Monthly Archives: January 2014

PlayTown

PlayTown is an online, free-to-play social game for Windows and Mac OS. Socialize with friends or make new ones in real world locations, re-imagined with a unique toony look and feel. Experience a new Multiplayer Virtual World like no other!

Features:

A variety of mini-games: Play Backgammon, Darts, Chess, Pool and more. Compete against other players and become number one in the Leaderboards while earning special rewards.

Customization: Select from a variety of clothing items for your avatar and express your personality.

Buy Property, Furniture and Vehicles: Have your very own virtual apartment at a location of your choice and decorate it choosing from a variety of items that fit your style. Move around PlayTown with your own vehicle like a Motorcycle, Pongo or Bicycle

100% Free-to-Play: No fees, no premium accounts. Play for free for as long as you like. Buying virtual goods is completely optional!

Strife Early Access – The Casual Man’s MOBA

By Mohammad Abubakr

Strife Early Access

Without a doubt, 2013 has been the year of MOBA/ARTS games. We’ve seen a massive increase in popularity for many games of the genre including Dota 2, League of Legends, and Smite. Even throughout 2014 there are many games of this genre to look out for including Strife by S2Games. The game is currently in its closed beta phases and requires a beta key to play.

This game is a more casual and beginner friendly version of the traditional ARTS games we know and love. It is great for those players that find games such as Dota 2 or League of Legends too difficult or punishing and will serve as an introduction to the genre. Those players that are more serious about the genre will soon move on to more complicated games but casual players that just want to relax and have fun will find Strife to meet their needs.

The overall game play is what you would expect from a game of this genre. There are three lanes in the traditional map which pits two teams of five against each other, and with the help of waves of creeps aim to destroy the enemy towers and base. This does not change in Strife but the game introduces some new elements to set it apart from the others.

As mentioned above the game introduces some features to make it more casual and beginner friendly. For those unfamiliar with the genre, ARTS games consist of three main phases: early, mid, and late game. During the early game both teams usually play more passively and farm gold by landing last hits on enemy or neutral creeps. This can be very challenging for new players as precise timing is necessary and slightly slow reactions (or ping discrepancies) can cause you to very quickly fall behind. To make this phase less daunting and punishing, Strife rewards all heroes in the lane with gold regardless of which hero landed the last hit. Now all the heroes can work together to last hit a creep and if any player is successful, the entire lane (only your team) will be rewarded. If you couple this feature alongside many other changes to the genre such as no loss of gold on death, separate immortal couriers for each player, and low mana costs, Strife is a great way to learn the ARTS/MOBA genre or enjoy a casual experience while still playing this punishing genre.

The tutorial is great!

The tutorial for this game is also very well done and allows new players to quickly get into the game. For experienced players of the genre the tutorial will simply be review but it is very well done and introduces new players at the right pace. You begin with simple lessons on movement, using skills, leveling skills and buying items. Then the tutorial moves on to an introduction of the various key objectives in a Strife match and finally concludes with a guided full match against artificial intelligence. It can be very difficult to learn this genre, and I feel that S2Games has done a great job with Strife’s tutorial.

The second feature that sets Strife apart from its competitors is the incorporation of RPG elements into the ARTS/MOBA genre. Most games of this genre don’t use any outside factors for individual matches and allow all players to play on a level playing field where only their team’s skill matters. You are not required to spend money or time to improve your account before being able to compete on a level playing field. Of course there are exceptions, hence the use of the word most as games such as League of Legends do require players to farm to purchase runes before they can play on a level playing field.

In Strife, there are three currencies which players receive upon the conclusion of each match: pet food, crafting ore, and enchanting potions. Before we can go into the uses of pet food, we must learn about pets in Strife. Players are accompanied by a pet of their choice in all their Strife matches which offer skills and bonuses. There are lots of choices for pets and it is up to the player to select pets based on their own play style. Players that prefer to farm gold may pick a pet providing skills to kill creeps and gain bonus gold for said creeps, while players that want to survive may prefer pets that dispel crowd control abilities. Pets allow players to play the game how they wish and can be selected at the beginning of each match. Pet food can be used to both purchase and level up pets. Higher leveled pets provide stronger skills and passive bonuses. These skills remind me a lot of the summoner skill system in League of Legends.

I personally went with Luster to speed up my farm.

Crafting and Enchanting make use of the ores and potions rewarded at the conclusion of each match. While there are still items that players can build during their matches by farming gold, these items can be improved and customized through the use of crafting and enchanting. Players can select an item’s recipe and change the components it uses to in-turn change the item’s bonuses. For example, you might want to change mana regeneration on an item to pure mana. These crafted items can then be built during your matches.

This system gives great control to players as they can customize all the in-game items to better suit their own unique play style. These items can then be enchanted to further improve the bonuses and increase the item’s life as crafted items expire after some time. This means that players must play regularly to keep their custom items.

While there are great benefits to the pet, crafting, and enchanting systems, it does end up rewarding players that spend more time playing. This is what one would expect from an RPG game but it is not common for ARTS/MOBA games where the deciding factor should be just player skill. However, for a more casual approach to this genre I can see this system working well. Fortunately, all the heroes are free and do not need to be purchased.

Good graphics without being demanding on the system.

Now comes the question: how does S2Games monetize the game? As with all free to play games, the publishers and developers do need to make back some money to ensure the survival of the game. In its beta stages the cash shop has not been completed so I cannot comment on the prices. However, there seem to be optional skins and colors available for every hero. These cosmetic changes are a great way to monetize Strife as it will not provide insane benefits to paying players. Additionally, it seems that you can use the cash shop currency to gain bonus currencies at the end of each match. Once again, this does make paying players gain food, ore, and potions at a faster rate but it is still very fair. S2Games seems to be doing a great job with balancing the advantages of free and paying players.

Strife Review

Current State: Great

In conclusion, Strife is great for those that want a casual experience but still want to play the ARTS/MOBA genre. The game is very forgiving towards new players and is a great way to get into the genre. I really love S2Games offering a game of the MOBA/ARTS genre that even casual players can enjoy. While I did initially play WC3 Dota, League of Legends was my first introduction to the genre. By learning League of Legends I was then able to move on to more complicated and punishing games such as Heroes of Newerth and Dota 2. Now I am a big fan of the genre. Similarly, Strife can serve the same purpose and provide a casual experience for players and even act as an introduction to the genre. If you find games such as Dota 2 too hardcore but still love the concept of the genre, definitely give Strife a try.

Marvel Heroes Rolls Out Update 2.14

Marvel Heroes 214

Over the weekend, Gazillion Entertainment published Game Update 2.14 for Marvel Heroes. Since the launch of Marvel Heroes in June of 2013, Gazillion has released free content including new story, zones, PvP, gameplay features, Heroes and more. This past weekend’s update featured a new zone, Bovineheim, new Cosmic Terminals, Design Reviews for Captain America and Hawkeye, and the new Kate Bishop enhanced costume for Hawkeye.

Marvel Heroes Game Update 2.14 – features:

  • Bovineheim – Somewhere in Asgard, Skrull cows are lurking and plotting destruction. Brave the frozen tundra of Bovineheim and defeat the nefarious Skrull cows to foil their plans!
  • Cosmic Terminals – Meant for the most experienced Heroes, Cosmic Terminals represent some of the most difficult content to date in Marvel Heroes along with an enhanced chance for cosmic loot.
  • Hawkeye and Captain America Design Review – Captain America and Hawkeye have received their level 52 Design Reviews this month, bringing with them exciting new abilities and build options! Use Captain America’s new ultimate power to assemble the Avengers for massive damage, and use Hawkeye’s Ultimate to fire a Pym multi-arrow that rains flammable oil to the ground before igniting a giant Avengers ‘A’ across the entire screen.
  • Kate Bishop Enhanced Costume – As a member of the Young Avengers, Kate Bishop wore this costume and took the name Hawkeye to honor the (at the time) fallen Clint Barton. This enhanced costume features all new voice over, emotes, and animations!

Additionally, later this week Nightcrawler *BAMFS* his way into Marvel Heroes. Look for more information and video on his release by Friday, January 31. For the full patch notes, read here.

Black Gold Online gives details on Pyromancer class

Today, Snail Games has release details for their Pyromancer class in their upcoming MMORPG – Black Gold Online. Pyromancers are blessed under the Radiant Sun, ascending to the perfect conduit for the burning power of fire. Trained since birth, Pyromancers are well versed in arts of flame-weaving techniques.

Black Gold Online Pyromancer

Trained since birth, Pyromancers are well versed in arts of flame-weaving techniques. The volatile element is extremely difficult to control, and attempts to do so often result in charring injury or disaster. An elder of the ancient Azure Conclave, Zanfirr was the first mage to wield fire effectively. The Conclave built a temple of fire to delve deeper into the arts of pyromancy, thus creating the foundation for generations of fire-seekers to come.”

Black Gold Online Pyromancer

For more information on the Pyromancer class for Black Gold Online, visit: http://bg.snailgame.com/home/

Blade Hunter Breaks New Ground With Sprites, Wings, and More

Global game publisher Reality Squared Games (R2Games) is proud to announce that Blade Hunter, its cutting-edge free to play beat ’em up action MMORPG, has received a gigantic content update introducing all-new game systems, cosmetic options, UI improvements, quest lines, and a higher level cap. Now eight servers strong, including a brand new GMT server, the Blade Hunter Beta continues to expand to users worldwide.

Blade Hunter Sprites

Sprites become available to characters at level 39 and offer players the opportunity to bolster a variety of stats. These elemental companions come in several varieties, each with a different set of bonuses. Players receive opportunities to collect Sprites throughout the day, making it easy to assemble the perfect team. The rarest Sprites aren’t easy to find by any means, but they’re sure to play an integral role in each character’s magic Sigil. Higher-level characters can equip more Sprites, allowing even deeper build customization. A character’s favorite Sprite can be set to follow cosmetically, demonstrating luck, skill, and taste to friends and foes alike.

Blade Hunter Wings

Wings can be browsed through at level 1 and can be acquired several ways, from completing in-game challenges, crafting item recipes, and Diamond recharge bonuses. Characters with Wings receive a standard buff regardless of the design they choose, though certain rare Wings provide further bonuses. At level 80, players can begin to upgrade their Wings to personalize stat bonuses, unlock new designs, and reveal hidden abilities.

 

The Citadel, which unlocks via the Time Portal at level 79, presents players with the most difficult combat challenges yet, putting even Nightmare Mode to shame. Skillful and speedy Citadel players will be rewarded with empowering Battle Medals, even Titles.

Blade Hunter Mounts

Mounts provide players with new combat options and faster movement speed. From the humble Iron Horse, to the shining Emerald Dragon, to the fearsome Shadowfang, Mounts will transform battlefields and city scenes alike with strength and style.

There’s much more to see in this Blade Hunter update, and R2Games will take the beat ’em up MMORPG even further in the future.

Plarium Shares Half a Year of Soldiers Inc Updates

Soldiers-Inc_screenshot

In 2013 Plarium launched Soldiers Inc.™ on Facebook. Soldiers Inc. takes players to the year 2019, where a team of hired mercenaries have been recruited to claim as much of the fictional Republic of Zandia as possible.

As we look back on 2013, we see a landmark period in which Plarium brought hardcore social gaming to a new level. With over 12 million players already on board, and over 1 billion hours of gameplay already registered, Soldiers Inc. has certainly made its mark as one of the most notable games of the last 6 months.

For those who haven’t yet enlisted in Soldiers Inc. We wanted to share some of the most notable features in this RTS (Real Time Strategy) title, such as the Bunker, Resource Depots, Combines, Mining Complexes and many more.

Bunkers – This is the only safe place in Zandia! Your Base’s emergency survival bunker is a reinforced subterranean shelter where you may secure your fighting forces and Resources in the event of an attack.

Resource Depots – Whoever maintains control of the Depots has a major battlefield advantage. Different Depots produce different amounts of various resources per hour, depending on their size.

Combines – This is where the magic really happens. Combines allow players to join forces as a team and operate under a well-organized command structure with one name, insignia, and hierarchy. These Combines may pool their Resources to battle their rivals for positions in the game rankings, coordinate attacks against their common enemy, and train new recruits.

Mining Complexes – These are the primary objective of the conflict in Zandia. These heavily fortified ore extraction and processing centers are the key to controlling Zandia’s vast mineral wealth, and by extension, allow gamers to rise to dominance within the gameplay. Only your Combine’s ability to capture, hold and expand these Mining Complexes will determine your collective territory and standing among your rivals. Mining Complexes are too valuable for a single player to ever lay claim on them. Only a Combine working as a team will have any chance of controlling them.

Combine Attacks – Players that are part of a Combine may deploy Combine Attacks against hardened targets like Mining Complexes or Depots.

Combine Bonuses – These are awarded to a Combine collectively upon the successful completion of a Combine Achievement. These Bonuses can take the form of ranking point boosts in the Combine Rankings, or Combine-wide Bonuses to Unit or Base statistics for all participating Combine Members. Combine Bonuses earned while a member of one Combine are non-transferable, and cannot be retained upon leaving that Combine. Combine Members joining a Combine after it has earned an Achievement will not enjoy the benefits of any existing Combine Bonuses.

Global Missions – Global missions are optional missions Commanders may choose to participate in, in return for free Units, Drill Instructors, special items and/or other forms of compensation. Most will usually involve engaging in Search and Destroy missions within an allotted time to recover mission items.

Special Equipment – Mobile Autonomous Recovery and Salvage (MARS) vehicles are unarmed robotic systems capable of automatically conducting battlefield repairs on Automated Artillery and Gun Turrets under combat conditions. The more MARS units deployed around your base, the faster your Turrets and Artillery can return to active duty. MARS Vehicles do not consume resources and cannot be destroyed or damaged.

 

 

This is just a brief overview of the updates Plarium has launched on Soldiers Inc. over the past six months! 2014 is looking to be an explosive year within Soldiers Inc as there’s plenty more in the works.

Soldiers Inc is now available to play for free on Facebook.

Seven Seas Saga Announces Battle of Lepanto Update

BattleOfLepanto

Ahoy there matey! We be asking ye if the sailing life be for ya as JOYHUBs announces the newest upgrade to their game Seven Seas Saga. The name of the upgrade be “Battle of Lepanto”. A battle that happened in the briny sea ages ago. Players will be sailing the sea with all new ships, pirate lairs to plunder, and even more quests to sink your seadog teeth into.

(Editor’s Note: Please excuse the language of our company pirate. He’s been drinking too much of our rum and maybe a bit hard to understand. JOYHUBs is proud to announce an upgrade to their game Seven Seas Saga. The newest upgrade has allowed players more ships, quests, and pirate lairs. They will also have the level cap raised to 120.)

Argh me pet Molly has been chirping me about the new pirate lairs like “Return of the Tiger Pirates” and “Battle of Lepanto”. She’s trying to make me bonkers with squawks of treasure and new adventure. That’s why I’m telling you ‘bout it ye landlover. So she can stop talking all day about it or me men will haft to have a great meal for the night. HAR HAR HAR!

BattleOfLepantoGraphic

(Editor’s Note: Apologies again. We have new pirate lairs and also new ship blueprints like the Enterprise and Nautilus for players to find, build, and sail the seas for trade or war. We really hope you enjoy it.)

Thank ye for yer troubles listened to me, lad. I’d be off now before me men wonder if I’m off with another lass or drowned in the deep blue and sail away without me!