Massively

Leaderboard: Do you play around with game development tools?

Jef Reahard — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, Leaderboard

For some reason that I can't quite fathom, I now have the Unreal Development Kit installed on my computer. I'm certainly no developer, nor would I make much of a designer I'm afraid, but something nonetheless compelled me to download the toolset and muck about with its documentation and various tutorials. Call it curiosity, or boredom, or whatever you like, really, but there it is.

What about you, Massively readers? Do you play around with game development tools (assuming that you're not really a developer), or does your obsession only extend to finished games? Let us know after the cut.

Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Do you play around with game development tools?

Leaderboard: Do you play around with game development tools? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Nov 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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APB Reloaded survives GTA V, engine upgrade coming

Jef Reahard — Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Real-Life, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, All Points Bulletin, Dev Diaries

Did Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online impact APB Reloaded? Well, of course. Rockstar's juggernaut affected the entire industry via its total sales and its mind-boggling ascent to the top of the all-time 24-hour sales chart. And that's "all-time" as in the history of all entertainment. Ever.

Anyway, APB Reloaded. There's a new blog post on the game's official site that addresses the GTA impact as well as the addition of community management veteran Diane "Tiggs" Migliaccio to the team.

Reloaded's Bjorn Book-Larsson also mentions the firm's plans for an APB engine upgrade. The game currently uses Unreal 3, which is basically the same engine that powered the 2008 edition of Epic's Unreal Tournament 3. Book-Larsson says that a "massive engine upgrade" has been in the works since July 2013 that will ultimately move APB to the same version of the Unreal engine that powers Epic's Gears of Wars 3.

APB Reloaded survives GTA V, engine upgrade coming originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Oct 2013 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Bless clip shows off boss transformation

Mike Foster — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New Titles, News Items, MMORPG

Bless is shaping up to be quite a pretty game, and developer Neowiz is intent on showing off what harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 3 truly means for a fantasy-based MMO. This latest trailer focuses on the transformation of a giant wolf boss into an uglier giant wolf boss, and while short, it offers a glimpse of what players can expect in terms of Bless's bad guy design.

Check out the video after the break, and take a look at our interview with lead producer Jacob Han for more information on the future of Bless.

Continue reading New Bless clip shows off boss transformation

New Bless clip shows off boss transformation originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neowiz releases new Bless intro trailer

MJ Guthrie — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items

Unlike the most recent video releases showing off combat or the beauty of the world, the newest Bless trailer does not offer any gameplay footage. Instead, Neowiz released an official introduction trailer in HD to give a hint of the story. Unfortunately for those who do not speak Korean, the clip doesn't include any English subtitles, but the HD images can be enjoyed in any language.

The upcoming Korean MMO features 10 different races and eight classes, and will be powered by the Unreal 3 engine. You can watch the trailer after the break.

Continue reading Neowiz releases new Bless intro trailer

Neowiz releases new Bless intro trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Here's another impressive Bless trailer, this time with a huge world boss

Jef Reahard — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Events (Real-World), Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items

Another day, another new Bless trailer from G-Star 2012. This time around it's a two-and-a-half-minute clip that's heavy on action, combat, and the game's stunning fantasy visuals. Steparu reports that in spite of all the eye candy, the trailer is composed entirely of in-game footage.

Said footage includes a range of AI mobs and powerful player avatars as well as a slew of varied environments and a truly massive world boss. See for yourself after the break.

Continue reading Here's another impressive Bless trailer, this time with a huge world boss

Here's another impressive Bless trailer, this time with a huge world boss originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 07 Nov 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Bless trailer, gameplay video boast impressive world design

Jef Reahard — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items

A few days ago we brought you word of the latest teaser for Bless. As the saying goes, you ain't seen nothing yet. Neowiz has released a much longer trailer for G-Star 2012, and it takes viewers on a spell-binding tour of the game's Unreal-powered open world.

Steparu has also published a seven-minute gameplay video that shows off character creation, combat, and more. This last clip is of the point-a-camera-at-the-screen-and-press-record variety, but Bless' visuals and world design are no less impressive. See for yourself after the break.

Continue reading New Bless trailer, gameplay video boast impressive world design

New Bless trailer, gameplay video boast impressive world design originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Firing Line: 16th century fragging edition

Jef Reahard — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Dev Diaries, The Firing Line

What do War Thunder, World of Warplanes, Leonardo da Vinci, and Tribes: Ascend have in common? Not a whole lot aside from their respective appearances in this week's edition of The Firing Line.

Won't you join me after the cut for a rundown on some recent and notable online shooter news? If you're feeling particularly ornery, you can point and laugh at the fact that I'm still not in the War Thunder beta.

Continue reading The Firing Line: 16th century fragging edition

The Firing Line: 16th century fragging edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Neowiz partners with Epic Games Korea for new Unreal 3 MMORPG

Jef Reahard — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items

There's a new fantasy MMO in town, and it goes by the name of Bless (for now, at least). And actually, when we say "in town," we mean in Korea, where Neowiz has partnered with Epic Games Korea to develop the former's first Unreal 3-powered MMORPG.

MMODen has the press release as well as the game's first trailer, and Bless features Eastern MMO staples like skimpy armor, feline anthropomorphs, and slick violence doled out with rather impressive weaponry. There's virtually no information on actual gameplay save that the title will feature 10 races, but we'll keep our eyes peeled and bring you the latest info as it develops.

Prior to Bless, Neowiz was best known for its Cross Fire and Alliance of Valiant Arms MMO shooters, and the new title boasts 150 dedicated developers who've been working on the project since 2009. Check out the trailer after the break.

Continue reading Neowiz partners with Epic Games Korea for new Unreal 3 MMORPG

Neowiz partners with Epic Games Korea for new Unreal 3 MMORPG originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond meets fundraising goals, updates FAQ

Jef Reahard — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST

Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond has taken several small steps over the course of its short lifetime, but can it make one giant leap to a full-fledged release product? It's off to a decent start, judging by its Kickstarter fundraising tally.

The devs have issued a press release proclaiming the success story and are drafting a FAQ document designed to get more information out there to potential investors (and eventually, players). The latest version of the FAQ is viewable on the official website, and we've included a few highlights for you here:

The game is a follow-up to Moonbase Alpha (released in 2010)
Project Whitecard and Wisdom Tools are the developers per a "Space Act Agreement" with NASA
The target audience will be the 5-24 age and the gaming and science enthusiast markets
The game will be available for iOS and Windows PC; other platforms are being considered
Unreal Engine 3 is being used to develop the game
A beta is planned for December 2012

Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond meets fundraising goals, updates FAQ originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Astronaut MMO may finally launch (pun intended)

Larry Everett — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, New Titles, Starlite

Just when Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond was about to be written off as vaporware, NASA has popped back on the scene to announce some commercial backing for the project from developers Project Whitecard, Wisdom Tools, and Virtual Heroes.

According to the first announcement over two years ago, the MMO aims for a demographic of players age 5 to 24, setting them up as astronauts who are training to explore deep into Earth's star system in the year 2035. Imagine Space Camp... but actually in space.

To assist in funding the project, the developers of the upcoming MMO have created a Kickstarter page that includes a four-minute video explaining what the game is about. CEO for Wisdom Tools Dr. Sonny Kirkley explains in the video that the game is meant to be fun, but at the same time the designers "want the learning to be authentic." To that end, NASA has granted the developers full access to the rich history of the space program so that a true sense of realism can be achieved.

The game has been developed with the Unreal Engine 3 to work on PC, iPad, and some yet-to-be-announced consoles. Look for the beta testing to start in December of 2012, and watch the full Kickstarter video after the break.

Continue reading Astronaut MMO may finally launch (pun intended)

Astronaut MMO may finally launch (pun intended) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EVE video corner: "Future Proof"

Brendan Drain — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, EVE Online, Lore, PvP

There's no doubt about it that EVE Online can produce some stunning visuals and incredible stories. New Eden has been the setting for countless creative works, some featuring real gameplay and events and others pushing the limits of the prime fiction. Every so often, I come across a video so mind-blowing that it has to be shared. Last night CrazyKinux's Musing pointed me toward an awesome new EVE video that's been seven months in the making.

Produced by Kale Ryoko, "Future Proof" tells the tale of a Caldari militia fleet on a combat mission for the state. Headed up by support commander Firefox of the Chimera "Overlord", the fleet must do all it takes to push through to their objective. Assisting with this twelve minute masterpiece is Veto corporation's Kyoko Sadako, the mastermind behind such incredible videos as "War Has Come" and "The Angel Cartel (Push Eject)". Made using some of EVE's art assets and the Unreal 3 Engine, Future Proof is a video that simply must be seen.

Skip past the cut to watch both parts of the video in HD. The original version is available for download at the video's official page on the EVE forums.

Continue reading EVE video corner: "Future Proof"

EVE video corner: "Future Proof" originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CCP: Unreal Engine 3 will power Dust 514

Jef Reahard — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, MMOFPS, DUST 514

EVE Online developer CCP Games has announced a partnership with Epic Games China that will bring Unreal Engine 3 technology to their forthcoming console MMOFPS known as Dust 514. Set in the same universe as their successful PC MMORPG, Dust 514 is a console-only title that will enable players to interact with EVE pilots as they battle for control of New Eden's resource-rich planets.

"The dynamic large-scale battlefields of DUST 514 presented an interesting challenge for us," said Hilmar Petursson, CEO of CCP. "We determined Unreal Engine 3 to be the perfect solution because its tremendous flexibility allows us to easily integrate new technology and produce stunning results."

Hit the link for the full press release.

[Thanks Amethyst Lynx!]

CCP: Unreal Engine 3 will power Dust 514 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anti-Aliased: Blade & Soul > Aion

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, New Titles, Opinion, Anti-Aliased, Blade & Soul

All right, now that the inflammatory title that makes you look at my column is out of the way, let's get down to business. This week we got to see a 30-second teaser trailer from the folks at NCsoft about Blade & Soul, a game from NCsoft that has been stealthing in the background, waiting for the right time to strike and jump in front of Aion.

Blade & Soul isn't a brand new game though. In fact, the game's artwork has already made a guest a ppearance on our website. (With subsequent comments on how that woman's back is going to break in half if she should walk forward.) Plus, if you really want to see what the game has to offer, a quick YouTube search will bring you to the Blade & Soul HD gameplay video which looks, well, simply stunning.

So why am I dedicating my opinion column to a game that's nowhere close to being released? Well, because I think it has potential, and because it's my opinion column. So come along after the break, and let's look at Blade & Soul.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Blade & Soul > Aion

Anti-Aliased: Blade & Soul > Aion originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX 2009: Massively's first look at gameplay in All Points Bulletin part 2

Kyle Horner — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: New Titles, News Items, All Points Bulletin, Events (Massively's Coverage)

Continue reading PAX 2009: Massively's first look at gameplay in All Points Bulletin part 2

PAX 2009: Massively's first look at gameplay in All Points Bulletin part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huxley: The Dystopia gets new teaser site with countdown

James Egan — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Huxley, MMO Industry, New Titles

Huxley: The Dystopia is one of the new breed of games about to hit the massively multiplayer online world -- a hybrid first person shooter and sci-fi MMO, built on Unreal Engine 3. Massively took a good look at Huxley at GDC 2009, which we (naturally) feel is a solid starting point to catch up with what this game is shaping up to be, given its long hiatus between the early announcements and its re-appearance in the games journalism sphere.

So what will come of this splicing of FPS and MMO? We're not sure how well-received titles like Huxley: The Dystopia and Global Agenda will be, but it'll certainly be interesting to see what these games will add to our online gameplay options. In the meantime, Huxley: The Dystopia has launched a teaser web site with a countdown clock showing just under 30 days. We don't believe this is an actual launch countdown, but it's expected that more game info will be revealed at that time. If you're devouring everything you can about this particular game, you'll want to have a look at the Huxley teaser site and its front page video showing off more of the game.

[Via IGN]

Huxley: The Dystopia gets new teaser site with countdown originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First look at NASA's Unreal Engine 3 MMO

Kyle Horner — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real-Life, New Titles, Previews, News Items

Big Download took a look (one of the very first, in fact) at the Unreal Engine 3 powered NASA MMO. They came out the the experience with two pages of information. Some of the more interesting facts are that the game is actually set in the year 2035, and is designed to spark a fire of infatuation with space and NASA in those who play it -- similar to what America's Army was all about.

So head on over and take a look, if getting your virtual space walk on (trainable at level 40, we hear) is something you'd be more than happy to participate in. Don't say we didn't warn you about those urine packs, though.

Gallery: Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond

First look at NASA's Unreal Engine 3 MMO originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Agenda Q&A explains Hi-Rez Studios approach to sci-fi MMO

James Egan — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Interviews, New Titles, Global Agenda

More opportunities for sci-fi MMO gaming will present themselves in the coming years, and we've been taking a closer look at these in-development titles. One such game that we've written about is Global Agenda, an MMO that uses Unreal Engine 3, which its developer Hi-Rez Studios describes as a futuristic "spy-fi world of advanced technology and player-driven conflict."

MMORPG.com recently ran a Q&A with Todd Harris, Executive Producer for Global Agenda: "Top Three Questions about Global Agenda... Answered!" The developer journal addresses the fact that Global Agenda is more about tactics than twitch. Despite being a (third person) shooter, the game has RPG elements. Harris writes, "... your character actions and contributions affect the outcome of a single mission (like an FPS), your character career (like and RPG), and your agency's long-term Campaign goals (like a strategy game.)"

Continue reading Global Agenda Q&A explains Hi-Rez Studios approach to sci-fi MMO

Global Agenda Q&A explains Hi-Rez Studios approach to sci-fi MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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38 Studios to use NaturalMotion's Morpheme engine

Samuel Axon — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items

38 Studios, the star-studded development studio working on a mysterious MMO codenamed Copernicus, has announced that it will use an animation engine called Morpheme. Morpheme has also been used in EVE Online and Heavenly Sword. Its creator is a company called NaturalMotion, which also created the related and acclaimed Euphoria engine used in Grand Theft Auto IV and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Jon Laff, 38 Studios' chief technology officer, was quoted in the press release saying, "Morpheme allows us to create very high-quality character animations quickly, cutting down on a lot of intensive animation design and implementation time." Uh, good! Wouldn't want you to pick middleware that slows you down instead!

So for those who are keeping track: Copernicus now uses BigWorld, Unreal Engine 3, and Morpheme. It's got the trifecta!

38 Studios to use NaturalMotion's Morpheme engine originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively visits Stargate Worlds: The interview, part 3

Samuel Axon — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Interviews, New Titles, Stargate Worlds

In part three of our interview with Cheyenne Mountain's studio head Dan Elggren, creative director Chris Klug, art director Howard Lyon, VP of technology Demetrius Comes, and senior marketing manager Kevin Balentine, we discuss endgame content and go into great detail about the graphics and combat.

Continue reading Massively visits Stargate Worlds: The interview, part 3

Massively visits Stargate Worlds: The interview, part 3 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Impressive Huxley cinematic trailer surfaces

Samuel Axon — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Trailers, Video, Huxley, New Titles, News Items

German website PCGames.de is hosting a new trailer (and several screenshots from said trailer) for Webzen's massively multiplayer online first person shooter (what a mouthful) Huxley. If you've not heard of the game, all you need to know is that it runs on Unreal Engine 3, is developed in Korea, and features large-scale, instanced PvP battles.

The trailer doesn't show any gameplay footage (but past ones have). It just shows a really well-orchestrated cinematic sequence. It looks very Unreal or Gears of War. Unfortunately, all the dialogue is in Korean, so we have no idea whether or not it reveals any interesting story elements.

Note that a giant worm-like monster makes an appearance at the end. That might imply that players won't just be fighting each other. Huxley recently found a Western publisher, so we're looking forward to seeing for ourselves.

[Via Blues News]

Impressive Huxley cinematic trailer surfaces originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey, look, another Korean developer licenses Unreal Engine 3

Samuel Axon — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items

Epic Games is apparently doing a good job selling and supporting its Unreal Engine 3 in the Korean market. Yet another developer has licensed the engine for an MMO project. This time it's T-Entertainment, which is working on a "space opera" MMO called L2. Wow, that sounds like the name of another Korean MMO!

Welcome to the club, T-Entertainment! Meet AcroGames and Bluehole; they're also Korean developers using Unreal Engine 3. Oh, and of course you know about Webzen's Huxley, which is built on Unreal Engine 3. Yes, also Korean. Let's not forget the illustrious NCsoft, which already used the previous version of Unreal for Lineage II, and plans to use version 3 for not one but two new projects.

There was an interview with Epic Games' Mark Rein at Gamasutra several months back. He said that Epic is working hard to propagate Unreal Engine 3 in Korea, but described serious challenges -- particularly with customer support. It looks like Epic is finding ways to deal with those challenges after all.

[Via Worlds in Motion]

Hey, look, another Korean developer licenses Unreal Engine 3 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vogster Entertainment introduces CrimeCraft

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: New Titles, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

CrimeCraft, a "gritty, crime drama MMO", has just been announced by Vogster Entertainment for your enjoyment. Hopefully no company will have an objection to the name.

Vogster has yet to release in-depth information for the game, but their website points to a third-person shooter MMO that pushes cooperation via a fleshed out economy and territory control. They've already licensed out the Unreal Engine for the game, so we can expect some fun with physics and a polished graphics system.

Vogster has announced that CrimeCraft will include five classes and feature an advanced character customization system, as well as allow players to evolve their characters through special fighting skills. Gangs will be able to claim control of territory and defend their holds from rival gangs, all while running from the police.

Right now though, the game looks to be a version of All Points Bulletin except minus the police and with alot more dystopia. The game is set in a city where crime controls the streets and the cops can do little more than shrug and bunker down in specially sectioned off areas. Sounds to this blogger like someone needs to call out the tanks.

We'll be following CrimeCraft and giving you more information as it's released. Until then, enjoy their teaser site.

[Via TenTonHammer]

Vogster Entertainment introduces CrimeCraft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bluehole joins vast ranks of Unreal-using devs

Samuel Axon — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items

A new Korean development studio called Bluehole announced this week that it has licensed Epic's Unreal Engine 3 for its "flagship" MMO project, which is codenamed Project S1. The studio just started up last year, and is composed of "key members from some of the leading development and management teams in Korea." Specific, that!

Project S1 is being developed for the PC, and according to a statement by Epic's Jay Wilbur, its team has "plans to reinvent MMO design and battle system mechanics." Sounds promising, but it's awfully soon to tell. We're looking forward to hearing more about this project in the months to come.

Bluehole joins fellow Koreans NCsoft and Webzen, along with seemingly countless other studios like Cheyenne Mountain and 38 Studios in using the prolific and popular Unreal engine.

Bluehole joins vast ranks of Unreal-using devs originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Getting technical with a Stargate

Eli Shayotovich — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, New Titles, Stargate Worlds, Virtual Worlds

Stargate Worlds' Technology Director, Demetrius Comes, recently got technobabbley about what goes on behind the curtain of their upcoming sci-fi epic.

SGW uses Epic's Unreal 3 engine under the hood for the graphical shock and awe. Big World technologies powers the servers, but did you know that neither engine is exactly what they needed? As Comes put it, they rolled their own glue to get the two engines to work together. But there's a third component - a powerful content creation tool - they call "SpecSuite." It's used to create spawns, enter the data for the AI, create items, mobs, loot tables, etc.

Continue reading Getting technical with a Stargate

Getting technical with a Stargate originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft revs up the Unreal Engine

Eli Shayotovich — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business Models, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Virtual Worlds

NCsoft, makers of a hoary host of very popular MMOs (City of Heroes, City of Villains, the Lineage series, Tabula Rasa, Guild Wars, the as yet unreleased Aion) just announced that they've picked up the keys to Epic Games' Unreal Engine 3. NCsoft and Epic already have a relationship as both Lineage II and Exteel use tweaked versions of Unreal Engine 2.

So what does the MMO juggernaut plan on using the latest and great Unreal Engine for? How about "two unannounced, top-tier massively multiplayer online games." Hey now!

Stay tuned to Massively as we try to ferret out what these two unannounced MMOs are all about.

NCsoft revs up the Unreal Engine originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get your stealth on with Global Agenda

Akela Talamasca — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Sci-Fi, Video, Game Mechanics, New Titles, PvP, Spy

Or, maybe not. Global Agenda is an upcoming title by Hi-Rez Studios that calls itself 'spy-fi'; puzzle that one out, go ahead, we'll wait. Purportedly espousing a game system of tactical espionage, the gameplay video available seems more like Halo than Splinter Cell. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Using the Unreal Engine 3, everything looks nice and moves smoothly. Other features of the game include racing for advanced technology before other players receive it; capturing and holding strategic locations; and special tech like stealth suits, holographic disguises, and remote control robots. This shows promise, and we'll keep our ear to the ground -- or at least, our sonic wavelength remote analyzer.

Get your stealth on with Global Agenda originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Huxley breaks radio silence

Samuel Axon — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-Fi, Huxley, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, MMOFPS

As we noted when we named PlanetSide our #3 Sci-Fi MMO to date, it's good to see the "MMO" try on some new (i.e., non-RPG) clothes now and again. That's why we've been keeping a close eye on Webzen's MMOFPS Huxley. Updates on Huxley have been coming in a trickle in recent months. Videos have been released now and again, and we knew it was in closed beta, but Webzen hasn't said much to the public lately. Good news: the silence was broken by an article at IGN the other day!

The basic info is all there: two persistent cities supporting up to 5,000 players in a post-apocalyptic Earth setting, instanced battles with hundreds of players, and differences between the PC and XBox 360 versions of the game. There are also several new screenshots and videos. The game looks a lot like Unreal Tournament 3. Not a surprise, since it's a first-person-shooter running on Unreal Engine 3.

According to the article, the PC version of Huxley will launch States-side before year's end, with the 360 version following about six months later.

[Via XBox 360 Fanboy]

Huxley breaks radio silence originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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38 Studios goes Unreal

Eli Shayotovich — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items

Gamasutra is reporting that 38 Studios has decided to go with the Epic's Unreal Engine 3 to power their upcoming MMO (codenamed "Copernicus"). A few weeks ago 38 Studios picked BigWorld's technology suite for the back-end of things, so it's no surprise that they would grab the best graphic engine currently available. Whatever MMO "Copernicus" turns out to be (most recent game description says: "an original IP made up of fantastical elements, settings, characters, creatures, rules, and experiences") should at least look really, really good.

38 Studios goes Unreal originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AcroGames using Unreal Engine in new online game

Samuel Axon — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO Industry, News Items

AcroGames, an upstart Korean game development company, has licensed Epic's Unreal Engine 3 for a new game. Epic told Gamasutra that the new game is an online title for the PC. There are lots of different kinds of online titles, but AcroGames is partly comprised of former Lineage II team members, so it's a good, educated guess to suggest that the new title is an MMO. Also, Lineage II was developed using the previous Unreal Engine iteration.

Epic VP Jay Wilbur was quoted in Gamasutra, saying: "AcroGames is a promising team comprised of top talent and we look forward to working with them. We are committed to supporting the Asian game market with best of breed development tools, and our agreement with AcroGames marks a significant achievement in this effort."

In an interview published just yesterday, Epic's Mark Rein described the language-barrier-related challenges Epic is having with supporting its engine in non-English speaking countries (specifically Japan, in that article). One wonders if they'll run into the same troubles when working with a Korean studio.

AcroGames using Unreal Engine in new online game originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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