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LEGO Universe opens the Nexus Tower
It's always nice to finish a big construction project of LEGO bricks, even if you're just making something out of spare bricks on your desktop instead of working. It's the same for LEGO Universe, but in a somewhat more substantive fashion -- the Nexus Tower, a massive structure composed of a huge number of bricks, has finally been completed in-game. Thanks to players donating bricks and working toward the tower's completion, everyone can start enjoying the features of this large-scale hub as well as several content updates due to accompany it. Players who explore the tower will find over 50 new missions to undertake as well as several faction leaders to work alongside as they learn more about the history of the game's multiversal setting. There are also new items, new pets, new daily missions, and a promise of more content to come down the pipeline following this. LEGO Universe players can check out all of the new stuff in-game now, but if you can't log in right at the moment, take a look at the trailer just after the break.
Ether Saga Odyssey officially launches
Some updates are too big to just write the whole thing off as a patch. Ether Saga Odyssey has just launched today... and if the name looks more than passingly familiar, it's because up until very recently the game was Ether Saga Online. Perfect World Entertainment has re-branded the game with a new title to commemorate the groundswell of content added with this update, including new races, new starting areas, and a brand-new graphics engine for the game. But the launch festivities don't stop with the new title -- there are plenty of other events and rewards to kick off the rebranding. For starters, experience gained will be doubled for the weekend, which should help new players bring characters up to level 30 faster than ever. That's a good thing, as new characters who hit 30 will receive special rewards, as will players who stay logged in for an extended period of time. The promotions end on May 4th, so if you're itching to give the new Ether Saga Odyssey a try, now is the time.
Newest EVE Online patch pushed live with controversial anomaly changes
The latest update to EVE Online has gone live, with Incursion 1.4 hitting the server today. Like any patch, this one has issues to be ironed out, ones that have already prompted an announced maintenance tomorrow to deploy a fix. But bugs are understandable with the wealth of updates in the new patch, which makes far-reaching changes to several parts of the game including a plethora of quality-of-life improvements. Parts can now be stripped from unpiloted ships, extra outpost information has been added, and you can see the portraits of other pilots in more places as well as zoom in for a hi-resolution look whenever you want. But the patch isn't all cosmetics and convenience; some functional changes have been rolled out as well. Chief among these are changes to the workings of anomalies, which were announced some time ago and caused something of a stir within the community. Whether or not players will be slightly more happy with the changes in actual play remains to be seen; for the time being, EVE Online players will need to start logging in and experimenting with the patch to determine how good (or bad) the net effect has been.
A new kingdom awaits in Vindictus patch 1.23
There's more to Vindictus than just hacking and slashing everything into a bloody red mist, and with the game's latest update, that statement is more true than ever. Patch 1.23 has just arrived, bringing with it a variety of new content for the free-to-play action title, starting with the brand-new kingdom of Rocheste. Players at level 22 or higher will be able to travel to the new area filled with new vendors and quest NPCs as well as enjoy the start of the brand-new Expertise system for crafting items. But maybe you're not too concerned about all of that fluff and want to cut things to ribbons. The update is catering to you as well with the level cap bump to 70 and the addition of two new transformations for your character. Along with an increased AP cap, new armors, and a new dueling system, there's plenty of opportunity for Vindictus veterans to enjoy the game's signature gameplay. Take a look at the full patch notes and get ready to enjoy all of the new additions, along with several upcoming events for the game.
Lord of the Rings Online releases Update 2
If you've been waiting for the next installment of the epic story behind Lord of the Rings Online, today is your day. Update 2 is now live, containing among other things the beginning of Book 3 for the current story. Along with the revisions to make the preceding Volume II much easier to solo, players who love delving into the game's story and lore will have plenty to be happy about in this update. But there are improvements for the endgame as well. Aside from the previously mentioned removal of radiance, the update features two three-player instances, two six-player instances, a new 12-person raid, and three new scaling skirmishes from the depths of Mirkwood. Add to that the revisions made for monster players, class revisions for Hunters, Burglars, and Minstrels, and a variety of improvements to quality of life, and the most recent Lord of the Rings Online update should bring plenty for everyone. %Gallery-9579%
Final Fantasy XIV's update dated and expanded
The first of two major updates for Final Fantasy XIV in the month of December will be going live tomorrow, according to the official word from Square-Enix. That's good news for the game's players, who have been looking forward to the previewed notorious monsters ever since the first of several teasers was made public. But that's not the only thing that players can expect, with the promise of another update later in the month bringing even further improvements to the game's mechanics and the market system. Among the more significant features that have not been previewed in detail are the addition of more guildleves and recipes for crafting, as well as another free retainer slot that will serve to boost inventory and marketing capacities significantly. The update is also scheduled to contain more UI improvements, including an increase on the maximum allowed input in the chat box (which is currently rather myopic). Further details on the second December update are promised for a later date, but this update alone should be a fine tiding for Final Fantasy XIV players the world over.
Conquer Online is ready for kung-fu fighting
It's been a very long time since we looked into Conquer Online, but the game is approaching its next major update, dubbed "Returning Light." This update features the addition of a new playable class, the Monk, which makes up the sixth entry into the game's mix of classes. While these ascetic disciples of elemental harmony have long remained isolated from the rest of the world, the events of the upcoming patch will force Monks into combat once again, much to the benefit of players. Monks are capable of bestowing a number of beneficial effects upon party members, healing and supporting others through their elemental skills. But the class is also capable of moving into the fray via powerful martial arts, allowing players to split their time between the class functions or pick one as a specialty. The official preview for the Monk is already available, so Conquer Online players should look forward to the currently scheduled release of December 16th for the patch.
Issue 19 goes live in City of Heroes
While World of Warcraft goes through its own world-shattering events, City of Heroes is getting hit hard as well. Issue 19 has just gone live, allowing players to experience the first step of the Praetorian invasion. Luckily, the patch also brings with it the Alpha Slot, empowering players with the first tier of the Incarnate system and allowing characters to stand against the invasion at a heretofore unseen level of power. There's also a surfeit of assorted quality-of-life improvements, not the least of which is the movement of Fitness to a baseline set of powers. Issue 19's features have been getting talked up for some time, so players will likely find many familiar entries among the official patch notes. Most noteworthy is the free respec token that's being given out to all characters, with a second free token being awarded on December 8th for characters who have used the first free token. It's the perfect time for City of Heroes players to log in, get playing, and start fighting back against the Praetorian invaders with all the might they can muster -- and with the new systems, that's quite a lot of might indeed.
A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The changing of the environment
If I had to make a list of video game characters I hate... well, it would take up a thousand words and then some. (Fuuka Yamagishi would be on there.) But if I just had to make a list of MMO lore characters that I hate... actually, again, it would take up a thousand words and then some. (Tyrande Whisperwind would be on there.) Still, near the top of the list would be one of my least favorite characters from the lore of any game, and appropriately enough it's City of Heroes -- because I really, really hate Statesman. Honestly, before I even knew about his background, Statesman rubbed me the wrong way. But it was only made worse by the fact that he derived his powers from Jack Emmert's ego, thereby giving him nearly limitless everything as long as Emmert was in charge. The comics made him out to be a jerk; the game made him out to be The Best Hero In The World Ever. And through it all there was a subtle reminder that he was the real hero. Your character was great and all, but you weren't really the hero. It was Statesman.
Issues 20 and Incarnates previewed for City of Heroes
If you were one of the lucky fans at the recent City of Heroes meet-and-greet, you were treated to a wealth of information from Paragon Studios about the future of the game. If you weren't, however, you still get a fair slice of luck with today's reveal on the official site about the Incarnate system, complete with lore illustrating the start of what promises to be a far-reaching storyline in the game. We've also gotten a look at the event's presentation on future content, which should give fans plenty to look forward to. The Incarnate system is kicking off with the Alpha Slot in Issue 19, which will be focused on wide-ranging enhancements to all of a character's powers. Unlike Enhancements, Incarnate abilities can be slotted and removed without destroying them. Each slot will have several branches that players can explore as well, allowing for a great deal of character customization. Moreover, the most powerful Incarnate abilities allow characters to improve their effective level in battle past the cap. You can head to the official site for more details on the next major system of City of Heroes -- or you can take a look at the gallery for a preview of what's coming and the slides which give us a sneak peek at a new warehouse map, new costume pieces, and the trials of Issue 20. %Gallery-107010%
Demonflame now available for Champions Online
It was promised for this month, and Champions Online players can rejoice that the promise was true. Demonflame, the second adventure pack for the game, has just moved from the test servers to live. Following in the footsteps of the previous adventure pack, Serpent Lantern, the adventure can be undertaken by any size group from level 11 onward, scaling in both difficulty and complexity according to the number and level of participants. Not to mention that it includes new rewards for players of all levels, including new costume parts of an equally violet hue. In addition to the new adventure, the newest patch also included the pet revision, which might be even more interesting for you depending on your level and power build in the game. While there's no official list of patch notes, our resident columnist did a good job summarizing both the pet changes and the new adventure pack in the weeks leading up to their release. So if you've been holding off on logging in to Champions Online in anticipation of the new patch, now is the time.
City of Heroes previews the coming Issue 19
We've known about the bare basics of Issue 19 for a little while now, but City of Heroes players have just been treated to a new explosion of information about the game's next major content patch. And it promises to be quite a big update, with two new task forces, new events in Praetoria, and some alternate animations and auras that had not been previously announced. Several powers will now have a number of locations that can be used as a launching point, so you could fire your Radiation Blasts from your eyes, one hand, both hands, or other possibilities. More tip and morality missions are being added, as well as the option for characters who were not from Praetoria to enter the city. It couldn't come at a better time, as Praetoria's infiltration and invasion are the center of the two new task forces. Overseen by Apex and Tin Mage, two important lore figures, the chains have characters face off against Praetors and uniquely Praetorian enemies to keep their world safe from Emperor Cole's designs. There are also new live events being added in Praetoria, such as a mass protest that heroes can take part in or help shut down. With the previously announced first Incarnate slot and the move of Fitness to inherent (with a slight clarification of unclear wording), the update promises to be an infusion of both content and systems for City of Heroes, so take a look at the official rundown for more.
Battle of the Immortals launches an expansion teaser
There's something to be said for verisimilitude. Despite the fact that we've all accepted limitations in just how much a game can model at any given time, it's nice to be able to break things when you unleash whatever horrible ultimate spell your character of choice is packing. Battle of the Immortals recognizes this, and that's why one of the big features in their new teaser trailer is the addition of destructible environments to the game. While the game's first major expansion update is ramping up for release, this trailer is for an addition not slated for arrival until spring of 2011. It's a bit of a wait, but the trailer already looks detailed and interesting, promising several graphical and environmental upgrades for the game. Take a look past the cut for the full trailer, and keep your eyes peeled for more news on the updates for Battle of the Immortals, as they seem to be coming fast and furious.
