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Transformation-focused Eclipse War Online debuts with video
Players of the upcoming Korean MMO Eclipse War Online can transform into a variety of familiar and unique fantastical creatures, from massive-clawed scorpions to dragons to a blob with antennae. SC Internet recently introduced its new game that puts a twist on the standard adventuring: Instead of just being characters from stock races fighting against mobs, players can become the mob in fights! If players acquire the transformation card, they will be able to transform into almost every monster in game -- including bosses. When in altered form, players then get some of that monster's special abilities to use on top of their own. Want to be a wolf? Go kill a wolf. The principle flows through to PvP as well; killing another player will net the victor some of the loser's skills. Choosing which form to fight in also becomes a matter of strategy, as some monsters' powers change depending on time of day, location, etc. Want to get a gander at some of the available forms players can turn into? Catch a glimpse in the trailer after the break.
Neowiz releases new Bless intro trailer
Unlike the most recent video releases showing off combat or the beauty of the world, the newest Bless trailer does not offer any gameplay footage. Instead, Neowiz released an official introduction trailer in HD to give a hint of the story. Unfortunately for those who do not speak Korean, the clip doesn't include any English subtitles, but the HD images can be enjoyed in any language. The upcoming Korean MMO features 10 different races and eight classes, and will be powered by the Unreal 3 engine. You can watch the trailer after the break.
Black Desert sandbox launching in 2013
We've talked a bit about Black Desert before, and its visuals, housing, and parkour systems have us pretty excited. Thanks to this week's G-Star 2012 convention, we now know when to expect the Korean fantasy sandbox (in Korea that is, there's no word on a U.S. or European launch). MMO Culture reports that the game is 70% of the way toward its open beta milestone, which is currently scheduled for August or September of 2013. Closed beta will happen during "the first half of 2013." Pearl Abyss has 50 developers working on the game, which boasts a seamless open world comparable in size to vanilla World of Warcraft. The devs are also working on a new samurai-type class.
Icarus Online G-Star trailer highlights aerial combat
Last week we heard tell of Icarus Online, a new Korean import from WeMade Entertainment. The initial trailer clocked in at a rather cryptic 29 seconds, so today we're happy to see a longer foray into gameplay proper. MMO Culture reports that one of Icarus' selling points is aerial combat, and the new G-Star 2012 vid reflects as much. Icarus Online is built on the CryEngine 3, and Steparu says that it features point-and-click combat on the ground and "non-targeting" combat in the skies. Head past the cut for the new trailer as well as a second video showing both ground-based combat and the game's UI.
Here's another impressive Bless trailer, this time with a huge world boss
Another day, another new Bless trailer from G-Star 2012. This time around it's a two-and-a-half-minute clip that's heavy on action, combat, and the game's stunning fantasy visuals. Steparu reports that in spite of all the eye candy, the trailer is composed entirely of in-game footage. Said footage includes a range of AI mobs and powerful player avatars as well as a slew of varied environments and a truly massive world boss. See for yourself after the break.
Latest Bless gameplay video treats viewers to HD visuals
Over the last couple of weeks, we've brought you various teasers and gameplay clips from the upcoming Korean MMO Bless. Now, Neowiz offers a longer look at the game in a new high-def gameplay video. With almost 24 minutes of footage, viewers can watch as the protagonist helps defend a beleaguered town from attack, completes quests, travels between locations by dragonback, and fights a horde of undead. The HD format of this video really shows off the world; although the dragonback transport route is predetermined, the trip takes viewers through some of the beautiful vistas and locals in Bless. Be sure to check it out after the break.
New Bless trailer, gameplay video boast impressive world design
A few days ago we brought you word of the latest teaser for Bless. As the saying goes, you ain't seen nothing yet. Neowiz has released a much longer trailer for G-Star 2012, and it takes viewers on a spell-binding tour of the game's Unreal-powered open world. Steparu has also published a seven-minute gameplay video that shows off character creation, combat, and more. This last clip is of the point-a-camera-at-the-screen-and-press-record variety, but Bless' visuals and world design are no less impressive. See for yourself after the break.
Bless is another gorgeous Korean MMO import
As we reported earlier this year, Bless is a collaboration between Neowiz and Epic Games Korea, and it's built using Epic's Unreal 3 engine. Like Black Desert and ArcheAge before it, the game is a visual treat married to a large open world. Unlike Black Desert, Bless actually has a website, so we know about things like classes (eight of them, with the usual fantasy archetypes), races, and other basics. Steparu has published an extensive look at the title's lore, and you can view the game's new trailer after the break.
Black Desert shows off time transitions
We've all sat down to play our favorite game in the evening only to be alerted to the time by sunlight filtering in through the window. In many games, however, day and night are simply toggles -- the game goes from dark to light, possibly with some dimming or brightening along the way. Black Desert is going for a more realistic approach, and a new set of photos shows off the game's transition from the deep of night into the brightness of day. According to translations, a full day cycle runs in four hours, with a gradual progression of the sun from the horizon to its zenith and then back down again. The result are shadows and light patterns that reflect the time of day. Time will also be reflected in the habits of NPCs, with shopkeepers returning home to rest and monsters swarming in increased numbers. There will also be content only available during the day or night, something to look forward to as the sun rises or sets.
New interview sheds light on Black Desert's open world
Last week we told you about a new MMO called Black Desert. There was a trailer, it was gorgeous, etc. Today we've learned a little more about the Korean import thanks to an interview at Steparu.com. For one thing, all those beautiful vistas in the trailer are part of a seamless world. For another, the combat is action-focused and features the ability to dodge and block. There's also something called horse-drifting, which the devs say is part of a battle and movement system inspired by Red Dead Redemption. The game is class-based; current archetypes include Fighters, Sorcerers, Beasts, and Tamers, though the names will likely change going forward. Black Desert also looks to feature optional PvP as well as bind-on-equip items that don't drop if you're killed by another player. When can you get your hands on all these fine features? Not for a while, it seems. The devs say they're shooting for a Korean beta sometime in 2013.
New Korean MMO Bless reveals English website
Stop us if you're heard this one before: There's a new MMO coming out of Korea. It's drop-dead gorgeous, it's built on the latest version of the Unreal engine, and it features fantasy armor that doesn't leave much to the imagination. No, it's not Aion or even TERA. The new kid on the block is called Bless, and though we told you about the game back in October, it's taken Neowiz a while to come up with an English website. That website is now live (though it does take forever and a day to load). The site features a trailer, a few screenshots and character concepts, and brief snippets of lore that seem to indicate two factions (Cosmopolis and Hierapolis). We've heard a rumor that Neowiz has more than 150 developers working on the project, some of whom worked on Aion, TERA, and Lineage II. We'll bring you more on the new title as it becomes available.
Blade & Soul Assassin abilities on display in new video
Say what you will about NCsoft's mysterious Blade & Soul import, but it certainly brings its share of eye candy to the table. MMO Culture has posted a new video featuring the martial arts MMORPG, and the clip centers on the nimble Assassin class and its deadly array of combos and fighting abilities. The video runs under two minutes and is basically a series of one-on-one combat vignettes. If your Korean language skills are up to the task, you might be able to decipher the various intertitles and subtitles that accompany the presentation. If not, you can still get a feel for how the class is going to play thanks to the footage, which you can view in its entirety after the cut.
Blade and Soul interview talks Qinggong, Chinese influences; new videos on display
How about a little Blade and Soul info to cap off the workday? We thought you might like that, and MMO Culture has helpfully clued us in to a brief interview with the game's development team that was conducted at a recent Tencent Games event. The piece delves into the martial arts title's multinational backstory, and despite the fact that Blade and Soul is decidedly Korean, there will be a large Chinese influence on display in the finished game. Blade and Soul's Qinggong system is also addressed, and while every race will have access to the wall-scaling super-speed abilities, it will be limited with respect to character level. Qinggong will also see future iterations beyond its current implemenation as a form of fast travel, with the interview hinting at airborne skill-casting to "make players feel like they are real martial arts pugilists." Finally, there's a blurb or two on the game's classes (six confirmed) as well as a western-influenced focus on individual character progression. MMO Culture has also embedded two new Blade and Soul videos, and you can find those after the break.
TERA's Chris Lee on making a Korean MMO into an American hit
The recent announcement regarding a mind-meld between En Masse Entertainment and Atari for the purposes of bringing Bluehole Studio's TERA to North America has generated a fair bit of industry buzz. Not only does it indicate an impending release date (though En Masse remains coy about anything other than a "2011" date), but it also signifies to fans of AAA Asian-themed MMOs that they'll soon have an alternative to Aion and Lineage II. Gamasutra recently chatted up En Masse publishing vice president Chris Lee about the challenges inherent in bringing TERA to the West, and surprisingly, the "westernization" catch-phrase -- and associated deflections -- were nowhere to be found. Lee instead focused on how En Masse has a long road ahead when it comes to turning a Korean MMO into an American hit (regardless of the title's inherent quality). "One of the biggest misconceptions in the business is that a good game will sell itself," Lee says. Lee also spoke to TERA's decision to bypass the free-to-play craze as well as the title's unique combat mechanic, which is "a large departure from traditional MMOs, regardless of region."
TERA interview attempts to decipher "westernization"
Uh oh, it's time for the W-word again. Last week's entry in the TERA Race and Class series purported to explain En Masse Entertainment's definition of westernization. The vaguely worded nature of the press release raised more questions than answers, though, and the folks over at ZAM recently caught up with En Masse producer Brian Knox in an attempt to put some meat on the westernization bones. Knox's insights steered clear of specifics, instead focusing on a general definition as En Masse sees it. "Westernization refers to our process of adapting a game to fit the Western market. In some cases, text localization and new marketing assets are all that are needed. Other times, specific game mechanics and features require tweaking for the market," he says. So what exactly does that mean for TERA? It's anyone's guess at this point, and it could be as simple as text translations or as complex as class differences or a softened XP grind. We'll keep our eyes peeled for more details.
Rumor: Blade & Soul testing postponed until 2012
Fans of Korean MMORPGs have a lot to look forward to over the next year, what with the impending release of Bluehole Studios' TERA and Jake Song's ArcheAge Online currently undergoing closed beta testing. One title that won't be seeing the light of day any time soon is NCsoft's Blade & Soul. CFO Jaeho Lee recently indicated that "Blade & Soul is expected to launch [its] first test in 2012." The fantasy martial-arts MMORPG is being developed by Team Bloodlust and Hyung-tae Kim, and looks to be taking a page out of The Old Republic's (and TERA's) book by focusing on story rather than grinding. [Update: We've marked this as a rumor because of no official source link from MMOsite. Thanks to everyone who so kindly notified us of that fact. Do you kiss your mothers with those mouths?]
