Now published by Z8Games, Lost Saga is the most intense, online fighting game where you can choose from a HUGE list (30+) of action heroes each with their own unique fighting style weapons, armor and skills! Fight alongside your friends, or against them, in an all-out-brawl against players from all over the world and every time period imaginable. And the best part – Lost Saga is completely FREE to play!
Monthly Archives: November 2009
Combat Arms: Billions of explosives served

Runes of Magic Europe Interview with Jorg Koonen
Runes of Magic Europe Interview with Jorg Koonen
By Mohammed Afzal (MageMoa), OnRPG journalist
Questions answered by Jörg “Kerensky” Koonen, Community Manager Runes of Magic EN/EU
OnRPG: Could you introduce yourself, please?
My name is Jörg Koonen, I am the Community Manager for our English speaking Runes of Magic community. On the forums I am known as “Kerensky”. It is my job to represent Runes of Magic to our players. I have spent the last 7 years in Community work in Germany and the UK and am part of the Frogster team since the Open Beta of Runes of Magic started.
OnRPG: People tend to compare Runes of Magic and WoW. They say that there are many similarities between these games, but I do not find them similar at all. Why do you think that people see any kind of similarity between these games?
First of all, being compared to the most successful MMORPG on the market, is not the worst thing that can happen. There are certain features in MMOs that evolved as standard features for games like this. Of course players are used to it and when they play new games they see the similarities.
On the other hand, as you said, there are a lot of features that are not as common, like giving the players their own house from the beginning or our dual class system with innovative class combinations and and and.. plus, sticking to our business model, meaning that we give out content for free and have no subscription or monthly fees. Considering all these classic and new features in RoM and looking at the success of the game, we are very proud of Runes of Magic.
OnRPG: Could you name some of these similarities?
Runes of Magic is what I call a classical Online Role-playing game. A classical MMORPG to me is a game that you play in third person perspective and is set before a medieval high fantasy world where fighters and magicians battle the forces of evil. We got quests telling the story of the world, we got instances, raids, dungeons and a huge world that offers differently themed zones with different monsters. Players can compete against each other in PvP or simply enjoy live as brave explorer.
OnRPG: What aspects of Runes of Magic are completely unique?
The most obvious and striking thing is that we are a Free-to-Play game that offers the same quality and service that players expect from a full-price, subscription based game. But that is only the tip of the iceberg! Once players start the game, they will notice the wide variety of features and the broad scope of the content we offer to our players. Right from the start, players can have their own player house; they can use mounts and soon learn about the benefits of our Dual Class system. This allows for versatile game-play by offering all players to use two different character classes and their skills. Moreover, Runes of Magic is characterized by an epic crafting system and its unique features like the Arcane Transmutor. Guilds can found their own guild castles and expand them with various upgrades. And there are our unique mini-games like the Tower Defense challenge.
OnRPG: Runes of Magic has had many updates lately. Could you inform us about these updates?
Every month we release content updates for Runes of Magic. Every update adds a new zone, a raid or group instance or similar features. Since the release we added two new zones, added new mini games, introduced public encounters, published a new chapter with a new playable race, two new classes and have just recently opened another zone, the Aotulia Volcano, and a new group instance that is called “Cave of the Water Dragon”. Each update adds a significant amount of new quests, features, items and much more. Going into detail would be far too much for this interview. I do invite all readers to have a look at our website and see how much we added to the game since the launch.
OnRPG: Chapter II has been released this month. Could you inform our readers a bit more about this huge update?
After a thousand years in exile, where they minded their own business, the Elves have returned to the game world Taborea and with them their biggest enemy, the Naga. With the opening of the second chapter, players now can choose an additional playable race with two specific classes: Wardens and Druids. The Elves have a new beautiful starting zone, we have added three new zones and three new instances, new loot and many new challenges.
OnRPG: Could you tell our readers a bit more about the two new classes?
Wardens and Druids are Elven classes that focus heavily on the magical skills the Elves have developed through their close contact to nature. While the Warden commands three types of powerful pets that have several specific abilities and act as damage dealers, the Druid is a full supporter class with buffs, healing spells and such. These classes replace the Knight and Priest which are only playable by human characters.
As I have stated before, RoM has certainly some very innovative features as well. Player and Guild Housing, Epic Quest lines, Dual Class System with unique elite skills, dynamic crafting system where you can craft your individual armour, mini Games like horse racing,… And, of course, we are providing all this free content on a regular basis for our players.
OnRPG: Why is the name of Chapter II ‘The Elven Prophecy’ ?
Deep in the history of Taborea the Elves and Humans fought together against the evil forces that threatened to invade the world and enslave all living creatures. At that point a prophecy was made that one day the wall that Elves and Humans created to banish the Naga from their lands would be weakened by an Elven prince. The Elves went into exile to ensure that this would never happen. However not long ago the prophecy became real and now the Elves have returned to mend the error one of their own has made.
OnRPG: I have read something on your forums about a new ‘Public Encounter’ called “Varanas Nightmare”. What are these Public Encounters exactly and what is the whole idea behind “Varanas Nightmare” ?
In Runes of Magic Public Encounters are scenarios that require more than a small group to master. The “Varanas Nightmare” public encounter offers a challenge for up to 150 players. In the capital of Varanas, one of the nobles has fallen ill – he is plagued by a never-ending nightmare. The task of the players is to enter this nightmare and fight the noble’s inner demons. Here the Demon Lord himself makes his first real appearance but as he is just a nightmare, players can not challenge him but have to helplessly watch as he supports his minions.
OnRPG: The new title system is quite confusing and I have not been able to find much information about it on your website. Could you explain the new system, please?
We are now offering 2 types of titles. One is, that you get titles when you finish certain quests in an area. The other ones are, for example if you finish the mini game Malatinas dungeon, you get not only a title, but the title also rewards you with bonuses for your attributes.
OnRPG: Aotulia Volcano, a new zone, which has been released recently seems to play an important role in the story line of the game and the end-game content. What makes Aotulia Volcano so special?
As mentioned earlier, with the Elves we have introduced the Naga as a new enemy faction. The new zone, the Aotulia Volcano, is the place where they have been banished to for the last millennium. There they have gathered their forces, preparing and waiting to invade the world of Taborea. Indeed, the content of this zone is aimed at high-level players. We are even going to add more challenging instances, quest lines and a some nice surprises for our players in this region of Runes of Magic.
OnRPG: Are there any upcoming events/updates you would like to tell us about?
Right now the citizens of Taborea celebrate their October Fest – a series of scripted in-game events that are not only entertaining but also offer valuable rewards. Besides that, we are plotting a new “manual” event – The Revenge of the Zurhidon is starting soon. We are challenging our players to face the Zurhidon, a coalition of Demon worshippers that want to bring about the end of the world. And of course we can expect more season-themed events in the future. We are also planning a nice Event for Halloween, with lots of activities for our users. So , as you can see, Events may they be scripted or done by our Community Managers are a central part in the world of Taborea.
OnRPG: Are you looking forward to a certain update/event?
Personally I enjoy all our live events. There is always a lot of fun involved when we can talk to and challenge our players in game. I am a role-player myself and I like to slip into the skins (and textures) of some-NPC and tell the story of our event through the actions of my character.
OnRPG: Runes of Magic’s site can be displayed in several languages. What languages are available and why did you decide to make this possible?
At the moment we support English, German, French and Spanish with localized sites, servers and support. For Dutch and Romanian players we keep the website up-to-date in their language. And of course there is Russia and the United States with their own servers and websites. We are looking into extending the range of supported languages and will announce new territories as soon as possible.
OnRPG: Is there anything else you would like to mention?
Actually there is: I would like to take the opportunity to thank all our players for their great support. Thanks to the feedback from our community. The developer Runewaker and we got many new ideas and suggestions what we can and should do with Runes of Magic. And we are already looking forward to the moment our players discover all the new features we have planned.
OnRPG: Thank you for your time!
Thank you too. It was a pleasure.
Lost Saga Trailer
All your favorite heroes have assembled in Lost Saga. Fight it out with or against your friends!
Mytheon: new details about its starter zones
Players will travel to the distant land of Colchis, once home to the famed Golden Fleece, now protecting Argos. Two distinct regions form the land of Colchis – the cast Fallow Field and the Grove of Ares.
The Shattered Isle is home to Poseidon, the supreme ruler of oceans and earthquakes. The isle is also home to Amphitrite, Poseidon’s beloved wife, and their son, Triton. Together, the family forms a triad symbolic of the ocean’s tranquility, treachery, and unrelenting dominion. These qualities are reflected in the domains over which they preside. The island features a diverse geography; from craggy, impassable cliffs to rolling meadows and gardens. While Amphitrite resides in the peaceful Nereid’s Garden where the sparkling ponds and fountains reflect the tranquility of the sea, Triton presides over his namesake cove amidst the foam and crashing surf. Within the Temple of Poseidon, the vengeful sea god prepares his minions for the coming battle with mankind. The skeletal remains of past invaders lie half buried in the sands surrounding crumbling columns and scarred boulders. Waterfalls cascade down stone ledges, casting a fine spray that coats the rocky surfaces and foliage.
The Dominion of Hades is the epicenter of Hades’ power in the Underworld. From this dark, luxurious palace, Hades and his queen, Persephone, rule the Underworld without mercy. The Dominion of Hades is a monument to death and destruction. Home to the immortal god of earthly wealth – Hades, lord of the dead, rules his realm with an iron fist. Gloomy corridors and cavernous halls exude an eerie sense of foreboding to those who would risk entry within. Divided into three great regions – the Hall of the Dead, the Garden of the Furies, and the Court of Hades, Stonecasters must embark deep into this fiery stronghold and face perilous legions of undead monsters in order to confront Hades himself, his power enhanced within his own domain.

Sudden Attack Review: Takes Over From Counterstrike
Sudden Attack Review: Takes Over From Counterstrike
By Kei Beneza (dividelife), OnRPG Journalist
First Person Shooters (FPS) have been enjoyed by a lot of gamers throughout the years. It’s a rather timeless genre in my opinion as it is still being played by a broad community of gamers either it be through PC or consoles. Counterstrike is one of these games, depicting the battle between Terrorists and counter terrorists. Time has passed and I can’t say that the FPS genre is bound to die soon. Sudden Attack pretty much picks up where Counterstrike left off.
The game has earned a wide audience in Korea, and just like any game that hits a certain level of popularity, the MMOFPS (Massively Multiplayer Online First Person Shooter) was taken to other countries to hook more fans. The scenery and graphics are quite similar to that of Counterstrike’s beta release. Yes I am quite aware that this game is a clone of Valve’s shooter, but might I say that they couldn’t have picked a better game to clone.
Similarities stated
First of all, There are 2 factions in the game: Rebel Troops and UG Forces, the characters still use the GSG9 uniforms which were found in the Valve game. You could say that the game is pretty much a revamped counterstrike with more players. The game also lacks the sudden melee movement, meaning players will have to switch to their knives in order to start short-ranged mass murder. It’s really not a big deal since most people have gotten used to it by now, but the meta actually brought instant melee movements into the gaming scene. The controls are really similar as well, with numbers for weapon selection (along with the Q “prev weapon” key). You’ll still be using W,A,S,D keys for movement, so I’m sure the learning curve wont be that bad unless you just completely suck at FPSes. I’m not really against the UBER cloning process, but the only thing that separates this game from an FPS shooter is the rankings and labeling. The MMO world has more FPSes than just Sudden Attack, but might I saw that this game is the closest you’ll ever get to Counterstrike. Is that a good thing? I’m not sure either. The game uses a variety of existing weapons normally found in SWAT Teams and Rainbow 6 themed squads. The account of realism is better than high tech artillery for some people, and of course this is the game to play if ever you’re into those types of scenarios.

Scenarios and Maps
In order to preserve its non-repetitive nature, Sudden Attack has enforced a good variety of maps to destroy the linearity of starting the same game over and over again. There are 5 scenarios in the game, each with their own set of maps. There is the traditional CounterStrike “Plant the bomb” routine (which doesn’t get old really), the Siege mode (conquering territory scenario), Capture the target (basically the same as protect the V.I.P), and of course the traditional Oh So lovable Deathmatch (should I even explain this?). There’s also the melee wanton massacre mode called Mad cage which is basically the melee version of deathmatch mode where you are standed in a remote island on a Jurassic park cage (hah! No wonder it’s a MAD cage).
Higher is stronger?
In game ranking is probably one of the best reasons why you would want to grind the game. Players must play to gain experience, earning a corresponding amount to how well or bad they do in a game. This feature is probably enough to keep gamers from abstaining their usual playtime. Even in other FPS games like Halo and Call of Duty, rankings are pretty fun to grind, so if you’re looking for a good casual game to pass the time, this is definitely it.

Problems?
The artillery is really limited here, and you have to pay money to use some of the better weapons in the game. Of course it still depends on your play style if ever you get to use it properly. The item mall isn’t really up and ready in other servers (locals) but it’s bound to carry the same content as its original server. You can also purchase character costumes to make your character special, which is rather important if you’re in a rush to attain a higher rank. Some items can grant you an advantage in gaining ranks but doesn’t affect the gameplay whatsoever. Its still tier whoring in a way as some guns are GODLIKE when used to its full potential; then again, this shouldn’t bother you if you’re quite confident about your skills. There are some useless items that do nothing but erase your kill count record if ever you feel like you’ve sucked long enough, but seriously… would you pay for something like that? The funny part is that EXP points are also being sold so what’s the use of buying something that increases your EXP rate if you can just get it at a flick of a finger? Yes, they were probably trying to build up on content but it’s just ridiculous.
Guilds
The game uses a guild system known as Squads, and just like any group made in the game, you can level up with other players and compete in various tournaments to attain prizes. Quite catchy I must say, for the community acts as a big factor when playing MMOs.
The Verdict
I’ve played various MMOFPSes before, from War Rock to Special Forces. I can’t really say that this is the best among its competitors since the other games o have better content, not to mention a lot of RELEVANT stuff for sale. The graphics aren’t too shabby but definitely at the lower end of the whole MMOFPS genre. It’s not really good to judge a game through graphics but as more games come, a lot of older games grow outdated. Although I wasn’t completely impressed with the game, I can say that it’s still something worth playing. It got me hooked at some point, especially since the game has a nice community that supports its competitive background. Wanna play? I wont stop you.
Pros:
– It’s competitive
– Good community
– Item mall
– It’s an MMO counterstrike!
The bad:
– Graphics are outdated
– Systems implemented are generic and won’t stand out among its competition
– Useless items on the item mall
– Needs more originality.
MtG:Tactics Teaser
Magic fans rejoice. Wizards of the Coast is teaming up with Sony Online Entertainment to bring you Magic the Gathering: Tactics.
MMORPG Weekly News Roundup: October 26th  November 2nd
I thought I might as well just dive straight into the news this week. Surprisingly there have been some very interesting pieces of news. Read on to see what’s going on in the MMORPG universe.
ArenaNet grants wish to heart transplant patient
I thought I would start this week off with a heart warming story, courtesy of Massively.com. Emily, is a high school junior who was diagnosed with a unique case of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. HCM, as it’s commonly referred to, is a condition where the heart muscle becomes thickened. However due to a genetic abnormality of the mitochondria, Emily’s thickened heart muscle has thinned, the volume has increased, and the ability of the muscle to relax has diminished.
Emily became a Guild Wars fan last year while waiting for a heart transplant and continued to play the game whilst recovering. She spent much of her time on it whilst in hospital.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation gave her a special opportunity to travel down to Seattle, where AreanaNet is based, to not only talk to section heads about her likes and dislikes of Guild Wars but to also play the much awaited Guild Wars 2. Emily managed to get some up close and personal time with the game whilst giving feedback as a fan of the series. Not only that though, towards the end of the day the developers asked if she could stay for a while and help them whilst they design an “Event” for the game.
It’s really great to see some PC developers reaching out to their fans and getting them involved in their development process. Not only that but to care about their fan base and, in this particular instant, to help one of their fans through a tough time in their life, is refreshing in an industry that is quickly becoming focused on money.
Good job ArenaNet, now if only Infinity Ward could learn from your lessons and actually give a hoot about the community that plays their game. And yes…I did just go there.
Final Fantasy XI
There is a reason why there is a lot of news regarding Final Fantasy XI in these weekly news roundups and that’s generally because Square really seem to be pumping it out. Well done SE! Anyway, here’s the news.
Final Fantasy XI: A Shantotto Ascension Trailer
A new trailer has popped up for FFXI’s new mini expansion, A Shantotto Ascension. You can check out the new trailer here.
Add On Bonus Gift
“What’s this? A gift for me?” you’re probably thinking, and in answer to that question which you didn’t ask, yes there is a gift for you!
“To commemorate the release of the third and final add-on scenario, we are proud to introduce the “Nexus Cape,” an in-game bonus item for players who have purchased the entire trilogy. All characters under a single player account registered for all three add-ons will be eligible for this gift.”
I bet you’re wondering whether or not you’ll be about to get this new item if you buy the new collector’s edition of the game, which comes out on the 10th November (12th November for Europeans). The answer is, yes.
Warhammer Online
10 Day Trial To Be Removed For WAR
With the new 1.3.2 update, which brings many cool features to Warhammer Online, comes an unlimited free trial. Instead of only being able to play for 10 days, instead you’ll be able to play until the first tier. It normally takes roughly 10 days to reach the first tier, however this removal of a time limit will hopefully allow players to take their time and really enjoy the game…and of course, get addicted to it.
That’s pretty cool, right? I can’t wait to give the unlimited free trial a run for its money. Yes that was supposed to be a pun.
AP Regen
For those that perhaps didn’t realise, there have been some changes to the AP system. AP affects everyone in the game, so if you play WAR then it would be well worth your time giving this article on the official website a glance over.
You can read it all here.
There’s also a cool quote to make it worth your while, “AP should be a pool, not an ocean.” – Gett of Dark Crag
Guild Wars
New Guild Wars PVP Henchmen Added
As some of you may know ArenaNet recently held a competition to see who could come up with the best skill bars for henchmen in PVP. They were introduced in an update on the 29th October. It’s actually quite cool, as the development team have given the characters their own looks and personal charm. Not only that, but by clicking on them you can also view what skills they have.
The only downside is that Heroes have been removed from the PVP (due to some technical hiccups), however they will be added back in pretty soon.
World of Warcraft
In an upcoming patch the sister blade of the Quel’Serrar will be obtainable by players. You can view some history about the new blade, named the Quel’Delar here.

Asda Story
Chapter Two Maintenance Contents
This new contents patch, released on the 26th October, includes some neat new features such as a “Buff Timer Display”! I’m just messing with you, those aren’t the only cool things added in this large update. You can find a whole list of all of the added content here.
Dungeon Fighter
NX Game Cards
For those of you that read my last news update, you’ll be happy to know that the issue regarding the 10,000 NX Game Cards refusing to work has been resolved. If you were one of the many unlucky people who could not use your game card, you should try to redeem them again as they should work now.
Aion
Aion Veteran Rewards
A few weeks ago the developers behind Aion mentioned Veteran Rewards. The idea behind these “rewards” is that “the longer you play Aion, the cooler things you get!”. The rewards will start becoming available from the 4th November.
Preview Of Aion Patch 1.5.1
A new update is in the testing phase, you can find the tentative patch notes right here. Unfortunately there is no release date for this patch, however it is looking like it’s well worth the wait.
Non MMORPG News
DSi XL Announced
Once again Nintendo tries to segregate its market with the announcement of a newer DSi coming out. The only addition to this new DSi “XL” is bigger screens. Someone really has to tell Nintendo that they’re just confusing their demographics with all of these products on the market. Then again, I can’t blame the company from bringing out new hardware, as that is all they make money from. Ouch!
Modern Warfare 2
As jockyitch from BashandSlash.com put it, “It’s almost as if I cannot shut my computer off for more than ten minutes before IW shoots themselves in the foot during these last stages of the MW2 release”.
Well Infinity Ward has done it again with this video. I think the main problem with the video is the acronym. Thankfully IW pulled down the video in response to people’s complaints.
For those of you that perhaps didn’t know, last week there was also leaked footage of MW2 on youtube. In this footage the player controlled a CIA agent undercover as terrorist and the player had to shoot innocent people. This obviously didn’t float with the vast majority of people, even if you are allowed to skip the event.
Infinity Wards marketing campaign is slowly failing the game, and the developer’s words about certain things, such as dedicated servers, can only be described as stupid and ignorant. Hopefully they’ll learn to keep their mouth shut (and to stop releasing pointless advertising) for the time being and to just let the game do the talking.
Capcom Zombies Invade The Street Of London
From Kotaku:
Celebrating the end of the London Games Festival and the upcoming release of Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, Resident Evil fans took to the streets of London on Halloween for an Undead Pride parade.

The horde descended on Tate Modern in London on Saturday, with more than 50 zombies aided by the Viking Hats Zombie Crawl Team making up the shambling, moaning, and decomposing army of Resident Evil fans.
If you ask me, there’s not enough mass hysteria in mass marketing. Nicely done, Capcom UK PR team!
That’s pretty awesome PR if you ask me.
So that’s it for another weekly roundup! I hope you can join me next week for another round of news! Keep gaming everyone! I’ll see you next time.
~Joshua Temblett
Aika, gPotatoÂs RvR Fantasy MMORPG, Announces CBT Sign-Ups

Galaxy Online: Victory Declared in the Second International War
