General Gaming Article

---

• Netflix Testing New Kid-Friendly UI
• Diabolical! 15 Great Geek Villains from Movies and TV
• Contest Friday: Win A Slacker Premium Account!
• Firefox 8 To Stop Unauthorized Add-ons In Their Tracks
• Are Notebook Manufacturers Unhappy With The Ultrabook's $1000 Price Tag?
• IBM Sets TPC-C Benchmark Record for x86 Servers
• AMD May Bundle Liquid Cooling Solution with FX Processors
• Nvidia Socks It to Wall Street, Q2 Revenue Beats Expectations
• Amended SEC Filing Values Zynga at $11 Billion
• What Does Facebook Want with Your Phone Number?

Netflix Testing New Kid-Friendly UI Posted: 12 Aug 2011 02:31 PM PDT Tech-savvy parents know there is a lot of kid-friendly content on Netflix. The only problem is that many young ones lack the reading ability or manual dexterity to navigate to the shows themselves. Enter the Netflix "Just for Kids" section. This new UI is being previewed for some users already, but the company hasn't said anything about it. The entire UI of this section is different from the rest of Netflix. Right at the top are pictures of various popular characters like Hello Kitty and Big Bird. The kids can click on one to pull up all the TV and movie content that has them in it. These pages are heavy on screenshots and short on wordy descriptions.  There are also some suggestion specially tailored to kids on the main page. Netflix has not said what its plans are for this UI. It might be a preliminary test and we'll never see this again. Or this could be the first phase in a surprise feature rollout.

Diabolical! 15 Great Geek Villains from Movies and TV Posted: 12 Aug 2011 12:05 PM PDT  Adventure. Excitement. A geek craves not these things...most of the time. While most of us are content to walk in the light, a number of our most craven geek brethern have chosen to follow a darker path, seeking power, fame and glory through any means neccesary. Plying their geeky wiles towards bending the world to their will, these nerdy neerdowells will stop at nothing to survive and thrive. To make sure you know to steer clear of such villianous vermin, we've put together a gallery of some of the worst offenders. After all, knowing is half the battle. Update:  If you post a comment to this story with your favorite geek villian (either from this list, or one that we've missed), you are entered to win one of five Slacker Premium  3-month Subscriptions! Details here.

Contest Friday: Win A Slacker Premium Account! Posted: 12 Aug 2011 10:58 AM PDT We love us some streaming music. From newer offerings like Google Music and Spotify, to web apps like Radio and everything in between, we spend a lot of time on our tunes. If you're a fellow audiophile in need, and are still using something hideous like MySpace to discover new bands, let us introduce you to Slacker. Better, right? Want to know what's even better than that? If you go to our gallery of 15 Great Geek Villians from Movies and TV, and leave a comment with your favorite villian, either from our list or one that we've missed, you're entered to win one of five Slacker Premium 3-month Subscriptions! (Usual rules and regulations still apply and can be found in the fine print below). Good luck!     Rules MaximumPC contest rules: Anyone who posts a comment listing their favorite geek villain on the 15 Great Geek Villains from Movies and TV article will be entered to win one of five Slacker Premium 3-month Subscriptions - one entry per accepted comment. Prizes will be awarded by random drawing. Submissions will be accepted until Monday the 15th of August at 06:00 PM PST. By entering this contest, you agree that Future US, Inc. may use your name, likeness, website, and submission for promotional purposes without further payment. Employees of Sponsor, its respective parent, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, and agents, and foregoing employees¹ household or immediate family members (defined as parent, spouse, child, sibling, or grandparent) are NOT eligible to enter Contest. All prizes will be awarded, and no minimum number of entries is required. Prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians. Future US, Inc. is not responsible for damages or expenses the winners might incur as a result of this contest or the receipt of a prize, and winners are responsible for income taxes based on the value of the prize received. A list of winners may also be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope toFuture US, Inc. c/o MaximumPC Contest, 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080. This contest is limited to residents of the United States. No purchase necessary; void in Arizona, Maryland, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and where prohibited by law.

Firefox 8 To Stop Unauthorized Add-ons In Their Tracks Posted: 12 Aug 2011 10:29 AM PDT If's there's one thing we hate, it's Brussels sprouts. If there's two things we hate, it's Brussels sprouts and sneaky programs that automatically install add-ons into our Internet browsers. Turns out we're not the only ones. Those pesky unapproved add-ons have been a thorn in the side of Mozilla, who shoulders the blame when the invaders cause crashes and browser lagging. When Firefox 8 rolls around, unauthorized add-ons will be a thing of the past: the browser won't allow installations without the express permission of users. "If Firefox starts and finds that another program has installed an add-on, Firefox will disable the add-on until the user has explicitly opted in to the addition," Mozilla add-on manager Justin Scott wrote on the organization's Add-ons blog. "Users that want the functionality provided by a third-party-installed add-on can easily allow the installation, while users who don't can cancel or ignore the prompt." Spiffy, huh? The usefulness doesn't stop there: the first time you boot up Firefox 8, the browser will prompt you with a list of all of your add-ons, and helpfully inform you which of them were installed without your permission. The ones you've installed in-browser will be enabled automatically, while the rogue add-ons will be disabled unless you specifically tell Firefox to enable them. Expect Firefox 8 to hit the webs on November 8, keeping in line with Mozilla's new rapid-release schedule for the browser.

Are Notebook Manufacturers Unhappy With The Ultrabook's $1000 Price Tag? Posted: 12 Aug 2011 10:11 AM PDT Intel's pumped about its Ultrabook concept. How pumped? So pumped that earlier this week, the company created a $300 million fund to help spur on the development of the powerful, low weight, long lasting laptops. The companies that are actually making the Ultrabooks, though, are apparently a little less enthused. You see, Intel wants companies to sell Ultrabooks for less than $1,000 – probably to make them competitive with the MacBook Air. That number's making a few manufacturers shift uneasily in their seats. Computer makers estimate they'll need to spend $700 on materials alone for an 11.6-inch Ultrabook, DigiTimes reported today. At $1,000 retail, that doesn't leave much meat on the bone after other costs, like marketing and distribution, are factored in. DigiTimes' (as always) anonymous sources said that the magic $1k number would be much easier to swallow if Intel would sell Ultrabook-bound CPUs to OEMs at a greater discount. The same unnamed sources say some notebook makers want Intel to hand out a $100 marketing subsidy for each Ultrabook sold. While these rumors align with some others that we've heard recently, it's always good to take anonymous sources with a grain of salt, especially when the same DigiTimes article says that Asus, Acer and Lenovo all plan on releasing sub-$1,000 Ultrabooks by the end of the year.

IBM Sets TPC-C Benchmark Record for x86 Servers Posted: 12 Aug 2011 09:59 AM PDT It was 30 years ago to the day when IBM released it's first personal computer, the IBM PC 5150. Two days ago, an IBM executive essentially declared the PC a fossil, saying he recently made the switch to a tablet as his primary computer (good luck with that). And today? IBM made a splash in the server sector by announcing it just recorded the highest TPC-C benchmark score ever achieved for an x86 server. IBM scored three million transactions per minute using a single rack non-clustered IBM System x running DB2, the same system it set a record with eight months ago. The system features four Intel Xeon E7 8870 processors running at 2.4GHz with 30MB of shared L3 cache per processor, 3TB of memory, and eXFlash enterprise multi-level cell (MLC) SSD storage. "Leveraging significant investments in x86 technology, IBM continues to push the envelop in terms of innovation, scalability and performance," said Alex Yost, vice president, IBM System x and BladeCenter systems. "At the end of the day, it's about the customer, about delivering highly scalable, cost-effective, energy-efficient solutions that help clients differentiate themselves in their chosen markets." IBM's record breaking benchmark score ranks 5th overall on TPC-C Top 10 results for non-clustered systems. IBM couldn't resist taking a potshot at Hewlett Packard claiming this feat extends the system's performance advantage over a comparable HP machine by up to 66 percent.

AMD May Bundle Liquid Cooling Solution with FX Processors Posted: 12 Aug 2011 08:49 AM PDT Stock CPU coolers have their place, like in Aunt Mabel's machine or the spare parts bin. If you're planning to overclock the snot out of your system, a third party cooler should be high on your shopping list, lest you taunt the god of instability with high temps. There's another solution -- you could purchase a processor that's pre-packaged with a high-end cooler, only AMD and Intel haven't been real keen on going quite so far to encourage overclocking. That might change with Bulldozer. Citing "a source with knowledge of the company's plans," XBitLabs says AMD is seriously considering selling its boxed FX series processors with a liquid cooling solution (LCS) bundled in. It's a move that would make its FX silicon more overclockable, while also upping the chip maker's street cred among power users, provided the LCS doesn't suck. The source says AMD would bundle the cooler with its top-tier eight-core processors, though it's unclear if the LCS would come with both of AMD's eight-core FX processors or just the flagship model. And it's not just AMD. According to XBitLabs, Intel is also considering an LCS bundle, though details are unknown.

Nvidia Socks It to Wall Street, Q2 Revenue Beats Expectations Posted: 12 Aug 2011 08:17 AM PDT Investors are reacting to Nvidia's financial report for its second quarter of its fiscal year 2012, and doing so in a good way. Shares of Nvidia stock rose by as much as double digits today after Nvidia reported a 5.7 percent bump in revenue over last quarter, which rose from $962 million to $1.02 billion. Even more impressive is the year-over-year comparison, in which Nvidia's revenue is up over 25 percent. "We grew solidly this quarter," said Jen-Hsun Huang, Nvidia president and chief executive officer. "Consumer demand for notebooks powered by our GeForce GPU, with its unique Optimus technology, resulted in record revenue for these products." Never one to mince words, the outspoken CEO was clear that "The future of computing is mobile and visual," and for that, Nvidia is banking on its Tegra platform. That also happens to be the one area investors were able to criticize. "We wonder when Tegra finally catches a wave and delivers the robust growth investors had been waiting for," brokerage firm Evercore Partners wrote in a note to investors, according to Reuters. Evercore downgraded Nvidia's stock target from $12 to $11 and said it was "surprsing" to see Nvidia not making a bigger deal of Tegra's future. Nvidia did, however, note that its partners launched six new Tegra-powered "superphones" in Q2, up from two in Q1, as well as four new tablets.

Amended SEC Filing Values Zynga at $11 Billion Posted: 12 Aug 2011 07:51 AM PDT There's big bucks in farming (Farmville), whacking the competition (Mafia Wars), exploring the wild west (Frontierville), raising pets and dressing them up (Petville), exploring islands (Treasure Isle), and, well, hopefully by now you get the idea. Zynga's various 'villes and other social games have turned the San Francisco game company into a multi-billion juggernaut, according to an amended SEC filing, CNet reports. Citing an S-1 registration filed yesterday, CNet says Zynga now reckons it's worth $11.15 billion, a number that should help justify the game maker attempting to raise a $1 billion IPO. What's more, Zynga stated it has a revolving line of credit through Morgan Stanley good for up to $1 billion. Those are all big numbers, and as it stands, everything pretty much hinges on Facebook staying relevant. "We are the world's largest social game developer with 232 million average monthly active users in 166 countries," the filing said. "Current, substantially all of our revenue is generated from players accessing our games via the Facebook platform." There's probably little reason for Zynga to worry about its game world crashing down. The biggest threat to Facebook is Google+, and that's still by invite only. What's more, Google has begun rolling out casual games to users, and we fully expect Zynga to make an appearance. Image Credits: Zynga and flickr (Tracy O)

What Does Facebook Want with Your Phone Number? Posted: 12 Aug 2011 07:29 AM PDT There are obvious reasons you don't go scribbling your phone number on restroom walls or handing out your digits willy nilly. In theory, only the people you care to talk with should have your number. If that's the case, are you worred about Facebook harvesting your contact information? The social networking site has come under fire for collecting not just your phone number, but also numbers stored in your phone. Fox News says there's a statement making the rounds on Facebook warning users of what's going on with their phone details and contacts list. The fear is that Facebook is gathering these numbers even if you've never given the site permission to do so. Don't believe it, says Facebook. "Rumors claiming that your phone contacts are visible to everyone on Facebook are false. Our Contacts list, formerly called Phonebook, has existed for a long time," Facebook posted on its website. "The phone numbers listed there were either added by your friends themselves and made visible to you, or you have previously synced your phone contacts with Facebook. Just like on your phone, only you can see these numbers." You can view what has some privacy advocates up in arms by clicking Account in the upper right corner, Edit Friends, and then Contacts in the left-hand pane. Facebook describes it as being "like a phonebook that only you can see," and at least one security researcher says it's to your benefit to sync information from your phone so you can easily find friends and connect with them. At the same time, there's some concern with Facebook having access to all that data. "In some ways, Facebook is attempting to be very helpful," Don Debolt, director of threat research for Total Defense, told Fox News. "But how exactly they are using this information isn't exactly clear. We don't know how our data is being used, we don't know how our data is being monetized." If nothing else, Debolt says this should serve as a "wake-up call" for parents of teenagers who use the service and own a mobile phone.

You are subscribed to email updates from Maximum PC - All Articles To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

MMO News

---

• Alliance of Valiant Arms Gameplay (Steam)
• Dragon Nest Gameplay #2 HD
• F1 Online announced by Codemasters
• NGames announces Immortal King
• MapleStory concludes Chaos
• Troy Online begins open beta
• Funcom reveals free-to-play success for Conan
• World of Tanks celebrates first anniversary
• World of Ants introduces new improvements
• Brawl Busters now in closed beta

Alliance of Valiant Arms Gameplay (Steam) Posted: 12 Aug 2011 01:00 PM PDT To Learn More about the game check out ourAlliance of Valiant Arms Page Alliance of Valiant Arms is a 3D Modern Tactical MMOFPS published by ijji – the same company behind Soldier Front, GunZ, Lunia, Rohan Online, Karos Online, HolyBeast Online and several other F2P games. Even though the game launched through ijji – it is now available through Steam. To learn more about Alliance of Valiant Arms, check out the official MMOHut Alliance of Valiant Arms page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

Dragon Nest Gameplay #2 HD Posted: 12 Aug 2011 12:56 PM PDT To Learn More About the Game Check out our Dragon Nest Page. Dragon Nest is a 3D brightly themed anime MMORPG published by Nexon – the same company behind MapleStory, Vindictus, Mabinogi, Combat Arms, and a few other titles. Gameplay wise – Dragon Nest is very much like Vindictus and Divine Souls, as areas outside of town are instanced while towns are persistent. Each dungeon has multiple different difficulty settings with Abyss being the most difficult. In the video above, I simply ran through a dungeon and spoke a bit more about the game. To learn more about Dragon Nest check out the official MMOHut Dragon Nest page which includes a detailed review, tons of screenshots, and additional videos.

F1 Online announced by Codemasters Posted: 12 Aug 2011 12:55 PM PDT Codemasters, developer of F1 2010 and DiRT 3, have announced they are producing F1 Online: The Game, a free-to-play formula racing browser-based MMO. The game will use the Unity game engine, and is expected to launch in the first half of next year. Players can create and manage their own racing teams, and will feature all official drivers, teams, and circuits from the 2011 FIA Formula One World Championship. Several game modes, including the World Championship and Grand Prix events, along with leaderbboards and community features, will be availble for gamers to enjoy. F1 Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: CODEMASTERS® ANNOUNCES NEW FREE-TO-PLAY F1 ONLINE: THE GAMETM, SET TO LAUNCH Q1 2012 Become the driver and the team boss – FORMULA ONETM fans invited to register interest in new PC and Mac game at www.F1OnlineTheGame.com Friday, 12th August 2011 – 11:00 UK – Today Codemasters®, the developers of the multimillion+ selling, BAFTA winning F1 2010™, announced that  F1 ONLINE: THE GAME, a free-to-play browser game, is in production at Codemasters Studios and set to launch in Q1 2012 at www.F1OnlineTheGame.com. F1 ONLINE: THE GAME will give players the chance to be the driver and the team boss in a game that combines intuitive top-down racing gameplay with a rewarding management game as players create and manage their own team. Gamers can see the first F1 ONLINE: THE GAME screenshots and register their interest to receive updates about the game by logging into www.F1OnlineTheGame.com. "FORMULA ONE is a proven major games brand that resonates with players on a global level and is recognised as one the biggest sports licenses in videogames. As the worldwide gaming market evolves, 2012 is the perfect time to extend this series to the free-to-play market," said David Solari, VP, Codemasters Online. "Building on the commercial and critical success of our high-definition FORMULA ONE games, this is an exciting opportunity to bring our passion for the sport and our expertise in racing to a new audience. With a bespoke design for accessible browser play, F1 ONLINE: THE GAME is a perfect complimentary experience to the HD series and will appeal to a broad spectrum of FORMULA ONE's millions of fans worldwide." Developed under Codemasters' exclusive worldwide agreement with Formula One World Championship Limited, F1 ONLINE: THE GAME will feature all the official drivers, teams and circuits from the 2011 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™. F1 ONLINE: THE GAME will deliver a persistent world of FORMULA ONE to players through their internet browser, perfect for anytime racing. Fans will be able to race with their favourite team in online multiplayer races across a range of game modes, from entering the full 2011 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP to GRAND PRIX™ events complete with practice and qualifiers and a range of challenges and time trials. Gamers will be able to track and share their progress via a range of leaderboard and social network features. Players will have the opportunity to create their very own team and become immersed in a world of FORMULA ONE on a grand scale; choosing their team name, designing a livery and leading the development of a personal franchise. As racer and team boss, they will manage the commercial, research, production and race crew functions required for success on track. F1 ONLINE: THE GAME is being developed in house at Codemasters using the Unity game engine, to deliver stunning performance in a web browser. Iconic tracks including Monaco, Silverstone and Spa will be authentically brought to life by using track data and assets taken from the forthcoming F1 2011™ for high definition consoles and PC Games for Windows. F1 ONLINE: THE GAME is set to launch in Q1 2012. To register interest, gamers can visit www.F1OnlineTheGame.com. To get all the news straight from the studio race over to www.facebook.com/F1OnlineTheGame or follow the team on twitter at www.twitter.com/F1OnlineTheGame.

NGames announces Immortal King Posted: 12 Aug 2011 12:21 PM PDT Immortal King, a new MMORTS based on Greek Mythology, has been announced for a September closed beta on NGames’ portal, Game321. Immortal Kings will feature a world divided between Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. Players can choose to battle for their chosen god, and raise heroes to lead their armies. The game boasts of 137 hero types (including tanks, attackers, and healers) as well as 72 soldier types. Armies can be organized into seven array types, and a special Challenge Mode offers a stage-by-stage challenge for players to clear and conquer. Players will also need to manage their home area’s resources and taxes. NGames publishes Pockie Ninja. Immortal King Gameplay Screenshot Source: NGames set to unleash “Immortal King” this September Greek mythology inspired military RTS hitting Closed Beta next month Publisher NGames have announced another stunning new addition to their Game321 portal, confirming that Greek mythology inspired RTS, Immortal King will be entering it’s closed beta phase in September. Ever look at Zues, Hades or Poseidon and think, “Yeah..I can do that too!”? Well now is your chance to prove it while fighting alongside the infamous Greek gods themselves! Publisher NGames are readying the release of Immortal King, a brand new SLG/RPG MMO webgame due for closed beta this September. Immortal King (hereinafter IK) launches you into a world steeped in Greek mythology, challenging you to command a powerful army of troops, become a legendary figure, and even conquer the Gods. In the world of IK, Zeus, Poseidon and Hades have divided the world between them. Zeus controls the skies, Hades the underworld, and Poseidon the waters. Upon hearing about your heroic deeds, each God extends an olive branch for you to grab, asking you to join them in their battle for supremacy. Who do you join? Weigh your options and choose carefully. The roads are very different and each leads to an unknown future.. Immortal King Features NGames have revealed 4 of the key features players can expect when IK enters Closed Beta this September. Heroes Your army of troops will be lead by powerful heroes, who you can train and level in an RPG style. Through exciting and challenging expeditions, your heroes will evolve into well oiled military leading machines. Train them wisely and victory is yours. Challenge Modes Besides the usual RTS battles, IK will also feature an interesting Challenge mode. Here, you need to clear a map of all opponents before moving on and clearing another area. The Challenge maps offer a refreshing break from normal gameplay and will unlock new heroes for you to recruit, who can then fight alongside you in the main game! Deploy and Arrays Unlike other RTS webgames, IK is much more involving than simply sending your troops into battle and waiting for a result. Instead, IK allows you to organise your troops into 7 different kinds of arrays, which will make up your overall battle formation. Do you form a T-type array? Scatter your troops across a wider area? Perhaps a cross-formation will do the trick? Immortal King provides you with 137 types of heroes and 72 types of soldier to arrange on the battlefield. Clever placement of the different hero types, such as tanker, attackers and healers, will be essential to victory. IK’s battles are a joy to watch and manage, with stunning visual effects plunging you deep into the action. This is a war of gods, and you’re in the middle of it. Municipal Management You can’t be a great leader without pleasing the people. Your municipal management skills will form the basis of your success in IK. Managing everything from levying taxes, trading crops, training troops and developing technologies will be your responsibility. You must maintain the balance between military dominance and national development to succeed. Your great empire depends on it. Immortal King is releasing soon! NGames will reveal more game information in the build up to the closed beta launch this September.

MapleStory concludes Chaos Posted: 11 Aug 2011 08:46 PM PDT The last of the Chaos series of updates, Age of Triumph, is now live for MapleStory players. The update adds a new storyline, the Silent Crusade, designed for players level 37 to 110. During the quest, players will defeat the new Master Monsters, assist new NPCs, and enjoy brand new cut-scenes and battle alongside their newfound friends. The update also adds the Crusader Codex, which can be filled with Monster Cards for a chance at Medals and power-up rewards. MapleStory’s Battle Mode also gets a new mode: Capture the Flag. Two teams (three to six players each) can attempt to capture their opponent’s flag, with three captures declaring the winner of the match. The best players will earn points and medals. MapleStory is published by Nexon, which also publishes Dungeon Fighter Online and Mabinogi. MapleStory Gameplay Screenshot Source: The Age to End all Ages Nexon concludes MapleStory's Chaos update series with huge new quest line and Capture the Flag mode MapleStory, the side-scrolling action MMORPG from Nexon, concludes the Chaos series of summer content updates this week with the Age of Triumph. Players who traverse Maple World on Global MapleStory servers can now experience new exclusive content, along with new quest lines and other new features. A new adventure lies in the Age of Triumph, bringing players an entirely new story line called the Silent Crusade. This full length quest for players level 37-110 introduces a battle force that specializes in eliminating Master Monsters, a faction of enemies never before seen in MapleStory. Throughout their journey through the Silent Crusade, players can encounter NPCs that aid them along their quest, including one character that will grab the hearts of players seeking a new romance. The Silent Crusade is  narrated through colorful, action-packed in-game cutscenes and through tandem battles with NPCs. Beyond the hours of new gameplay included with the Silent Crusade, the Age of Triumph also introduces the Global MapleStory exclusive Capture the Flag mode, a new game type added to MapleStory's Battle Mode. Two teams of three to six players each can now fight for their opponents' flag, and the first team to capture the other team's flag three times is declared the winner. Item drops, including speed-ups, power-ups, HP recoveries and more will aid players throughout the battle, along with additional points and medals for players who exhibit the actions of a true strategist. Players can also check their inventory to find the Crusader Codex, an essential rolodex of the various monsters that roam Maple World. To complete their collection, players must collect Monster Cards by defeating enemies. When players fill the pages of their Codex with the Monster Cards, players will receive special prizes that reflect the completion of the book. Medals, ranging from Beginner Collector to Legendary Collector, will be awarded to players along with huge HP and MP power-ups. MapleStory is available to download and play for free at: http://maplestory.nexon.net. To "like" MapleStory on Facebook, visit: http://facebook.com/maplestory.

Troy Online begins open beta Posted: 11 Aug 2011 08:09 PM PDT Troy Online’s open beta is now live until August 18. The game will officially launch on August 19. The open beta test features an improved game and graphics engine, adjustments to the battle system, a new European server, and many open beta events to participate in. Troy Online is published by Alt1 Games, which also published Waren Story. Troy Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: Try Online Open Beta Test to Start, Featuring European and North American Servers ALT1 Games officially announced the schedule for their open beta test and official service. The open beta test will start at 11am PST on August 11th and end at 10pm PST on August 18th. The commercial release will begin at 11am PST on August 19th. ALT1 Games has plans to release new updates during the open beta test, as well as run a number of events including beta key giveaways for new and current users. For the open beta test, ALT1 Games has changed the game engine to enhance the quality of game graphics and improve game. If you participated in the previous test, you can check how much the graphics have changed. You can view the updated graphics at the Troy Online official homepage.(http://troy.alt1games.com/) ALT1 Games has placed a server in Europe to solve the lagging problems which plagued international users. The strong point of the game was that the battle system allowed more than a hundred users to fight at once and thelag did not allow players to experience these wars. The lag issues should slow down if not cease entirely with the implementation of a European server. ALT1 Games has also announced that they will continue to update the game to reduce further lagging issues and place servers in other territories in accordance with user distribution. To participate in the open beta test, players need to sign up at the Troy Online official website and download the client. All players, even those with the closed beta client, must download the new client. Don't miss the open beta events, starting August 12th! Check out more details at the event page. For more information, please contact support@alt1games.com.

Funcom reveals free-to-play success for Conan Posted: 11 Aug 2011 07:35 PM PDT A month ago, Age of Conan went free-to-play – and Funcom is now revealing details about how successful the transition was. Since the transition, Age of Conan has gained over 300,000 new players, quadrupling the server activity and doubling the game’s revenues. Funcom also says that subscriptions have increased. Age of Conan will be adding a new Adventure Pack, Savage Coast of Turan, designed around the new Conan the Barbarian movie that releases on August 18. Age of Conan Gameplay Screenshot Source: Over 300,000 players join 'Age of Conan: Unchained' in first month – The barbarian hordes are invading the virtual lands of Hyboria, in the now free-to-play 'Age of Conan: Unchained' – – Server activity quadrupled, game revenues more than doubled during launch month – –       Two million players have experienced the virtual Hyboria  – Durham, USA – August 11th, 2011 – This month the greatest fantasy hero of all time is truly making his triumphant return to the spotlight. Not only is the premiere of the upcoming Hollywood revival, 'Conan the Barbarian', less than two weeks away, Conan is also breaking new grounds in the massively multiplayer online gaming universe. After going free-to-play roughly a month ago, over 300,000 new players have now charged the fields of Hyboria in 'Age of Conan: Unchained'. "The launch of the hybrid business model has been very successful so far," says Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas. "The activity levels on the servers are booming with a fourfold increase in players during July, we more than doubled the revenue generated from the game, and we have experienced a positive development in subscriber numbers. This definitely gives us great hope for the game's future." 'Age of Conan' launched in 2008 to raving reviews and player acclaim. The game became the best-selling new MMO of the year as it topped the sales chart in over 17 different countries simultaneously, and the game recently hit the impressive milestone of over two million players having experienced the world of Hyboria. “We are delighted to see the success of 'Age of Conan: Unchained'", says Executive Producer and Game Director Craig Morrison. “We have been working hard to show that we are one of the best, and most unique, MMO experiences on the market. Our focus now is to deliver even more content and new experiences to players, starting with the movie tie-in Adventure Pack that is launching in the near future!" To celebrate the revival of Conan the Barbarian on the silver screen, the 'Age of Conan: Unchained' development team are hard at work creating a unique, movie tie-in Adventure Pack titled 'Savage Coast of Turan'. The adventure pack will introduce all new world areas, as well as monsters, characters and player equipment that audiences can experience in the movie as it hits theatres on August 18th.

World of Tanks celebrates first anniversary Posted: 11 Aug 2011 06:16 PM PDT The 1-year anniversary for World of Tanks is this Friday, August 12. Since its launch, the game has reached a milestone of 5 million registered users, a Guinness World Record for number of concurrent users online, and has joined the Electronic Sports League (ESL). To celebrate, World of Tanks will be giving players a free code for 24 hours of Premium Subscription. Special events will also be held during the weekend. World of Tanks is published by Wargaming.net, which is also developing World of Warplanes. World of Tanks Gameplay Screenshot Source: World of Tanks Celebrates First Anniversary 5,000,000 Registrations Reached Worldwide London, UK, Paris, FR and San Francisco, CA (11th August, 2011) — Wargaming.net is proud to announce that their headlining project World of Tanks has celebrated its 1-year anniversary. Over the past year, World of Tanks has become an AAA project highly acclaimed by media and players around the globe, which is proved by multiple awards by respected gaming publishing houses. On the eve of the anniversary, World of Tanks has reached a tremendous milestone of 5,000,000 registered users worldwide. One of the most notable achievements is the Guinness World Record set on 23 January, 2011, when the peak number of concurrent users reached 91,311. However, the PCCU number has been steadily growing since the record day and is now topping 172,000. As a part of its growing popularity, World of Tanks is entering the cybersports territory becoming one of the disciplines in the popular international Electronic Sports League (ESL). "We didn’t expect World of Tanks would become this popular," said Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi. "The game’s success has given us confidence we needed to continue our expansion into the world of online wargames." World of Tanks is the first and only team-based massively multiplayer online action game dedicated to armored warfare. Throw yourself into the epic tank battles of World War II with other steel cowboys all over the world. Your arsenal includes more than 150 armored vehicles from America, Germany, and the Soviet Union, carefully detailed with historical accuracy. A flexible system of authentic vehicle upgrade and development allows you to try any of the vehicles and weapons in the game. Whether you prefer to exhaust your foes with fast and maneuverable light tanks, make deep breaches in enemy lines with all-purpose medium tanks, use the force of giant tanks to eliminate opposing armored forces, or become a heavy sniper with long-range howitzers, each unit type has its own advantages and can be extremely effective when operated by a true tank ace. But being a great tank commander alone isn’t enough to win! In World of Tanks, it’s all about teamwork. Victory is achieved by combining your combat skills with those of the other members of your team, each playing their own role on the battlefield. Just add your favorite strategy to build your own steel empire and manifest the indisputable authority of the tank power! Join World of Tanks: http://game.worldoftanks.eu/registration/ (Europe) http://game.worldoftanks.com/registration/ (North America)

World of Ants introduces new improvements Posted: 11 Aug 2011 05:41 PM PDT World of Ants has launched a major new update to improve several of its game systems, after it relaunched two months ago. Both the combat and quest system have been tweaked. Combat is designed to offer more realistic combat, with more losses and tactics, a new military adviser, and an animated combat view. New random quests including production, research, and battle challenges will appear as players build their anthills. The game’s colony view has also been changed to use HTML5 functionality to help speed up gameplay. World of Ants is published by Neonga, which also publishes A Mystical Land and the upcoming DragonSoul. World of Ants Gameplay Screenshot Source: World of Ants: Huge Update featuring new Quest and Combat System Animated combat screen and improved technology speeds up game play Only two months after re-launch, the first huge "World of Ants" update is now released. In close cooperation with the community, the game was renewed regarding content as well as technology which will increase gaming fun alongside a row of new features. New Combat System: The combat system was completely overhauled to bring a more realistic combat experience. Even superior armies battling weaker enemies will now have to accept losses in their own ranks. A military advisor will now give advice on improving tactics in the newly added animated combat view. New Quest System: The new quest system features plenty of new tasks. Randomly occurring quests such as producing of resources or units, research, as well as battles against NPC ant hills will entertain players during their regular game play. Improved Technology: In addition, numerous changes were made under the hood to make the gaming experience more fluent. Colony view is now based on HTML5 functionality to speed up game play. Compatibility with older browsers such as Internet Explorer 7 still remains. Play the huge World of Ants update at www.worldofants.com !

Brawl Busters now in closed beta Posted: 11 Aug 2011 05:22 PM PDT Closed beta for the action MMO Brawl Busters has begun today for players lucky enough to get a beta key, and Rock Hippo has stated that more beta applicants will be accepted through the main site and through other giveaways. All closed beta participants will earn the “Original Buster” title, which will grant special perks and items in Open Beta and the official launch. Rock Hippo Productions also publishes MicroVolts. Brawl Busters Gameplay Screenshot Source: ROCK HIPPO KICKS OFF THE CLOSED BETA FOR ONLINE MULTIPLAYER ACTION GAME BRAWL BUSTERS Closed Beta Players Will Receive The Elite Status Of “Original Buster”, Earning Them Exclusive Items, Perks And More Markham, Canada August 11, 2011 – Rock Hippo Productions announced today that its online multiplayer action game, Brawl Busters has entered Closed Beta testing. The first set of beta keys have already been delivered to lucky registrants who were selected after signing up on the game’s website. Players can also continue to sign up at www.BrawlBusters.com as more keys will be sent out in the future. Those too anxious to get their hands on a beta key should also look out for Brawl Busters beta key giveaway promotions happening on a number of partnering gaming websites. To reward the most loyal and enthusiastic players,  every Brawl Busters Closed Beta  player will receive the “Original Buster” title which will guarantee them exclusive items, perks and other benefits starting with the Open Beta and onward. “We’re excited to now be at a point where we are ready to have the community come in and play-test the game and give some early feedback on a game they have been so anxious to play,” said Howard He, President & CEO of Rock Hippo Productions.  “We look forward to the comments and suggestions so we can fine-tune the Brawl Busters experience and make it the best online gaming experience yet.”

You are subscribed to email updates from MMO Hut To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

MMO Updates

---

• Star Trek Online's Ask Cryptic featurette hints at new content
• Age of Conan offering free potion pack for all
• Massively exclusive: Luvinia Online equipment education
• ArcheAge video shows off unusual transportation options
• Jagged Alliance Online premieres new Gamescom trailer
• Muse announces Guns of Icarus, unveils CG trailer
• The Daily Grind: Have you met your online friends offline?
• Sci-fi MMO Star Legends launches on the Android OS
• Exploring the design of the newest City of Heroes powerset
• SOE releases account authenticators
• Double the epic: Aika's Epic II: Exodus goes live
• Ask Massively: Stay inside edition
• The Guild Counsel: Why The Raid is worth seeing
• One Shots: I got a fever
• Behind the Mask: Heroes vs. heroes
• New predictions for SWTOR sales: 3M units!
• Total Recall IP snagged by MMO studio SEE Virtual Worlds
• The past, present, and future of the Guild Wars 2 Sylvari
• Captain's Log: Resistance might actually be futile

Star Trek Online's Ask Cryptic featurette hints at new content Posted: 12 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Star Trek Online It's time for the Star Trek Online edition of this month's Ask Cryptic, and executive producer Dan Stahl has stepped up to the plate with a whopping 5,000-word community-powered monster of a post. Stahl delivers some good news right off the bat, as STO is scheduled to receive several new content additions between now and the end of October. Chief among these are various Borg-related invasion events, new lore quests, the Klingon Academy zone, the duty officer system and assignments, and Feature Episode Series 4. The vast majority of the rest of the post is devoted to very specific gameplay questions and requests from STO players, and there's even a mention of the fact that Cryptic is hiring. Warp to the official STO website for all the details. Star Trek Online's Ask Cryptic featurette hints at new content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Age of Conan offering free potion pack for all Posted: 12 Aug 2011 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Promotions As if you didn't have enough incentive to log into Age of Conan lately, Funcom is giving you one more. Yes, Unchained is here, as is free-to-play and a lot of new content. On top of that, the AoC Facebook page just mentioned a promotion called The King's Reward which runs through the end of the month. Every Age of Conan player will receive a free potion pack via the new in-game store, and unlike everything else in the cash shop, the bundle is free of charge. Goodies include various flavors of XP-enhancing potions (including PvP, mastery, and regular XP), a temporary PvP evade boost, and a resurrect potion. These items may only be claimed on one avatar per account, so choose wisely if you've got a ton of toons lounging about on your character select screen. Age of Conan offering free potion pack for all originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively exclusive: Luvinia Online equipment education Posted: 12 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game mechanics, Free-to-play Gear in MMOs isn't just about making a fashion statement; it's often the difference between life and death, success and failure, envy and pity. So it is with Luvinia Online, as gear will be a primary focus of any adventurer who doesn't want his lifespan to be measured in minutes. Outspark has been gracious enough to treat us to a comprehensive introduction to how gear works in Luvinia. On top of the expected stats and rarity values, Luvinia has a few interesting ideas about how to modify gear and trade it between characters. Luvinia Online is currently in closed beta, but is heading for open beta fairly soon. Hit the jump to start your edumacation in the fine art of equipment, courtesy of the development team at Outspark. Continue reading Massively exclusive: Luvinia Online equipment education Massively exclusive: Luvinia Online equipment education originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

ArcheAge video shows off unusual transportation options Posted: 12 Aug 2011 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, ArcheAge, Sandbox We've stumbled across another ArcheAge video, and unlike the last such that focused heavily on PvP, this time around we get a good look at some of the sandpark title's unique transportation alternatives. There are a gaggle of mounts on display, and with apologies to our Korean friends who will no doubt correct us in due time, we're just going to call them like we see them. Aside from your traditional horse and rider option there's also what appears to be some sort of spotted lion as well as a curious cross between a tauntaun and a bunny rabbit. We also get a glimpse of some city-based transport systems including a steampunk-esque horse and floating carriage (with some sort of mechanical contraption filling in for the horse), as well as the hang-gliding option we saw previously in the ChinaJoy trailer. Finally, there's more footage of the famous airship that's been featured in several previous ArcheAge clips. Head past the cut to see the sights. Continue reading ArcheAge video shows off unusual transportation options ArcheAge video shows off unusual transportation options originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jagged Alliance Online premieres new Gamescom trailer Posted: 12 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Trailers, Video, War, MMORTS, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous "They gave us a mission. They never told us what it was about." So begins the newest trailer for Jagged Alliance Online, gamigo's turn-based tactical RPG that features mercenaries, guns, and plenty of strategy. The trailer begins with your typical action movie setup: Rugged heroes get involved in a mission gone bad and are hung out to dry by their superiors. Rather than to roll over to die, they pick up a few thousand rounds of ammunition and head out seeking a little revenge. After the introduction, the trailer does show a few seconds of in-game footage from Jagged Alliance Online, as bodies fly when hit with bullets and explosions rule supreme. Jagged Alliance Online will be at this month's Gamescom, and get a preview of the game's convention trailer after the jump. Continue reading Jagged Alliance Online premieres new Gamescom trailer Jagged Alliance Online premieres new Gamescom trailer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Muse announces Guns of Icarus, unveils CG trailer Posted: 12 Aug 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Browser, Post-Apocalyptic Browser MMOs are a dime a dozen these days, and sometimes it seems like there's a new one popping up on an hourly basis. Consequently, first impressions are everything in such a crowded marketplace, and if its CG trailer is anything to go by, Guns of Icarus may raise a few eyebrows when it launches in 2012. The game is built around the popular Unity engine and features a post-apocalyptic world that mixes steampunk, classic aviation, and an adventure-serial feel that evokes the seminal Xbox shooter Crimson Skies (and perhaps a gritty, aerial homage to Indiana Jones). Gameplay centers around your airship, and dev studio Muse Games says that "moving from town to town, trading and collecting resources, outfitting your ship, and battling deadly pirates" are just a few of the things you'll do. Your airship can also feature additional player crewmembers (or NPCs if you're a loner), and the game's skill and leveling system looks to make each crewman both unique and versatile. "Expect to find your pilot putting out a fire or your mechanic manning the guns at any moment," says Muse's press release. You can check out the new CG trailer as well as a brief gameplay video after the break. Continue reading Muse announces Guns of Icarus, unveils CG trailer Muse announces Guns of Icarus, unveils CG trailer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Have you met your online friends offline? Posted: 12 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous MMORPGs make for some mighty strange bedfellows. We all approach these games for different reasons and from many different backgrounds. For some players, MMORPGs are firmly in the fantasy-not-reality section of their daily planners, while others form lasting "real-world" friendships with their MMO compatriots -- and some folks even make the effort to hang out with their online buddies offline. Whether you've traveled to a guild get-together, attended a gaming convention, or happen to live in the same town as your groupmates, today's Daily Grind is all about real-world meetups. Have you ever hooked up with your MMO pals in person (and if not, would you want to)? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind! The Daily Grind: Have you met your online friends offline? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sci-fi MMO Star Legends launches on the Android OS Posted: 11 Aug 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Launches, New titles, Free-to-play Spacetime Studios, creator of the mobile MMO Pocket Legends, stepped into the science fiction realm with the launch of its latest MMO Star Legends: The Blackstar Chronicles. Feeding off the frenzy of the mobile platform, Star Legends debuted on the Android OS first and can be downloaded at the Android Market or VCAST. Chief Vision Officer Cinco Barnes commented on why the publisher chose to launch on Android first in a recent press release: "When we launched Pocket Legends on Android we were blown away by the response from the community. Android has since become the leading revenue driver and our primary focus. It is so easy to publish apps on their Market that it became a no-brainer for us to flip the standard mobile game strategy on its head and launch on Android before any other OS." Star Legends boasts hours of gameplay -- via wi-fi, Edge, 3G, or 4G connections on Android 2.0 and above mobile devices -- with three customizable classes, character progression, guilds, and chat. These items, Spacetime says, are usually reserved for PC MMOs. Screenshots of this innovative game are displayed below, and the brief trailer for the game is tucked behind the break! Gallery: Star Legends Continue reading Sci-fi MMO Star Legends launches on the Android OS Sci-fi MMO Star Legends launches on the Android OS originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Exploring the design of the newest City of Heroes powerset Posted: 11 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Game mechanics, News items, Free-to-play Is time on your side? Well, it will be for City of Heroes players who choose to take advantage of the upcoming Temporal Manipulation powerset, which launches alongside the free-to-play conversion later this year. But some pretty visuals alone don't make for a compelling new powerset, which is why players will no doubt be happy to see the recent rundown of the abilities within the set as well as the rationale behind each of the given powers. As Temporal Manipulation is a set for Defenders, Corruptors, and Controllers, it's no surprise that there's a solid mix of debuffs and buffs for players to explore. In addition, Temporal Manipulation allows players to juggle a specific set of buffs and debuffs, with certain powers Delaying enemies or Accelerating allies and certain other powers having additional effects on those who are Delayed or Accelerated. The document also contains advice for players once the powers go live -- a bit far in the future, perhaps, but this would be the set where that's appropriate. Exploring the design of the newest City of Heroes powerset originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE releases account authenticators Posted: 11 Aug 2011 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous Sony Online Entertainment has joined the growing list of gaming companies that offer physical authenticators for protection against account hacking and associated fraud. EQ2Wire brings us the details on the new device, which at $9.95, is slightly more expensive than Blizzard's comparable Battle.net fob. SOE's authenticator may be used on multiple Station accounts, and for now at least, is shipping out sans handling charges (even for overseas orders). EQ2Wire also has a handy and detailed guide to the new authenticators from last month's Fan Faire, and the website notes that free iOS and Android security apps will be forthcoming at an as-yet unannounced date. SOE releases account authenticators originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Double the epic: Aika's Epic II: Exodus goes live Posted: 11 Aug 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Aika Aika, gPotato's free-to-play MMORPG, just got a lot more epic, as the game's Epic II: Exodus just arrived. The latest chapter brings a heapin' helpin' of new content to the game, including new zones, new instances, new loot, and perhaps most importantly, new things to kill. The story of Epic II sees players fleeing from the current world to the island of Traband. The local tribes, however, are none too happy about that and rise up against the players, and the treacherous Dark Legion is behind it all. Players, of course, will have to put a stop to the Legion's nefarious practices. In order to do just that, players will have to take advantage of the increased level cap, which now sits pretty at level 75. Players will also be able to take part in Aika's signature 1000 vs. 1000 PvP battles in order to vie for control of Traband's mystic towers. Control of the towers provides a player's nation with immunity from the harsh conditions of the island as well as granting access to an additional area. Lastly, players will have access to a new dungeon known as Lycan's Cave. This labyrinthine cavern system provides players with the choice of which path to take, with different bosses awaiting them at the end of each route. What other challenges await players on the island of Traband? Well, there's only one way to find out. Double the epic: Aika's Epic II: Exodus goes live originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ask Massively: Stay inside edition Posted: 11 Aug 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Video, MMO industry, Opinion, Massively meta, Ask Massively, Livestream, Miscellaneous In sharp contrast to last week's advice, this time around, I'm advising everyone to stay inside. There's all sorts of cool stuff wherever you are right now, and it's kind of hot out today. Besides, look at how much fun Christopher Walken is having inside. Don't you want to be like Christopher Walken? Don't you want the ability to fly when your indoor cavorting requires it? In other news, please enjoy the earbug that's infected the entirety of the Massively staff on the day this was written. In other other news, it's time for this week's installment of Ask Massively, addressing significantly less weighty issues than last week's gold selling question. No, this week we're talking about old livestream videos, the reason for the non-ubiquity of authenticators, and of course, the great outdoors. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future edition of the column, leave it in the comments or send it along to ask@massively.com. Continue reading Ask Massively: Stay inside edition Ask Massively: Stay inside edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Guild Counsel: Why The Raid is worth seeing Posted: 11 Aug 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Guilds, Endgame, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous Over the weekend, Gary Gannon from Gamebreaker.TV hosted a unique event in the world of MMOs: a film premiere, complete with fancy suits and ties and even an afterparty (albeit in the form of a chat room). The film is The Raid, which followed the World of Warcraft guild Double Dragons as it worked through the raid content from Wrath of the Lich King. There has been a lot of feedback from those who saw the premiere, but it's been decidedly mixed so far. Furthermore, viewers had such strong reactions to certain parts of the documentary that director Kevin Michael Johnson made a post on the site to try to address some of the criticism. But is the mixed review simply the cynical gamer at his best, or is it legit? In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll take a closer look at The Raid, and I'll explain why I think it's definitely worth seeing. Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Why The Raid is worth seeing The Guild Counsel: Why The Raid is worth seeing originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

One Shots: I got a fever Posted: 11 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Guild Wars 2, One Shots Today's One Shots turns from film to music as ArenaNet attempts to fit as many pop-culture jokes as possible into a single Guild Wars quest: The quest is called "More Cowbell." Eurus has a magical cowbell that will ward off the plague, but he was attacked and dropped it in a nearby bed of blue oysters. If you accept the quest to find it for him, talking to him again will trigger his plea: "Please, Cantha is rife with plague and the only inoculation is my blessed cowbell!" The only cure is more cowbell, so off you go to find it. When you succeed, the quest reward text says "It is often said among my people that a great reaver guides us all to the next life, digging through the sky of jade and leading the dead to the great, wide sea in the stars. With this cowbell, I will show them that we have no need to fear the reaver."" We're celebrating pop culture in our MMOs this week. Developers sneak references in all over games, whether it be via NPCs, quests, or items, and we want to see your favorites. Grab a screenshot, tell us a bit about what it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. We'll be featuring the best of these all week. It's also time to start thinking about next week's One Shots theme, and we'll be revisiting an old favorite: environments. Snap a screenshot of your favorite MMO vista and send it in, and we'll feature it on One Shots next week! Gallery: One Shots: 2011 One Shots: I got a fever originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Behind the Mask: Heroes vs. heroes Posted: 11 Aug 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Champions Online, Behind the Mask Although I've referenced it a little bit here and there, I've directly avoided talking about PvP in Champions Online. It's a controversial topic -- probably moreso in CO than in most other MMOs. In Champions, there is a massive difference between a hero who is focused on PvP and one who is not. Characters who are well-optimized PvE machines tend to perform acceptably (especially in certain types of PvP). However, if a hero isn't as optimized, he or she tends to get steamrolled by the flavors of the month. Because most CO players are more casual players (in the sense that they don't plan builds and tend to pick powers that are "fun" or "cool"), they often get quite upset when they are defeated by an optimized PvP build. Most players I know tend to assume that the FoTM builds are unbeatable and that the only way to beat them is to join them. Experienced PvPers know that this just isn't the case. It is true that an optimized PvP build is a necessity, but the actual optimization can take on many forms. There are dozens of effective "win buttons" in Champions' PvP out of a couple hundred powers. Out of dozens of possible kill methods, picking one and supplementing it with logical choices and personal flavor is a snap. Continue reading Behind the Mask: Heroes vs. heroes Behind the Mask: Heroes vs. heroes originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New predictions for SWTOR sales: 3M units! Posted: 11 Aug 2011 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic Electronic Arts had high hopes for Star Wars: The Old Republic when it invested in BioWare. However, even executives at EA did not expect the pre-order sales that surpassed all the publisher's previous records. This unexpected growth has caused industry analysts to reconsider some of the previous predictions for the title. Gamasutra reports that Cowen and Company originally predicted sales of the Star Wars MMO to be approximately 1.5 million units with subscription retention at about 1 million players. However, Cowen and Company has now increased that prediction to 3 million unit sold in the first year with 2 million steady subscribers. With EA taking few other risks this season, it spells high hopes for anyone investing in the game developer. However, if anyone is keeping score at home, that number is still below the 4.7 million sales of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm -- though it's quickly catching up. New predictions for SWTOR sales: 3M units! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Total Recall IP snagged by MMO studio SEE Virtual Worlds Posted: 11 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Entropia Universe, MMO industry, News items, Planet Calypso Planet Michael creator SEE Virtual Worlds has announced that it is now the proud owner of even more well-known intellectual properties. The studio now owns the rights to Men in Black 3, Total Recall (the remake, bleh), Asterix, War of the Worlds, and Waterworld. Whether the studio will turn these properties into MMOs as well, however, remains to be seen. CEO Martin Ballas said only, "These properties are tied to memorable moments and incredible characters that players are going to interact with in future SEE-created digital and online interactive video games." SEE Virtual Worlds, however, has purchased Planet Calypso for a staggering $6 million, which could hint at a possible Total Recall-themed online destination. Before long, you just may be able to hop online and shout at your party, "Get your ass to Mars!" Total Recall IP snagged by MMO studio SEE Virtual Worlds originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The past, present, and future of the Guild Wars 2 Sylvari Posted: 11 Aug 2011 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Guild Wars 2, Races We're coming to the end of Guild Wars 2 Sylvari Week, but the information train isn't slowing down at all. Today's lineup includes a video of the Sylvari starting area, more screenshots, Sylvari wallpapers, and an entry from writer Jeff Grubb. Jeff talks quite a bit about the history and origin of the Sylvari, touching on several elements that can be found in the current Guild Wars game, such as Ventari, Ronan, and familiar enemies and locations. He also presents some insight into the race's lifestyle, varying personalities, rulers, and more. Finally, he looks at some of the challenges facing the Sylvari, both from within and without. Check out the new video below along with new media from the Sylvari starting area, and read Jeff's full entry at the ArenaNet Guild Wars 2 page. Gallery: Guild Wars 2 Continue reading The past, present, and future of the Guild Wars 2 Sylvari The past, present, and future of the Guild Wars 2 Sylvari originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Captain's Log: Resistance might actually be futile Posted: 11 Aug 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Captain's Log Captain's Log, Stardate 65112.3... Hello, computer (and players)! They're mean, they're green(ish), and they are of a collective mind... they are the Borg, and resistance is futile. As most of you know, the Federation's most feared enemy plays a major part in Star Trek Online, and while the Borg are the current endgame "baddie," players find themselves on a daily basis in situations that force them to avoid assimilation. Be they in Deep Space Encounters (DSEs), Special Task Forces (STFs), or random explore missions, the Borg are out there and planning an invasion into the Alpha Quadrant. Bad news, Captains -- their plans are about to come to realization. Later this month, the Borg Fleet Intercepts are scheduled to commence, and as the Borg take up their offensive stance, players of all ranks are going to be called to the front lines. Since this is the first "global combat event" the game has ever had (not including one during beta), players are excited to see what is in store and what they're up against. Luckily, being a member of Section 31, I was able to gain access to some secret intelligence that contains the Borg's plans, and Captain's Log is about to let you in on them so you know how to organize your counterattack. Ensign, warp 10! Let's prepare our readers for the impending invasion... Continue reading Captain's Log: Resistance might actually be futile Captain's Log: Resistance might actually be futile originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

You are subscribed to email updates from Massively To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610