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Players hath spoken, Allods hath listened: Revelations of Gipat includes several player suggestions
Some might say that Allods Online is rapidly outgrowing its pair of britches, which is probably why gPotato piled into a car for a shopping trip to the britch store. With the new Revelations of Gipat 1.1 patch, Allods is expanding in ways that should bring happiness, love and warfare to all. We've already heard about the new mounts galloping into the game, but gPotato isn't stopping there: Players will be able to level to 42, enjoy over 200 new quests, challenge three new endgame bosses (including Strina the Fierce, who makes her Massively debut up top there) and romp through the newest zone, Gipat. In addition to all of this, the developers have been hard at work coming up with new features based on player suggestions. While some of these are small, these quality-of-life features should nevertheless make players very happy. These new features include official add-on support, chat bubbles (which can be toggled on and off), a target-of-target system, additional animations, better audio, more hotkey capabilities and being able to invert your mouse. It'll truly be interesting to see how the players react to this patch, and how the modding community will explore their new playground. Revelations of Gipat is scheduled for later this summer.
MMOs campaign for a Golden Joystick
After a busy month of shortlist voting, the 2010 People's Gaming Awards -- otherwise known as the Golden Joystick Awards -- has finalized the ballot and opened the polls to the gaming public. These awards are trumpeted as "by the players, for the players," with hundreds of titles whittled down into a shortlist of finalists. While many single-player console and PC titles are represented across the 16 categories, several MMOs have waded into the fray looking for your vote (ironically, few of them can be played with a joystick). Star Wars: The Old Republic is nominated for the "One to Watch" award, Jagex and Codemasters have a shot at "UK Developer of the Year," and 2029 Online, Aion, Allods, Champions Online, Dragonica, Fallen Earth, Global Agenda, Star Trek Online and Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood are some of the MMOs vying for "Online Game of the Year." As for the "Ultimate Game of the Year" award, only one MMO made the cut: Aion. You can cast your votes in the 28th Golden Joystick Awards from now through October 25, and watch the results on October 29. With over 1.2 million votes cast last year and current voting in the six digits, this year's Golden Joystick Awards look to be one of the most popular award ceremonies for 2010.
Mounts coming to Allods Online with Revelations of Gipat
Allods Online players! Are you tired of trudging around the world, wearing out your feet? Well, it appears that the anticipated mount patch from Astrum Nival is finally coming to the US gPotato servers late this June. That's right -- with patch 1.1.0, also known as Revelations of Gipat -- players will finally get a chance to ride around the world in style on one of two new mounts. Players who call the Empire home will be able to get their hands on a dark Xadaganian Steed warhorse, while Legion players will land the above-pictured Kanian Runner. Both mounts will be attainable for Allods Online players via an in-game quest at level 21. Of course, if you're impatient for a mount, you'll also be able to pick one up through the cash shop. The new patch will also introduce the allod of Gipat with over 150 new quests for players to check out, numerous bug fixes, a level cap increase, and some "major changes to existing game mechanics." As we haven't seen the full US patch notes yet, we'll have to wait and see just how those shake out. In the meantime, we have a shiny new video of the upcoming mounts for you behind the break, and a handful of new mount screens tucked lovingly into the gallery below. %Gallery-91331%
Allods Online new unisex items beg for attention
gPotato released two new outfits and a few other nifty items into their cash shop for Allods Online recently, and we're curious if any of you paid for them. Already some items on the list have created a bit of a stir, either with the price that is asked for it or with the description of an item. For example, while the few clothing items introduced are very lovely on either sex, some have complained that the prices are still too high. For the record, 1700 gPotatoes (the price for the Elven Evening Attire) equals seventeen US dollars. The one item that we think is the most useful seems to suffer from the worst description: "Ever been stuck in a wall with no GM around and your Adventurer's Stone on cool down? Well, just dig through your couch for a few pennies and purchase a Guiding Shard to take you to your faction's capitol for five cents a trip!" According to some of the comments we've read, it seems like the developers are asking the player to pay when they become stuck, instead of selling a cool return item. Despite these few issues, there are other items like the Astral Courier (think of it as a bank that comes to you when called) and the Adamantite Chest that might be more to your liking. You can check out the list here. It will be interesting to see how these new items are received, especially after the large amount of noise their first attempt brought on. We want to know what you think, and if you have plans to buy any of them? We're a little partial to the Evening Attire, ourselves. [Editor's Note: The description for the Guilding Shard is different in game than it is in the official website announcement that we quoted. The in game cash shop describes the item: "Use: Teleports you to the capital of your faction." We wanted to clarify the intended use for it.]
Allods Online offering in-game and real-world prizes in Goblin-O-Ball tournament
Allods Online is bring a lighthearted version of PvP to their game with the Skrakan Cup, the first ever in-game Goblin-O-Ball tournament on Allods Online's European servers. The event begins on May 19th, but registration starts tomorrow. You'll need eight players -- a team of six plus two alternates -- to join, and Allods Online will make it well worth your while. While they're keeping details under their collective hat until closer to the match dates, there will be a generous number of both in-game and real-world prizes to make it worth your while, just in case the thrill of victory isn't quite enough of an incentive. All of the current details are on the Allods site, including the registration deadline of May 17th. Register your team on the forums beginning tomorrow to be scheduled for a match, then keep an eye out for more details on rules, times, and prizes as they're released.
Allods releases Patch 06: Edge of the Astral
When it comes to free-to-play games, one of the ones that draws a ton of attention is Allods Online. Today, gPotato has released the newest patch -- Patch 06: Edge of the Astral -- to the servers. As such, players will have a chance to get their hands on all that new content and find out how the tweaks and modifications will affect them. If you haven't checked Allods Online out recently, this patch brings in new raid content where players will face off against War'kaz the Mindreaver, a massive Astral demon who now lurks in Gorluxor's Tower. Of course, if the idea of raiding isn't really your thing, there is also The Arena of Death in Yazes Shard -- a PvP arena that will allow players to pit their skills against each other for bonus Combat Glory. There are also adorably evil customizable goblin pets like the two seen above if neither of those areas appeal. As to the bug fixes, tweaks, and other game improvements -- there's an enormous list. Some of the ones that immediately caught our eyes were splitting items in stacks, a hotkey for whispers, and more. This patch also holds more changes to the Fear of Death mechanic -- namely the removal of priest rez avoiding FoD -- but we suspect that change is not among the ones welcomed by players. Be sure to pop over to the Allods Online forums on gPotato's site for the full patch notes.
Full notes available for upcoming Allods Online patch
When the announcement first came regarding the massive Allods Online patch, it was exciting news for a game that kind of needed the boost. Now that the full patch notes for Patch 06: Edge of the Astral are available, the whole operation looks better than ever. The two largest additions, a free-for-all arena in Yasez Shard and the astral demon War'kaz the Mindreaver, are almost overshadowed by a long list of balance tweaks and bugfixes that encompass nearly every part of the game. The patch notes, which are both exhaustive and long, cover everything in the coming patch. Some of the changes are simply quality of life fixes, such as the addition of an auto-AFK feature or the ability to use a hotkey for replying to whispers. Others are meant to improve the experience of players with Astral Ships, including new training quests to give a feel for how they work on the ground. (Well, in astral space.) And, of course, there are the aforementioned marquee features to allow for open PvP and the thorough reaving of minds. If you play Allods Online or are still considering it, take a look at the full patch notes to see what's coming around the bend.
Allods Online adding first major update
Allods Online has been working on updates and bug fixes since the game began open beta in February, and now the team at gPotato is ready to try its hand at something bigger. The first major update for Allods Online was announced today, with the highlight of the patch being the Arena of Death, a place for PvP combat "of the highest calibre." Players will be given certain tasks to complete in order to gain entrance into the Arena of Death. The Arena will offer faction battles and the opportunity for special buffs. PvP will also see improvements such as more policemen in camps and main capitals as well as an improved respawn timer. The update didn't end with PvP, though. Once players reach level 38, they'll have the ability to participate in Astral Ship training for a preview of Astral content. All players will find new quests as well as some additional polish to existing quests and instances. Finally, some graphical enhancements will give a little extra polish to the game overall. Check out our gallery for a sneak peek at some of the new additions to Allods Online! %Gallery-91331%
One Shots: Let the sun shine
When it comes to ridiculously cute character races, we have to admit that the Gibberlings from Allods Online are right up there on our list. As opposed to just getting one character, you get a gaggle of three Gibberlings that you get to customize and name, then start your adventure with. Today's One Shots shows off one such gaggle, sent in to us by Daire, who writes: "I caught this screen just after coming out of the void from the first allod in Allods Online. The true beauty of the moment can't really be given justice just by the screenshot, as the music really gave it feeling. The void gave way to the sunrise of my new adventure in Allods, & with my older brother and younger sister by my side, I felt ready to earn my place in Gibberling society." Have you had a moment in an MMO you've been playing that takes your breath away? If so, we'd love to see a screenshot of it. Email it in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a brief description. Please make sure it's at least 1024 pixels across and has as few visible UI elements as possible. It might wind up as one of the next featured One Shots here on Massively! %Gallery-85937%
Allods Online introduces developer diary
It's been about a month since we heard anything from Allods Online, and even longer since we heard anything that didn't include the words "cash" and "shop."That's been remedied thanks to the addition of a brand new developer diary, and the first entry was posted late last night. Associate Producer Darren "CHOMP" Allarde kicked off the diary with "What does the Allods Team do," a look at the day-to-day routine of the team and their communication with players. Additionally, there's a clear explanation of exactly who Gala-Net is and what they do, versus who Astrum Nival is and what they do: "We don't fix bugs, we report them. We don't program and work on new in-game features, we hear what you have to say, tally it up, and communicate to Astrum Nival the feedback that makes sense for the game in our region." The developer diary is off to a good start, giving some important background information about who does what. For the full entry, take a look at the official site.
Free for All: The first sample is free
There is a common myth floating around the MMOsphere, and I will have to admit that I have done my part in spreading it. It's one of those half-truths that can be used on either side of the free-to-play debate, and could help or hinder the spread of high quality free to play titles. That myth? That free-to-play games are free. They are not, essentially, as is nothing in life. Someone has to pay at some point; either at the point of creation, the point of making a character or at the point of paying the electricity bills. Also the price to make the games keeps going up more, the last quality game driving up the stakes for the next. Free-to-play is steadily shaking off the stereotype of cheap and grindy, but soon enough they will face the same issues that subscription model games face. Being free does not mean costing nothing, even though many of us blissfully log in night after night without paying a dime.
Aika service restricted with some unintended consequences
When Aika opened its item shop, a comparison or two to Allods Online was inevitable. After all, with gPotato managing both games, there were a few people that wondered if the same pricing issues might show up. Turns out that the cash shop has still caused problems... but it's not the prices, it's the fact that the game is only supposed to be operating in North America at the moment. A statement was posted earlier today that the game would be blocking IPs from outside of North America, as gPotato only had the rights to operate the game for that region. The problem is the number of international players who had been playing the game and had purchased items from the cash shop. As a result of the block, these players are obviously left out in the cold with no way to access Aika... and no real recourse for the items that they had already purchased from the item shop.
The Daily Grind: What's your free-to-play breaking point?
The entire concept of free-to-play is becoming more and more prevalent in MMOs lately, particularly in the past year. It's a great concept, but unless the game in question is being produced by someone wealthy and altruistic, the companies presenting these games are still out to profit. That's where item shops come in: from the "pay for shortcuts" model of Dungeons and Dragons Online to the now-infamous perfumes in Allods Online, every free-to-play game will offer premium items or things that would otherwise take some time to get in exchange for a little quality time with your credit card. So the question is, what's your breaking point? At what point do you look at the cash shop and decide "this is not free-to-play because that item is a necessity and/or the time required to get it free is unreasonable?" It's entirely a matter of opinion, depending in large part on your style of play. If you don't mind spending a certain amount of time to earn whatever item or in-game currency you need, it's not going to bother you as much. If you just want to play the game without worrying about special items or working through some sort of point system to get things in the cash shop, you're going to feel differently. So hit the little button at the bottom and tell us what you think!
GDC10: First look at Divine Souls
What, you've never heard of Divine Souls? You Philistine! Actually, it's not the public school system that has failed you here -- Divine Souls is only now crossing the waters of the Pacific (and Atlantic) in its worldwide debut. Created by Korean development studio Game Prix under the title of St. Soul, the renamed Divine Souls is being brought over to North America and Europe through an agreement with publisher Outspark. Divine Souls's makeup is part steampunk, part brawler, part co-op, and part traditional MMORPG, so don't expect the normal routine in this one -- it actually feels more of a hybrid of several MMOs. Massively sat down with the game at last week's GDC to put this title through its paces. Channel your inner Karate Kid, and hit the jump for the full scoop!
One Shots: Come sail away
It's been a long time (if ever) since there has been a free-to-play game that has caused quite as much uproar as Allods Online has. From item shop pricing to death mechanics, there are a lot of players who think this game has real potential. The one thing that many really seem to like about Allods Online is the colorful, interesting locales you can visit in the game, such as this screenshot of a port sent in to us by Pedro. He writes in: In this screenshot i wanted to show the view from the port of the capital city allod, which is the name of the floating islands in the game. There are tons of interesting sights out there in MMO land, but we need you to make One Shots happen. So while you're out playing today, why not grab a screenshot of something interesting for us! Then all you have to do is email it to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT 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 enjoy and give you the credit. %Gallery-85937%
The Daily Grind: How do you feel about 2010's MMOs?
The year is still young and lots of MMOs are on schedule to release before it's over. So far, we've been able to see what Star Trek Online has to offer, but many people continue to look forward to LEGO Universe, All Points Bulletin and Final Fantasy XIV. However, we would like to know how you feel about MMOs this year. Does it seem like a pretty good year or are you thinking perhaps 2011 is going to be the big year for the genre, and why? It certainly seems like this year has already been pretty decent, given that Black Prophecy has a publisher now and we've yet to encounter any saddening shutdowns or cancellations of titles still in development. Plus, the free-to-play market is really starting to come into its own with great news for Dungeons and Dragons Online and a recent-but-remedied Allods Online hiccup. We're taking a positive outlook, but how about you?
Allods announces cash shop price reduction
The last week and a half has been a wild ride for Allods Online on both the player side and the developer side. On February 19th, Allods Online debuted their cash shop, and the prices were universally considered unreasonable. (Unreasonable was putting it mildly, according to popular opinion.) Many players at first assumed there was a mistake and waited anxiously for the correct prices to be added. Word quickly came down that the prices were indeed correct, and the games were on. Angry players either left the game entirely or stuck around to protest. Eventually, the Allods Online team acknowledged that the pricing decision was a bad one and announced they'd be changing the prices soon. They have now released what we've all been waiting for: the updated price list. Follow along after the cut and take a look at the new (and certainly improved) prices for the Allods Online cash shop.
Allods Online announces changes to cash shop pricing
When Allods Online soft-launched on February 16th, it had proven just how much buzz a free-to-play game could generate in a short span of time. Three days later, it proved how quickly a game's reputation could plummet, as the release of the cash shop prices sent most players into a paroxysm of rage. The official statements (and interviews) were seen as amounting to "well, it's our game so pay up," and the crowd was quickly turning around and heading for the hills. So an age-old strategy has been employed: the powers that be are reversing their position The official announcement doesn't give any details, but it makes it clear that the community outrage has been heard, and the cash shop prices will be revised sometime this week. The structuring has been changed to make "participation in this element of the game" less onerous, and no doubt to try and reverse some of the animosity leveled against Astrum Nival and gPotato in recent days. It remains to be seen whether or not the turnaround will mollify players or if the changes will be too little too late, but it's good to see that the voice of the players has been heard all through Allods Online.
The Daily Grind: A better death
One of the biggest parts of the uproar about Allods Online is the Fear of Death mechanic, which requires players to either shell out money, wait for a long time, or wander out in the world with a nasty debuff. On the far other side of the coin, you have World of Warcraft, with a death penalty that essentially equates to "how long will it take me to run back from the graveyard" coupled with a very minor durability loss on gear. EverQuest in the old days meant slogging back to your corpse naked and potentially losing levels. City of Heroes just gives you xp debt, which can be pretty easily worked off. Death in Darkfall means someone will probably make off with your stuff. With all the different death mechanics available in games, we thought we'd ask this morning: of all the MMOs out, what game do you think has the best death penalty option? Would you like to see more games adopt a "you'll probably lose the stuff you have with you" like Darkfall or EVE Online? Do you think having the light options in World of Warcraft is best? Let us know whose mechanics reign supreme!
Allods Online releases updated statement, solicits player input
You'd have to be hiding under a rock to not have noticed the brouhaha that's been going on with the Allods Online cash shop. Players have been in an uproar about the Fear of Death mechanic coupled with the $13.50 price-tag for perfumes; the $20 pricetag for an additional 6 bag slots; as well as the changes coming to the Russian version of the game on patch 0.7 with mounts requiring a cash shop item to go faster than walking. They gave us a public statement before, but many people felt that it was marketing double-speak that effectively said nothing at all -- at least if our comments section is any indication. When you add in the swirling rumors that the original developers had left the building and were no longer actively involved in helping to develop Allods Online, you can imagine the din. The forums were alight with people asking for some type of statement -- or just ragequitting. Last night, the folks at gPotato finally decided to respond to player concerns with a statement many in the player community seem to feel is a far better one than last time. This one not only answers the question as to whether or not the original developers are still on board (short answer: yes), but also addresses the cash shop pricing, and opens a thread where they're soliciting constructive player feedback. if you've been concerned about this, now's the time to head over there and have your say. Also, be sure to check out Massively Speaking tomorrow, when our Editor-in-Chief, Shawn, will be asking a representative from gPotato the hard questions about Allods Online. We're sure you won't want to miss that!
