Tuesday, September 20, 2011

MMO updates

MMO updates

Firefall - Shacknews' interview with Mark Kern

Posted: 20 Sep 2011 12:35 AM PDT


(Beta signup) As some of you folks might know, the Closed Beta for the much anticipated Free to Play online shooter, Firefall, is now going on. Under strict NDA rules, there is not much information being leaked *smiles* until further notice. To feed those hungry players who are not in Closed Beta 1, Shacknews (link) has posted a recent interview footage with the CEO of Red 5 Studios, Mr Mark Kern, talkng more about the game's development.


Hoping for a shot at the game's Closed Beta still? From what I read, more keys will be given out after the first phase ends, so signup at the game's official website (link) now! Before I forget, players will also stand a chance to win an exclusive in-game pet (link) as well. What are you waiting for?

Gametree announces Power Rangers Online

Posted: 19 Sep 2011 09:56 PM PDT


Well, after Crayon Shin-chan (link), Dragon Ball (link) and Digimon were made into online games, I guess it shouldn't be a surprise anymore as more Japanese franchise are made into MMOs. Next up on the line will be Power Rangers Online, which is long overdue in my own opinion. Toei, the Japanese company with the Power Rangers rights, will be teaming up with Korean studios Daewon Media (of Crayon Shin-chan Online), Ntreev (Trickster Online) and Ironnos to develop the game.


According to the article, the franchise has been popular in Korea ever since the series started airing in 2006. Power Rangers Online will be a side-scroller MMO, where players can expect a variety of transformation skills, monsters found in the original series and more. As you can see from the picture above, the game is expected to be based primarily on the Power Rangers Mystic Force season. The game is targeted at everyone, male and female, young and old and is expected to announce a Closed Beta date before the year ends.

Martial Soul Online (CN) - Combat focused

Posted: 19 Sep 2011 10:30 AM PDT


I am quite appalled at the online games currently being churned out from China, even though I am a big supporter of the industry there and hoping it will take some shine off Korean titles. But following Asura Online (link), Netease, China's 2nd largest online gaming company, has revealed its latest title, translated as Martial Soul Online, which looks like one of Blizzard's upcoming blockbuster. Martial Soul Online is said to be in development for the past 3 years though, so perhaps there is some coincidence in terms of game design...


Ok, enough with the apparent displeasure I have with the game. Martial Soul Online features 6 different clans, but so far only 2 has been revealed: Butterfly Valley and Mystic Ice. Players from Butterfly Valley will be the main healing and supporting class of the game, with summoning spells as well. Followers of Mystic Ice are basically assassins imbued with powers of the ice, killing targets silently and quickly. As you can see below, there are 4 clans yet to be released.


For character skills, each character will come with its own set of clan skills of course, but there will be a 2nd set called "Martial Skills". There is not much info on this yet, but the developer promised that players within the same clan will have many different skill builds. There is also an apparent stance system in the works, with players able to choose between 6 stances (defensive, berserk, strength, recover etc) during battles to suit their needs and counter opponents.


As a 2.5D online title, Martial Soul Online has the advantage of creating powerful and colorful special effects for all character skills without needing a powerful system to run the game. What's more, there is actual dodging, rolling, blocking and other physical effects. With a system called the "Physical Simulation", different effects like knockbacks will trigger different physical reactions.


 There are also over 30 different graphical effects which can trigger on targets after casting dealing fatal spells, including freeze (players can smash the frozen target into bits), burn, poison (turns in bones) with more effects being developed. Various structures in the environments are highly destructible as well (walls, crates, pillars etc),  giving players more options of killing mobs.


Martial Soul Online also boasts over 300 different weapon designs, 400 different skill effects and also a mounted combat system. For PvP modes, there will be a unique 24 vs 24 vs 24 arena (3 groups), 40 man chaos PK arena and various other modes with lesser players. Instanced dungeons are of course in the game, with several casual mini-games including Tower Defense, Labyrinth Race and more to allow players to gain EXP in a lighter way.
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