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Final Fantasy XIV announces its first expansion, Heavensward
The Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival is currently underway in Las Vegas, and the keynote speech brought with it the big announcement many people were waiting for: The game's first expansions has been announced for spring 2015. Heavensward will focus on the city-state of Ishgard, as seen in the trailer embedded just past the break. Gamer Escape's liveblog of the keynote notes that the expansion will feature a level cap increase to level 60, new jobs, a new race (albeit with an as-yet-unconfirmed identity), new primals, and new high-end content. More information will be available at the London fanfest taking place next week. For now, players will just have to speculate a bit on what the future holds. (The smart money, of course, is on dragons. Lots and lots of dragons. It's kind of an Ishgardian thing.) [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Marvel Heroes brings Asgard in with update 2.0
One constant to the Marvel universe is that no matter how big your last enemy might be, there's always someone waiting in the wings to make things even worse. Sure, the players of Marvel Heroes have defeated Victor Von Doom and shut down his nefarious plans... but someone was waiting to take all of his power just offscreen, someone with just as much of a chip on his shoulder. Now it's Loki's time to shine. Yes, the next major installment for Marvel Heroes is here now, and it's focusing on all of the Norse goodies you would imagine. That means new items, new enemies, new areas, and the Trickster himself as a playable character. You can log in right now to start adventuring across the Bifrost Bridge into Asgard proper, but if you're at work or something similar, you can ease the wait by taking a look at the new trailer past the break.
Final Fantasy XI's newest update offers up artifact armor... again
There was a time when Final Fantasy XI's Artifact Armor was the best equipment you could have on a high-level character, but that was ages and ages ago. Still, the iconic looks are coming back in the game's newest version update, which adds new quests for players to reforge their Artifact pieces as well as Relic, Mythic, and Empyrean weapons. It's not an easy process, but it's a chance to make the old hotness the new hotness all over again. A pair of new zones has also been added to the Seekers of Adoulin regions with this update, complete with new monsters for players to hunt and kill. Players can also acquire new abilities, including weaponskills that were previously exclusive to certain weapons. And there are updates to Mog Gardens, magic maps, Monstrosity... in other words, the usual kitchen sink of content you expect from a Final Fantasy XI version update. You can take a look at the full list of patch changes and start playing now (or as soon as the patch finishes downloading).
Path of Exile patches in guilds, classes, and balance changes for launch
It's not fair to call Path of Exile's pre-launch patch a kitchen sink patch; this is big enough to include the sink, dishwasher, fridge, and probably a good chunk of the dining room besides. It's a big patch, and when it goes fully live tomorrow, you'll have a chance to play around with the enormous list of features, starting with the addition of an entire system for guilds that didn't exist before. Yes, the patch includes a guild system. And that's not even the biggest part of the patch. It includes a new character class for players who have cleared the game on Normal difficulty, six new world areas, achievements, new skills, new items, and an assortment of balance tweaks and improvements. That's not even touching upon new challenge leagues and the like. The point is that even if you know the game inside and out, you might want to hop in tomorrow and try out the huge array of new options available to you because... really. There's lots of stuff here.
SOE Live 2013: DCUO's Sons of Trigon DLC and beyond
Just before the events of SOE Live actually got rolling, DC Universe Online's next DLC was announced. But that little bit of foreknowledge certainly didn't mean that folks had heard everything; it was, in fact, quite the opposite. Attendees were treated to an eye-ful and earful of Sons of Trigon goodness as well as some other non-DLC 8 related tidbits. We were on the scene to catch these announcements in the various panels for you, and we also got to speak with Design Director Jesse Benjamin, Producer Larry Liberty, and Creative Director Jens Andersen to hear their thoughts on DCL 8, see a preview of the new areas, and get a hint of what's coming in the future.
City of Steam's Tears of the Oracle patch hails the return of the greenskins
When City of Steam threw open its browser-based beta doors to all players, certain classes and races were noticeably missing from the soirée. But some fan-favorites have finally gotten their invitation and will be rejoining the party when the 1.3 patch Tears of the Oracle hits next week; greenskins, dwarves, and Channelers will once again be available to play. And that's not even the half of it! This next patch will also be raising the level cap, expanding questlines, and adding plenty of new things, including the Founder's Annex suburb, a PvP event, a collection system, rare mobs in dungeons, plenty of cosmetic items, and even a new crafting system. On top of that, levels one through nine can resurrect for free in dungeons and the salvage system got an overhaul. So get ready to get your goblin (or hobbe, or orc) on next week! [Source: Mechanist Games press release]
Pirate101 sets sail for Marleybone
One of the bonuses of having Pirate101 set in the same world as Wizard101 is that the former can benefit from some of the latter's layout. KingsIsle has launched a big expansion for the game that includes some old favorites for veteran players, starting by sending pirate captains to the familiar land of Marleybone. Players will be investigating a war zone they helped inadvertently create while working up through another 15 levels of experience. The update also adds the new region of Aquila, a new Bazaar system for players to trade goods, and a new tutorial to help players get accustomed to the game. There are also new bosses and transport systems to give players more to do while they sail across the oceans. Last but not least, new companions are scattered through the added regions, and old companions are learning some new tricks. Pirate101 players can log in and start enjoying the update immediately.
Star Wars: The Old Republic shows off how to make Makeb [Updated]
Here's how it goes in Star Wars: The Old Republic. There's a war taking place, which is more or less a constant event in the franchise. After several years of the Republic falling back and regrouping, it's finally pushing ahead. Unfortunately for both the Empire and the Republic, fighting a war for that long means using up a lot of resources... resources that can be found on the neutral planet of Makeb. The neutral planet that the Hutt Cartel has just invaded in a bid to become a galactic superpower. The latest video from the SWTOR development team shares more story setup and design previews from the planet Makeb, centerpiece of the upcoming expansion Rise of the Hutt Cartel. If you're looking forward to cascading waterfalls or orbital elevators, you'll want to take a look at the full video just past the break, but if you're just in it for the story, there are a few more tantalizing glimpses in there as well. [Update: BioWare has also just released a dev blog with some gorgeous concept art for the planet.]
ArcheAge CBT5 video shows off new areas
With ArcheAge's fifth Korean Closed Beta Test getting closer, XLGAMES released a video highlighting the new areas that will be introduced to testers. And those lands are beautiful! Realistic water flowing over falls, lush greenery, and fluffy white clouds apparently ambling across the sky are just a few of the visual features to feast your eyes upon. The video tour takes viewers through multiple areas, including swamps, a river and falls, weathered ruins, beaches complete with frolickers, a quiet mountain valley, and a waterfront community on stilts in crystal blue waters. Each area shows off the high-level of detail in the game. Keep those fingers crossed for a North American release sooner rather than later and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of ArcheAge in the video after the break. [Thanks to Chris for the tip!]
Final Fantasy XI's fifth expansion, Seekers of Adoulin, announced
Final Fantasy XI players have been waiting and hoping for a new expansion for more than half a decade now. All of those hopes have come true at last with the announcement of Seekers of Adoulin, a new expansion taking players to the far western shores of Vana'diel. Seekers of Adoulin promises players new areas, new adventures, and of course new jobs. The only known new job at this time is Geomancer, which appears to be a support-style mage job with a variety of enfeebling and buffing abilities. Notably, its buffs appear to be centered on specific locations, and its enfeebling effects cannot be resisted by enemies, a trait that would make the job extremely powerful in the current environment. A short trailer has also been released with the announcement. Curiously, the official site does not list the PlayStation 2 among the expansion's supported platforms. That shouldn't stop longtime players on every system from regarding the new trailer with excitement -- it's the cap to an announcement that's been a very long time coming indeed. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Mortal Online announces a new expansion called Awakening
Mortal Online has already launched one expansion, but the game's second expansion in its two years of operation will soon join the first. Awakening has just been announced and is set to bring a variety of improvements to the game. The centerpiece is the introduction of Tindrem, the eponymous Tindremic capital and the home of the Emperor. The sprawling city encompasses several districts, but there's more to the city than the orderly facade it presents to travelers. The expansion will provide more than simply a new city, however. It offers improved artificial intelligence and a better user interface to players, along with new dungeons in which players can test their skills against improved enemy intelligence. There's also a new set of special Trade Brokers in the cities, dyes for clothing and armor, and several other improvements that should be cheered by every Mortal Online player. [Thanks to James for the tip!]
Wurm Online inviting players to Exodus
In a game like Wurm Online, fresh lands are important. After all, the game places so much emphasis on setting up your own homestead in the untamed wilderness that you find yourself a bit out in the cold if the land is already developed. This was part of what led to the opening of the game's first new server, Deliverance, but the response of the playerbase has been so overwhelming that the development team is doing the time warp again. According to the development team, a new land named Exodus is being added just south of Deliverance. It's intended to give players a new chance to get involved with building in fertile lands untouched by human expansion, and it's set to go live on Thursday at 1 p.m. EDT. For those of you recalling the issues with the earlier server opening, the team hopes that the new region will open without problem. So get ready to go... well, south, young man, because the lands there are ripe for the taking. [Source: Wurm Online press release]
City of Heroes previews First Ward
It's important for City of Heroes players to remember that Issue 21 isn't just bringing City of Heroes Freedom -- it's also bringing several pieces of new content, including the foreboding First Ward. The official site has just put up a preview of the new region, the site of Emperor Cole's first attempt at making his perfect society... and the site of his greatest failure in that goal. Because First Ward was the start of Praetoria, one that ended in destruction and death despite everything. Protected by a prototype system of sonic fencing which would later be used around Praetoria proper, First Ward was able to repulse the Devouring Earth for quite some time. But Hamidon had a secret plan to burst up from within the city, leading to widespread death and destruction across the landscape. The city remains as a place where the veil between dead and living has been weakened to near the breaking point while the Devouring Earth stalk the streets, and while something may be blossoming within the city, it's certainly not Cole's dream. City of Heroes players can check out the official site for the full details on what has happened to the city.
Fallen Earth lets players take a stroll through Alpha County
Long-awaited and heavily anticipated, Fallen Earth's Alpha County has long been the game's promised land, an environment that's at once near and far. But the release is just around the corner, and the developers are giving players a chance to peek behind the walls just a little bit early. Starting tomorrow, May 17th, Alpha County is going live on the public test server, giving all of the game's players the chance to wander around in a strange new territory. For players who want to dive into the story on the actual release and no sooner, fear not -- the announcement promises that the test server won't offer any spoilers as to storyline. But players will be able to explore a new environment and get a feel for the lay of the land, even if they can't get a feel for every new piece of content right out of the gate. Fallen Earth players had best prepare for the test server sneak peek, as it's only a day away.
Iris Online expansion slated for the 26th
If you've been enjoying the gypsy-themed MMO Iris Online, you probably want more of the game to enjoy. That coincides nicely with the fact that the game is getting a major update Wednesday. The game's first expansion (in the usual free-to-play model of a large patch) will be released on January 26th, bringing along a new dungeon, new monsters, and four new maps to accompany a boost in the level cap to level 60. The update also contains several bug fixes and mechanical tweaks, including the removal of the "Force" mechanic to help balance Battlefield encounters. All of the new areas to explore will contain monsters between levels 50-62, with the new dungeon Wood Garden limited to players at level 40 or higher. There's also a new PvP zone dubbed Spirit's Shelter, featuring a field boss for players to spar against as well as wandering cactus monsters. Iris Online players will luckily not have to wait too long for the game's additions, but the new visual additions to the gallery below will help tide players over until the patch drops. %Gallery-104882%
Soul of the Ultimate Nation sees the spreading Shadow
It might seem like everything is all fine and dandy in Soul of the Ultimate Nation, but there's a shadow on the horizon. More specifically, there's Shadow, the newest character added to the game. A combination of dark sorcery and assassin skills form Shadow's potent, solo-friendly skillset, something the game's development team had been hinting at since the beginning of the year. But that's hardly all that's new in the game, which has expanded the high-level content as well. Player characters over level 100 have access to nearly two hundred added quests, as well as new high-level areas in Helron's Castle. Neville's Swamp and Bronze Moon City, as well as the area conquest for the aforementioned castle, are all open. To cap off the experience, players have access to the fourth village in Soul of the Ultimate Nation, giving high-end players a spot where they can congregate with one another. Rather than forcing you to just read the text, however, we have both a set of preview images in our gallery, and two trailers for the update embedded past the cut. %Gallery-98558%
Ashes of Betrayal goes live for Aika
After having run previews quite steadily, the first Aika expansion, Ashes of Betrayal, has been released today. As could be expected with a free-to-play game, the expansion itself is free, and it contains a large amount of new content to keep players engaged. Whether you look forward to pushing to level 60, expanding your PvP gameplay, or exploring the story of the Kynari civil war, players will get their hands on all the improvements today. If the simple addition of the expansion isn't enough to get you excited about playing Aika, the community team is running a number of events to get people involved with the expansion, ranging from a race to the new level cap to an actual footrace. Really. A naked level 1 character footrace to one of the new areas. We've also been gifted with a few more screenshots of the expansion in action, so take a look at the gallery and go enjoy the new content. %Gallery-95585%
MapleStory adds two new levels: Neo City and Kerning Square
If you thought that MapleStory was all about livin' in the here and now, then you can just forget it. MapleStory's looking towards the future because they have a new toy to play with -- a portal through time! Oh, and a shopping mall too, but the time portal is way cooler. That's not one, but two new areas to enjoy! Maplers can now go back to the future (Flux Capacitor not included) to Neo City and help the new NPC Andy save Maple World from becoming a dark wasteland. By jumping back and forth through time, players can help alter history to make sure the Maple World doesn't fall apart at the seams! But, if time travel isn't for you, then you can go shopping in Kerning Square! Oh, just make sure not to get your face rocked off by a spirit of music, or fall victim to the home appliances that have taken on a life of their own. Ok... maybe the mall isn't any safer than time travel. Either way, there are loot rewards at the end of both areas that players will certainly want to get their hands on. If you want a visual look into the two new zones, however, just check after the break! We have two teaser trailers just waiting for you! Plus, we have patch notes. Everybody loves patch notes.
The Daily Grind: How do you get the energy back?
No matter how much you love a game, there comes a point where it gets... tedious. It's as true for single-player games as it is for MMOs. But in a game with no defined endpoint, it's even easier to find yourself staring at the character screen and dreading taking a step into the world, because there's just no point to all of it. But we're committed to these games, for better or worse, and so the usual reaction isn't to just stop but to try doing something different. To go for a different approach, level a different character, take on a new set of challenges. And while it takes some time to hit that perfect combination of elements, there's something for most of us that usually reignites that spark that you had when you first started the game. It went from interesting to boring and then back to interesting again. How do you get yourself back into a game that you're finding yourself more lukewarm toward? Do you play a class that's outside of your normal range? Try setting some arbitrary challenge for yourself? Go to areas you usually don't? What gives you back the energy to log in to the game?
