This is a recent press release for VestGame Entertainment’s World of Kung Fu - free-to-play MMORPG:

World of Kung Fu Celebrates the New Year with Special Gifts for Players

Just in time for the Chinese New Year, VestGame Entertainment has released an important upgrade to its popular MMORPG “World of Kung Fu”. The new version allows players to create and upgrade their own unique style of Kung Fu, debuts totally new armor sets for each class, and includes many new features and enhancements to gameplay.

( read more… )

Hey there true believers! Courtesy of Hidden Path Entertainment, I bring you my review of Defense Grid: The Awakening! At last! After all these years!

Wait a second… you there in the back! What did you say to me? What’s Defense Grid: The Awakening you say? You’ve never heard of this game? You say the game’s title is slightly ambiguous and clichê? Weeellll… okay, you’re freaking right. This is not in the top 10 popular releases of 2008 and the name is, while descriptive, not very intriguing to the imagination.

I would have called it “Xorlan’s Refuge.” Hmm, too early 90’s you say? This isn’t King’s Quest, I see, got it. Honestly, it takes me hours just to name things sometimes. All I can tell you is that “Defense Grid: The Awakening” doesn’t click as a title for me. Stick me in a room with food and Red Bull and in 60 hours or so I’ll emerge with a title that’s pure gold.
You know what this situation reminds me of, though? One of my favorite movies of all time. I could quote you any scene of this movie; but just try being the only kid in your entire middle school who knows of it, and when the teacher asks for suggestions for what movie to watch in class next Wednesday, you have to sit there and try to convince twenty other 13-year-olds that the coolest film ever is titled “The Princess Bride.”

Anyway, back to what I was saying. Despite this whole naming thing that I’m making way too big a deal over, Defense Grid: The Awakening is a very cool game. ( read more… )

I give one of my friends a hard time every now and then. Recently, he told me he spent about $100 on two sets of dice (die. No, I think dice is plural). One was bone, the other stainless steel. Tonight, I came across an amazing item in the Christies Archives that made me think twice about my actions.

http://www.christies.com/Lotfinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=4205385

A ROMAN GLASS GAMING DIE
CIRCA 2ND CENTURY A.D.

• $17,925
• Price includes buyer’s premium

Estimate

$4,000 - $6,000

With all of the hubbub about who is voting for whom, I found it interesting that there was only one news outlet brave enough to ask the toughest question of them all: Who would be president of Azeroth?

Unfortunately, trying to embed a youtube video makes this site go all crazy-like, so we will have to settle with giving you a link to visit. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5Kg-K7em20

Halloween events across EverQuest, EverQuest II, Star Wars Galaxies, Legends of Norrath, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, EverQuest Online Adventures, and The Matrix Online.

Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) conjures ghosts, ghouls, andgoblins for the gamer community in a variety of in-game events themed around Halloween.  This October,Everquest,EverQuest II, Star Wars Galaxies, Legends of Norrath,Vanguard Saga of Heroes, EverQuest Online Adventures, and The Matrix Online player can celebrate All Hallows Eve by participating in themed quests, donning avatar costumes and masks, and trick-or-treating for loot and candy!

( read more… )

TURBINE EXPANDS WITH OPENING OF WEST COAST STUDIO

Online Entertainment Veteran Opens New Studio to Support Rapid Growth

WESTWOOD, MA – October 13, 2008 — Turbine, Inc., a premier creator and operator of massive, persistent online worlds, today announced the opening of a new studio located in Redwood City, CA.  The new studio will help drive Turbine’s rapid growth and further accelerate Turbine’s goal of becoming a global leader in online entertainment.  Turbine also announced the hiring of Dave Brevik as Creative Director, Jeff Lind as Engineering Director and Matt McKnight as Studio Director of its new California studio.  The new studio will be a vital part of Turbine’s corporate vision as it brings new titles to market, expands the platforms it supports and introduces new technologies to expand and grow the communities that are the foundation of online games.

“The opening of our West coast studio is a major milestone in Turbine’s long-term growth plans as  it allows us to complement the outstanding talent we have on the East coast with the pool of extraordinary  talent available on the West coast,” said Jim Crowley, president and CEO of Turbine, Inc.  “Turbine is fast becoming the place to be for those looking to create the new generation of cross platform MMOs.  We are delighted that Dave, Jeff and Matt have joined us in this effort and we look forward to further announcements as we continue to expand this team.”

( read more… )

Microsoft has announced that they will be changing the content included in the Limited Edition release of Fable 2.

The premium box, five printed fate cards, and Hobbe figure will not be available as part of the Limited Collector’s Edition. We apologize for any inconvenience.

The claim is that there was an issue with the supply chain, and that in order to keep the release date they had to remove all of the tangible bonuses for buying the limited edition. Now those who chose to shell out the extra cash only receive the “Making Of” disc and bonus in-game content. You can read the full statement (along with some interesting comments) here

I am rather frustrated myself. While the “Making of” DVD will be interesting to me (as it pertains to my career), is was not the reason I chose to pay extra. There was an allure to having something tangible from this digital world, and now that is not possible. Disappointed does not even begin to describe what I am feeling right now.

Kira’s computer ate her lunch again! Drue kicked the snot out of it. So, while Drue attempts to put humpty-dumpty back together again there will be NO R&R ( and no rest & relaxation for Drue either ) until Kira’s comupter is fixed.

Drue will however enjoy this post. He will yell and scream but he will NOT fix humpty-dumpty that way. He will also make me pay for poking fun of him. We love Drue, we really do. Show your love and post on forums. Tell in detail (rated pg-13) what he should do to my Orc persona (Guntar) for making fun of him.

I posted this for Kira since her compter is broke. I love Kira! I love Drue (just not as much)  :)

*hugs* to both

Guntar

There will be no show this week. Sheyla’s partying ways … err I mean, You have paid us enough not to be on air. Wait wait, thats all wrong. Being held prisoners so we don’t harm all you with our drivel…. wait wait… Honestly, due to ongoing health issues with me (Guntar) we will not be on again this week.

I would like to take a minute and remember some Heros. This is 9/11, my prayers go out to all Heros who lost or gave their lives in NYC. Sheyla and I will never forget! Also, we would like to thank all those who still serve. God Bless you all.  ’nuff said.

See the forums for posting from Sheyla and myself. We are tring to point out some cool things that we find interesting. Once I get things under control again we will be back. You can take that as a warning, threat, or however you want. May your Windows never crash, server never lag, and caffine never run out.

Be well,

Guntar & Sheyla

As published by shacknews , there are many developers who have put their time, heart, and soul into the development of the games that they are working on who are left unmentioned, unaccredited. Sometimes you hear news of massive layoffs just prior to the release of a game, wheras others - you just don’t hear anything.

There is one such individual who would like to discuss their personal accountings of this growing trend.

This individual is a former employee of EA’s Mythic - Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning development team, and wishes to remain annonymous, but would like to speak out about the increasing issue that is happening with not only the company that he worked for, but within many companies in the industry.

Listen live here http://live.onlinegamingradio.com/ogr.m3u

chat with us here Internet Relay Chat:
http://www.onlinegamingradio.com/irc/chat.php

This promises to be a good show.

Join Sheyla and I tonight at 8pm Eastern for 2 hours.