MMORPG News

MMORPG News


Eldevin: Green Light Campaign Opens

Posted: 07 Jan 2014 07:17 AM PST

Green Light Campaign Opens

The Eldevin team has announced that it has started a Steam Green Light campaign to get the fledgling MMO listed on the popular game platform. Interested players can head to Steam, vote for Eldevin and try it out all in one handy location.

General: The Most Wanted Indie MMOs of 2014

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 09:56 PM PST

The Most Wanted Indie MMOs of 2014

We already covered our all-around most wanted MMOs of 2014 last week, but did you know there were a boatload of Indie MMOs also releasing this year? We'd be remiss if we didn't give the guys with the littler budgets and possibly bigger dreams their own spotlight, so we're back this week with the Most Wanted Indie MMOs of 2014. Read on for our list, and be sure to comment and let us know if you agree or have something we missed to boot.

Guild Wars 2: By Looking Back, We Divine the Future

Posted: 05 Jan 2014 04:25 PM PST

By Looking Back, We Divine the Future

The Guild Wars 2 blog has been updated with a new post that both looks back on 2013 and gives players a hint about a "big finale" that is likely to happen later in 2014. To keep players up to date on what has happened to date, ArenaNet has released a video called "Guild Wars 2: Our Story So Far". Check it out and let us know what you think in the comments.

Aura Kingdom: Open Beta Kicks Off with New Trailer

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 11:45 PM PST

Open Beta Kicks Off with New Trailer

Aeria Games has announced that the open beta for Aura Kingdom, its latest anime-inspired MMO, has officially launched into open beta. To celebrate the occasion, Aeria has released a new trailer and encourages interested players to come visit the official site to get started.

Defiance: The 7th Legion Announced as Next DLC

Posted: 05 Jan 2014 05:23 PM PST

The 7th Legion Announced as Next DLC

Trion Worlds has announced the name and a small bit of lore behind Defiance's next DLD. Called "The 7th Legion", the DLC will spotlight the soldiers of the 7th Legion and their heroic arrival in Paradise.

ArcheAge: Korean Players Preparing for v1.0 Update

Posted: 07 Jan 2014 03:16 AM PST

Korean Players Preparing for v1.0 Update

ArcheAge Korea is getting ready to update to version 1.0 complete with a level cap increase, overhauled abilities and much more. To give players a preview of the upcoming alterations and additions to the game, a new video has been released. Check it out and let us know what you think.

General: Smedley: All Access for $15 a Month

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 09:15 PM PST

Smedley: All Access for $15 a Month

Smedley has added to the day's earlier news that Sony Online Entertainment was considering an "All Access" pass for all SOE games at one lower subscription price. All Access is now available to players for $15/month, something more like an SOE Subscription rather than game-specific.

General: Steam Machine: First Gen Machines To Arrive This Year

Posted: 05 Jan 2014 06:28 PM PST

Steam Machine: First Gen Machines To Arrive This Year

Valve has announced an assertive plan to release the first generation of the much-anticipated Steam Machine during 2014. In addition, Valve has announced partnerships with several industry giants including Alienware, Origin PC and many others.

General: Smedley On Subscriptions - One for All and All for One

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 02:42 PM PST

Smedley On Subscriptions - One for All and All for One

According to a new post by Sony Online entertainment's John Smedley, the gaming giant is considering a single subscription option for all players. Simply said, subscribe to one SOE game, subscribe to them all. Smedley made the remarks in response to recent changes to the premium subscription model.

The Repopulation: Kickstarter Goal Reached, Stretch Goals Announced

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 12:29 PM PST

Kickstarter Goal Reached, Stretch Goals Announced

The Repopulation team has penned a new blog to announce that its initial Kickstarter goal has been reached and that new stretch goals have been announced. In addition, Lead Developer J.C. Smith spent time with the Noobist team to talk about all sorts of interesting topics including the world, beta, player choice, shells, pets, membership options, housing and much more.

Elder Scrolls Online: Oh We Just Can't -WAIT- to be King...Or Emperor

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 12:22 PM PST

Oh We Just Can

Zenimax's Paul Sage has taken to the airwaves over at OXM.com to talk about the benefits of becoming emperor in Elder Scrolls Online. But becoming emperor isn't going to be an easy task, but one that can happen to the right person who knows how to pick, and win, a fight.

DayZ: 800,000 Moved, $12 Million Grossed in a Month

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 11:06 AM PST

800,000 Moved, $12 Million Grossed in a Month

Dan Hall has taken to the DayZ Reddit to reveal that the game has moved over 800,000 copies and grossed over $12,000,000 in sales in just under a month since the alpha phase began.

General: Looks Like a Good Year for Player Housing

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 05:40 PM PST

Looks Like a Good Year for Player Housing

Some of my colleagues have already taken us through the year in MMOs that was in 2013 and shared a taste of what's to come and what we're anticipating. Like you, we're players who enjoy the genre and don't always agree on what's fun or what will hold our interests. What does stand out is what several of 2014's games (and games we expect to release this year) are doing on one particular front: housing.

Guild Wars 2: What If Professions Received New Weapon Proficiencies?

Posted: 04 Jan 2014 05:32 PM PST

What If Professions Received New Weapon Proficiencies?

The professions of Guild Wars 2 utilize powerful weapons to bring down their enemies. ArenaNet has armed each profession with a wide selection of these weapons to choose from, giving players a handful of strategic possibilities. But what if each profession was given some new choices? That is, after all, what Colin Johanson said was coming down the pipe in an interview with our own Bill Murphy. Which profession should gain access to which weapon?

General: Ghost Recon Online - An Introduction by TheHiveLeader

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 04:53 AM PST

Ghost Recon Online - An Introduction by TheHiveLeader

TheHiveLeader, at the request of Ubisoft, takes a look at Ghost Recon Online and offers viewers a look at the basics found when logging in for the first time.

MMOGaming News

MMOGaming News


Aura Kingdom Glorious Envoy Package Giveaway

Posted:

Aura Kingdom Glorious Envoy Package Giveaway


Aura Kingdom's Open Beta has just opened and mmosite had teamed up with Aeria Games & Entertainment to give away Glorious Envoy Package.

Dragon Nest: Bringer Skill Description, Data & Video

Posted:

Dragon Nest: Bringer Skill Description, Data & Video


The DOT damage of dark burn status is calculated based on the elemental lord old burn formula. It is the 30% (PVE) and 10% (PVP) of the last hit of that skill which inflict it.

Nanbo's Eldevin Experience Levels 1 - 5

Posted:

Nanbo's Eldevin Experience Levels 1 - 5


What attracted to test out Eldevin was it's rise on some mmorpg charts. I started to read around and I liked what I was reading.That said. How is the game stacking up? Well, I will do an EVOLVING review and give it a score based on my progression with the hopes to reach close to or near end game to give out a final score of the game.

Blade & Soul: Skill Board Damage Calculation

Posted:

Blade & Soul: Skill Board Damage Calculation


This is the 1st part of my research on damage calculation mechanics in Blade and Soul, which involves the calculation of the skill board damage as shown in the skill description.



General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Valve Unveils First Generation of Steam Machines at CES 2014

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 07:30 PM PST

SteamOS Logo

14 partners revealed at CES 2014 who are manufacturing official Steam Machines

Valve showed off units and hardware specifications at CES 2014 this week with prices ranging from $499 all the way up to $6,000. In the list were units manufactured by Digital Storm, CyberPowerPC, and iBuyPower that were already revealed prior to CES 2014. 

Additional units from Valve's other partners included one from Webhallen for $1,499. It comes with an Intel Core i7 4771 processor, Nvidia GTX 780 graphics card, 16BG RAM, and a 1TB SSHD. Falcon Northwest is offering the Tiki with a price range of $1,799 all the way up to $6,000. The Tiki's CPU is customizable, will come with a Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan, 8-16GB RAM, and up to a 6TB hard drive. 

Other partners, showcasing their product, did not have a price set such as the Chronos from Origin PC that will come with an Intel Core i7 4770K and two 6GB Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan cards. 

The rest of Valve's partners include Alienware, Alternate, GigaByte, Maingear, Material.net, Next Spa, Scan, and Zotak. 

All first-gen Steam Machines are slated for a 2014 release and will come with SteamOS installed and one Steam Controller. 

steam machine catalogue 01

steam machine catalogue 02

Corsair Announces Cherry MX RGB Mechanical Keyboard for Gamers

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 07:00 PM PST

Cherry MX RGBA mechanical plank with per-key illumination

One thing we simply won't argue is that typing on a mechanical keyboard is a superior experience than pecking away on a membrane-based plank -- there's just no contest. One of the most popular makers of mechanical key switches is Cherry MX, and together with Corsair, the two companies announced the "MX RGB Project" gaming keyboard at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

What exactly is the MX RGB Project? The keyboard itself is based on a Vengeance K70 gaming plank, only now it's fitted with new Cherry MX RGB key switches. What's special about these key switches is that users are able to customize the backlight of each individual key with support for 16.8 million colors.

If you wanted, you could illuminate the WASD keys one color and the arrow keys another. Per-key illumination allows for all kinds of configurations, especially when you have millions of shades to play with.

Corsair says it will launch the world's first Cherry MX RGB-based gaming keyboards in the second half of 2014. In addition to per-key illumination, the keyboards will be available in a variety of Cherry switch types, including Cherry MX Red, MX Brown, MX Blue.

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Maingear Spark is a Small Form Factor Steam Machine with AMD Inside

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 06:30 PM PST

Maingear SparkFanning the flames of Valve's Steam Machine initiative with a Spark

Valve isn't having any trouble lining up hardware partners to build Steam Machine systems of varying power and shapes at different price points. One of those companies is Maingear, a boutique builder out of New Jersey that decided to go with an AMD foundation inside a small form factor (SFF) chassis for its take on a Steam Machine. The aptly named Spark measures only 4.5 inches wide by 4.23 inches deep by 2.34 inches high and weighs less than a pound.

Inside the tiny chassis is an AMD A8-5557M quad-core APU clocked at 2.1GHz (3.1GHz Turbo), Radeon R9 M275X graphics with 2GB of GDDR5 memory, two SO-DIMM slots with support for up to 16GB of DDR3-1600MHz RAM, a single mSATA slot that supports up to a 256GB SSD, and a single 2.5-inch HDD tray (SATA 6Gbps). It also has a GbE LAN port, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, half size mini-PCIe slot, HDMI output, mini DisplayPort, four USB 3.0 ports, a few other odds and ends.

"The SPARK is a first for MAINGEAR, this extremely small and powerful gaming box will make gamers really look at what they want in a small form factor PC." said Wallace Santos, CEO and founder of Maingear. "We have been working with Valve for over a year building what we think is a great performing tiny PC with tons of storage for games and entertainment, we are very excited to be releasing this soon."

Maingear Spark Ports

Maingear says the Spark will be available in mid to late Q1 2014. Pricing has not yet been determined, though the boutique builder promises it will be an "affordable PC solution."

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Origin PC Preps Single and Dual GPU Steam Machine "Chronos" Rigs

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 06:00 PM PST

Origin PC Steam MachineA Steam Machine that would look right at home in an A/V rack

One of the reasons why Valve is pushing its Steam Machine platform is to get PC gamers into their living rooms, hence the prep work that went into Big Picture mode and the wireless Steam Controller. Going along with that theme, boutique builder Origin PC announced plans to launch a pair of Steam Machine "Chronos" systems built in a small form factor (SFF) chassis that will have no trouble blending into a typical home theater setup.

Both the Chronos Standard Edition and Chronos SLI Edition will be fully customizable, and if you want the chassis to stand out among your other A/V gear, you can opt for a custom point job with automotive finish.

The Chronos Standard Edition will come with an Asus Maximus VI Impact motherboard, up to an Intel Core i7 4770K quad-core CPU with professional overclocking, Origin Frostbyte 120 sealed liquid cooling system, up to a single Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 Ti graphics card (also with professional overclocking), up to 16GB of DDR3-2133, up to dual 1TB Samsung 840 Evo Series SSDs, 4TB Western Digital Black HDD, 6X Blu-ray burner, ROG SupremeFX 7.1-channel audio, built-in Wi-Fi, SG08 600W power suuply, and of course Steam OS (with the option of dual booting into Windows 7 or Windows 8 Home or Pro).

Origin PC's SLI configuration kicks things up a notch with up to two GeForce GTX 780 Ti graphics cards, 40-in-1 media card reader, and up to 32GB of DDR3-2133 RAM.

Origin PC Steam Machine Front

"Anything that Valve does for PC gaming is extremely exciting and Steam OS might just be the next big thing." said Kevin Wasielewski Origin PC CEO and co-founder. "Origin PC will offer Steam Machines with the most customization options, the highest performance, and each one is backed by our industry leading free lifetime 24/7 support based in the United States."

Pretty gnarly stuff. Pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.

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Zotac Previews Zbox Steam Machine, Keeps Mum on the Details

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 06:00 PM PST

Zotac Zbox Steam MachineAn itty-bitty Steam Machine

Steam Machine announcements are coming in pretty fast and furious, though not all systems are created the same. Enter Zotac, a specialist in mini PC configurations best known for its Zbox line, which is previewing a Zbox Steam Machine slated to arrive in the second half of this year. Details are few and far between, though Zotac says its Steam Machine will ship in an all-black 3rd generation Zbox chassis with orange lighting intended to give it an aggressive and sporty aesthetic.

"Zotac is pleased to work with Valve Software to create the Zbox Steam Machine. Valve's Steam OS is a game-changer to the PC gaming market that enables us to deliver a game console experience that's superior to the latest next-generation console," said Carsten Berger, senior director, Zotac International. "Gamers can expect the latest Intel Core processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics processor in the upcoming Zotac Zbox Steam Machine for stunning visuals and world-class features."

While Zotac isn't yet willing to give any specifics, the company provided some vague hints, saying its Steam Machine configuration will come with an "enthusiast-class" Intel Core process and graphics power from an upcoming performance-class Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics processor. Extract from that whatever you can.

Zotac Zbox Steam Machine Stand

The Zbox Steam Machine will come with a Steam Controller bundled in and Steam OS pre-installed. Pricing info is not yet known.

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Steam Machines Pictures Galore

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 05:39 PM PST

alienware steam machineEverything we know about all the Steam Machines so far

Up until now, most of the images you've seen of the Steam Machines have been leaked images or renders. With CES 2014 now under way, we decided to round up official Steam Machine pictures and everything we know about the Steam Machines so far. So make sure to peruse the gallery below and let us know what your favorite Steam Machine is so far.

If you haven't seen us use Valve's impressive Steam Machines controller yet, click here. If you would like to try and create your own Steam Machine at home by learning how to install SteamOS, click here

Xidax is First System Builder to Accept Bitcoin Currency

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 12:14 PM PST

Xidax RigTurn those Bitcoins into PC parts

Ever heard of Xidax? The custom PC company made headlines last year when it debuted onto the scene as the first in the industry to offer a lifetime parts and labor guarantee on all desktop systems. Further proof that Xidax isn't afraid to be a pioneer in the PC building space is today's announcement that the company is the first enthusiast boutique builder to accept Bitcoins.

"The question reached me, I thought it was a brilliant idea, and we all got very excited about being the first in the industry to embrace this cool new way to pay," Zack Shutt, executive operations officer of Xidax PCs, said in a statement.

According to Shutt, the idea came about from several customers asking if the company would accept Bitcoin currency. It's an interesting move, not just because Bitcoin isn't an officially recognized currency in the U.S., but also because of its volatile nature. Bitcoin values are prone to sudden drops in value, though on the flipside, Bitcoins have also enjoyed robust growth. If that trend continues, Xidax could make a fortune from accepting Bitcoins, and miners can cash in and receive something tangible in return.

Xidax Bitcoin

Xidax offers a range of laptops starting at $1,205 and desktops starting at $839. The option to pay with Bitcoin comes up during the checkout process, as shown above.

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Digital Storm Unveils Bolt II, World's First Liquid Cooled Steam Machine

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 09:01 AM PST

Digital Storm Bolt IIGetting wet and wild with Steam Machines

Digital Storm's original Bolt introduced gamers to a console-like box filled with PC hardware. It was essentially a Steam Machine before such a thing existed, minus Valve's Steam OS. This time around, Digital Storm's Bolt II is a bona fide Steam Machine that once again comes in a small form factor (SFF) chassis, only now it runs both Windows and Steam OS, and is liquid cooled to boot.

According to Digital Storm, no other Steam Machine uses liquid cooling. The Bolt II keeps things cool with a "best-in-class" 240mm radiator, large perforated ventilation areas over the graphics card, a top panel that transfers excess heat out of the system while pulling cold air in, and an "expertly engineered airflow design."

Digital Storm isn't yet sharing specific configuration details, though the boutique builder made it clear that its system won't cost the same as an Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

"We are not looking to compete with console pricing," said Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm's Director of Product Development. "We're taking aim at the high end of the market, targeting consumers that demand the best possible gaming experience and who are looking for a PC capable of playing any title on their new 4K display."

That said, the Bolt II will be available later this month starting at $1,899.

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CyberPowerPC Announces Steam Machine Configurations Starting at $499

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 08:36 AM PST

CyberPowerPC Steam MachineSylish Steam Machine configurations are slated for the second half of 2014

Let's kick off the week with some good news, shall we? CyberPowerPC just flipped us a note announcing a pair of Steam Machine configurations that come complete with a Steam Controller and Steam OS, and the cost of entry starts at just $499, the same MSRP as Microsoft's Xbox One console. Pretty snazzy, right? Well, the bad news is that you'll have to wait until the second half of the 2014 before you can buy one - drats!

Wait time aside, CyberPowerPC has put together a couple of respectable configurations to choose from. The first is the "Steam Machine A" with an AMD A6 6400K processor, 8GB of DDR3-1600 memory, Radeon R9 270 graphics card, 500GB SATA 6Gbps hard drive (7200 RPM), and built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi on a mITX motherboard. This is the configuration that runs $499.

If you're willing to pony up $699, you'll be able to pick up CyberPowerPC's "Steam Machine I" system. It's configured similarly to the Steam Machine A box, but has an Intel Core i3 4330 foundation with an Nvidia GeForce GTX 760 graphics card.

Either way, CyberPowerPC promises full desktop PC performance in a stylish box capable of running hundreds of games currently in the Steam catalog. That's not to say you won't have to make some adjustments to in-game settings, though looking at the specs, both setups should do a serviceable job serving up playable framerates at 1920x1080.

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CES 2014: Live Demo of the PrioVR Suit and Its Camera Free Motion Sensing Mojo [Video]

Posted: 06 Jan 2014 07:03 AM PST

PrioVRMovement tracking without the cameras

Just when you thought virtual reality might be dead, here came the Oculus Rift, a VR headset that raised nearly $2.5 million on Kickstarter. The Oculus Rift has sparked excitement among gamers and developers alike, prompting other device makers to jump on board the little bandwagon that could (virtual reality). At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, ace reporter and Maximum PC Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang spent a few minutes viewing a demo of the PrioVR suit, a motion control system that doesn't use any cameras.

It's a suit designed around the Oculus Rift that adds another layer of VR immersion. It uses wireless technology on the 2.4GHz band to transmit your movement, and while you can use it with any controller, the rep in the following video used Wii Remote Controllers to show how a person can interact with the in-game environment.

At present force feedback isn't a supported feature, but that could be implemented at a later date. How far it goes and what features ultimately end up in PrioVR could depend on how successful its upcoming Kickstarter campaign is, which is currently scheduled for February.

In any event, here's a look at the PrioVR in action. For more info, including a list of FAQs about the project, check out the company's website.

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