crimecraft posts

Each week we find more and more free games that do not quite fit into the freeware mold. Games that do not require a subscription fee to play, but encourage player usage of money through microtransactions or special subscription services. This is Playing For Free, a column that showcases these games.

Once again, we return to the realm of free-to-play MMO shooters. We've covered Quake Live, Battlefield Heroes, and even Combat Arms, so maybe it's time to tackle something a little more new. CrimeCraft was released in August, and quickly went to the "free unlimited trial" system that boils down to being free-to-play. It's not great, and certainly not better than other free-to-play MMO shooters like Combat Arms (even with insane community), but it's passable and, at least on the surface, unique.

This client installs the free-to-play version of CrimeCraft, an online shooter game where players battle to rise in ranks in a criminal organization. Players have the option to upgrade from the free model to a subscription system for $9.99 a month, which provides access to additional features. Visit the official website for more information and to sign up for an account.

Download CrimeCraft Install Client (3.22 GB)
Check out all CrimeCraft downloads

In CrimeCraft, players have a chance to participate in gang warfare to build up a reputation and work their way up the ranks of a criminal organization. The MMO recently announced that it would adopt a free-to-play model to complement a premium subscription service. Additionally, there is a major content update expected to release later this month.

Download HD CrimeCraft Trailer #2 (47 MB)
Check out all CrimeCraft downloads

Vogster Entertainment's first person shooter MMO CrimeCraft launched in late August under a typical MMO business model. That is, you buy the game and then pay for a monthly subscription fee. Now it appears that CrimeCraft is shifting gears and moving toward a free-to-play business model.

Today Vogster announced that an "unlimited free trial" version of CrimeCraft will be made available by the end of October. Under the new deal, the trial will allow gamers to "to experience the major features of the game for free for as long as they want." Players can upgrade to the current $9.99 per month subscription fee for more content or they can also choose a $4.99 per month plan. There will be differences between the two plans in terms of "customization, skill slots, speed of experience gain and inventory capacity."

People who purchased the game between its launch and the launch of the "free trial" version will get a third month of the $9.99 per month subscription plan for free as well as access to extra content. The boxed version of the game that's currently on sale at Best Buy will continue to be sold but will now come with three months of online game time as well as access to 100 in-game gold bars and a number of exclusive in-game items. As we previously reported, CrimeCraft will release its first major content update sometime this month.

[Via email press release]

It looks like a number of team members at Vogster Entertainment, the developer/publisher behind the recently released FPS MMO CrimeCraft, have been let go by the company. Big Download received a vaguely worded press release from Vogster today announcing "a restructuring" that will result in "significant staffing changes" at Vogster as CrimeCraft "transitions from launch team to live team".

A statement from Vogster's vice president of development Daniel Prousline says, "We regret the necessary staffing changes and the talented employees that this impacts, but it is an unavoidable step in moving to the operational stage of CrimeCraft and optimizing for the development of yet to be announced titles."

Big Download called Vogster's PR rep to get more info but our contact was not yet ready to answer questions like how many people were affected by this restructuring. Vogster's press release did say that their New York headquarters "remains fully operational and committed to the development and production of existing and future titles." They also plan to reveal future content update plans for CrimeCraft at an upcoming press event.

[Via email press release]

Vogster Entertainment's FPS MMO CrimeCraft has been available in its final launch form for a few weeks now but this week the developer/publisher announced their first plans to expand the game with new content along news of a new player tournament. The tournament begins today and runs through October 15. After the tournament players listed in the leaderboards will be put into a rando drawing for prizes. The grand prize will be a new Alienware Area 51 M17x laptop.

The first major content update will be released sometime in October and will include a new NPC gang, a new PvE mode where players go up against AI gang bosses across 14 maps, a new loot system for PvP modes and an in-game newspaper that will "contain player-generated content and proclaim the victories and defeats" of CrimeCraft players.

[via email press release]

CrimeCraft, an online action shooter where players work their way up the ranks of a criminal organization, officially launches today. These videos mark the occasion by showcasing some of the abilities that will be available to players. Powers range from stealthy ones like Active Camouflage (shown after the jump) to Spray and Pray (shown above), which mows down anything that's in your way with bullets. All will help players get ahead in their gang war.

Download HD CrimeCraft 'Spray and Pray' Ability Trailer (37 MB)
Download HD CrimeCraft 'Active Camouflage' Ability Trailer (17 MB)
Download HD CrimeCraft 'Cluster Rocket' Ability Trailer (21 MB)
Download HD CrimeCraft 'Molotov Cocktail' Ability Trailer (9 MB)
Download HD CrimeCraft 'Remote Mine' Ability Trailer (20 MB)
Check out all CrimeCraft downloads

This week's one new major PC game release in stores is the latest attempt to make a first person shooter themed MMO game:

CrimeCraft: This Unreal Engine 3 based game comes from developer/publisher Vogster Entertainment. Set in the near future where criminals are in charge of much of the US, the game lets players pretty much blast each other in blasted urban environments. Players will be able to gain new content in the game including purchasing virtual items from real fashion labels like Ecko Unltd. The game will be sold via digital download but in the US the only retailer that will have the game available is Best Buy.

CrimeCraft, the upcoming action MMO that lets players rise up the ranks of a crime syndicate, knows that it takes more than guts and determination to establish a reputation. Sometimes, a few choice clothes go a long way. Vogster, the game's publisher, recently signed a deal with Atticus Clothing, a clothing line primarily geared toward musicians, so that players can outfit their avatars with Attacus brand T-Shirts. The name-brand clothing will be available for purchase as in-game items so players can out fit their whole crew if they want to. Pre-order customers will also receive the apparel as part of a bonus. The game is scheduled to release on August 25th.

Download HD CrimeCraft 'Atticus' Trailer (183 MB)
Check out all CrimeCraft downloads

As we approach the release of the FPS MMO CrimeCraft on August 25, developer/publisher Vogster Entertainment has announced that various digital download sites will offer special pre-order and launch bonuses. The download sites include the official CrimeCraft.com site itself along with Steam, Direct2Drive and Best Buy's Digital Store (Best Buy remains the only place US customers can purchase the game via a brick and mortar retail store)

You can check out the various digital download options for CrimeCraft after the jump. They include items like special temporary power-ups for your character, unique in-game clothing items, access to the game three days before the official launch and more.