MMOGaming News

MMOGaming News

Lv50 Character Stats Calculator by sgTotoro

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Lv50 Character Stats Calculator by sgTotoro


The stats calculator is made by sgTotoro. The final damage calc and average damage calc are done by me.

WoW! A Virtual Scabbard in Age of Wulin Was Sold for $16,000

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WoW! A Virtual Scabbard in Age of Wulin Was Sold for $16,000


Open your transaction account and check out how much did you spend on playing games? US$15 for a pre-paid time card, US$30 for enhancement materials, US$70 for a rare mount, or $16,000 for a Dragon Slaying Sabre Scabbard which is only one of its kind in China?

Fresh NED Gameplay Video Delivers Combat Content

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Fresh NED Gameplay Video Delivers Combat Content


Just a few days ago, the developer announced to upgrade the game's engine from CryEngine to CryEngine 3.

Car and Bike Games Will be a Trend

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Car and Bike Games Will be a Trend


Remember years ago we went to video arcade for racing games, and then PC racing games showed up. PC games ensure us extremely high freedom, especially in racing games. We can drive crazily on the road in Need for Speed series and plunder our favorite cars in Grand Theft Auto. With the popularization of the internet, some PC games are made into online ones.

Retrospective Review: Frequent Hacks Hit the Global Game Industry in 2011

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Retrospective Review: Frequent Hacks Hit the Global Game Industry in 2011


The fact that the global game industry is troubled by frequent hacks in 2011 has become the focus of the global media. Particularly, the hacks which are intended to make fortune from user accounts and in-game items are really infuriating. Let's look back at these stories together.

Final Fantasy XIV Now Available for Download at Square Enix Store

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Final Fantasy XIV Now Available for Download at Square Enix Store


Now FFXIV players can buy and download the game for $13.39 through January 2, 2012.

WoW 4.3 Raid: Dragon Soul (H) Progression Rankings

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WoW 4.3 Raid: Dragon Soul (H) Progression Rankings


Stars recently picked up a Heroic Madness of Deathing kill, followed by Blood Legion for the US First, leaving just 6 guilds who are currently 7/8. In extremis went on to get the World First kill of Heroic Madness of Deathwing in 10 man, making them the only guild to do so. There are two EU and two Asian guilds left at 7/8 to try for second place.

Free-to-play Robot MMORPG C21 Launching Commercially

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Free-to-play Robot MMORPG C21 Launching Commercially


Online game developer CyberStep opens its latest Robot MMORPG, C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES–, for commercial release today at 15:00 (PST), allowing users to explore the game's vast worlds, brimming with robots.

L.A.W - One of the Most Anticipated MMORPGS?

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L.A.W - One of the Most Anticipated MMORPGS?


In the dark and grim world of L.A.W classic MMORPG-action meets groundbreaking real time strategy warfare. Set up your base, claim resources and destroy your enemies using massive tanks and swift helicopters. Will you be Living After War?

Green Dragon Nest Guide for Stage 6 Green Dragon

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Green Dragon Nest Guide for Stage 6 Green Dragon


After defeating the human form of Kalahan, and after the cutscene, everyone should move towards the green point as shown in the figure above, which is a safe spot for most of the dragon's attack.

The Evolution of The World's Greatest Saga - Silkroad-R is in OBT

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The Evolution of The World's Greatest Saga - Silkroad-R is in OBT


With the launch of Silkroad-R, the Silkroad universe rebirthed. The publisher Joymax announced the Open Beta will not run untill January 17th.

SWTOR: Flashpoint Guide - Boarding Party Dorin's Sky

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SWTOR: Flashpoint Guide - Boarding Party Dorin's Sky


ey everyone, this is the guide for Boarding Party, also known as Dorin's Sky. This is a flashpoint designed for level 33+ but the final boss is quite difficult for healers to heal through so a higher level healer is definitely recommended.

Wemade: Chunryong Story Unveils a Combat Video for Each Class

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Wemade: Chunryong Story Unveils a Combat Video for Each Class


Chunryang Story is a martial-arts MMORPG from Korean game company Wemade. Learning from Warriors of the 3 Kingdoms, it presents martial arts and thrilling actions that are often shown in knight-errant movies and novels.

Advanced Gameplay Contents in Zero Era(CN) VIP Experience Server

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Advanced Gameplay Contents in Zero Era(CN) VIP Experience Server


With its elite testing currently in full swing, Era Zero is opening VIP Experience Server in China soon. But do you know who are eligible to enter the VIP Experience Server, and what content will be available to testers? Now let me answer these questions one by one.

Phantasy Star Online 2: More 2nd CBT Info Unveiled with An Awesome CG Trailer

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Phantasy Star Online 2: More 2nd CBT Info Unveiled with An Awesome CG Trailer


Japan kicked off the fourth PC Game Show in Akibahara, Tokyo on Dec. 24, where SEGA showcasedits upcoming MMORPG Phantasy Star Online 2 which is to be released in 2012. It is learnt that Phantasy Star Online 2 will start the second Alpha test early next year and around 50,000 playerswill be recruited then.

Posted by Shri Krishna


General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

New Tests Cast Doubt on FAA Electronics Ban

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 02:45 PM PST

kindleNew York Times writer Nick Bilton has had enough of the FAA's vague explanations of why personal electronic devices aren't allowed during certain parts of a flight. After frequently questioning the rationale for such rules, he recently commissioned his own tests on devices like the Kindle. The results seemed to support Bilton's position that the FAA being a little disingenuous. 

The tests showed that a Kindle only outputs roughly 30 microvolts per meter, far below the level needed to affect even unshielded wiring. Additionally, the number of devices active doesn't matter as EM radiation is not cumulative. Bilton also cites some exceptions the FAA has made for devices like personal voice recorders and shavers. Both these devices emit similar amounts of radiation as a Kindle. 

Despite the likely safety of low-power devices like the Kindle, the FAA ban on using the devices during take-off and landing remains in effect. One engineer consulted in the report said the real reason for the ban was "inertia and paranoia" in the FAA. Some pilots have also pointed out the rules help people remain distraction-free during the most dangerous parts of a flight. What do you think of the electronics ban?

GoDaddy Accused of Stifling Domain Movers

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 02:17 PM PST

godaddyDomain registrar GoDaddy may have dropped its official support for the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), but this ugly chapter is far from over. According to competing registrar Namecheap, GoDaddy is doing all it can to hamper the flow of domains away from its service. Namecheap claims that GoDaddy's actions violate ICANN rules, but is promising to work with potential customers to get their domains moved.

If Namecheap is to be believed, GoDaddy has been submitting incomplete domain information as a matter of policy when a move is requested. This makes it extremely difficult for a new registrar to process the change. "This action speaks volumes about the impact that informed customers are having on GoDaddy's business," Namecheap said in a statement. GoDaddy has not responded to the allegations, but we imagine they will deny everything.

GoDaddy came under fire last week when the Internet became aware the registrar supported SOPA. In its present form, SOPA would allow copyright holders to shut down sites that were found to have any infringing material. It would also force alterations to the DNS system that many experts believe would be dangerous. 

MotoACTV Android Watch Rooted, Ready for Modding

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 02:00 PM PST

actvAnother Android device rooted and cracked open for the modding community? Yawn, right? Well, when that Android device also happens to be a watch, things get a little more interesting. The Motorola ACTV is a sports watch that runs Android and connects wirelessly with Android devices. With a little hacking around, it can now run Android apps on its tiny 1.6-inch screen.

The ACTV runs Android 2.3 Gingerbread beneath a heavily customized interface suited for a small screen. By using the ZergRuch exploit, modders were able to open the device up and install the Android Market and other Google Apps on it. With a custom launcher, the ACTV is a totally new device, though not terribly usable. 

This isn't going to suddenly make the ACTV a must-have accessory. It's still a pricey add-on that most users won't need. This is just another example of the Android community doing what it does best.

Chrome Web App of the Week: Do It Tomorrow

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 11:29 AM PST

 

As many of us continue to wallow in the throes of a self-induced turkey coma, it's hard to focus on the fact that sooner or later, the holidays will give way to our regular workaday lives and all of the responsibilities that come with with it. For Chrome users less than crazy about getting back to being productive, there's Do It Tomorrow, our Chrome Web App of the Week.

A productivity app designed to capitalize on drive to put off tasks from today that could easy be performed tomorrow, Do It Tomorrow, is a task tracking app for individuals who understand that sometimes the best way to manage their lives is to procrastinate as hard as they can. Foregoing the multitude of features offered by many of today's most popular calendar and task management applications, Do It Tomorrow offers users a simple, elegant interface that affords the ability to enter tasks that need to be taken care of today, or be pushed off until tomorrow.

Realizing that a productivity app is only as productive as it is mobile, Do It Tomorrow's developers have also put together smartphone and tablet versions of their application for iOS and Android users to exploit, making it easy to get things done--or put things off for a day--no matter where life takes you. 

Be sure to check in every Monday for another edition of Maximum PC's Chrome Web App of the Week. 

 

Rumor: Intel Planning Atom CPUs For NAS Boxes

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 11:12 AM PST

Ah, network attached storage; whether you're building your own or buying premade, nothing beats a NAS box when it comes to storing and streaming media files across a network. For the most part, NAS boxes offer a stripped-down interface and very few bells and whistles, making them fairly energy-efficient compared to full-fledged PCs. Hey – aren't netbooks low-powered too? Yep, and now that most everybody's passing up netbooks in favor of tablets, a new report says that Intel may be planning to shift some focus for its low-powered Atom chips from netbooks to NAS boxes.

Anything you read in DigiTimes should be taken with a grain of salt – or seven – since the publication doesn't exactly bat .1000 with its rumors, but this one actually makes some sense (and hey, NAS boxes should get more spotlight time, anyways). DigiTimes' as-always-anonymous sources claim that we'll start seeing new 32nm Atom CPUs for NAS boxes and entry-level servers as early as the second quarter of 2012. The publication even outs the chips' alleged codename: Centerton.

While Atom chips don't offer anywhere near the brawn of Sandy Bridge, they can certainly hold their own against the CPUs currently found in NAS boxes. But then again, most people don't expect – or even want – too much out of their network storage. Does the thought of an Atom-powered NAS box intrigue you?

ASRock Shows Off Transformer-Themed X79 Mobos

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 10:44 AM PST

Want a little bit more Autobot in your PC's life? While everybody was busy making a big deal out of Habro's trademark lawsuit against the Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime – ourselves included – another manufacturer quietly showed off some Transformer-related PC hardware of its own, and these components look like they may actually be licensed! Late last week, ASRock plopped concept pics of Optimus Prime- and Bumblebee-branded X79 mobos up on its Facebook page. Suddenly, the Hasbro suit makes a little more sense.

ASRock is no stranger to the LGA 2011 socket; it already offers a bevy of X79 boards, including a "Professional" X79 mobo bearing the Fatal1ty name. For what it's worth, TechPowerUp points out that the X79 Optimus Prime and the X79 Bumblebee (as they're called in the Facebook pics) look just like ASRock's existing X79 Extreme9, but with fancier pant jobs.

Would you be more likely to pick up a Transformer-themed board than a stock mobo? Which looks better to you, X79 Optimus Prime or X79 Bumblebee? I've always been an Optimus kind of guy, but I'm kind of groovin' on the yellow and black Bumblebee board.

Acer Denies Rumored Plans to Duck Out of the Tablet PC Business

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 09:13 AM PST

You won't find too many people beating down virtual or brick and mortar doors to get their hands on an Acer Iconia Tab. The demand just isn't there, not when there are sexier, slimmer, more capable, and less expensive alternatives available (some of which are a combination of more than one of those), and the Iconia Tab line hasn't sold particularly well as a result. Be that as it may, Acer isn't waving the white flag.

Amid rumors that Acer would withdraw from the tablet PC and smartphone markets, company founder Stan Shih set the record straight by explaining this isn't the time to give up, DigiTimes reports.

Shih acknowledged there's some frustration behind the scenes, but shrugged it off as an unavoidable part of the process, just as the company went through when first entering the notebook market years ago. Acer's board of directors wants the company to simplify its operational goals and narrow its focus on profitable products, of which it believes tablet PCs and smartphones both fit into.

Chrome Engineer Explains Near Billion Dollar Investment in Mozilla

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 08:54 AM PST

Some people have been questioning why Google would dump nearly a billion dollars into a three-year search deal with Mozilla and its Firefox browser instead of leaving Mozilla high and dry after their existing agreement expired. Adding to the intrigue is the fact that the new deal is three times higher than the previous one, and is more than Microsoft was willing to pay Mozilla to have Bing featured as the default search. Why give all that money to a competitor? That's the wrong question to ask, according to one of Chrome's developers.

Peter Kasting, a Senior Software Engineer and a member of the Chrome UI team, got all riled up after reading MG Sielger's "Pay to Stay" piece, in which Sielger concluded that Google is "paying all that money to a competitor." His piece prompted a mini-rant from Kasting, who explained Google's reasoning in a Google+ post.

"People never seem to understand why Google builds Chrome no matter how many times I try to pound it into their heads. It's very simple: the primary goal of Chrome is to make the Web advance as much and as quickly as possible," Kasting said. "That's it. It's completely irrelevant to this goal whether Chrome actually gains tons of users or whether instead the Web advances because the other browser vendors step up their game and produce far better browsers. Either way the web gets better. Job done. The end."

Kasting doesn't claim Google is a total Web evangelist. He points out that "Google succeeds (and makes money) when the Web succeeds and people use it more to do everything they need," so if that means supporting companies like Mozilla, then so be it.

"Because of this Chrome doesn't need to be a Microsoft Office, a direct-money-maker, nor does it even need to directly feed users to Google. Just making the Web more capable is enough," Kastings added.

As Paul Harvey used to say, now you know the rest of the story.

AMD Readies New Phenom Chips Built Around Bulldozer

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 08:27 AM PST

AMD fans were rooting for the Santa Clara chip maker to yank the performance crown from Intel with team green's desktop Bulldozer-based FX series processors. That didn't happen, and it looks like the next batch of Bulldozer processors will skip the high-end hype and attack the mid-range and entry-level markets where AMD has enjoyed quite a bit of success.

Chinese webiste inpai.com.cn did a little digging on the Web and found updated CPU support lists for select ECS and Jetway motherboards. These lists include a handful of unreleased Phenom chips based on AMD's Bulldozer architecture with up to eight cores and with unlocked mulitpliers. There are four new chips in all:

  • Phenom II X8 2420: 2.4GHz, 8MB cache, 95W
  • Phenom II X8 3020: 3.0GHz, 8MB cache, 125W
  • Phenom II X6 2520: 2.5GHz, ?? cache, 95W
  • Phenom II X6 2820: 2.8GHz, 8MB cache, 95W

Interestingly it appears AMD is planning to brand these as Phenom II parts instead of Phenom III. When these processors will be available and for how much is anyone's guess.

Image Credit: AMD

Samsung Agrees to Purchase Sony's LCD Business for $940 Million

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 07:09 AM PST

The joint LCD venture between Sony and Samsung is undergoing some changes with respect to ownership and who's responsible for what. Under terms of a new agreement, Samsung will acquire all of Sony's shares of S-LCD Corporation, the companies' joint manufacturing venture. Samsung will pay Sony 1.08 trillion South Korean won, or around $940 million, for the share transfer, and the two companies will continue their cooperative engineering efforts focused on LCD panel technology, Sony announced.

Sony's angle in this is to monetize its shares in S-LCD and to secure a flexible and steady supply of LCD panels from Samsung without the responsibility and costs of operating a manufacturing facility. Samsung, on the other hand, gains complete control of operations and anticipates heightened flexibility, speed, and efficiency in both panel production and business operations.

The deal is expected to close by the end of January 2012.

Image Credit: Flickr "pondspider"
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMO News

MMO News

C21 officially launches

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 02:58 PM PST

CyberStep, publisher of CosmicBreak, has officially launched C21 -Steel Battle Chronicles-.

To celebrate, all players will get a gift for every day they log until January 10. Players can also find experience, C$, and drops boosted on weekdays from 9pm to 11pm Pacific on weekdays, 4pm to 6pm Pacific on Saturdays, and 9pm to 11pm on Sundays during this time.

C21 is a third person shooter featuring customizable robots, aerial and ground combat, large maps, and more.

c21_large_battle

C21  Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES– BEGINS COMMERCIAL SERVICE

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – December 26th, 2011 – Online game developer CyberStep opens its latest Robot MMORPG, C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES–, for commercial release today at 15:00 (PST), allowing users to explore the game's vast worlds, brimming with robots.

* C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES– *
Official Website: http://www.c21-online.com/

CyberStep proudly announces the opening of C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES– to commercial service today; players will be able to begin their adventures from 15:00 (PDT).

C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES– is a unique MMORPG that is played from a 3rd person perspective and uses FPS controls to allow for fast-paced battles that will enable users to excel through their own personal skill, rather than their equipment.

Lots of exciting ways to fight, find one that suits you best!
Users will be able to engage in both aerial and ground combat on large maps that can host hundreds of enemies at a time, allowing for massive battles that will pit users against hordes of hostile robots. Utilizing the powerful robot creation system, users will be able to customize existing robots or build them from scratch. Create specialized role-specific robots or make a balanced build that allows you to deal with anything that comes your way!

Welcome Everyone Campaign
In celebration of the game's commercial release, CyberStep is holding a welcome campaign for all players, new and old. Users that log in every day will receive a thank you present for every day that they log in. C21 is also hosting a multiplier increase event where users that log in during the event times will find that their EXP, C$, and Drop rates have all been boosted. The rates and times are as follows:

Weekdays from 21:00 to 23:00 (PST)
Rates for EXP, C$, and drops multiplied by 1.5

Saturdays from 16:00 to 18:00 (PST)
Rates for EXP, C$, and drops multiplied by 2.0

Sundays from 21:00 to 23:00 (PST)
Rates for EXP, C$, and drops multiplied b 2.0

The Welcome Campaign begins on December 26th and ends on January 10th.
Make sure you take advantage of this event while it's still around!

In order to participate in the festivities, simply sign up at the official website and download the game for free!

Visit us at http://www.c21-online.com/

CyberStep is committed to providing users with an enjoyable game experience and will be using the feedback obtained during the beta testing period in order to apply adjustments and optimize the game system before launching commercially in December.

Open beta in progress for Silkroad-R

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 12:19 PM PST

Silkroad-R has launched open beta for its players, Joymax has announced. The open beta will run until January 17.

The open beta update improves vendor NPCs, replaced Gold drops with Coin drops below level 70, and added many tweaks to skills and gameplay.

Silkroad-R is a new version of Silkroad, separate from the original game, which offers higher experience rates and skill balance adjustments that Silkroad Online does not offer.

Joymax also publishes Karma Online and Digimon Masters Online.

silkroad_r_crowds

Silkroad-R Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

We appreciate your dedication and continuous support toward Silkroad-R.

OBT of Silkroad-R has finally opened because of the enthusiasm and support you showed us in F.G.T. Starting today you will be able to experience the improved and renewed version of Silkroad online in Silkroad-R.

We welcome you to experience a more exciting game environment with faster level-up rates and improved skill balance for each character class and race.

Silkroad-R has been improved with higher experience rates and optimized race and class skills. Silkroad-R is an independent game client and is separated from previous Silkroad Online Game client.

Below is the Silkroad-R O.B.T. schedule:

* Silkroad-R O.B.T Schedule

- Open: Dec. 20, 2011

- End: Jan. 17, 2011

* Since it’s Open Beta Test, character will Not be reset!

The following are the changes of Silkroad-R compared from the previous version of Silkroad Online.

1st Silkroad-R Improvement

* Grocery supply NPC has been added.

- Equipment support will be provided to players until level 70 through the Grocery supply NPC.

* Potion supply NPC has been added.

- Normal expendable items will be supplied by the Potion supply NPC

(HP/MP potion, Universal pill, Purification Pill, Arrow, Bolt)

* Valuables exchange merchant NPC has been added.

- New NPC can be found at the sprout mark on the map

(It is located in portal section in each town)

* Military Camp NPCs has been added (The location of Military Camp will be displayed on the map)

- Military Camp NPCs has been placed at the main hunting fields of Jangan, Constantinople, Samarkand, Donwhang and Hotan

- Quest can be completed through Military Camp NPCs

* The location of some monsters has been modified to improve hunting efficiency.

* The following improvements related to forgotten world have been applied:

- The reward of monsters in forgotten world dungeon has been improved

- Portal for teleporting to other region will be placed in forgotten world dungeon.

- The rate of spawning Dimension Pillars has been increased

- Summoned number of Envy monsters has been decreased when Dimension Pillar is destroyed.

- Faded bead Item has been added.

** Faded bead will be dropped by boss monsters and Skill point can be randomly obtained by using this.

2nd Silkroad-R Improvement

* Gold won't be dropped by monster with levels 70 and below. However Coins will be dropped instead. These coins can be traded with equipments which have corresponding degrees for each kind of coin through the Valuables exchange merchant

* Valuables exchange merchant NPC will be displayed on the Map.

Coin of TraineeCoin of SoldierCoin of General
1~3 degree4~5 degree6~8 degree

3 pieces of Coin of Trainee can be exchanged with one of Coin of Soldier and 3 pieces of Coin of Soldier can be exchanged with 1 of Coin of General

* A New type of elixir named as 'Unfinished elixir'will be dropped from 1 to 8 degree. And the normal elixirs will be dropped per each degree from 8 to 11 degree.

* Tablets won't be dropped. But Materials and items which are needed for craft system will be dropped.

3rd Silkroad-R Improvement

This is the 3rd part of improvement that you can see below.

* The exp required for the each level has been decreased

* The mastery required for the each level has been decreased

* Skill balance for Chinese character has been improved

- New skills have been added

- Speed of casting new skills has been improved

- The amount of obtaining EXP from the party has been improved

- Physical/magical damage has been increased

- Speed in casting the skill for movement speed has been increased

- The effective range of some AOE main skills has been modified

- Damage increase scroll and buffs can be used simultaneously

* Skill balance for European character has been improved

- Physical damage of European characters has been increased.

- Magical damage of Warlock Curse type skills which target a single player has been increased.

- Cool time of Dagger Skills has been improved for Rogue character class.

- Defense penalty of Dagger desperate has been decreased for Rogue character class.

- MP Recovery effect of Mana Orbit has been decreased for Bard class.

- HP Recovery effect of Healing Orbit has been decreased for Cleric class.

- Damage of Wizard skills has been decreased.

Please enjoy Silkroad-R O.B.T.

Thank you.

Dragona now in open beta

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 10:04 AM PST

Dragona has announced that it is now in its open beta testing.

As of December 22, players can join freely in Dragona to test and play the game. There will be no further character wipes between open beta and launch, so players can get a head start on the action now.

The update that comes with open beta also offers a helpful supply kit for new characters, improves the game’s translation, and makes several adjustments to improve gameplay.

Dragona is published by GameClub.

dragona-mount

Dragona Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

The Goddess Huanis has spoken and spread the word all over the continent that the OBT will be launching this December 22, 2011 14:00 PST Officially. From the Opening of the OBT She had declared there will be no characters wipe out further on. All travelers are invited to participate in the opening of the continent. The Goddess awaits for your arrival. Spread the word and let the message be known all over the world!
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMO Updates

MMO Updates

LotRO producer's letter promises a ton of content in 2012

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST

Filed under: , , , , ,

Lord of the Rings Online - The Shire
Can you believe that Lord of the Rings Online is nearly five years old? We can't either, but it's true, and Turbine's Aaron "Rowan" Campbell says the best is yet to come in his latest producer letter.

The piece is pretty short, and much of it is devoted to recapping 2011. Campbell touches on the Rise of Isengard expansion and the Turbine Global Service initiative (which unified the North American and European LotRO communities under a single banner).

The most interesting portion of the blurb occurs toward the end, and it features quite a tasty tease for the future. "In 2012, you can expect more content than you've seen at any time since our launch in 2007. We'll be unveiling details with you after the New Year," he writes.

In other LotRO news, Turbine is offering the aforementioned Rise of Isengard content for a whopping 50% off. The catch? It's a one-day sale that starts (and ends) on December 26th, so get it while you can!

MassivelyLotRO producer's letter promises a ton of content in 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: December 26, 2011-January 1, 2012

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST

Filed under: , , ,

D'awwww
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

You'll notice a hefty lineup, some new faces, and some special events in this week's MV Guide. Joining us will be some brand-new members of the MV TV livestream team, so make sure you stop in while they're live and give them a welcome!

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule.

Continue reading MV Guide: December 26, 2011-January 1, 2012

MassivelyMV Guide: December 26, 2011-January 1, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Daily Grind: Have you ever let the queues win?

    Posted: 26 Dec 2011 05:00 AM PST

    Filed under: , , , , , ,

    SWTOR screenshot
    One of the worst MMO launches I ever sat through was Star Wars Galaxies' in 2003, I'm sad to admit. My guild was split over two servers from the start because Sony Online Entertainment had locked off our preferred server to prevent it from becoming overcrowded, so half of my friends were stranded and unable to create characters. A week later, the locks were still in place, and we grudgingly rerolled on a new server, losing our day-one characters, favorite names, and even a few members in the process. Years later, that second server was one of the first to dry up, and we spent cold hard cash moving our characters back to the original (and still heavily populated) server. It was a lesson hard-learned.

    Star Wars: The Old Republic has thus far avoided hard locks on servers, preferring to persuade players to move organically with long queues. So today we ask you this: Have you ever been swayed to leave your launch server by long queues or temporary character creation bans, or do you ride out the launch period and figure it'll resolve itself eventually? Have you ever given in and let launch-day locks or lines win?

    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: Have you ever let the queues win? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      MMO Week in Review: Merry SWTOR!

      Posted: 25 Dec 2011 05:00 PM PST

      Filed under: , ,

      SWTOR
      At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

      This week, the Massively staff has been utterly preoccupied with Star Wars: The Old Republic, but hey, an MMO launch this big (one million and counting!) doesn't happen often. Enjoy it! Savor it! Swing a glowstick! We've been scoping out SWTOR's queues, hype, more queues, forums, security, guilds, still more queues, launch secrets, and freeze mobs (what?).

      If you're sick of SWTOR, just imagine: BioWare could have made A Game of Thrones Online instead, and you'd be sick of that.

      Enjoy the rest of this week's top MMO stories beyond the break.

      Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Merry SWTOR!

      MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Merry SWTOR! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        EVE Evolved: Fitting the Gallente Talos

        Posted: 25 Dec 2011 03:00 PM PST

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        Among the hundreds of changes brought by EVE Online's recent Crucible expansion, the new tier 3 battlecruisers certainly rank as player favourites. Rather than giving each race a bigger, tougher battlecruiser, CCP gave the new ships the ability to fit battleship-class weapons but heavily limited their defensive capabilities. All four tier 3 battlecruisers are turret-based, letting them output massive damage with close-range guns or hit for solid damage at battleship sniping distances.

        As with all new ships, it can be difficult to figure out how to fit the new tier 3 battlecruisers to make full use of their unique combination of high damage output and high mobility. Last week I looked at three viable setups for the Caldari Naga, which proved to be an absolute monster with 1,000-1500 DPS when using close-range blaster setups and a terrifying 650 DPS when sniping at 100km-130km. This week I take a similar look at the Gallente Talos, a ship designed specifically for close-range combat. I explore a traditional armour-tanked blaster fitting with dual webs, a shield-based variant that packs a huge 1,500 DPS punch, and two long-range blaster fits that give the Naga a run for its money.

        In this week's EVE Evolved, I explore four solid PvP fittings for the Talos, with both shield and armour setups.

        Continue reading EVE Evolved: Fitting the Gallente Talos

        MassivelyEVE Evolved: Fitting the Gallente Talos originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Over one percent of League of Legends players have been banned

          Posted: 25 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST

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          Handling antisocial behaviour has always been a problem for online game developers, and MOBAs like League of Legends certainly get the worst of it. The inherently team-based nature and slippery slope gameplay in MOBAs makes it very easy for one antisocial player to ruin a game and cause your team to lose. The problem is normally tackled head-on with a report tool and a suite of hired GMs, but what do you do if your game is free-to-play and has over 15 million registered players? It would be impractical to hire thousands of GMs to police a community of that size, so Riot Games came up with an alternative in the Tribunal system.

          The Tribunal allows players who have played enough games to reach level 30 to vote on whether to take action against a reported player. Once enough votes are tallied, either the player is pardoned automatically or his case is submitted to a smaller GM team to await punishment. The system went live earlier this year, and Riot has now revealed how incredibly successful the system has been with the publication of some very interesting banning statistics. The biggest shocker is that a whopping 1.4% of LoL's over 15 million players have been banned with the system, a workload that far exceeds the capacity of a traditional GM team. Ninety-four percent of players submitted to the Tribunal are punished, with about 50% of them never reoffending.

          Skip past the cut for an image showing these and other statistics, and stay tuned to our weekly Not So Massively column every Monday for more LoL news and updates.

          Continue reading Over one percent of League of Legends players have been banned

          MassivelyOver one percent of League of Legends players have been banned originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Rise and Shiny recap: Dungeon Fighter Online

          Posted: 25 Dec 2011 11:00 AM PST

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          Dungeon Fighter Online screenshot
          I'm glad that over the last week I found the time to finally get me some Dungeon Fighter Online by Nexon. I knew that it has quite the following, and I knew that it's supposed to be a blast, sort of like an 8bit Vindictus, but I was still surprised at a few things while I played. The game isn't what I thought it would be in several ways. NPCs have voices and hand out actual quests, the world is more open than I thought it would be, and the graphics feel snappy and fluid despite their primitive nature.

          Don't get me wrong -- there is plenty that needs to be tweaked or fixed before the game smells of anything near perfection. Much of it is beyond the ability of the developers, but many of the problems with the game could be fixed relatively easy.

          Click past the cut and I'll tell you what I thought during my time fighting in dungeons... online!

          Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Dungeon Fighter Online

          MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Dungeon Fighter Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Dec 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

            How Retail Games are Made

            Posted: 26 Dec 2011 12:00 AM PST

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            How Retail Games are Made

            By: Emily Morganti December 26, 2011

            Forget iCloud. Do you remember floppy disks?

            "When Apple decided to make their 3.5-inch floppies blue, every floppy went to blue. Then when IBM decided to go with shell gray on the 3.5-inch HD floppy, everyone else went to shell gray," recalls a sales manager for a CD/DVD manufacturer whose involvement with video games and computer software dates back to the 1990s. "One year our biggest client bought over 100 million floppy disks. The next year I would have been surprised if they bought 25,000 when they moved to compact disc."
            Posted by Shri Krishna

            MMORPG News

            MMORPG News

            Lord of the Rings Online: The Year In Review

            Posted: 26 Dec 2011 04:16 AM PST

            Lord of the Rings Online Senior Producer Aaron "Rowan" Campbell has written a short note on the official site reviewing 2011 and what it meant to the game. Calling 2011 a "huge year", Campbell reminds players of what has passed and peeks ahead at 2012.

            Rift: Slivers of a Fae Yule

            Posted: 22 Dec 2011 01:29 PM PST

            In the latest Chronicles of One Telaran, we continue the look at the Fae Yule celebrations currently ongoing in Rift. Check out what's transpired for poor Caedryn since the last time we checked in with him as he discovered that not all is bright ribbons and wrapping paper.

            General: Merry Christmas from MMORPG.com

            Posted: 21 Dec 2011 06:59 PM PST

            This is just a quick little note to all our readers, wishing you a very Merry Christmas. Not everyone may celebrate the holiday, but the spirit of it all is a good thing to practice even so.
            Posted by Shri Krishna
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