Yearly Archives: 2010

Sphere: Reborn- formerly Sphere Online

Sphere: Reborn- formerly Sphere Online
By Kei Beneza (dividelife), OnRPG Journalist

 

Sphere Online (or rather Sphere Reborn) is the first Russian made Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG). It takes place in a fantasy world called the Sphere (no doi), a parallel universe that has been prophesized to cause turmoil throughout Earth through its self inflicted damage (emo planet, yey!). In order to counter this global catastrophe, the world’s greatest warriors banded together to form an alliance against this unruly evil. The best part about this game is that it’s free to play. That means you can pretty much walk around without having to worry about progress cause you’re not paying for it anyway LOL.

 

Gamers! What are your professions?!

One good thing about this game is its interesting array of characters. Being a first, you’d probably expect this game to lack classes. Unfortunately, Sphere online actually has tons of them, so I guess that’s a big fist up yours. There are 14 classes (referred to as specializations) in the game: Assassin, Hunter, Crusader, Druid, Inquisitor, Thief, Barbarian, Archmage, Armourer, Master of Steel, Blacksmith, Wizard, Necromancer, and Bandier. While I haven’t had the time to actually try them all, I feel it’s safe to say that everyone of them have their own respective balance and reserved play style.

 

While skills are supposed to represent a character’s individuality, this game really lacks the capability to create characters that are unique due to its lack of actual customization. The uniformity of skills are very similar to RF Online which lets character individuality be separated through class and not through builds alone. It’s tad disappointing, but I’ve seen worse.

 

Sphere Online

 

What to look forward to:

The game has both PVE and PVP (isn’t that enough to look forward to?), which is a good thing since it caters to both carebears (PVE lovers) and bloodthirsty Orcs (the opposite). There are hundreds of evil monsters in the game, lessening the possibility of a linear grind spree. I mean you wouldn’t want to keep seeing the same monster with their color as your basis for their level right? I thought so.

 

PVP lovers may find themselves locked in castle sieges as they try to take the right to own the castles in the game. You can also duel with other players but I suppose you’d prefer to own people in an all out war instead of doing it one on one.

 

Sphere Online is also blessed with a gratuitous amount of quests which will probably knock any PVE lover off their time frame. Quests aren’t really mandatory as most free to play encourages people to grind. The best part about the quests in this game is that they actually feel a bit more like those in retail games. No they don’t really have special scripts that makes you go “@__@ guh”, but they do provide enough decency to actually get you to go somewhere WITHOUT killing something.

 

Spear or sword? — can I have that thing over there?

The game has a huge arsenal of weapons, ready to be picked up. According to the game, there are 500+ weapons scattered throughout the Sphere. I for one think that this is a good feature since players are always going around looking for weapons that look different from the rest. Don’t get your hopes up though; I said there are 500+ weapons in the game, not 500+ different looking weapons (I was tricked too so don’t worry <_<).

 

The extent of exploration

Exploration: one of the greatest parts in your everyday MMO life.

 

When dealing with this feature, Sphere Reborn has much to offer as it makes use of four diverse continents for players to explore. The place is filled with various areas that gradually change as you step from one place to another. Monsters tend to differ in each area as well, so I guess you’re in for a different feel every time you progress.

 

O—kay!

The English version of Sphere online was launched back then in 2007. You may think that the game is all polished by now but it still contains a bunch of grammatical errors that come off as awkward every time you read them. It’s not really a big deal but they could at least remove such a simple errors.

 

Graphics and Sounds

The graphics are reaaaaaaally bad, and when I say really bad, I mean “Ran online looks so much better than this game” bad. They did bring the world to life through its elements, but the engine used was just too old for its own good. 2007? Some games from 2003 look better. The sounds effects are ok, probably too good for the visuals. The game could use a few BGMs since hearing the sound of weapons clashing is getting kind of dull, and you’ll find yourself creeping through dead silent areas most of the time.

 

One thing I have to say about the graphics though, is that even though it uses a really crappy and outdated engine, they still managed to blend the elements well. You’d probably see the timelessness of this game through that factor alone.

 

The verdict

The first Russian MMORPG right? I kind of think they did pretty well (no really! Ido!). The graphics are bearable at most points and they did supply an awesome form of gameplay. Decent quests in a free to play game? I’m cool with that. The game has tons of classes, most of which have never been seen in the MMO world. When it comes to character creation, having a choice is always a big factor for players. They did give a lot of classes to choose from, but I wish they could’ve exercised more individuality rather than just separating characters through their classes like an animal farm. Exploration in this game is also good as it takes players into a world that gradually changes as they progress further. I’m sure these things can justify how good this game is. A must play? Could be… but do you really have to know my opinion to know if you wanna play it or not?

 

The good:
– 14 Classes
– Quests
– Diverse Areas
– Sound effects rock
– PVP.

 
The bad:
– Could use a bit more music
– Graphics are terrible
– Character individuality
– Bad grammar.

Little Savages II Review: Go my little Purties

Little Savages II Review: Go my little Purties
By Vincent Haoson (Vincenthaoson), OnRPG Journalist

 

Little Savages II is a browser game that puts you in the shoes of a leader of a tribe of “savages”. These savages are like your little men and women who cause disorder and mayhem on the island that they live on.

 

Text, text and more texts

Little Savages II has a very sparse interface. Almost 70% of the game makes you stare at the blindingly white background the game has, and the majority of the things you do in-game rely on the text that you see onscreen.

 

I would even say that the game is text-heavy. That’s just how bare the game looks. However the bareness of the interface is supported by the gameplay itself.

 

Personally, I liked how the developer has streamlined the whole game interface and kept to the core of the game. Sure, seeing all those white areas in your browser could literally bring you to tears because it really stings the eyes, however, with the game’s overall concept you won’t really have to stare at the screen hours on end, which is in itself a plus for the game.

 

Gameplay

The overall point of the game is to earn points via your savages. Your savages take certain actions per game-time day, which is measured every thirty minutes. Whenever a game-time day ends, there is a summary of whatever it is your savage did and each action corresponds to a point that gets totaled.

 

Little Savages II’s gameplay is very simple and it doesn’t even take you three minutes to figure it out. Almost everything is automated so you don’t have to spend too much time playing the game.

 

With this kind of gameplay, Little Savages II is one browser game that you shouldn’t be wasting too much time playing. That is why it is very much suited to people who want to play a browser game without being too obvious about it.

 

Run little savages run!

As the leader of the tribe, you have the power to create an unlimited number of savages. You have the choice of which attributes your Savage gets, its gender and its specialty. In turn, the game system then randomly creates a savage that has the stats setup corresponding to the preferences you have chosen.

 

The stats of your savage are described by words and the text color instead of numbers. This makes the game quite a chore if you are a person prefers seeing numbers instead of words. Also, the stat generator in Little Savages II is so random that sometimes even the areas which you have chosen as your characters special stat sometimes turns out worse than the ones you haven’t chosen.

 

I personally think that the randomness is good because it adds a level of surprise for as you play the game. However, there are times where I find it downright irritating because the savage I expect to come out did not quite meet my expectations.

 

Though if you look at it differently, the randomness of the savages you create is in fact the games endearing quality. It gives a little sense of adventure because you don’t really know exactly what you get till you have it.

 

Get a move on

One of the best things in terms of playing Little Savages II is that your savages need little to no maintenance. After creating your savage you can either quip your savage or just leave them naked and have them make do with whatever they have on hand.

Of course in terms of taking care of your savages there could be an instance where they would be facing an opposition much more lethal than they are. This is where another game feature comes in. Your savages can die. Though this really doesn’t affect much in your overall game experience except losing a “pawn” the game has a savage graveyard where you can see the names of your fallen savages.

 

To be quite honest this is one of the game systems that I really liked in Little Savages II. Call me morbid and all but what I liked about the death system is that it makes you double take on your decisions concerning your savages.

 

Though the randomness can really quite dampen your mood for preparing your savages there are moments when you get a savage that you consider your favorite. The idea that they can die makes you do more for your “favorite” savage hereby making you quite hooked to the game.

 

The idea that your Savages may die adds the element of emotional attachment into the game. Though it may really sound quite geeky, it really does happen whether we admit it or not.

 

Items Galore

Little Savages II has one of the craziest item databases I’ve ever seen in a browser game. You have a mix of items that have no logical use like the Xbox 360 to the most common necessities like food.

 

Though they may seem totally useless that’s the only thing that you can provide for your savages in their life in the wild. However the catch is that regardless of how equipped your characters may be, the sheer randomness of the whole game really eliminates the sense of wasting your money on your savages. The thing is, it also goes the other way, it may be that the equipment your character has may spell life or death.

 

Deciding which savage gets the equipment is the games version of strategic planning. It might seem really pointless due to the hanging idea that your savage can be dead after a day has passed, there are moments that you have to pat yourself that you used your money correctly and you get your savage home safe and sound.

 

Conclusion

Right from the get go, Little Savages II is a browser game that shouldn’t be taken seriously. Aside from the lack of any other power for you except savage creation and equipping the only thing you can do from your end is watch.

 

The hanging randomness of the game is its weakness as well as its strongest feature and this can be the determining factor for most players who spend their time in the game. If you like your browser games random and almost no maintenance then this game is for you but if you do want something a little more controlled I’d suggest you look for something else.

 

Pros:
– Interface is clean and simple
– You can understand the gameplay from the get go
– Little to no maintenance at all.

 

Cons:
– The game is too random
– There is almost nothing to do except create equip and let loose your savages
– The white background and the text hurts the eyes.

Private Servers: The Good and The Bad

Private Servers: The Good and The Bad
By Kei Beneza (dividelife), OnRPG Journalist

 

It is quite evident that MMOs have become a hit in today’s gaming Meta. With millions of subscribers constantly leveling in more ways that one, there’s no stopping these MMO maniacs from playing all their favorite games. Apparently, it is also this love of games that tends to trigger illegal acts of piracy. Not everyone can afford the subscription rates especially for famous pay to play games like World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings online, and Warhammer online, which in result forces them to play the game for free onvarious private online servers.

 

What is a private server?

Private servers are very similar to pirated discs you see on the streets. It’s cheap (sometimes free), and offers the same gaming goodness as the actual retail game. Want to play World of Warcraft for free? Then log in here and enjoy the game without having to worry about subscription fees of any kind. I cannot deny the fact that I have tried playing on Private servers. One thing to ponder on was that I did get to play my favorite games without being burdened by credit card subscriptions. The community was just as good, with players roaming around the same way retail players would play the actual game. These servers are maintained through donations given by players in exchange for power and wealth in the game. I know it’s not retail, but the players still play it as though it was official. Truth be told, I was even surprised that they actually buy armor sets and treat them like they were official retail items. Yes, you’ll find a lot of pirated items for sale here. I do understand the fact that people actually buy gold and armor in real MMOs, but how could private server items cost as much? It’s all the same— they still give money either way, the only difference being is that it’s a lot cheaper than a monthly based rate.

 

Why join?

Apparently, the poverty issue isn’t the only slime lurking. Believe it or not, some of the game’s gimmicks often force players to join private servers in order to make it easier to level. I managed to talk to a certain player who has been playing on private servers for quite some time now. According to our sources, most people want to avoid unnecessary actions such as PT leveling (RF Online). I know these things can be a real pain due to its grind factor, but taking it out means you’re not playing the game itself at least In my opinion. Gold was also an issue, as players tend to hate grinding for gold as much as leveling stuff other than their character. “Items feel cheaper if you earn more money” he said, which is true in a way. Some players also prefer to level faster, discontented by the unforgiving experience rate of most MMOs.

 

Do private servers make a game better?

Hell no— and yes! Since these individuals are basically just hacking the game, it’s rare for these servers to actually carry the same goodness as its retail counterpart. Bugs for one are poorly treated and may hog your gaming zen. I know that private servers are modded to make players enjoy it more by spoiling them with massive gold and experience, but you’re actually getting a second rate copy which will never be as good as the original. A good reason though is that private servers mod games in order to fit the players preferences. Since most private server hosts are also players, they know the player’s perspective quite well, and editing the game accordingly. There’s no assurance that these servers will actually be around to make you enjoy your money’s worth, so don’t be fooled. Private server items are not equal to retails ones, nor does it come close to being as good as the original.

 

So are private servers illegal?

Absolutely, and gamers knows that. If you look closely or at least bother to read a games terms ofservice or the user license agreement, games cannot be hosted by anyone other than the company. The lack of money or whatever poverty issue people may have is not an excuse. It’s really the same as pirating a console/PC game.Look at it this way, you wouldn’t be happy if people are gaining profit from a game you YOURSELF developed, and neither are the game companies If you are not happy with the game’s exp, gold, and mechanics, then do yourself a favor and don’t play the game. It technically counts as stealing, and those who create servers that are not hosted by the games proper publishercan be subject to criminal charges. You’re not a criminal right?

 

Do you love that game?

If you really love a certain game so much then express this emotion by supporting the game itself and not other people. Yes, this process may be a bit pricier than just registering in some site without the hassle of popping out your credit card, but like I said-if you truly love the game, then this shouldn’t be a problem.

 

Is it really the same as actual servers?

From my experience… no it’s not. Upon trying one out before, I encountered a lot of bugs and downtime issues. This is what happens if you don’t know how to perform the necessary maintenance process. Going back to our sources, our interviewee said that he also paid a decent amount of money to help stop the private server from crashing. Well, I guess he got what he deserved. The server eventually vanished, leaving those who paid and invested their time with nothing but memories (and possibly regret).

 

Things to be stated

You wouldn’t want anyone to earn or get credit for something you developed and that’s a fact (of course unless you’re a totalidiot). I know that there are reasons why you would rather play in a private server, with one being the absurd XP and gold rates these games tend to have. This by far is the same as stealing a can of Coke because it is for sale and you can’t afford it. Your devotion towards a game does not revolve around how much time you spend playing it, but how far you go just to play it. Ever tried beating the same boss with professional scripting? Hah, private noobs would probably wipe 3 seconds after entering the fight.

Order of War: Challenge Released

Order of War: Challenge Released

 

Wargaming.net, a strategy game specialist, is glad to announce that its World War II Real-Time Strategy game Order of War: Challenge is released. The game is exclusively available on Steam  for 9.99$! Owners of the original game will get Order of War: Challenge automatically for FREE.
Order of War: Challenge is a multiplayer standalone game with focus on epic online warfare where players take the lead of the most powerful WII-era armies (the USA, Germany and the USSR) to reveal the best strategists on the virtual battlefields. With ample choice of multiplayer modes the game was designed to provide ultimate “commander” experience and manifold opportunities for thrilling and uncompromising battles.
 
“We are excited to be bringing Order of War: Challenge to the market as our main goal for the project was to deliver a new captivating online experience with dynamic combats where deep strategic thinking and good knowledge of tactics are crucial for success,” says Nick Katselapov, game producer. “By expanding beyond the boundaries of traditional multiplayer options we hope to satisfy the tastes of any “RTS gourmet” and ensure great replay value.”
 
For more information about Order of War: Challenge visit the official website.

Order of War: Challenge Released Steam Download

Lime Odyssey

The plot is quite a straight forward one. Set in a land of fantasy, 3 races, Human, Turga and Pam team up and set off on an adventure to find the mysterious legendary fruit, LIME.
 
Why is it hot:
The developers consist mainly of people who had worked on arguably one of the most popular MMORPG in this generation, Ragnarok Online. With Ragnarok Online 2’s development currently in a limbo over at Gravity, players noticed how similar Lime Odyssey is to RO2 in terms of looks. Plus, development has been going slow but smooth for Lime Odyssey. The game is thus hailed as the spiritual successor to Ragnarok Online, the “real” Ragnarok Online 2.
 
Game features:
– Players will have 3 races to choose from, and also 4 classes at the moment.
– 10 life professions to choose from, like Tailor, Chef and more.
– Players will be able to band together and build their own houses, and later forming into a village.
– This feature currently has not been explained further, but there will be an indepth User Created Content. It is most probably a feature which allows players to create new contents like custom dungeons etc.

 

Wargaming.net reveals the first “what and how” details of World of Tanks

Wargaming.net reveals the first “what and how” details of World of Tanks

 

Wargaming.net reveals the first details on the “World of Tanks” MMO upgrade and development system for American, German and Soviet lines due in the release. From the development trees players will find out what combat units will be available in the release, as well as how they can reach the fighting vehicle of their dreams.
 
In World of Tanks, there are more than 150 armored machines from pre-WW2 era up to the Korean War, which are organized into three trees according to the nation they belong to: America, Germany and the Soviet Union. On launching the game for the first time a player can select a “starter” vehicle from any of the three nations. While fighting in the World of Tanks, a recruit tanker receives experience points and credits which allow exploring and buying modifications or new battle units from the American, German or Soviet tree branches, which a player has chosen to follow.
“The legendary Soviet T-34 tank, the formidable German Tiger, as well as the lethal American Pershing are of major interest to tank fans of all ages and nations,” — says Victor Kislyi, producer of World of Tanks. “We are really glad to reconstruct realistic models and tactical features of these tanks in our Panzer MMO”.

American Tree World of Tanks

American Tree

 

 

German Tree World of Tanks

German Tree

 

 

Soviet Tree World Of Tanks

Soviet Tree

 

 

After the release, Wargaming.net plans to include tank trees of other nations with post-release updates.
The game will be available as a free download and is expected to be released in Fall 2010.

Kuso Party Interview: All About Fun and Competition

Kuso Party Interview: All About Fun and Competition
Questions by Bryan (Bryan), OnRPG Journalist
Answered by [GM]Poptart

 

Kuso Party is a free to play casual game being published by SubaGames and the Community is its greatest feature! Players are able to communicate with each other, visit their creatively designed homes, and take their relationship to another level. Kuso Party is a fun and easy game for all levels of gamers to enjoy. Today, I had the chance to ask [GM]Poptart about where SubaGames plans to take Kuso Party. 

 

OnRPG: Hello! Could you introduce yourself to our readers, please? 
Poptart: My name is [GM]Poptart and I am the current lead Game Master for Kuso Party.

 

OnRPG: Is there a story that users should be aware of for the game? 
Poptart: The story line is aimed to be wild and cute. Kuso Party is an underground organization that is training to take over the universe. Trainees are to hone their skills on mindboggling exercises and challenges.  Within Kuso Party, each trainee is challenged on their logic, memory and reaction. The trainee’s Kuso index will determine the individual’s worthiness to Kuso Party’s grand plan of taking over the universe. 

 

Kuso Party Game Play

Kuso Party gameplay

 

OnRPG: What characters are available for users? Do these characters differ in abilities and looks? 
Poptart: Every member creates their own unique character and can completely customize the character as they see fit.  Every character starts off the game with the same abilities.

 

OnRPG: What interesting features are players able to experience that differ from other games? 
Poptart: Kuso Party is a group activity game where members are able to compete, challenge and team up with others to test their skills in various games with a twist! Members are able to use unique items to disrupt member’s concentration or give themselves or their teammates boosts. In addition, players are encouraged to share their favorite photos and videos through in-game photo albums and television set. 

 

OnRPG: How will players be able to socialize in the game? 
Poptart: Members are able to chat with each other through game rooms, chat rooms, during games, in the main game lobby, in-game Email and through a Private messaging system. Kuso Party also gives players the options of differentiating their friends.  They can be classified as friends, sweeties and lovers.  A group of friends can even create their own family in the game!

 

OnRPG: In a world of flashy MMOs with intricate gameplay systems, flashy graphics, and well-established gaming communities, how will Kuso Party be able to compete? 
Poptart: It would be a lie to say that Kuso Party can compete graphically with some of the bigger titles.  Kuso Party is more about having fun with friends and others with easy to play games that can get quite competitive!

 

OnRPG: What age audience do you guys plan to focus on? 
Poptart: The great thing about Kuso Party is that it is for all ages.  It’s so easy to learn and pick up, everyone can play!
 

 

 

Fun Kuso Party Play

Fun with Kuso Party

 

OnRPG: What’s the difference between someone who spends money in the cash shop and someone who doesn’t? 
Poptart: There are number of perks for the players that spend money, but nothing that would put them way above the rest. The great thing about our community is that there will be tons of exciting events and contests that will allow everyone a chance at winning  free items.  .

 

OnRPG: How hard was it to import and edit Kuso Party from its foreign counterparts? 
Poptart: As with all foreign games, there are always some difficulties.  But our great staff and Beta testers made the transition seamless.  Shout out to all the Suba Beta Testers! – Thanks for all the help!

 

OnRPG: Do you think western gamers will embrace the game? 
Poptart: Just by looking at the title or even some screen shots, I feel us Westerners might shy away from giving this game a chance. I am positive that if they were to sit down and give it a honest go, their opinion on the game would definitely change.

 

Play Music Kuso Party

Playing Kuso Party

 

OnRPG: What gameplay elements will be used to further enhance user experience? Will there be different types of modes and mini games? 
Poptart: Currently we have over 50 games that are available and we will be slowly adding more and more games after the commercial launch/ There are already a number of games that have been finalized as well as new games being developed as we speak.

 

OnRPG: What types of graphics are used in the game? Is there anything special about the art style? 
Poptart: All graphics and art styles are anime based designs. Cute, hilarious, odd and original are the words best to describe it. 

 

OnRPG: What type of events will be available in-game? 
Poptart: There are so many mini games available that the list is endless! Just to give you an idea there are single game contests, family game contests, couples contests and even interior designer contests are just some of the events that will be taking place in-game.

 

OnRPG: When will players be able to see the full release  of Kuso Party? 
Poptart:  Kuso Party is set to release in early March.   Stay tuned!

 

OnRPG: Is there anything else you would like to add? 
Poptart: SUBAGAMES.COM! (lol)

 

OnRPG: Thank you so much for your time! 

4Story “Find the GM” Event in March

4Story “Find the GM” Event in March

 

4Story announced the monthly GM hide & Seek starts today. The reward is just awesome since it is one of the most important materials for making super level items that all MMO fans like to get.

 

Event period:
No one actually can predict it.

Event detail:
One of GMs is lost somewhere on the Iveria continent. Whoever finds him first will be rewarded with a material for 34~38 (Superb) level item.

How to participate:
Simply be the first to find one of 4story GMs in 6 different district areas to claim the reward.

Reward: A material for 34~38 (Superb) level item will be given on site.

 

4Story - Find the hidden GM!