"The rich keep getting richer" is a perfect way to describe the 2012 NBA offseason.
The Miami Heat and L.A. Lakers have become even more dangerous heading into the 2012-13 season, and their respective moves and acquisitions will also prove to be real difference-makers when it comes to the overall shape and structure of the league over the next few years.
The NBA is no longer a competitive league—the balance of power has shifted to a few "elite" teams that have the draw and appeal to acquire top-tier talents like never before.
The common themes of this past offseason? First, that super-teams are a thing of the present (and future) in the league, and that rivalries don't mean nearly as much as they once did.
Ahead are five offseason moves that reshaped the league and solidified the NBA as a league where parity and small-market teams have little to no chance.
Dwight Howard to the L.A. Lakers
The Dwight Howard saga came to an abrupt end with his blockbuster trade to the L.A. Lakers.
While the Lakers gave away their young franchise center for Howard, the trade just goes to show that superstar talent is drawn to big-market teams with an immediate chance at an NBA title.
The Lakers gave up their future for a chance at immediate success, and while that's the direction the league is going, it also shifted the power from the Miami Heat back to the west coast.
With Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gaosl and Howard, the Lakers have the most dominant lineup in the league, which certainly reshapes the league's look in more ways than one. If Howard isn't happy in Los Angeles, though, that shift of power could swing back when he enters free agency next year.
When LeBron took his talents to South Beach, the super-team train left the station. Now, the Lakers have not only gotten on that train, they've sped it up quite a bit.
Ray Allen Abandons the Celtics for the Miami Heat
Ray Allen's move means much more than just a cagey veteran signing with a championship-caliber team—it shows the decline of loyalty in the NBA.
It's not like there weren't any teams interested in Allen. The Celtics, his time for the past five seasons, wanted him back, but Allen wanted a better chance at an NBA title.
Can you blame Allen, though? Playing with LeBron, Wade and Bosh is much more enticing than playing with an immature Rajon Rondo, an overrated Paul Pierce and an aging Kevin Garnett.
Allen's signing just goes to show that rivalries aren't valued nearly as much today as they were in the past. The Lakers could've offered Larry Bird $100 million for one season and he would have rejected it because the Lakers were enemy No. 1. Do you think Magic Johnson would have joined forces with Bird because it gave him a "better chance" at an NBA title?
Rivalries don't mean nearly as much now, and Allen's signing with the Heat, instead of with the Celtics, all but proved that this offseason.
New York Knicks Failing to Re-Sign Jeremy Lin
Jeremy Lin's signing with the Houston Rockets won't necessarily impact the balance of power in the NBA all that much, but the fact that the New York Knicks didn't re-sign him will.
What was so shocking about this move (or, lack of one for that matter) is the fact that the Knicks are already overpaying for Tyson Chandler at $14 million, Carmelo Anthony for $21 million and Amar'e Stoudemire for $21 million per year.
Having $56 million tied up in three players not named LeBron, Wade or Bosh is absolutely insane, but what is even crazier is that the Knicks weren't willing to backload a contract so that they could build for their future. The Knicks made a decision that will not only hurt them this season, but the long term as well.
The Eastern Conference also lost another top-tier contender, as the Knicks are now a team without an identity. That certainly shifts the balance of power a bit.
Oklahoma City Gives Serge Ibaka Major Contract Extension
Serge Ibaka's four-year, $48 million contract extension is an underrated move that affects the league because it enables the Thunder to make a push for James Harden to sign an extension before he enters the qualifying offer year of his contract.
While the Thunder will have nearly $57 million tied up in Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, the fact that Ibaka signed an extension gives the Thunder hope that Harden will follow suit.
For his part, Harden has already stated that he is "pretty sure" he will be with the Thunder for the long haul.
Instead of having to choose between Harden and Ibaka, the Thunder might have the luxury of holding onto both, solidifying the Thunder as a Western Conference favorite for the foreseeable future.
While Harden could seek a max offer at year's end, the Thunder at least have a chance of convincing the reigning Sixth Man of the Year to sign a contract extension. Should he stay, its impact will be felt for years to come across the entire foundation of the NBA.
Deron Williams Chooses to Create Another NBA Superteam
Deron Williams had a chance to go to his hometown Dallas Mavericks, but he chose to make the move to Brooklyn with the Nets, where he had a super-team forming in front of his eyes.
With Joe Johnson, Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace, Williams has all the talent he needs to help the Nets become a top Eastern Conference contender.
The Nets have transformed themselves with their big offseason, and they have Williams to thank for that. The Knicks now have some competition in the Big Apple, and that is something that will be extremely exciting to watch over the next few years.
Shifting the focus away from the Knicks in New York is never easy, but the Nets managed to do just that over the summer. And that's certainly going to reshape the outlook of the NBA for the next few years.
Notable Players 24 and Under: Thomas Robinson (21), DeMarcus
Cousins (22), Tyreke Evans (22), Jimmer Fredette (23), Tyler Honeycutt (22),
Isaiah Thomas (23)
The Sacramento Kings have all the pieces they need to succeed. They have a dynamic
frontcourt duo, with DeMarcus Cousins and Thomas Robinson, and a deceptively
talented backcourt with Tyreke Evans, Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Thornton.
The Kings just need someone to step up and become their leader.
It's clear that Cousins and Evans aren't going to rise to the occasion
anytime soon, so that responsibility will fall squarely onto the shoulders of
Thomas, Thornton or Robinson.
It's amazing how a lack of chemistry can hold a team with such potential
back, but that's exactly the case for the Kings. With a dash of leadership and
touch of chemistry, the Kings could transition from being a perennial lottery
team to being a playoff contender in the West.
Keith Smart needs to get control of his team, and help them see just how
great they could be if they started to work together.
Biggest question: Who is going to step up and be
the Kings real leader on and off the court?
Houston Rockets
Notable Players 24 and Under:Terrence Jones (20), Jeremy Lamb (20), Marcus Morris (23), Jeremy Lin (24), Chandler Parsons (23), Patrick Patterson (23), Royce White (21)
The Houston Rockets are an enigma. They've transitioned from being a playoff contender into now being a team entering a rebuilding year for the franchise.
With the right coaching and veteran leadership, though, the Rockets' rebuilding year might not last all season. They have an impressive number of players under the age of 24 who are more than capable of being legitimate pieces of their future success.
The question now becomes just how well head coach Kevin McHale will get his players to play together and buy into his system. While the Rockets certainly are a hodgepodge of talent, they do have players who are capable of helping them reach a legitimate level of success.
With Jeremy Lamb's athleticism on the wing, Jeremy Lin's production at the point and Terrence Jones and Royce White holding down the power forward position, the Rockets have a lot of potential to succeed in the 2012-13 season.
Don't sleep on the Rockets this year. If they play up to their potential, they could be a very dangerous team.
Biggest Question: Can the Rockets build chemistry early on in the 2012-13 season?
Washington Wizards
Notable Players 24 and Under:John Wall (22), Bradley Beal (19), Jordan Crawford (23), Shelvin Mack (22), Trevor Booker (24), Kevin Seraphin (22), Chris Singleton (22), Jan Vesely (22)
The Washington Wizards have been an inconsistent franchise for the past decade, and that's not going to change until their young talent begins to play like a team.
They have a talented young group of players who are more than capable of establishing the Wizards as a competitive team in the East. The only problem is that those players often play better on an individual level than they do with their teammates around them.
This upcoming season will be a make-or-break year for John Wall now that he has a dynamic and efficient backcourt partner in Bradley Beal.
If Wall can finally realize his potential, he can help the Wizards become a dangerous team. If he instead continues to play inefficiently, the Wizards will continue to struggle because they need a player to be an efficient leader on the court.
If veteran players like Nene Hilario and Emeka Okafor can solidify the Wizards frontcourt, there's no limit to their success next season.
Biggest Question: How dominant can the duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal be in their first season together?
New Orleans Hornets
Notable Players 24 and Under: Eric Gordon (23), Ryan Anderson (24), Anthony Davis (19), Robin Lopez (24), Austin Rivers (20), Darius Miller (22)
The New Orleans Hornets had one of the best offseasons of any NBA team. Not only did they get two lottery picks, they also managed to trade for one of the most versatile power forwards in the game in Ryan Anderson.
The Hornets certainly have a lot of potential, but with that potential comes a high possibility to bust.
If Davis can prove why he was deserving of the No. 1 overall pick and Rivers can become a productive member of their second unit, the Hornets will have a chance at being a competitive team next season.
The biggest question will be if the Hornets can establish a level of chemistry between their returning players and their incoming talent. If Eric Gordon can stay healthy and Ryan Anderson can solidify their frontcourt, the Hornets can certainly be a surprisingly talented team during the 2012-13 season.
Biggest Question: Can the Hornets develop some semblance of depth on their bench?
Cleveland Cavaliers
Notable Players 24 and Under: Omri Casspi (24), Luke Harangody (24), Kyrie Irving (20), Samardo Samuels (23), Tristan Thompson (21), Dion Waiters (20)
There's no doubt that the Cleveland Cavaliers have a lot to be excited about heading into the start of the 2012-13 season. With Kyrie Irving at the point and Dion Waiters entering the fray, there's no ceiling to the Cavs' potential this season.
While we've yet to see how well Irving and Waiters can work together, the potential of their offensive production is exciting to say the least.
Aside from having a youthful backcourt, the Cavs also have a young frontcourt with a lot of potential with Tyler Zeller and Tristan Thompson. If the Cavs can develop chemistry, starting with the play of Irving at the point and Thompson in the paint, they can compete in the East, and they can do so immediately.
If they fail to play as one cohesive team, though, the 2012-13 season is certainly going to be a long one. The Cavaliers need to establish a productive seven-man rotation to compete with the top teams in the NBA, and if they do that, they can certainly attain a high level of success next season.
Biggest Question: How long will it take for the Cavaliers rookies and sophomores—Irving, Thompson, Zeller and Waiters—to take control of the team?
Caño Cristales adalah sungai Kolombia terletak di
Serranía de la Macarena, provinsi Meta. Sungai ini biasa disebut “Sungai
Lima Warna”, “Pelangi Cair” atau bahkan “Sungai Maha Indah di Dunia”
karena ganggang yang dihasilkan berwarna – warni seperti merah, kuning,
hijau dan biru di bagian bawah sungai yang menampakkan keindahan luar
biasa.
Sayangnya, pemandangan indah itu tidak dapat kita saksikan setiap
saat karena ganggang – ganggang itu bermunculan antara periode basah
(musim hujan) dan kering (musim kemarau), saat itulah Cano Cristales akan
menampilkan pesonanya. Warna-warni pelangi akan menutupi seluruh
sungai. Itupun hanya berlangsung beberapa hari, selebihnya Caño
Cristales sama seperti sungai – sungai pada umumnya. Jadi, jangan sampai
melewatkan kemunculannya ya.. 2. Vale Da Lua
Vale Da Lua adalah tumpukan batu yang telah diukir oleh Sungai San
Miguel. Bebatuan ini terkena erosi dari sungai tetapi erosi yang menimpa
justru membentuk bentuk – bentuk yang indah dan berwarna abu – abu
seperti bulan. Oleh karena itu dinamakan lembah bulan. Lembah bulan
memiliki beberapa formasi batuan tertua di dunia, yang diperkirakan
berusia 1,8 miliar tahun. Erosi sungai telah menciptakan, gua-gua, air
terjun dan formasi batuan aneh, dan membentuk sebuah labirin di dinding
ngarai yang sempit. Hebatnya, ketika dilihat dari ruang angkasa, daerah
yang paling bercahaya di bumi adalah lembah bulan ini. Penasaran bukan? 3. Fly Geyser Reno
Fly Geyser-Reno terletak di Nevada. Dia tidak sengaja terbentuk dari
pengeboran sumur pada tahun 1916. Pengeboran mengarah pada sumber panas
bumi, oleh karena itu bukan air sumur yang di dapat, malah air panas
dari dalam perut bumi menyembur ke luar. Semburannya yang begitu kuat
mengandung mineral – mineral yang lantas membentuk gunung kecil dengan
tinggi sekitar 5 kaki. Semburan ini juga membentuk geyser – geyser kecil
di sekitarnya. Karena semburan air panasnya begitu kuat dan menyengat,
Fly Geyser-Reno menjadi kawasan terlarang untuk umum. Hmm…teringat Lumpur Lapindo di Sidoarjo… 4. Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto terbentang dari Pegunungan Sierra Moreno ke Teluk Cádiz di
Huelva, Spanyol. Rio Tinto artinya sungai merah dan ini sesuai dengan
kenyataan yang ada. Tingginya kadar besi dalam air menyebabkan warna
merah di sungai.Penambangan yang ada di sungai ini adalah tembaga, emas
dan perak yang telah ada sejak zaman dahulu, dan merupakan tambang
tertua di dunia. Konon ada sejak zaman Raja Salomon. Warnanya yang merah
menyala ternyata bukan berarti tidak ada makhluk hidup di dalamnya,
karena ada beberapa makhluk hidup yang masih bisa bertahan di sana.
Mereka umumnya makhluk hidup yang sudah terbiasa hidup di lingkungan
ekstrim. 5. Chamarel Falls dan Colored Earth
Republik Mauritius adalah sebuah negara pulau yang terletak di lepas
pantai tenggara Afrika. Ini adalah bagian dari negara kepulauan yang
terbentuk dari sebuah gunung berapi bawah laut yang masih aktif.
Mauritius adalah rumah bagi dua keajaiban alam. Yang pertama adalah Chamarel Falls,
dengan tiga air terjun tipis yang jatuh sekitar 300 kaki ke dataran
tinggi. Mereka adalah air terjun tertinggi di Mauritius. Sebelumnya
Mauritius hanya dikenal karena air terjunnya, tetapi pada tahun 1960,
bukit pasir berwarna ditemukan. Pasir berwarna diciptakan dari tanah
liat yang terbuat dari lava mendingin pada waktu yang berbeda. Efeknya
menyebabkan warna – warna pasir yang berbeda. 7 warna yang terbentuk
adalah merah, coklat, ungu, hijau, biru, ungu dan kuning. Yang paling
unik dari pasir ini adalah kenyataan bahwa jika Anda mengambil semua
warna dan mencampuran mereka menjadi satu, maka mereka secara ajaib akan
terpisah dan bergabung kembali dengan kelompok warna yang benar pada
awalnya tadi. Bagaimana ini terjadi adalah suatu misteri bagi para
ilmuwan yang telah mencoba untuk memecahkan sifat aneh pasir ini.
Misteri lain pasir adalah bahwa tidak ada erosi terlihat. Wow.. 6. Spotted Lake of Osoyoos (Danau Bercorak Osoyoos)
Danau Osoyoos terletak di British Columbia, tepat di perbatasan
negara bagian Washington. Danau ini menjadi unik karena berbentuk
puluhan kolam kecil dalam satu lingkaran danau yang besar. Danau Osoyoos
terbentuk bukan karena buatan manusia, danau ini terbentuk secara alami
karena kandungan dari berbagai deposit mineral yang ditemukan di
dalamnya.
Danau Osoyoos kaya akan kalsium, natrium dan magnesium sulfat (Epsom
salt). Dalam sebagian danau kecil tersebut malah terdapat perak dan
titanium. Orang Indian kuno yang telah mengenal danau ini menyebut danau
tersebut sebagai Okanagan Kliluk karena warna danau berubah dalam
setiap musim. Selama musim panas, karena air menguap, bintik-bintik yang
terbentuk memiliki warna yang berbeda tergantung pada mineral yang ada.
Bintik-bintik dan bentuk jalan setapak mengkristal warna yang berbeda.
Warna bisa putih, kuning, biru atau hijau. Danau ini merupakan properti
pribadi, jadi sangat sulit untuk dapat melihatnya. 7. The Plain of Jars (Dataran Jars)
Dataran Jars adalah salah satu misteri arkeologi tertua di Asia
Tenggara. Terletak di dataran tinggi Xieng Khouang, di pegunungan
Indocina, ada sekitar 90 situs yang berbeda dalam bentuk menyerupai
guci. Setiap situs berisi 1-400 guci. Diperkirakan tercipta sekitar
3.000 tahun yang lalu dari batu pasir, batu kapur, granit, breksi dan
konglomerat, dengan mayoritas terbuat dari batu pasir. Jar tertinggi
adalah sekitar 9 kaki. Sekilas mereka tampak ditempatkan sembarangan,
dengan beberapa yang berdiri tegak dan orang lain pada sisi mereka,
menunjuk ke arah yang berbeda. Penelitian lebih lanjut telah
mengungkapkan bahwa guci ditempatkan di posisi yang membentuk pola-pola
konstelasi bintang-bintang. Telah ada banyak spekulasi tentang tujuan
dari guci dibuat, pertama adalah sebagai tempat minum raksasa, kedua
digunakan untuk mengumpulkan air hujan, atau bahkan sebagai guci
penguburan. Sebagian besar guci kosong, tetapi beberapa ditemukan dengan
tubuh ada di dalamnya, atau diisi dengan patung-patung miniatur Buddha. 8. Sanqingshan
Sanqingshan adalah sebuah Taman Nasional kecil dekat kota Shangrao di
provinsi Jiangxi, Cina. Oleh masyarakat Cina, daerah ini Sanqingshan
adalah tempat suci, tempat meditasi oleh penganut Taoisme. Mereka
meyakini jika bermeditasi di sini, maka jalan menuju keabadian akan
terbentang luas. Sanqingshan diselimuti kabut selama 200 hari dalam
setahun. Kabut memberikan nuansa mistis dari gunung, bersama dengan
ribuan sungai yang membentang, granit formasi yang menyerupai siluet
manusia dan hewan, dan pohon pinus berbentuk aneh. Sanqingshan adalah
rumah bagi sekitar 2.500 spesies tanaman.Obat – obatan tradisional Cina
tentu tidak asing bukan? Di sinilah mereka menemukan tanaman – tanaman
berkhasiat itu. 9. Nine Hells of Beppu (Sembilan Neraka dari Beppu)
Beppu adalah penghasil air geothermal kedua terbesar di dunia.
Terletak di Pulau Kusyu, Jepang, Beppu adalah kawasan wisata yang sangat
terkenal di sana, namun sayangnya belum begitu terkenal di dunia.
Neraka 1 adalah Umi Jigoku yang berarti “neraka laut”. Kolam biru yang
saking panasnya bisa juga untuk merebus telur. Neraka 2 adalah
Oniishibou, yang berarti “neraka kepala gundul”. Ini karena lumpur
abu-abu yang ada di dalamnyan mendidih. Gelembung lumpur di permukaannya
menyerupai kepala yang dicukur biksu. Neraka 3 adalah Shiraike Jigoku
berarti “neraka kolam putih”. Namanya saja putih, pasti isinya air yang
putih mendidih disebabkan oleh konsentrasi kalsium tinggi. Neraka 4
adalah Jigoku Yama berarti “neraka gunung. Yama Jigoku dibuat oleh
sebuah gunung berapi memuntahkan lumpur yang begitu banyak sehingga
menciptakan sebuah gunung kecil yang dikelilingi oleh kolam-kolam kecil.
Neraka 5 adalah Kamada Jigoku yang artinya “memasak panci neraka”. Ini
adalah kumpulan air panas mendidih yang diapit oleh patung setan merah
dengan perawakan sebagai juru masak. Neraka 6 adalah Oniyama Jigoku,
berarti “gunung setan neraka”. Oniyama adalah aliran yang sangat kuat
yang dapat menarik mobil ke dalamnya, dan juga rumah bagi sekitar 100
buaya neraka. Neraka 7 adalah Kinryu Jigoku “emas naga neraka”. Musim
semi ini adalah fitur dengan naga mengepul. Uap dipasok oleh uap musim
semi dan diarahkan keluar dari lubang hidung naga. Naga memberikan ilusi
terbang karena air menyembur keluar saat matahari terbit. Neraka 8
adalah Chinoike Jigoku, yang berarti “darah kolam neraka”. Ini karena
airnya berwarna cerah kemerahan disebabkan oleh besi yang mengandung
mineral. Neraka 9 adalah Tatsumaki Jigoku, yang berarti “air mancur
neraka”. Tatsumaki adalah air mancur yang menyembur setiap 30 menit dan
memiliki suhu sekitar 105 derajat Celcius. 10. Pamukkale
Pamukkale, yang berarti “benteng kapas” dalam bahasa
Turki, adalah sebuah situs alam di Provinsi Denizli di Turki barat
daya. Kota ini berisi air panas dan travertine, mineral karbonat yang
ditinggalkan oleh air yang mengalir. Ini terletak di wilayah Turki Aegea
dalam, di lembah Sungai Menderes, yang memiliki iklim sedang untuk
sebagian tahun.
Orang-orang mempercayai bahwa mandi di kolam dapat menyebuhkan
berbagai penyakit. Mitos ini bertahan selama ribuan tahun. Baru-baru ini
pertengahan abad ke-20, hotel dibangun di atas reruntuhan Heropolis,
menyebabkan kerusakan besar. Pendekatan jalan dibangun dari lembah ke
teras, dan sepeda motor diizinkan untuk naik dan turun lereng. Ketika
daerah itu dinyatakan sebagai Situs Warisan Dunia, hotel dihancurkan dan
jalan dihilangkan dan diganti dengan kolam renang buatan.
DragonNest is a free-to-playfantasyMMORPG developed by Eyedentity.
It uses a non-targeting combat system ensuring that players have
complete control over every single one of their character's movements. Dragon Nest requires users to advance their characters by teaming up and traveling into instanced dungeons.
Gameplay
Dragon Nest incorporates non-targeting system gameplay to create a
fast paced action filled experience. Players choose from a range of hero
classes, characters that are of the Dragon Nest storyline that can
equip customizable gear and weapons. Devastating skills can also be
learned, to increase one's power when defeating monsters in instanced
dungeons or defeating other players in PVP.
Dragon Nest also has the advantage of being nearly completely skill
based, with lower level characters being able to defeat high level
characters in PVP with skill alone. This allows a more experienced
player that is of a lower level to dominate a less experienced player of
a higher level player in PVP.
Classes
Dragon Nest characters exist in worlds. Players can create up
to 4 characters per world. These characters cannot interact with one
another, with the exception of mailing each other. Players can have 6
choices when creating a character. They are Warrior, Archer, Sorceress,
Cleric, Academic and Kali. The Academic and Kali classes is not yet
available in some releases. The Warrior, Archer and Kali class start
their journey in Prairie Town (Ironwood Village in NA Version), while
the Cleric, Sorceress and Academic classes start their journey in Mana
Ridge. After reaching level 15, they can choose to advance to second
class, and third class at level 45. At these job advancements, they can
choose to further specialize in one aspect of their skill sets.
Cash Shop
The Cash Shop is an in game shop where players use real-life currency
to purchase equipment not available in-game. Special items can also
help in the development of the characters.
In Dragon Nest NA, the Cash Shop is known as the "Dragon Vault".
Releases
Asian release
On November 2, 2007, Nexon Korea Corporation secured rights to Dragon Nest. It was announced that the game would be entering its closed beta in the middle of 2008 but delayed to Fall of 2009. Dragon Nest was officially released in Korea on March 2010.
In December 2007, Shanda, game publisher in China, announced that it would be publishing the Chinese version of Dragon Nest.The Chinese closed beta began on March 25, 2010 with an official release later that year.
It was announced on November 21, 2008 that NHN Japan would publish Dragon Nest in Japan on their Hangame JP portal. On March 4, 2010, NHN Japan announced the people who would act as voice actors of Dragon Nest characters in Japanese. It was also stated that Gackt will voice as Velskerd as well as singing the official theme song of the game titled Ever. It has been announced by NHN Japan that Dragon Nest will begin its Japanese closed beta on April 17, 2010.
North American Release
At the Penny Arcade Expo in 2009, Nexon America announced that it would be publishing Dragon Nest in North America. Originally, Dragon Nest was scheduled for a mid-2010 release. Nexon America announced that a playable version of Dragon Nest would be shown at the upcoming E3 show in Los Angeles.
Its release is now set to be towards the Summer of 2011. On April 21,
2011, a closed beta application was started and testing was due to begin
on May 17, 2011. However, on May 6, an announcement was made that the
closed beta testing will be pushed back to June 15, 2011. Closed Beta ended on June 20, 2011. Dragon Nest Open Beta testing opened on July 26, 2011.
The game was slated to go live on August 11, but this date has since
been pushed back. The North American version was level-capped at 32 with
the Saints Haven release on September 28, 2011. Characters, items and
skill from the Open Beta Test were not cleared, so players kept the
progress they made in the OBT. In mid December 2011, the North American
version has extended its level-cap to 40, giving the player the ability
to learn their 2nd sub-class's final skill. The Tinkerer class was added
in the June 2012 patch.
South East Asia release
Shanda
and Cherry Credits released the localized version of Dragon Nest for
South East Asia region. Closed Beta testing period for Dragon Nest SEA
ran from 13 July 2011 to 19 July 2011. Open Beta was opened from 16
August 2011 to 20 October 2011.
Official release of the game begins 20 October 2011 onwards, with the release of Saint Haven and level 32 cap on 18 October
to mark its grand opening. There are currently four servers to the
SEA's installation, namely (in chronological order) Westwood,
Springwood, Greenwood and Holywood. The English language voiceovers and the song "The Warrior Call" for this release were produced by Aaron Walz of Walz Music & Sound.
Level cap has been increased to 40 on 13th December 2011 and will be
increased to 50 on 28th August 2012. Additional content related to the
increase has been added which includes new items(Lv. 40), Manticore Nest
and the Apocalypse Nest. On 24th April 2012, the long anticipated
Academic class has been released, bringing the total playable starting
characters to 5. The long-awaited Sea Dragon Nest was released on June
4th, 2012, and also the much anticipated Level 50 cap is coming August
28, 2012 together with further advancements in their current job
classes.
Merchandise
Manga
There is a manga based on the game named "Dragon Nest-Shungeki no
Sedo"(Dragon Nest -瞬撃のセド, Sudden Attack's Sedo). It is drawn by TATSUBON
and published by Kodansha (講談社). Three volumes has been published with
about 12 chapters in total. It was serialized in Shōnen Rival (月刊少年ライバル,Getsu-Kan Shounen Raibaru)
from July 2010 to May 2011. It follows the adventures of Warrior Sedo
Nobusutatto, Archer Okiron Igunohisu, Sorceress Yuuri and Cleric Benetta
as they fought to rescue the Prophetess Rose from a mysterious black
figure, and to protect Saint's Haven from a great danger.
Dragon Nest Official Technical Guide
There is also Dragon Nest Official Technical Guides (ドラゴンネスト オフィシャルテクニカルガイド, Doragon Nesuto Ofisharu Tekunikaru Gaido)published
in Japanese by Enterbrain (エンターブレイン).Two volumes has been published,
Volume One in December 2010 and Volume Two in 30 November 2011.
Dragon Nest Special Packages
In Japan, there has been two special editions of the game released so
far. One is the Dragon Nest Premium Package (ドラゴンネスト プレミアムパッケージ, Doragon Nesuto Puremiamu Pakkeeji) and the other is Dragon Nest 1st Anniversary Package (ドラゴンネスト 1stアニバーサリーパッケージ, Doragon Nesuto 1st Annibaaseri Pakkeeji), both containing the game DVD-ROM.Both are by Japanese game developer E frontier, inc (イーフロンティア).
Dragon Nest Drama CD
There are also a limited edition Dragon Nest Drama CD (ドラゴンネスト
ドラマCD), called “Prelude- Awakening of Fate”( プレリュード~運命の目覚め~) which is 69
minute long, featuring the same Japanese voice actors in the game.
Storyline
The Goddess Althea, creator of the land of Lagendia (Verathea in the
NA version), is poisoned by her evil sister Vestinel. The poison can
only be cured using an antidote made using the source of the poison
itself, Vestinel's magic grail, which has disappeared somewhere within
Lagendia. The players as heroes of Lagendia must comb the land fighting
evil dragons in order to find power stones that enable them to
communicate with the sleeping goddess in order to find the grail, wake
her and save the world.
Manga Details
Characters
Sedo Nobusutatto (セド・ノブスタット Sedo Nobusutatto) A strong warrior with a clear sense of justice. He was guided towards the path of Heroes by the word of his father in his heart.
A hot-blooded Warrior who often jumps in to save his friends without a
second thought. He was deeply influenced by his late father, who saved
him from a massacre from the monsters in his childhood. By the events of
Forsaken Island, he has advanced his class to Sword Master. Okiron Igunohisu (オキロン・イグノヒス Okiron Igunohisu) An elvish Archer, ordered to do a reconnaissance on the recent appearances of the monsters by her country.
A level-headed rational elf was just doing her mission when she was
caught up with the antics of Warrior Sedo. Although she thinks poorly of
him at first, she gradually learns to respect his deep loyalty to his
friends. She also has a strong fear of flying or ‘unnatural thing’ (the
airship) as she is very in tune with nature. By the events of Forsaken
Island, she has advanced her class to Bow Master. Yuuri (ユーリ Yuuri) A weak-natured user of magic, is able to use flame magic.
At first unconfident and easily frightened, Yuuri learns to overcome
her insecurities and initial incompetence of her skills. Sedo’s
relentless faith in her gradually boosted her confidence and strive to
become an even better Sorceress. By the events of Forsaken Island, she
has advanced her class to Elemental Lord. Benetta (ベネッタ Benetta) A Temple Knight in pursuit of Velsklud, able to use lightning and healing magic.
A calm and aloof Cleric from the Temple Knights, Benetta prefers to
work alone at the beginning. Scarred by the betrayal of his cleric
friend who turned out to be a Dragon Follower and killed all his
friends, he sought repayment and was hunting down Velsklud. Gradually he
opened up to the other adventurers, and his knowledge of Shield
defensive skills and healing skills proved him to be an invaluable ally.
By the events of Forsaken Island, he has advanced his class to Priest. Geraint (ジェレイント Jereinto)
One of the Six Heroes involved in the Dragon Raid 50 years ago. He is
able to transform into his dragon form, also known as the Dragon of
Light (光の龍, Hikari no Tetsu) or the Golden Dragon. Argenta(アルゼンタ Aruzenta)
A mysterious woman with special powers was also a participant in the Dragon Raid 50 years ago. Velsklud(ベルスカード Berusukaado)
The main antagonist of the story. One of the Six Heroes involved in
the Dragon Raid 50 years ago. He captured the Prophetess of the Dawn
(暁の予言者, Akatsuki no Yogensha) in order to activate the power of the dragon in him.
"HATSUNE MIKU" is
computer music software that enables users to create synthesized singing
of unprecedented quality and
remarkable realism by just typing in lyrics and melody. Powered by
YAMAHA's VOCALOID(= Vocal + Android) technology, HATSUNE MIKU was
developed by Crypton Future Media, Inc.
in Sapporo, Japan, and released on August 31st, 2007. Since then,
there have been more than 100,000 songs and movies about HATSUNE MIKU
posted on popular video
sharing websites such as YouTube and Nico-Nico-Douga(Japan).
From this "music software" with a cute voice and an illustration of a cartoon girl on the cover, not only lots of CGM(Consumer Generated Media) music, but also a remarkable number of derivative illustrations and dedicated free software (including an amazing application tool to create 3D animation of HATSUNE MIKU, etc.) were created. Then, as the recognition and popularity of HATSUNE MIKU grew, more related activities such as launching news sites and SNS sites featuring MIKU or organizing events for MIKU fans have taken place.
HATSUNE MIKU is not merely music software anymore. It's turned into a source of inspiration to create its derivative works. With the increase of those mash-up and remix works by HATSUNE MIKU lovers, Crypton Future Media,Inc. has opened "PIAPRO.jp" as a next step. PIAPRO is a CGM content posting site for creators to collaborate and share ideas with others.
For a smoother user experience, we have launched our unique licensing system named "Piapro Character License (PCL)", which is basically an equivalent to the Creative Commons license in copyright clearance. By incorporating the PCL with PIAPRO, every creator can set up a situation for ever-more active collaboration and "peer production."
Keluarga ini melengkapi tempat tinggalnya dengan berbagai perabotan.
Sebuah Keluarga di Cina Sudah 6 Tahun Tinggal di Toilet
TINGGINYA populasi dan semakin langkanya lahan pemukiman membuat harga properti semakin meroket. Untuk menyiasatinya, sebuah keluarga asal Cina bahkan rela mengubah toilet umum menjadi tempat tinggal.
Zeng Lingjun, terlahir di sebuah desa kecil di provinsi Jilin. Sejak kecil, Zeng bermimpi bisa menuntut ilmu di perguruan tinggi. Berasal dari keluarga miskin, Zeng terpaksa harus mengubur keinginannya dan memutuskan untuk membuka usaha reparasi sepatu.
Bosan tinggal di kota kecil, Zeng hijrah ke Shenyang, kota terbesar di bagian timur laut Cina. Berbekal uang 50 yuan atau hanya sekitar Rp 72.000, Zeng menjajal peruntungannya di kota Shenyang.
Dikutip dari Oddity Central, seorang teman menawari Zeng untuk tinggal di sebuah hotel yang sudah tidak ditempati lagi. Bukan di kamarnya, tapi di toilet! Tergiur dengan uang sewa yang rendah, Zeng langsung menerima tawaran itu. Zeng menata toilet umum yang cukup luas itu dengan berbagai perabotan, seperti kasur, lemari, hingga komputer.
Kini Zeng genap enam tahun menjadi penghuni toilet. Istri dan anaknya pun nampak betah dan tidak terganggu dengan kondisi ruangan tempat tinggal mereka. Makanya setiap dari kita wajib mensyukuri apa pun yang kita miliki, jangan mencari yang tidak ada, melainkan menumbuhkan apa yang sudah ada. kelak di masa depan kita bisa memetik buah yang cukup manis dari kerja keras kita sendiri....
Ia menolak pindah ke klub lain meskipun Fiorentina degradasi ke Serie B Italia pada musim 1992/93. Namun pada tahun berikutnya, striker Argentina yang kerap disapa Batigol ini membawa klubnya kembali ke Serie A. Dari Newell's Old Boys hingga gantung sepatu di Al Arabi, Batigol mengemaskan total 254 gol dari 441 kali main. Setelah sembilan musim bersama Fiorentina, ia dijual ke AS Roma dan menjadi sumber inspirasi utama Giallorossi untuk meraih scudetto ketiga dalam sejarahnya.
2. Thierry Henry
Kala membela Arsenal, Henry menjadi topskor Liga Primer Inggris sebanyak empat kali (2002, 2004, 2005 dan 2006) dan menjadi pemain tersubur The Gunners dengan 226 gol dari semua kompetisi. Ia juga meraih dua gelar penting bersama timnas Prancis, yakni Piala Dunia 1998 dan Euro 2000.
3. Roberto Baggio
Sayangnya, Baggio lebih diingat dengan kegagalannya mengeksekusi tendangan dari titik putih sehingga Italia kalah adu penalti melawan Brasil di final Piala Dunia 1994. Tapi, tanpa penampilan Baggio yang gemilang sepanjang turnamen itu, Azzurri tak mungkin mencapai final. Ia menjadi anak emas sepakbola Italia sejak bergabung dengan Fiorentina pada 1985, sebelum rekor transfernya ke Juventus menjelang Piala Dunia 1990. Dikenal dengan sebutan "The Divine Ponytail" karena rambut kuncir dan ketaatannya menjalankan agama Budha, Baggio meraih scudetto dua kali - bersama Juventus pada 1994/95, dan AC Milan pada musim berikutnya. Pemain Terbaik Dunia versi FIFA pada 1993.
4. Alessandro Del Piero
Juventus forever, per sempre, selamanya! Itulah si Pinturicchio yang sudah lima kali scudetto bersama Bianconeri dan menjadi ikon klubnya dengan 500 penampilan lebih. Sama halnya dengan Batigol, ia pun menolak keluar dari klubnya yang degradasi pada 2006 akibat kasus Calciopoli. Titel U-21 Eropa pada 1994 dan 1996 disandangnya, ditambah lagi gelar juara Piala Dunia 2006. Loyalitas adalah emas!
5. Marco Van Basten
Torehan 218 gol dari 280 penampilan bersama Ajax dan AC Milan bukan prestasi yang mudah diraih. Ia juga mengoleksi hat-trick gelar pada 1992 - Pemain Terbaik Dunia versi FIFA, Pemain Terbaik Eropa, dan Pemain Terbaik Dunia. Marco van Basten menjadi pemain yang sukses mengikuti jejak Johan Cruyff, sekaligus memimpin Belanda juara Eropa untuk pertama kalinya pada 1988. Bersama AC Milan, ia meraih Piala Eropa pada 1989 dan 1990. Sayangnya, cedera pergelangan kaki memaksanya pensiun lebih dini. Meski demikian, Van Basten tetap berkiprah dalam dunia sepakbola. Ia melatih timnas Belanda pada 2004-08 dan kini mengasuh Ajax.
6. Ronaldo (Ronaldo Luiz Nazario Da Lima)
Sang fenomena ini sudah dua kali meraih hat-trick gelar Pemain Terbaik FIFA, Eropa dan Dunia. Nama Ronaldo mulai bangkit ketika melesatkan 58 gol dalam 60 pertandingan di awal karirnya bersama Cruzeiro pada 1993. Setelah dua musim yang gemilang bersama PSV Eindhoven, ia bergabung dengan Barcelona pada 1996 dan membukukan 34 gol dalam 37 laga untuk menjadi topskor. Bersama Inter Milan, Ronaldo 'mengejek' gaya pertahanan klub Italia lainnya. Alhasil, 25 gol dikemasnya, sekaligus membawa Inter juara Piala UEFA - semuanya dalam musim pertamanya. Ia juga meraih topskor pada dua musim pertamanya bersama Real Madrid. Duka kekalahan 3-0 dari Prancis pada final Piala Dunia 1998 terhapus, ketika Ronaldo membawa Brasil juara Piala Dunia berikutnya. Ia menjadi topskor dengan 8 gol, dan dua di antaranya dicetak di final melawan Jerman.
7. Bobby Charlton (Sir Robert Charlton)
Inilah salah satu pemain terbaik Inggris sepanjang masa. Bobby Charlton meraih 106 caps dan 49 gol bersama timnas Inggris. Sebagai bagian dari "Busby Babes" yang selamat dari tragedi Munich 1958, Charlton sepuluh tahun kemudian membawa Manchester United menjadi klub pertama Inggris yang juara Piala Eropa. Charlton juga membantu tuan rumah Inggris meraih Piala Dunia 1966. Perlawanan Charlton kontra Eusebio di semifinal melawan Portugal dikenang sebagai pertandingan terbaik Inggris sepanjang masa.
Digigit nyamuk bukan masalah besar bagi kita. Namun bagaimana jika yang menggigit adalah tawon, laba-laba, atau ular?
Lebah –
Tindakan pertama yang harus dilakukan ketika disengat lebah adalah
mencabut sengatnya dengan segera, yang akan meminimalkan kekuatan
sengatan tersebut. Jika Anda mengalami reaksi alergi seperti
pembengkakan, maka berobat ke dokter sesegera mungkin. Kasus yang
ekstrem dapat menyebabkan masalah sulit bernapas yang parah, jika hal
itu terjadi segera panggil ambulans.
Nyamuk –
Meski menyebalkan, gigitan nyamuk biasanya tidak menyebabkan masalah
serius (kecuali demam berdarah atau malaria). Pengobatan terhadap
gigitan nyamuk adalah dengan menggunakan salep untuk mengurangi rasa
gatal. Anda juga dapat menggunakan obat alami seperti cuka, yang dalam
studi di “Journal of Entomological” juga terbukti berfungsi sebagai
sebuah penolak serangga.
Tawon – Musuh nomor
satu publik selama musim panas, sengatan tawon sangat menyakitkan dan
paling sering menyebabkan reaksi alergi. Sengatan harus diatasi dengan
menggunakan es atau antihistamin untuk mengurangi pembengkakan dan rasa
gatal. Jika muncul alergi, Anda harus pergi ke dokter, atau bahkan dalam
kasus serius perlu memanggil ambulans.
Laba-laba
– Meskipun membuat banyak orang ketakutan, hanya sebagian kecil
laba-laba yang Anda temui yang bisa menggigit, dan bahkan sangat sedikit
yang berbahaya (kecuali jika Anda berada di hutan belantara). Jika
digigit salah satu laba-laba langka yang berbahaya, Anda mungkin akan
mengalami pembengkakan, pusing, atau bahkan muntah. Jika tanda-tanda itu
terjadi, segeralah segera pergi ke rumah sakit.
Semut –
Gigitan semut dapat menjadi sebuah gangguan serius. Jika ini terjadi
pada Anda, maka Anda harus membersihkan daerah yang terkena gigitan.
Anda dapat menggunakan obat yang dapat dibuat sendiri, dengan
mencampurkan baking soda dan air untuk membuat salep penghilang gatal.
Ubur-ubur –
Liburan di pantai akan sangat menyebalkan jika terkena sengatan
ubur-ubur. Air kencing hanya memiliki sedikit efek atau bahkan sama
sekali tidak berfungsi untuk mengatasi sengatan ubur-ubur, jadi
sebaiknya hindari melakukannya. Palang Merah Inggris menyarankan untuk
mengobati sengatan dengan menuangkan air laut atau cuka di atas luka
sengatan secara perlahan.
30 Seconds to Mars adalah sebuah band rock alternatif dari Los Angeles, Amerika. Band ini dibentuk pada tahun 1998 oleh
aktor Jared Leto dan saudaranya, Shannon Leto. Saat ini, anggota band terdiri
dari Jared Leto (vokal), Tomo Miličević (gitar)
dan Shannon Leto (drum).
Formasi
Dibentuk pada tahun 1998 oleh aktor Jared Leto dan
saudaranya, Shannon, 30 Seconds to Mars dimulai sebagai proyek kecil keluarga.
Matt Wachter kemudian bergabung dengan band sebagai bassis dan pemain kibor. Setelah bekerja dengan
dua gitaris lainnya, Kevin Drake dan Solon Bixler, kemudian band mengaudisi
Tomo Miličević untuk bergabung dengan band.
Menurut sebuah wawancara dari Virgin Records, mengenai nama band ini;
"Nama band sebenarnya berasal dari tesis yang ditemukan secara
online, ditulis oleh seorang mantan profesor Harvard. Dan
salah satu bagian dari tesis berjudul "Thirty Seconds to Mars" dan di
dalamnya berbicara tentang perkembangan eksponensial teknologi yang berhubungan
dengan manusia dan secara harfiah kita menemukan diri kita dalam tiga puluh detik
ke mars. Dan kami pikir itu adalah yang terbaik untuk menggambarkan musik kami,
singkatnya"