Yearly Archives: 2010

GamesCampus Announes New Genre-Bending MMORTS, Soul Master

GamesCampus Announes New Genre-Bending MMORTS, Soul Master

Leading online game publisher, GamesCampus.com, announced its new genre-bending, free-to-play MMORTS, Soul Master. 
 
Developed by NPluto, Soul Master is an addictive new game that takes the innovation behind customizable “Hero” units in the RTS genre to a whole new level by allowing players to have complete MMORPG-style control over their characters.  The game will enter Closed Beta Testing in May of this year.
 
“Soul Master is unlike anything else currently out there and definitely what players have been waiting for,” said David Chang, EVP of Marketing and Business Development for GamesCampus.  “We spotted an opportunity to bring this truly unique and fun MMORTS online experience to our GamesCampus.com
players and we took it!”  
 
Soul Master will feature a unique combat system that will allow players to create structures, progress through technology trees and produce and command units–all while developing a persistent character of their own.  With resource-driven RTS combat, Soul Master allows players to create defensive towers, barricades, resource harvesting structures, and unit production facilities while progressing through simplified, traditional RTS tech-trees that let players focus on strategic, active gameplay in both Team and Free-for-All PvP.
 
 
Soul Master includes rich item customization systems that enable players to acquire unique stat and skill bonuses both for their personalized avatars, as well as their RTS buildings, production capabilities, and controlled units.  In addition to the robust PvP content, Soul Master features a wide range of PVE scenario modes such as defending objectives, escort missions, co-op challenges, boss raids, and AI RTS battles.
 
With fast paced combat that combines the high-speed action of a character vs. character brawler– and the tactical elements of a squad-based RTS — Soul Master sets out to take the very best of both worlds and merge them into a genre unto itself.
 
For more information on the game and to follow the latest updates, visit http://SoulMaster.GamesCampus.com

 

Heroes of Three Kingdoms MMO Comes to North America

Heroes of Three Kingdoms MMO Comes to North America


Rewrite History in One of the Greatest Battles of All Time


Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a wholly owned US subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), today announced that the 3D MMORPG, Heroes of Three Kingdoms, will be coming to North America. Known as the Chibi in China, Heroes of Three Kingdoms is based on one of history’s greatest battles and not only gives players the opportunity to experience the chaos first hand, but also the chance to rewrite pivotal moments in Chinese history.
 
“With Heroes of Three Kingdoms, we’re going back to our roots and transporting players back in time to experience an era that helped shaped modern China as we know it today. Fans of the popular literature based around the Three Kingdoms era will be excited to be able to meet their favorite heroes and villains in our game,” said Andrew Brown, Product Manager of Heroes of Three Kingdoms. “Heroes of Three Kingdoms does an excellent job encapsulating the excitement and thrill that has led this era to have such a huge following.”
 
Highlights
– Motion Captured Combat – Using advanced motion capture technology; combat is brought to life martial arts specialist, making the action exciting and realistic. Experience in-game combat as if it were real life.
– Eighteen Weapon System – With a unique cool down system, players will have eighteen types of weapons available during the Three Kingdoms era in China to choose from.
– Kingdom War System – Join the Wei, Shu or Wu and choose to wage war or create alliances against one another.
– Historic Instances – Go back in time to experience historical battles and pivotal moments that helped shape the Three Kingdoms era and modern China.
Players interested in learning more about Heroes of Three Kingdoms can sign up for the closed beta

GamepotUSA and Square Enix Issue Declaration of War for Fantasy Earth Zero Beta

GamepotUSA and Square Enix Issue Declaration of War
For Fantasy Earth Zero Beta

 

Gamepot (USA), Inc., the U.S. publishing division of Japanese gaming behemoth Gamepot, Inc., is pleased to announce the FANTASY EARTH ZEROTM Second Open Beta on March 17th, 2010. This Open Beta furthers the progression of our countdown to Day Zero, the launch of FANTASY EARTH ZERO.

 

To kick off the Opening Day festivities, Gamepot USA will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day event. Players can visit the St. Patrick NPC in game to receive a four leaf clover with instant regenerative powers.

 

To find the location of St. Patrick in game, please visit: http://fez.gamepotusa.com. With the completion of the initial Open Beta, Fantasy Earth Zero will now feature permanent character progression, with no further character wipes.

 

“The uniqueness of FEZ has struck a chord with our players, we’re very happy with the results, and thank them for their support thus far” said Thomas Lee, Senior Director of Business Development. “Your kingdom will need more than the luck ‘o the Irish – Strategy, Skills and Superior teamwork is a blueprint for winning.”

 

In addition to the Opening Day event, Gamepot USA is hosting many events as they countdown to Day Zero.

 

 

Fantasy Earth Zero

Champions Online: Total Customization

Champions Online Review: Total Customization
By Gabriele Giorgi (Darak), OnRPG Journalist

 

The first thing that meets your eye in Champions Online is the complete customisation of your character. There are so many options that the image of your in-game avatar in your mind’s eye will surely become a reality, and even more items can be unlocked while playing the game. At first it might be overwhelming (providing you do not jump into the game with a “random” character, you will likely be spending at least an hour in the creation screen), but it’s undoubtedly one of the best editors in the present MMOs world. It’s not only about appearance either, even powers can be modified, both their hue and emanation point.

 

The skill choice is completely up to the player, of course you will find some predefined templates, but nothing prevents you from creating your own, mixing sorcery and martial arts, super-strength and electricity, etc.: as they say, the only limit is your imagination (but no stretching like Mr. Fantastic, they did not get that far yet). The powers can be tested inside the Powerhouse, a training facility, before you confirm them, but they can be changed later for a price, although it is quite expensive, therefore wise planning is advisable.

 

There are no classes in CO, you will have different builds instead, and you can assign to them different equipment and modify some powers in order to assume the usual roles (tank, healer, DPS) with but a click of the mouse.

 

Another interesting innovation is that you can get the travel power at level 6 as soon as you are out of the tutorial zone, so you can begin to fly around, run at hypersonic speed or burrow your way beneath the soil very quickly.

 

Fast and furious

Like City of Heroes, Champions Online features fast-paced combat, where it’s better to act than to think. Of course, there are all the usual special effects (stun, root, damage over time, etc.), but the fights are solved in a few seconds, apart from bosses, well, super-villains, that is. There are two innovations compared to the “classic” fighting model, first, your primary method to recharge your energy bar is a power called “energy builder,” a fast attack that deals little damage, but it is necessary to give you that boost to continue, the second innovation involves powers that have a continuous effect if you keep the key pressed, the most important of these is, no doubt, the block skill, which is given to every character by default. This is essential since the bosses will often “call out” some powers, i.e. an icon will appear over their head to show that they are charging a particularly powerful blow (direct, area of effect, cone, etc.)… So you’d better brace yourself!

 

Overall, fighting requires just a few keys, this has been obviously influenced by the fact that this won’t only be a PC-title, but it’s also been developed for the Xbox 360. For stats lovers, in the description of every power there is a dedicated section with all the figures, pure damage, DPS, cooldown, assorted percentages and much more.

 

Mission: Possible

The character progression is divided in 40 levels and it’s accomplished mainly through missions. When completing them you are awarded many experience points (not to mention some useful stuff). While these are quite standard, there are also so-called “open missions” (much like the “public quests” in WAR); composed by various steps which can be performed by all the characters present in the area and upon completion (if successful) a point chart will appear, measuring the contribution of everyone to assign the rewards.

 

Another new interesting feature of CO consists of the Nemesis system, starting from level 25, you will have the opportunity to create the appearance, powers and behaviour of a recurring archenemy who will pop up every now and then to threaten you with his umpteenth devilish master plan.

 

So far so good… but the real problem is the challenge level of the missions, definitely inadequate. The on-level missions marked for a group of 2 or 3 people are often easy to solve even solo (with a bit of caution, of course) and in a few cases this will apply to “open missions” too. Also add the fact that there is no penalty for defeat, save for the occasional loss of one of the “stars” that grant you a bonus to your fighting abilities for a maximum of 5% (do you remember the XP debt of CoH, instead?).

 

The other notable flaw is in the level progression for each level it takes 2 or 3 hours at most. Surely this quickness doesn’t bode well for the longevity of the game, especially because PvP, which is limited to mini-arenas, practically does not exist (maybe a specific future expansion?).

 

By the way, in CoH you can migrate to another server and “roll” another character to test new powers and combinations; Champions, on the other hand, uses so-called “instance channels” instead of separate servers; the instance channels are macro-instances that can host up to 100 players, but this means that the character slots will always be 6, with no opportunity to experiment on other servers.

 

Other Merits and Flaws

The graphics and sound of Champions is quite good, even if they do not reach peaks, there is something they manage to accomplish really well and that is a comic’s atmosphere, thanks to little details like the boss powers’ icons, a black and white hue when you reach the border of a map and fun cinematics. Also the different zones are few but very well realised, as well as the various enemies.

 

CO does not spur the players to group, and not even the sidekick system, obtains the desired effect. We all know that superheroes are solitary people, but this is a MMO, after all. Even the features for super groups are limited to the basics.

 

Another area that would benefit from a complete revamp is crafting: all the loot can be destroyed to be analysed and obtain the components; problem is you can do the same with crafted items. This allows you to advance quite easily, but it determines a new and more severe flaw, to get to the next tier, you need not only to gather the necessary points, but also to reach a certain experience level. As a result you will have to postpone all your crafting for at least 3 or 4 levels, putting it off until you have gained enough levels.

 

Champions Online is a game with merits and flaws in the same measure. Maybe it was due to a hasty launch, even considering that it was a title that had created much hype. In this period, however, the developers have released frequent (almost daily) patches and updates in order to correct and balance various elements of the game. CO has got potential, but only time will tell if it will manifest it to its fullest, much like its older brother City of Heroes.

 

Pro:
– Total customisation of every aspect of the character
– Fast-paced and dynamic combat
– Comic’s atmosphere

 

Con:
– Potentially short longevity
– PvP practically non-existent
– Disappointing crafting system.

Tales of Fantasy Reports: Thousands Killed in Hot Springs

Tales of Fantasy Reports: Thousands Killed in Hot Springs

Since the alpha test began for IGG’s newest 3D MMORPG, Tales of Fantasy users have been having a great time enjoying the unique gameplay and exploring the games wonderful features. However, a quest called Daily Hot Spring is proving to be quite a nightmare for inexperienced new comers. So today, the official team will unveil some secret hints and tips to help you get by. 
 
With the promise of free experience and skill points for players who submerge themselves in the game’s hot springs, players are taking great interest in these quests. Unfortunately for many, bathing in those waters can be a dangerous pastime, as proven by death tolls numbering in the thousands. Thankfully, with tips from the game’s friendly GMs and the spirit of teamwork, players have found better ways to enjoy these tricky quests. To help players better understand the hot springs, the Tales of Fantasy Development Team took time to share a few facts and pointers about the mysteries surrounding these natural wonders.
 

 
Origins
The world of Tales of Fantasy is in a state of constant strife between two opposing factions, so players are hard-pressed to level up quickly to maintain the competitive strength of the faction they serve. Since grinding levels can become a boring and mundane task, the Tales of Fantasy team came up with a free and easy alternative: the hot springs!
The hot springs in the game were inspired by those found in various countries and cultures around the world, tracing back ages and renowned for the amazing healing and revitalizing effects that are much sought after even today.
 

 
What You Need to Know
Naturally the hot springs are, as the name suggests, hot! In Tales of Fantasy, the amazing EXP and SP gains they offer come at a price. Due to the side effects, which include a constant sapping of strength and eventual dehydration, a direct decrease in HP occurs when characters stay submerged in the hot springs for too long. Upon reaching 0 HP in the springs, a character will die, so players need to be careful. There are 2 kinds of hot spring quests – the cooler version which reduces HP by 200 per second, and the hotter version which reduces HP by 500 per second. Players must complete the quests in order – and with each level completed, more EXP and SP will be earned.
 
Objectives
The importance of teamwork can’t be stressed enough. Without teammates, many worthwhile endeavors are doomed to failure. There are classes in the game that have the ability to restore the health of their teammates, which comes in handy at the hot springs. Beyond tactical concerns, teaming is a good way to keep things fresh and form bonds with other players. Here’s a note of caution though – using of restoration potions in the hot springs won’t work!
If you can’t find any teammates, why not consider parting with some of your money to hire other players to help you with the quest? And if you happen to be a Healer, this is the perfect opportunity to make some money too! Make new friends and line your pockets – all at the same time!
Here’s a hint, players can employ the use of amulets in the hot springs to restore HP when it runs low (please take note of the cooldown time, though). Even better, these amulets are available from various low level quests!
The hot springs quest lasts for a total of 30 minutes, so while you’re gaining amazing amounts of EXP and SP, there’s plenty of time to make a few new friends, too. Tales of Fantasy is not just about mounted combat; it’s about the various little things one can do, as well.

Soul Master

German Landing Page: http://soulmaster.gamigo.de/
Soul Master is an addictive new genre-bending MMORTS (Massively Multiplayer Online Real Time Strategy) game that takes the innovation behind customizable “Hero” units in the RTS genre farther than ever before and allows players to have complete MMORPG-style control over their characters.
Featuring a combat system that allows players to create structures, progress through technology trees, produce and command units, while at the same time developing a persistent character of their own; Soul Master includes rich item customization systems that enable players to acquire unique stat and skill bonuses both for their personalized avatars as well as their RTS buildings, production capabilities, and controlled units.
In addition to the robust PvP content, Soul Master features a wide range of PVE scenario modes such as defending objectives, escort missions, co-op challenges, boss raids, and AI RTS battles.
With fast paced combat that combines the high-speed action of a character vs. character brawler and the tactical elements of a squad-based RTS, Soul Master sets out to take the very best of both worlds and merge them into a genre unto itself.
Game Features:
• A non-targeting combat system allows for action-driven gameplay, where player reactions and skills decide the outcome of fights.
• An independent trooping system allows for directive and intuitive command over multiple units, while simultaneously allowing players more comprehensive control over their avatars during active MMO-style combat.
• Resource-driven RTS combat allows players to create defensive towers, barricades, resource harvesting structures, and unit production facilities while progressing through simplified, traditional RTS tech-trees that let players focus on strategic, active gameplay in both Team and Free-for-All PvP.
• Compelling animation and rich, stylized graphics immerse players in the greater fantasy world of the game while achieving a seamless and striking blend of RTS and MMO art design.
• A deep item-alteration system allows players an expansive amount of customization options that affect both MMO and RTS-style combat, and add an additional level of tactical depth to character progression and player strategies.
• An built-in video recording system allows players to capture their own gameplay footage to analyze flaws and mistakes in their tactics and help improve their competitive skills.
• Completely free to register, download, and play the entire course of the game with access to all in-game features and functions while remaining competitive with all other users.

Fantasy Earth Zero

When creating your character, you’ll be able to pick your gender of either male or female and three different classes (and only three.) You can choose warriors, which are pretty straight forward attackers for close range fighting, scouts, whichcan use bows and daggers for a balance of weak close and long ranged attacks, and sorcerers,whichcan cast magic and status effects on enemies with moderate attack range. There are also five body types, seven face and hair styles with five color variations.

After you create your character, you must pick between one of five kings to pledge your allegianceto. While each king/country has a different background and story to tell, this doesn’t pose a major differences between each during combat, so it doesn’t matter too much which king you roll with. After your character is created, you’ll go through a tutorial that will take you around 10 to 20 minutes to complete. It does a decent job of getting you familiar with the controls and all aspects of the game play.

Even if you have the visuals set to maximum, FEZ’s graphics will look awfully dated. The textures on just about everything look very bland and lifeless. Faces on character models aren’t animated, so they have nothing but lifeless stares. Besides theplayer models, nothing in the game world seems to cast a proper shadow despite the fact that there are day and night cycles . Additionally, the animations for attacking do not flow naturally and look rather robotic.

FEZ’s musical score feels nice and original. FEZ’s soundtrack was composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, same audio composer for such Square-Enix titles as Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII. With that, I feel as if music in FEZ was not created for FEZ. Rather, I feel as if the music was created for another Final Fantasy game. While FEZ’s presentation may be a bit off, it shouldn’t matter if it doesn’t have the looks as long as it has the moves, right?

FEZ’s game play certainly does make some moves, but stumbles a bit here and there. The controls for FEZ are your typical combination of keyboard and mouse. You move around using the WASD keys while looking/aiming with the mouse. You can also jump with spacebar and sidestep with Q and E. You’re completely invincible to physical attack while jumping and sidestepping, but you can’t attack during those actions, so only use it when the situation calls for it. Performing attacks and skills takes a bit of getting used to. Typically with MMORPGs, skills are performed by pressing hotkeys (F1-12,) but in FEZ, attacks and skills are selected using your mouse’s scroll wheel and performed with your left mouse button.

On maps that are controlled by your nation, you can battle some monsters here and there for gold, items and EXP. It’s nice that there is some basic Player vs. Environment content available, but doing only PvE in FEZ won’t get you anywhere. FEZ is all about the hectic Player vs. Player battles for up to 100 players on teams of two.

On the battlefield, there’s lots of mayhem going on, so strategy is key. Running in and trying to rambo your way through enemy lines is an easy way to get yourself killed, so you’ll have to stick with your teammates and plan ahead. Every class in FEZ has their role to play: Scouts can perform status effect attacks like disarming, move in and out of enemy lines undetected and pin enemies down with their bows. Sorcerers can also use status effect magic while attacking large groups of enemies for crowd control. And warriors serve as both tankers and brute force while crippling enemy morale.

Fantasy Earth Zero was certainly not my cup of tea, but it can certainly be yours if you have the right mindset. The execution of skill based action and visuals were off, but everything else about FEZ is fairly decent. For any MMORPG gamer that’s a PvP nut looking for a little change of pace, you may want to give Fantasy Earth Zero some consideration.