MMO Updates

MMO Updates


The Anvil of Crom: Can AoC Unrated keep up with the Joneses?

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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Sooooo, City of Heroes and LEGO Universe caught the free-to-play bug this week. Fallen Earth did so the week before. What does this have to do with Age of Conan? Quite a lot, if you think about it, and that's what I'm given to doing every week around this time as I sit down to hum a few bars relating to Funcom's Hyboria.

In case you've forgotten (and it's easy to do thanks to the rash of announcements lately), Age of Conan is gearing up for its own version of freemium MMORPG madness. At this point it's anyone's guess as to when the big day will actually roll around, though, and the longer Funcom waits, the more it concerns me.

Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Can AoC Unrated keep up with the Joneses?

MassivelyThe Anvil of Crom: Can AoC Unrated keep up with the Joneses? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Global Chat: Tough decisions edition

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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Welcome to this week's Global Chat! We love hearing what you have to say at Massively, and we love it even more when we can share the best comments with all of our readers. Massively staffers will be contributing some of their favorite comments every week, so keep an eye out every Sunday for more Global Chat!

Today's Global Chat focuses on developer decisions. From business models to mechanics and even platforms, our readers had some interesting things to say. Follow along after the jump to read, then add your own thoughts!

Continue reading Global Chat: Tough decisions edition

MassivelyGlobal Chat: Tough decisions edition originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What Star Wars Galaxies features will you miss the most?

Posted: 26 Jun 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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Yep, it's another Star Wars Galaxies-flavored Daily Grind (if you think the sentimentality is thick now, wait until the week of December 15th). When the long-running sandbox title rides into the sunset this winter, it will be taking with it quite a few unique features that have been deemed unnecessary in all the games since.

Whether we're talking about the Dancer, Image Designer, and Musician functionality, the space game that allows for interaction and personalization inside the spacecraft as well as out, or the player-generated content features made possible by the Storyteller and Chronicle systems, there's a lot to love about SWG even if you don't particularly love Star Wars (or the game's disregard for Star Wars lore).

Today's breakfast topic follows on from yesterday's, but this time around we want to know about feature sets instead of personal memories. What SWG features will you miss the most?

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: What Star Wars Galaxies features will you miss the most? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not So Massively: E-sports are serious business

Posted: 25 Jun 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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Welcome to Not So Massively, our weekly roundup of the top news from popular multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and other multiplayer online games that aren't quite MMOs. Published every Saturday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Defense of the Ancients, Bloodline Champions, and more.

E-sports are becoming increasingly popular in the West, with top teams receiving corporate sponsorship deals and tournament organisers fielding prize funds worth thousands of dollars. Last week saw the start of Dreamhack 2011 in Sweden, featuring competitive tournaments for MOBAs like LoL, HoN, Bloodline Champions and more. Last week we also checked out Aida Arenas' Arena Hustle mode and got the first information on new online World War II RTS Operation Gamma 41.

In this week's Not So Massively, the Dreamhack tournaments come to a close as their winners carry giant sacks with dollar signs on them to the nearest bank. For those of you who have always wanted to know what high-end competitive play looks like in League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth or Bloodline Champions, videos of the tournament action are now available. This week we also check out League of Legends' new champion spotlight on Yorick to gravedigger and Realm of the Titans' hero spotlight on HaZ'zard. Finally, we get a look at a new dev interview with Rise of Immortals' lead designer Amanda Flock and more server troubles for Heroes of Newerth.

Continue reading Not So Massively: E-sports are serious business

MassivelyNot So Massively: E-sports are serious business originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rusty Hearts announces closed beta date

Posted: 25 Jun 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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Rusty Hearts, the upcoming side-scrolling hack-and-slash MMO from Perfect World Entertainment, has finally been slated to enter closed beta. On July 27th, players will be able to jump into the cel-shaded dungeon crawler (with which our own Beau Hindman was able to go hands-on at E3) and start slicin' some baddies.

According to the press release, players should expect "a thrilling gaming experience and epic dungeon crawling fights led by the unique heroes of Rusty Hearts, each with their own compelling backstory," a game in which they can smack their way through multiple dungeon difficulties in search of shiny loot. And finally, to commemorate the beta announcement, PWE has released a brand-new gameplay trailer for your consumption, which you can check out after the cut.

Continue reading Rusty Hearts announces closed beta date

MassivelyRusty Hearts announces closed beta date originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: A peaceful interlude

Posted: 25 Jun 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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Today's One Shots comes from Guild Wars and was snapped by yours truly:
This was taken on the docks of the Isle of Solitude, one of the guild halls available in Guild Wars. It's always been one of my favorite places to park my character while waiting for a scheduled event or just chatting. The view is perfect, and you can even hear the water lapping against the shore.
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!

MassivelyOne Shots: A peaceful interlude originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allods Online patch 2.0.04 includes... underwear?

Posted: 25 Jun 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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Players have already been treated to a couple of sneak peeks at the new features coming to gPotato's Allods Online with the upcoming patch 2.0.04, and yet the stream of information continues! The game's team released yet another small preview of what's to come with the update on the site today, and from the looks of things, it would seem that Allods players will have their hands full.

Allods' Summer Festival arrives with patch 2.0.04, providing players with a plethora of new daily quests as well as the opportunity to procure brand-spankin'-new vanity items such as wings and undergarments (yes, undergarments). Even mounts will get in on the festivities with new mount color patterns available only to "elite players" who can conquer the challenges of Twilight Isle. The update also brings training dummies, changes to the Astral system, and more. For the full details on this upcoming addition, check out the official site.

MassivelyAllods Online patch 2.0.04 includes... underwear? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Mog Log: Level Y

Posted: 25 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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Why are you leveling?

It's a fair question in Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV and really pretty much any MMO, especially because it's one of those questions you don't really ask while you're knee-deep in the game. You're just playing, you see that your level isn't at the level it could be, and you start doing what you have to do in order to make that number go just a little bit higher. By the classic model in Final Fantasy XI, you find a party, and in Final Fantasy XIV, you get some leves and head out to the races.

But that doesn't address the question. You know what you're doing, and I know what you're doing -- the question is why you're doing it in the first place. Even in a game without levels, you shouldn't be leveling. The answer to that question should always be confusion not over the reason but over the very concept.

So I'll ask again -- why are you leveling?

Continue reading The Mog Log: Level Y

MassivelyThe Mog Log: Level Y originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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