Turbine issued a press release late yesterday announcing the launch of their third major update for Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited. More free content, a new casual mode, and some festive items incoming:
TURBINE LIFTS LEVELING RESTRICTIONS AND DELIVERS MORE FREE CONTENT TO DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE®: EBERRON UNLIMITEDâ„¢
The Best Free-to-Play MMO* Launches Third Major Update
WESTWOOD, MA February 3, 2010 — Turbine, Inc. today released the third update to Dungeons & Dragons Online®: Eberron Unlimitedâ„¢ (DDO Unlimited), the world’s best free-to-play massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG). Following on the news that it has been named the Best Free-to-Play MMO of 2009, DDO Unlimited’s newest update rewards players for their support with several new free high-level dungeons, two new in-game events, the introduction of the new Casual playing mode, and the removal of leveling sigils to allow players unrestricted access all of the free content throughout the game.
(2009 was a phenomenal year for DDO. We launched successfully to critical acclaim and have received several awards that have firmly established DDO Unlimited as the best free-to-play MMO in the world,) said Fernando Paiz, Executive Producer of DDO Unlimited. (The best free-to-play game just got better as our first update of 2010 is all about rewarding our players for their support by delivering more free content while also removing the leveling sigils that were required to advance through the game to make it even easier and more fun than ever to play DDO Unlimited!)
The third DDO Unlimited update introduces mind-bending new dungeons, a new play mode, and a lot more, including:
- More Free Content! — Players can now access even more free content with removal of leveling sigils from the game and the addition of several high-level dungeons for players up to level 18. These new dungeons will pit players against fearsome enemies including a marilith sorceress, an invading horde of Beholders, a black dragon and more! These new dungeons are free and available for all players immediately.
- Introducing Casual Mode The (Solo) difficulty option, previously limited to single characters on select adventures from level 1-6, has been removed and replaced with the new ‘˜Casual’ difficulty that is now available for all party-based adventures in DDO. This new setting will allow both solo players and parties to opt for a more casual play experience all the way through DDO’s level cap of 20.
- Win Prizes During Two New Live Events! Celebrate DDO’s fourth birthday by participating in two new in-game events:
- The Traveler’s Scavenger Hunt All characters in DDO will receive free tickets which can be redeemed in the Stormreach marketplace to gain (Traveler Sight) and participate in the scavenger hunt. While this spell is active, players will see magical objects which they will race to find throughout the market. Players are encouraged to use all of their tickets to maximize their score in the event before turning in a special (Traveler’s Blessing) item which will give players a chance to win special grand prize rewards.
- The Risia Ice Games Representatives of Risia will bring ice events to the tropic shores of Stormreach and reward daredevil adventurers with recipes and ingredients to craft wonderful winter-themed items. Special Ice Tokens can be acquired by playing the new ski-jump and half-pipe skating mini-games and traded for frost weapons, potions and spells.
- DDO Store Catalog Expands Players can now choose from a host of new items and improvements being added to the DDO Store including +1 Lesser Heart of Wood, Snowballs, Ski Lift Hot Cocoa and Candy Cane Ice Skates for the Winter Ice Festival and great specials on Turbine Point bundles. Many more great items will be added to the DDO Store in the weeks and months following Update 3.
DDO Unlimited is the award-winning free-to-play MMORPG which delivers heart-pounding game play featuring the industry’s best combat system, a massive world with state-of-the-art graphics and gameplay, and a rich set of features that until now could only be found in premium subscription-based MMOs. DDO Unlimited offers an innovative new pricing model that allows players to download and play for free, purchasing adventure packs, items, and account services a la carte from the new DDO Store, or to subscribe to get unlimited access to all of the game’s content. Players can download and play DDO Unlimited for free by visiting http://www.ddo.com.
DDO Unlimited is based on the world-renowned DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® franchise of Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc.® (NYSE: HAS), under license to Atari, SA. Published by Atari, Inc.®, DDO has been enthusiastically received by many gaming critics, including The New York Times, PC Gamer, Game Informer and many more. For the latest information, please visit www.ddo.com.
About Turbine
Turbine, Inc. is the premier creator and operator of massive, persistent online worlds that foster powerful social gaming communities. Turbine is the largest privately-held online gaming studio in North America and has created some of the world’s most popular and award-winning online games, including The Lord of the Rings Onlineâ„¢, Dungeons & Dragons Online®: Eberron Unlimitedâ„¢, and Asheron’s Call®. For more information on Turbine, its products and services please visit www.turbine.com.
About Atari, SA
Atari group is a global creator, producer and publisher of interactive entertainment for interactive game platforms that include PC, online, consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony and advanced smart phones (i.e. iphone). Divisions of Atari, SA include Cryptic Studios, Atari London Studio, Eden Studios, Atari Interactive, Inc. and Atari, Inc.
Atari benefits from its global brand and an extensive catalogue of popular games based on classic owned game franchises (Asteroids, Centipede, Missile Command, Lunar Lander), original owned franchises (Test Drive, Backyard Sports, Deer Hunter), MMO games from Cryptic Studios (Star Trek Online, Champions Online) and third party franchises (Ghostbusters, Project Runway, Dungeons and Dragons).
For more information please visit www.atari.com and http://corporate.atari.com
About Hasbro
Hasbro (NYSE: HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.
About Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS), is a worldwide leader in the trading card game and tabletop role-playing game categories, and a leading developer and publisher of game-based entertainment products. The company holds an exclusive patent on trading card games (TCGs) and their method of play and produces the premier trading card game, Magic: The Gathering®, among many other trading card games and family card and board games. Wizards is also a leading publisher of role-playing games, such as Dungeons & Dragons, and publisher of fantasy series fiction with numerous New York Times best-sellers. For more information, visit the Wizards of the Coast website at www.wizards.com.
