Free PC Gaming Blog

EA SPORTS UNVEILS FREE DOWNLOADABLE FOOTBALL GAME FOR PC

Football Fans Will Shape EA SPORTS FIFA Online Content During Development Process

GUILDFORD, UK., – 29th January 2010 – Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today development of a free-to-play*, downloadable game called EA SPORTS™ FIFA Online that will make its most popular and highest rated^ videogame franchise available to football fans with a broadband internet connection and an average spec laptop computer or desk-top personal computer. The free-to-play EA SPORTS FIFA videogame will call on football fans and gamers to help shape features during closed beta testing prior to its English language European open beta release in June 2010.

“Listening to and engaging football fans has been one of the driving forces behind the success of our FIFA franchise and now we are inviting European football fans–in mass numbers and earlier than we ever have before–to help us develop a new football game,” said Executive Producer Kaz Makita. “Fans will determine the features that matter most, and at the end of this process, our goal is to deliver a game for fans looking for a quick football fix at home or at work.”

“There are a large number of football fans who do not want a console gaming experience due to time and other priorities in their personal lives but they still want to be able to play a top-quality football videogame,” explained Makita. “FIFA Online will be designed specifically for them.”

Beginning February 3, football fans across Europe are invited to register to participate in the closed beta development and testing of FIFA Online by visiting http://fifa-online.easports.com. More than 20,000 fans will be involved in the first phase of closed beta testing and then, during open beta in June, hundreds of thousands of fans will test the game, providing feedback directly to the game’s developers through exclusive discussion forums.

EA SPORTS FIFA Online will be released around the world in stages. The English language version will be available to all football fans in June, 2010. Over the next 12 to 24 months FIFA Online will launch in other languages across Europe and then in North America. Non-English speaking football fans will also be able to participate in the development process of these games.

EA SPORTS FIFA Online will offer an authentic football experience with 30 licensed leagues, 500 clubs and more than 15,000 players. During the first closed beta stage beginning February 3, the game will feature a 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa tournament mode and a control system that uses the mouse only. At the second stage of closed beta, the game will feature a League Mode that enables fans to manage and compete as their favorite football club, and the ability to play online matches. FIFA Online will enable football fans and gamers to build their favorite club into their dream team by developing or acquiring players, upgrading skills, and getting unique apparel by earning in-game currency to acquire items or through micro-transactions. Additional content will be designed for the game based on feedback by fans.

Register to play at http://fifa-online.easports.com.

GameHi Announces New Water Combat with Shark Tail

Highly Anticipated Water World Now Available to Sudden Attack Players

January 29, 2010 - Los Angeles, CA – GameHi, Inc., the U.S. division of the blockbuster online games maker from Korea, GameHi Co., Ltd, announces Shark Tail, the highly anticipated new water world in Sudden Attack, their No. 1 free-to-play first person shooter (FPS).

A combination of elements including fast and fun casual gameplay, Shark Tail offers Sudden Attack players the opportunity to experience strategic battle in the water. With a plethora of hideaway points, this new map makes knowledge of its landscape vital to the player’s success. Providing intense tactical battle, the in-water combat requires players to rise regularly for oxygen once they’ve dived into the water, all the while keeping their opponents in check. This new map also involves mid-range and long-range sniping, as well as sound play – the ability to detect where the enemy is in the water from subtle sound clues.

With ongoing updates for new maps and firearms Sudden Attack offers a variety of features to provide both novice and core gamers continuous gameplay options. Community inclined it supports several chatting modes, macros and firm clan system, as well as Explosion and Elimination game modes. Quick entry allows users to install in under three minutes and join games without having to wait for a new start. Even new FPS fans can easily adopt in the game with simple rules and easy controls. Additionally, players can earn in-game points for game currency or purchase upgrades through real world cash.

Players can register, download the game, and play for free by visiting http://suddenattack.gamehi.com/.

Karos Online: Paladin class announced

Seoul, Korea – Friday, January 22nd 2010 – News from NHN Corporation today about the update that Karos Online players have been waiting for: the Paladin is coming to Asmara! The Karos Online forums have been buzzing for weeks about the arrival of the next character class, and NHN has now confirmed that the Paladin will be part of next week’s game update along with a host of bug fixes and improvements to the free-to-play fantasy MMORPG. Karos Online is currently in open beta, and available to download and play now at www.karosgame.com.

Paladins are a female class of Humans with natural toughness and resilience, which makes them strong defenders in close combat. They are formidable warriors, able to wear their opponents down with melee damage while providing healing and protection to allies. As with other classes in Karos Online, a Paladin can specialise into different careers at level 15: she can rally her group with protective buffs as a Defender, or become a Holy Knight radiating powerful defensive auras.

The Paladin joins the previously announced classes of Blader (two-handed melee attacks), Rogue (dual-wielded attacks), Bowmistress (ranged missile attacks), Mystic (ranged magical attacks) and Sorceress (magical attacks and debuffs). More details and features will be unveiled as Karos Online draws closer to commercial launch.

Karos Online - Stunning 3D Action Fantasy MMORPG

Karos Online (http://www.karosgame.com) is a brand new free-to-play fantasy MMORPG developed by Galaxy Gate (lead developers of Laghaim and Last Chaos), to be published in Europe and North America by NHN Corporation. The English version is currently in open beta, with a German version to follow in 2010.

In Karos Online, players take the role of a hero determined to defeat the curse of darkness falling over the world of Asmara and ascend to ultimate glory by becoming the mythical Karos warrior. Through questing, guild clashes and mass PvP, they enter the fight for domination over the world’s vital energy source, Fletta. Fletta provides the basis for the game’s unique and complex alternate progression system; alongside traditional leveling within the game, Fletta energy can be used to increase stats, give buffs, buy resources and enchant items.

With a strong RPG component, wide range of class skills and fantastic visual combat effects, Karos Online offers a rich player experience and an exciting end-game for guilds, including castle sieges and resource control points. There are a variety of dynamic dungeons to explore, with shifting paths and surprises to challenge players as they progress in level. The economy is well-developed, with mining, fishing and crafting elements, and a consignment system for storage.

Karos Online offers rare graphical quality for its small client size, has low minimum requirements, and will be accessible to a vast range of computers. Videos demonstrating graphics and gameplay are now available on the official website at www.karosgame.com, and more features will be revealed as the beta test continues.

Karos Online features

• Breathtaking 3D graphics and combat action effects
• 5 different races and 9 original classes, evolving into 36 different specialized classes
• Dynamic, evolving dungeons with shifting paths and surprises
• Guild wars, territory control and large-scale castle siege battles
• Alternate Fletta level progression system
• Elaborate mining, fishing and crafting system
• Small client size and low minimum PC requirements
• Keyboard and mouse control both available

Tournament-Based MMO Set To Launch First Closed Beta

Seattle, Washington, January 14th, 2010 - Playenvy.com, a service provided by Nvinium Games, Inc., has announced closed beta testing (phase 1) will be held for its tournament-based MMO ‘Dungeon Bandits’ January 22-24. This first beta test of the game will focus on server stability and offer a glimpse at the intense tournament style game play that is hosted within a fun and challenging dungeon environment.

Dungeon Bandits, servicing North America and Australia, features a multitude of highly detailed 3D dungeon maps with a capture-the-treasure scenario that pits teams against each other, while also having them fight their way through dungeon monsters and bosses. The team that successfully thwarts off enemy attacks and brings the treasure out of the dungeon gets the victory and its spoils.

One of Dungeon Bandits’ key features is the ranking system and tournament brackets which allows players to compete head to head in daily tournaments and rewards the top players of the game with various prizes and of course bragging rights. Even players that do not enter the tournaments will still be able to have their rankings tracked and a chance at the being rewarded as an elite player.

Closed beta testing will be launched in multiple, 3 day phases to test various elements of the game. Full service of the game will launch in Mid March after all testing phases have been successfully completed. Players can apply now for access to the beta 1 test on the official Dungeon Bandits site dungeonbandits.playenvy.com. Keys will be limited so get your requests in soon.

Avalon Heroes: Open Beta phase fires up the fans

Munich, Germany, January 15, 2010

The Open Beta phase of the free-to-play online strategy game Avalon Heroes is in full swing, and the gamers are thrilled. As of January 12, all players registered at www.alaplaya.net can throw themselves into breathtaking battles for approximately ten days.

Ambitious testers who secured a copy of the client at www.avalonheroes.alaplaya.net or one of the partnering websites receive a multitude of new contents and features. Six new heroes, the battle mode map “Swamp of the Immortal”, and the third gripping chapter on the side of Oriens and Aeonia in the fantastic scenario mode are now available in the fantasy world.

Moreover, games publisher burda:ic and the Electronic Sports League are going one step further: As soon as January 19, Avalon Heroes will be supported by the ESL, and players get to battle for great prizes in the “ESL Avalon Heroes 2on2 Open Beta Cup”.

For more information, please visit the official teaser website www.avalonheroes.alaplaya.net.

Nexon America opens new Web site for MapleStory themed online card game, iTGC Online

Nexon America launched a revamped Web site for its MapleStory-themed online game, iTGC Online. The updated site contains game information, updates, news, game guides and an introduction video. To access the iTGC Online site go to: http://itcg.nexon.net

iTCG Online is Nexon America’s first free-to-play browser-based game requiring no download. Details of the game’s second beta phase will be announced soon. iTCG Online game play is based on the characters and monsters found in Nexon’s wildly popular massively multiplayer online game, MapleStory.

iTCG Online has also opened a fan page in Facebook where players can connect, view game art and share details of the game with friends. The Facebook page is available now at: http://www.facebook.com/pages/iTCG/248518243426