Monthly Archives: February 2015

Windward

Windward puts the player in control of customizable ship sailing the high seas in a grand, procedurally-generated world. The game originated as an arena-based action game that was completely restarted in late 2014, growing into the action-filled sandbox game that it is today.

Features:

Unique Experiences Windward’s procedurally-generated world lends the player the ability to experience a completely unique play-through of every new campaign.

Cross-Platform Multiplayer Windward supports multiplayer between both PC and Mac so players are able to bring their friends into their own world to take on campaigns together.

Customizable Ships Ships in Windward are fully customizable, right down to the sail and hull color. Make sure that your enemy remembers your ship as you sail away victorious.

Skill-Based Rewards Windward doesn’t reward captains who are faint-of-heart. The higher the difficulty you play on, the better the rewards you are able to reap.

Rose Online’s Newest Update Brings New Dungeons, Monsters & More

ROSE Online Art

Coming soon to Warpportal’s ROSE Online is an update of magical proportions! New dungeons, new bosses, new game features and more are to be announced soon for the Sikuku Catacomb Dungeon update! Roserians will venture deep into the Sikuku Underground Prison and the Dark Sewers fighting against near impossible forces of evil! Battle Executor Ul’gath, Dark Shaman Ranka, and Gloopy as you explore new interactions and dynamic content! Be prepared for your greatest challenge yet, as the journey continues through the worlds of ROSE Online!

World of Warcraft: Patch 6.1 Hits the Servers

WoW Improved Blood Elf

Blizzard has launched its latest feature patch for World of Warcraft today, making dozens of tweaks and improvements along with adding a modest amount of features.

Highlights of the patch include:

  • New Blood Elf models
  • A new Heirloom Collections tab, including an unlockable level 1 heirloom mount
  • Twitter integration
  • New Garrison visitors, a Garrison Jukebox, and many additional tweaks and improvements around the garrison
  • Talent balancing for all classes
  • A new chapter in the Legendary Ring quest
  • Pet battle tweaks and improvements
  • New colorblind options

There’s much more to the patch, so make sure to read over the official patch notes.

Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires: Now Available in Europe

Dynasty Warriors

KOEI TECMO Europe today announced that the tactical action game, DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires, will be available from retails across Europe for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft this Friday, February 27th. The game is also available for PlayStation®3 via digital download and for PC via Steam. The celebrated DYNASTY WARRIORS Empires series returns with new features including deep customization of warriors, horses and armies, or even the creation of an original character in dynamic battlefields that evolve with environmental changes. Additionally, a brand new feature, the ability to import characters from DYNASTY WARRIORS 7 Empires, will be available after launch.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires focuses deeply on the chaotic lives of warriors as their fateful decisions affect the rise and fall of the nations in Ancient China as they bravely fight across vast plains, bleak wastelands, narrow ravines and immense castles. Players can select from 83 unique characters, or create their own original character. The visual customization available in Edit Mode goes further with the newly implemented ability to customize horses, banners and “normal” officers. Warriors must fight against not only enemies but also the forces of nature as the changing seasons bring new elements to the more than 35 battlefields affected by seasons and the passing of time. Additionally, the game’s Custom Scenario mode adds the ability to control what will happen across the vast Chinese continent, allowing players to adjust every last detail to form a brand new Three Kingdoms world.

DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires is the most feature rich and customizable DYNASTY WARRIORS game yet and as a reward to the longtime fans of the series Omega Force has added the ability to import characters from DYNASTY WARRIORS 7 Empires so players can continue their saga across multiple games.

Scheduled to arrive in March as a free download on the PlayStation® Network, DYNASTY WARRIORS 8 Empires Free Alliances Version (FAV) will allow players to import save data from previously saved DYNASTY WARRIORS 7 Empires games for PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4. Additionally, the Free Alliances Version will allow players to play in Free or Edit mode, and PlayStation Plus users can even play in Empire Mode or Free Mode online with other players. FAV’s Players who wish to expand their options can choose to purchase additional Edit Mode parts. Further details regarding FAV and save data importing will be released on the official website in the coming days.

For more Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires news and a first look at the new playable characters please visit www.facebook.com/koeigames or http://www.dynastywarriors8.eu/empires

Manderville Gold Saucer Comes to Final Fantasy XIV

Manderville Golden Saucer

Today, SQUARE ENIX® announced the release of Patch 2.51 in FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn ®. The update implements the long-awaited Manderville Gold Saucer, inspired by the famous theme park attraction the Gold Saucer from FINAL FANTASY® VII.
The Manderville Gold Saucer includes a plethora of entertainment attractions and events for adventurers such as:

  • Triple Triad, the card game made famous in FINAL FANTASY ® VIII, allows players to compete against other players and NPCs in 1vs1 card games. Players will be able to create custom card decks using the 80 unique cards available at launch
  • Chocobo Racing, where players can nurture and breed their own specialized racing chocobo and race against other players through Eorzea. Players will be able to control their chocobo while racing down the track, avoiding dangers and picking up useful boosts to help them come out ahead of their fellow riders
  • A variety of mini games including Monster Toss (basketball free throw shooting), The Moogle’s Paw (crane machine), Cuff-a-Cur (punching game), and Crystal Tower Striker (mallet game). Each of these mini-games will be test the player’s reaction time and can be used to earn small amounts of Manderville Gold Saucer Points (MGP)
  • Gold Saucer Active Time Events (“GATEs”), audience-participatory events which appear randomly and call players to participate in fun games like dodging sneeze attacks from Typhon, rescuing wayward minions, emote-based dance contests, uncovering undercover imps, and making deliveries while avoiding detection by bandits
  • The Mini and Jumbo Cactpot, which allows players purchase tickets for a chance to win MGP daily and weekly
  • Taking part in activities will award MGP which can be traded for new rewards like Adamantoise and Fenrir mounts, new outfits like the Gambler’s attire, which is fashioned after Setzer Gabbiani’s attire from FINAL FANTASY VI, and more

During the latest Letter from the Producer LIVE, Producer/Director Naoki Yoshida went into even more detail regarding the Manderville Gold Saucer. Information, and gameplay footage, can be found here.  The full Patch 2.51 notes can be found here.

New Trading Card Game SpellWeaver Releases First Trailer

Spellweaver (http://spellweaver-tcg.com), a brand new Digital Trading Card Game, is ready to unveil its first teaser video. Spellweaver is a classic style trading card game set in a fantasy world where various faction’s spellweavers battle for supremacy. The trading card game features a variety of unique features that set it apart from other card games on the market.

While players of other TCGs will be familiar with the core concepts behind the game, Spellweaver has a number of unique twists. The biggest addition is the new unique creature attribute, speed. Creatures with higher speed can’t be blocked by slower ones, and are also able to pick slower creatures as attack targets. However, faster creatures are generally weaker than their slower counterparts, creating a dynamic balance between raw creature power and greater versatility. Additionally Spellweaver has a system that helps reduce the likelihood of being “land starved,” allowing for most games to win or lose based on deck and strategy rather than blind luck. Finally, and possibly most important, is the option to develop new special abilities for your heroic spellweavers. Your spellweaver starts each battle with 1 starting special ability. Special shrine cards unlock new abilities for the duration of the entire battle, which can radically alter the flow of the game.

Spellweaver Alpha Screen

Spellweaver is planned to be a free to play game with limited costs imposed on players who wish to pay and plenty of ways to gain free cards and packs. Sign up for the closed beta at http://spellweaver-tcg.com or join us for open beta around April.

Nosgoth Press Preview – Introducing the Vanguard

By Jordan Hall (ApocaRUFF)

 

 

Introduction

Nosgoth has recently left Closed Beta and officially entered Open Beta last month. Since then, the Nosgoth team has been working hard to release new content for their players. Such as new classes like the Summoner. And tomorrow, Wednesday the 25th, (Editor’s Note: Patch has been delayed. We’ll provide more info when available) we see the release of another new class – The Vanguard. Luckily, I was given the chance to try it out before its official release. Here are my First Impressions of the Vanguard.

 

 

The Lore

The Vanguard has an odd bit of lore. The name suggests something noble, but then you find that the Vanguards are made up of the vile scum and villainy of the land, described as a “mixture of convicts and overseers who together survived the Vampire assault on the Isle of the Dead.” They refer to themselves as the Drowning Men and attract those of a less savory sort. So you have these criminals taking up the role of Vanguard for the human faction, putting themselves at risk to combat the Vampire hordes.

Nosgoth Preview Vanguard Skins

 

 

Vanguard

The Vanguard, as the name suggests, is meant to be at the forefront of the battle clearing a path for your allies. To accomplish this, you have a massive tower shield at your disposal. By right clicking you can bring up your shield to help protect you from forward damage. You’ll still be susceptible to attacks from behind, but raising your shield can allow you to lead your allies into the foray.

Nosgoth Preview Shield

The Vanguard makes use of various axes – such as the Kama and Waraxe – which he hurls at enemies to do ranged damage. Whether you’re stopping the slaughter of a friend or keeping an enemy from running away, you’re going to find the ranged attacks very useful. So far there are four different weapons to choose from, each having their own bonuses and negatives. Such as a small “clip” or throw speed, but high damage. Early on, I found myself trying to get as close to an enemy as possible while tossing the axes into his face point-blank, treating it like a melee weapon.

Nosgoth Preview Kama

So the Vanguard had me a bit surprised when this style of gameplay wasn’t paying dividends. By the way the character looks – massive shield on one arm and an axe in the other – I got the impression that perhaps the humans were going to see a melee-focused class. However, I should have known better (all humans, at least so far, are ranged-oriented), as that axe isn’t for cutting. No, it’s for throwing. I found myself making a lot of ranged-based kills (even stealing some kills, sorry!) thanks to my handy axe.

Nosgoth Preview Combat

The archetype is overall odd. It looks like a tank, yet packs some powerful offensive ranged capabilities, and even some support utility (which I’ll get to shortly). The best description I could come up with is a Warrior-tank-support hybrid. The Vanguard seems to do it all, often making you feel like the hero of the match no matter how well (or poorly) you do.

Nosgoth Preview Combat2

Of course, the Nosgoth team came up with a better name and simply called it Vanguard, which describes the class perfectly. As I played, I quickly found myself falling into the role of initiator. I would charge in with my shield, keeping it up for the enemy beat on me while my allies took him down. If fights dragged on a bit too long, I could cast my support skill to prolong the battle in our favor, or prepare us for any meddlers that might interfere. However, I also acted as a finisher, as I could do a shield charge to get close to fleeing enemies (or knock them down if they get hit) and spam axes into the middle of their back as they limped away. Needless to say, my time playing the Vanguard was very satisfying.

 

 

Abilities

Like all classes in Nosgoth, the Vanguard has a primary and a secondary ability. There are three Primary abilities to choose from – Shield Charge, Judgement, and Shield Bash. Shield Charge and Shield Bash should be pretty self-explanatory. One charges into enemies, knocking them over. The other allows you to bash a close-by enemy, temporarily disorienting them. Judgement is a different cookie, a big AOE that does decent damage but also will instantly kill those with low HP. More often than not, I found myself using Shield Charge as it allowed me to get into (and out) of fights fast.

Nosgoth Preview Primary

Right now, there is only one Secondary available. It’s known as Rousing Cry and is a buff/heal. It lasts five seconds and is an AOE, so everyone nearby benefits. Any nearby allies will receive a 20% speed buff AND a 3% (of HP) per second Healing Over Time effect. You can imagine how both can turn a fight around in an instant. You can give your allies just a bit more health, allowing them to take down whoever they’re fighting. Or help them flee from a fight or chase down enemies. I found myself relying heavily on this move – I would try to activate it during and after every fight at a minimum. This is the ability that, I think, really lets the Vanguard live up to its name.

Nosgoth Preview Secondary

 

 

New Customization Options

Like every other class, the Vanguard comes with skins. The class is launching with four skins (the default skin making five), each depicting a different aspect of the class’ lore. However, the Nosgoth team has noticed the communities want for more customization options and have introduced a new customizable item – the shield. So, along with the four class’s skins, there are also five (including the default) shield skins available. These shield skins aren’t attached to a specific over-all skin, so you can mix the two to give yourself a more unique look.

Nosgoth Preview Shields

 

 

Conclusion

The Vanguard is an interesting class, to say the least. It’s a great addition to the Human faction and a blast to play. It’s capable of supporting many different play styles, so most people will probably enjoy playing as it. To be honest, until the Vanguard I never had much fun playing as the humans in Nosgoth, but now I think I’ve found a new favorite class. Personally, I can’t wait to see what the Nosgoth team comes up with next because, judging by the dynamite content updates that have been coming out this year, it should be amazing.

Want to see the Vanguard in action? Subscribe to our sister site MMOHuts’ Youtube for an upcoming video with JamesBl0nde!

Crowfall: New RPG/Strategy MMO Hybrid Project On Kickstarter

Crowfall

Independent game developer, ArtCraft Entertainment, Inc. today launched a Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund its highly-anticipated Massively Multiplayer Online game, Crowfall.  Described as a blend of a roleplaying game and a large-scale strategy game, Crowfall is the brainchild of two of the most experienced MMO developers in the world:  J. Todd Coleman (creative director, Shadowbane, Wizard101, Pirate101) and Gordon Walton (executive producer, Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Star Wars: The Old Republic).

“Crowdfunding has revolutionized the game market, allowing developers access to funds and customers,” said ArtCraft co-founder and President Gordon Walton. “The traditional publishing model works for mass-market gaming, but fails to serve many of the more experienced and discriminating gamers.  Crowdfunding allows us to serve these customers directly with experiences crafted specifically for them, using their direct feedback and funding.”

Crowfall is a designed to push the boundaries of online social dynamics. “In some ways, it sounds revolutionary – but our goal is to rediscover what we lost.” explained J. Todd Coleman, co-founder and Creative Director.  “Politics, Trade, Empires, Alliances, Betrayal – the ability for players to have a real impact on the game world.  In the rush to make these games appeal to the mass market, we lost the elements that made them great.”

Fans of the game can back the kickstarter campaign at: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/crowfall/crowfall-throne-war-pc-mmo .