dark-vale-games
Latest
Forge going free-to-play
If you're a PvP fan and you still haven't checked out Forge, you're plumb out of excuses. Dark Vale recently announced that the fantasy title is converting to a free-to-play business model after approximately nine months as a buy-to-play game with an up-front client cost. Dark Vale's announcement post reiterates its desire to avoid pay-to-win pitfalls, and it highlights the fact that all of Forge's cash shop items will be cosmetic. The company is acting on feedback from both fans and "F2P experts," and it plans to offer a selection of Steam starter packs as well as a range of item prices. "We also want to take into account the time it takes to play Forge to unlock some of these items," the company says. "For example, The Kaldrhiti Armor takes around 800 games to unlock. It's hard to put a price on your time playing Forge, but we don't want to de-value it. So, this will obviously be a higher priced more exclusive item." [Thanks Dengar and Skurvel!]
Catapult your friends and foes with Forge's new Tinker character
Are you looking for a new character to play in Dark Vale's Forge PvP title? Look no further than Tinker, who is the game's next piece of free DLC. Tinker is available in the live game starting today, and Dark Vale has posted some teaser info -- including three gameplay videos -- on Forge's official forums. You can also get a load of Tinker's cata pad, armored booth, barricade, buzz saw, turret, and more via the clips that we've embedded just past the break.
Indie Royale 'Hammerhead' bundle includes Richard & Alice, Primordia and more
The latest Indie Royale bundle is now available for the current minimum price of $5.68. The Hammerhead bundle includes Owl Cave's Richard & Alice, Primordia by Wormwood Studios, Pressure by Chasing Carrots, Forge by Dark Vale Games and Pandora Studios' Gas Guzzlers: Combat Carnage. The bundle seems immediately worthwhile to us just for the inclusion of Richard & Alice alone, per our recent review of the game. Those that pay at least $8 for the Hammerhead bundle will also receive MY OK BBS' chiptune album It's Not Great. There's also a mysterious sixth game in the bundle, likely to be revealed at a later time. The Indie Royale bundle is available on PC until June 7.
First Impressions: Forge
When I first picked up Forge on Steam back in the day (when it first hit the Greenlight service), I was hesitant to say the least. The last time I played any sort of game billed as a class-based PvP arena, it was FURY (does anyone else remember that?) and Dark Messiah of Might and Magic before that. To say those games were less-than-stellar would be a bit of an understatement. Despite my trepidation, I still snagged the game since it was fairly cheap and I felt there was at least a good deal of potential for it to finally do justice to the concept. Unfortunately, Forge ended up being released far too early because of (as I understand it) a lack of funds, so many of the advertised features (such as a ranking system, matchmaking, and so forth) were conspicuously absent. So I figured I'd put it on the backburner and check it out once it had received some much-needed polish. So of course I was pretty pleased when Dark Vale Games announced that Forge had been "re-released" with many of the missing features in tow, but my initial worries about the game were far from assuaged, and I figured it would just be FURY 2: Electric Boogaloo. But man, do I love being proven wrong.
Forge rerelease introduces tons of new features, goes 75% off on Steam
Keen-minded readers may remember Forge, Dark Vale Games' action-oriented PvP title that launched via Steam Greenlight in December of last year. Unfortunately, due to limited funding, the game was released in a decidedly unfinished state, lacking many of the key features that the studio hoped to incorporate. Despite this, many players flocked to the game, providing the devs with the money needed to polish up the game, and now Forge has been officially "rereleased" on Steam. To celebrate the occasion, Dark Vale Games is allowing fans to play Forge for free from today until Sunday. The game's rerelease brings with it a number of new features sure to satisfy fans of all playstyles. The fashionistas in the crowd will be pleased by the addition of new armor customization options, while completionists will have plenty to work toward thanks to the introduction of achievements to the game. New players will be able to jump into the action faster than ever thanks to a new-and-improved tutorial, and new ranking and matchmaking features ensure that players can always find the perfect match. On top of all of that, the UI has received an overhaul, and the addition of bots and co-op modes allows players to practice new strategies before they take them into the game proper. So if you're up for some adrenaline-fueled PvP action, you can check out the game for free and/or snag it on the cheap for a paltry $5 US. [Source: Dark Vale Games press release]
Forge developer diary discusses the state of the game and what comes next
Forge isn't your typical MMO, set up as a straightforward PvP arena without niggling little issues like outside quests to get in the way. The development team behind the game has been looking at its current state, and in the newest address to the players they state what the game is doing wrong and how to fix it. The diary makes it clear that while the number of people playing Forge is down, they believe a lot of that has to do with the steep learning curve new players experience. To fix this, there are plans for a new starter area in which players can practice against bots to get accustomed to the combat and the game mechanics. The team also plans to improve the tutorial and the UI so that what an ability does is more transparent. For players already at the higher end, this is still good news -- the matchmaking system will be updated, visual customization will be improved, and you'll be able to respec at any time to ensure that you aren't stuck with poor choices forever. Check out all the details in the latest development diary.
New video and 2-for-1 deal announce Forge's launch
A few weeks ago, Massively dived into the Forge beta for a hands-on experience of the unique PvP fantasy game. And soon, all players will be able to forge their own experiences: Dark Vale Games has just released a new gameplay video and announced that the arena-style game will launch on December 4th, 2012. Available via digital distribution for $19.99 USD, each purchase of Forge comes with the added bonus of a second free copy to give to a friend. Tim Alvis, COO/CTO of Dark Vale Games, explained the 2-for-1 deal for what he calls "an incredible AAA-quality multiplayer fantasy game at an amazing indie price." "We understand that these titles are all about the community. That's why we're offering the best of both worlds – a great price point and a free copy that purchasers can give to their guild- or clan-mate or anyone else they would like to have fighting by their side. The more people we have playing FORGE, the more fun it will be. We truly believe that and we're putting our money where our mouth is to prove it." Forge is rated T for teen due to violence and blood. Curious about the in-game action? Watch the new video after the break! [Source: Dark Vale games press release]
Forge reveals a new trailer of beta gameplay footage
While it's still very much in beta, Forge is a title worth watching for all PvP fans in the audience. Our last hands-on explored a fairly recent build, but unfortunately text pieces do a poor job of showing off what the game actually looks like in practice. So if it piqued your curiosity but you weren't in the beta, you were kind of out of luck. But there's good news today, as the team behind the game has released a fan-made trailer assembled from beta gameplay footage. The trailer is fairly short, as trailers are wont to be, but it still gives a picture of what the game looks like in terms of animation and gameplay. Take a look at the full video just past the cut, which covers both navigation and combat from the viewpoint of several classes within the game. There's reason to hope that release dates and pricing information might not be too far off, either. [Source: Dark Vale Games press release]
Tossing fireballs and bashing shields: Hands-on with the Forge Beta
Dark Vale's upcoming PvP-centric title, Forge, is an MMO like no other. The game has no PvE content to speak of, instead demanding that players earn their progress by killing one another in timed arena-style deathmatches or objective-based games. It's built in the Unreal Engine, features an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective, and depends heavily on strategy and reflexes as opposed to gear and level. There are no quests to complete, no mobs to grind, and no resources to gather. When Dark Vale says Forge is "Pure PvP," that's exactly what it means. While some may be skeptical of the appeal of a PvP-only MMO, others will note that there is vast potential here to fill a niche for gamers craving MMO-style combat without all the extra muss and fuss of grinding, gearing, and socializing. The only question is whether Forge will strike a chord with that pocket of players or will be just another "also-ran" in a sea of experimental MMOs. I took a peek at the Forge beta over the weekend, and what I found was an intense title with a lot of promise, but one that clearly has a lot of ground to cover before being ready for mass consumption.%Gallery-162207%
Forge beta launches, new video of map released
A couple of months ago, our interest was piqued in Forge, an upcoming game with a hybrid of MMO and shooter elements. In August, we were able to get a better look at the game and shared our hands-on experience. Now, folks interested in getting into the beta for themselves have the chance to do so as Dark Vale Games has announced a closed beta for Forge that will last from now until the end of November. Players who registered for the game early in the summer have access to this closed beta, as do those who have pre-ordered the game. If you missed your chance to sign up previously, pre-orders are still being taken on the official site. Also, anyone who registers on the site now will be able to log a little bit of beta time using a free 14-day trial set within the beta. Dark Vale games also released a peek at one of the upcoming maps, called Capital Siege. For a preview of this map, check out the video after the break. [Source: Dark Vale Games press release]
Massively's hands-on with MMO brawler Forge
Forge is definitely an intriguing game that invites exploration. The upcoming MMO-brawler hybrid from indie developer Dark Vale Games is emblematic of what I see as a trend in multiplayer gaming: The era of the niche game is well upon us. Forge isn't a game that will appeal to everyone; its tendency toward "all PvP, all the time" might be enough to scare away a hefty segment of the MMO crowd already. And the game has a nonexistent grind and gear system. For some gamers, that might be a deal-breaker. But there's a lot to love about Forge, and I think that anyone who gives the game a fighting chance will find something about it to keep him around.%Gallery-162207%
Dark Vale releases Forge gameplay video, 'Kick-Finish' campaign
We told about you about Forge a couple of weeks ago, and today we're happy to bring you the first alpha gameplay footage of the new PvP-centric title. Dark Vale Games has been working on its Unreal 3-based action title for a while now, but this is the first chance we've had to see it in action. The indie outfit is banking on its ability to appeal to gamers who are fed up with grind-gated PvP in MMORPGs, and Forge aims to fill the skill-based action and strategic PvP niche that most MMOs gloss over. To be honest, we're not quite sure how "MMO" Forge will end up being. We do know that it features five classes with 30 to 40 abilities each (and nine usable at any given time). Outside of that, we'll have to take Dark Vale at its word when it says that Forge is an "incredible online experience that rewards players for developing skills, not grinding for gear." The firm has also announced a "Kick-Finish" campaign designed to help the team release on-time and on-budget without resorting to publishers or outside investors. Be sure to check out the gameplay clip after the cut. [Source: Dark Vale press release]
