Daily News: 04/08/13

Monday, April 8, 2013

Chinese News and Beta Test Announcements

Warframe – Sci-fi online shooter now on Steam.
ArcheBlade – Action PvP game enters Open Beta.
Luna Plus – Game to revive in Korea under new publisher.
Tencent Games – Monster Hunter Online rumored for official reveal.
Tencent Games – New titles to be announced this month on Tencent UP+ 2013 (April 18).
Black Desert – Developer begins hiring for English market efforts.
Otherland – Developer RealU’s closure confirmed.

China’s Teen Gamers Revealed, From In-Depth Demographics to Deepest Desires [INFOGRAPHIC]

China’s Teen Gamers Revealed, From In-Depth Demographics to Deepest Desires [INFOGRAPHIC]:
We’re always keeping our eyes out for interesting and surprising data about China’s games industry, and yesterday, we found a gold mine. A new report focused on China’s teen and twenty-something online gamers from iResearch and QQ Games has surveyed more than 5,000 gamers and done in-depth research on dozens more to present the most in-depth picture we’ve yet seen of young Chinese gamers’ demographics, habits, and desires.

Massively's Defiance launch week diary: Recap

Massively's Defiance launch week diary: Recap:
Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Launches, New Titles, Opinion, Consoles, Hands-On (Massively's), First Impressions, Defiance By popular forum-rager demand, I

Microsoft Rumored To Have Google Glass Rival On The Way

Microsoft Rumored To Have Google Glass Rival On The Way:
Will AR goggles become the new Ray-Bans? Industry analyst Brian White is the source of a new rumor about Microsoft's future in wearable tech: White suggests that

Facebook Home Breaks The Fourth Wall Of Mobile Design

Facebook Home Breaks The Fourth Wall Of Mobile Design:
Facebook Home sets itself apart from Android and Apple by taking full advantage of a layered UI. It’s about time. Inside Apple, Jony Ive is pushing designers to rethink

Twitter just became a video game platform

Twitter just became a video game platform:
On the surface, Twitter's recent update to Twitter Cards allows app developers to link directly to a download, but if you peek below the curtain you'll see that this presents all

Wings Over Atreia Exclusive: Aion 4.0 launches in June!

Wings Over Atreia Exclusive: Aion 4.0 launches in June!:
Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Business Models, Classes, Events (Real-World), Events (In-Game), Expansions, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Previews, Opinion,

Arcane Saga Marches Toward Beta Test On May 7

Arcane Saga Marches Toward Beta Test On May 7:
The wait is almost over. Netmarble.com is bringing the MMORPG Arcane Saga once known as Prius Online back to life with all-new content for players in North America,

Flying Version of Daybreak to Begin on April 12 with New Trailer Launched

Flying Version of Daybreak to Begin on April 12 with New Trailer Launched:
Following the announcement of the NA and EU servers, the Chinese action MMORPG Daybreak recently unveiled the open beta date for its brand new flying version on April

Life After Disney: Warren Spector's Exit Interview

Life After Disney: Warren Spector's Exit Interview:
Veteran dev says he "doesn't understand" Junction Point's closure, triple-A is "soul crushing" and expresses interest in mobile and episodic

World of Warplanes Closed Beta First Look

World of Warplanes Closed Beta First Look:
World of Warplanes is brought by Wargaming.net, the same people who brought World of Tanks, so if you played that game, and you are also into planes, you're

World of WarPlanes: Wargaming Storms GDC

World of WarPlanes: Wargaming Storms GDC:
During the recent Game Developers' Conference, the Wargaming team made a big splash with both World of WarPlanes and the new tablet game, World of Tanks:

Final Fantasy XIV shifts into second closed beta phase

Final Fantasy XIV shifts into second closed beta phase:
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV Check out that fine-tuned Mog machine coming around the track! Why, it's Final Fantasy XIV, which has just shifted

Game Insight’s core title Dragon Eternity makes its way to iPad

Game Insight’s core title Dragon Eternity makes its way to iPad:
Mobile-social game developer and publisher Game Insight recently launched Dragon Eternity for iPad, a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing

MMObility: How the mobile market is trying to change MMOs

MMObility: How the mobile market is trying to change MMOs:
Filed under: Business Models, Culture, Game Mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Mobile, Races, Casual, MMORTS, MMObility My brother called me the other day to tell me

Red Blood Online Gameplay Videos

Red Blood Online Gameplay Videos:
Red Blood Online Korean server enters Closed Beta 2. ThisIsGame.com captured a couple of high level videos, which displays more of the flashy gameplay. Continue

Korean Action MMORPG Aima: Chronicle of Terahnoir Announced

Korean Action MMORPG Aima: Chronicle of Terahnoir Announced:
The famous Korean developers of Elsword and Grand Chase -- KOG has announced its latest action MMORPG Aima: Chronicle of Terahnoir on April 5th. Unlike Grand Chase

Rise and Shiny: Peeking into the half-naked world of Scarlet Blade

Rise and Shiny: Peeking into the half-naked world of Scarlet Blade:
Filed under: Sci-Fi, Screenshots, Video, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Casual, Post-Apocalyptic, Rise and Shiny, Livestream As

GameStick shipping pushed back from April to June

GameStick shipping pushed back from April to June:
GameStick becomes another Kickstarter delayed by excessive demand

These online gambling stats will have your head spinning faster than a roulette wheel [infographic]

These online gambling stats will have your head spinning faster than a roulette wheel [infographic]:
As we discussed in an article a few weeks back, the online gambling boom is fast approaching. States like New Jersey and Delaware have made significant inroads

GDC 2013: City of Steam demo showcases crafting and other streamlined features

GDC 2013: City of Steam demo showcases crafting and other streamlined features:
Filed under: Fantasy, Events (Real-World), Game Mechanics, Interviews, New Titles, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Browser, Hands-On, Interviews (Massively's), Hands-On

Ouya responds to negative reviews

Ouya responds to negative reviews:
Console maker says it hasn't sent out review units yet, experience will be fine-tuned for June launch

BADLAND Review

BADLAND Review:
Gamezebo Rating: Badland is the debut game from Frogmind, a small studio comprised of two developers who cut their chops over at Redlynx on the deviously

Report: Chinese Gamers Think Chinese Games Pretty Much Suck

Report: Chinese Gamers Think Chinese Games Pretty Much Suck
We as Westerners complain about the quality of video games all day long. At least we are not subjected to state-run tracts like I Carry Shit Up the Side of the Hill for the

Welcome to Age of Wushu: Character Pre Creation Is Now Available

Welcome to Age of Wushu: Character Pre Creation Is Now Available:
The wait is nearly over. Age of Wushu officially launches on April 10, 2013. Snail Games is excited to welcome ALL North American players to experience the vast and

Richard Garriott's 'Ultimate RPG' closes with $1.9 million on Kickstarter

Richard Garriott's 'Ultimate RPG' closes with $1.9 million on Kickstarter:
Shroud of the Avatar hits $1,919,275 through crowd-funding website; game targeted to launch October 2014. Ultima creator Richard Garriott has traveled to

New Torment RPG most funded game in Kickstarter history

New Torment RPG most funded game in Kickstarter history:
inXile Entertainment's isometric role-playing game closes with $4.1 million. Torment: Tides of Numenera is the most funded game in Kickstarter history. The isometric

How random drops affect the player experience

How random drops affect the player experience:
Randomness can have an effect on players' emotions. If you want to understand it, read this blog post, which examines how you can use math to fine-tune your player rewards. ...

Mittens (iOS) review

Mittens (iOS) review:
Mittens is a new iOS game from Disney. It’s available now as a $0.99 download from the App Store for iPhone or a separate “HD” version for iPad for $2.99, and carries

Mighty Dungeons Review

Mighty Dungeons Review:
Gamezebo Rating: Mighty Dungeons bills itself as a cross between old-school board games like Hero Quest and Warhammer Quests and videogames

WWE Presents: Rockpocalypse Review

WWE Presents: Rockpocalypse Review:
Gamezebo Rating: When The Rock isn't playing the role of part-time WWE Champion on Monday Night Raw, he can often be found playing other parts on

Spot It review

Spot It review:
Spot It is a Facebook game from Ravensburger Digital. It’s currently being highlighted by Facebook in the “New Games” section of App Center. Spot It is a

Dragon Eternity Review

Dragon Eternity Review:
Gamezebo Rating: The “mobile first” mantra has become increasingly popular when it comes to creating games that are going to end up on smartphones and tablets, but

Zynga sued by shareholder over early executive stock sales

Zynga sued by shareholder over early executive stock sales:
Social game publisher finds itself in legal trouble from former shareholder

The Violence in This Week in Gaming Apps is Simply Enthralling. Appalling. I Meant Appalling.

The Violence in This Week in Gaming Apps is Simply Enthralling. Appalling. I Meant Appalling.:
Our weekly roundup of the new mobile games we've played over the past five day period is usually filled with physics puzzles and endless runners. Those things are