More teens getting married in MMO's

More and more teens are getting hitched in online virtual worlds, according to Lim Jun Yi in an article he wrote at website asiaone, which was first published at The Straits Times.

At an estimated $30 for $40 per marriage, which includes the virtual wedding rings and required tickets, the events aren't cheap in the way-more-popular-than-it-should-be MMORPG "MapleStory." For players like 14 year old Amanda Lee, that amount isn't just a one time payment, it's an ongoing fee. She's had five "serious boyfriends" in the game and has been married three times.

The article lists other players who've also turned the marriage concept into a rotating door, as well as some who even take their online relationship into the real world. But that's all been said many times before. The most interesting part about this entire piece is, and this might not be news to some of you, but "MapleStory" publisher Nexon also charges players a fee to divorce. To put it into perspective, Nexon gets money from players when they want to get married AND when they want to get a divorce in their MMORPG.

With this information it's safe to guess that anyone who's been married two or three times has shelled out at least one hundred real world greenbacks. Why do they do it? Of course, there are the obvious reasons like "love" and "infatuation," but Amanda Lee said "It was definitely not for love. More for the ring and the protection my spouse can offer me in-game."

This is where I give myself the ol' facepalm.

Posted by Kyle Stallock

April 29th, 2009

If you are a game developer or publisher and would like us to write about, review and update your games, then contact our editors. Please email: press@mmolife.org. and send us your latest press releases, game updates, images and videos.

Sports MMO 'Ultimate Soccer Boss' released

Doesn’t everyone want to be the best soccer manager they can be? That’s what MMOABC is betting on with the North American public release of their sports MMO, “Ultimate Soccer Boss,” the first free-to-play soccer manager browser game on the market. Unlike other browser-based managerial games, special adaptive learning technology allows your players to gain traits and the like based on their playing.

These traits can be earned based on their performances in matches or in training and the players overall management skill and choices. With the number of different possibilities and choices available, each club will truly be unique. The game isn’t completely summarized by this technology, however.

Like many other free-to-play browser games, “Ultimate Soccer Boss” will offer different rewards for payment, essentially tapping into the virtual goods market. On the drawing board for the future are better animations, player evolution charts and much more. The game combines aspects of a free-to-play sports MMO game with a social network, so there’s a good chance you’ll be hearing more about it in the future if there are enough American soccer fans out there.

Posted by James Bishop

April 28th, 2009

If you are a game developer or publisher and would like us to write about, review and update your games, then contact our editors. Please email: press@mmolife.org. and send us your latest press releases, game updates, images and videos.

SONY's 'Free Realms' releases today

No, I never received an invite to the closed beta for Sony's newest free-to-play casual MMORPG aimed at a younger audience, "Free Realms," so can you please stop asking me to join you?

But wait, what's this? Never mind; I'll see you online in a bit. In a surprise entertainment attack, "Free Realms" is ready, and the game releases today, April 28, at 12 noon PST.

A post on the official forums indicates that the servers will go down at 8:00 A.M. PST, and during then, the patches will be applied, tests will commence, and hopefully tears will rain down the developers' faces following a successful relaunch. You might shed a tear or two, though, since your beta character will not be taking the ship to the casual MMORPG's official release. So give him or her a /hug and say whatever you've been meaning to say, because it's goodbye time.

But hey, his or her twin brother or sister can be a part of the new release, and he or she will even have a new exclusive item to ease the loss of a sibling. Sony Online Entertainment claims they will be giving away a unique in-game item to the beta testers.

What will it be? Submit your guess (or what you wish it was) as a comment below!

Posted by Kyle Stallock

April 28th, 2009

If you are a game developer or publisher and would like us to write about, review and update your games, then contact our editors. Please email: press@mmolife.org. and send us your latest press releases, game updates, images and videos.

'Warrior Epic' closed beta begins april-30

True Games Interactive has announced that the closed beta for Possibility Space’s “Warrior Epic” begins this week starting Thursday, April 30th. There are still a few spots available, so if you just found out about this or have been procrastinating, you still have a chance to be in on this. How? Simply register on the game’s website at http://www.warriorepic.com.

Last year, a small group of players were allowed a sneak peak of “Warrior Epic’s” earlier version. The development team has since been working diligently to improve much of the game. A generous amount of the end-game content has been implemented with quests, new bosses and relevant items for high level characters.

A unique part of “Warrior Epic” is the Spirit System. Instead of dying and starting over at the place of your death, your death actually changes your game-play and strategy. This unusual detail actually makes me eager to die; as morbid as that may sound out of context.

“We are excited to finally showcase all the updated features, cool content and all the polish that has gone into the development of ‘Warrior Epic,’” said Peter Cesario, Director of New Business and Product Development. “We are eager to see how our beta community will fair through all of the exciting content we are offering in the beta and we look forward to hearing their feedback as we gear up for the official launch.”

Look for more coverage of “Warrior Epic” here on MMOHub as the game continues to progress through its beta stage.

Posted by Nikki Lee

April 28th, 2009

If you are a game developer or publisher and would like us to write about, review and update your games, then contact our editors. Please email: press@mmolife.org. and send us your latest press releases, game updates, images and videos.