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World of Tanks kicks off European and North American open beta
Wargaming.net has sounded the death knell for World of Tanks' closed beta, and the development team is putting on its game face as the free-to-play heavy-armor MMO rolls ever closer to release. The title's open beta is officially er... open, and the devs are inviting anyone and everyone to strap on a few tons of steel and participate. Registration is dependent upon your region, so make sure you visit the appropriate link (one for Europe and one for America) to sign up. "We want to thank all those players who participated in the closed beta test and helped us make the game open to a bigger audience by reporting bugs and providing valuable feedback. Now it's time for us to further enhance and polish the game before its final release," says Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi via press release. Learn more about World of Tanks at the official website, and don't forget to check out the new screenshots below as well as the open beta launch trailer after the jump. %Gallery-96260%
Battle gets elemental in Dynasty Warriors Online
Historical hack-and-slash isn't just for the movies any more! Now, along with hacking through wide swaths of enemies in Dynasty Warriors Online, players can add some insult to injury by using special elemental abilities. Why would you want to do that? Well, so you can do mean and nasty things like setting people on fire, as we see above. Just imagine -- roast DOTted mob. Mmm, festive! Mind you, you're not restricted to only using fire; you can opt to kill your enemies using other elemental attacks instead! Ice grants the ability to freeze enemies into blocks of ice as a means of crowd control. Lightning allows players to zap enemies, stunning them so you can chain together huge damage combos. Wind offers crowd control in the form of knockbacks, allowing you to focus damage on one targeted group at a time rather than getting swamped. Finally, there's void power, which offers the ability to negate opponents' armor and drive home pure butt-kicking damage. For those curious about what the elemental attacks look like, we've gathered a handful of screenshots in our Dynasty Warriors Online gallery for you, or you can pop over to the Aeria Games site and sign up for some hack-and-slash elemental free-to-play fun of your own! %Gallery-99390%
World of Tanks releases two new maps
Wargaming.net's World of Tanks MMO keeps rolling right along, as the development studio announced the release of two new battle maps earlier today. The World War II-based action title features a plethora of historically accurate tanks for players to collect and control and, thanks to the update, also features the Komarin and Cliff locales. Komarin is a small Eastern European village and Cliff is inspired by the shorelines and rock formations of the infamous Normandy coast. Nick Katselapov, Wargaming.net producer, is excited about the new maps and their tactical gameplay possibiliies. "[These] maps will encourage players to apply even more teamwork and cooperation because they require a totally different tactical approach than any battlefields that World of Tanks has had to offer so far," he said in a press release. If you're wondering where you can get a piece of this heavily armored action, head over to the game's official website and enlist in the closed beta.
New Heroes of Three Kingdoms trailer introduces Miao race
Heroes of Three Kingdoms, a new free-to-play MMORPG based on the lore and legends of ancient China, is on display in the latest game trailer from Perfect World Entertainment. The video shows off the game's sumptuous visuals, not to mention a sizable helping of its 18 classes (including the ever-intriguing Ringblade). Also of note is the introduction of a new race, the Miao, nomadic barbarian warriors who live off the land in the southwestern reaches of the Yizhou province. The trailer is also heavy on in-game combat footage, showing a number of classes in action across varying locales, as well as what looks to be cinematics centering on the Battle of Redcliff. You can view the trailer after the jump, and don't forget to sign up for beta on the game's official website.
The Friday Livestream: Dynasty Warriors Online... er... FFXIV [Updated]
Yes, that's right dear readers, it's another edition of the Friday Livestream! It's almost time for the weekend, and that means it's time for us to get down and enjoy another MMO. Tonight we're going to give Dynasty Warriors Online a try, because I've always had a soft spot for the Dynasty Warriors series. Sure, the games are horribly repetitive and always occur in the same timeline with the same battles in every iteration, but there's just something really satisfying about walking into a battle and taking on a whole army by yourself. It's just an amusing amount of fun. Oh, and did I mention we're giving out beta keys to the game? Yeah, you should totally get in on that. So, if you want to check out the action of DWO, hit the "read more" button below or click the picture above. Either way, you'll be taken to our livestream of the game, or you could visit us at http://www.livestream.com/massivelytv and join in on the live chat too! [Update: Well that was interesting. Instead of DWO, we did World of Warcraft: Cataclysm and Final Fantasy XIV! The video is, as always, after the break for those who missed the stream!]
Community Detective, Issue #9: Pirates of the Burning Sea
Yarr! Hmm, not really. YARRRRRRR! That's a little better. Ahoy, mateys. Talk Like a Pirate Day may be over, but that isn't stopping me from navigating the rough waters of Flying Lab Software's Pirates of the Burning Sea for this week's issue of Community Detective. The game's a fair bit of fun, and since it recently joined the F2P bandwagon that all the cool kids are jumping on these days, it's likely to become more popular in the near future. As such, much like I did with Turbine's Lord of the Rings Online, I wanted to get a look at the game's community and customer service apparatus both before and after the payment model switcheroo. So how are the social aspects of the SOE-published title shaping up? Well, the customer service is pretty spot on. The community? Well, I'll be kind (for now) and simply say that it leaves a little something to be desired. Sail past the cut to learn more.
Tear through mobs galore in Dynasty Warriors Online
Had a frustrating day? Just in the mood to feel obscenely powerful? Like lots of hack-and-slash? If you answered yes to any of those questions, then we've got an MMO you'll want to keep an eye on. The newest update from Dynasty Warriors Online features a preview video chock-full of crazy fighting action. We're not just talking interesting moves, here -- we mean these weapons seem to cut through mobs like a freakin' lawnmower. Dynasty Warriors Online from Tecmo Koei and Aeria Games offers lots of old-school weapons like nun-chucks and staves, as well as more imaginative weapons like the Beast Gauntlets. Giant swords, maces, and axes feature in the action too, if you prefer something a bit larger-than-life. Sound like your kind of stress-release game? After you've checked out the screenshots below and the video behind the break, head on over to the shiny new Dynasty Warriors site to sign up for beta. Gratuitous slaughter awaits! %Gallery-99390%
The Daily Grind: New worlds to explore
Fantasy? Check. Science fiction? Not quite as many, but check. Historical? There are a few out there, maybe of dubious historical authenticity, but at least lacking orcs, magic, and ray guns (all of which are good enough for another check). If you haven't noticed, I'm making a checklist of MMORPG settings, and here is where I need your help. You see, after the aforementioned big three, I'm all out of ideas. Personally I don't think any of those noted above have been done exactly right, so I'm always up for new takes on any or all of them. That said, are there any settings or genres you feel would make a fantastic MMORPG (or at least, one that would feel semi-original)? Steampunk? Western? Real-life? What say you Massively readers?
A Tale in the Desert launches Tale 5 today
For all that the MMO industry is occasionally decried as being a large gathering of copycats, there are some interesting outliers amidst a field of fantasy kill-fests. A Tale in the Desert is a prime example -- set in ancient Egypt, with a focus on character interaction and nonviolent problem resolution, it's really in a class of its own. And with the new installment of the game launching today, it's the perfect time for players who aren't familiar with the game to start mingling with newcomers. The fourth installment wrapped up in July, which makes for a quick turnaround into the newest iteration. Unlike many other games in the genre, A Tale in the Desert runs for a while, then rests and starts over with new systems in place. This installment is featuring new Foraging and Aquaculture mechanics, allowing new ways to harvest plants and the ability to grow papyrus. The game is free for the first 24 hours of play, and each iteration tends to last for around six months. If the idea of a combat-free, crafting-focused game appeals to you, now would be the perfect time to head out into the lands of the Pharaoh.
Players get to start placing objects in WWII Online: Battlefield Europe
WWII Online: Battlefield Europe is getting a bit long in the tooth, but that certainly hasn't meant development has ceased on the game. Quite the opposite, in fact -- the old-school MMOFPS has recently rolled out a massive patch aimed at a system-wide overhaul, one that we had a chance to talk with the development team about, and they're going even further with new additions via player-placed objects. Referred to as PPOs for short, the objects will allow characters to start altering the landscape they're fighting in via new temporary structures. It started with the addition of a Field Reinforcement Unit -- essentially a stationary version of the game's trucks, useful for reinforcements and freeing up the actual trucks for other tasks. With all the coding that went into making that function, it was a short step to making PPOs that allow infantry to reinforce their position via cover and temporary shielding. The full rundown of the feature, including a loose idea of what benefits will be provided (albeit without hard numbers) can be found here, which should provide many happy dreams for players of WWII Online: Battlefield Europe.
Heroes of Three Kingdoms closed beta announced
Perfect World Entertainment has announced that their forthcoming historical MMORPG, Heroes of Three Kingdoms, will enter closed beta on July 13th. In a press release from earlier today, the company revealed more details about the ambitious title that looks to allow players to participate in (and even change the course of) one of China's most famous historical battles. "Heroes of Three Kingdoms is one of our most anticipated games to date and we're very excited to be launching the closed beta in North America in less than two weeks, says A.J. Potter, Product Manager. "The legend [of the Battle of Red Cliff] is one that resonates throughout history -- Heroes of Three Kingdoms brings to life one of the most turbulent periods in history." Check out the official website to sign up for closed beta testing.
Touring the battlefield of Kingdom Heroes
I was very excited when I was invited to take a tour of the new MMORPG Kingdom Heroes, made by Aeria Games, one of my favorite publishers. When I first read the details of the game, I pictured players controlling hundreds of soldiers at a time, without ever considering how the game could possibly run with more than several players (and their armies) on the screen. Instead, each player controls between two and six soldiers in his "army," and once I saw how quickly these smaller groups add up on the battlefield, I was convinced that Aeria made the right decision. The game is set in the era right after the Han Dynasty, often considered to be the "Golden Era" of Ancient China. The trees and buildings, and especially the water, are rendered beautifully. It's a wonder that the game runs with almost no graphical lag, even during battles (more on that later). There are four standard classes to choose from: the Warrior, the Fencer (a ranger type), the Tactician (a cleric/buffer type) and a Conjurer (mage). You can pick from several hairstyles and faces, and can make your character child-like or adult. Of course, being an Aeria game, you can pick from several crazy hair colors as well.
First Impressions: Kingory
Kingory is a browser based game that is set in ancient times, a time of gory combat and undefeated heroes. Honestly, I did not really care too much about what time it was set in, being that the buildings and lore could be swapped out for almost any other that we have seen before. It could have been a space setting, complete with huge tanks and space marines, or an ancient caveman world, complete with dinosaurs instead or balistas. To me, the real difference with Kingory is the speed in which you can do things and the scale at which you can do them. You start out with your normal browser game city, and click around to build the run-of-the-mill buildings that require other buildings that require other buildings in order to be built. You need a wall, a tavern, farms to provide food and other standards that we browser fans have grown used to. But the real glory happens when you slap down cash or earn items that help you grow faster. A few dollars or hours later and you will be well on your way to spying on your neighbors.
Kingdom Heroes marches into closed beta on May 18th
Fantasy MMOs may be a dime -- or less -- a dozen, so there's something special about a game that sets the action in a historical period instead. It's always a side bonus to learn something educational in MMOs, if only to use as ammunition when you want a loved one to pony up cash for another month's subscription ("But I'm learning, mom!") Players looking to stomp around ancient China will have their chance on May 18th, when Kingdom Heroes smashes into closed beta. Kingdom Heroes is striving to hit a sweet spot with engrossing PvP, topping the usual buffet of choices with a few choice gems, such as ship battles, siege engines and customizable armies. Four classes -- warrior, conjurer, tactician and fencer -- and four body types (hm, do you want to be a "maiden" or a "beauty"?) are the tip of the customization Kingdom Heroes sports. The game is set in the era of the Three Kingdoms, and players will choose which kingdom and dynasty to fight for and (repeatedly) die in their name. An ancient Chinese secret no longer, gamers can get their mitts on Kingdom Heroes by signing up for the beta and counting down the days until closed beta on May 18!
New World of Tanks teaser video and screenshots
The big question with World of Tanks is really simple and yet daunting: will they feel like proper tanks? Slapping treads and a turret on something that handles like a Toyota Corolla isn't really going to work in terms of developing a properly tank experience. (A Ford Crown Victoria is getting closer, but still not there.) Since we have yet to get our hands on the actual game for any playtime, most of what we have is speculation, but a bevvy of new screenshots and a new trailer at least start in the direction of answering the questions. Pictures of the game continue to impress, with the tanks having an appropriately worn look and a sense of weight. The city layouts seen in this gallery also suit the era of the conflict nicely. The trailer, on the other hand, gives a strong suggestion that the game is edging closer toward preserving the "feel" of tanks rather than a strictly simulation approach -- probably a good thing, since actually playing three characters cramped in a metal box wouldn't be quite as much fun. Take a look past the break for the second World of Tanks teaser trailer! %Gallery-89571%
The Daily Grind: Can you look backwards with games?
Take a look at the screenshot above from Meridian 59. It probably doesn't look like much to most of you. But for some of our readers, that screenshot represents a game that was one of the first graphical and three-dimensional MMOs ever, and it might well bring back fond memories. It all depends on whether or not you were gaming at the time and interested in the genre, and even then you might not have enjoyed the game or had a chance to pick it up and play regularly. (Cable internet was not exactly a foregone conclusion in 1996, after all.) Games are on an ever-increasing ramp of graphical complexity and depth of play, and so games that were revolutionary at one point have become much less so with time. But can you look past that and see why they were important in the first place? Do you play EverQuest and see dated graphics and gameplay models, or do you see a game that inspired interest in the genre enough to make the current market possible? Do you look back when you play a game, or do you find yourself hung up with the latest and greatest features instead?
Flying Lab offers 6 months of Pirates of the Burning Sea to military personnel
Flying Lab Software announced this week that they're offering six months of free Pirates of the Burning Sea gameplay to military personnel and exclusive in-game items. In addition, the promotion waives the standard $19.99 purchase cost of the game. Sign-ups for the promotion require a military email address to qualify and will last through November 30, 2009. The promotion is open to all branches of the military. Current Pirates of the Burning Sea subscribers who are in active service are also eligible to get six months of free play time. Flying Lab Software CEO Russell Williams issued a statement about the Care Package, which was originally proposed by community members on the game's forums. Williams wrote: "One of our players posted about serving in Afghanistan, and it got us thinking about the challenges of trying to play an MMO in an unpredictable situation like active service. We feel a special gratitude towards the members of the armed forces who take the time to get involved and play our game, in the face of the very difficult job they have to do to keep us all safe." [Via Gamers Daily News]
Mytheon site launches with trailer, game to release in Q1 2010
Mytheon from Petroglyph Games is a title we've mentioned in the past, as it's a different take on the type of games we cover at Massively. Essentially it's an MMORTS, and as such may be comparable to titles like Dreamlords the Reawakening or even Atlantica Online. As its name implies, Mytheon is rooted in ancient world myths, which could be a nice departure from the numerous pure fantasy games on the market. At launch Mytheon will have content based in ancient world Greece and Egypt. The game mechanics seem to be heavily tied in to power stones, which provide different benefits to the game's three classes. According to Petroglyph: "The collection and casting of Power Stones is the backbone of Mytheon. Power Stones initiate every in-game effect possible, from summoning minions and structures that fight for the player, to conjuring fireballs and lightning bolts and healing a party." Mytheon can be played solo, but will also have group and PvP gameplay options. The game's first trailer might give you a better idea of what to expect. It's embedded on the new game site, and offers some of the first glimpses at Mytheon's gameplay as well as the setting of Hades.
Pirates of the Burning Sea to introduce 'Roleplay Rooms' in upcoming patch
Pirates of the Burning Sea is a bit of a departure from some of the other MMO titles on the market since its setting is rooted in history rather than built upon pure fantasy. Given this backdrop, it stands to reason that some players would enjoy logging in for some anachronistic 1700's-era roleplaying in Pirates of the Burning Sea as privateers and pirates. Flying Lab Software has decided to give PotBS's roleplayers a dedicated venue for their player-run events, "Roleplay Rooms", which is the subject of a devlog written by Xenobia. The devlog is all about the repurposing of old interiors; some altered color and texture here, a motif changed there, and you've got spaces ready to be used solely for RP events. It seems simple, but these changes proved to be tricky in some cases given the objects incorporated into such rooms, and Xenobia describes how the interior revamps were done, illustrated with before and after shots. Check out Xenobia's "Roleplay Rooms" devlog for more info about this feature that's coming to national capitals in patch 1.16.
Pirates of the Burning Sea takes bold step to curb mission farming
The latest devlog for Pirates of the Burning Sea is written by Lum and focuses on improving the game's mission system, particularly fixing the problem of mission farming. Lum writes, "When we create big mission arcs, we design them to be a fun, engaging, and most importantly, a linear experience. We want players to get a sense of story and to do something interesting. We also want to reward players who accomplish the goals for those missions." He says that mission farming and the in-game monetary rewards aren't necessarily the problem, although it's not what the devs had in mind for players. Lum says that since people stop to repeat the most lucrative parts of a given mission arc, they're not experiencing the game as it was intended for the players. Even worse, some players make faction choices on the basis of how lucrative a certain mission with that faction is. Flying Lab Software wants to change missions in Pirates of the Burning Sea so that players are continually progressing through stories rather than motivated to remain in place to reap the gold harvest.%Gallery-12977%
