Monthly Archives: February 2009

Pirate Galaxy – Closed beta officially launched!

Leading European Publisher gamigo AG is happy to announce the start of the closed beta testing phase of the revolutionary browser game “Pirate Galaxy”. From now on up to 5000 players who register on www.pirategalaxy.com get gradually unlocked, allowing early access to the game. The Revolution of Browser-MMOGs With Pirate Galaxy publisher gamigo and developer Splitscreen Studios, will push the boundaries of what is possible in a web browser. The game uses a new, unique technology which allows advanced 3D graphics without the need to install client software to the computer.

Besides that, the game offers exciting gameplay and a huge Galaxy to explore. Players are able to travel to hundreds of different planets, visit space stations in orbit and fight
the dangers of their hazardous surfaces. In addition to a compelling story-line, there will be an unlimited amount of automatically generated quests, so space pilots will always
have some exciting adventures waiting for them.

Players won’t only have to watch out for other Space Pirates in the game, but for an evil alien race called MANTIS. This technological highly developed race attacked many of
mankind’s colonies and outposts. Only experienced squads of players will be able to fight the strong MANTIS-battleships and save the galaxy from these hideous aliens.

Servers are now open!
From today on, the first servers are commencing operation and a couple of hundred players are already unlocked, with more able to play every day. Everyone who wants to
join the beta-phase should register at www.pirategalaxy.com. Of course, Pirate Galaxy is completely free of charge and requires no monthly fee to play. “We are very happy about how the players responded to our Pirate Galaxy announcement”, says Elmar Kofler, Product Manager of Pirate Galaxy. “The game quickly became one of the most anticipated titles in the next g lineup. Now we are looking forward to the feeback of the players, which will help us to give the final touch to every aspect of the game and make decisions for upcoming features.” gamigo will use this testing phase to find and remove remaining bugs. Beyond that, gamigo will watch player’s comments and suggestions in the forum closely and consider
their opinions in the further development of the Pirate Galaxy.

Lineage II: Valentine event

Lineage II is going to have the cutest Valentine event from February 10-17. Players make their cakes, eat them and will be rewarded awesomely too. Please help us share the news with your readers so they can enjoy it!


“The Goddess Aphrodite has sent her faithful servant, Valentine Messenger Queen of Hearts, to foster love, loyalty and affection across the world of Aden. But Alas! As love and generosity are abhorred by them, some greedy monsters are bent on thwarting the spread of this infectious and debilitating disease. Having raided the warehouses where the ingredients were kept, the Queen of Hearts is now unable to create the Valentine Cakes she’d planned to make for everyone. Without the cakes, she fears that she will fail Aphrodite.

Can you help? Track down the cake ingredients and help the Queen of Hearts make special Valentine’s Cakes for all. The better the cake you make, the better the reward you will receive. But most important of all, your efforts will help to ensure that Aphrodite’s message is felt the world over.”

Dekaron Review: Flashiness at its Finest

Dekaron Review: Flashiness at its Finest
By Michael Justice, OnRPG Journalist

When I first laid eyes upon Dekaron (also known as “2Moons”) it immediately struck me as a game that would be an onslaught of flashy skills, bloody enemies and females who also happen to have a part time job at strip clubs. I will admit, the game has a very nice first impression even in today’s standards, but does it really offer a stable, good MMORPG experience on the silver platter that it is shown on?

 

Graphics

If you are one of those people who constantly are adding forced anti-aliasing to every single game, you will not be disappointed with Dekaron’s graphics. While environments are somewhat lacking, there is plenty of detail to be seen. From the bloody, chopped-up corpses of your enemies to the exquisite detail of the Segetia Hunter’s armor, the game just looks pretty in general.

Low-end computer users fear not, for you can simply set everything to low and turn off most of the effects, like in most games. One of the effects that everyone might turn off (high-end users included) is the bloom filter. I have reason to believe the Dekaron world takes place very close to the sun, otherwise they wouldn’t be glowing with vibrant light most of the time, even at night.

I really can’t stress how much this game puts maturity as one of its main themes. Blood will spew from every enemy, every woman will have a large chest and you will see naughty words in the NPC dialog. It can be nice every now and then, but seriously, it can really get tiring when I kill a bug and it spews forth a geyser of blood.

 

General Gameplay

Wondering if the food on that silver platter tastes as good as it looks? Allow me to share my experience of the gameplay and tactics.

When you first begin attacking an enemy, you’ll notice that the game has a sense of action to everything you do. For example: attacking an enemy will make you take an inch forward with every whack, and it will make them recoil. That is a nice touch to the game, allowing for better immersion to take place. This system works well with the various skills you’ll receive, such as skills that teleport you or skills that force your enemy back.

You do have a standard “damage dealer and healer” setup, with pretty much everyone being a damage dealer (even the healer) and the healer being a healer. Don’t expect a lot of group play outside of dungeons. There is no “class advance” or anything such as that. You simply pick a skill tree for your class and go with it. Flexible? Yes. Diverse? Definitely not.

For those of you wondering: yes, this game does put plenty of emphasis on skills. You will be pressing 1, 2, 3 and 4 more than ever, but don’t shrug away from me now.

 

Player Versus Enviorment

During most of the time I played Dekaron, I was either doing dungeons with friends or doing pvp. While you won’t exactly be overwhelmed during your first couple of levels, you will start to notice a slight grind after a while, to which point you will most likely want to quit the game for being a generic grinder with nothing else to offer but pretty graphics. Go ahead if you want to, but if you stick around you might find some neat stuff.

The grind will start to go away as you gain access to several dungeons they have. Their dungeon system is instance-based, creating easy, manageable ways people can level. While this doesn’t really focus much on the “MMO” part of Dekaron, you’ll find that it does allow you to explore more of the game and give you time to play with your friends.

 

Player Versus Player

While Dekaron may seem like it has a very large focus on player versus player, there really isn’t. You can simply kill other players, yet you will get a penalty for it. There is also a special event that happens every so often in Dekaron called “Deadfront” which is a competition between players to see who exactly can be the best of their level range. 1 vs.1 duels are also very common and guild wars also occur maybe every now and then.

All of these things do not offer rewards that are worth the effort, but they can be fun if you want to just fool around for a while. It is probably the most amount of “endgame” material this game has, meaning you don’t want to just grind your heart out to level 120 just to have all this cool armor and skills just to beat some level 20 up.

 

Other information

There’s plenty of miscellaneous little things about Dekaron which don’t really fit into other categories.

For one, there is no character customization. Sorry if you’ve been following this entire review up unto this point and just found that out. While this is a very big issue with some people, I hope you can overlook it just to at least try this game for a little bit. I hardly noticed it a bit, due to the fact that I usually see players as individual people and not just a character in an online game.

There is also a cash shop in Dekaron, however, it is not bad at all. It offers plenty of little things like costumes which you can mask over your character and a fishing rod which gives access to the most potent fishing available. I looked into it plenty of times over and there doesn’t seem to be anything completely game-breaking.

 

Summary

Dekaron can definitely fill plenty of MMORPG enthusiast’s needs for a while. Great graphics with solid gameplay is what this game is all about, so don’t expect anything different than the standard MMORPG delivery package. Compliments to the chef.

 

Pros
– Great graphics (compared to current graphics)
– A break from “cutesy” MMORPGs
– Solid gameplay

Cons
– No character customization
– “Mature” themes can be tiring
– Nothing different other than the usual

Sugar Rush

Sugar Rush takes place in the city of Bashew, a place brimming with intensity and energy! And you will need to fight in order to survive here.

In the arenas of Bashew your skills will be tested. You will be competing against numerous foes, real and mechanical. You may need to fight as part of a team or by yourself. There are only two kyes to winning in the fighting arenas of Bashew… survival and Spark.

Spark is an energy force so potent that it has become the focal point for all who live here. Spark is the essence of our civilization and has become so valuable that many in Bashew seeking power have begun fighting over it, stealing it from Bashew’s innocent citizens.

An insatiable appetite has been built up that seems to be driven by a darkness intent on controlling all of Bashew. It is time for the good Citizenry to take up the challenge and fight back against those that would take what is ours.

War: over 300k subscribers and meet & greet

While announcing is financial results for Q4 2008, Electronic Arts has revealed some numbers for Warhammer Online with the following statement:

Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, an MMO from EA’s Mythic Entertainment studio, ended the quarter with over 300K paying subscribers in North America and Europe.

In the meantime, Mythic announced that the team will be attending some events in the coming weekd, starting with the New York Comic Con. Here are the details:

The great WAAAGH! rolls on in 2009! Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) studio, will be invading NY Comic Con, February 6-8, with the latest for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Executive Producer, Jeff Hickman, and Creative Director, Paul Barnett, will be on hand with a special presentation to share exclusive details about the upcoming Night of Murder live event, Call to Arms live expansion, Land of the Dead dungeon, and new Orc Choppa and Dwarf Slayer careers.

Stop by booth #1449 for the chance to chat with the WAR team, play the game, score exclusive in-game items and get your hands on new WAR gear. The WAR team will also be hosting its first Developer Meet and Greet Saturday night at Dave & Buster’s in Times Square.

New York Comic Con Schedule of Events

Saturday, February 7th
11:15AM – 12:15PM: WAR Presentation by Jeff Hickman and Paul Barnett (Room #1A24)
2:30PM – 3:30PM: Poster Signing (WAR booth: #1449)
5:30PM – 6:30PM: MMORPG Panel; Jeff Hickman to participate (Room #1A24)
9:00PM – 12:00AM: Developer Meet and Greet (Dave & Buster’s, Times Square)

Sunday, February 8th
12:00PM: Realm vs. Realm Competition (WAR booth: #1449)

If you can’t make it to NY Comic Con, don’t worry! WAR is once again hitting the road with a great lineup of events for 2009. Stop by the WAR booth for a chance to play the game and speak to the development team, as well as meet other players in the area. You’ll have a chance to play new content and score exclusive in-game items and great WAR gear. There will be presentations to attend, contests to win, and Developer Meet & Greets at many of the events. Mythic’s 2009 show schedule includes:

New York Comic Con: Feb 6-8, New York, NY
Games Day Baltimore: May 9, Baltimore, MD
Games Day Toronto: June 20, Ontario, CA
San Diego Comic-Con: July 22-26, San Diego, CA
Games Day Chicago: July 25, Chicago, IL
GenCon: August 13-16, Indianapolis, IN
Penny Arcade Expo: September 4-6, Seattle, WA

Wind Slayer Interview: Made for PVP

All questions answered by CM Saphar, Wind Slayer’s community manager.

The Wind Slayer open beta begins on Wednesday, February 4th at 3:00pm PST.

 

What sets Wind Slayer apart from other 2D MMORPGs?

Saphar: Unlike other 2D MMORPGs on the market, Wind Slayer is designed from the ground up for PvP combat. All six of the game’s branching character classes and their skills are designed for fast, action-packed PvP gameplay. There are also tons of different PvP modes in Wind Slayer – capture the flag, capture the hill, team battle, guild battle – and players are auto-leveled to the same level when they join an arena, so fighting against other players in Wind Slayer is all about skill, not about how much time you’ve spent in-game.

 

What’s new in the Wind Slayer open beta?

Saphar: We learned a lot during the Wind Slayer closed beta. We’ve listened to feedback from the Wind Slayer community, and have optimized and improved the game significantly for open beta. Wind Slayer will run faster across the board, allowing players with a wide range of system specs and connection speeds to quickly get in the game and start playing.

 

What kind of premium items can we expect in Wind Slayer?

Saphar: We’ll be opening the SparkShop, which will allow players to spend SparkCash on premium costumes and consumable items, several weeks after open beta begins. All of our items are completely optional, and allow you to customize your character in new and interesting ways. Also, when purchasing a premium item from the SparkShop, players will be able to add additional stats to their items, giving them a small advantage in PvP matches.

 

What’s your favorite feature in Wind Slayer?

Saphar: The simple controls! It’s amazing how many games gets something as important as the controls wrong. With Wind Slayer, we’ve really stripped the controls down to their simplest components, so the controls never get in the way of the action. We’ve taken an “easy to learn, difficult to master” approach to Wind Slayer. The game is easy to instantly pick up and play, but mastering all of its intricacies – the double jump, the dash, the dozens of abilities available to all of the classes – will require all of your skill, especially if you want to become a master of PvP.

 

What’s your favorite item in Wind Slayer?

Saphar: That’s a tough call. We have lots fun items in the game, from cool looking armor sets to funny costumes and gear. My favorite is probably my ninja suit and ninja mask. It’s perfect for when I want to sneak up on some unsuspecting players!

 

What changes have you made bringing Wind Slayer to the Outspark service?

Saphar: Most of our efforts have been in making the game even faster and more action-packed, and really improving and highlighting the PvP experience, which we feel is where Wind Slayer really shines. We’ll also be releasing many new items to the game, but players are going to have to wait and see what we have up our sleeves.

 

What events do you have planned for open beta and beyond?

Saphar: As soon as the open beta begins we’ll have lots of simple, easy events that all players can particpate in. For example, every player that hits level 10 in the first week of open beta will receive a free rare ring, and the first 25 players that reach level 10 will receive a powerful in-game weapon.
In Wind Slayer, one day just isn’t enough to celebrate Valentine’s Day, so all of February will be a month of love. Every player that creates a character before February 25th will receive a free Love Potion, which restores HP and MP.
Because Wind Slayer is so PvP-centric, we also have big plans for large-scale PvP tournaments, and will be running our first Slayer Tournament event on February 13th.

Gods War Online: Gear System

The automatically-generated gear system of GodsWar Online is its major feature. The players can obtain a wide range of gears in the course of adventure and upgrade them with various stones. As the complement and support to the Gear system, there is also strong Avatar clothes-transfer system. However, it is not easy to get a senior gear. You need spend more time and energy on continuous gaming and even you need luck sometimes.

Overview:

Gears are not only used for changing the characters’ appearance, but also add all kinds of attributes, special effects and functions to the characters, which will strengthen the power of characters and bring more fun to the players. They individualize the characters and present the feature of the game.

There are many ways to obtain the gears. You can get them through completing quests, killing monsters and manufacturing etc. Some gears have level limitation and class division. You can choose your beloved gear according to the class you belonged and your current level. Also the gears applied to all classes are available.

Divisions of Gears
Since there are varieties of gears in GodsWar Online, according to their different functions, they can be divided into two categories: offensive gears and defensive gears

Offensive gears: Sword, Axe, Hammer, Spear, Javelin, Bow and Wand etc.

Defensive gears: Heavy and light Armor, Helm, Gloves, Boots, Shields, Masks and Rings etc.

Attributes of Gears
In addition to the basic attributes such as attack, defense, immunes, level, and stamina, there are more additional attributes to enhance your character. More details about them will be coming in next section.

Shot Online: new server and events!

San Jose-based online game publisher, Gamescampus.com, announced today the launch of an all new server and exciting in-game events for its popular MMO golf simulation game, Shot-Online.

Beginning today, players will find an all-new Shot-Online server to play on. As part of the celebration of the newly added server, GamesCampus will be hosting exciting events for new and existing Shot-Online players to enjoy. Events include offering free green fees for all courses, while hosting a tournament to give away prizes including repairable Hurricane and Tornado club sets and much more.

Shot-Online is hosting three different events in celebration of the new server. The three events include offering free green fees for all courses, as well as a tournament dedicated to Level One players who have just created a character and starting out, while the third event takes place on February 28th when the character who reached the highest level from each avatar will win the top prize, a repairable Tornado club set. There will be multiple prizes given out so everyone is encouraged to come and join the fun!


“Opening a new server is just like launching a whole new version of Shot Online,”
said Tony Liu,producer of Shot-Online. “The new server benefits all players by providing a fresh start to new gamers, and allowing existing players to meet new people, new friends, and new rivals at the same time!”

Warrior Epic: new website and closed beta!

True Games Interactive, an international publisher of multi-player online games, has launched a brand new website for its highly anticipated Online action MMORPG, Warrior Epic. Along with many new features to the website, True Games is proud to announce that it is now accepting sing-ups for players who hope to be part of the upcoming closed beta test for the game. The closed beta test will only have a limited number of spots available so those interested in being part of it are encouraged to sign up now for a chance to qualify.

“It’s an exciting time for both True Games and Possibility Space as we see all the elements of our work on Warrior Epic coming together,” said Jeff Lujan, Founder and Chairman of True Games Interactive. “The website looks amazing and offers gamers a great look at what is to come for the game. We are amazed at how many people want to be part of the closed beta so we invite you to sign up now for your chance!”

The stunning new website introduces new information and visuals on the exciting environments in the game, along with a sneak peek at the warrior halls; which play a key role in the game. Fans can also check out and participate in the community forums and download cool wallpapers, screen shots and videos from the media downloads page.