Everyone has a fighting chance
The Final Fantasy XI forum has been updated with the news that new NPC-run factions will be entering the game as part of the Unity Concord system that will be launching in game soon. Players will be able to find and support their favorite NPC’s cause. Players will be able to chat in a special Unity chat room, run faction-specific content and much more.
Blizzard has started a four-part "Artcraft" series that will give World of Warcraft fans an inside look at how the art team creates the exterior environments in and around the Nagrand zone in the upcoming expansion, Warlords of Draenor. Lead Level Designer Julian Morris kicks off today’s article with a general look at how the design process is approached.
The Sony Online Entertaiment team has produced a series of videos to give budding cosplayers and Halloween connoisseurs a chance to look like their favorite Sony game characters. Tutorial videos include an H1Z1 zombie, a Leopard-inspired DCUO character, an EverQuest Next Dark Elf, a Planetside 2 Empires character and none other than SOE’s figurehead, EverQuest’s Firiona Vie.
The second in a series of "Loremageddon" articles has cropped up on the WildStar site. This time, the team reveals more about two of WildStar’s races: The Chua and the Granok. Fans are presented with special pages for each race that speak more to each races unique qualities.
SMITE players in the Oceanic region of the world will now have a smoother game play experience now that the server has been turned on in Australia. Australian and New Zealand players with existing accounts should find their characters waiting, all unlocks and experience included.
Funcom has announced the second major deal inked with one of the world’s most famous companies. According to the press release, Funcom will be bringing LEGO Minifigures Online to Amazon’s Fire TV and Fire tablets. LEGO Minifigures Online will be ready to hit both platforms by the end of 2014.
The Hearthstone team has posted a short notice on the official site letting players know that, at least as of this writing, several thousand accounts have been banned for utilizing third party programs, or "bots", to play the game.
Add, the 9th playable character, to the next 2nd Job Class: Mastermind. As Add’s power and mastery over Nasod technology has grown, so has the strength and tenacity of his enemies. Unnerved at the growing threat, Add decides to destroy the limitations of the Arc Tracers Job class and become… Mastermind.
"Overall, the total MMO category is on track to generate $11 billion in annual revenues by the end of this year…" This is one of the infobits released by research company SuperData to help promote its latest annual report on the category. While I don’t envision myself ponying up the current sale price of $2,000 in order to read the whole thing, this projection caught my interest, as did the 2014 YTD top 10 title list and more.
It’s that time of the year again. Pumpkins are carved on doorsteps, turkeys are cooking in ovens, and families are gathering around for the "happiest time of the year." With global events like the holiday season being upon us, MMO developers have always taken this opportunity to connect their games to the real world as much as possible.