| Aion: Ascension launches Posted: 11 Apr 2012 02:15 PM PDT Aion: Ascension, the free-to-play model of Aion, has officially launched today. NCSoft has spent the last week converting current players to the new model, and are now ready to open the game to all who wish to play. With the update comes the Atreian Atlas, a tool that acts as a personal guide for players as they travel through the game. This allows players to truly see what lies ahead in their progression through the game. Several new features have been added to the game with the update as well. Two new housing districts have been launched, comprised of five different house types: Palace, Estate, Mansion, House and Studio. Four new mounts are also available: Surfrider, the Pagati, the Sharptooth, and the Flurry. The level cap of the game has been raised from 55 to 60, and over 600 new quests await players. The quests are offered in two new zones: Sarpan and Tiamaranta. One solo, two six-player, two 12 player, and 24 player instances have also been revealed. NCSoft also publishes Guild Wars and Lineage II.  Aion Gameplay Screenshot Source: Aion: Ascension™ Launches Today With Truly Free Business Model and Highly Anticipated 3.0 ContentEarly Indication Points to Success – Tripled Concurrency Prior to Launch
SEATTLE, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – NCsoft®, the world’s premier publisher and developer of massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), today launches Aion: Ascension, a powerful combination of its Truly Free business model, pioneered by NCsoft’s Lineage II in 2011, and the highly anticipated 3.0 update. Aion: Ascension introduces new and existing players to refined starting areas and mid-level zones and advanced content for the more experienced Aion player base with no subscriptions, no account tiers and no purchase requirements. Aion: Ascension ultimately underscores the already award-winning content found within the game with yet additional layers of innovative content and business model philosophies. “We started converting current players to the new business model late last week in preparation for today’s launch and we couldn’t be happier with the response, tripling concurrency in a matter of hours,” said Director of Product Management, Edward Chang, Game Publishing Studios, NCsoft. “We spent a considerable amount of time focused on optimizing Aion: Ascension for the Truly Free business model, and early feedback from the community indicates that we made the right decisions.” Along with the C.U.B.E. (Customizable User Bundling Experience), an unparalleled system allowing players to customize their Aion marketplace item bundles based on their characters personal needs, Aion: Ascension brings players the Atreian Atlas, an advanced guidance system that acts as a personal pathfinder as players progress through the game. The information revealed within the Atreian Atlas provides insight allowing players to properly prepare for what lays ahead, giving the best MMO experience for new and experienced players alike. Aion: Ascension also brings players several features as seen in the Aion Vision Trailer, including housing, mounts, new zones and multiplayer instances. - Housing
- Two new housing districts comprised of five types of housing: Palace, Estate, Mansion, House and Studio.
- Studios are quest-based and everyone will be able have access to one, whereas the houses and mansions are auction-based and will be obtained via a special in-game auction system just for housing.
- Mounts
- Mounts are the latest way to get around Atreia in style, and with this update you can travel at ever increasing speed depending on the mount. Players will be able to summon one of four new mounts coming in the update – the Surfrider, the Pagati, the Sharptooth or the Flurry!
- New level cap of 60
- More than 600 new quests, bringing a massive content update extending the game as players progress from 55-60.
- New instances and zones
- Two new zones – Sarpan and Tiamaranta
- Six new instances consisting of two 12-player, two six-player, one solo, and one 24-person instance.
Additional information on Aion: Ascension, including images and video assets, can be found here –www.aiononline.com.
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| Bigpoint and Fox team up for Ice Age Online Posted: 11 Apr 2012 02:04 PM PDT Bigpoint has announced they are teaming up with Fox Consumer Products to bring players Ice Age Online. Based on the world of the hit Ice Age movie series, the game will be browser-based and free-to-play. Players assume the role of a sloth that finds the perfect place for the herd of animals it is with to live. The herd, however, gets separated along the way. Players must find the missing animals, as well as construct a camp for all of them to stay in. The game will feature an adventure mode where players may collect acorns and building materials, such as coconuts, wood, flowers and mud. Players will also be able to unlock bonus levels, where they will be able to play as characters from the Ice Age franchise, using their various strengths and skills to clear. Bigpoint also publishes Battlestar Galactica Online and Dark Orbit.  Ice Age Online Promotional Screenshot Source: Bigpoint and Fox Consumer Products Herd Together to Launch “Ice Age Online” an Entertaining Online Browser GameFree-to-Play Game to Launch alongside Global Film Premiere of Ice Age: Continental Drift, in theaters in 3D July 2012
SAN FRANCISCO, April 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Bigpoint– a global leader in online games – today announced its partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products to develop an online game based on Ice Age, the hit motion picture franchise. With access to the most popular characters and settings from the films, the free-to-play browser game – Ice Age Online – will give fans a new way to experience the entertaining prehistoric storylines. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120411/CL85967) “We’re excited to work with one of the most successful film franchises of all time,” said Heiko Hubertz, CEO and founder, Bigpoint. “We’re equally happy to begin working with Fox on this project and are eager to give Ice Age fans another way to enjoy the fun they’ve had at the movies.” In Ice Age Online, players assume the role of a sloth that recently discovered the perfect place for animals from the herd to live. Along the way, the herd gets separated and lost. Players must rescue the lost animals and build up a camp for them to live. In the adventure mode, players collect precious acorns and construction materials – such as wood, flowers, coconuts, and mud – from locations based on the film franchise, including Ice Age: Continental Drift, the fourth animated film from the franchise releasing from Twentieth Century Fox in theaters in 3D July 2012. Acorns and materials are used to build camps for the rescued animals to live. “Video games and film have an organic connection, and the online game space offers virtually limitless creative opportunities to extend the cinematic experience and the Ice Age brand,” said Jeffrey Godsick, President of Fox Consumer Products. “Bigpoint, the market-leading pioneer among online video game companies, is the natural choice for us to partner with in building the world of Ice Age Online.” Customization & Socialization At the beginning of the game, players have the opportunity to customize their sloth character. Options include gender selection, multiple color and fur combinations, special haircuts and headdresses, and a number of wardrobe choices. The game will also offer a number of socialization features, including friend lists and activity trackers, leaderboards, and the ability to challenge other players and friends. Friends can also visit each other’s camps to see which animals have been rescued and leave gifts of food and construction materials. As players progress through the game they will unlock bonus levels. In these special levels, players will compete as other popular characters from Ice Age in specially-designed gameplay that puts each character’s unique strengths to the test. Ice Age Online will be built atop the Unity development platform, which allows high-end graphics to be displayed in common web browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer.
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| April Extravaganza begins in Rohan Online Posted: 11 Apr 2012 01:50 PM PDT YNK Interactive has announced the April events for Rohan Online. Several new items and features have been recently added to the game, and more is to come. Every player will receive a free Hunter Kit, which allows for 15 days of assistance in player hunts. Weekends will offer players 25% increased odds for forging, refining, and reinforcement odds. With this, the new Chimera weapon has been introduced, and players who reinforce the weapon to +6 by the end of the event on May 8 will get a permanent version of it. A new mystery box containing premium items will be added to the cash shop, and players who complete the Spring quest will also receive Talisman prizes. YNK Interactive also publishes Seal Online and K.O.S. Secret Operations  R.O.H.A.N. Gameplay Screenshot Source: R.O.H.A.N.: BLOOD FEUD: UP ANOTHER LEVEL Join the R.O.H.A.N. rage this month with a plethora of events and updates ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – April 10, 2011 – Online PC game publisher YNK Interactive revealed today the April Extravaganza events for the popular free MMORPG, R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud. "Players will have a blast with all of the new items and features we've recently added," said Rafael Cho, Lead Project Manager of YNK Interactive. "And just in case players haven't had enough surprises, we're giving everyone a free Hunter Kit, to help them hunt and rage in R.O.H.A.N. Now what company has ever done that before?" April Extravaganza begins today and ends May 8th. It consists of special Spring quests, release of the Chimera weapon, addition of the Hunter Kit feature, the reveal of the highly anticipated mystery box in the new Premium Mall, and a weekend boost on all rates. As part of the celebration, all characters, current and new, will receive the Hunter Kit for free. This unique feature aids players in hunting for 15 days. During the weekends, there will be a 25% increase on all forging, refining, and reinforcement rates. In conjunction, all players will be able to get the Chimera weapon through drops from monsters throughout the ROHAN world, which are suitable for mid-level characters. The best deal is that players who reinforce their Chimera weapon to +6 by May 8th, will be able to keep it permanently. A mystery box that contains premium items will also be available to purchase in the Premium Mall. Talisman prizes will also be awarded to all players who finish the Spring quest. For more details on April Extravaganza, visit www.PlayRohan.com.
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| Spirit Tales releases new comic Posted: 11 Apr 2012 01:27 PM PDT KoramGame’s Spirit Tales has just begun a new web comic to keep players entertained while waiting for open beta. You can catch the first episode of the comic here, where Spirit Tales looks into what it takes to have the “Warrior’s Spirit.” Spirit Tales is hosting a live stream event this Friday, and will begin open beta on April 25.  |
| Third War of the Worlds begins in Legacy of the Dragons Posted: 11 Apr 2012 11:54 AM PDT MailRU has released a new special week-long feature for Legend: Legacy of the Dragons. Until April 17, players can battle in a cross-realm war known as “Third War of the Worlds.” Each player can represent their server and enter the new Ancient Temple of the Chosen, and fight beside or against other realms. Victors gain points based on completed matches, with the top server being crowned the true Dragons. Points can also be used to win prizes including 80,000 valor and a set of Red Weapons for the champion of each server. Mail.ru also publishes Riot Zone and Juggernaut.  Legend: Legacy of Dragon Gameplay Screenshot Source: THIRD WAR OF THE WORLDS ROCKS LEGEND: LEGACY OF THE DRAGONS Represent Your Server With Pride Hamburg, Germany – April 11, 2012 – MailRU has unveiled a new feature for their smash online title Legacy of the Dragons! ( http://warofdragons.com/) From now until April 17th, fight against fellow warriors from the English, Polish, German, Spanish, Italian, and French servers in an all-out cross-realm war known as the Third War of the Worlds. Representing your server means entering the newly unveiled Ancient Temple of the Chosen. Meet warriors from different servers in the Arena of Underground Knights, the Crystalline Caves, and of course the Temple, where you will fight alongside or against these new compatriots. Victors will be awarded points based on which match is completed, and only one server will be crowned the true Dragons. Individual effort does not go unrecognized: accrue 100 points on the battlefield and win up to 80,000 valor, used to purchase items from the reward shop. The single warrior who receives the most points per server will also receive a coveted set of Red Weapons. There is extremely few of these available now, and only six will be rewarded during the Third War. Will you be the victor?
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Things are looking up for PC users! And by that, we mean bigger and sharper. A couple of months back, we told you that the average monitor size had increased 3 inches in just 4 years and that 
Canonical, the company that sponsors Ubuntu Linux, announced back in February that it would no longer be funding Kubuntu -- a fork that uses the KDE desktop environment rather Ubuntu's Unity interface -- after the release of Kubuntu 12.04. Things looked bleak for Kubuntu as the lone full time dev working on the distro began looking for a new job. Yesterday, the dark cloud lifted: Kubuntu found a new sponsor.
Sick of hearing about Ultrabooks yet? If so, you'd better grab some Pepto Bismol. PC manufacturers have jumped onto Intel's slim n' fast bandwagon with almost astonishing vigor; the first Ultrabooks didn't even hit the streets until the end of last year, and a whopping 21 variations have dropped in the scant 5 months since. That's just the tip of the iceberg, however. Intel says that there are a full 75 more Ultrabooks already in development, and that lower price points and stricter standards are also coming.
A class action lawsuit has put the onus on GameStop, not videogame publishers, to warn buyers of used games that they will be unable to access certain downloadable content (DLC) and online features unless they pony up an additional $15 for an online pass. GameStop could have fought against the measure, but opted for a settlement that requires the world's largest games retailer to post warning signs on shelves where used games are sold in California stores, as well as online, for the next two years.
Western Digital has begun shipping its new WD Scorpio Blue 7mm hard drive line, the newest edition to its mobile HDD family and the one with the lowest power consumption. These 2.5-inch drives are fully compatible with industry-standard 9.5mm slots found in mainstream notebooks and slimmer laptops, but they're really designed to shine in Ultrabooks as an alternative to costly solid state drives that fall short on storage space.
Does the world need or want a 13-inch Android tablet? We're about to find out. Toshiba this week announced the expansion of its Excite line of Android tablets, of which there will be three new display sizes. Two of them are fairly traditional -- 10.1 inches and 7.7 inches -- but the monster sized 13-inch variant is the one everyone is talking about. When it debuts this summer, it will be the largest Android tablet to date.
The 
Tablet sales are expected to reach 118.9 million units by the end of the year, a nearly two-fold increase (98 percent) from 60 million units in 2011, market research firm Gartner predicts. It's no surprise that Apple's iPad leads the way and, if Gartner's crystal ball is in proper alignment, the iOS platform will account for more than 61 percent of worldwide tablet sales by the end of 2012. That too isn't shocking. But would you have guessed that Android will still be chasing iOS through 2016, and perhaps longer?
