Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween to any and all readers out there!

If you didn't read my earlier anouncement, I'm a bit busy with a new job. I also recently started an Advanced C++ Programming course. So... yeah, I don't currently have a lot of time to dedicate to this blog or gaming in general.

Fortunately, the C++ course ends in 5 more weeks and it shouldnt take me too long to adjust to the new job. With any luck things will be back to normal soon. My videogames are piling up!!!

I'm also hoping to launch a new Just-RPG forum. There's nothing going on there, but I'd love to eventualy build it into something. This definately isn't my main focus right now, but if you've got a few seconds join up and make a post or two!

http://www.justrpg.freemyforum.com/

10/26/07 Issue at Just-RPG

So, I'm pretty late posting this... but better late than never, right? In our latest issue we've got lots of new screenshots and game info for some highly anticipated titiles. We're also still actively seeking staff, so drop us an email if you're interested!

http://www.just-rpg.com

• Orcs & Elves Developer Diary and Screens
• The Chronicles of Spellborn Combat Trailer
• Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu Screenshots
• Just-RPG Looking for Staff

Tabula Rasa Rewards Vets

NCsoftrecently announced a Veteran Rewards program for players of the upcoming MMORPG Tabula Rasa.

For each increment of three months players have an active account they will unlock exclusive content, including items, emotes, titles, pets, and more! Players will also receive an initial one-month reward that includes access to three exclusive in-game emotes.

For more information about the Veteran Rewards program, check out the official Tabula Rasa site at http://www.rgtr.com/.

Knight Online Halloween Events

K2 has announced hordes of upcoming events to celebrate Halloween 2007 in their MMORPG, Knight Online.

“Halloween is always a fun time for the Knight Online community,” said Gokhan Kazar, Associate producer of Knight Online. “This year we really wanted to kick it up a notch for our players and we know they will really enjoy everything we have planned for them!”

Between now and November 8th, players will hunt pumpkin monsters to win cool prizes such as Halloween masks, weapons and candy. The awesome new Halloween masks add bonus damage to your attack, weapons do extra damage and have a special sound effect, and candy increases Health Points and Magic Points for 30 minutes.

In addition, Halloween themed music has been added to the game and Game Masters will be holding Halloween themed events. Celebrate Halloween in style right here: http://www.knightonlineworld.com/

New Blue Dragon Content

Microsoft has announced new content for Mistwalker's RPG, Blue Dragon.

This new package of content is available for download through Xbox Live for 200 Points. It is called 6 Treasures and features six exciting new items. These items include:

1) “Whimsical Mind” – growth item that enhances a few randomly-picked categories by 0-4 levels
2) “Way of Thieves” – in-battle item that can steal rare items possessed by enemy creatures
3) “Devee Phonograph” – allows you to listen to the “Devee-tribe dance”
4) “Nothing Glasses” – visualizes all “nothing” points by means of a star-looking symbol (oftentimes you’ll find a lot of items that contain “nothing”, followed by an English-speaking narrator saying “nothing”).
5) “Shuffled Helmet” – item that adjusts magical and speed parameters (Magic +40 / Speed -40). Detrimental when used by itself because the speed parameter goes down by 50 points, but when equipped along with “Shuffled Breastplate” and “Shuffled Splint”, this item can quadruplicate the Magic parameters and reverse the Speed parameters. So it becomes the strongest equipment in the game. (Magic +160 / Speed +40)
6) Spring-wind Scarf”” – adjusts characters’ HP and Speed parameters by 20%

A previous package of content was released in late September, titled Hard Mod, features new game modes. As gamers are wrapping up the Blue Dragon storyline, they may be interested in expanding their adventure through these downloads!

Disgaea PSP Hitting Stores

Nippon Ichi has announced that Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness will ship for the PSP on October 30, 2007.

Afternoon of Darkness is an improved version of the PS2 classic Strategy RPG, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness. It features a simple yet addictive battle system, unique gameplay features such as Geo Panels and Transmigration, and a hilarious cast of characters.

Disgaea has been totally remastered to take advantage of the PSP, and features an expanded story and new multiplayer modes. Disgaea is my personal all-time favorite Strategy RPG, so if you haven't experienced it yet, this sounds like a great place to start!

The Real World

I just started a new 'real world' job. Yes, I work outside of Just-RPG! Haha. So all of those people who want to join the staff and keep emailing me and asking me how much we get paid... stop! We don't! It's all volunteer. Sure, there are perks, but it's not a full-time job.

Although, by all means email me if you're interested in volunteering. We've been actively looking for people to help out around the site for quite a while now and haven't found ANYONE that really meets what we're looking for.

Anyway, short story long.. I'm considerably busier now than before, so if I update less, I apologize. I already have an inbox full of news items I've been meaning to post, so stay tuned!!!

Fallout Site News

Bethesda has just announced that the official Fallout site has been updated with a new team diary by lead artist, Istvan Pely. In this diary Istvan walks readers through the process of creating the Pip-Boy 3000 along with some concept art pieces.

A final bit of news for European gamers, the Fallout site is now also available in French, Italian, German, and Spanish, including new content such as the updated diary.

Visit the official site here: http://fallout.bethsoft.com/

Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu Beta

ijji.com has announced opens Beta for their new MMORPG Luminary: Rise
of the GoonZu.

Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu is a political and economic MMORPG that allows gamers to choose to become an artisan, warrior, or politician as they rise through the ranks in an attempt to become the leader of their people. Players can lease buildings, create items and even run for office in GoonZu.

The open beta launch for Luminary: Rise of the GoonZu starts today and
the game can be accessed directly at: http://luminary.ijji.com/

NHN USA's ijji.com is the U.S. subsidiary of the largest internet company in South Korea.

Big Bucks for Microsoft

Microsoft has announced their impressive Q1 earnings.

Fueled by Halo 3 and higher than expected Xbox 360 sales, the Entertainment and Devices Division of Microsoft had revenue grow more than 90 percent up to $1.9 billion. Xbox 360 console units also saw an increase of more than 90 percent driven by the August console price cut, the record-setting launch of Halo 3.

Microsoft is still touting their "greatest lineup of games in history", but at this point it's starting to become a little bit more believeable. Of interest to RPG fans, the Xbox 360 has a fall/winter lineup of games including Eternal Sonata, BioShock, Blue Dragon, Mass Effect, and Two Worlds. The hit action RPG Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is also now included with Xbox 360's along with Forza Motorsport 2.

To date 13.4 million Xbox 360 units have been sold.

Revive Your FFXI Character

Square Enix has just announced the Return Home to Vana’Diel campaign, allowing previous players to revive their Final Fantasy XI characters.

This campaign allows customers who have deleted Content IDs, or deleted PlayOnline accounts, are now able to rejoin their fellow gamers just in time for the launch of the new Wings of the Goddess expansion!

Return Home to Vana'Diel will run until February 29, 2008. For more information visit: http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/index.shtml.

Wings of the Goddess ships to retailers across the nation on November 20, 2007.

Shivering Isles for PS3!

Bethesda has just announced that a Shivering Isles retail disc is in the works for the PS3!

This retail disc will be similar to the previously released Xbox 360 retail version of the game. It will allow PS3 gamers to experience Shivering Isles whether they own the Game of the Year Edition or not! Game of the Year Edition was released for the PS3 in October and includes Oblivion as well as Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles.

Shivering Isles will add many additional hours of gameplay to the Oblivion experience, packed with new quests, a large world to explore, new enemies to battle and new items to gather.

The Shivering Isles standalone retail disc for PS3 is scheduled to ship November 20, 2007.

Front Mission ships!

Square Enix has announced that their classic Strategy RPG, Front Mission, has shipped to retailers today for the Nintendo DS.

The origin of the popular Front Mission series has finally been localized for North American gamers. This updated version of the original introduces exciting new features, such as dual screen presentation and multiplayer modes, and bring new life to the classic series!

In Front Mission players will utilize the Touch Screen functionality to command a squad of customizable mechs (also known as wanzers) and direct them through turn-based skirmishes across the battlefields of the 21st century.

Front Mission is available in North American retailers now for $34.99.

Guild Wars Halloween Events

The Guid Wars team has announced some exciting new events in celebration of the Halloween season.

Players will be able to take part in a costume brawl dressed as famous Guild Wars characters, listen to the wandering Teller of Tales, collect new Halloween-themed items, and enjoy festivities in Halloween themed towns!

Every three hours on Halloween, gamers will enjoy a visit from the reigning monarch of the spooky season, Mad King Thorn, who will give each of his subjects a special memento of the season.

For more info on Guild Wars or the Halloween events, see: http://www.guildwars.com/

NWN 2 Adventure Pack Announced!

Neverwinter Nights 2 Adventure Pack. This pack, titled Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate, will be available exclusively by digital download.

Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate was created by Atari along with some of the most dedicated members of the Neverwinter Nights 2 community. It promises to provide 15 additional hours of gameplay with an all new engrossing storylines, professional voice acting, enchanting musical scores, new in-game content, and much more.

Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate is scheduled for release in fall 2007. It requires the full version of Neverwinter Nights 2 to play.

Free Emote for Tabula Rasa Players

The Tabula Rasa team has just announced that they will be giving out a free in-game emote to Beta testers.

All Beta testers who play the Tabula Rasa Beta between October 25th and 26th will recieve the emote as a special Thanksgiving reward. For more information on this offer, visit the official Tabula Rasa site below:

http://www.rgtr.com/community/contests_promotions/thanks_for_helping_us_wipe_the_slate_clean.html

Mass Effect Goes Gold!

Xbox 360 owners will be excited to hear that BioWare's Mass Effect has gone gold!

Along with the news of the recent gold status, Microsoft has als revealed details about pre-order goodies and a special edition of the game.

The limited collector’s edition will feature a wide assortment of bonuses, including A Mass Effect fiction book titled Galactic Codex: Essentials, A 36-page guide to Mass Effect, An additional Mass Effect art book, A demo for Blue Dragon and videos for Lost Odyssey, Halo 3 and Halo Wars, and plenty of additional videos and documentaries.

Gamers who pre-order the game will also be rewarded with freebies, including 12 Mass Effect themed gamer pics, Three songs from the Mass Effect, and much more!

Mass Effect will have an estimated retail price of $59.99. The collectors edition will have a price tag of $69.99. Both will be in stores in November, 2007.

RFO Increased Drop Rate

Codemasters has just announced that they will be doubling the drop rate for loot from monsters in RF Online.

The increase to the amount of drops from monsters came as a direct result from player feedback and will take effect on October 24th, 2007.

RF Online is a sci-fi themed MMORPG from Codemasters Online. It recently re-launches as a free to play game.

For more info, check out: http://www.rf-onlinegame.com/freetoplay.php

Broken Hourglass Customization

Planeswalker games has unveiled custom portraits and soundsets for their upcoming RPG, The Broken Hourlgass.

They promise that even casual players will be able to easily customize their gaming experience by adding new portraits and creating soundsets for
their characters.

The whole customization process is explained in detail on their latest Web article. Check it out here: http://www.planewalkergames.com/content/view/106/1/

Show General British What You're Made Of!!!

In anticipation of the upcoming release for Tabula Rasa, NCsoft will be holding a special 'end of beta' in-game event where players can take on General British himself, Richard Garriot!

On October 26, 2007, brave Tabula Rasa beta participants may take on General British himself from 10:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Central time. Good luck to all those gamers out there who choose to suit up and do battle with the General!

Tabula Rasa is a sci-fi themed MMORPG, designed by the famed Richard Garriot. It is set for release on November 2nd, 2007. For more info, visit http://www.rgtr.com/.

New Forum!?

If you haven't noticed, Just-RPG's forum has been down quite a while. We had some site problems and the forum crashed... and we decided to hold off on re-launching until we could make some improvements.

Well, we're hopefully going to be "officially launching" our new forum soon, but in the meantime I'd like to invite you all to come and check it out early! Please register and help us build a community for RPG and gaming fans!

I'm not sure when the 'officia' launch will be, but why wait? Join on in now!!

http://www.justrpg.freemyforum.com/index.php

10/19/07 Issue at Just-RPG!!!

We've just posted our latest issue at Just-RPG. Check it out below!

http://www.just-rpg.com

• Puzzle Quest Xbox 360 Review
• Legendary: The Box Screens
• Mass Effect Screens & Character Profile
• Just-RPG Looking for Staff
• And More!!!

The Witcher is Gold!

Wohoo! Atari and CD Projekt have announced that their highly anticipated RPG, The Witcher, has gone gold!

The world of The Witcher is based on fiction created by best-selling Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Players will assume the role of Geralt, a legendary monster slayer and warrior with superhuman abilities. The game promises a unique fantasy world that players can interact with and influence as they play.

The Witcher is a Games for Windows title exclusively for the PC, and is scheduled to ship to retailers in North America on October 30.

Sword of the New World Expands Shop

Sword of the New World fans will be pleased to hear that K2 has announced that their Cash Shop has expanded with all-new items!
Players can personalize an enhance their MMORPGing experience, with over 30 new items added to the store. Here's just a few of the items now up for sale:

The Memoir (Veteran)
A book that will restore stat points used after reaching Veteran Status, In Sword of the New World one stat point can mean the difference between life and death, so don’t waste time with a stat point in the wrong spot.

Triumph Fillers
Acquiring these will increase attack and defense ratings for 10 minutes and with the addition of this item ALL players will gain the ability to complete Irawain's quest line and obtain his UPC card. Irawain is a UPC from the Far East who specializes in the Mui Thai fighting style. He is a powerful ally to have in the dangerous new world.

Forgotten Dungeons
The wide selection of items from the expanded cash shop vary from changing appearance, to gameplay updates like the new Forgotten dungeons which lets players access new premium-only dungeons where they can fight stronger monsters with better loot!

More items will be added to the store in the near future and players can purchase gold to spend on items online to make their shopping easier. For more info, see: https://www.swordofthenewworld.com/

The Lord of the Rings Online Gets Bigger

Turbine, Inc. and Codemasters Online Gaming have just announced the details of a third free content update for The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar.

This latest update is titled Book 11: Defenders of Eriador and expands the epic MMORPG with over 100 new quests, a new 12-player raid, two new areas in Middle-earth and an all-new player housing system.

"The Lord of the Rings Online has quickly become the hottest online game of the year," said Jeffrey Steefel, the Executive Producer. "Book 11 is our most ambitious update yet. We continue to define the standard in interactive storytelling with the next chapter of our epic story and introduce a wealth of new content including the housing system, which will give players the opportunity to live in their own home in Middle-earth!"

Book 11: Defenders of Eriador will be available to subscribers on October 24, 2007 in North America and a day later on October 25, 2007 in Europe.

Mass Effect Voice Actors Revealed

Microsoft and BioWare have revealed the voice over talent for their upcoming Mass Effect.

Most notably, the part of Joker will be voiced by actor Seth Green of Robot Chicken and Family Guy fame. Of more personal interest to me, the role of the Matriarch will be played by Star Trek: The Next Generation's Counselor Troi, Marina Sirtis.

Mass Effect is an epic sci-fi RPG set for release on November 20th, 2007. It will have an estimated retail price of $59.99 and will be available exclusively for the Xbox 360.

RFO Free to Play!

Codemasters has just announced that their Sci-Fi MMORPG, Rising Force Online, will be re-launched as a free to play game!

RF Online is now available for free download with no monthly subscriptions across Europe and North America. Celebrating the re-launch, new players can now also experience the new expansion, Episode II: Pioneers of Novus, which is also available for free to all players.

Codemasters recently re-launched their MMO, ArchLord, with free to play model. Since then ArchLord has grown by a whopping 700%!!!

"Moving RF Online to free-to-play game marks yet another milestone for Codemasters Online and the wider industry. We have proven with ArchLord that has been downloaded over 1million times the potential success that can be experienced and we are pleased to be in a position to re-launch RF Online using a similar model. We invite players from around the world to download the game for free and join us in Novus," commented Ed Relf, Director of Marketing, Codemasters Online.

For more RF info, go to: http://www.rf-onlinegame.com/

Spellborn - Heroes and Villains revealed

The Chronicles of Spellborn team has posted a preview revealing some of the game's heroes and villains. It also details some of the game world's backstory and mythology.

Read the preview here:

Oblivion GotY for PS3 Ships

Bethesda Softworks has just announced that Oblivion: Game of the Year Edition for the PS3 is now shipping.

Game of the Year Edition is an exciting compilation, including Oblivion, Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles. It is already available for the Xbox 360. If you haven't played Oblivion yet, this complete package is a must have!

Also shipping to retailers now is the Shivering Isles retail disc. This will allow players who don't have access to Xbox Live to play the massive Shivering Isles expansion.

A last bit of Oblivion news, remember to download Fighter's Stronghold today while it's still free. It's the latest bit of downloadable content and it's not included in the Game of the Year Edition.

Fury Ships

Auran and Gamecock Media Group have today announced that Fury has shipped to retailers across North America.

Fury is an MMORPG for the PC, combining the exciting gameplay of a first-person shooter with the depth of an RPG. Fury is also a game that embraces PvP gameplay, allowing you to battle it out against your fellow gamers.

A subscription plan for Fury is available for hardcore players at a reasonable $9.95 per month, but Fury is free to play right out of the box! All of the awesome weapons and abilities will be available for gamers regardless of what subscription they choose.

Fury is available now for $49.99.

Yay New Content, Boo Bugs!

So the new Oblivion content, titled Fighter's Stronghold, is available today! If you plan on downloading it, do it NOW because it's free for the first week.

Being a big Oblivion fan, I've already downloaded it and begun playing. I had become ridiculously addicted to Oblivion for a while, but it's been a few months now since I played it. I spent MONTHS exploring, doing quests and completing the guild missions. I loved the game, but I actually left it with some bad memories because I ran into a bug that halted my progress with one of the Guild quests.

Basically, I completed a quest, received my award and was told to wait for the next quest... but my quest log never updated and the person who is supposed to give me the next quest won't give it to me. It's VERY frustrating because I've spent soooo much time with Oblivion and hate to see something like this happen. Plus, I'm playing the 360 version, so I want my achievements. Ah well. Someday maybe I'll replay the game and try to finish the Thieves Guild quest, but I've put in too much time with the game to start over now (making it even MORE frustrating). I've heard about a lot of people experiencing similar bugs, so be careful!!!

I'm having a blast playing Oblivion again... I think playing Two Worlds recently gave me a bit of a craving for it. I never quite finished all of Shivering Isles either, so maybe I'll jump back into Sheogorath while I'm at it.

Circle of Doom Release

Shipping dates for the next game in the Kingdom Under Fire series, Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom, have just been announced. The release dates are as follows:

• Japan , Australia/New Zealand and Asia Dec. 13
• Americas (U.S., Canada, Latin America) Jan. 8, 2008
• Europe, the Middle East and Africa Feb. 1, 2008

Circle of Doom is an action RPG featuring randomly generated and fully destructible maps, your favorite KUF characters, customizable weapons, and seamless 2-4 player co-op action. It will be an Xbox 360 exclusive title

Go to www.xbox.com/kufcod for more details.

I'm personall a huge KUF fan, so I can't wait for the release of this game! If you haven't played any of the other games in the series, I highly suggest you go and get them. KUF: Heroes and KUF: The Crusaders are excellent blends of strategy and RPG elements with an interesting story and intense battles. My only worry with the next game is that it's more of an action RPG, so I'm hoping they aren't 'dumbing' it down. Strategy doesn't usually go over well on the consoles, but KUF seemed to work pretty well, with plenty of strategic depth and solid controls.

10/11/07 Issue at Just-RPG

We've just posted the latest issue on Just-RPG, packed with some exciting content. Make sure to sign up for our Two Worlds giveaway, since it ends next week!

http://www.just-rpg.com/

• BioShock Review
• Conan Preview
• Hard to be a God Screens
• Orcs & Elves Developer's Diary and Screenshots
• Two Worlds Giveaway
• And More!!!

EA Buys BioWare!?

Wow, major news for the RPG industry! Renowned RPG developer BioWare has recently been purchased by Electronic Arts.

BioWare is famous for creating top notch games like Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic and Jade Empire, with the latest title Mass Effect coming out next month.

EA acquired BioWare and Pandemic Studios for $620 million plus an additional $190 million in other charges. These studios and their 800 employees will now become part of Electronic Arts.

EA CFO Warren Jenson was quoted as saying, "We're very excited about the revenue potential. We see that in both '09 and '10 to be in excess of $300 million."

Will this have an impact on the quality of BioWare's games? Will it change anything about the highly anticipated Mass Effect? Let's hope not. BioWare is one of gaming's most respected developers, so it would be an atrocity to see something hinder their game development. One one hand, having the funding and resources of a massive company like EA behind them could be great! On the other hand, I worry that it might force BioWare into becoming a "slave" company of EA. I fear that BioWare might lose some of their unique identity and start churning out mainstream titles. After all, EA is known for making a lot of games, but they aren't necessarily known for making quality games like BioWare is. We'll have to wait and see...

Read more about this breaking story here!

Spellborn in Europe

The Chronicles of Spellborn’s European publisher, Frogster Germany, has recently announced plans to release the MMORPG on Q1 2008.

This release date will allow Spellborn International to additional QA testing and incorporating more content.

Frogster Studios has also licensed The Chronicles of Spellborn in the Japanese market in one of the largest closings for a single product in Japanese PC game history. Frogster will receive a percentage of future subscription revenues and a non-recoupable advance license fee of more than $1 million USD.

Spellborn International also recently completed a major step in development by performing stress-tests to check server and network stability. During the stress tests the game was able to accommodate more than 500 characters in a single zone.

AVENCAST: Rise of the Mage Official Demo

Lighthouse Interactive and developer ClockStone Software today revealed the official demo for their upcoming Avencast: Rise of the Mage.

Avencast is set for release later this month for PC and recently went gold. It promises to combine Role-Playing elements with a fluid combat system as seen in beat-em-up games.

Michael Schiestl, CEO of ClockStone Software said, "Players will now have the chance to play the demo and experience first hand some of the exciting features in AVENCAST - intense, action-packed combat sequences, and mighty spells that are graphically stunning. Three indoor and outdoor locations are showcased, with over 20 powerful spells to unlock, and loads of items to uncover. This is just a taste of what AVENCAST has to offer. We hope players will enjoy challenging the malicious foes from the world of AVENCAST!"

The lengthy hour and a half long demo will allow players to get a look at the unique combat system and spellcasting in Avencast while they battle their way through demonic armies. A tutorial will also be included to help players learn the ropes of Avencast.

Download the demo here: http://www.blogger.com/

Gods and Heroes on Indefinite Hold

Perpetual Entertainment has unfortunately announced that their upcoming MMORPG for the PC, Gods and Heroes: Rome Rising, has been placed on indefinite hold.

The game had recently been delayed for a second time due to the need for further Beta testing, but a recent announcement on the official site explains the sad, sad news. Perpetual has decided that Gods & Heroes is too big of an investment to continue development, and now intend to shift their focus to Star Trek Online.

The development team established some very lofty and ambitious goals when the initial work was started on Gods & Heroes. Recently, we took a step back to evaluate the competitive landscape, the game's current state, and the overall goals for our organization. And while we are truly proud of and pleased with what we have created in Gods & Heroes, we also realize that achieving the level of quality and polish that we are committed to will take a significant investment.

Read the full announcement here on the game's official site.

Monster Hunter 3 for Wi

After a recent Nintendo press conference, Capcom announced that their upcoming Monster Hunter 3 will be a Wii exclusive title.

Oddly, Monster Hunter 3 was initially a PS3 exclusive title but high development costs on the PS3 were a deciding factor to switch platforms. The conference also saw the announcement of several Nintendo first party titles.

Monster Hunter is a major franchise in Japan with both PSP games in the series having sold over a million copies. However, the series has had limited success in North America.

MORE Oblivion

As if Oblivion wasn't big enough, Bethesda has just announced the latest and final bit of downloadable content for their massive RPG.

This last bit of content is called Fighter's Stronghold and allows you to defeat the attacking marauders and become lord of Battlehorn Castle. Here are the game's features:

• A fully detailed castle for you to explore
• Knights of the True Horn patrol the castle and do your bidding
• Secret treasure vault
• Upgrade the furnishings in every area of the castle
• Hire a vintner to create special wines to enhance your fighting abilities
• Hire a combat trainer to spar with
• Hire a taxidermist to craft lifelike trophies for your great hall
• Purchase an ancient Dwemer Forge that buffs your Armorer skill

Fighter's Stronghold will be available for download starting October 15th for PC and Xbox 360. They will be giving it away free for one week, so make sure to jump right on top of it!

I've downloaded all of the Oblivion content now... and as much as I love Oblivion, part of me was glad to finally have the game behind me. Ah well, Oblivion, I can't quit you!!!

Puzzle Quest Now on Live!

Puzzle Quest, the innovative puzzle/RPG from D3, is now available for download on the Xbox Live Arcade!

Puzzle Quest was highly praised by reviewers when it originally appeared on the PSP and DS. Now D3 and Microsoft will be opening up the game to a brand new audience of players! Developed by Infinite Interactive and based in the popular Warlords universe, Puzzle Quest combines addictive gem swapping, puzzle gameplay with deep RPG elements of storytelling, character building and exploration.

While I really enjoyed Puzzle Quest, I originally played the DS version, and many of the problems with the game stemmed from the platform itself. For example, using the stylus as a gem selector seems natural enough, but it's also far too easy to accidentally miss and select the wrong piece. Splitting the content among the two screens also caused some problems because it made it difficult to keep track of exactly what was going on. This makes me even more excited about the 360 version!

The Orange Box.. Gotta Have it!

Totally un-RPG related, but The Orange Box comes out today. For those who aren't familiar with it, it's the latest installment in the acclaimed Half-Life series. Although, it's more than just a single game... it's an entire package that includes Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode 1 and the all new Half-Life 2: Episode 2. Not to mention the multiplayer Team Fortress and the interesting new Portal.

I'm particularly excited about this release because I never actually got around to playing Half-Life 2 at release. I've obviously played the classic Half-Life (and dabbled in some Team Fortress), which is probably my favorite FPS of all time due to its exciting storytelling, out of this world weaponry, and fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat gameplay. Other games have successfully mimicked this same formula, but Half-Life is the the original. Unfortunately, life, crappy computers, and various other games have kept me from experiencing the sequel.

Considering I've been wanting to check out Half-Life 2 for quite a while now, The Orange Box is a great deal that I can't afford to miss out on!!! For those that are interested, The Orange Box is available for Xbox 360 and PC with a price tag of $59.99.

NWN2: Mask of the Betrayer in Stores Now!

Atari has just announced that the highly anticipated Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of The Betrayer has shipped to retailers in North America.

Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, Mask of the Betrayer is the expansion to the critically acclaimed Neverwinter Nights 2. The game takes place in the Forgotten Realms universe shortly after the events in Neverwinter Nights 2. In addition to more than 25 hours of new gameplay, Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer allows characters to advance above level 20 and provides over 100 new spells and feats.

Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer is available for PC with a suggested retail price of $29.95.

10/09/07 Links

Make sure to check out these recent RPG-related reviews!!!

AllRPG Reviews Phantom Hourglass - AllRPG has posted their take on the latest game in the Zelda series, awarding the game an 8.0 score.

Eternal Sonata on AllRPG - AllRPG has also recently posted an Eternal Sonata review. They liked this one slightly better than the above game, rating it 8.5.

RPGDot/Jolt Review Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria - RPGDot doesn't normally cover a lot of Japanese games, but they seem to like this one.

Part 2 of RPGWatch's Witcher Preview - Yep, the second part of a length preview. Part 1 was posted a while back...

FFT: The War of the Lions Ships

Square Enix has announced today that Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions for PSP has shipped to retailers across North America!

The War of the Lions is an enhanced and improved version of the PlayStation classic, Final Fantasy Tactics. It includes never-before-seen cinematic sequences, an entirely new English translation, new jobs, new characters, 16:9 widescreen presentation and new multi-player functionality.

Final Fantasy fanboys will be excited to hear that Balthier from Final Fantasy XII and Luso from the upcoming Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced II will be added into the game.

The game is already receiving solid reviews from sources such as GamePro and Game Informer. Look for Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions at retailers today for $39.99.

http://na.square-enix.com/fftactics/

Secret of the Solstice Beta

Outspark has announced that their upcoming, free MMO Secret of the Solstice is now entering closed beta!

The game is developed by Korean developers DnC Entertainment and promises unique character classes and thousands of ways to customize. Here's a description:

Set in the fantasy world of Xen, Secret of the Solstice takes players to a time where a great king and his two daughters embark on an adventure against all odds. On their 18th birthday, one of the daughters, Adeline, received a special gift from her parents – the Solstice Sphere, a mysterious and powerful relic entrusted to her father by the gods. But it was far from a glorious occasion. A series of horrific events would soon take place and ultimately drench the land of Xen in the suffering it knows today.

For more information about Secret of the Solstice, or to sign-up for the beta, visit: http://www.outspark.com/sos

The Seeker

I went out and saw The Seeker over the weekend. I'm not going to bother going into a lot of detail about it, but I'll give it my recommendation.

I wasn't as impressed with it as I have been with some of the recent fantasy films, like Stardust, but it was still a fun movie to watch. The storyline was pretty predictable and many aspects of it seemed a bit silly or cheesy. However, it's a great film for younger audiences and tells a fairly interesting little tale.

It's not a 'must see', but it's worthwhile if you're a fantasy fan or if you've got a boring night ahead of you with nothing else to do. Otherwise, I'd still suggest seeing it, but it can wait for a rental.

Xbox Live Happenings

As an Xbox fan, I just wanted to notify gamers of some noteworthy happenings on Xbox Live.

First off, two new demos of interest have been added: Bladestorm and Conan. I haven't played Bladestorm yet, but it's in the same vein as the Dynasty Warriors series... only based in Europe. As for Conan, I've played through the demo and really enjoyed it. Conan is a hack n' slash adventure similar to God of War in many respects.

Both games will be available on the Xbox 360 and PS3, with Conan heading for release later this month and Bladestorm coming next month.

The second noteworthy piece of news is that Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords is almost ready for launch on the Xbox Live Arcade! This highly addictive and deep game was originally released on the DS and PSP and will be available for download on Live this Wednesday for 1200 points.

I've already played (and loved) the DS version of Puzzle Quest, but I still plan on getting the Xbox Live version. It's a really fun game, and I prefer console gaming as opposed to handheld gaming anyway, so I look forward to the Xbox release!

New Xbox 360 Deal

If you don't have an Xbox 360 yet, now is looking like a really good time to buy one.

Microsoft just announced that by the end of October the acclaimed Forza Motorsport 2 and Marvel Ultimate Alliance will both be included for the recently reduced prices of $349.99 for Xbox 360 and $449.99 for Xbox 360 Elite.

If I didn't already own an Xbox 360, I'd probably run out and buy me an Elite since it's got the nice big hard-drive. The previously listed bundles are both a really great deal in my opinion seeing as the prices have been lowered and they include two solid games. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is a really great multi-player Action RPG featuring a massive cast of Marvel characters.
RPG fans need more reasons to buy an Xbox 360 this holiday season? Here's a few: BioShock, Two Worlds, Blue Dragon and Eternal Sonata. Let's not forget about the upcoming Mass Effect from BioWare and the previously released Oblivion.

I'm a Wussy

Want to hear a sad confession? I still haven't beat BioShock.

The game is absolutely amazing, but the eerie atmosphere of the game and the edge-of-your seat suspense makes it a game that I find hard to play for long durations. Yes, I'm a pansy!!!

Of course, a few other games have distracted me since I've started BioShock. The main distraction being Two Worlds, which is flawed but so ridiculously huge that it managed to kill a lot of my time. There's also the fact that I'm all about exploration, so I've wasted a lot of time in BioShock exploring to make sure I've seen every nook and cranny in Rapture. If it weren't for that, I probably would have completed the game weeks ago.

Ah well. I'm almost done... wrapping it up now.

The Chosen: Well of Souls Demo

Meridian4 has announced that a demo of their recently PC RPG released The Chosen: Well of Souls is now available!

The demo features the game's first level in the city of Kamieniec. During the demo you’ll meet up with some of the locals and battle against armies of inhuman beasts! All three of the game's heroes are available to choose from: Khan, the warrior and master of the sword; Frater, the monk and great alchemist; and Elena, the hunter and excellent marksman.

This horror themed Action RPG is perfect for the Halloween season and can be downloaded from one of the following locations:

http://www.fileplanet.com/files/180000/181300.shtml

http://downloads.gamezone.com/demos/d20052.htm

For more information on The Chosen: Well of Souls, visit: http://www.meridian4.com/games/TheChosen

10/5/07 Issue at Just-RPG

We've got a really exciting issue this week at Just-RPG, featuring a review of Jeanne d'Arc for the PSP, an interview for the recently released Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire, and a Two Worlds giveaway!

http://www.just-rpg.com

• Jeanne d'Arc Review
• Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire Interview
• Two Worlds PC Giveaway
• New The Witcher Screenshots
• New Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness Trailers
• New Mass Effect Character Profile and Screenshots
• New The Chosen: Well of Souls Character Profiles and Screenshots
• And More!!!

10/04/07 Links

Want to read reviews and previews of some of the hottest RPGs around, but don't have the time to seek them out? Well you're in luck because I did the searching for you... read and enjoy!

AllRPG Reviews Luminous Arc - Atlus' latest DS title pulls in a solid 7.5 from their reviewer who calls this title a "must".

.hack//G.U. Vol. 3: Redemption Review at AllRPG - AllRPG reviews the final G.U. game with positive results! I've never played any of the .hack games other than the first, which didn't impress me at all... maybe I should give them a second try.

IGN Reviews Folklore - The recent PS3 title scores pretty high marks with IGN.

Jolt/RPGdot Reviews Depths of Peril - A review of the recently released indie RPG Depths of Peril has been published for the Jolt sites, who scored it a 7.7.

The Witcher Previewed at RPGWatch - I know, every time I post an article about this game I rant about how I can't wait for it. So, 'll say it again, this game looks amazing! Make sure to read RPGWatch's in-depth preview.

Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire on GameSpot - They weren't impressed with one of the Wii's latest offerings, complaining about issues such as mediocre visuals and poor controls. Too bad, I actually had some high hopes for this one! There's just not much to play on the Wii... unless you like puzzle/casual/party games.

GameSpy Reviews Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire - They liked it more than GameSpot, but not much more.

GameSpy Loves The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - A shinning review of the latest Zelda title awards the game with a score reminiscent of virtually every other game in the series. Chances are, if you're a Zelda fan you already bought the game anyway and will love it regardless of what everyone else says.

1Up's Review of Phantom Hourglass - They're less impressed by the game than GameSpy and feel the series is beginning to lack innovation. Still, they liked it and rate it 80%. This one is definitely worth a read for the skeptical gamer.

IGN Reviews Phaton Hourglass - Our third and final review of the newest Zelda title for the DS, and once again they're impressed. An 'Outstanding' 9.0 is their verdict.

Spiderweb Software is Depressed :(

Spiderweb Software, the independent developer of fantasy RPGs such as Avernum and Geneforge, is apparently going through a fit of severe depression. They're currently holding an October Sadness Sale and you can help cheer them up by purchasing some of their products!

Currently all of Spiderweb's inventory is 10% off the normal retail price, including games, CDs, bundles, and already discounted products. If you haven't had the chance to play indie classics like Geneforge or Avernum, here's a great opportunity to get them! To find out more about Spiderweb Software and their titles, or to cast a ray of sunshine upon Spiderweb and make a purchase, visit here.

http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/

Still Playing Two Worlds...

So, I've gone back to playing Two Worlds. Honestly, the give is bursting at the seams with flaws... yet it's somehow really addictive.

I think it's best left for true RPG lovers. Final Fantasy fans and those spoiled by Oblivion may not like it quite so much, but if you give it a chance it can be a lot of fun. You really have to spend some time with the game to appreciate it. Two Worlds suffers from frame rate issues, horrid voice acting and a clunky inventory system... but it's also a huge game with plenty of things to do.

So, long story short, give it a try. You just might like it!!!

Immortals USA Sees 30,000 in Beta

The team behind Immortals USA has announced that since open beta started sign ups, over 30,000 new accounts have been created!

The early weeks of the Beta have been very successful, allowing the team to fix various bugs, improve server stability, and detect players who were cheating.

"30,000 isn’t a huge number for an MMO" says Steve Wade, Vice President of New Game World, Inc. "But we have done very little in the way of generating hype. Our first month of OB was actually pretty slow. Word of mouth in September really was more than anyone expected."

Everyone who registers for an account will be allowed to participate in the open Beta of Immortals, and accounts created will not be deleted at the end of the Beta. In order to register for an account and download the game, players should visit http://www.immortalsusa.com/. Ope Beta will continue until the game is set for launch at the end of October.

High House Art Preview

The Chronicles of Spellborn team has posted a preview about the new High House models and hand-painted textures that their art designer has been working on. The brief preview is complete with a few images. Read their preview here.

For those not familiar with The Chronicles of Spellborn, there are five different High Houses players can join , similar to political factions. Membership with a High House is permanent, and players can pledge their allegiance only once. Each house will have its own unique personality, set of quests, unique building design and special armor.

Scallywag Up for Download!!!

Shrapnel Games announced today that Chronic Reality's Scallywag: In the Lair of the Medusa is now available for purchase as a download.

The game can be acquired directly from the Shrapnel Games e-store right here for only $29.95.

Scallywag: In the Lair of the Medusa is a single-player action RPG, featuring randomly generated dungeons for a unique experience with each play, and four levels of difficulty for the hardcore gamer. Find out more about Scallywag here on the official site.

The Chosen Ships!

Meridian4 has announced that their Action RPG, The Chosen: Well of Souls, has shipped to stores. The game is now avialable at North American retailers and through various digital-distribution outlets for a suggested price of $19.99.

The Chosen: Well of Souls is a dungeon crawling Action RPG for the PC. Gamers will choose one of three characters to play as, and then do battle with a large army of demons hellbent on taking over the world!

"The Chosen: Well of Souls is a value-packed game that should appeal to action-RPG fans everywhere," said Steve Milburn, Director at Meridian4. "Rebelmind has delivered an addictive experience that will have you using swords, axes, pistols and even machine guns to take out the onrushing hordes of werewolves, vampires and demons well into the night."

For more information, see http://www.meridian4.com/games/TheChosen.

Phantom Hourglass Released!

Today Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass for the Nintendo DS.

This latest Zelda adventure has received great ratings in Japan and is already seeing praise in North America.

"The storyline for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass represents a new pinnacle for hand-held video games," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "The touch-screen controls make it easy for newcomers but fresh and engaging for Zelda fans."

Phantom Hourglass has players navigate through the game using only the touch screen, making it easy to find your way through. Possibly the coolest feature of all is that players can write notes on their maps to remind them of places they should revisit. How many times have you wanted to do that before? I know I'm always writing things down when I'm embarking on an epic quest... Phantom Hourglass also allows players to join up through a local wireless connection or log-in through the internet.

Fallout 3 Contest

Bethesda has announced a new contest celebrating the 10th anniversary of Fallout.

To honor the occasion they're holding a "Design a Perk" contest where Fallout fans can design a new Perk for Fallout. The winner will have their Perk included in Fallout 3 and will have their choice of either a PC or Console Grand Prize pack that includes all sorts of goodies!

Aside from the grand prize, Bethesda will also be giving away a bunch of other cool stuff to the best of the rest, such as Logitech gear and Fallout 3 stuff, and some prizes will be given away at random... so you might as well sign-up!

Find out more detail about the contest and sign-up here: http://fallout.bethsoft.com/vault/falloutcontest.html

10/01/07 Links

Happy first of October. As the new month starts I've got a few links from the end of last month to share!

RPGDot/Jolt Reviews Blue Dragon - They rate the game a positive 8.7, which is a bit higher than the norm.

GameSpy Previews Hellgate: London - They like what they see, but also encountered a lot of technical glitches.

1UP Reviews Two Worlds - They rate the PC version a 6.0.

AllRPG Reviews GrimGrimoire - A solid 7.5 is the resulting score from NIS America's PS2 title.

AllRPG Reviews BioShock - A bit different that AllRPG reviews something on the PC or Xbox 360. Either way, they award it an impressive 9.0.

Garriot in Space!

Richard Garriot has taken gamers on all sorts of adventures through games like Ultima and Tabula Rasa. Now the world famous game designer is apparantly heading on an adventure of his own... into space!

Garriot will be embarking on his journey with the Space Adventures company as their sixth tourist into space. and has already begun training for the event. He has already begun training for the event that will take place on October, 2008.

We need to be adventurous in mind and stimulate our intellects to answer today's most daunting scientific questions and to invent tomorrow's technological marvels," said Garriott. His father, Owen is a former NASA astronaut and following in his footsteps has always been a dream of Richard's.

Read the full story here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070928/sc_afp/russiaspacetourismus