Shadowbane, World of Warcraft, and The Evil Tyrant SOE

A few posts ago, when I was talking about my dream MMORPG(You can read it here) a comment by DulakQuickleaf suggested I may enjoy Shadowbane by Ubisoft. I decided to give the game a whirl, after all it's free now. After the initial install, patching, and other minor updates I was ready to have a blast...

I was betrayed.

At first I was intrigued. There are several races to choose from. Human, elf, minotaur, centaur, vampire, demon, half-elf, etc. However once the game started I knew there was no chance I was going to enjoy it. This isn't Dulak's fault however. Shadowbane just instantly shut me off due to several issues such as UI, playing perspective, and just overall polish.

In other news..

Apparently job recruiters(some) are told NOT to hire WoW players. While I'm sure this remark is aimed toward all MMO players and not just WoW, this is a funny little fact. Why not hire the MMO gurus? Most employers find that MMO players are too focused/playing their MMO of choice*which is mostly World of Warcraft* instead of actually working. I know that at my previous employment there was generally a large group talking about WoW instead of working pretty much the entire time.

The rest of the time they were playing it in their offices.

Oh, and people still apparently hate SOE. I don't. My hate is now for MicroSoft

*glares at his bricked Xbox*

Earthrise - About the game and beta announcements

As if someone heard my prayers, an MMO set in an apocalyptic world called Earthrise will soon be entering Beta stages. The game is made by Masthead Studios , a developer I haven't heard a word about until just recently while looking for new MMORPGs.

So what is Earthrise about?

Earthrise is a post apocalyptic science fiction MMORPG set in the distant future.

In the aftermath of the Third World War, mankind has managed to survive and build a new society: the prosperous city of Sal Vitas. Cloning, nanotechnology and quantum engineering are part of a new reality. Thanks to these technological advances, the human species has become immortal; each individual’s consciousness is stored in a data vault, ready to be uploaded into a cloned body as necessary. New energy sources have been discovered. There is a unified government that takes good care of those citizens who abide by its strict laws. Paradise, it appears, might really have come to Earth, and the people have embraced it.

But not everything is as perfect as it appears. By exercising full control over the cloning process, Sal Vitas' government decides who will live and who will not, playing the role of God on Earth. Insurgent forces have accused the city's rulers of crimes against humanity. Armed factions fight for resources and power within the new system. And from the waves of discontent, a rebellion has fomented and formed a shadow government: Noir.

Featuring a unique skill-based advancement system and player-driven economy, as well as extensive, meaningful player-vs.-player combat, Earthrise gives you innumerable choices to forge your destiny. Whether you're a noble soldier in the raging conflict between the Utopia and the rebellion, a criminal hiding from the law or a world-renowned engineer whose power extends into intricate trade and politics, your actions will echo throughout the game world.

Sounds wacky. After reading further about the game there are several things worthy of note. There is no "class" system for one. You build what you want to play from a selection of over 100 skills/abilities/tactics. Since I just recently spoke of the whole issue with classes in MMORPGs, I feel like my mind is being read...which is spooky.

Also is something most people love about EVE online, the ability to progress with something even while logged off. How Earthrise will do this I'm not entirely certain, but it will more than likely attract subscribers with that alone. Yes subscribers. It IS a subscription based MMORPG. So I'm really hoping it comes with a free trial so players can try before they buy. I've wasted quite a few bucks buying a MMORPG only to find it was horrid.

To close I'll show off some purity pictures I found of the game. Enjoy! And discuss...or suffer.

Dream of Mirror Online - My first day..

I wish I was this cool in real life..

It seems I'm now playing another Aeria made game, Dream of Mirror Online aka DOMO. As one can see immediately, the graphics are very stylized. I'll get right into what I like and what I don't like so far then talk about my first encounter with the game in a more goofy way. Which is how I think one should play this game in general, in a goofy carefree way. I must say the game itself felt very laid back. If this changes as one proceeds further I'll have to find out personally. Anyway...

The graphics are surprising in the quality once you turn all the features full blast. While I thought the UI was a lot better than MegaTen*which is weird..Aeria games made that too..come on people!* I didn't like how I apparently I can only turn around with the camera. I know the majority of players like to strafe with their A and D keys, but I prefer to use them to turn around. I'm weird like that. The sounds were ok, nothing to write home about. The music however I didn't like in the starting area but I can turn that off. The combat was pretty simple starting right off, but fun regardless. From what I've gathered once you've hit level 10 as a commoner there is a lot more variety in combat and customizing class abilities so I'll have to reserve judgement until then.

So the game itself is pretty fun, laid back, and quirky. I would recommend it to anyone wanting a non-serious MMORPG to try to get into. Now on to my experience...

I'm too lazy to hold my knife...just like real life!

The game begins by some old guy stealing me into this dimension, which is just plain creepy. Apparently this world is some crazy mirror dimension of my previous one. So apparently it's ok to steal thousands of people from their home world to MAKE them fix yours..I think..wait...
Afterwards I'm told I will be a cold, apathetic, and just overall jerk by this old guy who calls himself a King. I really ...really...really hate this guy now.

As if he reads my mind, he gives me a knife! Yay! However I'm told to kill some pupu to prove...something. I must still be confused from the whole soul ripping experience so I agree to kill these evil Pupu and end their tyranny..

DIE EVIL PIG!

Turns out the "evil" monsters known as Pupu are cute innocent little pigs. But that's ok, I was told to do this so I can't be held accountable. After slaying a few dozens of these mini-portals of death(even though I only needed to kill 5...I was multi-tasking and forgot how many I needed to kill), I went back to the old man. I was congratulated, given some items, and sent to his daughter.

Who is truly evil incarnate.

After her useless instructions, I went to another NPC who wanted me to kill FLYING pigs. I knew now I was in one of the lower layers of the Abyss, and might see Lloth around a corner if I wasn't too careful. However I held on to my sanity in this crazy world, and made the stabbity to the flying dreadnoughts. After killing five of them(Go counting!) I returned, got some more items, and decided that was enough for the night.

So I have to say DOMO is a fun little game. More fun than I imagined it would be at first glance I must admit. While it lacks the polish of many triple A titles, I think that lends partly to the care-free attitude of the game. It's a well constructed game that really leaves you free to do what you wish. So I'm going to do what I really want to do right now...

Even in sleep...I float...I'm just that awesome.

Dreams of Mirror Online - Watashia wakarimasin

So I finally cave and downloaded Dreams of Mirror Online(DOMO!). So prepare to see some random character by the name of Danshir if you play this apparently quirky little game. Once I establish my dominance I'll post some kind of review or at least comment about the game. Tyrant Danshir has a nice ring to it...

So look for me! I'll probably be in a corner crying!

Shin Megami Tensei(aka MegaTen) Continued..?

I've been beta testing some more of MegaTen lately, despite me saying I wouldn't play the game for another week due to disconnects and such. I must say I'm finding myself enjoying the game despite that and the dreaded approach of monster grinding. Why? I'm really enjoying the combat, and just the very feel of the game. It's hard to put into words.

Atmosphere? Ambiance? It's the same urge that sucker punched me into EverQuest years ago, and made me stay up to the dawn hours just so I could get enough money for my spells(EQ was A LOT harder back then)

I STILL have complaints about MegaTen. FIX THE RUN SPEED PEOPLE. It should be raised at least 150%. Also, a bit more detail to the map/mini map. Other then that and a few other glitches/bugs one expects to be in a Beta I'm quite happy with it. I did tell everyone I was gonna play DOMO finally, but I'm glued to Shin Megami lol.

Maybe tomorrow.

Blade & Soul

Well this game completely slipped under my radar. Thanks to a great post by GuitarAtomik over at Destructoid.com I found yet another game to drool over. Blade & Soul is a MMORPG currently being developed by NCSoft, makers of such famous MMORPGs such as City of Heroes. Sadly the game's website is in Korean so I'm unable to read it. Thankfully the pictures speak for themselves. The game is simply stunning. Both the graphics and combat are fluid, fast, and remind me of the pace of games like Ninja Gaiden.

Just a guess...M rating?

Apparently from what I've learned the game isn't turn based like most MMORPGs but more of an action game. Another turn away from it's MMORPG brothers and sisters is the focus on individual play and small groups. So don't expect any hardcore 60 man raids here. So far there are only two races available, the Jin(Swords and Sorcery) and the Gon(They use fists..). Traditional classes are going out of the window, instead opting for a more hybrid version so players can fulfill multiple roles.

So...my two swords versus....*starts counting*

Probably the neatest feature is the stereotypical "Wall run". Yup, you can run on walls just like all those nifty action games. While nothing is clear if this ability is limited to only certain areas, all races are able to pull it off. Hopefully this hints at more interactive environment for MMORPGs, adding a more tactical flavor to the genre. However if it's limited to just certain parts I think I'll make some tears.

So..I'm guessing there are dungeons..

One thing I've not heard heads or tails is the inclusion of instances and the like. Judging from NCSoft's past use in City of Heroes I'm going to judge yes. If the dungeons and other instances are as detailed at the picture above I may need to upgrade my computer some more. The Texture work is amazing for a MMORPG. However with graphics this powerful this game may actually backfire on them. With so many users having mediocre computers, many people will not be able to run this. After initial disappointment they might find themselves back in the arms of Blizzard or other MMORPGs with easier game requirements.

Now....POSE!

Only time well tell if this graphical powerhouse will be a contender against the current Lord of MMORPGs, World of Warcraft. Closed Beta is roughly scheduled for sometime in 2009. With Blizzard releasing an expansion a year so far it may have a hard time capturing the audience it needs to be a success. Until then, here is a video from YouTube showing the game in action!

Shin Megami Tensei: A glimpse

Arm-thingy makes me cool

Anytime you hear a MMORPG is free to play, you are almost guaranteed for it to be from average to utter crap. However I must say Aeria Games has made a pretty decent game here. For one I've yet to play a MMORPG with combat this active and just plain old fun. With it behaving more like an action game then a RPG, you constantly have to pay attention to what enemy your facing and what attacks you've been using. If the enemy is about to rush you, instead of hoping your 20% dodge kicks in you can activate a defensive mode. This lets you block the attack and then counter if your quick enough. This is me preparing the counter in the Virtual Training Room. The pink tells me it's working!

Watch as I defend...with my sword..over here...wait...what?!

I guess pictures of me fighting a strange turkey with an onion on its head is a good point to actually talk about Shin Megami Tensei, or MegaTen for short. The MegaTen series is about what happened when some goofy scientists started playing with teleportation. As any game fan knows this is a TERRIBLE idea! Surprisingly, demons suddenly turned up. Of course there is a number of people that can fight the demons, they’re called Demon Busters. What would have been an epic struggle between demons and humans goes to the sidelines as nuclear war breaks out. Most of the planet is eradicated with the few human survivors fighting against themselves AND the demons.

All is not lost however. A huge flood comes to kill the majority of the demons in Tokyo. Humanity finally decides to stop fighting each other and band together. Things are looking hopeful. Then that’s when the plot line of this game occurs. Yes, a plot line. Be shocked and stunned.

Help also comes along in the ability to make contracts with demons. You make a contract with a demon and they help you. Think Warlock pets from World of Warcraft except you can pick almost any demon you come across, as long as you’re at a high enough level. Once you find the perfect demon for you, all you do is start up a conversation with them. Some respond well to simple greetings others to threats or taunts. The whole concept to me is very entertaining. Here is a picture of someone I came across with an “Angel” demon..

Uhhhhh...Hey...

While the graphics are actually pretty decent, music exactly what you expect from a JRPG, not all is perfect in this little world just riddled with demon goodness. For one your character moves ungodly slow. With each area being pretty large it takes quite a while to get to places. If there is some type of movement increase later in the game that would just be swell. Also if your playing full screen and you alt+tab out expect the game to crash on you when you attempt to get back to playing.

The UI itself is cluttered, even though the tutorial explains where everything is at I wish there was faster access without having to make new key binds. I would love to see a better mini-map system as well. The current one is just an empty radar with a few dots on it. While it's functional I just would like a more detailed one like the one World of Warcraft uses.

For some reason I wager this guy is tough as nails...probably the eye patch

So far Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine is looking to be solid MMO. As a fan of the series this game spawns from I'm pleased as a fan of both the story and the game play. I can only hope it escapes from the drudgery that most MMORPGs serve as you progress through the game. I'll keep you posted. I'll also give you toast...buttery...delicious...toast...

A brief video for Mabinogi

So I tracked down a little video from the Mabinogi website for your viewing pleasure(or displeasure)


I'm still waiting on this to download. (I'm also downloading several other files, so bare with me here.) However once I get it up and running I'll post a full preview and hopefully a review. If you want to check this game out yourself go here!

Mabinogi - An anime take to the MMORPG genre?

Recently I've come across another free to play MMORPG, Mabinogi. Now while Perfect World International is heavy with its oriental influences, Mabinogi is heavy with its anime/manga influence. The graphics are actually quite nice if you set them all the way up, looking akin to alot of Cel-shaded anime games such as Naruto: The Broken Bond. Soon as I get the game installed I'll post some pictures and talk about the game a bit more in detail.


However its late, so night!

JumpGate Evolution : A closer look

A few eons ago I promised to take a deeper look into JumpGate Evolution. Well the time of prophecy has come! I've gathered as much information as I could about the game, though hopefully I can steal myself a Beta invite so I can give a first hand review. However until that day I have pilfered through forums, gazed at pictures, and read all I could about this very interesting MMOG(Massive Multiplayer Online Game).


JumpGate Evolution is, as you probably guessed already, a Space MMO. Now while the majority of the world is used to MMO games like World of Warcraft, City of Heroes, EverQuest, and so on JumpGate doesn't play at all like they do. Instead of a turn-based combat system, it will use a more action based twitch combat. So for your attacks hit or miss, if you dodge or not, will depend on your ability rather then how high your offense or defense skills are. This in particular is what attracts me to the game. Most MMO games are kinda bland when it comes to combat, all the you hitting/missing/evading etc is all based upon some number that you have barely any control over gets rather dull.

So while combat is controlled by your fingers and reflexes, there are crafting and trade professions that are controlled by the usual MMO way. However there are no restrictions to these, you can do them all, or none. Also with no restrictions are the " Classes ". While not used in the typical sense, you do have different types of ships. Light to heavy combat ships, mining vessels, and so on. However there is no restrictions to the ships either. If you wanted to be a miner and fly around in a heavy combat frigate, you can.

Hopefully I can get a spot for Beta testing, so I can post how the actual gameplay is. However until then I can only say the game sounds great. Also bare in mind the pictures above were taken from the games alpha stage, so there may be slight changes or major. If you want to look at the huge gallery of pictures or just read more about this game, go to JumpGate Evolution!

Until then, take care!

JumpGate Evolution

A very interesting MMO being developed is Jumpgate Evolution. While I don't think it's an MMORPG, it is a space action game set in a persistent universe where thousands of players can interact with each other. Basically expect a huge galatic dog fight. Sounds like a blast! You can check out the game here at Jumpgate Evolution .

Tomorrow I'll post a full preview of it, what do you think of the idea of a huge shooter MMO? I'm personally curious as it has the making of being a blast to play.

The Wheel of Time MMORPG

As some of you may already know, a few months ago fantasy writer Robert Jordan passed away. The author was currently working on the 12th and final book for his Wheel of Time series, which has spawned a variety of role playing games, websites, and now a MMORPG. So far no release date has been announced. I'll keep you posted and put up some pictures as soon as they arrive.

" May the Dragon ride again upon the winds of time..."

Star Wars : The Old Republic MMORPG

Yeah, that's right. Prepare for Biowares latest use of their Star Wars IP. Tired of watching Blizzard, NCsoft, and Sony cashing in on the MMORPG piggy bank, one of the giants of story telling has decide to step into the online ring. While Bioware has a rock solid reputation for giving some of the best games for our noggin, can they handle the additional pressure of dealing with an online community? Can they deliver on a promise that, if true, could topple the current king, World of Warcraft?

In case you've been living in a cave and systematically blinded yourself, The Old Republic is a storyline Bioware created for their successful Xbox series, Knights of the Old Republic. The timeline for these games are thousands of years prior to the movies, which really left Bioware free reign when it came to story. This is a time when the Jedi are a dime a dozen, as are their foes the Sith. To any hardcore Star wars fan, this is before the Sith rule of there only being two Sith at any given time. I won't go into the storyline of KOTOR I and II, but they are well worth getting into if you like RPGs. If you are familiar with it, the MMORPG of The Old Republic is three hundred years after the last game. So while it will more then likely contain nods to the previous games, enough time has passed for it to be fresh.


While a lot of people are quite unhappy with the graphics, I'm very pleased with the results that Bioware has taken so far, especially considering the game is still in early Alpha stages. While a lot of fans are foolishly wanting photo realistic graphics, it's simply not the way to go if you want any hope of getting a gargantuan playerbase. Hardcore gamers aside, the majority of MMORPG players want a game that runs smoothly. Given the average MMORPG's computer isn't some $3000 machine, keeping the graphics more " animated " is just good business sense. World of Warcraft has a very cartoon like art style, yet it seems to dominate over the more graphical powerhouses. If you're still complaining, please keep in mind these pictures are taken from the ALPHA stages, so expect improvements and changes.


However, the thing that Bioware claims that its MMORPG will deliver is truly the more epic and unique take on the genre. There will be a story. Ok, let me give some clarity here. While other MMORPG's have a story, the players really can't change anything despite interacting with it. No matter how many times you've defeated Thermaplugg in Gnomeregan, the gnomes are still being freeloaders in Ironforge. However, Bioware claims...

" Star Wars: The Old Republic will be similar to other MMOs but with several key innovations. Traditionally MMOs are built on three pillars; Exploration, Combat, and Progression. We at BioWare and LucasArts believe there is a fourth pillar: Story. Our mission is to create the best story-driven games in the world. We believe that the compelling, interactive story lines in Star Wars: The Old Republic are a significant innovation to MMOs and will offer an entertainment experience unlike any other "

So what does this mean? By the wording of this and other information on their website, your character will have his own story, and the actions you take will actually affect you. While you pick between the two factions, The Republic or the Sith Empire (Horde and Alliance anyone?), actions your character takes will shift your allegiance. So you could start out as a Jedi Knight then shift over to the Dark side. These kind of behaviors are exactly what I was talking about in an earlier post about the lack of reasons given to MMORPG players to roleplay. If they live up to this promise, I foresee The Old Republic to be the first ACTUAL Rpg among the other MMO games.

So far, Star Wars The Old Republic has decent graphics that seem to be able to run on most machines, an almost guarantee on a great soundtrack ( It's Star Wars...), and being ran by a company known for their interactive storyline prowess. While it seems a combination for the perfect game, there are other elements to consider. The online community itself might tarnish the title into it's own destruction. With such a powerful following, one small flaw might turn away the fanatical fanbase of Star Wars, and that's pretty scary. Also, other issues such as class balancing, Player vs Player content, and other online issues are untraveled horizons for Bioware. So until then, we can only wait, and hope that the final product will live up to our expectations.

Or exceed them?

Initial Thoughts: Perfect World

One of the MMORPG's I haven't played but will review in the near future is Perfect World International. This is a very....anime-ish MMORPG that has, so far in my experience, ups and downs. While the graphics are NOT extraordinary, there are certain times where they truly sparkle.*Especially the water effects* However it plays just like WoW, but the leveling up system is slightly different with needing to level your character and receive stats * IE Diablo * and level your " Spiritual " self to increase ablities. I'll have a final review in about a week, which I'll then review Eve Online, the only space game that is worth anything at the moment. Also, I'll get all the data for a preview of a MMORPG I'm looking forward too. Star Wars: The Old Republic Online, being developed by Bioware, the Gurus behind Baldur's Gate/NeverWinter/Mass Effect, etc. I'll post some pictures of what they have so far!