En Masse Entertainment has announced that players will now have several options for playing TERA. Included in the new revenue model is a ‘subscription-free’ option as well as an ‘elite status’ option that gives 30-days of subscription-level play. The F2P option has no level cap or content restrictions. Current and former subscribers will be given permanent ‘founder status’ with exclusive benefits. The new plan goes into effect in February.

To celebrate this next chapter of TERA, En Masse Entertainment will be launching new in-game content, including a wave-based dungeon and a PvP battleground map that introduces a new way for players to test their skills against each other. The multi-stage Crucible of Flame dungeon challenges players with a series of epic, high-level battles culminating with a new boss fight against the immense Cyclops. This dungeon offers varying rewards based on performance. Additionally, more competitive players can take off in Champions’ Skyring, an all-new three-versus-three PvP battleground with some of TERA’s best PvP gear at stake.

Head to the TERA site for more information.

Starter, Premium and Ultimate Founders Packs Available Now for Early Access, Extra Loot and the Perfect Collection of Super Heroes

SAN MATEO, Calif. – January 9, 2013 – Marvel fans and gamers assemble! Gazillion Entertainment today announced the Founders Program for Marvel Heroes, the highly anticipated free-to-play MMO action-RPG launching in Spring 2013.  The Marvel Heroes Founders Program lets players purchase limited-edition digital Founders Packs for access to their favorite heroes, unique costumes, early game access, and in-game currency that can be used to buy even more heroes and costumes at launch. The value-packed Marvel Heroes Founders Program is available for purchase for a limited time only through Starter, Premium and Ultimate packs at http://presale.marvelheroes.com/presale_en_uk/.  

The Marvel Heroes Founders Program digital packs include:

Starter – There are 16 different Starter Packs available.  Each pack includes one of 16 Super Heroes to play at launch, one bonus costume for the chosen hero, £6 of in-game currency and two days head start prior to launch. Each Starter Pack will be available for £12.99. 

Premium – There are seven different Premium Packs available that will come equipped with a team of four heroes from across the Marvel Universe, including X-Force, Uncanny X-Men, Marvel Knights, Avengers, Marvel NOW, Marvel Classic and a special Deadpool pack (Why? Because he made us do it). Players will also receive four bonus costumes for their team, £20 in-game currency and four days head start prior to launch. The Premium Pack is available for £39.99.

Ultimate – The optimal value of the Founders Program, the Ultimate Pack includes access to ALL heroes available in Marvel Heroes at launch, ALL launch costumes plus four Ultimate Pack exclusive costumes (Maestro Hulk, Wolverine Weapon X, Spider-Man Symbiote and the Iron Man 3 Movie Armor), £32 in-game currency, seven days head start prior to launch, a permanent 5% experience boost, a permanent 5% item find boost, and more. The Ultimate Pack is available for £129.99. 

“Our team is hard at work to make sure Marvel Heroes is true to hardcore players, Marvel fans and the most casual of gamers through deep, MMO action-RPG gameplay, an expansive interactive storyline and easy-to-play experience,” said David Brevik, president and chief operating officer, Gazillion Entertainment. “We’ve built Marvel Heroes from the ground up to be a free-to-play game where players can find and collect nearly every hero and costume in the game just by playing.  The Founders Program gives players the opportunity to play as their favorite hero from the day we launch in addition to enough in-game currency to buy more heroes and costumes as we release new content.”

Marvel Heroes is created by David Brevik, the visionary behind Diablo and Diablo II, set in the expansive Marvel Universe. Featuring an original storyline created by Marvel super-scribe Brian Michael Bendis, players collect and play as iconic Marvel Super Heroes, including Iron Man, Thor, Wolverine, Hulk, Spider-Man, Captain America and many more. Players will be able to suit up as their favorite heroes in Spring 2013 to battle notorious Marvel Super Villains (Magneto, Doctor Octopus, Madame Hydra, the Kingpin and more) en route to stopping Doctor Doom from destroying the world with the power of the Cosmic Cube. 
Marvel Heroes will be available in Spring 2013 as a free download for PC and will be available for Mac OS post-launch. Marvel Heroes Founders Packs are available for purchase now at the following link: http://presale.marvelheroes.com/presale_en_uk/.

You can find out more information on Marvel Heroes at https://www.marvelheroes.com follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MMMSociety or like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/marvelheroes

Spotify has removed the ability to purchase downloads from its UK and European stores.

In a move aimed at simplifying the service, users attempting to download tracks will receive a message reading, “We’re currently not offering new download purchases on Spotify. You can still use downloads you’ve already purchased.”

Following the update, Spotify issued a short statement that read, “We recently updated Spotify to further simplify the service and pave the way for new features announced at the end of last year. In-app purchases aren’t part of this update but we’re not ruling out their return. Credits/gift cards already purchased are still redeemable.”

As the message above states, previously purchased downloads that haven’t been used can still be redeemed.

More information on the changes can be found on the ‘Music Purchases’ section of the Spotify FAQ page here

If you’ve already distributed your music with EmuBands, you can have your releases added to Spotify’s service; simply log in to your EmuBands account, view your release, and click ‘edit’ next to the contracts list.

Alternatively, to get your music on Spotify, simply click on the ‘Join Us Now’ link on the right hand side and be sure to select Spotify when adding your release.

EmuBands’ one-off distribution fee includes all stores we distribute to now and in the future, therefore opting into Spotify will not cost you anything.

According to a new developer blog on the official EVE Online site, the migration of current DUST 514 players into the EVE universe will begin “after a slightly longer than usual scheduled downtime” on Thursday, January 10th. DUST players can be recruited into corporations and will appear in General chat as well.

Besides just chatting about the weather or sharing battle stories, we are also introducing the first component of higher level gameplay as part of Faction Warfare. DUST mercenaries can accept contracts offered by the NPC Faction Warfare miltias and fight to attack or defend them in the form of corporation battles. These come with the risk of losing a collateral payment of ISK, but a victory will secure a district on one of the many temperate planets in Faction Warfare space. The more districts a militia has control over the fewer victory points will be required for EVE Faction Warfare pilots to take ownership of the system.

Read more about the interaction between the two games on the EVE Online site.

Already the winner of multiple E3 awards as one of the most anticipated new games of the year, Paramount Pictures and NAMCO Bandai Games today revealed the release date for STAR TREK The Video Game – April 26, 2013, in Europe and Australasia!

Moreover, the legion of eager Star Trek fans and gamers will be able to place their order soon, as STAR TREK The Video Game‘s preorder program will be starting in the coming weeks at participating retailers. STAR TREK will bring an original adventure to the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC at retailers and via digital download for PC and PlayStation 3.

All pre-orders for the game will include access to the “Elite Officer Pack,” which features exclusive items and unique uniforms for legendary characters Kirk and Spock, who play front and center in a completely new story created especially for  STAR TREK  The Video Game, written by BAFTA award winner Marianne Krawczyk.

The exclusive “Elite Officer Pack” will include:

–          Stealth Pack – Kirk and Spock stealth uniforms, plus Starfleet Type IV Stealth Sniper Rifle and extra ammo
–          Brawler Pack – Kirk leather jacket costume and Spock Vulcan Science Academy costume
–          Kelvin Pack – Kirk and Spock  U.S.S. Kelvin uniforms, plus  U.S.S. Kelvin Hand Phaser
–          Academy Pack – Kirk Academy Uniform, Spock Officer Dress Uniform, plus Academy Phaser
–          Kobayashi Maru Pack – Kirk and Spock  Kobayashi Maru uniforms

You can find out more about STAR TREK The Video Game at www.startrekgame.com.