Yearly Archives: 2012

Kill3rCombo Introduces Revamped Gates of Darkness

Kill3rCombo Introduces Revamped Gates of Darkness

 

Elsword

 

This week, Kill3rCombo unveils the third part of a three-phase gameplay revamp for the free-to-play manga inspired action MMORPG Elsword.

 

 

Building off the first two phases of “Elsword Awakened”, Kill3rCombo will be introducing a revamped version of Gates of Darkness, a tower defense-style level in which players will team up with three friends to protect sacred crystals from hordes of enemies led by a monstrous three-headed skeletal dragon. The Gates of Darkness which was playable for a limited time last Spring is being relaunched with a host of significant improvements. A broader variety of enemies and an enhanced AI system will encourage more team play and strategic thinking particularly at the highest difficultly levels. In addition, item drops will be more plentiful, making it easier for players to craft the high-level gear found exclusively in this dungeon. Finally, the Gates of Darkness will now be made permanent on weekends, allowing players to tackle this daunting dungeon through the Fall and beyond.

 

 

During the first two phases of “Elsword Awakened”, Kill3rCombo rolled out a complete revamp of the six characters’ skill trees providing a more balanced PvP, and improved the secret dungeons, adding a never before seen secret Velder dungeon.

 

 

In addition to the gameplay revamp, Kill3rCombo will also be providing a unique, two-weekend event on September 29th and 30th, and again on October 6th and 7th, during which players will be able to upgrade items normally capped at +10 to a special +11 level.

Archlord Announces Major Upgrades with The Dark Revelation Expansion

Archlord Announces Major Upgrades with The Dark Revelation Expansion

 

 

WEBZEN Inc. today unveiling the next major expansion in their Archlord franchise.

 

 

‘The Dark Revelation’ launches today with tons of new content and an excellent new item pack you can grab from our giveaway section!

 

 

The most significant feature of the expansion is the ‘Shrine’ system where players’ individual skills and team strategies are required to win. Shrine Coins can be earned by winning in Shrine battles to unlock powerful PvP gear.

 

 

Major cities have also been revamped with this update. The existing Human and Orc cities have been given some serious improvements to make them feel as the majestic capitals of their race should. The User Interface is also being looked at and Webzen appreciates any feedback the community can provide in this effort.

 

 

Additionally, skill rebalance of all Races will be applied based on players’ feedback and will also be updated constantly over the next few months. Other updates include an extended skill slot, a quest tutorial system, and item comparison features should get players pumped after requesting these features for quite some time.

 

 

Jihun Lee, Head of Global Publishing, said “Although there will be various changes in the expansion, we have endeavored to maintain the classicality of Archlord.” He also said, “With the expansion, we are anticipating Archlord to be completely recreated once again.”

Absolute Force Online

Absolute Force Online is a first-person shooting game, which is the first in China to make use of the Unreal 3 Engine. Players can take on the roles of hardened mercenaries, either the fiendish Rotten Angels or the honorable Hands of Justice. They are able to use advanced weapons and military vehicles (aircraft and tanks) to fight battles in famous locations, mysterious islands, and modern cities from all around the world. There will also be campaign modes featured, where you can fight alongside your teammates against infected zombies and other dangerous enemies.

Character Development: Guild Wars 2 Roleplay Part 1

Character Development: Guild Wars 2 Roleplay Part 1

By Shannon Doyle (Leliah), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

This week my husband and I started playing Guild War 2. He’s playing Charr Engineer while I’m playing a Sylvari Elementalist. I’d heard that RP in Guild Wars 2 was nonexistent. So I’ve set out to find some. And after a week of playing I haven’t seen anyone rping at all. Though to be I’ve spent most of my time in Caledon Forest with only a brief break to check out my future Charr companion in his starting area. But before I get into the game too much I should mention how much I love the character creator.

 

 

When we first bought Guild Wars 2 my husband joked that his catboy would enjoy digging his claws into my plantgirl’s bark. It amused us both so we decided what the hell, let’s try those two races together. Later when our characters met for the first time we had to take a few minutes to laugh at how ridiculous the size difference is between the two of them. We’ve never played a game that had such a huge difference in the sizes of the playable characters.

 

 

But! Again, I’m getting ahead of myself. Character creation is the topic right now. It is amazing. To me, customization is vital to how much I enjoy a game. That’s not to say that limited character customization is bad either. But you won’t ever see me playing a game where you look like everyone else. There is so much detail in how you can make your characters look, including special things for each race. Sylvari have funny ears and skin that can be as soft as a flower petal or as hard as bark. Charr have funny ears too as well as horns. The customization goes so far as to let you pick how big or small you want your horns.

 

 

Armor has three color areas which you are able to dye. This makes your look very unique. There are a ton of hairstyles to choose from. Though when I was playing around with making a lady Norn wearing a helmet I ran into a problem that often comes up though usually never so spectacularly. How does she get all that hair in a helmet that looks like it is nearly a perfect fit for her head? Some things you just have to look past.

 

 

But you know, it wasn’t the customization that stood out to me so much. There are lots of games with varying levels of customization. It was the questions afterwards, the ones that form your character’s attitude towards life, their past and their future that really make Guild Wars 2 amazing. These questions form your biography. There are five questions total and what questions you get changes depending on what you are playing. The first question is profession related, it helps define what weapons you start with. The second question is about overcoming adversity and determines your personality. It is the only universal question that everyone gets no matter their race or class.

 

 

The final three questions are race specific and help determine how your personal storyline will go. I have a problem though, and it’s a pretty big one. I want to try out all the possible combinations. A minor problem, I know. But the temptation is just so hard to resist that I find myself staring at the option to return to the character screen while going about the game. But on the other hand I really want to get out into the wide world before I start anew. I doubt I’ll be able to resist for much longer.

 

 

While running around the lovely forest I’m currently calling home I’ve run into all sorts of people. But you know, I haven’t said a word to any of them. And they haven’t said anything to me either. You don’t have to group up with people to get credit for taking part in events or kills. And while this is a great thing for regular gameplay it makes for a very silent game because no one is forced to talk and discuss tactics. And by not forcing them to talk you never really get the chance to learn who is and isn’t a roleplayer. I suspect this will continue as I branch out into other areas of the world. And that rpers will gather in hubs and only there will be where you can really start meeting people. But for me, just like in The Secret World, I plan on walking everywhere. I kind of think that walk is the ultimate sign that someone is a rper, after seeing them rp of course. If I see someone walking I’ll stop and say hi. So far though, I haven’t even seen anyone walking.

 

 

There is a great tool for roleplayers. www.guildwars2roleplayers.com tells you which server to play on for roleplaying, and even has a running calendar of events for both North American and EU servers. This is a first for me honestly. In the past I’ve only ever found websites that cover North American or EU servers, making it feel like one is superior over the other. So far there only seem to be two repeating events for EU players, both of which seem to be a sort of weekend night at the bar. North Americans really have it together though. There are regular Sunday In-Character quest groups scheduled, in character patrols, and even a Norn History Appreciation event. I hope that EU starts doing more events. If not I may jump ship and go to the NA rp server.

 

 

My adventure in Guild Wars 2 is just getting started. I’ll be sure to write about Guild Wars 2 roleplay again in the future when I’ve had a bit more of an opportunity to experience it. I just recently bought TERA, so be on the look out in the future for my experiences in TERA. I promise though, I’ll wait until I’ve actually rped with someone before I write about it.

Knight Age Dares Players to Pet Fierce Bosses

Knight Age Dares Players to Pet Fierce Bosses

 

 

Knight Age today launches its first major update since the opening of their free-to-play 3D fantasy MMORPG with unique riding-action, Knight Age. Among the myriad of changes, the first content patch includes new boss pupae (unique pets) for players to collect.

 

 

To celebrate the arrival of the new boss pupae, Joymax is kicking off a slew of events for players to explore.  For a limited time, new characters will receive a basket of goodies when they first log into the game, including some lucrative cash shop items.  Established characters will not be left out, as they will receive an EXP boost alongside an increased money drop rate for the next several weekends.

 

 

In addition, new items are now available within the item shop!  Pupae and mounts which previously had a limited-time-use timer will now instead be a permanent item for all players who purchase them.  No more worrying about losing a beloved companion as they will now be at your side forever.

 

 

If you missed it be sure to check out Proxzor’s Impressions of the game right here at OnRPG!

Luvinia Online Celebrates First Year Anniversary

Luvinia Online Celebrates First Year Anniversary

 

Luvinia

 

It’s hard to believe that Luvinia Online is turning one already. Over the past year, the magical free-to-play fantasy MMORPG has had four major expansions spanning the Age of Enlightenment, Zendo, Abbes and Yutaka regions, as well as the introduction of the very popular Luvinia Wedding System. The game now caps at Level 89, boasts over 1000 quests across 100 maps, and has doubled the number of vanity items available.

 

 

“We treasure the friendly and harmonious community that has become Luvinia. Players have met, fallen in love, gotten married, expanded their families, and ventured across the massive world of Savejela to battle epic bosses, and best each other. It’s been a fantastic first year!” said Philip Yun, CEO, Outspark. “What makes Luvinia so special is that it’s a live game hosted by real Game Masters who are passionate about MMORPGs and have extremely close relationships with the players. We value the deep bonds that have formed, and look forward to working with Shanda Games and Simo to deliver even more exciting content as we head into the Fall.”

 

 

Through October 3, players can check out a host of epic anniversary events including Constellation Chaos, which is a monster-bashing scavenger hunt, Mooncake King, where players get to slice down an overgrown pastry, and the thrilling new PvP guild wars, Alto Battlefield. Prizes include chic fashions, gems and permanent mounts. During the anniversary celebration, players can also receive a daily EXP buff daily by visiting the Anniversary Official in the Core of Aurora, and all new players who register will receive a FREE Teleportation Book that allows for super fast travel.

OnRPG Shotgun News 9/25: WoW, Dust 514, Ultima Online, and Much More!

OnRPG Shotgun News 9/25: WoW, Dust 514, Ultima Online, and Much More!

By Shannon Doyle (Leliah), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

Mists of Pandaria Launches

 

 

The long awaited day has finally come. World of Warcraft’s latest expansion Mists of Pandaria has gone live. It is available now in most parts of the world with the exception of South Korea, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. EU servers have been experiencing crashes for up to three hours and an exploit has lead to a number of rollbacks.

 

 

Possible Dust 514 Release Slip

During an interview with FOX Business, CEO Jack Tretton may have accidentally given away Dust 514’s launch. During the interview he stated that the game would be coming out next month. Previously it was only stated that it would be released in 2012.

 

 

Ultima Online Celebrates 15th Birthday

Ultima Online is celebrating a milestone few MMOs will ever get to. 15 years of being live. To celebrate a huge party has been organized in Fairfax with a costume contest. Congratulations on reaching 15!

 

 

New Game Centered Crowd Funding Site Launches

Gambitious is a new crowd funding site. But unlike others out there this one is specifically dedicated to the video game industry. Developers who want to be featured on the site must first submit a detailed business plan. Games currently up for funding include Super Micro Heroes, Mushroom Men: Truffle Trouble, and Tink. Upcoming projects include the highly anticipated sequel to Stronghold Crusader.

 

 

Anarchy Online Offers Huge Bonuses for Subscriptions

For a limited time when you subscribe to Anarchy Online you can get huge bonuses. For first time subscribers, depending on how long you subscribe for you can get anything from Luxury Apartments and Funcom Points all the way up to all the AO expansions. For existing players when you purchase the year long subscription you get over $100 worth of other items. These include; Funcom Points, Armor, and all the expansions. As this is a limited time offer you should act fast.

 

Cyber Monster Open Beta Launches Tomorrow

NGames has announced that its browser based MMO Cyber Monster will go into open beta tomorrow, September 26th. Since starting closed beta on September 19th there have been more than 30,000 players. Those interested in giving it a try can sign up now on the official website.

 

 

Ascension: Arenas of War Closed Beta Launch

Registration is going on now for the Ascension: Arenas of War closed beta. You can sign up by going to the following website: ludorumstudios.com/beta . The first round of beta invitations will be released in the next week.

Tyrian Times – Six Reasons You Should be Playing Guild Wars 2

Tyrian Times –Six Reasons You Should be Playing Guild Wars 2

By Meredith Watson  (MerryQuiteContrary), OnRPG GW Reporter

 

 

With over one million players pre-purchasing Guild Wars 2, it is all the rage right now. It seems everyone is jumping on the Guild Wars 2 bandwagon because of its multitude of great features and dynamic gameplay. Here are my top six reasons why you should be playing Guild Wars 2.

 

 

Buy to play. The best reason to play Guild Wars 2 is there isn’t a subscription fee. For merely the price of the game, which is on par with other titles, you can play whenever you want without having to worry about getting your money’s worth.  With some subscription model titles the player can often feel they must play because they are paying good money for it. With Guild Wars 2 it is easy to pop in and out of the game guilt free.

 

 

There is an item mall in Guild Wars 2 but it is currently very limited with costumes, boosts and services. No doubt much more will be added in the future. It isn’t necessary to spend money in the item mall. Guild Wars 2 can be played successfully and enjoyably without ever spending your hard earned cash. However, it is such a great game you may want to purchase just as a way to say thanks for the awesomeness.

 

 

Combat. As we all know combat in MMOs is a series of key presses. That won’t change given that is how the genre works on a PC.  Games in the past have claimed innovative combat but it never took the gaming world by storm (and was just more key presses). Think Age of Conan. With Guild Wars 2 you get the usual fare but there are a couple of differences between Guild Wars and other games in its category. The first being the weapons swap. Oh sure games like Fallen Earth allow for weapon swapping but it is very clunky. Guild Wars 2 has made it very fluid illustrating that is an integral part of gameplay.  As well as weapon swap GW2 gives us the ability to actively evade either through double tapping WASD or the V key. Many of your spells and abilities also will focus around evading.  Combat in GW2 is all about movement, evading and choices but more importantly it is about knowing when to use the all the tools in your toolbox.

 

 

Crafting. Not everyone loves crafting in MMOs but in most of them it is a rather important component to gameplay.  Guild Wars 2 has given us a moderately deep craft system with many recipes and materials.  Cooking for example can have recipes with up to six steps to make one dish.  Cooking is one of the hardest crafts but also extremely valuable because not only do you get the stat buffs from eating but also XP bonuses. Who doesn’t love XP bonus per kill? Cooks aren’t the only ones that can make buffs. Most crafting professions can (though you will have to discover them). Discovering in crafting makes one feel a bit like a mad scientist by combining materials to hopefully come up with something useful.  You won’t be locked into just two crafting professions unlike most current games. You can learn them all and save your progress on all but can only have two active at a time. Did I mention you gain experience for crafting and discoveries? The experience is a decent chunk as well.

 

 

Sharing is Caring. Sharing is a common theme in Guild Wars 2. This is most evident with events. Everyone can contribute. There isn’t any kill stealing or tapping targets. If you helped kill it or contributed in some way you get rewarded with experience, cash and karma.  Sharing also applies to gathering. Nodes, herbs, or trees don’t disappear once they’ve been used once. The harvesting of resources is phased so that everyone can use them.  Once you have depleted a resource it is no longer interactive for you but can be used by someone else.  All this sharing doesn’t stop here however. Your personal bank is shared between your characters, which is good and bad. Personal banks are rather small but having them shared between alts is very handy. Not only is your bank shared between your characters but all crafting materials are as well through the crafting interface.

 

 

No Holy Trinity. If you play MMOs you know what a holy trinity is. The healer, the tank and DPS are the cornerstone for any group. You undoubtedly already play one of the trinity and know how stressful it can be at times for tanks and healers especially. In games such as World of Warcraft it would be impossible to do higher level difficulty dungeons and raids without the holy trinity but not so in Guild Wars 2.  All classes have a self-heal and all classes are DPS. There isn’t a healing class standing at the back spamming heals on a tank. The elementalist class is the closest thing to a healer  which has the ability to AoE heal but it certainly isn’t a traditional healing role.  There are classes that have more defence but they don’t tank in, again, the traditional sense.  How does that work you ask? Very well, actually. Self-healing, not getting hit and killing quickly are vital.

 

 

Art. Most would disagree that this would be a reason to play a game and normally I would agree if it were the sole reason but in conjunction with the above mentioned reasons it needs to be given consideration.  Vistas in Guild Wars 2 are views that the player can get to more or less by completing a jumping puzzle. These vistas are all over Tyria for one reason and that is so we can enjoy the beauty of the game as well as the creativity and talent that has gone into the making of Guild Wars 2.  It isn’t only stunning views but also the attention to detail in character models, armour, and weapons. For the artists that worked on Guild Wars 2 it must have been nothing short of a labour of love.

 

 

What are you waiting for?