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Mortal Online welcomes back all former players for a free week
MMOs change at a breakneck pace, but you don't always have time to check back in and see what changes have taken place. Mortal Online has just recently released its second major expansion, and the community staffers want everyone to check in and see how the game has grown, so they're giving you the chance to do just that. Starting today you can hop into the game and experience all of the improvements in Awakening for free if you previously subscribed to Mortal Online. If you've played in the past but haven't been following the game recently, you might have missed all of the features added by Awakening, including new AI mechanics and a variety of new combat abilities. The free play period will last for the next week, more than enough time to patch the client and take a look at the latest update to the game. [Thanks to Chris for the tip!]
Mortal Online is due for an Awakening
Awakening is the latest free expansion for Mortal Online, and it's available on the live servers today. What does that mean? It means that the game will benefit from a new GUI, a new AI system for NPCs, a new region, and a whole lot of new options for players to enjoy the game. Some of the UI changes include an easier system for making use of workbenches, the addition of slash commands and macro functionality for abilities, and a new method for determining the direction of strikes in combat. Players will also have access to new combat skills, new out-of-combat skills, and a rebuilt taxation system. The update also contains several bugfixes, but the patch notes warn players that the large update will be a bumpy ride at first. Players are asked to petition the customer support team only when absolutely necessary. But even with the likelihood of bugs, there's a lot for Mortal Online players to appreciate in this expansion. [Thanks to Chris for the tip!]
Mortal Online's CEO has high hopes for the game's subscriptions
A game company's CEO should always promote the company's games and be enthusiastic. There is such a thing as too much enthusiasm, however. Case in point: StarVault CEO Henrik Nystrom's comments during an IRC chat with fans. The chat was meant to cover the game's next major update, Awakening, but it included fan questions for future updates as well. It also included Nystrom telling a fan that he sees Mortal Online having roughly as many players as EVE Online in five years. By way of elaboration, EVE Online currently has roughly 450,000 players. Mortal Online's subscription numbers have never been revealed, but estimates place it under 10,000 players. An impossible goal? Definitely not, but certainly one that might be a bit overly ambitious. Fans of the game can still take a look at the chat for other interesting tidbits, however, including plans to add drugs and improve the new player experience in the future. [Thanks to Sandboxer for the tip!]
Titan Books publishing Awakening: The Art of Halo 4 in November
If you prefer your books to be light on those word things, you might want to join us in our favorite pastime – perusing books with lots of pictures in them. Titan Books will produce such a collection of images centered around Halo 4, called Awakening: The Art of Halo 4.It's a hardcover tome of concept art from 343 Industries highlighting "characters, weapons, vehicles, and environments" from this year's installment in Microsoft's popular franchise. "This collection will provide a detailed look at the art created specifically for Halo 4, with commentary by the creative team at 343 Industries," the announcement reads.Awakening: The Art of Halo 4 will be available at your favorite Bookatorium in November, which conveniently happens to be when Halo 4 launches.%Gallery-153658%
Some Assembly Required: A Mortal Online interview
I recently had the opportunity to fire off a few questions to Henrik Nystrom, and the Star Vault CEO was kind enough to provide some interesting insights into the firm's Mortal Online fantasy sandbox. Though Mortal is thus far renowned for its full-loot PvP ruleset, it's also got a number of nifty features that you may be unaware of, with more on the way. Join me after the cut for a lengthy discussion of the new Awakening expansion as well as a glimpse into Nave's future.
Mortal Online announces a new expansion called Awakening
Mortal Online has already launched one expansion, but the game's second expansion in its two years of operation will soon join the first. Awakening has just been announced and is set to bring a variety of improvements to the game. The centerpiece is the introduction of Tindrem, the eponymous Tindremic capital and the home of the Emperor. The sprawling city encompasses several districts, but there's more to the city than the orderly facade it presents to travelers. The expansion will provide more than simply a new city, however. It offers improved artificial intelligence and a better user interface to players, along with new dungeons in which players can test their skills against improved enemy intelligence. There's also a new set of special Trade Brokers in the cities, dyes for clothing and armor, and several other improvements that should be cheered by every Mortal Online player. [Thanks to James for the tip!]
Rusty Hearts rolls out an Awakening
Rusty Hearts might still technically be in the testing phase, but the game is already rolling out its first major content update in Awakening. And it's a big one, raising the level cap to 30, rolling out 40 new storyline quests to invest players in the game's lore, and unveiling four new dungeons. That's without even getting into the new weapons added for characters, new bosses, new non-story quests, additional items... you get the general idea. There's a lot to explore in this update, and so it wouldn't be complete without a trailer showing off all of the action-based, cel-shaded goodness. Jump on past the break to take a look at the full trailer, and you can log into the game right now to start enjoying all of the update -- or perhaps just messing around with your hairstyle without the cash shop for a while. (Yes, that's one of the update features.) [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release]
Massively exclusive: Rusty Hearts prepares for the Awakening
Open betas are always a heady time for players and MMO studios alike, and Rusty Hearts is proving to be no exception to this. The fast-pace action title has been in open beta for a little under a month at this point, but Perfect World Entertainment is already putting the final touches on its first major content update, Awakening. Perfect World promises that Awakening contains not only some ideas the developers thought would be good to get in the game but also several features that came as a result of player feedback. With a higher level cap, additional quests and dungeons, and weapons galore, Rusty Hearts players are going to have their plates full when the update hits on October 11th. For an exclusive sneak peek at all of the details of this exciting update, hit the jump and find out what's in store for a very rusty future!
Lineage II update talks auction house, Goddess of Destruction zones, and more
Lineage II's latest expansion has been in the works for a looooong while, or at least it seems that way. Every time we see a new post about the game, we get our hopes up and then wonder when we'll actually get to play Goddess of Destruction instead of read about it. Alas, today's news isn't a release date, but at least the official Lineage II website has updated with some interesting tidbits about the new content. The GoD expansion is finally bringing an auction house to the seven-year-old fantasy title, and consequently players will no longer need to clutter up various town squares with their AFK store bots. There's also a bit of insight into the new awakening process that level 85 players will experience prior to their journey toward the new level cap. Finally, there are some details about two of the new zones coming with the patch, and Shilen's Altar and Ye Sagira both look to open up exciting new adventuring areas for denizens of Aden.
Dungeon Fighter Online readies a new awakening
What's better than a free-to-play side-scrolling beat 'em up MMO from Nexon? A free-to-play side-scrolling beat 'em up from Nexon that makes us forget about the dreadful Nic Cage vehicle Season of the Witch, currently burning itself at the stake in a few remaining multiplexes. Nexon's season of the Witch, on the other hand, is the latest class "awakening" for Dungeon Fighter Online, and it's coming to your PC on January 26th in the form of the Act VII: Witching Hour update. As you've no doubt surmised by now, the content patch brings a new Witch subclass to the table, a Mage derivative who specializes in alchemy and "makes battle decisions based on probability," according to a Nexon press release. The new patch also features a high-level Hellkarium weapon quest as well as a new dungeon called the Screaming Cavern. The Cavern is home to Giant Nugol, a massive worm that guards the level 54 instance as if her life depended on it. Check out the brief teaser video after the break, then head to the official website for more info.
Dungeon Fighter Online previews class awakenings
When Nexon isn't busy buying up smaller companies by the truckload, they've been putting quite a bit of effort into making Dungeon Fighter Online the best game it can be. The sidescrolling brawler format as an MMO is itself fairly unique, but it's sweetened a little with a trailer showing off the next three "Awakenings" for subclasses. At level 18, characters pick their subclass, and that subclass can "Awaken" into a more powerful form at level 48. Soul Reapers, Hellcats, and Machinists are on display in this trailer, each showcasing wonderfully animated attacks of devastating potential. The Hellcat is the Awakened form of the Brawler, focusing on melee-heavy area damage from all appearances. Machinists come from Mechanics, working with an army of mechanical servants, and Soul Reapers are magical swordsmen derived from Soul Benders. If the trailer lights you on fire, of course, and you can't wait another minute to start playing Dungeon Fighter Online, you're in luck. The game's official launch is on June 9th, but the beta is going on straight until then and characters will not be wiped. Take a look at the trailer (with the pre-Awakening class names rather than the post-Awakening names) past the cut, and see if it doesn't prove a bit awakening all by itself.
Dungeon Fighter Online introduces "Awakening" subclass options
If you've been enjoying the Dungeon Fighter Online beta, you'll be happy to hear that the game is expanding a bit more. Nexon has announced the addition of "Awakening," a quest series that promises to let players "heighten their fighting senses" through more specialized fighting styles. Players will be given the option to choose a subclass at level 18. Once they reach level 48, the Awakening quest line opens the door to refine that subclass into a super subclass. Each advancement will unlock one new active and passive skill, advancing that subclass and increasing its power. The newest DFO Magazine offers a great look into this new feature, giving a description of active and passive skills. Even better, tips are included for each class, giving you a little head start on using your skills more effectively. This update will arrive April 28th, so take a look at the overview to be ready for your Awakening!
Dragon Age Origins: Awakening trailer introduces The Disciples
You know how in Gremlins 2, the Gremlins all break into a genetics lab, and they eat all of the weird gene goop and it gives them superpowers like bat wings or vegetable bodies? And remember how one of them drinks like a brain hormone and becomes Brain Gremlin and gets played by Tony Randall? That's kind of what's happening to the Darkspawn in the Dragon Age Origins: Awakening expansion, according to this new trailer. Of course, we don't know what kind of brain goop they ate -- and they definitely don't sound like Tony Randall -- but they're all called The Disciples and are all smart and talkative now. And evil. As you can see in the various screenshots below, they've got a face only a Gremlin could love. And honestly, while you might play the expansion on March 16 "thinking you know of our kind, human," you're wrong. All they're looking for are things like the Geneva Convention, chamber music, Susan Sontag. That's right: They just want to be civilized. %Gallery-87408%
Pre-order Dragon Age expansion on PC, get Origins 40% off
If you're anything like us, you simply weren't impressed enough by the already overabundant amount of content available in Dragon Age: Origins. No sir! You wanted -- nay! -- demanded more content. Luckily for you, you immovable demander, EA is offering a deal in its online store for the first Dragon Age expansion where pre-orders of the new content can snag the original game on PC for 40 percent off its normal $50 asking price (now just under $30). That means you could get both Awakening and the game it's based on for a combined $70 -- just $10 more than the Game of the Year edition that's sure to come out in a year's time! It's like an early reward for being hesitant ... almost like you paused the action and arranged the tactics ahead of time. Is there something we should know? Hmmm? %Gallery-81512%
Dragon Age Awakening: now with creepy Children!
Felt like your copy of Dragon Age: Origins was missing something, eh? Say, maybe, slugs with demonically mutated children's faces? Perfect -- we've got just the trailer for you today, care of upcoming DA:O expansion Awakening, full of creepy-crawly things called "The Children." There's not much in the way of an explanation of exactly what or why they are, but there are some pretty awful birth pods full of (presumably) amniotic fluid -- well, y'know, evil amniotic fluid (they're bad guys, after all). Hopefully the Children aren't working in concert with that terrifying blue dragon we saw last week. Man, that'd be just the worst! Get fully creeped out by the trailer after the break. %Gallery-81512%
Dragon Age: Origins 'Awakening' expansion has a giant blue dragon
Alright, alright, you kind of already knew about the giant blue dragon in the upcoming Dragon Age: Origins 'Awakening' expansion pack, but you hadn't seen her (yes, her) in all her rage-filled majesty, scaring the crap out of those venturing into Blackmarsh. Between her and Skeletor, we're getting pretty psyched for March's DA:O content infusion. Sure, there's that other BioWare RPG that we're obsessively playing for now, but how long will that last before we feel the urge to venture back into the fantasy realm? We're guessing about two months. And hey, if nothing else, it'll give us something to talk about at PAX East during the Joystiq / Blueberry Muffintops Breakfast. %Gallery-81512%
Pre-orders for Dragon Age: Origins 'Awakening' expansion now available on Steam
Ever since Dragon Age: Origins' upcoming expansion, titled Awakening, was announced back in early January, we've been pining for the chance to drop the $40 on it well before the content actually releases. Thankfully for us, Steam has just opened up pre-orders for the expansion, meaning we can play the expansion in only one month, three weeks, three days and XX hours! We know, we know -- but you're gonna have to calm down. All that excitement could crash your computer. And then where would you be, hmm? No expansion at all! No chance to hang out with Skeletor! %Gallery-81512%
Dragon Age: Awakening expansion detailed
This March, fans of Bioware's epic RPG, Dragon Age: Origins, will be able to extend the experience through 'Awakening,' the hefty retail expansion bearing an equally hefty $40 price tag. While the new trailer coinciding with the announcement was gripping in its own right, many gamers are likely wondering what is deserving of so much coin. Sure, we know it takes place after Origins, we know players will be fighting new Darkspawn baddies and we know there's new items and a raised level cap, but what else should gamers look forward to spending another gazillion hours on? Well, in a recent interview with IGN, Bioware's Fernando Melo put it all on the line. Basically, the Darkspawn haven't retreated underground after Origins' Blight -- as was the case following previous Blights -- and in the land of Amaranthine, one Darkspawn in particular has evolved to the point where it can talk and reason: the Architect. And if you haven't played through Origins at all and have no character to import, you'll have the option to create a new one that will automatically be placed somewhere between level 17 and 20, around the toughness of Awakening's roster of bad guys. Then there's the raised level cap. Melo couldn't confirm where it would be when Awakening releases in March, but said it will "probably end up in the mid to high 30s." Also, you'll gain access to a bunch of new followers, complete with all-new banter and micro-managing. This will have a greater affect on imported characters, as Melo says a lot of the choices you've made in Origins carry over and, depending on what point you're currently at in the main game, characters will act accordingly. And if you choose to play Awakening first, decisions there will transfer back to Origins in the same way. Melo even detailed a bit of the "re-spec" ability you'll have in Awakening. You'll be able to force a reboot of your character's skill points through a tome, allowing you to retain whatever level your Origins character is at, but have a fresh start in terms of where you want to place your points. Obviously, if you choose not to import a character, this feature is moot because you'd be spending all of the points you'll get from starting at the high level Awakening begins. It's a lot to process and IGN's interview is three very lengthy pages, so if you want to read the rest, head on over and check it out. Just beware of spoilers. %Gallery-81512%
Dragon Age Awakening trailer: just as He foretold
You'd hoped that after investing 60 hours of your life, you could hang up your sword and catch a breather until the next BioWare RPG, but, oh no, the Darkspawn did not simply disappear. Thankfully, today's announcement of Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening, a retail expansion to IGN's & Spike's RPG of the Year Joystiq's "4th Best of 2009," has been accompanied by this video pep talk. After all, you have quite the task ahead of you. Awakening will be released March 16 for $39.99 on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. A copy of the original Dragon Age: Origins is required to play. %Gallery-81512%
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening announced, dated March 16
We no longer have to rely on Google-translated rumors about retailer listings regarding an upcoming Dragon Age expansion. EA has officially revealed Awakening, the first retail expansion for Dragon Age: Origins, due in stores March 16 for $40 -- and it's up for pre-order on GameStop now. (There's no word on a downloadable version.) Awakening takes place after the (many) events of Origins, putting the player in the role of a new Grey Warden Commander, or simply an old, imported character from the main game, taking on new monsters, like the Inferno Golem and the Spectral Dragon, in a new area of the world called Amaranthine. The expansion features an increased level cap, new items, new spells, the ability to "re-spec" attributes, and five new party members with whom to bond. It seems odd that the DLC delay and the expansion announcements would coincide so closely, though we don't think it's a matter of BioWare trying to starve people for Dragon Age content so that the expansion would appear more attractive. We can't think of any other explanation than "it's a weird coincidence," though we'll attempt to clear it up with BioWare. Update: Check out the debut trailer. %Gallery-81512%
