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Holy Blade Online begins open beta
Holy Blade Online (best acronym ever!) might not be a game you're aware of until this very second, but despite your ignorance it has gone ahead and started its open beta. PopPace announced that its "first self-developed" MMO starts open beta today. Holy Blade Online is an isometric free-to-play fantasy title that includes battlefields, fashion, and an astrolabe system. As part of its open beta celebration, PopPace has prepared a series of fortunate events for participators. These include gifts for those who buy store currency, discounted "awesome packs," a daily invasion of demons, and a special "star soul" currency that drops from level-30-plus mobs which can be redeemed for gifts.
League of Angels announces beta events, releases trailer
You've heard of League of Angels, a new browser-based game that starts closed beta this Wednesday, but what's the story behind it? GTArcade answers that with a new trailer that takes viewers on a brief tour of the history of the angels, from their betrayal to their triumphant return. See it play out in the video below. Additionally, the studio has announced a number of special events during the seven-day closed beta that players can participate in, each with prizes that will carry over even when all other player data is wiped. The various prizes include free VIP access for leveling, free diamonds for slaying select NPCs (as well as diamonds raining down from the sky twice a day!), and more items to level your angels with the more angels you collect. Specific events will also be held rewarding players for things such as bug hunting, guide writing, and helping other players. [Source: GTArcade press release]
Ragnarok Online 2 schedules closed beta events
Starting today, Gravity's Ragnarok Online 2 is throwing several closed beta events as the studio tests this fantasy-themed sequel. The events take place from December 7th through the 12th, opening up the game during a good chunk of each day. To encourage players to test the title, Gravity has plenty of activities and rewards in store for loyal participants. Testers can reserve their open beta names, win costumes and titles, snag real-life prizes, and meet GMs in-game. If you're in the closed beta, definitely sound off below and let us know what you think about Ragnarok Online 2! [Thanks to Ivan for the tip!]
Ask Massively: Overwhelming changes edition
I have to be honest, the Caitian Carrier for Star Trek Online kind of makes me want to give the game a shot again. I liked it when I played it before, but I just had no time to play it on top of everything else. But then I think about all the work I'd need to do just to get caught up to normal, and... yeah, that's about the point when my gumption evaporates. Still, though. Carrier. In other and far more relevant news, it's time for this week's installment of Ask Massively, which talks about the cycle of game announcement and subsequent disappointment. (Apropos of the recent beta weekends for The Secret World, naturally.) If you've got a question you would like to see answered in a future installment of the column, send it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity.
The Daily Grind: Are beta weekends a good timeframe for testing?
The big problem of betas, of course, is that they aren't launched games. That means that every quest you complete, every enemy you kill, and every level you gain is just going to have to be re-done at launch. For some people, however, the testing environment before launch is something they want to take part in, even knowing that they won't be able to take it with them once the game goes live. Prior to launch, RIFT used a series of beta weekends to give players a chance to test, and Star Wars: The Old Republic has been following the same footsteps. On the one hand, this is enough time to get a feel for the game and test it out without letting you get too invested in your accomplishments. On the other hand, it also means that it's hard for players to really level past a certain point, thus leaving the higher levels more difficult to test -- if not impossible. So what do you think? Are beta weekends a good trend, or is it too little time? 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!
Star Supremacy gets permission from tower control to jump into open beta
Star Supremacy is barreling down on its open beta, and Barbily Games is all a-flutter as the studio prepares events and exclusive rewards for when it happens. The space-themed MMO is scheduled to open its doors wide to the public on November 15th. Barbily Games claims that Star Supremacy is unlike any other MMO you've seen: "It is set to be a stroke of genius which you have never experienced before among space games." Players will not only harvest resources, construct ships, and duke it out with each other over territories, but there will be a main storyline for the entire playerbase to explore. Initially, players will be challenged with constructing a Deep Space Colony Ship that will allow them to reach distant solar systems. Barbily said that there's even an ending to the storyline, although it will not end the gameplay proper. Interested astronauts can register for the open beta on the official website. Star Supremacy is both free-to-play and browser-based, making it accessible to just about anyone who's interested in laying claim to the cosmos.
Dragon Nest announces open beta events
Take up your arms, adventurers, because Nexon's Dragon Nest begins open beta today! The cartoonishly adorable, combo-based action MMO has finally opened its doors, and Nexon is staging a series of open beta events to commemorate the occasion. The first event is the Open Beta Legion, which runs from today, July 26th, to August 9th, and requires players to band together in parties for bonus XP, and which also gives 10 guilds the opportunity to win special prizes. The second event, The Dragon's Hoard, encourages players to log in to the game daily in order to reap a reward of Scales (the in-game item shop currency). The first weekend of the open beta will see the Charge! event, which grants players an additional 300 daily Empowerment Points for the duration of the weekend. These events, and a few more that just can't be crammed into a meager news post, await Dragon Nest players. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and remember this simple mantra: If it moves, kill it.
Beta test weekends are set for Star Wars: The Old Republic in September
If you're one of the many eager players of Star Wars: The Old Republic jumping all over this morning's pre-order, there's more good news on the way. According to TOROcast, an investor report from Electronic Arts shows that the game will be opening up special "beta weekend" events for players to get a glimpse of the game starting in September. This looks like the perfect opportunity for players to start jumping in and playing in advance of the launch date (which presumably would not be until at least a little after September, naturally). While the report doesn't say if these tests will be open or closed, they certainly bring to mind the beta weekends that RIFT popularized, with a limited number of players, but a great deal of freedom in access. Seeing as how these will be tests, however, it's unlikely that this will constitute the early access set forth in the pre-order bonuses -- so if you're looking forward to the game, ordering now is still advisable.
Luvinia closed beta begins
Luvinia Online's closed beta is officially open, and Outspark has confirmed via press release that testers will be able to experience game content up to level 69. Three class archetypes (as well as six subclasses) are open for testing, and a number of in-game events are in the works. Players who reach level 40 will receive a panda rabbit mount after the conclusion of the beta period, and everyone can join in the fun to be had in the Luvster Race, weekly Bingo Society loot competitions, and an end-of-beta Graduation Celebration. The events tie in with the larger Festival of Sparks event series taking place across multiple Outspark titles, and participating players can earn summer sparks which are used to purchase in-game rewards. You can learn more about the Festival at the Outspark website, and don't forget to hop over and check out the Luvinia information while you're at it.
Hellgate open beta starts tonight
Free-to-play fans are looking at a long weekend filled with new fantasy titles thanks to today's big announcements. If Age of Conan: Unchained isn't your style, perhaps Hellgate Global is. You can find out for sure tonight at 7:30 p.m. EDT as T3 Entertainment takes the wraps off Hellgate's open beta. The public testing phase will feature four celebratory events: Guild Reservoir, Daily Supplies, To Level in Hell, and Level and Be Rewarded, each of which will grant "valuable prizes" to top players. The open beta also boasts new game modes including PvP duel arenas and the zombie-infested Cow Room. As an added incentive to check things out, T3's press release mentions a "special prize" in store for everyone who logs in today.
Eden Eternal rides into open beta today
It's been mere days since Eden Eternal kicked off its closed beta, but they say that rolling stones gather no digital moss, so Aeria Games is shifting the game into open beta status starting today. The servers should be open later today at 10:00 p.m. EDT, although eager-beaver players can go ahead and patch up the game now. The open beta will be accompanied by a new patch, although the devs won't have open beta rewards added to the game until next week. To help get the word out about the beta, Aeria Games is sponsoring an Eden Eternal Signature Invasion that could net you some nifty in-game items if you participate. So far, this colorful MMO has proven popular in the beta circuit, so if you're curious what we thought about it, make sure to check out our first impressions from last week! %Gallery-120523%
FAQ attack: Trion clarifies RIFT pre-order options
With all the news and discussion swirling around RIFT these past few days, many players may be considering pre-ordering Trion Worlds' baby to snag the head start and bonus items. However, as evidenced by the comments in a previous post here on Massively, there's a bit of confusion as to how all this works out, especially if one does not want to make a misstep. Fortunately, Community Manager Abigale posted a pre-order FAQ on the RIFT forums to clear up any murky haze floating around the subject. One of the biggest questions concerns the status of VIP codes, which are automatically granted to any pre-order customers. If the player pre-ordered the game through Trion Worlds directly, his account is flagged for all future beta events, but if the player went through a retailer, an extra step is required to enter an emailed code into his account. The pre-order FAQ also deals with payment methods, how the rewards are dispersed to characters, and the life expectancy of beta characters come launch (hint: Don't get too attached!). For anyone wondering why RIFT is being released on two different days between North America and Europe, Trion says that NA traditionally releases on Tuesdays whereas Europe prefers Fridays. Head on over to the RIFT pre-order FAQ for more info!
First Impressions: Pandora Saga beta event
When I was asked to check out Atlus Games' Pandora Saga in its new form, I was slightly excited. Only slightly, though. See, I've taken a look at it before and found a lonely game with nothing but grinding to offer -- at least at first. So I hoped that the game had changed some, perhaps matured a bit for this newer offering for a newer audience. I didn't know it back then, but the game I was playing was not really the North American release. I just signed up and played it, and I didn't pay attention to any warnings that "This is not the North American version!" if there were any. As it goes, this new version is really just a more localized and tweaked version of the previous game. The big difference for me came not in the form of quests and content, but in playerbase. The game space was flooded with players, most of them pining to hit level 30 first or run off to reported huge PvP matches. Again, I kind of felt left behind. Yes, I was given some handy experience potions and stat-increasing aids, but normally I play a First Impressions game a few hours a day for five to seven days. I had this game for only about three days. Click past the cut and I'll tell you more.
RIFT announces the second beta event
If you got to take part in the closed beta event for RIFT over the weekend... well, don't tell us about it. Seriously, don't; it breaks the NDA to even say you're taking part. But if you enjoyed it, you'll get another shot at playing the game sooner rather than later. The second closed beta event has just been announced to run between 10 a.m. PST on December 17th to 10 a.m. PST on December 20th. For the second testing phase, titled "Guardians of the Vigil," players will be testing the first 20 levels of the game, presumably on the Guardian side. Reborn as ascended souls of the Vigil, players are tasked with stopping the tyrant Aedraxis, although we suspect many players will mostly be focused on whatever cool tricks their characters can do with another 10 levels. RIFT is still allowing players to sign up for the beta, so if you're interested in the second beta, you might be well-advised to give it a shot. Not that you could tell anyone about it.
Rift's closed beta to start December 3rd
Been holding your breath waiting for Rift: Planes of Telara -- now renamed just Rift -- to announce the much-anticipated closed beta phase? Well, pass out no longer, for Trion Worlds has announced that Rift's next phase of testing will commence on December 3rd. Rift's closed beta will take the form of limited duration events, in which select players will be allowed to get their hands on the title and hopefully report bugs as faithful playtesters. You may recall that there are a few different pools of beta applicants that Trion is choosing from, up to and including the coveted VIP key-holders who will be invited to every beta event. If selected from the pools for testing, players will be notified a few days in advance with setup instructions. The first beta event will be called "Rise of the Defiant" and will include the first 20 levels of content, the Defiant beginner zone and the land of Freemarch. Trion's Scott Hartsman is celebrating the move from alpha to beta testing: "This is a momentous event for the entire Trion team, as well as the fans that have been following Rift since we first announced the game. We've created this deep, vibrant world that's just waiting to be populated with enthusiastic players, and our hope is that gamers will enjoy playing the game as much as we've enjoyed building it." As we can attest, Rift is shaping up nicely so far. If you want to be considered for the closed beta events, head on over to Rift's website to apply.
