Friday, February 28, 2014

Sega cuts profit forecast by 36 per cent


Sega cuts profit forecast by 36 per cent :
Slow sales in Pachislot and Amusements prompts fiscal year revision

Grab your rod and reel: It's open season in World Tour Fishing's open beta

Grab your rod and reel: It's open season in World Tour Fishing's open beta :
Filed under: Real-Life, Trailers, Video, Events (In-Game), MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items Why chance seasickness and sunburn while trying to haul in the biggest catch from the world's open waters when you can kick back in

Square Enix's Deadman's Cross crosses 1 million download threshold in 11 days

Square Enix's Deadman's Cross crosses 1 million download threshold in 11 days :
Square Enix has announced that its hybrid first-person shooter and card battler Deadman's Cross has crossed the million download threshold in just 11 days worldwide. Similar at its core to collectable card games (CCGs) like

Out There Review

Out There Review :
It's three in the morning and I'm trying to get back to Earth as quickly as I can. My oxygen is in short supply, and soon I will suffocate if I don't find a planet with an adequate atmosphere to refill it. Speaking of supplies, I had to scrap

Out There Review

Out There Review :
Out There Review By Rob Rich on February 27th, 2014 Our Rating: :: A LITTLE LOST (IN SPACE)Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Out There is quite an interesting interstellar adventure, but the sheer level of randomness

Review: Out There

Review: Out There :
It's strange how much weight a single tap can carry. My hull has already taken a good chunk of damage, and I've used up my reserves of iron, meaning I'll have to find some more before I can patch up my beaten vessel. But there's a

Another Case Solved Review

Another Case Solved Review :
Another Case Solved is the follow-up to developer Ars Thanea Games' ridiculously engaging match-3-meets-city builder, Puzzle Craft. Like its predecessor, Another Case Solved relies primarily on puzzle-matching

Royal Revolt 2 Review

Royal Revolt 2 Review :
Royal Revolt 2 Review By Jennifer Allen on February 27th, 2014 Our Rating: :: TOWER DEFENSE WITH A DIFFERENCEUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Fun yet sometimes frustratingly slowly paced, Royal Revolt 2

Cubed Snowboarding Review


Cubed Snowboarding Review :
Cubed Snowboarding Review By Carter Dotson on February 27th, 2014 Our Rating: :: WIPEOUTUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Cubed Snowboarding is quite the challenge to try and tackle, if only because of its

'Word Mage' Review - The Hyperactive Member Of The Word Game Family

'Word Mage' Review - The Hyperactive Member Of The Word Game Family :
The word game is one of those genres that's basically always active on iOS, with new entries released at a fairly regular pace. That said, recently, there seems to be a higher amount than usual of excellent new games twisting

Beyond Space Review

Beyond Space Review :
Beyond Space Review By Jordan Minor on February 27th, 2014 Our Rating: :: SHOOTING STARUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Beyond Space’s gameplay is good, but its production values are out of this world.

Sago Mini Ocean Swimmer Review


Sago Mini Ocean Swimmer Review :
Sago Mini Ocean Swimmer Review By Amy Solomon on February 27th, 2014 Our Rating: :: AQUATIC COMPANIONSUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Explore Sago Mini Ocean Swimmer alongside Fins the fish for a

Infinite Crisis hits open beta on March 14

Infinite Crisis hits open beta on March 14 :
Filed under: Betas, Super-hero, New Titles, MOBA, Infinite Crisis Turbine has announced that its Infinite Crisis MOBA will launch its open beta on March 14. Former Lord of the Rings Online and current Infinite Crisis executive producer,

Exclusive: Rovio unveils groundbreaking new publishing program

Exclusive: Rovio unveils groundbreaking new publishing program :
Rovio has lifted the lid on a new third party publishing initiative designed to make learning much more fun. The idea is to introduce a new generation of children to games that are entertaining, engaging and educational. This fresh

Want to be part of a vampire army?

Want to be part of a vampire army? :
Want to be part of a vampire army? You'll get your chance starting today as Nosgoth—the free-to-play multiplayer combat game set in The Legacy of Kain universe—goes into closed beta. Read more...

RIFT willing to ban players for toxic forum behavior

RIFT willing to ban players for toxic forum behavior :
Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Events (In-Game), News Items, Free-to-Play, RIFT, Subscription Official game forums have a reputation for being hopelessly toxic. It makes a certain amount of sense, too; being an utter jerk

PopCap vets form cloud-based Fixer Studios

PopCap vets form cloud-based Fixer Studios :
The mobile developer will use a "dynamic staffing system" which means that the workforce is constantly fluctuating based on availability

The 3 big trends in gaming from Mobile World Congress 2014

The 3 big trends in gaming from Mobile World Congress 2014 :
Mobile World Congress doesn't have the biggest focus on gaming. Bbut it's hard not to see trends beginning to form there that will go on to affect how mobile game experiences are made, monetised, and delivered. So while

Aeria Games sells PC business and rebrands to focus exclusively on mobile

Aeria Games sells PC business and rebrands to focus exclusively on mobile :
Demonstrating the way the industry is moving, F2P publisher Aeria has pulled out of the PC gaming market. The US outfit has sold its worldwide PC games business, including its Aeria Games Europe subsidiary to German media

"Free-to-play" misleading advertising in Europe

"Free-to-play" misleading advertising in Europe :
European Commission meets with devs to improve consumer protections, wants them to stop calling games free if they have in-app purchases

LINE signs up IGAWorks for its Free Coins platform

LINE signs up IGAWorks for its Free Coins platform :
Commentators wondering how Facebook is going to monetise WhatsApp need look no further than Kakao, WeChat and LINE. These mobile messaging services make the majority of their revenues through mobile games. And for

Korean News and Beta Test Announcements

  • XL Games “Civilization Online” releases Korea brand identity, to enter 1st CBT in the 1st half of 2014.
  • Pincon “Hello Hero” Facebook web version gets 500,000 active users 3 weeks after global opening; iOS and Android versions launched in October 24, 2013 and on February 21, 2014, it recorded accumulated 1,500,000 registered users and 750,000 MAUs; sales per region are: North America:36.3%, Southeast Asia: 42.9%, Europe: 15.4%, South America: 4.9%, Others: 0.5%.
  • Panggame web 3D MMORPG “Queen’s Sword” to start service in March.
  • Blueside signs China service contract with Changyou for action strategy RPG “Kingdom Under Fire 2.” 
  • Neowiz Bless Studio MMORPG “Bless” planned for 2nd CBT this summer.
  • RPG Factory “DK Online” starts Naver channeling service.
  • Smilegate FPS “Crossfire” “Wave Mode” update teaser page revealed, to be revealed on March 5, “wave mode” is a combination of FPS and AOS genres.
  • Pax Game RPG “Cheonryonge Chuihada” starts OBT on February 27.
  • Hanbit Soft dance game “Audition” Samsung SmarTV version released.
  • Gamewave web action RPG “Surado” opens official homepage and holds final test.
  • ENP Games web MMORPG “Jinmiin” starts Pmang channeling service.
  • Joycity football game “Freestyle Football” holds China pre-OBT from March 13 via Tencent.
  • NCsoft “Guild War 2” holds CBT in China from March 11 via China partner KongZhong, and reveals business model: buy package with no monthly fee.
  • Finger Planet strategy simulation web game “Three Kingdom the Real” holds CBT from February 28 to March 2.
  • ENP Games RPG “Jecheon Daeseong” to start service in first half of 2014.
  • Actoz Soft 2013 sales: 139,300,000,000 won, operating income: 23,100,000,000 won.
  • ESTsoft 2013 sales: 365,300,000,000 won.
  • Gamehi 2013 sales: 55,300,000,000 won, operating income: 22,800,000,000 won, net income: 19,800,000,000 won.
  • Gameday mbile game “Doors&Rooms 2” to be released in Google Play store and Apple Appstore in early March.
  • Highbrow mobile RPG Dragon Village 2” holds CBT tester recruitment.
  • Rekoo Korea full network 3D MORPG “Honest” to be released in mid-March.
  • Neocyon mobile MMORPG “Ragnarok: Heroe’s Road” game introduction video revealed.
  • Neowiz Games mobile action RPG “Soul Hearts” revealed, planned for test in mid-March.
  • Com2us mobile RPG “Summoners War” holds CBT from February 24, planned for release in Com2us hub for iOS and Android versions in 1st half of 2014.
  • I Love Mobile Game smartphone 3D social action RPG “Yeokcheon Online” released in Google Play store, Apple Appstore, and T-store.
  • Kunlun Korea mobile game “Jinsamguk Daejeon” holds CBT until March 3.
  • Acquire mobile panel action RPG “Road to Dragons” iOS version released on February 24.
  • Gumi Korea “Brave Frontier” released via T-store.
  • Efun smartphone fantasy action RPG “Tigyuk Tagyuk” holds CBT from February 26 to 28.
  • Wemade MMORPG “Ark Sphere” to be released on February 28.
  • YD Online mobile game “The God of Highschool” to be available in Naver on February 28.
  • Selvas midcore mobile action RPG “Heart of Dragon” released in Android market.
  • Com2us strategy battle RPG “Charge! Divine Girls” released in Apple Appstore.
  • NGL card battle RPG “Chohan Jeongi” to be released this March.
  • Com2us strategy RPG “Wizard” released in Google Play store and Apple Appstore.
  • Pictosoft mobile action MORPG “Soul Shash Saga” released in Google Play store.
  • Akong RPG “Waggle Waggle Hero War” released in Google Play store.
  • Pictosoft fantasy collectible card game “Hero Creates a Legend” released in T-store.
  • Cubic Studio card battle game “Social Three Kingdom” released in Google Play store, Apple Appstore, and Olleh market.
  • Archive Factory “Over The Cloud: Lost Planet” to be released in early March via T-store.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Free for All: Villagers and Heroes adds bells, whistles, and more sand

Free for All: Villagers and Heroes adds bells, whistles, and more sand :
Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Patches, Previews, Endgame, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Browser, Hands-On, Casual, Humor, Free for All, Family, Livestream, Miscellaneous, Sandbox,

MMObility: A newbie's look at the fantastic Therian Saga

MMObility: A newbie's look at the fantastic Therian Saga :
Filed under: Betas, Screenshots, Video, Economy, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Previews, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Browser, Hands-On, Casual, Roleplaying, Miscellaneous, MMObility, Sandbox, Crafting I'm tired today. I was

Pantheon's Kickstarter comes up short, development to continue

Pantheon's Kickstarter comes up short, development to continue :
Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Crowdfunding, Subscription, Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen has concluded its Kickstarter campaign without

Rise and Shiny revisit: Stronghold Kingdoms

Rise and Shiny revisit: Stronghold Kingdoms :
Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Video, Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, War, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Casual, MMORTS, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Livestream, Sandbox Stronghold Kingdoms is probably one of my top favorite

Final wave of War Thunder Ground Forces beta begins, massive content update announced

Final wave of War Thunder Ground Forces beta begins, massive content update announced :
Filed under: Betas, Historical, Expansions, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Player-Generated Content The third and final wave of War Thunder's closed beta for its Ground Forces expansion has begun. Eager tank drivers who have

A First-Person Zombie Shooter... On Facebook?


A First-Person Zombie Shooter... On Facebook? :
In case anyone is under the impression that Facebook gaming is all farms and candy crushing, zombie-killing epic Dead Trigger 2 has arrived to challenge that notion with extreme prejudice. Let's play!

Hands-on with Fates Forever - an iPad MOBA with no compromises

Hands-on with Fates Forever - an iPad MOBA with no compromises :
Startup game studio Hammer & Chisel outlines its vision right there in the App Store description for Fates Forever. The firm's mission statement is to build "great, complex games that don't compromise simply because they're

The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot is now in open beta

The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot is now in open beta :
Remember last month when we told you that the hilariously awesome The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot would be entering an open beta phase at the end of February? Well guess what? It's officially the end of February now, and the

Shooty-man: A candid catch-up with Counter-Strike co-creator Minh Le

Shooty-man: A candid catch-up with Counter-Strike co-creator Minh Le :
Gamasutra recently sat down to play some Counter Strike with series co-creator Minh Le, about the seminal FPS, his more recent work, and the perils of free-to-play. ...

Pricing Games on the App Store – Premium isn’t Dead, Freemium is Here to Stay, and it’s Everybody’s Fault

Pricing Games on the App Store – Premium isn’t Dead, Freemium is Here to Stay, and it’s Everybody’s Fault :
Ah, the Great App Store Pricing Debate. For years people have been arguing over the cost of mobile games. What constitutes “too much?” Where’s the line when it comes to free-to-play monetization techniques? Should developers

The Charticle: Can Apple help Tengami conquer the App Store at $4.99?

The Charticle: Can Apple help Tengami conquer the App Store at $4.99? :
Tengami, an atmospheric pop-up adventure game from the passionate folks over at Nyamyam, has announced its arrival on the App Store in style, having being pushed by Apple as a featured app. What makes Tengami a game of

UK dev Rebellion hits 3.5 million downloads across Windows devices in less than a year

UK dev Rebellion hits 3.5 million downloads across Windows devices in less than a year :
Rebellion has revealed that combined downloads of its games library across Windows Phone and Windows 8 have hit 3.5 million in less than 12 months. Senior producer James Valls said the firm - which has released Judge Dredd

Spil Games' Erik Goossens says in-game advertising is good for developers and players

Spil Games' Erik Goossens says in-game advertising is good for developers and players :
Since joining the company in 2012, Erik Goossens has been busy steering Spil Games around an ever-changing marketplace and identifying strategic opportunities. Erik is highly skilled in asking questions, making decisions,

Think Gaming promises to turn your game into a top grosser with its free Scouting Reports

Think Gaming promises to turn your game into a top grosser with its free Scouting Reports :
Think Gaming has announced the launch of its new Scouting Reports, a free service aimed at helping developers turn games into top grossing titles. It manages this feat by scoring your game on four key metrics - retention,

Mobile generating the majority of growth in video advertising, reckons SupersonicAds

Mobile generating the majority of growth in video advertising, reckons SupersonicAds :
Web and mobile monetisation outfit SupersonicAds has broken out details of its 2013 performance. Overall, mobile adoption on the SupersonicAds platform grew by more than 190 percent. The company also highlighted the

X marks the spot: Nokia broadens portfolio with Android fork Nokia X

X marks the spot: Nokia broadens portfolio with Android fork Nokia X :
After weeks of speculation, Nokia has unveiled its Android fork – Nokia X – at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, with the Finnish giant looking to reach more low-end consumers. The company claims the new Nokia X range will

Middle-aged women play but Generation Y pays

Middle-aged women play but Generation Y pays :
US social mobile gaming network PlayPhone has been investigating the breakdown of the mobile gaming market. It's surveyed 1,000 American mobile gamer as part of its Mobile Gaming Chronicles, to get an idea about

WhatsUp? PlayPhone brings the social virality of Tango's 190 million users to its games platform

WhatsUp? PlayPhone brings the social virality of Tango's 190 million users to its games platform :
Given Facebook's $19 billion WhatsApp acquisition, the timing for PlayPhone's latest announcement couldn't be better. The white label b2b social mobile gaming platform is hooking up with US messaging app outfit Tango. The

Big in Japan: Tales of Link and Song of Summoner sequels, plus Puzzle & Dragons plans for its own evolution

Big in Japan: Tales of Link and Song of Summoner sequels, plus Puzzle & Dragons plans for its own evolution :
As well as being one of the largest mobile game markets by revenue, Japan is currently also one of the most dynamic. It's a good opportunity, then, for PocketGamer.biz to hook up with Indie Navi, a site which is dedicated to the

This Week in China: Unauthorized Mario is unauthorized

This Week in China: Unauthorized Mario is unauthorized :
2014 seems to be the year of copyright. Whether it's King's CANDY crisis, the Flappy Bee incident, or the ASTROIDS name change, IP protection seems to be the word of the day. And now, in China, Nintendo is fighting its own IP battle

The Elder Scrolls Online Beta Giveaway

The Elder Scrolls Online Beta Giveaway :
The Elder Scrolls Online beta runs from Friday Feb 28, 12:00 ET - Monday March 3, 11:59 ETYou must create a Bethesda account in order to redeem a code (and play the game, of course). Click here sign up. Everyone that enters

Elder Scrolls Online inviting 'millions' for stress test while fretting over sub model

Elder Scrolls Online inviting 'millions' for stress test while fretting over sub model :
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business Models, Interviews, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription This looks to be a big weekend for The Elder Scrolls Online's beta program, as ZeniMax is "inviting millions" for a scale test. ESO

Marvel Heroes introduces new game mode in Training Day update


Marvel Heroes introduces new game mode in Training Day update :
Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Marvel Heroes Over the weekend Marvel Heroes launched Game Update 2.3, also known as Training Day. This latest update introduced an all-new game mode for players

ArcheAge Russia struggles with overloaded queues

ArcheAge Russia struggles with overloaded queues :
Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, Free-to-Play, Rumors, Sandbox ArcheAge's recent launch in Russia has not gone completely smoothly, as overloaded and somewhat unstable servers have struggled to accommodate those

Ex-CCP design director Craig Scott joins Bigpoint to make new MMO

Ex-CCP design director Craig Scott joins Bigpoint to make new MMO :
Game industry veteran Craig Scott recently left his position as design director at CCP to join German browser game maker Bigpoint, where he will be serving as lead designer on an unnamed new game. ...

Steam Greenlight approves another 50, Galactic Princess included

Steam Greenlight approves another 50, Galactic Princess included :
The latest batch of games approved through Steam Greenlight was announced on Wednesday. Fifty titles were chosen, including Lost Decade Game's A Wizard's Lizard, Rat King Entertainment's Tri, and Cecly's Galactic

DayZ creator Dean "Rocket" Hall will leave developer Bohemia this year

DayZ creator Dean "Rocket" Hall will leave developer Bohemia this year :
DayZ creator Dean "Rocket" Hall has said that he plans to step down as the head of the popular open-world survival game before the end of this year, and will start a new studio in New Zealand.In an interview with Eurogamer, Hall

Stephen Elop set to take charge of Xbox at Microsoft

Stephen Elop set to take charge of Xbox at Microsoft :
Stephen Elop is poised to take control of Microsoft's Devices and Studios division, giving the former Nokia CEO control of the American giant's Xbox business. That's according to an internal memo sent out by Microsoft

In-house game jam leads to $6.2M development contracts for Frontier


In-house game jam leads to $6.2M development contracts for Frontier :
Elite: Dangerous company Frontier Developments has signed two new development contracts valued at a total of £3.75 million ($6.25 million), thanks to an in-house game jam. ...

Remode Studios set to close its doors in March

Remode Studios set to close its doors in March :
Remode has announced that it will be shutting up shop in March - at least in its current form - seven years after it was founded in 2007. The company has primarily served as a developer for hire throughout its lifetime, delivering

Major Diablo 3 patch arrives...with a long list of bugs

Major Diablo 3 patch arrives...with a long list of bugs :
Diablo III's long-awaited Patch 2.0.1. has arrived, and while it introduces a lengthy list of updates including the highly touted Loot 2.0 system, it also brings with it a series of bugs. The patch was released yesterday in North

Review: Word Mage

Review: Word Mage :
Word Mage is a linear retro RPG in which the battles closely resemble rounds of Boggle. If you're a lazy reader, you can look down at the score now and then leave without missing anything important. The rest of this review is just a

Review: Dual Survivor

Review: Dual Survivor :
23 times. I had to play the second level of Dual Survivor 23 times before I cleared it, and I am proud of that number. That's the sort of mentality that Dual Survivor instils in the naïve player who comes to it expecting a simple maze

TouchArcade Game of the Week: 'Bug Heroes 2'


TouchArcade Game of the Week: 'Bug Heroes 2' :
The idea behind the TouchArcade Game of the Week is that every Friday afternoon we post the one game that came out this week that we think is worth giving a special nod to. Now, before anyone goes over-thinking this, it

World of Gibbets Review

World of Gibbets Review :
World of Gibbets Review By Jordan Minor on February 25th, 2014 Our Rating: :: HUNGUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Bright colors and clever puzzles do little to hide the pure heart of darkness in World of Gibbets.

MarcoPolo Ocean Review


MarcoPolo Ocean Review :
MarcoPolo Ocean Review By Amy Solomon on February 25th, 2014 Our Rating: :: OCEANIC INTRODUCTION iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad MarcoPolo Ocean is a cute and fun interactive oceanic introduction for young

Bouncy Bit Review

Bouncy Bit Review :
Bouncy Bit Review By Lee Hamlet on February 25th, 2014 Our Rating: :: JUST A BIT MOREiPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad As unspectacular as it may be, Bouncy Bit is still as addictive as any retro

'Another Case Solved' Review - A Cracking Candy Conspiracy

'Another Case Solved' Review - A Cracking Candy Conspiracy :
Fancy yourself as a bit of a detective? Want to solve the most ludicrous cases in a world where candy is strictly forbidden? Publisher Chillingo’s latest game takes the simple aspects and ideas of a puzzle game and give it a whole new

Perloo Review

Perloo Review :
Perloo Review By Arron Hirst on February 25th, 2014 Our Rating: :: BROKE MY BRAINiPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad Perloo commands both time and a certain level of intrinsic logic. Provided one has

Zombocalypse Now Review

Zombocalypse Now Review :
Zombocalypse Now Review By Jennifer Allen on February 25th, 2014 Our Rating: :: CHOOSE YOUR OWN DEMISEUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad A humorous take on a zombie invasion from the perspective of a

Review: Caveman Wars

Review: Caveman Wars :
Sometimes you just have to throw a giant ball of ice at a sabre-toothed tiger and hope for the best. Other times you need to pelt a mammoth with fireballs while the glowing blue beast tramps menacingly towards your delicious store

Review: UHR-Warlords

Review: UHR-Warlords :
If chess had been invented in 1986 by a Norwegian heavy metal fan, it might have resembled the virtual boardgame at UHR-Warlords's heart. This a no-nonsense, hardcore, deep fantasy strategy game, and anyone wondering

Cracking the code on eSports

Cracking the code on eSports :
MLG president Mike Sepso lays out the challenges to growing and selling gaming as a spectator sport

Black Gold starts alpha 'test drive' next month

Black Gold starts alpha 'test drive' next month :
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Free-to-Play, Black Gold Do you have the golden ticket? No, not the one to a whimsical and deadly chocolate factory, but the ticket to get into Black Gold Online's upcoming alpha test. If you do, then

Ultima Online brings back the player counselor program


Ultima Online brings back the player counselor program :
Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Ultima Online, Subscription Ultima Online is looking for a few good men and women to sign up for a tour of duty as a counselor. Broadsword is bringing back the game's counselor program in the

The final battle for Lion's Arch begins in Guild Wars 2's next content release

The final battle for Lion's Arch begins in Guild Wars 2's next content release :
Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Interviews, Patches, News Items, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play After long months of planning, preparation and manipulation, Scarlet Briar finally made her move on what appears to be her ultimate target:

Asheron's Call limits updates, goes free, and plans player-run servers

Asheron's Call limits updates, goes free, and plans player-run servers :
Filed under: Fantasy, Asheron's Call, Business Models, Patches, Free-to-Play, Player-Generated Content, Subscription Once Turbine applies a March 4th update to Asheron's Call, the studio plans to move the game into

DCUO update brings feat unlocking and moon PvP

DCUO update brings feat unlocking and moon PvP :
Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, PvP, Free-to-Play, DC Universe Online DC Universe Online rolled out Game Update 34 today, bringing with it a powerful feat unlocking system for players with multiple characters and a trip to the

Report: God of War dev hit with layoffs, one project might be canceled

Report: God of War dev hit with layoffs, one project might be canceled :
[UPDATE] Following the publication of this story, a Sony representative confirmed the job cuts in a statement to GameSpot. The company did not, however, address the speculation that an in-development game had been

Monetizer Special: Comparing three F2P games with 7-band IAP economies

Monetizer Special: Comparing three F2P games with 7-band IAP economies :
As I pointed out in a previous Monetizer Special, the vast majority of F2P games use an in-app purchase system with either 5 or 6 transaction bands. Typical price points are $4.99, $9.99, $19.99, $49.99 and $99.99 for the

Back to Bed devs form Bedtime Digital

Back to Bed devs form Bedtime Digital :
Funding from Capnova allows hobbyist team to go pro

GSN acquires Bash Gaming

GSN acquires Bash Gaming :
Deal with Bingo Bash developer reported to be worth $160 million

Following legacy write-downs, G5 sees FY13 sales up 24% to $15.6 million

Following legacy write-downs, G5 sees FY13 sales up 24% to $15.6 million :
Swedish publisher G5 Entertainment (STO: G5EN) has announced its FY13 financials, the 12 month period ending 31 December 2013. Consolidated revenue was $15.6 million (SEK 100 million), up 24 percent year-on-year. The

Turbine outlines the path ahead for LotRO and DDO

Turbine outlines the path ahead for LotRO and DDO :
Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Lord of the Rings Online, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries Coming hot on the heels of yesterday's revelation about the future of Asheron's Call, Turbine posted a pair of

MMO Mechanics: Procedural generation is the future


MMO Mechanics: Procedural generation is the future :
Filed under: City of Heroes, EVE Online, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, RuneScape, Love, EverQuest Next, Sandbox, Star Citizen, Elite: Dangerous, Trove, MMO Mechanics MMOs are infamous for the exorbitant

Why freemium mobile developers can't succeed without whales


Why freemium mobile developers can't succeed without whales :
Less than two percent of freemium mobile game players spent any money on in-app purchases in January, according to mobile app analytics platform Swrve's inaugural monetization report. ...

MMORPGs: Time to level up

MMORPGs: Time to level up :
Steve Peterson looks at the current MMORPG landscape, the marketing challenges, and what lies ahead

Entropia Universe adds Arabian planet

Entropia Universe adds Arabian planet :
Filed under: Sci-Fi, Patches, Free-to-Play, Sandbox According to scientists, Entropia Universe continues to expand, not contract. The MMO had added a new planet to its galaxy, Toulan. Planet Toulan draws from Arabian mythology

February will be a big month for PlanetSide 2

February will be a big month for PlanetSide 2 :
Filed under: Sci-Fi, Patches, Previews, War, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2 PlanetSide 2 continues to gain updates and new content. It's still pushing itself to be the best place to find massive battles with the most

Review: Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous

Review: Tilt to Live 2: Redonkulous :
Tilt to Live 2 is exactly the same as the original game. Tilt to Live 2 is completely different from the original game. What gives? One Man Left's long-awaited follow-up to the 2010 original isn't so much a natural

Review: Card City Nights

Review: Card City Nights :
It's my firm belief that Microprose's 1997 PC version of Magic: the Gathering remains the best video game yet spawned by the collectible card game craze. It worked because it combined solid strategy with the thrill of exploration and

Qwirkle Review

Qwirkle Review :
Qwirkle Review By Mike Deneen on February 24th, 2014 Our Rating: :: JUST LIKE THE REAL THINGUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Board games are usually a great genre on mobile devices and Mindware’s Qwirkle

Not So Massively: Star Citizen's procedural planets, Diablo III's Paragon 2.0, and Pokemon's Democracy mode

Not So Massively: Star Citizen's procedural planets, Diablo III's Paragon 2.0, and Pokemon's Democracy mode :
Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Business Models, Events (Real-World), Expansions, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, Patches, PvP, Endgame, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, Miscellaneous,

Make My MMO: Crowdfunding February 9 - 22, 2014

Make My MMO: Crowdfunding February 9 - 22, 2014 :
Filed under: MMO Industry, Massively Meta, Miscellaneous, Crowdfunding, Make My MMO In the world of MMOs, no news is not necessarily good news -- especially when it comes to crowdfunding. Silence often denotes a lack of

Bug Heroes 2 Review

Bug Heroes 2 Review :
Though most of us have no love for the roaches, spiders, and ants that occasionally move into our kitchens and make themselves at home, Bug Heroes 2 by Foursaken Media would have us believe these creepy critters

Fright Fight Review

Fright Fight Review :
Fright Fight Review By Lee Hamlet on February 24th, 2014 Our Rating: :: THE MORE THE MERRIERUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad If they can manage to find 3 other players to enter a brawl with, players will have a

Review: Super 4

Review: Super 4 :
If ever a project needed the guiding hand of a publisher, it's Super 4. It would be difficult to imagine a more ostensibly generic game. Super 4 looks like something knocked up in Deluxe Paint by a developer who thinks that shiny

FlapThulhu: Flappy Madness Review


FlapThulhu: Flappy Madness Review :
FlapThulhu: Flappy Madness Review By Carter Dotson on February 24th, 2014 Our Rating: :: HAIL FLAPTHULHUUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad The Deep One stars in perhaps the best flappy game yet.

Word Mage Review

Word Mage Review :
Word Mage Review By Jennifer Allen on February 24th, 2014 Our Rating: :: BOGGLE BATTLINGUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Create words to defeat the monsters in this 8-bit style RPG/Boggle mash-up.

UHR-Warlords Review

UHR-Warlords Review :
UHR-Warlords Review By Jordan Minor on February 24th, 2014 Our Rating: :: WORLD OF UHRKRAFTiPad Only App - Designed for the iPad The only thing wrong with UHR-Warlords’ sublime strategic battles is that there aren’t more

Betawatch: February 15 - 21, 2014

Betawatch: February 15 - 21, 2014 :
Filed under: Betas, MMO Industry, News Items, Betawatch, Miscellaneous After an NDA that lasted so long it seemed poised to continue until a month after launch, The Elder Scrolls Online has finally dropped its NDA for testers,

Platforms Unlimited Review

Platforms Unlimited Review :
Platforms Unlimited Review By Carter Dotson on February 21st, 2014 Our Rating: :: FUN UNLIMITEDUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Platforms Unlimited brings endless procedural generation to the ultra-

'Doctor Life' Review - Medical Mayhem At Its Best

'Doctor Life' Review - Medical Mayhem At Its Best :
Although I have an intense dislike for infirmaries, A&E and doctor’s surgeries, I have for some reason always enjoyed playing games which involve themes surrounding hospitals. When I was a young lass, Theme Hospital was one of

Oquonie Review

Oquonie Review :
Oquonie Review By Angela LaFollette on February 21st, 2014 Our Rating: :: PERPLEXINGUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad This mysterious adventure puzzler will have players immersed in an odd and beautifully

Pigeon Presents: Mo… on the Go! Review

Pigeon Presents: Mo… on the Go! Review :
Pigeon Presents: Mo… on the Go! Review By Amy Solomon on February 21st, 2014 Our Rating: Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Pigeon Presents: Mo… on the Go! includes a collection of activities based on the

Second Chance Heroes Review

Second Chance Heroes Review :
Four score and seven million zombies ago, a high school teacher with a passion for history created a cloning machine in his garage to bring back some of the world's greatest heroes for a second chance at providing

Dual Survivor Review

Dual Survivor Review :
Dual Survivor Review By Mike Deneen on February 21st, 2014 Our Rating: :: HAND-TO-HAND STRATEGYiPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad Most people find it challenging to synonymously do a

KongZhong hopes to have turned the corner with Q4 mobile sales up 18% to $5 million

KongZhong hopes to have turned the corner with Q4 mobile sales up 18% to $5 million :
Chinese mobile and online gaming company KongZhong (NASDAQ: KONG) has announced its unaudited results for FY13, the 12 months ending 31 December 2013. Total revenues were $179 million, down 4 percent

EA founder Trip Hawkins is putting his money where his mouth is with "If..."

EA founder Trip Hawkins is putting his money where his mouth is with "If..." :
To be more precise, it's not his own money, but the $6.5 million raised for his latest venture, If You Can Company. The startup's first title, If..., is an episodic RPG intended for kids ages nine to 11 that just hit the iOS App Store a few

Developers can now run their own discount sales on Steam


Developers can now run their own discount sales on Steam :
If you thought there were already enough discount sales on Steam, get ready for a whole lot more. Steam today announced that developers can now run their own sales via the online store. ...

Blue Eden Review

Blue Eden Review :
Blue Eden Review By Jennifer Allen on February 26th, 2014 Our Rating: :: ECOLOGICALLY SOUNDiPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad Experience the life cycle of a surgeonfish in this somewhat

Trolls vs Vikings Review

Trolls vs Vikings Review :
Trolls vs Vikings Review By Jennifer Allen on February 26th, 2014 Our Rating: :: PRICEY DEFENDINGUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad An appealing game, Trolls vs Vikings loses out due to a plethora of in-app

Calculords Review

Calculords Review :
Calculords Review By Campbell Bird on February 26th, 2014 Our Rating: :: CCG+MATH=AWESOMEUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad By combining math and more traditional collectible card game mechanics,

HonorBound Review

HonorBound Review :
HonorBound Review By Lee Hamlet on February 26th, 2014 Our Rating: :: BOUND FOR GLORYUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Accessible enough for beginners but engaging enough for RPG enthusiasts,

Kahuna Review

Kahuna Review :
Kahuna Review By Chris Kirby on February 26th, 2014 Our Rating: :: SURF'S UP!Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Kahuna is a tightly-focused strategic game for two. Quick and challenging board games don’t come much

MWC 2014: Striker Manager 2 and Striker Soccer 2 are the scrappy underdogs of the football gaming world

MWC 2014: Striker Manager 2 and Striker Soccer 2 are the scrappy underdogs of the football gaming world :
I saw two new football games from U-Play Online at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. One puts you on the pitch, and the other sticks you on the sidelines. BOTH look rather promising. If you want to play a football

Disco Zoo Review

Disco Zoo Review :
In the world of free-to-play, popular game styles seem to come in waves. After FarmVille, every Facebook developer went through their farming phase. After Social City, every social gamemaker thought they could make the next

Friday, February 21, 2014

New research shows free-to-play on mobile isn't slowing down

New research shows free-to-play on mobile isn't slowing down :
Is the F2P business model showing any signs of slowing down on mobile? Quite the opposite really, as most recently in-app purchases in iOS apps accounted for 81 percent of total revenue taken on the App Store. ...

Jagex appoints new vice president of communications

Jagex appoints new vice president of communications :
Sam Forrest promoted to newly created role

Shroud of the Avatar gets social with latest release

Shroud of the Avatar gets social with latest release:
It's been a while since we last hear from Portalarium regarding Richard Garriott's fantasy role-playing game,...

General: Gloria Victis & Life is Feudal 'Greenlit' By Steam

General: Gloria Victis & Life is Feudal 'Greenlit' By Steam:
Steam has announced the next fifty titles to have passed the "Greenlight" campaign to be included on the mega-games portal. In the current batch, both Gloria Victis and Life is Feudal made the cut and will soon be listed on

Transform yourself in Eclipse War Online's closed beta February 25th

Transform yourself in Eclipse War Online's closed beta February 25th:
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, PvE A game that lets players transform into the mobs they kill? If you've got to see it to believe it, Eclipse War Online is opening its closed beta doors from

Coldfire Keep Review

Coldfire Keep Review:
The town of Newsettle needs your help! There's evil around every corner (careful not to step in any) and it's up to you and your stalwart band of newbie adventurers to delve into the depths of Coldfire Keep, uncover the source of

Another Case Solved Review

Another Case Solved Review:
Another Case Solved Review By Jennifer Allen on February 20th, 2014 Our Rating: :: MYSTERY SOLVINGUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Another Case Solved is a fun take on crime solving with a mixture of strategy

Review: Dandelions: Chain of Seeds

Review: Dandelions: Chain of Seeds:
Sometimes, Dandelions: Chain of Seeds can be a little overwhelming. About halfway through the first chunk of levels you'll be confronted with a screen full of white, blue, and yellow shapes. You might swear. It's okay, I did too. But

Mad Skills Motocross 2 Review

Mad Skills Motocross 2 Review:
Mad Skills Motocross 2 Review By Jennifer Allen on February 20th, 2014 Our Rating: :: SHAKY RACINGUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad There’s a fun and regular multiplayer side of things to Mad Skills Motocross 2,

Card Wars - Adventure Time Review

Card Wars - Adventure Time Review:
On the list of animated shows I'm glad my daughter likes so I have a plausible reason to watch more of them myself, Adventure Time is right at the top (Littlest Pet Shop, in contrast, is last). So it's with great delight that I report

Tengami Review

Tengami Review:
I am excited about Tengami. Not because it's a particularly great game, but because it's a remarkable multimedia experience. At its core, it's a point-and-click adventure set in ancient Japan. But it's the rendering of the game world

'Tengami' Review - The Art Of Paper Folding

'Tengami' Review - The Art Of Paper Folding:
It's been a long wait, but Tengami [$4.99], the adventure game inspired by pop-up storybooks, has finally been completed. The developer, Nyamyam, is a new name, but you're almost certainly familiar with past projects they've

Tengami Review

Tengami Review:
Tengami Review By Carter Dotson on February 20th, 2014 Our Rating: :: BEAUTY IS SKIN DEEPUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Tengami is ridiculously beautiful, but its gorgeous looks only go so far.

Review: Coldfire Keep

Review: Coldfire Keep:
Every moment I've spent with Coldfire Keep has been a combination of tension, bewilderment, wall-punching fury, and unadulterated satisfaction. It's an unforgiving first-person dungeon-crawler, as popularised by Ultima

Bug Heroes 2 Review

Bug Heroes 2 Review:
Bug Heroes 2 Review By Rob Rich on February 20th, 2014 Our Rating: :: A SWARM WELCOMEUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Bug Heroes 2 doesn’t simply succeed in reaching the rather high bar Foursaken

Asiasoft – SEA behemoth buys Level Up! Philippines for USD 4.2 million

Asiasoft – SEA behemoth buys Level Up! Philippines for USD 4.2 million:
[Source] Southeast Asia publisher, Asiasoft, announced recently the complete takeover of Level Up! Philippines, a fellow games publisher in its native country. Despite being a behemoth in Southeast Asia, Asiasoft did not venture

Korean News and Beta Test Announcements

  • SEGA “Football Manager Online” holds 2nd CBT tester recruitment until March 9, holds 2nd CBT from March 13 to April 6.
  • Entermate web MMORPG “Amheuk Samguk” opens official homepage.
  • Palmple card RPG “Devil Maker” released in Taiwan by Gameflier via Google Play store and Apple Appstore.
  • Efun RPG “Shingihaeng” released in LG U+ market.
  • Enish mobile TCG “Dragon Tactics Infinity” released.

Kabam to open Seoul office

Kabam to open Seoul office:
New premises signal a greater focus on thriving Korean market

Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Spring of SWTOR - Game Update 2.7

Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Spring of SWTOR - Game Update 2.7:
Over the course of the past week, BioWare laid out their roadmap for the changes coming with Star Wars: the Old Republic's Game Update 2.7. You can see how we're trundling along to SWTOR's 3.0. The use of sub-numbers

Kongregate names Emily Greer CEO

Kongregate names Emily Greer CEO:
Emily takes over for her brother Jim Greer who is looking to launch a not-for-profit political organization

PapayaMobile expands UK team with London Tech City office

PapayaMobile expands UK team with London Tech City office:
Beijing-based PapayaMobile has announced the opening of a new office in London's 'Silicon Roundabout' as part of its plans to expand of the European arm of its business. In addition to the new office, PapayaMobile announced

Phoenix Online launches new publishing label

Phoenix Online launches new publishing label:
New indie publishing label to publish Jane Jensen's Moebius: Empire Rising and other story-driven games

Hexakill mode now live in League of Legends

Hexakill mode now live in League of Legends:
You know how satisfying getting a Pentakill in League of Legends is? Well now imagine one more to that. Ah yes, a...

Bless Online First Closed Beta Preview Day 1

Bless Online First Closed Beta Preview Day 1:
The first day of the Bless Online Closed Beta had just ended and I managed to try out the game for a little bit and record a few 4k Ultra HD gameplay videos. Be one of the first learn more about the game and watch the latest

Try the MOBA that's taking on League of Legends and DOTA 2 free next weekend

Try the MOBA that's taking on League of Legends and DOTA 2 free next weekend:
Looking for a new game to play next weekend? Heroes of Newerth developer S2 Games announced today that it will hold a free trial weekend beginning February 28 and running through March 2 for its upcoming free-to-play "next

MOBAs are "notoriously toxic," says Strife developer

MOBAs are "notoriously toxic," says Strife developer:
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games are "notoriously toxic," but they don't have to be that way, argues Strife developer S2 Games monetization director Pu Liu. Speaking with GameSpot today, Liu said MOBAs can be

Champions Online's rampage revamp goes live

Champions Online's rampage revamp goes live:
Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, Free-to-Play, Champions Online Rampages are all the rage in Champions Online, as Cryptic has pushed live a patch to both revamp several old ones and add in a new rampage to the

Thursday, February 20, 2014

French MMO Therian Saga launches English open beta

French MMO Therian Saga launches English open beta:
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Sandbox Therian Saga has proven to be a modest hit in the French-speaking communities of Canada and Europe, amassing 50,000 players for the free-to-play sandbox

Epic Space Online presents space without borders

Epic Space Online presents space without borders:
Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, New Titles, Free-to-Play Let us introduce you to Epic Space Online, an MMO so epic, it says so right in the title. This indie game was developed by the Alpha Company and is currently available,

Salem prepares for full wipe

Salem prepares for full wipe:
Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Patches, Sandbox The end of the world is nigh for Salem and it's rankling more than a few players' sensibilities. Earlier this month, the developers announced that they will be conducting a full wipe

MMO Family: First impressions of Ganz's Amazing World

MMO Family: First impressions of Ganz's Amazing World:
Filed under: Opinion, Free-to-Play, First Impressions, Kids, MMO Family, Family WebKinz is one of the oldest kid-friendly MMOs around, and it still boasts a healthy community, long after other running titles have closed their

Holy Blade Online begins open beta

Holy Blade Online begins open beta:
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New Titles, Free-to-Play Holy Blade Online (best acronym ever!) might not be a game you're aware of until this very second, but despite your ignorance it has gone ahead and started its open beta. PopPace

New sandbox pseudo-MMO Windborne hits Steam Early Access

New sandbox pseudo-MMO Windborne hits Steam Early Access:
Filed under: Fantasy, New Titles, News Items, Sandbox, Buy-to-Play It may not technically be an MMO, but we thought that Hidden Path Entertainment's "social sandbox creation" game, Windborne, might pique your interest. The

Wurm Online pushes update 1.2 live

Wurm Online pushes update 1.2 live:
Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, Wurm Online, News Items, Sandbox, Crafting Are you ready for wagon time? Because that's what you'll be able to explore in Wurm Online's newest update. Patch 1.2 of the game is

Guess the 90′s: Take a trip down memory lane on Facebook

Guess the 90′s: Take a trip down memory lane on Facebook:
How well do you remember the 90’s? That’s the question posed by RLG’s Guess the 90’s on Facebook, as players are shown images of popular bands, clothing items, toys and other items from the 1990’s, and are asked to

Neverwinter: PWE CEO Confirms PS4 & XBox One Versions

Neverwinter: PWE CEO Confirms PS4 & XBox One Versions:
From the better-late-than-never files, 2P.com reported that Perfect World Entertainment CEO Xiao Hong confirmed that Neverwinter will be arriving for both the PlayStation 4 and the XBox 1 consoles, though the timing is as yet

Shroud of the Avatar: Huge Release 3 Features List Posted

Shroud of the Avatar: Huge Release 3 Features List Posted:
Portalarium has posted a massive list of features that Shroud of the Avatar players can expect to see when they try out the game during Release 3. The team has taken player feedback from the previous two released and packed

Zombies Ate My Doctor Review

Zombies Ate My Doctor Review:
Zombies Ate My Doctor Review By Lee Hamlet on February 19th, 2014 Our Rating: :: DAILY DOSE RECOMMENDEDUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Better than a trip to the doctor’s office and with more B-movie

The Descent Review

The Descent Review:
The Descent Review By Arron Hirst on February 19th, 2014 Our Rating: :: NEARLY SUPERBUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad The Descent’s mix of visually-enthralling environments and art-style, combined

'Any Landing' Review - Crash, Let's Do It!

'Any Landing' Review - Crash, Let's Do It!:
Apart from fussing around with the odd flight simulator on my Commodore 64, one of the first flying games I remember spending any real amount of time on was Top Gun for the NES. Like many young boys, I thought planes were pretty

Stateside: Developers, it's time to look beyond the holy trinity of Apple, Google and Amazon

Stateside: Developers, it's time to look beyond the holy trinity of Apple, Google and Amazon:
For American developers, it can be very easy to think of the world of app distribution as one limited to two, possibly three stores: App Store on iOS and either Google Play on Android or Amazon's Appstore on Kindle Fire. The

Korean News and Beta Test Announcements

  • Neowiz Bless Studio MMORPG “Bless” starts CBT today until February 23.
  • Gamewave action RPG “Surado” opens official site.
  • YD Online “Soul Master” ends 7-day CBT.
  • Aurora Games MMORPG “Hench” recorded cumulative registrations of 100,000 during first week of OBT, 30% of gamers are females.
  • IMC Games MMORPG “Tree of Savior” (Project R1) to hold FGT in February.
  • Entermate web RPG “Amheuk Samguk” brand image revealed, planned for service in March.
  • Antic Game World basketball simulation game “Air Dunk” starts OBT today.
  • Webzen MMORPG “Gumiho” starts PC café service.
  • KOG MMORPG “Aima” holds CBT from February 20 to March 5.
  • Mobile game company Kabam establishes branch in Korea.
  • Kcube Ventures invests 500,000,000 won in mobile game company Cherry Bugs.
  • Gameprix signs China service contract with Crossmo for mobile game “Yeokjeoneui Yongbyeongdan.”
  • YOU Communications puzzle game “Ting Game” released in iOS version.
  • Dotomchi Games “Sorceress of Fortune” released in Apple Appstore.
  • Joycity puzzle RPG “Dragon Link” starts pre-OBT via T-store.
  • Palmple card battle RPG “Qurare” holds CBT, to be released in March.

Facebook Is Buying WhatsApp For $16 Billion

Facebook Is Buying WhatsApp For $16 Billion:
$12 billion in stock and $4 billion in cash. WhatsApp will continue to operate independently within Facebook.WhatsApp, the insanely popular instant messaging service used by 190 million monthly active users, is about to get a

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Open Beta Review

Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Open Beta Review:
GameSpot's open beta reviews evaluate unfinished games that are nonetheless available to the public. While the games in question are not considered finished by their creators, you may still devote time and bandwidth

Get rich quick! (by being a slimy, game-cloning sack of crap)

Get rich quick! (by being a slimy, game-cloning sack of crap):
When you think of the slimy folks who clone games on the App Store - the folks with purely profit-driven motives - the words "open" and "honest" probably don't spring to mind. And yet that's exactly what the post I'm about to

Webzen – Company posts 67% drop in operating profit for year ending 2013

Webzen – Company posts 67% drop in operating profit for year ending 2013:
South Korea-based gaming company, Webzen, posted its financial record for the year ending 2013 recently. While not a total disaster, operating profit did drop a hefty 67%, despite expanding its portfolio with the purchase of gPotato

RuneScape gets a bank-robbing minigame

RuneScape gets a bank-robbing minigame:
Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, Browser Jagex has added a new bank-robbing minigame called Heist to its long-running RuneScape MMO. "Players form

Champions Online’s Rampage Revamp Goes Live February 20th | Ten Ton Hammer

Champions Online’s Rampage Revamp Goes Live February 20th | Ten Ton Hammer:
New challenges, gear, and enemy changes are coming your way on Thursday with the Champions Online Rampage revamp.

Eutechnyx confirms 12 jobs cut

Eutechnyx confirms 12 jobs cut:
"We continue to employ 130 people and recruit for these new areas that we are working in."

Non-app game revenue is higher, but app game sales are growing faster

Non-app game revenue is higher, but app game sales are growing faster:
The United States leads the way when it comes to the consumption of digital content, a glimpse of the future can be had by looking at the East, and games, especially mobile games, are the current kings of digital media.Those are

Amazon Coins now available on all Android platforms

Amazon Coins now available on all Android platforms:
Last May, retail giant Amazon launched its own virtual currency. Today, the company said that Amazon Coins are now available to all Android users, and are no longer exclusive to the Kindle Fire. ...

WildStar: Beyond the Walls of the Thayd

WildStar: Beyond the Walls of the Thayd:
Winter Beta Patch Three has come to WildStar and with it, many significant changes to the game for Beta players. The ability to level to 50 now has to be at the top of the list for most. Let's take our first look beyond the City of Thayd

WildStar: Deeper into the Dominion Lands

WildStar: Deeper into the Dominion Lands:
Carbine has lifted the level limit to level 29, allowing us to explore deeper into Nexus and report back on what we find. Over the coming days and weeks, I'll be entering the Ruins of Kel Voreth dungeon and creeping around the

WeMade sees FY13 mobile revenue jump 1037% to $132 million

WeMade sees FY13 mobile revenue jump 1037% to $132 million:
Korean online and mobile publisher WeMade (KOSDAQ:112040) has announced its FY2013 financials, the 12 months ending 31 December 2013. Mobile revenue was $132 million (KRW 140 billion), up from $12 million 12

Latest EverQuest patch implements controvertial changes to AAs, skills

Latest EverQuest patch implements controvertial changes to AAs, skills:
Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Patches, Free-to-Play Change is rarely easy, but EverQuest's most recent patch comes with controversial changes that some community members are less than thrilled about while others herald

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Korean News and Beta Test Announcements

  • Dragonfly FPS “Special Force 2” holds CBT from February 25 to March 3, starts OBT from March 5 via Wayi.
  • Ne2on strategy RPG “Everybody’s Rival” released in Google Play store ad Apple Appstore.
  • Wonderplanet Inc. action RPG “Slash of the Dragoon” released in Apple Appstore.
  • High1 Entertainment mobile RTS “Chohan Jaengpae” released in Google Play store.
  • Ivy Games action MORPG “Ling of Darkness Online” released in Google market.

Guild Wars 2: Escape from Lion’s Arch Goes Live Later Today

Guild Wars 2: Escape from Lion’s Arch Goes Live Later Today:
Guild Wars 2 heroes can log into the game later today to find out what Escape from Lion's Arch is all about and the possible implications of an attack on the venerable city of Lion's Arch. In the latest update, Scarlet Briar has set her

WildStar: Grab One of 40,000 Beta Keys While You Can!

WildStar: Grab One of 40,000 Beta Keys While You Can!:
Carbine Studios and NCSoft have a surprise today for fans of WildStar. Over 40,000 beta keys that guarantee access to WildStar this coming weekend are up for grabs. Players simply have to register an email address and a key,

Irrational Games to be dissolved

Irrational Games to be dissolved:
Ken Levine starting up "small entrepreneurial endeavor at Take-Two" as all but 15 members of the studio will be laid off

World of Warcraft patch heralds 15th PvP season

World of Warcraft patch heralds 15th PvP season:
Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Patches, PvP, Subscription Today's new patch from World of Warcraft has a few significant updates for the PvP population of the game as well as a myriad of other improvements. Patch

Neverwinter to penalize PvP cowards, launches in Brazil

Neverwinter to penalize PvP cowards, launches in Brazil:
Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, Patches, PvP, Free-to-Play, Neverwinter Neverwinter's upcoming PvP patch is shaping up to be significant, as Cryptic Studios has said that it will add in a matchmaking system and penalize

King IPO is going ahead, under ticker symbol 'KING'

King IPO is going ahead, under ticker symbol 'KING':
Social games giant King today took an extra step towards an initial public offering, as the company filed registration paperwork with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. ...

Review: Super Obstacle Boy

Review: Super Obstacle Boy:
If Super Obstacle Boy were a musical release it'd be a rough first demo, bashed together in a basement with wonky old equipment, with passion standing in for precision, and raw talent standing in for production values. It's

Riot Runners Review

Riot Runners Review:
Riot Runners Review By Jordan Minor on February 18th, 2014 Our Rating: :: FADE TO BLACKUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad This stylish, monochrome endless runner is like dark chocolate for the eyes. Developer:

Dandelions: Chain of Seeds Review

Dandelions: Chain of Seeds Review:
Dandelions: Chain of Seeds Review By Jennifer Allen on February 18th, 2014 Our Rating: :: SOOTHING PUZZLINGUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Simple to look at and learn, Dandelions: Chain of Seeds is an enjoyable

'Detective Grimoire' Review - An Entertaining Romp That's Too Light On Detective Work

'Detective Grimoire' Review - An Entertaining Romp That's Too Light On Detective Work:
The recent trend in adventure games has been to take on more of an episodic model, which is great when they finally come to fruition, but often results in an introductory chapter that lacks satisfaction. Detective Grimoire [$3.99], from

'Escape from Doom' Review - Giving Indy a Run for His Money

'Escape from Doom' Review - Giving Indy a Run for His Money:
What do you suppose ran through the mind of your nameless, faceless, Indiana Jones-wannabe adventurer when he desecrated an ancient Egyptian temple and awoke hundreds of bloodthirsty mummies from their eternal

'Draw Slasher' Review - A Slashin' Good Time

'Draw Slasher' Review - A Slashin' Good Time:
Hanzo is one angry ninja, as he finds his family kidnapped and village pillaged upon returning from training camp. Most of us would break down and cry, but Hanzo has got the power to cope and the skills to do something about

'Second Chance Heroes' Review - Zombies Ate My World Leaders

'Second Chance Heroes' Review - Zombies Ate My World Leaders:
What if Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure and the arcade classic Gauntlet were mixed together into one zombie slaying romp? The concept alone would probably win over a decent amount of fans hungry for another old school hack

Stubies Review

Stubies Review:
Stubies Review By Angela LaFollette on February 18th, 2014 Our Rating: :: CHARMINGUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad An adorable and chaotic puzzler where the goal is to clear the screen by matching block-

Review: Stubies

Review: Stubies:
Stubies is a colour-matching puzzler that's not afraid to throw new ideas into the mix. It features a cast of literally colourful characters, and drips new mechanics and twists into proceedings at regular intervals. It's well-

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

MMO Family: Winter fun and cool cash in Roblox

MMO Family: Winter fun and cool cash in Roblox:
Filed under: Kids, MMO Family, Family, Miscellaneous, Sandbox EverQuest Next Landmark might be generating a lot of buzz over the impressive creations that players are putting together, but Roblox has been doing it for

Requiem: Memento Mori: Warpportal Takes Over Development, Announces Huge Update

Requiem: Memento Mori: Warpportal Takes Over Development, Announces Huge Update:
Warpportal has announced that it has secured development rights for Requiem: Memento Mori. To power the announcement, the team also revealed a brand new logo and laid out the details for a huge content update

GunZ 2: The Second Duel – Steam release schedule announced

GunZ 2: The Second Duel – Steam release schedule announced:
[Source] After a few months of delay, Korean developer Maiet Entertainment finally announced that GunZ 2: The Second Duel has been green lighted for Early Access on Feb 17 2014, 5 PM (PST). According to the official

Shroud of the Avatar: Release 3 to Feature Multiplayer

Shroud of the Avatar: Release 3 to Feature Multiplayer:
Shroud of the Avatar backers are eagerly awaiting the game's Release 3 iteration. Set to release on February 20th, Release 3 will feature multiplayer, something the developers call a "giant leap forward in technological

European Warfare commences as Stronghold Kingdoms hits 200,000 monthly users

European Warfare commences as Stronghold Kingdoms hits 200,000 monthly users:
Filed under: Historical, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, MMORTS With the newly launched European Warfare update, Stronghold Kingdoms players can now make war not love across the entire European continent. Firefly Studios

Nordics and Japanese spend the most on development, while Chinese spend most on promotion

Nordics and Japanese spend the most on development, while Chinese spend most on promotion:
In our first Developer Survey of 2014 (free to Business Network members), PocketGamer.biz has broken down the results by region - with some interesting results. The Nordics and Japan host the developers most likely to

Taking interactive to the next level, AppScotch unveils its plans to make mobile ads playable

Taking interactive to the next level, AppScotch unveils its plans to make mobile ads playable:
California-based start-up AppScotch has exited a six-month stealth period to announce a new service that enables advertisers to use banner ad space for playable demos of games. A natural extension of the movement towards

Metal Black: Alternative – NCsoft revives game for 2014 beta phase

Metal Black: Alternative – NCsoft revives game for 2014 beta phase:
Back in 2009, NCsoft revealed Metal Black: Alternative at the annual G-Star event. Subsequently, news of the game stopped as NCsoft moved on to “higher priority” products. At yesterday’s financial call, the developer

World of Darkness drawing inspiration from sandbox survival games while EVE CE goes on sale

World of Darkness drawing inspiration from sandbox survival games while EVE CE goes on sale:
Filed under: Betas, Horror, Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Interviews, World of Darkness, Promotions, Sandbox CCP assured World of Darkness fans that the project is "evolving rapidly" despite recent layoffs, will have a presence at Fanfest in

Review: R-Type II

Review: R-Type II:
Most R-Type II reviews start with how teeth-grindingly difficult Irem’s classic shmup is. Not this one. Nope. I’d rather talk about its brilliant bit system, its wonderfully frantic synth soundtrack, or its screen-blitzing weapon system. It

League of Angels introduces two new angels for official full release

League of Angels introduces two new angels for official full release:
Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, Free-to-Play, Browser Forget cupids, League of Angels has added two other heavenly beings to its angelic arsenal. Amora and Nyssa join the list of angels players

Rise and Shiny: Inferno Legend

Rise and Shiny: Inferno Legend:
Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Browser, Hands-On, Casual, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Livestream This week's game was a giant gamble, one that I should have

MMObility: Line of Defense Tactics is a fun start for an IP

MMObility: Line of Defense Tactics is a fun start for an IP:
Filed under: Betas, Video, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Previews, Opinion, MMOFPS, MMORTS, MMObility, Buy-to-Play Line of Defense is an upcoming MMOFPS created by 3000AD. It looks like an interesting twist on the shooter

The Godus amongst us: Molyneux talks free-to-play farces, winning without chasing whales and his top score on Flappy Bird

The Godus amongst us: Molyneux talks free-to-play farces, winning without chasing whales and his top score on Flappy Bird:
Godus may have been in public beta since before the end of 2013, but according to the man behind it – 22Cans' ever-prominent Peter Molyneux – we ain't seen nothing yet. You see, Molyneux's latest 'God game' is very much the

Introducing Terrayn, a persistent world sandbox

Introducing Terrayn, a persistent world sandbox:
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New Titles, Sandbox, Crowdfunding Another day, another hopeful sandbox MMO takes its first fledgling steps onto the Kickstarter scene looking for those who believe in it (and will back up that

Implementing Valve's monetization advice from Steam Dev Days

Implementing Valve's monetization advice from Steam Dev Days:
How Seth Sivak is working on implementing "the five rules Valve follows to build new microtransaction-driven mechanics and economies" after its Dota 2 and Team Fortress 2 success. ...

Pathfinder Online: We Want to Under Promise and Over Deliver

Pathfinder Online: We Want to Under Promise and Over Deliver:
"Under promise and over deliver," is what Ryan Dancey, the CEO of Goblin Works, is looking to do with his studio's upcoming project Pathfinder Online. Last Monday Ryan joined me for a live interview on our MMORPG.com stream

Thank to LINE and Kakao partnerships, Metaps sees its platform enable 1 billion app downloads

Thank to LINE and Kakao partnerships, Metaps sees its platform enable 1 billion app downloads:
Japanese-headquartered Android promotion and monetisation outfit Metaps has demonstrated its muscle. It's just announced that the total downloads through its platform has reached one billion. Metaps' platform consists of its

Most people won't pay for World of Tanks on Xbox 360

Most people won't pay for World of Tanks on Xbox 360:
The majority of World of Tanks players on PC never spend a penny on the free-to-play strategy game and this trend isn't expected to change for the Xbox 360 version, released worldwide today. Wargaming CEO Victor Kislyi told

Blade & Soul – NCsoft invites players to Hell in new Season 2 update

Blade & Soul – NCsoft invites players to Hell in new Season 2 update:
Made public yesterday, NCsoft has added the “Hell” map to the Korean server of Blade & Soul. This is a new area where faction PvP and PvE takes place at the same time, with intense combat expected to take place all over the map to

NPD: Publishers have overcome the "fear and trepidation" on digital data

NPD: Publishers have overcome the "fear and trepidation" on digital data:
Data tracking firm will have granularity on full-game downloads, DLC but insists that retail "isn't going anywhere"

EverQuest Next: Smedley, the Sandbox, and Online Society

EverQuest Next: Smedley, the Sandbox, and Online Society:
I was planning on writing an article relating to what I've been able to do in the game, but a recent blog post by Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) president John Smedley just made me throw out my plans and focus on it. Smedley

The Trove Diaries: Exploring the wild, wild... peaceful forest?

The Trove Diaries: Exploring the wild, wild... peaceful forest?:
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Kids, Trove, Trove Diaries In a recent Trove patch, the team added in a new chest at the central world hub for players to toss in gear to share with others. A community chest. Other

Future of Blade and Soul EU/NA ?!

Future of Blade and Soul EU/NA ?!:
Together with me, a lot of B&S fans are deeply hurt by this news. There seems to be no plan in the near future to release it in EU/NA. Ncsoft's history with releasing games on both EU/NA might be the reason why they are

Keywords acquires Babel Media for £5 million

Keywords acquires Babel Media for £5 million:
Services company buys localisation specialist, adds New Delhi office to global presence

US digital games market update: January 2014

US digital games market update: January 2014:
The digital games segment showed a slow start of the year, consistent with overall seasonality, totaling $1.03 billion in January, 2014. Especially digital console and PC saw a decline as the frenzy to buy had subsided, totaling just over $300 million combined. Social games, on the other hand, were off to a good start with an average conversion rate of 2.14% in January, and mobile saw a 7% increase after the holiday season added 7 million new mobile gamers to the market. Finally, free-to-play online games regained ground (+8% month-over-month), as players returned to their MOBAs.

Korean News and Beta Test Announcements

  • Game Paradiso football game “Mini11” starts OBT on February 20.
  • Neowiz Bless Studio MMORPG “Bless” CBT registrations reach 180,000, holds CBT from February 20 to 23.
  • NCsoft games “Lineage Eternal” and “Wildstar” in 2014, also to release mobile games using IPs like “Blade & Soul” and “Lineage.” 
  • Incross mobile 3D RPG “Legend of Gods” iOS version released.
  • Neocyon mobile panel action RPG “Road to Dragons” iOS version to be released on February 24.

Girl power: Animoca passes 220 million app installs

Girl power: Animoca passes 220 million app installs:
2014 is already shaping up to be a good year for publisher and developer Animoca, which has just announced that it's passed the 220 million mark for total app installs. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Outblaze,

"Retention is not the same as happiness"

"Retention is not the same as happiness":
Free Realms creative lead Laralyn McWilliams describes the pitfalls of metrics-driven game design

Age of Wushu: World of Contenders Arrives

Age of Wushu: World of Contenders Arrives:
Age of Wushu players hoping for more expansive pvP action will be pleased to hear that the World of Contenders update has been deployed that brings a host of new PvP experiences into the game. In addition to World of

Eldevin: Now with WASD Movement

Eldevin: Now with WASD Movement:
Hunted Cow has sent word that the latest update has been deployed to Eldevin. Most notably, and in response to player feedback, the team has added WASD movement support to the game. In addition, crafting system

Blade Hunter: Taking the Best & Worst of Side-Scrolling Beat 'Em Ups

Blade Hunter: Taking the Best & Worst of Side-Scrolling Beat 'Em Ups:
Blade Hunter is a browser-based MMORPG that taps into ancient mechanics but brings them into the modern era by introducing many of the standard systems of MMORPGs today. Reality Squared Games is taking a crack at it

Facebook blacklists Kontagent for violating data retention policy

Facebook blacklists Kontagent for violating data retention policy:
UPDATE Facebook cut ties with analytics providers Kontagent and HasOffers after a routine audit revealed both companies were violating their agreements with Facebook. ...

EverQuest Next: Landmark: Alpha Update Includes Fixes, New Building Materials

EverQuest Next: Landmark: Alpha Update Includes Fixes, New Building Materials:
The alpha patch notes for EverQuest Next: Landmark have been posted on the official forums. The lengthy list includes key bug fixes and the news that additional building materials have been added to the game to give players

Size matters: How to scale your game for overnight success

Size matters: How to scale your game for overnight success:
As the demise of Flappy Bird attests, there are unavoidable stresses and strains that weigh down on a developer when a gane makes it big. Thankfully not all of them revolve around abuse on social media, however. As Kaj

Aura Kingdom: New Class Included in First Content Update

Aura Kingdom: New Class Included in First Content Update:
Aeria Games has announced the deployment of the first major content update to Aura Kingdom. The new content brings a host of new features on board, including the arrival of the Brawler class. With the addition of the Brawler,

ArcheAge: The Road to Open Beta Begins February 14th in Russia

ArcheAge: The Road to Open Beta Begins February 14th in Russia:
The ArcheAge Mail.ru site has been updated with the timeline to open beta. Beginning with preliminary character creation on Friday, February 14th, then on to early access for game owners on Sunday, February 16th, the open beta

Defiance previews the next DLC pack, Gunslinger Trials

Defiance previews the next DLC pack, Gunslinger Trials:
Filed under: Sci-Fi, Previews, News Items, Consoles, MMOFPS, Defiance, Buy-to-Play Some of the early story threads from Defiance's launch haven't been addressed. The nature of the Biodyne Project and control of the Earth

WildStar: A Signal of the Final Stages of Development?

WildStar: A Signal of the Final Stages of Development?:
In less than a month, WildStar's beta has been patched with two huge content updates. Now that the level cap raised to 50 and endgame opened for testing, Winter Beta 3 could be the most interesting patch so far. Gareth Harmer goes

Mabinogi update introduces Doki Doki Island, Valentine's Day events

Mabinogi update introduces Doki Doki Island, Valentine's Day events:
Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Mabinogi Just in time for Valentine's Day, Nexon America has announced a new update to its free-to-play title Mabinogi that will add the romantic Doki

Microsoft losing Xbox European head

Microsoft losing Xbox European head:
Interactive entertainment VP for EMEA Chris Lewis stepping aside after a quarter-century with the company

One Dumb Feature Kept Me From Loving Adventure Time Card Wars

One Dumb Feature Kept Me From Loving Adventure Time Card Wars:
I love Adventure Time. I love collectible card games. An Adventure Time collectible card game should therefore be the perfect thing, but then my least favorite mobile gaming mechanic rears its ugly head.

Dungeons & Dragons Online: The Legendary Halls Preview

Dungeons & Dragons Online: The Legendary Halls Preview:
The 40th anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons is just around the corner and Turbine's Dungeons & Dragons Online is celebrating with Update 21: The Legendary Halls. They will be adding two huge new wilderness areas, two

New VP of brand marketing for King

New VP of brand marketing for King:
Candy Crush studio appoints Nicki Sheard

League of Legends experiments with 6 vs. 6 mode

League of Legends experiments with 6 vs. 6 mode:
The upcoming Hexakill mode for MOBA League of Legends will change the game's dynamic by allowing six players on each team, developer Riot Games has announced. Hexakill is the popular online game's latest Featured

Xbox One and Xbox 360 combine to sell most games in January

Xbox One and Xbox 360 combine to sell most games in January:
The PlayStation 4 may have outsold Xbox One in the United States by a two-to-one ratio in January, but it was the Xbox...

Black Gold Online – Snail Games reveals star “fan” and Invitational Test

Black Gold Online – Snail Games reveals star “fan” and Invitational Test:
Black Gold Online will begin its Invitational Test for the North American server late next month (March). Hopefully, the game has been polished as I had a dreaded time playing in the first test phase of the China server (still in beta

Tree of Savior Local Beta Test Followed by International Test Version

Tree of Savior Local Beta Test Followed by International Test Version:
The first test for Tree of Savior Online will be a live event and you will have to be a Korean resident to attend the Focus Group Test. However, don't be sad because their official Facebook page announced that they are going to follow

Rift: Everything You Need to Know About Patch 2.6

Rift: Everything You Need to Know About Patch 2.6:
This week heralds the arrival of a brand new patch filled to the brim with free new content. Several members of the press were treated to an exclusive preview of all that patch 2.6 has to offer. There are some surprises in store

TERA Korea – 5 new dungeons added in latest game content update

TERA Korea – 5 new dungeons added in latest game content update:
In the latest content update titled “Flying Up”, TERA Korea once again got 5 brand new dungeons, along with several new PvE and PvP gears. This is pretty much similar to the content patch implemented last July. Once again, I

This Week in China: Spring Festival ends, work begins

This Week in China: Spring Festival ends, work begins:
After a short break for Spring Festival (or as we in the West like to call it, Chinese New Year), China's gaming sector is back at work. And as we try to do every Friday, we're back with another 'This Week in China' round-up

EverQuest Next Landmark lays out development roadmap

EverQuest Next Landmark lays out development roadmap:
Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, Free-to-Play, EverQuest Next, Dev Diaries, Sandbox EverQuest Next Landmark Director of Development Dave Georgeson has posted a roadmap for the title's next few months last night,

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: FFXIV - This Time on PS4

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: FFXIV - This Time on PS4:
We gamers are a grudge-holding bunch, as Square Enix found out last year upon releasing Final Fantasy XIV. The game failed fans in spectacular fashion thanks to inadequate server support, bugs and obtuse mechanics.

Fantasy Frontier – Familiar map introduced as new level 70 instance

Fantasy Frontier – Familiar map introduced as new level 70 instance:
Also known as Aura Kingdom for the English server, the Taiwan server introduced a new instanced zone for level 70 players last week. Known as “Otherworld – Crescent Hill”, players will have to enter this new area

Free-to-play mech shooter Hawken abandons dedicated launcher, migrates to Steam

Free-to-play mech shooter Hawken abandons dedicated launcher, migrates to Steam:
After operating more than a year with its own dedicated launcher, free-to-play multiplayer mech combat game Hawken is coming exclusively to Steam.Developer Adhesive Games and publisher Meteror Entertainment said

Strife – 2nd generation MOBA to enter debut test phase in China next week

Strife – 2nd generation MOBA to enter debut test phase in China next week:
Developed by S2 Games, the studio behind Heroes of Newerth, Strife will be entering its debut test phase in China on 26th February, which is next week. While most expected Tencent to be the publisher, it will in fact be YY Inc,

Michael Schade: "We're f***ing rockstars"

Michael Schade: "We're f***ing rockstars":
The former CEO of Fishlabs is back with a new studio and a new console project

Bless – Game content and features info for upcoming Closed Beta 1

Bless – Game content and features info for upcoming Closed Beta 1:
Bless, powered by Unreal Engine 3, will be entering Closed Beta 1 in South Korea later this week. A few details of the Closed Beta 1 client were revealed earlier, including a level cap of 23, 9 zones (no loading needed), 3 starter

Atlus Is Back from the Dead

Atlus Is Back from the Dead:
Last year, there was concern about Atlus. Its parent company, Index Corporation, was in a pickle, and the Atlus brand ended up in Sega's hands. But Atlus is no longer simply a brand. Atlus is back!

Final Fantasy XI update introduces more missions, a new zone, and more

Final Fantasy XI update introduces more missions, a new zone, and more:
Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Patches, News Items, Subscription Final Fantasy XI, despite being over a decade old, is receiving a rather substantial update today that will introduce a plethora of new content for

Blog: How emergent design changes your business model

Blog: How emergent design changes your business model:
"Emergence increases the possibility space for players, which in increases their engagement. Greater engagement increases player life, and players who play longer are more likely to monetize." ...

ArcheAge: Is the Sand Leaving the Box?

ArcheAge: Is the Sand Leaving the Box?:
XL Games has been calling their MMORPG title ArcheAge a sandpark for quite a while now, a mixture of a themepark and a sandbox game. One would assume it's certainly a sandpark game. You've got trading along the vast

Elder Scrolls Online: Why ESO’s ‘Slower’ Pacing Leaves Me Optimistic

Elder Scrolls Online: Why ESO’s ‘Slower’ Pacing Leaves Me Optimistic:
MMOs have evolved in many ways, but sometimes players want to sit down and enjoy a good multi-course meal spiced with good conversation, music, a couple of drinks, and spending time with one another over a quick fast food

Elder Scrolls Online: The Best & Worst Things About ESO

Elder Scrolls Online: The Best & Worst Things About ESO:
If you've turned on a computer in the last week, you've probably heard the news: Zenimax is finally pulling back the veil on Elder Scrolls Online. Beginning with the lifting of the press NDA last week and now the total

Darkfall: Unholy Wars: Latest Patch Details Chaos Primalist School

Darkfall: Unholy Wars: Latest Patch Details Chaos Primalist School:
The latest Darkfall: Unholy Wars patch has been deployed and is packed with bug fixes and feature enhancements. Additionally, and perhaps most notably, the new Chaos-themed Primalist School has been added to the game.

Rock Band developer Harmonix reveals their next game: free-to-play FPS Chroma

Rock Band developer Harmonix reveals their next game: free-to-play FPS Chroma:
If you had to guess one of the games Harmonix has secretly been working on since Dance Central 3, your first guess would probably not be a "free-to-play, music-driven, first-person, multiplayer shooter" for PC and Steam. But that's