General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


AMD's Holiday Game Bundles Center Around Battlefield 4, Thief

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 09:01 PM PST

AMD ThiefA year later, AMD is still giving away games with graphics cards

AMD's been helping gamers add to their collection of titles with Never Settle game bundles since October 22 of last year, and lest you think the Sunnyvale chip designer has plans of slowing down, you can expect more game promotions heading in the holiday season. What comes next? Well, to start with, any gamer who purchases an AMD Radeon R9 Series product starting on November 13 will get a copy of Battlefield 4.

You have to check availability and make sure you're buying the R9 graphics card from a qualifying vendor to be eligible for the BF4 promotion, which you can do by heading over to www.amd.com/battlefield4. Not a bad deal, and as an added bonus, Mantle API support is supposed to come this December.

AMD Bundle Chart

The second holiday promotion is an extension of the Never Settle Forever bundle to gamers who purchase a Radeon R7 260X graphics card. Those who purchase the part from a qualifying vendor are eligible for the Sliver reward tier (check availability at www.amd.com/neversettleforever), which entails two free game selections. Coinciding with the promotion, AMD is adding Thief to the list of available titles in the Silver tier. Other possible game selections include Hitman Absolution, Sleeping Dogs, Sniper Elite V2, Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon, and DiRT 3.

AMD Bundle with Thief

"We're tremendously excited about the game bundles heading in to the holiday season, especially because October 22 marked the first anniversary of the industry-changing Never Settle programs! It's hard to believe it's already been a year of giving the world's best games to gamers with the purchase of an AMD Radeon graphics card," AMD said.

These are some pretty sweet offers. Anyone plan on taking advantage of either one?

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Microsoft Stops Ranking Its Employees

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 01:42 PM PST

Microsoft

Reward curve and rating system scrapped

Things are looking up for current Microsoft employees and prospective hires. The Seattle tech giant is doing away with its stack ranking policy, according to an internal memo forwarded to The Verge. Employees will no longer be categorized as top, average, or poor performers.

The problem with stack ranking is that some employees have to be given poor reviews to fit the system even if their performance was average or better. This has allegedly led to competition between individual employees. 

In the memo, Microsoft HR Head Lisa Brummel details the changes to the company's "performance review program," which amounts to an increased focus on teamwork and collaboration as well as an "emphasis on employee growth and development." This is the company's push towards becoming "One Microsoft." Brummel also highlights the removal of their reward curve and rating system in favor of a new policy which lets company managers and leaders reward employees as they see fit.

Here's the full memo as published by The Verge

Microsoft HR Memo

What do you think about the changes? Could this be the start of a new Microsoft? Tell us in the comments. 

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Hisense Announces 55-inch Ultra High Definition 4K TV for $1,999

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 01:09 PM PST

Hisense XT880Holiday season may be highlighted by 4K TVs

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Hisense introduced its aggressively priced 55-inch XT880 4K Ultra High Definition Smart TV for $1,999. That may not exactly fall into the "affordable" category for most shoppers, but it wasn't all that long ago when two-grand was the going rate for a regular TV of the same size. These days that gets you a 65-inch or 70-inch Full HD 1080 LED, or in this case, a 55-inch 4K panel.

It's not such a bad deal if you're willing trade physical screen real estate in exchange for a higher resolution and more densely packed pixels. You're on your own for finding 4K content, though with there starting to be more 4K hardware in the wild, an influx of higher resolution content may not be too far behind.

In addition to native 4K support, the XT880 has built-in Wi-Fi, an Opera web browser, four HDMI/HDCP inputs (one of which is true UHD), USB Digital Media Player, a collection of apps preinstalled (Netflix, Vudu, YouTube, Vimeo, Pandora, Twitter, Facebook, Picasa, and AccuWeather), and three 15W speakers.

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EVGA's $200 Tegra Note 7 Gaming Tablet Now Available to Pre-Order

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 10:31 AM PST

EVGA Tegra Note 7 AngleAn affordable slate with Tegra 4 inside

EVGA today introduced its Tegra Note 7 tablet for gamers. Billed as the "perfect traveling companion," this 7-inch slate rocks an IPS display with a 1280x800 resolution, Nvidia Tegra 4 SoC with a quad-core CPU (and a 5th battery saver core) and 72-core GeForce GPU, 1GB of DDR3L-1600 RAM, and 16GB of eMMC storage aided by a microSD card slot for up to an additional 32GB of storage space.

It also features built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, USB 2.0 port, HDMI output with support for up to Ultra HD 4K displays, 3.5mm audio jack, VGA front-facing camera, 5MP rear-facing camera with autofocus and HDR, and a 4100 mAh battery good for up to 8 hours of HD playback.

Rounding all this out is Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. There's no custom skin to get in the way, and according to reports, Nvidia will be releasing an Android 4.3 update in December, along with timely updates thereafter. What hasn't been mentioned, however, is when Android 4.4 KitKat will arrive.

One of the differentiating features here is the included stylus with Nvidia DirectStylus technology to give users up to 3x the responsiveness of the competition, EVGA and Nvidia claim. It's also the only chisel-tip stylus on the market.

EVGA Tegra Note 7 Back

If you're interested in reserving a Tegra Note 7, Newegg is currently accepting pre-orders ahead of the device's November 19th launch date.

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Vine Extends Reach to Windows Phone Platform

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 10:05 AM PST

Vine on Windows PhoneAnother popular app makes its way to Windows Phone

One of the reasons why Microsoft's Windows Phone platform is getting so soundly beat in the mobile space by Android and iOS (in terms of market share) is because its app selection isn't up to par. It's not just about the sheer number of apps -- having hundreds of flatulence apps is hardly a competitive advantage -- but equally important is ensuring that popular apps are represented. Vine was one that was noticeably missing, until now.

Vine is now available for Windows Phone, so all you HTC 8XT and Samsung ATIV S Neo owners can record short video clips on your mobile phone of choice.

"Tap and hold the screen to create short, looping videos with sound," Vine explained in a blog post. "Camera tools, like grid and ghost, help you shoot like a pro, and, of course, you can put yourself in the action with your front-facing camera. Check out Explore to view popular posts, browse through channels, or see what's trending, and discover which of your friends are already on Vine with Find People."

Something that's unique to the Windows Phone version of Vine is the ability to pin your favorite Vine accounts to your homescreen, using Pivots to switch between apps.

For those of you wondering about Instagram, it's supposed to arrive on Windows Phone in the "coming weeks."

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Renders Give a Glimpse of Apple's Upcoming Headquarters

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 08:43 AM PST

Apple Campus 2It's circular to promote collaboration

Before he passed away, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs helped design his company's new headquarters with renowned architect Sir Norman Robert Foster. Called "Apple Campus 2," the new headquarters will reside on a 176-acre plot in Cupertino. The main building -- a circular spaceship (the Mothership) intentionally devoid of rectangles and squares which, along with long buildings and buildings with more than four stories, have been deemed to inhibit collaboration -- will take up 2.8 million square feet with room for 13,000 employees.

While knowledge of the planned campus isn't new, Wired dug up 20 never-before-seen renders of the Mothership and surrounding area, which consists of a man-made forest in the northeast corner of Cupertino. There's a two-level, 2,000 space parking garage underneath the main facility. There's also an underground auditorium, a 90,000 square-foot cafeteria, and all kinds of excess.

Estimates have the project's budget at $5 billion and growing. As it stands today, the site is 20 percent landscape, the rest covered by buildings and asphalt, Wired says. The goal is to have it complete by 2016, with every last detail planned out, including the placement of every single tree. When it's finished, it will be 80 percent landscape. Due to the climate, there won't be a need for air conditioning or heating because of natural ventilation. The facility will also run on 100 percent renewable energy, having one of the largest solar arrays in the world.

Check out the renderings (and video) and let us know what you think.

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Motorola Expands Moto X Customization to Every Major U.S. Carrier

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 08:04 AM PST

Moto X Maximum PCMoto X customizations no longer exclusive to AT&T

AT&T seems to be at the front of the line a lot when it comes to mobile devices. For a period of time, it was the only carrier offering Apple's iPhone, and more recently, if you wanted a customized Moto X device from Motorola, you had to be an AT&T subscriber. Not anymore. Motorola announced that the Moto X is now available for customization on all major U.S. carriers, including Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, and of course AT&T.

What that means is you can choose from a bunch of different front, back, and accent color options for a truly unique looking smartphone. However, it doesn't stop there.

"Just in time for the holidays, you can now choose to add a custom phrase to the back of your Moto X. With fiber laser technology, you can sign your design like never before. Show your team spirit, sport your nickname or give a gift with the ultimate personal touch by adding this free feature when you customize your Moto X on Moto Maker," Motorola said in a blog post.

To sweeten the post, Motorola announced two other tidbits. First, the company confirmed that Android 4.4 KitKat is coming soon to the Moto X. Secondly, the U.S.-built Moto X is now going for a promotional price of $100 with a two-year service contract.

If you're interested, head over to the Moto Maker website to design your own custom Moto X.

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Newegg Daily Deals: 2K Games Sale Bonanza, Score Bioshock Infinite for $12!

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 06:08 AM PST

Bioshock Infinitenewegg logo

Top Deal:

If you live in the midwest or any other part of the country where it gets snow each winter, then you've seen the first snowflakes of the season by now. That can mean only thing -- time to stock up on games and hole yourself up in your warm and cozy home or apartment! No need to blow your wad of cash on a single game, though. Today's top deal is for a Bioshock Infinite Game Download for $12 with free shipping (normally $40). In addition, several other titles by 2K Games like Borderlands 2 and XCOM Enemy Unknown are on sale for up to 80 percent off, making this an ideal time to stock up on the gaming necessities for the winter.

Other Deals:

Toshiba Q Series HDTS225XZSTA 256GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) for $150 with free shipping (normally $190)

G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory for $60 with free shipping (normally $70; - use coupon code: [EMCYTZT4825])

BenQ GW2750HM Glossy Black 27-inch 4ms (GTG) HDMI Widescreen LED Backlight LCD Monitor for $200 with free shipping (normally $360; - use coupon code [EMCYTZT4828])

Gigabyte GV-N770OC-4GD GeForce GTX 770 4GB 256-bit Video Card for $360 with free shipping (normally $390 ; additional $10 Mail-in rebate and 3 FREE game coupons with purchase)

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Dragons take flight in EQII's Tears of Veeshan today

Posted: 12 Nov 2013 09:00 AM PST

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EverQuest II's dragons take flight in Tears of Veeshan today
It's all about the dragons.

You just can't get more quintessential fantasy than dragons, and EverQuest II's newest expansion is all about dragons. Sure, there are goblins and bow-wielding healers as well, but you can't miss that the focus of Tears of Veeshan is on those massive fire-breathing beasts. From dragons attacking Qeynos and Freeport to the evil dragon arch-enemy bent on destroying all time and space to the dragon afterlife, it is all about the dragons. Heck, even the new AAs are from dragons! So it's safe to say if you aren't a really a fan of wyverns in all their forms (be they live or dead!), you might want to skip this expansion. If, however, you love them in all their scaly glory, you've got plenty to look forward to.

While waiting for ToV to take flight on live servers, I got to tour the highlights of the expansion with Producer Holly Longdale, Creative Director Akil Hooper, and Game Designer Carlos Mora. And from them I learned a few interesting new tidbits about EQII's 10th expansion. Want to know how you, too, can get Qho killed? I thought that might get your attention.

Continue reading Dragons take flight in EQII's Tears of Veeshan today

MassivelyDragons take flight in EQII's Tears of Veeshan today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Nov 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    EVE Rubicon streaming live this Thursday

    Posted: 12 Nov 2013 08:00 AM PST

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    EVE Rubicon streaming live this Thursday
    Are you excited for the upcoming EVE Online: Rubicon? CCP aims to charge you up even more by showing off some of the best tidbits of the expansion in an upcoming livestream.

    CCP Guard and CCP Seagull will talk EVE Online's second decade, while CCP Fozzie and CCP Rise will discuss the upcoming ship balance. CCP Paradox and CCP SoniClover will follow up with info on player-owned customs offices, the new Mobile Siphon Unit, and more. Plus, the new Rubicon trailer will be debuting during the stream.

    Tune in at 19:00 UTC (14:00 EST) this Thursday, November 14th on CCP's Twitch.tv page.

    MassivelyEVE Rubicon streaming live this Thursday originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Nov 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Massively Speaking Episode 272: Hanging with my Gnomies

    Posted: 12 Nov 2013 07:00 AM PST

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    Massively Speaking Episode 272 For the Horde!
    Despite a busy week of news, this week's podcast will be boiled down to two looming topics: our EverQuest Next Landmark hands-on and BlizzCon 2013. For these stories, we've got roving reporters MJ and Jasmine on the show to bring us first-hand tales of these events.

    Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

    Get the podcast:
    [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
    [MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
    [iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.
    [Stitcher] Follow the podcast on Stitcher Radio.
    Listen here on the page:



    Read below the cut for the full show notes.

    Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 272: Hanging with my Gnomies

    MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 272: Hanging with my Gnomies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Nov 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Bring an end to nightmares in today's Guild Wars 2 content release

      Posted: 12 Nov 2013 06:00 AM PST

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      End of Nightmares
      Today ArenaNet will release the latest Guild Wars 2 content update, The Nightmares Within, so get ready to enter the sinister Nightmare tower and take pollution down to zero. In addition to new encounters and the continuation of GW2's living story plot, the update will also feature some nifty rewards: toxic Krait miniatures, a toxic spore backpack skin, and gas mask and air filtration system headgear skins. Help corrupt the surrounding area with your backpack while keeping your lungs safe from the consequences! Now that's what we call having the best of both worlds.

      For more details on today's update, be sure to check out the GW2 official release page and tune in to ArenaNet's Twitch channel tomorrow, November 13th, at 3 p.m. EST (noon PST) for a developer-led look at the new content.

      MassivelyBring an end to nightmares in today's Guild Wars 2 content release originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Nov 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: Are you a game recidivist?

        Posted: 12 Nov 2013 05:00 AM PST

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        You'll be back.  You'll always be back.
        We like to talk about when we leave games; we don't like to talk about when we come back to the same games yet again. Speaking for myself, I've left and returned to World of Warcraft at least five times, and I know there's probably one or two times that I'm forgetting. And it isn't alone -- City of Heroes clocked up three separate returns over the years, Final Fantasy XI clocked up four, and even Final Fantasy XIV arguably saw me leave and return at one point.

        Sometimes you return to find that nothing has changed and you leave again before too long. Sometimes you always come back for at least a few months, but you'll happily leave for a while as well. And the legend goes that some of you leave and then genuinely remain gone, not returning no matter what the next expansion promises you. Are you that legend? Or are you a game recidivist, always finding yourself going back to the games of yesterday sooner or later unless they shut down completely?

        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: Are you a game recidivist? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Nov 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Not So Massively: Dota 2's Diretide fiasco, D3's Adventure Mode, and HoN's Rift Wars

          Posted: 11 Nov 2013 05:00 PM PST

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          Game title image
          Several new experimental game modes are on their way to League of Legends, starting with the interesting One For All mode that gives every player the same champion. Valve defended its decision to silently cancel Dota 2's Diretide event but has agreed to release the event as part of a huge upcoming gameplay update. And Heroes of Newerth has now released its chaotic new Rift Wars game mode that spawns players with a completely random set of abilities.

          New details on Diablo III's upcoming Reaper of Souls expansion were revealed this week at BlizzCon 2013, including an Adventure Mode that makes the endgame a lot more like classic Diablo II. The expansion will also introduce the Nephalem Rift mode that creates randomised game maps for farming loot, and a hilarious console feature that sends deadly monsters to kill people on your friends list. Path of Exile will soon be coming to Asian regions thanks to a new partnership with Asian publisher Garena Online. And Star Citizen announced its plans to support AMD's proprietary Mantle graphics API, an alternative to OpenGL and Direct3D that's optimised for Radeon graphics cards.

          Continue reading Not So Massively: Dota 2's Diretide fiasco, D3's Adventure Mode, and HoN's Rift Wars

          MassivelyNot So Massively: Dota 2's Diretide fiasco, D3's Adventure Mode, and HoN's Rift Wars originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Trion: Non-combat features 'provided a needed dose of RPG' in RIFT

            Posted: 11 Nov 2013 04:30 PM PST

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            Trion Noncombat features 'provided a needed dose of RPG' in RIFT
            RIFT's dimension system is one of the genre's better player housing implementations, and Trion has authored a dev blog designed to give players a peek behind the curtain on its development.

            It all started with the enthusiastic player response to the game's wedding features. "People didn't just show up; we saw a genuine spike in subscriptions. It was clear that we'd provided a needed dose of RPG in our MMORPG," the blog explains.

            Housing was the next logical step for non-combat content. Click through the links below to read about various development challenges and how Trion solved them.

            MassivelyTrion: Non-combat features 'provided a needed dose of RPG' in RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Chaos Theory: My favorite Secret World NPCs, part 1

            Posted: 11 Nov 2013 04:00 PM PST

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            Chaos Theory My favorite Secret World NPCs

            As a sort of companion piece to my previous column covering why I consider The Secret World to be the industry's best storyteller, I wanted to elaborate on my love for the game's characters. TSW is not a game full of forgettable muggles but a place where bizarre personalities and incredible backstories collide. There was nothing, and I mean nothing, more exciting to me than to advance through the game and meet a new NPC for the first time.

            So I want to share with you my favorites. I also want to mention that making this list just about wrenched me in twain because I want to list about 70% of the game's NPCs as my favorites. There are so many that are terrific for different reasons, and whether I found myself laughing with them, at them, or against them, they've been burned onto my consciousness.

            Continue reading Chaos Theory: My favorite Secret World NPCs, part 1

            MassivelyChaos Theory: My favorite Secret World NPCs, part 1 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              DCUO offers a glimpse of Game Update 31

              Posted: 11 Nov 2013 03:00 PM PST

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              DCUO offers a glimpse of Game Update 31
              As DC Universe Online prepares to make its way to the PlayStation 4, SOE is hard at work on Game Update 31 as the foundation for the console launch. Today we've got several screenshots that give us a glimpse into the update, including pictures of Earth from orbit and lava spewing out of a city zone.

              SOE devs are calling GU31 "the biggest technical update [they] have ever done." The update will include significantly improved graphics, many design improvements, and a smoother leveling path. It should be releasing any day now, but you can get an advance look in the gallery below.

              MassivelyDCUO offers a glimpse of Game Update 31 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                DayZ still not ready for release

                Posted: 11 Nov 2013 02:00 PM PST

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                When did the last letter in the alphabet become an abbreviation for a zombie?  I'm not down with that.
                You can't really call what's happening to DayZ a series of delayz, since the game haz never formally announced a release date. But a lot of potential playerz are still waiting patiently for the standalone version to see the light of day. Lead developer Dean Hall took to Reddit recently to respond to player questionz regarding the long-awaited standalone and explain why the game still isn't out.

                In short, it isn't the game itself; it's the strain of keeping the game going around a large enough number of people.

                According to Hall, the big element holding the game back iz the continued work on ensuring client stability and framerate with a large enough number of playerz and zombiez. Hall cites 15 FPS az a bare minimum for the game to function, something that haz yet to be achieved even with existing optimizationz. Not that thiz will assuage those looking forward to playing the standalone version of the zombie survival simulator, but at least it clearz up the reasons for the wait.

                MassivelyDayZ still not ready for release originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Stream Team: Playing Pandora Saga with a little developer help

                Posted: 11 Nov 2013 01:00 PM PST

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                Pandora Saga screenshot
                Beau hasn't stepped foot into Pandora Saga in a long, long time, so if you want to see him attempt to fight monsters and players as he chats with three members of the development team -- GM Cornflakes, GM Excellen, and GM Grapefruit -- then check out this stream! If you enjoy Final Fantasy XI-style graphics, massive monsters, tiny dwarves with huge hammers, and watching Beau die a lot, hit play!

                Game: Pandora Saga
                Host: Beau
                Date: Monday, November 11th, 2013
                Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

                Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

                Continue reading The Stream Team: Playing Pandora Saga with a little developer help

                MassivelyThe Stream Team: Playing Pandora Saga with a little developer help originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  CCP unveils revamped EVE Online character selection screen

                  Posted: 11 Nov 2013 01:00 PM PST

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                  EVE Online
                  The folks over at CCP today previewed one of the smaller EVE Online changes set to debut with November 19th's Rubicon expansion: a prettier and easier-to-use character selection screen. As is CCP's custom, the reveal is accompanied by an in-depth dev blog that discusses every change in granular detail, but the basic gist is that the new selection screen loads faster and provides more useful information about each of your characters so you spend less time waiting and deciding and more time playing.

                  EVE's item redemption interface has also been streamlined, with more obvious prompts and drag-and-drop functionality that allows you to deposit redeemables directly into a character's inventory.

                  MassivelyCCP unveils revamped EVE Online character selection screen originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Neverwinter debuts new item refinement system

                  Posted: 11 Nov 2013 12:30 PM PST

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                  Neverwinter
                  Cryptic has taken a long look at Neverwinter's enchanting system, and after listening to feedback from players, is planning major changes to the way fusing, runestones, and other components of the system function. For starters, you'll now be able to upgrade enhancement items while they're still equipped, and you'll no longer need four of the same kind of stone to strengthen an enhancement.

                  The new system, which Cryptic is referring to as "refining" rather than "fusing," enables item enchantments to gain refinement points as you play; once an enchantment has enough refinement points, you can use reagents to rank the enhancement up to the next level. Additionally, unslotting enchantments and runestones now costs gold instead of astral diamonds.

                  Refinement stones, which are effectively large bundles of refinement points, have also been added. They'll drop from skill nodes and bosses, albeit rarely. The changes are live on the Neverwinter test server -- Cryptic is asking all players to check them out and offer feedback before they deploy.

                  MassivelyNeverwinter debuts new item refinement system originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  The Nexus Telegraph: Winter in WildStar

                  Posted: 11 Nov 2013 12:00 PM PST

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                  Had it up to there.
                  Another round of beta testing is almost here for WildStar, after what seems to have been forever and a day. And that's with the promise of upcoming class reveals after a several-month-long information drought on the game, something that I suspect all of us felt pretty acutely. No more waiting! There's information that will be coming fast and furious, even if the developers are going to start off with a refresher of the information we already have.

                  Thus far, there's not a whole lot to react to. We have a clearer picture of the Warrior, we have a peek at a new build from the livestream, and we've seen some hoverboard footage. It's not what I would call a coherent picture just yet. But we can suss out a few new bits here and there, as well as some things that might not be worth getting all that excited about just yet. Yes, I'm saying it might not be worth getting excited about something. You read that right.

                  Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Winter in WildStar

                  MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Winter in WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Final Fantasy XI celebrates 11 years 11 ways

                    Posted: 11 Nov 2013 11:00 AM PST

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                    And the game has still more tree monsters to throw at you.
                    Final Fantasy XI is 11 years old this year (11 years and six months at this point, but that's nitpicking). So it seems appropriate that the title is kicking off a big anniversary event on November 11th. Except that it's really kicking off not one big anniversary event but 11 smaller ones. You see the theme at work. Whether you've been around for all 11 years or just 11 days, there's plenty of rewards available for everyone.

                    Seal drop rates are improved for all characters in a party during the anniversary timeframe, as are are double synthesis skill increase rates and several seal-based battlefield rewards. Players will also earn double experience, doubled Salvage drops, doubled Monstrosity experience, doubled Shining Stars in Mog Gardens... the list goes on. Almost anything you choose to do between now and November 25th will see a significant boost, so take a look at the full list of bonuses and get ready to enjoy 11 bonuses for the next 14 days. (They can't all line up perfectly.)

                    MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI celebrates 11 years 11 ways originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Take a look at Diablo III running on the PlayStation 4

                    Posted: 11 Nov 2013 10:00 AM PST

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                    Exploding into a bloody pulp like always.  Some things never change.
                    Have you enjoyed being able to play Diablo III on a console? Do you want to be able to get even more monster-stomping fun on what amounts to even more console? Are you ready to take to the comments to explain that a next-gen console is not, strictly speaking, more console? Do you just like watching footage of heavily armored knights making monsters explode? If any of the above applies to you, then yes, we've got the video for you past the cut.

                    So what's the video? Diablo III's expansion running on the PlayStation 4 -- specifically, the Crusader class wading through monsters the way one might normally wade through knee-high mud and making various demons explode into bloody body parts. So pretty much exactly what you'd expect, only more so. If you don't fall into any of the categories listed above but still want to see that, well, good news; The break's right down there.

                    Continue reading Take a look at Diablo III running on the PlayStation 4

                    MassivelyTake a look at Diablo III running on the PlayStation 4 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Nov 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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