MMO Updates

MMO Updates


The Secret World's first update is now live, includes marketplace and bonus rewards

Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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The Secret World screenshot
Delivering on Funcom's promise of monthly updates, The Secret World's first update Unleashed is now live on servers. Players can now log in to check out the various additions and fixes to the fantasy horror MMORPG.

This update introduces seven new missions, a Nightmare Mode to two dungeons, and a cross-dimensional marketplace so players can buy, sell, and even ship goods to other players. The marketplace can be utilized via the bank NPCs in London. Among other fixes, it is also noted that the /say and /shout commands are now working properly.

As an added bonus, players who complete all of the new missions will earn an achievement and receive unique clothing rewards. You can read up on all the details in the Issue #1 patch notes, while specific mission details can be found here.

[Source: Funcom press release]

MassivelyThe Secret World's first update is now live, includes marketplace and bonus rewards originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    EverQuest II decorators, prepare to strut your stuff

    Posted: 31 Jul 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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    EverQuest II screenshot
    With a housing feature as robust as EverQuest II's, players can create a multitude of original spaces. To highlight the abundant creative decorating skills of EQII players, Sony Online Entertainment is bringing back the Norrathian Homeshow.

    If you think your place deserves a spotlight tour on the official website, snap some flattering screenshots capturing the best of your creation (sans UI of course) and send it via email to homeshow@soe.sony.com along with character name, server, and title of the home or dungeon. Players should also add a general description of the place as well as caption each screenshot.

    For full details on how to submit your home, check out the official announcement. Selected entries will be featured in a future Norrathian Homeshow.

    MassivelyEverQuest II decorators, prepare to strut your stuff originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 skill points, traits, and you!

    Posted: 31 Jul 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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    Guild Wars 2
    There comes a time in every Guild Wars 2 adventurer's life when her progression begins to go through certain, well, changes. These changes begin when an adventurer reaches level 5, and they get even more pronounced when she hits level 11. It might feel confusing and embarrassing; suddenly, you've got red exclamation marks on your hero panel and a nearly uncontrollable urge to allocate your skill points. Your skill bar starts to fill out. It's OK. It's totally natural.

    You'll have questions. Where do utility skills come from? Which skills do you take, and in what order? What if you give your first point to the wrong trait line?

    Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 skill points, traits, and you!

    MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 skill points, traits, and you! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Jukebox Heroes: Chance Thomas talks about scoring Turbine's expansions

      Posted: 31 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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      Jukebox Heroes A chat with Chance Thomas about scoring Turbine's expansions
      For many Lord of the Rings Online players, the name Chance Thomas is synonymous with the feel of virtual Middle-earth. From the earliest days in the game, explorers have traversed the Shire, Moria, and beyond listening to Thomas' melodies. So we were excited to hear that Turbine is bringing Thomas back to score not only Riders of Rohan (his first soundtrack for the game since Mines of Moria) but also Dungeons and Dragons Online: Menace of the Underdark as well.

      Thomas is an Oscar- and Emmy-winning composer who's been working primarily in the field of video game music since 1998. Being a huge fan of MMO soundtracks, I made it a personal quest to talk with him about these two new scores and how he feels about working in this genre. In the weeks ahead, I'll be reviewing both Rohan and Underdark's soundtracks, but today I wanted to focus on the man behind the music.

      Join me, then, as we embark on a voyage to worlds far away, sailing on the wings of a song. Geez, that's cheesy, ain't it?

      Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Chance Thomas talks about scoring Turbine's expansions

      MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Chance Thomas talks about scoring Turbine's expansions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Soapbox: 'L2P' and the antisocial MMO

        Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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        The Soapbox When words don't mean what they say
        Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

        I'm amazed how often I still hear the phrase "learn to play." It's become a nasty term that makes me suspect those saying it just don't want other gamers around at all. And I can hardly blame them when the MMO market is pushing a markedly single-player agenda.

        MMOs tout our ability to play with friends and interact with others, but in the end, they are selfish games that breed and attract selfish gamers. In modern MMOs, interaction barely rises above single-player co-op. Guild Wars 2 exemplifies this by dropping you in a world with the potential for thousands of players to be all around you, but its alienating mechanics often make you feel like a lonely ghost who wants nothing more than to hug someone.

        L2P and other stock insults are rooted in something ugly: the literally antisocial nature of many MMOs.

        Continue reading The Soapbox: 'L2P' and the antisocial MMO

        MassivelyThe Soapbox: 'L2P' and the antisocial MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Daily Grind: Why is there so much hate for game companies?

          Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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          The Daily Grind Why is there so much hate for game companies
          Gaming discourse has gotten out of hand in recent years, and the anonymity offered by the internet and the decline of civility in general has conspired to bring arguments, personal attacks, and flame wars to the forefront of many a discussion.

          Most of the ire seems to be directed at gaming companies. If we look at it objectively, a company like Electronic Arts or Sony Online Entertainment is just a collection of people focused on a common goal, that goal being the production of entertainment products that are optional purchases. And yet if an outsider were to read your average gaming forum, he might think that EA or SOE is engaged in the wholesale slaughter of children, kittens, and puppies on a daily basis.

          So what do you think, Massively readers? Why is there so much hate for gaming companies?

          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!

          MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Why is there so much hate for game companies? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Hands-on with MechWarrior Online

            Posted: 30 Jul 2012 08:00 PM PDT

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            Handson with Mechwarrior Online
            Last week, we sent San Francisco freelancer Emil Vazquez to the MechWarrior Online Community Day event to get some hands-on time with the game. This article reflects his opinion of his experiences!

            The MechWarrior franchise is, unsurprisingly, one that centers on giant mechanical battle-beasts beating the un-living daylights out of each other. Like a lot of mech games, MechWarrior Online makes "big" its modus operandi: You pilot a giant mech with colossal weaponry that unleashes biblical levels of destruction on its surroundings.

            It really should be obvious what you're getting into when you slip behind the controls of your own insanely customized mechanical soulmate, and for the most part, the surprises are few. But there are a few things that I came to appreciate during my time with the hands-on demo of MechWarrior Online, and it's the little things that make MechWarrior Online (and the MechWarrior franchise in general) more than just a mech simulation.

            Continue reading Hands-on with MechWarrior Online

            MassivelyHands-on with MechWarrior Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              MechWarrior Online answers questions about Founder status

              Posted: 30 Jul 2012 07:00 PM PDT

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              Shortly after this scene, several bug reports were filed about lasers being overpowered.
              If you can't wait for the chance to stomp around the battlefield in your very own BattleMech, you probably gave the fine people behind MechWarrior Online your money for the Founder Package as soon as it was available. But perhaps you waited a little longer and have discovered that you still have none of the promised beta access, or perhaps you weren't even sure when the beta access would begin. Fear not, as Piranha Games has posted a brief update clarifying these matters.

              Founders should already have access to the game's closed beta, with any recent purchasers receiving it shortly after the transaction clears. However, there was a glitch on the servers last weekend that resulted in some purchasers not being granted beta access as intended. Founders without access should contact customer support for help in resolving that matter, but most everyone affected should be free to log in to the test servers now and start blasting away.

              MassivelyMechWarrior Online answers questions about Founder status originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Not So Massively: Diablo III exploits and competitive tournaments

              Posted: 30 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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              Not So Massively title image
              Two major Diablo III exploits were made public this week, allowing Wizards to make themselves invulnerable and Barbarians to kill monsters just by running past them. The exploits have been in the game for at least a month and were hotfixed this week. Path of Exile celebrated its third public testing weekend this weekend and released its major 0.9.11 update, including a complete revamp of the passive skill tree.

              In MOBA news, Major League Gaming released details of its $10,000 League of Legends tournament this week, and Riot Games unveiled new champion Diana, Scorn of the Moon. Dota 2 released a whopping three new heroes this week and began preparation for its upcoming tournament The International. Wrath of Heroes introduced a new leaderboard system and newbie quests in game update 0.23 this week, and Bigpoint unveiled its new MOBA, Universal Monsters Online, which lets players take on the mantle of Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster.

              Continue reading Not So Massively: Diablo III exploits and competitive tournaments

              MassivelyNot So Massively: Diablo III exploits and competitive tournaments originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Final Fantasy XIV is heating up another round of the Moonfire Faire

                Posted: 30 Jul 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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                The posters are half the fun.
                Veterans of Final Fantasy XIV remember the struggle of last year, the desperate battle to protect the land of Eorzea against a rampaging fire. A battle so desperate that it could be fought only by having men and women dress in skimpy swimsuits and make kissy-faces at fire elementals. This year, the battle must be waged again, but this time adventurers will be dressing up in traditional Eastern clothing. Yes, the Moonfire Faire is upon us once again.

                From today and running until August 13th, players will have the opportunity to take part in the event by speaking with event NPCs located in each of the major cities. There are no details on precisely what the event will entail, although the mechanics are likely to be similar to last year's equally ridiculous offering. There's also no word on whether or not this year will also allow players to unlock special wallpapers, although it's certainly possible. So if you're in the mood to beat the heat in-game, log in now and start chasing some fire elementals!

                MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV is heating up another round of the Moonfire Faire originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                SOE delays PlanetSide 2 beta, files Reign of Fear trademark

                Posted: 30 Jul 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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                PlanetSide 2 - Terran Republic, obviously the superior faction
                Those of you hoping to get your hands on PlanetSide 2's beta are going to have to hope a bit longer. SOE president John Smedley took to Twitter this afternoon to let anxious Auraxians know about a slight delay in the MMOFPS's big closed beta push.

                "Had planned for today or tomorrow but we have some stuff we need to make sure is awesome," Smedley wrote. "The team is working like crazy but we need to polish some stuff and test it before we let in a massive number of people."

                In other SOE news, the company filed a trademark for something called Reign of Fear. We don't know whether the title pertains to an expansion for an existing MMO or is an entirely new property. The filing covers "video game software providing downloadable multiplayer, roleplaying, real-time" gameplay "via the internet and local area computer networks."

                MassivelySOE delays PlanetSide 2 beta, files Reign of Fear trademark originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                EVE Online walks us through the remaking of a tutorial

                Posted: 30 Jul 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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                EVE Online walks us through the remaking of a tutorial
                With EVE Online's inbound Inferno 1.2 patch comes a completely overhauled tutorial experience for the game. CCP Games was concerned by how many potential players failed to make it through the existing tutorial, and CCP Greyscale wrote a lengthy post detailing how a studio goes about retuning the beginner experience to retain customers.

                This process is detailed in five steps. The first was to gather metrics and analyze them to see where problem areas lay. From there the team broke apart the current tutorial, reorganized it, and formed task forces to deal with each section. After making the changes, the team turned the new tutorial over to outside testers for evaluation and feedback. Finally, the improved tutorial will be implemented to (hopefully) greater effect.

                CCP also listed many of the changes coming with this new tutorial. These changes include removing the voiceovers and adding right-click context menus, better visuals, highlighting text, and easier navigation between the tutorial steps.

                MassivelyEVE Online walks us through the remaking of a tutorial originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Captain's Log: The state of Star Trek Online

                Posted: 30 Jul 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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                STO EV Suits HEADER
                This past week, Star Trek Online's developers proved they're listening to community feedback. STO Executive Producer Daniel Stahl has released this month's state-of-the-game letter, Foundry missions are playable again, and a few of the game's developers began preparations for their appearance at the upcoming Discussion with the Devs panel, which will be co-hosted by Massively and Trek Radio at the official Star Trek convention in Las Vegas.

                Still, there are some outstanding issues that haven't been addressed by Cryptic or Perfect World, and some players are beginning to wonder whether PvP has been laid to rest in STO. Also, the addition of a new EV suit to the ZEN Store has ruffled quite a few feathers, including mine. Join me while I sift through what happened in STO over the past week!

                Continue reading Captain's Log: The state of Star Trek Online

                MassivelyCaptain's Log: The state of Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Industry execs conclude that gamers like free games

                  Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                  Industry execs conclude that gamers like free gamesThe latest declaration regarding the validity of the freemium business model comes to us from MCV. "It turns out free is the price point people want to pay for games," BBC Worldwide executive Robert Nashak told the website.

                  Nashak goes on to say that freemium raises the quality bar by virtue of putting the power in the hands of the consumer. "If you're not hooking people in you can't monetize," he says. BioWare-Mythic's Eugene Evans agrees, and he says that the model has its roots in the games rental business.

                  "For me that really did start when I saw the retailer Blockbuster started renting out games. I'm convinced that probably put some studios out of business," Evans explains. "There [were] a lot of people [who] complained about game rentals at the time, but they were often the people whose product was just bad."

                  MassivelyIndustry execs conclude that gamers like free games originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Wings Over Atreia: Aion 3.1 part two

                  Posted: 30 Jul 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                  Wings Over Atreia
                  Last week, Wings Over Atreia discussed one of the biggest changes that came to Aion with the 3.1 patch: the Fast-Track server. That alone might have grabbed your attention (it certainly did mine). However, the inclusion of an at-will PvP-free leveling zone wasn't even close to the only thing brought to the table; plenty of other morsels were served as well. Changes -- they are legion!

                  Mixed among the requisite jumble of fix-this-wording and adjust-this-skill tweaks were changes that affect instances, repeatable quests, AP, and housing. And of course, as in any Aion update, devs a played a rousing game of squash-a-bug. Here's a look at some of the highlights of patch 3.1.

                  Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Aion 3.1 part two

                  MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Aion 3.1 part two originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jul 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    MMORPG News

                    MMORPG News


                    TERA: The Argon Queen Teaser Site

                    Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:53 AM PDT

                    The Argon Queen Teaser Site

                    En Masse Entertainment has a new teaser site available for the upcoming TERA content update, The Argon Queen. The site lays out specific dates where new information will be revealed about raids, skills, battlegrounds and more.

                    MapleStory: Fight for Azwan Trailer

                    Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:39 AM PDT

                    Fight for Azwan Trailer

                    The final portion of the summer update is now live on MapleStory servers. Called "Fight for Azwan", the update charges players with retaining Azwan from the Undead Army of Hilla. Additionally, four difficulty modes are added to give players the challenge they prefer. See what you think!

                    Guild Wars 2: I Have Questions!

                    Posted: 29 Jul 2012 08:49 PM PDT

                    I Have Questions!

                    Now that the beta weekends are behind us and with the release of Guild Wars 2 on the horizon, we take a moment to consider all that we do know. Even knowing a lot about the game, there are still questions which we present today. Check it out and then leave us your thoughts in the comments.

                    PlanetSide 2: Beta Delayed

                    Posted: 30 Jul 2012 02:50 PM PDT

                    Beta Delayed

                    According to a series of tweets from John Smedley, the PlanetSide 2 beta will be delayed slightly to give the team more time to "make sure it's awesome". The beta is likely to begin on Friday of this week or Monday of next.

                    The Secret World: Review In Progress Part 4 - Dungeons & PvP

                    Posted: 29 Jul 2012 04:41 PM PDT

                    Review In Progress Part 4 - Dungeons & PvP

                    In the final installment of our Review in Progress for The Secret World, we take a look at both dungeons and PvP action. Keep reading to see what we think before adding your own thoughts in the comments.

                    General: In the Apocalypse

                    Posted: 29 Jul 2012 04:28 PM PDT

                    In the Apocalypse

                    There has been a lot of talk lately about the mythical (?) Zombie Apocalypse and we are not immune. In today's Pokket Says, we take a look at exactly that in a "what if" kind of way. See what you think before weighing in with your comments.

                    General gaming

                    General gaming


                    Would You Kindly?

                    Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:25 AM PDT

                    Feature

                    1UP COVER STORY

                    Header

                    1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF JULY 30 | NARRATIVE IN GAMES

                    Would You Kindly?

                    Cover Story: How unreliable narrators exhibit the unique potential of falsity in video games.


                    Note to concerned readers: this piece contains a spoiler-filled discussion of many different games, movies, and novels.

                    B

                    ioShock begins as unassumingly as any game could. The player is goaded by a passing glance of the main character lighting a cigarette while parsing through photos of an unknown woman. Other passengers can be seen sleeping and talking amidst the dim lights of a vintage airplane cabin. As the scene fades into the game's title screen, the sound of passengers screaming can be heard as the plane suddenly and inexplicably crashes. But as dedicated gameplay begins, it's obvious that our main character survives. Even stranger, the plane crashed near a lighthouse which implausibly resides in the middle of whatever ocean the player finds themselves in.

                    If there were anywhere else to go, it's impossible to know as the fires of the crash lead the player singularly to the foundation of that lighthouse and to the beginning of BioShock's surprising and oft disturbing adventure. But the forced contrivances of this intro are only a small part of why BioShock has become a primary example of progressive game design and how it introduced the interactive medium's most famous unreliable narrator.

                    Cover Story: Narrative in Games

                    Posted: 30 Jul 2012 01:19 PM PDT

                    Feature

                    1UP COVER STORY

                    Header

                    1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF JULY 30 | NARRATIVE IN GAMES

                    Cover Story: Narrative in Games

                    This week, 1UP tackles all manner of interactive storytelling.

                    Most mediums are capable of delivering a story, but video games are alone in their ability to bestow users with the tools needed to create our own narratives. These tools are by no means new -- just take a look at the cover art above this text to see that narrative and storytelling in video games have existed for about as long as the medium itself. Even a game as simple as Tetris has an inherent mise-en-scène (a cinematic term from a story or mood portrayed through the arrangement of visuals) that helps enhance the experience.

                    I'm always up for a good story. It doesn't matter if it's a woefully dense novel, a catchy concept album, or the recounting of a particularly memorable Friday night. I tend to set benchmarks one amazing yarn at a time. So I guess it's lucky for me that I write about a medium that can tell a story in so many different ways. There are games like Metal Gear Solid and Mass Effect that present their stories with the flourish of a Hollywood blockbuster. On the opposite end of the spectrum are subtle experiences like Super Metroid and Ico that create atmospheric worlds and leave many of the details up to the player. Hell, stories even exist beyond the boundaries of the games themselves. Is there any better feeling than gathering around a group of friends and discussing a game, only to realize that each of you experienced completely different events and have wholly unique stories to tell?

                    Review: Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time Gives the PSP One Last Gasp

                    Posted: 30 Jul 2012 12:56 PM PDT

                    It's ironic that people who complain about the Japanese RPG's inability to break free of its current, unfortunate condition seldom give lesser IPs a chance. Everyone expects famed series like Final Fantasy to go back to their former glorious pasts, or maybe even pave the road to a brighter future, but, truthfully, plenty of games have been shaking the dust from "mainstream" RPG staples, trying to provide original and enjoyable experiences, one small step at the time.

                    One such is Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time, an enhanced port of the fourth chapter (originally released in 2003) of a saga few ever cared about. It is understandable, as limited budgets, lackluster sequels, and otaku-oriented art direction have sealed this series' fate in an abysmal little niche, unable to be noticed from the outside for anything but Satoshi Urushihara's pinup girls. But, take note: this game offers much more than shiny gaussian-blurred cleavage.

                    Deadlight Review: The Zombie Apocalypse Via a Throwback Genre

                    Posted: 30 Jul 2012 09:48 AM PDT

                    "When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth."

                    From the 1978 classic film Dawn of the Dead, no single line has better encompassed the relatively infantile genre of zombie horror. When you hear those words calmly delivered by a stoic survivor, the true scope of the terror comes into view. No matter where it lays in the genre's history, the iconic sentence fully encapsulated the essence of artists like George Romero, Shinji Mikami, and Robert Kirkman. With a sudden influx of undead media over the past few years, it's been tough to differentiate the prosperous from the poseurs, and it's with that weary eye that we submerge ourselves into Deadlight, the newest Xbox Live Summer of Arcade title.

                    Over the past few years, the Summer of Arcade has earned itself a sort of Sundance vibe in terms of the wildly creative quality exhibited from relatively unknown artists and studios. The annual festival has premiered some of this generation's finest, most fearless titles, such as Braid, Limbo, and Bastion. Microsoft has cultivated an impressive slew of summer titles in the past, but with gamers finding themselves in the thick of warm weather once again, all eyes are on what the platform has in store this season. It's with these wildly large shoes to fill that that we cross paths with Deadlight, the first title from Spanish development house Tequila Works.

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