MMO Updates |
- EVE adds more racial captain's quarters to test server
- BioWare open to the possibility of a Mass Effect MMO
- Coloring inside the lines: An interview with PlanetSide 2's Tramell Isaac
- Anarchy Online 'heads' into the future with new screenshots
- Explore The Old Republic's galaxy (far, far away) in 3-D
- Mark Jacobs returns to the gaming industry with City State Entertainment
- Age of Conan dev update outlines a year's worth of content
- Ultima Online celebrates 14 years
- Some Assembly Required: How to screw up your sandbox
- The Daily Grind: What's your longest MMO lifespan?
- Red 5 Studios and Webzen resolve legal dispute
- Star Wars: The Old Republic accidentally taunts potential testers [Updated]
- DC Universe Online lets you prove how legendary you are
- Reakktor and gamigo release Black Prophecy tutorial videos
- The MMO Report: Sincere apologies edition
- Ask Massively: Elephant facts are astonishing edition
- Conquer Online taking itself on to the iPad
- The Secret World shares details on sharing stories
- One Shots: Let's party!
- New Guild Wars Winds of Change content has arrived
- Behind the Mask: Elite doesn't mean casual
- This Week In MMO: Conspiracy edition
- The Guild Counsel: A closer look at leadership style
- SG Interactive launching GameRage portal
- Magic Campus beta a success, gamigo announces
| EVE adds more racial captain's quarters to test server Posted: 30 Sep 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox  When we say racially themed, we don't mean like an Al Sharpton monologue but rather like the Gallente, Caldari, and Amarr races who, along with the Minmatar, make up EVE's four playable factions. A new dev blog hits the highlights of each CQ, and each one boasts a visual aesthetic that mirrors its race. Gallente quarters, for example, are "are slick and streamlined -- comfort through elegant design. The mirror is also prominent, since the Gallenteans are known to spend a lot of time in front of it." The Minmatar pad has also been tweaked, and you can read all the details at the official EVE website. Before you go, check out the preview video after the cut. Continue reading EVE adds more racial captain's quarters to test server
|
| BioWare open to the possibility of a Mass Effect MMO Posted: 30 Sep 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, New titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic  Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk recently fielded the ever-popular question in a much more upbeat tone than ever before. Zeschuk says the studio will evaluate a potential Mass Effect MMO in the near future: "You never know. I think once The Old Republic is done, we'll take a fresh look at the market." "We're focused very much on The Old Republic, Mass Effect 3 and Wrath of Heroes, and all the other things we've announced, and haven't announced, but we also have the opportunity to look at our franchises in a way we haven't ever before. There are lots of new platforms and lots of new business models," Muzyka added. Mass Effect: The MMO is one of those speculative rumors that seems to never die. Analysts have predicted that such an MMO could top Star Wars: The Old Republic's numbers.
|
| Coloring inside the lines: An interview with PlanetSide 2's Tramell Isaac Posted: 30 Sep 2011 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Previews, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Massively Interviews, PlanetSide 2  MMO fans will probably best know Isaac from his work on the original PlanetSide, a project that is near and dear to his heart. Sony Online Entertainment brought him back on board to be the senior art director for PlanetSide 2. This makes sense -- after all, who else would best know how to evolve the series' design than the guy who started it? Isaac was kind enough to sit down on the phone with me to talk about how PlanetSide 2's visuals are shaping up, following his own blog post on the subject. Hit the jump to find out why each faction is going with a very specific color scheme, how microtransactions will affect how awesome you look, and just what Batman has to do with any of it. Continue reading Coloring inside the lines: An interview with PlanetSide 2's Tramell Isaac
|
| Anarchy Online 'heads' into the future with new screenshots Posted: 30 Sep 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Galleries, Anarchy Online, Previews, Free-to-play  Today Brad "Kintaii" McAtee posted four new pictures of Anarchy Online's upgraded looks. Two are high-definition renders of the city of Tir, one shows off the remodeled character heads, and one is a complete mystery for players to decipher. "Any guesses on what it could be?" McAtee taunts. The visual overhaul is "coming along swimmingly," according to McAtee. Last week Anarchy Online's Colin Cragg reported that the team is 90% done with remodeling over 390 heads for the game. "This has been a very long haul, but it is amazing to see the strides made every week now," Cragg wrote. "I am 'cautiously optimistic'...let's leave it at that." You can view all of the new screenshots in the gallery below.
|
| Explore The Old Republic's galaxy (far, far away) in 3-D Posted: 30 Sep 2011 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Previews, Star Wars: The Old Republic  The Galaxy Map serves to give players a good feel for how enormous the Star Wars setting is, as well as where all of these planets stand in relation to each other. While there are billions of star systems, only a handful support life and will be featured in the game proper. The map is divided up into five major sectors: Coreward Worlds, Unknown Regions, Seat of the Empire, Hutt Space, and Distant Outer Rim. Players can check out the 17 revealed planets within those sectors, as well as an up close and personal view of each of the six player starships. It's important to note that the use of the 3-D galaxy map requires the installation of the Unity web player onto your computer.
|
| Mark Jacobs returns to the gaming industry with City State Entertainment Posted: 30 Sep 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous  He's been out of the gaming industry since his departure from EA, but according to an exclusive interview with Forbes.com, he's back with a new company. "Jacobs revealed that his new company is called City State Entertainment, and [...] the company aims to create games for the mobile, tablet and social networking space," says Forbes.com's Tracey John. Mark tells Forbes that social game development allows for a faster development cycle and lower costs, which equals more freedom to simply have fun making games. "We don't have to worry if the hardcore gamers are going to get incredibly upset because we're doing something a certain way. We don't have to worry if our game is going to sell another 20 copies. We're just looking to make fun, enjoyable games." Check out the full interview at Forbes.com
|
| Age of Conan dev update outlines a year's worth of content Posted: 30 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries, Dungeons, Crafting  Moving into 2012, Age of Conan will be adding a new multi-feat specification system (apparently the feature was a landslide winner in the recent summer survey). The devs will also be giving Priest archetypes some "care and attention," as well as implementing the single-server tech that will allow for cross-server minigames and "all manner of cool things." There will also be new variants on The Breach, The Forgotten City, and Dead Man's Hand dungeons, all balanced for high-level characters. Finally, the second quarter of 2012 is the tentative launch date for AoC's latest adventure pack as well as the tradeskill revamp. There's more too, so head to the official website to check it out.
|
| Ultima Online celebrates 14 years Posted: 30 Sep 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Ultima Online, Sandbox  To usher in the anniversary, Mythic Entertainment released publish 72.0 to the live servers last week. The patch introduces another round of the Clean Up Britannia event, which allows players to trash their junk items (thus cleaning up the servers of wasted data) in return for lucrative rewards. The devs also tweaked the Honesty virtue mechanic and added new anniversary gifts that are claimable through Halloween. Finally, the UO team has promised a high-resolution art update, one of many graphical overhauls in the game's long history. Here's to 14 more, old girl.
|
| Some Assembly Required: How to screw up your sandbox Posted: 30 Sep 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, Opinion, Miscellaneous, Some Assembly Required, Crafting  While there is a veritable ton of different sandboxes to choose from, I must admit to being a bit frustrated with nearly all of them. If it's not one thing, it's another, and most are such glaring deficiencies that I can't help but wonder what was going through the minds of the development teams during the construction process. Join me after the cut for a few things you should consider if you're making an MMORPG sandbox. Continue reading Some Assembly Required: How to screw up your sandbox
|
| The Daily Grind: What's your longest MMO lifespan? Posted: 30 Sep 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous  So sticking with one game for a long period of time is somewhat admirable. Is there one in particular that you've stuck with for years? How about since beta or alpha testing? If not, what's the longest you've stuck with one MMO, either subbed or just playing on a regular basis?  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!
|
| Red 5 Studios and Webzen resolve legal dispute Posted: 29 Sep 2011 09:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, Legal, MMOFPS  According to a press release, "Webzen will receive compensation for the prior development fees paid to Red 5 and also will share in future revenue generated from Red 5's game entitled Firefall for a certain period of time." This settlement will also give Red 5 complete global publishing rights to Firefall and relieve Webzen of all advertising involvement.
|
| Star Wars: The Old Republic accidentally taunts potential testers [Updated] Posted: 29 Sep 2011 08:15 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic  A thread on the official forums has already reached absurd length, causing server hiccups and intermittent inability to properly access all areas of the site. It's unknown how BioWare will apologize for this mishap (aside from a mention on their Facebook page) -- certainly it's not hurting anyone, but it's probably the last thing that most people not involved in the current beta would like to see. And if you see this message in your email, rest assured, it's no scam... just poor cross-pollination of mailing lists. [Update: BioWare has officially confirmed that the emails were sent in error. "We can't apologize enough for getting your hopes up. Sorry again. Those responsible will endure a thousand years in the Sarlacc Pit," said Stephen Reid over Twitter.]
|
| DC Universe Online lets you prove how legendary you are Posted: 29 Sep 2011 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Contests, News items, Consoles, DC Universe Online  Submissions require a shot of the character's front and back, a 50-word description of what makes the character legendary, and of course your account name. The deadline for submissions is October 4th, but you can feel free to submit as many of your characters as you like. So what are you waiting for? Not only will your character be legendary in your own mind, but you'll be able to point to him or her in the comic to show everyone else.
|
| Reakktor and gamigo release Black Prophecy tutorial videos Posted: 29 Sep 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Black Prophecy  Happily, the clips themselves are pretty informative, and they cover interface basics, advanced UI features, and basic game functions. If you're new to MMOs or new to the world of Black Prophecy, it's probably worth spending the 10 minutes required to check them out (and of course you can do so after the break). Just make sure you've got a Red Bull instead of a glass of warm milk. Continue reading Reakktor and gamigo release Black Prophecy tutorial videos
|
| The MMO Report: Sincere apologies edition Posted: 29 Sep 2011 06:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Video, MMO industry, News items, Humor, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Final Fantasy XIV, The MMO Report  Anyhow, host Casey Schreiner kicks off the MMO news with a blurb about Star Wars: The Old Republic's release date before moving on to the neverending brouhaha between Interplay and Bethesda over the Fallout MMO. There's also a bit of commentary relating to Final Fantasy XIV's woes, as well as a recap of CCP's change of heart regarding EVE Online's development focus. Finally, no MMO Report would be complete without a dive into the deep, dark recesses of Uncle Casey's mailbag, and this week's edition even features something of an apology from Schreiner. Yeah, we couldn't believe it either. See for yourself after the break. Continue reading The MMO Report: Sincere apologies edition
|
| Ask Massively: Elephant facts are astonishing edition Posted: 29 Sep 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Opinion, Massively meta, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous  Now that I've answered all of the questions you didn't have about elephants, it's time for this week's installment of Ask Massively, in which I address an entirely different sort of elephant. If you have a question for a future installment of the column, you can leave it in the comments or mail it along to ask@massively.com. Continue reading Ask Massively: Elephant facts are astonishing edition
|
| Conquer Online taking itself on to the iPad Posted: 29 Sep 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Previews, News items, Free-to-play  And make no mistake, there are a lot of features available to players, as evidenced by the game guide for players planning on moving in to the iPad version. Take a look past the cut for a trailer previewing the gameplay and mechanics on the tablet, and keep your eyes peeled for the exact release date. It's not quite the World of Warcraft demo someone managed to run on the iPad a few years back, but it's still quite interesting. [Source: Press release] Continue reading Conquer Online taking itself on to the iPad
|
| The Secret World shares details on sharing stories Posted: 29 Sep 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Horror, Real life, Lore, Previews, News items, The Secret World, Miscellaneous  Tornquist emphasizes that the entire setting of the game is in many ways based solely upon storytelling, on myths and urban legends and half-remembered stories of youth. One of the development goals for the game is to keep players digging, investigating the story and piecing it together. According to the diary, every mission opens with a fully voiced and motion-captured cinematic, and aside from the main story missions, players can tackle these challenges in any order, allowing for players to have unique stories as they make their way through the labyrinth of half-truths. It's an interesting look behind the curtain, and it should give players looking forward to The Secret World a few more ideas to be excited about.
|
| Posted: 29 Sep 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Lord of the Rings Online, Free-to-play, One Shots  Friday will be the last edition of this feature, but don't fret. One Shots is stepping aside to make room for something new here at Massively, and we think you're going to love it. Watch the site beginning Monday, October 3rd to see what we've got planned! For now, if you want to make one final contribution to One Shots, you've still got a few days left. Grab your favorite screenshot, add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!
|
| New Guild Wars Winds of Change content has arrived Posted: 29 Sep 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, News items, Livestream  Part two of Winds of Change will bring 11 new quests, five new respawn zones, and quite a few extra scenes hidden here and there. Players will also encounter a familiar face -- Miku the Assassin from War in Kryta has returned. We're anxious to check out this new content here at Massively, and we've got a surprise Livestream so we can bring you along for the ride. Head to our Livestream channel at 6:00 p.m. EDT today for a first live look at Winds of Change. Even better, some of the ArenaNet team will be joining us in chat to talk over the new content and answer your questions: Lead Designer John Stumme, Programmer Joe Kimmes, Game Designer Andrew Patrick, and QA master John Foreman. Check out the gallery below for some brand-new screenshots, join us at 6:00 EDT for a livestream of some of the new content, and enjoy Winds of Change!
|
| Behind the Mask: Elite doesn't mean casual Posted: 29 Sep 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Champions Online, Behind the Mask  Since then, high-powered heroes have had a way to challenge themselves... sort of. When Serpent Lantern first launched, doing it on VH was reasonably challenging due to the many annoyances (mostly pulson guns) placed in it by the dev team. When players rightfully complained that the pulson guns ripped through well-statted tanks, the devs nerfed the guns and the difficulty became mostly a joke. Normal difficulty is still mostly synonymous with "cakewalk," while Elite is more like "sorta dangerous, maybe." Continue reading Behind the Mask: Elite doesn't mean casual
|
| This Week In MMO: Conspiracy edition Posted: 29 Sep 2011 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Video, MMO industry, Opinion, World of Darkness, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Miscellaneous  It would not be an episode of TWIMMO if everyone didn't get tinfoil-hat hair. Starting with speculation revolving around the Star Wars: The Old Republic release-date announcement, two of the panel members were convinced that it was directly related to the Diablo 3 2012-pushback announcement. But that's not the only pushback that had our panelists theorizing. According to Gannon, End of Nations may be feeling the SWTOR pressure, too. The Trion Worlds MMO RTS was recently pushed back to 2012 as well. Keep your aluminum brain-barrier intact because our hosts also believe it is possible that CCP's World of Darkness MMO may be going free-to-play. All of this, plus the biggest question on everyone's mind is answered: Could there be a Kim Kardashian MMO and would there be an oiler profession? Check out the full episode of This Week In MMO after the break! Continue reading This Week In MMO: Conspiracy edition
|
| The Guild Counsel: A closer look at leadership style Posted: 29 Sep 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous  But sometimes, a certain leadership tone can work effectively in some ways and fall flat on its face in others. This week in The Guild Counsel, we'll look at three common leadership styles -- the yeller, the motivational speaker, and the den mother -- to see how each works well and how each can fall short of the mark. Continue reading The Guild Counsel: A closer look at leadership style
|
| SG Interactive launching GameRage portal Posted: 29 Sep 2011 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Miscellaneous  GameRage will provide centralized contests and events, giving players a sort of one-stop shop for all of the happenings across SG's catalog. There's also a mission zone which allows achievement comparisons across titles, and a reward zone where in-game event winners will be immortalized. GameRage is currently live, and you can sign up at the service's official website. [Source: SG Interactive press release]
|
| Magic Campus beta a success, gamigo announces Posted: 29 Sep 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play  The game boasts six classes, turn-based battles against both monsters and other players, and guild and crafting systems designed to offer an alternative to combat. Magic Campus is free-to-play, and you can find out more about it, as well as download the client, at the official website. [Source: gamigo press release]
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Massively To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
