MMO Updates

MMO Updates

Massively Speaking Episode 184

Posted: 31 Jan 2012 09:00 AM PST

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Second Life
Massively Speaking Episode 184 returns this week with Justin and Rubi being joined by Senior Editor Bree Royce to discuss the week's news. Topics include NCsoft's newest lawsuit with En Masse, RuneScape's sub fee increase, no BlizzCon this year, and much more. Plus, this is Rubi's last time on the show, so wish her a fond farewell!

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:
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Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 184

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 184 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    EVE Online website revamp detailed in new video devblog

    Posted: 31 Jan 2012 08:00 AM PST

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    EVE Online title image
    EVE Online has undergone countless changes and iterations since its first release in 2003, with major graphics overhauls and new gameplay systems arriving every year. In contrast, the official EVE website hasn't changed much over the years. With background information, screenshots, video, forums and knowledgebase articles, the EVE website now juggles content designed for prospective players and existing community members alike. CCP aims to change all that with a complete overhaul that will split community tools like the forums, knowledgebase, and account management from marketing designed to attract players.

    In a new video devblog, web-developer CCP Alice shows off some of the features of EVE's brand new website. Built using HTML 5, the new page will feature a full built-in renderer able to show prospective players the EVE Online universe map and interactive renderings of every ship in the game. "Now that we have a better eveonline.com, the focus after this one is to focus on the community," says CCP Alice, hinting that new community tools will soon be on the way. In a follow-up devblog today, Community Manager CCP Guard confirmed that players will soon be able to start their own corporation forums hosted on CCP's servers. Check out the full video after the cut.

    Continue reading EVE Online website revamp detailed in new video devblog

    MassivelyEVE Online website revamp detailed in new video devblog originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Browser-based FPS sets world record for simultaneous players

    Posted: 31 Jan 2012 07:00 AM PST

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    Man vs. Machine - world record attempt
    A new world record for simultaneous FPS participants was set over the weekend. Man vs. Machine, a browser title from MuchDifferent, is the new champion thanks to its ability to support 999 players on a single battlefield at the same time.

    MuchDifferent CEO Christian Lonnholm says that Man vs. Machine smashed the previous record of 600 simultaneous combatants held by Sony Online Entertainment's PlanetSide, and he also viewed the event as a resounding success despite missing the stated 1,000-player goal by a single digit.

    "I am very proud that we could show the world such a massive game with no lag and great responsiveness," Lonnholm said. "We never managed to get the full thousand, though, because of the inherent unpredictability of the internet with players constantly timing out and logging out."

    Head past the cut for a video of the record-setting event.

    Continue reading Browser-based FPS sets world record for simultaneous players

    MassivelyBrowser-based FPS sets world record for simultaneous players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    A sneak peek at Guild Wars 2's PvP Scholar armor

    Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:00 AM PST

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    Guild Wars 2
    Admit it: You aren't always out just for the thrill of the experience -- you want the bling-bling to go with it. A shopping spree, with your sword playing the role of "credit card" and each corpse a potential bonanza of fashion acquisitions. That's okay; we're not here to judge you.

    In fact, if fancy armor gets your motor running, Guild Wars Insider has a treat for you: two pictures of Guild Wars 2's PvP Scholar armor set modeled by a majestic Norn Elementalist. While the armor may not maximize skin coverage, the detail and design is certainly fetching.

    These pictures were taken inside of the PvP lobbies, which are breathtaking environments all to themselves. The picture on the left was taken in the Battle of Khylo lobby.

    ArenaNet has been rolling out the news of Guild Wars 2's PvP system ever since Gamescom last year.

    [Thanks to Seven for the tip!]

    MassivelyA sneak peek at Guild Wars 2's PvP Scholar armor originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Daily Grind: When do you alt?

    Posted: 31 Jan 2012 05:00 AM PST

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    In some games, the correct answer is 'pretty much never' no matter what.
    We know that some of you love to roll alts and some of you just play one character until the end time. This question is not about that. No, today we want something that's much more fundamental but yet subtly more important -- when do you make those alts? When do you click back over to character creation and start fresh?

    For some players, it's a matter of boredom. Some players make new characters based on roleplaying demands. Some just love to roll new characters on a regular basis whenever one character hits an important milestone. And for some of us, it's just a matter of whenever the whim strikes, whether or not that whim makes a lot of sense at the time.

    If you don't make alts, of course, your answer is "almost never." But if you do, we ask you -- when do you make your new characters? What motivates you to start again from the bottom on a regular basis? When is it time to make another character?

    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: When do you alt? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Global Agenda celebrates its second birthday with free booster codes for Massively readers

      Posted: 30 Jan 2012 06:00 PM PST

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      Global Agenda
      We told you earlier today that Hi-Rez is handing out prizes in honor of Global Agenda's second anniversary, and while that's pretty awesome, we've got a little something extra for those players who have the good taste to also be Massively readers.

      We've got some booster codes to give away: three days of extra experience, credits, and tokens, free for the taking. Picking one up for yourself is a snap: Go to our giveaway page to pick up your code, then log into game and type "/claimpromotion Promocode". Enter your code and that's it -- you've got your three-day booster!

      Enjoy your booster code and join us in thanking Hi-Rez for the gift!

      MassivelyGlobal Agenda celebrates its second birthday with free booster codes for Massively readers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Newest Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter talks patch 1.21 release

        Posted: 30 Jan 2012 05:30 PM PST

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        Of course, in real life, Yoshida is the one who can spit fire.
        It's been a little quiet on the Final Fantasy XIV front since the new year, but the team behind the game has been hard at work preparing the launch of patch 1.21. And it's going to be quite a massive patch, as outlined in Naoki Yoshida's most recent producer's letter for the fans. Not only does it contain the addition of the long-awaited Job system, but it also includes UI improvements, housing, two new instanced raids, a food and medicine overhaul, and a variety of smaller changes.

        While the team had originally aimed for a launch in the second week of February, Yoshida notes that the patch will likely be delayed two weeks due to the sheer amount of content going in. He also discusses what he calls temporary server merges prior to the launch of 2.0 in November; as he puts it, the main concern is allowing players, especially from European regions, to have an ample playerbase to adventure with. It's a bit of unpleasant news for Final Fantasy XIV players, but it's packed in amidst many things to look forward to.

        MassivelyNewest Final Fantasy XIV producer's letter talks patch 1.21 release originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Not So Massively: Why are all these games still in beta?

        Posted: 30 Jan 2012 05:00 PM PST

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        Not So Massively title image
        Dota 2 revealed its latest hero, Clinkz the Bone Fletcher, in this week's beta patch, while the Realm of the Titans beta was rudely interrupted by a security breach that saw thousands of passwords stolen. Blacklight: Retribution's fourth beta phase is now underway, and we have beta keys for those of you who haven't managed to get into it yet. Bloodline Champions celebrated the two-year anniversary of its first beta test this week, and developers revealed details of upcoming bloodline Headhunter.

        League of Legends spilled the beans on its brand-new psychotic yordle champion Ziggs, the Hexplosives Expert, this week with a full gameplay reveal, art spotlight and patch preview. Diablo III seems slightly nearer to release this week with the news that Blizzard has cancelled BlizzCon 2012 in order to focus on getting the game to release as soon as possible. Heroes of Newerth player Fatmilk set a new world record by playing the game for 76 hours straight and raised pver $3,700US for charity as a result. Finally, the Rise of Immortals developers discussed the latest immortal, Ukkonen, and other topics in the first part of a new developer podcast series.

        Continue reading Not So Massively: Why are all these games still in beta?

        MassivelyNot So Massively: Why are all these games still in beta? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Turbine: Subscription model isn't dead

          Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:30 PM PST

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          Dungeons and Dragons Online - dark elves
          Turbine doesn't think subscription MMOs are dying, which might come as something of a surprise to fans of the pay-as-you-go business model that's spreading like wildfire across the Western MMO landscape.

          "It's probably not right to say the subscription MMO is dying, it's probably more right to say the idea of forcing a player to only have one option for having to consume your content -- that's probably dying," says spokesman Adam Mersky in a piece at Eurogamer.

          Mersky goes on to say that brave new business models are the norm across the entertainment spectrum, and he also claims that Turbine "certainly pioneered" free-to-play in the online gaming space (though it's worth noting that Funcom introduced a F2P option for Anarchy Online in 2004, five years before Dungeons and Dragons Online took the plunge).

          Finally, the Eurogamer piece touches on the upcoming Menace of the Underdark expansion as well as the unnamed "future project" that the company first hinted about in 2009.

          MassivelyTurbine: Subscription model isn't dead originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          DC Universe Online's upcoming game update is all about easier grouping

          Posted: 30 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

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          The proposal for Super Wimp Raids, where the enemies just stare at you menacingly, was summarily rejected.
          If you've been enjoying DC Universe Online ever since the game switched business models, odds are good you're looking toward the endgame by now. Game Update 9, which is coming soon, will make getting into that endgame even easier via the addition of Novice Raids. This new difficulty setting still allows players to experience all the storyline of Fortress of Solitude, Kahndaq, and the Batcave, but the difficulty will be notched down so that players can get a better feel for what they're doing.

          Of course, if you're not into the endgame rush, you've still got something to look forward to with the new role-optional alerts system. In essence, players will now be able to queue for Alerts without needing to put together a balanced group; in the event that a role is missing, a team buff will be applied to ensure that the area can still be cleared. That means that even with nothing but Damage characters, you can still explore all of DC Universe Online's group content, something that should allow for some novel player approaches once the update goes live.

          [Update: SOE has also issued a statement about plans for the game's PvP in 2012. The full quote is after the cut.]

          Continue reading DC Universe Online's upcoming game update is all about easier grouping

          MassivelyDC Universe Online's upcoming game update is all about easier grouping originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ArenaNet reveals new PvP map with four new screenshots

          Posted: 30 Jan 2012 03:00 PM PST

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          Screenshot -- Guild Wars 2
          Now that it finally has a (rumored) tentative launch window, fans can officially get hyped for Guild Wars 2, only to have their hopes dashed when the release is pushed back. OK, not really (hopefully), but we do have some fancy new screenshots for you folks today courtesy of Guild Wars Insider. ArenaNet has released four new screenshots of a to-be-announced PvP map. Though we have all of no idea what kind of map it is, how it plays, or even what it's called... doesn't matter, new screenshots! To get a look at the new map in all of its splendor, just click on through the link below to Guild Wars Insider.

          MassivelyArenaNet reveals new PvP map with four new screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Warhammer Online releases patch 1.4.5 highlights

          Posted: 30 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST

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          The Inevitable City at peak hours.
          Despite Mythic Entertainment's recent winnowing of the Warhammer Online servers -- bringing them down from four servers to a measly pair -- the company is still hard at work developing patches for the RvR-based title. Patch 1.4.5 will be hitting the live servers tomorrow, January 31st, and it brings a number of interesting changes and also ushers in the return of fortresses, which should be good news for open RvR fans.

          With the recent Skaven invasion, a number of relics have been found in myriad underground tunnels dug below the game's fortresses. Players will be charged with guarding their faction's relics while attempting to purloin those of the enemy. The Grovod Cavern scenario is also making a return, allowing two teams of 12 players to duke it out in the crumbling cave. But this time, there's a twist: Players will be taking control of two teams of Skaven; hilarity will ensue. To top it all off, 1.4.5 is bringing fortresses back into play (after they were removed some time ago), which should hopefully encourage players to head back into the open RvR lakes for fun and profit. For the full details, just head on over to the Warhammer Online official site.

          MassivelyWarhammer Online releases patch 1.4.5 highlights originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Leaderboard: Mechanized vs. monster mounts

          Posted: 30 Jan 2012 01:30 PM PST

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          Leaderboard
          Unless you're stuck in the invisible wall, no jumping, running-with-your-hands-flopping-about hell of Guild Wars, chances are you've gotten the opportunity to pick up a mount or two in an MMO. It's one of the ways that MMOs are so superior to the real world: There are no driver tests, no insurance policies, no (usually) gas. You just plop down some money and the vendor looks the other way while you go off-roading in a major metropolitan area.

          But it wouldn't be a Leaderboard if we didn't force you to choose between your '67 Mustang and your pet Tauntaun, and so it shall be. In the world of mounts, there are two categories: the mechanized and the monsters. Vehicle mounts may be more rare due to fantasy's dominance over the genre, but they're still there and quite popular for the set that doesn't appreciate staring at horse doody all the live-long day. Then again, the fantastic creatures that have served as animal mounts are unceasing in variety as they are in style.

          So what shall it be? Will you plug Old Yeller and go with your motorcycle, or will you mothball your favorite dune buggy in favor of Seabiscuit? Vote after the jump!

          Continue reading Leaderboard: Mechanized vs. monster mounts

          MassivelyLeaderboard: Mechanized vs. monster mounts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Wings Over Atreia: F2P and vet rewards and bears, oh my!

            Posted: 30 Jan 2012 01:00 PM PST

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            Wings Over Atreia header image
            OK, so maybe there aren't really any bears. Wait, I take that back -- there are maybe sorta bears... at least alluded to! Polar bears, to be exact. No really, work with me here: What Winter Festival, Atreian or otherwise, doesn't conjure up images of polar bears? We just won't get into the whole dancing bears thing. What we will get into this week in Wings Over Atreia, however, are musings about a few topics of interest that are swirling around lately, most notably Aion's upcoming conversion to free-to-play in Europe, the changes to the veteran reward system, and the aforementioned Winter Festival (sans dancing bears).

            Quick quiz now: Other than involving Aion, what else do these three subjects have in common? Give up? Time. While this column usually delves into single topics at a time, the fact that two of these are time-sensitive necessitates that they share face-time, else the news most relevant to Daevas would become obsolete. The third is less time-sensitive but more time-relevant.

            Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: F2P and vet rewards and bears, oh my!

            MassivelyWings Over Atreia: F2P and vet rewards and bears, oh my! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review

              Posted: 30 Jan 2012 12:00 PM PST

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              Vanguard screenshot
              It's that time again -- time to look back on a year of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes and see what changed and what stayed exactly the same. The game is now five years old, and the last year has been relatively exciting for the community. Vanguard is just one of those titles that seems to want to last forever. The playerbase is loyal, mature, and truly dedicated to this aging title. Will the players' efforts pay off?

              We took a look back on the last year to see what the larger announcements were. There were some surprises and even updates (yes, actual updates to the game), something that is still affecting the community. While other games might publish monthly or even weekly updates, the Vanguard players are the camels of the greater MMO community and have learned to live off very little development fuel.

              Bear in mind that as I type this, an update is being played through on the test server.

              Continue reading A Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review

              MassivelyA Vanguard fifth anniversary year-in-review originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                RIFT introducing some big PvP buffs in patch 1.7

                Posted: 30 Jan 2012 11:30 AM PST

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                Sadly, being a mercenary does not allow you to switch sides if a boss battle is going poorly.
                Maybe you've been a fan of PvP in RIFT from day one. Or perhaps you eschewed it due to the slow rate of rewards and the awkwardness of needing PvP souls to make any real headway. The good news is that the game's upcoming patch 1.7 is taking aim at a variety of PvP issues, starting with a change to the Prestige Rank system. The new system will offer 40 ranks instead of the previous eight; while the time to reach the cap will remain identical, you'll gain new ranks and rewards more frequently, making the overall experience smoother.

                PvP souls are being outright abolished, with the abilities rolling into the new Attunement Path of War that works just like other Planar Attunements. There's also the addition of the "mercenary" option for queueing, allowing players to fight with the other faction during PvP matches in order to ensure a balanced and full group. All of this combines with across-the-board item improvements to ensure that following the patch release, taking part in PvP should be quite a bit more fun.

                MassivelyRIFT introducing some big PvP buffs in patch 1.7 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Xsyon hosting month-long architecture contest

                Posted: 30 Jan 2012 11:00 AM PST

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                Xsyon - This took insane amounts of time.
                If you're a member of a tribe in Xsyon, you might want to check out Notorious Games' latest architecture contest. The event runs from February 1st to March 1st, and it's open to both small tribes (between one and five members) and larger groups (six or more members).

                Since it's an architecture contest, you'll obviously need to construct (or re-construct) your tribe settlement. Notorious will be judging your creations for originality, uniqueness, design, layout, and beautification.

                The dev team is remaining coy when it comes to contest incentives, but the latest Xsyon press release does say that "there will be a large prize for the winning tribe in each group."

                MassivelyXsyon hosting month-long architecture contest originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                It's official: EverQuest goes free-to-play

                Posted: 30 Jan 2012 10:30 AM PST

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                EQ Veil of Alaris
                Back in December, when EverQuest II made the transition to free-to-play across all servers, many gamers wondered whether its sibling, EverQuest, would follow. Today, the speculation has become reality, and EverQuest will officially go free-to-play in March, which also is the month that the game first launched back in 1999. As the game closes in on its 13th birthday, it's worth taking a look back at this game's amazing history.

                Continue reading It's official: EverQuest goes free-to-play

                MassivelyIt's official: EverQuest goes free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Pack up your toys: LEGO Universe is shutting down at midnight

                  Posted: 30 Jan 2012 10:00 AM PST

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                  LEGO Universe
                  The clock is chiming, and kids (and the young at heart) everywhere are asking for just a little more time with LEGO Universe. Unfortunately the struggling MMO has gotten no reprieve from the imaginary video game governor, and its servers will go offline tonight at midnight EST.

                  The shutdown FAQ encourages LEGO Universe players to share their favorite memories on the forums and ends with a heartfelt message from the team:
                  "Our decision to end LEGO Universe is similar to decisions we also make with LEGO Product collection, where favourite sets come and go to make space for new sets. It was time for LEGO Universe to end and hopefully new digital LEGO experiences will come in the future."
                  We first heard of LEGO Universe's closure last November, when the studio announced that the game's freemium model was not bringing in enough paying customers to keep the title afloat. LEGO Universe is a youngling in the MMO genre, having released in October 2010, making the game one year and three months old at the time of its shutdown.

                  Refunds for those who had a paid subscription on file after December 31st, 2011 will be distributed early next month. Unused LEGO game cards may also be exchanged for LEGO e-gift cards.

                  MassivelyPack up your toys: LEGO Universe is shutting down at midnight originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Hi-Rez handing out prizes for Global Agenda's second anniversary

                    Posted: 30 Jan 2012 09:30 AM PST

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                    Global Agenda - Chloe's Burning Fashion
                    Time flies when you're fragging newbs, and Global Agenda fans have been doing just that for the better part of two years now. Hi-Rez Studios' sci-fi shooter launched on February 1st, 2010, and for this week's anniversary, the firm is offering up some exclusive prizes as well as trotting out a few old flair favorites.

                    Starting today, any Global Agenda player who wins an instanced PvE or PvP mission before February 6th will receive a mini Switchblade pet to parade around Dome City in between matches. Hi-Rez is also sponsoring a 6-on-6 PvP tourney that features a dragon helmet for all participants and an unnamed exclusive item and cash prize for the winning team.

                    But wait, there's more! Check out Chloe's Burning Fashion for an extensive back catalog of previously retired flair pieces. There are over 100 items available for purchase using Hi-Rez's cash shop currency, including some headgear from past holiday events.

                    Finally, check out this Friday's The Firing Line for more info on Global Agenda at the two-year mark.

                    [Source: Hi-Rez press release]

                    MassivelyHi-Rez handing out prizes for Global Agenda's second anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Posted by Shri Krishna

                      Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

                      Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

                      Rhythm Heaven Fever Fixes Its DS Predecessor’s Missed Beats

                      Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:33 AM PST

                      When I was in junior high school (centuries ago), I always found the metalhead clique at my school intimidating. Rangy boys with long, oily hair and a collective uniform consisting of boots, black-washed jeans, and black T-shirts imprinted with art from album covers by bands whose names bore gratuitous double consonants and lent themselves to harsh, angular logo designs, the metalheads always hung out together at the side of gym class, discussing their heroes’ latest wailing guitar concoctions and glowering at the rest of the world. They sported the shifty desperation unique to 14-year-olds jonesing for a drag on a stolen cigarette.

                      It was all kind of alarming for us clean-cut students whose main ambition for gym class was to avoid notice by the jocks and dropouts while hanging out on the sidelines discussing the latest Zelda strategies with each other (dude, if you just keep going up when you get to that one spot in the mountains, there’s a dungeon there!). In hindsight, though, I realize that the metalhead kids were harmless. They never picked on anyone; they never caused trouble outside of skipping class to hang out and listen to noisy music. They were as geeky as the video-game-fixated A-students; the only difference between us was that their obsessions were wrapped up in an affected antisocial style. Their music may have been about volume and screaming and satanic posturing, but it was just that: Posturing. Underneath it all, those guys just wanted to do their own thing, and they wore their ragged Dokken shirts with pride because they sincerely thought that airbrushed zombie warriors chained to naked, guitar-wielding sex slaves was, like, so awesome.



                      Posted by: admin in Gaming News
                      Find related article at: http://www.1up.com/previews?cId=3186637

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                      En Masse : Asians are hackers , hence IP blocked

                      Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:33 AM PST


                      (Source) Another piece of bad news following the lawsuit between NCsoft and En Masse Entertainment, all Asian IPs will be blocked from the official North American servers. Yes, it means that even English-speaking nations such as my country will be blocked. Why does En Masse sees all Asian countries as hackers’ haven? Ain’t there hacking contests held in the Western world as well? I was actually going to get the game since the launch falls on my birthday, but I guess it is a good thing now. Asian players, time to look for another game!

                      To keep the quality of service high for players within North America we have decided to disable IP addresses from which fraudulent traffic originates. We encourage players in these regions to participate on servers specifically designated for their area.

                      En Masse will block IPs based on region. Asia, Africa, Russia, and the Middle East are included on the block list. While we appreciate that there are players in these regions who would enjoy playing on En Masse servers, it’s unfortunate that the vast majority of Internet traffic we see from these regions are from cyber-criminals relating to account theft, gold-farming and other hacking behavior.

                      Services that promise to improve your ping and decrease lag may sound promising, but they are frequently used by hackers and criminals who want to remain anonymous. Although we do not block them by default, a proxy or server host will be blocked if it becomes a popular tool for criminal behavior.

                      En Masse has a license to operate TERA game servers in North America. This means that if you are in North America, South America, Europe (excluding Russia), and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand, Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia) you can play on En Masse Servers.


                      Posted by: admin in Gaming News
                      Find related article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/01/en-masse-asians-are-hackers-hence-ip.html

                      Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us.

                      iCloud For Beginners Launches

                      Posted: 31 Jan 2012 06:33 AM PST

                      iCloud, Apple's new backup and sync service can prove a nebulous entity in more ways than one. Cloud storage might not be new iCloud For Beginners Launchestechnology but since we've been fiddling around with personal data drives for decades now, it's a concept that can take some getting used to.

                      A simple, functional guide can help turn your fraught and stuttering start into a seamless transition onto iCloud, which is where Imagine's iCloud For Beginners ebook comes in handy.

                      You can check out iCloud For Beginners on the iTunes store: it covers everything from setting up your iCloud account to sharing data across all your Apple devices in easy to follow, step-by-step tutorials. But best of all (in our opinion) are the funky Multi-Touch features, a veritable sweet shop of multimedia including slideshows, annotated images and scroll–pinch pages all designed by experts using Apple's spanking new iBooks Author software. Plus it's a bargain too, at $1.99. Don't ascend into the iCloud without it – get it here.


                      Posted by: admin in Gaming News
                      Find related article at: http://www.totalpcgaming.com/advertorial/icloud-for-beginners-launches/

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                      Primal Carnage

                      Posted: 31 Jan 2012 01:26 AM PST


                      (Official website) Once in awhile, there might be an indie online game which catches my eyes and I just can’t wait to share it with the folks. Primal Carnage is one example, developed by indie studio Lukewarm Media. As the title suggest, it is indeed Humans VS Dinosaurs as the game’s main theme. Players can choose to play as either a human hunting down dinosaurs or as a dinosaur looking for its next meal.

                      With that said, there are a number of classes for each side as well. You can view the human classes here (link) and the dinosaur classes here (link). From the looks of it, Primal Carnage will be quite a unique online PvP game, apparently much more logical than having penguins as the main focus (link). Each class will have specific skills to be utilized, and hopefully more will be added.


                      If you are lazy to read the information at the official website, humans play in a first person shooter (FPS) mode while dinosaurs play in a third person shooter (TPS) view. How many games can you play as a dinosaur mauling humans? Go signup for beta now!


                      Posted by: admin in Gaming News
                      Find related article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2011/09/primal-carnage-humans-vs-dinosaurs.html

                      Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us.

                      Nintendo’s DLC Strategy Appears to Put the Company on the Right Track

                      Posted: 30 Jan 2012 06:31 PM PST

                      Nintendo digital

                      Nintendo made headlines last week when it announced something many felt it should have had in place years ago: the Nintendo Network. The details remain sketchy at best and, like with details on the Wii U, it is likely we’ll be waiting until E3 in June before we’ve given a better idea of how the Network will actually come together. What little president Satoru Iwata did have to share about it was encouraging, and the same could be said for a lot of what Nintendo at least claims to be doing as it works to put this current disastrous financial year behind it.

                      Following Friday’s investors briefing, a QA session was conducted where Iwata and company provided many unspecific, but nonetheless promising answers about how the company plans to avoid suffering another money-losing year.

                      It doesn’t take an expert to identify one exceedingly obvious place Nintendo needs to improve: launch window software. I enjoyed Steel Diver and thought Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars was really good, but there wasn’t a whole lot else to enjoy at the launch of the 3DS or in the months afterward. (The first great game was The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, and that came months after launch and was not an original title.) Compare that with the Vita’s launch day lineup headlined by the likes of Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Super Stardust Delta, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and Lumines: Electronic Symphony and you can see how the 3DS’ launch wasn’t at the level it needed to be. With the Wii U coming out by the end of the year, Nintendo doesn’t want a repeat of the 3DS’ poor performance out of the gate, which was due to not just a $250 price tag, but also a lack of must-have games.

                      “What we should reflect on is to keep the momentum in the market, and as I mentioned before, it is important to release software seamlessly,” Iwata said during Friday’s QA. “Specifically, a new platform is likely to have a gap between the launch titles, which many developers want to release, and the second wave of software. It is indispensable to avoid such a gap in our future business. In determining the launch date of the Wii U, we need to take into account not only what to release at the launch period but how to keep the sales momentum after then. In the past, I mentioned that having strong momentum is very important for game platform businesses, and as a matter of course, we are now more convinced of that and we need to have a backup plan ready.”

                      As is the case with many of his other comments last week, this sounds good and I hope it’s true but we can’t be sure it really means anything until we actually see a list of titles set to be available alongside the Wii U later this year. After the problems with 3DS, though, it’s perfectly sensible for Nintendo to seek to make the launch lineup as strong as possible. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime talked last summer about lessons the company learned from the launch of 3DS and noted, “We needed to have key franchises and stronger first-party titles.” Even if we don’t get a new Mario or Zelda HD on Wii U’s Day One, Nintendo realizing gamers expect more than Pilotwings and Nintendogs is a positive sign.

                      Other areas needing improvement are the online and digital spaces, both of which are seemingly being addressed with the Nintendo Network. Downloadable content is one piece of that, and Nintendo sees two ways in which it can benefit. One of those is the revenue that will be brought in through the sale of DLC, whether that be a digital Wii Fit Plus-style add-on for a game like Wii Fit or additional levels in a Mario game, both of which were ideas Iwata mentioned.

                      Super Mario 3D Land

                      The other benefit it’s hoping the release of DLC will bring is for its games to remain current. Buying an older game isn’t always the most attractive option, but if that old game has been updated in a way that people continue to play it and talk about it, that could lead to sales of the game months or years down the line it might not have garnered otherwise. It’s a strategy Valve employed with free DLC for Team Fortress 2; the numerous updates it released over the years would bring back new players and get new ones to purchase the game (before it went free-to-play).

                      But as we’ve heard Nintendo and Iwata in particular insist time and again in recent months, the publisher doesn’t want to overdo DLC and upset fans who feel they aren’t getting the sort of value they’re used to. Asking gamers to pay to spend too much for DLC “might be good for short-term profit,” Iwata said, “but it will not serve our mid-term and long-term business developments.”

                      This doesn’t preclude other developers from adopting the sort of microtransactions seen in social games. “If third-party developers would like to adopt this form of micro-transaction, and if this kind of business relationship between the developers and consumers is commonly accepted in Japan, we have no intention to decline it,” Iwata said. Given that Nintendo needs all the third-party support it can get, that seems like a wise decision, as the company most certainly doesn’t want a situation like XCOM: Enemy Unknown being announced for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 (but not Wii U) to become a trend. Whether Nintendo’s flexibility on how third parties handle microtransactions will have much impact is unclear, but it certainly can’t hurt.


                      Posted by: admin in Gaming News
                      Find related article at: http://www.1up.com/news/nintendo-iwata-dlc-digital-right-track

                      Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us.

                      TGS: Photo Gallery – Up Close and Personal With Japan’s Exclusive Super Mario Converse All

                      Posted: 30 Jan 2012 01:27 PM PST

                      Forgive me, readers, for I have sinned. I traveled to Japan for Tokyo Game Show and only bought a single old video game. That almost seems like a crime for someone who used to host the Retronauts podcast and once swam through the retro shops of Akihabara like a fish in water. No, this year I spent all my free money on clothing, because shopping for fashion in Japan is perhaps the one time being a man on the short side of average with a slight build actually works to my advantage. I can buy off the rack in Japan and a shirt doesn’t hang off of me like drapery! It’s a nice change of pace from the billowing tents they call a “size small” at The Gap.

                      This goes for footwear, too. Converse recently teamed up with Nintendo to create a set of absolutely wonderful Super Mario-themed All-Stars — presumably inspired by the real Super Mario All-Stars — that are being sold in an extremely select number of shops here in Tokyo. Several of my peers in the press have expressed an interest in picking up their own pair of Super Mario Chucks, but they’ve been thwarted by the fact that they can’t find a pair in a size larger than 8.5, much too large for the gunboats the average American male calls his feet. Not me, though. I wear a size 8, and that’s on a hot day when I’ve been eating a lot of salt and I swell up a bit. So I decided to take advantage of my miniature size and have a friend grab a pair for me.

                      The Mario Chucks come in several styles, the most common being solid black or white shoes imprinted with tiny Mario sprites. Cute, but not very striking. (Sorry, I’d post photos, but all Japanese shopkeepers have two things in common: They shout “Irashaimase!” when you walk in, and they get angry when you take photos of their wares.) Then there are the more elaborate ones: A pair that depicts Mario taking on Bowser in World 8-4, and the pair I picked up, which shows Mario at the beginning of his quest in the blue skies of World 1-1. This is definitely the most striking of the quartet, and that’s only fitting — the thing that made Super Mario so eye-catching back then was its cerulean blue sky. So it goes, 26 years later.

                      The shoes are laden with fantastic details, from the way the standard Converse star is replaced with a Starman to the double-layered edges that fold away to reveal a specially imprinted inner lining: Luigi grabbing coins on the 1-1 shoes, goiter-faced Princess Peach thanking Mario for her rescue on the 8-4 shoes.

                      Rather than simply go on and on about these beautiful, nerdy shoes, I’ll just inundate you with photos. These were admittedly pricey — about $110 after exchange adjustments, which is far more than I’ve ever paid for sneakers — so I’ll only be wearing them for special occasions. Weddings, funerals, that sort of thing. Mario classes up any joint, you know?

                      Special thanks to fashion maven Kyle McClain for his help in tracking these down!


                      Posted by: admin in Gaming News
                      Find related article at: http://www.1up.com/news/tgs-close-personal-super-mario-converse

                      Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us.

                      Last Chaos (KR)

                      Posted: 30 Jan 2012 12:31 PM PST


                      Once touted as a direct competitor for NCsoft’s Lineage 2, Last Chaos (Korea) will be shutting its doors come 16th February for both game servers and website. Last Chaos lasted around 7 years, clocking 2,586 live days since it went into Open Beta in its native homeland on 28th December 2004. Overseas, Last Chaos has seen various different localized servers in 15 different languages. The North American server, under Aeria Games, is still running (link).


                      Posted by: admin in Gaming News
                      Find related article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/01/last-chaos-kr-signing-off-after-7-years.html

                      Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us.
                      Posted by Shri Krishna

                      General gaming

                      General gaming

                      Nintendo's DLC Strategy Appears to Put the Company on the Right Track

                      Posted: 30 Jan 2012 03:24 PM PST

                      Nintendo digital

                      Nintendo made headlines last week when it announced something many felt it should have had in place years ago: the Nintendo Network. The details remain sketchy at best and, like with details on the Wii U, it is likely we'll be waiting until E3 in June before we've given a better idea of how the Network will actually come together. What little president Satoru Iwata did have to share about it was encouraging, and the same could be said for a lot of what Nintendo at least claims to be doing as it works to put this current disastrous financial year behind it.

                      Following Friday's investors briefing, a Q&A session was conducted where Iwata and company provided many unspecific, but nonetheless promising answers about how the company plans to avoid suffering another money-losing year.

                      Rhythm Heaven Fever Fixes Its DS Predecessor's Missed Beats

                      Posted: 30 Jan 2012 02:30 PM PST

                      As I'm playing a cooperative game of Rhythm Heaven Fever with a Nintendo representative during a private demo last week, I can't help but get caught up in the beat of the music and the hilarity of our current objective. We each control a kung fu student in one of the modes titled "Endless Games" -- a set of rhythm challenges that continues infinitely until we exhaust our chances. Our pair of martial arts prodigies have to strike a training ball back and forth between them with punches and kicks; the goal is to keep it in the air until it breaks and needs a replacement. The core gameplay idea is simple, and reminds me of a similar (real life) game involving a basketball that I played as a kid -- minus all the light-hearted acrobatics and martial arts mastery. The ball travels back and forth between a flurry of punches, kicks, and other wacky moves -- one involving a volleyball-style spike that has a very small timing window -- as our pair of students alternate positions on four poles. The longest string of hits from the playthrough gets recorded, and trying to top it becomes your next goal.

                      Much like all the rhythm-based challenges in Rhythm Heaven, catchy music is the byproduct of your efforts, and similar to the past GBA (Japan-only) and DS installments, the light-hearted context makes each song entertaining and fun. On many levels, the playful tone connects with the most basic understanding of music -- requiring very little knowledge of actual instrumentation (like Rock Band), and emphasize keeping time with a beat instead. The basic controls almost always involve timed presses of the A button, or pushing both the A and B buttons of the Wii Remote together simultaneously. Specific audio cues or animations help sync your timing, and are covered up with other on-screen elements to see if you're really paying attention to the music.

                      Final Fantasy XIII-2 Video Review

                      Posted: 30 Jan 2012 01:03 PM PST

                      Chances are, you've arrived here in one of two ways. Either you read Jeremy's Final Fantasy XIII-2 text review and wanted to see him say those things out loud. Or, you're coming in fresh and want some opinions on the game in general.

                      Either way, leave that tarp on your ant farm because we've got you covered. Check out Jeremy and Marty picking the game apart above, and let us know what you think below!

                      Final Fantasy XIII-2 Review: A Series in the Throes of Awkward Adolescence

                      Posted: 28 Jan 2012 02:30 PM PST

                      Age 13 was a tough year for me. After making my way innocently through elementary school as a naive, good-natured, obedient, straight-A student, I found myself suddenly thrust into the world of junior high, where the traits that had helped me remain so admired among my family and teachers made me tragically uncool among my new peer group. Seeing old images of myself as I sorted through family photos not too long ago really drove home just how awkward I was at that age.

                      So I feel some sympathy for the Final Fantasy series. Age XIII was a tough time for it, too. With Final Fantasy XIII, it went from being the cool, cutting-edge RPG series that everyone in the world loved to a symbol of everything troubling the Japanese game development process in one fell swoop. No longer was it the bold, sweeping definition of refined console-based role-playing it had been in the 16-bit days. No longer was it the cutting-edge exercise in marrying technology and narrative that its 32-bit iterations represented. Even the quirky sense of self-reinvention that defined its PlayStation 2 entries was lost.

                      Posted by Shri Krishna
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