Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/14/gaikai-delivering-instant-mmos-to-your-browser/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Gaikai
Imagine that you're reading up on an MMO on a site such as Massively (far-fetched, but stay with us on this). The words intrigue you and you think it might be worth checking out. You make a mental note to do so in the future -- to head over to the game's site, see if there's a trial, download it, set up an account, and give it a whirl -- but time gets away from you and none of that actually happens.

Now imagine that right after you read that article there was a single button or link. Clicking on it, a Java window opens up on top of your screen and tells you that you're now playing a trial of the game. There's no wait, no download, no lengthy form to fill out -- just click and play, right away. You go from interested to inside the game within mere seconds, your computer specs (mostly) aren't an issue, and your curiosity is immediately sated.

This isn't a far-fetched dream but the here-and-now reality. This is cloud-streaming MMOs brought to you by Gaikai. And it just might be the future of MMOs as we know it.

Continue reading Gaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser

MassivelyGaikai: Delivering instant MMOs to your browser originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2moonsacclaimactivisionage-of-conanage-of-conan-unchainedaocaoc-unchainedbest-buyblizzardblizzard-entertainmentbrowser-mmochronicles-of-spellborncloudcloud-streamingconandave-perryddodnddungeons-and-dragonsdungeons-and-dragons-onlineeaea-originearthworm-jimf2pfamilyfantasyfree-to-playfuncomgaikaigaikai-inchyboriaipadkid-friendlykids-mmokingsislekingsisle-entertainmentlord-of-the-ringslord-of-the-rings-onlinelotrostreaming-mmothe-darknessturbineturbine-entertainmentunchainedwalmartwarcraftwbwizard101world-of-warcraftwowyoutubeWed, 14 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Atari VP moves to Trion Worlds]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/former-atari-vp-moves-to-trion-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/former-atari-vp-moves-to-trion-worlds/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/03/former-atari-vp-moves-to-trion-worlds/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Trion Worlds has a new star quarterback for its European branch today, as former Atari general manager John Burns joined the team. Burns is now senior vice president and general manager of Trion's European branch.

Trion's David Reid feels that Burns is a major catch for the company: "John joins Trion with almost two decades of gaming experience with him, and will be essential in our continued success throughout Europe. With the launch of RIFT earlier this year, we began laying the groundwork for a strong presence in Europe, which will grow as we bring premium, connected games to gamers around the world."

Burns has a lengthy track record in the industry, boasting over 20 years of experience at various companies. Prior to Atari, John Burns worked at Electronic Arts, Bandai, Acclaim and Sega.

MassivelyFormer Atari VP moves to Trion Worlds originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimataribandaidavid-reideaelectronic-artseuropegeneral-managerjobjohn-burnsriftrift-planes-of-telarasegasenior-vptriontrion-europetrion-worldstrion-worlds-europevpFri, 03 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamersFirst rezzes Acclaim 9Dragons characters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/gamersfirst-rezzes-acclaim-9dragons-characters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/gamersfirst-rezzes-acclaim-9dragons-characters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/gamersfirst-rezzes-acclaim-9dragons-characters/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Where's a good cleric when you need one? Apparently they're at the GamersFirst offices, performing the herculean task of reanimating thousands of 9Dragons characters left for dead when Acclaim (the title's original publisher) pulled the plug on the martial arts MMORPG this past summer.

If you're a former 9Dragons player and you submitted a character request earlier this year, you can now claim your rebuilt level 80 avatar at the official GamersFirst website. "We are excited to finally be able to offer character restoration options for the 9Dragons community. We want players to know that we appreciate their support during our transition. We have spent a large amount of time and effort processing and improving the template characters to get players back into the game without having to redo all their hard work from before," said David Demers, 9Dragons Associate Producer.

MassivelyGamersFirst rezzes Acclaim 9Dragons characters originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9dragonsacclaimcharacter-rezf2pfree-to-playgamers-firstgamersfirstlevel-80reanimationresurrectionrezyayTue, 21 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: New Mega Man games edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/ask-massively-new-mega-man-games-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/ask-massively-new-mega-man-games-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/ask-massively-new-mega-man-games-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I'm really happy to see that we're getting two new Mega Man games at long last. Mega Man Universe looks like it's going to be pretty awesome, even if it should really be taking cues from later installments, and Mega Man Legends 3 is a game that I've been waiting to see for... yeah, just about 10 years. Unfortunately, that does mean that I'm going to have to purchase another platform for the game, but that's all right by me. I already have a few dozen systems in my house; one more isn't going to hurt.

But we're not here to talk about my pet causes -- we're here for the latest edition of Ask Massively. This week's questions were all about Chronicles of Spellborn and administrative details, so click on past the cut for our answers, and send your questions in to ask@massively.com! Or just leave them right here in the comments, makes no nevermind to us.

Continue reading Ask Massively: New Mega Man games edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: New Mega Man games edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimadministrativeask-massivelychronicles-of-spellbornfeaturedlinksmassively-metamega-mannew-gamespsychicsq-and-aquestions-and-answersspellbornThu, 14 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamesCampus announces Legend of Edda beta and 9Dragons European publishing acquisition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/gamescampus-announces-legend-of-edda-beta-and-9dragons-european/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/gamescampus-announces-legend-of-edda-beta-and-9dragons-european/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/02/gamescampus-announces-legend-of-edda-beta-and-9dragons-european/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Free-to-play publisher GamesCampus has had a busy week, first with its announcement of the closed beta test for the forthcoming Legend of Edda MMORPG, and most recently with its acquisition of 9Dragons for the European market.

Legend of Edda, loosely based on the Greek mythology surrounding Olympus and the Titans, boasts a dynamic storyline that centers around factional conflict as well as PvP and RvR combat. GamesCampus describes Legend of Edda as a title with "hardcore PvP, endless customization, an art style all its own, and much more." The initial closed beta phase will run from September 30th through October 11th.

Speaking of PvP, 9Dragons, recently orphaned by the demise of its publisher Acclaim, has been targeted by GamesCampus for a European release. The kung fu fighting MMORPG, set during the Ming dynasty and featuring clan-based PvP as well as extensive PvE options, will be published in Germany and France beginning in November. News of the European launch comes shortly after GamersFirst announced its intention to publish 9Dragons in America.

Be sure to check out the Legend of Edda teaser trailer after the jump.

Continue reading GamesCampus announces Legend of Edda beta and 9Dragons European publishing acquisition

MassivelyGamesCampus announces Legend of Edda beta and 9Dragons European publishing acquisition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9dragonsacclaimbetaclosed-betaeuropean-publisherf2pfree-to-playgamescampuslegend-of-eddaonnet-europepvepvpThu, 02 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Acclaim shuts down all games and main site]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/acclaim-shuts-down-all-games-and-main-site/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/acclaim-shuts-down-all-games-and-main-site/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/27/acclaim-shuts-down-all-games-and-main-site/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It looks like Acclaim is going the way of the dinosaur.

Things have been increasingly uncertain for Acclaim titles since Playdom acquired Acclaim back in May, and visitors to Acclaim's site yesterday were met with a bare-bones message: "We regret to inform you that all Acclaim games will no longer be in service effective August 26, 2010." Other than a few instructions on refunds for Acclaim coins and an invitation to check out Playdom's Facebook games, the site is blank.

The company's former games aren't all completely gone; 9Dragons was recently picked up by GamersFirst, but the publisher itself seems to be gone for good.

[Thanks to CowMooFlage for the tip!]

MassivelyAcclaim shuts down all games and main site originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9dragonsacclaimCowMooFlagef2pfacebook-gamesfree-to-playftpgamersfirstplaydomFri, 27 Aug 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GamersFirst acquires 9Dragons from Acclaim]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/gamersfirst-acquires-9dragons-from-acclaim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/gamersfirst-acquires-9dragons-from-acclaim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/gamersfirst-acquires-9dragons-from-acclaim/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Acclaim currently holds the license to publish free-to-play MMO 9Dragons, but that will be changing very soon. The license expires in September, and GamersFirst has stepped in to pick it up.

The core game will remain familiar to players, but GamersFirst will be adding some new features and content for players of all levels. There will be a dedicated tutorial map for new players, a new high-level dungeon, new Kung Fu patterns, and more for players to explore on both the PvE and PvP sides.

GamersFirst is working to make the transition a smooth one, and current players will find all of their characters and items unaffected by the change. The GamersFirst site will have a launch date for this move very soon. For now, follow along after the jump for a look at two brand-new trailers for 9Dragons.

Continue reading GamersFirst acquires 9Dragons from Acclaim

MassivelyGamersFirst acquires 9Dragons from Acclaim originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9dragonsacclaimacclaim-gamesf2pfree-to-playftpgamersfirstTue, 24 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn servers have one last hurrah]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/chronicles-of-spellborn-servers-have-one-last-hurrah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/chronicles-of-spellborn-servers-have-one-last-hurrah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/chronicles-of-spellborn-servers-have-one-last-hurrah/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The Chronicles of Spellborn fans have had a confusing week. On August 10th, an announcement was posted on Acclaim's TCoS forums, letting players know that the game would come to an end on August 25th.

The announcement warned players to spend all unused Acclaim coins by that time and offered a customer support email address for players with questions. However, the servers were taken offline almost immediately with no word from Acclaim, and after a week of silence from the developers, fans concluded that the game was gone for good.

Not so, it seems. A post entitled "The game is up!" appeared on the forums, sending a handful of players rushing to reinstall and enjoy a little more playtime. Unfortunately, there is still no announcement or explanation from the TCoS team, so there is no official word on what happened or how long it will last.

For the time being, fans of The Chronicles of Spellborn can enjoy one last chance to play.

[Thanks to CowMooFlage for the tip!]

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn servers have one last hurrah originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimforeignsekrit-dev-plansserversservers-downservers-upspellborntcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornTue, 17 Aug 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellborn shutting down in September]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/09/spellborn-shutting-down-in-september/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/09/spellborn-shutting-down-in-september/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/09/spellborn-shutting-down-in-september/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It seems the bell has finally tolled for The Chronicles of Spellborn, the troubled free-to-play MMORPG from Playdom. The fantasy title, which boasted a unique combat system and attempted to alleviate the grind common to the massive genre through its mission system, will be shutting its doors for good in September. Spellborn has had a checkered history since its 2009 inception as a pay-to-play title. Shortly after release, its development team went bankrupt before it was slated for free-to-play distribution by Acclaim and Frogster.

According to a report published on Games.com, last week's server outage (which sparked a brush-fire of cancellation rumors) was temporary, but the game will nonetheless be closing next month. "Yes we do plan to close the game at the end of the month," said a Playdom rep via email. "The servers were down on Monday, but that was due to an unrelated technical issue; the game should be back up now until the end of this month."

MassivelySpellborn shutting down in September originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimchronicles-of-spellbornf2pfree-to-playfrogstergame-closinggame-closureplaydomthe-chronicles-of-spellbornMon, 09 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Playdom acquires Acclaim Games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/playdom-acquires-acclaim-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/playdom-acquires-acclaim-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/19/playdom-acquires-acclaim-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

If there was any doubt that the world of Facebook social games and traditional MMOs are becoming further intertwined, this should hopefully silence it. Playdom, well-known as one of the three major powers in Facebook gaming (alongside Zynga and Playfish), has acquired Acclaim Games, owner of several free-to-play MMOs including Chronicles of Spellborn, 9Dragons, and 2Moons. Unfortunately for the business mavens in the audience, the exact details of the acquisition including price were not disclosed.

In terms of management, there's going to be little changing on the ground for Acclaim Games, as previous CEO Howard Marks will continue to run the studio for Playdom. Playdom itself has been purchasing several smaller developers and studios, especially those focusing on Facebook development. No word on whether this will affect management of any of Acclaim's existing games, although it seems unlikely given the circumstances. What is certain is that it's another installment in the distance between social gaming and MMOs being shortened.

[ Thanks to Animagnum for the tip! ]

MassivelyPlaydom acquires Acclaim Games originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 May 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesacquisitionbusinessbusiness-dealsfacebookmmo-industryplaydompurchasesocial-gamesWed, 19 May 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at year one of The Chronicles of Spellborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/a-look-back-at-year-one-of-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/a-look-back-at-year-one-of-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/a-look-back-at-year-one-of-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Chronicles of Spellborn is a game that I have long had a love affair with. I followed it through development and beta, and have played since the very beginning. Immediately its unique atmosphere and wonderful art style drew me in and had me hoping that this game would be one of the games to break the MMORPG mold. I downloaded screenshots, read the lore that I could find and waited with baited breath as the release date drew closer.

Now, here we are a year after release. What happened within that year that resulted in two empty servers and a (seemingly) dwindling population? We haven't learned much through the usual channels, and the players that remain are left wondering. The last word given talked about a re-release, a "Spellborn 2" complete with a cash shop to aid adventurers, but the recent closing of the game in Japan and silence on the forums still have us a little confused.

Continue reading A look back at year one of The Chronicles of Spellborn

MassivelyA look back at year one of The Chronicles of Spellborn originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterftpspellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellbornyear-in-reviewFri, 23 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: Five favorite game systems]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/free-for-all-five-favorite-game-systems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/free-for-all-five-favorite-game-systems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/06/free-for-all-five-favorite-game-systems/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

This week I decided to talk a bit about some of my favorite game systems. Systems are essentially the building blocks of all quality MMORPG matter, allowing for an experience that is unique and worth returning to. Developers have been very creative in designing these systems that, like good technology, are not often noticed by gamers. Good systems blend into your experience but enhance it, and often make the overall game play seem like something more than it would be without them.

Here are some of my favorites, and I would recommend downloading these games and checking them out. Or, if you are already playing these games, take a moment to notice how much thought went into these systems, and also of how much time you spend using them. Their simplicity can sometimes be deceiving, hiding the complicated processes that help your game play be a detailed and varied experience.

Continue reading Free for All: Five favorite game systems

MassivelyFree for All: Five favorite game systems originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimddodungeons-and-dragons-onlinefeaturedFree RealmsFreeRealmsftpkingsislemabinoginexon-americaSOEthe chronicles of spellbornTheChroniclesOfSpellbornturbinewizard101Tue, 06 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2Moons worldwide mega update announced]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/2moons-worldwide-mega-update-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/2moons-worldwide-mega-update-announced/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/30/2moons-worldwide-mega-update-announced/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


GameHi, Inc has announced a worldwide update for their free-to-play MMORPG Dekaron, known in North America as 2Moons. The patch, ominously titled "It's a Good Day to Die," looks to add a wealth of content including the DK Square System, the Trans Up Quest, and the Land of the Dead map.

The DK Square System functions as an inter-server PvP match-making system, and also includes a new map and exclusive armors. The Trans Up Quest is available to players at or above level 131, and offers the opportunity to learn new skills as a reward. The Land of the Dead map encourages players to work in teams, and features daily battle events featuring new monsters and new weapons.

"It's a Good Day to Die" also features several commemorative events, including:

  • DK coin event (March 29 - April 29) - Collect DK coins to win double XP for your server when you complete the main Egutt Desert mission. Coins also drop from monster mobs in the Abyss of Crespo.
  • DK class ranking event (March 29 - April 29) - Fight for the chance to be crowned the Greatest Hero at DK Square. First through tenth place winners will be ranked by class and recognized.
  • Support beginner/veteran event (March 29 - April 29) - All newly registered characters will receive a Beginner's Pack in their inventory, while veteran characters will receive a Veteran Dekaron Welcome Pack in their inventory.
  • Cash-back event (March 29 - April 12) - Players will receive bonus cash back from the item shop dependent upon item quantities purchased.

Massively2Moons worldwide mega update announced originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2moonsacclaimdekaronfree-to-playgamehinew-contentpatchupdateTue, 30 Mar 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: A look into The Chronicles of Spellborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/free-for-all-a-look-into-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/free-for-all-a-look-into-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/free-for-all-a-look-into-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I have always wondered what happened to one of my favorite free-to-play games, The Chronicles of Spellborn. It's still a great game, don't get me wrong, and is completely free to play. A new version is even supposed to come out at some point, essentially the same game but with a cash-shop that features different travel items and armors.

But why didn't The Chronicles of Spellborn do as good as it could have? I enjoyed it from the beginning but did find some flaws, namely in travel time. Of course, I am the world's biggest fan of realistic travel. I think it builds "character," but only having the option to walk while on land is, to say the least, a little tiring. Still, the game continues to captivate me. Perhaps the combat system was too out-of-sync with today's gamer, or maybe the quest text and wonderful lore were not enough to stop some players from getting bored? The stat-less armor and weapons might have had the most to do with it, being that players felt short-changed without being able to be recognized as something powerful just from the look of their avatar?

Continue reading Free for All: A look into The Chronicles of Spellborn

MassivelyFree for All: A look into The Chronicles of Spellborn originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimfeaturedfree-to-playftpInterviewsspellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellbornTue, 23 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellborn dropping out of the Japanese market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/spellborn-dropping-out-of-the-japanese-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/spellborn-dropping-out-of-the-japanese-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/spellborn-dropping-out-of-the-japanese-market/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The somewhat European inspired fantasy MMO The Chronicles of Spellborn is shutting down its Japanese service, causing a stir of worry and discussion about the title's future in other territories within the community at large. To make matters worse, the one person who could've cleared up any confusion, TheHistorian, is no longer with publisher Acclaim as community manager for the game. Given that he was the sole link between the community and developers, it's no wonder people are feeling a bit unsettled by the whole affair.

While the closure of The Chronicles of Spellborn Japan isn't a good thing, it doesn't necessarily spell out a dark future for the title. A business deal could've gone sour, or perhaps the audience in Japan just wasn't strong enough to maintain the title. Just in cast something does happen, however, we'll be keeping an eye out for any further development.

MassivelySpellborn dropping out of the Japanese market originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimclosedcmcommunity-managereuropeeuropeanjapanshut-downshutting-downspellbornspellborn-internationalspellborn-japanthehistorianTue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Acclaim CEO says Spellborn version 2.0 is on the way]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/acclaim-ceo-says-spellborn-version-2-is-on-the-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/acclaim-ceo-says-spellborn-version-2-is-on-the-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/acclaim-ceo-says-spellborn-version-2-is-on-the-way/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're a fan of The Chronicles of Spellborn, Beau Turkey at Spouse Aggro found something today that will make you very happy. There have been rumors floating around lately about a restructuring of the game, and those rumors were recently confirmed on the official forums by Howard Marks, the CEO of Acclaim Games: "The rumors are true! Spellborn Version Two is on the way."

Marks went on to explain that the new version has already been released in Japan to great success. They've been fine tuning it, and plans for the English version are underway. If you are a current player of The Chronicles of Spellborn, be sure you have a valid email address on file with Acclaim, because everyone playing the current version will be invited to beta test the new version via email.

While details are minimal at this point, it's great news for players to know that more is on the way. You can take a look at the forum announcement here, and Beau's take from a fan point of view here.

MassivelyAcclaim CEO says Spellborn version 2.0 is on the way originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesbeau-turkeychronicles-of-spellbornf2pfree-to-playhoward-marksspellbornspellborn-2spellborn-version-2spouse-aggroTue, 26 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn now completely free while in re-development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/19/chronicles-of-spellborn-now-completely-free-while-in-re-developm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/19/chronicles-of-spellborn-now-completely-free-while-in-re-developm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/19/chronicles-of-spellborn-now-completely-free-while-in-re-developm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Did you miss out on the Chronicles of Spellborn when it initially came out? Most likely you did. If it wasn't the freemium model that confused you, it was most likely the crazy-odd "Acclaim coins" system combined with "membership" that turned you off of the game.

Well, as we mentioned before, Chronicles of Spellborn is facing some issues and tough times. The game is being re-developed into a free-to-play model while one arm of the Spellborn company is facing issues of bankruptcy. But not all is doom and gloom with the game itself. In fact, now couldn't be a better time to check out Spellborn.

While the game is being re-developed and eventually re-launched, the current version is now completely free. All you need to do is go on, create an account, and download the game. That's it. So if you passed up the game before and you have some time on your hands, we recommend going on over and checking out Spellborn for the low, low price of free. It's fresh and quite different from your standard MMO.

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn now completely free while in re-development originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimbreakingfree-gamefree-to-playfreemiumre-developmentspellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellbornWed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: High House Silver]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/11/one-shots-high-house-silver/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/11/one-shots-high-house-silver/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/11/one-shots-high-house-silver/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


With the recent news that The Chronicles of Spellborn is going to be going from a Freemium to a fully free-to-play game, emotions are torn. Those who have been subscribing feel like they're about to lose the game they've been enjoying. Those who have wanted to try it out but have been unable to do more than the first several levels are glad as it will give them a chance to play more. Either way you slice it though, it means change for the Spellborn community. With that said, we have a lovely screenshot from within The Chronicles of Spellborn that was sent to us by Terrivad of the Deiquonril server. He writes in: This is a screen shot of the interior of High House Silver in the city of Hawksmouth. House Silver being one of the five High Houses of the Enclave. They keep the economy in order and the day to day activities such as transportation, taxing and trade. (They're also obviously the richest House.)

One Shots runs on reader submissions, so we need to hear from you! Just snap a quick screenshot from your favorite MMO and send it to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and the game/location it was taken in. We'll do the rest from there and give you the credit for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: High House Silver originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesF2Pfreemiumone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotstcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornSat, 11 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn to be re-developed as free to play, bankruptcy issues loom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-to-be-re-developed-as-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-to-be-re-developed-as-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-to-be-re-developed-as-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The Chronicles of Spellborn only launched a few months ago, but they've already announced that they're going to "re-develop" the game as a free-to-play title. Acclaim Games stated on Monday: "The development is planned to carry into 2010 and will include several enhancements and changes to the current game. The enhancements and development of the new model will be carried through a joint venture between Spellborn NV and the development studio of Frogster Asia Co. Ltd based in Seoul, the Korean studio bringing its expertise in the field of free-to-play and micro-transactions."

Once this re-development is complete The Chronicles of Spellborn will cease to be a subscription game and will switch over to the free-to-play model. We're not sure if there will be any further development on TCOS as it exists now, but a post on the game's EU forums by community manager Kelas stated, "For now, the servers and system (subscription) will remain the way it is. There are still people available for running the daily work and systems."

Continue reading The Chronicles of Spellborn to be re-developed as free to play, bankruptcy issues loom

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn to be re-developed as free to play, bankruptcy issues loom originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesbusiness-modelsf2pfree-to-playfrogsterkelasmicrotransactionsmmo-industryselachiispellborn-bvspellborn-nvtcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornTue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: From the front lines]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/one-shots-from-the-front-lines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/one-shots-from-the-front-lines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/one-shots-from-the-front-lines/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We don't often get to look in on The Chronicles of Spellborn, so it's great to get a report back from a Spellborn player for One Shots. Today's beautiful-yet-almost-psychadelic screenshot comes in to us from Eric who writes in: Looking down at the docks as I venture, for the first time, to The Vaults. The first thing that drew me into the The Chronicles of Spellborn was the atmospheric scenery. The area I'm traveling to is used to further the lore of the game, and the long trek up to the top of the mountain really gave me a perspective much like a pilgrim. Really well done!

If your MMO travels have taken you to a world we don't often see, why not send in some screenshots and share your journeys! Email them to oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a brief description. We'll post them here and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: From the front lines originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesericone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsspellborntcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornFri, 19 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: To the vault]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/one-shots-to-the-vault/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/one-shots-to-the-vault/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/one-shots-to-the-vault/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We haven't had many looks into this world as yet here on One Shots, which is a shame. The armor artwork and texturing is really quite interesting to look at! Not sure where this lone adventurer - Rayko Silverthorn of the guild Sacred, level 14 Trickster of High House Shroud - stands? He's exploring the world of The Chronicles of Spellborn, and writes in to tell us a bit more about the scene we're seeing - and why he likes The Chronicles of Spellborn.

My first trip off of Parliament led me to Atheneum, home of The Consanguineous Vaults or just The Vaults. The ever increasingly difficult Vaults are were young adventurers go to hone their skills to become the heroes of tomorrow. This game features arguably the best combat system ever, The best way to handle death via Pep levels and a refreshing theme that breaks away from the oh so common style of fantasy MMORPGs.

If you're traveling in a world we don't see often - or haven't really seen at all - then we want to see some screenshots from you! Just email them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a brief description - or your thoughts on why your favorite MMO is awesome! We'll post them out here and give you the nod for sending the image and note in.

Gallery: One Shots





MassivelyOne Shots: To the vault originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsspellborntcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornThu, 04 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gaikai and OnLive both a no-show at E3 Expo 2009]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/gaikai-and-onlive-both-a-no-show-at-e3-expo-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/gaikai-and-onlive-both-a-no-show-at-e3-expo-2009/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/27/gaikai-and-onlive-both-a-no-show-at-e3-expo-2009/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We heard about two competing gaming services at GDC 2009 that could revolutionize the video game industry, if the technology announced can live up to its claims: OnLive and Gaikai. Both services aim to stream game content to users while the graphics crunching is handled on company servers, thereby eliminating the escalating hardware barriers to playing the latest and greatest titles -- a home user's low-end machine would be able to run high-end games. Gaikai head David Perry (of Acclaim) has said that the company's "Streaming Worlds" technology is suited to handle MMOs, and has specifically stated that World of Warcraft and EVE Online can already be streamed to browsers.

When we heard about these companies at GDC we were hoping to hear more a bit later in the year, but it seems that neither OnLive nor Gaikai will be at the E3 Expo 2009. Gaikai cites patent filings as the reason they've had to pull out from E3 while OnLive states that their service doesn't fit in with the 'retail-orientation' of E3. We'll keep an eye on both companies as time goes on, though at this point only Gaikai has announced that they plan to stream MMOs.

MassivelyGaikai and OnLive both a no-show at E3 Expo 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimbrowserdavid-perrye3e3-2009e3-expoeveeve-onlinegaikaigdc-2009onlivestreamingstreaming-worldsworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 27 May 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn raises the free to play level cap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/chronicles-of-spellborn-raises-the-free-to-play-level-cap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/chronicles-of-spellborn-raises-the-free-to-play-level-cap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/chronicles-of-spellborn-raises-the-free-to-play-level-cap/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Worst part of freemium games is really getting into the game and then running head long into the free area's level cap. You just got started, just got into getting a nice pace, and you suddenly can't go any further until you buy a new zone or pay for a subscription.

Chronicles of Spellborn seems to understand that problem and have taken a step to delay the inevitable. With the last patch, "Paragraph of Timed Strike," they've raised the free to play level cap from 7.6 to 9.9. This is going to allow new players or former free to play users the ability to level further and access more quests in the starting areas of Hawksmouth and Aldenvault.

Of course at level 9.9 you're still going to need a subscription if you want to continue on with Spellborn, but hey, now you have 2.3 more levels to enjoy before you need to grab some Acclaim coins.

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn raises the free to play level cap originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesaldenvaultchronicles-of-spellbornfree-to-playfreemiumhawksmouthlevel-capparagraph-of-timed-strikepatchspellbornupdateFri, 22 May 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn art book now available as free PDF]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-art-book-now-available-as-free-pdf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-art-book-now-available-as-free-pdf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-art-book-now-available-as-free-pdf/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The newly launched fantasy game The Chronicles of Spellborn is a (air quote) freemium massively multiplayer online title from Acclaim, where three areas of the game are available for free, while subscriptions truly open the game up for its players. Those gamers in the EU who jump into The Chronicles of Spellborn are able to buy the title as a boxed product and thus get the art book which accompanies the box release, but no such luck for North American players. That is, until now.

Acclaim has opted to release the art book as a free PDF file, which you can find over at MMORPG.com. It's a nice, in-depth look at the game spanning 151 pages of art content and lore. The High Houses, the game's myriad Inhabitants, and of course weapons and armor are all included in The Chronicles of Spellborn art book. If you're already into TCoS or are just curious about it, be sure to grab your free download at MMORPG.com.

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn art book now available as free PDF originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimartart-bookconcept-artfantasymmorpg.compdftcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornTue, 28 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellborn launches in the US; subscriptions free for 2 weeks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/23/spellborn-launches-in-the-us-subscriptions-free-for-2-weeks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/23/spellborn-launches-in-the-us-subscriptions-free-for-2-weeks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/23/spellborn-launches-in-the-us-subscriptions-free-for-2-weeks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Acclaim has officially launched The Chronicles of Spellborn in North America, and to mark the occasion, premium subscriptions are totally free for people registering before the 7th of May (and for existing accounts). The issue of needing "Acclaim Coins" to purchase subscriptions has been fixed in time for the launch, and when the free subscriptions run out, players will be able to keep them going using their credit cards directly.

As we had confirmed for us last month, Spellborn will be using a monthly paid subscription business model, however, a small portion (three areas) of the game's content will be available for free in perpetuity. Upon reaching a certain level, all further character progression is blocked. This is really more of a free trial than an actual "free-to-play with premium for-pay bits", so to see what the full game is really like, the best option would be to try it out now while the flood gates are opened all the way. If you decide to give it a go, be sure to let us know what you think about it.

MassivelySpellborn launches in the US; subscriptions free for 2 weeks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-coinschronicles-of-spellbornfree-subscriptionslaunchnorth-americaspellbornsubscriptionsususaThu, 23 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: Gaikai digital gaming service to stream MMOs to web browsers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/gdc09-gaikai-digital-gaming-service-to-stream-mmos-to-web-brows/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/gdc09-gaikai-digital-gaming-service-to-stream-mmos-to-web-brows/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/26/gdc09-gaikai-digital-gaming-service-to-stream-mmos-to-web-brows/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


One of the more interesting announcements to come out of GDC 2009 is OnLive, which will allow low-end PCs to play high-end games via streaming technology, piping in a game experience where all the heavy (graphics) lifting is done on the company's servers. It's a significant step forward in gaming provided it lives up to expectations, and the fact that it's fully cross-platform means that Mac users will be able to play PC titles never ported for the OS. OnLive isn't alone in wanting to make games more accessible though, particularly when it comes to MMOs.

Acclaim CEO David Perry told GameDaily, "We have already filed a patent on what OnLive is doing. I'm working with a team called Gaikai... we have World of Warcraft and EVE Online running." Since Gaikai's "Streaming Worlds" technology involves servers which remotely do the graphics crunching required of most modern games and streams the game to a web browser, all one needs is a machine with a good internet connection. No game client downloads are required. "You can play World of Warcraft anytime, on any browser," said Perry. The OnLive and Gaikai services are still in development and beta testing for both may begin this Winter, if not sooner.

MassivelyGDC09: Gaikai digital gaming service to stream MMOs to web browsers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessibilityacclaimbrowsercross-platformdavid-perrtyeve-onlineflashgaikaigdcgdc-2009mmo-industryonlivestreamingstreaming-worldsworld-of-warcraftThu, 26 Mar 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn moves up to 1.02]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/13/chronicles-of-spellborn-moves-up-to-1-02/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/13/chronicles-of-spellborn-moves-up-to-1-02/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/02/13/chronicles-of-spellborn-moves-up-to-1-02/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The European free to play MMO Chronicles of Spellborn has unleashed patch 1.02, entitled "Scroll of the Second Path," bringing some brand new fixes and changes into their world.

One of the biggest changes is the introduction of a brand new tutorial that better introduces their combat system. One of the many problems that many players were facing with Spellborn was that it does not play like a traditional MMO. In fact, playing it like a traditional MMO would usually get you killed. This new tutorial better explains how to avoid getting hit, while still dealing damage of your own to the targets around you.

The other big change is the introduction of "menaces" -- new elite monsters that wander around outdoor areas. These guys are big and hard to kill, but their existences are also tied into special wanted posters in towns. These wanted posters trigger new quests to take down the menaces, giving players incentive to take on these new challenges.

The game is still awaiting a closed beta in the US, but those readers in the UK, France, or Germany will be happy to hop on the Spellborn wagon and give the game a try. The full patch notes for 1.02 are available on the Chronicles of Spellborn forums.

[Via A Ding World]

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn moves up to 1.02 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimchronicles-of-spellbornclosed-betacombat-systemeuropean-mmofree-to-playmenacesnew-questspatch-1.02scroll-of-the-second-pathtutorialFri, 13 Feb 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellborn updates for 2009 mapped out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/spellborn-updates-for-2009-mapped-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/spellborn-updates-for-2009-mapped-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/spellborn-updates-for-2009-mapped-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Although the US is still waiting for The Chronicles of Spellborn to finish up its beta phases, the European version of the game has already been released. As is usually the case with an MMO launch, the developers didn't just flip the switch and then wash their hands of the project, and have been pushing out patches and hotfixes to their live servers as needed. Now we've been given an idea of where they hope to take the game over the coming year, via a post on the official forums.

In the short term, a big patch is expected to be ready for the end of January, which will include some new monsters as well as a tutorial that comes in response to feedback from the community and press. A bit later in the year, the plan is to roll out the market, and an arena match-up system that will allow 2v2 and 4v4 PvP games. Longer term development goals include mounts and guild alliances, but when we're looking at this time-frame, it's highly likely that more ideas will come about. So, who is already on board with Spellborn?

MassivelySpellborn updates for 2009 mapped out originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2v24v4acclaimarenachronicles-of-spellborneuropeeuropeanmountspatchesspellborntcostutorialupdatesWed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What does Spellborn still need for a successful US/UK launch?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/what-does-spellborn-still-need-for-a-successful-us-uk-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/what-does-spellborn-still-need-for-a-successful-us-uk-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/what-does-spellborn-still-need-for-a-successful-us-uk-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Here we are a month after the European launch of The Chronicles of Spellborn, and we find ourselves gearing up for the US and UK launches very soon. What has changed since the EU launch and what have the developers learned throughout the month after launch? MMORPG.com's Patrick S. Marshall takes a look and gives us his opinions on what the game still needs to make it in this hard-knock era for start-up MMOs.

"The bottom line is that the game could use some more players, especially on the international servers, which are considerably less populated than the French or German servers," Marshall says in the article. "The UK is separated from Europe publisher-wise by a territorial IP-ban (Acclaim is publishing TCoS in the US and the UK - Frogster does the rest of Europe and Asia)." For more information on The Chronicles of Spellborn and their upcoming US/UK launch, check out their main website.

MassivelyWhat does Spellborn still need for a successful US/UK launch? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimfrogsterlaunchmmorpg.comspellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellbornukusMon, 05 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn scores 8/10 in an early review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-scores-8-10-in-an-early-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-scores-8-10-in-an-early-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-scores-8-10-in-an-early-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Although a great deal of the world is still playing the beta version of The Chronicles of Spellborn, continental Europe has had access to the retail copy since the 27th of November. Since Eurogamer has had a couple of weeks to put the game through its paces, they've posted a review. Now, we're sure you know the various problems with MMO reviews in general -- the two biggest being that most (good) MMOs are updated frequently post-launch, and that there's usually too much content to get through to provide accurate insight to all levels and areas of a game -- but it's worth nothing that this one comes with a rather healthy eight-out-of-ten score at the end.

The art style and environments get an approving nod in the review, and so do the action-based combat mechanics. The "Skill Deck", which is the replacement for the traditional action bar you might be used to from a huge number of other MMOs, is both praised and knocked for its complexity. The primary criticisms that the review levels against TCoS are that it can be a bit generic at times, and that it lacks the glossy polish that you see in big-budget titles. Obviously these complaints were not significant enough to stop the reviewer from enjoying the game, and we look forward to seeing how it shapes up by the time it's released to the rest of the world in January.

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn scores 8/10 in an early review originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimartart-stylechronicles-of-spellborncombateueuropereviewskill-decktcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornMon, 08 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellborn's American launch pushed back, closed beta starts the 27th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/spellborn-american-launch-date-pushed-back-closed-beta-starts-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/spellborn-american-launch-date-pushed-back-closed-beta-starts-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/spellborn-american-launch-date-pushed-back-closed-beta-starts-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So we heard a couple months ago that The Chronicles of Spellborn would be released in North America and the United Kingdom on November 27th, coinciding with the continental European launch. Turns out it's been pushed back -- kinda. The European launch will still commence on the 27th, but the North American closed beta will begin on that day, with the actual, final launch occurring sometime in January.

Sure, we're a bit disappointed, but chances are we'll still get to play the game soon. Acclaim, the game's publisher in the region, went out of its way in the press release it sent us to stress the "Freemium" business model -- a newbie trial area will be available to all players, who can reach level seven before they have to upgrade to a premium subscription at the usual $15/month rate.

The idea of an unlimited free trial area with a level cap isn't fresh -- both Meridian 59 and EverQuest II have done that, but it's not a bad way to sample a game to decide if you want to invest your hard-earned cash in it. Might be worth trying just for Jesper Kyd's soundtrack

MassivelySpellborn's American launch pushed back, closed beta starts the 27th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesbreakingcentral-americachronicles-of-spellbornclosed-betalaunchnorth-americarelease-datesouth-americaspellbornspellborn-internationalWed, 19 Nov 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn: Not free to play, proclaims Acclaim]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-not-free-to-play-proclaims-acclaim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-not-free-to-play-proclaims-acclaim/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/29/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-not-free-to-play-proclaims-acclaim/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In fact, the PR Manager for The Chronicles of Spellborn is quite insistent on the that point. 'TCoS is NOT a Free2Play game,' says PR manager, Mirage. And then again, only in ALL CAPS. Mirage is correct, of course. The Chronicles of Spellborn basically has a starting zone that you can play in for free. Think of it as a free trial, if you like. If you want to play the rest of this MMOG, you'll need to upgrade your free account for the regular subscription kind.

'Second, there are NO item malls, there is NO item selling,' adds Mirage. By the time we got halfway through we had to fan the air a little, as the stench of those nasty free-to-play models had pervaded the corners of the room. We hear that a box of sodium bicarbonate left open behind the sofa will eliminate those nasty odors.

Continue reading The Chronicles of Spellborn: Not free to play, proclaims Acclaim

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn: Not free to play, proclaims Acclaim originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gameschronicles-of-spellbornfantasymmo-industrynew-titlesspellborn-internationalMon, 29 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn launches November 27th in North America]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-launches-november-27-in-north-americ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-launches-november-27-in-north-americ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-launches-november-27-in-north-americ/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Publisher Acclaim Games has finally announced the North American release date of developer Spellborn International's action-oriented MMORPG The Chronicles of Spellborn. The game will go live in the United States and Canada on the 27th of November -- exactly the same day as the European release. Why Acclaim and European publisher Frogster didn't announce for all regions at once, we're not quite sure!

In the press release we received, Acclaim promised that a North American closed beta will begin soon, and directed would-be players to sign up at the official site. Expect fairly standard MMO gameplay, except for combat, which is a little different. You'll actually have to aim your attacks like you would in a third person shooter game.

Spellborn runs on "Unreal Engine 2.5" and features music by respected video game composer Jesper Kyd, who has contributed scoring to games like Assassin's Creed, Gears of War, and Unreal Tournament 3.

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn launches November 27th in North America originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gameschronicles-of-spellbornclosed-betafrogsterjesper-kydlaunchrelease-datespellbornspellborn-internationalunreal-engineSun, 28 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Acclaim to publish The Chronicles of Spellborn in North America]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/acclaim-to-publish-the-chronicles-of-spellborn-in-north-america/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/acclaim-to-publish-the-chronicles-of-spellborn-in-north-america/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/26/acclaim-to-publish-the-chronicles-of-spellborn-in-north-america/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Action-oriented MMORPG The Chronicles of Spellborn has found a publisher in Acclaim Games, the MMO-focused reincarnation of now-defunct Acclaim Entertainment. The company was founded by former Activision CEO Howard Marks, who bought the brand name from the original Acclaim after it crashed and burned in 2004.

David Perry -- Chief Creative Officer of Acclaim Games -- published a letter to the Spellborn community announcing the deal. In it, he talks up the game and the dev team behind it, saying that they immediately stood out to him and the other folks at Acclaim. We'll assume that Acclaim was the company that wrote the letter of intent way back in April, but who can say for sure?

Spellborn had already landed a publishing deal for Europe and Asia with Frogster Interactive. Last we heard the game was due out by the end of 2008, but we're not super-confident about it. Spellborn is still in its closed beta testing phase at the moment.

MassivelyAcclaim to publish The Chronicles of Spellborn in North America originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-entertainmentacclaim-gamesactivisionbusinesschronicles-of-spellborndavid-perrydealfrogsterfrogster-interactivenorth-americapublisherspellborn-internationalTue, 26 Aug 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How to beat game piracy according to David Perry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/how-to-beat-game-piracy-according-to-david-perry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/how-to-beat-game-piracy-according-to-david-perry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/how-to-beat-game-piracy-according-to-david-perry/#commentsFiled under: ,

David Perry, best known as the founder of Shiny Entertainment and Earthworm Jim, believes the way to beat game piracy is by distributing games for free. "The next big thing will be free games," said Perry, speaking in Belfast after being awarded an honorary doctorate by Queen's University. Perry goes on to explain the situation game developers in Asia encounter and how most games there have no entry cost but are supported by a micro-transaction model. A business model Perry believes that will change the industry in the USA and Europe.

Creative big-wig at Acclaim, Perry has numerous MMOG projects in development. One was supposed to be a beast-racing MMOG that had a unique development process. The project dubbed Top Secret was a collaborative program for a small community of developers to design the game on paper. Acclaim originally intended to hire a development team to produce the final design document but the mesh of ideas became so uniquely twisted they felt it wouldn't work. Instead, five independent development teams are vying for a one million dollar contract but if no demos are up to the quality or meet Acclaim's standards, they will hire a professional studio instead.

MassivelyHow to beat game piracy according to David Perry originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimasiabeast-racingbusiness-modelsdavid-perryfree-to-playmicrotransactionsperrypiracyrmttop-secretSat, 12 Jul 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The European connection in 9Dragons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-european-connection-in-9dragons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-european-connection-in-9dragons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/05/the-european-connection-in-9dragons/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Acclaim's martial arts MMORPG 9Dragons is about to gain some more European fans, with the launch of Bardo Euro -- their new European server. Bardo Euro promises to offer the European playerbase an improved game experience with better connections all around.

Apparently the players have been calling for a European 9Dragons server for some time; Acclaim is delivering on their promises to improve the game and is holding a number of special events to celebrate the launch:

  • 30% off sale: All items in the 9Dragons Item Mall will be 30% off for 3 days only. June 6-8.
  • Bonus exp rate events: Earn 2 times experience points by playing on the Bardo server. June 3-9.
  • Monster spawn event: High level monsters will invade Bardo. June 3-5, 6, 8-9.
  • VGM/GM PvP event: Test your martial arts skills battling against Acclaim VGM and GM staff. June 3-6, 8-9.
  • Fireworks in Bardo: To celebrate the official launch of the European server, fireworks will light up the sky at random times from May 30 to June 8 on the Bardo server.
If you're in Europe, why not give 9Dragons a shot? Roll yourself a Shaolin or Wu-Tang badass and see if you can take down a GM or two in martial arts combat.

Via Warcry

MassivelyThe European connection in 9Dragons originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>9-dragons9dragonsacclaimasiachinadragoneuropefantasyfireworksgmhistoricalhistoryitemitem-mallitemsmartial-artsnine-dragonspvpserverwarcrywu-tangThu, 05 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The top 20 most influential people in the MMO industry]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/the-top-20-most-influential-people-in-the-mmo-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/the-top-20-most-influential-people-in-the-mmo-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/29/the-top-20-most-influential-people-in-the-mmo-industry/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If you've ever searched the web for a comprehensive list of the biggest and the best in the MMO industry, Beckett Massive Online Gamer magazine has done it for you in a recent article entitled "Top 20 Influential People in Massively Multiplayer Video Games of 2007". The top half of this list should reveal no surprises for you, including such industry celebs as John Smedley, Scott Hartsman, Raph Koster and number one on the list: Rob Pardo. But the bottom half of the list may contain a few names you don't yet recognize. Interestingly enough, NCsoft makes an appearance four times on this list with James Phinney of ArenaNet, Richard Garriott and Starr Long of Destination Games and Jess LeBow of Carbine Studios.

This list highlights the most talented people in the industry and how they've influenced the future of MMOs, as determined by Beckett. You can find more details on each of their stories in the printed issue itself (Issue #13 for July-August) which hit newsstands on May 28th.

MassivelyThe top 20 most influential people in the MMO industry originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 May 2008 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimareaearenanetbeckettblizzardcarbineccpcryptic-studiosea-mythiclinden-labncsoftnexon-americasoesquare-enixsulaketop-20turbinevivoxThu, 29 May 2008 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Acclaim finds another way to sell gold]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/acclaim-finds-another-way-to-sell-gold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/acclaim-finds-another-way-to-sell-gold/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/06/acclaim-finds-another-way-to-sell-gold/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Acclaim Games, producers of 2Moons, have announced their new partnership with TrialPay, a service that offers people something they really want in exchange for buying a different item. Here's how it works: Companies will make money from TrialPay by offering their customers something for free -- in this case, Acclaim Coins, which can be used to purchase items in-game. If the customers purchase goods or services from TrialPay's advertisers -- for instance, a delivery of FTD flowers, or a Blockbuster membership -- the advertiser then pays the full value of what the original company is offering its customers.

It seems a little convoluted, and somewhat sketchy -- wouldn't it just be easier to stick with the pay-for-money option, which is already in place? Either way, money is leaving the hands of the consumer, so it isn't clear what benefit is obtained. If you must buy something, go straight to the source, we always say!

MassivelyAcclaim finds another way to sell gold originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 May 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2moonsacclaimacclaim-coinsBlockbusterFTDmicrotransactionstrialpayTue, 06 May 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More information from the Top Secret project]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/more-information-from-the-top-secret-project/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/more-information-from-the-top-secret-project/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/24/more-information-from-the-top-secret-project/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The last we'd heard of the Top Secret project, there wasn't too much information available on the specifics -- notably, it's not a game, but an experiment in game design where a bunch of people collaborate on an MMO concept, and then a dev team is picked to actually bring it to fruition. We now have a few more details to go on, as David Perry gave such in a GDC interview.

Whoever wins the bid to develop this MMO will receive one million dollars in licensing fees from Acclaim -- to use in buying software, licensing a pre-existing engine, what have you -- but they will be doing the work on their own time and dime. Perry is optimistic about the nascent game, saying that even if none of the development teams deliver an Acclaim-worthy game, they will hire a professional studio to complete it. No word yet on whether the title will be free-to-play, but this is a unique concept in game development, and a chance for some rising stars to show their stuff.

[Via WarCry]

MassivelyMore information from the Top Secret project originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimdavid-perrygdclicensing-feesnew-titletop-secrettop-secret-projectMon, 24 Mar 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dekaron to enter open beta on April 2nd]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/dekaron-to-enter-open-beta-on-april-2nd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/dekaron-to-enter-open-beta-on-april-2nd/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/22/dekaron-to-enter-open-beta-on-april-2nd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


A post at Gametribe's forums informs us that Dekaron is set to commence open beta on the 2nd of April. You may not have heard of Dekaron before, so here's a quick rundown from the official site. It is a free-to-play fantasy MMO set in the Middle Ages, and is already out in the Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese markets. Gametribe is doing an English localization of the game for Europe, and Acclaim is doing the same for North America, changing the name of their version to 2Moons.

While 2Moons is kind of a dumb name (though it does land the title at the top of many game lists, probably not by accident), it's certainly not unheard of for a game to be named differently in a separate region. It's more than just the name that is different in this case though, with Acclaim's adaptation of the Korean MMO having entered open beta in July last year. With David Perry at the helm of the North American version, we're interested to see what else will set it apart from Gametribe's offering.

MassivelyDekaron to enter open beta on April 2nd originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimdavid-perryeuropef2pgametribenorth-americaopen-betaSat, 22 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST