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Aika's Epic III: Descent update raises level cap, adds training grounds

Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Aika

Aika - Epic III: Descent artwork
It wasn't too long ago that gPotato released Aika's Epic II Saga content patch. It's already time for Epic III, though, and the new chapter is sub-titled Descent. Why's that, we wondered? Well, because Aika's human warriors will "descend to the planet and take on the demons who forced them to flee their homes long ago," according to gPotato's latest PR drop.

What does that mean in gameplay terms? Basically a level cap increase (to 85), a revamped Aitan Arena, and a new training ground area designed to push players to their limits. More details are available at the official Epic III: Descent website.

[Source: gPotato press release]

Lord of the Rings Online Spring Festival is live

Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

Image
It's that time of year again in Middle-earth, as Turbine has blown the dust off Lord of the Rings Online's annual Spring Festival. A Casual Stroll to Mordor opines that this year's edition won't depart too much from years past, so you can expect to find the usual hedge maze, horse-racing, and Inn League shenanigans out in full force.

The site's annual festival guide isn't ready for prime time just yet, but you can check out the 2011 version while you wait for the update.

[Update: ACSTM's guide to the Spring Festival 2012]

The Summoner's Guidebook: Improving your game through spectator mode

PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Guides, MOBA, League of Legends, The Summoner's Guidebook

League of Legends screenshot
I love spectator mode. Since the patch introducing it to League of Legends, I've had the opportunity to observe top-level players and even my own friends. If you ever wanted to learn how to play like a pro, you now have your chance. High-level games of Summoner's Rift are just a few mouse clicks away, and if you're a little mentally fatigued from playing the game, you can sit back and enjoy some high-level play. It was one of the best updates thus far for League.

Watching high-level streams or spectating high-level games can dramatically improve your game if you know what to look for. This week, we're going to cover some of the ways you can improve your game by stealing strategies and techniques from top players.

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The Daily Grind: Would you leave your current MMO for its sequel?

Fantasy, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Guild Wars, MMO industry, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind, EverQuest Next, Miscellaneous

Guild Wars 2 Engineer
With Guild Wars 2 in the offing, long-time Guild Wars fans have an interesting dilemma on their hands. Trading up is probably a foregone conclusion in most cases, but abandoning Guild Wars altogether may sting a bit if you've invested a lot of time and energy into the original incarnation of Tyria.

The same could be said for faithful EverQuest fans when EverQuest II rolled around in 2004, and perhaps again whenever Sony Online Entertainment formalizes its EverQuest Next project. For today's Daily Grind, then, we'd like to know how easily you could leave your current MMO if a sequel were to materialize. We know you'd check out the new shiny, but would you leave the older title for good?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

Perfect World International's end-game gets imperially furious

Fantasy, Perfect World International, News items, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries, Dungeons

Perfect World International and the Case of the Glowing, Three-Headed Wurm
It is a truth universally acknowledged that an MMO in possession of an experienced player-base must be in want of more end-game. In honor of that, and in response to heavy player demand, Perfect World International is getting a sizable update. PWI: Imperial Fury will introduce the brand new Advanced Endless Universe dungeon, changes to existing dungeons, and a whole passel of other improvements.

Players are charged with retrieving the Perfect World City Essences within the Advanced Endless Universe dungeon. This dungeon, which will be accessible six times per week, will present one of three variations of itself upon entry. All three variations are distinctly different, and all three will require significant effort and coordination for successful completion. Hard work does not go unrewarded, however, as completion is rewarded with a chance box containing either a brand new skill book or a stack of potent consumable buffs -- and as both the boxes and their drops can be traded, you can always sell anything you don't want for yourself.

Lunar Glade and Warsong City have received a design facelift, had their difficulty ramped up and their rewards increased -- rewards that include materials for upgrading the most powerful gear (at present) in the game.

A temporary and intermittently-recurring NPC, the Aurora Agent, will allow characters over level 80 to trade Tokens of Luck for a chance to get rare and powerful items. There will also be new Bounty Hunter bosses, improvements to Phoenix Valley, more ways to gain Prestige, improvements to player-enemy targeting, the return of Secret Passage to its "more carebear-friendly roots," and more. So suit up and get ready to kick imperial hiney!

Free for All: Istaria's updates, community, and future development

Fantasy, Business models, Interviews, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-play, Massively Interviews, Free for All

Istaria concept art
Before anyone asks in the comments section: Yes, Istaria is still around. I've noticed that many players seem to think if something is out of their sight, it's out of every other player's mind too, but the truth is that there are many, many smallish and indie MMOs in existence that not only continue to do well but offer unique gameplay for anyone who might be interested. Istaria is even still referred to as Horizons by many, even though that change was made a long, long time ago. Despite all of the outdated opinions and its status as an "older" game, interesting things are happening in the world of Istaria.

I took some time and asked Amarie Ancalimon, Community Relations manager from Virtrium, about the latest string of patches and updates. I got plenty of information back, so let's get to it!

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: The growing, creeping power

Super-hero, City of Heroes, Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter

A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
City of Heroes is a rarity. It's a well-established game that hasn't yet raised the level cap even once. Oh, sure, the Incarnate system is cheating a couple of extra level-like improvements out, but you hit the cap at 50 now just like you did when the game first launched. Compared to World of Warcraft, which ups its top level biannually, the game provides a real sense of security that the cap hasn't changed. Level 50 content is still relevant because the top end of power has remained stable.

Of course, there's a downside to that as well. While having a forever-rising level cap has its own issues, a firm cap has left us with an endgame that's grown bloated as only games with entrenched caps can. We're not constantly having to relearn the entire endgame so much as we're getting new widgets added on, and we're finding ourselves stuck with a growing problem of old-fashioned power creep.

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Choose My Adventure: The last mile

Super-hero, Galleries, Screenshots, City of Heroes, Opinion, Free-to-play, Choose My Adventure

Choose My Adventure road trip
You haven't steered me wrong. At least, not yet.

I am pretty sure there is that nagging worry at the back of the Massively writers' minds when they give themselves over to the masses for Choose My Adventure. Sure, there is an element of mystery and excitement, but what if... just what if the majority manifests an evil streak and sends you careening over an embankment to your virtual doom? Or banishes you to tasks that would make you want to lobotomize yourself with your mouse -- things like run Death From Below repeatedly? Thankfully, you all spared me from such torture. And with this week's tour of the Mission Architect system in City of Heroes, you definitely steered me right -- this is my favorite aspect of the game yet!

I am glad to say that my trust in you all has not been unfounded, and I will speak on your behalf to the others. The fact is, I have enjoyed our little road trip immensely and am sad it must come to an end. So let's take one last cruise through City of Heroes together before you drive off into the sunset with Eliot.

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Massive ARGO Online patch raises level cap, adds new dungeons and quests

Fantasy, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

ARGO Online - floating steampunk dude with wings and a huge weapon
Remember ARGO Online, the free-to-play steampunk fantasy MMO that launched in early 2011? If not, now's as good a time as any to refresh your memory since the game is about to undergo the largest content update in its history.

First up is a max-level increase (to 55), followed by a new "expert" island called Naviruo, which is geared toward level 50-plus players. Here you'll find more than 400 new quests that continue the tale of conflict between the Floresslah and Nobilan factions. There are also seven new dungeons to satiate your PvE and PvP appetites, not to mention over 300 new types of monsters to make things a little more challenging.

As always, more info is available at the official ARGO website.

[Source: ProSiebenSat.1 Games press release]

Aeria launches Star Supremacy browser MMORTS

Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, MMORTS

Star Supremacy gameplay screenshot
If you're looking for a free-to-play browser-based MMORTS title, there are plenty of them out there. The latest such comes courtesy of Aeria Games. The company is launching Star Supremacy, a sci-fi RTS title featuring 2-D graphics in both space and planetary environments.

Players can choose from three different factions (the Altairians, the Seekers, and the UEO) and then set about gathering resources and building fleets before heading into combat. Aeria says that its title boasts quite a bit of gameplay choice, many of which "will directly affect the outcome of combat and ensure that warfare in Star Supremacy is a dynamic and highly strategic affair."

[Source: Aeria Games press release]

World of Tanks' 7.4 update to feature new game modes, maps

Historical, Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Tanks

World of Tanks - French SPG
Two new game modes are coming to World of Tanks. Encounter battle and assault will both debut with the 7.4 patch, as Wargaming.net looks to up the ante in terms of complicated combat assignments.

The patch will also expand the French tank tree as well as add two new maps to the mix. The first map is called Widepark, and it takes place amidst the ruins of a bombed out German town. The second map is called Airfield. It transports players to a Mediterranean location surrounded by temple ruins and rocky hills.

The most noteworthy 7.4 changes, though, are the game modes. Encounter battle "invites two sides to fight for one base," according to a Wargaming.net press release. Assault "sets the players in the roles of attackers and defenders where the former have superior combat capabilities," the company says.

[Source: Wargaming.net press release]

DDO expansion screens show off dryads, werewolves

Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Expansions, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

Dungeons and Dragons Online - dryads
Want the latest Dungeons and Dragons Online expansion screenshots? We've got them for you in our gallery below, and they focus on dryads and werewolf monsters from the forthcoming Menace of the Underdark patch. The shots are set in the Eveningstar region of the Forgotten Realms, which players will initially encounter after porting over from DDO's original Eberron locale.

Menace of the Underdark will add quite a bit of new content to DDO, including a new Druid class, epic destinies, and an old familiar campaign setting. The expansion is now available for pre-order on Turbine's website. It launches on June 25th.

[Source: Turbine press release]

Diablo 3 achieves fastest-selling PC game and biggest PC game launch titles

Fantasy, Bugs, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Diablo III

Diablo III gameplay screenshot
Launch bugs, server problems, and silly single-player online requirements didn't stop Diablo III from becoming the biggest launch in the history of PC gaming. Blizzard has announced that the game sold over 3.5 million copies during the first 24 hours that it was available for purchase. A week later, some 6.3 million of you are playing it (and that figure doesn't count the folks in Korean internet cafes, where the game enjoys a 39 percent share as of yesterday).

Blizzard's Mike Morhaime apologized for D3's various launch issues but said that the firm is pleased with feedback thus far. "We're especially proud of the gameplay feedback we've received from players worldwide. We're pleased that Diablo III has lived up to players' high expectations, and we're looking forward to welcoming more players into Sanctuary in the days ahead," he said.

Rosh Online major content update adds more funtionality and gameplay

Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

Rosh Online screenshot
Ignited Games has released a major content update to its free-to-play fantasy MMO Rosh Online that not only adds more gameplay features but introduces a number of new systems and changes to enhance the player experience.

Along with a mysterious new island and dungeons to explore, new armor and weapons, improved boss monsters, three craftable bear mounts, and an increased level cap (up to 75), this update offers more functionality with modifications to the UI, an inventory sort function, a craft tooltip, and an auto-walk system to get players to NPCs and quest mobs.

If that doesn't sound like enough, a new dismantle system for creating unique crafting items and the ability to view players' equipped items are also being introduced. More details are available in the patch notes.

[Source: Ignited Games press release]

Fallen Earth team dwindles further, but the game still lives

Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic

Fallen Earth chopper
Earlier tonight we got word of a rumor regarding Fallen Earth's development team dwindling down to three remaining content designers: a scripter, an artist and a game designer. Concerned over what has turned out to be a horrible week of layoffs, we shot an email to GamersFirst, which quickly responded:
"We had a large contractor crew on FE and we are focusing on creating our own employee pool to manage the game. We did decide to not renew some of our contractors. As you probably know that we are going to focus on our own home grown IPs like APB Reloaded, Fallen Earth, Hailan Rising and Taikodom. We have already stopped servicing Knight Online and we will be stopping service of War Rock from June 1. As a result we will using our own pool of experienced staff to manage the complete operations of Fallen Earth. Key game design folks like Marie still continue to be at the helm in North Carolina. Fallen Earth has also been licensed in South America and we will close to licensing it in Russia, Turkey and Asia. We are absolutely committed to making it grow across the globe."
While it appears that the game itself is not in trouble, we'll be sure to keep our eye on the situation for further developments.

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