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Scarlet Legacy prepping mammoth beta update for September 1st
The open beta MMO that's not afraid to bribe players to come give it a try is gearing up for one of its biggest updates yet. Scarlet Legacy is counting down the hours until it uploads an elephant's worth of content onto the servers for testers to enjoy (and, hopefully, thoroughly vet). This September 1st content update includes, but is not limited to, an increase in level cap to 45, dozens of new skills, 12 additional stances, three more maps, 68 quests, 46 crafting recipes, 154 weapons and pieces of armor, eight pets, high-level events, and a partridge in a pear tree. Well, maybe not the partridge. It's hard to say which part of the content update is most enticing, although our money is on the three new maps with intriguing names like Hidden Evil Island and Ancient Grave. There's also a virgin dungeon that's ready to be plundered for its goodies: Soul Trapping Matrix. For story lovers, the tale of Princess Scarlet will be extended up through level 45 to match the level cap increase. GamesCampus vows to release similarly large updates "at least once a month" from here on out.
Massively Exclusive: Ether Saga Odyssey Future's End preview
As we close in on the launch of Ether Saga Odyssey's upcoming content update, Future's End, Perfect World Entertainment has sent us some lovely new screenshots as well as a bit of new information on what players can expect. First off, there's the titular Future's End, which is a new zone for players level 106 or higher. Future's End is inhabited by a variety of high-level monsters that provide lots of experience and plenty of valuable item drops. Also included in the update are two new types of equipment, known as Dragon Lord and Genesis equipment. What truly makes this new equipment worth fighting for is the new Glyph system, which is used exclusively to enchant Dragon Lord and Genesis equipment, raising the gear to new levels of power. If players inscribe their gear with the right combination of glyphs, they can enable Mantras, which grant attribute bonuses. The update also brings new world bosses, new adventures, and new Signets and skills for Mogui classes. And lastly, for those of you who want to play even when you're out in the treacherous real world, PWE is introducing the Mobile Forge, which allows players to access the Ancestral Forge on the go. For some lovely screenshots to whet your appetites for the upcoming update, click on through the gallery below. %Gallery-65163%
Eden Eternal update features Territory Wars, new content
'Tis the season for free-to-play content updates, and Eden Eternal is next on our list. The fantasy title from Aeria Games just added a new class, a level cap increase, and a new PvP territorial war system to its feature list as of this morning. The new class takes the form of the Warlock, a practitioner of the dark arts who specializes in spawning parasites on his targets and manipulating said targets with an array of spells. The content update also brings the Delphi Forest and Blackflame Peak adventuring regions to Eden Eternal players, and the game's southwestern continent now features the Sunset Desert and Skyreach Jungle areas for high-level characters. New quests and dungeons are also in the offing, as is a loyalty shop that rewards players with Aeria Points for completing standard gameplay tasks. Finally, the Territory Wars system takes a bow, and guilds can go for the jugular in free-for-all brawls that Aeria's press release says will "push the limits of teamwork." More info is available in the patch notes located on the official Eden Eternal website.
Go behind the scenes with RuneScape's August updates and upgrades
RuneScape players have a treat in store for them, as Jagex has released the August Behind the Scenes letter today. What do players have to look forward to in the coming month? Quite a bit, actually. Not content to rest on its laurels after the ambitious clan citadels update, Jagex is maintaining full speed with a variety of upgrades and updates to the world of RuneScape. For starters, the Grand Exchange will be seeing an upgrade that will split it into four wings in order to disperse the crowds around the central exchange booth, thereby making the service easier to use. The game's audio will be seeing an overhaul as well, with all elemental, normal, and Ancient Magick spells receiving new sound effects. Agility users will also notice some spankin'-new sounds as they scamper around. Temple Trekking is getting completely reworked, with the Temple Trekking partners' AI getting a large improvement. The largest update this month comes in the form of Branches of Darkmeyer, which will pit players against legions of deadly vampires in pursuit of shiny new vampire-slaying equipment. For all of this and more that we just couldn't fit, check out the August Behind the Scenes letter over at the RuneScape website.
Asda 2's first content update goes live
GamesCampus.com announced today that its free-to-play MMORPG Asda 2 has received its first content update. The Flammio Update (where do they get these names?) brings "three new maps, the introduction of the coveted pet system, a new player versus player tier to challenge and new items and equipment for both PVE and PVP competitors." Also, for high level players, the update is adding the Infernos continent, which brings with it three new maps for players to explore, a wealth of new quests, and myriad new items. And those hundreds of new quests are going to come in handy, considering that the level cap has been raised from level 50 to level 55. Players can also get their hands on an adorable new pet which grows as it levels. Lastly, a new PvP Faction War tier has been added to coincide with the raised level cap, and players can now use their honor point at the Honor Shop in order to spruce themselves up with spiffy new equipment with which to better faceroll their enemies.
Jade Dynasty's Imperial Citadel update goes live
Perfect World Entertainment has announced that Jade Dynasty's Imperial Citadel content update went live today, and the patch brought a healthy chunk of new features with it. For starters, the update introduces a new dungeon known as the Shura Gauntlet. The Gauntlet is a dungeon made up of an "even more twisted version of Shura," a previous game zone. The only way out of the warped dungeon is to go in further. Hooray, paradoxes! For each wave of the gauntlet that players complete, they'll be rewarded with increasingly powerful items. There's also the Imperial Citadel, which has been reworked for Ascended Vitalized players, and gives them the opportunity to test their mettle through a series of "Imperial Tests." These tests will reward success with Chroma Beads, and they can be completed multiple times per day for players who want to roll around in a never-ending pool of beads. On top of this new content, the update also brings with it a couple of new daily quests and an improved item store. Head on past the cut for a shiny new trailer to commemorate the update.
Mythos set to break the speed barrier with its new update
Life in Hack-n-Slashville too slow for you these days? Well buckle up and keep your arms and legs inside of Mythos at all times -- the game is set to get a tad faster. An upcoming content update for Mythos is set to include a new feature that encourages players to cut their way through dungeons at a record pace. Using the Dungeon Master feature, adventurers who beat dungeons and accomplish other challenges under a set time limit will be showered with gifts and glory. If you choose to play in this mode, a timer will start the second you enter a dungeon and will go until you vanquish every foe in the place. If you make a new record or beat an old one -- you'll be competing against other players in this -- you'll get a nice package of rewards including in-game currency and rare items. The update is set to increase the level cap and add more PvP content as well.
Eden Eternal update bringing raids, dungeons, and adorable mouse-people
Today, Aeria Games announced the first content update to its free-to-play MMO Eden Eternal. We've already taken a look at one of the new additions coming with the update, the adorably ingenious Zumi race, but now we have more information on what else will be coming to the charming little MMO. The update will add eight-player raids to the mix alongside Heroic Dungeons. The first of many planned Heroic Dungeons will be Angor Quarry, which players will recognize as the first dungeon they encounter on their journey, and it will provide Eden Eternal players with "new challenges, new items and new crafting recipes." And for those of you with a competitive streak, the game will be introducing ranking-based rewards, which will track the top players and guilds on each server and reward the top percentage with rare and unique rewards. To jump into the game yourself, head on over to the official Eden Eternal website.
Black Prophecy releases first content update, launches tomorrow in NA
It's a big week for Black Prophecy, as Reakktor Media's starchild both lights the fires of a North American launch and kicks the tires of its first content update. While Black Prophecy has been released in Europe for some time now, tomorrow will see the official start of the North American servers. So if you've been itching for free interstellar combat in the region, then you've got less than 24 hours to go! Along with the NA launch is the release of Episode 1: Inferno in Tulima. This sizable update is adding a new mission hub, a new sector set, additional stories, ship specials, an email system, and the ability to reset player skills. You can read the full patch notes for Episode 1 over on the Black Prophecy forums, and then hit the jump to check out the exciting trailer!
The Perfect Ten: Reasons to go back to older MMOs
When one MMO dies, it forces us to look at the rest of the bunch through the sunglasses of mortality. Games we didn't think twice about last week suddenly gain new relevance as we try to imagine a post-apocalyptic world where they cease to exist. I've always thought that our hobby is built on a shared illusion, one by which we all just pretend that these games will go on indefinitely, but that's not really the case. As I try to pull us out of the tailspin depression of the previous paragraph, let me say that the finite nature of MMO lifespans shouldn't deter us from getting involved in them; on the contrary, it should make what they do and what they are that much more precious to us -- precious like a little show dog that we pet obsessively or an all-powerful ring forged in the fires of Mount Doom and given to completely clueless gardeners for safekeeping. In fact, I think this is the perfect time -- summertime -- to give older MMOs a try, and I'm willing to argue that while wearing my best white suspenders and southern drawl. If it please the gentlemen and ladies of the court, here are 10 reasons why we should go back to the MMOs of yore.
E3 2011: EverQuest II's Dave Georgeson in 3-D
If you're going to fly, why not fly with a little style -- and in 3-D? At E3, we were able to grab some facetime with Dave "Smokejumper" Georgeson, EverQuest II's executive producer, as he showed us the next dimension of MMO gameplay while we checked out some of the new aerial races in the game. "We wanted to do a little more with the flying creatures than to go from Point A to Point B," Georgeson said, referencing EQII's aerial races. "So we put in these flying race courses, which is a good test ground for showing off 3-D." It's one of those things that has to be seen to be believed. The 3-D effect while flying is, in a word, awesome. The user interface is up close, your character is somewhere in the middle, and the environment is in the background. The effect is very noticeable when you turn, which happens a lot while flying. Hit the jump to hear more of Georgeson's thoughts on 3-D in EverQuest II as well as a get tantalizing sneak peek at the game's future!
Earthrise goes on sale, looks ahead to expansion [Updated]
Big things are afoot in Earthrise, which is now going worldwide as publisher Iceberg Interactive has launched the English language version in all territories. To tempt players into giving it a try, Iceberg's digital launch will be offered at a hefty 40% discount, bringing the title to $29.99. Even bigger than that is the news of Earthrise's first free expansion: Territorial Warfare. This content update promises to double the size of the current game world and will let players take over territory, build bases, and fight against opposing forces. These bases can even provide players with resources to further expand their power. The price drop and expansion will apply to European boxed copies as well. The boxed versions also include a map and poster. Masthead Studios has been pursuing aggressive updates and fixes to the game as of late, and with the expansion there should be plenty of additional content for players to enjoy. [Updated: Changed the price to reflect US sales price.]
Turbine brings Lost Legends of Eriador content update to Lord of the Rings Online
Turbine has launched update No. 3 for Lord of the Rings Online, which adds the Lost Legends of Eriador to the free-to-play MMO. Along with new items available in the game's store, there are two new three-player instances to play through, including the Halls of Night, where an ancient Barrow-wight is hunting you and your party through in a dream, and the Inn of the Forsaken, a new dungeon with puzzles, riddles and even an underground ship to find. The update also brings two new skirmish instances, Attack at Dawn and the Icy Crevasse, along with new purchasable character boosts and a scroll for sale that allows you to reset all your skirmish marks when used. The update is currently live -- while you're waiting for it to download, take a gander at the screenshots below.%Gallery-124266%
RIFT's patch 1.2 moved to May 10th
Don't break out the updater just yet, RIFT fans -- we've learned that you are going to have to wait a little bit longer to get your hands on the game's second big update. Patch 1.2, which was tentatively scheduled for a May 4th release, has been moved back to the 10th. Trion Worlds let us know that the patch is still being "polished, tweaked and perfected," and as such the team needs additional time to get it ready. When we talked with Scott Hartsman a week ago about the update, he made sure to mention that all of the details about RIFT's content patch, including the date, weren't set in stone. Patch 1.2 will contain additional endgame content, the wardrobe system, and a new Looking for Group tool.
Introducing Dungeons & Dragons Online Update 9: 'Harbinger of Madness'
Strange things things are happening the Saltire District of Dungeons and Dragons Online. Why have several citizens completely disappeared? What is this madness? It is time to don your DDO detective hat and begin your investigation at Stormreach Harbor. Update 9: Harbinger of Madness introduces players level 15 and above to the world of the grotesque, where fleshcrafting and galleries display body tissue as art. In addition to the new quest content available through the adventure pack, Update 9 introduces new crafting features, which are currently in beta if you are interested in testing them out. These features allow a player to customize the effects of his weapons or armor. Deconstruct a weapon to make it craftable or just keep the best component for new weapons or armor pieces. A release date has not been set, but check out the official DDO website for more information on the upcoming new content, new crafting features, new beast armor kits, new inventory packs, new combat balances, and new attack animations -- it seems everything is new in DDO!
DC Universe Online Update 2 is on its way!
We know you've been anxiously awaiting new content from DC Universe Online -- so have we. A couple of weeks ago, Creative Director Chris Cao talked with us about the "chance" content of the latest update. The Penguin and Two-Face are the villains of choice this time around, and we'll even see a special appearance from Mister Mxyzptlk. Naturally, we're are all excited about the new update -- now when is it coming out? We finally have the answer. On the official forums, Community Manager Tony "RadarX" Jones told DCUO fans that the update will be coming next week! He also took some time to explain that multiple exploits have been fixed, many mission bugs have been squashed, and the social UI has been overhauled. For more information about the update, don your cape and cowl, then head over to Krystalle's interview with Chris Cao. If SOE keeps to its normal update schedule, we will see the new content on Tuesday (if not Thursday). To the Batcave!
Reshaping a zone: LotRO dev diary covers Evendim revamp
Ask any Lord of the Rings Online player about Evendim and you'll get back one of two responses: "Evendim? More like EVERswim!" and "Nice place but too spread out for my tastes." LotRO's lakefront-themed zone was identified as one of the sticking spots in the leveling track, which is why the dev team went back to overhaul Evendim and bring it up to code. In a new dev diary, Joe Barry explains the purpose and execution of this revamp. Previously, Evendim attempted to cover too much territory as a level 29-50 zone, and as a result it was more of a hindrance than a help to players looking to get over the 30s hump. With next week's Echoes of the Dead update, Evendim will be transformed to a lean, mean leveling machine, tightened up to serve levels 30-40 exclusively. The team added over 100 quests and two new quest hubs in its attempt to streamline the experience. Additionally, Turbine's experimenting with different ways to deliver quests to you, such as having a journal unfold new quests as you complete previous ones. Finally, quest rewards are designed in a way to deliver class-specific gear, which can be augmented by a bartering system put in for this patch. You can read the full dev diary over at Lord of the Rings Online!
PAX East 2011: Hands-on with Nexon's Dragon Nest and Vindictus
Nexon spread its wings over much of PAX East's exhibit hall this year, with booths scattered about dedicated to it and its partners' various titles. At the center of the storm lay one of Nexon's hottest new properties, Dragon Nest, which was available for all manner of pokings and proddings. I sat down to play through a couple of Dragon Nest's dungeons with Dee Lee and Moon Kim, who provided commentary on the various game features we were seeing. At its core, Dragon Nest is a fast-paced dungeon crawler, a mash-up between Dungeon Runners, Diablo and Final Fantasy. Instead of spending time roaming around the world, players will primarily be jumping into multi-stage instances over and over again. Each dungeon, such as the Forest Sanctuary and the Valley of Mourning, can accommodate between one to four players (or up to eight for raids) as they try to battle their way to the end boss. It's colorful, heavy on clicking, and definitely arcade-like through and through. Hit the jump to hear the rest of our Dragon Nest impressions as well as a sneak peek at Vindictus' big update coming later this month!
Are other game studios taking countermeasures against RIFT? [Updated]
If you didn't know, today is the head start launch of RIFT and the beginning of many strained household relationships as players finally dive into Telara for real. While we've known for some time that Trion Worlds' creation was going to be a major player in the MMO field, it seems as though RIFT's release has caused other MMO studios to step up and take countermeasures. In the past 24 hours, there have been a few significant developments that seem suspicious in regard to timing, at least. The first is that Blizzard dropped World of Warcraft's next content update, Patch 4.1, on to the public test server in the middle of the night. Mortal Online's announced that its free 14-day trial program is now active for any interested parties. We've also received numerous tips that EA Mythic disabled the cancel subscription option for Warhammer Online. Although we obviously can't be certain that all of these events are due to RIFT, timing, as they say, is everything. Have you seen any other MMO studios stepping up their game today as a distraction from the new shiny? [Update: The Warhammer subscription option was a bug that should be resolved today, according to the devs.]
Runes of Magic 3.0.6 update will feature new desert zone
Frogster's latest press release talks up the forthcoming content patch for free-to-play MMORPG Runes of Magic. The update, version 3.0.6, will introduce the new Limo Desert zone, which boasts nine sub-regions, a new instance, and seven oasis settlements that double as player supply points. The desert is inhabited by dog-like bipedal creatures, appropriately called the Canine, who have split into two sects (the Iron Teeth and Rotteneyes clans). The Kingdom of Limon -- one of the aforementioned desert sub-regions -- features a pyramid burial chamber that houses a decorated Canine war hero as well as plenty of new tactical challenges for players. Check out more information on Runes of Magic at the game's official website.
