Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates |
- NYCC: Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva Brings the Games to Film with Style
- Why Gaming and MMO Fail in India: – A Short Review
- Blitz 1941 MMO Review
- Blade Wars MMORPG Review
- Blackshot MMO Review
- Black Prophecy MMORPG Review
- Big City Racer MMO Review
- Beach Volleyball Online MMO Review
- BattleForge MMO Review
- Review: Guardian Heroes Storms Back From the Dead
| NYCC: Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva Brings the Games to Film with Style Posted: 15 Oct 2011 07:14 AM PDT 1UP’s resident Batman expert, Thierry Nguyen, once told me that one of the most basic canonical facts in DC Comics’ style guide is that Batman always wins. Over in Japan, on the even more hardboiled side of things, you have Golgo-13, the emotionless sniper who never misses his shot. And now it seems Level-5 is making a serious bid to boost their own leading man, Hershel Layton, to those vaunted heights. With their new (or at least newly translated into English) film Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva, a new bit of fictive infallibility has come to light: Professor Layton always has the answer. Nintendo (who publishes the Layton games in the U.S.) and Viz (who will be publishing the DVD) presented a limited screening of Diva for a small but enthusiastic audience at New York Comic-Con tonight. The timing is no coincidence, of course; Nintendo’s goal was to promote Professor Layton and the Last Specter, which launches for DS this weekend. It’s not just an empty connection, though. Hardly an empty cash-in, Diva is closely tied to Specter, set before Professor Layton and the Curious Village and featuring characters (such as Layton’s surprisingly badass lady assistant Emmy) who debut in Specter. With Diva, Level-5 has taken on no small challenge: To transform a series of video game that blends talky narrative and brain-bending puzzles in equal measures into something that plays well on the screen. Their efforts didn’t yield a complete success, unfortunately, as in its 11th hour Diva takes an improbable turn into bold heroics that feel out-of-place for the series. You may buy the idea that Layton can MacGuyver himself up a flying machine on the spur of the moment (it’s a puzzle of components, you see!). You may even accept that, as a proper English gentleman, he’s versed in the fine art of fencing. But the climax of the film goes a bit too far in making both Layton and his preteen ward Luke into action heroes, and it doesn’t really jive with, well, anything else in this particular universe. Setting aside that one hard-to-swallow sequence — though not lightly, because it’s at the very heart of the narrative — Diva really does adapt the games into film with satisfactory effectiveness. First, the animation studio (Toho, I believe) did a great job of capturing the European-cartoon-by-way-of-anime style of the games’ cutscenes. The distinctive warmth that lends the Layton games an aura of classic French animation is reproduced well, blurring the line between Japanese and European design and becoming something quite unique in the process. The closest thing I’ve seen is, perhaps, the Hayao Miyazaki-directed chapters of Lupin III, particularly Castle of Cagliostro. The film’s writers practically cop to this inspiration with the character of Detective Grosky, a Scotland Yard inspector whose doggedness is matched only by his bad luck — exactly like Lupin‘s Inspector Zenigata. Heck, there’s even a baroque castle with a crazy clockwork twist tied to the legacy of a young woman. Calling back to an animated classic is hardly a bad thing, though. Besides, Layton isn’t Lupin, because he’s a genteel professor rather than a ruthless scoundrel, and it’s the hero that sets this film apart. There are two certainties in Layton’s life: Not only does he always have the answer, but no matter where he goes he always stumbles into puzzles, kind of like the way people were always dying whenever Angela Landsbury’s character on Murder, She Wrote was around. Even when someone else solves a puzzle, Layton always has a better solution or a more refined answer. The appeal of Diva is how effectively the game’s style — its overall style, not just its looks — has been translated into animation. The puzzle-solving element of the games is introduced in a deliberately conspicuous manner, almost like The Phantom of the Opera in its baroque, over-the-top (and quite literal) theatricality. More than that, though, the overall tale is a series of intricately nested plots, twists, and surprises. Although Layton’s constant murmurs of “But of course!” grow a bit hard to swallow as his deductions leap further and further into the fantastic, the story sells itself with confidence. And even despite the lapse into those jarringly uncharacteristic action tropes, the tale wraps up well, even managing in its final moments to be fairly touching (if a bit drawn-out). You rarely see a video game adapted as faithfully into cinematic form as Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva. Naturally, it helps that the movie was written and planned by key personnel on the games, and that the games themselves are among the few series to still include traditionally animated cutscenes. Nevertheless, while it’s not quite as essential as the games themselves, it’s a generally excellent distillation of the Layton spirit into animation. Unlike most movies based on games, fans will love it without having to delude themselves that it’s good. Because it is good. Posted by: admin in Gaming News Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us. |
| Why Gaming and MMO Fail in India: – A Short Review Posted: 15 Oct 2011 01:03 AM PDT Here is a short review about why Gaming and MMO games Fail in India: All of the gamers in India from the Way long time back since Levelup games Inc, a game publisher launched Ragnarok Online, Sify under the its own brand Gamedrome launched A3 India, and presently Supreme Destiny by Vibrant Communications [The One which is running in India]. According to me and what i have seen is that SD/Supreme Destiny which is currently an MMO running in India by Vibrant Games has got 10% Indians and 90% Outsiders, cause i too play it on occasion basis. One more probability in India is that most of the MMOs including Zapak are h**ked by th*rd party t**ls just for gaining something in-game from the client side. See for Ragnarok Online itself i found majority of the players using b*ts,thi*d party t**ls,abuses and more just to play the game to gain zeny [in-game currency] even promoted and used by its own staff. Zapak gets abused for Coins or whatever the in-game money is called and most of the Indian Gamers like/love to search out for these things even before they start the original Gaming journey and this becomes a big head-ache for the Gaming Team [GM's, Tech Staffs…]. How about that when the game gets chorus like "GM xxx player is h**k*ng, I got h**ked, GM help me i am h**ked,Selling Gold [in-game currency] for xxx amount/cash and more]. There are many more such reasons which make the Gaming companies to shut themselves up in the mire of chaos, as Indian Market is absolutely Free2play and very less players opt for pay 2 Play. Great example in Ragnarok Online India, in which i had witnessed where before the game went for pay 2 Play mode there were like 1k+ players logged into the game and after pay 2 Play the player base gradually got reduced to 200+ players [ when the command "/w" was working] and abruptly 2 Servers name Chaos and Loki were merged to Chaos server to keep up with the gaming population and later on the game was abused seriously by Bo**ers,H**ke*s,Game G*ld sellers and more before the server was completely closed and Levelup games India Inc had to giveup its operations in India as a Whole and same applies even to A3 India. There were even rumors that World of Warcraft going to be launched in India as a contract between Reliance and Blizzard Entertainment way long before Ragnarok Online went down, but till now there isn't any news regarding this… Well that's all about it…. Happy Gaming. |
| Posted: 14 Oct 2011 11:03 PM PDT Blitz 1941 is a 2D, historical, tank-strategy MMO set in 1941 during the German Invasion of the Soviet Union, where players take command of tanks and battle it out across several historical battlegrounds. Fight for one of the game's two factions – the Third German Empire or the Soviet Union. Blitz 1941 is published by the fairly small MMO publisher TwoWar, who also publishes the popular sea battle game Navy Field. Tank enthusiasts and Navy Field fans should find some substance in Blitz 1941, but few others will find themselves playing the game for more than a few days.
Publisher: TwoWar Website: http://www.twowar.com/games/blitz_index.asp Pros: +Unique gameplay and theme. +WASD Controls as well as point and click. +Historically accurate tanks and battlefields. Cons: -Controls very difficult to master. -Few maps. -Limited tank customization options. -Only one game mode.
Blitz 1941 is a 2D, strategic tank battle game that plays a lot like Navy Field. The game is set during World War 2, and the game's two factions are Germany and the Soviet Union. Players pick a side, assume control of tanks that actually existed during the era, and fight it out across the battlefields of Europe. Players have the ability to further customize and even upgrade to superior tanks with money earned from winning battles. Unlike Navy Field, which has numerous factions, many game modes, and a healthy player-base, Blitz 1941 only has only two factions, one game mode and a tiny community. Blitz 1941 should be applauded for being unique, but the game fails to impress in nearly every regard.
Blitz 1941 System RequirementsMinimum Requirements: Recommended Specification:
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| Posted: 14 Oct 2011 10:54 PM PDT Blade Wars is a Chinese MMORPG with 2D and 3D elements presented with an isometric camera view. Based on Asian mythology, the game has three races, the Abyssals, Humans, and Immortals who are locked in a battle for dominance. Plenty of PvE and PvP challenges await players in Blade Wars.
Publisher: ChangYou Website: http://bw.us.changyou.com/en/ Pros: +Fast paced combat. +Play musical instruments. +Guild battles and PvP arenas. +Earn extra experience & coins in groups. +Create custom Combos. Cons: -Dated visuals and interface. -Monsters provide no challenge. -Limited display options.
Blade Wars is the second MMORPG to hit Western shores by the Chinese studio ChangYou. Like Battle of the Immortals, it boasts '2.5D' graphics. This means the graphics and camera view are similar to many action-RPGs. Blade Wars has fast paced gameplay with a combo system and plenty of skills. Progression is fast paced and there are plenty of quests to complete. The five playable classes are broken down into three races. Classes: Assassin - Quick and deadly. The ultimate trained killers. Their skills are breathtaking to watch and their weapons of choice are the Twin Blades and Twin Rings. Knight - Skilled with Swords and Bladed weapons, Knights excel at dealing consistent damage. They are natural born leaders. Shura - Masters of fist weapons including Claws and Cestus, Shura distinguish themselves with their use of powerful Talisman. Warrior - Brute fighters with are well suited to use Axes and Hammers. They have high health and defense making them ideal front line soldier.s Warlock - The primary spell casters in Blade Wars. Warlocks possess long ranged elemental attacks. They also rely on fire and lightening abilities for defense. Their weapons of choice include Staffs, Wands, and Flails. Races - Abyssals, Humans, Immortals
Blade Wars System RequirementsMinimum Requirements: Recommended Specification: |
| Posted: 14 Oct 2011 10:40 PM PDT Blackshot is a fast paced 3D tactical MMOFPS game. The game is set somewhere in the year 2033 after an apocalyptic nuclear war besieged the entire world. Like other MMOFPS games, gamers can play online in numerous game modes and maps. Defeat enemies, earn money and reach the game's highest rank of 'Commander in Chief'.
Publisher: TwoWar Website: http://www2.twowar.com/index.asp Pros: +Excellent ranking system [Plenty of Ranks]. +Interesting 'Tactic' skills. +Four genuinely different game modes. Cons: -Very few maps. -Very few weapons. -No character customization.
Black Shot is TwoWar's very own 3D Tactical MMOFPS. It seems like every single big MMO publisher wants to have their very own tactical MMOFPS game these days, but unfortunately even though there are many of these tactical shooter games, they're all far too similar. The game features several interesting features, such as its cooperative PvE game mode as well as its skill system, but those that have played Nexon's Combat Arms, Aeria's WolfTeam or any other MMOFPS shouldn't be too impressed with BlackShot, as the game doesn't bring anything too new to the table.
Blackshot RequirementsMinimum Requirements: Recommended Specifications:
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| Posted: 14 Oct 2011 10:34 PM PDT Black Prophecy is a 3D sci-fi MMORPG where players control space ships and explore the stars. Black Prophecy boasts fast paced, real-time combat and high end graphics. Players will be confined to their ships in Black Prophecy, but extensive parts customization will allow for varied gameplay.
Publisher: Gamigo Website: http://blackprophecy.com/ Pros: +High production value. +Modular ship design, mix & match parts! +Three-dimensional exploration and combat. Cons: -Demanding system requirements. -Never leave your ship. -Sometimes high server latency.
Black Prophecy is a feature rich space based MMORPG that's been in development for quite some time. During development, it was uncertain what payment model the game would adopt. Fortunately, it has recently been announced that the German publisher Gamigo has picked up the game as a free to play title. Black Prophecy will draw many similarities to the subscription based Eve Online, but the two games are very different. While players can't leave their ships in either game, Black Prophecy promises much more action oriented gameplay and a much lower learning curve. With a standard level based advancement system, player will fight NPCs and complete missions to gain experience and gain access to more powerful ships & weapons. Black Prophecy boasts a detailed backstory. An award-winning Sci-Fi author named Michael Marrack has been tasked with creating the rich universe in which the game takes place. PvP is also slated to play a large role in the game. Player run clans will be able to construct space stations and fight for control of resource generating stations. Ships design in Black Prophecy is heavily modular. Players will be able to mix and match various cockpits, wings, engines, and so on of all shapes and sizes. Factions - The Tyi, The Genides Alien Race - The Restorers
Black Prophecy System RequirementsMinimum Requirements: Recommended Specifications:
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| Posted: 14 Oct 2011 10:22 PM PDT Big City Racer is a 3D racing MMO where players can race around various European cities. Play on different weather settings, race against other players or train in single player mode. Big City Racer is a an easily accessible MMO with simple keyboard controls.
Publisher: Vanilla Live Games Website: http://www.bigcityracer.com/ Pros: +Three weather conditions for each track. +Round and Sprint version available for each map. +Small download, easy to get started. Cons: -Very low player base, difficulty to find a game. -Dated graphics. -Poor crash and overall physics effects. -Only 4 maps.
Big City Racer is a simple racing game published by a European studio. The game doesn't have the same depth as Need for Speed World Online or Heat Online, but offers simple gameplay and has low system requirements. Players can race across the cities of Europe with up to eight participants per match. While the total number of maps is sparse, Big City Racer allows each one to be played under three weather settings. Each track also comes in two forms. The standard lap based game mode is the most common, but players can play sprint mode where cars must race from one end of the track to the other. Big City Racer has an assortment of cars for purchase and players can customize them using decals, rims, windows, and neon lights. Tracks - Vienna, Paris, London, Berlin Weather - Sunny, Rainy, Sunset
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| Beach Volleyball Online MMO Review Posted: 14 Oct 2011 10:14 PM PDT Beach Volleyball Online is a 3D Volleyball themed sports MMO with some emphasis on social interaction. The game mixes virtual world social elements with intense volleyball gameplay elements and offers some solid graphics.
Publisher: Omniverse Games Website: http://www.bvogame.com/ Pros: +First volleyball themed MMO. +Plenty of items in the game's store. +Spectators can bet on the outcome of a game. Cons: -Few game modes. -Some latency issues. -Dull gameplay. -Poor English translations. -Game prone to crashing / bugging out.
Beach Volleyball Online is the first volleyabll themed MMO out there! It's published by Omniverse Games and offers a unique blend of actual gameplay and social elements – sort of like Snail Game's ShowUp. Like any other beach themed volleyball game, Beach Volleyball Online, as expected, has gorgeous female character models! After all, what's a beach volleyball themed game without hot chicks? Beach Volleyball Online offers various modes of play with a maximum of six players on the court at once. One of the more interesting game modes is the Audience Better Mode which, as the name implies, allows spectators to place bets on the outcome of the game. Players are rewarded with experience and money based on their performance in each match. While off the court, players are encouraged to explore the 'virtual world' elements of the game while also socializing and making friends. Upon making a character, players must choose from one of the three playable classes, which are: Offensive – They have high "Spiking and Strength" stats but weaker "Setting and Receiving" stats. They are the primary offensive class in Beach Volleyaball Online and should play aggressively. Defensive – They have high "Setting and Receiving" stats but weaker "Spiking and Strength" stats. They are great for assisting. Strategic - They are basically a combination of the offensive and defensive classes. They are capable in all aspects of the game, but not particularly strong in any one attribute.
Beach Volleyball Online System RequirementsMinimum Requirements: Recommended Specification: |
| Posted: 14 Oct 2011 10:03 PM PDT BattleForge is a 3D fantasy MMORTS/TCG hybrid wherein players battle for map dominance by using cards to summon units, structures, and cast spells on their opponents. With full fledged single-player campaigns and fast paced 1v1 & 2v2 PvP duels, BattleForge is a unique mix of gameplay elements that work together flawlessly.
Publisher: Electronic Arts Website: http://www.battleforge.com/en/ Pros: +Fast-paced gameplay. +Well integrated RTS & TCG elements. +Rewarding single player content. +Upgradable cards, customizable decks. Cons: -Repetitive scenarios. -Limited unit formations. -Poorly developed story/lore. -Repetitive scenarios.
BattleForge is an original game that mixes classic PC RTS (real time strategy) gameplay with a TCG (trading card game) concept. To EA and Phenonmic's credit, the two elements are made to work well, making BattleForge an enjoyable, unique MMO gaming experience. The production value of the game is what you would expect from a premium Western developer – the graphics are bright and vibrant, while the music score and voice acting only enhance the quality. Originally released as retail game with a free demo, BattleForge is now entirely free-to-play, with optional micro transactions for additional booster packs. Spell, building, and unit cards in Battleforge belong to one of four element types, and they are: Fire - Aggressive cards that deal heavy damage. Frost – Defensive cards. Frost units absorb damage well and have access to powerful towers. Nature - Focused on control and creature cards. Nature has powerful siege weapons and units with healing abilities. Shadow – Necromancy and destruction are the hallmarks of this element. Shadow creatures include the undead and wicked beings like witches.
BattleForge System RequirementsMinimum Requirements: Recommended Specifications:
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| Review: Guardian Heroes Storms Back From the Dead Posted: 14 Oct 2011 07:12 PM PDT Rage didn’t start out the way I thought it would. My idea of it was mostly based on its initial reveal some years ago: depicting a barren wasteland where people live, drive, and dress in whatever they can find. Just another Mad Max pastiche, right? So imagine my surprise when the game begins inside a cold, angled underground capsule (an “Ark”) from a forgotten time in the far-flung future. I guess post-apocalyptic worlds have to start somewhere. It’s a harsh beginning, but Rage doesn’t let up from there. After emerging on the surface of the largely-destroyed Earth, you’re saved from certain death by a kind-hearted wasteland homesteader named Dan Hagar (voiced by John Goodman, who also played a “Dan” on Roseanne, which was more than enough to keep me from taking this character seriously). Hagar wastes no time in employing your “services” to wipe out a nearby influx of mutants, and perform a few odd jobs around his settlement and the neighbors’. You get the hang of shootin’, drivin’, and survivin’, and eventually learn more about your past as an enhanced human candidate of the “Eden” project, initiated by the oppressive powers of the Authority, who try to keep this crazy world in check… for their own gains, of course. Posted by: admin in Gaming News Thank you for Visiting Gameforumer.com, Hope you enjoyed the stay with us. |
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