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Super Hero Squad Online revamps cash shop, posts Recharged trailer
Kid-friendly Super Hero Squad Online is today touting its recent Recharged patch, the game's biggest ever release. Recharged brings new starter heroes, new gear, new achievements, and new missions to the game. Players and parents will want to know that the cash shop has been revamped and prices on buyables like heroes have been reduced. Currency acquisition has also been redesigned and simplified; the game's currencies have been merged into one currency called fractals, which are now obtainable in larger quantities and through more activities. Gazillion boasts that its active playerbase has more than doubled in size since the update. Enjoy the game's fresh trailer below.
RuneScape naming system opens up to more frequent changes
RuneScape is tweaking the way character names work, and players will now have the opportunity to change names more often. There's also a revised system for inactive character names to expire. Through the use of a bond, characters can now change their names as many times as they'd like without waiting a month as was required previously. Character names will also expire for inactive accounts that haven't logged in for two years or more as well as those accounts that have never become a member and haven't logged in for six months. These expired names are up for grabs, but their original owners will be notified via email before losing the name. If you haven't played in a while, simply log in within the next seven days to keep your name.
Transformers Universe launches open beta for the 4th of July
The Transformers Universe MOBA, whose first beta event kicked off last March, will formally enter open beta this weekend because nothing says Independence Day like battle robots, am I right? The open beta weekend will be marked by a double experience event, a 24-hour livestream starting at 11 a.m. EDT on July 5th, and "$75,000 in prizes to be won." In a press release issued today, Jagex CEO/CTO Mark Gerhard said the game had seen almost two million battle victories during the span of the closed beta. [Source: Jagex press release]
The Daily Grind: Are you a RuneScape vet?
The other day Justin asked how many of you were playing TERA, based on the fact that it doesn't get a lot of press or MMO blog coverage. Today I'd like to pose a similar question about RuneScape. The game has been out forever, but in my MMO travels, I've talked to very few people who have played it. Obviously someone's playing it, though, and probably a lot of someones judging by Jagex's consistent update pace and its fan conventions. So how about it, Massively readers? Are you a RuneScape vet? 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!
Super Hero Squad Online brings out achievements
The achievements are coming! Hear ye, hear he! The achievements are coming! Sorry, we're trying a new type of news dispersal technique at Massively that involves riding around on horses and shouting at townfolk. In any case, Super Hero Squad Online is prepping a "doozy" of an update for the game, and one of the big additions that will be in it is an achievement system. According to the team, achievements "range from simple things like destroying a Troublebot to silly things like farting in the Asgard throne room to really hard things like getting an Adamantium score 1,000 times." There will be over 5,000 achievements added to the game including destiny achievement sets that earn special rewards.
Knight's Fable launching on Wednesday
"The world needs a hero," the Knight's Fable website proclaims. "You be the one." Well, I guess that's it. You're the one. This means that you need to load up on Hot Pockets and Mountain Dew because you're going to need the fuel to save the world come Wednesday, June 18th. That's when Knight's Fable releases and the world gets that one hero it's always craved. This new browser MMO comes courtesy of iMiGAME. It features trainable pets, a battle party system, a PvP arena located in Hell (seriously), and four classes. Knight's Fable also says that it uses "fast-paced turn-based combat," so take that as you will. [Source: iMiGAME press release]
NGames teases new Star Trek 'MMO'
We get all kinds of press releases here at the Massively office tower, some of them worth printing and some of them not. This latest one is pretty cryptic, since it neglects to nail down a title for the game it's hyping. Since the words Star Trek will probably fall somewhere in said title, though, we figured you'd want to know about it. The game is purportedly an MMO, though to what extent publisher NGames doesn't say. In fact it doesn't say much of anything gameplay-related, though the title looks to be browser-based and set in Fluidic Space. "Combat plays a pivotal role," the press release mentions, with players needing to side with either the Klingons or the Federation. NGames says that it will "be revealing more information in the coming weeks." We've copy/pasted the full release after the cut.
RuneScape's legacy mode goes into testing next Monday
If you yearn for the way that RuneScape used to play before its shiny makeover, Jagex both hears and feels you. That's why the studio has prepared a new option called "legacy mode" that will begin testing on June 16th. Legacy mode allows players to access traditional combat, the pre-RuneScape 3 interface, the old minimap icons, and a 990 hard cap on life points. This mode can be freely toggled on and off at will. Jagex will see how legacy mode tests and will poll players as to whether or not they want it brought into the live game. The team's also preparing a patch to improve combat and better balance characters' stats, penalties, and bonuses.
RuneScape shows you the making of an epic quest
RuneScape puts more thought than most MMOs do into the creation and execution of its quests, so when the devs want to share how they make one of these, it might behoove you to show some respect. No, you don't need to kneel. Maybe give it a solemn nod or something. In a new video -- one that you, yes you, can watch after the break -- Jagex takes its playerbase on a tour of the making of "The Mighty Fall" quest. Get a feel for where this quest fits into the greater storyline as well as see how an entire team works together to fashion such a mission. We don't think you'll be disappointed.
Old School RuneScape begins two-week free trial
Old School RuneScape, also known as RuneScape 2007, has begun to offer a two-week free trial for those interested in going back in time to a simpler version of the game. Players can access the free-to-play server by making a brand-new RuneScape account or by using a subscribed account. Jagex said that if the trial is successful, it may become a permanent addition to the game. The one big restriction for the F2P server is that yew trees will not be harvestable in order to combat gold farmers. Old School RuneScape is a 2007-era version of the game that Jagex resurrected following an enthusiastic player vote. Even though it required a subscription to access, it grew to over a million players by October 2013.
Panzer General Online says to play its open beta, maggot
Ubisoft-published Panzer General Online, a browser-based turn-based strategy game, has advanced to the front lines and is now in open beta. Not to be confused with Sega's Panzer Dragoon series, Panzer General Online is inspired by historical battles of real-world armies. In the game, players create and build decks of cards to take into battle, though Skirmish 2.0, a new mode created for the open beta, can pre-build a deck for you if you'd prefer. Any soldiers willing and able can join ranks with Ubisoft and developer Blue Byte by heading to the game's official site and registering an account. [Image: Ubisoft]
Transformers Universe adds Showdown and Mismatch to its roster
A pair of new bots joins the Transformers Universe roster today: Showdown and Mismatch. Showdown is a "crowd-pleasing, hard-scrapping Autobot" who "built his celebrity hammering 'Cons in the Kaon fight pits back in the dark days on Cybertron." He specializes in defending himself and his squad with shields. Mismatch, on the other hand, has thrown together his look from mismatched spare parts. "His minigun has been known to overheat and blow up in his face, but he'll roll with that because his enemies will taste the shrapnel too. When the dust settles, you'll find him scavenging for vital components." Rock out to the two new trailers, one for each character, embedded below. [Soure: Jagex press release]
Minecraft creator's game jam entry is Drowning in Problems
The latest online game jam in the popular Ludum Dare series carries the theme "beneath the surface," and recently ended with a total of 2,497 entries, 1,493 of which were created in 48 hours for the two-day competition. One entry comes from Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson, and is called Drowning in Problems. The browser game is two parts Cookie Clicker and one part The Sims, as players click basic text links to progress through life and "solve" issues like stress, love and money. As players grow, their attention divides among the myriad of problems to solve in their lives, spending their knowledge, money, friends, loyalty and more to receive increasingly-advanced concepts like crushed dreams and broken hearts. Completing Drowning in Problems shouldn't take more than roughly 15 minutes, though it's a thoughtful little excursion. Another attention-grabbing entry in the Ludum Dare 29 competition is The Valley Rule by Ryan Carag with music and sound provided by Bill Kiley, seen above. Created in 72 hours, the platformer gives off strong Fez and Cave Story vibes, challenging players to unlock a large door to get to the surface of the game's world, searching for keys in the area to do so. Along the way, players find abilities such as the "will to climb" that grant them access to new areas. The post-jam version of The Valley Rule is available to play at Newgrounds. Ludum Dare 29 is currently in the judging phase, which ends on Monday, May 19. [Image: Ryan Carag]
Transformers Universe founder's program includes $450 bundle
Transformers Universe may have just won "Most Expensive Founder's Pack Ever" award, as Jagex rolled out a $450 pre-launch bundle today and began taking orders. The founder's packs for Transformers Universe begin at a saner $45 for a bronze pack and go up to $60 for a silver pack, $120 for a gold pack, and $450 for the aforementioned Cybernite pack. All of the founder's packs contain titles, an in-game honor roll mention, and varying levels of season pass access and relics. From the silver pack on up, players will also get early access Transformers and other goodies. So what do you get if you blow $450 on a video game that has yet to be released? The Cybernite pack comes with $250 worth of relics, a year combo season pass, six early access robots, tons of in-game consumables, a limited-edition figurine, and 18 characters when launch hits.
One Shots: You won't believe what color this horse is
Let's start our time together today by playing a game! The game is this: You have until you hit the "continue reading" button to figure out what color this horse (well, technically a unicorn) is. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. This picture comes from reader Becca: "Here is my EverQuest 2 Fury, Sarense, riding her mighty steed. I spent a few hours grinding out candy hearts to get this mount, which shoots hearts out of his eyes and hooves (unfortunately not captured here). He's a hardcore stallion. Look at his cocky stare. He knows that you know he's a badass." My apologies in advance for our colorblind readers who think that this game is unfair. I'll tell you the answer to be fair: It's purple. Shh! Don't tell the rest of our readers, OK?
The Daily Grind: What's your favorite browser MMO?
Browser-based MMOs aren't normally my bag, but yesterday's Heroes & Generals update reminded me that there are a couple of nifty ones out there. Aside from H&G and SOE's late great Clone Wars Adventures, though, I don't have much experience with the genre. So, help me out, Massively readers. What's your favorite browser-based MMO title? 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!
Heroes & Generals gets a huge update
We haven't heard from Heroes & Generals in a while, but that's because the devs at Reto-Moto have been working like dogs to update the F2P FPS. What's Heroes & Generals, you say? It's a nifty blend of massive online shooter and strategic persistent elements that gives you the ability to fight in the trenches, in the air, or as a campaign mastermind. If you'd like to know more about it, see our various hands-on articles, or just go to the game's website and play it for yourself. The latest update, codenamed Oster, adds plenty of new weapons, more campaign battlefields, improved weapon handling and avatar behavior, the ability to steal vehicles, and more. Click past the cut for the update vid.
Super Hero Squad Online commemorates its third birthday
Who says kids MMOs are dead? Not Super Hero Squad Online! The adorable chibi-superhero MMO turns three this week, boasting seven million registrations since launch, 144 different playable heroes, playable villains, and even a new crafting system. The celebratory game additions and perks include new characters (Spider-Ham, Captain America Stealth, Falcon EXO-7, and Winter Solider), new world event heroes, hero sales, Facebook giveaways, a 20%-off sub sale through April, and a birthday card contest. Enjoy the festivities in the brand-new trailer below. [Source: Gazillion press release]
Today's your last chance to play Free Realms and Clone Wars Adventures
Per SOE's announcement last January, today is your final opportunity to play its Free Realms and Clone Wars Adventures MMOs. If you can't play, be sure to join Massively's Larry Everett for a farewell stream later tonight.
An analysis of the Glitch auction house
Glitch is gone, but it lives on in our hearts, and it makes for a fascinating case study. The game arrived, enraptured, and departed so quickly that a great deal can be extrapolated about the game. A new analysis over on Gamasutra focuses on looking at the game's economy over time, seeing how it kicked off and where it wound up, and uses that to draw conclusions about handling player-run economies in other games as well. The article outlines how Glitch handled currency and items, then notes the market trends and how players interacted with both one another and the economy. It concludes that in addition to monitoring the economy, designers need to keep an eye on the small number of players who serve as major economic drivers and watch them closely. The behaviors of players will also vary over time, meaning that past data have to be checked against more recent data to be relevant. If this is your sort of analysis, by all means, read the article in its entirety.
