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EQII Age of Discovery pre-orders available
EverQuest II may be gearing up for free-to-play, but Sony Online Entertainment is still charging a premium for the game's latest digital expansion. When Age of Discovery launches next month, the content pack will be available in two flavors: A regular edition for $39.99 and a collector's bundle for $59.99. The catch is that the collector's edition price is actually a discount, and if players fail to pre-order the pack, the price increases to a whopping $89.99. What do you get for such a princely sum? In addition to the new AoD content, players will receive a flying mount, a cloak, a robe, a Lavastorm house, a Beastlord pet, two dungeon-maker mob spawners, and a custom dungeon-maker map layout. SOE has yet to announce an official release date for Age of Discovery, nor does the company's announcement page say when pre-orders will close. We'll keep you updated as we learn more.
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.
Dungeon Maker II: The Hidden War reveals US release
The first Dungeon Maker game didn't make too big a splash here in the States, but that's not stopping UFO Interactive from releasing its sequel here in the States. As always, this sequel is bigger, better and more badass with over 700 items, 90 quests, and 150 different monsters.The Dungeon Maker series is rather unique as it has players create their own dungeons ... and then fight in them. This time around, you can even swap dungeons with a friend. However, we're more curious about the story: will it be as ridiculous as the first iteration's?[Thanks, R.H.!]
Master of the Monster Delayer
Atlus sent out bad news for people eager to start making dungeons: Master of the Monster Lair, the American release of Global A's Dungeon Maker, has been delayed from its September 2 release date to October 21. This is, of course, only an inconvenience to those hoping to make dungeons on the DS and then share them wirelessly with friends. You remain free to build your own dungeons in real life, provided you have the capital and make sure to obtain the proper permits for construction. New screens are in the gallery, so grab your magic shovel and start digging through them!%Gallery-25001%
E308: Screens of the Monster Lair
Atlus has unleashed further shots of its dungeon-building RPG Master of the Monster Lair. Mostly, these depict some of the rooms that will be available to players from the get-go, including a musty cellar (apparently, hobgoblins are drawn to these), a warrior's dojo, a king's bedroom, and rooms featuring a hearth or water features. No jacuzzi in which orcs and goblins can unwind yet, but there's still hope, right?There's also a brief glimpse of the game's local wireless mode, in which players can share their dungeon creations with friends; we're only sorry that none of our friends are likely to buy this. We need new friends, frankly.%Gallery-25001%[Via press release]
New screens of Master of the Monster Lair, or Dungeon Maker, or both
It seems quite likely that Atlus's release of Master of the Monster Lair and Marvelous/Rising Star Games' European release of Dungeon Maker will share the same English translation. In that case, these screens of Dungeon Maker should also be screens of Master of the Monster Lair -- and even if they aren't, we can accept the possibility of seeing the same Japanese phrases translated two different ways, if only in the name of international accord.Of course, our understanding of the game is that it's about a kid who uses a magic shovel to create dungeons, which fill up with monsters that he then kills. Who could tell when something like that has been translated accurately?
DS Daily: The Atlus Effect
We had basically totally forgotten about Dungeon Maker until yesterday. For that matter, when Global A first revealed the game, we were (personally) unfazed by it -- it seemed to be just another dungeon RPG. Yesterday, however, Atlus announced that they intended to release Dungeon Maker in the U.S as Master of the Monster Lair. For whatever reason -- either our appreciation of Atlus, of games whose text we can read, or of Monster Lair, we found the news rad.Atlus games are generally great. But until yesterday, Dungeon Maker wasn't an Atlus game! Are there any publishers for whom the act of publishing a game improves that game's standing in your mind?
Atlus grabs, renames Dungeon Maker for U.S. release
With Rising Star snatching publishing rights for Dungeon Maker, we knew that it was only a matter of time before a U.S. company announced that it would be localizing the game. Atlus has, with a wink, revealed that it will bring the RPG to North America this September 2nd along with a new and more cumbersome title -- Master of the Monster Lair. Quick details for those of you unfamiliar with the Global A Entertainment-developed series: Your character is armed with a magical, talking shovel which allows you to dig out a dungeon to attract monsters. The better your dungeon, the more monsters for you to kill. You can build over 20 different types of rooms, including chapels, cellars, stables, trash dumps, and more. Each room attracts different types of monsters and helps you pick up different items. You can trade dungeon designs and challenge your friends to run through your creations (local wireless). Hit the gallery below for new English screenshots and art!%Gallery-25001%
Dungeon Maker digs its way west this September [update 1]
We all owe Rising Star Games several evenings' worth of drinks at the bar, for without them we western folk may well have missed out on some potentially magnificent games.And here's another one! After its recent confirmation that Dungeon Maker was coming to Europe, the company has settled on a release date of September 19th (those of you in the states needn't despair; after all, Europe is one small import away), and whipped the covers off of the PAL boxart. Doesn't that golden shovel hint at amazing possibilities? What deadly traps will it help us lay? What rare and exotic monsters and treasures will it help us ensnare? We'll know soon enough![Update 1: First English screens! Hit the gallery!]%Gallery-25001%[Via press release]
Flowers, Dungeons, and Pain confirmed for Europe
A new batch of European release dates has suddenly materialized from Nintendo, and is packed with all sorts of exciting confirmations. The most thrilling, for us at least, is the news that Flower, Sun, and Rain will be getting that rumored European release this October, followed by Lux Pain in November. If you want to know where to send your effusive "thank you" letters, Rising Star are the ones in charge of localizing both titles. Other items of interest include a specific launch date for Bakushow, and Euro versions of Pokémon Platinum (big surprise, right?) and Dungeon Maker.But here's a question: what's with DS Novel? It's been hanging around on these lists for the best part of eight months now, and we're still no nearer to learning a release date or what it even is. Check out the full list for yourselves past the break!%Gallery-12911%%Gallery-18526%
Dungeon Maker gets release date, screenshots
Dungeon Maker is coming to the PSP a lot sooner than you may think. XSEED sent us a reminder, telling us that the RPG will be available on June 19th, a Tuesday. With their announcement, they also conveniently provided us a plethora of screenshots. A quick look makes us not think very highly of the game's visual appeal -- hopefully, the gameplay will do more than enough to make up for its looks.%Gallery-3820%
Building a better dungeon in Dungeon Maker
We'd think that playing Dungeon Maker would be akin to playing with Legos ... if the Legos attracted dozens of man-eating monsters. This new video highlights the play experience of Dungeon Maker. Watch as you start summoning new rooms, and get in touch with your interior decorator as you start color coordinating the rooms. Eventually, you'll have a dungeon that is oh-so-chic. We'll be sure to have more on Dungeon Maker in the coming weeks.
Dungeon Maker website reveals silly plot
Dungeon making fans, take notice. XSEED's Dungeon Maker Hunting Ground has an official website now, with a projected release date right around the corner in June. XSEED also released Valhalla Knights awhile back, a title that was lampooned by critics for its restrictive game play and lack of story progression. How does the story in Dungeon Maker fare? Well, the new website contains some insight into the background story elements we think you'll find ... interesting. You control the Architect (not that Architect), a hero that arrives in town wanting to develop a monster-luring dungeon so he can sharpen his fighting skills, net some serious gold coinage and become the baddest dungeon maker who ever lived. The hero must face skepticism from the townspeople that don't believe the Architect has what it takes to make the ultimate dungeon. But eventually, the Architect begins to win support of the townsfolk by luring rare and powerful enemies into his ever-growing dungeon. In turn, the townspeople equip the Architect with new dungeon making abilities. Will our hero be able to lure the powerful and elusive Wandering Demon, freeing the townsfolk from its reign of fear and terror once and for all? Wow. The plot seems utterly ridiculous so it might be 0/2 for XSEED. On the other hand, a dungeon making game for the PSP is certainly unique. Perhaps its appeal might overcome such a far-fetched plot. We'll know a lot more once Dungeon Maker Hunting Ground is released in a few weeks. In the meantime, check out the game's website for more information.
XSEED announces new RPGs: Dungeon Maker & Brave Story
PSP is no stranger to the RPG genre. XSEED, publisher of the upcoming Valhalla Knights, is preparing two more adventures for PSP gamers to conquer:Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground has you creating dungeons, floor by floor, in order to capture an elusive beast, the legendary Wandering Demon. By improving the layout of your dungeon, you'll be able to lure in more exotic creatures, and fight them in real time using a variety of weapons, magics, and summoning creatures. You'll also be able to trade dungeons with a friend, when this game comes out in July.Brave Story: New Traveler is a new PSP-exclusive RPG from Game Republic (creators of Genji). You play as an eleven year old boy (pictured) whose life is changed forever when his friend Miki falls ill from a mysterious disease. He must enter the world of Vision to find the Goddess of Fortune to make his wishes come true. This RPG doesn't have a release date yet, but is expected to come out Q3.Check after the cut to see more pictures of Dungeon Maker in action.
