| Spirit Tales Press Preview Posted: 29 Feb 2012 03:36 PM PST Spirit Tales, published by KoramGame, is a new version of Glory Destiny Online, designed specifically for Western audiences. MMOHut had an opportunity to participate in a preview of the game, letting us get a first look at what you can expect from this whimsical fantasy adventure before it enters closed beta.
As always, our first task in the game was to create a character. Spirit Tales has three races: Gold Kirin, Maned Dragon and Lunar Fox. Each race has two classes, for six total starting classes. All classes show your beast form during creation, too. Male characters are fierce looking and animalistic in these forms, but females, unfortunately, suffer from a more simplistic design. We decided on a Lunar Fox Assassin, and proceeded to the customization screen. There is quite a selection for all the customization options (hair, face, race specials, tails, and skin color), which is refreshing to see. We were then treated to a cut-scene that provided some of the game’s lore: the three races once all mingled and traded together, living peacefully in the world. Suddenly, an invasion from the North forced them to band together to fight against these new foes. While the story is slightly cliché, the simple roots helped to expand a sense of the world we were entering.
After the opening sequence, we were taught how to quest through a small tooltip on the side of our screen. We also received our first quest from the village chief through this pop-up. Moving around in the world can be done with WASD and the arrow keys, as well as using click to move. The camera is rotated by holding the right mouse button. Right clicking interacts with most objects in game. After talking with the the item trader (like our quest directs us), we earn some experience, copper, and 15 health and mana potions. Nice. The beginning quests teach you about important NPCs and their functions, like the item trader, weapon trader, armor trader, and medic. Our next task is to kill some evil flowers that are attacking farmers.
This gives us our first taste of combat in Spirit Tales. Double left-clicking on an enemy starts auto-attack. Using skills is slightly different, as you must first place the skill on your action bar, and then press the corresponding number to map it to right click. Right click then uses that skill. It's a bit awkward at first, but it's also not terribly hard to get used to: all it takes is remembering to switch skills by pressing the action bar number, and then using right click to activate them. Once we've killed our eight flowers, we return to town as the triumphant hero. Loot from defeated monsters is handled automatically, which is nice. As we were killing flowers, we also leveled up. This yielded us a skill point, and another tooltip came up to help us learn to distribute it. Spirit Tales uses a skill tree system for each class, containing both active and passive skills. Many of the skills are tiered, meaning in order to learn the skill we have to put the requisite amount of points into the skill (usually three or five). Putting skill points into an ability costs currency in addition to the skill point. You can respec at any time before level 30; however, you're not refunded for the money spent on the skills.
The game also features an auto-routing system to easily get to NPCs and monsters. While the routing is generally fine, there were occasional obstacles that got us stuck. These are few and far between, fortunately. Spirit Tales allows for weapon crafting. These weapons far outclass anything else you can get at the level required to equip them. To craft a set of level 10 daggers, we had to collect raw ingredients. These items are somewhat rare, so some grinding was required. You can access information about each monster’s drops through the user interface, which makes finding what you need easier. We were also able to enhance our weapons and armor. The first three upgrades are guaranteed with the beginning upgrade items. After that, there is a good chance your item will be destroyed if you continue. Weapons gain more attack power, and armor gains increased stats, like HP, MP, Strength and Agility. Armor also has benefits for upgrading it further, shown at the bottom of each piece.
In the starting area, you get to choose one of three pets. Once you've reached level 15 and complete a quest, you can capture additional monsters by using rice balls. Monsters can also be fused together to gain additional skills and passive abilities. Spirit Tales also features a nice achievement system. There are many named monsters that are much more difficult to kill than the monsters around them. Each of these rare monsters, when killed, earns the character an achievement, and most also give a title. Titles aren't simply cosmetic, either. Every title we unlocked gave an additional boost; for example, Glorious Shield Soldier (one we obtained simply by doing quests) gave us a boost to attack speed and parry.
Spirit Tales holds a lot of promise. The game is colorful and easy to play. It also promises a lot of depth with the talent trees, pet system and crafting. Beta testing will begin soon, so if you're interested in vibrant, whimsical design and an entertaining experience overall, Spirit Tales might be the game for you. Keep your eyes peeled for more Spirit Tales features here on MMOHut. |
| Bigpoint reveals Game of Thrones MMO Posted: 29 Feb 2012 01:50 PM PST Games publisher Bigpoint has revealed that it will offer a first-look into the production of its Game of Thrones MMO at GDC. Created with the partnership of HBO and the development team of Artplant, the game is fully inspired by the television show, Game of Thrones (adapted from A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin). The game will be set in the medieval world of Westeros and its Seven Kingdoms. Game of Thrones will use the Unity engine, which also powers Bigpoint’s Battlestar Galactica Online. CEO and Founder of Bigpoint, Heiko Hubertz, stated: "We intend to build a game that resonates intimately with its diehard community of followers, while also creating an authentic gaming experience that attracts newcomers to the franchise. The excitement of online games is that, over time, their collective input will help shape the game's destiny; we're eager to see how the story unfolds."
Closed beta for the game is planned to begin in fall 2012.  Game of Thrones Screenshot Source: Bigpoint to Give Sneak-Peek of Game of Thrones Browser-Based MMORPG at Upcoming Game Developers Conference Free-to-Play Fantasy Role Playing Game to Capture the Dark World and Deadly Battles from the Emmy® Winning Show Game Developers Conference – San Francisco – Feb. 29, 2012 – Bigpoint (www.bigpoint.com) – a global leader in online video games – today announced it will provide an exclusive first look into the pre-production of the upcoming Game of Thrones browser-based massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG), at the Game Developers Conference. Bigpoint has partnered with HBO to develop the game inspired by the network's critically acclaimed television show, Game of Thrones, adapted from the bestselling fantasy book series, A Song of Ice and Fire, written by George R.R. Martin. The game will be set within the fictional, medieval world of Westeros and its Seven Kingdoms, where summers span decades and winters can last a lifetime. Bigpoint will discuss the game's development with select journalists at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco next week, March 7-9. "With a rich and complex story, expressed through an amazing level of detail, it's easy to see why the HBO series, Game of Thrones, has amassed an army of fans worldwide," said Heiko Hubertz, CEO and founder, Bigpoint. "We intend to build a game that resonates intimately with its diehard community of followers, while also creating an authentic gaming experience that attracts newcomers to the franchise. The excitement of online games is that, over time, their collective input will help shape the game's destiny; we're eager to see how the story unfolds." Bigpoint's design goal is to capture the show's compelling drama and action and create a visceral gaming experience via an unprecedented level of visual fidelity. The bloodthirsty struggle for power, corruption, and deception will persist. To ensure survival of their dynasty, players must master combat and politics. "Game of Thrones is set in a mythical fantasy world and features compelling stories of honor, adventure and the struggle to conquer your opponents, a narrative that lends itself perfectly to gaming," states Martin. "The creation of a Game of Thrones online role-playing game is a perfect natural extension to the series. The show has resonated extremely well with fans so we think they will be terribly excited to have an opportunity to be personally immersed in all the action," explained series executive producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. "As a gamer I couldn't be happier seeing the series translated to this medium and can't wait to play it," added Weiss. Bigpoint has selected seasoned Norwegian development studio, Artplant, as its development partner for this project. The title will be built atop the Unity development platform, the technology behind several of Bigpoint's breakthrough titles, including Battlestar Galactica Online, which Artplant also helped develop. Over 80 million consumers have installed the Unity plug-in, which enables them to play extremely high-fidelity games through their web browsers. The design and the pre-production phase of the game began last summer, and an initial closed beta is planned for fall 2012. Journalists interested in receiving an overview of the project should contact Bigpoint's U.S. PR team to schedule a briefing. All briefings will take place in Bigpoint's booth, (North Hall, #702). Fans are encouraged to visit: http://www.GameofThronesMMO.com/ for more information.
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| Brick-Force begins closed beta Posted: 29 Feb 2012 12:47 PM PST Brick-Force, a unique new shooter published by Infernum, has begun closed beta testing. Closed beta will continue to invite players through several waves as the testing continues, and registration is still being accepted at www.brick-force.com. The new website offers an official home for the game, and will feature tutorials, media, community features, and a forum. The game is currently playable in six languages on the PC; browser-based versions and a sandbox mode for smartphones and tablets will be available later in the game’s testing phases.  Brick Force Gameplay Screenshot Source: Successful Launch of Brick-Force Closed Beta Closed beta phase and launch of new website for cross-platform online game BERLIN, Germany – February 29, 2012 – Yesterday evening, Brick-Force‘s closed beta phase was unleashed. The first selected players are blasting and building their way through Brick-Force already, and more will be released onto the servers during several waves. Those who wish to access the Brick-Force universe to “Build, Share and Play” can still register over at the brand-new official www.brick-force.com. Just in time for yesterday’s beta launch, the Brick-Force website was placed online. Visitors can expect a range of tutorials, media, community functions and features that will be expanded upon. A community forum will also be implemented very soon.
In the current test phase Brick-Force is playable on PC in six languages, and the browser based version will be within the next weeks. Furthermore, sandbox mode will be playable on smartphones and tablets, thanks to the Unity 3 Engine. The open beta phase and official release will follow later this spring.
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| Wakfu officially launches Posted: 29 Feb 2012 12:34 PM PST Square Enix (in North America) and Ankama (in Europe) have officially launched Wakfu today in both regions. Wakfu is available as a free download, with limited free content available for players. An optional monthly subscription ($6.00 per month) is available to grant access to premium content, which includes max level, additional game areas and story chapters, profession mastery, guild participation, and the ability to become governor. The launch also includes the debut of the cash shop, where players can purchase cosmetic items and exclusive content and services.  Wafku Gameplay Screenshot Source: Square Enix and ANKAMA Launch WAKFU® Tactical Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game Now Available In North America for PC, Mac and Linux LOS ANGELES, Feb. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Embark on a mystical journey through the magical World of Twelve as Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in the Americas, and ANKAMA, an independent digital creation group and developer, today announce the North American launch of their tactical massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), WAKFU® for PC, Mac and Linux. Now available as a free download from the official site www.wakfu.com/na, WAKFU also offers a monthly subscription fee of $6.00 that gives players access to premium content. Premium members have the ability to reach the highest levels, explore all available game areas and story chapters, master all 16 professions, create and join guilds and even become the next governor. In addition, both free and premium monthly membership players will have access to WAKFU’s microtransaction-based store to purchase cosmetic items and a variety of exclusive content and services post launch all of which will continue to enhance a player’s experience. “The talented team at ANKAMA has done an exceptional job at taking a traditional MMO and transforming it into a breathtaking episodic excursion,” said Jason Herczeg, vice president of online at Square Enix. “ANKAMA is the ideal partner for Square Enix as we evolve to provide top tier, service-oriented content across all devices and platforms to our passionate community.” “Empowering the player and putting them in control of their own destiny throughout their journey makes for an unforgettable MMO adventure,” added Anthony Roux, chief executive officer at ANKAMA. “The game has been a labor of love for everyone on the development team and we are thrilled to finally share our special creation for all to enjoy.” With 12 distinct, completely customizable character classes to select from and a variety of missions and turn-based combat to engage in, WAKFU takes place in a vibrant and immersive world where players’ choices are paramount and actions directly impact a continuously evolving ecosystem. Featuring a rich political system, players can defend their nation against enemy attacks, conquer new territories, vote, elect government officials and even run for governor!
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| The Lord of the Rings Online previews Update 6′s new areas Posted: 29 Feb 2012 12:22 PM PST Turbine has released new details about the areas coming to The Lord of the Rings Online. Update 6: The Shores of the Great River will introduce seven new areas to the game: Thinglad, Parth Celebrant, Eorlsmead, Wailing Hills, Limlight Gorge, The Rushgore, and the Brown Lands. Along with dozens of new screenshots of these areas below, descriptions of each of these areas have been released as follows: Thinglad Assist the sentinels of Lothlórien in patrolling their southern border and mediate relations between the Galadhrim and the Rohirrim of Stangard who have recently been clashing during patrols. At the same time, heroes are needed to scatted Orcs and Wargs that have moved into the area before they become a larger threat to the region. Geography: Thinglad is defined by its tall, grey trees with twisted, roots that drink deeply from the Great River. The forest is misty and shadowed while the skies are pale and as cheerless as the land itself. Lore: Once part of the Golden Wood, Thinglad has become a no man's land between Lothlórien and Rohan in the last 200 years. Parth Celebrant Confront troubles both living and undead upon the fields of Parth Celebrant where a great treason once befell Gondor. Bring redemption to the traitorous shades so they may rest or destroy them if they are beyond aid. Geography: The ruins of an ancient Gondorian keep, where brave soldiers once kept watch, stand at the southern edge of Parth Celebrant, overlooking the green plains. Lore: The site of the fiercest fighting during the Battle of the Fields of Celebrant, Parth Celebrant is also the site of a terrible betrayal. Gondorian soldiers allowed their fortress to fall to the enemy in exchange for safety and Eastern riches, condemning their countrymen to death. Eorlsmead Though the soldiers of Stangard are strong and fiercely loyal to their king, the village has fallen on hard times and hope is in short supply. Lift spirits by helping with shortages of food and supplies and thinning the numbers of hostile beasts in the area. Root out the source of mistrust and discontent amongst the council. Geography: Established on the highest rise in the rolling plains of Eorlsmead, the Rohirrim village of Stangard keeps its watch over the region. Lore: Though many men who serve at Stangard have been sent as punishment for recent, petty crimes, the village remains fiercely loyal to Rohan and Théoden, their king. Wailing Hills Many years have passed since the height of Rohan's strength along the Great River and Orcs and spiders have returned to the Wailing Hills. Drive out the Orcs and prevent them from allying themselves with the White Hand. Geography: The Wailing Hills are defined by the steep, rocky outcroppings, called tors, which stretch out from the Misty Mountains like long fingers. Statues of Cirion of Gondor and Eorl the Young rise from the earth as ancient symbols of friendship but Orcs, growing bolder, have begun to defile them. Lore: Hundreds of years ago, the forefathers of Rohan destroyed a great Easterling army in the deep valleys of the Wailing Hills to save the forces of Cirion, Steward of Gondor. The name of the land itself comes from the Rohirric word wael meaning "slaughter. Limlight Gorge Descend into the Limlight Gorge, where an unnatural storm has cast the land into deep shadow. Hunt fearsome trolls from the Misty Mountains who wander freely, no longer fearing the sun, and investigate the mysterious grove spreading at the base of the cliff beneath Fangorn Forest. Geography: Caught between the rugged Misty Mountains and the northern reaches of Fangorn Forest, Limlight Gorge is a dangerous and untamed wilderness. Here, the Limlight River gushes forth over falls and rapids as it flows eastward to join the Anduin. Lore: The appearance of the unnatural storms from the North and the encroachment of Fangorn from the South gives the area an uneasy feeling as unseen forces seem to fight for dominance over the canyon. Brown Lands Contend with an invading host within the desolate Brown Lands. Here the Rohirrim struggle to keep an old foe at bay while fortifying against their enemies' mysterious new allies. Geography: Ravaged thousands of years ago during a terrible war, the Brown Lands are nearly inhospitable and are filled with withered scrub and stones as far as the eye can see. Lore: It is believed that the Brown Lands were devastated by the power of Sauron himself nearly 3,000 years ago during the War of the Last Alliance. Before that, many beautiful gardens were tended here though little evidence of them now remains. The Rushgore Within the murky marshland of the Rushgore, ruthless brigands, once only a nuisance, have become a threat to the region. Pursue these brigands to reclaim priceless relics of Rohan and Gondor and extend aid to woodsmen who have found themselves overwhelmed while travelling north and now cannot leave. Geography: A treacherous marshland, the Rushgore serves as the buffer between the fields of Parth Celebrant and the bleak Brown Lands. The eastern end of the Rushgore is one of the few places at which the Anduin can be crossed without the aid of boats. Lore: Little is now known of the Rushgore and was known has been lost to time. The Lord of the Rings Online: Update 6 Screenshots
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| League of Legends introduces Fiora Posted: 29 Feb 2012 11:42 AM PST League of Legends has prepared a new champion: Fiora, the Grand Duelist. The Fiora patch introduces the new champion, described as the “first true melee carry since the initial launch of League of Legends.” The champion offers a Lunge, Burst of Speed, Riposte, and Blade Waltz in her skill set. The patch also makes changes for several champions, including Lux, Olaf, and Ziggs, plus additional game tweaks including adjustments to colorblind mode and Co-Op vs. AI. League of Legends Champion Spotlight: Fiora, The Grand Duelist Source: New Skins in the Store - Royal Guard Fiora
- Nightraven Fiora
- Bladecraft Orianna
PVP.net v1.55 - Ranked Teams
- Fixed a bug with the background on the Team Invite popup
- Fixed a bug where Team status would be missing on the Team Profile
- Fixed a bug where Ranked Team specific notifications would not send properly
- Fixed several bugs with client side stat calculation and display
League of Legends v1.0.0.135 Fiora, The Grand Duelist - Duelist (passive) – Fiora regenerates health over 6 seconds each time she deals damage. Striking champions will cause this effect to stack up to 4 times.
- Lunge – Fiora dashes forward to strike her target, dealing physical damage. Fiora can perform the dash a second time within a couple seconds at no mana cost.
- Riposte - Fiora’s Attack Damage is increased. When activated, Fiora parries the next basic attack and reflects magic damage back to the attacker. Works against champions, monsters, and large minions.
- Burst of Speed – Fiora temporarily gains additional Attack Speed. Each basic attack or Lunge she lands during this time increases her Movement Speed. Killing a champion refreshes the cooldown on Burst of Speed.
- Blade Waltz (ultimate) – Fiora dashes around the battlefield to deal physical damage to enemy champions. Successive strikes against the same target deal less damage.
Alistar - Triumphant Roar mana cost increased to 28/41/54/67/80 from 20/35/50/65/80
- Unbreakable Will mana cost reduced to 100 from 150
- Trample damage increased to 10-27 per second from 10-23
Fizz - Base damage increased to 56 from 54
- Armor per level increased to 3.4 from 3.1
- Churn the Waters mana cost reduced to 100 from 150
Galio - Idol of Durand damage range increased to 600 from 575
Irelia - Fixed a particle issue with Transcendent Blades (Hotfixed 2/21)
Jax - Fixed a bug where Grandmaster’s Might passive attack canceled if the buff ran out during the attack animation
Lee Sin - Sonic Wave base damage increased to 50/80/110/140/170 from 45/75/105/135/165 (Hotfixed 2/21 due to an unintended nerf in the Nautilus patch)
Lux - Lucent Singularity
- Now additionally grants vision while in flight to its destination
- Now starts its cooldown when cast rather than when detonated
- Cooldown increased to 10 seconds from 9
- Now displays a buff showing how long Lucent Singularity will last until it automatically detonates
- Finales Funkeln
- Now grants vision of the affected area during the spell and vision of enemy champions hit for a short duration afterwards
- Lux can no longer use Flash while casting Finales Funkeln
Malphite - Granite Shield now shows a cooldown timer
- Unstoppable Force
- Area of effect radius on impact increased to 325 from 300
- Malphite can no longer flash while using Unstoppable Force
- Fixed a bug where Malphite would seem to hit the target but would not cause the effect
Miss Fortune - Strut now shows a cooldown timer
Nocturne - Umbra Blades now has a passive cooldown timer like Ziggs and Shen
Olaf - Axe Throw
- Damage increased to 80-260 from 50-210
- Scaling changed to +1.0 bonus AD from +0.5 total AD
- Base cooldown reduced to 8 seconds from 10
- Cooldown reduction for picking up the axe reduced to 4.5 seconds from 6
- Ragnarok now provides 30/45/60 Armor and Magic Resist instead of 20/30/40 flat damage reduction
- Movement Speed increased to 325 from 320
Poppy - Paragon of Demacia now shows you over its icon how many stacks you have
Shen - Fixed a few bugs with ability sounds
- The following changes were hotfixed out on 2/21:
- Base armor reduced to 19 from 23
- Vorpal Blade health scaling lowered to 1.5% from 2%
- Feint Energy cost increased to 50 from 40 at all levels
- Base shield value reduced to 70/115/160/205/250 from 70/120/170/220/270
Teemo - Health per level increased to 82 from 77
- Move Quick’s passive component now shows a cooldown timer
- Noxious Trap arm time reduced to 1 seconds from 2
Tristana - Explosive Shot cast range increased to 625 from 600
Ziggs - Hexplosive Mines
- Mana cost reduced to 70/80/90/100/110 from 80/90/100/110/120
- Slow duration reduced to 1.5 seconds from 2
- Damage from 2nd and subsequent mines reduced to 40% from 50%
- Fixed a bug where Ziggs’ Mad Scientist skin was leaving particles on the map (Hotfixed 2/21)
Items - Madred’s Bloodrazor attack damage increased to 40 from 30
General - Improved minimap visibility of turrets in Colorblind Mode
- Colorblind announcement colors now reference blue (friendly) and purple (enemy) teams
- Important items purchased by your team will now be called out in chat (Aura items, Sight and Vision Wards, top tier items, etc)
- Champion Kill messages are now more specific
- You can now activate a timestamp for game chat in the options menu
- When colorblind mode is activated, movement cursor is included with new color scheme (was not before)
- Announcer callouts no longer reference blue team/purple team, and instead should reference friendly/enemy team (ie. A friendly inhibitor is respawning soon/the enemy inhibitor has respawned)
- Champions will now attempt to run home immediately when disconnecting, rather than attempting to Recall
- Small monster camp sigils now restore up to 30 Mana in addition to Health
- Small Golem camp
- Movement Speed increased to 300 from 180
- Medium Golem base damage increased to 59 from 54
- Fixed a bug where whisper messages were the wrong color
Co-Op Versus AI - Added Blitzcrank bot to the roster of bots in Co-Op versus AI.
- Improved bots’ ability to last hit and reduced how much they push their lanes.
- Reduced the amount of gold given to bots on Summoner’s Rift Intermediate.
- Added the ability for bots to call for help from nearby bots.
- Improved the precision of skill shots and ground targeted AoE abilities.
- Minor bug fixes with Leona, Lux, and Shyvana bots.
Art - Fixed animation bugs on the following skins:
- Toy Soldier Gangplank
- Jade Dragon Wukong
- Superb Villain Veigar
- Headhunter Master Yi
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| C9 finishes VIP testing Posted: 29 Feb 2012 11:23 AM PST Continent of the Ninth Seal (C9) has finished its VIP testing phase, publisher Webzen announced. The test ended with a special event to allow testers and GMs to say goodbye to each other. Webzen reports the test has offered insight into improving localization and meeting player’s desires for the game. The test featured three playable characters and three playable continent choices, along with the Arena and Intrusion PvP system. Webzen hopes to launch the service for C9 by the summer. Webzen also publishes Archlord and the upcoming Arctic Combat, which will be shown alongside C9 at GDC.  C9 Gameplay Screenshot Source: WEBZEN 'C9' Marks the Grand Finale of its VIP Test WEBZEN Inc. (WWW.WEBZEN.COM), the Next Generation of Free-to-Play Online Games, has successfully finished their first VIP Test for 'C9' (Continent of the Ninth Seal) and takes one step closer to its official launch. On February 28th, WEBZEN closed the test server for the VIP Test that started last February 4th. To end the VIP Test, an event took place where the VIP testers and GMs gathered around to say goodbye. With satisfactory results and various feedbacks from the VIP testers, WEBZEN has a better view of localization and what the users want. With a limited 10,000 VIP Testers and about 10 times more of whom were eager to join the VIP Test visited C9's official website and Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/C9Webzen) to express their excitement and anticipation. For this VIP Test of C9, 3 of the 9 continents were introduced along with 3 playable characters the Fighter, Hunter, and Shaman with their advancement classes. Another main feature, the PVP system, was introduced later in the VIP Test with its 'Arena' and unique 'Intrusion' system, allowing users to test their precise control against other users. Testers expressed their thoughts about C9 through their feedback, where many testers mentioned they could actually feel the action and perform infinite skill combos which are some of C9's key features. Also, other comments and suggestions were about the localization of C9. Jihun Lee, Head of Global Publishing, said, "With the results and valuable feedbacks from the VIP Test, we will be able to improve the localization of C9." Also he said, "We will focus on localization and development to bring the service of C9 global as soon as this summer with a possibility of additional tests in between." Meanwhile, WEBZEN will attend the 2012 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, USA, starting from March 7th to the 9th giving visitors a chance to play 'C9' and their new FPS title 'ARCTIC COMBAT'. More information about the Action RPG 'C9' can be found at the official Facebook community (http://www.facebook.com/C9Webzen) and website (http://c9.webzen.com).
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Earlier today, Microsoft released the Windows 8 Consumer Preview (beta) at the 2012 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, giving the general public an opportunity to preview Windows 8 on existing x86 systems and provide feedback. But Microsoft's "Consumer Preview" event wasn't just all about the beta released today for x86-based PCs. The company also showcased a number of Windows 8 on ARM devices at today's event. Hit the jump for more.
The PlayStation Network (PSN) will be down for several hours for scheduled maintenance on March 1, 2012, Sony has announced. The maintenance window, if all goes to plan, is expected to last from 8:00 AM till 10:00 PM PST. Hit the jump for more.
At a recent event organized to promote new servers from Dell, the company's eponymous founder and CEO Michael Dell described the world's third largest PC vendor as an end- to-end IT solutions provider, even going as far as saying "we're not a PC company." Actually, Dell's focus on the enterprise market has a strong arithmetical basis, with the consumer market being many times smaller than the multi-trillion dollar enterprise market. Not only is Round Road, Texas-based Dell in pursuit of a greater share of the enterprise IT market, but it wants to leave no stone unturned along the way.
The slow, relentless trek towards the release of Windows 8 continues. The Developer Preview released several months back was nifty, but a bit rough around the edges -- as you would expect from an early build created for development use. Now, after months of 
Several suspected members of the Anonymous hacking group have proven to be anything but anonymous. National law enforcement officers in Europe and South America unmasked and arrested 25 individuals they believe are associated with the hacking group and who were living in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, and Spain, Interpol said, according to an 
Western Digital would like nothing more than to finalize its proposed takeover of Hitachi's hard drive business, and to facilitate the process, WD 
After 
Technology giants Intel and Micron hammered out revised agreements to expand their NAND Flash memory joint venture relationship, the two companies announced this week. As part of the agreements, Micron will buy back Intel's stake in two wafer fabrication plants for $600 million, half of which will be paid in cash and the rest deposited with Micron to be refunded or applied to Intel's future purchases.
