If you want to rule the world of MMORPG Voyage Century Online, you should get to know the land as well as the open seas. There are buildings in the world that can offer you treasures even greater that those you can find on the open seas.

Having said that, it's good to know that IGG is helping its players by releasing an introductory guide for the Parthenon and the Blue Mosque. The details can be found at the full article via the "read more" link below.

 

Straight from Barcelona, Spain, an official press release from Microsoft Game Studios revealed that an MMO game themed by the comics world repertoire of Marvel Entertainment is now under development by Cryptic Studios. Marvel Universe Online, which should be available for Xbox 360 owners and Windows Vista PC-goers, will sport interconnectivity play over Xbox Live and Live for Windows, bringing the MMO fans of the PC and fans of the Microsoft next-gen console closer together.

"The vision behind the alliance of Microsoft Game Studios, Cryptic Studios and Marvel is to expand the MMO genre and create an epic gaming experience exclusively for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista gamers to experience together online," Frank Pape said, who's senior director of business development at Microsoft Game Studios.

With MMO veteran developer Cryptic Studios at the development helm, the exclusive team-up of Microsoft, Marvel and Cryptic will attempt to deliver "the best possible experience in Marvel Universe Online." The World of Warcraft-killer we've been searching for, perhaps?

You may know Cryptic Studios for their hit MMO games City of Heroes and City of Villains, which are also superhero-themed like the Marvel MMO should be. Bringing in monsters, villains and Marvel superheroes to your favorite gaming platform, the MMO is expected to bring out the uniqueness of the Marvel IP.

When is it coming out? It hasn't been announced, but expect it to be a long way off from 2007. Still, with an MMO looking to rival that of Fury's graphics, it's definitely worth the wait.

  

Wireless multimedia networking company Comverse attended the 3GSM Conference the other day in Barcelona, Spain, to demonstrate a new software that will provide connectivity between Second Life residents and those who are in the real world.

In a nutshell, the technology allows Java-based and Internet-capable phones to log in to SL's virtual world remotely and see who else is playing. The phone can then communicate with SL residents by sending SMS, MMS, and event instant messages.

Here's the interesting part: SL users can walk into virtual Comverse booths and pick up virtual phones to reply. "We're unleashing the virtual world from the PC and allowing it to be available on any terminal. That's the benefit for the end user," said Comverse Chief Technology Officer Daphna Steinmetz.

The attendees of the 3GSM Conference were able to witness first hand how the new technology actually works on mobile phones, especially Comverse phones. The company added that the software will be available in Europe within a few months with one anonymous major carrier about to close a deal.

There is no word about the software's availability to subscribers in North America.

Game dev Ilucide was more than happy to talk about one of the more prominent places over at EverQuest II, and we figured you'd wanna hear about the new residence that's gonna be popping up too. Enter Castle Mistmoore.

Located across the Loping Hills, Mistmoore Castle's the residence of Lord Mayong - your not-so-friendly neighborhood elven vampire. The local villagers have long looked upon this castle with a twinge of fear, deathly afraid of the power that Mayong holds, and the aforementioned eerie atmosphere of the castle. If it's any good news, Mayong's often hidden away in his inner sanctum, studying the Zebuxoruk's prophecies.

For a reception, would-be visitors (Raiders, treasure hunters, demon hunters, Belmonts, Blade...) will first have to fight their way through the other vampires inhabiting this castle, which should prove to be meaner than your everyday brand of enemies.

Old-time EverQuest players will also be happy to know that the devs have taken special care to make this castle a tribute to its previous incarnation in EQI - evident in the the piano, stained glass, and gray stone walls that were faithfully copied from the EQI version. As for the rest of the castle's majestically malicious feel, you can thank Michael Bacon for his efforts, and numerous items such as the high ceilings which were inspired by European gothic cathedrals, specifically those in Barcelona.

Mistmoore Castle:  Your recommended party's tour destination for EQ2's EoF expansion.