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Project Spark beta registration opens
Microsoft has initiated beta registration for Project Spark, its world builder game for Windows 8 and Xbox One. Those who wish to be among the first wave of players can sign up now, while a Facebook page also promises to keep us informed. Project Spark, the next iteration of Microsoft's Kodu programming language, was revealed during Microsoft's E3 keynote two weeks ago. Microsoft has yet to announce a release date for Project Spark, though it will support SmartGlass and Kinect at launch.
EverQuest: Rain of Fear beta registration is open
Are you afraid of what lurks in the 19th EverQuest expansion? A title like Rain of Fear does not exactly imply a safe and welcoming environment. But there's no reason to be concerned without just cause, and now interested players can find out if there is in fact something to fear as registration for the expansion's beta on the official site is now live, giving everyone a chance to try out the new content before it goes live. And there's quite a bit of new content to be had therein. Aside from an increase of the level cap up to 100, players can enjoy an improved brokering system, the hunter system encouraging players to slay a wide variety of enemies, and the usual plethora of new skills and quests. Even if you don't want to take the full testing ride, you can still take a look at the official site for all of the upcoming features. [Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release]
End of Nations kicks off the Warfront series with beta signups
Trion Worlds is currently known first and foremost for RIFT, but that's not the only game the studio is working at. End of Nations, the upcoming MMORTS, has been quiet for a while, but the development team is kicking things back into motion with the launch of the "Warfront" webcast, designed to highlight news and updates about the game. And it kicks off with an appropriately exciting piece of news for fans of the game -- beta signups are now available. Fans will need to sign up for the End of Nations newsletter before being eligible to sign up for beta testing, but that likely won't deter anyone who's followed the game this far. There's also an announcement of new previews to be found on the game's official Facebook page, with the usual social media request that you head over and throw out a "Like." While the video is fairly short, most fans have probably absconded as soon as they heard they could sign up for beta -- but if you'd like to see the full webcast first, jump on past the break. [Source: Trion Worlds press release]
The Secret World lures half a million potential beta testers into the underworld
Funcom's The Secret World may be about underworld societies waging a "behind the curtains" war against forces of darkness, but the beta signup is anything but secret. Over 500,000 potential testers have signed up on the MMO's website since Funcom opened beta registrations a month ago. Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas says this is bigger than anything the studio has seen to date: "We are thrilled to see the amount of interest The Secret World is generating among gamers and the press, and exceeding half a million beta registrations six months before release is definitely something we are proud of. The gamer interest in The Secret World and the community size for the game is even greater than we experienced with Age of Conan at the same stage of development. We expect the community size to keep on expanding at an ever faster pace in the coming months as we approach open beta and launch." The Secret World is scheduled to launch April 2012 and will be subscription-based with optional microtransactions on top of that.
SOE opens beta registration for EQII Age of Discovery expansion
The Age of Discovery is coming to Norrath, and Sony Online Entertainment has just released the beta registration info for EverQuest II's eighth expansion. SOE's press blurb says that applications will be reviewed beginning on October 27th, with the expansion closed beta period beginning on November 14th. While Age of Discovery will not feature any new overland areas, dungeon-based content, or zones, it does boast the long-awaited debut of the Beastlord class as well as the Dungeon Maker player content system. Mercenaries, tradeskill apprentices, and item reforging round out the new stuff, and SOE expects to release the content toward the end of November.
Pre-registrations open for Age of Wulin closed beta
Age of Wulin's English-language beta test is quite a ways off, but that hasn't stopped gPotato and Gala Networks Europe from allowing interested players to pre-register. The martial arts MMORPG's Chinese closed beta starts next month, but European and American players won't get to toodle around in the game's version of ancient China until sometime in 2012. Signing up at the official site will enter you into a closed beta lottery, with the main prize being a European CBT key. Players who register prior to October 1st will also be eligible to win one of five Age of Wulin t-shirts. The game itself is something of a departure from conventional themepark titles, and we've told you previously about its interesting skill setup and non-combat gameplay options. Age of Wulin also features more than 130 square kilometers of explorable space, eight combat schools, 17 life professions, and upwards of 20,000 quests and NPCs. Head to the official site to learn more and pre-register for next year's closed beta, and check out the latest game trailer after the cut.
Funcom opens Secret World beta registration... really [Updated]
So, the beta phase for The Secret World is officially open. For real this time, apparently. If you've been following the game with a microscope and a magnifying glass for the last few years, you're probably aware that last Saturday's beta registration "postponement" was some sort of ARG hoax... or was it? Frankly, who cares, because as of today you can actually register! The catch is that it requires a Facebook account, so if you're of the opinion that the ubiquitous social networking site is run by evil Illuminati operatives hellbent on destroying your privacy and taking over the free world, well, you're right. But you'll just have to put up with that if you want to get a free preview of beta test TSW. If you haven't figured it out yet, this ain't your granddaddy's beta, and admission to Funcom's horror-conspiracy MMO starts with a personality test, a faction choice, and all manner of ARG-related shenanigans designed to move the hype meter into the stratosphere. Head to the game's official website to check it out. [Update: The beta registration is now open on the website as well as part of the Secret War on Facebook.]
The Secret World's beta signup postponed
Those of you all hot and bothered for the start of The Secret World's beta registration event will need to avail yourselves of a cold shower (or at least a couple of tall, cold adult beverages). Funcom has announced that its ARG-infused signup event is not quite ready for prime time, and there's no time table on the rescheduling, either. A blurb on the game's website delivers the official "we're deeply sorry for the inconvenience" yada yada and also goes on to say that the registration for The Secret War event is delayed "until further notice." We'll keep our eyes peeled, and our heads on a swivel, as it's no doubt the fault of those dastardly Illuminati. [Thanks to Paul for the tip!]
World of Tanks kicks off European and North American open beta
Wargaming.net has sounded the death knell for World of Tanks' closed beta, and the development team is putting on its game face as the free-to-play heavy-armor MMO rolls ever closer to release. The title's open beta is officially er... open, and the devs are inviting anyone and everyone to strap on a few tons of steel and participate. Registration is dependent upon your region, so make sure you visit the appropriate link (one for Europe and one for America) to sign up. "We want to thank all those players who participated in the closed beta test and helped us make the game open to a bigger audience by reporting bugs and providing valuable feedback. Now it's time for us to further enhance and polish the game before its final release," says Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi via press release. Learn more about World of Tanks at the official website, and don't forget to check out the new screenshots below as well as the open beta launch trailer after the jump. %Gallery-96260%
Faxion Online taking closed beta registrations
The war between heaven and hell is coming, and UTV True Games is looking to you to shape it. The F2P developer's new Faxion Online MMORPG is gearing up to break the seals on its closed beta test, and registering on the game's official website automatically puts you in the selection pool of potential testers. The beta is currently scheduled for early 2011 and will allow participants to test the game's factions, territory control, and combat, not to mention the eternal struggle for control of the seven deadly sins. "We already know the game is funny, exciting and addictive, however, at this stage of the game's development, we need to elicit the help of some rigorous beta testers to offer their opinions and feedback to help us fine tune the game and make it as great as it can be," said UTV executive Frank Lucero in a press release dated earlier this morning. While Faxion's home page features both account registration and newsletter sign-up options, no mention of official beta sign-ups is made. A UTV staffer did address the issue on the game's official forums though, saying that "anyone who has registered on our website is considered a potential candidate for closed beta." [Thanks to Massively's Jeremy Stratton for the forum link!]
Iris Online opens registration for beta testing
While free-to-play games aren't everyone's cup of tea, it's hard to deny that some imaginative mechanics come out of them that wouldn't thrive anywhere else. Iris Online is a prime example, utilizing a Tarot-based set of mechanics that tie 22 dungeons of the game to the 22 Major Arcana and allow players to change into monsters via a card system. Gala-Net is opening the game up for beta testing registration, with the game's testing set to commence at an unspecified time in the future. Described as a gypsy-themed fantasy game, the aesthetics feature a surfeit of bright colors and surreal imagery, such as the accordion-legged horses seen in the title image. (Those are mounts, for the record.) It also sticks to the Tarot theme in its dungeon mechanics -- the Lovers dungeon, for instance, may only be entered by a male character and a female character, both of whom must survive together. While the details on gameplay are yet to be fully revealed, Iris Online certainly has a unique look to it, and those interested can sign up for beta testing now.
