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Killing to Level – is there no other way?Category: Article Posted on 2008-08-30 08:01:13 Add to Bookmark |
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 Innovation – in-no-va-tion. 1. Something new or different introduced: Numerous innovations in the high school curriculum. 2. The act of innovating; introduction of new things or methods. (Source: Dictionary.com) I've spent a great deal of time lately wondering what we can do to save MMORPGs from their grim fate. It's no secret that over the past few years the fantasy MMORPG genre has been slowly dying, this mainly being caused by the hundreds horrible games that are released on an almost weekly basis. As a gamer the solution to this problem is simple – stop playing them - as if we stop playing them, then companies will stop making them and we won't be bothered by the problem any longer. However, as a game reviewer the solution is not so simple. We are required to p |
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The Great Atlantica Debate - Stamina Goes!Category: Debate Posted on 2008-08-20 01:04:10 Add to Bookmark |
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 These days, it's fairly common for a new MMO to have a Beta Test period before the release of a game. This generally takes place in 2 stages, a Closed Beta and an Open Beta - with Closed Beta being used to find and eliminate bugs, and Open Beta used to stress test the server to make sure they can handle the player base without server crashes and lag. Some games have a second closed Beta Test, this being used to experiment with new ideas and patches and gauge a response from the players. Atlantica is one such game. The reason I mention this process is that many people are unaware of it, rarely does a game make significant changes in these tests and as a result they usually go by unnoticed. Atlantica chose a different path with their second Closed Beta Test, they chose to add a new gameplay element entirely, one that would later be known as Stamina - the destroyer of worlds. The Stamina system in Atlantica works simply, you begin the day with 100 Stamina Points (50 once you reach level 50), and after every battle one point is lost. Once you have consumed your daily stipend of Stamina you will no longer receive experience or loot from battles. At first glance this isn't really |
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Perma-Death and Time Travel - The Ironic TruthCategory: Article Posted on 2008-08-16 01:08:32 Add to Bookmark |
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   A note to the reader - Thank christ that's over. For those of you who dont know me, that was my first try with Photoshop... as you can see it didn't go very well. =P I'm hoping to get much better with the photoshop over the coming weeks, so that my reviews can be delivered to you in the best quality I can provide. Bare with me while I practice though. :D Thanks for reading guys, let me know what you thought of the article and the new design. Take it easy! Nera. |
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Dragonica – Alpha ReviewCategory: Alpha Review Posted on 2008-08-09 09:47:01 Add to Bookmark |
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 "MapleStory fans eat your heart out."  Pop Quiz – What's more exciting than spending 4 years playing MapleStory? The answer? Wait for it…wait for it…absolutely everything! I don't care how you slice it, the game's complexity ends at 'Press button to make bad thing die' and it was never enough for me, not even close. Hell, I think I remember arguing with my brother about the game's success once, saying that it wouldn't make it out of beta. Well, 60 million players and 20 bucks later proved that I don't always make the best judgement calls. MapleStory turned out to be the best thing since Oil Deposits and influenced an era of terrible MMO clones that I'm still forced to suffer today. Luckily, and I mean that in ever sense on the word, Dragonica is not just another run-of-mill MapleStory clone, it is the product of what I like to call creative cloning – cloning only the idea of the game and evolving the rest. This is by the way a good thing, as it is how you expand on a genre. Dragonica is essentially a 2.5D Side-scroller, that will see you killing cutesy creatures, completing an assortment of quests, and grinding hours of your life away. As I |
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