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Forge developer diary discusses the state of the game and what comes next
Forge isn't your typical MMO, set up as a straightforward PvP arena without niggling little issues like outside quests to get in the way. The development team behind the game has been looking at its current state, and in the newest address to the players they state what the game is doing wrong and how to fix it. The diary makes it clear that while the number of people playing Forge is down, they believe a lot of that has to do with the steep learning curve new players experience. To fix this, there are plans for a new starter area in which players can practice against bots to get accustomed to the combat and the game mechanics. The team also plans to improve the tutorial and the UI so that what an ability does is more transparent. For players already at the higher end, this is still good news -- the matchmaking system will be updated, visual customization will be improved, and you'll be able to respec at any time to ensure that you aren't stuck with poor choices forever. Check out all the details in the latest development diary.
2012: The year of the MMO Kickstarter
Kickstarter is perhaps the biggest story in the world of gaming since the birth of the home video console or the integration of online components into consumer entertainment. No new product, innovation, or invention has carried with it such immense potential for shifting the way the industry plans, builds, and delivers its products. And with projects covering everything from hardware to companion apps, it's almost impossible now to imagine a gaming world without Kickstarter, even though it was our reality just a few short months ago. The legacy of Kickstarter is one that we're witnessing in real-time. Most of the major successful projects are slated for late 2013/early 2014 releases, giving us plenty of time to speculate on what may or may not go wrong with the crowd-funding model and the products it bears. Over the next year, games will either make it to market or they won't. Developers will squander their budgets or release on time. It's all up in the air. With that in mind, we thought now would be a good time to look back on some of the biggest MMO Kickstarter projects of 2012. The fate of some of these titles is inexorably tied to the fate of Kickstarter as a viable game-creating platform -- and maybe even crowd-sourcing as a whole.
New video and 2-for-1 deal announce Forge's launch
A few weeks ago, Massively dived into the Forge beta for a hands-on experience of the unique PvP fantasy game. And soon, all players will be able to forge their own experiences: Dark Vale Games has just released a new gameplay video and announced that the arena-style game will launch on December 4th, 2012. Available via digital distribution for $19.99 USD, each purchase of Forge comes with the added bonus of a second free copy to give to a friend. Tim Alvis, COO/CTO of Dark Vale Games, explained the 2-for-1 deal for what he calls "an incredible AAA-quality multiplayer fantasy game at an amazing indie price." "We understand that these titles are all about the community. That's why we're offering the best of both worlds – a great price point and a free copy that purchasers can give to their guild- or clan-mate or anyone else they would like to have fighting by their side. The more people we have playing FORGE, the more fun it will be. We truly believe that and we're putting our money where our mouth is to prove it." Forge is rated T for teen due to violence and blood. Curious about the in-game action? Watch the new video after the break! [Source: Dark Vale games press release]
Forge reveals a new trailer of beta gameplay footage
While it's still very much in beta, Forge is a title worth watching for all PvP fans in the audience. Our last hands-on explored a fairly recent build, but unfortunately text pieces do a poor job of showing off what the game actually looks like in practice. So if it piqued your curiosity but you weren't in the beta, you were kind of out of luck. But there's good news today, as the team behind the game has released a fan-made trailer assembled from beta gameplay footage. The trailer is fairly short, as trailers are wont to be, but it still gives a picture of what the game looks like in terms of animation and gameplay. Take a look at the full video just past the cut, which covers both navigation and combat from the viewpoint of several classes within the game. There's reason to hope that release dates and pricing information might not be too far off, either. [Source: Dark Vale Games press release]
Tossing fireballs and bashing shields: Hands-on with the Forge Beta
Dark Vale's upcoming PvP-centric title, Forge, is an MMO like no other. The game has no PvE content to speak of, instead demanding that players earn their progress by killing one another in timed arena-style deathmatches or objective-based games. It's built in the Unreal Engine, features an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective, and depends heavily on strategy and reflexes as opposed to gear and level. There are no quests to complete, no mobs to grind, and no resources to gather. When Dark Vale says Forge is "Pure PvP," that's exactly what it means. While some may be skeptical of the appeal of a PvP-only MMO, others will note that there is vast potential here to fill a niche for gamers craving MMO-style combat without all the extra muss and fuss of grinding, gearing, and socializing. The only question is whether Forge will strike a chord with that pocket of players or will be just another "also-ran" in a sea of experimental MMOs. I took a peek at the Forge beta over the weekend, and what I found was an intense title with a lot of promise, but one that clearly has a lot of ground to cover before being ready for mass consumption.%Gallery-162207%
Start planning: Halo 4's Forge maps detailed on video
In the latest Halo 4 video, multiplayer designer Kynan Pearson from 343 and environment artist Lori Zawada from Certain Affinity walk though the game's new Forge maps: Erosion, Impact, and Ravine. We're already planning the ultimate "needlers only" map right now.
Forge beta launches, new video of map released
A couple of months ago, our interest was piqued in Forge, an upcoming game with a hybrid of MMO and shooter elements. In August, we were able to get a better look at the game and shared our hands-on experience. Now, folks interested in getting into the beta for themselves have the chance to do so as Dark Vale Games has announced a closed beta for Forge that will last from now until the end of November. Players who registered for the game early in the summer have access to this closed beta, as do those who have pre-ordered the game. If you missed your chance to sign up previously, pre-orders are still being taken on the official site. Also, anyone who registers on the site now will be able to log a little bit of beta time using a free 14-day trial set within the beta. Dark Vale games also released a peek at one of the upcoming maps, called Capital Siege. For a preview of this map, check out the video after the break. [Source: Dark Vale Games press release]
Massively's hands-on with MMO brawler Forge
Forge is definitely an intriguing game that invites exploration. The upcoming MMO-brawler hybrid from indie developer Dark Vale Games is emblematic of what I see as a trend in multiplayer gaming: The era of the niche game is well upon us. Forge isn't a game that will appeal to everyone; its tendency toward "all PvP, all the time" might be enough to scare away a hefty segment of the MMO crowd already. And the game has a nonexistent grind and gear system. For some gamers, that might be a deal-breaker. But there's a lot to love about Forge, and I think that anyone who gives the game a fighting chance will find something about it to keep him around.%Gallery-162207%
Dark Vale releases Forge gameplay video, 'Kick-Finish' campaign
We told about you about Forge a couple of weeks ago, and today we're happy to bring you the first alpha gameplay footage of the new PvP-centric title. Dark Vale Games has been working on its Unreal 3-based action title for a while now, but this is the first chance we've had to see it in action. The indie outfit is banking on its ability to appeal to gamers who are fed up with grind-gated PvP in MMORPGs, and Forge aims to fill the skill-based action and strategic PvP niche that most MMOs gloss over. To be honest, we're not quite sure how "MMO" Forge will end up being. We do know that it features five classes with 30 to 40 abilities each (and nine usable at any given time). Outside of that, we'll have to take Dark Vale at its word when it says that Forge is an "incredible online experience that rewards players for developing skills, not grinding for gear." The firm has also announced a "Kick-Finish" campaign designed to help the team release on-time and on-budget without resorting to publishers or outside investors. Be sure to check out the gameplay clip after the cut. [Source: Dark Vale press release]
The Firing Line: DayZ, Forge, and Rapid Assault
A couple of interesting items came across The Firing Line desk this week. One of them was the fact that PlanetSide 2's beta will be cranking up inside of a month. And there was much rejoicing. OK, now that that's out of the way, the other items concern games that are decidedly smaller in scale but no less interesting. Join me after the break for a look at the latest from the devs behind World War II Online (or Battleground Europe, if you prefer), and a new title called Forge. Oh yeah, and 500,000 of you are playing something called DayZ.
Certain Affinity developing Halo 4's Forge mode, includes gravity augmentation [Update: now with video]
Halo 4's iteration of the Forge map editor is currently under development at Certain Affinity, the development studio responsible for Age of Booty, Crimson Alliance and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary's multiplayer. The announcement was made during a presentation at Rooster Teeth's second annual RTX event in Austin, TX.While a wide breadth of changes and additions have been made to the Forge editor, most interesting are the "Player Trait Zones," which allow map builders to modify the characteristics of any players that enter the effected area, changing the height of their jumps, the speed at which they run, etc. It's even possible to reverse the gravity in a given area by using "Grav Volume" field.Enhancements have also been made to the objects that can be placed by users: Elements can now be locked in place, magnetized and more efficiently duplicated. The editor's lighting system has also been overhauled; objects placed now cast and receive shadows normally. Finally, a map editor capable of bringing our upside-down film noir Halo dreams to life.Update: Now with video! Thanks, Austin!
Sci-fi publisher announces Tor and Forge will go DRM-free with all e-book titles
Science fiction is often said to foresee the future, and today, that news couldn't ring more true. Tom Doherty Associates, a subsidiary of Macmillan and publisher of popular sci-fi and fantasy brands such as Tor and Forge, today announced that as of early July, all of its current e-books will be distributed without DRM restrictions. The company's president, Tom Doherty, revealed the shift as a long-time request of both its readers and authors -- which unsurprisingly, are a rather tech-savvy bunch. In addition to the move affecting all of Doherty's current sales channels, the move will allow the publisher to seek out independent e-book dealers that sell only DRM-free titles. While the move is unlikely to extend to the rest of Macmillan's properties anytime soon, just leave it to the sci-fi community to show others the way forward. Perhaps the future isn't gonna be so scary after all.
Guild Wars 2's crafting system detailed and demonstrated
Guild Wars 2 fans, it's time to get out your smithing hammers and fire up your forges. Freshly imported from Gamescom 2011 is a new video outlining Guild Wars 2's crafting system. The game offers eight different professions, and -- like many other MMOs -- you are granted your choice of two of those professions at any given time. However, unlike many MMOs that give you a set list of recipes based on your crafting level and then limit you to crafting only those recipes, Guild Wars 2's system allows players to experiment with different combinations of materials to see if they form a new recipe. Only guy on the server who's figured out how to make that badass warhammer? Don't tell anyone and monopolize the market! Also gone are the days of skill points. Rather than giving crafting recipes a somewhat random chance to give you a skill-up, Guild Wars 2's crafting system provides you with an experience bar for your tradeskill, with each completed recipe providing a set amount of experience toward the next level. But what if you're not happy with your profession choices? While the game only allows you to have two active professions at any given time, you're able to freely swap one profession for another while retaining progress made in your former profession. So if you want to drop your level 50 profession to mess around with another, you can pick back up where you left off at a later time. For the developer commentary and a whopping 20 minutes of hands-on time with two different professions, hop on past the cut for the full video. [Thanks to Paul for the tip!]
Lost Pages of Taborea: Resource acquisition
Way back when Runes of Magic was still young and learning to fly, there was only one way to obtain resources: Find a resource node and click it. Come to think of it, I've always chopped wood and gathered herbs, but what's the proper verb for obtaining ore in MMOs? In any case, the tried and true method of clicking on resource nodes has always worked for RoM. It's just that recipes take a lot of resources, which used to mean a lot of gathering. Seriously. A lot. I've written about the state of RoM's crafting system before, but many updates have come along since then. While the large amount of resources needed to craft items hasn't changed, the many different ways of obtaining those resources have. In this article I cover all the new ways you can get your grubby little mitts on a crafter's best friend.
Halo: Reach Invasion mode Forge guide
Having a tough time designing Halo: Reach Invasion variants in the game's expanded Forge utility? Yeah, us too -- that is, until we read Bungie's handy little guide for budding modders, which breaks down the process of creating an Invasion map from start to finish. The guide provides the know-how for setting up CTF and Assault-based objectives (and a host of other options), in addition to the 4-1-1 on creating multiple objectives in each phase of your custom Invasion game. If knowledge is power, then this guide is the equivalent of hooking up your brain to a car battery.
Massively Exclusive: Jack Emmert speaks (about Neverwinter and a whole bunch of other stuff)
Tweet var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/No_offline_play_for_new_Neverwinter_says_Jack_Emmert'; It seems everyone's got an opinion about the new Neverwinter online RPG recently announced by Cryptic. Whether you're a fan of the venerable Dungeons and Dragons franchise, a veteran of the classic single- and multi-player Neverwinter Nights titles, or just a fan of online games in general, you'll want to check out Massively's exclusive interview with Cryptic Studios COO Jack Emmert. Our own Sera Brennan sat down to quiz the Cryptic mastermind about everything from the new title, to Cryptic's evolving business model, to some candid insights into the making of both Champions Online and Star Trek Online. Roll your d20 and advance past the cut for more.
Halo: Reach achievements revealed, Forge showcased
Bungie's previously teased achievements for Halo: Reach's have finally been revealed through its latest update. 49 achievements can be earned across the campaign, multiplayer and firefight. We've dropped them after the break. If that weren't enough, there's a whole mess of new Bungie-created Forge maps on display. The update says they won't necessarily make it into multiplayer matchmaking, but if they pass "the same rigors our expertly crafted multiplayer spaces demandm" we could be sticky-grenading people's faces on those maps when the game ships this September. Ha-cha! [Thanks, Measlesopolis]
Halo: Reach 'Forge World' and Firefight Versus mode introduced at Comic-Con Bungie panel
Last night at Bungie's Comic-Con panel, the studio went "beyond the canyon" and revealed what's behind the hill in the Blood Gulch remake: "The rest of the map." Turns out this version of Blood Gulch, which will be known as "Hemorrhage" in Halo: Reach, is actually one part of a gigantic five-part map called "Forge World" -- there's an island in the back bay, an outcropping called "The Rock," a hangar built into the cliff overlooking the bay dubbed "The Colisseum," and an open field area up above. The entire map starts out blank, and players will be invited to build their own levels in it using Reach's revamped Forge editor mode. "Forge World is the evolution of what we've been through with Forge," Bungie Community Lead Brian Jarrard told Joystiq at a Microsoft event following the panel. "How do we expand on it even further, and give people even more flexibility, and more toys to work with?" The answer: by combining very detailed and customizable tools with a variety of variables used in whatever ways players see fit, according to Jarrard. The Forge editor can now apply different physical models to pieces inserted on the map, leaving them fixed in mid-air or even half-embedded in other pieces. Additionally, spawn points can now be easily colored according to team, teleporters can be dropped at will and even customized for vehicles, and gigantic structures (like a multi-level tower) can be summoned and placed just about anywhere. %Gallery-96257%
Ulduar on the 3.1 PTR: Ignis the Furnace Master
Coming back to my post as official 3.1 PTR raid reporter after an offensive usurping by my dubiously sentient coworker Alex Ziebart, it's time for a new roundup of tonight's PTR Ulduar testing events. Last night we got a taste of the Flame Leviathan fight, which brought us motorcycles and tanks and floating pyrite containers, but tonight ... tonight we got a taste of a good, old-fashion player vs. comically gigantic dude raid encounter with Ignis, the Furnace Master. Matt "Matticus" Low, the aforementioned plantlike Mr. Ziebart, and I formed a 10-man raid. As usual, Lead Encounter Designer Scott Mercer, a.k.a. Daelo, was around for the fun. Making travel considerably easier was last night's addition of a teleporter to different areas of the dungeon. Our trip past the large gate guarding the end of the Iron Concourse to the Colossal Forge was instant and uneventful. Then we waited for our barrel-chested braid-bearded friend to spawn. This writeup will be spoiler-heavy. If you don't wish to know anything about this fight, don't click below. You've been warned.
Bungie: No new Forge features for Halo 3
Bungie's latest community update takes an energy sword to rumors that sprung up following the developer's Edge Award for Interactive Innovation acceptance video. Specifically, the dev clarifies that, "There will be no insertion of Campaign objects, enemies or friendlies via the Forge as folks have speculated." Okay then. What else? Oh, yeah, no "new feature that implements Campaign objects into multiplayer" is in the works, either. Seriously, folks ... let's be more ambitious with our rumors! The video is clearly hinting at the fact that Halo 4 won't be developed by Bungie, or even Gearbox, but by gamers themselves. That way, if you don't like the story or missions, you'll have no one to complain to but yourself.[Via X3F]
