The latest 9 Dragons clan preview is online!

This weeks' update deals with the sultry, mysterious and deadly Sacred Flower Clan. Comprised entirely of women (many scantily clad, it seems), this clan of beautiful assassins seeks to restore the balance of Yin and Yang in the Middle Kingdom - apparently by killing a whole lot of people.

It is said that, “For every action comes an opposite reaction,” and from that perceived act of discrimination made by Shaolin, there rose a clan of beautiful, deadly, female masters. Hence Sacred Flower’s motto, “If men rule the world, women must rule men!”

So now you understand why Sacred Flower disciples despise both Heavenly Demon and Shaolin, but you should know they are also spiteful of Wu-Tang Clan, who they feel have bastardized the Yin and Yang symbol to suggest that women (symbolized by Yin) encompass all the darker, negative aspects of the universe. Sacred Flower thereby opposes the white clans, and most men in general, as they strive to raise women’s current status in society with their fervent cult-like beliefs. Their revealing clothing is justified as a means to entreat, allure, and conquer men by enchantment. So what is perceived as their feminine weakness becomes part of their strength.

So, what have I learned from this latest update ( aside from the suspicious Sacred Flower / Secret Garden allusion I know you're all laughing up your sleeve about )?

1. The women of 9 Dragons are evil.

2. These women will use their femine mystique to dominate men, and...

3. ... women like to use whips.

MMO? Sounds more like any given night with Mrs. Francis, in all honesty. So, for those of you trying to experience the Sacred Flowers on the cheap, don't bother picking up the game - just check on the cost of a marriage license with your local City Hall.]]> Fri, 11 Aug 2006 08:40:00 -0500 The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/dungeons__dragons_online_gets_a_new_module http://www.gamebump.com/go/dungeons__dragons_online_gets_a_new_module http://www.gamebump.com/go/dungeons__dragons_online_gets_a_new_module# This article was originally published on Gaming Horizon, GameBump's predecessor. Certain formatting, imaged, and embedded content may have been lost in the transition process.The original author is Nate Francis.

Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach is set for a massive influx of new content.

The Twilight Forge module, released today by Turbine, is set to add some major new changes for DDO players, including an ingame mail system, enhanced grouping tools and quest tracking, brand new items, and the Drow as a playable race. I save the Drow for last, of course, to tweak all the scimitar-wielding fanboys out there. You know who you are.

Players will also have access to new dungeons, and have the opportunity to kill many new monsters from the old D&D universe.

No word on PvP yet, though. Curses!]]> Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:57:00 -0500 The Gaming Horizon Archive http://www.gamebump.com/go/dragons_lair_hd_announced http://www.gamebump.com/go/dragons_lair_hd_announced http://www.gamebump.com/go/dragons_lair_hd_announced# It seems that even old games can join the HD era with the announcement that classic Laserdisc arcade game Dragon's Lair is being remastered in high definition for a new PC version. For Dragon's Lair HD, publisher Digital Leisure has taken the original film of Dirk the Daring's adventure and had it cleaned and digitally remastered in HD with new 5.1 sound.

Elizabeth Foster, President of Digital Leisure said:

"Dragon's Lair HD is an achievement no classic gamer will want to be without. This version is truly a treat to all your senses! With the power of today’s computers, gamers can now enjoy Dragon's Lair the way it was meant to be seen. The quality of the animation is absolutely stunning and the surround sound mix will have you looking over your shoulder!"

Dragon's Lair HD will be available for PC in the fall, with a planned HD remaster of Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp due in the coming months.