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MV Guide: August 15-21, 2011
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel. Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.) Follow along after the jump to see what's scheduled for this week!
Drakensang Online open beta is live
Bigpoint Games, makers of Battlestar Galactica Online and Lord of Ultima, announced today that its newest creation, Drakensang Online has entered open beta. The game puts players in the shoes of one of two classes -- the fearless Dragonknight or the arcane Spellweavers -- and sends them to battle against the fierce monsters of the Anderworld. Action-RPG fans will be familiar with Drakensang's formula of grouping up, finding bad things, and hitting them until they stop moving in hopes of getting some shiny new loot. For gamers on the go, however, Drakensang offers one distinct advantage: It runs in your browser. Anyone interested in giving this new game a test run can join the beta over at the official website.
Battlestar Galactica Online unveils new Brimir Class Carrier
Bigpoint Games has announced that Battlestar Galactica Online will be welcoming a new addition to its fleet of ships this fall. The new arrival comes in the form of the Brimir Class Carrier, a rather hefty tier 4 ship. The ship is a relic of earlier Colonial designs, most of which were eventually replaced by Battlestars. The Carrier, however, brings its own unique surprises to the table. Its heavy armor allows the Brimir Class Carrier to survive enemy onslaughts while it deploys squadrons of strike craft to overwhelm opposing ships. Whether these strike craft will be controlled by AI or players is to be determined, but players will be able to send their strike craft after specific targets. The novel fleet support vessel will be available for purchase with cubits (in-game currency that can be earned via gameplay or bought with cash) coming this fall.
Battlestar Galactica Online sheds "beta" tag
Bigpoint announced today that its game Battlestar Galactica Online has dropped its "beta" tag and is now wearing the big-boy pants of a fully launched game. Since its open beta release less than five months ago, the game has garnered over three million registered users, so it's probably safe to say the game is indeed ready to move out of beta. What does this mean for the future of the game? Well, it's simple really: It means that the BSGO team is shifting its focus away from optimization and patches and will instead be zeroing in on adding new content and features to the game. For more information about Battlestar Galactica Online, or to sign up to give the game a go for yourself, head on over to the official site.
Battlestar Galactica Online launches private 1v1 battles
Bigpoint broke all the conventional rules when creating Battlestar Galactica Online as a browser-based MMO. Now, the developers are continuing to improve on this unique title by giving players the ability to challenge other players in PvP matches. These instanced matches can be 1v1 duels or ranked dogfights with members of the same or opposite faction, adding a little bit more excitement in the search for Earth. If you're into PvP for the pure sport of it, you can duel any consenting player of any faction, rating, ship size, or class in a private 1v1 match. However, if your into the rewards or you want to prove that you are indeed the best, join in the ranked matches. The game's matchmaking system pairs up players of similar arena rating, ship size, and class in their own private portion of space for a battle to the death. The top 100 on the Top Gun Leaderboard will be recognized with a special icon above the pilot and ship name. And when you're playing BSGO with the three million other registered players, check out the two new star systems in the Veil Sector: Nilfhel and Muspell. These two areas contain high-level NPCs for you and your allies to conquer. For more information, visit the official website, or better yet, just play the game. It's free!
Bigpoint and Mail.Ru partnering for global distribution deal
Bigpoint and Mail.Ru Group have just announced a corporate partnership that aims to bring titles from each publisher to new prospective markets. Bigpoint, a browser MMO specialist most famous for its free-to-play Battlestar Galactica title, will bring its games to Mail.Ru's Russian-speaking audience via the latter's existing portal delivery service. Similarly, Bigpoint users will find Mail.Ru titles like GodsWar Online accessible via the Bigpoint website. Bigpoint games will also be making their way to Mail.Ru's Odnoklassniki and My World social networking services. "As successful browser-game providers, Bigpoint.com and Mail.Ru are a match made in heaven. We're happy to expand both our game portfolio and our international network of partners at the same time," said Bigpoint CEO Nils Holger Henning in a recent press release.
The MMO Report: Casey says frak edition
This week's MMO Report is all about Casey's ego. Not one shred of MMO news bullied its way onto the show this week, unless you count a story about Battlestar Galactica Online reaching two million subscribers as news. OK, maybe you can count Age of Conan going free-to-play, or maybe the newest Minecraft update is technically news. Perhaps Perfect World Entertainment buying Cryptic Studios would be considered news, too. But let's not forget: The MMO Report is really about Uncle Casey's Mail Bag. So that is exactly what will fill the rest of this post. The Mail Bag this week is all about love, love, and memes. Fans share their love for each other, love for Casey, and love for Morgan Webb. Yes, she's been gone for two weeks, but apparently Casey's manly smell has not ousted the memory of the time Morgan hosted the MMO Report. One fan has not forgotten; he was so inspired that he created a meme about it just to show how much he cared. Jump past the break if you are interested in catching a glimpse of Casey Schreiner's ego. We have the full video ready to go. Maybe you will catch the news that we missed while staring at Casey's incredible beard.
Bigpoint unleashes new Mummy Online site and trailer
It's been almost a year since Bigpoint announced The Mummy Online, and we were starting to suspect that the project had been sealed back up in a tomb... forever. We even listed it as one of our top MMOs that went MIA in 2010. But it turns out that Bigpoint was just running quiet as it whipped up a whole new site and trailer for us to enjoy. The Mummy Online is a continuation of the hit film series, which seeks to meld high adventure with historical horror. Bigpoint's Arash Amini feels that there's a lot of material for the team to mine: "Working with such a rich franchise not only enables us to leverage an incredible story; it also lends itself to further exploration and development perfectly suited for an online game that can evolve over time." This free-to-play browser title is set at the southern tip of the Nile, where tombs, burial grounds, oases, and ruins wait for the intrepid grave robber. It looks to have fast-paced action (with guns!) in a 3-D isometric viewpoint. Bigpoint's hoping to get The Mummy Online to release by this fall, but in the meantime you can check out the lore and screenshots on the official site as well as the teaser trailer below.
Battlestar Galactica Online surpasses 2 million players
Much like the Colonial Fleet itself, Battlestar Galactica Online just keeps on rolling. Already cited as the company's biggest launch to date, BigPoint has announced that the free-to-play, browser-based MMO has garnered more than two million registered players in its first three months of availability. Managing director Rob Ollett stated, "At just three-months in we're at a point now where we can shift the majority of our attention to adding new content and addressing the community's wish list," implying that the game has made enough (star) bucks to focus on new challenges.
Bigpoint announces two million player mark for Battlestar Galactica Online
Bigpoint announced today that its sci-fi MMOG Battlestar Galactica Online, based on the immensely popular Syfy series of the same name, has reached two million registered players in its first three months of service. The free-to-play game has been under constant construction since its launch, with the addition of new ships for both the Colonial and Cylon factions, the introduction of the Merit system (which "enables the purchase of high-value items like nuclear missiles"), and even the ability for players to pilot their factions' trademark capital ships. What's next for BSGO? Rob Ollett, managing director at Bigpoint International, has this to say: "With BSGO continuing to achieve new benchmarks and receive such a strong positive response from the fans, we're excited to take its development to the next level. At just three-months in we're at a point now where we can shift the majority of our attention to adding new content and addressing the community's wish list." To join the exciting, paranoia-fueled (ohgodohgodohgod who's a Cylon!?) universe of Battlestar Galactica Online, head on over to the official site.
Jump into Drakensang Online with a closed beta key from Massively [Updated]
Last week we brought you the news that Drakensang Online is entering open beta next month. However, if you don't want to wait that long to try it, we've got just the thing for you: 2,000 closed beta keys! All you need to do is head over to our giveaway page to pick up a key. Then go to Drakensang Online's main page, click "play now for free" to register, and enter your key in the field at the bottom of the registration window. Drakensang Online is browser-based, so once you're registered, you're free to jump right in and start playing! [Update: The techies for our giveaway page have let us know that there was an IP tracking issue with one of the servers. The problem has been fixed, and keys will now be distributed correctly. We've raised the IP lock for now, so even if you got a key before, you're clear to claim another one. Thanks for your patience!]
Free for All: So how DO they make their money?
Each and every article I write will have at least a few comments from different points of view on the subject of free-to-play profits and cash-shop uses. Once again my wonderfully unique position as a writer for a large gaming website gives me some general insight into the mind of today's modern MMO gamer -- at least the type of gamer who comes to Massively for his information. As with any group, there are a lot of myths that are passed around, as well as many truths. Figuring out which is which takes time. I decided to continue with this fascinating look at payment models by gathering even more information. Already I have collected some of my favorite comments from many of you for possible future use in a column, but I love asking questions for you to answer. This week I thought it would be fun to examine some of the different "truths" about free-to-play that get passed around. For example: How do free-to-play publishers make their money? Do most free-to-play players really pay more than a typical subscription price? Do free-to-play games sell power? Click past the cut and let's look into some of these items.
Drakensang Online open beta coming in June
It wasn't too long ago that we announced the impending arrival of Drakensang Online, an MMO iteration on Radon Labs' quirky Drakensang single-player RPG. Today, Bigpoint has confirmed that the title is even closer to release than we thought and that the open beta will be kicking off next month (in five different languages, no less). Bigpoint's Bernd Beyreuther is enthusiastic about the browser MMO's chances. "The closed beta's smooth progress has enabled us to take the next step in June and open the game up to everybody. The switch from classic PC game to browser game was a huge leap forward for us filled with many new possibilities," he explained. Drakensang Online will initially offer two playable classes, the Dragonknight and the Spellweaver, as well as over 100 hours of content including quests, dungeons, and exploration around the Anderworld.
One Shots: Battlestar Galactica Online
Today's One Shots illustrates something that the MMO world is learning pretty quickly: You can find great-looking games right in your browser window. Dezmo has been enjoying Battlestar Galactica Online: Dezmo here, checking in from the Beta Antini System. If you haven't had a chance to check out Bigpoint's browser based space game, it would be a great idea if you did. Behind me is a human outpost ship, one of the many moons and the blazing light from a star. My Rhino is in the foreground. It's quite a hearty little ship. Off to make some Cylons pay! Sci-fi week continues tomorrow: Are you loving Perpetuum? Immersed in Battlestar Galactica Online? Beta testing Black Prophecy? Let your favorite sci-fi game strut its stuff this week by sending a great screenshot to us at oneshots@massively.com. Include your your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing, and we'll post it up and give you the thanks! %Gallery-112285%
Controlling share in Bigpoint purchased for $350 million
The prolific MMO developer Bigpoint is answering to couple of new bosses today. According to Gamasutra, Summit Partners and TA Associates have banded together to heavily invest in the company -- and by doing so, to take a controlling share in Bigpoint. The two firms, which are now on the board of directors, have jointly invested $350 million into Bigpoint. These funds will recapitalize the studio and expand its presence worldwide. Bigpoint founder and CEO Heiko Hubertz, who controls 30 percent of the company, appears optimistic: "The investment by TA Associates and Summit Partners is a validation of Bigpoint's leadership position within the gaming industry, and will give us a huge boost toward becoming one of the most successful gaming companies worldwide." Bigpoint has a wide portfolio of titles including Battlestar Galactica Online, DarkOrbit, and the upcoming Drakensang Online.
Battlestar Galactica Online passes one million player milestone
Bigpoint's browser-based Battlestar Galactica Online is a certifiable hit according to a new press release touting the fact that the title recently surpassed one million registered players. The milestone comes a scant six weeks after the launch of BSGO's open beta period and dovetails nicely with the news that the game is getting an engine upgrade as well as new ship content. "There is always a risk when you translate a well-known IP into another medium. We built what we believed was a recipe for success; a fantastic gaming experience inspired by an iconic show, with the added benefit of being a free-to-play title," explains Bigpoint CEO Heiko Hubertz. Head to the official Battlestar Galactica Online website for more info on the game and the new upgrades.
Battlestar Galactia Online gets a face-lift and more
Battlestar Galactica Online has already made headway in the MMO community because of its quality, yet it is completely playable in-browser. In an announcement today, the team at Bigpoint decided to give the players a taste of what is to come in the next update -- and it's all about rewards. First up, the developers apologized for taking so long with the update; the delay is due to their upgrades to the Unity engine. In the update blog released today, they said, "This was a big step forwards for the game, and Battlestar Galactica Online is now better looking, smoother and more stable than ever before." Unfortunately, as a result of all the time spent on upgrades, not all the big bugs have been addressed, but the team promises to get right on those. So what was implemented? Merits are the PvP currency for BSGO, and with them you can buy either the Viper Mk VII or the Cylon War Raider. You can also gain the much-desired ability to command a Battlestar or Basestar. Secondly, you may now exchange water for cubits. The team is certain this one will be a hit among players. Lastly, rewards such as XP and loot have been scaled according to player level: higher-level players will now receive fewer rewards for low-level "easy" kills. For the full story, jump to the developer update on the official website.
Drakensang Online moving into closed beta
If game development had trending topics a la Twitter, "play in your browser" would be at the top of the list. After all, a game you can play in your browser takes all of the slow download and install times out of the equation. Drakensang Online is the latest such game in development heading for a release, with the closed beta having just begun. If you've never heard of the game before now, don't fret -- applications for testers are still being accepted. How much social interaction will be present in the game remains to be seen, although the game's page boasts that players can engage in battle with and against other players around the world. There's a definite Diablo vibe to the screenshots and the trailers, so if that's up your alley, it might well be worth taking a look at the game during its beta testing phase. [Thanks to B1GG1N for the tip!]
Battlestar Galactica Online was BigPoint's biggest game launch
Though the series has been off the air for a few years now, the popularity of Battlestar Galactica is still very much alive in the hearts of Sci-Ficionados across the world. In a recent interview with GamesIndustry, BigPoint CCO Nils-Holger Henning said that the launch of its free-to-play MMO based on the intergalactic television series has had "the best start we've ever had with a game in Bigpoint's history." He expects the title to rake in over €1 million in revenue per month. Henning attributed the success of Battlestar Galactica Online to community involvement, saying, "They've been so interested in the brand and what's going to happen with the game." Sure, that's one possible solution. Personally, we think people are flocking to the game after witnessing mankind's defeat in Jeopardy at the hands of an unfeeling computer, and want to start figuring out how to best fight them in space. This future is real, friends -- it's time to get educated.
Bigpoint says Battlestar Galactica Online's launch is company's best ever
Bigpoint's Battlestar Galactica Online is a major hit according to company CCO Nils-Holger Henning. In a new interview at GamesIndustry.biz, Henning relates how BSGO feedback has given developers and executives a read on community reaction to the free-to-play title. "The feedback we've had, the activity inside of the game -- from the user behavior -- shows us that we're building one of the next blockbusters in Bigpoint's portfolio." What exactly does that mean? Henning defines a Bigpoint blockbuster as having potential revenues of over 1 million GBP (approximately 1.626 million USD) per month. Henning chalks up BSGO's success to the recognizable brand and the sizable fan base associated with it, as well as the company's efforts to play up the advancements in browser technology. "We've been working with games-related websites more, going for the hardcore gamers, and showing them what's now possible in the browser," he explains. Finally, he cites BSG producer Ronald Moore's involvement as a positive and explains how Moore's stamp of approval allowed Bigpoint to "stay close to the series."
