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The Legend Of The Kÿrsed – Upcoming Tale from MD Weems

MD Weems — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:45:04 +0000

Being a writer, I sometimes don’t have the time to sit down and write out a novel from start to finish as I would like to. My problem lies between loving gaming too much and other projects that seem to pile up and bog me down. Plus, you know, RL (real life) can be a bitch sometimes and it gets hard to work on my own stuff when I want to. That being said, any of you that know me – either in game, through my writings, or in RL – know that I’m an avid gamer who loves me some WoW. While I don’t have time to read some of the excellent books and lore that are out there about the game, I have always wanted to create my own tale.

Thanks to my blog here on FRPG, I got the bright idea to do just that. So, in the upcoming weeks, I will be posting a new part to my saga, The Legend of the Kÿrsed, a tale based loosely on WoW. You’ll find some of your favorite races and classes here, as well as some of your favorite things in the game. Now, the places will be different, and you’ll notice some other differences as well, but I can assure you that I will make sure to make this tale as entertaining as any out there. This is a project that I have been dreaming up for a long time and is finally taking shape. I hope that you will stop by and visit to catch up on the latest part of our legend.

Why I’m Addicted To WoW

MD Weems — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:04:38 +0000

Yes, I’ll admit it, I’m a WoW addict. I hate that too – I hate that I’m constantly thinking about that damn game, that I’m constantly wondering how my auctions are doing, where I could be farming gold, and how many people might be in my favorite farming area. I hate it. But, on the other hand, I make money writing and gaming for a living, so I can’t complain too much – can I?

I’ve had people ask me why I love World of Warcraft so much. Why don’t I play any of the free mmorpgs that are out there. And, I don’t hesitate to tell them that I have played tons of different free mmorpgs that have come my way, such as World of Kung Fu, Shaiya, Dungeons and Dragons Online, and so on. I mean, I have really played a ton of the freebies. But, I always come back to WoW in the end.

There are actually way too many reasons that I love World of Warcraft so much and I have a sneaking feeling that they are the same reasons that millions of other players around the world do too. Here are some of the main reasons why I am so addicted to WoW:

1. The massive wealth of the game overall: No, I don’t mean how much it costs, nor do I mean how much gold I make in the game. What I mean by that statement is the amount of time that goes into making the game so damn awesome. This doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen for free either. This is why millions of people pay $15 a month, every month, and why millions of us flock to the stores at midnight to grab the next expansion pack before everyone else gets it. The wealth of the content, the graphics, the voice work, the sheer amount of things to do and accomplish in the game – nothing around can beat that. Hell, nothing even comes close to that. I think that is probably the main reason that I love the game, the wealth of the game overall.

2. Content: Do I hate that WoW is a never ending game? Sure I do. Do I hate that there is always something else to work toward just when I think I’ve accomplished too much already? Sure I do. But, it is that massive amount of content and the fact that there is always something else to do that keeps me coming back again and again and again. In the almost 5 years that I’ve been playing WoW now, so much content has gone by me that I cannot even begin to count the number of quests I’ve done, the amount of reputation I’ve earned, the achievements I’ve done, the dungeons I’ve ran… you name it. And, I still haven’t done even close to everything… I seriously doubt I ever will.

3. Character customization: Yes, I know that there are tons of free mmorpgs out there that have a great character customization area, but nothing compares to WoW. There are literally millions of combinations that you can design for characters in WoW, and if you decide you don’t like anything at all about your toon – you can change it! Most of the looks you can change in the game and only spend gold on them, other things, such as faction changes, name changes, and even sex changes are done with cash through the website. But that is something that no one else offers – the ability to change whenever you want to whatever you want. I love this…

4. Fun: Let’s face it, World of Warcraft is downright damn fun. From questing to dungeons to raids, from making WoW gold to professions to reputation, from world events to taunting the other faction’s guards and players – World of Warcraft is just too much damn fun to pass up. There is nothing out there like it in the world right now and I doubt that anything will ever come close to it.

Overall – WoW has a very firm addicting hold on me. Do I hate that, yes, I do. But, I’ve tried to quit playing several times, once even going as long as six months – but I always come back in the end.

Dungeons & Dragons Free MMO – First Impressions

MD Weems — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:27:08 +0000

About a week ago, I decided to take a look at Dungeons & Dragons now that it is completely free to play. While it did take a little while to download this free mmorpg to my computer, it wasn’t nearly as long as the World of Warcraft updates! Once I got it up and running, I gave it a go and here is what I have found so far.

The first thing that I noticed in Dungeons & Dragons online is the character creation. I mean, this thing is a complete customization tool for your Dungeons & Dragons character that really goes above and beyond any other character creator that I’ve seen. (The only one I can think of that comes close is City of Heroes.) You start off with your race, class, and so on – which gives you a pretty good way to create a unique character just with these choices. Then you move on to your Dungeons & Dragons character looks. Here is where you can really get creative. You can change their skin color, eye color, hair & color, and just about everything else that you can think of. It actually took me about 30 minutes to create my Dungeons & Dragons character, and that was with me finally saying to myself “Stop or you’ll never get to play!”. And, choosing a name isn’t quiet as easy as you’d think either. You can choose a first and last name if you wish, or just one name.

Once I finally had my Dungeons & Dragons character looking how I wanted her, it was time to head off into the world. One of the first things I noticed is that Dungeons & Dragons online is really well done. I know that it used to be a paid to play MMORPG that turned over to a free online mmorpg – but wow. I’m actually amazed that more people don’t play this one, as the detail is great, the movements are fluid, the looting is easy, and so forth.

Being a big fan of World of Warcraft, I sometimes have trouble playing other MMORPGs as I try to compare them all to WoW. So, I am usually let down a bit because my standards were already too high. But, with Dungeons & Dragons online, I have to admit that I have yet to be let down. From the very start of getting off the beach, you have to learn everything quickly and when you enter the caverns with the NPCs that are there to help you, you’ll really find yourself up against some challenges. This really impressed me.

While I have only gotten to play for a short bit of time, I really am impressed with Dungeons & Dragons online. I’m going to give it a 10 so far, and I’ll make sure to tell you what all I find as I go through the game more.

Why Facebook MMO Games Are So Addictive

MD Weems — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 01:24:34 +0000

When it comes to Facebook, it seems like everyone has a page now. And more than likely, they play a few of the wildly popular Facebook games that are exploding the web. Games like Farmville, Mafia Wars, Cafe World, just to name a few, are really taking off, with millions of fans and gamers logging in daily to check their status, receive gifts from other gamers, and do what they can to level up. I’m sure that the companies behind these Facebook games are really raking it in too, as people spend their hard earned money for coins and cash in their favorite games at anywhere between $5-100 a pop. (I know, I’m guilty of it too, but I had to have that limited edition item!)

So what is it that truly makes these Facebook mmo games so darn addictive? The answer is simple my friend – they cater to your gaming “wants”. For example, there are gamers out there who are just not into the World of Warcraft thing. They don’t want to pay to play a game, yet they still want the mmo feel and ability to interact with other gamers. Plus, they could care less about elves, orcs, and magic. Throw out those things that they could care less about and give them something that they can get into – such as creating their own Mafia – and BAM! Instant addiction.

Plus, these Facebook MMO games give you something that other mmo games don’t – the ability to get free stuff, free help – AND you don’t have to listen to all that annoying chat all the time… of course, that is great free entertainment. Now you have an mmo game that everyone can play, yet they can get as deep into it as they want without drowning themselves in other people. For me, this is great as it means that I can show off my gaming skills – yet not talk to anyone that day if I don’t feel like it. I don’t even have to check my Facebook page if I don’t feel like “sharing” how I feel or what I’m doing. But, if I feel the need, I can ask for goodies, send them to friends and so on.

Then you add in the fact that there are hundreds of different Facebook games out there that you can play, everything from fantasy games to building games to strategy games to goofy games, and you have at least one game that every single Facebook user will enjoy. There is no shortage of things you can do with this.

Facebook games are easy to play, fun, and since they are played to your liking, in your own time frames, you can choose how well you do. If you only want to play once a week, great. Time your in-game items to only produce things that you can get when you login (such as using a two-day recipe in Cafe World or planting seeds that take 3 days to harvest). It gives you so much freedom to be who you really want to be and still gives you the ability to chat it up with all of your friends. You can’t beat that.

Plus, they are all browser-based mmo games, which means you can sneak them in at work and no one will know! What could be better?!

So I can easily see why so many millions of people are addicted to Facebook games of all types. I know that I surely am, and it’s much worse than any hold that World of Warcraft had on me.

Armor Games Delights and Baffles Players Again with This Is The Only Level TOO

MD Weems — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:31:12 +0000

Armor Games today unveiled This is The Only Level TOO, the sequel to the strangely addictive platformer with only one level, but many, many ways to play it. Players must guide the heroic elephantine protagonist to the exit pipe without touching the pointy, ubiquitous spikes. The super-simple controls, Atari-era graphics and succinct polka tune make one thing clear: creative level design is top priority. Each puzzling new iteration has a unique solution that’s hinted at by the stage title, but the exact answer is always a little hazy. This is The Only Level TOO lets gamers determine each stage’s “rules” through experimentation, trial-and-error and genuinely creative thinking.

• 100% More Levels!
• Still Free!
• Super meta!
• Tons of Puzzling Stages!
• Defy logic, gravity, and the space-time continuum!
• Two of Those Things are True!
• Space Out Staring at the Whirling Level Timer!
• Bounce into the Spikes and Watch Your Death Toll Skyrocket!
• Unlockable Velociraptor!
• Use All Four Arrow Keys!
• Hone Your Speedrun… at Work!

The original game has been played over 7 million times on Armor Games’ site alone. Check out the sequel, and take on the “Heroic Quest to Complete Another Level” in This is The Only Level TOO.

About Armor Games

Armor Games is the leading developer of casual Flash and iPhone games. Based in Irvine, California, the company was founded in 2005 by Daniel McNeely, and has developed and released such hit games as Crush the Castle, Sonny, Shift, IndestructoTank! AE and Upgrade Complete!

Social Gold Announces Partnership with Miniclip.com

MD Weems — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:28:01 +0000

Social Gold, the leading virtual currency and payments solution for thousands of online games and virtual worlds, today announced a partnership with online games pioneer, Miniclip.com. The partnership will enable virtual economies across Miniclip’s massive catalog of over 550 game titles. It will also deliver a seamless, in-Flash payments experience to Miniclip’s rich community of over 57 million game players.

“By incorporating Social Gold, Miniclip will continue to provide an immersive, premium entertainment experience for our global community,” said Jeremy Wadia, COO of Miniclip. “Social Gold’s in-Flash solution removes all friction from the payments experience, allowing our players to make in-game purchases without ever leaving the game. This not only drives free to paid conversion, but also turns one-time purchasers into repeat purchasers.”

“This partnership brings together the highest quality Flash games and the most elegant virtual economy platform for Flash,” said Vikas Gupta, founder and CEO of Social Gold. “We are proud to deliver a superior user experience, a breadth of local payment methods and single-click purchase capabilities to the Miniclip community.”

Social Gold enables any publisher – whether in Flash or not – to create its own white-labeled virtual currency, provide an unparalleled payments experience to its users, and optimize its virtual economy using robust analytics. Social Gold is the first completely secure, completely in-Flash payments solution, where end users enjoy a seamless purchase experience by remaining within the game itself. With the integration into Miniclip’s catalog of games, Social Gold will enhance and extend Miniclip’s high production value and superior user experience.

To start integrating the Social Gold API, please register at http://getsocialgold.com.

About Social Gold™

Social Gold™ is an industry-leading virtual economy platform owned and operated by Jambool, Inc. The Social Gold platform enables developers to create and manage their own white-labeled virtual currency, provide an unparalleled payments experience to their users, and optimize their virtual economy using robust analytics. Through innovation in Flash-based payments solutions, a sophisticated fraud management system and an easy-to-integrate API, Social Gold has received recognition as an outstanding platform for powering virtual economies. Jambool, Inc. was co-founded by Amazon.com veterans Vikas Gupta and Reza Hussein and has offices in San Francisco, Seattle and Singapore. For more information, please visit http://getsocialgold.com.

About Miniclip.com

Miniclip.com is the world’s largest online games website with over 57 million unique users per month. It has grown rapidly through organic, word of mouth marketing, without any paid advertising. The company was founded and funded in 2001 by, Robert Small. Miniclip has seen dramatic growth since inception and has been profitable for seven years. It now operates in 15 languages and has a truly global presence. Miniclip focuses on providing high quality online entertainment experiences. The games are fun, intuitive to play, and quick to load.

AN UNCANNY JOURNEY AWAITS IN MIND’S EYE: SECRETS OF THE FORGOTTEN FOR PC

MD Weems — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:07:52 +0000

Alawar Entertainment, one of the world’s leading publishers of casual games, today announced the release of its newest hidden-object mystery game, Mind’s Eye: Secrets of the Forgotten. Set against the backdrop of a murder investigation in a gritty city, this shocking vision of subconscious crime solving is available only at http://www.alawar.com/game/mind-s-eye-secrets-of-the-forgotten/ for the lethally low price of $9.95. The mayor is dead, having thrown himself out of the window of his office…or did he? Journalist Gabrielle Jennings is not convinced, sensing both murderous intent and the scoop of a lifetime. Her investigation leads her to the laboratory of a mysterious scientist, whose experiments enable her to enter other people’s minds to search for clues. Players help Gabrielle unravel the mystery by searching for hidden objects, solving puzzles and playing mini-games as her journey into mental labyrinths reveals a shocking secret about her own past that will change her life forever. Key features:

Break the story with the help of the game’s intuitive point-and-click game play and helpful hints.
Reveal hidden clues using the game’s unique scrolling perspective to inspect each crime scene.
Investigate more than 10 different suspects and comb through 20 different locations offering amazing art and chillingly surreal environments.
Solve the mystery of the mayor’s death and delve into Gabrielle’s own secrets by collecting evidence, finding dozens of items and conquering 10 different challenging mini-games.

Strange, captivating settings and a compelling story make Mind’s Eye: Secrets of the Forgotten a beguiling expose for young and old alike. Mind’s Eye: Secrets of the Forgotten is currently available exclusively at www.alawar.com and is coming to other major download portals soon. Purchase and download the full version Download the trial version Follow Alawar Entertainment on Twitter
About Alawar Entertainment: Founded in 1999, Alawar Entertainment specializes in the development, publication and distribution of casual games, reaching audiences in over 60 countries worldwide. The company is the leading distributor of casual titles in Eastern Europe and has published more than 200 casual PC games globally, including some of the industry’s leading downloadable series like Farm Frenzy®, Craze® and The Treasures of Montezuma®. Alawar recently extended its offerings onto the iPhone™, PLAYSTATION®3, Nintendo DS™ and Mac® gaming platforms, and in 2010 plans to enter the social games and MMO markets as well as expand onto other leading-edge platforms. For more information, visit www.alawar.com.

HeroEngine Licensed for Diverse Online 3D Development Projects, Simutronics Reorganizes to Support Growth

MD Weems — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:25:41 +0000

Simutronics today announced that the company is reorganizing into two divisions, HeroEngine and Simutronics Games. HeroEngine has seen an increase in adoption among studios of all sizes for projects ranging from games to government applications as development teams seek faster, more collaborative tools for delivering 3D online worlds on time and budget. To focus further on HeroEngine innovation and support for licensees, Simutronics promoted Neil Harris to President, HeroEngine and Herb Marselas as Vice President, Engineering. David Whatley, CEO, takes on the role of President, Simutronics Games.

“As online worlds become the gold standard for engaging experiences, HeroEngine’s applications grow far beyond their MMO roots,” said Neil Harris. “More than 20 years worth of experience has been incorporated into HeroEngine, and the result is unmatched agility and speed for anyone looking to bring their online world to life.”

HeroEngine revolutionizes online world development by enabling teams around the world to collaborate in real-time. The engine has recently been licensed for a broad array of projects including a multi-title deal with a US publisher, virtual worlds with government and non-profit applications for a European organization, and stealth-mode projects from startups and major studios in China, Europe and the US. Details on these projects will be announced in the coming months.

Previously announced HeroEngine licensees include BioWare’s Star Wars: The Old Republic game and a stealth project from ZeniMax Online Studios.

As a result of the growth in new HeroEngine licenses, the company is undergoing rapid expansion of its development teams located near Washington, DC and St. Louis, MO. Said Herb Marselas, “We are expanding our team by hiring even more world-class engineering talent. This is an exciting opportunity to help develop the next generation of technology for a global audience.”

As President, Simutronics Games, David Whatley will focus on the development of new games for social networks and iPhone. “From our early days pioneering some of the first immersive online gaming experiences, Simutronics has been focused on two things: developing great technologies, and making great games,” said David Whatley. “I’ve always had a passion for creating games, and our new corporate structure lets us take what we’ve learned over the past two decades and focus exclusively on applying it to new gaming platforms.”

D.I.C.E. Summit attendees can learn more about how HeroEngine supports agile, collaborative 3D online development in the D.I.C.E. Lounge, located on Veranda C at the Red Rocks Casino Resort & Spa, February 16-19, 2010.

About Simutronics

Simutronics Corp. has 20 years of expertise in the business of multiplayer online games, developing innovative original entertainment and technology solutions. The company’s two divisions, HeroEngine and Simutronics Games, focus on technology development and licensing and the creation of original games, respectively.

HeroEngine is the world’s only 3D online agile development platform that supports real-time development and collaboration, reducing time and cost to market for virtual worlds and MMO (massively-multiplayer online) games. Licensees include BioWare (Star Wars: The Old Republic), ZeniMax Online, and many more around the world who demand a better process for developing and maintaining online worlds.

Simutronics Games created pioneering titles like GemStone, DragonRealms, and CyberStrike, which were best-selling games on AOL and other online services during the 1990’s. The games division now applies this expertise to titles for social and mobile gaming platforms.

Simutronics has offices in St. Charles, MO and Gaithersburg, MD. Additional information is available at www.play.net and www.heroengine.com.

PLANT THE SEEDS OF AN EMPIRE IN SETTLEMENT: COLOSSUS FOR PC

MD Weems — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:19:50 +0000

An All-New Bounty Bestowed by Casual Gaming God Alawar Entertainment Available Now

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Feb. 11, 2010 – A fledgling empire in an untamed paradise awaits your decree in Settlement: Colossus, the latest offering for PC from Alawar Entertainment, one of the world’s leading publishers of casual games. This captivating adventure is available now for download exclusively at www.alawar.com/game/settlement-colossus for only $9.95.

Cursed by his god, robbed of his true love and with his once proud and shining city laid to ruin by his enemies, a 300-year-old emperor is forced to search for a new homeland in Settlement: Colossus. After years of wandering and hardship, he and his small band of loyal followers discover a ripe, uninhabited plain. In this innovative combination of hidden object and strategy game play, players gather resources, solve puzzles and research new materials, guiding the efforts of these pilgrims to construct a new and thriving city and complete the emperor’s mission to win back his god’s favor.

Key Features:

Challenge both your mind and your powers of perception as you gather 7,000+ hidden items and play over 50 mini-games.
Discover 30 different types of life-saving resources, along with special tools, charms and magical items that will help your settlers thrive.
Explore 62 lush and gorgeous locations, accompanied by the game’s beguiling soundtrack and ambient effects.
Research, invent and advance your civilization with more than 100 upgrades, optimizing the allocation of resources.
Collect 14 trophies by completing various challenges and become a true champion of the people.

“The developers at Alawar Five-BN impressed us yet again with their creative blending of two of our most popular game genres,” said Kirill Plotnikov, Alawar’s vice president of publishing. “We’re proud to offer Settlement: Colossus as the latest in a long line of compelling casual game experiences from one of our top internal development studios.”

Settlement: Colossus intertwines the fun of hidden object games and the satisfaction of city-building strategy with the thread of an engaging storyline to weave an enchanting tapestry enjoyable by all ages. Settlement: Colossus is available for download now at www.alawar.com and will launch on other major download portals later this month.

Purchase and download the full version

Download the trial version

Follow Alawar Entertainment on Twitter

About Alawar Entertainment: Founded in 1999, Alawar Entertainment specializes in the development, publication and distribution of casual games, reaching audiences in over 60 countries worldwide. The company is the leading distributor of casual titles in Eastern Europe and has published more than 200 casual PC games globally, including some of the industry’s leading downloadable series like Farm Frenzy®, Craze® and The Treasures of Montezuma®. Alawar recently extended its offerings onto the iPhone™, PLAYSTATION®3, Nintendo DS™ and Mac® gaming platforms, and in 2010 plans to enter the social games and MMO markets as well as expand onto other leading-edge platforms. For more information, visit www.alawar.com.

WOMEN IN GAMES INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES FRESH DIRECTION, NEW LEADERSHIP

MD Weems — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:15:33 +0000

Top Officers Named, 2010 Roadmap Underway

LOS ANGELES – Feb. 16, 2010 – Women in Games International (WIGI), the premier organization for advancing women in the video game industry, proudly announced today its new status as an independent organization, incorporated under the laws of the state of California. WIGI, formerly part of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), has further announced the appointment of a new leadership team to guide the organization in implementing its fresh direction.

Effective immediately, Belinda Van Sickle, former WIGI community event chair and a steering committee member since 2006, will become WIGI’s new president and CEO. Noelle Hunt-Bennett will act as secretary, while former chapter chairperson Krissie Franco will take over responsibilities as treasurer and CFO.

“We’re excited to be able to take on these new tasks,” said Van Sickle. “Our focus for 2010 is on rejuvenating the organization, offering immediate and tangible value to members seeking jobs, career development and networking opportunities. Our Los Angeles and San Francisco chapters have already lined up some wonderful partnerships to get WIGI off to a great start in 2010 and we hope that they will serve as models for other chapters in this pivotal year of our new mission.”

One of the premiere WIGI events for this year will be the Industry Mixer 2010, to be held on March 10 during the upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco. This year’s GDC mixer will be an evening filled with fun, food, networking and game tournaments for everyone. For more information on the WIGI Industry Mixer 2010 or to inquire regarding sponsorships, contact Belinda Van Sickle (Belinda@gamedocs.com). To learn more about WIGI, visit http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2058&trk=anet_ug_grppro.

About Women in Games International: Women In Games International (WIGI) was founded in 2005 to support the inclusion and advancement of women in the global games industry. Since then, WIGI has grown to include advocacy for industry diversity, leadership through educational talks and individual career impact from networking opportunities for women and men alike. www.womeningamesinternational.org