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True fans of the genre, get thee hence to Cabal II's closed beta
Are you a "true fan" of the MMO genre? If so, then according to a hyperactive press release by ESTGames, you'll surely want to sign up for Cabal II's closed beta on the official site. The beta sign-ups for the sequel to Cabal Online are indeed live, and a focus test is already in the works for December 19th through the 22nd. Cabal II is an action-MMO with "fluid, skill-based combat"; it's aiming for a 2015 release in both North America and Europe. [Source: ESTGames press release]
CABAL Online greenlit on Steam
CABAL Online is coming to Steam. So says an ESTsoft press release sighted on Gamasutra. The company is fresh off "an 83-day campaign" to get its free-to-play fantasy MMO approved on Steam's Greenlight program. EST's release says that "additional information including release timeframes and region support details will be made available soon."
Cabal II preps Korean launch, rolls out new trailer
Cabal II is looking good, real good these days. The CryENGINE 3 title boasts eye-popping visuals, although we haven't gotten any face-time with the game to judge how it handles. We'll be hearing more about it soon, however, as Cabal II prepares to launch in South Korea next month. The sequel to Cabal is the first of the CryENGINE 3 MMOs and is being developed by ESTsoft. We've got a spiffy-looking trailer for you that shows off not only the game's good looks but also its many classes, from Warriors to... um, Force Bladers. Check it out after the jump! [Source: ESTsoft press release]
One Shots: Bust a move
With players now able to reach level 180 (!!) in CABAL Online due to the release of its latest expansion, old players have returned, and some new players are looking into the game as well. After all, it's not every day you get to step into hell in an MMO. On the way there, however, you'll cover some interesting ground, like the desert we see in today's screenshot courtesy of Andrei U., who has been checking the game out. He writes in: "In the middle of a fresh dance routine, my CABAL Online wizard shows off his new threads. I haven't been playing CABAL for very long, but it seems like the more I play it, the more I enjoy it. I find that a bit strange because it's the exact opposite for most free-to-play MMORPGs." Do you have screenshots of your favorite game that you haven't sent in to us yet? If so, why are you holding back? You should gather those up and send them to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We can always use more screenshots to show off! %Gallery-85937%
New CABAL Online expansion throws players into hell
Only the bravest or most foolhardy (or both!) would voluntarily step through a portal into hell, but ESTSoft is betting that many high-level players will do just that when Episode IV: Porta Inferno releases for CABAL Online. The latest expansion to the game will offer players a wide assortment of treats, from an increased level cap (up to 180), a revamped item upgrade system, new skills, and hellishly cool maps to explore. Porta Inferno is scheduled for release later this month, but if curiosity is pawing at the back of your neck, then hit the jump to see the exciting, blood-splattered trailer. Put on your flame-proof undies, it's about to get hot... very hot.
One Shots: Gulp!
It's not every day here at Massively when we get screenshots from GMs in MMOs, but it does happen once in a great while. Normally we see them doing odd things that others can't do, such as in this crazy shot from [GM]Caesar from CABAL Online, who seems to have caught someone in a heated situation recently. [GM]Caesar describes the scene for us: "On exploring Illusion Castle -- the newest dungeon in the free-to-play MMO, CABAL Online -- an unsuspecting player got more than he bargained for: Drosnin, the fire breathing dragon!" The player looks to be decently kitted out, so we wonder -- did he make it? Or did Drosnan wind up with a toasty snack in a brightlycolored peel-and-eat wrapper? We love to see screenshots from everyone in the MMO community -- GMs and CMs, this means you too! Feel free to send in screenshots of your favorite games to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here for everyone to check out and give you the credit. (Or not, if you'd prefer.) %Gallery-85937%
ESTsoft to publish CABAL Online in the West
Fans of Cabal Online rejoice! ESTsoft's free-to-play fantasy MMORPG is alive and well in the Western market, and will not be put out to pasture as we initially reported. ESTsoft, the game's original developer, will be taking over for OGPlanet as the North American publisher, and is currently hard at work on the logistics involved in the transfer. A brief statement is available on their web site, and you can also follow their progress on the Cabal Online Facebook fan page as well as the ESTsoft Twitter feed. No official details have surfaced regarding the preservation of existing accounts and character assets, but we'll keep you informed as we learn more. For now, all current users should activate the sub-passwords on their accounts, as those passwords will be used to verify your ID in the coming service transition.
CABAL Online launches in North America
CABAL Online has officially launched here in North America, offering a new free-to-play Asian import for fans of that MMO play style. The game, which is already running in countries throughout Asia and Europe, stands at more than a million users according to the title's official press release. CABAL has been brought to the states and Canada by a partnership between OGPlanet and the game's developer ESTsoft. Though originally a subscription title, the game is free-to-play here with item purchasing as an additional option. These purchasable add-ons will speed movement through the gameworld, but are not currently planned to offer any sort of gameplay benefit. The game's open beta was greeted by a number of enthusiastic US players and (as with all free titles) is never more than a few clicks away from a quick trial. Commentators have had a few reservations about the game, but at the very least you have to respect OG and ESTsoft from trying to put a new spin on a business plan that hasn't always turned out so well in the past.
