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Watch Dogs Nvidia trailer offers a close look at pretty environments
The Steam listing for Watch Dogs told us what we'll need to make the game function properly on PC, but Ubisoft's recent trailer offers a glimpse of Nvidia's visual effects, which we'll see firsthand on May 27. Check out the damp, shadowy, breezy scenery from the Windy City above. [Image: Ubisoft]
Infinite Crisis shows off what's going on behind the scenes
On one level, Infinite Crisis feels like an obvious premise. Take a setting that already gives players plenty of reasons to beat one another up as iconic heroes and villains, give those players plenty of iconic heroes and villains, enjoy the show. But according to the new behind-the-scenes video, the game took a fair bit more effort than that. It's partly a result of game technology finally matching up with what players need and want in this sort of game. The video features commentary by both DC Comics creators and Turbine Entertainment staff members. One of the big elements of the game is that environments are not static things, that they can be interacted with and damaged during play, and that helps contribute to the feel of a game of superheroes rather than just another MOBA. If you want a closer look, check out the full video embedded just past the break. [Source: Turbine Entertainment press release]
Free for All: The coziest places in free-to-play
Cozy. It's a word that seems more at home in a Martha Stewart magazine than in the column for a website about MMORPGs. Cozy can mean quite a few things, but I love the way that the word can instantly make sense to almost anyone. Think about it -- think about what cozy might mean to you. It means a place that makes you feel warm or safe, a place that begs you to stay for a while. The reason I am so attracted to cozier spots in MMOs is because they can be few and far between these days, or they exist but the content pushes you through so fast that you forget to stop and relax for a while. That speedy content, in my opinion, has helped bring roleplay to its knees. I remember when it was more common to be roleplaying instead of the opposite. These special, inviting spots slow us down and help us remember that we're playing multiplayer games, games with other real people who are experiencing the same places we are at the same time. So, here is a small list of five of the most coziest places in free-to-play. In my opinion, of course. Feel free to add your own.
BMW's Ultimate Drive app lets you share your favorite routes, crowdsources day tripping
Are you driving to get somewhere, or are you driving to drive? That's the fundamental question behind BMW's Ultimate Drive -- a new app that allows iPhone and Android users to share and rate their most enjoyable routes. With this arrow in your smartphone's quiver, you can create and upload your favorite paths using Google Maps, while evaluating other user submissions based on traffic, scenery and that ever-elusive thrill factor. As CNET points out, the app won't let you upload maps from your computer, nor does it allow for Yelp-style ratings of locations along the way, though those features may only be an update away. Check out the source links to download the free app and enjoy the journey. Full PR after the break.
ArcheAge video shows six minutes of scenery
ArcheAge fans have been aching for news updates since the close of the title's latest Korean beta last May. XL Games is presumably hard at work processing feedback and adding functionality, as we haven't heard a peep from Jake Song's dev team in quite some time. Fortunately, our friends at AAPortal are parceling out various bits of video footage captured during CBT3. Last week we got a look at an ArcheAge cityscape by way of a parkour clip, and today we're treated to a six-minute montage of the game's stunning scenery. The footage takes us on a journey across tranquil meadows, arid deserts, and rocky shorelines, and even along for the ride as a player chases an airship (and later boards it, leading to some spectacular high-altitude nighttime vistas). Head past the cut to check it out, and mosey on over to AAportal for the source post.
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.
TERA fly-through video shows off southern Shara
It's been a while since we've seen a proper TERA fly-through video and even longer (maybe ever) since we've seen one that features frosty, forbidden landscapes piled high with ice and snow. Enter a new clip from Frogster (TERA's European publisher) that we recently sighted on YouTube. The trailer runs north of two minutes and whisks us through the wilds of southern Shara on a whirlwind journey from icy snowscapes to sprawling cities then onward through psychedelic forests and quaint fantasy villages. Despite the scenic splendor that takes up most of the screen time, TERA's unique combat mechanics aren't completely ignored. A brief and violent action montage punctuates the clip and serves to whet our appetites for more from the world of Arborea. Feast your eyes after the cut.
Building MMO landscape scenes
Landscapes have been a staple component of almost every MMO in recent memory. With the exception of some sci-fi titles, most MMOs take place on the land of some imagined island or continent. Some use stylised fantasy landscapes that run smoothly on even low-end computers while others have managed almost photo-realistic visuals at the cost of performance. But have you ever thought about what's going on behind the scenes in your favourite MMO? Most of us don't think about how the computer is actually drawing the terrain we run around on. We don't give much thought to the different ways each MMO renders the water in lakes, rivers and oceans. And just how does your computer render so many trees and plants without grinding to a halt? As part of my masters degree in computer science, I got to grips with a number of these techniques and found it a fascinating thing to learn about. Now when I play a new game or see MMO screenshots, I can't help but think about what the computer is doing in the background and how particular visual effects could have been achieved. In this technical article, I talk about some of the components of an MMO landscape scene and a few of the techniques used in creating the graphics behind them.
Building MMO landscape scenes, part 2
From oceans and rivers to ponds and puddles, water is one of those things that really improves an MMO's visual quality. Practically every fantasy MMO makes use of water in one way or another and they all do it a little differently. This gives the appearance that the water is moving and I've seen the technique in World of Warcraft, EverQuest 2 and a few other MMOs.
Aion video tour shows off the Altgard zone
A number of fantasy MMO gamers who are looking for an aerial twist on combat, or simply the ability to soar, are looking forward to Aion: The Tower of Eternity. The latest title from NCsoft is expected to release sometime in Fall 2009, and the developer has been releasing a series of zone tour videos to stoke people's interest in the game. The latest video NCsoft has released shows off the Altgard Zone, with panoramic otherworldly scenes of the world's surface and even its subterranean depths. If you're interested in seeing Aion's Altgard, we've got a YouTube embed of the video for you below the cut.
Warhammer Online takes us to epic places
One fair criticism that many observers of Warhammer Online have levied over the year or so is that from the bits and pieces we've been shown of the game, it looks rather unspectacular. Part of this, we think, is that the lighting elements haven't been fully implemented yet, which gives the game a rather flat, uninteresting look about it. The other reason, it is reasonable to surmise, is that many of the game's most grandiose architectural creations simply haven't been put forward. In a recent trailer, it seems like many of the games more visually stunning elements are being brought to the fore. While we were still overwhelmed with the sheer volume of brown, the scale of the game is much more evident in this video than in past ones, so the Warhammer faithful among the Massively staff have found cause to be cautiously optimistic. You might disagree, of course, but make sure to check out the new video after the jump.
One Shots: Evendim!
Today's One Shots was sent in by Lockwood, a level 50 Hunter who calls Lord of the Rings Online home. This screen was sent in answer to the post a couple of days ago showing off the beauty in LotRO. Apparently Lockwood got a great new video card, so he wanted to show off how nice the game looks on his machine too! Here's what he had to say about the area in the screenshot:Evendim! There's a lot to it -- but this is my favourite bit. Mainly because it's a friendly camp, so I'm not getting chased by several mobs at any one time. I'll keep my eye out for other stuff -- I'm sure I can beat this shot.Hey, we're just fine with people who want to show off better and better looking spots in their respective games. If you'd like to take up the gauntlet and show off the most breathtaking places in your online worlds -- or perhaps to show off just how badly you need a new video card, instead -- we'll happily take your screenshots! Just send them to us at oneshots AT gmail DOT com, and keep an eye out here. Yours could be featured next! %Gallery-9798%
Reveal Light brings windows, sunlight into wall-locked apartments
Sprucing up your domicile with various forms of light has been trendy for quite some time, but rather than constructing an entirely new building or installing a fiber optic chandelier, you could just mount a Reveal Light. In what appears to be nothing more than a wall-mountable projector with pre-loaded imagery, this not-yet-priced artsy device can beam images of windows onto your drab apartment wall, complete with sunlight, trees, and a light breeze blowing around the leaves. Sure, some would say that artificial light and scenery is better than none at all, but the inner geek in us would argue that a 100-inch projection image of your favorite shows (or games) in HD would be a much, much better use of that bare wall.[Via SciFiTech]
Virtual Snapshots: Home Sweet Azeroth
I admit - when I first installed World of Warcraft I ran around Azeroth like some virtual tourist, marveling at every bit of scenery and taking copious numbers of screenshots. However, the longer I've played, the more I've grown accustomed to the world of Azeroth and its interesting sights. That is, perhaps, why it was so refreshing to me to see this blog post - reminding me of the way I saw the game back when I first bought it (and proving I'm not the only one to, from time to time, be somewhat dazzled by the world around me). Indeed, shots such as this make Alterac Valley appear deceptively peaceful. And now, if you'll excuse me, I feel the need to log on and take some snapshots...
Breakfast Topic: Hidden gems
From an out-of-the-way inn my guild uses for meetings, to the time I finally managed to watch a race in the Shimmering Flats, Azeroth has many well-kept secrets. How many times have you stumbled across a location or piece of scenery and wondered what on earth it was there for? Aside from the game's easter eggs, which are fun to track down, some places seem to hold unfulfilled potential.I've found that RP gives me a whole new outlook on these places; every one suddenly suggests several possible storylines, although I've acquired the habit of dismissing a lot of the empty-looking content by saying "oh, that's only for RPers". Do you think this is true? Are the deserted buildings and empty locations there for RP enjoyment alone, or to lighten the hearts of the players who love running around into every nook and cranny? Have you found a particular spot that surprised or delighted you?
