I recently found this “Top 10 Problems with MMO’s” topic shared by GMTristan.com. This IGN article talks about the factors in MMOs that persistently annoys its players and takes the genre away from potential users.

Either you love them or hate them, here’s my take on the ten plagues of MMOs that should be avoided by the gaming industry in the future, after the jump…

10. Elves

Elves are inevitable. Even the Star Trek Online has its own half-breed or hybrid elven form character no other than Mr. Spocks. Banning elves from MMos is racism!

9. Humans

Gold farmers, hackers, and bots (run by humans) are the ones severely hurting the MMO industry. These  shirtless scumbags must be castrated to prevent them from diluting the gene pool of the human race.

8. Perverts

You’d think twice if you think that the world of MMO is safe for your children when they are left home alone by themselves after reading this bizarre article headlined “Proof Paedophiles are using HOME”. Totally disgusting indeed!

7. No Consequences

I’ve been dreaming of an MMO that can give an exclusive quest for each player  which could trigger an event that affects the whole nation or major changes in the story and environment. How about a time travel based MMO, where altering the past or present time, will drastically change the future.

6. No Story

You’ve collected the required keys, defeated the boss, and finally made it to the Imperial Gate. What’s next? Most MMO’s are derivative, they shamelessly copy other games without bringing an exciting new twist to the story

5. The Grind

You need a significant time investment (as well as hard earned money) before you can reach your character level’s magic number. That’s how P2p system is designed. MMO publishers never runs out of gimmicks to make your progress in the game draggingly slower than molasses.

4. PC Focus

Blizzard has reiterated for a zillionth time that no Xbox 360 or PS3 port of World of Warcraft is being planned. WOW was not really designed to work with consoles. It’s just more like a square peg on a round hole thing for the game.

3. Too Little Roleplaying

MMO’s is designed to make you escape reality. Your imagination and excitement cut short after hearing a group of orcs blubbering about job recessions, stimulus bills, and taylor swift drama. This is RPG  not Twitter, damn people!

2. Death

New study reveals that common adult video-game addicts are overweight, introverted, and often depressed. Death is a curse to those  sitting around gold farming 18 hours a day, nuff said.

1. All About Stats

I think this has already been resolved in Atlantica Online MMO. Your character’s success or failures rates on monster quests to pvp depends largely on the methodology of stunning and time limit.  The random dice roll doesn’t exist in the game at all.

Source: http://pc.ign.com/articles/102/1023510p1.html

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Are adult MMO gamers the new couch potato?  According to the report in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, they find links between video gaming and health issues in older demographics aged 35 years old and above.

The author of  the said article, Dr. James B Weaver III, has hypothesized that adults who choose to have sedentary lifestyle which is just play the addicting video games are the ones vulnerable to risky health issues, such as higher BMI and poor mental-health days.

They find out that the average of these adult video-game addicts are overweight, low extroversion, and often depressed. These factors make them sacrifice real-world physical activities in exchange of secluded lifestyle. They also compared the time spent of these adult gaming enthusiasts versus the non-players in the internet through online gaming and online game support, apparently this is also in connection with adults in massive online games, days and night non-stop grinding.

They are quoted as saying that further research among adults will be conducted to on how use digital opportunities more effectively to promote health and prevent disease.

You can read the whole article in this link.

Source: www.alphagalileo.org

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The 6th China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference took place between July 23 and 26 in Shanghai,  and it’s also officially called ChinaJoy 2009.  Like the US Electronic Entertainment Exp (E3) or and Japan’s Tokyo Game Show, ChinaJoy is now the most important industry get-together for the Chinese game industry.  According to recent China Online Game Market Survey, most of Chinese players rated MMORPG as their favorite game genre, so this event provides the best opportunities for local MMORPG developers to present their product to the gamers and businessmen from home and abroad. Without further ado, here are the 12 most anticipated MMORPG revealed at China Joy 2009 after the break.

1. Weapons of the Gods

Based on a Hong Kong comics series by Wong Yuk Long, the Weapons of the Gods MMORPG promises to have intense Pvp action with sword fighting and firework special effects. The story revolves around four dominant pugilistic clans hailing from the four cardinal directions of the realms [North,South,East,West] In addition, the criminal underworld was dominated by the sinister Heaven-Earth Alliance, aka Hell Clan. Its countless minions infiltrate every part of society, and it was widely feared for its brutal methods enforced by most highly skilled members.

Official Site: http://sc.9you.com/web_v2/

2. JX Online 3

As the original installment of the JX Online series, JX Online allows users to complete individual quests and adventures based on ancient Chinese swordsman legends. Apart from aesthetic visual treat, it also offers stealth free-roaming and and jumping to rooftops of your character just like a real ninja. Also one of the highlight is the unique Pvp system where you can show your advance skills not just in swordfighting but in martial arts, you can duel in and out of battle zone

Official Site: http://jx3.xoyo.com/

3. Age of Armor

This battle planet siege based MMORPG, tackles the conflict among new races of human is sometimes happened owing to the difference between the normal human and enhanced human. A character’s “build” is a combination of their racial traits and the types of installed Armor parts. Make your guild well-known and feared by the enemy by sieging and ruling your opponent’s cities.

Official Site: http://www.aoaus.com/

4. Yin Zhen Jing
Jiu Yin Zhen Jing is a MMORPG which reinterprets traditional Kung-fu culture. From overthrowing Ming Dynasty to Heroes hands in hands to create new Kong-fu land era, players is given full freedom to redefine history. Probably inspired from “Crouching tiger hidden dragon” movie as it involves a lot jumping and flying over rooftops and sea of bamboos

Official Site: http://www.snailgame.net/en/jyzj_e.shtml

5. City of Transformer Online / City Fighter Online

Online game developer and operator “9You” utilized the “Unreal Engine 3″ technology for this mecha based RPG. It  blends traditional fantasy elements with futuristic environment that puts you in control of a heavily armored, customizable Mech warrior. Pardor sir, no autobots and decepticons in sight.

Official Site: http://ct.9you.com/web_v2/index_top.html

6. Hunter Blade

You can surely say that the developer of this monster hunting game MMORPG is a die-hard fun of Capcom’s smash hit Monster Hunter. From the game concept to character built and from monster design to music, practically looks and feels exactly like the Monster Hunter clone. They are lucky enough Capcom has no plans to file a case against them. As they say imitation is the best compliment. Btw, did i already say they also totally copied the logo and map design?

Official Site: http://www.joy-china.net/

7. Blade Online Hero 2 (DJ2)

This Chinese fantasy-themed MMORPG is being marketed as DJ2 but really shall be called BO2 because, in Chinese, its literal translation is Blade Online 2. Based on the video trailer, the plot is like an epic love tragedy about two lovers being torn apart as the guy comes from a certain race of beast. I don’t have full details of the gameplay yet but it probably focus on power struggle between two tribes, one the magical elves fighting to preserve the tradition, and the other, the misjudged beast seeking for justice and revenge

Official Site: http://dj2.changyou.com/

8. Mission Against Terror

Mission Against Terror (MAT) is an an online first-person shooter (FPS)  where it integrated aspects of traditional Chinese culture and provides an exhilarating local element for Asia and for worldwide players. Players can join either the terror group, the counter-terrorist team, and even the legions of grotesque zombies. Each team attempts to complete their mission objective and/or eliminate (or eating them alive) the opposing team. Dolby’s Axon voice technology will be used for the live conferencing between users. You can consider this game as a non-official Counter Strike MMO counterpart.

Official Site: http://xd.xoyo.com/

9. Heroine Anthem Online

“Heroine Anthem Online” is a side-scrolling MMORPG which is different from most classic Chinese RPGs, being set in a fantasy land and not in historical China. I’m not sure yet if the battles will be turn-based just like the classic Heroine 1 & 2 but i can say the story revolves around legend of mermaids and we will be immersed with its realistic environments from its lush terrains to under the sea exploration.

Official Site: http://www.4gamer.net/games/095/G009593/

10. Legend of Chusen

The record-breaking best seller novel, “Chusen” has the world view that features a story of love and hatred and meeting and parting for true love between the hero with dark past and the two beautiful heroines. The game traces the same plot of the novel including such factors as hero and heroine ,NPC, surrounding figures ,Quest and Dungeons. This is a high-grade MMORPG that players can experience the grand world view of that fantasy novel through unprecedented unique system,” Treasure System,” beautiful and powerful “Skill Graphic” and joyful “Family System” which you can enjoy communication through small units.

Official Site: http://sgcq.wanmei.com/

11. LDJ Online

LDJ is 2D cartoon Q-style MMORPG which has  a lot of cute and funny characters in this game. There is still too little information for me to draw any conclusion but it looks like the pet system has a big role to play in this game

Official Site: http://ldj.blog.sohu.com/

12.  Yume Sekai

Japan made MMORPG game  “Yume Sekai”  is all about pets, mounted battle and transform system. I think this is the cutest MMORPG presented at China Joy 2009. You can ride on assorted adorable four legged creatures and bring your pets during your quests, as well you mutate yourself into savage beast but the good thing there still remains a slight cutesy in those monster’s built.

Official Site: http://yume-sekai.jp

Source:

http://www.4gamer.net/words/003/W00392/
http://chinese-net-gaming-stock.blogspot.com/

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Twilighters, brace yourselves for Twilight massive multiplayer online game!  If you are a die-hard Twilight book fan, you can relive your favorite characters by being one of the vamparish Cullens family or join the pack of Jacob Black awooooh (as well as play as the plain jain Bella). Will this game be contagious as the books or the movie counterpart? Read on what the official Twilight video game website says after the break.

Twilight: Video Game Feature Highlights

• Twilight will capture you with its great storytelling and will stimulate the human need for exploration
• Players can start the game either with Cullen’s house or Charlie’s house as their central hub
• Decorate the houses with collectables earned within the game such as musical jewelry boxes, clothes, and other unlockable items
• Journal flashpoints that server you in 3 different ways. (1) Read journal like a regular book (2)  listen to the writer’s voice like an audio book (3)  Travel back in time for quest and absorb the experience
• Create your own character and play in multiplayer as a human, vampire, werewolf

In an interview with WhatTheyPlay.com, the Twilight lead  game developer  Brandon Gardner is quoted as saying “The Summit Media are receiving an entire game for free without having to pay a dime to the development team, and it would make sense to publish the game. It’s not about the money to me. I am a huge fan of Twilight, and this project is more about my passion for Twilight. The fans of Twilight deserve a polished high quality game, and it’s my promise that I’m going to deliver it to them.”

Gardner hasn’t yet revealed in what platform it will support or any estimated release date of the game. However I’m quite disturbed,  hunting jewelry boxes, decorating your headquarters with bling-blings, and rummaging diaries?  Where’s the intense action adventure and pulse-pounding struggle between vampires and werewolves?  That sounds like a game for tweens and twinks. I rather play Hello Kitty Online than this epic failed MMORPG.

Source:  twilightthevideogame.com

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Here’s a MMO-inspired music video from breakout rock group “Tarsha”, a Los Angeles based rock band fronted by vocalist Sheldon Tarsha. This song “Second Life” is said to have lyrics influenced apparently by the Second Life game and the no-pain-no-disease-no-dead-no-tragedy line perfectly fits this virtual world. Though this metal rock song and visual aesthetics (ala red hot chilli peppers) will not appeal to majority of SL residents who are beyond 40’s. However the younger audience who can relate with the music and want to jump from reality to find a perfect paradise might get encouraged to play the Second Life. A good marketing publicity for both band and SL, eh? Check out the official Tarsha’s music video after the jump.

Tarsha’s Second Life Music Video

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The Microsoft has come under fire from its members over their implemented policy in Xbox Live for gamertags that are offensive and queer. If you use your real surname like “Gaywood” or scientific word “HomoSapien” as your gamertag, you’ll be barred from using it and even force you to change it before you can login to Xbox Live. This is what irked the gay community as they feel this banning policy is very discriminating and homophobic. So last Saturday July 18, the Electronic Arts and Microsoft, as well as other representatives from gaming industry had a conference panel to promote anti-homophobic policies . According to gaygamer.com key rep Flynn DeMarco, the founder of website devoted to “boys who love boys who love joystick”,  has convinced Microsoft to implement a feature which gives gamers ability to identify their sexual orientation through their profile accounts in Xbox Live. I have nothing against them. They have every right to be happy and gay in virtual world, just like any other typical gaymers errr gamers out there.

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The 2008 presidential campaign of Barrack Obama has been dubbed one of the successful political strategy of this information age. No election mediums were spared during his campaign as he was able to utilize the xbox360 console. He took advantage of the in-game advertising (IGA) by putting up his electronic billboard ads to various Xbox360 titles such as Burnout Paradise. Within this day (Saturday July 11th, starting at 8am EST), President Obama is gearing up to give a historic address in Ghana, Africa and he wants to make sure his voice will be heard by everybody. Now, the two known online social networking games, the Second Life and Metaplace, will simultaneously broadcast live his video feed to the actual game which they would expect massive interaction and debates within the avatars in the virtual world.

According to USPublicDiplomacy.com blog:

Additionally, the White House team for new media has created multiple platforms to encourage responses. These include text messaging with unique country codes, a Twitter feed (#obamaghana), and Facebook online chat for the event. Each of these venues promotes citizen participation in shared public spaces.

In short, these initiatives demonstrate the very best potential for new technology to facilitate public diplomacy for dialogue and citizen engagement. It allows Obama to answer tough policy questions in ways that encourage maximum participation while strategically influencing the general African population. No other U.S. Administration has thus far been either willing or able to create such an open public network.

And despite this “new media” push, there continues to be an emphasis on even more ubiquitous means of communication such as radio to acknowledge those who are on the other side of the digital divide.

Source: http://uscpublicdiplomacy.com

Update: President Obama’s address in Ghana simulcast in Second Life Video

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Gaming industry visionary “David Perry”, one of the brains behind the Off Cloud-Based Gaikai Game Service, has released (just this month) a video sample on this revolutionary new technology that lets you play your favorite MMOs with an Internet browser.  In this beta demo, it unveils actual games that can be run within Firefox browser without plugins involved or  installation needed, like heavy games such as World of Warcraft, Eve Online, Spore, Call of Duty 4, and Need for Speed Prostreet. As they state in their official site, “Gaikai states takes a radical new approach – we host the games, we run them, we worry about hardware and software updates, and we stream them to you. Full resolution, full speed, stereo sound, low lag, no compromise. The only thing you need is a browser and an internet connection”. Check out the demo video and beta highlights after the jump.

Gaikai Technology Demo

Beta Highlights

• No installing anything. With latest Firefox and Flash installed, it can push to your browser any MMO’s and PC games in the market
• This is a low-spec server with a very custom configuration, fully video streamed
• Data travel distance is around 800 miles (round trip) on this demo as that’s where the server is
• Just using  home cable connection and never used fiber connections for the demos, also works with Wifi
• The video compression codecs adjust in real time  based on the hardware and bandwidth you have (even notebooks with no 3D card)
• No OS exclusivity, from Linux to Windows and even MAC servers too.
• Office applications and desktop publishing softwares such as Adobe Photoshop CS4 will be available
• They call this Streaming Worlds, taking the full richness of modern computer games to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Source: http://www.dperry.com/

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In the recent Blizzard’s conference, Starcraft II VP game designer Rob Pardo has officially announced that the local area network (LAN) support will not exist in this highly anticipated sequel of Starcraft, where the LAN feature actually has been the one who has helped the popularity of this game. Instead, the developers are pushing the users to use the Battle.net services to be able to utilize the online multiplayer capability.

According to this petition online, here’s the major reasons why to keep the LAN:

• There are still many that don’t have internet access with the required speed to play without lag, or would like to play with a friend or sibling residing in the same house. LAN is NOT an expensive upgrade, and once you have it, it’s yours.
• LAN is what birthed SC popularity in the first place. Please don’t ignore the heritage of the original game.
• Using LAN is a little bit of freedom. Often you might be at a friend’s place with the only option to ad hoc the wireless connections instead of using internet, excluding the Battle.net gaming possibility.
• There are little to no ill effects in implementing LAN compared to the advantages. Just look at SC1 now. Even with a laggy Battle.net, it is still selling so well that it once again reached top-10 on the NPD charts a decade after its release!
• LAN is a vital part of what makes StarCraft so great, and what will make StarCraft II even greater. It’s the sort of freedom we have come to expect from Blizzard Entertainment.

Don’t let this milestone in gaming history be forgotten by their ignorance or greediness! If you would like to support the online petition for the LAN support, visit http://www.petitiononline.com/LANSC2/petition.html

Zerg Reveal Gameplay Video

Source: http://www.incgamers.com

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According to Courthouse News Service, the online gaming company Square Enix of America is being sued due to their questionable fees and penalties in Final Fantasy XI services. The named plaintiff “Esther Leong” claims that the company has been deceiving their 100,000 customers by lying about the Final Fantasy MMORPG’s monthly fees, penalties for late payments, interest, restrictions, and other hidden purchase charges. The complainant can cough up suit damages of 5 million dollars when he wins the case over this giant company. LOL, this is truly a big contribution  to economic recession affecting the US right now, next case please…

Source: www.courthousenews.com

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