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Dragons gone wild: Might and Magic: Heroes Kingdom's third season reveals all

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, PvP, Free-to-play, Browser

The browser-based strategy MMO Might and Magic: Heroes Kingdom (winner of the "We want to write that title in a completely different order" award) has cracked a peek into its third season, and soon the doors will be flung wide open for all to see.

Season three launches on Thursday, September 15th, and will introduce a host of new challenges for both PvE and PvP players. It appears that the air dragon Ylath has aroused from his slumber looking for a good meal while those nasty Dark Elves are on the prowl for an unprepared hero or two. Runic fortresses also have appeared out of thin air, begging players to battle over these swanky summer homes. Finally, fans of the title should enjoy the enhanced character customization coming with the update.

The free-to-play title will add an in-game store with this update to help monetize the game. You can check out what we thought of the title with our First Impressions series.

Dragons gone wild: Might and Magic: Heroes Kingdom's third season reveals all originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: Might and Magic Heroes Kingdoms

Beau Hindman — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Reviews, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, Might and Magic, MMORTS, First Impressions

Browser-based games have come a long way. A few years ago, I would have never predicted that they would be as popular and varied as they are now. I wouldn't have believed that the quality would rise, while still being contained in the 2-D walls of your favorite browser. But, here we are, discussing Might and Magic Heroes Kingdoms, another browser-based game that has raised that level of quality once again. It's a subtle difference, but the improvements should still be noted and enjoyed.

First of all, I want to say that I am generally horrible at any type of PvP. I rarely think of conquest and would rather trade with my fellow players than attempt to murder them. Call me old-fashioned! So, when I signed up for a game that promised that type of epic conquest (and diplomacy as well, lest we forget) I was a little more than worried that the following First Impressions would consist only of the words "I SUCK."

What I found, after giving in and joining the very first alliance that offered membership, was a game that is heavy on the chin-scratching and light on difficulty. And it's fun, too.

Continue reading First Impressions: Might and Magic Heroes Kingdoms

First Impressions: Might and Magic Heroes Kingdoms originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Play me, my lord: Might and Magic Heroes Kingdoms fires up an interview

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, Previews, Free-to-play, Browser

The Heroes of Might and Magic franchise has a long and rich history with PC gamers, although the series has somewhat fallen into obscurity as of late. Ubisoft is looking to thrust it back into the spotlight with the upcoming Might and Magic Heroes Kingdoms, a Civilization-type title. We've been tracking MMHK since this year's E3, and recently MMOsite.com grabbed some facetime with Ubisoft's Chris Early about the game. (Note that this isn't the Heroes of Might and Magic Online that's also nearing release.)

A browser-based title imported from overseas, Might and Magic Heroes Kingdoms encourages players to slowly build up a city (and later, cities) and interact with their neighbors. This can take the form of peaceful resource trading, hostile skirmishes, or large-scale strategy. While MMHK is set in the Might and Magic universe, the game differs from Heroes of Might and Magic's playstyle -- for example, combat is automatically resolved instead of turn-based. One of the most interesting features of the game is that it has a six-month cycle, after which winners are declared and the server resets for another grand struggle.

The interview spends a bit of time prodding Chris Early about the advantages -- and potential imbalance -- between free players and those who drop cash for advantages (such as more cities to control). Early claims that while paying players will have more options available, free players are still a significant force, especially if they specialize. You can read the whole interview over at MMOsite.com.

Play me, my lord: Might and Magic Heroes Kingdoms fires up an interview originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2010: Your complete Massively coverage roundup

Jef Reahard — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Super-hero, Jumpgate Evolution, Lord of the Rings Online, Events, real-world, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, The Agency, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Might and Magic, Crime, MMOFPS, Warhammer 40k, LEGO Universe, Kids, DC Universe Online, Black Prophecy, Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, Final Fantasy XIV, TERA, Battlestar Galactica Online, Vindictus, Need for Speed World

The 2010 edition of the gaming nirvana known as E3 has come and gone, and Massively was there to bring you three days of exclusives, firsts, and hands-on impressions for all your favorite MMORPG titles, studios, and developers. This year's Expo saw plenty of news and announcements regarding highly anticipated games, as well as plenty of information on assorted titles large and small.

We thought it best to collate our coverage into a complete and concise roundup post for your viewing pleasure, so read along after the cut to make sure you didn't miss anything. You can also check out all of our E3 galleries along the way.

Continue reading E3 2010: Your complete Massively coverage roundup

E3 2010: Your complete Massively coverage roundup originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2010: Might and Magic Heroes Kingdom preview

Elizabeth Harper — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: New titles, Free-to-play, Browser, Massively Event Coverage

On Tuesday, we caught up with Chris Early, Ubisoft's Vice President of Digital Publishing, to chat about Heroes of Might and Magic's future with a new browser-based MMO. I must admit, I'm personally a bit skeptical about whether browser-based games can supplant full-fledged applications, but after talking with Chris, I'm sold on the concept -- at least insofar as Might and Magic Heroes Kingdom is concerned.

First up, the basics. Just what is MMHK?

Ubisoft calls MMHK a "strategic casual MMO." It's turn-based with more of real-time strategy vibe than we've seen in other MMOs and it's designed with people who may only have a few minutes a day to play in mind. Think of something along the lines of multiplayer Civilization with thousands of other people and you'd be near the mark. Now, whether "casual" turns into hours of "just one more turn" is another matter entirely.
Gameplay and lore from the Might and Magic franchise we all know and love -- the goal with MMHK is just to throw more players into the mix.
Want PvP? You can do that. Want PvE? You can do that. Want to advance as a merchant-type character purely for the pursuit of wealth without killing your fellow players? You can do that, too.
Browser-based, which means you can play it on your PC, your Mac, or even your shiny new iPad -- wherever you've got an internet connection.This means there's no software to download or install.
Free to play with an optional subscription fee. (Though Ubisoft hasn't announced pricing for the game's North American release, it's currently live in France, where a monthly subscription runs five euros.)

If that sounds like something that might be up your alley, read on for more details.

Gallery: E3 2010: Might & Magic Heroes Kingdoms

Continue reading E3 2010: Might and Magic Heroes Kingdom preview

E3 2010: Might and Magic Heroes Kingdom preview originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heroes of Might and Magic Online beta announced

Jef Reahard — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items

The Might and Magic franchise is coming to the MMORPG genre, courtesy of publishing giant Ubisoft and the Chinese development studio known as TQ Digital. The original Might and Magic series, considered by many to be a classic example of the early PC roleplaying game genre, was rebooted by Ubisoft in 2006 with Heroes of Might and Magic V, and later with Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.

The new MMORPG, Heroes of Might and Magic Online, is slated for closed beta in May 2010. The game will marry elements from an early entry in the franchise, Heroes of Might and Magic III, to the visual upgrades established in the last two Ubisoft games, culminating in a 2.5D massively multiplayer experience featuring a turn-based persistent world. (Perhaps similar to the 3D but turn-based Atlantica Online.)

The game will feature eight factions, sixteen classes, and a variety of campaign missions. Additionally, TQ Digital will be hosting a variety of PvP events, including Team PK, Extreme PK, and various Guild combat events. You can register for the closed beta as well as visit the official website, and don't forget to stay with Massively for more info on Heroes of Might and Magic Online as it becomes available.

Heroes of Might and Magic Online beta announced originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Over $100 million invested in Trion and its unusual distribution platform

Samuel Axon — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items

Trion announced that it has managed to get another $70 million in invested funds, bringing the total amount to over $100 million. For reference: that's somewhere in the ballpark of the development cost Grand Theft Auto IV, and about half of what Blizzard has spent on World of Warcraft since its 2004 launch.

Trion is the company co-founded by EA alum Lars Buttler and Might and Magic creator Jon Van Caneghem, which announced that it'll be making a game in concert with The Sci-Fi Channel, as well as a fantasy console MMO we know little about.

We've talked a bit about Trion's plans and business model before, but here's a refresher: it is creating development tools for making games that will run completely server-side. The graphics will be drawn on the client, but everything else -- physics, game logic, etc., will occur on the server and be downloaded to the user's computer. This serves two important functions. It greatly reduces the minimum hardware specifications for games and it makes piracy extremely difficult. We're not going to say yet that it makes piracy impossible, because, well, "life finds a way."

Over $100 million invested in Trion and its unusual distribution platform originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively interviews Jon Van Caneghem about the SCI FI Channel MMO

Mike Schramm — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Business models, Game mechanics, Free-to-play, Massively Interviews

Trion World Network is quite a company -- without releasing a single game, they've put together millions of dollars in venture capital and compiled a staff list that's got team members from across the history of MMO games, from EverQuest and Ultima Online to World of Warcraft and City of Heroes.

This week, they sent waves through the MMO community by announcing that not only were they working on a fantasy MMO to be helmed by Jon Van Caneghem (original creator of the Might and Magic series of RPG strategy games and co-founder of the company along with Lars Buttler), but that they were forming a groundbreaking partnership with the SCI FI Channel to develop and publish and MMO to live alongside a television show. Finally, we had a small glimpse of just what Trion, with all of their money and experience, were up to.

To find out more, Massively sat down with Van Caneghem (a busy man since the news dropped on Monday) to chat about both the fantasy MMO and the SCI FI project, and what Trion's been working on since they formed. Van Caneghem told us why Trion wants to make a different kind of MMO, and how they'll balance an online game with a television series from the network that's running Battlestar Galactica. The interview starts right after you click the link below.

Continue reading Massively interviews Jon Van Caneghem about the SCI FI Channel MMO

Massively interviews Jon Van Caneghem about the SCI FI Channel MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trion announces another project, coming to consoles

Chris Chester — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, Consoles

Despite predictions that this generation of consoles would herald in the first wave of successful console MMOs, we've really yet to see anything more than scattered chatter and a few announcements here and there. That's why we were excited to hear that Trion World Network, who we found out earlier today are also working on a project with the Sci Fi Channel, announced plans to bring a new fantasy MMO project to the Xbox 360 and PS3, in addition to a release on the PC.

Jon Van Caneghem, creator of the Might & Magic series, will be the creative force behind the game, which we still know precious little about at this point. The comments from Caneghem indicated that the as-yet-unnamed game will have a dynamic world that would change based on the actions of players. No word yet on the scale of the project, whether there will be cross-platform play, or whether there is some sort of development timetable. Very interesting news from a developer/publisher that is quickly finding a place on our MMO radar. And hey, they're hiring!

Trion announces another project, coming to consoles originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Might and Magic goes MMO

Michael Zenke — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, Crafting, Browser, Might and Magic

GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that the Heroes of Might and Magic series is going to be re-imagined as a browser-based Massively Multiplayer Online game. Due out in the Spring of next year from Ubisoft, Heroes of Might and Magic Kingdoms will allow players to lead huge armies against each other, while also developing heroic characters. This is essentially the gameplay seen in the traditional PC games, though assumably it will be set in a persistent environment.

The game will be browser-based, meaning no download or installation will be required, and play sessions can last anything between a few minutes to several hours, depending on the player's own preference. The publisher's chief creative officer, Serge Hascoet, commented: "Heroes of Might and Magic Kingdoms will open a wide door to the Might and Magic universe, allowing players to immerse themselves within it unlike ever before."

There's no word on what kind of fee, if any, will be leveled for the game service.

Might and Magic goes MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO quest inspired by Apple II text adventures

Samuel Axon — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:24:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Forums, Game mechanics, PvE

It seems that most gamers these days haven't played any of the old Apple II computer games, much less the particularly ancient text-based adventure ones. Most people now see them as arcane and even intimidating. Those black & white fossils bear no relation to something as modern as say, The Lord of the Rings Online, right?

Wrong! Gaming's old-timers will be tickled to hear that a quest in Tal Bruinen was inspired by a gameplay mechanic from an Apple II text adventure game. A Turbine employee revealed this behind-the-scenes tidbit in a thread about the quest on the official LotRO forums.

The Apple II was the first widely successful personal computer. It had a large library of games, many of which are cornerstones of computer gaming history. You can play a lot of those games in your web browser at virtualapple.org, one of the best online emulators. It has many of the all-time classic RPGs like Ultima, Might and Magic, and Wizardry as well.

LotRO quest inspired by Apple II text adventures originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Nov 2007 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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