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One Shots: In over your head
If you've been around Massively for any length of time, you'll know we love to hook our readers up with beta keys. Aside from the glow of knowing we've netted people some free fun, we occasionally get readers who send in their screenshots to One Shots, so we all get to check out some different views of the world. Today's screenshot from Aika, gPotato's PvP-centric free-to-play game, is just one such example. It comes to us from Massively reader Cainineteeth, who writes in: I love you guys for getting the beta keys. For not reading the quest log and running through a massive void with monsters way over my level, I was rewarded with this. Hopefully you didn't land an enormous repair bill and a quick trip to the nearest respawn point too!We love to see what players are enjoying, but we can't do that unless you send your screenshots in to us. It's easy to do! Just email them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post it out here and give you the nod for sending it in. %Gallery-85937%%Gallery-9798%
One Shots: Off into the wild blue yonder
As you're reading this, the servers for Allods Online are coming online for the 'soft' launch of the game. In terms of free-to-play MMOs, this Russian game developed by Astrum Nival and being released by gPotato has been gathering a lot of interest from players looking for something casual and fun that still has some depth and a more traditional Western feel. For today, we have this great screenshot and a huge note from Leonard E. who played Allods Online during closed beta and wanted to share his thoughts. As such, we'll turn it over to him after reminding you to send in your MMO screenshots to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a brief description. For now, on with Leonard's note; be sure to read the rest of it behind the break! I've been playing since CB3. and my character's name is Aselin. This is myself waiting for the ship to come by, and what caught my eye is how vast Allods space is. It gives that same feeling I had when I first played EVE Online. You can get an immediate sense on how much more you can do in this game. %Gallery-85937%%Gallery-9798%
Allods Online launches into open beta
The time for Gibberling butt-kicking fun is upon us! Today, Allods Online launches into open beta in both the US and the EU, bringing with it the glad news that there will be no more character wipes before launch. Players using the American servers who were in closed beta will need to download a small patch for their launchers to make them compatible with the open beta client. Those playing on the EU servers can just load the closed beta launcher and patch straight away. The servers are set to open up at 11 AM Pacific time (2 PM Eastern) today. In addition to that, players in the EU from closed beta whose characters reached at least level 17 will have first dibs on their CB names, and EU guilds of 24+ members will similarly have their names held for the first part of open beta. With that said, any names that are unclaimed by March 17th will be released back into the naming pool. No word currently on whether or not the naming nod will be carried across to the US servers as well. So if you've been on the fence about checking out Allods Online because you didn't want to put time and effort into a character that would be wiped, now is a great time to jump in and get your free-to-play on!
Aika dates second stage of closed beta testing
There's been some buzz surrounding the upcoming free-to-play title Aika, a large-scale PvP game with some interesting features (which turn normally mature bloggers into immature children due to pronunciation, but that's not the point.) The game's first closed beta went fairly well, and as a result a second phase is planned, running from February 24th through March 2nd. It's not a long test phase, but it's going to bring several elements into the game that weren't available during the first phase. Full-scale castle sieges are one of the major additions to this part of testing, allowing players to take control of the heart of the game's five nations. Similar to the setup of Lineage II's sieges, the leader of the victorious guild will attain the title of Lord Marshal and be responsible for coordinating further attacks for dominance. The PvP isn't all that's being stirred up, however -- more solo areas and content will be added throughout the world, ranging from the crags of Mt. Hessian to the snake-filled Tabazra desert to the city of Cirrugor nestled high among the clouds. The game certainly seems on-track for its projected "official" launch in the spring. Aika fans will want to keep a close eye on the game as it prepares for the full opening, and definitely should get ready to register for their entry into the second closed beta test.
Newest Rappelz expansion launches February 24th
gPotato's free-to-play MMO Rappelz is getting a new expansion. Resurrection launches February 24th, bringing with it an old familiar face, new pets, and more. Players will be familiar with the character at the center of this newest storyline. The Witch is the central villain in the main storyline of Rappelz, and Resurrection explores her beginnings as a young girl with mysterious powers. Players will journey to discover the truth behind the Witch, but they won't be doing it alone. This expansion also introduces three new pets to tame: the Unicorn, Nightmare, and Ifrit. Each pet provides specific benefits to its owner: the Unicorn offers a variety of buffs, the Nightmare is a heavily armored creature that can often absorb damage targeted at its master, and the Ifrit is a magical creature that heals its owner as well as dealing damage to enemies. These aren't the only updates that Resurrection will bring to Rappelz. Check out the new Resurrection page at the Rappelz site for changes coming to character creation, PvP, quests, and more.
Aika launches PvP Domination tournament in closed beta
If you were one of the people lucky enough to get into one of our two Aika beta key giveaways, you've probably been enjoying the chance to see what the most recently announced title from gPotato has to offer. The promise of large-scale PvP always gets people excited, after all, and it doesn't hurt that the game has a very polished and stylish look to it. But the real question is how the PvP will play out... which is why it should come as no surprise that the developers are taking the opportunity during the closed beta to host a domination tournament for the players. Four guilds from each nation will be set against their fellows in a winner-take all elimination match. The process is simple -- players should send a private message to the GM Lingo with their guild name and the number of members. The four largest guilds will be notified and set to begin the tournament on Monday, February 8th at 5:00 PM PST (8:00 PM EST). Each guild will pick out six of its finest members to be sent out as champions, and the tournament will last through both Monday and Tuesday evening. If you're in Aika's closed beta, there's still time to enter, so get your guild together and get ready for the event!
Massively's Aika closed beta key giveaway: Round two
With the speed at which our beta keys vanished in last week's giveaway, the good people at Aika Online were happy to give us 5,000 more keys for the Massively readers to get their hands on. As we mentioned last week, Aika is a large-scale PvP-centric MMO where nations fight against each other with castle sieges and customized battlegrounds. All of this while supporting 2,000 players in the same battle. If you didn't get your chance to grab a key last week, head on over to our giveaway page for a shiny new code. From there, you can register at aika.gpotato.com and download the client straight from the website. At the rate this game is gaining popularity, you can bet we'll be checking this one out ourselves, with our first impressions coming soon.
One Shots: One of these things is not like the others
Just when we thought we'd seen it all, it would appear that Aika has added an interesting animal into their beta mix. But these aren't your slide-on-their-belly Happy Feet kind of penguins. No, it would seem that this penguin has a lust for battle and glory. At least, one might certainly think that when looking at the stout fellow in the screenshot above! Today's Aika beta screenshot was sent in to us by Jacob J, who writes in: [Here's a] fun vanity shot. I like the dramatic lighting -- and the graphics really aren't all that bad for a F2P. I have no idea if they can actually manage PvP on the massive scale they're boasting (1000 players plus), but I'd like to see them try. Yes, that's an adorable little penguin-man with a skull on his head. Have you spotted something in your favorite MMO that made you stop and stare? Well, why not grab a screenshot of it and send it our way! Our One Shots mailbox can be reached at oneshots AT massively DOT com -- be sure to include your name, the name of the game, and a description too. We'll get it set up and post it out here for everyone to enjoy, thanks to you. %Gallery-9798%
Community Q&A: Ask Allods Online
Allods Online has just announced an extension to its fourth closed beta testing, with an open beta looming on the horizon. We've been giving the game some healthy coverage since it entered the early beta stages, and we're always excited to interact with the developers and publishers whenever we can. But now it's your turn! As with our previous Community Q&As, we want to hear from our readers on the pressing questions you have for the developers. Whether you've been enjoying your time in the game or not, we want to know what you'd like answered. So if you'd like your question considered, simply leave a question as a comment on this post by Monday, February 8th at 8am EST. Or, if you'd feel more comfortable with email, send one off to me at shawn at massively dot com. We'll gather up the questions and send the best off to the Allods team for the answers. Once we get the answers back, we'll post them here for all to see. Please remember to keep your questions respectful and your criticisms constructive. Beyond that, have at it!
Dragonica launches new low-level dungeon
European Dragonica fans will soon find a little more to do in the early stages of the game. On February 4th, Dragonica will launch the Temple of Water. The dungeon will be open and accessible to all players, but geared specifically toward those in the level 26-30 range. The Temple of Water is a name well known to the residents of Port of the Winds, but disturbing changes are being made recently. The once friendly water spirit Endairon has cut off communication, and strange water creatures have been seen near the Temple. Lord Steven is concerned, and asks that you look into the matter. If you're a higher level player looking for a challenge, sit tight. A few weeks after the Temple of Water opens, Dragonica will be reopening the Drakos Dungeon, an area designed for players level 58-65. Either way, you'll want to make sure you explore both areas -- you may find some surprising connections between the two. Good luck!
Massively's Aika Online closed beta key giveaway
Today we're happy to present a brand new closed beta key giveaway for the upcoming fantasy MMO Aika Online. Developed by the makers of Neo Steam and published by Gala-Net, Inc., Aika Online is described as a PvP-centric, large-scale MMO where nations fight against each other with castle sieges and customized battlegrounds. The game engine has been developed to support 2,000 simultaneous players (1,000 vs. 1,000) in a single, real-time battlefield, which Gala-Net describes as a remarkable technical achievement. If Aika Online sounds like something you'd like to check out, head on over to our giveaway page to grab yourself one of our 5,000 closed beta keys we have available. From there, you can register at aika.gpotato.com and download the client later today from the website. Keep in mind that this North American closed beta doesn't begin until February 3rd, when you'll be able to enjoy five nations, all six classes and levels 1 through 30.
Allods Online Closed Beta Test 4 key giveaway
Today marks the start of something very special for fans and players of Allods Online: Closed Beta Test 4. This stage of beta brings a raised level cap to 40, seven new contested zones, new instances, raids, Goblinball and Astral Ships. This all begins today at 11am PDT and runs until February 3, 2010. But the best part is, we have 5,000 keys for you! To grab one for yourself, head on over to our giveaway page, click the key claim button at the bottom and copy your key. From there you'll head over to the official Allods Online website to redeem your key and download the client. While your client is downloading, check out our pre-release developer tour of the new zones and Astral Ships, including a comprehensive video. Please note that if you've already acquired a key in previous stages of beta, you will not need one now. Good luck!
Exclusive Allods Online dev tour: Astral Ships and the end game explained
Earlier this week, the team at Allods Online were kind enough to sit down and walk me through some of the highest-level areas in the game. Knowing that I'm already an avid fan of the game, it was exciting for us both to "talk shop" for a bit. It was especially exciting to see some features of the end game that not too many North American players have seen up to this point. Of course, I'm talking about Astral Ships and the end game. With Closed Beta Test 4 arriving this coming Tuesday, January 19th, high-level players will finally be able to see real Astral Ship combat and how it all works. This article is meant to prepare you for the awesomeness and hopefully answer some questions you may have next week and into launch. Follow along after the jump for our complete write-up, a gallery of screenshots we took during the tour and a video to fully capture the epic win.%Gallery-83082%
An interview with Allods Online: CBT4 and beyond
Allods Online has certainly gained some interest in the last few months since their closed beta began. Even if you've never played the game, you can't help but drool over the screenshots and videos we've been posting. So what's the secret to their preliminary success? We contacted Darren Allarde, Associate Producer for Gala-Net Inc., and asked him a few questions. Okay, so we asked him more than a few, but we can't help it if we're excited to learn more about this amazing game! We learn why there is no mini-map, when mounts will be implemented, what Closed Beta Test 4 will bring and much more. Part one of this interview can be found after the jump below, with a second part coming soon.
One Shots: A visit to the capitol
One of the names we keep hearing in terms of community buzz amongst the free-to-play titles heading for the market is Allods Online. People are comparing it to World of Warcraft, and with screenshots like the one above, we can understand why. The art, while not exact, is certainly very similar. The developers of Allods Online, Astrum Nival, have apparently taken the "if you can't beat them, join them" approach. We'll have to wait and see if it works. For now, we have this screenshot to enjoy, along with a note sent in to us from Pedro R. who writes in: [This is a] view of the main plaza from the League capital city. This game really has amazing graphics and [a] great storyline.Are you really enjoying a new title, particularly one we perhaps haven't had a chance to see as yet? Why not take a screenshot of something interesting and send it in to us? You can reach us at oneshots AT massively DOT com -- and be sure to send along your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. We'll post it out here and give you the credit! %Gallery-9798%
Top 10 tips for Allods Online
Saylah from the Mystic Worlds blog is one of the many enthusiastic closed beta testers for Allods Online, and is making the most of her experience by learning as much about the game as she can. She's on her eighth character, having rerolled several times to learn the classes, and has provided a great rundown of the game so far, including the extremely useful "Top Tips for Playing Allods." Her list of ways to better enjoy your time in Allods runs the gamut from very general (take time to smell the roses -- explore the world) to the very specific (what gear kits to buy and where to buy them.) If you are a current closed beta participant and have not read through this list yet, you definitely want to. Even if you aren't in the game yet, Saylah's post is a nice starting point for anyone considering playing -- it gives a good feel for the game overall and is worth bookmarking for the day you venture into Allods.
Exploring PvP in Allods Online
Allods Online, the upcoming game from gPotato has turned out to be wildly popular, hitting the ground running even in Closed Beta Test 1. They're now into Closed Beta Test 3, and while there is still lots of progress to be made (that's kind of the point of beta testing), most beta test players are having a great time exploring and learning. Keen from Keen and Graev's Gaming Blog has been enjoying his beta experiences, and this week he got a taste of PvP in the Holy Lands. The first blog entry, posted Friday, shares some coverage of his PvP playtime. It's a great read, explaining how the PvE and PvP experiences intermingle, with the PvE quests taking you into the fully PvP Holy Lands as well as sharing some new thoughts on stats. Saturday's entry continued the adventure as Keen got the lay of the land a bit, scoring his first significant PvP win. The short version is this: The Holy Lands are hard. You're going to get smacked around, mostly by other players. If you are up for a challenge you need to check this area out, but not without reading through Keen's blog entries first.
One Shots: Necrosteampunkanomicon
digg_url = 'http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/31/one-shots-necrosteampunkanomicon/'; While many feel that Allods Online is teetering close to World of Warcraft in the art department, we'd like to note that while glowy green stuff was definitely present in the hometown of the Forsaken, you didn't really find characters that looked like the guy above. To our eyes, he looks rather like some weird undead steampunk Terminator thing -- kind of a scary idea in and of itself! Today's Allods Online image comes to us from Jason B. who writes in: Gotta love mechanized undead. Here's my Arisen Occultist from the Allods Online beta hanging out in the Imperial Square in Nezebgrad. Long live the Empire! Screenshots from large MMOs to small -- we want them all! Just email those snaps in to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. Please make sure your images are at least 1024px across, and have largely no UI elements visible. We'll post them out here and give you the credit for mailing them in! %Gallery-9798%
Allods Online gears up for Closed Beta Test 3 with preview articles
The third closed beta for Allods Online starts tomorrow, which might seem like quite a ways off if you're one of the many people anticipating the game (or one of the winners of our recent beta key giveaway). Even if you weren't lucky enough to get into the beta testing, you can still be excited about the game and hungry for more information. As part of the ramp-up for this test, Astrum Nival and gPotato have posted a series of previews of the look and lore of some of the areas in the game. Starting with the dusty wasteland of the Orcish homeland (complete with Goblinball field) and the elven land of Tenebra, the preview moves on to contested territories and dungeons. Asee-Teph, one of the first contested areas, seems to have more than a few factional artillery pieces in place across this jungle-like area. Following that is Eljune, which seems to be the border between forest and tundra, as well as home to demons and ruins. The previews also include a handful of dungeons: the dark and forbidding Castle Blight, the industrial Lab Thirteen overrun with giant insects, and the ethereally gothic Darkblood Citadel. Allods Online has been generating some impressed reactions, and these previews help show why, even if it's only showing the impressive visuals.
Massively's third closed beta key giveaway for Allods Online
Allods Online's third closed beta test is about to start, and we want to make sure you're prepared. With 5,000 keys to give out this time, more Massively readers will get their chance to see what the buzz is all about. This stage of closed beta will run from December 29th to January 11th and open up the level cap to 30. New content includes World PvP, four new zones, four new instances and approximately 500 new quests. Of course this is all in addition to all the content we've enjoyed in the first two closed beta tests. If you'd like to grab a key for yourself, head over to our giveaway page and follow the directions there. Since this giveaway is for the North American version of the game, you'll need to head over to allods.gpotato.com to redeem your key and download the game. Again, this beta won't open up until December 29th, but this will give you plenty of time to prepare! If you have a key from a previous beta stage, you don't need to grab another one this time; you're already set.
