Massively

Not So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts

Brendan Drain — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Game mechanics, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Not So Massively, MOBA

It's Christmas time, and what better way is there to celebrate than to smash some internet people to bits in your favourite MOBA? League of Legends leads the charge with a gift of 450 RP delivered to every nice player who hasn't been banned in the past two months, and it shows off upcoming champion Victor the Machine Herald. Heroes of Newerth gives all players two free Christmas alt avatars and has a limited-time offer to buy a pack containing every previously released hero for just $10.

Rise of Immortals takes part in Steam's Great Gift Pile promotion that gives you the chance to win discount coupons or free Steam games, and it releases an immortal spotlight on Kavashiir. CrimeCraft: Gang Wars also offers players a Steam prize for playing its festive Snow Brawl game mode. Firefall clarifies the beta process and reminds fans that the game will be "done when it's done," and Torchlight developer Runic Games announces a new armour design contest. Finally, of all the intellectual properties to be made into an online game, did you ever think Doctor Who would make the list? BBC Worldwide has released an open preview of Doctor Who: Worlds in Time, a team-based puzzle game by the makers of Puzzle Pirates and Spiral Knights.

Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other big online games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts

Not So Massively: Free Steam games and promotional gifts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Firing Line: Gravity-defying gameplay edition

Jef Reahard — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, Patches, PvP, News items, Opinion, All Points Bulletin, MMOFPS, DUST 514, The Firing Line

Hullo shooter fans, and welcome back to Massively's weekly dose of pew pew news and views. The past seven days were quiet ones for three of the The Firing Line's "big four" MMO shooters, as newsmakers on the PlanetSide 2, Global Agenda, and Firefall dev teams were all silent.

Thankfully there were a couple of cool DUST 514 tidbits to chew on, but before we get to those, I'd like to call your attention to some interesting Tribes: Ascend, APB: Reloaded, and CrimeCraft news that you may have missed.

Continue reading The Firing Line: Gravity-defying gameplay edition

The Firing Line: Gravity-defying gameplay edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft expansion to feature persistent territory control, quickplay options

Jef Reahard — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Real life, Trailers, Video, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft, Miscellaneous

Remember CrimeCraft? We do, and the tragically titled actioner is still alive and kicking (or shooting, perhaps).

We bring this up because Vogster is readying its second major expansion, GangWars, which is scheduled to launch on December 5th. The update adds more of a traditional MMO feel to what is otherwise a lobby-based game. New territory wars mechanics are the culprit, and they allow gangs to own and control sections of the game's persistent Sunrise City environment.

Curiously, Vogster is also implementing a new quickplay system which offers access to CrimeCraft's "core gameplay features through a simplified interface that lets you shortcut RPG gameplay and get right to the action." CrimeCraft boasts 20 unique maps and 11 gameplay modes. Learn more about the game, and sign up for free, at the official website. Before you go, though, check out the territory wars trailer after the break.

[Source: Vogster press release]

Continue reading CrimeCraft expansion to feature persistent territory control, quickplay options

CrimeCraft expansion to feature persistent territory control, quickplay options originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: CrimeCraft

Beau Hindman — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

The first thing I want to do when hearing about a game's poor quality is try it myself. I've found that unless the complaints specify performance issues, the real problem is that the gameplay just didn't mesh well with the person issuing the complaint. Often, those folks talk in general specifics like "Everyone hates the skillsets" or "No one liked that last patch." Gamers are great at declaring what "everyone" likes or dislikes, as though they have access to information that not even the developers themselves have. A good rule of thumb is that the more a player mentions "everyone," the more he is probably wrong.

CrimeCraft is one of these games, but for different reasons. As I asked around about the game, most people I heard from simply complained about its resemblance to the original All Points Bulletin. And since APB had issues, surely CrimeCraft must as well. Players also commented on how they heard it was busted or that didn't play well at all or that it was just a really bad game.

So I had to dig in. What did I find? Click past the cut and I'll tell you.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: CrimeCraft

Rise and Shiny recap: CrimeCraft originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: April 11 - 18, 2011

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers.

Ready to see what's on the schedule for the week? Follow along to see!

Continue reading MV Guide: April 11 - 18, 2011

MV Guide: April 11 - 18, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Atlantica Online

Beau Hindman — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Humor, Atlantica Online, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

Is it possible to be simultaneously annoyed and enchanted by an MMORPG? I think it just might be, now that I've spent several days and hours with Atlantica Online, now published by Nexon. It might not make sense to a lot of you, but the overwhelming and possibly overly complicated UI and systems of gathering basic information ("where's the bank?") filled me with a sense of wonder and even awe. There was so much to learn and see -- or was it just that the poorly designed UI gave me way too much information in too many ways?

For example, if I wanted to locate the bank, I would open up an information window, go into a few more selections until I found the city and then the bank, then either try to find my way there or click on auto-walk to get there. Once there, I would have to join the bank then ask why the bank didn't allow me to store items in addition to money. Then I would find out that the only city with item storage is Rome, so then I'd need to open up the information book to find Rome, only to discover that I had no way of getting there until level 20.

So then I would need to find an NPC through the book, auto-path to him or her to sell the goods that were taking up way too much room in my inventory, then double-click on the quest so I could double-click and auto-path my way top the NPC who gave me the quest (since the quest's mobs were not linked in the book), then continue on with my quests that would result in my bags becoming full again. Phew.

Click past the cut and let me tell you all about it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Atlantica Online

Rise and Shiny recap: Atlantica Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Apr 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This week on The MMO Report: Sansha Sansha Revolution

Krystalle Voecks — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Culture, News items, Opinion, Humor, The MMO Report, Miscellaneous

Sure, we know him for his wit and way with words -- but this week Casey Schreiner shows that he's got hotter moves than a level 85 fire mage. And of course, there's that MMO Report thing he does, in which he takes a look at the week's news. This week's ~~targets~~ topics include CrimeCraft's Bleedout expansion, which will offer new episodic content including goodness from artists like Ben Templesmith, Howard Chaykin, Tim Bradstreet, and many others. There's also more on Forsaken World, which is moving towards release by ramping up its teaser trailers.

Also on the radar is today's opening of Rift's closed beta, Earthrise's broken beta button and video, and of course, the first bit of EVE Online's three-part Incursion expansion. Speaking as an EVE Online player, I can say that the windowed mode is awesome, but the bit about anti-aliasing being added in this last patch is pretty awesome too. Now we capsuleers can enjoy the finest basics that Windows can offer while the Sansha swoop down on us. Finally, he wraps everything up by taking us on a magical mystery tour through Uncle Casey's Mailbag, in which we find out that sending him your cosplay pictures probably isn't the best idea -- although sending charity notes is.

You can catch all the hilarity here every week, or over on G4TV.com.

Continue reading This week on The MMO Report: Sansha Sansha Revolution

This week on The MMO Report: Sansha Sansha Revolution originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Digital Continuum: The 'Next Big Thing' in MMOs

Kyle Horner — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Opinion, The Digital Continuum, All Points Bulletin, Crime

Is All Points Bulletin the "Next Big Thing" in MMOs? While I'm fully aware that Realtime Worlds doesn't specifically prefer to associate the game with this genre, it's very much a part of it -- but it also orbits the fringes of what we commonly refer to as a massively multiplayer online game.

Guild Wars, Guild Wars 2 and All Points Bulletin come from a different school of business models. These games hinge on the idea that most people dislike coughing up 15 bucks a month to keep playing their favorite title. Just look to the success of the original Guild Wars, having a year ago passed six million copies sold. That's a pretty great start for non-subscription MMOs, and because of that success we now have GW's sequel and APB on the way.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: The 'Next Big Thing' in MMOs

The Digital Continuum: The 'Next Big Thing' in MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft's executive producer talks on the game's strengths

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Game mechanics, Interviews, PvP, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

CrimeCraft may have launched with a bang, but that bang appeared to be less of a gunshot and more of a car backfiring. Vogster Entertainment's MMOFPS was met with somewhat mixed reviews, moved to a free-to-play model, and found itself banned in Australia. But the game persists, and executive producer Matt McEnerney recently sat down with Warcry to discuss issues ranging from the Australia ban to the game's focus.

In a rather refreshing moment, McEnerney flatly states that the game is not for everyone, going on to state that those players who fall under Bartle's classification of Explorer or Socializer will be less likely to enjoy the game. It's a positive mark of candor, and certainly helps strengthen McEnerney's points on what the gae is trying to do and what it's best at. The interview also covers the current endgame option, whiich focus heavily on PvP amidst the game's warring families of gangs.

On the Australia ban, the producer's statement is essentially one that the government can ban the game from shelves but not hard drives -- which strikes us as a little criminal, but when you're talking about a game called CrimeCraft, do you really expect much different? Those interested in the game should take a look at the full interview, which is a bit more honest in places than we've come to expect from the genre.

CrimeCraft's executive producer talks on the game's strengths originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Bad Santas

Krystalle Voecks — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, One Shots, Crime, CrimeCraft

While you're unlikely to find Billy Bob Thornton running around in the landscape of CrimeCraft, recently players were treated to all the strange Santas they could handle in the recent holiday event "Mall Santa Photo Booth." Now as to how some weirded-out Terminator Santa got in there, we've no idea. Thankfully Victor B. was there to capture this image from the event, and might be able to shed some light on it:

CrimeCraft is a persistent online third-person shooter with an "over-the-shoulder" view similar to Gears of War. It takes place in a near future urban metropolis that revolves around gang warfare. Players can create gangs, craft weaponry, tailor clothes, and manufacture drugs. Game play in instances features a kill streak reward system similar to COD4. It grants experience points, which allows a player to upgrade their skills (skills are like perks such as martyrdom and explosives).

Well, perhaps a reader will explain the festive cyborg-looking thing on the left, eh?

If you'd like to join in the fun, send in screenshots from your favorite MMO to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com. Be sure to add your name, the name of the game, and a quick description in the email. We'll post the image out here for everyone to check out and give you the credit! Also, please make sure your screenshot is at least 1024 pixels across and has no visible UI elements.

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: Bad Santas originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft: Kingpin bowls over your iPhone today

Kyle Horner — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: News items, Free-to-play, Crime, CrimeCraft

Yes, bowling puns. We know not everyone appreciates a good cheesy joke, but today's a seemingly auspicious day for MMO iPhone and Facebook apps. It's hard to imagine what self respecting game doesn't have a tiny socially-networked counterpart. You can consume details on Kingpin over on its official page, although if you've played any of these "build a gang" type games before you probably know what's in store.

If you're wondering just why you should check out this app -- aside from the fact that it's shiny and new -- then be aware that the first 50 players to hit max level in Kingpin will earn a CrimeCraft AUG that offers an experience and a money bonus. Also in the wings are a limited number of CrimeCraft gold bar packages, the Valley Forge Federalist, an assault rifle with five "slots" and a five slot submachine gun, the R-Sys Smilodon.

CrimeCraft: Kingpin bowls over your iPhone today originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft banned in Australia

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, News items, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

Vogster's MMOFPS CrimeCraft hasn't had the easiest time, and it took another hit last week when it was banned in Australia. The Australian Classification Board refused classification of the game thanks to the availability of Boosts, drugs that give the player character various buffs. The reason given? "In the board's opinion, there is insufficient delineation between the 'fictional drugs' available in game and real-world proscribed drugs."

The board elaborated a bit on their decision, pointing out strong similarities to real-world drugs: "In addition, the names of boosts mimic the chemicals and colloquial names of proscribed drugs. Examples include K-Dust, Birth, Chimera, Majoun, Betadyne ResistX and Zymek Stim-Ex, as well as the anabolics Raze and Frenzy."

Australia currently does not have any sort of R18+ classification, so a game that would receive that rating is banned. Valve worked around this in October by submitting a censored version of Left 4 Dead 2, so CrimeCraft may not be entirely without hope.

CrimeCraft banned in Australia originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft heading for Facebook and iPhones

Kyle Horner — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, News items, CrimeCraft

There's no doubt CrimeCraft has been seeing some tough times since its launch. Nevertheless, that's not stopping Vogster Entertainment from paving new development paths. They're currently working on CrimeCraft: Kingpin, which is essentially a way to interface with the game through Facebook or the iPhone application.

While details aren't clear at this point, Vogster is saying players will be able to complete missions, build gangs, buy weapons and equipment and develop rivalries in battles all while climbing up leaderboards. The top player will of course earn the rank of -- you guessed it -- Kingpin.

Integration into the PC game offers CrimeCraft: Kingpin an opportunity to stand out amongst the ever-growing crowd of Facebook and iPhone apps. Leveraging that advantage will go a long way to getting people interested in the newly free-to-play model of the game.

CrimeCraft heading for Facebook and iPhones originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft prepares for a conversion to free to play, announces first content update

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

The newly(ish) launched MMOFPS CrimeCraft made a bombshell of an announcement today, revealing that they were dropping their current subscription/boxed product model in favor of a free-to-play model.

CrimeCraft, which retails for 40 bucks at Best Buy and FutureShop, will be unleashing an "unlimited free trial" for their game along with a content update at the end of this month. Users who participate in this "unlimited free trial" will have the option to upgrade to a subscription based account in one of two flavors -- a 4.99 a month subscription or a 9.99 a month version. The difference between these two subscriptions comes down to customization, number of available skill slots, and the speed of experience gain.

So what about those people who paid the 40 dollars for the software? Well, you'll be getting an "Original Gangster" tag and icon for your character, a third free month of the 9.99 subscription plan, exclusive access to upcoming content, and more unannounced in-game items.

Continue reading CrimeCraft prepares for a conversion to free to play, announces first content update

CrimeCraft prepares for a conversion to free to play, announces first content update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vogster Entertainment restructures, confirms office closings

Tracey John — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, Crime, CrimeCraft

Vogster Entertainment, the maker of recently launched MMO CrimeCraft, confirmed that the company has restructured its resources, though its New Jersey headquarters still remains operational.

The announcement comes following rumors from various sources that the company has completely shuttered, including a post from Giantbomb.com which stated employees at its Kiev, Ukraine office have updated their social networking profiles to "imply that they're looking for work."

Vogster has just issued a statement to Massively saying that it is "restructuring to focus its resources toward the enhancement and expansion" of Crimecraft.

"As an independent developer, we need to be very strategic in our use of available resources and shift from already launched titles to support the ongoing development and growth of CrimeCraft," said Vogster's VP of development Daniel Prousline in a press statement.

"We regret the necessary staffing changes and the talented employees that this impacts, but it is an unavoidable step in moving to the operational stage of CrimeCraft and optimizing for the development of yet to be announced titles."

Continue reading Vogster Entertainment restructures, confirms office closings

Vogster Entertainment restructures, confirms office closings originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Makes being bad look good

Krystalle Voecks — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, One Shots, Crime, CrimeCraft

We've sent out the call several times recently for players to send in screenshots of places we hadn't seen before, and we're glad to report that we've finally managed to land one from CrimeCraft. This inner-city One Shots was sent to us by Ivan, who sends in his thoughts: Just thought since [CrimeCraft] doesn't seem to be getting any love, I would drop a screen shot. This is the midtown district. A couple of skyscrapers in the distance. Notice the in game ads which I think fit in with the world very nicely; the little game that could. I think it has lots of potential. [I've] been having a blast.

if you're playing an MMO we haven't seen, we want to hear from you! Just email your images and thoughts in to oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and a brief description of the area. We'll post them out here for everyone to check out and give you the nod for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: Makes being bad look good originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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September is a crazy month for MMOs!

Brooke Pilley — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Opinion

September 2009 really is quite a month for new MMO releases, as Syp points out. Players will be able to dive into the worlds of Aion, Champions Online, Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited (barring any unfortunate legal wrangling), and Fallen Earth. While we're at it, we might as well include CrimeCraft, which launched a couple days ago too. Remember the days when you might see 1-2 new MMOs per year, staggered six months apart from each other? As the genre grows, it seems unlikely that we'll see those days again. Since we're huge MMO fans at Massively, we think that's quite awesome!

We're curious to know how you think the month of September will play out. Will this month be full of cut-throat competition with only one or two strong titles coming out on top? Are these MMOs even targeted to the same crowds? We actually feel each title is going after a slightly different audience, which may result in everyone being a winner. Do you plan on trying one of them? Two? All? None!? What's your gaming strategy coming up to September? Taking a quick look at Betawatch tells us that there may be a couple more MMOs launching in 2009 as well.

September is a crazy month for MMOs! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft launches, producer responds to naysayers

Tracey John — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, Launches, New titles, Crime, CrimeCraft

You still may be knee-deep in recent news about an expansion for a little game called World of Warcraft, but there are also a few other games being released before then -- like CrimeCraft, for instance.

Developed by Vogster Entertainment, the crime-themed MMO (called a Persistent World Next-Gen Shooter or "PWNS" by its developers) has shipped and is available exclusively at Best Buy today. But ever since the gang-on-gang shooter's been announced, it's been criticized for just about every aspect -- its name, its business model, its crafting system -- you name it.

"You have to take it with a grain of salt," said senior content producer Mike Donatelli of the criticism in an e-mail to Massively.com. "Some people had a preconceived idea of what they wanted us to be. They thought we were [Grand Theft Auto IV] online, and it's just not the case... There are a lot of risks, which is the reason why you haven't really seen a game like CrimeCraft before."

As the former content design lead for Warhammer Online, Donatelli also spoke a variety of topics, including what he learned from his work at Mythic, what it's like to be at an independent developer and what we can expect for CrimeCraft following launch.

Continue reading CrimeCraft launches, producer responds to naysayers

CrimeCraft launches, producer responds to naysayers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft's digital download options and bonuses

William Dobson — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, New titles, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

CrimeCraft's launch date is just around the corner now, and if you haven't pre-ordered yet but plan on doing so, there really isn't a lot of time left! While the retail distribution of the game in North America and Canada is exclusive to particular stores (Best Buy for NA and Future Shop in Canada), there are a few choices when it comes to making a digital purchase. Future players will be able to buy and download the title from CrimeCraft.com, Direct2Drive (IGN), Steam and Best Buy Digital. All of the digital downloads come with a few in-game perks (different from each other), and all of them bar Steam offer some extras for pre-ordering. No matter which way you go, the suggested price of US$49.95 includes two months of premium subscription, including a ration of gold bars that are used for in-game microtransactions.

All of the information you need to know in order to make your choice is just past the break -- be sure to check it out if you plan on getting CrimeCraft digitally.

Continue reading CrimeCraft's digital download options and bonuses

CrimeCraft's digital download options and bonuses originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Is a fall release really such a good idea?

Shawn Schuster — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, New titles, Opinion, The Daily Grind

As many of our summer releases get pushed back to September and October, we can't help but wonder if this is such a good idea. MMO players are already notoriously picky when it comes to grabbing their attention in the long-term, but for school-age players, September and October are a time to concentrate on the new school year and new studies. Theoretically.

This is one of the main points in a recent blog post by Inktomi over at MMOCrunch. In addition to explaining dissatisfaction with both Aion and Champions Online for grinding or business decisions, Inktomi brings up a good point that may hurt these upcoming games in the long run. If you had to make the decision to only play one game this fall -- due to time constraints from school or otherwise -- would any of the projected releases (Aion, CrimeCraft, Champions Online, Fallen Earth, DDO Unlimited, CitiesXL) interest you enough to be your one game?

The Daily Grind: Is a fall release really such a good idea? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft open beta starts today

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, New titles, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

After a reportedly successful closed beta, Vogster's CrimeCraft is opening its beta to anyone interesting in trying the Persistent World Next-Gen Shooter (PWNS) before its launch on August 25th. The closed beta, which began in May, had ended on Monday in anticipation of this new open beta.

The doors open today at 5pm EDT to anyone who downloads the client and signs up at Fileplanet or IGN. If you were already part of the closed beta program, all you'll need to do is patch up and play. For more information on CrimeCraft, including interviews and event demos, check out our complete coverage.

[Edit: As pointed out in the comments, this open beta is for US and Canada only]

CrimeCraft open beta starts today originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft's box art unveiled

Seraphina Brennan — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Wallpapers, Crime, CrimeCraft

The box art for the gang warfare MMO CrimeCraft has been revealed, showing an interesting blend of the game's art style and in-game screenshots on the front of the box. The top of the box is dominated by this image, while the bottom blends in a screenshot of the game's gang based action.

What we have above is just a small sampling of the game's front cover, but if you're intrigued by the thought of seeing the full version then go on ahead and jump over to the picture at MMORPG.com.

CrimeCraft's action packed gameplay will be unleashed on the masses next month on August 25th, but you can certainly pre-order the game over at Best Buy or apply for the closed beta to keep your destructive tendencies in check until then.

CrimeCraft's box art unveiled originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Digital Continuum: Reign of the shooters

Kyle Horner — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Digital Continuum, Crime, MMOFPS

This year, a bleating signal is ringing out from all corners of the MMO industry. It calls to our attention a new order on the horizon: the order of shooter MMOs.

Can it be coincidence that everywhere you look at this year's E3, most of the exciting upcoming MMOs are shooters in one way or another? I'm looking forward to Final Fantasy XIV as much as the next fan, but there's only one or two traditional looking concepts that have my interest.

Moving through my mental list of must-play MMOs reveals a very obvious pattern. Jumpgate Evolution, All Points Bulletin, CrimeCraft and even aspects of Star Wars: The Old Republic are looking shooter-like. I mean, come on, cover mechanics for the Smuggler class? Now you're just teasing me into a squelching geek heat, BioWare.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Reign of the shooters

The Digital Continuum: Reign of the shooters originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2009: CrimeCraft producer says game is the next step for Call of Duty, Halo players

Tracey John — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, New titles, Crime, Massively Event Coverage, CrimeCraft

All Points Bulletin wasn't the only crime-themed MMO I saw at E3 last week. I also got to check out Vogster Entertainment's CrimeCraft. Just before the conference, the developer announced an August 25 release date, a monthly subscription as their business model and an exclusive deal with Best Buy.

On the floor, associate producer Aaron Krasnov laid down what's new in the game, how it's different from APB, the help he got from former Warhammer Online developers and how CrimeCraft is a natural progression for players of Halo and Call of Duty.

Continue reading E3 2009: CrimeCraft producer says game is the next step for Call of Duty, Halo players

E3 2009: CrimeCraft producer says game is the next step for Call of Duty, Halo players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft to be sold exclusively for North America at Best Buy

James Egan — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Launches, MMO industry, News items, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

One of the titles gamers can look forward to this summer is CrimeCraft, a hybrid of a shooter and urban MMO from Vogster Entertainment, to be published by THQ Inc. in August. Vogster and THQ have taken a somewhat surprising step towards distribution of CrimeCraft in North America; the title will be sold exclusively at Best Buy, either in-store or online.

The exclusivity of this deal may bring some perks to CrimeCraft players. The official release states: "Consumers who purchase CrimeCraft at Best Buy will receive two months of free play time and a number of exclusive in-game items, including two in-game t-shirts from acclaimed real-world fashion labels and a combat backpack for their avatar. Gamers will also receive a virtual Best Buy discount card that allows them to purchase in-game items at a reduced cost. Those gamers pre-ordering CrimeCraft via Best Buy retail stores or online at www.bestbuy.com, will additionally receive virtual in-game shoes from Ecko Unltd., created by fashion icon Marc Ecko, access to play the pre-release version of the game during beta, and three days' head start at the game's launch."

Pre-orders begin on May 31st (online) or on June 7th (in stores). CrimeCraft is still slated for an August 25th launch.

Gallery: CrimeCraft

CrimeCraft to be sold exclusively for North America at Best Buy originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft launch date set for August 25

James Egan — Thu, 21 May 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, MMO industry, PvP, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

CrimeCraft from Vogster Entertainment bills itself as a 'persistent world next-gen shooter' (aka PWNS), set in a near-future city where society has decayed. The city has become a savage place and players will need to band together in gangs in order to survive, which could prove to be a hit with gamers into urban crime titles. We announced earlier in the week that CrimeCraft has entered closed beta but beyond our coverage of the title from GDC 2009 we hadn't received a firm release date.

The wait is over now though; Vogster Entertainment has announced that CrimeCraft will launch on August 25th, meaning it may well be the first of the shooter/MMO hybrid games to go live.

Gallery: CrimeCraft

CrimeCraft launch date set for August 25 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft enters closed beta

James Egan — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, MMO industry, New titles, Crime, MMOFPS, CrimeCraft

Massively has been looking at the upcoming shooter/MMO hybrids that are on the way, namely Global Agenda, Huxley: The Dystopia, and Fallen Earth. But there will soon be another 'MMOFPS' option for gamers with the first such title to release for the urban crime genre: CrimeCraft, in development at Vogster Entertainment.

CrimeCraft entered closed beta this week and Vogster is, of course, very serious about the NDA. 'What happens in CrimeCraft stays in CrimeCraft'; they've said they'll unceremoniously revoke beta access for players who spill details of the game. But those lucky people who were accepted have a closed beta forum available to them as of today, where they can talk about the game to their heart's content without getting themselves banhammered from the streets of CrimeCraft. We were fortunate enough to speak with Vogster Entertainment about the game recently at GDC 2009, but we're hoping there will be more news about the title in the coming months. We'll be sure to keep our readers informed when we hear more about this game.

Are you excited about urban crime titles like CrimeCraft and All Points Bulletin making their way into the MMO space?

CrimeCraft enters closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MTV Multiplayer speaks with MMO devs looking to attract shooter fans

Kyle Horner — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, News items, MMOFPS

Undoubtedly, the developers of games like All Points Bulletin, The Agency, CrimeCraft and Earthrise would like shooter fans to give their game a try. And with so many of these titles on the way, it can be a little difficult to know which one may be for you. So, MTV Multiplayer's Tracey John went out and got each developer's take on why they think shooter fans should look into their respective games.

Not all of these games take the same shooter mentality approach, but that's a good thing. Variety is of course the spice of life, especially when those things involve itchy digital trigger fingers. You can be sure we'll be bringing you even more information in the future so you can decide which of these games is for you.

MTV Multiplayer speaks with MMO devs looking to attract shooter fans originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC09: Our look at CrimeCraft

Shawn Schuster — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, Video, Interviews, New titles, Previews, Massively Meta, Crime, Massively Interviews, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, CrimeCraft

Vogster and CrimeCraft have enjoyed a period of calm before the storm during their development cycle, but at this year's Game Developers Conference, they were out in full force showing off their upcoming crime MMO. You may already know Vogster as the creator of a few games on other platforms, but they're actually a fairly large studio with offices in New Jersey, Chicago, Moscow and Kiev, Ukraine. During GDC, we were able to sit down with Casey Dickinson, Senior Marketing Manager, and Matt McEnerney, Executive Producer, for an in-depth look at what this game has to offer.

So what is CrimeCraft exactly? Well, in a nutshell, it could be considered more of a shooter wrapped in an MMO shell powered by the Unreal 3 engine. Or as they describe it, a Persistent World Next-gen Shooter (PWNS... get it). They recognize the fact that first and foremost, this game is a shooter. This is evident in the gameplay style and general feel of the game. So where exactly does the MMO part come in? That's precisely what we plan to uncover! Keep reading to find out more from our interview and demo of CrimeCraft.

Gallery: CrimeCraft

Continue reading GDC09: Our look at CrimeCraft

GDC09: Our look at CrimeCraft originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft trailer gives a brief glimpse into the urban crime MMO

James Egan — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, New titles, Crime, CrimeCraft

The massively multiplayer online game industry will soon be getting an influx of space-based science fiction titles as well as earthbound post-apocalytic MMOs. Another new realm that is going to be explored by game developers like Vogster Entertainment is the urban crime MMO. Their debut massively multiplayer title will be CrimeCraft. We don't have many details on the game beyond the trailer they released and the info they've published so far on their site, but we do know that it's a persistent world 'next-gen' shooter built on the Unreal 3 engine.

We've found another glimpse into what Vogster has been up to, though. IGN Videos has a (very) brief trailer showing the CrimeCraft characters with narration explaining obtaining and modifying your weapons. We weren't inspired enough by the trailer to commit crimes of our own by stealing and embedding it for you here, so you'll have to head over to IGN to check out the video footage. We're hoping to speak with Vogster at GDC this week and find out more about this title, so keep your eyes open for more on this urban crime MMO.

CrimeCraft trailer gives a brief glimpse into the urban crime MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CrimeCraft impressions and screenshots

Shawn Schuster — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Game mechanics, New titles, Crafting, Hands-on, Crime, CrimeCraft

Despite its unfortunate name, Vogster's CrimeCraft seems to be a promising contender in the crop of games launching in 2009, according to a recent review at Gamespy. First announced earlier last year, CrimeCraft boasts what they call a "persistent-world next-gen shooter", or PWNS for short. Can an MMO shooter work? Ask Planetside, Tabula Rasa and Huxley (if he ever shows up).

Unnecessary snark aside, the screenshots in this review article look gorgeous. The gameplay seems promising, with PvE, deathmatch PvP and a crafting system that is aimed at using some real sponsorship promotion (think CoH ads, but on clothes). Yet the one part that raised our collective eyebrows was the mention of a persistent world, yet it is said to include only persistent towns, much like Guild Wars and Diablo II. Granted the game isn't finished and is still in a closed beta at this point, but Vogster's senior marketing manager Casey Dickinson mentioned that they're thinking of ways to "liven up" the game's persistent lobbies.

CrimeCraft impressions and screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMOGology: Grand Theft MMO

Marc Nottke — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, Opinion, MMOGology, Crime, Rumors, CrimeCraft

On Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 Rockstar Games released Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV), one of the most anticipated games of 2008. Based on early reviews (all of which have been unanimously positive) it looks like the latest installment in the series has exceeded expectations. Everything about GTA IV appears to have been kicked up a notch. The graphics are more realistic, the gameplay has been refined and tightened, and the characters and storyline have more depth. While this type of evolution is to be expected, one of the most interesting new features about GTA IV is that you can play it online. Unlike previous versions of the Grand Theft Auto series, this one will allow Xbox 360 and PS3 owners the ability to play with up to sixteen friends online. While sixteen players doesn't exactly qualify as "massively multiplayer", it's a step in the right direction for those of us eagerly anticipating a GTA-style MMO.

It seems like a natural progression for Rockstar to bring their venerable series to the massively multiplayer arena. After all, you've got a built in, recognizable franchise name based around the most classic multiplayer concept known to man - cops and robbers. I think every child has played a real life version of this game at some point in their lives (although perhaps more G rated). It's one of those universal themes that everyone instantly "gets", and yet, no MMO developer has cashed in on the concept. The time seems ripe for Rockstar to join Blizzard in the money printing business.

So how realistic is it that Rockstar might be producing a Grand Theft Auto MMO? Is such a game already in development? I did a little digging and I'll show you what I've been able to find thus far after the break. I'll also fill you in on a few MMOs with similar concepts that you might be able to play as early as this time next year.

Continue reading MMOGology: Grand Theft MMO

MMOGology: Grand Theft MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can a crime MMO actually work?

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, Opinion, All Points Bulletin, Crime, CrimeCraft

A crime MMO might seem like a great idea, riding on the coattails of such gaming successes as the GTA series and Max Payne, but what about in the MMO space? Would killing the mafia boss or jumping your car over a moving train be quite as fun and translate as well if it were done as an online multiplayer experience? Well, so far we have two shots at it (pun intended): All Points Bulletin and the recently-announced CrimeCraft. Will these games, and the possible onslaught of copycat games be able to recreate the success of their single-player ancestors?

In a recent article at MMOcrunch, they take a look at these possibilities and break down the genre according to what most interests us. They make a very good point about how most of the fun in these games is usually the destructive environments and generally screwing with the AI by blocking the streets with burned-out cars and downed telephone poles. This would not work quite as well in an MMO setting, unless someone at Realtime Worlds or Vogster Entertainment can prove us wrong.

Can a crime MMO actually work? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 09:00:00 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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