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Iris Online opens the Lost Temple of Atlantis
Iris Online players are in for a treat today because it's patch day. And not just the small sort of patch with a bunch of bugfixes, either -- this is the big kind, the kind that opens up new areas and expands the level cap. In fact, it's exactly that kind, as today's update opens four new zones and the Lost Temple of Atlantis for player exploration. The temple is meant as the most challenging dungeon in the game and contains a variety of treasures for players braving its depths. Beyond the temple, the new zones give players new chances to strike back and liberate the land from the Sahar, complete with new quests to enjoy. Those new quests will also help as players head for the new level cap of 75, but if that alone isn't enough, the development team is doubling all EXP and SXP rates until April 29th. Players can also earn special treasure boxes for a limited time, a little extra boost for enjoying the game's new content. [Source: gPotato press release] %Gallery-104882%
Eternal Blade posts a teaser site and class Facebook pages
Eternal Blade, if you hadn't heard, is a free-to-play action MMO due out later this year from gPotato. We had a chance to preview the game briefly at GDC, and the team behind the game has stepped up promotions with the addition of a new teaser site for the game. The developers have also finalized the class lineup, but the classes aren't getting pages on the teaser site; instead, each class now has its own individual Facebook page. The Soul Summoner, the Knight, the Archer, the Mage, the Thief, and the Berserker pages each have some photos of the relevant class in action as well as a description of why it's the best out of the six classes. If that doesn't get you interested in the game, the teaser site also features a video showing off cinematics and gameplay. More news on beta testing and launch as it develops. [Source: gPotato press release]
GDC 2012: gPotato showcases Allods, Aika, Sevencore, and Eternal Blade
If you're wondering what gPotato has been up to lately, the answer is, lots! At GDC, gPotato reps showed off not one but four titles, two of which are brand-new and on their way to beta. For Allods and Aika fans, there was plenty of news about the new game updates. Meanwhile, gPotato put on demos for Sevencore and Eternal Blade, which are both in production and are being prepped for release sometime later this year. Read on for a hands-on look at each of these titles!%Gallery-150628%
Allods Online releases Game of Gods patch notes [Updated]
If you're looking forward to the latest Allods Online expansion, Game of Gods, you've only got one more day to wait. But if you can't even wait that long without some kind of updates, then you're in luck. The patch notes for version 3.0 have been posted, giving players a full rundown of all the changes and additions coming to the game in light of this sweeping expansion. And it's not just the marquee features being brought in -- there are plenty of smaller changes, quality of life improvements, and other little gems. The marquee items, of course, are all still there. The game's level cap will be raised to 51, and the new Bard class will be added to the game for players to enjoy. New areas and new ship mechanics are also being added to keep players engaged. But there are other new features, such as the addition of "overflow" slots to player bags, stat rearrangement for caster classes, and new performance options for older computers. It promises to be a huge patch, so before you go playing tomorrow, peruse the patch notes today. [Update: Added the new expansion trailer after the cut.]
Earn prizes in Allods Online's 14-day giveaway event
To celebrate the upcoming release of Allods Online's patch 3.0, gPotato is giving away prizes to players who log in on the days leading up to and following the patch. The event starts on February 7th and will run until February 21st, with the patch arriving in the middle on February 14th. Players who log in for a full hour each day during the event will receive progressively valuable rewards, with the best reward saved for those who log in for an hour during all 14 days. Prizes start with special coins for the first day and rapidly ramp up to consumables and costumes, with a Sinister Lion mount for players who log in during all 14 days. To qualify each day, one hour must be spent playing the game before midnight by your server's clock; the time can be split across multiple characters on your account and the prizes are limited to one set per account. gPotato requests that all players entering the contest log out before midnight each day as staying logged in may make you ineligible for that day. As this is a tiered event, players who miss even a single day will never be able to get the top prize of a Sinister Lion mount. For a full list of prizes and contest terms, head over to the official contest announcement.
Allods Online shows off 2.0.9 improvements with a new trailer
Allods Online is gearing up for its Game of Gods expansion, but there are more improvements coming in the lead-up. The 2.0.9 patch is going to be part of the bridge, and it's bringing along a number of cosmetic improvements for players to enjoy. There are new pets, new interior customizations for astral ships, new mounts, and as the header image shows, new hairstyles in varying degrees of ridiculousness (or awesomeness, depending on your personal preference). Of course, what better way to show off the coming patch improvements than via a small trailer? Embedded just past the cut, the trailer is short but features a bit of cute animation and a peek at what's just around the corner. There's still no exact date on the release of the game's expansion, but considering how quickly the team behind the game is ramping up, we suspect it may well be earlier in February rather than later.
Allods Online bringing out Game of Gods next month
If you're a dedicated Allods Online player, you've got something to be very excited about. The game's next expansion, Game of Gods has been announced for release in February, bringing what's being described as a year's worth of content to players in North America and Europe. This announcement is concurrent with the release of a corresponding mini-site previewing some of the upcoming features while still leaving teasers. Players will be able to explore over 100 new quests, take part in a new 10-boss raid, and enjoy the new Bard class. But in true TV-product-announced style, there's still more, including a bump in the level cap, and epic quest to improve your character permanently, and expanded astral space to explore. There's also a teaser trailer and gameplay trailer just after the break to drum up further excitement. While an exact date in February hasn't yet been announced, considering that the month is nearly over it likely won't be too long. [Source: Gala-Net press release]
Flyff releases New Beginnings to the German and French servers
MMOs are a worldwide phenomenon. Sometimes that can be hard to see from the perspective of the many American gamers knee-deep in the hobby, but there are games and releases taking place all over the world. Case in point: The European version of Flyff has seen a big new release with the addition of the New Beginnings expansion, with both the German and French servers receiving the new content. The patch adds three new mid-level dungeons as well as over 100 new quests to help players new and old enjoy Flyff in depth. To help promote the patch, the community team is launching a Lights, Camera, Action! promotion. A group of eight players can register and then upload a video to Own3D.tv, with in-game rewards coming as the video accumulates more likes and shares. The total value of all potential rewards goes up to 1,000 Euros, which should help encourage the French and German players of the game to get in on the action. There's also a trailer for the patch just after the break, although if you're not familiar with French, the language barrier might be an issue. [Source: gPotato press release]
Allods Online implements Overwolf in-game overlay
If you're similar to me -- my condolences if you are -- then you're probably very friendly with your alt and tab keys. Browsing the internet, chatting with your non-gamer heretic friends on AIM, and gaming all at once requires a certain mastery of alt+tab-fu. Allods Online, however, is looking to remedy this multitasking predicament, so it has enlisted the help of Overwolf. Overwolf is an in-game overlay that provides players with a means to browse the interwebs, IM friends on multiple protocols, record their gameplay, and more without ever leaving the comfort of their game windows. Overwolf will be bundled with all future Allods client downloads, and existing players can download the gPotato version of the application from Overwolf's official site. For the full details on the new partnership, head on over to the official announcement.
Choose My Adventure: No Skyrim, unfortunately
For the next six weeks, you, dear readers, get to poke me with virtual sticks and jeer as I do your bidding in an MMO of your choosing. Who am I, you ask. Some of you know me from Massively TV's livestreams, during which I like to ninja loot Karen Bryan's kills. Some of you know me from reading my Runes of Magic articles. What none of you (likely) knows is that I actively play and enjoy many of the MMOs featured here on Massively. However, there are plenty of other MMOs I've either never played or have only sampled briefly. You are going to rectify that. I tend to have a casual, laid-back style of play. You'd typically find me crafting armor rather than running a dungeon in World of Warcraft. I'd rather be exploring the countryside in Vanguard than progressing through raid content. So whether you revel in the idea of throwing me out of my comfort zone or you want to sit next to me on my extra-soft carebear couch, now's your chance to vote. I'll also be livestreaming parts of Choose My Adventure in the coming weeks. Oh yeah -- and you have until Saturday to vote!
Iris Online celebrates its first birthday
Iris Online publisher gPotato has a very optimistic outlook on sharing a birthday with a holiday, saying that "you can either be sad that all your friends are busy doing holiday things or you can throw such a tremendous party that they make time to drop by and visit you!" Of course, the studio is choosing the latter (we still feel for you, people with late-December birthdays) to celebrate Iris Online's first birthday. The celebration begins today and runs until November 26th. For the duration of the festivities, players will be granted experience, skill, and battlefield point boosts. Drop and enhance rates will also be increased, and to top it off, any player who's been part of Iris Online since September will be given a unique costume just for logging in. To get in on the celebration, just head to the game's official site. [Source: Gala-net press release]
Aika's Epic II: Karena goes live, brings final Pran evolution
Aika's Epic II: Karena hit the live servers today, and players are in for a nice surprise along with the previously announced content. Prans -- the players' wee little fairy companions -- will finally be able to reach adulthood, which will grant each Pran two new powerful abilities as well as a stylin' fashion sense (complete with shutter-shades!). And this final transformation happens not a second too soon, as players will need the additional help from their Prans in order to defend the isle of Karena from the evil Zereca. To get in on the new Epic, head on over to Aika's official site, and check out the gallery below for some new shots of the Prans' final forms. [Source: gPotato press release] %Gallery-139783%
Aika's Epic II: Karena coming November 17th
Aika players have a few new treats heading their way on November 17th, as the game will be receiving a new update known as Epic II: Karena. Karena advances the game's story, providing more details on the war between Aika's nations and their enemy the Zereca. It also brings several new game features, such as the eponymous island of Karena. PvP players will find something to love as well, as the Traband's Tower Wars have been updated with a new resource system. To top it all off, the game is introducing a new PvF system. What is PvF, you ask? Player vs. Fish, of course. Players can fish up a variety of aquatic creatures and have them cooked into delicious, buff-granting dishes. To join the fun, head on over to Aika's official site. [Source: Gala-Net press release]
New Flyff expansion grants players a New Beginning
The dust only recently settled on the Flyff World Championship, and Gala Networks Europe has announced a new update coming to the game. The expansion, known as New Beginning, brings a load of new content for European Flyff players. Many of the game's mechanics -- such as the loot system, legendary quests, and the upgrade system -- have been entirely revamped. Meanwhile, three new dungeons are available for players looking to test their mettle, and of course new, powerful rewards for said dungeons will be available. Over 100 new scenario and dungeon quests have been added as well, ensuring that players won't lack things to do. The update will be hitting the French and German servers in December. [Source: Gala Networks Europe press release]
New Rappelz expansion coming in November
Rappelz is five years old this month, and there's no better way to celebrate that milestone than by announcing a new expansion. Gala-Net has done just that, and the company's latest press release says that Epic VII: Ascension will debut in mid-November. The patch will bring about the conclusion of the Epic VII storyline and introduce a new baddie named Vulcanus -- not to mention his "harrowing dungeon of fire." Happily, the new instance is available for players of any level (and at any time), and the level-scaling mechanics will present appropriate challenges and rewards regardless of your character build. We'll have more info on the new expansion as the devs make it available, and in the meantime you can take part in the ongoing anniversary celebration. From now through October 18th, players will enjoy 55% hit- and mana-point boosts to "rip through mob after mob without stopping." [Source: Gala-Net press release]
Allods Online previews the Mausoleum of Sparks
One of the most traditional challenges in video games is having players face off against waves and waves of enemies, testing endurance as well as reaction time. Allods Online is putting forth its own version of this challenge with the upcoming 2.0.6 patch via the Mausoleum of Sparks, and if you can't wait to face off against the gauntlet, the game's development team has put together a preview to help sate your appetite. As explained in the preview, players won't be facing these waves unaided; health bonuses, regeneration bonuses, and other buffs obtainable from the machinery of the arena. However, the resources for upgrading the area are limited, so it'll take strategy to ensure that you can make it through all of the waves in store. There are also rewards for the groups that perform the best in the trial, all giving Allods Online players more incentive to take part in the new challenge.
Flyff World Championship offering prizes to players as the tournament continues
Think you're a pretty good Flyff player? We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but your opportunity to call yourself among the best is pretty well fading. The first Flyff world championship is currently ongoing, with the sixteen finalists now competing for the opportunity to be crowned the best team of players in the world. Two teams have already been eliminated, with livestreaming coverage of the events available on the official championship channel. But maybe you don't consider yourself one of the best in the world and don't usually care about these sorts of events. That's all right -- you've still got reason to enjoy it. Players will receive a special item every day just for logging in, as well as another item for every level they gain, from September 28th until October 31st. It's an all-around excellent opportunity for Flyff fans to enjoy the game, whether struggling for the top spot or just leveling for fun. [Source: Press release]
Celebrate five years of Rappelz starting today
For better or worse, free-to-play games are often seen as having a rather disposable lifespan, with the expectation that they'll be here today and gone tomorrow. And that's certainly true in some cases, but in the case of Rappelz, it's entirely wrong. Not only is the game still running strong, but it's been running for five years, quite a milestone for any game. Fans of the game are likely unsurprised that the game is celebrating in a big way, and that celebration starts today with a video contest and a 55% boost to experience. The experience boost will last until October 5th and is just the tip of the iceberg for a series of events that lead up to the game's true anniversary of November 2nd. Players can also take part in a video contest to show off their in-game pets, with the winners receiving gaming headsets and one grand prize winner getting a free bundle of cash in the game's shop. Rappelz players are going to have a couple of months to enjoy all of the celebrations, so if you've been itching to log back in of late, now is the time. %Gallery-134581%
Allods Online gives players a chance to choose their luck
Luck is fickle. One moment you seem to be hitting a 20% chance for a critical hit every other swing, the next you're lucky if you can avoid missing. But Allods Online is giving the playerbase a chance to change its collective luck through pure will. Well, pure will and a helpful dose of popularity. The Choose Your Lucky Moment event has begun, offering everyone a shot at something bigger and better next week. Currently, there's a poll available with a long list of lucky bonuses, such as increased experience gained from quests and better loot from the Astral. The voting runs until Friday, September 9th. Once the votes have all been tallied, the three bonuses with the highest number of votes will be turned on for the next week on both servers, running from September 10th until September 16th. It might not help you with that string of critical hits, but it's the best chance Allods Online players will have to turn their luck around by choice.
Prius Online goes worldwide
IP restrictions are about as much fun as any sort of restriction -- but they're also a sometimes necessary reality in the world of free-to-play games, where licensing companies frequently only accept players from a limited range of national IPs. But as Prius Online continues its open beta, the development team has decided to go the opposite route and fling the doors wide open, allowing players worldwide to access the game with no restrictions on regions. While that alone would be cause for celebration in some circles, the game has also added five new dungeons worth of content for beta testers to enjoy. There's no word on an official launch date just yet, so Prius Online's open beta testers will have to console themselves with the fact that the game is still in the testing stage even though the item shop is open. But you can log in from anywhere, and isn't that worth something? %Gallery-122493%
