General Gaming Article

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• TSMC's 28nm Chip Production Skyrocketed Last Quarter, Will Only Get Better
• Skype Responds to Claims of Increased Involvement with Law Enforcement
• Nvidia Jumps On The Miracast Wireless Display Standard Bandwagon With A Focus On Mobile Gaming
• Facebook Stock Slides Following Second Quarter Financial Report
• In wake of Inane Speculation, Swedish E-tailer Clarifies Its 'High' Microsoft Surface Pricing
• This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
• Lian Li to Launch Silent PC-B12 Computer Case for $169
• Microsoft Admits Surface Tablet is Risky Business
• Nvidia GTX 660 Ti Detailed, Launch Date Leaked to the Web

TSMC's 28nm Chip Production Skyrocketed Last Quarter, Will Only Get Better Posted: 27 Jul 2012 10:43 AM PDT The industry-wide move to the 28nm manufacturing process has been slowed by the 28nm manufacturing struggles suffered by TSMC and other for-hire chip fabricators. Poor 28nm yields have adversely affected product availability for several of TSMC's partners, to the point that Nvidia and Qualcomm were rumored to be threatening to take their business elsewhere. Those dark days may be (mostly) behind, however, as TSMC's 28nm production skyrocketed in the second quarter. Xbit Labs listened to TSMC's conference call and dug through the company's financial data, then reported that the fab's 28nm output jumped by a whopping 70 percent last quarter. That's admirable, but still not anywhere near as much 28nm production as TSMC's customers are looking for. Fortunately, TSMC execs ensured investors that the company expects its 28nm shipments to double in the upcoming quarter en route to picking up steam and fully meeting OEM demand in the first quarter of 2013. Image credit: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Skype Responds to Claims of Increased Involvement with Law Enforcement Posted: 27 Jul 2012 10:26 AM PDT Ever since Skype updated its network to transfer the supernodes that power the service away from a P2P system and onto secure, Skype-run data servers, rumors have run rampant that the update occurred solely to make Skype more amicable to government wiretapping requests. Yesterday, the Washington Post ran a story claiming that Skype recently expanded its cooperation with authorities, and the architecture changes let the company provide more chat and user info to feds. Last evening, Skype officially responded to the various allegations in a blog post by COO Mark Gillett. In a nutshell, Gillett says the rumors are nuts. "It has been suggested that Skype made changes in its architecture at the behest of Microsoft in order to provide law enforcement with greater access to our users' communications," Gillett wrote. "False." Nor, Gillett claims, did Skype change its policy for cooperating with government information requests, stop encrypting Skype communications, or start recording users' audio and video calls. (Given the nature of the service, it isn't even technically possible for Skype to record calls.) Skype's supernode changes were simply to improve service performance and were set in motion long before Microsoft bought the company, Gillett explains. As far as the Washington Post's claim that the update allows Skype to provide IM details to law enforcement, Gillett says the following: In order to provide for the delivery and synchronization of instant messages across multiple devices, and in order to manage the delivery of messages between clients situated behind some firewalls which prevent direct connections between clients, some messages are stored temporarily on our (Skype/Microsoft) servers for immediate or later delivery to a user. Skype has employees whose sole purpose is handling legal requests for information, however, and Gillett stresses that the temporary IM data stored on Skype's servers will only be given to authorities if Skype finds the request to be both "legally required and technically feasible." Skype's privacy policy has always stated as such -- and it's right in line with that of pretty much every service provider around the world. The message from Skype seems exceptionally clear-cut and straightforward, especially in a world of PR speak and corporate communications that are full of words, but really say nothing. Do Gillett's comments comfort your Skype communication worries?

Nvidia Jumps On The Miracast Wireless Display Standard Bandwagon With A Focus On Mobile Gaming Posted: 27 Jul 2012 10:09 AM PDT Move over, AirPlay, and keep your closed ecosystem and pricey adapters to yourself, Wi-Di; there's a new streaming display solution coming to town. The Wi-Fi Alliance plans on finalizing the Miracast wireless display standard in the next few months, enabling cord-and dongle-free streaming to monitors and TVs, and a big new partner just announced it was onboard: Nvidia. Even better, Big Green's bringing the Tegra 3 processor along for the ride, which could help to quickly spur adoption of the standard. Miracast operates similarly to Wi-Fi Direct, allowing Miracast-compatible devices to connect directly and bypass the need to piggyback on a working Wi-Fi network. Several companies have hopped onboard the Miracast train, but Nvidia's positioning its Tegra 3 tablets and smartphones as a unique offering thanks to the mobile processor's excellent CPU/GPU combo chops. From Nvidia's blog post: At the heart of every Tegra chip is a high-performance CPU and GPU, which means you can use Tegra to play amazing games on the big screen. We're not just talking about flinging Angry Birds but racing a super-charged jet ski in the game Riptide THD and playing heart-pounding first-person shooter games like Shadowgun THD. You can even take mobile gaming to the next level by pairing a Tegra device with a console controller for the ultimate wireless display experience. Nvidia's also striving to keep Tegra's Miracast solution low-latency. Latency woes have plagued Intel's Wi-Di. Tablet on the table, Shadowgun on the big screen and controller in hand, with no wires or adapters anywhere to be found? Sounds like a good time to us. Nvidia has a whitepaper outlining the basic principles behind its Miracast support, but the details are scarce; the company promises to release more info when the Miracast standard becomes ratified as an official spec.

Facebook Stock Slides Following Second Quarter Financial Report Posted: 27 Jul 2012 08:25 AM PDT Confidence in Mark Zuckerberg's ability to navigate his social networking ship through rough financial waters is beginning to waver. Investors reacted negatively to Facebook's second quarter financial report, sending shares of the social network down almost 15 percent in after market trading, after it had already dipped 8 percent during regular trading hours on Thursday. Facebook, which debuted at $38 per share when it went public, is down to just over $23. This is despite the fact that Facebook's revenue grew 32 percent in Q2, according to a report in The Washington Post. Facebook's revenue was higher than expected, but the devil is in the details. Profits weren't all that great, and Facebook's membership hasn't grown as quickly as investors would like, which is worrisome in terms of long-term growth potential. Investors were also concerned that revenue growth has slowed overall, at least compared to a few quarters ago when revenue more than doubled, the LA Times reports. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

In wake of Inane Speculation, Swedish E-tailer Clarifies Its 'High' Microsoft Surface Pricing Posted: 27 Jul 2012 07:57 AM PDT Will Microsoft's Surface tablet really start at over $1,000? That is the question that has been on everyone's mind ever since a listing for the upcoming Microsoft-branded tablet surfaced on Swedish site Webhallen. But we need not speculate any further as the Swedish e-tailer's Surface pricing itself is pretty speculative. A couple of days back, WPCentral spotted product listings for all four Surface SKUs on Swedish shopping site Webhallen. With the cheapest Surface tablet, the 32GB Windows RT model, listed for as high as 6990 SEK (around $1,000), it soon became a hot talking point and some people even went as far as writing obituaries for the Microsoft-branded slate. But turns out Webhallen was merely trying to cash in on the buzz surrounding the Surface by using a very common sales technique: that of deliberately listing a much-awaited product at a much higher price than what it is actually expected to sell for. Obviously, this is done as pre-orderers are unlikely to back out of their purchase commitments in case the actual retail price turns out to be lower than the original listing price. "Our customers are very interested in pre-ordering these products, so we have set a high preliminary pricing for the lineup so that they may be able to pre-order them," the Swedish e-tailer told Techie Buzz. "Just to clarify, we have not recieved [sic] any pricing from Microsoft regarding MRSP or purchasing net cost, and any people who have booked the Surface at this high price will of course have their order adjusted before any product is shipped. So we're not going to overcharge anyone for being an early adopter."

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar Posted: 27 Jul 2012 07:29 AM PDT This week has been TV-tastic with a whole range of brilliant TVs at different sizes making their way through the TechRadar office. We've also been putting OX X 10.8 Mountain Lion through its paces. HTC Desire C review Although it's not much of a step up from the Wildfire S and Explorer, the HTC Desire C is a well rounded budget handset which offers more than enough at its price point, even if it is a little under powered compared to some of its rivals. So it's better than the handsets it's come in to replace… but not by much. The intuitive interface, attractive design and competitive price tag means the Desire C certainly has the opportunity to do well at the low end of the market – especially against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Y and LG Optimus L3. But for those who need a little more bang for their buck, you might want to see what the Ascend G300 or BlackBerry Curve 9320 have to offer. Panasonic TX-P50GT50B review Packed with extra features it may be, but smart apps, web browsing and cute designs can be bought for less cash; buying the Panasonic TX-P50GT50 is all about a serious quest for picture quality prowess. And, boy, does this 50-inch plasma TV deliver. It's a class-leading plasma TV at an affordable price and it's impossible to think of a better screen on which to watch both 2D and 3D Blu-ray. Standard definition sources are coped with unusually well, too, and while the image isn't as immediately bright as an LCD/LED TV, a picture this good shouldn't be difficult to live with in any setting. However, the user interface is a little drab, and we're sad to see no 3D specs in the box but a picture completely lacking in motion blur and with awesome black levels makes this a reference-level television. OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion review If there's one feature that makes it worth upgrading your Mac to Mountain Lion, it's Notification Center. At £13.99, Mountain Lion is a real bargain for that alone, though the true cost might be higher if you have to upgrade from Leopard, or upgrade any of your applications to make them compatible. The rearrangement of Notes and Reminders into their own apps is very welcome if you also use an iOS device, and the swathe of other minor tweaks around the system are positive as a whole. Apple needs to rethink iCloud document libraries before we're willing to start putting work online though. Using iCloud to store documents is entirely optional, and it can be supplanted with alternatives such as Google Drive and Dropbox, which offer a more flexible file system. Samsung PS60E6500 review Although judged purely on picture quality the PS60E6500 isn't in quite the same league as Panasonic's high-end plasmas, it's a closer run thing than we'd imagined. As smart as any TV out there, the PS60E6500 excels with 3D. We're talking smooth, depth-filled images that are comfortable to watch, though 2D action is none too shabby either. It's great to see both Freesat HD and Freevew HD tuners inside, too, with HD channels playing a star role against standard definition channels that somehow look watchable on a 60-inch screen. Samsung UE40ES7000 review One of Samsung's best-looking TVs both inside and out, the Samsung UE40ES7000's Freesat & Freeview HD tuners grace a versatile and innovation-packed effort. Voice control impresses, as does a Smart Touch remote and clever smartphone app. The Smart Hub can feel busy, but there's plenty on this high-end TV to wow – not least its contrast-rich, detailed pictures, solid upscaling and immersive 3D images. Panasonic TX-L32X5 review Choosing an HD-ready TV over a Full HD version is risky if you plan to watch Blu-rays, but this 32-inch television from Panasonic's low-resolution panel proves capable at hiding the video nasties emanating from the soft, low resolution, low bit-rate standard definition channels that still make up the majority of most people's TV viewing. There is some endemic motion blur on the Panasonic TX-L32X5 and it's a shame the Freeview HD electronic programme guide lacks a live TV thumbnail, but overall this is a reasonably good value attempt at a living room telly. Camcorders GoPro HD Hero2: Outdoor Edition review Cameras Olympus TG-1 review Nikon Coolpix L810 review Canon PowerShot SX260 HS review Hands on: Canon EOS M review Desktops HP Z1 WM429EA review Vibox Flame-X review Flash drives Kingston HyperX 64GB DataTraveler 3.0 review Hard drives SanDisk Memory Vault review ioSafe Rugged Portable Hard Drive review Kingston HyperX 3K 120GB review Headphones Sony MDR-V55 review Headsets Corsair Vengeance 2000 Wireless review Sennheiser 323D 3D G4ME review Laptops Acer Aspire S5 review Mice Ozone Radon Opto review Roccat Savu review QPAD 5K LE review Mobile phones Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 review HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE (Verizon) review Samsung Focus 2 (AT&T) review Samsung Conquer 4G (Sprint) review Samsung Galaxy Beam review Motherboards Asus RoG Maximus V Formula review Phone accessories CrossKase Solar review Processors Intel Core i5 3470 review Storage OCZ Vertex 4 256GB review Intel 330 series SSD 60GB review Tablets Fujitsu Stylistic M532 review Televisions Panasonic TX-L32X5 review Samsung UE40ES6800 review Samsung UE40ES7000 review Samsung PS60E6500 review

Lian Li to Launch Silent PC-B12 Computer Case for $169 Posted: 27 Jul 2012 07:21 AM PDT Luxury case designer Lian Li announced yet another brushed aluminum ATX computer case, though this latest one is purportedly silent. The PC-B12, as it's been dubbed, features a handful of traits designed to keep noise at a minimum, including noise dampening foam attached to the removable front and side panels. There's also a downward facing exhaust baffle that's supposed to help keep acoustics to a minimum. The case itself is a mid-tower chassis that measures 210mm (W) by 472mm (H) by 498mm (D) and weighs 6.4kg. It's made of black aluminum and can support up to three 3.5-inch hard drives (with a hotswap option), a single 2.5-inch SSD, and up to eight expansion cards. Compatibility wise, the PC-B12 supports graphics cards up to 360mm in length, PSUs up to 240mm, and CPU coolers that stand up to 160mm. Cooling duties are handled by a pair of 140mm fans up front and a 120mm fan in the rear, all three of which are included. There are no other optional fan mounts. Lian Li neglected to mention when the PC-B12 will ship, though did say it will retail for $169. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Microsoft Admits Surface Tablet is Risky Business Posted: 27 Jul 2012 06:47 AM PDT Microsoft can no longer stick its head in the sand and claim ignorance to the fact that its Surface tablet could, and probably will, incite anger among its OEM partners who aren't keen on the idea of competing with the company in the tablet space. That luxury went out the window when Microsoft filed a Form 10-K with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, admitting in black and white print what's been obvious since the get-go. "In addition, our Surface devices will compete with products made by our OEM partners, which may affect their commitment to our platform," Microsoft stated as one of its Risk Factors. The entry appears on page 14 of the greater than 100-page document and was first spotted by The New York Times Bits blog, which notes this is the first time Microsoft has fessed up to the obvious as it gets ready to bite the hands that feed it. Regardless, Microsoft is forging ahead with its Surface strategy, and will for the first time be competing with OEMs in what could be a major market segment. On the flip side, there's been chatter that Microsoft is employing a one-and-out strategy, whereby Surface will be the one-and-only tablet Microsoft makes. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Nvidia GTX 660 Ti Detailed, Launch Date Leaked to the Web Posted: 27 Jul 2012 05:48 AM PDT It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Nvidia's GeForce GTX 660 Ti would be based on the GPU maker's 28nm Kepler architecture, and lest there was any lingering doubt, a Swedish overclocking site got its hands on a spec sheet that seemingly confirms as much. If the information is correct, the GTX 660 Ti is essentially a GTX 670 card with a narrower memory bus (192-bit versus 256-bit). Other specs Sweclockers.com revealed include: GPU: GK104 CUDA Cores: 1,344 Base Frequency: 915MHz Boost Frequency: 980MHz Memory: 2GB GDDR5 Memory Frequency: 6,008MHz TDP: 150W Those specs are nearly identical to the GTX 670, save for the TDP, which is 20W lower on the GTX 660 Ti. Memory bandwidth is also lower as a result of the narrowed bus width, which drops from 192.2GB/s (GTX 670) to 144.19GB/s (GTX 660 Ti). According to Sweclockers.com, the reference model doesn't introduce any design deviations. The GTX 660 Ti is a two slot card with a pair of DVI ports, HDMI output, and a DisplayPort. It's powered by two 6-pin PCI-E connectors. No word yet on price, though the release date is said to be August 16, 2012. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

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MMO News

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• Dark Blood Online
• Universal Monsters Online announces closed beta signups
• Illyriad update adds crafting to game
• Digimon Masters launches Olympics themed update
• Metin2 updates to celebrate The Olympics
• Rock Hippo announces Olympic events
• Mail.ru games celebrate the Olympics
• Grepolis launches Olympic events

Dark Blood Online Posted: 27 Jul 2012 04:49 PM PDT Dark Blood Online pits player versus player in exciting arena combat. As the descendant of a fallen hero, it is your task to discover the evil seeking to take over the world, and use mysterious powers to overcome it. Engage others in exciting, fast paced action. Utilize skills, combos. and abilities to overcome your opponents. Fight in a bloody arena, where only the strongest will be recognized. Publisher: Outspark Playerbase: Medium Graphics: Medium Type: MMO EXP Rate: Low PvP: Yes Filesize: 1.8GB Pros: +Class change even in combat. +Unique pet and monster transformation system. +Professional voice acting. Cons: -Crating takes a lot of refining. -Quests can be very grind heavy. -Monster transformations generally not worth using. Overview Dark Blood Overview Dark Blood Online is a PvP fighting game where players compete against one another in arena style combat. The game features mature content, and the battles get bloody and intense. There are several arenas that players may be put into, and each one has different tactics that need to be used in order to survive. Dark Blood Screenshots Dark Blood Featured Video Coming Soon.. Full Review Dark Blood Review   Dark Blood Online harkens the nostalgia of platformer games of the past. With a 2-D background and 3-D characters, this action-packed side-scroller envelops players in a world battling evil forces.  Using themes of magic, fantasy, evil creatures, and a rustic middle-ages look, Dark Blood is an MMO even the most casual of gamers can enjoy. Breathe Life into Them Character creation is interesting to say the least.  The animation choices to the female characters' breast create a strange visual of "breathing boobs".  This animation translates into the gameplay as well.  As with most MMOs, you have several options to customize the one of four characters currently available.  The ability to modify the character's body, face, hair, etc, is all there for the players.  Players are able to choose from a warrior, knight, hunter, and mage as their starting character.  Below the character selection there is a small animation window that showcases the three different levels each class become.  With the lack of a stats sheet for each character, new players must guess which class is right for them based on the animation box or just their past experience with generic classes in other MMOs. When starting the game you're immediately thrown into a story of storming a castle and fighting monsters with a group of NPCs. The story at this time is vague, but the game chooses to immerse the player into the story, rather than tell a background story right off the bat.  The battle scene also serves the purpose of providing a tutorial of the game's controls.  Dark Blood's tutorial is a remarkably refreshing take, as it doesn't pile a list of instruction one right after another.  It shows one control, allows the player to get used to that control, and then introduces the next in succession after offering ample time for the player to master the previous instructions. Once inside the castle, you fight monsters side-by-side with the NPCs on your team, guiding the player along the story.  This is where it becomes confusing. After watching a short cut-scene of the action, your player wakes up semi-naked in a forest.  You then have to help a woman from being attacked from wild hogs.  Why you wake up in that forest is unexplained.  Suddenly, you're in town talking to the blacksmith.  These transitions are confusing, and the link between the different scenes seems unconnected. Sound the Trumpets While the quests themselves try to explain the storyline and have you progress through the game, the manner in which they are performed is awkward.  Some quests can be completed in seconds, one right after another. Players are met with a fanfare of trumpets each time a quest is completed. When you can complete a couple of quests in a matter of minutes, hearing the fanfare over and over can easily get on your nerves. The subjects of the quests are hit and miss at times.  Sometimes the game gives an imaginative quest that's exciting and challenging, at other times it feels like a tedious chore. The mechanics of the game are actually quite enjoyable, relying on the player to use the keyboard more so than any other controls.  There are satisfying animations of each action sequences, and an overall solid combat system that creates an exciting experience for the player.  The AI in the game is a bit off at times though.  The creatures you battle may wander around screen aimlessly before coming anywhere near you.  Some quests increase the difficultly of battles by simply increasing the number of these brain-dead creatures.  There is an overwhelming disappointing feeling when you're pummeling creatures that aren't really fighting back. Final Verdict: Good Dark Blood overall is an enjoyable game with potential, although I'd recommend it more to the casual gamer.  The small world and the AI of the creatures may not be enjoyable to those who seek more of challenge from the games they play.  While there is story to the game, it was difficult to follow along with; there is also a gap between connecting the quests to the storyline.  But for those of you who enjoy PVP action, this game delivers.  If action-packed fights are what you seek, but you really don't have the time to devote leveling up a character, Dark Blood would be a good fit for you. Within the time this review was written, they introduced their first content update, so I expect the game to grow and improve over time.   Screenshots Dark Blood Screenshots 12► Videos Dark Blood Videos Coming Soon   Links Dark Blood Links Official Game Page System Requirements Dark Blood System Requirements Minimum Requirements: OS: Windows XP Service Pack 3 CPU: Intel Premium 4 2.42 GHz / AMD XP 2600+ RAM: 1GB HDD: 3.0GB + Graphics Card: GeForce FX 5700 / ATI Radeon 9600 PRO (128MB)

Universal Monsters Online announces closed beta signups Posted: 27 Jul 2012 04:06 PM PDT Bigpoint has announced that signups have begun for their new browser-based MOBA: Universal Monsters Online.  Players interested in checking it out are encouraged to sign up on the Universal Monsters Online website. This initial testing phase is to get feedback for optimization and balance.  Players can choose from several iconic Universal Studios monsters, such as the Wolfman, Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.  The arena based gameplay pits two teams against each other, in a timed, winner-take-all competition.  It emphasizes cooperation between teammates in order to take down their opponents and win the match. Bigpoint also publishes Drakensang Online and Battlestar Galactica Online. Universal Monsters Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: Bigpoint Undertakes Universal Monsters Online into Closed Beta Action Strategy and MOBA Fans can Sign-Up Now for Exclusive Early Access to the Free-to-Play Browser Game   San Francisco – Jul. 27, 2012 – Bigpoint – a worldwide leader in online games – today announced that Universal Monsters Online has entered closed beta, and is now accepting player registrations to access the game before its global open beta launch. Developed in collaboration with Universal Partnerships & Licensing, Universal Monsters Online is a fast-paced, free-to-play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game that brings together Universal's iconic monsters into one competitive experience. "We're excited to have players jump into the closed beta of Universal Monsters Online," said Billy Delli-Gatti, Producer, Bigpoint. "During this phase, we're able to test and optimize the game for improvements, and the community feedback we receive will help to ensure that the game is fun and entertaining." Universal Monsters Online pits the brand's iconic cast of monsters into a "winner-take-all" timed gameplay session where two opposing teams claw and gouge their way across a richly-detailed game environment to achieve the ultimate victory: raiding enemy territory to locate the damsel and returning her to the team's fortress. During the closed beta, players will be whisked into character selection mode where they can choose from a diabolical lineup of legendary monsters – Dracula, The Wolf Man, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and of course, Frankenstein's monster among many others. Full-team cooperation will be demanded to survive, succeed, and defeat the town's chaotic villagers, zombies, and seemingly indestructible turrets. Registration for Universal Monster Online's exclusive closed beta before its worldwide release can be found at: http://www.UniversalMonstersOnline.com/. In the following weeks, Bigpoint will increasingly unlock new player accounts for gamers to experience their favorite classic Universal Monsters in a refreshing new MOBA.

Illyriad update adds crafting to game Posted: 27 Jul 2012 03:58 PM PDT Illyriad Games has launched a new update to their flagship game Illyriad that allows players to begin crafting various items.  The previous 17 resources are now joined by hundreds of new items, with several of them only being available in certain parts of the world. The update includes 72 new weapons, 53 new types of armor, 9 brand new mounts, 13 new specialist buildings, over 50 new resource types, dozens of lootable items from animals, and 187 new technologies to research.  This is the largest game update to date, and players can expect a whole lot of changes in how they play the game in the next few months. Illyriad “Developer Chat” Video Source: Illyriad Update Adds Crafting and Advanced Trade 27 June 2012; London, UK. In the largest single release in the game’s history, the game economy of Illyriad, the acclaimed HTML5 massively multiplayer online strategy game, sees a dramatic expansion today, with new commodities, equipment, an expanded gathering system, crafting system and an expanded regional trade system. The previous 17 resources which could be traded in Illyriad are joined by hundreds of new items, ranging from grapes and wine to rare minerals and magical ingredients. With many commodities available only in specific parts of the game world, and some extremely rare, this opens up the possibility for elaborate player trade and crafting strategies, extending to monopolies and cartels. “This huge expansion in trade, and the whole crafting system that we are bringing in, opens up new choices for player specialisation. Specialist traders and specialist manufacturers will both have an important place in Illyriad going forward,” explained Illyriad’s founder, James Niesewand. “Illyriad has always been praised for its depth, and  this release does add more depth. For example, military players previously had 8 basic troop types to choose from, but with the new equipment produced by crafting there will be thousands of possible troop load-outs, allowing players to customise their soldiers for different missions, terrains and even climates. So, for the military players, yes, there is more depth. But what this update really adds to Illyriad is breadth, allowing players to explore complex trading and manufacturing strategies.” This update includes: 72 new weapons 53 new armour types 9 new mounts 13 new specialist buildings More than 50 new special resource types Dozens of items lootable from animals 187 new technologies to research, ranging from Wine Making, to Faction Markets, to Obsidian Blade With such a dynamic change to the game, the full impact of the release could take several months to be felt by the players of Illyriad. All of the new buildings, equipment, researches and commodities in the release go live at the end of this week. Video with a developer Q&A session about the update can be found here: http://youtu.be/joYf0Y2eYGA

Digimon Masters launches Olympics themed update Posted: 27 Jul 2012 03:50 PM PDT Joymax has launched a new set of summer festival events for Digimon Masters.  Players can head to the Data Center and begin their career as an athlete by talking to MudFrigimon.  Competing will earn you medals, and turning in the medals will earn you a variety of prizes, including Evoluters and Reinforced Digi-eggs. Additionally, there will be a 100% bonus to experience throughout the month of August, with the bonus increasing to 200% on the weekends.  Players can recruit a friend, and receive bonuses when said friend reaches level five, 10, and 20.  Two new mercenary Digimon are also being released with the update. Joymax also publishes Silkroad Online and Knight Age. Digimon Masters Gameplay Screenshot Source: KICK OFF A MINI-SPORTS EVENT WITH DIGIMON MASTERS Play To Win Serious Prizes With Your Friends! Seoul, Korea, July 27, 2012– Joymax, leading online game developer and publisher, launched today a new set of summer festival events for the wildly popular online massive multiplayer title, Digimon Masters. Digimon Masters continues the story and heightened sense of urgency found in the Digimon anime, a fantastic universe where our world and the Digital World are closer than anyone would have imagined continues to evolve and expand the story of the Digimon universe.  With prizes including coveted Mercenary Digi-Eggs, it's the perfect time to bring a friend and register together at http://www.joymax.com/portal It's time to hit the field in a number of Digimon-flavored sporting events!  Head over to the NPC MudFrigimon in the Data Center to start your sports career and then trade in bronze, silver and gold medals for amazing prizes including costumes, avatar boxes, and more.  Will you be the sports MVP?  80 players will win one of the coveted MVP awards, which include prize packs of Evoluters and Reinforced Digi-Eggs.  Support your favorite tamer or sports team in-game and be entered into a draw for extra "cheer" gifts. All of this is in addition to a 100% EXP bonus, with a whopping 200% bonus during the weekends now until the end of August. Players both veteran and new can bring their friends to Digimon Masters for bonuses that are out of this world and the Digital World too!  At level 5, 10, and 20 both the new player and their sponsor will receive gifts.  In-game prizes for recruiting include a variety of items like Digi-Eggs, EXP Boosters, Evoluters, and many more.  The full list of prizes can be found, along with other amazing Digimon news, on the official Digimon Masters Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/digimonmasters Two new mercenary Digimon are also joining the summertime festivities, just in time for the Mercenary Eggs gained via the mini-sports spectacular.  The extremely popular Betamon, first available in Digimon Battle, is now joining the Digimon Masters team.  New owners of Betamon will receive a limited time care package including medals to turn in for MudFrigimon.  The first 5 players to level Betamon will receive extra bonuses, including the extremely rare reinforced Kudamon egg.  Joining this fan favorite is Ornis Wing which brings Piyomon's Ultimate form.  All of these games and festivities run from now until August 21st, so finishing training these new Digimon is your summer homework.  Get studying!

Metin2 updates to celebrate The Olympics Posted: 27 Jul 2012 03:31 PM PDT Just in time for the Olympics, Gameforge has updated Metin2 with a couple of new features.  Players can personalize their appearance with different hairstyles and outfits.  These outfits can also be traded to other players if you get tired of them. Alchemists can now extract powerful crystals from gear above level 35, that strengthen the equipment the crystals are used on.  This feature is most designed to help with difficult content, allowing players to develop powerful stats on their equipment. Finally, players may find fragments of a hero’s medal across the world.  Collecting them all gives an amulet with various bonuses to the player, and a chest that can contain one of the new outfits. Gameforge also publishes Bounty Bay Online and NosTale, Metin2 Gameplay Screenshot Source: Metin2: Outfit and Energy Systems implemented Two new systems and a sporty event for the 2012 summer games Karlsruhe, 27.07.2012 - The hunt for medals is open in the kingdom of the Dragon God. In time for the start of the 2012 summer games in London, Gameforge will be entertaining Metin2 players with a sporty event and the new outfit and energy systems. Outfit switching in the land of the Dragon The new outfit system brings a breath of fresh air to adventurers’ wardrobes. Players can now personalise their appearance with different outfits and hairstyles. If they do not find their favourite outfit straight away, or if they feel their old one no longer suits them, players have the possibility to exchange them amongst one another. All these items will then cover the player’s existing equipment: the equipment’s attributes will be kept however. A Winner’s Chest will be offered in the item shop during the summer games in London for a limited time. This will include exclusive outfits styled after various sport types. Hunt for medals The hero’s medal fragments have been strewn in all directions. An amulet with valuable bonuses and a chest that may contain one of the new outfits wait as a reward for heroes who are able to bring these fragments together. Energy system As of now, Alchemists are offering additional services in which they are able to attain extremely powerful energy crystals from items level 35 and up. These strengthen the bonuses of equipped items, helping to master even the most challenging battles bravely. Cashback Event All players who make purchases in the item shop between 28.07.12 and 29.07.12 will receive 10% of their spent Dragon Coins back on their accounts on 30.07.12. Thanks to this, the new outfit introduction is even more value for money.

Rock Hippo announces Olympic events Posted: 27 Jul 2012 02:52 PM PDT To celebrate the 2012 Olympics in London, Rock Hippo has released new events for MicroVolts and Brawl Busters. Players in Microvolts can compete in five different events that award Micro-lympic points for their clan, such as a relay race and swimming.  These points can turn into various rewards, such as bronze, silver, and gold weapon sets.  Brawl Busters players will be able to compete in a variety of events as well, like boxing and a zombie killing Marathon.  The top three crews in the Brawlympics receive the rare Lightning outfit set for each member. Microvolts Gameplay Screenshot Source: GO FOR THE GOLD IN THE MICRO-LYMPICS AND BRAWLYMPICS GAMES Brawl Busters And MicroVolts Celebrate The 2012 Summer Olympics Markham, Canada – July 27, 2012 - To celebrate the start of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, Rock Hippo Productions announced today that both popular free-to-play games, Brawl Busters and MicroVolts, will host their very own Micro-Lympics and Brawlympics games for their Clans and Crews. Both events will begin today, July 27th and run through August 12th. Busters can suit up and go for the gold at www.BrawlBusters.com. MicroVolters can check out all that the Micro-lympics has to offer at www.MicroVolts.com. Starting today, MicroVolters can participate in 5 events to earn Micro-lympic Points for their clan that can translate into huge grand prizes including a Gold, Silver or Bronze Weapon Set. Events will include all the Olympic favorites including a Relay race as players try to grab five batteries in the fastest time from the enemy’s base, a Diving contest to master the most fanciful dive from the top of the Toy Fleet map and a Shooting competition to aim for the most hits on the jumping GMs as they bounce off trampolines!. To compete in these games plus more, players can visit http://mall.MicroVolts.com/microlympics.aspx for all the event details! Players can also look forward to a brand new English MicroVolts website coming soon next week! Busters worldwide can also look forward to a slew of exciting Brawlympic competitions! Players will strive to earn the most EXP in the Marathon event, top Boxers will face off in a Team Deathmatch tournament, quick brawlers will take on Zombie Survival in Sprint, sharp-shooters will compete for the Archery medals, and teamwork will be put to test in Relay Race! The top three Crews of the Brawlympics will win the highly-coveted and rare Lightning outfit set for each Crew member. Players can check out all the event details and participation info at http://mall.BrawlBusters.com/brawlympics.

Mail.ru games celebrate the Olympics Posted: 27 Jul 2012 02:39 PM PDT Mail.ru has announced that it will offer everyone that plays their games a chance to compete like the athletes from the Olympics, right from home. Legend: Legacy of the Dragon players can compete in traditional events like a triathlon, javelin throw, or archery, as well as some unique ones like the caber toss.  The server with the most medals at the end of the competition will receive great honor. Juggernaut will also feature similar games, such as hurdles through aggressive monsters, and a shot put throw. Legend: Legacy of the Dragons Gameplay Screenshot Source: Mail.Ru Games’ Legend: Legacy of Dragons And Juggernaut Celebrate The Olympics   July 27, 2012–While from today on athletes from all over the world compete at the Olympic Games in London, Mail.Ru Games, publisher of internationally successful games like Gunblade Saga, Juggernaut and Legend: Legacy of the Dragons, offers everybody staying at home the chance to enter another kind of friendly competition. The goddess Sheara invites athletic Magmars and Humans in Legend: Legacy of the Dragons to enter the Faeo Summer Games. Sports people compete in rather traditional sports like a relay race, a triathlon, a javelin throw and archery, as well as in some extraordinary ones including tossing the caber and the Beroner run, where contestants have to carry their mounts on their shoulders. Successful contestants win Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. At the end of the Faeo Summer Games Mail.Ru Games will tally the results of every server in order to see which race has gained the most medals and by that, Honor. But the Summer Games have not been restricted to only one of Mail.Ru Games several games. For example players of Juggernaut match each other in a hurdle race full of dangerous and aggressive monsters, a relay race, shot put and a javelin throw. At the end of the games, champions of all races and factions celebrate their victories with numerous minigames and a funfair.

Grepolis launches Olympic events Posted: 27 Jul 2012 02:23 PM PDT Innogames has announced the release of Olympic-themed events for Grepolis that will run parallel to the 2012 Olympics in London.  Players may train athletes to take part in the games.  Four disciplines will be tested: hoplit race, archery, javelin, and chariot racing.  Success at each of the games awards bay leaves, which can be  turned in for in-game bonuses and advantages.  The most successful athletes will earn their kingdom vast improvements, with massive boosts to troops and cities being awarded. Innogames also publishes Tribal Wars and Forge of Empires. Grepolis Gameplay Screenshot Source: Let the Games Begin: Grepolympia Starts Today!   Hamburg, July 27, 2012. Today InnoGames started an event of Olympic proportions in the strategy browser game Grepolis. Grepolympia will be running on the ancient island worlds for the next four weeks – running parallel to the 2012 Olympic Games in London. From now on, the most excellent athletes in the worlds will face each other in fierce competition. Players, who successfully train their protégés will receive numerous in-game advantages. Players will prepare their athletes for four gripping disciplines: hoplit race, archery, Javelin throwing, and chariot race. Each competition takes a week and requires a balanced training of several skills. Successful athletes obtain bay leaves, which can be exchanged for several bonuses and advantages. The most successful will be bestowed with awards, ensuring eternal glory, and powerful Olympian rewards, massively boosting one’s troops and cities. Grepolis is a strategy game set in Ancient Greece. In the browser-based title, players are tasked with building up a vast metropolis and uniting with others to establish a powerful military and conquer far away islands. The gods of Greek mythology; Zeus, Hera, Athena, Poseidon, Hades and Artemis influence the players’ fate. The game is free to play and does not require a download. Next to Grepolis, InnoGames has published major browser game titles such as Tribal Wars and Forge of Empires. With more than 80 million registered users, the German company belongs to the biggest developers and publishers of online games.

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