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Snowballs piling up in Hell: Faxion Online enters its second closed beta test
"Free to pray, free to prey, free to play," the tagline goes. While Faxion Online continues to milk all of the religious-themed puns the team can think of (and it's hard not to add your own!), this afterlife MMO continues to charge ahead with the second phase of its beta process. UTV True Games announced that Faxion Online has entered its second closed beta test, which has been expanded to include new players and a number of improvements implemented after the first test. Faxion now has an improved starter tutorial that invites players to learn about heavenly living or hellish confluct, depending on the class chosen. Other improvements include class reballancing, new areas and teleportation stones that help warriors get to the conflicts even faster than before. UTV's Frank Lucero credits the players for shaping the game's development: "The responses to the first closed beta have been incredible in helping us determine updates for this second phase." You can check out this tongue-in-cheek PvP MMO by signing up for the beta test or by vicariously experiencing the spiritual planes in our Faxion Online first impressions.
New Faxion trailer reveals combat details and status effects
The combat in Faxion Online is shaping up to be a cut above the MMORPG norm according to a press release and a new video from UTV True Games. The free-to-play firm has just detailed Faxion's fighting system and is touting numerous visual cues and effects that help the player unleash hell on his enemies. Combat information is conveyed via a combination of color-coded floating text, status icons, and Vortex Effects, which change the player's viewing area (like the "Confuse" effect in the header image). Faxion's combat status reports can be summed up thusly: The more severe an effect, the stronger the player notification. "We don't want players to rely on the same old visuals; instead we want there to be an instinct and intuitiveness to this combat system that also allows them to know their status quickly so they can dish out more pain to their enemies," says UTV Studio Head Frank Lucero. Check out the video after the cut and head to the official Faxion Online website to sign up for beta. You can also see four screenshots of the game's status effects in the gallery below. %Gallery-113832%
New Mytheon trailer features the wrath of Zeus
The marketing for UTV True Games' Mytheon MMO is building to a simmering boil, much like the Greek god Zeus' slow-burning anger over the ungrateful disobedience of his mortal children. Mytheon developer Q&As, closed beta announcements, and class trailers are all present and accounted for, and today they're joined by the latest video sneak peek: a new trailer featuring the thunder god himself. Mytheon is an action MMO that mixes strategy with classical mythology, so it's only natural that Zeus take center stage in both the game and its public awareness campaign. The new trailer lacks gameplay footage and focuses entirely on CG elements, but the stage is nonetheless set for what appear to be epic battles between Zeus and his errant spawn (i.e., Mytheon players).
Mytheon closed beta starts today
Stonecasters of the world unite! UTV True Games is kicking off the start of Mytheon's closed beta by inviting back previous testers as well as new ones. If you're one of the former, you'll find that quite a few changes have come to the F2P fantasy game. If you're new and looking to get started with Mytheon's beta, UTV has the sign-up form front and center on its official website. Testers will be given the "VIP treatment," according to a UTV press release, and they will be able to take part in leaderboard-driven PvP matches, mythology-based trivia contests (with unique prizes), and hourly in-game giveaways. Mytheon is an action MMORPG that mixes strategy with elements of classical mythology. The game has undergone a lengthy development process and has even survived a source code-related legal spat between UTV and Petroglyph (the title's original developer). For more information, check out the impressions of Massively's own Beau Hindman, who profiled the title last summer.
Faxion Online announces: "Hell has frozen over"
Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. No, we're not talking about the last raid you went on -- we're talking about the upcoming free-to-play MMO, Faxion Online. The forces of heaven and hell are warring to take over limbo, and hell is freezing over due to the onslaught. Thankfully, today's "Hell Freezes Over" event marks the start of closed beta for Faxion Online, so more players will be joining the armies of dark and light. How the balance between the two powers will end up, nobody knows. In perhaps one of the more amusing PR statements we've ever gotten, Frank Lucero, Studio Head at UTV Games, said, "When celebrating 'Hell Freezes Over' day you are supposed to pull out a list of all the things you said you would do when Hell freezes over but screw that; why not just come and check out Faxion instead?" With offline skill-leveling, a combat-centric system, and open PvP among the many systems offered in the game, it may be heaven or hell depending on playstyle. Nonetheless, if you'd like to check out the game, then head over to the Faxion Online site and get signed up for closed beta! %Gallery-113832%
Faxion Online sends traditional MMO classes straight to hell
It's rare that an MMO laces its world design, gameplay, and lore with humor, but UTV True Games' Faxion Online is doing just that. It's a good thing too, as anything other than a tongue-firmly-in-cheek approach to religion in the public arena can be a recipe for commercial disaster. Enter UTV's latest press release then, one that focuses on the free-to-play title's unique multi-classing system while gleefully proclaiming that traditional MMO classes can go to hell. "Faxion's class system is somewhat of a misnomer," says UTV's Frank Lucero. "In reality, the classes are nothing more than fundamental components that the players themselves can use to create their own toolbox of hellish destruction or heavenly onslaught." How exactly does this work out for the player? It depends on your end goals. For example, folks desiring a traditional druid-type toon will probably want to roll a Guardian class and dabble in Diviner and Crusader classes. Similarly, those interested in an evil cleric archetype should start with a Zealot and add a bit of Reaver into the mix. The possibilities are numerous, and UTV provides a helpful primer for each class after the cut, as well as some associated imagery in the gallery below. %Gallery-113832%
Massively's first look at Faxion Online
The worst thing about touring through a virtual world is not knowing exactly what to bring with you. Over the last several months I have slowly but surely tweaked my habits to make writing easier. Even then I am sometimes perplexed as to how to do it better and what tools would work best for me. Luckily, the greatest tool of all time does exist and is dirt cheap. It fits within my pocket and works with any operating system or peripheral. Yes, I'm talking about a stack of Post-Its. As I ran through the different areas of Faxion Online with one of the developers, I scribbled my notes down on the tiny notepad. Then I stuck the notes to my computer monitor for later reference. I also took screenshots (not the ones you see in this article -- these were supplied by UTV True Games, the developer behind Faxion) and later used them to try to remember how I felt during the walkthrough. While writing, I looked down at my Post-Its and saw three key words: optimization, stylized graphics, and gross fat guy. Click past the cut to see what else I might have jotted down.
Irreverent confession: An interview with Faxion Online's UTV True Games
You're dead -- so sorry, chap! Fortunately, that doesn't mean your gaming adventures are over. On the contrary, according to Faxion Online, they've just begun. In the world of Limbo, players are pulled between the forces of heaven and hell as they fight each other through the physical manifestations of the seven deadly sins. Curious about Faxion Online, we sat down with UTV True Games to discuss the deep issues of beta, religion and epeens. Massively: How's the progress toward closed beta coming along? UTV True Games: It's coming along at an insane pace. The team is focused and beating away at the long list of tasks that loom before us all prior to launching beta as well as the game. We are working on zones, abilities and items, along with wrapping up features and tightening the nuts and bolts of various aspects of the game. The team was able to catch their breath over the holidays a bit, so it's going to allow us to have a good strong kick to the finish.
Explore Faxion Online's seven deadly sins
Does the angel on your right shoulder take a lot of union-approved time off, so much so that you end up listening to the devil on your left shoulder more often than not? Then Faxion Online has a temptation that's right up your alley -- seven sinful zones, each revolving around one of the classic seven deadly sins. Taking heavenly and hellish themes with a strong dose of humor, Faxion Online's world becomes a literal battleground for the soul. By taking each of the deadly sins and turning them into a zone to be fought over and conquered, Faxion has created a unique twist on the genre. If the forces of heaven take over a zone, it turns nicer, and if the forces of evil are triumphant, then there will be hell to pay. UTV True Games' Frank Lucero says that the PvP over these areas will keep players transfixed: "These zones offer all of the competitive combat play that players desire including PVP, innovative territory control and an ability ranking system that will keep players engaged in the timeless struggle of good vs. evil." Hit the jump to read up on Faxion's themed zones and see for yourself what your sins have wrought!
UTV moves Mytheon development to China, hints at upcoming closed beta
The latest chapter in the saga of the free-to-play action MMO called Mytheon features a lengthy quest across a vast ocean and two continents -- and that's before a player even logs into the game. In a press release dated earlier this morning, Texas-based UTV True Games announced the relocation of Mytheon development to its internal studio in Beijing. "Moving the development of Mytheon to our internal studio is a very positive move for the game because we have total creative control over the title and we can tailor Mytheon's content to the preferences and needs of the community that has already grown around it," said UTV CEO Jeff Lujan. Some of said content tailoring is taking the form of improved guild functionality, camera controls, and tweaks to the various stones and stone types. For the uninitiated, Mytheon players are referred to as Stonecasters after their ability to combine and cast magical stones in battle. In addition to the studio move, UTV has announced that a new closed beta phase will begin in late January. Previous testers will be contacted via email and will be able to use their existing accounts to access the new phase.
Faxion Online taking closed beta registrations
The war between heaven and hell is coming, and UTV True Games is looking to you to shape it. The F2P developer's new Faxion Online MMORPG is gearing up to break the seals on its closed beta test, and registering on the game's official website automatically puts you in the selection pool of potential testers. The beta is currently scheduled for early 2011 and will allow participants to test the game's factions, territory control, and combat, not to mention the eternal struggle for control of the seven deadly sins. "We already know the game is funny, exciting and addictive, however, at this stage of the game's development, we need to elicit the help of some rigorous beta testers to offer their opinions and feedback to help us fine tune the game and make it as great as it can be," said UTV executive Frank Lucero in a press release dated earlier this morning. While Faxion's home page features both account registration and newsletter sign-up options, no mention of official beta sign-ups is made. A UTV staffer did address the issue on the game's official forums though, saying that "anyone who has registered on our website is considered a potential candidate for closed beta." [Thanks to Massively's Jeremy Stratton for the forum link!]
Ignition shutting down London studio, fate of WarDevil under evaluation
Ignition Entertainment is in the process of shutting down its west London development studio, reports GamesIndustry.biz. The closure will result in an unspecified number of layoffs, and stalls the progress of WarDevil and another project, uh, Project Kane. The studio is expected to officially close on October 31. Formerly known as Digi-Guys, the Ignition London studio, located in Ealing, has been toiling over various incarnations of WarDevil for years. A "WarDevil: Unleash the Beast Within" demo was first shown at TGS ... 2005. The last update on the game dates back to roughly a year ago, when Edge magazine toured the studio and saw two tech demos (one on the original Xbox!). According to Ignition group chairman Hassan Sadiq, the mysterious WarDevil and the even more mysterious Project Kane just passed new, six-month proof-of-concept phases, and "the board and studio management are currently evaluating [...] whether the required quality will be achieved by completing internally or with an external partner." Ignitiion, which was acquired by Indian media conglomerate UTV in 2007, will continue to operate its corporate headquarters out of London, with a focus on publishing; though Sadiq assured that projects underway at Ignition's other studios in Austin, Gainesville (Fla.), Beijing and Tokyo (where the intriguing action game El Shaddai is in development) are "ramping up." The company's most recent release was Zombie Studios' Blacklight: Tango Down, a downloadable mutliplayer FPS.
UTV True Games readies Faxion Online
Ready to do your part in the eternal struggle between the forces of heaven and hell? No, we're not talking about the Bible Online or, God forbid (please), another Left Behind game, but rather UTV True Games' Faxion Online. The free-to-play fantasy title features endless battles for territorial control over Limbo, the war-torn nether realm that exists between paradise and eternal damnation. While the idea of banishing PvPers to the depths of hell might appeal to some, Faxion is aiming to attract both PvE and PvP players, and encourages factional struggles to control the fate of the seven deadly sins (which make up the title's contested zones). If it sounds a bit unusual, it is, but it's also being produced by a team that includes veterans of both Ultima Online and Shadowbane, so we'll be watching this one with a fair bit of interest.
Faxion Online announced, promises a divine struggle
In most games that feature two factions in a PvP environment, there's plenty of room to debate whether or not one side or the other is evil or just misunderstood. Not so in the upcoming Faxion Online, however -- one side is evil. One side is irrevocably and entirely evil. But then again, when you're part of the forces of Hell, you kind of accept that as a given. Aiming for a beta later this year, the game is taking its setting as the eternal struggle between Heaven and Hell, with players taking sides as both factions seek territory. While a somewhat tongue-in-cheek approach to the subject is certainly welcome, most gamers are going to be looking for a little more from the title. It's slated to deliver on that front, with a PvP-focused game that heavily weighs on the aforementioned control of territory. The game also promises to remove some of the tedious level grind, a promise which is frequently made but not quite so easy to carry out. We'll have to see how Faxion Online fares in that regard as it moves through development -- but at least we won't be discussing which faction is really evil.
