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Elsword celebrates first anniversary with cake

Jef Reahard — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Anniversary

It seems like every other day is an MMO anniversary around these parts. Next on the list is Elsword Online, the free-to-play side-scrolling manga actioner from Kill3rCombo.

"As with any new business venture in North America, we were both apprehensive and hopeful that online gamers would receive Elsword as well as audiences overseas have," says Kill3rCombo CEO Ben Colayco. "Now, as we celebrate Elsword's first anniversary, we are proud that the game continues to grow and has found its niche within the gaming community."

The firm is not only proud but in a giving mood if the in-game anniversary festivities are any indication. Players can enjoy reward-filled anniversary cubes, hit point recovery cake, limited edition coins, play-time bonuses, and increased drop rates. All of this is ongoing through May 8th, so log in now to join the celebration.

[Source: Kill3rCombo press release]

Elsword celebrates first anniversary with cake originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grand Chase: Heroes updates with new player housing

Jef Reahard — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

Want some housing in your side-scrolling action RPG? You can have it courtesy of SG Interactive and its Grand Chase: Heroes title. The game has just been updated with its next act, Finding Refuge, and it includes a playhouse system that serves as a "unique and fully customizable space." It even has a garden for growing your own buffs!

The new patch also features an Easter egg giveaway that will reward players with a fusion egg suit for their favorite characters. Check out the new video after the break for a sneak peek at the new playhouse system.

[Source: SG Interactive press release]

Continue reading Grand Chase: Heroes updates with new player housing

Grand Chase: Heroes updates with new player housing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: Free-to-play MMO versions of your favorite Nintendo games

Beau Hindman — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Races, Casual, Humor, Kids, Free for All, Family, Miscellaneous

I have to be honest -- I wasn't the biggest Nintendo fan. I grew up right as the whole thing was really smashing and keeping kids glued to their TVs, but I generally went outside and played more than stayed inside and played games. (Odd, huh?) Still, I had my fun with certain titles. Contra rocked my boat, along with Kid Icarus and a bit of Mario Brothers. My friends, on the other hand, were full members of the Nintendo nation. They subcribed to the magazine, played the same games for hours and hours, and generally acted as though the fate of the real world hung in the balance as they attacked that last boss monster.

Stylistically, the games have left a mark on the genre. Many of those same titles still sell as well, some of them reaching so many variations that I lost track a long, long time ago. I thought it might be fun to list off some free-to-play MMOs that remind me of those old classics. See what you think, and leave any suggestions in the comments section!

Continue reading Free for All: Free-to-play MMO versions of your favorite Nintendo games

Free for All: Free-to-play MMO versions of your favorite Nintendo games originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

Beau Hindman — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST

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

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

Free for All: The still-satisfying world of action MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Dungeon Fighter Online

Beau Hindman — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Casual, Dungeon Fighter Online, Rise and Shiny, Livestream, Miscellaneous

I'm glad that over the last week I found the time to finally get me some Dungeon Fighter Online by Nexon. I knew that it has quite the following, and I knew that it's supposed to be a blast, sort of like an 8bit Vindictus, but I was still surprised at a few things while I played. The game isn't what I thought it would be in several ways. NPCs have voices and hand out actual quests, the world is more open than I thought it would be, and the graphics feel snappy and fluid despite their primitive nature.

Don't get me wrong -- there is plenty that needs to be tweaked or fixed before the game smells of anything near perfection. Much of it is beyond the ability of the developers, but many of the problems with the game could be fixed relatively easy.

Click past the cut and I'll tell you what I thought during my time fighting in dungeons... online!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Dungeon Fighter Online

Rise and Shiny recap: Dungeon Fighter Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: Elsword reveals new Eve playable character

Jef Reahard — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

Elsword's ancient Nasod queen has awakened, and boy is she pissed. Eve is the side-scrolling manga title's newest playable character, and Massively's got your exclusive first-look video that shows her in action.

According to the clip, Eve is bent on avenging her kingdom's destruction and restoring its former glory. To do so, she relies on player-controlled robotic guardian troops and a couple of seductively titled job classes. Though we don't rightly know what exactly Code Exotic: Mistress of Destruction or Code Architecture: Master of Guardian Nasods means, they sure do sound cool.

We do know that Eve is coming out on November 23rd, so you've got just under a week to go until you're able to unleash her particular brand of melee whoop-ass on Elsword's various mobs. Don't forget to watch the vid after the break.

[Source: Kill3rCombo press release]

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Elsword reveals new Eve playable character

Massively Exclusive: Elsword reveals new Eve playable character originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 dev diary talks in-game events

Jef Reahard — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries

Hello 2-D sidescrolling fans, and welcome to another exclusive Windslayer 2 developer diary. We've partnered with Ignited Games to bring you a series of first looks at the title as it moves through beta and toward its official release. So far we've covered a basic introduction, ranged class mechanics, and PvP.

Today we're shifting gears a bit to focus on in-game events. Ignited is currently focusing on both scripted events and GM-driven events, and both are designed to add a bit of flavor and give players an interesting diversion from everyday gameplay. See what's in store after the break.

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 dev diary talks in-game events

Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 dev diary talks in-game events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WindSlayer 2 enters open beta testing

Matt Daniel — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play

We've had a number of dev diaries from the WindSlayer 2 team in the past month, covering everything from melee classes to ranged combat to the game's economy. Now you can try it all out for yourself. The game has just entered open beta, and to celebrate the occasion, the devs are holding a number of events through which players can rake in all kinds of nifty loot.

If you want to get the full details on what these events entail and to sign up for the game's open beta test, head on over to WindSlayer 2's official site.

[Source: Ignited Games press release]

WindSlayer 2 enters open beta testing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Glitch

Beau Hindman — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

Ah, so we meet at last, Glitch. I have been looking forward to playing this game for a long, long time. Possibly decades. All right, not decades... but there is something familiar about the game, something that feels homey and warm and nice. What is it? Perhaps I will find out soon. Before I get all gushy about the wonderful world of giants, I need to explain why I think it is important for the genre, not just for me.

Glitch is like Minecraft, not in its dynamic or design but in the obvious impact it is having and will more than likely continue having on its particular genre. Actually, it has already had this type of effect on gaming in general, but not quite at the level of Minecraft. Yet.

Click past the cut and I'll gush some more.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Glitch

Rise and Shiny recap: Glitch originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively exclusive: Introducing WindSlayer 2

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, Free-to-play, Browser, Dev Diaries

One of the things we Massively writers love to do is to be the conduit between you and hidden gems in the MMO world. While high-profile games may get all the hubbub, it's just as important to bring to you the scrappy upstarts that are looking to make a name for themselves.

With that in mind, we'd like to introduce you to WindSlayer 2, a 2-D side-scrolling title that keeps the action fast and furious. Ignited Games is understandably excited to show off WindSlayer 2 as it enters closed beta and is prepared to woo you with a series of developer diaries showing off this fun little sequel to WindSlayer.

So gird your loins, hold on to your butts, and hit that jump to see what WindSlayer 2 is all about!

Continue reading Massively exclusive: Introducing WindSlayer 2

Massively exclusive: Introducing WindSlayer 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: Glitch makes you wish you were as cool as it is

Beau Hindman — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Trailers, Launches, New titles, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Humor, MMObility

If you have kept up with my columns for a while, you know what a fan of Glitch I am. I have to admit that I've been terribly angry at the developer, Tiny Speck, for not bringing the game into a final phase yet. I wanted my little Glitch to stay as he was when I logged out; I didn't want to see him wiped over and over again after those pesky tests that help assure quality and playability. So I've been avoiding the testing phase for the most part. Isn't that just a perfect example of how mania drives gamers? We will do anything to avoid playing a favorite upcoming game for fear of becoming attached to our little digital selves or spoiling the fun of discovering new quests.

Well, we'll wait no more! As of today, the game and world is finally open to anyone. That means you get to jump in, nibble pigs, massage butterflies, collect random items you find on the floor, and generally exist in the imagination of a giant.

Sounds cool? It is cool. In fact, I need to explain just how cool it is. Click past the cut!

Continue reading MMObility: Glitch makes you wish you were as cool as it is

MMObility: Glitch makes you wish you were as cool as it is originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rusty Hearts smashes its way into open beta on September 13th

Matt Daniel — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, News items, Free-to-play

Fans of Perfect World Entertainment's side-scrolling beat-'em-up Rusty Hearts are in for a treat. After a leisurely Labor Day weekend, PWE announced in a press release today that the title will launch into open beta on September 13th. Closed beta players will have their last hoorah on September 8 at 5:00 p.m. EST, at which point the game will shut down until it enters open beta on the 13th.

The open beta isn't the same old cow as the closed beta, however. With its open beta launch, Rusty Hearts is also bringing a number of new updates, such as the removal of the universally panned Stamina system and customizable gamepad settings for Rusty Hearts' more console-inclined players. The level cap will also be raised, allowing players to explore a brand new hub world and a number of new dungeons and quests. So sit tight, Rusty Hearts fans. You'll be pounding monsters into a fine paste before you know it.

[Source: Perfect World Entertainment Press Release]

Rusty Hearts smashes its way into open beta on September 13th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Elsword announces new Raven character

Jef Reahard — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

Aside from having one of the cooler names in the MMO space, Elsword Online also has some pretty interesting characters. The manga-flavored brawler added a new face to that roster in today's update, and the dark and deadly Raven joins Rena, Aisha, and the titular Elsword as playable characters ready to adventure their way through Kill3rCombo's side-scrolling opus.

Raven is a human fighter with giant metal claws and considerable skill with a variety of blades, and he brings a "quiet, cold, and distant" vibe to the game's brightly colored canvas. In terms of gameplay, Raven is a fast melee attacking class, and he possesses the ability to dual wield, easily chain combos, and fire off heavy attacks without consuming much MP. He also boasts great evasive skills, and you can learn more about him -- as well as download the game -- on the official Elsword website.

Elsword announces new Raven character originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: Elsword Online community Q&A, part deux

Matt Daniel — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Interviews, News items, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries

KOG Studios, developer of free-to-play hack'n'slash MMO Elsword, has unleashed the second round of an ongoing series of Massively-exclusive community Q&A segments for your enjoyment. A bit of backstory for the uninitiated: Elsword is a popular Korean side-scrolling MMO that saw its North American launch in May. The game puts players in the role of one of three characters as they face off against legions of manga-styled enemies, or against one another.

This second Q&A session covers questions from the Elsword community regarding the hilarious mishaps of localizing the game for North American launch, the team's preferred style of play, and what games the team plays when they're not working (or playing) on Elsword. For the full Q&A, jump on past the cut!

Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Elsword Online community Q&A, part deux

Massively Exclusive: Elsword Online community Q&A, part deux originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Katamari creator to work on Glitch MMO

Jef Reahard — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual

Tiny Speck has just added one of gaming's wunderkind developers to the team working on its Glitch MMO. Keita Takahashi, renowned as the brains behind Katamari Damacy and Noby Noby Boy, left Namco Bandai last year and has been keeping a low profile ever since.

He's also apparently been having serious discussions with Tiny Speck, and founder Steward Butterfield says that Takahashi has a lot in common with the existing creative team. "We shared the same values -- deep beliefs in curiosity, humor, absurdity, and above all a belief in the positive power of play," Butterfield told GamaSutra.

Glitch is a browser-based side-scrolling casual MMO that is currently undergoing beta testing. The game will launch sometime in 2011 according to the its official website.

Katamari creator to work on Glitch MMO originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MapleStory's Chaos updates kicking off with the Age of Heroes

Jef Reahard — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MapleStory, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

It's been a while since we've heard from MapleStory, but today the free-to-play side-scroller from Nexon has taken the wraps off its Chaos summer update plans. The next two months will bring major content updates to Maple World courtesy of the Age of Heroes patch that drops on June 29th. New quests, zones, and a new high-level boss are all on tap, as is a battle through the Henesys Ruins and the Knight Stronghold that Nexon's press release describes as "the most formidable challenge in the entire game."

The Age of Heroes update will also bring about a hero class re-balance, and restrictions for creating Dual Blade, Aran, and Evan classes will be lifted. Explorers, Cygnus, and Resistance classes are also being tweaked, and players will find them "more powerful than ever" due to main skill enhancements.

Later in the summer, the Age of Artisans update will unveil a new level-based crafting system, and the Age of Battle will bring a PvP mode to MapleStory. Head to the official site for all the details.

MapleStory's Chaos updates kicking off with the Age of Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: Elsword Online

Beau Hindman — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Hands-on, Humor, First Impressions

Last time we checked in on Elsword Online, we found a fun, little, over-the-top, side-scrolling, action-based MMO. (That's a mouthful.) It provided a good amount of challenge but was never too hard, and the freeze-frame finishing moves were... well, neat. I've just used a series of words that do not really describe to you how fun the game is, but like most fluffy arcade romps, it really just needs to be experienced.

It was nice to go back and check in on the game after its official release, but I didn't find much difference. Sure, the cash shop is now open (will explain that later), and yes, there are actual players around now, but it's still basically a cute little tear-'em-up that will probably make millions. If you like this kind of game, you'll love Elsword Online.

Click past the cut to read more.

Continue reading First Impressions: Elsword Online

First Impressions: Elsword Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glitch entering beta stage

Jef Reahard — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser

According to a new post on its official website, Glitch is finally entering an official beta phase. What's Glitch? It's a browser-based side-scrolling MMO from Stewart Butterfield and Cal Henderson, better known as the co-founders of Flickr.

Glitch originally began its alpha testing phase a year ago, and Butterfield writes that while the developers didn't anticipate such a lengthy delay prior to the beginning of beta, the time has been well spent. "Hundreds of features have been added -- and nearly as many trimmed or re-thought -- thousands of pictures drawn and animations made, hundreds of thousands of lines of code written, all of it powered by support, feedback, patience, (and impatience!) from our testing community," Butterfield wrote.

He also mentions a substantial infusion of capital as well as the fact that Tiny Speck is hiring, so regardless of the delay, it seems as if the title -- and the company -- is building up a head of steam. Check out the full details at the official website (where you can also sign up to be a tester).

Glitch entering beta stage originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Take a first look at Elsword Online with Massively

Beau Hindman — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Galleries, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Casual

There are quite a few side-scrolling action MMOs on the market today. As time goes along, they seem to get more and more over-the-top. Elsword Online is staying very much in step with this tradition, looking more like a violent cartoon than a video game. Still, we were happy to sit down with developer/publisher Kill3rCombo to smash some baddies.

While there were a few initial technical difficulties and issues that prevented us from participating in PvP, we were able to run through the tutorial area and a few dungeons. If you are familiar with some of the other popular scrollers like Dragonica and games like Grand Chase (a game that was developed by half of Kill3rCombo) then you will be ready for Elsword.

That is, until the combos start. Oh, the combos!

Gallery: Elsword Online

Continue reading Take a first look at Elsword Online with Massively

Take a first look at Elsword Online with Massively originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: GhostX

Beau Hindman — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Casual, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

There are quite a few side-scrolling action MMOs out there these days, so when I decided to take on yet another one, I thought that I might regret it. As soon as I downloaded GhostX and loaded it up, however, I knew I was in for a different experience than anything found in the other side-scrollers I have played in the past.

First of all, GhostX is set in some kind of futuristic setting, complete with nanobots and strange mutant creatures. The look of the game is distinctively Anime, but the good kind. When I think Anime, I think incredibly bad creations like Naruto or Pokemon -- stuff that literally makes me cringe. GhostX is the kind that just looks like a toy, like you could reach through the screen and manipulate the characters and story yourself.

Click past the cut to read more!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: GhostX

Rise and Shiny recap: GhostX originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Dragonica

Beau Hindman — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, Video, Events, in-game, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Casual, Humor, Dragonica Online, Family, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

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

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

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

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Dragonica

Rise and Shiny recap: Dragonica originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 06 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dungeon Fighter Online announces Act VI: Kiss of the Gun

Jef Reahard — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeon Fighter Online

Girls with guns may be a bit of a videogame stereotype at this point, but Nexon America is nonetheless offering up its own version of the archetype in its latest Dungeon Fighter Online update. The side-scrolling action MMO recently added Act VI: Kiss of the Gun to its content repertoire, the primary feature of which is the Female Gunner character class update.

Gunners feature special new awakening skills and equipment for their various subclasses including blade-equipped revolvers, electromagnetic fields, and a Gatling gun-wielding mech warrior. Act VI also offers up a new explorable area called Empyrean, which is under constant attack from a faction of vagrants known as the Kartel.

Finally, Nexon is giving away free holiday-themed items just for logging in. Gifts include double XP potions, skill resets, and in-game currency.

Dungeon Fighter Online announces Act VI: Kiss of the Gun originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexon changes everything about MapleStory in one Big Bang!

Larry Everett — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, MapleStory, Events, in-game, Patches, Free-to-play

When darkness has covered the world, whom do you call? When everything you have seen on Victoria Island has been changed, is there a hero to save it? When the Black Mage unleashes his evil on the unsuspecting innocents, can he ever be defeated? Will the balance of power be shifted back to good? Will you, the greatest hero, stand up against the destruction and chaos?

What are we talking about? Well, it is Nexon's side-scrolling, free-to-play MMO MapleStory, of course. Continuing a five-year tradition of constantly giving players new content, the developers will literally change everything you know about the world of MapleStory this winter in the game's newest story arc, Big Bang. In addition to crafting the new plot, the developers have seen fit to it to better the user interface, game resolution, and graphical textures. On top of that, players should expect a higher experience curve, updated maps, and brand-new character classes.

Begin your new adventure by clicking after the break. We have stolen a glimpse of the exciting upgrades with a video trailer of Big Bang. Maybe you can be the one to save Maple World!

Continue reading Nexon changes everything about MapleStory in one Big Bang!

Nexon changes everything about MapleStory in one Big Bang! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nexon talks about MapleStory's fifth anniversary

Beau Hindman — Wed, 12 May 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: MapleStory, Interviews, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual

Nexon America is proud to announce that their little ~~browser based~~ client-based (Our apologies! ~Sera) game MapleStory of only 6 million North American players turns five years old today! Who would have thought that this cartoonish side-scrolling chop-em-up would attract such a loyal following? Over the years the game has grown from only a few servers to eleven, from starting off with four classes to having fifteen if counting sub-classes, and countless new zones.

Recently the game sported over 70,000 max concurrent users and more than 95 million players world wide. Still, not a single player has yet to defeat Pink Bean, a cute, yet ferocious boss monster. It seems as though there is still a lot to do, see and conquer in this little game that could. We asked the developers ten questions, so jump below to see their answers. Also, check out their Facebook page.

Continue reading Nexon talks about MapleStory's fifth anniversary

Nexon talks about MapleStory's fifth anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 May 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time running out on Dragonica Online promotion

Patrick Mackey — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Contests, News items, Free-to-play, Dragonica Online, Giveaways

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

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

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

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

Gallery: Dragonica Online gallery

Time running out on Dragonica Online promotion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MapleStory introduces Dragon Master Evan

Beau Hindman — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: MapleStory, Classes, Free-to-play, Casual, Kids

Evan is just an ordinary small town farm boy that stumbles upon a magical dragon egg. Little did he know, it would forever change his life. He had suddenly become a dragon master. In Nexon America's leading free-to-play game, MapleStory, you'll be able to play this new class and character.

If you choose to do so, you will be expected to live up to some mighty high expectations, taming a powerful dragon and stopping the Black Mage in his quest to destroy the world. If you want to experience Dragon Master Evan and see what else is new in MapleStory, visit the official website. It's free, fun and can run on older machines so go check it out today. And if Facebook is more your thing, become a fan.

MapleStory introduces Dragon Master Evan originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragonica Online puts their money where their MMO is in a Side-Scroller Showdown

Krystalle Voecks — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, News items, Free-to-play, Dragonica Online

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

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

Continue reading Dragonica Online puts their money where their MMO is in a Side-Scroller Showdown

Dragonica Online puts their money where their MMO is in a Side-Scroller Showdown originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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THQ*ICE's Dragonica Online to enter open beta on August 18th

William Dobson — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, News items, Dragonica Online

THQ*ICE's version of Dragonica Online is all set to transition into its open beta phase of testing next week, on the 18th of August. There's always been a bit of confusion regarding the different versions of this game and their various states of readiness, so we'll be very careful about explaining which one this is: THQ*ICE is responsible for the North American iteration of Dragonica Online. The three English versions have each been attempting to lock down users that try to connect to the wrong service by way of IP blocks. An easy way to see which one you should be registering for is to check the game's Wikipedia entry, which lists all of its publishers worldwide. Also, the NA version is the only one with "Online" in the name.

Phew! With that red tape out of the way we can return to your scheduled programming. Those interested in joining the open beta should head to the Open Beta Countdown page and sign up. The test officially kicks off at 2PM Pacific on Tuesday -- if you're too filled with Dragonica excitement to wait that long, then consider entering the "Craft a Dragonica Online T-Shirt" contest. The winning shirt will be made official, and the contest page promises a surprise for the creator: "The winning entrant will be immortalized in Dragonica Online history. Although we can't mention more on this at the moment, it's safe to say you won't soon forget winning!"

THQ*ICE's Dragonica Online to enter open beta on August 18th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WonderKing Online closed beta kicks off Thursday, July 16

James Egan — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, Free-to-play, Casual, WonderKing

WonderKing Online is a new 2-D sidescrolling MMORPG from NDOORS Interactive that may prove to be a hit with gamers who enjoy titles like MapleStory. We've taken a look at WonderKing in recent weeks, in fact we've given away a ton of beta keys to our readers as well. While there are some similarities between WonderKing and MapleStory, both are free-to-play side scrolling games after all, the NDOORS title seems a bit more aggressive.

This was confirmed in our interview with the game's developers who told us they're working to implement large scale PvP battles (Castle Battles), where guilds will fight it out to control castles and all that come with them, such as exclusive items and dungeons. That may not be in the cards for WonderKing quite yet, but all those readers we gave beta codes to will find out soon enough -- the WonderKing closed beta kicks off tomorrow, July 16th. For those of you that got in, we hope you have a good time in there.

WonderKing Online closed beta kicks off Thursday, July 16 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragonica's closed beta test isn't closed anymore

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, New titles, Free-to-play, Dragonica Online

Europe's cute side-scrolling MMO isn't hiding behind a closed beta test anymore! Now the entire Dragonica fanbase can jump into the game with no beta key required as the game moves into stress testing until May 22nd, the original scheduled end of the beta test.

To go along with the influx of community members, the game's GMs have announced that they will be hosting PvP rooms on the 19th and the 20th so they can "meet" more members of the community. Why shake hands when a lightning bolt would do instead, right?

All that's now required for the Dragonica beta test is simply an account with gPotato, the overseeing game portal that is hosting Dragonica. Once you've acquired one of those, you can hop in to download the game without any difficult barriers blocking your way.

Dragonica's official release is still planned for June 2009, and it looks like they're certainly going to meet their deadline with this quick shift into the next phase of beta.

Dragonica's closed beta test isn't closed anymore originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NDOORS list the key features of new MMO WonderKing

William Dobson — Thu, 14 May 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, News items, WonderKing

NDOORS Interactive, the folks behind Atlantica Online and Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu, have chimed in with some details on their next free-to-play MMO WonderKing. They obtained the rights to bring the game to North America last year, and since we're hearing from them now, things must be on track for the intended release window of the second half of 2009. Here's a brief rundown of what WonderKing entails, from Peter Kang, CEO of NDOORS: "WonderKing is a 2D, side-scrolling MMORPG that takes players on an adventurous journey with story-by-story quests, much like a fantasy novel. Along the way, players will travel from beautiful beaches to murky marshlands and frigid snowfields as they battle to save the world."

Kang also made mention of some specific game features, to highlight the fact that 2D does not necessarily mean a lack of gameplay depth. These features include a class-change system, "Castle Battles" that involve siege warfare PvP, mounts and vehicles, pets, private housing, and crafting. NDOORS confirmed that a beta is scheduled for this summer.

NDOORS list the key features of new MMO WonderKing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Outspark announces closed beta for Wind Slayer 2D MMO

Shawn Schuster — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, Free-to-play

Wind Slayer, not to be confused with the sexy Champions Online villain Mind Slayer, was first announced late last year from the MMO's publisher Outspark. It is described as "a 2D side-scrolling MMO that features six classes, character customization and player-versus-player modes." Did we mention it's free?

Now, the closed beta for Wind Slayer has been announced for January 7th through January 14th. This short closed beta will be used for player feedback before the open beta begins in February, and an official launch is slated for later this year. Check out their website for more details on entering the closed or open beta.

Outspark announces closed beta for Wind Slayer 2D MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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