| The Firing Line Extra: Wargaming.net producer talks World of Warplanes expert mode, tech trees, and more Posted: 11 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Historical, Business models, Classes, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Warplanes, The Firing Line It's been an interesting few weeks for Wargaming.net. The firm has re-branded its World of Warships title, acquired BigWorld via a blockbuster $45 million purchase, and hinted at more simulation-style gameplay for its forthcoming World of Warplanes shooter. I forwarded a few questions to WoWP producer Alexander Zelulin about those very topics, so join us after the cut for a quick look at what the firm is thinking with regard to its next World War II-themed multiplayer title. Continue reading The Firing Line Extra: Wargaming.net producer talks World of Warplanes expert mode, tech trees, and more  The Firing Line Extra: Wargaming.net producer talks World of Warplanes expert mode, tech trees, and more originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Play together, loot alone in Diablo III's 1.0.4 patch Posted: 11 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Diablo III What would it take to get you to give Diablo III another go? A whopping patch, perhaps? Blizzard is banking on it. In the game's upcoming 1.0.4 update, the team aims to revamp more than a few major systems, so Senior Technical Game Designer Wyatt Cheng took to the official blog to lay out the plan. For starters, Blizz wants to boost the number of folks playing co-op. That means nuking magic-find averaging in co-op matches; in 1.0.4, you'll benefit from your individual looting bonuses, and monster health will be shaved incrementally as more players join a game. The patch also nerfs elite monster pack difficulty, makes regular mobs tougher but buffs their drops, fixes terrible weapon drops (especially weak two-handers), adjusts damage-over-time skills, and reduces repair costs by 25%, the last of which ought to make endgamers happy. The devs are likewise "making a metric-ton of changes to classes," so expect more Battle.net blog posts in the near future. Play together, loot alone in Diablo III's 1.0.4 patch originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| WRUP: Do not throw meat edition Posted: 11 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous I understand all the cool kids are doing it these days, but you really shouldn't throw meat. You should definitely cook and eat meat; it's delicious and has protein and stuff. But it's not a good projectile. Throwing raw meat makes everyone unhappy, it ruins the meat, and it also ruins every single event under the sun. Think about it -- have you ever been at a wedding and thought that the one thing missing from the proceedings was a raw chicken hurled at the bride's head? Just don't throw meat. None of the Massively staff is throwing meat this weekend. If you'd like to know what we are doing this weekend, well, that's what WRUP is here for in the first place. Well, this week it's also about venting our minor irritations with games, but the big thing is what we'll be doing over the weekend. And after you've read our plans, you can feel free to share yours in the comments below. Continue reading WRUP: Do not throw meat edition WRUP: Do not throw meat edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Are genderlocked classes anathema to MMOs? Posted: 11 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, Massively Meta, The Daily Grind In my recent foray into Path of Exile, an upcoming online Roguelike, I was startled to realize that the game's classes are wholly genderlocked. Like Diablo II, Path of Exile locks each class to a given gender. If you want to play a Ranger, you're playing a female toon. If you prefer the Templar, you're playing a dude. And while there are hints that the game might sell more customization in the future cash shop, the current alpha-test gender count stands at four men to two women. I was startled because even Diablo III shed this model. I assumed that a game's survival in an MMO space, especially a borderline MMO, depends heavily on how much players identify with their characters. And it seems particularly jarring that a game with such an impressively deep skill system would limit character customization and gender so dramatically. So what do you think -- are genderlocked classes anathema to MMOs? Would you play a class in spite of its gender, or have you ever picked a class specifically because you prefer to play a certain gender?  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: Are genderlocked classes anathema to MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 11 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| RIFT announces battle mage soul: The Harbinger Posted: 10 Aug 2012 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Classes, Expansions, RIFT If you listen very carefully, you'll hear the cry from over the mountaintops: "Battle mage? Battle mage?" And if you listen even closer, you'll hear Trion Worlds' response: "Coming in Storm Legion! Coming in Storm Legion!" Indeed, RIFT's development team has confirmed the first of four new souls for the Storm Legion expansion, the Harbinger. Designed for the Mage calling, the Harbinger is a melee DPS soul. Unlike other Mage souls, this one prefers to get up close and personal with attacks, summoning fiercesome weapons for the fight, such as the energy scythe and lightning blade. It's designed to work well with the other souls and to bring survivability and utility to the calling. The Harbinger's special armor also reduces cast time, allowing the melee soul to mix in quick magical attacks into its rotation. In the same livestream, the team also teased the upcoming announcement of a massive horned mount nicknamed "Mr. Landslide." The devs said we should be hearing more on this mount next week. The full reveal video is after the break. Continue reading RIFT announces battle mage soul: The Harbinger RIFT announces battle mage soul: The Harbinger originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| MMObility: MMO streaming services have a long way to go Posted: 10 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Betas, Previews, Wurm Online, Opinion, Vanguard, RuneScape, Mobile, Mabinogi, Battlestar Galactica Online, MMObility I've been a huge fan of streaming technology for a while mainly because it gives players an opportunity to access more powerful and flexible devices from the convenient location of their hand-held tablets or phones. The tech has come a long way even since I started reporting on it, and it continues to impress me. What's the point, you might ask? Why not just sit down at a desktop to play MMOs like everyone else? Well, the truth is that moving around is sometimes more relaxing and can definitely be better for your health. Being able to get up, walk around, check in on a game from different locations, and just be mobile isn't just a neat gimmick. Some MMOs also work much better with a touchscreen device, especially MMORTS titles and games that require only a button press to perform an action. There are options for those who need a fully functioning joystick or control scheme, but they are not yet available to everyone. Let's go over the options we do have. Be sure to try out one or two on your tablet... you just might find that playing on a smaller screen is really fun. Continue reading MMObility: MMO streaming services have a long way to go MMObility: MMO streaming services have a long way to go originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Betawatch: August 4 - 10, 2012 Posted: 10 Aug 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous PlanetSide 2's closed beta test kicked off earlier this week, as did MechWarrior Online's early access beta, though the free-to-play MWO is quick to discourage traditional beta terminology. RaiderZ likewise joins the closed beta roster; we put together a video preview of the game for those of you not yet in on the test. We also learned that Neverwinter will be playable at Gamescom next week, though there's no news yet on that game's upcoming beta. (People keep asking. Now you know what we know.) Finally, Guild Wars 2 ran two more impromptu stress tests this week for people who don't work during the day. Thanks, GW2! The complete Betawatch roundup is just past the cut! Continue reading Betawatch: August 4 - 10, 2012 Betawatch: August 4 - 10, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Star Trek Online hasn't given up on PvP Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Previews, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Community Q&A Star Trek Online has had issues with PvP since launch, and with the departure of the developer earmarked for improving PvP, many players had probably given up hope. However, the most recent edition of Ask Cryptic reassures players that PvP development has not stopped. The team behind the game is focusing on giving PvP a lot of additional testing to ensure that it's fun, largely because it's been such a classic weakness within the game. Obviously, that's not the only question answered in the monthly Q&A session; the update also covers the pace of adding story content to the game, plans for new ships, and KDF content as a whole. There's also an interesting response to a question about Star Trek Online's conversion to free-to-play; executive producer Dan Stahl asserts that the game certainly could have survived as a subscription game, but moving to free-to-play was more productive in the current MMO marketplace. There's a lot to digest in the answers, so fans of the game would be well-served to examine the full list in detail. Star Trek Online hasn't given up on PvP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Star Wars: The Old Republic posts final weekly community Q&A Posted: 10 Aug 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, News items, Free-to-play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Community Q&A It's going to be a few more months before Star Wars: The Old Republic goes free-to-play, but the community still has questions about what will happen with the change, and the latest community Q&A is meant to address the most pressing of those questions. Among the answers is confirmation that neither gear nor characters will be deleted if you opt for the free option rather than a subscription; you'll be able to choose which characters are playable with your limited number of free slots, and you'll retain everything you had as a subscriber with those characters. This week's installment is also the last of the weekly community Q&A posts. As explained by community manager Joveth Gonzalez in a recent forum post, the team is trying to move to a more active system of communication on the forums and through social media rather than providing a structured answer session once per week. Gonzalez hopes that the net effect will be more information for the players and less ambiguity. That being said, if you're curious about the change in business models, there's still important information within this final installment of the weekly series. Star Wars: The Old Republic posts final weekly community Q&A originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Bounty Bay Online shutting down Posted: 10 Aug 2012 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Historical, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Bounty Bay Online After five years of operation, it's time for the good ship of Bounty Bay Online to pull into port and never set sail again. The game has announced that it will be shutting down in the near future, with the servers currently scheduled to go dark on September 20th. No specific reasons have been given for the shutdown, although the announcement does make note that the years of operation (and several management changes) took their toll on the game. Client downloads are already disabled; the community team is planning events for players sticking with the game during its last weeks of operation. Players who purchased items from the game's cash shop recently will also be compensated accordingly, although exact details have not yet been announced. It's a sad day for anyone in love with the game or simply fond of a broad MMO landscape, and we can only hope that the development team moves on to bigger and brighter projects. Bounty Bay Online shutting down originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Firing Line: This is not a PlanetSide 2 NDA violation edition Posted: 10 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Opinion, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2, The Firing Line, Firefall For the record, I really, really wanted to write about PlanetSide 2 for this week's Firing Line. Alas, NDAs or some such. Blargle, bollocks, and boo-hiss on all of that. Anyhow, there is more to the MMO shooter space than Sony Online Entertainment's sci-fi sequel, right? Guys? Yeah, OK, as intros go, this one is pretty weak. But like I said, I'd rather be talking about that time when I [edited] a Terran Republic [edited] outside of [edited] but it was [edited] [edited] [edited] Mosquito. That's not all, as we also [edited] and then [edited] [edited] by some [edited]. Oh, right. We can't talk about that just yet, so join me after the cut for this week's most interesting non- PlanetSide 2 shooter news. Continue reading The Firing Line: This is not a PlanetSide 2 NDA violation edition The Firing Line: This is not a PlanetSide 2 NDA violation edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| MMO Blender: Eliot's superior superheroic romp Posted: 10 Aug 2012 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Game mechanics, Opinion, MMO Blender I like superheroes. So I'm not unhappy at the presence of several superheroic MMOs, but I am unhappy at how the games handle heroes. I think there's space for a game that does superheroes better than they've been done yet, one designed to be unmistakably about superheroics while still being a really great MMO. That means taking little bits and pieces from several other games and blending them into one unified whole, something that's more than the sum of its parts. The problem is that superheroes aren't just people with powers beating up other people with powers. There's more to it than that, and there are a lot of little elements that depend entirely upon the setting. Some stories just don't work in the Marvel universe, some don't work in the DC universe, and some need a completely different setting altogether. So let's look at this from the ground up while I show you my dream superhero MMO, one that would deliver exactly what I'd like to see. Continue reading MMO Blender: Eliot's superior superheroic romp MMO Blender: Eliot's superior superheroic romp originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Massively's hands-on with MMO brawler Forge Posted: 10 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, New titles, Previews, PvP, Opinion, Hands-on, MMOFPS, Massively Hands-on, Miscellaneous, MOBA Forge is definitely an intriguing game that invites exploration. The upcoming MMO-brawler hybrid from indie developer Dark Vale Games is emblematic of what I see as a trend in multiplayer gaming: The era of the niche game is well upon us. Forge isn't a game that will appeal to everyone; its tendency toward "all PvP, all the time" might be enough to scare away a hefty segment of the MMO crowd already. And the game has a nonexistent grind and gear system. For some gamers, that might be a deal-breaker. But there's a lot to love about Forge, and I think that anyone who gives the game a fighting chance will find something about it to keep him around. Continue reading Massively's hands-on with MMO brawler Forge Massively's hands-on with MMO brawler Forge originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| ArenaNet dev says Guild Wars 2's business model will result in a more diverse playerbase Posted: 10 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business models, Interviews, Guild Wars 2 Guild Wars 2 Lead Producer Chris Whiteside has a pretty straight-forward opinion of MMO business models: He says that subscriptions are " a huge barrier to entry." He says that Guild Wars 2's model, which has no subscription but does charge a one-time fee for the client, each campaign, and optional microtransactions, is far more accessible to gamers. Whiteside also thinks that free models have an added benefit for players: "The interesting and ironic thing about it is when you do more free-to-play games, it becomes more competitive, which is even better for the consumer."
ArenaNet expects a more diverse playerbase due to its business model, Whiteside said. He also addressed the difficulty of balancing an MMO for both newcomers to the genre and longtime vets: "As an industry, we could all do a better job of teaching the player how to get to the point where these more complex systems are in the game and then having more enjoyment by understanding what they are, rather than kind of feeling like an outsider." ArenaNet dev says Guild Wars 2's business model will result in a more diverse playerbase originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| MapleStory lands on Steam with special offers Posted: 10 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MapleStory, Business models, Patches, Free-to-play, Promotions Free-to-play is the trend of last year; right now, the "in" thing for MMOs is to get a coveted spot in Steam's store. MapleStory has made the move to the cool kids' table, apparently, as Nexon announced that the title is now available through Valve's digital service. While MapleStory is free-to-play through the service, Nexon and Steam are offering two additional package deals for those interested in plunking down a few bucks for in-game goodies. The $9.99 starter pack includes a 30-day stat-boosting pendant, a teleport rock, a pair of megaphones, and a brown kitty pet that has a three-month lifespan. Alternatively, players may elect to buy the $4.99 value pack, which has just the teleport rock and pet. MapleStory recently released its Mutiny update, which overhauled the Pirate and Dual Blade classes and added several new "mini-dungeons." [Source: Nexon press release] MapleStory lands on Steam with special offers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Funcom: The Secret World metascores to blame for share price drop Posted: 10 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World Funcom has posted an investor update on The Secret World to its official website. The company says its data are "based on current sales, press and gamer feedback, and early indicators of subscription levels following the free 30 days." The news isn't particularly good, as Funcom's share price has lost half its value in recent days. The company believes the culprit is TSW's aggregate review scores, which include the metascore at MetaCritic (72 out of 100) together with "other public sources" for tracking performance. Funcom's update states that it does not expect to meet either of its financial scenarios for the first 12 months following The Secret World's launch. Scenario one included 490,000 "average subs," while scenario two included 1,050,000 client sales and 280,000 subscriptions. In order to increase sales, Funcom is bringing TSW to Steam and "focusing on key areas for improvement of the game and ongoing activities on content updates, sales initiatives and communication." Funcom also notes that it has "significantly lower operational cost for TSW than was the case for Age of Conan" and that overall customer satisfaction is high. "A possible scenario going forward is that the game will sell less, [...] but with high customer satisfaction, it will generate a more stable subscriber base than Age of Conan. Over time, this will enable Funcom to retain more customers and generate higher revenue," the report says. Funcom: The Secret World metascores to blame for share price drop originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Valve removes 'player-created' Aion mace from Dota 2 Posted: 10 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play After discovering that a mace supposedly created by a player in the Steam Workshop and then added to Dota 2 was actually copied from NCsoft's MMORPG Aion, Valve removed the item and issued a warning to players. Believing the mace model the author's original work, Valve made it available to Dota 2 players who purchased a key to unlock a special chest. But Valve's community noticed the mace was Aion's Marchutan's Blessed Mace and reported the IP infringement. All 24,603 players who previously acquired the mace were issued replacement weapons for the confiscated one. The uploader of the mace has been banned, and all proceeds from the sale of the weapon have been stripped from his account. Valve posted a reminder that contributors to the Workshop must respect the intellectual property of others and encouraged the community to continue to report infringements. Valve removes 'player-created' Aion mace from Dota 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| SOE releases new PlanetSide 2 video, details video contest Posted: 10 Aug 2012 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Video, PlanetSide, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2 Sony Online Entertainment and Chinese publisher The9 have released a new PlanetSide 2 video focused on the nostalgic remembrances of veteran PlanetSide players. The featurette runs for approximately four minutes, and while most of the footage is talking-head (and subtitled) interview clips, there are glimpses of PS2 gameplay to be found as well. SOE also wants you to know about its PlanetSide Vet Video Contest. If you're a PS veteran, you can submit a 30-second video confessional describing your most memorable game experience for a chance to win passes to SOE Live in Las Vegas. The top three entries will win passes to the October convention, while the runners-up will be highlighted on the PS2 YouTube playlist. Check out the clip after the cut. [Source: SOE press release] Continue reading SOE releases new PlanetSide 2 video, details video contest SOE releases new PlanetSide 2 video, details video contest originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Firefall's new eSports Toolkit allows better viewing of matches Posted: 10 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Video, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Firefall Red 5 Studios knows that it's not always just about playing Firefall -- it's also about watching matches. Whether you want to check out your friends as they battle in the upcoming free-to-play shooter or you want to get a good look at your competition, the new eSports Toolkit will allow spectators to see the action as it unfolds. It also gives shoutcasters various tools to enhance their broadcasts. Spectators will be able to watch matches in observer mode in which viewers can utilize an assortment of static cameras, follow players, or even check out the whole map and get a bird's-eye view. Viewers have the added bonus of being able to pause, rewind, fast-forward, and even watch the action in slow motion. Shoutcasters enjoy extra features in the broadcast mode, which will allow for free-flight across the map, the ability to access and display player stats, and the ability to switch between multiple camera views to highlight the best action. Together, these features will improve the spectator's overall experience. The eSports Toolkit will be featured at the Firefall beta tournament at Gamescom 2012. For a preview of the different modes, check out the video after the break. [Source: Red 5 Studios press release] Continue reading Firefall's new eSports Toolkit allows better viewing of matches Firefall's new eSports Toolkit allows better viewing of matches originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 10 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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