MMO updates

MMO updates

[gamescom 2011] WildStar - Races and classes preview

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 07:32 AM PDT


(Source) Wow, WildStar was announced just hours ago (link) by NCsoft and Carbine Studios over at gamescom 2011 in Germany, and now there is already a major fansite up! If you missed it, WildStar is developed by Carbine Studios, a North American studio under NCsoft (same as ArenaNet) and WildStar is the first MMORPG to be churned out.


(Official website) Revealed to be a somewhat cartoony sci-fi MMO, still a rarity currently, WildStar Central has revealed the races, classes and their gameplay style. I believe these are just the few classes available as of now, with the game still in development.

Will this be as hot as Guild Wars? Sign up for Beta (link) now! Below are pictures taken at gamescom 2011 from the source, have a look!

↑↑ The current 3 races displayed at the official announcement.
↑↑ The Granok, a fierce race of mercenaries who have come to Nexus, look forward to cracking some Dominion skulls - free of charge.
↑↑ The Warrior hits hard with a mix of vicious melee strikes and tech-powered attacks.
↑↑ How the Granok Warrior's Fuel Cell and Adrenaline works.
↑↑ The Humans exiled from their homeworld by the tyrannical Dominion, hope to make planet Nexus their new home.
↑↑ The Spellslinger deals death from a distance with a pair of magic infused pistols.
↑↑ How the Human Spellslinger's Charge and Arcana works.
↑↑ The Aurin, fleeing from Dominion invaders that are ravaging their forest homeworld, seek refuge upon the mysterious world of Nexus.
↑↑ The Esper conjures psychic spells that charge up devastating mental onslaughts.
↑↑ How the Aurin Esper's Combo Points and Mana works.
Here are more screenshots of WildStar. And yes, there are screenshots, not artwork! Once again, signup for the Beta now right here (link)!

[gamescom 2011] Guild Wars 2 - Boss demo

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 07:34 PM PDT


(Official website) Going through my daily routine of scanning all gaming websites I can find, I came across this gem of a footage from gamescom 2011, taken from GameSpot. The demo footage shows a "small" boss fight within ArenaNet's Guild Wars 2. Being a paying member at GameSpot, I was able to download the HD version of the footage and tada, here it is~! Enjoy~!

Blade & Soul (KR) - Closed Beta 2 dated

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 11:54 PM PDT


This information is just in from my Korean colleague. NCsoft has announced earlier this morning that the Closed beta 2 phase for the highly-anticipated Blade & Soul will begin from 29th August till 10th September, with registration starting on 19th August. The players entering CBT2 will be announced on 26th August.


The biggest content addition will no doubt be the inclusion of the new Assassin class (2nd artwork above), teased months ago in the G*Star 2010 trailer (at 1:58). More info on the game here (link)

Warface - Official English website opens

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 06:32 PM PDT


(Official website) Despite Crytek apparently stressing Warface being an online shooter developer for the Asian regions of China and Korea specifically, it seems an English server is still inevitable at the end. Developed by Crytek Seoul using the latest CryEngine 3, Warface is the company's first foray into the world of online Free to Play shooters.


While the English teaser website is up, the so-said Asian exclusive servers do not even have websites up yet. Having no idea what cards are Crytek playing, the game will give the traditional popular shooters including Battlefield, Call of Duty and Medal of Honor their run for the money. More information, trailers and screenshots in can be found in my previous posts (link).
Posted by Shri Krishna

General gaming

General gaming

Level-5 Holding Private Expo in October

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 07:12 AM PDT


Akihiro Hino, head of Japanese developer Level-5, announced in this week's issue of Famitsu magazine that they'll be holding another exclusive press event later on this year. Unlike previous shows, though, this one will be open and free to the public. The "Level-5 World" event, held by the developer of game series like Professor Layton and Inazuma Eleven, will be held October 15 and 16 at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center. More details on events and such will be announced next month.

"I think the game industry is in transition right now, from new platforms to change in user tastes to the effects of the [March] earthquake," Hino told Famitsu. I think we've been somewhat slow to respond to this. We've been working on a number of projects in parallel, and earlier this year we realized we'd be too late on much of it for the Tokyo Game Show. That's why we thought it best to hold our own event a month later to better appeal to gamers."

Level-5 will still have a presence at TGS (which starts September 15), but it will likely be limited to a simple meeting room instead of the large booth displays of previous years.

Goichi Suda's Rock 'n Roll Game Studio

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 06:53 AM PDT


Grasshopper Manufacture is a name that looms large in the game industry -- its games aren't sales juggernauts, but its "video game/band"-style approach has made it a creative oasis for many Japanese developers tired of the corporate game scene.

The "video game/band" term was coined by Goichi Suda, GHM's head and founder. "The first game I was involved with at Human was Super Fire Pro Wrestling III: Final Bout, and outside of sound that was made with four people," he said in this week's Famitsu magazine. "Putting it that way, you could say the designer was the vocalist, the programmers the dummer who controls the whole thing, and the sound guys are the bassist that puts the ensemble together. The first game Grasshopper did was also with four people at first, although it went up to seven in the end. The way we try to give something to people with everything we make is very band-like, so that's the name I gave to it."

GHM is no garage band nowadays, though. It's a full-on studio consisting of 144 developers, fresh off Shadows of the Damned and nowadays working on Lollipop Chainsaw, among other things. Where does GHM's strength lie? "The first impression our games give," Suda responded. "One of our games might be the first one a person ever plays, and if so, I'd like them to think that games are awesome afterward. To do that, we need the strength to overcome any other kind of entertainment media -- movies, music, novels. I think GHM games have that strength to really floor people who are getting into games for the first time."

UFC Undisputed 3's Novice Friendly Controls Help You Look Like a Pro

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 05:05 PM PDT

The growing popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Mixed Martial Arts has driven droves of people to appreciate the sport. Unfortunately I'm still not one of those people, and UFC related media like the Ultimate Fighter and UFC Undisputed game series continue to slip under my notice. Or at least that was the case until last week, when representatives from THQ stopped by to show me UFC Undisputed 3 -- the highly anticipated third sequel of their popular video game brand. I receive a quick crash course in UFC fundamentals as I sit down for a three fight slugfest with senior designer Wes Bunn while producer Neven Dravinski provides commentary.

Round 1: Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone (THQ) vs. Jim Miller (1UP)

The first thing I see after the new ring entrances during my demo is something Dravinski calls a, "heavy handed approach to in-game education." A skippable tutorial acclimates me to the basic control scheme, and gives me a quick breakdown of how to takedown an opponent and fight for position on the ground. The developers realize that they needed to make a better attempt at teaching players how to play the game, and Bunn seems to be taking it pretty easy on me at this point.

Valve Boss Gabe Newell Wants EA Games on Steam

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 04:09 PM PDT

Battlefield 3

Over the past several months, there have been issues with a number of EA games and Steam. Battlefield 3, EA's biggest game this year, has never been available for pre-order through the digital games distributor, and several EA games have been pulled from the store. EA blames this on restrictive terms of service, while Valve has remained quiet. Valve boss Gabe Newell has finally spoken out on the situation, explaining that he wants EA's games on the service and is hoping to convince EA to bring them back.

"I don't think Valve can pick just one thing and think the issue would go away if we fixed that," he told Develop. "We have to show EA it's a smart decision to have EA games on Steam, and we're going to try to show them that."

EA has tried to position things as if the games' absence is entirely the fault of Valve, which operates Steam. Prior to stating that Battlefield isn't on Steam because of the ToS, EA pointed out that Steam was preventing it from staying in touch with customers in the way it wants to. It has also highlighted the fact that the game is available elsewhere as evidence that it offers its games to all distributors.

Top 10 Trailers of Gamescom 2011

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 03:28 PM PDT


Coming off E3 just two-and-a-half months ago, it seems like there shouldn't be an abundance of awesome new trailers ready in time for Gamescom. That notion is entirely wrong, as there's no shortage of top-notch videos promoting the latest and greatest games on display in Germany.

For many, trailers are the best part of industry events like this. Without being able to go hands-on with the games themselves, trailers give us a visual demonstration of what to expect. Other times, the game itself is nowhere to be seen in the trailer, but that sort can serve its purpose, too.

We've compiled a list of the ten best trailers (well, eleven, if you count the Dark Souls one above) from this year's show and embedded them below for your viewing pleasure. They're listed in no particular order but feel free to let us know which are your favorites and which we missed in the comments below.

Steel Battalion Heavy Armor is the Most Ambitious Kinect Title to Date

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 03:03 PM PDT

Click the image above to check out all Steel Batalion: Heavy Armor screens.

At this year's Microsoft press event at Gamescom, I didn't know what to expect from Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor. But then I saw the trailer that declared, "War. Inside and Out." And that's basically the game in a nutshell. Not only are you at war with the enemy, but with your pansy colleagues as well. Trust me, I'll explain later.

DmC Combines Ninja Theory's Visual Flair With Capcom's Combat

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 02:43 PM PDT

When Capcom announced that fan-favourite Devil May Cry's next chapter (now simply contracted into DmC) would be outsourced to developer Ninja Theory, reactions were mixed and equally dramatic. It didn't help that teaser images, hinting at a reboot of the series, showed a very different Dante: an angsty, Twilight-esque teenager had replaced the badass white haired hero.

After seeing a behind-closed-doors demo at Gamescom 2011, I can say: Those worried about Ninja Theory's penchant for direction and visuals at the expense of gameplay can rest assured. Capcom's producer immediately clarified that they're following the development of the game very closely; visiting Ninja Theory's offices on a regular -- almost montly -- basis and providing continuous feedback in order to get the best from this collaboration. The two companies aim at achieving a perfectly optimized blend of Ninja Theory's knowhow about storytelling with Capcom's deep and addictive combat mechanics.

Watch Every Sunday NFL Game This Season on Your PS3

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 01:31 PM PDT

NFL Sunday Ticket

Depending upon where you live, you might not get to see your favorite NFL team play each Sunday, if at all. Other times, the games that are being aired on CBS and Fox are uninteresting matchups between awful teams you couldn't care less about. NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers don't have that problem, and soon, PS3 owners will be able to subscribe to the service and get every out-of-market Sunday game during the upcoming season.

With the lockout resolved, the NFL season fully kicks off on Sunday, September 11, after the opening game between New Orleans and Green Bay on Thursday, September 8. Beginning then, you can watch every Sunday game (with the exception of those in your local TV market) by subscribing to NFL Sunday Ticket, which is being brought to the PlayStation 3.

DirecTV subscribers can pay a mere $50 to get every Sunday game and the ability to use the PS3 as an extra receiver, while those with other cable providers will have to pay a hefty $339.95. That's a lot to spend for non-DirecTV customers, but if you need some rationale for taking the plunge, it amounts to a fraction under $20 per week over the course of a 17-week season. The fee entitles you to as many as 14 games each week, all of them in HD.

Postcard from GamesCom 2011: German Soldiers And Modern Warfare 3

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 01:23 PM PDT

Today marked the first day for GamesCom, an event that takes up more space than the Los Angeles Convention Center for E3. When I finally found the Modern Warfare 3 booth, I ran into some German soldiers. Now, I don't understand German, so I couldn't tell you what they were talking about.

This image helped me strike a conversation with IGN's Anthony Gallegos about some of the rules that Germany enforces for violent games. For instance, you can't shoot dead bodies; the dead have to disappear after you kill them. But that doesn't apply to demos at GamesCom, I guess. I know because I played Modern Warfare 3 today and I have a habit of killing and teabagging people, while I shoot them in the face. You can look forward to my preview later today.

Notch Wants to Settle Bethesda's 'Scrolls' Lawsuit by Playing Quake 3

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 11:50 AM PDT

Quake 3 Arena

Bethesda, the developer of the Elder Scrolls series (better known to many as Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, etc.), doesn't like the idea of Scrolls being used as the name for the new game from Minecraft maker Mojang. It likes it so little, in fact, that it's gone ahead and threatened litigation if the name isn't swapped out for something else. Bethesda is obviously a much bigger company with more resources to fight a legal battle, but Mojang doesn't think it needs to come to that. It's got a simple idea for how to solve the dispute.

Quake.

Specifically, Quake 3. Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson authored a new blog post today, having spent some time away to celebrate his new marriage. Seeing that Bethesda hasn't decided to drop the lawsuit in light of the negative publicity it's brought itself, Persson recalled a scene from Game of Thrones (I won't spoil it; it's too great a show to risk doing that to anyone) and suggested that Bethesda and Mojang have a fight to the death in Quake 3.

Posted by Shri Krishna

MMORPG News

MMORPG News

General: World of Battleships Debut Trailer

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 07:59 AM PDT

The first trailer from the just-announced World of Battleships has been released by Wargaming.net. The trailer was first shown at the 2011 Gamescom.

Star Trek: Infinite Space: In-Game Battle Footage Trailers Released

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 07:48 AM PDT

Gameforge has released a pair of in-game videos featuring battle sequences from Star Trek: Infinite Space. The trailers were released at Gamescom 2011.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Game Update from SyndCon

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 12:01 PM PDT

During the recent Syndcon, MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh had the opportunity to check in with Bioware devs and Star Wars: THe Old Republic. Carolyn has a full report on what she learned at Syndcon that you won't want to miss. Read on!

The Secret World: Release and Beta Cometh!

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 11:51 AM PDT

The Secret World is a bit less secret after new screens, a new video and more information pouring out of Gamescom 2011. In his latest TSW column, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Bill Murphy takes a look at some of this week's revelations and offers a few thoughts about TSW. Check it out and then weigh in with your own thoughts.

General: A Gaggle of Geeks

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 05:33 PM PDT

In his latest Coyote's Howling column, Sir Coyote lets us in on a little secret: He's a geek, something we readily accept here at MMORPG.com. Problem is that his "real life" co-workers don't get it. So when attending things like Dragon*Con, he's got a lot of explaining to do. See just what he says to get over that awkward, "Oh I see..." moment. Read on!

General: Overpromise & Under-Deliver

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 12:14 PM PDT

In his latest column, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Bill Murphy refers readers to a recent article that indicates that July console game sales were down significantly from last year. What does that have to do with MMOs? You'll have to read Bill's article to find out. Read on and then let us know what you think when you're finished.

WildStar Online: Gamescom Demo Impressions

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 07:05 AM PDT

Boots on the ground reporter, John Milburn, got a first hand look at the just-revealed WildStar Online during a presentation by Carbine Studios and NC Soft during this year's Gamescom. He's got a few impressions to share with you so keep reading! Are you looking forward to WildStar Online? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Transformers Universe: Brawler Class & Customization Revealed

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 06:52 AM PDT

During Gamescom 2011, Jagex and the Transformers Universe team are showing fans the customization abilities of the game. Fans can choose to align with Autobot or Decepticon forces, customize the look and receive a printout of the character they created. In addition, the Brawler class has been revealed, the up close and personal character archetype.

DOTA2: Newell: Beta Begins After Gamescom, Launching in 2012

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 05:50 AM PDT

Speaking to the folks at Eurogamer, Valve head honcho Gabe Newell has revealed that DOTA 2 will begin an invitation-only beta following the conclusion of the Gamescom tournament, and will move on from there towards a public beta. Newell also revealed that DOTA 2 will not make the widely believed 2011 release date, stating that he "doesn't think it will be shipped until next year."

Guild Wars 2: Full Press Demo Video with Commentary

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 05:31 AM PDT

Wartower.de has posted a video of the full press demo they were treated to at this year's Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. The demo features PvP, Asura gameplay, the Charr homelands, an 'epic fight' with a dragon named Tequatl the Sunless, as well as commentary from ArenaNet's Christopher Lye.

General: StarCraft MMO Not in the Cards

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 05:17 AM PDT

Blizzard's Frank Pearce debunked rumors of a potential StarCraft MMO being in development during a press conference at GamesCom yesterday.

WildStar Online: Races and Classes Unveiled

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 03:57 AM PDT

Carbine Studios took the wraps off their upcoming MMO, WildStar, yesterday at GamesCom in Cologne, Germany. Today, we've learned of the first three races revealed for the game as well as details on several of WildStar's classes.

General: WildStar, Guild Wars 2 Demos and Q&A Live Stream

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 03:42 AM PDT

NCSoft will be demoing (and conducting Q&As) for Carbine Studios' recently announced MMO, WildStar, as well as ArenaNet's Guild Wars 2 throughout the day today, and if you can't make it out the show you can still catch it all on the official NCSoft EU live stream.

Faxion Online: Report: Faxion Team Laid Off

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 04:28 AM PDT

Massively is reporting on a rumor originating over at the official Faxion Online forums that has led some to believe that the entire Faxion Online team has been laid off.

World of Warcraft: Raid Finder, Void Storage, New Content in 4.3

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 03:29 AM PDT

4.3 is shaping up to be a massive patch for World of Warcraft. We previously noted that the update will include a Transmogrification system, but there is quite a bit more in store for players in 4.3. Highlights include a new 'Raid Finder' feature, Void Storage; which allows players to store additional items, and a bevy of new content additions.

World of Warcraft: Customize Your Appearance with Transmogrification in 4.3

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 03:07 AM PDT

Patch 4.3 for World of Warcraft will finally allow players to transmogrify their armor, that is, to combine the stats of one piece of gear with the appearance of another. Warlock T5 anyone?

DOTA2: Day 1 Tournament Replays Available; Day 2 Begins

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 02:39 AM PDT

Day 1 of the Gamescom DOTA 2 tournament 'The International' has officially concluded, and you can find most of the match replays available on the official DOTA 2 site.

League of Legends: Intel Extreme Masters Tournament Streaming Soon

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 02:29 AM PDT

Riot Games and Intel in conjunction with the ESL will be streaming the Intel Extreme Masters League of Legends tournament at GamesCom today.

General: Warface Goes Westward in 2012, New Trailer Released

Posted: 18 Aug 2011 04:35 AM PDT

Crytek (the developers behind FarCry and Crysis) have announced that their upcoming free-to-play MMOFPS, Warface, will see a Western release in 2012.

Dragon Nest: Introducing the World to the Game

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 01:11 PM PDT

Nexon has released a new trailer celebrating the official launch of Dragon Nest. The trailer is designed to introduce players to the world and creatures of Dragon Nest.

General: Former Frogster Exec Forms New Publishing Company

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 01:02 PM PDT

Former Frogster CEO Andreas Weidenhaupt has announced that he has founded a new publishing company called Infernum. Infernum, according to the press release, will specialize in publishing free to play MMOs. Infernum is already working with outside developers on several MMO projects that will initially be published in North America, Europe and South America.

Scarlet Legacy: Early Access Open Beta Starts

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 12:57 PM PDT

Scarlet Legacy devs have announced that the early access for the open beta test is now open. The open beta will feature new content for those who experienced the game during closed beta testing. In addition, lucky CBT winners will receive an awesome prize package.

Jade Dynasty: Travel the Path of Glory

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 10:30 AM PDT

Perfect World Entertainment has released a new trailer featuring Path of Glory, the upcoming content expansion planned for Jade Dynasty.

Rusty Hearts: Takin' It To the Boss

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 10:28 AM PDT

The Rusty Hearts development team has released a new video diary that talks about the bosses that players will encounter as they delve into raids and dungeons. Check it out!

The Secret World: Not So Secret Screens Arrive

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 10:24 AM PDT

Funcom has released nine new screenshots from The Secret World. The screens were released at Gamescom 2011. You can see all nine in The Secret World screenshot gallery here at MMORPG.com.

General: Planet War Blasts Off Into Open Beta

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 10:06 AM PDT

YooGames has announced that its space-themed MMO, Planet Wars, is now officially in its open beta phase of development. To celebrate the announcement, Planet War devs have a series of contests in place to run between now and August 31st.

Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited: New Concept Art Shows Off Secrets of the Artificers

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 09:50 AM PDT

Turbine has released several concept art screens from Dungeons & Dragons Online Update 11: Secrets of the Artificers. The artwork features a look at armor models, banners, Canith robes and much more. See them all in our Dungeons & Dragons Online screenshot gallery.

Lord of the Rings Online: New Screens Feature a Fiery Boss

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 09:46 AM PDT

Turbine has release three new screenshots from the Lord of the Rings Online expansion, Rise of Isengard. The screens show off a fiery dragon, Draigoch, from a 24-player raid. Check them out in our Lord of the Rings Online screenshot gallery.

Guild Wars 2: GamesCom Trailer Released

Posted: 17 Aug 2011 09:46 AM PDT

ArenaNet has unveiled a new trailer for Guild Wars 2 at this year's GamesCom in Cologne, Germany. The five minute trailer gives us a closer look at some of the game's more PvE oriented content.

Rift: They Grow Up So Fast, Don't They?

Posted: 16 Aug 2011 02:33 PM PDT

The Trion and Rift teams are ready to unleash a week's worth of celebratory excitement into Telara with the upcoming Half Birthday Celebration starting on August 25th. MMORPG.com's Suzie Ford sat in on a conference with Trion's Scott Hartsman to talk about the event. Check out what's in store for players as Trion gives back to its community.
Posted by Shri Krishna
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