Sony makes Everquest 2 Free-to-Play August 17th
SOE has announced that its popular MMORPG Everquest 2 will embrace the free-to-play model on August 17th 2010. Free-to-play characters will be able to reach the maximum level of 80, while subscribers will have access to 90 levels plus end game content. This new addition to the game will include a new UI and will allow free-to-play characters to experience all content up to the Shadow Odyssey expansion completely free of charge. Everquest 2 is not the first major MMORPG to adopt this approach- Dungeons and Dragons Online and also Lord of the Rings Online have gone free-to-play over the last few years. Even World of Warcraft, the most popular MMORPG in the world, is expected to go free-to-play eveutually as well- I'll keep you posted!
Game Review – Allods Online
Allods Online is a free-to-play MMORPG released early this year by Russian developer Astrum Nival. The game takes players into a 3-D, cartoon-style,
fantasy world, similar to MMORPG’s like World of Warcraft- in-fact the game is so similar to WoW in its over all presentation, that it seems like a crime that it was ever made in the first place. None-the-less, Allods is a fun, well-made, polished, free MMO that is certainly worth checking out.
Allods Online includes six races and eight classes which are separated by a good and evil alliance; again, similar to WoW. Unfortunately, no matter what class you play, starting off in this game is brutally slow. The combat is fairly straightforward and it doesn’t really get interesting until after the player gains a collection of skills and abilities around level 20. Fortunately, the questing system is easy to follow and fairly fun, allowing players to track quests and follow them on their mini-map.
Graphically, Allods looks slightly better than WoW- more similar to the graphics engine created for Warhammer Online. One downside to Allod’s engine is the physics and character animations. Character movement feels clunky at times and it’s not nearly as fluid and polished as most paid MMORPG’s.
After players get past the first twenty drudgingly boring levels, Allods becomes a much more enjoyable experience. The dungeons and questing system become a lot of fun and the combat picks up quite a bit. Players also start getting into main storyline in the game, which contains a surprising amount of depth. Allods is simply one of the best free MMORPG’s available right now, and anyone who enjoys World of Warcraft or Warhammer Online should definitely give it a shot.
Battle of the Immortals Open Beta Begins
A new 2d MMORPG called Battle of the Immortals recently released its open beta to the public on May 4th. The Beta is now well underway, introducing five
playable classes, an extensive pet system, and some very well implemented zone-based pvp combat. The game also includes a cash shop system which thedevelopers claim will "enable players to pay for convenience, but not to pay for power." For more information regarding the open beta visit the game's website here.
Fantasy Earth: Zero – Official Trailer & Beta
Fantasy Earth: Zero is a MMORPG developed by Square Enix. It was canceled shortly after its initial launch due to lack of demand, however, the game was purchased by Fenix Soft and converted into a Free to Play game which began its beta phase March 3, 2010. If you would like to join the beta you can find it on the official North American Fantasy Earth: Zero Website.
Here is the official trailer for the game. Enjoy!
Free MMO’s and Haiti Recovery?
According to the Runes of Magic homepage:
"Frogster has donated 40,000 Euros to the international charity organization Save the Children.
Between Nov. 20, 2009, and Dec. 28, 2009, players bought almost 12,500 mounts via the "Moa's Charity Steed for Save the Children." Donating 3 Euros for each sold mount, our users raised 40,000 Euros (more than $52,000) for the cause.
Save the Children is active protecting children's rights all over the world and helps children in need of medical attention and provides quality education and shelter from violence. Furthermore, Save the Children supports children and their families in cases of natural disasters, such as the situation currently in Haiti.
Today, 170 helpers are in Haiti to support the children and families needing help. If you want to donate directly, visit http://www.savethechildren.org/, and ensure that the children of Haiti have a better future.
We thank you for your great support!"
Very cool to see support going out to Haiti from businesses across the board! It would be interesting to see the amount of money World of Warcraft could draw if they really tried...
Allods Online – Gameplay Footage
Here is some footage from the upcoming Allods Online, a very impressive looking MMORPG that is currently in open beta. It's getting great reviews from the current testers and definitely worth checking out.
Happy New Years
Happy New Years and Welcome to 2010. If the predictions are correct that means we have exactly 2 years until the end of the world. Oh well, thats plenty of time for some solid MMO gaming!
Game Review – Battlefield Heroes
It's a challenge to create a shooter with a leveling system that is balanced and fair; and even more challenging to make one that's offered for free- nonetheless it seems that Electronic Arts was able to pull it off. Battlefield Heroes is a new, free to play, MMO, third person shooter by EA games. This cell shaded cartoon-style shooter is based off of the Battlefield franchise and follows a similar, yet simplified formula of action-packed game play. In Battlefield Heroes, players capture bases and kill other players to increase the teams overall score. Four flags are scattered across each map and players must assault these bases using an arsenal of weapons and vehicles to dominate the opposing team.
Currently there are only two different sides to play in Battlefield Heroes, the Royals and the Nationals, each of which offer several classes to choose from: the Soldier, Gunner and Commando. Each of these classes have a completely different look and game play style, however they also remain extremely well balanced. Upon creation, players can customize their class by choosing a variety of facial features such as hair style, facial hair, and skin color. Unlike previous Battlefield games, Heroes offers a unique leveling feature that allows players to obtain "Hero Points" as they
level up. Hero points are gained every other level and allow the player to unlock and improve a series off different class-specific abilities. For instance, putting points into the soldier's "Burning Bullets" ability grants the player access to ammunition that catches other players on fire.
As players compete in different matches they are also granted "Valor Points" which allow them to rent different weapons and uniforms. A huge variety of uniforms and weapon skins can also be purchased with "Battle Funds" a system separate to Valor Points which are obtained through micro-transactions.
I have been playing Battlefield heroes since the early beta so I've had the chance to watch the game grow and evolve over the last eight months. It has come along way since the early beta when only 3 maps were offered and the game sported a very primitive interface. Since then a lot of work has gone into the player matching system which places players of similar skill into the same matches. The feature really balanced out the game and has made it the most polished free MMO available. Check it out here to start playing!
Allods Closed Beta!
The new free-to-play MMORPG, Allods Online, is now offering closed beta sign-ups on their website. Allods is a revolutionary massively multiplayer RPG from Gala-Net, publishers of Flyff and Rappelz, and Astrum Nival, developer of Heroes of Might & Magic V and Rage of
Mages. The largest game development project in Russian history ($12 million), Allods features state of the art graphics by top award-winning artists and a cinematic soundtrack by Mark Morgan (Dexter, Fallout 1 & 2, Planescape: Torment). The game is one of the largest and most comprehensive MMORPGs ever created, featuring a vast and gorgeously realized world, astral space exploration, and flying ships which can be crewed by multiple parties to explore new realms and pillage other astral travelers. Allods won the Best Game 2009 & Audience Choice awards from the Russian Game Developers Conference.The next closed beta begins on Dec 29th, so check it out and get signed up to redeem your beta key today!
Game Review – Shards of Dalaya
Shards of Dalaya is a free MMORPG built on the Everquest engine; essentially an emulator with loads of custom content. Over the last several years a great deal of work has gone into this sever by its generous team of developers, who work for free to bring the Shards of Dalaya community new content, updates and customer support. The sever is completely supported by the fans, some of who choose to donate their own money to keep the server alive. While donating is encouraged, it is not required and failure to donate will never keep you from accessing game content.
I recently started up SoD again after a two year break, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the server in better shape than ever. In SoD, the max level is 65 and loads of AA's have been implimented for every class. The developers have gone out of their way to make SoD more user friendly than Everquest ever was, supporting many custom features such as a faster travel system, a detailed vendor list, a fully implemented quest tracking system, loads of custom end game content and faster leveling. The server has been so highly customized that it's story and the game world have been patched togeather in a such a way that makes it feel like a whole new game altogether.
If you like group based MMORPG's that involve a lot of teamwork or you're just looking for a game with a great community, look no further- Shards of Dalaya has plenty to offer. If you're considering trying to play, simply create an account on the Shards of Dalaya website, install Everquest, and follow the directions on their website to get the SoD patcher up and running. Good luck, and I hope to see you in game.
