Yearly Archives: 2011

Heroes of Newerth Announces F2P Option

Heroes of Newerth Introduces F2P Option

 

 

Today the shocking news came in from S2 that Heroes of Newerth, the Premium Pay To Play MOBA game, was introducing a new F2P option. The reactions of the community have varied from ecstatic to “OMG I Quit!” and the fall-out from this change will surely be interesting to watch.

 

OnRPG will go ahead and list out the basic concepts provided to explain what new free players have access to and how veteran current players will be compensated.

 

 

Three Account Types

 

Basic Accounts are given to anyone who now signs up to play the game for free. Basic Accounts gain access to the weekly 15 free heroes chosen randomly. They are only able to select ‘All Pick’ in the matchmaking options. They are able to purchase additional heroes but only through the in-game store.

 

Verified Accounts are the next level up in the new hierarchy of account status. Basic accounts can be upgraded to this level through their show of dedication to the game. This will be measured by the purchase of cash shop currency (Goblin Coins) or through extensive playtime in the game. These players will be able to enter ‘verified only’ matchmaking which will ensure that only other players with verified status will be chosen to enter their game. They can also play any match making mode but at the cost of tokens or passes.

 

Legacy Accounts are for those who have paid for a HoN account previous to the F2P change. They are also allowed to enter into the verified only matchmaking system. They can also access any game mode without the need of tokens or passes. They will also be able to participate in the ‘Early Access Buys’ to pay to purchase heroes 4 weeks prior to their public release (these heroes are not eligible for tournament play until released publicly).

 

 

Along with this F2P announcement comes a substantial patch providing many fixes and reworks highly demanded by the HoN community (for the most part). A new better hero encyclopedia was added, the spectator mode interface was improved greatly, and matchmaking algorithms should function better than ever before.

 

Be sure to drop by our fast developing OnRPG Forum Thread to give us your opinion on this patch and the F2P change!

Starcraft 2: Journey to Diamond League Wk4

My Journey to Diamond League- Week 4

By Mohammad Abubakr, OnRPG Journalist

 

 

 

I’m back for another week of Starcraft 2 goodness and ready to make a recovery after my miserable showing in week 3 of my Journey to the Diamond League. If you missed my last update, you can check it out HERE. I studied up all the pros’ videos over the weekend and went into each match this week with tactics, map awareness, and build orders ready to go.

 

 

Week 4

Games played: 19

Initial Rank: Bronze – 8

Final Rank: Bronze – 7

Win/Loss: 13 / 6

 

Although I had a positive win to loss ratio, I did not achieve my goal of rank 4. I was busy throughout the whole week and had little time to play before I went to sleep. At the end of the week I was just one to three wins away from achieving rank 5 because ranks 5 to 8 were very close in points.

 

My first game this week went great. I was up against a Terran player that refused to expand. The only time he expanded his base was when his main base ran out of resources. I knew he would eventually have to expand so I waited it out and denied every attempt at expansion! He was never able to successfully expand and slowly ran out of money. It did take some time because I only had ground units so his banshees got annoying. However, after my Hydralisks Den was complete the game was over. Let us just hope the rest of the week goes well; I need to make up for last week.

 

 

I finally got the chance to play a long and epic macro game. As I had mentioned during previous weeks, longer macro games seldom happen at the lower level because my opponents tend to try and end games quickly. During this game I had the honor to attack first. My army consisting of roaches, banelings and Zerglings were broken by a grand formation of marines and tanks.

 

However losses were heavy on both sides. I continued to expand my bases and produce workers while denying my opponent from getting a third expansion. I had a huge economic lead as the game progressed because his bases were beginning to dry up on minerals. Near the end game my army consisted of roaches, banelings and infestors while he had marines, thors and tanks. I split my army’s focus so that the roaches killed the tanks, banelings killed the marines and infestors mind controlled the thors. My army was too strong for my opponent and he was forced to concede. I love Neural Parasite.

 

Marines are in Trouble!


My next opponent was a Zerg who was trying out the Day[9] Funday Monday. Day[9] is a very popular Starcraft caster and has his own show. Each Monday he sets special limitations for players and players try to play with those limitations. The best matches are commented on his show. This week the limitation was that Zerg could only attack on creep. Knowing this I continued to expand and gain an economic lead since I knew he could not attack me. I had a huge lead in income with a gold base and ended up winning the game.

 

 

Doesn’t Hurt to Ask.


The following game against a Protoss has to be the strangest game I have ever played. At the beginning of the game he continued to attack with Zealots. I held off the attacks and continued to drone because I thought I was in the lead. However, the Protoss player set up cannons to take out destructible metal very early on and setup a hidden base. Since my opponent was only sending Zealots my way and did not even use warp gate technology, I did not suspect anything when I saw no expansion as I thought it was a new player. Underestimating my opponent cost me the game because he had three undetected star ports at his hidden base while I had no anti air. After destroying his main, I finally realized about his hidden expansion because he was smart to not reveal his air units. There were too many cannons and void rays for me to finish him off. I was forced to concede. While he did have an interesting strategy, if I had scouted his expansion earlier it would have been an easy victory. I cannot believe I lost to that!

 

Conclusion

Due to the season 2 lock, no real progress will be seen until the beginning of Season 3. Instead of gaining ranks as intended, I dropped from rank 5 to rank 8 and have just barely returned to rank 7 today. Overall I would say that playing very late at night has gotten the better of me the last 2 weeks. The sleepier you get, the slower your reaction time.

 

If there are any suggestions or feedback about this series, please let me know on the OnRPG forums  (http://www.onrpg.com/boards/) @ Abubakr (http://www.onrpg.com/boards/member-abubakr.html). Alternatively you may message me in Starcraft II (Abubakr, 109).

Conquer Online Releases Mounted Combat

Conquer Online Releases Mounted Combat

 

 

 

The big day is here for Conquer Online’s new Mounted Combat update! Arriving on July 28th, players will finally be able get their hands on the newest PK experience to hit CO!

 

An official video featuring the new combat of different classes has been released earlier today. Now take a look.

 

 

 

 

 

New PK Mode – Mounted Combat: Saddle Up & Fight!

 

No longer will you have to dismount to slay monsters, or to engage the hated enemies surrounding you! Just jump on your trusty steed and fight it out! Jump, swing, sprint, chop, whirl and even backflip, your character can do almost all these actions on horseback with just a simple click! Now, your mount can join in your battles, letting you experience a much faster pace of PvP gameplay! The mounted combat is sure to change how the tide of battle flows!

 

 

New Item – Riding Crop

 

Any mount can be tamed into a combat worthy steed, all you need is the power of the new Riding Crop! After equipping this new talisman, you will be able to cast any of your skills from horseback!

Maplestory Reveals Ice Knight PvP Mode

Nexon Introduces Ice Knight Battle Mode to MapleStory

 

 

Nexon has unleashed the Ice Knight upon Maplestory today, building upon the previously released Age of Battle content update. As part of the Chaos series of summer content updates for MapleStory, the Ice Knight adds an entirely new PVP game mode to Nexon’s side-scrolling action MMO.

 

Ice Knight is a king of the hill-style game mode where players band together to battle the fearsome Ice Knight. Ten players can start a match through the PVP area, Battle Square. When the match begins, one of the players is chosen at random to become the Ice Knight, and is then pitted against the nine other players. The Ice Knight receives a massive boost in power and has several unique abilities that can be unleashed when the Ice Gauge fills up. The heroes have 7 minutes to take down the Ice Knight before time runs out, which will be a challenging task.

 

Nothing Can Move the Ice Knight!

 

 

Exclusive MapleStory Content for Global MapleStory Players

So far this summer, the Chaos updates have brought Maplers the Age of Heroes, the Age of Artisans and the Age of Battle. Now there are whispers of the Age of Triumph coming to Maple World. Rumors abound of a new age where new quests, rewards and battle modes are revealed. What does the future hold for Maple World? Stay tuned for what new challenges await…

Project Blackout – Tactically Twitchy

Project Blackout – Tactically Twitchy

By Michael Sagoe (mikedot), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

 

SG Interactive is taking a departure from their usual bright and colorful online games to bring us a gritty and violent look at modern warfare with Project Blackout (PB). Released back in 2010, Project Blackout is a multiplayer online first-person shooter, which contains a mix between tactical and fast pacing. PB looks and plays very similar to many FPS games before it, but is it hiding something to make it worth the download?

 

Customization

When starting out, you’re not granted any customization options. You simply type in your desired player name and go. Once you check into the game’s item shop, you’ll find a hefty amount of different weapons, avatar models and other misc. items to choose from. The weapon selection is incredibly vast, but you can’t tweak or modify your weapons in any way, so if you were thinking about adding a nice little silencer or modified scope to that shiny new assault rifle you just bought, you can sort of forget that… unless, of course, the weapon you just purchased already has the features you were looking for.

 

 

PB also features the option to change your character’s look with avatar items, but these items are restricted to head items such as face paint, masks and hats, and avatar sets that completely change the look of your player model altogether, and just like the weapons available, none of these can be tweaked.  For such a modern game, it’s pretty disappointing that you’re only given access to bare bones customization options, and to make things worse, most of the customization is locked away from non-paying players, only being obtainable using points (real currency). The only other bit of customization available to all players would be the mission system and ACT ranks (Advanced Combat Training) that lets you tweak your character in various ways to fit your playing style.

Customization rating – 2

Controls

Controls for PB are typical of your standard first-person shooter. There isn’t even a tutorial at the start of the game, but if you’ve played just about any first person shooter title before this one, you’ll know exactly what to do: Use WSAD keys to move, mouse to aim and shoot, R key to reload, number keys to switch weapons, etc. The only slightly unique feature in PB’s control scheme is being able to trigger weapon functions using your MOUSE2 button, which lets you use various features of your weapon such as looking down the iron sights of your rifle, steadying your grip for increased accuracy while gimping your mobility, speeding up your ability to switch between two magazine cases, etc. All firearms seem somewhat accurate to their real life counterparts.

 

 

Controls rating – 3

 

Graphics

The visuals of PB are simply not up to snuff in comparison to other modern shooters out there. They may look nice from a distance, but taking a closer look will reveal dank and blurry textures all over the place. Shadow effects, light reflections and all other effects simply look plain and dated. The only decent part with PB’s visuals comes from the wacky action ragdoll that makes dead bodies flail like crazy. As an added touch, every time you get killed in battle, there’s a deathcam attached to the head of your character, so you can watch every moment of your flailing dead body in glorious first person view, which adds a bit of shits-and-giggles value.

 

Dying the way I lived!

 

Graphics rating – 2

 

Features/Gameplay

The core gameplay found in PB contains almost nothing out of the ordinary: Game modes available contain your standard matches including Team Deathmatch, Bomb Run, Elimination, etc. Nothing special or amazing regarding these modes since you can find them in just about every other multiplayer FPS game out there, but you can also play these modes with special conditions such as Sniper Rifle or Shotguns only. This adds a nice change of pace, but gets old quickly. There is one mode that I did manage to have a blast with, and that would be their recently added Dino Escape mode, where dinosaurs (controlled by live players) have to stop human players from escaping a Jurassic Park-Esque landscape, complete with a big ‘ol T-Rex.

 

Don’t worry, I can take it!

 

Battling out in PB also feels average at best: Run, shoot, stab, crouch and throw a grenade or two while cooperating with your teammates. No matter how much better or worse your weapon is compared to your enemy’s, one or two well-placed shots to the head can pretty much do you in, and with all the different weapons available, PB has a strange balance between luck and skill.

 

In terms of cash shop balance, it’s WAY off. There are so many different boosters you can purchase to give yourself hefty advantage over non-paying players, such as quick reloading, extra grenades, faster/slower respawning and even (get this…) weapon pick up.

 

 

That’s right. You know how most multiplayer FPS games have the option for you to pick up someone else’s gun if you’re out of ammo? Well you can’t do it here, unless you pay for it. The game literally takes features that are common with FPS titles and then sell them back to you… That right there made me pull out the WTF card.

Features/Gameplay rating – 2

 

Community

The community of players for Project Blackout seems to be pretty large and active. Lobbies for both the newbie and open channels are usually full during peak hours and there’s enough variety in interest for game types that you won’t have much of a problem find a room for a game type that you’re willing to play. Working with random public players is about as average as online gaming communities can get: Most players keep to themselves and seldom communicate with each other, but you will occasionally get some nice, supportive players here and there, as well as the occasionally trash talker/sore loser/troll.

Community rating – 3

 

Overall, Project Blackout is a functional online multiplayer FPS title base on modern warfare and that’s about it. There’s nothing much here that sets it apart from the competition and has some wonky balance issues on the side. Give it a go if you need a quick fix, but there are far better alternatives out there.

AQ Worlds to End Doomwood Series This Friday!

AQ Worlds to end Doomwood series this Friday!

 

 

Artix Entertainment invites all its players to participate in the epic finale of one of the most highly talked about storylines of AdventureQuest Worlds this Friday, July 29th, at 7 PM EDT.

 

AdventureQuest Worlds is an MMORPG and Artix Entertainment’s most popular game. Just like AE’s five other games, it releases new content every Friday.  So far, there have been 120 releases!

 

At the beginning of summer, the AQWorlds team began the storyline of Doomwood, the forest of the undead. The first piece of the zone was released on May 27th, 2011 with subsequent weekly releases revealing additional pieces of the zone and continuing the epic storyline.

 

The story of Doomwood began with a massive undead army invasion. The undead had already destroyed all but one of the towns in Doomwood and were preparing to attack the last one.  It was up to the players to save the last city and find out who was behind the attack.

 

Players quickly figured out that Vordred, a very powerful undead boss bent on turning the entire world undead, was responsible for the attack. Many brave paladins (whose magic deals devastating amounts of damage against the undead) went to battle against Vordred but never came back. The players discovered that Vordred was a Paladin Slayer and was immune to paladin magic.

 

But AQWorlds players aren’t known to give up on anything. They were determined to try to find a way to defeat Vordred, even without the paladins. Over the next several weeks they battled their way through the Chopping Maul (a shopping mall for the undead), infiltrated their way into the Tower of Necromancy, posed as students at Necromancer U (the only place that teaches how to control the undead), and freed a dracolich (an undead dragon) in an attempt to discover Vordred’s secret weakness.

 

 

But nothing helped and all the players found out was that Vordred didn’t have a weakness.

 

Two weeks ago:

Vordred invaded the undead city of Shadowfall and attempted to steal a massive army of undead.

 

One week ago:

Having failed to acquire an army, Vordred decided instead to make his body more powerful. He took the members of the band ArcAttack hostage and forced them to use their Singing Tesla Coils to charge him up into an even more powerful form. The players found out about the plan and tried to screw up the experiment, but accidentally charged Vordred even more, making him a lot more powerful.

 

This Friday:

Log in to AQWorlds this Friday at 7 PM EDT to find out what happens in the riveting conclusion to this summer’s Doomwood storyline.

Realm of the Titans Launches into Closed Beta

Realm of the Titans Launches into Closed Beta Test

 

 

If you’re a regular on our website, you will know Aeria Games has begun official closed beta testing for their first foray into the MOBA world, Realm of the Titans.

 

Realm of the Titans delivers tantalizing new content and features to the cutting-edge Massively Online Battle Arena genre. Hailed by critics as the next great successor to Defense of the Ancients, Realm of the Titans enters the market loaded with a robust line-up of heroes and two PvP maps, both decked with unexpected tricks and traps. In a time with few quality titles for MOBA enthusiasts, ROTT promises hours of thrilling 5v5 action for veterans and novices alike.

ROTT’s features include:

 

Intense PvP Matches – Test your teamwork in 5-player units. ROTT rewards strategy and cooperation – adapt as a team to survive and win!

 

Innovative Content – Experience the all-new AMP system, epic hero mounts, and a 2nd map option loaded with boosts and tricks.

 

Epic Heroes & Skills – Choose from a powerful roster of heroes, each equipped with four unique skills. Once in-game, further boost your hero with a selection of Titan skills.

 

Exciting CB Events – The Realm of the Titans team has prepared a packed schedule of exciting closed beta events with real prizes.

 

 

Thanks to my enthusiasm for all things MOBA, Aeria has also promised closed beta item pack keys for OnRPG viewers including exclusive access to the hero, Sage of Ink, which you won’t be able to acquire from any other website! The packs should be available shortly and will be posted in our events section when ready.

Lucent Heart- MMORPG Meets E-Harmony

Lucent Heart Review- MMORPG Meets E-Harmony

By Remko Molenaar (Proxzor), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

 

Lucent Heart is a 3D game developed by Gamania Digital Entertainment and is an award-winning hit from Japan. Lucent heart is a Zodiac-inspired Anime MMORPG, which combines exciting RPG gameplay with ancient dungeons, pets and combat mounts with an unprecedented social experience. Interact with friends, find love, and explore the world of Acadia – all for free!

 

 

Lucent Heart Character Creation

Once you have logged into Lucent Heart after using the Beanfun launcher it is time to select  your game server, once this is done it is time to create your character! Creating your character is very important because it affects your gameplay. Lucent Heart has a unique zodiac system. Players will experience the powers of the zodiac through special armor, abilities and horoscope enhancements that are all tied to the person’s birthday. The zodiac system extends throughout the game and affects everything from combat to character emotions, creating a unique experience a game has never had before. So think twice before choosing your birthday!

 

 

Gameplay

This game can be played by using the WASD keys with your mouse to control the camera or you can simply use your mouse to walk to your destination. It is also possible to click anywhere on your map and your character will automatically move to the location however this might be a little dangerous because the automatic walking system isn’t really working smoothly. With the automatic walking system you just don’t simply walk to your object in a straight line. It follows its own path instead of walking directly; this might be dangerous in certain areas with monsters.

 

 

In the tutorial you start off by visiting NPC’s in the city of Thereall. After talking to a few important NPC’s you will be given items like an Alpaca mount! You can use this mount for 7 days until it expires. You are also given equipment to help you on your journey. At level 4 it is possible to choose your class, opting between Warrior and Mage. Each of those classes can then specialize into a different class around levels 10 and 36.

 

A Human’s abilities and characteristics are affected by the effects between the horoscope and the 14 major planets in the game. Once a character reaches level 10, and after opening the seal of Astrolabe, every fifth level a planet can help you develop an Astrolabe skill.

 

 

This game also supports dating, if you feel like looking for a soul mate you can talk to Cupid. He will help you find a soul mate with your selected conditions. You might be wondering  why you should date someone in Lucent Heart. Well… it isn’t only easier to quest as a couple, but there are also several other benefits you can get through dating in Lucent Hearth. There are, for example, exclusive emotes, bonus experience and special accessories available. It is also possible to gain ‘Match Points’ these points allow you to use more emotes and grow more flowers that can serve as accessories for the woman in your relationship. To gain these Match Points you can do a compatibility test or you just have to spend time together and do some questing. If your soul mate is the love of your life it is possible to go to the next step in the relationship, Marriage! If your soul mate says yes you can visit a church administrator in any city who will help you plan your wedding.

 

It is also possible to join or create guilds. A guild is a great way to stay connected to old friends and meet new ones. Joining a guild has great benefits for you and your friends, as a Guild Warehouse can be made and people with specific guild ranks are allowed to store and share items. There are also bonuses that are only available to players through guilds.

 


 

Crafting

There are 6 professions to choose from, these professions are a great way to craft the necessary gear or accessories that can help you in your adventure through the world of Lucent Heart.

 

The following professions are available:

 

Blacksmithing

The blacksmithing profession will help you create a wide array of equipment. This equipment can be made for multiple classes and  can protect them in battle. Items crafted by players with the Blacksmith profession have varying qualities, from normal to perfect and in rare instances, beyond perfect.

 

Tailoring

Tailors are able to craft robes and lightweight armor with different stats necessary to some classes. Items crafted by players with the Tailoring profession have varying qualities, from normal to perfect and in rare instances beyond perfect.

 

Alchemy

With alchemy you are able to craft potions. To craft these delicate potions you need different kinds of herbs and stones. Potions have a class based on the level of alchemy required to brew them. The higher level the recipe requires, the greater the class, and the greater the benefits received from consuming the potion

 

Machinery

With the Machinery profession you can craft gadgets with all sorts of varying effects. From freeze rays and air cannons to beams of light used to attack the target. It is also possible to craft various gadgets that will increase your stats and help you defend against the enemy.

 

Jewelry

Jewelers have access to enchantment stone designs available for both weapons and shields. There are different effects that improve your stats and equipment and make you combat ready. They are also able to make other accessory items to provide bonuses.

 

Card Design

A card designer is able to create cards that have a variety of effects that fit into different categories. These cards may help you with all kinds of stuff such as, restoring your mana and health, reviving comrades, and you can transfer health to your target. There are also defense and supportive cards that can help you with your fight.

 

 

Item Mall

In the Item Mall you can buy different sort of items, which can help you in the world of Lucent Heart. To buy these items you would have to buy Beanpoints, and 1000  Beanpoints costs $1.00. With these Beanpoints you can buy items such as fashion clothes, potions, elements, backpack expansions and a portable warehouse.

 

 

Conclusion

Lucent Heart is a fun game to play with friends or to find new friends. Using the unique system of a Zodiac this game makes you feel unique using special abilities and items. The game offers a wide variety of skills along with cool looking equipment/clothes and different classes to pick. Lucent Heart has a great crafting system that can keep you busy for quite some time to create the items that you desire to have. This game has a lot of features to offer such as dungeons, Player versus Player and a player-driven crafting economy. Unfortunately there aren’t many items to get through the shops and some items are only sold in the Item Mall. Nonetheless the game is a great free to play game that keeps you busy for a while.