Massively

The Game Archaeologist: When dead MMOs come back to life

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 01 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, The Matrix Online, Star Wars Galaxies, Hellgate: London, Tabula Rasa, Shadowbane, Mythos, Free-to-play, All Points Bulletin, LEGO Universe, The Game Archaeologist, Faxion Online

Maybe I'm alone in this, but my jaw just dropped when I came home this past week to see that Massively posted the news that Shadowbane is coming back to life. Granted, it's only going to happen in China, but still, that's pretty incredible. Shadowbane's been in the ground for three years now, and if I had to pick an MMO that deserved resurrection, this particular one would be farthest from my mind (no offense if you liked the game; it's just that there are so many others that are even more worthy).

But how can this not give you hope? Many of us have lost an MMO we loved or at least had a decked-out character populating the character select screen, and the thought of that game coming back against all odds is a goosebump-rising one. It may also smack of justice served, as some MMOs fail not because of faulty gameplay but because of mismanagement by the studio, complex legal wrangling, or bad marketing.

Today let's look at a few examples of dead MMOs that were brought back to life and what this may mean for the future of the industry. Zombie MMOs! Not, you know, MMOs with zombies.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: When dead MMOs come back to life

The Game Archaeologist: When dead MMOs come back to life originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enjoy more Hellgate Global with a prize pack from Massively

Shawn Schuster — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Giveaways

If you haven't yet given Hellgate Global a try, we may have just the thing you've been waiting for: in-game prize incentives. Today kicks off our giveaway for 100 in-game coupon codes that will grant you special consumables and unlock the expansion areas Stonehenge, 2nd Invasion, and Abyss.

Note that these coupon codes are only available for new players and will be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis through our giveaway page.

Be sure to read past the cut for complete instructions on how to redeem your code, plus complete descriptions of the in-game prizes. Best of luck!

Continue reading Enjoy more Hellgate Global with a prize pack from Massively

Enjoy more Hellgate Global with a prize pack from Massively originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bill Roper looking to partner with Korean companies for more MMO development

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

You may remember Bill Roper from Diablo. Or, more likely, you remember him from Hellgate: London and Champions Online, probably with emotions that are somewhat less than fond. Several months ago, he was appointed the Vice President of Disney Interactive Media Group, and it looks like Roper is continuing down a path he's walked many times before. As he oversees the production of games based on Marvel properties, he's also looking for partners to start developing an MMO.

Specifically, Roper is looking for a partner company in South Korea to work on co-development for several titles, which include MMOs. The obvious benefit for the Korean company would be increased visibility of licensed properties, with Roper hoping that a visit to the nation will produce a better way of developing new games. No word yet on whether or not anyone is interested in the offer, but there's probably no shortage of gamers made apprehensive by anything involving Bill Roper and a new online game.

Bill Roper looking to partner with Korean companies for more MMO development originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate reveals 2011 stats, hints at 2012 updates

Jef Reahard — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play

T3Fun has released a few statistics designed to keep Hellgate Global in the public eye. Included in the data are interesting nuggets like the gender breakdown for characters created (60/40 in favor of the guys), the most-played class (Marksman), the least-played class (Guardian), and the class with the highest growth rate in terms of character creation (also the Guardian).

We're not exactly sure what that last bit means, but we can tell you that Hellgate's devs have a few new wrinkles planned for 2012 (assuming the world doesn't end in a hail of apocalyptic demon fire first). Among the improvements slated for the new year are "improved services, deeper guild engagement [...] and greater challenges for the most motivated players [via] some of the biggest events yet."

Hellgate Global is free-to-play, so there's really nothing stopping you from moseying over to the game's official website and downloading the client.

[Source: T3Fun press release]

Hellgate reveals 2011 stats, hints at 2012 updates originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup

Rubi Bayer — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, MMO industry, Massively Meta, Guides, Miscellaneous

The winter holiday season is well underway, both in and out of game. Many schools, businesses, and communities are preparing to take a little time off to enjoy the holidays, and here at Massively, we want to make sure you don't miss a single in-game party.

We've been rounding up all the details on celebrations happening in our favorite MMOs, combining them into a handy guide. Follow along after the jump for your map to all of the can't-miss MMO winter holiday events for 2011!

Continue reading Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup

Massively's 2011 winter holiday event roundup originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate is cursed... in a good way

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Patches, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play, MMOFPS

Just when we thought we'd be stuck in London forever, Hellgate Global took us across the world to the ravaged vista of Tokyo late last month. To celebrate the good times and charred corpses all across virtual Japan, the resurrected MMOFPS is bringing a set of new challenges for players to overcome.

For those who scoff at curses and camping out on top of primitive burial grounds, Hellgate dares you to activate your Curse of Dawn mode and attempt to take out Imhotep and Anaksunamun. Those who do so will be on the receiving end of rewards beyond imagination. Also, in-game currency.

Other challenges heading into the game include a guild battle system, and the return of Boss Time Attack. It's not all work and no play, as players will enjoy bonus supplies, free gifts at specific levels, and XP boosts. For a limited time champion monsters will drop lucky coupons, which can then be exchanged for rare items. These will only be in the game until the end October 15th, as luck can only last for so long.

[Source: T3 Entertainment press release]

Hellgate is cursed... in a good way originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate expanding to Tokyo on September 22nd

Jef Reahard — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Expansions, Game mechanics, Patches, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play, Dungeons

If you were wondering why HanbitSoft and T3Fun rechristened Hellgate: London as Hellgate: Global prior to resurrecting it as a free-to-play title earlier this summer, now you know.

The action-horror MMO is expanding to a new burned-out husk of a metropolis, and on September 22nd, you're invited to partake in more grisly demon-slaying action in what remains of post-apocalyptic Tokyo. The city features 24 new levels as well as new monsters and boss mobs. There are also a couple of new game modes on tap, including Cow Room (which pits players against hordes of zombies) and Base Defense (which is exactly what it sounds like).

Finally, Hell Mode gets an encore, and hardcore types who want better loot, more XP, and more it'll-put-hair-on-your-virtual-chest challenge are welcome to queue up and prove their e-manliness.

[Source: T3Fun/HanbitSoft press release]

Hellgate expanding to Tokyo on September 22nd originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate announces September events

Matt Daniel — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, News items, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic

As the legions of hell march on the doorstep of London, Hellgate finds itself in need of powerful heroes to defend the last bastion of humankind. Thankfully, the month of September is strewn with events that will assist players in rising to meet the growing demonic threat.

The festivities begin with an event simply called Join the Ranks. For this event, existing heroes will have the opportunity to recruit new players, which will result in delicious rewards for the the recruiter. Once a healthy regiment of soldiers has been established, it's time to begin training. The Condition System is back in full effect, and it grants each character five hours of bonus experience each day. In addition to the experience bonus, specified dates in September will see the onslaught of a Hell Rush, "effectively doubling the experience earned on those days."

As players level from these bonuses, they will be eligible for the Level And Be Rewarded event. This event... well, it is what it sounds like, people. At certain leveling milestones, players will receive a variety of rewards ranging from inventory expansion to stat-boosting capsules.

But what good is a hero without heroic equipment? Throughout the month, the Tools of the Trade event, which provides players with the chance to receive "premium items that aren't available in the cash shop," will be active. Players will also receive two free Resurrection Scrolls daily, in order to keep them fighting on their feet. And to top it off, once players feel prepared for a challenge, they can take part in the Boss Time Attack event, which is a special challenge mode to kill a dungeon boss within a certain time limit. Succeeding, of course, will result in fine rewards. So suit up and move out, heroes. London isn't going to defend itself.

Hellgate announces September events originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: August 22-28, 2011

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, 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 titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's scheduled for this week!

Continue reading MV Guide: August 22-28, 2011

MV Guide: August 22-28, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: August 1-7, 2011

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide

Continue reading MV Guide: August 1-7, 2011

MV Guide: August 1-7, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate open beta starts tonight

Jef Reahard — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

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

Free-to-play fans are looking at a long weekend filled with new fantasy titles thanks to today's big announcements. If Age of Conan: Unchained isn't your style, perhaps Hellgate Global is. You can find out for sure tonight at 7:30 p.m. EDT as T3 Entertainment takes the wraps off Hellgate's open beta.

The public testing phase will feature four celebratory events: Guild Reservoir, Daily Supplies, To Level in Hell, and Level and Be Rewarded, each of which will grant "valuable prizes" to top players. The open beta also boasts new game modes including PvP duel arenas and the zombie-infested Cow Room.

As an added incentive to check things out, T3's press release mentions a "special prize" in store for everyone who logs in today.

Hellgate open beta starts tonight originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate open beta to begin June 30th [Updated]

Matt Daniel — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, News items, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic

Hellgate's closed beta has been going on since the beginning of this month, but now it's almost time to kick open the doors and blast some monsters in open beta. T3FUN announced today that the freshly rebooted Hellgate will be entering open beta in six days on June 30th.

Strap up your armor and choose your weapons and get ready to jump into the seedy supernatural underbelly of the world of Hellgate. Just make sure you come prepared by checking out our previous coverage of the game!

[Update: The official announcement has been released, and it contains news of a few new features for the game. Duel Areas will be included for players who wish to take part in some team-based PvP combat, while those with a PvE inclination can test their mettle with the Cow Room (surely an homage to Diablo II's infamous Cow Level), where players face off against wave after wave of zombies in hopes of netting some rare loot. For the full press release, hit the official site.]

Hellgate open beta to begin June 30th [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate shows off its new Duel Areas

Eliot Lefebvre — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, News items, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic

No matter how bad the environmental conditions might be in Hellgate, that's no reason to eschew one of the time-honored traditions of MMOs everywhere: PvP. But the game's relaunch won't just be including the original PvP elements, and one of the newer additions has just been highlighted -- the Duel Areas. This new addition allows players to face off against one another on specially designed maps, complete with dynamic elements on each map to keep battles unique.

With four different maps to choose from and a number of pre-fight variables, the Duel Areas are limited at the moment by the fact that only deathmatch games are available within. Killing opponents will reward players with PvP experience, leading to valuable rewards for future PvP matches. Check out the video previews for two of the new arenas just after the break, something that should be enough to get Hellgate players excited as the game moves toward release.

Continue reading Hellgate shows off its new Duel Areas

Hellgate shows off its new Duel Areas originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate beta videos show off character creation, gameplay

Jef Reahard — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play

Horror fans and MMOFPS aficionados have been setting their clocks back a few years courtesy of this weekend's Hellgate closed beta event. You may recall the original Hellgate: London as something of a dud when it originally debuted in the winter of 2007.

Not to worry, though, since HanbitSoft and T3Fun have revived the franchise and converted it to a new free-to-play title called Hellgate Global. MMO Culture has a trio of videos chronicling this weekend's event, and you can glimpse character creation as well as a bit of the shooter's demon-slaying gameplay.

Hellgate intrigued us with its blend of action-horror and apocalyptic stylings the first time around, and we're just as curious for chapter two. Have a look at the videos after the break and share your thoughts on the beta while you're at it.

Continue reading Hellgate beta videos show off character creation, gameplay

Hellgate beta videos show off character creation, gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate closed beta heats up tomorrow

Jef Reahard — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST

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

If it's not hellishly hot enough for you outside, T3 Entertainment is here to inject a bit more fire and brimstone into your weekend courtesy of Hellgate's closed beta. The first phase of testing kicks off Friday June 3rd at 7:30 p.m. EDT, with a wrap-up scheduled for the same time on June 5th.

The new and improved Hellgate boasts additional content from the previous iteration of the game, and players who have snagged beta keys can check out either the multiplayer aspects or the single-player campaign (as well as elements of the older Hellgate: Tokyo expansion that are now included in the new version).

Head to the official Hellgate website for more info on the game and the beta.

Hellgate closed beta heats up tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dive into Hellgate with a closed beta key from Massively!

Rubi Bayer — Sat, 21 May 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Horror, Contests, Hellgate: London, Giveaways

Do you feel like you've been waiting forever to check out this resurrected title? Well, your wait is nearly over, because Hellgate's closed beta testing begins June 3rd. Even better, we've got 900 closed beta keys to share!

Are you ready to start chasing demons and hunting glitches? Grab your key from our giveaway page, create your Hellgate account, then click the "Do you have your key?" button on the game's main page. Download and install the game from the main page and you're all set for beta!

Remember, the Hellgate team won't flip the switch to start beta testing until June 3rd, but we've got a little something to help you pass the time until then. Check out the gallery below for a series of brand-new Hellgate wallpapers -- even your desktop will be ready for beta!

[Sorry, all codes have been claimed]

Gallery: Hellgate

Dive into Hellgate with a closed beta key from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 May 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate beta signup begins

Jef Reahard — Fri, 20 May 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Hellgate: London

We reported earlier this week on Hellgate Global's newly minted web presence. As of today it seems that the highway to hell is officially open, as T3Fun has posted a beta signup blurb on the game's forums. Closed beta testing for the resurrected title begins on June 3rd, and GM Verin says "there's going to be enough CBT keys for everyone, so don't worry about not being able to beta test."

Applying is as easy as registering on the forums and clicking on the "gates of hell" graphic at the top right of the announcement post. Getting into the beta in this manner is a random event, and you'll know you've been successful if you see an image that reads "your courage has been noted."

If you don't make the cut on the official forums, T3Fun has posted a list of partner sites that will be handing out beta keys in the coming days.

Hellgate beta signup begins originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 May 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate Global ramps up its web presence, new trailer released [Updated]

Jef Reahard — Wed, 18 May 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Hellgate: London

Hellgate: London is back. HanbitSoft and T3Fun are reanimating the corpse of the post-apocalyptic horror RPG/MMO hybrid for a global release in the near future. The title is being developed in Korea, and T3Fun has recently updated its website and Facebook page with a lengthy story video and a few gameplay screens.

The trailer showcases over 12 minutes of CG footage designed to familiarize would-be crusaders with Hellgate's world and their place in it. The short version is that the forces of hell have ransacked the earth. The longer version involves copious amounts of swords, machine guns, curvaceous templars and slavering demons bent on subjugating the local populace.

If you know your gaming history, you'll also know that Hellgate was originally developed by ex-Blizzard staffers before collapsing under the weight of unmet expectations and financial pressures. We'll be keeping a close eye on Hanbitsoft's resurrection project and you can too, starting with the cinematic trailer after the cut.

[Update]: T3Fun and HanbitSoft have officially announced North American closed beta dates for Hellgate, with the kickoff scheduled for June 3rd to June 5th. The game will launch later this year according to a press release.

Continue reading Hellgate Global ramps up its web presence, new trailer released [Updated]

Hellgate Global ramps up its web presence, new trailer released [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 May 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bill Roper reflects on Hellgate

Jef Reahard — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, MMO industry, Miscellaneous

How exactly does a well-funded studio composed of Blizzard veterans end up creating one of the more spectacular failures in recent gaming history? That's a question that Gamasutra attempts to answer in a new interview with former Flagship (and Cryptic) CEO Bill Roper.

The debacle that was Hellgate: London stemmed mainly from over-ambition, Roper says, coupled with the lack of capital necessary to support the don't-release-til-it's-ready mentality that much of the staff experienced at Blizzard. "There was always the support there [at Blizzard] to say, 'You know what? If that's what you need to make this game great, then that's what we'll get for you. We'll figure it out.' It's obviously very different when you are an independent company, right, and not owned by somebody."

The interview also touches on Flagship's involvement with Mythos as well as Roper's experiences dealing with the Hellgate fallout and extensive (and often personal) fan backlash. "It went from 'I didn't like your game' or 'I don't think your company makes good games' to the personal assault level," he says.

Bill Roper reflects on Hellgate originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Will you welcome back the Hellgate franchise?

James Egan — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, MMO industry, Opinion, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind

Hellgate: London is one of those games that has really divided opinion from our readers. Some brand it as a deeply-flawed game, or were burned by that costly Founder's lifetime subscription when the game shut down after a rather short life. Others -- like some of us on the Massively staff -- truly miss the game's blend of horror and sci-fi elements and have been hoping that Hellgate: London would one day return in some form or another.

Although the future of the game has been murky, the most recent (and most straightforward) announcement is that Hellgate: London is slated to return to Western shores. HanbitSoft has secured the worldwide publishing rights to the game from Namco-Bandai, so now it's just a matter of time before it returns. We're interested to hear what you think about this. Would you welcome the return of Hellgate: London? For that matter, how would you feel about playing the game in its current free-to-play incarnation, Hellgate: Resurrection?

The Daily Grind: Will you welcome back the Hellgate franchise? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HanbitSoft acquires worldwide publishing rights for Hellgate: London

James Egan — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, MMO industry, Hellgate: London, Legal

It's been a long and turbulent ride for Hellgate: London, stretching all the way back to its rather troubled Halloween 2007 launch under the banner of the ill-fated Flagship Studios. This stretched through a bewildering morass of licensing disputes, general misinformation, and mixed signals (like continual English press releases for the game in a non English-speaking market. *ahem*) in the wake of the Flagship Studios closure and subsequent legal wranglings between T3 Entertainment/HanbitSoft and NAMCO BANDAI. Still, despite some of the flaws both in terms of business decisions made and the game itself, the title has its fans and many were sad to see Hellgate: London's servers in North America and Europe go dark.

Liken it to a yo-yo, a roller coaster, or what have you -- it's been confusing, but there have been glimmers of hope of the game one day returning to Western regions. An official release from Hellgate: London's license holder HanbitSoft today is perhaps the most solid bit of info we've received about the future of the game outside of Korea. In HanbitSoft's own words: "HanbitSoft Inc., announced today that the company has obtained the publishing rights for Hellgate in North America, Europe and Japan from NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.. HanbitSoft and NAMCO BANDAI Games America, the formal owner of the publishing rights in these regions, have entered into an agreement for the game to be distributed by HanbitSoft in the future."

Continue reading HanbitSoft acquires worldwide publishing rights for Hellgate: London

HanbitSoft acquires worldwide publishing rights for Hellgate: London originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate: London is dead, for real this time

Seraphina Brennan — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, Hellgate: London, Free-to-play, Legal

It's up! It's down! It's up! It's down! It's... sideways?

That's the story for the ever growing saga of Hellgate: London in a nutshell. This time, however, it's not coming back and there should be no more rumors that it is coming back. HanbitSoft, the Asian publisher of the game, has finally clarified to GameCyte that they do not have the publishing rights to Hellgate: London in the United States or Europe, just in Asia, excluding Japan.

Currently those rights are held by Namco-Bandai, who have made the decision to shut down the Hellgate servers as of February 1st.

So it's not coming back. Even though it will still have press releases in English and have updates being made by a US developer, it's not coming back. However, if you really want to play, we suggest moving to Asia, as it will still be going strong over there.

Hellgate: London is dead, for real this time originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate's US/EU servers and website slam shut

William Dobson — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Business models, Culture, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, Hellgate: London

The show is now over for the Hellgate: London that we once knew. The game's servers and the official website have poofed, and stranded fans will now turn their attention towards HanbitSoft's grand plans to revive the troubled title in a free-to-play format, complete with new content and gameplay changes. HanbitSoft's press release did not specify a date for the re-launch, nor did it say which territories it will be servicing, so we're looking at a bit of downtime for the moment.

Scott from the Pumping Irony blog has written about his time spent online during Hellgate's final hours. Plenty of players turned up to see the "end of the world", and many donated their soon-to-be-worthless in-game currency to the War Drive NPC, granting buffs to the masses. Scott's transcript of the last few moments of chat are an indication of the kind of solidarity and sadness that the most faithful fans displayed as their world was crumbling around them. It's all on HanbitSoft now to save these folks from their Hellgate-less existence.

Hellgate's US/EU servers and website slam shut originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: The ones that got away

Elizabeth Harper — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, The Daily Grind

Oh, Hellgate: London! How could a post-apocalyptic zombie shoot 'em up have gone so very wrong? Though your servers are shutting down at the end of January, never again to return to US or European shores, we ran into this collector's edition box just yesterday, placed at an appealing eye-level on a Circuit City shelf, just begging the innocent passerby to take it home (or perhaps, considering the game's rocky history, simply to give it a good hug). And it's not the only MMO that's leaving us in early 2009: Tabula Rasa is closing at the end of February. (Though unlike Hellgate, which isn't even accepting new subscriptions at this point, TR is free to play for everyone until the servers shut down.) These are hardly the only games to have met an unfortunate end: remember Earth and Beyond? Auto Assault? Oh, MMOs, why must you go away and leave us oh so alone? (Not that we here at Massively are at all bitter about MMO closures. These games were only our best friends once upon a time.) So this morning, in honor of that lonely Hellgate box, which MMOs going or gone do you miss?

The Daily Grind: The ones that got away originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate: London saved by Namco-Bandai

Michael Zenke — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Hellgate: London, MMOFPS

Didn't really think we'd be talking about this game ever again, but it's nice to be wrong. Tipster Matt let us know that a Senior Director for Business development has posted to the official Hellgate:London forums letting everyone know that 'word' is coming soon. On Monday Ping0 employee Tiggs posted to the same thread, telling folks not to worry. Now it appears that, via this post by Namco's Zack "Ozuri" Karlsson, there really is nothing to worry about.

Says Karlsson, "The game is up, the servers are not going away in the short term and any major changes to status will be communicated in advance. I'd like to ask for your patience as we try to figure it all out and chart a new course. We value your community, your commitment, and your passion for Hellgate and we will make sure that any solution that we architect will support all of you as best as we are able. Thanks again. We hope to have a real announcement shortly." Vague, yes, but one thing isn't vague at all: Hellgate: London now has an official game page on the Namco-Bandai site. Looks like the legacy of Flagship will live on!
Thanks for the tip, Matt!

Hellgate: London saved by Namco-Bandai originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate: London subscriptions suspended

Matt Warner — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Hellgate: London

Exploring and fighting in post-apocalyptic London used to require a subscription but not anymore. Flagship Studios has announced that active Hellgate: London subscribers will not be billed nor will any new subscriptions be accepted. Normally, this would be welcoming news to players, but it's not because there is a chance that Hellgate: London could shutdown operations. Staff went first, and the forums are going next, tonight both the official Mythos and Hellgate: London forums will be pulled offline at 12AM.

Due to financial circumstances Flagship Studios has come under hardships and had to layoff almost its entire staff. Ping0, an online services subsidiary was also affected. The fallout is a huge confusing mess, and Flagship used the rights to its intellectual property as collateral on loans for operating expenses. Now that Flagship is more or less collapsing HanbitSoft is stepping in trying to reign in both intellectual properties, Hellgate: London and Mythos, due to Flagship Studios defaulting on their original agreement.

Hellgate: London subscriptions suspended originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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HanbitSoft CEO claims ownership rights to Hellgate:London and Mythos

Matt Warner — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Interviews, MMO industry, News items, Mythos, Legal

We're still reeling over the news that Flagship Studios has met its demise. Seeing any hard working development studio with loads of potential go belly-up isn't easy considering all the real people affected from the fallout. Bill Roper hasn't made a public announcement yet, but the closure of Flagship Studios was confirmed. What will happen to Mythos and Hellgate:London is a question that remains on many minds. The HanbitSoft CEO, Kim Ki-young chips away at that answer in a response to an inquiry by TheGames.co.kr seeking clarification about the situation surrounding Hellgate:London and Mythos.

In a translation provided by Hellgate Guru, Kim Ki-young of HanbitSoft states: "If we can take intellectual property rights of relevant products from Flagship Studios, we have confidence to develop the games ourselves based on T3 Entertainment's advanced technology' and 'we believe we can service fresh and interesting games to online gamers by getting intellectual property rights and development. This crisis could be an opportunity for us."

Continue reading HanbitSoft CEO claims ownership rights to Hellgate:London and Mythos

HanbitSoft CEO claims ownership rights to Hellgate:London and Mythos originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate:London patch update 1.3d now live

Matt Warner — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Patches, Hellgate: London

All the scuttlebutt regarding fleeing Hellgate:London developers and programmers didn't stop the 1.3d patch from hitting the servers yesterday. The refreshing patch introduces changes to gameplay, a rebalancing act to the calculations behind rank experience, and further eradications to pesky bugs occurred which will help keep the mean streets of Hellgate:London crash free. The full 1.3d are listed on the official website or you can hit the jump below.

Frequent displeasure remains constantly expressed in our Hellgate:London post threads. If you are still looking for an admittance of failures from someone at Flagship Studios, Max Schaefer, operations chief and co-founder recently acknowledged mistakes were made and lessons learned. The main one being the grandiosity in the overall vision for the game and an early launch that more or less turned Hellgate:London into a recovery process. Still there is a fanbase, and it was well received in South Korea. The developers are working hard, and hopefully with enough patches it will prove to be a better experience for those willing to give it a second chance. Have you?

Continue reading Hellgate:London patch update 1.3d now live

Hellgate:London patch update 1.3d now live originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flagship holds forth on lessons learned

Adrian Bott — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, MMO industry, Hellgate: London, Mythos

Max Schaefer, operations chief and co-founder of Flagship Studios, is forthright about the mistakes made on Hellgate: London. In a lengthy interview with eurogamer.net he explains how that game tried to be too many things to too many people, and ended up being rushed to market without being 'kept in the oven long enough.' They simply took too much on for a fledgling studio without any existing technologies to cope with.

Flagship is now working on a brand new MMO, the free-to-play microtransaction-driven Mythos, which is nothing like as 'hardcore' as Hellgate. Resemblances to the likes of Diablo or WoW are justified by Schaefer in terms of the relief they give players; the idea is to cultivate a sense of 'familiar novelty', in which the gameplay is comfortable enough to welcome a player in and get them settled, but innovative enough to excite and keep interest.

Continue reading Flagship holds forth on lessons learned

Flagship holds forth on lessons learned originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cinemassively: For the Living

Moo Money — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Hellgate: London, Cinemassively, Machinima

DeafeningTheDaisies did a great job with a game not particularly known for machinima, Hellgate: London. Deafening has an entire series planned out, with most of the first episode almost done. While there isn't a plot in this video, it's certainly heavy on the scare factor!

The biggest problem with For the Living is the aspect ratio, which jumps back and forth between text and gameplay. However, that's easy to fix. We look forward to seeing the full series!

If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them.

Cinemassively: For the Living originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why exactly is Hellgate:London so bad?

Michael Zenke — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Hellgate: London

Earlier today we brought you word that there has been some unrest in the ranks at Flagship Studios, makers of Hellgate:London. Though Kotaku's discussion with studio representatives makes it sound like much ado about nothing, it's worth wondering where from Mr. Somberg's angst originated. In this the games blogger Shamus, of the site Twenty Sided, may be able to assist. Though Shamus is a dyed-in-the-wool tabletop player, he also regularly plays PC titles. Intrigued by Hellgate's terrible reputation, he dove in expecting to find that the negative hype about the game was likely just as insubstantial about the pre-launch positive. Instead, he found himself sinking into a quicksand of strange design choices and poorly documented subsystems.

In what he's calling an autopsy of the game, Shamus lays out what makes Hellgate:London the yawning disappointment it is. His first analysis post centers around the fact that there's almost no reason to care about the world or its inhabitants. An unnecessary amount of snark and in-joking sucks all the veracity out of the setting. His second post is all about the game's unapproachable crafting system. Think "undocumented black box" and you'll have some approximation of what's involved here. From there you can look to his site for future discussions of the game, or head back into his archive for previous discussions on the genre.

Why exactly is Hellgate:London so bad? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anti-Aliased: How to pick the MMO for you

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Massively Meta, Humor, Anti-Aliased

Let's be honest for a moment - there are a ton of MMOs out there. We have everything from fantasy, to dystopian future, to fantasy, to horror, to fantasy, to pirates, to fantasy, to sci-fi, and even all the way down to fantasy. While this is great for people who love choice, this is a complete nightmare (or should I say Bloodymare, ha ha, gaming puns) for anyone who's new to the genre or wants to start off with a fresh game that's different from what they're playing.

How do you separate the good from the bad? How do you know if you'll stick to a game? You don't want to gamble with an expensive game only to find out that you totally hate it and wish it would burn in the deepest depths of hell. (I'm looking at you, Risk Your Life.) So, do you rely on what your friends tell you or what reviewers tell you?

In my opinion, no one knows you except you. So when you sit down and want to pick the right game the first time, here's a few pointers and suggestions to get you started.

Continue reading Anti-Aliased: How to pick the MMO for you

Anti-Aliased: How to pick the MMO for you originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 May 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate: London goes to Korea, makes it big

Kyle Horner — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Launches, News items, Hellgate: London

So do you remember when Hellgate: London wanted you to give it a second chance? Well apparently it found a new Korean boyfriend. Launching in beta-mode last January 15th, Hellgate has since officially launched on February 22nd to critical success. Apparently, in the two weeks following the February launch, Hellgate: London managed to grab over a million subscribers. By Flagship's count, that makes Hellgate: London the most successful Korean launch in the last three years; quite the difference from its state-side grand opening last year.

Apparently all the buzz started in Korea during the January 15th beta, when gamers at PC Cafes picked up on the title. Ever since then it has been garnering a strong audience. We're happy to see the game has found a home, as hopefully this means Flagship can bankroll some more people into the Mythos team to make that game even cooler.

[via Joystiq]

Hellgate: London goes to Korea, makes it big originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate: London would like a second chance

Kyle Horner — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bugs, News items, Hellgate: London

We all know that Hellgate: London didn't exactly have the best of launches; actually it had a very terrible launch. The biggest problem was probably all the bugs in the game, which more often than not were responsible for regular client crashes among other game-ending glitches. This sort of thing tends to kill games forever, but Hellgate: London has been sticking it out over the past several months and things have actually gotten better -- at least as far as the bugs and additional content goes. So now Flagship Studios is hoping players will come back and give the game a second (or possibly third) chance.

From what we've heard and seen of these updates, it sounds like Flagship isn't pulling any legs here -- the game really has gotten better. Even so, we really have to wonder if that's enough to bring previously-scorned players back to the game, as many of them have no doubt moved on since last year. Maybe it would be wise to drop the price on the game a tad and offer some sort of incentive for players to come back or try the game for the first time. Mythos might be the perfect conduit to spotlight these new improvements; if Flagship can think up a clever way to do it.

Hellgate: London would like a second chance originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview with Flagship's Max Schaefer

Brenda Holloway — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, Mythos, Free-to-play

On their latest video podcast, the folks at 1UP had a chat with Flagship Studios' COO and executive producer of Mythos, Max Schaefer. He talks a little about Mythos' raison d'être as a sort of technology demo for last year's action MMO, Hellgate: London. It's taken on a life of its own since then to become the kinder, lighter action MMO, brighter and more just plain fun. In keeping with their more social goal for Mythos, there is full guild support, and they'll be adding in email, minigames, group-oriented content and, yes, an item mall. Following the lead of the Asian casual game market, Mythos is free to download, free to play, and though you may want to buy certain things to help you along the way at their item mall (though nothing overpowering -- you won't find the best swords or armor at the item mall), you will be able to see and do everything without paying a penny.

Schaefer calls this new philosophy "Triple-A casual" -- top flight production values using the latest tech, but keeping development time short and focusing on the fun. We've been hearing a lot about Mythos lately; here's hoping they start their open beta soon so that we can all play.

Interview with Flagship's Max Schaefer originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate: London solo players get huge patch

Kyle Horner — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Patches, News items, Hellgate: London

Hellgate: London players who've had their copy of the game sitting all alone on a shelf somewhere may want to dust off their discs, because the 1.2 patch for non-subscribers is heading their way. The big reason this matters is mostly because the last patch that single (re: non-subscribing) players got was the 0.6 patch back in December. Well, that's not the only reason, the other is that this patch will bring with it a metric ton of updates, including lots of bug fixes. We're glad to hear it, because the game looks like it could be pretty enjoyable -- if not for the amount of fun-ending issues.

Flagship Studios have the patch in their final Q&A state and are readying a beta version of it for players to try out sometime this week. The patch itself contains all the content and updates that the multiplayer version of the patch had -- so essentially it's the same patch as the one released on March 17th.

We sincerely hope these patches keep on coming, because with every improvement the game receives we're finding it harder to resist a summertime purchase out of sheer curiosity.

Hellgate: London solo players get huge patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the Curtain: What's in a name?

Craig Withers — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Culture, MMO industry, Star Wars Galaxies, Hellgate: London, Tabula Rasa, Ultima Online, Behind the Curtain, Virtual worlds

How much attention do you pay to the names behind the MMOs we're playing just now? Do you dig up as much information as you can on the developers, producer and designers involved in up and coming games? Do you even pay any attention at all?

I'll be honest - I picked up Star Wars Galaxies based on the licence alone. While I've been a gamer since my Uncle gave me a ZX Spectrum as a child, I didn't know anything about the people behind Galaxies. I had heard about Everquest of course - I wasn't stupid after all - but Galaxies was my first MMO, and I was a noob in every sense of the word. I didn't know anything about the designers, the developers, and I didn't even think to check up on them.

I was a little more aware when I came round to World of Warcraft. I was, and still am, a big Diablo 2, fan, so I knew who Blizzard were. I hadn't picked up Warcraft 3 when it came out, due to the PC I had t the time not being to run it, but I knew that it'd been a huge commercial and critical success for Blizzard, so I knew that it was a safe bet. Plus, it was taking the world by storm already, so it was a bit of a no-brainer.

Maybe I'm just older and wiser now, or maybe the information is just easier to get a hold of, but I pay more attention to the people actually making the game that I'm interested in - I thought this week, we could have a look at some of the names you should be aware of.

Continue reading Behind the Curtain: What's in a name?

Behind the Curtain: What's in a name? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Another look inside Mythos

Mike Schramm — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, New titles, Previews, Leveling, PvE, Mythos, Free-to-play

Lots has been written already about Mythos, a free-to-play Diablo-esque MMO from Flagship Studios (makers of Hellgate London), and there are plenty of guides (including our own) to look through if you want some insight on what the game is like. And here's another-- our friend Stropp has punched up another preview of levels 1-5 in Mythos.

Like a lot of other people who've played the game, Stropp compares it directly to Diablo 2-- lots of running around, clicking, and just generally crushing everything in your path. As we've heard before, there are three classes and three races in the game, so while the game itself is a little simpler than the major MMOs (it is F2P, after all), the gameplay is solid and well-traveled enough that it stays fun. There's also an achievement system, apparently, in which you can win titles that actually grant attributes for your character. Sounds cool, even if it's not quite as developed as some other games yet.

Mythos is currently in very, very open closed beta-- they'll give away a beta invite to almost anyone if you ask nicely enough. The buzz just keeps going-- it may be the free-to-play game of 2008.

Gallery: Mythos

Another look inside Mythos originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Meet Gargantua

Elizabeth Harper — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Screenshots, Hellgate: London, One Shots

Today we bring you another screenshot from the upcoming Hellgate: London Stonehenge expansionfrom reader Ghen. Here we get to meet Gargantua, one of the beasties you might encounter in Stonehenge. Though the UI hides them (and Hellgate has no option to remove its UI), Gargantua has large "mace-like" hands that he swings at you -- as if he didn't look scary enough without the threat of physical violence.

Do you have any ominous images of monsters from your favorite game? Send 'em our way (and for holiday shots, don't forget our holiday postcard contest!), so we can feature your screenshot and story for tomorrow's One Shots! It's easy to participate -- just send your screenshots and stories to oneshots@massively.com.

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: Meet Gargantua originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Hellgate's Stonehenge

Elizabeth Harper — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, Hellgate: London, One Shots

Ghen sends in One Shots' first images of Hellgate: London. This image comes from the beta servers for The Stonehenge Chronicles, Hellgate's patch 1.0, expected to go live in January. Flying overhead we see an Exospector, which Ghen describes as "a demon sky-whale." Our response? Kill it! Kill it!

Do you have any good shots of holiday celebrations in your favorite game? Send 'em our way (or dress them up a bit and submit them to our holiday postcard contest!), so we can feature your screenshot and story for tomorrow's One Shots! It's easy to participate -- just send your screenshots and stories to oneshots@massively.com.

Gallery: One Shots

One Shots: Hellgate's Stonehenge originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Dec 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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