a sandbox under development, you are watching a very rare episode inside the mmo industry. It is very rare to actually see a sandbox game that is also a mmo. Continue reading The True Sandbox!! The Right Thing for You??.

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Posted by Shri Krishna
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