MMO Updates |
- Aventurine hosting free Darkfall weekend, quadruple XP
- KingsIsle launches new Wizard101 Zafaria content
- This Week in MMO: Sex with Firefall edition
- Snipers and biters: War of the Immortals opens up on Rangers and pets
- Tradition is a good thing: The Secret World's Templar trailer tries to recruit you
- Amazing EVE Online video tells epic tale of wormhole conflict
- League of Legends surpasses 11.5 million active players
- The Daily Grind: Do you think leaks are publicity stunts?
- The MMO Report: Occupy Azeroth edition
- The Guild Counsel: Gold Rush, Alaska teaches how not to run a guild
- Ask Massively: Forbidden screenshot edition
- MechWarrior Online to use the CryEngine
- Marvel Universe Online reveals the art for Thor
- Star Wars Galaxies patch features air-to-ground combat
- WildStar unveils world information page
- Ragnar Tørnquist divulges the secrets of the Templars in new interview
- The Perfect Ten: First impression turn-offs
- Double XP weekends coming soon to an Aion server near you
- Aika's Epic II: Karena goes live, brings final Pran evolution
- Are you the next Massive(ly) Star? Our team is looking for video personalities!
- SEGA acquires Spiral Knights creator Three Rings Design
- Behind the Mask: Comparing the archetype bruisers
- We've got Star Supremacy gift boxes for open beta testers!
- DC Universe Online's Lightning Strikes DLC pack announced
| Aventurine hosting free Darkfall weekend, quadruple XP Posted: 18 Nov 2011 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, MMO industry, PvP, News items, Sandbox  Previously active accounts have been reactivated, and new players can sign up on the game's official website prior to rolling a character. Darkfall is set in the harsh realm of Agon, a huge medieval fantasy world filled with dungeons, dangerous mobs, and open PvP. The game also features full corpse-looting, crafting, and clan-based warfare. Check out our Darkfall Choose My Adventure series for an in-depth look at the title's gameplay and community, and be sure to hit up the gallery below for the latest screenshots. [Source: Aventurine press release]
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| KingsIsle launches new Wizard101 Zafaria content Posted: 18 Nov 2011 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Casual, Kids, Wizard101, Family  What's Zafaria? It's a whole new slice of the game world comprised of six unique areas that can be accessed with a Wizard101 membership or via individual purchases. The game's level cap has also been raised (to 70), and the requisite new gear is present as well. New spells can also be found in the update, as can new henchmen and improved character stats. There's a bunch more for you to read about (including info on a new music player!), so head to the official Wizard101 website for all the details.
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| This Week in MMO: Sex with Firefall edition Posted: 18 Nov 2011 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play  The guys touch on recent F2P conversions including DC Universe Online, EverQuest II, and Lineage II. Finally, there's a dip into the mailbag to answer some reader questions (and a bit of discussion about Bethesda's ubiquitous Skyrim title). Check out the complete show via the embed after the break. Continue reading This Week in MMO: Sex with Firefall edition
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| Snipers and biters: War of the Immortals opens up on Rangers and pets Posted: 18 Nov 2011 07:30 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, Free-to-play  War of the Immortals, which is currently in closed beta, has a deep, abiding love for Rangers and their long-distance love. Did you know that Rangers get to ride sonic tigers to work every day? Makes your Prius look like a brick now, doesn't it? Rangers do sound sweet, and if you want a better look at them, you can watch the class spotlight trailer after the jump. Perfect World Entertainment is not only dishing out the love for Rangers but also the game's pet system. This system is perhaps a step beyond the typical attack dogs we see in other MMOs. For instance, you can not only teach your pets skills, but with the right souls ripped out of monsters, you can upgrade them and even combine them to create a completely new animal. If your pet's stats are really terrific, you can "fuse" yourself to that pet to gain a stat bonus at the expense of losing that particular beast for combat use (don't worry, you can have an additional pet to serve in that role). Continue reading Snipers and biters: War of the Immortals opens up on Rangers and pets
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| Tradition is a good thing: The Secret World's Templar trailer tries to recruit you Posted: 18 Nov 2011 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, The Secret World  Rose is also the star of Funcom's Templar trailer, which gives us a brief overview of the faction's philosophy and focus. Loyalty, tradition, brotherhood, and discipline are the cornerstones of what makes the Templars so effective in combating the evil that we fail to see all around us. Still haven't made up your mind which TSW faction to join? Rose makes the case for why it's good to hang with the Templars: "We are the lions of the secret world. When we roar, everyone listens." You can watch the full trailer after the jump, and don't forget that Funcom is hosting a Q&A on Facebook today at 10:00 a.m. EST! Continue reading Tradition is a good thing: The Secret World's Templar trailer tries to recruit you
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| Amazing EVE Online video tells epic tale of wormhole conflict Posted: 18 Nov 2011 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, EVE Online, Culture, Game mechanics, Guilds, Lore, PvP, News items, Sandbox  Massively is proud to exclusively reveal Rooks and Kings' third and undeniably most impressive video to date. Clarion Call 3 moves the stage of Rooks and Kings' normal hunting grounds in nullsec and lowsec to the undiscovered lands of wormhole space. But star Alazais says "one does not simply walk into a wormhole," noting that the tight restrictions on the mass of ships that can enter a wormhole presents new challenges. The group fought outnumbered and outgunned against an enemy possessing an ability that later became known as "the infinity gun." Skip past the cut to learn more about the infinity gun exploit and to watch the full film. Don't forget to set it to 1080p for the full HD experience. Continue reading Amazing EVE Online video tells epic tale of wormhole conflict
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| League of Legends surpasses 11.5 million active players Posted: 18 Nov 2011 05:30 AM PST Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, MOBA  It looks like League of Legends has really hit the big-time. In a press release today, Riot Games announced that its popular free-to-play MOBA title has surpassed 11.5 million active players. To put that into perspective for you MMO gaming folks, when Blizzard last announced its World of Warcraft figures, the game weighed in at about 10.3 million active players. To put the icing on the cake, Riot notes that League of Legends has about 1.3 million players at peak times each day, whereas the current game du jour, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, reports about 250,000 concurrent players at peak times on Steam. Needless to say, Riot Games is more than pleased with this turn of events. The studio's CEO, Brandon Beck, attributes the game's success to the players, saying that "the incredible passion and dedication of our players is positively inspiring. Our community's boundless enthusiasm is why they are central to every decision we make at Riot." So good work, League of Legends fans, and good luck to those of you looking to make a name in Season Two. [Update: Click on past the cut for an enormous infographic detailing more stats on this milestone.] [Source: Riot Games press release] Continue reading League of Legends surpasses 11.5 million active players
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| The Daily Grind: Do you think leaks are publicity stunts? Posted: 18 Nov 2011 05:00 AM PST Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Rumors, Miscellaneous  Either way, these leaks do get our attention. When we're under the impression that information isn't meant to be seen by us, we want to see it even more. Recent examples include CCP's internal memo leak, Diablo III's beta leak, and just about anything to do with World of Warcraft's upcoming content. So my question to you this morning is this: Are you suspicious of info leaks on upcoming games? Do you see leaks as genuinely secret information, or does your Spidey sense tell you that it's all to build hype for the game? Let us know your opinion below.  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!
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| The MMO Report: Occupy Azeroth edition Posted: 17 Nov 2011 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Video, MMO industry, News items, Opinion, Humor, The MMO Report, Miscellaneous  The Beard also discusses EverQuest II's latest free-to-play transition ("people are still paying for that game?!"), The Secret World's Templar week, Minecon in Las Vegas this weekend, and Bigpoint's Game of Thrones MMO -- an IP we'll probably be sick of "before the game even comes out." Casey winds down with a list of winners for the ongoing MMO Report drinking game contest and an amendment to the rules: "Taking a drink every time I say something sarcastic is not a drinking game. That's just called drinking. Because it never ends." Make the jump for the full MMO Report! Continue reading The MMO Report: Occupy Azeroth edition
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| The Guild Counsel: Gold Rush, Alaska teaches how not to run a guild Posted: 17 Nov 2011 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, Humor, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous  Interestingly enough, the lure of gold and the lure of leading a guild have some surprising parallels. To some, it's a temptation that's hard to resist, and to others, it's something that only fools or crazy people would do. If you do it right, and you have a little bit of luck, you can really strike it rich, but if you make mistakes or don't know what you're doing, you'll end up in a crater-sized hole with no way out, wondering how the heck things got to this point. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look at some of the mistakes made by the Hoffman mining crew and how they apply to running (or in this case, not running) a guild. Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Gold Rush, Alaska teaches how not to run a guild
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| Ask Massively: Forbidden screenshot edition Posted: 17 Nov 2011 04:30 PM PST Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous ![[ALT TEXT REDACTED]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_ucPZCZ08JIJQ7L5ZwgjBRzs3uDSm31kUVb9nqQWBJhyVMzc4pP2Ar0u7V-kCYbxZdE3Vw411FBJqDIaRABflU_G-W5fB-c9yMmn-TwEaRLLuI7_v4VfN5jV05GfDkphKNgJvn3o78krxqF4ve9MvJ21mhCyIdM=s0-d) This week of Ask Massively will not discuss this forbidden screenshot or the game that I can't talk about. But it will talk about novel mechanics and schadenfreude, albeit in two separate questions. If you've got a question you would like answered in a future installment of the column, leave a comment in the comment field or just mail it along to ask@massively.com. The screenshot will not be discussed. Continue reading Ask Massively: Forbidden screenshot edition
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| MechWarrior Online to use the CryEngine Posted: 17 Nov 2011 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, News items, Free-to-play  According to the company's president, Russ Bullock, the engine perfectly delivers the functionality that the team was looking for, especially in the realm of physics-based modeling. It's all but an assurance that whatever else might be right or wrong with the game, a salvo of LRMs will still produce an appropriately satisfying fireball and falling debris. Unfortunately, players will still have to wait some time to see the graphics in action -- but with any luck, they'll be worth the wait.
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| Marvel Universe Online reveals the art for Thor Posted: 17 Nov 2011 03:30 PM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Marvel Universe Online  Yes, the mighty Thor is the latest of the heroes to be previewed, with vestments that speak of both his classic appearance and his recent successful film. If you are a follower of this noble and forthright god of thunder, you will no doubt be pleased to know that his likeness will be seen within Marvel Universe Online, and you should make haste to view the full artwork in a much higher resolution.
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| Star Wars Galaxies patch features air-to-ground combat Posted: 17 Nov 2011 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Star Wars Galaxies, Sandbox  Interestingly -- or perhaps, maddeningly -- the update also adds the ability for ground-based avatars to engage starships maneuvering in planetary atmosphere (and vice versa). If you've ever wanted to mow down a column of stormtroopers with the business end of your X-Wing's laser cannons, now's your chance. It might take a few practice runs, though, as SOE's patch notes indicate that ground-based suits of armor can mitigate ship gun damage. In any event, you've got a little over three weeks to try it out, and you can read the full patch notes on the official SWG forums.
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| WildStar unveils world information page Posted: 17 Nov 2011 02:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Lore, Previews, News items, WildStar  The world of WildStar is one of adventure, intrigue, and of course, treasure. But many players are curious as to what kind of environs they'll be visiting, what grand sights they'll be seeing, and what unfortunate natives they'll be mercilessly slaughtering. Well, the folks at Carbine Studios are looking to relieve some of that curiosity with the freshly launched World page. The first planet up for review is one of the game's main hubs, Nexus. Originally the planet of the mysterious and technologically advanced Eldan, Nexus has since been claimed by the galactic empire known as The Dominion. As The Dominion declares war upon the planet's new settlers (known as the Exiles), treasure-hunters, pirates, and intergalactic corporations alike have come to Nexus in an attempt to find valuable and powerful Eldan artifacts and to uncover the secret of the Eldan's mysterious disappearance. For the full details, head on over to the WildStar official site.
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| Ragnar Tørnquist divulges the secrets of the Templars in new interview Posted: 17 Nov 2011 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Interviews, News items, The Secret World  The Secret World's week of the Templars continues today with a new interview over at IGN. The game's head-honcho, Ragnar Tørnquist, gives fans the skinny on what drives the ancient order of the Templars. The organization's goal is simple: Eradicate evil at all costs. Of course, the Templars are rather scrupulous in regard to what qualifies as evil. For instance, they firmly believe that the use of blood magic is unclean, but that doesn't stop them from using it for themselves. Fight fire with fire and all that. For the full 411 on what the Templars are all about, head on over to the full interview.
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| The Perfect Ten: First impression turn-offs Posted: 17 Nov 2011 01:30 PM PST Filed under: Humor, First Impressions, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous  I concur with his point that while MMOs may ask us to experience them for the long haul, first impressions still count. And if those impressions aren't favorable right out the gate, it's not likely that we will be around for hour two, no matter how good it is. I know what you're thinking right now: "What is this itching, burning sensation between my toes?" It's Athlete's Foot, and you need to get on that ASAP. You're also thinking, "But Justin, whose opinions I respect, admire, and use to teach my children, what drives you away from MMOs when you give them a try?" Again, it's an itching, burning sensation between my toes. No, not really. It's more complicated than that -- so complicated, in fact, that it requires a 10-point presentation on what turns me off when an MMO is making a first impression. Imagine that! Continue reading The Perfect Ten: First impression turn-offs
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| Double XP weekends coming soon to an Aion server near you Posted: 17 Nov 2011 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Aion, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items  Every weekend from now through December 6th, you'll enjoy double gathering, crafting, and slaying XP. There are also time-played bonuses that reward arena tickets, enchantment stone boxes, and manastone boxes in two-, four-, and six-hour increments each day. Finally, the Daru Days festival starts on November 23rd, and daevas who are willing to complete the Daru quest series will receive a Silver Fur Daru clothing set for their trouble. Head past the cut to see NCsoft's new Aion promotional video (if you dare!). [Source: NCsoft press release] Continue reading Double XP weekends coming soon to an Aion server near you
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| Aika's Epic II: Karena goes live, brings final Pran evolution Posted: 17 Nov 2011 12:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Aika  Aika's Epic II: Karena hit the live servers today, and players are in for a nice surprise along with the previously announced content. Prans -- the players' wee little fairy companions -- will finally be able to reach adulthood, which will grant each Pran two new powerful abilities as well as a stylin' fashion sense (complete with shutter-shades!). And this final transformation happens not a second too soon, as players will need the additional help from their Prans in order to defend the isle of Karena from the evil Zereca. To get in on the new Epic, head on over to Aika's official site, and check out the gallery below for some new shots of the Prans' final forms. [Source: gPotato press release]
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| Are you the next Massive(ly) Star? Our team is looking for video personalities! Posted: 17 Nov 2011 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Video, Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous  Our experiments with livestreaming have been successful and popular so far, but there's just so much more we'd like to do with it. That's where you come in. If you're good in front of a camera, know your way around basic video software, can follow directions, and want to Continue reading Are you the next Massive(ly) Star? Our team is looking for video personalities!
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| SEGA acquires Spiral Knights creator Three Rings Design Posted: 17 Nov 2011 11:30 AM PST Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous  SEGA announced today that it has acquired indie developer Three Rings Design. Three Rings is no newcomer to the MMO industry, with popular titles such as Puzzle Pirates and the new Spiral Knights. SEGA's Senior VP of Digital Business, Haruki Satomi, says of the acquisition, "We are proud to welcome them as the newest member of the SEGA family, and look forward to seeing what great things we can create together over the coming years." Three Rings CEO Daniel James seems quite pleased as well, stating that his company is "honored to be joining such a legendary team and look forward to collaborating on amazing ideas together." We know we're looking forward to seeing what this unique combination manages to produce as well. We'll just have to wait and see.
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| Behind the Mask: Comparing the archetype bruisers Posted: 17 Nov 2011 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Opinion, Free-to-play, Champions Online, Behind the Mask  This week, we're going to look at the damage-soaking tanky archetypes and compare them. I'll also give a quick comparison between these bruisers and a comparable freeform hero. There's quite a few to cover, so let's get to it! Continue reading Behind the Mask: Comparing the archetype bruisers
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| We've got Star Supremacy gift boxes for open beta testers! Posted: 17 Nov 2011 10:30 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Contests, Free-to-play, Browser, Giveaways  The Star Supremacy developers have given us some codes to pass along, each containing a new-player bundle designed to speed your construction, move your fleets along faster, and even prevent you from being attacked while you get your bearings! Each of these gift packages contains 27 items to help you along, and all you have to do is visit our giveaway page to pick one up. Once you've claimed a code, head to the Star Supremacy site and create an account if you haven't done so. Once you're in the game, click the "get rewards" icon and choose "new player card." Input your code, then check your inventory for your gift box! (You'll find it in the artifact tab.) Keys are limited to one per account. Enjoy digging into your new items, and join us in thanking the Star Supremacy team for the gifts! 
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| DC Universe Online's Lightning Strikes DLC pack announced Posted: 17 Nov 2011 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Consoles, DC Universe Online  The new DLC is entitled Lightning Strikes, and it focuses on everyone's favorite speedster, Flash. The update will bring a variety of new content for veteran and fledgling players alike. So what can players look forward to when Lightning Strikes? We sat down with some of the game's developers to find out, so follow on past the cut and have a gander. Continue reading DC Universe Online's Lightning Strikes DLC pack announced
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