All Posts by Stradden

MMORPG.com's Adele Caelia recently submitted some questions from EverQuest II players to the game's developers. Today, we present three of the company's answers. Remember to check back next week for more.

Dear Devs,

I would like to know if there is any hope for graphical revamps for EQII. Specifically in regards to adding support for features like dual core, as well as upgrades to the graphics themselves. Unfortunately, it's been over three years now, some of the environment textures are not looking so hot and the sky could definitely use a revamp. [I] would just like to know if this is possible or not.

Read the whole thing here.

Recently, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood had the opportunity to sit down for a tour of Module 7 for Dungeons and Dragons Online. In part one of this feature, Wood talks about the addition of the Monk class to the game.

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down for a guided tour of the newest module for Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach. Known as Module 7, this new addition not only adds new content and areas, but also sees the introduction of a new class, the Monk.

For those who may not be familiar with the history of Dungeons and Dragons, Monk is a character class that arrived in an early edition of the pen and paper giant, but then faded to a kind of obscurity until the launch of Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 edition where it was re-introduced into the consciousness of the game.

Read the full article here.

The folks from Disney Online have sent along these four new screenshots from their MMORPG, Pirates of the Caribbean Online.

Check out all four here.

The folks from Turbine's Dungeons and Dragons Online have sent us six new screenshots from the upcoming Module 7. These shots give a particular focus to the newly re-designed "Three Barrell Cove" area of the game.

Check out all eight here.

MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh submits this Entropia Universe interview from the ION conference, talking to developer and player alike, Koh tried to get to the bottom of the question: "What is it about Entropia Universe anyway?"

One of the topics of a panel discussion as well as keynote and lecture at the 2008 ION Game Conference was that of the blurring of lines between Virtual Worlds, Online Spaces and traditional MMOGs; how they were integrated and how to integrate them. John Bates of MindArk who develops and publishes Entropia Universe brought up the topic in our interview.

“Entropia is not about quests and missions,” he said, “but an ongoing storyline and events that take place during this storyline.”

Entropia has a single world and it’s not just a virtual world, but also an exploring, tradeskill and adventure game as well. Parts of it are akin to Second Life, but players can also explore and adventure in this world, then come back to the cities and enjoy the social aspect of the game. Like Second Life, Entropia has a monetary system which has its in-game currency pegged at 10 PEDs (Project Entropia Dollars) to 1 US dollar.

Read the whole article here.

Steve Williams of Firesky, the company creating the MMORPG Stargate Worlds, writes this dev log on the game's official page which highlights mini-games in the upcoming MMO.

My name is Steve Williams, and I am a MMO gamer and also a casual gamer. Give me an MMO, and I’ll play it. Give me a simple Flash game and I’ll play it. Wouldn’t it be fun if someone could mix the two flavors together and make a peanut butter cup of gameplay that would satisfy both MMO fun and casual fun?

So let’s talk about what mini-games are doing in a self-respecting MMO like Stargate Worlds - let’s talk about putting the peanut butter into the chocolate and making something tasty.

Since time immemorial, or at least the past few years, MMOs have focused upon two things: Killing stuff (and getting their loot) and making stuff for people to go kill stuff (and get their loot). As building games goes, that’s a pretty good spread of features, and it’s not too hard to make that work.

Read it all here.

Tom Potter, the new Lead Designer for NCsoft's Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa, sits down with MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood to talk about his thoughts on the game and where it's heading.

MMORPG.com:

Can you give us an idea of your own personal game design experience?

Tom Potter

If you had told me when I was eight years old, "hey kid, you're gonna be making games someday", I think my head would have exploded.

Whether it was making my own rules for Axis and Allies, or actually sending Nintendo proposals in the mail (which were all kindly rejected), I always knew I wanted to be a game designer. But back then it really didn't seem like a viable career path. So I took a long detour through some other fields before realizing that is was in fact possible to make games and make it a career. I was a chemist for a while, but it just wasn't really fulfilling personally. So I made the decision to switch careers, and through a lot of blood, sweat and tears I finally got a chance to join the industry. Prior to joining NCsoft I worked at Iron Lore Entertainment as Lead Content Designer. While there I worked on Titan Quest, Titan Quest: Immortal Throne, and a little bit of Dawn of War: Soulstorm. I joined NCsoft initially as a Senior World Designer and was responsible for making maps and instances. I just recently transitioned to the Lead Designer role which is really a whole new set of challenges. But the team is really fantastic and we're making strides towards making TR better and better with every update.

Read the whole interview here.

Recently, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood had the opportunity to sit down to talk with Funcom Product Manager Jorgen Tharaldsen and talk about the XBox360 implementation for AoC.

Recently, MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood had the opportunity to sit down to talk with Funcom Product Manager Jorgen Tharaldsen and talk about the XBox360 implementation for AoC.

Check out the whole video here.

Didn't forget. There's a lag in our system between when the link goes live and when the feature does. :) you responded in that window.

Here, Game Director Gaute Godager gives us a look at a player's first meeting with King Conan in Funcom's new MMO, Age of Conan. Remember, this is a spoiler, so if you don't want to know, don't watch it!

Here, Game Director Gaute Godager gives us a look at a player's first meeting with King Conan in Funcom's new MMO, Age of Conan. Remember, this is a spoiler, so if you don't want to know, don't watch it!

Check it out here.

Recently, MMORPG.com's own Carolyn Koh had the opportunity to sit down and speak with the team from NetDevil about their work on the upcoming MMORPG Jumpgate Evolution.

Jumpgate Evolution is not a massive update to Jumpgate. It is a completely different game. “Basically, this is a response to focus testing and user feedback,” said Scott Brown, President of Netdevil. “We can’t have Netdevil just do another game. It has to be a great game.”

Once Jumpgate Evolution launches, it will run side by side with Jumpgate until which time, Jumpgate ceases to be viable, if ever. “We still have a lot of players that love the game and we’ll continue supporting it,” said Scott, “Jumpgate Evolution will essentially be like Asherons Call 2 and EverQuest 2. Set in a similar, yet different world. A world of the future.”

At the Connect event in the UK, Netdevil partnered with their UK publisher Codemasters to bring the game to players there. They were able to have the public play test a vertical slice of the game on 50 PCs. “They played the new user experience, and it was the first proof of concept that the new user experience in Jumpgate Evolution works.” Netdevil has treated Jumpgate Evolution as a “Live” project from the get go, with internal testing and developers playing the game. The story takes part in a later time and different part of space, but current players of Jumpgate will absolutely find it familiar.

Read it all here.

The developers of the horror-based MMORPG Requiem: Bloodymare have sent along these six new exclusive screenshots for our viewing pleasure.

Check out all six here.

A recent visit over to the Cryptic Studios "Current Openings" page tells us that there are a number of new jobs available in many fields not only for Champions Online but for other, unannounced, projects as well.

We're looking for the best, whether you are a proven industry veteran or a new college grad who wants to break into the business. If you want to work on cutting-edge technology and designs centered around making games easy to build and fun to play, then this is place for you. You won’t be surprised to know we’re looking for top-notch programmers and artists, but you might be surprised to find we’re also interested in engineering, economics, linguistics and philosophy majors. And if you have experience in quality assurance, production customer service or marketing, check out the many opportunities in our publishing department.

Check out jobs in: Art, Design, Operations, Production, Programming or Publishing here.

The folks from Sony Online Entertainment have sent along these five new screenshots from the upcoming spy based MMORPG, The Agency.

Check it out here.

MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh recently attended an Open House for Sony Online Entertainment's Seattle offices where they are busily building the spy-based MMORPG, The Agency. Today, Koh brings us up-to-date on the game, its rating and more.

SoE took advantage of the 2008 ION Games Conference this year and had a media open house for The Agency at their Seattle offices.  The Open House started at 7:00pm and the last panel ended at 6:00pm, so a few of us hoped that there would be food.  There was.  Food, drink and a couple of booth babes, representing the U.N.I.T.E. and ParaGon agents.  I looked around for burly Duncan but was doomed to disappointment.  The presentation though, was no disappointment despite their showing the same trailer from CES 08. 

Media and friends were treated to a display of the concept art of The Agency, a small tour of the studio, many artists and devs to speak to, many whom sported a temporary ParaGon tattoo for the night and of course, the presentation by Lead Designer, Hal Milton.

Read it all here.

At a recent press event Erling Ellingsen and Gaute Godager gave gathered journalists and fans a look at combat in Age of Conan. In part two of the video, we get a look at spellweaving and mounted combat.

At a recent press event Erling Ellingsen and Gaute Godager gave gathered journalists and fans a look at combat in Age of Conan. In part two of the video, we get a look at spellweaving and mounted combat.

Check it out here.

At a recent press event Erling Ellingsen and Gaute Godager gave gathered journalists and fans an overview of character creation and the opening cinematic for Age of Conan.

At a recent press event Erling Ellingsen and Gaute Godager gave gathered journalists and fans an overview of character creation and the opening cinematic for Age of Conan.

Check it out here.