ColbyCheeze takes on Eden Eternal’s devastating Ulta Dungeon and finds out why I warned him not to be fooled by the Anime-ish graphics.
Yearly Archives: 2011
Lucent Heart Enters Commercial Launch
Lucent Heart Enters Commercial Launch
Gamania today is proud to announce the North American Lucent Heart item mall opening. Everyone can now access the new item mall for unique outfits and convenience items. For a limited time, Cupid Keys will be sold at a 25% discount, allowing players to be automatically matched with their friends. And those looking for free items can enter the Ruffle Raffle event, running all week, with an in-game outfit and limited edition Lucent Heart t-shirt as prizes.
“We want to thank our fantastic community for their support during Lucent Heart’s recent betas,” said David Wong, COO of Gamania. “We’re very happy with how smoothly the game has progressed up to this point and there’s a lot to look forward to with future updates and features. I think players are going to be amazed at how much content we’re planning to bring over, it’s going to be an exciting year.”
Lucent Heart is Gamania’s newest free-to-play MMORPG. Brought over from Japan where it has won numerous awards, Lucent Heart’s North American debut has been making waves with its unique social design and community-centric focus. While questing in the land of Acadia, players will find that their greatest reward isn’t the treasure at the end of a dungeon; it’s the friends they made along the way.
The Myth of the WoW Killer
The Myth of the WoW-Killer
By: Vincent Haoson, OnRPG Journalist
Wow Killer… Sound so cool ain’t it?
People who have been immersed in the MMO scene for the past decade for sure wouldn’t find this “title” new. In the off chance that you are part of that rare group of people, I would say that you have been living under a rock that’s under another rock. In the past decade there have been MMO titles that have been called as such because people believed that these titles would finally steal the crown off WoW as one of the biggest game titles in the MMO industry.
For me though, I say that this title is rubbish and a myth. And I’m saying it with conviction.
Before anyone would raise their arms in utter outrage on that statement (if I guess there would still be anyone who would care for that) I would say in my defense that I’m not a WoW fanboy. My WoW experience took only two or three months of my life. In that span of time most of it was spent as a Blood Elf Paladin (all types) and I stopped playing because (1) my budget can’t afford me to keep on playing (2) I really needed to get away from WoW before I got too addicted and stopped working all together.
There are still people out there who chronically title MMOs as the possible WoW killer that we’ve all been waiting for. As far as I recall, I only remember of two BIG titles (in terms of marketing) that has been crowned by the gaming public as the “chosen one”.
#1 Age of Conan
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (back then) was one of the major MMO titles that would’ve given Blizzard a run for its money. The game presented a whole new gameplay aspect never tried in an MMORPG. The worlds were wonderfully made, and the women NPCs were downright beautiful. It was set as one of the highly anticipated titles to come out back then.
The WoW playerbase was immediately affected come AoC’s launch. However after a few months, players started returning to WoW after experiencing Hyboria for themselves, disappointed with what they have experienced. The majority of those returning complained of bugs. If Funcom would have given the game development a bit more time, history might have taken another path.
Now, AoC is still on its second expansion, Rise of the Godslayer, with most of the bugs from its launch fixed. However, AoC still fights against its bad reputation to prove to players that the game is worth trying a second time.
#2 Warhammer Online
Warhammer Online was considered as the biggest contender against WoW. I personally would have to agree that the game had a lot of potential. It allowed new players to get into PvP from level 1. It had a rich history based on the Warhammer franchise before it became an MMO, ensuring a huge following of promotional fanboys leading up to launch.
Upon the game’s release, players flocked into the Warhammer servers hoping to enjoy what Mythic has promised. However, upon experiencing the game first-hand, players would slowly but surely leave the game for WoW again (or another MMO). WAR had failed to maintain proper class and population balancing which is integral in a PvP oriented MMO. The promised big battles in WAR failed to deliver when the server itself did not live up to the hype and crashed hard once 50-100 players flocked into the same battleground.
I could list on and on what WAR did wrong, but in the end players decided to just cancel their subscription. The supposed WoW-killer with a killer budget failed to even put a dent on the WoW front, and now WAR is slowly losing its servers one by one.
What Happened?
To make things clear, WAR and AoC aren’t bad games. In fact, if they were better run by the companies who managed them, I bet WoW wouldn’t be comfortably sitting on its perch as the MMO who pwned them all.
Also if you are wondering why I only used these two as example when there are a lot of MMOs out there who may have been presented as a WoW killer one way or another, my reason is that AoC and WAR was heavily marketed as the WoW killer.
However, try as developers might, WoW would not budge since up till now it is still going strong. Sadly, as the years continue I can only say that the idea of an MMO being able to defeat WoW is more and more becoming a wishful dream—myth-like if you will, especially with the trend of MMOs these days.
The current set of MMOs being released lately has started to incorporate elements of WoW into their games. May it be in the way of the job class, skill tree or even the interface, you constantly see MMOs trying to copy WoW elements rather than innovate away from them.
Developers have stopped trying to be different but instead went with the safe route of getting elements from what WoW has set and just merely adding a few tiny pinches of “creativity” into their games. Of course who could blame them? After seeing titles burn out after going against WoW developers would then prefer to just get some sort of return regardless if they are copying WoW or not.
The lack of any attempts on developers to becoming bigger than WoW and just settling for something that can rake in some cash is one of the reasons why I think that the idea of a true WoW Killer is a myth. Developers these days either would not take risks or are that just lazy and create game, after game, after game that would follow the WoW formula.
Of course I’m not disregarding titles that have been truly unique experiences (Champions Online for one) however they have yet to achieve the “legendary” status that WoW Killers seem to have.
The lack of any attempt to be better than WoW really has strangled the growth of the MMO scene. In the east alone- WoW clone after WoW clone have been released and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon.
As far as I am concerned, I stand by my call that the WoW killer would stay as myth unless I see games that can uproot what WoW has established. Only time will tell if that would ever come to pass.
Rusty Hearts Anime Expo 2011 Interview
Rusty Hearts gave OnRPG a first look at Frantz and the PvP System at this year’s Anime Expo 2011!
Rise of Immortals Enters Open Beta
Rise of Immortals Enters Open Beta Testing
Petroglyph Games has opened the doors to its eagerly anticipated free-to-play Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game, Rise of Immortals, for an open beta test, commencing the final phase of testing and development before the game’s release in the coming weeks.

Rise of Immortals online, a free-to-play PC game that expands on the hit MOBA genre with new, innovative features, will be working out the final kinks as it prepares for its commercial launch later this summer. Anyone interested in participating in the open beta test can register and will be immediately invited to download the game and start playing!
In addition, Petroglyph also announced this week that anyone who participates in the open beta test will receive 1,000 Petroglyph Coins at commercial launch (worth over $10), and an exclusive Immortal skin. The Immortal skin, a dazzling gold version of the robot-suited Psychozen, named “The King of Bling,” will be available exclusively for open beta testers to enjoy both during the open beta, and as a complementary add-on to their account at launch.
“Petroglyph, with the help of thousands of our fans, has been testing the game in a closed beta for several months now. We’re finally ready to show the game to the world as we polish it for launch,” said Steve Wetherill, Executive Producer of Rise of Immortals for Petroglyph. “Beta players will see ground-breaking features that we’ve added to the game and which are new to the MOBA genre. From cooperative PvE to character persistence, we’re confident that both MOBA newcomers and MOBA fans will find Rise of Immortals to be a fantastic new game.”
Rise of Immortals is a free-to-play traditional MOBA game, but adds enhanced socialization features, along with persistent character progression – a first for the MOBA genre. In addition, Rise of Immortals features a social hub where players can show off their enhanced Immortals, chat, emote, browse leaderboards, shop, manage friend and guild lists and more. Players also have the option of taking their Immortals through cooperative Player versus Environment (PvE) scenarios to learn the game, try out new abilities, and earn persistent experience before jumping into Player versus Player (PvP) matches online.
PlanetSide 2’s Teaser Trailer
PlanetSide 2 has unveiled its teaser trailer this week. Be prepared for epicness from Sony later this year!
Rise of Immortals
Rise of Immortals is a MOBA based sequal to Petroglyph’s previous fantasy MMO, Guardians of Graxia. It differs from most other MOBAs by putting a heavier emphasis on social aspects, such as a hub world and character modeling avatars to represent yourself instead of just being a faceless summoner of sorts. Also characters are strengthened and built up on an individual basis, giving you a much greater feeling of accomplishment for maxing out a single Immortal’s stat trees.
Features:
· 12 unique Immortals at launch with additional characters released monthly
· Character-based progression through a diverse skill tree
· Persistent artifacts for stat enhancements
· Player versus Environment maps with unique achievements
· Player versus Player maps from 1v1 up to 5v5 multiplayer
· Gain persistent experience and levels through play in PvP and PvE maps
· Collectible pets for combat and vanity
· Account and Immortal statistics tracking
· Avatar-based player hub for socialization
Rusty Hearts Anime Expo Coverage
Anime Expo Coverage of Rusty Hearts
By Darren Henderson (DizzyPW), OnRPG Editor-in-Chief
At Anime Expo last week, OnRPG got yet another first look at Perfect World’s stellar upcoming title, Rusty Hearts. Well today we are going to unveil what we learned through a character introduction article, and another interview video with Mark Hill!
The characters in Rusty Hearts have their own backgrounds, weapons, and skills that are as unique and vibrant as the game itself. Where they came from, how they got their special powers, and what motivates them in their quest against the evil armies of Lord Vlad are integral the Rusty Hearts story, and their arsenals of devastating weaponry will keep you happily hacking and slashing through dungeons for a long, long time.
Allow us to introduce two character from the Rusty Hearts team. Angela, an apprentice witch with a sharp tongue and an even sharper sword, and Tude, a reluctant hero with unmatched speed and ferocity.
Angela
Deep in the Fog Forest of Rumania lies a small village. This village has survived for hundreds of years under the protection of the witches who are trained there. Now, in these dark times, a young witch apprentice named Angela has been sent to the city of Bramunez to aid in the siege on Curtis Castle. To gain the power she would need to survive the coming conflict, Angela fused her soul with that of Graestra, an ancient blade possessed by an evil spirit. This turned her hair fiery red and spiky, as well as granted her the sorcerous abilities of a witch many times her age.
Angela is foul-mouthed and tough, but a bit naïve having been raised in a small village in the forest her entire life. Still, no one can match her powerful spells.
Angela’s Arsenal:
Magic Sword
This wicked blade is Graestra’s original form, though it shifts and grows as Angela becomes more skilled with it. The Magic Sword form is hard hitting but slow and has a short range. Its real power is its effect on Angela’s own magic. She can summon fire and orbs of arcane energy to blast all who stand in her way. As Angela grows in power, she can master all the elements, heal her allies and even learn some abilities Lord Vlad’s own minions use against her.
Magic Scythe
It has been a long time since Graestra tasted blood and the thought of doing battle with the countless minions of Vlad within the halls of Curtis Castle has the spirit bound within the blade absolutely giddy. If Angela will allow it, the spirit’s bloodlust will manifest in the weapon of death itself, a large and wicked scythe. Slower even than the Magic Sword form, Graestra’s scythe form trades magical superiority for long range, brutal attacks. The weapon seems to have a will of its own as it leaps from Angela’s hand to seek out new prey. This weapon form makes Angela’s spells more violent, but less precise, and has fewer support or healing abilities.
Tude
Tude Macleod is a lifelong wanderer. In his travels he was attacked by a wolf. He managed to slay the beast, but not after it broke off one of its huge teeth inside his chest. Strangely, the wound healed quickly, sealing the tooth within his body. Before long, Tude discovered that the wolf’s bite and its tooth were having an effect on his body. His arm turned into a wicked claw that he keeps hidden within a bulky gauntlet. He was traveling from town to town to avoid arousing suspicion when he stumbled into Bramunez on a whim. In a serious case of wrong place at the wrong time, Tude was sealed within Curtis Castle when the Golden Seal team erected the barriers to trap Vlad inside. He joins up with Frantz and Angela once they enter the main levels of Curtis Castle (although you may play as Tude from the beginning of the adventure, he doesn’t make his storyline appearance until later levels).
Tude’s Arsenal:
Gauntlet
At a young age Tude learned that the only weapon you can trust completely is your own fist. Except maybe your foot, knee, elbow or any other part of you that can break a bone or bloody a nose. Since his encounter with the ancient wolf, his style of in-your-face combat has only grown more vicious. Tude’s gauntlet is the fastest weapon on the Golden Seal team, able to uppercut enemies into the air and kill them twice before they hit the ground. It is an extremely short range weapon, and Tude wouldn’t have it any other way. He never had the patience for all that magic stuff, anyway. In combat, he is the perfect combination of man and beast; ducking and weaving like a boxer before pouncing like a ravenous wolf.
Claw
After seeing what Vlad’s minions are capable of, Tude has the option of choosing a weapon that more suits his animalistic tendencies. His claw sacrifices the quick and precise strikes of the gauntlet in favor of wide, reaping arcs of razor-edged death. Although slower and much bulkier than the gauntlet, the claw has the ability to charge up even its most basic attack in order to unleash a frenzy of strikes against all foes that stand in his way. As with the gauntlet, the claw abilities favor close combat strikes and charging attacks over fancy spells.
Frantz

Although not much is revealed yet on Frantz, Mark Hill revealed at Anime Expo that he is a partially transformed vampire that carries one of the strongest grudges against Lord Vlad. Refusing to allow his thirst for blood to overwhelm his judgement, Frantz holds the initial blood from his first victim within his body to sustain himself.
Blade
Frantz Primary weapon is a long blade that he sheaths and unsheaths at a lightning pace. To say this is the source of his true power would be false. Combining his blade as a focal point, Frantz unleashes powerful blood magic to devastate enemies in a large circumference around his character.
Having played as Frantz at Anime Expo, I can best describe him as a rouge type character, bringing intense melee DPS damage at short bursts, and specializing in disabling his foes for the duration of powerful combos. We look forward to learning more about the back story of Frantz and other Rusty Hearts characters in the coming months!
Prius Online Ends IP Ban, Expands Content
Prius Online Ends IP Bans, Prepares New Content Expansion!
As Prius Online’s open beta progresses, Gala-Net has been receiving solid and insightful feedback from its players. Now, the game team is thrilled to share the results of this valuable input with tremendous news: Prius Online will end its IP restrictions and push forward with new game content!
Thousands of fans across the globe exclaimed their distress when Prius Online launched with IP blocks. After seeing exactly how upsetting this was to the player base, Gala-Net went to work with the developer to confront the issue. Several negotiations later, the team successfully bargained for the release of IP restrictions worldwide! Beginning July 5th, Prius Online will now be opened to all regions not currently or in the process of publishing the game.
Gala-Net then pushed forward, seeking to address players’ issues over the lack of in-game content. Once again, the team went to the developer expressing the community’s needs, and again fantastic agreements were reached. As of July 5th, open beta players will be able to access 5 new dungeons scattered throughout the world of Prius! Players won’t have to wait long for more though, as towards the end of July Gala-Net will be releasing its first major update. This update will include 6 new dungeons, Guild Siege, Guild Championships, a level cap increase, and much more!
With the IP Block and the content issues addressed, Gala-Net is avidly researching the next most important community issues.
Runescape Citadel Guild System Expansion
Runescape today released an outstanding expansion in guild customization, the Citadel System. Check out this teaser trailer.

















