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Istaria publishes September content update, looks to the future
A few days ago we told you about some sandbox games that are worth your time, money, and in most cases, both. We're also ashamed to admit that we overlooked one of the more unique free-form MMORPGs in existence. That MMORPG is Istaria: Chronicles of the Gifted, and the devs have recently dropped a pretty extensive content update on the long-running fantasy game. Aside from the usual bug-fixing and quest tweaks, the September patch added a new high-level region called Winter Vale and a revamp of the game's portal system. That's just for starters, too, since the Istaria devs are hard at work on the new Helian's Tomb mini-dungeon and quest series as well as the return of seasonal events. Finally, there are several network and game client optimization projects in the works, including new launcher functionality and character management options. In short, there's never been a better time to return to (or discover) the world of Istaria. If you're curious, the game client is free to download, and you can also partake of an unlimited 14-day free trial or a feature-limited free-to-play option. Oh, and did we mention that you can build your own town and play as a dragon? [Thanks to Paul for the tip!]
Age of Wulin interview translation hints at user-created martial arts
Curious about Age of Wulin, the free-to-play martial arts sandpark that's been in the news a bit lately? We were too, and as such we read with interest the translation of an interview with Snail Games CEO Shi Hai that recently went down on Weibo. What's Weibo? It's basically a Chinese Twitter analog, and the interview touches on game basics including character slots (one per account), PKing opportunities, and brief blurbs on the game's unique auto-pathing and user-created martial arts systems. These last two didn't merit more than a mention in this particular interview, but rest assured that we'll be bringing you all the latest Age of Wulin news as it happens.
XL Games details three ArcheAge races
XL Games has added to the trickle of ArcheAge information making its way to the West with a new race-related reveal this morning. The fantasy sandpark will feature eight distinct races, and though we've known their names for some time now, the new info drop is the first opportunity we've had to look at the Hariharans, Dwarves, and Warborn. Dwarves are -- as you might guess -- short, stubborn, and fond of metal. Hariharans aren't quite as exotic as the name suggests, given that they're one of two human races in the world of ArcheAge. In terms of lore, there's no love lost between Hariharans and their Nuian counterparts, and the former tend towards light weapons and armor while the latter favor heavy weapons and heavier mail. Finally, XL also revealed the Warborn, and ArcheAge Online describes them as "neither demons nor humans, but a gigantic race who excel at killing things."
Choose your abilities with ArcheAge's custom class creator
ArcheAge's skill and class system is still something of a mystery to most folks in the West, due to both the language barrier and the fact that XL Games hasn't outlined all the particulars in detail. The company has updated its English-language website, though, and the ability-combination page gives a bit more insight into what players can expect when building characters in the upcoming sandpark title. The page features a charted list of abilities that, when combined in groups of three, result in a particular class name being displayed. We're assuming that the resulting class will then get to select specific skills from each ability tree. For example, selecting the artistry, calling, and wild abilities results in a class called a Plainsrunner, and reading between the lines on each ability description indicates a Ranger-like class with a pet, stealth, support buffs, and ranged attacks. If you're looking for a traditional fantasy class, XL provides premade Warrior, Priest, and Wizard templates just above the chart (as well as something called a Chaser), and you can also view brief videos of 10 of the listed abilities via the link in the left margin.
ArcheAge video shows off unusual transportation options
We've stumbled across another ArcheAge video, and unlike the last such that focused heavily on PvP, this time around we get a good look at some of the sandpark title's unique transportation alternatives. There are a gaggle of mounts on display, and with apologies to our Korean friends who will no doubt correct us in due time, we're just going to call them like we see them. Aside from your traditional horse and rider option there's also what appears to be some sort of spotted lion as well as a curious cross between a tauntaun and a bunny rabbit. We also get a glimpse of some city-based transport systems including a steampunk-esque horse and floating carriage (with some sort of mechanical contraption filling in for the horse), as well as the hang-gliding option we saw previously in the ChinaJoy trailer. Finally, there's more footage of the famous airship that's been featured in several previous ArcheAge clips. Head past the cut to see the sights.
Fallen Earth state of the game talks 1.9.2, economics, and more
Curious -- and perhaps a tad impatient -- regarding the status of Fallen Earth's free-to-play transition? We were, and fortunately for everyone, producer Marie Croall just penned a dev blog that's given us a bit more insight into the goings-on around the wasteland as of late. The good news is that "the heavy lifting is over" in terms of the account and services migration to GamersFirst. Croall says that the Fallen Earth team is a smidge over halfway through the entire transition process, so for now it'll still cost you a few bucks to log in and get your post-apocalyptic sandpark fix. Croall spends some virtual ink talking about this month's fast travel/1.9.2 patch, and she also goes into a bit more detail on the combat changes that came with it. Finally, she touches on the game's second anniversary (yeah, it's been two years already!), which happens next month and will also herald some economic changes designed to make the game's well-regarded crafting system pack a little more punch. There's more too, but much of it is farther down the development pipeline, and we highly recommend heading to the official Fallen Earth dev blog to check it out.
ArcheAge videos show off PvP
Following ArcheAge here in the West often involves copious use of Google Translate as well as wading through tons of difficult-to-decipher web postings. Fortunately, the player community likes to post gameplay videos from the sandpark title's various Korean closed betas, and today we've stumbled across a couple of noteworthy clips that aren't subject to the whims of online translation. Both clips center around PvP, and though ArcheAge will feature world PvP in certain areas, the game also boasts battlegrounds for those who prefer less randomness. The first video features a Mage/Bard/Archer player in a skirmish against an invading pirate guild. The second clip takes place inside a battleground and features the same class combo again. There's quite a bit more footage on this one, though, and the 13-minute running time gives us a pretty good look at what it's like to siege a castle. You'll find both videos after the cut.
New ArcheAge trailer and mobile app at ChinaJoy; Song charts MMO generations
The ArcheAge news floodgates have opened this morning, thanks largely to XL Games' showing at the ChinaJoy Digital Entertainment Expo in Shanghai. First up is an iOS mobile application reveal, and the program will allow players to view character details and message their ArcheAge pals (with more functionality on the way according to an article at MMO Culture). The fan site also has an interesting look at XL founder Jake Song's ChinaJoy speech which outlines the differences between first-, second-, and third-generation MMORPGs. Song charts the evolution of MMO gameplay from the "unorganized freedom" of early titles to the passive playground style popularized by World of Warcraft, and says that third-gen titles like ArcheAge will provide the best of both worlds by re-introducting player creativity and removing restrictions while maintaining a high degree of polish. Finally, XL has created a new trailer for ChinaJoy, and the clip features the usual stunning scenery as well as a few new wrinkles (hang-gliding and castle construction!). Check it out after the break.
ArcheAge novel penned by popular Korean fantasy author
MMO novelizations are pretty common nowadays, what with everything from EVE Online to Guild Wars represented in extra-game lore-centric endeavors. ArcheAge is looking to join the hit parade with its first tie-in novel, a fantasy romp called The Fir and the Hawk that fleshes out the upcoming sandpark's extensive backstory. When we say extensive, we really mean extensive, as the book chronicles ArcheAge history some 2,000 years prior to the game's timeline. The novel is the work of popular Korean fantasy author Min-Hee Jeon, and fansite ArcheAge Online calls it "ArcheAge's first official tome of lore." The Fir and the Hawk isn't yet available in the States, but Korean-language fans can pre-order it via the Aladin service. [Thanks to Mark for the tip!]
ArcheAge parkour video shows off city architecture
It's been a while since we've seen an ArcheAge video, and AAportal has come through with an interesting clip that was recorded during the closed beta test at the end of May. The three-minute jaunt is heavy on urban exploration -- or what passes for urban in a fantasy context -- and the protagonist engages in a bit of free-running to see the sights in and around one of the fantasy title's huge cities. There's a bit of lag on display, as well as a lack of real danger given that the player character walks away from several high falls, but the clip is worth watching due to ArcheAge's gorgeous architecture. Check it out after the cut, then head to AAportal to join the discussion.
The Soapbox: Polished vs. feature-rich
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column. A few weeks ago I wrote a Soapbox article that exposed the flaws in the MMO first kiss theory. It generated more discussion than I anticipated, much of it spiraling off into tangents like MMO design, sandbox and themepark elements, and the seeming incompatibility between a polished game and a feature-rich game. It's this last bit that I'd like to discuss today, and you'll have to forgive me if we tread some familiar ground in the process. While there are many fascinating perspectives and debates in our bizarre hobby, none is as perplexing to me as the disconnect between gamers who want more game and those who want less game, highly polished.
ArcheAge Lillet Meadows location previewed
It's been a few weeks since we've heard tell of any ArcheAge news, but fortunately our friends from AAportal have come through with a new article on XL Games' upcoming sandpark title. Ordinarily we'd describe this sort of piece as a zone preview, but given that ArcheAge is an open world the phrase "location preview" seems more appropriate. The location in question is the Lillet Meadows, an area designed for players between levels 10 and 15 and situated near the Elven and Nuian starting areas. The meadows lie in a lush, fertile valley far from the hustle and bustle of the nearest city, and AAportal spends a good bit of virtual ink describing the natural surroundings. Despite the tranquil setting, enemies abound in the area, most of them variations on undead that include wraiths, ghosts, and a new type of zombie that apparently features broken weapon fragments instead of limbs. Head to AAportal for all the details, and don't forget to click the image links to see all the Lillet Meadows screenshots.
The Soapbox: Sandparks
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column. The war between sandbox and themepark MMOs is being fought now, not just in the hearts and minds of players but in the simple matter of which project is getting funding for development. It's a war in which adherents to one design philosophy loudly decry the other, where both sides sling insults at one another and mourn how the other side has damaged the promise of MMOs or has no idea how to make a compelling gameplay experience. It's a battle of words and of subscription fees. It's also really, really stupid. Setting up the MMO sphere as a battle between two opposing design philosophies probably feels like a great chance to explore a two-faction system in real life, but it's also shortchanging not just MMOs but games on both sides of the nonexistent fence. It sells a number of games short, and it adds nothing useful to the genre as a whole. It's time to stop seeing the onling gaming sphere as a match of opposing forces and start seeing it as a varied and frequently awe-inspiring spectrum.
The Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column. Like most of you, I play a lot of MMORPGs. Too many, in fact, and the deluge of new and interesting games in the offing is only going to further erode what remains of my free time. I've managed to see the mythical "endgame" in a fair few titles over the years, so when I say that I play a lot, I don't mean that I boot up a trial and hit level 10 before hopping to the next bright shiny. Off the top of my head, I've dinged max level in Age of Conan (three times), Aion, Star Wars Galaxies (six times), Anarchy Online, Lord of the Rings Online, Global Agenda (twice), Vanguard, and The Matrix Online, to name a few. While many of these games subsequently raised the level cap, I've nonetheless raided, PvP'd, and chased enough gear carrots to have an opinion about the proverbial MMORPG "endgame." And I'm here to tell you that most of what passes for said endgame is repetitive schlock.
ArcheAge PvP, dungeoneering discussed
Ready for some more ArcheAge CBT3 impressions? If so, AAportal has your hookup in the form of a new article that examines the recently concluded beta event. While Massively poked around the world of ArcheAge in wide-eyed newb wonder last week, AAportal had been there before, and its new posting compares the team's impressions of CBT3 with the earlier CBT2 event. In addition to investigating interface, character customization, and world changes, AAportal notes that it was able to send a full team of level 20 characters delving into the deeps of one of ArcheAge's dungeons. Explorers will be pleased to know that the dungeon was a labyrinthine experience that left the adventurers unsure as to whether or not they'd managed to see it all. Also on the discussion table is world PvP, and here AAportal reports that player skill trumps zergs quite handily. The game's physics apparently play a big role as well, and the article illustrates the differences between a knock-back ability in World of Warcraft (which happens the same way every time regardless of terrain) and an ArcheAge knock-back that is affected by the character's surroundings. Finally, the article concludes that ArcheAge is not a very solo-friendly game as it currently stands, with coordinated groups required for premium content like ship battles and dungeons runs. Check out all the details at AAportal.net.
Massively Exclusive: The sweet and sour of ArcheAge's third closed beta
Forgive me for getting this out of the way up front: I frickin' hate betas. Loathe them. Avoid them like the plague, usually. Why then, did I find myself foregoing sleep for the better part of last week to log into XL Games' third closed beta test for ArcheAge? Curiosity, for sure, and maybe just a hint of desperation. As the MMORPG genre moves farther and farther away from the types of games worlds that drew me in a decade ago, the chance to get a preview of what some fans are hoping is the next great AAA sandbox was enough to overwhelm my betaphobia. It's been quite some time since I've glanced out my window to see the sun rise while playing an MMORPG through the night, and ArcheAge definitely has its claws in me at this point. Is it the next great sandbox, though? Is it even a sandbox at all? Can XL successfully meld two design philosophies (sandbox and themepark) that are, in many ways, polar opposites? Those questions are difficult to answer, but join me after the cut and I'll give it a shot.
ArcheAge closed beta three kicks off, gameplay videos abound
ArcheAge's third Korean closed beta phase officially kicked off last night (or was that this morning -- it's all running together), and as a result, a couple of interesting new videos are floating around the interwebs. First up is a lengthy look at the game's character creation options followed by a 15-minute romp through the sandpark title's expansive world courtesy of an unedited play session video. While the character creation clip is pretty spiffy in its own right, it pales in comparison to the nifty swimming animations and underwater effects on display in the second clip. Exploration is the order of the day here, as we don't get to see any combat or crafting. There's plenty of eye candy though, and you check out both clips after the cut. [Thanks to Shawn for the tip!]
New ArcheAge video shows off skills and combos
Ready for a closer look at ArcheAge's combat? Look no further than a new video recently uploaded to YouTube that shows off a number of skills and combos. The video features Korean subtitles, and as with all material that hasn't been officially released to the western market, it comes with quite a few caveats regarding final builds and suchlike. It also comes with quite a bit of ambiguity, as we're not sure how exactly these abilities work in the context of ArcheAge's sandpark skill system. One thing we do know is that they all look mighty interesting, and the two-minute clip is an exercise in spot-the-MMO-archetype for long-time genre fans. There's the caster, a ranger type, some melee DPS (but not a tank, obviously), and some sort of Bard analog. See for yourself after the break.
ArcheAge producer talks tanking, adventure system, and closed beta
AAportal has translated a new interview with XL Games lead designer Kim Kyung-Tae, and the piece sheds a bit of light on what players can expect in ArcheAge's third Korean closed beta test later this month. The event is designed for 5,000 players and will feature newly enabled game systems including adventures, battlefields, and instanced dungeons. The interview boasts several interesting nuggets, chief among them a brief description of ArcheAge's adventure content. "Adventure content works by a system of hints: the player can randomly find a clue or hint how to find a special place. If you collect enough hints to find it, you will see a special item or monster. These can't be found in normal ways, only through the adventure contents, so it is not related to leveling up," Kim explains. Adventure system rewards won't replace quest or crafted items and instead exist "just for fun." Kim also has some intriguing things to say about the MMO trinity, more specifically the fact that gameplay in ArcheAge doesn't require a tank. "The overall gameplay will be around using various devices and cooperating with other players in the party. In real life, no one should be able to tank a big monster, and instead take it down with trickery. We want it to be the same in the game." The interview also features discussion on siege mechanics, housing, and travel systems, and you can read the full text at AAportal.
The Daily Grind: Do you want directed content in a sandbox MMO?
XL Games' ArcheAge has been generating a fair amount of buzz lately, in no small part due to the fact that some starving sandbox fans are pinning their hopes on the upcoming Korean import. One thing worth noting, however, is that XL is positioning ArcheAge as a third-generation MMORPG that combines the best of the previous generations as opposed to a throw-back to the days of Asheron's Call or Ultima Online. To borrow a phrase, ArcheAge will be a "sandpark." What this means isn't completely clear, but we do know that the title will feature quests, lootable gear, and a class system of sorts (albeit one designed to provide a much larger range of player options than your typical themepark). ArcheAge's "sandboxiness" seems to stem from its deep crafting, housing, and farming/gathering systems, plus its flexible progression options. For today's Daily Grind, we're curious as to your thoughts on such an amalgamation. Are you looking forward to ArcheAge and other potential third-gen games like it? Put another way, do you want directed content in your sandbox? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
