Monthly Archives: March 2010

4Story Runs a “My Best Item” Contest

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4Story announced that a best item contest has started today. The total reward is 375$ in game money and the winners will be selected with the most votes by the 4story community.

This event can be certainly considered to be a clear opportunity for uses to show off their upgrading and enchanting performance by showing their best weapon or armor that they have created themselves.

Event Detail
Take a screenshot of the best item you own (weapon, armor or accessory of your choice) and upload it in the screenshot section of the 4STORY website.

The three people with the most votes will be the winners.

 
Event Date: 12th ~ 29th of March (PST)
Condition:
Only 1 item per account can participate the event. Uploading more than 1 screenshot will automatically disqualify you. The item participating must be manufactured. GMs will compare the image with the actual item so please don’t try any Photoshop. (Besides, GMs can tell if it’s Photoshopped from some of the pixels and from seeing quite  a few shops in their time!)
Rewards:
First Place: $200 Cash points
Second Place: $100 Cash points
Third Place: $75 Cash points
4Story – My Best Item Contest

Chinese martial arts MMO TLBB enters Limited Open Beta phase in Europe!

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Chinese martial arts MMO TLBB enters Limited Open Beta phase in Europe!

With fresh leaves and vivid flowers setting the scene in TLBB’s (Tian Long Ba Bu)  magical kingdom this upcoming season, ChangYou.com Europe invites players to take part in the Limited Open Beta starting 19th March.
 
Starting this Friday 6:00PM (GMT) a limited number of players every day will be allowed to join the TLBB ‘Dragon’ server and experience the ancient Chinese adventures.
 
Tian Long Ba Bu TLBB Europe Open Beta Limited Crystal Dragon Egg
 
The alluring and beautifully rendered martial arts MMO has witnessed excellent user numbers around the world and with an already strong fan base in the western market, publishing company ChangYou.com have confirmed their latest launch period in Europe for 2010. 
 
Players should be aware that from the 8th March at 6:00AM (GMT), TLBB’s activation is closed. Meaning that from then until 19th March, new accounts can still be registered for TLBB but new players will not be able to access the ‘New Moon’ server between these dates.
 
Rundown of dates and times for Limited Open Beta:
– 8th March 2010 @ 6:00AM (GMT) – Closed Beta Activation Closes
– Between 8th March and 19th March – Players can register but will NOT be able to access New Moon server – Closed Beta Keys invalid
– 19th March 2010 @ 7:00AM (GMT) – Closed Beta end and all characters wiped
– 19th March 2010 @ 6:00PM (GMT) – Limited Open Beta Begins (‘Dragon’ server)
– Daily registrations spaces during the ‘Limited Open Beta’ period are limited
 
With maintenance work taking place during the day [19th March], it will give players a final chance to hunt around for a limited number of special codes that have been distributed among select gaming portals. These codes will allow gamers to be in for a chance of winning 1 of 200 limited edition Crystal Dragon Eggs available in the world, that have been specially designed in for TLBB fans. These eggs will be a one-off production and will not be available again! So, make sure you pick up a code sooner rather than later!
For further details about the game please visit the official website.


Blade Wars

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Blade Wars is a revolutionary action/fighting MMORPG that was developed in China, and now it has been adapted for players all over the world. The setting is a mythical universe where Abyssals, Humans, and Immortals battle each other for dominance. What sets Blade Wars apart is the depth of the battle system that encourages skilled players to constantly challenge each other for supremacy. This is a game that seasoned MMO veterans will truly appreciate.
Blade Wars offers you an unparalleled variety of realistic martial arts moves, as is shown by the 99 different combat styles available. Different combinations of skills can result in powerful combo attacks on your enemies, and the battle system is based on a dynamic algorithm that factors in everything from a player’s level to the time between attacks to the enemy’s position. You are even able to use abilities such as feigning attacks, or if correctly timed, dodge opponents’ strikes. As you hone your skills, you will be able to challenge others in special Arenas, where players take turns hosting duels with the victors reaping the many rewards.
Mounts, trading, guild wars, daily events – they’re all here in Blade Wars, and we invite you to discover the excitement of this wildly popular game for yourself.

 

Details Revealed about Mytheon’s Epic Bosses: Hades, Persephone and Circe

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Details Revealed about Mytheon’s Epic Bosses: Hades, Persephone and Circe

Embarking on a Heroic Mythological Journey, Players Will Begin a Quest to Free Humans From The Will of The Gods.
 
True Games Interactive, an international multi-player online game developer and publisher, along with award-winning developer, Petroglyph, today revealed details of several of the mythological bosses players will encounter in their highly-anticipated online, multiplayer action/RPG with strategic game
play, Mytheon, due this Spring.  
 
In addition to many other colossal gods, players can expect to see the goddess of the harvest and seasons: Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter. Persephone is also the Queen of the Underworld alongside Hades, forever doomed to preside over the realm of the dead. Players will also be introduced to the venerable sorceress, Circe.  
 
“Based on real-world mythologies, we wanted players of Mytheon to experience not only the thrilling gameplay, but we also wanted that gameplay to occur within a recognizable historical context,”  said Peter Cesario, Director of New Business and Product Development at True Games Interactive. “With that in mind, players will find it thrilling to battle such epic deities as Persephone, Hades and the lesser-known but not to be underestimated, Circe.”
 
About Hades
When the Olympians were freed from their father’s belly, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades agreed to draw lots.  The eldest, Hades was the unfortunate brother who drew the shortest straw, condemning him to rule over the realm of the dead. While Hades was considered an iron-fisted ruler, he was thought of as a fair one–only those who crossed him directly were subject to his wrath. When the war with the gods began, Hades first chose the side of neutrality only to ultimately side with his siblings.
 
About Persephone
The daughter of Demeter, Persephone is the goddess of the harvest and the seasons.
While she represents purity, youth, and vitality, Persephone’s beauty so enchanted Hades that he kidnapped her forcing Demeter, Persephone’s mother, to render the earth fallow and cold. Compelled to intervene, the other gods dispatched Hermes to the Underworld to recover Persephone. Forced to spend three months out of every year in the Underworld with Hades, Persephone came to be known as the Queen of the Underworld.
 
As the legend holds, if one was alive and ate or drink while in the underworld they become a part of the underworld and could not leave.  Hades tricked Persephone into eating three pomegranate seeds and therefore she was condemned to spend three months out of every year in the Underworld.  This time in mythology became known as the season of Winter. 
As time went on, Persephone was seduced by Hades and eventually abandoned her innocence. Her warmth and compassion having devolved into coldness and greed when the war with the gods began, Persephone vowed to battle those who would attempt to destroy the world and life she had come to love.
 
About Circe
A powerful sorceress, Circe is widely known for her unrivaled command of the art of alchemy. Indeed, it was by Circe’s hand that Odysseus and his crew were delayed on her isle of Aeaea for an entire year at the start of the hero’s great journey. With but a sip of her potion, Odysseus’ men were transformed into swine, but the great hero was clever and did not fall under the sorceress’ spell so easily.
Impressed, Circe offered hospitality to Odysseus and his men. When Odysseus eventually left her company, Circe continued her pursuit of power and when she was approached by the gods, the sorceress couldn’t refuse. Circe has created Odysseus’ Passage–a trial of sorts that pits would-be heroes against the very same dangers braved by the hero during his epic journey.
 
Mytheon is an online, multiplayer action/RPG with strategic game play where players experience classic mythology come to life and challenge legendary gods to define their own fate. Players, or “Stonecasters,” are powerful humans imbued with the ability to cast spells, summon minions, and erect structures that aid them in battle. An assortment of classes are available that approach combat differently and offer a range of unique, cinematic abilities.
 
 
For additional details on Mytheon and to sign up for the closed beta test please visit the official Mytheon website.

Blessings in Disguise: A Short Talk on Bugs and Exploits

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Blessings in Disguise: A Short Talk on Bugs and Exploits
By Kei Beneza (dividelife), OnRPG Journalist

 

MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) players are competitive by nature, be it PVP or PVE. There will always be an amount of pride rendered for how strong or able your character is. Epic Gear, Socket Gems, Cooler Mounts, Jet Packs, Everyone will do almost anything to acquire these things. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be strong really; however, it is also the same drive that makes people take the easy way out.

 

Yes my friends, this is why bugs are being exploited throughout the genre, may it be in MMOFPS (Massively Multiplayer Online First Person Shooter) or in your average everyday RPGs (Role Playing Games). There are various ways to gain the upper hand without having to grind for more cash or resort to gold farmers. Item Duplication, Bugged Walls, you name it!

 

Guns Bug Blessing

MMOFPS Bugs

 

Advantages: like there’s none lol

We managed to get an interview with a bug exploiter who would rather go by the name of Sohee to avoid being spotted by our GM readers. According to him, bug exploitation requires skill (really now?) and can only work to a player’s advantage if he uses it correctly.

 

OnRPG: So you’ve been using bugs for how long?
Sohee: Years! 6 years to be exact.
OnRPG: That’s an awfully long time of bug exploitation. And you say you’ve never been caught?
Sohee: Not really. There are times when the GMs suspended my account for it. Sometimes I get banned for it, but it’s really easy to create another one.
OnRPG: You’re aware that you are indeed cheating right?
Sohee: Everyone’s doing it, so why go slow when everyone’s moving fast?

 

Sohee never really admitted that he was cheating; instead, he pointed out that bug exploitation has become one of the most common features in almost every MMO. The current players don’t mind it and some even claim it to be a form of strategy especially in PVP (Player vs. Player). Sohee also earns a lot of money by duplicating items, then selling them at a cheaper price.

 

It makes me GOD

Unlike some bugs, there are those that tend to completely destroy the experience for most players instead of just giving the bug exploiter a certain advantage. Accompanying us through this form of bug exploitation is someone who prefers to hide under the name of Danaster. Danaster has been playing MMOs for a very long time, doing PVE (Player vs. Environment) and PVP day and night to further boost his character’s capabilities. In his game, all three races fight an all out war three times a day to boost their economy. Unfortunately for a certain race, there’s a bug that disconnects everyone from that race when the skill is executed. The bug is executed through a game command, which you then accompany with certain keys to cut the weapon animation. This by far was one of the game’s biggest problems, disconnecting a certain race from the war thus turning it into a 1 on 1 death match instead of a 3-way brawl.

 

OnRPG: So, why did you do it?
Danaster: Gives us the upper advantage! You can’t deny that the rewards gained upon winning that war is worth cheating for.
OnRPG: so you admit that you guys were cheating?
Danaster: not our race, not our fault.

 

The bug used to be more on the aesthetic side with no given advantages whatsoever. Since the faulty race was a formidable enemy, the other races would continue to spam that skill to prevent them from reconnecting. In this case, Danaster was not the only one who was doing it, for the other races are also doing their best to knock the bugged players out of the game. The game suffered a tremendous loss of its player base after a week of bugged events, and according to the other races, it’s just right that that certain race was nerfed due to their overpowered character builds.

 

PVE too? Preposterous!

PVP isn’t the only thing that’s ruined by bugs. Believe it or not, PVE bugs are also being exploited in order to make things easier for guilds to get their Godlike gear. Lance has been gracious enough to provide us with information as to how big of an advantage the PVE bugs bring.

 

Bugs Boss TX

Using Bugs on Bosses

 

Boss fights— perhaps one of the biggest problems of PVE lovers worldwide. Bosses are designed to be hard, dropping a decent amount of gear and experience upon defeat. One thing about them is that you won’t be facing these bosses once in a lifetime. Lance has played MMOs for a very long time and is familiar with a good number of bugs that help him conquer obstacles without breaking a sweat.

 

OnRPG: So why do you do this again?
Lance: You mean over buffs and boss bugs? We make sure that it doesn’t only save us time, but effort too :P.
OnRPG: Doesn’t it ruin the experience?
Lance: No, not really! We see it as a blessing in disguise lol. Besides, there’s still real life to deal with. It makes it a lot easier with these bugs.
OnRPG: LOL

 

The verdict

Bug exploitation has become a legal feature in the eyes of the players, and although it’s illegal in every way, players will keep enjoying its benefit unless they are at the receiving end of things. People enjoy the benefit of bugs but hate being targeted by them. Normally, I would hear trash talk like “Bug F*g” or “Cheater” in the internet cafes (where most players play) but will immediately be followed by doing their own share of bug exploits. Are the games really that hard? Or are players just not prepared to face them? For the record, I have also been the victim of the disconnecting bug stated earlier. It’s not really fair that they have a HUGE advantage over other players, but as long as bugs exist, players will continue to milk them until they are dealt with. Now let me ask you…

 

Is it really that bad? Or is it (as they described) a blessing in disguise?

Interview with Mr Zhou Bin: Chairman and CEO of Globex Studios

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Interview with Mr Zhou Bin: Chairman and CEO of Globex

 
At the recently concluded Game Developers Conference 2010, Globex Studios officially announced the establishment of Globex Studios LA (Los Angeles). In charge of the new studio will be Mr Carey Chico, who is positioned as the President and Chief Creative Officer. Mr Carey Chico’s previously worked at Electronic Arts (EA), where he was the Executive Art Director of Pandemic Studios. Globex Studios LA will work together with the 2 other Globex offices, including the headquarters at Tianjin, China and studio at Taipei, Taiwan.
 
 
Staff at Globex Studios LA have worked on various hit titles before, including Command & Conquer, Tekken, DOOM, Age of Empires, Rainbox Six and many more. With 3 studios working together from 3 different locations and a pool of industry talent, 17173.com did an exclusive interview with the head honcho, Mr Zhou Bin, Chairman and CEO of Globex Studios, about the company’s developments.
 
 

Zhou Bin Chairman Ceo Globex Studios Los Angeles MMO Game Developers

 
 
Question: Globex Studios is still a rather unfamiliar name amongst online gamers in China, where the headquarter is based. Can you briefly introduce to us about your company?
Answer: Globex Studios started out in 2005 in Tianjin, China. We first worked on offline games for consoles and cellphones. We were practically unheard of as we we at the backend of operations, which is developing and design. Now, with 3 studios in North America, China and Taiwan, we are aiming to break into the global online gaming market. Currently, we have a total of nearly 100 employees, which will soon increase as we start to hire more talent.
 
 
Question: Finding talent is important for any company. How is the talent pool in Globex Studios like?
Answer: Yes, talent is exactly what’s needed in this industry. At Globex Studios, we not only hire talents who have been in the industry for some time, but we also aim to build a work environment where talents can be nurtured. The core members of the developing team each has 15 years of industry experience, we plan to let newcomers learn as much as possible from them. Most of our employees are in the development section now, we are looking to hire mor efor other departments soon.
 
 
Question: Globex Studios started out developing games for the cellphone. Why the decision to break into the online gaming market?
Answer: While we will continue to focus on the cellphone gaming market, the online gaming market is the perfect platform for us to showcase our abilities in developing games for all sorts of device. Developing cellhpone games takes a shorter time, which is good for a new company. Our executives have mast amount of experience in developing big 3D games, coupled with the fast emerging online gaming market in China, so the next step forward is just natural.
 
 
Question: Globex Studios announced the establishment of Globex Studios LA at the recent Game Developers Conference. What is the role of the studio amongst the 3 studios? Why the decision to set up a North American studio?
Answer: Yes, we have just announced Globex Studios LA at GDC 2010. The gaming industry is much more matured in North America compared to China, and with the aim to break into global markets, we will need the expertise of North American industry talents with regards to infrastructures, production and technology. Hence, the North American studio is being set up due to gaining valuable experience.
 
 
Question: Do the 3 studios from North America, China and Taiwan work together? Or do they work on inddividual projects?
Answer: Our studios work together to develope our upcoming MMOs. For out first MMO, the idea was from Taipei (Taiwan) and the 2 studios will be working on the project together.
 
 
Question: There are currently 2 MMOs in development. Can you tell us anything about them?
Answer: While I cannot give you the details, I can leak a little information. The first MMO will be a cute-style MMO for teens and teenagers, while the second title will be fantasy MMO.
 
 
Question: What engine is being used to develope these 2 games?
Answer: One title will be developed using the BigWorld engine, while the other will be using our self-developed engine.
Question: When will more news about these 2 game be available?
Answer: We plan to release more information at this year’s E3 convention.
 
Soure Information
Please note that not all questions and answers were translated as some are irrelevant.
Globex Game Studio Logo Official Developing Games

Evoke

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EVOKE is a ten-week crash course in changing the world.
It is free to play and open to anyone, anywhere.

The goal of the social network game is to help empower young people all over the world, and especially young people in Africa, to come up with creative solutions to our most urgent social problems.

The game begins on March 3, 2010. Players can join the game at any time.

On May 12th, 2010 the first season of the game will end, and successful participants will form the first graduating class of the EVOKE network.

Players who successfully complete 10 game challenges will be able to claim their honors: Certified EVOKE Social Innovator – Class of 2010.

Top players will also earn online mentorships with experienced social innovators and business leaders from around the world, seed funding for new ventures, and travel scholarships to share their vision for the future at the EVOKE Summit in Washington DC. (Learn more about these rewards.)

EVOKE was developed by the World Bank Institute, the learning and knowledge arm of the World Bank Group, and directed by alternate reality game master Jane McGonigal.

EVOKE is for all ages; recommended age 13 and up.

Neverwinter Nights

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Neverwinter Nights (NWN) is a computer game set in a huge medieval fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons. This role-playing game (RPG) puts you at the center of an epic tale of faith, war, and betrayal.

 

As a player, you are able to choose what skills and abilities you will develop as you voyage though the complex and dangerous fantasy world of Forgotten Realms. Be a deadly and dangerous Rogue moving through the shadows using stealth and secrecy, be a scholarly Wizard and wield powerful magic against your enemies, be a hulking Barbarian whose lust for battle is matched only by his terrible rage, be an armor-clad Paladin who protects the innocent and vanquishes his foes, be a crusading Cleric who heals the sick and defends the helpless… be all this and more.

 

Neverwinter Nights allows you to create your own worlds. This revolutionary game will come with all the tools needed to construct your own unique lands of adventure. The Neverwinter Nights Aurora Toolset allows even novice users to construct everything from a quiet, misty forest or a dripping cavern of foul evil, to a king’s court. All the monsters, items, set pieces and settings are there for world builders to use. But do not stop there; construct traps, encounters, custom monsters and magic items to make your adventure unique.

But the Neverwinter experience is not just for one person- adventure with all your friends. Neverwinter Nights can be played online with up to 64 friends, all sharing in the adventure. You can organize and run your own adventures through the role of the Dungeon Master and control all the monsters, creatures and characters your friends meet as they journey on their quest. A powerful piece of software that is included with Neverwinter Nights, the DM Client, allows nearly unlimited control for running your own adventures for your friends.

 

Neverwinter Nights…endless adventure!