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Dark Legends gets Release Window, More Specific Details Emerge

Posted by Rob Rich on January 26th, 2012

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.

Dark Legends are Looming

Posted by Rob Rich on January 6th, 2012

With not one but two popular MMORPGs under their belt already, one would think that Spacetime Studios might be interested in taking a little break. Nope. DroidGamers have discovered that, rather than simply being content with resounding success they've decided it's time to make yet another one. It's planned for mobile devices, it's going to be "... a bit of a departure from the formula that Pocket Legends established," and its called Dark Legends.

I wish I had more info to share about it, but after checking the initial forum announcement, their official Facebook page and the completely unhelpful teaser site (I know, what else could I expect from a teaser site?) I've come up with zip. Well okay, that's not entirely true. It's fair to assume that it'll probably have a somewhat darker theme than either of the developer's previous titles. It's also looking like Spacetime will be refining their Massively Multiplayer craft even further, and given the leap in quality from Pocket Legends to Star Legends it's certainly something to be excited about.

148apps will no doubt be keeping an eye out for further developments. In the meantime, I'd advise being patient. Or possibly keeping busy with one (or both) of those other mobile MMOs while waiting. Patiently.

[Via DroidGamers]

Latest Conquer Online Trailer Released

Posted by Jennifer Allen on October 27th, 2011

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.

Conquer Online: Free To Play iPad MMORPG

Posted by Jennifer Allen on October 3rd, 2011

Having been available on the PC/Mac since 2003, popular MMORPG Conquer Online is set to make its debut on the iPad this fall.

Offering some pretty conventional but no doubt fun MMO features, Conquer Online comes with numerous original classes and skills, guilds and clans, a mentor system and even the ability to get married and divorced within the game. There will be six playable classes in all including the Monk, Ninja, Warrior, Archer, Trojan and Taoist, plus a plethora of different skills to pursue. Players will be able to build and furnish their own in-game house and there's PvP available for the more aggressive gamer. Presumably some in-app purchases will feature somewhere to help out those who want to progress faster.

What's not to love about this combination? It's difficult to not be pleased with anything that's free after all. Check out the trailer below. We'll be sure to keep up to date with all the relevant information nearer to Conquer Online's release.

Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles Review

Posted by Carter Dotson on August 30th, 2011
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Developer: Spacetime Studios
Price: Free
Version Reviewed: 1.0.2
Device Reviewed On: iPod touch 4, iPad 1

Graphics / Sound Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Gameplay Rating: starstarstarstarblankstar
Playtime: Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar
Replay Value Rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar

[rating:overall]

Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles is a mobile MMORPG from Spacetime Studios that may be technically the game that has had the longest development cycle in mobile gaming. Though the game was originally meant for traditional computer platforms, it got stuck in development hell and was only recently unearthed after the launch of last year's Pocket Legends. This game uses a similar backbone, supporting play between users of different platforms, including iOS and Android players.

Star Legends' story has players taking on various missions for several corporations aboard the Blackstar spaceship. Players choose from three classes: the hulking Commando, the skill-based Engineer, and the Operative that primarily targets single enemies. The combat system involves an auto-firing weapon, and skills that the player can map on the main screen. Star Legends is free to play, with Platinum available for purchase that can be used to obtain additional money, items, and enhancements. Star Legends is thankfully built for mobile gaming; it is very easy to just log in and go to a mission, with players joining as they may. The game also offers options for friends lists and Guild management for deeper and more organized play sessions. Still, this is a game that can be played very casually on a whim for short play sessions. Don't be afraid to leave the house!

However, Star Legends' cross-platform gameplay is perhaps its greatest strength; players can load up any client that the game runs on, be it an iOS device or an Android device, phone or tablet, using their same character and platinum when logged in to the same Spacetime Studios account. This platform agnosticism is perhaps the most impressive part of Star Legends; the game just works, no matter what system.

This is a free to play game; while not spending money is certainly an option, Star Legends is not afraid to give advantages to those who do spend money. By spending money, players can easily earn additional experience, boost their stats, and even get better items at the very beginning. This may put some people off right away, though nothing is necessary. Combat can be very finnicky at times, especially targeting special abilities. If the enemy targeted when an ability is used suddenly dies, the next enemy isn't targeted, leading much ability usage to go to waste. While mashing the attack button to lock on works as well, it just doesn't feel as clean. It is possible at times for enemies to overwhelm players to the point where it is impossible to respawn without enemies instantly killing the player. This is supremely annoying, to say the least. The game seems to have limited amounts of gameplay past level 25, though it is likely that Spacetime Studios will add more in the way of content as time goes on, especially as they supported Pocket Legends long after release.

Star Legends is as much a feat of technical impressiveness as it also successful as a casual MMORPG experience. This is a genre that is teeming with potential, but thanks in part to games just wanting to directly copy World of Warcraft, has become stale, and overly demanding of players. Getting more of a short-burst gameplay experience, and feeling like I don't need to be overly committed to a game is rather refreshing.

Spacetime Studios Announces New Sci-Fi MMORPG Blackstar for iOS and Android

Posted by Carter Dotson on February 10th, 2011
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Our rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar :: AWESOME :: Read Review »

The massively multiplayer online RPG marketplace has yet to really take off on mobile platforms, especially as established players in the MMO space have yet to really attack mobile devices at all, allowing newcomers to unleash their ideas on these platforms. Spacetime Studios have explored the mobile MMORPG market themselves with the crossplatform Pocket Legends, a fantasy MMORPG that was launched on iOS, and later found its way to Android. However, Spacetime Studios are now setting their eyes on the stars, with a very cool new project: launching their sci-fi MMORPG Blackstar on iOS and Android later this year.

Based on Spacetime Studios' crossplatform Spacetime Engine that they've been working on with Pocket Legends, Blackstar is described as a "3D, real-time, persistent MMO," that was originally designed as a PC title that was in development for PC before funding ran out in 2008. The story of Blackstar takes place in the 41st century between three distinct races, the alien Riven, the cybernetic Scorn, and the human Mode. The game promises to lose very little from its original incarnation in this transition to mobile, promising thousands of items to collect, and a robust set of social features to chat and team up with people in game. Spacetime Studios' CEO, Gary Gattis says "“Blackstar’s production design and overall polish will be unmatched in mobile gaming. We were able to nurture the IP to its maximum potential through years of development – a luxury never before seen in Mobile gaming." Spacetime Studios has provided a screenshot of the game, still in development:

The game will be fully 3D, support both iOS devices and Android (including tablet-sized devices), and will be playable over EDGE, 3G, 4G, and of course Wi-Fi connections. With the game not only launching on both Android and iOS sometime in Q2 2011, but also being based on a fully-fledged MMORPG once in development for PC, the traditional home of these games, Blackstar shows a lot of promise. Due to the speed that the mobile market moves at, developers often don't have the time to nurture and develop an idea like how Spacetime Studios has had with Blackstar - and they have also had the time to work on and perfect their mobile technology with Pocket Legends. With both the impressive and developed concept, along with proven technology, Blackstar could prove to be huge when it launches later this year on iOS and Android.

Empire Online MMORPG Now Available in North America

Posted by Joey Davidson on January 18th, 2011
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad

Say goodbye to your free time, MMO fans. Empire Online, the iPhone MMORPG that's been taking Asia by storm is now available Stateside. We predict a forecast of dropping battery life and too much time spent in the bathroom, because this Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game is free.

And it's huge. Fans will find exceptional graphics, over 300 maps, 1000 quests, 5000 items and 6 million avatars. There's more to do here than we could even begin to comprehend. Moreover, it's likely that the game's developer, Lakoo, has even more in store for their gargantuan product.

This next crazy fact almost blew our minds. The app description lists that players will be able to interact with over 5 million people. For perspective: that's nearly twice the population of Chicago, IL and more than the entire population of New Zealand.

The game itself centers around questing, turn-based combat and PVP action. And all of it, like the game's vast presentation, is done with huge presence in mind. You'll be able to group together with other avatars, or even take part in 20 person battlefields.

The action happens over great looking maps in front of well created NPCs. The presentation has this nice 32-bit feel of rich color and simplistic design. Players will be able to change their equipment constantly, and the new equipment will alter the look of their avatar. This gives each player a unique feel and fashion.

The folks from Lakoo are obviously excited about the further expansion of their title. In the press release, Kin Ko, CEO of Lakoo, offers that “the Lakoo team has been anxiously awaiting Empire Online’s expansion into the North American market. Now English-language players have the keys to the kingdom, and you won’t believe how many MMO elements we can fit on a smartphone.”

If the screenshots, factsheet and trailer are to be trusted, then no, we won't believe how many MMO elements Lakoo can fit on a smartphone. This game seems humongous, and RPG fans better be salivating over what's being offered here.

Empire Online released on Saturday, January 11th 2011 and is slated to be free for good.

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Pocket Legends Is Going Extremely Multiplatform

Posted by Chris Hall on October 4th, 2010
+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Our rating: starstarstarstarhalfstar :: AWESOME :: Read Review »

It's really quite amazing how powerful the iPhone has become since the original model came out. In many respects it is a more powerful handheld game device than the current generation of dedicated gaming handhelds, even outdoing the specs of Nintendo's latest incarnation, the DSi 3D (albeit not with the awesome 3D tech).

Spacetime Studios (Pocket Legends), realizing the vast gaming potential of the iOS, is expanding (and soon licensing) the Spacetime 3D MMO game engine to support different devices interacting on the same server. The devices aren't limited to the iPhone/Android sphere though - they plan to make it possible for mobile users to play simultaneously with PC users.

“The Spacetime Engine offers seamless global multiplayer gameplay to anyone with an iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch over 3G, Edge, and wireless networks. We plan to add Android and PC users to the mix.” said Anthony L. Sommers, co-founder and CTO of Spacetime Studios. “In the near future, it will be possible to be on the bus in California with your iPhone, playing with someone in a park in France on their Android device, and both be playing in the same server set with someone in South Korea on their PC.”

The Spacetime 3D Engine should be available for developers sometime in 2011, and Pocket Legends should be getting the multi platform treatment soon. Beware though, the world is now one day closer to being able to play World of Warcraft-like games on the go. Our collective productivity is in trouble.

Xenome Episode 1 In-Depth Review

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, compatible with iPad
By Brian Hudson on July 15th, 2010
Our rating: starstarstarblankstarblankstar :: NOTHING BUT GRIND
Xenome Episode 1 scores points for its interesting premise and technical achievements, but its plodding, grinding game play really brings down the experience.
Read The Full Review »

IMO: An Upcoming MMORPG from Com2uS

Posted by Bonnie Eisenman on February 11th, 2010

Com2uS is the developer behind many titles, but they are perhaps best known for Inotia and Inotia 2: A Wanderer of Luone. It was with excitement, therefore, that I opened a recent email containing a beta testing invite for their newest project...a "fully-featured MMORPG on the iPhone."

Yes, that's right: a real MMO, not that Epic Pet Wars or Zombies Live nonsense. The game is titled IMO: World of Magic, and the feature list includes guilds, a party system, a friends list, and chatting as well as the inclusion of three character classes, 50+ skills, and a trading shop. I grabbed the beta build early this week and have spent some time wandering through IMO's thirty zones. The game is indeed much like a "real" MMORPG. You've got guilds, skills, and monsters to kill. The game world has a cute Maple Story-like vibe and lag wasn't bad at all, though only the real launch will reveal Com2uS's server's capabilities. (Also note that I was on WiFi.)

The game so far has been a mixed bag. There are translation errors, the "pick up items" button seems superfluous, and chatting is hampered by both an absurdly short text limit and a clunky in-game keyboard. On the other hand, combat works quite well; you can play as a warrior, ranged fighter, or mage, and each class comes with its own unique talents. Teaming up with other random player to hunt piggies and moving bushes is fun, and the world itself is very cheerful. Even with its flaws, it's an impressive title simply because we haven't seen a "real" MMORPG on the App Store. I can see this being a great pick-up-and-play title: killing a few monsters in those five-minute breaks that populate our lives is both easy and fun.

Strangely, there isn't much of a story. Fetch quests from the villagers sort of give you an objective, but they're hardly exciting and there's no quest log to keep track of things. For now, IMO is mostly a grind: kill monsters, level up, gain skills and items, and kill some more monsters. Grind-fests are typical of Korean RPGs, but they certainly aren't my favorite feature, and there's little else to do right now.

IMO has a ton of potential, and this beta build is very impressive, especially from a technical standpoint. I'm still worried about the lack of a narrative, though. Once the revised version hits the App Store, rest assured that we'll be giving it a full review!

CozyQuest

iPhone App - Designed for iPhone, compatible with iPad
By Billy Miller on May 20th, 2009
Our rating: starstarstarstarblankstar :: Potentially Classic MMORPG
CozyQuest is an answer to the desire for traditional RPG action in an MMORPG that is being built from the ground up and provides some of the best developer feedback around. While it needs time before it can completely dominate its space, there's an awful
Read The Full Review »