'Champions Online' release date revealed

At an event taking place in the UK, Cryptic’s Design Director and Executive Producer, Bill Roper, informed the public that their upcoming MMORPG, “Champions Online,” would be released in the US and Europe on July 14, 2009 in both the United States and Europe. Even if the release date is a bit further than we want it to be, it’s great to finally hear an official date. It gives all of us a chance to prepare and create the perfect superhero or villain in our sketchbooks way in advanced. So should I go with massive Hulk-like man that shoots lasers out of his eyes, or a fairy with super strength?

“Champions Online” features a similar character creation system as that found in “City of Heroes/Villains.” With added features, this MMORPG seems like the ultimate character creation simulator, backed by an incredibly deep and creative backdrop of a fantastical comic book world. Will it be better than the highly regarded “City of Heroes”? Let’s hope all our comic book fantasies come true on July 14th.

Posted by Demetri Kouvalis

April 27th, 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.

Aeria announces acquisition of 'DragonSky'...

Set to be released in May 2009, Aeria Games has just announced their latest MMORPG acquisition, "DragonSky," for release in the United States. If you guessed that this game takes place in China based purely on the title ... I can't say that you'd be wrong.

This new MMORPG is action-packed with martial arts from ancient China. (What, you were expecting Vikings?) Like most of these martial arts-oriented MMORPGs, there are two opposing factions: the Soul of the Dragon and the Heart of the Tiger. Perhaps if you were born in the year of the tiger (and not the year of the ox like myself), you'll want to join their faction. Besides choosing whichever faction you find to be slightly cooler, you can also enjoy "the evolving storyline," crafting, treasure raids, costumes and realm versus realm combat.

Aeria Games' first acquisition was "Shaiya," one of the most successful free-to-play MMORPGs on the market. Other notable titles published by Aeria are "Twelve Sky" and "Twelve Sky 2;" "Hello Kitty Online;" "Last Chaos;" and "Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online," aka "MegaTen."

Posted by Nikki Lee

April 27th, 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.

'The Chronicles of Spellborn' officially released...

Today, Acclaim and Spellborn International have announced the official launch of their anticipated MMORPG title, "The Chronicles of Spellborn."

"Spellborn" is free-to-play up to a certain point, upon which players will need to subscribe if they wish to continue further. To celebrate the launch, anyone who signs up for the game between now and May 7, 2009, will get a free two week premium subscription.

The game takes place in a futuristic fantasy setting, and its biggest selling points are its graphics, and the innovative combat system which applies a slot machine-like mechanic to your skill bar.

"We meet with the gamers every week to discuss 'Spellborn,' they tell us the fighting system is the most amazing thing about the game. The idea being that your 'moment-to-moment' control during battle, mixed with your own custom skill deck gives endless possibilities. To see a smart level 5 player take down a level 15 player is something that SHOULD be possible in MMOs, and is something that really good players deserve to be able to do!" said Acclaim's David Perry the USA Director for the Spellborn Project.

If you're interested in the game, you can find our review of it on the game's page. In addition, we'll be giving away a limited number of premium accounts, so be sure to check back on our brand new "Chronicles of Spellborn" sub-forum for details on how you can win a premium account in the new MMORPG!

Posted by Brendon Lindsey

April 24th, 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.

MMORPG 'Runes of Magic' gets new feature...

Quick on the heels of the Spring festival that was recently announced, Frogster has released a new way in which to play their acclaimed free-to-play online game, “Runes of Magic”: public encounters. Though only one such encounter has been pushed to the live servers so far, they say there are more on the way.

Public encounters consist of three phases which are, essentially, waves of different minions that attack, and you have to defend against them. At least, this is the case for the first one centered on the Sergath Outpost. Players are attacked by two different waves of monsters and then the final third wave includes the boss, Axis.

If the players should best Axis in a set time-limit then he’ll drop some significant loot as he scampers from the battlefield. If the players happen to lose, he leaves as well, takes a half-hour siesta, and starts the attack all over again. Players can, apparently, jump in and out at any point, making this an easily accessible encounter for most.

In other words, it’s like a toned down Public Quest from “Warhammer Online.”

Posted by James Bishop

April 25th, 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.

'Spellborn's' completely new MMO category...

I'm an avid "World of Warcraft" player, and, as I've discussed many times with our chief editor, combat's emphasis on equipment and "phat loot" over player skill has always played its role as an iron thorn piercing my soft human side. Of course, "WoW" isnít the only title like this; it's more of a genre condition or disease. Judging by recent comments made by Acclaim's CEO Howard Marks, "The Chronicles of Spellborn" remains free from the infection.

"Your skill in the combat system does matter," said Marks. "That has put our game in a completely new category than the classic MMORPG."

Whoa now, Mr. Marks. That's quite the ballsy statement. Your opinion is, of course, a bit biased, so I'll reserve my own judgment until I spend some quality time with the product.

As mentioned before, "Spellborn" is one of those free-to-play hybrids that offers the first couple of levels for free, but to advance you need to pay a monthly subscription. According to Marks, Acclaim plans to increase the free version level cap to 10 after the community said they need a bit more time "to make a truly informed purchasing decision."

Posted by Kyle Stallock

April 25th, 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.

'America’s Army’ sets five world records'; http://mmohub.org

'America’s Army’ sets five world records'; http://mmohub.org

'America’s Army’ sets five world records'; http://mmohub.org