Pcgamer did a trial on 60 of the free mmo’s available at  the moment and the following are the 9 out of them that are actually worth playing, they all look kinda cool… but the proof is in the playing. Try them out and let us know in the forum whether they are any good or not….

Crime Craft

Sort of like GTA except with more crime and less driving around. It uses the Unreal Engine 3 and isn’t set to be released until Spring of 2009, so its about a year away but it’ll be free to play.
http://www.crimecraft.com

Mythos

No suprise to see Mythos making the list. We’ve covered Mythos before, but if your not familiar with it it’s a Diablo2 clone, but a MMORPG instead of a regular RPG.
http://www.mythos.com

Requiem: Bloodymare

An extremely gory and bloody horror MMORPG that lives up to its name. Originally created in South Korea the game has made its way to western audiences. Currently the game is in Beta, but will be released shortly.
http://www.playrequiem.com

Dungeon Runner

A comical MMORPG that is a lot of fun to play and is free as long as you allow them to run an ad banner while your playing. However for only $4.99/month you have the option to remove that.
http://www.dungeonrunners.com

Sword of the New World: Granado Espada

An MMORPG with an anime look that at one point had a monthly fee but is now free to play. Sword of the New World allows you to control up to 3 characters which separates it from all the other MMOs out there.
http://swordofthenewworld.com

Holic

Currently in open beta, Holic is a MMO with a very cutsie look. What seperates this game from others is that users are able to create there own dungeouns and quests once they get far enough into the game.
http://holic.netgame.com

Shaiya: Light and Darkness

We covered Shaiya before so its no suprise to us that PC Gamer selected it as one of the best free games out there. Shaiya concentrates on long term development of your character and heavy PvP action. If you ever played Lineage, this game is right up your alley.
http://shaiya.aeriagames.com

Fiesta

Another anime inspired MMORPG from Korea, however this one suffers from horribly translated dialog. Aside from the bad translations, Kiesta is a good looking game with solid game play.
http://fiesta.outspark.com

Cabal Online

A solid fantasy MMORPG that doesn’t really make any breakthroughs, but features good gameplay, story and PvP via duels. Considering its free to play, if your looking for a casual free fantasy MMO, this could be the one for you.
http://www.cabalonline.com

source - PCGAMER / mmocrunch.com

As part of its continued interest in chronicling the world of video game achievements and accomplishments, Guinness World Records™ will be closely watching the release of Grand Theft Auto IV as a potential record-breaking phenomenon.

Easily one of the most anticipated games of the year and biggest releases in the entertainment industry, the GTA franchise is no stranger to the famed pages of Guinness World Records. Ever since the franchise released its first third-person game with Grand Theft Auto III, the series has been racking up record after record.

• First Full “Sandbox” Action-Adventure- GTA III
• Biggest Selling Game of 2001- GTA III
• Biggest Selling Game of 2002- GTA: Vice City
• Best-selling Playstation 2 game of all time- GTA: Vice City
• Best-selling PSP game of all time- GTA: Liberty City Stories
• Largest in-game soundtrack- GTA: San Andreas
• Largest Voice Cast in a video game- GTA: San Andreas
• Most Guest Stars In A Video Game Series- Grand Theft Auto Franchise

With fans counting down the hours to GTA IV’s debut, it will only be a matter of time until a new record is added to that impressive list.

For more information on these and other exciting video game records, pick up the inaugural, Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition 2008, on sale now

Lizard Interactive announced its eagerly waited commencement of Open Beta for Sho Online. A free-to-play Oriental Fantasy MMORPG is scheduled to launch its Open Beta on April 30, 2008 after its successful CBT held last March.

Sho Online Team has finally unlocked its sealed door for all to participate in the breathtaking battle field of ancient land of China. Based on true Chinese epic tale of war which took place between the two nations ‘Yin’ and ‘Zhou’, legendary monsters, forgotten heroes, and countless items with mystical power are now about to reincarnate.

Sho Online Team shows great appreciation to the CBT testers for their active participations and suggestions. After necessary modifications are made, Sho Online Team is confident with solid contents and more ready than ever. Sho Online Team has prepared 3 Opening Thank you events along with Open Beta test, ‘Quest for Mysterious Talisman’, ‘Who’s the best?, and ‘The King of the Forum’.

Sho Online Team says “We thank you very much for your kind interest in Sho Online and we have prepared a very special event which was not originally scheduled with Open Beta Service. Some of you will have a chance to win unique in game item which will be tempting and hard to resist. You can win it only through this event. It is one time only and final.” Details are posted at official website www.shoonline.net

Self-developed engine for Sho Online is the latest design and it offers flexible camera angles and smooth interface. Special factor to be emphasized is that this innovative engine system makes it possible even for users with low computer spec to run full 3D games with high quality graphics without lag.

Sho Online server operates on Linux system where single server can accommodate up to 4,000 simultaneously and 1,000 players can play in a single map in comfortable game play environment.

Open Beta Service of Show Online will be open to all gamers 100% free to play. Visit and register account at www.shoonline.net and you are all set to go. Open Beta Service will start on the 30th April; however, Game clients will be available for its download starting 28th April. In order to avoid heavy traffic, it is advised to download the game client in advance.
 

Hertfordshire, UK- APRIL, 2008 - KOEI today announced the release of Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI and Samurai Warriors 2 on PC. Following on from the release of Warriors Orochi on PC earlier this year KOEI continues to bolster its PC line up with some in depth strategy from the award winning Romance of the Three Kingdoms series and spectacular battlefield action from the multi-million selling Warriors series. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI will be available to buy on July 25, 2008, and Samurai Warriors 2 will be available to buy on June 27, 2008.

“We’re constantly striving to bring our games to as wide an audience as possible and our move into the PC arena is a very important step for KOEI in Europe.” Said Will Curley, Sales Manager. “The PC is an integral part of the games industry and we look forward to entertaining PC gamers with our unique brand of action and strategy. Games like Romance of the Three Kingdoms are perfectly suited to the PC with its mouse control and an environment where deep tactical gaming is so fondly appreciated. Samurai Warriors 2 on the other hand gives PC gamers the chance to experience an incredible series that has been entertaining console gamers worldwide with sales of over 15 million to date.”

About ROMANCE OF THE THREE KINGDOMS XI
From legendary video game producer Kou Shibusawa comes his next historical simulation masterpiece! Rediscover an ancient civilization with an explosive history in this most stunning edition of Romance of the Three Kingdoms to date. Set during the end of the Han Dynasty and the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D., RTK XI presents the most visually captivating evolution ever seen in the history of the series. Featuring an artistic style evocative of classical Chinese ink-paintings, and with debates and duels now rendered in real-time 3D animation, RTK XI pushes the boundaries and blurs the line between video games and art in this stunning recreation of the mood and feel of ancient China.

Players will need to dig deep within to prove themselves adept at both the military and political arts in order to bring China under one rule. Domestic affairs, diplomacy and warfare are all conducted on a single vast 3D relief map, dramatically bringing to life the epic scale of the adventure that lies before them.

As the ruler of a kingdom, each player will have complete control over their territories. More than 40 base commands give players the power to govern cities, manage their personnel, practice diplomacy, and much more. Complete freedom to develop markets, shipyards, outposts, forts and military units expand on the already substantial benchmarks established by previous editions of the series. Finally, players will watch the era come to life through the unique individual personalities of more than 780 officers and supporting characters that they will meet and interact with while engaged in one of RTK XI’s eight gripping scenarios

For improved control over each military campaign, RTK XI’s turn-based game play allows the player to plan their movements without undue time constraints, and then execute their battle tactics when ready. RTK XI also introduces an entirely new system for researching military techniques, as well as an Advanced Tactics System that allows players to drive or lure enemies into devastating ambushes. Skilled players will be able to link together tactics for maximum damage.

About SAMURAI WARRIORS 2
For anyone who thought attacks couldn’t get much more devastating or more spectacular than the fully charged Musou think again! Samurai Warriors 2 now gives you the chance to max out your Musou gauge not once, not twice but three times. This adds an exciting new element of strategy as players can choose between saving up their Musou potential until the awesome power of a three bar attack has been reached or using what you have at the time to get yourself out of a sticky situation. It’s now up to the player whether they can resist the urge to unleash their Musou for a quick explosion of power and wait for the ultimate in devastating battlefield power and pyrotechnics.

Extra spice has been added to the massed battles with the addition of a greater variety of enemy forces. Visually the troops will present a much more diverse spectacle so that different soldiers can be easily recognized and react with a multitude of additional animations. These more varied enemies will also offer greater diversity in attack with different squads preferring to attack in their own particular style making encounters far less predictable.

Levelling up has always been a big part of the Samurai Warriors experience but not until now have players been able to level up within a particular level. No longer will you have to wait until a mission has been completed to benefit from your characters newly acquired abilities. Now you can witness the benefits immediately and unleash your new abilities without any pause in the action.

However, it is not only through your combat abilities on the battlefield that you will be rewarded with an even stronger, more able warrior. You now have greater choice in just how you boost your character’s skills by also being able to level up by stealing from enemy officers under specific conditions and purchasing abilities with any gold you’ve managed to accumulate.

A brand new mode called Sugoroku is added to the usual array of play modes and challenges in the shape of a traditional board game. Except this board game isn’t just about rolling dice and moving pieces from square to square. Every single place on the board hides a specific challenge or battle that players will have to engage in in order to take control of that particular square. Up to four players can take part in this mode and it should provide a lengthy challenge as it combines elements of everything from within Samurai Warriors 2 all wrapped up within one totally unique board game experience.

Key Features
 

• 26 playable characters in all! 10 new warriors are ready for battle including the legendary Musashi Miyamoto, the unifier of Japan Ieyasu Tokugawa, and the enigmatic ninja Kotaro Fuma.
• Brand new fighting techniques for each warrior add much more depth to the battles. Set traps, summon ninja decoys, and more!
• For the first time players have the ability to power up their Musou gauge up to three times for some truly spectacular and awesomely powerful attacks!
• Now castle warfare blends seamlessly with field combat. Take control of castles on the battlefield to gain a significant morale advantage.
• Experience new tales in Story, Free, and Survival modes. Team up with friends for two-player Co-op play or compete with them at “Sugoroku,” a bonus party game for up to four players.
• Over 70 cinematic sequences supervised by Shinsuke Sato, director of the cult hit, “The Princess Blade” and new music from fusion artist Minoru Mukaiya.

The award winning continuous time strategy game just got better!

Staten Island, NY, April 28th, 2008 – Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Panther Games (www.panthergames.com) are pleased to announce that the critically acclaimed Conquest of the Aegean has received a fourth update. This update includes a few minor fixes to issues related to victory point calculations and the handling of static units that were discovered since the third update.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “The Highway to the Reich engine on which Conquest of the Aegean is based continues to excite and entertain gamers and shows no signs of abating. The latest update includes just a few small tweaks but will nevertheless improve the already groundbreaking gameplay found in Conquest of the Aegean. If you want to experience the most realistic operational command simulation on the market, give Conquest of the Aegean a try!”

In Conquest of the Aegean, players get to take on the role of either an Allied or German commander during World War II and match their wits against either a computer controlled opponent or a human opponent via LAN or the internet. You can play as the Allies in a desperate fight to maintain a foothold on the southern flank of Europe using the mountainous Greek terrain to achieve concealment and surprise. Or, the for the more aggressive commanders among us, you can fight as the Axis who are tasked with driving as hard and fast as possible into Greek territory to assure an expedient and inexpensive victory.

Based on the very successful Airborne Assault: Highway to the Reich, this operational “pausable continuous time” strategy game represents a major step forward from its predecessor. Not only does Conquest of the Aegean take you to a new theatre of the Second World War, but also major changes to the game have been made engine to make it an even more detailed and realistic recreation of WWII combat. To breathe fresh life into Airborne Assault while still capturing the strategically intense but fun gameplay that came with previous titles in the series, Conquest of the Aegean includes a realistic resupply system, a vastly enhanced interface, and improved weather patterns, all complemented by 20 brand new maps and 30 brand new scenarios.

Also, keep your eyes open for the upcoming new release Battles from the Bulge, also from Panther Games and Matrix Games!

Get more information on Conquest of the Aegean from its product page. The update will bring the game to version 3.4.151 and is comprehensive.
 

Beckett Massive Online Gamer announces the first issue of a bi-annual series

DALLAS (April 25, 2008) — Beckett Media LP is proud to announce the introduction of a brand new bi-annual title, Beckett Entertainment Plus, which will delve deeply into a single Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game (MMORPG) each issue. The first issue, entitled Beckett Massive Online Gamer Presents: Ultimate Guide to World of Warcraft, incorporates a wide variety of guides and information about the MMORPG World of Warcraft, which has over 10 million paying subscribers across the globe and is considered the largest in the history of MMORPGs.

Beckett MOG Presents: Ultimate Guide to World of Warcraft caters to both casual players, with detailed 1-70 leveling guides that will aid adventurers as they traverse the dangerous terrain of both Azeroth and Outland, and hardcore players, with extensive boss strategies on most of the major 10-man and 25-man dungeons and tips for crafting the perfect build for every class and every play style. In addition, all types of players will enjoy the updated guide to everything currently known about World of Warcraft’s next expansion, Wrath of the Lich King, news about upcoming World of Warcraft products, and a beautiful double-sided poster that features a group of raiders facing off against Magtheridon on one side and an extensive image guide to the rare and epic cards in the newest World of Warcraft Trading Card Game expansion, Servants of the Betrayer, on the other.

“Over the past several years, my staff of editors and writers have been questing and fighting their way not only to level 70, but to the top of their game,” said Doug Kale, Editorial Director of Massive Online Gamer. “This is where Beckett Massive Online Gamer Presents: Ultimate Guide to World of Warcraft comes into play. We’ve compiled all of the most up-to-date and easy-to-read class, dungeon and leveling guides for both Alliance and Horde players that will help them face and overcome the incredible challenges that the game has to offer.”
“Plus,” he added, “with Wrath of the Lich King coming out in the near future, players will need to hit level 70 and be prepared for the adventures that await them.”

To purchase a copy of Beckett Massive Online Gamer Presents: Ultimate Guide to World of Warcraft, click here: http://www.beckett.com/item/60572524/. Further information about this title and Beckett Massive Online Gamer can be found on their website: http://www.beckettmog.com/.
 

Online entertainment company KingsIsle Entertainment, Inc. today uncloaked after three years of lock down secrecy. The company has had a team of more than 100 Austin and Dallas based employees, including top creative talent, working on multiple massively multiplayer online (MMO) projects under a cone of silence.

Formed in early 2005 by veterans from both gaming and technology, KingsIsle is led by chairman and chief executive officer Elie Akilian, and President David Nichols. Heading up development are Todd Coleman, a key creative mind behind the MMO Shadowbane and creative director Tom Hall, co-founder of well known game companies id Software and ION Storm. The first project is headed by Todd and is expected to enter beta this spring. Another release headed by Tom will be announced at a later date.

"We founded KingsIsle with an approach that fosters ingenuity," said Elie Akilian. "Our focus is in the online environment and will continue to be so in the future. We’ve pulled together some of the most creative minds around and given them room to push boundaries and create superlative entertainment experiences. We’ll continue to build on that base of originality."

Prior to KingsIsle, Akilian co-founded Inet Technologies, Inc. in 1989, and took the company public in 1999. He served as its President and Chief Executive Officer from April 1999 until the sale of the company to Tektronix, Inc., in September 2004.

Nichols brings to KingsIsle a wide variety of experience in operations, publishing, and financial management. Prior to joining KingsIsle, Nichols was with Midway Games Inc., and subsidiaries from 1995 to 2004. Most recently, he served as Midway’s Senior Vice President - Administration and Operations.

Todd Coleman was most recently the President of Wolfpack Studios, Inc., creators of the MMO title Shadowbane, until its sale to Ubisoft Entertainment in early 2004. Before becoming Wolfpack’s President, he was their Vice President responsible for managing the game design team, building and maintaining their online player community and publisher relations.

Coming from a 15-year stretch of successful game development, Tom Hall’s contribution to KingsIsle is his immensely creative imagination that allows him to envision entire gaming worlds and character designs that are unique in the game industry. His games have been played by millions and include the Commander Keen series, Wolfenstein 3D, Spear of Destiny, DOOM, Rise of the Triad and Anachronox.