Journal: Edition of March 2011

• Bloodline Champions has been patched to version 1.1. The update includes among other things new tournament modes. Click here to discover the full list of modifications (source).

• Funcom announced here that it has fully rewritten its Dreamworld game engine. It should “provide major performance improvements on high-end computers, as well as enabling more visual features on lower-end machines“. It also now incorporates server-side NVIDIA PhysX technology. The server-side technology processes in-game physics more than twice faster than the client-side technology would do, resulting in more realistic collision effects. Age of Conan currently uses this version of Dreamworld (preview here) (by the way, additional content for Age of Conan is scheduled to coincide with the new Conan movie, apparently August 2011). The Secret World will use the same version of Dreamworld. NVIDIA APEX Clothing and APEX Destruction might be added to the engine later.

GAME INFORMATION

• Regarding the Overlook Motel picture below from TSWonline.de, Dartfrog noticed there’s “a blue Eye of Ra spray painted on the wall” next to the character (source).

• Funcom released its first TSW newsletter here. It has also been sent by e-mail to secret society members (source).

GENERAL INFORMATION

• Divided-Allegiance has been announced. This multi-gaming guild exists since 1999. It intends to focus on PvE and PvP. It recruits mature players for all time zones. It hasn’t decided yet its alignment. Announcement divided-allegiance.com/forums

• Sanctuary has been announced by Prelucid. This guild is a spin-off group of /x/ which is a gathering of fans of paranormal activity, conspiracies, cryptids, etc. /x/ counts 100+ members. The guild might split in 3 cabals in order to be present in the 3 factions (source). Announcement tsw.prelucid.com

• Darkhelm.com is a fansite created by Dunraven. It recounts the stories of Darkhelm Investigations, an agency which uses both scientific method and druidic and shamanic rituals in order to solve inquiries on unexplained events. The website contains short news about the agency but also a password-protected diary alluding to a location presented in TSW. People have to find the password by themselves. Darkhelm Investigations is an ode to Blackwood Detective Agency which is a fictional organization from the Call of Cthulhu Collectible Card Game (source). Announcement

• The Secret World Wiki (TSWW) has now a game overview and a FAQ (source). The Secret World Wiki is hosted by CGN. crygaia.net/wiki

• Aedes Caelestis has now a FAQ (source). aedescaelestis.com

• Animosity is a multi-gaming guild present in several MMOs, FPSs, RTSs and even PnP games. Members are 18+ mature, skilled and dedicated gamers based all over the world (US, EU, AU). Announcement animosity-guild.net

CABALS

• Les Fiscalistes announced here its Twitter account: twitter.com/ShinJayKyung. DDCG thread sites.google.com/site/fiscallistes

• Hidden Mist has been announced by untraceable1. Announcement

• Kara no Kyoukai is led by yukazunori. This cabal is inspired by the eponym anime. It therefore is an investigation agency dedicated to solving the occult & the unknown. RPing is welcomed but not compulsory. Although this is an Oceanic cabal, it accepts people from everywhere. Announcement

• Polarbears is a mature Scandinavian cabal which speaks Danish, Norwegian and Swedish only. It focuses on PvE content and will do some PvP. It won’t RP. Announcement polarbears.no

• Wyvern Lodge will be mainly active on the Western European Timezone (GMT/BST). It will focus on investigation, infiltration and RP. It allows socialising and OOC chat. Announcement

CABALS

• The Black Code is led by MinDsweep. The guild exists since 2007 (although some players knew each other since 2005/2006) and it intends to be active in The Secret World and Star Wars: The Old Republic. The guild will focus on PvE, PvP and RP. It has released three trailers and a song: trailer #1, trailer #2, trailer #3, song (source). Announcement theblackcode.guildlaunch.com

• Lux Syndicate is led by Wynand. It describes itself as a friendly and mature cabal focusing on PvE, PvP and RP in the American and European timezones. Announcement luxsyndicate.mmoguildsites.com

• Bloodpact is a big 6 year old guild for hard core gamers. However, Merc indicated on March 8th, 2011 that in TSW the guild intends to be a small laid-back cabal. He explained that he needed “a break and a game to actually enjoy without making the sacrifices being hard core entails“. Bloodpact had already expressed its intention to be present on May 5th, 2010 in fewer words (source). Announcement

• ISP – Illuminati Service Providers is the new cabal led by Cinq who previously founded Eight. The cabal will specialize in collecting information, exploration, PvE, PvP, merchandising and crafting. It intends to get contracts from other Illuminati. In order to join, applicants must be older than 21, mature, present in game, check the forums regularly and keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to have fun. The cabal is hosted within The Black Market’s forums. Announcement

• Ravenlock announced here the release her new trailer on Tumblr and YouTube.

CABALS

• Conventio Spes released its logo in its OP and a trailer (source). conventio-spes.webs.com

• Aedes Caelestis released its logo in its OP. aedescaelestis.com

• Light’s Hope has been announced by nephilim2001. This European cabal focuses on PvE and PvP. It recruits mature players only. All members must be over 18 years old. Announcement lightshope.mygamesonline.org

• The Steel Sword is back! Led by Screenfox, this cabal is for medium to hard core gamers. Announcement thesteelsword.mmoguildsites.com