MMO Updates |
- Faxion Online gets its wings... and some combat overhauls
- Joel Bylos on building a better Secret World
- MapleStory's Chaos updates kicking off with the Age of Heroes
- Uncharted Waters Online moves to gPotato
- The Daily Grind: How many chances does a game get to hook you?
- The Chosen enters closed beta and prepares for release
- Rumour: Leaked document shows CCP's microtransaction plans
- Free for All: What does action-based gaming mean for the future?
- RIFT launches patch 1.3, but don't bank on it
- Champions Online's weekly comic series continues in Bad Dreams Are Made of This
- Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR
- City of Heroes producer's letter talks Freedom
- 'We hear you loud and clear': CCP clarifies third-party application licensing fees
- One Shots: Shh, it's starting!
- BioWare setting up public TOR demo outside San Diego Comic-Con
- Enter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin
- Leaked memo says Pottermore is an online game
- A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Freedom
| Faxion Online gets its wings... and some combat overhauls Posted: 23 Jun 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Faxion Online  The short version is that Focus was doing too much and has had some of its functions as a stat moved elsewhere. The long version goes into detail about how values will affect characters differently in the post-1.58 world. Faxion Online players can take a peek at the full list of patch notes right here, or they can just log on and start picking up some fallen angel wings post-haste.
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| Joel Bylos on building a better Secret World Posted: 23 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Sci-fi, Previews, The Secret World, Post-Apocalyptic, Dev Diaries  To the team at Funcom tasked with fashioning The Secret World's... world, this isn't a hypothetical question, but a practical one. In a new developer blog post, Lead Content Designer Joel Bylos returns to share a behind-the-scenes view of how a game world is made. Bylos says that there are four aspects to world-building: identifying purpose, research, building flow, and prototyping and production. Because The Secret World takes place on our planet in the here-and-now, the team has a reference point to begin, but layers a "secret history" on top of it. Bylos explains by saying, "This is the history of an area as only a member of The Secret World can experience it; the footprints of the secret societies and their past conflicts; the truth behind the local myths and legends; the echoes of ancient magic and forgotten rituals." Of course, it's one thing to design something what you think is interesting and fun -- it's another to see if it works out in practice. All of this planning on paper is just the first stage of getting it in the game, which Bylos promises will come in an upcoming post.
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| MapleStory's Chaos updates kicking off with the Age of Heroes Posted: 23 Jun 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MapleStory, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play  The Age of Heroes update will also bring about a hero class re-balance, and restrictions for creating Dual Blade, Aran, and Evan classes will be lifted. Explorers, Cygnus, and Resistance classes are also being tweaked, and players will find them "more powerful than ever" due to main skill enhancements. Later in the summer, the Age of Artisans update will unveil a new level-based crafting system, and the Age of Battle will bring a PvP mode to MapleStory. Head to the official site for all the details.
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| Uncharted Waters Online moves to gPotato Posted: 23 Jun 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Historical, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play  To celebrate the change in service, the game is running two new events: a new player contest with a number of high-end prizes and a doubled experience event for all players below a certain level. Both events will be running until late July, giving everyone interested in the game ample time to take part. So whether you're an old fan of Uncharted Waters Online or you're new to the concept, it seems like a fine time to give it a shot.
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| The Daily Grind: How many chances does a game get to hook you? Posted: 23 Jun 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous  Endless choices can also make it tough to revisit games. In years past, I've often returned to the site of earlier MMO disappointments and been pleasantly surprised by the gameplay experiences to be had after a bit of post-launch seasoning. These days, if an MMO doesn't hook me at launch (or before), that's usually all she wrote unless I've got a pre-existing attachment to the IP. What about you, Massively folk? For this morning's Daily Grind, tell us about your forgiving streak when it comes to MMORPGs. Do you check in on games that didn't meet your expectations in the past? How many chances does a game get to hook you?  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!
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| The Chosen enters closed beta and prepares for release Posted: 22 Jun 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Historical, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Launches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play  To help kick off the beta, the team behind the game has released both a brand-new trailer for prospective players and a series of screenshots and concept art. While the historical period has become a popular setting, The Chosen is taking a looser approach to the setting and mixing in a greater dose of mythology, which might be just the thing to hook certain players. Continue reading The Chosen enters closed beta and prepares for release
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| Rumour: Leaked document shows CCP's microtransaction plans Posted: 22 Jun 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, MMO industry, News items  The document dates back to May 2011 and discusses how microtransactions will be integrated into EVE Online, DUST 514 and World of Darkness. Most of the document is fairly harmless, but a few parts have stood out to players. According to the document, "Not all virtual purchases [in EVE Online] will focus on customization: some will simply be new items, ammunition, ships, etc. that can be purchased outright." Also mentioned is the possibility of buying faction standings. Both of these would be in complete contrast to earlier promises from CCP not to allow microtransactions that influence gameplay. Authenticity of the document is still in question, but we can reveal that the leaked PDF has had several pages removed before being made public. A link to the full version was later leaked on twitter. Page 2 of the document, which was omitted in the originally leaked file, contains a disclaimer stating that the views presented are personal opinions and not company policies or decisions. This adds further confusion as players attempt to make sense of the file's contents. We reached out to CCP to ask about the document's authenticity and to request clarification on the discussions presented in it. We'll update this post with any response we get.
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| Free for All: What does action-based gaming mean for the future? Posted: 22 Jun 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Video, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Humor, Free for All, Vindictus, Dragon Nest  More and more games use this immediate-response style of play. Up-and-coming side-scrollers like Rusty Hearts or recent smashers like Dragon Nest are showing that action-based gaming is growing stronger all the time. I've even begun to feel slightly let down when I switch to a "classically controlled" MMO. Targeting a mob followed by pressing a series of number keys just does not satisfy like slamming your enemy through a bookcase. (Watch the video after the cut for some of my bookcase action!) But what could all of this action mean for future design? And what about disabled players or players who have issues with wrist pain (like I do)? Click past the cut and let's discuss! Continue reading Free for All: What does action-based gaming mean for the future?
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| RIFT launches patch 1.3, but don't bank on it Posted: 22 Jun 2011 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, RIFT  Yes, it looks like the patch was getting just a little too big for its britches -- guild banks were found to have a couple of lingering issues and thus have been held back from the release. There's no specific timetable on when the feature will be implemented, as the announcement states mostly that the team didn't want to hold back the entire update for one feature. RIFT players might be a little miffed at the loss, but there is a full patch to explore anyhow, for however much that helps ameliorate the temporary loss. [Thanks to Paul for the tip!]
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| Champions Online's weekly comic series continues in Bad Dreams Are Made of This Posted: 22 Jun 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online  In the last issue of Champions Online's weekly Aftershock comic series, A Long, Long Way From Home, our heroes found themselves in far deeper danger than they had expected. Operation Demonflame veteran and UNTIL soldier Sergeant Jim Collins had been manipulated by Despair Incarnate, a champion of the cosmic horrors known as the Kings of Edom. Though our heroes were able to contend with the Kings' champion, they were too late to prevent it from teleporting the entire fortress into the chaotic Qliphothic realm. Our heroes managed to save the few surviving UNTIL soldiers, but still they remain in this demented, dangerous dimension. Why were they brought here? Will they ever escape? The story continues in this week's issue of Aftershock, titled Bad Dreams Are Made of This (someone at Cryptic is a Eurythmics fan), which sees our heroes taking shelter in a strange cave in the Qliphothic realm. But all is not well, as the recently rescued UNTIL troops have once again fallen captive to the eldritch Horrors of the dimension. Now our heroes must give chase through twisting caverns that descend ever-deeper into the Qliphothic realm in order to save the UNTIL soldiers and find a way back home.
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| Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR Posted: 22 Jun 2011 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Polls, Classes, Game mechanics, Warhammer Online, Opinion, Races, Choose My Adventure  I'm glad to see Warhammer Online as the selection, as it's long been a game and setting that I've found interesting even though it's never quite made it on my list of things to play next. The game has certainly seen its fair share of hardship over the past several years, so it's going to be interesting to take a look at the game as it exists now. So click on past the break to start me down the path that leads me into the game and check out my usual disconnected ramblings. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Marching off to WAR
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| City of Heroes producer's letter talks Freedom Posted: 22 Jun 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Business models, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries  While some players no doubt see the onset of a freemium business model as an indication that a game's best days are behind it, Paragon's planned path forward for content creation seems to suggest otherwise. What are some of these new content nuggets? "An all-new tutorial will introduce new players to Paragon City and the Rogue Isles like never before, and lets heroes and villains choose their archetype independently of their alignment," says the letter. Additionally, players can expect an Atlas Park makeover as well as new mission content in both Atlas Park and Mercy Island. New zones are in the works too, as are new costumes, powers, characters, and villains. In short, there's rarely been a better time to be a City of Heroes fan, so head to the official website to read all about it.
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| 'We hear you loud and clear': CCP clarifies third-party application licensing fees Posted: 22 Jun 2011 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Economy  Today, CCP has come out to address the second point and clarify its position. CCP Guard admits that the company didn't do the best job in explaining how third parties can charge a real-world money fee for their services apart from in-game currency, and he reposts an illuminating transcript of an interview with CCP Zulu regarding the licensing. The problem came in the form of $99 licensing fees to use this new service, a charge that EVE players felt was extremely high. Apparently CCP agrees and will be looking into changing it to a "token charge" that will make the contract between CCP and the third party binding without it being a financial obstacle. You can read the full explanation over at EVE Online, and while you're at it, you can snag yourself the expansion on Steam for $10.
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| One Shots: Shh, it's starting! Posted: 22 Jun 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, One Shots, Final Fantasy XIV  This is from a fairly large roleplaying event that took place on the Besaid server in Final Fantasy XIV. The event was a large community sharing of stories, with each speaker getting up in turn and sharing a tale. It was a really nice event all around and a great chance to meet more people on the server.Keep your eyes on One Shots all week to see what the Massively staff loves playing and showing off. Next week's theme is all about gear. It'll be your chance to show off your most epic armor and weapons and tell us all about how you acquired them. The week after that is pet week, and we can't wait to see your awesome pet companions and hear all about them. Just send a screenshot to oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a paragraph or two telling us about what we're seeing!
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| BioWare setting up public TOR demo outside San Diego Comic-Con Posted: 22 Jun 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic  Big deal, I don't have a Comic-Con badge, we hear a few of you saying. Well, take heart. BioWare also recently announced that Mass Effect 3 (as well as downloadable content from Dragon Age II) would be playable at a hotel across the street from the con, and Bass says that The Old Republic will be there as well. "Anyone (yes even you!) can come to the Hilton and wait in line to play any of the BioWare games," Bass wrote. You'd better get there early, though, and plan on packing your patience as well as a slew of your favorite portable Star Wars games to pass the time.
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| Enter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin Posted: 22 Jun 2011 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, Patches, Previews, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift  With Patch 1.3, Trion Worlds puts its money where its mouth is by continuing with its streak of sizable, regular updates. It's a critical patch for some, as it seeks to answer the growing call for more endgame content while an increasing number of players hit 50. Fans of RIFT will most likely welcome the spread of the patch, but detractors will undoubtedly criticize why X was done instead of Y (and don't even get into Z; that letter is nothing but trouble). And above the noise, Trion sails on with apparent confidence and dedication. Even though we got to speak with Trion at E3, I got the opportunity for another pre-1.3 interview with Design Producer Hal Hanlin (which, by the way, is a superhero fake identity if I ever heard one). In this no-holds-barred discussion, we covered the selling points of 1.3, the accusation that RIFT is "dying," and the philosophy behind Trion's rapid stream of content. Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Talking 1.3 with Hal Hanlin
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| Leaked memo says Pottermore is an online game Posted: 22 Jun 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Rumors  The memo "suggests that [Pottermore.com] is a sophisticated online game that contains clues to prizes that are hidden in the real world. These are an unstated number of magic wands secreted in Britain and America, and possibly other countries." This sounds more like an ARG -- alternate reality game -- than an MMO, although we're not prepared to rule out the possibility until all is said and revealed. The article mentions that this could be a marketing tool tied into Pottermore instead of Pottermore proper. Fans who'd love to see a Harry Potter MMO still have hope that this could be the real deal, but we won't know for sure until tomorrow's announcement.
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| A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Freedom Posted: 22 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Business models, Expansions, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter  Working in game journalism means knowing about what's coming up before other people much of the time. I knew that there was something big en route when I sat down on the call, but honestly I had expected another expansion pack. And that's really what we're getting here, albeit not quite in the format that most players would expect. This is another major expansion to the game, one that will open up the playerbase as well as offering new content to existing players. So this is one of those times when it's almost difficult to sit down and focus clearly enough to write about what's coming, just because the net effects are so far-reaching. Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Freedom
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