Yearly Archives: 2009

Introducing Dragon Oath

A new MMO is going to launch in the western market! Read the announcement below:
 
Greetings to All Future Players of “Dragon Oath”
 
We, ChangYou.Com (US) Inc., welcome all and are proud to introduce our first Free-To-Play MMORPG title “Dragon Oath”!  It has earned over 30 million global players over the past two years, and finally it is just about to arrive in the U.S.!
This landing page is made to pre-introduce about “Dragon Oath” before we launch its first official website later this month! Please feel free to look around to have a glimpse.  As we are going to update more information and screenshots with a firm launching schedule very soon, please visit our page frequently to keep yourself updated!
For more information about “Dragon Oath,” please visit the official landing page: http://do.us.changyou.com

The Agency

The Agency is a spy-themed MMO shooter. It is being developed and published by Sony Online Entertainment studios in Seattle for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 3.
The game will feature FPS-style gun fighting (with the ability to switch between third and first person views), with some driving and other vehicular segments as well. Skill will be the primary determining factor in the success of the player, though some RPG elements will come into play as well. The game will also include relevant subgames and minigames, among them casino games such as Texas hold ’em, which can be played for fun or can be used to initiate instance missions, such as losing or winning enough games to draw the attention of an NPC.

Apocalypse Board Review: Chess Pieces That Rock

By Vincent Haoson (Vincenthaoson), Onrpg writer
 
Apocalypse Board Online is a strategy browser MMO from Nightmakers. The game circles around the battle between good and evil in the world which are symbolized by Angels and Demons.  Your part in all this is to use either Angels or Demons in a chessboard like battle of supremacy.
 
Units in Apocalypse Board Online are like chess pieces. The difference is that the upper parts of the pieces are either Angels or Demons. You play on a chessboard like it’s a battlefield and the game is turn-based. The player who has units left on the board wins.
 
Each battle gives corresponding experience for your units and like normal MMOs, your units also level up. As your units level up they get tougher and their attacks get stronger.  You can also purchase units that are well-suited to your playing style just as long as it doesn’t go over the initial space that you are provided with.
 

Angels and Demons

Angels have ten units available you can use. They are namely: assassin, baedal, fortress, knight, mon, stormspeller, wizard, titan, dancer and priestess.
 
As a starting line-up for those who belong to the angel side, you get to have an assassin, a fortress, a knight and a wizard all of which start of as level 1 units. You can buy the other classes from the judge as long as you have enough gold in your account. The demons on the other hand have only four units that you can use. They are: the psychodemon, nightmaker, howler and the pyrodemon. For the demon’s starting lineup you get to have one unit of each class. You can also buy other units of the same type from the judge as well.
 

Battle Proper

To start off a battle in Apocalypse Board Online, you have to go to the Pit to where there are 15 pillars where you can put your avatar. The avatars are either an angel or a demon and they represent the side you belong to.  Besides the 15 pillars the game also has 5 arenas to choose from, so if one arena is full then you can just move on to the next and so on.
 
Once another player clicks your pillar or you click a pillar with a single avatar the battle ensues. The game’s battle system is turn based and there is a timeline where you can see which unit moves first. You are allotted 30 seconds to move if it’s your turn and if you don’t move within the time the game automatically ends your turn and the next unit to move is next.
 
Once you character’s turn is over, you will immediately see that the battlefield will emit blue boxes, this would serve as your character’s movable areas. Once you finish moving, or stay put you can do the various actions your unit can do.
 
Whoever loses all his units first in a battle loses, and each battle, whether you win or lose, would give your unites experience points and even gold that you can use.
 

Conclusion

Apocalypse Board Online is a game that’s simple yet very addictive especially if you are into tactical games. The units look like chess pieces that were given heads of angels or demons depending which side you choose.
 
The game is a refreshing view on the battle between good and evil which has been symbolized by the use of the most commonly used symbolisms which are namely the angel for good and the demons for evil.
 
However, this concept of good and evil doing battle on a chess board like setting has its drawbacks. The novelty of using angels and demons as chess pieces in this came would immediately wear off and that the core problems of the game would emerge.
 
For one thing, Apocalypse Board Online has a very low population. Normally, this wouldn’t be much of a problem especially for browser based games. The problem is that you can’t go into battle if you have no one to fight with.  The game is highly dependent on the amount of players who are currently logged into the arena. Without them you’re will stare at a blank arena for who knows how long.
 
The game’s next problem would be the lack of GMs. Usually this isn’t much of an issue for browser games, however, for Alpocalypse Board Online, I think this would help a lot for players to make them at least try and enjoy the whole game experience. The game is already slow-paced and it would help at least that you can hear some tunes besides the game SFX.
 
Another thing about the game is that at first glance things would seem a bit unbalanced especially in the number of units per side. The angels have ten types of different units while the demons have only four. Of course there’s this saying that goes that it’s not the number of units that win a war, it’s how you use them, but having this clear imbalance in unit types can discourage people from using demons or even try out the game.
 
Apocalypse Board Online tries to balance out the unit distribution by making demons stronger on later levels. This counter balance of units may seem good at first glance, but this definitely leads to further balance issues on later stages of the game especially when players get to have higher levels. As of the moment though it seems everything is still working swell.
 
As a strategy game, Apocalypse Board Online is a good game that you can try out. Even with the balance issues that may haunt the game, the biggest problem it faces is its low population. As long as the game has no subscribers the game might as well be dead. No people in the game means no battles and what would a strategy game be if there are no battles to strategize?
 
Pros:
– The game is easy to understand
– Simple gameplay
– A new look to strategy games
Cons:
– Low population
– Slow-paced gameplay
– Camera view hinders the playing field

Mana Energy Potion Product Review

By Roxane, Onrpg Senior Editor
 
As a gamer and somewhat of a geek I was tickled pink when I discovered a company called “Mana Energy Potion”. After the link was sent to me by a good friend, an avid D&D player and LARPer (live-action role-player), I marveled at a website in full fantasy design which offered real potions; energy drinks shaped like the famous mana and health potions we know from adventure games of all shapes and sizes.
 
Naturally we at Onrpg had to order some to try them out, so we ordered some Health Potions. Clearly it is an energy drink, it would have to be, being a potion. The composition of the potion is comparable to highly caffeinated energy drinks. Something that will really make you bounce. I’m already thinking of ‘keeping it until I need it most’.
 

The Nature of Potions

It’s almost a law of nature (or maybe more of code) that gamers must be intrigued by a drink like this. Potions are one of the fundamental elements of games since some of the earliest (the Ultima Series from the 1980s, or The Legend of Zelda released in 1987). Some games even had potions that could kill you (Prince of Persia, 1990). In these games, the potions would randomly lie around and they would supplement your existing count of HP or MP (health or mana points). Because of potions, we associate red with ‘health’ and blue with ‘mana’.

Health Energy Potion

Health Energy Potion

In the later MMOs they could even be crafted so you would no-longer depend on adventuring to acquire the potions, but you could choose to be a mage to create them or level a trade-skill like alchemy to craft them. Nearly every game, whether offline or online, has this concept of potions. It’s the simplest and yet one of the most consistent elements in game-design to date.

 
The shape and size are exactly as a gaming potion ought to be. Although at first I was slightly shocked- it was much smaller than I expected, I have to admit it fits neatly into the palm of a hand, and would just as easily slip into a pocket or a backpack. To consider the concept of a potion, this is quite perfect. The bottle itself looks quite sturdy and it has a nice clear label with a sword ripping through the title of the potion.
 

The Taste

Well, I have to do some ripping myself. As energy drinks should be used sparsely, you cannot expect them to have a gentle soothing taste like candy. But this one, the Health Potion, turned my world upside down – no, literally. Clearly a really evil wizard is trying to transform me into something with this concoction…
 

I’ll have to admit that I’m not very good with strong tastes and this has a damn strong taste! It’s super sweet, chemical and the energy just trickles down your tongue. Candy-squared! It’s so chemical you can nearly feel it as it heavily lands on your stomach and changes your perception of gravity for a moment. This is a heavy drink, people – not for the light-hearted! Only the strongest warriors, or those with an exceptionally sweet tooth should be advised to drink them as a sport! Otherwise, keep them (since they look so great) until you need them most!

In short, an absolute wanna-have! Drinking them is at your own risk! Find these potions at http://www.manapotions.com!

Asda Story Introduces New PvP Combat System

San Jose-based online game publisher, Gamescampus.com, announced today that it has launched the new Faction Warfare Player Vs. Player (PvP) combat system in its popular MMORPG, Asda Story asdastory.gamescampus.com/.
As part of the new system, players may select from one of the following Factions which will serve as their character’s PvP allegiance against other players’ Factions in the weeks to come:  Light, Darkness, and Chaos. After players have selected which Faction they would like to fight for, they may apply for scheduled Faction War Battlefield matches that pit the three opposing Factions against one another in a fight to capture Fortresses around a special Battlefield Map, with additional warfare maps to follow soon.
Up to 30 players from each Faction may join in the fight, with up to 90 players mixing it up in intense combat at one time.
As each Battlefield fills, new ones will open to accommodate every player that wishes to participate in the fighting.  Faction teams are balanced for each Battlefield based on level and number of players participating to ensure even, heart pounding fights every time.  Split into Attack Units with Attack Captains leading their troops into the field, players are able to gain Warfare Points both by defeating players of the other Factions in direct combat, or capturing Fortresses owned by the other Factions located around the map.
The more players fight and compete in the Faction Wars, the more Experience, Honor Points, and Honor Coins they will receive towards special Faction Warfare items and gear that is not available anywhere else in the game.  In addition, they will gain PvP Rankings to unlock access to even better and more powerful items.
Based on a colorful, bright and cheerful world, Asda Story is a free to play exciting fantasy-style anime 3D MMORPG game that features a unique ‘Soul Mate System.’  The unique party system offers two players the ability to align to become ‘soul mates’ in-game and grants them access to unique perks and the ability to activate special powers together with their Soul Mate. Another key feature of the game is the ‘Real Costume System,’ which gives players some of the most extensive personalization and design options ever seen in an MMORPG.

ACE Online: Episode 3.2 Coming This Week

Wicked Interactive Ltd. today announced the upcoming release of ACE Online Episode 3.2, a patch to the current Episode 3 -War of Pandea, that offers all new content including a new Nation War System, a revamped game interface, new maps, an all-new slot machine and new cash shops items.
“We are excited to launch this new update for ACE Online,” said Garvin Yeung, CEO of Wicked Interactive LTD. “Episode 3.2 offers several updates throughout many different areas of the game and we think players will be thrilled with the new content.”
Nation War System Updated
The mothership war system has been completely revamped. No longer will motherships be summoned based on nation points, instead they will be scheduled at a specific times decided by the nation leaders. In addition, Outpost Wars occur more frequently and are now activated concurrently of each other. Also, rewards earned within the war system are now totally performance-based. The better a player performs in combat, the better their reward.
Revamped Interface and New Maps
The game interface has been streamlined in many areas making it more efficient. In addition, two new maps have been added to the game, Coronado and Castle Corona. The Outpost Castle Corona and its battle map Coronado have been added to the middle of the Pandea map chain, specifically at the map, Sunshine Born.
All-New Slot Machine and Expanded Cash Item Shop A slot machine has been added to the game to provide more prizes to players. Players simply purchase tokens and insert them into the slot machine to win various prizes. Some of these prizes include new Gear armor, S-type recovery kits, and even some cash shop items.  In addition, the ACE Online Cash Shop has been expanded to include the sale of buff items that remain on a player’s character for an extended period of time and will stay active until it’s time expires. The cash shop has also been expanded to accommodate the slot machine and all related items.

Three Kingdoms: Major Update Announced

Uforia, Inc., an online game publisher specializing in massively multiplayer online games, announced that the hit title, Three Kingdoms, has made some major updates beginning today.  These changes are intended to make game play more enjoyable and easier for gamers to interact with each other. 
The update includes many new boss monsters, enhanced user-interface, and new features such as an improved grouping system.  An exciting new Dungeon called the Twin Silver Dungeon has been added giving players a brand new environment to engage in epic battles. 
In addition to these major changes, Three Kingdoms: Clash of the Feudal Lords will have two in-game events that will allow all players to gain valuable experience points which will give them the opportunity to advance even further in the game. 
“We have spent months gathering feedback from our players and our developers have successfully implemented a multitude of changes and improvements to the game.  These additions will provide even more enjoyment to the players and will make this great game even better,” said Chris Keswani, Marketing Manager of Uforia.
About Three Kingdoms: Clash of the Feudal Lords
Three Kingdoms: Clash of the Feudal Lords tells the story of the fateful last reign of the Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 220), when the Chinese empire was divided into three warring kingdoms. As players experience the world of Three Kingdoms: Clash of the Feudal Lords they can rewrite world history by carefully planning and executing political assassinations.
Three Kingdoms: Clash of the Feudal Lords also offers a one-of-a-kind quest system that delivers quests to players while they are still in the battlefield, maximizing the player’s enjoyment of and involvement in the battle.  This unique feature allows the player to continue their travels while having the benefit of receiving items from completing quests. Player vs. Player (PVP) battlegrounds are available on the hour every hour 24/7 which allow the winners of the battle to become Lords who are granted access to exclusive skills and items.  Honor points are awarded during these battles and can be used to purchase unique items and equipment from special merchants. 

Legend Of Mir 3 Open beta Begins

Worldwide English Open Beta for Legend of MIR3 Begins June 18th
– Open Beta Period will be June 18th – 28th
– Mir3 is a Free To Play MMORPG
– Hosted in the USA for lag-free play to Western Europe and North America
– Featuring an all new English version of the Asian hit Legend of Mir franchise
– Low minimum requirements for laptops and older PCs
– Special offers for beta participants
The most recent release of the Asian hit franchise, Legend of Mir (mir3.wemade.net), is being released worldwide in English on June 18. 
Developed and operated by WeMade Entertainment, the Open Beta period will last just 10 days.
Originally released across Asia in 2003, the Mir franchise remains one of the top Asian MMORPGs and is known for its style, great game balance, and appeal to all types of MMOG players.
Four character classes with deep skill trees, guilds and siege battles, dynamic PvP and PvE, crafting, and a huge world map with thousands of concurrent users makes this one of the most exciting free to play MMOGs in the world. 
For players who want a little more, a microtransaction model allows players to purchase in-game items that they can use while playing.  From customizing your in-game character to items that help your play, there’s something for everyone in the in-game store.
Previously hosted by partners in North America and Europe, this all-new version with updated features and new English translation will be a joy to old fans, and something exciting to discover for those new to the Mir universe.  WeMade has also made improvements to the servers and relocated them to a US location for a better play experience for players in North America and Europe.
The Director of WeMade’s Global Business Team, Mr. Shin, emphasized that the “Legend of Mir franchise has reached legendary status amongst Asian-style MMORPGs with 200 million members in Asia alone. Legend of Mir 3’s Global English release will immerse Westerners in the Mir game world like you’ve never experienced before.”
For more information about Legend of Mir 3, exact beta start times and to register for the open beta and download the client, please visit http://mir3.wemade.net.  Special recognition will be given to players who help us test our updated features, improvements and server operation during this beta test.  Hurry, June 18th is just around the corner!