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Face of Mankind gets a revamp in the upcoming Milestone patch
The free-to-play MMOFPS Face of Mankind is due for a major update soon. A new dev blog has been put out in order to explain some of the changes that will be coming about in the patch. The mining and crafting systems are getting an overhaul: Resources will be collected, transported, and refined into useful materials in new ways. Augmenting that will be a reformed death and cloning system. Players will drop all non-bound items in their inventory on death, and the process of creating a new clone to get back into action with will be lengthier (although it can, of course, be sped up for a cost.) Players will now be able to create and manage their own factions, rather than sticking with the eight factions that were previously in the game. There's more! There's so, so much more (including "stuff with aliens"). Keep an eye out for a Kickstarter campaign to fund new improvements and systems for the game. Skip below the cut to catch the full details. [Thanks to intrepid explorer Alex for the tip!]
Rise and Shiny revisit: Face of Mankind
It's hard to believe, but the last time I took a good look at MMOFPS Face of Mankind was almost a year ago! I've been wanting to go back and look at a lot of the games I've covered in past Rise and Shiny columns, but I was shocked to see that many of them have been shut down. Face of Mankind, however, is still chugging along, and a recent spate of PR emails and developer shout-outs had me intrigued. Let this be a lesson for any indie developers who are reading this: Reach out to the press. Even in all of my searching, I still miss updates and game changes. So have things changed much since I last visited? I can't say for sure, being that the last time was sort of a blur of gripey FPSers who did little more than yell at me and shoot me in the face. I had fun with some of it back then, according to the article, but I'll be honest and say that I did not expect to have as much fun as I did in this third visit. If there was ever a doubt about the importance of revisiting titles from the past, it's long gone.
Previously on MV TV: The week of July 28th
You know what time it is? That's right: It's time for me to heckle you for missing out on some of our awesome streams! Sure, you might have been at work, or perhaps you visited that strange, outer world people call "real life," but that's no excuse! Still, I've got your back. I gathered some of the best moments from the past week of livestreaming, tied them up with a bow, and set them under that little line down there. All you have to do is click the "continue reading" and BAM! All of the presents are yours. Share with your sister. Oh, and bookmark the livestream guide on your little browser there so you won't ever miss a stream again. What went on this week? Well, we started off with Richie doing some sort of multi-armed attack in SMITE and then switching to a character who shares my name. (That must have given him extra points.) Next up we had MJ with all of her streaming glory. She dived into some Xsyon, the indie post-apocalyptic world where giant dogs tend to bite your ears off. Next she visited Tinkerfest in EverQuest II, escorted somebody's trunk into a toilet (don't ask me) in The Secret World, and rounded her week off with a bit of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Speaking of Vanguard, I wonder if you heard about the free-to-play release date. No? Well then click here and read all about it. I finished things off with a Rise and Shiny revisit to good old Face of Mankind. Yes, I get shot. Read that Vanguard article after you watch these videos. Your Aunt Beau went through all that trouble to put them together for you, so go upstairs right now and try them on!
Previously on MV TV: The week of July 21st
It's been another fun week of livestreaming, full of witty comments and exciting gameplay! If you're reading this right now, you probably missed a few and need me to recap several of the best streams. That's a fine deal, and after all, I must do it. No, seriously, I have to. They have me tied to my desk. So what did you miss? Before I show you, you have have to promise to bookmark our livestream guide and to check on that guide every Monday. That way you'll always know who is streaming what and when. Deal? OK, let me break it down for you. First you'll find some The Secret World being streamed by our very own Piggy, followed by Richie (and his father) playing SMITE. Next, MJ takes the reins and plays some EverQuest II, The Secret World and City of Heroes. I rounded things out by getting myself arrested in Face of Mankind. What a week! See you past the cut! Oh, and grab the salt would you? I need it for the popcorn.
Face of Mankind updates include public apartments
Oh give me a home, where the... well OK, so it doesn't really matter what roams, as long as there is player housing; for a sandbox game, this one feature is practically a staple. Now Face of Mankind joins the ranks of those games offering a place to call your own. Nexeon Technologies announced that along with other updates, the sci-fi game now has a public apartment feature where players can make a hangout for their friends, create an underground dueling club, or any number of other possibilities. The houses have various permission settings, including charging an entry fee. Also in the update was a new character panel that helps players organize their character better as well as stay on top of new information released about major combat revisions. To encourage players to get the word out about the game and the new features, FoM implemented a new referral system that rewards 15 days of premium-level game time to anyone (including trial accounts) who has a friend sign up through the referral link and then buys a premium subscription. [Source: Face of Mankind press release]
Face of Mankind rolling out major updates
Face of Mankind has been on the quiet side for a while now, but the game is gearing up for some major mechanical changes. A new developer blog outlines several of the large shifts, starting with several major improvements to the World Takeover system. Players at a high faction rank can take on special contracts to help take out the enemy presence, or they can choose to take part in a more secretive income-siphoning operation to discreetly hurt the enemy. The game is also removing the weight system, the quality levels system, and the factional restrictions on armor and equipment. This also has resulted in a change to the way that armor values are calculated in an effort to make more pieces of armor relevant to gameplay. And that's just the tip of the iceberg; current or potential players would do well to take a look at the full development blog to see all of the changes en route for the game's mechanics. [Source: Nexeon press release]
The Firing Line: What ever happened to that game?
Online shooters are a dime a dozen these days. Heck, so are MMOs. I can't get up from my computer chair for five minutes without missing some sort of PR blast about the latest, greatest gift to gamingkind. It's easy to lose track of all these titles, and it's even easier when some of said titles are fairly niche to begin with. In this week's edition of The Firing Line, I'm going to figure out something to write about until I get into the PlanetSide 2 beta. Er, I mean, I'm going to do a little detective work in an attempt to figure out what happened to a few of the MMO shooters that have dropped off my radar.
Play Face of Mankind with a free seven-day premium pack from Massively
The Face of Mankind developers have a little something for Massively readers to enjoy during the holiday break from work or school: premium access to the game. The free-to-play title offers its players a paid premium upgrade that adds a long list of perks to the account: an increased rank cap, more storage and inventory, increased cloning speed, and much more. We've got some codes for you that include a free week of premium account access to Face of Mankind along with some cool starter items. Pick up your code on our giveaway page, then register for a Face of Mankind account if you haven't yet. After logging in, add your code to the "add product key" link on your account page. Once you've done that, you're all set for premium access to Face of Mankind!
Face of Mankind looking for storyline gamemasters
Nexeon Technologies is looking for a few good storytellers, according to a post on the Face of Mankind forums. The sci-fi sandbox has long been a theoretically rich roleplaying environment, and the devs are looking to put that theory into practice. "We are currently looking to bring back an official storyline to Face of Mankind in a manner whereby it will play a significant part [in] the roleplay environment [of] the game, and where we will see players from all factions and backgrounds taking part in one way or another," writes Arthurius, Nexeon's community manager. To that end, Nexeon is looking to bring in several storyline gamemasters, and applications are now being accepted. The requirements are nothing to sneeze at, particularly when it comes to game knowledge, perfect grammar, and the willingness to sacrifice your own game time for the greater good. If you think you've got what it takes (or you're just curious), you can read more on the official Face of Mankind forums.
Face of Mankind revamps mission system, hints at combat and economic tweaks
A couple of weeks ago we told you about the resuscitated Face of Mankind MMO. Well, maybe resuscitated is a bit of an extreme word since the sci-fi sandbox title never really died, but it is under new management and making a bit more noise than it has in years past. Nexeon Technologies has just sent out another email blast to former players detailing the game's latest update, and the new patch contains a pretty extensive mission system overhaul designed to "create an experience full of roleplay and player freedom." We've linked to the patch notes below, and you'll also want to check out the new Face of Mankind developer blog on the game's official website. The first entry contains some exciting hints as to the game's new direction, including bits about the combat system, the economy, and the factional structure.
Rise and Shiny recap: Face of Mankind, a revisit
I'm not exactly sure why I am such a glutton for punishment, but over the last week I thought it would be a good idea to revisit Face of Mankind, an MMOFPS that pushes roleplay and politics in its description. I had already known from my previous experience that roleplay was pretty much non-existent and that the crowd was made up largely of typical MMOFPS or PvP types, but I have a rule to always give games second, third and sometimes fourth chances. It's a simple fact that many of them, especially independent ones, take a long time to grow and mature into the games they always should have been. So how has Face of Mankind matured? How has it grown? I have to be honest with you and tell you that the game surprised me in some ways this time around. Perhaps it was because I was already familiar with the controls and layout, but click past the cut and let me tell you all about it.
MV Guide: August 29-September 4, 2011
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel. Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.) Follow along after the jump to see what's scheduled for this week!
Face of Mankind under new management, adding new features
If you've ever played Face of Mankind, you may have gotten something of a blast from the past in your inbox this morning. The sci-fi sandbox MMORPG is under new management, and the team at Nexeon Technologies sent out an email blurb advertising the fact that the game has undergone significant changes (and has a new website and forum to boot). Nexeon provides a list of all the tweaks that have occurred in recent months, including frequent patches and bug fixes, account portal integration, a new tutorial, and the implementation of famous New York City locales including Brooklyn and Ground Zero. The press release also hints at major updates still in the planning stages, including an item shop, additional colonies, customizable apartments, and more. Face of Mankind is notable for being one of a very few MMORPGs to emphasize roleplay, community, and player-driven politics as primary gameplay systems, and you can read more about the title at its official website.
Free for All: Gaming with Game of Thrones
I have really been enjoying the new series Game of Thrones over on the HBO network. In fact, when I recently changed to a faster internet provider, I deliberately added on the exclusive channel just for the series. Even though I have never read the books, a 15-minute preview of the show was enough to convince me to watch it. While I am truly enjoying the break from fantasy that is chock-full of smart-alec modern-day references (all delivered by smirking hipsters with swords), I admit to still being a little afraid that the series will take a turn for the goofy or overly dramatic. If a single vampire shows up in this one, I am going to turn it all off and go on a long vacation. So far, though, it's been a delightful romp into a cold, realistic world. After I watch a new episode, I avoid the internet for fear of random spoilers or the temptation to look at character bios. I simply do not want to know what's going to happen, so please do not tell me. Since the series has started, I have begun to notice how I enjoy the same basic entertainment in my gaming. I want political intrigue, amazing landscapes, and the occasional epic, bloody fight. Join me past the cut and let's look at some games that provide those three things.
Rise and Shiny Recap: Face of Mankind
Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet each Tuesday and Friday night at 8 PM Central time, with a recap column on Saturday. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau at massively dot com. First of all, there are three major rules of PvP that everyone should know by now. They are: There is always someone better than you. You can practice your jumping, your strafing and your abilities, but there will always be another player who will take you down. The goal of PvP in any MMO is not to avoid dying, but to avoid dying more than your opponent. Death is but a pause in combat. This might sound like a cool "Peace is just preparation for war!" type of saying, but I mean it literally. In every PvP-centric game I have played, death is just a slap on the wrist. Players can take your loot or sit on your corpse, but otherwise you pop up seconds later, no worse for the wear. While games like EVE Online and Face of Mankind try to make death more "deathy," it really only makes me concentrate on the fact that I am playing a game. If you want me to fear something, to feel real excitement, make death something that I regret. PvPers have potty mouths. PvP game developers would never want to police their chat or do anything so carebearish, for fear that their playerbase would go find a game in which they could use all the naughty words they wanted to. I am not sure I understand why it is hardcore, or even cool, to allow players to use the names and language they do, but so be it. I have said naughty things in my life, too, but be warned if you have virgin ears that a PvP game will test your patience.
Rise and Shiny recap: Crowns of Power
Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet in game each Friday night at 8 PM Central time, followed by this column the day after. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau at massively dot com. This week we decided to take a tour through Crowns of Power, an indie game made by Rampid Interactive. It seems as though I came along at a good time because the game recently received a new PvE server. To be honest, I was afraid that the PvP nature of the game would have scared off any potential explorers before I arrived, so it was good to see we would be able to try it out without any worry of being ganked over and over by someone with "420" in her name. Let's get right to it, and be sure to leave your comments about the game below. Did you like it? Hate it? Read on to see what I thought.
Face of Mankind continues updating new content
Face of Mankind recently got a nice-sized update in the form of NPCs to hand out quests and a brand new city. Duplex Systems is continuing to fine-tune these updates by adding to them, and players will find even more new content in the next few weeks. For those of you who found the new NPC system a bit confusing, there is now a tutorial in-game to help you get your bearings. Face of Mankind's unusual setup meant that more than a few players gave up on figuring things out, and Duplex acknowledges that, hoping that the tutorial will induce players to give them a second chance. The tutorials will be worth your while in either case, as they will offer significant monetary rewards. You'll find some changes to combat in Face of Mankind as well, including the addition of a recoil system for a little extra realism -- you'll need a little extra skill to hit your target as you compensate for the recoil now -- as well as faster overall combat speeds. Finally, the city of Berlin has been re-introduced as a completely lawless city: killing other players will no longer earn penalty points, so watch your back. Take a look at the Face of Mankind site to learn more about these latest updates.
Face of Mankind adds new NPCs and city
Face of Mankind, the young MMOFPS from Duplex Systems, has gotten a pretty significant update just a few months after going retail. A problem that comes with a game containing player-generated content is...well, a lack of content at times. The addition of NPCs with this update will go a long way toward solving that problem in Face of Mankind, as they will bring the introduction of "chained missions, which have a definite starting and ending point, and open up further successive missions upon the completion of prior ones." NPCs aren't the only addition, however. The city of Berlin has arrived to Face of Mankind as well, but it's not quite the Berlin you remember. Described as a "dilapidated wasteland", the city is an area devoid of any sort of law. If you've not checked out the story behind the fall of Berlin on the FoM site, spend some time catching up before venturing in game -- it's well worth it. The new content is in game now, so if you haven't checked it out for yourself, what are you waiting for?
Face of Mankind goes "retail"
The open beta isn't open anymore and the roleplaying first-person shooter MMO has converted into the real thing. Face of Mankind has gone into the "retail" phase and has put all of their accounts on a "premium trial period" to get a taste of what a paid account has to offer. The premium trial period will last until December 29th, so be sure to make your mind up quick. Good news for veterans of the game, however, as you won't need to subscribe to play this time around. Face of Mankind is instead taking a free-to-play/subscription approach, putting things like access to civilian clothing usage, department creation, carrying a third weapon, and faction leadership and other benefits solely in the hands of paying subscribers. Free-to-play accounts can still play and progress in their faction up to rank 4, own 10 clones, and have 20 spaces of inventory.
Face of Mankind opens the gates for open beta
If you've been on the fence about trying out Face of Mankind in its earlier iterations, now might be the perfect time to jump in and try the game out. The roleplay heavy MMOFPS is back in action as it launches into open beta and calls for new recruits to join the ranks of the game's eight factions. The game has undergone significant changes to its in-game systems since the initial release of the game back in 2006 and the subsequent closure of the game in 2007. Faction systems, penalty systems, territory control, and many more aspects of the game have been tweaked to ensure proper function and fun for the players involved. However, even with all of these changes, the publisher of the game, Duplex Systems, has stated that things are not as balanced as they wish it to be but they wish to iron out more problems with the help of players in open beta. If you're interested in the single, persistent universe game, jump on over to the website, sign up for an account, and grab yourself the client. Update: Nexeon Technologies has clarified that the game is no longer carrying the "Rebirth" subtitle, and is simply called Face of Mankind once again.
