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ArcheAge team releases holiday greetings video
'Tis the season for holiday-themed giveaways, events, and videos, and the team at XLGAMES is getting into the act despite the fact that ArcheAge won't be coming to Western shores in time for Christmas 2011. Grinch impressions aside, the new holiday video shows off some of the game's weather effects as well as a veritable winter wonderland complete with snow and player-placed Christmas tree decorations -- not to mention dancing and fireworks. You can see all the festive sights after the cut, and we'll take this opportunity to say that all we want for Christmas is an English-language client!
New ArcheAge beta videos feature sailing, exploration
If you're not in the ArcheAge beta (or if you are but can't figure anything out due to the language barrier), you'll want to check out a series of new gameplay videos at Steparu.com. The fan site has uploaded six clips that show off the high seas adventuring to be had in XLGAMES' forthcoming sandpark title, and there's an hour's worth of footage sure to be of interest to those of you chomping at the bit to do a little nautical exploring. ArcheAge's oceans are apparently vast, as the party makes use of the fastest ship in the game and still spends quite a lot of time looking for an island to call home. There's also a bit of island exploration footage, and you can find the first video after the break.
ArcheAge CBT4 vids offer a closer look at hang-gliding
MMO Culture has been, ahem, hanging out in ArcheAge's fourth Korean closed beta test, and the fansite has posted a handful of new videos that show off various aspects of XLGAMES' forthcoming sandpark opus. First up are a couple of clips that feature the game's unique hang-gliding mechanics, and if you're anything like us, you'll marvel not only at the slick flight model but also at some of the locations the player soars over, around, and through. A third video shows off ArcheAge's gorgeous water and swimming effects, and you can find all three clips embedded after the break.
ArcheAge CBT4 videos show questing, hang-gliding
ArcheAge's fourth closed beta test is officially here, and you can get a glimpse of it via three new videos recently uploaded at Steparu. What's new since CBT3? Quite a lot according to the patch notes (translated by fans at ArcheAge Source). Combat and UI changes abound, players can now interact with street lights, lamps, and candles in the open world, and of course the Hariharan race is now playable. Fifteen new zones and various new monster species are also included, and you can check out some questing footage (as well as one of those spiffy hang-glider backpacks) in the three video clips after the cut.
XL releases new ArcheAge combat trailer
If you're already looking forward to the start of ArcheAge's fourth Korean closed beta test, XLGAMES has a new gameplay video that will probably launch your excitement level into the stratosphere. Though it's a short clip, it boasts a lot of siege footage (including some spiffy shots from above as player-controlled hang-gliders fly over the action). We also get a brief look at a few of the game's combat spells as well as PvE clashes with a couple of sizable boss monsters. ArcheAge is a sandpark title being developed in Korea by XLGAMES and Lineage creator Jake Song. Thus far there are no public plans for a western beta or release.
ArcheAge fan translates interview, analyzes new video to reveal siege details
A fan translation of a Korean dev interview is our latest clue as to what ArcheAge siege PvP will look like. A thread on the ArcheAge Source forums analyzes the new CBT4 teaser video that XLGAMES released last week and concludes that the free-for-all nature of the game's third continent will lead to a lot of PvP action. As of now, there appears to be no real consequence or penalty for either death or inflicting death on other players, though there is an interesting mechanic relating to building or sieging castles. The construction process requires a "core" element called akium, and there's also a limited number of areas where this core may be used to control land (and subsequently build structures). The core element is carried by players and is dropped when they are either killed or log off, which may result in some fairly intense struggles for control of ArcheAge's PvP continent. It's worth noting that two of the game's three continents will still feature housing and PvE, but if you're looking to PvP or contribute to a castle, you'll need to brave the FFA continent and coordinate with your buddies to control the akium long enough to stake your claim.
New Archeage CBT4 clip shows expanded character options
If the latest XLGAMES' video is any indication, there have been some significant changes to ArcheAge since the close of last spring's third Korean beta. A new clip recently uploaded to the development firm's YouTube account shows off a new login screen, new avatar models, new character creation options, and new music. Our experience of the game's CBT3 phase found the character customization a bit lacking (mostly because a ton of the options were greyed out), but it looks like XL is going to remedy that by adding a lot more functionality for CBT4. Have a look at the new clip after the break.
New ArcheAge videos show off PvP, dancing gameplay
A couple of ArcheAge tidbits surfaced during the recent Tencent Games Carnival. XLGAMES' sandpark MMO was on display since it is gearing up for both its fourth Korean beta phase and a 2012 beta in Tencent's native China. Two noteworthy videos came out of the conference, and their radically different nature points to the breadth of gameplay on display in ArcheAge. First up is an over-the-shoulder clip featuring some five vs. five PvP gameplay. The action takes place on an instanced map known as the Siege Warfare Training Camp, and MMO Culture points out a couple of lingering bugs relating to character movement (as well as some interesting weapon combinations). The second video comes directly from XLGAMES, and it shifts gears in favor of ArcheAge's social features. While many MMOs feature dance animations, thus far the only title to take a serious stab at dance gameplay has been Star Wars Galaxies. ArcheAge looks to continue that tradition by allowing players to choreograph dances and coordinate with other dancers, though we are scratching our heads a little bit due to the jarring mixture of high fantasy and pop music. You'll find both videos viewable after the cut.
ArcheAge CBT4 will feature new continent, playable race
ArcheAge's fourth Korean closed beta phase is less than a month away, and the testing window is shaping up to be both longer (80 days) and more far-reaching than any of the previous three periods. In advance of the CBT4 kickoff, MMO Culture has released a new interview with XLGAMES head honcho Jake Song that was conducted at last week's G-Star convention in Korea. Song says the main goal of CBT4 is twofold: There is some bug-squashing and optimization left over from CBT3, and testing of the game's new continent should begin in earnest. While Song says that players will be able to occupy portions of the new landmass from the start, they should not expect castle siege functionality right away, as it's still possible that sieging may not make the CBT4 cut. There's also a bit of info about the new playable race (the Hariharan) and a few other tidbits.
New ArcheAge video shows off combat moves, giant mobs
While much has been made of ArcheAge's non-combat gameplay, the upcoming fantasy sandpark is no slouch when it comes to pew pew and sticking the pointy end into the other man. A newly released video compilation shows off many of the game's melee moves and spell-casting animations as well as a good cross-section of PvE mobs ranging from the mundane to the spectacular. Apparently size matters to the devs at XL Games, as more than a few of the creatures on display dwarf the player characters taking them on. Whether you're into giant flying crabs, fearsome tree monsters, or hordes of undead, there's a little something for everyone in ArcheAge's newest combat clip. Check it out after the cut.
ArcheAge fills up its 2011 dance card with beta, events
Things over in ArcheAge's neck of the woods may seem quiet these days, but rest assured that the XL Games crew is hard at work on making the game the best it can be while spreading the word about it. Over on the ArcheAge blog, news about the continuing beta process and upcoming conventions has been laid out in one convenient place. First up, XL Games is preparing a fourth closed beta test for sometime before the end of the year. Expectations are that this will happen in November, although no official announcement has been made. ArcheAge will be making an appearance at two upcoming events as well. At G-Star, XL Games is forgoing a public booth for a private one in an effort to court business support for the game. ArcheAge's Chinese publisher will be showing off a demo of the game's character creation, questing system, and PvP at the Tencent Game Carnival in November.
XL Games teases new ArcheAge screenshots
ArcheAge may be a ways off from its North American and European debut, but that's not stopping fans of XL Games' upcoming sandpark from scouring the far corners of the web for the latest news. Today we've got a few new screenshots for you to ogle, and they cover everything from the fantasy title's stunning naturescapes, to some newly revealed personal-sized boats, to what appears to be one of the hang-gliders from the ChinaJoy trailer released earlier this year. Fan site ArcheAge Online has the details, and the source article says that XL is teasing these shots as a quick preview of what players can expect during the fourth phase of Korean closed beta testing. CBT4 doesn't have a fixed schedule as of yet, but we'll keep you up to date on it, as well as all the latest ArcheAge news as it happens.
Massively Exclusive: ArcheAge's Jake Song on consensual PvP, inflation, and more
ArcheAge news has been a bit sporadic of late, and it's also been quite some time since we talked to the devs or took a spin through one of the game's closed beta phases. Like many of you, we're dying to know more about XL Games' forthcoming fantasy sandpark, so we went straight to the source to see if we could drum up anything new. Lead designer Jake Song was kind enough to field a few of our burning questions, and we're pleased to present you with another Massively ArcheAge exclusive that touches on everything from localization and story to consensual PvP and item decay. Join us after the break for that and more.
XL Games details three ArcheAge races
XL Games has added to the trickle of ArcheAge information making its way to the West with a new race-related reveal this morning. The fantasy sandpark will feature eight distinct races, and though we've known their names for some time now, the new info drop is the first opportunity we've had to look at the Hariharans, Dwarves, and Warborn. Dwarves are -- as you might guess -- short, stubborn, and fond of metal. Hariharans aren't quite as exotic as the name suggests, given that they're one of two human races in the world of ArcheAge. In terms of lore, there's no love lost between Hariharans and their Nuian counterparts, and the former tend towards light weapons and armor while the latter favor heavy weapons and heavier mail. Finally, XL also revealed the Warborn, and ArcheAge Online describes them as "neither demons nor humans, but a gigantic race who excel at killing things."
Choose your abilities with ArcheAge's custom class creator
ArcheAge's skill and class system is still something of a mystery to most folks in the West, due to both the language barrier and the fact that XL Games hasn't outlined all the particulars in detail. The company has updated its English-language website, though, and the ability-combination page gives a bit more insight into what players can expect when building characters in the upcoming sandpark title. The page features a charted list of abilities that, when combined in groups of three, result in a particular class name being displayed. We're assuming that the resulting class will then get to select specific skills from each ability tree. For example, selecting the artistry, calling, and wild abilities results in a class called a Plainsrunner, and reading between the lines on each ability description indicates a Ranger-like class with a pet, stealth, support buffs, and ranged attacks. If you're looking for a traditional fantasy class, XL provides premade Warrior, Priest, and Wizard templates just above the chart (as well as something called a Chaser), and you can also view brief videos of 10 of the listed abilities via the link in the left margin.
ArcheAge video shows off unusual transportation options
We've stumbled across another ArcheAge video, and unlike the last such that focused heavily on PvP, this time around we get a good look at some of the sandpark title's unique transportation alternatives. There are a gaggle of mounts on display, and with apologies to our Korean friends who will no doubt correct us in due time, we're just going to call them like we see them. Aside from your traditional horse and rider option there's also what appears to be some sort of spotted lion as well as a curious cross between a tauntaun and a bunny rabbit. We also get a glimpse of some city-based transport systems including a steampunk-esque horse and floating carriage (with some sort of mechanical contraption filling in for the horse), as well as the hang-gliding option we saw previously in the ChinaJoy trailer. Finally, there's more footage of the famous airship that's been featured in several previous ArcheAge clips. Head past the cut to see the sights.
ArcheAge videos show off PvP
Following ArcheAge here in the West often involves copious use of Google Translate as well as wading through tons of difficult-to-decipher web postings. Fortunately, the player community likes to post gameplay videos from the sandpark title's various Korean closed betas, and today we've stumbled across a couple of noteworthy clips that aren't subject to the whims of online translation. Both clips center around PvP, and though ArcheAge will feature world PvP in certain areas, the game also boasts battlegrounds for those who prefer less randomness. The first video features a Mage/Bard/Archer player in a skirmish against an invading pirate guild. The second clip takes place inside a battleground and features the same class combo again. There's quite a bit more footage on this one, though, and the 13-minute running time gives us a pretty good look at what it's like to siege a castle. You'll find both videos after the cut.
New ArcheAge trailer and mobile app at ChinaJoy; Song charts MMO generations
The ArcheAge news floodgates have opened this morning, thanks largely to XL Games' showing at the ChinaJoy Digital Entertainment Expo in Shanghai. First up is an iOS mobile application reveal, and the program will allow players to view character details and message their ArcheAge pals (with more functionality on the way according to an article at MMO Culture). The fan site also has an interesting look at XL founder Jake Song's ChinaJoy speech which outlines the differences between first-, second-, and third-generation MMORPGs. Song charts the evolution of MMO gameplay from the "unorganized freedom" of early titles to the passive playground style popularized by World of Warcraft, and says that third-gen titles like ArcheAge will provide the best of both worlds by re-introducting player creativity and removing restrictions while maintaining a high degree of polish. Finally, XL has created a new trailer for ChinaJoy, and the clip features the usual stunning scenery as well as a few new wrinkles (hang-gliding and castle construction!). Check it out after the break.
ArcheAge novel penned by popular Korean fantasy author
MMO novelizations are pretty common nowadays, what with everything from EVE Online to Guild Wars represented in extra-game lore-centric endeavors. ArcheAge is looking to join the hit parade with its first tie-in novel, a fantasy romp called The Fir and the Hawk that fleshes out the upcoming sandpark's extensive backstory. When we say extensive, we really mean extensive, as the book chronicles ArcheAge history some 2,000 years prior to the game's timeline. The novel is the work of popular Korean fantasy author Min-Hee Jeon, and fansite ArcheAge Online calls it "ArcheAge's first official tome of lore." The Fir and the Hawk isn't yet available in the States, but Korean-language fans can pre-order it via the Aladin service. [Thanks to Mark for the tip!]
ArcheAge video shows six minutes of scenery
ArcheAge fans have been aching for news updates since the close of the title's latest Korean beta last May. XL Games is presumably hard at work processing feedback and adding functionality, as we haven't heard a peep from Jake Song's dev team in quite some time. Fortunately, our friends at AAPortal are parceling out various bits of video footage captured during CBT3. Last week we got a look at an ArcheAge cityscape by way of a parkour clip, and today we're treated to a six-minute montage of the game's stunning scenery. The footage takes us on a journey across tranquil meadows, arid deserts, and rocky shorelines, and even along for the ride as a player chases an airship (and later boards it, leading to some spectacular high-altitude nighttime vistas). Head past the cut to check it out, and mosey on over to AAportal for the source post.
