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SOE president John Smedley announces that all players will be able to play on any server
It's no secret that Sony Online Entertainment has been in more than a little hot water in the wake of the recently announced region locks that were to be put in place following the studio's deal with ProSiebenSat.1, but there may still be a silver lining on the horizon. SOE president John Smedley tweeted earlier today that the studio has "come up with a plan to allow ALL players to play on any servers they want." While details are still to come, this should be incredibly welcome news for players of SOE titles who weren't looking forward to playing without their international friends. Smedley promises us that there are "more details to follow," so stay tuned and hopefully we'll have some idea of what's in the works before too long.
The Tattered Notebook: Breaking up the family
This is the cartoon that launched a thousand posts. Well, maybe not a thousand, but it created tension on the forums and resulted in a temporary ban for popular community figure Morgan Feldon. With this week's news about the ProSiebenSat.1/Alaplaya deal, SOE fans were up in arms, and EverQuest II was at the epicenter of the protest. There were concerns ranging from account security to quality of player support, but the biggest concern was the fact that there would be a barrier between U.S. and European players going forward. I've written before about how tight-knit the community is in EQII, and that's probably why you saw some of the strongest protests originate on the EQII forums. That closeness extends to the EQII development team as well. I've been to a couple of Fan Faires and was surprised at how accessible the team always made itself. Combine that with a core community of longstanding, loyal players, and you basically have one big family. So when fans were hit with the second big news story of the week, the departure of Associate Producer Emily "Domino" Taylor, players reacted as if a friend or family member had moved out of the home. What do these two news stories have in common, and what can they tell us about EverQuest II?
SOE responds to ProSiebenSat.1 fiasco, says it's not a done deal
Sony Online Entertainment has finally responded to the ProSiebenSat.1 brouhaha. Director of Global Community Relations Linda "Brasse" Carlson gave frustrated fans a faint glimmer of hope with a forum post last night that basically said the controversial deal isn't quite a done deal. In a nutshell, SOE plans to divide its long-time gaming community by region, with European player accounts handed off to ProSiebenSat.1 and Alaplaya. The announcement sent shockwaves through the EverQuest II community, as many guilds and sub-communities feature players from both sides of the Atlantic. The forced transfer of player accounts and personal information from SOE to Alaplaya also raised eyebrows, as some in the player community voiced concerns over security and convenience since Alaplaya reserves the right to delete inactive accounts after 90 days and has been accused of publishing real names on past-due accounts (the company has denied the latter). SOE's forums have been on fire over the past two days, with dozens of bans handed down by moderators (including one to noted community leader Morgan Feldon of EQ2Wire). Feldon's fansite is the place to go for info about the ongoing drama; it provides a wealth of opinion on why the proposed deal sucks for players as well as a collection of community reactions. Aside from Brasse's post, SOE has been silent about the deal, which comes on the heels of the firm's generating quite a bit of fan goodwill by reversing its decision to shelve the Mac version of EverQuest.
L.A.W's post-apocalyptic closed beta phase begins
In our humble opinion, you can never have enough post-apocalyptic video games, and that's why we're pretty excited to see more of L.A.W (Living After War). Sure there's Fallout, Wasteland, and when it comes to MMOs, Fallen Earth, but the more the merrier. Luckily for us (and you), L.A.W is gearing up for its first closed beta phase, and the title is available for download at its official website. You'll need a beta key to participate, of course, and if you don't have one yet, you'll need to sign up for an alaplaya account. L.A.W is described by alaplaya as a PvP-centric MMOG with an RTS mode, and it "also features classic role-playing elements such as a guild system, dungeons, and extensive skill sets." [Source: alaplaya press release]
LOCO: Evolution goes live, brings new city and features
Last month, we learned that Alaplaya's free-to-play MOBA, Land of Chaos Online would be rebranding itself with its upcoming LOCO: Evolution content update. The wait is now over, however, as LOCO: Evolution is live, and so are the multitude of features that come with it. Players can now explore the new city hub of Arhonnas, accept and complete quests, track achievements, and much more. For the full details, head on over to the game's official site.
Land of Chaos Online rebranding as LOCO: Evolution
Land of Chaos Online is one of a large number of games that's close to being a full MMORPG but isn't quite there. The team behind the game at alaplaya has had its sights on a more full-featured experience for a while. Later this year, the game will be launching a huge update dubbed LOCO: Evolution, which is adding new elements of persistence together with several new character types and a new faction for players to explore. The update promises to add a persistent town in the form of Arhonnas, complete with the usual staff of NPCs. The addition of a third faction to the game pushes conflicts into a struggle between Heaven, Hell, and Nature, with players caught in the middle. And aside from that, there will be new gameplay types to explore, new areas to look through, and several other quality-of-life improvements. The update should be release later this year, but until then you can take a gander at the teaser trailer after the break. [Source: alaplaya press release]
Former Diablo III dev decribes his work on post-apoc L.A.W - Living After War
Since we first heard about the post-apocalyptic MMO L.A.W - Living After War (OMG the lack of a period after the W drives me insane), the Massively team has been excited about seeing what this new title can bring to the table. Post-apoc MMOs are nothing new, but this one offers real-time strategy PvP gameplay and only three highly customizable classes, all wrapped in a free-to-play business model. In a recent interview with ProSiebenSat.1 Digital, Lee Jang Wook, founder and CEO of development studio Nitrozen, discusses the game in more detail, including an array of fan-submitted questions. Wook, who once worked as the lead concept artist on Diablo III, also discusses the relationship with alaplaya, who have already made a name for themselves in the MMO space. L.A.W aims to release in the first quarter of 2012, and you can check out more information on the game through the link below. [Via alaplaya press release -- sorry, we weren't given a direct link to the interview itself]
S4 League Season 3 looking for design submissions
You say you want player-generated content? You think you're a cut above the average armchair designer? Well, it's time to put your money where your mouth is thanks to a new contest sponsored by alaplaya and its S4 League title. According to the company's latest press release, S4 will be getting a "major expansion" in 2012, and the kicker is that it could be designed by you! "Players are encouraged to submit any and all ideas" for S4 League: Season 3, and the grand-prize winner will have the honor of seeing her design brought to life and played by thousands of gamers for years to come. Oh, and the design champ will also pocket a cool 100,000 alaplaya points. There are only a couple of days to go before the October 7th deadline, so head to the official website for all the details.
Rage against the extreme: Introducing L.A.W -- Living After War
Are you brave? A little nuts? A mutated cat-like thing with a giant sword and a healthy resistance to radiation? Then you, like most Massively readers, are set for the apocalypse and prime for the latest post-nuclear MMO, L.A.W -- Living After War. Set a couple hundred years in the future, the title sees self-imposed exiled survivors of a nuclear holocaust return to Earth to start civilization and Walmart all over again. But it turns out Earth isn't empty, and the abominations unto nature itself aren't willing to give up their turf without a fight. It... plays better if you imagine thrash metal music in the background. L.A.W's two factions boasts three classes apiece, and we're intrigued at the mention of a transformation ability that can turn us into "mighty creatures." Players will punctuate these PvP struggles with -- of course -- stock market trading and crafting. Get a feel for L.A.W with our first look screenshots below and a trailer after the jump. On board? Then head on over to the site and sign up for the closed beta! %Gallery-135873%
Land of Chaos Online celebrates first anniversary with free stuff
Like presents? If so, Alaplaya is betting you'll like Land of Chaos Online, not to mention the one-year anniversary party that's going on right now. The festivities run through August 30th and include special anniversary gifts for all players as well as free hero cards from the AP shop. LOCO blends action, real-time strategy, and traditional MMORPG progression together with third-person shooter elements and a matchmaking format similar to Defense of the Ancients. The formula is apparently working pretty well, as the game has attracted over 530,000 registered players in the past year, according to a new press release. More info on the game is available at the official website, and you can also download the client and start playing for free.
ARGO Online celebrates new ranking system with contest
Games paying us to play? Ridiculous! What's next -- dogs and cats sleeping together? Mass hysteria? 'Tis true, dear readers; ARGO Online is rewarding top players with in-game AP worth hundreds of real-world dollars. This giveaway is part of a promotion to celebrate ARGO's brand-new ranking system, in which players can compete to see who accumulates the most XP in each level tier. There's also a second ranking ladder that lists players according to wins and losses. During this month, alaplaya is tallying up the initial pack leaders and will be rewarding the best of the best with in-game currency at the end of the 30 days. Lowest level characters have a shot at $50 worth of AP while level-capped folks can compete for $150. In total, alaplaya is giving out $500 just for players giving ARGO their all, which is a pretty sweet deal for those already into the game. If ARGO Online is an unknown entity to you, check out our first impressions and see if it's up your alley!
First Impressions: ARGO Online
Ask any of the Massively staff and they will gladly tell you that I have a borderline obsessive fascination with all things steampunk (HNNNNGH!), so I was rather pleased when I found out that the subject of my next first impressions column was ARGO Online, which bills itself as a steampunk fantasy MMORPG. But of course, whether I'm borderline obsessive or not, a steampunk setting does not necessarily make a good game. ARGO is very much what most expect out of a westernized Korean free-to-play MMO; it's rife with translation issues, grindy quests, and inadequately explained systems. But despite all of that, there are a few interesting features to be found buried in the sand. What are these features? And moreover, do they make the game worth playing? Follow past the cut to find out.
ARGO Online launch day is here
burda:ic has announced the official launch of its steampunk/sci-fi/fantasy hybrid ARGO Online. The free-to-play game is shedding its open beta skin and welcoming players to the 23rd century, according to a new press release that details everything the burgeoning title has to offer. New ARGOnauts will take on the role of World War IV survivors, and they'll don their choice of two factional mantles (the tech-savvy Noblian or the nature-loving Floresslah) before embarking on a journey rife with quests, dungeons, and PvP. ARGO Online features eight classes, traditional guild and auction house systems, as well as pet and achievement mechanics designed to immerse players in a unique F2P experience. Head to the game's official website for more info.
Land of Chaos Online devs answer your questions!
Last month, we offered Land of Chaos Online fans the chance to ask the developers all about the game in exchange for answers and prizes. The winners have been chosen, the questions have been answered, and burda:ic is in the process of handing out prizes to those who asked the winning questions. Product Manager Hendrik Loga stepped in to see what the players wanted to know and answer their questions. He covers everything from upcoming features to PvP mechanics to lore, so follow along after the jump to see what the players asked and what Alaplaya has to say about LOCO!
Rise and Shiny recap: Forsakia
Forsakia is a new Flash-based free MMORPG brought to us by alaplaya -- the same company that brought us LOCO, Florensia and the soon-to-be Argo. I should have learned my lesson and taken my time to pick my next Rise and Shiny game, but in my pre-holiday haste I grabbed the first thing I could find. Granted, I wanted to find a Flash- or browser-based game to play since I would be writing a few upcoming articles about gaming with a new laptop or netbook, but Forsakia is still in beta and needs a lot done to it. So bear that in mind as I look at it, got it? If there is one thing I have learned over these years of playing free-to-play or imported games, it's that a lot can change between betas and releases. I'm hoping that this is the case for Forsakia. It's got its charm and its convinience, but I found myself a little confused and somewhat bored. A good measure of how bored you might be is to watch the chat: If players are talking about getting groups together to grind -- in the newbie area -- then you might be in trouble. Still, read on!
Ask questions and win prizes from Land of Chaos Online in our create-a-Q&A contest!
The gaming community might be buzzing about exploding worlds and NDAs, but the big splashy names aren't the only games in town by any stretch of the imagination. Land of Chaos Online, the free-to-play strategy game that has been compared (in all the best ways) to Defense of the Ancients, has offered a fun proposition to Massively readers: a do-it-yourself Q&A that comes with a pile of LOCO prizes! The LOCO developers stand ready to answer 16 questions from Massively readers. Your part in this is easy: simply drop your burning question about Land of Chaos Online in the comments section below before Sunday, December 12th, at 11:59 p.m. EST. We'll pick 16 and send them off to the LOCO team to be answered, and even better, give Land of Chaos Online prizes to the readers who submitted those questions! First prize is a bundle containing a 30-day Hero Card for a hero of the player's choice, seven-day Hero Cards for the latest heroes, five Skill Scrolls to teach heroes new skills and spells, 30 Entry Tickets to change heroes while in battle and match strategy to an enemy's, and one Weapon Token Box. Five second-place winners will receive 10 Entry Tickets, two Skill Scrolls, and an Armor Token Box. Ten third-place winners will get 2,000 AP. All winners will have their questions answered by the Land of Chaos Online team. If you win, you'll need to have an active LOCO account and Hero to get your items, so if you aren't a current player there's no better time to check it out! Make sure you take a peek at our contest rules page, then submit your question. Good luck!
Massively goes a little crazy with LOCO
As I ran up to the disgusting-looking tower, several floating squid monsters attacked me. No worries -- I hit a number key corresponding to one of my special abilities and filled the monsters with hot lead from my twin six-shooters. They were dead in seconds, and I took the opportunity to help out my teammate as he attacked the tower with a pair of swords. I punched my uber-ability into action and riddled the fleshy tower with beans of death until it exploded. We moved on to the inner areas of the enemy territory, destroying defenders as they appeared. Soon, we were pressing down on the main building -- the headquarters of the opposite side. Our foes attempted to stop us, but we were rolling downhill, straight at 'em -- our inertia was too great. We destroyed the building and the giant that defended it. We had won, but not without facing a challenge. This is what a game of LOCO feels like to me. It's fast, strategic and fun. It looks amazing and is free-to-play -- that's a winning combination right there.
We're LOCO for Lands of Chaos Online beta keys!
You liked them, you grabbed them, and now we have more of them! Lands of Chaos Online has provided us with another 1,000 closed beta test keys to hand out to y'all, so grab them while they're still hot! Plus, if you missed our last giveaway, now's the time to strike! Lands of Chaos Online, or LOCO for short, is a Defense of the Ancients (DotA) styled game paired with traditional massively multiplayer mechanics, all wrapped up in a third-person shooter shell. It's a hybrid to the extreme, but it does provide for some fast-paced combat and hectic sessions of leveling. We took a look at the game during GDC 2010, so if you're interested in learning more about it, or seeing some trailers of the game in action, look no further than our coverage! So, need the details on how to get in on the ground floor? Jump after the break and we'll tell you all about it.
