FileFront has a demo of Mount and Blade available for you to download today as well as a patch for the full game. When downloading the demo, please note that what you download is not technically a demo, it is the full game. There is, however, a level limit at 6 and when your character reaches that level you can start a new game or, if you decide you like the game well enough, go on and buy a license online.

For those of you unfamiliar with Mount and Blade, it is a third-person action RPG combining a sophisticated, dynamic game world and intense medieval swordfighting action. The game takes you through a world filled with not only enemies but also brings you into contact with friendly groups that will come to your aid or need yours. The land in the game is torn by constant danger, raids and skirmishes, you will raise and lead your own war band, commanding dozens of soldiers to help you hunt down your enemies by following the tracks they leave behind.

While you can indeed purchase the game online, I will be getting a box version of the game when it is released. I have heard nothing but good things about this game, and what I have heard is not from any other gaming site or a press release but from people who have played the beta themselves. You can’t argue with that.

You can get the demo and the patch by clicking on the badges below.

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Twenty Sided has an article up on how have flawed main characters can be fun. The example used here is the lead character from BioWare’s Jade Empire. For those of you who have always wanted to play it but haven’t got around to it; you might want to skip this article. However for those gamers who understand the inside joke, this is a fun piece of truism.

Personal, I like a little roughness in both my NPCs and player characters. It makes them more realistic and easier to relate to. It also helps to build tension in a story. If everything single obstacle is too easily surmounted, I tend to lose interest quickly.  This especially applies to RPGs and games with RPG elements.

The unstoppable Kratos retains a human touch as he mourns the loss of his family. Similarly, the new Viking: Battle for Asgard features a less than perfect main character as well. Not all player characters are as clueless as the lead character in Jade Empire, but it’s nice to have three dimensional characters that have some room for growth.

via Twenty Sided

According to a recent GamesIndustry interview with Josh Drescher, EA Mythic’s senior designer, Warhammer Online has been built to contain five years of content.In the interview, which will be published in full next week, Dresher discussed the challenges the development team faced when creating Warhammer Online and also discussed the MMORPG’s longevity:

“All the under-the-hood numbers all actually scale through the next five years. What you don’t want is when you launch the game you’ve got 40 levels - and it takes however long it takes to get to level 40. You then launch an expansion and it now takes two weeks to get to level 40 because now we need everyone to spend six months to get from level 40 to 50. So you need to spec the game out in such a way that you actually have those progressions in mind for later - so you don’t wind up trampling all over the earlier experiences every time you expand the game. We have actually five years’ worth of numerology out in front of us in terms of all that.”

Sounds like loads of content can be expected when Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning launches sometime this Fall. No wonder it has taken so long.

Via: GamesIndustry.biz

A spokesperson over on the Fable 2 forums named Sam, who also works for the Lion Head Studios site according to his profile, has given people itching for new information on Fable 2 something to be be gagging over until next week. Why next week you ask? Because that is when an announcement will take place regarding the hyped but not really hyped sequel to the mediocre first installment in the series.

According to Sam:

“A lot is happening. If you are anxious to find out something new about Fable 2, I suggest you make sure you’ve got access to the internet, next week! Yes we are planning something (quite) big-ish.”

Whatever this “big-ish” news is we will be sure to let you know about it the moment we find out. Hopefully this time it will not involve more gambling and hookers. Although that would make Bender a very happy robot indeed.

Ah, it’s great how the ESRB updates their website with such fervor that it sometimes reveals upcoming games before they’re ever announced. This time, the ESRB has added a listing for Earthbound on the Wii (it’s rated “E,” by the way). Naturally, this probably means the beloved RPG should be hitting the Virtual Console sometime in the near future. That’s awesome and all, but where’s its sequel, Mother 3? Or for that matter, where’s its next-gen version? It’s time these young whippersnapper RPGs got a lesson from an old classic.

Via ESRB

I have been looking forward to the release of Rise of the Argonauts for over a year now. The screens that Codemasters and Liquid Entertainment have been releasing lately are drop dead gorgeous and while I am not sure if theses are from cutscenes or actual gameplay (I am presuming the former) they are very vibrant and tantilising to be sure.

With deep exploration and epic quests, players will take the role of Jason, King of Iolchis, and battle alongside iconic mythological heroes including Hercules, Achilles, Atalanta and others. As Jason grows from young king to true legend, set sail aboard the Argo and explore the vast Aegean – a dynamic world of islands filled with shining cities, lush jungles and deep forests.

Gamers will leave their mark on ancient Greece as they engage in blood-spurting combat against hordes of enemy warriors, ruthless beasts and mythological creatures. Whether Jason is lopping off heads or cutting warriors in half with his sword or if Hercules is wrestling with giant beasts, hopefully it will be a fun time for all.

Like all true heroes of Greece, the gods follow Jason on his quests. Jason will gain the favour of the gods and earn special abilities, but his actions may please some gods and displease others. Earning a god’s favour will grant players powers within the god’s domain, but drawing a god’s wrath may cause them to inflict a torment on the heroes at the worst possible moment.

For more information as well as a trailer, check out our previous posts. Rise of the Argonauts is expected to be released this fall for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 according to the Codemasters website.

Bethesda’s Peter Hines, producer for Fallout 3, talked to PlayTM about the controversial RPG sequel to Interplay’s Fallout series. The open world RPG will take players out of realm of the typical fantasy RPG into an alternate near future post apocalyptic world. This sandbox game will have players wielding guns and exploding ammo and making choices in a moral ambiguous setting that will determine which of the game’s many endings the player will get.

When asked whether he thought the Fallout setting was to far off the beaten path of most successful RPGs, Hines responded enthusiastically:

I think the gaming world is into big, sandbox games where you can go where you want and do what you want. When done right, there’s a big audience for that type of experience. We certainly saw that with Oblivion. I think the potential for a game like Fallout 3 might be even bigger because it appeals to an even wider audience in terms of the setting, and having guns and explosives instead of swords and magic, and so on. Based on the level of interest we’ve had in the game to date, it doesn’t appear the gaming world has moved on.

The interview covers Hines’ answers to many questions near and dear to Fallout fans as well to players new to the setting. there are several elements that define the Fallout setting. He promises the dark humor of the original series will be kept. Like Cid in Final Fantasy, man or mutant’s best friend Dogmeat can be your faithful companion if you wish it. For more details read the full article on PlayTM.

Obsidian Entertainment has granted a preview of their upcoming near-future spy thriller RPG Alpha Protocol to CVG. The title should appeal to 007 and Bourne fans and hopes to push the international spy thriller to the limit with a formula combining the best of “the three JBs”- James Bond, Jason Bourne and Jack Bauer.

“Yeah, Alpha Protocol has much of the edginess of the new James Bond movie,” smiles Ryan Rucinski, one of Obsidian’s senior producers, as we mull over his new roleplayer.

“Although the development of AP actually started before the release of Casino Royale. So when the movie came out and we saw the results, we knew we had made the right decision. There have been a lot of movies that have influenced us during the conceptual creation - Mission: Impossible, the Bourne films, Ronin… However, one of the main contributors in look and tone was Syriana. If James Bond is where the action comes from, Syriana has a big influence on the theme.”

The article covers the mission and level progression, skill progression and character interactions with NPCs. You can get a good feel for the game mechanics on CVG.

There are extremely high expectations for Alpha Protocol. Comparisons to the game that set the bar for high-tech RPGs, Deus Ex, are dropped several times. That’s a tough game to emulate and too many titles have been way off target. Lets hope Alpha Protocol hits the mark.

If you have some design skills, Obsidian Entertainment is hiring for positions on the Alpha Protocol development team. Applicants must be willing to relocate to Orange County California. If you’re still interested, check out the official posting on the Obsidian Entertainment site.

The Lost Odyssey Triple Bonus Pack is now available on XBL according to the Major. This package includes three exclusive items: “Memory Lamp,” which allows you to watch the past event scenes all over again, “Shattered Bond,” an antique that will bring back the memory of a forgotten dream, and a special ring called Killer Machine.”

Content: Triple Bonus Pack
Price: 200 Microsoft Points
Availability: All regions

For more information,click here, and visit our previous posts more Lost Odyssey goodness

The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar is officially one year old and while this news is indeed wonderful, my only regret is that I did not started playing the game sooner.

To celebrate, Turbine has announced an anniversary pricing promotion that is sure to make any Champion, Hunter, or Minstrel happy as a dragon sitting on his horde of gold. Here is the list of amazing subscription deals culled from the website - these special pricing deals are only good until June 1st so if you want in on them, act now:

The Lord of the Rings Online anniversary promotion lets new and existing subscribers play for only $9.99 a month when they sign up for three months or more of service!

* 3 Month plans are $29.97 (Save 33%)
* 6 Month plans are $57.99 (Save 35%)
* 12 Month plans are $112.99 (Save 37%)

And for the first time since launch, we’re re-opening access to our LOTRO Lifetime Membership for only $199! Single-month subscriptions remain at $14.99. Promotional offers subject to certain terms and conditions.

In other LotRO news, Book 13: Doom of the Last-king is now live - so next time you log in you should get the full update. The new content includes a new, cold, and icy region in Forochel, a new class in Monster Play-The Orc Defiler, new Hobbies - like fishing, and a new faction in the Lossoth. New creatures have also been added to impede your progress through the new region - and thankfully I have not seen any screenshots of boar, but ya never know.

You can find out more about the new pricing program when you click through the links above. As always, for more information on LotRO or Book 13: Doom of the Last-king, check out our previous posts.

Happy Birthday LotRO!

MORE NEW SCREENS

There’s a new demo available now on Xbox Live for Operation: Darkness. The game has you playing as a rag-tag group of soldiers fighting their way through through World War II to try and take Hitler down. Yeah, that’s been done before, but this game’s got a twist. For one thing, your enemies will consist of zombie Nazis, werewolves, and other supernatural ghouls. For another, all the fighting will take place through RPG-style combat. It sounds somewhat innovative, so you’ll have to check out the demo to see if the gameplay is as interesting as it sounds.

Via Major Nelson

Ambiera has announced the release of Darkness Springs, the first large-scale flash based RPG which is playable directly in the web browser. Darkness Springs is free to play, although premium (paid) users have more features, such as a bigger inventory, more solvable quests, a bigger level limit, and more maps to explore.

Darkness Springs works on any PC which is connected to the Internet, without download or installation. It offers more than 60 maps to explore, dozens of quests to solve, more than 2000 items including magic and unique ones, 8 trainable skills, 4 trainable attributes, 30 magic spells and a lot more.

As the open beta has ended and server maintenance has been finished now as well, you can now get in on the fun by clicking here. The developers also plan to update the game with new quests and maps from time to time.

Storyline:  Darkness has fallen upon the lands of Enthpia, and the members of the guild of Tolsor have evoked an adventurer to find the reason for the sudden darkness. The player is playing this adventurer, and together with the mage of Traor, he tries to find a solution to the problems caused by the darkness in Enthpia, such as the appearance of wargs, goblins and even scarier monsters.

Via: Press Release 

We have not heard much about Rise of the Argonauts lately, so when I noticed a post about the RPG on Gamertell my interest was piqued again. Due sometime this year for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 this has been one of the games I have looked forward to the most, even though information on it has been sparse of late.

Although the story that Codemasters has written up for the game is not very close to the original mythology, many of the same creatures, heroes, themes, and villains will be featured. The gods are also always present during Jason’s quests, and like most trifling Greek gods - you can please some while displeasing others. Earning a god’s favor will grant players powers within the god’s domain, but drawing a god’s wrath may cause them to inflict a torment on the heroes at the worst possible moment. Apollo, Ares, Athena, and Hermes are the main Olympians you will be dealing with, so finding the right balance when trying to please them all will be a big challenge.

Here are some new screens for the game, and as soon as more information becomes available we will be sure to post it. Hopefully there won’t be such a lull this time.

Thanks: Gamertell

NAMCO BANDAI is bringing its “Tales” series to the Xbox 360 for the first time with Tales of Vesperia with incredible anime-style graphics, captivating storylines, and characters that we have grown accustomed to with previous “Tales” games. The setting for the game takes place in a world reliant on a mysterious ancient technology known as “blastia,” and the game follows former knight Yuri as he delves into a shadowy plot to use these magical devices to control civilization, or destroy it.

Included in this new title is an upgraded battle system via the standard-setting RPG with an all-new graphics engine and character designs by Kosuke Fujishima. Also new to the series, are significant additions to the trademark real-time combat system, allowing players to do battle in massive battlefields and learn new special attacks that are tied to individual weapons. New finishing blows allow players to take down enemies in a single hit with correctly timed button combinations, while mission-based battles increase the variety of each encounter as players gain unique items by fulfilling various battle objectives. Players can also use materials collected by successfully executing finishing moves to craft rare and unique equipment for their characters.

A release date for Tales of Vesperia has yet to be announced, but it will be available for the Xbox 360 in Europe, Japan, and North America.

MORE SCREENS

PC gamers can breathe a sigh of relief now. You may not be getting BioWare’s RPG, Mass Effect, until later next month; but when you do, you’ll also be getting some bonus DLC free of charge. BioWare has announced that the “Bring Down the Sky” add on for the game will be released for free at the same time as the full game. As with the Xbox 360 version, the extra content will introduce a side mission involving the Batarians, an alien race set on destroying a colony of civilians. My guess is that this is part of the reason the PC version was delayed, so that’s a small price to pay for some extra free stuff.

Via Press Release

On June 6th change is coming. No matter how much the stalwart heroes of countless worlds fight it there is a shift ahead. After 30 years and 3.5 editions, the most popular role-playing system in the world is preparing to shed its most recent set of scales and embrace modern tools and services. Dungeons & Dragons is exiting the cave of ideas with a shiny new coat of rules and a few creative directions altered from the previous edition.

Over the last 20+ years that I’ve been a player of RPGs both analog and digital, I’ve noticed that there is one trend that you can count on whenever change strikes the gaming fandom: people immediately either defend and champion the change or they fire up the torches and erect a cross to burn the new concepts in effigy. Its almost like a religious debate and people often act as though you’ve threatened to force them to slaughter their personal golden calf.

I’m not someone who has a zealot’s perspective on any game. I love games. All sorts of games, all sorts of rules. I’ve changed through every version of D&D and AD&D over the years and have generally found that while none of them was delivered perfectly from the mouth and hands of some deity unto mankind without the need for change, that overall each version has done something better than the last.

1st Edition was the stone tablet brought down to the RPG masses and lead them from the temptation of empty miniature wargaming. 2nd added options and expanded the rules and choices with kits, weapon and non-weapon proficiencies along with the almighty THAC0 and served us well during our days of wandering in the desert. The arrival of 3rd Edition introduced the concept of community content, embraced the morphic nature of gaming and added yet more options and features and allowed players to “take back” control. With 4th Edition I suspect that Wizards of the Coast is continuing the trend of streamlining the game, making it more accessible and looking to make the message simple enough that it spreads easily and attracts new followers.

Read the full article

A video featuring footage from the Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning closed beta was unleashed this morning. If you were interested in playing WAR before, you will be gagging for it after watching this - well, at least I felt that way.

Based upon Games Workshop’s tabletop fantasy war game, EA Mythic’s Warhammer Online: AoR will hit the PC sometime this Fall. For more information and tons of assets you can look back over our previous posts here.

Atlus has announced that Baroque, the new dungeon-crawling action RPG for the PS2 and Wii is now available in stores across North America.Highly popular with Japanese gamers, in Baroque your character awakens to find the world in ruin, and his heart beset with unexplained guilt. A cataclysm has destroyed the cities and empires of men and disfigured the spirit of humanity. In this nightmare, your character must descend a mysterious tower in search of absolution while battling foes through dungeons, scour for new items to aid him in his travelsy travels, and unlock the secrets of a devastated land.

You will find death in the depths, yet learn that death is not the end of the story; in the world of Baroque, it is only the beginning.

Key Features

• Many ever-changing levels, each teeming with perverse monsters and tormented souls, the world of Baroque is a frightening and unforgiving realm.
• Take part in a unique story progression system in which the end of your life only serves to drive the adventure forward. Each time your character dies, more secrets about the forsaken world are revealed.
• The player has full control over how they shape their character and how they play the game. Find and equip a vast assortment of weapons and items, some with a variety of uses. Acquire powerful stat-boosting parasites and combine them to multiply their potency. Only the resourceful will survive.

For more information on Baroque check out our previous posts.

Another World War II game? Meh, no thanks. How about a World War II game with zombies? Okay, now we’re talking. That’s pretty much the setup for Atlus’ Operation Darkness. The game will have you playing a special ops team called “Wolf Pack” (aptly named, considering one member seems to be a werewolf) as you try to take down Hitler’s secret army of zombies, walking skeletons, and vampires. The game will play as a tactical RPG, giving you an assortment of WWII weapons at your disposal as well as some magic powers. This actually sounds like a unique game, so I may have to keep my eye on it. Plus, come on, it’s got Nazi zombies. Can’t argue with that.

Gas Powered Games has announced that the release date for its upcoming Demigod video game has been delayed. Although the company had previously slated the game for a 2008 release, it changed projection to accomidate a “fully supported” beta this summer.

The good news is that Stardock is producing the game and plans to digitally distribute it sans on-disc copy protection.

“Forging our new partnership with Stardock is a big deal for all of us at GPG, and we couldn’t be more excited about it,” said Chris Taylor, founder and CEO of Gas Powered Games.

“Not only do we have a proven retail publisher, but we get to partner with a pioneer in the digital distribution space… A company that totally understands what kind of experience our customer wants and the quality game they demand. The whole proposition is truly refreshing.”

I’m all for waiting on a good game that has most of the bugs worked out, instead of putting up with a rushed released that still needs a lot of work.

Gaming Today has been following the developing details of Demigod as so far the game looks very promising. You can get more information on this real-time strategy with RPG leanings here. Also, check out the latest screenshots on FileFront.

via Eurogamer