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Working As Intended: The MMOs we lost in 2014
Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote about how Vanguard's early stumbles foreshadowed the changing MMORPG industry. In January 2007, when Vanguard lurched its way to launch, the genre was barely a decade old; it was booming, and it had never suffered hardship on a massive scale. In the west, we'd seen only three "major" MMOs sunset (Motor City Online, Earth and Beyond, and Asheron's Call 2), and only one MMO, Anarchy Online, had "gone F2P," though we hadn't yet thought to call it yet because it was such a rare and new thing. In fact, it wasn't until 2008's first big wave of AAA, post-World of Warcraft MMOs launched and mostly flopped that MMORPG players gave much thought to the future of the genre and how WoW had reshaped (and possibly broken) it. Maybe not even then. Here in 2015, sunsets are commonplace, and the vast majority of modern MMOs have adopted some sort of subscriptionless model. Last year, we lost more than a dozen MMOs, including Vanguard itself, all of them wiped from the face of the earth (at least until someone decides to resurrect them), and several more under development were canceled, leading to concern among industry watchers like those of us who pen for Massively. Let's try to get some perspective and revisit the MMOs we lost in 2014.
Global Chat: Through a monitor, darkly
No matter who you are, and even if you are independently rich and can game all day, it's impossible to get around to playing all of the MMOs out there -- even all of the major ones. This is why I love MMO blogs, since they allow me to vicariously visit many of the games that I lack time to play. Even if they're silly observations or dutiful reporting on last night's activities, these posts are my window into a universe of virtual worlds. In today's edition of Global Chat, we'll hear from a gamer visiting an older MMO for the first time, a rant about Guild Wars 2's new player experience, a tribute to the late Rusty Hearts, and why "entitlement" is overused as an attack in our community.
Farewell to Rusty Hearts
Back in August, Perfect World Entertainment announced that it planned to shut down story-driven action MMO Rusty Hearts come mid-September, and that date has now come and gone. Last night was the game's final evening, and players gathered to say farewell without much fanfare from PWE, which has not yet updated the website or forums to indicate that the game is now closed. One forum-goer was kind enough to provide screenshots of the game's last 10 minutes, which another poster said featured "more people than the average population of the servers these days." Farewell to you, Rusty Hearts. [Thanks, Fakepants.]
Rusty Hearts shutting down on September 15th
It's been going only for three years, but the action MMO Rusty Hearts is being brought to an early end. Perfect World Entertainment announced today that it will be ending the game's run on September 15th. If you're not playing and were hoping to check Rusty Hearts out before it ends, you're already out of luck. PWE said that the game is no longer downloadable and won't will be accepting new ZEN deposits. It will remain playable until the 15th for current players, however, and PWE is refunding the past six months' worth of ZEN to use in the company's other titles. "We would like to thank all the fans who helped bring life to all the characters in Rusty Hearts. Your loyalty, dedication, and countless hours crawling through dungeons is what made it all possible. Rusty Hearts was a unique experience and will be cherished forever," the studio wrote.
Rise and Shiny: Rusty Hearts
I have a soft spot in my heart for action-based titles. They just seem to skip past a lot of the BS that is involved with all of that theory-crafting math stuff and let you get right to the heart of the fight. OK, so sometimes I prefer to use my brain more than my character's brawn, but give me a good action title and I am almost instantly happy. In fact, the inclusion of an action mechanic can make a bad game much, much better just because the action is potentially more unpredictable than standard MMO combat. Not all action games are great, however. Some of them hide a grind behind a lame story and expect us to appreciate it. There are plenty of gamers who see achievement as much more important than having a good time, so even crappy action-based titles find an audience. So how does Rusty Hearts fare? Where does it fit in the action spectrum? I sat down with Mark Hill, Senior Producer from Perfect World Entertainment, to talk about the game.
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Rise and Shiny: Minecraft
We all know what Minecraft is, right? Well, just in case you have not played it for any number of reasons, let me explain. Minecraft is a sandbox defined by primitive-looking graphics, mining, building by using a massive set of LEGOs, multiplayer interaction, and modding. Lots and lots of modding. I bought it for only 10 bucks way back in its first or second beta, and all I can remember about those first few hours in the game was how high my pulse rate got, and then the buzz I felt when I first heard a pretty song play as the moon rose in the sky. Playing Minecraft for the first time easily goes down as one of my top 10 most thrilling gaming moments. Flash forward well past those betas and Minecraft has become an empire. There are Minecraft toys, clothing items, building sets, and all sorts of real-life tie-in merchandise. It's a popular game on both console and PC and has bridged the age gap between millions of gamers. But we don't talk much about it on Massively. Why? Well, it's not an MMO. Or is it?
Steam Holiday Sale begins; MMO deals make gamers fear for their wallets
All right gamers, it's time to make a choice: Either lock up your wallet and throw away the key or bust it out and prepare to blow some money because the Steam Holiday Sale is now on, and there are quite a few tasty MMO deals to be had. Steam's free-to-play category is particularly ripe for the picking: DC Universe Online's The Last Laugh DLC is currently 50% off (for $4.99 US), and Lord of the Rings Online's Steely Dawn Starter Pack is 50% (for $9.99 US). On top of that, starter packs for virtually every F2P MMO under the sun are on sale as well. Tribes Ascend's raider and starter packs are 70% off, bringing them down to $4.49 and $5.99 US, respectively. If you're more the shooty type, Blacklight Retribution starter packs are 50% off for $9.99. If you're craving a more action-flavored fix, Rusty Hearts and Continent of the Ninth Seal starter packs are available for $4.99 US and $20.99 US, respectively. To browse all of the delicious sales (which include even more games such as Star Trek Online, Fallen Earth, and then some), just head on over to Steam's store page, or alternatively just boot up Steam and say a little prayer for your bank account.
Jukebox Heroes: Reader requests
One of my favorite parts of doing this column is reading your comments every week. I've discovered that there are several other gamers who are passionate for this type of music and have plenty to say about these songs. There's a lot of memories that are triggered by these tunes as well, and I love hearing about them. Unbeknownst to you but totally beknownst to me, I've been collecting comments regarding your favorite songs in the game's we've covered so far. My opinions on the best of every soundtrack isn't the be-all, end-all, after all. Sometimes you guys and gals show me a song that I overlooked or perhaps didn't appreciate the first time I heard it. So what I've decided to do is turn your favorite songs into an occasional column, and this here is the first. Instead of focusing on just one MMO this week, we'll be looking at six additional tracks from titles we've discussed over the past few months. If you were gnashing your teeth that I overlooked an MMO classic, then you might just be in luck today!
Jukebox Heroes: Rusty Hearts' soundtrack
Rusty Hearts might not be on your radar, particularly when it comes to great MMO music, but it really should be. It was one of the first titles recommended to me when I began this column a couple of months ago, and I've been looking forward to covering it ever since. This Korean hack-'n'-slasher has eschewed the typical high-fantasy soundtrack for one that's part piano sonatas and part pedal-to-the-metal rock. It completely kicks major tushie, in case I mince words from here on out. You're going to hear these tracks and have a hard time meshing it in your head with "MMO" -- that is, unless you've played Rusty Hearts itself. It took some digging to figure out who did this soundtrack. All I could find was this web page, which has defeated my rusty (har) grasp of Korean. It does look like the studio's handled several regional titles, and if its work on Rusty Hearts is any representation, then I probably need to check out the rest of its library. Let's crank up the volume to 11, folks, and jam to some righteous melodies!
Massively Exclusive: Rusty Hearts' big honking patch
Rusty Hearts is growing in leaps and bounds lately, and the team has a wonderful present for players: a big honking patch full of content additions to the game. This week's update increases the level cap to 50, adds five new dungeons, and greatly expands Rusty Hearts' available weapons and skills. The new dungeons for exploration are the Aquarium, Altar Entrance, Veranda, King's Grave, and Catacomb. Perfect World Senior Product Manager Mark Hill hopes this keeps everyone busy, even if just for a while: "This is definitely the one of the most exciting updates for Rusty Hearts and it's the perfect addition to the Rusty Hearts: Reborn expansion released last month. Our community is always hungry for more content, and we're happy to oblige!" Massively has an exclusive look at this update, including over a dozen screenshots and a nifty trailer after the jump!%Gallery-165923%
Rise and Shiny: Darkblood Online
If you are a fan of action-based MMOs like Rusty Hearts and Dungeon Fighter Online, then you might want to check out Outspark's new title Darkblood Online. Not only does it hand out the same bang for the buck, but it does so with a unique and flashy style that I haven't seen before. I spent the last week chopping up monsters, shooting demons, and conquering dungeons. I saw some of the weaknesses of the title as well, but overall it possesses an honesty about its intentions that helps to keep the good times rolling. There is definitely a persistent nature to the game. It's an MMORPG, so don't worry. It's not a MOBA or social game with multiplayer elements even though a player could spend much of her time soloing areas. The whole thing is balanced between an arcade grinder and a living world. But I'll try to not get ahead of myself.
Exclusive: Rusty Hearts Reborn launch trailer highlights new weapon specializations
The wait is nearly over for Rusty Hearts fans as the game's first expansion, Reborn, goes live tomorrow. This much-anticipated expansion brings plenty of new content for both higher-level characters and those just starting out, including a new party system, a new starting zone, and a PvP ladder system. But that's not all! Among the major additions coming with the expansion are new weapon specializations known as job focuses. Are you eager to know who gets to wield twin swords and who sports demon gloves? Can you guess which lucky character gets to wrap his hands around a glaive? Are you curious as to what's inside a weapon bag? You don't have to wait until tomorrow to find out! You can watch the Rusty Hearts Reborn launch trailer now, exclusively on Massively. Check out the new weapon action after the break. And for more details on the expansion, read Massively's interview with Game Producer Mark Hill and check out the official site. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
Perfect World Entertainment's Mark Hill previews Rusty Hearts: Reborn
About a week ago, we got our first look at the first expansion to Perfect World Entertainment's side-scrolling hack-and-slash title, Rusty Hearts. On July 24th, Rusty Hearts: Reborn will be bringing a wealth of new content to the game, and I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Mark Hill, senior product manager of Rusty Hearts, about the new update. What's particularly interesting about Rusty Hearts: Reborn is that many of the features coming with the expansion are a direct result of player feedback. According to Hill, the studio recognized that many players were quitting the game prematurely, sometimes as early as level 5, and as such, the expansion is focused on retooling the early- and mid-game to make it more welcoming to new players. That's not to say that there's nothing for established players, however, so if you're interested in what Rusty Hearts: Reborn is bringing to the table, head on past the cut, where I'll share all of the information gleaned from my talk with Mr. Hill.
Rusty Hearts: Reborn first look released
Rusty Hearts, part of Perfect World Entertainment's free-to-play stable, is receiving its first expansion! On July 24th, the MMO brawler will be getting its largest update since launch. The expansion, Rusty Hearts: Reborn, includes both high-level content tailored toward advanced characters and new areas and features for new players and characters. Other updates to long-standing features will also enhance the Rusty Hearts experience. The first look trailer, which you can see below the cut, tells players to "get ready" and promises new bosses, new weapons, and new combos.
Rusty Hearts unleashes the Month of the Dragon
It's the Month of the Dragon in Perfect World Entertainment's free-to-play beat-'em-up, Rusty Hearts. Throughout the month, players will have the opportunity to snag the rare three-piece Dragon Armor costume set and a unique Mini-Bone Dragon pet. The first piece of Dragon Armor up for grabs is a dashing pair of boots styled after the claws of a dragon. So what are the folks at PWE asking for this new finery? They want players to head over to the official Rusty Hearts Facebook page and share it with their friends. After the page has reached the goal share-count, "the items will be inserted and [players] will be able to wear the most bone-chilling costume pieces ever seen in Bramunez." If the Facebook page manages to reach 100,000 Likes during the Month of the Dragon, PWE will also be rewarding 1,000 lucky players with the Mini-Bone Dragon pet. So get to it, social-media people, and earn yourself some new threads.
Rusty Hearts releases new Leila Vergerius character
If you haven't tried Rusty Hearts yet, this week is as good a time as any since Stairway Games, WindySoft, and Perfect World Entertainment are adding a brand-new playable character to the hack-and-slash free-to-play title. Leila Vergerius is the younger sibling of Roselle Vergerius, and she's been fighting to escape her older sister's protective shadow for some time. Perfect World tells us that Leila doesn't actually need the protection since she's more than capable of unleashing a dark magic-flavored can of whoop-ass on par with those of big sis. Leila is also adept with a sword and an axe, both of which are made even more deadly by her propensity for speed, agility, and leap-and-flip aerial attacks. Check her out in the gallery below, and head to the official Rusty Hearts website for more game info. We've also got an interview with Rusty Hearts producer Mark Hill on today's podcast! [Source: Perfect World press release] %Gallery-129433%
Rusty Hearts adding 'first true raid dungeon' on March 22nd
If the name "Dead Man's Valley" doesn't give you pause while looking up places to travel on your next vacation, perhaps consider a luxury cruise through Rusty Hearts' territory this spring. The hack-and-slash MMO is prepping a major update to the game for March 22nd that will add "the first true raid dungeon" for the game. Dead Man's Valley is an eight-person raid that will represent some of the most challenging content in the game. Also coming with the update is the latest playable character: a man trapped in a boy's body (insert your own role-reversal jokes here). Edgar Grosvenor is joining the crew of Rusty Hearts as a fierce melee combatant whose skill with the scythe and magic sword are completely at odds with his schoolboy demeanor. You can see the highlights of both Dead Man's Valley and Edgar's combat technique in Perfect World's latest video right after the jump!
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]
Sex and violence: Rusty Hearts pulls out the stops for Valentine's Day
Poor Frantz! With Valentine's Day coming up, the pressure is on for him to find his long-lost love Amelia. Fortunately, the entirety of the Rusty Hearts crew has got his back and will do their best to help true love find a way. This next chapter of the game's storyline is coming on February 14th with Rusty Hearts' Requiem update. It's not just about wuv, twue wuv, but also about kicking butt in all sorts of new locales. An eight-person raid dungeon called The Altar will present one of the toughest challenges in the game to date -- and brand-new weapons for those who master it. If you're looking for something more bite-sized, however, Requiem has four standard dungeons on the docket as well: Opera House, Catwalks, Gallery, and Ramparts. Perfect World will also be adding several other features to the game, including a new character for sale (Roselle Vergerius), an increased level cap, a whopping 200 new and upgraded high-level skills, and the hub world of Training Camp. We have a trailer for Rusty Hearts' lonely hearts update after the jump!
Previously on MV TV: Week of January 16th, 2012
Welcome to Previously on MV TV! Our livestreaming schedule has picked up a lot over the past few weeks, and our readers have busy lives, so we know it's impossible to watch every single streaming event live. Fortunately for you, we save all of our streams all for posterity on Massively's Twitch TV channel so that you can view them at your leisure. Even better, we've got a roundup of a few of last week's MV TV highlights from the livestream team. Follow along after the jump for the best of the best!
