Filed under: Launches

Global Agenda multiplayer Conquest Mode launches today

by Rubi Bayer Feb 2nd 2010 at 1:00PM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, New titles, PvP, News items, Global Agenda

Global Agenda launched yesterday, to the delight of many fans -- including our very own Shawn and Sera. However, that was just the beginning of the launch week festivities.

Conquest mode launches today, offering all players free access until March 3rd of this year. This is a great opportunity to explore this massively multiplayer feature, take part in some Agency vs. Agency battles, and see if it's for you or not. The first zones opened today at 12pm US Eastern time, with two open zones (Obelisk and Echelon) in the UK and three (Sovereign, Citadel and Warlord) in the United States.

Because the workings of Conquest can feel a bit intimidating and overwhelming to new players, particularly with so much else to learn, Global Agenda is helping players make the most of their free time by offering the developer video diary we showed you earlier in the week with an overview of Conquest. Take a look at it to gain some helpful tips before you dive in, and be sure to check out the new exclusive AvA screenshots in our gallery!

Gallery: Hi-Rez Studios and Global Agenda Gallery

Massively's Star Trek Online launch day roundup

by Kyle Horner Feb 2nd 2010 at 10:00AM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, News items, Star Trek Online

Today marks the official launch date for Cryptic Studios' newest title, Star Trek Online. We know there's a massive amount of information for new players to process, so we've put together a nice round-up of our various guides, tips and op-ed features to help out. Follow our advice and you should be more than ready to begin your heady Starfleet (Or Klingon Empire!) career.

Of course, of you're looking for an even more wonderful hub of information, you should check out our shiny new dedicated Star Trek Online page. It'll serve as the go-to place for any new guides, interviews, patches game lore and videos.

So -- as Sera Brennan would say -- without any further delay, let's take a trip down memory lane and look back at the best of our STO coverage...

We have an agenda: Global Agenda launch day coverage and play with Massively event

by Seraphina Brennan Feb 1st 2010 at 10:00AM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Launches, MMOFPS, MMORTS, Global Agenda

The cat's out of the bag! Or perhaps the spies are out of their hexes? Either way, Global Agenda has gone into official launch mode today! We here at Massively can't help to celebrate by looking back at our past coverage of Global Agenda, as we watched the game go from a little team-based TPS to the MMORTS that it is today. If you like commanding, or if you just like shooting people with hi-tech guns, then this might be the game for you!

In any case, we promised you an event to go along with the launch! Tonight, jump in to Global Agenda at 8 PM EST to meet up with Shawn Schuster (Agent Name: Ampersand, Medic) and Seraphina Brennan (Agent Name: Seraphina, Recon!). Both editors will be commanding their own PvP strike teams and will be launching into the queues head first. By the way, don't forget your headset -- it makes team building so much easier. If you don't have one, no worries, just be ready to play.

So, without any further delay, let's take a trip down memory lane and look back at the best of our Global Agenda coverage...

Spy with the best: Join Massively for Global Agenda's launch! [Updated]

by Seraphina Brennan Jan 29th 2010 at 11:00AM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Launches, MMORTS, Global Agenda

Readers, we're contacting you through an encrypted channel right now to deliver some very important information. Agent Schuster and Agent Brennan will be on deck for the launch of Global Agenda, ready to fight the Commonwealth at your side.

Come Monday, log into Global Agenda and team up with Sera and Shawn to fight the good fight in both PvP and PvE strike teams. The dossier is still sealed on this mission, but keep an eye on this post and the encrypted T-Feed (@massively on Twitter) for the full information on how to link up with Apoc and Archangel on the day of the launch.

We'll announce our play times and character names come Monday by updating this post, so just place a bookmark here and get your game all patched up. Take advantage of the early start while you're at it and get your characters leveled up for launch. This way our enemies will never know what hit them.

Massively's WonderKing Online launch day roundup

by Seraphina Brennan Jan 28th 2010 at 12:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, News items, Free-to-play, WonderKing

It's launch day for WonderKing Online and Massively, as usual, has you covered. But wait! What is WonderKing, you ask?

WonderKing is NDOORS Interactive's newest free-to-play title, joining the ranks of Atlantica Online and Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu. WonderKing plays very much in the vein of MapleStory, offering a two-dimensional, action and platforming based experience rather than the traditional 3-D MMO targeting combat.

However, unlike MapleStory, WonderKing goes a bit further with its MMO aspects in the form of crafting and cooking systems, an upcoming player housing system, and the upcoming ability to become a king by taking over a castle and defeating other players.

We've been keeping up with WonderKing for you guys, so here's a roundup of our coverage on this new free-to-play title. Read, learn, and find out if WonderKing is right for you!

Kung Foo! offers up new trailer and beta

by Krystalle Voecks Jan 27th 2010 at 8:00PM

Filed under: Trailers, Launches, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Kung Foo!

As if a world promised to be "100% rat-free" wasn't enough to make you want to visit this strange new land, the folks at Perfect World Entertainment have released a shiny new trailer very much in the keeping of Kung Foo! This new ~~commercial~~ video shows off all manner of crazy things that you can look forward to when stepping into the world of Foo. That's right -- it's just chock full of Foo, and all for you!

If you haven't taken the time to find out more about Kung Foo!, then be sure to check out the trailer after the break. With the recent death of Dungeon Runners, we're really glad to see another light-hearted MMO that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Global Agenda announces launch schedule

by Rubi Bayer Jan 26th 2010 at 3:00PM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Launches, New titles, News items, Global Agenda

We're less than a week away from the launch of Global Agenda, but Hi-Rez is as anxious to get things going as the fans are. Last night they gave a list of launch activities for the week leading up to the big day, and it looks like it's going to be a busy few days.

Today is the last day of beta, and the Hi-Rez team will make it interesting by randomly entering certain PvP missions and spawning bots that don't usually show up there. If you're interested in a little extra challenge, keep your eyes peeled for these.

Wednesday, you'll want to keep a close eye on this Twitter feed. Global Agenda is expected to be available for download on Steam by the end of the day, and that's where you'll find the announcement. Name reserve begins as well, so take a close look at the instructions on the GA site.

Early start begins Friday the 29th, and the servers will be open for limited content until Sunday afternoon.

And finally, Monday, February first: launch day.

The last few days before launch are typically the ones that find us as players at our most impatient, but in this case, GA fans are likely to be way too busy for that. Check out all the details in the announcement, and have fun!

Global Agenda early start and preorder bonuses detailed

by Eliot Lefebvre Jan 22nd 2010 at 9:00AM

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Launches, New titles, News items, MMOFPS, MMORTS, Global Agenda

You've gotten all the news and updates, and you've even gotten a handy guide to conquest mode for Global Agenda. If you're ever going to be ready for Hi-Rez Studio's high-action game, it's now. So it's no coincidence that we've gotten news on the game's pre-purchase options, as well as the early start details for all players and the chance to reserve your character name prior to the February 1st launch date. After all, if you've gotten the game via Steam, don't you want to just download and start playing right away? That little grayed-out name is mocking you.

The latest newsletter details the early start, which will allow players to reach Level 10, reserve their character name, and unlock special pre-order items. It's also the only chance that pre-order players will have to claim their No Elves Flair and Commonwealth Helmet. Luckily, it's easy to hop in between January 28th and January 31st, and take a little time to start playing the game and forming Agencies. Beta players will also get the option to keep their character name during the transition to Live, although not their levels or data. Good news all around for Global Agenda fans.

Perfect World Entertainment announces Battle of the Immortals

by Eliot Lefebvre Jan 14th 2010 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Launches, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

Perfect World Entertainment is working overtime. Not content with their current stable of games or the positive press that's been getting drummed up for their upcoming comedy game, Kung Foo!, they've just announced a new addition to their lineup. The official developer blog for the company announced that Battle of the Immortals is on its way, complete with a number of screenshots of characters decked out to the nines in epic armor.

So, what will the game actually play like? Well... that's an excellent question, one that the announcement largely sidesteps altogether. We know that the game is being developed by Perfect World Entertainment's Shanghai studio instead of their more conventional Beijing studio, and that it's supposed to play very differently than their eponymous flagship title. However, no actual gameplay elements are discussed beyond a statement that implies the game may well have a strong PvP focus, and the frequently restated factor that the game promises to be high-energy. On the flip side, the screenshots look excellent (unless you really don't care for the more exaggerated Eastern aesthetic) and PWE certainly has a solid track record for its free-to-play games.

Star Wars: The Old Republic rumored for spring in 2011

by Eliot Lefebvre Jan 11th 2010 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, New titles, Rumors, Star Wars: The Old Republic

A long time from now, in a game store probably not too far away... you might be getting your copy of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Well, all right, spring of 2011 might not be all that far along, but if you're one of the many eagerly looking forward to Bioware's entry into the MMO arena, it certainly feels like an eternity.

ShackNews has recently reported on a rumor that John Riccitiello, CEO of Electronic Arts, mentioned that they were looking forward to their next big MMO launch in spring of 2011 while discussing the company's financial outlook. Although he was cautious and stated they had not announced a launch date, he did mention that the team was making "great progress" toward that timeframe.

Obviously, the game was not specified by name, which does technically mean he could have been referring to another game. But unless they've secretly been developing Warhammer Online II: The Warhammering, in all likelihood we can expect to see Star Wars: The Old Republic early next year. Which might be good news if you're a Bioware fan anyway, since Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2 are making enough of a dent on your wallet this year.

First Impressions: Alganon

by Eliot Lefebvre Jan 11th 2010 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Launches, New titles, First Impressions, Alganon

Today's First Impressions could use a little bit of external reading before you go too deeply into it. So I'm going to start by linking an article that's nearly seven years old but still excellent -- Fantasy Heartbreakers.

Now that you've all clicked "Back" in some confusion or just avoided the link in the first place, some explanation. The article is the origin of a term that pen-and-paper RPG fans have come to use to describe a certain type of game referenced in the article. It's referring to the countless game companies who thought they could make a game that was better at being Dungeons and Dragons than, well, Dungeons and Dragons. Many of the games in question weren't bad games -- sometimes even good ones -- but they were built on the fundamental premise that they would be "like D&D but with X."

Some of you probably see where this is going, or got it as soon as you saw the term. Because we're all very aware of how predominant World of Warcraft has become in the MMO marketplace, to the point where it's the essential standard that other MMOs are judged against. Alganon, then, could be seen as our genre's first fantasy heartbreaker. Because it's genuinely tough not to play the game and see that there's some really good stuff in here.

Earthrise launch Q2 2010, studio visit reveals

by James Egan Dec 21st 2009 at 7:00PM

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Launches, New titles, Earthrise

When we cover the news surrounding the post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise, a question often asked in the comments is, "When will it launch?". It's been a question we've been hard pressed to answer with any degree of certainty considering it's still in an early phase of testing, and the game was originally slated for a late 2009 launch. Now it seems we're looking at a Q2 2010 launch for Earthrise, according to Klassa (Bulgarian newspaper) reporter Mihail Rangelov. Closed beta testing will take place in February and March of 2010, and the game's developer Masthead Studios is expecting between 70-80,000 initial subscribers.

In an article that's a follow-up to his Masthead Studios visit one year prior, Rangelov notes that the game's setting is very open -- there's a feeling of having a great deal of terrain and open space around you. Still, he notes, "The game goes at almost 60-70 frames per second on the huge terrain for mass combats. Moreover, it is played on a two-year old computer."

Mortal Online newsletter announces launch delays, holiday discounts

by Eliot Lefebvre Dec 18th 2009 at 9:00AM

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, New titles, News items, Mortal Online

We all know that launch dates for an MMO are loose targets at best and long shots in the darkness at worst. While it's disappointing when a game doesn't hit the target date, by and large players are used to it and all but expect it to happen -- it's part of the cycle. But it's still more than a little depressing to see that Mortal Online, the upcoming game from Star Vault, is going to be delayed by a month. That's the word in the latest newsletter for the game's fans, which is a bit of a depressing way to lead into the holidays, to say the least.

The Limited Editions of the boxed game will also be seeing a slight delay, due to production issues with the artbook included. To compensate purchasers of the Limited Edition, an extra week of free playtime is being added to make up for the delayed ship. And to help take the sting off the entire sad process of delaying the game, Star Vault is offering discounts on both digital downloads and the last boxed editions of the game. Mortal Online's fans and beta testers are still likely to be sad about the delay, of course, but a few little bonuses never fail to take the edge off.

Massively digs into the EverQuest Underfoot expansion

by Dan O'Halloran Dec 15th 2009 at 5:00PM

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, EverQuest, Expansions, Launches, Previews, Hands-on

SOE's EverQuest, one of the earliest of 3-D graphical MMOs, launches its 16th expansion today: Underfoot. This particular area of Norrath, the realm of Brell Serilis, the Duke of Below, is filled with inner turmoil and new adventure. Massively was given a tour of the new expansion and we have all the details for you below.

This tour is divided into two parts. Part one, after the jump briefly covers the two new features being introduced to the game: the new Achievement system and the Extended Target window. Part two is a screenshot tour of the new zones with its bizarre and fractious denizens. Join us, won't you, on a journey into the plane of Underfoot.

Gallery: EverQuest: Underfoot

Hi-Rez Studios announces Global Agenda launch date

by Rubi Bayer Dec 15th 2009 at 2:30PM

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, News items, Free-to-play, Global Agenda

Here at Massively, we've been looking forward to Global Agenda for quite a while. Judging from the official forums, Hi-Rez is enjoying the same response from a significant fan base, and we know quite a bit about the game so far. Several closed beta tests have received a very positive reaction from fans, who have a good feel for what the game is like and how it will work. The question of pricing has been answered, and of course there will be no elves. Now, the obvious question remains at the forefront of every fan's mind: when?

Well, as of today we have our answer. Hi-Rez studios officially announced that the game will launch on February 1st, 2010, and pre-orders are available through Steam, Amazon.com, and the official site beginning today. Those who pre-order will enjoy all sorts of perks, including access to the January beta events, ability to reserve their player and agency names, and special in-game items. Even better, there is a special limited edition box available for order that will include the pre-order bonuses plus an art book and poster.

In the meantime, there is more beta testing to get through, so if you are interested but haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for?