Paradox CEO: New devices, open platforms offer key chances for indies

Paradox CEO: New devices, open platforms offer key chances for indies:
This year, an increasing trend favoring open platforms could form the new frontier for indie developers. Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester believes making a great game in the emerging hardware market is the key. ...

Lighthalzen Arrives in Classic Ragnarok Online

Lighthalzen Arrives in Classic Ragnarok Online:

Gravity Interactive has announced a major town update for Classic Ragnarok Online. Lighthalzen, originally introduced to International Ragnarok Online, will now be available on the new Pre-Renewal Classic server.

Continue reading Lighthalzen Arrives in Classic Ragnarok Online.

Diablo III, Pro Evo Soccer 2013 tops Asian sales charts

Diablo III, Pro Evo Soccer 2013 tops Asian sales charts:
GFK group reveals numbers for home and portable consoles for Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.

Get the full article at GameSpot

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"Diablo III, Pro Evo Soccer 2013 tops Asian sales charts" was posted by Jonathan Toyad on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 23:58:24 -0800

Elsword Launched New Class Battle Magician

Elsword Launched New Class Battle Magician:

Featuring the melee ability along with the magic attack, the newly revealed class for Elsword -- Battle Magician made its debut today. The Battle Magician class is the second part of Elsword Transformation, a multi-month campaign that will see numerous changes to the game, including a new job class for every character.

Continue reading Elsword Launched New Class Battle Magician.

The World's Most Popular Endless Runner Returns to Show the Clones How It's Done

The World's Most Popular Endless Runner Returns to Show the Clones How It's Done:

The success of Temple Run, a simple 3D endless runner created by the husband and wife team of Keith Shepherd and Natalia Luckyanova, has been nothing short of astounding. Since its 2011 release the game has grown into a casual gaming phenomenon, as definitive a mobile entertainment experience as Angry Birds or more Angry Birds. More »

Report: Microsoft Replacing Xbox Chat With Skype For Next Console

Report: Microsoft Replacing Xbox Chat With Skype For Next Console:

According to "A person familiar with the matter", website CVG is reporting that, as part of Microsoft's continuing efforts to consolidate Skype (which it now owns) as the standard communications platform for the company's products, it'll "become the default chat service on the next generation Xbox console". More »

Allods Online Russia opens up subscription-based server

Allods Online Russia opens up subscription-based server:
Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Economy, Game mechanics, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

The Russian branch of Allods Online made an interesting move and opened up a subscription server for an otherwise free-to-play MMO. The catch and selling point of the server is that its players won't be able to access the cash shop at all. Every character will be on an even playing field in terms of perks and boosts. Certain quality of life items will be available for gold or as quest rewards, but no one will be able to just buy perks outright.



You can read the full FAQ here. (If you don't read Russian, we suggest a translator.)



[We don't speak Russian, so thanks to intrepid tipster Tandarighttanon for bringing this to our attention.]

Allods Online Russia opens up subscription-based server originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Source: Announcement

Guild Wars 2 will soon offer paid server transfers and guesting

Guild Wars 2 will soon offer paid server transfers and guesting:
Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, News items, Guild Wars 2, Dev Diaries

Paid server transfers and the ability to "guest" to other servers have been in the cards for Guild Wars 2 for, like, ever. Well before launch, players knew that those would eventually be features of the game. Until today, though, we never knew precisely when they'd come about. ArenaNet's Martin Kerstein has given us the final word: Both features will be coming in with the January patch on the 28th. They're part of a series of improvements and updates the company plans to make throughout early 2013.



Guesting gives players the ability to join friends on other servers to participate in pretty much everything but World vs. World. Server transfers will cost an unknown number of gems and be limited to once every seven days, so make sure you're on your desired home server before the patch hits on the 28th. Head on over to the official announcement for a full guesting how-to.

Guild Wars 2 will soon offer paid server transfers and guesting originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Source: Official blog

Real Racing 3 Wouldn't Be Nearly as Realistic Without Real Race Tracks

Real Racing 3 Wouldn't Be Nearly as Realistic Without Real Race Tracks:

Witness Australia's Firemonkeys as they put more effort into the next installment of mobile's flagship racing series than most console developers put into their $60 games. Not only are they recreating famous race tracks, they're imagining new race tracks in real world locations. More »

From the Real-Time Strategy Masters at Petroglyph: A Social Word Game for the iPhone

From the Real-Time Strategy Masters at Petroglyph: A Social Word Game for the iPhone:

Founded in 2003 by the last remaining members of Westwood Studios — fathers of the modern-day real-time strategy game (see Dune II) — Petroglyph Games has spent the past decade continuing to build on that proud RTS tradition. Now the developer has taken an unexpected turn towards mobile social games, to Coin a Phrase. More »

CCP Details Plans for Expanding EVE Online in 2013 | Ten Ton Hammer

CCP Details Plans for Expanding EVE Online in 2013 | Ten Ton Hammer:
CCP makes some changes to the EVE Online team and lays out plans for 2013 as the space MMO heads into its second decade of war.

QuizCross (iOS) review

QuizCross (iOS) review:
QuizCross is a new asynchronous multiplayer social game for iOS from MAG Interactive, creators of the popular Ruzzle. It’s available now as a free download from the App Store with an optional $2.99 in-app purchase of the “premium” version to remove ads and add detailed statistics to the player’s profile.

Aeria's Delivers the Mighty Immortalis Unto the Collectible Card-Craving Masses

Aeria's Delivers the Mighty Immortalis Unto the Collectible Card-Craving Masses:

While Aeria Mobile's latest entry in the engorged collectible card game market isn't nearly as pretty as Pirate Maidens, it makes up for it by having a name that sounds suspiciously like the ancient mouthwash of power. Behold Immortalis, more than 650 cards and 70 quest zones' worth of minty fresh fantasy battles. More »

Badland's multiplayer puts you and three friends in a fairytale forest gone wrong

Badland's multiplayer puts you and three friends in a fairytale forest gone wrong: Two former RedLynx developers have revealed multiplayer plans for their first game — a picturesque side-scrolling...

Renaissance Heroes Open Beta Begins in NA and EU

Renaissance Heroes Open Beta Begins in NA and EU:

ChangYou today announced that the Renaissance Heroes beta will launch on January 22nd and will continue through the February 6th. The beta will introduce the new European server, several new game elements, including two new characters and maps, as well as a new play mode.

Continue reading Renaissance Heroes Open Beta Begins in NA and EU.

Asta (KR): Sign Up for First Closed Beta Test

Asta (KR): Sign Up for First Closed Beta Test:

NHN Hangame today announced that its Korean fansty MMORPG Asta starts recruiting beta testers, interested players can apply for test from today till Jan 20th, the final test list will be released on Jan 21st.Asta has become a new focus for players since G-Star last year, and it is regarded as the new generation Tera from NHN. Asta will hold its first closed beta in Korean chain netbars on Jan 23rd.

Continue reading Asta (KR): Sign Up for First Closed Beta Test.

League of Legends implementing new league system for Season 3

League of Legends implementing new league system for Season 3:
Filed under: Events, in-game, Game mechanics, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, League of Legends

Season 3 is on its way for League of Legends, and just like the previous seasons, players will be fighting for position in the ranked tournaments. However, this next round of ranked play comes with a twist: Riot Games is implementing a new league system. Why the change? To make competition even more compelling and play more meaningful for everyone.



Instead of just one single ladder for folks to climb, players will belong to a league within one of six different tiers based on their skill. Leagues will be comprised of up to 250 players broken into five divisions (except for the top Challenger tier). Players can rise and fall within the divisions and even work their way into a new league at the next tier.

The new system is detailed in the infographic after the cut; click the image to see the full-res version. And for even more details, check out the official FAQ.
Continue reading League of Legends implementing new league system for Season 3

League of Legends implementing new league system for Season 3 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jan 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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• Source: League system FAQ

The Lost Titans: Nothing New in this ARPG

The Lost Titans: Nothing New in this ARPG:

The Lost Titans is an online action RPG that is aimed at fans of the genre. We've been testing out The Lost Titans to see how it fares and present our official review. See what we've got to say before leaving your thoughts in the comments.