Twelve Sky 2 US Open Beta Begins

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Wander through the perilous yet alluring towns of Ancient China
Aeria Games today announced the start of the open beta test of the US version of TwelveSky 2, a martial arts based Massively Multiplayer Online Role Play Game (MMORPG). Set in an oriental fantasy themed middle-age China, players can team up and fight against opposing factions for key territories and world dominance. Twelve Sky 2 features a new mount system, trainable pets, never-before-seen elite armor and weapons, as well as a new skill system.


TwelveSky 2 is an adrenaline-pumping Massively Multiplayer Online Role Play Game (MMORPG). Set in Ancient China, players are thrown into an age old conflict between three warring Clans. Centered on the reemergence of a new faction, players must fight for the honor of their brothers or turn their backs in their hour of need. Packed with jaw dropping martial art techniques, exotic weapons, armor, and pets, a robust war system, and a whole lot more, “TwelveSky 2” is primed to be one of the best Free-To-Play Player-versus-Player experiences to date!

http://www.12sky.aeriagames.com/

Source: http://www.gamershell.com



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AdventureQuest Worlds: 6 MILLION & Counting

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MMORPG ADVENTUREQUEST WORLDS REACHES 6 MILLION PLAYERS

LAND O' LAKES, FL - MAY 19, 2009 - Launched just over six months ago, the popular web-based MMORPG AdventureQuest Worlds (www.AQ.com) is proud to announce that it has exceeded 6 million registered players. Created by the home grown team at Artix Entertainment, LLC, this anything-goes fantasy MMORPG features chat, real-time-combat, wars, and live events, and has had more than one brand new release per week since launch.


To celebrate, AdventureQuest Worlds is preparing to release its first world boss (or Chaos Lord). This is the exciting conclusion of their first storyline which takes place along an M.C. Escher inspired valley featuring original and creative 2D game art.

image


Also, The Artix Entertainment team has been invited to attend the Japanese and Anime convention, Jacon, next week in Orlando, Florida. On May 23rd, AdventureQuest Worlds will chair a panel to discuss everything relating to its three other popular RPGs: DragonFable.com, AdventureQuest.com, and MechQuest.com.

About Artix Entertainment
Artix Entertainment LLC, is a privately held, game development and publishing studio that specializes in creating online, browser-based, anime-style, role-playing Flash games with a distinctive visual style and high-quality game play. Artix has developed a range of games with storylines that are based in the fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure genre. Content within the games is updated on a weekly basis creating a compelling experience which keeps users coming back frequently for new content and story lines. Artix core offerings are three online RPG games: AdventureQuest, DragonFable, and MechQuest, and one MMORPG AdventureQuest Worlds. Players can visit www.artixentertainment.com for more information.


By;Suzie Ford
Source: http://www.warcry.com/


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Atlus Online Tinkers with Hands-On Demos of Upcoming Steam Punk MMORPG at E3 2009

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Atlus Online, a daily destination for community-focused gaming and interactive entertainment, will provide visitors to the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) a steamy treat: a playable demo of its upcoming steampunk-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent.


Atlus Online’s portal is dedicated to high-quality, user-driven content, with an emphasis on online games and anime. In addition to providing a hub for members to share their passions, meet new friends, and experience numerous forms of unique digital media, the portal will also soon be home to Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent, the first full-length game to launch on the site. Visitors that stop by Atlus Online’s booth – #4913 in the West Hall – will not only be able to explore the many facets of the portal, but also get a sneak peek of the game before its official launch later this summer.

Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent is the only MMORPG of its kind, set in an imaginative steampunk world, where 19th century steam-based technology meets fantasy inventions. The game transports players to a land where two nations battle over a precious resource called Neo Steam. From the onset, customization is key to each player’s experience, where they can choose which nation to join and select from a number of specialized classes. As players battle to expand their nation’s resources and protect their borders from invasion, they must learn to harness the Neo Steam technology to upgrade their equipment, learn new abilities, and progress in their chosen class.

Atlus Online representatives will be on hand for meetings from June 2-4 at the company’s booth, #4913 in the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center. Atlus Online invites press and prospective business partners to schedule meetings prior to the show or visit the booth.

About Atlus Online

Atlus Online is the online interactive entertainment division of Atlus U.S.A., Inc., renowned for its proud tradition of publishing exceptional role-playing games with strong niche appeal. The Atlus library of critically acclaimed video games includes Odin Sphere, the Trauma Center series, and the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei series. More information can be found at http://www.atlusonline.com/.

Source: http://www.businesswire.com/


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Mobile MMORPG TibiaME gets an update

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Cipsoft has given TibiaME an overhaul. It's mobile's first MMORPG, and has over 30,000 players

The first mobile MMORPG, TibiaME from Cipsoft, has been given a huge update, the first the game has had in 2 years. We got to play the game more than a year ago but, at that point, it was clear that the ambitious online game still had a way to go before it was going to lure in many World of Warcraft fans.

The update’s most important addition is in the game’s magic system. Although magic has been present in TibiaME for a long time, the update will introduce a whole new spell system that should make battles ‘much more challenging and therefore way more interesting for our players’, says Product Manager Benjamin Zuckerer.

A new jungle island has also been added to the game, expanding the area of the world you can explore considerably.

Apparently, the last year has been kind to TibiaME, with a 100% increase in the game’s subscriber base. More than 30,000 players log in every day to play it. Sure, it’s not a patch on World of Warcraft’s 11+ million, but for a mobile phone game, it’s not bad at all.

Source: http://www.knowyourmobile.com/


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Dogs of the Sea Pirates at War


"Dogs of the Seas" is a browser based Massive Multiplayer game.

You start your adventure as an unknown pirate in the heart of the Caribbean. Battle and
Trade your way to affluence and standing. Your armed battle ships that sail through the Caribbean shall make you famous and dreaded pirate!

Find valuable treasures, or hunt for other dreaded pirates. Take missions from the local agents, and qualify for adventurous smuggler jobs, pursue other smugglers or take part in regular events. Handle and trade with rare goods or produce valuable and powerful ships or cannons. Wild computer pirates and peaceful dealers populate the Caribbean waters along with thousands of fellow pirates. Sink your opponents and plunder their vessels in real-time battles player vs player (PvP) or against the computer generated factions. Trade with alliances or friends on the high seas for valuable possessions. Create an alliance or join another to participate in the political turmoil of the Caribbean.










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Champions Online: What You Need To Know!

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Champions Online: Character Customization Preview

Champions Online is a superhero-themed MMORPG being developed by Cryptic Studios and slated for a September 1, 2009 release. Champions Online is currently in closed beta, and any features mentioned in this preview are subject to change prior to the game's launch. In our first mini-preview of the game's beta client, we will cover character creation and customization.

Creating your first character in a new MMORPG is always very exciting. Does Champions Online's character creation have what it takes to make you the ultimate superhero? Let's find out!

Name Selection

This is the part where players often fail in originality. Hey, it's tough to think when you're put on the spot! To help you in the first step of your Champions Online journey, we will provide you with some VE3D-approved names.

Purple Liberator
Platinum Boy
Fluffy Sandwich
Blood Badger
Lone Parasite
Fish Thumper
Napalm Jester
Tundra Sunburst
Meat Thong
Winged Rabbit
Lady Wrecker
Melted Hooka
Toxic Mage
Soup Medic
Pillow Burger
Crackling Anus

Alright, that should be enough to inspire you to superhero name selecting greatness.

Class Characteristics

What kind of superhero do you want to be? At this time you have 9 class choices at your disposal. Each class includes a number of pre-set statistics, such as Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Ego and Presence. "The Hard Target" is what one might consider a tank class. As a meat shield you come with full Constitution, Endurance, Dexterity and Strength; but you're pretty much dumb as a stump. Standard tank.

Next you go through your "Framework", which are your starting abilities and what you'll be able to choose from later in the game.

Create Your Champion

This is where the fun begins. Here we will provide you with a quick overview of your options, then move into a sort of "Frequently Asked Questions" style of Q&A to provide you with the answers to all of the things you really want to know about character customization!

In Champions Online you will be able to design all aspects of size, body, face, and costume. This includes height, muscle mass, body mass, neck width, bicep, head height, width and depth, facial expression, your body stance and much more. After you've created your dream physique, it's time to create a costume, the thing that will set you apart from all of the other super geeks in the game. A full colour palette is provided.

Head Pieces: Head type, headwear, hairstyles, eyes, eye accessories, mouth accessories, top accessories, side accessories and eyebrows.

Upper Body Pieces: Shoulders, chest layer, chest & arms, collar, belts, emblem, bracers, shoulder pads, arm accessories and back.

Hand Pieces: Hands and gloves, which include options such as skeleton hands, robotic hands, claws, tentacles, webbed fingers, alien fingers, and a large assortment of gloves.

Lower Body Pieces: Tights, shorts, skin and skirts, legs, leg accessories, feet, hips layer and tail.

Each of the categories above play house to a whole slew of sub-features and options. Now it's time to get down the nitty-gritty on what you can and can't be.

Frequently Asked Questions?

Will there ever be another me in the game?

We certainly hope not. Har! But seriously, there are so many customization options for face, body and costume that you'd have to try pretty hard to come up with an identical combination to someone else on your server. But, that's not to say that people cannot look similar. Especially those with little imagination. If you want to be unique then you should have no problem being so.

I like to stay in shape, and so does my superhero persona. Will I be able to have rippling muscles?

Indeed. In fact, to help you play the part of "Muscle Head" there's even a wife beater with your name on it (really)! If you're playing a male character then you will be able to create those big guns that you want. But if you're female, you're pretty much SOL. Except for calf muscles, which you can make freakishly large. Female muscle definition is very subtle through their costumes. If you crank the muscle sliders to full, then you can sort of make out a slightly tighter and rippled physique.


Rippling Muscles


How big can I make my boobs?

There's not a huge range in boob size, I would guess A-Cup to a B-Cup. However, if you create an overweight character then you can get her up to a D-Cup. Man-boobs are similarly sized. You can have big, beefy pecks or saggy, little wussling pecks. The choice is yours!

Can I have nipples?

No. You can see belly buttons beneath the skin tight costumes, but not nipples. Nipples would likely get the game slapped with a more mature ESRB rating.

You've covered boobs, but what about my man-package, my love rocket, my tally-whacker, my beef bayonet, my pork sword...

Yeah okay, we get it. Unfortunately, there's not much happening down there. Male Champions are limited to "Ken Doll Crotch". If your body shape is longer or wider, then your package will also be longer or wider. But ultimately you will be bulgeless.


Where's The Beef?


Any cameltoe?

Not that I noticed, but I wasn't examining the local poon as much as I probably should have been.


Look Ma, No Toe!


What if I want to go with a dominatrix type of look?

No problema, your studded collar awaits. Cryptic clearly paid attention to the wish lists of their S&M fans. In fact, I am starting to believe that the company is made up of perverts. With lots of leather and costume accessories that look like torture devices, you should be good to go!

I'm in the Navy...

Say no more. Yes, Champions Online does cater to the Gay, Lesbian, Homosexual, Bisexual, Trisexual, Asexual, Transsexual, Pansexual, Zoosexual, Polysexual, Pomosexual, Metrosexual, and Transgendered communities.

Uhm, I was actually going to ask about subscription models.

Oops! Sorry, no information on subscription models as of yet.

Whoa, hold up there sister! Are you making fun of the gay and lesbian community?

Of course not. I just mean that all of the tools are there, whether you are a cross-dresser with a thing for schoolgirl uniforms or someone who likes to either butch-up or get a bit flamboyant, it's all there.

Although I do have to question some of these options. Instead of your standard pair of superhero tights, males can select briefs, bike shorts, bike shorts with fishnet stockings, extremely short-short tennis shorts and the like. There's a similar theme going on with upper body costume. Come on, fishnet stockings? Really? You tell me whom Cryptic was catering to with that one.

Let's just say that if you want to play the part, then Champions Online will let you be the gayest gay superhero there ever was! Not that there's anything wrong with that.


Chains and Manties - Thexy!


Okay, so are you making fun of the US Navy?

Maybe a little, but doesn't everyone make fun of the US Navy? I blame the Village People.

Will I be able to accentuate my gluteus maximus? It's my best feature.

Now that I think about it, all bums are kind of created equal in Champions Online. If you're looking for a little extra junk in the trunk then you'll have to create a body type on the larger end of the scale. The Champions do have rather firm looking buttocks though. After all, no one wants to see cellulite in spandex, this is Champions Online not Redneck Rampage.


Firm Butt and Some Slight Muscle Tone


Can I be a furry?

Definitely, if ever a game was designed for a freak like you, it's Champions Online. In addition to being straight out hairy, you can choose fur as your costume pattern. From there, you will find a number of accessories to help you fluff things up. Bunny ears, whiskers, claws, a variety of tails (including cat, rat, bunny and lion), wings, fins and whatever else turns you on.

In real life people call me "The Butcher" because I like to chop people up into little pieces. What does the Champions Online character creation have to offer me?

If you are asking if you can appear evil in Champions Online, then the answer is yes. A great number of things can make you appear not-so-nice, such as a zombie head, skull, creepy clown makeup, goth makeup, a face without a nose and more. There are also plenty of creepy looking accessories which should please even the most sinister of serial killers.


Creepy Serial Killer Dudes


Can I be Super Nerd?

Sure, the fact of the matter is that in Champions Online you can be anything you want to be. If you want to be a skinny nerd then you can literally make yourself twig-thin. If you want to be an overweight nerd then you can make yourself all sloppy and floppy. I'm sure you will be able to find a pair of glasses and other head / face accessories to help highlight your nerdiness perfectly.

You've described CO as a big porno-fest. Kids will be playing this game!

There's no porn in the game (that I've seen!), but the characters are what you make them. If want to look sexy or slutty then the options are there to do that. A child would not likely make the same choices as an adult. Unless the child is a tween, because they're already porking at that age.


Be sure to come back next week when we feature a preview of the Champions Online newbie area!

Source : ign.com


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Twilight War: After the Fall


MMORPGFPS? FPSMMORPG? Screw it, those are too hard to pronounce! It's a new game concept, so it deserves a new acronym! "XORG" stands for Extreme Online Roleplaying Game, a hybrid between MMORPGs and FPSs. An XORG has depth, persistence, expansiveness, adrenaline pumping action, graphics detail, and realism all at the same time.



Each player account can maintain multiple characters, though only one character can be played at a time. Characters “live” on a specific world cluster selected during the login process. Once a character is created, it can only be moved to another world cluster by requesting the change from the developer via online account management. These requests will be filled depending on the current server populations, as we do not want any one server to be overloaded.










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Sony Free Realms MMORPG Signs Up a Million Players in 17 days

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Sony's new family friendly MMORPG game Free Realms has signed up 1 million users into the 17 days since the game launched on April 28th. To celebrate the occasion Sony has announced that it will be giving all Free Realms players a limited edition in-game shirt with special graphics.

The one-millionth player will also get a special prize pack including a lifetime game membership, in game astronaut suit and 10,000 Station Cash. SOE also says that 999,999 players will get a matching shirt for their in game pets and 200 Station Cash.

The game is aimed at kids and is rated E10 and up by the ESRB. Players get to customize their characters and explore, quest, battle monsters, and play mini games in a safe environment. The game is also complemented by a trading card game as well.

Source: http://www.i4u.com/ by Shane McGlaun



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Forget World of Warcraft, Here's World of Fight

World of Warcraft is one of the most popular games in the world, boasting over 11,5 million paying subscribers each month. The extremely successful MMORPG has captured the imagination of players across the world and has brought its parent company, Activision Blizzard, a big amount of money.



One of the biggest user bases for the online game is in China, so the right to distribute and operate the network in the big Asian country is a very sought after thing. Now, after a long partnership with The9, Activision Blizzard announced a few days ago that it had signed a contract with NetEase and that the company would handle everything WoW related starting from June, when the previous deal with The9 would expire.

Of course, the old company can't be very happy with this, and has now released a new site, called WoFChina, similar to the official WoWChina, in which it teases about a new game that it will release soon. The similarities with WoW can be easily observed, from the font to the whole layout. What differs though is the background image, which, as some fans have noticed, seems very similar to the Chaos Gate from Mythic's Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning MMORPG.

After a bit of digging, you can see that the publisher of Warhammer Online, Electornic Arts, also has quite a few shares in the Chinese company, making the possibility of The9 announcing the fact that it has gained control of Mythic's MMORPG very interesting. Even though the company is quite big, it certainly doesn't have the resources to create another title just like WoW, so in an effort to make fans migrate from Blizzard's game to Mythic's, a rebranding wasn't out of the question.

Sadly The9 hasn't replied to any request for comment, leaving a lot of WoW and Warhammer Online fans wondering just what the Chinese company is preparing for MMORPG enthusiasts. Stay tuned for more details about this new World of Fight.

By Andrei Dobra, Games Editor at : http://news.softpedia.com


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Soldner: Secret Wars


Söldner Marine Corps is the most realistic military shooter available today. With its unique features, intense online play, and goal-based strategy SMC will let you experience combat like no other game before!






ADS - Advanced Destruction System. In Söldner - Marine Corps you can destroy everything! With ADS you can deploy an endless variation of true to life tactics. Tear down whole forests to deprive enemy snipers of their cover. Bombard the enemy base into rubble and devastate their morale. Or blow holes in the ground to hamper enemy movement, and use the wreckage to hide your advancing troops.


SWS - Söldner Weapons System. With SWS you can choose from more than a 100 weapons, all faithfully reproduced with the help from expert military advisor's. No other game will offer you the same authentic feel in weapons handling!













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EVE Online Exceeds 300,000 Subscribers on 6th Anniversary

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Previously In Games: PopCap Launches Plants vs. Zombies on Macs
EVE Online Exceeds 300,000 Subscribers on 6th Anniversary

EVE Online turned six years old on Wednesday, a long life for a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Publisher CCP Games also announced that more than 300,000 subscribers now guide their characters through EVE's persistent futuristic universe, where all players participate on a single server, as opposed to other MMORPGs, such as World of Warcraft, that host multiple copies of the same game world.




The news comes on the heels of the release of EVE Online's latest free expansion pack, Apocrypha, in March. CCP says three times this year it has also passed another milestone: the largest number of concurrent users, which is now 53,850.

CCP says that it defines subscribers thus: "Individuals who have paid a subscription fee or have an active electronic time code (ETC) to play EVE Online, as well as those who have purchased the game and are within their free month of access. The above definition excludes all players under free promotional subscriptions, expired or cancelled subscriptions and expired ETCs."

by Brad Cook at : http://www.macobserver.com/


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Ancient Legion MMORPG marches out onto the iPhone

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Ancient_Legion_0Ancient_Legion_0DigitalFun has been working hard to bring its popular Italian mobile MMORPG Ancient Legion to the iPhone, and the English translation has just gone live. Check out the details right here on iPhone Otaku.




Ancient Legion is a best selling online WAP and SMS multiplayer, which boasts an impressive 15 million monthly visitors dabbling in the shallow end of the fantasy sword and sorcery online world. To get the game out to the iPhone world, DigitalFun evidently realized it needed and English translation (although it's still available in its native Italian, too), and after much work, the game is now ready and live on the App Store.

It's no small game, so we'll hand straight over to the developer to tell you all about it:

appstorelinkAncient Legion, already a best seller on WAP (more than 15 million visited pages monthly supplied) and SMS platforms, allows players to immerse themselves in a fantasy world, carrying out missions, evolving own hero, acquiring magic powers, magic spells, weapons and armours to compete against each other during challenges, battles and tournaments. It is possible, moreover, attending the chat of the game, mustering in clan and guilds and it is possible to communicate with all players by means of carrier pigeons.

The iPhone version of Ancient Legion is characterized by:

* the eye-catching layout, completely renewed for making the most of the graphic chip capability and wide display
* the introduction in a motion-picture format, preparing the user to the game background
* the chances to downloading and filing all Ancient Legion episodes
* the weekly updates to make infinite the game experience

Only the video production required months' work and the mobilization of tens of movie professionals, getting to be de facto the most complex video introduction created on a wireless platform. Once more the key-word is multi-platform. The iPhone users will have the opportunity to play and communicate with the current Ancient Legion WAP, i-mode and SMS users.

"Even now we have added an important wedge of a project that month after month expands continuously. I am convinced that this project is one of the most relevant goals that our artistic and development team achieved," declares Fabio Sarracino, DigitalFun Co-Founder and Project Manager.

"Ancient Legion is the first set of applications issued within summer. We are proud of being among the first companies to launch a massive multiplayer game on App Store, also confirming our leadership role in the italian mobile game sector," declares Fabio Viola, DigitalFun Co-Founder and Vice-President.

Written by Hattori Hanzo

The original report is Here


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The Agency


The Agency is a fast-paced, online persistent shooter in a modern setting of bullets, bomb blasts, and betrayal.




Live the life of an elite agent in a world of super spies and rugged mercenaries, who use both the highest technology and the lowest tactics to accomplish their goals. Featuring cooperative and competitive play, The Agency is designed to provide instant action and long-term strategy for all fans of espionage, intrigue, and explosive gameplay.










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Teen marriages on the rise - in cyberspace

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They are married, widowed, divorced - all before they are even old enough to get a provisional driver's licence.

Teen gamers at MapleStory, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), get hitched at the rate of a couple a day in a range of weddings that cost between $30 and $40.




As part of the game, they can buy wedding tickets - cosy, sweety and premium packages - which enable them to receive anywhere between 10 and 60 guests, and obtain virtual wedding rings that add to their avatars' prowess.

Amanda Lee, a 14-year-old Raffles Girls' School student in real life, has had no fewer than five 'serious boyfriends' in the game.

She has been 'married' three times.

'It was definitely not for love,' she said. 'More for the ring and the protection my spouse can offer me in-game.

Other teens take their couplehood more seriously - offline.

Away from the game, they become real-life couples after getting married online.

Others who are already in an offline relationship make things official with an in-game wedding.

Like real marriages, not all work out.

When they fail, players need only wait four days and cough up 500,000 mesos - MapleStory's game currency - to get a Maple divorce.

Breaking up is easy to do because it allows game developers to sell wedding tickets to the same players repeatedly, said Mr Ray Chua, a senior executive at Touch Cyber Wellness and Sports, a charitable organisation that provides community service.

He added: 'I would hesitate to read too much into the differences in pricing between marriages and divorces in MapleStory.'

Even so, the trend can be worrying for those who take their Maple mates too seriously.

Jiray Teo, 17, was in Secondary 4 when he met a fellow Singaporean student and was attracted to her sweet online disposition.

The pair dated offline too.

But when she plotted to test his feelings by pretending she had been in an accident in real life, he wanted out.

He now says: 'I was too quick to enter the relationship because I really did not expect someone to be so different from her online persona.'

For first-year ITE Clementi student Soon Zhao Hui, love hurt - his pocket.

His 'spouse' emptied his game credits when he took a break from the game to study. Bemoaning giving her his account details, he said: 'I really regretted trusting her.'

Mr Chua warned that 'cyber marriages and relationships can greatly increase the game immersion factor'.

And when emotions from virtual relationships become as powerful as real-life ones, this can 'increase the risk of the gamer becoming addicted'.

Already, some gamers realise they spend too much time with their Maple mates.

A Secondary 4 student, who wanted to be identified only as Albert, confessed: 'There is both a longing and a commitment to 'see' her every day. Although I have O levels this year, I can't resist logging on when I see the computer.'

Many with failed Maple marriages feel scarred.

'Breaking up with my Maple boyfriend affected me so much that I didn't know what to do with my life,' said Amanda Lui, 17, as she recalled the end of a four-month relationship.

'I still haven't really gotten over it.'

By Lim Jun Yi

Sources here from http://digital.asiaone.com


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The Chronicles of Spellborn

The Chronicles of Spellborn is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game set in the Enclave of the Five Sacrifices, and uses the Unreal 2.5 Engine.

The Chronicles of Spellborn (TCoS) is an MMO under development by Spellborn NV using the renowned Unreal® Engine™. Players take the role of heroes in a post-apocalyptic fantasy setting where a vast adventure unfolds in an authentic living world.














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Free Realms Overview

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Free Realms, the free-to-play casual friendly MMORPG from Sony Online Entertainment has finally made it out of beta.

Free Realms is aimed at a younger audience than the average MMORPG, but actually manages to offer something for everyone. The game has a graphical style – and level of polish – on a par with World of Warcraft, but instead of grinding, raiding, and PVP-ing, the game offers a much wider range of activities.


In Free Realms you don't pick a specific character class when you start the game. Every character swap jobs at will. Swapping jobs is done by changing the clothes you're wearing – kind of like putting on a uniform to go to work.
Each job has its own activities associated with it. Combat jobs – like brawlers and ninjas, would fight monsters – such as the Robgoblins you meet in the game’s tutorial area. Chefs, Miners and Blacksmiths get to play various mini-games to gather ingredients, process them, and make things. The games range from bumper-car racing to 'Simon Says' style games, rhythm games, and puzzles similar to the classic 'columns' game.


There are also collection quests – which work similar to the collection quests in other SOE games, except that you just pick up items around the world, rather than having to loot monsters for them.

Free Realms has a trading card game built-in. The game has a heavy focus on deck building, and is about combat between the cards in play, rather than the objective-focused play of the Everquest, Star Wars and Stargate trading card games.

The game is free to play, but certain professions are locked to free users. Also, there are certain items that can only be bought using Station Cash – which is bought with real life money.

The mini-games, and combat, are both activated by clicking on items in-world. This means that a younger player who is either not interested in combat, or not quite up to that level of keyboard and mouse usage, does not have to take part in it. This avoids the frustration that would inevitably be felt if they 'died' – although things don't actually 'die' in Free Realms. Even the baddies are just temporarily knocked out.

The mini-games are ranked based on their difficulty. The easiest difficulty games are very simple, while the challenging ones are pitched at a difficulty that most adults should enjoy. The main objectives are very easy to achieve – most likely again for child friendliness, but there are bonus objectives which are much harder.

I very much doubt that Free Realms will become the game of choice for hardcore MMO playing adults, but as a family game – or a 'few minutes of fun' game, it shows a lot of promise. There's so many things that players can do in the world, and each challenge only takes ten minutes or so. Travel time is kept down thanks to the ability to teleport to your friends, and running between quests is a trouble free experience too. Job level progression is very fast compared to traditional MMO games, but there are leaderboards and elite objectives that will keep the game fun for the more serious and/or experienced players.

Children will love the graphics, the character customization, and the freedom, and thanks to the different difficulty levels of the challenges, adults and older siblings will be able to join in and still have fun.

The game is easier to install than most MMOs – just go to the web site FreeRealms.com and install the browser plugin. The game downloads as you play, and has very low system requirements. That, combined with the low subscription cost, free play modes, and high level of polish, should make this a very successful family game. Heck, I find myself dipping in and out, and I'm a bitter hardcore gamer that doesn't have any children to use as an excuse!

Related Resources here from http://www.myth-games.com


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LEGO Universe

LEGO Universe is a full-featured MMOG complete with character advancement, expansive social and community features, and will provide a child-safe alternative to other MMOGs on the market. As a player, you'll be able to customize your mini-figs and interact in the universe as any character you choose, providing unique opportunities for players to expand and explore with their creations.





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Resistor Productions Launches Disciple, the New Adult Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game

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Graphically Rich, Browser-Based Disciple Opens to Nearly 12,000 Pre-Registered Users, Allows for Battle Play Anytime, Anywhere

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Resistor Productions today announced the adult online battle and strategy game Disciple, its first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). The fully-animated game is delivered entirely over web browser, with no software or download requirements, for an unprecedented, graphically rich gaming experience without the location confines of client games.





Disciple’s original fantasy world, Aphelion, is persistent and for adults, as it’s extremely brutal and violent with bloody battles to the death. Disciple is player vs. player (PvP) – a player’s opponents are live as are their allies, aligning, fighting and strategizing in real-time to gain experience points, powerful weapons and armor, and increase in player ranking. The creation of each player’s unique “disciple” determines his or her life foundation, strengths and play-style, and all players compete for "geldors" (money) based on battle wins and losses. There is also the option to create or join a clan of disciples to determine allies and enemies within the world – powerfully crushing foes en mass.

The world, characters, story and creation of Disciple are based on the writings of Tobias Batton, Founder and CEO of Resistor Productions.

“I wanted to take MMORPGs to the next level with Disciple and its ability to be played anywhere yet be challenging, graphically rich, engaging – even addictive,” said Batton. “Disciple is all about creating a character that is an extension of the player’s personality, and watching it grow and become more powerful, no matter where the player is or what their circumstance."

A player’s character is always fighting in Disciple – actually battling others while the player is offline. There is also a huge social aspect within Disciple, as players flood various chat rooms or strategize one-on-one to discuss strategy, align and defeat.

Disciple is free-to-play with the ability to purchase enhanced play content and options within the game via microtransactions or a small subscription fee. Disciple is available for immediate play at www.disciplemmo.com.

For high resolution screens shots or additional information about Disciple, please email: resistor@schwartz-pr.com

About Resistor Productions

Resistor Productions is an online game development company dedicated to creating graphically rich, highly accessible massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) for a broad audience. The organization utilizes in-house talent and strategic partnerships to develop and distribute original games for the Web. Resistor’s games are free-to-play and accessible via a web browser, developed with the company’s proprietary game engine. For more information on Resistor Productions, please visit www.resistorproductions.com.


Source at http://www.businesswire.com/


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Final Fantasy XI A Crystalline Prophecy Now Available

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Available for purchase exclusively online through the PlayOnline Viewer

Square Enix has announced the release of A Crystalline Prophecy, the first add-on scenario in a series of three for Final Fantasy XI. These expansions have been created by Masato Kato, one of the minds behind the original FINAL FANTASY XI storyline, and they will require the game and the Rise of the Zilart expansion. FINAL FANTASY XI is the first ever MMORPG released for Xbox 360, with a community of 500,000 players.

Related Resources: from http://www.gamershell.com


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Time Of Defiance


Time of Defiance is an online massively multiplayer strategy game in real-time set across the huge landscape of the shattered world of Nespanona. Fight for conquest of the islands and mine their mineral wealth to expand your empire.
Every other empire you encounter is another human and will remember the deals you didn't deliver on and the promises you broke. Treachery, propaganda and trade are just as important as your fighting strategy. Have you got what it takes to unite the Cog tribes under one ruler?






"Your remote outposts in the north have detected enemy troop movement, but your closest fleet is over a day's travel away. The enemy fleet is within striking range of a valuable resource mine that is key to your economic wealth, and you don't have the forces to defend it.

Your northern neighbour is friendly but wont help out against this enemy, and the problems you are having with your neighbour in the south are tying up a lot of your ships. You need to mobilise fast and in strength. Maybe you can turn others against this enemy with propaganda, maybe you can reason with him. Maybe you'll just have to trade with the Eighth House and pay to send your fleet of motherships a couple of hundred kilometers beyond the threat and hit him where it hurts ..."









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'Voyage Century's' Commercial Battles detailed...

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An overview of the upcoming Commercial Battles from the nautical MMORPG “Voyage Century” was recently posted by IGG. Here is the basic gist of it:

The government started regulating the import and export markets during the Ming Dynasty. Trade such as tea, silk, and goods in bulk had to get the go-ahead from the government before they could be shipped. Because of this, the five merchant alliances began creating the merchant line any way they could.



That is the back story, but really all you do is transport goods to an appointed person. After each journey, you get Merchant Alliance Contributions. You can also get merchant credits at your own port. The top five merchant alliances from each port are given win points. The points are added together from the top five merchant alliances to select the top five alliances of the merchant battles.

That’s basically it. At least you can intercept other players, but that seems to be the only level of excitement to this whole extra content.

To be honest, after reading the overview, the Commercial Battles seem to be rather boring. Maybe I’ll completely take that back once it is actually released and I get a chance to check it out, but we do not yet know when these battles will be added. If you’d like to check out the original overview, visit the IGG site here.

Posted by Nikki Lee

The original report is here from http://www.hotfrog.nl


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Plan a Spring Wedding in Deco Online

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Irvine, CA - - Joymax, an independent developer and publisher of interactive entertainment for the global market, has announced that in-game weddings are now available in the free-to-play, fantasy MMORPG Deco Online. Until June 9, players can don wedding gowns and tuxedos acquired from the in-game item mall and attend a ceremony officiated by their favorite game master. There are even honeymoon packages available!

In addition, the guerilla event ending on July 7 continues to surprise adventurers with unexpected challenges and valuable rewards. Whether you end up with a temporary boost to exp and drop rates, a quick PvP fight, or a round of hide-and-go-seek with one of the GMs, these random occurrences are sure to make your adventures in Deco Online even more exciting.

As of today, there is also a new payment system for audiences to more easily purchase and exchange in-game items in the item mall. For more information about the in-game weddings, the Guerilla Event, or the new payment system, visit http://www.joymax.com/deco/.

About Deco Online
Deco Online is a 3D, massively multiplayer online role-playing game that puts players of all ages deep into the fantastic story of two warring nations. As a legendary swordsman, a fierce archer, or a master of wizardry, players will constantly be challenged by the opposing nation and by monsters that lurk around every corner. Deco Online is free-to-play and offers a combo system with hundreds of potential skills, combining both arcade and classic MMORPG gameplay. More information about Deco Online is available at http://www.joymax.com/deco.

About Joymax
Since its establishment in April, 1997, Joymax has been developing and publishing quality games for the emerging game industry of the 21st century. Based in Seoul, Korea, the company has published numerous titles for the PC platform, and its first MMORPG, Silkroad Online, has grown to offer service in 200 countries since its 2004 launch. Joymax is to become a global entertainment company providing multimedia content. For more information, please visit http://www.joymax.co.kr/eng/.

Source at http://www.mpogd.com/


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Slash, Burn, and Learn

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They may drip blood and gore, but virtual role-playing games may be just the thing to bring innovation to a workplace near you.

Would you be surprised to be told that nerdy war-gamers may embody traits that are prized by organizations seeking innovation? Would you accept the premise that teaming up with people you’ve never met to defeat a tribe of virtual elves breeds collaborative learning?

The vexing challenge of promoting innovation among employees appears to be getting a boost from massively multiplayer online role-playing games or MMORPGs, as they are known. In contrast to traditional training, which tends to focus on transferring existing knowledge rather than creating new knowledge, many fantasy games, such as World of Warcraft, Eve Online, and Everquest, are designed to foster and reward new thinking.



Companies attempting to drive innovation, with its emphasis on breaking the frames around fixed thinking, have tried many kinds of environments to promote new mindsets, from greenfield sites to skunkworks. Michael Schrage, author of Serious Play: How the Best Companies Simulate to Innovate, writes about a “third place” where co-creative activity leads to innovation. Online role-playing games are such a place.

The esteemed John Seely Brown, author of Minds on Fire, a paean to continuous learning and the ongoing creation of new ideas and skills, suggests that MMORPGs may hold some keys to self-directed learning, better individual and team performance, and a more innovative workforce.

The designers of these games, which consume the attention of tens of millions of people daily, use some strategies that any good instructional designer will recognize. They lay out progressively more difficult challenges and reward learning to overcome them by granting access to even tougher ones.

In World of Warcraft (WoW), players earn experience points for taking part in game activities such as raids. As a player advances, more points are needed to move to successive levels. In other words, the more you learn, the more fun you have. And as some research has shown, a player’s learning accelerates as difficulty increases. Widespread recognition for players who gain new skills is built into the game.

The marketing copy for Wrath of the Lich King, an add-on to WoW, touts learning as a benefit of playing. Among the features held out to entice new players are these promises: “Master the necromantic powers of the Death Knight; Quest to Level 80, gaining potent new abilities and talents along the way.”

Although fantasy games have the look and feel of ancient imaginary kingdoms, they promote some very modern collaborative learning and problem solving. An elaborate subculture of networks has grown up around some of the games. Players consult one another on how to overcome challenges and mentor less -experienced players. Some even use the virtual networks to recruit skilled players to their guilds or teams. Such self-directed learning would be the envy of any corporate university director.

Team play is the norm for the tougher challenges of WoW, and this is where innovation can take place. Collaborative learning, needed to overcome many of these challenges, is enhanced as new players enter the game. According to Brown and others, these advanced players help teams devise innovative ways to learn and gain access to the next level of performance.

Amazingly, given the almost universal dislike of performance reviews, players of WoW review their performance as individuals and teams, using metrics built into the game. Everyone can see the performance scores, and poor players are motivated to improve their skills to stay on a team.

Good performers have what Tony O’Driscoll, a professor at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, calls “reputational capital.” “What you have accomplished and how your performance has been assessed by other players is open for all to see.” Capability is so transparent that players cannot fake their skills.

Preparing for and executing raids is a popular activity in WoW. After each raid, the spoils—such as captured weapons and clothing and other virtual trophies—are divvied up immediately. “There’s a tight link between accomplishment of activity and remuneration for it,” says O’Driscoll, referring to part of the game environment that drives engagement and performance.

Brown says that gamers, with their eagerness to learn, collaborate, and innovate for the good of the team, have a “disposition” that would serve business organizations well.

The “learning disposition,” described by Brown and Douglas Thomas in an article on Harvard Business Review’s Conversation Starter website, has five attributes that can be observed in serious gamers:

* They are bottom-line oriented. They like to be evaluated, and their goal is not to be rewarded but to improve.
* They understand the power of diversity. The key to achievement in a multplayer game is teamwork, and the strongest teams have a mix of talents and abilities.
* They thrive on change. Playing the game changes it, and experienced players expect and encourage flux.
* They see learning as fun. For gamers, fun consists of assembling tools and resources that will help them learn.
* They marinate on the “edge.” Gamers look for new insights and approaches that will deepen their understanding of the game. They are consummate innovators.

People with the “gaming disposition” are better able to thrive in the contemporary workplace, say Brown and Thomas, and companies should recruit for the disposition and foster it among employees.

Tony O’Driscoll believes that multiplayer role-playing games are a rough proxy for the work environment that lies ahead and that they offer clues to leadership in the future. Certain of their characteristics, such as nonmonetary performance incentives, data that can be seen by all, and temporary leadership roles that allow practice leading to mastery, could be important in organizations of the future.

“The enterprise of the future will be small, global, knowledge-driven, and dependent on web-enabled partnerships. Such organizations require a different kind of leadership,” O’Driscoll says. In the MMORPG world, leadership is a task, not an identity. There’s no succession planning. Leaders emerge or are drafted by their teams as needed, and can (and do) walk away from leadership roles.

The game environment favors calm levelheadedness. Teams and their leaders must make very quick decisions with incomplete data, take risks readily, and weigh odds in uncertain environments. But practice is plentiful, and gamers interviewed by researchers have claimed improvements in their leadership skills as a result of playing the games.

Clark Aldrich, a veteran game creator, cautions that not every MMORPG player will come away with a set of transferable leadership skills. “Most people who play aren’t becoming leaders of virtual teams,” he says.

While some skills, such as scheduling and assigning talent, transfer from the game world into the world of work, Aldrich believes there is much less crossover of management skills from virtual to real teams. “Managerial roles such as establishing trust and acting as a mentor are better accomplished face-to-face,” he says. “But if I had a high score in WoW, I’d bring it up in
my interview.”

Some skeptics ask if gaming worlds resemble the workplace of the future or the social tribes of a high school where “noobs” (unskilled new players) are mocked and facile thinking trumps other skills. Will the skills that kids learn from Webkinz (earning and spending Kinzcash) and Camp Penguin (interacting through avatars that look like penguins in human clothing) benefit some future workplace? Certainly not in all cases, but organizations and their learning leaders may be missing the boat by ignoring the gaming environment and the traits of its best performers. At the least, recruiters could filter for gamer attributes such as collaboration skills and enthusiasm for learning and change.

As more gamers enter the workforce, it will be up to organizations to provide the stimulating, challenging, and shifting environment that gamers love. Imagine a company that provided a stream of new challenges to keep brains engaged and innovation flowing. How bad could that be?

By Pat Galagan

The original report is here from http://www.astd.org


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gPotato Europe to Bring the Famous Fantasy Free-to-Play MMORPG Rappelz to the Turkish Market with Fully Localized Content and Support

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DUBLIN, Ireland, -- Gala Networks Europe, the leading online games publisher that operates the gPotato.eu game portal, is proud to announce the upcoming launch of the free-to-play MMORPG Rappelz in the Turkish language. Boasting over two and a half million players worldwide, the critically acclaimed MMORPG will be available for free to Turkish players with fully localized game, community website and support team.


Rappelz is a free-to-play MMORPG taking place in a fantasy world and giving players the opportunity to tame terrible creatures and lead them to battle. Developed by Seoul-based NFlavor Corp., Rappelz has been acclaimed worldwide and is currently live in a dozen different territories, with French and German versions available from the www.gpotato.eu game portal. Rappelz recently became the first ever MMORPG to be fully localised into Arabic by publisher GamePower7, and Gala Networks Europe Ltd will launch a version for players in Turkey.

The Turkish version of Rappelz will be available through the official website http://tr.rappelz.gpotato.eu. The game will be fully translated in Turkish and will be supported by a Turkish team from Gala Networks Europe. The closed beta is scheduled to start during the third week of May 2009 and will last for a week. At the end of the closed beta phases, players who have reached the level 20 will be able to keep their name and creature for the Open Beta phase which will be commence at the beginning of June, shortly followed by the official release without any character deletion.

The Turkish release version of Rappelz will feature the brand new expansion Navis Lamia, adding new content for new and high level users. The pre-registration for the closed beta version of Rappelz is available at the following address: http://tr.rappelz.gpotato.eu/ad/. Don't miss your chance to be the first to enter this exciting fantasy world !

The assets accompanying this press release can be viewed at ftp://195.27.0.144:30009/Rappelz

- About Rappelz -

Rappelz is a free MMORPG published in its French and German versions by Gala Networks Europe Ltd. In a dark and devastated world, Rappelz invites people from all walks of life to join one the three races available in the game, to be able to find the most powerful pet. For further information, don't hesitate to visit the official Rappelz website at http://rappelz.gpotato.eu.

- About Gala Networks Europe Ltd. & gPotato -

Gala Networks Europe Ltd., is a leading European free-to-play online games publisher. Gala Networks Europe operates the gPotato brand by hosting, publishing and distributing free online games via the www.gpotato.eu portal. Present in Europe for more than a year with three successful MMORPGs Flyff, Rappelz and Street Gears, the gPotato.eu portal is now a major destination for online gamers with over a million users. Dragonica, the fourth game of the portal, will be available in Spring 2009.

SOURCE: Gala Networks Europe at http://en.gpotato.eu/


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Going Rouge expansion pack announced for City of Heroes

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There's an announcement made by Paragon Studios for their MMORPG game City of Heroes. According to the press wire sent out, the game will have a new expansion pack entitled "Going Rogue".


City of Heroes: Going Rogue - Image 1


Here, hero and villain characters will be immersed in a new parallel universe called Praetoria, governed by no other than the evil incarnation of Statesman (protagonist). The villain leader is known aptly as Tyrant.

There will also be new characters, apart from the new loyalties, as well as a new alignment system which will make your journey between good and evil more exciting and treacherous. Said Bryan Clayton, general manager and executive producer:

City of Heroes has brought a fresh new perspective to the MMO stage with its foray into the super-powered hero comic book genre, and we are excited to present gamers with even more innovative content in Going Rogue.


For years, player could choose between playing as a hero or a villain. Now we will present a third, malleable path where players can be affected by the results of their actions, enabling them to further develop, unveil new perspectives, and overcome new challenges.


There's still no word on when the said expansion pack will come out, but we'll be sure to update you once we get info on it.

Source at http://mmorpg.qj.net/


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'WoW' will cause more free-to-play MMOs

'WoW' will cause more free-to-play MMOs

"World of Warcraft," the game that we all play or love to hate, has dominated the massively multiplayer gaming space since its launch over five years ago. With its active player community of over eleven million people, it can affect the overall industry with its expansion packs and updates. These come in spurts with at least one major retail release, which tops the PC sales charts, once a year. To compete with this juggernaut, companies are coming up with more creative ways to grow their own community for their own games. The most popular tactic that developers are using is the free to play business model. This model has become the hottest way of building new MMOs because of the super popular (and lasting) appeal of "World of Warcraft."


That's not to say releasing free MMOs is a big gamble. The free-to-play model has seen a great amount of success in markets other than the United States. For example, Japan, China and Korea are the new hot beds for these MMOs because there are a greater number of people and even more developers concentrating on the MMO space. These hubs of MMO games have also turned to the free-to-play model because players are less apt to pay for a game before trying it, and the simple nature of them. That price barrier to entry can be eliminated in the free-to play-model, and if the player likes the game, they can purchase the "premium" content. Along with the premium content, developers can make money through other means which could include micro-transactions. Due to "WoW's" immense popularity and recognition, many players are hesitant to put money down on a non-"WoW" MMORPG, so these free-to-play games with optional paid content are enticing, as players can experience them, compared them to "WoW," and then decide if they want to drop any money.

Where does the MMO space go from here? I am not sure. I hope we see even more experimentation with business models. One of these examples would definitely be the highly anticipated free to play FPS/MMO "Battlefield Heroes" from EA and DICE. They can't charge for weapons, so they are only charging for apparel that makes your character unique (micro-transactions). Is this the answer? Charging for purely optional content that doesn't even help you in the game? I don't think so, but what I can say is that the traditional fifteen dollar a month pricing strategy is being destroyed by the popularity of "World of Warcaft."

What options are there other than micro-transactions? I believe that the newest way to help decrease the operating costs in the MMO space is in-game advertising.

I am not oblivious to the inappropriate nature of ads in some MMOs, but for games like "Anarchy Online" and other futuristic games, these ads could add to the immersion. Many companies have invested in this new source of revenue (Sony Online Entertainment, ID Software and others) because it can bring further life to growing games or help a dying game survive a new "World of Warcraft" expansion. According to MarketingVOX, in-game ads will bring almost a billion dollars to the gaming industry by 2011. Almost a billion dollars is a lot of money for these small games, but a small amount compared to the revenue generated by "World of Warcraft." Like I said before, some games should not have in-game ads, but it won't stop developers and publishers from putting them in their games somehow.

As "World of Warcraft" continues to grow, developers besides Blizzard Entertainment are going to experiment in strange and surprising ways (to them) to obtain new revenue streams. Free-to-play is the standard for those games trying to jockey for the over saturated MMO market for now, but will it stay that way in the coming years? Will the next generation of consoles try to steal away the PC MMO players? All of these answers will come soon, but no one truly knows what they will be until they arrive; we can only predict. I for one hope that we can download games that are 100% free-to-play and are supported by in-game advertising, because both sides win. This scenario is way too Utopian, but one can hope that it will become the standard for at least a few titles over the course of the next five years.

Posted by Geoff Hathaway

The original report is here from http://www.hotfrog.nl/


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The Continuum


The Continuum combines classic turn-based wargaming, collectibilty and RPG character development into one multi-player adventure that will change the way you game. Characters, abilities and equipment combine with in-game artifacts, epic battlefields, and changing scenarios to provide an experience that is at once familiar and all-new.









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Star Trek Online MMORPG Game Ties into New Movie and Countdown

Star Trek Online MMORPG Game Ties into New Movie and Countdown


The upcoming Star Trek Online MMORPG game updated its timeline. The storyline continues to introduce the post-Nemesis elements from the Star Trek Countdown comic book mini series and the new movie. Here is the update :

The Daystrom Institute has announced the successful launch of the "Jellyfish," an experimental spacecraft equipped with trans-metaphasic shielding designed to withstand conditions that would destroy most other ships.


Designed by famed engineer Geordi La Forge, the ship is slated for extensive testing before it can be used for scientific and exploration missions. Starfleet is working with La Forge and the institute to determine which of the ship's systems can be adapted for Federation use.


Starfleet Intelligence recommends that the Federation keep a close eye on activities of the Orion Syndicate. A multi-year crackdown on criminal activity in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants has been successful in curbing the threat of the Syndicate for Federation citizens, but on Stardate 64163.8 Hassan the Undying assassinates top Syndicate boss Raimus on Farius Prime.


Raimus's death opens the door for Hassan's employer, Melani D'ian, to take over Raimus's Syndicate operations. Starfleet Intelligence estimates that Melani D'ian now controls as much as 30 percent of the Syndicate's operations, and that other Syndicate bosses may seek to topple her before she seeks to expand her powerbase even more. Analysts note that Melani D'ian is the first Orion to rise to a top spot in Syndicate leadership in more than 20 years, and speculate that this could mark the return of the Orions as an interstellar power.


On Ferenginar, social and economic reforms pushed by Grand Nagus Rom are a topic almost as important as the stock market. The Nagus presents a bill to the Economic Congress of Ferengi Advisers that would formally ally the Ferengi with the Federation. Opponents of the bill launch a campaign of advertisements that argue that a formal alliance with the Federation is an attack on traditional Ferengi values, and that the Federation would force the Ferengi to turn their backs on profit and the Great Material Continuum. The bill fails to pass the Congress after several lawmakers are paid to vote against it.


On Stardate 64317.6, Klingon long range sensors pick up a small Romulan fleet led by Sela. The fleet passes the Beta Stromgrem supernova remnant and continues into unexplored space.


Starfleet sends a fleet to Cardassia Prime to assist the Cardassians with the dismantling of their military, a process which is expected to take several years. The Cardassians plan to use a much smaller self defense force to patrol their space, and coordinate with Starfleet for issues outside of their borders.


This arrangement is soon tested when Alpha Jem'Hadar take control of Devos II, which has been mostly unpopulated since the Dominion War. The Jem'Hadar establish a base of operations near a former Dominion ketracel-white storage facility, and then expand the facility so they can manufacture their own supplies of the substance. Starfleet sends the USS Stargazer-A to the Devos system as a precautionary measure, but chooses to take no additional action as long as the Alpha Jem'Hadar make no further aggressive moves.


On Stardate 64333.4, a Romulan Mining Guild ship observes the start of a chain of events that will forever change the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. The star in the Hobus system, in the far reaches of Romulan space, begins to exhibit massive fluxuations of radiation. Days later, Ambassador Spock of the Federation appears before the Romulan Senate to warn them about the dangers of this star.


Spock believes that if the Hobus star goes supernova, it could create a reaction that would threaten much of the Romulan Empire, and he asks the Senate to coordinate with Vulcan to find a solution. After a lengthy debate, the Senate rejects Spock's plan.


After the close of the Senate's session, Donatra accepts an invitation from Colonel Xiomek to visit Crateris and inspect the construction of the new Reman colony. Their path allows them to perform a sensor sweep of the Hobus system.


After arriving on Crateris, Donatra and Xiomek spend several hours in a private meeting, where it is believed that Xiomek gives Donatra information about possible rogue elements within the Romulan military and government. Donatra decides to return to Romulus earlier than planned, and invites Xiomek to take passage on her ship, the IRW Valdore, so he can be in Ki Baratan for the next meeting of the Romulan Senate.


On the way back to Romulus, Donatra contacts Admiral Taris, who is in the Levaeri system, and orders her to return to Romulus. The message is recorded by Romulan military communications relay stations, but Taris does not change course. A later review finds that there is no evidence of the message in the computer banks of Taris's ship, and that the communications officer who would have been on duty during that time cannot be found.


Ambassador Spock returns to Vulcan, where he meets with Ambassador Jean-Luc Picard. The two appeal to the Vulcan Science Academy to assist the Romulans with the crisis in the Hobus system, but the academy declines their request without comment. The two former Starfleet officers decide that they will make their own plans to deal with the situation.


On Stardate 64444.5, the IRW Valdore reports unusual stellar activity, including a disturbance equivalent to a force seven ion storm. Romulus loses contact with Donatra's ship, and dispatches four D'deridex class warbirds to search for the Valdore.


The Romulan Senate finally authorizes an evacuation order, and ships are recalled to help ferry Romulus residents off-world. Military estimates are that it will take a minimum of six weeks to evacuate the homeworld.


Twenty-seven hours later, the Hobus star goes supernova. The resulting chain reaction destroys Romulus and Remus. Billions of Romulans are killed.


Starfleet immediately orders all available ships to cross the Neutral Zone and assist the Romulans with any possible relief and recovery efforts. Several of these ships are attacked by Nero, who is captaining the Narada, a heavily modified Romulan vessel. Additional cruisers are diverted to escort relief vessels to Romulan space.


Intercepted Romulan transmissions indicate that Praetor Chulan and the leaders of the Senate escaped Romulus before the planet's destruction. But the USS Nobel, en route to Romulus, find the bodies of Chulan and the Senate's ruling council floating in space near their derelict shuttle.


After Nero expands his attacks to Klingon ships, Chancellor Martok orders a fleet to enter Romulan space. He appoints his friend Worf as one of the mission's commanders, giving him the rank of General for the mission.


Meanwhile, Geordi La Forge brings the Jellyfish to Vulcan and agrees to allow Spock to pilot it to the Hobus system.


According to sensor reports recorded on Stardate 64471.6 by the USS Enterprise-E, the Hobus supernova was contained by a limited singularity, ending the threat to the quadrant. Starfleet believes that both the Jellyfish and the Narada were lost.


"He sacrificed himself to save us all," Ambassador Picard says of his friend Spock. "May his soul live long and prosper."

The original report is here from http://trekweb.com/


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The Dog-Sledding MMORPG

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The Dog-Sledding MMORPG

Forget Night Elves and Orks! Korean developer DevCat Studios has something different in store with its latest MMORPG Husky Express: dog-sledding.

And not just dog-sledding, but puppies. Players raise their dog-sledding team and make deliveries to snowy outputs. Higher level dogs bring different skills like smelling goods to determine their quality or leadership abilities that help the pack jump crevices. There are traditional MMORPG elements like story quests and equipment upgrades.

But most importantly — puppies! Check out the game’s trailer.

The original report is here http://www.kotaku.com.au


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All-New Trade System in Free-to-Play MMORPG Florensia

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Burda:ic Launches All-New Trade System in Free-to-Play MMORPG Florensia

Munich, Germany - Burda:ic, a publisher of online games worldwide, has announced the launch of the Trade System for free-to-play maritime MMORPG Florensia. Players looking to make a profit on the high seas can now try their hand at the mercantile arts by visiting one of the Trading Posts, which have popped up on every major island. In addition, eight brand-new islands have been discovered along the trade routes: Aria, Celestyn, Clouds, Ease, Eva, Gem, Misty, and Selina.


The owner of each Trading Post carries a variety of items, including olive oil, rum, spice, and millet. Up to three kinds of goods can be carried at a time, and prices vary according to supply and demand across the market. Stingy players will have to risk taking a loss as they transport wares, but savvy traders can pay a small fee to get insider info. If you make good time sailing to an island where rum and spices are being sold at a premium, you’re sure to make a killing in the marketplace.

Of course, with all this potential profit comes significant risk. The soon-to-be-busy trade routes of Florensia are an open invitation to pirates, and players may no longer respawn at sea, so every trip is sure to be fraught with danger. This is also just the first stage of the Trade System, and the plethora of updates to come is guaranteed to raise the stakes! For more information about the Trade System, visit http://www.florensia-online.com/.

About Florensia
Florensia is a free-to-play, maritime MMORPG that blends vibrant, colorful graphics with classically accessible gameplay. Choosing one of four starting classes, from the sword-wielding Mercenary to the spell casting Noble, players will do battle with a huge variety of weapons and magical abilities as they explore expansive, underground dungeons and sail uncharted seas. Thousands of players have already signed up and headed out in search of adventure, and there has never a better time to join them in the wild and wonderful world of Florensia.

About Burda:ic
Burda:ic GmbH is an online games publisher that markets and distributes massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) such as Ragnarok Online, Florensia, and Hello Kitty Online. Furthermore, Burda:ic has established interactive gamer communities like alaplaya.eu or sanriotown.com. More information about Burda:ic is available at http://www.burda-ic.com.

The original report is here from http://www.mpogd.com/


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The Ryzom


The Saga of Ryzom is a wholly original MMORPG fusing science fiction and fantasy. Ryzom Ring (R²), Ryzom's first and free expansion, evolves the Saga introducing the first ever MMO scenario editor!





The Ryzom Ring is a set of tools for editing and sharing player-made "maps" that are customizable with terrain, monsters and NPCs all run by individual players.
Maps can be integrated directly into The Saga of Ryzom world of Atys, where thousands of other players can experience one person's handiwork, or kept as a private sanctuary only accessible to a select few. Maps can be made exclusive to player guilds or select friends while running their own invasions or events.


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Gala-Net Bringing Free-to-Play Korean MMORPG Aika to North America

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Gala-Net Bringing Free-to-Play Korean MMORPG Aika to North America

by Geoff Duncan

Gala-Net is bringing the free-to-play Korean MMORPG Aika to North America - complete with player-versus player combat that can number in the thousands.


Although MMORPGS like World of Warcraft have enjoyed popularity in the North American market, Asia has long been the leading market for MMORPGs, with a dizzying variety of games and virtual worlds. Now Gala-net, a leader in bringing free-to-play online games to western markets via its gPotato site, has announced plans to bring the Korean fantasy MMORPG Aika to the North American market. Aika is published by Hanbitsoft in South Korea, and promises to feature serious player-versus-player action, ranging from dungeon groups of as few as six players all the way up to massive wars with 1,000 players on each side.

"We are delighted to work with an experienced publisher like Gala-Net, Inc.," said Hanbitsoft CEO Kee Young Kim, in a statement. "Gala-Net, Inc. has a proven track-record of successfully marketing MMORPGs in North America and we are confident that together we will make a lot of players excited about Aika."

The Aika story is set on the continent Alkan, where humans struggle against a devel called Zelka. Characters start off as children, as as they grow and learn they acquire new characteristics and abilities until it finally becomes an adult. Players can also nurture their own sprites, kind of like pets in other MMORPGS, that developer their own personalities and aid the players on their quests. Aika will offer in-game voiceovers and "dramatically stunning graphics;" the Korean version of Aika also features micro-transactions and an in-game currency.

Gala-Net hasn't announced any availability or launch date for the North American version of Aika.

The original report is here from http://news.digitaltrends.com


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Savage 2



Savage 2 combat is a mixture of ranged weaponry, melee, and special abilities. Each team has a set of classes that have a set ranged and melee weapons as well as special abilities they can perform.
Each class has different amounts of health, mana, and stamina, allowing each class to serve a unique roll on the battlefield. For example, Siege classes are used to take down buildings much more quickly than any other class in the game.







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