Neverwinter has set a launch date of June 20, Perfect World announced today. The free-to-play MMO will also launch with a new chunk of end-game PvP and PvE content, so those who plow to level 60 quickly (or have already played lots of the beta) will still have something to do.
Read more: End-game treasures and first expansion detailed »
A currency exploit in the Neverwinter beta forced Perfect World Entertainment to go back in (virtual) time, erasing seven hours of player data. The exploit had allowed some unscrupulous folks to gain billions in Astral Diamonds.
As summer nears, the name Neverwinter conjures up images of lazy afternoons in parks, drinking iced lemonade and playing cricket. Never winter! Not ever! Then you're so distracted thinking about reading in the shade of an old oak that you forget what the press release actually said: that Neverwinter is in fact a free-to-play MMORPG, and that the open beta launched yesterday. Well, it is, and it did.
Neverwinter has been in development for quite a while, and the free-to-play MMO is finally getting ready to repay fans for their patience. Perfect World and Cryptic Studios announced today that the game will enter open beta on April 30.
Read more: Founders Packs still available, extended beta weekend coming »
Good morning, Shack. We'll kick the morning off right with an "I was wrong." I had speculated in yesterday's column that the new Obsidian game teased on their site was Dungeon Siege 4 based on the icon of a dragon eating its tail surrounding the number four. But it was indeed a countdown timer Obsidian is using to prepare for an announcement sometime on Friday. Speculation now revolves around a new IP, based on some Xs and dots embedded in the source of the page. No more guessing for me, but if I do turn out to be right, I will gloat later.
MMORPGs have a problem. No matter how much content they produce, eager fans chew through it almost immediately. For a genre that relies on a steady user base to remain profitable, this trend could be -- and has been -- the death knell for some games. Neverwinter intends to change that by providing users the tools to create an endless stream of content. After seeing a demonstration of its creation tools in action, I think it may just pull it off.
It's no surprise to learn that Neverwinter has been delayed again, considering we've heard little from it since it was last delayed. City of Heroes developer Cryptic's free-to-play Forgotten Realms MMORPG is now slated to launch in "early 2013," publisher Perfect World announced at Gamescom.
Neverwinter, the upcoming free-to-play MMO set after the popular PC series, was shown off at E3. But what if you didn't attend the annual expo? A month later, Cryptic Studios has finally released some footage.
The trailer emphasizes the combat of the game, showing a small band of heroes taking on an ogre. The "pre-alpha" moniker implies it's far from finished, and Cryptic hasn't outlined a release window yet. It was previously delayed into late 2012 when it switched to a full-on MMO, so until we hear otherwise we'll have to assume that's still the case.
When 3D MMORPGs were still babies, player-built housing was one of those ideas that got everyone jazzed up about the genre's potential, long before we realised they'd mostly be protracted exercises in killing ten rats. So it's nice to hear Star Trek Online is getting player-built starbases, even if the game is about killing ten tribbles.
An effort by Cryptic Studios to enhance security on its servers and its databases uncovered a breach from 2010 where the unauthorized intruder had access to account names, encrypted passwords and other account information.
Star Trek Online will boldly go free-to-play on January 17, 2012, developer Cryptic has announced. "But which stardate is that?" you may ask, feeling a little cheeky and clever. And I won't reply, because you didn't specify The Original Series, The Next Generation, or 2009 reboot stardate format. This is the Internet; there are rules.
Read more: Plus, free Cryptic Points for current subscribers »
Neverwinter, the recently delayed title from developer Cryptic Studios, is shifting its focus from role-playing game with multiplayer elements to "full-fledged free-to-play MMO."
The reorientation of game design runs parallel to the catalog of games already available from publisher Perfect World Entertainment, which acquired Cryptic Studios in May of this year.
Read more: 'Shifting towards the action end of the MMO spectrum' »
Perfect World's announcement last week of its plans to take Star Trek Online free-to-play later this year left many unanswered questions. An extensive update to the game's official site now provides an overview of what will be included, a comparison of features for free and paying subscribers, an FAQ, a message board for asking specific questions, and a copy of the press release laying out the upcoming changes. Some highlights follow below but the most important part is that the bulk of the game--all sectors and missions, PVP access, fleet actions, and more--will be playable for free with unlimited access.
Cryptic's sci-fi MMORPG Star Trek Online will be boldly going free-to-play this year, the developer's new owner Perfect World has announced. The revelation came during Perfect World's latest financial results conference call.
Hasbro and Atari today announced a settlement to a legal dispute launched in December of 2009 over the rights to use the Dungeons & Dragons license for the upcoming multiplayer RPG, Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter. The settlement notes that Hasbro will keep the digital licensing rights to the Dungeons & Dragons franchise, though Atari will also be able to develop and sell a "selection of games" under the license. The Facebook game Heroes of Neverwinter and downloadable Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale are two such examples. Sadly, that resolution hasn't kept Neverwinter from being delayed.
City of Heroes is going free-to-play later this year, with an update dubbed City of Heroes Freedom. The Freedom version will launch alongside Issue 21: Convergence later this year. Current subscribers will automatically be updated to a "VIP" account, which promises exclusive content.
Cryptic Studios has been acquired by the Chinese MMO maker Perfect World, reports Gamasutra. According to the report, the company paid approximately $50.3 million for the studio, and acquired a 100% equity interest in Cryptic. Atari had been looking to sell Cryptic recently, having only acquired it in 2008.
Atari is divesting its interest in Cryptic Studios, developer of Champions Online and Star Trek Online, looking to sell it, Gamasutra reports. The publisher only acquired Cryptic in December 2008.
"In line with the previously stated strategy of fewer but more profitable releases and further expansion into casual online and mobile games, the Company has determined that external development creates more flexibility in the changing marketplace," Atari explained in an earnings report. Read more »
[Update: 10:30am] According to a GameSpot interview (as spotted by Shack user valcan_s), Neverwinter will "focus on cooperative play, requiring players to log into a server to start a session" encouraging play with others. Players will be able to play the game solo if they prefer but it will be "a much harder way to play." Read more »
Former Flagship CEO and Blizzard Executive Bill Roper has left Cryptic Studios, where he served as design director and executive producer on Champions Online before accepting the position of chief creative officer back in March.
While Roper has not announced specific plans for the future, he did write that "over the past few months my entrepreneurial spirit has become restless, and I've made the difficult decision to move on and look for new opportunities." Read more »
Champions Online and Star Trek Online developer Cryptic is said to be working on an Neverwinter Nights MMO, according to the sources of Variety's Chris Morris.
The rumblings fit with owner Atari's past comments, including a vow that it would revive classic franchises, such as those under the Dungeons and Dragons banner, and word that Cryptic is prepping "a series of new games" based off Atari properties. Read more »
New details on the projects being handled by City of Heroes veterans Cryptic Studios emerged out of studio owner and publisher Atari today via financial documents.
First up was word that the Xbox 360 version of the super-powered MMO Champions Online will arrive by the end of the year, at some time between September 1 and December 31. The PC edition of Champions Online is due to launch on September 1. Read more »
Cryptic Studios has confirmed that it recruited players for the now-underway Champions Online closed beta from super-powered rival City of Heroes and other PC MMOs.
Rumors of such practices emerged via Massively earlier this week, after the official City of Heroes website warned players and forum-goers of solicitations from "another game company trying to lure you to their competing product." Read more »
MMORPG developer Cryptic Studios has been acquired by Atari parent company Infogrames, the companies have revealed.
The announcement specified that Atari will now be able to "create unique, high quality MMO games on 18 to 24-month cycles."
Following the failure of Flagship Studios and Hellgate: London, former Blizzard Entertainment director Bill Roper has joined Cryptic Studios, the MMO developer announced today.
Roper will serve as Design Director on Champions Online, Cryptic's new massively multiplayer online superhero title based on the Champions role playing game.
Said Cryptic Studios CEO John Needham, "Bill brings a ton of creative energy to the Cryptic office and we're thrilled to have him join our team. His years of gaming and online experience are huge assets to all of our projects, and Bill will assist us in furthering our studio's vision to create innovative, exciting MMO gameplay."
Read more »
"Harvord is correct. They will not fix it until well after it is out. "
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