PlayOMG has announced that the beta test for their upcoming 3D fantasy MMORPG, N.E.O. Online, is now underway! The test is technically a "Closed Beta," though anyone who is a PlayOMG member or has a social media account (Facebook, etc) can join in.

More details available in the full press release below:

PlayOMG is proud to announce the start of Closed Beta for N.E.O Online, the 3D Fantasy Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG). N.E.O gives players the most control over the adventure and offers possibilities for creating characters with various professions. Those who are PlayOMG members or have social accounts such as Facebook, are all qualified to join the Closed Beta. More social accounts will be accepted in the near future. In celebration of the Closed Beta, PlayOMG will be hosting numerous events between 8th and 23rd February. The events will include:

• Free Test Points Giveaway: 20,000 test points can be used for purchasing in the Item Mall for a limited time only.
• Attendance Event: Players that log in will receive N.E.O Power Kit consisting of assistant items for different levels.
• Community-based Screenshot Contest: Post your best screenshots to win prizes.
• Website Goodies: Join the poll and get PlayOMG bonus points.
• CB Special Prize: Those who attend all the events above will be able to get a special prize for use in official release.

N.E.O Online is a unique online game that allows players to make free choices without having any limits of classification. Players can master fighting skills by working towards the development of a warrior. For nature lovers, players can apply various manufacturing skills to live a self-sufficient life. Innovative chaos mode and fair stone reinforcement even create more versatile possibilities for adventurers. In addition, players can explore the world with mystical mounts and pets. Using the exclusive technique of fabric dying, players can change colors of outfits to show off personal style. All these features contribute to an exceptional gaming experience in the world of N.E.O, a fun and relaxed place to escape to. Learn more about N.E.O Online and sign up for a free trial at: http://neo.playomg.com

«N.E.O Online»Official website:http://neo.playomg.com
«N.E.O Online»Closed Beta events:http://neo.playomg.com/event/20100125/index.html

MMORPG.com's Garrett Fuller recently spoke with Age of Conan's Erling Ellingsen about the upcoming Rise of the Godslayer expansion.

MMORPG.com:

Conan has won the Most Improved Game of 2009, how did you achieve that goal?

Erling Ellingsen:

I think that would probably be a whole article in and of itself. We have tried to address all those issues that plagued players at launch, and I think that by and large we have achieved that. Throw in a lot of new content, new playfields and new encounters and you have a game that has come on leaps and bounds throughout the year. So I guess the short answer is a lot of hard work, and a good portion of faith that we could start to realise some of the potential that the game had. It would have been easy to just put the project onto minimal staffing and call it a failed endevaour, I guess some companies might have done that. We didn't and have continued to invest in the game. MMOs are long term projects and I think the success we have had over the last eighteen months is very much due to keeping focus, concentrating on the simple things and addressing each of the issues methodically.

Read the Rise of the Godslayer Q&A.

LEGO Universe was more or less given a full unveil at this year's CES, and while beta sign ups were available for those at the show, those of us stuck at home were left unable to throw our names into the hat.

Today, however, things are different! LEGO fans everywhere can now rejoice, as beta sign ups have officially begun!

Sign up for the LEGO Universe beta here.

NCsoft has announced today that players can look forward to Issue 17, which has been titled "Dark Mirror," this April! Most players expected to find the new graphical updates featured in Going Rogue with the release of the upcoming expansion, however, it appears that the previously announced "Ultra Mode" will make it in with Issue 17!

Ultra Mode is an optional enhancement mode, enabling players that have the hardware to take advantage of the new bells and whistles to do so, without disturbing the game for those still running City of Heroes on their toasters. The mode will enhance the game with a "a new look and feel with a heightened level of detail in lighting, reflections, shadows and water effects."

Issue 17 will also introduce a "new and nefarious foe" that will be able to match players "blow for blow." Given the Issue's title, I'm guessing it will be your doppelganger, but for now Paragon Studios isn't saying anything more than that.

A short rundown of the issues other features is available below:

• New badges, new missions and new player emotes
• Epic Archetypes now available at level 20
• Improvements and additions to Mission Architect
• Enhancements to UI and game systems
• And dozens more

Was all that not exciting enough? How about the fact that beginning on March 2nd, those who pre-order Going Rogue will receive early access to the expansion's two new powersets, Dual Pistols, and Demon Summoning in April?!

The Going Rogue "Complete Edition" has also been announced, featuring both City of Heroes & City of Villains, 30 days of game time, and the "Complete Collection Item Pack," which contains Alpha and Omega costume sets and auras, four stance emotes, and The Shadowy Presence invisibility power.

The Going Rogue beta will begin this Spring, with the expansion's full release expected in July.

A small batch of new screenshots of Issue 17's Ultra Mode are available in our City of Heroes gallery.

MMORPG.com's Bill Murphy writes this week's list, taking a look at five current MMOs in development that may just surprise MMO fans.

It used to be that we could count ourselves lucky and check for the coming of the End of Days when more than one new offering to the MMO genre released in a single year. These days, we see a handful or more come and go in that same timeframe. But often all the glory is left to the games who can afford a robust advertising budget. In the spirit of rooting for the little guys, here's a list of games that may come up and bite us in the collective rear end this year... should they make their proposed release dates.

#5 Allods Online

It's not too often in this gaming world that "Free-to-Play" and "Quality" are uttered in the same sentence, and yet that's exactly what the makers of Allods Online are hoping to change. From Astrum Nival, a Russian developer that's been in the business for ages, Allods seeks to combine the quality of a triple-A MMORPG with the value of the F2P market. Based on the cult-favorite Rage of Mages series, Allods Online sports impressive visuals (though they may be reminiscent of a certain game), a blend of Sci-Fi and Fantasy trappings, a unique aerial combat mechanic for warring factions, mini-game based professions, and the no-NDA beta has the blogosphere abuzz with anticipation.

Read Five MMOs That May Surprise You.

NCsoft has announced that the 14-day free trials for Lineage II have returned. The free trial limits characters to reaching level 40 on up to three characters, but will, of course, save your data so that you can continue the same character(s) should you decide to subscribe.

The trial is hassle free, requiring no credit card details. Simply download, sign up, and play!

Get started here!

MMORPG.com columnist Justin Webb writes this week's article on difficulty in games, looking back at a past where games were just... harder.

This week I have mostly been playing Demon’s Souls. In addition to its mischievously placed apostrophe, it’s also astonishingly hard.

Its learning curve is more like a learning crevasse, where every mistake is rewarded by being flung flailing into the abyss. Some of the design decisions in the first level are astonishing:

• You can’t exit the level without beating it.
• Every time you die, you must start the level again… and all the monsters respawn.
• Many monsters can kill you in one hit if they get the drop on you.
• Every time you die, you drop all your souls – the game’s xp and currency. If you die again without picking up those souls, they are gone for good.
• You start out in human form. If you die, you turn into a spirit with reduced stats and half as many hit points. To resurrect, you must finish the level.
• It can take a good 15 minutes to fight your way back to your dropped souls.
• There is a “go left/go right” decision halfway through the first level, where going right takes you to a monster that is unkillable.
• After finishing the first level, to be able to level up, you must talk to an NPC who is hidden so well that you will want to tear your face off.
• It has a PvP mode where other players can “break into” your game and hunt you down and kill you.

Read That's What She Said.

MMORPG.com has been given 2000 special event keys for Bright Shadow. These keys are just for new registered players. If you use this key and level your characters to at least level 15 by February 28 you will be entered to win prizes!

GET YOUR SPECIAL OFFER KEY AT THIS LINK!

According to Electronic Arts' investors report, Realtime Worlds' cops-n-robbers themed MMOG, All Points Bulletin, will not be making its Q1 2010 release date. Instead, EA's report lists APB in EA's Q2 2011 fiscal year, or Q3 2010.

While this news is certainly unfortunate for those of us out there looking forward to the game, delays are all too common in the MMOG genre.

[Thanks Fanita for the tip!]

Sony Online Entertainment has announced that over eight million unique users have registered to play their kids MMOG, Free Realms. The Festival of Hearts, this year's Valentine's Day event in Free Realms, was also announced today, and is set to kick off sometime this week.

The Festival of Hearts event will run all throughout February and will consist of "themed events, daily social activities and storyline quests that incorporate traditional items and rewards which embody the holiday: hearts, candies, forget-me-not cards, flowers, love potions and more."

The event will also introduce numerous new pets to the Marketplace including the Hippo, Tiger, Beetle, Groundhog and Owl.

View the original announcement here.

Not long ago we reported on the record-shattering $330,000 purchase of the Crystal Palace property in First Planet Company's Planet Calypso. Today, we bring news of the sale of yet another high-ticket item, this time, a unique virtual egg, which has sold for $69,000.

Jon "NEVERDIE" Jacobs (the former record holder for the largest virtual property purchase) put the egg up for public auction, and ended up selling it to David "Deathifier" Storey for the low price of only $69,000! Mr. Jacobs acquired the egg in 2006 for $10,000, which has apparently turned out to be quite the worthwhile investment!

What is truly maddening about this story is the fact that no one knows what is inside this egg, and its contents could turn out to be completely worthless or something truly amazing. Quite the price for such a gamble!

The original announcement can be viewed here.

The Bullroarer test server is now host to the Volume III, Book I update for The Lord of the Rings Online.

You can view the preliminary patch notes here.

Guilds and guild leaders have a unique perspective on the world of MMORPGs. Today, Sean Stalzer answers a number of questions for the guild that he leads known as The Syndicate.

MMORPG.com:

For those who don't know tell us about The Syndicate and your achievements.

Sean Stalzer:

The Syndicate was founded in Feb 1996. We currently have about 625 active, adult members (average age is 33years old). We had a 99.98% retention rate last calendar year. We began as a community focused on Friendship, Loyalty, Team Focus and what we call Guild First as our core values. Those same core values still define us today but we are a far cry different from what we were back then. Some of our more milestone achievements include: Years of charitable work for Youth Opportunity Unlimited, The American Cancer Society as well as major support for deployed service men and women. The Syndicate maintains a strong commitment to giving back to the community both within the games we play and in the real world. The first online community to Trademark its name. The first online community to obtain corporate sponsorship. The first to have a book published about our guild. Legend of The Syndicate details the first 10 years of our history. We established an annual conference and will be hosting our 9th one this year that will be attended by 200+ Syndicate members and a number of VIP guests. Featured in the MMO film Second Skin which was created by Pure West. It is actually available on Netflix on demand now which is a cool, recent development. We have been working with Prima Games for years to develop more comprehensive strategy guides to give the customer more value for their dollar. In 2009 we established a branch of our guild that is its own Studio of Prima Games. We have done numerous consulting engagements with MMO developers. We have a number of strong relationships that exist today and are helping to shape the future of MMO games. So while we started as a team of friends focused on playing online games, we have developed into something we didn't imagine possible back in 1996. We have achieved a number of unique success stories that no other group can claim. We continue to seek out new ways to make the overall MMO experience, for all players, better and more fun.

Read Guild Perspective: The Syndicate.

Former Pirates of the Burning Sea players (account must have been closed and inactive since January 22nd, 2008) have been invited back to the game for a free month, which kicked off on February 5th, and will end on March 5th at 11:59 PM PST.

Surely no coincidence, this latest offering comes hot on the heels of the launch of version 1.22 last week, which among other things, consolidated the playerbase into two remaining servers.

View the original announcement here.

MMORPG.com is pleased to present these three new screenshots from the upcoming MMORPG, Mytheon.

Read Exclusive Screenshots, Week 2.

Version 1.06 of Age of Conan finally went live last Friday, bringing new Guild Renown, and token systems to Age of Conan. The update also introduces a new Tier 3 raid instance to the game, and rounds out with an Assassin revamp, as well as a crowd control balance-pass.

Get the full rundown by reading the patch notes here.

[Thanks Thorgrimm!]

Aion player Cerafina asks about the status of fort timers in this month's Eye on Community letter, and receives some pretty positive results!

Aion Community Manager Andrew "Tamat" Beegle reveals that NCsoft has compared their internal data to their player survey data and will be making a change to Aion's fort capture timers. The new timer will be extended to one hour, up from its original half hour window:

We’ve taken the data collected from the in-game survey and compared it to our internal server statistics. Based on these factors, our decision is to “keep the enemy on their heels.” Next week we will be changing the capture timer to one hour, which is twice the amount of time it is currently set to.

Our goal in the original change was to increase the difficulty of these battles and reduce the amount of time players needed to dedicate for the event. We believe that the new timer achieves a good balance, but that doesn’t rule out future reevaluations. We will be closely monitoring activity in the Abyss after the timer change is implemented to make sure that the battle rages on without any new negative side effects!

Read Februrary's Eye on Community here.

MMORPG.com writer Bill Murphy takes this look at what NetDevil's Jumpgate Evolution has to learn from its predecessors in the sci-fi MMO market.

Jumpgate: Evolution is sort of a re-launching/re-imagining of the original Jumpgate which NetDevil released all the way back on September 25th, 2001. Never quite a blockbuster success, Jumpgate still has a loyal following to this day, and obviously the staff at NetDevil have a passion for the IP. Later this year (at least we hope so), published by Gazillion, NetDevil will unleash their new spaceflight MMO unto the public. A lot has changed in the industry since 2001, and NetDevil themselves have launched and closed another online offering in that time. And with the game still pretty under wraps, here are some of the major things we hope the developers keep in mind while crafting Jumpgate: Evolution.

Read What JGE Can Learn from Sci-Fi Games.

MMORPG.com's Richard Aihoshi writes this article about the way that games have changed over the past decade and speaks to three distinguished developers who share their thoughts on the decade's most notable developments and happenings.

Can it really be a decade already since we entered the new millennium? There are times when that doesn't seem possible, but when we look at how much the massively multiplayer landscape has grown and changed, it can feel like a tremendous amount has happened, far more than we might expect in only 10 years.

As we entered 2000, the dotcom explosion had already happened. In fact, the dotbomb period had hit. The first phase of the MMOG era had begun less than three years prior with the release of Ultima Online in 1997. EverQuest was a baby, in service for less than a year, and Asheron's Call was a mere newborn, less than a month old. Those were the only three prominent live titles.

Read The MMOG Landscape in the 2000s.