| Atlantica Online Provides Diabolica Update Information Posted: 25 May 2012 11:47 AM PDT Nexon has released new information about last week’s Diabolica update to Atlantica Online. The update features a redesigned Training Center, level 120 upgrade quest improvements, and PvP updates. The training center allows players to learn how to use their combat skills. If players can clear 10 stages of monsters, they will be rewarded with a supply box containing rare, high level necklaces. To unlock the training center, Guild Masters or Officers must spend 5,000 guild points. Once unlocked, players have access to it for an hour. The cooldown on unlocking it is 20 hours. Fewer items are now required for the level 120 upgrade quest, making it far easier to complete. The time limits required have also been increased. There have been several balances for PvP made to the game as well, to try and maintain a level playing field. Nexon also publishes Mabinogi and Vindictus.  Atlantica Online “Diabolica” Gameplay Screenshot
Source: A Diabolical Update Nexon America's Atlantica Online Introduces new Training Center in Diabolica Update Atlantica Online's Elements of war – Diabolica update introduced a completely redesigned Training Center, level 120 upgrade quest improvements and PvP updates last week. With a redesigned Training Center, players have been able to train and brush up on combat skills. The Training Center consists of 10 stages, in which monsters will spawn automatically for players to defeat. As each stage is cleared of all the monsters, players will be rewarded with Training Supply Boxes that give players a chance at obtaining rare, high-level necklaces. Main character necklaces may either have a Lv. 115 or Lv. 135 requirement. In order to access the Training Center, Guild Masters or Chief Officers must use 5,000 Guild Points. Once inside, guild members will have access to the Training Center and its new features for an hour, being accessible again after a 20 hour cool down period. In addition, the level 120 upgrade quest has been modified to be easier to complete. Those who found it impossible to battle through will now find that fewer items are needed to complete the quest and time limits have been increased. Fans of PvP in Atlantica Online can also jump into battle against each other and see what changes have been made. Nike's Spellbook has been modified so that an effect such as Awakening, Purifying, Mana Piercing and others will be randomly activated. . Other class specific magic effects have also been modified. Magic effects such as Lady Knight's Light Slash, Minstrel's Salvation and Instrument Main's Requiem effects have all been modified as well. For more information about the new Elements of War – Diabolica update and to train at the redesigned Training Center, visit: http://atlanticaonline.nexon.net.
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| Forge of Empires Adds US Servers Posted: 25 May 2012 11:20 AM PDT InnoGames has launched specific US Servers for Forge of Empires this week. These servers are separate from the international English version of the game, allowing American players a chance to form their own distinct community in the game. Forge of Empires is a strategy game that gives players the opportunity to build their own city from the ground up. With several technologies to research, historical buildings to construct, and their civilization’s sphere of influence to consider, the game gives players many options to succeed. The game also features an in-depth single player campaign, in addition to several PvP features. InnoGames also publishes Tribal Wars and Grepolis.  Forge of Empires Gameplay Screenshot
Source: Forge of Empires Opens Dedicated US Worlds Hamburg, May 25, 2012. This week, InnoGames launched a U.S. specific version of the new browser game Forge of Empires,where Americans can play together and belong to a distinct community, separate from the international English version of the title. Players can access this by visiting us.forgeofempires.com, or choosing the American flag on any of the Forge of Empires homepages. Forge of Empires is a browser-based strategy game, where players, tasked with leading their own city to prosperity can research new technologies, build impressive historical buildings and enlarge their sphere of influence through military campaigns and skillful dealing. Other players’ cities can be visited and, while admiring structures and placement of buildings, be supported by polishing decorations or motivating workers for increased happiness or resource outcome. Forge of Empires also contains a long-term single player campaign, as well as an ever-growing number of PvP-features, which offer months of entertainment. InnoGames provides additional information in the game’s very own blog. With more than 80 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the world’s leading developers and providers of online games. The Hamburg-based company has scored major successes with games such as Tribal Wars, The West and Grepolis.
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| Gameglobe Reveals Teaser Trailer and Screenshots Posted: 25 May 2012 11:09 AM PDT Bigpoint and Square Enix have released a new trailer and screenshots for their upcoming title Gameglobe today. Currently in closed beta, Gameglobe offers users free access to create, share, and play their own games, with console style HD graphics. Players may also choose from several levels from other players around the world. The games you can create are action-adventure inspired, and the creation tools promise to be intuitive and easy-to-use. The trailer for the game can be found at www.gameglobe.com. Bigpoint also publishes Battlestar Galactica Online and Dark Orbit. Gameglobe First Screenshots
Source: Shake up your imagination: Square Enix and Bigpoint have released the very first teaser trailer for Gameglobe™ (http://www.gameglobe.com), the innovative new online game platform to be published by the two companies. The 30-second teaser video grants a first glimpse at the worlds players can create and experience with Gameglobe and is sure to whet the appetite for the upcoming full-length trailer. Gameglobe is currently in closed beta and will be opened up to additional players in the coming months. To check out the video and register for the beta, players can head to the official website (http://www.gameglobe.com). Gameglobe is a unique browser-based experience that gives users free access to create, share and play their own games and game worlds all with console-level HD graphics, or pick from a multitude of levels from other users all around the world. Gameglobe is developed by Danish studio Hapti.co, part of the Square Enix group, and will be published exclusively by Bigpoint in North America and Europe, who will distribute the game through the Bigpoint.com Portal as well as across their network of partners.
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| Tribes Ascend Offers Double XP Event Posted: 25 May 2012 10:55 AM PDT Hi-Rez Studios has announced they will be awarding players double experience in Tribes Ascend this Memorial Day weekend, to celebrate surpassing 500,000 fans. The event applies to all servers, public or custom, worldwide. The event will run from Friday, May 25 at 10:00am EST until Tuesday, May 29 at 10:00am EST. You don’t have to be a fan of the game on Facebook to receive the reward either. VIP players and those who use boosted experience receive those bonuses in addition to the double XP, which only applies to the base experience earned per match. Friends can still become a fan on Facebook, and claim 250 Tribes Gold as a reward. Hi-Rez Studios also publishes Global Agenda.  Tribes Ascend Gameplay Screenshot
Source: Today we surpassed 500,000 fans on Facebook. To celebrate the milestone, we're awarding double XP this holiday weekend…starting tomorrow! The double XP event will apply to servers worldwide. You can play on any existing public or custom server between Friday, May 25th at 10:00am U.S. EST through Tuesday, May 29th at 10am U.S. EST and you will receive twice the base experience per match. Details/Rules: - All players are eligible for the Double XP event whether or not they are fans of the Tribes: Ascend Facebook page
- The promotion applies only to base XP. It does not apply to other XP sources such as Accolades or First Win of The Day.
- The promotion applies to public servers and custom servers that exist as of Friday, May 25th at 10:00am U.S. EST. The promotion does not apply to any Custom Server created or made active after the start of the event.
- Players with VIP status and/or an active XP boosts will receive those bonuses in addition to the double XP.
- Remind friends they can still become a fan of the page and claim 250 Tribes Gold for free by visiting this page.
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| Combat Arms Asks: Spiders Or Scorpions? Posted: 24 May 2012 03:18 PM PDT Combat Arms is preparing a “Spiders versus Scorpions” event starting this June. All players will be split into two factions – Spiders and Scorpion (players can sign up now for either faction and gain a few rewards for signing up early). On June 16, players will take place in four week-long rounds, with a showdown weekend in July (if factions are tied). Winners will be determined by which faction scores the highest for each round. All participants will earn rewards, with the better rewards going to the faction that beats both individual rounds and the overall event. This event is similar to one held in December 2010, where over 3.3 million battles took place. Combat Arms is published by Nexon, which also publishes Sudden Attack and Vindictus. Combat Arms: Spiders vs. Scorpions Episode 1: The Trap Source: 'Combat Arms': Preparing for War 'Spiders versus Scorpions' event pits Combat Arms' six million players against each other in month-long war In one of the biggest and most highly anticipated online first person shooter (FPS) events, Nexon America's "Combat Arms" is preparing to open the "Spiders versus Scorpion" event in mid-June. This event splits the entire player base of the game — more than six million registered users — into two factions, fighting through four rounds in hopes earning rewards and bragging rights as "Combat Arms'" the top guns. Players can go to www.spidersvsscorpions.com starting today to sign up for either faction, Spider or Scorpion and receive 3 free rewards offered only during the pre-sign up period. The event will kick off on June 16 and consist of four week-long rounds with a showdown weekend in July if both factions are tied in victories through the four rounds. Winners of the rounds will be determined by which faction scores highest for the round. Rewards will be given for all participants, but the best will go to the faction that wins individual rounds and the overall event. In December 2010, "Combat Arms" held this event and saw more than 3.3 million battles in which there were 192 million kills recorded, that included 110 million headshots with the most battles taking place on the Junk Flea map. It was a huge generator of EXP and GP, with 2.7 billion EXP earned and 3.6 GP generated for all players participating in the event. This makes the "Spiders versus Scorpions" events the biggest event for Combat Arms and one of the biggest events for all online FPS' in North America. "This is a huge event for fans of online FPS' fans in North America," said Nexon America's "Combat Arms" producer Christina Lee. "We have the most guns, a huge player base and a wide variety of game modes and maps for players to commit to all-out war. We'll have some great prizes for the winners, but the best prize will be bragging rights." The factions each have their own story and motivation for going to war. The Spiders are known for their stealth, use of technology and strategy and deliver lethal attacks with cold calculation. Meanwhile, the Scorpions are hard-bitten solders who believe in settling matters with a hard-word and a high caliber gun. For more information or to download and play "Combat Arms" for free, go to: http://combatarms.nexon.net/.
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| Mythos Global Raises Level Cap Posted: 24 May 2012 02:54 PM PDT T3Fun has launched the latest major content patch for Mythos Global. The new patch raises the level cap to 60, and introduces the Fog Island, where the God of the Undead dwells. Three new areas can be found here – Castle of Byle, Nepherta, and the Lands of the Dead. 23 new dungeons offer new loot and equipment for adventurers. Finally, a new game mode – Crystal Defense – places players in charge of protecting the crystal against waves of enemies for a chance at rewards. T3Fun also publishes Hellgate. Mythos Global: Level 60 Patch Update Trailer Source: Largest Mythos Global Expansion is Live Now Visit 23 new dungeons and unexplored lands and challenge the hellish God of the Undead LOS ANGELES – May 24, 2012 – Today Hanbitsoft and T3Fun announced the release of Mythos Global's largest content update yet. In this major new expansion to the fantasy land of Uld, all-new storylines and quests are being introduced, including a new zone that features the terrifying Land of the Dead, 23 new dungeons, an increased level cap and the brand new gameplay mode Crystal Defense. Check out the new content in the launch trailer now. With the level cap now raised to 60, experienced players can adventure to Fog Island, where the God of the Undead stands unchallenged—until now. This eerie land is home to three new areas: Castle of Byle, Nepherta and the Land of the Dead. With new dungeons, monsters, boss battles, daily quests and untold stories to unfold, players will have plenty to discover in the new update. New dungeons would be terrifying without new gear to adventure in—loot hunters will have plenty of new treasures to discover with the new gear and items now added to the game. A new game mode called Crystal Defense is also being introduced to fans of the game. Adventurers will need to protect the coveted crystal at all costs as they annihilate enemies who wish to destroy it. If the crystal and the player manage to survive—to the victor go the spoils! Visit Mythos Global's website at: http://mythos.t3fun.com/Home/Home.aspx to start playing and learn about therising land of Uld. Like the official Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/mythosglobal to receive updates and participate in upcoming events!
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| Big Brawl Arrives In Brawl Buster’s Little China Posted: 24 May 2012 02:35 PM PDT Rock Hippo Productions has announced the release of “Big Brawl in Little China,” a new update for Brawl Busters. The update introduces the new Chinatown map, and updates weapon customization to allow players to add in their favorite action attacks into them. Brawl Busters is also celebrating EURO 2012, starting on June 1, letting players represent their favorite team with country-themed glasses. Players who support the winning Cup team will split a prize pool of one million Rock Tokens with their fellow team-supporters. Rock Hippo also publishes MicroVolts.  Brawl Busters “Chinatown” Gameplay Screenshot
Source: BIG BRAWL GOING DOWN IN LITTLE CHINA Brawl Busters Also Celebrates the Euro Cup Markham, Canada – May 24, 2012 - Rock Hippo Productions announced today that Brawl Busters, the popular free-to-play online action-combat game, has launched its next content update. Titled “Big Brawl in Little China,” Busters will begin to see how the east can truly throw down! To join in the multiplayer action, players can visit www.BrawlBusters.com/splash and let the brawl begin. Ready for a new map? Unleash the fury on the new Chinatown arena, an area with a truly far east flavor. Hone your skills and get stronger than bamboo to stand a chance. Weapons customization is getting an update: now players can choose to make their own weapons one of a kind by loading their favorite action attacks onto them. In addition, Brawl Busters is celebrating EURO 2012 with a special event starting on June 1st. Whether you’re a veteran fan of soccer or a newcomer to this exciting sport, players from all over the world can represent their team with special country-themed glasses. If you’re lucky enough to be a supporter of the winning Cup team, you’ll be splitting an enormous prize pool of one million Rock Tokens with your fellow compatriots. Be loud, be proud, be Brawl Busters!
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| Lagoonia Adds New Personalization Options Posted: 24 May 2012 02:22 PM PDT Lagoonia has launched a new update offering improved customization for players. New multiplayer buildings will let players visit the “wellness temple” to cut and color their hair, the “tailor hut” for new clothing, or the theater to promote happiness and well-being. The update also includes an in-game message system upgrade, plus other bonuses for Lagoonia’s players. Lagoonia is published by InnoGames, which also publishes Forge of Empires and Tribal Wars.  Lagoonia “MultiplayerB Buildings” Gameplay Screenshot
Source: Cut, Color and Style Islanders of Lagoonia InnoGames launches character personalization in browser game Hamburg, May 24, 2012. Today, tropical island browser title, Lagoonia, launched an update allowing for character personalization through the use of multiplayer buildings. A visit to the utopic “wellness temple” allows islanders to cut and color their hair, while a “tailor hut” offers an array of new clothing options. Finally,a theater promotes the happiness and longevity of those who attend the South Sea productions. On top of the new personalization features, the update includes an in-game message system upgrade and a handful of new wishes. The focus of Lagoonia is on relationships – both between characters and players, and players with one another. One can plan and create many things that make the island livable and fun: from a warm fire and a cozy shelter, to useful fish nets, and later in the game lighthouses and waterslides. The game is free and no download is required – the only technical requirements are a browser and an internet connection. The game is currently featured in the GoogleChrome Store.
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| Spirit Tales Announces 1v5 Monster Boss PvP Posted: 24 May 2012 12:24 PM PDT KoramGame has announced a new PvP mode for Spirit Tales, coming June 6. The new game mode, 1v5 Monster Boss PvP, offers a six-player competition in which one player takes on the form of a dungeon boss, while the other five players challenge them to a fight. The mode will be time-based, and will reward more powerful PvP equipment than players have yet seen. As a celebration, players who participate in this mode will be entered to win some limited edition gaming gear (once the mode is out).  Spirit Tales “1v5 Monster Boss PvP” Gameplay Screenshot
Source: Spirit Tales Revolutionizes PvP Action on June 6 Become an Epic Dungeon Boss and Unleash Havoc on 5 Challengers Sunnyvale, Calif. — (May 24, 2012) — KoramGame Ltd., a leading developer and publisher of free-to-play online games, today announced that Spirit Tales, a cute 3D fantasy MMORPG, will launch its revolutionary 1v5 Monster Boss Player versus Player (PvP) on June 6, 2012. This exclusive new feature will give players the chance to compete in an epically fun battle as a massive dungeon boss, or as 1 of 5 daring challengers ready to take up arms in the fight for survival. Spirit Tales 1v5 Monster Boss PvP goes live on June 6 and will include the following features: 6-player competition – Take the form of a dungeon boss and destroy your competition, or become a challenger to take an epic stand against the destruction. Race against the clock – Survive the onslaught in this time-based struggle, regardless of which side you choose. Increased rewards – Reap the benefits of battle and obtain stronger, more powerful PvP equipment. “The upcoming addition to our PvP system is just another way Spirit Tales looks to revolutionize the MMORPG genre,” said Yann Wang, General Manager. “Gamers have always longed to play as the big bad boss, and very few games even offer this option. Not only will our players be able to transform into a dungeon boss in our 1v5 Monster Boss PvP, but they will also be able to compete against their friends as one.” Experience the new Spirit Tales 1v5 Monster Boss PvP on June 6 and be entered for a chance to win gaming peripherals and more. For more information visit: http://forum.koramgame.com/thread-61331-1-1.html
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| Divina PvP Preview Posted: 24 May 2012 11:35 AM PDT Last week, Divina held its second beta event, the PvP Beta. This five day event gave players the chance to continue where they left off from the first closed beta event, but it also gave players the chance to experience open world PvP – a hallmark of Divina's gameplay – for the first time. MMOHut was given the chance to experience this – along with the guild domains – to share with you just what it's like on the battlefield.  That thing is gonna need a big diaper. Building a Domain Before we get into the good stuff, let's do a return look at the guild domain system. When we got our first look at Divina in our last preview, we touched on how guilds offered a special mini-game in which all guild members helped contribute to a larger guild domain. These contributions can, in turn, be exchanged for special bonuses and buffs inside the world's zones at large, usable by any guild member once they've been activated. Our time in Divina this past weekend included access to a special domain that let us get a first-hand grab at how exactly the system works. The process begins with individual guild members, who can place the buildings they think will help their overall guild production. These resources are then channeled to the guild domain, where more buildings and resources can be produced for the good of the guild. Finally, guild leadership can take the points produced and activate bases on the guild hinterland, which come with special bonuses such as guild-only dungeons and buffs related directly to the zone they're in. The one trouble we have with the guild domain system currently is simple: it isn't explained well in game. Anyone who's ever played a strategy game before will generally be familiar with the concept of building resource and production buildings in the domain, true. But take the fact that time, itself, is a resource for a guild: that is, guilds are limited by a certain amount of time (shown in the interface) which is consumed in the same way lumber is. The nuances, like time, in this system need better explanation for guild leaders and members alike.  It’s a little like chess… Life Begins at 30 For all the cute graphics and playful storyline, Divina is serious when it comes to player versus player interaction. When we describe Divina as an "open-world PvP MMO," we mean it: PvP is not optional past level 30. The basics of PvP are this: at level 30, you'll be able to change your PvP status from Normal to Attack. Normal mode flags your name as white, meaning (presumably) that you are peaceful and do not wish to be attacked. Attack mode flags you as interested in PvP and colors your name purple. In both modes, you can be attacked by flagged players; however, white-named players can only attack those players flagged for PvP. If a player decides to attack a white-named player, they will turn their name flag red, meaning they are player-killers. The final difference is that white-named players will not drop items when they are killed, meaning their valuables are safe. While staying in "normal mode" is great for questing (and for showing your intent), you're not safe. Many players found this out the hard way in Auma Trail, the first PvP-enabled area. A few player-killers – most notoriously, one named Kamina – decided to haul their higher-level butts and hang out to kill lower level players. It was up to the lower levels to fight back, or call for help from player-killer hunters (anti-PKs or PKKs), in order to resume their questing in peace. (If you're having Ultima Online flashbacks now, you're not alone.)  The taste of victory… and defeat. Getting Revenge Unfortunately, most of the player versus player we saw over Divina's PvP event was just this kind of event: a single savior (or two) coming to rescue lower level players from the evil-PKer haunting the zone entrance of Auma Trail. While this may not sound like a good sign, keep in mind that this was a limited beta in which few people had high enough level to fight back against the PKers. Thanks to our media access, however, we were one of the few who did. Thankfully, the final event in the last wee hours of the beta was a revenge hunt, in which players gathered together to hunt down and fight against Kamina, the notorious player-killer (who gained the assistance of the GMs for this event). This event brought the blood back to the battlefield, and gave us an intense hour of brawling to pay back for all the innocent lives taken.  This time, Kamina wasn’t stabbing us to death. What's it like, anyway? Describing PvP in any game can be difficult, especially in first impressions. After all, PvP is a heart-pounding, adrenaline –raising task, and the first few battles in any game are often haphazard at best. Still, there were a few things we gleaned. First of all, PvP is fast-paced in Divina. Most battles are over before anyone has time to quick-change to their other class for a secondary health bar. This also leads to our second lesson: generally, the aggressor wins the battle. This isn't always the case, of course, but usually the person who gets the first attack in has an advantage in the battle that might be hard to beat. A third lesson we learned is that PvP is very centered on instant-use abilities. Casting spells or channeled abilities just don't get the job done in the precious time available before one of you falls dead. This means that for ranged classes especially, keeping your enemy at bay – or plucking them off as a friend fights them – is extremely important. Meanwhile, melee classes can go in and hit very hard and very fast. Knights and Assassins seem to lead the way in PvP power-housing, but we're sure that other classes will keep them in balance if they are well played. For more ideas about what classes may work well together in PvP, check out Divina's Class Guide.  The final get-together. On a parting note, it's important to note that the Divina community will be a big part of how PvP ends up defined in the game. With a free, open-world PvP system, it relies on the community to police against player-killers (or endorse them). While there will inevitably be some griefing found from time to time, we believe that the positive community that already supports Gamania's current games will provide an energizing, entertaining experience for PvPers and peaceful players alike. |
It's a slow day tech news-wise, but May 25th has turned out to be an early Christmas for space geeks. Any self-respecting science nerd is no doubt already aware that SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft has successfully completed its mission and become the first commercial space craft to ever dock with the International Space Station, but today marks key milestones for a pair of beloved space-based sci-fi franchises as well.
A few weeks back, we highlighted 
The human race's march towards becoming disposable batteries for power-hungry robot overlords continues. A mere day after Intel announced a new project that hopes to 
With Diablo III going through growing pains, perhaps you've found yourself going back to Skyrim to pick more pockets and to slay a few more dragons. The problem with Skyrim is that even though there's so much to do, it has a tendency to get repetitive, though continued updates and mods are helping to keep things fresh. The newest update, straight from Bethesda, adds a brand new element to Skyrim in the form of mounted combat.
In an effort to be more transparent about copyright removals in search, Google this week expanded its Transparency Report with a new section that discloses precisely how many requests the sultan of search receives from copyright owners, including organizations, to remove allegedly infringing search links. That number now stands at over 1.2 million requests per month, or over 250,000 per week, which is more than it received in all of 2009.
Provided you've left your twenties behind, can you remember what you were doing 30 years ago? Microsoft does. In 1982, the Microsoft Hardware group was formed while Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album was selling a million copies a week, E.T. was phoning home on the big screen, and emoticons were in the process of being popularized. As Microsoft puts it, "1982 truly epitomized all that was glorious about the 80s," pointing out that Yale was offering a 14-week course aimed at solving the Rubik's Cube. Share your own favorite memory on Twitter and you could win a 30th Anniversary Arc Touch mouse.
The whole point of building a mini-ITX system is to have something with a small footprint that you can tuck inconspicuously out of the way or plop on your desk without having it dominate your work/play environment. And that's well and good, but it typically means making sacrifices in your component selection. What if you didn't have to? That's the question BitFenix asks with its new Prodigy, "the first mini-ITX chassis designed with enthusiasts in mind."
