Thursday, February 28, 2013

Korean News and Beta Test Announcements

  • Maius Games MMORPG “Monarch” holds final test from March 8 to 10.
  • Webzen MMORPG “ArchLord 2” holds 2nd CBT from February 28 to March 10.
  • Maiet Entertainment “GunZ 2” holds final test from February 28 to March 3.

Real Racing 3 is a Beautiful Game Strangled By Freemium Nonsense

Real Racing 3 is a Beautiful Game Strangled By Freemium Nonsense:
In 2009, Australian developer Firemint released Real Racing for the iPhone, stunning mobile gamers with amazing visuals and setting the standard for realistic mobile racing games. In 2010 the studio released Real Racing 2, adding licensed cars from major manufacturers and online play for up to 16 players. In May of 2011, EA acquired Firemint, merging it with fellow Australian studio Iron Monkey to form Firemonkeys, and now we have Real Racing 3, the prettiest mobile racing game you'll ever sit around waiting for. More »

Block Fortress Preview

Block Fortress Preview:
Haven’t you ever just wished you could pull out a rocket launcher in Minecraft and do some serious explosive redecorating? It certainly would make farming for mob resources a heck of a lot easier! Well Foursaken Media seems to have heard your volatile prayers, as their upcoming mobile offering Block Fortress gives us a whole new look at the block-building genre.

Free for All: Wakfu's bizarre first year

Free for All: Wakfu's bizarre first year:
Filed under: , , , , , , , ,
Wakfu screenshot
Wakfu is not what many would consider a standard MMORPG. Its developer, Ankama, has never pushed out normal products. After all, this is a French company we're talking about. That's right, as in France, the same place that brought us amazing (but unusual) creations like Ryzom's plant-planet and the incredible art of Moebius. There's something going on over there, something that is refreshingly different from the typical game or art design. When I attended GDC Online 2011, I was floored by a session featuring Ankama's David Calvo called Chaos in Motion: Transmedia as a Living Community Experience. The panel implored developers to take a chance on development, to give players something unique to experience and world to have an impact on.



That was a while ago, however. The game launched a year ago, but the studio had an imperfect year. Let's follow the timeline from then to now.
Continue reading Free for All: Wakfu's bizarre first year
MassivelyFree for All: Wakfu's bizarre first year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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    Waren Story's Open Beta Phase is Coming Soon

    Waren Story's Open Beta Phase is Coming Soon:
    Waren Story's Open Beta Phase is Coming Soon

    Gplayon has successfully ended their first Closed Beta Test on 24th Feb and they give clear and concise Waren Story Open beta test starts on their official website. Waren Story's open beta test will begin on Mar 7th, 2013 at 5pm PST. This will be the last test before the game finally makes its commercial debut in US.

    Aion EU Celebrates First Free-to-play Anniversary

    Aion EU Celebrates First Free-to-play Anniversary:
    Aion EU Celebrates First Free-to-play Anniversary

    One year ago, popular fantasy-MMO AION made the switch to a free-to-play model in Europe with publisher Gameforge. The team will be celebrating the anniversary of this occasion with many events – together with the players

    Riot Games opens Australian studio

    Riot Games opens Australian studio:
    League of Legends developer establishes itself in Sydney; says it wants to grow the game's community in the Oceania region.

    League of Legends developer Riot Games has opened a studio in Australia.



    According to Riot's official site, Riot Games Sydney is now an official studio, with teams in marketing, eSports, and community.

    "Sydney Rioters will craft unique experiences on the web and on the ground to support the growing League of Legends community in the Oceania region," Riot said on the site.

    No more information about the new studio was revealed, but Riot said it will have more to share soon.

    Established in 2006, Riot Games was started by developers from Blizzard Entertainment and the mod community that made DOTA. For more on the studio's flagship effort, check out GameSpot's review of League of Legends.

    Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

    "Riot Games opens Australian studio" was posted by Laura Parker on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:49:34 -0800

    Navy Field 2 entering closed beta on March 27th

    Navy Field 2 entering closed beta on March 27th:
    Filed under: , , , , , , ,
    World War II lasted for approximately three centuries.
    Is there a serious need for more games in your life based on World War II? There are a few options out there already, but very soon you'll have another as Nexon brings Navy Field 2 into closed beta testing on March 27th. Unlike many of the other options, this one isn't meant as an action-based game; it's an MMORTS focused on naval engagements and the more strategic pace of sending ships into confrontations.



    Players will be able to choose between 500 different ships from World War I and World War II to build their own fleets, entering huge engagements of up to 64 players at a time. The ships can also be customized with new weapons and armor. If this sounds like your cup of tea, check out the official trailer past the break and sign up for the beta, which will run until April 10th.



    [Source: Nexon press release]
    Continue reading Navy Field 2 entering closed beta on March 27th
    MassivelyNavy Field 2 entering closed beta on March 27th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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      Piracy killed multiplayer in the new Battle Dungeon for iOS

      Piracy killed multiplayer in the new Battle Dungeon for iOS: Late last year, the strategy sim Battle Dungeon released on the App Store and promptly died. Its killers? The developer...

      A Mild-Mannered Reporter: News from around the superheroic world

      A Mild-Mannered Reporter: News from around the superheroic world:
      Filed under: , , , , , , , ,
      Gotta get this header thing settled.  Seriously.
      I've been talking about superhero games in the conceptual state over the past few weeks, which has been great for those of us who really enjoy that sort of thing. (I also got some very nice feedback from the folks at Missing Worlds Media regarding last week's article, so that's also keen.) But there are two titles in the genre already out, plus one that's not yet out but is rapidly approaching launch. So rather than speak in the abstract, let's talk about the news in review, yes?



      Marvel Heroes has been making the biggest waves recently with a major beta update that trimmed up systems, changed statistics, and revamped crafting extensively. Champions Online's latest event became a point of some contention when the finale was swapped from being a high-end event to being something for everybody. And DC Universe Online waited until I had just wrapped up my month in the game to launch a big update including housing. So in no particular order, let's talk about all of this.
      Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: News from around the superheroic world
      MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: News from around the superheroic world originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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        Disney Mobile’s Toy Story: Smash It! launches

        Disney Mobile’s Toy Story: Smash It! launches:
        i-bdC7rJW-MDisney Mobile Games’ newest game for iOS, Toy Story: Smash It!, just hit the iTunes App Store and Google Play.
        The game is based on Disney and Pixar’s blockbuster Toy Story franchise and is a 3D physics puzzler. Players control Buzz Lightyear as he throws balls to knock squeaky aliens off of blocks and works to foil Emperor Zurg’s plans. As the game progresses, users will unlock new bouncy ball types with unique powerups and interact with various characters from the Toy Story films.
        This is the first major mobile release for Disney Mobile since the company’s big Holiday push at the end of 2012. That strategy paid off for the company, as it revealed it had over 15 million downloads the five-day period between Dec. 22 and Dec. 28. Additionally, the company’s peak level of daily active users was up by nearly 400 percent, year-over-year.
        Toy Story: Smash It! is available for $0.99, both on iOS and Android.

        New iOS Games Tonight: Real Racing 3, AVP Evolution, and more! (iPad)

        New iOS Games Tonight: Real Racing 3, AVP Evolution, and more! (iPad):

        It’s the middle of the work week, which means the App Store is about to turn into a virtual buffet of brand new games. And, unlike real buffets, there’s a decent chance you’ll walk away from this one without an overpowering sense of shame. No promises, though.

        If There's One Thing Windows RT is Good For, It's Gaming

        If There's One Thing Windows RT is Good For, It's Gaming:
        Windows RT, the version of Windows 8 built specifically to work on mobile processors, confuses a lot of people. It's best to imagine it as a Windows 8 blowup doll — though it resembles the real thing it isn't nearly as functional, but if you use your imagination you can still have a lot of fun. Microsoft Studios recently lent me a Windows RT tablet in order to check out some of the Windows 8 Xbox games they've launched on the platform, as long as I promised to clean it off before returning it. More »

        Trickster Online shuts down today

        Trickster Online shuts down today:
        Filed under: , ,
        I can think of no coda more fitting.
        No, despite the name, this isn't an elaborate deception. Trickster Online is being shut down as of today at 8:30 p.m. EST. The official announcement declines to provide a reason for the shutdown, stating only that the game's time has come to an end.



        Players who made purchases in the game's cash shop will be eligible for a refund automatically credited to their accounts, although the refund will be in the form of points usable on other games published by SG Interactive. The refunds will extend to purchases made as far back as February of last year; purchases made further back than November will receive less than a full refund. Our condolences to any and all fans of the game left without their favorite haunt in the wake of the closure.



        [Thanks to Paul for the tip!]
        MassivelyTrickster Online shuts down today originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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        WAKFU welcomes the Masqueraider

        WAKFU welcomes the Masqueraider:
        Filed under: , , ,
        WAKFU welcomes the Masqueraider
        First of all, the Masqueraider may be either the absolute best or worst class name ever devised depending on your tolerance for puns. Second of all, it's WAKFU's 15th class. Third of all, it's here, so go check it out.



        The Masqueraider switches between roles using a clever mask system. While the first couple of skills in any line are available no matter what mask is worn, all of the other skills are mask-dependent. The masks range from coward (which relies on heals, escapes, and ranged DPS) to classic (which allows for excellent melee combat and helpful auras). There's even a Psychopath mask, which gives you a shortcut to the game's forums so that you can quickly write rants. Just kidding -- it's all about fire DPS.



        The Masqueraider was part of WAKFU's February 26th update, which also included AP set rebalancing and profession bags.
        MassivelyWAKFU welcomes the Masqueraider originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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        Thumb Arcade hopes to change mobile game discovery [interview] (Android)

        Thumb Arcade hopes to change mobile game discovery [interview] (Android):

        It’s the very definition of a first world problem, but the amount of great mobile indie games out there is kind of overwhelming. Finding time for them is part of the issue, but locating them in the first place can prove just as troublesome. While the newly launched Thumb Arcade can’t help you with the former issue, it can most definitely help you with the latter. We recently spoke with head honcho Andy Rosic to learn what makes the site tick, as well as what users can expect from it in the days/months/years ahead.

        Offensive Combat added to MLG GameBattles

        Offensive Combat added to MLG GameBattles:
        Major League Gaming's online competition platform adds support for U4iA Games' free-to-play multiplayer shooter.

        Major League Gaming and U4iA Games today announced a new partnership that will add multiplayer shooter Offensive Combat to the eSports company's GameBattles.com competition platform.


        Beginning today, gamers can log in or create an MLG account and access Offensive Combat through GameBattles.

        In addition, MLG and U4iA Games have integrated their respective platforms to allow players to access online tournaments, leader rankings, matchmaking, and team building.

        MLG also announced today that Offensive Combat will be included in upcoming MLG programming, featuring the league's commentators. A complete schedule will be made available at a later date.



        Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot

        "Offensive Combat added to MLG GameBattles" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 09:39:58 -0800

        Gun Bros 2 (iOS) review

        Gun Bros 2 (iOS) review:
        Gun Bros 2 is a new iOS release from Glu Mobile, and the sequel to the company’s successful Gun Bros game from 2010. It’s available now as a free download from the App Store with additional in-app purchases of in-game currency.

        Blacklight: Retribution Onslaught Expansion Now Available | Ten Ton Hammer

        Blacklight: Retribution Onslaught Expansion Now Available | Ten Ton Hammer:
        Zombie Studios adds new maps, game modes, zombies, and more to Blacklight: Retribution with the new Onslaught expansion.
        Blacklight-Retribution-Onslaught.jpg

        Uncharted 3's free-to-play model could translate to The Last of Us

        Uncharted 3's free-to-play model could translate to The Last of Us: Sony is no stranger to free-to-play games. Over the past few months, the company has expanded its catalog of free-to-play...

        Apple CEO on Android: "We don't have our heads stuck in the sand"

        Apple CEO on Android: "We don't have our heads stuck in the sand": Tim Cook responds to his company's stock price falling and the tough competition with Samsung

        Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes is shutting down next month

        Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes is shutting down next month:
        Filed under: , , ,
        Warhammer Online Wrath of Heroes sunsets next month
        Mythic's experiment in turning Warhammer Online into a microtransaction-flush MOBA has failed. The studio announced that Wrath of Heroes will be closing on March 29th. Wrath of Heroes went into open beta in late 2011 and never officially released.



        Producer James Casey wraps things up with a few bittersweet memories: "I think we created something special and I would not trade the time creating it or playing it (on all those Friday Fight Fests and anonymously almost every day) for anything."



        While players' gems will not be refunded, Mythic is planning to release "work in progress" heroes at a quick pace and discounted rate up to the game's shutdown. Additionally, players who purchased and had gems between the first of the year and today will be treated to a free month subscription and a chest of goodies in WAR.



        [Thanks to Etaew for the tip!]
        MassivelyWarhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes is shutting down next month originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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        Celebrate RIFT's second anniversary with 2.2 and the Carnival of the Ascended

        Celebrate RIFT's second anniversary with 2.2 and the Carnival of the Ascended:
        Filed under: , , , , , , ,
        Celebrate RIFT's second anniversary today with Carvinal of the Ascended and 22 update
        What's a party without a dragon piñata or two? Luckily, RIFT fans won't have to find out as the annual Carnival of the Ascended will have those and plenty more for revelers joining in the game's second anniversary celebration. But the carnival -- with its games of skill, pie-stomping contests, and special anniversary cape -- is not the only goody in today's 2.2 update. Besides the previously revealed features, PvP gets a tier 2 attunement of war. Want to see what awaits in the update? Watch the trailer after the break.


        As an added bonus during the anniversary, from March 21st through April 4th all subscribers will receive a 20% increase to kill XP or planar attunement, prestige, guild XP, dungeon currency, zone event currency, and planarite. And don't forget that players can return for free from March 21st through 25th.



        [Source: Trion press release]
        Continue reading Celebrate RIFT's second anniversary with 2.2 and the Carnival of the Ascended
        MassivelyCelebrate RIFT's second anniversary with 2.2 and the Carnival of the Ascended originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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          Playdemic appoints Ian Livingstone as Chairman

          Playdemic appoints Ian Livingstone as Chairman:
          livingstone
          UK social games developer Playdemic today announced it appointed Ian Livingstone as the company’s Chairman.
          Besides being an accomplished fantasy author, Livingstone is best known in the games industry for co-founding tabletop gaming company Games Workshop, and his position as Life President of Eidos.
          Playdemic has seen some ups and downs in the past couple of years but it seems that the company managed to weather the hardships.
          After seeing some success with its Gourmet Ranch in 2011, Playdemic was acquired by developer and publisher RockYou. Gourmet Ranch continued to enjoy growth following the acquisition, especially after the release of a couple of themed content expansions, but in November 2011 RockYou announced that the company had grown too big to remain profitable and sold Playdemic back to its founders as it downsized across the board.
          Then, In March 2012, Zynga signed Playdemic on as a partner for its social games platform, Zynga.com.
          We last heard from Playdemic in August 2012, when the developer announced it secured an additional $3 million in funding from the Watson family (the grandchildren of Thomas J. Watson, founder of IBM).
          These days Playdemic is seeing great growth with its Facebook game Village Life, which currently holds the No. 105 spot on Facebooks MAU rankings and more than 400,000 DAU-E according to AppData. We also gave the game a favorable review, which you can read here.

          You Can Play Bomberman Online Against Hundreds Of People Right Now

          You Can Play Bomberman Online Against Hundreds Of People Right Now:
          You no longer have to imagine a world in which you can jump into a 1,000 player Bomberman match at any moment, for free, through your browser. Thanks to Bombermine, that world is now a reality. Judging by their sparse Twitter, the Bombermine team launched this addictive MMO game less than 48 hours ago and already the servers are full of eager Bombermen and Bomberwomen. More »

          Star Wars: The Old Republic: Game Update 2.0: A Hive of 'Scum and Villainy'

          Star Wars: The Old Republic: Game Update 2.0: A Hive of 'Scum and Villainy':
          Game Update 2.0: A Hive of
          BioWare recently pushed Game Update 2.0: Scum and Villainy to Star Wars: The Old Republic's public test server and we're breaking it all down for you in this week's SWTOR column.

          Let Your Ears Be Your Guide In This Fantastic Musical Puzzle Game

          Let Your Ears Be Your Guide In This Fantastic Musical Puzzle Game:
          Music is enough of a puzzle already. You've got your parts, your sections, your structure. Then, you have to make those parts fit a into whole, and get them to make sense together. Say, wouldn't that make for a fun game? More »

          Investors double down on Zynga's gambling ambitions

          Investors double down on Zynga's gambling ambitions:
          Not too long ago, Zynga looked like a video game company that was dabbling in the gambling world. But more and more, it's looking like the reverse might be true. ...