Gamertell

Nexon has just begun the open beta period for its first, free MMOFPS, Combat Arms” title="Combat Arms">Combat Arms. The open beta began July 1, 2008, and will run until Nexon launches the commercial version of the game is launched before the end of Summer 2008.

In Combat Arms, players are able to completely customize and arm a soldier. They can then go off and play in multiple gameplay modes against other players around the world, choosing to either to team up or fight alone. The game has in-game messengers and a clan system, in case players want to team up to succeed. The open beta update also includes a new map, new match settings and a Deathmatch mode. The game also has a tracking system built into it so you can determine how well you and your clan are doing.

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I don’t know about people in other parts of the US, but Chicago’s already seen quite a few days in the upper 80s. It looks like a blazing summer is coming, which makes a game like Venture Arctic all the more welcome. Brighter Minds Media, who brought us Pocketwatch Games’ Venture Africa, is now bringing us Pocketwatch’s next game, Venture Arctic.

Players of Venture Arctic get to create an arctic, Alaskan tundra ecosystem populated with 22 species of animals. They will also have to carefully protect their tundras, determining the amounts of snow and ice, the condition of the areas and the health of their creatures. 

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Aeria Games has quite an impressive library of free-to-play massive multiplayer online (MMO) games. But there’s been one area where its lacking - real-time strategic rpgs. That’s where Dreamlords: The Reawakening steps in. Lockpick Entertainment’s Dreamlords will now be available for North American residents to play, thanks to Aeria.

Dreamlords: The Reawakening is a lot like Starcraft or Age of Empires - players wage strategic battles against one another. The difference with Dreamlords is that, like with all MMOs, the game keeps going when you’re not there. So players are given the opportunity to dictate their orders ahead of time, while they are playing. In fact, they can even issue directives from anywhere, so long as they have access to a computer with a browser and internet. They won’t be able to experience everything without downloading the program, but they can keep up-to-date on events and issue orders.

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GoLive2 will be releasing the Wiimote-esque Stix PC controllers in August, 2008. The Stix controllers look, and function, much like the Wii’s wiimote controller. It has a built in motion sensor to register movements and actions, and a touch screen interface for more complicated games. So instead of struggling with keyboard or mouse based controls, people can wave a remote at their PCs.

There are two different Stix models. The Stix 200 works primarily with 2D games you can play for free online. The Stix 400 is more comprehensive, as it can handle the online 2D online games and (supposedly) official “Games for Windows” games. A Stix 100 model is also shown on the official site, but the product depiction and description makes it sound like it could be Stix 200, only for kids. 

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Seriously, is this my Square Enix? The same company that charges me $40 for a DS game? Wow. I’m floored. Square Enix and GamesCampus.com are bringing the free, massive multiplayer online RPG Concerto Gate to North America. The closed beta for Concerto Gate started yesterday (July 1, 2008), and will run until July 14, 2008. Hopefully shortly after that, an open beta period will be held.

Concerto Gate sounds like your typical, fantasy MMO. People come to the enchanted land of Fahren and level grind in an attempt to become the prophesized hero who’ll save everyone. Like every MMO, Concerto Gate has a unique feature to set it apart - terra generating. Over the course of weeks and months, players will be able to alter the game’s landscape. Pretty neat.

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I suppose it was bound to happen. Puzzle Quest‘s success was not going to go unnoticed, and the copycats are coming out. At least Genimo Interactive LLC’s Puzzle Hero doesn’t look like it was just slapped together.

In Puzzle Hero, you play a hero whose little brother Tristan’s been kidnapped by a Zalock and his henchmen. Players go through match-ups on the map (like in Bust a Move or Puyo Pop‘s story modes) until they reach Zalock. Each match features the grid of icons on the bottom, and the hero and stage’s villain on the top. You then must match up similar icons in groups of three to deal damage. Sound familiar? You can also purchase equipment for your character between fights.

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It was an ordinary day. I was checking a site to add as a link to another story on Gamertell, when an unusual icon at the Square Enix Members site caught my eye. “Game Zone is now open?” I wondered, though not aloud as I was still at work and didn’t want to attract interest. I clicked through to find four mini-games, all promoting Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon.

There are four flash games available, and all are pretty similar to the mini-games found in Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales, which was released on the DS a while back. There’s Chocobo’s Snowboard Glide, Chocobo Flight, Chocobo’s Balancing Act and Chocobo’s Classmate. All games use the mouse, and have happy perky Chocobo themes playing in the background.

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FROM APPLETELL - ByDesign Games has launched new game designed to make the casual crowd blush: Make Bouncy Bouncy. MORE »

Summer has come to Mabinogi, and that means Nexon has made more stuff is available in game and in the premium shops. There are a few new challenges, new pets and new character cards all available to celebrate the summer season.

The summer style items are only available briefly, so you may want to check those out first. Until July 9, 2008, Summer Character Cards and a Nao Summer Dress will be available for purchase. The Nao Summer Dress is available from the in-game item shop and allows player to buy a new outfit for Nao, that can be given to her if you’re a subscriber who gets to visit her on your character’s birthday. The 9,500 NX ($9.50) Summer Character Card is available in the premium shop and allows players to create or rebirth a character with a special summer outfit. The Summer Character Card also provides 43 different male hair options, 45 female hair options, 24 different eye options and 20 different mouth options.

Click through for information on the new pets and other additions…

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Those who enjoy browser games, but feel limited by their capabilities, may want to check out Seven Light’s newest browser game, The Continuum. The Continuum is billed as a sort of an online, collective TCG, strategic rpg, war game hybrid. The game is free to play, with the option to purchase a subscription or buy extra card packs.

When you begin the game, you are given some starter characters to begin playing. You can then create armies with them, upgrade their abilities, equip them with items and send them off into battle with other The Continuum players. 

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