Filed under: Darkfall

Darkfall EU server latency issues to be corrected

by Jef Reahard Aug 30th 2010 at 9:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, MMO industry, News items

Denizens of Darkfall's European shard have been subjected to a rough ride of late, and not just from the title's relentless PvP action. Due to a Storage Area Network hardware failure at Aventurine's third-party hosting center, players have seen high amounts of latency over the last week.

The bad news is that Aventurine doesn't have a specific timetable for correcting the problem. The good news is that the company is currently working on it, as well as prepping for future hardware upgrades. "Performance is an extremely serious issue with us and we're constantly working on improvements. Apart from dealing with this specific issue, we are currently working on major performance upgrades for both servers to be added during the upcoming expansion," says Darkfall's Tasos Flambouras on the game's official forums.

Darkfall community Q&A follow-up offers more details

by Jef Reahard Aug 6th 2010 at 11:30AM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Interviews, News items

Aventurine's Tasos Flamboras has donned his flame-retardant gear and ventured into the eternally blazing forest that is the Darkfall forums in an attempt to douse the fires raging after the publication of a lengthy Q&A session earlier this week. Put together by noted Darkfall blogger Paragus, the community-generated question list was initially answered by a three-man team that included Flambouras as well as developers Claus Grovdal and Kjetil Helland. Controversy erupted when community members balked at the perceived evasiveness of the answers.

"When we say that we're looking into something, or considering, or have plans for, it doesn't mean that we're being evasive or diplomatic in our answers. If that was our intention, we simply wouldn't answer. It means that we're trying to give you actual insight or confirmation on what we can't go into detail about," Flambouras says. He goes on to briefly outline Aventurine's information-revealing methodology before expounding on a few of the answers from the Q&A as well as new tidbits like armor dyes, significant improvements to crafting, a completely redesigned UI, and of course the prestige class system. "Prestige classes are the largest feature ever added to Darkfall and will definitely change the face of the game," Flambouras states.

Darkfall community Q&A hints at massive game expansion

by Jef Reahard Aug 4th 2010 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Interviews, News items

Its been quite awhile since Aventurine first sat down for a community-based question and answer session with noted Darkfall blogger Paragus. Today, he brings us part two of the lengthy interview, which features a whopping 57 questions generated by Darkfall players. As you would expect, some of the answers are short and fluffy, but many are quite informative as to the future of the PvP sandbox title.

Stashed away inside the deluge of queries are a few gems about upcoming content, including mention of the cryptically titled Darkfall 2010 project. "[It] comes after the next expansion and is a much bigger proposition. Darkfall 2010 is our internal code name for this project. Our intent is to have it complete within the year, but we can't rule out that it will take longer than that. We've been working on this for quite a while, it's parallel development to Darkfall and almost as big a project as making a new game," Aventurine says.

Aside from that teaser, there is also talk of prestige classes, performance improvements, and the long-awaited four-legged running feature for the mahirim race. Sadly, it seems as if this particular fan wish isn't going to be granted anytime soon, despite the assets already existing in the live game. "Our main problem is that it is an unbalancing factor," says Aventurine.

Massively's Community Detective, Issue #2: Darkfall and EVE Online

by Jef Reahard Jul 27th 2010 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Darkfall, EVE Online, MMO industry, PvP, Opinion, Community Detective

"We hope you understand that there's nothing we can do at the moment," says the support email we just received from Aventurine, developers of Darkfall. Not exactly what you want to hear from customer service, is it?

Welcome to another issue of Massively's Community Detective, where we're primed and ready to take you into the trenches of MMORPG community and customer service. This week we've got full-blown battlefields complete with land mines, dismemberment, e-peen waving, and all the other things you've come to know and love about PvP. Yes, we're delving into the world of Darkfall, and if that's not enough for you, we'll also be heading for the heavens in a very different (but equally cutthroat) PvP sandbox called EVE Online.

Join us after the cut to see how these two titles fared in terms of community and customer service support.

Darkfall details expansion mob AI

by Jef Reahard Jul 21st 2010 at 6:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Expansions, News items, PvE

One of the things that makes Darkfall unique is its mob and NPC AI. Unlike traditional MMORPGs, the creatures in the world of Agon use the same skills that players use and also drop appropriate loot (for example, killing a goblin will likely net you his sword and armor, and boars don't drop coin).

With the upcoming free expansion, the developers at Aventurine are further tweaking the game's PvE elements by adding additional monster skills to specific creatures. Laenih, Aventurine's community liaison, has all the details in a new post on the game's official forums. "Some existing monsters as well as new ones have already received their own abilities which we'll leave for you to discover. Additionally there will be more strategic interaction between monsters that spawn together," he writes.

You can get a glimpse of one of the new monster teams in the form of a video that showcases the Gorra Dar and Gorra Slaves. Check it out after the cut or on YouTube.

Free for All: Assumptions based on assumptions

by Beau Hindman Jul 21st 2010 at 3:00PM

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Darkfall, Business models, Culture, Economy, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Comics, Casual, Kids, Free for All

I decided to write this article based on a nagging feeling. It's not something I would normally look into, being that the questions I have are not that easy to ask, or not that easy to clarify. But, as I sink deeper and deeper into the world of international websites, games and toys, I always find certain attitudes pop up during my conversations about my findings. Perhaps it is because I am used to the sights, sounds and styles of free-to-play titles, and have learned to look beyond some of the long titles and odd descriptions. I no longer see games divided into groups and sub-groups.

When hearing the complaints about "foreign" games, I rarely see the counterbalance to the comments. If "Asian" games are grindy, that would mean that North American games are not? If free-to-play games "force" you to spend money, then that means that North American subscription titles do not? The descriptor "free-to-play" is accurate, nine times out of 10, yet there seems to be an issue with using that term, because at some point the player might need to spend money to go at a pace she wants to.

In fact, I am confused by the constant use of the words free-to-play to describe, essentially, a class of game. Where is the counterbalance to that? Does that mean that all subscription games are from a different world of higher quality?

Darkfall PvE expansion delayed

by Jef Reahard Jul 15th 2010 at 11:30AM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Expansions, News items, PvE

Say what you will about Aventurine and its PvP-centric MMORPG known as Darkfall, but one thing you can't say is that it doesn't communicate with its player base, even when the news is less than stellar. Lead developer Tasos Flambouras checked in on the official forums today with an update on the game's forthcoming expansion. The news is, shall we say, disappointing.

It seems the new world-terrain system is the monkey in the wrench of the PvE-focused expansion, and it has introduced a fair bit of instability into the updated client. With six months of work already invested in the expansion, much of it going towards sorely needed tweaks like dungeon and monster revamps, Aventurine is taking a cautious approach and sticking with the "not until it's ready" mantra.

Get your Darkfall Fun Hulks this summer

by Jef Reahard Jul 13th 2010 at 9:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Patches, PvP, News items

If you've ever wanted to toodle around the world of Agon on a one-man sled with a huge cannon mounted on the front, Aventurine has the summer update for you. While we'll stop short of categorizing the Greek developer's PvP-centric Darkfall as a whimsical game, there is no denying the fact that its developers are packing a sense of humor into the title along with all the blood spurts and horrific sound effects.

Resfelm, Aventurine's community liaison, brings us word of a new craftable vehicle called the Fun Hulk, and while it's not green, prone to fits of anger, or the star of a bad Ang Lee film, it does feature the aforementioned cannon and is much easier to craft than a full-sized warhulk.

In addition to the vehicle, Darkfall's devs are introducing new items called Use Flags (which when used in conjunction with your new ride) provide you with the tools to set up your own starting line, finish line, and waypoints. This being Darkfall, player racing events are more likely to resemble Death Race 2000 than Mario Kart, as the Fun Hulks can damage other Fun Hulks and can take damage from anything.

Darkfall teases new environmental sounds

by Jef Reahard Jul 2nd 2010 at 10:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Darkfall, Patches, News items

Darkfall. The very name strikes fear into the hearts of PvE gamers everywhere. There may be a more wretched hive of scum and villainy in the MMO world, but you wouldn't know it from the comments generated whenever someone dares to write about the polarizing title from Aventurine.

Ironically, the indie studio has released what can only be called a tranquil video composed of in-game footage featuring new environmental sounds. This may well be the first (and last) time you see a Darkfall video that isn't full to the brim with slaughter and mayhem, and the teaser's fly-through shots offer a great opportunity to glimpse the care and detail that went into bringing the world of Agon to life.

Aventurine's Laenih, sets the stage for the video in a post on the game's official forums. "Environmental sounds in Darkfall will not only help with getting you more immersed into the game, they will also play a big role in tactics and strategical planning throughout your gaming sessions. In the future sneaking up on enemies will be either easier or harder depending on the environment you find yourself and your prey in," the community liaison writes.

Check out the video after the jump.

[Thanks to Paragus for the tip!]

New details revealed for upcoming Darkfall expansion

by Eliot Lefebvre Jul 1st 2010 at 9:00AM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Expansions, Patches, News items, PvE

If you're not a regular Darkfall player, it's easy to have a one-sided view of the game as a nonstop PvP gank-factory. And while the team at Aventurine make no secret about their feelings on how casual gamers intersect with their genre, there's a lot more to the game than simply hunting other players. The upcoming free expansion is a case in point, focusing on the PvE aspects of play to make them more engaging. It's a far-reaching set of changes to the PvE side of things, at that.

New monsters are being added along with new behaviors and tactics, meaning that players will have to think before engaging their enemies. Dungeons will be similarly improved, with monsters and quests added across the board to improve the experience of dungeon crawling. The full list of planned updates can be read here on the official forums, where we also find a preliminary launch date for the expansion of July 18th. Darkfall players should look forward to the upcoming expansion, as it promises to add many more play aspects to the already multi-faceted game.

[Thanks to Bartillo for the tip!]

Aventurine: MMORPGs are not casual games

by Jef Reahard Jun 29th 2010 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Interviews, PvP, News items

Aventurine, the indie developers behind the free-for-all PvP sandbox known as Darkfall, recently sat down with Rock, Paper Shotgun for a revealing question and answer session. Lending their voices to the discussion were lead developer Tasos Flambouras and RPS' Kieron Gillen. The interview touches on everything from the game's new 14-day trial, to the extensive changes since launch, to changes in the MMORPG genre.

"It's pretty amazing to us how little the MMO genre has changed over time. It seems to be the same successful basic recipe with little variation. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of good games, but they don't really bring many new things to the table. Everyone wanted to make the Everquest killer and now they want to make the World of Warcraft killer. To do that they probably have to make a variation on the theme rather than innovate and dare to be different," Flambouras says.

He also comments on the unique nature of MMORPGs as well as the ideal Darkfall player. "When you play any MMOG, you're making an investment, these are not casual games and they continuously evolve," he says.

Check out the full interview at Rock, Paper Shotgun.

Surviving in Darkfall: A guide for new players

by Rubi Bayer Jun 25th 2010 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Opinion

"Agon can be a rough, frustrating, confusing, and unfair place at times..." Truer words were never spoken. If you've heard of Darkfall, this is probably a good approximation of what you've heard. If you've played Darkfall, you've experienced it firsthand.

This full-PvP niche game comes by its dog-eat-dog reputation honestly, and the players who love that sort of thing thrive in the environment. It can be pretty daunting for a new player, so a little hand up is always welcome. Syncaine over at Hardcore Casual provided that very thing with yesterday's Darkfall Online FAQ.

The post is full of helpful hints regarding everything from character creation to long-term gameplay plans, and is a good resource for anyone new to Darkfall.

Darkfall overcomes patch delays, adjusts splash damage

by Jef Reahard Jun 17th 2010 at 6:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Patches, News items

After a brief delay, Darkfall's latest patch is upon us; to compensate, Aventurine released their rather hefty patch notes ahead of time while they polished a few last minute details, so we got a quick look in advance of the launch. Tasos Flambouras checked in on the official forums with the details as well as an explanation for the original delay.

"Unfortunately we are forced to hold back the patch for an extra day of testing due to some possible last minute issues. We apologize for yet another delay to this patch, it's frustrating to us as well, but we had to give it some more attention. The new infrastructure we've implemented will help us avoid such delays in the future," he writes.

Among the tweaks now live are a few instant cast spells, adjustments to splash damage, and clan city wildlife additions. Check out the full list on the official forums!

Aventurine announces Darkfall price cut

by Jef Reahard Jun 14th 2010 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, News items

Aventurine's Tasos Flambouras has surfaced on the Darkfall official forums, and the outspoken developer bears great news for fans of the sandbox-style PvP MMORPG. The game client has seen a price reduction to $29.95 USD (29,95 Euro), as the Greek gaming company prepares to launch Darkfall in various retail establishments.

Additionally, Aventurine has done its European fans a favor by eating the cost of the nasty VAT tax. "This price reduction is part of the preparations for Darkfall's inclusion in online shops and retail outlets. The 29,95 pricing includes VAT which our company has decided to absorb in the case of EU players," Flambouras writes.

Check out the full post on the Darkfall forums, as well as the trial client specific to your region.

[Thanks to Paragus for the tip.]

Aventurine offers 14-day Darkfall free trial

by Jef Reahard Jun 2nd 2010 at 1:30PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, PvP, News items

Aventurine has officially announced a 14-day free trial for their PvP-centric fantasy MMORPG known as Darkfall. Lead developer Tasos Flambouras brings us the good news via the game's forums.

"After our experience with the 1 euro/dollar trial and after several further improvements we feel that we're ready to offer a free trial which won't disrupt the current user experience and will help with making the game available to a larger playerbase and getting new players into the game," he writes. He goes on to state that North American and European customers will receive priority handling in the event of overcrowding.

You can check out the European trial client or the American trial client to get started.

[Thanks to everyone who let us know!]

Massively Features

Events Calendar

Name	Date
Clone Wars Adventures Launch	Sep 15, 2010
Final Fantasy XIV Launch	Sep 30, 2010
GDC Online	Oct 5-8, 2010
NY ComicCon	Oct 8-10, 2010
LEGO Universe Launch	Oct 26, 2010
DCUO Launch	Nov 2, 2010

Massively Staff

Name	Title
Shawn Schuster	Editor-in-Chief
Seraphina Brennan	Senior Editor
Brianna Royce	West Coast Editor
Brendan Drain	Contributing Editor
Eliot Lefebvre	Contributing Editor
Jef Reahard	Contributing Editor
Justin Olivetti	Contributing Editor
Krystalle Voecks	Contributing Editor
Rubi Bayer	Contributing Editor
Tateru Nino	Contributing Editor
Beau Hindman	Columnist
Edward Marshall	Columnist
Greg Waller	Columnist
Jeremy Stratton	Columnist
Larry Everett	Columnist
MJ Guthrie	Columnist
Patrick Mackey	Columnist
Ryan Greene	Columnist
Lisa Poisso	Columnist