Funcom's Next MMORPG

The Secret World is an upcoming cross-platform mmorpg from Funcom that began development about 1 year ago and has slowly started shaving off its secret status.   While there is not a lot of data on the game presently, the initial storyline and mechanics are enough to get any hardcore gamer brewing with anticipation.   This is certainly not your typical cookie-cutter mmo.  The Secret World is a next generation game that will be played on both the Xbox and PC platforms.

As far as the storyline and overall game play goes, it is like Hellgate London meets Fallen Earth with a hint of Requiem.  The game is based on three factions called secret societies that compete for control of special “Cells” in the underworld of modern day locations. 

Basically, what this means is that there is an above ground that contains the majority of the game world, this is where you basically spend much of your time, and the underworld containing “Cells” is where PvP takes place.  Cells would seem to be instanced however the storyline shows that these cells must be controlled and instanced and server control don’t really blend well. 

While there are 3 basically types of characters to play, there are no set classes in the game which allows characters to evolve based on choices within the game.  The Graphics, unlike Fallen Earth, are extremely advanced but keep in mind that these have not been tested on a truly massive server environment.  What will be interesting is to see just how well your traditional PC gamer gets along with your Xbox type, if in fact they are allowed to co-exist on the same servers.

Very little has been released about end game content and the specifics of PvP but so far we are impressed.  However, we are keeping in mind that Funcom knows how to create a lot of anticipation even with a not so great title for launch (can you say Conan?).  We will keep you posted with details as we get them, until then you may want to take a look at their official site and watch some of the trailers.

Altis Gates: First Wallpaper Contest and Open Beta for Altis Gates

IGG’s mystical fantasy MMORPG, is fast approaching, but not before fans of the game have a chance to take advantage of a fun Valentine’s Day contest to earn Platinum for Open Beta. To celebrate the occasion, the Altis Gates team will be organizing “Vision of Love,” the game’s first wallpaper design competition.
          
Event Details
     
The event will run from February 9th to February 24th EST (GMT-5). During this period, players can download original artwork from the official Altis Gates website and use it to create their own unique masterpieces. Players can then upload their creations to their blogs and submit links to the blog post to enter.
     
The Altis Gates team will judge the entries on February 26th EST (GMT-5) to select the winners.
        
Rewards
     
At the end of the event, the Altis Gates team will pick the 10 most outstanding works and reward their creators with in-game Platinum. For example, the Most Creative Design winner will earn a generous 50 Platinum! Other winners will receive varying amounts of Platinum. They will be able to redeem these rewards from a designated NPC during OB.
           
In addition, the most impressive wallpapers will be displayed on the official Altis Gates website for players to download.
          
For more information on the Vision of Love contest, please visit the event page http://ag.igg.com/playercenter/news_view.php?aid=163 [http://ag.igg.com/playercenter/news_view.php?aid=163].

Frogster is just a few months away from the third chapter of Runes of Magic, titled 'The Elder Kingdoms' this May.  This noteworthy addition introduces a new continent with unexplored regions, dungeons, a new skill system and an increase in the level cap to 60. Guild wars are also being expanded with the addition of siege weapons.

'Chapter III - The Elder Kingdoms' will take players to a newly rediscovered continent. The story of this update tells of the old kingdom of Dalanis which lies in chaos and turmoil with plotters scheming behind the throne of the child-king Callaway. Little remains of the old glory of the ruling dynasty from the time of the legendary King Kalume. In total desperation, the people long for the return of the old heroes. So now it is down to all brave adventurers to support the young regent and bring order to the chaos.

This new continent is geared for players above level 55 and adventurers will be able to take their first steps into a kingdom full of intrigue and uprisings when they enter the 'Thunderhoof Hills', the first territory in the 'The Elder Kingdoms'.

This is where a new zone concept comes into play in Runes of Magic. The design template for the new continent has moved away from closed, themed territories and has evolved into extensive, versatile and varied landscapes. So players who journey to the 'Thunderhoof Hills' will first enter the forests and pass by waterfalls and then enter one of the three new cities to trade and meet other players. Within the same zone, players can explore a mystery shrouded graveyard of long dead kings. One of the new instances, the 'Dungeon of Dalanis', leads adventurers into the world of shadows beneath the 'Thunderhoof Hills'. Here terrors lurk that are of such a dreadful nature they can only be overcome by utilizing every power from your group.

The history of the old kingdoms of Runes of Magic will be told in Chapter III through many new quests. Level 55 and above adventurers will become familiar with a new skill system where they can select from a pool of special abilities which will then be available to them in combat. There will also be plenty of opportunities to try out these new abilities in the new chapter, including in conflicts with other guilds. 'The Elder Kingdoms' also expands on the existing opportunities which guilds have to equip their castles with new buildings. Rival guilds will also be able to lay their hands on siege weapons. Quests for whole player communities, Player vs. Player rankings and reward systems, as well as a new battlefield - the 'Tyrefen Mountains' - bring additional depth to the PvP game. Three further mini-games have also been built into the game.

Frogster is already releasing some initial content from the third chapter in the run-up to launch in May. A zone from the new continent, as well as various opportunities for guilds to upgrade their castles, will be released in April to get people geared up for the official launch. Runes of Magic 'Chapter III - The Elder Kingdoms' will be a free download and free-to-play.

Polish language version on the starting blocks - Frogster is also continuing the  localization of Runes of Magic and the Polish open beta begins on 16th February. The official release date in Poland is 2nd March.

For more information about the new chapter, please visit the official website at: www.runesofmagic.com/en/chapter3.html<http://www.runesofmagic.com/en/chapter3.html>