Monthly Archives: April 2009

Jumpgate Evolution trailer

A new gameplay video for Jumpgate Evolution, a new sci-fi MMORPG which is going to be released in 2009. 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. Watch this video to learn more!!

Imperia Online

Imperia Online is a massively multiplayer online game, set in the times before gunpowder was invented. Powerful medieval armies are clashing on the battlefield. Wonders can be built, granting unique powers to each empire. Take the reins of rule over your village and expand it into a great and mighty empire. Make friends, join alliances and become a Sovereign of the entire medieval realm, all from the comfort of your browser or iphone.

Quake Live Preview: Guaranteed Hit

By Joshua Temblett (Dontkillmydreams), Onrpg writer
 
Ah, Quake … is there no better First Person Shooter?  There probably is, but finding one would be a very hard chore.  In essence Quake Live is basically Quake III Arena (Q3) inside your web browser.  Sound good?  Well it should do considering Q3 is a classic which was generally well received by reviewers and gamers alike.  This game is renowned for its brilliant multiplayer component and mod community.  So does this title hold up ten years down the line? 
 
The first thing you’ll notice about this game is the utterly breathtaking graphics.  On the highest settings this title truly does shine.  Never before have I seen such great graphics from a browser based game, the fact that they managed to squeeze all of that graphical power into a browser is simply astonishing.  Sure it may not look like Killzone 2, but Quake Live certainly packs a powerful punch.    
 
When you log in initially you’ll be joined by Crash who will introduce you to the game and get you started.  This will all happen whilst the rest of the game is downloading, cool eh?  Also I know what you’re thinking, “Hey!  Wait a minute, whatcha mean by download?  You told me this was a browser based game 0_0!”  In answer to that question, you’re not downloading a full game or client per say, but rather a small plugin.  After you’ve been taught the basics you’ll enter a game with Crash, where your results from the round will be analysed and smartly used to determine your skill level which is used for match making.  The system works well, however you don’t have to use the matchmaking if you don’t want to as you can search for matches with players of any skill.
 
Once in a match you’ll find all the staples of the original Quake 3.  If you’re new to the series then you should be prepared for a fairly steep learning curve as becoming one of the best can be a hard achievement.  The controls work well with a keyboard and mouse and the unique feel of the various guns will certainly be enough to engross some players into the action for long periods of time.  Despite this the game also suits appropriate casual short bursts of gameplay as getting into a match is simple and exiting one is even easier. 
 
There is a huge variety of game modes and maps so you’ll never really get bored.  The amount of maximum players on a map fits the size of the levels which means that there’ll never be too much or too little action, making it easy to get into the game and enjoy yourself without getting killed every second.  The only game mode where this doesn’t really apply is “Free For All” (FFA) which can have up to eighteen players on a map and is the sheer definition of hectic.  This isn’t really a problem unless you’re a newbie as you’ll get killed almost every 1-30 seconds which can completely destroy your confidence.  FFA can be incredibly fun though, especially if you’re winning.  You’ll soon find yourself blasting through rows of human players as you not only watch your back but make sure no one in front of you is going to snipe you with a railgun, which is exceedingly exciting.
 
I know I shouldn’t really come to any conclusions (as this is just a preview) however it must be said that the level design in Quake Live is simply fantastic.  Everything is carefully laid out, from weapons to jumps.  The flawlessness of the arenas stands out as you rush through them following your enemy to his/her death.  When compared to the bland design of other free online FPSs it’s easy to declare the developers at Id Software as pure geniuses.  Which, to be honest they are.  The weapons are, more or less, perfectly balanced and you’ll no doubt find a gun to suit your style of gameplay. 
 
Quake Live is shaping up to be a very special game, with updates being added and some awesome features incoming (such as the ability to own private servers).  I’m really looking forward to seeing how this title turns out.  Unless QL drastically changes before its launch, I can completely guarantee you that it will be a hit and certainly one of the best free online games of this year.

Zero Online: Academy Recruitment

Academy Recruitment (April 17-May 15)
Duration April 17-May 15, 2009
Requires Level 1 (Only for new registered characters) 
Prizes Silver Badge + 1,470 Free Zero Points 
It is said that the new expansion is coming in May 22, 2009. To get prepared for the Expanding Horizon, the Military Academy is recruiting new pilots. Of course, the academy will award a silver badge to the recruits, as well as 1,470 Free Zero Points. These free offers can help you leveled up very quickly and get better equipped.
 
Rules:
1. You directly receive a silver badge once you finish creating your character. This badge can grant you 7 days’ privileges, including online/offline training, bonus exp, special offers for trading items with the merchant NPCs, free cores…
Silver-Badge
Type: [Special Item]
Enjoy 7 days benefits: Online training, Offline training, Instant revive, thruster energy boost, extra 20% monster Exp, extra 30% discount at Venderbots, 30% higher price selling to Venderbots; Daily FREE core, No EXP lost at death, Curse Pkers.
 
2. The free Zero Points can be claimed in 15 days. One time a day. The only requirement is that you are a hard-worker, and not afraid of a challenge.
3. You are eligible to claim the desired points once you meet the level requirements. If you miss one day’s chance, you can only claim that day’s points the next day, for example, if you miss the 10th day’s prize, you can only claim the 10th day’s prize on the 11th day, you will wait until the 12th day to claim the 11th day’s prize, and so on, that means you will miss the 15th day’s prize forever.
Tips for getting all free Zero Points:
1. Make full use of your silver badge. After you use this badge, you can gain online training exp whenever you are online, and also get 15 hours’ offline training time for 1.5 hours online time every day. To make your character level up very quickly, you can make your character stand in a safe place when you have no time to play, or you can train your character offline when you have to shut down the game client.
 
2. Remember to claim your free Zero Points once you meet the level requirements.
Remember, you have only 15 days. You can claim all the prizes, or go your own way. It’s all up to you.
 
With free Zero Points, you can:
1. Purchase valuable items from the Shopping Mall. The purchased items cannot be traded to anyone (including trade partners);
2. Upgrade your weapon proficiency, weapon skills and pilotage;
3. Shorten your unit’s cooling time after your unit’s CAP is upgraded;
4. Socket your weapons, gears and cores;
5. Pay to get the 2nd and 3rd lottery chance when you make the 2nd socket on your core;
6. Repair the destructible facilities in the Fleet War;
7. Upgrade the CAP of your units;
8. Upgrade the CAP of your modules.

2029 Online: Game Development and Optimization Report

We are now vigorously testing 2029 online, modifying its functions so that they are more user friendly, and the system is fully optimized. So players will be more able to enjoy our game.
 
As a newbie, you may confront a situation where the durability of your equipment has decreased but you don’t have enough gold to repair it. So we have added an function that you can repair your equips in NPC for free. Just click on Free Repair to get your equipment fully repaired. It is totally free.
 
As a newbie, at the very beginning you may be not so familiar with the game controls.  But don’t worry we have strived to design more friendly UI windows which are also a lot less complicated to understand.
 
We are now focused on fixing the inevitable issues and problems that have arisen from our repeated testing. The Alpha Test will soon begin. During the Alpha Test we will provide great rewards, including the Fast Leveling Pack for our players. By using the fast leveling pack, you can level up faster, hunt monsters and PVP far more easily than ever before. In addition every Alpha Tester will also receive a high-level weapon, valued at over $ 50, in the Closed-Beta Test.  So keep your eyes peeled for more info on our official website.
 
The main game system will be open during Alpha Test, including all of the battle fields and game systems. So our players will all be able to experience the unique charm of 2029 Online!
 
2029 Alpha Test will soon be here. Stay tuned for the official release date and see you in the game!

Angles online: Card Collection Quest

The Card Collection Quest System is one of the most popular systems in Angle Online. This system was introduced as a way for players to break from monster killing and have some fun on the side. The cards that fall from monsters provide extra quests, with players earning rich rewards after completing them. These rewards could be high- level golden equipment, jewelry and weapons. Check out the quests below to find out more.
 
The system will release General Monster Cards, Special Monster Cards, Equipment Cards and so on. Players can collect different cards to create a Card Set, then exchange them for equipment, or items they need. They can also use the Card Collection function to share cards with other players.
 
Quest I.  Lucid Material
Description: Get rare materials from the Bishop of Mythic City and Effective Goblin
Crystal of Bishop 0/ 1
Wings of Effective Goblin 20/20
 
Bishop is a BOSS in Hell Palace. Because of his high level, players must build a team to fight with him. Each time they fight him, players will have a chance to get the fallen Card Quest.
Note: A full team will be able to easily defeat the Bishop, but the more players that are in a team, the lower the chance to obtain the Quest Crystal.
 
Effective Goblins are the most common monsters in the Underground Instance. The rate to obtain fallen Quest items is higher, and also players will complete the quest more easily.
 
 
Quest II.  Level 30 Classical Robot Quest
The Gebuer Vale Quest states that 4 cards can be redeemed for a Level 30 Cute Robot: Koala or Penguin Robot. These Robots’ attributes are equal to Level 40 Robots from the store.
 
First, players must defeat the Gebuer Cadres to obtain their cards. The Gebuer Cadres live together, so players should have no problem finding and defeating them. Second, the Spy Lude Quest must be completed. This quest is easy and players only need to exchange a Copper Badge for a card.  Defeat the little BOSS to get the copper badge, and then exchange with NPC Spy Lude in the Gebuer Vale.
 
The Rotten Bird Card can be obtained by defeating the Rotten Bird, and it is easier to obtain than the Gebuer Cadres’ due to its high drop rate. Players must make sure they defeat two Rotten Birds to get a Giant Rotten Bird Card, which can be exchanged for a Rotten Bird Card. The exchange NPC is a Myth Scholar from Burning Desert.

Small is Big in the Gaming World

Small can mean big bucks in the world of gaming where micropayments are being seen as playing an increasingly important part in making money for the industry. 
Amid a downturn in advertising revenues, a recent survey at the GamesBeat conference in San Francisco found that 66% of those polled “were excited about this growing trend” which is most often seen in so-called ‘free to play’ games.
 
That is where it costs nothing to play but developers sell items or different levels within the gaming experience.
 
“Micro payments have been proven to work very well in the far east, Korea and China,” said Dean Takahashi from VentureBeat, which organised GamesBeat.
 
“Initially they took off there because there is such a big problem with piracy and with a micro-transaction, you can always verify the credit card transaction or the payment system so you are assured people will pay up.
 
“The big test is whether North American gamers, the biggest market, are really going to go for this or not,” Mr Takahashi told the BBC.
 
Analyst Michael Cai, who is the vice president of video games at Interpret, said young gamers like the new model but that is no guarantee of success.
 
“As this generation grows up the big question is what are they going to adopt and embrace? A lot of the publishers have started to embrace these (payment) models as well and everyone is looking at micro-transactions very carefully,” said Mr Cai.
 
One game often cited as making the most of micropayments is Mob Wars, where players rise through the mob ranks by committing crimes and fighting other players.
 
Real money is used to buy weapons and other virtual goods on the site. The TechCrunch blog noted “some estimates suggest revenue may have peaked at $1 m (£667,000) a month and there are nearly 2.5m active users of the application on Facebook today.”
 
Games as a service
In the free to play marketplace a company called Playfish has grown from 20m users to 60m in the last 18 months.
 
It has five out of the top 10 games on the world’s biggest social networking site, Facebook. Playfish games like Pet Society and Who has the Biggest Brain? are also available on Apple’s App Store.
 
“We are huge believers in the free to play model because it minimises the barrier to entry for gamers and gets as many people involved for free as quickly as possible,” said Kristian Segerstrale co-founder of Playfish.
 
And of course once users are hooked on a game, or invested in it, that is the perfect time to persuade them to part with some hard cash.
 
“Pets Society is our biggest playing game with 3 m daily users. In the game, gamers adopt a pet and take care of it. They can win coins to spend on, say, food or clothes or furniture.
 
“But not everyone has time to earn money in the game so they can spend $5 and buy 2500 coins, which normally takes days to win and spend it on what they like,” explained Mr Segerstrale.
He said on average, players spend $7-$22 (£5-£15) a month and that “micro-transactions will win over subscription fees because they are more flexible.”
 
“As games become a service, it doesn’t make any sense to make users pay up front, no-one does that with their gas bill or telephone. You pay over time,” said Mr Segerstrale.
“Friction”
 
VentureBeat’s Mr Takahashi predicts the market for micropayments could become a multi-billion dollar business, if it takes off. That might be one reason why Apple will later this year launch its in commerce app in the AppStore, which will allow developers to introduce new layers into games that they can charge customers for and ramp up the micro-transaction side of things.
 
“It’s important for developers to boost their revenue stream and look at how to monetise software, especially if you are a business person, ” said Neil Young the founder of NGmoco that makes games exclusively for Apple’s 25,000 strong app store.
 
“My sense is that taking the friction out of purchasing things inside the gaming experience itself is going to lead to more usage and a better revenue stream for developers.”
 
Facebook and MySpace are both working on their own payments systems but TechCrunch noted that it is the “nimbler start ups” that are making headway in this field.
 
It said Spare Change Payments is processing $2.5 m (£1.6m) a month in micropayments, adding up to a “$30m (£20m) annual run-rate.”
 
“Entertainment”
As the online world becomes more mobile the use of the phone as a payment model is also expected to take hold.
 
While a recent survey by KPMG revealed that most people in the US have issues around security, a majority also said they would consider using their mobile if these could be addressed.
 
In Europe and Southeast Asia, mobile payment is one of the most popular ways to pay for virtual goods since nearly everyone has a phone.
 
In the US the uptake is slower because of the high fees charged by carriers, which are generally 40% of any mobile payment compared to 25% in Europe and between 5-10% in Asia. In the world of mobile payments, gaming is the biggest driver of business said mobile payment company Zong
 
“Most of our transactions are coming from in game payments,” said Zong founder David Marcus. “The average transaction is five to six dollars with people mostly buying either virtual goods or virtual currency. It’s a new kind of entertainment and if you look at certain games that cost $30-$40m to produce, it’s a full entertainment industry that is looking to monetize these things.
“Now that Electronic Arts is launching their first free to play game, virtual goods and virtual currency will no doubt be a part of it and mobile payments are going to be a big part of it also,” said Mr Marcus.
 
“Greed over gameplay”
In a struggling economy, much is being made of the new payment models trying to take root. Some in the industry however are concerned there is too much focus on making money.
 
“The revenue model always dictates the shape of the content and so different types of games will need to be created to support this type of mechanism,” explained Rob Tercek, the president of mobile at the Oprah Winfrey Network and chairman of GDC Mobile.
 
“If it’s a game where you are meant to pay for micro-transactions, then the designer has to design into the game the need for these upgrades or items for sale that may or may not be a great model, especially when played on a mobile device.
 
“My feeling is that a game is either a good game or a bad game and just because you bought a bigger gun or some better shoes shouldn’t change the game,” stated Mr Tercek.
 
NGmoco’s Mr Young is also wary.
 
“As long as developers don’t prioritise greed over game play. You need to remember that at the end of the day, we are there to provide fun gaming experiences for people. Not something where they are constantly badgered to pay up for something.
 
“It’s a careful balance we will have to learn as game makers,” concluded Mr Young.
 
Source: link.

Mortal Online Beta Video

This new Mortal Online video takes you along on a first person perspective, showing you the early options for your character. Become part of the world and imagine the possibilities ingame. Watch yourself step on horseback, diving into adventure and take a look at your own reflection!

Angels Online: Easter Events, Double Rewards

As Easter is coming around, the Angels Online teams have some special online events carefully prepared for all players.
 
Event I: Fantastic Treasure Bowl
 
Event Duration
The event will start after the server maintenance on April 9th and end after the server maintenance on April 23rd. It will last for 2 weeks.
 
Event Content
1.      A new NPC called ‘Lottery Wheel Clerk’ will be added into the Angel Lyceum during the event.
2.      Players can purchase some [Star Silver Coins] from the Item Mall and then take part in the event at the Lottery Wheel Clerk’s.
3.      Players will have a chance to obtain a big surprise from the Fantastic Treasure Bowl. If many players join the event, they may obtain a precious [Angel Treasure] from the bowl.
 
Event II: Easter bunnies
 
Event Location
West Playground 2 of the Angel Lyceum
 
Quest One: Kill the Evil Moon Rabbits
The rabbits that the Demon Bazac corrupted have devolved into Evil Moon Rabbits. Michael wants players to find and kill all 50 of the Evil Moon Rabbits in the West Playground.
 
Quest Two: Protect Michael
After the Evil Moon Rabbits have been killed, Bazac will be very angry. He will send a lot of monsters to attack Michael and wreck Michael’s plans. All Angels must protect Michael for 15 minutes.
 
Rewards
We will present participating players with 200 Dream Pieces and 200 Energy Crystals at random.

Wonderland Online: Easter Extravaganza!

Happy Easter!!! With Easter almost here, have you got eggs from the Easter bunny? If not, just log into the Wonderland Online world to grab abundant presents!
 
Overloaded Easter Bunny Drops Baskets
Event Duration?April 6th to April 12th EDT (GMT-4)
During Easter, players will be rewarded with an Easter Basket by defeating Level 10+ monsters. These baskets contain many fantastic presents inside (4x Holy EXP Potion, Dark Chocolate, Fun Token, Forgotten Scroll and many more), click on them to find out what you got!
 
Cute Easter Eggs
Event Duration?April 5th to April 10th EDT (GMT-4) 
The season for hunting down brightly colored hidden eggs is here again. But this time the GMs don’t have enough eggs for everyone. He is asking for players’ help in collecting them. Win large credits for helping out!
 
Additionally, the officials will be holding a 2x EXP event lasting 2 days so that players can upgrade fast. Players can get even more items drops if they use the 4 Leaves Grass.