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The Repopulation seeks Kickstarter funding
Sandbox fans are probably feeling the pinch on their wallets of late with the surge of Kickstarter projects. The Repopulation is joining the trend with a project that's just kicked off to secure funding for further development. That means incentive rewards, stretch goals, and of course, new information about the game as it moves through development. The funding goal is set at a fairly modest $25,000 and includes several noteworthy incentives for backers. In the lower tiers of funding, players can enjoy such benefits as extra cash in the game when it goes live, early access to the game, and special tokens to unlock unique rewards. Players who have plenty of money to donate can move on up to having character names attached to game objects and custom-generated content. It's a nice set of rewards, and if you're interested in the game's future, you've got plenty of time before the Kickstarter closes. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Matt Higby discusses PlanetSide 2's progression and customization
PlanetSide 2 has but one real game it must live up to, but if you consider the unique elements that its predecessor brought to the table, that's still a tall order. A recent interview with the game's creative director, Matt Higby, highlights the ways that the game is being designed to fulfill the requirements of an engaging MMO and an engaging FPS. That means giving characters plenty of progression without locking out new players who just want to shoot things. The game's overall progression path is meant to be one of options, not straight power. That's the case for classes as well as advancement; Heavy Assault characters will play distinctly from other classes, but they'll have a variety of unique abilities that players can choose among. The interview also sheds more light on what players can expect from the game's overarching persistent elements, which set the game and its factions apart from standard FPS fare. The game still has a long way to go in development, but what's been shown thus far is definitely an encouraging start.
Torchlight 2 available for pre-purchase on Steam
With all the buzz around a certain well-known third installment of a franchise, you could be forgiven for momentarily forgetting about Torchlight 2. However, the game is now available for pre-purchase on Steam, which should serve as something of a reminder. The game doesn't yet have a firm release date other than this summer, but you can still drop your $20 and have the game ready to play on launch day. The original Torchlight was hailed by many as the spiritual sequel to Diablo II (and some assumed it would also be the closest we'd ever get to an actual sequel). Torchlight 2 boasts more character customization, more pet customization, improved fishing and pet management, a new set of classes, and of course all of the same hack-and-slash gameplay that the first game featured. If you're a fan of the genre, that third installment likely has your eye for the moment, but you might want to see how the other half lives as well.
The gates hiss open for a peek at City of Steam
The steampunk genre is loved by a lot of gamers, but it has yet to see a surfeit of titles. The good news for fans is that City of Steam is on the horizon, and it's promising a free-to-play browser-based experience for anyone who wants to take part in exploring ancient mechanical ruins. Of course, the question then becomes whether or not the game is worth the investment of time... something that can be solved by taking part in the game's currently running sneak peek event. The sneak peek is available only to players who already snagged a code for access, meaning that players just coming into the game will be out of luck. It's certainly an encouraging sign that the game is moving toward its full release, which should make fans of clockwork automatons and arcane science quite happy. And if you're one of the players taking part in the sneak peek... well, all the better, right?
Age of Wushu shows off a documentary from its Chinese testing tour
If you're a potential player in America, it's Age of Wushu. If you're in Europe or China, it's Age of Wulin. Wherever you're located, it's an upcoming free-to-play game focusing on wuxia-style combat in the same style as Chinese action films. And if you can't wait to see more of the game in action, you're in luck -- Snail Games USA has released a new documentary on the game focusing on its seven-city testing tour in China last year. The documentary mixes in developer presentations, player impressions, and some live gameplay footage from this large-scale beta event, all of which combine to paint a picture of the game as it continues development. The full documentary is 15 minutes long and embedded just after the cut, so if you can't wait to see more of the game, check it out and keep your eyes peeled for more updates as the game approaches localization and launch.
WildStar's Troy Hewitt talks about the game's design philosophy
It's likely to be a while longer before anyone gets to lay hands on WildStar's beta, much less the finished game, but there's still a lot to look forward to. A recent interview with producer Troy Hewitt might help salve a bit of that anticipation as Hewitt discusses the game's design philosophy and content systems. As he explains, Carbine Studios embraced the idea that players should be allowed to play how they want, when they want, and with whomever they want. This extends to the game's content at multiple levels; Hewitt explains that solo and group content shouldn't be at odds, that even people who prefer to level and play solo are still enjoying the fact that they experience a persistent world with other players. There's also a lot of talk about players crafting their own stories as they explore the game world, something augmented by the game's split between different player types. Take a look at the full interview if you're following the game avidly, as there are plenty of interesting tidbits -- even if you might have preferred a release date.
Undead Labs answers questions about Class3's open world
Undead Labs has been putting out a steady stream of information for potential players of Class3, the company's upcoming single-player prelude to the massively multiplayer Class4. The last major update in January showed some previews of the game under development, something that prompted a great deal of discussion about how the game will play. As a result, this month's session of questions and answers focuses on player speculation and the game's open-world environment. According to this set of answers, players will be able to explore the game through a variety of means, including taking shelter inside the houses across the landscape, jumping over fences, and making careful use of vehicles found through the world. There's also discussion about making use of the environment as a weapon via ragdoll physics plus a tantalizing hint that more information will be forthcoming about the game in the spring. Fans of the upcoming zombie apocalypse will want to take a look at the full set of answers, which will hopefully serve as a precursor to an epic MMO in the same vein.
Teasing an interview with Guild Wars 2 on PvP
As the promise of an open beta dances in the minds of the hopeful and the systems continue a slow unveiling, Guild Wars 2 continues to fascinate potential players with even the barest hint of what might be around the corner. The team at Guild Wars Insider had a chance to sit in on a roundtable discussion with the game's developers regarding PvP systems, but unfortunately the full interview isn't ready for public digestion just yet. That having been said, the team did unveil a small audio clip of the interview to serve as a teaser trailer. While the bulk of the discussion focuses on trebuchets -- a known feature that is apparently coming along quite well -- there's a fascinating mention of a new addition, siegesuits, at the very conclusion. While there are no further details yet, it seems that this is a feature that will be discussed in more depth in the full interview, which apparently contains more items that may not yet be ready for public consumption.
Jagged Alliance Online adds in PvP for testers
If you've been playing in the closed beta of Jagged Alliance Online thus far, the "Online" portion of that name has probably seemed to be something of a misnomer. Beta testers have been exploring the game mechanics from the point of set missions against AI opponents, but that's all about to change. Cliffhanger Productions and gamigo have just unveiled the game's new multiplayers modes, with three different modes and six different maps for players to take up arms against one another. The three modes consist of Deathmatch (self-explanatory), Bounty Hunter (a race to fight to a target and be the first to kill said target), and Search and Destroy (destroy three targets while protecting your own). Players will be matched via a matchmaker system based upon levels and position in the overall rankings, preventing unfair matches (in theory) and giving good players more substantive rewards for success. If you've got a need for some online turn-based strategy, it might be well worth keeping an eye on these features at they develop. [Source: gamigo press release]
Ree Soesbee talks about her career with ArenaNet and Guild Wars 2
Ree Soesbee has a long and productive career history even without her current duties on Guild Wars 2, but that's probably the part that MMO fans are most interested in. Guild Wars Insider recently conducted a lengthy interview with Soesbee, discussing her early career and her experiences working on Guild Wars 2 as it prepares for launch. And it's a meaty interview, filled with looks at the crevices of lore to be revealed over time. Soesbee explains that she and Jeff Grubb share a secret wiki project where they collaborate on the sprawling storylines, making sure that both of them know what's going on at any given moment. There are some interesting rumors of naval approaches against dragons, hints of lore to be uncovered deep within the game, and talk of the Sylvari redesign. If you're looking forward to the game, it's well worth reading the full feature, which should provide several bits of information to hopeful fans.
Prime: Battle for Dominus undergoes a quick name change
There's a lot in a name, for MMOs as much as anything. You want your name to be recognizable, distinct, and perhaps most importantly something that isn't going to be mistaken for the name of a different game or product. Prime: Battle for Dominus has already been establishing buzz about itself, but its name was a bit cumbersome with the subtitle and a bit generic without it, so the game is shortening itself down to simply Dominus from here on out. Confirmed via an official tweet, the name change is hardly the first time that a game in production has undergone a shift in title (the most recent MMO example being RIFT and its multiple sobriquets). Nothing else appears to have changed for the title, although it's quite likely that the official site address will be changed and the current site will be used as a redirect. And it will be a lot easier to remember the name, since Dominus doesn't come up frequently in other conversations.
MechWarrior Online announced
In the future, battles will be fought via BattleMechs -- enormous walking tanks covered in weapons, waging war for control of the region of known space called the Inner Sphere. Sound familiar? It's the premise behind the BattleTech series of games, including the popular MechWarrior franchise. And apparently, in late 2012, players will have the chance to get inside a 'Mech of their own in a new online installment to the series, MechWarrior Online, announced by Piranha Games. The announcement comes with a slew of questions and answers for expectant players, including information about customizing one's 'Mech, which of the classic designs will be seen in the game, and of course details about the world and timeline that the game takes place. There are no details regarding a beta at the moment, but the team seems quite insistent that the game will launch in 2012. It's certainly going to make next year interesting for all life-long MechWarrior fans.
Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 developer diary looks at ranged classes
WindSlayer 2 has kicked off its closed beta, giving a select group of players the chance to see how the game plays before it goes live. But for everyone else, the game's previews are the only clues as to how the game will play once you can log in. Here at Massively, we've been posting a series of exclusive diaries straight from the team over at Ignited Games to show off what the game will have to offer players fond of the side-scrolling sprite format. Our last diary, of course, dealt with the game's three classes devoted to getting within arm's reach of monsters and pounding them senseless -- the melee classes, to be more prosaic. So it's appropriate we have a new exclusive today previewing the game's three ranged classes. Click on past the break for discussion of the Archer, Mage, and Priest -- what they're able to do, how they're meant to play, and what players can expect from each.
Perfect World Entertainment announces War of the Immortals
If you're a fan of Perfect World Entertainment's library of games, odds are good that you've been battling against immortals for some time now. But that's being ratcheted up several steps to full-fledged war. All right, War of the Immortals isn't exactly a direct extension of Battle of the Immortals, but the upcoming action MMO certainly has some connections to the older title. Nevertheless, it's still worth a look from fans of the genre, especially with its closed beta starting on October 25th. War of the Immortals promises guild housing and territory control as players engage in battle against both enemies and one another. Players can choose between eight different classes, with each class linked to a unique set of "soul gear" that advance as the individual character progresses through the game. If it sounds up your alley, you might want to check out the announcement trailer embedded just after the cut. [Source: PWE press release]
PlanetSide 2 hosting a webcast on Thursday
PlanetSide 2 is certainly in the minds of several longtime fans of the original, but thus far we know very little about how the game will actually play. Luckily, Sony Online Entertainment is going to start breaking the metaphorical radio silence, and things are kicking off on the right note via a webcast on Thursday. It's the first time that a live webcast is being held for the game, and it should help get players in on the ground floor for information about the multiplayer shooter. Hosted by Linda Carlson (better known as Brasse), this inaugural webcast will introduce the team behind PlanetSide 2. Eager players and fans should set some time aside on their calendars for 7 p.m. EDT (4 p.m. PDT), as that's the designated start time. No word on what might be revealed aside from the minds of the development team, but if you're looking forward to the game, it's probably not a bad idea to check it out anyway.
Gamescom wrapups for WildStar tease a few more nuggets of information
It remains to be seen what's going to come of it in the future, but WildStar certainly made an impressive showing during its debut at Gamescom 2011. Of course, outside of a trailer and some very early gameplay, potential players still know very little about the meat of how the game plays. But there are nuggets to be found in the wrap-up posts, a few interesting answers that should pique further interest in the upcoming title. The fact that the game will include PvP is almost a no-brainer, but the endgame has been stated to be diverse for all players. If you don't enjoy raiding, the game will still have a world story for players to explore and get engaged by. The world will feature both open areas and instances, as well, with a definite spread of different ways to ensure that players can experience the game with their friends. Last but not least, classes will be versatile and armor will be heavily customizable -- the game is being shaped to be something where each player can make his or her mark and have a unique look. If the game interests you, our own staffers will be getting a hands-on experience with WildStar on Friday.
Gamania announces musical MMO Tiara Concerto
Have you ever thought to yourself that bards are such a supremely cool idea for a character class that they ought to have a whole game devoted to them? Apparently you're not the only one, as Gamania today announced its upcoming game, Tiara Concerto, a game focused around musical gameplay in floating castles in the sky. And with all joking aside, it seems like a pretty interesting concept at face value, although it's a bit difficult to divine how well it will play out over time. According to the game's backstory, the game takes place 800 years in the past, with humanity on the brink of eradication due to the ambiguous sinning of mankind. The Seven Wise Men helped preserve civilization in floating palaces, developing the art known as "tuning" to allow musical melodies to be used as weapons. While the localization appears to be a bit scattered, the trailer just past the cut certainly promises some interesting visuals if nothing else. You can also look at the official Facebook page, which features a series of comics translated to English to help introduce the game's concepts and play style.
Jagex shares more details about Transformers Universe
Amidst all of the toy previews and Hall of Fame inductions at this year's BotCon, there's another element for fans -- an early look at Transformers Universe, the upcoming MMO developed by Jagex. And while the game is certainly not in a playable state just yet, the fine team at Tformers.com has put together a video interview with executive producer Kris Jones, showing off the early stages of character creation and discussing the game's future for development. Transformers Universe is confirmed to take place within the current "Prime" continuity, but as Jones explains, the staff has been working closely with Hasbro to try to include as many signature characters as possible from the franchise's 27-year history. There's talk about hundreds of different parts for characters to choose between for customization as well as the possibility of fans uploading parts and decals to help personalize individual Transformers. Prospective fans should take a look at the full interview -- it's an early look but the sort of thing that should be of significant interest to longtime franchise enthusiasts.
Asda 2 announced by GamesCampus
Marriage is a tricky thing. You have to balance out your goals with those of your potential spouse, make sure you're compatible in dealing with stress and finance and humor, and most of all make sure that your partner will enhance your power as much as possible. At least, that's the case in Asda 2, the upcoming game that's just been announced from GamesCampus. While its predecessor, Asda Story, will remain operational, the new game updates several of the game's features while retaining the flavor. Yes, one of those features is the Marriage System, making two characters significantly more powerful when together. But that's hardly all the game brings to the table; it also has stylized and clean graphics backed up by a war between Light and Dark. The war is set to change dynamically with the in-game clock, thus forcing players to think tactically. Check out our gallery below, and if Asda 2 sounds like your cup of tea, sign up for the closed beta now. %Gallery-120661%
J. Robert King talks about the second Guild Wars 2 novel, Edge of Destiny
As ArenaNet has been unveiling more and more racial lore about Guild Wars 2, there have been plenty of other sources for the upcoming game's backstory. Chief among those sources are the novels that have been mapping out the two centuries between the original Guild Wars and the sequel. Edge of Destiny is the second novel, written by J. Robert King, and it continues the story of the awakening Elder Dragons that shake the face of Tyria. We know that we've got more than a few regular readers interested in Guild Wars 2, and so we jumped at the opportunity to ask Mr. King a few questions about the storycrafting that went into writing Edge of Destiny. Click on past the break for more details on crafting the story and lore of Tyria's struggles and on how he worked in characters that are both iconic of the playable races while keeping them distinct and memorable.
