new-title
Latest
PAX East 2013: Blizzard announces Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft CCG
What's the "something new" that Blizzard promised at PAX East? Is it Titan? A Diablo III expansion? The Lost Vikings Online? Nay, it's Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, a digital collectable card game. Blizzard announced Hearthstone in the opening minutes of the convention. The game is being developed by a new, smaller team at the studio that wanted more freedom to experiment and create quicker titles. Hearthstone is a free-to-play title that will pit players against each other over an animated 3-D table with nine classes from World of Warcraft. It will use Battle.net matchmaking to pair up users. Packs of five cards (with varying degrees of rarity) can be either earned through playing the game or purchased separately. The team wanted to make the game intuitive and simple to play, as well as dynamic and exciting to watch. Duplicate cards can be disenchanted to create new cards as well. You can watch the trailer after the jump. [Update: To be clear, the cards are earned through Hearthstone play, not WoW play.]
Gas Powered Games working on mystery MMO
With the recent acquisition of Gas Powered Games by Wargaming.net, we have been wondering what direction the Age of Empires Online studio would be taking. According to a new interview on Gamasutra, CEO Chris Taylor says that the team has moved on to work on an untitled MMO. This mystery MMO is still in the early stages, Taylor said: "We're just getting going on it, and there's a lot of groundwork to do. But we're barreling ahead." Calling it a "big free-to-play MMO under the Wargaming name," Taylor said the game has fired back up the studio and allowed the re-hiring of laid-off employees. He also said that Wargaming.net has been a "great match" for Gas Powered Games.
Players, meet Albion Online. Albion, players.
Berlin-based Sandbox Games announced that it's working on a medieval sandbox MMO called Albion Online -- and it wants you to get to know the game a bit better. Albion Online is an isometric, stylized game that boasts a fully player-driven economy, a day/night system, PvP corpse looting, territory control, and make-your-own classes. The kicker? The studio says that this will be "the first true cross-platform" MMO of its type. Sandbox says that all items and buildings in the game will be player-created, with even the land up for sale or rent. The team stresses that it won't be pay-to-win nor will players be facing impossible zergs. The game will be made available for the iPad, Android tablets, Windows, Mac, and Linux. Albion Online is currently in alpha, will begin closed beta weekends this month, and hopes to release Q3 2013.
The Aurora World closed beta coming in March
Asian import The Aurora World is just minutes away from a closed beta. OK, days. OK, a couple of weeks, but that's the last we'll budge on that line. The tri-faction fantasy title is preparing to launch its North American closed beta on March 7th. We have a good overview of what The Aurora World is in our original announcement post and would hate to try to top that here. Suffice to say that it takes place in a world broken by gods, where players will engage in PvE and PvP to right what once went wrong. Also, there's a nifty pet-slash-mount system. You can watch the full beta announcement video after the jump.
RvR Unchained: Mark Jacobs returns to Camelot
It was no coincidence that Mark Jacobs was open to talking about his Warhammer Online experiences with us recently. If you deduced that it was the prelude to his MMO comeback attempt, you were right. Jacobs' City State Entertainment announced today that it's working on a new MMO under the working title of Camelot Unchained. And yes, it will be RvR-focused with three realms duking it out: Arthurian, Tuatha Dé Danann, and Viking. Camelot Unchained will tie RvR conflict into player housing and a dynamic economy as well. Because this tightly focused concept may prove to be too difficult to draw publisher support, the 13-person studio is turning to a future Kickstarter campaign for support. Obviously, we have no shortages of questions about this project, but we contained ourselves to the 10 most burning queries that we presented to Jacobs. Read about the future of Camelot after the jump!
GBE Games and Aurora Interactive bringing The Aurora World stateside
A new challenger has appeared in the fantasy MMO arena today in the form of GBE Games and Aurora Interactive's newly announced import, The Aurora World. This is the first we've heard of The Aurora World (though it apparently already has a following in China and Korea), so we don't have a ton in the way of information at the moment. We do, however, have some preliminary details and an announcement trailer. The game's press release, which announces that the game is aiming for an "early 2013" launch, claims that the game will boast eight different professions "with their own unique specializations and master system," plus "an extensive PvE experience with entertaining daily quests, events and crafting" and "a robust PvP system" including 300-player nation wars, clan wars, and a "coliseum mode." There's also mention of "a unique hybrid pet/mount system known as Majinns," though all we know about that is that it exists. If you want to know more about this up-and-coming title, be sure to check out the trailer after the cut and check out the game's official site for some nifty screenshots and a mailing list for further updates. [Source: GBE Games press release]
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.
Core Online says hello to the world
We have a new MMO on the block, and its name is Core Online. Entwell introduced the fantasy title with a spiffy website that's unfortunately only in Korean at the moment. According to Steparu.com, Core Online's been in development for over three years. It boasts at least eight classes that fall in line with fantasy terminology, including the Magician and Warrior. Core Online will also offer a cross-server PvP battle system. We will wait and see how Core Online attempts to stand out in the extremely large crowd of gorgeous-looking Asian MMOs, but for now we'll have to be content to scope out the few screenshots below. %Gallery-167641%
Knight Age open beta launches today
The long-awaited event is upon us! People have been looking forward to this day for so long, and all that waiting will now pay off: Knight Age enters open beta testing today! Players entering the OBT will be able to keep their characters, levels, items, and all that jazz for launch, so your efforts won't be wasted. Unlock mounts -- including a new special duck mount -- and strike fear into the hearts of your foes as you charge into battle. Raise pets from tiny pupae into lean, mean, fighting machines. Experiment by fusing two pupae to create a new pet that combines the strengths of both parents. Engage in large-scale PvP battles to fight for the glory of wielding Excalibur, or fight in mounted battles against other guilds. Seize the day. Visit Knight Age's official site to sign up and hit up the game's Facebook page to get in the know. [Source: Joymax press release]
Knight Age open beta events begin August 28th
The stars must be in an almightily peculiar alignment on August 28th because everyone wants in on that action. A Joymax press release today announced that Knight Age, a new free-to-play MMO, will enter open beta testing on the 28th. When the open beta does kick off, players will all be blessed with a double experience buff as a celebration of the game's Facebook page getting 3,000 Likes. Keep getting people to push that Like button to unlock new reward pellets! To help you bide the time until testing opens, a number of contests are kicking off. There are a whopping 17 events planned to entertain and entice players between now and the end of open beta testing (whenever that is). Lucky winners can get in-game items like helpful goodies or pets that will carry over into launch, and especially lucky winners can get stuff like a brand-new laptop. Prospective players can pre-register for open beta by creating a Joymax account and following the game's Facebook page for updates on contests and more. [Source: Joymax press release]
Wargaming announces World of Tanks Generals
Wargaming.net is adding a new title to its free-to-play arsenal. World of Tanks Generals will soon raise its flag alongside the worlds of tanks, warplanes, and warships. The F2P, browser-based game will combine real-time strategy and collectible card gameplay to allow players to slip into the roles of nations in World War II. Tanks, artillery, and infantry will all be brought to bear alongside technology research and unit upgrades for strategic gameplay. The game will comprise several single- and multiplayer modes that will take players through historical events. The game will launch with the US, U.S.S.R, France, and Germany as playable nations, and will also be made into a card-based board game. [Source: Wargaming press release]
Asteroids is joining the ranks of MMOs
Ever wondered what some of those fun arcade-style games of yore would be like as an MMO? We'll soon find out because Wildbunny is converting the classic game Asteroids into mmoAsteroids. Not surprisingly, the game involves dodging or blasting asteroids that tumble through the two-dimensional space around you while opposing players try to gun you down. By visiting the site, players are given the actual chance to try their hand at the game with the embedded pre-alpha tech demo. Players are placed on either the red or the blue team. Those wishing to participate in the open pre-alpha testing can register on the site, which allows progress to be saved automatically. The entire enterprise is being undertaken by a single developer, Paul Firth. To further the game's development, he is offering players the ability to purchase a choice of special, limited-edition in-game avatars that will not be available when the game launches. More information is available on the official site.
Soul Captor Online goes into open beta, adds two new classes
C'mon kids, those souls won't capture themselves! Soul Captor Online, the MMO that revolves around absorbing and reusing souls for noble purposes, boldly ventured into open beta as of today. To celebrate Soul Captor Online's open beta, the CM team is putting on a series of events. The first of these is an in-game anima hunt that will reward the winners with prizes. In addition to the four classes shown in the closed beta testing phase, Gamania has added two new classes for the open beta: the Celestial Master and Mystic Fighter. The Celestial Master is a strong support class that buffs teammates while debuffing the enemy, while the Mystic Fighter is a melee warrior who relies on evasion to keep the worst hits from landing. You can check out the introductory video for these classes after the jump. [Source: Gamania press release]
Joymax announces Knight Age, opens beta for one week
The studio that brought us Silkroad Online has announced its newest venture in the MMORPG market: Knight Age. Based on a vast world of knights battling against a malicious god, the game will feature pets that will fight alongside players, guild sieges, and giant PvP battles of 50v50 and even 1v100 in the ultimate fight for Excalibur. And what's a knight without his or her horse? Knight Age will feature mounted combat in which players will be able to perform elaborate attack skills while mounted and on the move. The first English closed beta is open to everyone on July 10th and will last one full week until the 17th. Players can participate in this beta via the official site. [Source: Joymax press release]
Marvel Heroes unveils its first official trailer [Updated]
After months and months of teasing us, Gazillion Entertainment has finally officially released new details about its upcoming new title, the free-to-play Marvel Heroes. The press release claims that the game will take "the MMO category to a completely new level of excitement and engagement" by combining "the energy of action role-playing games with the breadth and immersion of the MMO genre." Players can now get their first look at Marvel Heroes with the title's first teaser trailer, which features gameplay footage interwoven with some rather menacing shots of a certain Victor Von Doom, who seems to have gotten his titanium-plated hands on what appears to be the Cosmic Cube, an artifact that gives its bearer the power to bend reality to his will. We're not sure what Doc Doom plans to do with the Cube, but we know that it can't possibly be anything good. Presumably it will be up to the players to put a stop to Doom's nefarious plans and return the Cube to its rightful place, but until we find out more, head on past the cut and enjoy the trailer in all of its super-goodness. [Source: Gazillion Entertainment press release] [Update: IGN has a preview of the game that discusses in detail its Diablo roots.]
Spacetime Studios teases Arcane Legends
Pocket Legends. Star Legends. Dark Legends. And now... Arcane Legends? Yes, it appears to be true! Spacetime Studios is working on a fourth title for its popular mobile MMO library, filing a trademark that has since been approved. The application for a U.S. federal trademark was submitted on April 5th and was given the thumbs up May 10th. As one of its categories is "electronic game software for cellular telephones," we can reasonably deduce that Arcane Legends will launch on mobile devices in the same manner of its older siblings. Spacetime Studios told us that it will release an official announcement of the title later this week. The studio recently released the vampire-themed MMO Dark Legends on iOS and Android devices.
Ex-MMO devs aim to fund space combat game via Kickstarter
They were part of the force behind many MMOs you've known and loved, including Jumpgate, Auto Assault, LEGO Universe, RIFT, and League of Legends, and now they're banding together for a new cause funded by crowdsourcing. They're the developers at END Games, and they hope to raise a quarter of a million dollars to create a multiplayer space combat game. Despite the team's legacy, however, this new title will not be an MMO. Titled Squad Wars, the proposed project will blossom into a frantic starfighter game that will pit squads of players against each other in the deadly vacuum of space. Instead of focusing on a persistent world, Squad Wars will offer packaged scenarios that will "ensure the most fun every time you login." END Games is also notable in that two of its members were founders of NetDevil: Scott Brown and Ryan Seabury. As of the time of this writing, END Games has $1,430 toward its goal, which must be attained by May 19th for the project to proceed.
Soul Captor Online announced
There's a new cel-shaded sheriff coming to town, and the only question is whether the place will be big enough for a contender this cute and cuddly. Gamania is trumpeting the upcoming arrival of Soul Captor Online, a free-to-play title that revolves around the acquisition and manipulation of monster souls. In Soul Captor Online, players will be accompianied by an Anima, a customized spirit creature that will help them in their journeys. When the player and Anima defeat a monster, the monster's soul can be sucked out to be used for buffs, enchantments, and even mounts. The revealed classes so far in Soul Captor are a diverse bunch: Warrior, Priest, Shaman, and of course, the Onmyoji (mage). There is a pair of unannounced classes hiding in the shadows as well. Currently, Soul Captor is accepting sign-ups for beta. Check out the tongue-in-cheek trailer after the jump and let us know what you think!
Jump into Black Prophecy's past with gamigo's Nexus Conflict
The world of Black Prophecy hasn't always been like it is today. In the past, the Second Species Wars raged between the cybernetically augmented Tyi and the genetically modified Genides who fought for control of an area known as the Nexus, where universes collide. In a press release today, gamigo AG announced that its new title, Nexus Conflict, will allow players to take a trip back in time to participate in these wars not behind the controls of a fighter ship but on the command bridge of a colossal battle cruiser. Nexus Conflict is being billed as a "tactical real-time strategy game," and players will be able to run it right in their browsers thanks to the Unity engine. The title will offer both PvE and PvP missions, meaning that there will be something for the co-operative and competitive crowds alike. And of course, players will be able to customize their ships with a variety of upgrades in order to turn them into the biggest, baddest, planet-blowing-up-est starships in the Nexus. If this sounds like your idea of a good time, then just head on over to the Nexus Conflict official site (linked below) to sign up for the game's beta test, which is scheduled to begin in March. [Source: gamigo AG press release]
Massively Exclusive: NEOWIZ GAMES gets bloody with Seven Souls Online debut trailer [Updated]
"Let the bloodshed begin," announces the debut trailer of NEOWIZ GAMES' upcoming free-to-play martial arts title, Seven Souls Online, and wow, it is not kidding around. The announcement trailer is essentially a montage of a number of player-characters running around and beating the crap out of everything until it explodes into a fine, crimson mist. And you know what? We're totally OK with that. Sure, we don't actually know much of anything about the gameplay or the story or... well, anything else, but when I can hit something so hard that I knock it straight out of existence, none of that really matters anymore. For the full trailer, click on past the cut, and be sure to stay tuned tomorrow for more information from Seven Souls Online. [Source: NEOWIZ GAMES] [Update: We've added the official press release behind the break too! It includes a mention of the game's closed beta test, which you can now apply for.]
