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New SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online trailer shows off gameplay

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, Free-to-play

If you're a fan of the Gundam franchise, you can definitely argue that the heart of the franchise has nothing to do with giant robots blowing one another up -- it focuses instead on the human impact of large-scale war. But if you're playing SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online, then yeah, it's all about giant robots blowing one another up. And the new gameplay trailer embedded just past the break is meant to show off that focus to full effect.

The game is quite fittingly action-based, and the trailer shows off several of the franchise's more iconic mecha in their SD form. Also shown off in full detail are the many, many ways for players to unleash rocket-powered death upon the poor cannon fodder Zakus wandering through the map, which is somewhere between endearing and almost mean. If you're looking forward to the game when it fully launches later this month, click on past the break to check out the trailer.

[Source: OGPlanet press release]

Continue reading New SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online trailer shows off gameplay

New SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online trailer shows off gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: SD Gundam Capsule Fighters Online

Mike Schramm — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Game mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, First Impressions

Like the gameplay of SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online, the title of the game itself may need some translation. "Online" and "Fighter" you can probably make sense of, and even if your knowledge of Japanese cartoons ends on Saturday mornings in the '80s and '90s, "Gundam" is probably familiar -- this is a game where you drive robots around shooting at each other online. But "Capsule" might throw you a bit, and "SD" was a new one to me. "SD" means "super deformed," and Gundam Capsules are like those little plastic balls you can get from 25-cent-machines in the supermarket. They're toy versions of Gundam mechs, basically.

In other words, SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online is essentially a game about toy robots fighting. It was first released in South Korea in 2007, and it's slowly made its way around the world here to North America, where it's in closed beta and is set for a full free-to-play release in "early December" by OGPlanet.

As you might imagine, it's cute, and the mechanic of collecting and customizing these little robot machines that you can send into battle will likely appeal to quite a few players. Unfortunately, after playing a few matches of the third-person shooter at OGPlanet headquarters recently, I determined that it'll be tough to recommend the title to anyone but the most die-hard of Gundam fans.

Gallery: SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online

Continue reading First Impressions: SD Gundam Capsule Fighters Online

First Impressions: SD Gundam Capsule Fighters Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dive into SD Gundam Online's closed beta with a key from Massively!

Rubi Bayer — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Contests, Giveaways

The development team at OGPlanet has been hard at work, not just with its current stable of games but also with its newest title: SD Gundam Online. The game, described as a fast-paced multiplayer third-person shooter game, is almost ready for its first round of closed beta testing, and we've got your key!

If you're ready to become one of the game's first bug-hunters, head over to our giveaway page to snag a key, then create an OGPlanet account if you haven't yet. Enter your beta key code on the game's redemption page, and you're all set for beta testing! The first beta testing period will run from November 2nd to 6th. Don't worry about the date slipping your mind, as OGPlanet will send a reminder email to all beta testers.

Grab your key and enjoy the beta!

Dive into SD Gundam Online's closed beta with a key from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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La Tale Online prepping Sky Kingdom expansion

Jef Reahard — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST

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

Side-scrolling MMORPGs are something of a niche in the American gaming market, especially in the age of realistic 3-D graphics and lavish production visuals. Quite a few of these throwbacks are still going strong, though, and La Tale Online is one that's actually expanding.

OGPlanet has just issued a press release trumpeting the game's long-awaited latest patch, and Sky Kingdom looks to continue the saga of Iris by introducing the floating continent of Preios and adding a ton of new content. What kind of new content? For starters, there are nine new subclasses available for existing third class characters, and players may switch between their subclass and main class at will. Sky Kingdom also brings daily quests and new rewards to the table, as well as a reputation system and time-attack dungeons. To offset these new challenges, a new gem-crafting system has also been introduced, which OGPlanet says "will allow players to further customize and empower their characters."

More info is available at the official La Tale Online website and you can also check out the Sky Kingdom trailer after the break.

[Source: OGPlanet press release]

Continue reading La Tale Online prepping Sky Kingdom expansion

La Tale Online prepping Sky Kingdom expansion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OGPlanet announces N.E.O. Online

Jef Reahard — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST

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

OGPlanet has announced the release of its latest free-to-play MMORPG, a fantasy title called N.E.O. Online. Set in the monster-infested world of Gaia, N.E.O. allows players the freedom to upgrade abilities and statistics at will, rather than being restricted to a traditional class/level system.

While at first blush N.E.O. may sound like yet another entry into the increasingly overcrowded free-to-play fantasy market, the title boasts at least one unique feature that bears watching. Player actions are the centerpiece of the Chaos Meter system, in which user decisions determine how dangerous particular sections of the game world are at a given time. If players fight evil, the Chaos Meter will empty and the world will reflect peace. If players disrupt the peace or engage in evil acts, the Chaos Meter will fill, and Gaia will become populated with powerful creatures.

PvP also becomes available as the Chaos Meter increases, and player conflict comes in mano-a-mano, group, and guild flavors. Spoils of victory include fame, money, and stat-boosting titles, many of which can only be worn by a single player in the game at any given time.

N.E.O. Online also features crafting, a pet and mount system, and a marriage mechanic. Check out the official website for all the details.

OGPlanet announces N.E.O. Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cabal Online is shutting down in the West

Jef Reahard — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST

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

OGPlanet, publisher for the free-to-play MMORPG Cabal Online, announced last week that the title will be closing down effective March 31, 2010. Cabal, developed by ESTsoft and originally released in Korea back in 2005, was localized and released for the North American market in early 2008, and featured combat-heavy gameplay and a dark storyline set in the world of Nevareth.

OGPlanet offered up a somber press release on the game's web site. "We truly felt that a game like Cabal Online would offer something different and unique for our loyal OGPlanet members, and in many ways, we believe it has. While we had hoped to continue operating the game as part of our services, the game's developers, EST Soft, has unfortunately decided not to extend our contract for Cabal Online," the release states.

OGPlanet goes on to say that item shop transactions were suspended on March 19, and that they "are doing everything we can to compensate our loyal customers."

[Edit: There is an update to this story here.]

Cabal Online is shutting down in the West originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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La Tale offers up a new Time Traveler patch

Krystalle Voecks — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST

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

The colorful world of La Tale is expanding yet again, with three new areas to adventure in. This newest update called Time Traveler will offer players not only these three distinct new areas -- and a time machine to travel to them in -- but also adds in the new Guild Crops system.

What's a Guild Crop? Well, the idea is this: La Tale players will be able to grow plants with their guild mates in special guild rooms. If they take good care of them, the plants will grow into monsters that players will then battle to gain access to a special dungeon with guild weapons, armor, and a fun new boss.

Continue reading La Tale offers up a new Time Traveler patch

La Tale offers up a new Time Traveler patch originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CABAL Online reloads for a new update

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Cabal Online, Game mechanics, Patches, Free-to-play

Free-to-play MMO CABAL Online has recently played host to a new update entitled "CABAL Reloaded." The new update has aimed to correct a few areas of gameplay as well as offering players some brand new content to play through.

As a few other games have recently done, CABAL has looked at their earlier gameplay and made a few changes to the early content. In Reloaded, the developers have added three new dungeons targeted at those between levels 35 and 70, giving lower level players more options of game play. New quests have been added to the game as well, but those quests are more targeted towards endgame players, rather than midgame.

Other additions, such as skill books and a change to the party interface, adds more to the playability of the game than it changes how the game plays. For the full story on what's been added and changed, check out the full patch notes available on the North American forums.

CABAL Online reloads for a new update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OGPlanet announces the launch of Lunia Chronicles

Rubi Bayer — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, Free-to-play, Giveaways, Lunia Chronicles

OGPlanet is known for its free-to-play games, and as of this week, there's another one on the table.

OGPlanet announced the launch of Lunia Chronicles on Tuesday. Lunia Chronicles is the story of the different races on the continent of Rodesia and their conflicts. Players can download the game and explore several different characters including Lime the Fighting Slime, friend and companion to Eir the Healing Princess. The official site carries a nice overview of the game's story and character histories, as well as tutorials on combat strategy and keyboard controls.

To get people playing and help celebrate the launch of their newest game, OGPlanet is offering up a nice incentive for those who check the game out. They're holding a 30-day launch event to celebrate. Players need to download the game and play to level 50 by December 16th (Yes, THIS December 16th), and they'll be entered in a drawing for a Dell XPS gaming laptop.

OGPlanet announces the launch of Lunia Chronicles originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lost Saga launches

Eliot Lefebvre — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Business models, Launches, New titles, News items, Free-to-play

You've taken part in the endless debates online about pirates versus ninjas. Admit it, you have. Well, add cowboys, knights, wizards, and nurses into the mix, and you're nine-tenths of the way to Lost Saga, a new game launched by OGPlanet. Billed as a massively multiplayer online fighting game, it features a variety of different gameplay modes and "heroes" that combine for what looks like an entertaining and frantic experience. Character types run the gamut, from soldiers to assassins to (you guessed it) pirates and ninjas, each bringing a small collection of different abilities to the table.

It might sound a bit simplistic, but there are some interesting features such as the option to change heroes mid-battle -- in essence a quick class change whenever needed. The game also features some interesting battle modes beyond the prosaic Deathmatch style, such as Boss Raid, which allows one player to take the reins of an intensely powerful boss while the other players struggle to take said player down. And let's not forget that the game is also free-to-play, so you can satisfy your curiosity without commitment. Lost Saga won't revolutionize the industry, but it looks to be quite a bit of fun, so you might want to check out the official site for more information and to sign up.

Lost Saga launches originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CABAL Online's Soul and Siena expansion comes to US shores

Seraphina Brennan — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cabal Online, Expansions, Launches, Patches, Free-to-play

Last week we picked up the story that CABAL Online was getting a brand new expansion -- Soul and Siena! However, we learned that the expansion was coming to the European version of the game first, not both the US and EU versions.

Well, OGPlanet has been quick to update, and now the US version will also be graced with Soul and Siena. The game has been updated as of today, and players will be able to access all of the new goodies.

Continue reading CABAL Online's Soul and Siena expansion comes to US shores

CABAL Online's Soul and Siena expansion comes to US shores originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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News From the Wider MMO World: September 16, 2008

Akela Talamasca — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Sports, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Massively Meta

The MMO genre is more than World of Warcraft, Age of Conan, and Warhammer Online. Here's what's going on in the rest of the world.

World of Kung Fu opens screenshot contest
From September 15th to the 30th, VestGame Entertainment has partnered with zownder.com to create the first World of Kung Fu screenshot contest. "This contest really gives us the chance to showcase the awesome graphics and spectacular artwork that forms such an integral part of the game", says David Clarke, World of Kung Fu's North American Producer. The Grand Prize includes a permanent Xuan Wu mount and over a hundred rare items such as high level Forging Vouchers, Advanced Craftsman Charms, Sky Pearls, and much more. For more information, visit either founder's website.

Gaia Online brings Snoop Dogg and the Incredible Hulk to the virtual mall
Each month, residents of the virtual world Gaia Online have a chance to vote for their favorite real-world celebrities as part of the Celebrity Snare section of the website. As an example, the latest items to have been made available are Snoop Dogg's hairstyle, and the Hulk's torn-up purple pants. "Gaia Online is truly an extension of our users' real life interests and passions and Celebrity Snare is just another way we're enabling Gaians to customize their online persona and express themselves to the community," said Craig Sherman, CEO of Gaia Online. "The same way fans hang a poster on their bedroom wall or wear a t-shirt with their favorite band on it, we're enabling our users to establish a connection with the celebrities they admire." Further celebrities to go virtual will include Elvis Presley, Justin Timberlake, Tila Tequila, Paris Hilton, Raven Symone and Marvel's She-Hulk.

Continue reading News From the Wider MMO World: September 16, 2008

News From the Wider MMO World: September 16, 2008 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OGPlanet's plan for a free MMO portal

Shawn Schuster — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cabal Online, Business models, Interviews, MMO industry, Free-to-play

David Hoffman, executive producer for OGPlanet, recently talked about their idea for bringing free-to-play and free-to-download MMOs ported from Korea to North America all in one portal. One of these titles is CABAL Online, an MMO set in a devastated modern-day environment, complete with magic talents, government oppression and colony rebuilding. Oh my!

OGPlanet's idea for a free MMO game portal is unique in the sense that it's not simply taking free-to-play eastern games and translating them for a western audience. They are actually play-testing the games specifically for the target western audience. David Hoffman claims this business model will actually break down the rather large wall between free MMOs and quality MMOs. CABAL Online is their first attempt at this, being supported by a cash shop and the increasingly-popular in-game advertising model we're seeing in more popular western titles lately.

OGPlanet's plan for a free MMO portal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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OG Planet's David Hoffman interviewed

Akela Talamasca — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Cabal Online, Business models, Culture, Interviews, MMO industry, Making money, Free-to-play, Casual

For those of you who may not be familiar with OGPlanet.com, they are a North American company that brings Asian MMO titles to the US. Among their games are the golfing title Albatross 18, the combat game Rumble Fighter, and Cabal Online, an RPG. This is a particularly good time for overseas imports, as more and more players are beginning to feel the need to look elsewhere for their MMO entertainment other than World of Warcraft.

MMOgamer has an interview up with OGPlanet's executive producer David Hoffman, wherein the topics range from the specifics of OGPlanet titles, to the more general mechanics of running this sort of business. It's a piece worth your time, and offers some insight into the process of adapting Asian games to an American audience.

[Thanks, Siam!]

OG Planet's David Hoffman interviewed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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CABAL Online launches in North America

Michael Zenke — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, New titles, Free-to-play

CABAL Online has officially launched here in North America, offering a new free-to-play Asian import for fans of that MMO play style. The game, which is already running in countries throughout Asia and Europe, stands at more than a million users according to the title's official press release. CABAL has been brought to the states and Canada by a partnership between OGPlanet and the game's developer ESTsoft.

Though originally a subscription title, the game is free-to-play here with item purchasing as an additional option. These purchasable add-ons will speed movement through the gameworld, but are not currently planned to offer any sort of gameplay benefit. The game's open beta was greeted by a number of enthusiastic US players and (as with all free titles) is never more than a few clicks away from a quick trial. Commentators have had a few reservations about the game, but at the very least you have to respect OG and ESTsoft from trying to put a new spin on a business plan that hasn't always turned out so well in the past.

CABAL Online launches in North America originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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