General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Facebook to Acquire Oculus Rift Developer for $2 Billion

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 04:11 PM PDT

Facebook LogoSocial platform and virtual reality combined

Facebook has announced that an agreement has been reached with Oculus VR, Inc to purchase the virtual reality developer for $2 billion. Of the $2 billion being paid, $400 million of it will be in cash and the remainder will amount to 23.1 million shares of Facebook common stock valued at $69.35 per share. 

"Mobile is the platform of today, and now we're also getting ready for the platforms of tomorrow," Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg says. "Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play, and communicate."

The upcoming acquisition comes shortly after the Oculus team unveiled its new development kit 2, on pre-order for $350, at the Game Developers Conference. While Oculus VR will now be owned by Facebook, it will maintain its headquarters in Irvine, CA and continue its work on the Oculus Rift. 

Oculus VR CEO Brendan Iribe also spoke about their acquisition by Facebook saying, "We are excited to work with Mark and the Facebook team to deliver the very best virtual reality platform in the world. We believe virtual reality will be heavily defined by social experiences that connect people in magical, new ways. It is a transformative and disruptive technology, that enables the world to experience the impossible, and it's only just the beginning."

The transaction is expected to take place sometime in the second quarter of 2014. 

Is this a smart business move on Facebook's part and is this a good thing for the Oculus team? Sound off in the comments below!

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Nvidia Sweetens Shield Console with Android 4.4.2 KitKat, Price Drop to $199 Through April

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 12:00 PM PDT

Nvidia ShieldOTA update adds new and enhanced features to Nvidia's Shield handheld

Owners of Nvidia's Shield console are in for a treat. On April 2, Nvidia will begin rolling out an over-the-air (OTA) update that upgrades the device's Android platform to Android 4.4.2 KitKat, though that's not the only feature upgrade. It also adds a bunch of GameStream enhancements, including some beta goodies such as notebook support, Wake on LAN, and remote login support, which will allow users to log into a locked PC remotely from Shield.

This is really just the tip of the iceberg. Following the update, you'll be able to use a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard and mouse to play games on your big screen TV in Console Mode. While still on the topic of GameStream, Shield owners will be able to add unofficially supported games to their GameStream list from GeForce Experience, use a USB Y-cable to charge the Shileld when using Ethernet in Console Mode with a micro USB Host OTG Y cable, and manually set the bitrate, FPS, and optimal settings preference in TegraZone.

TegraZone PC Games

There's a new user interface for TegraZone that's intended to help gamers have an easier time organizing and discovering games, as well as give them access to an integrated news feed for the latest Shield and TegraZone articles. To date, there are over 140 games in TegraZone

Still on the fence? To give potential buyers a nudge, Nvidia is temporarily dropping the price of Shield to $199 from today through the end of April.

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GPU Doubletake: Nvidia Launches Dual-GPU GeForce Titan Z for $2,999

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 10:25 AM PDT

Nvidia GeForce Titan ZThis dual-GPU monster wields 5,760 CUDA cores and 12GB of memory

If you were hoping Nvidia would unleash a beast at the GPU Technology Conference (GTC), you certainly won't be disappointed. You might, however, suffer a stroke induced from sticker shock -- totally understandable, given that Nvidia just unveiled the GeForce Titan Z for $2,999! Information is coming in fast and furious, but so far it appears the Titan Z is essentially a dual-GPU version of the Titan Black.

What that translates into is an insane spec sheet. Covering the basics, the Titan Z is overflowing with 5,760 CUDA cores and 12GB of memory for 8 TeraFLOPS of performance. Don't bother sending emails about typos, those numbers are correct.

The big question here is whether potential customers will be willing to drop $2,999 on the GeForce Z. As a point of reference, the single-GPU Titan Black streets for around $1,000 to $1,100. The advantage of the Titan Z is that it's a single card solution, though the luxury of running one card versus two carriers a hefty premium.

"If you're in desperate need of a supercomputer that you need to fit under your desk, we have just the card for you," Jen-Hsun stated in a blog post.

GeForce Titan Z Specs

According to Nvidia, the Titan Z is engineered for next-generation 5K and multi-monitor gaming. In addition, the GPU maker says the the card runs cool and quiet, thanks to low-profile components and ducted baseplate channels that reduce turbulence.

Is your mind blown yet? If not, we can take care of that -- picture two of these cards running in tandem. BAM.

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HTC One M8 Rocks a 5-inch Full HD Display, 2.3GHz Quad-Core Processor

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 09:38 AM PDT

HTC One M8HTC refreshes its popular One device

Following a raft of online leaks, rumors, and frequent speculation, HTC today officially unveiled its HTC One (M8) smartphone, a powerful followup to its well received HTC One (M7). This is HTC's newest flagship handset and while it retains a metal unibody design, HTC included subtle touches that separate the M8 from the M7, such as a design that tapers to thinner edges and softer corners intended to give users a smooth, more natural grip.

The HTC One M8 sports a 5-inch Full HD 1080p display, 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, microSD card slot supporting up to 128GB cards, NFC support, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, IR blaster, Bluetooth, 4G LTE, 2,600 mAh battery good for up to 20 hours of 3G talk time or up to 496 hours of standby, and Android 4.4 KitKat.

One thing HTC is really highlighting with the release is the handset's "Duo Camera" featuring the company's UltraPixel module. It incorporates a depth sensor in addition to the UltraPixel module to give users more effects to play with. As for megapixel count, HTC isn't saying on the rear (the front is 5-megapixels), but did point out that the UltraPixel module boasts 2.0 um pixels and a 1/3-inch sensor, shooting at f/2.0 with a 28mm lens. There's also a dual-LED flash.

The HTC One M8 is available starting today; developer editions will be available April 10 for $650 MSRP.

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MSI's GS Series Laptops Shed the Bulk, Deliver the Gaming Goods

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 09:30 AM PDT

MSI GS70 StealthPortable gaming muscle without the bulk

MSI just took a steamroller to its gaming laptop division and the result is a new series of notebooks that pack a punch in a small frame. In fact, we'd forgive MSI if it decided to call its new laptops the Bruce Lee line, though instead it with "GS Series," which consists of a pair of 15.6-inch GS60 Ghost laptops and a 17.3-inch GS70 Stealth notebook, all equipped with gaming hardware and each one less than an inch thick.

"The GS60 Ghost and GS70 Stealth answers portable gaming prayers by packing smoking speeds and deadly graphics into featherlike notebooks," said Andy Tung, CEO for MSI Pan America." Nvidia's GeForce GTX 800M Series graphics gives the GS Series incredible graphics processing ability, translating into an ultra-realistic and immersive gaming experience."

Marketing hyberbole aside, these are some impressive looking laptops. There are three models available, starting with the GS60 Ghost-007. It rings in at $1,700 MSRP and includes a 15.6-inch Full HD 1080p display, Intel Core i7 4700HQ processor, 12GB of DDR3L-1600 RAM, Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M graphics, 128GB mSATA SSD, 750GB hard drive (7200 RPM), SD card reader, Killer Gaming Network LAN, Bluetooth 4.0, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Dynaudio Tech speakers (2.1 sound), three USB 3.0 ports, mini DisplayPort, HDMI output, 720 HD webcam, SteelSeries full-color backlit keyboard, 6-cell battery, and Windows 8.1. It measures 15.35 inches (W) by 10.47 inches (D) by 0.78 inches (H) and weighs 4.32 pounds.

MSI GS70 Stealth Closed

For $100 more, the GS60 Ghost-003 upgrades the RAM to 16GB and bumps up the hard drive to 1TB. Those are the same upgrades included in the GS70 Stealth Pro-024 at the $1,900 price point, plus a 17.3-inch Full HD non-reflective display and Nvidia GeForce GTX 870M graphics. This one measures 16.47 inches (W) by 11.29 inches (D) by 0.85 inches (H) an weighs 5.37 pounds.

All three configurations utilize a dual-fan thermal cooling solution to keep things cool and quiet. They also come with gold-flashed audio ports, 4K display support, and an aggressive design.

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Puget Systems Offers Free Service on New PCs to Make Windows 8 Look and Feel Like Windows 7

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PDT

Classic Shell Windows 7For when you want Windows 8, but not really

Here we are more than a year after the release of Windows 8 and it still remains a hot topic. The points of consternation among its critics are that Microsoft overhauled the user interface with a focus on touch computing, and then added insult to injury by removing the Start button and Start menu (the Start button has since returned, but without the handy menu). Nevertheless, it's a faster and more secure operating system than Windows 7. What's a user to do? Well, if you're buying a rig from boutique builder Puget Systems, you can have the company give Windows 8 a makeover so that it essentially feels like Windows 7.

The new service is called "Windows 8 Makeover: Emulate Windows 7" and it's a free as a courtesy install on new system orders. It includes a handful of tweaks that you can apply yourself, but for less savvy users, this is a neat option that starts with installing Classic Shell, a utility that brings back the Start menu and prompts the system to boot directly into the desktop.

Beyond the installation of Classic Shell, Puget Systems will configure desktop programs to be the default over Windows 8 apps where possible (Windows Photo Viewer, Windows Media Player, etc.). And finally, the Charms bar is disabled, as Puget Systems says it's an unnecessary feature with the added functionality of the Classi Shell Start menu.

Is a service like this even necessary? Puget Systems says the adoption of Windows 8 from its customers is "very weak" and even slower than it was with Vista. At the same time, the boutique builder recognizes there are some distinct advantages to running Windows 8, one of them being a longer support windows from Microsoft.

You can read more of the company's reasoning in a blog post by its founder, Jon Bach.

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Newegg Daily Deals: WD Black Series 3TB Hard Drive, NZXT Phantom White Case, and More!

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 07:00 AM PDT

WD 3TB Blacknewegg logo

Top Deal:

Capacious hard drives have turned us all into digital pack rats. We've come to accept this. Heck, at times we even embrace. But what we can't accept is running out of space. Are things getting cramped inside your 1TB hard drive? If so, it's time to relocate all that data to a bigger abode, such as the one featured in today's top deal - a Western Digital Black Series 3TB Internal Hard Drive for $180 with free shipping (normally $195 - use coupon code: [EMCPGHP39]). This drive sports a 7200 RPM spindle speed, 64MB of cache, and a SATA 6Gbps interface.

Other Deals:

Raidmax 535W ATX 12V 80 Plus Bronze Certified Modular Power Supply for $30 with free shipping (normally $60 - use coupon code: [EMCPGHP38]; additional $15 Mail-in Rebate)

NZXT Phantom PHAN-001WT White Steel / Plastic Enthusiast ATX Full Tower Computer Case for $90 with free shipping (normally $120 - use coupon code: [EMCPGHP36]; additional $20 Mail-in rebate)

G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM 1866 (PC3 14900) Desktop Memory for $73 with free shipping (normally $85 - use coupon code: [EMCPGHP33])

Samsung P3 Portable 2TB USB 3.0 2.5-inch External Hard Drive for $100 with free shipping (normally $110 - use coupon code: [EMCPGHP56])

Redesigned Das Keyboard Gets an Oversized Volume Knob, USB 3.0 Hub

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 06:05 AM PDT

Das Keyboard 4 ProfessionalAn old favorite returns with several upgrades

We've been fans of Metadot's Das Keyboard models ever since the first one debuted back in 2005. These mechanical keyboards started off as a sort of throwback to the clicky IBM Model M planks from a million years ago, though one unique feature of the Das Keyboard is that you could get a version with unlabeled keys for added geek points. There have been a few different iterations through the years, and now there's a new model -- the Das Keyboard 4, which Metadot says is the most significant update to the series since the original.

"Das Keyboard 4 is an order-of-magnitude improvement over past generation Das Keyboards," said Daniel Guermeur, creator of the Das Keyboard and CEO of Metadot. "Programmers, Internet surfers, freelancers and others who work 8 to 12 hours a day at their computer know their keyboard is the tool they touch the most, making it the most important tool in their lives. One might as well use the keyboard that provides the best efficiency and enjoyment."

New to the Das Keyboard 4 is a large HiFi-inspired volume knob in the upper-right corner. Next to the volume knob are dedicated media controls, as well as an instant sleep button.

Other goodies include a new anodized aluminum top panel for added durability, two-port USB 3.0 hub, N-key rollover for faster gaming, a magnetic footbar to incline the keyboard a 4-degree angle (it also pops off and doubles as a ruler), and a 6.6-foot long cable.

The Das Keyboard 4 uses German-engineered, gold-plated mechanical switches, and you have the choice between Cherry MX Blue ($169 for the Professional or Ultimate) or Cherry MX Brown ($173 for either version).

Find out more on the Das Keyboard 4's product page.

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Time Warner Edges Out EA in Running for Worst Company in America

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 04:40 PM PDT

Time Warner LogoConsumerist will not award EA with third straight crown 

Time Warner Cable has passed Electronic Arts for the title of Worst Company in America in the first round of voting. According to Consumerist, it was only by a slim margin that Time Warner Cable edged past EA by garnering 51.2 percent of the votes in order to proceed onto the next round of the poll. 

Companies nominated by the readers are put into pairs to be voted on for a few hours, per round, with the tallies posted at the end of the day. In this case, Time Warner was paired with EA in the first round of voting. Up until this year, game publisher EA has been voted as the Worst Company in America, for two years straight, due to a series of unpopular business decisions such as in-game micro-transactions and DRM practices. However, issues with recent games such as Battlefield 4 were not enough to keep it in the running. 

Time Warner Cable, while always having a spot in the WCIA brackets, seems to have incurred consumers' wrath most likely due to the recently announced merger with Comcast. Comcast, which plans to acquire Time Warner Cable for $45.2 billion, also passed through the first round of voting. Other companies that made it into the second round of voting are McDonalds, Koch Industries, Verizon, Monsanto, Walmart, Abercrombie & Fitch, Chase, Bank of America, Ticketmaster, and American Airlines. 

Could there be a showdown between Time Warner Cable and Comcast for Worst Company in America? Or do you think another company should have that honor?

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Project Christine Efforts Halted, Lack of Manufacturer Support to Blame

Posted: 24 Mar 2014 04:03 PM PDT

Project ChristineRazer has hard time convincing manufacturers to jump on board

Project Christine might never happen due to a lack of third-party involvement, according to Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan. The modular desktop PC, revealed back in January, was supposed to be a way to bring PC gaming to consumers in an easy format without the difficulties and complications of swapping out parts. However, due to a lack of support and interest from manufacturers, it appears that the conceept will never see the light of day.

In an interview with Polygon, Tan said he had approached original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) about the innovative concept saying, "I throw it out there to talk to the OEMs about it. That's really the final piece of the puzzle. Everything else has pretty much been done. All they ask about is, 'How much money can I make out of this?' They're not interested in innovation at all."

While enthusiasm from OEMs appears to be lacking, Tan was asked why Razer couldn't just build the PC itself to which he replied, "Christine's a bit different because if we went out and built our own modules and platform, we would literally be creating a walled garden, which is something that we don't want to do. It's got to be open. It's got to be stuff that you can swap out modules and stuff like that because we won't always have the best."

The concept of Project Christine was not to just make PC gaming more affordable, but make it easy to upgrade as well. Its modular design would allow users to quickly, and effortlessly, swap out components such as GPUs and hard drives without any problems because of its PCI-Express backbone. 

Did you think Project Christine was a good idea? Sound off in the comments below! 

Maximum PC's Jimmy Thang was able to see a non-working prototype at CES and conducted an in-depth interview.

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MMO Updates

MMO Updates


DUST 514's Uprising 1.8 patch out today

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

DUST 514 concept art
CCP has released Uprising 1.8 for its DUST 514 console shooter. It's a significant patch on account of the "full equipment, weapon, and dropsuit rebalancing," not to mention new sidearms, cloaking equipment, and new heavy and light dropsuits for each of the game's races.

Cloaking is a game-changer, CCP says, and so "coordinated use of active scanners is vital, and properly placed drop uplinks and nanohives can help provide victory in even the most difficult battles."

MassivelyDUST 514's Uprising 1.8 patch out today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Diablo III: Reaper of Souls launch day roundup

Posted: 25 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , ,

Diablo 3
Did you stay up late last night to watch the official kick-off stream for Diablo III's Reaper of Souls expansion? Did you wait in long lines at a brick-and-mortar store to buy your copy of the game? No, of course not. You already had it digitally pre-loaded and were playing while those other suckers were out in the cold.

Yes, as of 12:00 a.m. EDT this morning, the Reaper of Souls expansion, complete with its new locations and bosses and class and loot, was officially live. Enjoy our roundup of coverage leading up to the launch, and let us know what you think about the upgrade!

Continue reading Diablo III: Reaper of Souls launch day roundup

MassivelyDiablo III: Reaper of Souls launch day roundup originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Guild Wars 2 unveils new account-wide wardrobe system

    Posted: 25 Mar 2014 07:00 AM PDT

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    GW2
    The latest ingredient in Guild Wars 2's April 2014 feature pack has just been announced, and it's a delight for those of us who like to play dress-up in our MMOs. Yes, it's quite literally a wardrobe, an "account-wide system that allows players to collect every skin in the game."

    Says ArenaNet, "Currently, it can be a little overwhelming to try to sort through it all and customize your character exactly how you'd like to. Our answer to that is the Wardrobe, which makes it easy for players to change their look at any time and to share cosmetic items across all the characters on [their] account." In other words, a skin unlock for one character will work for alts too, and players will use transmutation charges to swap their looks as part of the new simplified transmutation system.

    ANet launched a brand new dev blog, video, and gallery today to toast the new feature. Enjoy!

    Continue reading Guild Wars 2 unveils new account-wide wardrobe system

    MassivelyGuild Wars 2 unveils new account-wide wardrobe system originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    SMITE launches today with new cinematic trailer

    Posted: 25 Mar 2014 06:30 AM PDT

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    SMITE
    It's the official launch day for SMITE and Hi-Rez Studios is celebrating with a brand new cinematic that shows off a few of the game's MOBA gods in action.

    SMITE has been in open beta since January 24th, 2013 and has enjoyed a surge in popularity, making it Hi-Rez Studio's fastest-growing game to date.

    You can download the game for free from its main website and be sure to check out our extensive coverage of the game including videos and livestreams. Don't forget the cinematic trailer just after the jump.

    Continue reading SMITE launches today with new cinematic trailer

    MassivelySMITE launches today with new cinematic trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Are we ever going to get over our disdain for browser MMOs?

      Posted: 25 Mar 2014 06:00 AM PDT

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      Glitch
      Go into any WildStar discussion and you'll see people decrying the graphics as too cutesy, and that's WildStar -- a robust AAA MMORPG with a custom client that taxes even a strong gaming PC. For browser games, that stigma is even worse. Either the graphics are too cutesy or people convince themselves that no game in a browser can ever rise above social spamalots like FarmVille.

      It's silly since so many deep and detailed MMOs have browser clients or exist only in a browser. Glitch may have been superficially cutesy and may have been Flash-bound, but it was a serious sandbox with incredible exploration, clever questing, an impressive crafting system, skill-based advancement, and a unique and completely customizable housing system with loads of player-generated content. And for all that, a lot of people, even sandbox fans, refused to even try it because it was lodged firmly inside Chrome or Firefox.

      Are we ever going to get over our disdain for browser MMOs? Can we judge games based on their content and not on stereotypes about their delivery?

      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 we ever going to get over our disdain for browser MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Skyforge releases new screenshots of Dankit Island

        Posted: 24 Mar 2014 07:00 PM PDT

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        Skyforge
        Skyforge: Is it sci-fi or fantasy? Who cares -- it's pretty. Obsidian and Allods Team have just released brand-new screenshots of the upcoming MMORPG; they feature a location named Dankit Island, which is so pretty that it's obviously home to evil, rat-like creatures called Virth. Naturally, players will be saving Dankit Island from said evil. That's just what players do. Enjoy the screens!

        [Thanks to Paul for the tip!]

        MassivelySkyforge releases new screenshots of Dankit Island originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Not So Massively: The official launches of SMITE and Diablo III's Reaper of Souls

        Posted: 24 Mar 2014 06:00 PM PDT

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        NSM
        Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

        Continue reading Not So Massively: The official launches of SMITE and Diablo III's Reaper of Souls

        MassivelyNot So Massively: The official launches of SMITE and Diablo III's Reaper of Souls originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Star Trek Online details a revamp to the Undine

          Posted: 24 Mar 2014 05:30 PM PDT

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          Stupid Delta Quadrant, always getting us into trouble.
          As Star Trek Online turns its focus more toward the Delta Quadrant, one of the biggest bads of that region deserved a fresh look. The Undine (also known as Species 8472) have been a notable threat to the Federation and the Klingon Empire since the earliest days of the game, but the developers have only briefly touched upon them here and there in storylines. The latest development blog highlights how the race has been revamped in light of the shapeshifters taking on a larger role in the Season 9 update.

          The old Undine armor is gone, replaced with new appearances that are higher-definition and look more in line with existing Undine technology. The mechanics of the species both on the ground and in space have also been revamped, giving a more coherent but still unique set of challenges when players are taking on the masters of fluidic space. For more details on the new visual rank distinctions and the changes to enemy mechanics, check out the full development blog.

          MassivelyStar Trek Online details a revamp to the Undine originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          CCP: EVE Valkyrie is at the forefront of the VR 'movement'

          Posted: 24 Mar 2014 05:00 PM PDT

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          Valkyrie
          CCP is convinced that virtual reality is around to stay, which is why the studio is pouring its efforts into EVE Valkryie for Oculus Rift and Project Morpheus.

          In an interview with VG247, Chief Marketing Officer David Reid said that CCP's involvement is a signal that VR is coming back in a big way: "This is just great for virtual reality. It convinces all of us developers that this thing is really going to happen. That it isn't just a fad or a flash in the pan or just one company trying -- it is now a movement. When you have one of the foundational companies of the video game industry getting into this, it really has accelerated the chances of this becoming a very big deal."

          Reid said that CCP is showing that it is focused on "things that matter to gamers" by pursuing EVE Valkyrie. "We said a vision statement a couple years ago that we want to be a developer that created virtual worlds more meaningful than real life," he said.

          MassivelyCCP: EVE Valkyrie is at the forefront of the VR 'movement' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          HBO's Game of Thrones advertises for League of Legends

          Posted: 24 Mar 2014 04:00 PM PDT

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          Game of Thrones
          League of Legends will be partnering up with HBO's Game of Thrones for a cross-promotional effort in the coming weeks.

          Riot Games said that HBO contacted the studio with the offer, saying that there was a shared interest between the two franchise's fanbases. Riot released League of Legends assets to HBO, which will then be turned into a trailer spotlighting both the MOBA and TV series.

          The game studio gave an overview of the promotion in an interview today: "HBO is doing a three-week activation in advance of their series premiere on April 6th. They're going to be getting some marketing assets, whether that's logo bugs or website takeovers. But we're also working with their team to produce a mash-up trailer. They're giving us some exclusive sneak peaks into footage that hasn't been seen before."

          MassivelyHBO's Game of Thrones advertises for League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Stream Team: Delving into TUG with devs

          Posted: 24 Mar 2014 03:00 PM PDT

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          Have you been curious as to what The Untitled Game is all about? Then jump in with Massively's MJ as she cavorts around TUG with a dev or two to help explain what's going on. If you've got questions about this unique sandbox, now is definitely the time to ask them! Join us live at 5:00 p.m. EDT for a look into the wilds of the MMO built by scientists.

          Game: TUG
          Host: MJ Guthrie
          Date: Monday, March 24th, 2014
          Time: 5:00 p.m. EDT

          Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

          Continue reading The Stream Team: Delving into TUG with devs

          MassivelyThe Stream Team: Delving into TUG with devs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Elder Scrolls Online recaps pre-launch AMA

            Posted: 24 Mar 2014 02:30 PM PDT

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            ESO
            The Elder Scrolls Online team has posted a summary of its recent AMA with the most germane questions and answers fans have prior to the game's launch.

            Among the topics discussed was the choice of going to the starter islands, promised support for roleplayers, and the implementation of tabards and insignias for guild representation. PvPers will be relieved to know that ZeniMax is adding population bonuses for underpopulated alliances and hopes that the two underperforming teams will ally against the leader.

            The team also addressed several progress-blocking bugs from the recent beta test: "We did find three underlying issues that affected a large number of quests that are exposed when many people are in the same area. We have fixed all three of those underlying issues."

            MassivelyElder Scrolls Online recaps pre-launch AMA originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Why I Play: Star Trek Online

            Posted: 24 Mar 2014 02:00 PM PDT

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            The nacelles are different, but it feels right.
            I always feel like explaining my desire to play Star Trek Online can be summed up quite simply with eight words. "Space -- the final frontier. These are the voyages..."

            It sounds corny, but it's true. My various natterings on the site have covered a lot of settings for which I have no real affection, but Star Trek is different. It's been a fixed point for me since I was around seven years old. It's a setting I have an immense fondness for, something I've been invested in for most of my life. Really, the thing that amazes me is that I manage to take time away from Star Trek Online.

            But loving the name on the box would only take me so far if the game were a big steaming pile. Every time I go back to the game, even though I have complaints here and there, I fall back in love with the game as a whole all over again. It's not perfect, but it's amazingly well-done.

            Continue reading Why I Play: Star Trek Online

            MassivelyWhy I Play: Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              World of Warcraft garrisons won't cost you gold

              Posted: 24 Mar 2014 01:00 PM PDT

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              And it didn't cost me a single silver piece.
              You know that World of Warcraft's next expansion is going to feature housing. Not just housing, in fact, since Garrisons are sprawling complexes under your direct control. So you know you need to figure out how you can afford it. You've been farming diligently, even resorting to shaking down repair vendors for gold, although that one hasn't worked out so well. But as it turns out, you don't need to worry. According to a tweet by Senior Game Designer Jeremy Feasel, Garrisons won't cost you gold.

              Feasel specifies in the tweet that Garrisons will use their own resource, stating that more information about what that resource is and how it can be gathered will be available soon. So you can rest easy knowing that your hard-won gold won't be needed to build your fortress. Or you can rest despondent that all of your gold won't buy you a nicer place. Either one, really.

              MassivelyWorld of Warcraft garrisons won't cost you gold originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Darkfall discounts six-month sub, updates weather effects

              Posted: 24 Mar 2014 11:00 AM PDT

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              Darkfall boat
              Aventurine has announced its March Darkfall update, and with it a new promotion tied to the PvP MMORPG's six-month subscription plan.

              The update features more realistic weather effects. Snowfall and rain will now affect Agon's landscapes as well as buildings, mobs, and player characters. The devs have also added a new clan market system which facilitates goods exchanges within clans and enables the creation of city-based trading hubs.

              The six-month sub promotion costs $49.95, which amounts to 45 percent off the usual monthly fee. Finally, Aventurine wants you to know about Darkfall's other recent updates which include a new chat system, duels, and the Sinspire Cathedral epic dungeon. To get a better look at the new weather effects, click past the cut and watch the video.

              [Source: Aventurine press release]

              Continue reading Darkfall discounts six-month sub, updates weather effects

              MassivelyDarkfall discounts six-month sub, updates weather effects originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 Mar 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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