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The Rising Tide continues to wash over Perfect World International
Will you be prepared when the tide rises and the seas give up their secrets? Well, if you check out this nifty trailer for Rising Tide -- the recently released expansion to Perfect World International -- that we've managed to get our hands on, you'll have a good head-start if you decide to wade in! Featuring a brand new race -- the graceful, aquatic Tideborn, new starting areas for players to enjoy, and a whole pile of new challenges, the expansion offers players a great deal of new content for everyone. Perfect World International players are facing off against a whole new evil to rescue the underwater kingdom through three new explorable zones, 200+ new quests, 100+ new monsters, new gear, and more! For those interested, be sure to check out the trailer behind the break, or pop over to the Perfect World International site for more details -- or to sign up! After all, there's no charge to take a dip in the Rising Tide.
Heroes of Three Kingdoms shows off extremely shiny weapons
The other day we hooked you up with a bunch of closed beta keys for the newly-announced Heroes of Three Kingdoms, but players were asking us for some in-game footage to check out. Thankfully, the folks over at Perfect World Entertainment have decided to release a teaser trailer showing off the crazy amounts of weaponry available for players to choose in the game - and their incredibly glowy attacks! This teaser trailer shows off most of the 18 types of weapons that will be in the game. There are more common weapons like glaives, staves and bows on up to much more exotic weaponry like war fans, ring blades, and more. So if you're curious as to what manner of things you might be able to expect in Heroes of Three Kingdoms, then be sure to check out the early pre-beta teaser trailer, embedded behind the break.
The Forsaken World to offer non-sparkly vampires
Fantasy -- check. Elves -- check. Vampires? Yes, indeed! Perfect World Entertainment's new MMO, Forsaken World, is not only full of the normal fantasy trappings you'd expect such as elves, dwarves, and men made of stone, but they've also got a race of vampires known as the Kindred. As one scrolls through the classes available on the MMO teaser site, there's also a vampire class in the mix. (We wonder if that's actually a class choice, or more a designation to explain the Kindred's powers.) While Forsaken World has only just been announced, the beta sign-ups are already open. Their shiny new site is also chock full of interesting information from the lore of the world, through to races, classes, and even a pretty cool looking trailer that we snagged a copy of and embedded behind the break for you to check out. We'll certainly be keeping our eye on it as more news come out because let's face it -- vampires (especially the non-sparkly ones) don't suck. Err. Well, not that way. You know what we mean.
In a Perfect World podcast begins operation
In a day and age where we all seem to have mobile devices kicking around, podcasts are great for keeping up with news and opinions on your favorite topics while still being on the go. Needless to say, we're a bit fond of podcasts around here, so we're happy to announce the first full episode of Perfect World Entertainment's official podcast, In a Perfect World, is available for download. Covering the full range of Perfect World Entertainment's products, the first show includes discussion on Battle of the Immortals, Perfect World International, Ether Saga Online, and Jade Dynasty. Unsurprisingly, the centerpiece of the Battle of the Immortals segment is an explanation of the game's delay until mid-April. There are also previews of the next few Perfect World International events, discussion of the recently-added player-made mount in Ether Saga Online, and in-game events in Jade Dynasty. Various download and aggregator links for the podcast are available on the official blog entry, along with a small contest to win a Barbarian Tiger statue. If you're a fan of the multitude of free-to-play games the company offers, it should be worth the time spent listening.
A bird's-eye view of China's MMO market
To a western MMO developer, China's market is alluring in much the same way that winning the lottery is alluring to everyone else. There's a huge market right there, even disregarding the almost stereotypical amount of gold farming associated with the country, but thus far western games have yet to make much of a dent. The only one that's been largely successful is World of Warcraft, and even that has a bit of a tortured history. Scott Jennings has taken the opportunity to expound a bit on what makes China so appealing as an MMO market and why it's been so difficult to get a solid footing in. One of the points he makes is that, by and large, China hasn't attracted a good portion of the western market either -- Perfect World International comes the closest to making a splash, and it's nowhere near the popularity of, say, Runes of Magic. He also discusses several of the difficulties in negotiations between western businesses and the Chinese counterparts, as well as the government's vested interest in ensuring the market stays solidly in China. The full article also offers as comprehensive a breakdown of the entire World of Warcraft controversy as you're likely to find in one place, making it an excellent reference point for anyone interested in the vagaries of the worldwide market.
Kung Foo! events and activities for final week of CBT
The Kung Foo! closed beta test is wrapping up soon (it ends January 20th), and Perfect World International are planning to finish with a series of fun community events to thank those who logged in to help out. Since the servers will be wiped before open beta, why not throw some cash around, right? Players will be receiving Foo Funds upon logging in after the latest maintenance period, so they can hit the mall and gear up for the events. The first event is a fashion party, a chance to be a little silly and show off some of your new costumes from the mall, not to mention meet some of your fellow closed beta testers. Friday will be a bit startling if you're unprepared, because monsters will be appearing ... somewhere. Where and when is a bit of a mystery, so be ready. (Maybe smack them with your teddy bear backpack.) Finally, while it's true that the servers will be wiped after the 20th, closed beta testers will get a few gifts to carry over into open beta. Everyone will receive a Lolligator transformation tonic that lasts 30 days after its first use, and anyone reaching level 40 will get a Sweet Wolf pet. So enjoy the last week of closed beta, and get ready for the crowds coming in open beta!
Kung Foo! creators talk about all things Foo
Kung Foo!, the snarky new offering from Perfect World International, went into closed beta yesterday. At first glance, the free-to-play game is yet another clunky, anime-styled fantasy game full of ancient Chinese cliches, so what makes this one so different? Product Manager Craig Beers and Guest Writer Devin Grayson spent some time discussing this with MMORPG.com, but if you've seen the trailer, you already know the answer: Kung Foo! takes everything you recognize as standard-issue for most MMOs and satirizes it. "You name it, we make fun of it," Grayson says. For longtime MMO players, the game promises to be a fun twist on the same old tank-healer-nuker-fight-the-monster-and-move-on style that we've all grown used to. The interview gives a look at the thought processes behind the creation of Kung Foo!, and a few hints on what you can expect from the game. Take a look at the full interview here.
Perfect World International hosts new contest for in-game prizes
Perfect World International fans had quite a few reasons to celebrate with the release of the recent expansion, Rising Tide, but it did bring one slight downside with it. After all, the new race included with the expansion is quite appealing, but that means players need to go through the whole leveling process again. However, that slight downside should be easily negated for anyone who chooses to take part in the game's new contest -- and we do mean anyone. Because the contest requires only one thing to win a prize, and that's participation. The game's developers have laid down the gauntlet -- they want 50,000 fans on Facebook by the end of January next year. To help give the game's fans an incentive, they're making it a contest, and the main prize will be given to each and every Facebook fan if they reach that goal. That prize is two solid weeks of doubled experience, drops, and spirit. Plus, five lucky fans among that number will also receive five levels for free! Take a look at the official announcement, and if you're a Perfect World International fan, time to start working your way toward that fifty thousand mark.
Perfect World International product manager discusses expansion
Perfect World International revealed information on their expansion Rising Tide last month, and fans who were anxious to play it finally got their wish. Rising Tide is now live, and product manager Jon Belliss found some time to sit down with WarCry and discuss it a bit. The interview gave a nice rundown of the new race (The Tideborn) and two new classes (Psychic and Assassin) in the expansion. This fourth race has been in the works for a while, so the Perfect World International development team is excited to see their hard work go live. The new race and classes are only the beginning, however. Rising Tide features three new explorable zones, over 200 new quests (including some for married characters), over 100 new monsters, new gear, and quite a bit more. The full interview can be found over at WarCry, and more information on the expansion is available on the official site.
Perfect World International gets a brand new expansion pack, "Rising Tide"
If you're a Perfect World International player, then it's time to visit the seas and flirt with mermaids! The game has recently unveiled their next expansion, Rising Tide, and it's set to unlock the mysteries of the depths. But who needs mystery when you're getting a brand new race and public quests?As the seas of the game have become corrupted by dark forces, the remaining members of the newest player race, the Tideborn, have turned to the land to request assistance in their fight. Tideborn players will find themselves accessing two new classes -- the Assassin and the Psychic -- to utilize in their fight against the darkness. (Yes, we hear you snickering, Dead Alewives fans.)
Perfect World's Belliss discusses free-to-play business model
The concept of microtransactions is still relatively new to many of us in the western MMO world, but many Asian companies are already very familiar with it. That familiarity is opening doors for them to transition over to the western market more easily. Jonathan Belliss is the product manager for one of these companies, Perfect World International, and he spent some time talking about the challenges and advantages of the transition.Belliss and Perfect World seem to stand out among the deluge of Asian based free-to-play games, and Belliss' outlook may well be partly responsible for this. He has quite a bit to say about game quality over quantity (especially given the current market saturation), player preferences in two very different cultures, competition for those microtransaction dollars, and the future of the free-to-play business model overall.Belliss seems to have that all-too-rare ability to look at the pros and potential cons of a situation, to learn from others mistakes, and to see which direction the free-to-play/microtransaction model is likely to take in the future. It's an asset to Perfect World and makes the interview well worth the time spent reading.
One Shots: The moon looms large
When it comes to dangerous lands, we're especially appreciative when people manage to capture amazingly tranquil images of their favorite games. This great image comes with a long note from Calcic, elven archer from Perfect World, so we'll give her the lion's share of space today. Remember, you can join the fun by sending your image to us at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a quick description. Be sure to read the rest of her note after the jump!Though I know Perfect World doesn't have anywhere near the best graphics out there and the game-play has its shortcomings, sometimes the scenery will nonetheless surprise me. This one was taken on the Western bank of the Tranquility river, at between eight and ten o' clock at night. %Gallery-9798%
One Shots: Starting the weekend off with a big bang
One of the many things we love to do here on One Shots is show off game worlds we don't often get to see. This flashtastic image comes to us from first-time contributor, Prantik G. who snapped this image while playing Jade Destiny, which is part of the Perfect World International games site. Prantik sent this note along to explain it a bit further: This is a picture of a skysword blowing up in Jade Dynasty. It is one of the most beautiful instances in [the game.] If you're playing a game we only rarely see - or have never seen - we want to hear from you! Show us your favorite areas, tell us a bit about the lore, or maybe just tell us why you like it. It's up to you! Email them to oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and the name of the game. We'll post them up and give them a moment in the Internet sun! %Gallery-9798%
Does an MMO have to cost money to deliver fun?
The MMO industry is split between games where you pay and those that are free. Some are pay to play, with subscriptions and the cost of the game while others are free to play but you still have to buy a license key. Some are freemium where the game is free to buy and play but you enhance it with micro-transactions using cold, hard cash. Over the last year, the internet has been positively flooded by hundreds of free-to-play MMOs from Evony to Runes of Magic. While small fry compared to the likes of EVE, WoW and City of Heroes, they have their own playerbases, their own (albeit smaller) legions of fans who are as just as devoted to their MMO as any other fan is to their chosen title. But does a game that is free automatically make it worse than something you pay good money for?
E3 2009: A complete roundup of Massively's coverage
Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 proved to be a significant event for the gaming industry once again, with a fair amount of news and announcements related to MMOs. Massively was there on the ground for E3 this year and we've been putting up breaking announcements, interviews, and hands-on previews throughout. Given how much info came out of E3 on Massively, here's a roundup of our coverage, day-by-day. Be sure to check out the rest after the jump as there's plenty more content, plus you'll find E3 galleries for these games as you click through. To cap it all off, we've also put together an E3 2009 wrapup video for you at the end of this post. Read on to see where the MMO industry is headed in the next year and beyond! Day One Star Wars: The Old Republic world's first fully-voiced MMO Final Fantasy XIV announced Jumpgate Evolution releases E3 trailer EA to publish All Points Bulletin in 2010 PlayStation Home hits 6.5 million accounts Trion World Network unveils Heroes of Telara Massively's day 1 video from the E3 floor
The Daily Grind: Is an MMO's origin important to you?
MMOs fall into two main categories: eastern (titles like Aion and Perfect World International) and western (AoC, WoW and EVE Online). I've noticed over the past week's Daily Grind columns and a piece I did on Perfect World International that a lot of our readers seem naturally wary of any MMOs not made in the west, barring familiar franchises like Final Fantasy.Now part of this I can understand, eastern MMOs usually have very anime-like visuals and often borrow from unfamiliar Asian mythologies. This can often scare off western players. At the same time, players in Asia seem to lap up western MMOs like WoW. I'm curious, readers, do you judge an MMO the location of the company which made it? Do you prefer western MMOs or are you just as curious to try eastern games which other players just don't get?
E3 2009: Massively's day 3 roundup
We've completely zerg rushed E3 2009, attending press events, demonstrations and sure, hitting some parties as well. But we've also gone out and interviewed the people behind the games that will be arriving on the MMO scene in the next year and we've got a lot to tell you in the coming days. As the constant hustle of E3 2009 came to a close yesterday and the swarm of game journos scatters, now is when we really shift into high gear; Massively's content over the next few days will feature loads of info and interviews fresh from E3. We'd say to keep your eyes open for it, but honestly you won't be able to miss it. For now though, here's a quick roundup of yesterday's coverage: Star Wars: The Old Republic demonstration Paul Barnett and the Suicide Girls present All Points Bulletin Ether Saga Online set to go live this month with world bosses Massively looks at Perfect World International: Age of Spirits Jade Dynasty at a glance Dungeon Fighter Online impressions Still hungry? We've also put together galleries for these MMOs after the jump:
E3 2009: A closer look at Perfect World International: Age of Spirits
Freemium MMO Perfect World International, the English-language version of the popular Chinese MMO Perfect World 2, has slowly been taking over the world, having been released in numerous territories including Europe and North America. Well the company behind the game, Perfect World, is at E3 and has been showing off it's newest expansion Age of Spirits, which was announced last month. The game is out now and free-to-play.Age of Spirits expands the land of Pangu, a realm steeped in Chinese mythology. It adds an elemental twist in the form of genies, tiny fairy-like creatures who hover and offer assistance in battle. Hailing from the Elemental Realm, a world parallel to the Perfect World, they level up as you do and also provide a little more uniqueness to fights. You might know your opponent's class in PVP but you have no idea what kind of genie they might have at their beck and call. Check out a trailer and gallery of brand new screen shots after the jump.
Runic Games partners with MMO portal Perfect World for their upcoming game
Perfect World Entertainment, the MMO portal of the self-titled Perfect World International and Ether Saga Online, has announced a partnership between themselves and the phoenix game studio Runic Games for the publishing rights of the upcoming MMO, Torchlight.This is a large step forward for Runic Games, the previous Mythos game team of the now defunct Flagship Studios. Their agreement with Perfect World is for global publishing rights, meaning Torchlight could be seeing an international release.Little is currently known about Torchlight, other than the game will be focusing on a single city and centered around the acquisition of a magical ore that imbues equipment with power, but also has a downside to it as well. The game has a bit of a cartoony, playful character to it, as seen in some early concept art shown on the main Runic Games website.
Ether Saga Online enters open beta
If you need a game that's sugary and saccharin-y cute to the point of inducing cavities via the internet, then look no further than Ether Saga Online, the latest game from the people who brought you Perfect World International.Ether Saga has just entered their open public beta, meaning you can mosey on over to the website and sign up to try the game. Like Perfect World, Ether Saga will be a free to play game, supported by the usual cash transactions from an item shop.The game does have some interesting features, including the ability to level up your character's affinity to the various elements in the game, adding a new dimension to each class beyond how the class normally functions. Past that, skills can be learned on the fly in the field without the need to visit a trainer, and characters get skills relating to their "birthday," the day of the week that they were born.For all the information about Ether Saga Online, check out their website at http://eso.perfectworld.com.
