Yearly Archives: 2012

Mythic Saga: One Small Step for Browsers

Mythic Saga: One Small Step for Browsers

By Jerrico Tan (JetSet), OnRPG Journalist

 



Hong Kong based publisher Cooltoplay opens its gates to the gaming market with their very first browser based MMORPG, Mythic Saga. The game revolves around crafting and questing just like similar browser based online games like Dragon Eternity and Adventure Quest Worlds. With its world entirely based on Chinese Mythology, each player steps in the game with lots of challenges awaiting them.

 

 

New players are made to choose from four available character classes in the game and each of them have specific roles and skill sets in a party. Gods bless the Knight class with divine strength to aid them in combat; an Assassin class has been trained to deliver serious damage with just one swift blow to its enemies; a Cleric class with supportive skills turns the tide of battle; and a Mage class that has learned and mastered devastative spells, ready to incinerate enemies in an instant. But as you can see, the classes available in Mythic Saga are still quite similar to other MMORPGs around.

 



In terms of presentation, the oriental world of Mythic Saga is beautifully crafted to fit your browser. The fields are packed with monsters and important Quest NPCs. As you farm monsters in the game, you’ll additionally experience weather effects and critical hits would similarly have a shaky effect – an in-game feature that is quite unique.

 

 

The core gameplay of Mythic Saga is all about reaching the maximum level cap and acquiring the best equipment in its highest quality. Questing is also existent in this game but the tasks are just mainly monster grinding tasks and component gathering for the quest NPCs. There is also a zodiac system where players can set a certain stat to develop passively while logged in the game.

 



Exploring the world of Mythic Saga is a breeze, thanks to the convenient path-finding system. An AFK-mode feature also does the majority of the dirty work for you: with just a press of a button, you can just leave your character in one spot and it will automatically grind the monsters around him. Initially, these features may seem cool and handy but in the long run, the game seems to be breeding a certain “laziness” within you that instead of playing, you’ll just end up staring at your screen, watching your hero slay monsters on his own, turning you from a gamer to a lowly spectator, thus giving you the greatest idea of leaving the game permanently and getting back to your life.

 



Although the features presented in the game are also existent in other titles in the market, Mythic Saga still has some potential, which is a pity because all would have been better if they just enhanced the game even further in terms of concept and presentation. Sure the weather effects-thing is a cool (but useless) add-on but really… what about user interface? Gameplay? Originality? And the list goes on…

 

 

For a browser game, Mythic Saga is a well-designed piece of work for players who don’t have enough time to spend on their hero’s development. With the game on its early stages let’s just hope for better improvements in the future.

 

Graphics 3/5

Controls 3.5/5

Features 3/5

Customization 3/5

Community 3/5

Mythic Saga

Mythic Saga is among the new generation of Browser titles that are attempting to blur the realm between browser and client based MMORPGs. With four classes to choose from, guild systems, and all the usual quest systems you’ve come to expect from a client based MMORPG, the only real difference is technology limits and the lack of needing to download a client to play.

End of Nations Final Closed Beta Event Now Live

End of Nations Final Closed Beta Event Now Live

 

End of Nations

 

Trion Worlds today kicked off the fourth and final closed beta event for the highly-anticipated, free-to-play online military strategy game End of Nations. The event went live at 8:00am PDT this morning, Thursday, October 4, and is slated to conclude on Sunday, October 7 at 9:00pm PDT.

 

 

As a thank you for taking part in the final closed beta event, Trion will be awarding all participants a total of 500 in-game promotional credits to use in End of Nations when the game goes live in Open Beta later this year. In addition, gamers who play in the beta for two or more days will be automatically entered for a chance to win* one of a limited number of private invites to take part in the Early Access event  so that they can get a head start on leveling up, unlocking cool units and upgrades before everyone else.  The Early Access date will be announced soon.

 

End of Nations

 

Trion is also removing the NDA for the End of Nations final closed beta, so players will be able to celebrate their greatest victories, and lament their crushing defeats, by sharing videos, live streams, battle screens, and comments about their final closed beta experience.

 

 

Players in the fourth closed beta event will have the chance to try some cool new game features and maps some of which are highlighted in the Closed Beta 4 Preview trailer also released today.  Maps and game types include Full Boar where they will be able to take on the gargantuan Panzer Hulk unit, the four-player PvE Co-op Comp-Stomp map, Juggernaut, the four-player PvE Co-op survival mode map, and Deep Freeze, the massive 56-player map. In addition, the beta event will be introducing a new tutorial mode for those who are new to the game or just want a little more practice to strengthen their skills.

Heroes of Newerth Announces HoN Tour

Heroes of Newerth Announces HoN Tour

 

 

Marking a historic day in eSports, S2 Games today announced the launch of HoN Tour—a revolutionary tournament series for the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) title Heroes of Newerth. With an emphasis on events for players of all skill levels, HoN Tour provides an opportunity for every player to compete for fame and fortune. In the simplest terms, HoN Tour is an eSports celebration where anyone can be a hero.

 

HoN Tour is a multi-event tournament series with a season one cash prize pool of over $333,000. Running from October 2012 to April 2013, HoN Tour begins with a Qualifier to seed players into one of four Divisions. Registration for HoN Tour Qualifiers is now open and individual players or teams of five or more can sign up at HoNTour.com.

 

Following the Qualifiers, the Tour will continue with eight Event Cycles occurring every two weeks, with the exception of holidays and other major HoN events. Once registered and competing, participants will automatically find themselves moving through each division based on their HoN Tour Rank as determined by their placement at the end of each Event Cycle.

 

 

“The community is always our focus with Heroes of Newerth, and we wanted HoN Tour to be a tournament series that offers players at all levels a chance to win,” said S2 Games co-founder and CEO, Marc DeForest. “HoN Tour revolutionizes eSports by providing competitive gamers of every skill level with consistent and frequent events that automatically place players in appropriate skill divisions.”

 

HoN Tour features four Divisions of play: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond. At the end of each Event Cycle, 112 teams across the four Divisions will win their share of a $32,950 cash prize pool. To conclude the Tour, the top four teams will compete head-to-head in a live Grand Finals playoff event at a currently undisclosed location, featuring another $60,000 in prizing. More details about rankings and prizing can be found at HoNTour.com.

 

“With this tournament structure, even beginner teams have a chance to win part of the HoN Tour prize pool,” said Sam Braithwaite, HoN Competitive Commissioner. “This is a great opportunity for new competitors to establish themselves in eSports, and we’re really excited to see what new teams and personalities emerge.”

 

Fans of HoN can also expect to find the latest and greatest coverage of the Tour courtesy of the new and improved shoutcasting crew from Honcast. With a new studio at their disposal, Honcast is set to take HoN eSports coverage to the next level. S2 Games acquired Honcast in anticipation for HoN Tour with the goal of providing consistent, high-caliber HoN eSports coverage. Viewers will be able to follow all the drama, and the highs and lows of the competition unfold on Honcast.com all season long.

League of Legends Season 2 Finals Begin

League of Legends Season 2 Finals Begin

 

 

The time has finally come and for the next 3 days Riot Games will be streaming the world championships for League of Legends on Twitch.tv.

 

 

The playoffs serve as the beginning of the Season’s end where twelve of the World’s top teams collide in Los Angeles. Teams representing China, Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, North America, and Europe skirmish for their share of $2,000,000 and the chance to go head to head in the World Finals. Two teams at the top of the elimination bracket will meet at the World Finals on October 13th to fight for the $1,000,000 grand prize and the title of Season Two World Champions.

 

Every game of each match in the Playoffs will be live-streamed free in HD in over ten languages! The live-stream broadcast will deliver coverage of the group stages on October 4th and the elimination stages on October 5th and 6th. To tune in just follow this link: http://tournaments.leagueoflegends.com/season2-championship-takeover/takeover_twitch_en.html

OnRPG Shotgun News 10/4: WarZ, Planetside 2, and World of Warcraft!

OnRPG Shotgun News 10/4: WarZ, Planetside 2, and World of Warcraft!

By Shannon Doyle (Leliah), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

The War Z Begins Pre Orders and Announces Beta

For any fan of zombie apocalypses there is good news today! You can finally purchase The War Z. And for a limited time the two options are discounted. The two tiers are Survivor and Pioneer. Survivors can get the game for $19.49 until October 20th (29.99 after October 20th) and will get game access on October 31st. While those who go with Pioneer will get access to the game on October 15th plus $15 worth of in game currency and one month of “Stronghold” map server technology to host a unique world within the game. Pioneer level is currently $29.99 to go up to $49.99 after October 20th.

 

 

Planetside 2 Going to Russia

SOE has announced they are teaming up with Innova to bring Planetside 2 to Russia. The partnership was announced at Igromir 2012 Expo in Moscow. The partnership will allow Innova exclusive publishing rights for Planetside 2 in Russia with its own servers, local customer support and payment methods.

 

 

World of Warcraft Passes the 10 Million Mark

The latest expansion Mists of Pandaria has helped push World of Warcraft past the 10 million subscription mark. Mists of Pandaria has sold around 2.7 million copies since its release.

Dragon Nest Previews Lotus Marsh Update

Dragon Nest Previews Lotus Marsh Update

 

 

By the end of this month Nexon is touting a major update to their hit Anime styled Action MMORPG, Dragon Nest. Based on the concept art shown so far we can assume a few things.

 

 

There will be a new hub town involved!

 

 

New monster types are on the way and they seem to be mechanical in nature.

 

 

The marsh is home to a type of Human Animal hybrid race not seen in the game before. Meow!

 

 

We’ll have plenty more on this update as it becomes available.

WoW Wednesday – Levelling in Mists of Pandaria

WoW Wednesday – Levelling in Mists of Pandaria

By Meredith Watson, OnRPG WoW Reporter

 

 

 

If you have read any of my previous articles concerning the talent changes in Mists of Pandaria then you, like my guild, friends and family will know that I am not a fan of the changes.  Now, before you go thinking I am just going to go on a hate filled diatribe about Mists of Pandaria, think again. I love Mists of Pandaria (with the exception of the talent changes but we will get to that in a bit).  Mists of Pandaria is easily my favourite expansion since The Burning Crusade. As one tweet put it “If you’re not playing MoP because you’re all hipster about Pandas, you’re missing out on some of the best stuff WoW’s ever done”(@instanceshow). And that is true. The content is really very entertaining from interesting quests to beautiful zones (Kun-Lai Summit is obviously Tibetan inspired). There is even a nod to Skyrim in one of the panda’s dialogue in which he talks about taking an arrow to the knee. How great is that? Blizzard has always been known to incorporated popular culture into WoW.

 

 

I, like everyone else, have been levelling through the new content and the most notable absence is, as I suspected, the lack of talent points to spend when levelling. Every time I ding I hit the N key looking for my talent.  I am not alone. Others are missing it too. Instead nothing happens. We still get the iconic levelling sound and animation and maybe a notification that we now have access to a new dungeon but that is about it. It isn’t enough.

 

 

The current talent system was meant so that we as the players would have to make hard choices. In fact, the only decision you get to make now is which of the three choices you like the best every fifteen levels. It isn’t quite the game making decision process they were hoping for. Most I have talked to about it find it too simple and a hit to anyone looking to make those personalized decisions in the building of their character.  For example, my guild leader plays a discipline priest and he used to spec out of smite healing as he didn’t like it and would take the holy spell of Inspiration instead as it suited his play style. He can no longer do that.

 

 

The prospect of levelling a character with this new system sounded daunting to me from the start. I am curious as to how a new player to WoW would react to the talent system especially if they were an experienced gamer. While I am not a new WoW player but a very experienced one, I decided to give it a go and created a human monk.  Obviously, there is the novelty of playing a new class to consider. That could be incentive enough if one was really into the way that Blizzard has done the monk. Personally, I am not a fan. For me, EverQuest II does the best monk with its clever spells and animations. Diablo III’s monk is also a lot of fun. Essentially, while levelling up to level ten you have three spells. At level ten now, which used to be a major milestone, you choose your path and get one extra spell. Who doesn’t remember getting to level ten and having to make the tough decision of where they were going to spend that first point and looking further down the tree as to where they wanted to spend the next? The next spell doesn’t come until 14 and of course the first talent point isn’t spent until 15 with the current system.

 

 

Long gone are the days of getting a new spell or talent point every level which made the player feel as if they were actually building their character-as if they had a say in the matter.  I would rather put a stick in my eye than level another character with this current talent system.  It feels like it would be a very tedious affair.

 

 

As stated previously, I miss the old talent tree as I am levelling high level characters through Mists of Pandaria.  Because I already have the vast majority of my spells it hasn’t affected the way I play or the enjoyment factor though I still expect to get my little reward of a talent point every other level and am disappointed when I don’t. Luckily, that disappointment doesn’t last too long as there is so much to see and do in Mists of Pandaria.

 

 

I am having a wonderful time playing through Mists of Pandaria and from what I read and hear the rest of the community seems to be enjoying themselves as well. If there is a major downside to this expansion it is the revamped talent system, and I can only hope Blizzard has a good long look at it especially since other games out there have more in depth systems. Blizzard really shouldn’t be resting on its laurels just now even if it is still the biggest game out there. Though for how long it remains the biggest game is anyone’s guess as Mists of Pandaria has not sold as well as expected.