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‘Dune: Spice Wars’ early access adds multiplayer modes
On Monday, developer Shiro Games announced the release of Dune’s multiplayer update
First 'Dune: Spice Wars' gameplay trailer shows real-time combat
We got our first look at Dune: Spice Wars at the 2021 Game Awards, and now developer Shiro Games is giving fans of Frank Herbert’s seminal novels a better look at the project.
'Moons of Madness' blends Lovecraft with 'Dead Space'
There aren't many great H.P. Lovecraft-inspired games, let alone ones that venture outside of Lovecraft's time period, but Rock Pocket Games and Funcom think can do both at once. They've announced Moons of Madness, a "cosmic horror" game that blends Mars exploration with Lovecraftian supernatural elements and at least a few cues from Dead Space. You assume the role of a technician at a Mars base who grapples with failing systems, a missing EVA team and strange visions, all of which ties into a strange signal emanating from the planet. You're fighting both against very real (and appropriately tentacled) enemies as well as your own possible insanity.
New 'Dune' games are on their way after almost 20 years
It's a good time to be a Dune fan. Not only is the classic sci-fi novel getting a movie remake in 2020 courtesy of Blade Runner 2049 director Denis Villeneuve, but it looks like there's a series of new games on the way, too.
‘Secret World Legends’ expands into disaster-ridden Tokyo
The Secret World was rebooted in June as the free-to-play, shared-world RPG Secret World Legends and it just received the first of three updates that will expand the game into a "disaster-ridden and monster-infested" Tokyo. Tokyo: Back to the Beginning brings hours of added gameplay and expanded storyline as well as a slew of new enemies.
'Secret World Legends' arrives on Steam on June 26th
The Secret World's mix of supernatural horror and real world settings made it a cult hit with MMO fans, but the game's developers are now gearing up to bring even more players into fold on the game's 10-year anniversary. The rebooted, free-to-play "shared-world action RPG" version of the game, now titled Secret World Legends, goes live on Steam on June 26th.
Horror MMO 'The Secret World' returns and this time it's free
While horror MMO The Secret World never quite became the next World of Warcraft, its unique supernatural vibe made it a cult hit among MMO fans. The game's publisher, Funcom, plans to relaunch the game as a free-to-play "shared-world action RPG," no doubt hoping to cash in on the original title's recognition while updating the title for a modern audience.
A naked barbarian simulator saved FunCom from bankruptcy
It's easy to disassociate game developers from the success or failure of their titles. The average gamer might not notice if a company's most recent releases aren't selling well, and would be none the wiser if one of their favorite companies was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. That's where FunCom was before it decided to make Conan Exiles. Despite the popularity of its previous Conan games, critical acclaim for titles like The Park and being the developer behind the LEGO Minifigures Online MMO, the company was hemorrhaging money. "We were basically loaning money from our investors for wages," FunCom creative director Joe Bylos told Engadget at GDC. "We were pretty close to bankruptcy." If its next game wasn't a hit, the company was done for.
Horror game 'The Park' reaches consoles May 3rd
Funcom's The Park has become a bit of a sleeper hit among PC gamers thanks to its combination of parenthood-themed horror and its Let's Play-friendly game mechanics, and now it's ready to come to consoles. The studio has revealed that The Park will be available on May 3rd for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The exploration title isn't expected to change much in the conversion, but that's fine -- really, it's all about the short-but-scary experience of losing your child in a theme park gone horribly wrong.
'The Park' isn't your typical haunted-carnival horror game
The Park looks like a classic first-person horror game that happens to take place in a creepy, dilapidated, deadly amusement park. It has all the horror bells and whistles, from rides that suddenly start on their own to a skeletal, shadowy figure known simply as "the boogey man." But, just like a placid lake in a haunted campground, something more lies beneath The Park's surface. Its narrative is inspired by something life-altering and terrifying. The Park is a game about parenting.
Chaos Theory: These are a few of my favorite Secret World things
There's a lot about The Secret World to like. So much so, in fact, that you just can't name it all in once place! I've had to split talking about the best parts of this conspiracy-laden masterpiece into a number of different Chaos Theorys, from my favorite first moments to amazing NPCs to fabulous places to favorite missions. Even Massively's Justin Olivetti chimed in with his favorite characters. But not even that can cover it all. That means today I'll tackle another topic: my favorite things. TSW has a plethora of little gems scattered throughout the game that enhance the play experience and attest to the level of detail put into development. And I'll totally go all Julie Andrews and sing their praises, hilltop or not. I only have so much room, however, so these are my top choices; be sure to add your own in the comments below!
Chaos Theory: Opening up Tokyo and why else I'm a Secret World fan for life
I may be a lifetime member of The Secret World, but more than that, I am a lifetime fan! Why? It's not because I live and breathe the game; I don't need to play daily for hours on end to truly appreciate its qualities and what it brings to the MMOverse. But there are plenty of reasons that TSW has earned my loyalty, not the least of which is demonstrated in Joel Bylos' recent game director letter. Tucked in between talk of the 2014 content and the upcoming improved new player experience is this little gem: The team intends to open Tokyo up to all players! Beyond the story and the events, it is how the team constantly focuses on bringing customers a genuine experience that remains true to the spirit of the game. Is everything about The Secret World perfect? Not at all. There's plenty of room for improvement and added content. But I feel confident in the direction, and the following reasons are why I will continue to champion this gem.
Funcom announces Anima Well Wednesdays for TSW
Funcom has announced a new Secret World event series called Anima Well Wednesday. What does it entail? It sounds like the content will vary. Community manager Gray "Tomium" Hogan says players can challenge Funcom reps in the fight club, "train 400 mobs to us," or kick back and ask questions of various unnamed guests. To join, send a meet up request to Tomium or Sezmra every Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. EDT.
Age of Conan has its eye on achievements, crafting for 2015
Is Hyboria one of your planned destinations for 2015? If so, then you're in luck, as Joel Bylos has a taste of what's in store for Age of Conan this year in a new game director letter. The two big initiatives for the year revolve around the brand-new achievement and revamped crafting systems. The first iteration of achievements are coming with update 4.5 in a few weeks. These will include achievements for completing speed challenges for dungeons. Following that, players will get to dive into a richer crafting experience. Bylos hinted at a few other highlights for 2015, including the return of the world boss system and PvP festivals. "We are still nailing down our production schedule for the year," he wrote. "You can expect to hear more about the status of Palace of Cetriss and The Slithering Chaos in an upcoming letter."
Chaos Theory: A guide to TSW's Christmas Conspiracies event
Silver bells, Krampus and Hel, It's Christmas time in The Secret World Ring a ling, hear them scream, Soon you will see a Christmas play! Ahh, it's the holidays. A time when other games pull out the stops on cute and cuddly, flinging festive colors and joviality about like Christmas confetti to make a joyous celebration. Then you have The Secret World. In TSW, the season is dark, twisted, and fiendish; nightmares are brought to life, and conspiracies worm their ways throughout even the most revered of traditions. And we wouldn't have it any other way! I always wonder how on earth the devs are going to top themselves each new event, and this season's Christmas Conspiracies definitely does not disappoint! From the story to the puzzles, this mission chain fits right in. It even incorporated my favorite new element introduced this year -- music -- and literally makes you play for your reward. Want to experience it? You've got until January 5th to thwart the conspiracy and collect all the treasure you can. (Of course, even if you have done the two previous Christmas' events, you'll want to do them again just to get the special goodie bags!) Here's a not-quite-a-guide to help nudge you through. As always, I won't offer a direct step-by-step walkthrough but instead will just drop hints (in italics) to help you along. That said, here's your warning: There will be spoilers ahead, so read at your own risk! If, however, you want even more spoilers, watch Massively TV tonight, December 25th, at 9:00 p.m. for a Stream Team walkthrough special.
The Secret World's Christmas Conspiracies event takes the stage
What's Christmas without a clown and a chainsaw? Nothing -- if you're in The Secret World. The game that excels as conspiracies has turned one into a holiday event for players to unravel. It all starts with attending a show at London's Albion Theater and winds its way through gathering clues and solving Musical "Magic Flute" puzzles, even discovering Old Saint Nick's tomb. And what's a Christmas without gifts? TSW offers new pets like an undead polar bear, funky hats, and more outfits and costume pieces -- including a carrot nose -- in the Rucksacks of Saturnalian Delights. The bags are rewards for finishing the holiday missions as well as available in the item shop. As during the Halloween event, players who purchase a special bag (this time the Bag of Wassail) in the shop to share with players will be rewarded with an all-new dance. As in years past, previous holiday events are also live and running. However, the launchpad warns players that the End of Days event is currently experiencing issues and the team is working to resolve them.
The Daily Grind: Do single-player games give you a craving for MMOs?
I made a dent in my Steam backlog this month, and one of the older titles that I finally got around to beating was Alan Wake. This has nothing to do with MMOs, really, except for the fact that the game's creepy atmospherics and its focus on the supernatural made me want to fire up The Secret World. What about you, Massively readers? Do your single-player adventures ever give you a craving for a particular MMO? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
The Secret World's killer clown is coming to get you
Some Funcom fans are getting a nice present in their email today: a ticket to play The Secret World for free for a month. "You will die. Because, hey, that's what happens when you play an MMO where killer clowns are after you. Fight back! Play The Secret World for FREE this Holiday season," reads the promo. The freebie 30-day codes in the emails are apparently valid if used by January 15th and include experience potions as well as $5 worth of points to spend in the cash shop. It's currently unclear whether the promotion is for former subbers or just everyone who has a Funcom account.
The Secret World nerfs Tokyo mobs and buffs rewards
Players struggling to progress through The Secret World's Tokyo zone will now find it a more pleasurable experience, thanks to today's hotfix that makes mobs easier to kill while increasing rewards across the board. Mobs in Kaidan will now have reduced damage and health, making them easier to kill. Better yet, TSW is increasing AEGIS XP from containers, lowering the cost for memory expansion modules, and giving AEGIS peripherals as part of the Issue 9 and 10 story missions (and will retroactively award these to players who have completed them). [Thanks to Tyler for the tip!]
Age of Conan is selling instant level-80s until January 2nd
Getting a high-level character in Age of Conan now requires you only to break out your wallet and plunk down a few bills. Funcom announced today that players can purchase an instant level 80 character on the cash shop for $40 (or $30 if that player already has another level 80 toon). These new level 80s will come equipped with a set of rare gear, a fast mount, the riding skill, a 56-slot bag, 79 expertise points, and other goodies. If you're planning on picking up one of these "go straight to buff" packages, you'll need to do so before the promotion ends on January 2nd. Age of Conan is also offering bonus free months of subscription and other goods when you sign up or extend your membership by at least three additional months.
