Yearly Archives: 2009

Highstreet 5 Review: Pump Up The Volume

By Kei Beneza (Dividelife), OnRPG Journalist

It’s really easy to name a Musical game since people aren’t really new to it nowadays. Games with note balloons (Arrows) like Dance Dance Revolution and Audition are pretty much everywhere. And although we end up hearing the same set of songs all over again, it never really stopped us from playing the game for a long period of time.

High Street 5 is no exception, being a new musical MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) that shares the same dance system as Bust-a-Groove. Players must press directional keys followed by a well-timed spacebar everytime the light hits the marker. It may seem like a pretty repetitive concept but the main fact that you’ll have to compete with a whole bunch of players makes it a different story.

Like most MMOs, you’ll be leveling up and earning in-game cash as you dance and groove to the beat. You’ll be dancing to a series of hard-hitting tracks that are most likely to be familiar. The in-game music is composed of songs from the Asian and Western Pop culture, and the sense of familiarity makes it easier to groove to the beat. In my opinion, the dancing game is merely a small factor of the game since it’s all about communities and “Friendster-like” interface. Then again, I may be wrong… let’s check it out.

DANCE DANCE!

If you think that you’re gonna be hitting buttons and dancing to the beat, then I guess you’re on the right track; However, the game has a series of game modes to choose from. This makes the game rather challenging and overly annoying, though of course– the more you lose, the more you tend to want to get better. The sounds make up for the repetitive gameplay. Listening to it is one thing but getting to tap your fingers while listening to your favorite songs make it somewhat worthwhile. Now, if you can jive and play bust-a-groove for two years with no one to play with but the second player, then maybe a whole community of virtual dancers would do you suffice. The variety of songs would definitely be big enough to satisfy your thirst for musical games.

Hey Sparky… you look pretty gnarly.

High Street 5 lets players customize their characters in order to gear themselves up for the party (or street party to be exact). Whether it’s a gnarly ‘fro or a hip hop jersey, you’ll find that the character customization system is most likely to be a blessing for your character. Besides, you wouldn’t wanna go in a party dressed like you’re going to the mall with your parents right? Gear up and stand out!

Graphics

The graphics are okay, with cell-shaded models that look good while dancing. I honestly can’t imagine this game with a different character peg. The characters are brightly colored, allowing them to stand out in the middle of the lightly rendered party place. It also illuminates their clothes, giving characters their good share of individuality (given if your characters don’t dress up like everyone else).

The cell-shaded characters look rather squarish though less polygonal compared to most of the MMOs out there. Although it’s polygonal, the graphics however isn’t that obsolete for you not to appreciate it. It’s still enjoyable and would still appeal to gamers who are willing to give this game a try.

Turn it up!

Ah yes, the sounds… the most important part (and main essence) of musical games. The tunes are rather catchy since the game pretty much caters the good songs from the Hit Charts. You’ll be grooving along to songs by famous artists like: Rhianna, Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Rain, Utada Hikaru and many more. Now if that’s not hard to resist, then you probably should consider tweaking your musical timeline.

Turning up the volume while keeping the bass up will BOOM you to sensational heights as you watch your characters dance ever so vigorously on the dance floor.

Pick a track, a start rollin’!

Wait, wait… didn’t you say that this was a community based game?

Yep, I sure did! High Street 5 is a game that was made for people who would like to interact with one another while having fun. This is pretty much similar to how you would want to enter a bar to socialize, the only difference is that this is more on the virtual level. Unlike other MMOs, the game lets players create their own personal page. It is pretty much similar to My Space where people can upload pictures and information about themselves for people to check out. A Blog feature has been said to be on the works. If that’s true then I’m off to High Street 5 for more dancing goodness.

Another feature that caught my attention is the Megaphone option. The Megaphone lets players broadcast their message throughout the server. Wanna propose? Take a bow and let the world hear your “cheeziness”. Not satisfied? If so then the SUPER MEGAPHONE is the answer to all your problems. This version of the megaphone lets you broadcast your message throughout the entire community. Now if that doesn’t solve your problems, then I honestly don’t know what will.

Stand back for the Judge’s decision!

Let’s see… the game has a good set of tracks and a whole bunch of dance moves… That’s probably the only thing a musical game needs. If I must expand, the graphics are heaps better than other dance games out there and the community is quite lively. Enjoying street parties while in the comforts of your home should be good enough for your parents not to object.

Character Customization has always been something to think about, and this game doesn’t go short on you when it comes to that aspect. Whether you’re in the mood to be a party goth (if ever there was one) or a Break Dancing Hipster, High Street 5 has enough clothes to let you create your desired character.

This game is most probably the best damn dancing game out there.

The Good:
-Good community
-Good set of Music
-The game’s gimmicks.

The Bad:
-Is this really a game? Or a gimmick inside My space? (not that bad though)
-framerate issues
-background needs more texture. 

The Warlords: Hot Events for August

The TQ team has prepared a string of fun events for you in August. Below is a preview for August. Don’t miss out on these fantastic events and rewards! Good luck!
1. Royal Pageant (August 7 to August 13)
In order to express our thanks for your great support, the Qing Dynasty will hold a fantastic pageant for one week. All of you can join it to celebrate the royal pageant, and you will have the chance to win tempting prizes: Elite-Senzu-Pill, EXP-Jewel-Pack, Rage-Jewel, Rage-Jewel Gold Medallion, Coat, etc.
2. Log Delivery Event (August 14 to August 16)
If you want to be one of the lucky winners to get some gold, don’t miss out this good chance.
You can buy low-quality item at the starting point and resell it to the NPC once the event starts. The more items you sell back, the more money you will get. Let us keep our eyes peeled to see who will be the first one to deliver the most items to the destination in the least time.
3. Chinese Valentine’s Day Event (August 26 to August 28)
– Romantic Chinese Valentine’s Day Event
– Love Maze Event
Once a year, the Chinese Valentine’s Day comes on the seventh day of the seventh month on the Chinese lunar calendar. This year, that day will fall on August 26. And we would like to invite you to take part in our special festival event! We offer you a bunch of great prizes: Double Exp Brew, Senzu Pill, Purity +2 and Gold, Lover’s suit, Medallion, Potency Gem, Wisdom Gem, Rage Gem, Warm Gem, etc. Sounds great, right? Make sure you join us for these fun events!

Runes of Magic: Open Beta in Spanish And French

Frogster’s French and Spanish Runes of Magic server is open for all players as of now. With the launch of the open beta test, MMO-interested French and Spanish players can now explore the already integrated content of the online fantasy world in their own native languages.

Following the successful shutdown of the closed beta, the servers today go back up on the net for the deciding test phase. A brief registration procedure on the official Spanish and French web pages is all that is required to take part in the open beta. All adventurers who are already active in the game will keep their accounts. The download of the software is of course free of charge. Frogster will use the time leading up to the official live operation in September to optimise the localisation. A so-called ‘wipe’ – a deleting of avatars – of characters created during the open beta test will not take place.

“We are completely satisfied with the development of Runes of Magic in Spain and France,” commented Daniel Ullrich, Director of Product Management, on the closed beta’s previous performance. Above all, the key aspect of localization is progressing according to plan: “A large part of the game has already been translated for the launch of the open beta,” said Localization Manager Konstantin Drewitz: “We are optimistic that we can offer Runes of Magic as a completely localized version for the release in September.”

 

Angels Online: Revival of Production Classes

Many brand new items have also been added to Angels Online with the release of new expansion-House Party in May 2009. Thanks to the wonderful Housing System, Production players have taken center stage as they scour the vast landscapes of Eden for rare materials needed to craft popular in-game items. Today the official team will detail more on these classes.
With five distinct production classes available for players to choose from, Angels Online offers players a chance to specialize as an Armor Craftsman, Weapon Craftsman, Tailor, Technician, or Chef. In addition to each unique crafting skill, production classes share the Drive, Mantle, and Mechanism skills. These allow them to operate attractive, useful robot vehicles, increase the load they can carry, and improve their attack and defense. Robots are valuable tools for helping production characters get the most out of their abilities and making travel much easier.
The Armor Craftsman class can forge rare ores into metal armor for warriors. To collect the necessary materials, they use the Collect and Dig skills. A Weapon Craftsman can use Dig or Lumber skills to gather materials for a variety of weapons. Tailors spin silk and cotton into fabulous gowns and stitch together supple armor pieces. Collect and Fishing skills help them stock up on the necessities. Chefs take advantage of the same skills to find ingredients for tasty foods that grant buffs. Technicians use Lumber and Collect skills to harvest what they need to make attribute-boosting ornaments, staves, and robot accessories.
The crown jewel of House Party is the House System. Here, too, production classes are essential, providing players a great selection of houses and furniture. As the amount of must-have equipment and cool novelties they can build continues to grow, production classes play an ever more important role in the game. Whether you need gear, food, or trinkets, they have just what you’re looking for. To get your hands on the fruits of their labors, log in and track down your favorite Angels Online craftsmen today.

Nostale Global Announces Sales Promotion

Uforia, a new online game publisher specializing in massively multiplayer online games, announced that Nostale: Global it will be hosting a sales promotion.  Players that purchase $50 worth of UFOs have a chance of being selected to win a level 20 Bushtail. The promotion will last from the 27th until the end of the month (July 31st).
“The Bushtail is one of the most coveted items in this game and we wanted to give our players another chance at getting one,” said Sabroso, GM for Nostale: Global.

ArchLord International

 

ArchLord is a 3D fantasy MMORPG developed by NHN Games. The game is set on the continent of Chantra and features three playable races; Orcs, Humans and Moon Elves.
ArchLord uses a crafting system, which allows players to upgrade items in a very unique way as well as allows players to carve, skin and ransack any defeated monster. The materials achieved using carving, skinning and ransacking skills are used in Alchemy and Cooking to create powerup items. Alchemy creates metamorphosis potions which allows a player to transform into monsters, whereas cooking allows a player to create food which give statistic bonuses, eg. defense buff.
One of the features of ArchLord is the ability to compete to become the ArchLord, the supreme ruler of the game world. Only one ArchLord can exist on each of the four servers (Brumhart, Cyripus, Gaiahon and Evengarda), reigning for four weeks before he/she is challenged by other players for the position. The ArchLord has access to a castle, a dragon mount and control of the weather.

 

Mir2 Interview: Answers from the Developers at Gamepot

Questions by Rick Charbs, Onrpg Journalist
Answered by the developers at Gamepot

The following is a special interview answered by the Mir2 staff at Gamepot. It contains some pretty neat information about the game, and of course… its developers! Check this out for a few hinted sneak-peaks and information on some high levelled content! The Mir2 staff left us with a quick comment that may nibble at your curiosity: “I think Mir2 is one of the few games that patches at least once a month.  We are continually working on new content as well as new items that should be coming in the very near future.” Read on for more!

Onrpg: How has Gamepot’s commitment to quality as Japan’s most successful game publisher benefited Mir2? What steps have you gone through to make this game a great one? 
As you mentioned, our commitment to high-quality is well-known in Japan, and thus far, that’s translated to Mir2 in terms of events, items, constant content updates, and consistent community interaction.  Our players have responded quite well to this, and we only plan on improving.

Onrpg: What kind of partnerships have you made overseas, and how have they furthered your production of the game?
Gamepot usually has a range of partners that enable us to stay on the cutting edge of both game publishing, new platforms and development.  We’ve spent time lining up our suite of quality, innovative partners, and we should be ready to make some announcements soon.


Onrpg: Why have you decided to keep the traditional isometric view for Mir2? What compels players to play this game style?
We felt it would be awkward to suddenly change it, especially when that is what many long-time fans expected.  We believe that the classic top-down style works best for nostalgic gameplay.

Onrpg: Could you give us a little rundown on the unique combination of PvE and PvP combat Mir2 offers?
Sure.  In addition to the 400+ monsters hell-bent on destroying the players, they can also attack other players in certain zones; however, if they do this, they’ll incur the wrath of the town’s guards.  They can and will attack you on sight if you’re causing too much havoc.  Think of it as a simplified version of the “Wanted Stars System” in GTA.

Onrpg: What makes Mir2 such a social MMORPG?
Beyond the standard features, such as a friends list, Mir2 has guild, and soon, guild castles, where players can have their own private war between rival castles.  In addition to that, we often hold live events that range from monster invasions to competitions, so players can meet potential friends.

MIR2 Graphics

Onrpg: Do you believe tight-knit communities are more valuable than large ones? Why?
We look at a tight-knit community and a large community through a “family lens”.  You can have a large family, where certain family members hang out or are interested in something, while the other family members have different interests.  So from that perspective, there isn’t a more valuable member of the family, they’re all important.  The larger the family, the more valuable the family itself is.


Onrpg: What kind of content do you tend to release weekly? Are there updates for experienced players as much as there are for new ones?
Yes.  Our weekly content releases usually vary between new weapons, areas, bosses and events.  New and older players both find our updates appealing.

Onrpg: It seems you have a very interesting summer planned. What kind of events do you have in store for the players?
We conducted a Summer Event where players were able to obtain Mir Tokens to use for some mini games that if completed you receive another item.  You collect all 5 and exchange it for a chance at some high level rings.  While the chance is quite low, it is more for the fun of doing something different.  A few PvP events are planned as well but I can’t disclose the details just yet as it would ruin the surprise. 

Onrpg: Is PvP the most concentrated aspect of the game? Do you believe that the loss of items upon death turns people off of the game?
PvP is the most attractive part of the game for many players; we feel that the item loss mechanic provides increased tensions and danger-two engrossing factors for any battle.  High-risk, high reward-it’s something that the players have responded well to thus far.

Onrpg: How would you say Mir2 has a lot of longevity?
The game’s been around for quite a while, and we believe in its staying power.  In the end, a good game is a good game, and often times, players prefer a solid, fun game, rather than one that needs a high-end graphics card.

Onrpg: What makes Mir2 unique on the MMO market as far as features are concerned?
Mir2 combines excellent PvE content, with intense PvP action with over 400 items spread across over 500 maps.  Along with that, the isometric view provides a unique twist on navigation and gameplay.  When you think about all that, and then realize that we have a slew of events every month, from item drops to monster summons. And best of all, its 100% free.  Our free trial is the entire game for as long as you want. 

Onrpg: What deadly spells and weapons can player’s access in higher levels?
There are a few devastating spells that players can cast: Flame Field, Flame Bolt, Resurrection, Poison Field, Slashing Bust, and Blade Avalanche are high level spells.  While on the hand-to-hand side, the Dragon Sword, Judgement Mace, War Mage Staff, Soul Spring Wand, and Blades of Darkness are the high level weapons at the moment.  

The Judgement Mace isn’t like a normal mace in that there is not heavy weight at the end but the whole length of the mace is a heavy long metal head.  The Dragon Sword is similar to a scimitar, but with a larger blade-perfect for a close shave.

MIR2 NPCs

Onrpg: Could you give us a little information on the various landscapes of Mir2?
The beginner area is Bichon Province, known as “BW” from EuroMir.  It’s mainly a forest with a small desert area to the north.  Prajna Island is a higher level area where three higher level dungeons are located and the only area that is not connected to a mountain at any side.  Castle Gi-Ryoong with the Black Dragon Dungeon to the north is one of the smallest zones but has the highest level dungeon in Mir 2 so far.  The story and entire world of Mir 2 is based on a mountain that was created from a disastrous event and so every region with the exception of Prajna Island is surrounded by mountains. 

Onrpg: Are players able to customize their characters?
Yes, players have access to wide variety of items both in-game and the Cash Shop.  We have effects, and a plethora of fashion choices to truly make your character unique.

Onrpg: What is in the future for Mir2? Any specific content updates on the way?
I think Mir2 is one of the few games that patches at least once a month.  We are continually working on new content as well as new items that should be coming in the very near future.  We can’t say exactly what it is that we are bringing into the game but maybe you can just “ride along” with what we have said so far. 

Onrpg: Thanks for answering the questions!

GodsWar Dev Diary

IGG’s Ethan Pan shared the following details about a new expansion being created for GodsWar Online. He encourages all players to offer feedback and help improve the design process. What would you like to see happen when players get the chance to experience the Battle of Thermopylae?
Okay, this idea sounds a little wild, and I need a second opinion on it. I came up with a new theme that might be of great interest to all our GWO players. The game has been out for months now, and I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that a good percentage of them are lacking the drive to advance further. Many have maximized their Exp and defeated the ultimate boss in the game. Naturally, they may find the game to be less challenging than before. To spice things up, the workaholics in the GWO lab decided to take our players on a journey through time. We want to fast-forward them to the Battle of Thermopylae and give them a chance make their mark on this historic conflict. How cool would it be to take on the Persian army with Leonidas and his 300 Spartans?
The setting should be quite familiar to those of you who are fans of the movie 300. Thermopylae is where 300 Spartans, led by King Leonidas, fought a valiant battle to keep the million-strong Persian army at bay. A narrow passage between a cliff and the sea, known as the “Hot Gates,” served to funnel the Persians as they tried to get past the Spartans’ phalanx formation. With Xerxes, the Persian God-King, determined to conquer Greece, all Leonidas and his men could hope to do was put up a good fight. The battle ended with the deaths of Leonidas and his Spartans in defeat. Xerxes advanced farther into Greece, where the Battle of Plataea took shape. But it doesn’t have to end that way; we can rewrite history. At least, in the game we can.
In our storyline, players will serve as reinforcements to help the Spartans resist the charge from Xerxes’ elite guards, the so-called immortals. Here is a chance to stop the Battle of Plataea before it can even take shape. The goal is to defeat the Persian army at Thermopylae and end the second Persian invasion of Greece. Although the Greeks are still outnumbered in respect to Xerxes’ Persian force, Thermopylae is a strategic point where being outnumbered is less of a disadvantage. The terrain offers our players a chance to defend their ground and plan strategies for a counterattack. With the Persian army on the one side and the Greek alliance on the other, a showdown is inevitable. Neither side has any desire to settle for less.
Keep in mind that the Persian army is well-versed in the art of war, and the only thing that can stop their advancement is the unity of the Greek city-states. In some way, our story will start in the midst of the battle at Thermopylae. All players, whether Athenian or Spartan, must join forces to protect Greece from her invaders.
Due to the division between the Spartans and the Athenians in-game, there is the possibility of friendly fire when the two Greek forces take to the battlefield. Players will be encouraged to put aside their differences and focus on the larger task to ensure the survival of all of Greece.
Be forewarned that the enemies you will face are incredibly powerful, reaching as high as level 130. They are well-equipped and will put up a tough fight. Given the stats, we recommend our player level up to 120 before they enter the battleground. We have set up two territories, each with unique quests, for that very purpose. The Spartans will travel through the Nemean Forest, while the Athenians will take the Parnitha Port route to approach from the opposite direction. With the right strategies in place, all our players need to do is get there, and get there prepared.
There will be a lot of new content. Along with the new maps, we will also be introducing new equipment, pets, and NPCs. Like I said, our goal is to make GWO more interesting and more challenging for our players. We hope to give them a unique gaming experience.
I have summarized above what we have planned in the new expansion for GWO, and through this developer’s journal, we hope to solicit feedback from our players. They are welcomed to participate in discussions on how to build the new content. We want to use this opportunity to help us, the designing team, understand what our players really want. Their satisfaction is what drives our inspiration, because without their support, our work would be meaningless.
Gods War

Code D: Two Original Sketches Unveiled

The first installment of sketch artwork for Code D has been released by EverDream Studio. We are going to post new pieces of sketch artwork featuring new characters and monsters on our official forum intermittently for our upcoming MMO game Code D (working title), a fantasy-themed massively multiplayer role-playing game featured with stunning graphics and a large variety of gameplay.
 
This installment of artwork features a strong guy who has special idiodynamics over the chains, as well as a greedy drooling werewolf-like monster. Check out and enjoy the artwork below for yourself.
Code D
 
 
 
Code D