MMORPG Focus

	Gamer iReport: Confessions of a Elementalist Mage Addict!

Feb 02, 2010 - 5:57 PM

Article by Cindemz, MMORPGFocus Staff Writer This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently in any way, unless in conjunction with a link to our content. MMORPGFocus.com loves to feature diverse viewpoints from different segments of the MMORPG audience, we call these "Gamer iReports." Here we share an Asian player's experience who happens to only play the Mage/Elementalist archetype. He tells us why below: Gamer iReport I've decided to assemble a collection of some of the online games I played that have an elementalist on their series of classes. Elementalists are spellcasters who focus on the elements, particularly their destructive powers. Ever since I started playing MMORPGs, I always chose the elementalist archetype class, I like them not only because they possess magnificent power but also because they are the tempting class when it comes to beauty and glamour. Prepare yourself for a large array of elementalists! A few of many games where I have tried the Mage: Guild Wars It is described that elementalists in Guild Wars are the masters of arcane lore and magical aptitude that can control the power of all the elements; this surely fits the archetype. They can summon the power of fire, wherein they send scorching flames and fireballs at enemies. They can burn the enemies through molten lavas and you can’t hide yourself from their meteors. With their power of the earth they can summon devastating earthquakes, can trap enemies in a stone so they cannot get away. Similarly they can also slow the movement speed and attacks of enemies with their power of controlling the water element. They have attributes that can control the duration and effectiveness of the element that they possess. What else can a Mage loving player ask for? They are weak when it comes to defenses but they are the master of superb offensive power. Granado... [Read More]

	Age of Conan: Hyborean Adventures Named Most Improved MMORPG of 2009

Jan 29, 2010 - 6:25 AM

Article by Skion, MMORPGFocus Staff Writer This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently in any way, unless in conjunction with a link to our content. The 2009 MMORPG.com awards are out, and an it looks like a surprise winner for the "Most Improved Game of 2009" category- Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures went home with the title on this one. Age of Conan was one of the most polarizing games to hit the MMO scene upon it's launched. Hyped by media attention and a big-budget team (Funcom), many considered it one of the most-anticipated MMOs of 2008. Praised by many for its beautiful visuals, from lush environments to stunning character detail, an immersive storyline, it looked like Age of Conan was set to take the MMO world by storm. Certainly the provocative advertising and massive marketing budget would help, right? Well, not quite. All was not well in the land of Hyboria (or Funcom, rather). Despite the heaping of praise and the generous helpings of PvP goodness, (the real-time combat was highly touted, and still considered a bold and interesting take on PvP) numerous reports of buggy gameplay, glitches and errors gradually began to surface, starting in beta. Some complained that the game felt unfinished and unpolished, many others- that the endgame was virtually non-existent. Clearly these problems were not given adequate attention when release came around and the first few months of gameplay came and went. Even PvP, when taken to its limits exposed unintended consequences that players were not entirely happy with. It was at this stage that Funcom and Age of Conan slowly started to take on negative press. Some painted the game as a poster-child for superficial games- ones that had amazing graphics and visual effects, cleavage and bloody violence, but little else. The crowd was slowly turning against them. ... [Read More]

	MMORPG Politics in China, the case of World of Warcraft

Jan 26, 2010 - 3:07 AM

Article by Skion, MMORPGFocus Staff Writer This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently in any way, unless in conjunction with a link to our content. World of Warcraft has always been a big hit on the mainland. However, a culture-clash was always predictable as the American Blizzard Entertainment Inc. that designed World of Warcraft had to cater to the specifications of the Chinese market- they had to adapt to the language, culture as well as specific behaviors and values that shaped the experience of gamers from China. Still, an estimated 3.5 to 4 million people actively play WoW in China, and parent company Activision is estimated to garner nearly 8% of their revenue from Chinese World of Warcraft subscribers. All in all, the Chinese market is an appealing one for Activision and World of Warcraft in particular. It's place in Chinese cyber-culture has been cemented, with an assortment of upstart Chinese MMOs taking their inspiration from WoW's almost mythical reputation and success in China. If you've played WoW, I'm sure you've probably come across more than one Chinese gold-farmers. These guys pay the bills by "working" online, a scheme that can be summarily described as grinding for money. Indeed, WoW had to tackle It's this and other unique traits that define the experience of the Chinese gamer. The Chinese market had put up another obstacle for WoW in China recently- that of national video game regulations. China has come down hard on video games in recent years as the "online-game pandemic" has gripped Chinese society- there were reports of regulating playing-time to combat MMO addiction (three-hours a day). There were also reports of monitoring gaming content to ensure that appropriate values were being promoted through the gameplay. WoW's previous operator had allegedly attempted to censor player conversations within the game. WoW itself had faced a few problems with their prior Chinese operator The9,... [Read More]

	Conquer MMORPG: Class guide Part 2

Jan 22, 2010 - 10:53 AM

B]Article by Skion, MMORPGFocus Staff Writer[/B] This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently in any way, unless in conjunction with a link to our content. Part 2 of this guide will go over Water Taos, Fire Taos and Ninjas. This guide in its entirety should help new players make the best decision when picking classes and understanding how they work in PvP. The Water Tao The Water Tao (commonly just called Water(s)) are the only healing/support class in the game. They are a magic-based class with a variety of support spells, some more useful than others. The three most important support spells that waters will use are Pray (a Revive spell that resurrects dead characters. Learned at level 70), Advanced Cure (healing spell learned at level 81), and Stigma (physical-damage boosting buff learned at level 55). Waters are a vital class in Guild Wars, capable of turning the tide of battle at any moment. They are a very difficult class to level on their own, but receive bonus leveling experience rates that can be stacked for quick leveling, at least to level 110. A great choice if you are the non-violent type who prefers to heal, shield and keep your team alive in battles. The Fire Tao Fire Taos possess great damage dealing ability with their magic spells, but it comes at a price. Fire Taos are very difficult and expensive to level due to the constant need for mana potions. However if well-equipped, Fire Taos can cause a headache for anyone who stands in their way. Fire Taos, along with Trojans were considered the two best PvP classes in the game, and they are both depicted as arch-enemies. Each approaching combat in a very different way; While Trojans depend on aiming skill, luck and speed to land their deadly blow, Fire Taos can cast spells from afar, raining down painful damage on characters with low magic-defense. This sometimes leads to tension among players of one class who accuse the other of being inferior. The... [Read More]

	Conquer MMORPG Online: Class guide Part 1

Jan 19, 2010 - 7:04 PM

Article by Skion, MMORPGFocus Staff Writer This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently in any way, unless in conjunction with a link to our content. Conquer Online is a free-to-play 2.5D MMO developed by TQ Digital. With many claiming it has one of the most fun PvP elements in any 2.5D game, I feel obliged to create a guide that will explain the pros and cons of Conquer Online's various classes and how they relate to the PvP system. Part 1 of this guide will go over Trojans, Warriors and Archers. This guide in its entirety should help new players make the best decision when picking classes and understanding how they work in PvP. There are six classes in Conquer Online, the Trojan, the Warrior, the Archer, the Water Tao, the Fire Tao, and the Ninja. Each class has their own nuances, and we will look at a short description of the class and what sets them apart in PvP. The Trojan No, it's not a contraceptive, it's a character class. The Trojan is a class with it's own benefits and drawbacks. Trojans get an intrinsic HP bonus, which gives them the most HP of any class before rebirth. Trojans are the first in-game class with the ability to wield two one-handed melee weapons, giving more attack power than other classes. The downside to Trojans is their low magic-defense, particularly when wearing coronets. This leaves them vulnerable to magic classes, particularly Fire Taos. In many ways, the Ninja class nerfed the advantages of the Trojan. However, Trojans still maintain an aura of respect thanks to their one-hit power and because of the skill required to play well. The Warrior The Warrior is a strange class. Most people overlook warriors for PvP, preferring them for their levelling ability- warriors can level much faster than any other class thanks to their superman skill. They are considered the melee companion of trojans, although their damage is significantly weaker. Warriors were... [Read More]

	AfterWorld - MMORPG Sneak Peek

Jan 16, 2010 - 10:46 PM

Article by Skion, MMORPGFocus Staff Writer This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently in any way, unless in conjunction with a link to our content. AfterWorld (not to be confused with the sci-fi series bearing the same name) bills itself as the first virtual world with a real free market economy. What will it take to put these guys in charge of the American economy? Political jokes aside though, here's what we know- AfterWorld looks very interesting. It's developed by 10tacle Studios, a Russian game studio. AfterWorld is a 3-D MMO set in a post-apocalyptic time period, contrasting high-technology with a rustic almost downtrodden atmosphere. The game looks to be well into development, with the client already in late alpha stage. Client download and registration is open to the public under the Download section of the website. The game's story is very cryptic, allowing the reader to make sense of it as well as they can. As far as I can tell, there are a number of simultaneous occurrences that have an impact on the world's history starting a mere 20 years from now. An extra-terrestrial spacecraft approaches the Earth's surface and communicates with someone in a complex, encrypted format. The local government is on high-alert, suspicious of anyone who tries to investigate. It is unclear at first whether the government themselves are communicating with this spacecraft, or whether they are looking for someone who is. Regardless, the story indicates that this communication has gone on for a long time, and was only just recently discovered. I know it's just a story, but that's a really frightening possibility, in a good way. Could you imagine people living on earth who have been talking to aliens for a long time without anyone else knowing? It's not like that's the only thing that happened- A doctor who somehow reminded me of Nazi doctor Mengele developed nanobot brain implants,... [Read More]

	All Points Bulletin MMORPG Game Preview

Jan 14, 2010 - 4:49 AM

Article by Skion, MMORPGFocus Staff Writer This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently in any way, unless in conjunction with a link to our content. Step aside, fantasy RPGs, there is a new genre making inroads in the world of MMORPGs! All Points Bulletin is yet another online game (they don't consider themselves a typical MMO) that decides to shun ancient lands, robes and magical spells, going for a modern, gritty, urban landscape more reminiscent of Grand Theft Auto than anything else. The game is still in development, with a launch date for North America and Europe set around Spring 2010, and from what little we know, this game promises to be a killer! Set in the fictional city of San Paro, the game is described as a living, breathing city, replete with civilians and vehicles going about their business. It is into this urban jungle that the players are introduced, handed the task of building their own personal legacies of fame, fortune and respect. Players will join one of two factions, the Criminals and the Enforcers as they fight over money and control of land in an attempt to dominate their turf. The game has an interesting good-versus-evil angle, giving the player the choice of siding with the Criminal population, who create chaos wherever they go, or the Enforcers, who are dedicated to protecting and serving the civilians. The art style is certainly eye-catching and edgy, with stylish graffiti and street art. The players look equally good, with a mix of unique fashion elements, from hip-hop to goth and punk-style clothing. Military camo and various urban styles along with tattoos and punk hairstyles give the characters a gritty edge and great potential for character customization. Vehicle-based gameplay makes a strong appearance in the game, with various cars, complete with shiny paint-jobs, racing stripes and flames as they zoom down the street. The third-person view really gives the player an advantage in the visual area because... [Read More]

	Confessions of a pet lover in popular free mmorpgs!

Jan 10, 2010 - 1:19 AM

Article by Cindemz, MMORPGFocus Staff Writer This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently in any way, unless in conjunction with a link to our content. One thing that is quite common with the average F2P MMORPG nowadays is the pet system. They are often cute and adorable distractions or even major goals. How can players resist getting one as a companion in their journey? They can be a big help when it comes to leveling your characters in some games or even in your battles. As a MMORPG pet lover, I collected some of the famous online games that provide lovable pets for their players to find as companions; often acquired using the game currency or obtained through various quests. Once you get started you will want to keep collecting more! Ran online Pets in this game can help you in your battles and can even pick up gold or dropped items. You can either choose the brave warrior Tiger or the friendly Siberian Husky Dog. Different pet accessories are also available for you to decorate your pets. The best thing with these pets is that they can heal you automatically, that’s really awesome! You will surely enjoy every moment in this game when you have these endearing pets with you. Cabal online There are many interesting pets available also in this popular online game. They don’t have distinct abilities, but these pets can enhance your character’s attributes or battle techniques. Be excited because pets can evolve when they reach level 10. Some items available in the game shop are: the pet rename card, pet sleeping kit that will enable you to trade your pets to other players and the pet entrain item that will remove the enchants from all slots in your pet are a few examples. Rohan online Soft Kahto, Honey Bear, and Angel Bunny- they are the common pets available in Rohan online and can be bought through NPC’s. Raising a pet in Rohan can enhance your stats and can... [Read More]

	Atlantica Online: January Weekend MMORPG Events Review

Jan 08, 2010 - 3:05 AM

Article by Skion, MMORPGFocus Staff Writer This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently in any way, unless in conjunction with a link to our content. We're finally into the new year (2010 deserves its own article, doesn't it?), and for the people who missed out on the December Weekend Events, not to fear, January Weekend Events are here! With a brand-new year and a kick start to the monthly events. The developers at Atlantica Online weren't slacking off over the winter break, clearly as the January Weekend Events announcement on their website shows. The announcement mentioned three new events occurring every weekend in January of the new year. Gift Givers 2010 Gift givers 2010 is the first event announced for January Weekend Events. The idea is to get players to give gifts to newbies. Giving 10 gifts within the span of a weekend will enter your character into a raffle to win a 5x Prison Officer's Safe. There will be 3 winners every week per server. This is a cool event especially because it involves helping newbies. If it works out well, ideally it would help newbies become more competitive. Of course, things never always work out as planned, but we're eager to see this event in action. Winners will be announced on the forum a week after the event. Thanks Violynte for inspiring the event! This event will run from 6:00am PST on Saturday to 6:00am PST on Sunday for a total of 24 hours over the weekend. Be sure to give it a shot! Arena Challenge This event continues from December, hosted every Saturday starting at 12:00 AM PST until 11:59 PM PST (that's Pacific Standard Time), just like in December. Not much has changed, with the same reward since last month (1x Tough Opal Necklace +5) to the winner, announced the following Monday on the forums. It looks like this this event is so popular the devs decided to keep it going, which can only be a good thing. Important to note that only... [Read More]

	Granado Espada Fans, How Was Your MMORPG Christmas?

Dec 27, 2009 - 8:46 AM

Article by Cindemz, MMORPGFocus.com Staff Writer This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently unless linking to this site. MMORPGFocus.com has been blessed with many avid Granado Espada players and we would like to know, now that December 25th has arrived to everyone across the world, did you enjoy the in game events? A Granado Espada player has shared his personal experience with us: Quote: I can feel the chill of the cool wind; I can hear the ringing of the bells in the nearby church and the choir of the children singing, asking for Christmas presents. Yes, it’s Christmas! Even Granado Espada addicts can feel the Christmas cheer because of the new events stored for them just to celebrate this yuletide season. Granado Espada is unique among many free MMOs because it offers a Multiple Character Control system or M.C.C. There are few MMOs out there that allow you take control of an entire party on your own. Often, stylistically, G.E. feels like a combination of Final Fantasy X and an MMORPG in that you control a party of varied characters in an intuitive way. Any member of the party can be selected to be part of a team, regardless of differences in levels or classes. The graphics have also held up very well as new content has been added. Granado Espada won the Korean 2006 awards for best graphics and also the extremely coveted Game of the Year. It goes without saying if you have not given this game a chance yet, it is free, and you owe yourself the the opportunity provided by GE to broaden your horizons and perception of what is possible in an MMO, especially a free one! Our Granado Espada fan explains further the unique content offered for the holidays: ... [Read More]

	Playing For Free: How a new breed of free MMOs are changing the world.

Dec 18, 2009 - 4:42 PM

Article by Skion, MMORPGFocus Staff Writer This content is copyright MMORPGFocus.com and may only be reproduced by giving clear credit to the original source and a clear link to this website. mmorpgfocus and the mmorpgfocus logo are registered US trademarks and may not be used independently in any way. We will pursue violations to the fullest extent allowed by law. Back when computer games consisted of colored squares on a black background accompanied by bleeping, online gaming was a very expensive affair. AOL was king of the Internet back then. Pioneering online games like the first Neverwinter Nights and Ultima Online made their way onto gamers PCs, charging their customers by the hour to play their games. And the rates weren't cheap- players were known to rack up hundreds of dollars a week in charges just to play these games! Would-be players weren't put off by the high costs though. The people spoke and they wanted more games- the online gaming industry had to grow. As technology developed and the Internet became bigger and faster, games became better. Online games were not just for the rich and nerdy anymore; now the mainstream wanted a piece of the action, and they got just that. More and more online games popped up, fitted with immersive 3d graphics and engaging game design. From the fantasy-realm of Asheron's Call to the sci-fi world of Anarchy Online, the industry shifted from pay-per-hour to the much more appealing monthly subscription-based system- and players rejoiced! Subscription-based games were just what players were looking for. They loved the convenience of paying a small fee for a full 30 days of gaming. The value-for-money, along with better overall quality drew a much wider target audience now- World of Warcraft, with its whopping 10 million subscribers bears witness to that. Now however, things are changing again- more and more Asian companies are developing beautiful and fantastic MMOs of their own, catered to the tastes of both the Asian and Western markets. From Korean developer Nexon's Maplestory and NCSoft's Lineage 1 & 2, to the ethereal Aion Online, the Asian developers have brought a slice of... [Read More]