Monthly Archives: August 2009

Nida online starts closed beta

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NIDA online, a hybrid action MMORPG has begun its CLOSED BETA test, CBT will be two weeks from august 26 to September 9. All characters will be deleted after closed beta. In the OPEN BETA phrase characters will not be deleted.

No invites are needed, just register and download and Play!

About NIDA online.
NIDA online was initially started by 3 Korean programmers, the game has called names itself as a hybrid action MMORPG. The game features vibrant and colorful graphics, clearly defined character development, that makes the game you play feel like another game when you have developed you’re character in a different kind of way, and all of this set in an Exotic Fantasy World.

Nida Online

Bright Shadow

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Presented in full 3D, Bright Shadow adopts an anime-inspired style with diverse monster designs, a lush game world, and endless options to customize your character.
– High quality graphics, including a weather system.
– Supreme social features: friend list, in-game mail system, party matchmaking, mentor system, guilds and more!
– Choose from 20 class archetypes: warriors, mages, machinists and shamans.
– Battle hundres of unique monsters!
Soul Power System: players asorb Soul Power from slain enemies. Soul Power is used for a wide range of purposes, including skill and spell activation, production, starting guilds, raising pets, and more!
Card Collection System: over 500 monster cards can be obtained via battle. Monster cards have a range of uses, from purchasing special items, activating special abilities to summoning monsters.

Zodiac Online Enters Alpha Test

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Ingle Games Ltd has announced that the long-awaited MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) Zodiac Online is entering into its Alpha testing phase on Sep. 1st, 2009.

Text: Zodiac Online is a colorful, free to play MMO based on the Chinese Zodiac. Its 12 characters are set in a fantasy land borne of an amazing legend of allegiance, valiance, and guardianship. In the game, players will act as Zodiac Envoys on a mandate from heaven, which creates an unforeseen and mysterious set of circumstances.
 
Some of the game’s unique features are listed as follows:
1. There are no class limits! In Zodiac, nothing but aptitude counts, therefore all skills are available to all players! 
2. Innovative way of aptitude growth. The way characters’ aptitudes increase depends on which Zodiac Envoy you choose, not on your class. This creates endless possibilities for each character’s growth.
3. Zodiac sign system. Underpinned by the history of Chinese horoscopes, it is especially designed in-line with the Zodiac signs, granting unexpected surprises, windfalls or posing some challenges.
4. Taming wild monsters. Unlike other MMO’s limited choices of pets, the game provides a wide range of choice, with all monsters available for capture!
5. Find Mr. Right. Similar to constellation horoscopes, this system works with the Chinese traditional horoscope. It reads your future, and helps you recognize the right person from the crowd from the very first moment.
6. Growing weapon. It grows as you level up. Reinforced by Spiritual Stones possessing disparate powers, it is always the strongest backing for your fight. 
 
As a whole, Zodiac will be digitally distributed on Sep. 1st, 2009 by Ingle Games Ltd. By that time, more features and details will be unveiled.
 
How to join in the Alpha Test?
As the testing day approaches, some official events will be held on its forum. There will be a chance to get activation codes by taking part in these activities.
Good Wishes (Alpha Code Giveaway 1)
Code Hunter (Alpha Code Giveaway 2)

Zodiac Online

Squirrels With Scythes, Evil Pumpkins Galore Storm GamepotÂ’s Bright Shadow

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Answering the call for a unique take on MMORPG, Gamepot (USA), Inc., the U.S. publishing division of Japanese gaming behemoth Gamepot, Inc., is proud to announce its second North American offering, Bright Shadow.  Making its way to North American gamers for the first time, Bright Shadow is currently beloved by countless fans around the globe.  While the adored MMORPG’s cute, cartoon-like characters and novel monsters – known as “Umbra” – will remain as found in other markets, Gamepot USA is localizing and adapting Bright Shadow with updated storylines, unique new items, and new systems for nearly endless character customization and imaginative new experiences. 
 
“Bright Shadow lets players own their adventure – placing great emphasis on personalized experiences for them and their friends,” said Thomas Lee, director of business and marketing, Gamepot (USA), Inc.  “With a focus on creativity, finely-tuned social options and easy-to-learn gameplay, we feel it’s the perfect online entertainment experience to bring to North America as part of our growing roster of free-to-play games.”
 
The vast Bright Shadow game world – complete with its own ever-changing weather system – places a high emphasis on combat with a horde of unique, deadly monsters and social functions, featuring vigorous guilds and 20 unique classes, a number almost unheard of in traditional MMORPGs; making it ideal for both hardcore and casual audiences alike.  Also included in Bright Shadow are an innovative Monster Card system used for a variety of abilities (including monster summons), a “Soul Power” collection system to boost skills, tailored item crafting and original pet systems all geared toward providing a truly customizable undertaking where no two players will be alike. 
 
Bright Shadow is scheduled for release for online PC gaming in late 2009, with closed beta beginning this fall.  Like all Gamepot games, Bright Shadow will be a 100% free-to-play experience with the option of purchasing “Pot Cash” for special in-game items further down the line.

Bright Shadow Poster

Zero Online: Event Preview: September

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ZO’s second anniversary is drawing near! We have prepared a string of fun events for its arrival. Let’s take a look!

1. Weekend Double Experience Event (September 5th to 6th)
You can gain double experience once you log into the game, and you will gain Quad Exp if you use a double exp potion at the same time.

2. ZO Carnival Online Event (September 10th to 16th)
In order to celebrate the second anniversary of Zero, we have decided to hold a great carnival. A carnival means party and what else? Gifts? Bingo! There will be 17 fun online events during this period. Don’t forget to join this fun party and win the great rewards!

3. ZO Carnival Offline Event
If you think 17 online missions are not enough, then come join our series of offline events! Don’t miss out on your good chance to win a bunch of ZPs(bound)!

4. Summon Friends back to Win Gifts of 200 USD!
Do you have a friend who has taken a break from Zero? Send them your invitation to come back and fight again. You will obtain a chance to play the lottery once and win a guaranteed prize! The value of the grand prize is 200 dollars! And the returning veteran can choose their desired Ultra weapon (bound) once you credit a TQ Point Card to your account. Now or never! Grasp this great chance to win amazing rewards!

5. Open the Expanding Horizon Season 2
We will add the No.5 – No.8 Fusion Units. The 4 male and 4 female units are as followed: Oroide Ares; Athena Exclamation; Solar Reaper; Aureole Fairy; Laser Eliminator; Trail Blazer; Doom Terminator; Galaxy Butterfly. After the update of the fusion mission, you will have the chance to gain two opposite class units by doing the Units Assembly. It will increase the fusion rate.

6. Fused Unit Upgrading Campaign
When we release the new fusion unit, we will hold a fused unit upgrading war. All of the fused units can participate in this event. As for the new fused units, we will give out another secret prize.

Sound great, right? Don’t hesitate to join these events. The next lucky winner could be you, so keep your eyes peeled! For the detailed information of these events, you can pay attention to our website.

Zero Carnival

 

Combat Arms Europe

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Combat Arms is a free-to-play, online multiplayer first-person-shooter (FPS) from the world leading online games developer and publisher Nexon. Nexon Europe, the European publishing arm of Nexon Group, now brings this nonstop online action to the European gamers, featuring eye-catching graphics, a vast array of lethally powerful and customizable weapons, modifiable characters and outfitting, dynamic game-play scenarios, persistent web-based stat-tracking, and a worldwide theater of combat.
 
In addition to these features, Combat Arms also has the high level of socialization present in all Nexon games – Buddy Lists, Clan Support (both in-game and web), vengeance kills, Rival Clans and more. This potent mix of combustible elements ignites a truly unique offering in the world of first-person shooters: a dynamic, evolving game that encourages both companionable competition and cooperation among its players.
Aspiring soldiers of fortune can purchase weapons and equipments to further optimize their play-style, and even customize them in different ways by using GP (Gear Points). Need a suppressor for your AK-47? Upgrade your MP5 with a scope? The extensive arsenal at Combat Arms offers everything from additional weapons, specialized grenades and many more. And they will come in handy once you are out there on the frontlines: the unique backpack system allows soldiers to carry on and to use multiple weapons during their combat, which provides a much more dynamic and precise battle technique.

FreeSky Review: Is It Really Worth Your Ten Minutes?

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By Rickee Charbonneau (Jammart), OnRPG Journalist

Synopsis and General Gameplay

FreeSky Online is a fairly new browser based strategy game published by IGG. The main plot of the game revolves around a sky battle between airships of enormous quantity and size. You may choose one of two main paths in FreeSky: commercial trade or military empire. Unlike most online strategy games you have ever played, FreeSky is a fully-graphical browser based game with a unique storyline and context. It is extremely casual and offers a system that allows your account to keep growing while you are not necessarily playing the game.

Castle

Like all games of this genre, you begin with an undeveloped territory that you will have to begin to develop immediately. You must choose from one of the four nations at your disposal, but choose wisely as they are all against each other. The four Nations are: Light, Shadow, Diety, and Devil. I did not personally try them all out, but I do fear that they are overly generic and offer little to no difference in game play (not in terms of game mechanics, but any alteration besides visuals whatsoever).

Stepping foot into a world of airships

Your first goal in this game is to build and maintain a wonderful castle. After that, you simply have to bring prosperity to your mini-province, or take down the opposing nations by raging war against members of enemy nations. Once you have updated your income and your resources, you will then have the opportunity to build around your castle and expand your territory, studying sciences and other important mechanics along the way. Ultimately, one’s goal will optimize into owning various mighty castles.

FreeSky Online is more community oriented than one might perceive. Within the nations, players can create special alliances to help each other out in their conquest. This is where the game play distinction between economic players and military players is useful. Both types of players can easily give each other a hand with this alliance system and boost their development twofold. A nifty “miracle village” system is also introduced on FreeSky Online’s official website, but it is poorly explained and I was not able to try it out. It is simply a village of combined effort within an alliance, and it offers some pretty good perks to its members as it develops.

Air Combat

This game is very easy on new players. As you start up, a helpful tutorial is offered, and a beginner quest line soon afterward to keep you on track. Building units and such is almost instant as a beginner, but it promptly becomes tiresome and takes many hours in queue to build simple buildings. This is why I brought up the casual game aspect of FreeSky. Not only is there little to do currently, but building and upgrading your nation takes so long that you will most likely only hop on for a few minutes daily and then resume different gaming or other activities unrelated to this game. This is when I begin to lose my understanding of the purpose of this particular game.

Production: Building and using collected resources

The resources obtainable in-game currently are gold, food, sand stone, crystal, wood, and metal. With these particular materials, you will be able to eventually craft a wide range of airships used offensively or defensively in combat. However, parts will be required to build these futuristic machines. With the help of players who develop economic science, the production of metal parts, wooden parts, and power parts is possible through wealth and hard work! All players have access to creation of the parts, but some have very hefty requirements. There are also other items available for craft that do not involve airships such as weapons and engines. Oh, and of course…buildings! Some building units are more important than others, and some act simply as pre requisites, but I will not get into detail with them as it is far too similar to other strategic games. However, one building type is very particular and unique: the taverns.

Military Setup

Heroes and Alcohol

Taverns are simple buildings that offer entertainment for various characters that may enter or leave your city. After you have successfully built one, you will come to notice every so often that a hero character has come inside to relax and have a good time. If you proceed to clicking on your tavern info, you are then given the option to hire these visitors as members of your city, working as town archons performing tasks for you in city development, or army commanders bringing your fleets to war for you. These hero characters take a lot of weight off your shoulders, but they do require payment. You may train and level up these hero characters with the help of some special building units.

Personal Recommendation

Unfortunately, this game was a bore for the most part. The attacking, building… well, almost everything is done automatically. Fleets fight once they meet in war, buildings are always in construction queue, and everything just seems so robotic. The graphics and sound were above average, the concept art was especially well done, and the user interface is ground-breaking for a browser based game of this style; it really feels like a 2D client game. As much as I did not really enjoy this game, I would not dismiss it right away. There is a lot of potential with a game like this as it is just so accessible to just about anyone, and it is so casual and easy to play that there is no real time consumption on your part in order to play effectively. This means that basically anyone can play without the hassle of being in front of their computer all day long. There are even plans of maybe releasing this game on the iphone soon-pretty nifty!

All of those facts aside, I still do not see what the point of playing a game that you do not really play. Maybe for bragging rights… maybe for killing a little bit of time… maybe for seeing the results of your growing city? Whatever enjoyment you may extract from playing this game (if you decide to try it out that is), I hope you will be more satisfied than I was. Happy gaming!

Pros:
-wonderful interface
-easily accessible
-no learning curve
-very casual
-not time consuming
-interesting storyline.

Cons:
-not very challenging
-generic in most aspects of game play
-maybe too casual
-loaded with spelling mistakes.

Tales of Pirates: Designing the New Phyllis Crusader

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Tales of Pirates has gone through four major upgrades: the Spring Town, Union Guild War, Paradise Found, and Frozen Relics. Within a few days of the release of the latest update, the developers received some suggestions and critiques from the media and players. After carefully considering the feedback, the ToP Team decided to make some modifications to the current version of the game. Developer Zorro spilled the following details about the newest addition to Tales of Pirates.
 
In Tales of Pirates we have four character types and six classes, but players cannot choose from every potential combination of character and class due to some restrictions. For example, a female Phyllis character is not allowed to learn the Crusader class due to gender limitations. As our player population has increased day after day, more and more Phyllis fans have voiced their desire to break the Crusader gender barrier. When we began to consider making classes available to all characters, naturally the Phyllis Crusader was the first on our list.
 
From redesigning character graphics and movements to opening up new abilities for the character type and all the testing each step required, here are some of the challenges we have worked to overcome in developing the Phyllis Crusader.
 
First we had to overhaul the Phyllis Crusader’s body shape. Phyllis is a sweet female character, but the Crusader class requires a more elegant, confident and refreshing look, blending magnificence with tenderness.
 
The second step was modifying her action effects. Phyllis was originally designed to have only one weapon, but Crusaders can wield two swords. After adding Crusader weapons to Phyllis, we had to painstakingly test each motion, like running, launching attacks, casting spells, and much more. We had to make sure each movement looked good while maintaining the elegance of Phyllis rather than the bold movements of a Lance character. We even thought to create a brand new Crusader module, exclusive to Phyllis, which players may find more attractive. So far, all the action testing is done.
 
Next we moved to the issue of setting up the system to work with new character/class combinations. One problem was unlocking the equipment limitations for the characters. Though it may seem like a simple matter of flipping a switch, it was in fact a big and complicated project. In addition, we needed to change and reset all the data for Phyllis body-shaping and movements. Finally, we had to add Crusader quests to the Phyllis character, as well as the required skills.
 
This is by no means a detailed list of all the work that was done, but now the new Phyllis Crusader is almost finished. Even this success is just a small step for us on the way to opening up all classes to our characters, but we enjoy the work and look forward to giving our players more choices. The entire team deserves thanks for a job well done thus far, and even more important, our sincerest gratitude goes out to all our players for their continued support and feedback. Without you, all our efforts would be for nothing.

Tales of Pirates GM