2112 Announced - Free To Play MMORTS

Emobi Games announced 2112, in their own words "a free to play Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) game that combines strategic base defense gameplay with deep customization and the visceral action found in Real Time Strategy (RTS) games". It seems like it's mixing RTS base defence missions with a strategic layer base of operations... building up fortress, improving defences etc. Sounds very ambitious. I don't think anyone has hit a good formula for MMORTS yet. Petroglyph's End of Nations could be the ace in the hole, but I'd withhold my judgement until it is out. 2112 is targeted for a fall 2012 release. Watch the announcement trailer below...

Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances Announced! - C&C Goes MMO Strategy

Oh and it's free to play! EA announced today that Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances will be a cross platform(on multiple browsers and mobile... don't ask how that'll work) free to play MMO Strategy game. This announcement comes right at the heels of another C&C game announcement, Command & Conquer: Generals 2(now in the hands of Bioware). It seems EA are expanding the Command & Conquer franchise, making full use of it. More Command & Conquer can't be bad right? Beta sign up for Tiberium Alliances is up. You can sign up for the beta here

End of Nations Beta Registration Opened

Petroglyph's MMORTS, End of Nations is rolling out a beta soon. You can now register for the beta here. If you don't get in, not sweat. End of Nations has been announced will be a free to play game, which means you'll always have the chance to have a go with it when it releases. They've put up a web show called Warfront that will focus on the game and bring you exclusive interviews, and news about the game. Check out the first episode below...

Delayed! Petroglyph's Free To Play MMORTS Coming Next Year

Petroglyph announced that the MMORTS End of Nations will not be released this year. It's a 2012 title(no specific date was given). Initially planed for release late this year, End of Nations was to bring massive PvP and coop RTS games to a whole new level. According to VG247, in the recent Eurogamer expo live demo, they showed off a new cap of 26 players instead of the 50 player battle which may suggest that they are having some network performance issues to deal with.  It is unclear if they have drop the whole idea of a 50 player RTS game. Either way, I'm sure we'll hear more perhaps early next year.

Source: VG247

End of Nation GamesCom 2011 Trailer & Presentation

Since it's announcement that End of Nations will be free to play, I think this has certainly gone up a few ladders in the anticipated games list. I mean surely competition is pretty rough these days and an online MMO RTS that requires a sub is always going to be a tough act. New trailer for the game and a 20 minute presentation of the game by German site allvatar.com. Watch the videos below...

End of Nations Freeing Itself From Retail Pricing - To Launch As A Free To Play Game

Petroglyph has announced that their upcoming MMORTS, End of Nations, will be a free to play game. Based on the announcement, they claim that anyone can play all the different game modes, no restrictions. There will be a single player, a 50 player coop mode and even a Conquer The World multiplayer mode(26vs26). The game will come with an optional subscription option that subscribers "will get a significant amount of value and convenience extras for their monthly fee". The game will also get a physical collectors edition that will come with cool extras and digital bonus material. The game will have an in game store that will allow players to buy stuff that wont offer any significant gameplay advantage(it is not pay to win). Considering the amount of games going free to play, this I think is a good move by Petroglyph. Not to mention, the free to play segment has a bunch of qualitytitles now that western developers are jumping on this segment of gaming. Good news for gamers. Latest trailer and press release below...

End Of Nations Combined Arms Trailer Features Armoured Mechs

MMORTS is the unproven genre. No game has quite got the formula correct and Petroglyph are giving it their best shot with End of Nations. It has a bunch of features that is comparable to any MMORPG(crafting, guilds, PVE, PVP to name a few). I’m not on the MMORTS bandwagon and my experience with the few available have left me cold. My main issue with them is the grind and build up to have a proper army. End of Nations is due out some time this year(no solid date yet). Watch the latest trailer below…

Dawn of Fantasy Developer Diary Part 2 - Treacherous Elves

Dawn of Fantasy(was tempted to say Dawn of War there) is an upcoming MMORTS by Reverie World Studios. The devs have released part 2 of a video developer diary series introducing you to the game and what Dawn of Fantasy will offer players. Part 2 introduces Kingdom Wars, a single player conquer the world type campaign(similar to Rise of Nations I suppose). So far, they’ve showed a lot of city sieges which is to be expected for any game that has a strategic map and cities(I’m sure open battles are also in the game like any Total War like game). This isn’t a free to play game. The devs say the price will be comparable to current PC RTS titles. Game’s coming out in June. Watch both developer diaries below…

Age of Empires Online Releasing This Fall

Microsoft announced that Age of Empires Online will be releasing in Fall 2011. The game will also be getting a retail ‘starter kit’ release that will include some ‘unique premium content’. Microsoft also announced a pro premium civilization pack which will start players off with a level 20 capital city which according to them is for the hardcore RTS players out there. I suppose this is a good idea since I found the grind too much to handle. At level 20, most of the units and structures would probably be unlocked, allowing you to play Age of Empires, the way it should be played. Not a bad idea I must say. Especially if the price is right. You can read my impression of the beta here.

Source: VG247

Elements of War Gameplay Trailer - Control The Weather

Kalypso Media released a new gameplay trailer for the post apocalyptic RTS, Elements of War. The trailer showcases how players will control the elements to dominate the battlefield. They are touting this as the MMORTS version of World in Conflict(which is a brilliant game) but with more fictional units. Apparently the version that will be on sale is the single player campaign. The MMORTS part of the game will be free to play. Will check this out when it’s available. The MMORTS portion is available in open beta form here. Elements of War will be released on April 15th. Gameplay trailer below…

Dreamlords Resurrection Launched - Free to Play MMO RTS

Dreamlords Resurrection, the free to play MMORTS announced at this year Paradox convention has been launched. That was…fast. You can go sign up for it at the official site here. The game uses Paradox Connect, an online platform created by Paradox to add stuff like achievements and what not. The game itself has empire management, PvP and even PvE(coop matches). It sounds like there is a lot of depth to the game(with a strategic campaign map that I suppose other online players are on). Haven’t had the chance to try this out yet but will definitely give this one a go. Oh an if you register now you will get 1000 Paradox Ducats(USD$10 for in game transactions). They’ve released a launch trailer you can view below…

Dawn of Fantasy Debut Trailer - World Conquering MMORTS

Even before we’ve had one proper MMORTS, there are a couple of them under development. Can MMO concepts mix with an RTS? Well Reverie World Studios are giving it their own take of it with Dawn of Fantasy. It’s official site list an impressive list of features including realistic economic system, realistic weather and a fully 3D dynamic world map. It’s not all multiplayer though and will have two single player modes. It comes out on June 3rd. Debut Trailer below…