General Gaming Article

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• Orbitz Shows Mac Users Higher-Priced Hotel Rooms Than Windows Users
• This Scratch-Built, Desk-Based PC Mod Looks Great, Runs Cool And Rocks Three Monitors
• Seagate, DensBits Want To Transform Underperforming SSDs Into Long Lasting Gold
• Zalman Announces ZM1250 Platinum Power Supply
• Dell Welcomes 14-inch Ultrabook, 15-inch Notebook to XPS Family
• It Takes 16,000 Computer Processors to Recognize a Cat
• Bing Maps Upgraded with 165TB of High Resolution Imagery

Orbitz Shows Mac Users Higher-Priced Hotel Rooms Than Windows Users Posted: 26 Jun 2012 12:23 PM PDT Well, isn't this amusing and scary at the same time: Orbitz is now starting to show visitors who use Macs different, often higher-priced rooms than their PC-based counterparts because the company's data shows that Mac users tend to spend more on their bookings. While it's easy to poke fun at Apple-ites -- are they gullible or simply high maintenance? -- the report also highlights a possible consequence of having all your online interactions driven by scads of big data. Orbitz bigwigs were quick to tell the Wall Street Journal (paywalled*) that prices for rooms weren't different for Windows and Mac users; Mac users just see classier options by default. That's because the company's data showed that Mac users spent an average of $20 or $30 more per room than Windows users. They're also 40 percent more likely to book a room at a top-rated hotel, and when Windows users decide to step up from the hovels they're apparently staying in to make a reservation at a hotel that both Windows and Mac users frequent, the Mac users usually stay in the nicer suites. For example, almost half of the Orbitz reservations for a swanky Chicago hotel come from Mac users. The use of predictive analytics and big data are bound to increase as time goes on and so-called success stories like this one make the headlines. Targeted advertising and service offerings definitely have their place, but still: how do you feel about being classified and treated differently because of your chosen operating system? Does it make you think twice about Google's personally tailored search results? *Sure, it's paywalled, but if you found a way around it -- say, by heading to Techmeme and clicking the "On Orbitz, Mac Users Steered to Pricier Hotels" WSJ link that's down the page a little bit -- you can read the article in its entirety.

This Scratch-Built, Desk-Based PC Mod Looks Great, Runs Cool And Rocks Three Monitors Posted: 26 Jun 2012 11:40 AM PDT Something about case mods that build a PC into an actual desk are just plain cool. We loved Peter Brands' L3P Desk (featured in our kick-ass case mods gallery) and a new mod by Shazim Mohammed continues on in the fine tradition by cramming a water-cooled, plenty powerful PC with a three monitor Eyefinity setup into a desk that was built completely from scratch. It might not be overly flashy, but it's impressive nonetheless. The biggest challenge, Mohammed reports, was figuring out a way to get good air flow moving around the MDF-built desk. He enlisted the help of a Tom's Hardware forum-goer and planned a layout that includes three exhaust fans, two intake fans and a liquid cooling setup for the CPU and GPU. The final setup runs at 31 degrees Celcius. Speaking of final setups, here's what Mohammed put into his desk, straight from the man himself: Asus Gene  IV Motherboard i5-2500k Processor Radeon HD 7950 Graphics card with Water Cooling block (EK) 3x Dell UltraSharp (U2312HM) Monitors (in Eyefinity setup) with a modded ergonomic mount. 3x Gelid UV Reactive Green fans XSPC Raystorm CPU waterblock XSPC RX360 Radiator PrimoFlex UV Green tubinh Swiftech pump Head over to Mohammed's build log to see tons and tons of both in-progress and finished product pics. Seriously, there are a lot of them: just so you don't think your broadband connection's acting up, we'll warn you in advance that the website takes a long time to load. It's worth the wait, though. Via Engadget (suprisingly)

Seagate, DensBits Want To Transform Underperforming SSDs Into Long Lasting Gold Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:30 AM PDT Seagate's getting into the SSD business, and it's doing so by converting coal into diamonds. Yesterday, Seagate inked a deal with DensBits, which has an SSD controller that it says can dramatically improve the speed and longevity of NAND flash memory -- basically making fairly low-quality SSDs into average-quality SSDs. Seagate bought an undisclosed stake in DensBits and together, they hope to bring "low-cost, high-performance" SSDs to both consumers and corporate buyers. In the flash world, SLC NAND uses only a single bit per cell and offers the best performance and longest lifespan. MLC NAND increases that to two bits at the cost of speed and lifespan, while TLC NAND uses three bits per cell and offers the worst performance and lifespan of all. On the flip side, lower-quality SSDs have lower prices, always a crucial factor amongst consumers. DensBits says its Memory Modem controller "provides a TLC solution with more than double the endurance of MLC, and an MLC solution with more than twenty times endurance gain." The company also claims its controller delivers in a "significant" performance gain both reading and writing data thanks to the memory management optimizations in its firmware. Basically, DensBits claims manufacturers (like Seagate) can have their cake and eat it, too, by offering TLC and MLC-based SSDs that are cheaper, faster and longer lasting than their similarly multi-bit competitors. The press release says that the two companies plan on creating a consumer SSD line based around TLC NAND, and an enterprise-focused MLC line. Do you think the DensBits controller will be enough to secure Seagate a firm stake in the crowded SSD market?

Zalman Announces ZM1250 Platinum Power Supply Posted: 26 Jun 2012 07:25 AM PDT As we approach the limit of how much juice power supplies can realistically pull from the wall, PSU makers are turning their attention to other differentiating factors, like efficiency. Zalman is one such company taking this approach, and has just unveiled its new ZM1250 Platinum "extreme efficiency" power supply. As the name implies, the 1,250W PSU is 80 Plus Platinum certified, partially the result of using high quality components like 105C solid capacitors. Zalman claims it's also using a powerful and highly reliable DC-DC module in its latest PSU, along with a full bridge and LLC resonant circuits. If you don't have a degree in electrical engineering, you can read a detailed explainer on LLC resonant topology at EETimes. The ZM1250 Platinum is equipped with a 140mm fan, flat modular cables (save for the main cables, which are permanently attached), and a dual +12V rail design with 45A available on +12V1 and 65A on +12V2. That's enough to support 4-way SLI and CrossFire configurations This one's a bit of challenge to find stateside at the moment, but if you do find a unit, expect to pay north of $300. Image Credit: Zalman Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Dell Welcomes 14-inch Ultrabook, 15-inch Notebook to XPS Family Posted: 26 Jun 2012 07:01 AM PDT Dell today added a pair of new notebook models to its flagship XPS brand, one of which is a 14-inch Ultrabook (XPS 14) and the other a 15-inch laptop (XPS 15). As one would expect, both models are equipped with 3rd Generation Intel Core processor options (Ivy Bridge), and both bring new digs to the mobile party with edge-to-edge Corning Gorilla Glass and a machined aluminum finish precision cut from a single block of aluminum. Cost of entry for the XPS 14 Ultrabook is $1,100, which positions it in premium territory. A baseline configuration consists of a 1600x900 resolution display with 400-nit brightness, Intel Core i5 3317U processor, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 4GB of DDR3-1333 RAM, 500GB 5400RPM hard drive + 32GB mSATA SSD, 1.3MP webcam, 802.11a/g/n Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0, Intel WiDi technology, two USB 3.0 ports, mini DisplayPort, HDMI output, 3-in-1 card reader, and Windows 7 Home Premium. For $100 more, Dell upgrades the graphics to an Nvidia GeForce GT 630 GPU. Starting at $1,300, the XPS 15 offers a 1920x1080 resolution driven by an Intel Core i5 3210M processor and GeForce GT 630M GPU. A baseline config also consists of 6GB of DDR3-1600 memory, 500GB 7200RPM hard drive + 32GB mSATA SSD, and an optical drive. Both the XPS 14 and XPS 15 are available to purchase now. Image Credit: Dell Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

It Takes 16,000 Computer Processors to Recognize a Cat Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:35 AM PDT The Internet community is obsessed with cats, so if you're going to build a neural network consisting of 16,000 computer processors designed to simulate the human brain, then what better task is there than to have it scour the Web for felines? Researchers from Google's X laboratory saw the logic in doing exactly that, and remarkably, the massive neural network actually taught itself to recognize the Internet's favorite type of furball with surprising accuracy. A detailed report in The New York Times outlines Google's efforts, noting that the newest simulation bests all previous efforts by being twice as capable of picking out objects from a "challenging list of 20,000 distinct items." In order to successfully learn what a typical cat looks like, Google's research team presented the neural network with random thumbnail images taken from 10 million YouTube videos. The Google brain, as they refer to the network, constructed a hierarchy of memory locations based on the millions of images it saw. "It is worth noting that our network is still tiny compared to the human visual cortex, which is a million times larger in terms of the number of neurons an synapses," the researchers wrote. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Bing Maps Upgraded with 165TB of High Resolution Imagery Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:06 AM PDT Bing Maps this week added a boatload of satellite imagery and Global Ortho photography covering nearly 38 million square kilometers (over 23.6 million miles) over North America, South America, Africa, Australia, Europe, and Asia. This represents Microsoft's largest satellite release to Bing Maps yet, which more than doubles the aerial footprint, which previously totaled 129TB of data. A Bing Maps blog post announcing the publication of new aerial photography details a sampling of what's now available, from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska and Extraterrestrial Highway in Nevada, to the Space Park Promenade in Germany and Sarychevo Peak Volcano in Russia. "As of today the Global Ortho project is 85 percent acquired and published. Just this month, Bing Imagery Technologies hit a significant milestone by completing 100 percent of aerial photography over the United States," Microsoft said. "The photography in Europe is slated to be finished by this fall and all updated imagery should be published by the end of 2012." Take a look for yourself by loading up Bing Maps World Tour and either watch a slideshow or go off exploring on your own. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

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MMO News

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• MMORPG Female Character Clichés: A Rebuttal (Part One)
• Fog Rolls In Legend: Legacy of the Dragons
• World Of Warplanes Developers Discuss Superiority
• Tynon Reveals The Goblins
• Dragon Crusade Offficially Launches

MMORPG Female Character Clichés: A Rebuttal (Part One) Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:20 PM PDT By, M. Hauschel (This article is a rebuttal to the article entitled MMORPG Female Character Clichés)   I don't want to be misunderstood for blaming the gaming industry for creating all of the unrealistic images of women; instead I'm criticizing them for contributing.  The expectations of how women have to look have been pushed onto the gender from television, movies, magazines, etc.  Stereotyping women and only portraying them a certain way gives impressionable minds a warped view of how women are to behave and look.  I'm not blaming the industry for creating the stereotypes, but they're definitely not fighting them.   There is nothing inherently wrong with having attractive characters in games.  There is something wrong with only having attractive characters in games.  Imagine if the majority of films only have attractive characters.  After a while those films would become stale and easy to predict.  That's generally how I feel about the majority of games that feature any female characters.  More cases than not, that character will be attractive, fit, have a outfit that reveals the curves of the body, and possibly have exposing areas of the body that are meant to arouse someone.  The same could not be said about male characters.   There's a thought process of "because women portray men as brutes and objectify them in romance novels, that it's okay to objectify women".  Let me be clear, I'm not going to defend behavior of objectification of either sex; I don't condone sexist stereotypes of men.  I'm as much bothered by the phrase, "Man up" as I am bothered by, "Don't be such a girl".  Having that said, saying that because one industry makes cliché stereotype of a gender, doesn't gives credence to another industry to make cliché stereotypes.   With women making up 40% of the gaming population (39% of PC game population); they are often overwhelmingly underrepresented in games. 85% of playable characters in videogames are male.1Seeing that marginable 15% often comes with disappointment, because it portrays as a stereotype. That 15% isn't made for females on most cases; it's made solely for the male audience. As the majority of women are repulsed to the idea of over-sexualized characters; you would think the market would create characters that would attract female players instead of repulsing them.2   There's a huge polka dot elephant in the room that would explain why games often don't cater to the female audience.  Games are not created for women in most cases, because they're not involved; this is evident when you view how many women work in the gaming industry.  (Surprise! The majority of the industry is filled with men; women only make up 20% of the industry. With 3% of game programmers being women.)3 This results in games being created for the male audience.  A female perspective is necessary for the growing market and companies that wish to succeed in the industry.  Excluding women from the process will become more apparent as women are becoming more educated than the male population and starting to out-earn them as well.4   There will always be the women out there that proclaim that it's okay for females to be portrayed as sexy, because they like playing sexy characters.  Those girls are an exception; they don't make up the majority of how women view character design.  There's a term for women who proclaim objecting yourself or other women as empowerment, they're called female chauvinist pigs.  These are the same women who say posing in Playboy and flashing Girls Gone Wild are empowering.  Women should not have to demean themselves and others in order to fit into the gaming society.  When we're told to "get back in the kitchen" or "show tits or gtfo", laughing along or using this language as a female pushes the image of women back 50 years.  Objecting yourself doesn't demand respect, and it doesn't demand respect for females in the gaming industry.  A female using the female bashing language in game doesn't help the image of gamers who happen to be female.  How do objectified women in games help women to be respected in the industry? It doesn't.  How will this create games that are more inclusive to the female gaming population? It won't.   I don't want sexy outfits taken away.  I just don't want sexy outfit to be the rule of the land.  The more options we have to customize our characters and create different storylines, the better it would be for players.  I wouldn't want to stifle character creation in anyway.  I just want to see more diversity of how women are being portrayed.  You see men in all shapes and sizes, from very tall to very short; to very buff to very overweight, this variety creates interesting characters.  I would love to see the same for women. Instead of only having them as fit, thin, beautiful characters, have some different looking characters for once.   "They're just video games."  That's always the fall back excuse.  Because I'm disgusted at how women are seen in video games, the common retort is, "Well, don't play them".  I like video games, and have, ever since my childhood. There are barriers in place to prevent me from enjoying games, as games are made for the male audience in mind.  As much as I enjoy video games, it's difficult for me to support an industry that has such a hostile view on women.  I don't really have an option, other than stop playing game entirely.  For those of us females who enjoy gaming, we have two options- ignore the blatant sexism, or miss out on playing games.

Fog Rolls In Legend: Legacy of the Dragons Posted: 26 Jun 2012 01:10 PM PDT Legend: Legacy of the Dragons has released a new Fog Islands update. The Fog Islands hide hidden secrets and strange creatures. The area features new quests, weapons, equipments, and ornaments to discover. Players will also find that Humans and Magmars can now attack with bows and arrows after completing a special quest series, and new players can challenge themselves against capturing Kirit Fortress to earn exclusive items and buffs. The update also allows players to face off against clans of the same race to determine who has the best strategy, tactics, and strength. These new battles can use new rare resources to deploy a limited number of buffs on the battlefields – where battles may rage for months between clans. Legend: Legacy of the Dragons is published by Mail.RU, which also publishes Juggernaut and RiotZone. Legend: Legacy of the Dragons Gameplay Screenshot Source: The Battle for the Fog Islands Mail.Ru Games releases the biggest update yet for Legend: Legacy of the Dragons   Hamburg, June 26, 2012 – Great changes come to Faeo, arena of the millennia-old war between Humans and Magmars. In the most comprehensive update yet, Mail.Ru Games expands the world of the internationally successful dark fantasy browser game, Legend: Legacy of the Dragons - which has won over 15 million players worldwide – adding lots of exciting new features and content. From new areas like the Fog Islands, to long-range weapons and clan wars – the release of this coming update will see Faeo totally transformed. Over time, new content will also be opened up through custom events.   Secrets in the fog, and silent danger from afar Deep within the murky mists, the Fog Islands lie hidden, a place of secrets, and home to many unique creatures. They are ever ready to greet unwary visitors with a nasty surprise. As well as battling giant tortoises, slaying many-headed hydras, and discovering idyllic beaches, you must uncover the island’s hidden secrets in a whole range of exciting quests. If you can win the hearts of the native factions, and prove your mettle by battling monsters and other foes, you will gain access to new weapons, equipment and ornaments. On top of this, the new update gives Humans and Magmars the ability to attack with long-range weapons: A special quest series puts a bow and arrow into your hands, and teaches you the skills needed to use them.   The Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend Normally, warriors of the same faction fight side by side, not against each other, but there are some disputes that can only be settled on the battlefield: With the latest add-on, clans of the same race can now battle one another to show who has the strategic edge. In these battles, the clan leaders act as commanders, positioning their troops and planning the assault on the enemy forces. On top of this, you can deploy a limited number of buffs in advance in order to, for example, heal your team in a certain area. But be careful, these rare resources should be used sparingly, if you don’t want the enemy to turn the tables. Long-term planning is a must, as battles between clans can rage on for up to two months. If that’s too long for you, beginners can now also take on the challenge of capturing the Kirit Fortress. On capturing it, you will be rewarded with special buffs and items that you won’t find anywhere else.   Survival of the Strongest Dark fantasy fans feel right at home in Legend: Legacy of the Dragons. An ancient war, three classes, Bonebreakers, Heavyweights and Dodgers, as well as nine professions are available to choose from, allowing a personalized role-playing experience. Faeo offers a world full of dangers, lore, legends and secrets waiting to be discovered and experienced. Over 1 million words long, Legend: Legacy of the Dragons is more than just a game to be played – it’s a novel to be lived. Of course, no gripping book is complete without some epic battles. Legend: Legacy of the Dragons is no exception: Up to 1000 players face off simultaneously in fully animated battles.   Will you join the battle between Humans and Magmars? Find your path at http://warofdragons.com/

World Of Warplanes Developers Discuss Superiority Posted: 26 Jun 2012 12:18 PM PDT A new video from Wargaming discusses game modes for World of Warplanes. The developers discuss how they came to choose Superiority as the main game mode. This mode features both aerial combativeness and ground targets and objectives, letting teams of fifteen battle high and low in the skies to dominate the map. The team also discusses the Escort mode, where players must escort a team of AI-controlled bombers, and the tutorial mode, which will help pilots adapt to the flying and fighting systems in World of Warplanes. Wargaming also publishes World of Tanks. World of Warplanes: Developer Diaries #3

Tynon Reveals The Goblins Posted: 26 Jun 2012 12:04 PM PDT Tynon has revealed its first race (with recruitable characters): Goblins. Known from many fantasy tales, the goblins in Tynon – also referred to as “The Swarm” – are trouble-makers who possess arcane abilities. They will be the first enemies players will encounter to save the thirteen kingdoms, although players must deal with their use of sheer numbers and strong leaders to best them. The goblins will also feature the game’s first boss, Captain Wart, along with his peer Chieftain Bighand, both of whom will be recruitable. Tynon is a new game from game studio uCool and the makers of Evony, and will be a browser-based strategy game with cooperative and PvP elements. Tynon Gameplay Screenshot Source: Race Profile: The Goblin Swarm Recruitable Characters: Captain Wart, Chieftan Bighand   A staple in any great fantasy epic, goblins are mischievous creatures, small in size and often possess arcane talents. In Tynon, goblins, referred to as "The Swarm," will be the first enemies players encounter on their quest to save the thirteen kingdoms from slavery and disaster under the dark wizards magic.   When in raiding parties far from the Goblins' capital city of Greathovel, the Swarm wears armor and rags and is able to master weapons of all types. The Swarm operates best under a powerful leader, using their sheer numbers to overwhelm and defeat an enemy. However if their leader is killed in combat, the Swarm will break into a panic—chaos ensuing over the decision of who will become the next chieftain.   The first boss players will encounter in Tynon is Captain Wart, a goblin who grew up roaming the dirt paths of Greathovel. Raised in an extremely destitute family, Captain Wart quickly learned the skills necessary to survive goblin childhood, including pickpocketing, conning and scrapping. As he grew, he found himself unmatched amongst his peers in combat and consequently became a formidable master of the twin blade arts. With these skills, Captain Wart joined Chieftain Bighand, and their company became well-known and feared throughout the kingdom. Just as Captain Wart was reaching his prime, things took a turn for the worse when Chieftain Bighand encountered an emissary from the Dragon Queen…

Dragon Crusade Offficially Launches Posted: 26 Jun 2012 11:34 AM PDT Aeria Games has launched its newest real-time strategy game, Dragon Crusade. The game features six playable races (each with its own unique set of troops, buildings, and more), fully customizable hero units, pets, mounts, quests, instances, and large-scale PvP warfare. The game also features a strong alliance system and gladiator arena for more cooperation and competition. Aeria Games also publishes Golden Age and Crystal Saga. Dragon Crusade Gameplay Screenshot Source: AERIA GAMES LAUNCHES GROUND-BREAKING Dragon Crusade Guide Bustling Empires to Domination in New Free-to-Play Browser MMORTS SANTA CLARA, Calif. – June 26, 2012 – Let clashing steel, marching armies, and clanking construction fill your browser with Dragon Crusade from Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games. Today's launch of the massively multiplayer real-time strategy game (MMORTS) offers players a rich and tactical kingdom-building experience with no download required.   Dragon Crusade delivers an abundance of depth, providing a high level of detail and amazing customization options. The title features six playable races, all with unique buildings, troops, and abilities, ensuring that no two battles will be the same. In addition to developing fledgling towns into imposing empires, players will also be challenged by vital quests, perilous instances, and large-scale warfare against other players.   Leading the hundreds of soldiers comprising a player's army, superior hero units will be the keys to victory. Further adding to the game's complexity, heroes are fully customizable with attribute skill points, giving players the flexibility to build the ultimate melee combatant, the most lethal mage, or anything in between. Mounts and pets are available to heroes as well, adding even more ways to boost hero attributes while also providing them with a companion.   Forming alliances in Dragon Crusade is also a crucial tool for survival in a hostile and continually evolving landscape. Alliances benefit their members with exclusive strategic buildings like forts, warehouses, and tech centers. Those who thirst for even more PvP competition can take their heroes to the gladiatorial arena and challenge other players' heroes for glory and rich rewards!   Dragon Crusade is entirely browser-based and does not require a download, and like all Aeria Games titles, it is free-to-play. Players can jump into the game right now at http://dragoncrusade.aeriagames.com.

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MMO Updates

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• PlanetSide 2 producer's letter teases beta plans, PlanetSide promotion
• Age of Wulin sandbox to feature accurate real-world locations
• The Game Archaeologist: What if World of Warcraft had never happened?
• Aeria Games launches strategy-based Dragon Crusade
• Get DUST 514 beta access with CCP's new Mercenary Pack
• Star Trek Online's Dan Griffis departing Cryptic (again)
• No, Guild Wars 2 is not launching today
• Full PlanetSide 2 E3 theater details customization and player tools
• The Daily Grind: Is there an MMO zone that you avoid at all costs?
• Not So Massively: Competitive gaming, D3 patch 1.03, and more
• MechWarrior Online serves up community answers on the details of combat
• Wings Over Atreia: It's time to liberate Aion from race restrictions
• Guild Wars 2: Yep, it's really pretty
• Massively Exclusive: An interview with WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney
• EVE Online Inferno 1.1 opens for business
• Champions Online introduces new alert type
• CCP: It's 'deeply wrong' to assume that repetition is the way forward
• The Secret World soundtrack available on iTunes [Updated]
• Leaderboard: Achievements vs. collections

PlanetSide 2 producer's letter teases beta plans, PlanetSide promotion Posted: 26 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, PlanetSide, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Promotions, PlanetSide 2, Sandbox So how about that, two pieces of PlanetSide 2 news in a single day. We must be getting close to beta or something, right SOE? Right? On the subject of betas, Sony Online Entertainment has released a new producer's letter that spells out who will be accessing its new MMOFPS initially. As expected, PlanetSide vets and other gamers who have obtained third-party testing codes will get to fight first. Producer Josh Hackney also says that this Sunday (July 1st) is PlanetSide day. To celebrate, SOE is awarding former PlanetSide fraggers with 30 days of free game time. If you've ever had an active PlanetSide subscription, come back to Auraxis on the company dime and hone your skills while you wait for your beta invite. Hackney also says that this month's E3 demo was the first of many PlanetSide 2 appearances slated for the summer. Check out the full post for more details. PlanetSide 2 producer's letter teases beta plans, PlanetSide promotion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Producer's letter

Age of Wulin sandbox to feature accurate real-world locations Posted: 26 Jun 2012 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Historical, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Sandbox How would you like to know a bit more about the setting, landscapes, and historical background in Age of Wulin? Yeah, it sounded cool to us too, which is why we're bringing you the highlights of the latest press release from gPotato. The free-to-play firm is publishing Snail Games' upcoming martial arts MMO in Europe (it's also coming to North America as Age of Wushu), and it says that the game and its expansive world is inspired by over 2,000 years of Chinese legends. The Wuxia and kung-fu genres are major influences, of course, so AoW takes place during the early years of the Ming Dynasty when China's martial arts culture was at its peak. If you missed our E3 preview, you should know that the game is a skill-based sandbox featuring eight distinct combat schools and plenty of novel non-combat mechanics. The game also boasts upwards of 40,000 NPCs inhabiting 27 regions that stretch across 130 square kilometers. This is a free-roaming open-world title, too, and explorers can visit real locations like Beijing or even the developers' hometown of Suzhou. Want to walk the Great Wall? You can, along with a Shaolin Monastery, the Wudang mountains, and dozens of other locations. gPotato says the devil is in the details, so the devs have "studied and analyzed old maps, plans, and blueprints in order to reconstruct real places in game with the greatest accuracy possible." If you missed the game's North American launch trailer, we've embedded it for you after the break. [Source: gPotato press release] Continue reading Age of Wulin sandbox to feature accurate real-world locations Age of Wulin sandbox to feature accurate real-world locations originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Game Archaeologist: What if World of Warcraft had never happened? Posted: 26 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, MMO industry, Opinion, The Game Archaeologist As you know well by now, I do love me some "what ifs?" from time to time. In an industry as volatile and unpredictable as this one, it's not hard to imagine a world where, say, Ultima X did launch or where Bill Roper is coming off his fourth straight successful game or where a different studio secured the rights to a popular IP over another one. Perhaps the king of all MMO "what ifs" deals with the former (yes, former) king of MMOs. What if World of Warcraft never happened? Putting aside our own personal reaction, which may range from heartfelt relief to severe heartburn, we should look at this question without bias or emotion. Today I'm going to step way, way out on a limb and talk about an alternate universe where one of the biggest MMOs of all time simply did not happen. In that universe, how did the MMO industry unfold from 2004 on, and what would we be looking at playing today? Maybe it's an impossible mind exercise, but I've been mulling it over for a while, so here are six outcomes that I think are quite likely. Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: What if World of Warcraft had never happened? The Game Archaeologist: What if World of Warcraft had never happened? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aeria Games launches strategy-based Dragon Crusade Posted: 26 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser Fans anticipating the new strategy game from Aeria Games didn't have long to wait; announced at the end of April and entering closed beta less than a month ago, Dragon Crusade hatched in record time, flying from unknown to launch in less than two months. Players itching to participate in large-scale warfare can now dive in and begin building kingdoms in the free-to-play browser-based MMO. Dragon Crusade allows players to form alliances and customize superior hero units in an effort to dominate the lands. The game also offers questing, instances, and a gladiatorial arena where players can pit their heroes against others for rewards. As no download is required, players can sign up on the official site and jump right in to play. [Source: Aeria Games press release] Aeria Games launches strategy-based Dragon Crusade originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Get DUST 514 beta access with CCP's new Mercenary Pack Posted: 26 Jun 2012 07:45 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Consoles, MMOFPS, DUST 514, Promotions, Sandbox If you're on the fence about DUST 514, CCP has just announced a new early adopter package that may push you over the edge. It's called the Mercenary Pack and it features in-game gear, currency, a booster, and some exclusive armor and weapons. Oh, there's an all-access closed beta pass included too. The game's first official beta event starts this Thursday, June 28th. CCP plans to run beta events every other weekend, but Mercenary Pack customers can jump into New Eden on off-weekends as well. The pack will set you back $19.99 and it's available via the PlayStation Network. Click past the cut for a full listing of goodies as well as an image of the exclusive Dragonfly scout dropsuit. [Source: CCP press release] Continue reading Get DUST 514 beta access with CCP's new Mercenary Pack Get DUST 514 beta access with CCP's new Mercenary Pack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Trek Online's Dan Griffis departing Cryptic (again) Posted: 26 Jun 2012 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play Star Trek Online Content Designer Dan "Gozer" Griffis announced that he'll be leaving his position at Cryptic Studios to head for another final frontier. The news leaked onto the forums after Griffis told a few friends over the weekend, and the subsequent mood by players has not been pretty. Griffis put it bluntly: "Yes, I will be leaving if a few weeks for a new opportunity. That's pretty much all of it. It has nothing to do with PvP, STO, or Cryptic. It's just time for me to do something different. I had planned on telling everyone on the forums at some point, but probably closer to when I was actually leaving (I'll be here for a few more weeks)." He says that PvP will be transferred to another developer, and he's not going to talk about what's in store for that part of STO. Griffis previously left Cryptic in 2010, but returned shortly thereafter. [Thanks to Don for the tip!] Star Trek Online's Dan Griffis departing Cryptic (again) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: STO forums

No, Guild Wars 2 is not launching today Posted: 26 Jun 2012 07:15 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, Guild Wars 2 Call it stating the obvious or call it non-news, but the truth is, Guild Wars 2 is not releasing today. Despite the fact that GameStop is claiming the contrary, ArenaNet has stated many times -- for the last six years -- that Guild Wars 2 will be ready when it's ready. GameStop has since changed their projected launch date for GW2 on their website to December 31, 2012, but several outlets still show the June 26 advertisement. So let this be a public service announcement for all of you tricked by GameStop's sales tactics. Enjoy yourselves in the stress test tomorrow and we'll look for that real launch date announcement from ArenaNet hopefully coming soon! No, Guild Wars 2 is not launching today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Full PlanetSide 2 E3 theater details customization and player tools Posted: 26 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Video, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, PlanetSide 2, Sandbox Those who weren't at E3 to get a hands-on experience with PlanetSide 2 now have the opportunity to watch the same theater presentation attendees were treated to. For just over seven minutes, developer Brian Bosch gives viewers a run-down of PS2's factions, classes, and vehicles while demonstrating the in-depth customization for gear and vehicles. The video ends with a look at the tools Sony Online Entertainment is offering players to keep connected with the game even when logged out. The player website will allow players to check and compare their stats and performance; it will have also a separate planet status tab giving a real-time view of activities on a player's home server. Still worried about being out of touch? Brian states that mobile uplink apps are on their way that will mirror most of the website's functions as well as allowing players to hook into the voice program in-game and talk with friends. Enjoy the full video (and check out the coordinating squad zebra uniforms) after the break. Continue reading Full PlanetSide 2 E3 theater details customization and player tools Full PlanetSide 2 E3 theater details customization and player tools originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Full E3 presentation on YouTube Via: FPS General

The Daily Grind: Is there an MMO zone that you avoid at all costs? Posted: 26 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind I don't normally avoid zones in MMORPGs. Even the ones that people consider poorly designed are typically fun to experience a couple of times either for the visuals, the quest content, or both. Age of Conan's Kara Korum, though, is a horse of a different color. It's nigh unavoidable if you're playing through the game's Rise of the Godslayer expansion content, and it features dozens of essential faction quests as well as ample gear and monetary rewards. The overarching storyline is rather interesting too. That said, Kara Korum is unequivocally the bleakest, most depressing slice of gaming I've ever experienced. Aesthetically, Funcom has created a pretty good approximation of hell, and the sheer human misery on display via the various NPCs and vignettes weighs heavily on the heart. Needless to say, I won't be coming back to Kara Korum once I've finally conquered it. What about you, early risers? Is there an MMO zone that you avoid at all costs? 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: Is there an MMO zone that you avoid at all costs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not So Massively: Competitive gaming, D3 patch 1.03, and more Posted: 25 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Events, real-world, Game mechanics, Patches, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III, Firefall MOBAs have been concentrating on competitive gameplay this week. Dota 2 launched a new pay-per-view tournament scheme with the $10,000 competitive tournament The Defense. Heroes of Newerth released its new competitive game mode, Lock Pick, which adds another layer of metagame to the competitive scene. Bloodline Champions followed its latest competitive tournament with the release of its new tank bloodline, Sentinel, and League of Legends announced an exclusive tournament for Greek players as part of the Greek client launch celebrations. Diablo III released patch 1.03 this week, heavily nerfing attack speed on items but at the same time balancing the damage in inferno mode. The South Korean FTC ordered Blizzard to accept requests for refunds, and Blizzard confirmed the world first completion of inferno difficulty in hardcore mode. Path of Exile released a video spotlight on a player's innovative melee witch build, and Firefall announced its new Mobile Gaming Unit -- a massive LAN center bus that will be touring the US starting next week. Continue reading Not So Massively: Competitive gaming, D3 patch 1.03, and more Not So Massively: Competitive gaming, D3 patch 1.03, and more originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

MechWarrior Online serves up community answers on the details of combat Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Community Q&A, MechWarrior Online Whether you're a fan of the original BattleTech tabletop games, a fan of the MechWarrior series, or a fan of both, you know that the details of 'Mech combat are always important. MechWarrior Online is being fortunately developed with an eye toward the fine details, as explained in the latest round of community questions and answers. For instance, the developers are designing LRMs to retain their intended long-distance functionality, with any missiles fired too close to the target simply bouncing off as inert duds. The game is remaining very true to its source in many ways -- for example, location of equipment in a 'Mech will still play a major part in design -- but it's also changing certain elements. One of the team's major goals is to ensure that light 'Mechs are still a threat to assault 'Mechs, making sure that no pilot will ever feel as if his machine is useless in a given engagement. There's a great deal of attention to detail in the project, something that fans of the game should appreciate. MechWarrior Online serves up community answers on the details of combat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Ask the Devs 8

Wings Over Atreia: It's time to liberate Aion from race restrictions Posted: 25 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Races, Wings Over Atreia The shadows dance as the last of the rays of day filter through the window. A hush descends as fingers are poised over the keyboard. Maybe today is the day! Just maybe. Fingers fly. Clinging to that last shred of hope, the player types the code. Just one more step! Breath held, hand shaking, finally the selection made... *Race creation restrictions are in place. You cannot create an Elyos.* Race restrictions: a noble idea that causes harm in its quest to do good, an idea in Aion that has outlived its usefulness, at least in its current form. Perhaps you've never been party to the scenario described above, but I (along with countless others) have. It is not a pleasant experience; I contend that race restrictions are causing avoidable harm to the game. At the very least, it's a slap in the face to the idea of playing your way. But even worse than that, it is costing Aion players when the express goal was to avoid that very thing. This week, Wings Over Atreia looks at why the policies of race restrictions need to be reexamined, and if kept, reimplemented in a different way. Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: It's time to liberate Aion from race restrictions Wings Over Atreia: It's time to liberate Aion from race restrictions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2: Yep, it's really pretty Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, News items, Guild Wars 2 You probably didn't need to be reminded that Guild Wars 2 is a lovely game, but in case you did, ArenaNet has got you covered. The studio, which is justifiably proud of its art team and game aesthetics, has made a whole passel of images and files available to the press. While not all of the images were new, plenty of unseen concept pieces and screenshots got included. We went through and picked out the new images and our favorite oldies-but-goodies to share with you! Gallery: Guild Wars 2: It's pretty pretty Guild Wars 2: Yep, it's really pretty originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Exclusive: An interview with WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney Posted: 25 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Interviews, Endgame, News items, Massively Interviews, WildStar Big releases from the WildStar development team at Carbine Studios seem to be few and far between, which is why the recent footage from early testing was such a breath of fresh air. Aside from showing off some of the game's role-based content for Settlers and Scientists, it also displayed new environments, new combat elements, and the unique graphical flair that attracted fans even before anything had been said about gameplay. We gamers are a curious bunch, though, and seeing a bunch of cool new stuff doesn't stop us from asking questions. Executive producer and design director Jeremy Gaffney recently hosted an AMA session on Reddit, but he was also kind enough to answer a few more questions from us here at Massively about combat flow, racial differentiation, and the usual character roles in MMOs. Take a look past the break at what the game will offer players when it finally goes live... which most WildStar fans agree can't be soon enough. Continue reading Massively Exclusive: An interview with WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney Massively Exclusive: An interview with WildStar's Jeremy Gaffney originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EVE Online Inferno 1.1 opens for business Posted: 25 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Patches, PvP, Sandbox Patches are serious business. Just ask CCP, which has deployed its first major post-Inferno update to EVE Online's space cowboys and their cute toy ships. Inferno 1.1 is nothing to sneeze at, with its expanded loyalty point stores, increased visuals, and a cargo hold full of fixes and tweaks. Players sucking up to one of the four militias in the game now have more merchandise to drool over. The loyalty point stores now include factional uniforms that come in both male and female varieties. Alternatively, you can drop real-world money for other uniform variants that have been added to the NeX store. The Minmatar ships finally receive a dose of graphical love in 1.1, with V3 shader upgrades for their hardware. Due to popular demand, players are now able to watch a target area for a while after the target's been blown to kingdom come. As always, there are too many changes to summarize in a few short paragraphs, so check out the patch notes to get the down low on Inferno 1.1! EVE Online Inferno 1.1 opens for business originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Inferno 1.1 patch notes

Champions Online introduces new alert type Posted: 25 Jun 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Endgame, News items, Champions Online, Dev Diaries If you're looking for a new way to prove your Champions Online prowess, this week's addition of Rampage Alerts is just the thing for you! This new alert type features encounters made for teams of 10 characters of levels 35-40, with heavy emphasis on teamwork and dynamic battle strategy. Players who answer the call of the new alerts will be rewarded with Questionite Ore and costume pieces from their defeated foes. The blog post introducing this addition highlighted the as-deadly-as-she-is-beautiful Gravitar and her fearsome skills. She's wreaking havoc on Millennium City, and heroes who try to put a stop to her frolics will have to survive her gravitational manipulations -- like causing force eruptions, sending gravity pulses barreling after her targets, and suspending enemies in deadly gravity bubbles. Heroes attempting to face her are also warned to "beware her biting wit," as she "suffers no fashion faux pas," but you might take a look at her costume before you let her make you feel badly about your own. Champions Online introduces new alert type originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: New Rampage Alert

CCP: It's 'deeply wrong' to assume that repetition is the way forward Posted: 25 Jun 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox, The Elder Scrolls Online CCP's got opinions. This isn't news. The Icelandic developer behind EVE Online isn't afraid to share its opinions, which is also par for the course. MMO developers rarely comment on other games, though, and so we read lead EVE designer Kristopher Touborg's thoughts on The Elder Scrolls Online with some interest. PC Gamer provides the setup, in which the magazine shares a quote from TESO's Matt Firor with Touborg. "At this point in the evolution of MMOs, every MMO has tried something at one point or another that you're going to do in your game. There aren't any more truly innovative features," Firor said. Touborg's response was lengthy and fills out most of the source article listed below. "It's kind of waving a white flag. Like, yeah. I don't like that statement. Because I think that's part of why there's such an attrition with MMOs. People go in and play an MMO for a month and they just want to throw up because they've leveled to 60 in ten different titles," Touborg says before going on to express his hopes that developers try something new. "Otherwise the same [MMOs] are just going to continue on the trend we see every time, where they sell a load of boxes and people play it for three months and then they go somewhere else. There has to be something else out there." CCP: It's 'deeply wrong' to assume that repetition is the way forward originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: PC Gamer

The Secret World soundtrack available on iTunes [Updated] Posted: 25 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Culture, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World If you're anxiously awaiting this Friday's early release period for The Secret World, you can add to that anticipation courtesy of the horror-fantasy title's soundtrack. Funcom has made the album available on iTunes starting today, and there are 20 tracks from composers Simon Poole and Marc Canham for your listening pleasure. The track titles give us a window into Funcom's mysterious lore thanks to names like Our Town, Through a Hollow Earth, and The Age is Ending. The Secret World's pre-order early access phase starts June 29th, with launch soon to follow on July 3rd. [Update: The soundtrack is also available on Amazon.] The Secret World soundtrack available on iTunes [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: iTunes

Leaderboard: Achievements vs. collections Posted: 25 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Polls, Game mechanics, Miscellaneous, Leaderboard Some may call them busy work or a fool's errand, but others delight in the additional fluff systems in MMOs that encourage us to take the path less traveled. Two of these systems, achievements and collections, stand out in my mind as the premier ways of encouraging us to game a bit differently. Achievements are ubiquitous at this point, from World of Warcraft to Warhammer Online (and that's just the Ws). Despite usually not offering anything more substantial than a pat on the back and a few numbers for your number collections, they have proved to be an incredibly popular motivator to going outside of your daily routine. Collections are somewhat more tangible: in-game objects that are often hidden for you to seek out, find, and collect all of them for the cool prize on the back of the box. That may be Cheerios, too. Anyway, titles like EverQuest II and RIFT enjoy sending players out on these scavenger hunts, and it momentarily takes our minds off the presence of death and slaughter that permeates everything. So if you had to pick one of these systems as the better motivation to get you out of your comfort zone and try new things, which would it be: achievements or collections? Continue reading Leaderboard: Achievements vs. collections Leaderboard: Achievements vs. collections originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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