Monthly Archives: April 2008

City-Building System

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The brand new City Building system for the new version of Voyage Century (http://vc.igg.com) will be released soon. Seizing a port is always important in Voyage Century, but it takes on added value now. In the old version, a port can be occupied by a guild, and the guild will obtain a lot of benefits from it. However only powerful guilds have the ability to occupy the most prosperous ports. In addition, these ports are so few that once they are captured by a guild, it may never change hands again. As time passes, the difference between the powerful guilds and the ordinary guilds will become more pronounced.

In order to change this unfair situation, all guilds are allowed to build their own ports if they meet certain low requirements in the new version. Furthermore, players can develop their own ports in many directions, which will definitely bring a new dimension to business as usual.

So far, the new version of Voyage Century is still being tested, but players can keep a close eye on the official Voyage Century website for the latest information.

Looking Good!

“The clothes make the man”, as the saying goes. One’s apparel always plays a very important role in creating a first impression.

World of Kung Fu (WoKF) players can now choose their favorite costume as fits their mood or taste. Varied clothing options, from Mandarin dress to Bikini, from Dragon Armor to Panda Dress are now available. Please visit http://www.worldofkungfu.com/index.cfm?src=&action=fashions to see exclusive screenshots of some of the attractive styles available to World of Kung Fu players. What’s more, when you begin to tire of your clothes, you can change their color with dye powder, available at the item mall.
Don’t worry about how your stylish duds will affect any of your character attributes. The fashion clothing and armor system are two separate and completely different systems – so don’t worry, your fashionable gear won’t affect any player attribute, except perhaps that all important first impression.

Neo Steam Closed Beta

Gear up for the launching of the newest and hottest MMORPG this April! Prepare yourselves to harness the power of the steam as Hanbitsoft and JoyImpact teamed-up once again to bring you another exciting MMORPG that will surely change the your gaming experience. Get ready to experience Neo Steam!

Neo Steam is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game that relives the 19th century Steam Punk genre into a new and greater height! Mesmerize yourselves with Neo Steam’s exciting full 3D graphics and animation. Be prepared to roam into the world filled with never before seen monsters with sizes you won’t imagine. Get to your destination with style as you roam around the world of Neo Steam using different steam powered transportation machines.
Finally, determine which side will you choose as the epic Steam Wars is about to be unleashed.

Be ready, Neo Steam Closed Beta will be launched on April 10! Closed Beta events are already lined up for all the beta testers of the game. Always visit the Neo Steam website at www.neosteam.com as the registration for the Closed Beta will be opening any time from now!

Think you can handle it? Let the steam wars begin!

Note: The schedule for the CBT is still tentative and can still be readjusted to suit all the testers.

New Tax System

New Tax System
Good news to all Guild Zone and Kingdom Owners! WYD Global announced its revised Tax System for all Guild Zone owners and Kingdom Owners. The new system focuses now on population count of a server and total tax count of a town. This means the more players in a server, the more gold for the Guild Zone and Kingdom owners. It is now up to them on how to increase their population and increase their income.

WYD Gamble System on Nell
WYD Global announced the new system that will surely excite all those who are risk-takers! WYD Global now features a Gamble System in Nell. The gamble system allows you to bet some Wcoins for a chance to win some rare items like Spectral Force (Sephira Skill) and pieces of God Armors with perfect options. Be sure to check it out and feel the light of lady luck shine on you

For more information about the new Tax System and Gamble System Login to www.wydglobal.com or visit: http://www.wydglobal.com/news/news_list.asp?nK=update

Magi Nation Review

By Joshua Temblett

Magi Nation is a game directed at the pre teen demographic. What does that mean to you? That means there’s no communication between players whatsoever and that the only other people playing the game are children whom have yet to embrace puberty in all its greatness. Yes, I agree, they are lucky. I remember when I was a preteen who lacked adolescent, oh the happy days. I remember one particular summer whereby I would watch the anime series Digimon, everyday, at the same time, rain or shine. Yes…you could say I was a sad preteen. That’s beside the point though; Magi Nation Battle for the Moonlands is based on the TV children’s series, Magi Nation. Despite what you may think (you’re probably smashing your head on your keyboard right now, pondering why you ever clicked on this review) Magi Nation isn’t half bad and to be honest, the gameplay is actually fairly addictive for a children’s game. Overall Magi Nation is a fairly solid game.
First things first, like said above, in Magi Nation Battle for the Moonlands, there is no communication with other players. This really baffles me. How come a piece of interactive media published by Disney, Club Penguin (in which you participate in various mini games), has a communication system, and Magi Nation Battle for the Moonlands (a MMORPG) doesn’t? To add to that, in Magi Nation you don’t get to see any other players apart from yourself. The only time you get to see another player is in the PVP (Player Versus Player). I’m not going to lie; this totally ruins the experience for the game. They could at least have had a safe chat system, whereby there is a predefined menu of words and greetings.

In this world of unspoken communication, there are well designed NPC avatars and nicely drawn 2D backgrounds. The graphics suit the small world; however there is one down point to them, the backgrounds are constantly repeated, meaning there is no real variation of backgrounds in each themed world. This does not ruin the gameplay at all, as the backgrounds are beautifully done and are fairly relaxing. The graphics will definitely draw you into the game, as they are full of style and they suit the world you play in. Since we’re talking about presentation, I would also like to mention the music that echoes through this wonderful world. The music, like the graphics, suits the world it inhabits, with music that absolutely matches the areas you explore in the game. Overall the presentation is visually stunning in Magi Nation, and this makes the game a joy to dive into and play.

The game play in Magi Nation is fairly addictive, and this is clearly the stand out point in the game. In Magi Nation, you basically run around certain themed levels (for example, a water themed level), fighting the monsters that inhabit these levels to obtain Animate Shards (which can then be transformed into Dream Creatures, monsters that fight beside you in battle) and to do the quests. One quest for example may have you defeating all the monsters in a certain area in a time limit, or finding a treasure chest of some sort. The quests don’t vary that much and can get fairly boring sometimes, however, for some strange reason, you do get a desire to complete these quests. When exploring the beautifully designed worlds in Magi Nation, you’ll come across wild Dream Creatures. These beasts will take any chance they have to inflict a certain amount of pain onto your avatar. When you encounter one of these wild Dream Creatures, you will be sent into a turn based battle. These turn based battles use an ATB style system from the Final Fantasy games. In combat you have to wait for a bar to fill up, once the bar fills up you can perform an action. I’ve got to say, that this is a fairly refreshing take on a MMORPG battle system. The battles are fairly short; however they don’t really pose much of a challenge. The thing is though, the battles aren’t short enough. You can get easily bored and agitated as you watch your bar fill up so slowly, that you feel old, useless, and fairly dead inside, by the time the little bar fills up. I must say though, that the turn based concept for this MMORPG is a very original and fulfilling idea. It’s nice to see a MMORPG which isn’t all about clicking on enemies and then watching your puny avatar slash away at them dealing next to no damage to them. Overall the gameplay is fairly solid and should amuse children who enjoy the Magi Nation series.

The question is though; if you’re an adult (or someone who is still in/beyond their puberty years) should you play Magi Nation? My answer to that is, if you feel like you want something new and exciting, and you have spare minutes on your hands, take it for a whirl. You may find it’s child like appeal unappealing, enough so that the gameplay is underlooked, or you may well find that beneath the lovely 2D graphics and the pre teen storyline, there’s a wonderful game just waiting to be tried. If you lack any other reason to play this game, then I recommend playing this game just so you can reanalyse your opinion on the MMORPG genre.

7/10.

Wonderland Online Closed Beta Test Officially Launched

Wonderland Online (http://wl.igg.com) Closed Beta Test was officially launched at 9:00pm EST (GMT-5) April 9th, and the test will last until 9:00pm EST (GMT-5) May 8th.
Different from the Alpha Test, the Closed Beta Test will not wipe out players’ character information. During the test, many fun-filled events, such as “the King of the Newbie’s Contest” and the “Forbes List” events, will offer big rewards and lots of fun in the game and in the forum. Players are more than welcome to join these events.

Additionally, to give something back to those players who participated in the Alpha Test and lost all their hard work, the WLO team will give them each a Turtle Car.

Download the latest WL client at here: http://wl.igg.com/download/download_client.php
Click here to obtain an activation code: http://wl.igg.com/act/cbsignup/index.php

For more about it, please visit the official Wonderland Online site:
http://wl.igg.com/news/newscontent.php?aid=370.

Age of Armor Dark Valley Challenging Competition

Dark Valley Challenging Competition
Dark Valley Challenging Competition Event now start at April 9, 2008, after the routine maintenance. End on April 11, 2008 at 11:59P.M.
During this three days periods, which team no matter it belongs to the Earth or the Mars, if only can a team defeat all the three instance dungeons ahead other teams, the Team members of this Dark Valley First Down team will get the Limited Transforming Modules as RAID First DOWN Prize.
Rules:
1. Every Team must not change its team member when doing the Raid.
2. Make screen shots of each boss’s down, especially the final boss of each instance dungeon.
3. Screen shots of team members in one group, with name on the heads
4. The Modules will be given with a limited special package for transforming module.
5. The winners will be announced on April 16, 2008, and then the Limited Special Package for Transforming Module will be given by then. Each package’s price is 100USD!
Everyone has a chance to win!
Free Exciting, Time to Rock your world in Age of Armor

Elf Online First Expansion Preview

The first Expansion of Elf Online (http://elf.happymmo.com/) – “Pet Carnival” will be released in next week to feed Elf Online fans’ appetite. Elf Online (http://elf.happymmo.com/) players have been waiting for one month with high anticipation for two more professions, 5 new top pets hatched from eggs, 10 more rare dungeon pets, new rides, and brand new golden name equipments for Lv 60+ players.

More Rare Pets Available
As the new expansion name “Pet Carnival” implies, the new expansion will place more emphasis on pets. Now we offer 5 new egg pets and 10 rare dungeon pets with up to 2500+ growth, 20+ basic ability depends on the type. Wormmy, Angle Egg, even a closet tool is one of the rare pet.

Two New Professions
Soldiers and Scholars have more choice for the advanced profession – Boxer for Soldier and Poet for Scholar which aims to break the limitation of professions and make a generalist in game.

More Rides
What do you expect your mount to be? Dragon? Griffin? No, no, no….. These are too outdated.
M48 tank, Cadillac open car, limousine and Jeep SUV will be offered in the new Expansion. Come in and experience virtual fashion life for 21st century in Elf Online (http://elf.happymmo.com/).

New Items
You will not be buried among hundreds of normal ones any more if you are the top in Elf Online (http://elf.happymmo.com/). With new Lv 60+ golden name equipments on, you will be easily recognized by the unique shape. Furthermore, the attribute of those items is also beyond your imagination. HP and MP resume, additional resistance, additional attack effect will be involved. They are the best choice for the Lv 60+ players.

For more information about Elf Online, please visit http://elf.happymmo.com/
Official forum http://forum.happymmo.com/

Angels Online: Magic spells Preview

After previewing the marriage system and new instances in the upcoming expansion, today Angels Online team from IGG will give us a brief introduction on the spells of magic system.
There are more than 30 different kinds of spells in Angels Online (http://ao.igg.com). By learning them, players can be on their way to the career of their choice. Special spell combinations may even lead them into surprise careers and titles. In order to get to know the spells in Angels Online, players don’t need to choose any one of them at the very beginning.
After creating a character, players can choose one career out of the14. They can then choose which type of spells that they want to learn after they have become familiar with the content of the game.
Magic Skills
1. Life: You can learn Life spells and improve your skill level by casting life spells.
2. Death: You can learn Death spells and improve your skill level by casting death spells.
3. Chaos: You can learn Chaos spells and improve your skill level by casting chaos spells.
4. Earth: You can learn Earth spells and improve your skill level by casting earth spells.
5. Curse: You can decrease cool down with this spell and improve your skill level by casting death spells.
6. Meditate: You can increase your spells defense and improve your skill level by casting life spells, death spells, chaos spells, or earth spells.
You are unable to learn Enhance spells at the same time.
7. Hit: You can increase your spells attack and improve your skill level by casting life spells, death spells, chaos spells, or earth spells.
8. Staff Hit: Increases your magic attack and defense. You can improve your skill level by casting life spells, death spells, chaos spells or earth skills.
9. Vestment: Enables you to wear cloth armor when your cloth armor skill level is higher than the armor level. You can improve your skill level by casting life spells, death spells, chaos spells or earth skills.
For more information please visit us at: http://ao.igg.com/news/news.php?aid=735

Interview with Disney Online – Pirates of the Caribbean

Questions by Brian Perry Jr. 
Answered by Mike Goslin, Vice President of Disney Online

Onrpg: Can you give us a quick run through about Pirates of the Caribbean Online?
Pirates of the Caribbean Online is a MMORPG for PC and Macs that give players the chance to live the life of a pirate in the world established by the Pirates of the Caribbean films and the theme park attraction. A significant feature of our game is that it is accessible to a wide range of players, which was important to us because our target audience is anyone who enjoyed the POTC movies and would like a chance to experience that world more deeply. This audience is very broad and includes both casual players and gamers alike. We allow players to play a large portion of the game for free. If players wish to continue deeper into the game, they can purchase an “Unlimited Access” subscription.

Onrpg: How extensive is the character customization?
Nearly every aspect of a Pirate avatar’s appearance can be customized to each player’s taste – from their hair to facial characteristics, clothing, shoes and more. This is an aspect of the game that we know players really enjoy, so to expand upon the already extensive character customization system, we have added a variety of new customization options since launch including new hairstyles, tattoos, jewelry and clothing.

Onrpg: Since this is a game about pirates I assume there are no classes. What determines what sorts of skills a player can use?
We designed this game for a variety of players, many of which have never been played a MMOG before. We wanted to make sure players weren’t forced to make uninformed choices. Because of this, all players start out the same, and then level up in particular skills by using them. Skills include cutlass, pistol, dagger, grenade, cannon, voodoo doll, voodoo staff, and captaining a ship. When a player levels up in a particular skill, they are given points they can use to enhance their skill or unlock new skills. The player can choose to level up any or all of the available skills, but they will later be limited to a smaller number that they can choose to “master”, or max out.

Onrpg: PotCO has taken a slightly different route for magic compared to most online games. Would you explain exactly how voodoo works?
In Pirates Online, Voodoo magic is used to heal, teleport, and cast curses on enemies. Every pirate has the ability to use voodoo once they acquire the voodoo doll and later the voodoo staff. The doll works by first “attuning” it to a target, so you start by getting in close and tagging an enemy. Once you attune, the player can run away and damage the targeted enemy from a distance by poking the doll, setting it on fire or swarming it with insects – to name a few of the attacks. As players use voodoo weapons, they earn new attacks and improve the effectiveness of existing attacks.

Onrpg: What other tools do players have at their disposal for fighting?
In addition to the voodoo doll and the voodoo staff, players can access a variety of other weapons for land-based combat including the Cutlass, Dagger, Pistol as well as Grenades. At the start of the game, players begin with a rusty cutlass, but as soon as they earn enough skill points wielding it, they become eligible to use a stronger blade that deals more damage. Likewise, a player’s first pistol will be a Single-Barrel Flintlock which fires a single shot before needing to be reloaded. As soon as players reach Level 5 in Pistol Reputation they’ll be able to purchase a Double-Barrel Pistol, which can fire two shots before needing to be reloaded.

At sea, players use cannons on their ship to defeat enemies. All cannons can be operated by any Pirate aboard and every cannon can fire any ammunition that the Pirate manning it has earned the skill to use and is carrying. The basic cannon load is Round Shot, an iron ball that deals damage when it hits its target. As a player’s skills and Notoriety grow, they have the option of using more advanced Cannon ammo like the Chain Shot, Firebrand, and Grappling Hook. We will be releasing new weapons very soon, so stay tuned!

Onrpg: It would not be a pirate game without ships. Are players able to have their own ships, and what can they do with them?
Of course! There are a few different ways to sail the seas – as a captain of your own vessel, solo or with your own crew, or as a member of another captain’s crew. Players get their first ship, a Light Sloop, when Elizabeth Swann sends players on a special Quest. Later on in the game players can buy a bigger better ship from a Shipwright. You can own more than one ship –– if you can afford it. With a full subscription, you can own up to three ships.

Currently, players can sail around and engage in battle with enemy ships at sea to collect loot. Some ships can be boarded after you disable them providing for some epic battles. It’s a lot of fun whether you are captaining your own ship or sailing with someone else. I think the multiplayer ships are one of the big differentiators in Pirates Online. This feature has already proven to be very popular with current players. We also plan to introduce PvP Ship to Ship combat and ship customization in the near future.

Onrpg: It is my understanding that there are other ways to earn wealth other than just through combat. How does this work?
In addition to gathering treasure on land and at sea, you can also play card games, like Blackjack and Tortuga Hold-em, to gain wealth.

Onrpg: Would you say PotCO is mostly a solo experience, mostly a group experience, or an equal blending of both and why?
A core part of our game is the ability for players to assemble a crew of friends to go on epic adventures at sea, which we think is a really fun and unique experience. With that said, both grouping and guilds are available in Pirates of the Caribbean Online. Players can join a “crew”, which is a temporary group. Crews work together and treasure is split according to the pirate code. The game favors group play over soloing, but it is also possible to go it alone. We also support pirate “bands” (guilds), which is a great way for players to stay connected with each other over time. We’ve also provided players with tools to manage guilds and other game stats via the web.

Onrpg: Disney is mostly known for making kid oriented games. While this title is still only rated E10+ it is a bit more mature in its theme. What was the reasoning behind this?
Our game is designed to give players an experience that allows them to live in the world of our movie franchise; we believe the art style of this game provides that feeling – it is both real in feel, while leaving room for the fantasy and excitement the movies and ride possess. First and foremost, we are committed to creating a safe and fun environment for families online. In addition to the extensive parental controls, we have aggressive chat filtering and monitoring to keep the experience safe and enjoyable. Pirates of the Caribbean is rated E10+, so we worked hard to ensure the content is appropriate for that age range.

Onrpg: Can players expect there to be events run from time to time by the staff of the game?
We’ve been talking about some really cool events that will roll out soon. We recently celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by turning the ocean green and making appropriately themed hairstyle and tattoos available. We definitely plan to expand and nurture the community for Pirates of the Caribbean. Currently, most of the communication and social networking happens in-game, but we have some significant web-based tools around individual pirates and guilds that will launch soon. All of our tools are designed to help players meet up with friends easily while at the same time being mindful of the safety of our younger audience.