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The Art of Wushu: Paying doesn't mean winning
Age of Wushu has come under a lot of fire as a pay-to-win game. There are ways to get in-game power for out-of-game money, so there are a lot of reasons to assume that real cash can turn you into one of the top fighters in Jianghu. Fortunately for the dedicated players (and to the chagrin of cash shop whales), the truth is a bit more skewed. There are varying degrees of pay-to-win cash shops, but Age of Wushu's cash shop provides very few outlets to directly buy power. The main culprit is the simple fact that spending real money can give a player silver to spend on anything he or she wants. Silver is king in Age of Wushu. The entire player market revolves around silver, and the largest source of it comes from the cash shop. Does this mean you need to pay to have a chance?
World of Warcraft releases a new member of the sparklepony family
The Internet exploded with rage when World of Warcraft released a mount for $25 the first time around. But it sold well, and as a result we've seen several new mounts released for the game over the years. So the new Swift Windsteed likely won't raise many eyebrows over its release or its now-familiar price point, which is the same $25 you have probably come to expect. As with previous special mounts, the Swift Windsteed can operate as a flying mount and will scale to match your highest riding speed, making it a purely cosmetic option. The unlock is account-wide once purchased, giving all present and future characters a free mount for all-purpose use in perpetuity. So if you collect mounts or just feel like you could use a qilin to carry you across the skies of Azeroth, you've got reason to be excited.
Swift Windsteed now available in the Blizzard Store
Back in October, Blizzard teased the Swift Windsteed mount on their Facebook page. Further information on the mount trickled out via datamining patch 5.1 -- and as of this morning, it's available for purchase on the Blizzard Store for $25, though there is only one color available as opposed to the many that were datamined. Swift Windsteed – Exclusive Mount Now Available Take the reins of one of Pandaria's most majestic and rare beasts, the Swift Windsteed, and it is said that good fortune will follow. Dart across the heavens on a silver cloud as fast as your riding skill allows. Once purchased from the Blizzard Store, the mount will be available to all present and future characters for a single Battle.net® account. source
Ask Engadget: best smartphone car mount?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, then here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Sam, who needs to find a new way of attaching a Galaxy S III to a windshield. If you're looking to ask one of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "I've ditched my GPS unit for a Galaxy S III in my car, but I can't find a good windshield mount. Are there any models that don't use suction cups? For some reason they won't stick to my window, and yes, before you ask, yes I do keep it clean. Thanks!" While we wouldn't recommend doing anything unhealthy, we've found a good lick on the suction cup before attaching it sometimes helps. Your mileage, however, may vary. Still, you could always try one of TomTom's generic smartphone dashboard mounts or perhaps even using a Bean Bag mount? As for a window mount that doesn't use suction cups? That's a question we'll leave for our friendly commenters to join in on.
TERA entices players to buy boxed copies with a totally sweet lion
You are a discerning consumer. You've looked at the the box for TERA many a time, and you've said to yourself, "I would enjoy this game... but not yet. No, I want to wait until buying this box gives me an awesome lion to ride around as a mount. I will name her Karen." If this sounds like you, good news! Your oddly specific desire has been rewarded with the game's newest promotion! So how do you go about getting this completely awesome lion mount, technically referred to by the game as the tawny huntress? You just buy a boxed copy of the game and enter the authorization code backwards. The promotion also rewards you with two emeralds and two semi-enigmatic scrolls, but the lion is the centerpiece. However, this promotion is only valid for boxed copies of the game bought on or after December 12th. If you already have a box, you're a bit out of luck, but anyone waiting on a free lion has just lucked out.
What should and shouldn't be on the Black Market Auction House?
Perculia of Wowhead recently posted an update about undocumented changes and vanity items, which included some new information on what was and wasn't on the Black Market Auction House, as far as mounts, pets and items. Perculia's update included the Sun-Lute of the Phoenix King, as used by Sig Nicious of the Elite Tauren Chieftains, but also the Reins of the Plagued Proto-Drake, which was a reward for completing Glory of the Raider back in Wrath of the Lich King. If you were wondering what else is sold on the Black Market Auction House, you can check out Wowhead's full list. While the "axe" is a fun item, the one likely to cause more of a stir is the Reins of the Plagued Proto-Drake. As Wowhead notes, this reward was removed from the game after the arrival of tier 8, and has therefore long been unavailable to players who didn't get the achievement before that time. So, since the arrival of Ulduar, that drake has been completely unavailable to new players until now. This raises a question which has been, and no doubt will continue to be, a hot topic of conversation surrounding the Black Market Auction House. Should old items such as these, which were a trophy for completing a fairly tricky achievement when it was relevant, now be available to players on the Black Market Auction House?
Mount achievement hotfix very soon
There have been several reports on the forums of a problem with mount achievements, such as Mountain o'Mounts and the newly added We're Going to Need More Saddles. The problem is that they're not doing what every mount collector wants them to do, which is, of course, awarding yet another mount! Naturally there have been quite a few complaints about this, no mount collector likes to be cheated out of a dragonhawk, nor out of an awesome jade kite, or even an albino drake. Blizzard's Community Management team have been swift in reassuring mount collectors that a hotfix is coming, that it's a known issue, and that there should be something in place by Tuesday (if not before). So if you are getting mount achievements, but no rewards, hold on to your hats. They should hopefully mysteriously materialize in your presumably TARDIS-like mount carrying facility before long. As Vrakthis said, it should just happen when you log in, so keep an eye out and you'll be rocking a new ride before you know it. The full blue post after the break.
Coming soon: the Swift Windsteed
Blizzard posted a new and intriguing image on their Warcraft Facebook account -- a shot of a new mount with the caption "Across the land or in the sky, the Swift Windsteed can soon be your ride." Where exactly the mount is coming from or how players can obtain it is still a mystery. However, this flying mount is nothing like any we've really seen before. Considering the mention of the little fire kitten earlier this month, this could be a new store mount, or it could be tied to the factions that will be hitting the shores of Pandaria in patch 5.1. Or perhaps this is the next iteration of the Annual Pass? Regardless, the beast certainly looks interesting. Called the Swift Windsteed, it most closely resembles the Longma, or dragon horse, depicted in Chinese mythology. Between the horns, hooves and scales, this seems the most likely inspiration for the unique new steed. Although we don't currently know where we'll be able to get this crazy looking mount, it's nice to see that we'll have even more choices for crazy flying animals to get us around Pandaria. You can check out the full size image on the official Warcraft Facebook account. Mists of Pandaria is here! The level cap has been raised to 90, many players have returned to Azeroth, and pet battles are taking the world by storm. Keep an eye out for all of the latest news, and check out our comprehensive guide to Mists of Pandaria for everything you'll ever need to know.
Massively's LotRO Riders of Rohan launch-day roundup
When you first heard about Lord of the Rings Online, you probably had an idea of which areas from the Lord of the Rings lore you'd want to visit and which events you'd like to take part in. Not all of the areas in Middle-earth were part of LotRO when it launched, but with each expansion the game world gets a bit more complete. Developer Turbine has been hard at work developing iconic areas like the Mines of Moria and Isengard, but the zone players have been anticipating the most is the Plains of Rohan. The Riders of Rohan expansion goes live today, opening the visually stunning Plains of Rohan area and introducing tons of new content, class updates and gameplay changes. Developers have been careful to capture the feel of the plains in not only the area's art style but also its impressive musical score. The Riders of Rohan expansion adds a new mounted combat feature that lets players fight on customisable war horses. The open plains are filled with roving warbands of orcs and other challenges to be overcome. Read on for a run-down of all the latest news on the Riders of Rohan expansion.
This is a very, VERY fast mount
While exploring The Veiled Stair, I found myself on a mountain cliff overlooking the very northwestern sliver of Jade Forest, on the border of Valley of the Four Winds. Down below me was a river, the green hills of Jade Forest, and ... Ooh a gold elite! Base jumping off the cliff, I began my merciless attack on the Sungraze Behemoth, a monstrous, sleeping Mushan. For a gold elite it didn't put up much of a fight (though it did have a lot of health) so I was quite surprised when I looted a mount from the Mushan's corpse. Wait -- no, that's not a mount. After reading the tooltip over a couple of times I realized that I had looted a curious sort of mount that could only be used in Valley of the Four Winds, and only had three charges. But it was a very, VERY fast mount, the tooltip told me. What could that mean? And only three charges? Since I hadn't finished leveling yet, I wondered if maybe I should save it for long trips between quest hubs. Not long after finding the Oddly-Shaped Horn, I was wandering around Kun-Lai Summit, just south of Shado-Pan Monastery when I found another gold elite with a name: the mountain goat Zhing. After killing the goat, I looted Bag of Kafa Beans and at this point I was too curious to care about it being a limited use item. I clicked on the bag and woosh! Off I went! Off a cliff. Yep, that's fall damage. Ow. Ow.
Captain's Log: The low-tier ships of Star Trek Online
It seems as if most MMOs have their own version of the "mount," something that allows for faster travel from one area of the game's world to another. Mounts are known as being one of the key "shinies" that players can buy in a game, and they come with different costumes or extended health parameters to allow a player to escape a surprise attack from an unseen enemy. For the most part, they're meant to be modes of transportation only. But in Star Trek Online, the game's mounts -- its ships -- are far more than just a means of getting from one area of sector space to another. They are the player's second character, a complementary entity that engages in battle in a very different way than the characters created at the beginning of the game. In this installment of my series of tips for new players, I will begin to address the ships of Star Trek Online, specifically the Federation ships available to the first three ranks in the game.
LotRO hands over war-steed reins in dev diary
The Lord of the Rings Online team is hard at work putting the final touches on next month's Riders of Rohan, and a new dev diary shines a spotlight on the expansion's star attraction: trainable war-steeds. The article gives a brief overview of the types of mounts -- light, medium, and heavy -- as well as the trait trees that accompany them. According to the devs, each war-steed will have 32 potential traits to unlock. The good news, they say, is that retraiting a mount is easily accomplished on the fly for the cost of a few coins. The devs round out the post by sharing a few of their favorite traits and skills that war-steeds boast. These include feigning injury to dump threat, trampling enemies, giving additional damage to attacking from behind, and boosting crit chance by a whopping 25%.
JVC's $349 ADIXXION camcorder is shipping now, packs LCD, WiFi and live Ustreaming (hands-on)
After its mid-summer reveal, JVC's entry into the booming action sports camera market is now shipping and we got to spend some time with the questionably-named GC-XA1 ADIXXION at the company's CEDIA booth. To compete with offerings from GoPro, Sony and our most recent favorite, the Contour+2, the GC-XA1 brings its "Quad Proof" housing that makes it waterproof (to 5M) and shockproof (for falls of up to 2M), dustproof and freeze-proof, as well as built-in WiFi, integrated microphone, image stabilization and a 1.5-inch LCD on the side. It can use WiFi to make a video link with nearby Android or iOS devices as well as PCs so the wearer can check where the camera is pointing, and even stream video directly to Ustream via a hotspot, no PC necessary. For the $349 asking price a goggle mount, flexible mount, two lens protection covers, USB cable and a single battery are included. We didn't have a motocross track or snowmobile handy on the show floor, but in-hand it felt every bit the ruggedized, compact device that its advertised to be and the LCD was decently viewable. Check out a few more pics of it in our gallery below and some sample footage in the video embedded after the break. %Gallery-164717%
Order & Chaos dropping subscription, adding PvP modes and mounts [Updated]
Gameloft's mobile MMO is entering a new phase in its lifecycle. The studio announced that Order & Chaos is not only due for a major update, but is dropping its nominal subscription fee to make it completely free-to-play. The update, which is slated to be pushed to iOS devices later this month, will contain important features for the pint-sized title. First up are PvP combat arenas, which come in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4 varieties. Next is the addition of four new mounts to the game: two horses and two giant wolves. Finally, Gameloft is adding the second part of the Salien dungeon for hardcore adventurers. Previously, Order & Chaos charged $0.99 a month or $2.99 for six months to access on top of the original app purchase price. Gameloft is also developing a spin-off title called Order & Chaos Heroes. [Update: Gameloft contacted us to clarify that there is still a fee for the game's download, but there is no subscription fee and current players will pay nothing extra.] [Source: Gameloft press release]
ArcheAge trailer shows off new houses and more
ArcheAge is a little more than a week away from its fifth closed beta test, and the new features up for testing are being highlighted one by one. The newest trailer introduces the Mirage Island, a location where players will be able to window shop and preview different sorts of items. The video shows players testing out mounts, looking at fancy clothes, and inspecting houses. The island allows players to try out items and see what suits their fancy, with everything from adorable pets (which can grow up to be big, strong mounts!) to miniaturized towers lined up side-by-side for comparison. Jump below the cut to see for yourself.
Mophie delivers the OUTRIDE for action iPhone camera work
Popular iOS accessory maker mophie is stepping outside its battery-based products and debuting a new, sports action camera mount for the iPhone 4/4S. The OUTRIDE camera system includes a durable mount, a beefy camera-centric case and software to tie it all together. The polycarbonate case and mount is waterproof and shock proof so you can take it biking, boating and skiing without missing a beat. There's also an iPhone app that lets you create a profile and share your nail-biting adventures with your friends. The OUTRIDE system costs $130 and will be available in mid-September. [Via Engadget] Show full PR text mophie Transforms the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 into a Dedicated Action Sports Camera with OUTRIDE Hardware, App -based Video Community Empowers Users to Ride, Record and Share Salt Lake City (Aug. 1, 2012)-Summer Outdoor Retailer-mophie™, leader in developing innovative solutions that allow consumers to do more with their mobile devices, today debuted its action sports camera, outride, a hardware and app solution that puts the power to record and share tricks, tracks, rides, and epic moments in the hands of action land and water sports enthusiasts, using only their iPhone. OUTRIDE eliminates the need for dedicated video or camera devices, which add bulk and can cost upwards of $300, by harnessing the existing features of the iPhone and adding the hardware and software for outstanding, all-in-one filming, editing and sharing. OUTRIDE hardware is waterproof and impact resistant and comes bundled with a variety of custom mounts to capture action shots in the surf, snow, dirt or concrete. The release of OUTRIDE incorporates several product innovations that have earned mophie credibility in the action sports community by including features such as extreme durability and portability engineered specifically to meet the needs of the lifestyle. OUTRIDE's debut is also a clear statement that the brand is putting down roots in the category and is committed to trailblazing the development of solutions and applications that can transform the iPhone into a device that can serve many functions, eliminating the need for consumers to spend on additional, dedicated devices. "With the ever-growing action sports market, and our success in developing ruggedized products for those rough-and-tough tech users, we felt we were ready to design and develop a product that would take the iPhone and its camera capabilities to its limits," said Ross Howe, vice president of marketing at mophie. "While the action sports community has a lot of camera and video options to choose from, they weren't able to share their moments with the community in real time. OUTRIDE gives the action sports community these capabilities in a durable, compact, quality and cost-efficient way." Using the iPhone 4S or iPhone 4 and OUTRIDE as an action sports camera has many advantages, including the ability to review your own footage or shots, share those moments and follow others in the community, instantly. The free OUTRIDE app, is the perfect complement to the hardware solution and is the key differentiator from other action sports cameras on the market. With the OUTRIDE app, users have instant gratification in capturing and viewing their content, as well as sharing it on the OUTRIDE community page as well as various social media networks, on the fly and in the moment. Available in mid-September, OUTRIDE bundles range from $129.95 to $149.95 at mophie.com. Key features and benefits of the outride include: Turning the iPhone into a Dedicated Sports Camera-Bundling the case, mounting system and the OUTRIDE app, gives users the option to transform their iPhone 4S or iPhone 4 into a dedicated action sports camera. Features of the OUTRIDE hardware include: High-impact, water-proof and lightweight polycarbonate housing protects the iPhone in any scenario Water-proof Modular quick-release mounting system allows recording at any angle and attachment to any surface on a variety of sports equipment Wide angle lens is optimized for recording action sports "Lights, Camera, Action!"-Whether you have a passion for surfing, motocross or skate, there is an OUTRIDE mounting kit that will fit your sport. Capture, View and Share-Free on the iTunes store, the OUTRIDE app is a place for the action sports community to search and share videos from around the globe, on-the-go: Personal Profile-Get started by uploading a profile picture and adding in your location. From the personalized profile, users can view captured videos and photos, find and follow friends, and customize categories Capture-Allows the user to shoot both vertically or horizontally View-Custom settings allows for a unique viewing experience, and provides notifications of "friends" updates Share-Community-based sharing allows users to discover new users and connect with the "mophie" community within the app and through other social networks For more information on OUTRIDE and the full suite of mophie products, please visit www.mophie.com.
Obsidian Nightwing now available as Recruit-A-Friend mount
A few days ago, we heard the announcement that we'd be getting a new Recruit-A-Friend mount, the Obsidian Nightwing, which gives you the ability to turn into a winged panther and carry a friend on your back. The new mount is now available and can be redeemed and used in game. Note that this means the X-53 Touring Rocket is now retired and unavailable, like the Zhevra before it. To get the ability to turn into a flying cat, you'll need to refer a friend to WoW via the Recruit-A-Friend program, and that friend must pay for two months of game time. And yes, you can simply create your own second account and buy two months of game time to get the mount if you're impatient or all your friends already play WoW. [Thanks for the tip, Chell!]
Guide to purchasable WoW mounts you can buy with real money
Recently I've been talking quite a lot about the pros and cons of buying WoW mounts with in-game money. The recent revealing of the new Recruit-A-Friend mount leads us on to another discussion altogether: What WoW mounts can you get with real money? You know, not in-game gold -- the actual dollars or pounds or euros that you can swap for food, electricity, that sort of thing. This might be a really excellent column to leave lying around on the computer of a loved one who is trying to work out what to buy you for a birthday or similar occasion! Let's start with the obvious options -- the three Blizzard Pet Store mounts.
Phat Loot Phriday: Reins of the Crimson Pandaren Phoenix
Lolegolas jumped at the squawking that suddenly erupted behind him. It sounded like someone strangling a moonkin. "What the heck?" the blood elf asked. "This is my new phoenix," Throgg said, straddling an immense bird. "It's a Crimson Pandaren Phoenix." "That doesn't look like a pandaren," Lolegolas countered. "In fact, I don't think there's anything terribly panda-like about it." "It's just a name, little elf," the orc said. "Like hot dogs. There's nothing dog-like about hot dogs." "Maybe it's just named that," Lolegolas said, "since, like, it's pandaren-raised or something. Still, that's a darn fine-looking mount." "It's already killed a cyclops and a wolverine, too," Throgg said. "It was pretty amazing to watch." Lolegolas cocked his head to the side and peered at the orc out of the corner of his eye. "Really? That's where we're going with this?" "Well, it's supposed to be all crimson and red, but instead it's black and evil-looking. Seemed appropriate." Lolegolas nodded. "Fair enough, then." Item note: It's been a Challenge Mode reward, and now it seems like everyone on the beta has it. While the details of the mount could obviously change, it sure looks snazzy! Phat Loot Phriday brings you the scoop on some of the most ... interesting ... loot in the World of Warcraft, often viewed through the eyes of the stalwart Throgg and indelible Lolegolas. Suggest items you think we should feature by emailing mikeg@wowinsider.com.
RIFT offers a new cat mount for sale
In a bold move not at all reminiscent of the actions of any other gaming company, Trion Worlds has launched a new product for RIFT players to purchase via the account page. It's a special mount, a white tiger that we imagine would be extremely sparkly due to all of the gold trim and so forth. And it can be yours for the low price of $15, which is $10 less than it would be if it cost $25! Tongue-in-cheek jokes aside, the White War Tiger was originally an exclusive bonus for players of RIFT over in Korea. The mount has been ported over to the US version for a limited time so that more players can access it. If you've already got your wallet out, just log into the main site and check in the same spot for the game edition upgrades to get your very own tiger. While it may sparkle, you can take solace in the fact that it does not fly. [Thanks to soundersfc.tif for the tip!]
