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ArenaNet will not show Guild Wars 2 at PAX
It's no secret that Guild Wars 2 is a hot topic among Guild Wars players, so every time the smallest leak of information surfaces, excitement ensues. Yet lately we've heard more and more about how this anticipated sequel is not quite ready for prime time. One example is the announcement earlier this month that there will be no GW2 beta in 2008, as was first estimated. Now we hear that GW2 will not even be shown at PAX in late August.This bit of news was leaked last week by ArenaNet's new Community Manager Regina Buenaobra. She said it first on the main forums, and then again on her user talk page of the official GW wiki. Despite many of the inevitable negative comments that have erupted in the forums since this was announced, creating an MMO from scratch still takes several years. With recent news of other games opting to release "on time" with minimal content, we can't help but scratch our heads at this type of situation. It's been asked a million times before, but we'll ask it again: would you rather have a partial game released now, or a complete game released later?
Meet the Champions Online community manager
If you've got a few minutes to spare, we recommend taking a look at the Champions Online official website. They just posted up their newest Meet the Team article all about their online community relations manager Victor Wachter. This is the guy to find to if you're going to PAX next month, as he'll be there with a playable build of Champions Online and answers to your questions. Well, as many answers has he can reasonably give without punting you down the exhibition hall.Strangely enough, if you want to get on Victor's good side you could probably bring Japanese pop-music paraphernalia and lots of Diet Pepsi. We know that we'll be doing just that, because a person can never have enough community manager friends. They have access to those mythical, magical beta keys that everyone wants sooner or later.
First look at Halo 3's Purple Reign, kinda, sorta
In what will go down as the earliest posting of a Bungie Weekly Update in history, team Bungie has pulled back a tiny corner of the veil that new Halo 3 multiplayer map in development Purple Reign is under. No, we don't get any screenshot love, we get more of an artsy, freehand computer drawing of the map colored purple using Photoshop. But you get the idea. And even if you don't get the idea, maybe PAX will bring more Purple Reign goodness. Spec!Also, with the new Purple Reign drawing comes confirmation that, next week, Bungie will be revealing specifics regarding Halo 3's second title update. How happy we are to hear that the BR will not be affected.
New Halo 3 content to be unveiled during PAX
Although their plans have changed a bit, team Bungie is steadfast at making their Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) presence known with the unveiling of new Halo 3 multiplayer content. In a recent update posted on Bungie.net, Sketch mentions that PAX attendees can "expect to find some brand new Halo 3 multiplayer conent [sic]" even though the content or anything else at PAX for that matter is "not going to be the 'big announcement' many of our fans are clamoring for." A new multiplayer map perhaps? We think that would be a good bet.So, between the Bungie meeting, swag winning, autograph signing and Recon earning that'll be going down at PAX this year, we'll also get a chance to preview some new Halo 3 content. But sadly, the E3 delayed BIG announcement will not be unveiled at PAX and the Bungie planned FanFest will not take place either. Somewhat exciting, somewhat sad.
Mythic's Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman coming to PAX08
If you happen to find yourself up in Seattle Washington on August 29th-31st, then you may want to check out the Penny Arcade Expo. Chances are that if you do, you'll be able to find both Paul Barnett and Jeff Hickman roaming around the convention halls yammering on about waaagh! and other juicy bits of information. Warhammer Online has always had a good booth presence at PAX but now we'll all get to experience the one-two punch of a Hickman-Barnett combo. If you ask us, that alone is worth the price of admission for any nearby WAR fan. Did we mention juicy info bits? With this news, Penny Arcade Expo 2008 is shaping up to be a real treat for anyone interested in MMOs. Mythic Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Blizzard, Cryptic Studios, Flying Lab Software and CCP are all going to be there with games and/or content to show off to attendees. So don't miss it if you can go!
NCsoft's upcoming summer tour around the Globe
NCsoft is taking a whirlwind summer tour across the Globe. First stop is in San Diego, California at Comic-Con where games, geeks, and comics will collide on July 23-27. The NCsoft booth (#5920) will feature game stations set up for attendees to play CoX, Exteel, Tabula Rasa and other NCsoft games. Also City of Heroes fanzine artist, Dave Hamann will be present to draw character sketches. In Europe, during July 29-31 Aion: Tower of Eternity will be playable to western journalists. This will be the first time in a year since the last firsthand look took place. NCsoft Europe is hosting the event at their Brighton England, locale and this is a select press event. However, one of the biggest gaming events is taking place August 20-24 in Leipzig, Germany. NCsoft is headed there and will be present at the Leipzig Games Convention in a big way. Attendants there will find a special surprise in Hall 3 Booth B20, Aion will be setup on several demo kiosks for the public to play, the first time outside South Korea.
ArenaNet to host 2nd annual PAX afterparty
Once again, NCsoft and ArenaNet will be making an appearance at Seattle's Penny Arcade Expo this year. The NCsoft booth (#642) will be packed full goodies during the weekend of August 29th through the 31st, and they will be showing off some of their new and old favorites, including Exteel, Dungeon Runners, Guild Wars, City of Heroes, Tabula Rasa and the brand new Aion.As they did last year, ArenaNet will be holding contests where participants can win valuable prizes. Developers will also be on hand to meet and greet with the players. Possibly the most exciting news is the fact that ArenaNet will hold another after-party at the Game Works across the street from the Washington State Convention & Trade Center, as they did last year. This is your chance to meet the folks at ArenaNet in a more casual setting and even challenge a few to an arcade game or two!
Neopets founders announce a new MMO
Started in 1999, Neopets was one of the first kid-friendly online virtual worlds on the web, and is still fantastically popular today. Hoping to bring their success with Neopets into the MMO world, founders Adam Powell and Donna Williams started Meteor Games in 2007 to make a game targeted at a slightly higher age bracket than Neopets. Their still-unnamed MMO, due to be shown at this year's Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), will be a seamless, 3D world with elements drawn from today's top MMOs -- World of Warcraft is specifically mentioned.Their new game will be a drastic departure from Neopets. Not only will it be a 3D world instead of a collection of minigames, but it won't be free to play. The founders believe they need a subscription in order to produce the highest quality game, but the price will be less than WoW, and there will be an item shop of some sort where new outfits, furniture and other non-unbalancing items may be bought. Meteor Games is also looking into ways to integrate cellphones into their game. Due out in some fashion in 2009, their MMO will enter a market already dominated by Runescape and will be competing directly with SOE's Free Realms, which promises to be free to play and run also on the Playstation 3.Neopets is famous for its huge amount of content, involvement with players and accessibility. Can Meteor Games grab that same sort of success with a more traditional MMO? CEO Adam Powell explains their strategy in this interview with Gamasutra.
The Daily Grind: Planning to attend any conventions?
Tis the season to be traveling! As the summer ramps up, more and more companies are planning different outings and fan events. Blizzard has announced that not only will they have their (now sold-out) Worldwide Invitational in Paris, but also will be hosting another Blizzcon this October. Sony Online Entertainment has announced the next in a long line of highly successful Fan Faires coming to Vegas this August. CCP is expected to host yet another "party at the top of the world" as their EVE Online fan fair returns this year. Funcom will have a great showing as part of the MMO track at Dragon*Con where they've been partying with fans for years. And who can forget all the gaming goodness that goes on at PAX, GenCon, and other related conventions happening all around the world! For today's Daily Grind, we thought we'd ask you what kind of plans you have for traveling this year? Are there any conventions that are absolutely must-see events for you? Which events, if any, are you excited to check out? And if it's a general event like Dragon*Con or PAX, what are your "must see" games while you're there?
BioShock 'pimp supreme' Ken Levine to keynote PAX 2008
With just a handful of months to go before the annual Penny Arcade Expo opens its doors again, you may be wondering who will be taking to the stage to the deliver the August event's keynote address. Organizers have announced that the opening speech will be given by none other than 2K Boston president and creative director Ken Levine.Says Penny Arcade business mastermind, "Obviously, Ken is pimp supreme...We're super excited to have him open up the show." Given Levine's involvement with one of last year's biggest releases as well as a sequel that already ranks among our most anticipated in 2009, we're sure he'll have plenty to talk about -- and we expect to be left hanging on every word.
'Pimp supreme' Ken Levine to keynote PAX
The hilarious gents behind the fan-swarmed Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) have announced Ken Levine as the keynote speaker during the event that runs from August 29-31."Obviously, Ken is pimp supreme," said Penny Arcade's Robert Khoo, "We're super excited to have him open up the show." Levine, who has recently been iconized for his work on the critical and commercial smash-hit BioShock, will lead the charge at the event which also includes musical guests MC Frontalot, FreezePop, the MiniBosses, and Jonathan Coulton of 'Still Alive' fame.PAX also welcomes back the Omegathon, in which twenty randomly-selected PAX pre-registrants compete against each other in various gaming events ranging from table-top to the electronic games. Winner of the 2008 Omegathon will score a trip for two to the Tokyo Game Show, along with $5,000 in spending skrilla (that's OG street for monies, btw) and a home theater system that is described as "almost supernatural."
Cryptic has something to ask you
You probably already know that Cryptic Studios plans on coming to Gencon Indy and PAX this year. What you may not know is that Cryptic would like you all to tell them what you want to see. What team members do you want to meet? What panels do you want them to attend and discuss? All of your questions can be asked in the discussion thread.Our personal suggestion is definitely related to PAX, where we'd love to see Jack Emmert, Randy Mosiondz and John Layman. Last year at PAX there was a very interesting "Future of MMOs" panel that we would love to see get some Cryptic input. Although truthfully we just want to find a bunch of you guys and chat about all things superheroes, MMOs and pen and paper RPGs. Oh and of course if we could get some crazy demoing of Champions Online, that'd be super awesome too. It's probably asking a bit too much, but it's nice to dream isn't it?
Cryptic Studios coming to PAX and GenCon Indy this August
It's no lie, Cryptic will be at GenCon Indy from August 14th through the 17th and then not more than a couple weeks later, they'll be at the Penny Arcade Expo from August 29th until the 31st. A more important piece of news is that they plan on bringing all sorts of prizes, demos and games along with them. Sounds like we'll get a chance to score a ton of Cryptic-related real-world loot.Don't worry if these events aren't ones you attend, as Cryptic is quick to point out that they will be announcing other appearances.
Warhammer Online tours America, unites people
It's not stating the situation too excessively to remark that people are excited about this game. Many are anticipating it with the same fervor mustered by religious zealots. Some use the phrase 'WoW Killer'. And all of this without even having played the thing at all.Well, there's news that might mitigate that last little bit: If you can't wait for the eventual open beta download, you can play WAR at a few events across the country! The list of events, with locations and dates, after the jump!
Penny Arcade Expo 2008 to showcase indie games
The annual Penny Arcade Expo has quickly evolved from being simply a gathering of video game enthusiasts to becoming one of our most anticipated gaming conferences each year. We never know what we're going to see there first hand, from fresh rhymes to Metroid attacks, and this year's event, taking place from August 29-31, looks to up the ante with a showcase of independent games called PAX 10.Event organizers are currently seeking indie talent to show off during the event, and devs can submit their creations online for consideration from now until May 7, after which a panel of 50 "industry experts," including PA's own Gabe and Tycho, will decide which ten submissions represent the crème of the crop based on gameplay and that all important "fun factor." The home-grown games will each be shown as part of the event's PAX 10 exhibit, and attendees will be able to vote on which one tickles their fancy, with the one garnering the most votes being lifted up following the expo on the Penny Arcade website as the Audience Choice Award winner. But with just a touch over two months remaining, time is running short -- if you're a would-be developer you've already wasted precious minutes reading this post! Get cracking!
Connect08 to have exclusive in-game LotRO titles
Planning on heading to Connect08 this year? If you're going be there, you could claim the title of Worldly Traveler. If that title isn't your particular thing, you could also choose Pillar of the Community or Greeter of Kin. However, there is a one per person limit these babies -- so choose wisely. Turbine and Codemasters are to thank for this one, Also, we should mention that as far as we know these titles are only available at Connect08. Hopefully, we'll get to see something similar from Turbine at other events this year -- we're hoping for PAX08.Whether or not we actually see more of these at another show in the future, it's a very cool -- and free -- extra for those of you heading to the event this year.
I love ten Power Gloves. They're so bad.
Here's our variation of the "tree falls down in the woods" question: If ten Power Gloves are inside sealed boxes, never to be opened, are they still awful controllers? We think yes, but we'll never know for sure. Whatever dangerously insane collector decides to buy a case of ten unopened Japanese Power Gloves is very unlikely to be insane enough to ruin their value by opening any of them. Apparently these Power Gloves were a retailer's dead stock (the Power Glove was a spectacular failure in Japan), and have thus been put on eBay in their original form, as they came from the manufacturer. The item is at a current price of $209 AUD ($180 USD), should you have the desire to build a fort out of failed peripherals. The Power Glove is a reminder that motion-based controllers will never work on Nintendo consoles -- especially when those controllers require external sensors.[Via GameSniped]
Penny Arcade Expo 2008 dated, returns Aug 29-31
Is that two month old PAX07 t-shirt started to look slightly worn or wrinkled? (If so, may we recommend occasionally wearing other clothing.) Save the date and start booking your flight for Seattle, as the dates for the 5th annual Penny Arcade Expo have been unveiled: August 29 through 31, 2008.This year's event drew in approximately 37,000 attendees into the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. According to the press release (PDF file), "attendance for the 2008 event is expected to reach forty-seven million bajillion people." A venue for the 2008 expo was not specified; exhibitor packets are now available and attendee registration opens in January. Okay, folks, you can now officially start placing your bets on what will be next year's Omegathon.
Pirates of the Burning Sea announces release date
The embargo has dropped and so now we can announce: Pirates of the Burning Sea will set sail worldwide on January 22, 2008. We've been drooling at the thought of a little MMO pirate action for a year or so now, so it's great to finally have a date to put "break the champagne bottle against the hull" on the calendar with.Preorders, we're told, will start up on October 23rd, and anyone who preorders will be invited to a "pre-boarding party" that will get into the game 15 days early, and have the option to level up to 20 before the plebians are allowed on deck on the 22nd. Preorders also get a "captain's best friend" (a blue and yellow pet), a weapon "suited to their fighting style," and a 60 minute original soundtrack.Are you guys ready to fly the Jolly Roger? I played Pirates about a year ago at PAX '06, and wasn't super impressed, but I only got to play it for a bit, and I'm sure it's come a long way since then. I am excited to play anything featuring pirates, of course (they're the second coolest thing in the world, right between monkeys and ninjas), but I may wait for the reviews on this one. At any rate, if you can't wait to get the eyepatch, tricorner and codpiece on and make some landlubbers walk the plank, you've only got about four more months to wait.
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup: DIY Omegathon edition
Why waste afternoons playing video games by yourself when you can best your opponents on the virtual battlefield? We beseech you, dear reader, to consider devising your own Omegathon competition, modeled after the five-game event seen every year at the Penny Arcade Expo. Here are some suggested guidelines: At least one game that is "off the grid" (i.e. not on a television screen). At least one retro title (e.g. Pong, Tetris, Daikatana) A variety of genres such as puzzle, first-person shooter, racing, etc. At least one embarrassing title that gets competitors active. Usually a rhythm game Bear in mind the length of each competitive match -- although Civilization would make for an interesting event, if you place it early with 10 contenders, you're going to lose enthusiasm fast. Don't have any friends? Create an Omegathon for yourself -- it'll be exactly like preparing for Ninja Warrior by building your own obstacles in your yard. Tell us your ideal Omegathon run and check out our picks for the week's best gaming comics. Be sure to vote for your favorite! On Daddy take downs Gamemaster not included Game whiz Prescription meds Tony Hawk's burial ground At least it's over soon You're not doing it right The power of one Fiction versus Non-Fiction Man has always hated Best Buy It's not what you think
