MMO Updates

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• Vindictus Europe getting new dungeon content, transformation skill
• RuneScape warms our hearts with subscription deal
• Nexon raises $1.17 billion from IPO, stock subsequently drops
• On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me...
• Fable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer
• Namaste Entertainment trumpets upcoming Storybricks beta
• ArenaNet unveils the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer
• Square Enix Members server hacked, personal info possibly compromised
• The Daily Grind: Have you ever had a last-minute change of heart?
• Aion going free-to-play in Europe
• Stephen D'Angelo promises 'one more surprise' for Star Trek Online in December
• Ring in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End
• Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule
• The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights
• Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated]
• SOE gears up for Star Wars Galaxies' closing events
• Hyperspace Beacon: Best of...
• Paragon Studios announces the fall of the Statesman
• The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind
• Massively Speaking Episode 178

Vindictus Europe getting new dungeon content, transformation skill Posted: 14 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Vindictus, Dungeons, Crafting Nexon Europe is preparing for the biggest Vindictus update of the year. The Cohlen in Flames content package brings fire and brimstone to the online action title in the form of Resenlian's Labyrinth, which Nexon describes as "a deeply intense myriad of twisted, dark corridors and skull-lined murderous dungeons." New skills are coming too, foremost among them the transformation ability that features both a temporary boost in ability and a permanent (i.e., irreversible) decision to walk the path of the Paladin or that of the Dark Knight. There's also a new town in the update, and Rocheste features many new characters and side quests as well as the chance to create personal weapons via the new expertise system. Finally, Nexon is raising the level cap to 70, and you can get a glimpse of the update in the Cohlen in Flames and Transformation videos after the break. Continue reading Vindictus Europe getting new dungeon content, transformation skill Vindictus Europe getting new dungeon content, transformation skill originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: 1.07 patch update

RuneScape warms our hearts with subscription deal Posted: 14 Dec 2011 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Promotions Is the frigid winter closing in, encasing your life in ice and gaming frustration? Or, for those of you who live in Florida, do you have to suffer the indignities of wearing a windbreaker when you go outdoors? Jagex is here to help by offering a sunshiny deal on a six-month subscription to RuneScape. Until January 4th, 2012, RuneScape players can sign up for six months of membership for the price of four, which basically gives two free months of premium service. As if that wasn't enough, Jagex is also handing out spiffy reversible ice masks -- with angry and happy sides -- to those who snag this deal. RuneScape's membership starts at $5.95 a month, and upgrades the free-to-play title with additional quests, landscape, minigames, player housing, and no advertisements. RuneScape warms our hearts with subscription deal originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: RuneScape

Nexon raises $1.17 billion from IPO, stock subsequently drops Posted: 14 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Business models, Economy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Miscellaneous Korean online gaming giant Nexon has raised $1.17 billion from its initial public stock offering. The filing stated that Nexon has 1.2 billion registered players, 77 million of which were active as recently as September 2011. CFO Owen Mahoney says the company's expertise made it an attractive proposition for new shareholders. "We can really bring a lot to the table. We know how to tune a game so that people will play it for months on end," he explained. Nexon's IPO was the largest on the Tokyo Stock Exchange this year, and as a result the company is now valued somewhere between $7.69 billion and $8.97 billion according to GamesIndustry.biz. Even so, Nexon's stock price slipped by 3.9 percent on its first day of trading. Nexon raises $1.17 billion from IPO, stock subsequently drops originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GamesIndustry.biz

On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me... Posted: 14 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Contests, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Giveaways On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me... two warring factions! On the first day of giveaways, Turbine gave to me... a lifetime VIP! Welcome to day two! BioWare is joining the lineup today with... well, double-bladed sabers and dancing Twi'leks. It may not invoke the hilarity of the holiday machinima, but the Star Wars: The Old Republic crew is going to make one Massively reader very happy with a digital copy of SWTOR! Our winner will receive a retail code for the standard digital edition of the game, so if you're ready to jump into SWTOR for free, read on to see how to enter! Check out our contest rules below to make sure you're eligible, then leave a comment here telling us about your first TOR character. What kind of character will you make right away on launch day? The entry deadline is tomorrow, December 15th, at 10:00 a.m. EST. We'll choose and contact a winner as soon as the deadline arrives. Best of luck! On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me... originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer Posted: 14 Dec 2011 06:45 AM PST Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, News items, Miscellaneous Is the world of Albion coming to an MMO near you? That's up for speculation thanks to a job advertisement on Microsoft's career board. The software giant, which owns Fable developer Lionhead Studios, is seeking a programmer "who enjoys playing MMO games and has significant experience with the workings of a massive online multiplayer environment." Further requirements include "a minimum of one shipped MMO as a network programmer." Lionhead shipped Fable III in October of 2010, and the company is rumored to be developing a "controller-based" Fable IV in 2013, according to Eurogamer. When contacted by Eurogamer, Lionhead had this to say in an official statement: "Thanks for checking in with us! We're happy to tell you all about what we're working on. Just apply, get hired, and we promise to spill our guts!" Fable developer Lionhead seeking experienced MMO programmer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Microsoft Talent Network Via: Eurogamer

Namaste Entertainment trumpets upcoming Storybricks beta Posted: 14 Dec 2011 06:30 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Video, Dev Diaries, Miscellaneous, Sandbox If you're part of the crowd that grouses at unoriginality in the MMO genre and are craving a fresh breath of minty innovation, then you might have been intrigued at the ideas put forth by Namaste Entertainment's Storybricks toolset earlier this year. But when would this become reality? Turns out the answer is sooner than you'd think. Namaste announced that Storybricks' beta is scheduled for February next year, and if you want to check it out, all you need to do is sign up for the newsletter and you'll be on the list. The beta will be a "skeletal version" of the toolkit without the associated game, but it should allow players to fiddle around with creating their own MMO scenarios and worlds. During the beta process, the devs will be actively creating Storybricks content and releasing it for testing as well. To cement the good news, Lead Designer Stephane Bura and MMO Architect Brian "Psychochild" Green have put forth their first developer diary talking about the lead-up to beta and what is planned for early next year. Feast your eyeballs and eardrums on the excitement after the jump! Continue reading Namaste Entertainment trumpets upcoming Storybricks beta Namaste Entertainment trumpets upcoming Storybricks beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Namaste Entertainment Via: Storybricks Facebook page

ArenaNet unveils the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer Posted: 14 Dec 2011 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, News items, Guild Wars 2 Broken embargoes and leaked videos aside, longtime fans of Guild Wars 2 are expressing a complete lack of surprise at today's Mesmer reveal. ArenaNet finally unveiled the long-awaited eighth class this morning: the iconic Mesmer, the class that's been nearly synonymous with the Guild Wars name since 2005. OK, maybe that's a little on the dramatic side, but after fans waited through seven other classes, two books, and quite literally years of development news, it's Kind of a Big Deal. Now it's finally here, so what's it like? Let's take a closer look at the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer class. Continue reading ArenaNet unveils the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer ArenaNet unveils the Guild Wars 2 Mesmer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Square Enix Members server hacked, personal info possibly compromised Posted: 14 Dec 2011 05:30 AM PST Filed under: MMO industry, Legal, Miscellaneous Square-Enix has sounded the klaxons and let out the guard dogs in response to an "unauthorized access" on one of its Square Enix Members servers. The web service was taken offline in North America and Japan while the company investigates the situation and determines how serious the problem is. Fortunately, it doesn't appear as if credit card information is at stake, although some users' personal information may be: We are assessing the full extent of this potential breach to determine what data, if any, was compromised and will provide more details as soon as possible. While some personal information may have been accessed, we can confirm that there is no possibility of any credit card information leak from this incident, since the server in question stores no credit card information. We estimate that the suspension will continue for a few days until we complete our investigation and counter-measures. We will update you as we learn more. Square Enix Members is a loyalty program that dishes out rewards in exchange for players who register Square-Enix games with the service. The website does store users' names, addresses, usernames, and passwords. Square Enix Members server hacked, personal info possibly compromised originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GamesIndustry.biz

The Daily Grind: Have you ever had a last-minute change of heart? Posted: 14 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous People who know me know I'm a planner when it comes to video games. I'm always planning what type of character I'm going to roll, how I'm going to level, what my goals will be, and so on. It's fun to plan, which sometimes carries with it the benefit of removing stress from making impromptu decisions that can affect your long-term gaming career. That said, I've certainly not been immune to making last-minute changes. Maybe I'm totally dedicated to rolling a certain class, but once that character creation screen is up there, I trust my gut and go with something different. Or I'll spend months saying that I have absolutely no urge to play an upcoming MMO, but at the 11th hour I break down and buy it. Has this ever happened to you with MMOs? Have you ever had a last-minute change of heart when it came to a major (or even minor) decision? How did it turn out? 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! The Daily Grind: Have you ever had a last-minute change of heart? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aion going free-to-play in Europe Posted: 14 Dec 2011 03:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, News items, Free-to-play "In the last few months the lands in Atreia have become more and more deserted. We want to reinvigorate the world of Aion and attract new adventurers to the towns to take to the skies as Daevas." So says the Aion team in a surprising announcement overnight. NCsoft has teamed up with Gameforge to bring free-to-play Aion to the European servers (yet). The change is scheduled to take place in February of 2012, and will not affect the NA servers. The new Aion free-to-play site is set up to answer all of players' immediate questions and concerns, featuring an extensive FAQ and an outline of the three account types that will be available. Check out the free-to-play trailer beclow, and you can find all of the details on the new Aion F2P site. Continue reading Aion going free-to-play in Europe Aion going free-to-play in Europe originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Dec 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Eurogamer

Stephen D'Angelo promises 'one more surprise' for Star Trek Online in December Posted: 13 Dec 2011 07:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries Star Trek Online's Stephen D'Angelo is one of the game's biggest cheerleaders, and it shows in his latest developer diary. "December has been an amazing month," he begins, citing the release of Season 5, new starships, and the Duty Officer system. He highlights the game's first holiday, Q's Winter Wonderland, and the minigames and activities in which the players can participate to get the most out of this whimsical event. Of course, it's not all fun and games when serious prizes, like a holographic bridge officer or a Jem'Hadar Attack Ship, are on the line. D'Angelo also says that a Duty Officer mini-event is on the docket for the month, as will "one more fun surprise." He concludes his letter by sharing the news that the team is now focusing on February's Dominion Episodes and ground skills/UI improvements. Stephen D'Angelo promises 'one more surprise' for Star Trek Online in December originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Star Trek Online

Ring in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End Posted: 13 Dec 2011 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Warhammer Online, News items Amidst the news of server merges, Warhammer Online fans could probably use something to celebrate, something to lift the spirits a bit. So it's fortunate that the annual Keg End celebration is just around the corner, giving everyone a chance to get drunk and rowdy even by the already aggressive status of the world's inhabitants. Running from December 14th until January 4th, Keg End is a chance to celebrate in style in the Dwarven tradition. The rewards for the event haven't changed much this year, with the usual assortment of Party Kegs, Keg Taps, and Battlebrew Backpacks. There are giants roaming the field looking for their own ale and a handful of sporting battles, and there are plenty of special drinks to be sampled just for the event. So get yourself ready to log in tomorrow and take a nice roll through fields filled with blood, beer, and battle. Especially beer. Ring in the new year with Warhammer Online's Keg End originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Keg End is coming!

Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule Posted: 13 Dec 2011 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Lore, RIFT All in-game holiday festivals were not born equal, but they do seem to share a family resemblance when it comes to being merry and bright. RIFT's Fae Yule is but one of many, many Christmastime MMO holidays that we're witnessing this month, but the team at Trion Worlds is looking to make it stand out from the rest of the crowd with its depth and sense of fun. So why do the inhabitants of Telara celebrate Fae Yule and take time out of their busy schedule of slaughter and soul-absorbing to decorate the town and scarf down bucketfuls of eggnog? What do they sing about when gathered around a crackling fire? What kind of present is appropriate for the fellow who already has the gift of immortality? It's time to sit on Trion's lap and ask for your greatest wish in game while jolly St. Hartsman tells you all about the lore and in-game goodies behind RIFT's festivities. Ho-ho-hit that jump and let's get started! Continue reading Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule Massively Exclusive: The story and presents behind RIFT's Fae Yule originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights Posted: 13 Dec 2011 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Meridian 59, MMO industry, Free-to-play, The Game Archaeologist A colony founded through a magical nexus, Meridian 59 had it all going on -- until, that is, the portal to the colony collapsed and it was left to fend for itself. Monsters swarmed over the land, politics split the community into factions, and adventurers were called to rise up and become the heroes that were desperately needed. And all it took was $10.95 a month and an internet connection. Welcome to 1996 and one of the very first -- if not the first (more on that later) -- graphical MMOs to hit the scene. Meridian 59 may not have been one of the biggest games in the genre, but it was arguably one of the most important, the John Adams to World of Warcraft's Abraham Lincoln. If you were wondering, Darkfall was Chester A. Arthur. It seems fitting to end 2011 by touching upon this significant title that, against all odds, continues to operate today. Meridian 59 weathered studio shutdowns, newbie developers in every sense of the word, and a world that wasn't quite sure what to make of these fancy-schmancy massively interactive roleplaying games. MIRGs! Oh, that would've been such a better acronym, but I digress. Let's set the wayback machine to 1978 to see how one amateur game led to another that led to the birth of an industry. Continue reading The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights The Game Archaeologist crosses Meridian 59: The highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated] Posted: 13 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, Previews, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic You may think that now that Star Wars: The Old Republic's early start underway and moving nicely, the developers over at BioWare are sitting back and enjoying a celebratory glass of champagne (or bottle of whiskey). You would be wrong, however, because a new post on the official site shows that BioWare is already looking toward the future. But what can players expect from the future of The Old Republic? Guild functionality is high on the priority list, and players can expect everything from guild banks to guild capital ships in the future. UI customization is also "a very big priority" to BioWare. The studio also has "an entire team dedicated to adding content and features to [PvP]." The space system, the legacy system, and the galaxy as a whole are also on board for future updates. For the full details, just head on over to the official SWTOR site. [Update: The team has also just posted an address to those who are not yet part of the early access pre-launch. We've included the contents of the message behind the break. Thanks to Onyx for the tip!] Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated] Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to the future [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Star Wars: The Old Republic -- What's next for The Old Republic? Via: PC Gamer

SOE gears up for Star Wars Galaxies' closing events Posted: 13 Dec 2011 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, MMO industry, New titles, Star Wars Galaxies, Sandbox A long time ago, in a game industry far, far away, there was an MMORPG called Star Wars Galaxies. It made a lot of people happy (and sad), hung around for eight plus years, and is now being forced into an early retirement by the next big thing. Before it rides off into the twin sunset, SWG is holding a series of farewell events. According to the patch notes for today's update, the Galactic Civil War score will be frozen on Wednesday, December 14th at midnight EST, at which time Jabba's event kicks off near the Sarlacc Pit in the deeps of the Tatooine desert Three more events will begin at server restart on Thursday, December 15th, sometime around 7:00 a.m. EST: one near the Research Outpost on Endor, one in the Nub Shanda zone of Coronet, Corellia, and one in the city of Theed on the planet Naboo. Massively's Karen Bryan and the rest of the SWG-fans among the Massively staff will be livestreaming the final countdown on the Starsider server on Thursday, starting at 11 p.m. EST. Join us as we reminisce about and salute this groundbreaking sandbox. SOE gears up for Star Wars Galaxies' closing events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: SWG forums

Hyperspace Beacon: Best of... Posted: 13 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Classes, Game mechanics, Launches, Lore, New titles, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guides, Hyperspace Beacon, Crafting If you pre-ordered the game early enough, then you should be in Star Wars: The Old Republic's early access by the time you are reading this. I hope you're having a good time. Look me up on the Lord Adraas server. My name there is Shaddoe. Don't be scared -- I may roleplay my character. Even if you didn't pre-order in time, you'll want your SWTOR fix, and I have the solution for you right here: the Hyperspace Beacon. Each week for the last year and a half, I have written a guide to the world of Star Wars: The Old Republic, covering everything from lore and game mechanics to speculation and community. Ultimately, I hope to better prepare you for the launch of this highly anticipated MMO. However, 67 articles can be tough to sift through, so I've narrowed down the list to the best of the best. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Best of... Hyperspace Beacon: Best of... originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Paragon Studios announces the fall of the Statesman Posted: 13 Dec 2011 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Lore, Previews, News items, Free-to-play Prepare for a shock, City of Heroes players. One of the game's most symbolic characters, Statesman, is going to die. In true comic-book fashion, Paragon Studios has announced the impending death of the leader of the Freedom Phalanx. But players will, of course, have their parts to play as well. They will be tasked with "unraveling the scheme that leads to the demise of our intrepid hero." And players will be able to do just that when Signature Story Arc #5 goes live in January. The update will be available free next month to VIP players. Premium players can purchase it from the cash shop if they please. So brace yourselves, City of Heroes players, for the fall of an icon. Villains are free to celebrate now if they wish. [Source: NCSoft and Paragon Studios press release] Paragon Studios announces the fall of the Statesman originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind Posted: 13 Dec 2011 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Business models, Economy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Soapbox 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. You're no doubt aware of a certain sci-fi MMORPG that's launching this week. As is the case each time a new major title releases, I'm curious to see how (or if) the developers will deal with the inevitable real-money trade. BioWare has been fairly quiet about gold-farming and the steps it may take to combat it, which isn't too surprising given the unglamorous and often controversial subject matter. Few game devs mention their anti-RMT plans prior to launch, but plenty of dev teams complain about RMT after their game has been released. And yet, the usual solutions to black market currency trading are continuously ineffective at stopping it. Continue reading The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind The Soapbox: On gold-farming and the grind originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Speaking Episode 178 Posted: 13 Dec 2011 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Podcasts, Culture, Opinion, Humor, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous Massively Speaking Episode 178 returns this week with hosts Justin and Rubi discussing the week's MMO news, including Warhammer Online's continued server merges, World of Tanks and their shiny new Guinness World Record, Final Fantasy XIV finally charging for their game, EverQuest II's expansion launch, and some things about a Star Wars game that's supposed to launch sometime soon, I forget when. Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes. Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 178 Massively Speaking Episode 178 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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General gaming

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• Surprise: Japanese Gamers Want to Buy a Vita
• The Pains of Being Armored Core V's Producer
• Homefront Promotional Stunt Results in a $7,000 Fine
• Miyamoto Could See Nintendo Collaborating with Retro on a Zelda Game
• Gotham City Imposters is Fun And Unique, But is That Enough?
• Star Wars: The Old Republic Character Class Guide
• Nintendo Dates Kid Icarus: Uprising, Rhythm Heaven Wii, Mario Party 9
• Xbox Live Gets New Apps for TMZ, Verizon, and YouTube Today
• 3DS Circle Pad Pro is a GameStop Exclusive in the U.S.
• Sony Confirms Team Ico Boss Fumito Ueda's Departure

Surprise: Japanese Gamers Want to Buy a Vita Posted: 14 Dec 2011 05:29 AM PST The PlayStation Vita comes out December 17 in Japan (February 22 over here), and while excitement in Japan at this moment is primarily geared toward the new 3DS Monster Hunter, that's likely to change in a hurry once Saturday rolls around. This week's issue of Japan's Famitsu magazine sadly features no reviews of the Vita's extensive launch lineup (26 games in Japan!), but they did publish a new survey where they polled visitors to their website about their purchase plans. It's not a surprise, perhaps, that Famitsu.com readers are a bit more interested in the Vita than Japan's population in general. 73.3% of responders said they intend to purchase a PS Vita on the launch date, with 19.5% saying they'd either avoid the system entirely or take a wait-and-see approach. Of those, the great majority, 68.8%, are intending to purchase the 3G/Wi-Fi version of the system, although how many of those are going to be available to non-preordering gamers on Saturday is anybody's guess.

The Pains of Being Armored Core V's Producer Posted: 14 Dec 2011 05:04 AM PST Armored Core V, latest in From Software's flagship series of hardcore 3D robot shooters, is coming out in Japan next month. It has not been the easiest of projects for Toshifumi Nabeshima, ACV's producer and a person who's been involved with the franchise since the very first game in 1997. "Development has been ongoing for about three years, and during that time there have been several turning points," Nabishima told Famitsu magazine in an interview published this week. "The first was when we changed the number in the title from 5 to V; that was the point where we decided to make the online component a great deal more extensive. The second was during the [closed] beta test period, something we didn't have a great deal of experience with on consoles, so we were a bit concerned about how many people we could get to be involved. We wound up having a great deal of people actively get into it, which I appreciate."

Homefront Promotional Stunt Results in a $7,000 Fine Posted: 13 Dec 2011 05:09 PM PST The release of thousands of red balloons to publicize a videogame earlier this year has resulted in a fine being levied against the marketing company responsible. The stunt took place in San Francisco during this year's Game Developers Conference in March and was meant to publicize the release of THQ's Homefront on March 15. The game centers around a North Korean invasion of the United States. 10,000 red balloons were released as part of a staged protest meant to "simulate a method used by South Korea to send messages of hope to the North," according to a statement THQ issued at the time. The balloons contained a message about pre-ordering the game at GameStop, which claimed it was unaware of the stunt until after it happened.

Miyamoto Could See Nintendo Collaborating with Retro on a Zelda Game Posted: 13 Dec 2011 03:02 PM PST Retro Studios played a big role in the creation of Mario Kart 7. It's not the first time the Texas-based developer has taken on a beloved Nintendo franchise -- it developed the Metroid Prime games and Donkey Kong Country Returns -- and it's unlikely to be the last, as Shigeru Miyamoto sees the Legend of Zelda series as a possible target for a similar form of collaboration. It was originally believed Retro was only developing a Donkey Kong Country-themed course for MK7. An Iwata Asks interview posted on Nintendo of Japan's website (via NeoGAF) last month revealed it actually did much more than that. In a new interview with Wired, Miyamoto detailed exactly what roles Retro filled and what Nintendo series could next see a collaboration between East and West.

Gotham City Imposters is Fun And Unique, But is That Enough? Posted: 13 Dec 2011 02:31 PM PST Developers take a big risk implementing unconventional ideas in video games. History has shown that consumers are not exactly welcoming to anything too different from the norm. However, it's not the risks that Gotham City Imposters takes that makes me doubt its future success, but rather the risks it doesn't. As you might guess, Gotham City Imposters takes place in Gotham City. Deciding that Batman shouldn't have all the fun, a group of aspiring super heroes and villains have sprung up. These newcomers, however, are not exactly what you'd call prime vigilante or criminal material. They wear ridiculous masks that look like a three-year-old's Halloween costume; some get around on roller skates; and all wield a deadly assortment of makeshift weapons. Underneath the humorous window dressing GCI is a pure multiplayer shooter and nothing more. This is actually quite refreshing -- it's nice to see a developer as talented as Monolith tackle a smaller, and more focused game. GCI lets you customize your character with a variety of outlandish outfits, gadgets, and weapons. My Batman wannabe was an obese nerd on roller skates with a cheap looking cowl, undersized T-shirt, assault rifle, and frag grenades. Meanwhile the get-up and kit sported by the rival "Jokerz" team was just as ridiculous.

Star Wars: The Old Republic Character Class Guide Posted: 13 Dec 2011 02:18 PM PST Feature Share it: Tweet Star Wars: The Old Republic Character Class Guide We help you decide what kind of character to spend hundreds of hours playing. By: Ryan Winterhalter December 13, 2011 What the hell is the difference between a Jedi Knight and Jedi Consular? Is Boba Fett more of a Mercenary or a Powertech? What if I just want to be a good healer? Classes and their accompanying descriptions in Star Wars: The Old Republic are more than a bit opaque for beginners. That's where this guide comes in handy. You'll find a description of all eight classes and 16 sub-classes in the game, and be able to quickly learn a class's role in multiplayer battles or instances, as well as that class's most important abilities. We've also included the first companion you'll run across, as well as what starship you get to cruise through the galaxy with. We'll refer to the roles of Tank, Healer, and DPS throughout the guide. For those of you new to MMOs, here's a brief description of each:

Nintendo Dates Kid Icarus: Uprising, Rhythm Heaven Wii, Mario Party 9 Posted: 13 Dec 2011 01:29 PM PST Nintendo today previewed the titles coming to its platforms in the United States during the first quarter of 2012. Among the highlights are release dates for Mario Party 9 and Kid Icarus: Uprising. On the 3DS front, the revelation that the Circle Pad Pro will only be available at GameStop is the big news. Two of the first games to support it will be out fairly soon -- Resident Evil: Revelations (on February 7, along with the Circle Pad Pro) and Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D. The latter was only listed as a Q1 game; it was expected out by the end of the year before it was reportedly delayed, though Konami claimed it never actually had a release date in the first place.

Xbox Live Gets New Apps for TMZ, Verizon, and YouTube Today Posted: 13 Dec 2011 12:14 PM PST Only a select few entertainment apps were released as a part of the Xbox 360 dashboard update last week; the majority of the currently-announced ones were said to be coming later this month. A handful of those have arrived today, including the Verizon FiOS app that offers live television. Twelve new apps have been released on Xbox Live today, though no one region has access to them all. In the United States the new offerings consist of YouTube (also available in much of North America, Europe, and elsewhere), Verizon FiOS TV, TMZ (also available in Canada), iHeartRadio, and MSNBC.com. These and many others were announced back in October without any particular schedule for when they would be coming; YouTube support was formally announced at this year's E3 along with the UFC app (slated for release on December 20) and was a long time coming. It's been possible to watch YouTube videos on both PlayStation 3 and Wii for years thanks to their built-in browsers, a feature Microsoft hasn't been interested in offering on 360.

3DS Circle Pad Pro is a GameStop Exclusive in the U.S. Posted: 13 Dec 2011 10:44 AM PST Not entirely unlike Xenoblade Chronicles for Wii (which will also be sold through Nintendo.com), Nintendo plans to offer the 3DS Circle Pad Pro exclusively through GameStop in the United States. Following rumors of a peripheral that would add a second circle pad to the 3DS in August, Nintendo announced the Circle Pad Pro in early September. It was released this past Saturday for almost $20 in Japan alongside Monster Hunter 3G, and it's been confirmed for release in a Resident Evil: Revelations bundle on January 27 in Europe. Nintendo of America remained quiet about its plans to bring it to North America before finally making its announcement today.

Sony Confirms Team Ico Boss Fumito Ueda's Departure Posted: 13 Dec 2011 09:45 AM PST Two weeks after rumors first emerged that Fumito Ueda was planning to leave Sony, the company has finally confirmed this is indeed the case. The initial report suggested Ueda, the creator of beloved PS2 titles Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, would continue to work with Team Ico "in a freelance capacity" to help finish its current project, The Last Guardian. Sony initially declined to comment, though Ueda himself took to Twitter to confirm he was still working on the game. He made no mention of his employment status.

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MMORPG News

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• Runes of Magic: Snowflake Festival Incoming
• Silkroad Online: Updated Fellow System Released
• City of Heroes: The Statesman Will Fall
• War of the Immortals: The Heretic Profiled
• General: Storybricks Beta Incoming
• Pirate Galaxy: Massive Update Brings Big Changes
• Aion: Free to Play in February
• Lucent Heart: Holiday Happenings Arrive
• Digimon Masters Online: Christmas Events Launched

Runes of Magic: Snowflake Festival Incoming Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:54 AM PST Frogster has announced that it is in the process of deploying the latest patch to the game which will bring the annual Snowflake Festival online for all Runes of Magic players.

Silkroad Online: Updated Fellow System Released Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:36 AM PST The Silkroad Online team has released a new patch that features an updated and reworked 'Fellow System'. The Fellow System in SO is essentially the pet system. The team has indicated, however, that pets have all new training and enhanced abilities for players to discover.

City of Heroes: The Statesman Will Fall Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:31 AM PST Seven years of protection is a long time. In City of Heroes, the job of protecting the citizens of Paragon City has fallen to The Statesman but his days are numbered. Paragon Studios has announced that in the continuation of the Signature Story Arc that will go live next month, The Statesman will meet his match "on the field of battle".

War of the Immortals: The Heretic Profiled Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:22 AM PST The final class preview video for War of the Immortals has been released by Perfect World Entertainment. This time the spotlight shines on the Heretic, a supernatural healer that can also, according to devs, deal out a respectable amount of damage as well. Enjoy!

General: Storybricks Beta Incoming Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:19 AM PST The Storybricks project is an ambitious one that will allow players to create their own stories within the framework of an existing MMO world. Namaste has announced that they will be releasing the framework tools for Storybricks in early 2012 so fans can try it out. To celebrate, and to discuss more about Storybricks, Namaste has released a new trailer. Check it out!

Pirate Galaxy: Massive Update Brings Big Changes Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:09 AM PST Split Screens Studios has announced that the latest update to Pirate Galaxy has been released. Acknowledging the input of their players, devs revealed that Sirius Singularity is now more accessible for exploration.

Aion: Free to Play in February Posted: 14 Dec 2011 04:03 AM PST Eurogamer is reporting that NCSoft has announced that Aion will be going free to play beginning in February 2012. NCWest will maintain publishing rights in North America and has partnered with Gameforge to publish Aion in Europe.

Lucent Heart: Holiday Happenings Arrive Posted: 13 Dec 2011 07:51 AM PST Lucent Heart players have a ton of new things to do all centered around this month's holidays. The latest update brings new quests, 31 days of giving and the Step Up Contest.

Digimon Masters Online: Christmas Events Launched Posted: 13 Dec 2011 07:46 AM PST Digimon Masters players have a lot to look forward to this holiday season with the arrival of the "Joy to the World" event in game. The Christmas event will run through January 10th.

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