Issue 4
Here is the latest MMO rumblings.
Reminder: Aion Server Merge Today
If anyone is playing Aion, this is a reminder that today NCSoft will be performing the server merge they promised last month. The link I provided is to a Wings Over Atreia article from Massively.
http://www.massively.com/2010/07/12/wings-over-atreia-its-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it/
OGPlanet Announces N.E.O. Online
A new F2P MMORPG has been announced by OGPlanet. This game was an unknown prior to the announcement so I really don’t know much about it other then what I just read in the massively post. Apparently player actions alter the world in which everyone plays based on a Chaos Meter; sounds interesting. Read more on it at Massively.
http://www.massively.com/2010/07/12/ogplanet-announces-n-e-o-online/
Final Fantasy XIV Will Not Be Released For XBox 360
I hope those FFXIV fans were not hoping to play the next chapter (in this unrelenting saga) on the X-Box, because Microsoft said No. Apparently they were unwilling to deal with the XBox Live setup. They are probably too busy with their Halo Reach to care about anybody else’s game. Read more at Massively from the link below.
http://www.massively.com/2010/07/12/final-fantasy-xiv-not-due-for-the-xbox-360-according-to-hiromich/
Beta News:
ArcheAge In Closed Beta
I know this is a complete unknown, apparently the lead designer was one of the original artists for Lineage. Be that as it may, its the announcement of a closed beta. Which means if you are the kind that likes to wet their noodle on beta testing, here is one to check out. Article found at Massively.
http://www.massively.com/2010/07/12/archeage-closed-beta-announced/
More Cataclysm Beta Invites
Blizzard announced in a blue post that this week they will be sending out another round of beta invitations for Cataclysm. Make sure you watch your inboxes and be espeically careful that its not a phishing e-mail. If you want to read the post about it, I found it at MMO-Champion, you have to scroll a bit past the Cataclysm UI screenshots.
http://www.mmo-champion.com/content/1863-Cataclysm-Interface-Part-1-Blue-Posts
Issue 3
Here are the latest MMO rumblings. This week is short but with the huge uproar over Real ID I felt it was time to send out the latest details from this week. enjoy.
Real ID – Is It The WoW-Killer? [UPDATED]
If you are a avid Blizzard gamer you have probably heard about the latest controversary to hit the internet. Blizzard announced that a new forums system will be released with StarCraft II, and ultimately with Cataclysm, that will display your full first and last name on all forums associated with Blizzard’s respective games. There is pandimonium running amuck. Here are a variety of links.
UPDATE: When I first wrote this the Real ID on the forums was still a reality, now that I am on the verge of posting this week’s email, a recent post has unveiled that Blizzard has backed down on this issue. I kept the original posts at the bottom for prosterity but also below is the link to the wow.com article which shows Michael Morheim’s offical response and retraction.
Blizzard Backs Down: http://www.wow.com/2010/07/09/mike-morhaime-real-names-will-not-be-required-on-official-forum/#continued
Official Announcement: http://www.wow.com/2010/07/06/official-forum-changes-real-life-names-to-be-displayed/
Blizzard’s Responses: http://www.wow.com/2010/07/06/blizzards-responses-on-the-real-id-situation/
Massively’s Response: http://www.massively.com/2010/07/07/the-daily-grind-real-id-do-we-finally-have-our-wow-killer/
Another MMO Goes F2P
There is a new MMO called Monato Esprit, a game I have not heard of, but I only mention this post/link because its another example of another MMO switching to the Free-2-Play paradigm. The increasing trend definitely foreshadows an interesting future for MMO games.
http://www.massively.com/2010/07/06/monato-esprit-switches-to-a-traditional-free-to-play-model/
Areia Games Announces Legendary Champions MMO
Areia Games has released details of a new MMO coming out this summer. It is called Legendary Champions. Apparently its PvP heavy and your characters are famous figures from history. Below is the link to the Massively article and a link to the game website.
http://www.massively.com/2010/07/07/aeria-games-announces-newest-mmo/
http://legendarychampions.aeriagames.com/
SWTOR Uses Combat AI
This is a really interesting Hypterspace Beacon post (on Massively) about Bioware’s “Combat AI” in The Old Republic. The concept seems to be going over really well among fans that are in the alpha release of the game. See below for the link to the Massively article.
http://www.massively.com/2010/07/08/star-wars-the-old-republic-impresses-fans-with-combat-ai/
Over the holiday weekend we visited the mall and dispite my dissatisifaction with Apple, I still felt the technology calling me over to look. So, since I have absolutely no will power, we go to the Apple Store. I can honestly say that I stood there playing or watching my wife and our friends play with the iPad for probably a good hour, and after that time I feel I am qualified to say … I don’t see the big deal.
The iPad is basically an oversized, glorified iPod. I really don’t understand the attraction. It literally looks like a huge iPod Touch. I even listened in on a demonstration of the iPad by one of the Apple Store cronies and I still didn’t hear anything that made me soil my pants. I think I honestly would rather have a tablet PC then an iPad. Actually, I think the iPhone 4 is much more intreguing then the iPad (assuming you hold the iPhone 4 correctly … don’t want a dropped signal as a result of a misplaced pinky finger).
Now, in all fairness to new technology, I am open to hear what others think are the superior features about the iPad. Perhaps there is something about it that I am missing that makes this product so sought-after.
Issue 2
Here are more blog posts and articles from MMO sites that I found interesting and exciting since the last issue of The MMO Times.
SWTOR Multiplayer Combat Video from E3
Of all up and coming MMOs, The Old Republic is the one I am most excited about. The video in the link below is probably the most exciting 4 minutes Bioware has given us about TOR to date. Enjoy, I know I did!
http://www.massively.com/2010/07/02/finally-bioware-unveils-a-swtor-multiplayer-combat-video/
Cataclysm Goblin Male/Female Silly & Flirt Audio
The data mining of the closed beta of Cataclysm has begun. The link below will take you to a post at Wow.com which has audio clips of the male and female /silly emotes and /flirt emotes. They are extremely hilarious. Enjoy!
http://www.wow.com/2010/07/01/cataclysm-beta-goblin-flirt-and-silly-sounds/
Cataclyms Worgen Male/Female Silly & Flirt Audio
We can’t have the Goblin emote sounds without the worgen emotes. If you are expecting to hear jokes about nipples, bacon, hairballs, etc … then definitely listen to these audio clips from wow.com.
http://www.wow.com/2010/06/30/cataclysm-beta-worgen-silly-and-flirt-sounds/
New Fable 3 Combat Video
I know Fable is still kind of big for a lot of people; I’ve never played it but I know its pretty big among gamers. Here is a new combat video recently released from Joystiq.
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/02/fable-3-combat-video-is-not-safe-for-wolves/
Cataclysm Blue Post
I know I have several posts about Cataclysm in this issue but with the NDA lifted and the closed beta having started, the news is going to keep rolling out; Pandora’s box has been opened. Here is a blue post provided by MMO-Champion where Blizzard devs discuss various class details in the next expansion.
http://www.mmo-champion.com/content/1844-Cataclysm-Beta-Blue-Posts
Starcraft II Wings of Liberty this Month!
Here is a reminder for all those Starcraft fans, this month Blizzard releases the first segment of StarCraft II on July 27th. Go reserve your copy now!
Aion Server Merge Postponed
NCSoft has alluded to an Aion server merge for a couple weeks now about it appears its still going to be another two weeks before it officially happens. The link below to the Massively article explains why it won’t be until July 14th.
http://www.massively.com/2010/07/04/aion-server-merges-delayed-name-changes-explained/
Issue 1
Here are the latest tidbits of MMO articles and blog posts I found to be most interesting this week. I hope there is something below that peaks your interest.
Final Fantasy XIV Announces Release Date and Pricing
I know this is going to be exciting news for several of you. An official release date for the highly anticipated Final Fantasy XIV has been announced. FF-aholics everywhere will be lining up September 22nd (if you want the Collector’s Edition) or September 30th (for regular edition). The link below will take you to the full article found at Massively.
http://www.massively.com/2010/06/30/final-fantasy-xiv-announces-launch-date-and-pricing-model/
Blizzard’s Tom Chilton Discusses F2P Potential
Ok, before all of the World of Warcraft players break out into praises of Alleluia, please note, this was only a passing thought … “intellectual curiosity”, as Massively’s Krystalle Voecks put it. Don’t expect WoW to become Free-2-Play anytime in the near future. Chilton only alludes to it because several MMO vendors are adopting this concept with significant return. If you want to read more, please follow the link below to the Massively article or the wow.com article.
http://www.massively.com/2010/06/30/blizzard-not-yet-ready-to-slaughter-the-cash-cow-and-go-f2p/
http://www.wow.com/2010/06/30/tom-chilton-discusses-free-to-play-wow/
Martial Empires Enters Open Beta
I have not heard of this MMO but apparently you can now register to enter the open beta at their website. If anyone knows more about this MMO please feel free to speak up. I have provided a link to the Massively article as well as a link to the website below.
http://www.massively.com/2010/06/30/martial-empires-enters-open-beta-with-new-content-and-screenshot/
http://martialempires.gamigo.com/
Blizzard Answers Lore Questions
(Contains some details about Cataclysm)
I know this post is specifically dealing with World of Warcraft lore and nothing about MMO gameplay, but I know there are a few that find nuggets of lore interesting. I’m not going to spoil any of the details of this Q&A from Blizzard’s creative development team, you can follow the link below to see the wow.com article, or see the full Q&A post that appeared on the forums.
http://www.wow.com/2010/06/30/blizzards-creative-development-team-answers-tons-of-lore-questi/
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?sid=1&topicId=25626575587
Cataclysm Closed Beta Begins
WoW players around the world are rejoicing, Blizzard has issued a press release announcing the start of the Cataclysm beta testing. They will be issuing invitations to players around the world who signed up using their Battle.net account. Visit the link below to see the post on wow.com.
http://www.wow.com/2010/06/30/cataclysm-closed-beta-has-begun/
I know this issue was heavy with World of Warcraft headlines but I hope that in the future I will try to be more diverse.
[rating: 4]
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle
A new villain has emerged who has created a suit similar to Tony Stark’s Iron Man suit, using an arcane reactor he created himself in his basement. There seems to be a link between the villain’s father and Tony; that you will have to find out for yourself. Don Cheadle is in this film to take on the role of Rhodey, Stark’s military friend, who ultimately becomes War Machine. Let the battle of good vs. evil ensue.
I don’t want to talk too much about the other subtexts contained within the plot for those that have not seen the movie. If you are a fan of the Iron Man character and The Avengers comic series I would highly suggest this movie. I think the first Iron Man had more whit but I disagree with the other critics (shocker, I know) in that this movie was still worth the price of admission. I still really enjoyed it and honestly I’m glad the director picked up Don Cheadle to play the role of Rhodey; I think Cheadle is too often overlooked and underrated.
For those of you that are really into these movies and the talk of an Avengers movie, I would highly suggest that you stay in the theater until after the credits have finished. I hope you enjoy the film