press-release
Latest
Brainchild Kineo joins Kindle, iPad in digital reformation; ships to schools in ten states
Watch out, parents -- if you live in one of a handful of states, your prodigious student-of-the-month may be bringing home something a bit heftier than a tacky bumper sticker. We're looking at the Brainchild Kineo, a 7-inch, 800MHz Android tablet, locked down for education-only use. No unauthorized web browsing, no personal email, and no Angry Birds. Running a specialized version of Eclair, the Kineo allows educators to limit student access to curriculum related apps, websites, or features exclusively -- negating the tablet's potential of becoming more distraction than learning tool. Paired with Brainchild's standards-based Achiever software, the Kineo may actually have a chance of academic success (sorry Kindle). The first 5000 units are making their way to select districts in Texas, California, Tennessee, and a smattering of other states; hit the break for full PR and a video of the tablet in action.
SOE begins restoring game services
Sony Online Entertainment has good news for fans of its dormant MMORPGs. Service restoration has officially begun for all of the company's online games, forums, and related websites as of May 14th. Earlier today, the company issued a press release with the details as well as a statement from Sony executive Kazuo Hirai. "Our main priority is the safety and security of our customers' personal information. We are making consumer data protection a full-time, company-wide commitment, and have applied enhanced security technologies so that our customers can feel protected and confident about playing our games," Hirai said. SOE provided details on its Welcome Back promotion earlier this week, and today's release provides links to a handy chart covering promotions for all of the company's games as well as a summary of the initial customer service notice and contact information. The promotions include free play time for former (not just active) subscribers to SOE's MMOs, making it a great time to return to an old favorite.
DOFUS: Battles available in the App Store
What's more fun than using the word DOFUS in a sentence? Using the words DOFUS: Battles, of course. Happily, the devs at Ankama have given us ample reason to do both thanks to the newly released iOS title called, you guessed it, DOFUS: Battles. The strategy game is available in the App Store today for both iPhones and iPads and is an interesting blend of RPG, RTS, and tower defense mechanics, all tied to the game world of the wildly successful DOFUS MMORPG. Players will manage an army consisting of 12 heroes and a dragon, and the new game borrows 12 classes from its parent MMO and spices things up with 28 levels, three minigames, and more than 170 unique equipment items. DOFUS: Battles currently comes in four flavors: a free version with battle and class limitations, the full version, and two corresponding HD versions for higher screen resolutions. You can learn more at the game's official site.
GamersFirst hires Dave Jones as APB Reloaded advisor
Raise your hand if you saw this one coming: Dave Jones is back on the All Points Bulletin team. The former Realtime Worlds boss and the brains behind APB's original incarnation (as well as Crackdown and the first two Grand Theft Auto games) has joined GamersFirst "in an advisory role and will share his vast game design experience during critical design stages" according to a new press release. Jones has flown under the radar since the meltdown of Realtime Worlds and appears to be excited to get back on the development horse. "The game was my passion back when I was developing it with Realtime Worlds, and I'm extremely excited to be able to participate in fulfilling the long term vision for the title," he said. Jones also goes on to praise GamersFirst's free-to-play vision for San Paro. APB Reloaded is currently winding down its closed beta stage, with open beta scheduled for May 18th.
AIKA Global gearing up for nation merge, in-game events
AIKA's plans for global domination are ramping up in the month of May. The free-to-play fantasy title now features four major in-game events, and a new press release hints at "exciting new game and website updates" to be revealed. First up is the month-long Nation Wars II event in which AIKA's nation-states transform into all out war zones. Four players from each nation will represent their homelands on the Lord Marshall Alliance, and national armies will be able to march on enemy territory for fun and profit. Next up is the Legionaires of May event in which participants compete to level new characters from 10 to 50 as swiftly as possible. The first five legions to complete the requirements by May 31st will snag a prize pack. The final two events, A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed and Auction House, span the entire month. Specifics for each will be given in-game during the lead-up to the event. Finally, AIKA Global is introducing an offline mailing system as well as a nation merge that will have a major impact on the game's political landscape. Head to the official AIKA website and read all about the coming changes.
Jagex partners with Herotainment to publish Herotopia
Heavyweight free-to-play publisher Jagex is joining forces with Herotainment, a New York-based children's media company. The partnership will lead to the publication of a new browser-based virtual world called Herotopia, which is aimed, naturally, at little tykes. Herotopia casts kids in the role of superheroes and offers both real-world and fantasy-based locations to explore. Gameplay also involves questing, building secret hideouts, 25 unique minigames, and the showing off of various super powers, all wrapped in the confines of a safe online environment. "We are delighted to partner with Herotainment as they have created an enthralling virtual world which provides kids with a fun and enjoyable experience they can make their own," said Jagex's Wendy Rosenthal via press release. The National Parenting Publication Awards agrees, as the organization has already tagged Herotopia with its Gold Award for excellence in video games. Head to the official Herotopia website to learn more.
Researchers reveal initial Wizard101 findings
"The stereotype of the dysfunctional, male teen gamer no longer holds," say the researchers behind an extensive new study based on Wizard101. "At any time during the game, your teammate could be a kid, a neighbor, or a grandparent." Trinity University academics recently partnered with KingsIsle Entertainment to survey more than 30,000 Wizard101 players regarding online habits, inter-generational play, and family gaming. The findings are the result of one of the largest studies of online game players to date and were collected via an anonymous survey in March 2011. The results speak to a diverse playerbase that spans multiple generations and that also invests a portion of its out-of-game time in creative projects directly related to the game. Twenty percent of adult respondents indicated extra-game activity focused on Wizard101 (usually blogging), while 54% of children engaged in game-related activities including blogging, artwork, video production, and creative writing. Check out the full press release after the cut.
Faxion Online launching May 26th
Judgment day is coming. No, not that one (or even that one). The fire and brimstone of your typical MMORPG launch is bearing down on the world of Faxion Online thanks to the official announcement of the title's launch date. UTV True Games has issued a press release confirming that the free-to-play fantasy game will debut on May 26th and bring its unique blend of tongue-in-cheek humor and an irreverent take on PvP to players across the globe. Faxion's conflict revolves around the control of war-torn Limbo, the halfway house between heaven and hell that serves as the game's central locale. Players will also fight over the seven deadly sins in a never-ending struggle between light and dark. "We are excited to launch Faxion Online, and based on our burgeoning community's feedback, we have added several new features that will only intensify the combat-driven gameplay experience," says UTV's Frank Lucero. While today's press release doesn't elaborate when it comes to the new features, we'll be bringing you more Faxion-related info as launch day draws near.
Nearly half a million customers left T-Mobile in Q1 2011
Not even promises of a new Sidekick can keep T-Mobile from hemorrhaging customers, it seems, as the company reported significant losses in its Q1 statement for 2011. According to official Q1 financials, 471,000 contract customers either failed to re-up, or outright canceled their contracts. Stacked against a shortcoming growth of just 372,000 prepaid customers (including MVNO customers for sub-carriers), T-Mobile suffered a net loss of 99,000 users, a 29-percent increase in losses over the same period for the previous year. Ouch. The firm chalked its loss to increased "competitive pressures," which lends credence to AT&T's insistence that Sprint and Verizon are such fierce opponents that it has to acquire T-Mobile for the magenta-tinted carrier to stay in the game. You can judge the profits and pitfalls for yourself -- just hit the source link for the full financials.
Fiesta Online's Burning Rock expansion packed with new content
It's expansion time for Fiesta Online, and gamigo is trotting out some new content called Burning Rock to keep the hearts of its loyal fans aflame. In addition to the new stuff, the free-to-play fantasy title's existing zones have been tweaked to "reduce the amount of time it takes to level up," according to a gamigo press release. Regarding the new content, it's a mixture of new quests, new boss monsters, and new zones, including the Cave of Fever, the Burning Cave, and mobs like the Stone Giant and Fire Golem. There are also 19 new quests, all of them designed for players between the levels of 84 and 92. Head to the official website for more on Fiesta Online and the new expansion.
R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud looks toward Hero expansion with new Divinity server
YNK Interactive has formally announced the introduction of Divinity, a new server for its R.O.H.A.N.: Blood Feud free-to-play fantasy MMORPG. The release marks the first step toward the forthcoming Hero expansion, and new players will find that the Divinity server provides several perks designed to help those new to R.O.H.A.N. get acclimated in a hurry. All characters created during Divinity's first month will receive a starter package containing XP bonus items, a styling ticket, and a +5 stat costume. R.O.H.A.N. will also be featuring numerous drop rate and bonus XP events in the coming weeks to prepare for the expansion. "Divinity is just the start of a new beginning with R.O.H.A.N. this year. We're thrilled on the release of the new server update, as it sets the foundation for the many events and exciting game content to come," says YNK's Derrick Lee.
SOE releases further breach details, 24.6 million accounts compromised
There's an old adage that things are always darkest just before the dawn, and right now the folks at Sony Online Entertainment -- as well as millions of customers -- are enduring another round of grim news. The San Diego-based MMORPG publisher has just announced that approximately 24.6 million accounts may have been stolen, in addition to the 12,700 credit or debit card thefts reported yesterday. A new SOE press release reports that personal information including names, addresses, email addresses, login names, and hashed passwords has been illegally obtained by hackers. Another 10,700 direct debit records were pilfered from accounts in Austria, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain, including bank account numbers and the information mentioned above. SOE plans to compensate consumers with 30 days of free subscription time as well as an additional day for each day its systems are down. The company will also provide "a complimentary offering to assist users in enrolling in identity theft protection services and/or similar programs."
gPotato releases Tears of Arcana update for Iris Online
gPotato has announced the official release of its latest update for Iris Online. The Tears of Arcana patch went live today and brought with it plenty of new content for fans of the free-to-play fantasy MMORPG. In addition to a level cap increase (65) and a new elite monster zone, today's patch features a revamped hard mode for the Wood Garden instance. The new difficulty level rewards unique items (and epics) and represents a significant step up the challenge ladder. Iris Online also features a new accessory imprinting system that allows for customization via stat additions and a nifty item forging mechanic that upgrades weapons, mounts, and armor (and turns your unused items into epics). Finally, Terminus boasts a new armor exchange NPC which gives players the opportunity to temper their equipment for free. You can learn more about the Tears of Arcana update, as well as download Iris Online, at the game's official website.
Sony executive to address media regarding PlayStation Network debacle
If you're curious what Sony higher-ups have to say about the recent PlayStation Network security debacle, you'll want to check out Kazuo Hirai's remarks to the media at 2:00 p.m. Sunday in Tokyo (1:00 a.m. EDT). Hirai, Sony Corp's executive deputy president, is expected to field questions from journalists as well as use his considerable PR skills to put a positive spin on the situation and its aftermath. Much is at stake for the global entertainment giant, including possible legal actions resulting from the compromise of 77 million user accounts (and the company's delayed response and acknowledgment of the problem well after the fact). It's a big moment for Hirai as well; the executive is considered the front-runner in the race to supplant current Sony president Howard Stringer -- who has "been vague about his plans from the next financial year that starts in April 2012" according to Reuters.
Pitchblack Games seeking testers for new HeroEngine MMO
Want to get in on the ground floor with a new HeroEngine sci-fi MMORPG? No, we're not talking about Star Wars: The Old Republic beta access but rather the opportunity to test an as-yet unnamed title from Pitchblack Games. The company's website has a suitably dystopian far future feel to it, but there's not a whole lot of info on the game itself beyond a piece of concept art. Pitchblack has informed Massively that anyone and everyone can sign up for testing, though, so jump in and see for yourself. The HeroEngine originally powered Simutronics' Hero's Journey MMORPG before being licensed by BioWare for its upcoming Star Wars opus. Head to the official Pitchblack website for more.
Dungeons and Dragons Update 9 is live
It's update time in the world of Eberron, and Turbine has issued a press release that hits the highlights of Dungeons and Dragons Online's latest patch. Update 9 (subtitled Harbinger of Madness) brings a bevy of changes to the free-to-play fantasy title, including an extensive crafting overhaul, a new adventure pack, and new animations, spells, and prestige enhancement lines. The Harbinger of Madness adventure pack is designed for levels 15 and above and brings a bit of detective work to the fantasy genre as players are tasked with tracking down the those responsible for a series of abductions and gruesome fleshcrafting experiments. In addition, Update 9 should make casters happy since they're now more powerful at lower levels thanks to a spell point re-balance, and epic difficulty dungeons have been "updated for more efficient game play." Head to the official website for more details.
Angels Online's Primordial Paradise expansion brings new maps, achievements
There's a new expansion for Angels Online, and IGG's latest press release details a bit of what players can expect. The Primordial Paradise awaits, and intrepid explorers will "make their way through native villages, thick jungles and ancient ruins to battle scores of new, frightening monsters." The region boasts a slew of new quests, many of them revolving around the "unimaginable evil" that lurks in the deep, dark recesses of the area. Seven new maps are also ripe for plundering, and Primordial Paradise offers new achievement and title systems as well as various itemization updates to assist players in tweaking their characters. To celebrate the expansion, which is now live, Angels Online is hosting a seven-day double XP event. Head to the game's official forums for more details.
Guild Launch sponsoring DragonCon 2011 MMO track
DragonCon isn't far over the horizon, and both genre fans and companies are making plans to descend on Atlanta for the annual Labor Day weekend nerd-a-thon in September. One such outfit is Guild Launch, and the hosting company has just announced via press release that it will be sponsoring the MMO track at this year's convention. Guild Launch, founded in 2006 and renowned for its ability to ease the HTML-ignorant into the creation and maintenance of their own guilld-related websites, will be participating in various MMORPG panels as well as exhibiting its services throughout the convention. "After attending DragonCon for the last few years we decided we wanted to promote the DragonCon MMO track more directly. We've found DragonCon to be an awesome place to meet the members of our service and we look forward to meeting more of them in 2011," says company founder Stephen Johnston.
Tales of Pirates II preparing in-game PvP event
Professionally game-mastered events have gotten somewhat rarer as the MMORPG genre has matured, so we're always happy to highlight them. Today we've received word that IGG GMs will be holding court in Tales of Pirates II on April 28th, and players can expect a bit of action and mayhem as the event pits friend and foe against one another in a competition for numerous in-game rewards. The GM will appear next to the PvP map entrance at 10:00 p.m. EDT and will sell Lucky Cards that mark players as friends or foes. The opposing teams will do battle, with the respective objectives revolving around protecting or killing the GM. At the event's conclusion, winning Lucky Cards may be redeemed accordingly. Tales of Pirates II is a free-to-play fantasy MMO in which players navigate a large game world that spans both land and sea. The game features four playable characters as well as a customizable job system and real-time land and sea battles. Head to the official website to learn more and download the client.
WAKFU adding two new classes, political features
Two new character classes are coming to WAKFU's ongoing closed beta. The free-to-play fantasy title developed by Ankama is adding the Enutrof and the Ecaflip to the roster of playable classes as of today's patch. While the names are certainly an unfamiliar mouthful, the classes themselves embody two long-standing adventure archetypes: the treasure-hunter (the Enutrof), and the gambler (the Ecaflip). Ankama is also implementing major features of WAKFU's political system in today's update, among them various player governor abilities including the setting of policies and the appointment of various officials. Finally, existing WAKFU characters will be wiped, so you'll need to start anew the next time you log into the beta client. Check out the full patch notes at the official WAKFU website.
