MMORPG Reviews

MMORPG Reviews

Innova has is going to start the European free-to-play Service of Lineage II the next December 16th

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 09:37 AM PST

Innova has announced today that its new European free-to-play service for its MMORPG Lineage II will officially launch in English on December 16th. Featuring the content-rich new expansion Goddess of Destruction, the new service offers hundreds of hours of unrestricted, action-packed gaming absolutely free. Goddess of Destruction brings many improvements to the game's look and [...]

Conquer Online (IPad Version) item pack giveaway

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 09:06 AM PST

TQ Digital with FREEMMORPG and MMOReviews is celebrating a item giveaway for the IPad version of Conquer Online. The Gift Pack includes: 1. Upgrade Pack - 2 EXP Potions every 5 levels, 2 EXP Balls every 10 levels and a Praying Stone every 20 levels for level 15 to level 120 2. Super Equipment Pack [...]

Priston Tale 2 has released a video preview

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:47 AM PST

Game Bridger Entertainment, has released today a video preview of the upcoming update to their hit MMORPG, Priston Tale 2: The Second Enigma. The video details new content, updates, and improvements to be included as part of a future update that will also introduce the brand new PvP-focused "Colosseum Mode". The Colosseum is a new [...]

Moonlight Online has been officially released

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 08:07 AM PST

IGG's 3D MMORPG, Moonlight Online has created quite a stir amongst many with its tantalizing sneak peeks and previews. IGG has plans for the game to be translated into many languages so that gamers around the world will be able to enjoy Moonlight Online. The game has 3 races, Humans, Vampires and Werewolves with different [...]

Cross Fire has released a holyday-themed update

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 07:04 AM PST

G4BOX Inc., has released today an update for its free-to-play military shooter, Cross Fire. The free update features the new UNSF character, three new maps in Elimination, Ghost, and Zombie modes, 7 new weapons, and Holiday-themed items and equipment. A special "12 Days of Cross Fire" event kicks off the update's holiday festivities, lining up [...]

Elsword has presented a new update with new job classes and updated features

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 06:04 AM PST

Elsword has released a new update that is giving players fresh content by offering additional levels, character job classes and updated features. Leveling Up – Players who have adopted the newly-added character Eve as their melee combat queen are in for a bonus upon reaching level 35, as they will now be able to choose [...]

Ace Online has released a Christmas Update

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 03:00 AM PST

Wicked Interactive has announced that its popular 3D space shooter ACE Online, is giving the players what they asked for the most this holiday season: Tons of toys that go BOOM and snow on every map. The Christmas Update comes with: - Xmas trees, in-game decorations and other holiday surprises - Xmas Event Map: The [...]

Land of Chaos Online has announced a new update that comes with a new character, Doora-Koong

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 01:36 AM PST

Alaplaya, has announced an update to its MOBA-RPG Land of Chaos Online: Evolution. This update features a plenty of festive fisticuffs and chaotic cheer. Arriving just in time to ring in the holidays is LOCO's newest character, Doora-Koong, a seemingly simian combatant with titanic strength and an arsenal of wild moves. Doora-Koong may look like [...]

Vindictus has announced a new update with new, darker challenges for all players

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 12:17 AM PST

Nexon Europe has announced today that Vindictus, is to become engulfed in a world of fire, destruction and malevolence, with a new update that brings forth new, darker challenges for all players. Whole new territories are now open to explore. Resenlian's Labyrinth, a deeply intense myriad of twisted, dark corridors and skull-lined murderous dungeons, lies [...]
Posted by Shri Krishna


General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

TigerDirect Would Still Like to Sell You a TouchPad

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 02:36 PM PST

touchpadIf you've been beaten out at getting a cheap HP TouchPad, you might have one last shot. TigerDirect has a limited stock that it is doling out as part of a bundle deal. You won't be able to buy just the tablet, but the bundles are not unattractive. These things are going fast, so don't think it over too long.

As of this posting, the remaining deal costs $249.99 and includes the 32GB TouchPad, a case, and Bluetooth speakers. Not a bad deal considering these little beauties are essentially all sold out after HP's last eBay sale. These units appear to be new, unlike the eBay tablets. 

The book has been closed on the TouchPad more than once since its untimely demise a few months ago. The price is higher than previous sales, but this could be your last chance to get a piece of webOS history. Anyone biting?

New Facebook Timeline is Out Today

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 02:26 PM PST

fbThe new Facebook is here a little later than expected, but still too soon for some. The Timeline profile is going live for all users. It aims to tell the story of a user's life in a giant scrollable page. Users are encouraged to fill in relevant details that Facebook might not know. Go ahead, give them more data. Cunning.

This launch was supposed to coincide with the rollout of Facebook's new Open Graph APIs, for which developers have been designing apps. The idea is that the new apps will help users fill in that timeline more effectively. When asked what's going on with the Open Graph delay, Facebook only said that it would be launching in a few weeks.

Some users are uncomfortable with the new design. While it does have the same data as always, it is laid out in a much more accessible way. Friends and gawkers alike can easily scroll through your life. Have you tried the new layout?

The Game Boy: Games That Matter More Than the Games of the Year

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 02:13 PM PST

It's the end of the year, and you know what that means: awards! Awards for everyone, from everyone! Best graphics, best game featuring Nolan North as a ruggedly handsome scoundrel, worst "arrow in the knee" joke (answer: all of them), etc, etc, etc. Honestly, though, most of the teary eyed, speech-blabbing winners are kind of boring. For example, Portal 2: An undeniably great, but ultimately safe update to a revered franchise. Arkham City: An undeniably great, but ultimately safe update to a revered franchise. Skyrim: An undeniably great, but blah blah blah. You get the point. The following, then, are games didn't land with such a huge splash -- perhaps because they weren't so great, or maybe because they're not even new -- but will almost certainly send out ripples for years to come.

LA Noire

As a game, LA Noire did its best impression of the final scene from Titanic set to the tune of a thousand Rebecca Blacks. The difference between "doubt" and "lie" was often a total toss-up, and -- thanks to the game's straightforward structure -- you never really had a chance to learn how to avoid making the same mistake over and over again. It was, quite frankly, an exercise in spittle-soaked, hair-pulling frustration.

But it was also a ridiculously big-budget production that tried to shift its main means of engaging players away from shamelessly 'splodey gun-fu, close-quarters face-punchery, and ordering troops to carry out shamelessly 'splodey gun-fu and/or face-punchery. Instead, it asked us to slow down and think. Granted, that didn't always work out so well, but LA Noire bet the farm on being different. Moreover, the sleuthing sim made its incredible facial tech a key gameplay aspect. Interrogations were all about reading people -- or at least, they were supposed to be. Sure, plenty of mistakes were made, but other developers can learn from them.

LA Noire dared to give our brains a workout -- both thematically and mechanically -- while surrounded by games that leave only our trigger fingers achey and out of breath. And people ate it up. Nearly 4 million units sold don't lie. Gamers enjoy more than just long walks on the beach and short strolls down Generic Terrorist Alley. Sex, guns, and gore obviously sell. But so does intelligence.

Dragon Age II

Dragon Age II was -- by most accounts -- a dragon-sized disappointment. Its battles were as over-long and redundant as Sandal the dwarf's vocabulary. Its character progression was far too simple. Its repeat trips to the Free Marches' most luxurious lifeless caves paled in comparison to DA:O's sprawling field trip through Ferelden. Without a doubt, DAII suffered from a rushed development cycle. The resulting limitations, however, forced BioWare to craft an incredibly interesting game structure.

DAII's plot barely budged in terms of location, but that lack of an epic quest to save all mankind from a series of inconveniently located evils gave the city of Kirkwall a real identity. On top of that, your party members weren't simply lock-step drones that worshipped at your feet as you walked to the ends of the earth. They lived in the city too. They had lives and problems and jobs.

In a landscape littered with globe-trotting fantasy epics, DAII focused on the mundane. Call it an anti-epic, but there's value in that. The game prioritized character relationships and subtly brilliant (not to mention incredibly daring) themes like religion, sexuality, and terrorism over jaw-dropping sights and superficial sounds. Every other fantasy RPG will tell you that size matters -- possibly more than anything else. Dragon Age II might just make them reconsider.

Duke Nukem Forever

Before you summon the full fury of the Internet to strike me down right where I stand, know that I'm not praising DNF for its quality. Hell, I'm not praising it at all. The game was a Frankenstein's monster made up of equal parts old-enough-to-be-fossilized game mechanics and despicable humor, sown together by a thick thread of overt sexism.

The resulting discussion surrounding it, however, showed just how far gaming's come since Duke's last testosterone-fueled trip through male power fantasyland. Critics and gamers alike dragged The King under a guillotine for rusty mechanics, archaic level design, and "jokes" that regularly crossed the line between edgy and hateful.

The game's profitability in spite of all that, however, shows just how far gaming still has to go.

Minecraft

Yes, I know Minecraft's technically been available since 2009, but it led the charge on so many of 2011's biggest steps forward that I had to include it. (Also, it didn't officially leave beta until last month, so take that, calendars.)

Foremost, Minecraft gave the indie movement a recognizable face, helping it grow to the point where, say, Terraria could go toe-to-combat-boot with Modern Warfare 3 for a top spot on Steam. Further, it validated an open development model by involving players every step of the way. With games now growing increasingly reliant upon post-release patches and DLC, Minecraft's mindset is the next logical step. Is it right for all games? Of course not. But it's a very appetizing proposition, especially given the newfound popularity of things like Kickstarter funding.

Overall, this has been an absolutely incredible year for indie games, and Minecraft deserves a big, pixelated pat on the back for lending a hand.

From Dust

From Dust was a great idea wrapped in a mediocre game. But that's not why it's here. Somewhat incredibly, it managed to be nearly everything that's currently wrong with PC gaming all at once. It kicked off its freefall dive into a canyon populated exclusively by cacti and woodchippers with one of Ubisoft's trademark month-long delays. Why? No real reason was given -- but obviously, it was an attempted middle finger to pirates. Unfortunately, waving said finger in pirates' faces only made them angry, causing them to bite back with more piracy.

Next up, dishonesty. Ubisoft initially promised that From Dust would kick the publisher's reviled "always on" DRM to the curb. Then it didn't, and Ubisoft tried to hide its red hands by deleting all evidence of its previous promise. Eventually, however, it was forced to patch out the draconian menace due to overwhelming outrage.

Even then, though, From Dust's PC port was horrendous. Among other things, it was locked at 30 FPS, lacked anti-aliasing, and was generally unstable. Ultimately, Steam was forced to offer refunds. Other developers, of course, employ each of those practices separately, but From Dust made the freaking planets align. Which is just another strike against it, honestly. Maybe I liked my planets all disorganized and un-apocalypse-causing.

League of Legends

Yes, yes, LoL's been around since the days when it was still clever to turn Internet acronyms for laughter into videogame names. And no, I don't have a Minecraft-style loophole for this one. You caught me. In penance, I'll put my lie-spewing hands in a waffle iron. I won't turn it on, of course. Why, that'd be silly.

Anyway, 2011's almost certain to go down in history as the year free-to-play went from foreign novelty to ultra-successful business model, and few games have benefitted more than LoL. Further, unlike potential flashes in the pan like DC Universe and every other MMO ever, LoL's a bonafide long-term success story. The game's been free-to-play since day one, and it hasn't stumbled since.

LoL's also a big name in the eSports scene, which has grown tremendously in the past year. Along with national-sport-sized hits like StarCraft II, Riot's massive MOBA has helped propel pro gaming to new heights, offering multi-million dollar prize pools each season.

Bulletstorm/Saints Row 3

Two words: dumb fun. Both of these games blasted and, er, dildo-smashed their way through all the slow-building, yawn-inducing epics and "srs bsns" multiplayer modes to remind us that, yes, games can be over-the-top, gleefully profane, and -- most importantly -- fun. Screw saving the world. I just want to remote-control a robot dinosaur with laser vision and go surfing on fighter jets.        

French Presidential Residence Found to Have Downloaded Illegal Torrents

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 02:05 PM PST

sarkWell, this is embarrassing. The famously anti-piracy French President Nicholas Sarkozy is learning today that occupants of the Presidential Palace have been very naughty torrent-users. According to everyone's favorite new tattletale, YouHaveDownloaded.com, six separate copyrighted works have been downloaded at Sarkozy's home. How's that three-strikes law working out?

It was Sarkozy himself who pushed so hard for the aforementioned law. Under this system, anyone found to have downloaded copyrighted material three time would be kicked off the Internet, and their name added to a blacklist to keep them off. At present, the Presidential estate is at double that limit. Content downloaded includes pre-release copies of Tower Heist, Arthur Christmas, and music by The Beach Boys.

There are roughly 60 French citizens on their last strike right now. If anything, this law, and Sarkozy's unruly guests just serve to remind us that BitTorrent is not private. Do you think they ought to cut off the Presidential Palace? Fair's fair, right?

Floods, Flops and Failures: 21 Of Tech's Worst Disasters

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 12:41 PM PST

When you work on a major project for an extended amount of time – be it an awesome new piece of software or some sort of newfangled gadget – you can't help but become emotionally attached to it. Some even go so far as to call their projects their babies. Well, let's be blunt: there are some ugly babies out there. And while you might not tell a proud new mother her newborn's a hideous freak, we're going to call out some of the worst tech "babies" of all time, be they simple disastrous flops or actual tech-related disasters.  Somewhere, coders are covering their faces in shame.

And hey, we're not just poking fun at these failures; we're also remembering them, lest they be forgotten and repeated. Because who wants a Virtual Boy 4S?

Browser Extension of the Week: Destroy The Web

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:27 AM PST

destroyEven when things work as they should, surfing the interwebz can still be a painful experience--especially when you're stuck doing an online task that you despise with a burning passion. Filing your taxes, paying your bills or having your eyes scorched out by a site that looks like it was designed back in 1995 have a tendency to send people's stress levels into the red over time. Instead of ripping your office apart in a fit of searing rage, Why not vent all that anger in a healthy manner that even your anger management counsellor would approve of?  

Destroy The Web is a Firefox add-on that allows users to do some video game inspired damage to any website they can browse to. By clicking the Destroy the Web icon in your browser's navigation bar, any website you're viewing will become a viable target, ready to be shot apart. Simply aim the extension's crosshairs at a page element, click and watch the element shatter into a million pieces. To keep things interesting, the extension also offers a time limit, point system and a leader board that ranks users by how fast they're able to obliterate the websites they deem worth of their harmless, web-based wrath.  

Best of all, when the shooting's done and your score's been realized, Destroy The Web sets things right by refreshing the website back to it's pre-rampage good looks, almost as if the carnage never took place at all.

Be sure to check back with us every Thursday for another edition of Maximum PC's Browser Extension of the Week.

 

 

iPhone-Loving Robbers Leave Android Phones Unpilfered

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:23 AM PST

Want to avoid getting mugged? Buy an Android phone – or even better yet, a Blackberry. No, they don't have any crazy criminal-prevention apps or burglar whistles built in; thieves just don't want them. Or at least one pair of thieves in Manhattan don't want them. Apparently, two robbers have been accosting Columbia University students for their iPhones. No other phone will do! The crooks even let one victim keep a perfectly good Droid, police say.

The robbers still snatched the poor Droid owner's cash, the local NBC station reports, but at least he could call the cops on his black sheep phone afterwards. A second victim was thrown against a fence and searched after she said she didn't have an Apple handset, while a third separate victim had actually had an iPhone and was left unharmed after turning it over.

The NBC team asked Columbia students what they thought of the snobbery robberies. "It's insulting they don't want my BlackBerry," one student responded, while another said that frankly, she didn't like her BlackBerry either and was pocketing her pennies to buy an iPhone herself.

Image credit: theiloop.com

MSI Unveils X79A-GD45 (8D) Mobo With Support For 128GB Of Quad-Channel RAM

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:56 AM PST

The Maximum PC ethos can be summed up in two words: MORE POWER! (Harder, better, faster, stronger would work, too, but that's twice as many words – not exactly better.) MSI, it seems, heard our Tim Taylor-like grunting from afar. The company just released a modified version of its X79A-GD45 motherboard (which was only released a month ago, mind you) that includes twice the DIMM slots of the original. That means the X79A-GD45 (8D) includes a total of 8 DDR3 DIMM slots and can support up to a whopping 128GB of quad-channel RAM – because 64GB just isn't enough.

Otherwise, the board is pretty much the same as the base X79A-GD45, which means it's made from military grade components, can accommodate LGA2011 Sandy Bridge-E chips, and has three PCI-E 3.0 and two PCI-E 2.0 x16 slots, a PCI-E x1 slot, a pair of 6 Gbps SATA slots, four 3 Gbps SATA slots, and four USB 3.0 ports, amongst other things. CrossfireX and SLI are both supported, too. You can check out the full list of specs on the X79A-GD45 (8D)'s product page.

While MSI may have pulled the veil off of this mobo, it didn't disclose any pricing or availability details. The standard X79A-45GD costs $235 at Newegg, so don't expect the upgraded version to come cheap.

Sony And Warner Smell Blood In The Water, Gearing Up To Sue Grooveshark

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:16 AM PST

It sucks to be Grooveshark right now. Universal Music recently filed a lawsuit alleging that Grooveshark's employees illegally upload hundreds of thousands of copyrighted songs to the service to boost its usefulness. Universal  Music produced emails from Grooveshark's CEO in which he basically admitted that they were growing a tremendous user base "without paying a dime to any of the labels" – which doesn't prove employees upload songs, but could throw a big dent in Grooveshark's DMCA Safe Harbor claims. Oh yeah, as if that wasn't bad enough, the emails apparently pissed off Sony and Warner, too, and now they're likely gearing up to sue Grooveshark, too.

The news comes courtesy of the New York Times, who spoke to four people with knowledge of Sony and Warner's plans. The lawsuits are expected to be filed by Thursday. Grooveshark released the following statement when presented with the info:

We respect the intellectual property of all artists, and our strict policies are designed to ensure that our users only upload content to which they are entitled. This is a policy which we vigorously enforce within D.M.C.A. requirements.

However, a refresher course from our article about Grooveshark's CEO's emails is in order: in order to qualify for the Safe Harbor provision, a service provider can't profit from or even knowingly host infringing material, and it must take down violations it knows of. The following quote from one of CEO Sina Simantob's emails puts all three of those requirements into doubt with Grooveshark – a fact that Sony and Warner probably took into consideration.

In our case, we use the label's songs till we get a 100 (million) uniques (visitors), by which time we can tell the labels who is listening to their music, where, and then turn around and charge them for the very data we got from them, ensuring that what we pay them in total for streaming is less than what they pay us for data mining. Let's keep this (quiet) for as long as we can.

Did Grooveshark bit off more than it can chew with this one, or do you think the company's TOS and flagging systems will actually earn it Safe Harbor in the eyes of the court?

Microsoft Releases AMD Bulldozer-Boosting Hotfix

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 09:51 AM PST

Hey, Bulldozer fans: if you're regular readers of the site you may remember that we told you a few months back that AMD expects to see better performance for its FX chips in Windows 8, as the company claimed that Windows 7 didn't handle simultaneous multithreading efficiently. Turns out they were right! Kind of. Windows 7 didn't handle simultaneous multithreading efficiently, but you still might not see a performance jump in Windows 8 – because today, Microsoft released a hotfix to correct the problem and help Bulldozers run better on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

From the hotfix page: This article introduces an update that optimizes the performance of AMD Bulldozer CPUs that are used by Windows 7-based or Windows Server 2008 R2-based computers. Currently, the performance of AMD Bulldozer CPUs is slower than expected. This behavior occurs because the threading logic in Windows 7 and in Windows Server 2008 R2 is not optimized to use the Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT) scheduling feature. This feature was introduced in the Bulldozer family of AMD CPUs.

So what will the hotfix improve? Again, the web page provides the answer. After you install this hotfix, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 fully support AMD Bulldozer CPUs. Therefore, the CPUs operate at the expected performance level.

So, if you have a Bulldozer CPU and a Windows 7 machine, what are you waiting for? Head over to the hotfix page and download the update now!
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMO News

MMO News

Aika Online launches holiday events

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 02:24 PM PST

The holidays have arrived in AIKA Online with a special daily login reward and more.

Players who log in daily and play for at least one hour will earn in-game prizes. Each consecutive daily log in grants increased rewards for up to 35 days. Players who log in every day of the event will also be entered in to a raffle to win an Astro Headset, Razer Death Adder mouse, Aika Snuggy, and other in-game items.

Snowmen will appear throughout the land starting on December 22, and players who defeat them will earn Winter Boxes with free portal scrolls, Santa Hats, and other rewards.

AIKA Online is published by gPotato, which also publishes Rappelz and Prius Online.

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AIKA Online Gameplay Screenshot

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Aika Online's Winter Holiday Events!
Aika Celebrates the Season with Phenomenal Prizes

Sunnyvale, Calif. – December 15, 2011 Aika Online is kicking off the holidays with a bang!  Thousands of dollars in prizes and swag are up for grabs this season including top tier gaming gear and hundreds of rare in-game prizes.  Celebrate with Aika and enjoy more events and updates than ever before!

Today marks the start of the Holiday Play-for-Rewards Event, where players simply login to win!  For the next 35 days Aitan who log in daily for at least 1 hour will receive free in-game items.  With each consecutive daily login comes increasing rewards, and those faithful players who log in each and every day of the event will be entered into a raffle to win one of these ultimate prizes:  a $200 Astro Headset, 1 of 9 Razer Death Adder mice, Aika Snuggies, or many coveted in-game items!

December 22 will see the festivities grow as flocks of snowmen mysteriously begin appearing throughout the land.  Aitan who destroy the fluffy monsters will be rewarded with Winter Boxes full of free portal scrolls, colorful Santa hats, and other holiday goodies!

The past two months have also seen fast development with the launch of Aika's second epic. Chapter II: Karena increased the level cap to 80, expanded the scope of PvP Relic Wars and Traband Tower Wars, and added 3 skills for every class!  Politics have taken a dramatic turn as well, as nations must join together in two new world events, Antalya Defense and Verus Castle Assault, to defeat massive invasions from the evil Zereca.

DarkEden officially relaunches

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 01:44 PM PST

Ignited Games has launched DarkEden, a classic vampire MMORPG previous run by JoyMax.

The game will play host to several events, including granting players that join by January 11 a starter pack tailored for their character class, in-game experience buffs, and prize giveaways. Players can also participate in holiday events, including a Stocking Hunt (reassemble nine pieces of the stocking to earn a gift box with prizes from the item shop) and catching Rudolf (for more gift boxes that contain stat buffs and experience point bonuses).

Ignited Games also publishes WonderKing and Rosh Online.

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DarkEden Gameplay Screenshot

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Ignited Games Revives Classic MMORPG DarkEden

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - Dec. 15, 2011 – While the cold, winter nights grow longer, the eternal war between Vampires, Slayers and Ousters is heating up, as Ignited Games resurrects DarkEden, the world’s first massively multiplayer online vampire role-playing game (MMOVRPG). Online gamers can choose their side and join the battle for Eslania by signing up and downloading the free-to-play game at its official site.

“DarkEden offers online gamers a nostalgic journey to the classic era of MMORPGs,” said Peter Kang, CEO of Ignited Games. “The game’s macabre setting invites fans of vampire-centric movies and lore to experience the style of gameplay that launched an entire genre of online gaming.”

To welcome players into DarkEden, Ignited Games is hosting several special events to celebrate the game’s launch and the holiday season, including:

  • A Warrior’s Welcome - Online gamers that join the battle before Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012 will receive a starter pack that includes stat-boosting items tailored to their character class and will help new players hit the ground running when they embark on their journey.
  • Bible War Promotion – To sweeten the deal for players engaging in DarkEden‘s Bible War events, Ignited Games is providing incentives, including in-game experience buffs and real-world giveaways that get bigger and better as more players participate, ranging from Logitech gaming gear to Apple iPads.
  • Christmas Stocking Hunt – Monsters throughout Eslania have stolen pieces of Christmas stockings. Through Dec. 26, players can collect the pieces from their vanquished foes. Once these brave warriors collect all nine pieces, they can re-assemble the stocking in their inventory to receive a gift box containing a random item, including stat bonuses, in-game supplies and other premium items from the game’s item shop.
  • Reign in Rudolph – Rudolph has run off to Eslania with a bag of Christmas gifts. Players who catch him will receive a Christmas gift box from the bag, containing a random item that grants a stat buff or experience point bonus.

DarkEden is a throwback to the golden age of MMORPGs, featuring classic hack-and-slash action and isometric 2D visuals. Set in the fictional eastern European country of Eslania, players choose between three available races, including vicious Vampires, human Slayers and beastly Ousters, then battle for control of Eslania. Each race has distinctive gameplay mechanics and methods for character progression, such as the Vampire’s need to drink blood to gain experience points.

New details revealed about Conquer Online’s pirates

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 12:54 PM PST

Conquer Online is preparing to launch its “Invasion of Pirates” expansion in January, and has released more details about the upcoming new Pirate class that will arrive with the expansion.

Pirates will use pistols and rapiers as their main weapons, along with the cannon bomb. This last piece of equipment offers an explosive burst of damage for the pirate. The game promises a wide variety of pistols and rapiers with intricate designs for players to look forward to. Pirates will also bear the look of “fallen nobles,” with options for having a hooked hand, weapons belts, bucket-top boots, and more.

Conquer Online is published by TQ Digital, which also publishes Zero Online and The Warlords.

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Conquer Online Pirate Concept Art

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Cannon Bombs Away! Life as a Pirate Detailed in Conquer Online's Upcoming Expansion

HONG KONG – December 15, 2011

As one of the longest-running MMOs of eight years, Conquer Online continues to deliver new content to its players. In the newest upcoming expansion, "Invasion of Pirates," players will be able to fill the shoes of the new Pirate class, adventuring in what's known as forbidden domain—the Flaming Sea. But to walk and talk like a pirate, players must know the proper garb and weapons they can arm themselves with. NetDragon unveils the cannon bomb ability, pistols and more to players awaiting the new Invasion of Pirates storyline.

For the new class being introduced, like most historical pirates, pistols and rapiers are the tools of the treacherous trade. In Conquer Online, pirates will also have another powerful trick up their sleeve—the cannon bomb . Using this advanced, explosive equipment, a hint of modern warfare has now made its way into this ancient kingdom, and these pirates are ready to reshape the landscape in order to take control of the world! When ancient martial arts skills meet modern day's gunpowder, who will survive?

Players will be able to expect an incredible amount of newly introduced pistol and rapier weapon options. In each weapon, dark stories are hidden in a variety of carvings and designs—dark as a nasty lizard, bright and swift as thunder striking, gory and horrifying as a butcher's meat hook and much more. As players level up, more and more powerful weapons will be unveiled, just waiting for their rightful owner to claim them.

Known for being a bit on the unsavory side, pirates need to look the part as well—even looting and pillaging requires the proper garb! Conquer Online's pirates will look a bit less like those from pop culture movies and fiction, and more like fallen nobles, dressed in a tricorne hat with a feather attached to it, a long, luxurious crimson damask coat, silver chain around the neck with a skull sculpture hanging off of it. Players can expect the option to also give their characters a sharp hook for a hand, a weapons belt and bucket top boots.

An epic journey full of hidden treasure, ancient evils, dangerous traps and other mysterious challenges await new and old players alike. Evil has risen up from the high seas, pirate ships are looming near the coastline and they will soon overcome the whipping tides when the "Invasion of Pirates" begins early January 2012!

APB Reloaded releases Fight Club

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 12:17 PM PST

GamersFirst is celebrating the success of APB Reloaded, as it has hit over 3 million registered users after launching on Steam. To greet these new players, APB Reloaded has launched its first major update: Fight Club.

The update introduces the self-named Fight Club game mode, a “pick-up-and-play” style game which features vehicle combat in special closed maps. Up to 32 players can battle in the Fight Club’s modes, including Team Deathmatch and King of the Hill.

GamersFirst also publishes War Rock and Knight Online.

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APB Reloaded Gameplay Screenshot

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World's First Free2Play® Open World Game Shows Blockbuster Chops at Launch, Broadens its Appeal with Fast New "Fight Club" Mode

IRVINE, CA- December 15, 2011 – GamersFirst, a leading publisher of Free2Play® massively multiplayer online games, today announced that APB Reloaded has surpassed 3 million registered users. The incredible milestone comes shortly after the game's launch onto Valve's Steam® network where it has quickly carved a place among the most popular free games, ranking second at the time of this writing. APB Reloaded is also being supported by major retailers, with a boxed version hitting shelves soon at Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy and GameStop stores across North America. Buyers of the game at retail can get more than $50 worth of value including unique in-game items for a suggested retail price of $29.99.

To bolster its launch, GamersFirst has released the game's first major content update with the introduction of Fight Club.  Fight Club is an entirely new game mode that adds fast-paced third-person shooter play set in new maps within APB Reloaded's city setting. It translates to a distinct new game play experience now available to players. APB Reloaded is the world's first Free2Play open world action game, distinguished by its immersive player-versus-player (PvP) urban warfare premise and deep customization of characters, cars and other features. For trigger happy gamers, Fight Club delivers a pick-up-and-play mode that's essentially a session-based online shooter with vehicles.

"We recognized the potential for APB Reloaded to be a true breakout hit in the Free2Play category all through beta testing," said Rahul Sandil, SVP of marketing and business development for GamersFirst.  "We quickly amassed a vocal, dedicated community, and they've been instrumental in growing the game and helping better the experience.  We also attracted a partner in [a]list games, a digital game market maker who launched a worldwide campaign to raise the game's visibility and help it appeal to a broader audience. Ultimately, players who discover a new free game decide if there's enough value and quality to keep playing, and APB Reloaded's trajectory tells us a growing number are being blown away by what they're getting."

Powered by Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3, APB Reloaded features a rich experience similar to what players expect in premium packaged games.  Players enter the city of San Paro to unite and fight with anarchist Criminals or join the street justice Enforcers.  They don't just play in the game's open world, they live in it.  In the action districts, it's all about epic PvP combat, joining turf wars against enemy factions or running missions to gain money and notoriety.  Here, the city and everything in it is there to take, or lose.  In the social districts, players can share all of their creations, from custom looks and modified cars to their own mixed music.  The opportunity for self-expression is a big part of APB Reloaded, enabled by a toolset and customizable features that are second to none.

With the addition of Fight Club, players can now dive into the most visceral part of the game – combat in and outside of vehicles – as a session-based third-person shooter.  Fight Club lets up to 32 players battle it out in closed-off areas of the city, fighting for loot and boosting in-game status in modes such as Team Deathmatch and King of the Hill.  The experience is uniquely APB Reloaded, playing out as virtual cops fighting criminals in an urban setting, and punctuated by mayhem, destruction, and the ever-present danger of a fast and furious drive-by.

Cross Fire launches December update

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 12:02 PM PST

New content and a bit of the holidays have arrived in Cross Fire today with its latest update.

The update adds two new maps, Venice (Zombie Mode) and Bio Facility (Ghost Mode), and brings back the Holiday Elimination Mode map. Weapons include the Colt M16A3 light machine gun, VSK-94 sniper rifle, and SL8 sniper rifle; holiday crates can also reward the M14EBR-Xmas, M249 MINIMI-Xmas, and Keris-Xmas (all Permanent). Players can also purchase the new United Nations Security Force (UNSF) character from the item mall.

For the holidays, the game is also hosting a “12 Days of Cross Fire” event where players can complete up to twelve total daily challenges to earn special rewards. Players will earn the event exclusive AK47-Knife Adv. for completing six of the challenges.

Cross Fire is published by Z8Games, which also publishes Metin 2.

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CrossFire Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

CROSS FIRE DELIVERS HOLIDAY CHEER WITH ITS LATEST UPDATE

New Holiday Update Features the New UNSF Character, 3 New Maps, 7 New Guns, and 12 Days of In-Game Events!

Toronto, CANADA – December 15th, 2011 -G4BOX Inc., a North American publisher and distributor of interactive online entertainment media, released today an update for its free-to-play military shooter, Cross Fire. The free update features the new UNSF character, three new maps in Elimination, Ghost, and Zombie modes, 7 new weapons, and Holiday-themed items and equipment. To mark the release of this festive update, Z8Games is hosting a special “12 Days of Cross Fire” event in which players can complete daily challenges for in-game rewards. For current players, the update will download automatically upon launching Cross Fire. New players can download and play the game for free from: http://crossfire.z8games.com.

Cross Fire’s holiday-themed December update brings back the annual fan favorite Holiday Elimination Mode map, in addition to two new maps: Venice, an expansive Zombie Mode map, and Bio Facility an all-new Ghost Mode map. The update also introduces the new United Nations Security Force (UNSF) character, available now for purchase from the Cross Fire in-game and web item malls. The Holiday update also brings with it a full arsenal of new weaponry, including the Colt M16A3 light machine gun (GP), the VSK-94 sniper rifle (mission reward), the SL8 sniper rifle (coupon exchange).  Three holiday-skinned items are also available for a limited time only in select holiday crates: the M14EBR-Xmas Permanent, the M249 MINIMI-Xmas Permanent, and the Keris-Xmas Permanent. For a full rundown of the Holiday Update’s content, visit the patch page here: http://crossfire.z8games.com/december_update.aspx.

A special “12 Days of Cross Fire” event kicks off the update’s holiday festivities, lining up twelve daily challenges for Cross Fire players to complete, each with their own unique in-game rewards. Players that manage to complete six of the twelve challenges will earn the event exclusive, and previously unreleased, AK47-Knife Adv.! Follow the event details as challenges unlock daily at: http://crossfire.z8games.com/12daysofcrossfire.aspx.

Cross Fire is a free online military first-person shooter for the PC platform. It includes a military ranking system, in-game friends lists, an integrated clan system, deep character customization options and social media integration via the Cross Fire website. More MAPS. More GUNS. More MODES. More HEADSHOTS. Join millions of players online today in the ultimate military FPS experience.

Cross Fire is part of the Z8Games platform of free-to-play games.

Brawl Busters officially launches

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 11:43 AM PST

Rock Hippo Productions, publisher of MicroVolts, has officially launched its second title today: Brawl Busters.

The launch comes with a new update that introduces Boss Battle Mode. The first boss to enter the ring is Bubble Yum, a giant, pink blob who spews out gas and zombies. Players can also visit the new nighttime City Hall Station map.

The update today also lets players dress up in holiday inspired outfits and weapons.

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Brawl Busters Gameplay Screenshot

Boss Battle Mode

Source:

BRAWL BUSTERS OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES

Busters Rejoice With An All-New Boss Battle Mode, A New City Hall Map, Festive Attire And Weapons And Much More

Markham, Canada – December 15, 2011 – Rock Hippo Productions announced today that Brawl Busters, the hotly-anticipated free2play online multiplayer action game, has officially launched.  With the official launch, Rock Hippo Productions has released a brand new exciting trailer alongside scrumptious screenshots featuring festive new accessories and attire, a new City Hall Map and a new Boss Battle Mode.  To check out the action packed online game, players can visit www.BrawlBusters.com and join in the mayhem.

Getting into the holiday spirit is easy with Brawl Busters!  Players can dress up in festive Santa Claus outfits, or they could deck the halls with themed Yuletide weapons to ensure all the naughty boys and girls straighten up before present time arrives.

Ready to kick butt and chew bubble gum at the same time?  You may want to reconsider after watching this trailer!  The first Boss Battle revealed for Brawl Busters is the dreaded “Bubble Yum.”  He may look tasty, but don’t let his meek appearance deceive you. This huge pink monstrosity isn’t going to make things easy, and you especially need to watch out for Bubble Yum’s nauseating gas emissions. As if that wasn’t enough, he also tends to spawn armies of zombies. Don’t even try to take him on without backup – a full crew of experienced Busters will be required to bring this guy down!

“The new Boss Mode is exactly the type of challenge our community requested; this chewy gooey opponent wasn’t scraped from the bottom of any desk-he’s the real deal,” said Howard He, President and CEO of Rock Hippo Productions.  “The new trailer and screens shows off a fantastic cross-section of the game, including the new finishing touches players can add to their characters – with a variety of glasses, masks, goggles, and facial hair, players can re-create themselves in-game with more accuracy, or create the hero they have always wanted to be.”

Are you afraid of the dark? You’ll have to lose that phobia if you want to play in the all-new City Hall Station map which will test a player’s fear and keep them on their toes as they delve into this all-new nighttime map.

Rock Hippo has also partnered with Xfire to bring free in-game voice chat, messaging, screenshot and video sharing, live broadcasting, and much more to Brawl Busters players. Join the Xfire community to learn about exciting past and future events here:  http://www.xfire.com/communities/brawlbusters/

Repulse

Posted: 15 Dec 2011 10:28 AM PST

Repulse is a new sci-fi MMOFPS published by Aeria Games. Repulse is set in the future and aims to deliver tons of heavily tactical, twitch-based combat and multiplayer sci-fi themed FPS action.

repulse-assault

Publisher: Aeria Games
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: Medium
Type: MMOFPS
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: ??
Filesize: ??

Pros: +Customizable weapons and armor +multiple classes +Refreshing twitch based combat

Cons: -Not much is known about the game currently +Competing against other proven FPS Scifi titles +Class types appear generic

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Overview

Repulse Overview

Set in a dystopian future where the citizens of Earth have polluted the planet beyond repair, Repulse unfolds an epic sci-fi inspired tale where humans must journey to a new world to continue their existence. Unfortunately, the current inhabitants of mankind's new home planet harbor a different idea… Deploy high-tech weaponry and powerful battle maneuvers in highly-tactical, twitch-based combat to perform a hostile takeover and save the future of mankind.

Repulse Screenshots

Repulse Featured Video

Click here to view the embedded video.

Full Review

Repulse Review

Coming Soon…

Screenshots

Repulse Screenshots

Coming Soon…

Videos

Repulse Videos

Official Gameplay Trailer

Click here to view the embedded video.

Official Trailer

Click here to view the embedded video.

Links

Repulse Links

Official Game Page

System Requirements

RODE System Requirements

Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows (R) Vista/ XP/2000 (95/98/ME/NT/Server are not supported)
CPU: PENTIUM DUAL CORE 2.1X
RAM: 1GB
HDD: 10GB
Graphics Card: GEFORCE 4600GT 256MB
DirectX: 9.0c

Recommended Specification:
OS: Windows (R) Vista/ XP/2000 (95/98/ME/NT/Server are not supported)
CPU: PENTIUM DUAL CORE 3.0
RAM: 3GB
HDD: 20GB
Graphics Card: GEFORCE 9800GT 512MB
DirectX: 9.0c or better
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