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May 8th, 2006, 16:58 Posted By: wraggster
Sigil Games Online and Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE), a global leader in the online games industry, today announced that Sigil is working with Microsoft Game Studios on an arrangement to acquire the rights to its highly anticipated massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. These efforts have resulted in a tentative agreement for Vanguard to be co-published by both Sigil Games Online and SOE. All three companies will be showing the game at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) as they work closely together for a successful transition. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is scheduled to launch this winter.
“As the development process is ongoing and constantly shifting, it became clear that MGS and Sigil had varying visions and direction for the title’s development,” said Brad McQuaid, CEO of Sigil Games Online. “In the best interest of Vanguard, it was decided that we would buy back the publishing rights from Microsoft.”
As co-publisher of Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, Sigil assumes greater control of marketing and PR, while maintaining responsibility for game development, community relations, media relations, customer support, and quality assurance. Under the terms of the agreement, SOE will provide distribution, marketing, hosting and back-end support -- including billing and technical support -- for the game. Additionally, SOE is tentatively planning on adding Vanguard, upon its release, to SOE’s Station Access™ subscription plan. Station Access allows players to enjoy all of SOE’s MMO titles for one low monthly price.
“We are very excited to be working with so many old friends at Sigil,” said John Smedley, president, Sony Online Entertainment. “Vanguard looks beautiful and has an incredibly rich game world. It’s the type of game that will appeal directly to SOE’s hundreds of thousands of players and should fit in perfectly with the current line-up of games available in Station Access.”
”This decision was made mutually by Sigil and Microsoft, in the best interest of the long-term goals for the title,” said Phil Spencer, General Manager at Microsoft Game Studios. “As a key Windows development partner, we will continue to work with Sigil to ensure Vanguard’s ongoing success.”
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is the next generation of massively multiplayer online games. The journey takes place in the fantasy setting of Telon, a vast and ancient world of magic, intrigue and adventure. Facing the challenges of a war torn world, the diverse people here struggle to rebuild their once great civilizations. A fragile alliance has been struck, with the lands set upon by invading forces, the races must band together to survive.
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is currently in a closed beta phase. The game will remain available via Fileplanet for existing beta testers during the transition to SOE. New information will be sent out to testers as the changeover occurs.
For more information about Vanguard: Saga of Heroes please visit http://www.vanguardsoh.com.
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May 6th, 2006, 08:51 Posted By: wraggster
Via GI.Biz
Korean massively multiplayer game specialist NCsoft has announced financial results for the first quarter of FY 2006, revealing that while its sales in Asia continue to rise, its European and North American operations saw declining revenues.
The firm's overall revenues stood at KRW 78 billion (66 million Euro), of which sales in South Korea made up the lion's share - up marginally year on year at KRW 54.8 billion (46.4 million Euro) - while Japanese sales grew by over 40 per cent to KRW 11.3 billion (9.6 million Euro).
That puts Japan level with the United States, where sales declined by almost 57 per cent - and well ahead of Europe, which was down over 50 per cent to KRW 3.8 billion (3.2 million Euro).
However, NCsoft remains bullish on its growth prospects - claiming in a statement that the overseas decline is "generally in line with forecasts made at the beginning of the year" and anticipating that the second quarter will show a return to growth.
The firm is suffering because of a gradual slow-down in western revenues from some of its older products as the market prepares for new titles - with City of Heroes and its follow-up, City of Villains, showing a drop of 58 per cent in sales as the game continues to age.
Guild Wars sales are also slowing, with a 57 per cent fall in sales, but in the case of this product it's expected that it will regain its former position in the firm's sales figures with the launch of Guild Wars Factions late last month.
NCsoft is also expecting to see a major boost to this quarter in its western markets from the launch of Auto Assault, the first vehicular combat massively multiplayer game to hit the market, which launched on April 13th.
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May 4th, 2006, 20:25 Posted By: wraggster
Via Joystiq
Massively multiplayer online games, known by a series of acronyms beginning with MMO, are a rising trend among developers. With monthly fees meaning regular income, and a player base too addicted to stop, developers trip over themselves to enter this lucrative market.
We can guarantee we'll be seeing a lot of MMOs at E3, so that's why we're bringing you this comprehensive overview of every MMO we currently know to be in development -- excluding expansions of existing MMOs. Here's a quick summary of the trends that we see emerging from this list:
East meets West. Nine out of the thirty-one games listed are Korean MMOs hoping to make it in America and Europe, with several companies banking on the success of such a translation.
Elves and Orcs. Despite a number of fantasy-themed MMOs, there are several under development that have no sign of the fantastic about them -- instead, we see themes from sci-fi to pirates.
Microtransactions. Pay for currency, don't pay for the game -- this increasingly common strategy allows gamers to try games for free. Those who become heavy players end up pouring in more cash than they would have paid for an all-you-can-play monthly subscription.
Casual MMOs. Two of the titles listed below are trying to break into the casual space, with appealing cutesy graphics and Flash-based play. Most casual titles aren't persistent, though games like Runescape have done well out of the browser-based market so far.
New developers. Thirteen of the studios below are working on their first MMO, or their first game altogether. This could mean increased innovation, or more problems -- MMOs are risky business.
However, there are some challenges many of the companies listed below will need to overcome to make their products succeed:
Carve out a niche. Many of the games in development look similar at a first glance, and developers will have to make their product unique and appealing.
The Anti-WoW. An ever-growing proportion of gamers play nothing but World of Warcraft. Developers face the challenge of luring them away, as well as competing with the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade expansion, released later this year. The same applies to other MMOs -- will gamers want to give up an all-powerful character to start again in an unknown world?
Freeloaders. Offering free play with micropayments is all very well, but a certain number of micropayments are needed for this to succeed -- getting the balance right may prove tricky.
9 Dragons
Developer: Indy21
Platform: PC
MMO History: Publisher Acclaim was recently resurrected as a company focusing on the localisation of Korean MMOs. 9 Dragons and BOTS are its first two titles.
About the Game: 9 Dragons is a martial-arts-themed MMO, focusing on kung-fu action with a graphical theme reminiscent of single-player RPG Jade Empire. Winner of a "Game of the Year" award in Korea, the game includes quests and mini-games to train skills.
Release Date: Around Nov 2006; beta applications open.
Age of Conan
Developer: Funcom
Platform: PC
MMO History: The company behind Anarchy Online, Funcom has already established a hold in the non-fantasy MMO world, despite the spectre of its cancelled Norse-themed MMO Midgard.
About the Game: Themed around the eponymous fantasy hero, Age of Conan is an action-themed MMO set in a "dark, lush, violent and sinful" world. Players complete the single-player game to become a hero, then enter the MMO stage. More announcements will be made at E3.
Release Date: 2006
Archlord
Developer: NHN Games
Platform: PC
MMO History: Another Korean game being translated to the West, Archlord joins British publisher Codemasters' existing MMO lineup which includes RF Online and Dungeons & Dragons Online.
About the Game: A fantasy-based MMO with a twist; players compete in both PvE and PvP trials to become the "ArchLord", supreme ruler for a month. Includes Orcs, Elves, and Humans, covering eight classes. More than a million signed up for the Korean open beta.
Release Date: Q3 2006
BOTS
Developer: N-Log Corp
Platform: PC
MMO History: The first release for the resurrected Acclaim, BOTS will test their Korean-to-Western MMO strategy.
About the Game: A casual multiplayer action title that only just falls into the MMO category, BOTS allows players to pit robots against each other. Free to play, but with microtransactions and in-game ads driving revenue. Over a million registered players in Asia.
Release Date: Q2 2006. Closed beta in progress.
The Chronicles of Spellborn
Developer: Spellborn International Ltd
Platform: PC
MMO History: This is Spellborn International's first MMO. The privately-owned company was established in 2004.
About the Game: Based on the Unreal engine, set in a post-apocalyptic fantasy world, The Chronicles of Spellborn is centred around skill-based combat and PvP. The game also involves quests and fighting for various in-game rewards, such as control of realms and statues of renowned players.
Release Date: Q4 2006; Open Beta in Q3 2006.
Crusade
Developer: Quest Online, Inc
Platform: PC
MMO History: David Allen, creator of Mordor and Demise, is behind this project. His MMO resumé consists of Horizons: Empire of Istaria; Crusade is QOL's first MMO.
About the Game: Crusade's motto is "Crush, Conquer, Convert". Only announced a week before E3 2006, little is known about the game; it is based in a fantasy world and includes two warring player factions, with PvE and PvP-oriented play.
Release Date: TBA
Dark and Light
Developer: NP Cube
Platform: PC
MMO History: Dark and Light is the first MMO from French developer NP Cube and Mauritian publisher Farlan Entertainment.
About the Game: Set in a large, non-sharded world with "no loading zones", Dark and Light is a fantasy-themed MMO with a number of races ranging from fairies to orcs. It is billed as the "largest MMORPG ever," and includes airborne travel on dragons and gliders. Gameplay allows for exploration as well as combat, with a free pregame Settlers of Ganareth currently underway to begin population of the world.
Release Date: May 30, 2006.
Darkfall Online
Developers: Aventurine and Razorwax
Platform: PC
MMO History: This is the first outing for Greek developer and publisher Aventurine (who have acquired Razorwax, a Norwegian company working on the title since 2001).
About the Game: Combining both fantasy MMO concepts with some RTS features, Darkfall Online allows players to build their own empire centred around land ownership and resources. With six races to choose from, character classes are flexible, with many choices for specialisation. Combat options include fighting from horseback and naval battles. The game looks to be heavily PvP oriented, with no safe zones.
Release Date: 2006
Dofus Arena
Developer: Ankama
Platform: PC, Mac (Flash-based)
MMO History: Dofus Arena is essentially a spinoff from Ankama's first MMO Dofus. A casual, Flash-based 2D MMO, rather than a 3D Windows-based MMO, Dofus claims over 700,000 players and won the Audience Award at the Independent Games Festival.
About the Game: A PvP-based game, Dofus Arena is free to play and pits players with opposing teams of characters against each other. The final version will be presented at E3.
Release Date: Currently in beta, expected to go gold soon.
Dungeon Runners
Developer: NCsoft
Platform: PC
MMO History: A new title from an established MMO publisher known for its non-traditional themes, Dungeon Runners is a return to the fantasy genre. NCsoft's MMO pedigree includes City of Heroes, Guild Wars and Auto Assault.
About the Game: Based on the idea of conquering multiple dungeons, Dungeon Runners involves adventuring in instances alone or with other players. As with Guild Wars, it effectively falls into the "online multiplayer RPG" category rather than the true MMO space, though its visuals are more reminiscent of World of Warcraft. We'll learn more at E3.
Release Date: Q3 2006
Endless Saga
Developer: Webzen
Platform: PS3, PC
MMO History: Webzen, a Korean company, is developing another console MMO, Huxley, as well as the popular MU Online and Soul of the Ultimate Nation.
About the Game: Very little is known about Endless Saga other than its platform -- as a PS3 MMO title, it stands out. The game's trailer appears fantasy-themed, and the website refers to the Unreal engine, which may power the game.
Release Date: 2007
Exanimus
Developer: TMSGames
Platform: PC
MMO History: Horror-based MMOs aren't a lively genre, but browser-based zombiefest Urban Dead has proved popular. This appears to be TMSGames' first MMO endeavour, though the studio is dedicated to massively multiplayer development.
About the Game: A zombie-horror survival MMO, Exanimus promises a break from fantasy themes. Players will be able to take the role of zombies or humans. The game is in early stages now -- we may see more at E3.
Release Date: TBA
Exteel
Developer: NCsoft
Platform: PC
MMO History: Another MMO from Korean-based veteran NCsoft, and another Korean game trying to make it in the West.
About the Game: Robot fighting. What more can we say? Very little, though we hope to find out more at E3.
Release Date: Q4 2006
Fallen Earth
Developer: Icarus Studios
Platform: PC
MMO History: This is Icarus' first MMO, and first product -- the company claims to have assembled world-class talent for the project, and the game has been under development since 2003.
About the Game: Fallen Earth is a post-apocalyptic survivalist MMO, set in a world where 99% of the human population has been wiped out by a virus. Genetic mutation and manipulation is central to the game's theme, and it involves a zoneless single world. Fallen Earth intends to be a "cross-media experience" that only begins in MMO form.
Release Date: TBA; beta signup is available.
Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising
Developer: Perpetual Entertainment, Inc.
Platform: PC
MMO History: This is one of Perpetual's first titles, being developed alongside a second MMO, although it's being handled by veteran publisher Sony Online Entertainment's Platform Publishing label.
About the Game: A Rome-themed MMO, Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising is based on the premise that Roman mythology was fact. The game will involve quests, squad-based combat, controllable NPCs and realm-versus-realm PvP, and will be on show at E3.
Release Date: TBA
Hello Kitty Online World
Developer: Typhoon Games
Platform: PC
MMO History: Neither a Hello Kitty MMO nor a Sanrio-based MMO have been seen before, but the cutesy cartoon space has been well filled with games like Neopets. Typhoon has worked on several Hong Kong-based games.
About the Game: Reaffirm your masculinity by playing with fluffy pink kittens. Hello Kitty Online World will allow you to customise your character, build a house and buy furniture, all within a Hello Kitty setting.
Release Date: TBA
Huxley
Developer: H-Studio
Platform: Xbox 360, PC
MMO History: Huxley joins Korean publisher Webzen's MMO family. With two other MMOs lined up, Webzen will presumably be launching a three-way attack on the Western market.
About the Game: Breaking out of the RPG style of many MMOs, Huxley is a massively-multiplayer first-person shooter, or MMOFPS. The game is based on the Unreal 3 engine and set in a post-apocalyptic world, where two factions of humans battle for survival. Vehicles and a selection of weaponry feature in the game.
Release Date: Q3 2006
The Lord of the Rings Online
Developer: Turbine, Inc
Platform: PC
MMO History: Although many MMOs draw heavily from Tolkein's imagination, and other games of the books have been released, this is the first MMO to invoke the Lord of the Rings franchise. Originally announced by Sierra in 1998, the game has suffered delays and become a Turbine product.
About the Game: Set in Middle-earth shortly after Frodo and his companions leave the Shire, The Lord of the Rings Online allows players to interact with Tolkein's characters in a story-driven PvE environment. It involves standard MMO features such as a class system and four playable races: dwarves, elves, hobbits and humans. No orcs, unfortunately.
Release Date: TBA
Naughty America: The Game
Developer: Naughty America
Platform: PC
MMO History: While social-themed online worlds and sex-themed online games have been around for a while, this is Naughty America's first foray into either.
About the Game: A cross between online dating and an MMO, Naughty America: The Game is primarily a social space with added sex. Cartoon sex, that is.
Release Date: Summer 2006
Phantasy Star Universe
Developer: Sega
Platform: PS2, PC, Xbox 360
MMO History: After the popular Phantasy Star Online, spanning the Dreamcast, Gamecube, PC and Xbox platforms, Sega is no stranger to console conversions. Originally scheduled for a March '06 release, this title has been delayed.
About the Game: Phantasy Star Universe is effectively an RPG with both single- and multiplayer components rather than an MMO. It features hack-and-slash combat with strafing and dual-wielding, player-controlled vehicles and three planets to explore.
Release Date: 2006
Pirates of the Burning Sea
Developer: Flying Lab Software
Platform: PC
MMO History: There's only one other pirate-themed MMO (Puzzle Pirates) out at the moment, so the way is clear for more; this is Flying Lab's first MMO release.
About the Game: Set amid the high seas, Pirates of the Burning Sea lets players partake in naval combat against other players and NPCs. Players can side with one of three powers -- Britain, France and Spain -- to conquer the Caribbean. The game also supports piracy and trader-style gameplay as well as combat and adventure.
Release Date: TBA; beta signups are open.
Pirates of the Caribbean Online
Developer: Disney
Platform: PC
MMO History: After developing kiddy MMO Toontown Online, Disney has turned its attention to one of its popular movie franchises to make a game that has broad appeal. However, pirate fans may have to choose between this and competitor Pirates of the Burning Sea.
About the Game: Little is known about Pirates of the Caribbean Online; players will be able to interact with the movie characters Jack Sparrow, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann, on the route to creating a pirate and setting sail on the seas. Expect evil undead pirates and a large amount of movie crossover. More will be revealed at E3.
Release Date: 2007
Project Wiki
Developer: Webzen
Platform: PC
MMO History: Another of Webzen's titles, joining dissimilar brethren Huxley and Soul of the Ultimate Nation at E3 this year. As a casual title, it departs from Webzen's previous MMO efforts.
About the Game: Project Wiki is nothing to do with collaborative editing and all about a fairytale land for casual gamers. With a cartoonish feel, the title is designed to appeal to a wide market.
Release Date: 2006
Roma Victor
Developer: Red Bedlam Ltd
Platform: PC
MMO History: This is Red Bedlam's first MMO and one of the first to focus on an authentic historical setting. The game was recently in the press for its in-game punishment of virtual crucifixion.
About the Game: Roma Victor aims to reproduce a historically accurate Roman world, circa 180AD, though players won't have to speak Latin (unfortunately). It involves a revenue model based around in-game currency rather than a monthly fee.
Release Date: July 2006
Soul of the Ultimate Nation
Developer: Webzen
Platform: PC
MMO History: Webzen, developers of MU Online, have several new titles underway in a number of settings; this title seems closest to MU with its fantasy theme. Webzen have claimed that MU has 40 million registered accounts worldwide.
About the Game: Soul of the Ultimate Nation aims to incorporate console-style play into a PC MMO (an endeavour which bodes well for Webzen's other, console-based MMO titles). The game is set in a fantasy world and focuses strongly on a battle system.
Release Date: 2006 (Korea)
Space Cowboy Online
Developer: Masangsoft/Gala-Net, Inc
Platform: PC
MMO History: With a beta-test community of 60,000 the game looks to be off to a good start; developed in Korea by Masangsoft, this is another Eastern import now handled by Gala-Net, following on from fantasy flight-based MMO Flyff.
About the Game: Free to play, Space Cowboy Online is a 3D space shooter that allows players to pilot their own fighter ships. The game involves both PvE and PvP combat and includes voice integration. Microtransactions provide the revenue.
Release Date: May 2006
Square Enix's Untitled MMORPG
Developer: Square Enix
Platform: PS3, PC
MMO History: Makers of the PC and console MMO Final Fantasy XI, Square Enix has delivered the only next-gen console MMO currently on sale. However, the company has shunned the 360 for its new untitled project.
About the Game: Very little is known about the game other than its platform and developer; we hope to learn more at E3.
Release Date: TBA
Stargate Worlds
Developer: Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment
Platform: PC
MMO History: Cheyenne has brought various industry veterans onboard, but this is their first MMO. It's also one of the few MMOs to be based around a television series.
About the Game: Stargate Worlds is set in the world of Stargate: SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis, and will focus on small groups (much like the TV series). PvP combat will also be a feature, and the game features a number of races and three major factions. Development is in early stages.
Release Date: TBA
Star Trek Online
Developer: Perpetual Entertainment
Platform: PC
MMO History: This is one of two MMOs under development by Perpetual, a young American studio, as well as another franchise-based MMO that concentrates on a popular TV series.
About the Game: Star Trek Online intends to encompass the universe of Star Trek, from holodecks to away missions. There will be PvP opportunities as well as solo and grouped PvE. A number of races and classes (departments) will be playable, though the only faction available to begin with is Starfleet.
Release Date: TBA
Tabula Rasa
Developer: Destination Games
Platform: PC
MMO History: Part of established MMO publisher NCsoft's upcoming lineup, Tabula Rasa joins the likes of City of Heroes and Guild Wars. However, the game has had a bumpy development history, despite being spearheaded by veteran developer Richard Garriott.
About the Game: Tabula Rasa is an action-based MMO which is centred around a war between rebel soldiers and a warlike alien race. Players will have access to futuristic weapons and mystical powers, working together to stop the oncoming enemy. The game is designed to appeal to FPS, RPG and MMO fans, and has built-in voice chat.
Release Date: Oct 2006; Beta slot competition open.
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom
Developer: Sony Online Entertainment
Platform: PS3
MMO History: Part of MMO giant Sony Online Entertainment's stable of games, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom joins a number of successful titles such as EverQuest, although the company's recent changes to its Star Wars Galaxies game have caused criticism.
About the Game: Billed as "the future of the action-RPG", Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom intends to combine a single-player RPG with an online multiplayer component to create a next-gen MMO. The setting is one of strength and fantasy; the story kicks off with the assassination of a king gone awry.
Release Date: TBA
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Developer: Sigil Games
Platform: PC
MMO History: Founded by ex-Sony Online Entertainment developers, Sigil's first MMO product is Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. After signing a publishing deal with Microsoft in 2002, the studio attracted more talent.
About the Game: Vanguard: Saga of Heroes takes place in a fantasy world where people are struggling to rebuild after a war. Involving 19 classic fantasy races and 15 professions, as well as tradeskills, this looks to be a fairly traditional fantasy MMO.
Release Date: 2006; currently in closed beta.
Warhammer Online
Developer: Mythic Entertainment
Platform: PC
MMO History: Mythic is well known for its MMO Dark age of Camelot, and has picked up the Warhammer franchise for a new MMO.
About the Game: Warhammer Online is set in a time of conflict, with warring factions tearing the world apart. There are six playable armies and no knowledge of the Warhammer games is needed to play, although it will likely appeal to Warhammer fans more than non-fans.
Release Date: 2007
Honourable mention goes to the expansions we're hoping to see at E3, which include World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade and a new chapter of Guild Wars. The MMO landscape certainly looks interesting -- if crowded -- in the near future.
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May 4th, 2006, 20:20 Posted By: wraggster
Via Gamesradar
World of Warcraft owners will be able to request a transfer to a different realm for their character, according to an official Blizzard statement in the WoW forums. The system will go live this summer, and will require you to pay a fee for each character transferred.
Realms are the names for the particular server that you connect to, with each area of the globe having a certain number of realms for you to choose from. Transferring between these realms is possible now, but only as part of a mass-migration by Blizzard, which can take any length of time.
The new system will allow players to move at the time of their choosing, and to almost any other realm they want. PvP (Player vs Player - servers for massive multiplayer brawling) characters can move to any realm they like, but PvE (Player vs Environment - the natural, quest-based gaming type) gamers are limited to other PvE type realms.
While the charges for the service have yet to be announced, this is just another example of Blizzard's ongoing commitment to its huge MMO. Just imagine what would happen if everyone stopped playing all at once...
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May 4th, 2006, 20:07 Posted By: wraggster
Via Eurogamer:
SEGA's confirmed the brilliant news about its Rome: Total War - Alexander expansion. You know, that Brian Blessed is voicing over the cut-scenes. Wicked!
SEGA's also talked it up in a bit more detail. It's out in June and will be sold through digital distribution on www.sega.com and other official sites, and features a new campaign, six new historical battles, and adds four new factions and more than 60 units.
They reckon it adds up to 30 hours of gameplay in total. There's a new campaign - spanning Alexander's unification of Greece and his subsequent conquest of the Persian Empire - and the six historical battles, playable online and via LANs, too - include Alexander's triumphs against the Greeks, Persians and Indians.
Among the new factions will be the Macedonians and the Persians, while the more-than-60 new units including Persian scythed chariots, elite immortals and the likes of the Hypaspists, Phalangists and Companion cavalry.
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May 3rd, 2006, 18:01 Posted By: wraggster
Via Slashdot:
Kotaku is running a piece by Wagner James Au, discussing the place World of Warcraft has in 'The Axis of Evil'. From the article: "Then again, there's little reason to think the ban was enforced much at all. Veteran WoW players tell me they often raid with folks who say they are Coalition troops in Iraq who've cleverly hacked around military firewalls to log in. And while it's doubtful that anyone but Kim Jung-Il and his geek cronies could log into World of Warcraft from North Korea, there's still an embargo on Iran.
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May 3rd, 2006, 17:47 Posted By: wraggster
Via Gamesindustry
Microsoft's entry into the console markets with the Xbox and Xbox 360 has left the company "too busy with Xbox games" to focus on the PC platform, according to Brian Sullivan, co-creator of one of the firm's biggest PC franchises, Age of Empires.
Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz about his new project, Titan Quest - an epic action RPG which will be published by THQ - Sullivan said that the PC games market is "doing fantastic" but lamented the lack of a firm willing to champion the platform.
"As a PC gamer, I really wish they had stuck with PC gaming," he said, referring to Microsoft. "Because PC gaming doesn't really have a champion; with all the consoles, the manufacturer's the big champion, but PC gaming has no champion with Microsoft and their own Xbox."
However, Sullivan believes that many third party publishers - including Titan Quest's publisher, THQ - are now recognising the potential of the PC platform and starting major initiatives to produce high quality content for it.
"I think THQ decided there's a lot of profit to be made in PC games - and since THQ's made that decision, and put their portfolio together, Namco is doing it also, they're getting into PC games with Hellgate and some others, and Midway decided to get into PC games... Microsoft even talks about getting back into PC games, so who knows."
"I think you can still make a lot of money on PC games," he concluded, "and people are starting to realise that again."
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May 2nd, 2006, 18:50 Posted By: wraggster
Via Gamespot
Reckon you're one of the UK's best gamers? Game Frontier has teamed up with theSGL and Dustworld to announce one of the last qualifying events for the Electronic Sports World Cup UK Finals 2006. Taking place in Bristol from Friday, 26 May to Monday, 29 May, the SGL ESWC UK 2006 LAN will host a 400-player, bring-your-own-computer LAN with a dedicated competition arena.
The official tournaments will include Counter-Strike 1.6 (5v5), Quake 4 (1v1) and Warcraft 3 (1v1) and some of the best pro gamers in the country will be looking for places at the ESWC UK 2006 finals. The UK finals, set to be in early June, will be shown on digital channel Propeller TV.
The UK champions will take on gamers from other nations at the ESWC Grand Finals in Paris between 28 June and 2 July 2006--and as well as the honour of being the best in the world, there's also a $400,000 prize fund on offer.
More information about the tournament, as well as game rules and player eligibility information, can be found on www.eswc.co.uk.
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May 2nd, 2006, 14:04 Posted By: wraggster
Via CVG
THQ and Relic Entertainment have revealed that the Tau Empire and the Necrons are two new playable races that'll feature in forthcoming Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War expansion Dark Crusade.
Dark Crusade, which is the second expansion for the WH40K RTS title, additionally boasts a brand new single-player campaign which focuses on the conquest of a 'meta-map' - each territory captured giving tangible rewards to the occupying force, apparently - and a "greatly expanded multiplayer component and a completely unique economy model for the Necrons". All of which present gamers with the most compelling Dawn of War game to date, it says here.
With Dark Crusade we have taken a very different and exciting route with the single-player game, allowing the player to conquer the globe as any of the seven unique playable races," Ron Moravek, vice president THQ, general manager Relic Entertainment, has added. "The Dawn of War franchise has become synonymous with innovation and attention to detail and we have drawn on the extensive knowledge base that Games Workshop's exhaustive universe provides us with to bring classic Tau and Necron combatants to the battlefield on Kronos."
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade is due this autumn.
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May 2nd, 2006, 13:59 Posted By: wraggster
NIKITA and A-GAMES announce development of a new browser-based massively multiplayer online role-play game, Kavelon. This major fantasy project will add to the line of browser-based games from NIKITA Company.
The game action is set in a fantasy world resembling the late Middle Ages. A magic blast hailed down a curse on the lands of Kavelon. The Empire that had survived numerous racial infightings turned into ruins in one moment. Time has come for a New Era – and new power struggle at the same time. Dwarfs and humans, elves and ogres – all races inhabiting Kavelon have come into conflict giving rise to global race war.
Kavelon has absorbed all the best from client multiplayer online role-play projects. The game features a developed role system with a number of classes, an atmospheric game universe, an extended structure of quests and missions for the character, and multiple ways of interaction between players. In the world of Kavelon the user is free to pick up a race which will further influence relations with other classes of players. Dozens of types of weapons and armour, great magical potential and even the reputation of the game character will help the player survive the war and, maybe, even gain control of the Empire. Kavelon's user friendly interface and special statistics system enable one to join the game process and keep track of one's actions during the game quite easily.
Kavelon does not require an install on your hard drive. To start playing, the user just needs to go through the registration procedure on the official website of the game, learn the main rules and create a game character.
For more details about the Kavelon game, please visit NIKITA's stand at the Games Developers Conference 2006.
A-Games is a game studio which focuses on developing advertising and multiplayer online games. It was established on 19 February 2004. Since its creation the company has always aimed at developing projects that involve state-of-the-art web technologies and platforms giving access to new opportunities in online games.
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May 2nd, 2006, 01:15 Posted By: wraggster
via Gamespot
THQ today shed some more light on Dark Crusade, the next expansion to its 2004 PC real-time strategy game Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War. In addition to the new subtitle, the publisher announced the second new race for the game. Joining the technologically minded Tau in the grim darkness of the future will be the soulless Necrons, an army of undead warriors hungry for the living after a 60-million-year slumber.
In addition to a pair of new races (bringing the game's total to seven playable factions), developer Relic Entertainment is including a new single-player campaign in the game that will challenge players to take command of the race of their choice and exterminate all opposing forces. THQ is also promising to expand the multiplayer gameplay, though it didn't give specifics on how.
Dark Crusade is currently slated for a fall release, and THQ has indicated that the game will be at its Electronic Entertainment Expo booth next week.
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May 2nd, 2006, 01:11 Posted By: wraggster
Via Eurogamer
While Korean giant NCsoft's existing massively-multiplayer titles continue to perform strongly, anticipation is building for Tabula Rasa, the latest online project from MMO legend Richard Garriott.
This sci-fi-themed PC adventure marries the depth of a role-playing game with the frenetic action of a first-person shooter – an odd mix on paper but one which, on the evidence of the spectacular new trailer at least, is looking extremely promising.
You can expect a full update on Tabula Rasa at E3 when we catch up with Mr Garriott and co. for an in-depth chat. In the meantime, the full two-and-a-half-minute trailer is available for your viewing pleasure on Eurogamer TV.
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April 30th, 2006, 01:04 Posted By: wraggster
This edition of our ad critic series is coming to you a day late. Sorry about that. All the excitement over Nintendo's big announcement has left us with little capacity to discuss anything else.
Now that the hubbub's died down a wee bit, we ask you to focus your critical energies on this ad for NCSoft's Auto Assault MMORPG found on the back cover of the May 2006 edition of Computer Gaming World. (Click the thumbnail to view a high-res scan of the ad.)
Does this advert work? How would you compare the quality of the concept and execution to other gaming ads? We already spy a bit of a mistake in this ad. Can you spot it? Also, what's with the Dell logo? Finally, for those of you who've played the game, does this ad capture what's best about the game, from your perspective (in other words, is there a disconnect between advert and experience)?
http://www.joystiq.com/2006/04/29/ad...ssault-mmorpg/
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April 27th, 2006, 21:20 Posted By: wraggster
Korean MMO developer Webzen will be showcasing three titles at E3 in May, significantly boosting its portfolio as its US subsidiary attempts to gain a firmer foothold on the Western market.
The Seoul-based firm is committed to introducing Western gamers to some of its most popular Asian MMO titles such as MU Online, as well as introducing new games on PC and next-generation consoles including the Xbox 360 and PS3.
Webzen America, the firm's dedicated US subsidiary, recently announced the appointment of former SOE exec Cindy Armstrong in the role of CEO, in a determined move to rapidly grow its presence in the North American and Western regions.
The key title expected to be on display at the forthcoming games industry event is PC and Xbox 360 title Huxley, which will support up to 5,000 players in the same game and promises a blend of FPS and MMO gameplay, set to a post-apocalyptic backdrop where two different races of human battle for natural resources.
Huxley will be joined by a more traditional fantasy-based PC MMO title, Soul of the Ultimate Nation, which features more familiar RPG characters and storylines such as monsters, magicians and emperors, and will offer a more typical MMORPG experience to contrast Huxley's blending of genres.
The third PC game, Project Wiki, has been described by Webzen as "whimsical and charming", offering "intense levels of cooperative interaction" and is focused more on the social aspects of online gaming, Webzen broadening the appeal of its games to attract a wider, more diverse online audience.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=16406
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April 27th, 2006, 00:58 Posted By: wraggster
The sequel to GameSpot's Best PC Game of 2003 is almost here, as Microsoft Game Studios has announced that Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends has gone gold and should be available in stores on May 9.
Rise of Legends abandons its predecessor's historical setting in favor of a sci-fi/fantasy world where forces of technology and magic struggle for dominance. In the single-player campaign, gamers will have to manage turn-based and real-time strategy elements if they want to conquer the world. In multiplayer, competing civilizations scramble to build their forces and wipe each other off the map in battles designed for quicker play than those of the original Rise of Nations.
http://us.gamespot.com/news/6148379.html
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April 27th, 2006, 00:55 Posted By: wraggster
GameDailyBiz is reporting on a study indicating the Chinese gaming market is likely to hit $2.1 Billion in 2010. From the article: "While much of this growth has been and will continue to be fueled by the popularity of MMORPGs, Niko points to another trend: the rise of casual games. Niko believes that premium casual games will reach MMORPG-like popularity over the next few years and will achieve 40 percent of all online revenue by 2010. 'Chinese gamers' passion for massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) has extended to the casual and premium casual segments,' said Lisa Cosmas Hanson, managing partner of Niko Partners. 'Premium casual games provide new gamers greater access to the online game market and open up an alternate source of entertainment for hardcore gamers.'
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl.../04/26/1828219
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April 27th, 2006, 00:32 Posted By: Kaiser
Nestopia v1.29
Nestopia has received an upgrade to version 1.29. Read more for changelog, official website is http://nestopia.sourceforge.net.
FB Alpha Plus! v0.2.95.23
The Final Burn spinoff emulator has been upgraded. Grab it here.
bsnes v0.016l
bsnes has been updated with several substantial new features including special chip support and game genie support. Read more for details; grab it here .
Dolphin v1.03.2 beta
The GCN emulator Dolphin has been updated for the second time this month. Link here for the forums with the download link. The official Dolphin page can be found here .
saturn SSF .007
Grab it here . Looks like there are some improvements in the emulation.
GENS32 v1.66
GENS32 has been updated with substantial improvements and new features. Read more for details, download and info here .
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April 26th, 2006, 19:56 Posted By: wraggster
SPOnG has fond memories of playing Games Workshop’s Cosmic Encounter boardgame in our dinnertimes at school. In fact, we think we actually used it as an excuse to get out of jogging one cold winter day in the frozen wastelands of South Yorkshire. Aaah, halcyon days indeed…
For this reason, if nothing else, we were glad to come across an online version of the game. We were even happier when we noticed that it is free, plus seems to be getting quite an online following.
About.com rates Cosmic Encounter Online at number two in its chart of top ten graphical games available to freely download. Commenting on the game, it notes that: "There are scores of graphical games available on the Web which can be enjoyed by anyone with a browser and the necessary plugins….This is the classic Cosmic Encounter boardgame redone. Up to 4 players compete for galactic domination using strategy and diplomacy in this unique turn-based contest. Games are highly social, last only 30 minutes or so, and the basic aliens can be played for free."
As far as we remember it was fiendishly addictive. We may just have found a new way of wasting all our friends' employers' time and money as well as our own.
Now, where did we store all those Friends Reunited emails. Let’s see if our mates who we haven’t seen for years fancy having their marginal human brains augmented by alien intelligence.
http://news.spong.com/article/9942
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April 25th, 2006, 20:54 Posted By: wraggster
SPOnG has just received some details on Soccer Fury, NCSoft Europe’s first major development project, which is being billed as ‘an arcade action game combining street soccer with spectacular fighting techniques’.
Well, there’s a thing. An online multiplayer football fighting game - featuring small teams of 3 versus 3! It’s got to be one of two things – total genius or sheer folly. Indeed, the last time SPOnG got involved in massively multiplayer football fighting was in 1992 with the Maine Line Service Crew in pitched battles against some Gooners, but the less said about that the better.
SPOnG can already imagine the discussions going on at NCSoft Europe regarding possible controvo-PR campaigns - 'Soccer Fury glorifies Football Fighting' etc and so on. Winding up middle England and the Daily Mail by publicising the game as ideal entertainment for all fans of both football and fighting would surely do the essential PR job of securing those valuable column inches.
Soccer Fury has been created in collaboration with Digital Legends Entertainment and is just one of NCsoft's new raft of multiplayer PC games that will be part of an online gaming hub at PlayNC.com featuring amongst others, NCSoft’s bread and butter MMO titles Guild Wars and Auto Assault.
Soccer Fury enables up to six players online to “tap into a devastating arsenal of martial arts, trick moves and team tactics…power your way up the field and tear down the opposition in epic online pitched battles…No rules. No limits. No mercy.” This isn’t football. It’s war.
Soccer Fury is played out in the ‘lawless back streets of the urban jungle’ (looks a bit like Hackney to us) and will also feature elements of character and team customisation and evolution, SPOnG has just been told by an NC Soft Europe representative.
CEO of Digital Legends Entertainment, Xavier Carrillo Costa had the following to say about the game: "We are really excited about our partnership with NCsoft and about pioneering a new segment of videogaming. Soccer Fury will be a key element of PlayNC's online games portfolio; integrating soccer, fighting and character evolution to appeal to a large audience."
Thomas Bidaux, Director of Products for NCsoft Europe, added: "We're delighted to be working so closely with such a strong, focused team. NCsoft is hand picking only the finest games for the launch of PlayNC as a games portal and Soccer Fury more than meets the standards we're setting."
SPOnG would like to remind all of our readers who are also football hooligans or wife-beaters that it is neither big nor clever to knock your spouse about, to drunkenly fight fans of opposition football teams or - with the World Cup in mind - competing nations whose mother tongue is German.
Instead of acting dumb by listening to your inner demons, why not take out some of your pent-up anger and rage on Soccer Fury instead. Just a thought...
http://news.spong.com/article/9936
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April 25th, 2006, 20:30 Posted By: wraggster
It is a well known fact that of all video game genres, three are most popular among the gamers - action first or third-person shooters, racing games and real time strategy games. While the first two mentioned genres have already found their way to mobiles, real time strategy gaming is somehow struggling.
Of course there could be examples of games that have done quite well with the best example being the Townsmen series. But where are games like Dune 2, Warcraft or Command and Conquer and other well known RTS games.
There have been demands made and excuses given instead of an answer: “The mobile controls are not suitable for a RTS!”
As we know today, this is a false statement and it´s only about how clever a solution a development company is able to provide. It is most positive that some mobile developers have accepted the challenge and decided to put up a fight to deliver some stunning mobile RTS to our handies.
Impossible s.r.o. Really caught a bull by the horns by developing not one but two mobile RTSs. While these games are quite good and could provide guidelines as to how a mobile RTS should be done, the company has somehow failed to promote them as well as their quality would deserve. Thus the games have fared pretty well back in the Czech Republic where Impossible is based, but gained little attention on world-wide markets.
However, times, they are a-changing and developers at Impossible must have realized this, as they have announced GOLD versions of both – sci-fi themed YERS and fantasy set Lords of Chaos. The release is scheduled MayJune 2006
So no matter if you are a gamer or a distributor, you should keep your spotlight centered on these sound titles. For they may as well present a milestone in mobile RTS gaming.
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