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Black Prophecy patch brings new missions, fixes
Black Prophecy's first monthly patch is here, and today's update brings a bit of new content to the free-to-play sci-fi title -- as well as a number of smaller improvements. The content additions take the form of 10 new missions now available in the game's open sectors, and there are a variety of mission levels ranging from four to 35 according to the patch notes. Aside from that, Reakktor has made a number of performance tweaks, HUD and graphical fixes, and adjustments to everything from damage distribution across ship components to repair kit durability. You can learn more, as well as download the game, at the official website.
Dragon God Resurrection live on King of Kings 3
King of Kings 3 is receiving its newest major expansion patch, giving players a wealth of new content and options for their characters. Titled Dragon God Resurrection, the expansion focuses around players searching for the seven Souls of Original Sin, artifacts that can be forged into powerful weapons and armor. But players who obtain the artifacts still aren't out of the woods -- other players will be notified that one of the Souls has been found, leading to large-scale PvP battles over control of the items. Aside from that new addition, the expansion also features a boost in the level cap to 140 and a new set of specializations to bring the total number of classes to 27. Characters will also be able to adventure through 22 new areas, as well as undergo a transformation into a part-dragon status. King of Kings 3 players can begin enjoying the patch immediately, and we have a small selection of preview screenshots in our gallery below. %Gallery-108152%
Letter to the Black Prophecy community outlines the state of the game
It's been about a month since European players were able to head out to the black... Black Prophecy, that is. American players have been able to sign up for the closed beta, but it's not quite the same as the experience on the live servers. But whether you're in the beta or playing live, the new letter to the community from Patrick Streppel has plenty of interesting information about the current state of the game. As Streppel puts it, while the game is still undergoing major polishing patches, both gamigo and Reakktor Media are confident with the game as a released free-to-play game. The game's first major patch is slated for June and will feature a variety of new endgame elements as well as a new weapon type. Further down the line, the development team wants to enhance the PvP experience to keep the two factions of the game's lore at odds and in conflict. Black Prophecy players and testers alike should read the letter, as it's an interesting look behind the scenes after the first month of launch.
King of Kings 3 Dragon God Resurrection expansion features dragon taming
April is a big month for gamigo's King of Kings 3. The free-to-play fantasy title will be unveiling its first expansion over the next few weeks, and the new Dragon God Resurrection patch looks to add a slew of content to the game. For starters, the level cap is being raised to 140 and a second level of specialization is being unlocked (which will increase the game's class total to 27). Crafting is also being expanded, with the available equipment now scaling to 140 alongside the new level cap. Seven new boss monsters have also been added, and each drops powerful artifacts that players can use to create valuable weapons. Finally, what's a Dragon God Resurrection expansion without dragons? King of Kings 3 has them in spades, including the big nasty boss monster variety as well as tamable dragons that may be used as flying mounts. "Dragon Knights can even raise their own dragons, nurturing a baby dragon into a fully grown flying menace" according to a gamigo press release. The expansion is also adding a good number of new items, quests, and dungeons, and you can read all about it on the game's official website.
One Shots: The shape of things to come
With the NDA down on Black Prophecy and more and more people checking it out all the time, we're surprised we haven't seen more screenshots from this upcoming free-to-play sci-fi spaceship dogfighter mailed in to One Shots! Today's sleek image from Black Prophecy (with minimal UI) comes to us from Erik L., who writes in: "This is a view of the hyperspace chapel Apo Kata, which is one of the early hubs in the game. I think the view is a nice example of this good-looking game. If one just watches the surroundings for a short while, one can see the trails of ships leaving and arriving in the area." If you're taking part in a beta that isn't under NDA, why not beat the crowds and send in some cool screenshots to us? It's easy to do. Gather a few images up and email them to us here at oneshots@massively.com. Be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing in each picture. Your screenshot could be the next one we post on Massively! %Gallery-112285%
Be a part of Black Prophecy's closed beta test with our key giveaway!
Black Prophecy entered North American closed beta testing Wednesday, and we hinted that we just might have some closed beta keys to share with our readers. As it happens, we were telling the truth! We do have a few closed beta keys -- in fact, we have several thousand. Visit our giveaway page to pick yours up, then go to the Black Prophecy site to register. Follow the registration instructions, verify your email, then check your email again for a download link. Once your account is active in Gamigo's account system, visit the Pilot Licensing Terminal (aka. beta page) to enter your beta key. The final step is the easiest: Enjoy the Black Prophecy closed beta!
Black Prophecy North American closed beta begins
It's only been a couple of days since the official European launch of Reakktor's Black Prophecy, but North American fans of the free-to-play sci-fi title have been feeling left out in the cold due to a general lack of availability. Happily, gamigo and Reakktor have posted a news blurb on the game's website officially announcing the start of the North American closed beta. Reakktor also states that the first thousand invites have been sent, with more coming very soon, in addition to beta key giveaways with various gaming press outlets. While there's no word on an official American launch date as of yet, we can tell you that Massively has a few beta keys up our sleeves, so stay tuned for further details. Black Prophecy boasts real-time combat, modular ship design, and a deep crafting component, all married to a state-of-the-art graphics engine and wrapped in an enthralling sci-fi backstory.
Black Prophecy blasts off in Europe today
T-minus three, two, one... and that sound you hear is the latest space-based MMORPG lifting off the launch pad, heading for the stratosphere and the stars beyond. At least, that's what gamigo and Reakktor are hoping when it comes to Black Prophecy, which officially takes a bow in Europe today. Beta characters, clans, and clan sectors will be wiped for the kickoff, and Black Prophecy will initially feature both an English and a German server. Snowcrash (no, not that one) has posted a note informing customers of impending forum downtime and has also let us know that game updates will be available via the launcher application while the launch-day forum restructuring is in progress. "This is not an end. It's a beginning; the foundation is laid and we will now move forward with the continued development of Black Prophecy after its release," says assistant production manager Chris "Snowcrash" Schutt. While you're waiting to log in -- or stuck at work -- check out our coverage roundup after the cut and get caught up on the biggest Black Prophecy news items from the past few months.
Gamigo opens the news floodgates
"Cry havoc, and unleash the titles of war" might as well be gamigo's cry, as today it has seen fit to give us what can only be termed as a new title news explosion. Aside from offering up an interesting tidbit on its upcoming space dogfighter, Black Prophecy, the company has released information on a handful of other new titles that should pique the interest of gamers who are looking for something beyond the standard free-to-play MMO fare. Better still, some of these titles will be available in-browser, helping to open up more "jump in and game" free-to-play options. Grimlands offers something for players who have been waiting for a post-apocalyptic title that promises the ability to evolve their own playstyles -- and cities. UFO Online: Fight for Earth features a tactics-heavy browser-based MMO environment where players will battle against each other and enemy NPCs in a world overrun with gobsmackingly enormous amounts of aliens. Magic Campus offers adventure in a turn-based world where players build a powerful cadre of pets and mentor others in the ways of magic -- all in their browsers. Sound intriguing? Join us behind the break for a first look at screenshots and video from these upcoming gamigo titles!
Dreamlords: Resurrection launches, Paradox offering free ducats
MMORTS gamers have reason to celebrate, as Paradox Interactive has announced the (latest) launch of its free-to-play Dreamlords title. A German version of the game was published by gamigo in 2007, while a North American version originally debuted in the summer of 2008 under the name Dreamlords the Reawakening. This time around, Paradox is calling it Dreamlords: Resurrection, and the company is also giving away 1000 Paradox ducats (the game's item shop currency) to anyone and everyone who signs up. Dreamlords: Resurrection was developed by Lockpick Entertainment and puts the player in the role of a titular guardian and tasks him with inspiring followers, building an army, and engaging in various defend-and-conquer excursions against the Nightmares that roam the world. The game features cooperative PvE play where the player can team up with other Dreamlords, as well as fast-paced PvP combat and RTS staples such as troop and technology research. Paradox has released a new gameplay trailer to celebrate the Dreamlords launch, and you can view it after the cut.
Black Prophecy throws a European open beta shindig
Put up or shut up. Lock and load. Light the fires and kick the tires. Warp speed now, mister! Whatever phrase gets you in the mood for some good ol' fashioned space dogfighting, dust it off and get it ready for use. Gamigo's announced that Black Prophecy has launched its open beta for European participants. While Black Prophecy has been in closed beta in both North America and Europe, this new phase of testing represents the first time the game's been available to everyone. In anticipation for the rush to check it out, gamigo's opened two open beta servers in Europe: Kemmura (English) and Shinava (German). To help new pilots get settled into the war, gamigo's provided a starting guide on the community forums with information about setting up an account, how to play, and how to post bug reports. With the NDA down and the open beta starting, Black Prophecy's launch hopefully isn't far away. In the meanwhile, check out our first impressions of the game, and let us know what you think when you give it a whirl!
gamigo's Golfstar MMO tees off
Free-to-play publisher gamigo has added a sports title to its MMO roster in the form of Golfstar, a new title that officially teed off earlier today. Golfstar features five game modes (stroke, match, skins, tournament, and team tournament) and allows for up to 30 players to compete simultaneously on a single course. The game also features a progression element in the form of outfit and accessory collecting, and your virtual golfer can procure clubs, clothing, and a variety of "practical accessories that will make playing easier" according to a gamigo press release. Head to the official Golfstar website for further details, and check out the gameplay video we've got for you after the cut.
gamigo announces new Elements of War MMORTS
There's a new MMORTS in the works from gamigo, and the upcoming Elements of War Online looks to give players the opportunity to take part in an invasion of the United States carried out by a coalition of Russian and European forces. The game features eight-player (4 vs. 4) matches and requires a mixture of strategy, tactical prowess, and teamwork to control various sectors of a battle map set in the war-torn continental United States. Player commanders choose and train their units to create the ultimate army, and can even make use of "experimental element weapons such as artificial tornados and storms [that] can make or break a battle," according to a gamigo press release. Beta testing for Elements of War will kick off this quarter, and the game will feature 50 unique battle zones, 16 maps, two playable factions, 31 unit types per side, and destructible environments.
A catastrophe waiting to happen: Martial Empires expands
The Cataclysm may have passed, but we still have a catastrophe to survive. The Catastrophe of Babylon, Martial Empires' newest expansion, is slated to arrive at the end of the month. Gamigo's free-to-play martial arts MMO already offers all the kung fu action you can handle, but now it will be fleshed out with much-anticipated (and needed) additions. One of the biggest features on Babylon's plate is the implementation of the long-awaited guild wars. High-level guilds will finally be able to go head-to-head with each other in brutal guild battles. Victorious guilds will be showered with long-term buffs and plenty of gold, which should be enough incentive for truly competitive fights. Babylon will also overhaul Martial Empires' graphics with a new rendering engine, and many of the monsters will be given makeovers to fit in better and boost their self-esteem. Players can anticipate exploring a number of additional dungeons in Babylon as well. Gamigo plans to hold an event to award access to the test servers for The Catastrophe of Babylon in the near future.
Gamigo buys Black Prophecy, buys into Reakktor Media
When it comes to free-to-play games, we don't often see the licensing companies buying titles outright. Normally, we're prone to seeing licensing agreements until a game has launched or when two companies have a history of working together quite a lot. Nonetheless, today gamigo proved that it really believes in how much players are going to enjoy its upcoming space dogfighter, Black Prophecy, by buying all rights and trademarks related to the game from Reakktor Media. The other interesting piece of news is that at the same time as the Black Prophecy acquisition, gamigo also opted to pick up nearly 20% of Reakktor Media. All remaining shares of Reakktor Media remain under the control of the company's CEO, Kirk Lenke, which effectively puts all development control moving forward between Reakktor and gamigo. If you really don't care about corporate merges and buyouts, then there's still a nugget of news to be gleaned for you. In amongst all the happy congratulations and notes about how this will make things better and easier for the two companies was a note that we should "[look] forward to seeing Black Prophecy go live in the very near future." (Emphasis theirs.) Whether it will simply mark open beta or something more, we'll have to wait and see.
MV Guide: January 24th - 31st
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel. Every week the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers. Are you worried about missing out due to your schedule? Don't be, because we'll be Livestreaming at various times during the afternoon and evening both weekdays and weekends, so you're sure to find something great up and running at a good time! If you miss a Livestream, we've got you covered there too! Just check out the "latest videos" section of our channel to find past Livestream events to view at your leisure. We've got several of our regular games on this week's schedule, along with some newcomers. Do you have a game you'd love to see on our Livestream channel? Let us know in the comments section. For now, if you're looking to check out some new games or see your favorite game from a new perspective, follow along after the cut for this week's installment of MV Guide!
Video shows off voicework in Black Prophecy
As every day passes, more and more people are joining the Black Prophecy beta testing. Slowly, the localizations are being smoothed out, and even more goodies are being added into this hotly anticipated sci-fi space dogfighter MMO. For those of you who haven't quite made it in as yet, as well as those who have but are curious about the nuts-and-bolts, Gamigo and Reakktor Media have released a video today that offers an interesting look at ongoing behind-the-scenes production. In this video, we take a trip to Periscope Studios and T-Recs Studios to watch just a little bit of how the voicework is done. Along with that, we're treated to a look at just how they get the voice to match the mouth animations of the NPCs without it looking completely silly or taking obnoxious amounts of time. Whether this upcoming free-to-play game is on your personal radar or you're more the type who is fascinated with the overall industry, it's a video worth spending a few minutes of your life to check out. We've embedded this new behind-the-scenes video after the break for your viewing pleasure.
MV Guide: January 17 - 24, 2011
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel. Every week the Massively staff will be logging in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We'll have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers. Are you worried about missing out due to your schedule? Don't be, because we'll be Livestreaming at various times during the afternoon and evening both weekdays and weekends, so you're sure to find something great up and running at a good time! If you miss a Livestream, we've got you covered there too! Just check out the "latest videos" section of our channel to find past Livestream events to view at your leisure. We've got several of our regular games on this week's schedule, along with some newcomers. Do you have a game you'd love to see on our Livestream channel? Let us know in the comments section. For now, if you're looking to check out some new games or see your favorite game from a new perspective, follow along after the cut for this week's installment of MV Guide!
Black Prophecy drops NDA, gears up for open beta
Have you been dreaming of the day when you could fly through space and shoot folks down, dogfighter-style? Did you think that the best part of Star Wars Galaxies was the Jump To Lightspeed addition? Well, if that's the case, then you're in for a treat as the NDA has finally been lifted on Reakktor Media's space battletastic MMO, Black Prophecy. As of today, all players are allowed to post screenshots, videos, and talk about everything they've seen in the last several months of testing since Black Prophecy was picked up by gamigo and worked into its current incarnation as a free-to-play game. Also of note is that all of the beta forums for the game are wide open as well, giving curious folks a chance to sift through all the threads there for an inkling of how the game has been progressing, and what players can expect. We here at Massively will be publishing our own first impressions and gallery in the coming days -- and there will undoubtedly be a livecast in the mix for those curious to see it in action. If you still haven't made it into the closed beta, never fear: Open beta is expected to begin sometime in the first part of 2011, which isn't too far away. If you did make it in to this stellar shooter beta, feel free to drop your thoughts about the game in the comments below!
Head into the Leviathan's Nest with Fiesta Online's latest expansion
Fear not the Leviathan, my gaming brothers and sisters! While his power is great, his wrath mighty, and his breath most foul, only brave heroes like you can stop his reign of terror once and for all! Fiesta Online has cracked open the doors of the Leviathan's Nest, the newest expansion to the game. Players daring enough to explore the hazard-filled dungeon will find the titular beast as well as two additional boss monsters who are just crashing at his pad for the time being. Once the Nest has been cleared out, a bounty of new armor sets and weapons will shower down on the heads of the victorious. So, y'know, watch out for falling swords and plate armor. If you want to give the Leviathan's Nest a go, head on over to Fiesta Online and see who's the boss of whom, and be sure to peruse the dungeon gallery below. %Gallery-108290%
