war-of-the-immortals
Latest
Some Assembly Required: Virtual world roundup for 2014 and beyond
Just over two years ago there was a great disturbance, as if millions (or so) of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Yes, something terrible had happened: a beloved virtual world was destroyed. And that left a number of sandbox refugees looking for a new place to call home. At that time, Some Assembly Required offered a roundup of the then available virtual worlds that could possibly offer accommodation, depending on what qualities players most desired in their games. But as things are wont to, they changed; a lot can happen in the MMOverse in 24 months, from additional features in existing games to new games to the loss of more worlds. So it's time to update this list of virtual worlds to reflect 2014 and beyond. Take a look and see what titles or titles-to-be have the sandbox features that best make a game a home for you.
Massively's winter holidays MMO roundup
The holidays are here! That means the hustle and bustle of the season is in full swing, with gifts to get, treats to taste, deals to nab, and plenty of festivities to partake in -- and that's just in the MMOverse! Yes folks, there's a plethora of holiday celebrations out there -- so many, in fact, that it can be hard to keep track of them all, let alone participate to them! If you're trying to catch everything in your favorite games, we're here to help. We've got a round up of the various winter celebrations across the gaming sphere all bundled together right here for you. If something catches your eye, hop in and join in the festivities!
War of the Immortals: Titan's Fury releases October 30th
War of the Immortals' newest expansion is only a couple of weeks away from joining forces with the live game, according to Perfect World Entertainment. The expansion, called War of the Immortals: Titan's Fury, now has an October 30th release date. Titan's Fury's key feature is a pair of instances -- Titan's Temple and the Titan Dungeon -- that will be unlike anything players have seen to date. The expansion also adds new zones, daily events, pets, and gear. There's a little something in it for both solo- and group-oriented players, says Product Manager Thang Phan. We've got the trailer for Titan's Fury sitting pretty behind the jump, so why don't you go give it a look-see and let us know if you'll be booting this title back up for the latest and greatest? [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
War of the Immortals leaps to Steam
If you're the type of gamer who likes to have all of his MMOs under one digital service roof, then you might be interested to hear that War of the Immortals is now available through Steam. Product Manager Thang Phan hopes that this will give War of the Immortals a great boost: "With the launch of War of the Immortals on Steam we are excited to expose the world of Motenia to more gamers around the world. This collaboration allows Steam users to easily join the battle while pushing the competition to new heights." While Perfect World's title is free-to-play, there are two optional DLC packs that you may elect to purchase on Steam. The starter pack is currently on sale for $4.99 and includes pet gems, fortify crystals and charms, embed charms, and a seven-day platinum noble card. The $14.99 wanderer's pack includes the noble card and a tempting-sounding Centaur Lord Reor. You never want to be caught without a centaur lord in your pocket, after all. [Source: Perfect World press release]
War of the Immortals expansion adds new class, 540-player PvP arenas
War of the Immortals' new expansion is officially live. Perfect World Entertainment is adding a new Harbinger class, the pet ascension system, a new instance called Proof of Divinity, and an extensive PvP revamp with the Lost Omen patch. This last bit involves "re-tooling the team matchmaking system," PWE says. The changes allow for three teams of up to 180 players to duke it out in a single battle arena (that's 540 players at once if you're counting at home). There's also a new trailer for the Lost Omen expansion. Check it out by clicking past the cut. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
Celebrate Valentine's Day with Perfect World Entertainment
If you haven't made any MMO-centric plans for Valentine's Day, consider the offerings from free-to-play giant Perfect World Entertainment. The company is playing cupid in several of its online titles, and players can acquire "wedding fashions, romantic items, spectacular mounts, mystery boxes, and more." Jade Dynasty features a wedding event and items for marriage-minded avatars, while Perfect World International GMs will be interacting with players and giving out a rare mount. Rusty Hearts is putting on an art contest, and the prize is Roselle Vegerius (the game's latest premium character). Forsaken World players will receive a Valentine's Day card and random items, while War of the Immortals fans can collect chocolate and trade it for additional XP. Finally, Ether Saga Odyssey players can enter a screenshot contest to win XP and bonus items, as well as bid for rare pets and send custom broadcast messages. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup
If you are perusing this column, chances are you are a fan of virtual worlds and the sandbox genre. Join the club! (Dues will be due on the third Tuesday.) The aspect that compels many aficionados to delve into a game is the ability to make an impact on the world in some small respect instead of making them into Hive Member 1593072 running a static, predetermined gauntlet. How that impact is accomplished, however, varies; there are multiple features that can facilitate it, and which ones are considered most important depends on the player. With the loss of one of the best sandbox games just last month, some players may be feeling a void. Others still are looking/hoping for the "ultimate" sandbox that contains nearly every virtual world feature. Certainly, there are some upcoming games that make some drool-worthy promises, but what about playing something now? There are actually games out on the market that have at least one aspect of the genre, if not more. To start off the new year, Some Assembly Required looks at some of the top features of virtual worlds and lists games that incorporate these features. While this list isn't exhaustive (considering the sheer number of games when you include all of the smaller free-to-play titles, I'd run out of column space!), it is a comprehensive enough overview to point you toward some games worth playing that perhaps you hadn't considered before.
War of the Immortals' Slayers rock out with their blades out
As War of the Immortals continues the epic journey through beta, Perfect World Entertainment is trying its darndest to show that it plays no favorite among children. And by "children," we mean "classes." On tap for today is a spotlight on the Slayer class, which recently gave up knitting in favor of dishing out extreme pain and suffering. Wielding dual blades, the Slayer uses cunning tactics and sneaky magicks to get up close and personal before seeing how many tiny pieces it can make out of its enemy. On its off-hours, the Slayer likes to ride around on his direwolf mount and smash mailboxes with a baseball bat. You can see if the hyper-kinetic Slayer is your kind of fella by previewing the class trailer after the jump! [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
War of the Immortals shows off the Champion
Welcome back on this glorious Tuesday evening for the latest round of War of the Immortals class previews. The legendary Champion is now approaching for its spotlight, showing off its insurmountable defense and array of holy-themed powers. One would be hard-pressed to find a tank more suited to the job than this class, the Champion, bearer of enormous armor and its exclusive class mount besides. As one might expect from the visuals, the Champion is clearly well-oriented to a defensive role, but the trailer also shows off the fact that the class is hardly a slouch in the offensive department, wielding a sword that would be a two-hander in most other games and a shield large enough to be used as a makeshift raft. The trailer just past the cut should make it clear that the class tanks with the same style as every other class in War of the Immortals. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
War of the Immortals celebrates open beta with new trailer
Perfect World Entertainment's War of the Immortals (not to be confused with the company's other title, Battle of the Immortals) has entered open beta. Two new servers -- Gaia and Midgard -- have been brought up in order to accommodate the influx of new players sure to arrive with the open testing. War of the Immortals puts players in the role of one of eight classes, then sends them on an epic journey during which they must battle fierce monsters, solve diabolical puzzles, and generally be heroic. To top it all off, PWE is giving away 2500 USD in prizes to War of the Immortals beta testers, so head on over to the official site for the full details, and click past the cut for the game's open beta trailer. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
War of the Immortals unveils the Magus preview trailer
The closed beta for War of the Immortals is ending today, with the development team getting ready for the next stage of testing with an open beta. So naturally, the best way to celebrate the end of a testing phase is by unveiling a new class trailer. The latest class up for spectators is the Magus, the game's resident expert at magic designed to leave a crater -- and really, is there any other kind of magic worth mentioning? Needless to say, the class features the typical setup of a glass cannon, with light armor, weak melee, and an almost unbelievable talent for summoning hugely destructive spells on any number of targets. It may not be the most subtle class available, but it's certainly the go-to class for heavy damage. Take a look at the gameplay mechanics and some of the armor sets available for the Magus in the trailer just past the break. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
Perfect World dev blogs discuss gear upgrades, Berserker class
If you're looking for a little reading material to go along with your Thanksgiving leftovers, look no further than the latest War of the Immortals dev blogs from Perfect World Entertainment. The first piece focuses on WoI's gear upgrading mechanics, and there are five different methods player can choose from to enhance their equipment (including gem slotting, reformation, and more). PWE has also released a new class video for the Berserker. This particular brute is fond of throwing him or herself into combat with reckless abandon, and the class skill set allows players to "close the distance on their enemies and wreak havoc on anyone that stands before them," according to a PWE blurb. Check out the full clip after the cut.
New War of the Immortals video reveals Enchantress class
There's a new War of the Immortals class video that's worth a look if you're into free-to-play fantasy MMOs, support mechanics, and scantily clad avatars. Perfect World Entertainment is highlighting WoI's Enchantress class, and the archetype seems pretty familiar in terms of utility. The Enchantress uses a harpsichord to strengthen her allies and weaken her foes, and the instrument also serves as a weapon "which can be lethal if you fall under her spell," according to the WoI website. Players who choose the Enchantress are also privy to a unique fox mount, and you can get a look at that -- as well as how the class plays -- in the video after the break.
Snipers and biters: War of the Immortals opens up on Rangers and pets
Who doesn't like playing a Ranger, really? Deadly at a distance, this fantasy version of military snipers gives players the immense satisfaction of dealing pain in large quantities before one's enemy can even close the gap to fight back. War of the Immortals, which is currently in closed beta, has a deep, abiding love for Rangers and their long-distance love. Did you know that Rangers get to ride sonic tigers to work every day? Makes your Prius look like a brick now, doesn't it? Rangers do sound sweet, and if you want a better look at them, you can watch the class spotlight trailer after the jump. Perfect World Entertainment is not only dishing out the love for Rangers but also the game's pet system. This system is perhaps a step beyond the typical attack dogs we see in other MMOs. For instance, you can not only teach your pets skills, but with the right souls ripped out of monsters, you can upgrade them and even combine them to create a completely new animal. If your pet's stats are really terrific, you can "fuse" yourself to that pet to gain a stat bonus at the expense of losing that particular beast for combat use (don't worry, you can have an additional pet to serve in that role).
War of the Immortals shows off class preview trailer
After yesterday's launch of the closed beta for War of the Immortals, the development team is trying to help ramp up enthusiasm for the title. So the team has kicked things off with a new class preview trailer, showing players the various classes available for play in the action-focused MMO as well as what each one looks like in high-level combat. Players can choose between Berzerker (melee DPS), Champion (tank), Duelist (melee DPS), Enchantress (support), Heretic (healer), Magus (ranged DPS), Ranger (ranged DPS), and Slayer (melee DPS). The Ranger, Enchantress, and Duelist are all new additions compared to the game's obvious predecessor, Battle of the Immortals, bringing in a more support-oriented set of abilities to battle. Take a look at the full preview of the classes and their abilities just after the break, and if the gameplay looks interesting to you, look on the horizon for more information on the beta. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
Perfect World announces successful War of the Immortals closed beta launch
Perfect World? More like OMG-How-Can-They-Release-A-New-MMO-Every-Month World, amirite? Regardless, Perfect World Entertainment has announced that its action MMO War of the Immortals has successfully entered closed beta status, and the team wants you to play. I imagine PWE wants you to play all of its games -- like Rusty Hearts, Battle of the Immortals, Jade Dynasty, Forsaken World... oh! And then it bought Cryptic, so there's Star Trek Online and Champions Online -- but right now we're focusing on War of the Immortals. Yes. So if you want to jump in and try the game yourself, head on over to the registration page to sign up. Everyone who logs in to the game from now until November 13 at 11:59 p.m. PST will be entered into a drawing for their chance to win a prize pack consisting of Logitech gaming gear and a limited edition War of the Immortals mousepad valued at $210. Also, be sure to head past the cut below for PWE's CBT launch trailer.
Perfect World delays War of the Immortals beta
With all the Perfect World MMOs floating around, it's occasionally hard to keep them straight (especially when they have similar-sounding names like War of the Immortals and Battle of the Immortals). One way to tell these two apart at a glance is by their respective launch dates: One (BoI) launched in 2010 and one (WoI) is getting ready to enter closed beta. Unfortunately there's been a slight delay for said beta, which was originally scheduled to kick off on October 25th. Happily, Perfect World has just updated its WoI news page with a brief blurb announcing the new closed beta start date as November 2nd. Why the delay? The short answer is additional content, and PWE says that "it will add a tremendous amount of value to the game."
[Updated] Get ready for War of the Immortals with a closed beta key from Massively
Closed beta for War of the Immortals is drawing ever nearer -- the first round of testing is scheduled to begin on October 25th. If you're anxious to start checking out the game and hunting down the bugs, we've got you covered here at Massively with a pile of beta keys courtesy of Perfect World Entertainment. Just visit our giveaway page to grab your key code, then head to the Perfect World site. Log in, go to "My Account," click "Redeem Beta Keys," and enter your code. That's it -- you're in the War of the Immortals beta! Have fun, and thanks to PWE for the beta keys! [UPDATE: The beta start has been delayed until November 9th] [War of the Immortals is now in open beta and open to all]
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]
