Monthly Archives: June 2013

Sony Online Entertainment Announces Support for PS4

PlanetSide 2 Coming to PS4

Console gamers worried their progress in DC Universe Online would be going to waste when the PS4 launches can rest easy as the title will be ported to the next generation console. What’s more, Sony will be welcoming Planetside 2 into the fold as well! Both titles will be available as F2P downloadable content.

DC Universe Online PS4

With Warframe and War Thunder already announced as compatible PS4 titles, it seems OnRPG’s staff predictions of the console MMOs and PC MMOs uniting under one banner might be a closer reality than previously thought.

 

War of Mercenaries Review: Re-wrapping Something Awesome

By: Vincent Haoson, OnRPG Mobile Expert

There have been a lot of games lately that are have taken elements of other games and made it their own. And Facebook, now becoming not only a social hub but a casual gaming as well is home to a lot of rehashed games. However, that doesn’t mean that these games are overall bad. It’s just that there are some that are downright terrible and shouldn’t have been made at all.

War of Mercenaries, while it does copy a lot of elements to an FB game (the one that I know at least) doesn’t fall into the crappy game category. Read on to find out why.

Gameplay

The best way to describe WoM is that it combines the elements of base building and unit build-up similar to another FB game of the same genre, Backyard Monsters. Basically, you build up your base by gathering resources such as Lumber, Stone, Might and Iron through resource generating buildings or raids. Alongside your base construction is the inclusion of defence structures since NPCs and players have the capacity to raid your base as well.

As for the game’s overarching goal, it basically has none. There is no over-arching story or goal in what you do except to decimate, raid and win. Sounds easy enough right?

Building your Base

As I mentioned earlier, WoM is a game that requires you to build structures to improve your base resource/mercenary output. The difference of WoM among other games (or it’s similarities to other similar games, depending on your perspective) is that you have a large area to work with. Resource structures don’t require you to build them near a mine or something similar. All you need to do is build an iron smelter and drop it anywhere then boom! You get Iron resources in a snap!

War of Mercenaries Creation

With the freedom of structure placement comes the limitation of creating a limited number of structures at play. Limitation also covers defence structures so you are not allowed to spam walls and turrets making the game more challenging.

Raiding

So let’s move up to the second thing you’d be doing most of the time in WoM, Raiding. In WoM you have two options whenever you “visit” an enemy camp. You either attack it or scout it out.  I have to admit, scouting does not have any big benefits (that I’ve seen at least) but that’s not what I’m going to focus on since this part of the review covers the attacking part of the game.

War of Mercenaries Attack

Attacking/Raiding is your resource earning alternative in WoM and is a great tool in showing players how terrible their base planning is. If there ever was a game version of trolling a base, this would be it. Raiding not only destroys the attacked enemy base, you also earn resources whenever your units attack a building/structure.

There is a hitch however when you are attacking a base. Every unit you commit in attacking would mean fewer mercenaries you have back in your base. That’s right- your attackers have a one way ticket when you raid.

War of Mercenaries Victory Screen

Having this kind of game system in place adds some weight to decision making rather than just attacking mindlessly like in some other titles. While you can basically put your units almost anywhere on the map, you have to deal with the amount of units you put into the attack. Putting in too much would mean you have to pay more for reserves, attacking with too little makes your attack pointless and would end as abruptly as it started.

Raiding in WoM isn’t something new since Backyard Monsters also has this in place. Yet it is nice to see at least that the same system is used on a different theme. But that’s the only plus I’m going to give the game.

Other Features

Aside from raiding and scouting, War of Mercenaries also has a quest and chat system in place to make things more interesting. The quest system follows the to-do list goal-setting where you need to accomplish tasks that either let you experience in-game systems/elements and or push you to bring more players by “inviting” your friends to play the game.

War of Mercenaries Questing

On the other hand, there’s nothing to write home about when it comes to the game’s chat system; it’s a straight up chat system where you can talk to people, though it does lack a way for you to determine where your chatmates are, but it’s something one wouldn’t normally bother with.

Speaking of nothing to write home about, the game’s micro-transaction system follows the typical micro transactions other FB games have. Most of the micro transactions are relegated to development boosts. It is to be noted however, that as of this post, the game still doesn’t have any “luxury items” present so the game isn’t as complete as one would expect for the mean time.

War of Mercenaries Hiring

Conclusion

War of Mercenaries is a game that borrows a lot of elements from other FB games of the same genre. It seems that as a way to compensate the game’s lack of originality, WoM takes the mercenary theme and makes the gameplay into its own.

WoM was able to make an enjoyable fast-paced game that makes for a nice work day conversion without becoming too much of a time sink. So you can sneak in a few WoM game time during breaks but it doesn’t grab your attention so much that you’d still notice that time actually passed.

The game is a good boredom killer so I highly suggest War of Mercenaries for those who can only clock in about 10-15 minutes of game time. However, WoM lacks something substantial to keep you gaming. And that right there can be a deal breaker for the more hardcore MMO audience.

OnRPG Shotgun News 6/5: Deus Ex Mobile, District 187, Webzen West

By Shannon Doyle (Leliah), OnRPG News Journalist

 

Square Enix Announces Deus Ex Mobile Game

DeusEx

The next instalment of the award winning Deus Ex series will be a mobile game. Deus Ex: The Fall will take place in 2027, a golden era for science and technology. It will be priced at $6.99/£4.99/€5.99 and expected to release this summer. Expect to see more about it next week from E3.

 

District 187 Adds Summer Flare

Wonacott_Netmarble_D187_BlackoutUpdate_07

Blackout, the latest update to District 187 is live! With it comes two badass blondes, pink weapons, a new Death Match map, and functional costumes. And last but not least the new “In-game Gold” pistol. A Colt Anaconda, double-action revolver that when fired everyone knows it. You can check out the full list on the District 187 website.

 

Gala-Net Becomes Webzen West

aogame_2013-05-08_16-12-51-50

Gala-Net and Gala Networks have become Webzen West and Webzen Dublin after they were acquired by Webzen in February. Both companies will be part of a new business strategy focusing on the global publishing business in North America, South America, and Europe.

MOFPS District 187: Sin Streets Adds Flare for the Summer

District 187: Sin Streets

Online first-person shooter players bored with bling now have an eye-catching alternative as District 187: Sin Streets (D187), an urban combat first-person shooter (FPS) published by Netmarble, brings an intense new map and a touch of pink to the frenetic game. The latest update, “Blackout,” adds a new team death match map, two blonde female characters packing loads of gameplay bonuses and hot pink weapons to add some flavor to summer shooting. Interested players can join the fast-paced, close quarters combat in D187 by signing up for free on the game’s official website.

The newly released “Blackout” update features:

Pinked out weapons, two badass chicks – Blinged out guns are so last year. Blackout introduces the AWM 300 sniper rifles skinned with cute pink print and a rainbow motif. Other pinked out weapons include PDW K101 and DE Crane. Netmarble also adds two sexy new female characters, Debora and Gloria. Playing as either of these two blonde beauties grants a 40 percent experience bonus, a 20 percent gold earning boost and a 30 percent weapon swap speed bonus.

District 187: Sin Streets

New Death Match Map and Functional Costumes – The bloody struggle for territory in D187 ratchets up to a whole new level – literally – as the gangs make their stand in a two-story stronghold with a fortified tunnel. The newly introduced Blackout map is a team death match map where each team fights until the last man is left standing. The update also brings stylish new costumes for both sides, including new head gear, vests and pants. These new costume items help make characters stand out in the game and also provide minor experience boosts.

New “In-game Gold” pistol – Introduced in 1990, the Colt Anaconda is a large frame double-action revolver featuring a full length under-barrel ejection-rod lug and six round cylinder. When this weapon is fired, everyone knows.