Lineage II World Size Increases 33%

[bapenguin]

NCsoft launches gigantic expansion for Lineage II, increasing its world by 1/3 the size.

Chronicle 4: Scions of Destiny, an expansion that adds 800 megabytes of new content and features to Lineage® II: The Chaotic Chronicletm, the market’s premier player-versus-player (PvP) massively multiplayer online PC game. The expansion is one of the largest updates released in the MMO industry and is free to current Lineage II subscribers.
Full Press Release Inside (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showpost.php?p=197597&postcount=2)

Free updates are good!

[bapenguin]

NCsoft launches gigantic expansion for Lineage II, increasing its world by 1/3





AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 9, 2006—NCsoft® North America has released Chronicle 4: Scions of Destiny, an expansion that adds 800 megabytes of new content and features to Lineage® II: The Chaotic Chronicletm, the market’s premier player-versus-player (PvP) massively multiplayer online PC game. The expansion is one of the largest updates released in the MMO industry and is free to current Lineage II subscribers.



Chronicle 4 adds several new major features to Lineage II, including the opening of the high-level hunting areas Rune and Godard, a new castle in Godard which players can attempt to seize, the nearly invincible fire dragon Valakas, and a fishing system that provides players with a profitable non-combat activity.



Also, Chronicle 4 rolls-out several features for high-level players including a third class transfer where players who reach level 76 may obtain more powerful and useful skills. Also introduced is a “hero and noblesse system” where level-75 players can compete in the Grand Olympiad, an extreme PvP challenge in which the winner is designated the rank of “hero” and receives new powerful weapons and a special heroic aura.



“Chronicle 4 packs in a huge amount of content that gives players the ultimate challenge whether they want PvP action in the Grand Olympiad or PvE adventures with the addition of Valakas the fire dragon,” said Adam Davidson, the North American producer of Lineage II. “Our last expansion made Lineage II more accessible to new players and Chronicle 4 rewards those who have been long-time participants. This new update rounds out a game that is one of the deepest and provides more action than just about any other MMO available.”



Lineage II was launched in 2004 and prior to Chronicle 4 had added more than 1.5 gigabytes of content free to subscribers.



Lineage II is available in a game time card package that includes a 60-day pre-paid Lineage II game time card and a game pack with the full version of Lineage II, including previous content expansions: Chronicle 1: Harbingers of War; Chronicle 2: Age of Splendor and Chronicle 3: Rise of Darkness. Additionally, players will find a 14-day free trial game code for purchasers to share with a friend.



The Lineage II sixty-day game time card packages are available at North American retailers and at the NCsoft online store for an estimated street price of US$29.99. To purchase the game or other Lineage II merchandise, go to the NCsoft store at: https://store.plaync.com .



For more information about Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle, go to: http://www.lineage2.com.



The game is rated Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board.



About NCsoft

NCsoft - North American is headquartered in Austin, Texas and is part of Korea-based NCsoft Corporation. NCsoft, with its own development and publishing offices in Texas and California, also works with subsidiaries and third party developers throughout North America to develop and publish innovative online entertainment software products. In 2004, the company launched two massively multiplayer titles on the same day last year: Lineage II and City of Heroes® and in 2005 the hit games Guild Wars® and City of Villains™ were released. In 2006, NCsoft is poised to launch two more massively multiplayer titles: Auto Assault® and Tabula Rasa™. More information about NCsoft can be found at http://www.PlayNC.com.

[bean19]

I'm sure this is good news to people who enjoyed the game despite it's intense grind and derivative gameplay, but there wasn't anything there to make me think that the grind has eased or that the gameplay has improved.

[Demize99]

"Free" updates that you've been buying every month.

Its a better model than SoE granted, but what MMO isn't? Subscription services will continue to grow in the future, simply because the constant revenue stream gives developers time to do what they want with the game.

[Klade]

Does anyone here actually play this game? I tried it in beta. I was able to grind at a very slow pace (even for low levels) for a few hours. But I kept dieing from griefers, so I gave it up and never looked back.

[Goronmon]

Does anyone here actually play this game? I tried it in beta. I was able to grind at a very slow pace (even for low levels) for a few hours. But I kept dieing from griefers, so I gave it up and never looked back.
I pretty much had the same experience. Farmers work in groups to grief anyone who interferes with their farming, even in the beta...

[MosBen]

Ahem < cough > ...Is this the patch that makes the game fun?

Zing!

[Heretic Machine]

This is one of the worst MMO's on the market currently... Free updates don't make up for that, but it's a nice touch.

[Salamande]

Never have I plaed an MMO that seemed more like a full-time job. (EVE Online might come close, but that one contains actual fun and camaraderie.)

[gawaintheblind]

I cranked up to lvl 30 pretty quick (within a month anyway) and just quit after that. I expected some kind of fundimental change in the gameplay at each milestone (20, 30) and instead just got different colored ants.

Pass.

[Thenetcase]

I've heard this game is a really bad drag.

I'll stick with City of Villains and Heroes :)

-TNC-

[Sion]

The nude patches are pretty good for it, though some amazing stuff has been coming out for WoW lately.

[Bushido]

Watching flies fuck is more fun than this game.

[Cyotik]

A few friends of mine played this game to about level 60 or so and they really enjoyed it, especially the siege aspect of the game. Apparantely if you get in a good guild the game can be very fun. Of course all my friends have long since jumped ship to WoW.

[Roc Ingersol]

It certainly ain't 'free'.

That said, I'm glad there's enough competition now, so companies actually have to deliver more value for the monthly fee.

[Murmillo]

The nude patches are pretty good for it, though some amazing stuff has been coming out for WoW lately.
I'm waiting for the nude Taruen patch...