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SOE teases Landmark development plan, polls build contests
Sony Online Entertainment director of development Dave Georgeson has posted a new update over on the official EverQuest Next Landmark forum outlining the team's plans for moving forward and asking players for opinions on possible upcoming build contests. In the post, Georgeson notes that SOE's first order of business with Landmark is focusing on communications, rating systems, and ways for players to better cooperate with one another. Teams will also be working on systems like combat, AI, and water. Additionally, Georgeson revealed that SOE is going to start running Landmark building contests. The first contest revolves around designing a landmark for island hubs, but future contests are left up to a poll in the post. Choices include homages to buildings in previous EverQuest games, new architecture for Norrath, and genre-specific contests that center on modern, sci-fi, or fantasy designs. You can vote for your preference on Georgeson's forum post.
Lord of Ultima shutting down in May
The land of Caledonia will soon be swallowed up by the sea of game closures. On Monday, May 12th at 2:00 a.m. EST, Lord of Ultima services will be stopped permanently. Announcing the closure, the developers of Lord of Ultima thanked players for their continued support over the years. Starting now, the ability to buy Play4Free Funds is disabled, but players who currently have the in-game currency are encouraged to spend it before the shutdown. New account creation has also been disabled; those who are already in the game, however, can continue their quest to be one of the final lords ruling over the land. [Thanks to all who sent in tips!]
Report: Clash of Clans raking in $654k per day
Finnish developer Supercell is earning around $654,000 daily in Clash of Clans microtransaction sales on iOS and Android devices, according to a report from Business Insider. Clash of Clans is a free-to-play simulation game with tower defense elements, challenging players to build a village and defend it from frequent enemy attacks. While much of the game's content is accessible without additional purchases, players have the option of upgrading combat units and other in-game components by spending real-world money. The approach has proven popular among App Store customers, and Clash of Clans currently ranks as iTunes' single highest-grossing app as a result. An App Annie report (via MCV) ranks Clash of Clans as the world's third-highest grossing free-to-play game, trailing GungHo's Puzzle & Dragons and King's Candy Crush Saga. [Image: Supercell]
World of Speed aims to satisfy racing itch
If putting the pedal to the metal is second nature to you, you might be interested in World of Speed, a new racing MMO announced for the PC. Developed by Slightly Mad Studios, this free-to-play game includes a vast array of cars from city runners to historic racing models and a variety of venues from true-to-life tracks to conglomerate concoctions carved from roadways across cities like London and San Francisco. Besides team and club competitions, World of Speed also sports unique missions and objectives in every race, live events, players challenges, and the Airfield social hub. As an MMO, the game will receive new content regularly in the form of new tracks, cars, and gameplay modes. Interested drivers can sign up for beta on the official site. [Source: Slightly Mad Studios press release]
Prime World dishing out $38M of in-game currency to players today
Prime World might only be in "beta," but it's getting the star treatment from publisher Nival today in the form of a massive giveway. Over $38 million in cash shop currency will be distributed among beta testers today at 4:00 p.m. EDT. When the giveaway happens this afternoon, each registered tester will get 3,000 gold worth around $100 that can be spent in the cash shop as well as a free exclusive skin. We're giving you a heads-up because you can get in on this too as long as you register before 4:00 p.m. on the site or through Steam. Nival is hosting the giveaway to show off the game's progress, including a reduction in matchmaking queue times and the merging of the Russian and English populations of the game. [Source: Nival press release]
SOE opens 2014 G.I.R.L. scholarship submissions
SOE has begun its 7th Gamers in Real Life Game Design Competition, inviting aspiring game developers to apply for a possible $10,000 college scholarship and a 10-week job as a paid intern at the studio. To apply, you'll need to be enrolled in an undergraduate program that has something to do with video games, have a 3.00 GPA or higher, be 18 or older, and be a legal resident of one of the 50 United States or District of Columbia. The application includes concept artwork, captions, and an essay. Interested participants need to submit their application by March 19th. We interviewed the 2013 winner, Esther Wu, last October about her experience with the competition, which is worth a read if you're interested in participating.
SOE outlines upcoming content plan for EverQuest II
Dave Georgeson, who must be the busiest man on Earth right now, has penned a director's letter for fans of EverQuest II explaining how Sony Online Entertainment plans to change the way in which it delivers new content to the nine-year-old game. According to Georgeson, the fan response to SOE's current method of content delivery (three big updates, one expansion, and a bunch of smaller stuff in between) was a resounding "meh," so the studio is looking to shake things up. Future content for EverQuest II will now work like this: Feature refinements, short adventures, holiday events, and other small content will launch every week. Every month, a bigger addition will be made, such as an overhaul an existing dungeon, the addition of a series of quests, or the creation of a new world event. All other resources will be invested into developing full expansions for the game, which are still slotted for annual releases. Georgeson promises that SOE is locked into the new schedule, saying, "Yes, we mean it. We're going to work hard to make it happen regularly and dependably."
Bigpoint's DarkOrbit Reloaded launches
Fans of the original browser-based Dark Orbit that launched seven years ago are in for a treat today: Bigpoint announced the release of Dark Orbit Reloaded. The space MMO's new iteration has a new UI, a redesigned game entry (including bonuses for newcomers), over 200 new missions, an epic storyline, new maps, and new faction characters. Taking advantage of newer technology, Dark Orbit Reloaded also boasts high-resolution graphics as well as has other features in the works for players to look forward to. Check out the official trailer below. [Source: Bigpoint press release]
Civilization Online is 60% done
XLGAMES' Civilization Online is 60% completed, Jake Song said in a recent interview. Song said that the multiplayer online version of the classic Civilization series is more than halfway done in preparation for its open beta. He also announced that testing should commence in the first half of this year. One interesting tidbit that came out of the interview was a classification of Civilization Online as a more casual spin on the series that won't require as much time invested as the single-player variants. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
Innogames TV shows off games and updates galore
It may still be January, but InnoGames has released its February episode of InnoGamesTV. Various titles were highlighted throughout the 16-minute show. Devs shared details about Forge of Empires' latest Modern Era update that captures the spirit of the 1950s and puts it in the far east, the upcoming Grepolis Heroes feature for mobile app, and The West's update that raises the level cap to 150 and opens up the middle of the map. On top of that, you can also see a team of CMs face off against the devs in the upcoming Tribal Wars 2 strategy game and hear more about the beta server and the spring game. Check out the match and hear all the details about all of these titles in the video below.
Stronghold Kingdoms update brings warfare to Europe
The MMORTS Stronghold Kingdoms is bringing war to medieval Europe! With the upcoming European Warfare update, Firefly Studios is opening up the largest game world to date, complete with 32 different countries each having its own political structure and ruled by its own player king. Players can also band together and seize control of large portions or even the whole of Europe, bringing the likes of Bulgaria, Austria, Sweden, Ireland, and Russia all under the rule of one house. But future emperors should be cautious of spreading their forces too thin and risking it all as they defend themselves from all sides. To get in on the action, visit the official site and download the game for free. The war commences at 10 a.m EST on February 13th, 2014.
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Free for All: Thoughts on SOE's mass MMO sunset
Sony Online Entertainment recently announced the upcoming closure of not one or two but four of its titles. Those titles are Free Realms, Clone Wars Adventures, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, and Wizardry Online. The announcement hit most of us pretty hard, even those who weren't active or interested players. Four titles just feels much more like a move of desperation than one or even two games. And for players like yours truly, MMOs like Free Realms and especially Vanguard hold a very special place in our hearts. Having said that, I will never wager solely on perception. It's my guess that SOE does indeed know what it is doing and that some of this is due to licensing issues, new games from similar developers, or an attempt to streamline an already fat lineup in order to get ready for one or two massive new titles. In other words, there is no conspiracy. It's most likely that this decision was due to boring old business. I decided to break down what each game meant to me in the hopes that the confessional will get me ready for the upcoming sunsets. Here's to hoping.
The Soapbox: Stop ganking, you ganking gankers
For me, player vs. player interaction is a necessary component of any online game. The urge to engage with skilled human opponents is the reason I spent countless hours defending flags in World of Warcraft and likely the main motivating factor in my slide away from traditional MMOs and toward MOBAs like Dota 2 and Blizzard Entertainment's upcoming Heroes of the Storm. Simply put, I like a good fight. I especially like a good fight when it occurs unscripted and out in the wilds of the world. If you catch me unaware while I'm grinding out one of TERA's BAMs or plucking gold from an ore vein in Aion, I'll be more than happy to cross swords (or trade frostbolts) with you. Winning or losing isn't important to me; the constant threat of attack heightens my enjoyment of and connection to the game's universe. Unfortunately, open world PvP doesn't attract exclusively those people interested in fair fights. And in the games that make it possible, a certain small segment of players is working hard to ruin everyone else's good time. I speak, of course, of gankers.
Riot claims 27 million daily players for League of Legends
It's no secret that Riot Games's League of Legends is the biggest MOBA on the block, but just how big might come as something of a surprise. Riot has revealed that the League playerbase has now reached 27 million players daily. Player concurrency hits about 7.5 million players during high-traffic hours; for comparison, Valve's Dota 2, which most would consider League's primary competitor, sees about seven million players per month. The high numbers have done wonders for Riot's pocketbook, helping League to generate over $624 million in revenue in 2013.
Blade Hunter beta gets big content update
The side-scroller Blade Hunter, which started beta a little over a month ago, just received a large content update that brought UI improvements, new game systems, mounts, quest lines, cosmetic options, and a raised level cap to the action MMO. Players can boost their stats with elemental companions called sprites starting at level 39, and higher level characters can equip more sprites. Additionally, players at any level can nab a pair of wings through either in-game challenges, crafting item recipes, or Diamond recharge bonuses; however, only level 80s can upgrade and personalize wings beyond the standard buff. If faster travel is more your speed, combat mounts are now available in a variety of types, from horses to dragons. You can ride that mount to the Citadel, a new instance unlocked at level 79 that promises a challenge that puts even Nightmare Mode to shame. [Source: R2Games press release]
I'd probably really enjoy this game if I could get past the ads
My intention was for what I'm writing right now to be a review of the new iOS game Small Fry. It's a game about a cute little fish that you have to navigate through the sea and air and it initially caught my eye because I have a serious addiction to Fish Out Of Water. But instead of writing about Small Fry, I'm writing about Small Fry's in-game advertising and what it means for the App Store. To be perfectly clear upfront: I would prefer to pay for apps once at the time of my initial download and never have to worry about paying more to continue the experience down the road. That is my ideal App Store experience, but I'm not unwilling to compromise. Anecdotally, I hear all the time that in-app purchases are the scourge of humanity, but the fact that so many high-profile apps are relying on this model means that it's paying off for at least some of them. I see game genres embracing IAPs that I never thought would, like racing games and shooters, and I realize that it's futile to push back. I get it: Developers have to make money. If you get someone to download your app for free and then drop US$5 every few weeks on "gold" or "gems" or whatever, then it ends up paying more than a $2.99 upfront, one-time payment. That's fine; keep doing that. I'm not going to buy the crap, but I'm officially giving up my battle against the idea of in-app purchases because they're very clearly not going anywhere. That, and enough developers seem to have gotten the hang of the freemium model that I no longer fear it when I play a game being marketed as "free." What I will keep fighting against is intrusive and obnoxious in-app advertising strategies. This is where Small Fry and so many other games get things shockingly wrong. Here's how the offending system works: Opened the app? Launch a pop-up ad. Finish a level? Launch a pop-up ad. Hit the pause button? Launch a pop-up ad. Die or otherwise fail? Launch a pop-up ad. Exit to the main menu? Launch a pop-up ad. I invite you to guess how many times I (intentionally) click on these types of ads. If you guessed "never," you are correct. The obvious reason I don't click on them is that I'm already playing a game and don't really want to switch, but this doesn't tell the whole story. The more nuanced reason is that these types of ads -- the ones that relentlessly assault you at every turn -- are outright ruining the experience. I don't see an ad for another game pop up for the 18th time and think, "Oh, let me take a look at this for a second and possibly consider purchasing it." I think about how quickly I can find the "x" in the corner and how stupid the developer must be for thinking that I'm going to be more likely to buy its other game on the 18th time it's been pitched to me than on the first 17. To put it another way: If I download your app, launch it and the first thing I see is a full-screen ad for a different game, I'm never going to play either of them. I'm not going to fight your app to let me play it, and if you insist on tainting your digital wares in such a way, I promise you I can't delete them from my phone fast enough. It's not as though I'm alone in this line of thinking, either. Using Small Fry as an example, two of the top five reviews at the time of this writing mention how obnoxious the ads are. Read a bit further and you'll find players begging to simply pay for the app upfront rather than deal with intrusive ads they have no interest in clicking. There are some downright fantastic games that are seriously damaged by horrible ad systems, and some of them are even paid apps (I'm looking at you, Flick Home Run). These types of games sometimes make an appearance on the top charts, but by and large the App Store's heaviest hitters have taken a much more measured approach. I could be wrong, and people could be clicking on these ads every chance they get. I doubt it, but anything is possible. But personally, I'm done wasting my time on games that seem to be hell-bent on getting me to play something else.
Uncharted Waters Online launches 2nd Age expansion
Uncharted Waters Online relaunched under a new publisher a scant two months ago, and now the historically based sea-faring game has a new expansion. OGPlanet announced the release of 2nd Age, which adds plenty of new content for virtual sailors to enjoy. In UWO: 2nd Age, players can manipulate the flow of time and trigger different historical events with the new World Clock, take on new missions and adventures, embark on treasure hunts for rare relics, and combine forces to take on the new boss Ganador, Ruler of the Sea. New ships, modeled off of historical vessels, were also added: England's Privateer 'Sir Francis Drake'; the French Royal family's 'Crown'; and the Lubeck Merchant's Guardian ship 'Eagle'. Additionally, players can influence who wins the election for the next Roman Emperor. Before setting sail, get in the mood of 2nd Age with the official cinematic trailer below. [Source: OGPlanet press release]
Sneak a peek at Warhammer 40K: Eternal Crusade's early prototype
Behaviour Interactive's upcoming Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade is currently in extremely early alpha and scheduled for a 2015 launch. However, footage has snuck out revealing the game's "proof of concept" demo. The video, while brief, gives us the first real glimpse at what Behaviour has planned for this next entry in the Warhammer franchise. Check out the prototype after the break.
Star Trek Online adds small craft arena PvP
Fans of flying around in small spaceships and shooting at other, equally small spaceships are due for a treat in Star Trek Online. Cryptic Studios has just unveiled a new PvP arena mode for the game that focuses on pitched small craft combat. Due to the popularity of small craft PvP via community events and Star Trek Online's private PvP queue, the development team designed to go ahead and implement an official queue into the game. The arena is available to level 50 players and takes place in the Cracked Planetoid map. Each match lasts until one team earns 15 kills. Expertise and energy credits will be awarded to all teams, as will credit toward daily arena missions. To be eligible, you must select a default small craft at the nearest shipyard. Small craft PvP is set to launch with Season 8.5 on January 30th, 2014. You can check it out now on the STO test server.
Free for All: My three favorite MMOFPS games have a shoot-out
I love a good MMOFPS or MMOTPS. A good one. Currently, I have three favorites: PlanetSide 2, Defiance, and Firefall. I have enjoyed other shooters in the past, games like Mechwarrior Online and APB: Reloaded and even a handful of standalone titles. There's something in a shooter that satisfies on a primitive level, some sort of textural quality that when done right can generate a good gaming session of zoned-out, open-mouthed pleasure. There's something even cooler about a multiplayer version of the same genre. I don't mind killing baddies alone, but blasting the face off of a monster is a lot more fun with dozens of other players around. As you can see, I have a problem. Let's forget the fact that I play way too many MMOs as it is because between these three games I can easily kill a weekend and leave no room for games that I need to write about. That means I need to pick a favorite. Let this be a shootout to determine which MMOFPS will be my home. My awesome, loud, deadly home. I've nominated three categories and will pick a winner for each. May the best shooter win!
