An interview with producer Chris Hanger of TERA Online, explaining the new political system within the game. This is only the beginning of our video 2011’s E3 coverage. Be sure to checkout our upcoming videos on League of Legends, Prime World, Dragon Nest, and much more on OnRPG.com!
Monthly Archives: June 2011
E3: OnRPG Day Three Game Lineup!
By Michael Dunaway, OnRPG Site Admin
Wow can you believe it? Here we are day three of E3 and another lineup of cool new info releases from various game companies! Today OnRPG will be covering the following at E3:
UFO Online – A look at Gamigo’s tactical browser based turn game.
Vindictus – Nexon gives us a preview of the new class Karok.
Dragon Nest– We discuss with Nexon the PvP and PvE aspects of their new action MMORPG.
Skyrim – We get a sneak peak of Bethesda’s new RPG Skyrim.
Wakfu – Square Enix gives us the inside scoop on the political system within their new MMO Wakfu.
Tom Clancy Future Soldier – Ubisoft shows us a glimpse of their new futuristic tactical shooter.
Assassins Creed Revelations – We take a look at the next installment of the Assasins Creed series.
World of Tanks – Wargaming talks about the upcoming development and changes to their popular MMO World of Tanks.
Keep your eyes on OnRPG tonight as we unveil some juicy TERA details in our E3: TERA interview video series!
Watch them right here on the site or at:
www.Youtube.com/OnRPG
E3 2011 Rusty Hearts Interview w/ Producer Mark Hill
Check out this interview with producer Mark Hill for Rusty Hearts in HD!
E3: OnRPG Day Two Game Lineup!
By Michael Dunaway, OnRPG Site Admin
Another day at E3 and another lineup of cool new info releases from various game companies! Today OnRPG will be covering the following at E3:
Tera Online – In-depth interview covering the recently released Vanark information and combat system.
Lucent Hearts – Gamania is giving us the lowdown on new updates for their dating MMOG Lucent Hearts.
Prime World – Nival Entertainment will be showing us a first look of their new MOBA style social strategy game.
Rift – Trion will be releasing details surrounding Rift’s first full expansion.
League of Legends – Riot Games will be showing off three new upcoming champions to be released.
Stay tuned for OnRPG full coverage articles and videos of all the above titles plus more, here at E3!
HD E3 2011 TERA online Trailer
New TERA Online fresh out of 2011’s E3. Beyond TERA in HD!
E3: Details released regarding TERA Online’s Political System!
E3: Details released regarding TERA Online’s Political System!
By Michael Dunaway, OnRPG Site Admin
Enmasse just released details of the new political system in TERA Online. The lands of TERA are divided up into territories that elected players called Vanarchs can control. In order for a player to be elected into the Vanark position is through an election system held ever so often. The players in the territory have the right to vote on whether or not a certain player gets the opportunity to assume the position. However diplomacy is not the only way to achieve rulership, players can also become Vanark through domination and arena combat in each region. Tournaments are held and if a players team is victorious then the team leader is elected as Vanarch.
Some of the responsibilities/actions a Vanark can perform while in power are:
Raising and lowering taxes in shops – A Vanarch can choose how much players have to pay extra in shops within the territory. The extra income from these taxes is paid directly to the Vanark.
Enable or disable open pk – A Vanarch can choose to enable or disable open PVP between everyone in the territory.
Open special NPCs to the public or keep them private – A Vanarch can choose to allow everyone in the territory access to special NPCs with rare weapons and other craftable items or keep them for himself and his political party (guild in TERA).
Special events – A Vanarch can choose to pay for special events to be held in his territory. These events range from banners flown with the Vanarch’s colors and name to parades held in honor of the Vanark. The Vanark can even choose to host events for his loyal citizens, giving out items.
Policing system – A territory task force of NPCs who can enforce the laws put in place. If a player breaks the laws then the NPCs actually imprison the players.
In order to stay in power a Vanarch must maintain a certain level of policy points. Periodically a vote will be taken in order to see if the player currently the Vanarch is to remain as such. If the player is an unpopular Vanark and they wish to remain in power they must embark on Vanarch quests to kill certain world bosses in oder to keep their policy points high.
All of this information points to quite an exciting tug-of-war style political system with different political parties and players vying for control as the Vanarch in their respective territories. Check back often here on OnRPG for more exclusive TERA information!
Perfect World and Enmasse interviews this week from E3!
Perfect World and Enmasse interviews this week from E3!
By Michael Dunaway, OnRPG Site Admin
This week marks E3 and OnRPG is onsite and on duty! Tomorrow tune in to get a chance to watch exclusive interviews with Perfect World and Enmasse! Find out just whats in store for Perfect World’s Rusty Hearts and Enmasse’s TERA! But these two interviews mark just the tip of the iceberg. Stay tuned as OnRPG keeps you covered and smothered with E3 information!
-Spunkify
The Witcher 2: Gaming Royalty
The Witcher 2 Assassins of Kings: Gaming Royalty
By Neil Kewn (Murxidon) – OnRPG Journalist
2008’s The Witcher was a largely forgettable game. An intriguing premise that was hampered by poor performance, numerous bugs and frustrating gameplay mechanics, it failed to set the role-playing genre alight in 2008. CD Projekt RED’s much talked about sequel has finally hit shelves and thankfully puts right everything that dragged down its predecessor. The Witcher 2 doesn’t compare and it doesn’t compromise. A game that draws you in and refuses to let you go, it’s a stylish, beautiful adventure that offers the best the role-playing genre has to offer. With its lush world, meaty combat and engrossing narrative, The Witcher 2 is the complete package.
It isn’t without faults, but its shortfalls are nothing compared to the original. This time around Geralt has been accused of murdering his King, and he must set out to find the real killer and clear his name. It isn’t the most original tale but it is told with such style and intrigue that you can’t help but be drawn in. The characters you meet and the places you visit on the course of your travels are full of character, and fantastic voice acting makes the gorgeous world even more believable. There is a lot to see and a hell of a lot to do in this game; you could spend hours avoiding the main story just to soak it all up.
Make no mistake – this isn’t a “My First RPG” type of game. The Witcher 2 is a hardcore title aimed at the most dedicated of players. It’s challenging and often unfair, and you will almost certainly be frustrated at the seemingly random spikes in difficulty that crop up at the most inopportune times. Often I found myself outnumbered and outgunned, leaving me questioning just how well balanced the game is, but that’s just how it was made (CD Projekt RED themselves testify to this). I applaud the developers for taking a no holds barred approach to role-playing that we don’t often see these days, but it will alienate those who are new to the genre or lack the patience to find other ways to progress. Those who stick with it are rewarded in kind, as even the slightest victory feels totally satisfying.
Combat is primarily achieved via the mouse. Left click makes use of Geralt’s fast and frantic sword swings whilst the right mouse button offers slower but more powerful attacks. This is no hack and slash adventure though; it takes real skill, patience and timing to pull off successful attacks without leaving yourself exposed. Very rarely are you fighting a single enemy, and very rarely do the others hold back. This is notably more apparent in the early stages of the game when a weaker Geralt can be easily blindsided and killed by just a few attacks. It’s all too easy to get overwhelmed by the enemy. Geralt doesn’t have to rely on just swordplay to defeat opponents though. Signs are magical abilities that can aid the white haired warrior in and out of combat. From fireballs and traps to magical shields and mind control, they can turn the tide in battle if used effectively.
Most of the combat options can be found in the game’s quick access radial menu. Bringing it up slows down the game considerably (without pausing), giving you time to select a new Sign, trap or weapon. Also here is the Meditate ability, a particularly important skill that Geralt can perform when not fighting. Once meditating, you can create or drink potions, see the character development screen or wait until a certain time. Alchemy is an important part of The Witcher 2 and Geralt can harvest most plants he comes across. Being the skilled potion brewer that he is, he can create a variety of drinks and spirits that can aid him both in and out of combat.
Meditating may sound like an unnecessary step to brew or take potions, but it’s in line with the games slower pace. Combat is methodical and exploration is rewarded, very rarely do you want to rush from one area to the next. Geralt doesn’t have a completely open world to explore but the developers have done a good job of breathing life into to the people you meet and the towns you visit. A full day and night cycle is in use and NPCs live out their day to day lives with a nice, if a little predictable, set of actions. It isn’t totally realistic, often you will hear NPCs recycling lines, but citizens will work and sleep and chat with each other. Guards will also light torches at night and patrol the streets during the day. Witcher 2’s awe-inspiring locations feel lived in.
As a monster slayer, Geralt always wields a silver sword alongside his primary weapon to deal with any otherworldly characters he meets on his travels. There are a variety of different swords to be salvaged, collected or made and most come with welcome buffs or upgrades. Geralt doesn’t create weapons himself though, and instead must gather the required schematics and materials to take to a blacksmith or crafter. He can also throw dice, arm wrestle or simply trade wares.
A lot has been made of the visuals in this game – and rightly so. It is a mesmerizing display of both technical and artistic graphical quality. A master class in lighting, detail and texture work that fortunately doesn’t require a powerhouse to experience. Witcher is well optimized to run on all sorts of systems, and a recent patch promised to improve performance and remove all traces of the controversial DRM that was bundled with the game on release. Downloadable content has also been promised.
The Witcher 2 is an accomplished role-playing title clearly made by, and aimed at, die-hard fans of the genre. An awkward learning curve and harsh difficulty might at times drain the enjoyment out of the early game, but if you commit you will be rewarded with a sublime role-playing experience. It’s bold, beautiful and packed with memorable moments and intriguing tales. Its execution isn’t perfect, but it’s an overwhelmingly supreme game that stands head and shoulders above the competition.
League of Legends: Runeterra on Trial
League of Legends: Runeterra on Trial
by Jason Harper (Hhean), OnRPG Journalist
With the new champion delayed in last week’s patch, I’m going to hold off this week on writing about Orianna until I can give a proper review. So instead I’m going to rant about one of the most interesting experiments League of Legends has ever attempted: The Tribunal.
Anyone who’s spent any time in League of Legends knows that, much like any popular online game, there is a fetid sea of morons out there who seem intent on acting like a clown due to the pseudo-anonymity provided by the internet. The phenomenon is sometimes referred to as John Gabriel’s Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory, though its more technical name is the Online Disinhibition Effect.
I have a smaller, sub theory of my own that the likelihood of encountering an Internet Asshole in any online community increases dramatically with the size of said community. One idiot in a small group isn’t a problem, as the group bands together and deals with them, but in a larger group several idiots can be harder to catch, and what’s more, their behaviour can often lead others to believe that their actions are perfectly justified. So the outbreak begins, and the trolling spreads like a disease.
It’s no wonder that community management is one of the most thankless jobs in the gaming industry, and even smaller wonder that such a job is needed. Riot is exceptionally strange in that they actually allow their developers and designers to speak on the forums, rather than solely working through their community management team. The reason why most companies do the latter is to protect their employees from tin foil hat wearing nutters who think that the poisonous community is somehow caused by the game’s designers, and that every patch edges humanity one step closer to Armageddon.
The daily, slogging job tasked on community managers is overseeing the well-being of their respective communities and their endless complaints. This is one of the few professions where one can get to witness the full vileness of humanity as a full fledged occupation. Part of the problem, I have always thought, is that there never feels like any transparency in the system. No-one in the community ever sees the work these people have to do on a daily basis to get any idea of the respect they deserve.
So, along comes the Tribunal. Here we can see in full view the stupidity, bigotry, and homophobia of the worst parts of the League of Legends community. Pale and naked in the noon day sun, the playerbase cannot help but witness its own hideous boils and blemishes.
The system itself is rather simple. You get to look at why someone was reported, and how they behaved in a number of games by way of full chat logs, item builds and end scores. After some time deliberating (and the system forces this on you, since you have to spend at least 60 seconds before passing judgment) you can choose to Pardon the reported person, letting them off the hook, or Punish them, which can result in anything from a warning to a permanent ban. The nature of the punishment is not selectable, and I’m fairly thankful for that. We get to be jury, but not judge and executioner.
One other thing worth noting is Riot has looked at ways people might try to game the system, and have employed countermeasures right from the start. Aside from the aforementioned 60 second minimum time, it is also required to enter a captcha code before passing judgment, avoiding the obvious trick of simply having a bot do the work for you. You are also limited to only being able to review ten cases in a single day, which I can only assume is another measure designed to ensure people don’t simply skim read and try to submit as many reports as possible.
My only misgiving over the system itself is natural human behaviour. Sure you get a nice IP boost for voting correctly at least once a day, but surely you could do the same for simply playing a game of League of Legends? The tribunal really is work, there is no recreation to be had here. I know some might plow on for the IP alone, or the sense that they can be the internet’s police, but for actual entertainment all you have is witnessing just how stupid some people really are. While I expect it to be used heavily at release, I can’t see the majority of the playerbase using it for an extended period of time. Only those sharing a deep sense (or rage) for justice or sharing our editor’s morbid sense of humor for seeing LoL Trolls in action will likely continue using the system on the regular.
I think the system can only help the community in a great deal of ways though. From the player side, they get to see the worst the community has to offer, and in turn think on how not to act like such an asshat. This is further compounded by the knowledge that these people now know the exact way that they will be tried and punished, which is, by the community at large. Also, the possibility that someone could take screenshots of things they find on the tribunal and turn the most thoroughly moronic players into the butt of a number of jokes on 4chan will likely allow at least a few people to think before they call someone’s mother the inbred offspring of a pair of retarded oxen.
For the community managers, it gives them a positive PR angle, as the system characterizes their police actions as the will of the people, not the crazed actions of a digital tyrant. The tribunal will also offset a good part of their policing workload, using it to filter out people who are pardoned. This will, in turn, get them more time to be dealing with the parts of the playerbase that aren’t trolls, giving us more information on League of Legends goodness. Greatest of all though, they may finally get some much needed sleep.
To discuss the new system yourselves, post in the massive League of Legends thread in the free to play MMOs section. If you haven’t tried League of Legends yet, now is the perfect time.
Cryptic Studios Acquired by Perfect World
The Cryptic Studios Saga Continues: Perfect World’s Acquisition
Last week OnRPG reported on the surprise separation between Publisher Atari and Developer Cryptic Studios, known for games such as Champions Online and Star Trek Online. Yesterday, Perfect World shook up the MMO industry with its announcement that it would be acquiring Cryptic Studios!
This can only mean a greater diversity in Perfect World’s lineup coming in the following years. OnRPG will be on the scene bright and early Tuesday, June 7th to find out exactly what this means for both Perfect World and Cryptic Studios. So far from email correspondence though, we have confirmed the following games will be covered at their E3 booth.
Blacklight Retribution – A fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping first person shooter based in a futuristic urban warzone and sequel to Zombie Studio’s Blacklight: Tango Down.
Rusty Hearts – An anime-inspired, fast and furious hack n’ slash dungeon crawler, Rusty Hearts takes everything we love about arcade sidescrollers and puts it online – no quarters required.
Raiderz – Experience monster hunting online with RaiderZ with a fast-paced, real-time battle system. Prepare to hunt together or die alone.
I hope our viewers are look forward to this as much as I am. Stay tuned for an in-depth report on all Rusty Hearts will have to offer.







