Recently a new ratings system for games was proposed on another website, I took a little of that framework and adjusted it for my own reviews. It is simple and still in it’s “new idea” phase, as I didn’t want to complicate things (too much). It’s also open for discussion and if anyone has an idea or a  pro/con to throw in, let me know. It is still in its “Beta” phases as only I came up with this system as I was writing a review for a game.

Continued…

In a little under a month Runes of Magic will have its first challenge.  It’s not a new game from Nexon, or Webzen, but a mutated pay-to-play title.  Perhaps you have heard of the company Turbine Entertainment?  Yes folks, Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited will be the first major challenger to Runes of Magic, and the hold the WoW-a-like has over the WoW-a-like market.  And Frogster should be scared, very scared.

Despite the recent delay to early AugustSeptember, DDO:EU has been drumming up swaths of media.  Some of it focuses on the negatives, such as the poorly timed delay, or the titles “fall” into the F2P market, but most of it remains positive.  The positive coverage covers numerous topics including the steps Turbine is taking to convert the title from one business model to another, the upcoming content patch that will be launched alongside the revised title, the renewed interest in a forgotten game, and the title’s deep connection with instancing and grouping.  Don’t believe me?  Peruse any blog or site dedicated toMMO titles and I gurantee that you will find numerous mentions of DDO : EU in the last few weeks.  Turbine’s other project, Lord of the Rings Online, would die for this kind of excitement when it reaches the troublesome three year mark.

Considering DDO’s full head of steam, and its roots as a pay-to-play title, Frogster better be preparing some distractions to keep RoM’s members from wondering what Eberron may offer.  As evidenced in my recent microtransactions post, Western gamers continue to pair F2P titles with negative connotations.  However, DDO’s model change will put the added credibility, whether perceived or actual, of pay-to-play titles against Runes of Magic.

Some of these assumptions include:

• A extremely high level of polish.  This mainly describes the gameplay, but also includes graphics, optimization and stability issues.
• Deeper and more unique classes.
• Larger amount of content in-game, and in the works.
• More fulfilling story lines.
• Playing the title is what gets one ahead in the game.
• A tighter, more dedicated community.

Sadly Frogster/Runewaker (the developer) hasn’t done much to change the perceptions players have about F2P titles.  As of this writing little has been detailed as to the improvements thatRoM’s upcoming content patch, Chapter II – The Elven Prophecy, will deliver.  Don’t get me wrong, new content is fantastic, but with server issues, connection stability problems, poor localization and bland quest design being rampant inRoM, one would hope for a long list of bug fixes to accommodate the introductions of Elves.

It remains to be seen how much of an impact DDO will have on RoM’s recent success, especially with the recent delay.  I can tell you that it’s kept this dedicated gamer, and player of RoM, from dropping additional money on Diamonds until I can give DDO a full test drive.  Appears that Frogster has given Turbine a chance that the company would be stupid to pass up.

A few days ago I had a chance to get an advance screening of a new film documentary about MMORPG gamers called Second Skin.

When the film started I got a sense that it was going to be more about the business aspect of MMO games, how they’ve effected our lives and how they will change them in the future.  However it quickly became a sort of MTV True Life episode where we just follow 3 different group of gamers through their lives.

The film covers a wide area of topics, but mainly concentrates on 3 groups of people.  First we are introduced to a couple that met online in Everquest 2, start dating and eventually move in together.  Then we have 4 friends that are ultra hardcore MMO gamers and we follow them as some have kids and get married.  Then we have Dan, who is a World of Warcraft addict and Liz who is a counselor for gaming addicts.

As a gamer for nearly my whole life, I felt that the film shined a negative light on MMO gamers and gamers in general.  It showed all the typical stereotypes that we’re used to seeing in the media.  Socially akward people living in dirty cramp apartments, overweight with no regard for their health as long as they can squeeze in a extra 20 mins of gaming a night.

The filmed played out more like an anti-gaming campaign to show the dangers of what could happen if you let your kid play a MMORPG.  That’s not what I was hoping to see when I started to watch this film.  We constantly hear the negatives of gaming and I was hoping that this would show some positives of gaming and the posibilities of what MMO games could become.  Unfortunetly no such luck.

Dan, the WoW addict, was by far the most disturbing person in the film.  This is a guy that played 15+ hrs per day, lost his job, apartment, gained 60 lbs and was on the verge of suicide.  This is not your typical MMO gamer.  Nor are the 4 friends that had a 5 day marathon of WoW when The Burning Crusade expansion was released to see who would be the first to reach level 70.   Obviously when making a film like this someone that plays 10 hrs a week and is well balanced does not make for an interesting story, but the film doesn’t even touch this.

Throughout the film we are given little stat breaks about MMO gamers such as “3 out of 4 gamers are in a guild”.  The problem is that almost all the stats seem to show MMO gamers in a negative way.  There is a 5 min part that shows people with disabilities and how MMO games have changed their life for the better, but it’s very brief and it goes right back into the negative aspect of MMO games.

While I did enjoy the film, I’m afraid that people that don’t play MMO games will get an extremely negative picture of MMO games and gamers.  Why not create a positive film about MMO games instead of playing the same broken record over and over again.

You can view the film here.   Runtime: 1 hr 34 mins

Lifetime; such a strong combinations of words to put together, also has a powerful impact in marketing campaigns. In light of Cryptic Studios releasing the pricing options for Champions Online this fall, I have to admit that lifetime subscriptions are an attractive option.

I hate to be the one to say this, but lifetime makes the most business sense. After much hacking on calculator keys, I figured out if you played for 3 years and paid monthly you’re blowing $540.00. If you went by way of 6 month payments, you’re paying $360.00 to play a superhero. Now, if you are playing for that long, as a life time subscriber your breaking even at the 13 month mark if you’re paying monthly. How many games did I dribble out monthly or bi-annual payments to? A lot.

This isn’t a new option offered by MMORPG studios, two years ago Turbine offered “founders” (people who played from the beta stages) a $200.00 lifetime subscriber offer, a hundred dollar discount over the regular rate. They both have a similar pricing plan; let’s look at it on paper:

Continued…

Cryptic Studios took time out of the busy crunch period to unveil yet another powerset to the masses awaiting Champions Online.  The unveiling of the Ice power set marks the fifth power set unveiled in the last six business days.  Power sets are the basic building blocks of a “class” in Champions Online.

The sets have been known to Closed Beta Testers for some time, but no one was allowed to discuss them at length.  For the first time you can get a complete run down on these, and upcoming sets, over on the Power Sets gallery.

• Electricity – heavy damage dealing build with direct, chain and area effect abilities
• Fire -  damage over time and area effect specialist
• Power Armor – contains a payload of weaponry
• Force – focuses on knockback attacks
• Ice – excels at slowing down enemies

Naturally, Cryptic isn’t guaranteeing that everything listed will make it into the MMORPG when it launches on September 1; “all powers and power sets are considered unfinished and are subject to change at any time.”

I caught this on MMORPG.com, Fileplanet.com is giving away keys for the closed beta test for Sci-Fi Shooter: Huxley: the Dystopia.

Get your keys: Here

And if your don’t have an Ijji.com account then open one: Here

I know there’s keys available, I’ve got mine and just waiting for the cleint download. SNIFFFFFF, I love the smell of a new beta in the morning!

See you ingame!

Ink

Today we have some brand new Huxly screenshots which you can take a look at below.   Huxly recently entered phase 2 of its beta testing, but no release date has been announced yet.  I don’t know about you, but this game looks friggin awesome.  After Jumpgate Evolution this is the next game on my must have list.

Cryptic Studios announced an enticing deal yesterday.  The maker of Champions Online (Star Trek Online and another, undisclosed MMOG) revealed a pair of attractive plans for those looking to jump into the superhero MMORPG.  Like many companies before it, Cryptic is now offering a Lifetime Subscription to the unreleased, not-even-open-beta-yet title for a hefty price of $200.  If one breaks it down, you’d be “saving” money once your eleventh monthly fee of $15 hit your credit card. Continued…

Patch 3.2 is here. For us causal games there are many changes going into the game. One such interesting change is the changes to mount speed and the earlier level you may purchase them at. Faster mounts equals faster leveling. Blizzard apparently wants you to get out of the old world and into the expansions as soon as possible. This is great news for alts and the new player that faces the daunting task of going from 1-80. Here are the skills with levels and cost, enjoy.

Apprentice Riding (Skill 75)
• 60% land mount speed
• Requires level 20
• Cost: 4 gold
• Mount cost: 1 gold
• Mail will be sent to players at level 20 guiding them to the riding trainer

Journeyman Riding (Skill 150)
• 100% land mount speed
• Requires level 40
• Cost: 50 gold
• Mount cost: 10 gold
• Mail will be sent to players at level 40 guiding them back to the riding trainer

Expert Riding (Skill 225)
• 150% flying mount speed; 60% land mount speed
• Requires level 60
• Cost: 600 gold (faction discounts now apply)
• Mount Cost: 50 gold
• Can now be learned in or Thrallmar (Horde) Honor Hold (Alliance)

Artisan Riding (Skill 300)
• 280% flying mount speed; 100% land mount speed
• Requires level 70
• Cost: 5,000 gold (faction discounts now apply)
• Mount Cost: 100 gold

Tome of Cold Weather Flying
If you have a level 80 in Northrend you can purchase The Tome of Cold Weather Flying from the exotic mount vendor in Dalaran. This is an account bound heirloom item that can be sent to one of your characters that are at or above level 68. The price appears to be same; 1000 gold. This will allow that character to fly over Northrend much sooner than the original level 77.

Recently Sega Sammy (the parent company for Sega) reported very weak earnings, losing revenue of about $150 million, which is change of -19%. I looked into the company myself and tried to figure out why they are failing so badly. Is it the economy? They released over 30 titles in the past 12 months, like The Conduit and Virtua Tennis. Is it the quality of their titles like The Conduit for Wii that only sold a paltry 150,000 copies?

Hmmmm….

After talking with another gamer friend who began telling me about the new MMO she is trying Phantasy Star Universe. Now being an old time player of the Phantasy Star series on the old Sega, I figured I was due to throw another iron in the fire.

Then I found out just how much of a trainwreck Sega made of this title. They have a virtual cash cow here, and by today’s standard in the mMO community, they are way behind the curve. If they don’t change things soon, Phantasy Star Universe might end up just as the late Matrix Online and the whole Sega brand might be in danger.

Continued…