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Get mystical with this Wizard101 combat primer
Maybe the casual friendly, Harry Potter inspired Wizard101 has caught your eye sometime in the past, but you weren't really sure what the game entailed. Well, in that case MMORPG.com has a good combat primer that'll help you get your wands in order, as it were. While the game doesn't demand deep, tactical thinking it isn't exactly a hack 'n slash title either -- so a little bit of help isn't out of the question. Plus, it's got a free-or-pay pricing structure as well.If you're wondering whether or not Wizard101 is a game worth a little investigation, we'll be the first to answer that yes, very much so! We've got both some early hands-on time with the game, as well as an interview we did shortly before it launched last September. And if you're looking for something short and sweet to convince you to take a look: turn-based card battle MMORPG.
Wizard 101 previews first game content expansion, Dragonspyre
KingsIsle, the makers of Wizard101, have unveiled their plans for the next big content update for their card-iconic kid's game. With players still investigating the new PvP spell arena recently added to the title, it's interesting to see new content like this announced so soon! Players who have already worked their way through the four Wizard101 worlds will have a new realm to explore: the world of Dragonspyre. The site of a once-active magical school, the new zone is now a burnt-out husk. Players will be forced to deal with dark creatures specializing in Fire Magic, and a slew of new opponents. The new content area is expected to drop sometime in January of 2009. Read into the preview from Warcry to enjoy a bevy of screenshots of the new area, or check out Tipa's writing about the game at West Karana for a player's view of Wizard101.
Kids try to get around Wizard101 language restrictions
Player 1: What can you see out your window?Player 2: A large fruit. You?Player 1: Uhh, OK... I can see Russia from my house.Player 2: What? Usually the language restrictions in MMOs consist of vulgarities and, less frequently, racial or sexual slurs. But Wizard101, a game targeted to a younger demographic, goes beyond that and disallows revealing location to other players. In fact, players under the age of 13 are not allowed to use the full chat function at all. This is to prevent kids from detailing where they are just in case.The problem is that kids get curious and ask other players where they live regardless - mind you, it has to be in a roundabout sort of way. Since many cannot answer directly, they have been trying to use features of the state or nicknames to describe their location. They may not get very far in actually depicting their state, but the effort surely must be a learning experience in speaking indirectly. With this type of skill, these players may just have futures in politics.
Wizard101 launches!
After a summer-long beta period the graphically beautiful Wizard101 is now live! This kid-oriented free-to-play title is now available for any interested parties, and KingsIsle has announced a number of interesting tidbits to go along with the game's launch. While the title is technically free to play, the company is offering a substantial package of benefits for a $9.95/month fee. In fact, it might be better to think of the 'free to play' component of the game as more of a trial than anything else. Large parts of the game world are unavailable for non-subscribers, and the ability to chat with other players is disabled for free players. More details on the game's business model are available in a post from Tipa at West Karana.Interested subscribers can actually get a steal of a deal if they want to pay a bit upfront; KingsIsle is offering a year-long subscription for just $60, allowing you a full year of the cards-and-kids magic title. For full details on the game, be sure to check out our previous features on the title: Our hands-on with the game when the title was announced! An interview with the creators! Plenty of video footage all about the creation of the game. Read on below the cut for the full press release, and enjoy the world of Ravenwood Academy!%Gallery-23433%%Gallery-23340%
The week in Massively features
Massively interview: KingsIsle on Wizard101We recently had the chance to check up on KingsIsle and talk to them about their three-year conjuration, Wizard101. We sat down with the studio's director, Todd Coleman, to discuss what's in store for the tween-centric wizard school MMO. First Impressions: Requiem: BloodymareWe've been talking about this game for months now, and Requiem: Bloodymare is finally available to play. Hailed as the first horror MMO, there are definitely aspects of R:B that are pretty gruesome. EVE Online Community Spotlight: a Q&A with ChribbaTrust is a rare commodity in EVE Online. Many players are drawn to the game by the fact that almost any form of deceit, betrayal, and outright treachery is allowed in EVE. Not all players head down this path, of course, but plenty do. This element of risk is what makes the game exciting ... MMOGology: Mobile MMOGsSeveral weeks ago at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) Steve Jobs announced the 3G iPhone. The announcement wasn't much of a shock to industry experts since other cell phones have been using 3G networks ... MMO MMOnkey: Why I stopped playing Age of ConanI like Age of Conan. I like the combat system that demands active engagement rather than the auto-attack, go-make-a-cup-of-coffee style of combat used in so many other MMOs. I enjoy exploring Funcom's recreation of Hyboria ...
Massively interview: KingsIsle on Wizard101
We recently had the chance to check up on KingsIsle and talk to them about their three-year conjuration, Wizard101. We sat down with the studio's director, Todd Coleman, to discuss what's in store for the tween-centric wizard school MMO. We also got some extra hands-on time with the game, so be sure to look out for something written about that soon. Read on after the break for the full article.%Gallery-23433%
Testers summoned to Wizard101 Beta
Back in late May, Massively presented an in-depth look at Wizard101, the new family-friendly MMORPG from KingsIsle Entertainment, in which players take on the role of novice wizards studying spellcraft at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts. Notable for its emphasis on suitability for young people, Wizard101 uses an innovative card game based system to resolve combat and features several addictive mini-games. We loved the doodle-style illustrations, too - reminiscent of the Order of the Stick. The free beta test has now started, so prospective sorcerers can get in line and wait to build up their decks of spells. You can also use the online character creator on the Wizard101 website to find out which school of wizardry you ought to belong to: Fire, Ice, Myth, Storms, Life, Death or Balance.
KingsIsle casting MMO spell on kiddos with Wizard101
It seems like a day seldom goes by without news of one company or another vying for its own sliver of delicious crust from the MMO pie. The latest to take a bite is Austin-based startup KingsIsle Entertainment, which this morning officially threw its crown into the ring by announcing a new MMO titled Wizard101. Designed for the younger set in mind, the colorful game plays on such things as Harry Potter and CCGs by casting players in the role of a youngster at a wizarding school where spells and combat play out in turn-based fashion using collectible online cards. While obviously not competing with the likes of World of Warcraft or Age of Conan, the game looks to offer tweens coming off of such things as Toontown or Club Penguin a game with a slightly more serious MMO flavor when Wizard101 casts its spell in the third quarter. Gallery: Wizard101
