MMO News

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• Heroes & Generals: New Assets From E3
• Aeria Games Announces Dragon Knights
• June Update Arrives for Spirit Tales
• Bigpoint Reveals New Information on Universal Monsters Online
• End of Nations E3 Hands-On and Interview
• SG Interactive and G4BOX Begin Partnership
• Moonlight Online Launches on Facebook
• Fires of Shadowforge Launches for Runes of Magic
• Divina Enters Open Beta
• PlanetSide 2 E3 Hands-On Video

Heroes & Generals: New Assets From E3 Posted: 12 Jun 2012 03:51 PM PDT Reto-Moto has released new screenshots and a video for their upcoming game, Heroes & Generals. The new screenshots show the renders of upcoming light tanks, motorcycles (with sidecar), and two-person bicycles that were voted for by the community.  The renders also show off combat badges from the unique character advancement system that will be featured in the game. More information about Heroes & Generals can be found in our First Look video (complete with Developer commentary). Heroes & Generals Betalog Heroes & Generals E3 Render Gallery Source: Heroes & Generals: Fresh screens and artwork for E3 2012! The buzz surrounding E3 2012 is inescapable, and it's becoming clear that gamers are seeking new and evolving frontiers in multiplayer World War II gaming. Enter Heroes & Generals, the upcoming combined online first-person shooter and strategic campaign from Denmark's Reto-Moto, formed by the visionaries behind the Hitman franchise and a roster of top industry talent. To mark the occasion of E3, today we offer fresh new screens and artwork, including images of the forthcoming light tanks, MC with sidecar and two-man bicycles voted for by the Heroes & Generals community, and a glimpse at combat badges from H&G's unique character advancement system. Heroes & Generals delivers an unprecedented multiplayer theatre of war: It's fully playable in a PC browser with high level graphics and sound, featuring music by acclaimed composer Jesper Kyd. H&G seamlessly merges authentic first-person infantry and vehicle combat with a satisfying strategic layer as the Axis and Allied forces fight for European domination. Advance and personalize your characters to help turn the tide of a persistent online campaign. The team at Reto-Moto is currently deep in the trenches of the Heroes & Generals closed beta, working 'round the clock to enhance the online wargame for tens of thousands of new users now surging into the evolving campaign. With H&G's extended closed beta in progress and our unique Heroes & Generals: Mobile Command app on the way for iOS and Android devices, we invite all gamers to register at www.heroesandgenerals.com to join the community, play for free, and help us make the game you want to play!

Aeria Games Announces Dragon Knights Posted: 12 Jun 2012 03:30 PM PDT Aeria Games has announced its new action MMO Dragon Knights as a PvP-focused, graphically striking 3D fantasy role-playing game.  Closed beta registration has been launched for any player interested. Among the games core features are a focus on PvP action, guild-versus-guild conflicts, and a political system where players may be elected into positions of power within the game.  Players will also be fighting against the forces of the evil dragon Kharvag, who was defeated centuries earlier by the Dragon Knights. The game also features a transformation system, allowing players to turn into various monsters encountered throughout the game, altering both physical appearance and combat abilities. Aeria Games also publishes Shaiya and Dynasty Warriors Online. Dragon Knights Concept Art Source: Aeria Games Announces Combat-Oriented Fantasy MMORPG, Dragon Knights Closed Beta Registration Begins for Action-Packed Free-to-Play Online PC Game SANTA CLARA, Calif. – June 12, 2012 – A long-lost order of knights. An ancient evil. A rousing new massively multiplayer online experience. Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, today unveiled its action-packed new MMO, Dragon Knights, a PvP-intensive, visually striking, 3D fantasy roleplaying game. Closed beta registration has begun for all players who would heed the call to save the world of Litos by rekindling the flames of the mysterious Dragon Knights order. "Dragon Knights immerses players in a vibrant and violent fantasy world which is designed to encourage a multitude of ways for players to fight with each other," said Executive Producer Spencer Tucker. "Core players will enjoy a rich MMORPG experience packed with PvP combat, large scale guild battles, and even a political system where they can get elected to positions of power." In the free-to-play (FTP) game, players will combat the emerging threat of the malevolent dragon Kharvag. Defeated centuries prior by an enigmatic order known as the Dragon Knights, Kharvag has returned to wreak havoc on the world of Litos. It's up to players to seek out the power and strength of the lost order by establishing a new legion of Dragon Knights willing to stand against their ancient enemy. While players will adventure through lush and exotic landscapes and delve into perilous dungeons, the game also boasts a strong focus on large-scale PvP combat. Guilds can challenge each other to vast battles with many players. In addition, castle sieges offer a twist on guild warfare—an attacking guild must try to oust defenders from their castle. The winning guild retains ownership of the castle, allowing access to its functions and potentially lucrative tax revenue. Dragon Knights also incorporates other unique features uncommon in free-to-play MMORPGs, such as the transformation and election systems. With the transformation system, players can actually take the form of various monsters in the game, altering not just their physical appearance, but also their battle capabilities. The election system allows players to fully participate in the political arena and vote their peers into influential positions such as Cardinal and Emperor, encouraging competition and rivalry beyond the battlefield. Dragon Knights will require a client download, and like all Aeria Games titles, is free-to-play. Players interested in registering for the closed beta can visit http://dragonknights.aeriagames.com. For more information, please visit the Facebook page. You can also watch the official trailer here.

June Update Arrives for Spirit Tales Posted: 12 Jun 2012 03:13 PM PDT KoramGame will release the latest update for Spirit Tales on June 13, featuring new, high level content and an increased level cap. The upcoming update will feature two new zones — Ice Crystal Snowfield and Blue Moon Forest — and two new dungeons.  Players may now level from 45 to 50.  New legendary weapons and armor will be available through monster drops.  Players can also participate in the new Monster Training Battlegrounds cooperative mode for reputation, and various rewards. KoramGame also publishes Dragon Born. Spirit Tales June Update Gallery 12► Source: New Spirit Tales Content Update Raises Level Cap and More Experience Higher Levels of Fun with Exciting New Zones and Instanced Dungeons ** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ** Sunnyvale, Calif. — (June 12, 2012) – KoramGame Ltd., a leading developer and publisher of free-to-play online games, announced today that Spirit Tales, a cute 3D fantasy MMORPG, will be expanding with brand new content on June 13, 2012. The upcoming content update will increase the character level cap from 45 to 50, while adding two exciting new zones to the game: Ice Crystal Snowfield and Blue Moon Forest. Players will also have the opportunity to find and collect new legendary weapon and equipment items that are now available through normal monster drops. In addition, Monster Training Battlegrounds, an existing feature where a player can practice and test their might against dangerous monsters for experience and reputation points, will get a new cooperative play mode that allows a player to train with up to 4 friends. The upcoming Spirit Tales content update goes live on June 13 and will include the following features: Level 50 Cap – Explore exclusive new content such as the two additional zones available only to high level characters New Instanced Dungeons – Set off into frigid, unexplored dungeons to battle fierce creatures and collect rare items Additional Legendary Items – Experience the extraordinary benefits of the newly added legendary items Cooperative Monster Training Battlegrounds – Train with up to 4 friends to become better prepared for the journey ahead For more information on the upcoming content update, please visit: http://st.koramgame.com

Bigpoint Reveals New Information on Universal Monsters Online Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:52 PM PDT Bigpoint announced new details on its upcoming browser-based MOBA, Universal Monsters Online.  Players can take on the role of classic Universal Studios monsters such as Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf Man. The game features arena-style gameplay, with each of the monsters having their own abilities, strengths, and weaknesses.  Utilizing the Unity 3D graphics engine, the game will deliver fast-paced combat without needing to download a separate client.  Like all other Bigpoint games, Universal Monsters Online will be free-to-play.  New characters, character skins, and special abilities will be able to be purchased using in-game currency.  Beta testing will begin soon. Universal Monsters Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: BIGPOINT SCARES UP MORE DETAILS ABOUT UNIVERSAL MONSTERS ONLINE Browser-Based Game Lets Players Be Legendary Monsters; Rising Up this Summer San Francisco – June 12, 2012—Bigpoint today released new information about its anticipated free-to-play (F2P) browser-based title, Universal Monsters Online. The game, which Bigpoint is developing in collaboration with Universal Partnerships & Licensing, will enable players to experience Universal's iconic cast of classic monsters in a highly-competitive Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) setting. Taking on the persona of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and The Creature from the Black Lagoon – among many other notable monsters from Universal's rich history – players compete with and against each other in a blend of combat and strategic game play. Like all Bigpoint titles, Universal Monsters Online will be F2P. In-game currency can be used to purchase items such as new characters (after a free-trial period), unique character skins, and special abilities. Bigpoint plans to begin closed beta testing shortly, and is now encouraging players to sign-up for early access at: http://www.UniversalMonstersOnline.com.

End of Nations E3 Hands-On and Interview Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:41 PM PDT Have you ever been playing a RTS and thought “You know what this needs? 50+ players!”. Well if that wasn’t a common occurrence I wouldn’t blame you but the guys over at Trion and Petroglyph Studios thought it would be an amazing twist for their new MMORTS End of Nations. Check out our developer interview and gameplay below as we explore just what makes End of Nations unique!

SG Interactive and G4BOX Begin Partnership Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:30 PM PDT Today, SG Interactive and G4Box, Inc announced a strategic partnership to introduce their games to a global audience.  To celebrate, players may acquire an in-game bundle of items valued at more than $40 before July 31. Members of Cross Fire and Metin 2 will now have more players than ever to compete against, as both publishers have merged the game servers together.  Grand Chase: Heroes, Project Blackout, Pangya, and Trickster Online have also been made available globally as a result of the merger.  European members of G4BOX will also have access to Crossfire Europe, as part of the merger. Source: SG Interactive and G4BOX Join Forces to Showcase Free to Play Online Game Catalogue to Worldwide Player Base SG Interactive Celebrates New Partnership Offering New Players $40 Worth of In-Game Items Irvine, Calif. – June 12, 2012 – SG Interactive, a leading North American free-to-play game publisher and G4BOX Inc., a North American distributor of interactive online entertainment media, announced today that they have entered into a strategic partnership introducing their high-quality free-to-play games to a combined global audience of nearly 20 million registered users. To celebrate the cementing of this free-to-play industry first relationship, members of G4BOX’s Z8Games platform can scoop up a GameRage bundle of in-game items valued at more than $40. To qualify, gamers simply need to go to www.Z8Games.com before July 31 and follow the banner prompts. “The partnership between SG Interactive and G4BOX was a natural one, given we both have regional versions of CrossFire and are both dedicated to delivering the highest quality games to our audiences,” said Jungsoo Lee, vice president of live production for SG Interactive. “By bringing together our audiences, we get to increase our player base immensely and offer new, engaging free-to-play games.” Starting today, members of SG Interactive’s popular GameRage service will be introduced to G4BOX’s action-packed first-person shooter CrossFire and its Asian-themed role-playing title Metin2. Gamers of the Z8Games portal, powered by G4BOX, will get their first look at Grand Chase: Heroes, a side-scrolling massively multiplayer online (MMO) action role-playing brawler game, Project Blackout, SG Interactive’s first-person tactical shooter, the anime-themed golf title Pangya United, and Trickster Online, an MMORPG that challenges players with a massive 400 level cap. In addition, G4BOX’s European FPS community can now experience CrossFire gameplay on localized servers with SG Interactive’s CrossFire Europe.

Moonlight Online Launches on Facebook Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:19 PM PDT IGG has launched Moonlight Online today for players on Facebook.  The game is inspired by classic folk tales of Eastern and Western Europe, pitting players in a struggle between humans, werewolves, and vampires. With full 3D graphics and in-depth storytelling, Moonlight Online offers Facebook users an opportunity to engage in fast paced combat and summon mercenaries to aid your quest.  Players can also enter a tower defense style game with up to five friends, or challenge others in the Wrathefire Arena.  Players in guilds can also lay siege to castles to show off their skills and mounts. IGG also publishes Tales of Pirates 2 and Lords Online. Moonlight Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: IGG's Next 3D RPG will Wow Gamers on Facebook this Summer (Santa Clara, CA, June 7, 2012) IGG, the Santa Clara-based next-gen social gaming publisher and developer, has launched its latest masterpiece – Moonlight Online ™! https://apps.facebook.com/moonlight_online Hardcore gamers on Facebook can look forward to an evolution of social web RPGs unlike anything they've played before. A fantasy-themed RPG inspired by the classic folk tales of European mythology, Moonlight Online ™ transports players to a supernatural, medieval realm packed with full 3D graphics, in-depth storytelling, and high-octane combat. Play as a Human, Vampire, or Werewolf in a realm on the brink of total warfare. You alone hold the key to deciding the future of your civilization… and the fate of the world. On top of more classic features and game play, new and veteran IGG players alike will experience many novel features in this vivid, action-packed new title. Use magical items to summon wild mercenaries to protect and accompany you in solo combat and questing; or take communal warfare to the next level with three blood-roaring battle options: Enter a fast-paced tower defense map with five of your friends to fire massive cannons at hordes of savage monsters; or step into the deadly Wrathefire Arena to challenge millions of other players in intense, real-time PvP. Players seeking even more excitement can join their Guild in a pulse-pounding castle siege while showing off their advanced skills and fashionable mounts. When all is said and done, retire to your own personal farm where you can harvest 3D crops and cool off (or heat things up) with a loved one in your private hot springs! IGG will officially launch Moonlight Online on the US Facebook servers this summer for all players looking to take social gaming to the next level. Subsequent release to other European markets is also highly anticipated. Visit  http://www.igg.com to learn more about IGG's growing family of games.

Fires of Shadowforge Launches for Runes of Magic Posted: 12 Jun 2012 02:10 PM PDT Frogster has released the Chapter Five Fires of Shadowforge update for Runes of Magic today.  In addition to a new playable race, several other features have been introduced. Players may now select the dwarven race when creating a character.  The dwarves have an involved starting area, complete with a challenging low level dungeon to conquer.  Two new classes have also been released:  Champion and Warlock.  A quick swap option has also been introduced for the third class equipment. The level cap has been raised to 72, with adjustments made to the leveling curve to help.  12 zodiac pets have also been released, that can be upgraded.  New ones will be released monthly.  The Varanas Nightmare zone has also been made into a PvE zone. Details on the next chapter of the game have also been revealed.  The level cap will increase to 77, more action bars will be made available, guild buildings and skins can be used, and three new battlegrounds will be released, along with a variety of other improvements. Runes of Magic “Fires of Shadowforge” Gameplay Screenshot Source: FROGSTER IGNITES RUNES OF MAGIC WITH FIRES OF SHADOWFORGE ‘Runes of Magic: Chapter V – Fires of Shadowforge’ Officially Starts Today BERLIN, Germany – June 12, 2012 - It’s finally here: the Fires of Shadowforge have been lit! Frogster today opened the gates to the fifth chapter of its successful fantasy MMO, Runes of Magic. Fires of Shadowforge introduces a new race to the online role-playing game, the Shadowforge Dwarves. Two new classes have also entered the world of Taborea — the Champion and the Warlock — both exclusive to the Dwarven race. In addition to the new races, a new continent, Kolydia, has also appeared on the map, offering players exciting regions and challenging dungeons. The latest version of the Runes of Magic client is available for free download on the official website, www.runesofmagic.com. Those who already have the client will receive the update automatically the next time they start the game. An impressive cinematic trailer reveals the story of the long dormant Shadowforge Dwarves: What’s New in Chapter V: Level cap raised to 72 Two new zones with new dungeons New playable race: Shadowforge Dwarves Two new classes: Champion and Warlock Equipment swap button for the third class Adjustments to the Battlefields 12 Zodiac Pets (activated monthly, with upgrade leveling) Adjustment to the level curve Varanas Nightmare now a PvE zone  Planned Future Additions to Chapter V: Level cap of 77 Additional action bars in the interface New guild buildings and skins World Bosses adjusted and connected to the crafting system New elite skills for all classes New dungeons New areas Three new battlegrounds Introduction of a guild instance Improvements to the profession system For the latest info on the game, check out our official website: www.runesofmagic.com

Divina Enters Open Beta Posted: 12 Jun 2012 01:28 PM PDT The open beta testing period for Divina has begun. The new beta phase introduces the guild versus guild arena known as Ubajin Fiesta. Here, two guild teams face off in a capture-the-flag match, capturing Spirit Stones, activating Holy Stones, and working with their team to build a strategy that will let one team dominate.  The game’s PvP system has also been redesigned, granting new PvE channels for players who’d prefer not to compete in open world PvP. All PvP matches are now arena-based, too, to keep players competing fairly. In addition, Divina’s Item Mall will open on the 15th. Divina is published by Gamania (beanfun), which also publishes Lucent Heart and Bright Shadow. Divina Gameplay Screenshot Source: GAMANIA'S DIVINA ENTERS OPEN BETA New Guild versus Guild Combat IRVINE, Calif. – June 12, 2012 – Gamania Digital Entertainment today announced the Open Beta launch of its free-to-play, 3D MMORPG, Divina. With the servers now open to everyone, Gamania is inviting new players to come experience Divina's vibrant world, unique characters, and exciting gameplay features – including the newly released Guild versus Guild (GvG) system. "We're happy to finally open up Divina to those who didn't get a chance to play during our Closed Beta events." said David Wong, COO of Gamania. "Everyone has had a great time exploring the game together so far and we're looking forward to adding new players. As always, we'll have fun events running and a friendly GM team in-game to help out the community."   During the Open Beta, players will be able to enter the GvG arena, called Ubajin Fiesta, for the very first time. In Ubajin Fiesta, two teams face off against each other in heated "capture the flag" style matches and battle for Prayer Energy by capturing Spirit Stones, activating Holy Stones, and killing the enemy. Ubajin Fiesta requires teamwork and strategy, as each team must control multiple points at once to dominate the match.   Gamania has also refined Divina's Player versus Player (PvP) system based on feedback from the Closed Beta. Now, players will be able to choose between PvP and PvE channels, depending on whether they're looking to compete. And all PvP matches will be arena based, ensuring everything stays friendly and organized.   As a final surprise for Open Beta participants, Gamania will be testing Divina's Item Mall beginning on 6/15, letting players sample some of the items and outfits that will be offered on launch-day.   Divina's Open Beta event schedule is now live at http://www.mydivina.com/event/openbeta/default.aspx. To stay up-to-date on Divina's progress as it heads towards commercial launch, players can follow the official website (http://us.beanfun.com/divina/) and Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/divinaenglish).

PlanetSide 2 E3 Hands-On Video Posted: 12 Jun 2012 01:28 PM PDT At this year’s E3 we got our first chance to play the new F2P MMOFPS Planetside 2. Planetside 2 promises to be one of the most unique FPS experiences since it pits three factions and thousands of players against each other in a competitive persistent environment. Check out our gameplay footage and interview below or check out or Planetside 2 Article here.

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MMO Updates

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• E3 2012: SOE teases Vanguard F2P trailer
• SWTOR character transfers now available
• The Game Archaeologist: Maze War
• Aeria Games announces Dragon Knights
• Runes of Magic's Chapter V: Fires of Shadowforge now live
• The Secret World nets 1.3 million beta testers
• The Daily Grind: Are you a fan of repeatable quests?
• ArenaNet hiring character artists, presumably for Guild Wars 2
• Not So Massively: LoL database hack and Diablo III updates
• Captain's Log: It always floods after a drought in STO
• Black Gold Online reveals debut trailer
• Core Blaze unleashes a barrage of screenshots, three new videos
• E3 2012: CJ Games Global's arsenal of games
• Richard Garriott says his new social game is the 'spiritual successor' of his previous work
• The Secret World's third beta weekend begins June 15th
• Leaderboard: Escort vs. limited drop quests
• Wings Over Atreia: Support the war effort and reap the spoils in Aion

E3 2012: SOE teases Vanguard F2P trailer Posted: 12 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Vanguard, Free-to-play Sony Online Entertainment hasn't revealed the release day for its free-to-play version of Vanguard yet, but the firm did slip a new trailer past us at last week's E3 shindig in Los Angeles. The spiritual successor to EverQuest has been playable since early 2007, of course, but it looks like SOE is gearing up for a relaunch of sorts (or at least, a reboot of the game's long-dormant PR machine). The trailer runs a hair under two minutes, and it bills Vanguard as both "the ultimate experience for true gamers" and an "action-packed seamless world." The clip also gives us a good look at many of the game's classes, races, and various locations throughout its sprawling three-continent world. Check out the embed after the break. [Thanks to John for the tip!] Continue reading E3 2012: SOE teases Vanguard F2P trailer E3 2012: SOE teases Vanguard F2P trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Digital Trends

SWTOR character transfers now available Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic BioWare has just published a website update detailing its new Star Wars: The Old Republic character transfer service. Eligibility requirements are pretty straight-forward: your account can't be banned, and the character in question can't be a guild master. BioWare says that guilds will not be transferred, so if you're a guild leader you'll need to reform on your new shard and petition customer service for access to your guild bank. The posting says that transfers will be made available gradually, starting with the least populated servers first. An updated listing of servers is also available. Further details, including how to start the transfer process, are available at the official SWTOR site. SWTOR character transfers now available originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

The Game Archaeologist: Maze War Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Video, MMOFPS, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous It's hard to know how far back to go when chronicling the history of early MMOs and their ancestors. After all, the Game Archaeologist has looked at several titles (Air Warrior, Habitat, Neverwinter Nights) that do not fit the modern definition of an MMO yet were bound in blood to the genre nonetheless. So if today's game seems to be somewhat tenuously related to our favorite hobby, I beg your forgiveness in advance, but I do feel it's pertinent to our exploration of this wonderful genre. The game in question is Maze War, and it holds a general's uniform's worth of medals depicting firsts in the infant genre of video games. Most importantly for us, Maze War was the first graphical video game to be networked and allow players to interact and fight each other. You can see why that may tie in to our current situation. While the game itself certainly never attained the complexity of modern shooters or RPGs, its innovation and pioneering certainly make it worthy of examination. So let's dust it off and get to it! Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Maze War The Game Archaeologist: Maze War originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aeria Games announces Dragon Knights Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New titles, PvP, Free-to-play Dragons. Knights. Why hasn't anyone ever thought of putting these two together before? Well, leave it to Aeria Games to create a bold blend of action fantasy and PvP conflict. The publisher has done just this with the announcement of the latest member of its roster, the upcoming Dragon Knights. Dragon Knights is a free-to-play PvP-centric title that challenges players to save the world by filling out the roster of the titular order. Castle sieges will be one of the centerpieces of the game, with guilds fighting guilds to take and retain these fortresses for their bonuses. Aeria Games says that Dragon Knights will also feature the option to transform into combat-ready enemy creatures, as well as an elaborate political system. The title is currently accepting beta signups, and you can watch the trailer after the jump! [Source: Aeria Games press release] Continue reading Aeria Games announces Dragon Knights Aeria Games announces Dragon Knights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Runes of Magic's Chapter V: Fires of Shadowforge now live Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic Last week we got a preview of Runes of Magic's new Chapter V update at E3. Today you can join in the fun, as Runewaker and Frogster have officially released Fires of Shadowforge to the live servers. The update raises the level cap to 72, adds a new race (the Shadowforge Dwarves), two new classes (Champion and Warlock), and a new continent filled with quest and dungeon content. That's just the tip of the iceberg for Chapter V, too. The devs are planning to add new guild instances and buildings, new battlegrounds, dungeons, elite skills, world bosses, and more over the life of the update. Read all about it at the official Runes of Magic site. [Source: Frogster press release] Runes of Magic's Chapter V: Fires of Shadowforge now live originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Secret World nets 1.3 million beta testers Posted: 12 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Horror, Sci-fi, The Secret World If Funcom was a recruiting agency for a real-world secret society, it might have been the most successful one of all time. The studio announced that it's topped all of its previous MMO beta records, as it has roped in 1.3 million registered testers for The Secret World. Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas says this could be the start of something big: "We are very encouraged by both the numbers of beta registrations and the positive feedback we are getting from our testers. The fact that so many gamers want to play The Secret World combined with the high purchase intent among testers is something we consider a very positive indicator." This news comes right before The Secret World's third beta weekend. Funcom also announced that the title has gone gold and is on track for June 29th's early access and July 3rd's launch. The Secret World nets 1.3 million beta testers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Funcom

The Daily Grind: Are you a fan of repeatable quests? Posted: 12 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind I recently returned to Age of Conan, and I've been doing a lot of factional quests for tokens and gold in the game's Khitai expansion regions. Many of these quests are repeatable, meaning that once you've completed them and a cooldown timer has expired (usually 12 hours to a full day), you can do them again. This is great if I'm in the mood to grind, but it's also hard on my OCD that compels me to "finish" a questing zone before moving on to the next one. Repeatables are also a slick way for developers to artificially extend the shelf life of a particular zone without adding any new content. What say you, Massively readers. Are you a fan of repeatable quests? Why or why not? 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! The Daily Grind: Are you a fan of repeatable quests? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

ArenaNet hiring character artists, presumably for Guild Wars 2 Posted: 11 Jun 2012 09:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Guild Wars 2 If you're one of the many people looking forward to Guild Wars 2, seeing the words "hiring" and "ArenaNet" in the same sentence probably made you skip everything else in that sentence. And it's true: The team at ArenaNet is looking to expand. Unfortunately for some, the position being filled is that of a character artist rather than a Guild Wars 2 enthusiast. But if you're a character artist by trade, it's an excellent opportunity. Prospective applicants aren't being asked for a resume. Instead, they're being given two pieces of character concept art. Would-be artists are then tasked with creating a high-resolution mesh for the outfit with very clearly defined space and size limitations. Presumably, applicants who demonstrate skill with the more technical side of things will be asked for more information. If all this sounds like something you're more than capable of, read up on the fine details on the official posting and start modeling! ArenaNet hiring character artists, presumably for Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not So Massively: LoL database hack and Diablo III updates Posted: 11 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game mechanics, New titles, Patches, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III Diablo III has been taking on player feedback this week with the announcement of item drop rate and gameplay changes coming in the upcoming 1.0.3 patch. In a hotfix this week, Tyreal's damage was nerfed to stop players from using him to farm risk-free, and several easy gold-farming spots were heavily nerfed in an effort to curb botting. Path of Exile is also taking notice of player feedback to Diablo III, releasing new multiplayer loot reservation and public game systems. Dota 2 announced that a limited number of tickets to watch its upcoming tournament The International will go on sale tomorrow for $49.99 each. Heroes of Newerth revealed its new tanky melee initiator Ravenor, and Rise of Immortals released new immortal Kreed along with some much-needed gameplay overhauls. League of Legends' European password database was hacked this week; Riot Games reccomends that all players reset their passwords. The Draven patch also went live this week, adding the new champion to the game and bringing nerfs for Ahri, Darius, Graves and Urgot. Finally, we got our first taste of upcoming MOBA Guardians of Middle Earth's gameplay at E3. Continue reading Not So Massively: LoL database hack and Diablo III updates Not So Massively: LoL database hack and Diablo III updates originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Captain's Log: It always floods after a drought in STO Posted: 11 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, PvE, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Captain's Log Over the course of the last week, Star Trek Online fans have been swimming in the flood of information that has been released regarding several missions and features of the game that are expected to be released either just before or as part of Season Six. We still have no formal release date for Season Six, nor have we been given any hint as to when we will see it appear on the STO test server, Tribble. Yet several announcements have been posted by Cryptic on the STO website, some of which have rejuvenated the deflated playerbase. Fleets were given even more information on the anticipated release of the fleet advancement system; Foundry authors have been celebrating the tool's first significant patch in over a year; endgame players got some good news about two new five-person team missions, and a couple of promotions have made at least a few players smile. Join me as I attempt to analyze all the new information! Continue reading Captain's Log: It always floods after a drought in STO Captain's Log: It always floods after a drought in STO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Black Gold Online reveals debut trailer Posted: 11 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, Free-to-play It's been almost half a year since we last heard from Snail Games' in-development steampunk MMO, Black Gold Online, but if you've been holding out for some more steamy, punky goodness, then you're in luck. The studio has finally released the game's debut trailer, which takes players into the heart of the major conflict of the Black Gold world. For the uninitiated, the game ultimately boils down to nature vs. technology, which is represented by an ongoing war between two as-of-yet unnamed factions. On one side of the battle, we have the Nature-Loving-Hippie faction (composed of the bear-like brutes, the feline kosh, and plain ol' humans), and opposing it is the Nature-Hating-Industrialist faction (made up of dwarves, vampires, and steam humans, whatever that means). The object of their war is control of a rare resource known as black gold (no, not that black gold), which is capable of granting great power to those who possess it. That's about all we know for now, though, so while we wait for new information to pop up, busy yourself by checking out the video after the cut. Continue reading Black Gold Online reveals debut trailer Black Gold Online reveals debut trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: MMOCulture

Core Blaze unleashes a barrage of screenshots, three new videos Posted: 11 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Previews, News items Did our E3 preview of Gamania's upcoming title Core Blaze leave you hungry for more hack-and-slash goodness? If so, then boy do we have some treats for you. The folks behind the in-development MMO have released a slew of new screenshots and art as well as a trio of videos just waiting to be devoured. The screenshots run the gamut of everything from boss monsters to UI features and everything in-between, but the real eye-candy comes from the videos. There's plenty of gorgeous footage that showcases the game's action-flavored hack-and-slash combat alongside some breathtaking vistas. But really, there's nothing we can say about them that the videos won't say better themselves, so just head on past the cut and feast your eyes upon them. [Source: Gamania press release] Gallery: Core Blaze core gallery Continue reading Core Blaze unleashes a barrage of screenshots, three new videos Core Blaze unleashes a barrage of screenshots, three new videos originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2012: CJ Games Global's arsenal of games Posted: 11 Jun 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, Opinion, Free-to-play, Massively Event Coverage At this year's E3, we got a bit of time to sit down with CJ Games Global, part of CJ E&M, to talk about everything from its origins in Korea to its transition to the states and some of its MMOs, including work with Uncharted Waters Online, the re-release of Prius Online, and upcoming games Sin Streets, Bloody Hunter Online, Monarch, and Hounds. CJ E&M's main focus has actually been in the movies, owning theaters and distributing films. It's also gotten some KPop stars for its music division, but... well, you're at Massively to hear about games, right? That's where Netmarble comes in. CJ E&M bought Netmarble and opened eight studios, six of which focus on PC gaming. Oh, and of course, the company publishes just a few hundred games. This also led to the opening of CJ Games Global in April to help bring over Korean games and publish others, such as Uncharted Waters, with 64 more games to be published in the next three years. One of the main goals of CJ Games, though, is releasing games that aren't as well represented in the current market, such as Uncharted Waters. Continue reading E3 2012: CJ Games Global's arsenal of games E3 2012: CJ Games Global's arsenal of games originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Richard Garriott says his new social game is the 'spiritual successor' of his previous work Posted: 11 Jun 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual Every so often, Ultima Online creator Richard Garriott takes a break from his social gaming endeavors to grant an interview to a fan site. The latest such is on display at Gather Your Party, and Garriott has plenty to say about his current company, Portalarium, and how its new Ultimate Collector title might appeal to UO fans. "For us it's a stepping stone. It's an MMO-lite in my mind. Very lite, with more what I will call classical leveraging of casual game mechanics than you will probably see in the RPG, but compared to most casual games, to most social games, it is far deeper," Garriott explains. He's also aware of the amount of skepticism that his turn toward social gaming generates among Ultima fans and MMORPG enthusiasts, but he thinks that's par for the course. "Newness is fraught with a certain kind of risk, distrust and lack of understanding," Garriott says. "I think what I'm building now is the spiritual successor of my previous work." Richard Garriott says his new social game is the 'spiritual successor' of his previous work originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Gather Your Party

The Secret World's third beta weekend begins June 15th Posted: 11 Jun 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, News items, The Secret World While The Secret World's conspiracy theorists have their hands full with the game's latest ARG hook, fans who just want to get their hands on the game again won't have to wait much longer. Funcom has announced that TSW's third beta weekend, subtitled Hell Raised (after the dungeon of the same name), will begin on June 15th. This time around, players will be cut loose from the confines of Kingsmouth to run wild in the appropriately named Savage Coast, where the gates of Hell have been flung open to allow all sorts of nasty beasties to make their way into our world. Players will have the opportunity to delve into the mystery of the infernal invasion by taking on the newly added Hell Raised instance. According to Funcom, The Secret World "has received significant enhancements since the last beta weekend, with improved content, gameplay mechanics, and performance." To top it all off, this beta weekend will mark players' first look at the updated combat system. If you haven't already received a beta key and want to get into the beta weekend, all you have to do is throw down a pre-order on TSW and you'll be guaranteed entry. So remember: June 15th. Savage Coast. Be there. The Secret World's third beta weekend begins June 15th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: The Secret World beta weekend #3

Leaderboard: Escort vs. limited drop quests Posted: 11 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Polls, Game mechanics, Opinion, Miscellaneous, Leaderboard We love complaining about quests in MMOs almost as much as we love doing them. Maybe you wear hipster glasses and say bold statements like, "I hated quests while they were still the cool, new thing," but it doesn't make you special and nobody likes your glasses. Sorry. It's Blunt Truth Day here in the Massively offices. If there are two types of quests that seem to drive everyone bananas, however, they would have to be escort quests and limited drop quests. Escort quests in any video game, not merely MMOs, are aggravating because they take some of the control out of the hands of the player and force them to babysit an often slow-moving, death-seeking sack of idiocy. Limited drop quests can be just as frustrating, because it's here that you know the game is just screwing with you. "Go get six werewolf eyeballs," the quest-giver says, "But, for no good reason other than to suck up your time, not every werewolf will drop an eyeball. Lots of blind werewolves in these here parts, you see." Today you're voting on the quest type that's the most frustrating: escort or limited drops. Which causes you to rip out your hair? Vote after the jump! Continue reading Leaderboard: Escort vs. limited drop quests Leaderboard: Escort vs. limited drop quests originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wings Over Atreia: Support the war effort and reap the spoils in Aion Posted: 11 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Events, in-game, Opinion, Free-to-play, Wings Over Atreia, Guides Ah, the best laid plans of Daevas and men... I am so glad you are the understanding sort! You'll forgive me, right? I know that I'd said that this week's Wings Over Atreia would be covering a guide to all the daily quests in Aion, but that was before NCsoft surprised us with a new event mid-week. And since said event ends on the 20th, I thought waiting until the 18th to fill you in would be downright cruel! Besides, the daily quests aren't going anywhere; we'll catch them next week. You might even thank me later for giving you seven more days of freedom. So what's this event that has preempted the (spectacular, informative, and well-worth-the-wait!) already-penned article? It's called The Spoils of War, though technically it is actually two events bundled together: Provisioning the Front Lines and Besh Temple Blitz. Daevas of any level can participate in the first, whereas only those level 55 and up can do the latter. The next question is why participate? Because of the spoils, of course! Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Support the war effort and reap the spoils in Aion Wings Over Atreia: Support the war effort and reap the spoils in Aion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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