Dragonica Online

Today's a big day for Dragonica fans, as the two-year-old title is gearing up to launch its New Origin - Rise of the Drakan expansion this afternoon. A new press release from Gala Networks Europe tells us that the patch is the biggest in the game's history and includes a new race, new dungeons, new mounts, a fellowship party system, and a level cap increase.

As the title suggests, the new race is the Drakan, and it's unlocked once players reach level 20. There are two new Drakan classes, the Amazonian and the Shaman, and both of them are playable to the new level cap (80).

Once you've obtained your spiffy new Drakan warrior and explored the new Drakan town of Kareuza, you'll probably want to partake of the game's new dungeon system. Parties are now able to brave the depths of Dragonica's dungeons with eight players (up from the previous four), and the expansion introduces a couple of new instances in the form of the Akia Cave and Black Claw Nest. More info is available on the game's official website.

[Source: Gala Networks Europe press release]

I was so glad to get back to normal this week, logging into a new (well, newish) game to enjoy and to write about. Dragonica, from what I remember, had been shut down some time ago. Somehow, magically, the announcement of its return slipped past my eyes, but here it is. It seems gPotato EU is going to be publishing it, considering that that's where I found it. I know, I know -- I work at Massively.com, the worlds' coolest and most reliable source for all things MMO, so how did this news get past me? I have no idea.

Still, I was glad to see it sitting on my hard drive, waiting to be played. I never gave it much of a chance before, mainly because side-scroller combat games were normally good for just a weekend jaunt or two. I hate repetition, generally, and sometimes the combat in these kinds of games can be boring at best. I was pretty surprised, though, once I gave the game a chance and learned some of my moves. It grew on me really, really fast. Also, it ran like a dream and was adorable to the point of nosebleed, which always helps.

Still, there's more. Click past the cut and find out!

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Fire and ice may cancel each other out in the grand wheel of elements, but sometimes you just have to suspend disbelief when frosty dragons come to visit. As of tomorrow, Dragonica will play host to such flights of fancy when Gala Networks Europe releases its next expansion, Awakening of the Ice Dragon.

First up on the expansion menu is a completely new continent to explore. The frozen vista of Pagosia is geared to high-level adventurers, with plenty of hero and daily quests to keep the populace busy. Speaking of high levels, the level cap's been bumped up to 75, giving players a loftier goal to attain.

Plenty of mid-level options are available for snacking as well. A trio of new dungeons -- the Citadel of Torment, Wolves Den and Underground Graveyard -- will span levels 15-40 and offer up a host of unique challenges with yummy rewards.

Awakening of the Ice Dragon will grow the game in a number of other ways, such as allowing players to operate their own market stall, guild vendors selling exclusive consumables, and a permanent discount on warp tower costs. For a free-to-play title, Dragonica's latest expansion sounds like a great value for one's money and fun.

Players of Dragonica Online have been left high and dry since August 31st, when publisher THQ*ICE closed its doors.

This state of affairs might change soon, as the game is being transferred to another publisher. WarpPortal is taking over the game, and in an effort to make it an easy transition for players, all account information is being transferred to the new publisher. Dragonica, the EU version of the game, is unaffected.

If you missed out on this transfer, the new publisher has a Q&A on the forums, and a date for relaunch should come soon. We'll keep an eye out for Dragonica Online's reintroduction!

Last month, we announced that Dragonica Online was so confident that they had a quality free-to-play product that they decided to put the myth to the test. It takes a certain amount of guts to say that not only is your game the best, but that you'll give customers cash towards their game of choice if they don't think so. Fortunately for players of free-to-play side-scrolling MMOs, publisher THQ*ICE did just that.

Since February 23rd, the promotion has resulted in thousands of eager new players taking up the challenge. Over 95% of the players involved in the challenge have named Dragonica Online the winner in the showdown, giving THQ*ICE more than a little bragging rights. Still, all good things must come to an end, and the chance to earn a share of the $50,000 prize runs out on March 31st.

All you need to do to get in on the action is to head over to the official Dragonica site, register a new account, and tear up some mobs with some friends. Once you've hit level 19 and banked a few friend points, if you think that whatever side-scrolling MMO you played before Dragonica was more fun, THQ*ICE will hook you up with a $5 Ultimate Game Card that you can use for numerous free-to-play titles. If you liked what you saw during your time playing Dragonica, they will give you $5 towards Dragonica's online store plus a free in-game gift pack.

If you've never had the chance to experience Dragonica Online but were always interested, now is the time to check it out. With only 6 days left, time is running out fast to get in on the deal.

Dragonica -- the EU version of the game -- is gearing up to add the darkly sinister Drakos Tower back in to the game. Word is that the entire area has been completely redesigned from the previous incarnation, when only the first three floors were available. Now, players will have access to 20 floors of horrible, adorable monsters, great for Level 53-70 players. Of course, if you haven't made it that far in the game, don't worry! The team at gPotato (EU) have also started a "massive EXP event" until the update launches on the 4th, just perfect for players looking to level up.

Those brave inhabitants of Dragotaka who decide to take on the challenge will find themselves facing off against a half-robot, half-human creature; a spider crab; and a winged demon; all hell-bent on your destruction. Players will also learn more about the sinister secret lore of Dragonica as they quest through the revamped area. With that said, if you're not quite to that level yet, the update will additionally introduce the brand new crafting system -- ensuring a little something for everyone.

So, be sure to get those Dragonica patchers ready, and jump in to enjoy some bonus experience while you wait for the update on Thursday. Spooky surprises await!

You've got to hand it to the folks at THQ*ICE -- it's pretty obvious they believe they have an excellent free-to-play side-scrolling MMO on their hands with Dragonica Online. Why? Because they're offering up $50,000 in prizes in their newest promotion, the "Side-Scroller Showdown" to see if players pick their MMO as the best side-scrolling free-to-play game!

Essentially, the idea is this: THQ*ICE want you to check out Dragonica Online. Log in, run around, have some fun, battle some monsters; then decide which side-scroller shall reign supreme. For participating, each player will receive $5 in-game credit in their favorite f2p side-scrolling MMO -- even if it's the competition! Of course, if you do pick Dragonica Online as your favorite side-scroller, not only will you get $5 worth of in-game credit, you'll also get a special "Side-Scroller Showdown" gift pack.

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European Dragonica fans will soon find a little more to do in the early stages of the game. On February 4th, Dragonica will launch the Temple of Water.

The dungeon will be open and accessible to all players, but geared specifically toward those in the level 26-30 range. The Temple of Water is a name well known to the residents of Port of the Winds, but disturbing changes are being made recently. The once friendly water spirit Endairon has cut off communication, and strange water creatures have been seen near the Temple. Lord Steven is concerned, and asks that you look into the matter.

If you're a higher level player looking for a challenge, sit tight. A few weeks after the Temple of Water opens, Dragonica will be reopening the Drakos Dungeon, an area designed for players level 58-65. Either way, you'll want to make sure you explore both areas -- you may find some surprising connections between the two. Good luck!

We know what you're thinking. You're thinking that Dragonica Online is offering you a 2,500 dollar gift card to their own game. Well, that's what we thought too, but we were wrong. 100% wrong!

The Dragonica Online Water Series Game Card Sweepstakes (hereafter referred to as "the contest" because that's one huge name) is offering new players and old players a chance at a very sweet 2,500 dollar gift card to Best Buy, allowing you to stock up on all of your electronic needs! All you need to do to enter is simple -- simply sign up for a THQ*ICE passport, download Dragonica Online, and then log into the game before January 31st. Really, it's that simple. If you're already a Dragonica Online user, simply logging in will enter you into the contest.

Five first place winners will be grabbing a $25 limited edition Dragonica Online Water Series Game Card while 10 second place winners will find themselves the proud owner of a $10 limited edition Dragonica Online Water Series Game Card. We don't know what's so "limited edition" about them, but who wants to turn down game credit for logging in?

Remember, the contest only runs until January 31st, so make sure to log in to participate! Also, THQ*ICE runs the North American version of Dragonica, so sorry in advance to our friends overseas -- this one's not for you guys.

It's that time of year again -- whatever holiday you are celebrating, the denizens of your favorite MMO are sure to be celebrating it too. Whether it's Festivult in Dungeons and Dragons Online, Wintersday in Guild Wars, or the Starlight Celebration in Final Fantasy XI, the theme is the same. There are presents, some sort of sugary treats, and tons of fun. Follow along with us as we check out who's partying in your favorite MMO and what you need to do to get in on the fun.

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THQ*ICE is launching a new event to help spread the word about Dragonica Online. Current players can invite their friends to join Dragonica Online and receive rewards for it during the "With a Little Help From Your Friends" event.

Here's how it works: log in to your THQ*ICE passport to find an invitation URL unique to your account. Use that URL to invite friends. You can win three Essence of Friendship items and a Magic Academy Uniform Package when one of three goals is achieved: five friends join and reach level five, three friends join and reach level ten, or one friend joins and reaches level twenty.

New players aren't left out in the cold either. Invited friends will receive five Essence of Friendship items and eight Party Warp Cards once they join and reach level eight.

If you're a Dragonica Online fan, it's a great time to invite your friends along for the ride! The event is going on now and will continue until January 11th.

Not content to sit on their laurels with the recent launch of their fun free-to-play game, Dragonica Online, THQ*ICE has now added and expanded their world with their recent free expansion, the Veil of Darkness. This veil has now cut off the lands of Drakos from the population of loyal Dragonicans, and forebodes a new evil. Dragonica Online's newest update has been hotly anticipated by players for some time but was held back to ensure that the content was fixed up as best they could before they released it into the world -- always a plan we can get behind!

Among the myriad details of all the goodness jam packed into patch 1.1.4, the Veil of Darkness, players' max level is now 65, better equipping them to take on the 40+ new quests -- including new epic monster quests and dungeons. The pet system has now been incorporated, allowing players to complete quests to pick up friendly pets at level 20, 30, and 40. There are some really excellent additions to the shop too with new vanity items, items to expand bag space for the MMO pack-rats, and a recall card that allows players to save their location on the field map -- definitely a welcome option. Along with all of this the game has had a complete overhaul in terms of rebalancing to bring more fun to the table for players. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, be sure to pop over to the Dragonica Online site and read the full patch notes for all the specifics.

It's that time of year again -- Thanksgiving is tomorrow and all things turkey related have invaded the MMO world: hunting turkeys, eating turkeys, exchanging turkey parts for rewards, wielding turkey weapons, and even wearing turkeys on your head. Sending yourself into a tryptophan coma isn't the only thing to do, though. You'll find some non-turkey related PvP here and there, opportunities to spread Thanksgiving blessings, and even some new content. And of course, Thanksgiving bonuses, treats, and souvenirs are everywhere. Follow along after the jump for a look at what's going on for Thanksgiving.

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Dragonica Online, the free-to-play MMO from THQ*ICE is finished with open beta and ready to party. They celebrate their grand opening today with contests, extra loot and XP, special items for sale, and...an expansion? Yep, that's right. The Tales of the Damned expansion releases at the same time, so it's safe to say that a lack of new content is not going to be a problem.

The Dragonica Online team clearly had a great time planning the grand opening, and their sense of fun is communicated throughout the game. The open market has temporarily become the Dragonica Online Black Market, offering up extra special items for a limited time. Logging in daily gets you a chance at a Dragonica Online game card, and they are getting their forums in on the act, opening a contest that requires posting screenshots. Throughout the fun are hints of an upcoming Halloween event as well. Best of all, Dragonica Online promises no character resets, so those of you who have already checked it out can head straight for the new level 50+ content.

If you haven't checked it out, it looks like THQ*ICE has put in more than enough time and effort on this to make it worth a look.

Fans of the free-to-play MMO Dragonica are anticipating Tales of the Damned, the expansion due to be released later this month. Dragonica offered up a sneak peek yesterday in the form of screenshots and plenty of information on the expansion.

Tales of the Damned offers a new area, the Van Cliff dungeon, to bring new challenges to level 60+ players. It builds on familiar content, continuing a story told in the August update, and features three elite bosses that lead up to an even more formidable end boss, the giant Bone Dragon.

Dragonica isn't stopping at one new area with this expansion either. They'll also add a new tournament system for guilds, a level cap increase, new mission scoring, and an eagerly awaited pet system.

More new content will be released a few weeks after Tales of the Damned, in the form of Drakos' Tower. This new area will also build on a familiar story, one from the game's introduction. Drakos' Tower brings mazes and puzzles for players to solve, as well as three new bosses and new armor sets.

As with the original game, the new content is free, and will be introduced via a patch this month.