Around 1975-1985, hardcore gamers could be described as virtual pen and paper gamers. As computers before (back then, you're considered lucky if yours has an 8 or 16KB memory) aren't as sophisticated as the ones we have now, most games were text-based RPGs. You would be given a scenario, and you'd type a command for your character to move further in the game. Basically, these are pen and paper RPGs where interaction is limited to you and your computer.

But the advent of more high-tech computers seemed to have rendered these games quite obsolete. So Boston filmmaker and Unix system administrator Jason Scott decided to pay homage to these text-based games with his documentary, "Get Lamp." Scott adds that the said games are well, books. "Early interactive fiction borrows stylistically from Dungeons & Dragons role-playing games and fantasy adventure novels."

The said film is currently in the works, and Scott plans to include interviews with the early game developers, which include those who made Zork as well as Adventure, "the first interactive works to gain a following." We're not sure when this film will be released, so just regularly check QJ for updates.

The world's first 3D fantasy MMORPG for mobile devices, Blades & Magic, is going to be launched for a selected audience at the Games Convention in Leipzig.

Leading developer of premium 3D mobile games, Fishlabs, unveiled Blades & Magic at this year's E3, now has reached alpha. It is based on Fishlabs' mobile game engine ABYSS 2.0, features a huge amount of graphical content with over 40 different and fully animated 3D characters and more than 120 skills and items. Approximately 250 locations, 24 single player quests and the sophisticated online multiplayer mode are to be discovered.

An almost gushing CEO of Fishlabs, Michael Schade says, "In spite of all the limitations on mobile phones, we have brought a colourful and vivid fantasy world to life with lots of detailed 3D characters and 3D locations. Parallel to opulent 3D graphics and deep game experience, the greatest buzz will probably be created by the sophisticated real time battle system for the online multiplayer mode. At GC we will show this live across various carries for the very first time in the industry.”

 

Download: [Blades & Magic Trailer]

In the fantasy-themed ArchLord, upgradeable mounts are available for players to own and ride. These mounts are valuable to players if they want to become the game world's supreme ruler. Codemasters has finally released some videos on the mounts that are available to the game's three races. Humans can ride around statuesque horses, Orcs can wreak havoc on their battle rhinos, and Moon Elves can trot around their trusted Albileon or Caerleon.

ArchLord is set to be released on Q3 of 2006 across North America and Europe.

Download: [Human Mounts]
Download: [Orc Mounts]
Download: [Moon Elves Mounts]

Rise of Legends, the follow up to the widely acclaimed Rise of Nations game, has been living up to expectations ever since it's release last May. That's why you can't really blame its developers if they constantly try to make things better and easier. If you have no idea what Rise of Legends is all about, it is a real-time strategy game for the PC made by Big Huge Games, and published by Microsoft.

It is the spiritual successor to the popular game, Rise of Nations released on May 2003. However, rather than being a historical game, it is based in a fantasy world, where technology and magic coexist. Rise of Legends has only three races - the technology-loving human Vinci, the magical Alin, and the demigod-like Cuotl (who replace the Wealth resource with Energy, offering a new gather strategy). With all those info refreshing your memories about this game, here are the game's patch notes.

The game's patch notes awaits after the jump!

Developer Persistent Worlds was very pleased to announce that Carpe Diem, its newest fantasy MMORPG offering, has entered its Alpha Stage today.

Alpha Testing, otherwise known as Acceptance Testing, is wherein a new product in pre-release is tested internally before testing it with outside users. Says Persistent Worlds' Director of Technology and Operations, Phil White, "The Alpha test will allow us to ensure that all servers, support and game play changes are working properly before moving to the next stage."

The Alpha Test appears to be going well so far, and they expect to go to closed beta in about two weeks. Already being highly-anticipated, Carpe Diem already has received heaps of requests from gamers who want to take part in the game's Beta test. The positive response from the beta test survey also contributes to the optimistic outlook of the game's developer.

Included in the game's features are several new innovations that have not been tried before in MMO gameplay. Its Unscripted Action feature allows gamers to unite to defeat the threat posed to Uzziel the Evoker's kingdom. As Uzziel is played in the game by a real person, and is able to set challenges for the players during gameplay, spontaneous and unexpected fun in the game is then guaranteed.

From the very early stages of the game, there already is a Mounted combat, where your personal mount has its own statistics and abilities. The Possession system, on the other hand, is unique as it allows to players to combine as one fighting unit. And finally, four unique weapons of legend can be found by the gamers, which if united, can challenge Uzziel himself!

Carpe Diem will surely seize the MMORPG world by storm the day it comes alive!

We know you're born for world domination. You've got wits, strength, talent and just the right people skills to make your buddies grovel at your feet and say, "Yes, master".

Codemaster seems to have known it along, and decided to create a game that will tap the inner power-hungry tyrant in you. We are pertaining to ArchLord, Codemaster's upcoming fantasy-themed MMO. Travel to the world of Chantra, get to fight in real-time guild battles and undertake missions to prove that you're really the master of your class. In this game, you get to choose between three races: Human, Moon Elves and Orcs; and travel to various terrains each ruled by either of the five elements: Earth, Wind, Water, Fire or Air.

Now the guys over at Codemasters thought it time for some pre-game release participation. They've just announced their "Name a Server Competition" where participants come up with the coolest names (a theme for all five names is a must) for the game's servers. One lucky winner gets an exclusive ArchLord PC casing and of course, the names will be actually used in the game.

Interested? Check out the ArchLord web site to apply. Hungry for other ArchLord updates? Check out QJ regularly for more Arch Lord news.

Plato's Republic puts into analogy the human body with his ideal, utopic city-state. The head represents the philosopher-kings, tasked with governance. The chest symbolizes the warriors or the military, specifically for the protection of the Republic. The stomach personifies the merchants who are accountable for the flow of resources into the city.

While there is a blatant display of hierarchy, it does not go to say that one is necessarily more important than the others. For while they may be different in levels, they are the same in their goal, that is to ensure the survival of the Republic. Thus, all component parts, while maintaining their individuality, are expected to work together for that one same goal. Much premium is placed upon this goal to the extent that to attempt to multitask on these roles is to put the goal at high risk of falling into utter chaos. Therefore, it is forbidden.

The underlying principle behind this system is that titles aren't there just for the convenience of identification. Categories are not there merely to be able to sort out things from each other. Titles and categories exist not just to portray some semblance of order, but more importantly, to define roles and responsibilities. Now, this is, more often than not, usually overlooked. But the thing is, names and roles ALWAYS come in a tight package.

Applying that same principle to our everyday existence, we often find it constricting to confine ourselves merely to just one area. Artists need not be just artists, they can be politicians. Professors need not only be able to teach, they can be athletes. Women need not be mere trophies and housewives for their husbands, they may be high-powered corporate executives.

And gaming need not be only frivolous and trivial, they can actually have a higher sense of aesthetic, even pragmatic, value in our existence. That is the battlecry of columnist Ernest Adams, at least insofar as gaming is concerned.

He posits that in the light of the growing clamor for censorship in video games, it brings to mind the fact that although gaming has already niched itself tightly into popular culture, it still remains to struggle for the respect it deserves as an art form. The most apparent excuse would be that video games or gaming has always been stereotyped into the category of entertainment for kids. And kids are almost always never taken seriously. By this mere affiliation, the gaming industry has been deprived by the highbrow end of society  of the proper value it should have.

Don't we just hate stereotypes?

The full article awaits after the jump!

Consider this scenario: they've finally released the game you've been waiting for months. You rush down to the game store, fork over $50, hurry home to install the game and logon, probably paying another $15 or so for a monthly subscription fee.

A few weeks later, you've missed meals, appointments, days at work, maybe failed a quiz or two at school - all for hours of frustration as the game freezes or crashes, your character keeps getting killed because other players have more buffs, skills, and mods at their disposal - it seems to be more about experience points and "power leveling" than actual role-playing.

If you're someone who's been reading articles here for awhile, but have yet to take the plunge - well, you've made a good start by coming here. The fact is, you want to thoroughly research a number of MMORPG's before choosing the one that is going to take up a great deal of your time (and probably money).

There are numerous articles here that give readers a good idea of what other players' experiences have been with various MMORPGs. If you read about bugs, crashes and freezes - well, all of them have that problem from time to time - but if goes on and on without any fixes from the company, it's a good indication that it isn't a game you want to waste time with.

Most of our articles also link to game publishers' websites. By visiting these, you'll get a good idea of how committed the publisher/developer is to customer support and making improvements to their MMORPG. These websites will also tell you what the minimum requirements are in terms what kind of processor and video card you need, how much RAM and disk space is required, and what sort of Internet connection works best. Usually, this is specified somewhere on the site, but a lot of times, it should be obvious - a game with detailed, lush 3-D graphics will definitely require more computing power than a 2-D environment, or ones like the first "Sims" game in which players were limited to four views from one perspective.

Finally, consider your interests. There is an MMORPG for virtually everyone. While most are based on medieval fantasy worlds or science fiction (or even a combination of the two), there are games based on several historical periods as well as specific cultures as well.  Whether its warping through space in a galaxy far, far away, rescuing alluring maidens from ravenous trolls in a dark castle, storming the beaches of Normandy or even stalking an unwary victim on a Jazz-Age Art-Deco ocean liner - check out the list at the right. You're sure to find the MMORPG that's right for you.

Archlord is a fantasy-themed MMORPG that gives players an opportunity to become the supreme ruler of the universe! Of the game's virtual universe anyways. This epic role-playing quest is based in the middle ages of 2019 (yes, we know when the real middle ages were) and once every month a player has the chance to seize power and cause unlimited destruction in his role as the Supreme ArchLord.

This unique aspect of gameplay gives an unprecedented level of control to the player who makes it into the driver seat and becomes the ruler of all. As we announced earlier, you can begin to raise an army and plan your quest for domination, because Codemasters Online Gaming has announced that pre-orders for ArchLord have now gone live.

Gamestop and EB are taking orders online now, with plans for in store pre-orders coming soon. Included with the first pre-orders are the numerous special offers to sweeten the pot mentioned here earlier. This game speaks to the control freak in all of us. I mean who wouldn't want to be given dominion over the entire world! Hopefully, players will remember to have mercy when they become the supreme ruler of all. After all, you won't be the boss forever.

With the depth and diversity of character types in the game you should have no trouble creating a unique identity for your Human, Orc or Moon Elf. There are 8 different classifications to choose from including: Knight, Archer, Mage, Berzerker, Hunter, Sorcerer, Ranger and Elementalist. Once you've made your choice you can further customize the experience to your liking by honing your skills and picking up suits of armor, different weapons, trinkets and magical potions. As with most RPG's, throughout the game your character will grow, adapt, and change while on this quest to be the best.

With all the effort put into making this game (including bringing in the London Symphony Orchestra for the soundtrack) the final product looks to be quite impressive. The potential for the customization of your characters, weapons and armor, is endless. The options for playing solo, in groups or versus adds yet another variable to gameplay. With ArchLord it looks as though we have the makings of a game that could become an obsession for many prople.

August 1: K2 Online announced that the new expansion (Reign of the Fire Drake) patch for Knight Online (KOL) is already available. Thus, all servers will be shut down from 1 PM to 9 PM PST on August 2 to make way for the expansion update.

August 2: K2 announced that all servers have been shut down. The new world, Pathos, will be made available once the servers are up and running and again.

August 2: The Knight Online Expansion Launch was delayed due to "overwhelming demands".

The reason for the delay is a clear indication of how popular the game is, but it seems that fans of the medieval fantasy MMO would have to wait a little bit longer to enjoy the new features of the KOL expansion pack. You could be sure though, that once we get our hands on more KOL news, we'll let you know.