EverQuest II just launched its new Destiny of Velious expansion, and the game is proving to have an interesting cast of creature NPCs.

Lodizal is a giant ferry turtle that serves as the transport leading to the continent of Velious. More than 600 years old, Lodizal is a native of the frigid Iceclad Ocean and has been around long enough to witness the turbulent Age of Cataclysms and Age of Turmoil. Plenty have attempted to hunt the legendary turtle probably for his prized meat and impentrable shell, but he remains elusive to captors because of his divine powers handed down by Ocean Lord Prexus himself.

Also standing guard over Lodizal is Nipik, the longest-living Othmir in history. Nipik had fled the Cobalt Scar along with his people after it was devastated by the Rending. In their new home at Velious, Nipik found out that his premonitions of the Rending disaster was given by Prexus, the same god that protected Lodizal. It became clear to the wise Othmir that he was chosen to help Lodizal ferry new adventurers to the shores of Velious according to the wishes of the ocean lord.

In-game, Lodizal and Nipik serve as nifty throwbacks to the original EverQuest game where the turtle served as rare spawn. While players now won’t be able to wipe on the giant turtle, they can still take screenshots atop his spiked shell like they always did back in the original game. Better yet, have that screenshot framed and placed alongside your Lodizal plushie displayed in your house or guild hall.

Guild Wars 2 is back with more news, after some time in silence. ArenaNet works hard and thousands of anxious players are waiting for more and more information about this game. Recently, the Guardian class has been presented, bringing a lot of new guesses throughout the whole GW2 community. Now, the devs bring the Human Week, specially dedicated to everything related to this race and they have added some updates to the GW2 human page.

Along with the human history, their main city Divinity’s Reach, the circumstances that humans have to confront and their heritage, a new video presenting Kryta (the last Human homeland) has been added to the blog.

The humans of Tyria are an embattled race. Over the past three hundred years, they have lost much of their territory. Old enemies and new races threaten traditional human lands on all sides. Yet the human race survives, defending their remaining lands and maintaining the human spirit as they have for centuries. Their greatest city, Divinity’s Reach, shines as a beacon of hope for the people of Kryta and beyond–even those dwelling deep within charr territory. The human legends are indelibly imprinted on the souls of all the races of Tyria, be they friend or foe.

It is great that ArenaNet keeps bringing new updates and information about Gw2. This game is one of the most awaited in MMO history and promises to change a lot of holy features we’re used to. The blog is such a good source of information, where you can read for hours about lots of so interesting topics. If you plan to give GW2 a try when it comes out, you cannot miss this wonderful blog.

Have a look at the last updates and the whole stuff published, during the Human Week. Go to the official webiste and check it out.

Zeus, the Greek god of sky and thunder, can be pretty scary if he puts his booming voice and crackling lightning behind it. In the new Mytheon trailer, we get to watch an irate and gigantic Zeus threaten the mortals (aka you) who dare defy him. While no actual gameplay was included in the trailer, the depiction of Zeus tells us all we need to know: He’s going to be one difficult boss.

“Challenging Gods is at the heart of Mytheon, and this trailer gives players a glimpse at the colossal battles that are in store when they tackle such mythological legends as Zeus,” said Peter Cesario, director of product development at UTV True Games, the developer behind Mytheon which is now in closed beta.

As an online multiplayer action RPG, Mytheon has a Diablo-feel to it and features three distinct Stonecaster classes. For a pro tip on how to deliver the “Mortals!” line with a thespian’s aplomb, watch the Zeus Mytheon trailer after the jump:

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Even the industry’s most colossal game developers have started from humble beginnings, and Blizzard is no exception. From The Lost Vikings and Warcraft to Diablo and Starcraft (and the successors therein), the innovative studio has been at the front of the pack for nearly its entire lifespan. Having been passed through many hands until its current place with Activision, Blizzard has remained true to its vision of “mak[ing] cool games and have fun doing so.” Simple enough, isn’t it?

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Well, it looks like Lex Luthor is at it again. The DC Universe: Online cinematics have been pretty impressive, if I don’t say so myself, and SOE’s newest offering puts a darker twist on the events surrounding Batman and Luthor. The voice acting isn’t Mass Effect quality, but it’s certainly compelling and believable nonetheless. The new trailer will certainly get prospective buyers more excited to jump into this action-packed, lore steeped world. I mean universe. Wait, what are Batman and Luthor doing together? I need to go back and rewatch this video at once!

The scene is set in an underground ice cave where Luthor and his accomplice, Fracture, dodge falling glacial shards as they rush to escape the inevitable onslaught of Brainiac’s forces. As the pair close in on their destination – an unstable time portal – Fracture is confronted by an elemental construct that has broken through the ice. Luthor approaches the portal, which is being prepared by a horribly disfigured Batman, just as more enemy forces crash into the chamber. Something isn’t right, here. Check out the DC Universe: Online video above to see what happens next…

Like many people who are furry and orange and made mostly of craft fur and foam, I sometimes have a hard time making decisions.  What to have for breakfast, what cartoon to watch, which member of the Scooby Gang was coolest, or even more difficult; which online game do I want to play?

There are lots of games out there and choosing one to start playing can be tricky, even overwhelming if you’re new to the online gaming or social gaming scene.  There are some big names out there that everyone knows about, like World of Warcraft or Farmville, but just because a game is popular doesn’t mean it’s the game for you. McDonald’s sells millions of burgers a day, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best food out there (or even edible in some cases.)  Before you go and jump on the popularity bandwagon you should really think about what it is you want to do online, how you want to interact with other players, what you want to get out of a game, and what you’re going to be expected to put into a game; as most online games, even casual ones, have some component that encourages, or even requires, regular play.

So how do I choose?

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Remnant Knights, an anime-inspired MMORPG is busting out the talent* and the free closed beta keys! Kawaii! Lose yourself in the world of Kasmari and become the last line of defense against an ancient threat.  Begin with three basic areas of study (Gun Circle, Magic Circle or Fight Circle) in either the Owl or Dragon School, then, at level 10, decide if you’d like to specialize even further.

In addition, there’s customizable player housing, mounts (like hoverboards and jet scooters) and naturally, a chance to smack the speedlines off of your friends in PvP. Watch for in-game events and competitions during the beta as well. So flip that blue hair out of those big eyes and go grab yourself a beta key while they’re still available.

*Story written by DC Comics’ Eisner award winner, Jim Krueger – dialog by Hunter Brown book series creators, Chris and Allen Miller.

World of Warcraft is a great game. It offers an arena in which one can jump right in and enjoy an MMORPG experience as just that –  a multi-faceted game that really does offer something for all sorts of gamers. However, every dream house needs a robust foundation, and WoW provides that in a lore crafted through four games, multiple expansions, over a dozen novels and a series of comic books. Familiarizing oneself with that lore makes for a much richer gaming experience, not to mention it tells a pretty cool story.

A very rich cast of characters populates the WoW storyline. Villains like Arthas, the Lich King, Archimonde, the Eredar demon lord, and Kel’Thuzad, the founder of the Cult of the Damned are larger than life, each with a backstory as deep as any major antagonist in modern science-fiction/fantasy fiction. Lining up against these fiends are heroes like Jaina Proudmoore and Uther Lightbringer on the Alliance side, with Sylvanas or Varok Saurfang on the Horde side. These are legends of the World of Warcraft story; these are names that every player should at least be somewhat familiar with.

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Trion Worlds has just announced that next February 15^th, the Open Beta for RIFT will take place for a period of six days. During this phase, all MMO fans interested in trying this soon to launch game, can throw themselves into the dangerous, gorgeous and dynamic world of Telara.

Continuing with the marketing method set by Trion, this new beta phase is called “Telara the Merciless”. When you get yourself into this world, you see lots of things continuously happening, in addition to the normal MMO activity. You find yourself surrounded by invasions of all kinds, Rifts opening all of a sudden and everywhere, sending all types of monsters against Telara.

A tireless and unending horde, invaders from the planes continue their assault on Telara. The final (beta) battle is at hand and the fate of the planet depends on the courage and strength of Telara’s champions. Become one of the Ascended and fight for a world that’s on the brink of losing all hope.

Which side will you choose? Guardian, Defiant? It’s up to you. Whether you’re a PvE or a PvP player, you’ll find lots of action. Hundreds of quests, faction and planar special items, bosses, battlegrounds, story-driven missions and more, for the joy of all gamers in the  Open Beta to start next February 15^th.

You’re still in time to sign for the beta, and if you want more information, visit the fantastic website of the game.

RIFT is to launch next March 1^st, but you’ll be able to try it and see if you like it, as much as I do.

Good or evil, good or evil… I just can’t decide! But you get too! Faxion Online has begun its closed beta and is giving away the keys to Heaven… and Hell. It seems that flights of angels and a divergence of demons are waging constant war in the world of Limbo; winner take all.  Now’s your chance to pick an allegiance, jump in and start whomping on the other side.

Faxion offers unique features like visceral (that is to say, truer to life than your usual MMO) combat, multiclass customization and the ability to continue your character’s growth offline, while you go out and reacquaint yourself with that mythical destination, “outside.”

All that and the 7 Deadlies too, you say? Sign me up! And sing you up too. Grab yourself a beta key while you may; they won’t last for long.