Archive for August, 2007
steven on August 22nd, 2007
War is everywhere in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR), the new MMORPG from the creators of Dark Age of Camelot??. Based on Games Workshop’s popular Warhammer?? fantasy war game, WAR features next generation Realm vs. Realma?? (RvR) game play that will immerse players in a world of perpetual conflict.
Upon entering WAR, players must determine their allegiance and join an Army. Those inclined towards the side of good may fight for the Armies of Order as an obstinate Dwarf, noble High Elf, or loyal human soldier of the Empire. Those inclined towards darker deeds may side with the sinister Armies of Destruction as a savage Greenskin (Orc or Goblin), corrupt Dark Elf, or marauding human worshipper of Chaos.
RvR combat takes place on three fronts where ancient foes wage an unending war a€“ Dwarfs vs. Greenskins, High Elf vs. Dark Elf, and Empire vs. Chaos. Players begin the game fighting their ancestral enemy, but are free to journey to other fronts to help their allies in their ongoing struggles.
The ultimate goal in RvR combat is the sacking of an enemy’s capital city. To do this, an army must invade and take control of the opposition’s homeland. Deciding battles take place on objective-based battlefields and in instanced scenarios - point-balanced battles that make use of NPC mercenaries known as Dogs of War.
For the first time, WAR’s RvR system integrates both Player vs. Player (PvP) combat and Player vs. Environment (PvE) quests on the same map. Every aspect of the game, including PvE missions, is geared towards the greater war in some important way. However, players are not required to participate in PvP combat, and may aid in the RvR war effort and enjoy the game in its entirety via PvE content.
Drawing from a quarter century of highly detailed source material, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning will bring Games Workshop’s fantasy world to life in a way that will allow players to create characters destined for great deeds and glory on the field of battle.
Key Features
Based on Games Workshop’s popular Warhammer fantasy world. Dominated by force of arms and
?????????? magic, this world provides a rich setting for hundreds of thousands of players to experience the epic
?????????? nature of war and the glory of battle.
Join one of six Armies and fight for the Armies of Order (Dwarf, High Elf and Empire) or
?????????? the Armies of Destruction (Greenskin, Dark Elf, or Chaos). Wage war across three unique battlefronts.
Next generation Realm vs. Realm game system integrating both PvP combat and PvE quests on the
?????????? same map in support of the greater war.
Engage in four levels of RvR combat:
???????????????????? - Skirmishes: Incidental PvP combat
???????????????????? - Battlefields: Objective-based battles in the game world
???????????????????? - Scenarios: Instanced, point-based battles balanced with NPC Dogs of War
???????????????????? - Campaigns: The invasion of enemy lands culminating in the assault on their capital city
Undertake a wide variety of PvE quest types related to an army’s war efforts, including:
???????????????????? - Public quests that benefit from the participation of the entire army
???????????????????? - Conflict quests that pit players against an enemy with opposing goals
???????????????????? - Branching quests that let you choose the outcome of the quest and your reward
???????????????????? - Xmas quests that reward exploration with high value loot
A robust combat system introduces Player Tactics (earned powers you equip prior to battle) and
?????????? Morale Skills (combat options that increase in power when the momentum of battle is in your favor).
Player models that change to reflect the relative power of a character (i.e., Orcs grow in size and
?????????? Dwarfs’ beards get longer). Customizable armor and a visual guild system allow a player to make their
?????????? character truly unique.
Embark on an epic quest to complete the Tome of Knowledge and unlock Warhammer lore, detailed
?????????? monster information, and major story plotlines.
Online play requires a subscription and Internet connection.
Now Warhammer Online Gold and Warhammer Online Powerleveling be Preparing!
If you wanna buy Warhammer Online Gold or Warhammer Online Power leveling
steven on August 13th, 2007
In this article I am going to list some of the MMORPG’S I have played and their strengths and weaknesses. This is to help you decide which game you will enjoy the most.
Runescape: I started with this one because I have the most experience in this game. I found that once you burn through the noobie levels it is extremely fun and hardly ever boring seeing as how there many skills. If you ever play this game seriously not just a short time every week or so the membership is a must after you have made it through the low levels of all the free skills.
Pros: Endless things to trains so hardly any down time. Not just a game based on combat and PVP but high combat level helps. When you’re on you don’t even have to train you can just talk with you friends or play one of the MANY minigames. No downloads required
Cons: To unlock the best of the game you have to become a member. Pretty bad graphics, but what can you expect from a browser run game.
Neopets: This is one I played mainly in my younger days but even now and then I go back and the games are still pretty fun. It is absolutely free. There are very many games and other activities for you to do while on
Pros: Many games and activities so that you can do nearly anything while you are on. It is completely FREE. Personally I put my money into the stock market when I have 15k np’s so that even when I’m not playing I can gain extra np’s
Cons: May be a little childish. Getting np’s from games may get repetitive.
ToonTown: I played this one for a month. I played it an awful lot and almost unlock all the gags but it was still very fun. You get to play mini games in order to get jelly beans, which are used to buy gags that act as your attacks.
Pros: Pretty good graphics. Quiet a few things for you to do. Pretty fun combat system
Cons: No chat system where you can type what you want to say unless they are you friend and you have added a code of theirs. All battles get repetitive after awhile.
Extra note: I say you try this game for at least a month if you have time to play because it is very fun for the initial month, also be sure to use the 3 day trial before joining for a month.
World of Warcraft: This game is very fun. Just be aware it has it’s consequences, if you are the kind of person that can get addicted to leveling up and playing online I do not suggest this game for you.
Pros: Amazing graphics, endless quests, many classes and races in which to choose from, PVP is absolutely amazing especially the battlegrounds.
Cons: Can take over your life if you’re the kind of person that can become addicted to online games. It’s a pretty expensive for a monthly game. Leveling up can become an agonizing process at about level 40.
Conclusion: Thanks for reading my short guide on internet gaming and which games are best. I hope this has helped make a decision on which game you want to choose and which game best fits your likes.
steven on August 13th, 2007
We most certainly do. My sister and I have been avid fans of the game since we first joined the MMOG minions, approximately one year ago. For you non-gamers (women and men alike), MMOG is the widely used acronym for Massively Multiplayer Online Game. The World of Warcraft (WOW) is one such game and with approximately 8,000,000 subscribers worldwide, it is currently the leading MMOG in America. To date, men still outnumber female players, but industry statistics show that an increasing number of women are taking up the challenge to break away from ‘noob’ status.
?? Now, it is not only the atypical females in my family who brave the ancient perils of Azeroth. In our travels of Blizzard’s fabled land, we have encountered many of our gaming sisters, who also enjoy questing in the adventure-filled fantasy world. Recent data confirms that the ratio of women to men gamers is changing on many fronts. For example, in casual computer gaming (i.e. card and puzzle games), women far outnumber men in certain demographics. According to a recent study from the Consumer Electronics Association, there are actually more women casual gamers in the 25 - 34 demographic than males. Come on ladies, how many of us have silently mouthed obscenities while scrambling to window out of a high-score Tetris game when our supervisor happens by? I know I’d have to raise my hand, and I’m guessing, so would many of you.
When it comes to online gaming, the populace of players is still primarily made up of testosterone laden individuals but there is a large influx of females into the MMOG arena, as confirmed by other commercial sectors. For example, many online merchandisers sell female MMOG fashion and accessories. Would these items stay on the market if there were not a demand for them? True, there could be some men out there sporting pink hoodies with curly-q writing, boldy proclaiming “I’m a WOW girl”, but…unlikey. Even Microsoft, a god-like power in the area of computer software, validates that women are a force to be recognized within the gaming ranks. This industry giant just hosted its 6th annual “Women in Gaming” night. In addition, there are countless other conventions, as well as literature and websites solely devoted to the female gamer.
With all of this data supporting an increase in the number of female gamers, it begs the question: Why are more and more females taking an interest in online games?
Ratio of Men vs Women At Home
There are still more women than men who spend the majority of their time in the home. In a 2005 study, the U.S. Census Bureau reported an estimated 5.6 million stay-at-home moms. That is a 22% increase from 1994. After slaying the dust bunnies under the couch, is it surprising that many of these women prefer to slay more formindable adversaries online?
A Venue for Women to Feel Empowered
In the World of Warcraft, it truly is an even playing field for the sexes. The method of progression does not discriminate as per gender. Women advance their character through the same grinding routine as men. Every opportunity for success in the game is the same for each player, including the ability to earn money or master a trade.
Social Outlet
Online gaming can be a social outlet for women, especially ones who spend the majority of their time in the home. Within the game, players often form guilds in order to create an army strong enough to slay even the nastiest of beasties. In addition to communicating through in-game typing, many guilds implement the use of voice communication software, such as Ventrilo. This software allows a large group of people to communicate much in the way that a phone party line would. It is an age old belief that women like to talk more than men. According to “The Female Mind”, a book written by Dr. Luan Brizendine, women talk almost three times as much as men. The book also claims that women actually get a ‘high’ from speaking because the act of talking triggers a flood of stimulating brain chemicals. Couple this with the adrenaline rush a player can get from taking out a mace wielding ogre and it’s easy to understand this lure of online gaming for some women.
Escapism Through Roleplaying
A woman can log on as a lithe night elf or a buxom human and get an instant make over with the click of a button. Just as men want to be all-powerful gods, women want to be goddesses, and just as powerful. WOW enables women to mind port away from responsibilities, household or otherwise, and exist in a different time and place. Besides, what female wouldn’t want traverse to a land where scantily clad barbarian men strolling through town is the norm?
Partners with Men Gamers
Many women play because their partners do. WOW can be a shared diversion for a couple because physical ability isn’t a barrier, as is the case with many other leisure activities. Indeed, I have peronsally witnessed a sister gamer being cheered on by her male counterpart when she was the last man standing (or more accurately last woman standing) in a bloody battle to the death. Pick up any book on healthy relationships and spending time together is usually near the top of the list. It’s a good thing that more and more women are entering the online arena with their partners. Most MMOG’s do require a decent investment in time and it is definitely a positive thing if that investment can be a shared one.
It’s FUN!!
Yes, it could just be as simple as that. Women play WOW because it is pleasurable to do so. Some women like to read, some women like to play tennis and some women like to dole out damage that facilitates a better understanding of the anatomical workings of a dragon’s entrails. To each her own, I say.
Real women do play World of Warcraft. So the next time you come across a badass shadow priest calling forth the powers of darkness to aid in her epic battle, don’t assume it’s a ‘Mangina.’ (I’ll leave you to decipher that colloquialism on your own). I believe the slogan for Womengamers.com sums it up the best, look out boys, ‘because women DO play’!
steven on August 13th, 2007
The attention surrounding MMOs (massively multiplayer online worlds) has never been greater. But ita€?s not just role playing games along for the ride; non-game, avatar-driven virtual communities are just as popular, if not by more, and wea€?re not just talking Second Life here.
So in an effort to cut through the hype and glean some context, here are the most popular MMOs in terms of active users or subscribers, based on publicly available data. These titles may or may not be games, but the medium has expanded far beyond Tolkienesque fantasy worlds. They all are Mac-friendly/Web-based with exception of Guild Wars. ??
1. World of Warcraft, released 2004 - 8.5 million subscribers. While Habbo is giving Blizzard a run, the numbers generally support WoW as the biggest MMO in the world. Important qualification, though: only 4 million are based in the West and monthly subscribers, while its 4 million Chinese players only pay roughly 4 cents an hour to play it in Internet cafes.
2. Habbo Hotel, released 2000 - 7.5 million active users. The Finland-based a€?social gamea€? MMO popular with teens and growing fast. Look out, Horde!
3. RuneScape, released 2001 - 5 million active users. A Java-based MMORPG operated by Jagex Ltd. with over nine million active free accounts. Boasts one million paying customers. Fancy that.
4. Club Penguin, released 2006 - 4 million active users. MMO for the kiddies developed by New Horizon Interactive. The game shares similarities with other social environments like Habbo Hotel.
5. Webkinz, released 2005 - 3.8 million active users. Herea€?s a novel idea: create beanie baby like stuffed animals, assign them a unique ID, then create an MMO portal in which kids can spend even more time using your product. When kids graduate from Club Penguin, they go to Webkinz (or so Ia€?m told.)
6. Gaia Online, released 2003 - 2 million active users. Not quite an MMO, not quite a social site, but founder Derek Liu has openly stated the networks desire to focus on social gaming. Forums make up 30% of the current site activity.
7. Guild Wars, released 2005 - 2 million active users. Another MMORPG made by the popular NCsoft out of South Korea. No Mac love here, but a lot of active users.
8. Puzzle Pirates, released 2003 - 1.5 million active users**. Published by Ubisoft and developed by indy king Three Rings, Puzzle Pirates merges casual games with a rising interest in pirate culture. Puffy shirt aside, ita€?s working like a charm.
9. Lineage I/II, released 1998 - 1 million subscribers. Published by South Koreas NCsoft, Lineage was once the most popular MMO of its day. At one point total active users peaked at 3 million. A Western release in 2002 mostly fizzled.
10. Second Life, released 2003 - 500,000 active users. No introduction needed here. Created by Linden Lab, this virtual world features a rabid fan base, inflated numbers, a high influx of corporate doppelgangers, and lots of digital genitals. First life optional.
Other popular MMOs are sure to exist, particularly new-comers and non-localized Asian games that are sure to grow. Also, this list reflects popularity alone, not necessarily revenue models, though World of Warcraft is performing well on both counts.
For all intents and purposes, the most popular MMOs represent an estimated 50-75% of the total MMO market (30-60 million active users.) Is that enough attention to justify MMOa€?s recent surge of attention? Maybe not all of the hype, but definitely a large portion of it. And who wouldna€?t want a piece of Blizzarda€?s reoccurring pie or another revenue model with a similar install base?
Interestingly, however, ita€?s apparent that no single business model is winning out. Subscriptions work well for MMORPG games like WoW that are more akin to crack cocaine than mere entertainment. But what about other non-game MMOs? How will companies bank on consumer attention in those areas? One thinga€?s for certain: with all the popularity surrounding MMOs several new business models are sure to flourish in the coming years, as ita€?s not just about games anymore.
*Of Western origin or with a localized presence here. a€?Active usersa€? based on most recent monthly log-in figures when available. Subscriber numbers are not necessarily a reflection of active users. Figures compiled from Wikipedia (excluding, to the best of my knowledge, free trials, beta users, and web visitors without accounts.) Virtual Worlds News also referenced; Habbo figures taken from company spokeswoman, Second Life figures from most recent published stats. Special attention was given to notable MMOs in terms of where they stack up when looking at the numbers in addition to their popularity and/or high profile (i.e. Second Life.) Amendments and additions welcome.
** Update, June 15th: Puzzle Pirates active users are actually 200,000, according to company CEO Daniel James. With no single tracking authority or qualitative filtering, this list was bound to be controversial. Other MMO candidates named in Comments include Bots, Neopets, Final Fantasy XI, City of Heroes, Virtual Magic Kingdom, Lord of The Rings Online, along with others, many of them considered and rejected, others not. All will be considered in an update to this list.
