Atlantica Online Continues Growth with New Mercenary Class and Game Update

Ndoors Interactive today announced the continued expansion of their hit strategic MMORPG Atlantica Online. As new users flock to the best-reviewed free-to-play online game of the year, Ndoors will be updating the game and adding a new mercenary class, the Hwarang, which will add to the strategic depth of the game's unique, turn-based battle system.

The Hwarang will be the first of three new mercenaries planned for Atlantica. Many of the characters in Atlantica Online are derived from myth and history and the Hwarang are based on warriors of ancient Korea. The bow-wielding Hwarang is an offensive-minded character with very little defensive stamina. He is unique for his ability to sacrifice himself in order to increase the attack power of allies and he is able to increase the combo rate of an entire squad. Each mercenary has their own unique strengths and weaknesses meaning players must balance their teams carefully. As more mercenary types are introduced, the strategic elements of Atlantica's battle system continue to deepen.

"Atlantica Online is growing larger every week in terms of the size of our player base and the amount of content we provide to players," remarked the CEO of Ndoors, Peter Kang. "We are improving the game's performance and are committed to adding new content, such as the new mercenaries, so that we offer a fresh experience for new players and veterans."

In order to offer the best possible experience for all players, the minimum technical requirements to run Atlantica Online have been slightly raised, affecting only a small minority of the players. While not an easy decision to make, this is necessary to ensure a better overall product. The optimization update will ensure faster loading times in high-traffic areas of the game. Ndoors will take every necessary action to assist its longtime players who are affected by the upgrade as a way of demonstrating their appreciation and commitment to the game's loyal fans. More information will be available on the official Atlantica Online website in the near future.

For more information on Atlantica Online please visit: www.playatlantica.com/ao

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Free to play MMO 4Story Rolls Out 80 Percent Discount on Cash Items

A popular free to play MMORPG ‘4Story’ www.4story.com, plan to adopt super discounts on all cash items. 4story players are eagerly waiting for this grand update scheduled on the 1st day of August. All Items will be sold at discount rate of 30 to 80%. With this exceptional offer, players of this hybrid action MMORPG can visit the cash shop to try out various items and customize their characters.

"This was not an easy decision to make. We have decided to provide a stimulus to the world of 4Story by letting our users to try out all elite items at moderate price. I am thrilled to gather optimistic response from our users. I believe that playing game is all about fun. As long as we can keep our users happy, I plan to keep this event to prolong.” said Hyunho Shin, a chief project manager of 4Story.

Along with super discount event, 4story offers the epic scale fantasy war zone much enhanced in every aspect. 4Story brings a gigantic world where gamers take their journey throughout the mystic world of fantasy. Players of 2 kingdoms Defugel and Craxion, are challenged each and every day. Thrilling quests, fierce creatures, battle with players of hostile kingdom, 4Story truly is a perfect game for all to enjoy.


Source: http://www.gamersdailynews.com

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Gala Networks Europe Announce Canaan Online, the First Fully Flash ...

Gala Networks Europe Announce Canaan Online, the First Fully Flash-Based Open World MMORPG gPotato Europe and XPEC Entertainment bring a full blown MMORPG to PC and Mac browsers across Europe.

Gala Networks Europe, the leading publisher of free-to-play games is proud to join forces with XPEC Entertainment to announce that Canaan Online, a browser-based flash MMORPG will be released across Europe in early 2010. Published in French, English, and German, with further languages to follow throughout 2010, it will be available to play on the gPotato.eu games portal. Canaan Online will let European players experience all the features of a full blown MMORPG - without the need to download or install a game client.

Canaan Online takes place in a fantasy manga-style universe. Its inhabitants, fleeing their war-torn world through a magic gate, arrive in a savage new world where they will need to fight to rebuild their civilization. Utilising Flash technology, it will bring a full-blown MMORPG experience to everyone through their favourite browser. Canaan Online features rich content and strategic turn-based combat and wide variety of dungeons and quests. It also supports massive guild wars and PvP multiplayer modes, an extensive pet system, a housing system and much more.

As the European subsidiary of the Tokyo-based Gala Group, Gala Networks Europe has established one of the leading free-to-play game portals in Europe. It currently publishes Flyff, Rappelz, Street Gears and Dragonica, with Allods Online due in the Autumn. The portal recently passed 2,000,000 users. "We are very excited to work with XPEC Entertainment on Canaan Online" stated Hyun Hur, CEO of Gala Networks Europe. "With this title, we are taking the next step by bringing quality browser based games to our European players. Now our two million users will be able to play gPotato Europe games anywhere they want, through their favourite web browser."

As a leading console and PC games developer in China, XPEC Entertainment introduced Chinese players to Canaan Online in 2008. It continues to be very successful and was awarded the "Best Browser-Based MMO 2008" Award. "We have full confidence in Gala Networks Europe's abilities to being Canaan Online to European users with the best quality of operations and support" stated Aaron Hsu, President of XPEC Entertainment. "The launch of this client-free MMORPG will not only enhance the player's experience, but it also allows all kinds of players to meet in a game with minimal barriers to entry."

Canaan Online will be launched in early 2010 on the gPotato.eu games portal. It will initially be available in English, French and German, with Turkish and other languages to follow throughout 2010. As a flash based game, it will work on any compatible PC or Mac browser.

Source: http://pc.ign.com/

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Luminary: Rise of The Goozu

Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu takes you to a new world created out of the ashes of the old, and in this rebuilt civilization you create your own community. But this new Luminary world has drawn some lessons from human history, establishing a government based on democracy and an individual’s right to free will. These principles have also led to an independent market economy, where you can freely trade stocks, real estate and other goods, as well as become an entrepreneur manufacturing new products. And if making money isn’t enough, you can run for political office, and rise in the ranks to become the elected ruler of the Luminary world, the GoonZu.
The World of Luminary
When humans’ excessive reliance on technology went too far, the world crumbled. But as chaos ensued, humanity’s will to survive persevered, as pockets of the world’s population persisted amidst lands of ruin. And these hardy band of survivors would unite and then even thrive, establishing a new era of human civilization. Drawing from their history, groups of survivors organized to form towns, and these new villages would all become part of a new world called Luminary.

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Video games 101: what is the history of mmo's?

Massively Multi-player Online Games (MMOG's or MMO's) are becoming the most popular and successful games on the market today. Companionship is the main source of this huge boom. Camaraderie has always been a powerful emotion in the minds of people. To be able to talk and share experiences with another is one of the greatest joys in life. Even the earliest forms of games are more entertaining when you can test your skill against another. With all that goes on in the world today, it is often hard to gather even just one friend to come and enjoy a quick game, thus the time of the Internet game has come.

Origins
The first semblance of an MMO appeared in 1987 from a company called Kesmai. Their creation, "Air Warrior", sported wire frame graphics and involved online dogfights. This game also introduced a Pay-to-Play requirement, weighing in at a whopping $10 an hour! Compared with the now standard $13 per month most MMO's charge, it seems like an extremely expensive and unworthy way to spend your time. The heaping price did nothing to dissuade the players, as they felt they were truly on the cutting edge of gaming technology, and in truth they were.

Leaps and bounds were then taken when Wizards of the Coast and AOL introduced Neverwinter Nights. Neverwinter Nights was the first MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game). Based heavily on Dungeons and Dragons, Neverwinter Nights implemented a turn-based system that allowed a high amount of strategy to enter into the game play. This game also supported large PVP (Player Versus Player) tournaments. The price started at $6 per hour, but as more people subscribed, the price eventually dwindled and became free. The "Stone Age" of MMORPG's was ended in 1997 when Neverwinter Nights was cancelled, but from the ashes of that revolutionary game came the phoenix that are the MMORPG's of today.

Success
In 1999, the MMOG market skyrocketed when Verant Interactive released its crown achievement, Everquest. While Everquest wasn't the first 3D MMOG, it was the first one to experience success. Everquest continually broke subscription records, from its conception through the first five years
of its life. During this time period, the developers worked almost non-stop, constantly releasing patches and expansion packs to keep the players happy. Within two years of release, three full length expansions had been released with completely new continents and the ability to travel to and explore the depths of the moon, Luclin. Everquest also spawned the first third-party information sites that provided information in the form of a constantly updated, free strategy guide.

The next breakthrough in the MMO world came from Blizzard in 2004 with the launch of World of Warcraft. Drawing on the huge fan bases of discontented Everquest players and the growing masses of Blizzard fanatics, World of Warcraft quickly took the throne that previously belonged to Everquest.

World of Warcraft featured a more simplistic approach to the MMORPG genre, in an attempt to draw a larger crowd. Complete with colorful cartoon-like graphics, World of Warcraft's hold on the young and old was complete. In the few short years after it was released, World of Warcraft soon surpassed all old records and exceeded 10 million subscribers world-wide.

Future
Today, every company is looking to take a piece of the MMO pie, but few are successful in drawing the huge player base from the existing dynasties. As the years go by, more and more MMO's are being released, and inevitably, the quality of these games are decreasing. Developers seeking the quick buck are taking the easy way to draw away the crowds with different themes and worlds, without success. The only games that break the mold and take a firm grasp on the population already have many dedicated fans.

Many of the elements that made World of Warcraft and Everquest popular are overdone, leaving little hope for the future of MMO's. A lack of fresh ideas has been consistently flooding the market with under-par games. Sequels and expansions of established titles will likely become the future of the genre. Many players are reluctant to leave their work, but are still hungry for fresh gaming experiences. The future is never a sure thing, but what remains certain is the need for companionship that will likely drive MMO's to new and exciting heights.

By Author: Andrew Lattie

Source: http://www.examiner.com/

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The Realm Online

“The Realm Online” is an exciting, adventurous land of monsters, magic, and medieval society. Enter a world of companionship where thousands of players from around the globe are waiting to welcome you to a very special place.


The first & longest established classic graphical massively-multiplayer MMORPG fantasy adventure game. The Realm is the ideal place for role playing adventures, quests, and online chat rooms.

The Realm Online is a great place to spend your free time and one of the best entertainment values available on the internet. But don't take our word for it, read what others have to say about The Realm.

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MMORPGs 101: Genres in MMORPGs becoming more varied... slowly

In the beginning was the fantasy MMORPG. Generally regarded as the first MMORPG, Meridian 59 was a typical sword and sorcery fantasy adventure. The Realm Online came out around the same time, and Ultima Online, arriving in 1997, really popularlized the MMORPG. Each of these early MMORPGs were fantasy-based, as is Everquest, which really brought the MMORPG into the mainstream.


The vast majority of MMORPGs since then have been fantasy-based, including the current "big dogs," World of Warcraft and Lineage. Other current fantasy MMORPGs are Lord of the Rings Online, Dungeons and Dragons Online, and Guild Wars.

Why so many MMORPGs have been firmly entrenched in the same basic genre isn't completely clear, but it could be that since the first successful MMORPGs were fantasy, publishers wanted to continue the trend of what was obviously working. The last few years have seen a shift in genres for MMORPGs, including some that have gone on to become big hits.

City of Heroes is perhaps the biggest example of this. Set in a comic-book-inspired world where heroes and villains fly and superjump through the skies night and day, City of Heroes was the first MMORPG entry in its genre. Champions Online, set to be released on September 1st, and DC Universe Online, coming next year, will follow in the footsteps of City of Heroes. Superhero fans will have much to pick from in MMORPGs within the next several months to a year.

Science fiction is another genre slowly edging into the MMORPG world. Games like Star Wars Galaxies, Ryzom, Tabula Rasa, EVE Online, and the upcoming Star Trek Online and Star Wars The Old Republic have represented science fiction and space simulation in the market. Science fiction MMORPGs sometimes have had a tough time of it, as the spectacular failure of Tabula Rasa, a game with high expectations given that Richard Garriot and other creators of Ultima Online were so integral to its creation.

Sports-based MMORPGs have also been trickling into the market, including Hattrick, Shots Online, and the upcoming Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. Another genre virtually untouched is Steampunk, but NeoSteam and Clockwork Symphony look to be up to the challenge of knocking down those walls.

Variety is, as they say, the spice of life and of the MMORPG world. While it may be good business sense to build on what has worked in the past and try to improve upon it (which has been one of the big factors in the success of World of Warcraft), it's nice to see other genres gaining some ground in the MMORPG market.

Source:http://www.examiner.com/

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Empire Craft

Empire Craft is a browser-based game (Web-game) with RPG and business strategy, players can start the game immediately without installing any client or plug-ins. And even there is no requirement for the operating platform. With a computer connecting to internet, players can start the game on browser easily.

Empire Craft has the outstanding game system, including creature killing, player competing, chatting, city managing, battling, campaign, task, instance zone, worldwide incident, equipment, skill, team playing, friend, union, property, goods, and market etc.

1. Detailed and Complete War System
2. Unique hero cultivation
3. Various Goods and Treasure
4. Free of charge

Play Empire Craft Now

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Upcoming MMOs and How They Can Succeed: Part II

Welcome to Part 2 of "Pwyff's Most Anticipated MMOs and How They Can Succeed!" With BlizzCon and GamesCom coming up very soon, I'm sure all MMO gamers, myself included, will be on pins and needles wondering if Blizzard will release any information about their upcoming MMORPG. Personally speaking, one of the biggest reasons why I believe that the next few years will really change the face of the MMO industry is that Blizzard will finally be entering the ring to defend their title as uncontested champions of MMORPG development.

While this is obviously old news, I just find it fascinating that a significant portion of our upcoming mega-hyped MMOs are, for the most part, built on pre-existing IPs. Final Fantasy XIV, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guild Wars 2 and Star Trek Online are all tapping in to their millions of fans worldwide, while Blizzard has chosen to compete with just their company image. The only other companies that I can think of that have done this successfully in the past few years have been SOE's Free Realms and NCsoft's Aion. There have been a number of fresh MMORPGs developed but, aside from Free Realms and Aion, I don't believe there have been many games that can boast about having millions of users across the world.

Note that I've bolded "in the past few years," because about 5-10 years ago, the MMO industry was still quite fresh and new IPs were being developed and pushed steadily into the market. If you consider it, Ultima Online, Guild Wars, Asheron's Call, Everquest, Lineage, EVE Online and Dark Age of Camelot (sort of) were all developed based on unique IPs that had little no to pre-existing fan bases. These days, of course, the MMO industry is much more competitive than before and, just like the movie industry, multi-million dollar development companies tend to get a little bit antsy when you're trying to generate a fan base from nothing at all. Either way, let's move forward to look at Part II of my most anticipated MMORPGs for the next few years!

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Many users expressed concern that I didn't touch on this MMO in my first article, and it's mainly because I'm trying to space out my most anticipated MMOs across all three pieces. Either way, the fact that many of you were shocked that SW:TOR wasn't on my first list is a testament to the amount of hype that BioWare has generated for this MMORPG. To be honest, I would probably say that SW:TOR has the most potential to be the best MMO on the market (and no, I'm not talking purely about subscription numbers) just because of the players and the forces involved. If you think about it, what we have is one of the most well developed IPs known to humankind, and it's been placed into the hands of BioWare, a company that doesn't seem to be capable of failing (see Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Mass Effect, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic). Not only that, but since BioWare is a subsidiary of Electronic Arts, one of the biggest names in video game development, we can expect SW:TOR to have some of the best national and international support of any MMORPG. Finally, as if these elements weren't enough to ensure their success, BioWare will be building on the pre-existing Star Wars: Galaxies fan base. In this way, not only will they be able to fully analyze a Star Wars MMORPG that's already been released, but they'll also be able to tap into this ageing MMO's player base - especially the thousands of users who abandoned the game after the gaffes that were the New Game Enhancements and Combat Upgrade changes.

Of course, when we talk about the game itself, BioWare has been dropping some very tantalizing hints. Not only will SW:TOR be the first fully voiced MMO ever, but they've also indicated that a key focus of the game would be upon developing players as individuals in the SW:TOR universe by offering real choices that have a lasting impact upon progression (à la Knights of the Old Republic). Personally speaking, I do hope that BioWare doesn't take the World of Warcraft way out by slowly reducing the consequences that a game offers. I understand that players will be angry if they learn that by killing this captain and robbing his ship, they may have forfeited the bigger prize offered for his safe return, but BioWare needs to stick to their guns if they want to really let players feel the weight behind their decisions.

What they need to do to succeed: Make sure they remember the massively multiplayer part of MMORPG. If there's one thing that BioWare is untested in, it's definitely in making that transition from Offline RPG to a full-blown MMORPG. While I have absolute confidence in the fact that BioWare is capable of creating an incredible Star Wars game, what worries me is how they're going to allow players to experience such a brilliant storyline while still feeling like they're interacting with a universe of other players. The fact is, if BioWare is working on a game that's chock-full of storyline advancement, they have to be careful that they're not just creating a massively scripted online role playing game. If there are 3 Sith players for every 1 Republic player in the SW:TOR universe, will the story evolve to accommodate this imbalance in numbers, or will players simply march forward on a mechanical storyline that unravels of its own accord?

In a way, I guess BioWare has to be careful that they're not too good with their story pillar. While I'm certainly very excited for this game (I'm having an incredibly tough time deciding between this, FFXIV and Aion, as they appeal to three different sides of me), I think that Jerry Holkins of Penny Arcade says it best:

"What they're [BioWare] positing is not a multiplayer game, but a single player game that multiple people can play. Will people subscribe to a game of that kind?"

Remember, we'll be at GamesCom this week to report on BioWare's first public live demo for Star Wars: The Old Republic!

Fans might be wondering why I haven't also mentioned Diablo III, and that's because D3 isn't quite an MMORPG - it's actually missing that 'massively' part to it. I will say that I'm very much looking forward to D3, but I'm definitely not expecting some kind of incredible diversity in game play; I'm guessing Blizzard will continue to abuse the awesome concept of getting loot and exploding things, and, personally speaking, that's what I will buy Diablo III for.

Either way, with BlizzCon set to erupt this week for fans of all ages, the biggest piece of news and, in reality, the only significant one, will probably be if Blizzard announces their newest MMORPG. If you think about it, Starcraft II really can't get even more hyped than it already is, unless they announce that it'll be released soon, and unless they reveal a new class for Diablo III, I'm not quite sure where they can go next. The only other point of juicy news that Blizzard can release is if they want to discuss their next expansion with World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. If you didn't know, MMO-Champion has an impressive array of 'compiled information gathered from reliable sources' concerning this new expansion - most notable being the fact that WoW's next expansion ('Cataclysm') will see a small 5 level increase on the level cap, two new races introduced to the game, and the rumour that Blizzard will be going back to 'revamp' the old continent instead of introducing a brand new one. But World of Warcraft isn't an 'up and coming' MMORPG, so I'll just talk about Blizzard's new IP instead.

With Blizzard's newest MMORPG, I mentioned earlier in this article that this would be a very important milestone for the MMO industry. The reason I say this is that this will also be the first time that Blizzard has 're-entered' the MMO industry since World of Warcraft's easy entry into the market in 2004. Not only this, but Blizzard will be trying to create a brand new IP for their MMO, so they've basically chosen the hardest path in developing a budding new MMORPG. In this way, if Blizzard succeeds, then you can definitely expect to see a new wave of MMOs that imitate their style. If, on the other hand, Blizzard's newest MMO fails to capture the public's attention, then industry competitors may just take it as a sign to aggressively pursue the Blizzard half of the MMO pie. Either way, it will definitely be interesting to see what Blizzard will do with their newest MMO; we'll be able to see if World of Warcraft was just some very lucky timing, or if Blizzard truly deserves the title as the 'best' MMO developer in the world.

What they need to do to succeed: Make a game that's just as polished as World of Warcraft, but make sure that it's not World of Warcraft.

Does that make sense?
In all of my years of playing MMORPGs, I'll definitely have to admit that nothing even comes close to the polish that World of Warcraft has. Users who will be buying in to Blizzard's newest IP will have come to expect this kind of quality from these prolific developers, and if Blizzard fails to deliver with a high level of polish, you can definitely expect fans to be ready to skewer any company that cannot deliver - even if it is Blizzard! As a personal preference of my own, I'd be very interested if Blizzard were to look into making a Steampunk type of MMO with some 'serious' graphics; not that cartoony WoW style. Steampunk is an unappreciated genre!

And that will be all for today! The final part of this three part series will come next week, as this week we will be covering both GamesCom and BlizzCon, where you can definitely expect to hear some big news about most of the MMOs I've covered, and have yet to cover, in my "most anticipated MMOs of the future and how they can succeed." Next week I'll cover the sci-fi spaceship MMOs-Star Trek, Black Prophecy, Jumpgate Evolution, some free-to-play MMORPGs and maybe talk about the future of FPSMMOs.

By Christopher "Pwyff" Tom

Source: http://www.zam.com/

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Game company Blizzard wants you to socialize

We’re a decade into the 21st century and your company doesn’t make all its products work seamlessly with social networking sites? Who do you think you are?

Perhaps a bit bashful about the fact that its most social service isn’t really social at all considering the times, Blizzard Entertainment says that it will be massively overhauling Battle.net, as announced at the annual BlizzCon event that ended this weekend.

Battle.net is Blizzard’s highly successful multiplayer online game service, first launched in 1997—when founder and CEO of FacebooBattle.net 1998k Mark Zuckerberg was only 12 years old. Back in those days, the channel had one simple purpose: to connect users in an online multiplayer gaming experience. Blizzard has come a long way since those early forays into multiplayer gaming, what with its massively successful MMORPG, World of Warcraft, a game played in an exclusively online environment.

Now, the game makers have decided, after taking a good hard look at the current online world, it’s time to revamp Battle.net for the age of social networking.

In a demo at the Blizzard conference, Blizzard executive VP of game design Rob Pardo demonstrated how “even before you play your first game you're already connected to the online community.” Setting the tone for the new Battle.net, he continues, “We really feel like we're in an online world.”

Profiles will track a user’s achievements, match history, and other cool features, like the ability to trade around maps. Searching for friends by their names will be made much easier and users will be able to publish “Toasts” or “broadcasts”—known as status updates to the rest of us. ThBattle.net 2009e coolest thing for the first game coming out, StarCraft II, will probably be the Marketplace, which Pardo describes as “a vibrant ecosystem of user-generated content, including multiplayer maps, single-player scenarios, challenges, themes, and more.”

Some are speculating that the new service will likely work with other social networking sites, like Twitter and Facebook, possibly allowing users to link shared content between them.

Responses from gamers on the Battle.net forums varied from the excited (“This is awesome, it's really going to change how we play Blizzard games....”) to the bitterly angry (“It's official. [StarCraft II] has been delayed until 2010 so that users can post their stats to their Facebook profile”) to the, of course, insightfully humorous (“I miss the days when I played games to get away from people”).

Nevertheless, for many of Blizzard’s fans, the company’s name has often been synonymous with high-quality games. These are gamers who are used to waiting a little longer for a more refined end result. As long as the upgraded Battle.net comes with a list of cool capabilities and doesn’t just emulate what all the best social networking sites already do, Blizzard is sure to please its fanbase.

by Ronny Kerr

Source: http://vator.tv/

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Donkey Kong | Classic Arcade |

Control: Arrow keys and space bar.

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Myth War II

Myth War II, the first online game developed based on the ATB combat system, gives its players a fantastic and truly breath-taking game playing experience.



The game features summoning and shapeshifting, destructive weapons and deity beasts, as well as a rumor and rebirth system, all of which lead players into a world filled with magic and wonders. Unlike other online games, Myth War II has a unique weather system, making players feel like they are living and breathing in the game-world.

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Dark-Warriors

Dark Warriors is a multi player online role-play game (MPORPG). While the game play primarily takes place in one land (Westland) at the current time, there has been some discussion of opening more areas to explore in the future. This game is currently under development, so be prepared for changes in game play, new additions and tweaks to existing areas of the game.

The following Game Rules, violations of the rules and the punishments for breaking those rules, should be read before you sign up to play the game.

You stay awake at night wondering what it would be like to live the life of a Dark Warrior. Imagining the mystical creatures, battles and adventures you would experience and the many riches you would be rewarded with. As you continue to wonder, you look up to the night's sky and see a faint message written in the stars. It says "Join the elite, proud and strong Dark Warriors and you shall not be disappointed". Your destiny awaits...

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DC Universe Online Hands-On Preview

DC Universe Online seems like an obvious extension of the popular comic book brand. The fact that the game hasn’t even entered Alpha testing does little to tame the rabid MMORPG fans that are looking for something outside the staple fantasy genre. With so many heroes, villains and morally grey characters in the mix, how could DC Universe Online be anything but awesome?


At first glance, DCUO looks like every other MMORPG out there. The title follows the standard set forth by Ultima Online and its ilk, with health, mana, and equipment bars littering the screen. The preview build that I saw was running off of a PlayStation 3, but it was tough to notice a difference between the console and PC versions. While the overall resolution is lower on PS3, I didn’t notice any reduced spell effects, feel encumbered by a controller or get hamstrung by hardware lag.

Technical prowess of the PS3 aside, I did get to see a bit of new content during my demo time. I was handed a pre-built shock-heavy character that fights the good fight with the Justice League of America. After some spell practice, I ran to aid a group of biologically tainted civilians. Combat against the Joker’s thugs was quick and dirty, with electrical bombardments, physics-based attacks and environmental items dealing the most damage. Adding to the complexity of battle was an appearance by several famous DC characters, with Batman helping to revive the endangered civilians and battle by my side. As if the Dark Knight didn’t offer enough help, some of the former brainwashed mobs joined our ranks as well. After easily dispatching the zombie leader, I was awarded with a piece of loot that automatically matched my previously chosen color scheme. No longer will avatars need a visit from the Queer Eye people to keep them looking sharp!

It appears as if SOE really plans to keep players constantly rubbing shoulders with the characters that have made DC comics such a long-lasting brand, and that’s a damned good thing. I am thankful that SOE has plenty of development time left, as the environments remain incredibly empty and undetailed outside of the sparingly used interactive pieces. As interesting as the demos have been, one has to wonder what the general grind is going to be. Will the MMO focus on quests and instances? Is general mob farming a viable strategy? What we don’t need to worry about is the PC-PS3 cross-platform play, as it seemed to work fine from what I was shown. If SOE’s focuses on the gameplay and story as much as the technology, DCUO will be hard to pass up.

DC Universe Online remains undated, although we expect it to be released sometime in 2010.

Source:http://www.thegamereviews.com

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Aion aims to fly to the top of the MMORPG rankings

Look out World of Warcraft; here comes another new MMORPG with its goal set to knock off the king of online fantasy gaming; and while WoW’s established base, entrenched name recognition and savvy marketing may be too much for any new game to overcome, Aion could take a sizeable bite out of the WoW apple.

Aion, with its state-of-the-art graphics; emphasis on flight as both a form of mobility and a tactic in combat; and unique elements, like RvRvE (realm vs. realm vs. environment), is officially the most anticipated MMORPG since, well, World of Warcraft.

Due to arrive in late September, Aion is “. . . a visually stunning massively multiplayer online RPG where you ascend to divinity and fight in an epic celestial war. Wielding divine powers and the capability for true flight, you must bring salvation to your people and restore balance to a vast, beautiful world shattered by cataclysm,” according to NCSoft, developer of Aion and a number of other very successful Online Games, including Guild Wars, Lineage and City of Heroes.

The basic theme of the game is, on the surface, fairly standard stuff. A world has been sundered in two and the inhabitants of each half-world blame each other for the catastrophe. The Elyos, a beautiful race of light angelic-like beings loath their opposite number, the dark winged Asmodians, whose hatred of the Eloyes runs equally deep.

In the middle of the divided world lies the Abyss, a dangerous world of its own and home to the chaotic evil know as the Balaur. Both the Eloyes and Asmodians believe that by surviving the rift between the two worlds and conquering the enemy race, the world as they once knew it will become whole once again.

While the Elyos and their Tower of Light and the Asmodians and their Tower of Darkness seem to be metaphors for angels and devils, good and evil and/or heaven and hell, that isn’t really the case. Their appearances came about as evolutionary changes necessitated by their environment. The only true evil is the Balaur, who inhabit the Abyss.

Realm vs. Realm play comes into effect when the Eloyes battle the Asmodians. Realm vs. Environment takes place when the Balaur show up in the Abyss. The thing about the chaotic Balaur that adds so much to the game itself is that the Balaur will sometimes aid one side and sometimes the other. Then again, the Balaur might show up in such numbers that the Elyoss and Asmodians have to put aside their enmity and join forces against the Balaur.

NCSoft will be using the CryEngine, immersive 3D graphic system to bring unprecedented realism, physics and graphic details to what promises to be, if nothing else, probably the most beautiful MMORPG ever to grace a monitor or television screen. Those of you who are familiar with the popular first-person shooter, Far Cry, have already gotten a taste of the amazing world that can be created via the CryEngine, umm, engine!

Aion, though, if far more than just flash. According to Beta Tester Mark Dunmire, “This is the game that will lure sizeable numbers from WoW.” Dunmire, a longtime player of MMORPGs, has maxed out toons in WoW, Age of Conan, Warhammer and several other online games, so he knows of what he speaks.
“I’ve been in the Aion beta since its inception; and I have to tell you, it has captured me like no other game I’ve played. It’s stunning visually but the depth of the story, and the sense of never quite knowing what you’re getting into when you fly into the Abyss makes every play session a fresh experience.”

Mark also pointed out that unlike many MMORPG releases that are plagued by bugs, Aion should arrive with a high degree of polish on it. “Aion has been around for several years in Korea and most of the bugs have already been fixed. The game is being ‘Westernized’ but it should be an incredibly smooth release. It’s darn near perfect in Beta.”

Unquestionably, Aion will have its share of naysayers, will be similar to MMORPGs that have preceded it, have classes that feel a bit too familiar, etc. However, its look and its focus promise to deliver more substance than mere hype. Prepare to ascend and earn your wings; then fly into the Abyss!

By James Trunzo

Source:http://www.examiner.com/

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MMORPG 101: What are financial systems in MMORPGs?

Nearly every MMORPG has some sort of financial system. Money or its equivalent is usually represented by something that makes sense within the larger context of the game. Thus, in most fantasy MMORPGs, gold is the unit of money. Along with money or its equivalent comes things to buy with that money. Items or rewards which can be bought with and sold for money are usually collectively referred to by the playerbase (and most developers) as loot.

In-game money and loot are big components of the social structure of most MMORPGs, although they don't hold the same importance in every game. World of Warcraft, for example, is a game where gold and the items it can buy are fairly critical aspects of the game. City of Heroes, on the other hand, while it does have a market system and loot-like items now (it didn't have much at its launch), places less importance on such things than does World of Warcraft.

Sometimes loot doesn't play a major role in character advancement, but in many cases, it is vitally important. In games where loot represents physical armor or weapons, not having the proper "gear" can make a character undesireable for certain game content. In games like this, loot is highly prized and can lead to arguments over who gets what when an item "drops" (i.e., becomes available upon defeat of an enemy).

Another problem that can arise from MMORPG market systems is "gold selling," or "real money transfers." Companies and individuals will gain a lot of game money, either through relentless "farming" or exploits, and then sell that in-game money for real-world money. This is against the rules of nearly every MMORPG, and it is a problem that game companies are constantly striving to squash. Accounts are banned if they are found to be in violation, and harsh restrictions are placed on trial accounts in an attempt to prevent trial accounts from being used as easy gateways into the game world.

Having a financial system in an MMORPG adds another layer of immersion for players and adds variety, so that it's not just a bunch of "kill that mob" or "collect these objects."

Source: http://www.examiner.com/

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Ankama to introduce DOFUS 2.0 at Penny Arcade Expo

ANKAMA will attend Seattle's Penny Arcade Expo on September 4th to 6th to present the brand new version of the 20-million-player tactical MMORPG DOFUS, DOFUS 2.0.

Since 2004, Penny Arcade Expo has become the largest Game Festival in North America with an exponential growth over the years and sponsored parties throughout downtown Seattle. Being one of the biggest independent studios, ANKAMA is proud to join the PAX and to celebrate games and gamers along with members of the independent gaming community.

Five years after its debut, a brand new version of DOFUS is due to be released soon, in order to meet players' expectations. The Penny Arcade Expo will be the opportunity to reveal DOFUS 2.0 for the very first time in a major exhibition in North America. The game has been completely revamped, featuring more detailed graphics, new animations, improved performance and gameplay in order to give players a renewed experience of their favorite game.

During the event, ANKAMA will spoil attendees with:
* A 600 sqft booth (#3117) dedicated to DOFUS 2.0 right in front the expo entrance! 20 computers will be available for players to test the game for the very first time in the US!
* A display of all ANKAMA's DOFUS-related licensed products!


By attending the Penny Arcade Expo, ANKAMA is proud to finally get to meet its American audience and looks forward to introducing US gamers to the revamped version of DOFUS.

About the ANKAMA Group
Founded by Anthony Roux, Camille Chafer and Emmanuel Darras in Roubaix in 2001, ANKAMA is an independent group which produces digital creations and employs over 350 people. The international success of the group's MMORPG DOFUS, with more than 20 million players, enabled ANKAMA to branch out into several related industries: online games, publishing, animations, web design, press, mobile phone services, video games for next gen' consoles. ANKAMA is also currently developing Wakfu, a crossmedia project including animated series/video game/card games and comic books. Find out more on our official website: www.ankama-group.com

DOFUS
www.dofus.com
Treading a lush path between video game and animated cartoon, DOFUS brings a whole new dimension to online Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games. With its manga-inspired graphics, gripping tactical game play and wild humor, DOFUS has created a unique style of its own for other MMORPGs to follow and currently boasts 20million players worldwide.

Source: http://pc.ign.com/

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Updates coming to Dragonica

The Kundara Dungeon, Van Cliff Fortress and many more content updates coming to Dragonica. Aztec-inspired Dungeon Kundara, followed by the vampire fortress of Van Cliff, signal major content updates for the free-to-play action MMORPG.

Dragonica is the free arcade-style 3D side-scrolling MMORPG developed by Barunson Interactive and published by Gala Networks Europe Ltd. across Europe. Following a very successful launch in June, the game has recently been updated with the new high-level Kundara dungeon, and will soon open the doors of the terrifying Van Cliff Fortress along with several other major improvements.

Kicking off a series of highly anticipated content updates for Dragonica, the Kundara dungeon is a new high level dungeon inspired by South-American mythology. This new dungeon is already available on Dragonica Europe and will be followed in a few weeks by the Van Cliff Manor, a dark dungeon aimed at experienced adventurers. In it, players will have to battle against the undead armies in a maze of stone walls paved with traps, and survive the ferocious attacks of several bosses including Dracula, the Werewolf, the Gate Keeper Gargoyle, and finally the huge and terrifying Bone Dragon.

In addition to these two dungeons, the upcoming update will also feature a series of new regular and hero quests, which will delve into the background behind Dr. Farrel's corruption by the witch Paris. Other features include UI improvement, personal character cards for the players to show off, new weapons and items, as well as a revision of the mission map results. All these new features will be added for free through a simple update of the game in early Autumn 2009.

For more information on Dragonica, please visit the official website at http://dragonica.gpotato.eu. For European users who are travelling outside of Europe, you are now able to play Dragonica with gPotato while abroad by clicking the "Register my IP" button before logging into the game.


http://pc.ign.com/

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Hattrick

Hattrick is the world’s greatest and most popular online football manager game and it's completely free!

In Hattrick, you run your own football team and compete against 929 567 human users from all over the world.

All you need is a web browser. Matches are played in real time a couple of times a week. You can log on at any time to check the status of your team, issue training orders, trade players - or just hang out with other Hattrick users.

Play Hattrick Now

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Billards pool game | Arcade |

Basically snooker / pool hit the balls into the pockets, its probably best to play the computer on this one. Please wait for the game to load.
Game Controls
Use the mouse to aim and hold down the mouse button to hit the balls.

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No Twilight MMORPG in the works -- apocalypse called off

Last week, the internet was abuzz with news of an MMORPG based on Stephanie Meyer's hit vampire-and-teen-angst book series Twilight. Many were predicting much doom and gloom in the wake of the "news," while I'm sure many teenage girls were contemplating playing their very first MMORPG.

The website that everyone was talking about was this one, detailing a Twilight video game being made.

Turns out, there is no Twilight MMORPG in the works. While the site above does mention "multi-player," that's not the same thing as being an MMORPG. Also, not only is the team behind the game discussed on that site not developing an MMORPG, they're not even developing an official Twilight video game.

The game is being produced as an academic venture by a student of game design in the hopes of getting noticed by Summit Entertainment. The game's makers do not own the rights to make a game based on the franchise, but are hoping that Summit likes it enough to publish the game when it's done. As my readers may have guessed, I'm a fan of at least one other burgeoning MMORPG being made by a small group of folks who are passionate about their subject matter, so I wish these guys the best. It'll be interesting to see if they can get some positive attention from Summit.

It was really a big uproar over nothing, as careful reading of the website would have clued people in that there was no Twilight MMORPG and, in fact, maybe not even a real Twilight game, in the making. Perhaps people weren't able to read the details because they were blinded by Edward's pretty sparkly glitter?

Source: http://www.examiner.com

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Booyah MMORPG App Aims to be “World of Lifecraft” for iPhone Owners

Booyah, which is available as a free iPhone app, is a new social MMORPG from a well-funded startup of the same name. But here’s the twist: Unlike all other online role-playing games (GigaOM Pro, sub required) , you don’t improve your character by performing fantastic otherworldly tasks, like looting dungeons or slaying hobgoblins — what gamers call “leveling up.” With Booyah, instead, you level up yourself, through real-world activities.


Get regular exercise and attain Booyah’s “God of the Gym” status, for example; jetset around the world enough, and Booyah dubs you a “Wondrous Wanderer.” These achievements are registered as badges in the Booyah virtual “room” on your iPhone, where your comically bulbous-headed avatar resides.

Booyah Achievements

The idea for Booyah originated when CEO Keith Lee and his two co-founders were developers at Blizzard Entertainment, creator of World of Warcraft, which now boasts nearly 12 million worldwide subscribers. That’s largely thanks to the addictiveness of WoW’s character-building and quests, which encourage people to obsessively play for years, just to earn virtual achievements for their Warcraft avatars. As he explained to me in a recent demo, Lee and his partners wondered if they could take the same design principles, which make Blizzard games so popular, and apply them to real life.

Booyah Room

So in Booyah, you self-report everyday activities in a variety of categories (work, shopping, etc.) just as you would on any other microblogging service; here, however, those updates are registered as progress points to your next achievement, and displayed in the “Booyah Society” social network (which can also be integrated with your Facebook or Twitter profiles.) This public aspect, the developers believe, will help keep your self-reporting honest. (If your Booyah friends notice that you’re exaggerating your accomplishments, they may call you on it.) Lee told me the company plans to eventually use iPhone functionality, like the GPS and accelerometer, to track player stats with more objective metrics.

Booyah Society Feed

At launch, Booyah is not without its shortcomings: The social functions could be more robust, and the emphasis on achievements over socialization may limit its appeal with women. Lee told me the company plans to add virtual currency, avatar-to-avatar interaction and other features, but without them, the growth rate may sputter. Still, it’s an appealing attempt to leverage MMORPG play aspects for benefits beyond games — a goal long-desired by developers and researchers alike. Booyah even has accomplishment ladders for cultural activities and social activism, so if players make a genuine effort to earn the game’s wide range of awards, they may also find themselves becoming more enriched, better-rounded human beings. Call it World of Lifecraft.

Source:http://theappleblog.com/

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