RedLynx had a unique way of releasing Trials on the PC (later ported in fancier style to XBLA as Trials HD). They took their own game an uploaded it to a number of torrent sites for download.

Gutsy play, giving the game to a set of people who are typically not fond of paying for someone else’s work. However, the free, pirated copy of Trials did have a hitch: leaderboards were disabled.

While some may think that’s a minimal cut, it’s not. Trials is based on beating best times, and the entire point of the game is not simply completing it, but competing in it.

The issue with their strategy is that they cannot see how many copies were sold to those who downloaded the “free” version. Unlike the iPhone developer who spoke out over piracy, citing a bit fat 0 as his sales rate from pirates, RedLynx can’t do that.

That partially defeats the point, and could have been another test to show pirates are not quick to purchase something they want. Still, as a marketing angle, it deserves some credit. The game would have been uploaded to torrent sites anyway, and beating them to it with a slightly cropped version could have turned a few downloads into sales. It’s just a shame we’ll never know how many times that happened.

Image from http://www.warhammeronline.com/screenshots/index.php

EA announced that Warhammer Online will remove the 10-day time-limit from it’s demo trial and is replacing it with a new endless free trial, giving players a limited account that does not expire so long as the game is played within the restrictions of the endless trial. According to Warhammer Online’s FAQs section, the restrictions to the Endless Trial are as follows.

• Endless Trial accounts are restricted to Tier 1 of the Empire versus Chaos pairing. This includes Tier 1 scenarios but does not include access to the Capital Cities or the other racial pairings within the game.
• Endless Trial accounts may receive mail and purchase from the auction house; however, they cannot send mail or create auctions.
• Endless Trial accounts are limited to designated servers. If you’d like to play with friends on other servers, you will need to purchase a retail copy of the game and transfer your character to their server (or create a new character on their server). Alternatively, if you have a friend who is currently playing WAR, you can ask them for a Recruit-a-Friend code that will allow you to create a Recruit-a-Friend trial account which has access to all servers. Please see the Recruit-a-Friend section for more information.

Image from http://www.warhammeronline.com/screenshots/index.php

A new streaming client has been introduced for the endless trial, which decreases download time and increases the games accesibility, making diving into the MMORPG a cinch. Players both new and returning can experience any of the 24 different careers offered and progress to level 10, all the while exploring the Tier 1 Empire vs. Chaos zones Norland and Norsca, the new Tier 1 dungeon Hunter’s Vale, or fight other players in three instanced scenarios.

Perhaps it’s something of a trend, but it seems that more and more MMOGs are including and/ or sprucing up their free demo trials to encourage new players to join, like Champions and Atlantica. Others are offering massive collection-type compilations, entailing the entirety of the game world to allow players to dive into the whole of the game, like Final Fantasy XI’s Ultimate Collection and the Everquest Underfoot compilation.

Perhaps it’s a conspiracy, to get consumers to spend even more money on online goods.

Image from www.playatlantica.com/ao

Atlantica happens to have a very cool art-style, which is perhaps what caught many a players eye when it’s ads hit the internet a few months back. You know, the one with the hot, pirate-looking winking chick in the cool hat, that compelled you check out the Atlantica website. Ndoors Interactive announced that a “lite” client would be released for Atlantica Online, it’s award-winning turn-based MMORPG. The lite client is roughly 700 MB, and allows new players to dive right into Atlantica while the full client downloads in the background. This version was designed to improve new player’s experience, as well as allow players to enjoy a lighter download.

Players will be allowed to create and immerse themselves into the beginnings of Atlantica and experience what the game has to offer up to level 20 with the lite client version. However, to play the game beyond level 20, the full client is required.

Atlantica Online marries strategy with turn-based gameplay to create its MMORPG. The mercenary system allows players to have not only their main character but eight other hired mercenaries, each with their own class and skills. The turn-based combat allows players to strategically plan the movement and actions of these nine characters in their group. By forming teams of three, players can bring up to 27 controllable characters into battle.

Here is an example of what happens when an easily scared government places blame where it doesn’t belong.

Venezuela’s parliament has passed a law that puts video games into the same category as toy guns, which prohibits their sale, import, or creation within the country. Any offense could lead to prison time, between three to five months specifically. The Russian news agency that broke the story said groups in the region cite statistics that state bullets were the leading cause of death amongst children ages 15-26. What that has to do with video games is anyone’s guess.

The Venezuelan “consumer protection society” will be the voice behind a series of campaign ads stating the dangers of video games (and toy guns), and will make the decision as to what games are allowed to be sold. So to be clear, not all video games are banned, just ones picked by the consumer protection society, which will undoubtedly bend towards a conservative side.

One gamer stood up to speak out against the new legislation, 26-year old Guido Núñez-Mujica. After stating from his own experience and how gaming has enriched his life, he slammed the local government for their decision:

“Now, thanks to the tiny horizons of the cast of morons who govern me, thanks to the stupidity and ham-fisted authoritarianism of the local authorities, so beloved of so many liberals, my 7 year old brother’s chances to do the same could be greatly impacted.”

Truer words have never been spoken.

Developer Golgoth is working on finishing their upcoming remake of ape-spitting simulation (!) Toki, but they already have their sights set on their next target, caveman ninja simulator (!!) Joe & Mac.

The Data East property began life as an action platformer in the arcades, before becoming a Super Nintendo port in 1991 at the launch of the hardware. Both versions were multiplayer, allowing both Joe and Mac (duh) to combat a horde of evil cavemen who have stolen woman from their village together. The Genesis also had a home version in1991, also with co-op.

While slow and relatively easy, Joe & Mac was easy on the eyes with colorful environments and massive dinosaur bosses. It was a perfect way to introduce new hardware, although the NES comparison wouldn’t be complete until a year later, when that so-so port was completed (and only with one player, betraying the title). The Game Boy was another solo effort in 1993.

Two sequels were produced, slowly moving towards a more adventurous approach by the third game. The latter was never released in the US despite being an exclusive to the Super Nintendo.

Golgoth has released only the above concept art, and no release date has been planned.

Nintendo’s original portable gaming device is being inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame, specifically the Electronic Games division:

No video-game platform did more to put gamers “on the go” than Nintendo Game Boy. And go they did-bringing their gaming experience to school, to summer camp, and to the back seat of the family automobile. Over the past two decades, Game Boy has become synonymous with portable gaming fun.

They are 100% correct too. Prior to the Game Boy, portable gaming was delivered either by a variety of awful LCD handhelds (such as Nintendo’s own Game & Watch) or the Microvision, a clunky, nearly unplayable handheld console with a blur problem worse than the original model Game Boy.

The Game Boy was designed by Gunpei Yokoi, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 1997.

The Game Boy would go through a number of variations, including an “attitude” series to mirror Nintendo’s attempt to attract an older audience. The variety of splashy colors, including a clear version so you could see the inner workings of the system, were released.

While bulky, the original model lasted for nine years until the inception of the Game Boy Color made an appearance in 1998. The system is undoubtedly remembered for introducing Tetris to the world (as an initial pack-in), but also sported a number of additional classics. The Super Mario Land series is a spectacular series of platformers, and some translations are impressive. Ninja Gaiden Shadow, despite its slower pacing, is deserving of mention for translating the familiar action to the small screen. Likewise, Metroid II is one of the best games in the franchise.

A four-player adapter included with F-1 Race allowed for owners to link their systems up for multiplayer, something mirrored in the competition such as the Lynx. While everyone needed a copy of the game and a Game Boy, letting everyone have their own screen was a small miracle when F1 Race was released in 1990.

All modern handhelds owe something to the Game Boy, and the National Toy Hall of Fame is handing out a deserved nod to one of the most influential systems ever released.

Starting November 19th, PS3 owners who pre-order Bad Company 2 will receive an exclusive code (GameStop, Amazon, and Best Buy only) to download the multiplayer beta. DICE is keeping the beta on the PS3 as a timed exclusive, meaning those who pre-order on the 360 are left out in the cold.

The beta focuses on a new gametype called Rush, pitting American invasion forces against defending Russian troops. The Africa Harbor map is split into multiple sections for varied gameplay. No word on when the beta ends.

Bad Company 2 is scheduled for a March 2, 2010 release, although in this industry, that could be subject to change. PC gamers will have the beta in December, while Xbox 360 owners will have their first taste of the multiplayer early next year (time frame not yet specified). PS3 owners will also have access to the demo, pre-order or not.

This is certainly a positive for shooter fans on the PS3, who were left out in the cold during the original Modern Warfare beta phase. DICE has not specified why those chose to make this a timed exclusive to Sony’s hardware.

Blizzard has introduced a new pet shop to its popular World of Warcraft MMO franchise, allowing players to purchase cosmetic pets with real-world money. This marks the first time Blizzard has allowed players to pay for in-game content, unless you count expansions.

The Money Printer, I mean Pet Store, opens with two $10  items for sale. The “Pandaren Monk” is a charity item in partner with the Make-a-Wish foundation, while “Lil’ K.T.” is a tiny, ice-shooting Kel’Thuzad.

The Pandaren Monk practices his Kung Fu while sitting idle, and will /bow back to any players who do him the honor. $5 from every panda will be donated to the Make-a-Wish foundation up until the end of 2009. The item will still be available for purchase thereafter.

“What Lil’ K.T. lacks in size, he more than makes up for in sheer malicious intensity,” says Blizzard’s description. The tiny Lich will randomly freeze passing critters and laugh at players defeated in PvP.

While these little guys may seem like fun and games, you’ll need to fork over real world cash if you want to get your mitts on them.

“Pets purchasable through the Pet Store will not be obtainable through quests or other in-game means — they’re only available through the online Blizzard Store,” says the offical FAQ.

Many MMOs offer similar services, where players can purchase items, buffs, or even levels through micro transactions. Blizzard says there will never be pay-for-play content in World of Warcraft that is not entirely cosmetic.

“Like other paid services we offer, such as Paid Name Changes, Race Changes, and Character Re-Customizations, the Pet Store service is entirely optional and intended to provide players another means to enjoy World of Warcraft in a way that isn’t detrimental to the game and that doesn’t detract from the gameplay experience for players who choose not to use the service.”

Players can purchase their pets by visiting the online Blizzard Store. After you purchase your virtual buddy, you will receive a code to plug in at Battle.net Account Management. You can alternatively send the code to a friend as a gift. Once activated, all characters on the account (present and future) will receive the pet in their in-game mailbox, so make sure to grab them quick before they suffocate.

A three-pack of British Humor this week, completing the first season of the Wallace and Gromit series.

Wallace & Gromit Episodes 2, 3, 4

If the first episode did not motivate you enough to pick up the rest of the series, then these releases won’t either. That’s a shame though because these are truly entertaining point-and-click adventures.

Some problems are evident from the PC translation, including a maddening camera and finnicky controls that do not like to lock on to what you want. It’s also important to note that the PC version is currently on sale at $20 for the entire season (with fewer control problems), where the complete XBLA version will run you $40.

Either way you play, you’ll be gaining some wonderful animation that is true to the original animation, and a sense of humor that will appeal to a wide variety of audiences.

A rumored program to reward Xbox Live users based on their loyalty is not only true, it has enter into a testing phase.

The program shows three separate options of rewards, with the majority benefiting Gold members. Gamers can gain a percentage of points back for resubscribing to Xbox Live, purchasing certain items, taking surveys, joining Netflix, and more. This beta-type program doesn’t seem to specify if each level is for a certain type of gamer, if there are entry fees, or these are just three types being tested. For now, the program just sort of exists, and those that got in are the beneficiaries.

The picture above is the lowest level, gray. Those are the only options, weak in comparison to the green and orange choices. By comparison, here is green:

And this is the final group, orange:

Fight Against Grenade Spam.

Yes, it’s an acronym, one thought up by Infinity Ward to address the cheapness of grenade spam in their Call of Duty titles, did not go over with the community. The PSA was delivered by Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels, and was pulled soon after release on YouTube. Being YouTube, the ad lived on before being repeatedly taken down, which is why it is not featured here.

The four-letter acronym is in poor taste, but the reactions are equally ridiculous. The segment is funny, a spin on the type of the behavior most people deal with while chatting with online opponents (or teammates). It is not a glorification of the word, but an insult to those who use it. Some sensitivity is to be expected, and the people behind the video likely knew what they were doing even if it never appeared on-screen.

Were there alternatives? Sure. Was the reaction justified? Probably. Unfortunately, none of the debate really discusses the ad and its impact. The use of the acronym is derided and that’s it. Infinity Ward has little worry about in terms of sales, and their image remains as developers of one of the top selling franchises of all time. In the end, it doesn’t matter, the overreaction only served to draw more attention to what will undoubtedly be the biggest title of the year, and in the end, that’s exactly what Infinity Ward wanted.

China’s General Administration of Press and Publications (GAPP) issued a press release stating it was halting its review of NetEase’s licensed MMORPG World of Warcraft (The Burning Crusade) and the application for the operation of WoW in China was being returned. GAPP has also asked NetEase to stop subscription charging and new account registration, deeming it “illegal behavior.” Overreact much? Not quite.

According to GAPP, NetEase was allowed to start closed beta testing on July 30 on the condition that it did not charge gamers and did not allow new account registration without GAPP approval. In essence, only previously registered players should have been able to participate in the Burning Crusade beta. Since September 19th however, NetEase jumped the gun and began to charge players and accept the registration of new users. It’s no real surprise that GAPP took action.

However, GAPP has threatened to punish the company by means that include suspending its internet service, which seems rather severe. At the same time, an official from the Ministry of Culture has stated that such actions by the GAPP are not appropriate.

In the end, it seems to this writer that NetEase isn’t paying the right people off, or isn’t paying them enough. NetEase really shouldn’t have gone ahead and broken the terms of service with the GAPP, but at the same time, the content was already approved in China when it was run by The9. How very curious indeed.