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gPotato reveals Age of Wulin sects
gPotato has released some more information about its upcoming Age of Wulin fantasy martial arts sandbox. The game will feature eight different sects, which are basically an analog for factions in other massively multiplayer titles. Each of the game's sects will be either good-, evil-, or neutral-aligned, and each will feature a unique fighting style "shaped by its identity and philosophy." Good-aligned sects typically boast strong melee combat abilities. Evil groups focus on "ruthless techniques" and blade weapons, while the neutral sects offer everything from absorption and debuff skills to a "dance-like" fighting style designed to combat multiple opponents simultaneously. Good-aligned groups include the Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, and Beggars' sects. The Blissful Valley and Royal Guards sects are evil-aligned. Finally, the Tang Clan and the Scholar's Academy are Age of Wulin's neutral sects. For more on the game, check out our impressions from last month's E3. [Source: gPotato press release]
Age of Wulin sandbox to feature accurate real-world locations
How would you like to know a bit more about the setting, landscapes, and historical background in Age of Wulin? Yeah, it sounded cool to us too, which is why we're bringing you the highlights of the latest press release from gPotato. The free-to-play firm is publishing Snail Games' upcoming martial arts MMO in Europe (it's also coming to North America as Age of Wushu), and it says that the game and its expansive world is inspired by over 2,000 years of Chinese legends. The Wuxia and kung-fu genres are major influences, of course, so AoW takes place during the early years of the Ming Dynasty, when China's martial arts culture was at its peak. If you missed our E3 preview, you should know that the game is a skill-based sandbox featuring eight distinct combat schools and plenty of novel non-combat mechanics. The game also boasts upwards of 40,000 NPCs inhabiting 27 regions that stretch across 130 square kilometers. This is a free-roaming open-world title, too, where explorers can visit real locations like Beijing or even the developers' hometown of Suzhou. Want to walk the Great Wall? You can, along with a Shaolin Monastery, the Wudang mountains, and dozens of other locations. gPotato says the devil is in the details, so the devs have "studied and analyzed old maps, plans, and blueprints in order to reconstruct real places in game with the greatest accuracy possible." If you missed the game's North American launch trailer, we've embedded it for you after the break. [Source: gPotato press release]
E3 2012: Age of Wushu dresses to impress
Sandboxers and Hollywood script writers, keep your eyes on Age of Wushu. If you've ever wanted to run up walls, align yourself with a game's boss mobs, kidnap and ransom off your fellow players, or write about it into a television script to include your gamer audience, then Snail Games has something that's sure to grab your attention. We got some hands-on time with the game at this year's E3, so follow along after the cut for our impressions.
E3 2012: Jet Li will be the face of Age of Wushu
Age of Wushu, an upcoming martial arts MMO, features wuxia-style combat with some impressive acrobatic moves, so it seems a perfect fit that Snail Games announced at this year's E3 that Jet Li will be the face of the MMO. The International action film star has signed a two-year deal to promote the game, and as spokesperson, he'll be featured in a TV commercial and make public appearances at events. Li began his training in Wushu at the age of eight and was a multiple champion in China before retiring at the age of 19 to begin his film career. His film titles include Lethal Weapon 4, Unleashed, The Forbidden Kingdom, and The Expendables. He's also wrapping up work on The Expendables II, which is due in theaters this August. Age of Wushu is an upcoming MMO by Snail Games set in the age of the Ming Dynasty in China. It features Wuxia-style combat and some interesting concepts such as no levels or classes and a boss sidekick system. Massively will be meeting the team at E3, so keep your eyes open for more news this week! [Source: Snail Games press release] Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 4-7, bringing you all the best news from E3 2012. We're covering everything from PlanetSide 2 and SWTOR and ArcheAge to RIFT's and LotRO's upcoming expansions, so stay tuned!
Age of Wushu shows off a documentary from its Chinese testing tour
If you're a potential player in America, it's Age of Wushu. If you're in Europe or China, it's Age of Wulin. Wherever you're located, it's an upcoming free-to-play game focusing on wuxia-style combat in the same style as Chinese action films. And if you can't wait to see more of the game in action, you're in luck -- Snail Games USA has released a new documentary on the game focusing on its seven-city testing tour in China last year. The documentary mixes in developer presentations, player impressions, and some live gameplay footage from this large-scale beta event, all of which combine to paint a picture of the game as it continues development. The full documentary is 15 minutes long and embedded just after the cut, so if you can't wait to see more of the game, check it out and keep your eyes peeled for more updates as the game approaches localization and launch.
Massively Exclusive: Age of Wushu's launch trailer flips over the heads of the competition
Tomorrow, Snail Games USA will officially announce its newest title, Age of Wushu -- but we've got an exclusive sneak peek to share with you before that happens! Sporting heavy Chinese themes and aesthetics, Age of Wushu is designed to allow players to pull off mystical, physics-defying martial arts moves like those you would see in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (or, really, any Kung Fu film). The official trailer for the title, which you can see after the jump, showcases Age of Wushu's beauty and grace... as well as its lethal underpinnings. Characters attack in slow-motion while performing seemingly impossible Matrix-like jumps through space. We'll be looking forward to seeing if the allure of fantastic martial arts will be enough to set Age of Wushu apart from the pack, but considering that the devs are promising that we can run up the sides of buildings, we suspect it might be one to check out no matter what. Plus, "wushu" is way fun to say.
Snail Games' The Chosen launches today
Snail Games' latest free-to-play MMORPG The Chosen has gone live, and we have a smattering of screenshots and a gameplay trailer to whet your appetites. The Chosen is set in a fantastic version of ancient China, where the human empires stand in the middle of a war between the Light World and Dark World. Players take the role of one of six classes, each with their own signature weapon, and then join up with one of five factions to do battle with the diabolical Dark World. The game boasts seven different battle systems which cover PvE, PvP, and everything in between. Players can also train and raise animal companions to fight by their sides as well as build a family with other players, which provides unique in-game benefits. Check the gallery below for some nifty screenshots of the game, and jump past the cut for the game's launch trailer. If those pique your interest, you can get started with the game at the official site. %Gallery-126949%
MMObility: Introduction to the column and a look at Ministry of War
Browsers are not what they used to be. These days, we do so much through our browsers that we do not even notice their ease of use, and we trust them to be entertaining, informative and user-friendly. Browser gaming has come a long, long way as well. It doesn't take but a single run-in with any one of the more fantastic titles out there to see just how much can be done within the confines of your favorite web tool. Not all of our options are text-based or boring. Fully realized 3-D worlds are yours for the taking, as is some of the most clever design in gaming today. I am glad to bring you this new column to cover the world of browser-based gaming, in the hopes that I can speak to those players who might not be able to afford a state-of-the-art gaming machine. This column is squarely aimed at the basic laptop or netbook crowd -- those college students, working mothers and fathers with little time, or even players who are in medical situations that prevent them from owning the latest piece of hardware. Don't worry; it won't be a non-stop parade of repetitive Facebook games. I aim to push that image firmly to the side, replacing it instead with a picture of gaming bliss. Click past the cut and let's get started!
Snail Games' next strategy: A Ministry of War expansion
Snail Games debuted its real-time strategy MMO in November of last year, making it a landmark browser-based game. Ministry of War allowed us to travel back in time to command the great civilizations of Rome, Persia, Egypt, or China. Since the game's launch, the developers have experienced great success and are extremely excited about the community's reaction to the features of the game. Today, the MMO developer is proud to announce the first expansion to Ministry of War: The Arcadian Ladder. This update, featuring a 50-level battle instance, will launch tomorrow, January 22, 2011. The Arcadian Ladder will debut on the new Rage server with the legacy servers receiving the update in early February. With this expansion, players will be able to trade via a newly developed auction house, gamble for a chance at rare drops in the Levers of Fortune slot machine, and experience a better battle view with a fresh user interface. This expansion also features 40 new shop items, online time rewards, experience capsules, and many other epic gear drops and experience rewards. Time-travel to the official website to find more information or try out the game for yourself.
This week on The MMO Report
This week on The MMO Report, Casey takes us on a free-for-all ride through the MMOGverse, scratches an itch in Uncle Casey's Mailbag, and shares a timely lesson just before World of Warcraft: Cataclysm launches. Listen and learn, for lo, there is wisdom to be had on this mythical (and not-so-mythical) topic. This episode starts off with a look at All Points Bulletin, which has been pulled back from the grave by GamersFirst, and hopefully will get more of the features it was supposed to actually have when it launched. Moving on from there, Casey touches on the recent opening of Ministry of War as a browser-based MMORTS. Some of the staff here dig it, being a bunch of Civ fiends. Mind you, if we start seeing boob-infested flash ads for the game popping up everywhere, we're going to deny ever hearing its name. In other snark news, Casey takes a look at the continuing saga of the Final Fantasy XIV free trial, which is being extended yet again in an attempt to keep fans happy. Looks like Square-Enix will have a title out for the holidays* -- which might be when this one actually becomes fully playable. Finally, the last bit of news wraps up with a mention of DC Universe Online's new trailer showing off a police station which is strangely devoid of donuts. Guess glazed pastries just don't mix with skin-tight spandex. You can find this week's episode behind the cut and of course every week at G4TV. * Note: 'Holiday' is used here to refer to any/all holidays in a given calendar year. Could be Christmas, could be Arbor Day. Who knows?
Snail Games launches Ministry of War
Snail Games USA has announced the launch of its new Ministry of War free-to-play MMORTS. The title is billed as the world's most advanced browser game and boasts a variety of features not commonly found in the genre including Contested Zone Wars, a massive world map, and a robust merchant and trade system. Contested Zones are territories fought over and controlled by player guilds and they're active each night from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. EST. Guilds can hold the territories as long as they're able, and even non-guilded players can opt to participate by choosing a side and fighting as a mercenary. "Ministry of War redefines the entire notion of a browser game," says Snail Games USA CEO Jason Katz. "It has eight different categories of combat -- everything from arena battles and lair raids to epic large-scale multiplayer battles like Contested Zone Wars and city sieges." Check out all the latest information, and start playing almost immediately, at the game's official website. [Update: Snail Games has contacted Massively and asked us to let prospective players know that they'll be flipping the live switch at 6:00 p.m. PST/ 9:00 p.m. EST]
Ministry of War announces Vox Populi contest
If you're ever wanted to put words in the mouth of an MMO NPC (and who hasn't), now's your chance. Snail Games USA has announced the Vox Populi contest for its free-to-play MMORTS known as Ministry of War. The title, currently in closed beta, is a browser-based MMO that allows players to conquer territory as one of four ancient civilizations (China, Egypt, Persia, or Rome). To get in on the contest, and play puppet-master to your very own MMO NPC, head to the beta forums for the complete contest rules and requirements. Entering the Vox Populi competition also makes you eligible for a beta key, and you could be one of five finalists to compete for the coveted grand prize of having your quote spoken by an in-game villager.
Get your MMORTS on because we have Ministry of War beta keys!
Look, we know that all of you have plans for world domination. That's nothing to be ashamed of. But what good are those plans when you don't have the chance to put them into action, right? Well, that's where Ministry of War comes in. Ministry of War is a browser-based MMORTS that lets you step into the shoes of one of history's great nations: Egypt, Persia, Rome, or China. From there, you'll build your empire humbly at first. You'll build structures, study war techniques, and prepare your army. Then, when your enemies on the game's huge world map least expect it, you can launch a strike into their lands! Here's where the game becomes less like Civilization and more like Age of Empires, as you'll find yourself commanding your units on an RTS battlefield. That's right, no more having battles decided for you -- you control the fight. The good folks over at Snail Games USA have allotted us 100 beta keys to give away to you fine folks. However, there is a catch: The keys will be distributed at random, much like one of our contests. Interested and want to know more? Charge after the break for all of the details and where to sign up for a beta key! %Gallery-99802%
Heroes of Gaia announces LeBron James giveaway
So are you all set to watch The Decision tonight? Will LeBron James stay put, or is your money on the Knicks gaining a new team member? Would you like to make the guesswork a little more interesting? The team at Heroes of Gaia is doing just that with their LeBron James giveaway, and it couldn't be easier for Heroes of Gaia players to participate. To enter the giveaway, send an email to community@snailgamesusa.com telling them the name of the team you think he'll choose along with your gamertag and server name. Get the email in before 9PM Eastern tonight for your chance to win $25 worth of in-game prizes. The contest is open to all HoG players, so check out all the details on the forums, and good luck!
[Update: Contest Closed] Win a in-game prize pack for Heroes of Gaia with Massively and Snail Games!
Good news everyone! It's Friday, and you know what that means? It means Sera has a reason to give stuff away! (Even though, technically, I have a reason to give stuff away every day.) This week we're running a contest for 10 special in-game prize packs in Heroes of Gaia, a browser-based MMORTS that we've been following for some time now. Heroes of Gaia is, as you would expect, a free-to-play game, so if you've been looking for something that's a bit more strategic, then you certainly can give this game a go. To make the pot a little sweeter, we've teamed up with Snail Games USA to provide ten in-game item packs for 10 lucky commenters. Awesome? Yes. Easy to win? Of course! However, you only have a single day to enter! Therein lies "the catch" as they say. Interested to know how to enter? It's as simple as dropping off a comment after the break, so continue reading for complete instructions! [Update: The contest is now closed! Thank you everyone for entering, we'll post the winners shortly!]
Heroes of Gaia tops 1,000,000 players
It's a rare feat when an MMO tops one million users these days. Even the big titles with big marketing budgets struggle to land several hundred thousand players due to the glut of games crowding the market. Heroes of Gaia has done just that, as the browser-based free-to-play MMORTS from Snail Games USA announced today that their monthly active-user population has topped 1,000,000 worldwide for the ongoing open beta. "Many browser-game developers and publishers claim traffic numbers which are based upon 'total lifetime accounts,'" said Michael Chan, Vice President of Global Business for Snail Games USA. "And this can be highly deceptive because many of those accounts are inactive. Our one million plus Heroes of Gaia users are unique accounts who have logged in during the past 30 days." Heroes of Gaia players can select one of four fantasy factions and use their hero to build castles, complete quests, and summon armies, all in the name of real-time strategic combat.
