Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Free for All: Zeroing in on my favorite free-to-play mains]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/free-for-all-zeroing-in-on-my-favorite-free-to-play-mains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/free-for-all-zeroing-in-on-my-favorite-free-to-play-mains/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/09/free-for-all-zeroing-in-on-my-favorite-free-to-play-mains/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

My Vanguard main
I felt a little nostalgic this week. Heck, at my age, I feel nostalgic every time I smell chimney smoke or hear Christmas music. I suspect it will only grow more common with age. MMOs have been such a huge part of my life for well over a decade now that I feel nostalgic about many of the things that happened during that time, and for many of the characters I have grown -- and lost.

I'm not overly sentimental about it, but it is interesting how we feel about the pixelated versions of ourselves, the ones we control while sitting at a keyboard or while touching a tablet. I don't want to downplay how important gaming can be for many of us, either. Once, years ago, I met a fellow player in a social game called There. She was a wonderful person who had over time lost the ability to walk. She loved the freedom that the avatar gave her. Needless to say, she was very connected to her character.

I made a short list of some of my favorite characters from the years. As I think about it, this list says a lot about me as a gamer and about the types of games I love.

Continue reading Free for All: Zeroing in on my favorite free-to-play mains

MassivelyFree for All: Zeroing in on my favorite free-to-play mains originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbeau-turkeyChangyouf2pfeaturedffafree-for-allfree-realmsfree-to-playfreemiumglitchjagexmilmoopinionrunescapeRyzomSOESONYSony-Online-Entertainmentspellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellborntheretiny-speckVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvelvet-ropezentiaWed, 09 May 2012 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Faxion Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/rise-and-shiny-recap-faxion-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/rise-and-shiny-recap-faxion-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/05/rise-and-shiny-recap-faxion-online/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I've been following Faxion Online for quite a while. Aww, I remember when it was just a cute little game in development, back when I visited the UTV True Games studio for a tour during GDC Online last year. The team was very passionate about its product, and there was obviously a lot of talent at work behind the scenes. One of the comments I made then (and that I will always remember) is that the devs all seemed like a bunch of gamers -- they appeared to have a love for what they were doing and truly seemed to believe in the game.

They also talked about how a lot of MMO development took several years and the budget of a small country. I agreed with them on that. So they wanted to create their game in a much shorter time period yet have it still feature free-to-play accessibility along with old-school PvP. It was a tall order, especially considering the time frame they were looking at. Again, though, the team seemed capable of pulling it off.

But did it? I spent half a week (I will explain later) in the game, and my impressions are right past the cut.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Faxion Online

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Faxion Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmaneve-onlinefaxionfaxion-onlinefeaturedfpsmountsoffline-advancementoffline-levelingoffline-skillingperformancerise-and-shinyskill-advancementskill-basedspellbornstylizedstylized-graphicsthe-chronicles-of-spellborntravelutvUTV-Ignitionutv-ignition-gamesutv-true-gamesWorld-of-WarcraftSun, 05 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: New Mega Man games edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/ask-massively-new-mega-man-games-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/ask-massively-new-mega-man-games-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/14/ask-massively-new-mega-man-games-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,

I'm really happy to see that we're getting two new Mega Man games at long last. Mega Man Universe looks like it's going to be pretty awesome, even if it should really be taking cues from later installments, and Mega Man Legends 3 is a game that I've been waiting to see for... yeah, just about 10 years. Unfortunately, that does mean that I'm going to have to purchase another platform for the game, but that's all right by me. I already have a few dozen systems in my house; one more isn't going to hurt.

But we're not here to talk about my pet causes -- we're here for the latest edition of Ask Massively. This week's questions were all about Chronicles of Spellborn and administrative details, so click on past the cut for our answers, and send your questions in to ask@massively.com! Or just leave them right here in the comments, makes no nevermind to us.

Continue reading Ask Massively: New Mega Man games edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: New Mega Man games edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimadministrativeask-massivelychronicles-of-spellbornfeaturedlinksmassively-metamega-mannew-gamespsychicsq-and-aquestions-and-answersspellbornThu, 14 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn servers have one last hurrah]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/chronicles-of-spellborn-servers-have-one-last-hurrah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/chronicles-of-spellborn-servers-have-one-last-hurrah/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/17/chronicles-of-spellborn-servers-have-one-last-hurrah/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The Chronicles of Spellborn fans have had a confusing week. On August 10th, an announcement was posted on Acclaim's TCoS forums, letting players know that the game would come to an end on August 25th.

The announcement warned players to spend all unused Acclaim coins by that time and offered a customer support email address for players with questions. However, the servers were taken offline almost immediately with no word from Acclaim, and after a week of silence from the developers, fans concluded that the game was gone for good.

Not so, it seems. A post entitled "The game is up!" appeared on the forums, sending a handful of players rushing to reinstall and enjoy a little more playtime. Unfortunately, there is still no announcement or explanation from the TCoS team, so there is no official word on what happened or how long it will last.

For the time being, fans of The Chronicles of Spellborn can enjoy one last chance to play.

[Thanks to CowMooFlage for the tip!]

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn servers have one last hurrah originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimforeignsekrit-dev-plansserversservers-downservers-upspellborntcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornTue, 17 Aug 2010 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[A look back at year one of The Chronicles of Spellborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/a-look-back-at-year-one-of-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/a-look-back-at-year-one-of-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/23/a-look-back-at-year-one-of-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Chronicles of Spellborn is a game that I have long had a love affair with. I followed it through development and beta, and have played since the very beginning. Immediately its unique atmosphere and wonderful art style drew me in and had me hoping that this game would be one of the games to break the MMORPG mold. I downloaded screenshots, read the lore that I could find and waited with baited breath as the release date drew closer.

Now, here we are a year after release. What happened within that year that resulted in two empty servers and a (seemingly) dwindling population? We haven't learned much through the usual channels, and the players that remain are left wondering. The last word given talked about a re-release, a "Spellborn 2" complete with a cash shop to aid adventurers, but the recent closing of the game in Japan and silence on the forums still have us a little confused.

Continue reading A look back at year one of The Chronicles of Spellborn

MassivelyA look back at year one of The Chronicles of Spellborn originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterftpspellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellbornyear-in-reviewFri, 23 Apr 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: A look into The Chronicles of Spellborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/free-for-all-a-look-into-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/free-for-all-a-look-into-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/23/free-for-all-a-look-into-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I have always wondered what happened to one of my favorite free-to-play games, The Chronicles of Spellborn. It's still a great game, don't get me wrong, and is completely free to play. A new version is even supposed to come out at some point, essentially the same game but with a cash-shop that features different travel items and armors.

But why didn't The Chronicles of Spellborn do as good as it could have? I enjoyed it from the beginning but did find some flaws, namely in travel time. Of course, I am the world's biggest fan of realistic travel. I think it builds "character," but only having the option to walk while on land is, to say the least, a little tiring. Still, the game continues to captivate me. Perhaps the combat system was too out-of-sync with today's gamer, or maybe the quest text and wonderful lore were not enough to stop some players from getting bored? The stat-less armor and weapons might have had the most to do with it, being that players felt short-changed without being able to be recognized as something powerful just from the look of their avatar?

Continue reading Free for All: A look into The Chronicles of Spellborn

MassivelyFree for All: A look into The Chronicles of Spellborn originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimfeaturedfree-to-playftpInterviewsspellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellbornTue, 23 Mar 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellborn dropping out of the Japanese market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/spellborn-dropping-out-of-the-japanese-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/spellborn-dropping-out-of-the-japanese-market/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/02/spellborn-dropping-out-of-the-japanese-market/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The somewhat European inspired fantasy MMO The Chronicles of Spellborn is shutting down its Japanese service, causing a stir of worry and discussion about the title's future in other territories within the community at large. To make matters worse, the one person who could've cleared up any confusion, TheHistorian, is no longer with publisher Acclaim as community manager for the game. Given that he was the sole link between the community and developers, it's no wonder people are feeling a bit unsettled by the whole affair.

While the closure of The Chronicles of Spellborn Japan isn't a good thing, it doesn't necessarily spell out a dark future for the title. A business deal could've gone sour, or perhaps the audience in Japan just wasn't strong enough to maintain the title. Just in cast something does happen, however, we'll be keeping an eye out for any further development.

MassivelySpellborn dropping out of the Japanese market originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimclosedcmcommunity-managereuropeeuropeanjapanshut-downshutting-downspellbornspellborn-internationalspellborn-japanthehistorianTue, 02 Mar 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Acclaim CEO says Spellborn version 2.0 is on the way]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/acclaim-ceo-says-spellborn-version-2-is-on-the-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/acclaim-ceo-says-spellborn-version-2-is-on-the-way/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/26/acclaim-ceo-says-spellborn-version-2-is-on-the-way/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If you're a fan of The Chronicles of Spellborn, Beau Turkey at Spouse Aggro found something today that will make you very happy. There have been rumors floating around lately about a restructuring of the game, and those rumors were recently confirmed on the official forums by Howard Marks, the CEO of Acclaim Games: "The rumors are true! Spellborn Version Two is on the way."

Marks went on to explain that the new version has already been released in Japan to great success. They've been fine tuning it, and plans for the English version are underway. If you are a current player of The Chronicles of Spellborn, be sure you have a valid email address on file with Acclaim, because everyone playing the current version will be invited to beta test the new version via email.

While details are minimal at this point, it's great news for players to know that more is on the way. You can take a look at the forum announcement here, and Beau's take from a fan point of view here.

MassivelyAcclaim CEO says Spellborn version 2.0 is on the way originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesbeau-turkeychronicles-of-spellbornf2pfree-to-playhoward-marksspellbornspellborn-2spellborn-version-2spouse-aggroTue, 26 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn now completely free while in re-development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/19/chronicles-of-spellborn-now-completely-free-while-in-re-developm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/19/chronicles-of-spellborn-now-completely-free-while-in-re-developm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/19/chronicles-of-spellborn-now-completely-free-while-in-re-developm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Did you miss out on the Chronicles of Spellborn when it initially came out? Most likely you did. If it wasn't the freemium model that confused you, it was most likely the crazy-odd "Acclaim coins" system combined with "membership" that turned you off of the game.

Well, as we mentioned before, Chronicles of Spellborn is facing some issues and tough times. The game is being re-developed into a free-to-play model while one arm of the Spellborn company is facing issues of bankruptcy. But not all is doom and gloom with the game itself. In fact, now couldn't be a better time to check out Spellborn.

While the game is being re-developed and eventually re-launched, the current version is now completely free. All you need to do is go on, create an account, and download the game. That's it. So if you passed up the game before and you have some time on your hands, we recommend going on over and checking out Spellborn for the low, low price of free. It's fresh and quite different from your standard MMO.

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn now completely free while in re-development originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimbreakingfree-gamefree-to-playfreemiumre-developmentspellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellbornWed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: From the front lines]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/one-shots-from-the-front-lines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/one-shots-from-the-front-lines/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/19/one-shots-from-the-front-lines/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We don't often get to look in on The Chronicles of Spellborn, so it's great to get a report back from a Spellborn player for One Shots. Today's beautiful-yet-almost-psychadelic screenshot comes in to us from Eric who writes in: Looking down at the docks as I venture, for the first time, to The Vaults. The first thing that drew me into the The Chronicles of Spellborn was the atmospheric scenery. The area I'm traveling to is used to further the lore of the game, and the long trek up to the top of the mountain really gave me a perspective much like a pilgrim. Really well done!

If your MMO travels have taken you to a world we don't often see, why not send in some screenshots and share your journeys! Email them to oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a brief description. We'll post them here and give you the credit.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: From the front lines originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesericone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsspellborntcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornFri, 19 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: To the vault]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/one-shots-to-the-vault/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/one-shots-to-the-vault/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/04/one-shots-to-the-vault/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


We haven't had many looks into this world as yet here on One Shots, which is a shame. The armor artwork and texturing is really quite interesting to look at! Not sure where this lone adventurer - Rayko Silverthorn of the guild Sacred, level 14 Trickster of High House Shroud - stands? He's exploring the world of The Chronicles of Spellborn, and writes in to tell us a bit more about the scene we're seeing - and why he likes The Chronicles of Spellborn.

My first trip off of Parliament led me to Atheneum, home of The Consanguineous Vaults or just The Vaults. The ever increasingly difficult Vaults are were young adventurers go to hone their skills to become the heroes of tomorrow. This game features arguably the best combat system ever, The best way to handle death via Pep levels and a refreshing theme that breaks away from the oh so common style of fantasy MMORPGs.

If you're traveling in a world we don't see often - or haven't really seen at all - then we want to see some screenshots from you! Just email them to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name, the name of the game, and a brief description - or your thoughts on why your favorite MMO is awesome! We'll post them out here and give you the nod for sending the image and note in.

Gallery: One Shots





MassivelyOne Shots: To the vault originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotsspellborntcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornThu, 04 Jun 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn raises the free to play level cap]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/chronicles-of-spellborn-raises-the-free-to-play-level-cap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/chronicles-of-spellborn-raises-the-free-to-play-level-cap/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/22/chronicles-of-spellborn-raises-the-free-to-play-level-cap/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Worst part of freemium games is really getting into the game and then running head long into the free area's level cap. You just got started, just got into getting a nice pace, and you suddenly can't go any further until you buy a new zone or pay for a subscription.

Chronicles of Spellborn seems to understand that problem and have taken a step to delay the inevitable. With the last patch, "Paragraph of Timed Strike," they've raised the free to play level cap from 7.6 to 9.9. This is going to allow new players or former free to play users the ability to level further and access more quests in the starting areas of Hawksmouth and Aldenvault.

Of course at level 9.9 you're still going to need a subscription if you want to continue on with Spellborn, but hey, now you have 2.3 more levels to enjoy before you need to grab some Acclaim coins.

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn raises the free to play level cap originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesaldenvaultchronicles-of-spellbornfree-to-playfreemiumhawksmouthlevel-capparagraph-of-timed-strikepatchspellbornupdateFri, 22 May 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 51]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/massively-speaking-podcast-episode-51/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/massively-speaking-podcast-episode-51/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/29/massively-speaking-podcast-episode-51/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Massively Speaking Episode 51 is just full of Jo(h)ns this week as Contributing Editor Jon Shute and special guest John Nicholson from Limited Edition join Shawn to discuss all things MMO. Topics include Free Realms' launch, WoW on the iPhone, tons of MMO anniversaries and more!

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot us an email to podcast AT massively DOT com. Maybe we'll read your letter on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
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[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[Digg] Like the show? Digg it.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
[VW] Listen at VirginWorlds.com
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Continue reading Massively Speaking Podcast Episode 51

MassivelyMassively Speaking Podcast Episode 51 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anniversarieschampions-onlinecity-of-heroesfeaturedfree-realmsguild-warslimited-editionmassively-speakingpodcastpodcastingpodcastsspellbornvolleeWed, 29 Apr 2009 13:30:00 ESTMassively Speaking Episode 51Massively.com Staff52:50podcasts<![CDATA[Spellborn launches in the US; subscriptions free for 2 weeks]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/23/spellborn-launches-in-the-us-subscriptions-free-for-2-weeks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/23/spellborn-launches-in-the-us-subscriptions-free-for-2-weeks/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/23/spellborn-launches-in-the-us-subscriptions-free-for-2-weeks/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Acclaim has officially launched The Chronicles of Spellborn in North America, and to mark the occasion, premium subscriptions are totally free for people registering before the 7th of May (and for existing accounts). The issue of needing "Acclaim Coins" to purchase subscriptions has been fixed in time for the launch, and when the free subscriptions run out, players will be able to keep them going using their credit cards directly.

As we had confirmed for us last month, Spellborn will be using a monthly paid subscription business model, however, a small portion (three areas) of the game's content will be available for free in perpetuity. Upon reaching a certain level, all further character progression is blocked. This is really more of a free trial than an actual "free-to-play with premium for-pay bits", so to see what the full game is really like, the best option would be to try it out now while the flood gates are opened all the way. If you decide to give it a go, be sure to let us know what you think about it.

MassivelySpellborn launches in the US; subscriptions free for 2 weeks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-coinschronicles-of-spellbornfree-subscriptionslaunchnorth-americaspellbornsubscriptionsususaThu, 23 Apr 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellborn updates for 2009 mapped out]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/spellborn-updates-for-2009-mapped-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/spellborn-updates-for-2009-mapped-out/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/spellborn-updates-for-2009-mapped-out/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Although the US is still waiting for The Chronicles of Spellborn to finish up its beta phases, the European version of the game has already been released. As is usually the case with an MMO launch, the developers didn't just flip the switch and then wash their hands of the project, and have been pushing out patches and hotfixes to their live servers as needed. Now we've been given an idea of where they hope to take the game over the coming year, via a post on the official forums.

In the short term, a big patch is expected to be ready for the end of January, which will include some new monsters as well as a tutorial that comes in response to feedback from the community and press. A bit later in the year, the plan is to roll out the market, and an arena match-up system that will allow 2v2 and 4v4 PvP games. Longer term development goals include mounts and guild alliances, but when we're looking at this time-frame, it's highly likely that more ideas will come about. So, who is already on board with Spellborn?

MassivelySpellborn updates for 2009 mapped out originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2v24v4acclaimarenachronicles-of-spellborneuropeeuropeanmountspatchesspellborntcostutorialupdatesWed, 14 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[What does Spellborn still need for a successful US/UK launch?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/what-does-spellborn-still-need-for-a-successful-us-uk-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/what-does-spellborn-still-need-for-a-successful-us-uk-launch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/what-does-spellborn-still-need-for-a-successful-us-uk-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Here we are a month after the European launch of The Chronicles of Spellborn, and we find ourselves gearing up for the US and UK launches very soon. What has changed since the EU launch and what have the developers learned throughout the month after launch? MMORPG.com's Patrick S. Marshall takes a look and gives us his opinions on what the game still needs to make it in this hard-knock era for start-up MMOs.

"The bottom line is that the game could use some more players, especially on the international servers, which are considerably less populated than the French or German servers," Marshall says in the article. "The UK is separated from Europe publisher-wise by a territorial IP-ban (Acclaim is publishing TCoS in the US and the UK - Frogster does the rest of Europe and Asia)." For more information on The Chronicles of Spellborn and their upcoming US/UK launch, check out their main website.

MassivelyWhat does Spellborn still need for a successful US/UK launch? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimfrogsterlaunchmmorpg.comspellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellbornukusMon, 05 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Four cheers for Tipa's Spellborn gallery]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/four-cheers-for-tipas-spellborn-gallery/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/four-cheers-for-tipas-spellborn-gallery/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/four-cheers-for-tipas-spellborn-gallery/#commentsFiled under: , ,


You've got to admit it - Chronicles of Spellborn has some seriously amazing graphics. And to prove that's true, Tipa at West Karana has posted a great selection of screenies. They include some of the High Houses, cityscapes, temples, and yes, the gratuitous undressed character shot.

As if having Within Temptation do the music for it wasn't enough to tempt you (pun fully intended) into the game, these screen shots provide the additional visual stimulus needed to point you to the beta sign-up. If you're in the EU, you can download the client for free. So hop over, take a look, and commence the ooh-ing... and eagerly awaiting launch day in the States.

MassivelyFour cheers for Tipa's Spellborn gallery originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betachronicles-of-spellbornscreen-shotsscreenshotsspellbornMon, 05 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellborn's American launch pushed back, closed beta starts the 27th]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/spellborn-american-launch-date-pushed-back-closed-beta-starts-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/spellborn-american-launch-date-pushed-back-closed-beta-starts-t/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/19/spellborn-american-launch-date-pushed-back-closed-beta-starts-t/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

So we heard a couple months ago that The Chronicles of Spellborn would be released in North America and the United Kingdom on November 27th, coinciding with the continental European launch. Turns out it's been pushed back -- kinda. The European launch will still commence on the 27th, but the North American closed beta will begin on that day, with the actual, final launch occurring sometime in January.

Sure, we're a bit disappointed, but chances are we'll still get to play the game soon. Acclaim, the game's publisher in the region, went out of its way in the press release it sent us to stress the "Freemium" business model -- a newbie trial area will be available to all players, who can reach level seven before they have to upgrade to a premium subscription at the usual $15/month rate.

The idea of an unlimited free trial area with a level cap isn't fresh -- both Meridian 59 and EverQuest II have done that, but it's not a bad way to sample a game to decide if you want to invest your hard-earned cash in it. Might be worth trying just for Jesper Kyd's soundtrack

MassivelySpellborn's American launch pushed back, closed beta starts the 27th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesbreakingcentral-americachronicles-of-spellbornclosed-betalaunchnorth-americarelease-datesouth-americaspellbornspellborn-internationalWed, 19 Nov 2008 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn launches November 27th in North America]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-launches-november-27-in-north-americ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-launches-november-27-in-north-americ/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-launches-november-27-in-north-americ/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Publisher Acclaim Games has finally announced the North American release date of developer Spellborn International's action-oriented MMORPG The Chronicles of Spellborn. The game will go live in the United States and Canada on the 27th of November -- exactly the same day as the European release. Why Acclaim and European publisher Frogster didn't announce for all regions at once, we're not quite sure!

In the press release we received, Acclaim promised that a North American closed beta will begin soon, and directed would-be players to sign up at the official site. Expect fairly standard MMO gameplay, except for combat, which is a little different. You'll actually have to aim your attacks like you would in a third person shooter game.

Spellborn runs on "Unreal Engine 2.5" and features music by respected video game composer Jesper Kyd, who has contributed scoring to games like Assassin's Creed, Gears of War, and Unreal Tournament 3.

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn launches November 27th in North America originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gameschronicles-of-spellbornclosed-betafrogsterjesper-kydlaunchrelease-datespellbornspellborn-internationalunreal-engineSun, 28 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Release date announced for The Chronicles of Spellborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/release-date-announced-for-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/release-date-announced-for-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/release-date-announced-for-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The Chronicles of Spellborn developers Spellborn NV and publisher Frogster have just announced that the eagerly-awaited fantasy MMO will be hit retail release on November 27th, 2008 in Europe. This includes the German, English and French versions of the game. In preparation for this release date, Spellborn has entered into the next phase of closed beta and introduced a large content patch on this last Wednesday, September 17th.

If you've not been following The Chronicles of Spellborn, this would be a good time to see what the game has to offer. Set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy setting, the game uses the Unreal Engine to create an "authentic living world" for players to enjoy. Check out their forums for information on the beta and more details on the game's upcoming launch.

MassivelyRelease date announced for The Chronicles of Spellborn originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>frogsterlaunchrelease-datespellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellbornunreal-engineFri, 19 Sep 2008 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PVP details revealed for The Chronicles of Spellborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/pvp-details-revealed-for-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/pvp-details-revealed-for-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/16/pvp-details-revealed-for-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The Chronicles of Spellborn is approaching its release date and we have a bit of news regarding how the PvP servers will work, and the Fame system they have in place. As noted by a recent press release, all regions will be enabled for PvP except Hawksmouth, Aldenvault and the major cities. There will also be special PvP caves within the safe zones on all servers for low level PvP.

The Fame system will work much like experience in other MMOs. You can not only gain it by questing or aiding others in their quests, but the amount of Fame your character is awarded from killing enemies has increased. They decided to make this change so that players don't need to rely solely on questing to level their characters.

MassivelyPVP details revealed for The Chronicles of Spellborn originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>famefuryhammerpvpreleasespellbornthe-chronicles-of-spellbornTue, 16 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[More beta screenshots from Chronicles of Spellborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/more-beta-screenshots-from-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/more-beta-screenshots-from-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/19/more-beta-screenshots-from-chronicles-of-spellborn/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The team at Spellborn NV continues to entice with its latest screenshots from its closed beta for The Chronicles of Spellborn. These depict various cities and other places on the Shards of Parliament and Quarterstone, as well as some of the creatures who will be more than glad to help you test your skill at bleeding. After looking at the new screenshots, forum regulars wondered if the landscapes are too empty and flat when compared to World of Warcraft's lush richness.

Spellborn NV recently showed the game at the RPC Münster role-playing convention, where players reportedly loved the character creation system and combat systems best. Similarly to NCSoft's City of Heroes, the gear and outfits worn by Spellborn characters don't affect the gameplay -- you can look however you wish and still fight at your best. The Spellborn combat system is similar to first person shooters and Age of Conan in that you don't target anything specifically; if something is in range of your attacks, it will be hit. It also is uniquely based on a grid on which you arrange your possible attacks that moves to allow you to use different sets of all your abilities as the fight moves on, adding a "deck building" element to battle.

No news on the identity of the publisher with whom they signed a letter of intent to publish the game in North America, or whether we will still see The Chronicles of Spellborn this year. In a year that has seen Age of Conan and will likely see Warhammer Online and the next World of Warcraft expansion, Spellborn will have to work doubly hard to get a share of gamers' time and money.

Gallery: Chronicles of Spellborn [Beta]

MassivelyMore beta screenshots from Chronicles of Spellborn originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbetacharacter-creationchronicles-of-spellborncity-of-heroesfantasygame-mechanicsncsoftnew-titlerpc-munsterspellbornspellborn-nvtcoswarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowMon, 19 May 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Of the Spellborn PC, personal experience points, and adventure!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/spellborn-and-ultraforce-announce-spellborn-pc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/spellborn-and-ultraforce-announce-spellborn-pc/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/24/spellborn-and-ultraforce-announce-spellborn-pc/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There's been a lot of talk recently about special collector's editions. Are they really worth the money? Chronicles of Spellborn may have just made the ultimate deal here. For about 1200 Teuros (about two grand in US dollars), they've teamed up with Ultraforce to sell you a game and the custom gaming rig on which to play it. You just can't beat a deal like this. A highly anticipated MMO and a speedy Core2 Duo processor, twin GeForce 9600s SLI on an nForce 750i motherboard and custom Spellborn case art... No idea whether it comes with a three day head start, though, and we can hope those aren't the minimum system specs to play the game.

We've been seeing a lot of beta screen shots out of Spellborn, but there's been too many shots showing static scenes with perhaps a person standing in them but precious little action. The beta testers finally came through for us with a dozen adventuring screen shots and there is plenty of action to be seen. The screen shot above showcases how different the characters you create can look -- the woman in front is gray-haired and chunky but still looks good in her steel-and-silk bikini. She doesn't have to run fast; just faster than the doomed, thin girl lagging behind.

Spellborn is currently due to release world-wide in Q4 2008. They'll have some tough competition. The Spellborn devs just (like, a minute ago) put up a new beta video showing off their Personal Experience Point system. The PEPs are gained through PvE and grant permanent buffs to your character ... provided you don't die. Good stuff, and you can be one of the first to see it! Click on through to watch the video below the cut.

Continue reading Of the Spellborn PC, personal experience points, and adventure!

MassivelyOf the Spellborn PC, personal experience points, and adventure! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventurebetachronicles-of-spellborncore2duogeforce-9600nforce750iscreenshotsspecial-editionspellborntcosultraforceThu, 24 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn gets US Publisher]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/chronicles-of-spellborn-gets-us-publisher/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/chronicles-of-spellborn-gets-us-publisher/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/chronicles-of-spellborn-gets-us-publisher/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Seems like just yesterday we were wondering if The Chronicles of Spellborn would ever see US shores. Some kind spirit must have heard us, for today comes news that a US publisher has signed a letter of intent to publish this rather unique fantasy MMO on this side of the Atlantic. Spellborn International and its European/Asian publisher, Frogster, have decided to push the release date of the game from Q2 '08 (ie, Real Soon) to Q3 '08 (ie, when Warhammer Online and the new World of Warcraft expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, ship). The reason given for the delay is polish and time for the US publisher to work on marketing the game. Polish. That used to be such a kind word. Polished games are nice, but "fun" is an even better one.

Given the rather empty looking world they have been showing us, this extra time should certainly allow them to jam it full of goodness. With any luck at all, we'll be flying through the Deadspell Storm in our golden shardships, on our way to represent our Houses in Parliament. Now that it appears we'll be seeing this game in North America after all, what better time to learn more about the world of Spellborn through the Spellborn Scrolls? The Scrolls are an interactive text adventure that introduces you to the people and places of the game and is a pretty darn unique way to get the feel for the lore.

[Thanks, Garold!]

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn gets US Publisher originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chronicles-of-spellborndeadspell-stormfrogsterfrogster-internationalletter-of-intentshardshipspellbornspellborn-internationalspellborn-scrollswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwotlkwowwrath-of-the-lich-kingFri, 11 Apr 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Spellborn character screenshots]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/spellborn-character-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/spellborn-character-screenshots/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/10/spellborn-character-screenshots/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


With all this news coming out of the Chronicles of Spellborn closed beta, can open beta be far? Well, actually, probably yes. The glimpses we have gotten of the game world so far look absolutely beautiful. Today's screen shots of actual characters shows off the unique Spellborn art style. And yet... the game world still seems barren and lifeless. Despite all the media Spellborn International is showing us, it seems unlikely they will make their Q2 '08 date for open beta. Further, without a US publisher, it could be a long time indeed before we get a chance to play.

MassivelySpellborn character screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacharacterschronicles-of-spellbornpublisherscreenshotsspellbornspellborn-internationalThu, 10 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The sounds of Shorath Mesa]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/the-sounds-of-shorath-mesa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/the-sounds-of-shorath-mesa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/the-sounds-of-shorath-mesa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

There's so much news coming out for Chronicles of Spellborn these days, can we be blamed for hoping we get to play the game itself, soon? Hot on the heels of last week's developer's art journal about the swampy Shorath Mesa comes this new journal explaining how the sound artists designed the ambiance of the area. Shorath Mesa is covered with swamp and forest and the occasional ruined temple from ages long past. The ambient sounds must change as you move from one area to another; the soft whisper of rain falling through forest leaves makes way slowly to an echoing sadness as you near a temple. Far in the distance, thunder rolls. The best ambient sounds drag you into the game. By the sounds of things, Spellborn will draw you in completely to their realm. We don't often get a chance to hear how sound designers do their magic.

MassivelyThe sounds of Shorath Mesa originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>art-journalbansheechronicles-of-spellbornshorath-mesashrine-of-currentsspellbornspellborn-internationalSat, 05 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[A glimpse into Quarterstone, the jewel of Spellborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/a-glimpse-into-quarterstone-the-jewel-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/a-glimpse-into-quarterstone-the-jewel-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/03/a-glimpse-into-quarterstone-the-jewel-of-spellborn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


The Chronicles of Spellborn beta testers keep teasing us with these wonderful screenshots! We haven't seen an MMO with such a unique and evocative style since Lord of the Rings Online. This week brings us pictures from the city of Quarterstone, "the jewel of Spellborn". Quarterstone sits beneath massive holes that allow in the light of the Deadspell Storm, and around which cyclones rage. Despite the turmoil outside, Quarterstone seems fairly peaceful -- the real danger there are the battles between the great Houses.

Chronicles of Spellborn is due out "Q2 2008". Despite rumors of financial difficulties, a perceived lack of commitment by Central European and Asian publishing partner Frogster International, and no announced publishers in Britain or North America, Community Manager "Papillon" vows that if they run out of money, they will put what they have on the market and try to find a way forward from there (even if that means working for free!). We're rooting for you, Spellborn, and we loved what we saw of the game at GDC.

Updated: The struck-out text was based on a bad translation of a quote from the German section of the Spellborn forums. And in fact, the meaning was entirely opposite. We regret the error, won't be using dodgy automatic translation services in the future!

According to Papillon, the correct translation was: "And to even more emphasize that we do NOT intend to release Spellborn in a hurry, I finished in joking about "I think this development team would even work for free to make the dream become reality :) (PSSST! That stays between us! ;) Don't let my Boss know about this!)".

I think it's clear they meant something entirely different! /heads back to the English side of the forums...

MassivelyA glimpse into Quarterstone, the jewel of Spellborn originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chronicles-of-spellborndeadpell-stormfrogsterfrogster-internationalGDClord-of-the-rings-onlinelotropapillonquarterstonescreenshotsspellbornspellborn-internationalThu, 03 Apr 2008 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Five MMOs better than World of Warcraft]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/five-mmos-better-than-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/five-mmos-better-than-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/04/01/five-mmos-better-than-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


No fooling. Blizzard's World of Warcraft is a great game, a hugely influential game, maybe even the best game ever written by anyone, ever. Throughout history. But now that we've GOT WoW, well, what's next? Age of Conan? Warhammer? Spellborn? Maybe.

World of Warcraft had its roots in many other games, but none of those games stood still. Each of them looked at WoW, appreciated its roots, and said - we can do better. Other games, entirely different ones, said - we can give players something new. Here then, are five MMOs better than WoW - and why. Each takes some aspect of World of Warcraft and blows it away. Some of the games are old, some new, but all are excellent games -- and perhaps you will think so, too.

Find out what MMO we think does raiding better than WoW ==>>

MassivelyFive MMOs better than World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocblizzardchronicles-of-spellbornfeaturedjoystiqfeaturesspellbornwarwarhammer-onlineworld-of-warcraftwowTue, 01 Apr 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn: Combat for Beginners]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/chronicles-of-spellborn-combat-for-beginners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/chronicles-of-spellborn-combat-for-beginners/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/31/chronicles-of-spellborn-combat-for-beginners/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Face to face with a monster. Its soulless eyes glint blackly from the light of the Deadspell Storm. Its smell -- that awful stench -- may be its greatest weapon, but you do not come unprepared. You have your trusty falchion, worn but true. Your armor has been nicked and scratched and is no longer as shiny as when the blacksmith sold it, but it's honest chain and will turn a blade, or a claw. And of course, you have your trusty deck of cards. "Let's do this," you snarl. You turn the top card over...

Combat in Chronicles of Spellborn isn't the simple deal (cough sorry) we've come to expect in our MMOs. Instead of having a fixed set of abilities governed by cast timers and cool-downs, the abilities in Spellborn are controlled by cards, one for each action. You set up your cards in up to five columns -- for instance, one for mêlée, another for mêlée and debuffs, one for magic, another for ranged, and the last for healing. As you use an ability all columns move to the next row (or tier), and so on. Want to guarantee a finishing move is always available? Put them diagonally across your columns. For tips on how to make combos, and how to construct your deck so that the buffs and debuffs support your attacks, Spellborn dev El Drijver brings us his Combat for Beginners game design journal. Check out our previous coverage of this innovative MMO coming out of the Netherlands in the near future.

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn: Combat for Beginners originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Every MMO has its own style, but few have such a uniqueness to them as that of Chronicles of Spellborn. Set in great hollow rocks called Shards, caught in an immense cataclysm called the Deadspell Storm, it's a setting unlike any other. Though currently in closed beta, the developers let us have a peek at Shorath Mesa, a swampy land surrounded by mountains that drop in immense cliffs and thunderous waterfalls to the land of Garminholm, far below.

Spellborn art lead Frank Bakker, in his latest art journal, brings us through the design, development and implementation Shorath Mesa. How does a designer balance the needs of the game with the desires of the player? What goes into designing a visually interesting area? How do you get weather inside a rock? This is a fascinating look into the art development of an exciting new MMO.

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn unveils new area originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artart-designart-directorbakkerchronicles-of-spellb...designfrank-bakkergalleryscreenshotsshorath-mesaspellborntcosvideo-game-artvideo-game-designSun, 23 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn: demo video good, another big delay bad]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/chronicles-of-spellborn-demo-video-good-another-big-delay-bad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/chronicles-of-spellborn-demo-video-good-another-big-delay-bad/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/05/chronicles-of-spellborn-demo-video-good-another-big-delay-bad/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Good idea: Show off your Massively Multiplayer game at Game Developer's conference! The long-in-development title Chronicles of Spellborn showed off gameplay and core features to the site OnlineWelten. The Germans had a camera on-hand, and you can enjoy the lengthy resulting video either on their site, or embedded below the cut.

Bad idea: Postpone the launch of your already long-delayed title well into 2008. The official site notes that the developers now plan to release Spellborn sometime in Q2 of this year - right into the timeframe of Warhammer Online and (possibly) Wrath of the Lich King. This already incredibly niche title is going to have a stiff fight on its hands, and it's a real shame that they're postponing it right into the path of these mass-market behemoths.

Some of the features are definitely worth checking out, though; check below the cut for that great OnlineWelten video.

Continue reading Chronicles of Spellborn: demo video good, another big delay bad

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn: demo video good, another big delay bad originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingchronicles-of-spellborndelaygdc08spellbornvideoWed, 05 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Devs post hectic Spellborn combat video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/devs-post-hectic-spellborn-combat-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/devs-post-hectic-spellborn-combat-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/06/devs-post-hectic-spellborn-combat-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The developers behind the long-delayed Chronicles of Spellborn usually put out an in-depth article about a specific system, like this one on balancing combat in the game. As usual, they offer up a lengthy discussion of the subject, taking pains to include everyone in their development process.

For example, I can say that a certain basic damage attack should do 50 damage. The model will then show the amount of damage a weak attack should do or what amount a heavy heal should heal for. It will not only give these basic values, it will actually also reflect the effect of the use of consumables, sigils and attribute points by the player, so we can theoretically predict the outcome. Past taught us that these predictions are often far from the situation you end up with eventually, especially considering MMO's, but you need to start somewhere. As long as we keep updating the model to our actual findings and experiences, it will become more accurate as we progress.

Near the end of last month in lieu of a diary they offered up a frantic video of their PvP stress test. It's a brief stress test of their combat engine in the level 1 areas, a place that won't normally allow Player vs. Player combat. The designers hopped in to hack away at each other, and it was so much fun they decided to FRAPS the experience and share it wiith us. The voice-over by the TCOS designers provides some more insight into what gameplay in the game will be like. They don't rely on auto-targetting or background calculations to control damage. If you swing and hit with a sword, you do damage. Just one of the many decidedly different elements that make Spellborn stand out from the crowd.

MassivelyDevs post hectic Spellborn combat video originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Nov 2007 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chronicles-of-spellborndeveloper-diarypvpspellborntcosvideoTue, 06 Nov 2007 19:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn CM interview]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/chronicles-of-spellborn-cm-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/chronicles-of-spellborn-cm-interview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/10/26/chronicles-of-spellborn-cm-interview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

We haven't heard much here at Massively about The Chronicles of Spellborn, but what we have heard has been interesting. It's definitely a lesser-known MMORPG, and doesn't have the promotional power of Warhammer or some other MMOs currently in beta, but the dev team over there is definitely throwing around some interesting ideas. Want to play a fantasy MMO where gear doesn't matter, or where player skill is supposed to trump dicerolls? Then if this interview over at TenTonHammer is any indication, Spellborn might be your new favorite upcoming game.

TTH talks with Community Manager Pierre-Yves Deslandes about a game that seems to be aiming to break every MMO convention out there. Gear has no stats on it, so you can wear whatever you like anytime you want. Skills are layered, and meant to be used in conjunction with combos. And there is no auto-lock-- while Deslandes strays away from the "twitch" idea, they instead want to call it "focus." Instead of mindlessly clicking, you've got to be involved in the game.

Not all of it sounds completely new-- NPCs still give quests, and their big innovation in that area is that it's a book floating over their head rather than an exclamation mark. But Spellborn might be an interesting outing, especially if you're looking for something new in MMORPGs.

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn CM interview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chronicles-of-spellbornCMcombosdevfocusgearinnovationsinterviewnpcsspellspellborntentonhammerFri, 26 Oct 2007 22:25:00 EST