This article has been in my head for ages. Massive multiplayer online games, any subgenre from sandbox to themepark, do not show well at conventions. I’m not one to make blanket statements, but I’m fully confident with this one after traversing the convention circuit for half a decade. MMOFPS combat the notion, but ultimately falter.
Let’s set the stage of your general show and showgoer. There’s an insane amount of visual and audio noise when you hit the floor. There are options left, right, upside down and in every nook. Most of the offerings are visceral experiences that focus on the hook, something in the game that you’ll remember, ideally, when the game approaches release a few months down the road. Perfect for single- or normal multiplayer games.
The most disciplined of showgoers will get to their target games early and camp the line, assuming there is one. Finally, the moment comes where showgoer gets to jump on the open desktop. For most MMOGs the machine is set to offer some combination of: grind a few mobs, kill other showgoers, play with some new abilities or a character class or roam a new area. Before showgoer knows it time is up and the flabbergasted gamer is ushered out the back door. Maybe showgoer had 30 minutes. Probably less than 15 minutes.
For the sake of argument, let’s assume that the Mayan mythical end of the world scenario happens this December. Fast forward 1,000 year, where do you think the world will stand? Will society recreate itself albeit thousands of years behind? Will mankind cease to exist? Will the world?
Cryptozoic’s upcoming game 3012 answers these questions, but it doesn’t look good for us homo homo sapiens. It doesn’t matter if we morphed into the fish-like Gar or degenerated into humanoid Jaguars, there’s little humanity left in the world of 3012, yet a whole lot of brutality.
Matt Hyra describes the basics of Cryptozoic’s latest deck builder to iTZKooPA who gets all caught up in the original spins that 3012 puts on the deck-building genre. Cards reserve, currency exchanges, heroes, allies, experience, PvP and PvE. Count us in.
Hit the jump for the full interview describing what sets 3012 away from most other deck builders. Continue Reading
We’ve spoken with them, convention after convention. We’ve talked about it in several of our Lore Castepisodes. We even went to them during PAX Prime ’11 to speak with them. Finally, after months of coverage, multiple interviews, and just side-line anticipation; we’re pleased to announce the date of TERA‘s release in North America: May 1st, 2012.
Here’s the official release statement from En Masse Entertainment, themselves:
SEATTLE – January 17, 2012 – En Masse Entertainment™, a publisher built by gamers, focused on delivering fun and innovative online games, announced today that its award-winning and highly anticipated action MMO title,TERA™, will launch on May 1, 2012. The upcoming release of TERA will be available in Standard and Collector’s Editions at retail and online stores. Marking a new era in gaming, TERA sets a new standard by delivering true action combat to players who want more than the stale and repetitive gameplay that exists in today’s MMOs.
The recipient of multiple industry honors and accolades, including “Best PC Game” and “Best MMO” at last year’s E3 expo, TERA is a new breed of online game that combines all the depth of a traditional MMO with the visceral gratification of an action game. In TERA, players must actively aim, dodge and block, as the game’s real-time combat system takes into account player position and skill, not stats alone.
Players begin by creating a character from seven races and eight classes as they join in an alliance to save the world from bloodthirsty armies of monsters who threaten to destroy the very gods who hold their world together. TERA also introduces a revolutionary political system in which players wield power in their province based on their in-game political prowess or player versus player combat skill.
Independent studios can make games as impressive as the big boys. Sometimes it’s the combined passion, sometimes a fantastic idea clicks or a technological innovation blows away gamers across the globe. Whatever may spark the powder keg, we gamers have seen a few unexpected hits in recent years. iTZKooPA hadn’t heard of The Game Bakers or Squids, the hardcore casual game the company is about to deliver, but we gave the small studio a chance.
Considering how addicting and replayable Squids turned out to be, we’re glad we did. The innocent product has a good chance to become one of the success stories from left field when it’s released next week (iPhone) and later this month (iPad, PC, Mac).
Check out the video to find out what makes Squids a hardcore game, the plans for its future, including content and updates, how to access the bonus map and why you should care. Yeah, a casual game with story!
Rolling around the prefabricated wall to the other half of Turbine’s booth, Executive Producer Aaron Campbell schools iTZKooPA on Rise of Isengard, the upcoming expansion for Lord of the Rings Online. He learns where the epic storyline is progressing, details on the new social hub, the removal of stat caps, aspects of the largest raid in the game’s history and so much more.
Fernando Paiz takes iTZKooPA down the windy path of the home turf for House Cannith, the technological epicenter in Dungeon & Dragon Online. The city nestled into a mountain side is not as humble as it appears. Something lurks beneath the incredible inventions of the house. Something sinister. A force that is threatening the technology hub. The force now yields untold powers. It must be dealt with. The house has been incapable of eradicating the Lord of Blades itself and has begun searching for outside help.
Executive Producer James MacCauley takes iTZKooPA on a whizzbang tour of FireFall. The dynamic duo preview the just-revealed Engineer class, detail the free-to-play title’s cash shop, jump into a dynamic event and discuss the all important library of loot.
Fernando Paiz and iTZKooPA get back together to discuss the latest developments in Dungeons & Dragons Online. Paiz breaks out his unfair – read GM-created – Artificer to showcase the first dual-wielding class in straight outta Eberron. The executive producer follows up the gameplay with details on House Cannith and the latest adventure pack before detailing the party buffs the new class has to offer.
But wait there’s more! Check the video for the latest.
This article has been in my head for ages. Massive multiplayer online games, any subgenre from sandbox to themepark, do not show well at conventions. I’m not one to make blanket statements, but I’m fully confident with this one after traversing the convention circuit for half a decade. MMOFPS combat the notion, but ultimately falter.
