The expansion, dubbed “Battlegrounds,” is the studio’s first project. The Beijing studio is the second studio that True Games has opened this year, the first one being the one in Austin, Texas, which is handling the company’s next game.

Warrior Epic: Battlegrounds expansion

“We are thrilled that the new studio has done such great work on the new expansion, and when players get a chance to check out the new content we think they will agree,” said Peter Cesario, director of new business and product development at True Games. “Now, for the first time, our community can experience cooperative player-versus-player gameplay and the all-new HUB City of Providence where they can meet up, socialize and show off all the cool gear they have earned.”

The beta test for Warrior Epic: Battlegrounds started on November 11th, 2009 and would be officially launched in December.

So what can we expect from this Warrior Epic expansion? Here’s a list:

All-New PVP Gameplay. Warrior Epic now offers four all-new objective-based PVP-enabled maps for players to do battle on—Welkin Warrens (a mountainous underground), Ruins of Aberas (a fierce jungle), Faustus Estate (the mysterious mansion) and the newest addition, Trogken Swamps.

New HUB City. Warrior Epic now offers a true central HUB for players to meet and form groups and guilds, while also showing off their dance skills and cool gear earned from quests.

All-New Swamp Region. The grand region known as the Trogken Swamps is an all-new environment, and like the other regions in the game, it will offer full PVP gameplay. With over 50 new quests, monsters and items you can acquire, players can spend a great deal of time adventuring through the deadly marshes.

Dozens of New PVP Items. During PVP matches, players can earn currency for purchasing all-new items and upgrades to help reinforce their castle and towers, summon boss monsters and spirits against the opposing team, and many more!

Boy, they sure are fond of “all new”!

For more information about the game, visit the official Warrior Epic website or any of its social networking pages on Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.

Post from: MMOtaku

Before I give you details about the changes in DragonSky, I’d like to share information regarding my dilemma in trying—and I do place a lot of emphasis on TRYING—to download any client from Aeria Games, and would like to find out whether others are encountering this as well.

The trouble starts when I’m midway through the download. The last game I tried to download was Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online, or simply Megaten, another great free-to-play MMORPG. The download stops and refuses to continue. That’s the case with direct downloads.

So why don’t you use the downloader provided by Aeria Games? While I do appreciate the company’s efforts in providing alternative ways for players to download clients, having us install BT DNA isn’t one of them. Yes, the Aeria Games downloader makes use of the BitTorrent Delivery Network Accelerator, which should help speed up the downloading of software. Unfortunately, it slows my PC down to a point that I can’t use it for anything but downloading a game client.

Have you had any similar experiences with the Aeria Games downloader or BT DNA?

DragonSky from Aeria Games

Now that we have that out of the way, it’s time to present to you the changes in DragonSky, a martial arts MMORPG set in ancient China that features an extensive duel system, an evolving story quests, a guild ranking system, and of course a crafting system (hey, no MMORPG is complete without this).

The changes are actually pretty minor. The first such change is the one in experience points that player characters can get from boss monsters and while grinding in a group.

Boss monsters now give double the experience points you are used to getting. As for fighting in a group, each new member added to the roster gives all members of the group 30 percent more experience for every mob killed.

Good news indeed for party people in DragonSky.

The more interesting change is the introduction of the pet system. Oh, it’s not in the game yet. The game moderators and developers are still refining it. But we have a promise that it will be implemented in DragonSky very soon.

Post from: MMOtaku

So imagine my surprise—and excitement—when friend and fellow online games enthusiast PJ Punla informed me about the upcoming Cinemanila Machinima Film Festival, a new component of the highly successful Cinemanila International Film Festival.

Cinemanila Machinima Film Festival: Check out the entries!

This year marks the first Cinemanila Machinima Film Festival, which began accepting entries in July and closed the doors on October 11th, 2009. The organization’s mission is to unearth machinimators and machinima talents in the region and to recognize the growing filmmaking movement.

Better late than never, I always say. (There’s an annual machinima festival in the United States that’s being handled by the Academy of Machinima Arts and Sciences, a small volunteer-run non-profit organization established to promote, organize and advocate the growth of machinima filmmaking and filmmakers.)

Going back to the Cinemanila Machinima Film Festival, the video entries are already available for viewing. If you’re interested, go check out this year’s entries for short film and music video.

When I browsed the entries earlier today, I saw a few familiar machinima production outfits (from past runs on the Machinima portal), including Sleeping Dogs Productions, whose entry for this year’s Cinemanila Machinima Film Festival is titled “6 Days,” made using Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.

What I’m rooting for, however, is Darrick Regondola’s “Nobody Dance,” using character sprites from the massively multiplayer online role-playing game Granado Espada (known in North America as Sword of the New World). The song performed by the sprites, “Nobody,” and the artists collectively known as the Wonder Girls are products of JYP Entertainment. To view and vote for the video, click on this link to the Nobody Dance.

Well, that’s it for now. Join me in checking out the other short machinima films and music videos.

Post from: MMOtaku

When I managed to enter the World of Kung Fu and started creating my character, a spear wielder named Jadzia, I had a feeling I wouldn’t like something in the game. Nothing was amiss. The graphics looked great. There wasn’t any lag. The controls were easy to master. There were some characters roaming the starter town—a good thing for an MMO! And best of all, the concept wasn’t difficult to grasp.

I discovered a bit later, after completing my first quest, what the heck was bugging me about World of Kung Fu from the onset. I hated—and still hate—its user interface. Sorry to say this, Vestgame, but the interface … the console of your baby sucks, bigtime. To be totally honest, it made me feel I was playing an MMO straight from the early 2000s. Talk about retro.

World of Kung Fu: Graphics may be topnotch, but the user interface can use a serious facelift.

Fortunately, the great graphics and so-so music and sound effects saved the day, and convinced me enough to play World of Kung Fu for at least another hour.

I can’t find any good description of the game. Mine is a bit tainted, so I’ve decided to borrow one from the World of Kung Fu Wiki:

As in the real world, World of Kung Fu is a complex network of various interconnecting systems. Unlike other games in which the point of the experience is to defeat monsters and enemies, this game invites the martial artists to become deeply involved in the development and establishment of a society which interweaves economic and social systems. The game also enables the players to enjoy the emotions of a private life filled with romance and drama. Furthermore, as they increase their skills, the players can establish their own school and master their own style of Kung Fu which they will then be able to pass on to others.

World of Kung Fu graphics: Love the detail and texture, especially the shadows.

Here’s a list of the things I learned about life in the World of Kung Fu:

Auto-Move. Having an auto-move system in an MMORPG is great. First, it saves you the trouble of memorizing NPC names and looking for these names on the small minimap. It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack! Thanks to auto-move, searching for the right NPC for hours on end is a thing of the past.

Non-Linear Quests. Some quests appear to be non-linear in nature. In my first hour of playing World of Kung Fu, I think I bypassed three or four quests. Apparently, just like in other MMOs, quests in this game depends on your level. So when you rise in level in quick succession, you may miss a few quests.

So Many NPCs. There are so many NPCs in the starter town of Taoyuan that it makes you wonder about their function. Are they there purely as decoration? Apparently not, since talking to some of them reveals their nature as either vendor, crafting or teleport NPCs. But what about the others? Oh, they’re just there to wait till you reach a certain level. When you do reach that “certain level,” the NPC will seek you out.

PK Anywhere, Anytime. Knowing you can get PK’d (player-killed) anywhere and anytime in the World of Kung Fu makes you paranoid. Actually, to save you the trouble of continuously panning the camera view to check for backstabbers, you can only PK and get PK’d outside safe zones, like towns, and only if you are above Level 20. So stop checking the bushes every five minutes.

Well, that’s it for now. Let me practice some Kung Fu katas and get back to you in a few days. Oh, if you want to join me in the World of Kung Fu, head over to the official website, register for an account and download the client.

Post from: MMOtaku

I’m looking forward to playing Shaiya from Aeria Games.

In the end, however, all five factors must be met for a player to stay and continue playing an MMO. Let’s take a closer look at these considerations:

Sound Effects and Background Music. The thought that a player can be turned on—or off—by video game sounds and music may seem ludicrous to some, but it’s the truth. Don’t believe me? Ask yourself this question: “Would you play Counter-Strike even if the virtual guns sound like the tapping of a typewriter?” Or maybe, “Would you play Call of Duty 4 if its sound effects were taken from Space Invaders?”

Video and Graphics. Definitely a big come-on for any video games addict, graphics is the first—and maybe the only—reason why people upgrade a computer. While text-based and 2D MMOs have a certain allure, you just can’t discount the fact that 3D virtual worlds where art imitates life draw the biggest crowds.

Character Customization. In recent years, we’ve witnessed the dawn of MMOs that offer good character customization options ranging from hair and skin color to massive wardrobe changes. Some even go as far as allowing you to alter every feature of a character’s face and body, from wrinkles to facial hair to moles. An MMO is more exciting if your character doesn’t look like the characters of other players.

Unique Systems and Gameplay Modes. Nothing says play me more than a game’s unique features. Unfortunately, most developers stick a label claiming original content leaving players to discover that there’s nothing really special about it. This is especially true for massively multiplayer online first-person shooters whose developers deny copying some features from well-known FPS like Counter-Strike and Quake.

Community. This is perhaps the single most important feature that an MMO should have in order to be successful. Some really old MMORPGs are still operating because of the strength of its community. Ragnarok Online comes to mind. It is very unfortunate that not all communities have the power to keep MMOs going. Despite having a hardworking and loving community, the Philippine server of Khan Online still went offline last year.

Well, there you have it—the five most important factors that affect a player’s choice of MMOs to play. I subscribe to all five. How about you?

Post from: MMOtaku

In the real world, the worst of the worst criminals are those that commit heinous, mostly unforgivable crimes like genocide and murder. In the virtual worlds, because you can’t exactly kill a character and not expect him or her to rise from the grave and pwn your sorry behind, the worst malcontents turn out as scammers and hackers.

By definition, a scammer is a person who engages in swindling or fools others into entering a fraudulent transaction, while a hacker exploits loopholes in an online games’ programming to his or her benefit, or someone who breaks into computers and steals information such as usernames and passwords.

Yup, there’s a lot of them out there, and we all have been constantly warned about their schemes and tricks. Fortunately for the good guys, there are tried and tested tips to avoid getting scammed or hack in the world of MMOs:

The Ragnarok Online trade window. Double check items before clicking on “Trade.”

• Keep abreast of the latest MMO scams. This one should be self-explanatory, but I’ll go ahead and explain since some MMO players are simply too lazy to think. Online games publishers and operators usually keep tabs on the different kinds of scams their players may encounter in their games. So they posts a list of these either on their websites or forums. Just like what doctors always say: “An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure.”




• Avoid lending equipment or in-game currency even to players whose characters are in your friends’ list. Aww, honey, I know he/she is your “friend,” but unless that person is sitting beside you while playing the game, I suggest you find some other way to help him/her. I remember a case in Perfect World Philippines where a couple befriended other players and gained their trust. The dastardly duo eventually made off with their supposed friends’ equipment and other virtual goods.




• Is a deal too good to be true? It must be a scam. Bottomline: Exercise caution. Yesterday, I saw an in-game advertisement in Atlantica Online saying that a player is willing to trade a Kitty Bag for Wings of Light plus some gold. In Atlantica Online parlance, a Kitty Bag is a new decorative item which boosts your character’s attributes, while the Wings of Light is also a decorative item but a bit weaker. Before agreeing to a trade, we double checked the prices of both items and decided that adding a bit of in-game money in the trade was worth it.




• Be vigilant in looking out for the ol’ switcheroo. The “ol’ switcheroo” is a gimmick most MMO trade scammers use to exchange an item of almost zero worth for either your good item or in-game cash. This is an exploit of the player trade feature of MMORPGs where Player A initiates trade with Player B and loads the items to be traded in the window. Player A then cancels the transaction and makes some sort of excuse, such as lag. This happens several times until Player A finally loads a similar-looking but cheaper item into the trade window and hope that Player B is dumb enough to click on “Accept” without verifying the goods.




• Don’t share your account information with anyone, especially not to someone claiming he or she is a game moderator/master. This is probably the most advertised of MMO scams, and probably the most abused. In online games I play, server messages flash across the screen reminding players not to divulge usernames and passwords to anyone, not even your mom and dad. Many are the players who fall prey to this type of scam because of greed. Do you really want to be one of them?

This is just a partial list. Although there are a lot of other tips to avoid being scammed in online games out there, you only need two: Don’t be greedy and exercise common sense.

Post from: MMOtaku

Frankly, I was surprised at the reaction of different massively multiplayer online game communities when news of Michael Jackson’s death hit the headlines on June 25, 2009. In China, home of hundreds of thousands of MMORPG players, the outpouring of grief was pretty evident in the way they observed mourning for Michael’s passing.

In an article reposted by bommy4217 on the MMOsite forums entitled “The ways of Chinese MMORPG players mourn for Michael Jackson,” we can clearly see how Chinese MMO players cherish the memory of the King of Pop.

Here’s an excerpt from that article:

June 25, the world-renowned King of Pop—Michael Jackson left us. To the players after 70s and after 80s, MJ has become a myth. He led an era. Rumors had surfaced that Jackson was involved with the game industry. No matter what, his left shocked everyone. MJ is the forever myth. Besides the praying in the network, the Chinese MMO players also use their own approaches to cherish the memory of him.

Pardon bommmy4217’s use of English as it is not his mother tongue. Fortunately, it doesn’t take Einstein’s keen intellect to sift through what he means.

Among the “ways” of remembering Michael Jackson he cited, I found two that amused me the most—a quest in the online game Superstar by Shanda where you have to sing four songs—Rock With You, Billie Jean, Heal the World and You Are Not Alone. Upon completion of the quest, the player is rewarded with Michael Jackson-inspired equipment. Bedazzled gloves, anyone?

The other one is a recreation of the King of Pop’s likeness in the new massively multiplayer online role-playing game Aion:

Post from: MMOtaku

In the fourth installment of the hit machinima based on Flyff, we find Pudding and TGE beating the crap out of Wagsaacs outside Saint Mourning as they continue their adventures after changing into their first jobs—Mercenary for Pudding and Assist for TGE. Of course, THEGREATESTEVER is still clueless about how his job class works, mostly due to his blind fanaticism to the mysterious Assist Master Lee, hence getting stuck with using a Vagrant weapon—a flaming wooden sword.

As usual, THEGREATESTEVER exudes raw power—the power to turn people off—in this Flyff machinima episode dubbed Knight of Roika. In the fight against the Wagsaacs, Pudding manages to get herself into trouble and TGE once again saves her, but not without the verbal abuse so commonly associated with THEGREATESTEVER’s virtual mouth.

When the two young adventurers get back to town, they discover that their next quest involves hunting down Mias south of Saint Mourning and getting their dolls. Unknown to Pudding and TGE, their movements are being watched and their conversations are being monitored. Just as they are about to leave for the Mia fields, a stranger approaches them, offering aid.

Of course, THEGREATESTEVER declines the stranger’s offer with every bit of sarcasm his cocky mouth can utter.

Now, let me just shut up and make you watch the first of two video clips of the Fly For Fun machinima Pudding and TGE in the Knight of Roika:

If you liked the fourth episode in the Pudding and TGE series, you might also like:

Flyff Machinima: Pudding and THEGREATESTEVER Episode 2
Flyff Machinima: Pudding and THEGREATESTEVER

Post from: MMOtaku

I apologize for the cheesy introductory paragraph. I’ve been wanting to do that for the longest time and this announcement story on the launch of Fallen Earth seemed perfect for it.

Anyway, before you start scouring the Internet for Fallen Earth client downloads, let me cue you in: It’s not available yet, and even if it’s available, I don’t think you can get the client for free—at least, that’s the impression I got after reading the announcement.

Here, take a gander at the announcement straight from Fallen Earth LLC:

Unleash the Apocalypse in this Massively Multiplayer Journey

Grab your armor and get ready to fight for the future of mankind. Fallen Earth LLC has announced that the post-apocalyptic massively multiplayer online game Fallen Earth will be available via digital distribution and through retailers in the United States beginning Wednesday, September 9, 2009.

Fallen Earth combines the accuracy of first-person shooter games with the character advancement and strategic gameplay of a role-playing game. Taking place in the Grand Canyon as mankind teeters on the edge of extinction, players are thrust into the remains of the old world and must choose to rise above the hardships or embrace the surrounding destruction.

“We’ve been working to create a different type of MMO-something gritty and challenging that will give players an exciting and immersive gaming experience,” says Jessica Orr, product manager for Fallen Earth. “The Fallen Earth team is looking forward to getting the game in the hands of our current and future fans.”

In Fallen Earth, new players are thrust into the role of a mercenary who must align himself (or herself) with one of six factions to stake claim on territories and towns. Like any other MMO, Fallen Earth has an item-crafting system, but it’s nothing I’ve ever encountered before. It’s real time, as Fallen Earth LLC claims. How does it work? I can only guess.

For more information about the game, do drop by Fallen Earth’s spanking new site.

Post from: MMOtaku

Okay, enough of the cheese. It’s time to get down to serious business. First off, though, I’d like to apologize for not posting anything in the past couple of days. The wife and baby are down with the flu (not H1N1 or what is more popularly known as the swine flu, thank the gaming gods), and it’s taking a lot of effort to keep order in an otherwise chaotic home.

Going back to the topic, yes, I’m here to talk about how massively multiplayer online games affected, positively, of course, my relationship with the commander, uhmm, I mean, the wife.

Now, before I continue, let me clarify that I did not meet my wife in some MMORPG. We met through other means that shall remain undisclosed. It’s just that ever since I introduced her to the world of MMOs, she never let go.

Okay, now that that’s out of the way … our affair started way back in 2003, when I shoved her into my world, Rune Midgard, the mythical place spawned by the hit MMORPG Ragnarok Online.

Joyce, the commander, wasn’t really into video games—unless you consider Free Cell and Solitaire real, ehem, video games. So her introduction and eventual assimilation into mainstream MMORPG could be considered a leap and not just a step.

Since 2005, we’ve explored nearly a dozen other MMORPGs, from Ragnarok Online to PristonTale, from Tantra to R.O.S.E. Online, from Rising Force Online to Fly For Fun, from Silkroad Online to Perfect World … and the list goes on.

But it was only in Perfect World that we discovered how much MMOs have benefited us.

There was a time in our life as a family that I had to stay nearly a thousand kilometers apart from Joyce and our daughter Cesky because of work. While a lot of other couples—married or otherwise—would resort to the telephone or instant messenger to bridge the communication gap and have some semblance of a relationship, the wife and I spent most of our time “together” playing Perfect World.

Through Perfect World, we didn’t just talk, we had an entire world to explore, and we enjoyed it with friends and reveled in it without company but our own. From morning till late afternoon, I was at the office. When dusk settles, I enter Perfect World’s Pangu to be with my beloved (cheese alert!). Of course, we had to content ourselves with staring at our avatars or toons, which are so different from what we really look like. But who the hell cares when you’re having so much fun!

The online affair between husband and wife didn’t stop there. It prospered even when I moved to where they lived. We sat side by side in real life while our toons pwned mobs and bosses.

We’ve stopped playing Perfect World about two months ago, but we still play together, only in another world, the one spawned by Atlantica Online.

So my advice to guys out there, get your girlfriends, wives or, uhmm, mistresses to play video games, particularly massively multiplayer online games, with you. It’s worth the effort, and if things don’t turn out well (what I mean is, if she gives up on the idea), at the very least you’ll have another toon to play with.

Post from: MMOtaku