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[Archlord hosts first combined server guild tournament]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/archlord-hosts-first-combined-server-guild-tournament/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/archlord-hosts-first-combined-server-guild-tournament/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/17/archlord-hosts-first-combined-server-guild-tournament/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Archlord
Plenty of guilds talk the big talk and DPS the raid meters, but when the chips are down and the final call is uttered, which one guild will stand on top of the mountain of geek corpses and be proclaimed "Champion?" In most MMOs, that would be rhetorical nonsense, but not in Archlord, where guilds will compete in the first World Guild Championship to earn a $10,000 prize and the recognition of their peers.

The game's first combined server guild tournament kicks off on June 11th and features pitched PvP battles between guilds to climb the bracket and claim the big prize. All participants will be given a preset character with standard gear in order to minimize any in-game advantages.

In order to preregister for the tournament, guilds will have to complete a special in-game quest. Registration for the World Guild Championship runs from now through May 30th, with the official brackets announced a few days later on June 4th.

Archlord will be hosting special in-game events and handing out fun prizes for everyone during this time.

MassivelyArchlord hosts first combined server guild tournament originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 May 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archlordbracketchampionshipcontesteventf2pfree-to-playguild-pvpin-game-eventpvppvp-tournamenttournamentwebzenworld-guild-championshipworld-vs-worldThu, 17 May 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Webzen pops the cork on its third anniversary celebration]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/webzen-pops-the-cork-on-its-third-anniversary-celebration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/webzen-pops-the-cork-on-its-third-anniversary-celebration/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/27/webzen-pops-the-cork-on-its-third-anniversary-celebration/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Webzen
Good things come in threes, they say, and nobody knows this better than Webzen. In 2009, Webzen came on the scene as a free-to-play publisher and set up an online portal to serve as a nexus for all of its games. Since then, the company has released three MMOs through its service and recently crossed the three-year mark. With all those threes, it's time to celebrate!

To celebrate its third anniversary, Webzen is throwing events in Archlord, MU Online, and Soul of the Ultimate Nation. By participating in these in-game events, players can win an assortment of prizes ranging from an Xbox 360 to in-game currency and items. The third anniversary events will start tomorrow and run through April 18th.

Webzen's Head of Global Publishing, Jihun Lee, reflected on the company's achievements: "With the start of MU Online, Webzen.com has received much support from our users. As a result, in three years we have been able to become one of the leading global game portals. With the service experience of free-to-play online games, we are making all efforts to meet the users' needs and provide better services."

[Source: Webzen press release]

MassivelyWebzen pops the cork on its third anniversary celebration originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3rd-anniversaryanniversaryArchlordeventsf2pfree-to-playin-game-eventJihun-LeeMU-OnlinepromotionSoul-of-the-Ultimate-Nationthird-anniversaryweb-portalwebzenwebzen.comxboxTue, 27 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Webzen giving away fully geared high-level characters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/webzen-giving-away-fully-geared-high-level-characters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/webzen-giving-away-fully-geared-high-level-characters/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/webzen-giving-away-fully-geared-high-level-characters/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Webzen - free characters promotion
Have you ever played an MMORPG and thought, wow, this would be fantastic if I could ditch the pesky progression?

If so, Webzen has a promotion for you. It's called Skip the Low, Jump to High, and it kicks off today and runs through March 14th. The company is giving away free high-level characters and items in ArchLord, Soul of the Ultimate Nation, and MU Online. ArchLord players will receive level-60 characters that are fully geared, while S.U.N. fans can look forward to level-90 toons with gear and level-up boxes. Last but not least, MU players will get level-220 characters and +9 weapons and armor.

But wait, there's more! MU is offering double XP during the promotion period, and S.U.N. is bringing a new server online.

[Source: Webzen press release]

MassivelyWebzen giving away fully geared high-level characters originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archlordf2pfantasyfree-fully-geared-charactersfree-high-level-charactersfree-to-playgrindmumu-onlineprogressionpromotionsskip-the-low-jump-to-highsoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunwebzenWed, 15 Feb 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get your closed beta key for Archlord X: The Chronicles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/get-your-closed-beta-key-for-archlord-x-the-chronicles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/get-your-closed-beta-key-for-archlord-x-the-chronicles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/28/get-your-closed-beta-key-for-archlord-x-the-chronicles/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Archlord X
The development team at Webzen has been hard at work, and it's all about to pay off -- for you. Webzen is all set to kick off the closed beta test of Archlord X: The Chronicles, and the company has passed us a set of beta keys to share.

Archlord X is a continuation of the events of the Archlord universe, according to Webzen. The Archlord X game scenario is based a hundred years after Archlord, when Chantra fell into chaos from the Archon running out of control.

Ready to check it out for yourself? Visit our giveaway page, then head over to the Archlord X redemption page. Create an account via the "play for free" button if you have not, then enter your beta key serial code. Once you've done that you're all set to download Archlord X -- enjoy!

[Sorry, all codes have been claimed]

MassivelyGet your closed beta key for Archlord X: The Chronicles originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archlord-xarchlord-x-the-chroniclesbeta-keybeta-key-giveawayclosed-betaf2pfree-to-playgiveawaygiveawayswebzenMon, 28 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Archlord celebrates its second anniversary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/archlord-celebrates-its-second-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/archlord-celebrates-its-second-anniversary/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/19/archlord-celebrates-its-second-anniversary/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Archlord
If you haven't guessed by now, we here at Massively love MMO anniversaries. They're always great opportunities to celebrate a game's success and achievements, particularly in a field where it is so hard to get long-lasting titles off the ground. So we raise a glass to Archlord as it marks its second anniversary today.

To celebrate this achievement, Webzen has a few treats in store for its players. Starting off, all Archlord players will enjoy two weeks of double XP, double drops, and double charisma points. If double XP isn't fast enough for you, then you can pop over to the special training server, where characters can be leveled up extremely fast and then transferred back to regular servers if they reach level 40 or higher. This training server will be up for a month, and Webzen is planning to hand out special in-game items for those who take advantage of it.

Archlord has a new raid dungeon in the works for December called Battle Square, and is preparing a new chapter in its storyline that will go live at the same time.

[Source: Webzen press release]

MassivelyArchlord celebrates its second anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2nd-anniversaryanniversaryarchlordbattle-squaredouble-xpf2pfree-to-playin-game-celebrationin-game-eventraidsecond-anniversarystorylinetraining-serverwebzenWed, 19 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[This Week In MMO: Night at the movies edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/this-week-in-mmo-night-at-the-movies-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/this-week-in-mmo-night-at-the-movies-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/this-week-in-mmo-night-at-the-movies-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

This Week In MMO: Episode 63
This Week In MMO is all about movies: how some games compare to movies and which movies will be made into games. The BioWare doctors hinted at a Mass Effect MMO once again, but what does our panel of hosts think? Mike B, aka Fony of ZAM, believes that the Mass Effect intellectual property is very similar to the movie industry, such that Mass Effect can take a few years of downtime, then just like some movie remakes, bounce back even stronger as an MMO.

What about movies becoming MMOs? Jasmine Hruschak, of Gamebreaker's The Sanctum, is scared of any movie becoming a game. Traditionally, these platform conversions are disastrous, according to IRLJasmine. However, Gary Gannon agrees with Avatar director James Cameron's sentiments and believes that the world of the Nav'i could one day be comparable to the world of World of Warcraft.

Catch all this and more movie-to-MMO comparisons after the break on Gamebreaker.TV's This Week In MMO!

Continue reading This Week In MMO: Night at the movies edition

MassivelyThis Week In MMO: Night at the movies edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AvatarAvatar-MMOBioWareEAElectronic-Artsfirefallgary-gannonjames-cameronJasmine-Hruschakmark-kernmass-effectMass-Effect-mmoMike-Bred-5red-5-studiosRed5This-Week-In-MMOTWIMMOwebzenFri, 07 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Taunting beta-testers edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/the-mmo-report-taunting-beta-testers-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/the-mmo-report-taunting-beta-testers-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/06/the-mmo-report-taunting-beta-testers-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

The MMO Report
Welcome to another edition of The MMO Report, where everything's made up and the points don't matter. That's right, the points don't matter, just like those emails you got for the SWTOR beta. You're still not in it.

First up on the agenda is Blizzard, which recently announced that the Foo Fighters, long known for their connection to the gaming industry [citation needed], will be playing at BlizzCon. Information on the upcoming Titan, however, will not be making an appearance.

Meanwhile, Red 5 and Webzen have settled their legal dispute. Webzen came away with some healthy monetary compensation, while Red 5 gained global publishing rights to Firefall.

Next we go deep into the 'hood of APB: Reloaded, where the devs have been busy dropping banhammers on the thick skulls of the game's less savory sorts. Anyone found using exploits or hacks has been mercilessly dispatched by, we presume, a series of drive-by shootings.

Ragnar Tørnquist took the time to drop a few information bombs on fans of The Secret World, detailing the team's design philosophy and outlining how the game will place emphasis on lore and story.

And last, but certainly not least, we have the curious case of BioWare's misplaced emails. A number of players had their hopes raised and then contemptuously dashed by a survey email that asked them to tell BioWare what they thought of their time in SWTOR. Needless to say, a furious uproar ensued, as millions of voices suddenly cried out in anger and were not-so-suddenly silenced.

For the full MMO Report, complete with Uncle Casey's Mailbag, head on past the cut.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Taunting beta-testers edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Taunting beta-testers edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletin-reloadedapbapb-reloadedfirefallred-5red-5-studiosstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-mmo-reportthe-secret-worldtswvideovideoswebzenThu, 06 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Eurogamer Expo 2011 edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/not-so-massively-eurogamer-expo-2011-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/not-so-massively-eurogamer-expo-2011-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/not-so-massively-eurogamer-expo-2011-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Not So Massively title image
Welcome to Not So Massively, our weekly roundup of the top news from popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and other multiplayer online games that aren't quite MMOs. Published every Monday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Rise of Immortals, Bloodline Champions and more.

It's been just over a week since Eurogamer Expo 2011, where countless upcoming and released games were demonstrated to attendees and made playable on the show floor. While some of them neatly fell into singleplayer or MMO categories, action adventure Dark Souls and the beautifully zen Journey sought to blur the line between those categories more than any game I've seen to date. Both are singleplayer games in which other players can seamlessly enter your world during play, a fascinating concept that I'm now dying to dig into.

Red 5 resolved its dispute with Webzen this week, allowing Firefall to continue development unhindered by legal drama. Brawl Busters enters a new phase of closed beta, and we have a dump truck full of beta keys to give away. League of Legends reveals details of upcoming champions Xerath and The Nine Tail Fox, in addition to a new livestreaming site designed to collect money for gaming charity Child's Play. Rise of Immortals launched on Steam this week and released its first post-launch Immortal Trovoc, the Last Dragon. Finally, hints at a console version for Diablo III or console controls for the PC version have surfaced this week due to some cryptic forum responses by Blizzard staff.

In this week's Not So Massively, I give some first impressions of Dark Souls and Journey from Eurogamer Expo 2011 and delve into all the latest news from games that aren't quite MMOs.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Eurogamer Expo 2011 edition

MassivelyNot So Massively: Eurogamer Expo 2011 edition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Action-RPGblizzardBlizzard-Entertainmentbrawl-bustersdark-soulsdemons-soulsdiablo-3diablo-iiidialodungeon-crawlereurogamer-expoEurogamer-Expo-2011featuredfirefallfirst-impressionshands-onholy-crap-these-games-are-awesomeinnovationjourneyleague-of-legendslolmultiplayernewsnot-so-massivelypetroglyphred-5-studiosriot-gamesrise-of-immortalsrpgthat-game-companyThatGameCompanyvideowebzenMon, 03 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Red 5 Studios and Webzen resolve legal dispute]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/red-5-studios-and-webzen-resolve-legal-dispute/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/red-5-studios-and-webzen-resolve-legal-dispute/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/29/red-5-studios-and-webzen-resolve-legal-dispute/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Firefall screenshot
Remember back in July, when Red 5 Studios was all like, "You're not advertising our upcoming game enough, Webzen!", and then Webzen was all like, "We gave you several million dollars, and we're still waiting for this game you said you're working on!"? Well, it turns out both parties have decided to put the whole thing behind them, and live happily ever after.

According to a press release, "Webzen will receive compensation for the prior development fees paid to Red 5 and also will share in future revenue generated from Red 5's game entitled Firefall for a certain period of time." This settlement will also give Red 5 complete global publishing rights to Firefall and relieve Webzen of all advertising involvement.

MassivelyRed 5 Studios and Webzen resolve legal dispute originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>disputefirefalllegalred-5-studiossettlementwebzenThu, 29 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Check out Webzen's full games lineup with our all-in-one giveaway]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/check-out-webzens-full-games-lineup-with-our-all-in-one-giveawa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/check-out-webzens-full-games-lineup-with-our-all-in-one-giveawa/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/19/check-out-webzens-full-games-lineup-with-our-all-in-one-giveawa/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Everyone loves a good beta key giveaway -- checking out a new game before the general population and helping to improve said game is a tempting pairing. Here at Massively, we've got a beta key giveaway with a twist! Webzen, the company behind MU Online, R2 Online, Archlord, and S.U.N., has given us 1,000 all-in-one beta keys to share with our readers.

A single key will give you access to new content and more in each game. For Archlord, you'll be given a level 100 character, limitless free access to cash items, and access to the new Ascent From Hell expansion -- all on the beta server. In S.U.N., you'll have a special potion which will level your character to 30, a beta key mount and fast level-up, and the ability to create the new Episode 2 class. R2 Online players will be invited to the second user test and will be able to experience the currently-unreleased Siege and Spot Warfare content. Finally, the all-in-one key will give free access to MU Online's Rage Fighter Class.

To participate, all you have to do is pick up your key on our giveaway page, then head to Webzen's All-In-One event page. Create your Webzen account if you haven't already, redeem your key where indicated, and choose the game you want to access first. Enjoy your all-in-one access, and our thanks to Webzen for providing the keys!

[Sorry, all codes have been claimed]

MassivelyCheck out Webzen's full games lineup with our all-in-one giveaway originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-in-onearchlordbeta-keybeta-key-giveawayf2pfree-to-playmu-onliner2-onlines-u-nsoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunwebzenTue, 19 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Not So Massively: Character reveals, e-sports tournaments, and legal battles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/not-so-massively-character-reveals-e-sports-tournaments-and-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/not-so-massively-character-reveals-e-sports-tournaments-and-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/02/not-so-massively-character-reveals-e-sports-tournaments-and-l/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Welcome to Not So Massively, our weekly roundup of the top news from popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and other multiplayer online games that aren't quite MMOs. Published every Saturday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Rise of Immortals, Bloodline Champions, and more.

Last week we saw the end of Dreamhack with some huge prizes being handed out to the winners of competitive MOBA tournaments. We got to see what high-end competitive gameplay looks like in League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth and Bloodline Champions thanks to the recorded Dreamhack matches with live commentary. We also got a look at League of Legends' new champion Yorick the gravedigger in a new champion spotlight, and we checked out Realm of the Titans' new hero HaZ'zard. We then introduced a recent dev interview with Rise of Immortals' lead designer Amanda Flock.

In this week's Not So Massively, we examine the recent legal battle between FireFall developer Red 5 and its publisher Webzen. Competitive tournament play is also still buzzing this week, with both Heroes of Newerth and Bloodline Champions looking into new sponsored tournament deals for players. League of Legends players look forward to upcoming female tank champion Leona, while Heroes of Newerth shows off its upcoming ranged anti-juking hero Emerald Warden. As it nears open beta, Rise of Immortals also revealed Balak this week, a ranged agility hero with an extremely fast attack animation.

Continue reading Not So Massively: Character reveals, e-sports tournaments, and legal battles

MassivelyNot So Massively: Character reveals, e-sports tournaments, and legal battles originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Balakbloodline-championschampionemerald-wardenfeaturedfirefallheroheroes-of-newerthhonimmortaljukingleague-of-legendslegalleonalolnot-so-massivelypetroglyphred-5red-5-studiosrise-of-immortalsstunlock-studioswebzenSat, 02 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Get a head start on Season 6 of Mu Online with our closed beta key giveaway!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/get-a-head-start-on-season-6-of-mu-online-with-our-closed-beta-k/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/get-a-head-start-on-season-6-of-mu-online-with-our-closed-beta-k/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/get-a-head-start-on-season-6-of-mu-online-with-our-closed-beta-k/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Season 6 is coming to Mu Online, and it's even bigger than most fans expected! The update was delayed this spring due to the natural disasters in Japan, as Mu Online's global network systems pass through that country. Work on Season 6 had to go on the back burner while more crucial repairs were made, but everything is up and running now and Season 6 is ready for beta!

This update features the introduction of the new Rage Fighter class, so even if you're familiar with all things Mu this will prove an exciting addition for you! If you're interested in checking out the new content, we've got a closed beta key for you to do that very thing. Just visit our giveaway page to pick up your key, then create an account if you haven't yet. After that, head to the beta page to redeem your key, and enjoy Season 6!

[Sorry, all codes have been claimed]

MassivelyGet a head start on Season 6 of Mu Online with our closed beta key giveaway! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beta-keybeta-key-giveawayclosed-beta-keyclosed-beta-key-giveawayf2pfree-to-playmu-onlinemu-online-season-6webzenMon, 06 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Webzen readying Soul of the Ultimate Nation: Episode 2, preview server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/webzen-readying-soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-episode-2-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/webzen-readying-soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-episode-2-preview/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/14/webzen-readying-soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-episode-2-preview/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

New content is on the way for fans of Soul of the Ultimate Nation, and Webzen has just announced the impending release of a global trial server for the game's Episode 2 patch. The new shard will go live on April 28th, and it aims to give players a preview as well as collect feedback prior to the patch's official release.

Episode 2 brings major changes to the game including a new leveling system, itemization changes, and new quests. Webzen's press release states that the revamp should "please various gamers with its simple yet strategic gameplay."

In addition to the leveling adjustments, Episode 2 introduces the custom passives system whereby players may tweak their avatars' abilities via customizable buffs. The mechanic is intended to encourage grouping between new and old players, and the resultant buffs will stay active as long as the party remains intact. Head to the official Soul of the Ultimate Nation website for more info.

MassivelyWebzen readying Soul of the Ultimate Nation: Episode 2, preview server originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>custom-passive-systemcustom-passivesepisode-2f2pfantasyfree-to-playglobal-trial-servergroupingleveling-changesnew-itemsnew-questsparty-buffspress releasePressReleasesoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsoul-of-the-ultimate-nation-episode-2suntrial-serverwebzenThu, 14 Apr 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Webzen announces a trio of new titles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/webzen-announces-a-trio-of-new-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/webzen-announces-a-trio-of-new-titles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/17/webzen-announces-a-trio-of-new-titles/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Korean publisher Webzen is preparing to blitz MMO players with a slew of new titles in 2011. First up is Archlord X: The Chronicles, a sequel of sorts to the company's popular Archlord. Set 100 years after the first game, Archlord X revolves around a feud between Orcs and Humans. Webzen plans to push the MMO into closed beta in South Korea in the first half of this year.

Webzen also announced that it has several brand-new titles that the company is planning to reveal fairly soon, perhaps at G-star. These MMOs include an expansion to MU Online, MU2, and the mysteriously titled Project A.

MU2 is being developed using the Unreal Engine 3 and takes place before the events of MU Online. Project A, on the other hand, is all about large-scale battles in the Middle Ages -- perhaps somewhat like Medieval: Total War.

We'll be keeping an eye on Webzen as it expands its lineup in the coming months!

MassivelyWebzen announces a trio of new titles originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archlordarchlord-xarchlord-x-the-chroniclesexpansionhumansmedieval-total-warmumu-onlinemu2orcsprequelproject-asequesequelwebzenThu, 17 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Archlord reveals 2011 update plans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/archlord-reveals-2011-update-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/archlord-reveals-2011-update-plans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/archlord-reveals-2011-update-plans/#commentsFiled under: , ,

2011 is shaping up to be a busy year for Archlord, the free-to-play PvP-centric MMO from Webzen. In a press release earlier today, the company announced plans for various updates over the course of the year including a level cap increase, new battlefields, and tweaks to the game's racial balancing.

A new title system is also on the way, as well as a new map for high-level characters (both in the first half of the year). For the second half, Webzen is aiming for new boss monsters and a new Battle Square called the 3rd Challenge where players are pitted against one another with a chance to obtain rare items.

Archlord launched in 2006 in Europe and North America and features a unique crafting system as well as the ability for players to become the Archlord, a singular (and incredibly powerful) ruler who reigns over the server in four-week intervals. Learn more at the official site and check out our new gallery below.

Gallery: Archlord 2011 updates

MassivelyArchlord reveals 2011 update plans originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3rd-challengearchlordbattle-squarebattle-square-third-challengebattlefieldsf2pfree-to-playlevel-cap-increasenew-contenttitle-systemtitleswebzenMon, 17 Jan 2011 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Soul of the Ultimate Nation heading back to Webzen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-heading-back-to-webzen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-heading-back-to-webzen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-heading-back-to-webzen/#commentsFiled under: , ,

First we heard that NHN, running under ijji.com, would be transferring control of Huxley back to its developer Webzen here in North America. Now, news has reached us that NHN has decided to follow suit with the other Webzen game ijji.com has held for the last year -- Soul of the Ultimate Nation. Thankfully, those who are a part of the world of SUN need not fear: Plans are underway to make sure that all active characters are transferred smoothly between hosts. (Those of you who tasted the banhammer are SOL, even on the new host.)

The cash shop in Soul of the Ultimate Nation is already closed; character transfers are already open and will continue until January 21st, 2011. For those who have already set themselves up to make the jump, Webzen's SUN servers will be online as of December 15th, ready to welcome veterans and new players alike. If you choose to opt out of the transfer altogether, ijji.com is offering a pro-rated refund of cash shop items that your character may have had before the 22nd of November. For more details, check out the detailed FAQ on the ijji.com site.

MassivelySoul of the Ultimate Nation heading back to Webzen originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-transferf2pfree-to-playijjiijji.comnhnnhn-gamesNHN-USApro-rated-refundsoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunwebzenFri, 26 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Check out Archlord's new Dragon Scion race with our beta key giveaway!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/check-out-archlords-new-dragon-scion-race-with-our-beta-key-giv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/check-out-archlords-new-dragon-scion-race-with-our-beta-key-giv/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/check-out-archlords-new-dragon-scion-race-with-our-beta-key-giv/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Archlord's brand-new Dragon Scion race is coming to the game in less than a month, and it will bring all sorts of exciting updates.

We've learned quite a bit about this update, but there is just no substitute for some hands-on playtime -- which we promised you last week. Those keys are ready now thanks to Webzen, so it's time to get yours and prepare to play a Dragon Scion beginning December 1st.

Webzen will have plenty of support and bonuses for budding Scions, including armor and potions for faster leveling. The beta period begins on December 1st, so click below to grab your key and be ready!

MassivelyCheck out Archlord's new Dragon Scion race with our beta key giveaway! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archlordbetabeta-keybeta-key-giveawaybeta-keysdragon-scionf2pfree-to-playftpgiveawayracewebzenMon, 22 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Archlord preparing to launch new Dragon Scion race]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/archlord-preparing-to-launch-new-dragon-scion-race/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/archlord-preparing-to-launch-new-dragon-scion-race/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/18/archlord-preparing-to-launch-new-dragon-scion-race/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Archlord's anniversary celebration may be over, but that doesn't mean that things will be stagnating in the game. In fact, things are about to get a lot more exciting.

There is a brand-new playable race coming to Archlord in December: the Dragon Scion. Webzen gave a preview of this race way back in September, so you may be familiar with it and ready to get started. Lucky for you, we here at Massively have a beta key giveaway coming soon to help you jump in and experience the Dragon Scion a little early.

Keep an eye on Massively in the coming weeks for a beta key of your very own, but in the meantime check out the interesting class progression of the Dragon Scion race. The evolution system is unlike any other race in Archlord in that you can't pick your class at the beginning. It's not as restrictive as you might think, because as you learn and advance, new class options open. Check out all the details of the evolution system on the Dragon Scion page!

MassivelyArchlord preparing to launch new Dragon Scion race originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archlordbeta-keydragon-scionf2pfree-to-playftpgiveawaygiveawaysraceraceswebzenThu, 18 Nov 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Webzen celebrates Archlord and S.U.N anniversaries]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/webzen-celebrates-archlord-and-s-u-n-anniversaries/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/webzen-celebrates-archlord-and-s-u-n-anniversaries/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/21/webzen-celebrates-archlord-and-s-u-n-anniversaries/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Noted free-to-play publisher Webzen is celebrating not one, but two MMORPG anniversaries this week. FIrst up is Archlord, the PvP-focused title that offers players the chance to become the titular ruler and indulge in perks such as controlling the server's weather and riding a dragon mount. Webzen has created a special anniversary zone inside the game which will spawn special mobs as well as a gold drop buff for players under level 60.

Soul of the Ultimate Nation (S.U.N.) is also celebrating an anniversary this week, and to mark the occasion, players will receive a 200% XP buff. S.U.N. features hack-and-slash combat, a unique Battle Zone System where players create their own instances, and music by Academy Award-winning film composer Howard Shore.

MassivelyWebzen celebrates Archlord and S.U.N anniversaries originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combataction-MMOanniversaryanniversary-eventsarchlordf2pfree-to-playhack-and-slashsoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunwebzenThu, 21 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Webzen to resume publishing duties for Huxley: The Dystopia]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/webzen-to-resume-publishing-duties-for-huxley-the-dystopia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/webzen-to-resume-publishing-duties-for-huxley-the-dystopia/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/28/webzen-to-resume-publishing-duties-for-huxley-the-dystopia/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

NHN USA, or ijji.com, has been the company responsible for publishing Huxley: The Dystopia internationally, but the people in charge have announced that they're passing it back to developer Webzen.

Webzen will be self-publishing Huxley, but it's not as much of a change at it might seem at first glance. NHN USA and Webzen are separate divisions of the same company, NHN Corporation, and the two divisions will continue partnering with one another to publish other projects.

If you've purchased G Coin Cards, don't worry about losing out: "G Coin Cards branded with Huxley imaging will remain valid as long as they're purchased through an authorized retailer."

NHN USA's official statement will appear on ijji.com today.

MassivelyWebzen to resume publishing duties for Huxley: The Dystopia originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Huxleyhuxley-the-dystopiammofpsnhnNHN-USAwebzenSat, 28 Aug 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Soul of the Ultimate Nation sees the spreading Shadow]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-sees-the-spreading-shadow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-sees-the-spreading-shadow/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/30/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-sees-the-spreading-shadow/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

It might seem like everything is all fine and dandy in Soul of the Ultimate Nation, but there's a shadow on the horizon. More specifically, there's Shadow, the newest character added to the game. A combination of dark sorcery and assassin skills form Shadow's potent, solo-friendly skillset, something the game's development team had been hinting at since the beginning of the year. But that's hardly all that's new in the game, which has expanded the high-level content as well.

Player characters over level 100 have access to nearly two hundred added quests, as well as new high-level areas in Helron's Castle. Neville's Swamp and Bronze Moon City, as well as the area conquest for the aforementioned castle, are all open. To cap off the experience, players have access to the fourth village in Soul of the Ultimate Nation, giving high-end players a spot where they can congregate with one another. Rather than forcing you to just read the text, however, we have both a set of preview images in our gallery, and two trailers for the update embedded past the cut.

Gallery: S.U.N.: Shadows Fall

Continue reading Soul of the Ultimate Nation sees the spreading Shadow

MassivelySoul of the Ultimate Nation sees the spreading Shadow originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>areasassassincharactersdark-magicdark-sorceryf2pfree-to-playhigh-level-areashigh-level-contentnew-areasnew-characterpatch-trailerspreviewsshadowsoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsuntrailerswebzenFri, 30 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Expansion brings new PvP battle systems to Archlord]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/13/expansion-brings-new-pvp-battle-systems-to-archlord/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/13/expansion-brings-new-pvp-battle-systems-to-archlord/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/13/expansion-brings-new-pvp-battle-systems-to-archlord/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Archlord fans can expect a new expansion in the coming weeks, and it will bring some new PvP content to the game. Episode 5: The Grand Cross will bring a new system called The Battle Ground to Archlord.

The Battle Ground will bring race-vs.-race PvP to the game in a massive battle held every Thursday and Saturday. Players will join an army of their race, infiltrate the enemy base, and seek to kill the enemy players and heroes.

Winners will gain not only bragging rights, but a special race spirit ability which will make all members of that race army stronger. Players will also earn Charisma points for kills in battle, which can be used as currency at the Charisma Gate.

Keep an eye on the Archlord site for all the details on The Grand Cross, and check out our gallery for a first look at the expansion.

Gallery: Archlord: The Grand Cross

MassivelyExpansion brings new PvP battle systems to Archlord originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archlordbattlegroundexpansionf2pfree-to-playftppvprace-vs-racethe-battle-groundthe-grand-crosswebzenTue, 13 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Archlord opens new server, adds new incentives]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/archlord-opens-new-server-adds-new-incentives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/archlord-opens-new-server-adds-new-incentives/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/26/archlord-opens-new-server-adds-new-incentives/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Archlord has had its share of problems, beginning last September when it was transferred from Codemasters to Webzen. Account creation was shut down for over a month while the transition was made, then Archlord returned with a shiny new class to welcome players back. Things were iffy for a while, and Webzen announced a server merge even as they made plans for new content and support in several different languages.

They're obviously doing something right, because Webzen has announced a brand-new server for Archlord, some great offers for those who take advantage of it, and a few extra additions to the game as well. Beginning tomorrow, North and South American players will be able to join the Grazia server, taking advantage of free character transfers if needed. Not sure if you want to switch? You might change your mind after you see the incentives: the server will be set up to grant +300% EXP as well as 200% drop rates for a month.

Players on Grazia aren't the only ones who will be enjoying extras in the coming days. Archlord is also introducing the buddy system for the entire community. Adding someone to your in-game buddy list will provide a link to that player that gives you both additional rewards for clearing quests and missions.

You can check out all the new information on the Archlord site.

MassivelyArchlord opens new server, adds new incentives originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archlordarchlord-new-serverf2pfree-to-playgraziawebzenWed, 26 May 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Webzen celebrates first anniversary with events in three games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/13/webzen-celebrates-first-anniversary-with-events-in-three-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/13/webzen-celebrates-first-anniversary-with-events-in-three-games/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/13/webzen-celebrates-first-anniversary-with-events-in-three-games/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MMO developers love to celebrate the "birthdays" of their games, but what happens when the developer itself reaches a milestone? In the case of free-to-play MMO portal Webzen, the answer is "throw a party in every game we have." Webzen is celebrating its first anniversary with special updates and events in MU Online, Archlord, and Soul of the Ultimate Nation.

MU Online players will find new content with the game's second major update. New maps, new items and more are being added to the game as well as giveaways of jewels and ZEN. The NPC Leo also has some special gifts for anyone purchasing gold channel tickets before the 18th.

Archlord is celebrating by inviting more people to the party, so to speak. Webzen is adding an American server to the game, and invites players in North and South America to join the fun.

Finally, Soul of the Ultimate Nation wins the prize for the flashiest celebration with the week-long Mayan festival. The event is going on now, with huge XP bonuses for returning players, special items in the shops, and a "matching" program when you purchase W Coins. Check out the event page for all the details, and congratulations to Webzen!

MassivelyWebzen celebrates first anniversary with events in three games originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArchLordf2pfree-to-playmu-onlinesoul-of-the-ultimate-nationwebzenwebzen-first-anniversaryThu, 13 May 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Soul of the Ultimate Nation lays down plans for 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-lays-down-plans-for-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-lays-down-plans-for-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/27/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-lays-down-plans-for-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The new year is a busy one for Soul of the Ultimate Nation players, as we'll be looking forward to not only a string of updates, but a brand new class to play with as well.

This year is the year of the Shadow, SUN's sorcerer/assassination combination character. Carrying a really cool sword that's reminiscent of Ivy Valentine's weapon from SoulCalibur, the Shadow is made for playing the game solo. So for all those of you out there who have been looking to get away from the groups and set out on your own, the Shadow is the character you've been looking for. Beyond the addition of the Shadow, Webzen is also rolling out mounts and the ability for your characters to transform for the international version.

For all of the information on the new additions as they roll out, keep an eye on the Soul of the Ultimate Nation website.

MassivelySoul of the Ultimate Nation lays down plans for 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>character-transformationmountsnew-classshadowsoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunupcomingupcoming-patchwebzenWed, 27 Jan 2010 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Archlord announces server and content updates for 2010]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/archlord-announces-server-and-content-updates-for-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/archlord-announces-server-and-content-updates-for-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/14/archlord-announces-server-and-content-updates-for-2010/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Since picking Archlord up in October of 2009, Webzen has been busy making plans to take the free-to-play game forward, and we got a peek at those plans today. They announced a server merge, new multi-language client, and brand new content for the game in the form of a dungeon designed to be accessible to players of all levels.

Beginning today, the four existing European servers will be merged into two, and a new realm "Deribelle" will be opened. The merge will increase population on the two "new" serevers, and Deribelle will feature increased EXP and drop rates as well as a "massive cash item giveaway" in order to welcome new players.

February will bring further opportunity for new players to check the game out, in the form of a new multi-language client. The new client will support German, French, Spanish, and Portugese.

Webzen didn't stop there, however. All the effort in reaching out to new players will culminate in March with some brand new content designed to appeal to the entire player base, both new and old. The Chaotic Frontier dungeon features an automatic adjustment to the entering character's level, making the dungeon available to all players.

The first of the new updates arrives today, so if you haven't checked out Archlord yet, this may be an excellent time to start.

MassivelyArchlord announces server and content updates for 2010 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArchLordchaotic-frontierdungeonf2pfree-to-playmulti-language-clientserver-mergewebzenThu, 14 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[S.U.N. launches first major update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/s-u-n-launches-first-major-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/s-u-n-launches-first-major-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/11/s-u-n-launches-first-major-update/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Soul of the Ultimate Nation is launching its first major content update, and spreading a little Christmas cheer while they're at it. The content update will bring a new map -- Valley of the Dragon -- for players above level 60 who are looking for a new challenge, as well as a new battle zone, AC system and quests. Finally, an elite item set option is now available, said to be the most unique item in game.

While they were at it, WEBZEN decided to add another little bonus to their game, the "Holiday Spirit in Soul of the Ultimate Nation" event. From now until December 30th, you can purchase Happy Winter Packages, and part of the purchase price will go to support UNICEF.

The holiday promotion is limited, but the new content is here to stay, so pick up your winter gifts and settle in to enjoy this first major content update!

MassivelyS.U.N. launches first major update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>holiday-2009new-contentpatchS.U.N.soul-of-the-ultimate-nationunicefupdatewebzenFri, 11 Dec 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Soul of the Ultimate Nation gets a German server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-gets-a-german-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-gets-a-german-server/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/05/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-gets-a-german-server/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

European Soul of the Ultimate Nation players, your lag shall forthwith be reduced! Webzen, the developer and global publisher of Soul of the Ultimate Nation, will be opening a brand new European server for those of you playing on the mainland.

Klippe, the new server set to be physically based in Germany, comes in response to the growing European community in SUN. While the server will not be region locked to Europe and will be available for all regions, don't expect a good connection unless you live in Europe. But, on the bright side, you can play with your European pals if you want to suffer the lag.

If you haven't played SUN in a while and you were frustrated with connecting to Etherain, the North American server, then perhaps now is the time to jump back in and give Klippe a whirl. It's up right now, for your convenience.

MassivelySoul of the Ultimate Nation gets a German server originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battleeuropeeuropean-serversfantasyklippepvpserversoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunwebzenSat, 05 Dec 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Soul of the Ultimate Nation starts beta, blink and you'll miss it]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-starts-beta-blink-and-youll-miss-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-starts-beta-blink-and-youll-miss-i/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/15/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-starts-beta-blink-and-youll-miss-i/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Have you ever felt like a game or expansion is languishing forever in beta? Soul of the Ultimate Nation, the upcoming free-to-play MMORPG from developer WEBZEN, has an interesting approach to this particular problem -- they're running a short beta. A very short beta. A beta so short that it's easy to miss it until it's almost over. A three-day beta, specifically.

That might sound like a recipe for disaster, but it might not be. According to the official press release, the game has already been running for quite some time in Asia, and the beta is primarily for the global version of the game which is going live at the end of the month. In order to appeal to more players, the developers are giving away free items to players who take part in the beta test, including those which are normally part of the game's microtransaction system. If you're interested in checking out Soul of the Ultimate Nation and want to get your hands on these items, of course, you'd better hurry -- the beta is ending October 16th, with the global version officially launching at the end of October.

MassivelySoul of the Ultimate Nation starts beta, blink and you'll miss it originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testnew-titlesopen-betasoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunwebzenThu, 15 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Archlord's return heralded by extra buckling of swashes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/archlords-return-heralded-by-extra-buckling-of-swashes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/archlords-return-heralded-by-extra-buckling-of-swashes/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/09/archlords-return-heralded-by-extra-buckling-of-swashes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Fans of the free-to-play MMO Archlord were probably less than thrilled in September, when the game's North American and European hosts lost the rights to the game. Codemasters was "unable to renew a license agreement" and had to shut down their servers for the game, with players left only with the taunting promise of another distributor picking up the game in the near future.

The near future, however, is apparently right now, with Webzen having returned the game to operation in North America and Europe. The game has also been updated with the Swashbuckler class, an all-female close-melee combat class that sports rabbit ears. (We're not sure if comparisons to the viera were intended, but they seem largely inevitable and perhaps suitable.)

In addition, Webzen is offering a transfer service for all former players of the Codemasters servers, with the transfer scheduled to complete on the 14th of October and offering a small amount of in-game money as an incentive -- that is, the money usually reserved for microtransactions. If you're a fan of the game, this is pretty unambiguous good news. If you aren't, well, now you have a chance to play it again one way or the other, which is always a good thing.

[ via Kotaku ]

MassivelyArchlord's return heralded by extra buckling of swashes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archlordcodemastersf2pfree-to-playnew-classesserver-openingstransferswebzenFri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Archlord to transition from Codemasters to Webzen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/archlord-to-transition-from-codemasters-to-webzen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/archlord-to-transition-from-codemasters-to-webzen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/02/archlord-to-transition-from-codemasters-to-webzen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Codemasters, while best known for running Lord of the Rings Online in Europe, was never a one-trick pony. While many people have been adventuring through Middle Earth, a brave few gamers were still calling the realm of Chantra, the continent of the archlord, their home. Sadly, however, all things must come to an end as Codemasters will be shutting down their service for Archlord.

However, this is not a game sunset, but a game transition. Codemasters has failed to come to an agreement with NHN, the Korean developers of the game, to continue their service. NHN has transferred operation over to Webzen instead of Codemasters. If the images of Huxley and Soul of the Ultimate Nation just popped into your head, then you have indeed remembered the correct Webzen.

This transition will move all character data over to Webzen's servers, making Webzen the go-to spot for almost everything Archlord related. What hasn't yet been confirmed is if item data will be transported with the characters as well.

Archlord has shut down new account creation until October 2nd, when everything will be transferred over to Webzen. For the full details of the transfer, or if you want to make a new account, check out Webzen for all of the gritty details.

[Thanks, Adam and Doran!]

MassivelyArchlord to transition from Codemasters to Webzen originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agreementarchlordbreakingcodemastersgame-transitionhuxleynhnnhn-gamesoperationserver-transitionservice-transitionsoul-of-the-ultimate-nationwebzenWed, 02 Sep 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Soul of the Ultimate Nation closed beta test starts today for all ijji.com players]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/28/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-closed-beta-test-starts-today-for-al/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/28/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-closed-beta-test-starts-today-for-al/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/28/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-closed-beta-test-starts-today-for-al/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If you've been looking forward to Soul of the Ultimate Nation finally coming to America, well now's your chance to give the game a whirl. Today marks the opening of the game's closed beta test, which really isn't as closed as it sounds.

If you're an ijji.com member, you already have access to the game. If you're not, well simply sign up for an account to get the ball rolling. Please be aware that only four territories have access to SUN on ijji.com currently, and that's Mexico, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. If you're having trouble logging in, check out this thread on their forums.

Closed beta testers will also get the chance to win an exclusive in-game pet -- the husky. To win this illustrious pet, you'll need to fill out one of their closed beta test surveys and have more than 2 characters on your account. The winning 100 accounts will be chosen randomly and will be announced during the first week of the open beta.

So while you're downloading the client, feel free to check out some of our exclusive screenshots below. You'll be awash in the game soon enough.

Gallery: Soul of the Ultimate Nation

MassivelySoul of the Ultimate Nation closed beta test starts today for all ijji.com players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closed-betaclosed-beta-contestfantasyfree-to-playhuskyijji.comnhn-usasoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunwebzenFri, 28 Aug 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: FPS 'mah MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/21/the-daily-grind-fps-mah-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/21/the-daily-grind-fps-mah-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/21/the-daily-grind-fps-mah-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Combat systems are always an integral part of games, as they provide the main source of conflict and challenge for most players. Lately, however, we've been seeing a change in how our MMOs handle combat. Traditional systems have always been based on click targeting and skill usage, but a number of MMOs have opted to utilize new technology and integrate aiming and elements of first-person shooters into their systems.

PlanetSide has been one of the first (as it's built to be a first-person shooter MMO, obviously) but other games like Darkfall, Face of Mankind, Hellgate: London, Huxley, APB, and others have embraced the aiming concept. Our question to you today is what do you think of this shift? Do you like having to aim in your games, as it presents a new level of skill-based gameplay, or does the aiming just not work for you, as lag and other factors can give some players a hefty disadvantage?

Take your thoughts, pull them out of your head, smash them against your keyboards, and let them land on our webby page. We're used to these sort of things.

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: FPS 'mah MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aimingapbaventurinedarkfallduplex-systemsface-of-mankindflagship-studiosfpshellgate-londonhuxleyijji.commmofpsopinionplanetsiderealtime-worldssoesony-online-entertainmenttargetingthe-daily-grindwebzenFri, 21 Aug 2009 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Huxley's closed beta now open to everyone via Fileplanet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/huxleys-closed-beta-now-open-to-everyone-via-fileplanet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/huxleys-closed-beta-now-open-to-everyone-via-fileplanet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/04/huxleys-closed-beta-now-open-to-everyone-via-fileplanet/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yes, we know, that title sounded like a complete oxymoron. How can a closed beta be open to everybody? It just doesn't make any sense!

We understand your confusion, but it's best not to question it. Fileplanet is giving out Huxley: The Dystopia closed beta keys to all account holders now, not just their subscribers. A couple quick button presses is now all it takes to find yourself braving the lunar apocalypse with all of your friends!

A small note of instruction: if you get your beta key from Fileplanet, you will have to still make an ijji.com account for the closed beta test. You can do that right over at the Huxley closed beta page without much fuss at all. Now go forth and kick those Sapiens all the way back to the early days of evolution.

Update: As so many commenters have pointed out, this offer is only available for the US and Canada. European gamers, it appears, are locked out of this promotion being offered by Fileplanet.

MassivelyHuxley's closed beta now open to everyone via Fileplanet originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betacbt2closed-betaclosed-beta-phase-2fileplanetfirst-person-shooterfpshuxleyhuxley-the-dystopiaijji.commmofpswebzenTue, 04 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Soul of the Ultimate Nation finally makes its way to America]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-finally-makes-its-way-to-america/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-finally-makes-its-way-to-america/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/20/soul-of-the-ultimate-nation-finally-makes-its-way-to-america/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

It's only two years late, but hey, we're not complaining! Ijji.com has reported to us that they've obtained the rights to publish Webzen's Soul of the Ultimate Nation in North America and that the game will release somewhere in late 2009.

Soul of the Ultimate Nation, called SUN for short, is a hack and slash MMO developed by Huxley creators Webzen. The game was originally slated to be published in North America in late 2007, but the game's status went silent and slowly slipped off of everyone's radar.

SUN features a quicker style of gameplay, more akin to a game like Dynasty Warriors than your standard MMO. To perform this feat, the game breaks the world map up into zones created by players in towns, very much like creating your own match in a first-person shooter. Players create these fields in order to hunt down monsters, solve missions, or complete quests.

Players can also take objectives to assult areas in a siege-esque manner, where many players create rooms to assault one objective. In these cases, successful and unsuccessful sieges affect how the other in-progress games play out, altering the difficulty of the battle to show the turning tide of one side winning or losing. The game does feature persistent cities where players can mingle, much like it's first-person shooter brother, Huxley.

MassivelySoul of the Ultimate Nation finally makes its way to America originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 May 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-rpgdynasty-warriorshack-and-slashhuxleyhuxley-the-dystopiaijji.comsiegesoul-of-the-ultimate-nationsunwebzenzonesWed, 20 May 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Huxley: The Dystopia beta signups begin]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/huxley-the-dystopia-beta-signups-begin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/huxley-the-dystopia-beta-signups-begin/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/huxley-the-dystopia-beta-signups-begin/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Huxley: The Dystopia is the re-monikered MMOFPS from Webzen that will be published in the West by NHN USA and ijji. Huxley clearly puts more emphasis on FPS than MMO although elements of the latter are certainly there, and Massively had a chance to see a bit of what the game can offer at GDC 2009. Shortly afterwards, they launched a teaser site counting down to... something. We admit, we must've looked away from that countdown for too long because the teaser site changed today, adding video footage, forums, screenshots, character descriptions and backstory info.

The main thing we'd like to mention to our readers is that Huxley: The Dystopia is currently taking closed beta signups. The signup period is May 6 - May 20, and the first round of closed beta testing will last from June 3 - June 14. If you've been looking forward to fragging in Huxley, head on over to the Beta Test Registration page at ijji, and check out all the new info about the game they've added to the site.

Gallery: Huxley: The Dystopia

MassivelyHuxley: The Dystopia beta signups begin originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 May 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betasclosed-betagdc-2009huxleyhuxley-the-dystopiaijjiijji.commmofpsnhn-usasci-fiwebzenThu, 07 May 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Global MU Online begins Season 4 beta testing with Webzen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/global-mu-online-begins-season-4-beta-testing-with-webzen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/global-mu-online-begins-season-4-beta-testing-with-webzen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/global-mu-online-begins-season-4-beta-testing-with-webzen/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Webzen has announced today that it will directly publish the fourth season of MU Online's global version, which already boasts 56 million registered users to date. "You can expect a better service since the company that has been developing the game for many years is now operating the global server," says ChangKeun Kim, CEO of Webzen Inc. "MU Online has a world-wide user base and we are planning on providing a stable global service for them. Our new global game portal webzen.com is going to be a communication link for our customers throughout the world."

Global MU Online had originally launched its servers on October 13, 2003, but in 2005, the global publishing rights were transferred from K2 Network following a signed license agreement. The Season 4 beta testing will run from April 28th through April 30th, and registered users will have the opportunity to use master level characters to try out the new content. For more information on this beta, head over to the Global MU Online website.

MassivelyGlobal MU Online begins Season 4 beta testing with Webzen originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betaglobal-mu-onlineseason-4testingwebzenMon, 20 Apr 2009 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: Massively previews Huxley: The Dystopia page 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/gdc09-massively-previews-huxley-the-dystopia-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/gdc09-massively-previews-huxley-the-dystopia-page-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/gdc09-massively-previews-huxley-the-dystopia-page-2/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Quests and PvP

You can pick up quests in the city. Those are either story quests or instanced quests where you can either go solo or group up to wipe the map of enemy NPCs. Huxley's cities are large and while a player can navigate on foot, it's much faster to take a hoverbike, or travel by tram or train. The quests themselves often bring a player outside of the city (via train) or beneath the city, where they need to fight against the hybrids in the sewers.

While the game's quests can either be handled solo or in squads, players can also advance in Huxley through PvP. "With PvP you earn experience points as with quests, but you also earn rank points which let you level up your rank, such as private, sergeant, lieutenant, and beyond. The benefit of higher rank is access to the most powerful S-type weapons and bragging rights. People see the symbol next to your name and see what rank you are," like a title system, says Hong.

Continue reading GDC09: Massively previews Huxley: The Dystopia page 2

MassivelyGDC09: Massively previews Huxley: The Dystopia page 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternativeandy-hongcitiescitycombathuxleyijji.commmofpsnhn-usapvpquestssapienssci-fivehiclesvirtual-combatwebzenMon, 30 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[GDC09: Massively previews Huxley, a hybrid sci-fi MMO and FPS]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/gdc09-massively-previews-huxley-a-hybrid-sci-fi-mmo-and-fps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/gdc09-massively-previews-huxley-a-hybrid-sci-fi-mmo-and-fps/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/gdc09-massively-previews-huxley-a-hybrid-sci-fi-mmo-and-fps/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , ,

Huxley: The Dystopia is a massively multiplayer online first-person shooter (MMOFPS) in development at NHN USA. We haven't heard much about the title since mid-2008, so we were happy that NHN USA was willing to sit down with us at GDC 2009. We spoke with Andy Hong, Huxley's Project Manager, who showed us some of the basic concepts behind the game.

Huxley is a persistent world built upon Unreal Engine 3 foundations and is a game that differs from many of the MMOs we cover at Massively. Like other titles entering the market such as Global Agenda, Huxley is a marriage of the twitch combat of a first person shooter with classes, skills, trading, banking, and player housing we associate with MMOs. "At the core of the gameplay in Huxley, at its heart, it's an FPS," says Hong. But the depth of the rest of Huxley's gameplay, not limited to its quest and crafting systems, makes it a title quite unlike any pure FPS.

Gallery: Huxley: The Dystopia

Continue reading GDC09: Massively previews Huxley, a hybrid sci-fi MMO and FPS

MassivelyGDC09: Massively previews Huxley, a hybrid sci-fi MMO and FPS originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternativeandy-hongavengerbattlegroundclasseseconomyenforcereskafeaturedhuxleyhuxley-the-dystopiahybridijji.comjoystiq-featuresmassively-event-coveragemassively-interviewsmmo-industrymmofpsnew-titlesnhn-usanostaloniaphantompost-apocalypticpreviewspvpquestsracesrealm-controlsapiensvirtual-combatvirtual-pvpwebzenworld-controlMon, 30 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Aion ascends in Korea as competitors fall]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/aion-ascends-in-korea-as-competitors-fall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/aion-ascends-in-korea-as-competitors-fall/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/18/aion-ascends-in-korea-as-competitors-fall/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


In many respects, watching the MMO industry in Asia is a litmus test of sorts for the western markets. While the preferred game mechanics of your average Korean MMO, for instance, differ markedly from what a North American MMO gamer expects from a title, the broader ideas -- in terms of business models -- represent what may yet be for those of us in North America, Europe, and Australia. So when industry leaders aren't doing well in their primary market, it may not bode well for their smaller titles running in other regions of the world.

We've come across an interesting piece in The Korea Times about some sea changes in Korea's MMO industry, focusing on NCsoft as well as its competitors -- Nexon, Webzen, and Hanbitsoft. We've previously reported that the Aion: The Tower of Eternity beta has, thus far, been quite a success in Korea and is perhaps a ray of hope for NCsoft in some troubled times. NCsoft's fiscal health is a big issue for fans of City of Heroes, Guild Wars, Tabula Rasa, and Lineage II, among others. So it comes as good news that NCsoft has nearly 200,000 concurrent users playing Aion: The Tower of Eternity in beta. The Korea Times, however, describes the country's MMO industry as being in a state of flux.

Continue reading Aion ascends in Korea as competitors fall

MassivelyAion ascends in Korea as competitors fall originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionaion-the-tower-of-eternityasiabetabetasbusiness-modelscity-of-heroesfinanceguild-warshanbitsoftkim-tong-hyungkorealineagelineage-iimmo-industryncsoftnexonplaynoeviltabula-rasathe-korea-timeswebzenzeraTue, 18 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST