| Allods Online celebrates one year anniversary Posted: 01 May 2012 03:21 PM PDT May marks the first year anniversary of Allods Online. All players will receive a free wolf mount today (May 1, and pictured below). This Grimwolf mount will be available for the first week of May (starting May 11 for Europe). Players can also earn Chests, Crystals, and Astral ship gear from numerous giveaways. In addition, gPotato has announced the game’s next expansion, which will launch on May 30. The expansion introduces a mentor system, a new sector of Astral space, a new PvP Skirmish map, an expanded Kingdom of Elements, and more. gPotato also publishes AIKA Online and Iris Online.  Allods Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: Allods Online Celebrates One Year Anniversary All Players Receive a Free Wolf Mount and a Preview of the Next Expansion Sunnyvale, Calif. – April 30, 2012 May will start in style with the one year anniversary of the official launch of Allods Online, the completely free-to-play MMORPG renowned for its highly polished world and unique Astral space exploration. In addition to the free wolf mount all players will receive on May 1, everyone can look forward to a new expansion being launched in North America and Europe on May 30. Traversing the huge world of Sarnaut will get a lot faster thanks to the relentless Grimwolf mount, a fearsome beast that will be distributed to every Allods player. Even new players can earn the Grimwolf by logging in within the first week! Recruit's Chests, Premium Crystals, and Astral ship gear round out the giveaways by giving players all the resources they need to take on new adventures. The North American celebration begins tomorrow, May 1, while Europe will celebrate on May 11. Both regions have a lot to look forward to with today's announcement of the next expansion, which will introduce a mentor system and a new sector of Astral space. New characters can level up faster by allowing themselves to be matched with level 30+ characters of the same class, who will receive great rewards for their teaching time. Heroes looking for new adventures can charge into a free-for-all Astral treasure hunt and risk their ships against powerful demons to pursue rare and valuable prizes, take on the new PvP Skirmish map, or plunge into the expanded Kingdom of Elements to face a new boss. Get a sneak peak at the monstrous demons of the Astral treasure hunt and molten-hot Kingdom of Elements boss in the complete version of the latest Troll and Crab video, which finds our greedy heroes picking through the vast treasures of the last Game of Gods expansion and already hungry for more. The expansion will launch on May 30, however, players can claim their rewards much sooner than that by joining the one-year anniversary celebrations! Visit the official websites in North America or Europe to find out more and start a new journey in Allods Online.
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| Elsword celebrates first anniversary Posted: 01 May 2012 02:36 PM PDT Elsword is now celebrating its first year anniversary with special events through May 8. In game features include the ability to craft Anniversary Cubes (which will grant special rewards for their completion including Ariel Magic Amulets), purchasable Anniversary Cakes, exclusive Anniversary Coins, play time bonuses for players who stay logged in for more than an hour (including Accessory Cubes and Fluorite Ore Exchange Tickets) and increased drop rates and experience from May 4 through the weekend. Players can also enter a raffle between May 4 and May 6 by picking up their raffle ticket from the in-game mailbox, for a chance to win a custom-skinned Nintendo 3DS.  Elsword Gameplay Screenshot Source: Online Action Game Elsword Celebrates First Anniversary Award-winning Anime-Style Beat-'Em-Up Offers Players Exclusive Prize Giveaway IRVINE, Calif. – May 1, 2012 – Manga-themed massively multiplayer online (MMO) game Elsword is turning one! To commemorate this milestone, Kill3rCombo is not only gearing up with in-game activities and bonuses, but is also awarding five lucky players with custom-skinned Nintendo 3DS Portable Gaming Systems. Beginning Friday, May 4 through Sunday, May 6 gamers can enter the raffle by claiming the "3DS Raffle Ticket" item from the in-game mailbox, and continue playing as usual. Winners will be announced on Wednesday May, 9 and will be contacted by the Elsword team. "As with any new business venture in North America, we were both apprehensive and hopeful that online gamers would receive Elsword as well as audiences overseas have," said Ben Colayco, CEO of Kill3rCombo. "Now, as we celebrate Elsword's first anniversary, we are proud that the game continues to grow and has found its niche within the gaming community as the recipient of the 2011 OnRPG Online Gaming Awards Best Side-Scroller." Anniversary in-game festivities are live now and will continue through Tuesday, May 8. All-new features include: · Anniversary Cubes – Coupons will be awarded to players who craft special Anniversary Cubes which contain special rewards, including rare Ariel Magic Amulets!
· Anniversary Cake – Now available for purchase, cakes provide 50 percent HP Recovery and Cure Effects.
· Limited time Anniversary Coin – The exclusive Anniversary Coin accessory can be purchased from Luriel, and will only be available during the event.
· Play time bonus – Players who are logged in for more than one hour will receive special rewards, such as Accessory Cubes, Ariel's Ice Burner and Fluorite Ore Exchange Tickets.
· Increased drop rate – Starting on Friday, May 4 through the weekend, there will be a two time drop rate increase and EXP during specific times. In Elsword, gamers can choose from five specialized and customizable characters as they explore immersive maps and battle to complete dynamic quests. As players progress through the game, they can evolve their fighting styles by upgrading to new job classes and watch as their chosen character matures and gains more fierce abilities and combos. With intuitive and straightforward controls, Elsword offers players of all skill levels the chance to defeat enemies and deal damage, either on a solo mission or cooperatively in a party of up to four players. For those who welcome a challenge, Elsword also delivers action-packed player-versus-player (PvP) combat.
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| League of Legends Season 2 World Championship announced Posted: 01 May 2012 01:31 PM PDT Riot Games has announced the League of Legends Season 2 World Championship. The final event will take place on October 13, 2012 in Los Angeles, with a total prize pool of $3,000,000 for the Finals (and $5,000,000 for the entire Season 2). Twelve teams will be determined in the next regional championships as follows: * Mainland China: July 26 – Shanghai, China at China Joy – 2 teams
* Europe: August 16 – Cologne, Germany at Gamescom – 3 teams
* North America: August 31 – Seattle, United States at PAX Prime – 3 teams
* Korea: September 21 – Seoul, Korea at the OGN eSports Stadium – 2 teams
* Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macau: September 22 – Taipei, Taiwan at G1 – 1 team
* Southeast Asia: September – Singapore at Garena Carnival – 1 team League of Legends: Season Two Championship Trailer Source: Riot Games Announces the League of Legends Season 2 World Championship – $3,000,000 on the Line in Regional and World Finals Championship Competition to Determine World's Best League of Legends Team LOS ANGELES – May 1, 2012 Riot Games today announced the League of Legends Season 2 World Championship. The final event of the hit online game's second season of competitive play will conclude October 13, 2012 in Los Angeles, Calif. The prize pool for the World Championship and Regional Finals totals $3,000,000– the biggest payday in eSports history – and the most lucrative piece of the unprecedented $5,000,000 total prize pool for the entirety of Season 2. Top League of Legends teams from around the world have been competing to qualify for the League of Legends World Championship in a series of Challenger Circuit events since Season 2 kicked off in November 2011. The next phase will be a series of regional championships to determine the twelve teams which will compete in the World Championship at the University of Southern California's 250,000 square foot arena: · Mainland China: July 26 – Shanghai, China at China Joy – 2 teams
· Europe: August 16 – Cologne, Germany at Gamescom – 3 teams
· North America: August 31 – Seattle, United States at PAX Prime – 3 teams
· Korea: September 21 – Seoul, Korea at the OGN eSports Stadium – 2 teams
· Taiwan/Hong Kong/Macau: September 22 – Taipei, Taiwan at G1 – 1 team
· Southeast Asia: September – Singapore at Garena Carnival – 1 team "We've already awarded more than $1,000,000 in prize money to the incredible competitors of League of Legends this season," said Brandon Beck, co-founder and CEO of Riot Games. "It's been humbling to watch the level of competition and the enthusiasm of the live audiences – it's something you really have to see in person." "I can't wait to see how many fans tune in online for the final matches of Season 2 – we're halfway through the season and we've already seen more than two million live viewers for a single circuit event," said Marc Merrill, co-founder and president of Riot Games. "Just to put that in context, that's a bigger audience than a Major League Baseball game on ESPN – it's incredible to think about."
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| Why Browser Games Can Be Frustrating Posted: 01 May 2012 01:06 PM PDT By, M. Hauschel  Starting a game gives a player an initial experience to how the game plays. Instead of, you know, putting your best foot down, developers seem to do the opposite. "Check out all these awesome choices!" is what they claim, but these choices usually are not available. Why even market that you have factions, clans, tribes to choose from, when you really don't? That's usually the first sign that this game is going to be just a much fun as listening to a 10-year-old girl describe an episode of Pretty Little Liars.  Tutorials can be helpful, but there is a thin line between helpful and annoying as hell. Developers sometimes create tutorials that are optional for players, which is awesome. Though the rule of the land seems to be, create the most annoying tutorial that constantly pops-up to remind of things you already know about. It's always some sort of advisor, like an old man or military personnel that pesters you to build huts or collect stones. Even when you minimize them, they always have a glowing icon sitting somewhere on screen, ruining your gaming experience. It's like you're trying to go to sleep and somebody keeps hitting you in the face with a flashlight. That's how subtle they are.  The appearance of browser game layouts varies as much as the flavors of vanilla. They usually have the dashboard on the bottom and icons of resources on the top. Of course the advisor will pop-up periodically to remind you of something obvious. Sometimes if you're lucky, the browser game lacks the ability to hover over icons for descript explanations. Is that a cloud? Silver? Belly button lint? Who knows? In case you didn't know there was an in-game cash option, there will be a constant reminder to inform you like a demented parrot.  As you progress through the game, you might find it necessary to upgrade buildings, storage capacity, military size, etc. If you somehow managed to collect enough resources through the hours of waiting, you might find you don't have nearly enough resources for what you want to upgrade. Your demented parrot will remind you can buy purple stars for what you need to upgrade. But that of course costs real-life money for a game you just started and already dislike.  If you somehow collected enough resources to qualify for an upgrade option, have fun waiting for it finish. Of course purple-star-parrot-face will remind you that you could have used the stars for an instant upgrade. Instead, you chose to play the game without paying any real-life money like a fool, so you're punished with time. Lots of time. In fact you'll have so much time, that if you go to Reddit, you'll run out of blue links before the upgrade is even finished. Impossible you might say, right? Sadly, it's impossible. Shortly after the point of finding out how much time the game requires, if the answer is a lot, I usually quit and move onto something else. There are plenty of F2P browser games, as developers jump onto the bandwagon. But, just because there are plenty, it doesn't necessarily mean they vary. |
| Hellgate Global lines up May events Posted: 01 May 2012 12:54 PM PDT Hellgate Global has announced its new month of events just in time for May. May’s events include: * Daily Hunt – Search for a list of items announced each day, and return these items for generous rewards. * Level Rush - Create a new character and race toward a level goal against other players to win prizes. * Weekend Extravaganza – Earn special bonus items when you purchase premium items in the game’s cash shop. Hellgate is published by T3Fun, which also publishes Mythos.  Hellgate Gameplay Screenshot Source: A Monstrous May Awaits Players in Hellgate Global Celebrate May with a month of events sure to keep Hellgate fans' hearts racing LOS ANGELES – May 1, 2012 – T3fun today announced a surge of exciting events for May in Hellgate Global. Savvy hunters will find their skills invaluable in this month's Daily Hunt. Their courageous efforts to go where no man's gone before will not go unrewarded. Plenty of first-rate prizes are in store for those who master the Level Rush challenge and as an added bonus, premium item shoppers can also look forward to special offers throughout the month. With a varied lineup of events that are sure to please all types of players, Hellgate Global continues to up the ante this May. Daily Hunt – With high support and heavy participation from the fans, the Daily Hunt event returns. Search high and low for a set of announced items in the most fiendish of places. Players who can get the items needed while fending off the most dangerous demons will be generously rewarded. Level Rush – Can you level up faster than everyone else? In this one-of-a-kind event, players will be asked to create new characters and increase their level faster than their competitors. Madness will definitely ensue in this furious race to the level goal. Weekend Extravaganza – Buying premium items is a great way to help you play the game easier. Now, Hellgate Global gives back to premium item shoppers by offering special bonus items to your purchases. Players who take advantage of this rare opportunity will find themselves breezing through the minions of Hell in no time. With the fate of the world at stake, it's time to gear up and take on those ravenous demons that have made the world their playground. The fight for mankind's survival has now reached its fever pitch! Join the war against the demons to preserve mankind in Hellgate Global now: http://hellgate.t3fun.com/
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| Maypole Challenge arrives in MicroVolts Posted: 01 May 2012 12:31 PM PDT Rock Hippo has launched the Maypole Challenge update for MicroVolts. Players can compete together to work to unlock prizes for the entire community. Elimination matches, Zombie Infections, and other competitions will let players work their way toward earning Gold Rifles, Silver Katanas, Hippo-So-Cool Costume Sets, and a Triple MP/EXP weekend. The update introduces Knox’s 2-Spot uniform, Sluggergun gatling guns, Ceremonial and Gozen costume sets for Naomi and C.H.I.P., and a Spicy Unmentionables costume for Pandora. Rock Hippo also publishes Brawl Busters.  MicroVolts Gameplay Screenshot Source: MICROVOLTS GETS READY FOR SPRING WITH NEW MAYPOLE CHALLENGE UPDATE 260,000 Clan Matches, 2.1 Million Zombie Infections, 45 Million Total Kills . MicroVolters Prepare For The Challenge Markham, Canada May 1, 2012 – Rock Hippo Productions Ltd. announced today the launch of its new Maypole Challenge update, for its cartoon style third-person shooter, MicroVolts. In this new spring update, MicroVolters worldwide will battle it out together to complete particular goals to unlock exclusive prizes that will benefit the entire MicroVolts community. To check out all the challenges the MicroVolts team has set up, players can visit www.MicroVolts.com and join the battle! The latest Maypole Challenge update will have MicroVolters battling it out for a bevy of cool prizes through elimination matches, zombie infections and so much more. Up for grabs is an ultra-rare Gold Rifle and Silver Katana, and for the ultimate grand prize, players will receive a Triple MP and EXP Weekend and never-before-seen Hippo-So-Cool Costume Set! “We’re anxious for players to get in the game and check out what’s in store for each and every character during the Maypole challenge,” said Howard He, President and CEO of Rock Hippo Productions. “This new update will have maximum choice and maximum reward for the entire MicroVolts community.” Players can rack up kills in fresh new gear with all-new weapons, parts and accessories. Knox is celebrating the MLB season in his “2-Spot” catcher’s uniform and there’s no doubt he’ll be dodging those baseballs flying out from new “Sluggergun” gatling guns! Naomi and C.H.I.P. both pay tribute to Japanese culture in their “Ceremonial” costume and “Gozen” Samurai costume sets. Not to be outshined, Pandora is marching in on the battlefield in a rather risqué “Spicy Unmentionables” costume set that leaves little to the imagination! To view the latest screenshots or to download the game for free, visit www.MicroVolts.com .
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| Pirate101 Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:58 PM PDT From the team that brought you Wizard101 comes Pirate101. As a kid-friendly environment, Pirate101 thrills all ages with exciting, flying ships, a new style of combat, and many worlds to discover and explore. Create your own pirate to adventure throughout the worlds, challenging minds of all ages to brave the skies.  Publisher: KingsIsle
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: Medium
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: ??
Filesize: ?? Pros: +Child-friendly. +Board game style combat. +Easy to play. Cons: -Limited chat. -May not appeal to everyone. -Limited information available.
OverviewPirate101 OverviewPirate101 is a kid-friendly game from the same development team that released Wizard101. Players can create their own pirate character, and explore the skies on their very own ship. There are several ship types throughout the game, unlocked through questing, and you can display your own flag as well as customize aspects such as cannons, anchor, and sails. This family friendly game features menu based chat, online controls, and more to ensure children can enjoy the game, without parents having to worry about their child’s safety. Pirate101 ScreenshotsPirate101 Featured VideoClick here to view the embedded video. Full ReviewPirate101 Full ReviewComing Soon… ScreenshotsPirate101 ScreenshotsComing Soon…
VideosPirate101 VideosPirate101 Debut Trailer Click here to view the embedded video. LinksPirate101 LinksOfficial Game Page System RequirementsPirate101 System RequirementsComing Soon . . . |
| Rumors abound: Nexon to buy EA? Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:42 PM PDT According to a recent report by Bloomberg, Nexon may be interested in buying EA (Electronic Arts). The rumor initially came from a South Korean newspaper, which stated that Nexon had discussed the idea of acquisition with EA. Neither company has offered comment on the speculation; however analysts have some doubts as there is a small gap between the company’s market capitalization. Nonetheless, EA’s stock has risen with the rumors. Nexon and EA both publish free-to-play games, and EA also publishes subscription MMOs through Bioware-Mythic (including Star Wars: The Old Republic and Warhammer Online). |
| Mission Against Terror prepares a May cool-off Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:20 PM PDT Wicked Interactive (Suba Games) has announced its May plans for Mission Against Terror (MAT). A new map, the Ice Map, will be introduced, offering vantage points at new heights. Warehouse inventory will be expanded, and beginner characters will be redesigned. Players will now also be able to invite friends into games in progress, enjoy a larger weapon select screen, and change their accessories and outfits on the fly. A new monetary points system, “M Points,” will reward players from in-game events, magic eggs, or AI Mode. These points can then be redeemed at a special rewards shop. Magic eggs will also see a boost to the chance to obtain permanent weapons. Wicked Interactive also publishes Bounty Hounds Online and ACE Online.  Mission Against Terror Gameplay Screenshot Source: May 2012 MAT Online Patch Promotion: This just in from Subagames.com! The newest release for our fast-paced, action FPS title: Mission Against Terror! http://mat.subagames.com TORONTO, ON April 27, 2012 – Can't take the heat of the May weather? We've got something to cool you off: our new patch featuring a totally new type of interactive map that you've never seen before in MAT. Put on your parkas and get ready to fly…….across our new Ice Map as you blaze your way to victory. Dodge bullets as you bounce around the map and jump up to new heights to gain that sniper's advantage from up above the playing map. But be careful, you might have the upper hand up above, but you still need to get to those areas in one piece, and who better to take the "bounce" out of your step then your enemies watching you from their scopes as you take to the air. Curious to see more? Go to our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mat/subagames to check out our preview of the new Ice Map! Beyond that, we are featuring a larger warehouse inventory so you can stash more of your items. We're also offering redesigned beginner characters, with a more familiar look. ®Have you found yourself playing in a game, wishing for an easier way to invite your friends to join in on the fun? Well we've thought of that, and we're giving players the option to easily invite their friends into games that are already in progress. We're also giving players a larger weapon selection screen while in game. Furthermore, you'll be able to change your accessories as well as outfits while a game is in progress! There's a new monetary points system coming with the patch! "M Points" is a new currency that players will receive from in game events, magic eggs, or from playing games in the AI mode. Upon winning in one of the mentioned ways, players will get an exchange card that can be used to add M Points which can then be redeemed at a special "M Points" shop. Last but not least, we're increasing the rewards that can be obtained from magic eggs, with higher probabilities of getting permanent weapons. For more information on Mission Against Terror, visit the M.A.T. site: http://mat.subagames.com.
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| New character class video for Spirit Tales Posted: 30 Apr 2012 04:00 PM PDT KoramGame has revealed a new video today for Spirit Tales. The video (which you can check out below) lets players get a quick, fun look at the six playable character classes available in Spirit Tales, which will launch into open beta on May 10. Character classes include the Fighter and Shaman (Gold Kirin Tribe), the Sorcerer and Assassin (Lunar Fox Tribe), and the Archer and Warrior (Maned Dragon Tribe). Spirit Tales: Character Class Introduction Video Source: New Spirit Tales Character Class Introduction Video Sunnyvale, Calif. — (April 30, 2012) – KoramGame Ltd., a leading developer and publisher of free-to-play online games, today released a fun new video that gives fans a special look at the six playable character classes in the upcoming cute 3D fantasy MMORPG, Spirit Tales, before it goes into open beta on May 10. Gold Kirin Tribe - Fighter – Instilled from a young age with respect and reverence, fighters learn to harness the ways of all things within the natural order, utilizing them to their potent advantage. The fighter is a melee class that excels at close range combat.
- Shaman – In peace with nature and the elements, shamans quickly learn seemingly endless amounts of elemental powers, which when tapped and harnessed, provide healing energies far beyond the imaginable. The shaman is a healer and support class that excels at aiding and revitalizing the injured.
Lunar Fox Tribe - Sorcerer – Infused with the potency of fire and ice magic, sorcerers have learned to harness these powers of creation, invoking their force to bring about miraculous changes in the world and catastrophic damage to their enemies. The sorcerer is a magic DPS and revival class that excels at long range combat.
- Assassin – With lightning fast reflexes and movements far beyond the capacity of most mortals, assassins walk as silent beings upon the invisible threads that tie the world together, bending and shaping the shadows into silhouettes of terror. The assassin is a melee DPS class that excels at speed and quickness.
Maned Dragon Tribe - Archer – Vitalized by the forge of friendship from an early age, archers keep a clear, ever-watchful eye upon their kin and neighbors; undoubtedly the first to quench the flame if a spark of trouble should ever arise. The archer is a ranged DPS class that excels at long range combat.
- Warrior – Imbued with a steely, unbending discipline when it comes to loyalty and friendship, warriors choose to seek the path of the guardian, becoming a much-needed ally upon the battlefield – often making the greatest sacrifice to protect those around them. The warrior is a melee class that excels at close range defensive combat.
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Netflix may be king of the streaming video hill, but millions of intrepid cord cutters have turned to Hulu Plus to feed their next-day fix for newly aired television shows. That may change one day, however; new reports indicate that Hulu is considering requiring its users to have a verified cable subscription, a la HBO GO. 
If you ask an everyday gamer, he'll probably tell you the PC graphics market is basically a two-horse race between AMD's Radeon and Nvidia's GeForce. Ask a financial analyst and you'll get a different answer: the beancounters think that the graphics market is less of a race and more of a massacre, with Intel playing the role of Leatherface and Ivy Bridge's integrated graphics acting as the chainsaw that delivers the death blow.
Check Point appears to be on a mission to prove you don't need to pay for full-fledged PC security, a motto that sits well with Maximum PC readers and enthusiasts in general. Starting today, you can download Check Point's ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall 2013, purportedly "the most complete free Internet security solution for consumers," at absolutely no charge. You can't beat the price, but can you beat the security?
Fans of the Alienware M11x gaming laptop were essentially told to go pound sand when Dell 
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Typically when a company advertises a product for enterprise or commercial customers, what they're really saying is, 'Hey, we jacked up the price, thanks for your business.' That doesn't appear to be the case with Acer's new B243PWL monitor, a 24-inch "commercial display." It's a $329 (MSRP) monitor, but it boasts an IPS panel with a Full HD (1920x1200) 16:10 screen resolution and a 100,000,000:1 contrast ratio (dynamic).
The Pirate Bay (TPB) may soon need to get those "Low Orbit Server Station" (LOSS) drones it talked about in March airborne, for things aren't looking all that bright on the ground for the world's largest torrent site. The latest setback for TPB comes in the form of a 
