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MechWarrior Online formally announced

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 04:25 PM PDT

MechWarrior Online has been announced officially by Infinite Game Publishing and Piranha Game Inc.

Based on the popular MechWarrior series, MechWarrior Online will be free-to-play, and is scheduled to arrive in late 2012. Players will be able to command their own BattleMech and customize it through upgrades, weapon replacements, and armor improvements. Players may choose one of five great houses can battle in Conquest or Vs. Modes with friends, or go head-to-head on their own. The game also promises daily story updates and constant updates to add and change the world.

mechwarrior-online-atlas-concept

Mech Warrior Online Atlus Concept Art

Source:

MONTREAL, QUEBEC, October 31, 2011 — Infinite Game Publishing Inc.(www.infinitegamepublishing.com) and Piranha Games Inc. (www.piranha-games.com) have announced
MechWarrior® Online™ (www.mwomercs.com), the first officially licensed free-to-play title in the long-
standing and award-winning MechWarrior® franchise. MechWarrior Online is set to launch in the second
half of 2012 from newly formed digital publisher, Infinite Game Publishing.

Set in the year 3049 during the early stages of a massive interstellar war, MechWarrior Online puts
you in command of the most powerful war machine to ever walk the field of battle, the mighty
BattleMech™. Command your Mech™ and customize it to suit your battlefield role; upgrade systems,
replace weapons, and tweak armor with endless options.

MechWarrior Online lets players command at will: go head-to-head online alone or with friends in high-
octane Conquest and VS modes. Band together and form your own Mercenary Corp, invite friends and
battle other player-made Merc Corps for prestige and power. Pledge your allegiance to one of the five
great houses and fight for control of precious Inner Sphere planets.

You will play a key role in a dynamic and ever-changing universe where player exploits impact the world
around you and daily story updates and frequent content additions create epic changes to the Inner
Sphere universe and its many inhabitants.

MechWarrior Online delivers a rich online experience, rewarding everything a player does with
experience points, C-Bills, unlocks, and recognition. Upgrade skills and refine your role in gameplay
using an all-new leveling system, and up-to-the minute detailed player statistics allow you to compare,
track and share your progress with other players.

"We're excited to lead the MechWarrior franchise online for fans of the series," said Russ Bullock, co-
founder of Piranha Games. "We're proud to partner with Infinite Game Publishing, and are thankful for
the fans of the MechWarrior series that have been so patient for the next MechWarrior game to arrive.
Infinite Game is a partner who understands both the world of games publishing and the crucial technical
needs of today's AAA online gaming experiences. Together we are bringing fans epic next-generation
Mech combat online in 2012."

More information about MechWarrior Online at www.mwomercs.com.

Dungeon Fighter Online launches Act XIV

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:43 PM PDT

The first part of Act XIV, Delezie’s Nightmare, is now live for players of Dungeon Fighter Online.

The update introduces two new Ancient Dungeons, Ghost Train and Reshpon, Village of Pain, where two new dangerous and twisted bosses live. The Emblem System makes its debut to allow players to turn in emblems, found in dungeons or purchased from Daphne, into stat or skill boosts into their equipment. The Heaven Party will also let lower level players obtain rare and exceptional equipment – if they’re lucky enough to find the vendor in the dungeons.

Dungeon Fighter Online is published by Nexon, which also publishes MapleStory and Dragon Nest.

Dungeon Fighter Online: Act XIV Screenshots:

Source:

The Ghost Train Has Arrived

Two new Ancient Dungeons, Emblem System and Heaven Party now available in Dungeon Fighter Online, Halloween events now live

Halloween is serious business for Dungeon Fighter Online, the arcade-style massively multiplayer online game from Nexon. Act XIV: Delezie's Nightmare Part 1 is the latest update to hit the game, giving players access to two new Ancient Dungeons, the Emblem System, and the Heaven Party, which gives lower level players an opportunity to try on some serious high-end weaponry.

Players can now face an army of never-before-seen monsters in the Ghost Train dungeon, which is inhabited by ghosts looking to claim the souls of brave Dungeon Fighters. The hellish domain serves as home to the boss Pandemos Floo, a fearsome creature tied to a Seal of Destruction. Players can also explore Reshpon, Village of Pain, where a whole new militia of demons greet players to capture their souls. It is here that Dungeon Fighters will face Delezie the Plagued Apostle, a legendary boss who claims Reshpon as his eminent domain. But players be warned: Delezie's prime attack is a toxin that spews from his body, deforming its enemies. If Dungeon Fighters are blessed enough from the high heavens to defeat this terrifying foe, myriad rewards will be bestowed upon them.

The Act XIV update also allows players to boost their character's stats with the Emblem System. The emblems can be found as drops in various dungeons or purchased from NPC Daphne. Emblems range from iron grade to platinum, depending on how much of a stat or skill boost it will give to an avatar. Players can also boost their stats by obtaining Sacred weapons from Heaven Party, a new feature which allows Dungeon Fighters to acquire various rare and untradeable weapons normally reserved for higher level players. Since the Heaven Party appears randomly in selected dungeons, players questing solo or with a party will have to be at the right place at the right time to get their hands on some exceptional weapons Sacred weapons from Heaven Party can also be disassembled for materials which can then be used to purchase a class and level appropriate Heavenly Weapon Pot.

To play Dungeon Fighter Online for free, please visit http://dungeonfighter.nexon.net/.

You can also "like" Dungeon Fighter Online on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dungeonfighteronline

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Hear ye, hear ye! Castlot has entered open beta!

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 10:30 AM PDT

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Castlot
ClapAlong's MMO venture into Arthurian myths and legends has transitioned out of closed and into open beta. Castlot is now available to try for any and all curious knights, and ClapAlong is not shy with the efforts to woo them to this round table.

In addition to featuring several improvements from the closed beta, including a newcomer's guide and ransack function, the open beta will feature daily login bonuses. ClapAlong is also promising to roll over 150% of any in-game currency you purchase to the live edition, even if you spend the currency in the closed beta. Finally, there are prizes to be had to the first player who spots and reports a bug, and to anyone who is willing to do a little Facebook promotion for the game.

This browser-based title gives players a choice between joining the "light" side of King Arthur or the "dark" side of Lord Blackmore. There's a variety of gameplay elements at work, including both turn-based and real-time combat depending on your particular venue.

You can sign up for the open beta over on the Castlot official site.

MassivelyHear ye, hear ye! Castlot has entered open beta! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Angels Online gets new expansion, new equipment

Posted: 31 Oct 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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Angels Online - 2D anime gameplay screenshot
Angels Online's newest expansion is trading the dangerous jungles of primordial paradise for the heat of an Egyptian-style desert. Pharaoh's Lost Treasure is set in and around the city of Basil, and the expansion features new weapons and armor with "some of the best stats the game has to offer."

According to a new IGG press release, Angels Online's dev team spent a lot of time getting the look of the new expansion armor sets just right. For Mages, new purple robes offer both offensive and defensive bonuses. Light armor wearers will appreciate new bone designs that offer protection without restricting movement. Plate wearers aren't left out either, as they can acquire new sets that combine "rich culture, style, and durability." Head to the Angels Online website to learn more and to download the game.

[Source: IGG press release]

MassivelyAngels Online gets new expansion, new equipment originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Age of Conan dev update talks new House of Crom dungeon

    Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:30 AM PDT

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    Age of Conan - House of Crom concept art
    It's time for another month-ending Age of Conan development update, and the October version doesn't disappoint. Craig Morrison gives way to a gaggle of AoC developers who are more than eager to talk about the new House of Crom content coming in the 3.0.2 patch.

    The House of Crom is actually composed of two large dungeons. One is a social playfield that supports multiple simultaneous groups while the other is a six-man instance like those found in Khitai. The encounters take place in the bowels of the Eiglophian Mountains and are designed for endgame players. Lore-wise, the dungeon is an ancient Atlantean temple which has recently been unearthed (and defiled) by the Vanir raiders invading northern Cimmeria.

    That's all fine and dandy, but what about phat lewtz? "We will be bringing in new Atlantean-themed items. Power-wise, the rewards will be on par with those found in the more difficult instances, and there will be all the regular token and trophy rewards that you would expect to find," says system designer Knut Jagels. The 3.0.2 patch is currently slated for the end of 2011, and you should head to the official website to check out the full dev diary while you wait.

    MassivelyAge of Conan dev update talks new House of Crom dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The story of saving APB

    Posted: 31 Oct 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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    APB
    While many of us are aware of the basics behind the rise, fall, and re-rise of All Points Bulletin, it's only been from a partial, fragmented perspective. GamesIndustry.biz conducted an in-depth investigation into the story of how GamersFirst swooped in to save the drowning APB, which barely had 130,000 registered users at the time of its shutdown last year.

    As the game and company went into administration, GamersFirst sent in a team to assess the title and see what could be done. The company decided to purchase it and convert it to a free-to-play model, although Bjorn Book-Larsson said that the price tag for the company was higher than initially anticipated: "It ended up not being a cheap deal for us, but obviously a lot cheaper than the initial development."

    In restructuring the development team, GamersFirst reduced the number of developers by 90% to make it more agile, often recruiting former Realtime Worlds employees who showed promise. "Our production designer used to be the lead QA person. He'd spent years taking notes on how things should have been different. Essentially, when I met him the first time he rattled off a huge list of what he thought should have been different. Just an insane amount. We just said, maybe we should just hire you as a designer," Larsson said.

    So far, it looks as though the restructuring and new focus is paying off, as APB Reloaded's beta is currently seeing five times as many players as those who registered for the box product last year.

    MassivelyThe story of saving APB originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Earth Eternal development on hold once again

    Posted: 31 Oct 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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    It's been a tough ride for Earth Eternal. We first heard about the original developer, Sparkplay, only days after Massively came into existence in 2007, and we've been following the company ever since. Earth Eternal was voted one of Beau's top F2P games in 2010, as it was enjoying quite a strong run that year -- even to the point where Sparkplay mentioned creating more games outside of EE.

    Well, that soon ended as the company ran into some serious financial problems that led to the game's hold status. Fast-forward a year, and the game was reborn with a new developer (TurnOut Ventures with OutBlaze)! It re-entered open beta status and looked to be on the road to recovery.

    Well, the rollercoaster is back on the descent, according to the game's forums. It turns out Earth Eternal's development is once again put on hold until further notice. The servers are still online and the game is still playable, but the small development team at TurnOut has been relocated to other projects. So right now, it seems to be a completely free game with no cash shop.

    We'll be sure to keep you up-to-date on any further news we hear.

    [Thanks to Keith for the tip!]

    MassivelyEarth Eternal development on hold once again originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    MV Guide: October 31-November 6, 2011

    Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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    Warrior Saga
    MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

    Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

    Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

    Continue reading MV Guide: October 31-November 6, 2011

    MassivelyMV Guide: October 31-November 6, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: What's the most iconic MMO city?

      Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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      WoW's Stormwind
      If you've ever tried to draw a map of the Earth from memory, you know that it's a difficult task, and yet I suspect that most of us could easily sketch out a map of the landmasses and cities of our favorite MMOs. While most MMOs scale significantly smaller than our real-world capitals, they're no less memorable. In fact, some cities practically serve as symbols of the game, from City of Heroes' Paragon City to Guild Wars' Lion's Arch to World of Warcraft's Stormwind. Be they hubs of commerce, zones for party-forming, or home to all your phat loots, we could probably navigate them blindfolded.

      Today we ask: What's the most iconic MMO city (and could you map it from memory)?

      Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's the most iconic MMO city? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Go go Power Rangers Online! For real!

        Posted: 30 Oct 2011 09:00 PM PDT

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        Power Rangers Online
        Because we miss the '90s and the wonderful fads that it introduced to our culture, Korean developer Ntreev has announced the return of the fabled Power Rangers -- this time in MMO form. Officially unveiled on Friday in Seoul, Power Rangers Online is prepping for its first Korean closed beta, which should begin November 3rd with extremely limited numbers.

        The game is designed to be a side-scrolling action MMO based on the Power Rangers Mystic Force series. Player will make their own unique character but choose an iconic color (i.e., "class") from the show. As they level up, players can outfit their characters with gear other than the Power Rangers classic spandex-slash-biker motif.

        So far the beta consists of two "acts" with 14 stages and storytelling comic book-style sequences. If you're fully secure in who you are and have no compunctions about friends and family members questioning your viewing habits, you can look at some of the first screenshots in the gallery below and watch the teaser trailer after the jump!

        Continue reading Go go Power Rangers Online! For real!

        MassivelyGo go Power Rangers Online! For real! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        MMO Week in Review: Pink slips

        Posted: 30 Oct 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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        APB: Reloaded screenshot
        At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

        It's a dark time for MMO studios. Not a week after CCP Games' downsizing, both NCsoft and GamersFirst laid off employees this week, and though GamersFirst assured us that it remains committed to its games and has distracted players with the Occupy Free2Play promotion, gamers are still understandably concerned.

        Trick-or-treat your way past the cut for a peek at this week's other top stories.

        Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Pink slips

        MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Pink slips originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          EVE Evolved: The new player experience

          Posted: 30 Oct 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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          EVE Evolved title image
          Ever since a graph showing a downward trend in daily peak concurrent logins started to make the rounds on blogs, players have insisted that EVE Online's recent Incarna expansion has been a complete failure. I mentioned in an earlier article that we should really have expected this as the captain's quarters were primarily designed with new players in mind. Starting the game as an avatar, even one who's been grounded in his space-room by his space-dad, helps people identify with their characters in a way that bridges the gap between EVE and traditional avatar-based MMOs. By introducing a player to his character as a person rather than a ship, the new player experience may also help make the loss of a ship not such a big deal.

          It's all fine and well to theorise about Incarna's success or failure, but ultimately it's only new players who can make that determination. If the captain's quarters do their job of flattening that initially jarring part of EVE's learning curve, the expansion's effect on subscriptions would be to convert more free trials into paid accounts -- an effect that wouldn't be immediately noticeable until another exciting and heavily advertised gameplay expansion brings in large numbers of new players. To help figure out if the captain's quarters have been successful in that regard, we have to turn to people who have never played EVE before.

          In this week's EVE Evolved, I finally convince my friend Kajatta to try EVE for the first time. I delve into his first experiences with the game to find out what EVE does right and wrong in the new player experience.

          Continue reading EVE Evolved: The new player experience

          MassivelyEVE Evolved: The new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            RuneScape dev panel highlights incredible success of bot bans

            Posted: 30 Oct 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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            RuneScape title image
            Over the past few weeks, we've heard a great deal about browser MMO RuneScape's struggle against botting and RMT. The bot problem has become progressively worse over the past year, with bot makers countering every change developers made to stop their bots from working. This week developer Jagex celebrated bot-nuking day as it deployed a massive update designed to permanently stop all of the popular reflection and injection bots from working.

            At this year's annual RuneFest event, Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard presented a fantastic insider panel on the facts and figures behind bot-nuking day. Mark explained the company's position -- that normal players botting to speed up gameplay was counter to the goals of RuneScape. "We don't want your computer to play with our computer," he told attendees, "we want you to have fun with our community." Before delving into facts and figures, Mark reminded attendees of the element of unfairness that bots create. "I want to know that if I'm putting in 30 minutes this evening, that that 30 minutes is equal to everyone else's 30 minutes."

            Want to know how many million accounts were banned since bot-nuking day? Read on for a summary of the facts and figures from the talk and to watch the full video in HD.

            Continue reading RuneScape dev panel highlights incredible success of bot bans

            MassivelyRuneScape dev panel highlights incredible success of bot bans originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Rise and Shiny: Golden Age

              Posted: 30 Oct 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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              Golden Age screenshot
              I tend to think of myself as a connoisseur of MMORTS games. If you are not familiar with the genre, imagine an MMO that plays like a city-building sim combined with open warfare and sometimes trade. There are a lot of these titles out there, maybe a lot more than in other genres, and the popularity of the MMORTS seems to be growing. Every week I read about a new one or try a new one out. They are usually browser-based, so it's very possible that this low barrier to production allows for such mass production.

              Usually I play one and my love affair with it hardly gets off the ground. Generally I find much of the same design and gameplay I have found in dozens of titles. Sure, there are some subtle differences, but overall the gems in this category are few and far between.

              This week I tasked myself with playing Golden Age, the new MMORTS published by Aeria Games. Was it the same as every other one I've played before? Click past the cut and find out.

              Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Golden Age

              MassivelyRise and Shiny: Golden Age originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Fan-made My Little Pony MMO gathers a following

                Posted: 30 Oct 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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                Pony should pony pony
                Yesterday bronies across the world rejoiced as Kotaku reported on the production of not just one but two upcoming My Little Pony MMOs. Both My Little Pony Online and Equestria Online are set in the fictional world of the popular series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and use graphics and characters from that setting.

                On further investigation, both of the startup MMOs appear to be fan projects being developed without the official backing of copyright holder Hasbro Studios. As such, the projects may run into legal difficulties as they continue development using characters, artwork and names from the My Little Pony series.

                The cartoon series that inspired these fan projects was originally aimed at a young female audience, but its popularity among an adult male crowd grew when it became a huge internet meme. There may even be enough fans of the series to make an official MMO commercially viable, as developers on My Little Pony Online have noted a clear interest in the development of their game.

                MassivelyFan-made My Little Pony MMO gathers a following originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 30 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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