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Written by maplestoryworld.info
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Friday, 27 March 2009 16:27 |
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We need someone to get us coffee. And donuts. Oh and someone to shred stuff.
It looks like Blizzard is stirring the pot again for some juicy developments behind the scenes. As some of us probably know, they're currently working on (or at least maybe still in the planning stages) five games. They are, in no particular order:
- StarCraft II
- Diablo III
- a new World of Warcraft expansion
- a next-gen MMO
- and a yet to be revealed game
This last item was first hinted in a statement from Blizzard's COO, Paul Sams, back in 2006. At that time he said, "I wouldn t be surprised to see a new franchise from us at some time in the future; there s certainly a desire to do so."
Now it seems that we're getting some developments on that new game that they've yet to be revealed. Two new job postings from Blizzard indicate that they're looking for software engineers (one for gameplay, another for client) to work on "an unannounced title."
It's uncertain what this unannounced game is - whether it will in fact be a new IP or something based in any of their current franchises (Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo), and more importantly, for what platform(s).
There's a huge chance this new game is going for the PC, but after all, just yesterday, we heard in GDC that Blizz is having talks with Microsoft about that next-gen Xbox 360, which they want to be more RTS-friendly. Could it be a console game?
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Written by maplestoryworld.info
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Saturday, 28 March 2009 21:39 |
 Looks like that recently announced Marvel MMO game is still quite a ways off. Marvel Comics bigwig Simon Philips reveals that the team is aiming for a 2012 release. But why take that long? According to him, they're planning to make it coincide after the rush of Marvel movies to hit theaters.
This seems to be the thread of thought they're trying to aim for - to release the game after the Avengers movie (scheduled for 2012), which comes after the Captain America, Thor, and Spider-man 4 movies (all in 2011), which come after Iron Man 2 (next year), which comes after X-Men Origins: Wolverine (this May!). Talk about a huge build up.
Aside from allowing us to busy ourselves with movies while we wait, part of it's actually due to development reasons.
See, the game is still in its very early stages. Here's Philips discussing more on the topic:
It sounds like a long way away, but it s not. We ve got to create, together with [game publisher] Gazillion Entertainment, that environment that is going to be a totally immersive experience and a perpetual storytelling experience as well.
Every day, every week, and every month, there is a new element of technology that comes about. So whatever plans we had for an MMO two years ago have now evolved to embrace that new technology.
We re looking at lots of different scenarios. But at this moment in time we haven t identified exactly what the end game is going to be. We re still working on the different variations that are potentially possible.
By 2012, rivaling DC Universe Online may have already been released. DC's own MMO is already scheduled for a release next year.
The yet-to-be-given-a-formal-title Marvel MMO is currently planned to be released for PCs and consoles - presumably the Xbox 360 and PS3.
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Written by maplestoryworld.info
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Tuesday, 31 March 2009 20:02 |
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Turbine has released the latest update to Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria. The expansion is now on Book 7: Leaves of Lorien, which adds new features and gameplay enhancements. Here are the details from the press release:
Book 7 delivers the next installment to the epic story of LOTRO, a new 12-player raid, the Spring Festival, access to the full region of Lothlorien, and major gameplay enhancements.
It is available now to subscribers in North America and Europe.
   
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Written by maplestoryworld.info
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Wednesday, 01 April 2009 01:43 |
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The reason why you're not having fantastical dogfights in World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King right now lies in the physics. As in, it wasn't polished enough. That's what WoW's Tom Chilton revealed in the latest Blizzard podcast.
If you look at a lot of games that have done flight simulation, there is a lot of care that goes into giving you that sensation of flying by having the world tilt and stuff like that so it feels a little less mechanical, feels a little bit more alive or more natural.
So one of the things that we have kind of tasked ourselves with doing is figuring out how to polish that, how to improve on our vehicle physics, there s still a lot of vehicle physics tech that we want to get in that didn t make it into the first pass of Lich King.
Even though it may have been cut, aerial combat may still find its way into WoW someday, as Chilton also said that it's currently on Blizzard's to do list.
The same podcast also featured senior Diablo III artist Mike Nicholson, who admitted that the new UI for Diablo 3 drew a lot of inspiration from WoW's UI. Oh really? I hadn't noticed and am now so overcome with surprise at this unexpected revelation!
 
Seriously though, the UI still retains popular elements from the Diablo series while throwing in some WoW staples into the mix. One thing that will definitely catch fans' eyes - for better or worse - is the inclusion of WoW's colorful icons. Here's Nicholson:
I love the WoW icons. And y know what we re trying to do is see, OK, what works about the WoW icons? They re illustrative; is there a way to try to maybe bridge the gap? You know what worked about the more symbolic DII icons, and what works with the WoW icons, and trying to find a way to put the two together.
Another new thing is the addition of expandable bags. This reminds me more of the D&D staple Bags of Holding which appeared in Neverwinter Nights than anything in WoW really. Nicholson again:
You'll get bags and they will expand, you know kind of like in WoW, except you're not going to open up separate windows. You'll start off your inventory with say you know, eight slots, right, and then you'll get a new bag and that has ten, so two more slots will open up within that tab, but you'll never have multiple tabs. Like you won't have two or three 'large' tabs.
It might sound like I've been taking a few jabs at Diablo III, but make no mistake - this is a day one purchase for me. Now if only I had some idea of when they'll release it. Keep checking back for more updates.
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Written by maplestoryworld.info
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Wednesday, 01 April 2009 06:07 |
 Come April 7, 2009, players of Square Enix MMO players will be introduced to the publisher's new Square Enix Account System and Square Enix Security Token. These new security details will be implemented across the board in the territories of Europe, Japan and North America, specifically for added security on Final Fantasy XI.
The new system, which utilizes the Security Token, will be available for purchase for 9.99 (US 130) and 7.99 (US 15) through the PlayOnline Viewer. All you have to do to set it up is to create a Square Enix account via their official website. Not only will this new system be compatible with FFXI and PlayOnline, it can also be used for other future online services.
Once you've set up your Squeenix Account, you can now then purchase the Security Token and assign it to your PlayOnline ID(s). To ensure that it's safe from hacking, the token requires a unique password every time it is activated.
There's also a bonus for those players who will get the security token. The "Moogle Satchel" is the latest in-game bonus, which provides additional inventory space and can match the character's Goobie Bag capacity - even expand beyond it! Do note, though, that in order for you to enjoy this bonus, you will need the necessary PlayOnline ID to link to a Square Enix Account.
Here are the additional information provided in Square Enix' press release:
1 DSquare Enix Account
- Registration Launch: @ - 7th April, 2009 (Tue)
- Registration Location: @ - Square Enix website ( 1)
- Compatible Services (Initial): @ - FINAL FAN TASY XI, PlayOnline.
- 1 Initially players can register via the FINAL FANTASY XI official website.
2 DSquare Enix Security Token
- Release Date: - 7th April, 2009 (Tue).
- Price: - 9.99 and 7.99 (Includes tax and shipping).
- Where to Purchase: - Available for purchase via the PlayOnline Viewer.
- Bonus with Purchase: - The Moogle Satchel will be included as an in-game bonus for FINAL FANTASY XI players who purchase a security token ( 1). The Moogle Satchel will provide up to 80 additional inventory slots and can be accessed anywhere regardless of if the player is in their Mog House or out adventuring in Vana diel ( 2).
- 1 @It is required for the PlayOnline ID to be linked to the Square Enix Account that has a security token associated.
- 2 @The space provided by the Moogle Satchel is equal to the character s Gobbie Bag capacity.
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