Protector’s Jubilee Returns To Neverwinter: New Rewards/Events


It’s back! Like the McRib, the Protector’s Jubilee only comes around once every so often to the delight of its audience. While Neverwinter’s event may not be glazed in barbecue sauce, it does offer a host of freebies and sales during the week long event. Beginning Tuesday and running through June 26, players will be able to take part in several events including Elminster’s Messages which will task you with traveling to various zones to complete quests as well as the Protector’s Speech Skirmish, an instanced party mini-game involving the protection of Lord Neverember himself.

During the event, you’ll also be able to get your hands on free goodies including the bag of holding and level 60 experience boost. You’ll need to log in each day to claim the new item.

(Source: Neverwinter)

Marvel Heroes Refuses Compensation Over Storage Price Cut On PS4


Marvel Heroes is permanently cutting the price of storage on Playstation 4, and in case you’re worried about compensation for those who purchased storage at its previous price, you have nothing to worry about. You’re not getting compensated. Prices have dropped 50%, with the beginner starter pack running for 250g (from 500) and the individual packs running for 100g (from 200). When asked on the forums, Gazillion responded that there are no refunds or compensation being issued.

Sorry but we are not issuing refunds or price protection at this time.

Marvel Heroes is still in beta so adjustments to prices are guaranteed as user feedback is taken. Gazillion refusing to compensate players who bought in early could harm long term trust and discourage early purchases.

(Source: Marvel Heroes)

Heroes & Generals Will Still Ban You If Your Cat Cheats


Heroes & Generals developer Reto-Moto has zero tolerance for cheaters, even if your cat is the one (allegedly) installing the nefarious programs. While cheaters are regularly banned in waves, the folks at Reto-Moto want anyone thinking of giving themselves an advantage to “try it out” should know that there is a zero tolerance policy in place. Cheat once, you’re gone for good.

  • Anyone who is found to have, at any point in time, used any kind of third-party software designed to cheat while playing Heroes & Generals will lose their accounts once the cheat has been confirmed.
  • Do not “try out” a cheat, not even once: You will be permanently banned on all accounts. Neither the legitimate players, nor we, care that you were only “trying it out”.
  • Do not expect to get away with excuses like “my brother / son / cat used my account”. You are responsible for any abuse perpetrated by anyone with whom you share your login credentials (which is also prohibited by the terms of service).
  • Confirmed cheaters who bought Gold will not be entitled to any kind of compensation whatsoever.

(Source: Heroes & Generals)

[Video] RuneScape: Invention Batch 2 Diary


The next RuneScape expansion is right around the bend, and Jagex is talking about a major update to Invention coming along with the update. For now Jagex is taking community feedback regarding changes to Invention as well as new device ideas.

Mods Ollie, Deg and Erator take you through what they have planned for the second batch of invention, due to be released with the next RuneScape expansion. Check out the video and give us your thoughts and feedback on what you would like to see added to invention, as well as how to complete the skill.

Interested players are encouraged to head over to the official forums and Reddit to voice their suggestion.

  • Benefits for reaching higher levels
  • New devices, focusing on 99+
  • Machines, which will slowly automate simple processes for you
  • Quality of life improvements.

And more!

(Source: Youtube)

Weekend Starter: A Collection of Free Weekend Games


What is free to play this weekend? Everything, apparently. Well maybe not everything, but there are a fair amount of free games to fill your weekend, especially if you’re willing to subject yourself to things like the Uplay launcher. Of the games listed below, Battleborn is permanently free to try and Payday 2 is the only one that you can snag now and keep forever. Regardless, if you’re looking to kill some time, you’ll find plenty of grinding to do in RuneScape and The Division.

  • RuneScape is hosting a free weekend until June 12 where players can log in and access members-only content. You’ll also be able to snag a free mummy outfit from Solomon’s Store during this weekend.
  • The Division is free to try on Uplay this weekend. The promotion includes the base game with progress saving for the full version if you do buy it.
  • Trials Fusion is also part of the Uplay weekend.
  • Steep is also part of the Uplay weekend.
  • VR shooter Battledome is hosting a free weekend on Steam.
  • Mirage: Arcane Warfare is also hosting a free weekend on Steam.
  • Payday 2 is free for the first five million people who grab a copy.
  • Deformers is hosting a free weekend on Steam.
  • Battleborn has transitioned to a free trial game.

PSA: Payday 2 Is Free, In Limited Quantities


Overkill Software is giving away five million copies of Payday 2 on Steam, and all you have to do to collect is to head over to the Steam page and click install. In an unorthodox giveaway for the platform, Payday 2 will remain free until five million free copies are redeemed, after which it will be available for full price. Overkill has already announced plans to shift Payday 2 and its great abundance of DLC into one package, dubbed the Ultimate Edition, that people who already own the game and some of its DLC will be able to buy into at a pro-rated discount.

That package isn’t ready yet, but the DLC is being taken away from the store, so Overkill is making the base game free in the meantime. Not everyone is happy about this change, but the game did come out in 2014 meaning those who bought in on day one should have gotten more than their money’s worth by this point.

Perfect World/Cryptic Announce Magic: The Gathering MMORPG


Perfect World Entertainment and Cryptic Studios have announced that an MMORPG based on Magic: The Gathering is coming to PC and consoles. The announcement comes directly from Cryptic Studios, and while there isn’t much in the way of details (those are coming later), the developer did announce that the game is being built from the ground up for both PC and console systems. Going by Perfect World’s other titles, it makes sense that the game should come to both Xbox and Playstation 4.

The world’s most popular strategy card game, Magic: The Gathering transforms players into Planeswalkers, powerful mages who can travel between planes, cast spells and summon mythical creatures. The beloved trading card game has over 20 million fans across more than 70 countries, and is available in 11 languages. Perfect World Entertainment and Cryptic Studios’ new RPG will allow fans of the game to fully immerse themselves in the Multiverse, the rich fantasy world in which Magic: The Gathering takes place.

More information on Magic: The Gathering to come.

(Source: Perfect World Press Release)

[Column] RuneScape Pride Day Provokes Bigoted Backlash


This Thursday sees the launch of a mini-event in RuneScape, something that given its scope and scale probably shouldn’t elicit much more than an “oh okay,” or a “that’s neat” at the peak of emotion. Jagex is adding in a rainbow scarf, obtained through finding a small number of rainbow fragments hidden all over the game world, in support of Pride Day. This is why players are rioting in RuneScape.

And because a small section of the base wants to show that they are not, in fact, bigots and simply don’t want politics “shoved” in their game, people are showing up in Old School RuneScape dressed in a manner to resemble KKK uniforms, shouting racist obscenities about Jewish people, lobbing homophobic comments at Jagex, and advertising for Alex Jones’s Infowars. Because it’s all about keeping politics out of gaming and nothing to do with bigotry.

RuneScape has previously held events for political subjects, including the YMCA, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Prince’s Trust. In case you were wondering if these players reacted similarly to “politics being shoved down their throat” when the subject wasn’t gay pride, they didn’t. Regardless, Jagex isn’t backing down from their plan to release the scarf. While there are no plans to ban players for simply protesting the event, bans have already been handed out for players using offensive slurs or bigoted speech in chat, as well as for those walking around dressed up as Klan members.

Despite the bigoted backlash, there have been level-headed players offering fair criticism of this event, including the fact that it was not polled. While players have disagreed on whether or not such an event needed to be polled, those of you who read MMO Fallout are likely aware that the game is pretty well built on polling for content, with updates not being delivered unless voted on by at least 75% of respondents.

The Return of Bill Roper: New Worlds To Explore In SpatialOS


Bill Roper has returned to the world of MMORPGs. Following his tenure at Flagship Studios and Cryptic Studios (during Champions Online’s launch), Bill Roper left the genre to head up the gaming division at Disney with its Infinity line of products. Now he is back, joining SpatialOS creator Improbable to create new worlds.

Those of you who have been keeping track will recall that Improbable is putting together technology to create more permanent, persistent worlds. The company is picking up some big names, including Jagex, who are interested in incorporating their technology.

“The possibilities for not just massive worlds, but highly detailed and truly persistent worlds built on SpatialOS are exciting. I believe the games that will define AR and VR are yet to be realized, and the type of simulation that can be achieved with our platform can be an integral part of these new experiences,” says Roper.

SpatialOS is making its way into a bunch of games, from Chronicles of Elyria to Worlds Adrift, and more to be announced.

(Source: Gamasutra)

Banned Steam Seller Is Back, Threatening Steam Users


Gennady Guryanov Alekseevich shouldn’t be selling games on Steam, he was banished from the service in April when Valve discovered that he was using Steam accounts to boost the reviews of his games. In fact, his entire library of games was destroyed: Zi, Julai, and K-Rolik.

Secret Doctrine is a game developed by Luma14Kulan, the alias of Gennady Guryanov Alekseevich and which is currently available on Steam at the high price of $50, despite the aforementioned individual being barred from selling products on it.

Through tough research, MMO Fallout was able to verify that not only is Gennady Guryanov the developer of The Secret Doctrine, but that he is in fact currently going by the username Lama14Kulan. How did we discover this information, you may ask? Via the not-so-subtle about page on the game’s own website.

And since Lama14Kulan is shady enough to get himself banned for underhanded practices, it may not be surprising to see that users are being threatened with lawsuits over their criticism of Guryanov’s business tactics.

For what it’s worth, as with most games of this stripe, while Guryanov may be back on Steam, it hasn’t stopped his game from flopping hard. As of this writing, there is one review of the game (Russian) by a user who is (unsurprisingly) friends with Guryanov. There isn’t a single person playing at this time and sales are expected to be miniscule as publisher Elena Schukina (seen above threatening to sue a user) is trying to play up the controversy as “black PR” to drive more sales.

Given that Guryanov is located in Russia and his game has sold virtually nothing, the threat of lawsuit falls on deaf ears. Members of the community should not allow empty threats from a shady creator stop them from exposing and criticizing problematic players in the Steam economy.

(Source: Guardians of Greenlight)