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Archive for May, 2009
Runescape: Dev Diary: Run Energy
May 25th
The latest developer diary from the folks at Runescape looks at the efforts that went into making the game’s new rest system.
On another cold morning in the Jagex office, deep in the Wilderness, we were offered the prospect of working on a slightly different project from normal. Run energy is seen as a stumbling block by new players. No one likes to see their run energy drained and be forced to run-walk to their destination, so we were determined to make sure the new improvements would benefit the average player.
Before beginning our full test cycle, we had to ensure we understood the content as much as possible by reading through the design documentation and also having face-to-face meetings with the developer, Mod Chihiro. This was the ideal opportunity to outline any aspects of the project that needed to be given more careful consideration. The main issue that arose was that some balancing had been done, but that the numbers were not final. This meant that the time it took for run energy to recharge while resting, either anywhere or at a specified rest spot, was not finalised and liable to change.
Read more here.
Global Agenda: Meet the Team: Chris Larson
May 25th
Hi-Rez Studios has posted an internal interview with Chris Larson, Sr. Programmer for Global Agenda.
What do you do at Hi-Rez Studios?
Well, I would say that I’m kind of the jack of all trades (master of none?) around the programming department. I’m officially in charge of our game configuration tools, database and interfaces. As far as game code goes, I work with the inventory and item systems. I am also deeply involved in our device and effect code and have a general working knowledge of everything else (except our networking code… eeeewwww).
To summarize I’m the unofficial programming lead. How long have you worked in Gaming, and what did you do before Global Agenda?
Global Agenda is the first game I’ve worked on. Prior to Hi-Rez, I worked on engineering systems for General Electric and later in my career I worked for the Founder/CEO of Hi-Rez (Erez Goren) at his previous company as a programming lead for retail workforce management systems… Yes sounds boring but I found it challenging and fun. Well, testing the software I currently work on is much more fun!
Read more here.
Concours anniversaire - Retrouvez les sceaux du roi! – Hyborian Adventures
May 25th
Concours anniversaire – Retrouvez les sceaux du roi!
Le Roi Conan a besoin de vous. Ses sceaux royaux ont été dérobés et il faut les récupérer à tout prix !
Le sceau du Roi
Les préparatifs pour lanniversaire du couronnement de Conan allaient bon train dans le royaume et le peuple dAquilonia attendait avec impatience que commence cette semaine de festivités. Mais tout moment de liesse au cur des âges sombres profite aussi aux esprits viciés des créatures vautrées dans lamertume, qui ont cette fois décidé de nuire au royaume en sen prenant à lun de ses plus importants atouts : lespionnage.
Le Roi Conan avait ordonné la frappe de nouveaux sceaux complexes, afin de sécuriser les communications avec ses agents. La commande en fut faite au meilleur artisan de Tarantia et compagnon du Roi lui-même, un homme de confiance. À la faveur dune nuit sans lune, deux ombres se glissèrent dans la demeure de ce féal et assassinèrent toute la maisonnée pour dérober les sceaux dargent, ainsi que le propre sceau du Roi, fait dor.
Sitôt la nouvelle sue, le Roi Conan dépêcha des messagers afin que nul naccorde créance aux sceaux avant que tous ne fussent retrouvés. Il chargea en outre ses More >
Das Siegel des Königs - Gewinnspiel – Hyborian Adventures
May 25th
Das Siegel des Königs – Gewinnspiel
Ein großes Gewinnspiel zum Jubiläum, schickt euch sprichwörtlich um die ganze Welt.
Das Siegel des KönigsDie Vorbereitungen für das Jubiläum der Krönung von König Conan beschäftigte das Königreich und alle Menschen Aquiloniens freuten sich auf die Woche der Festlichkeiten zu Ehren der Ankunft ihres Retters. Mit jedem strahlenden Tag, einem Licht in diesen dunklen Zeiten, kommt auch ein Schatten, der sich auf Hyboria legt und mit ihm die niederträchtigen Kreaturen und Geister, die im Zwielicht hausen. Durch die Nebel kriechend haben diese Menschen einen Weg gefunden dem Königreich von Aquilonien zu schaden und eine seiner wichtigsten Werkzeuge der Herrschaft zu beinträchtigen: Kommunikation.
König Conan hatte die Produktion von aufwändig detaillierten Siegeln in Auftrag gegeben, um eine sicheren Informationsaustausch zwischen ihm und seinen Kontakten zu gewährleisten. Diese Siegel wurden von einem der besten Handwerker in ganz Tarantia hergestellt, der selbst ein guter Freund des Königs war, eine Person des Vertrauens. Der Schatten fiel auf diese Person und in einer mondlosen Nacht schlichen sich zwei schattenhafte Figuren in das Haus des ehrlichen Mannes und erschlugen ihn und seine Familie und nahmen die silbernen Siegel mit sich und das goldene Siegel des Königs selbst.
König Conan zögerte More >
Anniversary Contest - Find The King's Seals – Hyborian Adventures
May 25th
Anniversary Contest – Find The King’s Seals
King Conan needs your assistance. His royal seals have been stolen and they need to be recovered by all means.
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The King’s SealThe preparations for the anniversary of King Conan’s crowning was occuping the Kingdom and the people all over Aquilonia were anticipating a week of celebrations in honor of their saviour’s arrival. With every shining moment, a light in these dark times, comes a shadow that falls upon Hyboria and with it the more sinister creatures and minds that dwell in the gloom. Crawling in the mists these people have found a way to hurt the Kingdom of Aquilonia and cut off one of it’s most crucial tools of reign: Communication.
King Conan had issued the production of intricate, detailed seals that would ensure safe communication between him and his contacts. These seals were constructed by the finest craftsman in all of Tarantia, a good friend of the King himself, a person of trust. The shadow did fall on this particular person, and in a moonless night, two shadowy figures entered the house of the honest man, killed him and his wife and stole the silver seals and More >
Onlinewelten blickt zurück auf ein Jahr Age of Conan – Hyborian Adventures
May 24th
Onlinewelten blickt zurück auf ein Jahr Age of Conan
Onlinewelten blickt zurück auf ein Jahr Age of Conan, berichtet über die Veränderungen im letzten Jahr und interviewt unsere Community Manager Waldgeist.
Onlinewelten: Was waren beziehungsweise sind schwierige Momente in deiner Funktion als Community-Manager?
Waldgeist: Die schwierigsten Momente sind immer die Momente, an denen die Probleme sich häufen und die Ansprüche von allen Seiten auf einen hereinbrechen. Man möchte ja immer alle (und damit sind sowohl die Spieler als auch die Entwickler gemeint) ausreichend informieren und beiden Seiten als Sprachrohr in beide Richtungen so gut wie möglich zu Verfügung stehen.
Den vollständigen Artikel und das Interview findet ihr auf dem Portal von Onlinewelten.
Letzte Beiträge
- [17.12.2009] – CROMCAST #17 – Der Barbar mit dem weißen Bart kommt
- [15.12.2009] – Einzigartige Belohnung über die Feiertage: Unbefristete kostenlose Testversion
- [11.12.2009] – Exklusives Entwickler-Videotagebuch auf Buffed
- [04.12.2009] – Buffed berichtet über Neuerungen in Update 6
- [03.12.2009] – CROMCAST #16 – Hohoho hammer noch nich…
DDOCast Episode 118
May 24th
Episode 118 of DDOCast is now available for listening. On the Agenda…
:15 Introduction 2:26 DDO Japan 7:00 Zap Interview with Patience, Delay Talk 19:15 IGN’s Vault Interview with Craig Alexander 19:55 Mod 9 Item 22:50 Fan Art Contest 23:50 Motivational Poster Contest 24:50 Map Ruminations 26:20 Guild Messages and Lore 27:06 Amabel’s chat with Ron 27:50 Sound Concepts – Leadership 34:43 Girl Gamers – Mod 9, Memorial Day 42:54 James Thomas Update 43:32 Khyber In-Game Wedding 44:13 Sarlona – Fashion Show 44:45 Round 2 Tuffman 45:05 Emails
MMO News Tidbits
May 23rd
Here’s a bit of a roundup on what’s happening in the virtual worlds!
- Warhammer Online 1.3 PTS Phase I is Over
- Blizzard Entertainment Shop Talk: Under Development
- Age of Conan Anniversary of the King’s Crowning (Today)
- Wizard101 Gets New World Called Grizzleheim
- Mir2 The Legend Continues Update + Interview
- Anarchy Online Game Director’s Friday Update
- Champions Online Spandex in the City Article
- EVE Online Apocrypha 1.2.3 Deployment Tuesday, 26th May 2009
- New Senior Producer For EverQuest 2
- EQ2 Bonus EXP Weekend – Crafting and Combat
- EverQuest Double EXP Weekend
- Pirates of the Burning Sea Podcast – Episode 3
- Lord of the Rings Online – One Kinship To Rule Them All Contest
- Lord of the Rings Online – Feature Article: Fellowship Quests
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Threat of Peace #7
- Star Wars: The Old Republic Fan Friday
- First APB Screenshot Released
- Aussies Getting Aion This Summer
- The Latest Star Trek Online Screenshots
- Earth Eternal Heads To Beta
- CrimeCraft Launch Date and Beta Announced
- Warrior Epic Launches
- Fallen Earth Media
- New Alganon Interview
- Vanguard Halls of Pantheon Update Goes Live
Lineage 2: New Items in Gracia Final
May 22nd
The team from NCsoft has provided us with this developer journal discussing the new items, weapons, armor, capes and cloaks available with Gracia Final.
The new Lineage II expansion, Gracia Final has introduced players to a myriad of new items, including weapons and armor, which have never been seen in the lands of Aden. Players can also enjoy other fantastic additions, such as Cloaks, Sigils, and Attribute Crystals, if they are willing to lend themselves to the new fight for good in the Seeds of Destruction and Infinity.
Brave warriors who conquer raid bosses deep within the Seed of Destruction and Seed of Infinity may find themselves owners of brand new Vesper armor. These pieces have been added as the new S84 armor grade. Vesper can also be upgraded to Vesper Noble armor by venturing back to the seeds where Vesper Noble Enhance Stones can be earned. As the path to this reward is paved with danger and uncertainty, only the most stalwart will survive in their quest to obtain this illustrious armor.
Read New Items in Gracia Final
EverQuest II: Game Update 52 Preview
May 22nd
The folks at SOE have posted a new preview of the upcoming Game Update 52 for EverQuest II.
With Monument and Might, GU #52, Kurn’s Tower will be opened! Well… Sort of.
The doors are still closed, but the Burynai have burrowed up under the tower and breached the fortifications. It seems that when Najena cast her spell to expose the void anchors across Norrath the illusion that masked the Void’s affect upon Kurn’s Tower was destroyed!
The Burynai are now worried for their Haggle Baron, an ancient iksar they worship as their Shinie King. The single group instance of this zone is called Kurn’s Tower: Breaching the Void. And you will indeed be breaching the void!
Read more here.