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Wrath of the Lich King interview notes some big changes
Blizzard should have a reason to fret since two games, Age of Conan and Warhammer Online, are set to release this year and might rain on Blizzard's parade. However, Blizzard refuses to lower their shield and sword and bubble hearth. They are actually pretty confident in their upcoming World of Warcraft expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, and they do not think that there is too much aggro from the new games. In an interview with Eurogamer, a few of the devs chatted about what spells will be cast to keep the accounts up and the game fresh.Content updates do not come as much of a surprise. Blizzard is raising the cap to level 80, but they do not want you to feel as if the bar has been set and there is no progression beyond it. Raids and dungeons are going to be more inviting since, in the words of Jeff Kaplan, "Burning Crusade was way too hardcore out of the gate." If raiding is still not for you, the Death Knight is going to add a little flavor to the game. Best of all, there are going to be evolved murlocs! With this exciting change, we may feel badly about killing the poor guys over and over again for their shiny, graphically enhanced, scales. Take a look at the interview and get a feel for what awaits us on the frozen grounds of Northrend.
WoW graphics engine to be overhauled someday
World of Warcraft producer J. Allen Brack and designers Jeff Kaplan and Tom Chilton were interviewed by Eurogamer today. Most of the interview dealt with Wrath of the Lich King content like the Death Knight, 10-person raids, and world PvP objectives. The most interesting bits of the interview were on the last page, though; the Blizzard reps talked about WoW's future.According to Kaplan, a major graphics engine overhaul is "probably" part of that future. While he himself is not convinced it's necessary (he cited players' lukewarm reception of similar moves by the developers of Ultima Online and EverQuest), he said: "That's actually something we talk about every expansion ... and I'm positive we'll talk about it next expansion."In the meantime, WotLK will allow "people with high-end machines some additional graphical effects." WoW Insider joked that future graphics engine updates might be dedicated entirely to producing even larger, more detailed shoulder pad armor. We wouldn't be surprised![Via WoW Insider]
Win a lifetime subscription to Lord of the Rings Online from Eurogamer!
If you missed out on the lifetime subscription the first time, and you live across the pond, then do we have a contest for you! Eurogamer MMO got their hands on some tasty Lord of the Rings Online special editions, one of them being the Exclusive Collector's Edition, which you can't get in stores anymore.This hefty, and beautiful, edition of Lord of the Rings Online comes with more features than you can shake Gandalf's stick at, but most importantly, it comes with a lifetime membership to LotRO. It use to retail for a whopping 150 pounds when it was in stores (which it isn't anymore) and it can be yours by entering the contest!Speaking of shaking Gandalf's stick, Gandalf just so happens to be the topic of this contest. Simply answer who played Gandalf in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, and submit it to Eurogamer. The first person who's drawn at random with the correct answer will get the Exclusive Collector's Edition. 10 others will be winning LotRO Gold Editions, which aren't anything to scoff at either!Plus, with Book 13 just recently hitting servers, now's a great time to pick up LotRO for yourself. So what are you waiting for? Get going! Just remember though, this is open to Europe only. Sorry North Americans, but we already had a contest for you.
OMG! Tabula Rasa is dead!
Does that title sound familiar? It's almost like we've heard it before in various contexts. PC Gaming is dead! MMOs are dead! Single-player games are dead! Dumbledore is dead! Whoops. Sorry about that last one, it just slipped out.In a recent article at Eurogamer, they re-reviewed Tabula Rasa and proclaimed it more of an autopsy than a re-review. The article is very well-written, and makes a thorough point of comparing the current state of Tabula Rasa with an episode of CSI. Most of the problems they have stem from lack of end-game content and a crafting system, which are basically the same things we've heard for the last 6 months. They may have a point there. But whether you share the opinion of doom and gloom, or you're a dedicated fanboi, this article is certainly worth a read.
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How to get to level 70 without losing your marbles
In World of Warcraft, getting the thousands upon thousands of rotting bear carcasses and boar meat required to get from one to seventy was enough once. Doing it twice makes most of us want to slam our heads into a keyboard repeatedly. Perhaps it is time to log off? No, you must not log off. Quitters never win and winners never quit. Get that soda, get those chips, and put that headset on! Over at Eurogamer, there was someone who felt the pain and found a way to get the job done. A few useful tips and tricks were jotted down for you to make your leveling experience more enjoyable. Tired of killing gnolls? Go for a swim in the river and laugh at murloc screams. Need to run from Loch Modan to the Wetlands? Run over to the dam and jump off to get there. Can't keep track of all those quests? Tips for that too! For your mental sanity, if nothing else, navigate yourself on over there, park your toon in the inn, and read up. You will thank yourself for doing it.
Getting started in Tabula Rasa
Whether you've been playing since beta or are interested in trying out Tabula Rasa for the first time, it's always a good idea to see what others have to say about playing the game effectively. Over at Eurogamer, they've assembled a hefty 3-page guide on the basics of TR, complete with beginner's tips, bootcamp advice and beyond. An interesting theory we picked up from this article is the fact that Eurogamer created this guide to help those people who may have either heard bad press about the game, or maybe even tried it out and were so overwhelmed by the game's innovation, it turned them off. With the recently lowered price of the game, and this handy guide in hand (or on monitor), you might want to give the game a shot! Pun intended.
Samwise Didier on Blizzard's art and games
Eurogamer has interviewed Samwise Didier, Warcraft artist and icon, and the man who's pretty much defined the look and feel of Blizzard since even the early days. There's a lot of great stuff for Blizzard fans in this one -- I had no idea that an early build of The Lost Vikings had about 20 Vikings in it instead of the three we know -- and Samwise talks about his influences, including the way that Blizzard makes twists on standard genre conventions.But the guy still stays incredibly humble, and acknowledges that as great as Blizzard's art is, the thing that really brings people back to these games is the fun factor. It's the humor and the enjoyment that Blizzard fans love, and Samwise's (and all of the other Blizzard artists') art make it that much better.[Via WorldofWar]
David Perry on MUO cancellation: "huh?"
Eurogamer caught up with David Perry, former Shiny Entertainment big-wig and now localizer of many free MMOs for Acclaim to ask him, among other things, for his reaction to the recent news that Marvel Universe Online has been officially canned. Perry reacted with some surprise, pointing out Marvel is one of the biggest and most prolific mainstream intellectual properties on the market today, with all the money swirling around the box-office success of Spiderman, X-men, The Hulk, etc. He reasoned that if you take a team just as good as Blizzard and set them to work on a Marvel MMO, it'd be even bigger than WoW.We take Perry's point, but there are a number of factors to consider with this story. First of all, there's a certain danger in developing an MMO for a console environment, especially at this stage in the system's life. The Xbox 360 launched in Fall of 2005, meaning it's probably closing in on the midway point in its life-cycle. In a genre where games like Ultima Online and Dark Age of Camelot are still making money, being halfway through a five year life cycle doesn't bode well for long-term profitability. And second, whose to say Shane Kim even related the full story? This whole affair could be far messier than we can tell at this juncture -- we may only find out what really happened with time.
Cryptic announces Champions Online, their new superhero MMO
Stop the presses! Eurogamer tackles the scoop by Game Informer magazine that Cryptic Studio's new MMO, to be developed for both PCs and consoles, will be another superhero game called Champions Online. Scoop indeed; the news isn't even up on Cryptic's site!While it may seem strange to set up yet another superhero-themed MMO while City of Heroes/City of Villains is still getting lots of play, this could be Cryptic's way of reusing assets created for Marvel Universe Online. No word yet on whether the title has anything to do with the classic roleplaying game Champions, which is itself all about superheroes, but the addition of 'Online' to the name might be an indicator. We'll be going to GDC where Cryptic will probably announce this, so keep your ears on!
RuneScape dev: buying MMO gold is like funding prostitution
And not just because somebody gets screwed. No, RuneScape's Imre Jele tells Eurogamer that gold trading is like prostitution because the worst part of it isn't necessarily the problem itself (most games can deal with gold trading in their economy), but all the other problems that come along with it-- gold farmers, illegal purchases, and so on. Jele says that stolen credit cards are often used to buy gold, and we've all heard of the working conditions and pay of many gold farmers out there.Jele also says that he's taken steps to stop the gold trading by making unbalanced trades illegal in his game, and has called out other industry players to do the same. But finally, he lands on the real matter at the heart of the problem-- we have to aim at the reason players want to cheat in the first place. If you make games fun, says Jele, players won't need to cheat at all. We're not quite sure exactly how the prostitution metaphor holds up in there, but he has a point.[Via gamesindustry.biz]
Nintendo denies German mag's Mario Kart Wii rumors
After yesterday's boatload of leaked Super Smash Bros. Brawl information, another leak about another major Nintendo series would seem to good to be true. And it probably was, because while GoNintendo is reporting the coming issue of Germany's NMag has some new information about Mario Kart Wii, Eurogamer is reporting that Nintendo has dismissed the widely-publicized report as "just pure rumour and speculation on their part."Which doesn't mean it won't end up being true. NMag's reported predictions range from the incredibly obvious (the controls will be similar to Excite Truck) to the only slightly obvious (powerslides and snaking will return) to the non-obvious but still unsurprising (online battle mode, Baby Peach and Baby Boo as characters).Come on NMag ... if you're going to speculate, you might as well throw some really crazy stuff out there. Here, we'll get you started: Sonic will be a playable character, but he won't have a kart, he'll just run! Wart from Super Mario Bros. 2 will be featured in a boss race! On-track coins can be used to purchase Wii Shop points! Commenters, take it away.Read - NMag rumors on GoNintendoRead - Nintendo dismissal on Eurogamer
Kaplan talks Wrath with Eurogamer
Recently Blizzard guru Jeff Kaplan sat down to talk with Eurogamer.fr about the upcoming expansion, Wrath of the Lich King. Now, I don't know about you, but I have been positively drooling for any information we can get from the Blizz devs ever since the announcement was made at BlizzCon. The interview asks some pointed questions about the problems encountered with TBC and what Blizz might have learned from them. How about the daunting attunement and access difficulties that hardcore players encountered when they first loaded the expansion onto their computers? Kaplan points to how they realized that access to the instances needed to be tweaked and they did so with recent patches. Blizz would like to have world events that include the whole server again, much like Ahn'Qiraj (and I couldn't agree more, as long as the guild that opens the event doesn't do it on Monday morning like they did on Elune), and they are looking to avoid with Wrath what Kaplan "personally consider[s] a mistake in the Burning Crusade."In addition to world events and the possibility of unlocking an attunement for all a player's characters once one of them has achieved it, Kaplan also says they are looking into improving the trade skills with Wrath. He points to leatherworking as an example of a trade skill that received little lovin' in TBC. Essentially leatherworking became obsolete as players entered Outland and received dropped items that were superior to anything they could make. "In the Wrath of the Lich King, we want everyone to be satisfied with the trade they choose and we want it to be rewarding. Therefore we're going to analyse[sic] everything we did with The Burning Crusade and previously to work out what was good and what was missed out."
Eurogamer lays out their most wanted PS3 titles for 2007
Eurogamer has posted a list of their most wanted games on the PS3 for 2007 and, in doing so, have produced possible the most concise list of the console's lineup this year. With a short blurb on each game, including release date and link to screenshots, this is a great page to forward to your friends if they're on the fence about getting a PS3 this year. Even with GTA IV's recent delay, there's enough there to make our wallets weep in terrified anticipation.Check below for their top 5, then click through for the rest. Though, we're curious. Where are Guitar Hero III and Folklore? Are there any other games they've missed? Call of Duty 4 Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Rock Band Lair Heavenly Sword
Sony confirms Heavenly Sword demo in Europe this Thursday
We knew the demo was done, but now we officially find out that many will get to experience the intensity of Heavenly Sword this Thursday. We hope it ends up being everyone, but we only have confirmation of Europe at this point from EuroGamer. IGN says it should "hit other territories around the same time as Europe, according to Sony." Hopefully this Thursday, PS3 owners will be able to experience the demo – the same one used at Sony's Gamer Day – that everyone has been desperately trying not to call Goddess of War. Heavenly Sword is expected in September, giving PS3 owners something to play while Xbox owners immerse themselves in all things Halo 3. Heavenly Sword is one of the games coming this fall which will hold the system together through this non-critical holiday season. We're just glad to finally be able to play a good PS3 exclusive that doesn't start with Resistance and end with Fall of Man.
LotRO producer says real money for game items is the future
Turbine, the company behind Lord of the Rings Online, recently had executive producer Jeffrey Steefel sit down for an interview where he said the company is keeping an eye on the "secondary market" of legally purchasing in-game items with real money. He says in the next five years the MMO business model will change to accommodate using real-life money to buy in-game currency. Steefel says, "Our position is pretty straightforward right now. Our responsibility is to the subscribers of the game, to deliver to them the experience they expect. So we certainly do not support people farming or taking advantage of the system in that way. It's against our Terms of Service and we do try and enforce that. ... But, we all know that something will happen in the next two to five years to business models in general, so we're paying attention to what's going on; watching what's going on with Sony Station whose servers support and manage this."Sony Station Exchange is the controversial pay for item model. Advocates say it's a way for people who don't have the time, to pay their way into the game. Many gamers consider it corporate sponsored gold farming. Even if you purchase an item through an exchange, you can always sell it in-game for currency. Paying your way into an MMO just feels like an athlete using steroids. Sure, you can argue that if the means are there and the time isn't, why not do it? We just don't know how we'd feel about playing a game where you can, as part of the rules, pay a company extra money to get ahead.
Heavenly Sword 90% complete - Multiplayer add-on a possibility
In an interview with Eurogamer, Tameem Antoniades (co-founder of Ninja Theory) discusses the upcoming Heavenly Sword. While the complete interview is not yet available - Eurogamer will be posting it up tomorrow morning - a snippet regarding the possible multiplayer aspect of the game was 'released early'. If you will.The gist is, similarly to Insomniac's Ratchet and Clank Future development philosophy, Ninja Theory have been focusing on the single player aspect of the game so that it can be as deep and immersive as possible. But there's a twist. With the combat system being developed on multiplayer test levels there is a strong possibility that we will see some form of multiplayer become part of the game. Not at launch, however, but as a downloadable expansion at some point. Antoniades assures that when it's done, it will be done right. Not 'slapped-on to please marketing tick-boxes', as he puts it. Excellent.Be sure to check out Eurogamer tomorrow for the full interview. No doubt I'll have one of my famous (they are famous, right ..?) summaries up before too long, too.
Mysterious poem hides new game announcement
Recently the folks at Eurogamer received a mysterious piece of paper (ok, it's a JPEG image) from a free-range game developer in the dark alleyways of the UK. According to the shadowy figure, the poem and images hold the secret to a new game announcement. But first, we have to figure it out. Our only clues are the image and the following text:The words provide the clues. The letters points to three cities of Gaia. The intricate web holds secrets to the dream of fallen earth.The poem reads: A GRIM, ODD, ARCANE SKY ANY GOD, I MARK SACRED A MASKED CRY ADORING A DREAMY, SICK DRAGONOur first guess, Lamb Chop's Play-Along ... The Game, didn't hold up to closer scrutiny. We're confident our readers can unearth the mystery, however. The game will be revealed tomorrow, so get crackin'!
Silent Hill interview confirms development troubles
In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Silent Hill: Origins producer William Oertel confirmed previous rumors that the game met serious problems during its production. The solution, it appears, was to switch development teams altogether. "Game development isn't an exact science, and sometimes you need to go back and adjust some things. In this case, it has been for the best. It was decided that moving development to Climax's Portsmouth office would be best for the game, and that introduced delays."As evidenced by the most recent video footage, the game has certainly come a long way, and we're excited to find out more. It's clear that Origins is in good hands, with the producers understanding what makes a Silent Hill game so unique. "As I'm fond of saying, Silent Hill is an exercise in subtlety, and therefore the changes seen in this game, compared to previous games, reflect that."[Via PSP GadgetZ]
Sony UK talks redesign plans, then denies it (again)
What a tumultuous ride this has been: SCEA says no redesign, and then SCEE managing director Ray Maguire slipped that Sony's current PSP offering was just the "first iteration" of the platform. Speaking at the PSP in Education event, he noted that a smaller, lighter version of the console was coming. Like John Koller, he made specific note that the screen size will never get smaller: it's one of the PSP's best features.Immediately after the event, a Sony spokesperson told Gamesindustry.biz that there are no immediate changes planned for the system: the only developments would come in the form of firmware updates. So, what's the truth, Sony? We've been hearing way too many conflicting reports about this touchy subject.[Via Eurogamer]
Import VC games possible: Europe edition [update 1]
We recently brought you the news that Nintendo was still open to the possibility of bringing import Virtual Console games to the American Wii. In an interview with Eurogamer, a Nintendo UK spokesperson indicated that they're open to the possibility in PAL-land, as well. This possibility has added significance for European gamers, because it opens the door not only to Japanese and US games previously unreleased in Europe, but superior, faster NTSC versions of previously released games (PAL versions of which suffer from slowdown even now on the VC).So, European Fanboys, what would you like to see on the Virtual Console? Rondo of Blood? How about Dracula X? Or maybe that Castlevania game that only got released in Japan on the PC Engine Super CD Rom? The possibilities are endless.[Update 1: added a link to previous VC story.][Via Game|Life]
