General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Saints Row IV Modders Create First-Person Mode

Posted: 05 Oct 2013 12:54 PM PDT

SRIVGet to know your prey up close and personal

Is third-person too formal for you when it comes to Saints Row IV? Do you need to get up close and personal when blowing away your enemies with your dubstep gun? We've got the perfect solution for you: it's a first-person mod for PC players that allows you to see Steelport in all its wretched glory through brand new eyes.

Volition hasn't yet released official Saints Row IV mod tools, but a team of prodigious modders (via PCGamer) were quick to release their own vision of how the game would play as a first-person adventure. You can grab it yourself at the group's official page, but be forewarned that there are bugs still to be ironed out.

Things might still be a little wonky, but hey, that's to be expected. It's a small price to pay for a mode that completely changes up the look and feel of the game. And you can finally get a good look at the sweet tattoos on your arm. If only there were a mod to drench Steelport in sunlight once more. Get to it, modders!

Microsoft Recycling Outlook, Live, and Hotmail Accounts

Posted: 05 Oct 2013 12:32 PM PDT

Purged email accounts are being recycled after 360-day timespan

If you've got a long-dormant Hotmail, Live, or Outlook.com account, you might consider checking in every so often. Microsoft is recycling old and unused accounts and if you've let yours languish for a while, you might have lost yours too. 

According to reports via PCWorld, Microsoft has been enacting a policy they've had in place for years. In fact, the Microsoft Services Agreement itself mentions that you should log in at a minimum of every 270 days, to "keep the Microsoft branded services portion of the services active," or else your data may be deleted, with your access revoked. 

The agreement does not mention the recycling of usernames, but the company has said that this is actually part of their policy. After your account goes inactive, it's set up for deletion. Then, after 360 days, it's made available again. This is causing some alarm amongst users concerned for breaches of their privacy, which is of course understandable -- but it appears the practice is just now being brought to life. 

It's in stark contrast to companies like Google, who upon deletion of email addresses will not allow that username to be put into circulation once more. Are you an Outlook, Hotmail, or Live user? What do you think about these practices?

 

DRAM Prices Skyrocketing After Hynix Fabrication Plant Fire

Posted: 05 Oct 2013 09:50 AM PDT

DRAMPrices likely won't return to normal until next year

DRAM prices are on the rise after a Hynix fabrication plant fire in Wuxi, China. After a September 4th blaze that raged on for nearly two hours, the plant was left ravaged, filled with damaged equipment and problems that have caused DRAM prices to inflate up to 35 percent. 

According to a report via PCWorld from investment bank PiperJaffray, it doesn't look like they'll be back to normal until sometime next year. Hynix is poised to bolster its operations in Waxi in order to get back to their normal DRAM production schedule by November, but for now they plan to produce DRAM in an M12 fabrication plant in Korea to make up for the shortage. 

Looks like if you're in the market for DRAM, you might be paying a little more than you expected for a while. 

Steam and Amazon Weekend Deals: Borderlands 2 and Crysis 3

Posted: 05 Oct 2013 07:30 AM PDT

Crysis Looking for something new to play over the weekend?

It's a great weekend for PC gamers, with Steam and Amazon deals on some of the hottest titles around. Both distributors are running promotions including Borderlands 2 for $14.99 (50% off) and Crysis 3 for $14.99. If you've held off on picking up either title for a while, now is your chance. 

BL

Steam is also offering XCOM: Enemy Unknown for $9.99 (75% off), Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition for $5.00 (75% off), and Civilization V for $14.99 (50% off.) Grab Dead Space 3 for $14.99 (75% off) as well at Amazon Digital. Looks like $14.99 will go a long way when it comes to gaming value this weekend. 

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


The Mog Log: After the story of Final Fantasy XIV

Posted: 05 Oct 2013 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , ,

After the storm, I run and run as the rains come...
First of all, putting this front and center: there are spoilers aplenty in the article past the cut. You have been warned, and will be warned again.

I wrapped up the main story of Final Fantasy XIV a little while ago, got to see the final cutscenes that last for about a month, and was rewarded with a nice new mount for my trouble. I also got some big metaplot advancement and access to the endgame dungeons that I'll be running until we get more of them, so that was nice.

But today I don't want to talk about how Amdapor Keep and Castrum Meridianum do an excellent job of being an endgame without being one, I want to talk about the actual story as a whole. Including the final revelations, the pacing of the plot, and where the game has to go from here.

Again, spoilers past the cut. If you have not beaten the main story and want it to remain a secret, please, don't read past this point.

Continue reading The Mog Log: After the story of Final Fantasy XIV

MassivelyThe Mog Log: After the story of Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Oct 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    WRUP: Wombats are the last acceptable topic edition

    Posted: 05 Oct 2013 08:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: ,

    If anyone sees next week's alt text, tell it to buy some milk.  We're out.
    With the news of the past week or two, I had a lot of potential topics for WRUP this week. However, I was quickly handed a list of stipulations that I had to adhere to. No political jokes, but I expected that. No jokes about Warhammer Online, which is fair. No jokes about "that stupid giant robot film." No jokes about my wife's new haircut. Absolutely no jokes about traffic court.

    Point is, the list went on, and I was down to wombats. I don't know anything about wombats. Perhaps a zoologist or an Australian can enlighten me in the comments real quick-like.

    Oh, I do also have the usual WRUP entries past the break so that everyone can see what the Massively staffers are up to over the weekend. That's not really wombat-based. Tune in next week when I can joke about... wait, no, I can't preview that joke as it involves key lime pie. Oh well.

    Continue reading WRUP: Wombats are the last acceptable topic edition

    MassivelyWRUP: Wombats are the last acceptable topic edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Oct 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Do you game with your spouse?

      Posted: 05 Oct 2013 06:00 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , ,

      These are two of our characters.  Try to guess who is who.
      People who read my ramblings on a regular basis know that I've been with my dear Ms. Lady for quite some time. And we do, in fact, game together. We don't always join the same guilds or groups, we each make a point of having independent lives in our games... but we also group together whenever possible and clear the heck out of content as a team. From Star Wars: The Old Republic to Final Fantasy XIV, we're a team.

      This is not possible for everyone. Maybe your spouse (or significant other) doesn't like gaming, or maybe the two of you like wildly different games. Or the inverse is possible; you met in a game together and can't conceive of not playing as a team. Some couples find that playing together is a fun activity; some find it just leads to ridiculous arguments over nothing.

      So do you game with your spouse or other romantic partner? Or is gaming something you do separately from one another?

      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!

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you game with your spouse? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Oct 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Betawatch: September 28 - October 4, 2013

        Posted: 04 Oct 2013 06:00 PM PDT

        Filed under: , , , ,

        If you pre-purchase without ever having played the game, you're going to have a bad time.  Maybe.
        So, do you want to play Destiny? Go pre-purchase it and you'll get some definite beta access. It's an old plan, but it's one that works out fairly well for everyone involved. The company gets a nice chunk of purchases and plenty of beta testers, the players get an easy pass into the game. Everybody wins. Aside from the people who buy the game and decide they dislike it after the fact. They sort of lose.

        Beyond that, the Hearthstone wipe took place, bringing in one more patch and the promise of more open beta testing soon. And, of course, we have the usual list of games in testing just past the break. As always, we strive for accuracy, so let us know if something has opened a cash shop or the like without us catching it. Some games do so like to let those creep in without notice.

        Continue reading Betawatch: September 28 - October 4, 2013

        MassivelyBetawatch: September 28 - October 4, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Oct 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Storyboard: Keeping your roleplaying fresh

          Posted: 04 Oct 2013 05:00 PM PDT

          Filed under: , , ,

          Not funky fresh.  That's different.
          The big problem with marriage is the same problem you have with always going to your favorite restaurant. Sure, you like the menu, and maybe it's even extensive enough that you could eat there every day for a month without having the same thing twice. But eventually it's just not going to be fresh.

          You've had everything on the menu, and from here on out it's just the same burgers until the end of time. And so you wind up leaving the restaurant and eating at a fast food place, and then you wind up in divorce court.

          You are not married to your roleplaying characters. But you're still in a situation where you're inside of this character's head at all times, and eventually you don't even need to guess what happens next. So just like a marriage, you need to keep things fresh even when you know your character inside and out. Which is trickier than it might sound, but still eminently doable. And it might even be that as long as I'm making the marriage analogy, some of the same advice applies.

          Continue reading Storyboard: Keeping your roleplaying fresh

          MassivelyStoryboard: Keeping your roleplaying fresh originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Oct 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Diablo III starts console digital downloads

            Posted: 04 Oct 2013 04:00 PM PDT

            Filed under: , ,

            Diablo III starts console digital downloads
            Who needs boxes when you've got the convenience of digital downloads, am I right? I am always right; you need to learn that lesson right now. Well, console fans of Diablo III are not shackled to the box-and-chain any longer, as digital downloads for the game are available on both the Sony Entertainment Network and Xbox Live.

            The game is $59.99 on both sites and graciously allows you to purchase a few add-ons, such as an Infernal Helm or a Treasure Goblin.

            MassivelyDiablo III starts console digital downloads originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Oct 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Cryptic on creating STO's Season 8 Dyson Sphere

            Posted: 04 Oct 2013 03:00 PM PDT

            Filed under: , , , , , ,

            Cryptic on creating STO's Season 8 Dyson Sphere
            Cryptic has posted a new Star Trek Online dev blog focused on the game's upcoming Season 8 content drop. The patch is subtitled The Sphere and "will for the first time ever in STO feature exploration in a Dyson Sphere."

            Creating the sphere was quite the daunting task, Cryptic says, largely because of the sheer scale involved. "The theorized Dyson Sphere has a radius of 1 AU, which is the distance from the sun to the earth, and the surface area of that sphere would be 550 million times that of the earth," the dev blog explains. Click through to the links below for more info about STO and Season 8!

            MassivelyCryptic on creating STO's Season 8 Dyson Sphere originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Oct 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Snail teases four additional Age of Wushu school instances

            Posted: 04 Oct 2013 02:00 PM PDT

            Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

            Snail teases four additional Age of Wushu school instances
            Snail Games has published a brief look at four new School Instances in its Age of Wushu fantasy sandbox. "In order to obtain your school's apex of strength and power," Snail says, "you must face its Forbidden Instance."

            Today's update covers four of the game's schools: the Tangmen and their Great Poison Palace, the Scholars' Villa of the Departed, the Royal Guards' Purgatory and Wanderer's Valley's Cavern of Lost Souls. If you missed the first entry in the School Instance series, it's here along with info on the Beggar's Sect, Wudang, Emei, and Shaolin instances.

            MassivelySnail teases four additional Age of Wushu school instances originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Oct 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Tamriel Infinium: The Orcs in The Elder Scrolls Online

            Posted: 04 Oct 2013 01:00 PM PDT

            Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , ,

            Tamriel Infinium A strange sort of Elf, the Orcs in The Elder Scrolls Online
            It takes a special person to play a character who's considered ugly by our human standards. But people have been playing "ugly" player races since EverQuest with its Ogres and Trolls, for instance. Sometimes the avatars we "normal" people find strange actually end up being some of the most interesting characters to play. Such is the case with the Orcs in the Elder Scrolls Online.

            Admittedly, I never played an Orc in an Elder Scrolls game, but the more I study them, the more I'm intrigued by the race. To the larger world of Tamriel, the Orcs are considered barbaric, fierce, and bestial not only because of their appearance but also because of their tribal nature. Despite this, Orcs remain extraordinary loyal and actually very progressive regarding gender rank and respect. But where did this Pariah Folk come from and why do many other races look down on them?

            Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: The Orcs in The Elder Scrolls Online

            MassivelyTamriel Infinium: The Orcs in The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Oct 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              MMObility: Manyland is deceptively simple and surprising

              Posted: 04 Oct 2013 12:00 PM PDT

              Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

              Manyland screenshot
              Is the primitive 8- or 16-bit design movement becoming too much of a good thing? At first it presents a cool way to see and interact with the game world, and it does so with a style that is familiar but in many ways more fresh than anything we've experienced for a while. But, then we grow used to it and it starts to feel a bit dated... even though it's only been introduced (in its unique way) in recent years!

              If you're a designer and you design a game with mining and artwork that looks like something that came from an 80s arcade, do you risk a backlash from writers and gamers who yawn and say "ah, more Minecraft stuff?" Of course you do. That doesn't mean that fun things can't be done within the genre, and Manyland is a great example of that. It's also free and runs right in your browser, so you have zero to lose in terms of checking it out!

              Continue reading MMObility: Manyland is deceptively simple and surprising

              MassivelyMMObility: Manyland is deceptively simple and surprising originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Oct 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Looking for Guild: More FFXIV, DCUO

                Posted: 04 Oct 2013 11:00 AM PDT

                Filed under: , ,

                Looking for Guild More FFXIV, DCUO
                It was another successful week in the land of LFG as we saw connections between guildies and guild leaders for Final Fantasy XIV, Guild Wars 2, and The Secret World. It was also great to see so many positive comments in last week's article! I do plan to revisit any uncontacted submissions in future round-ups, most likely based on particular games as themes. So, for example, I may have a Lord of the Rings Online week where I repost all LFG entries that didn't find a guild yet in that game.

                Does this week's list have who you're looking for? Read on past the jump to see who's looking for a guild.

                Continue reading Looking for Guild: More FFXIV, DCUO

                MassivelyLooking for Guild: More FFXIV, DCUO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Oct 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  MMORPG News

                  MMORPG News


                  EverQuest Next: Break It, Take It, Make It Dev Diary Arrives

                  Posted: 04 Oct 2013 04:35 PM PDT

                  Break It, Take It, Make It Dev Diary Arrives

                  Terry Michaels and Jeff Butler host the first EverQuest Next: Landmark developer diary called "Break It, Take It, Make It". In it, the pair discuss how players can find and collect materials and use those resources to create items. Check it out to learn more about how "crafting" will work in EverQuest Next: Landmark.

                  Elite: Dangerous: Dev Diary Focuses on 'Damocles' Trailer

                  Posted: 04 Oct 2013 04:30 PM PDT

                  Dev Diary Focuses on

                  A new Elite: Dangerous dev diary has shown up on the scene that explains the amazing graphics from the Damocles trailer, released earlier. According to the new Dev Diary is a "talk through", Damocles was filmed entirely using the game's engine.

                  General: Naruto Saga Browser-Based MMO Announced

                  Posted: 04 Oct 2013 04:25 PM PDT

                  Naruto Saga Browser-Based MMO Announced

                  Icegames Co. has announced that an MMO based on the wildly popular Naruto anime series is in development. Characters will play as untrained ninjas and will see their skills grow through battle and training.

                  War Thunder: Game Play Shows Off Ground Forces

                  Posted: 04 Oct 2013 04:19 PM PDT

                  Game Play Shows Off Ground Forces

                  Russia's Igromir gaming convention is underway and Gaijin is on hand to show off War Thunder: Ground forces. Several gameplay videos have been taken and posted that show off the gorgeous graphic and the ground battles that will be featured in the game. Check it out!

                  Marvel Heroes: Live Forum Q&A With Gazillion's Doomsaw -- BEGINS NOW!

                  Posted: 04 Oct 2013 01:46 PM PDT

                  Live Forum Q&A With Gazillion

                  Marvel Heroes creative director Jeff 'Doomsaw' Donais (Doomsaw-Gazillion) is now taking questions live from the MMORPG.com community. Drop your questions in this thread and you may find yourself with an answer from Jeff!

                  General: Do Players Embrace Change?

                  Posted: 04 Oct 2013 07:36 AM PDT

                  Do Players Embrace Change?

                  Welcome to Player Versus Player, the column for MMO players who just can't seem to get along. This week, we're taking a suggestion from the comments: we've lived it, we've embraced it, and we've rejected it. This week we're talking about change. Read on and then leave us your thoughts in the comments.

                  General: LIFE The MMO

                  Posted: 02 Oct 2013 05:31 PM PDT

                  LIFE The MMO

                  MMOs are a great training ground for this weird thing we call Life. Really. No, really. If you don't believe, you need to read our latest Fair Game column to find out how the games we play can teach us about Life and, just maybe, vice versa. Read on and then head to the comments.

                  The Secret World: A Sneak Peek at Issue 8

                  Posted: 02 Oct 2013 05:10 PM PDT

                  A Sneak Peek at Issue 8

                  The Secret World is getting ready to see Issue 8 deployed but it has been shrouded with a bit of mystery as to what it will entail. We chatted with Game Director Joel Bylos about what players can expect in Issue 8 and more. See what he had to say before heading to the comments to chat.

                  Path of Exile: The New Scion Class and End of Act 3

                  Posted: 04 Oct 2013 03:39 AM PDT

                  The New Scion Class and End of Act 3

                  With Path of Exile's official release just around the corner on October 23rd, we caught up with Grinding Gears to take a look at the new Scion class, the all new end of Act 3 content, and all the new features in the launch build.

                  Elder Scrolls Online: Are Four Classes Enough?

                  Posted: 02 Oct 2013 08:22 AM PDT

                  Are Four Classes Enough?

                  Elder Scrolls Online is going to offer a lot of depth in its character customization and progression. But does that mean the game's four main classes will be enough to satisfy the ADHD gamer in us all? Read on for Bill Murphy's thoughts and let us know your own in the comments.

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