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Faxion Online launch-day roundup
Heaven or Hell! Let's rock! UTV Ignition Games' Faxion Online is going live today, pitting the celestial forces of Heaven against the diabolical ranks of Hell in a struggle for supremacy over the realm of Limbo. If you're thinking about joining this divine war, then we're here to help. We've compiled a list of the best Faxion articles Massively has to offer for your perusal in hopes of giving you a bit of a leg up on the competition before you swear allegiance to your faction of choice. So secure your halos and horns and jump on past the cut for Massively's Faxion roundup, and should you exhaust the list, remember that there's more to be had in Massively's Faxion archives.
Free for All: A few tips for the indie developer
I am no developer, nor do I have dreams of one day becoming one. I absolutely love having the ability to write about what I like and to interact with those who enjoy (or hate) what I write. Developers have their hands and tongues tied much of the time, and often the indie developer gets no credit whatsoever. Granted, if artistic release or programming is your thing, I say go for it. But I will absolutely admit to wanting attention most of all -- it's what I like to do. Over the years, I have visited more independent MMO sites and played more independent MMOs than I care to recount. Still, not a week goes by when I do not find a new one to look at, and so I file it away for future use. I am often amazed at some of the mistakes indie developers make -- such obvious ones, too. I try to remind myself that the garage-coder is not always the best choice for graphic designer, so sometimes the websites and logos of these tiny companies look like they were hosted on Geocities. I decided to have some fun and throw down some general rules that I apply to indie developers. Take them or leave them, but I think that they are based on quite a bit of observation. Feel free to add any of your own. Click past the cut and let's get to them!
Faxion Online launching May 26th
Judgment day is coming. No, not that one (or even that one). The fire and brimstone of your typical MMORPG launch is bearing down on the world of Faxion Online thanks to the official announcement of the title's launch date. UTV True Games has issued a press release confirming that the free-to-play fantasy game will debut on May 26th and bring its unique blend of tongue-in-cheek humor and an irreverent take on PvP to players across the globe. Faxion's conflict revolves around the control of war-torn Limbo, the halfway house between heaven and hell that serves as the game's central locale. Players will also fight over the seven deadly sins in a never-ending struggle between light and dark. "We are excited to launch Faxion Online, and based on our burgeoning community's feedback, we have added several new features that will only intensify the combat-driven gameplay experience," says UTV's Frank Lucero. While today's press release doesn't elaborate when it comes to the new features, we'll be bringing you more Faxion-related info as launch day draws near.
Faxion Online commercial gets to the heart of conflict
"We know conflict," a new ad for Faxion Online says, and boy do they ever! The tongue-in-cheek spot shows a fictional (or is it?) day at UTV True Games, where a frisky pirate and an arrogant ninja happen to walk into the same elevator. What happens next can only be seen, not described, although we would not blame you for weeping out of awe. The commercial highlights the spirit of PvP that lies at the core of Faxion Online, an upcoming MMO that pits angelic players vs. their demonic counterparts. The same sense of humor that comes through in this ad runs rampant throughout the game, as players war over zones themed after the seven deadly sins. Currently, Faxion is in open beta. You can watch the full carnage of this video after the jump.
Faxion Online delivers the ten commandments of PvP
Thou shalt target the healers? Check. Honor thy guild and group? Check. If you fancy yourself a PvPer, Faxion Online's newly released Ten Commandments of PvP is worth a read. Even if you're not, the list will no doubt provide a chuckle or two in what appears to be the latest evidence that the free-to-play fantasy title will deliver its MMO conventions with tongue planted firmly in cheek. In a new press release dated this morning, UTV True Games laid out a PvP manifesto with its trademark sense of humor, alluding to artifacts unearthed "at a remote dig site (located two floors above the basement of the company's Austin studio)." Said artifacts have caused a bit of consternation for Faxion's devs, as UTV creative director Mike Madden explained. "All heretofore planned projects, both announced and unannounced, that pit player against player must be reviewed to incorporate the deeper meaning conveyed to us by these ancient tablets," he said. Faxion Online is currently in open beta, and you can learn more -- as well as sign up -- at the game's official website.
Faxion Online sending players to open beta hell tomorrow
Hell is other people, Sartre once wrote, and though he clearly wasn't talking about MMOs in 1944, the line nonetheless applies. Hell is also betas, though Faxion Online's variant looks to be more enjoyable than most if only for the decidedly tongue-in-cheek nature of the entire enterprise. UTV True Games has announced that Faxion's open beta is kicking off tomorrow, March 10th, and a press release describing the hellish (or heavenly) event says the "free-to-play, free-to-prey, and free-to-pray" game will undergo a one-time item wipe as well. The open beta will also feature the "latest iteration of multi-classing abilities" as well as "a completely new player experience." Finally, UTV will also be featuring Faxion Online at this weekend's PAX East, so drop by the booth if you're going to Boston between March 11th and March 13th.
GDC 2011: Checking in with UTV True Games
Casual, colorful and comical: That's the effort that UTV True Games is putting into its growing portfolio of MMOs. From Faxion Online to Mytheon, UTV has quite a few things cooking on the stove, and we happily taste-tested new visuals and info from this year's Games Developer Conference. First up was the PvP-centric Faxion, pitting the good-smelling forces of Heaven against the sulfur-sprayed armies of Hell. Faxion is currently prepping for its second closed beta test, and we've been intrigued by what we've seen so far. The devs released 10 new images for the game, which you can see below: %Gallery-113832% For more previews of UTV's Mytheon, Sky Legends and Planet Crashers, hit the jump and pray you have a chute!
Snowballs piling up in Hell: Faxion Online enters its second closed beta test
"Free to pray, free to prey, free to play," the tagline goes. While Faxion Online continues to milk all of the religious-themed puns the team can think of (and it's hard not to add your own!), this afterlife MMO continues to charge ahead with the second phase of its beta process. UTV True Games announced that Faxion Online has entered its second closed beta test, which has been expanded to include new players and a number of improvements implemented after the first test. Faxion now has an improved starter tutorial that invites players to learn about heavenly living or hellish confluct, depending on the class chosen. Other improvements include class reballancing, new areas and teleportation stones that help warriors get to the conflicts even faster than before. UTV's Frank Lucero credits the players for shaping the game's development: "The responses to the first closed beta have been incredible in helping us determine updates for this second phase." You can check out this tongue-in-cheek PvP MMO by signing up for the beta test or by vicariously experiencing the spiritual planes in our Faxion Online first impressions.
New Faxion trailer reveals combat details and status effects
The combat in Faxion Online is shaping up to be a cut above the MMORPG norm according to a press release and a new video from UTV True Games. The free-to-play firm has just detailed Faxion's fighting system and is touting numerous visual cues and effects that help the player unleash hell on his enemies. Combat information is conveyed via a combination of color-coded floating text, status icons, and Vortex Effects, which change the player's viewing area (like the "Confuse" effect in the header image). Faxion's combat status reports can be summed up thusly: The more severe an effect, the stronger the player notification. "We don't want players to rely on the same old visuals; instead we want there to be an instinct and intuitiveness to this combat system that also allows them to know their status quickly so they can dish out more pain to their enemies," says UTV Studio Head Frank Lucero. Check out the video after the cut and head to the official Faxion Online website to sign up for beta. You can also see four screenshots of the game's status effects in the gallery below. %Gallery-113832%
Faxion Online announces: "Hell has frozen over"
Lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. No, we're not talking about the last raid you went on -- we're talking about the upcoming free-to-play MMO, Faxion Online. The forces of heaven and hell are warring to take over limbo, and hell is freezing over due to the onslaught. Thankfully, today's "Hell Freezes Over" event marks the start of closed beta for Faxion Online, so more players will be joining the armies of dark and light. How the balance between the two powers will end up, nobody knows. In perhaps one of the more amusing PR statements we've ever gotten, Frank Lucero, Studio Head at UTV Games, said, "When celebrating 'Hell Freezes Over' day you are supposed to pull out a list of all the things you said you would do when Hell freezes over but screw that; why not just come and check out Faxion instead?" With offline skill-leveling, a combat-centric system, and open PvP among the many systems offered in the game, it may be heaven or hell depending on playstyle. Nonetheless, if you'd like to check out the game, then head over to the Faxion Online site and get signed up for closed beta! %Gallery-113832%
Faxion Online sends traditional MMO classes straight to hell
It's rare that an MMO laces its world design, gameplay, and lore with humor, but UTV True Games' Faxion Online is doing just that. It's a good thing too, as anything other than a tongue-firmly-in-cheek approach to religion in the public arena can be a recipe for commercial disaster. Enter UTV's latest press release then, one that focuses on the free-to-play title's unique multi-classing system while gleefully proclaiming that traditional MMO classes can go to hell. "Faxion's class system is somewhat of a misnomer," says UTV's Frank Lucero. "In reality, the classes are nothing more than fundamental components that the players themselves can use to create their own toolbox of hellish destruction or heavenly onslaught." How exactly does this work out for the player? It depends on your end goals. For example, folks desiring a traditional druid-type toon will probably want to roll a Guardian class and dabble in Diviner and Crusader classes. Similarly, those interested in an evil cleric archetype should start with a Zealot and add a bit of Reaver into the mix. The possibilities are numerous, and UTV provides a helpful primer for each class after the cut, as well as some associated imagery in the gallery below. %Gallery-113832%
Massively's first look at Faxion Online
The worst thing about touring through a virtual world is not knowing exactly what to bring with you. Over the last several months I have slowly but surely tweaked my habits to make writing easier. Even then I am sometimes perplexed as to how to do it better and what tools would work best for me. Luckily, the greatest tool of all time does exist and is dirt cheap. It fits within my pocket and works with any operating system or peripheral. Yes, I'm talking about a stack of Post-Its. As I ran through the different areas of Faxion Online with one of the developers, I scribbled my notes down on the tiny notepad. Then I stuck the notes to my computer monitor for later reference. I also took screenshots (not the ones you see in this article -- these were supplied by UTV True Games, the developer behind Faxion) and later used them to try to remember how I felt during the walkthrough. While writing, I looked down at my Post-Its and saw three key words: optimization, stylized graphics, and gross fat guy. Click past the cut to see what else I might have jotted down.
Irreverent confession: An interview with Faxion Online's UTV True Games
You're dead -- so sorry, chap! Fortunately, that doesn't mean your gaming adventures are over. On the contrary, according to Faxion Online, they've just begun. In the world of Limbo, players are pulled between the forces of heaven and hell as they fight each other through the physical manifestations of the seven deadly sins. Curious about Faxion Online, we sat down with UTV True Games to discuss the deep issues of beta, religion and epeens. Massively: How's the progress toward closed beta coming along? UTV True Games: It's coming along at an insane pace. The team is focused and beating away at the long list of tasks that loom before us all prior to launching beta as well as the game. We are working on zones, abilities and items, along with wrapping up features and tightening the nuts and bolts of various aspects of the game. The team was able to catch their breath over the holidays a bit, so it's going to allow us to have a good strong kick to the finish.
Explore Faxion Online's seven deadly sins
Does the angel on your right shoulder take a lot of union-approved time off, so much so that you end up listening to the devil on your left shoulder more often than not? Then Faxion Online has a temptation that's right up your alley -- seven sinful zones, each revolving around one of the classic seven deadly sins. Taking heavenly and hellish themes with a strong dose of humor, Faxion Online's world becomes a literal battleground for the soul. By taking each of the deadly sins and turning them into a zone to be fought over and conquered, Faxion has created a unique twist on the genre. If the forces of heaven take over a zone, it turns nicer, and if the forces of evil are triumphant, then there will be hell to pay. UTV True Games' Frank Lucero says that the PvP over these areas will keep players transfixed: "These zones offer all of the competitive combat play that players desire including PVP, innovative territory control and an ability ranking system that will keep players engaged in the timeless struggle of good vs. evil." Hit the jump to read up on Faxion's themed zones and see for yourself what your sins have wrought!
Faxion Online taking closed beta registrations
The war between heaven and hell is coming, and UTV True Games is looking to you to shape it. The F2P developer's new Faxion Online MMORPG is gearing up to break the seals on its closed beta test, and registering on the game's official website automatically puts you in the selection pool of potential testers. The beta is currently scheduled for early 2011 and will allow participants to test the game's factions, territory control, and combat, not to mention the eternal struggle for control of the seven deadly sins. "We already know the game is funny, exciting and addictive, however, at this stage of the game's development, we need to elicit the help of some rigorous beta testers to offer their opinions and feedback to help us fine tune the game and make it as great as it can be," said UTV executive Frank Lucero in a press release dated earlier this morning. While Faxion's home page features both account registration and newsletter sign-up options, no mention of official beta sign-ups is made. A UTV staffer did address the issue on the game's official forums though, saying that "anyone who has registered on our website is considered a potential candidate for closed beta." [Thanks to Massively's Jeremy Stratton for the forum link!]
Class abilities come to light in Faxion Online announcement
It looks like players of the highly anticipated PvP-centric free-to-play MMORPG Faxion Online will use a wide variety of abilities and powers to experience the core of the game. While someone will raise those levels and sharpen those skills the old fashioned way, she can also improve on those abilities using queued, offline skill training similar to EVE Online's. Abilities include Shockwave, a wave of force that will knock back enemies and deal damage; Legion, an ability that only Hell players will get (because Hell is the cooler side) that releases spirits into the bodies of its victims (hopefully while Raining Blood plays in the background;) and Tribunal, which allows players to flourish a weapon, causing all sorts of bodily damage to nearby enemies. That's not all: there are 50 abilities per class available at launch, allowing multi-class cleverness or single-specialization accuracy. All of the abilities grow normally with time, but their advancement can be sped up using microtransactions. Some abilities will be level-limited, however, to ensure that no one player has such an advantage. We visited UTV True Games during GDC Online, so check out that tour here. The game seems to be in great hands -- its developers harken from the lands of Ultima Online, Shadowbane, and many other popular titles. Keep an eye out because the game is expected to hit beta stages later this year. That means you still have time to download some Dio. Or, if you're on the Heaven side, here's something more your speed. %Gallery-113832%
Warrior Epic closes its doors
After a year and a half in service, Warrior Epic looks to be destitute. The free-to-play MMO had its service shut off on Friday by ijji, which posted the following announcement in the company's forums: "As of November 12th, 2010, Warrior Epic will no longer be serviced through ijji.com. The ijji Warrior Epic team would like to thank you for your support during this journey. As a token of our gratitude for your loyalty, we would like to reward you an ijji loyalty package. If you had registered for an ijji Warrior Epic account, you will receive an email with full details on this loyalty package. Thank you again for your support, and we look forward to seeing you in our other exciting games!" Details of the loyalty package can be found on this thread, where ijji promises to hand out items for former Warrior Epic players if they register for GunZ or Lunia. Warrior Epic was developed by UTV True Games, the same studio behind Mytheon and Faxion Online.
GDCO 2010: UTV True Games wows with three new titles
One of the most thrilling aspects of this job is visiting game studios. It's essentially like stepping into a toy factory, complete with strange noises and funny personalities. Nerf guns are a staple, and each desk or station is decorated with all types of toys, posters, and other trophies from Nerd-dom. UTV True Games is no different, so when we were asked to sit down with three (count 'em, three) different teams to preview some new titles, we knew we were in for a good time. Of course, our professionalism prevented us from actually clapping and going "sqqquuueeeee!" every time a new product was shown, but it's very possible that the teams would not have cared anyway. So what did we see? What do we have to look forward to from the same people that brought us Mytheon? Well, click past the cut and let's take a look!
Sean Dahlberg moves on to Faxion Online development
For some of our readers, the idea of managing the community for Star Wars: The Old Republic would be a dream job. (How well this lines up with understanding what community managers actually have to do is debatable.) Sean Dahlberg, however, has apparently decided that he's had quite enough of that scene, so he's packed up and moved on to UTV True Games and Faxion Online. It's a bit of an odd move, and Dahlberg has put up a short entry on his personal blog explaining why he's moved on and what he's moving on to do. Faxion Online is a free-to-play game focused on the war between Heaven and Hell, with what Dahlberg describes as a sense of humor resembling that of the inimitable Dungeon Keeper franchise. He explains that while he enjoyed working with communities, he wanted to get back into designing fun systems for an actual game, and he felt that he could make a larger contribution by shifting focus to his current occupation of Senior Game Systems Designer for Faxion. For more details and a few more tidbits about what's planned for the free-to-play title, take a look at his full entry.
UTV True Games readies Faxion Online
Ready to do your part in the eternal struggle between the forces of heaven and hell? No, we're not talking about the Bible Online or, God forbid (please), another Left Behind game, but rather UTV True Games' Faxion Online. The free-to-play fantasy title features endless battles for territorial control over Limbo, the war-torn nether realm that exists between paradise and eternal damnation. While the idea of banishing PvPers to the depths of hell might appeal to some, Faxion is aiming to attract both PvE and PvP players, and encourages factional struggles to control the fate of the seven deadly sins (which make up the title's contested zones). If it sounds a bit unusual, it is, but it's also being produced by a team that includes veterans of both Ultima Online and Shadowbane, so we'll be watching this one with a fair bit of interest.
