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Start zone of Runes of Magic unveiled

First images and information depict the beginner zone of Taborea

After first story fragments of the new fantasy online roleplaying game Runes of Magic, a detailed game design document now describes the environment in the starter zone. Illustrated with many original screenshots, the scroll portrays villages, forests, mines, caves and lowlands of the Howling Mountains that every new adventurer will set his feet in at start.

The Howling Mountains, once a meeting place of lower demons and wild hordes, are nowadays characterized by their mellow landscape. Loud screams of former sacrificial rituals resounded through the area before the Council of Varanas and the Eye of Wisdom banished the howling in a great wraith expulsion. Since then humans have settled in the peaceful, hilly ley. The Settler Valley, the Pioneer’s Colony, the Crushed Plain and a windmill serving as Logar’s landmark invite adventures onto a discovery tour through the Howling Mountains. But there are also ominous places there. The Barren Caves for example. Formerly a breeding ground of terrifying daemons they even now instil fear into the humans heart. It is said that goblins now dwell there and that they have begun to look for the daemon’s treasures. Further details are explicitly described in game design document no. 1.

Runes of Magic – a world full of wizardry and adventure
With an extensive range of features Runes of Magic prepares to redefine the standard of free-to-play MMO games. Right from the launch Runes of Magic will convey its absorbing story in over 600 quests embedded in an atmospheric world. Players can choose from six main classes. Combined with a secondary class they dispose of 36 individual character classes over all. All characters possess unique skills with impressive combo attacks and can use mounts in the later stages of game play. A particularly attractive feature for guilds and players is the possibility to arrange their own virtual homes with individual furnishing. Thanks to an extensive crafting and reputation system, thrilling PVP as well as demanding dungeons and boss-monsters no wishes remain unsatisfied. The Taiwanese developer Runewaker has developed Runes of Magic according to western MMO standards within a time frame of three years. The studio will provide new challenges for players every three to four months with free add-ons and updates. MMO fans can find first pictures and a registration form for the newsletter on the official teaser site www.runesofmagic.com.

Runes of Magic features

Free2play, no monthly fees, free download
Dual class system with switchable primary and secondary classes
Enthralling background story
Already over 600 quests and level comprehensive quest series on launch
Instanced and persistent dungeons
Individually developed skills and spells
Armor sets with special bonuses
Dynamic item system: Upgrades with hundreds of runes
Activatable PvP system (Player vs. Player duels)
Epic crafting system with the possibility to improve existing items
Individual coloring of clothes and armor
Housing: personalization with individual furniture for players and guilds
Special zones for guild houses
Reputation system
Scalable user interface based on the users flavor (development of own add-ons possible)
In-game map and radar system to find dealers, resources and quests easily
Auction house: auction and purchase items
Teleporting possibilities per runes
Different and unique mounts
Controlling with mouse (point & click) and keyboard (WASD or arrow keys) possible

About Runewaker Entertainment Ltd.
Runewaker Entertainment has been founded in August of 2004, with the headquarter located in Taichung, Taiwan. The founding members are all very experienced in the field and decided to come together to pursue their own dream. Currently Runewaker employs over 40 highly skilled programmers, designers and artists and is constantly expanding. Runewaker specializes in making massively multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG). The company has built their own engine from scratch that rivals some of the best that is available out on the market. Their first product, Radiant Arcana (Runes of Magic), is already completed and currently in Open Beta Phase in China. Runewaker is currently producing more content for Runes of Magic. Webpage: http://www.runewaker.com/

About Frogster Interactive Pictures AG
As a holding with different shares in the computergames industry, the Frogster Interactive Pictures AG based in Berlin is focusing on the growth sector of Massively Multiplayer Online Games. The company licenses, operates und markets different online games in the German speaking market and internationally. Its Korean joint venture Frogster Studios Co. Ltd. based in Seoul develops MMO games and markets their own as well as licensed virtual worlds in Asia. At their headquarter in Berlin and in Rheine and Korea, the Frogster group employs more than 80 staff members in the fields of development, marketing, community management, customer support, IT, web design, web development, sales and administration. Internet: www.frogster-interactive.de

To celebrate the new weapons and maps, the fine folks at Valve are opening up Team Fortress 2 on Steam for free play this weekend:

Team Fortress 2 Pyro Update Week

Valve today announced a set of new releases for Team Fortress 2, the title named Multiplayer Game of the Year by PC Gamer and Gamespy.com.

The main event of the week is the Pyro Update, which will be made available this Thursday and contains three unlockable new weapons for the Pyro plus 35 new achievements. In addition, two user-created maps are included to highlight the great work being done in the community and distribute those works to all TF2 players..

Meanwhile as folks wait for the Pyro Update to be released, the latest in the “Meet the Team” video shorts, “Meet the Sniper,” will be made available tomorrow (Tuesday, June 17) at 11 am PDT along with a web site dedicated to the Pyro update.

Finally, to give everyone a chance to try the new weapons and community maps, Valve will hold another Team Fortress 2 Free Weekend via Steam beginning this Friday at 11 am PDT.

Fileplanet has a Free version of Psi-Ops that is ad supported available for download now. Here’s the description on the site:

Download Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy and enjoy this violent run and gun action game featuring a host of amazing psychic abilities for FREE! This is the entire PC version of the game ad supported to make it a 100% free game.

This free game is only available for US and European users.

If you would like to play the game without ads you may purchase it on direct to drive here.

The player’s mind becomes the ultimate weapon in Psi-Ops, where stealth action and psychic abilities are combined to create the ultimate special missions operative. Nick Scryer, a talented American Psi-Operative uses an assortment of traditional weapons as well as his unique mind powers to stop a group of terrorists bent on creating global chaos. Strategically infiltrate seven levels within four major enemy compounds, while outsmarting challenging enemy AI and discovering multiple paths through non-linear missions. Use powerful psychic abilities such as telekinesis to move people and objects, pyrokinesis to project a wall of fire, mind-control, remote viewing, aura view and mind drain.

New version includes Item Shop and various events to be held along with its opening.

Seoul, Korea –Lizard Interactive proudly announces commercial launching of Sho Online which will start on June, 17th 2008. Lizard’s second title introduced worldwide after ‘Cronous’ has formed great number of fans from all around the world through out its successful Open Beta Test. The commercial version of Sho Online includes cool new updates offering massive new contents together with grand opening events for players to enjoy. Theme of secret surroundings in ancient China has already fascinated many users.

Finally the secrets reveal! 3 new dungeons, 10 additional hunting grounds, variety of new monsters and items, summon-able war mercenaries, adjusted maximum level restriction from of 60 to 80. So many updates can sure be breathtaking for all the Sho Online fans that have long been waiting for.

It’s not all. As for the final climax, Sho Online’s Item shop will be opened with 80 hot items to aid users to enjoy more dynamic and exciting game play. ‘CASH BONUS EVENT’ will be held for all users but it will only last for 7 days after the commercial service. So, if you are a smart shopper, it is advised that you visit the official website (www.shoonline.net) for details.

Sho Online will also be having in-game events to celebrate the commercial launch. In-game event ‘Save the Tree’ will provide free buffer to players. ‘Wonton Soup’ event will provide EXP booster to players. With variety events and updates prepared, it is not difficult to see that Sho Online Team puts great efforts to satisfy its users.

Great beginning, the fun never stops at Sho Online. Strong-bond community awaits new comers to join. You can be a strategist instructing other players or you can be at the front line taking charge as a war hero to experience head-on combat. Storyline of Sho Online is written by players. It is you who contribute to lead its direction and it is also you who decide the final ending of Sho Online.

For more information visit www.shoonline.net

About Lizard Interactive Co., Ltd.

Lizard Interactive Co., Ltd. was established in 1996 and has quickly gained official recognition as one of the leading game software developers in Korea. Lizard Interactive has won numerous government awards for its many contributions to the game industry, the most recent being for innovation in game software development. Lizard Interactive has successfully developed and launched 4 Mud games including the very popular ‘Warrior’s Vow’. These successes and a bold decision to invest in the development of a 3-D graphic engine led to Lizard’s first MMORPG title ‘croNous’ (www.cronous.com) which currently has over 2,700,000 users around the world. Lizard Interactive now presents its second MMORPG game ‘Sho Online’ (www.shoonline.net) to world users. The creative process never stops at Lizard Interactive.

SAN JOSE, Calif. - June 03, 2008 Joymax, an independent developer of interactive entertainment for the global market, has introduced six new dungeons to their vampire-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Darkeden. Anyone who dares to enter the Menegroth dungeons will encounter some of the fiercest monsters and the boss of them all, “Cabracam.” Players who endure the hellish ordeal will be heavily rewarded.

In addition, players can now receive 500% bonus experience points. Available until July 1st, this bonus experience event will help characters to level up faster and experience the entire dark, gothic world of Darkeden.

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.joymax.com/darkeden/.

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/.