At the GDC currently in full swing in San Francisco, MMO publisher and operator Frogster today announced that it has a new product in development. With “Runes of Magic – The Challenge”, an entertaining game developed for social gamers on Facebook, the company will enter the rapidly growing market for casual games on social networks for the first time. “Runes of Magic – The Challenge” is being produced by Frogster America and developed by Mothership Interactive, Inc. Frogster’s first social game is scheduled to be launched in the second quarter of 2010 in Europe and North America.
“Runes of Magic – The Challenge” will be set in the rich fantasy universe of Frogster’s popular free-to-play MMO game Runes of Magic. With adventure, exploration and strategy elements all combined in a fun, easy to play Facebook application, “Runes of Magic – The Challenge” takes full advantage of networked gaming and viral communications in the sphere of the largest social network worldwide and thus, expands the audience of Runes of Magic through additional gameplay possibilities. Players will also be able to gain special cards with key codes in “Runes of Magic – The Challenge”, which they can use to unlock gifts and goodies in the full client version of Runes of Magic.
“Runes of Magic is the first free-to-play MMO game ever to expand into the social networks sphere with a rich, full, social gaming experience that will appeal to fantasy fans of all ages – independently of whether they play the full client game or not”, comments Lars Koschin, CEO of Frogster America, Inc. “With the success of Runes of Magic among core MMO players, it was a natural decision to build upon the franchise by taking it to a genre with mass market appeal and the powerful viral approach of the rapidly evolving social networks. The result is ’Runes of Magic – The Challenge’ for Facebook.”
Games-Masters.com, publishers of the free-to-play game CABAL Online Europe, has today announced that over two million unique users have registered for the massively multiplayer online game. Experiencing sustained growth since its launch in 2006, the fast-paced console-style MMO continues to be enjoyed by over 100,000 active players, with thousands of new registrations each and every day.
To celebrate reaching the two-million milestone, throughout March all users of the game will enjoy increased experience and drop rates. These bonuses, including experience, skill experience, war experience and drop rate increases, will be by as much as 50% and will automatically be added to all players between the hours of 1000 and 1900 GMT. March will also see the release of a brand new update, Illusion Castle, including a revamped user interface, two new dungeons and a new set of weapons and accessories.
4Story announced 10 times monthly GM hide & Seek is commenced today. The reward is just awesome since it is one of the most important materials for making super level item that every MMO fans like to get.
Event period
No one actually can predict it.
Event detail
One of GMs is lost somewhere in Iveria continent. Whoever finds him first will be rewarded with a material for 34~38 (Superb) level item..
How to participate Simply find One of 4story GMs first in 6 different district areas to claim the reward.
Reward A material for 34~38 (Superb) level item will be given on site.
Gamigo announced its latest free-to-play MMORPG: Soul Master, a unique mixture of online action role-play and real-time strategy.
“We are excited to announce that we will be the exclusive European publisher of Soul Master,” says gamigo executive board member Patrick Streppel. “Soul Master provides a unique gameplay experience that combines strategy and role-play, fitting perfectly into our broad portfolio of free-to-play online games.”
In Soul Master, three rival factions battle for the right to rule the realm of Elamond. The game is entirely mission-based: Cities act as meeting points for players to interact and trade with others and as a starting-point to set out on missions together. NPCs have many adventures ready for players to begin, either alone or with a group. The aim of these missions is more than just commanding your character and mastering your weapon, resources need to be captured and used to build a base and amass a powerful army.
Players looking to fight real opponents rather than a computer can prove their mettle against other Soul Masters in PvP (player vs. player) battles, with guild wars being an absolute highlight. Soul Master will be offered as a free download and the European release is expected for the third quarter of 2010. In line with gamigo’s free-to-play gaming vision, Soul Master will be totally free to play – no subscription fees whatsoever.
Soul Master’s features at a glance:
Action-packed online role-playing game with real-time strategy elements:
- 3 factions (Valiant, Harmony, Holy)
- 6 character classes
-18 units, each with their own abilities
- 33 building classes
- Single and multi-player missions
- Boss raids
- PvP battles
- Captivating guild wars
- Instant replay
- Pet system
Frogster has announced that the time for epic battles in Runes of Magic has now arrived. The introduction of Siege Wars will further expand the online world of Taborea as guilds compete against one another to capture their opponents’ castle. The upcoming content update on 11th March will see the launch of the beta phase of the new Player vs Player mode. The definitive launch of the Siege Wars will then follow with the launch of ‘Chapter III – The Elder Kingdoms’.
From the launch of Runes of Magic, guilds have been able to have their own strongholds, with building extensions and furnishings to complete their homes. To launch a Siege War all you need is two guilds, two castles and one simple objective – destroy your opponent and their castle. As a part of Chapter III, the Siege Wars will include new bonuses such as increased running speed and the ability to build an arsenal of weapons including catapults, rams and arrow throwers.
To succeed guildswill need to capture energy nodes on the battlefield to provide the necessary resources for the construction of battle weapons or towers. Should a team break through the enemy’s castle walls and make it to the throne room, then the defenders will have to protect the energy crystal which is kept there. If the team should seize all of the opponents’ crystals as well as their resource nodes, then the battle is won. Special rewards and titles beckon for victorious guilds.
From the launch of the feature, which will arrive on 11th March with the update ‘Patch 2.1.7. Siege Wars’, Runes of Magic players will have one month to give the battles a thorough test. Frogster will be ultimately implementing the new PvP mode into the online game world to its full extent within the framework of ‘Chapter III – The Elder Kingdoms’.
GodsWar OnlineVersion 2.0 has been released. With new features, gear, and event surprises, the new version gives ancient Greek combatants plenty of fresh content to explore and new challenges to conquer.
Character Makeover
All characters received a makeover in version 2.0. With higher-quality graphics and sharper details, they all look better than ever. If looks could kill, these character upgrades would be all you need.
New Mount System Players no longer have to travel on foot from one end of a map to the other throughout their careers. Veteran Greek heroes level 40 and above can now saddle up on their favorite mount and head off into the sunset … or seek out their next battle.
New 3D Perspective
This camera feature will be introduced in certain areas, including the main cities, the suburbs and the Pindus Mountains. Players must turn it on manually and will then be able to change their perspective using the arrow keys on their keyboard.
New Equipment Legendary and Mythical grades of equipment have been introduced to push the upper boundaries of GWO hardware. Better looking gear is all well and good, but sometimes you just need it to better, period.
Level Cap Upgrade
The level cap for characters has been increased to 130. With 10 more levels to improve your character, now you can reach new heights of skill and power.
Fun Events
To accommodate the increased player load expected with the new version, GWO now has two new servers: Heracles for the US zone and Pisces for the European zone. Five Surprises are waiting for players on the new servers to celebrate their grand openings.
Conquer Online, TQ Digital’s world renowned Kung Fu themed MMORPG, is set to kick up a frenzy in 2010 with it’s third official expansion, “Legends Return”, due for release in conjunction with the game’s 7th anniversary birthday this April. The 1st Chapter of Legends Return is scheduled to hit CO this April.
Following the New Dynasty (2008) and Riding Clans (2009) expansions, “Legends Return” is being billed as a special present for Conquer Online’s loyal playing community, bringing a plethora of major new features and improvements that were requested during the games 2010 New Year’s Resolutions event, which allowed users to put forward their game related wants-and-suggestions in a classic new years resolution format.
This thrilling content will be released in3 exciting chapters throughout 2010, beginning with the first chapter in April and lasting until the final chapter is introduced at the end of the year.
In Chapter 1, the first release of the Legends Return expansion, the Shadow of Darkness will throw players into an age of chaos and destruction. An ancient legend has told of special sub-classes that will be recovered when evil befalls the land, and now that prophecy has been fulfilled. New skills and fabled weapons were recently unearthed by thieves, but their blind lust for gold has seen them unwittingly help an incredibly powerful, unspeakably evil demon rise from the very pits of hell.
Ntreev USA announced today to in honor of its online action-adventure MMO brawler’s 2nd anniversary, Grand Chasewill launch a brand-new tournament dubbed “Slam Party” sponsored by PlaySpan. The tournament, starting March 18th, will feature fantastic real-world prizes including an Alienware MX11 gaming notebook, a 32 GB iPod Touch, a Microsoft SideWinder X4 Keyboard and Ultimate Points valued at $10!
The “Slam Party” tournament is open to anyone, and everyone is eligible to play! Players will just need to be lucky enough to jump into a tournament room on March 18th. But the tournament isn’t the only fun in store for Grand Chase players; an entire line-up of fun events is planned for this special anniversary.
Puzzle Fragment Event March 11-23rd: Puzzle Fragments will be available throughout the game by just playing in dungeons and PvP. Players will also receive fragments for free when they login. When all the fragments are pieced together a box will be available for players to open. The box will give players a highly sought after pet based on the popular Knight Master in Grand Chase.
2nd Anniversary Welcoming Event: This event is for all existing active, new and old players returning. Each of them will receive a different greeting message and will be given an item that gives them 10% EXP boost which will last for 15 days.
Lucky Day Gift Event March 11-29th: Throughout the month of March players will be receiving different gifts when they login. All of the items are equipments created in celebration for the 2nd anniversary.
2nd Anniversary Special Decoration: Special artwork is being created for the 2nd anniversary of the North American version of Grand Chase.The in-game’s park area will have special boss monsters placed to give a congratulatory message to the players as well as having a special banner placed in.
2nd Anniversary Special: Grand Chase will be holding a special XP & GP event on the anniversary day with a 20% increase!
“The fabulous prizes – sponsored by PlaySpan – the Grand Chase players have a chance at winning are what makes this 2nd anniversary tournament truly exciting,” said Chris Lee, CEO at Ntreev USA. “We are ecstatic that we are in our second year and plan on bringing so many exciting tournaments and non-stop brawling action to both our loyal “knights” and new players too!”
Munich-based game publisher burda:ic, a leading provider of free-to-play online games worldwide, today announced the autumn launch of browser-based MMO Forsakia: The Lost Clans for their alaplaya gaming platform. This Platform hosts games like Audition, Fantasy Tennis, S4 League,Florensia, and Avalon Heroes. Created by Japanese game developer Gold Sky, Forsakia will be released in parts of Europe, including Russia and Turkey, the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“After Land of Chaos Online, this is the next high-quality, free-to-play game that we will be releasing simultaneously in Europe and North America as a western publisher,” said Ingo Griebl, managing director of burda:ic.
“Forsakia is our first browser-only game. It provides players with an easy-to-access online RPG that is not only graphically impressive, but also includes complex features that have typically been limited to client-based games,” said Achim Kaspers, also a managing director of burda:ic.
Forsakia: The Lost Clans is set in Jianghu, a fabled land once governed by mighty clans that fell victim to a great tragedy. It is still unknown who or what caused their demise, but Jianghu has been immersed in chaos ever since. Now, it is up to the players to restore hope to this world by facing the powers of darkness, defeating monsters, and proving themselves as heroes.
Forsakia offers everything an RPG fan’s heart desires: player vs. player (PvP) combat, a pet system, six unique classes to choose from, guilds, individual houses for players to furnish, and much more. The huge, mysterious game world is brought to life with colorfully detailed graphics and experienced from an overhead, isometric perspective.
The upcoming launches of Land of Chaos Online and Forsakia are a key part of burda:ic’s plans to expand their alaplaya gaming portal. They hope to provide a targeted ten million users worldwide with up to ten high-quality MMO titles by 2011.
Gpotato has presented the official trailer of its new MMO game, Aika Online. It features Jam-packed with exciting PvP footage, awesome scenic shots, and an exclusive look at in-game content. The open beta will be launched March 16th. You can see the trailer in HD below or through our youtube’s channel.
En Masse Entertainment, a new breed of game publisher specializing in bringing engaging and innovative online properties to new audiences, has revealed the first details of its innovative and highly anticipated Action MMO, TERA. The game will be shown for the first time at Game Developers Conference 2010, March 11 to 13, Expo Booth #1134. Currently in development for the PC by Bluehole Studio, TERA will be launched in Korea in summer 2010, and Western markets will follow in winter.
“TERA is a new class of MMO that combines the depth and flexibility of online PC games with the lush graphics and immediacy of console action games,” said Dr. Jae-Heon Yang, CEO of En Masse Entertainment. “Players can go beyond factions and static storylines to write the history of TERA in real time as six races learn to work together.”
TERA innovates in three key areas crucial to MMO quality and success:
Action-adventure style combat
Player position, timing, and aim all impact combat, creating a uniquely immersive “explore and engage” experience that goes beyond traditional point-and-click-style MMO games. Keyboard-and-mouse controls or a console gamepad put characters right in the action.
Rich, Lushly Rendered Fantasy World
Six character races, eight classes, thousands of quests, a huge array of weapons and items, hundreds of different monsters, and a deep tradition of history and lore are delivered with stunning graphics and beautifully stylized animations.
All Action, No Faction
Players of the six races comprising the Valkyon Federation join in a common struggle against rampaging monsters, insidious demons, and the horrors of a world torn apart by the gods. Players not only control the action, they dictate the flow of the economy and impact the community environment as part of a player-centric community with unparalleled security and service.
Outspark has openned the teasersite a month agoErebus: Travia Reborn and has updated it with info about the classes of the game. Its upcoming MMO Action-RPG, is a re-imagining of the hit Korean MMO Travia, with a plethora of updates and additions uniquely developed for North American and European audiences. Erebus: Travia Reborn includes updated graphics, an entirely new story, new skills, new maps, village conquering, faction warfare, guild vs guild PvP, and lots more! The beta phase will start at March 17th.
Exclusively, thanks to Outspark, we have 5000 closed beta keys for you. To grab yours, click over the image below.
gPotato Europe has announced today the launch of Resurrection, the next expansion of the free-to-play fantasy MMORPG Rappelz. As the adventure becomes intense and more challenging with the resurrection of the witch and the opening of the new PvP zone, challenging quests and fantastic new creatures, Rappelz is ready for all players who want to join the latest version of this epic combat game.
Enabling PvP combats up to 64 opponents at the same time, the death match zone becomes not only the stage for merciless battles but also an endless source of energy where players can resurrect after their death and thus can fight without any fear.
The new creatures – reminiscent of ancient times – will bring a breath of fresh air to the lands of Rappelz. The White Unicorn, with its endless healing power and fidelity to its master, the Dark Soul with its lava-like flames to scare its enemies, and the Mystic Genie with the power of commanding winds will welcome high level players to the adventure.
But that’s not all. With the launch of Rappelz Resurrection, the gPotato team is also glad to announce the launch of the new Rappelz website. Inspired by the renewed theme of the game, the design of the Rappelz official website is more distinctive than before and will give the community a new ‘home’.
Today is the day of Tales of Fantasy. The official date for the release of the Alpha Test is 8:00pm EST(GMT-5) on March 9th, 2010. Everyone who participates in the Tales of Fantasy alpha test will have a chance to win a fantastic new Apple Ipad which would be delivered to the winners in April!
The Alpha Test will last for eight days. And if you want to grab a key you only need to click over the image below. We have 100 alpha beta test keys waiting for you.
In addition to holding the European publishing rights of King of Kings 3, gamigo has announced that it now holds the North American license for the game. King of Kings 3 is expected to go into Closed Beta testing in the second quarter of 2010.
“As a globally-focused publisher, our aim is to be able to offer our games in all key markets,” says Patrick Streppel, member of gamigo’s executive board. “King of Kings 3 is one of the highlights of our portfolio. The emphasis of the game is on PvP battle and the extensive guild features, such as the building of guild towns and guild warfare, are unparalleled in the realm of free-to-play gaming.”
The game’s developing studio, Lager, and gamigo have been working hard the past year to localise the game for Western markets. The plot of the game has been completely rewritten and the seven fantasy realms are based on medieval powers, giving players from Europe and North America the opportunity to go into battle for their nation. A complete re-balancing reduces grinding and now allows players to reach the highlights of the game, PvP and guild gameplay, more quickly.
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) today announced that its family-friendly online game, Free Realms has surpassed nine million registered players.
“With Free Realms, we’ve been able to reflect the needs and wants of our players by keenly listening to their suggestions and feedback,” said John Smedley, president of SOE. “We believe the persistent exercise of capturing in-game research inside Free Realms has been a huge contributing factor as to why we’ve attracted over nine million players in less than a year. It truly helps us give our players a game where they can do and be whatever they want.”
Continuous development of new features and themed in-game events, as well as persistent marketing support, has drawn a constant influx of new players into the free-to-play virtual world. An example of a customer-requested feature recently introduced in Free Realms is Rides.
NHN Corporation announced today that it has signed a publishing deal on a major new title in development at Polygon Games, known currently under the codename Project E:st. A fantasy MMORPG with an Asian theme, Project E:st will use Crytek’s award-winning CryENGINE®2, and Crytek will be showcasing a trailer of the game at GDC 2010 in San Francisco next week.
“The project name, E:st, was selected to show the commitment between NHN Corporation and Polygon Games to develop the best Asia fantasy game,” says Wook Jeong, Hangame CEO at NHN Corporation. “We believe that the high graphical quality realized with CryENGINE®2, coupled with an immersive storyline, will strongly appeal to gamers.”
NHN is planning to publish Project E:st both in Korea and in overseas territories, including North America and Europe. Project E:st is scheduled to enter closed beta testing in Korea later this year.
Outspark has revealed new information about the classes of its new MMO in development, Erebus: Travia Reborn.
The Warrior
Long before humans discovered magic, they were masters of armed warfare. This rich combat legacy ensures that no other class can dish out or take physical damage like a Warrior. With his superior strength, a Warrior like General Karvion can wield massive two-handed blades and wear the heaviest armor in Travia, but with fewer ranged options, he will need that armor to survive. Veteran Warriors can choose to follow the path of warfare, becoming dreaded Blade Masters, or they can swear service to their god, becoming Paladins.
The Archer
The Elven Archers are unrivaled masters of ranged combat. Elves such as Lady Vestora use their bows and crossbows to pick off targets with deadly accuracy. These defenders of the forest forgo heavy armor, preferring to keep their foes at a distance. Masters of survival, Archers use traps and cunning to keep the battle on favorable terms. As Archers advance through the ranks, they can choose to focus on improving their weapon skills, becoming a Huntress, or they can deepen their bonds with the forest as a Summoner.
The Cleric
When humans were exiled to Travia, many turned to Andara, the Goddess of Light, for guidance and power. Over the years, the devout have deepened their connection to the goddess, gaining the ability to unleash holy magic from afar or heal allies with a touch. Some clerics use mighty staves to smite their foes, while others use cudgels and shields to engage the unrighteous in melee combat. When a Cleric is ready, she can renew her commitment to Andara, ascending to the role of Bishop, or she can turn from the light to Devu, Goddess of Shadows, and become a Necromancer.
The Mage
For a race that only recently discovered magic, humanity has quickly mastered the secrets of the arcane. Now, the Mages of Bitrah are the ultimate damage dealers, with focused spells that can annihilate a single target and magical storms that can devastate foes within a wide area of attack. With this great power comes great risk, for Mages are the most vulnerable of all classes. As Mages grow advanced in their studies,they can rise to the rank of Archmage and specialize in the arts of Fire, Ice or Lightning.
Gamigo AG and Reakktor Media GmbH have officially announced that they will be working together on the highly-anticipated space action MMOG Black Prophecy. gamigo owns the global distribution and publishing rights for the game. The Hamburg-based publisher thus lays the foundation for a new focus on becoming a global publisher and producer of free-to-play Massively Multiplayer Online Games. Black Prophecy is expected go into closed beta testing in April 2010.
Patrick Streppel, member of the gamigo executive board, is enthusiastic about the new game: “Reakktor’s Black Prophecy will breathe life back into a genre previously forgotten. The game features graphics of the highest quality, a rich and meaningful story, and strong community features. Since we’ve begun collaborating with Reakktor, we have expanded greatly upon the concept of the game and thus are able to offer one of the first top-of-the-line free-to-play MMOGs.”
A lot has happened in the development of Black Prophecy in the past few weeks. The biggest change has been the new direction as a free-to-play online game, previously unheard of for a game of this quality. Among other things, a crafting system was added and the layout of the game world was opened up. In-game dialogue will be recorded by professional voice actors. The one-and-a-half hour long orchestral soundtrack provides a rich and varied score of background music.
Kirk Lenke, CEO of Reakktor Media GmbH, said “We are excited to have found such a strong partner in gamigo for the publishing and distribution of our space action MMOG Black Prophecy. gamigo has the necessary skills and abilities to turn our product into a global MMOG blockbuster.”
After the first and successful wave, the second Craft of Gods Open Beta event is approaching! Server will open on Thursday, March 11th 2.30 pm CET, and will remain open until Saturday, March 13th, 2.30 pm CET. If you already have an account you won’t need nothing more than just get ready to play and discover all the new features as soon as the server goes Live.
Here’s what you will be able to experience this time:
-Brand new User Interface.
-New spells to try.
-Major issues solved according to users’ reports and suggestions.
-Level cap set to 20.
(4.74 out of 5)
(4.17 out of 5)