The GodsWar Online Dev Journal gives players a look behind the scenes at all the fun and hard work that went into the game. Today the GWO team discusses the mount system that recently galloped its way into the game.

There was a lot of debate within the GWO dev team about adding a mount system, and it took quite a while to reach an agreement. Mostly the differences focused on how best to reflect history, since GWO draws from a specific historic genre. Those who originally wanted to shoot down the mount idea argued that mounts were rarely seen, especially during warfare in the ancient Peloponnese peninsula and the rest of Greece. In fact, they argued that infantries were not that widely employed, and the Greek warriors fought mainly with pikes and shields as shown in the movies.

Proponents of a mount system countered by pointing out that warring elephants and other exotic animals were mentioned in historic archives about the battle of Thermopylae. They also thought infantry was much more than “barely seen” in the legendary Trojan War.

The debate continued and everybody contributed an opinion, which made the dev office feel like the American senate. Finally Frank, the game’s lead designer, couldn’t take it any longer and suggested we put it to a vote on the official forum. The team embraced his suggestion and the results showed that players were overwhelmingly in favor of the inclusion of a mount system. Nobody could think of a reason to reject the players’ request, so we put the development of a mount system on the schedule.

In the eyes of the players, it may not seem like a big deal to add mounts, but we had a lot of work to do in terms of details. We had to nail down just the right graphics balance between the mount and the rider. Take a Parnitha boar, for instance. We adopted the porcine monster as the prototype of the snouty mount. There’s a lot more to it than throwing a character on top of a pig. We needed to make sure it would run like a sturdy beast rather than some wimpy rabbit.

After going through a series of experiments trying different effects during the mapping phase, we once again burned the midnight oil to create that “one” perfect effect. Mapping was critical to the final look of the mount. It would have taken even more work if the mount had been some never-before-seen creature. Several artists had to put their heads together and try to think beyond the picture. They sketched out ideas for further discussion. Despite all the pains they went to getting it just right, their efforts resulted in something truly impressive.

The obvious role of a mount is to help you get from place to place faster, whether you’re searching for a quest location in the wilderness or rushing to an in-game event. We wanted to explore that even further. Giving players the option to upgrade mounts was only the beginning of the refinements we plan to add. In version 2.0 of the game, we allow players to boost the attributes of their mounts by turning in some pretty simple stuff. Check out the coiled muscles and curvy, projecting tusks of the boar after an upgrade. The Greek horse’s relatively vulnerable parts are also heavily reinforced with gold armor after an upgrade. Despite their battle-ready looks, the real test is in a mount’s performance. Saddle up and try them out and you can really see the difference.

We are working on expanding the selection of available mounts, with animals such as deer, wolves and even some rather bizarre creatures as candidates. Our emphasis is on what these mounts can do, rather than just how they look. Once the functionality is set, the artists can bring the final look together. We are brewing some really big ideas for the mount system, but they aren’t our top priority at the moment. We’ll let you know more in a future dev journal, but have you ever imagined a player duel with the combatants mounted on a boar and a gigantic wolf? That’s just a hint of the great stuff we want to do with the mount system now that it’s in-game.

Before we wrap this up, I just want to say thanks to everyone who worked so hard on the mounts, and more importantly to the players. It’s the GWO fans that make all our efforts worthwhile.

For the latest on mounts and all the fun features in GodsWar Online Version 2.0, please visit the official site at http://gw.igg.com/news/news_view.php?aid=1064

Patrician IV, a strategy game like today’s most popular game, Evony’s strategy, or the sequel to the renowned historical trading game is set to release in the fall of 2010. according to Kalypso Media.

Baltimore, MD, March 25, 2010 – Kalypso Media, a global publisher of award-winning PC and console games, today announced that Patrician IV, the sequel to the highly popular economic and trading series, is currently in development for PC DVD and is scheduled for an autumn 2010 release.

Originally released in 1992 for the Amiga and Atari ST, the Patrician brand has sold over 2 million units worldwide, and has earned the respect of strategy gamers the world over. Patrician IV will build upon the already solid reputation of its predecessors with a whole new art style combined with a redesigned and newcomer-friendly trading simulation engine.

In Patrician IV , the player takes on the role of a young merchant in the area of the Baltic and North Sea during the late Middle Age, the zenith of the Hanseatic League and its naval trading empire.

Starting from meagre beginnings as a small stall trader, players must use every skill at their disposal to rise through the merchant ranks and become the most powerful merchant in Europe. The authentic supply and demand-based trading system allows players to grow their business and head out to the high seas to form trading routes with other Hanseatic cities negotiating better prices for the buying and selling of goods.

Patrician IV is being developed by Gaming Minds Studios GmbH, a studio created with members of the original Patrician development team.

Features:

• Rise through the merchant ranks using your increasing fame and wealth to shape towns from small villages to glorious capitals during the middle ages

• Thrive based on your ability to prosper in a realistic supply and demand driven economy

• Balance competing interests, trade routes, political turmoil, disease, weather, piracy and greedy royalty to maximise your wealth reputation

• Construct buildings and hire workers, stimulating demand for common and more exotic goods

• Fortify your convoys to hold off pirate attacks or hunt them down in realistic sea battles

• Set up your trading routes along the Baltic and North Sea and visit bustling medieval cities such as London, Novgorod, Cologne and Bergen

• Compete against eight computer-controlled merchants to become the most famous leader of the Hanseatic League

Visit the newly launched official Web site at – http://www.patrician4.com

About Kalypso Media

Founded in 2006 in Germany by industry veterans Simon Hellwig and Stefan Marcinek, Kalypso Media is a global, independent developer, marketer and publisher of interactive entertainment software.

Along with Headquarters in Worms Germany, the company has offices in the United Kingdom and the United States. Kalypso Media also enjoys very strong global digital distribution through its Kalypso Media Digital Ltd. subsidiary, and owns two development studios– Realmforge Studios GmbH and Gaming Minds Studios GmbH , and works with multiple leading independent developers.

Kalypso Media recently released the critically acclaimed best-seller Tropico 3 for Xbox 360 and PC, and will release M.U.D. TV for the PC this spring and DarkStar One– Broken Alliance for Xbox 360 in summer 2010.

Weapon of Choice, for both casual players and hardcore gamers, will be available on PC, according to press release. UK-based Blitz Games studios yesterday announced that they would publish Xbox Live Game Weapon of Choice,Featuring “escape a tight spot”, as well as classic metal guitar, for pc platform.

25 MARCH 2010 LEAMINGTON SPA, UK Leading independent developer Blitz Games Studios has signed Xbox Live Indie Games smash hit Weapon of Choice, to its Blitz 1UP label. Weapon of Choice is developed by Mommy’s Best Games and will be released on PC. .

Weapon of Choice is a high-energy, side-scrolling action game with an original hi-res hand drawn colour pencil art style. There are a multitude of unique weapons and playable characters to pick from in an exciting gameplay world of wild alien hordes bent on absorbing the entire planet and picturesque environments.

Choice is the player’s Weapon, with dynamically branching levels, masses of replayability and a variety of different endings to the game. Each life that the player uses is unique with his/her own Weapon of Choice and special abilities to learn while following the intriguing story.

WEAPON OF CHOICE:

• Easy to use gameplay for casual gamers and advanced, ability levels for hardcore gamers

• Rescue unique playable characters and add to total number of playable lives

• Experience‘death brushing’. Unlike traditional one-hit kill games, Weapon of Choice gives players the chance to escape a tight spot

• Reap revenge for downed Operatives with the Vengeance Missile

• Scale walls and attack from anywhere with the automated Spiderpack

• Soak up the myriad layered, meticulous animations that enliven each level

• Rock out to original music with a classic metal guitar soundtrack.

“We’re excited to be collaborating with Mommy’s Best Games to bring Weapon of Choice to PC,” says Chris Swan, Blitz 1UP Business Development Director.“It’s a great action title that’s already managed to impress a lot of people and secure quite a following.”

Adds Mommy’s Best Games’ Nathan Fouts: “With the help of Blitz 1UP, we hope to relieve your monitor’s from constantly displaying games in browns and greys—it’s time to vomit up some vibrant colour with trip-inducing visuals of alien viscera!”

For developers interested in discussing further opportunities with the Blitz 1UP initiative, see: www.blitz1UP.com/details or email blitz1UP@BlitzGamesStudios.com

Media contacts:

For all enquiries outside of the US, contact Elizabeth Miller, Blitz Games Studios’ PR Coordinator at emiller@blitzgamesstudios.com.

For US enquiries only, contact Doug Mealy, Online Marketing and Public Relations, at dmealy@om-pr.com.

About Blitz 1UP and Blitz Games Studios:

The Blitz 1UP initiative is run by Blitz Games Studios and was launched in 2008 as an outlet for small, independent teams to bring their titles– finished and unfinished– to market on XBLA, PSN, PC, WiiWare and mobile platforms The scheme offers tailor-made packages to indie developers including PR, QA and access to its established distribution channels. The initiative provides a wide range of services, from design and production advice through to assistance with finding distribution and publishing partners. www.Blitz1UP.com. Blitz Games Studios is based in Leamington Spa and was founded in 1990. Its six divisions encompass mature titles (Volatile Games), Serious Games (TruSim), family titles (Blitz Games), proprietary middleware (BlitzTech), downloadable games (Blitz Arcade) and its education division (Blitz Academy). www.BlitzGamesStudios.com

About Mommy’s Best Games:

Mommy’s Best Games, Inc. is a boutique game developer founded in 2007. MBG strives to deliver games that push the edges of the medium through gameplay, art, and pie. Weapon of Choice and Shoot 1UP, both critically acclaimed, are available now on Xbox Live Indie Games. www.MommysBestGames.com, www.twitter.com/MommysBestGames

This weeks Press Release from Changyou is about the classes of TLBB and a closer look at one class, the Shaolin

Pyromancer
Pyromancers originated in Persia, and were known as the “Bai Huo Class” or “Mo Ni Class” in foreign countries. Pyromancers arrived in China during the Tang dynasty. In the Song Dynasty background of TLBB the Pyromancers began to grow, mainly active in the areas of Anhui and Jiangsu.

Pyromancers are characterised by their preemptive attacks; they give up defense for a short while in order to have the most powerful attacks among the nine classes. They believe the Holy Fire will bless them to be reborn and will choose to die in combat rather than flee from battle.

Location: Fire Palace
Weapon Type: Spear & Falchion
Slogan: When hungry, eat rice. When tired, close your eyes. When being attacked by murderous enemies, keep fighting.

Lotus Order
According to the old tradition, the Lotus Order headquarters is the Pu Xian Buddhist rite place. It can be found in the Emei Mountains which is one of China’s four famous Buddha Mountains.

The Lotus Order apprentices usually study the personal virtues of the Buddha paired with Kung Fu. Their studies have given them abilities and skills not only to absorb damage, but also to heal themselves and others.

Location: Mt. Emei
Weapon Type: Single and Dual One-Handed Swords
Slogan: A violent man does not die of natural death.

Royalty
The famous Royal Temple is located at the bottom of Ying Le peak, where many kings have tried to become disciples. It is temple of the Duan family, Da Li’s royal family.

Kung Fu fighters from Royalty prefer to use their fingers instead of a sword and are most famous for the ‘Six Veins Divine Sword’ which attacks the body’s vital points to stun the target or reduce the target’s spiritual power. It is said that Royalty Kung Fu is the bane of spirit users.

Location: Royal Temple
Weapon Type: Fan & Chakram
Slogan: Don’t think. Feel! It’s like a finger pointing to the moon. Don’t concentrate on the finger or you’ll miss all that heavenly glory.

Minstrel
In TLBB, the Minstrel class is the most mysterious. In the original novel, when Prince Tuan saw Fiona Wong for the first time, he remembered the fairy statue in the Minstrel cave immediately…

The Minstrels are often depicted as ne’er do wells and charlatans who prefer to avoid challenges. They rely heavily on traps and devices to confuse their enemies. Their devices normally implore the aid of the spirit and fire elements.

Location: Minstrel Cave
Weapon Type: Fan & Chakram
Slogan: Running, he saves his own life and that of the tiger. This is not cowardice. It is the love of life.

Taoist
At the beginning of the Song dynasty, the kingdom suffered a severe plague, forerunner Chang was revered in recognition of his Skill Discipline in treatment. Wu Tang was in its best condition at that time, and there had been a “Golden Palace” built on the top of the mountain. It is now the headquarters of the Taoists.

It is believed that the Taoist philosophy, which is ingrained in the Taoist class’s training and promotes going with the flow and living simply in harmony with nature, cultivates leaders of men.

Location: Mt. Wu Tang
Weapon Type: Single and Dual One-Handed Swords
Slogan: The man who focuses on the balance of power becomes the most powerful.

Voodoo
Ding Chunqiu, chief of Voodoo, has very high level Kung Fu skills. If players want to defeat him, they will need to investigate the Voodoo’s Kung Fu methods.

Voodoo Kung Fu is the weakest of the martial arts and relies heavily on the use of poisons to inflict damage, in most cases before the battle has even begun. The Voodoo has developed a strong defense against spirit.

Location: Voodoo Sea
Weapon Type: Single and Dual One-Handed Swords
Slogan: Time is a predator that stalks us all our lives.

Assassin
Assassin’s Peak is near the capital of Xia, away from central China. The Lady’s Palace on Assassin’s Peak controls the majority of guilds in the inner land and even on the South coast. As a result of this, when it comes to talking about the Assassin, people talk about the Lady’s Palace instead of Assassin’s Peak.

The Assassins Kung Fu is so well known for its mystery that its apprentices are regarded as wraiths. Assassins are masters of ice and physical attacks, dealing quick powerful combos, but their most terrifying skill is the ability to become invisible.

Location: Assassin’s Peak
Weapon Type: Fan & Chakram
Slogan: Men do not beat drums before hunting tigers.

Beggars Alliance
At the northern part of Reed Port, the grassland between the valleys and the harbour create a natural island. The Beggars Alliance’s headquarters is located around secluded valleys and deep gullies.

Every good general that goes into a war has a plan; the same can be said of the Beggars Alliance Kung Fu. The fighting style is based on a series of moves that build and increase the strength of their next attack. Although their attacks are mainly physical, they also use poisons squeezed from venomous snakes & insects.

Location: Beggars Alliance
Weapon Type: Spear & Falchion
Slogan: When you see a worthy person, endeavour to emulate him. When you see an unworthy person, then examine your inner self.

Shaolin
Among the classes in Jin Yong’s novel, the Shaolin is one of the most ancient. In Jin Yong’s “Tian Long Ba Bu”, Shaolin martial arts have become the first class, also known as Tai Mountain in the martial arts world in China.

Shaolin Kung Fu has a long history and is trademarked by its legendary iron body skill providing both tremendous offensive and defensive power.

Location: Shaolin Temple
Weapon Type: Spear & Falchion
Slogan: Avoid, rather than check. Check, rather than hurt. Hurt, rather than maim. Maim, rather than kill. For all life is precious, and none can be replaced.

Since its release, GodsWar Online Version 2.0 has been overwhelmingly well received from both veteran and new players alike. Read on and check out the latest additions for the game’s enthusiastic community.

Are You Boar-ed?
There’s a brand new mount to help players on their travels: the Boar. Veteran Greek Heroes can now saddle up on their fierce-looking yet loyal mount and head off into the sunset! The best Mount Feeders are available to upgrade your mount. Visit them in the main city squares. Just make sure you prepare a sufficient amount of materials, and leave the rest in their capable hands. An upgrade can increase your mount’s speed by up to 25%.
What’s Your Wish?
Poseidon and Apollo are waiting for you at the Wishing Pool, ready to grant wishes to the truly pious. A Level 50 player can make up to 10 wishes per day, with a minimum interval of 5 minutes between wishes. The prize arrangements have also been improved, and will now double every time your wish is granted. Just don’t take it for granted that your wish will be granted every time.
Easier Accessibility to Zeus’ Gifts
The difficulty level of the Zeus’ Gift event has been significantly lowered due to the scarcity of nectar (since it is reserved for the gods). >From now on, 10 Level 1 Crystals can be used in place of the wine needed for Zeus’ Gift. The weekend portion of the event has been given a few added perks as well, but it all depends on your luck. Players can spend Dusts to roll a number, and those players who hit the lucky number will win some very nice items.
Offline Prizes Increased
Offline prizes have been introduced for Level 60+ players. Those absent from the game for 24+ hours will earn a certain amount of prizes, including EXP, Talent or Zodiac energy. The longer a Level 60+ player stays offline, the more prizes they can earn.
For more details please visit the official site at http://gw.igg.com/news/news_view.php?aid=1049

If you’ve been following the latest game news then you’re probably already pretty clued up about the amazing mounts in Tales of Fantasy. So we’d like to bring another innovative function of the game to your attention – Fusion. There is only so much that you can achieve with the one set of equipment that you equip and there are also times when it is really difficult to choose which of two equally awesome pieces of equipment to use as they both offer excellent qualities. But we have addressed these issues with the unique Fusion system. With it you can virtually fuse a variety of equipment into your soul, stacking permanent attributes onto your character!

Details

Obviously, the better the equipment you use for performing Fusion, the better the result – so don’t be stingy about it. The attributes gained by this function will permanently strengthen your character’s constitution! Of course, when we say Fusion, we mean it. All of the equipment you use for fusing ill disappear and become a permanent part of your character’s attributes!

Requirements
Fusion requires a container – and that container is known as the Soul Crystal. The higher the level of Fusion you perform, the more Soul Crystals required – these can be gained via storyline quests, or through instance rewards. Also, please take note that the level of equipment used for fusion must be same as, if not lower than, the level of the fusion itself. For example if you are performing a level 10 Fusion, then you may only use level 10 or lower equipment.

A little secret
Fusion may be done repeatedly. So should you come across a better set of equipment later in game and you would like to redo a certain level of Fusion, you can do so as many times as you wish!