| Mail |
You might also like: WoW Insider, Joystiq, and more

Dragon Nest

Play three Nexon MMOs, get this car

Fantasy, Contests, Free-to-play, Dungeon Fighter Online, Giveaways, Vindictus, Dragon Nest, Promotions

Nexon Hat Trick Contest
Did that grab your attention? Nexon is sure hoping it did, as the company is in the throes of its "Get a Hat Trick!" promotion. For the next month and a half, players who dive into Vindictus, Dragon Nest, and Dungeon Fighter Online and get to level 20 in all three games will have a shot at several nice prizes -- including the above 2012 BMW M3. So, in effect, just by playing MMOs, you could be netting yourself one of the sweetest rides in town.

While Nexon has already handed out awards for the third and fourth place winners, there are still prizes left for aspiring gamers. First of all, everyone who gets a hat trick (as defined by achieving level 20 in the above three titles) will be treated to $20 worth of in-game items. Additionally, three players will get an Alienware Aurora desktop computer, and 30 people will win $50 "Karma Koins."

As for the Beemer, the prize will only be unlocked if 30,000 players achieve hat tricks by March 15th -- and even then, only one car will be given away after that. So good luck and may the game be with you!

Free for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs

Fantasy, Screenshots, Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Humor, Free for All, Vindictus, Dragon Nest

Vindictus screenshot
Look, I'm a red-blooded American gamer. I even call it 'Merica. So it should be no surprise when I feel like getting down with a melee-based chop-'em-up or have the desire to leap, jump and bounce my way through countless levels. In other words, action. We 'Mericans love our action games. I have my particular favorites, for sure, and within that list are my favorites of favorites that get the nod for different reasons. Honestly I'm not into action-based games just for the challenge. I don't need to make repeated attempts at downing a boss to have fun. I enjoy the immediate response that an action game gives me. I love to click the mouse button and see my character's sword swing or gun fire. It's satisfying.

Of course, action games can have their drawbacks. Not only do they tend to produce a euphoric haze that can only be described as "stoner glare" and an open-mouthed state of hypnosis, but they can take a toll on delicate, drum-beaten wrists like mine as well. I take the good with the bad, I guess. Click past the cut and I'll let you know my favorite F2P action MMOs.

Continue Reading

[Updated] On the fourth day of giveaways, Nexon gave to me...

Fantasy, MapleStory, Contests, Free-to-play, Giveaways, Dragon Nest

Royal Crimson Stallion Mount
[UPDATE: All winners have been selected and contacted. Thanks to everyone who entered!]

On the fourth day of giveaways, Nexon gave to me... four pet items!
On the third day of giveaways, Wargaming.net gave to me... three premium years!
On the second day of giveaways, BioWare gave to me... two warring factions!
On the first day of giveaways, Turbine gave to me... a lifetime VIP!


MapleStory fans, your day is here! Nexon is joining the 12 Days of Giveaways event again this year with some fun MapleStory pet packs. Each package contains four items: a permanent pet (either a White Bunny, a Mir, or a Jr. Reaper), a permanent pet equip, pet food, and a pet scroll. We've got 20 of these pet four-packs to hand out to our readers, but that's not all!

If Dragon Nest is more your speed, Nexon has you covered as well! We have four Dragon Nest prize packages, each containing 10 Dragon Eggs. Each egg opens to reveal a random prize -- anything from yellow or black Cupid wings to a Royal Crimson Stallion, and many other possibilities.

If you want to pick up one of these prizes, just enter by leaving a comment to tell us which of these two games is your favorite and why. The entry deadline is tomorrow, December 17th, at noon EST. Check out our contest rules to make sure you're eligible, and best of luck!

CONTEST FAQ OFFICIAL RULES

Dragon Nest celebrates the holidays with Scarlet Snow

Fantasy, Events, in-game, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dragon Nest

Screenshot -- Dragon Nest
The weather is cooling down, and it's the season for fresh, white, beautiful snow. Dragon Nest, however, wants to turn that snow red with its upcoming update, Scarlet Snow. The new patch, coming sometime in December, will raise the game's level cap to 40. And of course, a raised level cap means new challenges for players to conquer. Saint's Haven will play host to two new nests and dungeons, and there will be plenty of seasonal events for players to see. For more information, check out the post on the game's official website.

Dragon Nest launches Theater of War update for PvP

Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Patches, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Dragon Nest

Not included is the Benny Hill PvP model.  Not intentionally, anyway.
At a glance, it might seem like PvP doesn't require as many updates as PvE -- after all, player conflict is providing most of the actual challenge, so updates are mostly just providing players new ways to take part in combat with one another. The newest Dragon Nest update, Theater of War, is all about precisely that, giving players new combat modes and match sizes to ensure that player combat stays lively.

The new updates adds a 3v3 option to ladder matches, allowing smaller and more close-knit groups the option to take part in serious competition. There's also the addition of a free-for-all match type, with players able to take on everyone for supremacy. And then there's the new Protect Mode, challenging both sides to keep one player designated as the Captain alive while slaughtering the other side's similarly important Captain. Take a look at the trailer for the update just past the cut to give you an idea of what the modes will look like in play -- it's not new dungeons, but if you're fond of facing off against other players, it's even better.

Continue Reading

The Perfect Ten: Best starter MMOs

World of Warcraft, City of Heroes, Guild Wars, RuneScape, Free Realms, Champions Online, Wizard101, RIFT, Dragon Nest, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

Perfect Ten
I think it's tremendously easy for experienced MMO players to completely forget what it was like getting started in this genre. It's natural to assume that everyone around you cut their teeth on the same games and in the same ways you did, even though this is completely ridiculous when you give it any real thought.

The truth is that MMOs are often very intimidating to the newcomer, and a bad first impression can push a player away for life. You have to contend with a typically busy user interface, you have to master keys and mouse buttons all over the place, you have to learn the lingo, you have to pick up skills on how to survive, and you have to do all of this almost all at once or risk feeling completely lost. This is why many MMO studios place such a priority on an excellent, welcoming tutorial experience.

I can relate to the newbie because my first MMO was Anarchy Online. I've never felt so out of my depth than when I played that back in 2002, and I don't think I ever quite understood it all before I left. My second MMO, City of Heroes, was far more friendly to my newbish soul, and it was smooth sailing from there on out.

For today's Perfect Ten, I want to highlight MMOs that I feel would be the best for a completely new player to experience. These are titles that combine a welcoming beginner journey, intuitive controls, a helpful community, and enough similarities with other video games to help the transition.

Continue Reading

New Dragon Nest videos show off Saint's Haven, new abilities

Video, Classes, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Dragon Nest, Family

Screenshot -- Dragon Nest
Nexon's dungeon-crawling beat-'em-up MMO Dragon Nest is gearing up for its launch in just a couple of days, and the company has released a pair of videos to help pump up some excitement for the official release. The first trailer welcomes players to Saint's Haven, the new city to which players will be able to venture once the game officially goes live. The city provides players with a whopping 10 new dungeons as well as over 500 new quests.

But what good are all those dungeons if you don't have the mad skills to clear 'em out? Don't worry, Nexon has you covered. Video number two focuses on all the fancy new abilities players will be granted when the game launches on the 28th. So whether you're a nimble Acrobat, a brutal Mercenary, or a zealous Paladin, you'll have plenty of new tricks up your sleeve to help turn the tide of battle.

But less babble, more bashing, am I right? Head on past the cut for the full videos.

Continue Reading

The MMO Report: Rainbow lightsaber edition

World of Warcraft, Video, News items, Humor, DC Universe Online, Star Wars: The Old Republic, The MMO Report, Dragon Nest, Miscellaneous

The hardest thing to smuggle
Welcome to another exciting episode of The MMO Report, now with 100% more beard.

That's right, the first note on the agenda today is BioWare's announcement that same-gender romance arcs will indeed be present in Star Wars: The Old Republic. BioWare claims that the feature couldn't be implemented at launch, citing time and design constraints.

Next up on the list is DC Universe Online's imminent free-to-play transition. Players will be able to choose between playing for free and shelling out for DLC and extra character slots or subscribing to the game with the benefit of expanded character slots and free DLC.

Meanwhile, World of Warcraft's patch 4.3 is gearing up for release, and it will bring the end of an era with it. When the patch, titled Dragon Soul, goes live, players will finally be able to bring an end to Deathwing's reign of terror. And of course, with the help of the new Transmogrification system, they'll be able to look dashing while they do so.

Dragon Nest is next in line with the announcment of its official launch, and Red 5 Studios announces the inclusion of in-game pets in upcoming MMOFPS Firefall.

And of course, no episode of The MMO Report would be complete without a trip into Uncle Casey's mailbag, so for all of the meme-tastic goodness, click on past the cut to watch the full video.

Continue Reading

Dragon Nest patch brings players to the Edge of Darkness

Fantasy, Patches, PvP, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Dragon Nest

Banner -- Dragon Nest
Nexon's latest free-to-play dungeon-crawling beat-'em-up (look at all those hyphens!) Dragon Nest received a lovely new patch today. The update brings players a load of new content, including the Edge of Darkness dungeon, the Daredevil Faire (and its associated dungeons), and the 1v1 PvP ladder. In addition, the patch brings a number of new items to the Dragon Vault, including Item Protection Jelly to protect your gear from failed upgrades, a Marketplace Pass for the auction house fiends, and six new costumes for each class.

The Edge of Darkness is a level 15 dungeon and is divided into the Rozin Sanctuary and the Jealous Atrium. The Jealous Atrium is unique in that players must contend with wave after wave of monsters rather than progressing through the dungeon traditionally. The players must protect the Goddess' statue from the enemies while simultaneously eliminating them all. Any player who dies in the dungeon cannot be resurrected, and the dungeon ends only after players have eradicated the 24th wave of enemies, or all players have died.

The Daredevil Faire, meanwhile, offers dungeons for a wide range of character levels, and these dungeons reward players with tickets that can be redeemed for a variety of prizes.

And finally, the 1v1 PvP ladder is now open, allowing players to prove their PvP superiority by rising in the ranks of the PvP ladder. The fights aren't just for bragging rights, though. Players will be rewarded with Ladder Points for winning matches. These points can be exchanged for a variety of items to help assist the player in future endeavors.

For the full details, check out the patch notes on Dragon Nest's official site.

Nexon unveils Dragon Nest launch trailer

Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Dragon Nest

Dragon Nest - capital city
Nexon has published a launch trailer coinciding with the kickoff of its newest free-to-play title, and fans of Dragon Nest will want to take a gander at the clip for a primer on the fantasy title's lore elements as well as a few glimpses of gameplay proper.

Dragon Nest appears to have all the makings of a traditional fantasy romp if the trailer is anything to go by. There's a kidnapped young girl, an evil enemy, lost hope, heroes to light the way, and plenty of combat-related hijinks.

Dragon Nest also features four playable characters (or classes, if you prefer the traditional moniker), and each offers a choice of two sub-classes at level 15. You can learn more about the game at Nexon's official website, and don't forget to watch the video after the cut!

Continue Reading

Free for All: The best-looking games in free-to-play

Fantasy, Screenshots, Culture, Opinion, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Humor, Free Realms, Kids, Free for All, Dragon Nest, Family, Clone Wars Adventures, Faxion Online

Eden Eternal screenshot
Of all of the wacky arguments I have heard over the last few years, the "are video games art?" one has got to take the prize for most ridiculous. Sure, you can argue either side of anything, but to ask whether or not games are art just seems to be an attempt to assuage some boredom. We can also ask whether this life is really real, just in case we hadn't already been put to sleep. Art is what the artist says it is, period.

Art is also in the eye of the beholder. Our games are spread across a wide spectrum of styles, and many of us have very strong feelings about what we like and will not tolerate. I have seen people turn down great games simply because of the way a screenshot looked. Heck, I've done it myself. With as many games as I look at every week, occasionally it is smart (and fun) to organize them into lists. This week I am taking stock of my game list and figuring out the games that I feel look the best. Of course, you might not think so.

I decided to leave off games that are in testing or not available for the public yet. Click past the cut and see if you agree with me!

Continue Reading

Nexon invests in social gaming

MapleStory, Business models, Free-to-play, Vindictus, Dragon Nest

Nexon, the creator of the action-based MMOs Dragon Nest and Vindictus, recently invested a significant amount of money in the Hong Kong-based social-gaming developer 6waves Lolapps. Gamasutra quotes Nexon CEO Seung-woo Choi as saying, "We made this investment because we believe that 6waves Lolapps places the same value that we do in providing exciting games to our players and driving growth for the company by doing so."

There is no direct link between this partnership and Nexon's announcing that its flagship MMO MapleStory will be spun off into a Facebook game called Maplestory Adventures, but 6Waves CEO Rex Ng believes the relationship between the two gaming companies can only benefit the player with great content and adventures in the long run.

This news comes on the coattails of another MMO developer, NCSoft, buying a smartphone application developer. The MMO space is expanding well beyond the at-home PC. The MMO gaming industry is integrating itself into more and more aspects of our daily lives, stretching the definition of "living world."

Dragon Nest announces open beta events

Betas, Fantasy, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Dragon Nest

Take up your arms, adventurers, because Nexon's Dragon Nest begins open beta today! The cartoonishly adorable, combo-based action MMO has finally opened its doors, and Nexon is staging a series of open beta events to commemorate the occasion.

The first event is the Open Beta Legion, which runs from today, July 26th, to August 9th, and requires players to band together in parties for bonus XP, and which also gives 10 guilds the opportunity to win special prizes. The second event, The Dragon's Hoard, encourages players to log in to the game daily in order to reap a reward of Scales (the in-game item shop currency). The first weekend of the open beta will see the Charge! event, which grants players an additional 300 daily Empowerment Points for the duration of the weekend. These events, and a few more that just can't be crammed into a meager news post, await Dragon Nest players. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and remember this simple mantra: If it moves, kill it.

Dragon Nest open beta date announced

Betas, Fantasy, News items, Free-to-play, Dragon Nest

Action RPG fans, rejoice! Nexon has announced that the newest member of its MMO stable, Dragon Nest, will be entering open beta on July 26th. You may remember that we had some hands-on impressions with the game at this year's E3, but what exactly should players expect from Dragon Nest?

From the looks of things, players should expect equal parts adrenaline-pumping action and good old-fashioned dungeon crawling. Players get to take on the role of one of four (gender-locked) classes -- Cleric, Sorceress, Archer, or Warrior -- and dive headlong into some combo-based hack-and-slash combat in search of phat loot and all that jazz. If this sounds like your proverbial cup of tea, head on over to the official site to register.

Free for All: What does action-based gaming mean for the future?

Video, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Humor, Free for All, Vindictus, Dragon Nest

If you've been following recent game development, you will have noticed that action-based gaming, or gaming that requires a player to literally control the character on the screen through mouse-clicks or shortcuts, has become all the rage. It shouldn't be surprising, though, considering how incredibly fun it can be to click the mouse button and have the character on the screen smash his enemies. I've fallen in love with it myself, especially while playing games like Vindictus or Dungeons and Dragons Online. After so many years or pushing 1-2-3-4 in order to kill mobs, truly swinging an axe feels wonderful.

More and more games use this immediate-response style of play. Up-and-coming side-scrollers like Rusty Hearts or recent smashers like Dragon Nest are showing that action-based gaming is growing stronger all the time. I've even begun to feel slightly let down when I switch to a "classically controlled" MMO. Targeting a mob followed by pressing a series of number keys just does not satisfy like slamming your enemy through a bookcase. (Watch the video after the cut for some of my bookcase action!)

But what could all of this action mean for future design? And what about disabled players or players who have issues with wrist pain (like I do)? Click past the cut and let's discuss!

Continue Reading


Featured Stories

The Road to Mordor: Six wonders of the newbie world

Posted on Feb 11th 2012 12:00PM

WRUP: Larry will be staring at chest hair edition

Posted on Feb 11th 2012 10:00AM

The Daily Grind: Do you game on a Mac?

Posted on Feb 11th 2012 8:00AM

Engadget

Joystiq

WoW

TUAW