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.

Play Luminary Rise of The Goozu Now

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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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