MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Free for All: Looking at Second Life's mesh with Bernhard Drax

Posted: 30 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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Flufee avatar screenshot
I've been hearing the word "mesh" thrown around the Second Life community for quite some time now. I'm no dummy, so I have a pretty decent idea about what it is and how it works. Essentially it is a modeling tool that allows creators more flexibility when it comes to building in Linden Lab's sandbox. Mesh creations can seem more realistic, flowing, and smooth when compared to much of their prim counterparts. But I'm getting ahead of myself already and now need to explain what a prim is.

I decided to get some help from Bernhard Drax, known in Second Life as machinima artist Draxtor Drespes. He works with Bytegang, a group responsible for Flufee and the first series of fully-mesh avatars in Second Life. Even with his explanation, it won't be easy for me to explain mesh, but let's have a go at it. Mesh is important to understand because it represents a huge shift in not only how Second Life residents build, but how they play as well.

Continue reading Free for All: Looking at Second Life's mesh with Bernhard Drax

MassivelyFree for All: Looking at Second Life's mesh with Bernhard Drax originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 May 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Why I Play: RuneScape

    Posted: 30 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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    RuneScape screenshot
    It's hard to explain exactly why I enjoy playing RuneScape. Heck, it can sometimes be hard enough to find gamers my age who would even give the game a try. Many are dead set on maintaining a state-of-the-art gaming machine, so why waste it on a browser-based game? Actually, there are so many reasons, I hope I could get to it all in one piece. Bear in mind that I really have no "main" game to call home. I have browser bookmarks for literally over 100 games, and I'm always on the hunt for more. If I am gaming, it's usually for the sake of writing about the game.

    RuneScape is one of the few titles that I find myself coming back to when I don't need to game, when I am just looking for something fun to do or a world to explore. RuneScape has it all, to the point that it can almost be too much.

    Continue reading Why I Play: RuneScape

    MassivelyWhy I Play: RuneScape originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      DDO expansion screens take you inside Demonweb

      Posted: 30 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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      Dungeons and Dragons Online - Lolth in Demonweb
      It's Wednesday, which generally means two things. One, there are only a couple of days left until the weekend. Two, there are probably some new Dungeons and Dragons Online expansion screenshots to share. Turbine has gifted us with yet another set of captures from the upcoming Menace of the Underdark update.

      This batch centers on the Demonweb region. If you're not up on your Forgotten Realms lore, Demonweb is basically the spider goddess Lolth's home plane. As a result, arachnophobes will want to move on to the next post. For everyone else, there's our MotU gallery below.

      MassivelyDDO expansion screens take you inside Demonweb originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Elder Scrolls Online devs talk questing and public dungeons

        Posted: 30 May 2012 07:30 AM PDT

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        The Elder Scrolls Online concept art
        There are a couple of new Elder Scrolls Online features on tap at Edge. First on the agenda is a piece about the game's public dungeons, which game director Matt Firor says haven't been seen in an MMO since EverQuest. "When you think back to the fun MMOG moments in the first generation, it's standing there, terrified, in an enclosed space, waiting for someone to come along and save you. We can't do that punitive gameplay that they did in those days, but we can put people together in places where they want to work with others," Firor says.

        The other feature centers on the game's questing mechanics, and it finds Firor and creative director Paul Sage talking at length about what makes a good quest as well as various high-level creative approaches taken by the dev team.

        MassivelyElder Scrolls Online devs talk questing and public dungeons originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 May 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Allods Online releases Astral Storm update

        Posted: 30 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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        Allods Online
        Wakey wakey, Allods Online players -- the Astral Storm update is here! Patch 3.0.2 was released to North American and European servers today hosting a wide variety of anticipated additions and changes to the game. These include a mentor system, pets that can loot for you, more PvP content, and an overhaul of alchemy.

        GPotato also nerfed its own free-to-play penalties in the update, as it removed Tep's Curse and Holy Charms from the game in order to protect players' gear. Dying will no longer cause player items to be cursed, which means that the charms are no longer needed as well.

        To celebrate the release of Astral Storm, gPotato brought back the tropical Atoll for three weeks. Catch up on all of the 3.0.2 goodness on Allods' special minisite devoted to the patch.

        [Source: gPotato press release]

        MassivelyAllods Online releases Astral Storm update originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Trion trademarks 'Storm Legion' for possible next RIFT expansion name

          Posted: 30 May 2012 06:30 AM PDT

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          Rift screenshot
          Just a few days ago expansion talk for RIFT was fueled by a mysterious box containing an assortment of items and emblazoned with the phrase "A Storm Is Brewing..." According to legal documents, Trion Worlds just trademarked the title Storm Legion, touching off even more speculation about a possible expansion. Some fans are already discussing what storylines might be developed in such an expansion; so far, the consensus seems to be for evolving the lore of Crucia and Regulos.

          While there is no official word on an expansion, signs are certainly pointing towards one. As soon as we get more information we will pass it along.

          [Thanks to Marc for the tip!]

          MassivelyTrion trademarks 'Storm Legion' for possible next RIFT expansion name originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 May 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Daily Grind: Is platforming welcome in MMOs?

          Posted: 30 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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          Super Mario Bros 3
          Like some of you according to statistics, I am an aging gamer (one who is turning 36 tomorrow). With that comes some loss of sharp reflexes and bladder control, which is why I enjoy twitch gaming less and work within ten feet of the bathroom. As long as I avoid MMOs with the "action combat!" label on them, I'm mostly OK, although it now seems that I have to contend with an increase of platforming elements in my online RPGs as well.

          From Star Wars: The Old Republic's Super Mario Datacrons experience to hopping along tree branches in order to get one of RIFT's shinies, platforming seems all the rage -- and I don't know if it's a welcome thing or not. It can be terribly frustrating to try to time the right jumps in a 3-D environment, but it's hard to rail against additional gameplay options in MMOs as a matter of principle.

          So what say you? Do you like or hate platforming in MMOs, and is the style welcome in our games?

          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: Is platforming welcome in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Raptr handing out 10,000 copies of RIFT and RIFT CEs

            Posted: 29 May 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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            RIFT
            Haven't given last year's hit MMO, RIFT, a try yet? Trion Worlds has partnered up with Raptr to hand out a whopping 10,000 copies of the game. If that wasn't enough (and it never is), players can earn in-game goggles and a free upgrade to a collector's edition just by leveling up.

            This offer comes through the new Raptr Rewards program. Players can sign up to the program through Facebook and then earn points by playing games and hitting certain milestones. The copy of RIFT -- which includes the core game and a month of game time -- will be given away to members who have hit the "experienced" level in one of Raptr's sponsored RPGs. These copies will be available on a first-come, first-served basis starting Thursday, May 31st.

            Raptr players who take this copy of RIFT and hit "amateur" on the program will get an in-game Dwarven Smithy Goggles, while "experienced" achievers will be granted a free upgrade to RIFT's collector's edition. These rewards are only available to players in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

            [Source: Trion Worlds press release]

            MassivelyRaptr handing out 10,000 copies of RIFT and RIFT CEs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            TERA's Chris Lee shares the trials and joys of transforming an MMO

            Posted: 29 May 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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            TERA
            What was En Masse VP of Publishing Chris Lee's favorite memory of working on TERA? According to a new dev diary, it was when Lee got his hands on the first English-translated build of the game: "At that time we were learning first-hand the strengths and weaknesses of each class, how a balanced party made a difference in the instances, and how much damn fun it was to kill a BAM."

            Saying that it was a "different game" when the studio first got involved with TERA's Westernization, Lee said that the team had to identify problem spots that would need changing in order to bring it to market in North America and Europe. One of the biggest changes was making the game far more solo-friendly after level 20.

            Lee shared a few anecdotes about life at En Masse, including a competition between team members to level as quickly as possible in beta and then again in live. He's excited to see the game gaining traction with a diverse community: "What's really interesting is the variety of people that TERA has drawn. In addition to our strong community, we have seen tweets from NFL players, Penny Arcade editors, and even Felicia Day about playing the game."

            MassivelyTERA's Chris Lee shares the trials and joys of transforming an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Face of Mankind rolling out major updates

            Posted: 29 May 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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            Sadly, even with the freedom to wear anything, no one wants to wear a pink frilly dress.
            Face of Mankind has been on the quiet side for a while now, but the game is gearing up for some major mechanical changes. A new developer blog outlines several of the large shifts, starting with several major improvements to the World Takeover system. Players at a high faction rank can take on special contracts to help take out the enemy presence, or they can choose to take part in a more secretive income-siphoning operation to discreetly hurt the enemy.

            The game is also removing the weight system, the quality levels system, and the factional restrictions on armor and equipment. This also has resulted in a change to the way that armor values are calculated in an effort to make more pieces of armor relevant to gameplay. And that's just the tip of the iceberg -- current or potential players would do well to take a look at the full development blog to see all of the changes en route for the game's mechanics.

            [Source: Nexeon press release]

            MassivelyFace of Mankind rolling out major updates originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              CCP contemplates selling more EVE Online physical merchandise

              Posted: 29 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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              EVE Online
              Fresh off a successful attempt to sell graphics cards for virtual currency, CCP Games is mulling over additional in-game sales options in EVE Online for real-life merchandise. Senior Producer Jon Lander said that this will be the beginning of a trend: "It was an interesting experiment and one we're going to follow up."

              The studio recently made 100 Nvidia graphics cards available to players in the game for 20 Plex apiece and sold out of them in two minutes. In addition to items like graphics cards, CCP is looking into ways to create and sell EVE Online merchandise.

              "We need to just look at what the right opportunities are now," Lander said. "We've got lots of people beavering away trying to work out what the right thing to do is."

              Due to players' ability to buy and sell Plex for other in-game goods, Lander reports that 25% of EVE Online players are able to enjoy the game for free.

              MassivelyCCP contemplates selling more EVE Online physical merchandise originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              The Elder Scrolls Online embraces solo story, traditional MMO format

              Posted: 29 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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              TESO
              Ever since Game Director Matt Firor announced that Elder Scrolls Online would have a 100% soloable main story, we've been wondering just how much this will impact the game's appeal and approach. Firor spoke with PC Gamer to elaborate on TESO's format, saying that it was essential to make the story solo in order to establish the player as a hero.

              While portions of TESO's endgame and its PvP experience require grouping, Firor said that the core of the game will be played alone: "The way we do that in Elder Scrolls Online is there are parts of the game that you just do solo and you just do in a story instance. So the main backbone story of the game, which is your interaction with Molag Bal, one of the Daedric princes, you're the hero in that story, so you experience that only yourself."

              Firor also addressed the team's decision to eschew the skill-based system seen in newer Bethesda titles in favor of returning to systems seen in earlier Elder Scrolls games. "What we had to do to make it an MMO is to kind of evolve over to the multiplayer side and there are some things that come with that," he admitted. "Since we have a PVP component to our game, it's very difficult to make a skill-based game like in Skyrim."

              MassivelyThe Elder Scrolls Online embraces solo story, traditional MMO format originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Flameseeker Chronicles: WvW primer

              Posted: 29 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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              Guild Wars 2 siege action
              Welcome to the PvP primer, the post with everything you didn't think you wanted to know about PvP content in Guild Wars 2. If you're one of the people saying that Guild Wars 2 is a PvP-centric game and you might do personal story for a break every now and again, this probably isn't going to be new information to you. Think of it as something of crib notes for the uninitiated. Tempted to get into PvP but not sure where to start? Unsure if WvW is your speed?

              Let's start at the very beginning: There are two main types of PvP in Guild Wars 2. There's world vs. world (WvW), which pits three servers against each other in grand-scale, pitched battles. The other type is structured PvP (sPvP is becoming popular as an abbreviation for that), which takes two different forms but involves smaller, quicker battles on special maps. This week, we'll be looking at WvW.

              Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: WvW primer

              MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: WvW primer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                SOE names 2012 G.I.R.L. scholarship winner

                Posted: 29 May 2012 12:30 PM PDT

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                SOE logo
                Sony Online Entertainment's fifth annual G.I.R.L. scholarship officially has a winner. Quinne Larsen of Northridge, California is the 2012 champ. The Gamers in Real Life initiative was created to encourage women to pursue careers in game design and development.

                Larsen was awarded a $10,000 scholarship to put toward college tuition, and she has also accepted a 10-week internship at SOE headquarters in San Diego. Competitors were asked to submit concept art based on SOE titles as well as an essay on women in the gaming industry. More info on the scholarship is available at SOE's official website.

                [Source: SOE press release]

                MassivelySOE names 2012 G.I.R.L. scholarship winner originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 May 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Hyperspace Beacon: PR nightmare

                  Posted: 29 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                  Hyperspace Beacon: PR nightmare
                  It's my sincerest hope that we never again have a news week like we did last week. Every mistake that could be made in MMO development was made this past week.

                  Obviously, the biggest news revolved around the 38 Studios fiasco. Perhaps it's hard when you're in the midst of a development cycle and concentrating on deadlines and milestones to see the larger picture and the proverbial writing on the wall. It should have been obvious to the developers behind the scenes the project was doomed, but I say that with 20/20 hindsight.

                  Of course, Star Wars: The Old Republic won't be outdone by 38 Studios. BioWare had to flood the feeds with its own bad news in the form of layoffs. Then almost in the same breath, it announced that the game will be merging servers. I guess SWTOR couldn't be outdone by itself, either. It had to add insult to its own injury. Although the timing of the layoffs was a bit surprising, those of us observing from the outside could see the server merges coming.

                  The stories in Star Wars aren't just about good conquering evil, but they are also about redemption and good coming out of a bad situation. The tragedy of Luke's aunt and uncle being killed was the catalyst that started his journey to becoming a great hero and Jedi Knight. Darth Vader was ultimately redeemed when he killed the emperor. But is there the same redemption for SWTOR? Will it ultimately become the great game everyone was hoping that it would be?

                  Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: PR nightmare

                  MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: PR nightmare originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Curt Schilling posts more images of Copernicus

                    Posted: 29 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                    Project Copernicus
                    Despite the state of Rhode Island's best efforts, Curt Schilling is not done with Project Copernicus. Sure, 38 Studios may be gone, but the legacy lives on -- this time through a handful of brand new screenshots posted on Curt Schilling's own Facebook page this morning.

                    These six shots show the ready-for-primetime artwork that is a big part of why we're even more disappointed in the way things played out. As Schilling describes this set, these are "Images from the most magical, breathtaking and awe inspiring world ever created. Images I was 'allowed' to peek at along the way, when the team wanted us all to see the magical world we were building."

                    MassivelyCurt Schilling posts more images of Copernicus originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    MMORPG News

                    MMORPG News


                    General: March On Oz: Mark Jacobs' New Game

                    Posted: 29 May 2012 04:11 PM PDT

                    March On Oz: Mark Jacobs

                    City State Entertainment and Mark Jacobs have announced that they have officially released March on Oz. The strategy title incorporates elements from the Oz lore created by L. Frank Baum.

                    WildStar: Eldan Technology

                    Posted: 29 May 2012 03:52 PM PDT

                    Eldan Technology

                    The latest edition of WildStar Wednesday...ok from last week...covers Eldan Technology. The post details probes, protectors and augmentors and explains how each works and to what purpose.

                    General: FPSGuru.com | Ripper Checks Out DayZ

                    Posted: 29 May 2012 11:30 AM PDT

                    FPSGuru.com | Ripper Checks Out DayZ

                    Ripper X does a first impression of Arma's DayZ, a mod that you've probably heard of if you know Arma. Check it out at FPSGuru.com.

                    Age of Conan: Unchained: SOTW: Age of Conan 4th Anniversary Special Edition Winners!

                    Posted: 29 May 2012 09:22 AM PDT

                    SOTW: Age of Conan 4th Anniversary Special Edition Winners!

                    After poring over your awesome Age of Conan screenshots, we've selected 10 winners to receive a key code good for four months of premium game time in Age of Conan!

                    Dungeon Fighter Online: Our Official DFO Review

                    Posted: 29 May 2012 06:36 AM PDT

                    Our Official DFO Review

                    Dungeon Fighter Online is an action-MMO lover's dream. We've been putting the game through its paces and have a few thoughts to offer by way of review. Read on and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

                    End of Nations: RTSGuru.com | Deep Dive, Part 1 – Rules of Battle

                    Posted: 29 May 2012 08:22 AM PDT

                    RTSGuru.com | Deep Dive, Part 1 – Rules of Battle

                    In part 1 of this 2-part series, RTSGuru.com editors look at what the recent gameplay video from IGN tells us about this 2v2 map in End of Nations, and how gameplay relates to (or rather, differs from) other major RTS Titles.

                    General gaming

                    General gaming


                    Five Ways Companies Can Avoid E3 Embarrassment

                    Posted: 29 May 2012 02:13 PM PDT

                    Feature

                    1UP COVER STORY

                    Header

                    1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 28 | E3 2012

                    Five Ways Companies Can Avoid E3 Embarrassment

                    Cover Story: Publishers, take note: the following information may save your lives.

                    M

                    ost people think E3 only exists to show off the boldest and brightest innovations within our industry, but it offers many other possibilities -- namely, the chance for gaming companies to throw away thousands upon thousands of dollars on pure spectacle. Regardless of their financials, publishers will stoop to anything to generate red-hot E3 publicity, and this unfortunate trend has provided some of the most memorable travesties throughout the convention's short history. Sure, these public embarrassments give us website writers valuable material to hash and rehash ad nauseum, but what about those multinational, billion-dollar corporations? On that melancholy plane ride home, their representatives can't help but mull over their continued public humiliation and the slight decrease in density of the money piles they sleep on.

                    Rest easy, publishers; E3 doesn't always have to result in the 21st century equivalent of the pillory. Following these five simple tips is all it takes to keep your dignity, reputation, and bottom line intact. And when the Library of Congress starts archiving animated .gifs -- a horrifying possibility -- your press conference won't be immortalized in an easily spreadable format.


                    Papo & Yo: All the Best Monsters Have Daddy Issues

                    Posted: 29 May 2012 12:33 PM PDT

                    1UP COVER STORY

                    Header

                    1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 28 | E3 2012

                    Papo & Yo: All the Best Monsters Have Daddy Issues

                    Cover Story: This upcoming PSN title deals with topics rarely discussed in video games.

                    G

                    ames are too often championed by their marketing teams who've done research on how to sell you a product. They are too often showcased by creators who step on stage with the intensity of a drill sergeant and try to elevate their game by telling you why it's better all of the others, as if the act of creation were some form of competition. It's rare, especially in the console gaming space, to see an artist get behind his or her game and simply explain to you why they took the time out of their lives to make this specific experience. That is what Minority Media's Vander Caballero is doing every time he speaks of Papo & Yo. For better or worse, Vander Caballero is the kind of guy who can't seem to tell a lie.

                    Papa & Yo Spot Art

                    Metro: Last Light Brings Russian Bleakness to the Feel-Good Shooter

                    Posted: 29 May 2012 08:01 AM PDT

                    1UP COVER STORY

                    Header

                    1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF MAY 28 | E3 2012

                    Metro: Last Light Brings Russian Bleakness to the Feel-Good Shooter

                    Cover Story: It may play like Call of Duty, but A4's Metro 2033 sequel couldn't feel more different.

                    G

                    etting a read on a game based off a hands-off demo can sometimes be tough, so my take on A4 and THQ's Metro: Last Light may well turn out to be entirely off the mark. Still, based on a pre-E3 gameplay demonstration I recently witnessed, the impression I took away from Last Light suggests that the game plays a lot like Call of Duty. From the structure of the demo to the scripted set pieces to the urgent voice of the protagonist's companion nudging the player along and providing color commentary on game events, the demo painted an image of what a post-Modern Warfare Call of Duty might play like if it were designed in Russia.

                    Of course, that "designed in Russia" makes all the difference. While the demo bore a marked similarity to the mechanics and structure of an Infinity Ward or Treyarch shooter, the two couldn't stand further apart in terms of tone.

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