Under construction.

Hi-Rez Studios has quietly announced that the company has begun development on a sequel to Global Agenda. Currently title Global Agenda 2, the revelation came in a candid and honest post from the CEO and Janitorial Services of Hi-Rez Studios, Erez Goren.

In this announcement Goren discusses the problems that Global Agenda had/has and what the company has learned from its development. Knowledge that was successfully applied to Tribes: Ascend, although with its high skill ceiling it has become a niche game.

After sending out surveys and receiving overwhelming responses from players on what they want to see improved and how they would want to see it released, Hi-Rez decided to make Global Agenda 2 more PvP orientated. They are going to use a lot of the assets from Global Agenda while adding new maps, game modes and class weapons.

Hi-Rez expects Global Agenda 2, or whatever it may be called, to head to beta somewhere in the middle of 2013.

Full announcement after the cut. Continue Reading

With the first version of Patch 4.2 hitting the Public Test Realm less than 24 hours ago, the floodgates have opened on tons and tons of new content to feast upon. We hope to take a more detailed look at the items that most interest us, but for now let’s do a quick rundown of what’s available — both via official announcement and via datamining efforts at WoWhead– for players to enjoy:

• First of all, for an early look at what the big upcoming content patch will bring, take a look at the official Patch Notes. They have yet to be updated since the opening of the PTR, but keep an eye out for inevitable changes that will come about as testing gets underway. Some of the big items that are getting early attention include: the ability to reorganize characters on the Selection screen, changes to many crown control abilities, and the usual back-and-forth on class balance.
• WoWhead has put up a set of fun new models from the PTR, complete with four new mounts and four new pets (I’m especially loving the kittens in witch hats, the whelpling and the Horde war wolf). Also included are models for bosses, NPCs and a few select objects. And for those items that still lack a model, you also can browse through the WoWhead listings of more than 800 items added in the last day alone. Icons and maps are covered in a separate post. That’s a lot of cool new stuff!
• Perhaps even more awesome than the Tier 12 armor previews that Kershocker covered earlier this week is the fact that we now know that each set has multiple color variations. We’re not sure exactly how or why yet, but the variations are significantly more apparent than slight color changes for higher-iLevel pieces that we’ve seen lately. I am really digging this option, as I’ve always loved the idea of a higher degree of armor personalization. Now we just need to wait to find out if the color changes by spec, by iLevel, PvE versus PvP — or maybe just player choice. But probably not.
• Also regarding the Tier 12 armor sets, WoW Insider rounded up the set bonuses for each class. And given the theme of the Firelands, I must say the bonuses do not disappoint. I love how most of the bonuses have something to do with adding fire damage or some kind of fire-related ability. FIRE!

So much to go see! Out of all this information, the armor color variations are probably my most anticipated. I can’t wait to get more information on what this change entails. What are you excited to see in-game?

Just in time for the shenanigans at PAX East this weekend, NCsoft has released a whole hodge podge of information, plus some dandy screenshots and even a video on the thief class in Guild Wars 2. Check it out:

Now, I’ve always been a fan of melee classes. Assassin, rogue, thief — whatever you want to call them, they’re my idea of fun. The GW2 thief is about what one expects when thinking of these classes: masters of surprise, stealthy on their toes, good with daggers. But what else?

This weekend, these new thieves actually are on target to be one of the playable professions in NCsoft’s PAX demo, so we’re hoping to bring you some insider insight on just how well they play, and maybe add in some details on what sets these guys apart from the other classes we’ve already played in previous MMOs.

Speaking of the playable demo, here’s what else iTZKooPA and Heartbourne will have their hands full with this weekend at the GW2 booth:

• Debut of the guardian as another playable profession
• New Profession features, from an expanded selection of pets for rangers to new weapon capabilities for necromancers and warriors
• Norn opening experience, including your own character biography, the introductory cinematic and starter areas
• Access to Gendarran Fields, a mid-level area
• New UI, with reportedly new functionality, new chat features and “hints of things to come.”

Check out the official site for all the juicy details on the thief class, and check back here soon for more on what iTZKooPA and Heartbourne have to say about the new demo.

Due to popular demand of video discussions, I have taken it upon myself to have a monthly community event of sorts.

On Saturday, December 4th at 2:00 PM PST (5:00 PM EST), I, and some special guest(s) will be on camera, for two hours. Just for you readers! Those in attendance loved my Wednesday live stream of the updated dungeons and the banter between us hosting, that I decided “Why not go on camera and have more banter?”

This is a new regular event that I will focus on. It being new, I would like comments on how you liked it (after, of course) and what you would like to see in the future. As of now, it is a work-in-progress to find that specific “niche” way to do it. What we will do is essentially introduce ourselves, discuss a few items on our hidden agenda, and then leave it open to the public.

You could use it simply to say thanks for the site, suggest things you would like to see happen (on camera or the site!), ask about what’s planned, or simply to find some way for us to begin “discussing” lore or other MMO/gaming topics until we’re blue in the face.

Warning: Content could be NSFW (not safe for work…or children, adults, seniors citizens, zombies, spacegoats, witches / wizards, warlocks, monks, or elves. In fact, it might be safe to just not listen to us — but watch)

The content is really up to the viewers to decide what they want from us, and what to talk about. Seriously. If you want me to jump up and down, while patting my head and rubbing my stomach, I’ll do it (Ed’s. Note: Make him do it every five minutes).

Hope to see many of you there, Lore Hounds!