I don't report all MMORPG updates, but this happens to be one I recommend in my free alternatives to WoW article.  The major change that I see is minimum PvP level is now 30.  You automatically are PvP enabled at this level and are basically playing on a PvP server at that point.  It used to be 15.  I think this is a good change, because it gives players more time to get used to the game.  Here's the rest of the changes:

-Option Window updated
(For Effect Advanced, skill effect changed to have On/Off instead of High/Med/Low)
(New option added "Loot Item" which turns on Monster loot item names when dropped)
-New Launcher updated (Window Vista compatibility)
-Emotes for German/French version fixed
-Numerous localisation updates
-Archlord skills for German/French version now working
-Catapult deadspots fixed
-PK level restriction changed from 15 to 30
-Items not in game but in AH removed
(Shield items above level 71, Armour set above level 83)
-Rensphere map data changed
-Packet and login process changed
-Level up message changed for PvP
-Guild window text changed (Guild/Guild member information)
-Various collision issues resolved
-Change text on Chantra passport from 'Prohibited Mine’ to 'Forbidden Mine’
-Guild Npcs restored (players will be able to use the various npc features again)

Official Archlord Site

Archlord Review

Done with with Portal and Episode 2?  Looking for something to play?  Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat is a total conversion mod for Half-Life 2 built on the source engine.   According to my research and Steam stats, it is the most popular third-party mod for Half-Life 2 with 213 servers and 5.6 million minutes played per month.  Beta 2 is being released hopefully in the early days of November and a video has been released showing some of what you'll get in this new release.  Here's some notes:

• New Commander Promotion System*
• New Weapon: M4A1 Assault Rifle with Front Grip (USMC)
• New Weapon: AKS74U (Insurgents)
• New Weapon: Al-Kadesiah Sniper Rifle (Insurgents)
• New Weapon: SKS Simonov Self-Loading Carbine (Insurgents)
• New Map: Ins_Samawah
• New Player Customization and Weapon's Selection Systems
• New Navigation Indicators**
• New Overhead Map

*The New Commander Promotion System gives the best player in each team the chance of becoming Commander. He will be able to accept or deny the promotion. If he doesn't accept it, the next best player will get its chance to command its team.

**The New In-game Navigation Indicators will help you a great deal in navigating through the maps, finding objectives and following your commander's orders. You can see the new system in most of the following screenshots.

And here's the video:

ZBoard, the customized PC gaming keyboard, is on sale over at GoGamer.com for a low $39.99.  You can usually find it for around $45-$50, but this deal also comes with a World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade keyset, which would normally be an extra $20.  This basically means that keys like targeting friends, looking at maps, and opening bags are already set up and labeled for you.  So you get the gaming keyset, a normal keyboard keyset, and a Burning Crusade keyset in this package.  You can also swap out other keysets made especially for games like Counter-Strike, Call of Duty 2, and Age of Empires 3.  It also has a lot of other features you'd expect in a PC gaming keyboard like:

USB Hub
Your Zboard Base is equipped with 2 USB (BUS powered) connectors. This HUB supports low voltage devices (up to 100mA) such as mice, joystick or memory sticks.

Now you can plug devices directly to your Zboard without the hassle of crawling down to your PC.

Hot Keys
A set of nine hot keys launch common functions such as E-Mail, Calculator and My Computer or allow you to instantly return to a pre-selected destination, such as a file, folder, program or web page.

Multimedia Controls
A set of 7 one-touch multimedia control buttons including play and pause, stop, next and previous track, volume and mute.

Additional LED Indicators
In addition to the standard 3 LED (Caps, Scroll and Num lock) Zboard has additional 3 LEDs to indicate Zboard enhanced functionality (Pad Lock, Bar Lock and Enable)

Macro Enabled Keys
Perform multiple actions and reveal emotions like laughing and roaring in victory at the push of a button.

Group Commands into Two Zones
The Game Window Zone and Chat command Zone... yell or whisper, your Spell Book and access to Character interface commands are all within easy reach.

Custom Labeled Commands
Make it easy to interact with a detailed world. Easily select weapons, cast spells and target who will feel your wrath or goodwill.

This offer is only good for this week, so pick yours up today over at GoGamer. 

ZBoard PC Gaming Keyboard Plus Burning Crusade Keyset

Planeshift is a 3D MMORPG that isn't just free, it's source code is freely available to anyone that wants it.   It'll be a great game to participate in once it gets closer to release, but for now, it's a great way for new game developers to witness an mmorpg being developed and be able to actually go through the code that makes it work.  An update was released this week that takes it to version 0.30.20 (yeah, that's a long way from 1.0) and a MACOSX client was released.  It is still a tech demo and not a complete game, but any open-source mmorpg that is this far along in the project deserves support.  Here are some of the new features:

- Duels aren’t deadly anymore. You will knock a player down and then you will receive a message asking if you want to kill the player or not.
- Banking: Players will now be able to open a personal bank account. Guildleaders will also be able to open a guild bank account and set permission who can access the account.
- New characters will now enter a tutorial-world when they login.
- The Death Realm is now cursed!
- Authors are now able to name their books.
- Only the author of a book or sketch can now edit it. This ONLY applies to books and sketches bought AFTER the .20 release!
- Equipping helmets will now remove the hair mesh.
- Various fonts were changed to ones with a better (GPL) license.
- Work started on taxing.

Planeshift uses an open-source 3D engine called Crystal Space.  You can find a complete list of bugfixes and new additions at the Planeshift forums.  From the site, here's 10 reasons you should be playing Planeshift:

1. Planeshift is a great place to find new friends from all over the world!
2. PlaneShift is a virtual world where you've always dreamed of living.
3. PlaneShift is the first 3D MMORPG to be fully free for players.
4. Thanks to our open development process the game will be expanded endlessly for years to come.
5. Planeshift is a game made by roleplayers to bring you all the immersion you need from a virtual world.
6. A unique setting, realistic combat rules, great magic system.
7. No budgetary constraints will stop development of the world or prevent the addition of new ideas.
8. You will be able to build your house, your castle, your realm.
9. You have the option to live as an adventurer or as a normal citizen - both paths will be rewarded in the game.
10. You can submit comments, ideas, bugs and the dev team will take those into account in future releases.

You can get lots more information about Planeshift at the official site.  If you are a game developer, they are always looking for help on furthering the project. 

Here's a video, since this game is still a tech demo, a lot of RP players seem to like it.

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Do you use XFire?  With 8.3 million registered users, I have recently started to take notice of this PC gaming application and I really like the features that it gives you.  This is probably going to sound like a paid review, but it really isn't.  I think this tool has really developed into something you might be interested in, assuming you don't use it already.  What is it?  Well, let me let them explain it to you:

Xfire^TM is a new, free tool that automatically keeps track of when and where gamers are playing PC games online and lets their friends join them easily. It works regardless of game type, server browser, or gaming service that a player is using. Xfire eliminates the hassles of running multiple programs like IRC, instant messengers, or in-game friends lists to keep track of when and where a gamer's friends are playing. It supports the best and the latest online PC games including server- and non-server-based First Person Shooters, Real Time Strategy, and Role Playing Games.

Basically, it's like a gaming instant messenger and hybrid social network all wrapped into one.  The best feature is that you can track your friends.  I know, there are several programs like All-Seeing Eye and the Steam Community that do this very same thing, but I like XFire's small compact package on my desktop.  Got a friend playing Counter-Strike: Source?  In one click, it opens the game and joins the server that he's on.  It also has features like voice chat, instant-messaging while you play, and automatically downloads patches to your games for you. 

XFire also has gaming events like a live chat with Flagship Studios about their newest release Hellgate:London and a chat and play event with the PMS clan as a part of their two-day women and gaming event.  They have done several gaming events and dev chats over the past few months with a lot of different PC games, so if you love competition, this may satisfy some of your hunger. 

XFire also keeps up with what you play and what you play the most.  I found the statistics on the site the most interesting feature.  The number 1 MMORPG is, of course, World of Warcraft.  The number 1 first-person shooter was a surprise to me, Call of Duty 2.  Counter-Strike: Source did come in a strong second though.  Some free games also made the list.  Silkroad Online, Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, WarRock, Maple Story, and Flyff all made the top 20 most played games according to the stats they gather.   WarRock is quickly becoming on of the most played first-person shooters, and it's free!  Of course, some games come with XFire in their download, so I would expect those games to be at an advantage in the statistics.

Along with stats, you can embed your miniprofile in forums and on other sites to let everyone know what your playing at any time.  Here's an example:

It also has the ability to automatically save screenshots you take in game to your online profile.  You can then add these through a screenshot widget to your blog or website.  Check out Xfire at http://www.xfire.com