General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


E3 Development Roundup

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 05:30 PM PDT

While trying to keep you afloat in all things PC gaming related at E3, we sometimes lose sight of some of the other awesome announcements outside of our department. Luckily, our sister publication GamesRadar.com has been blowing out E3 with some killer coverage. We know PC users like to be in the know about anything electronic, including video games, so we thought we'd show you some of more memorable posts from today.

Nintendo Wii U: Possibly the biggest announcement so far, Nintendo's questionably titled "Wii-U" sports a crazy looking controller and new, updated, HD graphics. Check it out here.

BioShock Infinite Gets a New Trailer: 2K Games latest is an absolute stunner to look at. Check it out.

PSP 2 is Called Playstation Vita: Sony unveiled their plans and pricing for the Playstation Vita, a new handheld gaming device available with 3G or wi-fi. Click here for more details.

Dust 514: a PS3/PC Crossover?  CCP annonced their new shooter will integrate with the very popular PC MMO, EVE Online. How is this done? Click here to find out.

How to Go On Vacation (Without Ever Leaving Your Computer)

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 03:30 PM PDT

Who has time (or money) for a vacation anymore? There's just not enough free time in the month for your typical hardcore geek to unstick him or herself from that butt indentation in the office chair, throw some Threadless t-shirts into a bag, and travel to parts unknown. No, there's email to check. Digital dungeons to stomp! Desktop files to organize!

Before you emit a frustrated sigh and close this article from the realization that, yes, our lives are truly just like that, fret not. For I have visited many a location across this great wide Internet, and I come back from my cyber-vacation with riches to behold. You don't need to take a real-life vacation, because everything you've ever needed for a digital vacation is but a few keystrokes away.

Don't believe me? Think this is going to be just some lame exercise in travel-themed Web apps? Guess again. Grab your virtual Ray-Bans and slap on some cyber-sunscreen: We're going to travel the world together… and Carmen Sandiego is decidedly not invited along. Think we missed a gem? Alert us to the error of our ways in the comments!

Location, Location, Location


Google Maps is quite extensive in the view-a-home-away-from-home features it builds into its service (hint: Hover your mouse over the big "Map" or "Satelite" button in the upper-right corner, then select webcams, videos, or photos for live feeds, YouTube clips, and pictures). But that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Mapcrunch is, hands down, my favorite tool for taking a scenic trip through another land. Pick some countries and hit the big "Go" button to randomize yourself to a Street View shot somewhere within the areas you've selected. But if you actually want get a little more realistic than mere pictures, Geoquake's driving simulator will put you behind the wheel of a car set overtop Google Maps itself–no extra points for getting all Grand Theft Auto about it.

For a more chauffeured tour, the Google Earth Plug-in Driving Simulator allows you to select any two points you want to travel between– with Google providing the car. Just sit back and relax as Google drives the route for you! (A precursor to Google actually driving a route for you.)

Even digital cars can be pretty slow, though. And that's exactly why Google has built a flight simulator into its downloadable Google Earth program. It's not quite as fancy as that Microsoft program of a similar name, but it gets the job done if you just want to buzz by your favorite landmarks in a digital environment.

For a more musically intensive and, dare I say it, artistic trip through some of your favorite places, there's always The Arcade Fire's HTML5-based music video for "We Used to Wait." What it lacks in actionable data points and directions, it makes up for in American Beauty-like… er… beauty. Pick your hometown for the address you input into the app; you won't be disappointed.

Of course, you can always eschew Earthly minutia entirely. For a more holistic view of that great, big marble in the sky, check out Desktop Earth. This simple wallpaper gives you an accurate depiction of how Earth looks at precisely the moment you're viewing it.

Pictures: Worth a Thousand Words


Let's all say it together: Flickr. There. It's out of our systems. We all know Flickr exists, and we all know that you can type in any given geographical place and pull up a smorgasboard of shots tagged for the location within Flickr's main search. Ta-da.

Panoramio, however, is a little different. I prefer it because it overlays images across a standard map of the world–very similar to Google Maps' similar, built-in functionality. Not only can you see the most popular (and most recent) photographs for any given space, but you can also see photos that have yet to be submitted to Google Earth/Google Maps. Or, for whatever reason, photos that were rejected for publication into either app. It's the real deal, yo.

OK, it didn't take that long for us to jump back into the Flickr boat once again. Earth Album is just like every other "puts photos on a map" web app out on the Web, only it does so with pictures that have been uploaded to Flickr. Easy enough, right? Well, the catch with Earth Album is that this Web app only samples the cream of the crop. You're only going to see the top Flickr images over an unspecified time frame slapped on the map. The site's less compelling to visit on a daily basis but, when you do go, you'll know that you're getting some of the best images that the photography world has to offer.

Twitter: That Little Blue Bird Gets Around


Oh, Twitter. I confess, the only semi-interesting and somewhat novel Web app I could find related to Twitter and travel was Twittermap. It's not an outright travel-related mashup of Twitter and a big ol' map, but it's definitely a useful tool for finding out the popularity of a certain keyword or phrase throughout the globe. For example, suppose I want to know which users in which countries have most frequently used the word "cat" in their recent Tweets. Type in the word, and little Google Maps-style indicators will pop up on the map for every user that's recently used the word in a 140-character (or less) message.

Webcams: Seeing Is Believing

 

Now we're getting to the good stuff. As well as the bad stuff. I say that as I do, for a webcam slapped right in front of a national landmark or scenic area is practically as good as visiting, right? Why pay $2,000 to go hit up the Eiffel Tower when you can just pull up the official EiffelCam? Still there! Still a tower!

Unfortunately, trying to find legitimate sites that feature webcams instead of SEO spam is like trying to find Atlantis. EarthCam is one such site that has yet to be too burdened by the annoyances of BS text and links. As I mentioned earlier, Google Maps also comes with a webcam layer that you can activate overtop its standard map display–a useful tool for trying to pinpoint webcams around a particular location, but not one that always delivers the best quality webcam feed for a given spot.

For the aspiring Snow Bro, the website Snoweye catalogs webcams specifically placed on, or near, a ton of different ski resorts across 46 different countries. That's over 5,000 webcam feeds in all: Try not to let the tear falling from your eye turn into a hunk of ice as you pensively dream of shredding from the comfort of your nine-to-five day job.

And if that's not cold enough for you, there's always the International Space Station!

 


 

Local Sounds and Sights: Music / TV

Vacations just aren't about the sights and travel plans: Part of the essence of travelling to a new location is basking in the music and culture of wherever it is you're going to. To do that from the comfort of your desk, there are a few sites that immediately spring to mind for getting your international rock on. Shoutcast is self-explanatory: This popular music streaming service gives you plenty of free International feeds to listen to across a number of countries and cultural categories.

The website Tracksonamap takes this premise a little bit further and, like every other app in the known world, uses a tie-in to Google Maps to display its results. In this case, you're getting a map that's full of different tracks to listen to, arranged by the originating country of the music. The music comes from the Soundcloud service, and you can flick between different genres merely by selecting your favorite styles at the bottom of Tracksonamap's screen.

Livestation is a website that's analogous to Shoutcast for video feeds: For the intelligent traveller, pulling up a number of different (and free) international news feeds is as easy as clicking the mouse. MyP2P offers a similar service for the sports world, though your mileage may vary as to how successful you're going to be for tuning into live, international sports coverage. For UK-only enthusiasts, try TVCatchup!

Language, Lingo and Lexicon

Language. It's my personal pitfall of travelling, as I have neither the time nor the mental fortitude for learning even the slightest bit of any non-English language. That doesn't mean you can't, however. The giant online network Palabea is a mix of person-to-person communication tools, learning aids, and native speaker meet-ups, all designed to help you learn a language that isn't your own (or, conversely, teach someone else who's trying to learn your language). My Language Exchange presents a similar concept–it's like finding a digital pen pal and language practice dummy all in one.

The beta app Voxy–for both Apple and Android phones–is a points and achievement-driven multiplatform tool for learning languages "from life," as founder Paul Gollash puts it. The platform, currently in beta, combines contextual learning (think language learning based off current news items, not stale sentences in the style of, "Jane does something") with a wide range of delivery methods: learn via your mobile device through an app or text message, receive lessons through your Inbox, or fire up your Web browser itself! Every spare moment is a language learning opportunity, as Voxy calls them.

If you'd like to try and master an accent in addition to the language of a particular region, fire up Map Your Voice. Those submitting to the app are tasked with reading a list of six words or a slightly longer short story, Roger Hargreaves' "Mr. Tickle." These submissions are then plotted on a world map, giving browsers an easy method for listening in on the accent of any given area or presumed language. Cool stuff, aye? (Or, eh?)

Extra! Extra! News from Around the World

We'd be doing ourselves a diservice if we didn't include a tip of the hat to the medium of publishing itself. Besides, wouldn't you want to read about what's going on in the places you're currently visiting (or plan to visit)? For a geography-driven presentation of the top stories around the world, look no further than the news-meets-maps mashup of Mapeas. It's pretty; it's newsworthy.

If you want the slightly more unfiltered feed, or have a love of dead tree media (Keep buying! Keep buying!), then the perfectly named app "Newspaper Map" does exactly what its title suggests. In this case, you're given a map with a whole ton of little markers on it. Clicking on a marker pulls up a newspaper for a particular area, and the colors indicate what language the newspaper is written in.

And, finally, because Web Apps are the new newspaper, the website AppAppeal does an excellent job of showing you which Web apps within the sites database are most popular per country. It lists these categorically or, if you really want to drill down, you can see which countries send the most traffic to a specific web app of your choosing.

Unusual Travel Bonuses

What's the most important category for a virtual vacation? Travelling, of course–gotta get to your destination after all, no? Whereables is the perfect web app to plot out such a virtual voyage: Each icon overlaid on a huge map represents an airport you can fly in or out of. Click on an airport, and then click on the routing icon, and you get an instant visual representation of every location that airport serves.

Once you're in a given area, fire up the app MisoTrendy to combine the latest data pulled from the Foursquare service with any area you're interested in learning more about. All you need is a Foursquare account of your own to reap the benefits of every other travellers brain trust–locals too!

And last, but certainly not least, a small present for the men (and bold ladies), if you're in a foreign land and you just have to go. You know. Go. Then why suffer the embarrassment of having to ask for directions to the potty/loo/WC? Pull up Urinals of the World for that yes-everything-has-a-Google-Maps-mashup web tool for showing you the nearest place to accomplish your business. Seriously; if you need a Web app just to pee, we have bigger problems than your travelling habits. Or maybe you should have taken it easy on the World's Best Bars listing.

Former Maximum PC editor David Murphy loves to travel. He does not enjoy paying roaming charges for his various mobile devices.

Facebook Opting Users into Facial Recognition

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:40 PM PDT

fbIt wouldn't be another week without some sort of Facebook privacy snafu. This time it's all about facial recognition, and Facebook's apparent assumption that you wanted it turned on. The facial recognition technology was announced last year, but did not roll out to all users. Now the option is turning on for many users around the world, and it defaults to "enabled".

The facial recognition engine is a little disconcerting, but it's not being used in a particularly creepy way. When your friends are tagging people in their photos, the facial recognition system will suggest your name if it feels like you are in the image. Facebook is not automatically tagging you in photos; although that would be technically possible.

The person tagged in a photo does not have the option to approve the tags. Rather, you have the option to remove tags off yourself, or just turn off tagging altogether. If you want to check your facial recognition setting, go to you settings, then to "Customize settings", then look under "Things others share", and edit the settings of "Suggest photos of me". Was yours enabled? 

E3 2011: PC Gaming A No-Show At Microsoft's Keynote

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 02:31 PM PDT

If you asked Microsoft, they'd probably say their flashy keynote address at E3 signaled the day the Xbox 360 grew into its own as an entertainment center, rather than a dumb old video game console. Here at Maximum PC, we view it a little differently: we think Microsoft's keynote address at E3 signaled the day that PC gaming fell off of Microsoft's radar.

Maybe that's not quite fair. Microsoft did have one – count 'em, one – PC game on display at the premier gaming expo in the world. Then again, Age of Empires Online was announced almost a year ago. And Mojang announced plans to port its mega popular Minecraft to the Xbox 360. If you count that, then the number of big Microsoft-related PC game announcements on the first day doubles to a whopping two. Meanwhile, the Windows Phone got eight new games.

Even if the lack of PC attention gets you down, Microsoft still had plenty of cool things to show off at E3. Not surprisingly, most of them centered around the Xbox 360, which continued its evolution into an entertainment hub.

Xbox: Putting the "Live" in Live TV

Xbox Live gold members already get access to Hulu Plus, Netflix and ESPN (although Hulu and Netflix require separate subscriptions). At E3, Microsoft announced deals to add YouTube and UFC to the mix. We all know what YouTube brings: "Cookie Monster Sings Chocolate Rain." For those of us who would rather watch intense violence than silly videos, the UFC deal brings live pay-per-views, behind the scenes footage, interviews and classic fights to your console.

Microsoft also said they're bringing live TV to the console later this year, but pretty much clammed up after that. Maybe the final deals haven't been signed yet? Still, they must be close to completion to make the announcement.

Kinect Struts Its Stuff

Eh, the Kinect was kind of cool at first, but to be honest the lack of variety and the abundance of kid-friendly games kind of cooled our enthusiasm after the initial burst of excitement. Microsoft aimed to change that at E3 2011. Microsoft's motion-sensing device delivered in a big way, with several new games and features on display.

Kinect Fun Labs offers amusing, silly things to do that take advantage of the Kinect's motion sensor, like giving yourself googly eyes. One cool function will snap a picture of you with the Kinect, then create an Avatar doppleganger of your ugly mug. It could be awesome, especially if it offers more support for epic beards than the Avatar editor's current paltry options. 

Wait. Did we call the Kinect a motion-sensing device? Scratch that. The Kinect still handles those duties, but the future of the device seems to rest in the Kinect's voice recognition capabilities. Microsoft unveiled plans to bring an Xbox-tailored version of Bing to the Xbox 360 that allows gamers to search Netflix, Hulu, ESPN and the various Xbox marketplaces just by saying some search terms. You'll be able to boss around the rest of your console, too, watching videos and picking applications using only your voice.

 

Gaming In The Cloud

Plain and simple: Xbox Live's account recovery process sucks. Microsoft finally listened to gamers' complaints and is bringing the power of the cloud to the Xbox 360. Coming soon, your gamer profile and save game data will be uploaded to Microsoft's servers, so you can access your Microsoft Points and Gears of War 3 saves at your buddy's house.

It's About The Games, Stupid

E3's about the games, and Microsoft had several top-tier offerings on display: Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, Gears of War 3, COD:MW 4 and Bioshock Infinite all blow our socks off, but nothing compares to the end of the keynote, when we got our first glimpse at Halo 4. Forget ODST and Reach, Master Chief's back around Christmas 2012!

Some of the blockbuster games shown included Kinect functionality. Forza 4 and Mass Effect 3 both plan on supporting the device. Mass Effect 3's live demonstration was especially cool. When BioWare co-founder Dr. Ray Muzyka said, "Liara, singularity," Liara used the singularity biotic power. Simple and effective.

Kinect's actually getting dedicated games for grown-ups, too. Kinect Star Wars rekindled the awesome "I am Jedi, hear me roar" feelings we originally got from Star Wars games on the Wii. Rise of Nightmares and The Gunstringer bring even more adult-oriented goodness to the Kinect.

The Stragglers

Microsoft unveiled a few more things worth a quick mention. This year's fall update will see a completely overhauled UI. A new "Beacon" feature lets friends see which games you kinda feel like playing, even if you aren't playing it currently. It's mildly cool, but Microsoft might be stretching the social media idea where it doesn't need to go. Windows Phone also saw a small handful of games announced, plus the release of an app that lets you customize your Xbox Avatar and send messages to 360 users.

So Whaddaya Say?

 

Image borrowed from the awesome Hyperbole and a Half

Turns out us jaded PC gamer types aren't the only ones left feeling a bit out-of-the-loop. Hardcore console gamers have taken to the Internet in droves to complain about the heavy – some might say overwhelming – focus on the Kinect at the big show. If you remember, the Xbox 360 used to pride itself as being the console of choice for serious gamers, and the sudden turn to the casual side has the hardcore screaming that all they want to do is shoot each other in the face online. Is there room for both Kinectimals and the curb-stomping Locust Horde? We've all heard homophobic pre-teens shouting obscenities in Halo. Is voice recognition a good idea? Wouldn't it be great to have Microsoft highlight, I dunno, just five PC games? Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

No BS Podcast #175: Room With No View Edition

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 01:59 PM PDT

While we were gone, we bought you a pony! Nah, we didn't, but we did make some changes! Episode 175 of the No BS Podcast is the very first episode recorded in Future US's very nice podcast recording studio with Andy Bauman sitting RIGHT THERE! Previously we'd just recorded via Skype at our desks. The new way is much better. We think.

Join Gordon, Nathan, Alex, and Andy as they discuss the crazy new podcasting setup, Windows 8 and the future of Windows, the post-PC era (again), Google's two-factor authentication, the new Star Trek-themed PC mod they've commissioned, and more!

Do you have a tech question? A comment? A tale of technological triumph? Just need to get something off your chest? A secret to share? Email us at maximumpcpodcast@gmail.com or call our 24-hour No BS Podcast hotline at 877.404.1337 x1337--operators are not standing by.

Subscribe: http://feeds.feedburner.com/maximumpc/1337

 chicklet_rss-2.0.png chicklet_itunes.gif badge-channel-pink.gif

 

E3 2011: Hitman: Absolution Preview

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 12:25 PM PDT

It took the Hitman series a long time to get it right. 2006 Blood Money was an apex: by far the best game about silently mudering a man and then sliding away into the mist. In LA, I'm about to see if the follow-up – Hitman: Absolution – can do better.

The demo begins in a Chicago library. It is clearly a new, high-tech game. Agent 47 – more pumped than I remember him – is hiding behind a bookcase. It's a gorgeous slice of grotty dilapidation; dusty, old, ruined, but still beautiful. 47s been chased to the abandoned building by the local police. He's got to escape. Simple mission. Simple objectives. Hard problem.

But stealth has changed in the time since Hitman: Blood Money. Splinter Cell: Conviction showed that you didn't have to feel fragile if you kept to the shadows, Batman: Arkham Asylum showed that being fragile doesn't mean feeling vulnerable. And both those games showed the importance of slick, instinctive control systems that fluidly understand what you want to do and help you achieve it, rather than twisting your fingers into spaghetti as you crouch, aim and hide.

Absolution's first solution is going to be controversial: a cover system. Agent 47 hides behind the bookshelves, ducking between each slice of protection as the cops move around. It's the same style cover system we've seen in Gears of War, in Splinter Cell: Conviction. The second; a system for showing when and how the guards move called 'instinct' – when turned on, you can see a glowing orange path that shows where they're going. It's about helping players visualize the space and allowing them to plan ahead.

The next few minutes are spent with Agent 47 ducking and weaving between bookshelves trying to get closer to the roof. He clambers up, and then shuffles along a balustrade, dodges a patrol by hanging from a ledge, and eventually ducks right past two guards as they chat.

Meanwhile, the guards talk. And they really, really talk. One officer is sniping at another, a rookie, teasing him about how he doesn't really know anything about being a cop. The dialogue is sharp and funny, a real step above gaming's usual idle chatter. A side-plot is already forming – one in which Hitman can clearly intervene.

He does, brutally. First, he shuts down the power to the library by sabotaging a fuse box. Fat sergeant and rookie wander over. "I know nothing about this," says the Sergeant. You're on your own, buddy."

He then wanders off. 47 picks up an abandoned piece of cabling and sneaks up behind the sergeant. Then stabs him with the sharp end, right in the neck. It's a gruesome take-down, and in performing it, 47 alerts other cops.

There's a shoot-out, and during it, Hitman takes a hostage, using a cop as a human shield. 47 ducks back out of a door, and dashes up the stairs, under heavy fire. He finally manages to shake his pursuers by shooting at a chandelier, which falls through the stairwell, smashes at the bottom, and scatters the police. Agent 47 dives through the door to his freedom.

This first section of the demo showcases combat and technology. But it could be any stealth shooter. It's slick, clearly fun, but doesn't necessarily have that unique blend of silliness and sadism we expect from Hitman. That's to come.

Before we get to that, though, we're given a demo of why Hitman's action and stealth sequences should be at least as well put together as any competitor's: the tools and tech the team at IO are using to create them are built from scratch to help their designers rapidly iterate.

Martin Amor, IO's technology director pauses the demo and starts moving the camera around – shifting giant purple waypoints around as he sees fit. He restarts the action, and the patrols of the guards are instantly changed. For the better, hopefully.

The point is that the developers can play and play and play, forever polishing their work until it feels right, until the levels work, and that players can plan ahead, execute and understand a strategy and still have fun when it all goes wrong.

Back to the demo. Hitman is being chased across the rooftops of Chicago by a helicopter. A machine gun is ripping through the attic in which he's hiding, spraying bullets with no regard for the pigeons that roost in there. At one point, 47 leaps between two roofs, and the action slows down for a brief moment. In that moment, I swear I see two pigeons explode into a mist of feathers and blood.

It's then that 47's next move becomes clear. A solitary police officer is wandering the roofs, torch in hand. He's quietly knocked unconscious, stripped, and 47 walks away in police uniform. Over a bullhorn, the pilot of the helicopter yells "Any sign of him?" 47 doesn't respond.

Then, it gets weird.

Part of the new emphasis within Absolution is giving in-game, non-hostile characters a range of reactions. 47 walks into a top-floor flat. It's full of stoners, draped with psychedelic posters saying "Fuck the Police". This should be fun.

The local hippies are all gathered at a window. They're looking at the police below, clearly terrified. One panics, grabs his prized cannabis plant and runs to the toilet, flushing it down the sink. Out of sight, 47 simply watches, dodging their movements. On a sofa, one of the hippies is completely off his face, entirely unmoved by the bald, terrifying, fake policeman watching. 47 takes his bong, and walks over to the hippies. And then smashes them both over the head with it.

Drugs are bad, mmkay?

47 leaves, as police rush up the stairs, and start going door-to-door. Some glance over at 47, ask each other "isn't he going the wrong way?" But most ignore him. When they do get slightly suspicious, time slows for a brief moment, and 47 ducks his head. It's a very cool, very cinematic touch.

Finally, we're at the lobby, and it's a clear homage to the final scenes of Leon. 47 is dressed as a cop, but there's a wall of police ahead of him, all dressed in full riot gear. He's not getting through. 47 spies a box of doughnuts. A solution presents itself. 47 grabs a doughnut, and starts munching away.

"Hey, I know you," shouts one of the bored beat cops. 47 barely gives him the time of day. Instead, he's watching the riot police, who start running up the stairs. The escape route is clear. He leaves.

He walks down the street, and turns right, onto a train platform. There are hundreds of people waiting in the rain, all milling about – far more people than we're used to seeing in a game. 47 walks straight into the mass, blending into the crowd, and the demo ends.

Hitman: Absolution won me over. At first, the stealth combat, with its freshly grown cover system, reminded me too much of Splinter Cell. In Hitman games I'm used to wandering around a mansion – or the White House, or a cruise boat, or a bayou wedding chapel – mostly unchallenged, figuring out the clockwork of a level and the vulnerabilities of our target before striking. In this demo, Hitman didn't assassinate anyone; he simply fled.

However, the second section, with its bizarre bong kills, and phenomenally tense escape through hordes of police, was spectacular. It wasn't just a cool stealth game; it was a step above what we'd expect from Hitman. After the trailer, and this demo, I can't wait to play it.

PCGamer.com is the global authority on PC games, with exclusive news, reviews, demos and updates.

E3 2011: New Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshots sneak out of E3

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 12:21 PM PDT

Behold! More fruit from E3: Deus Ex: Human Revolution screenshots. We've played the first ten hours of DX: HR, and communicated our excitement for the game with an entire week of diaries that showed the variety of ways in which it can be played. The game's close to launch now – August 23rd in North America, 26th in August – and these shots represent a fairly well-finished game. That first one also represents the way Tom likes to play.

PCGamer.com is the global authority on PC games, with exclusive news, reviews, demos and updates.

Byte Rights: STREISAND'S HOUSE [PICS!]

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 11:39 AM PDT

There are so many places where the law doesn't get the net, but few are as extreme as the Streisand Effect. Named for the singer/actress, it's really about how the net responds to censorship. It is insufficient to say the net routes around censorship. The net wedgies censorship and hangs it on the school fence.

In 2003 Barbara Streisand sued a photographer to keep an incidental picture of her house taken during a survey of the California coast off the Internet. The publicity of the suit, along with the net's fascination and ridicule, made the obscure photo ubiquitous. Now if you Google "Streisand," the incident is the third result.

st house

There have been many, often hilarious, Streisand Effect moments: the MPAA/AACS takedown notices for the DVD crypto key that catapulted the key from 9,000 Google results to 300,000 overnight; the takedowns on Diebold documents and Wikileaks.com that lead to massive mirroring; the ruling against linking to DeCSS that resulted in .sig files, T-shirts, tattoos, and, of course, more linking. Most profoundly, Scientology's attempts to censor a leaked internal video created the sometimes lunatic anticensorship community of Anonymous, which has taken the law enforcement headache to a new level.

decss

But the culture of law has doubled down instead of backing off. Recently, the British have become fond of the super-injunction—journalists are ordered by the courts to not report on the injuncted news item, and they're not allowed to say they've been gagged. It's been used by oil companies under investigation, by a bank CEO to gag the media from being mean to him, and celebs and soccer players to protect their sexual proclivities. This only punishes traditional publications, because all these stories are easily Googleable. Legal methods of getting information off the net resemble a guy trying to kill bacteria with a hammer, and I don't see them getting better.

Quinn Norton writes about copyright for Wired News and other publications.

E3 2011: 25 More Stunning Arma 3 Screenshots

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 11:30 AM PDT

When we first laid eyes on Arma 3 two weeks ago, we were blown away by the military sim's realistic graphics. At E3 2011, Bohemia Interactive let loose with 25 more amazing looking screens. Read on, and tell us what you think in comments.

 

Mozilla Introduces Alternative To Chrome OS

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 11:02 AM PDT

When it was just Internet Explorer 6 and Firefox on the market, it was hip to say you used Mozilla's browser. Then Google Chrome and its tabs-on-top showed up, and suddenly, Firefox wasn't quite so cool. Mozilla stood by silently – and enabled tabs-on-top themselves – as Chrome's star rose, but apparently the time has come to try and return the hip-leeching favor. Just as Chrome OS notebooks are nearing the market, Mozilla unveiled Webian Shell, a smaller, simpler Web-based interface.

Don't expect the same functionality out of Webian Shell that you get out of Chrome, though. There are some key differences between the two operating systems. Rather than being a full OS, the Webian Shell website calls the software "A full screen web browser for devices that don't need a desktop." Version 0.1 is a very basic prototype that sits on top of your existing OS. The Mozilla Labs team, led by veteran Ben Francis, hope to show off their ideas and garner some feedback with this first release.

You can download Webian Shell, although it's very rudimentary at this early stage – just a Web browser, a clock and a basic desktop. The open-source program is based on the Chromeless project and written entirely in standard web technolgies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript. One of the principles of the project is to promote open web standards over proprietary technology. Could that be a jab at the walled-in nature of the Google ID-requiring Chrome OS?

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


The Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

Like most of you, I play a lot of MMORPGs. Too many, in fact, and the deluge of new and interesting games in the offing is only going to further erode what remains of my free time. I've managed to see the mythical "endgame" in a fair few titles over the years, so when I say that I play a lot, I don't mean that I boot up a trial and hit level 10 before hopping to the next bright shiny.

Off the top of my head, I've dinged max level in Age of Conan (three times), Aion, Star Wars Galaxies (six times), Anarchy Online, Lord of the Rings Online, Global Agenda (twice), Vanguard, and The Matrix Online, to name a few.

While many of these games subsequently raised the level cap, I've nonetheless raided, PvP'd, and chased enough gear carrots to have an opinion about the proverbial MMORPG "endgame." And I'm here to tell you that most of what passes for said endgame is repetitive schlock.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The absurdity of the endgame originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Scott Hartsman: 'Happy customers stick around longer'

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , ,

"Here's the overall philosophy behind all this: Happy customers stick around longer," Scott Hartsman said in an interview with Gamefront. "That's what we think. That's the beginning and end of it." It may seem like common sense, but for Hartsman and the team at Trion Worlds, it's a lesson they feel is easy to forget.

He cites this as the driving force behind one of the game's major upcoming changes: the ability to transfer characters between servers for free. Trion hopes that the character transfers will help friends connect without the obstacle of separate servers getting in their way. Hartsman said that the tech behind the transfer is impressive -- not to mention "instantaneous" from a customer standpoint.

Hartsman says that the team places a premium on talking frankly and frequently with players. If Trion doesn't always come across as perfect, he hopes that they make up for it with communication and sincerity: "We don't want to hide behind a big wall, and we don't want everything to come through a formal mouthpiece. I'd rather have us all out conversing with people and occasionally making a mistake here or there on the assumption that because we are talking to people more means that overall, things are going to be better."

The lengthy interview covers a wide range of pressing topics, from the "bumpy" River of Souls event to the LFG system and the free trial program.

MassivelyScott Hartsman: 'Happy customers stick around longer' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wargaming.net announces new World of Warplanes MMO

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 08:30 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , ,

Since 1998, Belarus-based Wargaming.net has developed and shipped 13 games including the Massive Assault series, Order of War, and most recently, World of Tanks. According to a new press release, the dev team is aiming to replicate WoT's success with a new free-to-play title called World of Warplanes.

Aviation is the big draw of course, and Wargaming.net indicates that the title will feature aircraft and scenarios dating from the 1930s through the 1950s (a watershed period in aviation history that saw rapid technological advances spurred on by World War II and the Korean conflict).

Details on the game are a bit light at this point, but we're expecting (and hoping for) something similar to World of Tanks in terms of a balance between simulation and traditional MMO gameplay. We'll be bringing you more on World of Warplanes throughout its development process.

MassivelyWargaming.net announces new World of Warplanes MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Turbine announces LotRO's Rise of Isengard release date

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 08:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , ,

The road goes ever on for fans of Lord of the Rings Online and, as of September 27th, that road will lead to Isengard. Turbine has just announced the official launch date for its Rise of Isengard expansion and the update will add Isengard, Dunland, and the Gap of Rohan to the expanding Middle-earth map.

There's also a new level cap in the offing (75) as well as a new 24-player raid in the works. If September seems far away, take heart. Turbine has also announced that pre-orders are available today, and bonus items including a new cloak, title, mount, and bonus XP will be available in-game immediately after your purchase.

The pre-order comes in three flavors (the Base, Heroic, and Legendary editions), and each includes the full expansion and an escalating array of the bonus items listed above. Head to the official Rise of Isengard website for more and check out the trailer after the cut!

Continue reading Turbine announces LotRO's Rise of Isengard release date

MassivelyTurbine announces LotRO's Rise of Isengard release date originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

GamersFirst releases All Points Bulletin: Reloaded development road map

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 07:30 AM PDT

Filed under: , , ,

Are you tired of developers telling you that the game you're anticipating will be done "soon"? Well, the folks at GamersFirst understand your pain, and as a result they have released the All Points Bulletin: Reloaded development road map for your perusal. They specifically indicate that they are doing their best not to use the World of Warcraft definition of "soon," or to lapse into "Valve-Time."

The road map itself is currently in its infancy, and only includes a short-term plan. This plan outlines what the development team hopes to accomplish within the next 30 days, and includes latency fixes for European players, car customization kits that players can use to pimp their virtual rides, and appreciation kits for closed-beta testers. To see the full contents of the road map -- and all of its future updates -- you can head over to the official blog post. But don't stray too far from Massively, because later this week we'll have some words with GamersFirst straight from E3.

MassivelyGamersFirst releases All Points Bulletin: Reloaded development road map originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

RIFT approaching the one million sell-through mark

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 07:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

For some, success is measured in how fun a game is and how much it accomplishes that which it promised. For others, success is all about the cold, hard numbers -- subscribers, units sold, accounts created, concurrent players. Today, Trion Worlds considers RIFT a success on the latter front as well as the former, as it announced that the company is nearing the million sell-through mark for the game.

A unit sold-through means that a copy of RIFT -- physical or digital -- has been sold to a customer, not merely shipped to retail. In an interview with Gamasutra, Trion's David Reid says that the company's $50 million title is doing well with direct competition against established fantasy MMOs like World of Warcraft.

"We're really pleased with what we're seeing. And beyond that, it was a pleasure to see in the latest Activision Blizzard earnings call that RIFT was inquired about when Blizzard announced their subscriber numbers went from 12 million to 11.4 million," Reid said. "You can do some math... we know very well where those 600,000 people are."

Trion is becoming well-known for its aggressive marketing push behind RIFT, which Reid thinks is paying off handsomely: "We know we have a very stick game, we know we are getting a lot of success right now... If in fact the 600,000 players [Blizzard] lost came to RIFT, I don't think they'll be getting those 600,000 people back as quick as they did from Aion, Conan, Warhammer and the like."

MassivelyRIFT approaching the one million sell-through mark originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What are you hoping to hear from E3?

Posted: 07 Jun 2011 06:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

E3 starts today! While the show is much more focused on being a trade show rather than a gaming extravaganza, there's still a lot of new sand a wide variety of revelations that will no doubt come out of the convention. Of course, Massively staff members will be at the show for all three days, and they'll be working overtime as always trying to get as much information as possible out of the events and into public knowledge.

That being said, with the exhibitors being public knowledge, the odds are good that you have some hopes about what new revelations can be uncovered. So what do you hope to find out from this month's big shindig? News about the release of Star Wars: The Old Republic? Information about Perfect World Entertainment's extensive E3 lineup? Or something entirely unexpected and shocking? Let us know in the comments and keep your eyes peeled over the next three days!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What are you hoping to hear from E3? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Trion updates official Defiance site with teaser trailer

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:30 PM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , ,

We've known that Defiance would be getting its first serious showing this year at E3, but it looks like the team at Trion Worlds couldn't wait quite that long to show the fans the interesting stuff just around the corner. The official site has already been updated with a brand-new teaser trailer showing off the barest glimpse of what players will be able to expect... and judging by the ruined landscape within the trailer, we can report that this looks to be a very different post-apocalyptic take than other offerings in the genre.

E3 will also see more information about the corresponding television series, which will be written be Rockne S. O'Bannnon of seaQuest DSV and Farscape fame. Billed not only as the first fully persistent online shooter but the first time that a game and a television show will be co-existing at the same time, Defiance could prove an interesting look at what can be done with MMOs.

Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 6-9, bringing you all the best news from E3 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

MassivelyTrion updates official Defiance site with teaser trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

DUST 514 is a PS3 exclusive, to be released spring 2012 [Updated]

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:10 PM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

In the run-up to E3, CCP Games hinted repeatedly that news about its upcoming MMOFPS DUST 514 was forthcoming. A big announcement was expected at E3, but few people expected it to be part of today's Sony conference. CCP CEO Hilmar Pétursson made an appearance at the conference to reveal that the console-only MMOFPS would be a PS3 exclusive. The Sony presenter then confirmed that the game is set for a spring 2012 release, with beta starting at the end of this year.

Hilmar ended the announcement with the showing of a new trailer for the game, highlighting the various character and battlefield upgrades available and their prices in ISK. This may indicate that EVE Online players will be able to purchase supplies for DUST marines as part of a mercenary contract. The video ended with a structure in DUST 514 launching what appeared to be a doomsday blast at an EVE player's dreadnought in orbit. Bearing a similarity to a previous trailer in which EVE dreadnoughts delivered artillery support for ground troops, this may give some clues as to how CCP wants to have the two games interact.

[Update: CCP has released a new devblog all about DUST 514's PS3 exclusivity with links to more information and the E3 trailer.]

Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 6-9, bringing you all the best news from E3 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

MassivelyDUST 514 is a PS3 exclusive, to be released spring 2012 [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Battleground Europe celebrates D-Day, adds U.S. forces

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 07:00 PM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

June 6th is an historic day in the annals of both U.S. and military history. The Allied landing on the beaches of Normandy was not only the largest amphibious assault ever but also a decisive turning point in the course of the second world war. It's fitting, then, that D-Day also marks the 10th anniversary of Battleground Europe (or World War II Online, as it was known in 2001).

To celebrate, Cornered Rat Software has announced the addition of American forces to the long-running WWII sim. The dev team has also been hard at work on behind-the-scenes functionality improvements and a scenario-based gameplay option called Rapid Action.

A special Rapid Action D-Day scenario pack will mark the introduction of U.S. troops and equipment to the game, as will a special Battle for Aachen campaign event. Details on all the new deployments present in version 1.34 can be found on the official Battleground Europe website. You can also take a peek at Cornered Rat's 10th anniversary teaser after the cut.

Continue reading Battleground Europe celebrates D-Day, adds U.S. forces

MassivelyBattleground Europe celebrates D-Day, adds U.S. forces originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

New Daniel Erickson interview on Star Wars: The Old Republic at E3

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 06:00 PM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

E3 is already bringing out the goodies for fans anticipating the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic, with the trailer earlier today putting the game fresh into everyone's mind. But the trailer was all about the atmosphere and visuals, while a new video interview with Daniel Erickson is focused instead on the content of the game. The interview starts off with a brief discussion of the game's raid content, which Erickson is quick to stress is just one of the game's offerings for endgame.

Moving along, Erickson talks about the difficulties involved in creating a fully voiced game and how Mass Effect's success was a big part of what led to the full voice for player characters as well as NPCs. While not everything in the interview will be revolutionary new information for longtime Star Wars: The Old Republic fans, it's still worth a watch to learn more about the upcoming game.

Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 6-9, bringing you all the best news from E3 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

MassivelyNew Daniel Erickson interview on Star Wars: The Old Republic at E3 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wings Over Atreia: Mentors, schmentors

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 05:00 PM PDT

Filed under: , , ,

Ahhh, the unadulterated bliss of traipsing about the promised land of milk and honey -- otherwise known as Atreia post 2.5. The siren call of the Empyrean Crucible, the plink of new tokens in the cube, the sounds of laughter as Daevas play with their newest cuddly little companions... what's that, you say? It is not all fluffy kittens and rainbows and sparkle ponies? *Gasp* How can that be?!

Last week, we touched on a number of the additions and improvements brought to Aion with the latest patch, Empyrean Calling. However, after the novelty of the the new features had worn off a bit, the negative impact of some of these improvements became apparent; no matter how much is put into a system, there will always be pros and cons. Such can be said of the new mentoring system.

Even while adding more to the gameplay of some, this system is taking away from it for others. Some were heard to be cursing mentoring from day one. Additionally, I venture to raise some concerns about long-term consequences that may not be considered in the rush to take advantage of the short-term gains. Sure, there are the benefits, but nothing comes without a cost. Nothing.

So what could be so bad about mentoring in Aion? Slip past the cut and I'll fill you in.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Mentors, schmentors

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Mentors, schmentors originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 04:00 PM PDT

Filed under: , , ,

Game Update 60: The Children of War went live last week, and with it came a plethora of new content and some big changes to the game. Rallos Zek has begun preparations for his march on the Western Wastes, and Drunder is the new front line for the impending war. There are new heroic instances, new raid content, and even a new battleground scenario. In addition, there were some itemization changes, new battleground gear, and adjustments to the adornment interface.

In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll look at a few of the highlights from EverQuest II's latest update.

Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60

MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Exploring GU 60 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Flameseeker Chronicles: A method to the madness

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 03:00 PM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

The June 2nd update is the talk of the Guild Wars playerbase this week -- especially on the PvP side of the community. It was certainly enough to pique my interest, even though my PvP project fell victim to a complete lack of free time this month. (Don't worry on that front, by the way -- I plan to pick it back up as soon as I return from E3.)

What really interested me about this update, however, is that it feels like such a response to feedback and the current vibe of the player community. Not that ArenaNet doesn't pay attention as a rule, but so many of the huge updates are focused on the Hall of Monuments and Guild Wars: Beyond in preparation for Guild Wars 2 that it's nice to see one that is all about Guild Wars 1 -- not to mention one that is a pure response to the state of the current game.

Follow along after the jump as I look at some of what stood out to me about this latest update!

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: A method to the madness

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: A method to the madness originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

One Shots: Let's dance!

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 02:00 PM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

We're kicking off unusual foe week here on One Shots with a Guild Wars baddie courtesy of Zara:
The god Abaddon is the final boss in Guild Wars Nightfall, but players who pause before engaging him can find an Easter egg. If all the human players in the party stop on the bridge and do the /dance emote, he'll dance with you for a few minutes. Here you can see his giant head and hands rocking out.

Next he'll kill everyone in your party and your screen will flash the message "You got served," but at least you had some fun before you died.
We've started this week's theme with a bang, and now it's your turn! Send a pic of the funniest, most strangely designed, or scariest enemy you've taken on in an MMO to oneshots@massively.com along with your name and the name of the game. Tell us a little about the foe and we'll share it here on One Shots!

MassivelyOne Shots: Let's dance! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

EA's Origin teases the SWTOR E3 trailer [updated]

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 01:30 PM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

Everyone has been anticipating the next trailer from Blur Studio to finish out the Star Wars: The Old Republic's video trilogy. Thanks to Electronic Arts' new online store, Origin, we have a sneak peek into the content of the trailer!

In the first few seconds of the teaser, you see Jedi Satele Shan and an another unnamed Jedi onboard a starship, then a battalion of Sith Star Destoryers (which we assume has Darth Malgus aboard). Then the battle for Korriban begins. Darth Malgus attempts to take back the Sith homeworld as Satele Shan (with the help of a Smuggler) flees the war-torn planet.

Catch this full trailer after the break, and stay tuned for more E3 MMO news right here!

[Thanks to BJ Brains for the tip!]

[Updated: The full Blur trailer now follows the break, too.]

Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 6-9, bringing you all the best news from E3 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

Continue reading EA's Origin teases the SWTOR E3 trailer [updated]

MassivelyEA's Origin teases the SWTOR E3 trailer [updated] originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Snag a Faxion Online token code from Massively!

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 01:00 PM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , ,

Is greed your favorite vice? We hope so!

The folks at UTV True Games have given us a multi-use code that will grant 100 of our quickest-clicking readers 30 tokens apiece for use in Faxion Online, the heaven-and-hell-themed MMO that released only last month.

To redeem the code for yourself, log in to the official Faxion Online website, head straight to the store redemption page, and enter the key. Then pause a moment to roll around in your piles of free tokens. You've earned it.

Here's the mega-key: FAXIONMOGULE9P1 -- good luck!

MassivelySnag a Faxion Online token code from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gods & Heroes open beta is here

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 12:30 PM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

Friends, Romans, testers: Lend me your ears. It's open beta time for Heatwave Interactive's mythology-inspired Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising MMORPG. Interested fans can sign up today through June 12th and partake of four character classes, personal estates, a minion system, and the first 14 levels of gameplay.

You can also pre-order Gods & Heroes and get in on the headstart program for a one-week jump on the launch-day competition. The title officially throws open its doors on June 21st and aims to add a unique setting to the crowded fantasy MMO market. Check out the official website to learn more about the game as well as sign up for the beta, check out the new trailer after the break, and don't forget to peruse Massively's first impressions if you're curious about the gameplay.

Continue reading Gods & Heroes open beta is here

MassivelyGods & Heroes open beta is here originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Perpetuum blog outlines summer development schedule

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 12:00 PM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , ,

Hot on the heels of some unfortunate mass bannings, Avatar Creations has posted a more upbeat Perpetuum blog entry. Dev Zoom takes us through the planned content updates for the next few months, and despite the title's PvP nature, there are PvE-focused patches coming.

"While our sandbox storyline assignments may not turn out as grandiose as those in other dedicated themepark MMOs, they will still be a nice breeze of fresh air for those interested in the lore and the ones looking for non-standard objectives," Zoom says.

There's also a blurb about some new career advice functionality (which will basically be an add-on to the existing help system for players who want to do XYZ but don't know how to begin). Outpost maintenance fees are also in the works, as are tweaks to the friend system (to make it less trivial to spy on your enemies). Finally, Zoom talks a bit about the energy credit system and how it will affect the world of Nia. Read all about in on the official Perpetuum dev blog.

MassivelyPerpetuum blog outlines summer development schedule originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

DAoC rolling out new website, allowing server transfers

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 11:30 AM PDT

Filed under: , ,

As Dark Age of Camelot counts down to its 10th year anniversary in October, Stuart Zissu breaks out a few early presents by revealing four "big ticket items" in his latest producer's letter.

An upgraded new player experience is on its way for the game to help new and returning players get up to speed for epic RvR battles. Dubbed the "New User Journey," this extended tutorial will give pointers on everything from pets to crowd control.

The team's also hard at work on a new website for the game, which should be coming soon. Or "soon." The new website will operate in conjunction with the third big ticket item, which is a DAoC wiki. Zissu put out a call for players to help fill the wiki once it's up and running.

Finally, players on the Glamorgan cluster will be able to transfer to Ywain in the near future. You can read all of the nitty-gritty details of these items on the Camelot Herald.

MassivelyDAoC rolling out new website, allowing server transfers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

TERA's PvP features light death penalty

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , ,

The TERA news beat has fairly quiet recently. Aside from the Korean server merges, there hasn't been a whole lot new to report regarding the exiled realm of Arborea. Fansite TERAPvP to the rescue, then, courtesy of an interview with En Masse community manager Evan "Scapes" Berman.

The interview is brief, and if you've been the following the game closely, you've probably heard most of this before. For casual fans, or those just getting wind of all things TERA, there are a few interesting PvP nuggets that might be worth your time.

First up is the question of character transfers between PvE and PvP servers. TERAPvP points out the balance issues inherent in allowing players to level (and gear up) their characters on a PvE server before moving them to a PvP shard. Berman doesn't give a definitive answer as to whether this will be allowed or not, saying that it's something En Masse will "have to evaluate for TERA." Friendly fire is also a no-go in TERA's PvP combat, and there is no experience loss or item degradation. As Scapes says, "items in TERA do not have a durability mechanic."

MassivelyTERA's PvP features light death penalty originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Total Pageviews

statcounter

View My Stats