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Nexon touts Vindictus New Year's item pack
Looking to get a leg up on the new year in Vindictus? If so, Nexon has a time-limited deal that may interest you. The New Year's Renewal Pack is available now through January 11th, and it's crammed full of goodies, including a 90-day storage chest expansion, 30-day hair and body tattoo coupons, a special character title (celebrating the Year of the Rabbit), and 10,000 in-game gold. The pack will set you back 9900 NX (Nexon's cash shop currency; $1.00 US currently buys you 1000 NX) and is only available for purchase a single time per character. Read all about it on the official Vindictus website.
The Perfect Ten: The movers and shakers of 2010
Even though MMOs are the products of great teams of talented workers -- from sound artists to writers -- it's inevitable that a few of the people behind the curtain step out into the limelight. It's a smart move, really; it provides a personal face for people to associate with the game, it keeps messages consistent, and it draws any potential hate onto one person instead of the team at large. It stands to reason that these public figures end up being some of the major movers and shakers in the industry because of their high-profile positions. From CEOs to community managers, these are the people with power to make decisions, the voice to change opinions, and the personalities to inspire millions. Oh, that last sentence is pure poetry. Let's re-read it again, shall we? So in our last Perfect Ten of the year, I've asked the Massively team to compile a list of the 10 biggest MMO movers and shakers of this year. All of these people now owe us cupcakes of gratitude. (Legal Disclaimer: This does not signify a binding cupcake-blogger contract.)
Updated: On the sixth day of giveaways, Nexon gave to me...
[UPDATE: All winners have been selected and contacted. Congratulations!] On the sixth day of giveaways, Nexon gave to me... six Vindictus packs! On the fifth day of giveaways, Mythic gave to me... five upgrade codes! On the fourth day of giveaways, ChangYou gave to me... four welcome gifts! On the third day of giveaways, Icarus gave to me... three months of gameplay! On the second day of giveaways, Hi-Rez gave to me... two gift packages! On the first day of giveaways, Turbine gave to me... a lifetime VIP! Today's giveaway comes to us courtesy of Nexon. The Vindictus team has prepared quite a holiday party -- complete with snowball fights in stripey underwear. No party is complete without some presents, so for this sixth day of giveaways, we've got gift packages for six lucky readers. Nexon's got another video for the holidays titled "Dance of the Colhen Mercenaries," which you can check out after the cut. We're going to continue with the theme by offering up six Merc Survival Packs. Each pack contains 10 Platinum Tokens, 100 Merc Recovery Potions, 10 Goddess Grace, 5 Goddess Grace (Party), and five 30-AP Capsules. Simply comment to win as always -- the deadline to enter is tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. EST. Today you can tell us what you'll be doing or acquiring first in the Vindictus festivities. Check out our contest rules page, and good luck!
One Shots: Joining the fray
Having a rough day? Holiday stress have you firmly in its grip? Well if that's the case, you can always jump into an MMO and enjoy some hack-and-slash time, such as what regular One Shots contributor Reggie A. experienced recently. His action-packed game of choice was Vindictus, and thanks to his Eyefinity rig, he's managed to capture an enormous panoramic screenshot for us to enjoy today! Before we turn it over to him, we'll note that you should check it out at full size for best viewing. Now, on with Reggie's note: "After hearing about it a lot, I decided to give Vindictus a try, and OMG it rocks. I was out practicing the staff combos and got this shot at the end of a boss fight -- the blast from her finishing move killing blow rocketed the boss quite a few feet away! Satisfying victory! [There are] not enough Vindictus screens on Massively, so here you go in Eyefinity!" We're all about those satisfying moments of MMO gaming. If you've captured a great screenshot recently, we'd love to see it. Just email it in to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a description of what we're seeing. We'll post it out here on Massively and give you the credit for sending it in! %Gallery-85937%
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me: Vindictus, zebra stockings and giant spiders
It's not often that we in the Massively offices are just plain stumped, but today Nexon receives that rare badge of distinction. To usher in Vindictus' holiday event, Nexon has put together a 48-second video of pure insanity. It runs the gamut of snowball fights, mostly naked people wearing zebra underwear, giant spiders, pigs and one exhausted-looking Santa Claus. The festivities begin in Vindictus on Wednesday, December 15th and revolve around the battle with Laghodessa, a giant arachnid with a penchant for taking all the presents and drinking all of the egg nog. Nexon has asked the players to speculate about why their characters may have a vendetta against the plus-sized spider and for the players to send in their stories. Once players have defeated Laghodessa, they'll have the opportunity to craft a unique spider cloth armor set. Nexon's also throwing out a number of goodies, including free XP weekends, free boat trips and free potions for the taking. Head on over to Vindictus to read up on the event, or hit the jump and witness the holidays seen through the lens of the insane.
Rise and Shiny recap: MilMo
If there's one thing I think many developers need to learn, it's to keep games accessible. No, I'm not talking about making a game "easy" -- I'm talking about making it available to as many different players as possible. This means making a game that can run on many different PC setups and does not require a degree of some sort to play. Yes, there is a time and a place for uber-realistic, theory-crafting, nerdy-wonderland games, but bear in mind that good design does not automatically translate into complicated design. As I played through MilMo this week, I realized how much potential this new generation of browser-based games has. The new engines, Unity in particular, give developers the ability to make beautiful games that can be accessed directly through the browser. I was surprised to find a good-looking "kid's game" that presented plenty of challenge and fun for kids of all ages (including 36-year-old game writers like myself). Read on for more details.
Vindictus brings in the King of the Gnolls
Nexon has just what Vindictus players want for the holidays -- more content! Episode 4: King of the Gnolls has just been released to the live servers, and with it comes a variety of additions. This new patch raises the level cap to 44, perfect for players who had already maxed out their characters. Additionally, weaponry has been updated to add three new stats: balance, critical hits, and attack speed. A host of new powers has been added to the Evie, Fiona and Lann archetypes as well, offering new ways to lay the smack down -- but that's not all! Also added in this update are two new high-level dungeons: Prairie Entrance and the Ruins of Sanctity. The Prarie Entrance offers wide-open spaces and challenging trap-filled landscapes, requiring players to employ a bit more strategy than just running in and smacking everything around. Meanwhile, the Ruins of Sanctity is a dark, overgrown area where particularly nasty monsters are lurking around every corner, ready to snack on your face. We've snagged a handful of screenshots from the new areas and added them to the gallery below. For those who prefer their action in video form, check behind the break for some shiny new Vindictus gameplay footage. %Gallery-97587%
Vindictus set to unleash its newest episode in December
What do wolves, toads, arachnids, and swordplay have in common? If you said a new program on Animal Planet produced Jerry Bruckheimer, you guessed wrong. If you said the highly addictive free-to-play MMO Vindictus, you would be right. Nexon just announced a new episode for its action-MMO. In early December, Vindictus players will be introduced to two new dungeons. Prairie Entrance's open field unleashes traps for mercenaries who dare tread on its soil. And the Ruins of Sanctity dungeon introduces the adventurer to an all-new Gnoll clan, some deadly toads, and a multitude of giant spiders. We can't forget the new boss battles: Goliath, Dim Gray, Warchief Black Scar and Giant Spider -- Giant Spider? You do not dare take on these formidable foes without mastering some of the new skills introduced with this episode. If you have mastered all of your current skills look, forward to learning Berserk, Lightning Fury, Large Shield Mastery, and other action-oriented skills. Vindictus continues to bring its fans more action-packed content. Be sure to browse the gallery below and visit Nexon's official website or the Vindictus Facebook page for more information. %Gallery-108033%
G-Star 2010: Vindictus wins big for Nexon
Vindictus has hacked its way into the hearts of many players, with its can-do attitude and liberal stance on how many decapitations make your actions morally justified. Apparently, the players aren't the only ones in love with the game, as it has managed to walk away from the G-Star 2010 convention with so many awards that the development team can build a house. The 2010 Korean Game Awards taking place on the show floor awarded Nexon's game the grand prize as well as six other awards for excellence. The win was a first for Nexon, and it was followed by a half-dozen other awards including the Popular Game Award (in the Online Game category) and all four technical creation categories (Game Planning/Scenario, Game Graphics, Game Character, and Game Sound). CEO Seo Min thanked the organizers for the honors as well as Vindictus players for making the game such a success. Free-to-play games have come a long way as a whole, but if the bevy of awards is any indication, Vindictus is a cut above the rest.
G-Star 2010: From the show floor
With the booming popularity of Korean games in western culture, the G-Star convention in Busan, South Korea is quickly turning into an international event. We had an opportunity to attend the four-day convention to see the latest and greatest from Korean online gaming. Follow along after the jump as I describe my experiences on the first day of the convention, as well as take a look at what else you can expect as we go into days two, three and four.
Vindictus entices players with a dynamic new trailer
The creators of Vindictus, or Addictus (as it's been called by certain Editors-in-Chief), have thought to inspire us to play their action MMO by launching another trailer. The free-to-play game launched two weeks ago as the first real-physics based MMO. This game that features constant twitchy combat, also, recently announced a new ranged-class giving the gameplay a completely different dynamic. The trailer magnifies the intensity of this unique gaming engine by slowing down and reversing much of the in-game shots in the video. All creatures and player characters affect the environment, as well as their intended target. Walls are mashed. Buildings fall. The earth is crumbled beneath mighty weapons. If violence and passion fuel your gameplay then Nexon invites you to try out Vindictus for yourself at the official website. It will cost you nothing to try it out for yourself, and you may just find a new world you'll love to explore. Fix your eyes on this film featuring a frenzied flash into this fantasy realm after the break.
Vindictus takes a look at casting with Evie
The highly active nature of Vindictus has made the game a bit of a darling within the free-to-play community for the time being, but many of the class spotlights thus far have focused on getting into your opponent's face and carving him up. All well and good, but sometimes you'd rather just hang out in the back and start casting some fireballs or summon up devastating golems from the surrounding debris. If that sounds like your cup of tea, the latest video from the game will be for you. Evie is a caster, focusing less upon beating things to death with a staff and more on controlling the battlefield via magic. Among the spells on display are her abilities to summon golems, create magic turrets to attack enemies, and reverse gravity to give party members a fighting edge. Click on past the break to take a look at what things look like in Vindictus from the caster's point of view. (Here's a hint: It's violent.)
Free for All: Thirteen spooky free-to-play Halloween events
Ah, Halloween. The dark Xmas. Around our house, Halloween is king. Despite the fact that we have no kids to dress up and parade around the neighborhood, we will still hand out tons of candy to all the trick-or-treaters. Until that spooky night, however, we love to spend the time exploring different Halloween events in our favorite MMORPGs. MMOs are perfect for such events -- they have the players to fill them out, the ability to host whatever kind of event they want, and a lot of optional blood and gore. Some of the events fit perfectly in their game-world, and some stick out like a stock broker on D&D night. Either way, there is always a lot of fun to be had, and sometimes very cool loot to snag! (Like that sweet ride pictured above -- got it on my first try.) Read on for some of my favorite events -- none of them costing a dime.
Vindictus launch day roundup
With blood, guts, and gore galore, it's been an interesting ride for Vindictus since we first saw the official reveal in March. From those early days at GDC, on through several batches of screenshots, videos, and even beta keys, people have been clamoring for more on this new free-to-play title from Nexon. Well, for those who never seemed to get a hold of a beta key, today marks the official launch of Vindictus, with its abundance of in-your-face action. While you're waiting for the client to finish downloading and installing, we've gathered up a plethora of previous coverage for you to peruse while you patiently await the program. From the earliest steps to the most recent events, we've been there every step of the way -- and if you missed any of it, you'll find it lovingly tucked behind the break in our Vindictus launch day roundup!
Vindictus invaded by pumpkin-headed vampires and skimpier costumes
Just when you thought it was safe to wander into the raucous carnage of Nexon's Vindictus, their "Fall Fear Festival" Halloween event is here. Indeed, these normally bloody lands have been invaded by vampires who appear to have mistakenly left their fangs at home, forgot that vampires are normally quite allergic to fire, and instead slapped their Headless Horsemen costumes on. (Perhaps they were a little drunk on AB+ at the time this picture was taken? Who knows.) Although, if you take down enough of these confused creatures of the night, you can be rewarded with the 'Mashing Pumpkins" title. Along with the festivities, there's also new goodies for players to pick up in the form of a pretty awesome full-body skeleton costume for Lann, and what can only be termed a "bikini with a skull on it" for Fiona. Oh, wait, that's an "inner armor" costume, which just makes us wonder what the point is if you're smacking armor over it. We'll add that to the "we'll never know" column right next to that age-old question about how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie-roll pop. If you're curious for a peek at what the new Vindictus holiday events look like, as well as the costumes, check out the newest screenshots in our gallery below. %Gallery-97587%
Caption this, win a white Vindictus wolf hood! [Updated 11/5]
See that picture above? Yeah, it needs a caption, and we need you to caption it! Of course, we're not asking you to be creative for absolutely nothing. We know that it's hard coming up with funny captions for screenshots, and that's why we're adding a little bit of an incentive into the mix. How would you guys like, oh, a Vindictus wolf hood? And we're not talking about the common, everyone-has-one, red Vindictus hoods either. No, no, we're talking about the new white wolf hoods! Our good friends at Nexon have sent us five white Vindictus wolf hoods, and we really want to give them away to the five best captions we receive for this picture. If you're interested in throwing your caption into the ring, then just click the "read more" button to get the full scoop on this contest! [Update: Check behind the break for an update to the contest!]
Vindictus rips out a new trailer for the last part of beta
Vindictus is set to officially launch on the 27th of October, but it could be argued that the launch has already happened. After all, while the game is currently in open beta, all levels and money will carry over from this phase of testing to the live launch. That's a fine incentive to go ahead and start playing the game early, but if you're one of the people not quite won over to the game, maybe the latest trailer will help convince you. Focused from the point of view of the bosses and the newest beta features, the trailer shows off much of what has made players excited about the latest game to come out of Nexon. The open beta can be downloaded off the official site, and since everything earned in this phase of testing carries over, now's a fine time to start your adventures in Vindictus -- after you check out the trailer past the break.
Vindictus open beta off to an early start
Looking to get a head start on some F2P dungeon-crawling, vampire staking, and goblin smashing? It's your lucky night, as Nexon America has let us know that the Vindictus open beta has left the terminal a bit ahead of schedule. The festivities include the game's newly accessible third episode, the aforementioned new mobs, and a new dungeon (Ainle), which you can enter from boat dock three. Inside, you'll encounter a town overrun with fireball-flinging undead and assorted underworld minions, many of which can be picked up and used as thrown weapons thanks to the game's Source Engine physics. In addition to the new content, early access beta players will be able to retain their characters, rank, and loot when Vindictus officially launches later this month. Check out more of our Vindictus coverage, including video of the game's grappling moves, or head over to the official web site for more info.
Vindictus announces official launch date
Vindictus, Nexon's upcoming free-to-play title, gained a lot of attention from the very beginning. The gritty gameplay is as far from Nexon's sugary-sweet MapleStory as you can possibly get, the opening story and look of the game are pretty good, and it's free. Players have been enjoying the beta testing process, but as with any upcoming game, the big question has been "When?" G4TV provided that answer last night along with a brand-new (and ominous) trailer. The trailer contains both new and familiar footage, and it's gorgeous, but the exciting news is that we have exactly two weeks until launch. Yep, Vindictus will officially launch on October 27th. The game is still in open beta for now, but if you're like most of us at Massively, the 27th is circled in red on your calendar. Follow along after the jump for the latest trailer!
Vindictus gives characters a moment around the campfire
The focus that Nexon has pushed with Vindictus has been one of non-stop, no-holds-barred action. While that's not a bad thing in any sense, it does lead one to wonder if there will be anything but the non-stop slaughter to deal with. As it turns out, there will be a feature in the game not just allowing players a brief rest, but actually encouraging one -- the campfire. Long known as a place where adventurers can congregate and rest, campfires can be built mid-dungeon and provide not just a chance to stop and chat, but also offer vital services. Obtained from an NPC early in the game, campfire kits and books allow players to put a campfire together, giving them small buffs that increase the longer they sit by the fire. The fire improves attack, defense, and health regeneration, with greater bonuses coming the longer you enjoy its warming presence. It also offers a more subtle benefit to players by allowing the repair of any damaged items. Although you can only assemble one per dungeon and gain no protection while sitting at the fire, it seems that Vindictus has built in a mechanic to encourage the party to sit down and chat for a minute or two before resuming the charnel-house slaughter. %Gallery-104223%
