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BOI Titan Update

Zaruko — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:12:57 +0000

Last month Perfect World Entertainment unveiled the Titan Update for Battle of the Immortals and announced it would be coming in July, it’s not here yet but new details have been trickling out about the Titan himself, Kronos. Dubbed Titans’ Throne, this instance can be run once a day and will require a party of at least three level 115 players, but don’t expect to face Kronos right out of the gate, in order to even challenge this 100 foot tall giant you’ll have to get through hordes of his elite monsters as well as three major bosses. Tough challenges bring great rewards, if you manage to defeat Kronos and his army you’ll have a chance at new Soul Gears, Titan’s Jewel, new high level accessories and Throne’s Wish which can be exchanged for the artifact: Thunder.

The Titan Update also brings two new maps, The Giant Kingdom and Black Dragon Lair, new pets to tame, new Soul Gears and the new Primal Soul Gears. Players will also now be able to meld Generation Three Pets along with a couple new game features.

Stay tuned for more details, in the mean time check out our BOI page.

Tibia gets a Major Update

Zaruko — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:35:08 +0000

Update 9.1, Dubbed “Summer Update 2011” has gone live. Along with new Quests, Mounts and Monsters, players will now be able to participate in World Quests which will require multiple Tibia players to complete and offer world changing consequences depending on how you complete them.

Here’s an example of the World changing:

Some more screenshots:

For more information visit Tibia Online and don’t forget to rate Tibia here

Prius Online Goes Global

Zaruko — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:53:17 +0000

Prius Online announced today it would be expanding globally, allowing players around the world to join in on Prius Online’s Open Beta. Along with this announcement comes details about July’s content update, the update will include new dungeons, quests and difficulty tweaks. Five new dungeons have already gone live, the rest is to follow later this month. Here’s the announcement of Prius Online going Global:

Today we are very happy to announce that we are able to drastically increase our coverage!

After an overwhelming amount of outrage from the community, the Developer of Prius has responded to our pleas. They have given us permission to lift the IP Block on a global scale! Of course regions that already have their own versions, or their own versions in development will still be excluded, but this will drastically increase the number of countries that can access Prius through Gpotato.

At this point it is now easier to list the countries that we will not be able to provide coverage to, these include:

Russia (soon to be receiving their own version of Prius)
Japan (already has a native version)
Taiwan (already has a native version)
China
Thailand (already has a native version)

The new IP Block will go into effect today! We will be sending out a more detailed Email to everyone regarding this great news over the weekend.

We look forward to playing with you all on a global scale!

For more information about the content update visit this site.

Age of Conan Unchained Now Live, Details and New Content

Zaruko — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 16:32:01 +0000

Age of Conan Unchained went live today, turning the game into a Free-to-Play hybrid after 3 years of being a Pay-to-Play only MMO. Like all hybrid MMOs free players have restrictions, here’s a run down of them:

Along with the new payment model, Unchained brings new content in the form of Update 2.6 which includes a ton of bug fixes and balancing tweaks along with 2 new solo Instances “The Breach” and “The Forgotten City”. Full patch notes here.

For more information or to sign up and play go here.

Rusty Hearts Closed Beta Launch Date Announced

Zaruko — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:15:46 +0000

Perfect World Entertainment announced in a blog post that Rusty Hearts Closed Beta will be launching July 27th. Rusty Hearts is a cel-shaded hack n slash MMORPG developed by Stairway Games. Here’s the blog post:

Great news! The closed beta launch date for Rusty Hearts has officially been announced!

Mark your calendars for July 27th, because on that day you will be able to download Rusty Hearts and start playing immediately (that is, if you have a beta key of course. Still need one? Click the Join Closed Beta button at the top of this page).

We have a ton of news on the way including on exactly how and where to download the game, what you can expect in the closed beta, and a few things you may not yet know about the world of Rusty Hearts, so keep an eye on your inbox.

Thanks, everyone, and we’ll see you on July 27th!

Source

Age of Conan goes Free and Unrated

Zaruko — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:42:11 +0000

About a month ago now Funcom announced Age of Conan was going free-to-play almost exactly 3 years after it’s release in 2008, dubbed Age of Conan Unchained, this edition marks the addition of a Free-to-Play model added along side the existing Pay-to-Play experience, it also aims to reaffirm it’s place as the sexiest and most savage MMO to date by going completely Unrated. Here’s the official press release:

Durham, USA – May 25th, 2011 – Funcom is excited to announce that the award-winning and critically acclaimed massively multiplayer online game ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’ will receive a digital re-launch this summer under the new name ‘Age of Conan: Unrated’. As well as reaffirming its position as the sexiest and most savage MMO in the world, ‘Age of Conan: Unrated’ will also feature a hybrid business model allowing anyone to freely roam the vast lands of Hyboria either as free players or premium subscribers with access to extra content.

“With over 1.4 million copies sold, glowing reviews for both the core game as well as the expansion, and a healthy player base ever since launch in 2008, there is no doubt that ‘Age of Conan’ has been a true success story for Funcom,” says SVP of Sales & Marketing Morten Larssen. “Now we turn to another chapter in this story as we thrust ‘Age of Conan: Unrated’ into the world of free-to-play games, a gaming space that is becoming rapidly more popular and profitable across the board.”

The new business model will give players the opportunity to choose whether they want to play for free or become premium subscribers, and Funcom is also introducing an in-game store to the game where both free players and premium subscribers can purchase exclusive content such as weaponry and mounts. For a full overview of what differs from the free and premium offerings, please view the Frequently Asked Questions now available on ‘Age of Conan’ community website.

‘Age of Conan’ has always been a Mature gaming experience, but going Unrated gives the development team freedom to stay even more true to the original works of Conan author Robert E. Howard, and use even more of the barbaric, brutal and sexy setting that is Howard’s Hyboria. Funcom is already in the process of developing new locations, monsters, equipment and storylines for ‘Age of Conan: Unrated’. This includes the movie tie-in adventure pack announced yesterday, that will introduce content and characters from the upcoming ‘Conan the Barbarian’ movie.

“Everyone on the team is excited about opening up our world to an even larger audience,” says Creative Director and Executive Producer Craig Morrison. “The online world of Hyboria is constantly expanding as we continue to introduce new gameplay features and new content, and we truly believe that ‘Age of Conan: Unrated’ will offer something truly new and unique to both new players and to those have already experienced the brutal online world of Conan the Barbarian.”

Launching in May 2008 ‘Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures’ quickly became a smash hit in retail, shipping over 1.4 million copies around the world. In the weeks after launch ‘Age of Conan’ simultaneously topped the charts in 17 countries, and the game received critical acclaim from gaming press across the globe. ‘Age of Conan’ is now available in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian and Polish localized versions, and has also launched in Korea.

At this point you may be wondering why we are posting an article from May well… in a surprising move, today June 30, 2011 Age of Conan’s servers and website where taken down… no they weren’t hacked, they have been taken down to prepare for the launch of Age of Conan Unchained tomorrow July 1st. While the website is down you can still register for an account here.

World of Warcraft Now Free to Level 20

Zaruko — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:44:44 +0000

Blizzard has just announced it has replaced it’s 14-day free trial with World of Warcraft Starter Edition which will allow everyone to play for free up to level 20, after which you can upgrade to a paid account without losing any progress. The Starter Edition is quite limited, besides to the level cap you also have the following restrictions:

A level cap of 20.
A maximum of 10 gold.
Trade skills are capped at 100 ranks.
Unable to trade via the Auction House, mailbox, or player-to-player.
In-game access to public chat channels unavailable. Players are limited to communicating using only say, party, or whisper.
Characters will be unable to create or join guilds.
Characters are not able to send whispers to other characters unless they have been added to the characters’ friends lists or have received a whisper from a character first.
Characters will not be able to invite other players into a party.
Characters will not be able to join parties with other characters above level 20.
Voice chat disabled on Starter Edition accounts.
Realms experiencing login queues will prioritize players who have full, paid accounts.
Starter Edition accounts are not eligible for character transfers
RealID features are disabled on all Starter Edition Accounts.

While these restrictions are understandable, it would be nice to see them trimmed down a little, so you can experience more of what the game has to offer. Expired trial account are being reactivated so assuming you didn’t reach level 20, remember your username and never upgrade to a paid account you can go back and use that.

Blizzard isn’t the first to adopt this model but you gotta wonder if this is a sign WoW is starting to struggle under the on-slot of good Free to Play titles or if this is a test case for moving WoW to a hybrid model in the next couple years. I guess time will tell. For more information regarding World of Warcraft Starter Edition click here.

What do you guys think of this new model vs the old 14-day model?

NcSoft Announces City of Heroes Freedom, Free-to-Play

Zaruko — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:04:43 +0000

City of Heroes Freedom is more than just a new name for City of Heroes, it’s a whole new direction. Launching later this year City of Heroes Freedom will bring with it new content and a new hybrid Free-to-Play model allowing everyone to play for free. As “hybrid model” suggests City of Heroes will retain it’s Pay-to-Play model for those who want it, current subscribers will be automatically upgrade to the new VIP accounts when Freedom launches. Starting July, 1 subscribers also get 400 Paragon Points each month to spend in the new Paragon Market (Item Mall) launching with Freedom later in the year. Here’s the official press release:

BRIGHTON, UK - 21^st June, 2011 - NCsoft® and Paragon Studios ™ are excited to announce that the world’s top comic book inspired Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) game is putting the power of choice into players’ hands by making the City of Heroes® franchise available to everyone. Arriving later this year, City of Heroes Freedom™ is a compelling new way for Paragon Studios to deliver more content to more players than ever before.

“Freedom is about getting more content into the hands of our players, whether they are subscribing or playing for free”, said Brian Clayton, Executive Producer at Paragon Studios. “To do this, we’ve looked at City of Heroes from the ground up and focused on three ways to enhance the experience by giving our players more choices, greater rewards and the bestcontent we’ve ever produced. And for the first time ever, players can choose to enjoy more than seven years of content for free.”

Choice
Freedom means that everyone can customise their experience - those who wish to play an unparalleled amount of content for free can do so, while those who wish to enjoy a premium experience can do so as well. Players who want to enjoy the unrivalled free experience will be able to fight and fly their way to level 50 with full access to Hero and Villain zones, choosing the specific pieces of content they want. Players that decide to subscribe will enjoy all current subscriber benefits as well as new VIP exclusive benefits, content and services.

Rewards
City of Heroes Freedom will reward its loyal players through a value-packed Paragon Rewards program that provides bonus content tailored to each player’s preferences. Ranging from powers and costume sets, to unique visual effects and consumables, these all-new items are rewarded monthly and chosen by the player.

Additionally, starting July 1^st, current subscribers will begin accumulating 400 Paragon Points every month up until launch, giving loyal customers unprecedented rewards and options when City of Heroes Freedom arrives. These points can be used to purchase hundreds of costumes, items, services and consumables available via the in-game Paragon Market (co-developed by online transaction leaders, PlaySpan) and will be available to use on the first day of launch.

Content
The City of Heroes franchise is already packed with unequalled content and features, with 20 free expansions, more than 1,600 missions and 375,000 user-generated missions. Now with Freedom, Paragon is delivering more content, more often and spearheading this charge is Issue 21: Convergence. Issue 21, which launches alongside Freedom, is packed with some of the highest-quality content yet including First Ward - a dynamic new co-op zone that is gripped in conflict - as well as a new Power Set, the highly-anticipated Underground Incarnate Trial and two full costume sets. Along with a completely new starting experience and a greatly enhanced character creator, Issue 21 offers content for new, returning and veteran players.

In addition to more Issues delivered more frequently, players can look forward to unique content such as monthly Signature Story Arcs (free for VIP Players) that will empower players to make a difference in the City of Heroes universe by fighting alongside iconic heroes and villains as the story unfolds.

Freedom is the Future
“After an unforgettable seven years, the City of Heroes franchise remains the world’s most popular super-powered MMO, and we’re excited to continue that momentum with Freedom,” said Clayton. “Through City of Heroes Freedom, we will be delivering more content to players than ever before, while continuing to expand the ever-evolving City of Heroes storyline and legacy.”

City of Heroes Freedom and Issue 21: Convergence will be launching simultaneously later this year and players can get their first experience with the game at San Diego Comic Con. New and existing fans are encouraged to stay tuned to the City of Heroes website for more information about Paragon Rewards, Issue 21, and more.

For more information including a FAQ regarding City of Heroes Freedom visit cityofheroes.com/freedom

LEGO Universe Online to Launch a Free-to-Play Version

Zaruko — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:48:11 +0000

Less than one year after it’s launch in 2010, The Lego Group and Warner Bros. Interactive announced today that a Free-to-Play version of the game will be launching this August as a compliment to it’s current Pay-to-Play model. The Free-to-Play version will be more like a demo than a full fledged Free-to-Play revamp as no micro-transactions are planned and free players will be limited to two zones. Here’s the official press release:

June 21, 2011 –The LEGO Group today announced plans for an upcoming free-to-play offering in LEGO® Universe, the MMOG (massively-multiplayer online game) based on the iconic brick-building play experience. Beginning this August, the free-to-play option will welcome players to try LEGO Universe for free, as long as they like, before deciding whether or not to become paid members. Also, players will no longer need to invest in the game DVD to play LEGO Universe. The game will be available via free digital download only.

“The LEGO Group remains committed to success in the digital space and to LEGO Universe,” said Jesper Vilstrup, Vice President, the LEGO Group. “We see LEGO Universe as a key element for our digital play division, and are adjusting the business model to make the game more accessible to players, without the immediate obligation to purchase or subscribe.”

LEGO Universe will continue to generate revenue through paid memberships, and there are no plans for micro-transactions at this time. Players can try out the free-to-play zone for an unlimited period of time, and can pay $10 (USD) per month to become a LEGO Universe member and receive full game access. Those who sign up for extended memberships will continue to receive discount pricing.

The LEGO Universe free-to-play experience will offer a limited selection of game content, including two adventure zones and one player property area for building their own virtual LEGO models. Paying members will have access to all areas in the full game, along with membership benefits such as competitions and community events. In addition to the 15+ robust adventure zones and instances as well as 5+ property worlds currently in-game, access to new expansions, like major Ninjago content coming later this year, will require players to register for full membership.

Aside from simplified registration and game access for consumers, digital distribution will also enable LEGO Universe to expand more efficiently. The MMOG has new updates, features, challenges and rewards – more than any box could handle - planned for Q4 2011 and beyond!

Following official launch in October 2010, thousands of players have entered the vibrant virtual world of LEGO Universe. The development team has released numerous content updates, new gameplay features and enhancements, and the community has been bustling with events, contests, and incredible user-generated content from creative players across the globe. Now is the time for players to gear up for the free-to-play launch coming in August, and see just how far they can stretch their imaginations in LEGO Universe at www.LEGOuniverse.com.

Stay tuned!

Perfect World Co. Announces Blacklight Retribution

Zaruko — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:55:57 +0000

It’s been known for a while now that Zombie Inc. has been working on Blacklight Retribution, the squeal to Blacklight: Tango Down made in 2010. It’s also been known that the game will be running on Unreal Engine 3 and will feature a Free-To-Play business model. Two key question remained unanswered, who is the publisher and when should we expect to see the game released. E3 2011 shed some light on both questions, Perfect World Co. not only announced it would be publishing Blacklight Retribution; the game will enter Beta Fall 2011. Here’s the official press release:

June 3, 2011 - Foster City, Calif. - Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a wholly owned US subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), announced today its partnership with Zombie Studios to publish its next-generation, adrenaline-pumping first person shooter (FPS) Blacklight™ Retribution.

A sequel to Zombie Studio’s Tango Down, Blacklight Retribution will be shown for the first time at this year’s E3 (June 7 - 9) in the West Hall, Booth #5322 for a behind-closed doors first hands-on to select media.

“Blacklight Retribution will be the first FPS in Perfect World Entertainment’s diverse portfolio of online games and highlights our commitment to providing players with new and unique online gaming experiences,” said Alan Chen, CEO of Perfect World Entertainment Inc. “With Zombie Studio’s vast experience in developing high-quality first person shooters, we look forward to working closely with them to bring this free-to-play online experience to PC gamers everywhere.”

“We’ve wanted to develop a high quality and yet free-to-play first person shooter for years, which is why we’re excited to be teaming up with Perfect World, an online-game developer and operator with more than eight years of experience in the free-to-play space,” said Mark Long, co-CEO of Zombie Studios Inc. “We know how to make thrilling first person shooters and Perfect World have vast experience in publishing various games in different markets. With this alliance of expertise, PC gamers can look forward to a high quality first person shooter that is available for everyone to play.”

Blacklight Retribution will set the new standard for free-to-play shooters, by fully leveraging Unreal 3 technology and implementing DirectX 11 to give gamers cutting-edge graphics that will blow away expectations as well as minds.

For more information on Blacklight Retribution, E3 attendees can stop by Perfect World Entertainment’s booth (#5322), located in the West Hall.

For an exclusive hands-on demo behind closed doors, please contact Jason Varden at jason.varden@perfectworld.com or +1 (650) 590-7728 for an appointment.

About Perfect World Entertainment Inc.

Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), primarily publishes online games and provides online services in North America. Aiming to provide the best game services to North American players with the highest level of commitment in localization, quality assurance, and user-friendly publishing infrastructure, Perfect World Entertainment has achieved great success and published a number of MMORPGs, including “Perfect World International”, “Forsaken World”, “Battle of the Immortals”, “Jade Dynasty”, “Legend of Martial Arts” ,”Heroes of Three Kingdoms,” and “Ether Saga Odyssey”, and a single-player action-RPG “Torchlight.”

About Zombie Studios Inc.

Seattle based Zombie Studios is a leading independent developer of PC, Xbox and PS3 titles across multiple third party engines including Unreal and Unity. Zombie has been an independent developer for 17 years with development focus on everything from military simulation and serious games to hand held development, to retail quality Xbox360 and PC games. Zombie is also focused on developing properties for use in graphic novels and movies. For more information on Zombie, visit www.zombie.com

Perfect World is well known as one of the top Free-To-Play Companies in the world, they own and operate over 15 games world wide but Blacklight Retribution marks Perfect World’s first steps into the First Person Shooter genre after seven years of almost exclusively working in the Action and RPG genres. It’ll be interesting to see how it turns out.