Free-to-play multiplayer mech game Hawken has had its official launch delayed until early 2013, instead opting to go to open beta on the originally scheduled release date of December 12. In anticipation of the open beta, it will be closing its Vanguard Initiative pre-sales tomorrow.
When a subscription-based MMORPG turns free-to-play, as they almost inevitably do, it's very important to strike a balance between what's free and what players must pay for. Star Wars: The Old Republic kind of cocked that up. Responding to complaints, BioWare is still trying to find that balance, and yesterday rolled out a few more changes kind to players.
Trion Worlds has already held four closed betas for its upcoming free-to-play MMORTS End of Nations, but apparently there are still plenty of troublesome issues to be worked out. The company has announced that the planned open beta for the game has been delayed indefinitely.
Sony Online Entertainment's FPS PlanetSide 2 launches today on PC, and a new trailer shows just how massive the MMO can be. Players are able to jump into futuristic vehicles and gear, and start killing the enemy on the planet Auraxis without dropping a dime.
In a move Electronic Arts has been prepping for months, Star Wars: The Old Republic will be going free-to-play on November 15. EA is hoping to renew interest in the MMO, which has seen its subscriber base dip below 1 million.
As you once again vow to start going to the gym after New Year, you may want to consider designing a routine to strengthen and hasten your fingers. ShootMania Storm, Nadeo's callback to ye olde twitchy FPS with zippy movement, has been pegged for a January 23 launch by publisher Ubisoft, giving you a scant few weeks to get those meatsticks in shape.
As you may already know, free-to-play FPS Hawken is about big stompy robots and looks pretty. You may be content with that knowledge, but for those who wish to have more, developer Adhesive Games has put together a string of videos explaining buying customizing mechs, how combat works, and several of its modes.
Sure, we've got free-to-play fantasy MMORPGs coming out of our ears today, but how many of them let you fly dragons? Well, some. But how many let you capture, train, and then fly dragons? Dragon's Prophet will certainly let you become a dragonlord, and Sony Online Entertainment today announced it's bringing the MMO from Runes of Magic developer Runewaker to North America.
All the giddy fun of jetpacking, stomping around in mechs, roaming around in tanks, zooming about in VTOLs, and generally shooting faces will be opened up to everyone on November 20, when Sony Online Entertainment's free-to-play MMOFPS PlanetSide 2 will officially launch.
Though MechWarrior Online will be free-to-play when it launches, players have already coughed up more than $5 million to play the beta version through its Founder's Program. Things are looking good for the stompy robot sim, then, and publisher Infinite Game Publishing is pretty excited about its slate of "premium" free-to-play games.
Read more: High hopes for MechWarrior Tactics and Sins of a Dark Age »
Microsoft is finally dipping a tentative toe in the free-to-play market with the release of Happy Wars next week. The multiplayer action game will be available next Friday, October 12, for free if you're an Xbox Live Gold member.
Fine free-to-play tank 'em up World of Tanks is now substantially prettier, as update 8.0 and its graphical overhaul is now live on both North American and European servers. 8.0 also overhauls the physics system, meaning tanks can no longer casually hang over the edge of a cliff to take a pot-shot. Sorry, Heavy-class tanks.
Free-to-play games were once seen as a bit low-budget and janky compared to 'proper' games, but the F2P revolution of recent years has shown they can be just as pleasant and polished as anything wot comes in a box. NCsoft's Blade & Soul certainly has prettiness down pat, and the publisher announced yesterday it's bringing the F2P MMORPG westward following a smash hit launch in South Korea.
Nadeo's TrackMania games have traditionally ran under a free-to-play model of sorts, but TrackMania 2 Canyon shook that up by charging a cover price. It seemed ShootMania Storm would too. But, not so. Nadeo's first FPS will, in fact, return to the classic monetization model, publisher Ubisoft announced today.
Gotham City Impostors seemed set up to be free-to-play from the start, selling XP boosters, costumes, instant unlocks, and the like, yet it still had a $15 price tag. No longer, at least on PC. While the console editions curiously are still paid, Monolith's Bat-tastic FPS is free-to-play on PC through Steam from today.
"Oh I have, believe me - I'm in love with the pacing, the cockpit detail, and the whole giant ..."
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