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King of Kings 3 shows off its world-class menagerie
King of Kings 3 recently launched amidst some rather elaborate promises the game may or may not be able to follow up on. (The verdict is out on whether or not it truly is the answer to all our dreams, for instance.) But gamigo's most recent game promises a fair bit of love for a longstanding player favorite: pets. We have a small preview gallery showing off a sample of the variety of pets available in the game, ranging from small helper fairies to class-specific helper pets. There are three basic categories of pets: imamus, class pets, and mounts. Imamus boost both the character's leveling rate and regeneration rate while serving as a remote vendor for unwanted items. Mounts come in a wide variety of flavors while offering players unspecified buffs, and class pets serve as a boon for several classes -- Sword Mages can conjure an animated sword as a companion, while Bishops get a guardian angel. If the description of the pets of King of Kings 3 interests you, take a peek at the gallery for some samples of the companions in action. %Gallery-108152%
More Black Prophecy UI details brought to light
Black Prophecy fans are a patient lot, and in the case of the founder of the Prophecy Nation website, quite enterprising as well. Travis, otherwise known as "Nexiom," has helped fill the void of information about the long-in-development space shooter with an interesting breakdown of the game's interface. In the second installment of a two-part article making use of existing screenshots, he paints a picture of what the free-to-play title's UI probably functions like, all without breaking the beta NDA. The article boasts a healthy complement of images and helpful annotations; it also delivers some interesting insights and speculation. Chief among these are the author's guesstimates as to the functionality of certain buttons (possibly target locking, communications, and trade). Check out the full piece at Prophecy Nation.
Black Prophecy fan finds fun in interface functions
More and more science fiction MMOs are making their way to the market. One of the most highly-anticipated ones is Black Prophecy. This twitch-based, third-person, space sim is currently being developed by free-to-play developer Gamigo. Since the game has entered closed-beta, fans have been itching for news, but Gamigo has not released much news since then. This silence prompted fansite owner Travis "Nexiom" to spend some time examining the user interface of his favorite game. Prophecy Nation decided to help out fans by providing news of its own. Nexiom gathered all the screenshots and videos of Black Prophecy and thoroughly examined each one to piece together an in-depth analysis of the game's user interface. His first entry studies the user interface aboard space stations and the general player menu. This includes the ship/character information, skills, inventory, starmap, and many more display items. Before anyone comments that he is breaking some sort of NDA by posting this information, Nexiom assures us that he is not in the closed beta and all the screenshots were taken from previously released images. Catch all the information over at Prophecy Nation. You are also welcome to sign up for closed beta at the official Black Prophecy website.
Rise and Shiny recap: War of Angels
To continue my investigation into "imported grinders," I have moved on to check out War of Angels, a new game being published by gamigo. I have to say, I found plenty of good stuff and plenty of bad stuff in the game, as well as some of those obvious tiny fixes that will hopefully be undertaken after this open beta. Let's be honest -- an open beta is considered a release these days, and I don't think that's fair. Yes, many games use it (and I have heard developers admit to this) as a way to make money while continuing to roll out basic development, but I say we allow them to just drop the "beta" part and get on with it. As far as the background story: I do not log into a game to memorize the lore. I do not go to the website to write down notes on the lore in the hopes that I will get it right in my first impressions article. Just like any stranger in a strange land, I am not going to know everything right away. It should be no different for me in a game, and one of my litmus tests is to see whether the game will provide me with an understanding of who and where I am. It's not impossible; other games do it. I didn't find much lore in the quests at all, so I cannot comment on it much. But let's talk about how War of Angels plays.
Black Prophecy's clan system outlined in new update
Have you been hungry for more information on Reakktor Media and gamigo's upcoming free-to-play space dogfighter, Black Prophecy? Well then, today's update on clan systems will undoubtedly be welcome news for those of you who can't wait to fly with friends. Some of the mechanics are very familiar, such as a clan leader being able to assign ranks and responsibilities to certain members, as well as the ability for the clan to create their own logo using an in-game editor. Other aspects of the Black Prophecy clan system deal with familiar mechanics turned on their heads -- such as how clan stations will be handled. The word is that players will have to complete faction missions and gather enough resources and members, then they will be able to request their own chunk of space in which to build their clan station. Players will also be able to decide if the station will be opened up to others players in the faction that they're allied with, or if it will be kept for the clan members alone; thus removing any fear of getting your station blown to heck in the middle of a giant PvP clan war. Each station will be comprised of a central command module that will house up to 10 players comfortably, and offer some small vendor aspects. From there, players can add on more modules to their station to not only unlock more room and additional perks, but also more faction missions. Overall, it certainly sounds like an ambitious yet fun system. Check out the shiny new screenshots below, then pop over to the Black Prophecy forums for the specifics on the clan system! %Gallery-94088%
King of Kings 3 launches, and with it, our dreams
"This is the moment online gamers have been waiting for!" gamigo announced today. Didn't you know that you were waiting for something? Sure you did. And apparently that moment was the launch of gamigo's King of Kings 3, which has sailed out of the harbor of beta testing and is now cruising at full speed into open waters. Citing "overwhelming" feedback from the three-month beta process, the studio feels secure in officially releasing this clan warfare MMO. King of Kings 3 is now available to players in North America and Europe, and it is completely free-to-play, according to the official site. The game features three basic classes, nine advanced classes, 90 levels and plenty of minigame love. PvP and clan warfare are the cornerstones of King of Kings 3, as gamers build up their communities, form alliances, fashion kingdoms and duke it out with the hated Other Side. Oh, Other Side, won't you ever learn that you are comprised of 78% weaksauce? If your ego needs a virtual kingdom to prop it up, King of Kings 3 has you covered. You can check out the game and play it for free at the official site.
War of Angels flutters into closed beta
Angels: Always fighting and bickering, am I right? It kind of tarnishes the image of a "perfect angel," what with the flaming swords and constant smiting. Not to mention falling in love with Meg Ryan and renouncing angelhood. We suppose if these shenanigans are going on, someone might as well capitalize on the chaos. Cue gamigo, whose War of Angels is deep into development and has just now crossed into closed beta. This MMO offers players the ability to take wing and fly as angelic warriors. Players can choose between one of four classes and pick sides in an ongoing PvP conflict to control the land. Soaring as high as your dreams is not the only option in this game, as angels' abilities extend to underwater exploration as well. Perhaps the wings work as dorsal fins? War of Angels does not hesitate to appeal to your epeen pride: "Show your opponents that you're not afraid of conflict!" the official website says. Are you afraid? Are you? So unless you're a yellow-bellied chicken, head over and sign up for War of Angels' closed beta.
Black Prophecy wins "Best of Free-to-Play" at Gamescom
Gaming publications Gamestar and GamePro were keeping an interested watch on the happenings at Gamescom last week, and earlier this week they handed out their own round of awards. Gamigo and Reakktor Media received top honors in the free-to-play category for Black Prophecy, beating out several other nominees including Battlestar Galactica Online and Mytheon, another Gamigo game. "We feel quite honored. This award is recognition for all the hard work our team has put in over the past few years," said Kirk Lenke, CEO of Reakktor Media. The full story can be read on Gamestar's site in the original German or an English translation.
Jagged Alliance returning as an MMO
Gamigo and bitComposer Games announced today that they'll be working together to bring the classic title Jagged Alliance into the world of MMOs. Jagged Alliance Online will be a browser-based MMO, and should hold a familiar feel to those who know the game. The developers will be "keeping a popular mixture of tactics, strategy, role-play and management and transferring it to a modern MMO world," according to Gamigo's press release. Players will train and equip mercenaries, form alliances with others, accept timed mission arcs, and more within the game. The official JAO site is in German, and the developers have established a Facebook page as well so English-speaking players can keep up on the game's progression. Jagged Alliance Online is set for launch in 2011.
Gamescom 2010: Reakktor releases new Black Prophecy trailer
Reakktor Media and Gamigo have just released a heart-pounding new Black Prophecy gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2010. The teaser, which clocks in at just under two minutes, is full of fast and furious space combat footage from the upcoming free-to-play MMORPG. In addition to some quick glances in and around various space stations, you'll get a good look at cockpit views, behind-the-ship perspectives, and some interesting shots of the crafting and trading interface. Black Prophecy aims to fill the void in the MMO space-shooter market, and you can learn more about the upcoming title, as well as register for beta, at the official website. Be sure and view the trailer after the cut or via our YouTube portal.
Black Prophecy crafting detailed
If you're looking for a space-based MMO with lots of pew pew and seat-of-the-pants piloting, Black Prophecy is probably already on your radar screen. If you're looking for a space-based MMO that has a bit of crafting complexity, take a second look at the upcoming free-to-play MMO from Reakktor and Gamigo. In addition to modular ship-building, Black Prophecy also features a traditional crafting system for ship and station components. The game boasts three resource types: metal, plasma, and gas. Metals, as you'd expect, make up modules and weapons, whereas plasma serves as the crafter's source of power. Gas is required for high-performance computer production and for the ubiquitous hyperspace drives. All three resources can be salvaged from space junk as well as procured from successful missions. How do you put all these parts together to construct the ultimate interstellar interceptor? With blueprints of course, which are found in the wreckage of old starships. Once blueprints have produced a module, they can't be reused. If crafting fails, however, you get to keep the blueprint (but not the resources) and try again. Finally, Black Prophecy's crafting system will feature optional items called constructors. These units are used during the crafting process to enhance success chances or shorten construction time, and may be modified or repaired by players. %Gallery-98663%
No Martial Empires for North America or Asia [Updated]
Back in April, we gave away 1,000 closed beta keys for Martial Empires, an upcoming MMO from Gamigo. The game intrigued us thanks to interesting little twists like the jackpot system, but it looks like beta is as far as many of us are going to get. Gamigo announced today that Martial Empires will not be accessible outside of Europe after launch due to legal issues -- agreements with the developer prevent it, but no other details are given. The changes will take place at the game's official launch, so if you live outside of Europe and are participating in beta testing, you can continue to do so, for what it's worth. Check out the Martial Empires site for the full announcement. [Update: One of our commenters has found the Martial Empires NA version, and it's going under the name of Seven Souls Online. Thanks for the pointer, BubleFett!]
Mytheon gets EU publisher, shows off new screens and video
With the US launch of Mytheon slated to hit its official launch date of July 13th, and the lawsuit seeming to be a thing of the past, the teams behind Mytheon have been working on trying to send this upcoming free-to-play fantasy MMO across the pond. Well, today we've gotten news that Gamigo will be picking up the overseas publishing while UTV True Games handles the North American servers. Yes indeed -- those across the pond who were waiting to see if they'd have an option to check out Petroglyph's MMO based on various bits of world mythology will get a chance to play as well. To add to this news, they've also released a video and a bundle of new screenshots for people who may not have seen the polish put on Mytheon as it nears launch. EU players can register for the closed beta on the Gamigo site, whereas US players should head over to the UTV True Games site to get in on the action. Meanwhile, as those clients are downloading, don't forget to check behind the break for the video, or click through the gallery below for all the new eye-candy. %Gallery-68215%
Martial Empires enters open beta with new content and screenshots
It's time to extend a thank-you to the closed beta testers of Martial Empires, because they've done their thing and the game is ready for open beta! Open beta brings extensive changes and additions to the game, including improved graphics and character customization. PvP combat has been fine-tuned, there are new display options on the map, and best of all, there is new content. The map has grown quite a bit, and the developers have brought several new regions to the game. Check out the gallery for a look at the newest version of Martial Empires, and then visit the site to check out the open beta! %Gallery-96620%
Online operators avoid balls-up with football trademarks
The last time we saw any statistical data on overall awareness of intellectual property issues, it seemed that awareness of copyright and trademarks was quite appallingly low – and actual accurate knowledge about them was a very rare thing indeed. Surprisingly few people seem to know their way around the don't-do basics, and with record numbers of trademarks being registered in recent years, it is actually nice to see that some online operators have got a firm grip on things this year. Honestly, if you tossed a press release on our collective desk touting your virtual environment or MMOG having items or outfits available in support of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ ... well, it'd probably cause an avalanche of pizza boxes ... but after we got the mess cleared, we'd probably assume that your promotional stuff was littered with unlicensed FIFA trademarks. It's happened before.
E3 2010: A look inside Black Prophecy
One of the games many of us here at Massively have been waiting on for some time has been the upcoming space dogfighter by Reakktor Media, Black Prophecy. Although the game was originally an indie title that was likely going to run on a subscription model, things changed drastically when Gamigo picked up the title and announced they'd be publishing it under a free-to-play model. While this has made some players very hesitant about the game, our time checking it out at E3, and talking to Dennis Hartmann, PR Manager at Gamigo, has made us even hungrier for it to OMG launch already. So if you're curious about just what this upcoming space shoot-em-up F2P title has to offer in terms of mechanics -- or perhaps even surprises -- then join us behind the break as we break down our look at Black Prophecy! Alternatively, if you're more in the mood for eye-candy, we have a handful of screenshots for you to check out in the gallery below. %Gallery-95651%
Black Prophecy enters closed beta
Gamigo and Reakktor Media made an announcement this morning that many fans have been looking forward to: Black Prophecy is entering closed beta. We've been following this game with interest here at Massively, enjoying a hands-on look as well as a series of Q&A sessions with the developers. If you're unfamiliar with Black Prophecy, it's described as a sci-fi space action MMO, and has been getting a fair amount of attention from MMO fans. It looks like the developers are taking things slowly and making sure it's done well: "The focus during the first phase of testing will be on server and program stability." For that reason, this first round of closed beta won't be open to thousands of players -- only about a hundred will make it in and go on to make their attempts at crashing the server. Signups for closed beta are going on now, so head to the signup page if you're interested, and good luck.
Black Prophecy team talks business model, F2P
Reakktor Media's Black Prophecy science fiction MMORPG has been generating a fair amount of fan discussion, and dare we say concern, since announcing a free-to-play business model and a partnership with gamigo last month. In the fourth edition of Reakktor's 'Behind the Scenes' web series on the game, Black Prophecy's Assistant Product Manager Christian 'SnowCrash' Schutt engages gamigo's Patrick Streppel and Reakktor CEO Kirk Lenke in a question and answer session that features community concerns drawn from the official forums. The session delves deep into explanations of the game's business model and also features answers to burning questions regarding a Collector's Edition and post-launch content. "Neglecting to update is the nail in the coffin for any MMOG. We all know that. We've already laid out a roadmap for content patches and add-ons and are starting on its development so players won't have to wait too long for new material," said Lenke. Check out the full session at the official site.
Grab some keys for the closed beta test of Martial Empires!
If you're big on splling the blood of your enemies with flashy moves, then we might have the beta key giveaway for you! Our friends over at Gamigo recently gave us 1,000 beta test keys for their newest MMO, Martial Empires! Martial Empires is their new free-to-play MMO, sporting PvPvE content like Aion crossed with an odd little gambling mechanism called "jackpot." Jackpot allows you to bet special points gained through questing and mob hunting on a mini-game that pays out with special prizes for use in the game. It's luck crossed with the blood of your enemies, so why not give it a go? If you're looking to jump into this closed beta, then follow this link over to our key giveaway page and follow the instructions there. Soon enough, you'll have a Martial Empires account set up and you'll be wreaking havoc like the best of them! But remember, we only have 1,000 keys, so act fast!
Black Prophecy unveils new trailer
Having now secured a publishing and distribution partner for their game, the team at Reakktor Media are working hard, polishing Black Prophecy up to a mirror shine. From what we've seen recently in our hands-on at GDC 2010, things are in excellent shape for the upcoming closed beta. With that said, the Black Prophecy team has released a shiny new video offering a look at the evolution of a couple of different types of ships, some exciting space battles, and even some interior areas -- including what appears to be a fairly wicked chase in a tunnel. If you've been waiting for more, then be sure to check out the trailer after the break, and get signed up for the beta if you haven't already.
