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Jagged Alliance Online adds in PvP for testers

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Real life, Game mechanics, PvP, News items, War, Free-to-play

If you've been playing in the closed beta of Jagged Alliance Online thus far, the "Online" portion of that name has probably seemed to be something of a misnomer. Beta testers have been exploring the game mechanics from the point of set missions against AI opponents, but that's all about to change. Cliffhanger Productions and gamigo have just unveiled the game's new multiplayers modes, with three different modes and six different maps for players to take up arms against one another.

The three modes consist of Deathmatch (self-explanatory), Bounty Hunter (a race to fight to a target and be the first to kill said target), and Search and Destroy (destroy three targets while protecting your own). Players will be matched via a matchmaker system based upon levels and position in the overall rankings, preventing unfair matches (in theory) and giving good players more substantive rewards for success. If you've got a need for some online turn-based strategy, it might be well worth keeping an eye on these features at they develop.

[Source: gamigo press release]

Jagged Alliance Online adds in PvP for testers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: Jagged Alliance Online

Beau Hindman — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Screenshots, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, First Impressions

A short time ago, I posted my thoughts on UFO Online, one of the most exciting titles I found while at E3 this year. While I was there, I was given a tour of Jagged Alliance Online during the same sitting. Both games were thrilling in a "tiny army" sort of way, and both seemed to finally get what makes tabletop gaming and strategy games fun. UFO Online was more complex in some ways, and I found the beta to be further along than Jagged Alliance Online's, but I have had fun in both so far. I'm hoping that gamigo, the publisher of both titles, keeps getting them both right.

I still had some issues with Jagged Alliance Online, but it's hard to say whether these will be corrected during one of the following betas. So while it is my duty to report to you these issues, I want you to bear in mind the state of the current game. Fortunately the title seems far enough along that I got a real feel for what is coming.

War is coming.

Click past the cut and I'll give you the details.

Continue reading First Impressions: Jagged Alliance Online

First Impressions: Jagged Alliance Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose My Adventure: Wings rule, horses drool edition

Beau Hindman — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Polls, Screenshots, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Trading card games, Casual, Wizard101, Choose My Adventure, Family

For those who might not know, it was decided last week that my Wizard101 character was to be a boy from the school of Death. On top of that, he was ordered to get around town by using a pair of beautiful white wings. I heard a few comments in different places about how the wings would not look cool with a Death student or about how a horse mount or broom was better. I held fast and nabbed a pair of the white, fluttering back pieces. I had to obey orders!

Once I made my character and put the wings on, though, I looked completely metal. For those younger players who might not understand what that means, Google "Dio" and watch a few videos. Avoid Slayer -- your parents would not like that. (Note: If you come across a band called Queensryche, that's not metal.) Anyway, my white wings only accentuated my dark intentions. It was a fantastic choice.

But what else did I do over this last week besides wait for the vote to end? Well, click past the cut and I'll let you know.

Gallery: CMA: Wizard 101 first edition

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Wings rule, horses drool edition

Choose My Adventure: Wings rule, horses drool edition originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively takes its turn with Atlantica Online's new patch

Beau Hindman — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Galleries, Screenshots, Expansions, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Atlantica Online

As we waited on the conference call for the Atlantica Online developers to start our virtual press tour, a fellow journalist and I chatted about the possibilities of virtual tabletops. I told him about my desire for a real virtual tabletop game, one that would allow players to take turns setting up scenery, adding armies and destroying each other. Little did I know that I was about to see something that would make me feel the same satisfaction as a tabletop does, despite their being different in a few ways.

Atlantica Online's new patch will allow players to participate in the new Tactical Battle System -- essentially a turn-based strategy game of moving pairs of soldiers across a map, avoiding and setting traps, and defeating mighty enemies. During most of the interview, I found myself asking questions that were already covered, since I was just having too much fun playing the game to hear our hosts speak. Frankly, I wasn't embarrassed. After all, isn't becoming immersed in strategy the point of a game like Atlantica Online?

Read on and I'll tell you the details of what I found, including the scoop on the eagerly awaited housing system.

Continue reading Massively takes its turn with Atlantica Online's new patch

Massively takes its turn with Atlantica Online's new patch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: Kingory

Beau Hindman — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Historical, Free-to-play, Browser, Hands-on, Casual, MMORTS, First Impressions

Kingory is a browser based game that is set in ancient times, a time of gory combat and undefeated heroes. Honestly, I did not really care too much about what time it was set in, being that the buildings and lore could be swapped out for almost any other that we have seen before. It could have been a space setting, complete with huge tanks and space marines, or an ancient caveman world, complete with dinosaurs instead or balistas.

To me, the real difference with Kingory is the speed in which you can do things and the scale at which you can do them. You start out with your normal browser game city, and click around to build the run-of-the-mill buildings that require other buildings that require other buildings in order to be built. You need a wall, a tavern, farms to provide food and other standards that we browser fans have grown used to.

But the real glory happens when you slap down cash or earn items that help you grow faster. A few dollars or hours later and you will be well on your way to spying on your neighbors.

Continue reading First Impressions: Kingory

First Impressions: Kingory originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Atlantica Online selected for Game and Game World Championship 2009

James Egan — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, PvP, News items

Atlantica Online, the free-to-play turn-based MMO from NDOORS Interactive has been selected as an official title of the 2009 Game & Game World Championship (GNGWC). For those unfamiliar with this event, what is GNGWC? It's an annual Korean game festival and tournament that's held in major cities around the world representing different regions -- Los Angeles, Leipzig, Singapore, São Paulo, Tokyo, and Yongin (South Korea). Regional tournament champions are ultimately invited to the Grand Finals held in Korea. GNGWC is run by the Korea IT Industry Promotion Agency (KIPA) which aims to promote Korean games to players globally.

The announcement mentions Atlantica Online being played in GNGWC 2009: "Selected as a GNGWC title for the second year in a row, Atlantica Online features a revolutionary turn-based battle system that utilizes free PvP leagues and a new 100v100 tactical battle system for PvP combat. Atlantica has proven to be an ideal title for e-sports competitions with its unique PvP combat." Top-ranking competitors can earn prizes, including cash prizes in the Grand Finals. Beyond the NDOORS Interactive title being a prominent aspect of GNGWC, the release also mentions that Atlantica Online will be expanding to new territories in Asia: Taiwan and Vietnam.

Atlantica Online selected for Game and Game World Championship 2009 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 May 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Consider the turn-based MMO with Atlantica Online

Shawn Schuster — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry

There are turn-based games, and then there are MMOs. The idea of mixing the two doesn't seem like the greatest of ideas, does it? Turn-based combat would take away from the high-action immersive fighting that we've become accustomed to through our favorite online games. This is most evident in the recent popularity of FPS-style MMOs. Yet, despite this, the RPG side of MMOs began with turn-based strategy.

Over at MMORPG.com, Atlantica Online's Producer, Kim Tae Gon, explains the reasoning behind the decision to make this highly-popular game turn-based. Going back to the fundamentals of games like chess, Kim Tae Gon believes that this type of game mechanic is more approachable for a larger audience, especially considering the popularity of games like chess across the world. "With casual games and FPS games well established, it's time for something new, like turn-based games. I honestly hope Atlantica will be the starting point."

Consider the turn-based MMO with Atlantica Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: Atlantica Online

Akela Talamasca — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Classes, Game mechanics, New titles, Opinion, Hands-on, First Impressions

Welcome to our First Impressions of NDOORS' Atlantica Online. Although it's in its third round of its closed beta, it's functional enough to talk about, and deservedly so. It's not the only MMOTBS -- massively multiplayer online turn-based strategy -- currently on the market, but it's got a high level of polish and a lot of potential. Let's dig in.

Gallery: First Impressions: Atlantica Online

Continue reading First Impressions: Atlantica Online

First Impressions: Atlantica Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turn-based strategy MMO Atlantica to enter closed beta in July

William Dobson — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Game mechanics, New titles, News items

A new MMORPG by the name of Atlantica Online is set to enter its closed beta phase this July. The game will reportedly employ a turn-based strategy combat system, and developer Ndoors Interactive hopes that this will help it to stand out from other MMOs. Players are able to form groups of up to 3 people and wage war across ancient lands. There will be a heavy focus on long term planning and strategy, with players having to manage both cities and countries, keeping factors like industry, commerce, and culture in mind.

Visiting Atlantica's official website, we found a handful of screenshots, a teaser video (with no gameplay unfortunately) and a simple form to enter just an email address to register for the closed beta. Turn-based strategy games tend to divide gamers, but fans of the genre could really get into such a title taken to the level of complexity that MMOs can offer -- if done well. We'll report back when we find out more.

[Via Worlds in Motion]

Turn-based strategy MMO Atlantica to enter closed beta in July originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LotRO: Seven genres in one game

Christopher Colon — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Game mechanics, Opinion, Casual, Humor

Part of the genius of Lord of the Rings Online is how Turbine managed to wrap seven genres into one game. No, I am not talking about their Web games promoting the Mines of Moria. Rather, I am talking about how utterly different the play of each class is while being in the same environment. This is great because it aids the replayability of a game whose content, shall we say, lends itself to considerable replay for the committed player.

Each class is its own game - so much so that each actually typifies not merely a different RPG character type, but actually completely different genre of gaming.

Can you match the genre to the character class?

Continue reading LotRO: Seven genres in one game

LotRO: Seven genres in one game originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 May 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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