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Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup

MJ Guthrie — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Super-hero, Aion, Anarchy Online, City of Heroes, Darkfall, Dofus, EVE Online, EverQuest, EverQuest II, Fallen Earth, Final Fantasy XI, Flyff, Lord of the Rings Online, PlanetSide, Ryzom, Wurm Online, Opinion, Second Life, Star Trek Online, Ultima Online, Vanguard, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Virtual worlds, Mabinogi, Mortal Online, Wizard101, Runes of Magic, DC Universe Online, RIFT, Xsyon, Family, Post-Apocalyptic, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox

If you are perusing this column, chances are you are a fan of virtual worlds and the sandbox genre. Join the club! (Dues will be due on the third Tuesday.) The aspect that compels many aficionados to delve into a game is the ability to make an impact on the world in some small respect instead of making them into Hive Member 1593072 running a static, predetermined gauntlet. How that impact is accomplished, however, varies; there are multiple features that can facilitate it, and which ones are considered most important depends on the player.

With the loss of one of the best sandbox games just last month, some players may be feeling a void. Others still are looking/hoping for the "ultimate" sandbox that contains nearly every virtual world feature. Certainly, there are some upcoming games that make some drool-worthy promises, but what about playing something now? There are actually games out on the market that have at least one aspect of the genre, if not more.

To start off the new year, Some Assembly Required looks at some of the top features of virtual worlds and lists games that incorporate these features. While this list isn't exhaustive (considering the sheer number of games when you include all of the smaller free-to-play titles, I'd run out of column space!), it is a comprehensive enough overview to point you toward some games worth playing that perhaps you hadn't considered before.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup

Some Assembly Required: A virtual world roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyff releases New Beginnings to the German and French servers

Eliot Lefebvre — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Expansions, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

MMOs are a worldwide phenomenon. Sometimes that can be hard to see from the perspective of the many American gamers knee-deep in the hobby, but there are games and releases taking place all over the world. Case in point: The European version of Flyff has seen a big new release with the addition of the New Beginnings expansion, with both the German and French servers receiving the new content. The patch adds three new mid-level dungeons as well as over 100 new quests to help players new and old enjoy Flyff in depth.

To help promote the patch, the community team is launching a Lights, Camera, Action! promotion. A group of eight players can register and then upload a video to Own3D.tv, with in-game rewards coming as the video accumulates more likes and shares. The total value of all potential rewards goes up to 1,000 Euros, which should help encourage the French and German players of the game to get in on the action. There's also a trailer for the patch just after the break, although if you're not familiar with French, the language barrier might be an issue.

[Source: gPotato press release]

Continue reading Flyff releases New Beginnings to the German and French servers

Flyff releases New Beginnings to the German and French servers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyff's V18: Renaissance patch buffs Baruna weapons, brings bonus XP

Jef Reahard — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Flyff, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeons

If you were waiting on Flyff's V18: Renaissance update to check out gPotato's long-running MMO, well, you can stop waiting! The patch brings three new dungeons, over 100 new quests, and 60 new weapons to the free-to-play fantasy title. If that's not enough to wet your whistle, the devs are also running a couple of celebration events and giving away free items (not to mention double XP) just for logging in.

The dev team has also updated Baruna items by adding new enhancement options that "mold them into powerful weapons capable of empowering their owners against the most elite opponents," according to gPotato.

Be sure to log in today and take advantage of increased sunstone and moonstone drops, and don't forget to head to the official Flyff website to read all about the new patch. Finally, take a look past the break for the latest Flyff community Q&A video.

[Source: gPotato press release]

Continue reading Flyff's V18: Renaissance patch buffs Baruna weapons, brings bonus XP

Flyff's V18: Renaissance patch buffs Baruna weapons, brings bonus XP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Try the newest Flyff expansion exclusively from Massively

Rubi Bayer — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Flyff, Free-to-play, Giveaways

The open beta for Flyff's newest expansion has gone through a brief delay, not quite meeting its original set date of October 28th. While that's definitely not abnormal -- most MMO players prefer a polished product over one hustled out the door -- Flyff players are certainly looking forward to the day when they can get their hands on V18:Rennaissance.

That day has arrived, and you can download the open beta exclusively through Massively. It couldn't be simpler; just use this download link and you're on your way!

If you're looking for something to do while the beta client is installing, we've got you covered on that front as well. We've received some gift packages from gPotato, each containing seven event gift boxes, a pair of angel wings that last for three days, and 10 Scrolls of Amplification. Those can be used in the current live version of Flyff, so grab your code, apply it in game, and have fun!

Try the newest Flyff expansion exclusively from Massively originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Flyff expansion grants players a New Beginning

Matt Daniel — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Expansions, Game mechanics, News items, Free-to-play, Dungeons

The dust only recently settled on the Flyff World Championship, and Gala Networks Europe has announced a new update coming to the game. The expansion, known as New Beginning, brings a load of new content for European Flyff players. Many of the game's mechanics -- such as the loot system, legendary quests, and the upgrade system -- have been entirely revamped.

Meanwhile, three new dungeons are available for players looking to test their mettle, and of course new, powerful rewards for said dungeons will be available. Over 100 new scenario and dungeon quests have been added as well, ensuring that players won't lack things to do. The update will be hitting the French and German servers in December.

[Source: Gala Networks Europe press release]

New Flyff expansion grants players a New Beginning originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyff World Championship offering prizes to players as the tournament continues

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Promotions

Think you're a pretty good Flyff player? We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but your opportunity to call yourself among the best is pretty well fading. The first Flyff world championship is currently ongoing, with the sixteen finalists now competing for the opportunity to be crowned the best team of players in the world. Two teams have already been eliminated, with livestreaming coverage of the events available on the official championship channel.

But maybe you don't consider yourself one of the best in the world and don't usually care about these sorts of events. That's all right -- you've still got reason to enjoy it. Players will receive a special item every day just for logging in, as well as another item for every level they gain, from September 28th until October 31st. It's an all-around excellent opportunity for Flyff fans to enjoy the game, whether struggling for the top spot or just leveling for fun.

[Source: Press release]

Flyff World Championship offering prizes to players as the tournament continues originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hear all about the Flyff World Championship (and get a Flyff gift pack too!)

Karen Bryan — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Contests, Events, in-game, Guilds, Interviews, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Giveaways

If you like flying, tournaments, and cash (and who doesn't!), then you might be interested in participating in the Flyff World Championship. Flyff, which is short for "fly for fun," is a fantasy, free-to-play MMO, and right now, over 250 teams from around the world are competing in a $100,000 tournament to decide which guild is top dog. The regional preliminaries are already underway, and later in the fall, qualifying teams will battle it out for cash prizes and special in-game items.

Massively talked to a couple of participants to learn what it takes to compete in the Flyff World Championship. Ozmix, leader of Snails of Doom, and Reyals, from Invictus, are two of the top guilds in the competition, and they talked to us about their experiences in the tournament so far. And if you're interested in trying out Flyff, you're in luck! Massively is giving away coupon codes for a Flyff gift pack, which includes several handy items for new players and veterans alike. Read on for the interview, and claim your gift pack key using the button below!

[Sorry, all codes have been claimed]

Continue reading Hear all about the Flyff World Championship (and get a Flyff gift pack too!)

Hear all about the Flyff World Championship (and get a Flyff gift pack too!) originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microtransaction items for Japanese aid in gPotato's stores

Eliot Lefebvre — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Flyff, Culture, Events, real-world, Rappelz, News items, Free-to-play

The earthquake that hit Japan on March 11th may no longer be at the forefront of gamers' minds, but the country is still reeling from the impact. NCsoft and CCP Games have both announced efforts to help aid the Japanese people with charitable donations, and it looks like gPotato has decided to encourage players to donate as well. The company has added new merchandise into the microtransaction stores for several games that, items that will grant players a unique look as well as donating all profits to the Red Cross.

Rappelz, Flyff, and Luna Plus are all offering capes for players, while Tales Runner offers a shirt and Iris Online offers a kitten hat. (Sadly, the cat in question is not Maru.) One hundred percent of profits will be donated to the Red Cross to aid in relief efforts, and the items cannot be purchased with "free" currency. The items will be available until March 31st, so if you play the games and haven't yet donated, now would be the time.

Microtransaction items for Japanese aid in gPotato's stores originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Mar 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyff releases V17 sneak peek

Jef Reahard — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Flyff, Expansions, Patches, News items, Free-to-play

If you've played MMOs for any length of time, you're no doubt aware that the ability to soar through our favorite virtual worlds isn't exactly widespread. While flying mounts have appeared in AAA games including World of Warcraft, Vanguard, and soon, EverQuest II, few games let you soar with abandon like Flyff (which stands for Fly For Fun). The free-to-play title has been giving players the gift of flight since 2005 due to the fact that it's main form of post-20 transportation is via some sort of airborne apparatus.

Flyff's newest expansion, V17, looks to continue this trend and is also adding a new Colosseum System designed to allow players to battle bosses for loot rewards. A Cooperation System is also in the cards, as are a boatload of new quests, a new dungeon, and a entirely new zone. Check out Flyff's official website for more info on the V17 expansion as well as the game's 20+ character classes, and be sure to view the V17 trailer after the jump.

Continue reading Flyff releases V17 sneak peek

Flyff releases V17 sneak peek originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyff's Rise of the Muran expansion now live, complete with catgirls, achievements and more

Brendan Drain — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Expansions, News items, Free-to-play

When it comes to the free-to-play business model, US-based early-adopter Gala-Net has certainly raised a few eyebrows with its light-hearted fantasy MMO Flyff. Also known as Fly For Fun, Flyff has now had its doors open for several years and is showing no signs of slowing down. The game's latest expansion, Rise of the Muran has just gone live, bringing players a whole array of new content and gameplay just in time for Christmas.

The expansion raises the game's level cap to 139 and includes a new third job evolution system, introducing eight new classes to the game. Players can now take on the roles of Templar, Slayer, Harlequin, Crackshooter, Force Master, Seraph, Mentalist, and Arcanist. Also included for players is a new guild housing system, in which high-level guilds can bid on huge shared buildings. As if that wasn't enough, Rise of the Muran opens a new area of the game for exploration -- the lost region of Kaillun. It's here in the safe city of Eillun that a new race of friendly cat-like creatures known as the Muran live. With all the new content to explore, new classes to try out and a brand new achievement system coming in, there's sure to be a lot for Flyff fans to do while wrapped up warmly in their houses this winter.

Flyff's Rise of the Muran expansion now live, complete with catgirls, achievements and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: Thirteen spooky free-to-play Halloween events

Beau Hindman — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Flyff, MapleStory, Contests, Culture, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, Casual, Global Agenda, Humor, Free Realms, Mabinogi, Kids, Alganon, Allods Online, Free for All, Vindictus, Family

Ah, Halloween. The dark Xmas. Around our house, Halloween is king. Despite the fact that we have no kids to dress up and parade around the neighborhood, we will still hand out tons of candy to all the trick-or-treaters. Until that spooky night, however, we love to spend the time exploring different Halloween events in our favorite MMORPGs.

MMOs are perfect for such events -- they have the players to fill them out, the ability to host whatever kind of event they want, and a lot of optional blood and gore. Some of the events fit perfectly in their game-world, and some stick out like a stock broker on D&D night. Either way, there is always a lot of fun to be had, and sometimes very cool loot to snag! (Like that sweet ride pictured above -- got it on my first try.)

Read on for some of my favorite events -- none of them costing a dime.

Continue reading Free for All: Thirteen spooky free-to-play Halloween events

Free for All: Thirteen spooky free-to-play Halloween events originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: Remembering my first F2P experiences

Beau Hindman — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Anarchy Online, Flyff, Business models, Opinion, Free-to-play, Casual, Free for All

I sit here, racking my brain, trying to think of the very first free-to-play game that I experienced. It's been quite a long time, at least seven years. As a quick history, I started in MMORPGs in '99, by bringing home a box of Ultima Online for my wife to look at. She laughed at me at first, but soon I would return home from work to find her in the middle of a marathon gaming session. We then switched to EverQuest and then to City of Heroes. In between those major choices, I spent a lot of time exploring the internet for new games.

I want to say that one of the first free-to-play games I found was FLYFF, or possibly ROSE Online. It's hard to remember exactly. I searched old emails and found a few references to some games, but I can only verify start dates like February of 2004 for games like There or Second Life. On a side-note, my EVE account started on July 30th, 2004. Regardless, I can remember my first experiences with free-to-play games. I recall the grindy-yet-beautiful worlds I visited, marveling at high-level players who must have played for six months solidly in order to achieve their greatness.

Continue reading Free for All: Remembering my first F2P experiences

Free for All: Remembering my first F2P experiences originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyff adds a new expansion, wings, and a reason to grind your life away

Seraphina Brennan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Contests, Events, in-game, Expansions, Patches

It's a Flyffy day today as the free-to-play game's newest expansion, "The Lost Continent" arrives on the servers and brings a whole new continent to the world.

Centering around a darker atmosphere than the upbeat game usually provides, the new continent of Shaduwar adds in some dark dungeons and dangerous new enemies to the game. But, that's not all. Finally, for the game being centered around flying characters since its inception, they're adding wings to the game. It only took them, what, four years to add wings to the game about flying? Better late than never, if you ask us.

Plus, Flyff users will now have incentive to log on and play in the form of a 35 day marathon "Play for Rewards" contest. All players have to do is simply log onto Flyff each day for one hour, and the game will tally up the days you do this. Every five days, the game will provide you with a rewards pack, and on the 35th day of playing you'll be entered in to win a 50" HDTV. The team is giving 4 of those bad boys away, making this quest certainly worth the hour per day grind.

Flyff adds a new expansion, wings, and a reason to grind your life away originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Flyff expansion "Act V" to hit European servers

Seraphina Brennan — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Flyff, Expansions, Endgame, News items, Free-to-play

European Flyff followers of the German and French variety, you have fun to look forward to! Flyff's next expansion, Act V, is going to be adding two new dungeons and an entire new continent for you to explore! Not a bad addition at all for the low low price of free.

Flyff's new continent, the lands of Harmonin, is a land of beauty at first sight. The jungles are lush, the lands are beautiful, and the monsters are... deadly? The island, in truth, is a corrupted land that conceals a curse. High level monsters lurk in the wilds, waiting to feast on tender MMO adventurer flesh.

Continue reading Flyff expansion "Act V" to hit European servers

Flyff expansion "Act V" to hit European servers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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gPotato to unveil new project at GamesCom

Seraphina Brennan — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Flyff, Events, real-world, New titles, Rappelz, News items

The gPotato games portal, hosted by Gala Networks Europe in Dublin, Ireland, will be on hand in force for the upcoming GamesCom convention in Cologne where they will announce and unveil a new MMO project for the portal.

The new project, which will be demoed at the convention, comes with a tentative release date of early 2010. The genre or nature of the new project has not been released either, so it's anybody's guess as to what the new title will be.

gPotato currently hosts some of the more popular free-to-play MMOs, including Dragonica, Rappelz, Flyff, and Allods Online. Those four games will be on hand at the convention as well for demonstration, so it's sure to be a game filled good time over at the gPotato booth!

gPotato to unveil new project at GamesCom originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New race and a housing system are unveiled for the next expansion of Fly for Fun

Jon Shute — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Previews, Free-to-play

Fly For Fun, of Flyff as it's also known, is a manga styled game which bills itself as "the first free-to-play MMORPG to offer players the opportunity to fly around the world of Madrigal using magic brooms, bikes or skateboards" and has a new expansion arriving soon called "Act IV: New Shores". gPotato have unveiled two of the new features in this expansion, the Rainbow Race and the housing system.

The Rainbow Race will allow players to, once a week, sign up to the race and show off their flying skills while competing in various mini-games at each checkpoint in order to complete the race. Rewards from this race range from temporary buffs, gPotato cash shop items or precious Orichalques and Lunar Stones. Also being added is player housing, which will allow players to create a customized environment in which to socialize. Player housing will be available to all players of all levels for free.

New race and a housing system are unveiled for the next expansion of Fly for Fun originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 20 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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News from the Wider MMO World: September 2, 2008

Akela Talamasca — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Dark Age of Camelot, Dreamlords, Fallen Earth, Flyff, Events, in-game, Expansions, Forums, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Massively Meta, Saga, Grand Chase

The MMO genre is more than World of Warcraft, Age of Conan, and Warhammer Online. Here's what's going on in the rest of the world.

Dreamlords the Reawakening makes deal to move to Russia
Lockpick Entertainment has signed an agreement with Akella Games, Russian distributors of Planetside, Everquest 2, and Pirates of the Burning Sea, to localize and distribute Dreamlords the Reawakening. "Our goal is to reach out to new audiences and the Russian market is fast growing and with Akella's expertise we're able to do just that," said David Rosén, CEO of Lockpick Entertainment. "We hope that collaboration between our two companies will benefit both parties and that such an interesting genre will draw gamer's attention" said Alexander Trifonov, Managing Director of Akella Online. Closed beta testing is expected to begin in early September.

Pet Evolution Manuals debut on Grand Chase
Three different Pet Evolution Manuals are available at the shop in Grand Chase, allowing knights to evolve their pets at levels 0, 20, and 40. There will also be prizes for each knight that evolves and raises their pet to level 10. Prizes for winning pets include nutrient shots, pet food, gacha coins, and pet skills. Additionally, players who log on between the hours of 4 and 8 PM every day will receive double xp and double gp, in the Afterschool Adventure Hour.

Continue reading News from the Wider MMO World: September 2, 2008

News from the Wider MMO World: September 2, 2008 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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O Death, where is thy sting?

Akela Talamasca — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Real life, Anarchy Online, City of Heroes, Flyff, Guild Wars, Lord of the Rings Online, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, Opinion, Second Life, Massively Meta, Roleplaying

What does your choice of playing a warrior say about you as a person? Probably not a lot, considering that you're likely to try many different classes during the course of your stay in any given MMO. Or, to turn it around: what can you tell about the person driving that warrior you just saw run by? Taken like that, the intent behind this question becomes more obvious. We've gotten the 'roleplaying' part down solid. You choose to play a particular role -- which in this case we might re-term 'function' -- and that gets some emotional response. We drive our avatars around with varying degrees of personal investiture in them, but sometimes it feels to me as though we're merely cogs in a great machine, bent toward the purpose of simply furthering gameplay, rather than participating in a greater story with far-reaching consequences. And if it isn't Guild Wars, it's Flyff. If it isn't City of Heroes, it's Anarchy Online. The mechanisms are the same, the quests are similar. Visuals aside, where is the uniqueness? What's the point? Where is the purpose?

What is it that makes watching a good movie so engaging, and why is that not inherent in MMO gameplay? Why is there so much more of an emotional investment in a good book than in your game of choice? No matter how much you may enjoy playing your character, there is an inherent element that's lacking. Is it the uniqueness of personality?

Continue reading O Death, where is thy sting?

O Death, where is thy sting? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Impressions: Flyff

Akela Talamasca — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: At a glance, Fantasy, Galleries, Flyff, Game mechanics, Opinion, Hands-on, Casual, Massively Hands-on, First Impressions

Flyff is a play-for-free 3D MMO with that anime style that today's youth hungers for. In my quest to devour all MMOs in existence, I took it upon myself to give Flyff a shot. Akela: He plays weird stuff so you don't have to.

Here's the immediate take-away: Even though their tagline is 'Fly for fun', it's not immediately clear how the flying will occur. A lot of their advertising features great-looking airships, people soaring through the air on their own, fabulous critters wafting along, etc. In my initial hour, though, Flyff gameplay followed the standard, whacking things with a sword until they dropped loot like so many naughty piñatas.

Gallery: Flyff

Continue reading First Impressions: Flyff

First Impressions: Flyff originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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