Yearly Archives: 2008

Twin Skies

Meteor Games, LLC, an independent game studio created by Neopets founders Adam Powell and Donna Williams, is developing Twin Skies, a community-based MMO that will appeal to players of all ages with exciting new content, accessible game play and advanced socializing options.

Twin Skies will provide its players with multiple access points for enjoying the game world, allowing them to interact with the game when, where and for however long they want. PC players will be able to jump into the main Twin Skies PC MMO game to adventure, craft or explore the massive open world by themselves or with friends; players can also interact with Twin Skies on the official Web site via a series of fun and impactful flash-based mini games.

Meteor Games has already launched the Twin Skies Web site.

LOTRO: Flaming Deeps

The Flaming Deeps is an introduction trailer to the Mines of Moria, showing you the grand subterranian deeps. All spaces are connected, it’s one huge area without zoning. And what can you find in there? Well, watch.

Ragnarok Online Review

By Rick Charbs

One wonders why this classic MMORPG based on Norse mythology is still extremely popular to this day. Spending time on this game has been a virtuous pleasure, though with many ups and downs. As this game was first released back in 2003 by Gravity Co. Ltd., this game has become a nurtured MMORPG by its wide ranged audience. It has been released in 13 different countries, excluding the utmost popular North American version. Ragnarok is even planned for release on the Nintendo DS, and is already in the mobile market. Some of these versions are free with limitations, whilst some only offer a 15 day free trial. Either way, this game is a true gem in the gaming industry. That being said, there are also some features that will not necessarily attract others, due to its unique style.

Basic game play

Ragnarok Online brought a new style to MMORPGS in its time. Despite how generic it may seem these days with many similar games in the market, the combat in Ragnarok Online is very elaborate. This title is host to one of the largest character class selections, and they are all extremely well developed. This also means you will have large selection of unique skills to choose from.

Training may be a bore if done constantly, though there are many other things you can do in the game. Hunting for cards to insert in your equipment to empower them is a general hobby of the average Ragnarok Online player, as is questing.

Have an affinity for pets? Ragnarok allows you to capture and raise many different creatures that will eventually fight by your side and offer skill assistance. Furthermore, the most popular 2d game war system, the War of Emperium (WoE), is an extremely amusing sport for the elitist and the regular guilds. This implies your guild, defending or attacking an enemy castle, in order to claim it as your own. The War of Emperium is held twice weekly. Player versus player is also a fun getaway from training. Of course, the game lacks gathering skills, but there are other aspects that are tended to instead. All of these features become even more fun as you level and gather strength, such as when you are able to fight bosses!

Questing

Questing in Ragnarok Online can be at times amusing, and at times extremely rough and tiring. As the title was developed for a Korean audience, you can only imagine the grind style that might be taken at times. Yet some things have been modified, but in some quests you may find the rewards insufficient to your donated hours of work. Otherwise, quests are extremely fun to overtake. Most of the time, you’re either solving a puzzle, a riddle maybe, or challenging monsters to go to special dungeons. You always need to complete quests in order to advance jobs as well. Another interesting aspect of the quests in this game is headgear quests. These quests seem like your average “gather x amount of items” quests, although you will always be awarded with a fancy, somewhat unique, headgear. Headgears are naturally gathered and used for bragging rights in this game (and for good looks, of course).

Graphics and sounds

If you enjoy 2D/2.5D graphics, you’ll absolutely adore Ragnarok Online’s graphics and environments. The sprites are all very carefully designed, and the monsters are all very creative (with the occasional recolor). The environments are very original; they always put you in the right mood. Dungeons are done exceptionally well, with many secret doors and pathways. There are hundreds, probably thousands, of maps to explore.

If I only had one word to describe the music and sounds of this game, it would be “jaw-dropping!!!!” (okay, so two words). The music was done by famous artists in Korea, and this is proved by its exceptional quality. I thoroughly enjoyed almost every piece they had for background music. However, the sounds do get a little annoying after a while, but they fit the game exceptionally well. There are music pieces all the way from rock, to techno, to urban. If you do not like one particular style, there are always others to listen to. Overall, the time and energy put together in the development of this game really shows in its graphics and sounds. It really sets the mood and immerses you into the game. This is one of the reasons the game is still as popular as it is today, over five years later for North American audience, and eight years later for the Korean audience.

Personal Recommendation

I’ve been playing Ragnarok Online on and off for years now, and I do not have that many negative comments to say against the title. As far as music and graphics go, keeping the fact they are very old in mind, I find them very acceptable and entertaining. I adore the sprites and their graphic style, the 2.5D dungeons, the monsters, and the various pets. One thing though- I absolutely despise techno, and there are a few tracks of it in the game.

Also, contrary to popular belief, the official servers are still very abundant with players, and the community is extremely welcoming and warm hearted. You can’t play this game for more than a few hours before making a new friend. I found the customer support really helpful as well, aside from the money they charge you extra for their aid.

The game play is my favourite aspect of the game, though. Out of the dozens of classes to choose from, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed trying out every single one. They all have so many skills and different play styles, depending on the stats you chose to build up your character. Ragnarok is one of the few games I actually enjoy to PVP on, and of course the infamous War of Emperium is like my second home.

As for training and grind level, I believe it to be not so harsh up to the max level. However, in order to advance to your third job (transcendent classes), you must reborn your character back to level 1 and level up again, which can be extremely tedious. With help from friends though, this process can be very well sped up. In all honesty, this has to be my favourite MMORPG out there currently, and I’ll never tire myself of its fun and unique game play. They add new updates very frequently that offer new maps, monsters, and items to acquire. Soon there will be new jobs for the Korean version, which we will see later this year. If you have the time and money for this game, you will not be disappointed.

Jumpgate Evolution

Jumpgate brings together popular elements from all time classics such as Elite, X-wing Vs Tie-fighter and Privateer and combines them in a living, breathing persistent world. Gone are the days of point and click combat, Jumpgate puts the action at your fingertips with fully responsive twitch based controls like never seen in any previous massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMO).

Beyond this Jumpgate is being developed as being an accessible / intuitive game experience providing the soft comfortable learning curve of a new game along with the depth needed for hardcore gamers. Much like World of Warcraft which made fantasy MMO gaming accessible for the masses it is the expectation of Jumpgate to replicate this within the space sci-fi MMO genre.

Aeria Games Announces Acquisition of Shin Megami Tensei:

Imagine Online for North American and European Release
Santa Clara, Calif. (Sept. 9, 2008) – Aeria Games’ newest acquisition from Cave Co., Ltd., Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online, also called “MegaTen,” will soon be released in the European and North American online PC gaming markets in four languages: English, French, German and Spanish.
Shin Megami Tensei is a major intellectual property of the well-known Japanese developer and publisher, Atlus Co., Ltd. The first of many titles in the franchise was released by Atlus in 1992 for the Japanese Super NES and has grown a large and loyal following around the world with additional game titles for consumer consoles and handheld systems. The latest installment brings the brand online.
Originally released in Japan in Q1 2007, Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online was Cave’s first massive multiplayer online (MMO) title for PC. MegaTen has become a huge success with a large fan following. Aeria Games plans on bringing that success to the European and North American markets as it has done with its titles Last Chaos and Shaiya.
Set in a fictional post-apocalyptic Tokyo, survivors attempt to restore the city by defeating demons and solving puzzles. Each player acts as a “Devil Buster.” Success relies on forming an alliance with demons or slaying them.

MegaTen offers numerous unique features:
• Strategic Real-time Fighting System – Choose between attacking, parrying and defending in real time.
• Diverse Weaponry – Use a wide array of weapons from medieval swords to modern-day rifles and handguns.
• Devil Partnership – Players negotiate with devils to assist in battle and missions.
• Devil Fusing – Players can combine multiple devils to create new breeds.
• Private Dungeons – In addition to the public battle areas, players can access private dungeons to hunt and collect items with their friends.

Final Summer Features Added on Pardus’ 4th Birthday

New elite ranks are now possible to attain for all factions, with corresponding new equipment, weapons and spacecraft available. Elite ranks have a unique application process and a limited membership, ensuring only the top pilots can achieve such status.
Parasitic Orbiters have been added, and a new Advanced Skill- Orbiter Mastery- to combat them, as well as to improve upon beneficial orbiters. Though parasitic, these new orbiters may offer some unexpected benefits.

In addition to many other minor improvements, a Payment Log has been implemented, giving a seamless history of all financial transactions, and servers have been updated in preparation for even more new additions to the game in the future.

Gala-Net Inc. to Release Epic V, Part II to its Fantasy MMORPG Rappelz

Sunnyvale, California – September 12, 2008 – Gala-Net Inc. announced today that it will release “Rappelz Epic V: The Dragonic Age, Part II” later this fall to its free-to-play game portal, gPotato.com in the North American market.

“Rappelz Epic V: The Dragonic Age, Part II” will feature a variety of new updates to the second chapter of this prominent saga. Part II will deliver two new dungeons and a theme dungeon for players to explore. The theme dungeon offers players a chance to team up with other daredevils for a chance to defeat bears and the new boss. Not only can players team up to fight atrocious bears and new monsters, Part II will also include Character Skill Renewal. In this new system, character skills will be strengthened for each character’s job and players will notice an increased effect at every skill level. In addition, Part II will also introduce two new decorative pets, weapons, new Rank VI armors and weapons, and an array of new Rank V and Rank VI accessories that will help players with the challenges that Part II will offer.

“We have an amazing community of dedicated players, and Part II is sure to bring players from all over the world together,” said Senior Producer Michael Powers. “The epic continues with Part II and we hope to see you there when it launches.”