Yearly Archives: 2009

The Warlords: Entourage System

The Entourage System is the soul for the Warlords. As the name indicates, the theme of the game is to grow into a powerful and dominant warlord in the truceless late Qing Dynasty. To achieve this goal, players should not only enhance their characters’ attributes as in most MMO, but also organize a loyal and strong private army.

In the very beginning of the game, players will automatic obtain a guard, who will go wherever the player wishes to go. As the game progress, players can capture or hire more guards in various professions. With the help of these loyal understrappers, you can organize a versatile force, and depend on it to promote your status and fame in this cataclysmic era. If you’re lucky enough, you will rise from a humble squire to a dominant warlord, eventually!

In the Warlords, there are up-to 100 types of guards available for players to collect. This includes nearly all professions that existed during the late Qing Dynasty. Players can capture these guards in battle and trade with other players. Every guard has a unique status and profession, from the elite class, such as a Manchu general or princess, to the grass-root, bottom of the barrel, like thieves and clowns. The differences between these guards are not just their names and appearances, but also their attributes, combat skills and weapons. In actual combat, guards will help you kill enemies, give you protection, share your burden, or even die for you. Guards’ attributes contribute to players’ Kungfu. Different guards have different attributes. The higher the attributes, the more skillful your guards will be. Valor is the general term for the guards’ 5 attributes. Generally speaking, Valor shows your guards’ current status.

To endow your guards with more power, you can reincarnate them when they reach level 70. After the Reincarnation, guards’ attributes will increase and each reincarnation will give the guard 0.01 Valor. Total Valor gained from the reincarnation will not exceed 5. After the Reincarnation, the guard will return to level 1 and such attributes as HP, Attack and Defense will return to what they were when the guard was at level 1. But other guard attributes will increase greatly. As the guard practices and reaches level 70 again, the guard will undergo Epiphany and return to the level before the reincarnation. In conclusion, the Entourage System makes The Warlords a unique MMO from all others. In the chaotic late Qing Dynasty, only a loyal and versatile force can help you become an influential warlord.

Everquest celebrates 10th anniversary!

An epic online adventure a decade in the making, Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is proud to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the launch of the groundbreaking 3-D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), EverQuest®. Since its release in 1999, EverQuest (EQ) has proved to be a monumental and inspirational entertainment property, spawning 15 expansion packs and subsequent franchise titles, introducing millions of players to the virtual world of Norrath, and inspiring virtually every other MMORPG made.

EverQuest has earned many awards, including the 1999 GameSpot “Game of the Year” and a 2008 Technology & Engineering Emmy Award. The City of San Diego, where SOE is headquartered, has also recognized March 16, 2009 as the official “Sony Online Entertainment Day” due to its enormous contribution to both the city and the gaming industry.


“This year marks a major milestone for SOE and the entire interactive entertainment industry,”
said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “While it was hard work and a dedicated vision that brought EQ to fruition, without our loyal fans, EQ would not be the game that it is today. This year’s Fan Faire will definitely celebrate our players and their integral contribution to the EQ legacy!”

To further commemorate the 10th anniversary of the EverQuest franchise, a number of events, both in-game and “IRL” (in real life), are scheduled throughout the year:

Fan Faire Returns to Las Vegas, June 25 – 28, 2009!
If you have never been to an SOE Fan Faire before, this is the year to make the trek to Bally’s Hotel in Las Vegas! SOE is planning a big birthday bash for the EverQuest 10th anniversary, and players of all SOE games are invited to join the party! Fan Faire is a great place for SOE gamers to mix and mingle with each other, and meet some of the faces behind their favorite SOE games. Here’s just a taste of some of the great activities we’re planning:

* Special announcements and sneak peaks of upcoming SOE titles at the Third Annual Community Address from SOE President John Smedley
* Autograph signings with members of the original EQ development team and other key contributors
* Lots of in-game tournaments; and live, game-themed competitions and quests
* Developer forums and roundtables
* Cool giveaways and other fun items!
And, that’s just the beginning!

EQ In-Game Events
Party all the time! In celebration of the anniversary, we are proud to bring you fresh EQ content for the next few months! Solo, group or raid, there’s content for everyone to enjoy! Earn great quest rewards, and show off your raiding skills on the Anniversary leaderboards. Log in now to receive your piece of cake and see what other fun events are planned.


EverQuest: The 10th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Book

EverQuest: The 10th Anniversary Collector’s Edition celebrates EverQuest’s legacy by taking a look at the past, present and future of the EverQuest brand. The book, written by veteran video game book author Rusel DeMaria, includes essays by the developers, and illustrations and artwork that has graced the world of Norrath throughout the entire franchise’s history. Rich in vivid detail, each page tells the story of the evolution and its place in our culture.

Be sure to check out the new EverQuest 10th Anniversary site to read up on the history of EverQuest, find out about 10th anniversary events, see where you stand on the Anniversary Raid leaderboards, and find out when to register for Fan Faire! For more information, visit EQ10th.com.

DDO: welcome back week!

From 23rd until 30th March, 2009 all players are invited to come back and play Dungeons & Dragons Online. The doors will be open for former players to re-enter the city of Stormreach for a week of FREE game play.

The Welcome Back Week forms part of DDO’s 3-year anniversary celebrations, so there will also be events going on around Stormreach and players will be able to benefit from the special bonus 50% XP and +1 loot drops for the entire week!

MLB Dugout Heroes: Open Beta starting!

Gamescampus is holding multiple events from March 19th when the open beta for MLB Dugout Heroes opens, through April 24th.  A total of 7 Events will take place throughout the next month.
Just Play and Win Tickets to a Baseball Game!
This contest is for baseball lovers everywhere!  Just sign up, create a team on MLB Dugout Heroes, and play your team up to level 3 or higher and you’re automatically entered into contest to win 2 tickets to watch your favorite MLB team!
Play MLB Dugout Heroes Everyday
This one is the easiest event of them all!  Play MLB Dugout Heroes everyday from March 19th till April 24th, and have an opportunity to win an Authentic Performance 59FIFTY On-Field Cap by New Era!  The more you log in, the better your chances are of winning! The top ten players who log in the most will receive the "Batter Slot +1" item which gives you an additional batter slot on your roster!
Level Contest
It’s simple and straight forward.  The ten highest level players at the end of the open beta will be rewarded with Authentic Jersey by Majestic Athletic as well as Gemini Shoes that will boost your perfomance(in-game item)!
Complete Missions
Complete the most in-game missions and win prizes!  1st place wins an Authentic Therma Base Premier Jacket by Majestic Athletic and 2nd through 5th place will win an Authentic Font Personalized T-shirt by Majestic Athletic.
Video Contest
Capture your best game on video and share it! Add your band’s music as a soundtrack or even your own color commentary! Upload your video your favorite site such as YouTube, Facebook, Myspace, etc and send your submission to MLBDugoutHeroes(visit the MLB Dugout Heroes website for details of where to send the submission). Our favorite video will receive a Replica Jersey by Majestic Athletic from MLB.com.
GamesCampus will also offer Gemini Glasses (in-game item) to all three winners as a way of congratulating your great visionary talents.
Screenshot Contest
Take a screenshot of the most memorable moment in the game! Upload your video to your favorite blog, YouTube, Facebook, Myspace or website and send your submission to MLBDugoutHeroes(visit the MLB Dugout Heroes website for details of where to send the submission). Five lucky winners will receive an Authentic Font Personalized T-shirt by Majestic Athletic as well as Gemini Batting Gloves (in-game item).
Reach Level 6 and Earn 400,000 NUTS!
Think you’re one of the best out there?  Then prove it!  Level up your team to Level 6 or higher and we will give you an extra 400,000 NUTS!
(What the heck are NUTS? – NUTS are the in game currency used in MLB Dugout Heroes. It can be earned by playing games and completing missions. You can then purchase better items, players, stat enhancers, or abilities with NUTS!)

Marvel MMO again in the works

Marvel Entertainment Inc signed a worldwide agreement with Gazillion Entertainment to allow the videogame publisher to make multiplayer online games based on Marvel’s characters.

Gazillion expects to launch its first Marvel-themed game, Super Hero Squad, in 2010. The game is targeted at a young audience.
Gazillion will also develop and publish Marvel Universe, a massively multiplayer game for personal computers and consoles.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, Tuesday’s agreement is an exclusive 10-year deal between Marvel and Gazillion. Marvel and Gazillion will share revenue earned from the games, but did not reveal details of their financial arrangement, the paper said.

Asda Story interview: Jiwoo Park, Producer of Asda

Questions by Rick Charbs (Jammart), Onrpg writer

Answered by Jiwoo Park, Asda Story Producer

Recently, Onrpg has been pleased to have held an interview with Jiwoo Park, Asda Story’s producer. This MMORPG is known for its twist on social interaction, mainly with their Soul Mate system. There are many perks from taking advantage of this system, such as faster leveling: “Soulmates are able to level far faster than a single player, and have a great deal more versatility with their characters’ abilities while being a part of a Soulmate bond”, said Jiwoo Park. This interview also includes some information on the coming PvP system of the game; be sure to read on to find out!

Onrpg: With Valentine’s Day just passed, what events did you hold during this holiday of love? How did they go?

Jiwoo Park: This Valentine’s Day we wanted to get some more interaction going in the player community between users that have been around since our very first Beta and the ones that just started last week. To this end we had a fairly large Gift Exchange Event where our mid to high level players were given a good amount of items that could only be used by the lower level players, and in exchange they got some rewards for giving them out through our Title competition that we have which ranks players for their in-game achievements. We also had some updates with our new Pet System, where players had to collect Valentine’s Day Love tokens to get access to special holiday themed pets which give their characters stat bonuses among a few others.

Onrpg: The Soulmate system is one of the factors that set Asda Story apart from other MMOs. Could you explain this interesting system to us?

Jiwoo Park: The Soulmate system is an in-game function unique to Asda Story which allows players to pair up with the characters on another user’s account and gain various powers and benefits that they would otherwise not have access to. The most basic of which is that as they play alongside one another’s characters they gain greatly increased amounts of experience and all-around higher stats than they normally would. As they continue to play together they are able to gain Soulmate levels which unlock increasingly powerful skills including resurrection abilities, improved damage, very strong healing abilities, and even the power to summon and teleport to one another anywhere in the game. Soulmates are also able to have one of the pair log off when they need to go offline, and while the other is still able to play they can collect extra experience which may be split between them when the first player can log back in at a later time. Soulmates are able to level far faster than a single player, and have a great deal more versatility with their characters’ abilities while being a part of a Soulmate bond.

Onrpg: What makes the soul mate system of such importance to the game?

Jiwoo Park: The Soulmate system creates a number of beneficial effects not only to the game’s overall community atmosphere, but to individual players’ experiences with the game as well. Friends and guildmates are able to help each other progress through the content at a reasonably close pace, even if they have differing amounts of time available to play or experience with MMOs. A more experienced player as a Soulmate is able to mentor a less experienced player through the game using their unique shared abilities to assist them in combat and stay in closer communication than is usually possible with Clans and in-game friends. These more tightly knit pairings allows for the game’s community to form parties and Clans that know each other’s in-game strengths, weaknesses, and play-styles more fully than they would in most other games; providing a greater degree of strategy and teamwork to play as well.

Onrpg: What other events and activities do you regularly host in Asda Story?

Jiwoo Park: Our GMs host daily events in the game, and one of our players’ favorites is the GM Summon Event in which our staff will summon gigantic Boss-monsters to duke it out with the army of players that assemble against them for the rare items on their drop lists. In addition to their daily events, our GMs are more than happy to stop and answer any questions or address concerns that the average player may bring up as well. We also have frequent bonus event periods for general MMO staples such as drop rates and experience, on top of numerous holiday events and special contests we hold to give our players something back for their support. On Halloween and Thanksgiving for instance we had Frankenstein’s Monsters and Giant Turkeys roaming around the game that had some great prizes players could get by going after them. We’re always looking to create some fun new events that our players aren’t expecting, and to do collaborative or promotional events with MMO communities to show them how proud we are of our content and exactly what we have to offer for their time spent in-game.

Onrpg: How community oriented is this MMORPG? Is partying encouraged, or is soloing popular?

Jiwoo Park: We definitely try to take into account all MMORPG playing styles with Asda Story. It’s entirely possible to solo all the way to the level cap if that’s the user’s personal preferences; however we absolutely encourage players to create a strong community in the game. Our upcoming PVP systems are going to have some very fast-paced and exciting team-oriented combat with certain options only available to those belonging to Guilds, but there will be room for solo players to participate in all of the free for all PK’ing in various regions of the game-world that they could ask for. Generally collaboration between players results in their getting access to the more difficult and harder to reach areas of a game but we’re quite confident in our ability to allow the player to enjoy themselves regardless of exactly how they prefer to progress through the content, whether by themselves or with a group of friends.

Onrpg: What are some of the different enemies within the game? How are they unique?

Jiwoo Park: Asda Story’s monsters are some of our best examples of the game’s unique art style, and the more unique bosses serve as the set-pieces for a number of our Instant Dungeons and Elite Field Maps. Some of the monsters are dozens of times the size of the player-characters and provide a more epic feel to these encounters. Each one has their own list of special abilities and a backstory that progresses the storyline of the quests as the player continues to level and approaches even stronger opponents in the areas ahead. We are particularly proud of the Chess and Fairy Tail thematics that the monsters in the game possess which draw from literary works covering everything from the Wonderland series to ancient mythology.

Onrpg: What are “Instant Dungeons”? Are they a popular activity in Asda?

Jiwoo Park: Instant Dungeons provide a private area for players to access some important aspects of the games storyline, as well as offering an area with unique weapon sets and items that can be found nowhere else in-game. The Dungeons are quite popular with our players and provide more difficult content for them to progress through, while encapsulating them in an area where they can play uninterrupted and for as long as they choose with respawning enemies which allow for continuous play as long as they choose.

Onrpg: Could you please give us a brief explanation of the Sowel System?

Jiwoo Park: The Sowel System is another unique feature of the game which allows for infinite variation in the combination of weapons and socketable materials which provide the stats on in-game items. Users are able to take the items they want and apply the defense, strength, etc. they choose by placing special items called Sowels inside of them. The Sowel items may be continuously switched out or placed into different gear entirely to carry over the bonuses they prefer onto the gear they want to wear. The system allows them to combine items with the in-game look a player likes or thinks fits their character with the stats that their character needs to access the higher level content, and basically allows them not to have to choose function over form or vice-versa.

Onrpg: Does Asda Story have a PVP system?

Jiwoo Park: We’re nearing the final stages of development with the game’s PVP systems at this time, and they’ll be ready to be implemented into the live client with a Q1 launch this year. Our end-game focus is going to be fairly PVP-centric with Clans at the middle of it. Clans will be able to join together to form “Camps”, which will serve as the larger organizations for PVP warfare. We’ll be including Clan and Camp-created structures which players will be able to build on their own, as well as siege warfare revolving around taking over and destroying the structures of other Clans and Camps. There will also be free for all PK areas as well as Party and Clan based fighting. We’re quite excited to see exactly how the player-community will be able to take the content and develop their own in-game alliances and factions as the system progresses.

Onrpg: Why have you decided to host Asda Story? What do you like about it the most?

Jiwoo Park: We decided to host Asda Story because we believe there is a specific niche it is able to fill in the online game industry that the majority of its competitors cannot. It combines the attractive aspect of being completely free to download and play as much and for as long as a user wants to, with a game of high enough quality content that we feel it can rightly hold its own in the same space as games that would otherwise require a subscription fee in order to design and keep running. We basically decided to host Asda Story because we’re confident enough in its continued succeed, and the progress we’ve made with the game in regards to both content and community since its release has more than backed up that confidence.

Onrpg: What types of items can one purchase in your item mall?

Jiwoo Park: The items available for purchase in the game’s item mall are generally items of convenience or character customization as opposed to ones which might potentially create a gap between paying and non-paying users. We understand the importance of allowing a free game to remain free and not require a player to buy something just to stay on-par with those who decide to do so. There are a number of items that simply allow a player to customize their appearance with special costumes and hairstyles. We include items like vehicles, armor, and weapons with unique appearances that also have stats which are balanced with those that may be found in-game through running Dungeons and other unique content. Items that let you teleport to your friends, increase the amount of weight you can carry or storage space if they collect more items than most players, or gain extra experience if a player doesn’t have a lot of time to play helps them keep up with their guildmates that do. The item mall allows players to have access to the character customization and personalization options they want while making certain to maintain a distinct balance in the game play of Asda Story for our community as a whole.

Onrpg: How user friendly is Asda Story?

Jiwoo Park: We take a good deal of pride in the extent of Asda Story’s ease of access and its ability to be understood and enjoyed by even those who are entering the world of MMO’s for their very first time. There is a comprehensive guide within the game itself which leads a player through everything from how to move their character to what exactly a quest is and how to complete one. At the same time we don’t force more experienced users to go through each and every step they may already know from years of play, and the guides are able to jump them along and get them the unique information they need to know about the game without wasting their time otherwise. We’ve also taken care to make the UI, the in-game systems, and functions such as Crafting as readily accessible and easily used as possible. Our in-game coordinate and a unique inter-map auto run system allows players to travel long distances across the game world to arrive exactly where they intended to be, and the quest and NPC dialogue explains clearly and succinctly where they need to go and what they need to do next when they get there. The overall design intention of the game is to keep it fun at all times, and allow players to enjoy themselves while they play without forcing them to jump through unnecessary hoops or frustrate them with a design interface they need to struggle through.

Onrpg: If you could rate the combat system on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the most effective), what would you rate Asda Story?

Jiwoo Park: To be honest I would currently rate our combat system at around 8 if you don’t consider the PVP content we’re developing right now. There is going to be a fairly large amount of new combat system features and functions getting integrated, updated, and balanced alongside the release of PVP; though right now our mob AI and the sizable amount of player abilities and specializations are working pretty well together in PVE, and are complementing each other very nicely in those aspects. Once PVP is released I’m anticipating our players are going to be combining the different classes and skills available in our combat system in ways that we didn’t expect in the development process.

Onrpg: What is your favorite character class, and why?

Jiwoo Park: I would have to say my class of choice right now is our melee Warrior, specializing in one-handed swords and shields specifically. It was the first class I tried when we first started up Alpha testing at the very beginning, and it’s the one I currently play as my private, personal character. I like their durability and crowd control in PVE, and in PVP they’re starting to look like they can do a lot of anti-player crowd control as well. Personally I can’t get enough of PVP in MMO’s, and crowd control is a pretty important aspect of that to stop enemy casting and healing, which helps break opposing groups down when they can’t get off what abilities they need to in order to keep themselves up. Our balancing team is quite good however, so I’m really looking forward to watching how our players are going to take the classes and work them into effective teams comprised of different class combinations.

Onrpg: What can we expect to see in the future in terms of items and updates?

Jiwoo Park: We’re continuously adding in new content to the game as we work on getting in new systems and functions which we think players will enjoy, and addressing their concerns regarding existing material to improve their overall experience with Asda Story. We’ve recently added in comprehensive Crafting functions and a unique Pet System to the game, both of which we’re going to keep creating additional content for as we progress in the development cycle. Higher level content in general is definitely in the works as well: with an increased level cap, new maps, and expanded job-class systems coming in the near future. To coincide with the content expansion, we’ll be including some exciting new vehicles, high level items, and powerful new abilities throughout the game-world; eventually including siege-weapons for Camp-based PVP with player-created structures. We’re very proud of how far the game has come content-wise in the past few months, and we’re looking forward to taking the success of the game even farther as we head into the future.

Puppet Guardian

Puppet Guardian is the result of the unique sensibility of its creator, Kentaro Ishizaka, and his vision for a fresh, unique, and richly immersive game experience. The game’s animation style is idiosyncratic and fun. Its rich, diverse, and extensive catalogue of items are detailed and beautifully rendered. One of the game’s hallmarks is that, over time, players develop interesting and singular characters that are unlike any others.
Puppet Guardian is the world’s first game that combines massively multiplayer online role-playing with board-game play.

Players move through the game by rolling dice. This familiar board game format, where movement depends on random dice rolls, combined with the fact that there are seven different towers, makes every player’s path through the game unique. And it is this path that determines the items a player begins to collect and use: the weapons, the gear, the clothes and, especially, the combinations thereof. This is how the game ensures the development of a unique identity for each player’s avatar.
In Puppet Guardian, success depends on cooperation. There is no competition between players. Players combat Monsters as they journey to acquire new materials and powers and the outcome of these journeys depends on the ability to form teams to pool resources and skills. The game design enforces a quality of openness and friendship between all players that is uncommon in the online role-playing world. This makes the game an uncommon pleasure to play.

Puppet Guardian rests on proprietary software called Cold Gate that enables large simultaneous multiplayer usage and allows Puppet Guardian players to use a single character in multiple Cold Breath game environments. So avatars and their unique qualities are portable within all Cold Breath game environments.

Secondhand Lands Official trailer

Here’s the official trailer for Secondhand Lands! Head off the beaten path of MMORPGs to a fairy-tale world of furry-tale adventurers – and play the entire game for free! The billy goats gruff will be kept at bay for quite some time with 200 levels to gain, four non-human races to play, 60 to the 12th power combination of skills, over 120 handwritten rofl-worthy quests, and a crafting system that can make the most sophisticated items in game. Watch the video now!

Three Kingdoms: The battle goes live

Uforia, Inc., a new online game publisher specializing in massively multiplayer online games, today announced that its new MMO Three Kingdoms: The Battle Begins will officially launch with the opening of its cash shop at 8 PM Pacific Standard Time today.

Three Kingdoms: The Battle Begins is a new free-to-play MMO based on one of the most well-known Asian novels of all-time.
“Three Kingdoms: The Battle Begins has received a great response in just the few short weeks since we announced it and held some beta tests,” said Mike Min, Game Operations Producer of Uforia. “Now we are inviting the community and fans and MMO players out there to come and enjoy the full Three Kingdoms: The Battle Begins experience.”

Players who created a character during last week’s Open Beta will be able to keep and play with that character. Many changes were also made to the PK balance system to make for more even game play.

Starting on Tuesday and available to Three Kingdoms: The Battle Begins players, there will be monsters dropping special items. These items can then be traded to special NPCs available only for the commercial launch for great in-game prizes.

War Rock: celebrate St. Karmali

On March 13th, 2009 St. Karmali’s Day returns to War Rock with even more exciting prizes! The promotion is simple; every time a player spends 500 G1 credits, they receive a promo code for either an in-game item or free premium. Prizes include: either the HK69 or AW50F for 3 days, the FAMAS or L85A1 for 7 days, 5,000 dinar, or Gold Premium for 7 days, 30 days or even an entire year! If these prizes weren’t incentive enough to play, the War Rock team will also be hosting several in-game events throughout the week. Players must band together to either protect St. Karmali from the NIU operatives, or fight together to defeat him. It’s no wonder why this event continues to be one of the players’ favorites every year.
 
"The key to maintaining War Rock is making things fun and easy for new players" says Associate Producer, Jon-Enée Merriex. "In the coming weeks and months we have some exciting changes that will continue to deliver a game that is compelling and exciting but still remains fun."
 
War Rock is a tactical, modern FPS (first-person shooter) exploding with intense, fast-paced combat. Armed with the world’s deadliest weapons and controlling the most lethal vehicles, players attack three story-driven, killer game play modes in the air, on the land and over the sea. The game is free to download and Free2Play so players can get right into "pwning" other players from around the world. Intense with action and competition, War Rock is populated by thousands of players at any given time in servers all over the world.  With a wide variety of customizable weaponry and vehicles, intuitive controls, and multiple battle modes, War Rock is a blast for seasoned FPS veterans and first-timers alike.