sominator

Das Tal, a new PvP-focused sandbox MMORPG from Fairytale Distillery, has an ambitious task: provide a hardcore player-vs-player gameplay experience that is still accessible for casual gamers. With server-specific rulesets, skill-based combat, and an emphasis on group coordination, the game offers an interesting take on what sandbox MMOs can look like.

I’ve made it no secret that to me, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes represents some of the best raw potential that MMOs have to offer, even if the game’s initial execution left a lot to be desired. That’s why I’ve been excited by Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen, the new MMORPG in development from Visionary Realms (VR), whose pedigree features the minds that brought us EverQuest 1 & 2, Vanguard, PlanetSide 1 & 2, Star Wars: Galaxies, and a whole lot more.

Having a ton of games to play is certainly a boon, but it usually means that I’m late to the party on the newest gaming hotness (unless that hotness is an Elder Scrolls game). In the case of Diablo 3, I’m actually kind of glad that I missed the boat on launch and waited until the Reaper of Souls release, because I skipped past the whole RMT Auction House and loot kerfuffle and am now enjoying a super polished and fun Blizzard game.

I’ll admit that I have a peculiar fascination with the EVE franchise, even though I’ve yet to partake in anything related to EVE Online first-hand. There’s something decidedly hardcore about CCP Games’ flagship title that speaks to me, and although Dust 514 didn’t turn out so excitingly, the spinoff certainly still piqued my interest.

From its dark fantasy setting to its heritage as a tabletop miniatures wargame, the Warhammer franchise has always been a bit hardcore. Rogue Factor and Focus Interactive’s newly announced third-person tactical strategy RPG, Mordheim: City of the Damned, certainly looks like it will fit that mold. With a gritty art palette, permadeath options, and player looting, Mordheim will aim to appeal to Warhammer fans and hardcore strategy gamers alike.

At one time or another, you’ve probably looked at the Oculus Rift and thought to yourself, “I bet those would make some bangin’ underwater goggles.” That may not be the exact sentiment expressed by the developers at Vertigo Games, but in our GDC 2014 preview, I was told that the form factor of the new piece of tech did in fact provide the initial inspiration for World of Diving.

To whosoever among us thinking that s/he doesn’t have a collector’s obsession: I challenge you to play Prodigy and not want to buy all the delightfully detailed miniatures that tie into its game world. Hanakai Studio’s new turn-based, tactical RPG will aim to scratch that collector’s itch through some clever tech that allows you to bridge the gap between physical minis and digital gameplay.

Interestingly, German developer InnoGames was established in 2007 out of a very successful hobby project, Tribal Wars. At GDC this past week, I got a chance to take a look at Tribal Wars 2, their forthcoming sequel to the free-to-play persistent strategy game.

Although ArcheAge was very much my game of show at GDC last week, another of Trion Worlds’ games took a close second: the delightfully cute and complex Trove. It’s silly, it’s visually appealing, and it’s seemingly chock full of collaborative adventure.

I got a chance to sit down with Trion Worlds at GDC 2014 to look at the upcoming changes to Rift, and I'm happy to report that their flagship MMORPG is looking better than ever. With new souls coming out shortly and another expansion expected soon, the future for Rift is very promising.

One of the privileges of checking out an overseas game in its early stages of localization is the potential to view a highly polished gameplay experience, with the wide-eyed wonder that comes along with not knowing quite how anything works. This experience pretty much sums up Bill’s and my previews of ArcheAge, the upcoming sandbox MMORPG from Trion Worlds and XLGames, at Games Developers Conference this past week.

WildStar is one of those games that has been languishing behind the veil but Carbine Studios is ready to start releasing more information to an excited audience. We've got a hands on preview of WildStar, most particularly the Dominion and the first ever information about the Stalker class. Check it out and then let us know what you think in the comments.

Free to play games have swiftly become the norm in the MMO space in the last year. In a new column, we take a look at the phenomenon and what it means to we, the consumer. Read on before heading to the comments to tell us what you think.

WildStar is one of those games that has been languishing behind the veil but Carbine Studios is ready to start releasing more information to an excited audience. We've got a hands on preview of WildStar that you definitely won't want to miss. Check it out and then let us know what you think in the comments.

We often write of our first impressions of a game and little else is heard until a final review. In today's Age of Wushu article, we take a much vaunted second look at the game and offer even more of our thoughts. Check it out and then join the conversation in the comments.