Free PC Gaming Blog

Legend: Legacy of the Dragons is a Free to Play MMO that you can play directly in your browser without downloading any application. I’ve got to say it’s better than most attempts I’ve seen in adapting an MMO into a web browser. I just noticed that they’ve announced their first in game event that includes a massive battle for up to 500 gamers. Check it out…

Waygate Publishing Confirms First Major In-Game Event for Legend: Legacy of the Dragons

LONDON – February 19, 2008 – Waygate Publishing Limited, publisher of the popular, free-to-play, browser-based Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game, Legend: Legacy of the Dragons, today confirmed plans to host its first major in-game event, which includes a mass PvP battle for up to 500 gamers. The company says it is delighted with the current progress of the game and is very excited about the event, which it intends to hold monthly in conjunction with the Full Moon.

Waygate Publishing also confirmed that the localisation and translation of new content is on schedule and expected to be released from the end of February. It includes a number of exciting features and upgrades about which it will release further details soon.

The Battle of the Dragons
For the last week, hundreds of players have been collecting the items required for access to the Battle of the Dragons which will occur on Wednesday, February 20th. The battle will pit the best warriors of each race (Magmar and Human) against each other, led by their dragons, Striagorn and Erifarius. It is a battle not only for pride and glory but for a real advantage as the winning race will lead the war against the eternal enemy of Faeo, Chaos…

The Invasion of Chaos
Chaos is planning an invasion on Thursday, February 21st and the victors of the Battle of the Dragons will be temporarily boosted in the fight against Chaos with a gift from their dragon. Participation in repelling the invasion offers players an excellent opportunity to boost their character’s attributes for the coming month of quests and battles.

New content and features
In addition, Waygate Publishing announced that it has almost completed the translation and localisation of new content, including 27 new quests, and intends to begin releasing them from the end of February. The new content will include the introduction of magic into the game for the first time. There will also be a significant software update, adding a new ‘Navigator’ feature to aid player’s orientation and travels in the ever-growing world of Faeo. More details will follow shortly.

For more information, visit www.warofdragons.com.

About Waygate Publishing
Waygate Publishing Limited operates from offices in central London, specialising in the localisation and operation of Eastern European online games. The company also develops location-aware multimedia, used in popular satellite navigation devices.
www.waygate-publishing.com

About IT-Territory
IT-Territory is the Russian-based developer and publisher of Legend: Legacy of Dragons and numerous other online games. IT-Territory recently announced it has acquired the rights to translate and localise The Lord of the Rings Online™: Shadows of Angmar™ for the Russian-speaking market.
http://www.it-territory.ru/eng/

2 new free to play MMOs will be coming soon from Zyon Games:

Zyon Games Partners With Solid State Networks To Deliver New Titles

Startup independent game publisher chooses content delivery pioneer to distribute the first of its online games to Western markets.

SAN JOSE, California – February 14th, 2008 – Zyon Games, the new independent MMORPG publisher established by free-to-play industry veteran Steve Wade, announces that it will partner with Solid State Networks, the high-performance content delivery solutions provider and pioneer in peer-assisted delivery, to distribute Zyon’s first titles to gamers in North America and Europe.

The publisher’s inaugural titles, Secret Online and Childhood Online, will be delivered using Solid State Networks’ leading suite of content delivery technologies including Solid Axis™ ION, a clientless download accelerator, and Infinite Analytics™, for reporting and network management. The titles will be distributed exclusively over the internet using a hybrid network that uses peer-to-peer technology.

"We are thrilled to work with Zyon Games to deliver the best game acquisition experience as they introduce their North American and European players to games from the Asian markets," said Rick Buonincontri, founder and CEO of Solid State Networks. "It is an honor that they have entrusted us with this critical component of their business."

Secret Online, Zyon’s first title, is a free-to-play MMORPG which immerses players in a rich world of fantasy, martial arts, technology, and politics. Childhood Online, the company’s second title, is a cute, friendly, free-to-play MMORPG that can be enjoyed by players of all ages and includes a humor and engaging quests to please both the casual and hardcore gamer.

“As a gamer, I know how frustrating it can be to patch a game, or even download the original client.”Comments Steve Wade founder of Zyon Games. “ Content delivery is one of the most important aspects to a Game publisher , and Solid State Networks not only gets the job done , but also gets it done fast. “

You can view videos of Secret Online on YouTube here:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ZyonGames

About Zyon Games

Zyon Games is a startup game publisher dedicated to bringing the best MMORPGs from Asia to Western audiences. The company was founded by Steve Wade, industry veteran, passionate gamer, and expert in the free-to-play market. With offices in San Jose, California and soon Dublin, Ireland, Zyon is ready to take online gaming by storm with its first titles in 2008. To learn more, visit www.zyongames.com.

About Solid State Networks

Solid State Networks is a leading developer of industry-specific content delivery solutions that enable content publishers to offer the ultimate content acquisition experience. Over the past year, Solid State Networks has been steadily gaining recognition within the gaming industry as a highly innovative company with reliable technology and solutions. For more information, please visit www.solidstatenetworks.com.

Darkeden is now out of beta and available for all to sign up and play:

Joymax Announces Darkeden And Daden Market Launch

SAN JOSE, CA - February 12, 2008 - Joymax, an independent developer of interactive entertainment for the global market, has launched their vampire-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Darkeden. Previously only available in an open beta test, Darkeden is now available for everyone to play for free. Players can log in today and slay vampires, fight humans, or crush ousters! Players can also retreat to the new Daden Market where they can purchase Coins and spend them on Premium Service for access to new areas, rare items, weapons, armor, pets, armor and more.

About Darkeden
A free-to-play MMORPG, Darkeden invites players into a bleak near-future environment and a brutal conflict between three distinct races-vampires, slayers, and ousters. Featuring hand-rendered graphics and an isometric 2D view, Darkeden is easy for novices to learn, yet includes a broad variety of features and character-building options for hardcore players. Darkeden contains hundreds of potential skills and two distinct systems of character advancement, and is available to download and play free of charge.

Darkeden is available for download at http://www.darkedenonline.net/.

About Joymax
Since its establishment in April 1997, Joymax has been developing quality games for the rapidly-growing interactive entertainment market. Based in Seoul, Korea, the company has published numerous titles for the PC platform, and its first MMORPG, Silkroad Online, has grown to offer service to over 200 countries since its 2004 launch. Joymax is a global entertainment company providing multimedia content. For more information, please visit http://www.joymax.co.kr/eng/.

YoYo Games, who’s tag line is "where the world comes to play, make, and share games", announced their new competition where you can create your own PC games using their tools for a chance to win cash prizes:

YoYoGames.com launches $1750 indie development competition

A new challenge for the world largest developer community.

Hot on the heels of their inaugural developers’ contest YoYo Games has announced its next major community competition:

The challenge is to create a "casual" game at least loosely employing "ancient civilization" as a central theme. The winning titles stand to win $1,750 between them and, naturally, community kudos. The developers have been given until the 27th of April, 2008, to submit their projects.

“We’re very excited about the next competition" said Sandy Duncan, CEO, YoYo Games, "The originality and depth of gameplay achieved by the developers for the winter competition games demonstrates the power of GML as a language for online casual gaming, and suggests our community formula is already starting to pay off. We see this next competition as an opportunity for the community to flex their programming muscles”

At the beginning of January YoYo announced their 10,000th game, that figure has now climbed to over 12,000, a significant community achievement by any standard. Moreover, as well as a large and rapidly growing games library, YoYo have the world’s largest developer community with 75,000 registered indie developers from all over the world, ranging in age from 8 to 80. What they all have in common is a passion for the “Game Maker” software, owned by YoYo games and developed originally by YoYo co-founder Professor Mark Overmars.

YoYo Games is providing young independent developers with the necessary tools and platform to create the games they want to play, and perhaps more importantly with an audience to play them.
This service can be provided free of charge because the relationship between YoYo and its developers is symbiotic. The developers gain much needed publicity and the site benefits from a wealth of user-generated content which differentiates it from other casual gaming sites out there. Such a model is bound to encourage innovation without the traditional constraints of an “owned” title. The bumper crop of winter competition games supports this idea.

About YoYoGames.com
YoYo Games Ltd is a UK Based Game Start up founded by Game industry veterans, Sandy Duncan and Michel Cassius. YoYo Games launched its beta site in May 2007 and has grown to be the world’s largest user generated game site. Employing a web 2.0 community model YoYo Games allows users to “Play, Make and Share games” for free.

You can visit YYG at www.YoYoGames.com

Being an Eagles fan myself, I’m not all that into "the big game" this weekend. I thought it was cool though that the free to play MMO Rumble Fighter is going to offer up jerseys, helmets, and cheerleaders in New York Giants or New England Patriots themes.

Check out the press release:

OGPlanet Gears Up for the Big Game

New Football-related Items Announced Exclusively for North American Rumble Fighters Players

El Segundo, Calif.- Jan. 31, 2008- In honor of The Big Game on Feb. 3, OGPlanet today announced all new football-related in-game items and events for Rumble Fighter, its massively multiplayer online fighting game.

Beginning Jan. 31, Rumble Fighter players will be able to support their favorite team with in-game jerseys for the big game! Football helmets and a perky cheerleading uniform will also be available. While Rumble Fighter is an international game, these limited-edition football items are being created exclusively for the North American market.

"These football-related items are a fun way to tailor Rumble Fighter specifically to our North American players," said Sean Mackay, marketing manager for OGPlanet. "With the broad multi-national player base this game enjoys, it’s important for us to make sure our players get an individualized gaming experience."

Nimonix, the Korean developer of Rumble Fighter, has made a commitment to providing specialized content in the North American region and these items are a first of many to come specifically for the U.S. in 2008.

About Rumble Fighter
Launched in 2007 Rumble Fighter has grown its user base to over 100,000. Rumble Fighter is a free to download, free to play fighting game. Up to 8 players simultaneously battle it out online in furious melee action. Featuring an advanced combo attack skill system with multitudes of real fighting styles to choose from, Rumble Fighter allows players to build the fighter they’ve always wanted to be.

About OGPlanet
Based in El Segundo, California, OGPlanet is a leading publisher in North American of free to play and downloadable games. OGPlanet offers microtransactions as a revune source. Founded in 2005 by Sangchul Park, President. For more information, visit www.ogplanet.com.