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Some Assembly Required: Virtual world roundup for 2014 and beyond
Just over two years ago there was a great disturbance, as if millions (or so) of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Yes, something terrible had happened: a beloved virtual world was destroyed. And that left a number of sandbox refugees looking for a new place to call home. At that time, Some Assembly Required offered a roundup of the then available virtual worlds that could possibly offer accommodation, depending on what qualities players most desired in their games. But as things are wont to, they changed; a lot can happen in the MMOverse in 24 months, from additional features in existing games to new games to the loss of more worlds. So it's time to update this list of virtual worlds to reflect 2014 and beyond. Take a look and see what titles or titles-to-be have the sandbox features that best make a game a home for you.
Massively's winter holidays MMO roundup
The holidays are here! That means the hustle and bustle of the season is in full swing, with gifts to get, treats to taste, deals to nab, and plenty of festivities to partake in -- and that's just in the MMOverse! Yes folks, there's a plethora of holiday celebrations out there -- so many, in fact, that it can be hard to keep track of them all, let alone participate to them! If you're trying to catch everything in your favorite games, we're here to help. We've got a round up of the various winter celebrations across the gaming sphere all bundled together right here for you. If something catches your eye, hop in and join in the festivities!
War of the Immortals: Titan's Fury releases October 30th
War of the Immortals' newest expansion is only a couple of weeks away from joining forces with the live game, according to Perfect World Entertainment. The expansion, called War of the Immortals: Titan's Fury, now has an October 30th release date. Titan's Fury's key feature is a pair of instances -- Titan's Temple and the Titan Dungeon -- that will be unlike anything players have seen to date. The expansion also adds new zones, daily events, pets, and gear. There's a little something in it for both solo- and group-oriented players, says Product Manager Thang Phan. We've got the trailer for Titan's Fury sitting pretty behind the jump, so why don't you go give it a look-see and let us know if you'll be booting this title back up for the latest and greatest? [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
Battle of the Immortals trumpets Shifting Tides expansion
Battle of the Immortals hasn't been making waves this past year, but that looks to change: Perfect World Entertainment announced that the free-to-play title is on the verge of releasing an expansion called Shifting Tides. The expansion pits players in a quest to protect the world and avoid a coming apocalypse. But the story is always second to features, so what does Shifting Tides have to offer? Perfect World is adding new zones, new instances such as the Radiant Temple, a high-level character customization system that unlocks perks, a PvP arena, and a stunning 100-level solo dungeon. Shifting Tides will release on September 19th, but in the meantime you can watch the official expansion trailer after the jump.
War of the Immortals leaps to Steam
If you're the type of gamer who likes to have all of his MMOs under one digital service roof, then you might be interested to hear that War of the Immortals is now available through Steam. Product Manager Thang Phan hopes that this will give War of the Immortals a great boost: "With the launch of War of the Immortals on Steam we are excited to expose the world of Motenia to more gamers around the world. This collaboration allows Steam users to easily join the battle while pushing the competition to new heights." While Perfect World's title is free-to-play, there are two optional DLC packs that you may elect to purchase on Steam. The starter pack is currently on sale for $4.99 and includes pet gems, fortify crystals and charms, embed charms, and a seven-day platinum noble card. The $14.99 wanderer's pack includes the noble card and a tempting-sounding Centaur Lord Reor. You never want to be caught without a centaur lord in your pocket, after all. [Source: Perfect World press release]
War of the Immortals expansion adds new class, 540-player PvP arenas
War of the Immortals' new expansion is officially live. Perfect World Entertainment is adding a new Harbinger class, the pet ascension system, a new instance called Proof of Divinity, and an extensive PvP revamp with the Lost Omen patch. This last bit involves "re-tooling the team matchmaking system," PWE says. The changes allow for three teams of up to 180 players to duke it out in a single battle arena (that's 540 players at once if you're counting at home). There's also a new trailer for the Lost Omen expansion. Check it out by clicking past the cut. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
War of the Immortals shows off class preview trailer
After yesterday's launch of the closed beta for War of the Immortals, the development team is trying to help ramp up enthusiasm for the title. So the team has kicked things off with a new class preview trailer, showing players the various classes available for play in the action-focused MMO as well as what each one looks like in high-level combat. Players can choose between Berzerker (melee DPS), Champion (tank), Duelist (melee DPS), Enchantress (support), Heretic (healer), Magus (ranged DPS), Ranger (ranged DPS), and Slayer (melee DPS). The Ranger, Enchantress, and Duelist are all new additions compared to the game's obvious predecessor, Battle of the Immortals, bringing in a more support-oriented set of abilities to battle. Take a look at the full preview of the classes and their abilities just after the break, and if the gameplay looks interesting to you, look on the horizon for more information on the beta. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
Perfect World Entertainment announces War of the Immortals
If you're a fan of Perfect World Entertainment's library of games, odds are good that you've been battling against immortals for some time now. But that's being ratcheted up several steps to full-fledged war. All right, War of the Immortals isn't exactly a direct extension of Battle of the Immortals, but the upcoming action MMO certainly has some connections to the older title. Nevertheless, it's still worth a look from fans of the genre, especially with its closed beta starting on October 25th. War of the Immortals promises guild housing and territory control as players engage in battle against both enemies and one another. Players can choose between eight different classes, with each class linked to a unique set of "soul gear" that advance as the individual character progresses through the game. If it sounds up your alley, you might want to check out the announcement trailer embedded just after the cut. [Source: PWE press release]
Battle of the Immortals Titan update coming this Wednesday
Are you excited for Titan? No, not that one, we're talking about the new content update coming this week to Battle of the Immortals. That's right, Perfect World Entertainment has graced us with a release date to go along with the dev blogs we've been featuring over the past couple of weeks. The patch will hit the live servers on Wednesday, July 13th, and in case your anticipation isn't quite where it should be, PWE has just released a new Titan trailer to further whet your appetite. The one-minute clip is packed with in-game footage that includes glimpses of the new instances as well as some spiffy shots of the soul gear that's coming soon to every class. You'll also see some boss fights, including a brief look at the god-king Kronos. Sound good? Well, what are you waiting for? Check out the clip after the cut!
Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan Throne instance dev blog
Ready for another exclusive Battle of the Immortals dev blog? If not, too bad, because we've got one and you're reading it! Like our last Perfect World Entertainment-powered exclusive, this one concerns BoI's Titan update. The patch contains a new instance called Titan's Throne, and players at level 115 or higher will be able to run through it once per day in order to challenge a fearsome gauntlet of monsters, elite bosses and finally Kronos himself. Head past the cut for more on the new content courtesy of the BoI dev team, as well as a few screenshots of the instance in action.
Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan update lore blog
Perfect World Entertainment's Battle of the Immortals -- which hit its one year anniversary just last month -- is gearing up for its upcoming Titan update. Precious little information about this upcoming addition to the game has been released (all we know right now is that two new instances will be introduced, along with updates to the game's existing features), but today PWE has treated us to an exclusive tidbit of lore to fill players in on the events leading up to the update. Unfortunately, that's about all we have in regard to this brand-new update, but be sure to check back with us from time to time because we'll be keeping you up to date on all the freshest information on Battle of the Immortals and its Titan update as the news drops. So without further ado, head on past the cut for the first lore blog post from Battle of the Immortals' Titan update.
Battle of the Immortals turns one
We hope someone brought cake and presents, because Perfect World Entertainment's Battle of the Immortals hit the big one year mark today! The free-to-play game, which drops five classes into a variety of dungeons ranging from Mayan jungles to Egyptian temples, is celebrating its first anniversary by giving away prizes -- including epic Soul Gear equipment and the prestigious Flame Kirin pet -- to its loyal players. If you want a piece of the giveaway action or just want to try something new for a change, head over to Battle of the Immortals' official site. Register to claim your goodies, and help PWE celebrate one year of dungeon-crawling fun!
The top indie and free-to-play stories of 2010
I have to admit to feeling slightly amazed when I read that someone thought of 2010 as a bad year for MMORPG fans. Then, when I think about it, I realize that he was talking about the year in "AAA" subscription gaming -- something almost alien to me. I just don't get turned on by huge-budget subscription games like I did seven or eight years ago. Well, it might be better to say that I am always suspicious of big-budget gaming. Gaming is a lot like movies, and look at how bad most blockbusters are. They are often silly, over-the-top, special-effects-laden bores. If those movies were the only ones I watched, I might be a little depressed about Hollywood as well. If you pay attention only to what the major publishers are pushing out, you are simply going to have a narrow view of MMO gaming. You will miss too much. The year 2010 offered more than any year before it, and 2011 will top that. Thanks to mobile technologies and the always-dropping price of computers, you will find that smaller or unknown games have much more of a chance of grabbing a gamer's eye than ever before. So, what were some of the high and low points in free-to-play and indie gaming this year? Click past the cut and let's take a look!
F2P giant Perfect World experiencing financial downturn
It's rare to hear news of under-performing free-to-play titles these days, but Gamasutra is running a piece on the recent stumble of industry titan Perfect World Entertainment. The Chinese online game maker recently saw its third quarter profits fall 28.8 percent to $31.9 million and also experienced a stock price dip of 16.2 percent. According to the report, PWE's television and film business revenues surpassed expectations and helped keep the company profitable, but the performance of the online gaming division took a notable downturn (due in part to the weak returns on Battle of the Immortals). Though PWE predicts a one to five percent gaming growth spurt in the fourth quarter of 2010, analyst firm Janco Partners is decidedly less optimistic. "Aggregate portfolio online game portfolio metrics continue to disappoint and we're not confident new game releases will stabilize a decidedly negative performance trend," the firm said. You'll find all the details at Gamasutra.
Battle of the Immortals launches an expansion teaser
There's something to be said for verisimilitude. Despite the fact that we've all accepted limitations in just how much a game can model at any given time, it's nice to be able to break things when you unleash whatever horrible ultimate spell your character of choice is packing. Battle of the Immortals recognizes this, and that's why one of the big features in their new teaser trailer is the addition of destructible environments to the game. While the game's first major expansion update is ramping up for release, this trailer is for an addition not slated for arrival until spring of 2011. It's a bit of a wait, but the trailer already looks detailed and interesting, promising several graphical and environmental upgrades for the game. Take a look past the cut for the full trailer, and keep your eyes peeled for more news on the updates for Battle of the Immortals, as they seem to be coming fast and furious.
First expansion coming to Battle of the Immortals
Perfect World Entertainment is enjoying the continuing success of Battle of the Immortals, and the development team is ready to give fans more to explore. The game's first expansion is coming, and even though there's no date announced yet, PWE promises "more and more details" in the next few weeks. Our first peek is of the new Mount Olympus high-level map. It will bring new monsters and bosses as well as a welcome update for players: coin drops. One of the strengths of BoI is that the dev team is willing to listen and respond to player concerns and complaints, and the lack of coin drops from mobs was definitely a concern. As a result of that feedback, mobs in the Mount Olympus zone will drop coins in addition to regular loot. All of the current preview details can be seen on the Battle of the Immortals site.
Your Battle of the Immortals questions answered: Our developer chat with Clifton Chu
Didn't get to come to our developer chat last night with Clifton "Kantorek" Chu from Battle of the Immortals? Don't worry, as we've got you covered with this transcript of last night's question and answer session! Clifton fielded many, many questions in one hour and 30 minutes, covering everything from BoI's player-killing system to future updates and new skills. We even got a behind-the-scenes sneak peak at the game's Westernization, covering some of the many changes Perfect World Entertainment made to the game in order to make it "fit" better for Western audiences. So, without anymore time wasted, let's take a time warp back to last night, and see what questions you had to ask Clifton!
Battle of the Immortals shows off new armor art
We spend our time stomping around in MMOs wearing (or coveting) armor that someone dreamed up, but sadly we don't often get a chance to hear about the time and effort that went into creating these interesting bits of art. That's why we are particularly intrigued by the new series called BoI Blueprints from the crew over at Perfect World Entertainment. This time we're treated to a quick Q&A with Liao "Fruit" Shuiguo, the Lead Art Designer on the Battle of the Immortals Development Team, who gives us a bit of an insight into how one of the sets -- the above pictured Soul Gear Prometheus set -- was made. For those who have always been curious about just what goes into making armor sets, then you'll want to pop by the Battle of the Immortals site and give this interview a read. While it's a small starting salvo, we're hopeful that the BoI team will dig in and bring us many more tasty developer interviews in the future. That said, more videos with sneak peeks like the one we've got after the break of the animated Soul Gear Prometheus set wouldn't hurt, either.
Battle of the Immortals adds fourth server
Battle of the Immortals, the newest free-to-play from Perfect World Entertainment, has seen great success in the two weeks since launch. The team at PWE received mixed reviews from the open beta, but gained quite a bit of player appreciation by listening to that feedback and making quick changes, a move that helped them retain a fair amount of players and gain many new ones. That willingness to work with their fans combined with a game with improving reviews has earned a larger player base than the Battle of the Immortals team counted on, and they're moving to accommodate those players by launching yet another server. Jonathan Belliss, PWE's product manager, announced the Poseidon server yesterday: "Player response has been tremendous and within two weeks since open beta started, we are already launching our fourth server, Poseidon. Aptly named after the Greek god of the sea, the Poseidon server will help meet the flood of players." The Poseidon server is located in the US East Coast -- set to GMT -4 -- and comes complete with a few handy bug fixes, so be sure to check them out.
Gameplay on parade in newest Battle of the Immortals video diary
It's a big day for Battle of the Immortals, as the open beta has finally started on the most recent Perfect World Entertainment game. Closed beta was quite successful, with the development team rolling out requested features like improved access to the high-end Soul Gear and improved keybinding (complete with standard WASD movement schemes). To celebrate the occasion, and to give players who haven't been following the game too closely an idea of why they might want to start, the game has released its fourth video developer diary today, this time focusing on the content found within the game. Jon Belliss, Product Manager for the game, focuses on the game's dungeons, starting off with one dubbed Knight's Jail. Everything from gameplay to rewards gets covered, complete with a semi-snarky reference that "you can complete it in ten to fifteen minutes, as long as you have a group that isn't full of idiots." He goes on to discuss the later Dragon Emperor Catacombs, which can switch between a low-level "easy mode" and a more rewarding "normal mode," and Spectre Island even beyond that. Take a look past the cut for the full diary, and keep your eyes open for more news on the open beta for Battle of the Immortals.
