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Allods Online prepares players for patch 3.0.2 with a new mini-site

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Patches, PvP, Free-to-play, Allods Online, Dungeons, Crafting

Allods Online's mascots are back for another humorous video, as Troll and Crab try their hands (claws) at making potions. It doesn't quite go as expected, but it's hard to blame Crab for what happens (he's just an earnest little guy). This is all to promote the game's newest update, patch 3.0.2, which promises to be a savory concoction for players to quaff. Over the weekend, gPotato opened up a new mini-site to promote the update and has since posted several new articles highlighting the changes.

Some of patch 3.0.2's big selling points include a revamp of the Alchemy profession, the ability for pets to do the looting, a neat-sounding mentor system, a new skirmish called The Deserted Farm, a free-for-all treasure hunting space, a new raid boss, and better questing.

Before you head over to see all of the patch changes, make sure to catch up on the latest episode of Troll and Crab after the break!

[Thanks to Alex for the tip!]

Continue reading Allods Online prepares players for patch 3.0.2 with a new mini-site

Allods Online prepares players for patch 3.0.2 with a new mini-site originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online's patch 3.0.2 bringing mentor system, new Astral space

Matt Daniel — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

Allods Online's astral space is about to get just a little bit bigger thanks to the game's recently announced patch 3.0.2. The title's publisher, gPotato, announced today that the game's May content update will be bringing "a host of fixes and tweaks alongside some significant new features, including a new mentoring system and a new sector of astral space dedicated to free-for-all treasure hunting."

The game's mentoring system allows experienced, high-level players to impart their wisdom and knowledge upon new characters of the same faction and archetype. The system is managed entirely through the game's mentor interface, which also helps to match prospective apprentices with a mentor. Mentors can receive a number of rewards, including gold and marks of diligence, depending on the amount of time the mentor spends with his apprentice. The update is also unveiling a new area of astral space wherein players will compete in a free-for-all battle for randomly spawning treasure, but be warned: The more players are in the zone, the higher the chance that a demon will show up to try to wreck your day. Players will have a limited amount of time to contend with opposing players and marauding demons and to gather the most loot possible before time's up.

To get a sneak peek at these shiny new features, just head on past the cut and have a look at the update's official trailer.

[Source: gPotato press release]

Continue reading Allods Online's patch 3.0.2 bringing mentor system, new Astral space

Allods Online's patch 3.0.2 bringing mentor system, new Astral space originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online to add new features, anniversary gifts

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, PvP, Free-to-play, Allods Online

Allods Online is barreling down the road toward Patch 3.0.0.02 (the extra decimals denote quality!), with an array of fine features to anticipate. Chief among those is an overall improved questing experience. The patch will give players additional ways to track and find quests, not to mention a new "auto-move" feature that will whisk you away to your desired destination.

Next on the patch's agenda is the game's second PvP skirmish map: Deserted Farm. Deserted Farm will be a 6v6 skirmish where players will struggle to control a central flag. The twist to the map is that a pair of cannon can focus-fire onto this location, so obtaining one or both of these is mandatory for success.

Finally, 3.0.0.02 (the extra decimals are a secret code that tells you gPotato loves you) will add a new raid boss to the Kingdom of Elements. His name is Gen'ul, Lord of the Volcano, and he'll be very pleased to meet and then wipe the floor with you. Multiple raids can attempt to down him at the same time and then squabble over the huge treasure chest that he drops.

The Allods site has also been updated with details on the anniversary celebration and gifts.

Allods Online to add new features, anniversary gifts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iris Online opens the Lost Temple of Atlantis

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeons

Iris Online players are in for a treat today because it's patch day. And not just the small sort of patch with a bunch of bugfixes, either -- this is the big kind, the kind that opens up new areas and expands the level cap. In fact, it's exactly that kind, as today's update opens four new zones and the Lost Temple of Atlantis for player exploration. The temple is meant as the most challenging dungeon in the game and contains a variety of treasures for players braving its depths.

Beyond the temple, the new zones give players new chances to strike back and liberate the land from the Sahar, complete with new quests to enjoy. Those new quests will also help as players head for the new level cap of 75, but if that alone isn't enough, the development team is doubling all EXP and SXP rates until April 29th. Players can also earn special treasure boxes for a limited time, a little extra boost for enjoying the game's new content.

[Source: gPotato press release]

Gallery: Iris Online Screenshots

Iris Online opens the Lost Temple of Atlantis originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eternal Blade posts a teaser site and class Facebook pages

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New titles, Previews, News items, Free-to-play

Eternal Blade, if you hadn't heard, is a free-to-play action MMO due out later this year from gPotato. We had a chance to preview the game briefly at GDC, and the team behind the game has stepped up promotions with the addition of a new teaser site for the game. The developers have also finalized the class lineup, but the classes aren't getting pages on the teaser site; instead, each class now has its own individual Facebook page.

The Soul Summoner, the Knight, the Archer, the Mage, the Thief, and the Berserker pages each have some photos of the relevant class in action as well as a description of why it's the best out of the six classes. If that doesn't get you interested in the game, the teaser site also features a video showing off cinematics and gameplay. More news on beta testing and launch as it develops.

[Source: gPotato press release]

Continue reading Eternal Blade posts a teaser site and class Facebook pages

Eternal Blade posts a teaser site and class Facebook pages originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC 2012: gPotato showcases Allods, Aika, Sevencore, and Eternal Blade

Karen Bryan — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, Allods Online, Aika, Dungeons

If you're wondering what gPotato has been up to lately, the answer is, lots! At GDC, gPotato reps showed off not one but four titles, two of which are brand-new and on their way to beta. For Allods and Aika fans, there was plenty of news about the new game updates. Meanwhile, gPotato put on demos for Sevencore and Eternal Blade, which are both in production and are being prepped for release sometime later this year. Read on for a hands-on look at each of these titles!

Gallery: gPotato Gallery

Continue reading GDC 2012: gPotato showcases Allods, Aika, Sevencore, and Eternal Blade

GDC 2012: gPotato showcases Allods, Aika, Sevencore, and Eternal Blade originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online releases Game of Gods patch notes [Updated]

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

If you're looking forward to the latest Allods Online expansion, Game of Gods, you've only got one more day to wait. But if you can't even wait that long without some kind of updates, then you're in luck. The patch notes for version 3.0 have been posted, giving players a full rundown of all the changes and additions coming to the game in light of this sweeping expansion. And it's not just the marquee features being brought in -- there are plenty of smaller changes, quality of life improvements, and other little gems.

The marquee items, of course, are all still there. The game's level cap will be raised to 51, and the new Bard class will be added to the game for players to enjoy. New areas and new ship mechanics are also being added to keep players engaged. But there are other new features, such as the addition of "overflow" slots to player bags, stat rearrangement for caster classes, and new performance options for older computers. It promises to be a huge patch, so before you go playing tomorrow, peruse the patch notes today.

[Update: Added the new expansion trailer after the cut.]

Continue reading Allods Online releases Game of Gods patch notes [Updated]

Allods Online releases Game of Gods patch notes [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earn prizes in Allods Online's 14-day giveaway event

Brendan Drain — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Expansions, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

To celebrate the upcoming release of Allods Online's patch 3.0, gPotato is giving away prizes to players who log in on the days leading up to and following the patch. The event starts on February 7th and will run until February 21st, with the patch arriving in the middle on February 14th. Players who log in for a full hour each day during the event will receive progressively valuable rewards, with the best reward saved for those who log in for an hour during all 14 days.

Prizes start with special coins for the first day and rapidly ramp up to consumables and costumes, with a Sinister Lion mount for players who log in during all 14 days. To qualify each day, one hour must be spent playing the game before midnight by your server's clock; the time can be split across multiple characters on your account and the prizes are limited to one set per account. gPotato requests that all players entering the contest log out before midnight each day as staying logged in may make you ineligible for that day. As this is a tiered event, players who miss even a single day will never be able to get the top prize of a Sinister Lion mount. For a full list of prizes and contest terms, head over to the official contest announcement.

Earn prizes in Allods Online's 14-day giveaway event originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online shows off 2.0.9 improvements with a new trailer

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

Allods Online is gearing up for its Game of Gods expansion, but there are more improvements coming in the lead-up. The 2.0.9 patch is going to be part of the bridge, and it's bringing along a number of cosmetic improvements for players to enjoy. There are new pets, new interior customizations for astral ships, new mounts, and as the header image shows, new hairstyles in varying degrees of ridiculousness (or awesomeness, depending on your personal preference).

Of course, what better way to show off the coming patch improvements than via a small trailer? Embedded just past the cut, the trailer is short but features a bit of cute animation and a peek at what's just around the corner. There's still no exact date on the release of the game's expansion, but considering how quickly the team behind the game is ramping up, we suspect it may well be earlier in February rather than later.

Continue reading Allods Online shows off 2.0.9 improvements with a new trailer

Allods Online shows off 2.0.9 improvements with a new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online bringing out Game of Gods next month

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Expansions, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

If you're a dedicated Allods Online player, you've got something to be very excited about. The game's next expansion, Game of Gods has been announced for release in February, bringing what's being described as a year's worth of content to players in North America and Europe. This announcement is concurrent with the release of a corresponding mini-site previewing some of the upcoming features while still leaving teasers. Players will be able to explore over 100 new quests, take part in a new 10-boss raid, and enjoy the new Bard class.

But in true TV-product-announced style, there's still more, including a bump in the level cap, and epic quest to improve your character permanently, and expanded astral space to explore. There's also a teaser trailer and gameplay trailer just after the break to drum up further excitement. While an exact date in February hasn't yet been announced, considering that the month is nearly over it likely won't be too long.

[Source: Gala-Net press release]

Continue reading Allods Online bringing out Game of Gods next month

Allods Online bringing out Game of Gods next month originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyff releases New Beginnings to the German and French servers

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Expansions, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

MMOs are a worldwide phenomenon. Sometimes that can be hard to see from the perspective of the many American gamers knee-deep in the hobby, but there are games and releases taking place all over the world. Case in point: The European version of Flyff has seen a big new release with the addition of the New Beginnings expansion, with both the German and French servers receiving the new content. The patch adds three new mid-level dungeons as well as over 100 new quests to help players new and old enjoy Flyff in depth.

To help promote the patch, the community team is launching a Lights, Camera, Action! promotion. A group of eight players can register and then upload a video to Own3D.tv, with in-game rewards coming as the video accumulates more likes and shares. The total value of all potential rewards goes up to 1,000 Euros, which should help encourage the French and German players of the game to get in on the action. There's also a trailer for the patch just after the break, although if you're not familiar with French, the language barrier might be an issue.

[Source: gPotato press release]

Continue reading Flyff releases New Beginnings to the German and French servers

Flyff releases New Beginnings to the German and French servers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online implements Overwolf in-game overlay

Matt Daniel — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

If you're similar to me -- my condolences if you are -- then you're probably very friendly with your alt and tab keys. Browsing the internet, chatting with your non-gamer heretic friends on AIM, and gaming all at once requires a certain mastery of alt+tab-fu. Allods Online, however, is looking to remedy this multitasking predicament, so it has enlisted the help of Overwolf.

Overwolf is an in-game overlay that provides players with a means to browse the interwebs, IM friends on multiple protocols, record their gameplay, and more without ever leaving the comfort of their game windows. Overwolf will be bundled with all future Allods client downloads, and existing players can download the gPotato version of the application from Overwolf's official site. For the full details on the new partnership, head on over to the official announcement.

Allods Online implements Overwolf in-game overlay originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose My Adventure: No Skyrim, unfortunately

Jeremy Stratton — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, MMO industry, Opinion, Massively Meta, Hands-on, Choose My Adventure, Miscellaneous

For the next six weeks, you, dear readers, get to poke me with virtual sticks and jeer as I do your bidding in an MMO of your choosing. Who am I, you ask. Some of you know me from Massively TV's livestreams, during which I like to ninja loot Karen Bryan's kills. Some of you know me from reading my Runes of Magic articles. What none of you (likely) knows is that I actively play and enjoy many of the MMOs featured here on Massively. However, there are plenty of other MMOs I've either never played or have only sampled briefly. You are going to rectify that.

I tend to have a casual, laid-back style of play. You'd typically find me crafting armor rather than running a dungeon in World of Warcraft. I'd rather be exploring the countryside in Vanguard than progressing through raid content. So whether you revel in the idea of throwing me out of my comfort zone or you want to sit next to me on my extra-soft carebear couch, now's your chance to vote. I'll also be livestreaming parts of Choose My Adventure in the coming weeks. Oh yeah -- and you have until Saturday to vote!

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: No Skyrim, unfortunately

Choose My Adventure: No Skyrim, unfortunately originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iris Online celebrates its first birthday

Matt Daniel — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST

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

Iris Online publisher gPotato has a very optimistic outlook on sharing a birthday with a holiday, saying that "you can either be sad that all your friends are busy doing holiday things or you can throw such a tremendous party that they make time to drop by and visit you!" Of course, the studio is choosing the latter (we still feel for you, people with late-December birthdays) to celebrate Iris Online's first birthday.

The celebration begins today and runs until November 26th. For the duration of the festivities, players will be granted experience, skill, and battlefield point boosts. Drop and enhance rates will also be increased, and to top it off, any player who's been part of Iris Online since September will be given a unique costume just for logging in. To get in on the celebration, just head to the game's official site.

[Source: Gala-net press release]

Iris Online celebrates its first birthday originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aika's Epic II: Karena goes live, brings final Pran evolution

Matt Daniel — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Aika

Aika's Epic II: Karena hit the live servers today, and players are in for a nice surprise along with the previously announced content. Prans -- the players' wee little fairy companions -- will finally be able to reach adulthood, which will grant each Pran two new powerful abilities as well as a stylin' fashion sense (complete with shutter-shades!). And this final transformation happens not a second too soon, as players will need the additional help from their Prans in order to defend the isle of Karena from the evil Zereca. To get in on the new Epic, head on over to Aika's official site, and check out the gallery below for some new shots of the Prans' final forms.

[Source: gPotato press release]

Gallery: Aika Epic II

Aika's Epic II: Karena goes live, brings final Pran evolution originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aika's Epic II: Karena coming November 17th

Matt Daniel — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, PvP, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Aika

Aika players have a few new treats heading their way on November 17th, as the game will be receiving a new update known as Epic II: Karena. Karena advances the game's story, providing more details on the war between Aika's nations and their enemy the Zereca. It also brings several new game features, such as the eponymous island of Karena. PvP players will find something to love as well, as the Traband's Tower Wars have been updated with a new resource system. To top it all off, the game is introducing a new PvF system. What is PvF, you ask? Player vs. Fish, of course. Players can fish up a variety of aquatic creatures and have them cooked into delicious, buff-granting dishes. To join the fun, head on over to Aika's official site.

[Source: Gala-Net press release]

Aika's Epic II: Karena coming November 17th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Flyff expansion grants players a New Beginning

Matt Daniel — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Expansions, Game mechanics, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeons

The dust only recently settled on the Flyff World Championship, and Gala Networks Europe has announced a new update coming to the game. The expansion, known as New Beginning, brings a load of new content for European Flyff players. Many of the game's mechanics -- such as the loot system, legendary quests, and the upgrade system -- have been entirely revamped.

Meanwhile, three new dungeons are available for players looking to test their mettle, and of course new, powerful rewards for said dungeons will be available. Over 100 new scenario and dungeon quests have been added as well, ensuring that players won't lack things to do. The update will be hitting the French and German servers in December.

[Source: Gala Networks Europe press release]

New Flyff expansion grants players a New Beginning originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Rappelz expansion coming in November

Jef Reahard — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeons

Rappelz is five years old this month, and there's no better way to celebrate that milestone than by announcing a new expansion. Gala-Net has done just that, and the company's latest press release says that Epic VII: Ascension will debut in mid-November.

The patch will bring about the conclusion of the Epic VII storyline and introduce a new baddie named Vulcanus -- not to mention his "harrowing dungeon of fire." Happily, the new instance is available for players of any level (and at any time), and the level-scaling mechanics will present appropriate challenges and rewards regardless of your character build.

We'll have more info on the new expansion as the devs make it available, and in the meantime you can take part in the ongoing anniversary celebration. From now through October 18th, players will enjoy 55% hit- and mana-point boosts to "rip through mob after mob without stopping."

[Source: Gala-Net press release]

New Rappelz expansion coming in November originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online previews the Mausoleum of Sparks

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online, Dungeons

One of the most traditional challenges in video games is having players face off against waves and waves of enemies, testing endurance as well as reaction time. Allods Online is putting forth its own version of this challenge with the upcoming 2.0.6 patch via the Mausoleum of Sparks, and if you can't wait to face off against the gauntlet, the game's development team has put together a preview to help sate your appetite.

As explained in the preview, players won't be facing these waves unaided; health bonuses, regeneration bonuses, and other buffs obtainable from the machinery of the arena. However, the resources for upgrading the area are limited, so it'll take strategy to ensure that you can make it through all of the waves in store. There are also rewards for the groups that perform the best in the trial, all giving Allods Online players more incentive to take part in the new challenge.

Allods Online previews the Mausoleum of Sparks originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyff World Championship offering prizes to players as the tournament continues

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Promotions

Think you're a pretty good Flyff player? We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but your opportunity to call yourself among the best is pretty well fading. The first Flyff world championship is currently ongoing, with the sixteen finalists now competing for the opportunity to be crowned the best team of players in the world. Two teams have already been eliminated, with livestreaming coverage of the events available on the official championship channel.

But maybe you don't consider yourself one of the best in the world and don't usually care about these sorts of events. That's all right -- you've still got reason to enjoy it. Players will receive a special item every day just for logging in, as well as another item for every level they gain, from September 28th until October 31st. It's an all-around excellent opportunity for Flyff fans to enjoy the game, whether struggling for the top spot or just leveling for fun.

[Source: Press release]

Flyff World Championship offering prizes to players as the tournament continues originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrate five years of Rappelz starting today

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST

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

For better or worse, free-to-play games are often seen as having a rather disposable lifespan, with the expectation that they'll be here today and gone tomorrow. And that's certainly true in some cases, but in the case of Rappelz, it's entirely wrong. Not only is the game still running strong, but it's been running for five years, quite a milestone for any game. Fans of the game are likely unsurprised that the game is celebrating in a big way, and that celebration starts today with a video contest and a 55% boost to experience.

The experience boost will last until October 5th and is just the tip of the iceberg for a series of events that lead up to the game's true anniversary of November 2nd. Players can also take part in a video contest to show off their in-game pets, with the winners receiving gaming headsets and one grand prize winner getting a free bundle of cash in the game's shop. Rappelz players are going to have a couple of months to enjoy all of the celebrations, so if you've been itching to log back in of late, now is the time.

Gallery: Rappelz gallery

Celebrate five years of Rappelz starting today originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online gives players a chance to choose their luck

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

Luck is fickle. One moment you seem to be hitting a 20% chance for a critical hit every other swing, the next you're lucky if you can avoid missing. But Allods Online is giving the playerbase a chance to change its collective luck through pure will. Well, pure will and a helpful dose of popularity. The Choose Your Lucky Moment event has begun, offering everyone a shot at something bigger and better next week.

Currently, there's a poll available with a long list of lucky bonuses, such as increased experience gained from quests and better loot from the Astral. The voting runs until Friday, September 9th. Once the votes have all been tallied, the three bonuses with the highest number of votes will be turned on for the next week on both servers, running from September 10th until September 16th. It might not help you with that string of critical hits, but it's the best chance Allods Online players will have to turn their luck around by choice.

Allods Online gives players a chance to choose their luck originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Prius Online goes worldwide

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

IP restrictions are about as much fun as any sort of restriction -- but they're also a sometimes necessary reality in the world of free-to-play games, where licensing companies frequently only accept players from a limited range of national IPs. But as Prius Online continues its open beta, the development team has decided to go the opposite route and fling the doors wide open, allowing players worldwide to access the game with no restrictions on regions.

While that alone would be cause for celebration in some circles, the game has also added five new dungeons worth of content for beta testers to enjoy. There's no word on an official launch date just yet, so Prius Online's open beta testers will have to console themselves with the fact that the game is still in the testing stage even though the item shop is open. But you can log in from anywhere, and isn't that worth something?

Gallery: Prius Online

Prius Online goes worldwide originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Jul 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted Waters Online moves to gPotato

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

gPotato already hosts a substantial number of different games -- Aika, Allods Online, and Rappelz spring to mind as some of the more familiar names. But that list has just expanded by one more entry, as Uncharted Waters Online joins the service. The 15th-century naval game allows players to create a naval pioneer during the Age of Exploration from any of the six major powers of the time, adventuring in the (highly stylized) backdrop of the era.

To celebrate the change in service, the game is running two new events: a new player contest with a number of high-end prizes and a doubled experience event for all players below a certain level. Both events will be running until late July, giving everyone interested in the game ample time to take part. So whether you're an old fan of Uncharted Waters Online or you're new to the concept, it seems like a fine time to give it a shot.

Uncharted Waters Online moves to gPotato originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Do the shopping cart: Prius Online opens item shop

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Free-to-play

Prius Online has taken another step toward full-fledged release, as gPotato opened the doors to an in-game item shop today. As with many free-to-play titles, Prius Online will chug along under the power of microtransactions from shop purchases.

The item shop will hold an attractive array of fun and useful goods, ranging from costumes to mounts to all manner of helpful trinkets. To celebrate the shop's opening, Prius Online is handing out a free Leaf of Oblivion to players who log in between June 15th and 19th. The Leaf is capable of resetting your skill points, including your initial job choice, so that you can respec into a better build.

Prius Online went into open beta earlier this month, and any interested parties can check the game out by visiting the website and signing up!

Do the shopping cart: Prius Online opens item shop originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online previews the new Reincarnation system

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

Remember Tabula Rasa's system for letting players save characters and later play a copy of a different class? It was a good system, but it sadly vanished along with the rest of the game, and the upcoming Allods Online patch won't bring it back. But it will bring something very similar in the form of reincarnation, which has just been previewed on the official site. Players at level 46 or higher will be able to create a new character that's linked to the original -- and as a result, learn abilities that would otherwise be unavailable.

Characters who complete the trials necessary for reincarnation will be able to create a special Incarnation character, who shares most of a character's resources such as bag size and mounts. Incarnations are less powerful than the original while leveling, but the bonus is that both the original character and the incarnation may learn abilities from the other's class, allowing more freedom in creating a unique character. Allods Online players interested in this system can find more information on the official preview page -- it should be an interesting way to explore a different character type and earn some extra character abilities in the process.

Allods Online previews the new Reincarnation system originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online launching April 26th

Jef Reahard — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

We'll forgive you if you did a double-take at the headline proclaiming an impending Allods Online launch, because frankly we did the same thing. While it seems like the free-to-play sci-fi/fantasy hybrid has been around forever, it has in fact been in an open beta period since February of 2010.

All that is about to change on April 26th, as Gala-Net has announced the title's official release coinciding with the 2.0.02: Astral Odyssey patch. So while the game has been in the public eye long enough to provoke a controversy, resolve another one, and generally make itself at home amidst the collective free-to-play psyche, it's all been something of a gigantic warm-up.

The Astral Odyssey update is bringing a lot of new content to the table, including a level cap increase (47), two high-level zones (Kirah and the Isle of Revelation), and two new gear systems (refining and draconic relics). Six new allods are coming as well, and you can read all about the officially official release patch at the game's website.

[Update: The EU version will be launching May 11th]

Allods Online launching April 26th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Check out Prius Online with our closed beta key giveaway!

Rubi Bayer — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Contests, Free-to-play, Giveaways

Good things come to those who wait: Gala-Net has been working on the NA version of Prius Online since last August, and we are finally in the home stretch for closed beta testing.

The first round of closed beta will begin later this month, but we've got plenty of beta keys to share now so you can be ready! You can visit our giveaway page now to get your key, then register for a gPotato account if you haven't already.

Closed beta starts on April 28th, but you can download the client beginning on the 22nd, so keep an eye on the Prius Online site for the download and beta key redemption links. In the meantime, check out the game's forum and our complete rundown of some of the most exciting features of Prius Online!

Check out Prius Online with our closed beta key giveaway! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Apr 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microtransaction items for Japanese aid in gPotato's stores

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Flyff, Culture, Events, real-world, Rappelz, News items, Free-to-play

The earthquake that hit Japan on March 11th may no longer be at the forefront of gamers' minds, but the country is still reeling from the impact. NCsoft and CCP Games have both announced efforts to help aid the Japanese people with charitable donations, and it looks like gPotato has decided to encourage players to donate as well. The company has added new merchandise into the microtransaction stores for several games that, items that will grant players a unique look as well as donating all profits to the Red Cross.

Rappelz, Flyff, and Luna Plus are all offering capes for players, while Tales Runner offers a shirt and Iris Online offers a kitten hat. (Sadly, the cat in question is not Maru.) One hundred percent of profits will be donated to the Red Cross to aid in relief efforts, and the items cannot be purchased with "free" currency. The items will be available until March 31st, so if you play the games and haven't yet donated, now would be the time.

Microtransaction items for Japanese aid in gPotato's stores originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Celebrate Aika's first birthday with a gift from Massively!

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, Free-to-play, Giveaways, Aika

Aika has been around for one year, and the developers are celebrating in style by teaming up with Massively to give our readers a birthday present!

We've got 1,000 gift packages, each containing 10 Potions of Arcane Defense, 10 Potions of Destruction, and one new premium item: a Stat Potion Box.

To pick up a gift package for yourself, simply visit our giveaway page to claim a coupon code. Then log in to your gPotato account (or create one if you haven't). On the billing page, select "gPotato coupon" under Pin Code Redemption and enter your code.

Once you've entered the code, you're all set to enjoy your Aika one year anniversary gift package!

Celebrate Aika's first birthday with a gift from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iris Online expansion slated for the 26th

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Expansions, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

If you've been enjoying the gypsy-themed MMO Iris Online, you probably want more of the game to enjoy. That coincides nicely with the fact that the game is getting a major update Wednesday. The game's first expansion (in the usual free-to-play model of a large patch) will be released on January 26th, bringing along a new dungeon, new monsters, and four new maps to accompany a boost in the level cap to level 60. The update also contains several bug fixes and mechanical tweaks, including the removal of the "Force" mechanic to help balance Battlefield encounters.

All of the new areas to explore will contain monsters between levels 50-62, with the new dungeon Wood Garden limited to players at level 40 or higher. There's also a new PvP zone dubbed Spirit's Shelter, featuring a field boss for players to spar against as well as wandering cactus monsters. Iris Online players will luckily not have to wait too long for the game's additions, but the new visual additions to the gallery below will help tide players over until the patch drops.

Gallery: Iris Online Screenshots

Iris Online expansion slated for the 26th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Jan 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aika introduces scaling instances for players

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Aika

Irregular schedules are the bane of group content. When you can't know when you'll log in or how long you'll be online at a stretch, it's really hard to make plans that involve getting other people together, and that's assuming that the content in question isn't an hour of continuous play. So Aika's latest addition should be a welcome change to players -- the development team has changed all of the game's instances to scale according to group size.

Scaled-down dungeons operate under a few restrictions, none of which are terribly restrictive -- players will have a slightly lowered drop rate for items when in a smaller group, to compensate for the lowered difficulty. Although some comments in response allege that the difficulty is still tuned a bit high or low in certain spots, it's a welcome change that's been requested in several games over the years. So if you can't get a half-dozen people together in Aika for a simple run, you don't have to keep looking -- you can just go.

Aika introduces scaling instances for players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aika Online's Last Bastion expansion now live

Jef Reahard — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Expansions, News items, Free-to-play, Aika

The world of Aika Online just got a bit bigger, as Gala-Net and gPotato have announced that the game's second expansion is now live. The update, titled The Last Bastion, increases the level cap from 60 to 70 and allows players to explore the creature-covered swamplands of Termiz.

The Last Bastion also features over 100 new quests through which players will uncover the story of Termiz and assist in preventing the Dark Legion from further damaging the region. Aika boasts six player classes, five nations fighting for territorial control via castle sieges, relic thefts, and custom battlegrounds, as well as considerable PvE options. You can learn more about the game, and the new expansion, at the official website. Also be sure and have a look through our expansion screenshot gallery below.

Gallery: Aika - The Last Bastion

Aika Online's Last Bastion expansion now live originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Iris Online enters second closed beta

Eliot Lefebvre — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST

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

Testing for Iris Online is something that isn't going to float everyone's boat... but one glance at the game's screenshots should make it clear that it will be deeply satisfying to certain people. There's no other game in which you can ride a purple cat with a jester's cap, for instance. If that tickles your fancy, you'll be happy to know that the game's second closed beta test has started, complete with bonuses to both former participants and those who didn't get a chance to test the game the first time around.

Beta testers from the previous phase will be happy to find that their prior characters have not been wiped, allowing them to continue playing from where they had left off. Players who weren't in the previous test, on the other hand, will be able to take part in this testing phase, as a beta key is not required for this phase of testing. The client download link is available with the official announcement, so Iris Online hopefuls should take a look now and get to work on earning their purple cat.

Iris Online enters second closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get ready for Halloween in Aika with our Pran costume giveaway!

Rubi Bayer — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Free-to-play, Giveaways, Aika

Halloween is almost upon us, bringing tricks, treats, and costumes in most MMOs.

Aika is no exception -- the game's charming little Pran sidekicks are just as anxious to enjoy the festivities as any player, so gPotato has made arrangements for them to do just that. We have 1,000 Pran Halloween costume packages to share with you guys. Each package contains a rare Spooky Mask, a set of Skeleton Wings and Headband, all of which will last for 20 days -- plenty of time for your Pran to celebrate the spooky season. To top it off, the package also includes an Enriched Rubicine Extract.

You have until November 27th to get your code, so head to our giveaway page to get your Pran outfitted for Halloween!

Pick up your Pran Halloween costume package!

Get ready for Halloween in Aika with our Pran costume giveaway! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grab a key for Iris Online here and be prepared for its October 15th closed beta

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, New titles, Free-to-play, Giveaways

Do you need more cute in your life, or do you have a deep appreciation for tarot cards? If you said yes to either of those statements, then we here at Massively may just have the title for you. It's gPotato's newest free-to-play entry: Iris Online.

Information about the game is just starting to surface, but let me give you a brief rundown. You're a gypsy-fantasy-themed hero who's out to save the world by utilizing tarot cards. The cards can be used to enhance your weapons and armor, and you can have your hero's fortune told to lay on the buffs and other types of special boosts. The game also features 22 dungeons, each one tied into a specific major arcana card.

Plus it's cute, and you really can't argue with cute. Unless you want to be a cute hater, in which case I ask you to argue against this. (Conclusion: Don't be a cute hater.) But if all of this seems like it's up your alley, then I encourage you to jump after the break, where you can claim a key for the game! We've got 5,000 keys to give away, so there's plenty for everyone!

Gallery: Iris Online Screenshots

Continue reading Grab a key for Iris Online here and be prepared for its October 15th closed beta

Grab a key for Iris Online here and be prepared for its October 15th closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aika expands enemy loot list to include NVidia video cards [Updated]

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Aika, Promotions

If there are two things that MMO players love, those things would probably be killing enemies and getting prizes. (The third would be cheesecake of either variety.) Aika seems keen to capitalize on this, and the game is running a promotion for players through the 13th of the month allowing those two passions to combine into one. For the duration of the event, every time you kill a monster, you have a chance of winning a brand-new graphics card from NVidia.

The system for entry is simple. Any enemy fought within your level range will drop a token, which can produce one of two items. The first is an NVidia box which includes useful in-game items and certainly is nothing to sneeze at. The second is a raffle ticket, which automatically puts you in the drawing for one of the graphics cards, with more tickets meaning a better chance of winning a card. Aika players are also given a special page to track their entries, something that will no doubt become quite frequent as the event marches on.

[Update: We've changed up the graphic with the most current one per the folks at gPotato. Note, the event runs through the 13th, not the 18th!]

Aika expands enemy loot list to include NVidia video cards [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively.com and GameBreaker.TV: Coming to you live from GDC Online!

Seraphina Brennan — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Livestream

GDC Online (formerly GDC Austin) is rapidly approaching, and we here at Massively.com are making sure that we're on the front lines of coverage from the event. We have plenty of interviews lined up with a huge variety of companies, and we're teaming up with our friends at GameBreaker.TV to deliver live coverage of the event via GameBreaker's live show at the Vivox booth!

To get you excited for the coming conference, we've provided the list of companies we're meeting with just after the break! The list isn't fully extensive, as we'll be covering a variety of panels as well, but it will give you an idea of whom we're meeting with. Plus, keep an eye out for a link to the live GameBreaker.TV broadcast on our right-hand sidebar! Their coverage of the event will be starting on Wednesday, October 6th at 12:00 p.m. EDT!

Continue reading Massively.com and GameBreaker.TV: Coming to you live from GDC Online!

Massively.com and GameBreaker.TV: Coming to you live from GDC Online! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online Producer leaving Gala-net

Rubi Bayer — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online

Allods Online's Associate Producer Darren Allarde bid farewell "with a heavy heart" to the Allods Online community yesterday.

Allarde is leaving his position in order to his talents to the City of Eternals team over at Ohai, leaving Kenny Yan to fill his shoes at Gala-Net. Krystin "Nephy" DeHaven will complete the transition by stepping into the Production Coordinator position. Yesterday was Allarde's last day with Gala-Net, and you can read his farewell in full on the Allods Online site.

We at Massively wish Darren, Kenny, and Krysten the best of luck in their new ventures.

Allods Online Producer leaving Gala-net originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aika's latest dungeon is for the birds

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Endgame, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Aika

It's been fairly quiet in terms of Aika news following the game's first major expansion, but the free-to-play game has just received a major update in the form of the Kynari Aviary. Concluding the story from the expansion of the Kynari civil war, the Aviary is the lynchpin of several story seeds and quests that lead players to challenge the malefactor of the Kynari people, Darkrane. He awaits within the dungeon, complete with new rewards and items for players of all skill levels.

The dungeon features three difficulties -- Normal, Hard, and Elite, with the higher difficulties offering better spoils from the battle. It's also filled with high-end crafting materials, with Normal difficulty dropping a large amount of needed materials and Elite difficulty dropping one-of-a-kind recipes for some of the most powerful items in the game. Aika players can begin heading through the dungeon now, assuming that they've hit the level cap and have five friends willing to brave the Aviary.

Aika's latest dungeon is for the birds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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