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: Wakfu]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/rise-and-shiny-recap-wakfu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/rise-and-shiny-recap-wakfu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/rise-and-shiny-recap-wakfu/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wakfu screenshot
In June, I drove down to Austin, Texas, to once again participate in GDC Online. I do it every year if I can, and I love it. It's a smaller event when compared to the larger E3s and other conventions, but it is more personal and up-close. My favorite speaker at this last event had to be David Calvo from Ankama Games. When he first came out barefoot, I was honestly worried that the chat would be all about goofy, "deep" design techniques that had no real use in practice. In the end, his talk was deep but was really just asking developers to have fun and try new things. Yes, I know: new things. Crazy, huh?

If Wakfu is any proof, those design theories are put to practice every day at Ankama. Wakfu, for me, is a breath of fresh air in so many ways. Even though I am somewhat used to the design and art style, thanks in large part to playing the previous title Dofus, I still find myself loving how simply complex much of Wakfu is.

There are issues that come with complexity, however.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Wakfu

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Wakfu originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ankamaankama-gamesbeau-hindmandavid-calvoDofusf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpglitchjagexLiveStreampreviewrise-and-shinyrunescapeRyzomsoeSony-Online-EntertainmentSquare-Enixstreamingthe-chronicles-of-spellbornthirst-of-nighttwitch-tvVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesvideowakfuSun, 15 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[So long and thanks for all the pics: One Shots favorites]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-pics-one-shots-favorites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-pics-one-shots-favorites/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-pics-one-shots-favorites/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We bid a final farewell to One Shots yesterday, but we couldn't let almost four years and 1,500 reader-submitted screenshots go without a little nod to some of our favorites.

First up, of course, is the first-ever One Shots entry. Liz Harper had this to say about the image:
I wanted to start our daily screenshot feature on Massively off with something, well, massive. A memorable, recognizable, and important scene from MMO history... and while you may all argue with me about what makes this particular shot important, it was the first thing that came to mind. Here we see a group of City of Heroes players gathering at City Hall in Atlas Park to "salute the memory and inspiration that is Christopher Reeve on the 2nd anniversary of his death." It's rare to see an in-game event that brings players together for a cause other than slaying dragons and similar.
Ready for more? Follow along after the jump for more of the best of One Shots!

Continue reading So long and thanks for all the pics: One Shots favorites

MassivelySo long and thanks for all the pics: One Shots favorites originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Activision-Blizzardanetarenanetaventurinebest-of-one-shotsblizzardchronicles-of-spellborncity-of-heroescity-of-villainscohcovcoxdarkfallgalleriesgalleryguild-warsgwlord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroncsoftone-shotsplaydomscreenshotscreenshotsthe-chronicles-of-spellbornturbineworld-of-warcraftwowSat, 01 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/16/the-perfect-ten-shapeshifters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Because we are true geeks, last weekend my wife and I went to see X-Men: First Class. Afterward, we got into a discussion about what mutant power we'd pick for ourselves if we had the choice. I was torn between teleportation and quick healing, while my wife wanted to be able to turn into cash to pay off our mortgage. I think one of us is more grounded in the real world than the other.

But the more I think about it, the more I was intrigued with the idea of a shapeshifter. To be anyone would give you unparalleled freedom -- and plenty of chances to get into mischief, too. Come to think of it, it's probably best I'm not granted that particular superpower.

However, plenty of MMOs do give players the chance to shift between their normal forms and something else entirely. While there are far more than 10 examples that the brain trust over here came up with, I'm going to pick out my favorites to highlight.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Shapeshifters originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventureraliensanarchy-onlineaoarchetypechronicles-of-spellborncity-of-heroescohcount-choculadervishdruiddruidsdwarfeq2eqiieverquest-2everquest-iifacehuggerfeaturedfurygrim-reaperguild-warsgwkheldiankheldiansleetlichlich-formmoonkinmorphmorphsmysticnecromancerperfect-10perfect-tenpolymorphriftrift-planes-of-telarashapeshiftshapeshiftersshapeshiftingteam-edwardteam-jacobthe-chronicles-of-spellbornthe-countultima-onlineuovampirevampire-formwardenworgenworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 16 Jun 2011 14:00:00 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[Free for All: Are MMO transients bad for the industry?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/free-for-all-are-mmo-transients-bad-for-the-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/free-for-all-are-mmo-transients-bad-for-the-industry/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/23/free-for-all-are-mmo-transients-bad-for-the-industry/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

I hate downtown Dallas. When I was a kid, it used to be the place to go. We would drive several hours to see a punk rock show, stare at the cool people we didn't have in Oklahoma, and then drive back. Back then, Dallas was a paradise. Now that I am older and have played in bands for nearly 24 years, I realize Dallas is a pit. I hated playing the clubs there. One of the major issues that the city has run into is what to do about all of the homeless people.

I hate to sound like a jerk, but right now you can't go into downtown Dallas without being asked for change a dozen times or asked to "look at this spider bite." (This did happen to me once, and it it was nasty-looking.) Despite my attitude of understanding for people in all sorts of situations, I still wonder what a city is supposed to do with a constant influx of people, people who do not reside permanently in the city yet continue to pass through? You can't tax them.

MMO gamers who enjoy multiple games are often talked about as though they are the pitiful homeless. While I can see some parallels, I think that such a judgment is not only insensitive but the opposite of the truth. Let's look at the variables past the cut.

Continue reading Free for All: Are MMO transients bad for the industry?

MassivelyFree for All: Are MMO transients bad for the industry? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmanbeggarscultureeverquest-iif2pfeaturedfree-for-allfree-realmsfree-to-playftpgame-hopperhomelesslord-of-the-rings-onlinemabinogimmo-hoppersmmo-touristriftRyzomthe-chronicles-of-spellborntouristsVanguard-Saga-of-HeroesWorld-of-WarcraftWed, 23 Mar 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rise and Shiny recap: Regnum Online]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/21/rise-and-shiny-recap-regnum-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/21/rise-and-shiny-recap-regnum-online/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/21/rise-and-shiny-recap-regnum-online/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


Regnum Online is an RvR-based game brought to us by NGD Studios. The motto for the game is "The best MMORPG with realm versus realm action for free." In other words, if you liked it in other games, you'll probably like it here, and for free! I can't really comment too much on this game's similarities to other RvR games, being that I only mildly experienced RvR in Dark Age of Camelot and Warhammer Online so far. Either way, it's a forgivable offense -- DAoC didn't invent PvP, anyway. But then the question becomes: Does Regnum deliver fun of any kind?

See, I long ago gave up on PvP -- it's really just a game of tag. In fact, it's one of the least "hardcore" activities that a player can participate in, simply because the "harsh" death penalty is generally equal to sitting down for a split second and maybe jogging a bit after. Granted, if this were real life we were talking about, many gamers might have a major issue with the jogging -- but it's not. Aren't PvP and MMORPGing supposed to be a semi-copy of real life, though? So where's the pain when you die? Where's the suffering or the punishment? Allods tried to punish players, but some players moaned about that. It turns out that the only fear of the Reaper is based on the fact that he has a 30 second stopwatch on.

Then there is the PvE aspect of many PvP games like Regnum. Oh, boy -- the PvE.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Regnum Online

MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Regnum Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beau-hindmandaocdark-age-of-camelotf2pfeaturedfree-to-playftpNGD-Studiosplayer-versus-playerpvprealm-versus-realmregnumregnum-onlinervrthe-chronicles-of-spellbornwarWarhammer-OnlineSun, 21 Nov 2010 10:00:00 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[Spellborn shutting down in September]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/09/spellborn-shutting-down-in-september/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/09/spellborn-shutting-down-in-september/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/09/spellborn-shutting-down-in-september/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It seems the bell has finally tolled for The Chronicles of Spellborn, the troubled free-to-play MMORPG from Playdom. The fantasy title, which boasted a unique combat system and attempted to alleviate the grind common to the massive genre through its mission system, will be shutting its doors for good in September. Spellborn has had a checkered history since its 2009 inception as a pay-to-play title. Shortly after release, its development team went bankrupt before it was slated for free-to-play distribution by Acclaim and Frogster.

According to a report published on Games.com, last week's server outage (which sparked a brush-fire of cancellation rumors) was temporary, but the game will nonetheless be closing next month. "Yes we do plan to close the game at the end of the month," said a Playdom rep via email. "The servers were down on Monday, but that was due to an unrelated technical issue; the game should be back up now until the end of this month."

MassivelySpellborn shutting down in September originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimchronicles-of-spellbornf2pfree-to-playfrogstergame-closinggame-closureplaydomthe-chronicles-of-spellbornMon, 09 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Chronicles of Spellborn shutting down?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/chronicles-of-spellborn-shutting-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/chronicles-of-spellborn-shutting-down/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/29/chronicles-of-spellborn-shutting-down/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While Frogster Interactive is perhaps best known for its main MMO, Runes of Magic, it also carries other games for players to enjoy. One of the titles handled by Frogster Asia is The Chronicles of Spellborn -- a belabored game that has seen its model shift from subscription to free within a few months of launch, had its development team go bankrupt and scatter to the winds, and watched its player-base drop off. Well, according to the most recent press release by Frogster Interactive, it would appear that the Frogster Asia division plans to slough off The Chronicles of Spellborn once and for all.

Meanwhile, in North America, Acclaim still has servers (somewhat) open for The Chronicles of Spellborn, but the game feels as if it has been left chained in a dusty corner with a crust of stale bread and a tin of rusty water by its neglectful parents. There are enormous issues on the official site, such as a broken downloader setup, corrupted patches, and most recently, a bug requiring players to change their passwords each and every time they try to log in to the game. No fixes or responses are forthcoming, and we were unable to get any official comment from Acclaim regarding its intentions for the North American version as of the time we published this.

The full text of the section of Frogster's press release dealing with TCoS can be found behind the break. As to Acclaim's intent, we'll update this post if we get a response.

[Thanks, Cow Moo Flage]

Continue reading Chronicles of Spellborn shutting down?

MassivelyChronicles of Spellborn shutting down? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingchronicles-of-spellbornf2pfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-asiafrogster-interactivepress-releaseromrunes-of-magicSpellborn-nvsunsettcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornTue, 29 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Free for All: My top five F2P games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/free-for-all-my-top-five-f2p-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/free-for-all-my-top-five-f2p-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/free-for-all-my-top-five-f2p-games/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

You know, I think I have a pretty clear mission here at Massively. I want to do my part to point out anything different or fresh to help keep this special genre of entertainment going in a good direction. If I can introduce 20 people to five new games, then I think I did a pretty good job. It can be a pretty rough trip, sometimes, as I wade through horribly designed websites and illegible fonts to fish up some independent gem or two.

Over the last few years, I have discovered that my playstyle has changed to meet the demands of my curiosity. The games that I enjoy the most allow me to come and go, like a faithful dog that meets me after a long days work. They have to meet certain criteria, and even then have to be flexible enough to bend to my MMO ADD.

So, here's a short, very short, list. This is the hardest list to write, not because it is hard to fill, but because it is almost impossible to cut off. Read on and see if you agree with my top five favorite free-to-play MMORPGs. (In no particular order.)

Continue reading Free for All: My top five F2P games

MassivelyFree for All: My top five F2P games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>earth-eternalf2pfeaturedfree-for-allfree-realmsftpmabinoginexon-americathe-chronicles-of-spellbornwurm-onlineTue, 01 Jun 2010 12:00:00 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[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: High House Silver]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/11/one-shots-high-house-silver/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/11/one-shots-high-house-silver/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/11/one-shots-high-house-silver/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


With the recent news that The Chronicles of Spellborn is going to be going from a Freemium to a fully free-to-play game, emotions are torn. Those who have been subscribing feel like they're about to lose the game they've been enjoying. Those who have wanted to try it out but have been unable to do more than the first several levels are glad as it will give them a chance to play more. Either way you slice it though, it means change for the Spellborn community. With that said, we have a lovely screenshot from within The Chronicles of Spellborn that was sent to us by Terrivad of the Deiquonril server. He writes in: This is a screen shot of the interior of High House Silver in the city of Hawksmouth. House Silver being one of the five High Houses of the Enclave. They keep the economy in order and the day to day activities such as transportation, taxing and trade. (They're also obviously the richest House.)

One Shots runs on reader submissions, so we need to hear from you! Just snap a quick screenshot from your favorite MMO and send it to us here at oneshots AT massively DOT com along with your name and the game/location it was taken in. We'll do the rest from there and give you the credit for sending it in.

Gallery: One Shots

MassivelyOne Shots: High House Silver originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimacclaim-gamesF2Pfreemiumone-shotsscreenshotscreenshotstcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornSat, 11 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn to be re-developed as free to play, bankruptcy issues loom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-to-be-re-developed-as-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-to-be-re-developed-as-free-to-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/30/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-to-be-re-developed-as-free-to-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


The Chronicles of Spellborn only launched a few months ago, but they've already announced that they're going to "re-develop" the game as a free-to-play title. Acclaim Games stated on Monday: "The development is planned to carry into 2010 and will include several enhancements and changes to the current game. The enhancements and development of the new model will be carried through a joint venture between Spellborn NV and the development studio of Frogster Asia Co. Ltd based in Seoul, the Korean studio bringing its expertise in the field of free-to-play and micro-transactions."

Once this re-development is complete The Chronicles of Spellborn will cease to be a subscription game and will switch over to the free-to-play model. We're not sure if there will be any further development on TCOS as it exists now, but a post on the game's EU forums by community manager Kelas stated, "For now, the servers and system (subscription) will remain the way it is. There are still people available for running the daily work and systems."

Continue reading The Chronicles of Spellborn to be re-developed as free to play, bankruptcy issues loom

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn to be re-developed as free to play, bankruptcy issues loom originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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[The Chronicles of Spellborn art book now available as free PDF]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-art-book-now-available-as-free-pdf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-art-book-now-available-as-free-pdf/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/28/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-art-book-now-available-as-free-pdf/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The newly launched fantasy game The Chronicles of Spellborn is a (air quote) freemium massively multiplayer online title from Acclaim, where three areas of the game are available for free, while subscriptions truly open the game up for its players. Those gamers in the EU who jump into The Chronicles of Spellborn are able to buy the title as a boxed product and thus get the art book which accompanies the box release, but no such luck for North American players. That is, until now.

Acclaim has opted to release the art book as a free PDF file, which you can find over at MMORPG.com. It's a nice, in-depth look at the game spanning 151 pages of art content and lore. The High Houses, the game's myriad Inhabitants, and of course weapons and armor are all included in The Chronicles of Spellborn art book. If you're already into TCoS or are just curious about it, be sure to grab your free download at MMORPG.com.

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn art book now available as free PDF originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimartart-bookconcept-artfantasymmorpg.compdftcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornTue, 28 Apr 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn interview explains game's unique aspects]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-interview-explains-games-unique-asp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-interview-explains-games-unique-asp/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/01/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-interview-explains-games-unique-asp/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,


The Chronicles of Spellborn is a game we've been hearing more about lately. We recently noticed an interview by Nolvadex at the Italian gaming site Gamesource with The Chronicles of Spellborn's lead community manager Pierre-Yves "Mirage" Deslandes.

Mirage discusses a relatively smooth European launch for the title and some of the complexities of their publishing deals, insofar as they affect the European market. The challenges of balancing PvE and PvP content in the game comes up, and Mirage also addresses why The Chronicles of Spellborn shipped without an auction house, stressing that a marketplace is indeed on the way. In terms of building upon the game's combat systems, Netherlands-based developer Spellborn NV doesn't plan to make any major changes to the game's combat system, which Mirage states is the trademark and backbone of The Chronicles of Spellborn. Adding greater depth to what's presently offered instead of simply adding more races and classes to the game is clearly a priority for the developers.

Continue reading The Chronicles of Spellborn interview explains game's unique aspects

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn interview explains game's unique aspects originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auction-housebusiness-modelsclassescombatcommunity-managereuropefantasygamesourceinterviewsmarketplacemicrotransactionsmiragemmo-industrynolvadexpierre-yves-deslandespvepvpracesspellborn-nvsubscriptionstcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornSun, 01 Mar 2009 12:00:00 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[The Chronicles of Spellborn scores 8/10 in an early review]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-scores-8-10-in-an-early-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-scores-8-10-in-an-early-review/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-scores-8-10-in-an-early-review/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Although a great deal of the world is still playing the beta version of The Chronicles of Spellborn, continental Europe has had access to the retail copy since the 27th of November. Since Eurogamer has had a couple of weeks to put the game through its paces, they've posted a review. Now, we're sure you know the various problems with MMO reviews in general -- the two biggest being that most (good) MMOs are updated frequently post-launch, and that there's usually too much content to get through to provide accurate insight to all levels and areas of a game -- but it's worth nothing that this one comes with a rather healthy eight-out-of-ten score at the end.

The art style and environments get an approving nod in the review, and so do the action-based combat mechanics. The "Skill Deck", which is the replacement for the traditional action bar you might be used to from a huge number of other MMOs, is both praised and knocked for its complexity. The primary criticisms that the review levels against TCoS are that it can be a bit generic at times, and that it lacks the glossy polish that you see in big-budget titles. Obviously these complaints were not significant enough to stop the reviewer from enjoying the game, and we look forward to seeing how it shapes up by the time it's released to the rest of the world in January.

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn scores 8/10 in an early review originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acclaimartart-stylechronicles-of-spellborncombateueuropereviewskill-decktcosthe-chronicles-of-spellbornMon, 08 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn's open beta impressions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/the-chronicles-of-spellborns-open-beta-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/the-chronicles-of-spellborns-open-beta-impressions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/24/the-chronicles-of-spellborns-open-beta-impressions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Since the launch of open beta in Europe and removal of the NDA this weekend, The Chronicles of Spellborn has now entered the public eye on a much larger scale. MMORPG has been providing some in-depth coverage of the game recently, including one of the first extensive looks at the character creation process.

However, sometimes it's good to get a "regular-guy" perspective on these first impressions, so we're particularly interested in a recent run-down from the A Ding World blog. In this thorough look at the current state of open beta, Sente runs through character creation, control, user interface, questing and much more. It's a great read if you're interested in learning more about this upcoming MMO, set to launch on November 27th in Europe and in January for the US.

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn's open beta impressions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betachronicles-of-spellborneuimpressionsopen-betathe-chronicles-of-spellbornMon, 24 Nov 2008 16:00:00 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[Peruse the history of the Chronicles of Spellborn]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/peruse-the-history-of-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/peruse-the-history-of-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/22/peruse-the-history-of-the-chronicles-of-spellborn/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Following on the heels of the first part of the timeline, this second chapter in the history of the Chronicles of Spellborn brings things further into the present. Known as "Death's Dream", the period following "The Great Collapse", this era is delineated by the fragments of the Ancestor World:

"To most scholars it is unknown what has happened in this period. Some of them are not even convinced it lasted a full 500 years. What is known is that the remnants of the world - the various Shards and Fragments - are covered in Undying Ice during this period and that all survivors of the Great Collapse are frozen in time, trapped within a deep slumber."

And what's further known is that the Chronicles of Spellborn just keeps looking better and better the more we learn of it.

[Thanks, Katrina!]

MassivelyPeruse the history of the Chronicles of Spellborn originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancestor-worlddeaths-dreamhistorylorethe-chronicles-of-spellbornthe-great-collapseTue, 22 Jul 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Chronicles of Spellborn close in on a North American Publisher]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-close-in-on-a-north-american-publish/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-close-in-on-a-north-american-publish/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/03/the-chronicles-of-spellborn-close-in-on-a-north-american-publish/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,


In a recent interview over at Ten Ton Hammer, Pierre-Yves Deslandes, the Public Relations Manager for The Chronicles of Spellborn answered some interesting questions about the upcoming fantasy MMO. One of the first questions on the minds of those at TTH and the minds of most players is why the game's launch has been post-poned another six months until autumn of 2008.

Of course, as with most game-launch delays, the development team is still working out some bugs. Plus, to complicate matters, the game is still without a North American publisher. But in addition to this news, we get treated to some wonderful information regarding the unique features of the game, including the "Dress to Impress" gear system.

Head on over to TTH to read the complete interview.

MassivelyThe Chronicles of Spellborn close in on a North American Publisher originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chronicles-of-spellborndress-to-impressinterviewpierre-yves-deslandesten-ton-hammerthe-chronicles-of-spellborntthTue, 03 Jun 2008 16:30:00 EST