If you’ve played Eve Online, you’ll feel right at home in Vendetta Online, an upcoming space-themed MMO for the iPad. It’s been out on Mac, PC, Linux, and Android for a while now, and is finally polished enough, according to founder and CEO, John Bergman, to make its debut on the iPad. Bergman sat down with us today in the last few hours of GDC to show off the gorgeous space sim, which includes guilds, a vast trading economy, and some fantastic space combat features. Keep your eyes on this game, as Bergman hopes to release it sometime this Spring.

Given the popularity of MMORPGs on the PC and Mac, it’s surprising we haven’t seen similar success for iOS. It’s the ideal genre to hook players, much like social games. Set to be released, later this month, comes Armed Heroes Online, the latest title hoping to be a huge MMO hit.

Armed Heroes Online describes itself as a real-time 3D Massively Multiplayer Online Action & Role Playing Game (or MMOARPG for short) and the trailer we’ve been sent is clearly demonstrating the action side of things.

Looking a lot like a Diablo style game, Armed Heroes Online gives players the choice of four classes to play as they explore dungeons, solo or with a group, as well as compete in PvP arenas. It should prove to keep RPG fans of all types happy, given its focus on collecting tons of loot and facing up against many monsters along the way.

Have a look at the gameplay trailer below. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date on any further developments.

I’m not being sarcastic when I say that I wish more browser-based games made their way onto iOS. A lot of them are fantastic, but due to various software/hardware constraints they typically don’t function on handheld Apple devices. It’s a shame, really. But what isn’t a shame is that another browser MMO is coming to iOS. And it’s going to be playable across all (read: iOS, Android, HTML 5) platforms.

Dragon Eternity affords players many of the luxuries they expect in their MMOs; more than 1,000 quests, loot drops, 200+ crafting recipes, mounts, powerful bosses, crafting professions, pets, over 500 monsters to fight, custom character development, and five different PvP modes. So yeah, there’s a lot on offer here. The beta version is already sporting over a million registered users, so I think it’s safe to say that it won’t be one of those Massively Multiplayer Ghost Towns that some of these games tend to be when they first launch.

It’s still in open beta via the browser version, but once Dragon Eternity is complete it will be available for iOS (most likely iPad) and Android devices as well. It’s also going to be free-to-play so there’s no need to start saving up for the eventual release.

Gameloft’s juggernaut of a mobile phone MMO has just hit the 1 year-old mark. While celebrating the occasion with a huge update isn’t exactly out of the ordinary it’s still certainly something worth talking about. Especially because it includes a number of additions as well as one particular feature players have been clamoring for over the past twelve months.

The list of new stuff is fairly extensive. Various bug fixes are to be expected, as well as some new quests. Players will also receive a free gift box, a special Thank You letter, access to new items and pets, and will be able to mess around with the new Lottery system. Those who have been playing for over three months will also get a special Anniversary pet. And it wouldn’t be a proper celebration without some flagrant fashions (i.e. new clothes for NPCs) and fireworks that can be purchased as well as simply viewed in all their explosive glory. Last but certainly not least, Gameloft has given the fans what they want and included 3G support. So now Order and Chaos can be enjoyed pretty much anywhere.

The festivities have already begun, so make sure to get on that downloading. Everyone else who isn’t already playing can download it now for $6.99, which includes a free 3 months of play ($0.99/month after that).

$6.99

Order & Chaos© Online

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-04-27 :: Category: Games

Creators of Hitman, Roto-Moto, has launched a closed beta of their game, Heroes & Generals. The game is a massively multiplayer first-person shooter involving online fighting between the Axis and Allied forces in Europe.

The game involves both strategic elements and first-person shooter (FPS) elements. Each side sends reinforcements, tanks, and other support to battles going on in various cities. The FPS fights don’t necessarily have to be even, hence the need for support being sent to each side.

The game is actually a PC game but it will be offering a free companion app to the game called Heroes & Generals: Mobile Command. The app lets users access and view the campaign their playing in the PC version of the game. This includes viewing things like battlefields and supply lines on the map. It also allows players to chat with other players on their team when they aren’t even on the PC game – allowing constant communication to continue for a constant online war. A future update to the app will allow users to move and manage assault teams in the game and most other strategy elements (the non-FPS part).

To apply for a key to the closed beta, visit the Heroes & Generals website here.

So those folks over at Spacetime Studios, they’re alright. After releasing two more than a little successful iOS MMOs (Pocket Legends, Star Legends), they’ve gone and put out a third. But what’s left after anthropomorphic woodland creatures and space-faring explorers? Vampires, natch.

Taking a page or two from the modern day vampire handbook, Dark Legends puts players in control of a young (as in recently turned) vampire simply trying to survive in a world that knows they exist and wants them gone. It takes a slightly different approach to the player’s interactions with the world this time around. Some missions put the player in direct control of their character as they cut a bloody swath through their enemies while others simply take real time to complete automatically at the cost of a little energy. Both provide experience and the like, of course. As expected, avatars can be customized with a number of special weapons and clothing items, as well as proudly displayed to others when playing together in a group or with guild mates.

Dark Legends is lurking on the App Store right now. Joining the ranks of the Undead is completely free, too. Typical micro-transactions and in-app-purchases are available those who want to show their support with money or pick up a few vanity items, though.

FREE!

Dark Legends

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-05-03 :: Category: Games

Bienvenidos! This week at 148Apps.com we started our Cinco de Mayo celebrations early with a special “Favorite Four” apps review from Kevin Stout. Along with several foodie apps, Stout writes, “It can’t hurt to brush up on the history of Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo: The Battle of Puebla provides users with a detailed video on both the Battle of Puebla, the military victory that led to the traditional celebration on May 5th, and the history of the celebration of Cinco de Mayo. The videos include accompanying text for users impatient users that want to read ahead. The app also includes two games, a quiz and a paint game, that can be unlocked for an in-app purchase of $0.99. But the app is free and so are both videos.”

Read about all of Kevin’s picks at 148Apps.com.

FREE!

Cinco de Mayo: The battle of Puebla

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-06-28 :: Category: Education

Amy Solomon, over at GiggleApps, writes in her review of Bean Bag Kids Present Pinocchio that, “This app, as the name implies, is a retelling of the classic story of Pinocchio, about a puppet carved from wood by a lonely wood carver who wishes that one day this puppet could become a real boy. Here each actor is played by a bean bag dressed in costume as this application is styled as a live performance that one is watching, complete with red velvet curtain and other theatre details. The adaptation of this story is very nicely done, including the use of excellent narration, as is the choice to underline the text as the words are being spoken – a very nice touch that will aid young readers in following along as these words are being read.”

Read all of Amy’s review at GiggleApps.com.

$2.99

Bean Bag Kids present Pinocchio

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-03-28 :: Category: Games

Finally, 148Apps.biz site founder Jeff Scott writes about the latest project from OpenFeint founder Jason Citron, saying, “Jason Citron, founder of Aurora Feint / Open Feint, which sold to Japan based social games company GREE recently for $104M, just announced his new mobile games-based startup, Phoenix Guild.

Phoenix Guild will be focused on creating multiplayer games in a post-PC world. Think MMOs on your iPhone and iPad. He plans on focusing on games that would appeal to core gamers. Sounds like just what we need in a world that has nearly reached the saturation point with variations on Farmville.”

Read more about Phoenix Guild on 148Apps.biz.

The week may have ended, but there’s more content to come from 148Apps. Just follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook to keep track of the latest news, reviews and contests. Until next week, keep your Avengers assembling!

This week at 148Apps.com, we checked out stunning cool new multiplayer features in two fan-favorite games: Infinity Blade 2 and SpellTower. Carter Dotson had this to say about IB2′s new features: “Infinity Blade 2‘s first major content update has finally dropped on the App Store, bringing its new ClashMob feature to the game. The ClashMob challenges are asynchronous multiplayer events where everyone who participates contributes toward some collective goal.”

And Jennifer Allen writes that, “SpellTower has just got even better with a major new update coming to the app. The big update is the addition of Debate Mode, multiplayer support via bluetooth providing a Rush-style battle of word skills amongst players.”

Read more about Infinity Blade 2 here and about SpellTower here.

$6.99

Infinity Blade II

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-12-01 :: Category: Games

$1.99

SpellTower

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-11-17 :: Category: Games

The fun continued at GiggleApps.com with Amy Solomon’s review of the odd Dynastid Beetle. She writes, “Dynastid Beetle is a fun and educational interactive app for children. To those living in the United States, an application dedicated to learning about a beetle may seem like an odd choice, so it is worth noting that dynastid Beetles are commonly kept as pets within Asian households. Versions of this app are available for both iPad as well as iPhone. This interactive app contains five sections – each dedicated to teaching a specific aspect about the lives of dynastic beetles.”

Want to know more about one of the more original apps for kids on the App Store? Read Solomon’s full review on GiggleApps.

$1.99

Dynastid Beetle

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-03-07 :: Category: Education

Finally, on AndroidRundown.com, Carter Dotson introduced MMO Dark Legends for Chrome and Android, and had this to say about the game for iOS: “The game is available now on Google Play for Android, and from the Chrome Web Store. The iOS version is expected to release after a two-week exclusivity period with Google, but player accounts will transfer between platforms by logging into the same account; it currently works between the Chrome and Android versions, just as it worked with Pocket Legends and Star Legends.”

Read the full story on AndroidRundown.

And we’re out…Keep up to date with everything related to news, reviews and contests by following us on Twitter and Liking us on Facebook. See you next weekend.

Clear the calendar and kiss those loved ones goodbye, celebrated iOS MMO Pocket Legends is turning 2 years-old. But this isn’t any old birthday party, no sir. Spacetime Studios is doing it backwards by giving gifts to the party-goers, not the guest of honor.

What this means is that the developer has made all premium areas free to access. Now anyone can quest, loot grind, or pointlessly emote in each of the six exclusive zones (Sandstone Caves, Skeller’s Return, Croc Feud, Frozen Nightmares, Shadow Caves, and Wyldwood). Those who’ve dropped some cash to access these areas already have no need to fret. All players who have paid to unlock these environments will be getting a special in-game vanity helm (the Frozen Crown of Gratitude) to lord over all those plebeians who didn’t show their support monetarily. Similarly, everyone will be able to purchase a special 2012 Anniversary hat during the event which can bestow tiny clones of itself atop the heads of those who wave to the original wearer.

Star Legends users haven’t been forgotten either. Bird, Elf, and Bear “Bobble Head” masks will be available throughout the week-long celebration. Anyone curious to see what all the fuss is about, get back to a game they might have been absent from for a while, or might just be between marathon sessions can check out both MMOs for absolutely free. Just act fast if oddball hats are a priority. The festivities will only last through the end of next week.

FREE!

Pocket Legends

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2010-04-08 :: Category: Games

FREE!

Star Legends

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-08-25 :: Category: Games

Fleck Touch from Self Aware Games has made its way from the iPad, to the iPhone. The game currently only supports the iPhone, and not the iPod touch, because of the iPod touch’s low RAM. As well, the game does not currently work over cellular connections, requiring wifi connectivity.

This is a synchronous MMO game, with social elements. Players can build gardens and fight zombies. It’s two mega-popular gaming trends all rolled up into one package! Players can design their home gardens in their own designs, and plant defenses to ward off zombies and other players. The game is based off of real-world maps, but it is not particularly location-based, as it’s possible to go to any location and operate there. The game is currently locked in to the continental United States only, but this is because of ongoing work to expand the servers. According to Self Aware Games’ Seppo Helava when I spoke with him at GDC, some users once tried to walk from the US to Madagascar. The servers did not handle this well. Hopefully soon, this dream will be realized. Until then, the iPhone update for Fleck Touch is available now.

FREE!

Fleck Touch

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-05-05 :: Category: Games

There seems to be a possibility that an iOS version of World of Warcraft may be coming in the future. This information comes out of an interview with Senior WoW Developer, John Lagrave, at Blizzard.

It’s by no means a done deal, says Lagrave, speaking to Eurogamer,

“Here’s your platform, you’ve got to put an interface, what do you do? So yes we have [looked into mobile] and we always are. Maybe we’ll stumble on the great way to put WoW on the phone – maybe we won’t, but we’re certainly looking into it.”

As we’ve all come to expect from Blizzard, they won’t release an iOS port until they’re confident it meets the same quality and upholds their reputation,

“We won’t do it until we think it’s decent…When we have an epiphany, everyone will know…but for now, no epiphany!”

There are Blizzard apps currently on the App Store, one specifically for World of Warcraft. The World of Warcraft Mobile Armory allows players to access stats, calculate talents, access the Auction House, and more. Blizzard also has a mobile authenticator app to help protect accounts.

Is World of Warcraft what Blizzard should really be focusing on for an iOS port? There are plenty of great RTS games on the App Store, but imagine a Starcraft or Warcraft port to iOS.

FREE!

World of Warcraft Mobile Armory

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2009-07-15 :: Category: Utilities

FREE!

Battle.net Mobile Authenticator

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2009-03-28 :: Category: Utilities

It’s a little bit dark, it’s a little bit sexy, it’s the first teaser trailer for the upcoming MMORPG, Dark Legends. This MMMORPG (mobile massively multiplayer online role playing game – you heard it here first, folks –Ed.) centers on secret factions of vampires, werewolves, demons, and the humans trying to exterminate these undead threats. The player plays a recently awakened vampire under the direction of the vampire that turned them in a fight for survival against the human mobs that have recently been alerted to the existence of the undead.

The trailer doesn’t reveal much in the way of gameplay, but it does set a certain tone for the upcoming game. Dark Legends is being developed by Spacetime Studios, who also developed the critically acclaimed MMOs Star Legends and Pocket Legends. Dark Legends is set for release sometime in the first quarter of this year for iOS, Android, and Chrome. Take a look at the teaser trailer below to get an idea of what’s in store.

Remember how Spacetime Studios announced Dark Legends, and how we had zero information to go on except the title and some imagination? Well things are different now. Or rather, we know a bit more about it.

Dark Legends is set in a world ripe with conflict. The existence of vampires has only recently been acknowledged and the vast majority of humanity is rather… displeased upon hearing the news. This isn’t one of those “trying to find a peaceful coexistence” kind of scenarios; the non-vampire population is aiming to wipe out the blood-sucking “menace.” It’s kind of like True Blood, only if the majority of the human population was as quick to judge as that weirdo church/cult.

Players take control of a newly raised child of the night as they attempt to survive in this hostile new world and unravel its mysteries. And when I say “unravel its mysteries,” I mean exactly that. Dark Legends will be much more story-focused than Spacetime’s previous offerings, allowing players a more personal look into the narrative along with some Quick-Time Events during some cutscenes. That’s not to say that the combat hasn’t been tweaked as well. Fighting is definitely action-oriented, giving players some new abilities such as draining enemies (a given) and charge attacks.

Dark Legends is still missing a concrete release date, but it’s penned for the “first quarter of 2012.” So soon. Soon-ish, anyway. It’s also going to be available for Android, Google Chrome and (of course) iOS users right from the get-go.

The hype for the first free to play mobile MMO, Conquer Online, continues to build. Not content with there being just one sneak preview trailer, a new trailer detailing more information about the gameplay within Conquer Online has been released.

Gameplay looks like it’s been optimized pretty well for the iPad with touch based controls working well and keeping action easy to get to grips with. Hopefully the graphics will remain as fast paced and lag free as depicted here. The social features have also been expanded upon with the potential to dance, chat, hug and kiss other players in order to develop friendships, love or even marriage in the game world.

Only time will tell how Conquer Online fares on the iPad but with the promise of being the first free to play MMO and the already solid userbase of 10 million fans of the game, it’s looking pretty good.

Conquer Online will be released later this Fall.

If you could see us now, you’d notice our heightened excitement, heavy breathing, and elevated heart rates. We had a chance to preview this epic scifi MMO for iPhone, iPad (and Android, and eventually PC) last February at GDC, and have been waiting with bated breath ever since. Got any gum?

Star Legends, nee The Blackstar Chronicles, is by SpaceTime Studios, makers of the highly regarded Pocket Legends MMO. This new game, set in a fantastic scifi universe, promises to bring the same seamless massively multiplayer action to a whole new genre and audience, improving upon an already successful MMO system. There is a ton of backstory and a whole new universe of content planned for the game, so we’re hoping for a nice long run of it. When we previewed the game at GDC, there were tons of art and backstory hung on almost every wall of the suite we met with the dev and PR team, making our inner scifi geeks squee with delight.

Here’s the description form the team’s Facebook page. Can it get any more exciting!?

The doors of the UCS Blackstar will soon open to privateers who have come to make their fortunes and fame, perhaps at the expense of their very lives! Rumors abound that the residents of UCS Blackstar have discovered an alien presence on a nearby colony. Seeing an opportunity to turn a quick profit, countless privateers leap into action to carve out their fate among the stars.

There was a delay in getting the iOS version of the game out, as the Android version has been out for quite a while.

The iOS version is a Universal app, and is available right now in the App store for free. Various in-app purchases are available, though if Pocket Legends is any guide, they should not be necessary for gameplay. Stay tuned here for our full review soon.

FREE!

Star Legends

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-08-25 :: Category: Games

Grinding our way through the latest iOS genre darling, Freemium games, is becoming somewhat of a turn off. There may or may not be a backlash to the developers or their games, but I’m feeling a definite slacking off in my interest in these types of games.

First off, let’s be clear on what freemium even means. Wikipedia defines the term as ” a business model that works by offering a basic product or service free of charge (such as software, web services or other) while charging a premium for advanced features, functionality, or related products and services.”

In the iOS app world, and more specifically, the gaming app world, Freemium has been hailed as the next big thing for companies wishing to make money. Some developers I spoke with at GDC seemed to think that the entirety of the iOS gaming market was going to a Fremium model, though I tend to agree with Tracy Erickson over at Pocket Gamer, who posits that Freemium games will continue to be a successful niche of the gaming market, and not be the whole of iOS gaming’s future.

Rather than repeat what better minds have already covered, I’d like to focus on the consumer end of the equation. As an avid gamer across all platforms, I’ve seen my share of games. And, to be honest, Freemium as a business model doesn’t inspire me to play a game. The ephemeral “fun” factor is, however, something that motivates me. I’m assuming it will motivate other players as well.

Many of these games seem to be about the mechanics alone. This is the Freemium Grind. Farmville is the grandame of Freemium gaming, of course, and the Freemium Grind mechanic is fairly transparent: build a farm, grow stuff on the farm, sell said items, gather in-game currency, and start the cycle again. Added into this mix are some social reciprocity (I’ll give you a gift so you will give me a gift), and some pride in place (this is my farm, there are many like it but this one is my own). Other games that fall in this category include Smurf’s Village, any of the Story games, Mafia Wars, We Rule, etc. There are some other games that hide the basic mechanics behind some other mechanics, like Gun Bros, Pocket Frogs and Pocket Legends, to name a few.

What is it, though, about this mechanic that turns me off? The artificiality of it, for one thing, bugs me. When I invade in ZombieFarm, I have to wait another couple of hours before I can invade again. Or, of course, I can go ahead and purchase an upgrade for a invasion recharge. This isn’t fun. Another thing that bothers me is the continual reminders. I stopped playing We Rule and GodFinger mainly due to the constant notifications. I don’t need more things telling me that I have to take care of them. I have children and pets for that, thank you very much. I don’t want to feel obligated to launch a game – don’t we all have enough obligations in our lives?

When are we going to see a Freemium game that isn’t like this? Where’s the incredible gaming experience that is free or low cost to enter, but then offers thrilling and fun gaming experiences? Where’s the World Of Goo Freemium? The Rolando Freemium (oh, yeah, they couldn’t figure it out)? The Flight Control Freemium?

I’m sure there are smart developers out there. Making iOS apps is not for the intellectually challenged. I think, however, that we need a new star to step forward and not just take the Freemium model to the next logical step (hardcore freemium, music game freemium, shooter freemium, etc.) but to turn it on its head. To make a game that is TRULY a fantastic game, that is free to play, yet encourages folks to purchase in-game items. How do we do that? Is it possible? Some think it is, but I’m not holding my breath.

Like most difficult questions, I don’t believe this one has a definitive answer. We need the premium, buy once, play forever games as well as the free to play, mechanical freemium games as well. But we also need something new, if the freemium model isn’t to crush itself under its own weight and continued copy-cat-ism that reigns in the space. Who’s gonna step up? Will it be you? Let us know in the comments.