Monthly Archives: November 2011

War of the Immortals CB Testing Has Begun

War of the Immortals CB Testing Has Begun

 

 

Perfect World Entertainment has announced their Action MMORPG, War of the Immortals, is now in closed beta testing. A new trailer showcasing gameplay is now live as well!

 

 

Prospective heroes across the globe may now begin their journeys to become greater warriors, even as they’re swept into the wake of an impending war. War of the Immortals features interactive environments, vivid landscapes, classic action-RPG gameplay and awe-inspiring monsters.

 

 

During closed beta testing, players explore content from levels 1 to 50 as one of eight classes. War of the Immortals also boasts a unique pet system based on the concept of ‘capture and customize’. That comes alongside an advanced guild system, which allows players to establish housing for guild members, recruit new warriors, plan dungeon runs and create new recipes and items.

 

 

“War of the Immortals gives players a heightened AAA free-to-play experience with interactive environments, soul gear, an in-depth pet system, territory wars, PvP, and compelling action-RPG combat,” said Jonathon Belliss, Executive Producer, Perfect World Entertainment Inc. “We have brought together some of the most requested MMORPG features into one compelling new game and look forward to hearing what gamers have to say about the closed beta experience.”

 

 

To celebrate the closed beta launch, Perfect World Entertainment is giving away one of two prize packs consisting of Logitech gaming gear and a limited edition War of the Immortals mouse pad valued at $210. All players that log into War of the Immortals between now and November 13 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific will automatically be entered for a chance to win.

Lime Odyssey Discusses Professions

Lime Odyssey Discusses Professions

 

 

Aeria Games released new details about the three profession-based classes available for characters in Lime Odyssey: The Chronicles of Orta, its upcoming 3D MMORPG. One of Lime Odyssey’s most unique and well-developed features is a system in which players not only put long hours into mastering their battle-themed roll, but also into mastering a crafting profession.

 

In Lime Odyssey, players assign a race, battle-themed class, and domestic profession to their new character. Available professions are the handy Chef, skilled Tailor and rugged Blacksmith. Once in-game, players can switch between their character’s battle class and profession at any time with the push of a button. Both the battle and professional traits are equally important to a character’s survival as they journey across the magical continent of Orta in search of Lime.

 

 

Any race can adopt one of these professions in Lime Odyssey: The Chronicles of Orta:

 

  • Blacksmith – Gather metal, ore and wood extracts as you travel. Learn to forge armor and powerful weaponry for you and your friends.
  • Chef – Search the land for various fruits, berries, meats and other ingredients. Cook up potions and meals to strengthen and heal your party.
  • Tailor – Stitch together leather and cloth armors for the less hearty races from animal furs and other materials you find in Orta.

 

 

Gather the required materials then switch to your profession class. Your character will whip out a set of trade-specific tools and begin crafting before your eyes! Obtain hundreds of profession-themed quests, ranging from simple tasks to complex assignments. Each profession’s end product becomes either a helpful tool or a viable commodity for trade.

 

 

Also for those wondering, Aeria believes their game will be Alpha test ready before December. Don’t get your hopes up too high but the possibility exists! Until then check out the new set of screenshots showcasing the Professions.

The Sims Social

The Sims Social is a facebook based browser game that brings the world of The Sims into a casual social platform. Customize your Sim and then fight for your dreams, stir up trouble, develop relationships with NPCs and Facebook friends, and maybe even find your soulmate.

Dungeon Defenders: Multiplayer RPG Perfection

Dungeon Defenders: Multiplayer RPG Perfection

 By Neil Kewn (Murxidon), OnRPG Journalist

 



Co-op is all the rage these days. Whether built from the ground up or shoehorned into a sequel, most top-tier games will usually have some aspect of team-based gameplay. The great thing about co-op is how versatile it is, and players have realized that you can have just as much fun working with other players than trying to kill them. The latest co-op concoction to hit gamers isn’t a massively ambitious title, but it’s one that captures the essence of multiplayer in its simplest form. It’s stylish, it’s addictive, it’s fun. It’s Dungeon Defenders.

 

 

Dungeon Defenders, to put it simply, is a co-op action game where four players attempt to fend off waves of increasingly difficult enemies.  Its premise is one we have seen before, yet the game feels refreshing and refined. Defenders is all about depth, difficulty and tactical gameplay. Pick a Hero, build defences and protect a magical crystal – it’s a simple idea with plenty of added depth that works on almost every level.

 

 

There are currently four Heroes to choose from. The Squire is primarily a close combat class with a high damage count, The Huntress deals out traps and attacks from afar, The Apprentice can summon magical towers and The Monk acts as a support role, casting magical auras which protect allies and harm enemies. Naturally each hero type plays differently, with each class replicating four of the RPG archetypes we have seen in MMO games (albeit in a far simpler way). More classes are promised at a later date.

 



Jumping into a game is simple. You can opt for unranked, anything-goes online games with support for mods, or ranked, secured games which operate through TrendyNet. Local support is also available. Depending on the current state of the game, you will be dumped into the local tavern or straight into the battle itself. The tavern acts as a place to chat, sell wares and upgrade your character and is presented as a very warm, glowing public house. The graphical style is undeniably welcoming.

 

 

Games begin in the Build Phase. Here, no enemies will spawn and the team can work together to set up defences, traps and summon protection. It’s also a good opportunity to collect any mana, open chests and loot gear left behind from the previous wave. The Defenders Forge can store any items players have collected or swap Heroes out for different ones. Mana is particularly important, as it’s used to summon available defences, activate abilities and purchase upgrades. The impending wave is activated through players touching the Eternia Crystal.

 

 

The Eternia Crystal is the single most important feature in any game of Dungeon Defenders. Players are working to protect the crystal from being destroyed, and the game will end if the enemy does manage to deplete its health bar. It’s important to fend off attacks from spawn points in the map, but ignore the growing horde of elves and trolls busting through your unmanned defences elsewhere and it won’t be long before the whole party is rushing to protect the Crystal. Even the most well-laid plan can crumble quickly, resulting in enormously entertaining, and at times frustrating, frantic frivolity.

 



Heroes are equipped with a primary attack assigned to the left mouse button, and a secondary attack or defensive ability on the right. Other abilities are unlocked through leveling up. Participating in battles awards your hero experience points which can be spent improving your hero’s health, mana, speed and damage in addition to that of any defences you summon. Resistance to certain attacks and the effectiveness of your abilities can be attuned, and your attack and defence capabilities improved through the armour and weapons looted and equipped after a round. The status of your Hero is recorded too, so you can jump into higher-level games as you progress.

 

 

Summoned defences are dependent on the class and the player’s level. Each Hero has a different set of constructs, which a good team will put to good use through tactical deployment and forming chokeholds. These can be repaired during or after games, and even upgraded to improve their effectiveness. Constructs range from simple towers which fire repeatedly at the enemy, to blockades which can halt an advance on your crystal, to auras which will drain the health of any pesky elf which makes an attempt on your life. As you rise through the levels more powerful summons will unlock for use against waves that you previously stood no chance against.

 



Dungeon Defenders has also been developed for consoles, and as such the menu screens and controls are somewhat catered for the controller-equipped. Auto-aim is turned on by default, but the game plays better with it left off. I’ve found it hampers progress instead of aiding it when using the precision of a mouse. Graphically, it’s a very beautiful game. Mixing cell-shading with some superb lighting and spell effects, maps are vibrant and colorful. It runs smoothly, too.

 

 

Dungeon Defenders is a dish best enjoyed with others, and as such the solo experience should only be used to familiarize yourself with the dozen or so maps. In addition to the main campaign there are extra challenges for you to undertake and several difficulty settings for each level, ensuring there is plenty of replay value in this budget title. I’m not entirely convinced that the game is completely balanced just yet, and the Squire seems to be everyone’s favourite class at the moment (despite, at least in my opinion, being the least fun to play). Post-launch support has been great so far though so I expect class balancing to be on the agenda shortly.

 

 

Dungeon Defenders is a massively entertaining and addicting game. Its casual pick-up-and-play gameplay is perfect for those who want a quick game of goblin gutting, yet its tower defence aspect offers a wider range of gameplay opportunities for groups going loot or achievement hunting. With the promise of more class types, maps and other goodies, the game is a superb value for the money and one that any fan of co-op should have in their collection.

Rusty Hearts Releases Cells of Darkness

Rusty Hearts Releases Cells of Darkness

 

 

 

Perfect World Entertainment today launched Cells of Darkness, the second major content update of the popular action beat-em-up MMORPG, Rusty Hearts. But before we get to that, we have an excellent screenshot showcasing the statistics of Rusty Heart’s player base:

 

 

 

Now on to the meat and potatoes of the second content update!

 

 

Level Cap Increase: Players can now reach up to level 36. Of course 70 new main quests will be available to get you there along with 110 side quests to pass the time.

 

Additional District: Check out the new cemetery hub world including the Pet Shed.

 

 

New Dungeons: The Conservatory resides atop Castle Vlad, and is filled with tons of never before seen beasts looking to tear the life out of your limp body. The Arboretum takes you into a horrific vegetable garden filled with Mutants, Gorillas, Nepenthes, Mandragoras, and even Onions! The Quarantined Labs are filled with zombified scientists and their terrible final creations, both seeking to add you to their world removed from the outside world. Finally invade Vlad’s Debtor’s Prison where you’ll face off against the guards assigned to keep Vlad’s former partners detained indefinitely.

 

Pet System: Players can now run dungeons with up to two pets. These creepy looking buddies will push your character to new limits.

 

 

New Weapons and Skills: Experience 31 legendary new weapons and 16 new skills.

 

 

For screenshots of the new dungeons, be sure to check out our game profile!

Gunz 2: The Second Duel

Gunz: The Second Duel is a TPS title by MAIET Entertainment. The original GunZ was known for taking action combat and TPS elements to new heights, and Gunz 2 intends to push those mechanics into the next generation. With a realistic physics engine and improved responsiveness, Gunz 2 will be a shooter like none before it.

Features:

Customizable Classes: Gunz 2 uses the class system from Gunz and gives players improved customization over your character.

Improved Wall Running: Players will have near limitless freedom to run and flip from wall to *insert random surface here*, giving veteran players an advantage from long hours of practicing acrobatic maneuvers.

Improved Controls: Advanced skills are now better fitted so that even new players will have access to impressive acrobatics.

Interactive Environments: Objects are destructible with a realistic physics engine controlling the chaos. Players can use this to their advantage but cutting off an enemy’s escape.

Huge Boss Battles: Players will be able to take on massive bosses that are scalable and feature difficult to reach weak points.

DDO Releases Update 12: Vaults of the Artificer!

DDO Releases Update 12: Vaults of the Artificer!

 

 

Turbine announced today that the latest update, Vaults of the Artificer, is now live in Dungeons & Dragons Online!

 

 

Challenges System:

•        Play in Challenges and collect valuable resources to barter for cool loot!

•        Choose your level of difficulty-multiple levels available!

•        Stay on your toes with a host of new mini-games!

•        Free for VIPs!

 

Artificer Class: Can now be earned as a favor reward by playing Update 11 and 12 content!

 

Challenge Powerups: Get a competitive edge from the DDO Store with buffs such as speed, power and invisibility!

 

Platinum Sharing: Share platinum across your characters on the same server! First tier free for VIPs!

 

Armor Appearance: 4 new Armor appearance kit lines available-including two exclusive to Warforged!

 

Purchase Gold Seal Hirelings two levels above your character!