MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Leaderboard: Magic vs. melee

Posted: 10 Oct 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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Leaderboard
Magic and melee: the yin and yang of the fantasy world. It's hard to imagine one existing without the other, the spell-slinging wizard without the mace-wielding hedge knight, the Gandalf without the Conan. Do they exist in a strange symbiosis of mysticism and steel, or is one the clear superior of the other?

On one side, magicians have all the power of the elements at their disposal, able to do supernatural feats of wonder with a snap of their fingertips. Of course, this comes at a cost: namely, a terry cloth bathrobe dress code and approximately six-and-a-half hit points.

On the other side, melee fighters spend their lives honing their bodies to physical perfection, becoming the Olympic athletes of the fantasy world, if the Olympics had 50-meter Beheading as a category. Then again, fighters tend to have the intellect of a dull brick and try to solve every problem, including PTA meetings, by headbutting it.

Who will be crowned the victor today: the wizard or the warrior? Cast your vote -- and the fate of humankind -- after the jump!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Magic vs. melee

MassivelyLeaderboard: Magic vs. melee originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    New war system coming to Troy Online this week

    Posted: 10 Oct 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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    Troy Online - concept art
    A new "large-scale" war system is coming to Troy Online this week, and the October 15th update is the biggest yet for ALT1 Games' free-to-play fantasy title.

    The latest company PR blast touts the Invasion War system which allow players to sack an opponent's capital city. The new mechanics include the ability for "all users to join the war at the time through the Island of Dispute," and players may then attack various holy relics stored in the opposing capital. The victors will receive both increased experience buffs and improved item drop rates.

    ALT1 intends to release new Troy content updates on a weekly basis, and the company says that this latest patch will enable players to "enjoy a truly brutal MMORPG" experience.

    [ALT1 Games press release]

    MassivelyNew war system coming to Troy Online this week originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Fallen Earth launching free-to-play conversion with a last chance at veteran rewards

      Posted: 10 Oct 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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      Da Choppa
      As of October 12th, Fallen Earth will be the latest title to join the hybrid free-to-play business model. This also means that Wednesday marks the end of the road for players who want to be subscribed before that transition in order to be eligible for special veteran rewards. Returning and existing players will find waiting for them upon login a Spiked Chopper, a vehicle that will allow them to get from place to place while still looking as stylish as possible. Existing subscribers will be eligible for the veteran rewards package, which include monthly gifts, wardrobe spots, and a discount on the top subscription tier.

      But even if you're not subscribed when the change takes place, you can still benefit from the new world events being brought to the game with this update. Taking place randomly in any part of the wasteland, these spontaneous special quests will allow players to dynamically jump in and take part in the struggle to preserve the wasteland and society from the forces that threaten it. Special rewards are also available for players who take part, giving all the more reason for both free and paid players to jump back into the sandbox environment of the wasteland.

      [Source: GamersFirst press release]

      MassivelyFallen Earth launching free-to-play conversion with a last chance at veteran rewards originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        MV Guide: October 10-16, 2011

        Posted: 10 Oct 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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        Perfect World screenshot
        MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

        Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

        Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

        Continue reading MV Guide: October 10-16, 2011

        MassivelyMV Guide: October 10-16, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Daily Grind: Are you obsessed with jumping?

          Posted: 10 Oct 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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          Glitch jumping achievement
          I suspect that if you polled players about their biggest Guild Wars pet peeves, the lack of a jump ability would be toward the top. The game world just isn't built with a Z-axis. Even if you could jump, there'd be nowhere to go. ArenaNet has been quick to assure fans that the sequel will in fact have jumping. Jumping! You'd think there were no other important mechanics, like crafting or travel or guilds! Besides, if you build your world for jumping, you also build your world for falling... like off of City of Heroes' tall buildings or those obnoxious Kelethin tree platforms in EverQuest (seriously, learn2railings, Wood Elves!).

          Still we crave our spacebar jumping, so much that we demand it even in 2-D sidescrolling crafting sandboxes like Glitch (where jumping neither decreases aggro nor makes you harder to target in PvP, sadly). Are you one of those obsessed with jumping in MMOs, and if so, why? Is it a nervous twitch? A way to immerse yourself in the gameworld? Do you jump for attention? Or is jumping merely shorthand for an interactive three-axis world?

          Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

          MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Are you obsessed with jumping? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            MMO Week in Review: The beta that shall not be named

            Posted: 09 Oct 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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            SWTOR
            At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

            To the surprise of absolutely no one, BioWare continued grinding the Star Wars: The Old Republic hype machine this week, starting with a massive ramp-up of beta invitations to players in the U.S. and across the pond. We also got a refreshed look at companions and a new Jedi vs. Bounty Hunter video, and BioWare's dynamic doctor duo reiterated its independence from Electronic Arts.

            Check out this week's other top MMO stories behind the break.

            Continue reading MMO Week in Review: The beta that shall not be named

            MassivelyMMO Week in Review: The beta that shall not be named originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              EVE Evolved: Looking forward to the winter expansion

              Posted: 09 Oct 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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              EVE Evolved title image
              Since EVE Online's release in 2003, CCP Games has been the center of one of the most interesting success stories in the games industry. Produced by a tiny indie development studio on a frozen volcanic rock, EVE was the perfect example of how to do things right. The game's publishing deal with Simon & Schuster allowed CCP to buy back the rights to the game several months after its initial release. With no publisher taking a cut of the profits, CCP ploughed subscriptions back into the game's development and grew the development team organically. As a one-game company, CCP worked closely with players to make EVE the best game possible for its loyal playerbase.

              In a recent letter to the players, CCP CEO Hilmar laments that somewhere along the line, things changed for the worse. The CCP of today bears little resemblance to the "little indie studio that could" of 2003, not just housing over 600 employees in offices around the world but also developing upcoming MMOs DUST 514 and World of Darkness. Resources are spread thin, and EVE Online has suffered for it. Last month I looked back at the blockbuster Apocrypha expansion and asked why every expansion since then has cut down on the in-space development players want. Hilmar's letter and its accompanying devblog answered that question this week with a solid plan for iteration on flying in space features during the winter development period.

              In this week's EVE Evolved, I look forward to the winter expansion and explain why each of the issues being tackled in the coming expansion is a big deal to players.

              Continue reading EVE Evolved: Looking forward to the winter expansion

              MassivelyEVE Evolved: Looking forward to the winter expansion originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Rise and Shiny recap: Glitch

                Posted: 09 Oct 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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                Glitch screenshot, dude
                Ah, so we meet at last, Glitch. I have been looking forward to playing this game for a long, long time. Possibly decades. All right, not decades... but there is something familiar about the game, something that feels homey and warm and nice. What is it? Perhaps I will find out soon. Before I get all gushy about the wonderful world of giants, I need to explain why I think it is important for the genre, not just for me.

                Glitch is like Minecraft, not in its dynamic or design but in the obvious impact it is having and will more than likely continue having on its particular genre. Actually, it has already had this type of effect on gaming in general, but not quite at the level of Minecraft. Yet.

                Click past the cut and I'll gush some more.

                Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Glitch

                MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Glitch originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 09 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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