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Dragon's Prophet character classes trailer released
Runewaker's Dragon's Prophet came to our attention last year as SOE signed on to publish the title in North America. This week, the game is gearing up for a closed beta test in its native Taiwan. As such, Runewaker has released a character classes trailer, and MMO Culture comments on the game's rough-around-the-edges alpha experience. "The combat is leaning towards that of TERA's, rather than Dragon Nest or Vindictus," the author writes. Dragon's Prophet is Runewaker's followup to Runes of Magic, and it features eight different types of dragons with unique skill trees, an extensive housing system, raids, and PvP. The game's Taiwanese beta starts March 13th. You can view the classes trailer after the cut. [Thanks Dengar!]
One Shots: Dancing with my homies
First of all, thank you guys so much for responding to our One Shots rallying cry and absolutely flooding us with screenshots! My cup overfloweth, and that's a delightful change of pace for this column. Even though we're quite literally set for months now, please keep sending in your favorite old or new screencaps! To kick us off this week is Jerry, who's showing off how Anarchy Online can party down with the best of them: "This is Yardsale, a level 220 Trader, dancing with his trader pets in Borealis." At first glance, I almost thought we were in the Matrix. But even with polygons so sharp that you can cut yourself on them, this title definitely has a style all its own. Hit the jump to see this and other wonders of the screenshotted world.
SOE meet and greet at PAX East open to everyone
Want a chance to rub elbows with some of the movers and shakers in the SOE world? Then head to the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel on March 22nd for a meet and greet during PAX East. Don't worry if you don't have tickets for the convention itself; the event on Friday night from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. EDT is open to the public. Representatives from a number of SOE's titles will be there to chat, share stories, and even answer questions about the various games. You could discuss PlanetSide 2 strategies with Community Rep Maggie Krohn, discuss EverQuest's latest expansion with Sr. Community Manger Eric Cleaver, or even corner EQ franchise director Dave Georgeson and see what news about EQ Next he might let slip! Dragon's Prophet Senior Producer Todd Carson will also be on hand to answer your questions about, well, dragons. And rumor has it that the drinks are on Brasse! What's a con event without swag? Dragon's Prophet priority access beta keys as well as T-shirts will be given out on a first come, first served basis. EQ goodies might be had as well. Folks planning to drop by can RSVP on the official Facebook event page and follow updates on the various games' respective twitter accounts.
The Perfect Ten: Creative MMO minigames
Few people are without opinions on minigames in MMOs. Some love 'em, some hate 'em, and some just ignore 'em. Some even despise that I won't type "th." Takes all types, really. Personally, I'm all for including new types of enjoyable systems that can be repeated, particularly if it benefits my character in some way. There's also this perception that minigames are just for kids. It's true that more kid-centric titles like Free Realms and Clone Wars Adventures thrive on minigames like you thrive on deep-fried butter balls, but these little diversions exist all over the place in "grownup" titles too. Holidays are a favorite time to trot them out, although there are plenty that exist year-round. Today we're going to look at 10 creative minigames that have tickled my fancy over the year. Yes, I used the word "fancy." Whatcha gonna do about it?
Choose My Adventure: Quartet edition
It's that time again, ladies and gentlemen. After three rounds of letting my fate be chosen by the whims of my readers, I have chosen to do the exact same thing all over again. I'm getting back in the big seat and running through Choose My Adventure with a new list of games, a new set of bonus polls, and a new set of whatever else people expect when I do these columns. Plus, while the third installment usually has a lot of pressure, the fourth installment is rarely assumed to be anything special. So I feel as if I'm off the hook. This time around, I'm putting in some old favorites, some candidates that are often voted for but never make the prime time, and some games that might just raise some eyebrows. So let's meet our contestants past the break, and get your votes in here by Friday, March 1st!
Dragon's Prophet boasts new EU website, gameplay video
You'd naturally expect an MMO called Dragon's Prophet to concern itself with dragons, and Runewaker's upcoming free-to-play title will indeed allow you to discover, capture, and tame over 300 of the mythical beasts. The game boasts a new European community website, which itself boasts a sparkly new gameplay video that shows the dragons in action. "The dragons not only differ in appearance but also offer different types of movement: Some can be used to fly, some are experts at gliding, others don't have wings at all and some are even capable of diving underwater," according to Infernum, the title's European publisher. "Each dragon possesses an individual skillset containing passive, active and supporting abilities. For example, a flying dragon could be capable of healing, providing buffs, and engaging in melee combat. Players manage their dragon collections via a personal lair, from which it will be possible to teach new skills to your scaly companions or send them out to collect resources. You can learn more about the game by viewing the video after the cut. [Source: Infernum press release]
Get a video overview of Dragon's Prophet right here, right now
Runewaker's follow-up to Runes of Magic, Dragon's Prophet, promises to "evolutionize" MMOs. Now that you've been mortally wounded by a pun, perhaps you want to spend your last few minutes on this earth by watching a dev interview about this upcoming fantasy title? Dragon's Prophet's core feature is bonding players with dragons as they go about adventuring. Dragons can be ridden as mounts, leveled up, and used as fighting companions. But that's not all! If you order now in the next 10 minutes, your dragon will be available for production and gathering tasks. Operators are standing by! The seven-minute video is a good primer to the world of Dragon's Prophet, and it's all yours after the break. [Thanks to Hirundo for the tip!]
Jukebox Heroes: Reader requests
One of my favorite parts of doing this column is reading your comments every week. I've discovered that there are several other gamers who are passionate for this type of music and have plenty to say about these songs. There's a lot of memories that are triggered by these tunes as well, and I love hearing about them. Unbeknownst to you but totally beknownst to me, I've been collecting comments regarding your favorite songs in the game's we've covered so far. My opinions on the best of every soundtrack isn't the be-all, end-all, after all. Sometimes you guys and gals show me a song that I overlooked or perhaps didn't appreciate the first time I heard it. So what I've decided to do is turn your favorite songs into an occasional column, and this here is the first. Instead of focusing on just one MMO this week, we'll be looking at six additional tracks from titles we've discussed over the past few months. If you were gnashing your teeth that I overlooked an MMO classic, then you might just be in luck today!
The Perfect Ten: Holiday shopping for the MMO gamer
With Thanksgiving almost under wraps in the states (Canada got an earlier patch of Thanksgiving because the devs love that country), the starter pistol is about to go off for the busiest shopping season of the year. Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and oh-crap-it's-Christmas-Eve-and-only-a-gas-station-is-open are all shopping experiences ahead on the calendar, but perhaps the most challenging experience is that of buying the perfect gift for an MMO gamer. Sure, you could just phone it in and buy a time card, some cash shop points, a subscription or two, or even a Prima strategy guide if you really hated the person, but a proper MMO gift goes beyond that. For a great gift, you need to put in some effort and actually research the field... or just be lazy and use my following guide. We both know which option you're going to choose. So while you slowly digest that turkey and moan about having to waddle your butt down to Best Buy at 3:00 a.m., why not allow me to help you with a few shopping suggestions? For this list, I wanted to focus on game-specific merchandise that isn't t-shirts, game cards, or CafePress coffee mugs. I mean, this shirt is the bomb and all, but we can do better!
Rise and Shiny: Runes of Magic
I first played Runes of Magic a long time ago, as in years. In fact, I played it a bit during beta and right after release. I have a fond memory of being on a voice program with our very own Shawn Schuster and a few other podcasters and bloggers as we ran around playing. I named my character something to do with Slayer, or perhaps that was Shawn, and we had a pretty good time. It was, at the time, one of the higher-quality free-to-play titles out there. Since then the game has undergone many, many changes -- too many changes to recap here. If you really want a summary of the game over the past few years, check out our own Jeremy Stratton's former column, Lost Pages of Taborea. I had Jeremy join me for my last night of gameplay before writing this piece to help clear up some confusion I had about the game. And for some powerelveling. Oh yes, powerleveling.
SOE Live 2012: Dragon's Prophet invigorates sandbox hopes
While I can't exactly say that the best report was saved for last (there was so much awesome at SOE Live 2012), I will say the Dragon's Prophet announcement was the most unexpected exciting news of the weekend. A new sandbox game, with dragons! I'll admit -- I should have seen the writing on the breakfast table. When I sat down for the meal that first day, my table-mate John Smedley, CEO of Sony Online Entertainment, mentioned that the others seated with us were making a dragon game. He then introduced them as developers of Runes of Magic. It was only later when the press learned a new game would be introduced that evening that the connection clicked! After the official announcement, I looked forward to learning even more about the new dragon-laced world. I was pleased to sit down with Smedley and those members of the Runewaker team again -- namely, CEO John Tang and VP of Business Development Tony Tang -- this time to discuss the new partnership and the upcoming free-to-play game.%Gallery-169367%
SOE Live 2012: Dragon's Prophet trailer, website released
Sony Online Entertainment hinted at Dragon's Prophet during last night's SOE Live keynote. Now the firm has released the game's first official trailer as well as a new website destination. The class-based free-to-play fantasy MMO is a collaboration with Runes of Magic developer Runewaker, and it boasts some curious features like extensive player housing and frontier systems. The site says the housing system allows for the construction of "epic structures that defy imagination," while the frontier mechanics grant guild leaders the power to build a kingdom complete with citizens and a powerful military. Check out the gameplay trailer after the cut.
Runes of Magic previews Chrysalias Shadows patch
Dubbed the "Mysterious Land of the Elements," Chrysalia will be the next step for Runes of Magic adventurers. This strange region is set to open on September 25th, but Gameforge has a preview video to whet your appetite for the journey to come. Chrysalia is dominated by strong elemental features, such as waterfalls and lava, and looks to be populated by many intelligent insect species. Some of these, like the Garon, are friendly, but others, like the Kulech, will spit acid in your face and slurp your insides for dinner. Or so we've heard. Next Tuesday's patch will also introduce a new challenging instance to the game. Check out the flyby video after the jump and let us know what you think! [Source: Gameforge press release]
One Shots: Still got it
Runes of Magic was a F2P game before the cool kids joined the F2P party, but it's been a little neglected by MMO players. Massively reader Andrew wants us to know that it's got some spark left in it: While Runes of Magic may be three years old, the graphics are still looking great. There's some awesome vistas in RoM that appear when you take the time to control+z your interface and look around. This shot is from Southern Janost Forest. In fact, Andrew sent us two pics, and they're both behind the break along with a few more of your One Shots!
Choose My Adventure: Beware the Bard edition
All the world's a game, and all the men and women are merely players. Shakespeare was really onto something there, even if he flubbed a word a bit. Folks who try to deny their participation in games are just fooling themselves! What are games, after all, but progression in a given world? Some people are just so boring that they stick to only one world. We know better, though, don't we? We choose ours from a myriad of options! Or, as in this case, you Choose My Adventure. I will admit, I have been in the wings, eagerly awaiting my next casting call. Twice now you've sent me on amazing adventures, and I've had a blast! And finally, it's my turn to take the stage again. So what will I star in this time? Will it be a military epic, a space adventure, or a flight of fantasy? My big comeback is in your hands! Peruse the list below and follow your muse to choose which world I will spotlight for the next six weeks. Just be sure to have your vote in by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday the 9th. And don't forget to stay tuned to the MV Guide over the coming weeks to watch the adventures unfold on Massively TV!
Jukebox Heroes: Runes of Magic's soundtrack
Welcome back to Jukebox Heroes, the column that dares you to close your eyes and unplug your ears. Well, after you're done reading this opening, of course. So what's the greatest tragedy in modern musical history? Everyone has an answer to that, but mine will be, "How much Runes of Magic's score is overlooked because it's a free-to-play title." Sure, the game shares enough DNA with World of Warcraft that the two titles can never marry or else they'll have inbred children, but RoM's soundtrack is anything but a clone of WoW's. Runes of Magic actually goes toe to toe with some of the greatest music I've ever heard in MMOs, and that's no exaggeration. I have to thank Massively's Jeremy Stratton for turning me on to this particular score. According to a few accounts I've read, Runes of Magic's music is both cobbled together from tracks of other video games as well as original pieces composed specifically for this. I honestly don't care where the music comes from; I just care to turn my speakers all the way up and feel epic when it's playing. So here we go with my absolute favorite tracks from Runes of Magic, minus a couple that I've shared on Massively before!
MMO Blender: Jeremy's unholy MMO concoction
Have you ever wished MMO developers could put away their checkbooks, pluck out the best bits of their respective MMOs, and weld them together to construct the megalopolis of MMOs? We do too! So today, we're launching a brand-new opinion column, MMO Blender, in which the Massively writers will mix and match their favorite features from existing MMOs for your amusement. But do our choices create a perfectly honed machine or a lumbering, speechless frankenstein of an MMO that deserves to be put out of its misery? First up: Livestreamer extraordinaire and Contributing Editor Jeremy Stratton with a potent, sandboxy blend of Fallen Earth, EVE Online, Lord of the Rings Online, and more. Wet your whistle after the break and look for more MMO Blenders from the rest of our staff in the coming weeks!
The Perfect Ten: MMO Jukebox
Earlier this year, I got to expose my musically nerdy side to you all in a one-two shot of MMO theme song countdowns. The truth is that I'm just a huge sucker for video game music, and as such, I've collected a wide range of MMO scores to bolster my MP3 player. I know that we players tend to be pretty vocal about turning off MMO music at some point, usually due to extreme repetition. Unfortunately, that seems to leave a bad association with this music in our minds, and I don't feel that reputation is deserved. MMO scores can be just as good -- if not better -- than their counterparts in film or other video games. So I've decided that every so often I'm going to devote a full Perfect Ten to sharing my favorite MMO music. I'm always open to suggestions, of course, so if you know of a track that you feel really should be in the next list, send me an email or leave it in the comments!
Runes of Magic's Chapter V: Fires of Shadowforge now live
Last week we got a preview of Runes of Magic's new Chapter V update at E3. Today you can join in the fun, as Runewaker and Frogster have officially released Fires of Shadowforge to the live servers. The update raises the level cap to 72 and adds a new race (the Shadowforge Dwarves), two new classes (Champion and Warlock), and a new continent filled with quest and dungeon content. That's just the tip of the iceberg for Chapter V, too. The devs are planning to add new guild instances and buildings, new battlegrounds, dungeons, elite skills, world bosses, and more over the life of the update. Read all about it at the official Runes of Magic site. [Source: Frogster press release]
Runes of Magic: Chapter V sparks to life in a new trailer
Saying that it's on the "home stretch" leading up to the launch of Runes of Magic's next great content update, Frogster released a trailer highlighting the Shadowforge Dwarves from Chapter V. The trailer takes us through an abbreviated tale of how a fallen cadre of dwarves were set in stone for eons, only to come back to life once their curse was lifted. The Shadowforge Dwarves are set to become the first new playable race in the game since its launch, and the third overall. Chapter V will also incorporate two additional classes, a new starting area, and several high-level zones and dungeons. Excited about the Chapter V update? Set the following trailer on repeat and count down the hours until it releases on June 12th!
