Ali

All,

Perfect Word has announced that Neverwinter will enter open beta on 30 April.  Don’t worry about this still being beta and losing your toons – this is the full release and toons won’t get wiped.

Also, if you buy a Hero of the North Founder’s Pack - and have more money than sense – you can get five days early access.  The more reasonably priced Guardian of Neverwinter Founder’s Pack (which I have now purchased FYI) gets you three days early access.

Also, either pack will get you into a fourth closed beta weekend starting on 12 April where you will be able to try out the craafting system.  If you do not buy a Founder’s Pack, you still might be able to playe the closed beta by picking up a code somewhere like we did last time, but I can’t garauntee it.

That is all,

Ali

All,

Not sure if anyone has come across Neverwinter, the upcoming Free-to-Play, Dungeons and Dragons, Action MMORPG from Perfect World (the same people who did Torchlight 1 and 2, and City of Heroes amoungst others), but it looks very interesting for a number of reasons, including:

1. Free-to Play

Yes that’s right, it is free to play.  No paying for the game, no sub fees, only voluntary in-game purchases.  The danger with this model is that free-to-play becomes pay-to-win with the best items only being available for real world miney.  However, all the reports for Neverwinter say that everything is available through just playing the free, main game and that payments are only really to help spped that process or cosmetic items.  And even if that turns out to be bogus, who cares, it cost you nothing to download the game and try it.

2. Action Combat, not Number Mashing

Despite the similiar third person look, this is an action MMORPG and should not be confused for a WoW-clone.  This is more like an FPS where there is no cursor or tab-targeting, instead it is reticle based and you attack someone by aiming at them with your mouse and move around with WASD.  Also there are not a myrriad of useless skills on hotbars taking up the entire screen.  Primary and secondarty attacks (no cooldowns) are M1 and  M2, specials (small cooldowns) on Q and E and ultimates (charge up by doing damage) on 1 and 2.  That’s it (except for potions).  No useless skills.  Oh and you can also dodge attacks.  Basically the game rewards skill, not number basing.  (PS - Elder Scrolls Online looks like it will use a very similiar system).

3. Good Graphics

Enough said.

4. Did I mention it is Free?

If you are you interested, the last beta event is next weekend (22-24 March), so if you are interested head over and sign up.  Hopefully the full game should be come out not too long afterwards.

So hopefully this will hold me until Elder Scrolls Online comes out later this year.  And even if it doesn’t, so what – IT’S FREE!!!

That is all,

Ali

All,

Well the moment has arrived.  The Elder Scrolls: Online is now inviting sign-ups for beta testing.  And to celebrate, they have released a truly j**z-worthy cinematic.

And if you are wary of too much hype, I suggest you cynics have a look at this video.

That is All,

Ali

All,

Anyone remember “Rage Quit“? He is still kicking around, making videos and getting mad.

One of his recent vids got me interested in a little game called “Give Up”.  So simple, so frustrating.

Prepare to get frustrated.  I got to level 16 before I swore for the first (but definitely not the last) time.  I giove Fumbles until level 4.

Enjoy,

Ali

What about weird-alien-rabbit things?  How about Japanese-Final-Fantasy-style-hot-babes?

Well then Guild Wars 2 might be for you.  Yes, it is an MMO.  Yes, you do target-an-enemy-and press-2-to-kill.  But they have been pretty smart about it.  Communal quests activate all the time.  There is a BIG focus on exploration.  Skill combos are all the rage.

And perhaps best of all, it is buy-to-play (buy it once, and then no subs).

If you are keen, I am on ‘Piken Square’ (European server but I don’t think there are AP servers).

That is all,

Ali

PS – Dibs on the Warrior weird-alien-rabbit thing.