Star Trek Online turns 2yrs old – Releases new ships and feature episodes!
I know many of you MMO gamers out there (including myself) are playing in a galaxy far far away (Star Wars: The Old Republic 
right now, but i just wanted to mention that other big space franchise – ‘Star Trek Online‘ who turns 2 years old this month.
Despite some of it’s faults (read our review of STO here), i have a soft spot for STO, and up until SWTOR came out, I found it had one of the most engaging systems for drawing players into an MMO story.
For Star Trek Online‘s 2nd birthday, they are releasing Odyssey class, and the Bortas Klingon Flagship to players (useable at rear admiral level), and a trailer for their new featured episode. Plus STO is now free-to-play, so if you are MMOing on a budget, it’s well worth a look!
Star Wars: The Old Republic Flash Mob!
If you’ve noticed things on the site have been a bit quite recently, this is for 2 reasons. 1 – It’s was Christmas, and 2 – Star Wars: The Old Republic was released.
Star Wars: The Old Republic is a game we here at GeekTown have been waiting for since it was first announced Bioware were working on an MMORPG back in 2007, so it’s been a long time coming. We’ve been playing since beta, and it’s just got better and better with every update. The game already has some spectacular numbers under it’s belt, with over 5.5 million hours played by it’s 1 million and rising subscribers. One of the more interesting stats released was the fact the players have so far created 850,000 Sith Warriors and over 810,000 Jedi Knights, so it seems the draw of the dark side is just slightly stronger than the light.
The game itself is superb. Brilliantly constructed and deeply involving story lines, with every character fully voiced, it stands way above most other MMOs out there. Bioware have worked really hard to make sure SWTOR puts the RPG back into MMORPG.
As part of the promo for SWTORs release, Bioware/EA organised a genius ‘flash mob’ event in Times Square NYC. Wonder if it was a ‘bring your own lightsaber’ event, or if they were provided. ;)
Top 5 Free-to-Play MMORPGs
Over the past few years MMORPG‘s have gone through a bit of a change regarding the way they are funded. More and more of them are turning to a free-to-play model to sustain a player base. However, free-to-play MMO no longer means some browser-based 2D cutesy import from Japan. Some serious hard hitters of the MMO genre are now turning free-to-play. Here’s our list of the top 5.
5. Age of Conan
Age of Conan
Age of Conan had a bit of a rough ride on release. The first 20 levels were brilliantly stitched together, whilst the rest of the game was somewhat in disarray. Thankfully it’s survived its turbulent birth and worked hard to patch out its rough edges, to become one of the most brutal MMO’s available today.
Their F2P model restricts some of the character classes and slots, but there is still enough in there to keep most casual MMO players occupied. And most importantly, you can still behead your enemies with a few swift blows of your broadsword.
4. City of Heroes
City of Heroes
City of Heroes maybe one of the older MMOs out there, but that by no means limits it’s fun factor. Recent updates have seen some restructuring to the opening zones making them much less of a grind, and a switch so you get your ‘travel powers’ much earlier.
Because of it’s age, there is a huge amount of content and customisation in-game. Couple that with the lack of restrictions NCSoft have put on free players (no level cap restriction, loads of costume parts, most zones available at no extra cost) and it makes CoH well worth a look.
3. DC Universe Online
DC Universe Online
More superheroes, but this time some names your more likely to be familiar with. Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and The Flash, to mention but a few. There is also a host of villains to work for, from Joker to Lex Luther, to Talia al Ghul, pretty much every major hero and villain from DC’s universe is represented here.
SOE do place some restrictions on Free Players (limited character slots, inventory & bank slots, trading etc…), but if you fancy checking out DCU, it’s possible to play through 30 levels of superhero/villain goodness. Also, you only need to spend $5 in the online store to gain access to the mid-level ‘Premium’ account which raises the level of most of the restrictions to most casual players would be comfortable with.
2. Star Trek Online
Star Trek Online
STO is a game that has come along in leaps and bounds since it’s release in 2010. Issues with the lack of ‘Trekkiness’ were solved. Lots more content was added, both by developers Cryptic, and by players themselves through the brilliant Foundry feature. A combat overhaul was done, to improve the phaser firing aspect of the game, plus more customisation to costumes, interiors to player ships, and various pets and other ‘fluff’ items were added.
Overall it’s a hugely improved game from it’s rather rushed release. Once again F2P players will have some limits on their account. Less character slots, limits on money and inventory storage, chat and mail restrictions, and they’ll be locked out of the Foundry Creator. However, the level cap will still be achievable, and all sector and missions are accessible on a F2P account, so you won’t be short of things to do! STO doesn’t actually go free-to-play till Jan 17th 2012 – But when it does, I urge you to take a journey into the final frontier.
1. Lord of the Rings Online
Lord of the Rings Online
As huge Tolkien fans, LotRO was a MMO all the gamers here in GeekTown fell in love with when it was first released. From those early quests avoiding hungry hobbits delivering pies in the Shire, to battling trolls and even a Balrog in the later game, it’s extremely easy to lose yourself in the massive world Turbine have created.
There are restrictions on F2P players. The amount of cash you can carry is limited, and you can’t auction items. Your also only allowed 1 character slot per server (with more purchasable), and some of the higher level areas need to be purchased. You can however level your hobbit, dwarf, elf or human up to the game’s level cap, and it’s a great way to test out a superb MMO without having to outlay a penny. If you’re a fan of Tolkien, it’s worth installing even if it’s just to wander around the Shire.
STAR WARS: The Old Republic gets a launch date!
It’s been a long (long time…) in coming, but Bioware have finally given us a release date for STAR WARS: The Old Republic… And it’s the 22nd of December 2011 for Europe (20th of December if your over in North America)! Merry Christmas everyone!
SWTOR is a game we’ve been desperate to play ever since it was announced back in 2008. Originally planned for early 2011, not unsurprisingly give Bioware’s usual ‘we’ll release it when it’s ready and not before’ attitude, it slipped, and we were beginning to wonder if we’d ever get to see SWTOR this side of the 2011 holiday season. Thankfully the lil Bioware Ewoks have been hard at work, and from all the footage and previews i’ve see, SWTOR is not only ready, it should be one of the most engrossing and detailed MMORPG game worlds ever created.
Like previous Bioware games, SWTOR has a heavy focus on story, way more so than any other MMORPG gone before. Bioware plan to firmly re-attached the RPG part of the acronym – something that has been sorely missing in many more recent MMO releases.
After your initial 30 days, the subscription costs are pretty much in line with the genre’s other major player ‘World of Warcraft’, with 1 month subs at £8.99, 3 months at £25.17, and 6 months at £46.14. No news on how early the ‘Early Game Access’ will be yet.
So there your are, you now know what to ask Santa to get you for Christmas… STAR WARS: The Old Republic – 22nd of December 2011.
Geektown’s Top 7 Most Anticipated MMORPGs List 2011!
It’s that time of year again when we look over what news of upcoming MMO’s has caught our attention over the last 12 months… Yep, it’s the return of Geektown’s Most Anticipated MMORPGs List!
7. Blizzard’s New MMO: Codenamed ‘Titan’ (position last yr – 6th)
Codenamed: Titan
Well, it’s another year on, and still only tiny slivers of information on Blizzard’s next MMO have worked there way out of Blizz HQ. So, here’s what we know…
- It’s codenamed ‘Titan’ internally.
- It’s a brand new IP and not based on WoW, Starcraft or Diablo.
- We know it’s designed to be a more casual MMO experience.
- It’s possibly some mix of Scifi and Fantasy in it’s setting.
Other rumors are that it’ll could be an MMOFPS, and it could be planned for release at the end of 2013 – So that’ll be an actual release date at some point in 2014…
Blizzard Website | Release Date: At least 2014 (cause when has Blizzard ever hit an intended release date!)
6. Warhammer 40k: Dark Millennium Online (position last yr – 5th)
W40k: Dark Millennium Online
The W40K MMO, now named ‘Dark Millennium Online‘ was first announced in 2007. Then went very quiet. However, in the past year more information has started to come to light.
DMO is set in the 41st Millennium and should include all the races 40k players are familiar with. The only know playable races at the moment are The Imperium and the Eldar, and (this being Warhammer) all the classes will be dedicated to shooting, chainsawing, and generally beating the living snot out of the enemy. There may be some crafting involved, but only if your making more bullets to fire at the enemy!
The control system is likely to be more of like an action game than a traditional MMO, and developers Vigil Games are promising that action will be fast, furious and intense! They are promising DMO will be playable at E3 2012, with a likely release date in 2013.
Dark Millennium Online Website | Release Date: 2013
5. ArcheAge (New Entry)
Build your own ships in ArcheAge
ArcheAge is an MMORPG from Korean developers XL Games using CryEngine 2. It’s based in a fairly standard fantasy setting, but it’s more the gameplay that has piqued my interest than the environment. Like some other games on this list, it’s abandoned the traditional class selection for a far more fluid option. When you create your character, you pick 3 out of a possible 10 abilities, which means you could play as a full blown warrior, or some kind of healer, or take little bits from each and create your own class.
ArcheAge is also a game with some advance crafting, rather than your standard WoW-esque ‘cookie-cutter’ setup. If you want to build a house, go cut down some trees and build one. Same goes for if you want to build a ship. The system works using something called ‘labor power’ which builds up both whilst you are on and offline. If you want to build something really massive, you can get together with friends and pool your labor, allowing the creation of larger and more elaborate structures.
If combat is more your thing, it isn’t just restricted to your character on foot. You can fight on horseback, and in naval combat too. Overall, there’s a whole bunch of interesting things going on in ArcheAge. It’s currently in closed Beta in Korea, and is likely to get released to an eastern market before we get it in the west, so it’s probably going to be a while before we see ArcheAge in the UK.
ArcheAge Website | Release Date: TBA
4. Firefall (New Entry)
Firefall - The new PlanetSide?
There was a game that fellow geektowner D used to rave about… The original MMOFPS – PlanetSide. Ever since then though, MMOFPS’s have rather struggled to really make an impact, despite numerous attempts. Firefall plans to change all that, and what’s more, it plans on doing it on a free-to-play model!
The story is set on a future Earth where overuse of an energy source called Crystite has decimated most of the planet, which is now covered by an energy storm known as the ‘Melding’. You take control of one of the survivors of the human race battling entities called the ‘Chosen’ who have emerged from the ‘Melding’.
Gameplay is split between large pile-in battles, and more organised tournaments & leagues. The classes are actually prescribed by the type of exo-skeletons that you wear, allowing you to play as Engineers, Assault & Recon roles, or as Medics. Unlike the previous 3 games in the list, this one is due out in November this year, so if your an ex-PlanetSide player still looking for a new home, you’ve not long to wait to find out if Firefall is it.
Firefall Website | Release Date: Nov 2011
3. Salem (New Entry)
Salem - Sandbox MMO
Salem is a really interesting little MMO. Set in a fantastical version of New England, you play colonists from the Old World seeking to make lives for themselves in the New. Developers Paradox describe it as a crafting MMO… with open PvP combat and permanent death! Well, sort of… If you do happen to upset your neighbor, so he decides to stab you through the head with a pitchfork, your descendents can pick up where you left off. It’s an interesting take on the idea of perma-death, without the player necessarily losing everything. It also means that your little village may have to band together to police itself from any internal disputes, and also to defend itself from any invading ruffians. Player justice!
Salem is a persistent world which can be altered by the player’s actions, with skills such as crafting, farming and creating your own buildings. There’s also some good ol’ 17th century alchemy & witchcraft thrown in for good measure. Best of all, it’s another MMO using the free-to-play model. In terms of gameplay mechanics, it’s all sounding very open and sandboxy, which is an idea i really like.
Salem Website | Release Date: Nov 2011
2. The Secret World (New Entry)
Funcom's The Secret World
The Secret World is based on the idea that every myth, conspiracy theory and urban legend you’ve ever heard was true. Placed in a modern world setting, with cities such as London and New York, various secret societies (in this case The Templars, The Illuminati, and The Dragon) are at war – not only with each other, but also the various demons, vampires, zombies and other creatures that go bump in the night!
TSW has taken a leaf out of the pre-nge Star Wars Galaxies handbook, and removed all levels and classes. Using a skill based system, you can pick from hundreds of powers to customise your character however you see fit. There’s no set progression path. The skills system is sounding very pre-nge SWG, and that’s a great thing in my book. Developer Funcom are powering TSW using the same engine as Age of Conan, a game which had it’s faults, but the engine wasn’t one of them. The creative director of the game was also the man behind the brilliant adventure ‘The Longest Journey’, so i’m expecting a decent story too.
The Secret World Website | Release Date: TBC 2012
1. Star Wars : The Old Republic (position last yr – 1st)
SWTOR - 1st place again!
We were rather hoping to be playing SWTOR by now, but Bioware have taken a leaf out of Blizzard’s book and gone with a ‘it’ll be done when it’s done’ attitude. Still, it’s the right thing to do. There’s nothing worse than releasing a half finished MMO with no content (*cough*Conan-DCOnline-SWG-etc…*cough*). It’s fair to say Bioware have rather gone out of their way to make sure content is something that SWTOR should most definitely not be lacking in… The currently estimate is that there’s around 200 hrs of gameplay… PER CLASS! Now, we know from experience, that developers always over estimate how many hrs it’ll take for players to get through their content, but if they are even close to being correct, that around 1500 hrs of Star Wars-y goodness to sink your teeth into! It would also rather explains why SWTOR hasn’t been released yet, cause that’s a heck of a lot of code to test.
If your in a relationship or have a family member who is a Star Wars fan, kiss them goodbye when SWTOR is released, cause you won’t be seeing them for a very very long time!
Star Wars : The Old Republic Website | Release Date: Late 2011.
Star Wars Galaxies To Shut It’s Doors
I was somewhat predictable this day would come. In some respects, i’m surprised it didn’t arrive earlier…
$OE have announce that on December 15, 2011, Star Wars Galaxies will shut it’s doors.
As long time reader of this site may know, fellow Geektowner Daryl and myself were huge fans of SWG. D had been playing since beta, and I joined a few months after launch. The original SWG was my first experience of MMOs, and, unlike a lot of modern MMOs, SWG wasn’t just some leveling treadmill that you played with lot’s of other people. It was a genuine virtual world/galaxy, and set in the Star Wars universe. What more could a Star Wars fan ask for!
SWG player built city
You could build your own villages. And i don’t mean like in most MMOs that have player housing where you stuck in a predefined area. You could ride out on your speeder into the countryside, stake your claim to a spot of land, and build a community. And in those early days, people did that in large numbers, creating huge cities, each with there own houses, mansions, shopping malls, garden areas and shuttle ports.
SWG was set in a time period between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. The idea was to put you right in the middle of the Empire/Rebel war, allowing you to fight on the side of Vader and the Emperor, or Luke, Han, and their merry band of rebels. This means Jedi were extremely rare. It was possible to become a fabled Jedi warrior, but not without an awful lot of hard work. For most people, they would be playing characters such as bounty hunters, rangers, creature handlers, or scouts. You could also take on professions to help support the player run economy, such as architect, entertainers (people even formed bands), droid engineers, doctors, or farmers. What was unique about SWG was the skill system. You didn’t level from 1 to 60 in one pre-selected profession. You had a pool of experience points, and could pick and choose pretty much any combination from any of the skill trees. Want to be a droid engineer that’s quite handy with a pistol? No problem! Sure, your not going to be as adept as someone that dedicated their time to pistol training, but then they don’t have a bunch of cool droids following them around!
SWG space combat
The first expansion – ‘Jump To Lightspeed’ – added space combat into the mix. This not only gave you a brilliant ‘X-Wing v TIE Fighter’ style space battles, but also meant you had your own ship to explore the galaxy in. A ship you could also walk around in, and customize with player crafted furniture. You want your own X-Wing, luxury space cruiser, or even Millenium Falcon, that was all possible.
Then came the cursed NGE (that stands for ‘New Game Enhancements’) patch $OE inflicted on the community. This was Sony’s attempt to turn a unique and interesting sandbox MMO into a more level driven World of Warcraft model. It failed… horribly… and in the process alienated a large portion of the player base. Partly due to the fact that they added Jedi as a ‘starting class’, meaning there were suddenly enough Jedi across the galaxy to have brought down the Empire in no time at all… What made it worse was this was actually the second time $OE had screwed over players, having made a massive change to the combat system with the Combat Upgrade (CU) patch only a few months earlier. For many, the NGE was the final straw.
Star Wars Galaxies
Over the following years, D and I would get tired of whatever MMO we were playing, and one of us would suggest going back to Galaxies. We’d load up the game only to be really saddened by what was there. Once thriving player-made cities, now nothing more than ghost towns, with empty shops, and not a soul in sight.
In all the years i’ve been playing MMOs, i’ve yet to find a more immersive online gaming world. I’m in no way saying Star Wars Galaxies was perfect… It had some dodgy mechanics, server problems, and other glitches. However, I salute it for trying to be different, at least in the initial pre CU and NGE game design. There is another Star Wars MMO on the horizon of course, in the shape of Star Wars: The Old Republic, which I am very much looking forward to, despite the fact I suspect was the last nail in SWG’s coffin. As good as I hope SWTOR is, it will be a very different game to the one SWG was… I’ll leave you with a quote from a little green friend of mine…
“Soon will I rest, yes, forever sleep. Earned it I have. Twilight is upon me, soon night must fall.”
- Yoda
