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Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to Drakensang Online the dwarves go
Do you like guns, machinery, and beards? Then Drakensang Online's newest addition is exactly what you want to play. The dwarven Steam Mechanicus has just been added to the game, offering a new play option for those who prefer to reach out and touch someone with projectile death rather than the more traditional fantasy options. In lore, the dwarves are purely fascinated with mechanical gadgets for their own sake, not usually concerned with the larger world's politics. But a swarm of evil dragons descending over the land kind of forces even the gadget-happy to take notice, since they'll probably trash the local Fantasie Beste Buyye. The Steam Mechanicus carves his gameplay niche in the mid-range area, using a variety of projectile attacks, self-built turrets, and rocket-powered jumps to pull together a victory. This new class is exclusive to subscribers for two weeks, at which point it will lose its exclusivity but retain its overall fiddly qualities. [Source: Bigpoint press release]
Drakensang Online lands in Southeast Asia
Players in Southeast Asia will now be able to leap into the world of browser-based dungeon-crawler Drakensang Online. Bigpoint announced the expansion of Drakensang's market today, noting that the release marks the first time a Western European developer has worked with Southest Asia's Friendster social gaming platform. Drakensang Online will be offered as part of the Friendster X-Clusive series, which puts Bigpoint directly in contact with 115 million registered users across the region. The game has already launched in over 200 countries and boasts 19 million registered users. Here's Bigpoint chief business officer Jeronimo Folgueira from the announcement: As a region with increasing internet use and online gamer penetration, Southeast Asia comes with one of the most significant free2play markets worldwide. As a game changer in the region's business, Friendster is the right partner to deliver high-quality games to a sophisticated gaming community. [Source: Bigpoint press release]
Rise and Shiny: Herokon Online
I knew I would likely enjoy my time in Herokon Online, but not because I enjoy every game I come across. The truth has always been that I will gladly complain, tear up, and criticize any game that deserves it. No, I knew I would like Herokon Online for established reasons. First, I covered the game in its initial stages at GDC Online in 2012. I loved the fact that it runs in a browser (the "mobile app" that came before mobile apps) and that it came from the same incredible IP that Drakensang Online and its standalone cousins boast. The Dark Eye is one of those IPs that I have always wished I could dig into more deeply. It's been going strong for a long time, and I know that there must be layers and layers in its lore that I can hopefully dive into one day soon. So Herokon Online had a grip on me before I began to play it. It's by no means perfect, but I'll explain that.
Drakensang celebrates end of beta, releases Atlantis trailer
There's good news and bad news for Bigpoint. Yesterday we told you about the bad news as the company announced it would be shutting down its mobile games division. Its bread-and-butter browser MMOs are still alive and kicking, though, none more so than Drakensang Online. The free-to-play hack-and-slash title is celebrating its end-of-beta milestone, and Bigpoint says the game has amassed a whopping nine million registered players. As usual with such stats, we don't know how many of those nine million have actually played (or paid), but it's a big number nonetheless. The game also boasts a new continent (Atlantis), and Bigpoint has released an accompanying teaser trailer that you can view after the cut. [Source: Bigpoint press release]
Drakensang raises Atlantis update from the deeps
Drakensang Online welcomes the citizens of Atlantis to its game world today. The hack-and-slash MMO pushed its largest update ever to the live servers, and it's so big that the ocean itself could not contain it. That's what we call "hyperbole" in the biz. The Atlantis update is a wonder to behold. It includes a new continent with eight areas, 100 additional quests, and plenty of challenges for experienced players to tackle. The city itself is in ruins following its downfall by the giant snake Gorga. The update also includes a revamped world map that should help adventurers find their way. In related news, Bigpoint claims that over eight million players have registered for Drakensang Online. [Source: Bigpoint press release]
Previously on MV TV: The week of May 12th
What a week of livestreaming! We've got quite the variety and tons of hours of video to watch. What's that? You had to work and missed half of the cool streams we showed? Don't worry! I gather all of the best streams from the week's collection and list them for you right here. Still, you need to bookmark our livestream page so you can see which videos are going to be shown during the week, but if you miss any, you can check out the recap here. That's why we do it. This week we had a lot to offer. First we had good old Mike jumping into EVE Online for some space action, then into TERA for some scantily clad combat! He then explores some of the great browser-based game Drakensang Online. MJ brought a ton of goodies to the streaming table, goodies like a run-through in EverQuest II, some base-jumping in City of Heroes, a bit of hardcore survival in Xsyon, and a flight around the beautiful lands of Aion. I rounded out the end by streaming some BatMUD, a cool MUD that has been around since many of you have been in diapers! Click past the cut and grab some popcorn. Keep the butter light but add some salt. Thanks.
Drakensang Online compares itself to Diablo III and Torchlight II
Bigpoint Games is painting Drakensang Online as the Rocky Balboa of isometric hack-'n'-slash MMOs, and it's stepping into the ring with the upcoming title contenders and swinging away. The company released a comparison chart to show how its scrappy underdog is actually head and shoulders above the developing competition. According to the comparison chart, Drakensang takes the lead by offering all that its competition has and more. When you've got a game that was developed in less than two years, is free-to-play, and is a full-fledged MMO, why would you ever want to sample the fruits of Blizzard's and Runic Games' trees? Will Drakensang nip hard enough at Diablo III's heels to hobble the mighty demon as it releases next month? Time will tell, but you can check out our impressions of Drakensang when Mike plays it for you live on Massively TV this Wednesday evening! [Source: Bigpoint Games press release]
Drakensang announces 'massive content updates'
Bigpoint Games has announced that its free-to-play hack-and-slash title Drakensang Online is receiving a "massive content update." Between now and December 25th, Drakensang players will be receiving a couple of large updates, plus a few smaller changes as well. The updates will introduce players to the Norlande, which will provide "a dozen new levels, numerous monsters and champions, new bosses, and new character items and equipment." To top it off, a player can experience all of this content as a new class, the agile Ranger. Rangers will also bring with them "a whole new skill system that makes skills easier and better to use, and significantly improves gameplay." To get in on the action, head on over to the game's official site. [Source: Bigpoint Games press release]
Drakensang Online boasts one million registered users
Bigpoint's free-to-play, browser-based MMORPG Drakensang Online has been in open beta for almost two months now, and according to the developers, it has amassed quite a following in that timespan. In a press release today, Bigpoint announced that the Diablo-esque MMO has garnered one million registered users since entering open beta in August. So what's next for the game? Bern Beyreuther, Head of Development at Bigpoint Berlin, claims, "We already have a plethora of new content updates planned -- and Drakensang Online is just in its infancy." If you want to add yourself to the million, just head on over to the game's official site. [Source: Bigpoint press release]
Rise and Shiny recap: Drakensang Online
This week I was excited to spend some more time exploring Drakensang Online, the latest version in the long-running RPG series. I'd barely touched anything from the previous games, so I was blissfully unaware of what to expect from this one. I knew that Bigpoint was involved, so I had a feeling that the cash shop would be controversial but very convenient. I had also viewed screenshots and watched videos from before, so I was ready to see just how it would run on a basic laptop with three gigs of ram. The experience turned out more or less as expected, but it did throw me a few curveballs. Click past the cut and let's talk all about it.
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.
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!]
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.
Bigpoint talks Drakensang Online
Never heard of Drakensang? You're not alone, as the German-made CRPG from Radon Labs is a title that exists pretty far outside the mainstream occupied by the Dragon Ages, Fables, and Oblivions of the world. While it may end up falling short of household-name status, free-to-play MMO maker Bigpoint is nonetheless looking to bring the Drakensang saga to browsers everywhere. Drakensang Online is being billed as an action RPG/MMORPG hybrid, and a recent Bigpoint press release makes numerous references to the speed of the battles as well as the quick and easy access afforded by the browser-only platform. Bigpoint is also highlighting the game's "endless customization options" and "profound and enthralling story." This last bit will be a departure from the source material, as critics generally found the original Drakensang narrative to be lacking when compared to the combat mechanics and the game's overall presentation. You can read more about Drakensang Online at the official website, and don't forget to check out the game's teaser trailer after the cut.
Drakensang website opens eye
German publisher dtp entertainment has announced the launch of a new website for Drakensang: The Dark Eye. While it's likely that the upcoming PC RPG is well off your radar, what's particularly interesting is that the game is based in Fantasy Production's Dark Eye universe, the same used for Attic Entertainment's Realms of Arkania franchise from the 90s. The Arkania games make up some of the most difficult and taxing RPGs in existence, where characters could just as easily die from foot rot from wandering the wilderness without shoes as they could from being gored by an ogre. Unfortunately, while Drakensang will be set in the same universe, it is not considered by the devs to be a sequel to the Arkania games – though this won't stop us from re-creating our party from Realms of Arkania III: Shadows over Riva and playing Drakensang through the magic of self-delusion when the game ships in 2008.
