ArenaNet™, publisher and developer of the acclaimed Guild Wars franchise, today announced changes coming to the camera system in Guild Wars 2. The update is delivering on a number of new features requested by fans including the highly anticipated option to use first-person POV in the game. The new features are slated to go live in-game on March 10.

ArenaNet will reveal details about the new camera system and give players their first glimpse of how it works in the game on the studio’s “Ready Up” livestream hosted by Josh Davis. The livestream is scheduled to take place at 12 p.m. PST tomorrow, February 27, on the official Guild Wars 2 Twitch channel. Immediately following “Ready Up,” more details about the system will be outlined in a blog post published on the Guild Wars 2 web site.

Changes and new features coming to the camera system include:

First-person Camera

Zooming in all the way will allow players to experience a first-person view. First-person mode is available while standing in place, walking, running, jumping, playing PvP and just about anything else. There aren’t any restrictions on where first-person can be used.

Field of View

A much requested feature, the field of view slider is a setting that will allow players to adjust how much can be seen in the game world. Players can use a slider to shrink or enlarge the field of view.

Position Slider

The Position Slider has been split into two different options, horizontal position and vertical position. The horizontal position slider will offset the camera to the left and right. An ‘over-the-shoulder’ view can be created as well to keep the center of the screen clear. The vertical position sets the maximum height the camera can go when the camera is at maximum distance from a character. The actual camera height will adjust the more you zoom in to ensure that your character is always on the screen.

Collision Sensitivity

When enabled, this setting will adjust how much stuff (trees, walls, rocks, etc.) needs to be between a player’s character and camera before the camera snaps in.

Character Height

No matter the race or size, the camera will now focus on a character’s head. This is going to give norn players a relatively taller feeling than their asura-playing friends. This change might affect players who frequent jumping puzzles, so to counteract this, there is an adjust camera to character height toggle. When unchecked, the camera will move to a consistent position above the character’s feet, regardless of how big or small the character is.

For more info, visit https://www.guildwars2.com/en/

Echo of Soul, the upcoming free-to-play fantasy MMORPG, announced today the five main character classes coming to the game when it launches this spring. Publisher Aeria Games has updated the game’s dynamic website, EchoOfSoul.us, with in-depth descriptions of each class accompanied by stunning character art. Players can sign up for the Echo of Soul beta now.

Echo of Soul’s five classes include the Warrior, a fearsome knight; the Archer, an enigmatic songbird; the Rogue, a solitary assassin; the Guardian, a nymph warden of nature and the Sorceress, a witch mastering ice and fire spells. EOS deliberately has no Healer class in order to facilitate group matching between players and to ensure fast-paced combat. To replace this traditional role, the players will need to work efficiently together and devise unique combat strategies for party play.

Each class features two different specializations with specific skill paths that will dramatically alter their role in party combat. MMO players who want to take on the Nuker role can choose the Firemage Sorceress, whose mastery of fire allows her to inflict maximum damage, whereas players who prefer a support role can play as an Archer with the Bard specialization, supporting allies or weakening enemies with her melodic tunes. The variety of classes and specializations changes the core gameplay and the player’s role within their party,  ensuring that everyone can play in the style they prefer.

“Allowing players to customize their class and play how they like is a critical component that sets Echo of Soul apart in the MMO genre,” says Alex Billaud, Associate Producer. “Gamers will be able to adapt their character to the playstyle they like best, and each party will need to strategically balance these specializations to fill the ‘traditional’ MMO healer role – something unique to Echo of Soul.”

Developed by key members of the team behind the award-winning MMO Lineage II, Echo of Soul immerses players with rich visuals, an epic soundtrack, and a vast and detailed landscape. Set to launch on PC this spring, Echo of Soul will be free-to-play and free-to-download. MMO enthusiasts can register for the closed beta, participate in forums, and stay up-to-date on news surrounding the game via the official site or via Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Allods Team, Obsidian Entertainment, and My.com are pleased to announce that Skyforge, the upcoming sci-fi fantasy MMORPG, will be holding its first closed beta testing period starting March 11. Additionally, Founder’s Packs for Skyforge are now on sale at Skyforge.com. With the purchase of a Founder’s Pack, besides various advantages and rewards, players are guaranteed access to all beta testing periods for the game, giving players an early look at the highly-anticipated title.

The first closed beta period will be held for one week starting on March 11, and in addition to diving into the story of Skyforge from the very beginning, the beta will also offer players PvE and PvP adventures, a first look at the Orders of Aelion system, progression in the Ascension Atlas and the ability to play as several brand new classes including the Lightbinder, Gunner and Berserker besides Paladin and Cryomancer.

The first CBT will be running with a limited number of players. For those who don’t feel like leaving things to chance though, the Founder‘s Packs will be a good solution. In addition to access to all of Skyforge’s testing periods, all three of the Founder’s Pack offerings will give exclusive rewards to players that may include early access to the Gunner & Berserker character classes, unique titles, CBT character name reservation, rare equipment and an exclusive mount!  Besides that players will also gain access to the Open Beta seven days in advance.

For a full list of the rewards and early access details visit the Founder’s Pack page on Skyforge.com: http://sf.my.com/us/founders-packs

Curse Inc., a leading video game media and technology company, has announced the next generation in gaming communication with Curse Voice. Curse Voice is a free-to-use, Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) software developed by Curse engineers to make gaming communication faster, easier and more secure than ever. Curse Voice stands out in a market of over 550 VoIP products by allowing users complete control over their voice session during gameplay without impacting performance.

Curse Voice Features:

• Completely Free – No Fees or Server Subscriptions
• In-Game Voice Overlay, Seamlessly Integrated
• Auto-matching for Voice Sessions or Quickly Share Sessions With a Link
• Faster, Safer and More Secure

To learn more, visit the official Curse Voice website at http://beta.cursevoice.com

Nordic Games has announced its collaboration with Cliffhanger Productions to release the upcoming Shadowrun Online team tactical RPG. Shadowrun Online will step out of the shadows in Q2 2015 for PC, MAC and Linux.

“We are excited to cooperate with Cliffhanger Productions on multiple levels: some of us spent copious amounts of hours in the Shadowrun universe (armed with pen and paper), plus visiting Cliffhanger’s studio takes 15 minutes with public transportation to check out the latest internal build, so we can collaborate closely.”, commented Reinhard Pollice Business & Product Development Director, Nordic Games. “The former was reason enough to tackle this game together with Cliffhanger. We are currently looking at a Q2 release, but we will provide more information in the next weeks.”

“It just clicked between Nordic and us – we know and trust them to give Shadowrun the attention it deserves and we are looking forward to finalise Shadowrun Online and deliver a strategically demanding, turn-based co-op combat experience”, said Jan Wagner, co-founder of Cliffhanger Productions. “With Shadowrun Online, we put the emphasis on experiencing cataclysmic events in 2076, shaking Boston and the whole of North America, focusing the gameplay on tactical combat, truly individual characters and the team aspects of the role-playing experience. You can play the game as a full single player game, leading your team of runners into dangerous missions or you can join up with your friends or other players you meet in the game to face the dangers ahead.”

For more info, visit http://www.nordicgames.at/

The Vanguard survived the brutal assault on the Isle of Dead and now stands as part of a team of criminals, deserters, pirates, battle-scarred veterans, blood-soaked priests and haunted medics in the war against the Vampires. With his powerful throwing weapons and protective shield that blocks Vampires’ special attacks, no Human class is better equipped for close quarter contact than the Vanguard.

Vanguards weapons and abilities:

• Kama – A lightweight but powerful weapon that can be thrown in rapid succession
• Waraxe – A massive throwing axe that deals increased damage, but cannot be thrown as quickly as other axes
• Splitter Hatchet – A Wraith-forged throwing axe that splits into two when thrown
• Impaler Axe – A cruelly-barbed throwing axe that causes victims to bleed for additional damage over time
• Shield Bash – Smash a nearby enemy with your shield to damage and disorient them
• Shield Charge – Rush forwards behind your shield to knockdown and damage any enemy you collide with
• Judgment – Call upon your drowned brethren to scourge nearby vampires. Low health enemies are executed, instantly killing them despite any defensive abilities they have active.
• Rousing Cry –  Fortify nearby teammates, increasing their movement speed and life regeneration for a short time

For more information on the new class and upcoming content please visit: Nosgoth.com

Square Enix Inc., today announced that the total number of registered accounts for FINAL FANTASY® XIV: A REALM REBORN®—not including those from free trial— now exceeds 4 million globally.

To celebrate the 4 million accounts, Square Enix is holding a free login campaign from Friday, February 27, 2015 (12:00 A.M. PST) to Monday, March 9, 2015 (12:00 A.M. PST). During this time, adventurers taking a break from Eorzea can once again experience all that FINAL FANTASY XIV: A REALM REBORN has to offer – free of charge!

The longer than usual free login campaign will also give players the chance to experience the newly implemented contents of Patch 2.51, which features the highly anticipated Manderville Gold Saucer.

Eligibility

• Players who have previously purchased and registered FINAL FANTASY XIV and whose service account is set as inactive during the campaign period.

This title offers the growing community multiple options from the PC to the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system (with Remote Play).  With major patch updates including the most recent Patch 2.5 “Before the Fall,” and the upcoming major expansion, HEAVENSWARD™, FINAL FANTASY XIV: A REALM REBORN offers players exciting new playable content on a regular basis.

For more info, visit www.finalfantasyxiv.com

After a long voyage through rough seas (game development is hard), the newest expansion for Paradox Development Studio’s hit empire-building game Europa Universalis IV has arrived! El Dorado lands with a nearly infinite array of new possibilities and alternate histories, and explorers can begin their voyage into uncharted territories today on PC, Mac and Linux for $14.99.

Take a look at the fabled El Dorado in the launch trailer here.

With its focus on the empires of South and Central America, El Dorado includes three new major Native American faiths for the Aztec, the Maya and the Inca. Sacrifice vassal kings to stave off doomsday as the Aztecs or endure centuries of cyclical rise and fall as the Maya.

If your game choices tend more to exploration and plunder, you can send your fleets on specific missions across the seas or task your conquistadors with a quest to find the lost Seven Cities of Gold!

But, if you tire of “history,” you can now create your own kingdom with the brand-new Nation Designer included with El Dorado. Choose your starting provinces, your national ideas, your starting ruler and everything else you need to prove that you know the value of real estate and strong leadership. Then, for a new thrill, randomize the map and fight a France reborn in Manchuria.

El Dorado features include:

•  Nation Designer
•  Nahuatl religion for Aztecs
• Mayan religion for Yucatan natives
• Inti religion for Inca
• New exploration system
• Seven Cities of Gold quest for conquistadors
• Treasure fleets, and pirate missions to intercept them
• New limitations on and effects of vassal/subject nation loyalty
• Dozens of new events

For more information, please visit www.europauniversalis4.com .