After launching Warhammer Online, it was only a matter of time before an MMO set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe would be released. THQ, publishers of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and its expansions and sequels, have finally announced and revealed a trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online.

Not much information has been released for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online other than more is to come at Gamescon in August. What we can tell from the trailer however is that the game will have a focus on at least three of the Warhammer 40,000 races/factions. Space Marines, the soldiers of the Imperium, may also get a hand from the Imperial Guard as well as there are some unarmored soldiers seen in battle.

Orcs, like they have always been in Warhammer and Warhammer 40,000, will be given a spotlight as foils for the Space Marines. Taking the fight to both races will be the corrupt demon worshipping Chaos Space Marines which spread violence and destruction throughout the galaxy.

Not present yet are Warhammer 40,000 staples, the Tyranids or the Eldar. It is possible that these races will be added in during future expansions.Most notably seen in the game trailer is the presence of titans, gigantic war machines that will presumably lead to epic boss battles.

Take a peek below at the trailer for Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online and let us know what you think of it in the comments.

Continue Reading →

For a series that was once created in order to save of a game studio, Final Fantasy has become one of the defining RPG series in video games. With twelve traditional releases, one MMO, and over a dozen spinoff titles, Square Enix is readying itself for a fourteenth Final Fantasy, again jumping back towards the MMO routes of Final Fantasy XI.

Since its announcement at 2009′s E3, only a small sampling of information has been released about the game, mostly to not get in the way of the hype of Final Fantasy XIII, released earlier this year. The game will follow a skill progression system, mostly resembling the structure of Final Fantasy II. Developers have taken what they have learned from Final Fantasy XI and admit to also borrowing inspiration from other titles such as World of Warcraft (the MMO industry leader), Diablo and Warhammer Online.

Coming to both the PC and PlayStation 3, Final Fantasy XIV already looks to surpass Final Fantasy XI. With a console generation to build upon and not being hampered by PlayStation 2′s internet limitations, Final Fantasy XIV may have a shot at becoming the dominant console MMO.

Below, take a peek at a side by side comparison of footage from the Alpha build of Final Fantasy XIV compared to the Beta build. For those who don’t understand that difference, Alpha code is an earlier version in the game’s creation life cycle. This is where more of the bare bones of the game is laid out. In Beta, more testing occurs and polish has been put over details in both gameplay and graphics.

Still set for an unannounced 2010 release date, be sure to check back right here for more news on Final Fantasy XIV. In the meantime, check out the video and some pics from the game after the jump.

Continue Reading →

Star Wars: The Old Republic isn’t the only Star Wars highlight from last week’s E3 show. In addition to the still untitled LucasArts game being released for the XBox 360 Kinect, there has also been a trailer released for the upcoming online Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures. Taking place in the same timeline of the Clone Wars animated film and series, younger players get the opportunity to play as either Jedi or Clone Troopers in the war against Count Dooku, General Grievous and the rest of the droid army of the trade federation.

With its cartooney graphics and light hearted feel, this game is certainly aimed at a different demographic than the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II trailer that was also released this week.  Geared towards the same youth demographic as the cartoon, Star Wars: Clone War Adventures looks to be a combination of casual mini games combined with simple droid destroying lightsaber and star fighter combat. It may not have the crossover appeal to get mature players but some of the most hardcore Star Wars fans will likely use it to get their fix as they await Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures will be releasing this fall for the PC. Check out the trailer and screen shots for it after the jump.

Continue Reading →

Don your costumes and sharpen your flying skills, because all wanna-be superheroes and supervillains will get their chance to live out their dreams in DC Universe Online, which according to IGN, has an official release this November.

Coming to PC and Playstation 3, DC Universe Online is a new MMO that lets you assume the role of a hero or villain in famous cities like Metropolis and Gotham City. There, you’ll complete missions for experience, loot, costume upgrades, new moves, and to impress your superior supers. You’ll be able to participate in the same missions whether you’re a hero or a villain, except the choices you make and the outcome of the situation will be different.

No word on whether or not this will be a subscription-based MMO, but the game will feature many of our favorite DC Universe characters and locations so no matter the price, this definitely is an upcoming game to be excited for.

Be sure to check all our coverage of this month’s E3 conference from June 15th to 17th, as more details about DC Universe Online as well as many other upcoming games are sure to be revealed.

In what should be great news for any fans of Battlestar Galactica and MMO online games, it was announced yesterday by NBC Universal that a massively multiplayer game based on the popular sci-fi tv series is in the works. The game will be powered by the Unity engine, which is the same technology used by EA’s browser-based Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online, and will lunch later this year.

According to the announcement, the game will be client-free, browser based and pack “state of the art graphics.” Norwegian studio Artplant, who’s previous work includes Riding Club Championships, is handling development for the game. Regarding actual details about the game itself, here’s what it known so far:

“Players will be able to choose to play as cylons or humans in a constant struggle to control the universe or just survive its perils. A blend of tactical space combat, exploration, and mission-based gameplay will provide a diverse experience. The dramatic missions will define the game’s overall storyline, enabling the player to delve into mysteries of the Battlestar universe.

Battlestar Galactica Online will create a new standard for web games, with beautiful 3d graphics and innovative game mechanics bringing a new level of game play to browser based MMOG. Assets from the television production will be integrated into the game to deliver an even more authentic experience.”

The game will launch worldwide this Fall exclusively on Syfy.com for 30 days and then will be published by content provider Bigpoint.

The guys at Square Enix have a big month coming up with the release of the long-awaited Final Fantasy XIII next week and announcements that three new add-ons are in the works for Final Fantasy XI. But also on the horizon is the beginning of beta testing for Final Fantasy XIV, their newest MMO.

According to 1Up.com, the first wave of beta invites for Final Fantasy XIV will be going out beginning March 11th to those who applied back in December. The beta will expand over time for those who aren’t initially invited. The beta will only be available on PC, at first, but the game is slated for release later this year so you won’t have to wait long to get your hands on the game for PS3.

Final Fantasy XIV takes place in the land of Eorzea, whose nations have banded together after constant war to stem the threat of the Garlean Empire. When the threat subsided, the resulting peace left many soldiers  without a job. As one of these soldiers, players will form guilds, becoming adventurers.

The game will be hitting the gaming shelves for PC and the PS3 this winter, and keep it here for more details as we get closer to it’s release.

As you’ve seen, there’s been a lot of excitement here on The Flickcast with the two upcoming non-fantasy genre based MMOs. Between Star Wars: The Old Republic and DC Universe Online , the MMO world currently dominated by World of Warcraft is going to be getting a run for its money. To help further the hype, Star Wars: The Old Republic put Beta Key signups live on their website today. This would allow a group of selected players to try out and test the features of the game before it became available to the general public for sale.

The response was so intense to this announcement that the sheer volume of people going to SW: TOR’s site caused the sign up page to crash. Doubtful that Bioware didn’t expect this level of hype, it is still amazing that so many people found out about the Beta signups and came on so quickly in hopes of the limited spots that the site was brought down for repairs by noon on its first day.

On the plus side, it’s better that the developers find out their problems now and get as many testers as they can for the game. As seen in the past, a glitch and bug filled launch day for the retail release can spell doom for many MMO’s.

Stay tuned to The Flickcast for more on Star Wars: The Old Republic and we’ll let you know if we get one of those Beta spots to take an early peek at the game.

We’re sure most have you have noticed that The Flickcast has done more and more coverage as of late on PC MMOs like the trailer for World of Warcraft‘s Cataclysm expansion and our in depth interviews and coverage of DC Universe Online . Well a new MMO has popped up seemingly out of nowhere and put itself dead center in our radar. That game is Guild Wars 2.

The original Guild Wars came out in 2005 and has sold over six million units since its release. The most unique aspect of Guild Wars was its non-subscription based model. Most MMOs charge a fee, usually around $10 a month, to play. Guild Wars bucked that trend with no fee at all, instead relying on players purchasing expansions to keep funding for the game’s ArenaNet servers going. Instead of keeping massive zones constantly running, the game focused on “instanced” play where areas would only exist once a player launched in to them with their group. The other advantage of Guild Wars came from the low technology requirements to run it on PC’s, allowing a lower level of entry for new players.

The trailer released for the upcoming sequel, Guild Wars 2, just blew us away in what might be one of the best MMO trailers of recent memory. The combination of animatic style artwork combined with the real gameplay footage is simply amazing. Unlike Star Wars: The Old Republic which was entirely CGI with its announcement trailer, Guild Wars 2 shows off just what the world looks like in engine with full effects.

Just take a peek after the jump and you’ll be as sold as we are on it.

Continue Reading →

During the E3 show in Los Angeles yesterday, LucasArts and Bioware showed a sneak peek of their highly anticipated game Star Wars: The Old Republic. In case you’re one of the few not familiar with the game, here’s some details for you complete with a cool screenshot and trailer (after the jump).

The story begins 3,500 years before the rise of Darth Vader, when Revan disappeared into space, looking for a Sith Empire run by an Emperor determined to destroy his ancient Jedi enemies. Revan never returned. But the Sith Empire did. And now, they have plans to invade and take over our favorite galaxy far, far away.

According to LucasArts, this game is the first fully voiced MMO. Every class, male or female, and every single NPC or quest in the entire game will have a full voice-over. Like Knights of the Old Republic, the conversation tree in The Old Republic has three choices and every choice you make affects gameplay, sometimes drastically. But since this game is in real time, there is no chance to save and see what would have changed if you had made another choice.

Continue Reading →