Yearly Archives: 2012

NCSoft West Declares No Censoring in Blade & Soul

NCSoft West Declares No Censoring in Blade & Soul

 

 

After the recent launch of the English site for NCSoft’s upcoming Anime Martial Arts MMORPG, Blade & Soul, there has been much speculation that the game would be heavily censored for western audiences akin to its competitor, TERA, did for its young looking Elin race. NCSoft cleared the air stating that any samples of censoring seen has been a result of their pending ESRB rating and purely for marketing purposes until they get clearance.

 

 

“We are not planning to censor or alter the actual in-game content you have come to expect from an artist such as Hyung-Tae Kim and a studio such as Team Bloodlust. Rest assured that we love Blade & Soul as much as you do, and any modifications to the marketing material are not indicative of our plans for the final content,” Stated NCSoft West in an official announcement.

KingsIsle set to Launch Pirate101 on October 8th

KingsIsle set to Launch Pirate101 on October 8th

 

 

It’s been a long hot summer since KingsIsle announced that their second title, Pirate101, was coming to online swashbucklers across the net. Now we have a date for the head start and it’s literally a week away. As of next Monday, October 8th, those who purchase prelaunch bundles will be able to set sail in this kid friendly MMORPG. The rest of us will have to wait until the 15th to build our ships, find class specific companions, and take part in the unique tactical combat system of Pirate101. Stay tuned for our first impressions coming soon!

League of Legends Launches Honor System

League of Legends Launches Honor System

 

 

After running aground with problems with the Tribunal System effectively deterring bad apples from ruining their gaming system, Riot Games is taking a new approach to encouraging good behavior in League of Legends with the Honor System.

 

 

Just as players could report players for harassment, afking, etc, now players will be able to praise both teammates and opponents for being friendly, helpful, supporting teamwork, or even being good sports. Initial measures are in place to block trading honor including diminishing returns if you get honor from the same person, and the ability to be reported by being caught doing so. Being found guilty will send a player’s honor back to zero so it’s likely not worth it.

 

 

Although it is now just a bragging right, RiotLyte is testing various options to make honor a more tangible reward in the future.

Vinashi

Vinashi is a browser based MMORTS set in ancient India. Players are responsible for building an empire and army large enough to become the Supreme Commander of the land. To do this, careful consideration must be made for your construction and army development projects, as resources are a precious commodity. Strike out at your foes with winning tactics to bring glory to your empire!

 

 

Features

 

Development: Build your empire using wood, stone, and iron. Each of these materials is very important when it comes to buildings and troops, so plan your resource management carefully!

 

Troop planning: Develop a balanced troop selection to ensure victory. Use smart tactics and skill to take down your opponents!

 

Trade: Some materials may be scarce for you. Not to worry, as you can trade with others across the network, ensuring you can benefit at all times.

 

Conquer: Establish roots near your home town, or send troops far away to gain footholds in other areas. Strategic thinking and placement of your colonies is critical!

 

Pro Evolution Soccer 2013

Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is part of a long-standing chain of games. Players can get all of the action on the field in the comfort of their living room. From fancy footwork to amazing plays across the field, Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 is dedicated to providing as close an experience as you’ll find. With various new functions based off of fan feedback, and a comprehensive online presence, Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 seeks to become the bar to which other soccer games aspire.

 

 

Features

 

Full Control: Choose how to receive a pass, or how to shoot and play the field. With moves that mimic the feel of playing the game on the field, PES 2013 gives you the chance to be a star.

 

Player ID: The famous players across the world make the game feel alive and vibrant. From signature celebrations, to how the run, pass, and dribble, all the details of your favorite players are available to you!

 

Improved AI: Designed to simulate the flow of an actual game, the AI in PES 2013 allows for much more balanced and fun matches. It reacts much more quickly to various happenings on the field, giving players the challenge to overcome, without being unfair.

 

Various game modes: Participate in training activities to hone your skills, or compete in leagues and tournaments. PES 2013 features several ways for you to get into the game and compete!

Supreme Destiny

Supreme Destiny is an MMORPG that is split into two servers: Aden and Seraf. Players on Aden can enjoy an epic storyline, and hundreds of quests, while players on Seraf get the benefit of massive PvP battles. The game offers four playable classes, with Seraf characters being able to advance to master classes as well. Aden offers players a relaxed environment to enjoy the game world as well, and for players who don’t enjoy open PvP as much. Seraf gives its own incentive by giving players a channel where they can earn triple experience to compete against others even faster.

 

 

Features

 

Two different worlds: Supreme Destiny is split in two: Aden and Seraf. Aden offers a relaxing PvE environment while Seraf is for those that enjoy a hardcore PvP experience.

 

Aden: Aden is a relatively new server with a growing community. In addition, it offers a rich storyline told through hundreds of quests.

 

Seraf: Seraf gives players a larger community, and some additional perks. Players on Seraf have access to master classes of each of the initial four. They also have access to a triple experience channel, to help them increase in power quickly.

 

Constant staffing: Each server is manned 24/7 by helpful GMs ho provide great customer service. In addition, they host daily events, and set the servers up for weekly battles!

 

Hero Civilization

Hero Civilization is an MMORTS that allows you to join one of three factions as humanity tries to rebuild in the wake of a devastating war. Each of the three races — Human, Shaba, and Alec — have their own philosophies and ways of doing things, so the troop types they command are also different. Alliances are a great way to ensure your country remains safe as you develop the land and work on conquering neighboring territories. The game also offers a nice trading system between players, to ensure you can get whatever materials you need.

 

 

Features

 

Three factions: Join the Humans, Shaba, or Alec as you attempt to carve a name for yourself into the land. Each race offers a different ideal, and different troops and abilities along the way.

 

Alliance based system: Join with your fellows to grow more powerful, as you spread your influence across the land. Assist your allies and request their help for attacking and defense alike.

 

Traders economy: Have an excess of something, but need more of another? Trade it with another player so you can both benefit!

 

Quest based gameplay: Complete your empire efficiently using the extensive quest system in Hero Civilization. These quests will help guide your forces to victory!

EVE Online: Retribution To Bring True Justice To Massive Universe

EVE Online: Retribution To Bring True Justice To Massive Universe

 

EVE Online

 

CCP Games, one of the world’s leading independent game studios, has announced EVE Online: Retribution, the 18th free expansion for its award-winning sci-fi massively multiplayer online game.

 

 

Coming on December 4, 2012, EVE Online: Retribution will shake the very core of the limitless game universe as it rockets towards an unprecedented 10th anniversary year with more players than ever before.

 

 

Central to EVE’s dynamic unending content are the dreams, plans and actions of its players. EVE Online: Retribution accentuates the core philosophy of the legendary online society: that each decision and each action bears truly meaningful consequences via human interaction.

 

EVE Online

 

A complete rework of EVE’s bounty system will allow players to exact revenge by placing bounties on individuals, corporations and alliances and enlisting other players to “do the dirty work.” The agression flagging system, “Crimewatch,” will undergo changes as well, making clear the consequences of actions, whether legal, suspect or illegal.

 

 

EVE Online: Retribution will see all frigates, destroyers and cruisers collectively reworked in a tremendous game balancing effort that will lead to massive play style refreshments for pilots of all skill levels. Four new Tier 2 destroyer-class ships will be added alongside major changes in other systems, including NPC artificial intelligence, factional warfare, sound design and the user interface.

 

 

“This is the perfect followup to a recent series of well-received expansions in which we’ve put even more control over the game universe in the hands of our players,” said Jon Lander, EVE Online’s Executive Producer. “Limitless human conflict and real consequences for your actions: sounds like a compelling dramatic setting to me.”

Tyrian Times – Hopes for the Future of GW2

Tyrian Times – Hopes for the Future of GW2

By Meredith Watson, OnRPG Tyrian Reporter

 

 

 

It is early days for Guild Wars 2 yet already the community has a bucket list of items they would like to see in-game at some point.  Currently, and because the game is so new, ArenaNet is busy fixing bugs, addressing the problem of bots and gold sellers  as well as policing its community. But let’s take a look into the (hopefully) not too distant future and think about what features we’d like to see in Guild Wars 2.

 

 

I see quite a few asking for mounts, which in all honesty is a bit silly.  Mounts surely have no place in Guild Wars 2 other than more aesthetics due to the already very quick travel system.  You can’t go more than a short distance without finding yet another waypoint out in the wilds. Divinity’s Reach and Lion’s Arch both have 13 waypoints while the Black Citadel has 11 which not only attest to how large the cities are but how easy it is to get around.  If you can’t be bothered running a very short distance, then maybe Guild Wars 2 isn’t for you. The only issue with the current travel system and it really isn’t even an issue is that is can be expensive.  No doubt ArenaNet could make some brilliant looking mounts such as the carriage in Lion’s Arch but it just doesn’t seem viable at this point.

 

 

Another very common adjustment more than a few would like to see is making dyes account bound rather than once opened only usable by the character that opened it.  It seems such a little thing to worry about, but for a lot of players customization is important to them for whatever reason.  Thieves should wear dark colours. Everyone knows this. Say you have a necromancer who would also look smashing in the gorgeous dark dye you just found but you have a thief that would also warrant using the dark dye. What do you do? Obviously, if dyes were account bound both characters and subsequent characters could benefit from the dye in question. As it stands now you can but hope the dye you want drops again or you find it on the trading post.  Along the same lines are the players asking for weapons dyes as are found in Guild Wars. Not the blades mind but dye to change the colour of hilts and other decorative bits.  The more dye the merrier.

 

 

If you’ve played games like EverQuest II, LOTRO or SWG for example, you know what is missing and that is player housing.   There does seem to be plans from ArenaNet for player housing but as of yet absolutely no word when that may happen.  We can only hope that when player housing and guild halls are introduced that movable furniture and décor will also become available either through vendor, gems or player made.   Huntsmen could make furniture, tailors could make carpets, armour/weapon smiths could make the metal bric-a-brac much like in EverQuest II. Adding player housing doesn’t seem like it would be a difficult thing for ArenaNet to implement as there appears to be a lot of components in place already.  Player housing might just make Guild Wars 2 perfect for a lot of players.

 

 

Dueling for some is used to test their skills, weapons and gear. Currently, there isn’t a dueling option in Guild Wars 2 but quite a few players would like to see it added.  Personally, I am not a dueler and my hope would be that if ArenaNet were to introduce dueling that they would also include ways to avoid being spammed by duel invites, which are annoying at best.

 

 

If we are going to be completely honest here, the trading post could use some work.  The filter options are very limited especially when trying to find armour. Currently, when you select armour you will see a drop down menu with choices for slots but not for type such as light or medium. Instead you will have to scroll through all the choices for that slot whether or not you can use them. Of course adding level parameters help but only to minimize how many items you will need to scroll through to find something that fits.  Sure that plate chest piece is shiny and sturdy but it doesn’t do me any good on my delicate Mesmer.  Adding more options for searching the trading post would definitely be a boon for players.

 

 

Since we are on the subject of the trading post, what about a preview option?  This functionality is present in other aspects of the interface and it would be convenient to have it working on the trading post as well for armour and weapons.  How many times have you bought something on the trading post only to find it looks terrible? Dye can only do so much.  There are options to swap looks of gear but it really would be best to try before we buy.

 

 

Lastly more options on the trading post that can be purchased with gems.  Right now it is very limited but I would love to see things such as hair colour change, appearance change and maybe even race change though that might be tricky given personal stories.  More cosmetic options would go down well I think with the community.

 

 

These are intriguing times in Guild Wars 2. Not just because Guild Wars 2 has that new game smell but because of what is to potentially come.  At this point, anything can happen.  There will be many changes over the next year and beyond. Hopefully, they will all be welcome and wonderful changes but whatever happens it promises to be an exciting ride.

 

 

What would you like to see added to Guild Wars 2? What improvements, if any, would you make? Join our massive forum discussion and tell us about it!

League of Legends: ItÂ’s not a bug, itÂ’s a feature!

League of Legends: It’s not a bug, it’s a feature!

By Jason Harper (Hhean), OnRPG League Reporter

 

 

Kha’Zix is the latest League of Legends assassin who can choose to either specialize heavily into his role, or opt to gain a number of team-fight enhancing abilities, offsetting the weaknesses found in many of his peers. He plays most similarly to other aggressive glass cannons, while also having a number of mechanical and thematic similarities with Rengar.

 

 

Pros:

Strong duelist, with incredible damage output

Highly adaptable

Can become a strong pusher

Good mobility (Excellent mobility with correct upgrades)

Unique upgrade system

Can permaslow a target after he gets his ultimate

 

Cons:

Has little early game crowd control

Very fragile, and is especially susceptible to burst damage

No haymaker ultimate

Needs farm to be effective (As a jungler, he needs successful ganks)

 

 

Ability Summary

 

 

Unseen Threat [Passive]: When Kha’Zix is not visible to any enemy champions, he gains a stack of Unseen Threat. If he hits an enemy with an auto-attack or an evolved Void Spike it will consume the stack to deal bonus magic damage and slow the target. There is no cooldown on regaining stacks, so repeatedly juking in and out of brush, around corners or using his ultimate in between attacks can allow him to keep an enemy slowed indefinitely.

 

 

Taste Their Fear [Q]: Deals damage to a single target in melee range. If the target is not close to any of their allies, they will take almost double damage. This is on a very low cooldown, and has a very low mana cost considering the amount of damage it deals to a lone enemy. Always try to hit an enemy away from minions if possible, but given its low cooldown, you don’t have to be very careful with it. When playing against Kha’Zix, stay near your minions if he is leveling this first, as it will significantly eat into his damage output. The evolved version will add a percentage of the target’s HP to the damage, while also increasing his auto-attack range. Grabbing this evolution early will make him a very strong duelist, able to punch holes in the bruisers that are often found in top lane.

 

 

Void Spike [W]: Skillshot that explodes after hitting the first enemy it makes contact with, dealing damage in an AoE. If Kha’Zix is in range of the AoE, it will also heal him. Great harassment tool when laning, and gives some sustain while in melee. The evolved version makes it fire three projectiles in a cone (in a similar manner to Twisted Fate’s Wild Cards), and will also apply the slow and damage from Unseen Threat. The evolved version allows him to clear minion waves with a single shot, and grind entire teams to a crawl. This is a great defensive option, allowing him to farm easily, grabbing a great deal of gold for his mid to late game.

 

 

Leap [E]: AoE damage leap with a short range. The evolved version, however, can leap further than most ranged auto-attacks and is also refreshed after a kill or assist, making it a better version of Tristana’s Rocket Jump. The normal version is a fairly good gap closer, but the evolved version is an absolute menace. It is very common for jungling Kha’Zixs to level this first, as it makes his ganking very difficult to escape from, and allows him to attack from unusual angles.

 

 

Void Assault [R]: Kha’Zix stealths for 1 second, applies Unseen Threat to himself and gets a movement speed boost. Can be used twice in a short period of time. Best used as a reset in the middle of fights. This is also the only way he can maintain his slow over long periods without juking into brush or around corners, so only use this after you’ve already consumed his passive, and need to slow the enemy again. The evolved version allows him to stealth three times, and also gain damage reduction while stealthed. Great for survivability if you don’t have a strong front line on your team, while also giving him more chasing and slowing power to hunt down kiting enemies.

 

 

After you put a rank in Void Assault, it will also allow you to evolve one of his four abilities. This can’t be done instantly like other level ups, and will require a cast time. Every time Kha’Zix evolves, his character model will update, gaining new animations and vocals that reflect his changes (eg. when he acquires wings he will talk about flying, and his run cycle gains a fluttering hop like the butterfly Kog’Maw). Be aware that the updated visuals will give your enemies a clear indication of what upgrades you’ve taken, giving away what you plan to do with the character.

 

 

Choosing which evolutions you take, and in what order are going to dramatically change how you play Kha’zix. Since he can only level his ultimate three times, he’s always going to leave himself with a weakness. Not having his Taste Their Fear evolution weakens him as a duelist, but will mean he has a great deal of durability and team fight presence. Not evolving Void Spike takes away his AoE presence, but he will be an extremely mobile duellist and chaser. Letting Void Assault fall by the wayside will render him unable to leap into an enemy’s squishy carries, but will allow him to mop up any front line fighters that are leaping into his own team. Not choosing Void Assault will greatly diminish his durability and chasing power, but will ramp up his damage potential to its absolute maximum potential, great for doing hit and run strikes on an enemy team’s squishies.

 

 

Don’t ever stick to one set route of evolutions, as you’ll only be throwing away Kha’Zix’s ability to adapt to any situation. Always watch how a game is going, and try to plan ahead by picking the right set of tools that’ll lead your team to victory.

 

 

Combos & Shenanigans

When laning, he can play mind games with his enemy by switching between Taste Their Fear and Void Spike as his main damage dealing abilities. Void Spikes will always catch an enemy that stands near their minion wave, forcing them away, but if you threaten them with a Leap followed by Taste Their Fear, they have to get near their minions to avoid its extremely high damage output. Melee opponents have an especially hard time against this trick, as they can be punished every time they try to last hit, training them to stay away most of the time, and making them easy prey for Taste Their Fear. With an evolved Void Spike, this trick becomes unnecessary, as the spikes will wipe out a minion wave completely, giving your enemies nothing to protect them from Taste Their Fear.

 

 

His most common ganking combination is to Leap from behind a wall or in the brush, smack his target with an auto attack, then use a quick Void Spike to clear the area before hitting them with a Taste Their Fear. If he’s above level 6, Kha’Zix can now make use of his ultimate, Void Assault, to speed himself up before auto-attacking the enemy again, keeping them slowed. Keep using the combination of his ultimate, passive and Taste Their Fear to burn down the enemy’s health, while healing back any damage with Void Spikes. An evolved Void Assault will also reduce the damage from towers when diving in for the kill, so don’t forget to time it so you’re always stealthed when taking those laser blasts.

 

 

Escaping with Kha’Zix can be surprisingly easy, as his extreme mobility doesn’t require a target in order to work (unlike the recently released Diana). Simply Void Assault for his passive, hit the enemy once, Leap away while they’re slowed (preferably over a wall), then zoom off with the remaining uses of his ultimate.

 

 

Conclusions

If adaptability was the key theme of Kha’Zix, then Riot have hit the nail on the head. His evolution mechanic is such an absolute treat, offering new ways to play him every game. This is the way that Viktor’s passive should have worked. If a rework to Viktor ever happens in the future, the design team should look at Kha’Zix for an excellent template to work from.

 

 

Kha’Zix provides a highly satisfying blend of long term planning and fast moment to moment play. He’s also a perfect example of Riot’s desire to make every available option a player makes have a possible counter, both in the long and short term. With every evolution being visible to the enemy, they can never claim they’re caught off guard by his tricks. For everything that he has, there’s a way to stop it, but he also has a way of dealing with dealing with the thing that stops him, but there’s a way for the enemy to stop that…

 

 

Final Verdict

He’s very strong at the moment, and his evolutions make him a fresh take on a well worn type of champion. A worthwhile purchase, and definitely worth a look during his free week. Highly likely he’ll get some form of nerf, though with the world championships so near, we may not see any significant balance changes until it’s over.

 

To discuss Kha’zix yourselves, post in the massive League of Legends thread in the free to play MMOs section, or post in the comments section below. If you haven’t tried League of Legends yet, you’re missing out.