contemporary
Latest
Ran Online races toward European closed beta
In June we learned that after an eight year run in Asia, the modern-era game Ran Online would be expanding to Europe. Now, Games-Masters.com announces that the closed beta testing for this European version will start Q3 2013. Ran Online includes PvP and PvE content, with dungeons, quests, and various PvP modes for club (guild) and school (faction) battles. The game itself will be in English at launch, but the website, payment systems, and support will be handled in several languages. Those interested in participating in the closed beta can sign up on the official site. If you missed the European trailer before, we've included it after the break. [Source: Games-Masters.com press release]
Chaos Theory: Advantages of The Secret World's contemporary setting
One of the greatest aspects of The Secret World that I love is the fact that it's set in today's world. Well, OK, it's some parallel universe version of Earth where every conspiracy, cryptozoological creature, and bizarre myth is able to simultaneously exist without a majority of the population knowing, but it's still home. Contemporary settings in MMOs are few and very far between. Fantasy takes the top spot, of course, followed by science fiction, historical (think pirates and period pieces), and geek genre settings like steampunk and post-apocalyptic. But to play a game set in today's world? It's just not done, not really. Except in The Secret World. From where I'm sitting, this gives TSW several major advantages that it can and does wield over the competition. Just because the game world resembles our own (with a few more zombies and werewolves, natch) doesn't mean it is stripped of fascinating allure. Actually, it opens doors that just aren't present in your typical fantasy game and paves the way for pop culture references that -- for once -- aren't anachronistic.
Ran Online gets publishing deal for Europe
Why should you care about Ran Online? For starters, it's a rare MMO that's set in the modern era, featuring school students who form clubs to defend the world against monsters and the like. For another thing, it's about to enter the European market. Games-Masters.com signed a publishing deal with Min Communications to bring Ran Online to Europe, initially with an English-only version. Ran Online has an eight-year history in Asia, boasting 26 game updates and a graphic engine overhaul during its lifespan. Games-Masters.com CEO Thorsten Schauer is hopeful that the new market will embrace the title: "Ran Online is one of the most successful MMOs in Asia due to its deep content and customization, and we are looking forward to seeing fans all over Europe playing the EU version." [Source: Games-Masters.com press release]
Leaderboard: Fantasy vs. sci-fi vs. contemporary setting
Whoa Nelly! We have ourselves a rootin'-tootin' genre standoff in this here Leaderboard! It all started when the various representatives from the major MMO settings got together for an early week brunch, and it ended with drawn swords, pistols, and ray guns. Every setting thinks it's the best, of course, and they all have the egos to back it up. Let's see whether we can't defuse this standoff today, shall we? Let's vote for the best genre setting for an MMO: fantasy, science fiction, or contemporary. By far, fantasy has the most MMO representatives and is pretty much the main staple of the industry. However, both science fiction and contemporary titles have been making in-roads, from The Secret World to Star Trek Online. Is it better to play in a virtual world that's the most similar to yours? Does a mythological spin on the Middle Ages resonate most strongly with our sense of adventure? Or does the far-flung future hold the most prospect in giving us an unlimited frontier? Make your vote known after the jump!
