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Blade & Soul on track to launch in Korea this July

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 15 May 2012 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, MMO industry, Free-to-play, Blade & Soul

If all goes well, NCsoft's Blade & Soul will be making its public debut in July. That's the good news; the bad news is that the launch will be confined to Korea for the time being.

The company recently announced in an earnings call that the title is on track to go into open beta testing by June and then launch this July. There's some hope at NCsoft that the release of Diablo III will grow the potential gamer audience in the country, an audience that could be attracted to Blade & Soul come this summer.

Currently the game is in closed beta, with the next round of testing commencing on May 22nd. ThisIsGame reports that Blade & Soul has stirred up controversy with testers due to a vitality system that limits how fast a player can advance his or her character.

Blade & Soul on track to launch in Korea this July originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 May 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Blade & Soul videos show Summoner gameplay, qinggong abilities

Jef Reahard — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul

Looking for some more Summoner gameplay after that pet reveal last weekend? Korean MMO website ThisIsGame has you covered with a new Blade & Soul preview video. We get to see three minutes of combat footage, including plenty of killer kitty-cats and spell-casting action. The video quality isn't the greatest, but it's definitely interesting to see the Summoner in action for an extended period.

NCsoft has also released a new one-minute qinggong trailer. The clip shows several Blade & Soul avatars in all their wall-running, high-flying, gravity-defying glory (and this time it's a high-quality embed). Check out both videos after the break.

[Thanks to Tym for the tip!]

Continue reading New Blade & Soul videos show Summoner gameplay, qinggong abilities

New Blade & Soul videos show Summoner gameplay, qinggong abilities originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Watch 17 minutes of unadulterated Blade & Soul PvP footage

Justin Olivetti — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Events, real-world, PvP, Free-to-play, Blade & Soul

There's nothing that South Korean gamers love more than hot-blooded PvP, which is why they went bananas to see NCsoft's Blade & Soul's player-vs.-player combat live at the recent Soul Party 2.

In two filmed videos by ThisIsGame.com, testers give the game's intense, kinetic action a workout during a 20v20 PvP match. The characters' full range of motion is on display in these clips, as are their various methods of impaling, soul-sucking, and fireballing opponents.

Blade & Soul recently announced its adorable Summoner class, which will be playable when the game heads into its third closed beta test on May 9th. And yes, you have our full permission to stay up past your bedtime to watch the following PvP bout.

Continue reading Watch 17 minutes of unadulterated Blade & Soul PvP footage

Watch 17 minutes of unadulterated Blade & Soul PvP footage originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Blade & Soul trailer shows off Summoner pets

Jef Reahard — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul

NCsoft has released a new trailer for Blade & Soul's Summoner class. As you might expect, the Summoner is a pet-handling heroine who relies on her animal companions for much of her utility. What you may not have expected is the form those animals will take.

Prior to this particular trailer, Blade & Soul has gone with a fairly serious high-fantasy approach to its world and character design. Thanks to the Summoner pets, the cuteness factor has gone through the roof. Don't take our word for it, though. Head past the cut and see for yourself.

[Thanks to Blade&Soul Fan for the tip!]

Continue reading New Blade & Soul trailer shows off Summoner pets

New Blade & Soul trailer shows off Summoner pets originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade & Soul nearing commercial release, adding Summoner class

Jef Reahard — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Blade & Soul

NCsoft is loath to talk about its Blade & Soul martial arts MMORPG here in the West, so we have to rely on third-party fansites and Chinese/Korean translations for most of our info. The latest such comes courtesy of MMO Culture, and it features an interview from a recent Tencent Games media event with a couple of newsworthy notables.

First up is the fact that upcoming Korean and Chinese Blade & Soul beta phases will feature the new Summoner class. Not much is known in terms of class specifics yet, but the site says that it boasts an "easier" and "more relaxed" playstyle than other classes.

The interview also touches on Blade & Soul's business model and its impending release. Despite the fact that NCsoft titles like Aion and Lineage II have recently committed to free-to-play in North America, the firm isn't talking about any particular Blade & Soul payment model just yet. Finally, MMO Culture reports that Blade & Soul "is currently near the end of the development phase for commercial release," and given the lack of info on a Western client, we expect said release to be exclusive to the Chinese and Korean markets for now.

Blade & Soul nearing commercial release, adding Summoner class originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Guild Wars 2 console version confirmed

Jef Reahard — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:45:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play, Consoles, Blade & Soul

Guild Wars Insider has the scoop on the confirmation of a Guild Wars 2 console version at some point after the game's PC client goes live. The source is an NCsoft earnings call, during which a couple of console-specific statements were made.

The call also mentions beta testing for the upcoming fantasy game. "In March and April there will be large-scale testing for GW2; depending on results of testing a finalized commercialization schedule will be determined. [The] console version will be launched separately from [the] PC [version] at a later date," the fan site reports.

NCsoft also says it will be considering "seasonality factors" when determining "final commercialization" for both Guild Wars 2 and Blade & Soul. Head to Guild Wars Insider for more, including audio of the call.

Guild Wars 2 console version confirmed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part one)

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Age of Conan, Darkfall, Final Fantasy XI, Pirates of the Burning Sea, Wurm Online, RuneScape, Humor, Mabinogi, Wizard101, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Blade & Soul, Perfect Ten

As I've well established both here on Massively and elsewhere, I'm somewhat of a nut for video game music. Whereas others might collect vintage hair metal tracks or the latest Justin Bieber opus, I'm always digging through obscure (and not-so-obscure) official soundtracks to games like Wipeout and Kirby. Video game scores can be right up there with the best that the film industry puts out, and the fact that they tie into personal experiences that we've played through can lend them sentimental weight.

So for the next two Perfect Tens, I scoured all the MMO theme songs that I could get ahold of in an attempt to formulate a list of the very best. It was originally slated to be just one list, but after an hour or so of listening to tracks and having friends and fellow staffers weigh in on the subject, I knew it was impossible to keep it there.

Two important things to note for this list. First, I wanted to keep to just the title/login screen tracks so that I wouldn't be working on this for the next 2.5 years. Second, unlike most past Perfect Tens where there's no significance to the order of the list, in this case we're going to have a genuine countdown to the best MMO theme song of all time. And I expect to take no flak about it, do you hear me? Good. Let's begin.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part one)

The Perfect Ten: Best MMO theme songs (part one) originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade & Soul's Dragon Forest zone showcased in 35-minute video

Jef Reahard — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul

More Blade & Soul closed beta info is making its way around the web, and the latest bit of interesting comes courtesy of a lengthy zone preview video posted by the folks at Blade & Soul Dojo.

The whopping 35-minute clip takes viewers on a journey through the game's Dragon Forest zone from the recent Korean closed beta phases. The zone provides content through level 20 and features a remarkably diverse set of environments despite the fact that its name conjures images of your typical fantasy wood.

There is quite a bit of forest footage, of course, but there are also long stretches of pristine beach set off by towering cliffs, not to mention quaint fishing villages, spectacular waterfalls, and an archetypal dojo complete with dragon-adorned columns and various acolytes. The video is blessedly free of the modern rock soundtracks that typically accompany fan-made uploads; instead, it features snippets of Blade & Soul's original orchestral soundtrack. Feast your eyes (and ears) after the cut.

Continue reading Blade & Soul's Dragon Forest zone showcased in 35-minute video

Blade & Soul's Dragon Forest zone showcased in 35-minute video originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade & Soul closed beta phase reviewed

Jef Reahard — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul

If you weren't fortunate enough to get into Blade & Soul's recently concluded Korean closed beta event, Steparu has the next best thing in the form of a lengthy review supplemented by several hi-definition gameplay videos.

While it's worth noting that some of this information may change prior to release -- to say nothing of the differences between the Korean client and what we're assuming will be a localized Western version -- there's still lots of interesting info to digest. There's the good (visuals, combat), and the not-so-good (linear exploration and lots of zoning), and the review is one of the more comprehensive hands-on pieces covering NCsoft's upcoming martial arts MMO. Head past the cut for a couple of videos and then click over to Steparu to read the author's impressions.

Continue reading Blade & Soul closed beta phase reviewed

Blade & Soul closed beta phase reviewed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade & Soul interview talks Summoner class, customization

Jef Reahard — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul

Blade & Soul's second Korean closed beta test is winding down, and ThisIsGame.com has cornered a couple of NCsoft devs for a quick interview about the upcoming martial arts MMORPG. Project director Jae Hyun Bae and director of system design Sung Jin Hwang talk about everything from the latest class reveal (the Summoner) to mobile platform and social networking tie-ins to the game's extensive character customization.

Said customization is "almost unlimited. NPCs in the game are actually made by not modeling but customizing each. Blade & Soul will provide the most free customizing system ever so far," according to the devs. It's somewhat unclear as to whether this customization will take the form of character skills and abilities or physical differentiation via body types and personalization options.

It's also worth noting that some of the article's information may have been lost in translation, and if your Korean language skills are up to the task, you can read the full original text on ThisIsGame's main site.

Blade & Soul interview talks Summoner class, customization originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade & Soul beta videos show more Assassin footage, dungeon combat

Jef Reahard — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul, Dungeons

Blade & Soul's closed beta phases are a tough ticket for American game journalists, but luckily many of the Korean testers have been capturing their experiences and uploading the videos to YouTube.

MMO Culture has collected a few of these choice morsels, and there is a range of gameplay on display including more Assassin class combos and abilities (this time in a game context instead of a promotional clip) as well as quite a bit of dungeon-crawling footage.

The videos, which you can view after the cut, show a mixture of solo and group play in a couple of different environments. While most of the clips are around 10 minutes in length (or under), there's quite a lot to take in if you're unfamiliar with the martial arts MMO. Blade & Soul is being developed by NCsoft and is currently undergoing its second Korean closed beta test. The company has yet to announce plans to market the title in Europe or America.

Continue reading Blade & Soul beta videos show more Assassin footage, dungeon combat

Blade & Soul beta videos show more Assassin footage, dungeon combat originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade & Soul Assassin abilities on display in new video

Jef Reahard — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul

Say what you will about NCsoft's mysterious Blade & Soul import, but it certainly brings its share of eye candy to the table. MMO Culture has posted a new video featuring the martial arts MMORPG, and the clip centers on the nimble Assassin class and its deadly array of combos and fighting abilities.

The video runs under two minutes and is basically a series of one-on-one combat vignettes. If your Korean language skills are up to the task, you might be able to decipher the various intertitles and subtitles that accompany the presentation. If not, you can still get a feel for how the class is going to play thanks to the footage, which you can view in its entirety after the cut.

Continue reading Blade & Soul Assassin abilities on display in new video

Blade & Soul Assassin abilities on display in new video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade & Soul adds new zone for Korean CBT2

Jef Reahard — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul

We haven't heard much about Blade & Soul of late, but the Korean martial arts MMORPG from NCsoft is still alive and kicking. The game's second closed beta phase starts August 29th, and according to ThisIsGame.com, the invite-only testers will have a new zone to explore.

The Great Desert looks to be the primary stomping ground for CBT2, as the dastardly villain who killed your master at the beginning of Blade & Soul's story has fled to the region and is leading players on a merry chase through the game world. In terms of gameplay proper, the Great Desert is said to feature 10 instanced dungeons, but beyond that we don't know much about it as of yet.

We'll bring you more info on the new testing phase as soon as it becomes available.

Blade & Soul adds new zone for Korean CBT2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Watching you watching me

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, One Shots, Blade & Soul

Today's entry is a newcomer to One Shots, courtesy of Yuurei:

Here's a screenshot from the upcoming martial arts game Blade & Soul. It's a lot of fun; I found myself wandering around, enjoying myself while looking at this game's beautiful landscapes and light effects.

Here's my character's encounter with some tall bird - maybe a crane? Seeing them looking at each other, I start to wonder which one is supposed to be the animal; the staid and calm bird, or the wild, bored child. Not to mention her ears and tail. Maybe they both have their own part of humanity? This MMORPG is incredible, so I'd like to show everyone the very nice job the developers did. Enjoy!

Next week's One Shots theme is Some Assembly Required, and yes, it's a little nod to Massively's newest column. If you'd like to participate, send your best screenshot of content that you've created to us at oneshots@massively.com. It can be a house you built, an item you crafted, or anything you like as long as it came from your two (virtual) hands. Include your name, the game, and a little description of the image, and we'll feature it here on Massively!

Gallery: One Shots: 2011

One Shots: Watching you watching me originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade and Soul interview talks Qinggong, Chinese influences; new videos on display

Jef Reahard — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul

How about a little Blade and Soul info to cap off the workday? We thought you might like that, and MMO Culture has helpfully clued us in to a brief interview with the game's development team that was conducted at a recent Tencent Games event.

The piece delves into the martial arts title's multinational backstory, and despite the fact that Blade and Soul is decidedly Korean, there will be a large Chinese influence on display in the finished game. Blade and Soul's Qinggong system is also addressed, and while every race will have access to the wall-scaling super-speed abilities, it will be limited with respect to character level. Qinggong will also see future iterations beyond its current implemenation as a form of fast travel, with the interview hinting at airborne skill-casting to "make players feel like they are real martial arts pugilists."

Finally, there's a blurb or two on the game's classes (six confirmed) as well as a western-influenced focus on individual character progression. MMO Culture has also embedded two new Blade and Soul videos, and you can find those after the break.

Continue reading Blade and Soul interview talks Qinggong, Chinese influences; new videos on display

Blade and Soul interview talks Qinggong, Chinese influences; new videos on display originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft: Guild Wars 2 beta coming later this year, will probably release in 2012

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 18 May 2011 09:45:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, Guild Wars 2

Do you want the good news or the bad news? The good news is that Guild Wars 2 fans hoping to get their hands on this title this year may get their wish -- but the bad news is that it looks as though the release is still a while away.

According to Eurogamer, Guild Wars 2 will enter beta testing in the second half of this year. The news came out in a conference call with NCsoft's Jaeho Lee, who also indicated that the title wouldn't release until 2012:

"Starting from year 2012, we believe substantial growth will be driven by new blockbuster titles like [Blade & Soul] and Guild Wars 2. Also, Guild Wars 2 will go into beta testing stage in the second half of this year."

However, until we hear a definite release date, we'll take this with a pinch of salt, especially considering that ArenaNet's mantra is "When it's ready" -- and this isn't the first time Lee has said something similar. Hopefully, "ready" will come quickly.

NCsoft: Guild Wars 2 beta coming later this year, will probably release in 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade & Soul closed beta UI profiled

Jef Reahard — Sat, 07 May 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul

More news made its way out of the Blade & Soul Korean beta this weekend. Blade & Soul Dojo has a breakdown of the game's user interface complete with a large annotated screenshot and plenty of commentary.

While nothing about the UI looks markedly different from long-running MMORPG conventions, there is an interesting hint at a mechanic that is unique to NCsoft's upcoming fantasy martial arts epic. The Qinggong meter (the green bar below the health and fuel meters) ties in to the game's travel system and looks to put a novel spin on both exploration and fast travel. If you're wondering, Qinggong is a Chinese martial art that has been heavily stylized in Wuxia fiction (see the wire-fu action sequences in films like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, House of Flying Daggers, and The Matrix).

Blade & Soul Dojo also confirms that the game will have an auction house as well as social features including mail, a news page, and a calendar (though these features were disabled in the beta). Check out the original article for more details.

Blade & Soul closed beta UI profiled originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 May 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade and Soul videos feature PvP, gliding

Jef Reahard — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Blade & Soul

Blade & Soul's first Korean closed beta phase may be over, but apparently the video drops are just beginning. Hot on the heels of last week's YouTube class showcase come some new clips courtesy of MMO Culture.

This time around, we get a good look at the game's PvP action as well as some unique mechanics that appear to take both PvE and PvP engagements off the beaten path. The first clip shows off an interesting glide mechanic that owes a debt to both DC Universe Online and Aion, as the player character leaps tall mountains in a single bound and subsequently power-glides over, around, and into various scenic peaks.

The second clip features a 1v1 PvP scrum, while video number three shows us a frenetic group engagement and more gliding shenanigans. Check out the three clips after the cut, or head to MMO Culture for further details.

Continue reading Blade and Soul videos feature PvP, gliding

Blade and Soul videos feature PvP, gliding originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 May 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade & Soul combat videos surface on YouTube

Jef Reahard — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Blade & Soul

Blade & Soul has taken a bit of a back seat to TERA and ArcheAge when it comes to Korean MMO news lately, but thanks to a trio of beta videos uploaded to YouTube by the game's enterprising testers, we've got a bit more info to chew on.

All three clips are heavily focused on combat and feature several player characters showing off their lighting-quick martial arts skills, weapon prowess, and vertical leaps that would make Michael Jordan jealous. Speaking of weapons, we get glimpses of what looks to be a katana, a few fireballs, and a battle axe so large that it could conceivably be called a battleship. The vids also show off environments ranging from dank caves and dark dungeons to a decidedly sunny beach. Check out all the details after the cut, or head to MMO Culture for a bit of commentary.

Continue reading Blade & Soul combat videos surface on YouTube

Blade & Soul combat videos surface on YouTube originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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G-Star 2010: Hands-on with Blade & Soul

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Culture, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Hands-on, Massively Interviews, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, Blade & Soul

Although the game itself was announced a few years ago, last year's Blade & Soul trailer reveal was a big deal for NCsoft fans at G-Star 2009. So you can bet that a year of build-up has caused some anticipation at this year's G-Star event.

I had a chance to sit down and play a Korean demo of the game on the show floor this week, which was quite an experience in itself. Although I couldn't read a word on the screen (it was generally translated for me), and the game isn't even in closed beta yet, I thought I should relay my impressions of the public's first playable demo.

Not only that, but I also got a chance to sit down with Producer/Director James Bae to answer the questions I had about the game as it stands. Follow along after the jump for more on Blade & Soul at G-Star 2010.

Continue reading G-Star 2010: Hands-on with Blade & Soul

G-Star 2010: Hands-on with Blade & Soul originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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G-Star 2010: From the show floor

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Galleries, Culture, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, Opinion, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage

With the booming popularity of Korean games in western culture, the G-Star convention in Busan, South Korea is quickly turning into an international event. We had an opportunity to attend the four-day convention to see the latest and greatest from Korean online gaming.

Follow along after the jump as I describe my experiences on the first day of the convention, as well as take a look at what else you can expect as we go into days two, three and four.

Continue reading G-Star 2010: From the show floor

G-Star 2010: From the show floor originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Blade & Soul testing postponed until 2012

Jef Reahard — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, News items

Fans of Korean MMORPGs have a lot to look forward to over the next year, what with the impending release of Bluehole Studios' TERA and Jake Song's ArcheAge Online currently undergoing closed beta testing. One title that won't be seeing the light of day any time soon is NCsoft's Blade & Soul. CFO Jaeho Lee recently indicated that "Blade & Soul is expected to launch [its] first test in 2012."

The fantasy martial-arts MMORPG is being developed by Team Bloodlust and Hyung-tae Kim, and looks to be taking a page out of The Old Republic's (and TERA's) book by focusing on story rather than grinding.

[Update: We've marked this as a rumor because of no official source link from MMOsite. Thanks to everyone who so kindly notified us of that fact. Do you kiss your mothers with those mouths?]

Rumor: Blade & Soul testing postponed until 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Blade and Soul movie from NCsoft

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New titles, Blade & Soul

NCsoft has been working on Blade and Soul, an upcoming title directed at their extensive Korean player base, for a while now. The game has been mostly under the radar until recently. NCsoft released a teaser trailer, and our own Seraphina Brennan took a closer look at it as well.

The newest Blade and Soul news to come out is an eleven minute movie that combines some pretty stunning game footage with a first look at some new information. The movie reveals four classes -- BladeMaster, Kung-Fu Master, Force Master, and Destroyer -- and provides a dynamic, exciting look at how they fight, interact, and move, as well as giving a strong feel for how the class works. The rest of the video follows suit, showing off four races as well as the world that the game is set in.

Follow along after the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading New Blade and Soul movie from NCsoft

New Blade and Soul movie from NCsoft originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anti-Aliased: Boobs and you

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, Anti-Aliased

Well Happy Turkey Day everyone! It's Thanksgiving Thursday, but it's also that time of the week again -- the time where Sera gets to rant in her opinion column to her heart's content. Yes, that's right, it's time for Anti-Aliased.

This week's topic is one that's near and dear to my heart. Well, it's near to my heart, at least, and I mean that quite literally. It's also a perfect topic for today's holiday! I mean, who doesn't like to talk about large breasts on Thanksgiving? (Score one for the terrible synonym.)

During last week's column on Blade & Soul, the main topic that came up time and time again in the comments wasn't the game's combat, or the game's engine, or anything really related to the game at large. No, it seems that many of you were turned off of the game by the fact that the screenshot I used had a woman with huge boobs. That was the deal breaker for the game.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: Boobs and you

Anti-Aliased: Boobs and you originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:00:00 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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NCsoft releases teaser trailer for Blade and Soul

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, New titles, Blade & Soul

When we say "NCsoft" it usually brings to mind their big, highly-promoted titles like City of Heroes, Aion, and Guild Wars. However, NCsoft enjoys quite a bit of popularity in their home country of Korea, and a lot of people are looking forward to another upcoming title. Blade and Soul hasn't enjoyed the worldwide hype that some other NCsoft titles have, but it's still got an excited fan base looking forward to it.

News for eager fans has been on the skimpy side, with the biggest announcement lately being a recent mention from the NCsoft CEO Jaeho Lee: "I believe there will be certain public events in the year 2010... at least a closed beta test for those titles. Commercialisation will be expected, at this point, probably some time in the year 2011."

Yesterday NCsoft delivered a little surprise via Twitter for those anticipating Blade and Soul: a teaser trailer is coming soon, and a 30-second teaser is available now. Take a look at the teaser after the jump, and we'll keep an eye out for the full length version for you!

Continue reading NCsoft releases teaser trailer for Blade and Soul

NCsoft releases teaser trailer for Blade and Soul originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCSoft sells over 300,000 Aion pre-orders

Brooke Pilley — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Interviews, News items

There's an interesting interview with Véronique Lallier -- NCSoft's managing director of publishing -- over at GamesIndustry.biz that reveals Aion has sold over 300,000 pre-orders so far. Not too shabby if you ask us. The interview also covers a lot of what's been going on over the past year with NC West, NCSoft's 'umbrella' for their western subsidiaries.

The main goal of NC West is to give the company a stronger foothold in European and North American markets. Now based out of Seattle, employees can be closer to their players and be more responsive to their needs. Stepping back from their original strategy of making casual games, the Seattle studio is also focused on making more triple-A MMOs for the West. What's on the horizon for NCSoft? Apparently, we can expect to hear more about Guild Wars 2 next year and their Korean studio is working on Blade & Soul, which they claim has even better graphics than Aion. There are a number of unannounced titles as well.

We should have the results of our own Aion interview with NCSoft out shortly, so make sure to stay tuned for that.

NCSoft sells over 300,000 Aion pre-orders originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively multiplayer online... boobs?

Seraphina Brennan — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Business models, Culture, MMO industry, News items

Did you know that MMOs and breasts have a long history with one another? It's true, you know. From the time MMOs came onto the scene, so too did scantily clad women with huge hooters. Also, yes, this is indeed one of "those" articles. The article where we talk about breasts seriously, I mean.

Sanya Weathers, no stranger to the MMO industry (or breasts, for that matter) just recently took a pretty funny tour of how breasts work into advertising, whether we like it or not. From box art to marketing departments, she looks at some of the good, the bad, and the downright horrible when it comes to putting hot women on boxes to sell games.

If you're up for a laugh, go check out her article over at MMORPG.com. It's funny, it's insightful, it's historical, and it's full of what men want most -- awesome games. (Get your head out of the gutter if you thought that last line was going to be another boob joke.)

Massively multiplayer online... boobs? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft announces martial arts MMO Blade and Soul

Michael Zenke — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, New titles

Given the news of titles in jeopardy, MMO cancellations, and title delays, it's always great to hear about another new game in the works. This past week NCsoft let slip information about an upcoming title aimed at the Asian marketplace. Called Blade and Soul, it looks to be a unique combination of fantasy MMO and fighting game. It's being developed by Team Bloodlust in the Unreal 3 engine, giving it the visual aesthetic of a high-quality console fighter and the persistence of any of NCsoft's numerous MMO titles.

Traditional swords and sorcery Western fantasy seems to be out the window as an Asian aesthetic permeates the game. Martial Arts are the focus, with the themes of justice and chivalry apparently very important to the games' practitioners. The world itself is based on the Korean myth known as 'Song of Genesis', with other mythologies from that country playing a part in the game's backstory. The title will allow players the opportunity to manipulate their environment, while the the environment around them also changes gameplay possibilities.

To really get a sense of what the game is like, check out the lengthy trailer below the cut for all your martial MMO needs. It's probably the only bit of the game we in the US will see for a long, long time. Thanks to Yin for the heads up!

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NCsoft announces martial arts MMO Blade and Soul originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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