MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Backstabbing galore: Daniel Erickson talks about the Sith Inquisitor's story

Posted: 01 Nov 2011 11:00 AM PDT

SWTOR
The blog Sith Inquirer wrote in to BioWare to, well, inquire about Star Wars: The Old Republic's Sith Inquisitor class story and received a response from none other than head writer Daniel Erickson.

In the interview, Erickson said that the story for the Sith Inquisitor was entirely written by Rebecca Harwick, who drew inspiration from Emperor Palpatine as well as Alex Freed's Blood of the Empire series. Inquisitor players will begin their saga by investigating "forgotten regions" on different worlds as they look for the secret of ancient Sith power.

The team had a few issues writing around Purebloods being portrayed as slaves, although this was ironed out as BioWare placed a priority on allowing players to pick the race they wished. the class is being voiced by Euan Morton (male) and Xanthe Elbrick (female).

Will there be plenty of backstabbing, political or otherwise, as part of the storyline? "More than you can possibly imagine," Erickson replies.

When it comes to the Sith Inquisitor's companions, Erickson tantalized fans by saying, "Khem has one of the most amazing storyline developments for a companion and the (as yet unseen) Inquisitor romances are not your normal fare at all."

MassivelyBackstabbing galore: Daniel Erickson talks about the Sith Inquisitor's story originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wizard101 introduces Zafaria and Grub Guardian minigame

Posted: 01 Nov 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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Screenshot -- Wizard101
KingsIsle Entertainment has announced the latest content update coming to its popular MMO title, Wizard101. The new patch, which is coming later this month, introduces the African-themed world of Zafaria, which features many major themes related to the return of the Umbra Queen, Morganthe. The update will increase the level cap from 60 to 70 and will introduce new gear, pets, mounts, and spells. In addition, players will have new areas to explore, such as the open grasslands of the Savannah and the ruins of the Drum Jungle.

A new minigame feature known as Grub Guardian will be launching in tandem with the new update. Grub Guardian is a tower-defense-style game which, will be available for web browsers and eventually, Android and iOS mobile devices. The game will allow players to link to their Wizard101 accounts, which will enable them to play the game using their in-game pets. As players progress in Grub Guardian, their pets will reap rewards of experience and increased attributes. KingsIsle hopes this will allow players to make progress within the game even if they are away from their computers or simply short on time. For more information about the coming updates, and to join the fun for yourself, head on over to Wizard101's official site.

[Source: KingsIsle Entertainment press release]

Continue reading Wizard101 introduces Zafaria and Grub Guardian minigame

MassivelyWizard101 introduces Zafaria and Grub Guardian minigame originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Details of EVE's long-awaited hybrid balance patch revealed

    Posted: 01 Nov 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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    EVE Online title image
    Balancing combat in a PvP-centric game like EVE Online is a tricky business. In a sandbox universe that pits fleets of hundreds of ships against each other in a struggle for territorial dominance, balance changes can alter the PvP landscape. Unfortunately, hybrid weapons have always received the short end of the stick in balancing efforts, leaving Gallente turret ships like the Deimos and Megathron behind their Amarr and Minmatar counterparts.

    In a new devblog, CCP Tallest adds a major Hybrid weapon rework to the growing list of long-awaited features finally making an appearance in EVE's coming winter expansion. Blasters will be receiving some much-needed CPU and powergrid reductions, a 30% reduction on capacitor usage and a huge 20% bonus to tracking speed. Railguns receive the same CPU, powergrid and capacitor reduction as blasters, in addition to a straight 10% damage increase. All ships typically fit with blasters will also be getting speed bonuses to help them get into blaster range, and tech II ammo for all turrets is due for an update.

    MassivelyDetails of EVE's long-awaited hybrid balance patch revealed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    SOE talks Everquest II's Freeport revamp

    Posted: 01 Nov 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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    Everquest II - Freeport vista
    EverQuest II's new Age of Discovery expansion is coming later this month, and Sony Online Entertainment is introducing the first of its major city revamps along with it. Freeport gets the extreme home makeover treatment in Game Update 62, and though the city will still be recognizable to long-time players, a new SOE Q&A hints that the changes will be substantial.

    Art director Timothy "Haohmaru" Heydelaar talks a bit about architectural and layout changes, the city's color palette, and the impetus behind the revamp itself. "Now that Lucan has returned, he has exercised his power by turning Freeport into a proud, magnificent city in a bid to attract more followers and to show off his renewed power. This brought about the need for the art changes and coincided with a lot of work the design team was going to do. We also wanted to remove zoning, like players have asked for as well," Heydelaar explains.

    MassivelySOE talks Everquest II's Freeport revamp originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    World of Tanks introduces stealth with Update 7.0

    Posted: 01 Nov 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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    Snow camo - World of Tanks
    The newly announced Update 7.0 for World of Tanks contains a laundry list of new content for the wildly popular free-to-play MMO.

    First up, we have two new maps -- Fjords and Swamp -- where the clan warfare can take on an extra challenge with the highly anticipated camouflage system, applied to all maps. This version of stealth allows certain skins to be applied to the tanks that will "provide enhanced invisibility and add more to the strategic element of tank combat." Keep in mind that this isn't some kind of magic invisibility spell; it's an authentic camouflage pattern applied to the tanks, according to which map you're in.

    In addition, Update 7.0 also introduces fog of war for Clan Wars, hiding the other team's roster, and clan emblems to let other players know how you roll.

    For more on this update, check out the World of Tanks site, as well as our recent interview with Wargaming.net from GDC Online 2011.

    [Source: Wargaming.net press release]

    MassivelyWorld of Tanks introduces stealth with Update 7.0 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Do you play the system in games to get more freebies?

      Posted: 01 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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      Teemo!
      I was chatting with a friend recently about the referral system in League of Legends, debating the wisdom (or lack thereof) of a player creating multiple accounts and playing them to level five in order to get referral rewards. The ease of getting free email addresses makes this a snap -- as long as you don't mind playing levels 1-5 over and over.

      The argument we've both heard is that this is just how it works -- the developers know that this goes on and they don't mind. It set me to thinking. Whether it's creating multiple characters on every server in Dungeons and Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online to rack up Turbine Points, creating multiple email addresses to take advantage of referral programs, or any of the many other ways out there to get more freebies or save some cash, is there a line to what's acceptable? Does it vary with each person's personal comfort zone and the devs' willingness to look the other way or is there a definite list of things that no player should do? Hit the comment button and let us know what you think!

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you play the system in games to get more freebies? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Fallen Earth developer blog talks territory control and world events

        Posted: 31 Oct 2011 07:00 PM PDT

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        Honey, the door blew shut.  And locked itself.
        The conversion to free-to-play has gone live, but there are more changes in store for Fallen Earth. A new developer blog entry has just been unveiled, discussing two of the bigger features in store for the game -- world events and territory control. The former will be dynamic content that appears at random, with multiple events able to feed upon one another and create some changing landscapes for players to explore.

        Territory control, by contrast, will start off in a single region north of Blaine. The region will have a total of 13 different control points for factions to hold, with six of them out in the open and seven in more fortified locations. There will be notable rewards for players holding these objectives, including resource nodes, increased experience gain, and improved death toll. It should certainly lead to some interesting battles in the wasteland as players fight over the region's spoils.

        MassivelyFallen Earth developer blog talks territory control and world events originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Not So Massively: Have you seen my bear Tibbers?

        Posted: 31 Oct 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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        Not So Massively title image
        Following last week's League of Legends livestream, I joined Patrick Mackey this week in delivering a very positive first impression of the game. League of Legends officially turned two years old this week, and to celebrate, Riot Games has released the Birthday Surprise Fiddlesticks skin. Heroes of Newerth also released potentially overpowered agility carry Gemini this week, though the character is currently marked for early access and must be purchased. Bloodline Champions officially launches on steam this week, and all current and new players will receive a bonus gift to celebrate.

        Diablo III fansite DiabloFans took a look at upcoming Book of Cain lore compendium, upcoming graphic novel Sword of Justice and the next Diablo novel. DiabloFans also takes a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Black Soulstone cinematic trailer. The game's predecessor Diablo II received a new patch this week aimed at eliminating RMT and spam bots, which has met with limited success. Finally, Firefall fires up its community coverage with the first of a new weekly community roundup.

        Skip past the cut for details of this week's biggest news from the world of MOBAs and other online games that aren't quite MMOs.

        Continue reading Not So Massively: Have you seen my bear Tibbers?

        MassivelyNot So Massively: Have you seen my bear Tibbers? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          MechWarrior Online announced

          Posted: 31 Oct 2011 05:30 PM PDT

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          No BattleTech game is complete without a solid 100 tons of Atlas.
          In the future, battles will be fought via BattleMechs -- enormous walking tanks covered in weapons, waging war for control of the region of known space called the Inner Sphere. Sound familiar? It's the premise behind the BattleTech series of games, including the popular MechWarrior franchise. And apparently, in late 2012, players will have the chance to get inside a 'Mech of their own in a new online installment to the series, MechWarrior Online, announced by Piranha Games.

          The announcement comes with a slew of questions and answers for expectant players, including information about customizing one's 'Mech, which of the classic designs will be seen in the game, and of course details about the world and timeline that the game takes place. There are no details regarding a beta at the moment, but the team seems quite insistent that the game will launch in 2012. It's certainly going to make next year interesting for all life-long MechWarrior fans.

          MassivelyMechWarrior Online announced originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ChangYou reports record revenue, registered accounts

          Posted: 31 Oct 2011 05:00 PM PDT

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          ChangYou logo
          With all the layoffs that seem to be going around the MMO industry as of late, it's about time we hear some good news from a developer. ChangYou, known in North America primarily for its quirky title Zentia and the bizarrely named Duke of Mount Deer, reports a 119 million USD revenue for its third fiscal quarter.

          The company's amount of registered users rose as well, with the company citing 159 million current gamers inhabiting ChangYou's titles. CEO Tao Wang is understandably pleased with these results and says that "we believe these results once again demonstrate our ability to understand and fulfill gamers' needs and showcase our content development and game operation strengths." For the full details, check out the article over at Gamasutra.

          MassivelyChangYou reports record revenue, registered accounts originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          New Flyff expansion grants players a New Beginning

          Posted: 31 Oct 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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          Screenshot -- Flyff
          The dust only recently settled on the Flyff World Championship, and Gala Networks Europe has announced a new update coming to the game. The expansion, known as New Beginning, brings a load of new content for European Flyff players. Many of the game's mechanics -- such as the loot system, legendary quests, and the upgrade system -- have been entirely revamped.

          Meanwhile, three new dungeons are available for players looking to test their mettle, and of course new, powerful rewards for said dungeons will be available. Over 100 new scenario and dungeon quests have been added as well, ensuring that players won't lack things to do. The update will be hitting the French and German servers in December.

          [Source: Gala Networks Europe press release]

          MassivelyNew Flyff expansion grants players a New Beginning originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Wings Over Atreia: Snips and snails and Asmo tales

            Posted: 31 Oct 2011 03:00 PM PDT

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            Wings Over Atreia header image
            That's what this week's column is made of!

            Back when I first decided I wanted to venture to the dark side of Aion and compare the leveling experiences of the two realms, I didn't really fathom that there would be so much content added that it would be hard to break away from sampling all of the goodies on my home server. Besides that, with all of the changes, comparing the leveling is just impossible. I knew that it would be easier with the introduction of repeatable quests, but it's just plain stupid-easy to level now as opposed to way back pre-Balaurea.

            Even with the leveling comparison effectively nixed, I still can report on the differences in the feel of the two worlds as well as just run through and reflect on my impressions of the Asmodian life to give some screen time to the glowy-eyes. Did I mention I love the glowy eyes? With that in mind, Wings Over Atreia devotes this week to the furbacks (said with love!).

            Glide past the cut for a look at Daevic life in Asmodae from Ascension to the Abyss.

            Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Snips and snails and Asmo tales

            MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Snips and snails and Asmo tales originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Flameseeker Chronicles: Zola's a little cranky, and so am I

              Posted: 31 Oct 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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              Halloween is here! OK, technically Halloween has been in Tyria for a week and a half, but Mad King Thorn is here today! By now, everyone's hit Lion's Arch and Kamadan to pick up festival masks, we've mobbed the King in the hopes of getting chosen for Rock Paper Scissors, and we've laughed at his delightfully horrible jokes. (And before you even ask, yes, the pumpkin-on-head joke still cracks me up.)

              I've thoroughly enjoyed almost all of Halloween 2011 in Guild Wars. Yep, I said almost. There's a single aspect of this festival that stands out very strongly and unpleasantly to me. Follow along after the jump, and let's talk it over.

              Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Zola's a little cranky, and so am I

              MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Zola's a little cranky, and so am I originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Leaderboard: MMO trick vs. MMO treat

                Posted: 31 Oct 2011 01:30 PM PDT

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                Leaderboard
                Ah, Halloween. It's the time of the year that every single MMO in existence reveals its deep-rooted bigotry against pumpkins and our already decorated virtual funhouses are given yet another layer of pretend nonsense. Not that I'm complaining, mind you -- I adore Halloween in MMOs. It's my favorite holiday, virtual or real, and I'm always anxious to see what the crazed minds of maddened developers have come up with in their spare time between logging TPS reports.

                Today's Leaderboard is simple: Do you want a cool new trick in your MMO or a tasty treat? A "trick" being new quests, special content, or a fun spookhouse to explore, and a "treat" being nifty Halloween rewards that you can consume, wear, or otherwise show off to the 2,540 other folks who got the same exact thing.

                It's trick-or-treat today on Massively, so which side do you support, and how far are you willing to go? If they pull a knife, you pull out a bag of candy corn -- that's the Halloweentown way!

                Continue reading Leaderboard: MMO trick vs. MMO treat

                MassivelyLeaderboard: MMO trick vs. MMO treat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  WildStar beta sign-ups now open

                  Posted: 31 Oct 2011 01:00 PM PDT

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                  Screenshot -- WildStar
                  WildStar fans will find a new destination awaiting them at the game's official site today. Where does said destination lead, exactly? Why, right to the beta sign-up page, which means that -- with any luck -- the game should begin testing sometime in the near future. To sign up for yourself, head on over to the game's official site.

                  [Edit: Apparently sign-ups were active last month. So there you go. Treat this as a reminder.]

                  MassivelyWildStar beta sign-ups now open originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  GhostX Ultimate offers classless gameplay with nanobots

                  Posted: 31 Oct 2011 12:30 PM PDT

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                  GhostX Ultimate - combat gameplay screenshot
                  If you've never heard of GameKiss, you're not alone. The company hopes to change that, though, and the first step toward raising its profile is a new MMO called GhostX Ultimate. GameKiss says that the title "delivers a stand-out gameplay experience for gamers with an appetite for a completely different kind of adventure," and that it's unique in "a sea of repetitively-themed MMORPG games."

                  Bold claims, to be sure, but how exactly does GhostX come by its uniqueness?

                  For one thing, there are no classes or jobs. Instead, players develop their own catalogue of nanobot weapons that can instantly change an avatar's combat abilities from melee to short- or long-range styles. GameKiss's latest press release also says that GhostX has a "real storyline," and you can learn more about that, and download the free-to-play title, at the official website.

                  MassivelyGhostX Ultimate offers classless gameplay with nanobots originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Upcoming book Stay Awhile and Listen delves into the history of Blizzard

                  Posted: 31 Oct 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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                  Hello, my friend. Stay awhile and listen...
                  Are you into video games? Of course you are. Are you into history? Are you into Blizzard Entertainment? And perhaps most importantly, are you into books? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then you're probably a rather small subset of people, but luckily for you, we've got just the thing to fill that niche.

                  David L. Craddock's Stay Awhile and Listen is being published by Digital Monument Press, and if you're at all interested in how Blizzard came to be the industry powerhouse that it is today, it's probably worth a read. This isn't just some unofficial rag, though; Stay Awhile and Listen features input from a great number of Blizzard and Blizzard North developers. The book hits shelves, Nooks, Kindles, and Apple iBooks in Summer 2012.

                  [Source: Digital Monument Press press release]

                  MassivelyUpcoming book Stay Awhile and Listen delves into the history of Blizzard originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Origins of Malu reveals Toljon race

                    Posted: 31 Oct 2011 11:30 AM PDT

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                    Origins of Malu - Toljon raceWhat's new from the Origins of Malu crew? How about a new race, for starters. The sandbox title is gearing up for its beta period sometime during the next couple of months, and as a prelude, Burning Dog Media is starting to ramp up its information dissemination.

                    Today's reveal centers on the Toljon, and though we don't get any gameplay info, there is quite a bit of lore related to the unique race.

                    The Toljon are renowned for their approach to building civilizations, which feature "entire bridges and roadways being suspended off the ground, connecting areas otherwise separated by cliffs and canyons." The Toljon have even perfected a way to seed farmland high above the ground, and you can read all about this unusual people at the official Origins website.

                    MassivelyOrigins of Malu reveals Toljon race originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    PlanetSide 2's classes undergo flexible combat training

                    Posted: 31 Oct 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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                    PlanetSide 2
                    Everyone loves choices, especially when it comes to roleplaying games and the character building that goes on during the course of a game. While PlanetSide 2 may look, sound, and smell like a FPS shooter, SOE is doing all it can to ensure there's just as much choice when it comes to how players will be building their combat-hardened veterans.

                    For starters, there are six classes from which to choose, although the decisions don't end there. Depending on a soldier's whims, she can train in certifications to tailor the class to her play style. Similar to EVE Online's skill system, cert training takes place in real time no matter if the player is online or off. Finally, players can modify -- or "sidegrade" -- their weapons for that last level of customization.

                    Choose a class or playstyle that ends up not working out for you? SOE will even let you change your build without having to start over. Creative director Matt Higby explains: "You can switch back and forth anytime you respawn, any time you're at an equipment terminal. You can constantly try out each one of those classes and figure out what about the classes you want or what your empire needs."

                    MassivelyPlanetSide 2's classes undergo flexible combat training originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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