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Graphical upgrades are a must in the MMO world, that’s a fact undeniable, and many changes come with them. This time it’s Dead Frontier turn to get into the present MMO world, as Jagged Blade Games has announced they’re upgrading the graphical environment of its zombie game from 2D to 3D. From now, you’ll be able to play this F2P browser-based MMO that brings crazy non-stop action, full of combat against all kind of zombies. You’ll have to fight for your life and not only you’ll face zombies but players as well, as the game counts with brutal PVP action.

This new overhaul for Dead Frontier seems to turn the game into a better one, I’m really impressed with the 3D graphics it shows in our browsers. To kill zombies is a classic for gamers, what I wonder is if you could get deeper into your character, beyond the endless slaughter and carnage. Dead Frontier offers over 100 real world weapons and some skills, we’ll see if that’s enough to hook the average avid MMO gamer.

What happens when the initial population of an aging game dies down and the “great need” to accommodate the mass influx of players are is longer so “great”? Being an IT Infrastructure Engineer (this means I work on large enterprise servers, like the ones we’re talking about here) as well as a writer for MMOCrunch.com I seem to be in a great position to answer this question. Simply put – some servers must be shut down. Contrary to popular belief, SOE is not shutting down servers because of the cost. Operationally speaking, servers are cheap to run and maintain. It’s true, adding a brand new server (or cluster in some cases) can be quite the daunting task both financially and logistically, but simply keeping one running? Bah! There’s more in the task of merging servers than there is just letting the server continue.

Join with me after the jump to find out why servers are merged, and the latest news on the EQII server moves including which servers are getting moved.

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Sometimes, I think of the power progression in MMORPGs. Certainly, managing the player’s power progression is a difficult thing that could even ruin the game’s balance. We play a bunch of hours a week, getting our characters to be more and more powerful in time until, compared to players, NPCs are weaker than the almighty tide of avid gamers wanting to reach the top.

So, have you ever thought how is this going to be managed in DC Universe Online? Will villain players be able to raid a superhero icon like, let’s say, Batman? I wonder if, after playing for years and the game is full of maximun level players with the best gear possible, those poor NPCs  would stand a chance.

While you think of this, check out the last batch of screenshots SOE has released for DCUO, showing nice places and, of course, more combat between player characters and NPCs.

Hey, MMOCrunch readers, rejoice! Aeria games has kindly sent some beta keys, for the Dynasty Warriors Online Closed Beta, and we want you to be gifted with one.

DWO is an action MMO, set in in the oriental culture through the China’s “Three Kingdoms” period. In this game, you’ll experience the thrill of battle frenetically, as you fight against endless hordes, using a wide variety of weapons. It’s all about conquering Ancient China but looks like you’ll have to do it the epic way. In past videos we’ve seen DWO characters facing many enemies at the same time, hitting dozens with powerful and stunning hits, it reminded me of Neo in The Matrix 2, not realistic but fun. DWO seems to be the new hack-and-slash hit and now you can give it a try.

So, fancy playing the closed beta? Then go and grab a Dynasty Warriors Online closed beta key here at MMOCrunch, download the game, register and start kicking some asses all around the “Three Kingdoms”, cause we give you the opportunity, in this beta key giveaway.

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Ladies and gentlemen, the Kitsu Saga Closed Beta is no more, welcome to the brand-new Open Beta for the Aeria Games MMO.

From yesterday, all Kitsu Saga beta participants and everyone willing to, can download the game and begin playing in this new beta phase. Closed Beta accounts have been wiped, but all character progress remains, so don’t worry, you won’t lose your beloved toon for now. Aeria games stated that they are happy with how things went on last phase, saying it was “a major success”, and they are excited about Open Beta.

The swirling mists surrounding Kitsu Saga have parted, and the mysterious Kitsu have finally emerged, inviting all gamers to meet them in Open Beta Testing (OBT). Kitsu Saga, the newest free-to-play MMORPG from Aeria Games, has reached the next milestone on its journey, and is now welcoming eager players from all over the world.

With OBT having begun, those dedicated players who participated in the recently concluded Closed Beta will be awarded with unique in-game prizes as thanks for their efforts to stop the Golden Dharma King. These treasures will help players to survive the rigors of training under their faction’s school and become full-fledged warriors, as they seek to defend their realms from evil. Along the way, they will be joined by the Kitsu, a tribe of helpful foxes descended from a holy nine-tailed spirit. Players will be able to bring the Kitsu’s magic into battle, as well as build relationships with them for powerful items and artifacts.

The kitsu await, as the Open Beta for Kitsu Saga has started.

It’s nice when our game, whatever game that may be, hears us. It’s nice when they recognize their player base and throws us a bone. Call it what you will, but this is the norm for most massively multiplayer games. Now that you’ve met the norm, I’d like you to meet the exception. For over a year now, Fallen Earth has continued to deliver steady updates of both polish and content as well as keeping a constant line of communication open with its subscribers.

Ask any Wastelander, and you’ll find out quickly; Fallen Earth is not a well polished game. It has a lot of combat problems, graphics glitches, and even some animation issues, but you have to ask the right questions to get the real take-away.

Ask those same players how the game has matured. Ask them if the game is getting better. Ask them if the developer listens to their players. Ask them if the developer cares about the game they play. What you’ll find is a very loving community, dedicated to helping out new players and talking Fallen Earth up. Icarus Studios needs no PR Team. After all, they have their players.

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Nexon celebrates the releasing of the Open Beta for Vindictus with a new thrilling video, showcasing the tremendous visual impact the game has. In addition to the usual cool combat moves, in this video we can see the perspective of one of the game’s boss, showing the power of the graphics engine and a bit of the new content available in the Open Beta.

From October 13, all Vindictus fans in North America are enjoying the open beta of Vindictus. The game is set to officially launch next October 27, but for now everyone can download the game and start getting into the elegantly brutal universe of this action MMO. Along with the new beta phase comes a new dungeon called Ainle. This dungeon will be accessible from a boat on dock three and is full of terrible monsters and bosses. Vampires, fire attacks mobs and Hell servants will make your path a dangerous one, as Ainle is invaded by hordes of them, though it was a calm place once. Are you brave enough to even hurl a corpse of a defeated enemy at the mobs? You’ll have to prove yourself into this new dungeon.

Remember your characters from Open Beta will stay, once the game launches late this month and if you have been playing from the beginning, on Closed Beta, you’ll get the special title “Early Bird” for the first character you log into the game.

The brutal and elegant Open Beta for Vindictus, has come.

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Turbine has recently released a new batch of screenshots for Dungeons & Dragons Online Unlimited, showcasing several scenes from Update 7: Half Bloods. This is the new major update for this F2P MMO, introducing two new races: the Half-Elf and the Half-Orc. Update 7 is the biggest content update for DDO since last year and, in addition to the two new races, all players can enjoy in a new 12-man raid area, a free quest line and one of those things I really love in every MMO, an in-game event for Halloween.

Looks like Turbine hit the right button, turning DDO into a F2P MMO. The game is full of players and keeps growing. Later this month, if no delays, we’ll see  Update 7: Half Bloods releasing.

From today, Thursday, October 14, all Legend of Edda fans can rejoice, as the open beta phase for this game starts. With the open beta, a lot of changes and improvements are coming, making LOE a better game, including an increasing of the level cap to 40, new armor, weapons, explorable areas, monsters and two new dungeons for levels 30 to 40. The equipment upgrading system is getting some love too, so players can face the new challenges these updates  bring,  making weapons stronger and armor more simply.

“We want to thank everyone who participated in the closed beta test and now want to open up that experience, along with several new enhancements, to all players. They are now one step closer to discovering the dynamic mythological fantasy world of Legend of Edda, and we want everyone to come and experience all of the new exciting changes now that are part of the open beta test.”

Sacred Treasure Wars is updated with brand-new content as well, the devs consider PVP and RVR battles as the core of the game, so they have added a new Sacred Treasure Map, challenging the player’s strategy aptitude and their teamwork talent. Sacred Treasure  Wars will take place more frequently, for more players and with a more dynamic rate.

New armor rewards are included into this new beta phase, for all those enthusiast hardcore RVR players, through Sacred Treasure Wars points and for the high levels lovers, new items are included.

Finally, Legend of Edda reaches the Open Beta phase all its fans were waiting for. It’s time to play.

Today, Stunlock Studios and Funcom released four new videos for their upcoming Arena-PvP centered Bloodline Champions. The videos feature four of the classes including the Alchemist, the Gunner, the Spear Master, and the Thorn. To our surprise, these videos pack quite a bit of excitement. While PvE (player vs. environment) content is completely non-existent save for a few bots in the turorial missions, Funcom claims they are attempting to  “combine deep gameplay with great graphics and a powerful matchmaking system to become a true next-generation PvP game.”

With sixteen different Bloodlines, we should see some fairly varied gameplay. As of this point Funcom has assured us they will release more videos for the other Bloodlines soon. While we could provide the complete play-by-play of these videos, we’ve decided to show them instead. Enjoy them after the jump!

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