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Star Trek Online: Griefing & Item Restoration

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:28:41 +0000

The latest game master blog at the Star Trek Online site deals with a host of issues that confront both GMs and players. This time, Destra discusses, among other stuff, griefing and restoring items. Check it out!

Griefing

How do we deal with griefing?

Players who are found griefing accrue account penalties in the same form they would if they were found harassing another player. However, it’s not always black and white. We look at a few factors to determine if someone is truly at fault.

First of all, we have to see if the instigation is one-sided. One thing that griefers are always looking for is to elicit a response from the “griefee” (lack for a better term). If the player who is being griefed is freaking out and threatening the griefer, then they are basically encouraging the griefer to continue, and we’re not going to intervene. In order for us to take action against a griefer, the griefee needs to be totally innocent: not insulting the griefer, not making threats to get them banned, etc. If you are asking to be picked on, we can’t take your side.

If we’re going to take action against a griefer, we need to see the following:

The player who reported the griefing has attempted to resolve the issue on their own by responding maturely with a request to stop.

The player who reported the griefing has tried to resolve the issue on their own by using the tools available to them, such as change instance, ignore, etc. (These options are context dependent.)

The player reporting the griefing is not baiting the griefer in chat.

Usually, griefers are only looking for a volatile response from people. If you keep calm about their actions, they usually leave you alone without having to involve a customer service representative. But if someone is really trying to ruin your day, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

EVE Online: Planetary Interaction

admin — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:25:38 +0000

The latest EVE Online developer blog is a great treatise about upcoming changes in the works for the Tyrannis expansion to allow players to have interaction with -all- planets in game. Keep reading!

But before we get into that I would be remiss if I didn’t give a modicum of back story. Interacting with planets is something we’ve always wanted to do. We have even shown a rough prototype of planetary flight at the first FanFest. Well, a lot has changed since that first FanFest but our desire to explore these thousands of worlds has remained unwavering. The EVE universe is such a rich and interesting place it’s been a shame we haven’t been able to immerse ourselves deeper into it. Until today where we are witnessing the first baby steps out of space and into the place where the rest of the inhabitants of the EVE universe live. Steps which will soon be followed all the way to the ground by a link into DUST 514 and inside stations with Incarna. Our final destination being an all encompassing sci-fi simulator where you can experience any sci-fi experience you desire. But I’m getting ahead of myself; we’re here to sing 80s tunes and talk about Planetary Interaction.

A little about what Planetary Interaction is; PI is a feature in which industrial minded pilots can now take advantage of the resources on planets which had previously been laying dormant. To do that one simply opens the planet browser, finds a suitable planet via a scanning interface then plunks down various things we have internally been calling PINs (planetary interaction node), links those PINs together and then configures routes for all of the stuff moving between the PINs. PIN is just a working title and we’ve got our highly trained sci-fi experts on the task of renaming everything so you should expect the name to change by the time they reach Tranquility. Our ultimate goal being to create a nice additional revenue stream for people that’s wrapped up in a sexy UI with lots of sci-fi feeling content that eventually ties in seamlessly with DUST 514.

WAR: Spirit of War Event

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:28:02 +0000

Warhammer Online developers will be running another “Weekend Warfront” event from March 5-8, 2010. This time, the event will take place in the High Pass Cemetery. Grab the details below:

WAAAAGH!!!

We’ve got a whole new reason for your to say TGIF with our second Weekend Warfront: Spirit of WAR! This weekend you and your allies can do battle in the High Pass Cemetery scenario as you crush and humiliate your foes no matter what tier you’re in – and while you probably don’t need any more motivation than that, we’ve made the rewards for participating in High Pass Cemetery that much more…rewarding.

So join us this weekend and every weekend as all 4 tiers get to participate in a different Weekend Warfront each week!

Weekend Warfront: High Pass Cemetery
Start: Friday, March 5th 2010
End: Monday, March 8th 2010

Have fun, and we’ll see you on the battlefield!

EVE Online Alliance Tournament 8 Details

admin — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:26:50 +0000

The details for the EVE Online Alliance Tournament VIII have emerged on the official site. The blog post goes over some of the rules changes since Tournament VII. Read more below:

Along with this blog release comes the latest update to the Alliance Tournament section of the site. Cast your eyes a little bit to the left, and a little bit downwards; almost…almost…there we go! Both the rules and the format sections have been updated, so I’d like to explain some of the thought processes behind these updates.

We have seen quite a bit of evolution in the rules between tournaments five, six and seven, to the point where the rules in seven were praised so much that it kind of left me wondering where to go next. I spoke to a lot of people in-house over various ideas for changes to the way we do things, and we were kind of struggling to make a decision. Our next stop was the CSM, who were firmly of the belief that the rules are fine the way they are and that further evolution of the tournament would occur naturally with balance changes and ship changes in EVE. In the end, this made the decision; we would not completely rewrite the rules for Alliance Tournament VIII. So what did we change?

Well, the first major change is that pilots may only compete on behalf of alliances that they have been members of for a minimum of 60 days before the beginning of the tournament. Much like real life sports events, this creates a ‘transfer window’ and will curtail some of the more undesirable methods of player-switching that sometimes take place in tournament teams. The second major change is that the maximum number allowed of any given ship type has gone up to three, from two. We felt that this limitation was a good thing but maybe a little too strict, and that three would still do the job of stopping complete homogeneity in team setups.

As far as points go, Heavy Assault Cruisers have gone down one point in cost, T1 cruisers drop two points, and faction cruisers go up by a point. These are the usual simple balance changes that will always occur; HACs were too expensive in AT VII, as were cruisers, partly by design as these ships had been so popular before. They should now be in line with other ships in cost vs effectiveness.

TransForce Stable Version Released

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:02:11 +0000

Comet Network, a leading publisher and developer of MMORPGs and social games, today announced the very stable version of TransForce titled RockBot. The big updates have gone live together with brand new features – for the Transformers-themed MMORPG such as Instance Exploration, Dependency System, and Bounty Hunt as well.

With this move, the TransForce team would change its current community software to enhance the gaming community functionality. Furthermore, the folks at Comet Network have rolled out a handful of new features with wildland digging, Personalized Mission System and Expedition quests and the Arena System.
In Feb 8,2010, the TransForce team integrated this most anticipated browser mmorpg to facebook connect, which doubled their existing users and brought TF to more and more global users. While today’s TF gaming enhancement, and big updates are on the way, TransForce is expected to become one of most popular facebook games and browser games.

TransForce is a FREE browser based game that is closely based on the Marvel comic book series and also the Transformers Film. In TransForce, there are two factions–Autobots and Decepticons. Like some mainstream browser-based game, TransForce also requires you to build resource buildings and produce resources like Metal, Crystal, and Matrix. Etc.
Features:
Assemble all alliance members to launch a Joint Attack
Feel free to make Shape-Shifting and Transformations
Make a Free Trading Agreement to trade your resources
Diversified Attacking gameplays: ammunition, armor-piercing, energy, scatter and suicide
Personalized Mission System and Expedition quests
Instance Exploration and Aggressive Tribal War
Bounty Hunt and The Most Wanted System
Player’s Achievement and Whole Server Achievement
Dependency System
Arena System

For more information, check its official website http://tf.playcomet.com/

Erebus: Travia Reborn classes revealed

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:58:45 +0000

As we ramp up to the Erebus: Travia Reborn closed beta, it’s time for some more info on Outspark’s upcoming free-to-play MMO Action-RPG! This week, we take a look at the game’s four starting classes, and their final advancements.

Over at the Erebus teaser site (http://erebus.outspark.com), people waiting for the game can read about Warriors, Archers, Clerics, and Mages. (And if you don’t want to visit the site, YOU can read about them below!)

Expect more updates next week during GDC, especially as we begin inviting press to try both Erebus and one of our other upcoming titles, Divine Soul. If you’re attending GDC and haven’t made an appointment yet – and want to check the games out or interview someone about Outspark in general – just let me know. And if you won’t be at GDC but still want to take a look at the game(s) (via Skype or some other video chat platform) and interview the producers, we can also try to do that!

Cheers!
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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.

G4BOX LAUNCHES DEDICATED SERVER IN EUROPE FOR ITS MILITARY SHOOTER, CROSS FIRE

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:56:25 +0000

G4BOX Inc., a North American publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment media, announced today that hugely popular military shooter, Cross Fire, has launched a dedicated server in Europe. Due to the high demand from European players, G4box has launched the dedicated server to ensure everyone can enjoy a smooth Cross Fire experience. In addition, the company will introduce a new Rival Factions mission related to its Ghost Mode and also host events and the third official Cross Fire tournament. Players can go to http://crossfire.z8games.com to download and play the game.

In celebration of the new server, the month of March will be loaded with events and great prizes for Cross Fire players. The collection of events themed “March of the Ghosts” is in relation to the game’s popular Ghost Mode. The “March of the Ghosts” events will include the Third Official Cross Fire Tournament, a New Rival Factions Mission and a Video & Screenshot contest.

Registration for the tournament begins March 12^th and the competition will start on March 17^th, with 32 teams battling it out for the top spot and great prizes. Matches will be 5 versus 5 with 3 subs per team. (for a total of 8 people).

The New Rival Factions Mission, where players choose to fight for either Global Risk or Black List factions, is expected to start on March 10^th and will take place in one of the Ghost Mode maps. The video and screenshot contests will cap off the Ghost Mode themed events, with submissions being accepted beginning March 19^th.

Cross Fire is a free online military first-person shooter for Windows PCs supporting Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Players assume the role of either a Black List or Global Risk operative and compete in various modes of play including Free-for-All, Team Death Match, the exclusive stealth-action Ghost Mode, and the brand new Mutation Mode. Cross Fire includes a military ranking system, in-game friends lists, an integrated clan system, and deep character customization options. Cross Fire is part of the Z8Games platform of free-to-play games.

Cross Fire is free-to-download-and-play. Visit the Cross Fire homepage at: http://crossfire.z8games.com

For more information about G4BOX visit www.g4box.com. For more information about the Z8Games lineup of free games please visit www.z8games.com.

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About Z8Games

Z8Games is the evolution of free to play gaming online. It’s an online destination for gamers to download the very best online games, including online military shooter, Cross Fire and dynamic-action MMORPG, Metin2, as well as access engaging community features and events; all for free! Visit www.z8games.com today to take part in the evolution of free-to-play gaming online.

About G4BOX INC.

G4BOX INC. is a digital media provider specializing in the publishing and distribution of online video games. The company was founded in 2006 on the principle that online, community-based video games offer unique and compelling gaming experiences with untapped mass market potential and wide social appeal. They currently offer a growing portfolio of successful, massively multiplayer online game properties.

G4BOX is based in Toronto, Canada, where it employs a staff of widely-talented and culturally diverse employees – headed by an experienced and imaginative management team. Their mission is to become a premier content provider in the online gaming market.

For more information about G4BOX and its current product offerings, please visit www.g4box.com.

Black Prophecy: Gamigo to publish the space action MMOG globally!

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:53:48 +0000

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.

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.”

Black Prophecy is expected go into closed beta testing in April 2010.

http://www.blackprophecy.com

‘Darkfall’ Celebrates First Anniversary With Trial, Contest, New Content

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:24:16 +0000

Darkfall Online is a massive multiplayer online (MMO) fantasy role-playing game featuring a fun, fast-paced, real-time combat system, massive battles, clan warfare and empire building.

Darkfall combines role-playing, action, and strategic gameplay. Darkfall has been designed to create intensely realistic and highly immersive combat and a challenging, realistic environment for a more immersive experience. With full collision detection battle lines really matter and well-aimed spell blasts will send opponents flying. Darkfall’s goal is to provide players with a fun and challenging experience through a seamless and zoneless, non-instanced, “sandbox” game world.

Darkfall Celebrates its 1st year Anniversary by kicking off a Darkfall trial, the “I love Darkfall” contest with a $5000 first prize, and new anniversary quests, in-game events, and special offers.

You can now try Darkfall for a week for a symbolic price: 1Euro (EU servers) or $1 (NA Servers).

Mail.Ru to Publish GodsWar Online in Russia

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:39:49 +0000

March 3, 2010 – Moscow – Mail.Ru, the leading provider of online games in Russia and Europe, is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with IGG Inc. to localize, publish and operate GodsWar Online in the Russian-speaking territories.

GodsWar Online is a colorful free to play MMORPG based on Greek mythology and the conflict between two major city-states, Sparta and Athens. Players can join either side, take part in exciting adventures and engage in exhilarating battles against powerful monsters such as Medusa. They can also meet legendary heroes including Heracles, Theseus and Jason, and even Olympian gods.

The game features a robust equipment creation element with extensive enhancement and customization possibilities through the use of special gems. Its deity system allows guilds to gain strength from their devotion to their chosen patron gods. In addition, the client is less than 200 MB, which makes it quick and easy to download, and to start the amazing journey into the world of ancient Greece!

“We are happy to collaborate with such a successful and experienced partner as IGG Inc.,” said Vsevolod Leonov, Vice President of International Business Development at Mail.Ru. “We hope the launch of GodsWar Online in Russia will be just the first instance of mutually beneficial cooperation between our two companies.”

“We are very excited about our new partnership. We are sure that Mail.Ru’s experience operating more than 30 MMO games as well as www.mail.ru , the number one Russian Internet portal, will make our cooperation a success,” stated Kevin Xu, Chief Operating Officer of IGG.

About Mail.Ru
Mail.Ru is the foremost Russian Internet portal, serving the entertainment and communication needs of the global Russian-speaking community with a comprehensive array of more than 40 services including the largest Russian free e-mail service, instant messenger Mail.Ru Agent, national social network My Mir@Mail.Ru, and search engine Poisk@Mail.Ru.

With over 50 percent market share and more than 40 titles to satisfy a full range of individual preferences, Mail.Ru is also the leading Russian online gaming publisher. Its portfolio includes internally developed hits like Allods Online and Legend: Legacy of the Dragons as well as successful international licenses such as Perfect World II, Lord of the Rings Online, Silkroad Online, ZX Online, Cross Fire and ZT Online. Additional information is available at www.mail.ru .

About IGG Inc.
Established in 2005 with headquarters in the historic city of Fuzhou, IGG is a rapidly growing digital interactive entertainment provider primarily focused on developing, publishing and operating MMORPGs and social games in the international market. The company’s extensive, diverse and rapidly expanding portfolio appeals to a wide audience with over a dozen current titles such as GodsWar Online, Galaxy Online, Dreamland Online, Freesky Online, 2029 Online and Wonderland Online. This assortment has proven very popular, attracting a community of more than 20 million registered users. Additional information is available at www.igg.com .