perfect-world-international posts

No, we don't mean the biblical Genesis. Rather, Perfect World (the international version, anyway) has launched its new expansion, which is titled Genesis. Since Perfect World is also free-to-play, this means a ton of new content for the rather popular Chinese MMO. However, we aren't entirely sure what the new content is, since we've never played Perfect World and this trailer is a bit confusing as to what is actually included in the update. You can judge for yourself, though.

Download Perfect World International 'Genesis Gameplay' Trailer
Download Perfect World International Install Client
Check out all Perfect World International downloads

Big Download just got off the phone with Runic Games' PR head Wonder Russell who gave us a little more info on today's surprise announcement of Torchlight II, the sequel to 2009's sleeper hit action-RPG game. Russell told us that while the developer isn't yet ready to release screenshots of Torchlight II, she did confirm that a playable version of the game will be on display at Gamescom in Germany later this month and also at PAX Prime 2010 in Seattle in early September.

Russell also confirmed to us that the previously announced plans for a Torchlight-based free-to-play MMO game have been delayed as the development team at Runic Games is now working sole on Torchlight II. Russell said that the MMO project will be back up to speed once Torchlight II is completed.

It's no secret that developer Runic Games plans to follow up the success of their downloadable action-RPG Torchlight with an MMO that's set in the same fictional fantasy world. PCGamer's web site reveals, via Runic's president Travis Baldree, that the development team wants the MMO to play "as close to single player as we can get it.:" The title will be free to play but will support microtransactions for its revenue source.

The microtransaction business model is certainly gaining more and more supporters from both developers and players but oddly enough Baldree won't be participating in his own game's business plan, saying, "I will never, ever buy a microtransaction item. I'm that kind of player. And the game has to be enjoyable for me, too."

Hot on the heels on the news that Runic Games' fantasy action-RPG Torchlight has now sold over 500,000 copies comes word that the game's publisher Perfect World has now bought a majority stake in Runic Games. The news came as part of Perfect World's latest financial results but the specifics of the Runic Games deal were not revealed.

Perfect World, which is based in China, said its decision to acquire the majority of Runic Games was to "combine their creativity and expertise in game development with our deep understanding of the online game market to create global titles." Runic Games, formed by former members of the Diablo development team, is known to be developing an unnamed MMO game based on the Torchlight universe.

Devin Grayson may be a name familiar to some of you who read comics regularly. Grayson was extremely busy in the first half of the decade writing tons of comics, mostly for DC Comics. Much of her work centered on the Batman family of comics including a five year run on Nightwing.

Since 2006, Grayson has been absent from the comic book industry but that's changing with the announcement that she will participate in Marvel Comic's Girl Comics anthology that's due out in early 2010. More importantly, Grayson has entered the game industry for the first time helping to write and localize Kung Foo!. It's a satirical look at MMO games that's being brought to the states by Perfect World International.

Big Download got a chance to ask Grayson some questions about her work on Kung Foo, her love of MMO game titles and more.

Runic Games' downloadable action-RPG Torchlight continues to get more media attention ahead of its October 27 release date. Now the game's publisher Perfect World International has decided to sweeten the pre-order deal on their Torchlight web site with a special contest.

Every pre-order of the $19.99 game from that site is eligible to win a limited edition Torchlight poster that's signed by Runic Games' co-founders Max and Erich Schaefer. This contest is just for pre-orders on the Perfect World web site. However other outlets like Steam, GamersGate and other download sites are offering a 10 percent discount on the game before its release.

Perfect World International is a fantasy MMO based in Chinese mythology. Make room on your hard drive for this one, because the four part download totals over 2 GB of data. Go to www.perfectworld.com to sign up for an account to play.

Download Perfect World International Client (1 of 4) (600 MB)
Download Perfect World International Client (2 of 4) (600 MB)
Download Perfect World International Client (3 of 4) (600 MB)
Download Perfect World International Client (4 of 4) (578 MB)