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Speed Download 5.2.15, and a deal to get it $10 off
The good folks over at YazSoft have released version 5.2.15 of Speed Download, a nice download manager/FTP client that helps me out a lot when I'm browsing for files. This new update brings better YouTube compatibility, a fix to make sure the listed file size is correct on certain FTP servers plus tweaks to performance and compatibility. But perhaps more importantly, they're running a promotion that drops the price by ten bucks. When you put the "iwantfast" coupon code in at checkout, you can pick up the software for $15 rather than the usual $25. That's a petty good deal on a piece of software that has come in even handier than I expected when I first picked it up.
Free for All: Five favorite game systems
This week I decided to talk a bit about some of my favorite game systems. Systems are essentially the building blocks of all quality MMORPG matter, allowing for an experience that is unique and worth returning to. Developers have been very creative in designing these systems that, like good technology, are not often noticed by gamers. Good systems blend into your experience but enhance it, and often make the overall game play seem like something more than it would be without them. Here are some of my favorites, and I would recommend downloading these games and checking them out. Or, if you are already playing these games, take a moment to notice how much thought went into these systems, and also of how much time you spend using them. Their simplicity can sometimes be deceiving, hiding the complicated processes that help your game play be a detailed and varied experience.
Free to Play: The value of zero
Recently I read about Min Kim, VP of Nexon America, commenting that he thinks that their new set of games might actually be looked over because of the lack of a subscription. Essentially, it is the same quandary that an artist gets into when he or she wonders how much to sell their art for. I used to be scolded by my fellow artists all the time for not charging enough for works of art, the argument being that something handed out for too low of a price is often seen as gimmicky or cheap. As Kim put it, if "someone were to pass you a gift card worth $100, and they say, 'Hey take this, it's free.' Initially you would clam up and go, 'Wait, what's the catch?'" He pointed out that many subscription based developers might have to start giving more bang for a player's buck in order to keep up with the new, higher quality games that are coming from the FTP market. It will be interesting to see if this happens or not. But I can totally see what he means about pricing, or the lack of. My artist friends and I used to have those discussions about pricing for hours. I used to practically give the stuff away not because I thought it was bad, but because I just saw it as something I wanted people to enjoy. One of my friends told me he set his prices sort of high, and that this created a "value" for the item, something that the collector could claim that the piece was worth. If you look at the millions of dollars that some art brings, you have to wonder: is it only worth that amount because someone paid for it?
Second anniversary brings fun to Wonderland Online
IGG's Wonderland Online is a colorful MMORPG based on South American and Pacific Island cultures, and it's 2D world is now called home by 2 million registered users! The popular MMORPG features manufacturing and crafting systems to help players make what they need to get by in the world, and monsters that can even be tamed as pets. To celebrate the game's second anniversary, the team at Wonderland Online has pulled out all the stops, including a double experience weekend that will run from March 27th to March 29th. So clear your calendar, grab a 12 pack of pop, and make sure your cell phone is on silent because you have some playing to do! You can also find more information about other events on the forums. Take a look below to see some screenshots from the game. %Gallery-89101%
IGG introduces vampire MMO Moonlight Online
Have you been dying to recreate your favorite scenes from the Twilight series? Well me neither, but I would like to fly around kicking butt and avoiding the sunlight. This is good, being that IGG announced Moonlight: Online today. Players will soon be able to control Vampire characters as they jump, fly and climb through supernatural environments that will be rendered using a cutting edge game engine. Players have also been promised that the game will feature plenty of outlets for their creativity. Could this mean the game will feature a lot of customization for characters? The game will also feature the ability to create and destroy entire empires with superpower abilities, all while declaring war on the Werewolves! Sounds to us like a pretty nice combination of pale, powerful and destructive -- just like we like it. Details are promised over the next weeks and months, so keep en eye out here. The game is slated for release at the end of 2010.
KingsIsle announces Wizard101 expansion details
Kingsisle Entertainment finally announced details about the upcoming Wizard101 expansion! Players will soon be able to explore Celestia, a new underwater land populated by crab people while pursuing 10 extra levels. As if that is not enough, there will be a new pet system that allows players to grow, customize, race and fight alongside their companions. There will also be three yet-to-be-named schools of secondary magic. (You can already hear the theorizing from here.) According to J. Todd Coleman, Vice President and Creative Director for KingsIsle Entertainment: "2010 is shaping up to be an incredible year for the students of Ravenwood School of Magic. Whether exploring the underwater kingdom of Celestia, or hatching and training pets to participate in the Pet Derby, every player–from the newest apprentice to the returning grandmaster–will find something compelling, engaging and fun." You can download and play the game for free (with the option of a subscription) here. Look for the update in June!
Free for All: A look into The Chronicles of Spellborn
I have always wondered what happened to one of my favorite free-to-play games, The Chronicles of Spellborn. It's still a great game, don't get me wrong, and is completely free to play. A new version is even supposed to come out at some point, essentially the same game but with a cash-shop that features different travel items and armors. But why didn't The Chronicles of Spellborn do as good as it could have? I enjoyed it from the beginning but did find some flaws, namely in travel time. Of course, I am the world's biggest fan of realistic travel. I think it builds "character," but only having the option to walk while on land is, to say the least, a little tiring. Still, the game continues to captivate me. Perhaps the combat system was too out-of-sync with today's gamer, or maybe the quest text and wonderful lore were not enough to stop some players from getting bored? The stat-less armor and weapons might have had the most to do with it, being that players felt short-changed without being able to be recognized as something powerful just from the look of their avatar?
Exclusive: FusionFall free to play launch details
Near the end of last year, Cartoon Network, the developers of FusionFall, announced that the game would move from a freemium/velvet rope type of pricing structure to a completely free-to-play model. While the fans waited, the developers were a bit silent as to when the new version would be released. Well, wait no more. We have received the official date, along with some exclusive shots of new characters and the new armor that subscribers would receive for being loyal to the game! If you haven't tried it yet, FusionFall is a browser based first-person style shooter that mixes elements of platforming, social gaming, and fashion. Think of Tabula Rasa's combat system, complete with its "soft lock" mechanism, and add tons of your favorite Cartoon Network characters. It makes for a very fun, actiony and surprisingly deep experience. Join me after the jump for an exclusive look at new characters and new armor!
Free for All: Are kids' games valid?
I had the dream again, but this time with a twist. I walked through the store, admiring the shelves and shelves of tiny robots, toy trains and action figures. Cool toys lined every shelf, articulated robots and little army men with swappable guns. Tanks, space marines, huge dragons and all sort of wind-ups tempted me. This time, though, I talked to the store owner about how I frequently have this dream, and that normally I find a section of really cheap toys that I pile up in my arms to buy. He proceeded to show me a stack of those type of toys, clearance toys, and offered me entire armies and model kits for just a few dollars. As usual, I woke up before I can buy them and take them home to adorn my office with. It's a slightly frustrating dream, but always a lot of fun. In the meanwhile, I stopped long ago with collecting toys. They take up too much space, gather too much dust and generally get no use at all. I have replaced these toys, though, and now have a new collection of bright and shinies: kids' free-to-play MMORPGs. I have played every one of them I can get my hands on, sometimes getting pretty high up in the game, and sometimes just exploring or talking with other players. They give me that same feeling that a toy gives you. Yes, adult reader, you know the one I am talking about and surely you too have at least a few toys adorning your office as well?
Neverland Online new version announced
OPI Games announced the new version of Neverland Online due to reach us around the end of March. Neverland Online boasts thousands of players, a huge immersive world with thousands of quests, a robust pet system, gathering and crafting and casual game play. It's free to play and will run directly in your browser so it's easy to jump in and try. The new version will add many welcome changes and additions to the game, here's a list of highlights: A new mount system: Rebirth players can visit Tristone Taoist in Echo Dale to claim the quest of the Legend of the Beast, obtaining a mount after they successfully finish. Players can then learn more mount skills from Tristone Taoist New bosses in the level 25-level 95 Wild map A new Guild Lobby for players to hang out in 3 new instances including Sabre Versus Sword for level 28+, Monsters Valley for level 80+ and The Burning Village for level 90+ New items like Heavenly Red Ribbon，Demon Binding Chain, Chaos Bag and more New items like the Gold Rope or Taoist Jug that players can use to catch the Clam Sprite in the Underwater World The changes look exciting, so go to sign up and try it out today! %Gallery-88108%
MapleStory introduces Dragon Master Evan
Evan is just an ordinary small town farm boy that stumbles upon a magical dragon egg. Little did he know, it would forever change his life. He had suddenly become a dragon master. In Nexon America's leading free-to-play game, MapleStory, you'll be able to play this new class and character. If you choose to do so, you will be expected to live up to some mighty high expectations, taming a powerful dragon and stopping the Black Mage in his quest to destroy the world. If you want to experience Dragon Master Evan and see what else is new in MapleStory, visit the official website. It's free, fun and can run on older machines so go check it out today. And if Facebook is more your thing, become a fan.
GDC10: Nexon's Vindictus revealed
I'll admit to being somewhat of a Nexon fanboy, and someone that considers them to be in the toy business rather than in the MMO business. They manufacture joy in my eyes. Bright, shiny joy. But the recent announcement of their new title "Vindictus" shows us a game that we are not used to seeing from Nexon. While it will follow the same business model that other Nexon games do, it promises to be a "sexy" game: a game that will make players feel like a hero. It promises to be more of an action game, or as Nexon America's Vice President Min Kim put it when he sat down with us for an interview, "an mmoACTIONrpg, epic, fierce and intense." Want to know more? Want to see the killer trailer? Join us after the jump. %Gallery-88064%
GDC10: Runes of Magic releases Chapter 3 information
This May, Frogster will introduce the third chapter of Runes of Magic which will include a new continent, regions, dungeons to conquer, a new skill system, a level cap increase to 60 and an expansion to guild wars: siege weapons! An ancient kingdom called Dalanis lies in chaos as adventurers attempt to help the child-king Callaway regain the former glory that once was. The citizens cry out for it and long to return to the older days when their ancient heroes walked the lands. Adventurers will first walk into Thunderhoof Hills as they venture into the Elder Kingdoms, and will experience varied and surprising landscapes, none like they have seen before. First they will travel through a forest and then pass the waterfalls, only to choose one of three new cities to meet friends, trade and to relax in. Without leaving the zone, players will be able to investigate a graveyard populated by kings from the ancient past. Be sure to grab a reliable group of friends to explore the new dungeon that runs underneath Thunderhoof Hills, the dreadful Dungeon of Dalanis. Join me after the jump for more details as well as a look at new screens, art and a trailer for the expansion!
Soul Master to be published in Europe by gamigo
gamigo, a leading publisher of FTP online games, announced its latest creation called Soul Master. "We are excited to announce that we will be the exclusive European publisher of Soul Master," says gamigo executive board member Patrick Streppel. "Soul Master provides a unique gameplay experience that combines strategy and role-play, fitting perfectly into our broad portfolio of free-to-play online games." In Soul Master, an entirely mission-based world, three factions duke it out for the right to rule all. Inside cities players will find a place to meet and to get quests, something the developer claims to have no shortage of. Besides just running through missions to build up a character, however, players will be attempting to capture resources that will aid them in building up a base and growing an army. There will be no lack of PvP, either, as players will be able to fight other Soul Masters in PvP battles and in guild wars that are going to be an "absolute highlight" of the experience. Expected to be released in the third quarter of 2010, Soul Master will be staying in the tradition of gamigo's other titles and remaining completely free-to-play. Join me after the jump for a trailer and some more game highlights.
First Impressions: Aika Online
As someone who has played scores and scores (if not a hundred) free-to-play games, I know how hard it is to convince someone that all of them are not click-to-move grinders, with horrible cutesy graphics and over-the-top 8-bit music playing in the background. There are so many high-quality games out there now, games like Wizard 101, Runescape, Free Realms, DDO, Mabinogi... the list goes on and on. But one has to admit that the stereotypes exist for a reason, and it is only until recent years that FTP games have begun to take on a level of quality that usually had to be paid for. Upon first glance, Aika Online from publisher gPotato seems to be of the usual suspects, a grindy game filled with slightly dated graphics and music that demands turning the volume down immediately. But if there's one thing I have learned over the years, it's to give a game some time to grow on you like a new album or new movie. Often times I appreciate a game more as I get over the initial knee-jerk hump, and as I explore the game and it's systems more.
Ask TUAW: Prepping a Mac for transfer, adding words to spell check, updating Boot Camp, and more
Welcome back to Ask TUAW, our weekly troubleshooting Q&A column. This week we've got questions about preparing a Mac that you're transferring to a new owner, updating Boot Camp, adding words to the built-in spell check, dealing with flaky network disks, FTP clients, and more. As always, your suggestions and questions are welcome. Leave your questions for next week in the comments section at the end of this post. When asking a question, please include which machine you're using and what version of Mac OS X is installed on it (we'll assume you're running Snow Leopard on an Intel Mac if you don't specify), or if it's an iPhone-related question, which iPhone version and OS version you have.
Mac 101: Publish iWeb '09 sites to FTP
More Mac 101, our series of tips and tricks for novice Mac users. Now that the winter holidays are almost upon us, we're thinking about sharing stories, photos, and movies with far-flung relatives and friends. There's a slew of ways to get this done, and this post focuses on creating a simple site in iWeb '09 and publishing it not to Mobile Me, but to your own host via FTP. If you're unfamiliar with iWeb '09, I'll say this: It does what it does well. If your goal is to share photos, movies and stories with minimal fuss and zero coding, iWeb will work. When I travel, I typically create an iWeb gallery and movie page. Yes, there are many other options, but this one works for me. If you'd rather not publish your iWeb site to MobileMe and have access to FTP, you're in luck. The setup is simple. First, create your site. Next, click the title of your site in the iWeb '09 sidebar (this doesn't work with previous versions of iWeb) to reveal the publishing options. In the first drop-down menu, select "FTP Server." Give your site a name and enter a contact email. Below that, enter your FTP settings. You'll need your server address, username, and password. Next, enter the path to the directory (http://mysite.com/paris, for example). Just make sure the directory already exists on your server or you'll get an error. It won't hurt to test the connection at this point by clicking the button that's available for just that purpose. Finally, enter your site's URL and then click Publish. Off it goes! If you set it up correctly, your iWeb-powered site will be uploaded to the proper place on your site. Subsequent updates require re-publication, so just hit that Publish button again when you're done making changes That's it! Have fun sharing your holiday experiences with iWeb '09.
QNAP's NAS lineup sacrifices another bay, creates TS-110
For many, four bays is a bit excessive. Two bays? Nice and cozy. One bay? Maybe a bit too snug for some, but QNAP is hoping its mono-bay TS-110 will be just right for others. It features the same 800MHz Marvell processor and 256MB of DDR2 RAM on the TS-410 and TS-210, with the discretely vanilla styling of the latter but at roughly half the girth. It keeps the same DLNA, FTP, file serving, and MySQL support of the other two, all configured through a fancy AJAXy web interface. No word on price yet, but we'll find out soon enough as it's set to ship by the end of the month. Meanwhile, we eagerly await the TS-010 announcement, which should rely entirely on theoretical storage. %Gallery-75845%
Dropzone makes it easy to copy files, install apps
We've mentioned Dropzone before as a Friday Favorite, but I just happened across the app while I was trying to solve a problem. I suspect many TUAW readers find themselves in the same situation that I am in: I use a desktop and a laptop. I often find myself wanting to move files between these two machines, so here's what I do: switch to Finder, click on the shared Mac I want, navigate to the folder I'm looking for, and then track down the file I want to copy there and drag it over. I could drag a folder from the other computer to my "Places" sidebar in Finder, but honestly, I just never do. What I wanted was something quick and painless. I tried to whip something up using Automator and Folder Actions where it would copy/move files saved in one folder to the other machine, but even that would get messy. Most often I don't want to move the file, I just want to copy it. I could put the files in Dropbox, but some of these files are sizable (i.e. the 30+ MB iMovie update). To use Dropbox for this would take a long time. Turns out that Dropzone offers the perfect solution: by enabling FTP on both Macs (System Preferences > Sharing > File Sharing, then click the "Options" button, and check the box "Share files and folders using FTP") I now have a drag & drop solution to copying files between computers. Simply drag the file to the Dropzone icon on the dock and then drop it onto one of the many "dropzones" which I have defined, and Dropzone does the rest. Two folders that I added almost immediately? The "Automatically Add to iTunes" folder in the iTunes folder and the Auto Import folder from inside my iPhoto Library (you will have to control-click your iPhoto library and choose "Show Package Contents" to find the "Auto Import" folder). There are several plugins available to extend Dropzone to other services such as ImageShack, TwitPic, Flickr, and more. For Internet services, not only will the file get copied to where you want it to go, but the URL will be placed on the clipboard so you can paste the URL wherever you want it to go. I often FTP files to my website, and files Dropzone FTPs to a website can also support putting the URL on the clipboard. There are several other nifty options, Dropzones for starting the screensaver, putting your Mac to sleep, or drag & drop printing a file to the default printer. You can also zip files (or zip and email them) and many other conveniences. The biggest feature of all was one that I almost overlooked until I watched a screencast from macosxscreencasts.com about Dropzone. A built-in Dropzone called "Install Application" will allow you to drag a .dmg onto Dropzone and have the DMG mounted, the app installed to /Applications, the DMG moved to the recycle bin, and the app launched (it also works with applications which have been .zip'd instead of put into a disk image). If you are anything like me, the "install a new app" process is several steps that you repeat a lot. Dropzone's handling of it is incredibly fast and works really well. If it opens a DMG it cannot handle (such as an installer), it will simply open the folder. Great, start stuff that saves you time and frustration. Remember how computers were supposed to make our lives easier? Dropzone does just that.
Yummy FTP (finally) sees an update
Yummy FTP has been my favorite FTP client for quite a while. I had become so used to seeing it every day that I hadn't even realized it hadn't been updated since 2007 May, 2008. That makes today a big day, as version 1.8 is out with a deluge of new features. While it still lacks the S3 support that Transmit and Interarchy have, it's solid, fast and offers all of the advanced configuration I need with a very reasonable price tag. Highlights from the 30+ new features include an Open In Terminal command (which can set up an SSH session, log you in and cd to the selected directory for remote folders), improved Quick Look features for local and remote previews, advanced file diffs and a greatly improved remote delete/duplicate scheme. As fast as Yummy FTP has always been for me, the idea of downloading and re-uploading a folder just to make a copy borders on insanity. I can't believe I've been doing that since 2007. Quick tip for Yummy users: the bookmark folder in ~/Library/Preferences/Yummy FTP/Bookmarks looks (and works) great in the Dock, displayed in Folder view, especially if you organize your bookmarks hierarchically. Yummy FTP handles FTP, FTP SSL/TLS and SFTP, and offers filtering, remote editing (with TextMate project support), auto-recovery, folder sync and more. It's available for a 30-day trial from Yummy Software, and you'll note on their site that there's a limited-time coupon ('ONLY15YUM') for a $15US license (normally $28US). That's a pretty good deal for some powerful FTP software.
