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MMObility: Command and Conquer's new twist on the MMORTS

Beau Hindman — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Casual, MMORTS, Miscellaneous, MMObility

I've had my fill of MMORTS games. I love them, and I mean love them, but after being asked to look at the 567,386th title from the genre, I am getting a wicked case of tunnel vision. Sometimes I wish I could hit a switch and see these games with the eyes of a brand-new player, to truly judge their quality without any preconceptions. That's not possible, unfortunately.

Luckily, once in a while there comes along a title that feels fresh or does enough with design to seem new and clever. Command and Conquer Tiberium Alliances stands out from the crowd with its interesting combat and a casual approach to hardcore gaming. I have to admit that, at first, I was a bit bummed at having to take a look at yet another epic strategy game that would probably not feel that epic, but my mind was changed after a solid week of playing.

Continue reading MMObility: Command and Conquer's new twist on the MMORTS

MMObility: Command and Conquer's new twist on the MMORTS originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 May 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Order and Chaos Online developer discusses server-linking and more

Elisabeth Cardy — Sat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, News items, Mobile, Community Q&A

In honor of the game's paper anniversary, Order & Chaos: Online producer Arnaud Bonnard took the time to do some Q&A with user-submitted questions about what is one of the biggest mobile MMOs available.

Arnaud shared some of the toughest parts of development, which were the pressure of creating a world vast enough to entertain players for months (and now years) and ensuring that everything was as stable and functional as possible from a technical point. He followed up by reliving the joy of a successful launch and the success that the game met with over time. He talked a bit about updates and DLC, which come out every one or two months and are generally still drawn from the original design document for Order & Chaos: Online, given that the world design was much bigger than could possibly fit into the game originally.

Bonnard also addressed the server separation between Android, iOS, and Mac devices: Not only would it be time-consuming to link all the operating systems, but such a system would mean that patches could only be deployed once every device was supported, which would be tricky and cause too many extra delays. As far as Order and Chaos' future is concerned, he's optimistic. There are new graphic features coming down the pipe as well as "lots of ideas for the game" as the company looks forward to another fantastic year thanks to fan support.

Catch all the intricacies of Bonnard's answers for yourself over at Gameloft.

Order and Chaos Online developer discusses server-linking and more originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 19 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: An exclusive look at the Runespan in RuneScape

Beau Hindman — Fri, 18 May 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, Patches, News items, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Hands-on, Casual, Miscellaneous, MMObility, Crafting

Jagex, developer of the ever-popular browser-based game RuneScape, is known for its rapid development schedule. Heck, I fully expect that this article will be outdated by the time I finish its rough draft. Players of the Jagex flagship MMO can log in to find new items, places to explore, and quests to do almost weekly. I tend to poke my nose into the game several times a week, so I know that a more casual player has endless amounts of content to run through. I might level up my construction skill and then switch to something completely different. I just recently spent an afternoon playing with just the new bonfire skill.

Of course, those pesky developers are at it again: giving me more content to go through even though my highest skills hover around only the level 40 mark. This time it's the Runespan, a brand-new area that helps players level runecrafting by offering them a one-stop shop that is more casual and non-competitive than the normal runecraft experience.

I got the chance to call up some of the lead developers on the phone and ask not only about the Runespan but about the new FPS improvements, so be sure to check that out!

Continue reading MMObility: An exclusive look at the Runespan in RuneScape

MMObility: An exclusive look at the Runespan in RuneScape originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 May 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: Glitch's new updates stretch players' imaginations

Beau Hindman — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, MMObility, Sandbox, Crafting

When Tiny Speck, maker of the wonderfully odd browser-based sandbox Glitch, announced that it would be taking the game back to a beta state in order to retool many of the game's most essential systems, I was skeptical. Heck, I've remained skeptical. I stopped streaming the game due to time constraints but continued to log in and enjoy it. More specifically, I didn't feel like continuing to stream it until the new releases were officially released. I tend to enjoy betas but want to hold back my opinions until games are actually open, and this return to beta made me feel the same way.

Lately, however, the changes being tested and implemented into the game have just been too cool to stay hushed about. Housing is receiving wonderful, wonderful updates that will allow for complete creative freedom that is rarely seen in MMO housing. The UI is transforming as well, and new skills and creatures are being introduced.

Beta or not, there is some crazy-cool stuff going on in the land of Ur. In fact, check out these brand new patch notes!

Continue reading MMObility: Glitch's new updates stretch players' imaginations

MMObility: Glitch's new updates stretch players' imaginations originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Project Triniate attempts to put an MMO on a Nintendo 3DS

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New titles, Browser, Mobile

There have been plenty of attempts at creating MMOs on mobile platforms, but so far those have been largely confined to smartphones, tablets, and iPod Touches. Enter Project Triniate, an MMO aiming to release on Nintendo's 3DS handheld platform by developer Robdeprop of 3DSPlaza.com.

Since the 3DS can't handle Java or Flash, the idea is that the player uses the system's browser to navigate to the official website and use the website to run the game instead. The title looks like a top-down 2-D game that relies on the stylus for any in-game conversations.

While interesting, it's certainly a long shot; even the developer says that it might not be released. Still, if you have a 3DS you can currently give the game a try -- for a buck, that is. Check out a demo video of Project Triniate after the jump.

Continue reading Project Triniate attempts to put an MMO on a Nintendo 3DS

Project Triniate attempts to put an MMO on a Nintendo 3DS originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dark Legends launches on Apple devices, hits 500K players

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Launches, Free-to-play, Mobile

The tortured souls of the underworld Apple users have twiddled their thumbs and sharpened their canines for over a month now, a month that Android and Chrome users have played Dark Legends to their hearts' content. After that long wait, iOS owners can stop penning brooding poetry on Livejournal and start playing the game proper: Spacetime Studios has released Dark Legends on the App Store.

Apple users can now joining the 500,000-plus Dark Legends community by simply downloading the game from the store and getting their vamp on. Edward-wannabes have a daunting task in front of them, however, as all of the darker fantasy forces are out to be a serious pain in their neck.

Dark Legends follows in the wake of Spacetime's enormously popular Pocket Legends and Star Legends. It's available as a free download with optional in-app purchases and can be played over wifi, edge, 3G, and 4G networks.

Our own Beau is livestreaming Dark Legends today on Massively TV, so be sure to see what he thinks of the game!

[Source: Spacetime Studios press release]

Dark Legends launches on Apple devices, hits 500K players originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 May 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version

Beau Hindman — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Miscellaneous, MMObility

Tibia is an MMO that has been hanging in there for many, many years. You have to give it respect for that alone. When you add on the fact that the game seems to be updated relatively frequently and boasts a pretty good-sized playerbase, it becomes even more intriguing. I've played it in the past and have enjoyed the simple graphics and slower-paced gameplay. I like how NPCs chat with you, old-school EverQuest-style, and how there seems to be a lot more to the game than meets the eye.

There are plenty of eyesores, however. The developers recently released Tibia in a beta browser form. While the client was always easy enough to download and run on my multitude of devices, I always prefer to just jump into my browser and load it up.

I found a lot of neat little systems but also quite a few bugs or odd design choices. Colors and layout can be a problem, and I am not the biggest fan of Flash-based MMOs. Still, I am enjoying myself so far and look forward to more. Let's talk about what I found over these last several hours with Tibia's browser-based version.

Continue reading MMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version

MMObility: The pros and cons of Tibia's browser version originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: Killing the bland in Iruna Online

Beau Hindman — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Bugs, Business models, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Humor, MMObility

Once again, Droid Gamers sent me a sweet tip regarding yet another Android-based MMO. This time around, it's Iruna Online, a real and actual MMO complete with open worlds, "millions" of other players, quests, equipment and monsters. In fact, the game reminds me in some ways of Final Fantasy XI. Iruna Online is not the first mobile MMO that has felt like the Square-Enix favorite, perhaps because they all share a similar art style. As I played, it struck me that the newer smartphones have enough power to run a game that looks as good as Final Fantasy XI, albeit with some graphics options turned down or off.

The similarities basically end there, however. Iruna Online is one of the newer stock of mobile MMOs that show mobile massively multiplayer gaming is really here. It should not be shocking or surprising anymore. Just as in the PC market, we are going to see many titles stream from the Eastern market. Many of them will be duds, but many will also be very, very cool.

Continue reading MMObility: Killing the bland in Iruna Online

MMObility: Killing the bland in Iruna Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dark Legends aims to make your vampire sparkle with a weapon giveaway

Brianna Royce — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Horror, Contests, New titles, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Giveaways, Promotions

We posted yesterday that Dark Legends, the latest in a line of F2P mobile and browser-friendly MMOs from Spacetime Studios, is now officially up and running on Android systems and Chrome browsers. Today, Spacetime has a present for all you would-be vampires out there: a pair of rockin' weapons called Devastation Maces.

To grab yours, start up the game and either log into your existing account or create a new one. Make sure you're playing the character whom you want to receive the weapons because you can only grab these once per account! Zip through the tutorial missions and then head to the Spacetime Nexus from the main lobby screen. There, on the bottom right of your screen, you'll see a button for enterting a promo code. Enter the code massively20120410 and find your maces waiting for you in your character's inventory.

The code has unlimited uses, so everyone who wants one can use it, but do note that it will expire eventually, so snag that gift sooner rather than later. Many thanks to Spacetime Studios -- have fun!

Dark Legends aims to make your vampire sparkle with a weapon giveaway originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket

Beau Hindman — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Mobile, Hands-on, Casual, MMORTS, Miscellaneous, MMObility

I have a smartphone that is pretty much filled to the brim with actual, functional, persistent MMORPGs. Some of them are three-dimensional romps through massive worlds filled with dungeons and dragons; others are representational browser-based games that work through the phone's native browser; and the rest are hardly nothing more than a few dots on the screen and impressionistic gameplay.

Still, they are MMOs. I love having access to them, and over the last year I have actually grown to love simple, clever design and basic artwork over almost anything else. Forget Guild Wars 2; we'll hear enough about that to make us choke. Sure, it might be a fun game, but I'm a tech guy from the Bizarro universe. I prefer to see how little tech I need to game with. I want to push the limits even lower.

Anyway, it's springtime here in Texas, so it's time to clean out all sorts of crap from my life. I organize all of my hundreds of songs, films, movies and art pieces and get my digital life in order as well. This process includes tweaking my current line-up of basic technology and downloading any updates for the games that exist on those devices. It's time to cull the weak and glorify the wonderful.

Continue reading MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket

MMObility: The 16 MMOs in my pocket originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Would you pay for an MMO's mobile app?

Brianna Royce — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Mobile, Miscellaneous

The rise of smartphone gaming has created a niche somewhere between mobile MMOs and regular MMOs: MMO apps. Games like World of Warcraft, EverQuest II, Fallen Earth, Lord of the Rings Online, the upcoming Guild Wars 2, and now RIFT all have (or will have) mobile apps that players can use to perform a variety of in-game or pseudo-in-game activities, like chat with guildies, relist auctions, reset crafting timers, or play lotteries.

The sticking point is that some of these games aren't giving the app away for free. World of Warcraft, for example, lets everyone download the Mobile Armory app for free but charges a $3 monthly subscription fee for premium services in the Remote app. That's $3 above and beyond the $15 subscription just to access guild chat and play the auction hall from your pocket.

Would you pay for a mobile app for your favorite MMO, and if so, how much? What's your limit?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Would you pay for an MMO's mobile app? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: Simplifying design for the mobile market

Beau Hindman — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, Business models, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Mobile, Casual, MMObility

Whenever I write up something about a smartphone MMO, one of the most common complaints I hear is this: "If I wanted to play a game for several hours, I would sit at my gaming desktop." While this is true for many players, it is also true that games like Star Legends and Pocket Legends by Spacetime Studios have met with a lot of success. The developers were surprised to find that players were more than willing to sit for several hours while playing the games on their tiny screens.

Still, there is a lot of truth to the complaints about smartphone MMOs. An MMO is typically something a player wants to get lost in. We commonly refer to it as "immersion," but really we're just talking about being sucked into the ideas and design of a title. If you have found yourself daydreaming about a game while at work, you were "immersed."

I would argue that this type of deep immersion is very possible on the smaller screens of smartphones and tablets. However, in order to achieve it more commonly, developers might have to adjust many of their designs and theories. Click past the cut and we'll discuss it!

Continue reading MMObility: Simplifying design for the mobile market

MMObility: Simplifying design for the mobile market originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Pocket Legends and Star Legends

Beau Hindman — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Screenshots, Video, Game mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

This week my job was a bit harder than it usually is. This week I had to revisit Pocket Legends and Star Legends, the entirety of the Spacetime Studios lineup, in order to catch the updates and differences since both games were recently adapted to play within the Chrome browser.

See, the device that you play an MMO on does make a difference. While I haven't found many players who have an issue with moving up to a finer machine with a larger screen, I almost always receive a few comments in any of my mobile MMO columns about the lack of fun involved with playing anything on a screen that will fit in your hand. While I understand the difficulty in downgrading your monitor size, the mobile market's reception of Pocket Legends surprised even the developer. People are playing it, for many hours, on screens that are very small.

But now we have the ability to play it in our browser. Does it make a difference in the experience? Click past the cut and I'll let you know.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Pocket Legends and Star Legends

Rise and Shiny recap: Pocket Legends and Star Legends originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you play any mobile MMOs?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind, Mobile, Casual

A guildie of mine and I were discussing phones this week, and we came to the joint conclusion that for us, mobile gaming, especially the mobile MMO market, is no draw at all when it comes to our phone selection. Unlike Beau, who writes Massively's mobile gaming column, MMObility, I don't relish the thought of playing any serious MMO while peering at a tiny screen or trying to make a character run around with an awkward swipe of my finger. I'll play a little single-player time-waster to, well, waste time, but deep gaming is reserved for a big comfy chair and a jumbo-sized screen. I certainly wouldn't tailor a phone or slate purchase around gaming.

And yet the mobile gaming market is exploding, so someone out there must be playing these wee little MMOs, like Pocket Legends, shown in tablet form in the above screenshot. In fact, these games might just be the perfect snack while you're trying to surreptitiously get your game on at family holiday events or while waiting in an endless shopping line. So are you a mobile MMO gamer? And if so, what mobile MMOs do you play?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: Do you play any mobile MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: What makes a good mobile game to me

Beau Hindman — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business models, Opinion, Mobile, Casual, Humor, Miscellaneous, MMObility

Over the time I have been exploring mobile gaming, especially since I have been writing this column, I've discovered exactly what I like and dislike about the genre. Mobile MMOs are the tiniest niche within the greater world of MMOs. Some would say that MMOs are even a tiny corner of gaming in general. While I don't quite agree, I would say that explaining my column to random game shop employees or curious friends is quite the challenge.

"You write about games... on your phone?"

"Yes, massively multiplayer games."

"Huh?"

Luckily there are many new ones that offer a much more robust gaming experience. I can proudly show people examples of games like Order and Chaos Online, Star Legends or Illyriad. Of course, I sift through many poor examples before I get to the good ones. So let's take this opportunity to discuss what I think makes for a good game. Click past the cut and feel free to add your ideas in the comments section!

Continue reading MMObility: What makes a good mobile game to me

MMObility: What makes a good mobile game to me originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple releases Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles to the app store

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Launches, Free-to-play, Mobile

It's been a long time winding its way through the Apple approving process, but Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles is now available for iOS devices. The game, which is free with optional microtransaction purchases, is a universal app, so it will play on the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.

Apple users have had to wait significantly longer to get their hands on Star Legends than Android players, as the Android version was released much earlier this month. Spacetime Studios promises gamers that a "majority" of the content of the game is completely free-to-play, and characters can reach the level cap without having to pay a dime.

If you're interested in our impressions of this sci-fi blastathon, check out our Rise and Shiny Recap of Star Legends!

Gallery: Star Legends

Apple releases Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles to the app store originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sci-fi MMO Star Legends launches on the Android OS

Larry Everett — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Launches, New titles, Free-to-play

Spacetime Studios, creator of the mobile MMO Pocket Legends, stepped into the science fiction realm with the launch of its latest MMO Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles. Feeding off the frenzy of the mobile platform, Star Legends debuted on the Android OS first and can be downloaded at the Android Market or VCAST. Chief Vision Officer Cinco Barnes commented on why the publisher chose to launch on Android first in a recent press release:

"When we launched Pocket Legends on Android we were blown away by the response from the community. Android has since become the leading revenue driver and our primary focus. It is so easy to publish apps on their Market that it became a no-brainer for us to flip the standard mobile game strategy on its head and launch on Android before any other OS."

Star Legends boasts hours of gameplay -- via wi-fi, Edge, 3G, or 4G connections on Android 2.0 and above mobile devices -- with three customizable classes, character progression, guilds, and chat. These items, Spacetime says, are usually reserved for PC MMOs.

Screenshots of this innovative game are displayed below, and the brief trailer for the game is tucked behind the break!

Gallery: Star Legends

Continue reading Sci-fi MMO Star Legends launches on the Android OS

Sci-fi MMO Star Legends launches on the Android OS originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warspear Online update features new currency, numerous gameplay tweaks

Jef Reahard — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Mobile, Casual

If you've never heard of Warspear Online, now's a great time to broaden your horizons. The mobile MMO from AIGRIND has just released its Legacy of Berengar update which brings "many changes and improvements" to the fantasy title.

Chief among these changes are the miracle shop and miracle coins, the latter of which serve as a new currency available for real-world money. Also noteworthy is the addition of a friends list, a minimap, two-handed weapons and heavy armor, and new rune and crystal special items that players may slot in their equipment to enhance its characteristics.

Warspear has also transitioned from a ranking system to a leveling system, and there are various tweaks and bug fixes in the update as well. The official Warspear forums feature a post with all of the details, so be sure to head over and give it a look-see.

Warspear Online update features new currency, numerous gameplay tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Legends launches beta on Verizon's V CAST

Matt Daniel — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, News items, Free-to-play, Mobile, Casual

If you're a mobile gamer who also happens to be a Verizon user, it seems that you're in luck. Spacetime Studios -- maker of the immensely popular Pocket Legends -- announced today that its new mobile MMO, Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles has begun beta testing exclusively on Verizon's V CAST. Fear not, because we have a spiffy trailer to help players get their space-legs.

The game takes place in the far-off 41st century, and puts players in the space-faring shoes of one of three classes: Commando, Engineer, or Operative. Players then "quest for adventure, fame and fortune," but it won't be simple, as "players must battle harsh, alien environments, monstrous, unthinking aliens, and the greed and ambition of their rivals." Star Legends is free-to-play with microtransactions. If it sounds like your idea of a good time -- and if you have an Android phone on the Verizon network -- you can give the game a go on Verizon's V CAST, or check out more information at the official site. And don't forget to check out the trailer past the cut!

Gallery: Star Legends

Continue reading Star Legends launches beta on Verizon's V CAST

Star Legends launches beta on Verizon's V CAST originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Order and Chaos Online

Beau Hindman — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Video, Previews, Opinion, Mobile, Hands-on, Humor, Massively Hands-on, Rise and Shiny

I'd like to start this article off by giving Gameloft, publisher of Order and Chaos Online, a lot of respect. Tons of respect. Oodles of respect. It seems to be a company that gets an idea (or borrows one) and just does it. While so many people are talking about designing and creating for the mobile gaming world, Gameloft has busily cranked out scores of high-quality titles. Yes, many of those titles bear remarkable resemblance to other non-mobile titles, but let's be really honest here: Modern MMO design is not really chock-full of original ideas. In fact, the lack of of daring design is what drove me to the indie and mobile markets. Both of those markets are new enough, or small enough, that they take chances.

Gameloft's games generally work, as well. Its shooters might be slightly on rails, and its RPGs might be pretty linear, but all of its attempts at hitting the mark add up to a lot of profit and a lot of successful shots. The company has more good games than bad. Anyway, if the major publishers aren't going to take the time to make a decent mobile port or morph of their best titles, Gameloft has shown that it is more than willing to. I generally like that.

Not surprisingly, the company did a fantastic job of making a portable, enjoyable World of Warcraft with Order and Chaos Online. Click past the cut and I'll tell you what I thought about it.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Order and Chaos Online

Rise and Shiny recap: Order and Chaos Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wargaming.net forms partnership to expand into mobile gaming

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Legal, World of Tanks, Miscellaneous

World of Tanks on an iPhone? Perhaps, perhaps not, but something similar might be a possibility as Wargaming.net announced that it's teamed up with mobile game developer DAVA Consulting. The two companies have formed a "strategic partnership" for a long-term plan to take the highly successful World of Tanks team into the realm of mobile gaming.

The partnership will allow Wargaming.net to start exploring gaming possibilities on mobile platforms, including iOS devices. DAVA is located in Eastern Europe and provides a wide variety of services from bottom-up application development, consulting, handling ports, and game testing.

Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi apparently wants to make as big of a splash on the iPhone as the company did with the PC: "Having known the DAVA team for some time, we are thrilled to have them spearhead our efforts in the mobile games and applications development. We are looking forward to establishing a strong presence on the mobile market and DAVA is the best partner to assist us."

Wargaming.net forms partnership to expand into mobile gaming originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What payment model should mobile MMOs adopt?

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind, Mobile, Miscellaneous

Right now, two of the biggest mobile MMOs cling to radically different payment plans. Pocket Legends offers up the core gameplay for free with a heavy reliance on microtransactions, while Order & Chaos Online charges a (small) monthly fee to play.

The problem is that gamers who might be OK with either subscriptions or microtransactions when it comes to MMOs on the big screen balk at treating these little screen versions the same way. The question is whether gamers will be more comfortable getting the first taste for free and paying small charges on top of that or signing up for a monthly fee and expecting subscription-level service thereafter.

What do you think? If MMO studios are to make any money off the mobile market, how should they go about doing it? What would you be comfortable paying for a reasonably good game, assuming that you'd play a mobile title?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

The Daily Grind: What payment model should mobile MMOs adopt? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Legends teams up with Sony for Xperia PLAY event

Jef Reahard — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, Events, in-game, MMO industry, News items, Mobile, Casual, Family

Spacetime Studios and Sony recently teamed up to put on a unique event inside Spacetime's Pocket Legends mobile MMO. A new press release touts the "world's first in-game mobile flash mob," which happened during this month's E3 convention in Los Angeles.

Pocket Legends players took part in a "Find the Droid" competition in which an Android mascot would make its way through the game world while enterprising players gave chase. The promotion was designed to draw attention to the new Sony Xperia PLAY platform, and Spacetime gave away more than 11,000 themed vanity items during the course of the event.

Pocket Legends, the world's largest mobile MMO in terms of downloads (4 million and counting), will be expanding to the Android-powered Xperia PLAY later this summer.

Pocket Legends teams up with Sony for Xperia PLAY event originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2011: Spacetime Studios on the Legends franchise

Justin Olivetti — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Classes, Interviews, Previews, Free-to-play, Massively Event Coverage

Blackstar has a new name to capitalize on the Legends brand -- it's now known as Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles. At this year's E3, we caught up with Spacetime Studios' Fernando Blanco to see how the revived project (as well as the company's hit Pocket Legends) is coming along.

Star Legends is only a month away from launch, and Spacetime hopes that the Pocket Legends fever will spread to its sci-fi brother. The name's been changed to communicate the studio's intent to provide an ongoing story rather than a one-shot experience. The game will launch with the first 20 levels of content, but Spacetime has grand plans to expand this much further.

Blanco gave us some of the backstory to the game: In the far future, humans are exploring the cosmos and have stumbled upon a resource-rich area. Corporations, as they are wont to do, have swooped in to exert their dominance but have come across hostile aliens in the process. War breaks out, invasions start popping up all over the place, and you're called in to clean up the mess -- and make a quick buck in the process.

Hit the jump to hear more about Star Legends' classes and gameplay!

Continue reading E3 2011: Spacetime Studios on the Legends franchise

E3 2011: Spacetime Studios on the Legends franchise originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMObility: As I pack these devices for E3

Beau Hindman — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Opinion, MMObility

As I sit here waiting for a fresh reinstall of Windows Vista on one of my desktop PCs, I decided to take stock of all of the equipment currently in my nerd life. It's funny that when you have access to more devices, habits start to form around those devices. My morning ritual is typically to get up, start up the laptop, and prepare breakfast while it readies. Then I sit down and poke around on Twitter, check email, or catch up on different blog sites. Sometimes I will make a cup of tea and sit in the stoop of the backdoor with my iPad, waiting for my wife to get up.

Over time I have discovered that some devices work better for certain tasks than others. For example, I prefer to write my articles on my basic laptop, but I prefer to finalize them with photos and re-editing on my desktop. I now would rather check my email and Twitter on my iPad (I got my wife's old one when she moved up to an iPad 2) and would rather use my iPhone for music than my HTC: Inspire. It's odd, what a mix of devices I have now... but how inconvenient.

So I wanted to go over a few comparisons between all of the devices and talk about what I might find at E3 next week. Click past the cut!

Continue reading MMObility: As I pack these devices for E3

MMObility: As I pack these devices for E3 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spacetime adds Sandstone Caves to Pocket Legends, extends free content offer

Jef Reahard — Mon, 02 May 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Mobile, Promotions

Free stuff is the rallying cry of Spacetime Studios, developer of the renowned Pocket Legends mobile MMORPG. Last month we told you about the game's anniversary promotion, which featured free access to a boat-load of content zones including Balefort Castle, the Fathom Crypts, and the Alien Oasis Trilogy.

Today we're happy to report that Spacetime has donned its generosity hat and is making these (and a few other) areas free forever. But wait, there's more! Spacetime is also introducing a brand-new Pocket Legends zone called the Sandstone Caves. The caves are "littered with precious stones -- and the broken bones of the foolish who have tried to take them." If that's not a dare, we don't know what is, and you'll want to level your character up a bit to ensure she's fit to challenge the 20 - 25 zone.

You can learn more about the Sandstone Caves, free content, and Pocket Legends itself at the game's official website.

Spacetime adds Sandstone Caves to Pocket Legends, extends free content offer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 May 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Order & Chaos Online available in Canadian App Store [Updated]

Jef Reahard — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Mobile

We took a brief look at Order & Chaos Online last month courtesy of a trailer on the game's Facebook page. Now, it looks as if the mobile World of Warcraft knockoff could be coming to an iOS device near you in the very near future.

Touch Arcade is reporting that Gameloft has released the pocket MMORPG to the Canadian App Store, a move the publication says is "standard operating procedure for a wide-scale beta of sorts." Apparently other mobile dev outfits have used the Canadian market as a barometer both for how their games will be received and as a testbed for necessary tweaks.

Gameloft has set Order & Chaos' price point at $6.99, which includes three months' worth of subscription time. You read that right: It's a sub-based mobile game, with single-month rates of $.99 while three-month and six-month packages go for $1.99 and $2.99 respectively. Head to Touch Arcade for more details.

[Update: The game is now available in the U.S. market as well!]

Order & Chaos Online available in Canadian App Store [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yslandia hits player milestone, goes free-to-play

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST

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

As mobile MMOs are taking off in popularity, Yslandia is proving that a smaller platform doesn't necessarily mean a smaller playerbase. The pocket-sized MMO just announced its 100,000th player, and to celebrate the milestone, Moving Player is making the game free-to-play with in-game store purchases.

Since its release last fall, Yslandia has grown to include four island zones, 300 quests, and 18 classes. Players on iOS devices can log in and play solo or with friends across this cute world. The game has a customizable UI and features spirited PvP battles as players wage war for territory.

Previously, Yslandia was a $0.99 purchase from the Apple App Store. Check out what our own Beau Hindman had to say about this title in a recent edition of Free for All!

Yslandia hits player milestone, goes free-to-play originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iOS MMO commercials draw attention

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New titles, Free-to-play, Casual, Miscellaneous

As our own Beau Hindman knows well, mobile MMOs are on the verge of taking off in a big way, and now they have the commercials to prove it.

Pocket Legends, the hit iOS and Android MMO from last year, may be the first mobile online RPG to release a nation-wide commercial. The ad, which features a high-schooler with a not-so-embarrassing secret in his pocket, will air on G4, Cartoon Network and Comedy Central, to name just a few venues.

As Pocket Legends is often described as "World of Warcraft in your hand," it's kind of ironic that developer Gameloft is also making pretty much that. Gameloft is renowned for releasing thinly disguised copies of hit games, so it stands to reason that it would take a crack at the reigning champion. The studio just released an online teaser for Order & Chaos Online on its Facebook page, and it's hard not to see the inspiration-slash-knockoff.

You can check out both commercials after the jump!

Continue reading iOS MMO commercials draw attention

iOS MMO commercials draw attention originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Legends adds in all new content

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST

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

Having met the challenge of packing a whole bunch of fun into a pocket-sized portable experience, the team at Spacetime Studios has turned to stuffing even more fun into its mobile MMO, Pocket Legends. The newest patch has been released and offers much-needed fixes and updates to the game as well as an exciting new area for players to adventure through.

In patch 1.7, players are treated to a new area called Oasis Towne. This area offers up a host of new quests for players to do including all new daily quests, fun new areas to roam in like a museum, and all-new armor sets for players. For more details, head over to the Pocket Legends site, read up on the patch notes, and join the discussion.

Pocket Legends adds in all new content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone MMO Shadow Cities raises $2.5 million in investments

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Real life, Economy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play

As smartphones become increasingly ubiquitous, it's inevitable that we'll start seeing unique uses of the technology involved -- something we're already seeing with Shadow Cities. The iPhone MMO is rather unique, tracking your location and putting you into an active battle with creatures placed on the GPS-enabled map. It's an innovative concept, a sort of game-oriented FourSquare, and one that's apparently intrigued investors enough to pony up big money to the tune of $2.5 million.

This infusion of funding ties into plans to release the game in the US soon, as developer Grey Area has currently only released the game in its native Finland. Players will focus on taking dominion over the streets and completing quests, with the game itself following the free-to-play model complete with cash shop. Shadow Cities is certainly a novel product, and we'll be taking the time to chat with the studio about the game's development and future at GDC next week.

iPhone MMO Shadow Cities raises $2.5 million in investments originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spacetime Studios gearing up to release new Blackstar mobile MMO

Jef Reahard — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, Mobile, Miscellaneous

Spacetime Studios, makers of the famed Pocket Legends mobile MMORPG, has officially announced the impending release of its long-in-development Blackstar, a story-intensive sci-fi yarn previously set to be published by NCsoft. The game has survived a number of hiccups including developer layoffs and a period of limbo prior to Spacetime's acquisition of the IP, and is now being prepped for a Q2 2011 release on both Android and iOS devices. Blackstar tells the story of a far-future conflict between a coalition of aliens (and their necro-cyborg allies) and the futuristic humans of the United Colonies Defense Force.

The title features a 3D, real-time, persistent MMO world with three character classes, customizable skills and thousands of items to collect and equip. The game is powered by the Spacetime Engine, and looks to bring mobile MMO polish and production design to a new level. "We were able to nurture the IP to its maximum potential through years of development -- a luxury never before seen in mobile gaming. If you ever dreamed of a fully-featured sci-fi MMO that you can take anywhere, look for the first chapter of the Blackstar saga soon," says Spacetime CEO Gary Gattis.

Have a look at the game's official website for more info, and also check out some pre-production video footage after the cut.

Continue reading Spacetime Studios gearing up to release new Blackstar mobile MMO

Spacetime Studios gearing up to release new Blackstar mobile MMO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone MMORPG Empire Online comes to North America

Brendan Drain — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, News items

When it comes to the iPhone and other mobile platforms, MMOs are thin on the ground. Technical limitations make developing an MMO for a mobile platform difficult at best, but with titles like Pocket Legends doing so well, there's still an obvious demand for massively mobile games. Mobile game development studio Lakoo announced today that that its popular Asian iPhone MMO Empire Online would be released in the North American app store later this week on Saturday, January 15th.

Empire Online supports PvE with parties of up to five players at a time and five-versus-five PvP battles. Features include turn-based combat and an open skill-based character advancement system. Lakoo is hopeful that the game does well in North America, suggesting that over five million players have already registered in China, Taiwan and Australia.

Skip past the cut to watch the Empire Online trailer.

Continue reading iPhone MMORPG Empire Online comes to North America

iPhone MMORPG Empire Online comes to North America originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively's ho-ho-holiday MMO roundup for 2010

Krystalle Voecks — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, in-game, News items, Miscellaneous

It's that time of year again -- when snow falls in lands that normally don't even see weather effects! When you're supposed to love your fellow elf, human, dwarf -- or at least maim them in the nicest, most brotherly way possible. As one would expect with a plethora of MMOs out on the market, there are gobsmackingly huge numbers of events to take advantage of. Being the festive holiday folks we are (well, OK, some of us anyway), we've gathered up a listing of some of the many things going on. So if you're curious about just what holiday merriment can be found out there, grab some egg nog (alcohol optional), click past the break, and dive into our festive roundup of holiday events.

Also, be sure to keep an eye on Massively as Rubi continues giving great gifts to gamers galore in our 12 Days of Giveaways event!

Continue reading Massively's ho-ho-holiday MMO roundup for 2010

Massively's ho-ho-holiday MMO roundup for 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Android client for Pocket Legends enters beta

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST

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

Pocket Legends turned a few heads when it was first launched as an MMO playable on the iPhone, but it's time for the game to expand beyond its roots. Past time, Droid users might say, as they've been suffering through no MMOs for their preferred phone for some time. But the wait is over -- the game has just entered a beta for the Android platform, making it not only the first mobile 3-D MMO but the first multiplatform mobile MMO.

You can download the game through the link on the front page of the site and through the Android market. It requires Android 2.1 to run successfully. A support forum has already been put together for players taking part in the beta, which is assured to have its fair share of issues as the porting is perfected. Still, this means that for the first time in the history of these dueling platforms, iPhone and Droid owners can walk hand in hand... well, while playing Pocket Legends, anyhow.

Android client for Pocket Legends enters beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Nov 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDCO 2010: Spacetime Studios' Cinco Barnes talks mobile design

Beau Hindman — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Interviews, MMO industry, PvE, Free-to-play, Mobile, Casual, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage

Spacetime Studios, the developer of the popular mobile MMO Pocket Legends, was started back in 2005 to create large-scale MMOs. Its founders decided to make a mobile platform MMO upon seeing the obvious marketing opportunity that the iPhone provided. After all, the players would already be connected and would be accustomed to microtransactions through exposure to iTunes and the app store.

Of course, development could prove disastrous if the wrong game plan were followed, so Spacetime decided to keep it simple. How simple? Cinco Barnes of Spacetime was on hand at GDC Online to explain how his team members did it. What they found was a chance to do more than they'd initially planned on -- and an audience ready to gobble up everything the studio could create.

Continue reading GDCO 2010: Spacetime Studios' Cinco Barnes talks mobile design

GDCO 2010: Spacetime Studios' Cinco Barnes talks mobile design originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Oct 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spacetime announces cross-platform mobile play, prepares to license game engine

Jef Reahard — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Mobile, Casual

Spacetime Studios, the makers of the wildly successful Pocket Legends MMO, has just announced a new influx of funding that will enable continued development on the Spacetime Engine and licensing of said development platform to other game makers beginning in 2011.

Gamasutra reports that Spacetime is also claiming an industry first for Pocket Legends in terms of the ability for players on Windows PC, Android, and iOS systems to play on the same shared servers. "Providing players, no matter where they are, with a single deep, seamless 3D MMO gaming experience on multiple devices has been a dream of ours since the company was founded. We feel we're at the forefront of a whole new market for MMO game developers," said Spacetime CEO Gary Gattis.

Spacetime announces cross-platform mobile play, prepares to license game engine originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Mobile: Pocket Legends evolves

Dan O'Halloran — Sun, 02 May 2010 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Free-to-play, Mobile, Massively Mobile

Every two weeks, Massively Mobile brings you the latest news, guides and analysis about MMOs on mobile devices. Covering iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad platforms, we're on the lookout for the next generation of MMOs.

Much has changed with Spacetime Studio's free-to-play, mobile, 3D MMO Pocket Legends since we posted our first impressions of the game last month. Since then, it has seen a number of updates, content patches, refinements and improvements. It has evolved from a multiplayer Diablo-esque dungeon runner to sporting the kinds of bells and whistles one expects to find in an MMO. In this inaugural Massively Mobile column, I catch up with the game that's blazing the trail for mobile MMOs.

Before I jump into the big patch that came out this week, I want to touch on a particular small improvement that was patched in recently. They restricted loot distribution and experience gains to only those within range of the monster kills. This prevents people from having their friends go /afk at the dungeon instance. But, for me, the main benefit is that it will hopefully stop parties from splitting up at intersections in dungeons. Seriously, people, it's a simple rule: follow the tank. Divided parties are dead parties. Ok, grumpy healer frustration vented. On with the show.

Continue reading Massively Mobile: Pocket Legends evolves

Massively Mobile: Pocket Legends evolves originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 May 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IMO: The World of Magic debuts on iPhone

Jef Reahard — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Mobile, Casual

Com2uS has released IMO: The World of Magic, a new MMORPG exclusively for Apple's iPhone platform and available now in the App Store. IMO players can select from one of three traditional high fantasy classes (Fighter, Ranger, or Wizard) and explore the far reaches of the Lanos Kingdom or the Sirus Empire.

IMO mixes traditional RPG strategy with modern social networking niceties, and is one of the few iPhone titles that offers fully functional live network play with thousands of simultaneous participants. The game features four-member groups, guilds, multiple chat modes, and PvP arenas.

IMO is free to play, but does offer In-App purchases. That said, Com2uS has taken pains to avoid introducing game-breaking items into the cash shop. As an example players can purchase a summon scroll to teleport a friend to their immediate location, but the item doesn't provide any competitive advantages. If you've never played a mobile MMORPG before, you can check out the gameplay trailer after the jump to get a taste of what's in store. Also be sure and have a gander at the screenshot gallery below.

Gallery: IMO: The World of Magic (iPhone)

Continue reading IMO: The World of Magic debuts on iPhone

IMO: The World of Magic debuts on iPhone originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Three words that sound like crack: Watchmen iPhone MMO

Krystalle Voecks — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, New titles, News items, Mobile

As with just about every group of comic book geeks out there, the Massively offices have been positively abuzz with discussion of the Watchmen movie coming out this Friday (or Thursday at Midnight, if you're like us and already have your tickets). Of course, with any hot movie property comes a video game, and it appears that Watchmen is to be no different. Well, no different, save that the Watchmen: Justice is Coming game is getting the MMO treatment - on the iPhone and iPod touch.

In a special edition of the MMO Report on G4, details have been released on this new portable-platform MMO that's been developed by Last Legion Games in conjunction with Warner, Paramount and Legendary Pictures. The idea is that in Watchmen: Justice is Coming, players start out as regular everyday people out to combat crime in a 1970's pre-movie New York, who gain better items to gear themselves up. (Sound familiar?) While the combat appears to be old-school basic Street Fighter style, the general concept could be pretty cool. But really, who are we kidding? We'll probably buy it just to play an MMO with Rorschach in it and to check out this new iPhone tech. Since it goes live in the App store on the 6th, it will give us something to do while we're waiting in line to see the movie again.

Be sure to check out the video behind the jump, or head on over to the official Watchmen: Justice is Coming site for some more screenshots.

Continue reading Three words that sound like crack: Watchmen iPhone MMO

Three words that sound like crack: Watchmen iPhone MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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