Yearly Archives: 2010

The Secret World: “It’ll be a sh!t game, don’t buy it.”

The Secret World: “It’ll be a sh!t game, don’t buy it.”
– Ragnar Tornquist on The Secret World

 

Posted by Jonathan (Ardua) Doyle OnRPG Journalist on his weblog.

 

Conspiracies… myths… half truths, careful lies and dark places. All of these are in The Secret World. All myths are true, for a given value. All conspiracies are being played out by the major factions, so long as it suits them.

 

The Secret World 

 

Templar, Dragon, Illuminati. A world beneath and a game on the horizon. Whatever you know about The Secret World, game creator Ragnar Tornquist says it best on twitter.

 

“RagnarTornquist @RarePc No, it’ll be a shit game, don’t buy it. OF COURSE it’s going to be a good game, worth every penny, cross my heart, etc. Peace. #TSW”

 

The Secret World 

 

Of course he’s joking. This game is his baby and soon we will all get to witness its birth onto the AAA MMO gaming scene. If you haven’t been following the rise and reveals of The Secret World, then more than any other game before you are missing a treat. Sure there is the normal hype surrounding it. Where there are fans, there are huge expectations and opinions. Where there are fans, there are detractors and naysayers. All of that we’re used to, heck for some of us it’s how we got our start in the MMO blog scene. Hype breeds excitement, excitement breeds word of mouth and we all know what word of mouth can do for, or in darker cases to, a game.

 

This game though, it has been creeping around in all the dark places. It has been waiting, growing. Spinning tales and weaving webs. I speak of course of the many ARGs (Alternate Reality Games) related to The Secret World. Even if you aren’t a fan of MMOs, and if not I’d wonder why you’re reading this, it has been quite an experience.

 

I personally have followed the tweets of some of the unwitting souls of Kingsmouth. I have read of the Monsters of Maine and the Sanctuary Of Secrets. All of these things are being played out on the internet. Sometimes in bursts, full of action and teases. Other times subtly and over a period of time. Unlike any other game I have watched come from concept art, through the teasing trailers and into the market, The Secret World has won my adulation and interest through its mystery. Through the fact that the more I know, the more I want to. All the conspiracies and myths await, all the promises of a secret world, a hidden war and a story unlike any I personally have played with before are just ahead of me.

 

The Secret World

 

For people who are left looking at this entry, wanting more, expecting something other than the gushing of a proclaimed fan, there is plenty to be found. There is information close at hand and on the official game forums. Ragnar himself is answering questions every so often on Formspring.me.  The Alternate Reality Games get picked apart by a rabid and dedicated fanbase on more than one occasion. Of course the best information comes from community questions on the forums themselves here, here and here.

 

Will it be, as Ragnar joked, a sh-oh look a kitty-t game? I for one am happy with my expectations. I think it will be every bit as deep, every bit as enthralling and mysterious as advertised. In the end, every game has fans and detractors. Every game will have nay-sayers and rabid supporters. I am going for the game whose manner and mystery caught my imagination… not with pretty graphics or insane gameplay. They weren’t shown yet when I first was snared by it. No, they made me imagine all the possibilities and that, the promise of the mind, is why I will follow the Templar into the darkness of Argartha. Into The Secret World.

 

The Secret World

LOCO Goes Into Open Beta

LOCO Goes Into Open Beta


Burda:ic (aka Alaplaya) announced the start of the Open Beta Test for its RTS Action MMO LOCO – Land of Chaos Online. The OBT will provide players around the world with the chance to experience some virtual mayhem as Burda:ic prepares for the game’s official launch.

 

“It’s time to see which side will reign supreme as we welcome any and all RTS, third-person shooter, and MMO enthusiasts to LOCO,” said Achim Kaspers, Managing Director of Burda:ic. “We eagerly await the community’s insight as they battle mercilessly to decide the fate of the Land of Chaos.”

 

Players can build a powerful team from LOCO's full roster of 30 heroes.

 

For the first time ever, players can build a powerful team from LOCO’s full roster of 30 heroes, each one a master of unique and varied abilities, and fight for total control of the battlefield on behalf of either the Army of Hell or the Forces of Nature. Players start out with three hero cards for free, and everyone participating in the OBT gets access to an additional three cards for a limited period of 30 days.

 

Whether you’re competing online or clashing against AI-controlled enemies for practice, only one side can triumph in the end. Choose your allies wisely and prepare for a battle unlike anything you’ve ever experienced!

Captains of Darktide

Silverlode Interactive’s new game Captains of DarkTide is a fantasy free-to-play naval strategy MMORPG, where players build and explore a fantasy world as the captain of a mighty ship. Fight legendary creatures, other vessels, other players, or join with your friends and fight epic bosses to win treasure and glory.

Zentia Announces Gate Crasher Event

Break Down the Zentia Gates and Crash Their Servers!

 

ChangYou.com (US) Inc. is announcing today that from Aug 5th through Aug 8th, Zentia’s team dares those that were unable to get into the Closed Beta to break through their tight security system for an opportunity to test out the game.

 

Zentia Floating Umbrella Mount 
Floating umbrella mount in Zentia

 

The Zentia team has recently tightened the beta key security system. For those lost souls out there that weren’t able to get their hands on a Zentia Beta Key, you have 4 days to try to get past those gated walls. Should the community be able to break through, players will receive double experience and 200 tokens that they can use during the Closed Beta Token Shop from Aug 5th until the end of Closed Beta on Aug 8th. The Closed Beta Token Shop will have nearly 200 items, including rare mounts, accessories, consumables, and fun new costumes.  In addition, following the end of Closed Beta on August 8th, players are invited to the Early Access Beta on Aug 16th.  Accounts and characters created in the Early Access Beta will transfer over to Open Beta.

 

Zentia Closed Beta Token Shop: Available Aug 5th- Aug 8th:
– Wheels of Fire – 1 person mount that puts wheels of fire on player’s feet to increase speed
– Colorful Umbrella – 2 person floating umbrella mount
– White Lily – Changes player’s weapon into a White Lily while adding extra attributes
– Chamber Pot – Changes character’s appearance into a chamber pot, flies included
– Moon Blade – Changes player’s weapon into a Moon Blade, adding extra attributes
– Thunderchief Clothes – 2 piece costume

 

Zentia White Lily
Change your weapon into a white lily!

Blade of Eternity Live Promotion!

Blade of Eternity Live Promotion!

 

Blade of Eternity is a brand new free-to-play text-based MMORPG that has just moved from open beta to final release. To celebrate the occasion, starting July 24th, Blade of Eternity is offering new players 5 days worth of increased life line regeneration. Train faster, gain items much more easily, attack and level more quickly – If you haven’t had a chance to try out this exciting new game, then now is your chance!

 

Blade of Eternity

 

Sign up today and begin your journey in the world of Blade of Eternity!

 

Information on Blade of Eternity

Blade of Eternity is a text-based fantasy themed MMORPG. Players have the chance to develop their character into one of 3 unique classes, as well as into one of four different professions. Each character path offers a unique set of skills to use during training or combat. Take on quests, have your fortunes read to you by those trained in the ancient teachings, or dare to enter into the catacombs and find hidden treasures. Craft battle equipment unique to your character’s profession. Live the life of a lone warrior or join up with a clan and together dominate all those who oppose you. Blade of Eternity also features strong online social interaction with players via forums, messaging and chat. Other features include customizable profiles, mini-games, statistics and a helpful and friendly staff.

 

Sign up today and begin your journey in the world of Blade of Eternity!

 

Blade of Eternity Logo

Blizzard Art Featured In Museum

Blizzard Art Featured In Museum

 

Blizzard Entertainment will soon open an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Taipei, Taiwan featuring 800 creative works from the Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo game series.

 

Blizzard Entertainment will soon open an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Taipei


The show is set to begin on August 20 and will be titled “Fights, Flights, & Frights – Inside the Storm” will showcase paintings, sculptures of game characters, interactive installations and videos of the famous Blizzard IPs.

 

What is interesting to note is that the exhibit will include art as far back as from 1995!

Cabal Online Interview: Secrets of the Radiant Hall

Cabal Online Interview: Secrets of the Radiant Hall
Questions by Vincent Haoson, OnRPG Journalist
Answered by Anthony Smith, Business Development Manager

 

Cabal Online has been operating recently celebrated their 4th year anniversary and in conjunction to that they released their latest patch, Secrets of the Radiant Hall. We got the chance to talk to them regarding about this update.

 

OnRPG: Before I start, congratulations to your fourth anniversary! How are you guys currently feeling with the game almost operating for half a decade in such a competitive environment?

Thank you! We are very proud of reaching this landmark and are very excited for the developments that are planned for the months and years ahead. As was the case four years ago, CABAL remains a very unique MMO and continues to attract thousands of users each and every day seeking to enjoy a game with fast-paced action and adventure!

 

OnRPG: So let’s move on with your latest update, Secrets of the Radiant Hall, can you say that this update is a game changer? Why or Why not?

Every update in CABAL is a game changer in one way or another. The Radiant Hall update improved and polished a lot of the current content and also added plenty of new content, in the form of dungeons and accessories, for players to enjoy.

 

One of the biggest changes Radiant Hall brings is the completely new user interface. It gives the game a very stylish, modern feel and most importantly improves overall usability. Other features, such as the Daily Quest system, are also very useful additions and open a range of opportunities for future development.

 

OnRPG: You’ve given the gist of the storyline content Secrets of the Radiant Hall has, can you give us an idea on how the story will be presented in the game? How will players find out the details behind the secrets of the Phantasmal Clan?

The quests inside the Radiant Hall dungeon are heavily story-based, revealing more and more of the secrets of Radiant Hall and the Phantasmal Clan as players venture deeper into the dungeon. We of course do not want to spoil the story for anyone and people wishing to know more should make a visit to the dungeon!

 

 Cabal Online

 

OnRPG: what’s the story behind the lost girl in the new solo quest dungeon, Catacomb frost?

You are introduced to the dungeon by one of the NPCs in Bloody Ice, as he begs you to follow the trail of a girl who vanished from the village. You manage to find clues as to where and how she vanished, which then leads you to the entrance of the Catacomb Frost dungeon. Again we don’t want to give-away too much but it is fair to say the story plays out once you enter the icy tomb dungeon.

 

OnRPG: How challenging is Catacomb Frost with the dungeon set for characters level 110 and above? Can you say that players who have ‘buffed’ up items can breeze through this dungeon brashly or do they need to have the mix of luck, skill and powerful items to survive the dungeon?

Catacomb Frost, as with the other timed solo dungeons, will allow the player to choose the difficulty level they want – easy, medium or hard. The hard setting will prove a challenge for even well-geared characters, due to the time-limit that the dungeon has and the number of monsters players have to deal with once inside. You definitely need skill and some powerful gear if you are brave enough to try the dungeon on hard.

 

OnRPG: Speaking of new quests, how difficult is the new raiding dungeon? Do players need to have a better strategy and group sync in this new dungeon compared to Illusion castle? Or can high level characters force themselves through the maps with high level weapons and equipment?

Viewed purely in terms of the power of the monsters inside Radiant Hall is of a similar difficulty level to Illusion Castle. Crucially however the quests inside Radiant Hall will prove a challenge for players of all levels and players will need to work together as a team to complete all of the dungeon and leave it alive.

 

OnRPG: Are these two new dungeons only set for high level weapons farming? Or is it also a good leveling place for players? Why or why not?

Radiant Hall has optional side-quests that give a hefty experience boost, which is ideal for players still leveling their characters. Some of the quests inside the dungeon also reward the players with Ability Experience, which is something all top-level characters need. The dungeon is thus ideal for players still leveling as well as players who have already reached the level cap.

 

OnRPG: I see that you have finally included a daily quest system in the game? What made you guys add this game feature? And why is it set on level 65 characters and above?

The daily quests can be used for faster leveling or to gain ability experience, guild points or dungeon entries. It gives even players at max level a reason to go out and kill some monsters and defend the villages of Nevareth. In terms of why we set the level to 65 and above, a level which takes only several days to reach, it is because we felt that up until 65 players are still busy learning the game. It is only by 65 when a player has had plenty of time to learn and understand the game’s basics that they can truly enjoy all the daily quest system has to offer.

 

OnRPG: Are these daily quests related to the game’s storyline? Or are they more of a daily chores kind of quests that have no ties with the on-going story?

While the daily quests do not develop the games main storyline, they continue to build on the sense of turbulence and darkness that is spreading across the lands of CABAL. You get asked for help by several of the town’s main NPCs in dealing with a series of problems that threaten their day-to-day lives. For example the armor shop dealer in Bloody Ice tells you that there are an increasing number of monsters who are robbing his wares and asks that you kindly help him in removing the threat.

 

OnRPG: Why are the daily quests made that way? Are the daily quests set to show that the citizens of Navareth have chores lives outside of battles? Or are these daily quests connected to the games lore in the future?

The Daily Quests show players how truly fragile and vulnerable the society they are part of is. With the constant threat of evil monsters, and a people split between opposing ideas on the best way to re-build, it brings home how hard the day-to-day life is for the ordinary citizens that the young heroes rely on.

 

OnRPG: It seems that all the updates are for mid-level players and above. Will you be including any updates for low level players in the future? Or are you concentrating more on the dedicated players of the game? Why or why not?

The previous updates changed the gameplay significantly for lower level characters, adding training dungeons with the possibility to obtain really good gear, re-designing the novice armour sets, changing quest rewards, and so on. This update polishes the current games look and feel, and the next update will introduce a new level cap, new skills, and a new map especially for high-level players. As you can see the game is constantly being improved for players of all levels.

 

Cabal Fight 

 

OnRPG: Aside from the new dungeons and maps, you included interface changes and new game features. What were your bases for including these changes into the game?

The game interface was re-designed to make it more modern, and more stylish. Visually it is very appealing, and this improves the overall player experience. The Daily Quest system, as well the change in the party search feature merely improves on features that players have come to expect from MMOs.

 

OnRPG: Looking at it in a bigger picture, the game features (new party search system, new key binding system and the new chat macros) are a long time coming, why were they only included now?

It is a simple fact of life that it is never possible to develop and introduce all of the great ideas and features that would improve a game at once. It is a case of prioritizing and while we could have added features like the key binding much earlier, it would have meant delaying another feature or piece of content that is equally as important to users.

 

OnRPG: How great was the community’s influence over the changes and updates that are included in Secrets of the Radiant Hall? Would you say that this update is good example of a great collaboration between you guys and the game community?

There is an entire section of the game forum dedicated to player suggestions on how to make the game better. The best ideas are forwarded to the game developers, who then use these to reach an understanding on what players like and dislike. In terms of suggestions that made their way into this update, many of the ideas put forward on the interface and daily quest system came from the game’s community.

 

OnRPG: What’s in store for Cabal Online in the following months ahead?

We have a very big update planned for the end of this summer, which will include new skills, a new map, an increase to the level cap, and new dungeons, to name just a few. There are a great many very good things on their way to CABAL Online! 

World of Lordcraft – “Never surrender you freedom!”

World of Lordcraft – “Never surrender you freedom!”
By Kei Beneza (dividelife), OnRPG Journalist

 

What started out as a rumored April Fool’s joke turned out to be a real game. Yes people! World of Lord Craft, the infamous Chinese browser game is now in open beta. I really laughed my ass off when I first saw the title. I mean come on! World of Lordcraft? Is this real? You better believe it, cause I swear that this is the one of the most ORIGINAL games to be launched this year LOL. Jokes aside it’s no mystery that World of Lordcraft was inspired by the hit MMORPG World of Warcraft, copying most of its details including races, locations and overall concept. Is this even legal? Some gamers already treat this game as a joke after spotting a lot of copy-pasted content from the World of Warcraft storyline.

 

World of Lordcraft

 

Hmm… very original I must say. I’m sure I’ve seen these two before, but maybe it’s just my imagination. It’s not like there are other games that sport an epic war between the Horde and Alliance right? Anyway, although this game is a rip off of epic proportions, I should at least give it the benefit of the doubt and review it properly so here goes.

 

Starting Up

Once logged in, you will be taken to the race selection screen where you must choose your desired race. There are six races all in all, with three belonging to one of two factions (OMG! So original! Horde and Alliance? Awesome!). Being that we are still in open beta, players can only choose between Humans and Orcs; the finished product however will include Night Elves and Dwarves for the Alliance , and Trolls and Taurens for the Horde. After selecting your desired race, it’s time to select your location. I was actually surprised upon seeing the world map as most of the areas in the game were taken from World of Warcraft. I guess ripping-off WoW’s races and lore just wasn’t enough for them.

 

World of Lordcraft Loading

 

Originality Factor

The more I play, the more I feel disgusted. I’ve seen many WoW clones in the MMO world, but never have I seen one that actually copied 80% of the entire thing (including trademarked details and character design). The whole Arthas – Thrall Banner was pushing it, and now they’re copying WoW’s locations too? Other references such as structure names, and structure effects were also taken from the original Warcarft 3 game. I’m not sure what they’re trying to pull off, but they sure love Blizz.

 

World of Lordcraft Originality
Originality is dubious 

 

Welcome To The World Of LordCraft

Once players are done with the necessary requirements, they will be taken to the tutorial page, which is by far  one of the worst tutorials I’ve seen in a browser game. The short read was quite informative at first, but eventually leaves you in the dirt as you progress further in the game. The first thing I realized was that World of Lordcraft had stunning visuals for a browser game. The lightning effect on Pseudo-Jaina Proudmoore’s hand for example was really animated well. You’d think a rip-off like this would be nothing but trash overall, but damn was I wrong. The game was concrete and excellent, despite its copy-paste nature.

 

Note: You can change your Lord’s name by clicking on the top left corner. Mine’s “notWoW”— what’s your lord’s name?

 

Browser Based Elements- Building Structures

As you may have noticed, the game still retains the traditional browser game interface where players must build structures in order to unlock more options to strengthen their kingdom. Note that building structures still takes place in real time; so watch out for that timer. Much like your average browser game, your base will have allotted squares where you must place your structures. You may also upgrade these structures in order to expand your unit count, as well as your kingdom’s tax rate in order to collect more gold for your progress.

 

World of Lordcraft Starting UP
Alliance or Horde?

 

Upcoming Stuff

Later in the game players will be able to equip their characters with items that will aid them in their quest for supremacy. This makes everything less linear in a way, as players struggle to find better gear in order to beat the odds.

 

Prepare For War!

Once your novice protection phase ends, your kingdom will enter a hostile persistent world where players will most likely attack you. You can scout kingdoms to monitor their overall progress. I’m sure you’re ready to kick some arse, but it pays to know your enemy before sending your troops. Players will be given time to prepare their units upon a declaration of war (8 hours if they are in the same faction, and 4 hours if they aren’t). It’s not a bad idea as the defendant will have enough time to set up his defenses; however, it also removes the element of surprise, making the game feel like a military skirmish rather than a real war. It’s not my fault he didn’t prepare his troops right?

 

Once you get enough gold and minerals, you will have the choice to expand your kingdom across the map. This makes it easier to mass-produce, thus giving you the upper advantage over your enemies.

 

World of Lordcraft Tutorials

 

Visuals

As far as visuals are concerned, World of Lordcraft’s elements are superior to most browser games. The game has enough animated lighting effects and well rendered structures to keep you from dismissing it as another poor rip-off. The artwork looks pretty nifty as well. I know they’re based off existing characters, but the alteration looks good overall. The player’s HUD is also impressive as most of the important details were brilliantly placed on the screen, allowing players to keep track of their minerals as well as access building/unit options without difficulty.

 

The Verdict

Although the game has a variety of impressive features, it won’t take away the fact that the game is one huge rip-off. It would’ve been awesome if they came up with their own concept, especially since the game has much to offer, but the whole WoW thing prevents it from being taken seriously. Truth be told, I really liked the game. Without a doubt, this rip-off is a must play for browser game enthusiasts.

 

Pros:
– Awesome visuals
– Gear and items
– Lots of options to choose from
– Combat looks awesome

 

Cons:
– It’s a huge rip-off
– Again, it IS a huge rip-off
– Crappy tutorials
– Waiting time before war takes place.