Yearly Archives: 2012

OnRPG Shotgun News 7/17: Dragonica, TERA, Combat Arms, and More!

OnRPG Shotgun News 7/17: Dragonica, TERA, Combat Arms, and More!

By Shannon Doyle (Leliah), OnRPG Journalist

 

Web Koihime Musou Launches

 

Gamania has announced that it’s new free to play browser based strategy game Web Koihime Musou has officially launched. It features over 100 unique Battle Maiden Warlords straight from the very popular Koihime IP. A regular feature for the game will include a weekly Facebook vote to pick which Battle Maiden will be added to the item mall at a discounted rate.

 

 

Dragonica: Phoenix Arrives July 24th

 

The newest update to MMORPG Dragonica titled Phoenix is expected to go live on July 24th. With it comes a complete graphics overhaul allowing the game to be enjoyed in HD for the first time ever. Phoenix will also bring with it chain combos and several changes to the UI. For a limited time players with a character over level 50 will be able to create a free level 40 character of their choice.

 

 

TERA Connects to Amazon’s Game Connect

TERA has teamed up with Amazon’s new game service to offer chronoscrolls which can be used for game time or gold. For the next 30 days if you connect your En Masse account with your Amazon account you’ll be eligible to get the “Federation field kit” for free.

 

 

Combat Arms Shows off Assassin Characters and PvE Map

Nexon America has released a new video featuring the new Assassin characters and new PvE map that is now available in popular FPS Combat Arms. On the new map soldiers can become a mech in support of their team. The two new assassins are the only ones capable of wielding the new Assault Crossbow which comes with all sorts of new features.

 

 

New Spirit Tales Levels

Spirit Tales has been undergoing a summer of updates. This week sees a raise in the level cap from 50 to 55. This will pave the way for new instances, stronger monsters and better gear.

 

 

New Concept Art for Rift: Storm Legion

Trion has released new concept art for the highly anticipated first expansion to Rift titled Storm Legion. It is expected to be released sometime later this year. This is just one of four amazing images released on the Rift website.

 

 

New Heroes Unveiled for Prime World

Nival has announced a second batch of heroes for upcoming game Prime World. The three heroes are very different from eachother. There is the Assassin, the Ice Queen, and the Wolf Pack Leader. Each has it’s own unique skills and abilities. The three heroes will be available to both factions under different names.

 

 

Drift City Launches New Update

 

GamesCampus.com announces the launch of their latest update to online racing game Drift City. Chapter 3 features a variety of new quests, items and even a new car. Several new UI changes have been made including a new screenshot mode.

Star Trek Online Season 6: Under Siege is Now Live

Star Trek Online Season 6: Under Siege Now Live

 

Star Trek Online

 

Perfect World Entertainment Inc. today announced the release of Star Trek Online Season 6: Under Siege. This latest major update to Star Trek Online introduces the Fleet (Guild) Advancement System, which allows Fleet members to construct, level-up and defend their own Starbase. Alongside new Fleet events and additional end-game content for max level players, with Season 6: Under Siege, the free-to-play MMO sees its first major Foundry update since launch.

 

 

“Our primary focus with Season 6 is to have fleets become a more central and fundamental part of the Star Trek Online experience,” said Dan Stahl, Executive Producer of Star Trek Online, Cryptic Studios. “Fleets may now work to improve their Starbase category, unlocking additional functionality and increasing the size and grandeur of the Starbase itself.”

 

Star Trek Online

 

Star Trek Online Season 6: Under Siege key features include:

 

Fleet (Guild) Advancement System: Fleets construct their own Fleet Holdings with Starbases. Fleet Officers assign specific Fleet Projects for members to carry out in order to build their Starbase and master three specialization tracks: Military, Engineering, and Science.

 

 

Fleets can also improve Starbase specialization through five tiers of design, unlocking new Fleet Projects to earn more Fleet experience points and rewards. Functionality items to Starbases include Transwarp gates that allow for rapid access to different sectors.

 

 

Fleet Starbase Defense Missions:  New missions and events that call upon Fleets to defend their Starbases include a five-man Starbase Alert, two five-man Fleet Sorties, and a 20-man Fleet Action. Some of these will be available at all ranks, while others will only be available to Vice Admirals (Federation Faction) and Lieutenant Generals (Klingon Faction).

 

Star Trek Online

 

Foundry Updates:  New features to the Foundry, Star Trek Online’s popular user-content creation tool, include an improved user interface, which makes it easier for players to identify items prior to map placement. Players will also be able to find additional items such as vivid backdrops, as well as new ground and space maps in the content library.

 

 

Fleet Rewards:  Unlock the new Starbase Exterior and Interior options as your Fleet advances in the aggregate Starbase track. In the other tracks, stores that sell ultra-rare Fleet Rewards, such as new high-end gear, starships, costumes, materials and various tactical assets, can be unlocked.

 

 

Fleet UI Redesign:  Expect a new Fleet Home Page and Fleet Holdings Page, which has been created to provide information on Fleet Status, Projects and Contribution Leaderboards.

 

 

New Max-Level Content: New missions, events, challenges, and end-game content designed specifically for max level players are also included in Season 6: Under Siege. Try “No Win Scenario”, the five-man space challenge, or “Colony Rescue”, the five-man ground challenge.

 

 

Check out the new launch trailer to get a taste of the action!

Character Development: A Roleplay Column

Character Development: A Roleplay Column

By Shannon Doyle (Leliah), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

Have you ever been in the middle of a zombie apocalypse and seen a small group of people walking down the street instead of running around like any sensible person would do? Have you ever seen two people facing each other underneath a train station seemingly ignoring the world while aliens bomb the city from above? Maybe you’ve been wandering through a meadow and stumbled on a woman giving birth next to a pond. These are just a few of things that are quite normal in MMOs of all sorts. Ok, that last one is a bit unusual even for a seasoned roleplayer like myself.

 

 

I’ve been a roleplayer longer than I’ve played MMOs. I got my start in the chatrooms of MSN back in the day before they worried about children and closed them. I met my husband in one of those MSN roleplay chatrooms. When I started playing MMOs and to this day I look at an MMO and judge it on how much fun I would have roleplaying in that world. Now I am bringing my experience to you. Every other week I will bring you news from various roleplay communities around the MMO world, share some of my experiences and hopefully create a running dialog on the OnRPG boards about things that are important to the RPing world. I’m really looking forward to interacting with you, my readers. So if there is a community you think I should check out, or if your roleplaying group is holding an event let me know!

 

 

So when I was thinking about what to write about first a few things came to mind. The game I’ve been in the longest; I could but I’d rather save it for one of the awesome events that are held on a regular basis. An introduction to roleplaying; I could but that might be a bit boring for veterans. Or there was the one that I had my heart set on doing and have decided to go with, The Secret World. I know, right now it’s everywhere. And there is a good reason for it. The world is completely amazing. But the game isn’t for me to talk about, that’s Ardua’s job in his weekly The Secret World column called Faithless Is He. I’m here to talk about all the amazing things Funcom has done for the Roleplaying community in The Secret World. Ok, so if you look around either of Funcom’s two roleplay servers you won’t actually see much rp going on. Why? Everyone is still doing the content. Add to that how new the game is and how different it is from any other game in the genre and you end up with slightly empty pubs and a whole lot of dead evil creatures. But Funcom has gone above and beyond to make The Secret World fantastic for RPers.

 

 

How so you ask? Well if you’ve played you know you have to come up with a first name, last name and finally your nickname which is unique to your character. Some people have been finding the requirement of a first name and last name a bit annoying. I’ve even seen people who have all three names exactly the same. In a post on the official TSW forums Ragnar Tørnquist came out and said that the naming process was done with roleplayers in mind.

 

 

When a new dimension was added it was flagged as a roleplay dimension since they seem to be one of the most popular in most MMOs.

 

 

The in game store is almost entirely clothes which have nothing to do with your stats. So far I’ve managed to resist buying anything but I don’t think I’ll be able to hold out much longer. My character already wears a different outfit every day. And I’m afraid once I start I should just have my paycheck from OnRPG direct deposited into Funcom’s bank account. I’ll want it all!

 

 

The three hubs for the player factions are combat free. Now I imagine that it’s all part of the story, putting together the setting, but I can’t help but think this is a nod to rpers. If I’m headed to Seoul, New York or London for anything other than quick business I put the weapons away while I’m still in Agartha. For people who do want to see a bit of action while they’re in the hubs there are the fight clubs. Not that these areas are excluded from roleplaying as a result.

 

 

In London there are two pubs to pick from. The Horned God has been picked as the main rping spot in the whole game. It makes sense to me because London is the hub and rpers are for some reason always drawn to the clubs/pubs/inns.

 

 

 

Personally I never stop rping. Even doing dungeons I’m rping. So if you’re in The Secret World on Arcadia and see three people walking everywhere, strike up a conversation! We don’t bite, I promise.

 

 

I hope you all come back in two weeks when I talk more about the wonderful world of roleplaying.

Faithless is He: Unleashed

Faithless Is He: Unleashed

By Jonathan Doyle (Ardua), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

 

A few things happened this weekend and I’ll see if I can tie them all together for you.

 

-My group and I have been strolling around in Blue Mountain

-Ragnar and co. had their first Twitch.Tv chat.

-The Secret World: Unleashed was announced.

-The cast of Firefly had a ten year reunion at Comic Con.

 

 

One of those things is clearly unlike the others on the face of it but you’ll see why it was added in a moment.

 

 

We’ll deal with the best and most exciting bit of news first.

 

 

Unleashed

Issue 1: Unleashed is the first monthly content update for The Secret World. Announced just before the weekend, these Issues represent an ongoing unfolding narrative in The Secret World that is free for subscribers. No one has to worry about possibly being charged for the monthly new missions, new stories and other updates.

 

 

Unleashed, styled as a comic book issue, brings new missions to characters across the world. Special attention this time is given to the character of Carter from Innsmouth Academy on The Savage Coast. Players will know her as the sweet, incredibly powerful, girl who just wants to be normal … and who always seems to get the short end of the stick in Mr Montags motivational speeches. Previously a character that merely had some dialogue and a supporting role in the cut scenes for the other action missions in the Academy, Carter will be getting her own set of tasks for people.

 

 

Other characters scattered around Solomon Island will also be getting more missions this month making the first zones any new player goes through just that bit more enjoyable.  These little updates however aren’t just focused on the first major occult outbreak you deal with, Egypt and the Carpathian Fangs also get some attention as do the dungeons. New Nightmare modes will be available for both The Ankh and Hell Fallen for those who want to pit themselves against the evils of the world.

 

 

Future updates promise even more to come with little details being given out to fans and press alike for now. Later in August we will finally learn more about Issue 2 and auxiliary weapons. All I can tell you for now is that characters are going to end up with even more bang for their pax romana.

 

 

Twitch TV

If you missed out on the first Funcom Developer Twitch TV you should be both saddened and relieved. Yes there were some choice questions asked and answers given… but for the most part it was three great guys sitting around a table with pizza and beer playing The Secret World and chatting.

 

 

Personally, as a European and having watched other such interactions, this is proof that Europe has more fun, or the marketing team had passed out earlier that day.

 

 

Little bits that came out during the Live stream:

 

-Funcom will be at Gamescom this August in Cologne.

-There will be some southern hemisphere “loving” coming in the future.

-Housing is something they would love to do but do not plan to any time soon as they would want to take the time and do it right.

-“From the very beginning we wrote Argartha to be expandable”@RagnarTornquist

-“Are we continuing to improve combat? Absolutely yes we are” – Joel

-Time travel may come up in the future.

And most importantly “Revealing too much is No” – @RagnarTornquist

 

 

Honestly. I loved watching them.

 

 

One of These Is Not Like The Others..

Of the four things that came up over the weekend, one didn’t quite fit. Or does it?

 

 

Firefly aired ten years ago. Thirteen episodes spawned such a fan base that upon its cancellation they managed to get it brought back as a fully featured movie. No other show to my knowledge has managed quite the same feat. What does that have to do with anything?

 

 

Well it’s all to do with the characters. After all, thirteen episodes? That’s half a season by any other standard except British Sci-Fi. That’s barely enough time to blow the dust off of some ideas and start to present them. Ideas yes, characters no. It was the characters that won people’s hearts, that drove the fans to demand more and the characters are the reason why ten years on there was a panel of actors who have all moved onto other projects long since.

 

 

It’s that secret blend of humour, darkness and being genre savvy that has made me fall in love with these characters. Funcom and Ragnar have hit on whatever dark and terrible power it is that Joss Whedon commands.  It is that dark and terrible power that ultimately keeps me coming back night after night; to say nothing of the lifetime I am subscribed for.

 

 

Unleashed, as covered above, is quite a nice bonus. In my other games I am used to waiting months in between large content updates, or shorter periods for small events and missions somewhat thrown together to keep people quiet and happy.

 

 

A monthly update is great, it really is. What makes it more than a mere update for me is the fact that the story is moving. NPCs that I fall in love with today (I’m looking at you Hayden Montag) may not be there next month. There exists not just the possibility for stories to grow and change but also to end. The characters that have drawn me into the game are now vitally important to me, more so than my own character. My character cannot die, they can. They can take their story and their quirkiness and humour and darkness away and … it makes me want to savour every moment.

 

 

Thirteen episodes are all it took for one man and a handful of actors to win hearts around the globe and hold onto them for ten years and counting.  We haven’t even gotten to our first issue and I can already feel the tugging of my heartstrings under skilled Norwegian fingers.

OnRPG Shotgun news 7/16: C&C Tiberium, City of Steam, ComicCon, and More!

OnRPG Shotgun News 7/16: C&C Tiberium, City of Steam, ComicCon, and More!

By Shannon Doyle (Leliah), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

Command & Conquer Tiberium Alliances Celebrates 1 Million Users


 

The free to play browser based strategy MMO based in the hit Command and Conquer universe is celebrating 1 million registered players in the two months since it’s launch. To celebrate this monumental occasion EA is giving away 1 million starter packs. To get yours log in or create a new Tiberium Alliances account before July 20th and enter the code: HMKV-VWGN-8GEH-6BTZ

 

 

SOE Offering Subscription Discount

Between July 18th and July 23rd get 25% off new or upgraded multi month subscriptions to Everquest, Everquest II, and DCUO. Promotional pricing will begin on the next billing cycle and continue until it lapses or is cancelled.

 

 

City of Steam Alpha Test Weekend Announced


 

City of Steam is pleased to announce the dates of its upcoming Alpha testing weekends. The first one starts in just four short days with the others coming the following two weekends. Each weekend will introduce new races and quests along with contests for prizes both digital and physical. If you buy one of the Collaborator packs you will get guaranteed Alpha access. Otherwise sign up for the newsletter, be active on the forums and hope you’re picked.

 

 

Official London 2012 Olympics Social Game Launches

Olympic Games City has officially launched on Facebook according to publishers Neowiz. Players build their very own Olympic City complete with famous London landmarks.

 

 

Marvel Heroes Comic-Con Trailer

For those of us who weren’t lucky enough to see this in person the Comic-Con trailer for Marvel Heroes has been posted on Youtube. The 40 second trailer gives a peek at heroes in combat.

 

 

Rumble Fighter Gears Up with All-New Fight System

Rumble Fighter Gears Up for 5th Anniversary With All-New Fight System

 

Rumble Fighter

 

OGPlanet, a leading free-to-play MMO publisher, announced today that they will kick off Rumble Fighter‘s fifth year anniversary in North America by implementing the all-new Rune Book system that will significantly impact gameplay by offering players a multitude of new ways to customize their abilities.

 

 

Rumble Fighter is a long-standing, fan-favorite, MMO fighting game that focuses on player customization, from hair-styles, to fight-styles. With the newly-integrated Rune Book system, players can earn runes in a variety of ways, by taking on seven other players in combat, or teaming up arcade-style to take down huge bosses. Runes earned can be used to invoke blessings which have a variety of effects, such as increasing a player’s strength or speed. This feature allows players to further fine-tune their character to fit their individual play-styles.

 

 

This feature will arrive just as Rumble Fighter approaches its fifth anniversary of service in North America. Fifth anniversary celebrations will include community events and contests, with a wide variety prizes up for grabs.

 

 

Alongside the release of the Rune Book system in celebration of Rumble Fighter’s five years of release in North America, OGPlanet will also include community events and contests, with a variety of prizes available to amp up the excitement.

gPotato Continues Eternal Blade Web Comic

gPotato Continues Eternal Blade Web Comic

 

 

 

The mayhem continues in the forest of Eternal Blade with the release of the second chapter in “The Nature of the Beast” comic series by Elisa “LeeLee” Scaldaferri. The Soul Summoner catches up to the pesky Thief, but their argument distracts them from noticing the strange monster lurking in the woods. It’s more than just the Mage up to his usual tricks this time! Check out the latest pages below as we step one week closer towards the launch of Eternal Blade!

 

 

If you want to learn more about Eternal Blade,  be sure to check out their official site @ http://eternalblade.gpotato.com

OnRPG Summer Event List 7/14

OnRPG Summer Event List 7/14

By Shannon Doyle (Leliah), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

RIFT

Dates: June 27th-July 25th
What: Summerfest Event 1.9. Fishing, Camping, Bug squashing Quests

 

City of Heroes

Dates: June 27th – July 30th
What: Blockbuster Summer Event. Two movies to play through for various in game rewards. Requires 4 people.

 

EVE Alliance Tournament X

Dates: June 30th-July 22nd
What: Alliance Tournament to win powerful new ships.

 

Grepolis

Dates: July
What: The Olympics come to Grepolis.

 

Rumble Fighter

Dates: July
What: Celebration of 5th anniversary with events, contests and prizes.

 

Soul of Guardian

Dates: July
What: Events to celebrate coming changes throughout July.

 

Tribal Wars

Dates: July –August
What: Tournament to win real world prizes.

 

Cabal Online

Dates: July
What: Sixth birthday item giveaway in game and out.

 

DCUO

Dates: July or August
What: Tides of War Event. All out war in Atlantis, new bosses, quests and rewards.

 

ROSE Online

Dates: July – August 28th
What: Daily chance to win Visa Gift Cards and Item Mall points through July. Huge Item Mall sale through to August 28th

 

Requiem: Memento Mori

Dates: July 4th-July 18th
What: An in game currency to purchase items such a 1 day XP Boost and 4 hour 100% item drop rate increase. In addition there is a sale on all costumes and mounts.

 

Einherjar

Dates: July 4th – August 1st
What: New Players receive 300 power and a summer kit which includes armor, a lucky rabbit tail and healing potions. Old players who return will receive 200 power and a veteran kit which includes a trident, shield and master ring.

 

Ragnarok Online

Dates: July 5th – July 17th
What: Double XP/Double Drops

 

Einherjar

Dates: July 11th-18th
What: Power cost reduction.

 

Ran World

Date: July -13th-August 13th
What: Ran Worlds Directors’ Cut event. Players are encouraged to post videos on youtube related to Ran World to win one of several prizes available in game.

 

Lucent Heart

Date: July 13th-15th
What: Double XP Weekend to celebrate 1 year anniversary.

 

Lucent Heart

Date: July 20th-22nd
What: Double Drops Weekend to celebrate 1 year anniversary.

 

Lucent Heart

Date: August
What: PvP Tournament to celebrate 1 year anniversary.

 

Anarchy Online Con

Dates: August 10th-12th
What: First ever Anarchy Online Convention
Where: Grand Rapids, Michigan

 

City of Heroes

Dates: August 10th-18th
What: Shark Week in game events starting with Double XP Weekend

MEAD: Shut up and Take My Money!

MEAD: Shut Up and Take My Money!

By Shannon Doyle (Leliah), OnRPG Journalist

 

 

This week Trion released a beautiful new mount in RIFT, the Armored White War Tiger(that’s a mouthful) that has been brought over from the Korean servers for our enjoyment. Much to my surprise though there seem to be a lot of mixed feelings about it. Some people are screaming doom, some saying it’s too expensive and some saying shut up and take my money. Now, I’m not going to say what boat I’m in. They all have some valid arguments and they all have some that make me roll my eyes.

 

 

DOOM! The next step is a cash shop!!!!11

The leap from the occasional (quite rare) sale of a mount and collector’s edition of a game to a cash shop seems like a pretty big one to me. But it seems to be one a lot of people are making. First off I don’t think a cash shop is a bad thing. What makes a cash shop bad is what is put in it. I think most of the Internet will agree with me when I say pay to win is bad. But that’s not what we’re talking about. Mounts are cosmetic. There are plenty of free mounts in the game that you’re never at any great disadvantage if you don’t buy one. I spent the extra money at launch to get the digital collector’s edition. I wanted the mount, the special bag and everything else that came with it. As it turned out in those early days so many people did the same that anyone who didn’t have a mount was at a slight disadvantage. But those days are long gone. If Trion did release a cash shop for RIFT I would trust them to do it right. They haven’t let us down yet.

 

OH EM GEE I have to pay for it!?!

This I will say bugs the crap out of me. Some poor soul spent who knows how long making something beautiful and you complain because it costs money. You want something for nothing? The world doesn’t work that way. And the argument that the subscriptions should pay for things like this doesn’t hold true. Subscriptions do things like pay the bills. You want something special? Be willing to pay for it or not have it. And that is true not just for MMOs but all of life.

 

$15 is too expensive…

But $5 on a single cup of coffee every day is just fine. I’m not saying that everyone who is saying the mount is too expensive drinks expensive fancy coffee. I’m talking about the value of the dollar. Lets talk math for a moment. Let us also pretend for a moment that you only play RIFT for a year from the moment you buy that mount. That mount is costing you less than a nickel a day. Most people won’t even bend down to pick a nickel up off the ground if they see one. Four cents a day for a year. Worth it yet? How about after 5 years? That mount is costing you .008 cents. Does it look like a bit of a big investment seeing it all in one clump? Sure, maybe. But when you think about the math it’s actually a fantastic deal.

 

 

SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY

It is a beautiful mount. Really truly is. The fact that it doesn’t make any noise while moving just adds to the beauty. Cats are stealthy after all. Though I’m not sure what happens when you add armor to the equation. I’ll test this out on my cat later. But it bothers me when people blindly buy something (or don’t) just because a certain group of people made it. I even saw on the forums some people saying that they weren’t all that interested in the mount but they bought it (and so should you) because it supports Trion. Vote with your money people! If you don’t like it, if you think it costs too much, don’t buy it. The implication it gives is that you do want it and it is priced properly. But if you do really love it do buy it. And do go on the forums and express yourself. Because if you don’t it will end up being a sea of complaints because the negative talkers are always the loudest.

 

 

So this article turned out a little bit different than I had planned it to. It can also be applied to a lot of things in life and all of the MMOs. The most important things to take from this are that the mount is beautiful, people vote with their wallets, and you need to express your views no matter what they are. I think it also needs to be said somewhere that devs need more hugs because they work hard for you entertainment. So if you know a dev, hug them!