Changyou.com has revealed the open beta date for Sword Girls to be March 28.
Players can expect new cards, new dungeons, and more. In fact, over 100 new cards have been added to the already large library. Three new dungeons are also available to all players, featuring challenging bosses and great rewards.
Sword Girls will also feature Facebook integration, allowing players to invite their friends and share their accomplishments. A tutorial for new players is also being added, along with an improved matchmaking system for PvP, and a variety of daily quests.
Sword Girls Gameplay Screenshot
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CHANGYOU.COM (US) NAILS DOWN SWORD GIRLS OPEN BETA DATE TO MARCH 28, 2012 “Everybody Wins!” Countdown Celebration Event Begins Today
SANTA CLARA, CA (February 22, 2012) - ChangYou.com (US), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ChangYou.com Ltd. (NASDAQ: CYOU) and a leading publisher of online interactive entertainment in North America, today announced that its flagship browser-based online collectible card game, Sword Girls, will begin its open beta phase on March 28, 2012.
Sword Girls open beta launch will boast exciting new content including new cards, new dungeons and much more. Players can expect over 100 new playable cards added to the game’s already expansive library with the inclusion of Episode 3 and Episode EX1. In addition, three previously unreleased dungeons will become available to all players, offering challenging boss battles and exciting rewards. Sword Girls will also incorporate Facebook integration which will allow players to invite friends and share in-game activities and updates.
Based on user feedback, Sword Girls will feature major updates including an easy to follow beginner’s tutorial, improved matchmaking algorithm to shorten wait time during Player versus Player (PvP) matches, a variety of daily quests with generous Token rewards, and adjusted quest difficulty, catering to players of all experience levels.
In celebration of the Sword Girls open beta launch, ChangYou.com (US) is also announcing that today will be the start of a countdown celebration event with weekly challenges for fans on the Sword Girls Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/SwordGirls. When milestones are achieved, fans of Sword Girls will win cool in-game bonuses, culminating in a Samsung Galaxy tablet sweepstakes drawing at game launch.
“Sword Girls has such an enthusiastic community of players,” said Annie Kang, Community Manager at ChangYou.com (US). “We’re excited to be holding these giveaways as a way to say ‘thank you’ for all the support as we enter the open beta phase for the game.”
Sword Girls is the newest online collectible card game with visually stunning anime design and strategic game play that will entice both veteran players and newcomers alike. The game features hundreds of uniquely drawn playable cards that can be collected through the innovative card crafting system with new cards released periodically. Players are invited to explore multiple tiers of dungeons and challenge other players to online duels to collect materials that can be used to craft their favorite cards. Sword Girls is free to play for everyone and works on any Flash enabled web browser.
For more information about the game or to sign up for newsletters to receive the latest news and updates, please visit the game’s official website at www.SwordGirlsOnline.com.
Hi Rez Studios announced that open beta for Tribes: Ascend will begin on Friday, February 24. There are no planned character wipes in place, so closed beta players may continue with what they have unlocked.
A patch is scheduled this week as well, which will introduce Team Deathmatch to the game modes, along with a new Capture-the-Flag map. Two unlockable items for the Soldier class have been announced, and the Doombringer and Brute receive new default suits. Several other bug fixes are being put in place.
Hi-Rez Studios also publishes Global Agenda.
Tribes Ascend Gameplay Screenshot
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Hi-Rez Studios Announces Start Date of Open Beta and Major Content Updates for Tribes: Ascend
Fast growing free-to-play shooter Tribes: Ascend will be available to everyone on Friday, February 24. This week's patch adds a new game mode, four new maps, and new regions.
ATLANTA. February 22, 2012
Today, Hi-Rez Studios announced major content updates to the highly anticipated, fast-action multiplayer shooter Tribes: Ascend in advance of starting Open Beta this Friday, February 24.
"The Tribes: Ascend Closed Beta has exceeded our expectations", says Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Studios Chief Operating Officer. "Over 300,000 players participated in the closed beta and the game has improved greatly based on community feedback. We are now excited to launch Open Beta this Friday. We have expanded capacity in North America, Europe, and Australia and added new local servers to support growing communities in Brazil and Asia."
All player progress and unlocks will be preserved with no planned character wipes.
In advance of Open Beta, a significant patch this week will include:
New gametype, Arena Deathmatch, with two initial maps
New Capture The Flag map, Temple Ruins
New Team Deathmatch map, Inferno
Two new unlockable items for the Soldier class: Proximity Grenade and Utility Pack
New default suits for Doombringer and Brute
Ability to view either Blood Eagle or Diamond Sword skins from Class menu
Service supporting Name Change
Large number of bug-fixes and balance adjustments.
Please find the details in the patch notes.
As of Friday 5pm GMT, anyone interested in trying Tribes: Ascend can create an account and download the game from http://www.tribesascend.com, without the need for a beta key.
Additional information was provided about the art direction in Forge of Empires. The developers have worked hard to create natural looking 3D graphics to give players an accurate, believable world. The game uses a muted color palette to focus on highlights in the designs to make the game stand out, without everything looking the same. The game also features significantly detailed buildings and animations to give life to player cities.
New wallpapers, art designs and sketches have also been provided on the Forge of Empires website for players to download.
Forge of Empires is published by InnoGames, who also publishes Tribal Wars and Grepolis.
Tobias Dunz, Lead Graphic Artist
Forge of Empires
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Natural Beauty: Art and Design in Forge of Empires
Realism and Attention to Detail create immersive Worlds in the Browser
Hamburg, February 22, 2012. Today InnoGames released additional information regarding Art and Design of the strategic Browsergame Forge of Empires. The Flash-Based 3D Graphics of the game are based on a naturalistic style, and present players an accurate and believable world by focusing on realistic details. On www.forgeofempires.com, there are now brand new Wallpapers, Art Designs and Sketches for players to enjoy.
“We aimed at creating a world that feels authentic to players,” explains Tobias Dunz, Forge of Empires’ Lead Artist. “Which doesn’t mean, to force oneself to remain historically accurate all the time, but rather to keep in mind that this world and the buildings within could really have existed.”
Forge of Empires keeps away from comic-like exaggerations, a muted color palette with targeted visual highlights keep the graphics appealing without being too uniform: “We did not want a style that seems sterile or plain. Thus we toyed around a lot with the geometry and shapes of the games’ various ages. Additionally, we paid a lot of attention to details,” says Dunz. Structurally complex and detailed buildings and dozens of animations allow curious players to perpetually discover new aspects of their city. The Graphic Artists’ main Tools for creating Forge of Empires were 3D Studio Max, Maya and Cinema 4D.
Forge of Empires is a browser-based strategy game that allows players to create a city and develop it from the Stone Age and onward throughout the centuries. Players can create a vast empire through military campaigns and skillful dealings. InnoGames provides additional information in the game’s very own blog.
Eden Eternal has released a new content patch today. The patch includes the new Ranger class, an increase in the level cap, new maps and dungeons, and improved PvP content.
The Ranger is a powerful ranged class, capable of learning skills like Meteor Shower and Arrow of Fear. The class can also use guns and even an eagle to assist it in combat.
The level cap in Eden Eternal has also been increased to 65, and a 3v3 matchmaking system for PvP has been improved to pit characters against opponents their level range. The new maps include Witchcraft Forest and Shiver Peak, and there are new dungeons to explore and loot as well.
Eden Eternal is published by Aeria Games, who also publishes Shaiya and Grand Fantasia.
Ranger in Shiver Peak
Eden Eternal Gameplay Screenshot
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Aeria Games Releases New Content for Eden Eternal Featuring New Ranger Class, Maps and Increased Level Cap
Update to Popular Free-to-Play MMORPG Introduces All New Ranger Class Along With New Dungeons and Upgraded PvP
SANTA CLARA, Calif. – February 22, 2012 – Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, has released the latest content patch for its highly popular free-to-play MMORPG, Eden Eternal. The new content update includes the all-new Ranger class, an increased level cap, new maps and dungeons, and upgraded PvP content.
Eden Eternal has expanded its vibrant world to include the ranks of the agile warrior known as the Ranger, whose deadly aim can easily disable opponents from a distance. With a fury of high DPS ranged attacks at its disposal, including the Meteor Shower and the Arrow of Fear, this powerful class can stealthily take out its opponents from afar by bow, artillery gun or even eagle. The Ranger class's unique ability to summon the assistance of the mighty Hunters eagle makes it a lethal new addition to the Eden Eternal universe. In addition to the Ranger class, an increased level cap of 65 and new PvP enhancements have been made. The improvements such as a 3v3 Matchmaking system have been refined to more effectively pair players with others in their level range. By creating a more balanced, intensive match, players have access to an even-footed arena experience to prove their strength in PVP combat.
Also included in this Eden Eternal content update:
New Level 61-65 Maps: Amazing new areas including the Witchcraft Forest and Shiver Peak for players to forge through new landmarks in pursuit of wealth and adventure.
New Level 61-65 Dungeons: Epic dungeons full of new dangerous monsters for players to battle, secrets to discover and powerful gear to loot and equip.
Published by Aeria Games, Eden Eternal is free to download on the PC and free-to-play. Gamers can learn more and play Eden Eternal by visiting http://edeneternal.aeriagames.com.
Gamania (Beanfun) has announced the second expansion for Lucent Heart will be coming on March 20. Named Stadia, the expansion will bring a significant amount of content for players.
Aside from new areas and new bosses, players can also look forward to Tarot Battle Pets, a unique Mount Race system and even new songs and dances in their dance system. Each Tarot pet the player can collect will have their own skills, role and animations. The Mount Race system is a kart-style racing game, complete with different tracks and mounts to race with.
Gamania also publishes Bright Shadow and Divina.
Lucent Heart Stadia Expansion Trailer:
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GAMANIA REVEALS LUCENT HEART'S"STADIA" EXPANSION
Mount Races, Tarot Battle Pets, New Areas, Bosses, and More
IRVINE, Calif. – February 22, 2012 – Gamania Digital Entertainment today announced Lucent Heart's second major expansion, Stadia, coming March 20th. Bringing a significant amount of content, players can expect new areas and bosses, the first Tarot Battle Pets, the unique Mount Race system, and more. Gamania has released a preview trailer for the expansion and additional details will be revealed at the official Stadia teaser site: http://www.lucentheart.com/updates/stadia
"This will be our second major expansion for Lucent Heart and it's coming with some great RPG and social content," said David Wong, COO of Gamania. "My favorite new feature is the Mount Race, which adds Mario Kart style racing to the game. We've been having a blast playing it internally and I can't wait to let our players give it a try."
Stadia will launch on March 20th as a free update for all Lucent Heart players. Key highlights include:
Mount Races: The Mount Race is a full-featured kart-style racing game with multiple mounts and tracks, items, and of course power slides!
Tarot Battle Pets: The powerful Tarot race is the newest type of battle pet to fight alongside players. Each Tarot pet has its own unique skills, role, and animations.
Additional Content: Players will find new zones, bosses, instances, armor sets – even songs and moves for the Dance System.
Players can follow the Stadia teaser site (http://www.lucentheart.com/updates/stadia) until its March 20th launch for upcoming in-depth information and join Lucent Heart's fun and friendly communitytoday at http://us.beanfun.com/lucentheart/.
A quick look and discussion for every major announcement and update during the week! This week we discussed updates from the following games: Rusty Hearts, War Inc, Seven Souls Online, Allods Online, Requiem, Perfect World, Forsaken World, Tactical Intervention, Brawl Busters and Eligium. The biggest news this week is the huge content updates for both Perfect World and Allods Online, arguably two of the most popular F2P MMORPGs. The updates for both games provide higher level caps, new items and gear, group dungeons as well as Raid dungeons, class balances and new abilities. All of this content is now available to players. You can view all the individual news articles mention over at the MMOHut.com News section.
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Play is important. Whether you're a kid or a grown-up, play has an important role in our lives, and video games are taking an increasingly large percentage of our playtime these days. But for kids' play in particular, there's always a question about the quality of video game time and whether or not it's actually just a waste of time.
Kid-friendly MMOs are a relatively new segment of the MMO industry, but it often feels like they're just grown-up MMOs with kid-friendly graphics. Sometimes, the games are even stripped of the grown-up features in an attempt to make them easier, but that often results in a less than compelling game. Here's a quest; do it. Here's a creature; zap it. Here's a pet; hug it. Here are some clothes and decorative items; buy them. I may sound a bit jaded, but that's only because I think kid-friendly MMOs can be so much better than they currently are.
To do that, we have to step back and examine how kids play, and studios must concentrate game design around that. In this week's MMO Family, I'll be looking at three areas of kids' play and exploring why games should look to Magic Markers, Jackpot, and Chutes and Ladders for inspiration.
One of the comments from last week's Choose My Adventure suggested that I must not be enjoying Ryzom all that much. That isn't entirely accurate, but it would be accurate to say that the charm of the starter island has worn out its welcome and then some, which wouldn't surprise anyone, given that last week's poll wound up in a decisive victory for leaving the island and heading out to the mainland. And while there may have been some business left unfinished there, I'm not one to ignore the rule of the polls.
And so it was that Corlede obeyed the will of the people and headed off for the Zorai city. Once there, I set about the important business of getting Corlede outfitted, taking some advice, and assembling a team to plant an idea inside the head of a talking lion meant to represent a well-known religious figure. Or something like that.
Despite the commonly held belief that 2011 was a disastrous year for CCP and EVE Online, the firm recently told TechCrunch that its sci-fi sandbox game brought in $66 million in revenue last year.
The website reports that EVE's revenue features a compound annual growth rate of 53 percent, and the title has also generated $300 million in total revenue since its 2003 launch. Interestingly, the article avoids all mention of 2011's Monoclegate brouhaha and the resulting player protests that led CCP to refocus its development plans. It also paints a rosy picture of New Eden's future, and CCP head honcho Hilmar Petursson says an IPO is a possibility.
"We want to be ready for an IPO from a policy standpoint," he explains. "We're quite a substantial company, so we're thinking, OK, what is the next step?"
The wet-behind-the-ears Eden Eternal is already hard at work beefing up its content, up to and including a brand-new class. Aeria Games just released a huge update for the game, and it's hard to say where players should start first.
Perhaps they should check out the new Ranger class, which excels at ranged damage with a bow, artillery gun, or eagle (don't scoff -- a face-full of eagle will ruin anyone's day). If Rangers aren't your bag, then there's an increased level cap to 65, PvP improvements such as a 3v3 matchmaking system, and new high-level areas and dungeons to explore.
Eden Eternal just added the Samurai class to the game last month. You can get a peek at all of this update goodness in the gallery and video below!
This week I'm trying an experiment: My friend and I are attempting to pull together a (semi-)regular adventuring group for Dungeons and Dragons Online. It's an iffy proposition, as I've been part of a couple of other regular groups before and they've never lasted long (I blame my loud, abusive rants over Vent). But the idea is infectious, and I'm not giving up on trying them out.
Regular groups -- if you can pull them off and stick with them -- can offer a singular experience in which friends bond over a continuous shared journey, one in which they become a fully functional team from the onset. Plus, being part of one means that no content is too big or too small, and one never need worry about having to troll the LFG channel or dungeon finders for strangers.
So I'm curious: How many of you have been a part of a regular MMO group? How do you make it work, and what did you take away from it?
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!
If you're a potential player in America, it's Age of Wushu. If you're in Europe or China, it's Age of Wulin. Wherever you're located, it's an upcoming free-to-play game focusing on wuxia-style combat in the same style as Chinese action films. And if you can't wait to see more of the game in action, you're in luck -- Snail Games USA has released a new documentary on the game focusing on its seven-city testing tour in China last year.
The documentary mixes in developer presentations, player impressions, and some live gameplay footage from this large-scale beta event, all of which combine to paint a picture of the game as it continues development. The full documentary is 15 minutes long and embedded just after the cut, so if you can't wait to see more of the game, check it out and keep your eyes peeled for more updates as the game approaches localization and launch.
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.
Somewhere, on a lone computer in a lonely room, sits the archetype for a balanced MMO, one in which every set of abilities in a skill-based MMO is just as useful as every other set of abilities and every class in a class-based game is just as potent as every other class. There are no disparities in terms of power level, no massive gaps in gearing, and no issues with the specific fights. It is an entirely balanced machine.
And as long as we're creating a myth with no place in reality, let's assume that it's being guarded by unicorns. That's the problem with balance -- it's an idea that doesn't actually work in a real environment. We talk a lot about wanting games to have balanced systems, and there are players devoted to declaring with great fervor that classes aren't balanced against one another, but balance is such a hazy concept that no matter how much you want a balanced game, it doesn't really exist.
Even two months after its launch, Star Wars: The Old Republic continues to pick up steam and shows no signs of stopping. Needless to say, the folks over at BioWare are immeasurably pleased with the game's success, so to commemorate the game's recent launch and explosive growth, BioWare has released a new video that lets fans hear from the game's devs and players alike. So if you'd like to take a few minutes to listen to BioWare devs wax nostalgic on the game's development and launch, or if you just want to hear what some of the game's players have to say about their experiences so far, just click on past the cut for the full video.
When deciding what I want to talk about on the Hyperspace Beacon every week, I check over the buzz from various news outlets, personal experiences, and columns from the community. An internet community will inevitably steer toward the negative -- that's just the nature of the internet. And one of the most common themes out there is bugs. I am not talking about Killiks; I mean parts of the game that are not working as intended.
When we -- the press and other fansites -- gave our impressions of Star Wars: The Old Republic, we were at conventions or at lower levels in the game. Level 28 was the highest I ever reached in any beta, and conventions set us on a predetermined path. At that time, I was completely impressed with the level of polish the game had received. I still believe that this game has fewer bugs than a good chunk of MMOs; however, there are certainly more bugs in this game than I'd expect from a single-player release.
I could probably spend a whole article just listing unintended issues with the game, but I do like to be the voice of reason as well. On top of that, I want to see SWTOR succeed. Therefore, beyond just talking about bugs, let's deal with the overall issue of why these critters pop up in the first place.
While we heard about Sony Online Entertainment's partnership with ProSiebenSat.1 Games Group to publish MMOs in Europe last month, the specific details of this deal were lurking under a cloud cover of mystery and speculation -- until now. SOE has posted a quite lengthy FAQ about this partnership and what it entails for the future of the studio in the Old World.
According to the deal, ProSiebenSat.1 has the license to officially publish eight of SOE's titles in 40 countries. These MMOs include DC Universe Online, EverQuest II, Free Realms, PlanetSide 2, and EverQuest Next (although not, oddly enough, EverQuest itself). SOE hopes that ProSiebenSat.1's location and expertise will result in in a greater audience for its games as well as more support and better localization for those under ProSiebenSat.1's umbrella. SOE even hopes that the partnership will result in "special content" for European players.
Previously, SOE had distribution agreements for Europe but nothing on the scale of what it now has with ProSiebenSat.1. It looks like EU players will need to transfer their accounts and characters over to ProSiebenSat.1's domain, although SOE promises that this will be an easy process. It's also important to note that these games and their servers will not interact with their North American counterparts, effectively separating the communities.
Over the weekend, a dramatic change in the official website alerted astute Daevas that something was up. Well speculation be gone: All betting pools for the anticipated announcement of Aion going free-to-play in North America are closed! Today, NCsoft revealed not only a time frame for the much anticipated 3.0 patch -- dubbed Aion: Ascension -- but also the news that the title will convert to F2P in at the same time. Already free-to-play in Europe, the game will have a model that is "truly free," according to NCsoft, giving all Daevas the opportunity to experience all content, including lands, dungeons, quests, and levels.
Ascension will bring with it the long-awaited housing and mount systems shown in the visions trailer many moons ago in addition to two new zones, six new instances, and an increased level cap (60) along with many tweaks, fixes, and other features.
NCsoft will also be hosting a Rallying the Troops event to give new players a head start in experiencing the game. This event is an extended trial with an increased level cap of 40 and no time limit. Veterans will enjoy a head start as well with free reactivation for 14 days. Need an extra incentive to check the game out (again)? A permanent boost in XP will also be implemented to help Daevas prepare for the upcoming new lands that can only be accessed by levels 55+.
Eager Daevas and Daevas-to-be can expect these changes this spring. We will keep you posted with more details as they become available! In the meantime, the full press release is behind the break.
Last year around this time, we asked you to voice your opinion on certain aspects of Massively that you liked or disliked at the time. This year, we're asking for you to take a few moments to answer some questions about the games you like or don't like. We know that many of you are into the latest and greatest, while others are into the classics, and still others don't even play MMOs at all. This fascinates us, and we want to know more about your preferences. The survey is optional, it's completely anonymous, and it will help us evaluate what types of MMO and gaming topics most interest our readers.
To participate, head over to our survey page and answer the questions listed. We appreciate your help in making Massively the best MMO website for its readers!
A week ago I sat here writing up what I thought was going to be the epitaph for EverQuest's odd foray into an Apple-only product, EverQuest Macintosh. The word came down from on high that with the coming of free-to-play, EQMac's diminutive server population would be ushered out the doors as Al'Kabor got sent to the retirement home.
That was a week ago. Boy, what a difference a week makes, right?
Since the writing of that article, we received word that not only did Sony Online Entertainmentreverse its decision to kill EQMac but that it will be making the server completely free for its community for the indefinite future. I learned that while under the influence of a 102-degree fever, so I initially thought it was just my brain cooking in my skull. But no, it was the truth. So what happened in the span of that week? Why did SOE do a 180 and keep alive an ancient relic of its flagship MMO?
For the whole, unadulterated truth, I called up SOE President John Smedley to get the full scoop on the wild rollercoaster he's taken this loyal community on these past few weeks. Finding out what he said will only cost you one click. It's worth it, trust me.
I like to poke fun at ArenaNet staff members for their use of the word iteration. That's not because I think it's a cop-out or self-aggrandizement or anything. It's because I like to think of it as being at the top of an internal buzzword sheet with all the blogpost writers trying to work it into their text to earn an extra nickel. It's a patently whimsical notion, and I have a special spot in my heart for the patently whimsical.
It's nice to see that concept of iteration lending real benefit to the game. Sure, it's caused forumites no little angst; when we heard that the trait system was being reworked, for example, certain people were convinced that the iterative process meant that the game would never launch. I don't understand the panic-stations mentality. Any game company exists to make money, and you don't make money by spending five years developing a game, taking a demo on the road for two years, and never releasing it. You also don't make money by releasing a crap game. ArenaNet wants to make a lot of money. That does not make the company evil. It motivates the team to make as good a game as possible because people like buying good games.
Despite those so-called fans who look for the slightest provocation to bring out the sackcloth and ashes, the strength of the iterative process is shown every time we get to see a new demo of Guild Wars 2. Beyond just seeing a higher level of polish, we can see that certain events have been reworked, and the changes are to only the players' benefit.
Massively Speaking Episode 187 knows that not only is winter coming, but it is here! And because of that, we've invited Game of Thrones' own Hodor, Kristian Nairn, to join us for a lively round of MMO discussion. Kristian is an avid MMO gamer, and when he isn't serving the Starks on HBO, he's likely to be found hip-deep in Star Wars: The Old Republic and RIFT.
Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page:
CCP's latest dev blog spills the beans on EVE Online's upcoming rookie ship revamp. CCP Guard reports that the redesign is "part of our ongoing effort to continuously update the art assets in EVE Online and [make] sure it remains the most beautiful MMO out there."
The blog entry features a video clip that takes us behind the scenes at CCP's art department, and there are plenty of talking-head interviews as well as a few glimpses of sexy internet spaceship concept art. The five-minute clip is basically a crash course in the lengthy process of adding new art assets to EVE, and you'll find it after the jump.
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 
