MMORPG News

MMORPG News

ArcheAge: So Much to Look Forward To

Posted: 01 May 2014 07:28 AM PDT

So Much to Look Forward To

Welcome back into the world of ArcheAge! Last week I gave you a fresh look at ArcheAge after having played it for a few hours. Since then I've gone gliding, explored further, quested more, and of course got my hands on the crafting system. In terms of news the only new thing we've gotten was last week when Trion Worlds announced their three Founder's Packs.

WildStar: Carbine’s Favorite Warplot Builds

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 05:56 PM PDT

Carbine

Part of Carbine's final push towards the launch of WildStar involves the Warplot Team testing and tweaking the building and customizing of the game's massive 40v40 PVP battles. Today, we're happy to share the Warplot Team's personal favorite setups for their Warplots. Let this be a handy starting guide to what you and your team try out come launch.

Elder Scrolls Online: The Road Ahead Announced

Posted: 01 May 2014 06:29 AM PDT

The Road Ahead Announced

The Elder Scrolls Online site has been updated with a fantastic new letter that lays out the team's plans for the game throughout the balance of 2014. First, the details of the latest patch are laid out followed by some interesting tidbits about what's in store.

Child of Light: Multi-Platform Title Now Available for Download

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 07:02 PM PDT

Multi-Platform Title Now Available for Download

Ubisoft has announced that its latest role-playing game, Child of Light, is now available for download on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Wii U and PC. The digital edition of the game comes in at a cool $14.99.

Heroes of the Storm: LiLi Spotted in Latest Trailer

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 06:47 PM PDT

LiLi Spotted in Latest Trailer

The Heroes of the Storm team is giving a nod to the ongoing World of Warcraft in-game event, Children's Week, by introducing might mite, LiLi, to the game. Check out this kid's moves!

Elder Scrolls Online: Join the Devs for a Special AMA on May 1st

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:10 PM PDT

Join the Devs for a Special AMA on May 1st

The Elder Scrolls Online team will be on hand on Reddit for a special 'ask me anything' session with several members of the development team ready to speak about Craglorn, post-launch plans, and more.

Transformers Universe: Founder's Packs Announced

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 03:37 PM PDT

Founder

Jagex has announced that interested players can take advantage of special perks with the arrival of Transformers Universe Founder's Packs. The packs range in price from the Cybernite Pack at $449.99 to the Bronze Pack for $44.99.

Marvel Heroes: The Invisible Woman Arrives with a Free Mystery Gift!

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 03:32 PM PDT

The Invisible Woman Arrives with a Free Mystery Gift!

Gazillion Entertainment has announced that the Invisible Woman has made her way into Marvel Heroes. Along with this announcement, we have another code for our readers that will give access to a specially prepared mystery gift.

EVE Online: CCP Unveils Monument to EVE Online

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 02:28 PM PDT

CCP Unveils Monument to EVE Online

When an MMO creeps from the virtual world into the real one, it's usually in the form of t-shirts, fiction and other must-haves for the dedicated fan. Which is what makes the latest project by CCP Games even more unusual - a five metre tall monument to EVE Online.

DC Universe Online: Latest Update Brings Changes to Combat System

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 02:23 PM PDT

Latest Update Brings Changes to Combat System

The latest update to DC Universe Online brings a bevy of changes to the combat system to "make it more fun, dynamic and challenging". The team has released a nifty video to show off some of the changes that you won't want to miss.

ArcheAge: Korean Version Sees Dolphin Mount Added

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 02:20 PM PDT

Korean Version Sees Dolphin Mount Added

The Korean version of ArcheAge has received an epic new aquatic mount in the form of a dolphin that comes with its own unique set of abilities. EGMNow.com has a fantastic video that shows off the dolphin skills and game play. Let us know what you think.

Landmark: Live Stream Event Planned for Today

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 02:15 PM PDT

Live Stream Event Planned for Today

Landmark fans will want to tune into the game's official Twitch channel to check out all the latest happenings during the Live! broadcast. The team has plans to spotlight player construction, screens, videos and much more. Join the channel at 4:00 pm PST / 7:00 pm EST.

City of Heroes: Thank You, City of Heroes

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 12:27 AM PDT

Thank You, City of Heroes

The 10th anniversary of City of Heroes' release came and went with not much more than a whisper. The game is dead and so the usual jubilation and of course, events to go along with such a momentous occasion, were nowhere to be found. It's a bittersweet thing to reflect upon. There just wasn't anything like City of Heroes, and to this day, there still isn't.

World of Darkness: Screens & Details Leaked

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 02:10 PM PDT

Screens & Details Leaked

It will be with painful thoughts that fans of World of Darkness check out the leaked images from the now-cancelled title by CCP Games. Rock, Paper, Shotgun is showcasing several screenshots and other information about the game.

Warhammer 40.000: Eternal Crusade: Lucky Fan Gets to Play Early Demo

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 11:04 AM PDT

Lucky Fan Gets to Play Early Demo

During this past weekend's C2E2 convention, a lucky fan was chosen to check out an early demo version of Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade. The video is priceless and well-worth the watch for fans eager to hear more about the title. Let us know what you think.

General: Twelve Famous Player-Driven MMORPG Moments

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 07:13 PM PDT

Twelve Famous Player-Driven MMORPG Moments

MMOs offer a unique community where friends create a bond and a history. As players invest in communal gameplay they foster social relationships that drive these shared experiences. Moments of this nature continue beyond the game, because of the impact we have on each other. Which of the following events did you take part in, or do you remember? Check out the following list of famous player-driven moments.

General: Strife Closed Beta Key Giveaway!

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 10:55 AM PDT

Strife Closed Beta Key Giveaway!

MMORPG.com has partnered with S2Games to give out 500 keys to the closed beta (NA/EU only!) of their upcoming MOBA, Strife! Grab a key now while supplies last!

WildStar: Housing “Plug”atory

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 07:03 PM PDT

Housing "Plug"atory

As I often do in the evening, I was discussing WildStar, theorizing and planning strategies for launch. This led to a discussion about what my plans are for housing plug optimization. This struck me as an odd question until I realized that there was a need to plan out housing plugs for optimal benefit. Not only for myself but across the guild; further yet to the potential of a shared housing plug circle.

Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen: Demo Prototype Video Shows Off Game Features

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 09:02 AM PDT

Demo Prototype Video Shows Off Game Features

The latest update from the Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen team reveals the first-ever demo prototype video. Brad McQuaid adds a bit of a caveat by acknowledging that it is a very early build and that texture errors are to be expected. Even with that, it's a pretty neat look at a game that many hope to see fully funded in the near future.

Ultima Online: Steam Greenlight Campaign a Rousing Success

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 08:52 AM PDT

Steam Greenlight Campaign a Rousing Success

Both Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot have joined the ranks of titles added to the Steam games portal via the Greenlight feature. Under the auspices of Broadsword Games, both titles received the go-ahead along with 73 other games.

Black Desert: Mounted Combat Subject of Latest Trailer

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 08:44 AM PDT

Mounted Combat Subject of Latest Trailer

The latest Black Desert trailer to be released shows off mounted combat in the forthcoming title. According to beta reports, there is some limitation to the skills that can be used while simultaneously fighting and riding but it looks pretty amazing all in all. See what you think and let us know in the comments.

DOTA2: The International Tournament to Begin May 12th

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 08:41 AM PDT

The International Tournament to Begin May 12th

The DOTA2 teams are in place and the competition will begin on May 12th, all leading up to the epic conclusion of The International DOTA2 Tournament in July.

Darkfall: Unholy Wars: Play for Free May 1-5 in Anniversary Fete

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 08:33 AM PDT

Play for Free May 1-5 in Anniversary Fete

Both new and former Darkfall: Unholy Wars players can check out the game for free from May 1st to 5th thanks to the game's first anniversary celebration. Players will be gifted with double Prowess points as their journeys begin and will be treated to several dynamic events including a treasure hunt.
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMOGaming News

MMOGaming News

Baby Cosplay Collection Preview

Posted:

Baby Cosplay Collection Preview


Hello mmositers,this isn't a typical Cosplay preview,but lets call it a CUTE one.I made a collection of talented baby cosplayers.Hope everyone enjoy watching those babies.
Posted by Shri Krishna

MMORPG Reviews

MMORPG Reviews

New Browser MMO Announced: Vic the Viking

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 09:46 AM PDT

Gamigo AG and Studio 100 Media have just announced their cooperation with developers Funatics to come up with a new browser-based MMO based on the TV CGI series “Vicky the Viking”. This free-to-play strategy title, which combines role-playing and classic building elements, is initially scheduled for launch in Germany under the name of Wickie Online, […]

The post New Browser MMO Announced: Vic the Viking appeared first on MMORPG Reviews.

New Gameplay Trailer Out Of Heroes & Generals

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 03:59 AM PDT

Reto-Moto has just released a new gameplay trailer for their free-to-play strategic MMO Heroes and Generals, casting a light on the distinct roles players are able to take on when engaging in the World World II scenario. Have a look! Source of information: Reto-Moto press release.

The post New Gameplay Trailer Out Of Heroes & Generals appeared first on MMORPG Reviews.

Dawn of the Immortals To Launch This Summer For Mobile Devices

Posted: 28 Apr 2014 09:15 AM PDT

Perfect World Entertainment has just announced plans to launch Dawn of the Immortals in Europe and North America this summer for Android and iOS devices. This isometric action fantasy MMO will challenge players with 60 levels of exciting dungeons and epic boss fights. “Perfect World Entertainment is known for outstanding free-to-play games on PCs,” said […]

The post Dawn of the Immortals To Launch This Summer For Mobile Devices appeared first on MMORPG Reviews.
Posted by Shri Krishna


General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article

Dark Souls 2 Review

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:00 PM PDT

Dark Souls 2 009Fun, yet frustrating

I'm fighting against a skeleton wielding a large greatsword. I roll out of its way to dodge its first attack and immediately parry a second one with my shield. With my enemy off balance, I quickly get in a couple of slashes with my broadsword and get his health down significantly. At this point, I'm feeling confident that the fight is almost over as I roll out of the way of the skeleton's next attack. But, to my horror, I anticlimactically fall off a cliff and die which forces me to lose all the souls I've collected.

Mouse flies in one direction, the keyboard flies in the other, and somehow there is a fist-sized hole in the monitor.

It seems to us that frustration is the currency that From Software likes to deal in when it comes to the Dark Souls franchise and Dark Souls 2 is no exception. There were many times we became frustrated as we played the game. But perhaps not for the reasons many who have played, or will play, the game will expect. But we'll address that soon enough.

Praise the Sun!

Praise the Sun! The graphics are good!

There are various reasons to like Dark Souls 2, with graphics being one of them. The game's visuals are pleasing to the eyes with great lighting and shadow effects. The scenery looked good and is certainly a cut or two above its console counterpart. PC gamers will certainly appreciate the fact that they can go into the video settings and adjust resolution, texture, water surface, effects, and shadow quality, among other options. However, we are disappointed by the game's limited character creation. To be fair, there are a lot of awesome-looking armor sets that will cover your character up anyhow. 

Coupled with the graphics is the tone of the game which is depressing, foreboding, and scary. We never knew what was going to happen whenever we stepped through a door or walked around a corner. As if fighting all the undead, monsters, and bosses in the game aren't hard enough, there are traps and ambushes in Dark Souls 2 that kept us on our toes the entire time. 

In addition, there are a plethora of secrets and hidden areas to be found that are not immediately noticeable. This made the journey through the land an enjoyable one since we liked to explore and discover things that would go unnoticed to the casual eye. It also added to the mystique and terror we felt as we pondered the risks and rewards of straying off the beaten path in hopes of finding useful items and souls.

Those souls you collect are the currency to the game. Not only are souls needed to purchase gear and level up, but it also helped our undead Knight maintain his humanity. As an undead character, there is a curse that slowly erases our hero's memories unless they can collect these souls. So we are tasked to collect many souls throughout the game. While the reasons for the soul collecting eventually become unraveled through the game, it ends up being an almost forgettable and uninteresting story.

Dark Souls 2 007

Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?

Yet, while the game looks good, has a great atmosphere, and kept us occupied and challenged the entire time, there are many frustrating components to the game. Reasons beyond us dying over and over again, which is an experience that, for those who play challenging roguelike games, will be familiar with. 

One aspect we were really annoyed with were the button prompts. All button prompts in the game are for a controller setup rather than for mouse and keyboard combo. For example, we often found ourselves having to open up the menu to see what something like the "A" button was (shift + left click, in case you were wondering). Considering we're confident many keyboard and mouse users will also be bewildered by this, it's a major oversight. 

As for the M/KB layout, reconfiguring will definitely be required for a better gameplay experience. That is, unless you were born with three hands because the button layout ranges from the WASD keys, to the "O" button if you want to lock on to an enemy during combat, to the arrow keys for scrolling through equipped items. We were also left scratching our heads at the fact that the developer hadn't even utilized the number keys above the QWERTY keys. If that isn't enough, we couldn't even bind any actions to the fourth and fifth buttons on our mouse.

This means that Dark Souls 2 is only partially optimized for the keyboard and mouse. While the game may work better with a controller, there is no reason to alienate PC enthusiasts in this fashion. There is simply no excuse, especially not when other third-person action games such as The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy (which can be played first-person as well), and Clan of Champions can do a good job of utilizing the versatility of the mouse and keyboard. 

Then there is the issue we had with the game's combat, a key selling point for the franchise and its acclaimed difficulty. For a game that requires perfect timing to parry an enemy's attack, or land a blow of our own, we noticed about a half-second delay between mouse clicks and attack executions. While this might be attributable to the fact that the light (one click) and strong (two clicks) attacks are bound to the same key, it once again shows the developer's error for not properly utilizing the control scheme. Especially since a special attack like Bash requires the player to press "W" and the light attack button (left mouse button) at the same time. 

Dark Souls 2 006

Dashingly handsome undead Knight reporting for duty!

Another reason for our frustration is a glitch we encountered in our very first attempt at playing the game. At the time we thought nothing of this glitch, or even considered it such. But eventually we discovered that we could only equip the starting weapon in our left hand and that, whenever we would try to do the same with the right, nothing would register and we would fight with our bare hands. The weapon would be equipped but, as far as the game was concerned, there was nothing there. So when we finally found a shield several hours later, we discovered that we could equip the shield in our left, but couldn't equip a weapon in our right. 

Suffice it to say, we had to start the game all over.

While at first this seemed to be a glitch that happened at the start of a new game, we discovered that this is not the case. During another playthrough, we recreated the same glitch simply by equipping a shield in our right hand and trying to equip a weapon in the left. Then, when we switched both items, the glitch returned. Which meant we had to start all over again if we wanted to play as a sword-and-shield-wielding Knight. 

(We've also heard that quite a few players have experienced crashes with the game. However, we never experienced a single crash during our playthrough.)

Finally, we come to Dark Souls 2's limited combat system. At first, we disliked it. It felt contrived to create an unnecessarily difficult experience. We also didn't like the fact that you need to carry two different types of swords: one for open environments and one for enclosed spaces. Seems a bit contrived to us, but maybe we're just being nitpicky.

However, we will admit that as we continued to play through the game, we became attuned to the way combat works. Maybe this is a case of Stockholm Syndrome because we did get to a point where we did appreciate Dark Souls 2's combat. But, it is nowhere near the best we have ever experienced. Not when we compare it to the aforementioned combat systems of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings and Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy. But it is hardly the worst combat experience we've had. 

Dark Souls 2 002

We got so frustrated by the combat that we smashed this guy into the wall!

Those who enjoy the combat system, however, will certainly like Dark Souls 2 for both its singleplayer and multiplayer campaigns. We were able to work together with other players to fight the game's bosses and even invaded someone elses' game and fought them. 

Overall, Dark Souls 2 is a fine game. But it will be frustrating for many PC gamers who use a mouse and keyboard to play (unless modders or the developer itself improves it). It will also be frustrating for those who might not have the patience to learn the ins and outs of the game. But those that enjoy it will find that they will be spending a lot of time in the land of Drangleic. 

Asus Gives Glimpse of Z97-A Motherboard

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 09:47 AM PDT

Asus Z97-A MotherboardAn early look at an Intel 9-Series motherboard from Asus

The motherboard market's been whittled down to a handful of players, one of which includes Asus, a top tier mobo maker. Always on the front lines of what's new and emerging, Asus has begun sending out samples of its forthcoming Z97-A motherboard based on Intel's new 9 Series chipset (Z97 in this case, obviously), which will support Intel's refreshed Haswell processor line.

Our sister site PC Gamer posted a few pics of the Z97-A. When the dust settles, the Z97-A will take its place as one of the mid-range offerings from Asus, hopefully with a favorable price to performance ratio.

PC Gamer notes that this isn't a board that's meant to be showed off through your enclosure's side windows. Instead, it's more about function. It features an EZ mode in the BIOS, but perhaps the biggest news is that of a pair of new storage interfaces -- M.2, which is similar to mSATA, and SATA Express (for external devices). Both are included on the Z97-A.

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SanDisk Goes Big, Launches Industry's First 4TB SAS Solid State Drive

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 09:17 AM PDT

SanDisk Optimus MAXMeet Optimus MAX, a big capacity enterprise SAS SSD

SanDisk on Wednesday unveiled the Optimus MAX, a Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) solid state drive (SSD) and supposedly the first of its kind to offer a whopping 4TB of capacity. The selling point to enterprise customers is that the Optimus MAX achieves a capacity point that outpaces today's highest-capacity 2.5-inch 10K and 15K RPM SAS mechanical hard drives, thereby making it a trule replacement for legacy mission-critical data center SAS HDDs.

"Customers have been looking for a way to transition their data centers from HDDs to NAND flash, but have been forced to decide between cost and performance, or give up important functionality," said John Scaramuzzo, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Enterprise Storage Solutions at SanDisk. "The Optimus MAX eliminates the need for compromises. We believe that the Optimus MAX will be a disruptive force within the storage industry, catalyzing many organizations to make the switch from their HDD-prominent data center infrastructures to SSDs."

According to SanDisk, the cost advantage that's typically associated with 10K and 15K SAS HDDs is largely negated by their inability to meet today's application demands as real-time access to large volumes of data becomes increasingly important. The Optimus MAX is supposed to be the SSD solution they've been waiting for to replace underperforming HDDs, while also offering significant cost savings in infrastructure expenses (fewer racks, PSUs, HBAs, and the such) and without needing to swtich to SATA, or so the sales pitch goes.

The Optimus MAX -- and the entire Optimus family, as of today -- sport 19nm multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory. As for the 4TB Optimus MAX, SanDisk says it can deliver sequential and write performance of up to 400MB/s, and random read and write performance of up to 75,000 IOPS and 15,000 IOPS, respectively. Here's a video with more information (complete with cheesy soundtrack):

No word yet on price or availability.

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Grab a Select EVGA GeForce GTX Graphics Card, Score Watch Dogs for Free

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 08:46 AM PDT

Watch DogsA sweet deal from EVGA and Ubisoft

The GPU wars certainly heated up in the past year or so, and they don't show any signs of cooling down. It's not just a game of playing leapfrog for the performance crown anymore, either. When all things are equal (or close to being equal), game bundles can be the nudge you need if you're on the fence. With that in mind, EVGA let us know that it's giving away copies of Ubisoft's Watch Dogs with the purchase of select GeForce GTX graphics cards.

The promotion applies to EVGA brand GeForce GTX 660 or higher video cards. Purchases must have been made on or after April 29, 2014 from EVGA's online store.

To collect your game code, you need to register your card with EVGA, upload your invoice showing a qualifying purchase, and request a Watch Dogs code by filling out a form.

Easy cheesy, right? Full details for the promotion can be found on a special page on EVGA's website.

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BitFenix Attacks Power Supply Market with a 'Fury' Line

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 06:27 AM PDT

BitFenix Fury PSUAn attempt to mesh top quality design with aesthetic flair

Which is more important to you, form or function? If you're thinking both, you might be a candidate for BitFenix's new Fury line of power supplies. Looking at "challenging the status quo," BitFenix designed its Fury PSU line to run reliably and look good while doing it. Usually when a PSU maker talks about aesthetics, it's a sign that quality took a backseat, but that doesn't appear to be the case here.

We haven't tested one of these so all we have is BitFenix's description and specs to go on, but what's listed is pretty impressive. The Fury PSU line is 80 Plus Gold certified for efficiency, uses all Japanese capacitors, comes with a single beefy +12V rail, and is backed by a 5-year warranty.

As far as the Fury's aesthetic swagger, both the top and bottom sport a stamped BitFenix logo along with a custom aluminum ring so that it's visible no matter matter which end is sticking up. It's a somewhat aggressive looking unit with a matte power-coat finish and individually braided cables that are modular (save for the 24-pin main ATX connector, which is permanently attached).

BitFenix says the Fury will be available in May in 550W, 650W, and 750W variants. No word yet on price.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Asus 27-inch LED Monitor, Samsung 840 Evo 500GB SSD, and More!

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 05:57 AM PDT

ASUS VE278Qnewegg logo

Top Deal:

There are over 6 billion hours of video on YouTube alone, and 100 hours of video are uploaded YouTube every minute. If our math is right, it would take you at least a day to watch them all. And if that's you're plan, you can watch each and every single YouTube video on today's top deal -- an Asus VE278Q 27-inch LED-Backlit Monitor for $210 with free shipping (normally $250 - use coupon code: [EMCPFHA48]; additional $20 mail-in-rebate).

Other Deals:

Samsung 840 Evo MZ-7TE500BW 2.5-inch 500GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive for $245 with free shipping (normally $255 - use coupon code: [EMCPFHA22])

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory for $135 with free shipping (normally $160 - use coupon code: [EMCPFHA27])

Intel Core i7-4770 Haswell 3.4GHz LGA 1150 84W Desktop Processor for $295 with free shipping (normally $310 - use coupon code: [EMCPFHA33])

Asus GTX770-DC2OC-2GD5 GeForce GTX 770 2GB 256-Bit GDDR5 Video Card for $300 with free shipping (normally $310; additional $10 Mail-in rebate)
Posted by Shri Krishna
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