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First Impressions: Eden Eternal
Hello, Massively readers, and welcome to my first ever first impressions article. Are you excited!? No? Well, feign interest for me anyway, and be gentle! Today, I've been asked to take a look at the currently-in-closed-beta Eden Eternal from Aeria Games, and you all have front-row seats for the grand tour. Now, I don't know about y'all, but I tend to be highly skeptical in regard to free-to-play games such as this one. I'm sure at least some of you know what I mean -- anime-inspired graphics, microtransaction-based, each with the same instantly recognizable website layout. With this in mind, I wasn't expecting much when I first logged in to Eden Eternal. I was anticipating, at best, some limited character customization, poorly translated quests, and a whole lot of grinding that could only be alleviated by shelling out for upgrades in the cash shop. What did I find instead? Jump past the cut to find out.
Eden Eternal opens second closed beta server
Eden Eternal is apparently more popular than its publisher was expecting, as Aeria Games has issued a press release celebrating the need to open a second server for closed beta testing. The beta phase kicked off yesterday and features a load of events designed to spice up the testing experience with some fun. From mass healing missions to boosted loot hours, there's always something going on. Eden Eternal allows players to freely swap between 15 classes, build sprawling player towns (and charge visitors for town services), and tackle a variety of solo, 3-man, and 5-man dungeons. Head to the game's official website for more detailed info, and if you'd like to check it out pick up a beta key from our giveaway.
Eden Eternal's closed beta kicks off -- and we've got keys! Keys! Keys!
Are you lacking a heroic destiny in your life? Then Eden Eternal has something to sell to you: purpose! Saddle up your most trustworthy llama and get thee to the beta, ASAP. As of today, the colorful MMO has moved into closed beta, and Aeria Games is celebrating by throwing a party to end all parties. Beta participants will enjoy exclusive rewards depending on how far they progress in the beta. These rewards include titles, a spiffy hat, and a magical alpaca pet. There will also be a host of daily events and ongoing contests in the Eden Eternal closed beta. Of course, there's no reason making that pouty face if you didn't get in already -- we're here to help you out! Massively has 10,000 beta keys for the taking, so if you're interested, all you have to do is snag one on our giveaway page, then sign up and redeem it on Eden Eternal's beta page! Demand for the beta is strong; just a few days ago we reported that Eden Eternal already had racked up over 100,000 applicants looking to give this game a go. You can check out several new screenshots below and a trailer highlighting the player towns feature after the jump! %Gallery-120523%
Eden Eternal surpasses 100,000 beta signups
Eden Eternal's beta is picking up a head of steam, and today Aeria Games has announced that the closed testing phase has garnered over 100,000 registrants thus far. You've still got time to sign up, though, as the testing doesn't start until June 2nd. Aeria Games' JT Nguyen says that the game's robust feature set is the main draw. "We credit the high number of sign-ups to the amount of new and innovative features available in Eden Eternal," he explained in a recent press release. What are some of those features? For starters, you can freely swap between any of 15 classes. Players can also work together to build extensive player towns and populate the resulting buildings with handy NPCs. Aeria is also highlighting character customization that includes a wide variety of dyes as well as various skills, talents, and specialization options. Finally, what's an MMORPG without epic dungeons and bosses? Eden Eternal has those too, including solo, 3-man, and 5-man instances. Learn more at the official website.
Aeria teases Eden Eternal Thief video
Another day, another Eden Eternal video reveal. It's almost old hat now since the free-to-play fantasy title from Aeria Games is on its third class trailer in as many weeks. First we had the Warrior, then the Magician, and today we get a glimpse of the Thief as the game rolls on towards its June 2nd beta date. A glimpse is probably all we'll get, too, since the Thief is a trickster who excels at evasion and stealth. Two cloaking skills come standard with every Thief, and the rascals can also make use of the five branch skills available to all melee DPS classes. Thieves are most effective when dual-wielding a pair of daggers, but like all Eden Eternal classes, they can fight with any weapon in a pinch. Sneak past the cut for a look at the Thief in action.
Dragon's Call joins Aeria Now catalogue
Last time we heard from Dragon's Call was way back in October of 2009, when we were just getting our hands on the first details of the game. Over the past year-and-change, the browser-based fantasy MMORPG has made its way into the hands of Aeria Games. It's now available in Aeria's Aeria Now stable of browser-based games. Dragon's Call features a story told through Flash-animated cutscenes and drops players into the role of one of three classes (Warrior, Mage, or Assassin) and sends them on a series of "thousands of captivating quests." PvP battles are also offered alongside the storyline quests for those of you with a bit more bloodlust. No matter which route players take, they will have the opportunity to level up their characters' skills and upgrade their equipment to customize their characters as it suits them. To give the game a whirl, head over to the official site.
Eden Eternal's Magician previewed in new video
Eden Eternal's beta is coming up fast (June 2nd, if you're keeping track), and today we've got another class teaser for those of you anxiously awaiting the free-to-play fantasy title from Aeria Games. Our last video focused on the game's Warrior class, but this time around we're taking a look at how the other half lives courtesy of the Magician archetype. Unsurprisingly, the Magician lives and dies by his ranged DPS, and thanks to Eden Eternal's switching mechanics, you can swap to one of the game's 11 other classes if you're dying a little too often. Chances are you'll do fine, though, as Magicians deal elemental damage, cast buffs, turn invisible, and provide party teleports. The staff is the Magician's weapon of choice, and he can also pick from eight class-specific skills and five branch skills shared with other magic DPS classes. Head past the cut for a closer look at the new Magician video.
Eden Eternal announces closed beta date
Eden Eternal has been moving quickly along the development track ever since our first look at the title scarcely a month ago. Today we've learned that Aeria Games has announced the title's closed beta starting date: June 2nd. As part of the Eternal Guardians, players will have a chance to shape the destiny of the world -- while getting a little fun in for themselves as well, of course. Eden Eternal will have to work hard to distinguish itself from a similar crop of brightly colored cartoony MMOs, but the fact that it offers so many options -- the chance to switch between all of the classes out of combat, build up player towns, and fight in real-time combat -- speaks in its favor. We have seven new pictures of Eden Eternal for you to peruse while we count down to June 2nd, and if you want to learn more about this title, check out our extensive interview with Aeria Games. The company promises an "avalanche" of closed beta events for participants, so head on over to the site to get your name on the roster! %Gallery-120523%
Aeria releases new Eden Eternal Warrior video
Class systems are sometimes maligned by certain segments of the MMORPG-playing population. Whether these folks feel that classes are too restrictive or simply desire gameplay that deviates from the norm, anti-class rhetoric is fairly common. While Aeria Games' free-to-play Eden Eternal MMO still makes use of traditional MMO class archetypes, one thing the game has in spades is variety. Eden Eternal allows players to freely swap between 15 classes, one of which is the venerable Warrior and the subject of a newly released video. Warriors, as you might expect, fall under the game's tanking branch. What you might not guess is that in addition to being meatshields, Warriors do respectable damage. The class uses shields, seven different types of axes, five tank branch skills, and seven class-specific skills that you'll see in the trailer. Have a look after the break.
Aeria Games announces Golden Age
A new contender in the field of MMO real-time strategy titles has appeared: Golden Age. If you're all about constructing castles, building up armies, and clashing in epic battles, Aeria Games is hoping that this title will sate your bloodlust. As players commit warfare against each other and computer-controlled enemies, Golden Age allows bystanders to participate as well. Players can vote for their favorite army when a battle convenes, and the army with the most votes gets bonus soldiers for the fight. When not fighting, players will build up their fortresses using over 20 types of structures and also talk to inhabitants of the town to see whether any of them has a quest for you to do. Aeria Games promises that the browser-based Golden Age will be free-to-play and will be released with both English and Spanish translations. You can check out the teaser site and register for the beta now. We give you permission -- just finish your vegetables first.
Massively talks with Aeria about Eden Eternal, spies a trailer
Aeria Games has a lot of games under its roof, so why not add one more? Eden Eternal, the latest up-and-comer from developer X-Legend Entertainment, allows players to host their own guild towns and play up to 15 character classes. Tired of your current class? No problem -- just switch to another one. Players can switch as much as they like (while outside of combat) so getting a full group together should be no problem! Luckily, we were able to fire off some questions to Aeria. The company also sent along a trailer that shows off five of the potential 15 classes that you can find in the game. During beta, players will only access 12 of the classes, but for some reason we think that will keep player plenty busy. Each class falls under one of five classic MMORPG class branches: melee DPS, ranged DPS, magic DPS, healing, and tanking. Each class has a unique set of skills that can be accessed from every class in that particular branch. Class branches also share combat traits, and as we noted before, players will be able to switch between classes on the fly! Click past the cut to view the trailer and to read the interview.
Aeria Games reveals a first look at Eden Eternal
Aeria Games has released the first sneak peek at its upcoming MMO Eden Eternal in the form of screenshots and a short description of the game's Limestone Mountain map. Limestone Mountain is a busy area with several zones, including a mining village with merchants to serve your every need -- and a few tasks to set you on the road to glory. There are also two dungeons filled with treasure and dangerous enemies, a forest area with mythical creatures, and much more. Check out our gallery below for a series of screenshots highlighting the Limestone Mountain map. Want a closer look? Aeria Games is accepting closed beta signups for Eden Eternal now, so visit the site and get your name in the hat for beta testing! %Gallery-120523%
Metal Assault enters closed beta -- get your beta key from Massively!
Aeria Games has a new run-and-gun shooter in closed beta, and you're invited! Metal Assault is a fast-paced race with three modes: PvP, PvZombie, and storyline. Ready to take a look for yourself? Get your key at our giveaway page, then create an Aeria Games account or log into your existing one. Enter your key on the closed beta page, download the client, and enjoy! If you'd like a closer look while you're waiting for the game to install, we've got you covered for that too! Just follow along after the jump for an introduction to the classes and modes of Metal Assault in the form of a trailer video, then enjoy your time in closed beta!
Battle gets elemental in Dynasty Warriors Online
Historical hack-and-slash isn't just for the movies any more! Now, along with hacking through wide swaths of enemies in Dynasty Warriors Online, players can add some insult to injury by using special elemental abilities. Why would you want to do that? Well, so you can do mean and nasty things like setting people on fire, as we see above. Just imagine -- roast DOTted mob. Mmm, festive! Mind you, you're not restricted to only using fire; you can opt to kill your enemies using other elemental attacks instead! Ice grants the ability to freeze enemies into blocks of ice as a means of crowd control. Lightning allows players to zap enemies, stunning them so you can chain together huge damage combos. Wind offers crowd control in the form of knockbacks, allowing you to focus damage on one targeted group at a time rather than getting swamped. Finally, there's void power, which offers the ability to negate opponents' armor and drive home pure butt-kicking damage. For those curious about what the elemental attacks look like, we've gathered a handful of screenshots in our Dynasty Warriors Online gallery for you, or you can pop over to the Aeria Games site and sign up for some hack-and-slash elemental free-to-play fun of your own! %Gallery-99390%
Turkeys invade Kitsu Saga, gravy and stuffing to follow
Kitsu Saga's dance card is pretty darn full this month. Following its commercial release on October 28th, the free-to-play title has rolled out a series of intriguing events, including this past week's content update, called Hostile Territory. Hostile Territory brought the level cap up to 60, introduced second-tier mastery skills, and added five dungeons and four zones. As if that wasn't enough, a full-fledged invasion of turkeys is covering the land in Butterball fury, and nobody is safe from their wrath. In Aeria Games' own words, "Avian demons from another dimension have infiltrated a few of our dungeons seeking the flesh of those who have eaten them in the years past." You really can't top that. Avian demons hell-bent for revenge. There should be a movie. Players can protect the land from being (sorry) gobbled up by hunting the demons in Kitsu Saga from November 17th through December 1st. These brave turkey-slaying warriors will be rewarded with special Thanksgiving-themed items. You can read more about the Turkey Invasion at Kitsu Saga.
Lime Odyssey to be published by Aeria Games
For those fans of all things citrus, Lime Odyssey will set you on a quest for pieces of LIME: key items used for the restoration of a ravaged realm. Don't worry, there's always the ever-present search for guts and glory with classes like Knight or Magician. You can also pursue wealth and fame as a Chef, Tailor, or other non-combat professions. Not only that, but the game will feature a farming system and other rich social tools. Roleplayers will be happy to know that there is also promise of rich roleplaying "features" combined with robust gameplay. We're not sure how exactly these features will be implemented, but it sounds inviting. You can sign up for the closed beta on the game's teaser site -- just make sure to make an Aeria Games account first. The closed beta is scheduled to start in late Q2 of 2011. %Gallery-107553%
Dynasty Warriors Online launches, thousands of NPCs die
Do you enjoy mowing down hordes of angry enemies? Perhaps you like to spend your afternoons destroying the hopes and dreams of scores of minions? If so, you might be excited to hear that Dynasty Warriors Online has launched! Join up with the Wu, Wei or Shu factions to battle it out during China's famous "Three Kingdoms" period. This "action-oriented tactical combat" MMO will also pit you against your best friend from high school, if you happen to play MMORPGs with your best friend from high school. He was always a smart alec, anyway -- so chop him up! An arsenal of new features has been added to the game like twin battle fans, scimitars, pirate swords and other chopping utensils. Visit new maps and locations, and take advantage of the seven new upgrade systems for weapons, items and gear. Once you make up with your best friend from high school, you can even form a guild with him or her and participate in guild mock battles and melee! No hard feelings? Join up with the Aeria Games community site and log in. Those NPCs won't chop themselves!
The Friday Livestream: Dynasty Warriors Online... er... FFXIV [Updated]
Yes, that's right dear readers, it's another edition of the Friday Livestream! It's almost time for the weekend, and that means it's time for us to get down and enjoy another MMO. Tonight we're going to give Dynasty Warriors Online a try, because I've always had a soft spot for the Dynasty Warriors series. Sure, the games are horribly repetitive and always occur in the same timeline with the same battles in every iteration, but there's just something really satisfying about walking into a battle and taking on a whole army by yourself. It's just an amusing amount of fun. Oh, and did I mention we're giving out beta keys to the game? Yeah, you should totally get in on that. So, if you want to check out the action of DWO, hit the "read more" button below or click the picture above. Either way, you'll be taken to our livestream of the game, or you could visit us at http://www.livestream.com/massivelytv and join in on the live chat too! [Update: Well that was interesting. Instead of DWO, we did World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and Final Fantasy XIV! The video is, as always, after the break for those who missed the stream!]
Take a Dynasty Warriors Online beta key, or we'll send Lu Bu to camp your gate
Look at that man and his fancy beard. Do you want a piece of that? Do you, punk? Lu Bu (and our good friends at Aeria Games, but mostly Lu Bu) has given us 2,500 beta keys for Dynasty Warriors Online that we're giving to you guys! Now you too can step into the shoes of a Three Kingdoms officer and fight the good fight against thousands of nameless soldiers who will inevitably die at your feet! Huzzah! If you've never played a Dynasty Warriors title before, let us sum it up for you. You take control of an officer in the military, specialize in some sort of neat, exotic weapon, and then win entire battles by yourself. It's the ultimate game of one versus 1,000, and the one person usually comes out triumphant. Epic battles are epic. But now since it's online, you'll be doing the same thing with friends! So if you want a key then look no further than after the break.
Dynasty Warriors Online closed beta begins today
If you've ever wanted to feel what it's like to be one of the anonymous thugs in a Dynasty Warriors level, now's your chance. Aeria Games has launched a closed beta for Dynasty Warriors Online for North American and European players. You can experience the various co-op and competitive multiplayer modes, including 12-on-12 battles. If you're eager to begin your life as a recruit (during which time we'd advise you to stay away from the hero-looking folk), you can still sign up for the beta at the official site. If you're not so eager, perhaps the trailer after the break will get your enlistment juices flowing.
