FREE! NAVIGATE Issue 11 | April 2009

+ REVIEWED MMOZine RUNES OF MAGIC Free Magazine For MMO Gamers.Read it, Print it, Send it to your mates It’s free-to-play, but it is good value? EXCLUSIVE REVIEW WORLD OF : + INTERVIEW EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW Celebrating the past, hinting EXCLUSIVE AION: THE TOWER at the future. INTERVIEW OF ETERNITY The NCsoft flight-back Blizzard on starts here the future of 3.1 AND BEYOND! WoW + ON TRIAL Good clean fun in DRAGONICA EMPIRE OF SPORTS CITIES XL EVE: APOCRYPHA City of Heroes

CONTROL NAVIGATE |02 Contents QUICK FINDER DON’T MISS! Every game’s just a click away This month’s highlights… Cities XL Runes of Magic Welcome Ys Online: World of Warcraft: Runes of Call of Solum Secrets of Ulduar to DRAGONICA EVE Online: The united colours of magic Magic II: Apocrypha In a recent conversation I had with ’ Fight for freedom Gracia Final Guild Wars Bill Roper, there was the implication that 2009 Huxley: The Dystopia City of Heroes wasn’t necessarily going to be a year of big MMO Dungeons & releases. It’s true that there seems to be fewer Dragons Online ‘WoW killers’ on the release schedule, but then the Fallen Earth term has rather fallen out of favour. Perhaps we’ve Otherland realised that WoW can’t be killed. Warhammer tried Stargate Worlds and estimates put the number of players at Empire of Sports 700,000 soon after release and it was termed a Dragonica failure. Runes of Magic boasts the same number Aion: after going live and it was proclaimed a massive Aion Tower of Eternity success. Clearly ‘big’ means different things to Looking shiny different people. Maybe it’s time we stopped attributing big games to big-name publishers and Empire of Sports high profile releases. Big should be something you Game, set and massively DON’T MISS ISSUE 12 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! grow to become, not are born into. Richie Shoemaker, Editor matched-up [email protected] WARNING! MULTIMEDIA DISABLED! If you are reading this, then you didn’t choose “Play” MEET THE TEAM when Adobe Reader asked you about multimedia when The MMOZine massive were told to go you opened the magazine. forth and multiplay, which they did… Without the multimedia playing, the magazine will look correct, but you will be missing out on all of the extra content built into each issue, like videos, animated screenshots, annotations, quizzes, competitions and more.

PAUL PRESLEY JIM ROSSIGNOL LESLEY SMITH We recommend you close and re-open the magazine and select “Play” when Wandering in and Exploring the worms Uncovering the asked about the multimedia to enjoy the magazine as intended. wondering about and their holes in Secrets of Ulduar, Empire of Sports. the mighty EVE. and then some. CONTROL NAVIGATE |03 Alpha FIRST Cities XL LOOK Publisher: Monte Cristo Developer: Monte Cristo Building for the future Heritage: Starpeace Online, City Life Link: www.citiesxl.com What’s the story? Although it’s a little disingenuous to call Cities XL the MMO equivalent ETA: Late summer of SimCity, that is what it pretty much is. Actually, it’s more two games in one, since buying the box will get you in on the single-player scenario game – which you can play to your heart’s content or your PREVIEW patience gives up. It’s only when you subscribe that the XL comes into FEEDBACK! play, for that’s when you and thousands of others become the virtual Click here to mayors of your settlements, planning urban sprawl, laying roads, tell us what collecting taxes and unleashing alien robots upon the landscape. you think of Cities XL What do we know? Okay, unfortunately not the alien robots, but the online shenanigans promise to be far from a dull series of chart tables listing who has the biggest population or the lowest crime rates. Success in Cities XL Guess where the will rely on co-operation as much as it does competition. While your hospitals are… “Each town will rely neighbour in Germany may be planning all sorts of wonderful spires to proclaim his glory, you could be the one housing his most content not only on its own workforce in your satellite utopia. Each town will rely not only on its resources, but also of own resources, but also of its direct its direct neighbours” Two expansions will neighbours, and with air and train be available at launch, travel, settlements even further afield. one with snow, the other with sand. When do we get more? The closed beta should be starting up as you read this, with open beta scheduled for the summer and a release in the early-to-late fall. We’ve had an audience with the developers already and came away quite excited about the long-term future of Cities XL, so you can expect more from us next issue once we’ve dabbled with the game. We’ll be pushing for alien robots, you can be sure of that.

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CONTROL NAVIGATE |05

Alpha FIRST Biggest sword ever! Ys Online: LOOK Publisher: Key to Play Developer: CJ Internet Heritage: Prius Online The Call of Solum Link: www.ysonline.com ETA: Spring 25 years in the making… What’s the story? PREVIEW It’s a poor excuse to dismiss a rich heritage of games purely on the FEEDBACK! basis that no-one’s ever played them outside of their native Japan, but Click here to in the case of Ys Online, there actually happens to be a fair number of tell us what fans who remember vividly the early Ys trilogy from the early 1990s. you think of In bringing the latest of what has since become a sprawling series to Ys Online: The Europe, Key to Play are hoping these fans Call of Solum remain as keen as ever, and that everyone else will see beyond the stereotypical Asian MMO stylings and take up the Call of Solum.

There’s something What do we know? very wrong here… Well, it has frail female characters with big eyes and short skirts, and guys with chiseled jaws – both can wield impossibly large swords equally well. There are three races in the game – the Eresians, the Afrocans and the diminutive pixies known as Kimo, but what looks to be the USP is the Action Point that thing Point system that adds a degree of strategy the other way! to the combat via something akin to a customisable card deck, although hacking and slashing and spellcasting will be the cause of most of the damage. When do we get more? Key to Play has just unlocked the doors to the latest beta phase, from which plenty of new information should pour out as new features have been introduced – which will be very welcome as there is very little out there at the moment.

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© 2004 - 2008 NCsoft Europe Ltd. All rights reserved. NCsoft, the interlocking NC logo, Lineage, The Chaotic Chronicle, The Chaotic Throne, Gracia and all associated logos and designs are trademarks or registered trademarks of NCsoft Corporation. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

CONTROL NAVIGATE |07 Alpha Fallen Earth Developer: Icarus Studios | ETA: TBD Huxley: The Dystopia New MMOs and content Publisher: NHN | ETA: TBD Fallen Earth is set in and around the updates to mark on Grand Canyon. Interesting features It may lack the kind of depth most MMO include a 7,000km2 zoneless area, gamers are used to, but Huxley has at least your calendar with a as well as a number of vehicles acquired itself a sub-heading to warm BIG RED PEN! such as bikes and jeeps. With a potential players. Huxley: The Dystopia mix of first- and third-person remains an online shooter at heart, but on UP a scale where up to 5,000 players can battle combat, we say the open beta 7 across each server. With shifting frontlines can’t come soon enough. The Secret World and NPC quests, it promises to be a more Publisher: TBD | ETA: TBD evolved version of PlanetSide, and with beta testing More info has come to light on the Stargate Worlds starting up in next MMOG from the makers of Age of Developer: Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment | ETA: TBD Korea, it won’t Conan. Set mainly in a present day In light of reports of bills going unpaid, the be long until we Earth, The Secret World will delve into makers of Stargate Worlds have responded by find out if that is pre-history, chronicling a timeless battle saying that “the lights here are still on and the indeed the case. between good and evil. Being solo- development team is working hard.” New player friendly and doing away with investment is being sought, which is apparently levels and classes, the game aims to be keeping the electricity flowing. And although both accessible and more involving the defiant mood has perked up the fans, faith Lineage II: Gracia Final than your typical online role-player. in the future of the game remains a little shaky. Publisher: NCsoft | ETA: TBD 2009 In time to celebrate Lineage II’s fifth Fallen Earth birthday comes Gracia Final, the third and final part in a trilogy of content upgrades. Dungeons & Gracia Final introduces a number of tweaks AUTUMN Dragons Online and changes to PvP to include 3v3 Aion: Tower Developer: Turbine | ETA: TBD competitions and ‘random’ competitive of Eternity Close to release is D&DO’s Module matches. Perhaps more interesting will be territory battles where clans and SUMMER #9, which introduces a new level cap to 20 and an area called the Otherland ‘mercenary’ players can fight capture-the- Developer: RealU | ETA: 2011 flag style as a step down from castle sieges. Jumpgate plane of Shavarath, where the Evolution decidedly unhelpful Devil Legions Announced last October, the SPRING have been plundering Eberron website for this MMOG based under the command of General on the Tad Williams series of Horoth. As well as being able to novels has only just gone live. thwart his attacks, players can enjoy Free Realms Very little new info has been new chat channels, a heap of UI released, but there are at least a ON and combat improvements, as well good few images hinting at the THE as new spells, abilities and skills. style and content of the game. RADAR CONTROL NAVIGATE |08 Beta

“The sports that Publisher: F4 Developer: F4 rely most on Heritage: None Empire mouse accuracy Link: www.empire are the ones that ofsports.com seem to work best” ETA: TBC of Sports PREVIEW FEEDBACK! Where the levelling treadmill exists for real Click here to tell us what You won’t find these you think of hen you’ve spent most MMO subscription could ever be. down at Planet Fitness. Empire of Sports of your online gaming Thankfully, Empire of Sports offers a Wcareer hacking at various few more gentler pursuits that aren’t sub-species of goblin, button- quite so taxing on your hardware. mashing your way down a 100m It’s not competing in sporting Dancing to the track against a guy from France events that seem analogous to same old tune. seems an odd thing to be doing what gaming has in order to have to hit a new level. been about for the last decade, but It’s also quite a fun thing to be the way in which they’re played doing, at least until you make that is initially weird. To be playing the calculation that the keyboard any sports game on a PC is strange you’re hammering the warranty enough, but to be doing so with out of is more expensive than any one hand on the keyboard and the other twitching the mouse almost feels like something we should be Some people are just too cool for school. ashamed of. An accurate mouse Happily, the sports that rely most on mouse accuracy are the one that seem to work best – tennis, basketball and soccer, in that order. Here the tennis on offer is perhaps more tactical than any virtual game, set or match has ever been. Football games seem a little less

CONTROL NAVIGATE |09 Beta Tennis is the stand-out Empire of Sports cont. star sport. Mouse control works better than you think. fluid, though that’s as much a fault as games being populated with AI substitutes and their human teammates constantly chasing the ball. It needs more work, though perhaps as much from the human players as from the developers. Almost exhilarating The rest of the sports work as you might expect. Bobsleigh and skiing are cases of timing and steering, which is almost exhilarating, but far from massively multiplayer to be perfectly honest, while track and field conveniently and “More sports for predictably borrow from the age- old Hypersports form book. More Empire of Sports are sports are promised and they will promised and they will be needed. More importantly, the be needed” game needs more competitions, leagues and stats. Away from the sports crafting of sorts as you apply boost themselves, the Empire side of packs to your sports equipment, things is more recognisable as an and tricks that are akin to skills and MMO, and although it appears special moves. With teams in place Verdict bright and breezy, there’s more to of guilds, there’s plenty of common An MMO with a difference. Has the do than it might first seem. Learning ground between Empire and other potential to be great stuff each sport is easy enough, but persistent worlds. mastering them and levelling takes In being ridiculously accessible HOW COMPLETE practise, which can be achieved and in making the very best of through missions (return ‘X’ number a control combination rarely 90% of drop shots), or by playing practise considering for sports gaming, this games. You can grind your general title – when it goes fully live – could FIRST IMPRESSIONS Glazed eyes and character attributes at the gym well be the Wii Sports of massively standing around (more keyboard-stabbing, though multiplayer gaming. Whether it will 70% mean these people it’s marginally more interesting than be as throwaway might not matter are elsewhere. being in a real gym). There’s even in the slightest.

CONTROL NAVIGATE |10 Beta It’s just sooooo cute, ain’t it?

Publisher: Gala Networks Developer: Barunson Interactive Dragonica Heritage: Dragon Raja, Flyff Whose side are you on? Link: dragonica. gpotato.eu t’s not often you see a pair of who say that Dragonica is primarily ETA: TBA clockwork boots stomping along targeted at the teen market, “Dragonica is an Ito the Tetris theme, and to be although they are quick to add: arcade-driven 3D PREVIEW frank with you, we’re not sure we “Gameplay will be familiar to anyone side-scrolling affair” FEEDBACK! can explain why such a sight exists who played arcade games in the Click here to in Dragonica. We’ve also seen during late 1980s, or consoles in the early tell us what our first contact with the game 1990s.” This at least goes some way you think of characters farting noxious green gas to explaining the Tetris thing… Dragonica in the direction of their enemies and Influenced by Golden Axe and treasure chests on legs that come at Donkey Kong Country, the game is you with a flurry of blades like some an arcade-driven 3D side-scrolling demented Swiss Army Knife. The affair, meaning combat and Michael Jackson-style moonwalking movement is based on combos is also somewhat baffling. rather than command queues. Made in Korea, the chirpy and “The control system is designed irreverent Dragonica is being to be entirely keyboard-based and brought to Europe by free-2-play uses combinations of directions MMO specialists Gala Networks, and buttons to deliver the different types of special moves,” says Jamie McCormick of Gala Networks. “It Gamepad support avoids the issues that many MMOs isn’t native. have – either button-bashing or being very clicky.” It certainly isn’t the most sedate MMO we’ve ever come into contact with, nor the most complex. The four character classes (Knight, Magician, Thief and Archer) seem to have more in common with those timeless Expect to get a headache after characters from Gauntlet, and the an hour of continuous play. predominately PvE quests appear

CONTROL NAVIGATE |11 Beta

Dragonica continued There are four main to involve grabbing what you can player classes, and before your comrades do and eight sub-classes. moving on quickly, making sure to squeeze out a couple of ripe ones as you go – for comic effect, obviously. While it’s easy to be snobbish and dismiss Dragonica for being juvenile and shallow, with so many grind-heavy freeplay MMOs vying for attention (and with few features that distinguish one from another) it’s genuinely refreshing to come across one that doesn’t take it or anything else too seriously. Beneath the brash graphics and billowing effects, Dragonica appears to have a lot of “It features an in-game economy character, plus a number of features allowing player-to-player trade,” says over and above relentless thwacking McCormick, “or else players can set that might give traditional MMO up their own in-game shop in the 10-player PvP mode is said to gamers pause to download it. game’s marketplace and offer items resemble Super Smash Bros.

to everyone who plays the game.” There are also pets that can be used as mounts, houses to move in to and a coupling system with skills Verdict that only a married duo can make If you’re looking for a fun MMO with a use of. You can even adopt children, difference then this could be it though whether you’ll be able to buy they from the shop will make for HOW COMPLETE a curious gameplay mechanic. We’ll be finding out in time for 75% next issue, after a full and thorough playtest. With big name publishers FIRST IMPRESSIONS NCSoft and THQ pushing the game Use the Play and Stop controls to the left, in various parts of the world, it’s one 75% or click here to see the enhanced version! they clearly see merit in. Let’s hope their faith is not misplaced.

CONTROL NAVIGATE |12 Alpha If you get hit during casting, there’s a chance your spell will be interrupted. Aion: The Tower Publisher: NCsoft West EXCLUSIVE Developer: NCsoft SCREENS! FIRST Heritage: Guild Wars, of Eternity LOOK Lineage II, City of Heroes Link: http:// eu.aiononline.com A brief hands-on with NCsoft’s next game ETA: Late 2009 What’s the story? The story is an ethereal, fantasy-inspired world-split asunder, PREVIEW background-rich online RPG, but that’s not what you meant is it? A FEEDBACK! recent trip to NCsoft let us get some time with the game, have a quick Click here to play around with creating our own Mage character, get to run around tell us what the world playing some of the first quests and also get a feel for the you think of gameplay mechanics. As the game has already Aion: Tower launched in Korea (to wild success), it means a lot of Eternity “NCsoft reckons it will Character creation of the development on ‘Westernising’ the game launch with around is very flexible. is about polish and translation, so the actual gameplay we’ll experience will be very refined 1,500 quests” for a launch. In fact, even though we were playing something that they’re not happy to let the outside world see, we can say it’s already very accomplished, and with at least six months to go, we’re expecting a very strong title in Aion. What do we know? While there are several classes to choose from, we decided to plump straight for our preferred class, a Mage, so that we could throw some spells around. We appeared in the world with knowledge of a Stasis spell to freeze enemies and the classic Fire Arrow 1. Interestingly, Fire Arrow 1 got upgraded as we levelled up, so it became Fire Arrow 1 Level 2, which means that not only will you be able to level up spells, but clearly there will be more powerful versions of the same spell. It also became apparent that you will have to plan attacks, not just because of the skill-chains (where you can choose a different action based on what you’ve just done; spell ‘trees’ if you like) but also because Graphically, it’s as sharp as any spellcasting can be interrupted by being hit, which explains other top MMOG we can think of. why you start with the stasis spell as well as an offensive one.

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Alpha Aion: The Tower of Eternity continued

Fire arrow, freeze in place, fire arrow seemed to be the tactic for these low-level mobs. The combat in Aion is looking to us to be more refined and engaging than in any other hack ’n’ slash MMO so far, as it works hard to remove the linear ‘cast this spell, then the next…’ mechanic that current MMOs suffer from. That said, there is a Macro facility we took a brief look at to allow you to stack commands if you so choose. How’s it looking? As regular readers will know, Aion uses an upgraded version of the Cry Engine for the graphics, which means that while it will run on most decent hardware, it certainly doesn’t have a dated look. Think of somewhere between the cartoon World of Warcraft and the realism of Lord of the Rings Online and you’ll have a feel. Or, alternatively, take a look at the exclusive screens on these pages! Anything else to declare? This is brilliant – as well as the standard What is exciting about Aion is that the developers have thought long Map, there’s a semi-transparent map and hard about tweaks to improve gameplay. For example, while there view to use as you run around. is an Auction House in-game, there’s also a feature to set up a Private Shop. So, imagine you are a potion crafter, then you could create a range of stock and set up shop outside a popular instance for a nice income. It works easily, and it’s a neat improvement on the idea of trading. Thanks to the additional development time the Western version of Aion is getting, NCsoft reckons the game will launch with many more than the already 1,500 quests and missions that the game has had since its release in Korea, which should mean that it won’t suffer from the lack of content that launches often have. When do we get more? Next issue. We’re planning on keeping in-depth coverage of Aion up to and after launch in MMOZine, and also in our sister magazine, PCGZine. This way we can look at some specifics of the game, such as The Abyss (the huge PvPvE zone where you can spread your wings and fly everywhere) and crafting, so we can see fully Roll up, roll up! Get your potions here! how it has been implemented. Private shops are a nice new idea.

CONTROL NAVIGATE |14 Interview “We had our plans for 3.1 pretty World of Warcraft 3.1 much mapped out months before Lich Behind and beyond the Secrets of Ulduar King came out”

orld of Warcraft may be the work for 3.1 was already being It’s definitely ongoing, particularly the world’s favourite done. Ulduar, was in production the part about the Argent WPC game, and both probably half a year before Lich King Tournament. This is actually only the expansions have been the fastest- even shipped. Now granted that build up period for that, as the major selling in PC history, but Blizzard are there wasn’t someone working on part of that event is actually in 3.2. Tom Chilton, the in no mood to sit on their laurels as it straight for that entire time – they Lead Designer on the release of Secrets of Ulduar has worked on Ulduar and some other Is that anything to do with the World of Warcraft proven. Lesley Smith sat down with things for Lich King – but it was battleground you’ve promised WoW’s Lead Designer Tom ‘Kalgan’ definitely in production for quite us in 3.2? Chilton to see what lies ahead… some time. But really, once Lich King That’s in addition to the battleground. shipped, the team as a whole turned Why did you decide to focus its attention to 3.1. on Ulduar in 3.1? Well we had our plans for 3.1 pretty Is the 3.1 storyline self-contained much planned out months before or will we see repercussions Lich King came out. In fact, a lot of beyond Ulduar?

Use the Play and Stop controls to the left, or click here to see the enhanced version! Having fun is what it’s all about.

CONTROL NAVIGATE |15 Interview

Interview continued never goes beyond that; beyond a thing that we do on the side, but Is the Argent Tournament a way maybe it’s a small kind of addition to of testing whether mounted our overall combat. I don’t envision it combat would work in-game as being the future of WoW combat. a new mechanic? I can’t say for sure that it is, but a lot Do you worry that you’ll run out of that would depend on how it of locations to use in the game? plays out. We have to very careful Yeah, there’s actually quite a bit that about thinking about replacing the goes unnoticed right now. There’s combat we already have in place. I always potential for expansion into think there’s room for the jousting the different islands and the south as a fun thing to do and maybe it sea, Kul Tiras. There’s also what’s going on in the Maelstrom itself “There’s always potential and there’s a lot of areas in Azeroth and Kalimdor themselves which You won’t get for expansion also haven’t been used and need to lost in here. be filled out, so there’s a surprising into the different amount of room for new growth. islands and the Are you trying to make more south sea, Kul Tiras” class or racial lore inherent to the game?

Just your everyday green Does the lance point thing stood on a bale of hay. to a bright new future You get them everywhere. for WoW combat?

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Interview “There are a lot of bosses we have Interview continued Publisher: Blizzard planned for the future Entertainment We do it whenever it makes sense to that are even bigger in Developer: Blizzard do so and not just for its own sake. Entertainment We don’t have, like, a stated goal of threat and scope” Heritage: Warcraft III, ‘need more class and race-orientated StarCraft, Diablo content in the game’. Really, we do it Link: www.wow- when it’s like a big focus – in Dalaran which see players returning to europe.com it’s the Kirin Tor so it makes sense Classic WoW content? OUT NOW to build up the whole Mage thing. Yeah absolutely! Also I think Obviously the Death Knight and part of that is as we improve our how we introduced that. It required techniques we get better at creating Fighting from a flaming an awful lot of Death Knight lore content, and so it makes the older steed? It’s the only way. so it’s really more of when it makes content look less appealing, so we sense to do it, we do it and try to be do have it on our minds to make as thorough about it as we can. improvements to the older content Is there ever a concern that you’ll run others are things that we’ve already built into and get it a little bit more up to out of big bosses for players to face? our internal lore, even though there hasn’t Do you ever worry that a new speed. That’s not something we’d be After all, we’ve gone from slaughtering been a lot of stuff that has been published expansion or patch will see old doing right away, and obviously not Illidan and Kil’Jaeden to Malgyos with externally about it, so these things are going content being neglected? Are in 3.1, but it’s definitely on our minds the promise of the Lich King and even to be revealed over time. you implementing more quests for the future. Yogg-Saron. We try to outdo ourselves with how We do try to outdo ourselves, and there are amazing the fights are and, in the past, actually still a lot of other bosses we have some of that would carry over into making Personally, we’d rather planned for the future that are even bigger the bosses seem even more grand. But yeah, be good looking. in threat and scope. We already have a lot of there will be more new stuff in the future that really rich lore regarding some of these, and we already have figured out.

CONTROL NAVIGATE |17 Review Crafting is good Runes of Magic for the soul. Is it the great pretender? “Already there’s Publisher: Frogster f MMOGs were recording artists, unbelievers that free-to-play games a lot that’s right Interactive Runes of Magic would be a can draw the crowds and keep them about Runes Developer: Runewalker reality TV singing sensation. It as entertained and interested as they Entertainment I of Magic” has shown undeniable talent and appear to be with their subscription Heritage: Bounty has chosen mostly the right songs games. In that respect it’s not the Bay Online to make enough of a winning first to try to convince gamers that are ripe for gathering, quests litter WORLD GONE MAD Link: www.runes impression to attract a good few there are others ways to pay for every square yard. There’s always ofmagic.com fans, but it’s still to find its own voice. quality, but it looks to be the first to something to do, and someone to It’s Earth, but not as we know it OUT NOW For some uncertain while yet it will put its energies in the right place. do it with. If ever a game offered a have to shake off the comparisons Already there’s a lot that’s right compelling argument that quantity ASLAN DUSTDEVIL RAVEN System requirements: with more successful singing stars about Runes of Magic. Crafting is wins over quality, Runes of Magic VALLEY CANYON FELL 2GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, 5GB – World of Warcraft for instance, the one gameplay area that is pleasing. would be that game. It helps hard drive space and a Celine Dion of online gaming. It offers a fair degree of freedom, because there is undeniable quality AfterItA high-levellooks the like doddering it haven sounds, of mushrooms, piratesand it’s and as harshwolves palm a trees, and place spiders Ravenfell as you of can was DX9.0-compatible Runes of Magic also has a point to but rewards specialisation – as it in its abundance. Missions have graphics card previousexpect.supposed It’s zones, to also be Aslanopenedthe site Valley soonof one is after where of the launch, the largest mobs but cities start sadly in to the the get prove – that with regular content, arguably should. Then there’s the been crafted rather than generated, reallywholebeaches interesting. of remain the game. closed. and plenty of it, it can assert to the Arcane Transmuter – a device that and there is a compulsion to keep can combine the stats from one item progressing through each zone, Player-killers haunt the with the looks from another. even if the game lacks the narrative PvP server, which adds Around the mounds of ore and lure of Middle-earth, or the more an element of danger. clumps of herbs and wood that redeemable fantasy of Azeroth.

CONTROL NAVIGATE |18 PULSOMETER: Signs of life Review Runes of Magic cont. A guild warband Few character Dual-class is Heading off prepares for battle. Choosing a character is reduced creation options not class to Ystra to the standard human careers – Knight, Warrior, Rogue, Mage, Priest and Scout. It’s an uninspired mix, but perfectly workable. At level 10 you can dual-class, but rather than playing a powerful hybrid, you feel more like you’re playing two characters in one, with the The quests come Buying lesser role having to be levelled thick and fast a steed separately, often by retreating back over old ground and swapping out equipment beforehand. should never exceed a typical If you’re a gamer with a zero MMO subscription, but it begs the budget then other frustrations can question… Why have Jordin Sparks set in. Experience debt seems harsh when you can have Celine Dion? At and movement without a steed is the final curtain, it comes down to slow, both of which will take a few taste. Compared to an established earth coins to fix. If you’re a hoarder, five-year veteran, this new kid on the extra backpacks might also be block may not always be on key, but necessary to rent. It all adds up. Net it’s an impressive first show. monthly outgoings in converting Richie Shoemaker some local currency to shiny stones

Verdict The sincerest form of flattery

An abundance of quality content

Excellent crafting system

Varanas is the first Mission areas are Dual-class system annoys big city you get to. well populated.

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Review “The Lich King and Malgyos the Spellweaver take a back seat and the plot returns to classic lore” Publisher: Blizzard World of Warcraft: Entertainment Developer: Heritage: Warcraft III, StarCraft, Diablo The Secrets of Ulduar Link: www.wow- europe.com The continuing reign of the Lich King OUT NOW t seems like only yesterday that Now, right on cue, Blizzard have either, and there’s plenty in this latest Classic lore. The Titans – specifically the millions of players descended on released The Secrets of Ulduar (which patch for every kind of World of Pantheon – are the god-like creators of INorthrend killing everything and also goes under the catchy title of Warcraft player imaginable. Azeroth. Heavily inspired by Norse (on many realms) everyone in sight. Patch 3.1), the first in a series of mini The first noticeable thing is the shift mythology, they have been an In reality, months have gone by. All the expansions which will continue the in storyline. For a moment, the Lich important part of Azeroth’s mythology, bosses have been carefully disposed storyline of Wrath of the Lich King. Of King and Malgyos the Spellweaver take even if we are only now encountering of, and now 80 and addicted to course, while the focus is on endgame a back seat and the plot returns to them in-game. Wintergrasp, you’re pining for players, those new to the game or just something new and challenging. levelling have not been forgotten Roll over screen for annotations

The Argent Tournament is the newest hub in Icecrown.

CONTROL NAVIGATE |20 Review Yes it’s another reputation World of Warcraft cont. grind, but with jousting and SADDLE YOUR UNICORN pets galore it should be fun. For the last few months, the breath- Horses? They’re so boring… taking Titan fortress of Ulduar has been taunting end-gamers from high in the Storm Peaks (a zone only accessible by MOUNTED TIME TO FIGHT flying mount). Players have had access COMBAT TRAIN CLUCLUBB to parts of it – the Halls of Lightning and Stone – and it has been a focal OfThenThe course Argent it’s a you matter Tournament have of to fighting train allows first, NPCs, you ride Championsto a doQuel’dorei something and, Steed of never course, and before use other dummies seen in point for quests, but the majority of this toplayers.Azeroth… learn thePerhaps mounted controls. one daycombat! you will become Champion! vast, imposing building has been off- limits… until now. Ulduar is also the prison for the old god Yogg-Saron, who has been referenced in the game since players first stepped into Northrend back in November. Titanic bosses The bosses themselves are all Titanic in origin, from Ignis the Furnace Master and the XT-002 Deconstructor to Titans Goblin foremen offer dailies which like Auriaya, Mimiron, Freya, Thorim and help build the Coliseum, the Hodir themselves. Fans of Wintergrasp centre of the Argent Tournament. will particularly enjoy Flame Leviathan, which is downed using souped-up siege vehicles! Some aspects of the might be familiar though, such as You have eight minutes running a gauntlet through the Titan to kill the Deconstructor stronghold (a tactic last seen in – he just wants to play. Zul’Aman) while the fight against Freya will be familiar to anyone who has downed Sartharion and three drakes in Obsidian Sanctum. Yet this doesn’t matter, as the bosses and the instance itself are all in their own way striking and sometimes beautiful. While Ulduar will prove to be hard, Blizzard have implemented a new system to make it easier for players to adapt. Previously if you needed a healer and all you had was a

CONTROL NAVIGATE |21 Revieww PULSOMETER: Signs of life Login, and not Jousting. much has changed On unicorns Epic purples!

Dual specs Swarm Ulduar. For the Horde/Alliance!

Blizzard have implemented lots of little improvement things, from new button graphics and a colourblind mode to revamping Noblegarden into a proper world event and now teaching mounts What would a contest be how to swim. without cool swag? Broxel sells some spiffy shirts. Thanks to the continuing evolution of one of the planet’s biggest MMOs, the transition from 3.0 to 3.1 is going to be simple and enjoyable for all levels World of Warcraft cont. “While Ulduar is the jousting! You can choose a city to and classes but also champion, which will eventually lead to really challenging. shadow priest, said priest would have place to be seen once new tabards, mounts and cute pets Blizzard have finally to traipse to the nearest Old World city, 3.1 hits, that’s not the such as the Elwynn lamb, a Silvermoon realised that not part with gold, repack their Talents and only place to hang out” broom or a Mechanopeep. Essentially a everyone wants to pick up their spare set of gear from the quest hub that provides a break from be a raider, it’s no bank, then rinse and repeat at the end the norm, there’s the promise of on- longer all about Verdict of the raid. Now it’s possible to re-spec Macros and switch between them going interest (think the Isle of being a specific A fine update that’ll appeal on the fly and any player above level 40 quickly, even if as of writing, it’s been Quel’Danas) as players help to build the class either but to all fans of the game can learn by just giving their friendly removed from 3.1. Coliseum. Granted, it’s ultimately little more about the class trainer a one-off payment of While Ulduar is the place to be seen more than another rep grind, but it game. Because A new raid, new loot 1000g. From then on, all you need to once 3.1 hits, that’s not the only place looks to be a lot of fun. of this it doesn’t and lore do is spend your talents in the usual to hang out. In an effort to get players There are also the usual class and matter if you’re way and activate a specific tree as and excited about PvE again, they’ve profession tweaks, and you can no level 8 or 80, there Loads more quests when. It takes a couple of seconds and introduced the Argent Tournament. longer ghetto hearth (where you join a is something for can be done any time, providing you’re Based north of Sindragosa’s Fall (the group and go into an instance, then everyone right Something for everyone not in combat. Blizzard also plans to area in Icecrown seen in the cinematic), leave to get a free hearth) either. Sorry here, right now. allow you to save sets of armour like it’s all about mounted combat – yes about that. On the upside though, Lesley Smith

CONTROL NAVIGATE |22

Review Asking for help in the starter corp channels usually brings you “Absolute beginners want you need. now get an entirely EVE Online: overhauled tutorial, which now veers off in a number of directions” Publisher: Atari Apocrypha Developer: CCP Heritage: Elite, Everquest Refreshed and expanded: the divine galaxy of Eve Online Link: www.eve online.com ome games simply cannot losses to EVE’s ongoing evolution are entities in the EVE universe, but the developers, despite an arsenal of OUT NOW remain static, and EVE is one of saddening. The capital ship effect original astounding cone of energy has people-connecting tools. Being told those. Sometimes, however, the might be the most superficial of been replaced with a bubbly-blip, like explicitly that you need to get to grips SYSTEM S the jump effects in Battlestar Galactica. with other people is something that REQUIREMENTS It is, in our mind, the worst thing about EVE needs to do even more of. That 2GHz CPU, 1GB RAM, Roll over screen for annotations the Apocrypha expansion. It’s a loss of ‘multiplayer’ part of ‘MMO’ is too Shader model 2 3D card a grand videogame spectacle – a frequently dismissed or ignored by the (Geforce 6 or better) hundred capital ships jumping at once very players who are paying to play. was really something. The other direction these tutorials By implication, of course, this is one lead you is towards the ‘epic’ story of the best expansions EVE has seen. Arriving on the back of a bunch of tweaks to PvP and a wholesale buffing of the server architecture, Apocrypha delivers new and interesting additions to all areas of the EVE food chain. Absolutely beginners get an entirely overhauled tutorial, which now veers off in a number of directions. These directions work hard to suggest particular specialisations to beginners… do you want to become involved in combat or industry? And perhaps you Specialising early on means should consider working with other, you get much better at real people? This last part has what you do, and faster. previously been overlooked by the

CONTROL NAVIGATE |23 Review EVE is not for the faint- EVE Online continued hearted – vast losses can THE FINAL FRONTIER be accrued in seconds. arcs. These new sequenced missions Spaced out? You will be… provide the early stages of the game with a much-needed narrative coherence, making it easier than ever EXPLORING LAUNCH WARPING for beginners to feel grounded and PROBES purposeful within the open-ended and often mystifying game universe. ProbingAlternativelyReduce the allows can you yourange might to andexplore, be home hunting and in findon down the little enemyblip, dungeons until ships you as to reach werun are in100% normalhere. on the The other major change – and it’s space,Launchsignature. or loads find Then ofwormholes. warpprobes to and your wait target. for the blip. a change that could hardly be more impressive – is the vast expansion of the EVE universe (it’s now over 40% larger) via wormholes. This expansion is not directly connected to the main structure of the galaxy – instead they’re accessed via the previously mentioned, and rather unstable, wormholes – wavering portals which take players directly from one place to another. That place might just be another system Fitting your ship is nearby to where you started, or it easier than ever. might be the other end of the galaxy. In many cases, however, it’s to so-called W-space, the unknown, uncharted systems that are outside the known space systems.

Unique properties Each race has quite specific W-space has some unique properties. ship types, which vary in The first of these is that it’s behind a their effectiveness in combat. wormhole – these close up after time, or after too much traffic has been through them. Being able to probe for a new escape wormhole is essential, lest you become stuck entirely. The second thing wormhole explorers discover is that they can no longer see exactly who is in ‘local’, the chat channel for the star system. Only speaking reveals your presence –

CONTROL NAVIGATE |24 Review w PULSOMETER: Signs of life Tutorial and the Mining on an Get into your EVE Online continued interactive system. A 3D space map first missions asteroid belt first fight shows exactly where your probes are, perfect for opportunistic piracy. Thirdly, and what range they’re scanning at. It’s there are the Sleepers. These new significantly harder to track down a enemies are potent indeed, and will ship in space, but the system makes a react aggressively to remote repairing lot more sense, and scanning can now and ECM tactics. They are also the be regarded as an actual skill, rather source of new technology in the EVE than hitting a button and hoping. It’s a universe. Sleeper loot can be used to small, but brilliant change – one among Group up Get your create the Tech 3 ships – strategic many you’ll find in the game. exciting, and will no doubt be a part of a with chums first cruiser cruisers which are heavily moddable. Apocrypha ties together a wide larger evolution. The Tech 3 toys might These ultra-exclusive machines are range of needs and trends within EVE. be too expensive for most, but they’re currently on the market for many The W-space expansion provides new an aspirational target both for rich forthcoming patches – stealth billions of dollars, and the dangers places for players to be outside of the players, and for the bored industrialists b ombers are to be rejigged, and then, of W-space mean that their price main galaxy, while never breaking the who need new challenges. hopefully, CCP will be gin to e xamine may actually be slow to come down ‘one server’ model. The inclusion of Nevertheless EVE still has many the grievous problems of sovereignty to acceptable levels. genuine exploration is fascinating and issues which are to be addressed in and the complex issues of power- bloc Of course, all this new exploration gaming. It fe els wonderful to be able also required a new scanning and to ty pe that – EVE, at least, is a game in probing interface. This is, at last, an which such things are p ossible. Jim Rossignol

“Apocrypha ties together a wide range of needs Verdict Dark and brutal: space and trends MMO for the long haul within EVE”

Beautiful

EVE’s best moments are in Vast and intricate player interaction – combat, Finding a player corporation can construction or trade. be tricky, so just try talking to a Impenetrable few people. And be careful.

CONTROL NAVIGATE |25 Interview

Four years old, and five million players worldwide…

he power and popularity over five million copies of their first of Guild Wars is well known game. The response from the player to MMOZine. When we community has been amazing. Remember me? T launched Issue 1 we teamed up with NCsoft to give away an exclusive What do you think has been the mini-pet for the game. The idea main reasons behind the success Mike O’Brien, co-founder was that we’d give away 40,000 of Guild Wars? and studio head of ArenaNet codes to our readers over the first Guild Wars is an easy game to pick answers our questions on two months. What happened was up and get into, and it offers the Guild Wars and its sequel. that readers literally melted our depth of an MMO but without servers downloading the magazine, requiring the huge commitment resulting in several hasty upgrades of time and money that MMOs (tripling server capacities in a generally require. It’s a game that matter of hours) and over 100,000 players can play in bite-sized chunks, downloads of the magazine in whenever they have available under 48 hours. But we also learnt time, and can easily come back to how understanding and loyal the whenever they like. And it has an Guild Wars community was, which innovative design, borrowing more is why on the fourth anniversary of from the Magic the Gathering the launch of the game, we took the tradition instead of the D&D opportunity to catch up with co- founder of ArenaNet – developer of Guild Wars – Mike O’Brien. “The response from the When you first created Guild player community Wars, did you realise just how Guild Wars proved popular, with popular it would become? has been amazing” its high production values but We thought it would be big, but we no-fees approach to MMO gaming. didn’t know how big. No one sells

CONTROL NAVIGATE |26 Interview the first one of these delivered this the reason is that game design and April for our fourth anniversary. business model have to go hand- in-hand. If your MMO is only going With the success of the to attract a few hundred thousand commercial game but no-fees hardcore users, you’d better charge a model of Guild Wars, why do monthly fee, because that’s the only you think more MMOs haven’t way you’ll generate enough revenue adopted this approach? to sustain the game. Instead there seems to only be subscription or free-to-play, Would it be fair to assume micro-transaction funded that will continue games coming out. the buy the game but no-fees Guild Wars spawned three full expansions, and is due a new You see a lot of free-to-play games approach that Guild Wars and its content update on its birthday. because that’s the easy fallback expansions have used? position for MMOs that don’t have Yes, that’s definitely the plan. the industry-leading production values they’d need to attract a large We’ve got to ask – when will Interview continued big, world-changing events that audience otherwise. there be more information on persistent world games just can’t As for monthly fee games, part of Guild Wars 2. A screenshot even? tradition which other online RPGs support. It also allows everyone to the reason is that so many developers We expect that we’ll have some use, so it’s something new that play on one set of servers without and publishers are trying to replicate more information to share about people haven’t experienced before. tripping over each other. On the WoW’s success instead of carving Guild Wars 2 later this year. Thanks flipside, instancing doesn’t provide out a space of their own. And part of for the interest and stay tuned. How important has PvP been in the easy opportunities for socialising maintaining the player base for that large persistent areas provide. Guild Wars? Naturally this is something we’ll This is absolutely A lot of Guild Wars players try out address in Guild Wars 2. everything that anyone the casual arenas, but only a small outside of ArenaNet has so fraction get really into advanced Given the wait we’ve got for the far seen of Guild Wars 2. competition. But those players who sequel, what will be happening do get really into PvP are among the in Guild Wars over the next year game’s most loyal fans, so we pay to keep players involved? close attention to them. Well there’s 250 years of history between Guild Wars and Guild Wars The instanced gameplay is not 2, so there’s lots of opportunity to “There’s 250 years something you see used as much be creative. Our live team recently in other MMOs. What advantages moved from a monthly schedule to of history between and disadvantages does it give one that focuses instead on doing Guild Wars and to Guild Wars in terms of the 3-4 large updates a year. This gives gameplay you can deliver? us the chance to deliver some really Guild Wars 2” The heavy use of instancing allows meaty updates in terms of both us to tell a story and to have content and functionality. You’ll see

CONTROL NAVIGATE |27 Replay I am green. PLAY AGAIN This is my fist. Around a world

in 14 days*(*or however long the trail period lasts) Part 2: City of Heroes

Richie Shoemaker continues his age I’ve thought superheroes were alternative look at some of the just silly – the idea of playing a game MMOs you’re likely to be playing populated by real-life Jeff Albertsons have released, each of which have and for others. Few MMOs offer in camp and ridiculous costumes expanded the now five-year-old anywhere near that kind of content lthough I have prodded just never held much appeal. game beyond a level anyone could creation ability – perhaps for good tentatively around most Over the years I have warmed to have ever expected. As I write this, reason – but I’ve always liked games Aonline games, there are a few the idea of playing City of Heroes, Issue 14 is tantalisingly close to going that try to stand out from the very high-profile ones that I’ve never not because of a new-found love live, after which players will be able crowd, spandex or no spandex, sunk myself into. City of Heroes for people with a compulsion to to author missions for themselves so perhaps now was a good time is one of them – City of Villains is do great or foul deeds, but simply obviously another. The reason is due to the steady release of content because, to be honest, from a young updates that Cryptic and NCSoft This look was surprisingly common in this part of London.

Weren’t you in Battle of the Planets?

CONTROL NAVIGATE |28 Replay They don’t tell you how to as well. Every day a new group of deal with this in hero school. superheroes, most of them old- timers, welcomed me into their temporary cabal, and together we racked up influence points and made Paragon City almost worth living in for the millions of poor unfortunate wretches who lived there. I wondered how busy the high-level zones were – not that I cared that much to be honest. Perhaps more than any other MMO, CoH makes you feel special. It’s simple child-like fun, camp and fully ridiculous, and “Perhaps more than even though I thought I’d come any other MMO City away indifferent, I couldn’t help but thoroughly enjoy myself. Not of Heroes makes enough to stick around, obviously, you feel special” because another game beckons, but when (and if) I pass this way Henchmen – you that when it does, the best thing to again, I shall be sure to spend a bit gotta love ’em. do is just start again. The options are longer coming up with a better so varied and progression so swift, hero for myself. that beginning anew is a tonic to Replay continued there I was, in the starting zone for the veterans. It was a tonic to me To be continued… a five-year-old game, and the place to see what the fuss with the game was actually busy. Not since starting used to be about. this trial-surfing adventure two Being a superhero ‘n’ CoH’s character creation process months ago had I been anywhere all, Graham found it was something I wanted to get this well-stocked with players. Before hard to blend in. through quickly. I’d heard stories of I had time to enquire why Atlas Park people lost for weeks designing the was so full of talent, I was offered perfect outfits, and with just 14 days a place in a group and some kind available to me, I knew I couldn’t of gargoyle and a small chap who dally too long. looked like an Oscar award and I, set Within minutes the randomly about gangs of bag-snatchers with generated and initially amusing nary another thought on the matter. ‘Fisting Green Guy’ emerged into I’d never admit it in public, but before Atlas Park, a close-combat tanking long I was actually enjoying myself. specialist with a very large forearm I had prior warning that Heroes (well it make me chuckle). And so has a tendency to feel repetitive, and

CONTROL NAVIGATE |29 Interview A heroic deed We celebrate five years of City of Heroes in fine style…

Like the eye es, City of Heroes is five years “When City of Heroes a wide variety of enemies to fight, patch, dear. old. While other, lesser MMOs some good comic book-inspired up, and all for free as well! CoH close after only a few months, launched it was an plotlines and an old-fashioned alien really set the bar as for what MMOs YNCsoft’s epic of Spandex, special extremely solid invasion, and CoH hooked players were expected to deliver to their powers and silly costumes has gone from the get-go. customers in terms of a ‘free update’. Matt Miller, City from strength to strength. But what foundation for an MMO” Then, as the game got more of Heroes’ Senior is the secret of its success? And what mature, it only got stronger. We What’s better, being a superhero, Lead Designer are NCsoft doing to ensure that City think has been the reason for the never rested and said ‘done’. We or a supervillain? of Heroes will be here in another five game’s success? were constantly adding new zones, It depends on your work ethic. If you years time? We spoke to the game’s When City of Heroes launched it was new enemies and best of all new are constantly seeking out praise Senior Lead Designer, Matt Miller, to an extremely solid foundation for gameplay systems to spice things or wanting to have your life feel fine out more… an MMO. Superheroes, modern city, and comic books coupled with a City of Heroes is five years old. solid Archetype system that let many Congratulations! What do you players live out their fantasies. Mix in

The office mufti day was a huge success. Do you think that they’re compensating for something?

CONTROL NAVIGATE |30 Interview

Interview continued mission. Finally they can string up to five missions together as one story fulfilling using the talents given to arc, delivering a final ‘souvenir clue’ as Publisher: NCsoft you in a radiation accident, then you a permanent memento to whoever Developer: Cryptic Studios definitely want to be a hero. If you finishes all their missions. Heritage: City of Villains want a job where you set your own Plus, if a player wants to be super- Link: http://eu.city hours and your goals range from creative, they can custom-build their ofheroes.com ‘get rich’ to ‘rule the world’, then it’s a own enemies and enemy groups, OUT NOW villain that you want to be. selecting powers and using our costume creator. This way they can The new Architect update will have their very own arch-nemesis, To be honest, I don’t fancy allow user-generated content to and the group he controls, vexing their chances much. be added. Can you tell us how the characters playing the story at exactly will this work? every turn. Players use an interface (based on games did it, they would probably “We’ve got a ton of new our excellent Costume Creator) to User-generated content is have a lot of the same challenges set parameters that their missions something we’ve long believed that we had. Plus the concept of features beyond Mission will use, including which map they could be a breakthrough for a ‘holographic danger simulation want, what objectives to have, how MMOs. Do you think we’ll see it room’ just seems to fit better in Architect that we look many objectives, what they are adopted by other NCsoft games? a comic book game more than forward to in future updates” fighting against, etc. They can then I won’t lie… retrofitting the Mission something like a fantasy game, write all the dialog and description Architect into City of Heroes was but you never know. text for practically everything in their a vast undertaking. If other NCsoft not finished with City of Heroes yet. Given the revival of superheroes We’ve got a ton of new features (movies, at least two new beyond Mission Architect that we A sword of ice? Not superhero MMOs on the look forward to sharing in future He wasn’t depressed, the best idea we’ve horizon), is there any chance updates, but that’s stuff I can’t talk but he was carrying ever heard. we’ll see a City of Heroes 2? about quite yet. the world on his I’ve got a slew of names already lined shoulders… up: City of Heroes 2: City Harder. City of Heroes 2: Electric Boogaloo. City of Heroeses. City of Heroes 2: Attack of the Rikti Clones. City of Heroes 2: The Wrath of Lord Recluse. City of Heroes 2: The Temple on the Moon. City of Heroes 2: A Tale of Two Cities. City of Heroes 2: How Synapse Got His Groove Back… Okay, I’m joking. Before we can even think about a sequel, we’re

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CONTROL NAVIGATE |32 Next Month In Issue 12 Issue 12

Sci-fi MMOG special! Out 2nd June! DON’T MISS ISSUE 12 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! JUMPGATE DON’T MISS ISSUE 12 SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE! WARNING! MULTIMEDIA DISABLED! If you are reading this, then you didn’t choose “Play” when Adobe Reader asked you about multimedia when EVOLUTION you opened the magazine. Without the multimedia playing, the magazine will look correct, but you will Exclusive interview and PvP playtest be missing out on all of the extra content built into each issue, like videos, animated screenshots, annotations, quizzes, competitions and more. We recommend you close and re-open the magazine and select “Play” when asked about the multimedia to enjoy the magazine as intended.

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