Filed under: Free-to-play

Guild Wars updates Halloween quest, bringing permanant changes

by Rubi Bayer Nov 22nd 2009 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, Free-to-play

We can all stop making "Waiting for Godot" (Godhuum?) jokes. Thursday evening ArenaNet quietly updated "The Waiting Game", the Guild Wars quest we all picked up back around Halloween. Dhuum is awake, he's not happy, and the Shadow Form debate rages on.

The update to The Waiting Game revealed that Dhuum will appear once all of the Underworld quests have been completed, and defeating him is now required to "complete" the Underworld. With a skill set including things like "Judgement of Dhuum", this new addition to the Underworld is most likely the challenge that bored Guild Wars players have been looking for.

Shadow Form continues to be a hot topic, however. Many players expected this to be the thing that put an end to Shadow Form Underworld farming, but one of the earliest reported successes proved that wrong very quickly. Players responded quickly with one commenter summing up many people's thoughts: "It's...disappointing that even a God of Unholy Death can't bypass shadowform...". (Community Manager Regina Buenaobra stepped in to mention that the goal was new content, not a nerf of SF farming.)

In the meantime, Dhuum seems to be the biggest challenge around in Guild Wars -- kudos to ArenaNet for the new content!

Turbine releases DDO screenshots of Drow race

by Rubi Bayer Nov 21st 2009 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Free-to-play, Races

Any DnD fan is going to be familiar with the Drow, and it's pretty much a given that they would be a playable race in Dungeons and Dragons Online. If you're not familiar with them, Turbine has given us a series of beautiful screenshots with a closer look at the Drow.

The official site has a history of the Drow as well, if you are hoping for a bit more background: Most drow choose a life of adventure out of necessity, given the dangers of their homeland. Still, they greatly desire personal power, and many drow take up the mantle of adventurer seeking to satisfy their ambitions. Most drow follow the evil scorpion-god Vulkoor, though exposure to the cultures of Stormreach has brought a few of them to less malevolent deities.

If these screenshots are enough to get you interested in checking out the Drow race further you can explore more of their story and the prerequisites for unlocking them as a playable race, as well as inherent abilities and enhancements on the DDO site.

Gallery: Dungeons and Dragons Online Drow race

Market research company explores MMO gaming

by Rubi Bayer Nov 20th 2009 at 9:00AM

Filed under: Polls, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

Worlds in Motion reports that a recent poll from market research specialists TNS and Gamesindustry.com talked to over 13,000 gamers in North America and Europe about their favorite subject: gaming, what kind they do, and how much time they spend on it.

The survey addressed players as young as 8, and found that the largest group of players in the U.S. is comprised of 8-12 year olds. That may come as a surprise to many players whose idea of a console or PC game isn't really geared toward children, but makes sense when you consider games and virtual worlds such as Virtual Family Kingdom, Free Realms, and any console game with Mario in the title.

Delving further into the MMO side turned up some interesting information. Of the US players surveyed, 21% said that they play MMOs, and 45% of those players define themselves as paying customers -- presumably that includes both subscription models and gamers that take advantage of cash shops. In spite of the large percentage of paying players, a free-to-play model is one of the biggest factors for those considering a new game. The rising success of many games in the past year that use a free-to-play model seems to support this.

Worlds In Motion offers further number crunching, and if you're interested in seeing the full survey report, gamesindustry.com offers it for a fee.

Atlantica Online dev journal: Thanksgiving festivities

by Shawn Schuster Nov 19th 2009 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Atlantica Online

It's time for this newest installment of NDoors Interactive's biweekly developer journal here at Massively. We've already covered the Stimulus Package event and the game's one-year anniversary, so now we turn to the upcoming Thanksgiving event. Here's what they had to say:

Thanksgiving time in Atlantica Online has never been so festive, as we are introducing two new in-game event items this year. Players will be introduced to an NPC who will offer them a special Thanksgiving quest. The rewards for fulfilling that quest are new additions to your formation, as well as a new clothing item for your avatar.

Karos Online enters open beta Dec 4th

by James Egan Nov 19th 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events, in-game, MMO industry, New titles, Free-to-play

Karos Online publisher NHN Corporation has announced that open beta for the fantasy MMO will kick off on Friday, December 4th. The official site's link for CBT sign-ups is still active, so this may be worth a shot. Those gamers already in the Karos Online closed beta will have some things to look forward to in the final CBT event running from November 27th - 28th. Characters will be given gear and items for high-level play with rapid experience gain. NHN says players will reach a level cap of 44 "almost immediately". There will also be new monsters, weapons, and Holy Creatures to tear into.

In addition, players in the CBT will be able to reserve their character names for when Karos Online's open beta doors swing wide to the masses. The English version of Karos Online is scheduled to launch in Q4 2009, with German and Turkish versions to follow in 2010.

Code of Everand browser MMO teaches kids about traffic safety

by James Egan Nov 19th 2009 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Real life, MMO industry, New titles, Tips and tricks, Free-to-play, Browser, Kids

The United Kingdom's Department for Transport has launched a free browser MMO, Code of Everand, that teaches traffic safety to children. It does so through a fantasy theme with direct parallels to real world dangers -- streets are Spirit Channels, glowing energy streams populated with many dangerous beasts. The Spirit Channels crisscross the map of Everand and make travel perilous. That's where the players come in as Pathfinders, explorers trained in the techniques that allow for safe passage across the Spirit Channels. Pathfinders learn important safety lessons along the way in their journey to discover the secrets of Everand.

Code of Everand was developed for the UK Department for Transport by NYC-based firm Area/Code over the course of two years, reports Game Set Watch. Area/Code has a long track record of creating cross-media games for advertising and media firms, television networks, and even major consumer brands. According to Area/Code's site, they've taken innovative approaches to games in the past -- "online games that respond to broadcast TV in real time, simulated characters and virtual worlds that occupy real-world geography" and "game events driven by real-world data". Interesting concepts. If you like the idea of games used as an effective educational tool, you can see the animated trailer for Code of Everand after the jump.

OGPlanet announces the launch of Lunia Chronicles

by Rubi Bayer Nov 19th 2009 at 4:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, Free-to-play, Giveaways, Lunia Chronicles

OGPlanet is known for its free-to-play games, and as of this week, there's another one on the table.

OGPlanet announced the launch of Lunia Chronicles on Tuesday. Lunia Chronicles is the story of the different races on the continent of Rodesia and their conflicts. Players can download the game and explore several different characters including Lime the Fighting Slime, friend and companion to Eir the Healing Princess. The official site carries a nice overview of the game's story and character histories, as well as tutorials on combat strategy and keyboard controls.

To get people playing and help celebrate the launch of their newest game, OGPlanet is offering up a nice incentive for those who check the game out. They're holding a 30-day launch event to celebrate. Players need to download the game and play to level 50 by December 16th (Yes, THIS December 16th), and they'll be entered in a drawing for a Dell XPS gaming laptop.

Lost Saga launches

by Eliot Lefebvre Nov 18th 2009 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Business models, Launches, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

You've taken part in the endless debates online about pirates versus ninjas. Admit it, you have. Well, add cowboys, knights, wizards, and nurses into the mix, and you're nine-tenths of the way to Lost Saga, a new game launched by OGPlanet. Billed as a massively multiplayer online fighting game, it features a variety of different gameplay modes and "heroes" that combine for what looks like an entertaining and frantic experience. Character types run the gamut, from soldiers to assassins to (you guessed it) pirates and ninjas, each bringing a small collection of different abilities to the table.

It might sound a bit simplistic, but there are some interesting features such as the option to change heroes mid-battle -- in essence a quick class change whenever needed. The game also features some interesting battle modes beyond the prosaic Deathmatch style, such as Boss Raid, which allows one player to take the reins of an intensely powerful boss while the other players struggle to take said player down. And let's not forget that the game is also free-to-play, so you can satisfy your curiosity without commitment. Lost Saga won't revolutionize the industry, but it looks to be quite a bit of fun, so you might want to check out the official site for more information and to sign up.

Turbine announces the winners of the Broctober contest

by Rubi Bayer Nov 18th 2009 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Contests, Free-to-play

Back in October, DDO Unlimited announced a fun little contest looking for responses to their (in)famous Broccoli vs. Beholder video. First prize was 5,000 Turbine points and the coveted title "Gweater Dwagonmark of Fwiends". (No, seriously. That's a great title.) Second and third place winners received Turbine points and a "Dwagonmark of Fwiends"title as well.

The results are in, with the winning "Broccoli vs. Wraith" video keeping the Turbine staff in stitches with the expressions on Broccoli's face and the farcical chase through the corridor and doorways. Congratulations also to second place winner Korin Geholtz for showing us Broccoli's attack on Stormreach, and Zac C.B./Sioyin Chua for Broccoli vs. Ham with bonus points for great music.

Korin Geholz also gave us an additional treat by giving Tasty Ham his very own Facebook page. Congratulations to all of you from Massively, and thanks for the laughs!

Nexon announces MapleStory news and events

by Rubi Bayer Nov 18th 2009 at 3:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, MapleStory, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play

Nexon is bringing plenty of news from the land of MapleStory lately, from new player perks to holiday events to pets.

For starters, those venturing into MapleStory for the first time will enjoy the First Job event. Players now have five classes to choose from (Thief, Pirate, Magician, Bowman, and Warrior), each with its own quest line and boss.

New players and experienced players alike will enjoy the cash back event, running from now until November 29th. Players will earn 10-15% back, depending on what they spend. Looking for something to spend all this cash on? If you're a pet lover, permanent pets will be available in the shop for a limited time -- you can choose from a Kino, a White Tiger, or a Mini Yeti.

Finally, Thanksgiving is approaching in MapleStory and the turkeys there aren't the kind that are served with stuffing and cranberry sauce. These turkeys come in the form of invading "turkey commandos" that you will attack in the hopes that they will drop their eyes. Turkey Commando Eyes can be given to Professor Foxwit in exchange for mesos, so happy hunting!

Check out the official site for all the information on the upcoming events.

Allods Online's European closed beta starts November 19

by Rubi Bayer Nov 18th 2009 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, Free-to-play, Allods Online

Allods Online, the new free-to-play MMO from gPotato, has been getting some attention from the Massively staff lately, so we're excited to hear that European players are getting a shot at it too.

Phase one of the EU closed beta starts this Thursday. Beta testers can experience the game up to level 19, as opposed to the level ten cap that current US beta testers are experiencing. Both League and Empire factions are available for play, and there are no class or race restrictions. They'll be playing on the "Isa" server, named after the Gibberlings homeland.

While the beta is currently only available in English, upcoming beta phases will include French and German servers and clients as well. If you are interested in participating in any of the closed beta phases, there are a couple of ways to pursue a beta key. You can register on the official site, and beta keys will be made available on the Allods Online Facebook and Twitter pages.

Allods Online is scheduled for release in early 2010.

Choose my Adventure: Doing you a Favor

by Shawn Schuster Nov 18th 2009 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Culture, Free-to-play, Massively meta, Hands-on, Choose my Adventure

In this week's Dungeons and Dragons Online adventures, the Critical Mass guild came across a bit of a challenge, and not in the game. With last week's vote guiding our hero to spend his hard-earned Turbine Points on an adventure pack, not everyone in the group had those same points to spend. So we spent our playing time gaining favor, which can be turned into Turbine Points.

In lieu of an in-character story this week, I'm going to spend some time explaining Favor and the DDO store for anyone who is curious about how this all works. I'll also explain our next poll, as I'd like you to vote on the specific Adventure Pack in which our hard-earned points will be spent. Follow along after the jump for more!

Runes of Magic and Playspan team up for game cards

by Eliot Lefebvre Nov 17th 2009 at 9:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, News items, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic

Runes of Magic has been enjoying a nice burst of success recently, and as a free-to-play game one of the biggest things that helps it is increased visibility and access to the game's microtransaction system. So it should come has little surprise that Frogster Interactive has teamed up with PlaySpan to start moving branded game cards into 7-Eleven stores, improving both visibility and accessibility in one fell swoop. In addition, Diamonds will be purchasable at PlaySpan's online store, already a hub for several popular free-to-play game currencies.

The game cards, which will come in $10 and $25 denominations, can be redeemed for in-game mounts, enhancements, and other improvements. Overall, this deal will give Runes of Magic a game card presence in over 46 thousand stores inside the US, a high visibility for a fairly young game that's pushing a still-developing business model. And it's certainly not going to hurt that you can pick up some game currency at the same time you grab a soda and one of those little taquito things for a snack on your way home from work.

Ride a turkey in Fiesta and help feed the homeless in America

by Seraphina Brennan Nov 16th 2009 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Fiesta

We here at Massively always appreciate it when games give back to the community, and the folks over at Fiesta seem to follow our line of thought. In celebration of Thanksgiving, they've released the new Thomas the Turkey mount for players to grab from the item shop.

Thomas is a special beast, however, as 100% of his proceeds until November 30th will go towards Feeding America, a charity that works with local food banks to provide food to the homeless and needy. After the 30th, Thomas will stick around in the Fiesta store as a standard mount.

Thomas is currently priced at around $6.80, but it's good to know that the money will be going to a good cause. So don't dilly dally, go out and purchase your turkey before the 30th to make sure you help the homeless and get a sweet ride while doing it.

Gameforge introduces Gates of Andaron in developer tour

by Rubi Bayer Nov 16th 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Free-to-play, Massively Hands-on, Gates of Andaron

Gates of Andaron, the free to play MMO from German developer Gameforge, recently arrived in North America, and we were fortunate enough to take a tour of the game. Community Manager Ben Buchwald and Senior Marketing and PR Manager Marcel Jung were our guides, showing us around and giving us some insight into the land of Iberia. Follow along after the jump for a look.