MMO Updates

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• Massively's guide to Gamescom 2011
• Break into the gaming industry as an ArenaNet intern
• Gamescom 2011: EA and BioWare announce Warhammer MOBA
• Gamescom 2011: The Secret World launching April 2012 [Updated]
• Massively Exclusive: Ether Saga Odyssey Future's End preview
• Frogster announces new Eligium MMO, reveals cinematic trailer
• GDC Europe 2011: Freelance designer identifies key problem with MMOs
• EA livestreaming The Old Republic at 10:00 a.m. EDT [Updated]
• EVE Online dev blog outlines major long-term changes
• Trion's David Reid: 'New era' of premium games inevitable
• Wargaming.net announces World of Battleships
• The Daily Grind: How versatile do you like your characters?
• New interview highlights the development of Otherland
• Undead Labs art director talks about the heart of horror
• Newest producer's letter looks forward to player-owned chocobos in Final Fantasy XIV
• That's no moon, it's The Old Republic's Guild Testing program!
• Not So Massively: Competitive tournaments edition
• ArenaNet unveiling Guild Wars 2 changes with Gamescom demo
• City of Heroes retires free trials, reopens Winter Chalet
• Wings Over Atreia: Meeting the (Crucible) Challenge
• New Global Agenda Recursive Colony content playable at PAX Prime
• Boost your Planet War beta experience with our VIP giveaway
• Never say Neverwinter: Cryptic forced to delay D&D RPG
• TERA introduces new healer trailer
• World of Tanks crowned Best European Online Game
• One Shots: Welcome to environment week!
• Hear all about the Flyff World Championship (and get a Flyff gift pack too!)
• Lost Pages of Taborea: Answering email
• Scarlet Legacy open beta starts August 18th, $40,000 in prize money up for grabs

Massively's guide to Gamescom 2011 Posted: 16 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Events, real-world, Guild Wars 2, The Secret World, All Points Bulletin, Global Agenda, Massively Event Coverage, Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, Vindictus, Guides, Miscellaneous If you've never been to Gamescom before, let's simply put it this way: It's big. Really, really big. Forget most any convention you've attended; this is likely to be even bigger. Billing itself as the world's largest games event, Gamescom sees well over a quarter-million fans, journalists and exhibitors crowd into the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany to check out hundreds of games and companies. Due to its size and worldwide prominence, Gamescom is a significant event for anyone following the MMO genre (and video games in general). There are plenty of MMO studios gearing up to share first looks, exclusive reveals, detailed Q&A sessions, and exciting hands-on demos for attendees. Naturally, Massively will be paying close attention to all of the news coming out of Gamescom this week. For those attending the convention or merely looking to keep abreast of all of the games, studios, and information forthcoming, we've compiled a guide to the hottest tickets at Gamescom as well as a comprehensive exhibitor list of MMO studios after the break. Continue reading Massively's guide to Gamescom 2011 Massively's guide to Gamescom 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Break into the gaming industry as an ArenaNet intern Posted: 16 Aug 2011 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Events, real-world, News items I can do that! Budding game artists and programmers rejoice! If you have been looking for a way to break into the industry, ArenaNet is offering just that opportunity -- it is now considering applications to its 2012 Internship Program. The Class of 2012 will offer the following disciplines: Character Art, Environment Art, Technical Art/VFX, Animation, and Programming. ArenaNet feels that "artists learn more in the first few months of a game industry job than in their entire time at art school." The focus is on "an immersive work-based educational program where intern artists work alongside professionals" to develop and hone their skills. If accepted to the program, interns will have to relocate to the Bellevue, WA area at their own expense, but will be paid an hourly stipend for their work as well as have the opportunity to participate in an internal educational program. The deadline for entry into the 2012 class is September 21, 2011. If you think you have what it takes, check out the official announcement for full details and links to each discipline's respective applications. Break into the gaming industry as an ArenaNet intern originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gamescom 2011: EA and BioWare announce Warhammer MOBA Posted: 16 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Miscellaneous If you've always wondered what Warhammer would look like as a MOBA, EA and BioWare have your answer. Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes was just announced at this year's Gamescom, and the fantasy title will feature three-team PvP with six players per side. Another new wrinkle highlighted in the game's press materials is the ability to swap heroes on the fly and "confound your foes and dominate the battlefield," according to BioWare. The gameplay looks fast, frenetic, and accessible, and EA is positioning the title to capture a piece of the burgeoning free-to-play MOBA market. GameReactor also reports that the new game's scenarios will be built around pre-existing scenarios from Warhammer Online. We'll bring you more on Wrath of Heroes in our Not So Massively column, and in the meantime you can watch the preview clip after the cut. Continue reading Gamescom 2011: EA and BioWare announce Warhammer MOBA Gamescom 2011: EA and BioWare announce Warhammer MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gamescom 2011: The Secret World launching April 2012 [Updated] Posted: 16 Aug 2011 08:35 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-fi, Launches, MMO industry, The Secret World The secret is out: Funcom announced today at Gamescom that it will launch The Secret World in April 2012. The highly anticipated title revolves around secret societies, real-world conspiracies, urban legends, and tricky mysteries. This launch will put the title in a head-to-head battle with TERA, which releases next spring as well. Funcom also said that it will be inviting players to register starting August 26th for the upcoming beta. The invitation process will be made through "an interactive social media campaign," keeping with the title's fondness for ARGs and viral campaigning. We'll be keeping an eye on Funcom this week to see what the company has to say about its launch plans. [Updated: Hit the jump to watch the newest trailer for The Secret World!] Gallery: The Secret World: GDC 2011 Continue reading Gamescom 2011: The Secret World launching April 2012 [Updated] Gamescom 2011: The Secret World launching April 2012 [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Exclusive: Ether Saga Odyssey Future's End preview Posted: 16 Aug 2011 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Ether Saga Online As we close in on the launch of Ether Saga Odyssey's upcoming content update, Future's End, Perfect World Entertainment has sent us some lovely new screenshots as well as a bit of new information on what players can expect. First off, there's the titular Future's End, which is a new zone for players level 106 or higher. Future's End is inhabited by a variety of high-level monsters that provide lots of experience and plenty of valuable item drops. Also included in the update are two new types of equipment, known as Dragon Lord and Genesis equipment. What truly makes this new equipment worth fighting for is the new Glyph system, which is used exclusively to enchant Dragon Lord and Genesis equipment, raising the gear to new levels of power. If players inscribe their gear with the right combination of glyphs, they can enable Mantras, which grant attribute bonuses. The update also brings new world bosses, new adventures, and new Signets and skills for Mogui classes. And lastly, for those of you who want to play even when you're out in the treacherous real world, PWE is introducing the Mobile Forge, which allows players to access the Ancestral Forge on the go. For some lovely screenshots to whet your appetites for the upcoming update, click on through the gallery below. Gallery: Ether Saga Online Massively Exclusive: Ether Saga Odyssey Future's End preview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frogster announces new Eligium MMO, reveals cinematic trailer Posted: 16 Aug 2011 08:15 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play Most modern MMORPGs are all about making thousands of players feel like mighty heroes, but Frogster's newest endeavor is taking that concept to another level if the game's title is anything to go by. A new cinematic trailer for Eligium - The Chosen One was just announced, and the game itself will be shown off later this week at Gamescom 2011. The free-to-play fantasy title "challenges players to see if they have what it takes to be the chosen one and free the world from the invading demonic hordes," according to a Frogster press release. Eligium was actually developed by a Chinese firm called Shanda Games Ltd. (Frogster is serving as the publisher), and the title will be launching in the first quarter of 2012 to the English, German, French, and Polish markets. In terms of gameplay, Eligium features five playable race/class combinations (including panda fighters), extensive crafting and item upgrade options, and group instances as well as world boss battles. There's also a bit of PvP on offer, and guild systems designed to bring factional warfare to the forefront. Frogster's press material also mentions player housing and a pet/mount-hatching system. You can glimpse the first official Eligium trailer after the break. Continue reading Frogster announces new Eligium MMO, reveals cinematic trailer Frogster announces new Eligium MMO, reveals cinematic trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

GDC Europe 2011: Freelance designer identifies key problem with MMOs Posted: 16 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous Sometimes we don't stop and think about just how strange our games are from a logical standpoint -- but freelance designer Ernest Adams has, and he's not that pleased. Speaking to a crowd at GDC Europe, Adams said that the biggest problem in MMOs is that there's a disconnect between what the game tells us its doing and what is actually happening. Mobs can never truly be "killed," since they respawn, NPCs don't perform any promised actions after you complete their tasks, and quests can be abandoned without any consequences. Adams feels that player actions should be able to change the world in a real, significant way -- and be permanent (including the possibility of, yes, permadeath). Player choice should trump developer intentions, he says, quests should be unique to each player, and the game should ultimately have an ending. Using the concept of a fictitious MMO called The Blitz Online, Adams hypothesizes how this might be accomplished. The game would take place during the attacks on London during World War II, and players would have to take action to shore up the city's infrastructure and defenses lest the situation grow worse. If enough players pitched in using their various skills, morale in the area would increase and the Nazis would eventually give up the attacks, causing the "win" condition for all. By focusing on player choice and a dynamic game world, Adams hopes that the experience would become much more real and personal for players. However, he admits that such a project might be a long shot: "I realize this game breaks almost all the rules." GDC Europe 2011: Freelance designer identifies key problem with MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EA livestreaming The Old Republic at 10:00 a.m. EDT [Updated] Posted: 16 Aug 2011 07:45 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Massively Event Coverage, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Livestream It's the start of Gamescom, and this morning Electronic Arts will be making its big presentation to the crowd and to the world at large through its livestream of the event. As part of the presentation, BioWare will be putting on a multiplayer demonstration of Star Wars: The Old Republic for the press and viewing public. [Update: You can watch the EA press conference livestream at GameTrailers or after the jump!] Continue reading EA livestreaming The Old Republic at 10:00 a.m. EDT [Updated] EA livestreaming The Old Republic at 10:00 a.m. EDT [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EVE Online dev blog outlines major long-term changes Posted: 16 Aug 2011 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Dev Diaries, Miscellaneous, Sandbox A couple of weeks ago, we told you about an EVE Online initiative to bring about substantial changes to the game's nullsec regions. Yesterday, CCP expanded on the initial concept via a lengthy new post that should banish any doubts as to whether or not the devs expect the game to be around in the far future. CCP Greyscale outlines twelve bullet points discussed at length amongst both the dev team and the Council of Stellar Management, all with the aim of making nullsec the place to be in terms of EVE Online's primary gameplay. The post talks everything from mining, to territory and conquest, to intel and exploration. CCP Greyscale uses this last one as an example of how far-reaching the changes to EVE are shaping up to be. "Hopefully the amount of stuff in here will also make it clearer why we're saying 'more than five years.' For example, those few bullet points under 'exploration' mean replacing all of the exploration content that's been developed in the past five years," he explains. EVE Online dev blog outlines major long-term changes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Trion's David Reid: 'New era' of premium games inevitable Posted: 16 Aug 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, Massively Event Coverage, RIFT, Miscellaneous It's a brutal, cutthroat world in the MMO industry, Trion Worlds' David Reid admits, and he thinks that companies that can't adapt to the rapidly changing scene need to get out of the pool so others can swim. Talking to a crowd at GDC Europe, Reid spoke on an inevitable "new era" of premium games that are being fashioned in the forges of increased competition, challenging business models, higher development costs, and lower social interaction. "It's a lot harder to make your money back in the premium games space than it used to be," he said. Reid used Trion's approach as an example of how MMO studios need to be at the top of their game when developing games, including "AAA ambition and polish, massive scale, persistence, and customization." RIFT, which he cites as having over a million customers and holding the number two spot in the West, made sure that high-quality visuals were a key part of the experience, but also that the team was willing to listen to player feedback when preparing future content. He also pointed to End of Nation's free-to-play model and Defiance's synergy with the Syfy TV show as ways to captivate player interest and stay on top of the game. Trion's David Reid: 'New era' of premium games inevitable originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wargaming.net announces World of Battleships Posted: 16 Aug 2011 06:30 AM PDT Filed under: New titles, War, Free-to-play, Miscellaneous First it was by land. Then it was by air. And now the third assault comes by sea. Today Wargaming.net announced that it will be rounding out its "World of" trilogy by adding a third MMO to its roster: World of Battleships. This free-to-play title will focus on the iconic battleships of the last century as players duke it out on the high seas. Like World of Tanks and World of Warplanes, World of Battleships will incorporate player-friendly controls and a clean interface to allow the maximum amount of carnage with the minimum amount of confusion. There will be a wide array of battleships available to play on maps with changing weather conditions and challenging obstacles. Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi sees this as the final step for world domination: "Humans always needed to conquer the elements -- earth, water and air. With World of Tanks, World of Warplanes and World of Battleships we will offer players to conquer all, simultaneously." The company plans to allow players to "distribute resources" between all three titles once they're all up and running. You can get a first look at World of Battleships in the gallery below! Gallery: World of Battleships Wargaming.net announces World of Battleships originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: How versatile do you like your characters? Posted: 16 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Classes, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous Breadth of utility is one of those concepts that rarely gets brought up in MMO discussions, but we still think about it. In some games, such as City of Heroes, most of the individual character archetypes are pretty one-note -- for all the customization you can give him, your Blaster is still fundamentally capable of only one task (dealing mostly ranged damage). But we also have games such as Champions Online, in which you can build one character to do almost everything at the cost of pretty much taking the same powers as everyone else. Some players want to go with the Final Fantasy XI approach, creating one character who can learn to do pretty much everything in the game, given enough time. Others prefer a more focused approach a la World of Warcraft, a game in which a character does one thing and specializes in it heavily. What do you feel? How diverse do you want each individual character's ability pool to be, and are you willing to give up some flexibility if it means more unique skills for your particular focus? 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! The Daily Grind: How versatile do you like your characters? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New interview highlights the development of Otherland Posted: 15 Aug 2011 07:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, News items, Free-to-play Otherland was an ambitious project that had fallen off the radar for quite some time, but it looks like the project is back on track. Based on the novel series of the same name, the game is set to place players in the eponymous multi-world simulation, a surreal network of virtual worlds filled with inhabitants that believe themselves to be people. Players will not only interact with the otherworldly environments, they'll be tasked with trying to uncover the powers attempting to manipulate the simulation behind the scenes. A new interview sheds some light on what developer RealU is hoping to achieve within the universe. As fits the setting of the book, Otherland is a game with a great deal of player customization, ranging from customizing the appearance of a player's individual simuloid to customizing one's own space on the virtual web. Fans of the books will also be happy to learn that the game continues the storyline of its predecessors, with the offspring of the Grail Brotherhood working behind the scenes to regain control of the unearthly fantasy worlds. The game is currently aimed for a 2012 release, but it looks as if the foundations are being laid solid to start. New interview highlights the development of Otherland originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Undead Labs art director talks about the heart of horror Posted: 15 Aug 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Horror, Culture, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Consoles, Post-Apocalyptic, Miscellaneous So what is art direction and why is it important to video games in general and MMORPGs in particular? That's a good question, and sadly one that can't be answered in a brief news post. What we can do, though, is point you to some worthwhile reading on the subject. Today's lesson comes courtesy of Undead Labs and Doug Williams. Williams serves as the art director on the firm's upcoming zombie apocalype Xbox Live Arcade MMO (currently codenamed Class3), and while you might expect him to spend time talking about gory effects or the best way to render blood and brains in a dark environment, Williams actually spends a good portion of the latest Undead Labs blog post talking about something called "Faded Americana." "Faded Americana really resonates with me because there are many analogies between the style and a zombie apocalypse. In both cases, you see society hanging onto the ghosts of its past," Williams explains. The concept goes a long way towards explaining Undead Labs' decision to set the game primarily in a small town environment, and Williams has quite a few interesting anecdotes relating to influential games as well as the challenges inherent in separating the new game from the stack of zombie-themed entertainment products that have swarmed over the popular consciousness in recent years. Undead Labs art director talks about the heart of horror originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Newest producer's letter looks forward to player-owned chocobos in Final Fantasy XIV Posted: 15 Aug 2011 06:45 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV In most games, when you think of a noble steed, you think of a horse. But Final Fantasy XIV players have been looking forward to the large yellow birds that have always defined the series' transportation, and they're not that far off. Naoki Yoshida's latest producer's letter is all about patch 1.19, and that includes the system he promises to dub "My Little Chocobo." Okay, he's actually fairly certain that the name won't make it into the game. But the patch does have a very long list of changes, including rentable chocobos and fully purchasable birds via the Grand Company system. And that's hardly the extent of the changes -- the upcoming patch will also feature further overhauls to the combat system, the abolition of physical level, and of course new leves and quests including Grand Company leves. FFXIV fans don't have a precise date to expect the patch just yet, but they'll probably be more than happy with the promise of a yellow steed of their own. Newest producer's letter looks forward to player-owned chocobos in Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

That's no moon, it's The Old Republic's Guild Testing program! Posted: 15 Aug 2011 06:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Guilds, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic Give yourself to the Dark Side... and bring your friends, because it's gonna be a party! BioWare announced today that Star Wars: The Old Republic's Guild Testing program has begun, with the first wave of guilds having been invited to begin testing today. Any active guild with at least 10 members can register to join the Guild Testing program, and guilds will be periodically chosen at random to test the game. Whether you're a small or large guild is irrelevant, as both varieties are needed to adequately test The Old Republic's guild systems. So sign your guild up, and then prepare yourselves for the internal debate over whether or not your guild belongs with the Republic or the Empire. BioWare is not responsible for any guild schisms that occur as a result. That's no moon, it's The Old Republic's Guild Testing program! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not So Massively: Competitive tournaments edition Posted: 15 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Not So Massively 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 Monday, the column covers games such as League of Legends, Heroes of Newerth, Rise of Immortals, Bloodline Champions and more. In this week's Not So Massively, we look at the latest competitive tournaments for DotA, Heroes of Newerth and DotA 2. With Valve's $1.6 million US tournament set to go live in two days on Wednesday the 17th, all eyes are sure to be fixed on Gamescom over the coming week. Champion Skarner finally goes live in League of Legends this week, while Heroes of Newerth adds two new heroes to its roster with Rhapsody and Master of Arms. With the Realm of the Titans closed beta coming to an end and League of Legends providing some juicy details on its upcoming capture point Dominion game mode, development in the MOBA scene continues at pace. Continue reading Not So Massively: Competitive tournaments edition Not So Massively: Competitive tournaments edition originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

ArenaNet unveiling Guild Wars 2 changes with Gamescom demo Posted: 15 Aug 2011 05:45 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, News items, Guild Wars 2 Hardcore Guild Wars 2 fans who had a nice neat list of what they wanted to check out at Gamescom may be revising their lists pretty extensively. A new ArenaNet blog entry popped up this evening and surprised everyone with details on sweeping changes to major elements of GW2. The list is long and varied, covering a wide range of game elements. For example, energy potions, planned game items that were debated fiercely among the fanbase, have been done away with -- in fact, skills no longer cost energy. In place of the energy potion button you'll find a new, energy-based dodge mechanic. Skill acquisition has completely changed for several reasons. According to developer Jon Peters, the previous method "wasn't helping teach people the game, it didn't fit with how skills actually worked, and it didn't carry over the fun collection element that made the original Guild Wars unique." There are several more changes to hear about. Jon details them -- and gives new details on the demo -- in the full ArenaNet blog post. ArenaNet unveiling Guild Wars 2 changes with Gamescom demo originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

City of Heroes retires free trials, reopens Winter Chalet Posted: 15 Aug 2011 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Events, in-game, News items Freedom is coming for City of Heroes fans, and that means the existing free trial for the superhero MMO will soon be redundant. As of August 17th, players will find they can no longer create free trial accounts nor make use of the game's refer-a-friend feature (although Paragon Studios promises to unveil a replacement buddy program in the next few weeks). Free trial accounts opened before the August 17th deadline will last their full duration, so if you want to check out the game before it officially goes free-to-play later this year, the time is now! Current players will find even more reasons to appreciate their subscriptions: As of this morning, Paragon has toggled on a few elements of the game's winter event, including the Winter Chalet and ski slopes. It's more like sledding in August than Christmas in July, but now you have a reason to drag those cold-weather costumes out of storage. City of Heroes retires free trials, reopens Winter Chalet originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wings Over Atreia: Meeting the (Crucible) Challenge Posted: 15 Aug 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Aion, Patches, Opinion, Wings Over Atreia, Guides Can 15 minutes a day really save you more crucible insignia? Is LFG infested with trolls? Last week we touched on the newest addition to Aion's solo instance family, the Crucible Challenge. Although we mentioned that this instance was slightly misnamed (most classes can successfully complete it with one skill bar tied behind their back), that doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile! On the contrary, as with the daily quests, it is nice to have something you can accomplish in just a few minutes a day while still getting closer to meeting a goal. Whether you are trying to coax a platinum medal out of your Runaway Poppy or just collecting insignias for an eternal-grade weapon, fancy new threads, or a pet, just a few minutes a day guarantees progress. How often can you say that? For those who haven't yet had the opportunity to check this instance out, this week will guide you through the nuts and bolts of it. And for those who just want to maximize their experience, I will toss in a few tips and tricks to zip you through. Are you up to the challenge? Zone in past the cut to begin! Gallery: Aion -- Crucible Challenge Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Meeting the (Crucible) Challenge Wings Over Atreia: Meeting the (Crucible) Challenge originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Global Agenda Recursive Colony content playable at PAX Prime Posted: 15 Aug 2011 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Global Agenda Citizens of Dome City, we have a special public service announcement. Hi-Rez Studios announced today that Global Agenda players will have a very special opportunity at the upcoming Penny Arcade Expo. Attendees will have the opportunity to preview the new content that will be coming to Global Agenda. We don't have much in the way of details insofar as what this new content includes, however. What we do know is that it will be part of the game's upcoming patch 1.5 Recursive Colony update, which includes new Open Zone quest content as well as new instanced co-op missions. Keep an eye on Massively, and we'll be sure to keep you updated on all the Global Agenda news from PAX when it happens. New Global Agenda Recursive Colony content playable at PAX Prime originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Boost your Planet War beta experience with our VIP giveaway Posted: 15 Aug 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Contests, Giveaways When Planet War's beta started last week, those who were around for the unveiling of the Bellona server picked up a special VIP package as a thank-you gift. The gift pack contained an assortment of goodies for players including building robots, resources, coins, and points. If you missed out on that VIP package, you're in luck because YooGames has a second round of them for us to give away here at Massively. Like before, each package contains five building robots, a 10,000-resource pack, a 5,000-point card, and a 100-point voucher. Pick up your code by visiting our giveaway page, then log into Planet War and click "VIP" at the bottom of the interface. Enter your code in the box and enjoy your loot in the Planet War beta! Boost your Planet War beta experience with our VIP giveaway originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Never say Neverwinter: Cryptic forced to delay D&D RPG Posted: 15 Aug 2011 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Legal Fans -- and general looky-loos -- anticipating Cryptic's next game will have to wait a little while longer. Neverwinter has been officially delayed following a bout of legal mumbo jumbo involving Atari and Hasbro struggling over the Dungeons & Dragons license. While the two companies have finally settled this long-running dispute, Atari's sale of Cryptic to Perfect World Entertainment has come with a catch regarding its Neverwinter project. Due to the new ownership, Perfect World is demanding Cryptic work on "a more immersive experience" for Neverwinter and is thus pushing the cooperative RPG's release from the formerly announced 2011 launch window to late 2012. The settlement means that Hasbro will regain the digital licensing rights to D&D, but Atari can still sell and develop some titles under that umbrella. Cryptic Studios was acquired by Perfect World earlier this month for a whopping $49.8 million. Never say Neverwinter: Cryptic forced to delay D&D RPG originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

TERA introduces new healer trailer Posted: 15 Aug 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, News items, TERA Healers are the unsung heroes of fantasy worlds, protecting the valiant warriors of the realm and receiving none of the glory. Well, En Masse Entertainment is looking to change that, and to start it off the team has released a new cinematic trailer thathighlights the healers of TERA. Our healer host for the trailer, a female Castanic, provides us with a bit of backstory via voiceover as monsters ravage the land. The heroes of TERA won't take that sitting down, of course, and soon enough our Castanic friend and her allies make a grand entrance and take down a legion of foul creatures, only to find themselves face-to-face with one Big-Ass Monster. For all of the action-fueled excitement, hop on past the cut for the full trailer. Continue reading TERA introduces new healer trailer TERA introduces new healer trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

World of Tanks crowned Best European Online Game Posted: 15 Aug 2011 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Historical, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, World of Tanks Wargaming.net is now the proud owner of yet another award for its action-based MMO World of Tanks. This time around, the award in question is the title of Best European Online Game from the European Games Awards. Other nominees for the award included EVE Online: Incursion, Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword, and Runes of Magic's Lands of Despair. The European Games Awards is a nascent organization, having only awarded its first honors last year. Nonetheless, it is considered "the top award for European video and computer game developers." Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi said of the accomplishment, "It has been hard and rewarding to develop and publish World of Tanks and it adds merit to our work by winning this award. We want to thank the players for enjoying our game and the game industry for the recognition in our hard work." World of Tanks crowned Best European Online Game originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

One Shots: Welcome to environment week! Posted: 15 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, One Shots, Final Fantasy XIV We're starting environment week here on One Shots thanks to Massively reader Focant, who shared this beautiful night-sky view with us: I've always loved the night sky in Final Fantasy XIV. This particular shot was taken from the upper levels of Limsa Lominsa, just outside the Adventurer's Guild. It was one of those moments when everything lined up perfectly. We're revisiting an old favorite theme this week on One Shots: environments. The game world is an area that most developers put a huge amount of effort into, and it shows. Do you have a favorite landscape, particularly eye-catching weather effect, or hidden jewel in an out-of-the-way location? Snap a screenshot of your favorite MMO area, tell us a bit about what and where it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. We'll be featuring the best of them all next week! Gallery: One Shots: 2011 One Shots: Welcome to environment week! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hear all about the Flyff World Championship (and get a Flyff gift pack too!) Posted: 15 Aug 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Flyff, Contests, Events, in-game, Guilds, Interviews, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Giveaways If you like flying, tournaments, and cash (and who doesn't!), then you might be interested in participating in the Flyff World Championship. Flyff, which is short for "fly for free," is a fantasy, free-to-play MMO, and right now, over 250 teams from around the world are competing in a $100,000 tournament to decide which guild is top dog. The regional preliminaries are already underway, and later in the fall, qualifying teams will battle it out for cash prizes and special in-game items. Massively talked to a couple of participants to learn what it takes to compete in the Flyff World Championship. Ozmix, leader of Snails of Doom, and Reyals, from Invictus, are two of the top guilds in the competition, and they talked to us about their experiences in the tournament so far. And if you're interested in trying out Flyff, you're in luck! Massively is giving away coupon codes for a Flyff gift pack, which includes several handy items for new players and veterans alike. Read on for the interview, and claim your gift pack key using the button below! Continue reading Hear all about the Flyff World Championship (and get a Flyff gift pack too!) Hear all about the Flyff World Championship (and get a Flyff gift pack too!) originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lost Pages of Taborea: Answering email Posted: 15 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic, Lost Pages of Taborea Today's email comes to us from Jack Readman. Dear Jeremy: As the subject suggests, I am curious about Runes of Magic. I have given it several tries before and can say I enjoyed it, but I always left it after a while due to distractions. Currently I'm playing RIFT and enjoying the endgame raiding and to a lesser extent the 5-mans. So I do like my PvE content. What does RoM have to offer in this regard? I love The housing thing and other diversions like that. What else is there? Tell me what is great about RoM and what gives it its flavor? How dependent do you have to be on the cash shop? Thanks for writing, Jack. I'm sure many players have very similar questions when approaching Runes of Magic for the first time. I've tried to formulate a response akin to how I'd explain RoM to my friends -- if they'd actually want to listen to me for as long as this article is. I can only offer my opinions, but ultimately what you think of RoM is up to you. I play RIFT, but I haven't gotten beyond level 20. I'm also not really into endgame in RoM yet, although I think I'm fairly familiar with the MMO as a whole. Keep in mind certain features will net you different answers depending on how a player approaches MMOs in general. I can tell you right off the bat that the majority of RoM's dungeons are six-man or twelve-man, but for the rest of my verbose answers, you'll have to click past the break. Continue reading Lost Pages of Taborea: Answering email Lost Pages of Taborea: Answering email originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Scarlet Legacy open beta starts August 18th, $40,000 in prize money up for grabs Posted: 15 Aug 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play What do you do when you've got one of a dozen free-to-play MMORPGs fighting for the time and attentions of busy gamers during the summer beta season? Offer a bribe, of course! GamesCampus is gearing up for Scarlet Legacy's open beta period, and the public testing phase features a fair amount of new content as well as $40,000 in cash prizes. The beta kicks off this Thursday, August 18th, and boasts new high-level content including an increased level cap (40), and "a whopping 60 options for skill leveling, as well as ten new stances," according to a GamesCampus PR blast. There are also 75 new quests in the offing, more than 115 new crafting recipes, and new zones and dungeons including Turbo Lakeside, Xing City, and the Mumbling Temple. As for the 40 grand, you'll need to enter the guild leveling competition to win your share, and GamesCampus says the top guild will receive $10,000 in cash as well as an additional $5,000 in campus credits. The remaining $25,000 will be split among the nine runners-up. Scarlet Legacy open beta starts August 18th, $40,000 in prize money up for grabs originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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