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/.
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.
"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.
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!
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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