MMO News

MMO News


Combat Arms Introduces MVP Rewards

Posted: 21 May 2012 05:19 PM PDT

Nexon America has introduced new MVP rewards for leaderboard champions in Combat Arms.

The new MVP system rewards players for excellence in combat, including “Skull Buster” (most headshots), “Spy Hunter” (most spies killed), and “Fragmentor” (most kills with explosives). Rewards for MVPs include EXP and GP bonuses plus item rewards. Some modes will have unique awards, and each mode will also have participation minimums to earn MVP rewards.

Clan Play also also gained bonuses of up to 20% EXP and GP, based on how many clan members are in the same match simultaneously. The update also includes the new Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle, and re-skin and rebalance of the specialists.

Nexon also publishes Sudden Attack and Vindictus.

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Combat Arms “Clan Rewards” Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

Most Valuable Killers

 

Nexon's 'Combat Arms' awards leaderboard legends with MVP rewards

 

Nexon America's "Combat Arms," a high-intensity, online first person shooter with more than five million registered players in North America, is introducing MVP rewards for players who top the leaderboards after battles in 14 different categories.

 

The MVP system gives players rewards for a variety of excellent performances during a match for accomplishing specific goals in "Combat Arms'" various game modes. Examples of the MVP categories include the "Skull Buster" award for most headshots; "Spy Hunter" for the player who kills the most spies in the spy hut mode and "Fragmentor," which goes to the player who claims the most kills using explosives.

 

Awards include immediate EXP and GP bonuses as well as occasional item rewards. To earn the MVP accolades, each mode will require certain player participation minimums in each match, and some modes will have unique MVP awards specific to game, such as "Flag Defender" for the capture the flag mode.

 

Additionally, "Combat Arms" has added bonuses for clan play. With this update, clan members can gain as much as 20 percent EXP and GP, depending on how many clan members are in the same match at the same time.

 

Also in this update is a new sniper rifle, the Ruger Gunsite Scout Rifle, joining "Combat Arms'" enormous arsenal. Its short barrel and lightweight frame give it superb mobility without a loss of accuracy.

 

To round out the update is a re-skin and rebalance of "Combat Arms" specialists. For example, the Viper specialist has had color added to her uniform and her speed has been changed from plus-15 to zero. The Hawk specialist has had his uniform made darker and added increased headshot stats while reducing his speed stats. This rebalance of all the specialists bring those characters into alignment with available gear. For player who currently have specialists in their inventories, they will be renamed with the prefix "Classic" and retain their original stats. The specialist currently for sale will have the stat changes and retain their prefix name, "Codename." So, for example, Codename: Scorpion will now be called Classic: Scorpion if in a players inventory.

 

The new Combat Arms update that includes the MVP Rewards is currently live and available for free download at: http://combatarms.nexon.net.

Juggernaut Announces Versus GM Event

Posted: 21 May 2012 04:41 PM PDT

Mail.Ru has revealed new events for Juggernaut, where players can battle the game’s GMs and Admins.

From now until May 27, players can fight against the Juggernaut staff, who will be stripped of special powers and equipment, and left only with their natural skills to battle. Players can also join with their server’s admin team to battle other teams from around the world, with a cumulative worldwide battle royale during the weekend. All players who participate will earn coins that can be exchanged for items at the end of the event.

Mail.Ru also publishes RiotZone.

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Juggernaut Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

JUGGERNAUT PITS PLAYERS AGAINST STAFF

Pwn A GM For Fun And Prizes

Hamburg, May 21, 2012. Leading publisher Mail.RU Games announced today the arrival of new events for their successful Free-to-play role-playing game, Juggernaut. Pit your skills against the player’s admins, stripped of their buffs, and prove who truly rules in Haradan! Suit up with your best PVP abilities and charge straight over to www.juggergame.com where players can register and play for free.

 

Mail.RU Games has come up with another amazing Juggernaut event: it’s time for the gamers to pit themselves against the admins! From today until May 27th, the warriors of Haradan have the opportunity to fight against the game’s GMs and support staff. For this unique period, the admins will be stripped of all their special powers and equipment, though as longtime veterans of the game they won’t be easy to defeat.

 

Join forces with your server’s admin, and take on teams from around the world. Initially only two GMs will be available, but as the event rolls on more will join in – culminating with a massive battle during the weekend you simply can’t miss. Each warrior who participates in these battles will earn coins, which can be exchanged at the end of the event for valuable items.

 

This is all in addition to recent events including aiding Vestia the Orphan, who smiles brightly in the Brandendal Suburbs, tending her flowers, along with “In The Service of Gkhorr” where you must compete with fellow players to defeat and capture the escaped ghosts and return them to the Altar of Gkhorr for rich rewards!

MMOHut Weekly Recap #86 May 20 – KartRider Dash, Divina, C9, Ether Saga, & More

Posted: 21 May 2012 03:34 PM PDT


A quick look and discussion for every major announcement and update during the week! This week we discussed updates from the following games: Kart Rider Dash, Divina, C9, Sudden Attack, Smite, Ragnarok Online, Tribes Ascend, Ether Saga Online, Crossfire, Micro Volts, Blacklight Retribution, Spirit Tales, Eden Eternal, and Fallen Earth. The biggest news this week comes Hi-Rez Studios regarding Smite. The announcement is that the closed beta of the game will start on May 31st. Smite is one of the newest MOBA games (similar to League of Legends and HoN) but focuses on gameplay from the third person perspective. Not many MOBA games use this vantage point with one of the most well known ones being LOCO Evolution. Time will tell if this style of MOBA becomes popular You can view all the individual news articles mention over at the MMOHut.com News section.

Brick Force Gameplay/Discussion

Posted: 21 May 2012 03:15 PM PDT

To Learn More About the Game, Check out our Brick-Force Page.

Brick-Force is a 3D MMOFPS published by Infernum. It is a sandbox style shooter where users can build maps and then play in them with friends and others online. It is somewhat comparable to Ace of Spades. In this video I talk about Brick Force’s diversity among other F2P shooters. I highlight some of its strengths such as player created maps as well as touch on its weaknesses (im looking at you one shot kill sniper rifles). To learn more about BrickForce check out the official MMOHut Brick-Force page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Dragon Born Gameplay – First Look HD

Posted: 21 May 2012 02:41 PM PDT

 

To Learn More About the Game, Check out our Dragon Born Page.

Dragon Born is a 2D MMO published by KoramGame. The game features four classes: Soldier, Priest, Mage, and Ranger. It features quest-based gameplay, as well as dungeon delving. Solo players may hire NPCs to help them with more difficult content. Guilds, known as Legions, give various perks like extra experience from monsters. Mounts in Dragon Born level up as well, as you ride them, and can learn additional skills. In this video we check out the Soldier class. To learn more about Dragon Born check out the official MMOHut Dragon Born page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Mid Wars in Heroes of Newerth – Gameplay Commentary

Posted: 21 May 2012 02:32 PM PDT

 

To Learn More About the Game, Check out our Heroes of Newerth Page.

Heroes of Newerth is a 3D MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) style MMO published by S2Games – the same company behind Savage and Savage 2. In its core, Heroes of Newerth plays a lot like Realm of the Titans, League of Legends, Rise of Immortals and other “DotA” style Moba games. Those waiting for DotA 2 and don’t like LoL should consider looking into Heroes of Newerth. Recently, S2 unveiled the new “Mid Wars” mode where everyone fights in the mid lane starting at level 1. The new mode features a lot of custom changes to gameplay in order to accommodate a faster, more action oriented match. To learn more about Heroes of Newerth check out the official MMOHut Heroes of Newerth page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

The Pride of Taern Gameplay – First Look HD

Posted: 21 May 2012 02:24 PM PDT

To Learn More About the Game, Check out our The Pride of Taern Page.

The Pride of Taern is a 2D Browser MMO  published by White Moon. The Pride of Taern allows you to create and control a hero to become the dominant force in the land of Taern. The game is open-ended in style, allowing you to do quests in a non-linear fashion, at your leisure. You also have the option to create a guild, and expand the structures to incredible levels. PvP players will also find large scale battles between guilds, as well as arena tournaments to participate in. To learn more about The Pride of Taern check out the official MMOHut Pride of Taern page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Aeria Games Announces Born To Fire

Posted: 21 May 2012 01:52 PM PDT

Aeria Games has announced a new upcoming MMOFPS to their lineup: Born to Fire.

Born to Fire features character-driven gameplay in a post-Cold War setting. Players can choose from five classes: Duelist, Heavy-Hitter, Rifleman, Warden, or Ranger. Each of these classes comes with its own backstory, tactics, and customizable arsenal. The game will also feature a variety of maps and modes with plans to encourage team strategy. Born to Fire also promises fast one-click matchmaking and replay tools.

Aeria Games also publishes Wolf Team and Realm of the Titans.

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Born To Fire Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

Aeria Games Unveils New Character-Driven First-Person Shooter MMO, Born to Fire

 

Closed Beta Registration Begins for Upcoming Free-to-Play Online FPS

 

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – May. 21, 2012 – Load your guns, strap on your holster, and get ready to show off your best action movie one-liners. Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, announced today that closed beta registration has begun for Born to Fire, a gritty new massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS). Whether it's a suave agent with a license to kill, a take-no-prisoners tough guy, or an elite Special Forces operative, Born to Fire's character-driven gameplay is designed to suit any player's style.

 

 

 

Following the Cold War, the Russian Federation has lost ground in an arms race with the United States and turned to more unconventional methods of warfare. As the rules of engagement are thrown out the window, Special Forces around the world are sucked into the fray of a chaotic, anything-goes political landscape. The fate of these elite troops, and the interests they represent, is in the players' hands as they step into a global free-fire zone.

 

 

 

Players can choose to lock-and-load as a Duelist, Heavy-Hitter, Rifleman, Warden, or Ranger as they battle for domination. Each class comes with its own distinctive backstory, unique tactics, and a diverse arsenal that is fully customizable. Varied maps and modes encourage innovative team strategies in unique PvP warfare. Fast, one-click matchmaking offers players an optimized way to battle it out, while built-in replay tools enable players to improve their game by studying their own moves alongside those of fellow combatants.

 

 

 

"In Born to Fire, players step in the boots of five distinct classes of elite operatives engaged in a global firefight for domination," said Tom Nichols, Director of Publishing at Aeria Games. "With the instant gratification of one-click matchmaking and the in-depth analysis provided by elaborate replay tools, Born to Fire represents a new class of character-driven, highly customizable MMOFPS that's easy to get into but nearly impossible to fully master."

 

 

 

Born to Fire will require a client download, and as with all Aeria Games titles, will be free-to-play. Interested players can learn more and sign up to participate in the upcoming closed beta test at http://borntofire.aeriagames.com. Players who 'Like' the Facebook page will stay informed of the latest news, updates, and contests as the game nears its official launch.

 

 

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates


Core Blaze – Preparing for E3 2012

Posted: 22 May 2012 04:16 AM PDT


[More info] It has been quite a few months since anything substantial was announced for Gamania's upcoming action MMORPG, Core Blaze, but the time to unveil the latest game build is near. Over at E3 2012 early next month in Los Angeles and the upcoming Gamescom 2012 in Cologne, Germany, more details for the latest improvements made to Core Blaze will be shown.


Other than the teaser trailer, several new screenshots were revealed as well. Developed using Unreal Engine 3, Core Blaze looks ready to really define the term "action combat", hopefully not the type of "True Action Combat" which does not allow players to attack while moving around.


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BattleForge MMO Review

Posted: 22 May 2012 04:03 AM PDT

BattleForge is a 3D fantasy MMORTS/TCG hybrid wherein players battle for map dominance by using cards to summon units, structures, and cast spells on their opponents.  With full fledged single-player campaigns and fast paced 1v1 & 2v2 PvP duels, BattleForge is a unique mix of gameplay elements that work together flawlessly.

 

 

Publisher: Electronic Arts
Playerbase: Medium
Graphics: High Quality
Type: MMO
EXP Rate: Medium
PvP: 1v1 & 2v2 battles
Filesize: 90 MB installer, 2GB+ patch

Website: http://www.battleforge.com/en/

Pros: +Fast-paced gameplay. +Well integrated RTS & TCG elements. +Rewarding single player content. +Upgradable cards, customizable decks.

Cons: -Repetitive scenarios. -Limited unit formations. -Poorly developed story/lore. -Repetitive scenarios.

 

BattleForge is an original game that mixes classic PC RTS (real time strategy) gameplay with a TCG (trading card game) concept.  To EA and Phenonmic's credit, the two elements are made to work well, making BattleForge an enjoyable, unique MMO gaming experience.  The production value of the game is what you would expect from a premium Western developer – the graphics are bright and vibrant, while the music score and voice acting only enhance the quality.  Originally released as retail game with a free demo, BattleForge is now entirely free-to-play, with optional micro transactions for additional booster packs.  Spell, building, and unit cards in Battleforge belong to one of four element types, and they are:

Fire - Aggressive cards that deal heavy damage.

Frost – Defensive cards.  Frost units absorb damage well and have access to powerful towers.

Nature - Focused on control and creature cards.  Nature has powerful siege weapons and units with healing abilities.

Shadow – Necromancy and destruction are the hallmarks of this element.  Shadow creatures include the undead and wicked beings like witches.

 

 

 

BattleForge System Requirements

Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows XP/Vista
CPU: 1.8GHz AMD64 or Intel Core
RAM: 512 MB
HDD: 10.0 GB
Graphics Card: NVidia GeForce 6000-Series or better, ATI Radeon 9500

Recommended Specifications:
OS: Windows Vista / XP
CPU: Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz or better
RAM: 1024 MB (1GB) or more
HDD: 12.0 GB Free
Graphics Card: GeForce 7000 or better

 

 

38 Studios begins staff layoffs

Posted: 22 May 2012 02:54 AM PDT


[Source] The inevitable has happened, and I am certainly not surprised at all. 38 Studios, the developer of the EA-distributed RPG, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and the upcoming MMO, Project Copernicus, has confirmed that layoffs has begun to ensure the rest of the employees were paid their salary. This comes after 38 Studios defaulted on their loan payment (although paid now) amidst severe financial constraints (link). Project Copernicus, a MMORPG based off Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, is scheduled to launch June 2013.


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Breaking the Illusion: Not Playing by the Rules

Posted: 21 May 2012 05:07 PM PDT

Max Payne 3

I like to play games in what I imagine is an unusual manner, or at least I thought this to be the case until 1UP members revealed they share some of my habits. One of these things, my propensity for systematically exploring an area before moving on, has reared its head in particularly noticeable fashion as I make my way through Max Payne 3. Playing in this way was clearly something the game's designers accounted for, as evidenced by the collectables scattered throughout, and yet it feels almost as if I'm being punished for deciding to be a completionist.

My process for approaching each area in Max Payne 3 follows the same pattern, only being altered if I'm low on health and out of painkillers (health packs in Max Payne's world). I kill everyone and then proceed to sweep over the entire room, seeking out any hidden spots or areas which do not appear to lead to the next area. As I make my way from one combat area to the next, I'm mindful of my surroundings and am sure to double back to check behind staircases and to see which doors can be opened. I do this all while searching for golden gun components, painkillers, and clues which can be examined. The latter can fill in the backstory but is hardly needed to get the gist of the narrative. I'm able to comfortably do this because there is no ticking clock, even if what Max is doing at any given time suggests there should be, and because enemies come in limited numbers and only in certain areas.

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What If?: Gaming’s Alternate Realities

Posted: 21 May 2012 04:27 PM PDT

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1UP COVER STORY

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1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 21 | WHAT IF?

What If?: Gaming's Alternate Realities

1UP explores what might have happened had video game history gone differently.

People love to look back at the past and ask, "What if things had gone differently?" Navel-gazing at history spans cultures and races. Whether it's author Harry Turtledove making a fortune by contemplating how differently the American Civil War would have gone if someone had time-traveled to give the Confederate Army machine guns, or the manga Konpeki No Kantai in which the Japanese navy beats up America in World War II before teaming up to kill Hitler, second-guessing ourselves seems to be human nature.

Maybe it's the competitive nature of the medium, but video gamers seem especially fond of revisiting the past and wondering about alternate outcomes. As the Three Fates in the image above suggest, games have woven a rich and complex tapestry in their mere half-century of existence -- a tapestry whose design and nature could have changed radically had things turned out differently.

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What If Video Games Never Came Home?

Posted: 21 May 2012 04:25 PM PDT

1UP COVER STORY

1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 21 | WHAT IF?

What if Video Games Never Came Home?

Cover Story: A chilling glimpse into a world where the arcade still rules supreme.

1

UP's cover story this week revolves around the question, "What if?" In keeping with that theme, we'd like to offer this glimpse into one of many alternate realities of video gaming: A world where video games never came home. A world where the arcade still dominates gaming. How would a site like 1UP be different in such a place? We talk to our mirror universe counterparts about the state of gaming and their thoughts on the medium.


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What If Third-Party Development Didn’t Exist?

Posted: 21 May 2012 04:24 PM PDT

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1UP COVER STORY

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1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 21 | WHAT IF?

What If Third-Party Development Didn't Exist?

Cover Story: How Activision's 1982 win in court changed the industry.

L

et's be honest, when we think about Activision-Blizzard as a company, at least a few of us get a mental image of a dark overlord with hooked fingers looming over a burning landscape. This image is usually accompanied by a deep-voiced demand for sacrificial virgins. Given Activision-Blizzard's status as The Biggest Thing That Has Ever Existed in Gaming, it's easy to forget that prehistoric Activision fought for the right to develop third-party games on the Atari 2600 -- a battle that it eventually won in court.

Activision's victory essentially made it possible for third-party game designers to ply their trade on home game consoles.

Activision's drive for justice wasn't exclusively about being paid its deserved royalties, either. During the 2600 era, Atari had a nasty habit of not crediting its game developers (or even letting developers bring attention to themselves, which convinced Adventure developer Warren Robinett to bury his name in the game, possibly creating the first digital Easter Egg). When Activision won the right to make its own games for the 2600 in 1982, credit was no longer a problem.

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What If Square Never Left Nintendo?

Posted: 21 May 2012 04:22 PM PDT

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1UP COVER STORY

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1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 21 | WHAT IF?

What If Square Never Left Nintendo?

Cover Story: We look at how the RPG powerhouse would've fared without the PlayStation.

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or RPG fans of the early 1990s, Square practically had their own branch on the Nintendo family tree. This held especially true on the Super NES, where Square came into its own with Final Fantasy IV and VI, Secret of Mana, Chrono Trigger, and wealth of Japan-only releases that loomed just out of reach for Americans. By the end of 1995, the union seemed solid. Nintendo's long-awaited Nintendo 64 system was on its way, and would be home to Square's next Final Fantasy.

There seemed no reason to worry until the spring of 1996, when those same RPG fans opened game magazines and learned that Final Fantasy VII wouldn't release in the form of a Nintendo 64 cartridge. It was now headed for the Sony PlayStation, as with every other game Square planned to make for the latest generation of consoles. By the end of the year, Square sewed up a publishing agreement with Sony, and their first PlayStation release, the fighter Tobal No. 1, sat on store shelves. It came as quite a surprise to players who'd effectively grown up with RPGs on Nintendo systems.

Final Fantasy VII didn't just amount to a critical PlayStation success; it was also instrumental in establishing the Japanese RPG in North America's mainstream game industry.

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What If Steam Hadn’t Recovered From Its Shaky Launch?

Posted: 21 May 2012 04:21 PM PDT

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1UP COVER STORY

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1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 21 | WHAT IF?

What If Steam Hadn't Recovered From Its Shaky Launch?

Cover Story: Without Steam in a central role, the last decade of PC gaming would have been remarkably different.

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hen Steam first appeared in 2002, its success was far from a sure thing. Bugs and network problems outnumbered the available games on Valve's digital distribution platform by a wide margin. Users who disliked having to launch an extra application before playing their games doubted the necessity of the program itself. It took years for Steam's library to grow, for Valve to smooth over the rough spots, and for the public to embrace the concept of digital distribution. Today, Steam is synonymous with PC gaming, putting Valve in a unique position from which they can influence the industry in a number of ways.

What if the initial stumble had resulted in a full-on faceplant? How far would the ripples of that failure have spread? I don't claim to know exactly how things would have played out differently, but a lifetime of regret and PC gaming -- which occasionally go hand in hand -- has sharpened my hindsight enough to make a few educated guesses.

Steam Spot Art

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What If Star Wars Had Been a Flop in 1977?

Posted: 21 May 2012 04:19 PM PDT

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1UP COVER STORY

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1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 21 | WHAT IF?

What If Star Wars Had Been a Flop in 1977?

Cover Story: How the gaming galaxy would've been different without a few good Jedi.

I

magine that Star Wars had been a flop at the box office. Maybe George Lucas was allowed to release his original edit, or maybe word just never got out. Regardless, while it's not a disaster on par with Heaven's Gate--which brought down a whole studio--it's still pretty bad. It might survive as a cult film, and possibly even merit a reboot, but its influence is gone.

Now imagine the failure of Star Wars as one gigantic shock wave running through the video game industry. Genres, studios, even basics concepts vanish as it goes along. Now you see that, while the industry would (obviously) still exist without Star Wars, it would be very different indeed.

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