MMORPG News

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• Dragon Nest: Edge of Darkness Patch Deployed
• Wizard101: Claim Your Birthday Gift
• Star Trek Online: Computer Ed Interviews Dan Stahl

Dragon Nest: Edge of Darkness Patch Deployed Posted: 02 Sep 2011 01:04 PM PDT Nexon has announced that the Dragon Nest patch called "Edge of Darkness" has been deployed. The patch brings a pair of new dungeons, a new event, the 1v1 PvP ladder and several key Dragon Vault items into the game.

Wizard101: Claim Your Birthday Gift Posted: 02 Sep 2011 12:39 PM PDT As part of Wizard101's third birthday celebration, players can claim an exclusive gift. Simply click a link, enter your username/password on the official site and you'll receive a gift in game. I got balloons!

Star Trek Online: Computer Ed Interviews Dan Stahl Posted: 02 Sep 2011 09:05 AM PDT In a new interview conducted late yesterday afternoon, "ComputerEd" had the opportunity to talk with Star Trek Online Executive Producer Dan Stahl. The interview commences with a discussion about Wednesday's bombshell that STO would be going F2P by the end of 2011.

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MMORPG Reviews

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• Perfect World International is celebrating today its third anniversary
• Aika Online celebrates the month-long “Fight the Freeze” event
• Tank Ace starts its Open Beta
• Iris Online has announced the start of the “Iris Renascentia” event
• The pre-order of Age of Conan: The Savage Coast of Turan now available
• Luvinia Online starts its Open Beta on September 7

Perfect World International is celebrating today its third anniversary Posted: 02 Sep 2011 10:10 AM PDT Perfect World Entertainment Inc., is celebrating today the third anniversary of Perfect World International. For this Perfect World International will host various in-game anniversary events, a plethora of prizes and bonus items including experience points, chic fashion sets, as well as rare mounts to reward all players. First of all, all those who spend time [...]

Aika Online celebrates the month-long “Fight the Freeze” event Posted: 02 Sep 2011 09:19 AM PDT Aika Online is celebrating the recent release of Epic II: Exodus with the month-long "Fight the Freeze" event. Everyone can gather extra experience and loot as they gear up to take on the frozen new zone of Traband. Charge onto the battlefield during Epic Experience Week and get 300% experience for every monster killed until [...]

Tank Ace starts its Open Beta Posted: 02 Sep 2011 07:55 AM PDT GamesCampus.com has announced that the open beta test for its WWII tank warfare third person shooter, Tank Ace has started. The open beta includes all new content featuring a new achievement system, better graphics, a Power Bunker and much more. With the Achievement System the Players can earn achievements by meeting specific requirements such as [...]

Iris Online has announced the start of the “Iris Renascentia” event Posted: 02 Sep 2011 04:56 AM PDT Iris Online is celebrating the "Iris Renascentia" event. gPotato invites the players to dive into the enchanting realm of Arcana and receive incredible game bonuses and valuable items worth up to $100 just by logging in. For the next 25 days, anyone who plays during the "Iris Renascentia" event will receive some prizes. Log in [...]

The pre-order of Age of Conan: The Savage Coast of Turan now available Posted: 02 Sep 2011 03:12 AM PDT Funcom has started the preorders of the new adventure pack of 'Age of Conan: Unchained', called 'Savage Coast of Turan'. The new content links directly to the recent Conan the Barbarian movie, picking up 20 years after the events of the movie has taken place, meeting characters and monsters from the movie, and giving the [...]

Luvinia Online starts its Open Beta on September 7 Posted: 02 Sep 2011 02:09 AM PDT Luvinia Online is going to start its Open beta on September 7. The world of Luvinia beckons players into a realm where humans, orcs, gnomes and dwarves once co-existed in peace; however, destiny never stands still. The stars that once shined brightly over the humans now fade as the hearts of the other races turn [...]

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General Gaming Article

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• Dish Planning Blockbuster-branded Netflix Competitor
• Amazon Tablet Gets Unofficially Detailed
• Apple Investigators May Have Impersonated Police in Search for Missing iPhone 5
• Cool Site of the Week: Codeacademy
• DHS Warns Financial Sector Against Future Anonymous Attacks
• Browser Extension of the Week: SearchPreview
• Starz Walks Away From Netflix Negotiations, Disney And Sony Movies To Disappear In February
• Samsung Series 5 3G Chromebook Review
• Gigabyte GTX 560 Super Overclock Review
• NY Time's R&D Lab Brings Voice-Activated Computing To The Bathroom Mirror

Dish Planning Blockbuster-branded Netflix Competitor Posted: 02 Sep 2011 03:19 PM PDT Netflix is seemingly weakened in the market right now. The unpopular price hikes have just gone into effect, and now the Starz deal has collapsed. According to Bloomberg, Dish is taking the opportunity to ramp up plans for its own Netflix competitor using assets acquired from Blockbuster. Does it have a chance? Dish acquired the assets of Blockbuster in April for $320 million, and that brought with it some streaming rights. Using this brand, Dish hopes to be able to compete against services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. The Blockbuster website still offers some rental downloads, but this new service would be subscription based, like Netflix.  The combination of a rental and streaming service could be appealing in the same way Netflix is. But Dish is going to have to provide a better selection, or at least a lower price to attract users.

Amazon Tablet Gets Unofficially Detailed Posted: 02 Sep 2011 03:04 PM PDT The Amazon tablet is becoming the white whale of tablets, but a report from TechCrunch may have finally shed some light on Amazon's plans. MG Sigler claims to have used an Amazon tablet, and confirms that it is a 7-inch device running Android. However, it is totally forked version of the platform that bears little resemblance to Google's current software. The tablet will simply be called "Amazon Kindle." According to TechCrunch, the device bears a striking resemblance to the PlayBook. It has a standard color capacitive LCD  touchscreen, and understands two multitouch points. The internals are up in the air, but the new Kindle tablet is thought to have a single-core SoC.  The interface is dominated by a spinning carousel that lists content like books, videos, and apps. A dock at the bottom allows users to pin favorite items to it. The status bar at the top is still used for notifications, and the browser is similar to the stock Android version. The software is reportedly built from a version of Android before 2.2, and will be updated by Amazon independently. There are also no Google apps on board. The price Amazon is leaning toward is $250, but that could change before the expected November release. Anyone interested?

Apple Investigators May Have Impersonated Police in Search for Missing iPhone 5 Posted: 02 Sep 2011 02:48 PM PDT There have been an number of reports in recent days about the supposed loss of an iPhone 5 prototype in, you guessed it, a bar. Today, a Bernal Heights man has told SFWeekly that Apple employees impersonating police searched his home in July. If true, the Apple investigators could be charged and sentenced to as much as a year in jail. Sergio Calderón claims that back in July, six people arrived at his door wearing badges. They stated they were from the San Francisco police and asked to search the home. They told Calderón that the GPS on a lost iPhone led them to him. He allowed the search in an effort to be helpful to what appeared to be police officers. Calderón says that while interviewing him, they made threatening comments about his immigrations status and eventually offered $300 cash for the return of the phone. Calderón told them he had not found a lost iPhone. The investigators left, but gave Calderón a phone number to call if he had any information. After seeing the original Cnet report about a home being searched, he contacted SFWeekly and gave them the phone number. An Apple employee by the name of  Anthony Colon answered. Colon is a former police officer that works as an investigator at Apple. The SFPD, when contacted by SFWeekly, said that if Calderón wishes to talk to them, there will be an investigation. A representative of the real police said of the alleged impersonation, "that's a big deal."

Cool Site of the Week: Codeacademy Posted: 02 Sep 2011 01:02 PM PDT We think it's fair to say that the majority of people in the world today take technology for granted. We drive to work without understanding how an internal combustion engine works. Our leftovers are mysteriously re-heated in the microwave without any knowledge of how its non-ionizing radiation affects what the food we're about to put into our mouths. The same goes for computers: We turn our PCs on and get down to the serious business of checking our mail, paying a few bills online and wasting what's left of our lives on Twitter without so much as a thought to how any of these services operate. (Well, maybe not Maximum PC readers but...) While ignorance can be bliss, knowledge is pretty sweet, too. That's why Codeacademy is our Cool Site of the Week.  Unpretentious and easy to approach, Codeacademy makes coding so enjoyable, it's hard to believe you're actually learning something. The website starts users off small, offering tutorials on how to use some very basic JavaScript commands. Each lesson is incrementally progressive and conversational in tone, making it easy to advance your skills without breaking a sweat. Each time you reach a new plateau of coding knowledge, users are awarded with a virtual trophy, making the time spent learning how to do something useful feel a like playing a game. While Codeacademy doesn't currently offer a wide variety of content, the site's developers promise that new lessons are on the way. If you've got the kung-fu to do so, why not drop by the site and lend a hand? Be sure to come back every Friday for another edition of Maximum PC's Cool Site of the Week.

DHS Warns Financial Sector Against Future Anonymous Attacks Posted: 02 Sep 2011 11:49 AM PDT While the UK's busy nabbing alleged Anonymous members who like to pretend that they're teenage girls, the Department of Homeland Security's worried about their angry at-large cohorts over on the US side of the pond. In fact, DHS National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center is pretty concerned about the threat of an Anonymous attack against the financial industry. Today, the NCCIC issued a security bulletin warning financial institutions that Anon is trying to "solicit ideologically dissatisfied, sympathetic employees" over to the dark side. Anonymous' Twitter account has been trying to lure financial sector employees into divulging sensitive information, Computerworld reports. Although nothing juicy has turned up as a result of the propaganda campaign – at least that we know of – the NCCIC warns that Anon could turn towards more nefarious means to try and convince financial employees into cooperation. Something like nude pics, perhaps? The bulletin goes on to describe some of the tools that could theoretically be at Anon's disposal, such as Apache Killer and #RefRef, which can allegedly make a server DDoS itself. "Anonymous has stated publicly that the tool will be ready for wider use by the group in September 2011," the DHS says. The bulletin warns that attacks could occur on September 17th as part of Anonymous' "Occupy Wall Street" operation, which coincides with Adbusters' "Day of Rage" protest in financial centers across the world. So, DHS: fearmonger over rumors much?

Browser Extension of the Week: SearchPreview Posted: 02 Sep 2011 11:23 AM PDT Is trawling through page after page of text generated in response to one of your search queries your idea of fun? We didn't think so. Let's face it: as great as the internet can be, trying to track down what you're after online can sometimes be a yawn-inducing drag. While it might not help you break any web search speed records, SearchPreview for Firefox and Google Chrome does make scrolling through search results a little more colorful by offer up an image of every page your search engine latches on to.  While SearchPreview might be a one trick pony, it's a damn good trick. After installing it, all of your future Google searches will be injected with an image of what every page included in your query's results looks like. Having a image of a site you're one click away from browsing to not only makes determining whether it has what you're looking for a little bit easier, but also can help you decide whether opening it would help you survive your daily grind, or leave you with a written warning after accidentally opening up a screenful of NSFW awkwardness.  While Chrome users may have enjoyed similar functionality as a feature of their searches for some time now, accessing the website image provided required that a search result be clicked. SearchPreview removes this superfluous step, making finding what you're looking for just a little bit less daunting.  Be sure to check back every Thursday for another edition of Maximum PC's Browser Extension of the Week.

Starz Walks Away From Netflix Negotiations, Disney And Sony Movies To Disappear In February Posted: 02 Sep 2011 11:20 AM PDT Even with all that money rolling in from the just-activated price hike, Netflix can't afford to renew a deal with Starz that brings first-run Disney and Sony movies to the streaming network service. Actually, strike that: they probably can afford it, but Starz just doesn't want Netflix's money. Starz just announced it was walking away from the negotiation table despite the $300 million cash pile that Netflix reportedly threw down. That $300 mil price tag is ten times larger than the one on the original $30 million deal that Starz (which owns the rights to first-run Disney and Sony films) signed four years ago. Starz issued a press release that explained the failed negotiations: "This decision is a result of our strategy to protect the premium nature of our brand by preserving the appropriate pricing and packaging of our exclusive and highly valuable content." In other words, while other content companies only complain that streaming "buffet-style" services like Hulu and Netflix devalue their content, Starz put their money where their mouth is, or their foot in their mouth where the money would've been, or something. In any case, load up on the Disney and Sony goodness while you can; the Starz deal ends on February 28, 2012. Image credit: onecentatatime.com

Samsung Series 5 3G Chromebook Review Posted: 02 Sep 2011 11:16 AM PDT 'Nothing but the web' is attractive, but hard to justify Update: Since this review was written for the September 2011 magazine, Google has rolled out a ChromeOS update that enables Netflix playback and VPN (though not Cisco AnyConnect) support.  If you've used the Chrome web browser, you've used Chrome OS. Google's latest netbook operating system is little more than a very, very thin client underneath the Chrome browser, and a Chromebook is a netbook-like object that runs Chrome OS instead of a full Windows or Linux-based operating system. Chromebooks have finally hit retail (in the form of sleek netbooks from Samsung and Acer), and it's time to find out whether "nothing but the web" is enough computer for anyone. The Samsung Series 5 Chromebook is well constructed. The 12.1-inch, 1200x800 LCD is readable at low levels and powerful at full brightness, the speakers have much more oomph than we were expecting, and the multitouch, buttonless clickpad is decent. The chiclet-style keyboard is the best we've ever used on a netbook and battery life is great—we clocked more than eight hours doing normal computing tasks. The hardware is great, but a browser-based OS is useless offline. The Chromebook comes with 24 months of free 3G data from Verizon Wireless, though the 100MB/month allocation is so stingy as to be laughable, and the à la carte pricing is prehistoric. Thankfully, the SIM card slot and Gobi multiband radio mean you have other data options. Thanks to its 1.66GHz dual-core Atom processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB SSD, and the fact that it only has to run a web browser, the Chromebook is relatively speedy. It boots in less than 10 seconds, and resumes in two to three seconds. Browsing is snappy, and 720p Flash-based video on YouTube plays fine. We did have occasional hitches playing HD video on Vimeo.com, though. Whether you consider Chrome OS sufficient for your daily computing needs will depend on how heavily invested you are in Google's Internet ecosystem. Gmail, Music, Docs, and more work seamlessly, but Office docs need to be uploaded and converted through Docs to be usable. Chrome browser extensions and web apps work just as well as they do on a Windows desktop. In fact, it's easy to forget there's almost nothing behind the browser but a rudimentary file browser until you need to do something Chrome OS can't. Chrome OS has Flash support baked in, but that's about it. You can't install Silverlight, Java, or Unity—serious blows to Netflix fans, business users, and gamers, respectively. There's no VPN ability, which will also hurt business users. And therein lies the dilemma. Update: Since this review was written for the September 2011 magazine, Google has rolled out a ChromeOS update that enables Netflix playback and VPN (though not Cisco AnyConnect) support.  The Chromebook is an attractive piece of hardware, and works well for what it is, but it's hard to justify purchasing one. At $500, it's pricier than many devices of the same basic footprint—notebooks with more powerful hardware and more capable operating systems. The Chromebook is obviously designed more for productivity than for entertainment, so it's not really competing with tablet devices other than (perhaps) the Asus Eee Pad Transformer. We like the Chromebook, but we're as close to a target demographic as is likely to exist: We own powerful desktop PCs and smartphones, but could use a portable device with great battery life, constant Internet access, and a terrific physical keyboard. At its price, though, the Chromebook loses its luster; there are just too many things that it doesn't do, and too few things you can't get from running the Chrome browser on a regular machine. It's a good secondary device for a vanishingly small segment of the market (which might include us) but would rank as a tertiary device for most. $500, www.samsung.com

Gigabyte GTX 560 Super Overclock Review Posted: 02 Sep 2011 11:00 AM PDT Gigabyte pushes GTX 560 to Ti levels How much overclocking head room is there in Nvidia's new GeForce GTX 560 part? Gigabyte decided to find out by taking the non-Ti budget part, adding a second fan, and flogging the hell out of it. The result is the Gigabyte GTX 560 Super Overclock. For those out of the loop, the GeForce GTX 560 is built on a core with only 336 shader cores versus the 384 in the Ti version, as well as 56 texture units versus 64 in the Ti part. Stock cards run at 810MHz but Gigabyte gets a solid 11 percent overclock to 900MHz. Unlike its predecessor, the GeForce GTX 460 768MB, the GTX 560 gets a full 1GB of GDDR5 and the same memory bus width as the GTX 560 Ti card. A second fan lets Gigabyte massively overclock the GeForce GTX 560. The result is near–GTX 560 Ti performance, which is great. Also great: a price point of roughly $200-$220. MSI's Twin Frozr II GTX 560 Ti card can be found for less than $250, so the GTX 560 is still priced lower, even overclocked. The Gigabyte card is built with two of the biggest cooling fans we've seen on small videocards. They also use the newly fashionable narrow-blade design. So even with the core clock pushed to 900MHz, the card's noise level isn't offensive. Other features are pretty standard. The card offers two dual-link DVI connectors and a Mini HDMI port. Two PCIe 6-pin connectors are needed for power. The card itself has some nifty power-phase status LEDs, which look cool if you're someone who fancies transparent side panels on your PC chassis. As with every other graphics card maker, Gigabyte ships software to tune clock speeds. Honestly, though, it's really not worth it—you're already hitting more than 10 percent above stock. In the end, though, performance is what counts. So how does Gigabyte's $200 marvel actually measure up? Not bad. Not bad at all. We compared it to the 2GB Palit GTX 560, which runs at reference clocks, Asus's overclocked Radeon HD 6870, and the MSI Twin Frozr II GTX 560 Ti. (The GTX 560 Ti is just offered as comparison, since it's a $250 card.) The outcome is pretty impressive. The Gigabyte card falls just short of the theoretically more capable GTX 560 Ti and crushes the real competition. The Radeon HD 6870 only managed a couple of wins, and even fell behind in idle power usage. About the only time the 2GB Palit card outperformed the Gigabyte 1GB card was when running Metro 2033 at 2560x1600 with 4x AA—that's a scenario when more video RAM helps. So if your graphics card budget is in the $200 range, give this card a close look. It's fast, quiet, and will fit in most cases. $200-220, www.gigabyte.com

NY Time's R&D Lab Brings Voice-Activated Computing To The Bathroom Mirror Posted: 02 Sep 2011 10:45 AM PDT Ah, the bathroom. Those little bursts of personal time are some of the best moments of the day, an all-too-brief period when screaming kids and jerk coworkers leave you alone and the worries of real life fade away, letting you game on your smartphone in peace. Well, at least until you plunk that smartphone into the toilet, that is. The New York Times R&D Lab's hard at work to make sure that your Android keeps dry; it's whipped up a "Magic Mirror" designed to help you get a hands-free Interwebs fix in the john. All right, the tech's more of a move to boost advertising revenue rather than a goodwill "Save your Nexus!" campaign. ExtremeTech, reporting on an article from the Nieman Journalism Lab, says the Magic Mirror's built around the Microsoft Kinect, RFID sensors (to recognize your bath care products), and an unnamed reflective display that the is probably the Philips Mirror TV.  Some sort of computer obviously powers the thing, as well. Basically, the magic mirror is a large computer monitor with voice recognition technology. The display will let you browse New York Times videos and articles, obviously, but that's not all; you'll also be able to schedule appointments on your calendar, shop online and leave messages for other members of the household. Then there's the really cool real-world interaction stuff. In the demo, the Magic Mirror recognizes a prescription thanks to an embedded RFID chip and brings its usage directions up onscreen. Additionally, you'll be able to ask the mirror to find coupons for the RFID-embedded items you use in your bathroom simply by asking it to do so. The NYT R&D Lab says that other prototype models are even able to match articles of clothing with other items in your wardrobe, guaranteeing that you'll never run into an embarrassing mis-match situation again. It sounds cool, but there isn't any words on when – or if – the Magic Mirror will hit the streets. Check out the Nieman Lab link for videos of the nifty display in action.

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MMO News

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• Karma Online Gameplay – First Look HD
• Fight the Freeze in Aika
• Dragon Nest releases the Edge of Darkness
• Tank Ace begins open beta
• Hellgate announces September events
• Crystal Saga enters open beta
• Warzones coming to Black Prophecy
• Pockie Ninja announces new expansion
• Rise of Immortals announces launch date

Karma Online Gameplay – First Look HD Posted: 02 Sep 2011 02:40 PM PDT To Learn More about the game check out our Karma Online Page. Karma Online is a 3D MMOFPS published by JoyMax – the same company behind Silkroad Online. The game used to be available on IJJI but for some reason the game never released and Joymax has picked up the service. Gameplay wise, Karma Online is a bit like Battlefield Heroes from Electronic Arts, as the game features numerous unique characters, each of which has their own set of skills. To learn more about Karma Online check out the official MMOHut Karma Online page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Fight the Freeze in Aika Posted: 02 Sep 2011 01:55 PM PDT Aika Online is launching a special September event, called “Fight the Freeze,” as part of their celebration of the release of the new Traband zone. “Epic Experience Week” kicks off the event with 300% boosted experience for all enemies killed from September 1 to September 7; for the rest of the month this bonus will remain available only between 3 and 6pm Pacific. The “Back to Aika” event will reward new characters that reach level 50 with a special armor and weapon set, plus a 30 day boosting item if the nation is reinforced that week. All players who reach level 75 by the end of September will be entered in a raffle for an epic weapon. Aika Online is published by Gala-Net (gPotato), which also publishes Iris Online and Allods Online. Aika Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: Aika Online’s Fight the Freeze September Event Experience Boosts and Exciting Rewards for All Aika Players in September! Sunnyvale, Calif. – September 1st, 2011 Aika Online celebrates the recent release of Epic II: Exodus with a month-long "Fight the Freeze" event! Everyone from rank beginners to seasoned pros can gather extra experience and loot as they gear up to take on the frozen new zone of Traband. Charge onto the battlefield during Epic Experience Week and get 300% experience for every monster killed between September 1st and 7th. After the first week, you can still rake in 300% experience by defeating monsters during the waning daylight hours of 3PM to 6PM Pacific. Every monster that falls before you may leave behind a Chance Gift Box containing rare and useful loot! Make the most of these experience boosts by taking on the Back to Aika challenge. New characters who reach level 50 in September will receive a special, powered-up armor and weapon set. If your nation gets reinforced in the same week, you will also get a 30 day experience boosting item to continue your climb to the top! All players who make it to the new level cap of 75 by the end of September will be entered into a raffle for one of the new top-level unique weapons. With something for everyone and new content to enjoy, there's never been a better time to drop into Aika Online. Check out the official website today!

Dragon Nest releases the Edge of Darkness Posted: 02 Sep 2011 01:07 PM PDT “Edge of Darkness” is the latest Dragon Nest update, and is now live on game servers. Edge of Darkness challenges players to defend the Goddess Statue through waves of monsters, for a chance at enhancement plates, titles, and other rewards. A PvP ladder has been introduced, including ranking for 1v1 PvP, and will match players based on level. Finally, the Daredevil Faire arrives, which includes several themed dungeons (Boss Rush, Treasure Run, Danger Dash, Gobarta, and Daredevil Derby). Dragon Nest is published by Nexon, which also publishes Vindictus and Combat Arms. Dragon Nest – Edge of Darkness Screenshots: Source: Approach the Edge of Darkness, if you dare New content added today for Nexon America's Dragon Nest Today Nexon America released the "Edge of Darkness" content update for Dragon Nest, the blazing fast action RPG from Eyedentity Games. This is the third content update for Dragon Nest during its open beta test, and the game is available to play for free for residents of the United States, Canada and Oceania. In the Edge of Darkness, players are tasked with defending the Goddess Statue against waves of sinister monsters who grow increasingly stronger as time progresses. The bravest Dragon Nest heroes will want to bring companions along to conquer this challenging encounter, but those who emerge victorious stand to reap extraordinary rewards, such as enhancement plates and prestigious titles. Also included in today's update is the Daredevil Faire, a carnival-like environment that promises amusement for players of both low and high levels alike. Players can enter a variety of different Daredevil Faire themed dungeons,  including Boss Rush, Treasure Run, Danger Dash, Gobarta and Daredevil Derby. The Daredevil Faire offers an assortment of diversions from the traditional dungeons, such as Gobarta, where players can attempt to defeat the hordes of Goblins charging at them, or race against friends on a rented horse in the Daredevil Derby. A new PvP Ladder system is also part of today's content update. Players will now receive a ranking for their 1 vs. 1 PvP activity and can compare themselves to other players to see where they stand in the broader Dragon Nest community. The Ladder system will automatically match up players of similar levels. Additionally, a variety of new costumes are available for purchase from the Dragon Vault, including the Archer's Green Ranger set, the Warrior's Brown Belted set, the Sorceress's Antique Glory set, the Cleric's Black Commander set and many more. Dragon Nest follows the story of a band of adventurers as they battle the corrupt dragons and their followers in order to save Verathea, the once pure and beautiful world created by the goddess Althea. Dragon Nest combines fast-paced action, an engaging story and a distinct art style that raises the bar for free to play online games. For the latest news and information on Dragon Nest and to download and participate in the open beta test, visit http://dragonnest.nexon.net.

Tank Ace begins open beta Posted: 02 Sep 2011 11:23 AM PDT Tank Ace’s open beta is now live, offering new features and an open door to all interested players. Open beta introduces the Achievement system, where players can earn rewards including currency, experience, and items for meeting specific goals or requirements. The Power Bunker is now available in Occupation War Mode, where players can fire HE-type shells across the map; new artillery attacks, air-strike, and recon skills have also made their way onto the battlefield. Tank Ace is published by GamesCampus, which also publishes Heroes in the Sky and Scarlet Legacy. Tank Ace Gameplay Screenshot Source: GAMESCAMPUS’ WWII WARFARE GAME, TANK ACE ROLLS INTO OPEN BETA All-New Content Including A New Achievement System, Power Bunker And Exciting New Recon Skills Kicks Off The Open Beta Starting Today At 11 AM PDT Sunnyvale, Calif. -  (September 01, 2011) – Leading online game publisher, GamesCampus.com (www.GamesCampus.com), announced today that the open beta test for its WWII tank warfare third person shooter, Tank Ace goes live today at 11 AM PDT.  The open beta includes all new content featuring a new achievement system, better graphics, a Power Bunker and much more.  Players can join the open beta by visiting the website at http://tankace.gamescampus.com Players will prepare for battle in the ultimate tactical-warfare style combat shooter, featuring realistic World War II battlefields and vehicles based on actual historical facts.  Included in the open beta launch is all-new content including the addition of the Achievement System.  Players can earn achievements by meeting specific requirements such as losing their first annihilation game which will give them their “Bitter Taste of Loss” achievement. Earning achievements will award players with in-game currency, experience and maybe even special items! Players can find refuge in the new Power Bunker where they can fire HE type shells in long range at their enemy.  Only available in Occupation War Mode, each bunker has a fixed range and area that it can fire; just open up the map, aim and fire.  Additionally, players can now use fully developed artillery attack, air-strike and recon skills for an extra advantage during battles and updated graphics will allow them to enjoy the battlefield better then every before! “We’re really excited to release all of this great new content in the open beta, and we’re anxious to see our community’s feedback, said Uyen Uyen Ton Nu, Head of Marketing at GamesCampus.com.  “We think the players are really going to appreciate the new additions and skills, and we’re confident it will  take their gameplay experience to a whole new level.” Tank Ace is packed with engaging battles and accurate specifications like realistic recoil action and tank tactics.  This action-packed tactical-shooter features realistic World War II battlefields and vehicle stats based on actual historical facts.  Players will create their own clans and devise winning strategies as they utilize terrain features, coordinate assaults by using historically accurate tactics and more!  Just some of the other gripping features include World War II Factions including Russia, Germany and the U.S.A, easy to pick-up controls and an Area Specific Damage System.  In the game, players will lay an ambush, outflank the enemy divisions and charge across the battlefield in the mightiest war machine ever created! For additional details on Tank Ace please visit http://tankace.gamescampus.com.

Hellgate announces September events Posted: 02 Sep 2011 10:49 AM PDT Hellgate Global has launched several events for its players this month, including: - “Join the Ranks,” granting rewards for recruiting new players in the game; - Experience boosts through the “Condition System”; - “Hell Rush” (on specific dates) that doubles experience; - An extension on “Level and Be Rewarded,” granting additional rewards for leveling; - “Tools of the Trade,” letting players earn premium items and daily supplies; - “Boss Time Attack!”, where players may earn rewards by defeating a boss under time limits. Hellgate is published by T3Fun, which also publishes CardMon Hero. Hellgate Gameplay Screenshot Source: Hellgate Global Launches an All-Out War Against Demons with September Events Hellgate Global Opens Its Third Month with a Series of Exciting Events for Both New and Veteran Players LOS ANGELES – September 1, 2011 T3Fun today announced a number of in-game events for Hellgate Global in September to amp up its players in the battle against demons. The brutal combat continues and the remaining heroes of mankind need all the help they can get in order to win the fight for survival. In its mission to defeat the demons and destroy Hellgate, mankind is focusing on the following areas through a number of events: Recruitment The heroes of mankind are launching a "Join the Ranks" event to increase their manpower. Every hero that recruits an additional troop suitable for mankind's army will have the opportunity to receive exciting rewards. This is an event no hero will want to miss. Training In order to help strengthen mankind's troops, a series of leveling events are being launched. The "Condition System" is back, giving heroes the experience boost they need whenever they enter battle. Additionally, heroes will be exposed to "Hell Rush" on specified dates this September, effectively doubling the experience earned on those days. Lastly, as a reward for heroes that are training hard and achieving new levels, the "Level and Be Rewarded" event will be extended through this September. Supply Aid The war against demons requires heavy resources, and heroes will be given supply aids to be better equipped for the fight. In the "Tools of the Trade" event, heroes will be given the chance to receive premium items that aren't available in the cash shop. Also, heroes will continue to receive Daily Supplies from Supply Soldier Teo in Greenwich Station. Exercise Heroes will be given the chance to display the results of their training through the "Boss Time Attack!" Heroes can sign up for a special challenge to kill a Dungeon Boss under a certain time limit. Heroes that conquer the challenge, in the least amount of time, will be handsomely rewarded. As the war to save the human race continues, take part in these Hellgate Global events for the month of September to unlock even more challenges and rewards. No hero will want to miss this opportunity, so rally the troops, strengthen your equipment, and join the battle! Connect with Hellgate on: - Official Website: hellgate.t3fun.com - Facebook: www.facebook.com/HellgateGlobal - Twitter: www.twitter.com/hellgateglobal - Youtube: www.youtube.com/hellgateglobal

Crystal Saga enters open beta Posted: 02 Sep 2011 09:40 AM PDT Crystal Saga, a new web-based MMORPG published by R2Games, has begun its open beta phase of testing. Players only need to have an R2Games account to participate. As part of the beta launch, several events will be held, including experience bonuses during the first three days of beta, rewards for recruiting new players, and a game guide contest. The top rank players will receive Crystal prizes for their efforts, and players who purchase Crystals will receive a special bonus pack. R2Games also publishes a version of Caesary. Crystal Saga Gameplay Screenshot Source: Crystal Saga Beta Test Has Arrived! R2Games is pleased to announce that official beta testing for Crystal Saga will begin on September 1st at 4:30pm EST. Open to all players, Crystal Saga is a refined free-to-play browser MMORPG. To participate in this beta testing, please login or register for a new account. To celebrate our official beta launch, we will be providing a number of promotions and activities! • Crazy XP Hour! – Looking for some crazy bonus experience? Experience bonuses will be given twice a day for the first three days of our beta server! • Spread the Good Word! – Tell friends and family about Crystal Saga and be rewarded. • It Pays to Contribute – Write and publish Crystal Saga game guides and receive glorious prizes. • Legends of Vidalia – Compete for the top rank and receive Crystal prizes! • Daily Recharge Bonus – For a limited time, receive a special bonus pack when purchasing select Crystal amounts. Don't worry. The list of activities doesn't stop there. Check out the variety of available in-game activities and events. Thank you and hope to see each of you in-game!

Warzones coming to Black Prophecy Posted: 02 Sep 2011 09:09 AM PDT Black Prophecy has announced the early details of its upcoming expansion, Episode 2: Species War, set to release in early September. The update will add a new warzone feature, where players can face off against each other in faction warfare in the skies. Players will battle over control of each others’ warzone outposts, for a chance at a large chunk of experience and warzone-exclusive blueprints. More details for the update will be revealed at a later time. Black Prophecy is published by gamigo, which also publishes Loong and King of Kings 3. Black Prophecy Gameplay Screenshot Source: Black Prophecy Expands Its PvP Universe With “Episode 2: Species War” Hamburg, August 31, 2011 – Black Prophecy, the award-winning and highly acclaimed free-to-play MMOG, has been turning heads worldwide. Renowned for its high quality visuals and breakneck PvP action, Black Prophecy has created a new benchmark in the universe of space combat gaming. With the upcoming release of the game’s newest expansion, Black Prophecy – Episode 2: Species War, the game’s once vast darkness is about to light up with the fiery glow of ships blazing – and exploding – across the sky. Arriving in early September, Black Prophecy – Episode 2: Species War upgrades the PvP experience by adding an all new warzone feature. In it, opposing player factions will face off against one another in epic dogfights, each vying for control of an opponent’s warzone outpost. Those victorious will reap such high rewards as major XP and the ability to trade their earnings for exclusive upgrade blueprints that can only be found in warzone hubs. As more outposts are won, the player’s faction will earn greater individual and group powers, which will aid them in reaching the ultimate goal of total domination of the known universe. Of course, like any great battle, there is much more of this story to be told. Many more details will be revealed as we approach the early September release of Black Prophecy – Episode 2: Species War. Until then, start your own faction today by downloading Black Prophecy for free from http://blackprophecy.gamigo.com/.

Pockie Ninja announces new expansion Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:51 PM PDT “Shipudden” is the next expansion coming free to Pockie Ninja. Set for this fall, the expansion will introduce Akatsuki and the new PvP Challenge Zone. Akatsuki is a group of people seeking to destroy the world to bring on a new dawn. Characters that will be revealed in the game will include Pain, Deidara, Kisame Hoshigaki, Hidan, and Konan. The new PvP play mode, “Challenge Zone,” will also be introduced, designed for the strongest players in Pockie Ninja. Pockie Ninja is published by NGames, which also publishes Navy Force and Immortal King. Pockie Ninja Gameplay Screenshot Source: Pockie Ninja’s new “Shipudden” pack due to be rolled out this autumn! Akatsuki arrives. The countdown to the new Pockie Ninja expansion pack begins now NGames have announced “Shipudden”, a brand new expansion pack for their popular anime-inspired MMORPG, Pockie Ninja. In the whole new chapter of Pockie Ninja, players will encounter the mysterious yet dangerous group Akatsuki, and display their skills in the newly-introduced PvP system, the Challenge Zone. Akatsuki members will make their debut at the crack of dawn! Though the literal meaning of Akatsuki is daybreak, it is in fact a group of people who aim to plunge the world into darkness. In their eyes, only utter destruction can bring the real beginning of dawn. And the final aim of Akatsuki is… The new chapter of Pockie Ninja will showcase the primary members of Akatsuki: Pain, Deidara, Kisame Hoshigaki, Hidan and Konan. All S-rank ninjas who will make their debut! Six Paths – Pain The world will know true pain, and the fear of that pain will put an end to war… It will lead the world to stability and peace. -Pain Leader of all Akatsuki members, and a man with incredible power. It is said that he has mastered all ninjutsu at the age of 10. Now he possesses the legendary Rinnegan, which enables him to master all six nature transformations. Pain killed his former mentor Jiraiya, who’s one of the Legendary Three Ninja; and destroyed Konoha with Almighty Push. The real strength of Pain is anyone’s guess. Art is an Explosion-Deidara Fine art is the beauty of that single fleeting moment of explosion. And true art is an EXPLOSION! -Deidara Deidara is a talented shinobi in Iwagakure and later joined Akatsuki. Deidara possessed special mouths in the palm of each hand. With these hands he could create explosive ninja tools with clay. Deidara is also a perfectionist; he sees exploration as art and pursues the illusionary beauty of a single moment. Monster of the Hidden Mist – Kisame Hoshigaki Kisame Hoshigaki! I’ll remember that name for the rest of my life! -Blue Beast Guy Former member of Kirigakure’s Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. He had a shark-like appearance, pale blue skin and sharp teeth. He joined Akatsuki after betraying his own village and was partnered with Itachi Uchiha. He’s an expert of various water release jutsu and can attack with his weapon Samehada. The chakra hidden inside of his body is exceptional strong. Dance of Paper Flower – God’s Angel Konan This time I hope for you these will be flowers of hope that never die -Konan The only female ninja in Akatsuki and the partner of Pain. People give her the title of Angel out of respect. Konan has an impressive skill which can turn her entire body into thousands of sheets of paper. With both intelligence and a kind heart, why she joins a criminal like Akatsuki? Triple-Blade Scythe – Hidan You’re cursed. Now! Let’s savor the utmost of suffering together! -Hidan Hidan uses a triple-blade scythe and owns an immortal body. He usually speaks in a form of sarcasm and lacks tactical genius. He can acquire people’s blood and curse the opponent till death through the special symbol drawn with his own blood, where upon consuming it he draws the symbol on the ground. Money Talks – Kakazu Money is the only dependable thing in the world. -Kakazu Kakazu and Hidan are jokingly referred to as the “Zombie Combo” by other Akatsuki members because of their inability to die. Kakazu is a very powerful ninja, his body is full of mysterious dark threads which allow him to bind the opponent, seize their organs and integrate them into his own body. Kakazu has five hearts altogether so that he can easily use lightning ,wind, fire, earth and water release skills. As the Treasurer of Akatsuki, he is totally obsessed with money. The storm of Shippuden is taking shape and will soon reach its climax. Stay tuned for upcoming updates of Pockie Ninja’s new chapter, Shippuden. Who’ll be the ruler of Challenge Zone? A whole new PvP feature comes! After arena challenge, national cup and world cup, Pockie Ninja has introduced another PvP play mode, Challenge Zone. More fun, more excitement, only the strongest can enter the area of Challenge Zone. Remember, Naruto said that “My dream is to be the greatest Hokage”? If you’re a veteran player of Pockie Ninja and expecting some thrilling challenges, the Challenge Zone would be your best choice! Challenge Zone Anxious to give the new pack a shot? The countdown for the release of Pockie Ninja’s new chapter starts today. Remember to follow Pockie Ninja on Facebook and Twitter for more information. Facebook: http://apps.facebook.com/pockie-ninja/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/PockieNinja

Rise of Immortals announces launch date Posted: 01 Sep 2011 06:52 PM PDT September 12 will mark the official commercial launch of Rise of Immortals, Petroglyph’s free-to-play battle arena. Players who join the open beta test before the date will still be able to earn two exclusive gifts: 1,000 Petroglyph Coins and the exclusive “King of Bling” Immortal Skin for Psychozen. The 3D Vision contest, giving away prize packages including a monitor, graphics card, and 3D Vision Glasses, has also been extended until the launch date, again giving any player who logs in or “Like”s the Rise of Immortals Facebook page a chance to win. Rise of Immortals Gameplay Screenshot Source: PETROGLYPH® ANNOUNCES "RISE OF IMMORTALS"TM TO LAUNCH SEPTEMBER 12 Eagerly Anticipated Battle Arena Game Nearing Commercial Launch; Players Still have Time to Claim 1,000 Petroglyph Coins (worth over $10) and Exclusive Immortal Skin in Open Beta Test LAS VEGAS, NV – September 1, 2011 – Petroglyph® today announced that its eagerly anticipated, free-to-play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game,  Rise of Immortals™, will be commercially available Monday, September 12, 2011. Rise of Immortals, an online PC game that expands on the hit MOBA genre with new, innovative features, is currently in the final phases of an open beta test. Players still have a chance to be part of the test and receive the exclusive gifts that testers will receive: 1,000 Petroglyph Coins at commercial launch (worth over $10), and an exclusive Immortal skin. The Immortal skin, a dazzling gold version of the robot-suited Psychozen, named "The King of Bling," will be available exclusively for open beta testers to enjoy both during the beta test, and as a complementary add-on to their account at launch. Anyone interested in participating in the open beta test can register at  http://www.riseofimmortals.com, and will be immediately invited to download the game and start playing. "The Rise of Immortals development team is a passionate group of battle arena fans, and we are all eagerly awaiting the game's official launch on September 12," said Steve Wetherill, executive producer of Rise of Immortals for Petroglyph. "Throughout the development process, we've worked internally and with our fans to create a MOBA game that adds all kinds of exciting new features to the genre, and we can't wait to open it up to the world." In addition, Petroglyph also announced today that it is extending its online giveaway of two NVIDIA® 3D Vision™ prize packages, each valued at more than $650. The packages each include a 23″ 3D ready monitor, a Superclocked GeForce GTX 560 GPU, and 3D Vision glasses. Anyone wishing to enter the giveaway must register for Rise of Immortals, login to the game, and optionally "Like" the Rise of Immortals Facebook page (www.facebook.com/riseofimmortals), or follow the Rise of Immortals Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/riseofimmortals). The giveaway, original scheduled to end on September 2, has been extended until the Rise of Immortals release date of September 12. Details can be found in the official rules at:  http://www.riseofimmortals.com/events/3D_Vision_Giveaway. Rise of Immortals is a free-to-play, micro-transaction-based online game that will be available via direct download. The game features the popular action-strategy gameplay of traditional MOBA games, but adds enhanced socialization features, along with persistent character progression – a first for the MOBA genre. In addition, Rise of Immortals features a social hub where players can show off their enhanced Immortals, chat, emote, browse leaderboards, shop, manage friend and guild lists and more. Players also have the option of taking their Immortals through cooperative Player versus Environment (PvE) scenarios to learn the game, try out new abilities, and earn persistent experience before jumping into Player versus Player (PvP) matches online. Features of Rise of Immortals: ·      Free-to-play ·      12 unique Immortals at launch with additional Immortals released on a regular basis ·      Persistent per-Immortal level progression and skill trees ·      Persistent artifacts for stat enhancements ·      Player versus Environment instances with collectable items ·      Player versus Player instances with up to 5v5 multiplayer ·      Persistent experience and leveling in both PvP and PvE instances ·      Account and Immortal statistics tracking ·      Player hub instances for socialization ·      Collectible pets for combat and vanity (post-launch feature) Links: ·      Rise of Immortals Website:  http://www.riseofimmortals.com ·      RoI on Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/riseofimmortals ·      RoI on Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/riseofimmortals ·      RoI on Flickr:  http://www.flickr.com/riseofimmortals ·      RoI on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/riseofimmortals

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MMO Updates

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• Champions Online releases September State of the Game letter
• Pocket Legends goes under the big top with Nuri's Hallows
• Innovating outwards: The joining of EVE Online with DUST 514
• The Road to Mordor: NDA drop
• Perfect World International invites you to attend its 3rd anniversary
• The Daily Grind: What are you looking forward to at Dragon*Con?
• The MMO Report: Cybernetic Arm Replacement edition
• NCsoft releases Lineage II Goddess of Destruction trailers
• Luvinia Online announces open beta date
• Gamigo celebrates Black Prophecy + Raptr bundle with giveaways
• Hellgate announces September events
• Ask Massively: Stir-crazy edition
• Behind the Mask: Two years and two thousand miles
• Preview RIFT's Chronicles of Telara solo instance content on the PTS
• One Shots: I can't see!
• The Guild Counsel: Pre-launch pitfalls
• SOE readying EverQuest II double XP weekend
• Massively's Guide to Dragon*Con 2011
• Gods and Heroes entices players with extended trial, lower cost and a new class
• DCUO's Fight for the Light content pack free for subscribers

Champions Online releases September State of the Game letter Posted: 02 Sep 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online, Dev Diaries Champions Online is two years old this month (yep, really), and Cryptic executive producer Rob Overmeyer has taken to the intarwebs to pen a lengthy State of the Game manifesto. The first half of the piece is basically a recap of the game's last few months, and touches on everything from Aftershock to player hideouts. The second portion of the letter focuses on upcoming content patches and also mentions the anniversary event (which is basically a social gathering featuring dev appearances). Upcoming content includes Comic Series 2: Whiteout, a new mini arc, and team missions called alerts that will scale to your level. Overmeyer has more to say, of course, and you can read all about it at the official Champions website. Champions Online releases September State of the Game letter originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pocket Legends goes under the big top with Nuri's Hallows Posted: 02 Sep 2011 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Expansions, Patches, Free-to-play, Mobile Pocket Legends, the pint-sized popular MMO with charm and quirkiness to spare, is enlisting players for a stint at the circus. While some of us may indeed qualify to join the sideshow freaks, Spacetime Studios is hoping that adventurers will instead help lift the curse of an unfortunate traveling circus. With the recently released Nuri's Hallows campaign pack, players can now push up to level 60 as they investigate the cursed circus and its fascinating inhabitants. Amidst fighting the Strongman or navigating the twisted passageways of the House of Pain, there's tons of new loot to be found. Best of all, Spacetime is offering this campaign for free. Pocket Legends is available on iOS devices, and you can watch the trailer for Nuri's Hallows after the jump. Remember, kids, all the best things in life come after the jump! Continue reading Pocket Legends goes under the big top with Nuri's Hallows Pocket Legends goes under the big top with Nuri's Hallows originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Innovating outwards: The joining of EVE Online with DUST 514 Posted: 02 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Interviews, MMOFPS, DUST 514 Even though the PC-using EVE Online and the PlayStation 3-playing DUST 514 gamers may be separated by platform boundaries, CCP fans in both worlds will be joined at the hip in an odd, first-of-its-kind symbiotic relationship when DUST 514 launches. It's an intriguing prospect, but fans are wondering just how CCP is going to pull it off and how the two games will interact in practice. DUST 514 producer Thomas Farrer sat down with Gamasutra to shed some light on the nitty-gritty details behind the auspicious plan. Farrer says that the buzz over DUST isn't as big as the team hoped, but he thinks this is due to the project taking a completely new angle on the industry: "Often, particularly in first-person games, games often look very inwards when it comes to how they are trying to innovate or move things forward. What we've tried to do is look more outwards." Farrer outlined how the two titles will share the same economy, corporate structure, and social features. He says that the already-constructed EVE Online universe was a boon to the team's plans, since the established setting provided a perfect backdrop to a persistent shooter MMO, and that the two teams are in constant contact with each other as the project goes forward. Of course, some computer players are put out that DUST 514 will be exclusive to the PS3, but Farrer acknowledges the slight possibility that it might not always be so: "Right now, we're pretty much just entirely focused on PlayStation. That's what we're going to remain focused on at least for the foreseeable future. But you know, who knows what happens in the future." Innovating outwards: The joining of EVE Online with DUST 514 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Road to Mordor: NDA drop Posted: 02 Sep 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor With last week's NDA drop, the last vestiges of secrecy surrounding this expansion were wiped away and the beta testers (including yours truly) were free to spill the Dwarven beans about Lord of the Rings Online's third expansion. I know I was pretty critical of Rise of Isengard's scope in last week's Road to Mordor, but I want to make it clear that I'm pretty happy with the amount of pure PvE questing content that's on display here. LotRO's quests and epic storylines have always been the meat of this MMO, and even if Rise of Isengard is being served up with few garnishes, it's still looking to be a filling meal. Today I want to check out what the community has to share about this expansion following the NDA drop, although apparently it's important to note that beta testers aren't allowed to share patch notes, videos, and excessive content. On Twitter, Sapience made it clear: "We have always held that an NDA drop is not 'open season.' It's fair game to share your experiences, opinions, and thoughts. Not endless screens, videos, copy and pasted posts/notes." So let's focus on those "experiences, opinions, and thoughts" -- what do beta testers have to say about our upcoming journey into Dunland and beyond? Hit the jump and let's find out! Continue reading The Road to Mordor: NDA drop The Road to Mordor: NDA drop originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Perfect World International invites you to attend its 3rd anniversary Posted: 02 Sep 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Perfect World, Contests, Events, in-game, Free-to-play In our opinion, the best birthday parties are the ones where the visitors get presents too. Hey, we're going out of our way to spend an afternoon putting up with a half-rate clown and a rapidly deflating bouncy castle -- we've earned it! Perfect World International subscribes to this theory (well, not the clown, thank goodness), and so is handing out lots of free gifts for its third anniversary starting today. The anniversary celebration kicks off with several in-game events, veteran rewards based on how long since you first registered for PWI, and 24 days of double XP, spirit and drops that starts today. Players who log in from the 2nd through the 4th will automatically be entered for the giveaway pack, which includes a cool giveaway package with a Barbarian Tiger Statue and a Logitech keyboard. An anniversary is a great time to renew vows -- or make new ones -- which is why Perfect World International also has added a Chinese-themed Phoenix Nest Wedding Chapel into the game. Product Manager Derick Chan took time out of throwing confetti and blowing a birthday horn to praise the community: "We owe all of the game's success to the fans that have helped it grow and plan to reward every single player regardless of how long they have been with us." Perfect World International invites you to attend its 3rd anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What are you looking forward to at Dragon*Con? Posted: 02 Sep 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Opinion, The Daily Grind Dragon*Con is one of those conventions that stands in a league all its own. It's mostly made up of panels and fan gatherings, there are hardly ever any big reveals and you'll break your neck looking at all of the amazing costumes. But for those who attend, it's an experience that can't quite be put into words. You can try to explain it to those used to "normal" conventions, but it's something you'll need to see to believe. So for those of you attending the convention, which starts today, what are you most excited to see? For those of you not attending, what would you like to see us cover the most? Check out our own guide to Dragon*Con to help you navigate your way through the MMO bits. 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: What are you looking forward to at Dragon*Con? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The MMO Report: Cybernetic Arm Replacement edition Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Video, Events, real-world, Interviews, News items, Guild Wars 2, The Secret World, Star Wars: The Old Republic, The MMO Report, Miscellaneous Welcome to a very special PAX Prime 2011 edition of The MMO Report. Surely you've read all of Massively's PAX coverage (you have, haven't you?), but in case you somehow missed it, don't fear. The MMO Report is here to give you the skinny on the big MMO happenings at one of the country's largest gaming conventions. The show kicks things off with -- surprise! -- Guild Wars 2. Content Designer Mike Zadorojny talks about the new skill progression system and the removal of the energy mechanic, and also notes that closed beta is still on track to take place before the end of the year. Then it's on to Firefall, the new MMOFPS from Red 5 Studios. The open-world portion of the game was the newest addition to the game's PAX 2011 demo, though players also had the opportunity to try their hand at the game's competitive PvP. Funcom's The Secret World is up next with news on the game's large-scale persistent PvP. Small-scale PvP battlefields make an appearance as well in the form of Stonehenge, El Dorado, and Shambhala. Star Wars: The Old Republic rounds out the MMO selection with the game's Huttball and Alderaan PvP battlegrounds and the Eternity Vault endgame Operation. For the full video and all the juicy PAX 2011 MMO details, jump on past the cut. Continue reading The MMO Report: Cybernetic Arm Replacement edition The MMO Report: Cybernetic Arm Replacement edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

NCsoft releases Lineage II Goddess of Destruction trailers Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Lineage 2, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items Lineage II's Goddess of Destruction update has been a long time in the making, but it looks like release is drawing near if the updates to the long-running fantasy title's website are any indication. NCsoft has posted two new videos centering on the expansion, both of which function as primers for players chomping at the bit to get their hands on the game's largest ever update. The first clip is a Lineage II history lesson of sorts, and it takes viewers on a quick journey through all of the title's chronicle updates before launching into a highlight reel of the upcoming content patch. The second video has a bit of narrative feel to it, but it's also got plenty of action, and frankly it does a great job of whetting our appetite for the Goddess expansion that's scheduled to go live this fall. Check out both clips after the cut or on the official Lineage II website. Continue reading NCsoft releases Lineage II Goddess of Destruction trailers NCsoft releases Lineage II Goddess of Destruction trailers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Luvinia Online announces open beta date Posted: 01 Sep 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, News items, Free-to-play, Giveaways Outspark announced in a press release today that the open beta test for its upcoming MMORPG Luvinia Online will begin on September 7th. Alongside this announcement, the company also released a short community Q&A to provide prospective players with some information about the game. Players are given the choice of one of three starting classes: Rogue, Warrior, or Magician. From there, each class branches off into one of two advanced classes, and then branches a second time into the final advanced class, giving players plenty of opportunities to refine their style of play. The game also features an auto-questing system, which provides players with automatic navigation to their quest objectives. The company is also running a number of events to celebrate the launch of the game's open beta, such as the Raffle of LUV contest, which enters each player who reaches level 40 during the open beta into a raffle for prizes such as an iPad 2, a Nintendo 3DS, and copious amounts of SparkCash. To get in on the open beta, and to get your chance at these faaaabulous prizes, just sign up at the game's official site. Luvinia Online announces open beta date originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gamigo celebrates Black Prophecy + Raptr bundle with giveaways Posted: 01 Sep 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Contests, Events, real-world, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy, Giveaways Gamigo announced today that its free-to-play sci-fi MMORPG Black Prophecy now comes bundled with the gaming-centric IM client Raptr. For those of you not in the know, Raptr is a multi-protocol instant messaging client that allows gamers to keep in touch with their IM friends while in-game, while also allowing players to see what their friends are playing and arrange to join their friends' games. To commemorate the union of game and IM client, gamigo is hosting a promotion, which is going on now and will end on September 16th, 2011. To participate, players have to scamper over to Black Prophecy's Raptr page, follow it, and leave comments on the stories posted each day. What can players win for their troubles? Well, 20 lucky players will receive an in-game prize pack, which includes a 30-day Character Card, 10 XP bonus consumables, five Concentration Boost consumables, and an in-game Synaptic Impairment Protection II item. Four grand-prize winners will receive all of that plus a top-of-the-line gaming joystick "with a total of over $2000 in gear and in-game items." Who doesn't love free stuff, right? So what are you waiting for? Get on it, space cowboy. Gamigo celebrates Black Prophecy + Raptr bundle with giveaways originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hellgate announces September events Posted: 01 Sep 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, News items, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic As the legions of hell march on the doorstep of London, Hellgate finds itself in need of powerful heroes to defend the last bastion of humankind. Thankfully, the month of September is strewn with events that will assist players in rising to meet the growing demonic threat. The festivities begin with an event simply called Join the Ranks. For this event, existing heroes will have the opportunity to recruit new players, which will result in delicious rewards for the the recruiter. Once a healthy regiment of soldiers has been established, it's time to begin training. The Condition System is back in full effect, and it grants each character five hours of bonus experience each day. In addition to the experience bonus, specified dates in September will see the onslaught of a Hell Rush, "effectively doubling the experience earned on those days." As players level from these bonuses, they will be eligible for the Level And Be Rewarded event. This event... well, it is what it sounds like, people. At certain leveling milestones, players will receive a variety of rewards ranging from inventory expansion to stat-boosting capsules. But what good is a hero without heroic equipment? Throughout the month, the Tools of the Trade event, which provides players with the chance to receive "premium items that aren't available in the cash shop," will be active. Players will also receive two free Resurrection Scrolls daily, in order to keep them fighting on their feet. And to top it off, once players feel prepared for a challenge, they can take part in the Boss Time Attack event, which is a special challenge mode to kill a dungeon boss within a certain time limit. Succeeding, of course, will result in fine rewards. So suit up and move out, heroes. London isn't going to defend itself. Hellgate announces September events originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ask Massively: Stir-crazy edition Posted: 01 Sep 2011 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, Massively meta, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous With no power, no real Internet access, no running water, and no access to just about anything, I was getting a little bit stir-crazy. Fortunately, I've made use of my training as a Boy Scout and assembled a crude pastiche of elements to bring some of my favorite electronic online games into the offline space. Success has been mixed. Sitting in dowtown and periodically shouting that a level 34 Dragoon was looking for a party produced exactly the right reaction to simulate logging in to Final Fantasy XI, but my attempt at "logging in" to City of Heroes resulted in a lengthy discussion with police regarding the appropriateness of waving a Nerf sword at teenagers. My makeshift attempts at answering this week's lineup for Ask Massively, however, have proved pretty fruitful all around. Skip on past the break for discussions about some very meta considerations, not the least of which being a potential subdivision of the site. As always, leaving a question in the comments or mailing it to ask@massively.com will quite possibly get it included in a future edition of the column. Sometimes even if the question is ridiculous. Continue reading Ask Massively: Stir-crazy edition Ask Massively: Stir-crazy edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Behind the Mask: Two years and two thousand miles Posted: 01 Sep 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Opinion, Free-to-play, Champions Online, Behind the Mask Some of you will recall what Champions Online was like at launch. I think that a lot of readers here at Massively still remember that soreness. The first year of CO was kind of a rough, rocky ride. At some point or another, I think all of us expected the game to fail. It was really only in the in the last few months of that year that Cryptic started to turn the game around. The second year of Champions has been a lot more successful. I'm pretty sure that from a bottom-line perspective, the F2P launch helped turn the game into a profitable venture. However, that hasn't been the only major change. If Cryptic had held this kind of attitude from day one, I think things would have turned out differently. Continue reading Behind the Mask: Two years and two thousand miles Behind the Mask: Two years and two thousand miles originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Preview RIFT's Chronicles of Telara solo instance content on the PTS Posted: 01 Sep 2011 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, News items, PvE, RIFT, Dungeons RIFT's patch 1.5 is just on the horizon, and to prepare for the patch's release, Trion Worlds has introduced solo dungeons to the game's public test server. This instanced content, known as Chronicles of Telara, provides quick gameplay for players who are craving a little bit of dungeon-flavored action but who don't have the time to gather a group and trudge through the trials and tribulations of a five-man instance. After the cut, we have a pair of videos showing off the Chronicles of Telara: Hammerknell solo instance. The first video, from ZAM's Nepabrite, takes players on a quick tour of the Dwarven fortress, complete with running commentary. The second video, from Torrac of the guild Result on the Immerwacht server, is devoid of any such commentary and simply allows players to follow along through the entirety of the instance. To feast your eyes upon both of the above, just slip on past the cut. Continue reading Preview RIFT's Chronicles of Telara solo instance content on the PTS Preview RIFT's Chronicles of Telara solo instance content on the PTS originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

One Shots: I can't see! Posted: 01 Sep 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, One Shots Mounts seem to be an ongoing problem, as we've shown on One Shots bug week. At least we can see today's mount, but there's another problem. Brooke explains her World of Warcraft shot: My husband and I were playing in Deadmines together out of boredom, when we discovered a bug that allowed a second person to mount someone else's one-person mount. For some reason, the default "riding" position for a second character on one-person mounts is usually the face. So here's my character sitting on my husband's camel. We're revisiting an old favorite of One Shots this week: bug week. Whether it's unwanted guests in cutscenes, funny graphic glitches, or a prank you played on a buddy, we want to see. Send your screenshots in to oneshots@massively.com and we'll feature them in next week's One Shots! Gallery: One Shots: 2011 One Shots: I can't see! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Guild Counsel: Pre-launch pitfalls Posted: 01 Sep 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous There's nothing more enticing than that new car smell of a soon-to-be-released MMO. And it's no surprise that many players make the decision to either bring their guilds over or build a new one from the ground up. It's exciting, but forming a pre-launch guild comes with plenty of potential hazards, and all too often, those months before the game goes live are the best and happiest months of a guild's life. In this week's Guild Counsel, let's look at some dos and don'ts when it comes to building a pre-launch guild... and hopefully keep the good times rolling long past launch day. Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Pre-launch pitfalls The Guild Counsel: Pre-launch pitfalls originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE readying EverQuest II double XP weekend Posted: 01 Sep 2011 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Crafting Pick out your favorite grind spots, adventurers (and tradeskillers too, for that matter), as Sony Online Entertainment is trotting out an EverQuest II double experience weekend starting on Friday, September 2nd. The XP smorgasbord will end on Monday, September 5th, so if you've got no plans for the Labor Day weekend as of yet, why not spend a portion of it in Norrath? It's as good a time as any to check out the new itemization revamp that debuted with the recent GU 61 patch, and don't forget that the bonus applies to alternate advancement experience as well. More details are available via EQ2Wire and the official EQII website. SOE readying EverQuest II double XP weekend originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively's Guide to Dragon*Con 2011 Posted: 01 Sep 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Previews, News items, Massively meta, Miscellaneous PAX Prime is freshly finished and Gamescom 2011 is a distant memory, but con season isn't over yet! Not by a long shot, in fact. Dragon*Con is just around the corner, and we have undertaken the monumental task of putting together a what's-what for all of our adoring MMO fans. Now, just because Dragon*Con isn't as internationally renowned as Gamescom or as well-publicized as Penny Arcade's brainchild doesn't mean you should write it off by any means. There's still a whole truckload of events for MMO players at Dragon*Con. From Q&As to panels (including one on MMO podcasting that includes our very own Shawn Schuster!) and more, there's a little something for every MMO player at Dragon*Con. So whether you're attending or just want to see what kind of news you have to look forward to coming out of Dragon*Con (news that will, of course, be covered right here on Massively), jump on past the cut and see what the Atlanta-based con has in store. Continue reading Massively's Guide to Dragon*Con 2011 Massively's Guide to Dragon*Con 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gods and Heroes entices players with extended trial, lower cost and a new class Posted: 01 Sep 2011 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Classes Gods & Heroes wants you to play it. Like, really, really bad. So much so, in fact, that the Roman-themed MMO is launching a multi-pronged campaign on potential players in an attempt to rope them into the game. The first prong of the campaign is an extended free trial. Starting today, players can check out the full game for a week by simply signing up on the site. "By extending the trial period from three to seven days, new players will have a chance to really dig into the heart of the game and we know they'll like what they find," Heatwave's Anthony Castoro said. The cost of Gods & Heroes is coming down as well, hitting a more reasonable $29.99 for both boxed and digital versions of the game. Castoro hopes that this will help interested parties get past any financial barriers and will widen the playerbase: "The community has spoken and our analytics confirm that players really enjoy Gods & Heroes once they've experienced it." Finally, Heatwave is adding a chunk of new content to the game, including the ranged Scout class and a free archer minion for loyal subscribers. The undead minion Batillus will be granted to players who subscribed prior to August 1st. Gods and Heroes entices players with extended trial, lower cost and a new class originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

DCUO's Fight for the Light content pack free for subscribers Posted: 01 Sep 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Business models, MMO industry, Patches, News items, DC Universe Online, Miscellaneous, Dungeons DC Universe Online is about to get a bit bigger, and it's also bucking the double-dipping trend that's gripped the MMO industry of late. The good news for subscribers is two-fold: First, there's a lot of new content on the way. Second, it's included in the subscription fee. The Fight for the Light pack, which integrates the legend of the Green Lantern (as well as the rest of the Lantern and Sinestro Corps) into Sony Online Entertainment's massively multiplayer beat-'em-up, debuts on September 6th. What exactly is in store for loyal denizens of Metropolis and Gotham City? For starters, there's the game's seventh power set (light, of course), followed by new instances like S.T.A.R. Labs, Coast City, and Sciencells Prison. In addition, players will interact with Green Lantern-based friends and foes as they battle to save earth from the clutches of Brainiac. Gallery: DCUO: The Green Lantern DCUO's Fight for the Light content pack free for subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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