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Yearly Archives: 2010
Battlefield Play4Free Closed Beta Signup
Battlefield Play4Free is a new free to play game from the same team that brought you Battlefield Heroes.
Armada Online Review – Pwn with your Own Ship
Armada Online Review – Pwn with your Own Ship
By Vincent Haoson (Vincenthaoson), OnRPG Journalist

As an online gamer there have been games that I always return to. Armada Online is one example. The overall idea of Armada Online is that you belong to one of the two factions (Nomad Empire or Allied Systems) and you duke it out in space with your very own ship.
You are given different instances where you either go against armadas (the monsters you see on the map) or against other players in some very epic PVP action.
Gameplay
Armada Online uses the overhead perspective. The ship’s controls use a mix of the keyboard and mouse. Navigation is locked to the mouse while weapons and other game features are accessed through the keyboard.
The controls give the authentic feeling that you are piloting a big spaceship and not just a fighter ship that can be gunned down easily. The fact that you can time your shots according to your ship’s weapon cool down gives you the captain-of-the-ship experience. In fact, I can say that the game lets you experience how it feels to be a starship commander in Star Trek. You can also opt to go on full auto with your ship’s weapon systems if you’re in the thick of things and you can just concentrate on steering your ship and evading enemy shots.

I can’t really say that the game is free from the MMORPG feel because Armada Online’s leveling system is somewhat similar to what most MMORPGs have. Each level gives you points for both your ship and captain to allocate for stats and skills. For ships, you get to improve their destructive power with every point you allocate , while captain points allow you to get skills to enhance your ship’s capabilities and give you points to allocate to the three stats (weapon, science and tactical) your captain has.
Races
In relation to the captain stats, racial bonuses come into play. Almost all races have stat bonuses in correlation to their race save for the humans (the Terran race in the game). Aside from stat bonuses, these races have certain roles in specific instances that put players into their “groups” determined by their race.

At first glance this may be too restrictive for players who want to have more freedom in their race choices. Players can go against the preconceived ideas of their race by being creative with their skill and stat allocations. While this may take more time than a player would like, the idea on being able to do this gives the twist the game needs to make it interesting for players.
Ships
As I mentioned earlier, each race has a specific ship design. While this knocks ship customization down a peg, the ship’s capabilities make playing the game very interesting. Each race has three ship tiers. Starting from the default ship, you can upgrade to tier two and then tier three. Each upgrade tier then gives you two paths to choose from.

There is a difference with the ship upgrades once you reach tier three. While there are four types of tier three ships for each race, you can only have two ship classes to upgrade to. The ship choices you have at this point are dictated by the type of ship you upgraded to in the second tier.
This type of system emphasizes on the importance of your choices in terms of your ship’s advancement. It gives you something to look forward to while enjoying the journey of leveling. On its own, the ships can only provide so much interest. That’s why I think the instances are the other half of the anchor that keeps me coming back for more.
Instances
Armada Online has three types of instances that you can play. There’s the co-op, the PVP and the global instances that works like dungeon instances in other MMORPGs. The Co-op instances are separated into the tutorial type (Haven) and the more serious one (the Burn). In the co-op instances all races help out one another in finishing tasks set on the map. In these instances you are only faced with armadas.
The PVP instances on the other hand pit the two factions against each other on one map. However you are not only faced with just your enemies, you also have to face armadas that patrol the map. These instances are really fun to play because they keeps you on your toes. It ‘s really an exhilarating experience to go against other ships in a head to head battle in space.

Influence, the currency you need to purchase skills, upgrades, crews and equipment for your colony, you earn in these instances are only earned locally and will only allow you to buy powers useable in the instance you are in. You’ll have to complete these instances to earn global influence, which in turn will provide for the things I’ve mentioned earlier.
The third and last instance you can join is the global instance. Everything you earn in this instance (influence and experience points) are usable for upgrades and the like. Think of the global instance as the PVE maps on MMORPGs where you don’t have a time limit or any other goal than to just explore, kills armadas and mine.

Global Instance and the Colony
The global instance in Armada Online is a huge map. This instance truly feels like you are travelling in space. You get to go through warp holes and even use the star map to plot a course to planets and star systems. The things you earn here are transferable so that you can use them in the development of your colony .
Conclusion
Armada Online is one of those games that has successfully infused a complex game concept and simplified it to maximize what makes space themed games like this enjoyable. While the main problem I have is the long delay in-between updates, I am still surprised every time I return into the game.
The game provides enough reason for a space buff like me to keep on playing. If you are looking for some old-school space battles then this game is just for you. So if you decide to play– I’ll be seeing you in space, Captain!
Pros:
– Simple upgrade system keeps you encouraged to play.
– Gameplay is easy to grasp but is very addicting.
– Provides an authentic space battle feel especially on heavily populated instances.
Cons:
– The game takes time to provide update.
– The game only has three game types and can be boring if you’re playing it for a long time.
– The game’s audio can be pretty redundant and boring.
Gaming Weapons You Wish You Had In MMOs
Gaming Weapons You Wish You Had In MMOs
By Kei Beneza (dividelife), OnRPG Journalist
How many years have you played video games? Yes, include the years that you spent on your console and your handheld. Done with your nostalgia now? Then relive your moments of victory after killing the most badass boss you’ve had the misfortune to meet since. Admit it, aside from Mario’s epic toilet plunger, the weapons we have for mass destruction or world peace in games today are just pretty generic.
In regular MMORPGs, there’s the generic sword for the tank types; the staff and scepter for the spellcasters; and bows and daggers for the rogues. There are also variations of javelins, maces, claws and (finally!) guns and rifles, which are usually the weapons of choice in FPS games. It seems like armaments are being underestimated in game development.
Since we’re on the topic, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to make a pretty suggestive article on some weapons that you would most probably love to wield against your worst nightmare in an MMO. Here’s a short list of some inspiring, crazy or unforgettable weapons that should be in your favored MMO inventories.
Lancer Assault Rifle AKA The Chainsaw Machinegun (Gears of War)
Preferably for: Melee Characters
The Lancer Assault Rifle is Gears of War’s trademark and default weapon. It can fire like crazy from a distance and is ten times deadlier up close. Think about it! If you had this equipped during one of your leveling sessions, then those murlocs would be sure to keep their distance. What about a Chainsaw gun wielding Paladin? That could work! Once he casts that protection spell, your best bet is to run away, unless you want to paint Tarren Mill with your character’s blood. Rogues, Thieves and Burglars would also find this awesome tool useful as they can probably 1-hit-kill anyone after going invisible; then again, who needs invisibility when you can just scare the buhjeezus out of your opponent by running towards him with a growling cutter gun? XD

Testing: Lancer in Action
The Plants (Plants Vs Zombies)
Preferably for: Nature classes like Druids
If these green demons can keep the undead out of your hair then they are probably even more effective on living things. Plants vs Zombies served as our training camp for the upcoming zombie apocalypse, but before we fight off those bald brain-eaters, we should probably enjoy these weapons inside MMOs. Totems? WHO NEEDS EM? Sentry guns? Too friggin’ expensive. If you’re going to manipulate the powers of nature, at least do so with style and splendor. Summon the epic pea shooter and make those PVP retards eat a whole shard of manure. Think about it! If you can summon at least three sunflowers next to your killer tomatoes then you’ll have all the mana you need. Potions? Bah, those merchants can just go bankrupt for all I care.

Red Queen (Devil May Cry 4)
Preferably for: Anyone who’s not a spellcaster 😛
Do you want a sword that not only looks cool but also possesses an awesome name that would keep you up all night while rubbing it with metal polish? Introducing the Red Queen! This sexy blade is handled just like any other blade but with a twist. While others just let you hack and slash like a Dynasty Warriors game, the Red Queen lets you do it with style and attitude. It possesses so much attitude you’ll probably be chosen as the next Power Ranger. The secret to the blade’s awesome performance lies in its motorcycle like switch that revs every time you twist the handle. So what else can it do?

You tell me: Red Queen in Action [Around 3:56 onward]
The Blades of Chaos (God of War)
Preferably for: Anyone! (It can kill Gods so might as well use it!)
When was the last time we even saw a long ranged whip-type weapon? Well, there are Dekaron’s whips, but does it really satisfy your hunger for blood and gore? My friend, what you need is a healthy dose of the Blades of Chaos! Crafted to god-like perfection and once held by the actual God of War himself, this weapon is definitely not your average bastard sword. Linking both swords together is an awesome ancient Greek chain that won’t shatter regardless of how hard you swing it. Not impressed? The blades are also engulfed in flames every time the bearer uses them. The catch? The chains are to be seared on the wearer’s arms (Yeouch!) if ever they wish to wield its power. Want to kill a God? Endure the pain, and bring in the bloodbath.

See what I mean?: Blades of Chaos in Action
The LandShark Gun (Armed and Dangerous)
Preferably for: EVERYONE
Last but not the least, we have Armed and Dangerous’ Land Shark Gun. First of all, I’d like to say that this weapon PWNS everything listed above. Honestly, I’ve yet to see anything that can beat the awesome might and magic of this life-taking masterpiece. It looks like a rocket launcher, but what does it launch? REAL LIVE LAND SHARKS! No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. If sharks on water are as scary as hell, then I have no idea how much you’ll crap in your pants after being targeted and chased by land-swimming sharks straight from a cannon. I’m really sorry for not being able to post a picture. I really think it’s best that you see what it can do with your own eyes.
Presenting… the BEST weapon you could probably have in an MMO…
Need I say more?
TERA: “They aren’t going to stab themselves”
TERA: “They aren’t going to stab themselves”
The highly anticipated title, TERA, is due to set trails ablaze in the MMORPG world in 2011. The TERA race and class series rolls on with an unveiling of the amani race and the lancer class. TERA’s unique achievement system also features some new twists on the familiar classic system.

Featured race: Amani
There’s no mistaking the amani race for another. The amani are of a considerable size and are distinguished by their reptilian features. Having endured years of enslavement at the hands of the conquering giants, the amani value their freedom above all else. Known for their honesty and candid nature, these giant reptiles don’t mince words. Earning the trust of the amani is no easy task, but well worth the effort as they make for a furious foe. The no-nonsense style of the amani is best exemplified by their common exclamation: “They aren’t going to stab themselves!”
Featured class: Lancer
The lancer is a battlefield dynamic that must be reckoned with. Featuring key attacks like the Lance Charge and the Onslaught, the lancer can cut even the biggest groups down to size. Along with enhanced combo attacks, the levelled-up lancer boosts the defence of his party members, while weakening that of his enemies. The lancer’s battlefield bona fides come at a price: he attracts aggro from all corners.
Unique achievements
MMO gamers are familiar with the process of levelling up, collecting items, and working through quests in order to build their character. TERA expands on the classic model, offering rewards from tasks that vary from exploration- and quest-based achievements to bestowing acclaim on players for PvP prowess and social interactions with NPC’s.
Forthcoming Runes of Magic Update Unlocks the Mighty Guardians of Kawak’s Tomb
Forthcoming Runes of Magic Update Unlocks the Mighty Guardians of Kawak’s Tomb
Frogster today announced that a new region, the Limo Desert, will be accessible to players with the release of Patch 3.0.6 of the online role-playing game, Runes of Magic. Brave adventurers will be able to test their resolve against five powerful guardians in ‘Kawak’s Tomb’ – the fiercely guarded resting place of the celebrated hero, Kawak Grollfang.
An ancient legend tells of Kawak Grollfang, former leader of the Iron Teeth, a barbarous tribe of canine people. During the Great Banishment, Kawak lured his enemies into a deadly trap and in doing so sacrificed himself for the benefit of his people. To keep the glorious memory of their brave leader alive, the Iron Teeth encased his remains in a golden sarcophagus, which has become an important tribal symbol. As a further homage to their revered leader, they constructed a pyramid-shaped burial chamber, and by carefully channelling runic power, talented craftsmen created mighty guardians to watch over Kawak’s golden sarcophagus protecting it from robbers and other enemies of the tribe.

In the depths of the pyramid lies a mystical subterranean dungeon designed for group play. The first obstacle to overcome is General Guzala Grollfang, a descendent of the legendary leader. Then, on their way to the golden sarcophagus, players must confront two mechanical guardians powered by rare runes, as well as a giant scarab. But these aren’t the only dangers lurking in the depths – many of the rooms have been equipped with deadly traps which can only be avoided through teamwork and skill. In the final chamber awaits the biggest challenge of all – a giant Anubis who personally guards Kawak’s golden sarcophagus and attacks all who dare to cross his path. Who will succeed in defeating him and bringing the mysteries of the legendary treasures he protects into the light of day?
LOCO Guided Tour – Three Games in One!
LOCO Guided Tour – Three Games in One!
By Michael Sagoe (mikedot), OnRPG Journalist
Tour guide: Hendrik Loga, product manager for Alaplaya, LOCO, and S4 League
New to Alaplaya’s line up is a brand new action game that mixes DotA inspired RTS gameplay with RPG and third person action called LOCO. The game features 13 different heroes to choose from (with 17+ more heroes on the way), each with their own strengths and weaknesses to bring into battle. LOCO brings players fast paced gameplay and intense team based PvP, all wrapped up with Unreal 3 Engine goodness, and I got to try it firsthand!
For starters: I have never played a DotA style game before. In fact, I didn’t know that this sub-genre of RTS titles existed until a month or so ago, mainly because I suck at RTS titles. Looking at LOCO on the surface, I didn’t know that it was a DotA style game until I got into it. So let’s take a look at what makes LOCO such a unique experience, shall we?
Tour start: kicking things off
The tour started with me selecting my primary hero and then taking a quick romp through the tutorial mode. The heroes available run the gambit from looking generic to looking incredibly bizarre. I decided to go with Irene, a melee tank character that uses spears or maces with shields in combat. In the tutorial, the game explains just about everything you need to know about basic combat, and only took me around 10 minutes to run through (although I did skip a bit of the dialogue along the way.)

Irene alternate hero costume
After the tutorial: Hendrik went on to explain what they have in store with the game’s AP shop. Like with Alaplaya’s other titles, LOCO is free-to-play with an optional cash shop for players to purchase items with real money to enhance their experience. The thing about free-to-play games is that some people are under the impression that you’ll have to spend real money to be able to compete, but that isn’t the case with LOCO because the available cash shop content does not provide any major advantage over non-paying players. At the moment, players can buy special outfits for their heroes which gives them 50% more coins (in-game money) from battles. Players can also buy extra quest boards that give players mini missions to complete during battles to earn extra items, equipment and bonuses.
Game modes and rep system
It was just about time to get to the root of LOCO by participating in a live match. At the moment, there are only two game modes available (elimination and battlefield,) but there are more coming down the pipeline. While elimination mode was more of a straightforward team deathmatch kind of thing, battlefield is the real draw behind what LOCO is all about. While Hendrik started up a fresh battlefield room and waited for other players to join in, he explained the game’s simple reputation system: Next to each player’s username, there’s a small smiley face showing that the player is in good standing. If player leaves a battle without finishing, they can have their reputation level lowered and that smiley face will be turned into a devil. Players with the mark of this little devil can get booted from games without vote kicking, so you better not think about running away from a fight.

Battle lobby
Getting down to business
Once the match started, I was given the option to play with either beginner or expert mode. Playing in beginner mode will allow the game to select your skills and items for you; while expert mode lets you do all that manually. There are no major disadvantages to playing in beginner mode against someone with expert mode set on, so playing with beginner mode lets me throw all the guess work out of the way so I could simply jump into the fray.

Warrior rush
Of course, jumping right into the fray isn’t always the best thing to do, since coordination with your team is the key to winning battles. This is where the DotA inspired gameplay mechanics come in, there is no permanent leveling progression in LOCO outside of gaining new equipment for your character, you’ll have to defeat enemies to level up your characters during each match. There are several objectives you’ll have to complete before claiming victory against the enemy team, such as destroying different types of enemy bases. Running right along with my team, we had to capture huge monoliths in order to take control of a giant flying battleship that rains fiery doom.

Using the battleship to destroy enemy base points was only one of our objectives. Next, we summoned a bunch of giant weapons to help us take down temples, recall spots and other buildings. What were these giant weapons I speak of? Why, they were huge mammoths!
Our last objective was a strike on the HQ, which we took down with ease. The commander NPC that was spawned from the destroyed HQ wasn’t so easy. He was able to take down my team in a matter of seconds. Since this was the objective for my team to tackle, we had to wait a good minute and a half before we could respawn back in. Regardless, we headed back down to destroy the commander and won the match. Sure, the whole thing was a bit one-sided since the players on the enemy team were playing one man down but hey, a win’s a win!
Wrap up
The tour ended and I got a pretty good feel for what makes LOCO tick. The mix between RTS and third person action seems to blend effortlessly and future content planned sounds very promising. For those looking give LOCO a whirl, redirect your browsers over to the official website!
World of Tanks Rolls Out American Tanks
World of Tanks Rolls Out American Tanks
Wargaming.net is glad to announce the release of a huge update for World of Tanks that includes a brand-new line-up of American vehicles.
The fresh reinforcement brings into action American armor of various classes: fast and furious light tanks, manoeuvrable medium vehicles, powerful heavy and super-heavy units, and precise artillery thus offering absolutely new gameplay opportunities and extensive options for tactical manoeuvres and teamwork.
“We know that our fans all over the world have been waiting impatiently for the “stars and stripes” to appear – so here they are!” says Victor Kislyi, CEO of Wargaming.net. “The tanks that we have in the game at the moment form the backbone of the American armored fleet that will gradually grow bigger and stronger. Such legendary vehicles as Pershing, M10 Wolverine, and M18 Hellcat are already in development and will join the ranks soon!”

The current patch also adds two new battlegrounds – Monastery with its mixture of urban and countryside landscapes, and Sandy River that recreates a part of a desert – and implements a number of balance tweaks and performance fixes.
HEAT Online
HEAT online is a free-to-play MMORG (Massively Multiplayer Online Racing Game) developed by Invictus-Games Ltd. Experienc e the thrills of high-speed on and off road racing with tens of awesome cars in HEAT online. You can race against thousands of fellow players on the racetracks of Germany or the Hungarian and Mexican off-road tracks, in the English countryside, on the rooftops of Shanghai and many more. Invictus’ l atest game engine offers a realistic real-time damage model. The vehicles are user-customizable both in appearance and performance. Win points by racing, buy items in-game and tune your ride. This game does not require professional driving skills; we’d like to see you having fun!
HEAT Online Trailer
HEAT online is a free-to-play MMORG (Massively Multiplayer Online Racing Game) developed by Invictus-Games Ltd.