Yearly Archives: 2009

Pi Story Review: Instanced Goodness

By Kei Beneza (Dividelife), OnRPG Journalist

Pi Story is a cutesy anime-ish Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) that shares the same concept as Secret of Mana and Lunia. Unlike most MMOs, Pi Story’s combat is completely instanced. This means that every player will have to go through each level on their own. This style of instancing is similar to that of Guild Wars. Players are free to interact in towns and social zones but will have to organize parties in order to meet up in monster-infested areas.

The Story of Pi

The story revolves around a powerful egg known as the ‘Pi’ which was the entity that brought everything to life.  As the world’s population grew, its inhabitants could no longer bear the small space given. With the world reeking from chaos, the Gods decided to divide the land to rid the world of more arguments and bickering. Shortly after this tragic division, the Gods started to fight for power and control. Unable to bear the violence and destruction that befell the world, the Egg scattered into different pieces across the globe.

Pi Story Eggs

Realizing the folly of their ways, the Gods sent forth their most trusted apostles to seek the legendary person who could mend the pieces of the Pi back together. Who is this legendary hero? Let me give you a clue… It’s not “me” and it rhymes with “clue”.

One Pi that isn’t squared

Despite its handicap in graphics, the game is still worth playing. Character creation is a breeze and will only take a couple of seconds before the game immerses you into the world. After naming your character and customizing his/her looks, you’re all set and ready to go. Everyone starts as a newbie/beginner class and will soon change into the player’s desired class as they progress in the game.

Classes are as follows: Fighter, Mage, and Cleric. Despite the game’s lack of classes, its unique game play is more than enough to keep you on for countless hours of game play. The game looks entirely like Legend of Mana due to the isometric 2d game play that lets you scroll around the area while attacking those you wish.

Not too old to be a fossil

Aside from its crisp 2D sprites, the game’s graphics still look good to be outdated. Since some of today’s active MMOs (ex. Gunbound) still share the same graphic engine, these types of games are still loved by people worldwide.

Pi Story Throne Hall

The visuals are cute and colorful. Most of them, if I may compare looks a lot like Gaia online which allows the 2d character sprites to blend well with their surroundings. 2d games are easier to harmonize when it comes to visuals. If that’s the case, then this game is no exception. The skills don’t look that flashy compared to the most up to date games. Some of the in game elements (such as fire) are often displayed as a big block that doesn’t really seem to move despite its velocity or speed. Casting a fireball would look no different from throwing a rock (like I said, a block). The towns and villages look really awesome, with bright colors that emphasize shadows and details. Cell shaded anime drawings appear whenever you interact with an assigned NPC making it more appealing to the eyes whenever you do so (Hey… they’re cute >_<). The monsters in the game are really cute making them hard to squash. Heck, even the giant crab looks huggable. For a 2D mmo, the visuals are really satisfying. No wonder it doesn’t get old.

Whack em’ hard and whack em good.

Combat is one of the best features this game has to offer. Aside from the comfy keyboard controls, the game lets you perform multiple actions in a fast and stylish manner. Aside from swinging your weapon like a mad swordsman, you’ll soon be rewarded by a bunch of skills that will later compliment your game play. If you think that you’ll be hacking and slashing throughout the game then you’re dead wrong (cuz you’ll be hacking and slashing WITH STYLE).  The game shares the Skill Tree System that lets you distribute points to further enhance your character to fit your optimal play style. Some of the other skills (like spells) actually require you to type them down in order to cast them. This makes excellent role playing elements that may soon aid you when adventuring with fellow role players.

The game also has quests so you won’t have to worry about this game being made entirely of hacking and slashing. Some of the quests may come off as repetitive as you progress through the game. It may sound all gruesome for you questing-fanatics but It’s not that much of a big deal since most MMOs share the same illness. The game has a very small quest list limit, meaning you can’t have more than 5 active quests on your log. This is a bit disappointing when it comes to questers since the game pretty much promotes going back to town after finishing 5 quests, which may come off as a nuisance to other players who want to get things done in a flash.

Take me home!

One of the best unique elements of Pi Story would be its housing system, which lets players build their own house for future transactions and in game business. After building a house, players may soon have their very own NPC family to do their transactions for them. Each house can be decorated to fit the user’s preferences (of course that means more money). Guilds can also make their own guild house, making it much easier for members to decorate the place since “More people = more money”.

Player Housing

The Verdict

Pi Story is a charming MMO that would appeal to any MMO fanatic out there. The game does lack a lot of things but the playability strongly makes up for its flaws. The graphics are in 2d but at its finest. Lots of cheap but effective gimmicks such as type casting have been laid out making it a lot more fun when using your characters. Instancing combat may be a good thing since it disintegrates the possibility of kill stealing, but the thought of being alone throughout the game does feel rather melancholic. If you’d rather play a persistent MMO then I suggest you play something else. This game does have a lot to offer, and if you’re willing to give it a shot then you most definitely won’t get disappointed.

The Good

-Housing System
-Excellent combat system
-Cute and funny characters
-Instanced Combat?
-Excellent 2d visuals

The Bad

-Instanced Combat?
-Lack of classes
-Lack of details (some stuff looks like hollow blocks)
-Repetitive quests
-Quest log limit

Zu Online Major Update Details

Details Emerging on Next Major Update
Though the developers of Zu Online are focusing their attention on the next major update to the game, some details are now available on version 1.12.
 
New Features
The new version will introduce Wind Calamity content. The dev team has finished rearranging and overhauling Sharpwind Castle, the hardcore zone where players can challenge the Wind Calamity. To be eligible, players must be level 180+ and have overcome the Thunder Calamity and Fire Calamity. Design work on the first two quests in Sharpwind Castle has been completed. In addition, the monsters in the castle have been strengthened, and pets can no longer be mounted in the castle.
 
As for other new features, the level cap is being increased to 265, and new talents are being added to each class. The dev team is also adding more monsters and NPCs to new zones so players can complete quests more quickly.
 
Modifications
To improve class balance, the Sun Warrior, Moonmaiden, and Swordsman classes are modified. The effect duration and cooldown of the Sun Warrior’s Heavenshot and Heaven Hegemony spells have been adjusted. The Moonmaiden’s attack power has been increased. Swordsman changes have not yet been finalized, but two methods are currently in testing. Raising the Swordsman’s defense and maximum health is one possibility. The other is extending the Swordsman’s attack range and increasing their attack speed. Bead Fairy and Summoner modifications are also on the drawing board.
 
Also in testing is a change to refund 30% of the Mystic Stones used to create an equipable item when it is disenchanted using a Disenchanting Furnace. A final percentage has not yet been decided upon.
 
Beginning players can look forward to new route signs to the Blue Mountain and Ghost Canyon to help them find their way. The dev team is also adding more instructions to teach players about the daily reward system and spirit training function.
 
View more screenshots of the expansion at the Zu Online Screenshot Gallery!

Battleswarm: Field of Honor

This genre-busting new game pits players of First-Person Shooters against players of Real-Time Strategy in epic online battles waged between elite Human soldiers and massive swarms of alien Bugs.  Each player on the Human side takes control of a single soldier in first-person mode, armed with an arsenal of high-tech weapons and armor.  Players on the Bug side see combat like an RTS, building hives, breeding bug units, and sending them into battle.  This unique contrast of genres provides revolutionary gameplay on both sides. 
 
Enemies in First-Person Shooters used to come in only two types.  If you wanted to fight large-scale armies, you had to play against AI.  If you wanted to fight other players, you had to fight small squads of evenly matched soldiers.  Now Battleswarm provides a new  third option: the player-controlled monster horde.  For the first time in an FPS, you fight an alien army that is controlled by real intelligence.  No longer must you settle for rigid and unrealistic AI.  You’ll need every weapon at your disposal to out-fight a Bug army that uses large-scale strategies to exploit your weaknesses and attack from where you least expect it. 
 
As a player on the Bug side, you’ll enjoy a whole new dimension added to the standard RTS.  Whereas most normal games feature strong “hero” units with special abilities, no hero in any RTS is as versatile as an FPS player with an arsenal of guns, grenades, and high explosives.  But have no fear!  You’ve got a wide variety of deadly Bug breeds at your disposal, plus the hives to create more.  With an entire army at your disposal, it’s your job to outflank and overwhelm your heavily-armed Human enemies. 

Cloud Nine Released

Global Game Portal netgame has released a new MMORPG project called Cloud Nine after one year and seven months. This fantastical and adventurous 3D MMORPG will catch a lot of attention with the adorable and bright appearances of each character.

Cloud Nine Teaser

We are in preparation for the live service by releasing the Cloud Nine Teaser web site in August. The site is formed of three general contents of Talk to the NPC, Title System, and Mini Games. Gamers may actually attend the site and join a new type of community; this is what makes Cloud Nine Teaser website so special.

The most interesting content is the conversations with the NPC. This provides the gamers a new type of fun, it is as if they are playing a FPADV (First Person Adventure) game. The gamers will learn the hidden episodes, NPC’s personality, and the game story in general and experience their lifestyle through this content. The second content is the Title System. The gamers may earn a title by doing a specific action or repeating one action in the Cloud Nine Teaser web site. There are Titles that anyone can earn, but there are special Titles that you can only achieve through effort. The gamers will enjoy searching for the hidden Titles and being able to carry their own characteristics with different titles of their own.

The last are the three types of unique Mini Games. For example, there is one that requires good memory and another that requires quick judgment and control. So gamers may benefit from their own favorite games. Plus, there is a Ranking System for each game to motivate the gamers to compete against each other. 

Cloud Nine Minigame

James Jo, who is in charge of all the Cloud Nine services, has goals before officially releasing the game service to, “form a Cloud Nine community between the gamers through the Cloud Nine Teaser website, and provide gamers with the Cloud Nine standard knowledge of every feature to easily adapt to the game when the service is officially released.” On the other hand, the Cloud Nine Close Beta Service will proceed during September. And the Beta Key required to attend the Close Beta will be distributed through the game community site between the end of August and beginning of September.

Shaiya Online Launches in Turkey

The highly anticipated massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), Shaiya, published by Aeria Games will launch service for Turkish gamers in their native language.  Registered members, selected by Aeria Games, will be able to enjoy Shaiya in a special Turkish closed beta test.

The award-winning Shaiya provides a thrilling and dynamic gaming experience with strong emphasis on PvP battles. Considering the success and growing community of Shaiya in North America, Germany, and France, Aeria Games aims to expand its 6 million plus player community to Turkey.

Registration and membership of the game are free.  All titles by Aeria Games operate on the “free-to-play” business model where revenue is generated from the sale of optional virtual items that can be used in the game.

The closed beta application phase is scheduled to run until early August, at which point, selected players will be given access to play the game.

Interested players can apply to participate in the closed beta test on the official website:  http://tr.shaiya.aeriagames.com/signup

Battleswarm: Field of Honor Beta Announced

REALITY GAP OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES BATTLESWARM: FIELD OF HONOR BETA

Genre-busting Online Game Pits First-Person Shooter vs. Real-Time Strategy

Reality Gap, Inc. announced that Battleswarm: Field of Honor launches in Beta today.  Developed by Gameworld Tech Co, LTD, Battleswarm simultaneously pits first-person shooters (FPS) vs. real-time strategy (RTS) players in this genre-busting online PC game.  Players choose between team-based, first-person action, representing individual, elite soldiers or acting as the supreme commander of an alien task force, managing hundreds of alien bugs from a real-time strategy point of view.  Slated for commercial launch next month, players can now register to experience Battleswarm for free at http://www.battleswarm.net.

Battleswarm

“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that team-based combat has been pitted against real-time strategy in a balanced, live-action online game,” said Michael A. Williams, CEO of Reality Gap, Inc. “Shooters must confront swarms of alien opponents, but unlike most FPS games, they are playing against aliens managed by a human intelligence looking to outwit and outmaneuver them.”

Exterminate

Battleswarm allows up to six players to take control of soldiers in team-based, first- or third-person shooter mode, arming themselves from a huge arsenal of high-tech weapons and armor.  They compete in discrete missions versus up to four Alien Commanders, who control hundreds of bug-like units in real-time strategy mode.  The Alien Commanders must build hives, breed units, and manage their forces in missions to overwhelm the human opponents.  Players can create guilds, buy and sell items, and level up their characters.

Net Fighters

Net Fighters is a free multiplayer online turn-based tactical RPG / fighting browser game with 2D side-view battles and anime theme.
 
Create your own highly customized characters and techniques, buy and sell equipment, build up your stats and challenge players around the world!

Conquer Online Interview

Questions by Rick Charbs, Onrpg writer
Answers by …Chief Designer Pan Deng

Conquer Online is one of those MMORPGS that just never cease expanding for better or for worse. I was given the opportunity to interview Pan Deng, chief designer of Conquer Online. Conquer’s newest expansion: “The Raiding Clans” was released on July 16th. It offers a ton of new features: “Its all in the name, the Mount System would be the most significant new feature” said Pan Deng. Having the honor of interviewing the chief designer of the game, we received some very comprehensive responses to our questions. We hope you enjoy this interview!


Onrpg: What is your main focus for your upcoming major update??
Well, as everybody knows, the new expansion, “The Raiding Clans”, released on July 16th. Its all in the name, the Mount System would be the most significant new feature. Of course there are many more in this expansion, including a Clan System, a new map, the Frozen Grotto, which is pretty cool, as well as a good collection of new quests, events and festivals. We are trying to give those players who have been faithful to our game the new high level content they’ve been wanting .

Onrpg: It has been said that the future updates are all according to the community’s demands. What steps have you taken as a company to learn of the community’s interests and desires for the game?
Since the release of CO in 2003, the company has been paying close attention to the community’s responses to our moves. We are always willing to hear all kind of voices. No matter if they are praise or critique, we would try to build on all the ideas we get from players. Sometimes the players would post threads on our CO official Forum, where we have professional staff dealing with their opinions and comments. And sometimes they email us or go directly to our GMs on Help Desk to offer their suggestions. Most of the requests and problems reported are viewed by our GMs, and the ideas they judge to be good get passed on to our designers. Some of our best ideas in game are a direct result of this. Take the new Ninja class for example; it was selected by our players in a Ninja vs. Pirate contest. We just tried to make it happen. And we would like our players to see that we are always trying to improve.


Onrpg:
Raiding Clans were one of the first announced features to be added into the game. What are they, and how will they affect Conquer Online’s gameplay?
We have prepared several major new features, including mounts, a Clan System, a new map, as well as a good collection of new quests, events and festivals. Players will be able to summon their new steeds and will have a new area to explore, while having different events to play around with along the way.

In regard to gameplay changes; first is the speed. Characters move faster when on a horse, this adds a new dynamic to the Clan and Guild Wars, as how fast you get somewhere can mean the difference between winning and losing. Conquer is a PvP oriented MMO in which players are confronted with intense conflicts daily. These steeds will not merely serve to glorify the riders, but more importantly, they can help their masters in their PvP battles. The master of the horse can receive a bonus point of Battle Power, which has a critical influence on the results of PvP combat. Moreover, the lineage level will also affect the rider’s attributes like physical/magic attack and HP.


Onrpg:
Will this update further the customization aspect of the game?
Yes! This is one of our main points. The expansion enriches the players’ game experience and choices in many aspects, which might change their preferences. Mounts are just another addition to the rich customization system in Conquer. However as an older 2.5D MMO, Conquer’s character customization system is not good enough when compared to most recently released MMOs, and so a gorgeous mount is one more way for our players to decorate their characters.

High Level Mounts

Onrpg: Could you please give us a little information as to what is the CO carnival?
The Carnival Season is something you really can’t miss out! It’s a series of events and festivals we’ve prepared for our players to celebrate the upcoming new expansion. It lasts from May to August. In this magical carnival, players will be able to join in a whole host of exciting events: dance contests, steed warpaint/naming events, player recruitment, carnival quests design event, TQ headquarters tour, Kung-fu tutorial, and much more is yet to be revealed! And the prizes are will delight the most stubborn player!


Onrpg:
Another early announced feature was the dramatic quests: quests that are written by community members. What gave you the idea to come up with such a unique feature, and what steps are you making in order to make it possible?
Well, the team realizes that the quests would be one of the most important parts in game for our players. Since the quests are for them, why don’t we take ideas from the players? Nobody understands the game better than our players. We did this in some offline events before but using a slightly different model. We used to prepare a poll of some event ideas provided by the team and ask our players to vote for their favourite. The one getting the highest votes will be presented. This time, we included the community in the brain storming by asking them to send us their ideas directly. With the inspiration provided by our players, we are working to build new, customized adventures, especially for our fans!


Onrpg:
What are your ambitions for this update? What are you expecting from the community?
During the past 6 years, Conquer has been blessed with a vast and talented player community. For this expansion, our aim is simple and clear – to rejuvenate and refresh the game for the community, and consequently keep old players interested, while attracting new players to the fabulous world of Conquer.  We hope our players love what we build for them.


Onrpg:
What issues are you expecting to resolve with the coming of this release?
We hope by delivering more new features in game, our players will be able to have more fun and revitalize the community. We always look forward to seeing more friends join in.


Onrpg:
What is your personal favourite aspect of this expansion? Why?
Oh, I can’t wait to get my first horse in CO. I am just dying to see it. It would be a brand new experience in Conquer. Riding on my steed and moving like a wind…To me, the feeling is more like raising a pet. It would be a great fun. You have to take good care of it. It would be your very special friend who will accompany you along your journeys.


Onrpg:
Do you intend on expanding the playerbase with this expansion? If so, what measures will you take to ensure the smoothest gameplay for newcomers?
Of course, we do, as always! From lvl.1 to lvl.15 is the most difficult period for the new players. We will improve the in-game guide system to help the newbies to learn some basic game knowledge and a beginner pack (lvl.15-lvl.120) will be given to help them better fit in. Once they reach a certain level, they will receive a good amount of gifts: meteors, super equipments, expballs and gems, etc. The higher your level is the better gifts you get.


Onrpg:
Is the upcoming content inclined to veteran players? Is there a balance of updates for casual players as well?
That was one of the biggest concerns of the mount system. The mount system, the core of the new expansion, is accessible to everyone. No class or level restrictions. You only have to go to the NPC and learn the riding skill, and then you’ll be able to ride on your horse. If you are lucky enough, you can even obtain mounts by slaying monsters.

New Game Content

Onrpg: What events are you planning to accompany the content update?
The CO carnival season will be a non-stop series of events and celebrations, from May to August. Till now, we have released the interaction system, the CO Dance Contest 1 &2, the Children’s Day Event, and most lately, the Mounts Warpaint/naming Competition and Player’s Recruitment. We are expecting more, the carnival quests design event, TQ headquarters tour, Kung-fu tutorial, and much more is yet to be revealed!


Onrpg:
Will you be modifying the item mall in this update? If so, what changes are planned?
The mounts will be added to the shopping mall. In the 1st batch, we will provide players with 49 types of different horses. According to their rarity, these horses can be divided into 3 groups: basic, unique and rare. Basic horses are only in 3 colors: white, black, and maroon.


Onrpg:
When do you plan on unveiling the other goodies this expansion will have to offer?
The first batch of mounts will be available for players on July 16. Hopefully, there will be more coming out soon. A new sub-class system will probably be released at the end of 2009.

Onrpg: Lastly, what approximate date are you aiming to release this fantastic addition to Conquer Online?
The new update has been in full effect as of July 16, 2009. Have fun and good luck.