Sometimes playing games takes too much of our time and we tend to forget other things such as work or hanging out with our friends. Computer addicts, forgive the term but there is no other word which best describes some of us. Enthusiasts, now that’s a nice term but I guess it’s a word that best describes stamp collectors or those who collect things.

Playing computer games certainly takes some amount of dedication, with countless hours spent finishing quests or missions. This is especially true for the millions of MMORPG enthusiasts as these feature unlimited game play with generally no real ending in sight.

It wasn’t quite long ago when I remember myself spending hours upon hours just playing my favorite MMORPG with my friends. But the reality is that things never stay the same. Life goes on and it seems most of us might have moved to making a living and spending most of our time at work and away from our desktops.

The gaming industry seems to be moving in the direction of producing games which could be finished in a matter of hours. Maybe this is in response to gamers who have moved on to jobs and have lesser free time on their hands. I still remember the days when it took me days and even weeks just to finish a game. Popular games which come to mind are Diablo and the Final Fantasy series of games.

But the move toward short games is not only a response to shorter game times. One of the reasons why some developers are churning smaller games because gaming has become so popular that they have even reached the realm of our cellphones. It wouldn’t be surprising to find out that we would see someone beside us playing an RPG game over their iPhone.

Finishing a game to its conclusion certainly makes playing a game worthwhile. I wouldn’t mind spending 20 hours on a game as long it has a definite conclusion. I wouldn’t mind spending a few dollars to purchase a 10 hour game just as long as the title is worth its price.

The world of Dragonica is enormous, with various maps to explore. Unlike typical MMORPGs however, Dragonica’s realm is presented in a side scrolling 3D world. Side-scroller? think of Super Mario Brothers or Maple Story. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this game is visually unappealing; the world is beautifully rendered in a fresh 3D perspective that would give the latest MMORPGs a run for their money.

Fans of Maple Story would have a blast with this game. The all too familiar side scrolling game play makes it easier to navigate and the 3D graphics only enhances the gaming experience. Another thing that sets it apart from traditional MMORPGs is that it also has an arcade style game play feeling into it. All the elements of a basic RPG game are there, quests, experience, character building and grinding. But what differentiates it from traditional RPGs are combos which could have been taken out of the page of an arcade style game more than RPGs.

Dragonica Online comes with a great mix of quests and missions which are ample for satisfying your leveling needs. For fans of grinding, there world is huge enough for players to find their own special spot to scratch their special itch.

Game Controls

Dragonica Online has an easy to use interface and the mouse and keyboard works seamlessly in pointing your character into any direction you choose. Executing a skill or combo is easy with a simple wave of a mouse or tap of the keyboard. One unique feature in the game is it is 100 percent compatible with gamepads giving another dimension to game play. Imagine those days playing Final Fantasy on your old Playstation One console? With the addition of a gamepad, Dragonica online comes into its own giving players a different yet all too familiar feeling of gaming experience.

With the introduction of the gamepad into the game, this makes the game controls more personalized and a whole lot easier. Buttons on the gamepad could be customized for every move enabling players to deliver more accurate combos into play.

Features

Other features include a messaging system which allows players to communicate with friends and acquaintances in the game. This could come handy in establishing parties and dungeon raids making coordinating your actions with the team a lot smoother. Parties are limited to four characters but the game also includes the option of establishing a guild.

Guild battles are supported which makes the gaming experience more interesting. Other quirks in the game include a unique dating system that helps you establish relationships beyond the bounds of simple friendship. Click on the couple’s button and a list of all prospective partners are shown instantly. For those who frown upon the companionship of others, the game also gives you the option of choosing a pet. These are not merely for cosmetic purposes as taking care of your pets awards you additional stat points as well.

Fans of first person shooters will get a kick out of this latest shooting title. With a smoother game engine and eye popping graphics, players will surely have a nice time shooting their way into the game. Armed with bots for practice or just get your juices going, KOS is one shooter that promises players a different gaming perspective.

You start off the game choosing among three character types, Sharpshooter, Battle Rush and Counter-Attack. Battle Rushers specialize in assaults with submachine guns and machine guns as their weapon of choice. Their strength lies in their ability to speed thru alleys and deliver a huge volley of bullets to their enemies.

Discipline is the name of the game for the Counter-Attack class. These highly trained soldiers are skilled in medium and close ranged combat. Years of training have helped these soldier’s master rifles and close quarter combat.

Sharpshooters, these soldiers are excellent in raining down pain from great distances. Silent assassins of the game, they are masters of concealment and stealth and are virtually impossible to detect. Armed with a decent sniper rifle, these soldiers form the backbone of any assault team.

After choosing your character you are now ushered to the battlefield. Starting out the game is done thru the Game room where you choose a room you will be joining. You also have the option of creating the game and choosing the rules of the battlefield. Options include time limit, item restrictions, game mode, maximum players and game mode.

Game Modes

• Team Deathmatch. Score the most kills in the game and you come on top of the heap. A time limit is set for each game and the player with the most number of kills wins the round.
• Bomb Mode. One team is assigned with protecting a bombsite and the other goes to plant the bomb at all costs. The game ends with a team successfully planting the bomb or the other killing all team members of the opposing side.
• Bot Play. An added feature in this game is the player’s ability to bring bots into the mix. This makes it an even playing field when one team lacks a player or two.

If you’re one of the thousands of players just starting out the adventure in the world of Runes of Magic, a simple guide on leveling could mean deducting a couple of hours of aimless wandering. A huge chunk of a MMORPG player’s game is made up of hours upon hours of grinding. One of the major milestones in the game is when a player reaches level 10. A cool feature in the game is the ability to switch characters. But this could only be done when a player reaches level 10 and the new class becomes available.

There are two options available after you create a character, you could immediately start the game or play the tutorial mode. If you’re new to the game it would be a good idea to get your feet wet first before totally immersing yourself in the game. One of the reasons why players seem to be stumbling when they start out during the early part of any game is when they decide to go gung ho and start the adventure on their own.

Players who decide to skip the tutorial don’t only miss simple salient points in the game but miss out on some items too. Players who opt for the tutorial receive the “Roping’s Blessing” item which gives a one day increase to all attributes. This is item is given by Roping, the first NPC a player meets during tutorial mode. You are immediately sent on a simple quest to kill some troublesome spiders.

Players need not worry about getting licked by the spiders, along with the quest; Roping will be sending some creatures to aid you along the way. It is also here where you encounter your first boss, Raven the king spider.

After finishing this task, go back to Roping and she will award you with the Roping’s Blessing item. Along with the special item, she will also be giving you a Supply kit and horse which could help you as you set out for Pioneer’s colony.

Pioneer Colony

After setting forth from the tutorial mode, players finally reach the outskirts of Pioneer Colony. Look for Laif Cindai, you will be receiving a quest. You will then be asked to proceed to Leighton at Pioneer Colony. Report to him and you will be instantly rewarded Level 2 status.

A series of quests is given which awards you items that will be useful in equipping you on future adventures. Return to Leighton and he will give you a simple quest asking you to talk to the merchants. Locate the merchants and talk to them, this doesn’t require a lot of searching as the merchants are locate beside each other. After talking to the merchants report to Leighton and receive your first fighting quest.

This quest from Leighton will require you fight some of the fungi roaming around the colony’s outskirts. Talk to Leighton once you’re finished collecting the required mushroom items. A quick glance on your level meter would show you’ve reached a healthy level 3.

Leighton then points you to Port, where he teaches you the finer points of using the runes which you gather as you play. Go to your item bag and open the Pioneer Gift to reveal a slotted belt, potions and an earring that increases defense points. Port will also be giving you an endurance rune and simple cloth armor. Report to Port and you will then be awarded with more experience points.

Don’t be fooled by the game’s side scrolling format, its 3D engine gives more freedom in terms of movement. Previous side scrolling games like Maple Story were visually stunning but Dragonica Online does not only reproduce the feel but hikes the ante a little bit more.

The Story

Years after the end of Dragon War, the human and dragons lived in relative peace in different worlds. However Elga, an evil Dragon took claim of the empire and pledged to renew the war with the humans. Five human heroes rose from the ranks of humans to lead the army and defeat the forces of Elga. The evil dragon was imprisoned and peace ruled the lands. A dark enchantress Paris freed the evil dragon Elga from his imprisonment. Thus the world again was plunged into darkness and the call was sent for human warriors to rise again.

Characters

One downside with the game was the number of characters available in the game. Currently the game only has four characters to choose from.

Archers

Masters of the bow, these characters rain arrows from great distances to deal incalculable damage. Dexterity and agility are the name of the game. Physically blessed with speed, archers are able to dodge attacks with ease. Archers are able to hit targets at long distances due to their high level of accuracy.

Drawbacks with archers are their inability to damage multiple targets with their attacks. Splash damage is limited and is weak in close range combat. Archers evolve into Hunters and Rangers, Hunters utilize nature for their attacks while Rangers boasts longer ranged attacks.

Thief

Thieves are masters of close ranged combat. This is reflected in their choice of weapons. Claws are the thief’s arsenal of preference, delivering blinding attacks to even the fastest of opponents. Mages and Archers masters of long ranged combat would surely fall in a close encounter with this character. Thieves go on to be Jesters and Acrobats.

Mages

These characters specialize in dealing damage to multiple enemies. Weak body composition is any Mages weak point. These characters are known for dishing out the biggest amount of damage among all characters. However, any Mage who find themselves standing too close to an enemy would see their chances of survival diminish.

Warriors

Tankers of any MMORPG, warriors constitute the anchors that hold any war party. Solid as a rock, this character is able to absorb large amounts of damage and can leave an opponent who is unfortunate enough to find themselves closer than needed fighting for their lives. They carry the heaviest and sturdiest of all armors giving them an added aura of invincibility.

Premium Items

Training Relic. A scroll that allows an additional 20 percent experience points, the effect stays even after regeneration.

Teleportation Scroll. It allows instant transfer of a character. However, it can’t be used during battles.

Inventory Extension. The item permanently increases a characters slot inventory by 1. Great for those long hours of grinding where another slot could mean a trip back to town.

Enchant Protect Scroll (1-39). This scroll prevents items level 1 to 39 from breaking, even when the item fails to upgrade. This could only be applied for item upgrades from 1 – 7.

Enchant Protect Scroll (40-79). A scroll that prevents items level 40 to 79 from breaking. This allows the item to be upgraded without the danger of breaking.

Remote Warehouse. For fans of hunting and grinding, this item allows you to have instant access to your warehouse from anywhere in the game.

Spriggan Set: Item bonuses

· Chaos Warblade

Physical Attack Power 103

Str +15 Physical Hit Rate +15

Vit +15 Movement Speed +100

· Prismatic Bow

Physical Attack Power 114

Dex + 15 MP recovery +15

Evasion +15 Critical Rate +15

· Bone Crusher

Physical Attack Power 78

Vit +15 Physical defense 54

MP +100 HP recovery +15

· Spirit Staff

Magical Attack Power 76

Int +15 Attack Power +15%

Movement +100 MP recovery +15

· Blood Kunai

Physical Attack Power 76

MP recovery +15 Evasion +15

Critical Rate +100 Critical Damage +15%

Dekaron Online is a typical MMORPG which uses standard gaming principles such as parties, clans, PVPs and quests in its gameplay. The games atmosphere is quite dreary with settings which could only be described as gloomy. This sets the stage of a darker gaming experience as players attempt to contain the evil known as Karon.

One drawback with the game is the lack of character customization. Though it would certainly be disturbing to see that almost everybody looks exactly like you. Overall the game had great graphics and decent gameplay which somewhat compensated the lack of depth in character customization options.

The Story

Karon has awakened and the demon lord with his horde of monsters is out to dominate the world. Trapped for eons, Kalizio the wise released the demon from his deep sleep. Possessing a great evil power, no one not even Kalizio was able to contain this evil. In an attempt to banish the demon, Kalizio sacrificed his life to seal the demon. But the damage has been done and the evil Karon now aware of the existence of Trieste is bent on returning and ruling this world.

There are no races in Dekaron Online only classes which define a characters skills and abilities.

• Azure Knights. Masters of close quarter combat, Knights are known for their melee skills and strength. They are also capable of sustaining large amounts of damage with their high HP and possess better than average healing times.

• Incar Magicians. These are the venerable guardians of the Gaia Empire. They have the power over the elements and use this in summoning spells that deals great amounts of damage over their rivals.

• Bagi Warriors. Brute warriors blessed with incredible strength and resilient bodies that easily heal.

• Sagita Hunters. Armed with bows and eagle eyes, Sagita Hunters could unleash damage at longer ranges, raining down streams of arrows on monsters and opponents alike.

• Vicious Summoners. This class uses the dark force to summon monsters and enlist their aid in fighting Karon and his monsters.

• Segnales. These characters combine deadly whip attacks with magical spells to unleash damage. Equally adept in fighting and healing. Segnales are also healers similar to priests found in other MMORPGs.

Operation 7 offers gamers and fans of online shooting games a more realistic and a more flexible option customizing their guns and equipments. Unlike other online shooting games, damage depends on what body part is hit. This makes headshots sure kills and arm shots less deadly.

This enables players with just an ounce of hit points to eliminate their opponents with well placed shots. Another unique feature in the game is the peek system which allows players to look at corners without exposing themselves.

One of the game’s strong points is the great deal of gun customization. Tweaking your gun has a direct effect on weapon damage, making your gun entirely different from the next guy in the room. Some gun tweaks include changing crosshairs, scopes, silencers, gun bodies, knobs and barrels.

Biting De_dust

This map has been etched in the mind of many a counterstrike player. De_dust, a map set in the desert, continues to be the most popular maps even after more than a decade. It has a simple layout but also allows a lot of team strategy to win. OP 7 offers players a new map called Dust which just doesn’t sound like its map counterpart at counterstrike but also brings the same feel into the game.

Features

Item Looting

Yes you heard it right, go over your enemy’s body after a kill to get important equipments like HP/ SP items, primary and secondary ammunition.

Aim Focusing

Make you shots count by enabling sniper mode, press the ctrl key or sprint key to stop your breath allowing for a steadier aim. SP is used when this ability is used.

Sprinting

Rush to a prime spot to stalk your opponents and get a better vantage point. Old shooting games like counterstrike also allow you this ability but OP 7 makes it more realistic by throwing in stamina points in the mix.

Radar Maps

If you’re tired of spending minutes looking for enemies, the game has a unique feature which allows players to locate enemies by pressing the “M” key. Players on the map are displayed when they fire their weapons.

Lock and Load

With over a thousand gun combinations, players will have no problems looking for the right combination. Each tweak corresponds to a change in the gun’s characteristics:

Mobility. Lighter gun weights mean faster movements. These lightweight weight guns are ideal for close range combats, allowing players to shoot around corners faster.

Range. This should be paired with accuracy, great for sniping and long range combat.

Accuracy. Hit targets from longer standpoints, this also allows players with submachine guns to hit their targets more accurately and not just spend their bullets aimlessly.

Control. Lesser gun recoils, excellent for SMGs and assault rifles. Stabilizes your crosshair and improves accuracy.

Reload. Shorter reload times means a rapid rate of fire could be sustained by limiting the time needed for strapping on the ammunition.

Gearing up

The game allows a small degree of flexibility in customizing a player’s gear. Special Forces, Swat and ACU uniforms are available for players who want to flex their military fantasies. If you’re leaning toward a laid back look, a touch of hip hop and reggae looking getups are available. Other uniforms available are Camos or BDUs that blend with the environment.

Ragnarok Online is truly one of the most popular and best known MMORPGs to come out of Korea. Its huge success has been responsible for the huge influx of MMOs from Asian shores into the US. Launched in 2001, the game continuous to captivate players from all parts of the world. Originally launched as a fee based game service; Korean developers has since offered this game for free thru special servers.

There really were no significant changes made on the game since its initial offering with upgrades coming in the way of patches. The games storyline and simple controls has made it a huge success among MMO gamers. Almost a decade after its initial release the game still continues to attract hardcore gamers and noobs alike.

The games graphics are certainly not as eye-pooping compared with what we see in newer MMORPGs today. The game shows its age with its 2D graphics, but for some players the games simpler graphics and interface makes it a lot easier on the eyes. The games environments were certainly groundbreaking during its day but the lack of details and sprites make them look “block like” by today’s standards. There is also not much in terms of detail even on the monsters. Sometimes simple changes in color or size are all that distinguishes them from each another.

One of the things which make Ragnarok Online standout from its early competition was the game’s great soundtrack. The music complimented every change in the environment and sets the games overall mood. But the games soundtracks were few and too short and just became too repetitive as the game went on.

All players start as novices with gender the only distinguishing factor between them. Although characters and classes may look similar to the untrained eye, a closer look would show what type of character and job class a player belongs to. Going thru the first levels is easy with little monsters offering resistance. Players are then ushered to choose their class upon reaching level 10.

There are six job classes available in the game, Thief, Archer, Acolyte, Mage, Merchant and Swordsman. Depending on what job a player chooses from, he is given a set of simple quests to accomplish and after successfully completing the tasks is awarded with a matching wardrobe and skill sets.

Skills available depend on what type of job a player chooses. Character build is quite linear and progressing to the second job level offers only a few choices. Players however could manipulate their stat builds to customize their characters. An example of this are knights whose builds could vary according to where you distribute your stat points. You could create different types of knights according to where you allocate stat points, defensive and quick healing knights would show them with high vitality stats and agility or fast attack knights would see their agility stats maxed out.

Ragnarok Online continues to command a fair amount of followers even after it has been out for almost a decade. It is a testament to the great playability and simplicity of the game. For beginners or those who wish to learn the basics of MMORPGs, Ragnarok Online easy interface could assist you in taking your first steps in the world of Role Playing Games. For seasoned professionals who wish to get back to their roots, RO could provide you that nostalgic journey to the early years of MMO gaming.

Countless hours of grinding and questing have seen you moving from a novice to Level 10. Finally, a box appears telling that you have finally qualified for second class training. A quick glance tells you to immediately proceed to Mayor George of Logar town. A chat with the Mayor directs you to the great hall in Varanas City where you will be talking with your chosen Job Master.

You are ushered into the class hall in Varanas City where you are ushered into the presence of Job Masters eager to guide you in your quest for the second class levels. Players unsure on what path to take could talk to the Prospect Job Master for a fast tour of the different jobs available. Once you have locked your minds in a specific job you are then given the option of choosing that second class. The second class is automatically given you and you are given a map that teleports you to Reifort.

You have the choice of leveling up your second job or your primary class. The game gives you the option of switching between classes which comes as a surprise with players who have been used to discarding their old clothes when their characters transforms to a higher job level. Players who choose to play their new class however start at level 1.

Second job players start their adventure at the new map of Reifort. It is a good idea to start here because this is the place where your new quests are given. The new map is similar to the town of Logar, where you can easily find everything you need. The town and its outskirts also provides players an excellent opportunity for leveling up and gaining precious experience points.

One of the advantages of using your second class characters is the new skills. Although getting the new skills require players to satisfy levels for both secondary and primary jobs. It might be tricky as skills are only offered when players reach 15/15, 25/25/ thru 55/55 levels. Having the needed levels are not the only condition, players must also finish quests per skill.

Another tricky side to character builds is the numerous combinations possible for primary and secondary class levels. Certain character combinations such as Priest/ Mage and Mage/ Priest present different skills. And again all skills calls for players to finish quests associated with each skill.