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Stronghold Kingdoms attracts more than 3 million would-be conquerers
While self-funding a massively multiplayer real-time strategy game such as Stronghold Kingdoms was a risky move for a developer like Firefly Studios, it seems to be paying off as the castle building game has attracted over three million players since its debut on February 27. Firefly cites a passionate player base for the game's success, and notes that the game draws 200,000 users from 100 countries each month. Of course, it helps that Stronghold Kingdoms is free to download and play, and is supported by optional microtransactions, but given the number of other online games available to players with the same "free to play" price of entry, that three million player figure is still an impressive achievement. Those interested in joining the fight can find all the information they need to get up and running on the game's official website or by visiting its page on Steam. [Image: Firefly Studios]
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Rise and Shiny revisit: Stronghold Kingdoms
Stronghold Kingdoms is probably one of my top favorite MMORTS titles out there. There are many reasons it holds a special place in my slightly crumpled gamer heart, and I will be sure to get to those, but there are also many gameplay elements that could use some improvement. It's a pretty typical MMORTS in most ways; players build up a town, trade goods, fight each other, and swear loyalty to others. In fact, the genre is quite bloated with games that perform in largely the same way, many of them being delivered to us within the browser. For many players, these defining characteristics are exactly why they are attracted to the genre. In the same way, shooter fans appreciate many of the same basic mechanics from game to game, and trading card players need specific systems in place in order to feel satisfaction. So the existence of these repeated designs is not a problem for me. It's especially not a problem in Stronghold Kingdoms.
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Rise and Shiny: Inferno Legend
This week's game was a giant gamble, one that I should have known would not have worked out at all. The problem is that I have this crazy inborn optimism that tells me that even though many MMOs look and play the same way, you never know how they truly play until you actually play them. I've literally played hundreds of MMOs for this job and probably a hundred or so before that, so I've seen my share of games that look one way and play the other. So this week I decided to go ahead and roll in Inferno Legend, a new MMO by GameBox, even though it appeared to be an auto-player like League of Angels from a few weeks ago and other titles before that. I picked my character from five different classes: the Cyclops, Vampire, Samurai, Faerie, and Mummy. I barely got past the incredibly bad voice-acting that was presumably supposed to add life to the characters and popped into the game.
Stronghold: Crusader 2 dev modernizes its strategy-sim with new technology
After a slough of mixed reviews for its sequels, developer Firefly Studios says its pulling out all the stops to ensure they can deliver quality with its upcoming RTS-sim Stronghold: Crusader 2. Recently, the team at Firefly demoed the PC game in its pre-alpha state for Joystiq, showcasing improvements made to the mechanics from previous iterations in the series, both in the warfare aspect and on the castle sim side. During the demo, Firefly Senior Producer Paul Harris would not shy away from what sets it apart from other games in a similar genre and his company's direction going forward. "In 1999, our first game was Stronghold. The idea was to create a mix of RTS plus sim plus castle-builder," Harris told us. "There weren't many castle-building games around then – or any, as far as we really knew. It was a surprise hit for publisher Take-Two, and it's gone on to sell six million copies around the world. Stronghold: Crusader is its sequel; it alone sold over two million copies since 2002." Three more sequels have joined the roster in the ensuing years, and now, Firefly has freed itself from publisher restrictions with plans to develop Stronghold: Crusader 2 with some help from the crowdfunding platform Gambitious.%Gallery-192690%
Avoid society with this great Civilization IV + V bundle deal
Amazon has a pretty killer deal going on. For $20, you can nab downloads of Civilization 4: The Complete Edition, Civilization 5: Game of the Year Edition and The Stronghold Collection. It's perfect for the strategy gamer in your life who's been out of the loop for a decade.[Thanks, Patrick!]
Previously on MV TV: The week of April 7th
Oh hey, guys and gals, did you know that it was just Friday the 13th? Yes, it was. Don't worry; you'll have nothing but good luck on this week's recap of livestream goodness. If you missed a stream that you really wanted to see, or if you've never tuned in to check out what we do, head on over to our Twitch.tv page and keep an eye out. Be sure to bookmark the livestream guide as well so you can keep up with the current schedule. We have a lot of variety in our line-up, so it's always good to check back! This week we had some great stuff! MJ has been streaming like her life depends on it lately, first jumping into EverQuest II, then spending some time in Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. She had to pay some attention Aion, of course, and there, she showed off some player housing and took a trip on an airlink. Mike was back in EVE Online avoiding death-rays and spacemen and later found himself dead in RIFT... again. The Mists of Pandaria have tempted Richie once again, and thankfully our cameras were there to capture it. Meanwhile, I spent some time boating in Second Life and gave a first look at Stronghold Kingdoms. Just look at that lineup, will you? We're proud! Now click past the cut and get to viewing!
Stronghold 3 defends Oct. 25 launch date, unleashes assets
Stronghold 3 is ready to teach the importance of proper castle grouting on October 25. That's the official launch date from Firefly Studios and 7sixty Games for the title, which has seen numerous delays and had its publisher delisted from the stock exchange. We've placed some military gameplay footage above, with several trailers and developer diaries after the break. Have fun storming the castle!%Gallery-136665%
Stronghold 3 delayed until late summer
Firefly Studios, the team behind Stronghold 3, has learned some important lessons in all its years of simulated castle building. For one, constructing spiral staircases counter-clockwise makes them easier to defend against right-handed swordsmen. But more practically, Firefly has learned that taking your time is key. The studio's putting that second lesson to good use today, announcing that Stronghold 3 has been moved from an "early 2011" to a "late summer 2011" release window. Apparently, the delay will allow Firefly to implement "a host of great new features" so, needless to say, we're bracing ourselves for the best looking moat physics in the biz.
SouthPeak publishing Stronghold 3 in early 2011
Update: SouthPeak has confirmed that Stronghold 3 will be released simultaneously online and at retail. SouthPeak Games and Firefly Studios hope you're ready to build a third, really strong building for ... um ... holding stuff, as the two companies announced this week that they'll be bringing out Stronghold 3 in "the first quarter of 2011." The game is said to feature an "improved building system" and new "dramatic nighttime sieges." The physics engine has also been given a refresh, with castles that "crumble into ruin before your eyes" -- hopefully not yours, of course! Stronghold 3 will get an "initial" digital-only release in early 2011, which SouthPeak says could be bolstered by a retail SKU. "A retail release is definitely not out of the question," the publisher said. "We want to deliver according to demand from the fans." So, what SouthPeak's saying is it depends on whether the game's digital release takes a strong enough hold on consumers' hearts, if you will? Ba-zing! %Gallery-99288%
All the World's A Stage: Gift-giving in Azeroth
With Winter's Veil behind us, it is not too long until Valentine's Day is here. Between these two holidays, I'm frequently left pondering the best gifts available for our loved ones . . . in game. There's a subtle art to simulating gift-giving between characters, since there's obviously a few factors to be considered. First, it's difficult to be creative. Everyone has the same access to the items and gifts in-game, so you're going to be incredibly challenged to pull off something "no one else has considered." Second, it can be difficult to pick out just the right gift, since it can be a little hard to get excited over a trade window. Still, when it comes time for one character to give something a little special to his or her in-character spouse, it's good to have some ideas ready to go. Take a look behind the jump and let's talk about 5 of my favorite in-game gifts.
Firefly announces independently funded Stronghold Kingdoms MMO
Back in April, London-based developer Firefly Studios teased the big reveal of a new installment in its strategy franchise, Stronghold. Today, it delivered, revealing Stronghold Kingdoms, an MMORTS set in the franchise's traditional medieval world. Interestingly enough, Firefly is funding the project itself, giving it the freedom afforded to all independent developers, as well as imbuing it with the fear of crippling financial disaster in the event of failure. Now that's motivation!We know next to nothing about the game, though Firefly is describing it as a "castle-based MMO." We don't know about you guys, but we're thinking about rolling motte-and-bailey.
Castle simulation goes MMO with Stronghold Kingdoms
Being a king will soon be as easy as logging into a game and doing what needs to get done, as Firefly Studios has announced Stronghold Kingdoms, a 2010 dated castle and kingdom MMO. Although they don't currently have a publisher, the Stronghold series is well, for lack of a better term, strong -- we have no doubt it'll find a happy publishing deal in the coming months.The game itself will be very familiar to fans of Firefly's previous works, with lots of besieging, battling and pillaging -- after the proper bankrolling of course. We'll warn the faint of heart now: delve into the official website at your own risk, this is not a casual game of "Let's build castles and play armies!" that Firefly creates. On the contrary, this looks to be a game with enough depth to drown a giraffe twice over.
Firefly delays Dungeon Hero, says game 'lives on'
Now, there's no easy way to break this to you, so we're just going to come out and say it. Dungeon Hero, one of the last remaining remnants of Gamecock's feathery empire, has been delayed. For how long, we can't say, though Firefly Studios assures us that the tongue-in-cheek dungeon crawler still "lives on." According to the developer, Gamecock's purchase last October "created a number of challenges" for Firefly, forcing the company to put off the game's eventual release. Still, the dev has confidence in the property, writing on its site that in addition to Dungeon Hero, the studio is also working on "a couple of exciting projects built around the Dungeon Hero universe." Firefly also teases that it may be announcing a new Stronghold game in the "very near future." Until then, keep your chin up. It's not all bad.
EIEIO 08: Dungeon Hero inverts the dungeon genre
click to embiggen As Firefly Studios explained it, most dungeon games put the player in the role of a psychopath who enters a dungeon to slaughter thousands of subterranean creatures and steal their gold. Dungeon Hero is totally different. In Dungeon Hero, your character is -- well, okay, a psychopath who enters a dungeon to slaughter thousands of subterranean creatures and steal their gold. But those subterranean creatures have their own stuff going on, and that jerk hero is neither the shining exemplar of humanity nor some brooding antihero. He's mostly just a big dumb guy who fights a lot. And as such, he is manipulated into becoming the hero of some of the dungeon's inhabitants.%Gallery-3760%
Dungeon Hero reemerges with dev diary
After apparently (and appropriately) going under ground after its announcement last June, it looks like Dungeon Hero is finally ready to come back on the scene. The game has come to light once again thanks to a new developer diary on GameTrailers. While the video doesn't contain much in the way of new gameplay footage, we do get to hear at least a little bit about the game's "gritty" combat and its "living, breathing" dungeon. The game is set to be displayed at GameCock's EIEIO in Austin, Texas next week, so we should be hearing more about the title very soon.%Gallery-3811%
Dungeon Hero brings subterranean life to 360
Publisher Gamecock has revealed plans to bring the Firefly Studios developed Dungeon Hero to the Xbox 360 and PC. Dungeon Hero (referred to simply as Hero on the official website) is a dungeon crawler of a different sort. Rather than depicting dungeons as lifeless underground caves filled with monsters and treasure, Dungeon Hero paints them as living, breathing underground cities. In addition to the traditional ranged, magic, and melee combat, Dungeon Hero also employs "Close Combat" which the official site describes as "a totally new, brutal mode of fighting." The game also promises co-operative play, now a staple in most dungeon crawlers. If Dungeon Hero sounds like your kind of game, then we hope your patient: it's not scheduled to release until 2009.[Via MyGamerCard.net]%Gallery-3811%
Gamecock: former 'G.O.D.' heads launch indie-friendly publisher
Former Gathering of Developers executives Mike Wilson and Harry Miller are buck-buck-bucking the trend of safe bets (major licenses and sequels), founding an "independent, artist-driven" game publishing company dubbed Gamecock Media Group. "At least they're not infringing on my trademark: Gamepecker," approved Joystiq's Chris Grant. The Gamecock brand is symbolic of Wilson and Miller's "keep it fun" attitude, explained a rep from the 'cock pen,' adding that "Gamecock will just be a little name on the back [of the box]." This is an effort to spotlight independent developers and offer these studios the necessary freedom and financial incentives to contribute original content to the industry. "[Things] are getting stale. We aim to change that," vowed Wilson. Gamecock has announced the following five titles, which it plans to publish during the next few years, spanning PC, consoles, and handhelds: Fury (Auran) - PvP MMO game for PC; scheduled for release during 2007 holiday season Insecticide (Crackpot Entertainment) - film noir action-adventure game set in a decaying world run by bugs; available for the 2007 holiday season on handheld (TBA) and PC Mushroom Men (Red Fly Studios) - set in an incredibly detailed, stylized world where mushrooms have taken on human-like features and are now embroiled in a civil war; slated for a spring 2008 release on a "next-gen" console and handheld (both TBA) Hail to the Chimp (Wideload Games) - impossible-to-classify party game based on politics in the animal kingdom; scheduled for release in spring 2008 for "next-gen" consoles (TBA) Hero (Firefly Studios) - a brutal, but comical romp through the "real" world of medieval dungeons; coming to a "next-gen" console (TBA) and PC in spring 2009 %Gallery-1590%
Metareview - CivCity: Rome
What do you get when you combine the Roman Empire building of Caesar, the city planning of SimCity, and the wonders and tech trees of the ever popular Civilization? It would probably look something like CivCity: Rome, developed by Firefly Studios (Stronghold, Space Colony), where your task is to create and manage the economy of ancient Rome, collect taxes, and keep your citizens happy. The critics have been all over the map so far, but there is an alternative right around the corner for aspiring urban planners. VU Games plans to release the long-awaited Caesar IV in September, which should provide a basis for comparison -- and give Firefly some time to patch the buggy CivCity. IGN (82/100) appreciates the attention to detail: "CivCity: Rome is definitely full of Roman flavor. Not only are the structures and commodities designed to heighten your appreciation and understanding of Roman life, but even your citizens will give you insight into topics as diverse as makeup and warfare. If you crave more information, the Civilopedia and the manual offer some interesting commentaries on the buildings and activities of a Roman's daily life." GameSpot (66/100) has issues with CivCity's look and feel: "For starters, the game is ugly. Although it is nifty how roofs peel back to show you citizens going about their daily lives, and how clicking on homes and businesses create arrows connecting them to their wandering citizens, the jagged visuals are three years out of date." 1UP (50/100) isn't bullish on the game's combat system: "Once you've struggled with troop facing, watched them surround and ignore an invader, and shrieked as enemies walk right through closed city gates, you'll convert entirely to the boring (but less troublesome) map-level warfare. You can also opt to entirely skip this disappointing tradeoff by sticking to the peaceful game, though at a cost of about one-third of the game's content."
CivCity: Rome updated screens, interview
IGN has posted 14 new screens from the upcoming CivCity: Rome, a collaboration between Civilization developer Firaxis and Firefly Studios (Stronghold). While it has no multiplayer modes, Rome will provide a deep city-building campaign that incorporates gameplay elements from Sid Meier's award-winning Civilization series. GameSpot has more details in their updated interview with 2K Games producer Jason Bergman. CivCity: Rome arrives July 24.See also: 2K's Firaxis trifecta for 2006
2K's Firaxis trifecta for 2006
2K Games has announced they will publish three new titles this year from Civilization IV developer Firaxis Games. The first Civ4 expansion, Warlords, was revealed last month, but Sid Meier is also planning to return to his roots with Railroads!, an update on his classic Railroad Tycoon series. Lastly, Firaxis will be collaborating with Stronghold developer Firefly Studios on CivCity: Rome, in which you'll be able to simulate ancient Roman life on an unprecedented scale. Warlords and CivCity are due out this summer, while Railroads! is expected in the fall.
