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One Shots: Neener neener!
Enemies in MMOs can be tricky with their unexpected attacks, the spawns that happen at the worst possible moment, and their variety of spells that cause you to freeze in place or simply run away whether you want to or not. We've learned to expect that sort of thing, but a creature that seems to be trying to lure you off the edge of a cliff is certainly a new one. Kyervin discovered that one the hard way in Allods Online: Here is my Orc Paladin Dreadblood running around Wild Corner in Asee-Teph. I came across a snake floating in mid-air, taunting me that i couldn't get to it. Well, knowing my full-charging Paladin wouldn't stand for this, I charged up and soon found myself falling off the side of the allod. You win this time, snake. We've showed off some of the most attractive landscapes, characters, mounts, armor, and more here on One Shots, so we figure it's only fair that we give a nod to the opposite end of the spectrum. Next week is ugly armor week. Whether you have an eye-searing color scheme, a set of armor pieces that clash like crazy, or something that you just put together for a laugh, we want to see. Send your screenshots in to oneshots@massively.com and we'll feature them in next week's One Shots!%Gallery-112285%
One Shots: Giving it a little 'flare'
We're getting a look at Allods Online in today's One Shots, thanks to Massively reader Eareth, who took a moment to snap a postcard-perfect screenshot in one of the early areas of the game: One of the things that first turned me on to Allods was the beautiful graphics. Everything is screenshot-worthy, and the lighting effects are just gorgeous. This is a shot of sunset in the fields just outside Nezebgrad, the starter Empire city. We're looking at the best MMO environments all this week. Do you have a favorite landscape, particularly eye-catching weather effect, or hidden jewel in an out-of-the-way location? Snap a screenshot of your favorite MMO area, tell us a bit about what and where it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. Next week we'll be revisiting another old favorite of One Shots: bug week. Whether it's unwanted guests in cutscenes, funny graphic glitches, or a prank you played on a buddy, we want to see. Send your screenshots in and we'll feature them in next week's One Shots! %Gallery-112285%
Allods Online prepares the Ritual of the Damned
Following in the wake of The Crucible, The Heart of Fire, and the Astral Cemetary, a new event will soon test the mettle of mid-level Allods Online players. Welcome to The Ritual of the Damned. Yasker and Aidenus have decided to submit players to yet another "educational experience" to help hone the players' skills in preparation for the threats that lie before them. Well, either that, or kill them. One of the two. Players from levels 30 to 36 will be recruited by Allods' GMs to participate in the Ritual, which takes place on the ominously named Isle of the Damned. The event is said to be more than just a jovial time of killing monsters and shooting the breeze; it will test "your strength, your endurance, your reactivity, and your team spirit." Throughout the ritual, GMs will pass judgment on the players to deem whether they are worthy of participating in the ritual itself or they are fit only as sacrificial victims. The event will be taking place Tuesday, August 23rd, beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT, with an encore on Wednesday, August 24th at 1:00 p.m. EDT. So, are you worthy? Log in and find out. But be careful, lest you find yourself under the ritual knife.
One Shots: That looks pretty intimidating for a starting zone
Allods Online players are enjoying a new content update these days, but there's still a lot to be said for what came earlier. Check out today's One Shots image from Jane: This screenshot was taken in the League starting zone, Evermeet Isle. I love this particular island because of the magical atmosphere that surrounds you at arrival. It gives this zone a a very intense feeling, especially when you see an astral ship beyond the horizon. We're revisiting an old favorite theme this week on One Shots: environments. The game world is an area that most developers put a huge amount of effort into, and it shows. Do you have a favorite landscape, particularly eye-catching weather effect, or hidden jewel in an out-of-the-way location? Snap a screenshot of your favorite MMO area, tell us a bit about what and where it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. We'll be featuring the best of them all next week! %Gallery-112285%
Allods Online launches new Renaissance patch, reincarnation system
Allods Online has just published its first content update since officially launching earlier this year. The Renaissance patch delivers a lot of new stuff, and it's a good thing too since Allods recently surpassed 3.5 million registered players. Those players now have a unique endgame feature to look forward to in the form of the reincarnation system, which allows players to re-roll while keeping their main character. The main becomes what's known as an Ascendant, while the new character (called an Incarnation) inherits certain abilities from the main. Both characters share gold, mounts, potions, and other items, and the reincarnation mechanic "offers the most powerful players in Sarnaut the opportunity to become even more unstoppable," according to the latest Allods press release. That's not all there is to Renaissance, though. Allods players will want to explore new zones like the Twilight Isle and the Cave of Tka-Rik, and there's also a new astral layer in store for spacefaring characters. Last but not least, there's the Happy Hours and Happy Days event, and though it doesn't feature the Fonz or Richie Cunningham, it does bring some nice XP bonuses at least once per month on every Allods server. You can learn more about Renaissance at the official Allods website, and don't forget to head past the cut for the new Renaissance trailer.
One Shots: Under the Arisen sun
Massively reader Dalton has a treat for us on One Shots today: A great-looking main character who just happens to be aboard an intimidating mount, while standing against a gorgeous environmental backdrop. This is my level 30 Fire/Lightning Arisen Sorcerer in Allods Online. Here I'm at Edge of Eternal Night in the Eljune zone, riding my Indigo Wolf Mount. I love the atmosphere here. We've taken a look at all of your accessories over the past few weeks on One Shots: weapons, armor, mounts, and pets. But now it's time to turn the spotlight on the star of the show. We want to see you -- well, your character. Snap a screenshot of your favorite character in your favorite MMO. Let us know about him or her by sending the screenshot, your name, and some information about the character to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it here on One Shots! %Gallery-112285%
Allods Online patch 2.0.04 includes... underwear?
Players have already been treated to a couple of sneak peeks at the new features coming to gPotato's Allods Online with the upcoming patch 2.0.04, and yet the stream of information continues! The game's team released yet another small preview of what's to come with the update on the site today, and from the looks of things, it would seem that Allods players will have their hands full. Allods' Summer Festival arrives with patch 2.0.04, providing players with a plethora of new daily quests as well as the opportunity to procure brand-spankin'-new vanity items such as wings and undergarments (yes, undergarments). Even mounts will get in on the festivities with new mount color patterns available only to "elite players" who can conquer the challenges of Twilight Isle. The update also brings training dummies, changes to the Astral system, and more. For the full details on this upcoming addition, check out the official site.
Allods Online reveals more about... Revelation
Free-to-play favorite Allods Online marches ever closer to Patch 2.0.04. While we got a good look at the interesting Reincarnation system last week, today gPotato is highlighting two of the patch's new areas: Twilight Isle and the Cave of Tka-Rik. Twilight Isle will be the latest end zone to hit the game, with a height requirement of 46 or above to go on this ride. It's no happy carnival, either; the Isle is populated by the Demonic Cult and its deathmetal decor. Players will be tasked with figuring out why the demons are starting to move through the Astral and to stop them posthaste. Among the many new quests to come with the zone is the ability to take out demons with a portable cannon, which automatically makes it the coolest feature we've heard of this week. So far. Tka-Rik's Cave is another endgame challenge, wherein lie many deadly trials that are guarding the secret behind the Revelation. We don't have a firm date for 2.0.04 yet, but the way Allods is promoting it, it shouldn't be too far off!
Choose My Adventure: Should have played it by now edition
I admit it: I stick with my games for a long time. When I step into an MMO, I make it home for a while, and it takes a lot of effort for me to move along. That's part of the reason the games I'm actively playing are generally on the older side -- I've already got a history there. Unfortunately, it also means that there are a lot of games, new and old, that I just haven't had the time to play just yet. So to kick off my tenure on Choose My Adventure, I'm going to kick that straight to the curb with a poll I'd like to call the Should Have Played It By Now Edition. But which game I'll spend the next several weeks playing isn't up to me; that task lies in your hands, folks. So what's it going to be? Should I stop being the only person in the world who hasn't played RIFT? Will I dive into the free-to-play domain of Runes of Magic? Should I break my usual conventions and take a shot at Global Agenda or get some solid aggression out of my system with Warhammer Online? All of these are games I've only had a little playtime with at best, and in most cases, I haven't even touched them. So click on past the break and let me know what I'll be playing, and I'll see you back here in a week to find out more about my next destination. (But make sure to vote by 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 19th!)
Allods Online previews the new Reincarnation system
Remember Tabula Rasa's system for letting players save characters and later play a copy of a different class? It was a good system, but it sadly vanished along with the rest of the game, and the upcoming Allods Online patch won't bring it back. But it will bring something very similar in the form of reincarnation, which has just been previewed on the official site. Players at level 46 or higher will be able to create a new character that's linked to the original -- and as a result, learn abilities that would otherwise be unavailable. Characters who complete the trials necessary for reincarnation will be able to create a special Incarnation character, who shares most of a character's resources such as bag size and mounts. Incarnations are less powerful than the original while leveling, but the bonus is that both the original character and the incarnation may learn abilities from the other's class, allowing more freedom in creating a unique character. Allods Online players interested in this system can find more information on the official preview page -- it should be an interesting way to explore a different character type and earn some extra character abilities in the process.
The Daily Grind: Does steampunk taint fantasy MMOs?
With the recent news that Guild Wars 2 is including a technologically savvy Engineer class, purists have come out in force to bring back up the long-running argument of steampunk themes in fantasy MMOs. To put it succinctly, some people are all right with it, and some consider it the most insidious plot to ruin lives since Enron. I've heard this argument before, in many other places: World of Warcraft, RIFT, Warhammer Online, and Allods Online (to cite a few examples) all have elements of steampunk in an otherwise straight-forward fantasy setting, and some folks just don't care for it. Steampunk, to them, represents a jarring juxtaposition between the old and (semi-)new, and even suggests that the world is becoming outdated even as we play it. So I'm curious today to know what you think. Yes, you, the person with the mismatching socks -- do you think steampunk elements taint fantasy MMOs, or can they coexist peacefully? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
The Perfect Ten: Sequelitis
As a long-time movie buff, I've always been fascinated by sequels. I know, they have a terrible reputation and everyone gets this face like he's digesting a porcupine when discussing them, but there's something fun about them as well. I think we always want a good story to continue, to see what happens next, and to answer the question, "What would the first film be like if it were put in the hands of a complete boob?" It would be an entertaining trainwreck, that's what. Even though the MMORPG genre is in its toddler stage, it's seen a number of sequels, prequels and spin-offs, just the same as other types of entertainment. Video game sequels for hit titles are safer financial investments than striking out into new territory, so it makes sense that MMO studios would follow this pattern as well. Right now there are loads of MMO sequels and spin-offs in the works -- including EverQuest Next, PlanetSide Next, Guild Wars 2, Mabinogi 2, MapleStory 2, Phantasy Star Online 2, Dust 514, and even a possible Ultima Online sequel -- so it's safe to say that the trend won't be dying down anytime soon. However, today I want to look at 10 sequels that already made it to release and briefly examine how they stacked up to their predecessors. Oh yes, there will be blood after the jump -- and I will drink your milkshake!
Community Detective Issue #22: Allods Online [Updated]
My first few minutes with Allods Online were one part awesome and two parts aggravation. There was intrigue in the form of my research into player-crewed airships, and there was annoyance at the forced installation of Pando Media Booster, a third-party app that supposedly improves download speeds but is really little more than bloatware. Once I had the game patched and running (and the offending program removed), it was time to get down to brass tacks. Community Detective has largely been concerned with traditional subscription-based MMOs to this point (detours into the lands of Global Agenda and Runes of Magic notwithstanding), so I'm branching out a bit this week to the realm of free-to-play. Despite its cash-shop missteps and death-penalty brouhahas, Allods has a certain allure, and I figured it was time to answer a few burning questions. In no particular order: What the heck is an allod, what kind of community can you expect in one of the larger F2P games, and what sort of customer service is on offer from gPotato?
Allods Online shows off Isle of Revelation prior to European launch
While Allods Online's European players may be surfing behind their North American comrades in terms of updates, their long wait is almost over. On Wednesday, Allods Online will launch in Europe, bringing with it the mega-patch that gPotato's excited to show off. The delay for the European launch was due to a number of factors, including market adjustments, localization, and an additional pass for polish. The launch patch not only comes with two new zones but also includes a welcome revamp to the rune system, which allows players to utilize and swap them much more efficiently than before. While we can't make Wednesday come any sooner (trust me, we tried, but Stephen Hawking sent us a cease-and-desist for tampering with the space-time continuum), we are able to bring to you seven intriguing screenshots from Allods Online's Isle of Revelation. You can check out these pictures in the gallery below! %Gallery-91331%
Rise and Shiny recap: Allods Online
Oh, Allods Online. You poor, misunderstood beast. Those who love you speak very little, while those who once loved you and were burned for whatever reason... well, they speak the most. I tried to keep this in mind when I took an "official" look at (or re-visit in) the game. Allods has been called many, many things since first rearing its beautiful head, but no one seems to talk about how fun, or not fun, it is. Generally all you hear about are cash-shop woes. I already have a character that I never leveled past 11, so I logged him in and got right to it. Despite all the patches, fixes, tweaks and cash-shop rearranges that went on since I last actively played, the game seemed pretty much the same. It was still beautiful, ran well, and sounded nice. So what was I looking for? What would I notice that I had not noticed before? Click past the cut and I'll tell you all about it.
MV Guide: May 2 - 8, 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 games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers.
Free for All: How much is that Astral ship in the window?
Allods Online is a fantastic game in a lot of ways. Despite what many Massively readers might have read about the game or about the cash-shop issues that seemed to plague it since almost the beginning, the main issues were never really addressed. To me, the most shocking thing about the game's reception was the lack of concern over the grind. For the record, it has always been a game that presented a challenge for even the most patient individuals, even before the cash shop was introduced -- an issue that was always obscured by players who are fine with grinding for hours and hours and hours but not fine with being asked to pay for their time. See, I don't care whether the game calls itself free-to-play or freemium or pay-as-you-go or even whether it is "selling power." Since the beginning, it has been a very beautiful game with some fantastic settings and character design, but it's one that presents a challenge. So forget the cash shop -- let's talk about the grind. That grind is the one thing that bothers me about the game. I love it otherwise, but as soon as I get into the game and have to fight my way through hordes of beasts, I log out. So why don't they just sell the items I want for cash? Give me my Astral ship. Click past the cut and let's discuss.
Launch day for Allods Online is finally here
The long-awaited launch day for Allods Online is finally here. Yep, the free-to-play fantasy title from gPotato and Astrum Nival is finally making it official after nearly 15 months of beta testing. A lot has happened over the last year, from expansions and huge content drops to controversial cash shop decisions and revisited death penalties. While you're stuck at work -- or otherwise unable to log in -- have a look through our launch-day roundup and catch up on all the Allods news that you may have missed. We've got impressions, interviews, and more just after the cut. Also be sure and have a look at our Allods gallery below, and visit the game's official website for more info. %Gallery-91331%
Global Chat: Big ol' FAIL
I'm taking the opportunity to indulge this week by adding a Global Chat quote from a Massively writer. Justin's Perfect Ten column this week touched on overused forum terms, striking a familiar chord with pretty much everyone who's ever spent more than 30 minutes in an MMO forum. Of course, "fail" was in there -- how could it not be? Justin's commentary on this was both accurate and hilarious: It's annoying just how much the MMO community's co-opted this term to sling at anything that meets its disapproval. Oh, don't tell us why you're upset; just belch out a big ol' "FAIL" and call it a job well done. Bravo. Let's move forward to the business at hand: some of the cool things our readers had to say this week. So follow along after the jump and enjoy this week's Global Chat in between the Easter MMO festivities of your choice!
One Shots: A whole new world
Welcome to Massively's first One Shots theme week! Every week we're going to feature a different aspect of all your favorite MMOs. This is starting area week -- last week we invited you to share your favorite starting area in any MMO, and you all treated us to some great shots. Today's image is from Evermeet Isle in Allods Online, courtesy of Sjet: "I have a very unique and interesting view of Allods and reflect upon the greatest and most breathtaking starting zone I have ever seen. The starting zone plays with sun vs. shadow. My number one choice is light, the sunrise, and the mist in the woods, but shadow shows much better the time and dedication put into hand painting every single detail which is unique. "Allods has had a long and rough path throughout beta. Now that it will finally be released, we can look back at its history. Already before its initial launch it had to go through a lot of unfair judgments, and even more after its failure with Gipat when people kept referring its past despite the complete overhaul of the game's mechanics. Now that it's time to meet the official release, I feel proud to be a part of this exciting event and ponder over its beauty and the dedication made by its artists and developers." It's not too late to get in on starting zone week -- if your favorite MMO has a great starting zone, send a screenshot to us here at oneshots@massively.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 thanks! %Gallery-112285%
