pve posts

You've probably been hearing buzz around the internet about Warhammer Online, and if you haven't then it's likely you will very soon. The game is launching today and with that comes the surge of new game discussion. This isn't anything new, as there was buzz around the Age of Conan launch, too. So why is this particular game so special that you'd want to know about it? Follow the break and I'll give you the low-down.

Currently in development, Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (WAR) is positioning itself to be the ultimate blend of PvP and PvE gameplay. All aspects of the game, from the Living Guild system (where the whole guild gains levels and bonuses) to the Public Quests (quests that can anyone nearby can help complete) work in support of WAR's brand of massive battlefield action called Realm-vs.-Realm (RvR). Big Download chats with EA Mythic's Jeff Hickman, Senior Producer for Warhammer Online for insight on the game's features and how RvR will change the face of PvP gameplay. Read the interview after the jump.

Guild Wars shook up the MMO scene with a radically different business plan, where game development would be funded with box sales instead of subscription fees. It also stood out as one of the best examples of PvP design, since players were allowed to create top level characters dedicated to competitive gameplay. The game was later followed by two campaigns that added new classes, new PvP modes and a slew of different skills. Factions introduced Faction Points and Alliance Battles, while Nightfall brought in computer controlled Heroes to assist in all areas of combat. Although certain aspects overlap between PvE and PvP game types, Guild Wars has a "separate but equal" way of dealing with the two. Competitors have dedicated arenas, away from the story based areas, where they can quickly jump right into a battle. As a result, strong communities have grown around both PvP and PvE gameplay, and fans eagerly await news about Guild Wars 2. We speak with game designer Isaiah Cartwright from ArenaNet, who specializes in PvP, skill balance and most other combat-related design to find out what it takes to maintain the balance between PvP and PvE gameplay. Read the interview after the jump.

So maybe you've heard about Funcom's upcoming MMORPG, Age of Conan -- or maybe you haven't. Whether you have or haven't heard of the forthcoming barbarian invasion, we here at Big Download are here to make sure all your bases are covered.

Not all games are for everyone and Age of Conan is no different. There are all sorts of ups and down to the title: graphics, combat, rating and of course the fact that's an MMORPG. Did we also mention that the game is pretty much out now? With all that in mind we've gone ahead and laid out all the pluses and minuses for those of you wondering whether or not AoC is as game you'd be interested in playing.

World of Warcraft's Arena Tournament launched on March 31, 2008, letting players immediately create level 70 characters and equip them with high level skills and epic armor. Competitors from around the world battle for up to $200,000 in cash prizes. At the same time, the Arena Tournament underscores Blizzard's intentions of using WoW's PvP gameplay as a type of eSport. WoW rose to become the most popular MMO in the world primarily because of its PvE content, and using its PvP for eSports marked a sharp turn in the game's focus. We catch up with WoW's Lead Designer, Tom Chilton, Paul Della Bitta (Senior Manager, Global Community and eSports) and Joong Kim (eSports Manager) to get the inside story about balancing PvP and PvE gameplay and what players can expect to from the future of Azeroth.