General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


LightSquared Claims to Have Fix for GPS Woes

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 02:56 PM PDT

lsLightSquared has been in the news a lot in the past few months, but not for the reasons they probably would have liked. The company hopes to build a national 4G LTE network that they can charge cellular carriers to use. The only problem is that the bands used by LightSquared have been shown to interfere with GPS signals. After much hand-wringing, LightSquared now claims to have a fix ready.

LightSquared is licensed to use 59MHz around the 1500MHz band, but the lower 10MHz is right up against some of the spectrum used by sensitive GPS equipment. According to the company, they are working with Javad GNSS to develop a method for retrofitting existing and new GPS equipment. With a series of inexpensive GPS filters and linear amplifiers, LiightSquared has been reporting success with preventing interference. 

LightSquared will not have to make any changes to its network under this plan, and they say the necessary changes to GPS will be very inexpensive. LightSquared is licensed to use the bands, so the GPS industry may have no choice but to implement the changes.

RED Scarlet to be Officially Announced November 3rd

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 02:41 PM PDT

scarletDo you have thousands and thousands of dollars to spend, and also a love of super-high quality video? Then mark your calendar for November 3 when RED will be announcing details and shipping info for the new RED Scarlet video camera. RED has been making changes to the device in preparation for its debut, but CEO Jim Jannard is keeping things nice and vague for now.

The Scarlet has been in development for the last few years, but RED has managed to keep potential buyers interested with the occasional video tease. The Scarlet is expected to be capable of capturing 3072x1620 at 120FPS video. This camera is a more consumer-oriented version of the RED Epic professional camera. 

Still, the Scarlet is not for the average consumer. This video camera is expected to sell for around $5000, but we won't know the final price until November. 

AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II Available October 2 for $199

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 02:23 PM PDT

gs2After weeks of waiting, AT&T has finally updated customers on the release details for the Galaxy S II. The much anticipated device will be out on October 2, and will cost $199 on contract. This will be the second Galaxy S II device launched in the US, the first being the Epic 4G Touch on Sprint. 

The AT&T version of the Galaxy S II will be rocking a dual-core Samsung Exynos chip ar 1.2GHz per core, a 4.3-inch Super AMOLED Plus screen at 800x480, 16GB of internal storage, an 8MP rear camera, and 3MP front camera. If you ask AT&T, they'll tell you that the S II supports 4G, but what they mean is HSPA+; this isn't a LTE handset. The AT&T version of the phone also has NFC wireless technology, unlike the Sprint phone.

The AT&T Galaxy S II is running Android 2.3 Gingerbread with TouchWiz 4.0 on top. The next version of Android is expected to be announced in the coming weeks, so this phone may seen be running outdated software. Anyone planning on picking this one up?

The Game Boy: Why Bastion Succeeds Where Most Games Fail Miserably

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 12:02 PM PDT

Note: This week's entry contains major Bastion spoilers. If you haven't played Bastion, I recommend that you skip to the third page. Also, while we're at it, warning: This week's entry is three pages long. I may have gotten a bit carried away. If you hate words, I recommend that you skip to the part where you buy Bastion. 

Bastion is about moving forward. With every step you take, tiles of all shapes and sizes rise up to meet your footfalls. What lies ahead may be uncertain, but one way or another, you'll make it. Occasionally, you'll encounter former citizens of Caelondia – now frozen in ash, dead to the world in all but appearance. THOCK. The Kid's hammer reduces them to powder in an instant. The Kid presses on – without remorse, as though his old friends and neighbors were no more important than a random crate, shrub, or similarly minor impediment. Meanwhile, Rucks – the narrator – doesn't bat an eyelash, instead opting to list off a factoid or two about the deceased-turned-dust-clouds before dispassionately sweeping the whole incident under the rug. It's all in the past now, and the past only gets in the way.

Bastion also offers flashbacks, but not in the traditional sense. The narrator attempts to spin a tear-jerker of a yarn while you stave off increasingly difficult waves of enemies. Before long, though, it becomes nearly impossible to do both. So, pick your poison: Will you listen to wistful tales of days gone by or fight to make sure you live to see another day? At first, this seems like a perplexing and fairly frustrating design choice, but – intentional or not – it drives home a point: Past or present, there's always a battle to be fought. And if you don't fight? Well then, you die – simple as that. The creatures you're killing all throughout your journey could very well be the last of their kind. But it's either them or you. You have to press forward.

And then there's Zulf. When he discovers the true method behind the Calamity's seeming madness, he's driven to bury the Bastion, a device capable of re-weaving the very fabrics of time itself. He wants to move on. So Zulf decides it's necessary to strike down anyone standing in his way – you included. It's better, he thinks, than the alternative. But he fails utterly – just like the Calamity before him. Even so, more people die because of Zulf's choice. Many more. Out of all that, though, comes one incredible moment.

Zulf is ultimately stabbed in the back by his Ura clansmen, and you can either charge in, stare them straight in the eyes, and send each and every one fearfully fleeing into early graves, or you can drop your weapon, pick up Zulf's barely breathing form, and carry him to safety. It's your call.

Zulf, though, is heavier than a small, pale twig of a man has any right to be, and the Kid struggles to heft his apparently dense girth. So you stumble into a room full of Zulf's countrymen, muscles snapping, crackling, and generally doing their best impression of a bowl of Rice Krispies under the strain of Zulf's weight.

The Ura immediately open fire. It's too late to turn back, though. You can only move forward. So you get shot. A lot. Swigging health potions like cool, refreshing water in a desert made of wasabi is the only way to stay alive – and even then, death's door is only centimeters away from slamming into your face. Still, you press forward. Nothing will stop you. Nothing can stop you. And that's when the Ura realize what's going on. Slowly but surely, they lower their weapons and watch as you limp past. One tries to fire again. His superior kills him in cold blood. You escape as the Ura look on in unison.

You return to the Bastion. Finally, you can restore it. You can start over. You can kill the Calamaity before it harms a hair on anyone's head. Or can you? Rucks isn't so sure. Maybe  you'll just drop the ball again. Maybe you're already stuck in one big, misery packed infinite loop. Suddenly, Zulf's motivations make sense. As the flashback segments revealed, Caelondia was wealthy, sure, but not the greatest place. Its people and social structures -- while not necessarily evil -- wronged the Kid, Zulf, and Zia, and oppressed the Ura. Why bring back that?

But the Bastion can burn out its battery with another feature. It can fly away. It can take your dysfunctional little post-apocalyptic family wherever you want to go. The answer, then, is obvious: You keep going. Away from all the violence. Toward a better future. Or maybe a worse one. It doesn't matter. You move forward. A lot of people screwed up. Now it's up to you to set things right. 


Bastion is about looking back. For Rucks' sake, the game's named after a device created to take the entire world back in time. Tiles of all shapes and sizes rise up to meet your footfalls. They're chunks of the old world – pieces of the past deciding the destination of every step you take. Occasionally, you'll encounter former citizens of Caelondia – now frozen in ash, dead to the world in all but appearance. They're a sobering reminder of the thrumming society that you used to be part of. You smash them, because The Kid doesn't want to remember. But he can't help it. And all the while, the narrator fills in the blanks, ensuring that every little detail lingers in the front of your mind. 

About half-way through the game, the Kid falls into an extremely surreal flashback. Rucks' voice still comes through – albeit quiet and distorted – but it's finally the Kid's thoughts that are doing the talking. "He has the nerve to flash the shield he stole," says the garbled narration. "Would you look at what he did to poor old Rondi the bartender?" And finally, the kicker: "The Kid succeeds were the Calamity failed." The Kid doesn't want to be here. While obligation propels him forward, guilt and sorrow hold him back. Hell, for all he knows, creatures he's killing all throughout his journey could very well be the last of their kind. But he presses on in hopes that – ultimately – all of his damage will be undone.  

And then there's Zulf. When he discovers the true method behind the Calamity's seeming madness, he's driven to seek out revenge against those responsbile – you included, if necessary. But he fails utterly – just like the Calamity before him. Even so, more people die because Zulf can't let go of the past. Many more. Out of all that, though, comes one incredible moment.

Zulf is ultimately stabbed in the back by his Ura clansmen, and you can either charge in, stare them straight in the eyes, and send each and every one fearfully fleeing into well-deserved graves, or you can drop your weapon, pick up Zulf's barely breathing form, and carry him to safety. It's your call.

Zulf nearly ruined your chances to fix everything once, and he'll probably do it again. Besides, what's one more despicable deed? The Kid's already got gallons of blood on his hands. It's all for the greater good, he tells himself. So he strides into a room full of Zulf's countrymen, muscles snapping, crackling, and generally doing their best impression of a bowl of Rice Krispies under the strain of a weapon thrice his size.

At this point, it's a matter of same song, different verse. You or them. The Bastion or them. Even though the Ura have overwhelming numbers on their side, the Kid's gigantic new toy makes dealing with them seem like child's play. You kill them all in cold blood. You escape as glassy, frozen eyes look on in unison.

You return to the Bastion. Finally, you can restore it. You can start over. You can kill the Calamaity before it harms a hair on anyone's head. Or can you? Rucks isn't so sure. Maybe you'll just drop the ball again. Maybe you're already stuck in one big, misery packed infinite loop. But you've come so far, hurt so many, destroyed so much. There's nothing left. Caelondia may have wronged and oppressed the Kid, Zulf, and Zia, but it's still better than this.

The Bastion can burn out its battery with another feature. It can fly away. But where will you go? And why? The answer, then, is obvious: You press the giant "REDO" button. You've been chasing the past this whole time, but you could never quite catch it. Well, here you go.  A lot of people screwed up. Now it's up to you to set things right.


So, which of those interpretations is right? Simple: both. I originally wanted to write a big analysis of Bastion, but instead, I wrote two. They're both equally valid for me, though, and that's key. For many reasons (narration, innovative usage of music, etc), Bastion is the type of story only a videogame can tell. However, the biggest of them – in my eyes – is that it can so effectively put me in two entirely different, largely opposite states of mind. Bastion can shift the ideals and motivations behind every action I perform, and – more importantly – it can make me believe in them.

Plenty of other games provide multiple paths, moral choices, and all that  – and some of them even let you be a freaking Jedi. So what makes Bastion better? Well, foremost, those other games do a remarkably bad job of making me feel like both sides of the coin are viable. BioShock's "saintly savor versus Hitler mixed with Satan mixed with Hitler again" approach to saving Little Sisters is the most infamous example, but other big names are equally guilty of choice-based laziness in their own ways. I mean, don't get me wrong: I love Mass Effect. But sometimes, it's a bit too easy to see BioWare in the background, tugging on the strings to make conversations and plot threads go in a certain direction regardless of your choices.

What reallly makes Bastion work, I think, is its consistency. The game's by no means perfect, but I reached the end of both playthroughs, and everything added up. There was no "Now waitaminute...!" moment. Generally with these things, the devil's in the details. Something stands out as nonsensical or completely glossed over. Here, though, there was no devil – just tons and tons of attention to detail.

In such a young medium, there's a lot to be said for that. Too many games hastily scrawl "consistency" at the bottom of their priority lists before breaking out the fancy calligraphy set for things like "bigger explosions" and "more totally rad slow-mo during the first level." So we end up with games that are frontloaded with mind-blowing moments – mostly to draw players in – only to lose steam en route to typically miserable non-endings. (Think BioShock, Bulletstorm, Knights of the Old Republic II – the list goes on.)

Bastion, on the other hand, feels as though it's been carefully crafted. It's deliberate and smart in almost everything it does. Narration's perfectly placed and almost never repeats, the game ends exactly when it needs to, and it leaves just enough open to interpretation. On top of all that, Supergiant avoided the temptation of throwing in a bunch of tiny, superfluous choices just for choice's sake in favor of two incredibly meaningful – and therefore, powerful – moments. So I guess what I'm trying to say is...

Bastion is about restraint. Modern game design is frequently about throwing in everything, the kitchen sink, and a moral dilemma that ponders whether or not the greatest kitchen sink of all... is man. More guns. More powers. More characters. More choices. More sequels. More, more, more. Bastion, though, does exactly what it needs to. Then it ends. Really, though, for all the time I spent on this article, I don't even think it comes close to doing Bastion justice. Go play it. Experience it for yourself. Love it or hate it, I guarantee that you won't find anything else quite like it.

Oracle To Phase Out x86-Based Servers

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 11:27 AM PDT

When Oracle acquired Sun last year, it did so for things like the Java platform and the Solaris operating system, not servers running on Intel's x86 architecture. In fact, even though Sun thought it could become a major seller of x86 servers prior to the buyout, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison now says that the company makes next to no money on them and plans to start phasing x86-based servers out entirely in 2012 favor of more profitable Solaris/SPARC-based hardware.

"I do not care if our commodity x86 business goes to zero. We do not make any money selling those things," Xbit Labs reports Ellision as saying in a conference call with several financial analysts. "We have no interest in selling other people's intellectual property; commodity x86 includes Intel (intellectual property) and Microsoft IP. We do not make money selling that stuff, and we are phasing out that business. We have interest in selling systems that include our IP."

Ellison told analysts that not only does Oracle fail to make any money on x86-based servers, the company's salespeople don't make any money on them either. That's because the salespeople earn commission based on profit margins and x86 servers frankly don't have much of a profit margin for Oracle. Ellison says that sales of servers based on the company's proprietary designs are expected to skyrocket and make Oracle's margins much more palatable for investors, and hopefully eventually even return to the lofty margins the company was raking in prior to acquiring Sun.

Windows Phone 7 App of the Week: easyTube

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 11:22 AM PDT

YouTube may have been popularized by viral videos and other content that we probably could have lived without, but it IS one stop shopping for all sorts of content that extends way beyond the latest Bieber videos. As a web service, YouTube is also a popular target for smartphone based client apps, which provide increased usability and additional features that wouldn't otherwise be available to the platform.

   

Windows Phone users will find easyTube to be one of the best options available for getting a YouTube fix while on the go. Offering more features and settings than you can shake a stick at, easyTube makes it cake to find and watch clips from YouTube. Sharing content is one of the main reasons to use a social service like YouTube, and the easyTube app makes it simple to share to Twitter or Facebook. You can also log in with your YouTube account to add the video to your favorites or a playlist. Additionally easyTube allows you to download videos to watch later, though they will only be available within the easyTube application. easyTube will even allow you to remotely control YouTube playback on your PC by linking your Google Account.

easyTube is available through the Marketplace for Windows Phone as a free download.

PETA Plans to Raise Awareness Through Porn Website

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:59 AM PDT

Everyone knows that sex sells. PETA -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals -- seems to think the power of sex will also sell the general public on its views for animal rights and giving up meat. The organization is so convinced of its idea that it went and applied for the domain PETA.xxx.

The non-profit organization told the U.K.'s Telegraph that it's "hoping to reach a whole new audience of people, some of whom will be shocked by graphic images that maybe they didn't anticipate seeing when they went to the PETA triple-X site."

It's an obviously risky (and risque) move that some believe will backfire. Jennifer Pozner, executive director of Women In Media & News, says PETA has continually pushed the sexism angle, and that it "has gotten more extreme and more degrading." After this, the bar can't get any lower, she says.

PETA says its website will be enticing at first, and as visitors go deeper, "that's when they'll be confronted with images that we hope will make them stop and think and get them talking and hopefully encourage them to make a lifestyle change to a plant-based diet." The site will include pictures and videos, both of nude models and that of the mistreatment of animals.

Pandora, Facebook Show Off Major New UI Changes

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:59 AM PDT

When you're getting ready for the big dance, you slip into something nice, clean and pretty to try and put your best foot forward for the crowd. Two major sites did that today. Facebook doffed the equivalent of a new pair of shoes in anticipation of tomorrow's F8 conference, drastically changing users' News Feeds while keeping the rest of the layout the same. Pandora took the opposite route; they overhauled their ensemble from the ground up in a quest to impress. Unfortunately, one of them dashed its prom queen hopes after getting a big FAIL from unhappy users.

Facebook's redesign breaks the old two-tabbed News Feed into a single, mammoth News Feed that combines both Top Stories and Most Recent posts in a single interface. Facebook picks its Top Stories from a number of factors, including how many Likes posts get as well as your relationship to the poster, and displays them in the News Feed with a blue tab in the corner to differentiate them from other recent posts. You'll only get Top Stories that have been posted since you were last online. So far, the user response has been overwhelmingly negative, like it always is when Facebook makes a change. Check out #NewFacebook on Twitter to bask in the rage.

The new Pandora Interface

Meanwhile, Pandora's redesign achieves a few major things; it takes the already-polished interface and gives it a spit-shine (whether or not it's for the better is up to user taste), ditches Flash in favor of HTML5 and JavaScript – perhaps to get ready for the Flash-less Windows 8 Metro? – and perhaps most importantly, gets rid of the previous 40 hours per month limit for free tunes. According to the Pandora blog, the site also plans on rolling out a social network-inspired "New music feed" to make it easier to share songs and playlists with other folks.

So whaddaya think? Do either of the UI tweaks do it for you, or do you miss your old Pandora and Facebook?

Sandy Bridge Driver Update Boosts Game Performance in Windows

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:35 AM PDT

Intel has made available an updated graphics driver for Sandy Bridge processors capable of delivering up to 37 percent better performance on Ultra Low Voltage (ULV) platforms, providing you're rocking Intel's integrated HD graphics instead of a dedicated videocard.

The Santa Clara chip maker is billing the download as a "major garphics driver update for 2nd generation Intel Core processors with Intel HD graphics." ULV platforms, such as the ones most often found in ultraportable and slim notebooks, stand to gain the most from the updated driver, though Intel spokesman Dave Salvator tells CNet the update applies to any system with a Sandy Bridge chip running Intel HD graphics.

Intel is touting the following double-digit performance gains with the new driver installed:

  • Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty -- Devil's Playground: 37 percent
  • Resident Evil 5 Benchmark: 10 percent
  • Dawn of War: Chaos Rising: 29 percent
  • Battlefield: Bad Company 2: 28 percent
  • Dirt 2: 12 percent
  • Supreme Command 2: 16 percent

The updated driver also resolves a bunch of issues in Windows 7 and Vista, things like intermittent crashing when using an HDMI monitor and minor rendering artifacts in some games.

Intel GMA Driver Windows 7/Vista 32-bit
Intel GMA Driver Windows 7/Vista 64-bit

Report: HP Considering Dumping CEO Leo Apotheker

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:16 AM PDT

When HP named Leo Apotheker as the company's new CEO a scant 11 months ago, hopes were high that the software-focused former SAP honcho would be able to overhaul the company and help rake in tons of dough. Well, they got it half right; since his appointment, Apotheker has sure shaken things up, but not in a good way; the company's recent sweeping changes didn't sit well with the public, and partially as a result, HP's stock has dropped 47 percent on Leo's watch. Now, his job may be on the line.

HP's Board of Directors plans on holding a pow-wow to determine whether or not to kick Apotheker to the curb, Bloomberg reports, citing an anonymous pair of sources "familiar with the situation." The publication says that former eBay CEO Meg Whitman could be named his replacement, at least on a temporary basis. Just to highlight how low investor confidence is in Apotheker, HP's stock, which has been in a free fall recently, jumped 6.1 percent when Bloomberg broke the story.

Even if the Board gives Apotheker the boot, his tenure at HP proved more successful than his time at SAP, the last CEO position he held. Apotheker resigned from SAP after just 10 months on the job when consumers and unions flipped him the collective bird after Apotheker tried to raise software prices in the midst of a recession, leading to the company's first revenue hit in over seven years.

MMO News

MMO News


Aeria Games to offer Battlefield Heroes

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 02:01 PM PDT

Aeria Games and Electronic Arts have announced a distribution agreement, in which Aeria Games will publish EA’s Play4Free titles through its own portal.

The first game that will be made available through this agreement is Battlefield Heroes, EA’s third-person shooter based on the Battlefield series, but featuring colorful cartoon graphics and more open, casual gameplay. Further games will also be availble, including Need for Speed World, through Aeria at a later date.

Aeria Games, which publishes dozens of online games including Shaiya and Grand Fantasia, recently announced that they currently serve over 23 million gamers worldwide. The company has also recently created a new mobile gaming division.

battlefield_heroes_team

Battlefield Heroes Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

EA AND AERIA GAMES TEAM UP TO LAUNCH BATTLEFIELD HEROES ON Aeria GAMES NETWORK

Agreement will Bring EA's Arcade Shooter and other Free-to-Play Titles to Millions of New Players Worldwide

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – September 21, 2011 – The free-to-play market continues to boom as Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that it has signed a strategic distribution agreement with Aeria Games, a global leader of free-to-play online games, to bring its top Play4Free titles to the multi-million person community at Aeria Games. EA's first game to launch on the popular Aeria Games network is the arcade shooter Battlefield Heroes™, currently available, with other EA titles to follow; including Need for SpeedWorld.

"We are thrilled to add EA titles to our portfolio of games, and what better game to launch with to celebrate this partnership than Battlefield Heroes," said Lan Hoang, Chief Executive Officer, Aeria Games. "EA continues to champion the free-to-play space and their Play4Free games deliver quality, diversity and fun from recognizable IPs so we look forward to supporting their titles through our network resulting in access to millions of additional new power gamers."

"Distribution of Battlefield Heroes on Aeria Games' Network is a natural next step as we expand the Play4Free brand," said Sean Decker, Vice President of Play4Free. "Aeria Games is a frontrunner in the free-to-play games business and our titles will benefit tremendously as they reach the ever-growing global market."

Since 2006, Aeria Games has been a global leader in publishing high quality online free-to-play games in North America, Europe, and Latin America. The company is committed to supporting titles that cater to players looking for a more deep and immersive multiplayer experience with robust and active community support. Aeria Games hosts a diversified and growing portfolio of critically-acclaimed titles from multiple genres including action, MMO, and shooters, to name a few. For more information, please visit www.aeriagames.com.

This agreement with Aeria Games complements EA's own Play4Free portal, http://play4free.com/, which is home to Battlefield Heroes™, Need for Speed™ World, Lord of Ultima™, Dragon Age™ Journeys, Mirror's Edge™ 2D, BattleForge™, FIFA Online, and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® Online.

Battlefield Heroes is a hit third-person arcade shooter that brings classic Battlefield gameplay to a mass audience. The game features fun, cartoon-style graphics and gameplay that caters to players of all skill levels. Battlefield Heroes is easy to pick up and play but has robust character customization and sticky online features so gamers can spend hours building up their characters and conquering the world. For more information, please visit www.battlefieldheroes.com.

Immortal King open beta starting soon

Posted: 20 Sep 2011 06:54 PM PDT

Immortal King’s open beta will begin on September 22, at 7pm CST.

The Greek-themed MMO will feature several open beta events, including:

* Newbie card codes available on the website which will grant extra money in-game.

* “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” rewarding the top ten players who defeat Legion quests with free gold.

* Extra gold for the Leagues who capture the first three farmlands during Farmland Battle.

* Extra gold for the top 20 Prestige ranked players.

* Gold for players who post game-related articles in the forums, and for players who post screenshots with matching “lucky numbers.”

Immortal King is published by NGames (Game321) which also publishes Pockie Ninja.

immortalking_city

Immortal King Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

Immortal King open beta incoming!

Everyone invited to test Greek mythology-based MMORTS from September 22nd

Immortal King, the anticipated Greek mythology inspired MMORTS, is entering its open beta testing phase on September 22nd. To celebrate, publisher NGames have confirmed a plethora of exciting beta activities.

Immortal King’s open beta is arriving. After more than 10 days of thorough closed beta testing, the new Greek Mythology inspired MMORTS is readying its open beta test for September 22nd, 19:00 (CST).

Immortal King plunges you into a world steeped in Greek mythology, challenging you to command a powerful army of troops, govern an empire, become a legendary figure, and even conquer the infamous Greek gods themselves: Zeus, Poseidon and Hades, who have divided the world between them. The game boasts a technically proficient browser-based experience, drawing on the latest scripting technologies to immerse players in highly visual, epic-scale battles.

Features include: a unique combat system; magnificent league battles; varied ways to nurture your empire’s growing economy; a huge world to explore through story battles and quests; and much, much more.

To prepare you for the upcoming open beta, publisher NGames have released some tips on how to obtain high-quality equipment through the Arena.

Getting the best loot!

Immortal King uses different colours to indicate the quality of equipment. From low to high, these are: white, blue, green, yellow, red and purple. The higher the grade of item, the more difficult it is to obtain.

High quality equipment increases your attack and defence power attributes when the items are forged.

Purple items are extremely rare and hard to find. However, remembering this tip could help you massively:

If you win in the Arena, you can earn dark gold chests, which have a high probability of containing high quality equipment. Opening dark chests means you have a great opportunity to obtain Red and Purple equipment for your character if you’re lucky you could even get tons of items in a short period of time, like these in-game examples:

Open beta event activities

There will be ten major in-game activities to help players get involved with the Immortal King open beta, with free items and goodies up for grabs.

Events and prizes include:

Newbie Card Starts with open beta (Sept 22th)

Remember to login at the official website (http://ik.game321.com/) after joining Immortal King and click “Newbie Card” to reveal a Newbie Card code, which you can cash in for extra gold and silver.

Raiders of the Lost Ark – Sept 22nd – Oct 1st

The top 10 players who defeat the Legion quests – such as obtaining Argonauts Spear from the Golden Fleece – and get the drop items will be rewarded with free in-game gold. Similarly, defeating the special heroes of the Legion challenges could also reward you with gold. The top 3 players defeating Pelias, Perseus, Thesus and Adrastus will win bags of gold for their account.

Farmland Battle Event Sept 22nd – Sept 24th

On the final day of the event, after the farmland seizing battles, the Leagues (alliances) who succeed in capturing the first three farmlands will win a bounty of extra in-game gold.

Faction Prestige Event – Sept 22nd-Oct 5th

Make sure you stand out in your faction players with the top 20 prestige rank in their faction will win tons of gold on Oct 5th!

Sharing Strategy – Sept 22nd – Sept 29th

You can post any game related articles in the IK forum’s General Discussion section. NGames will pick out the ten articles that have the most followers, and both the authors and the followers can get the gold as a reward.

Lucky Numbers Event – Sept 22nd – Sept 25th

Post a screenshot of your silver, gold, prestige, and honor in the specific thread post set up by the GM during the event. You earn 50 gold for each number (silver, gold, prestige or honor) ending with number 1.

With all of these events and more, Immortal King promises a fun, community-building open beta period. Be sure to register and play the game when the open beta launches on September 22nd.

For more details, please visit Immortal King official website: http://ik.game321.com/

To learn more about the game and the upcoming beta test, be sure to follow Immortal King on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Immortal-King/228055803906961

There will also be a dedicated Facebook app for the game, available here: http://apps.facebook.com/iking-game/

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Neal Stephenson talks MMORPGs and virtual economies

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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Neal Stephenson
"The virtual reality that we all talked about and that we all imagined 20 years ago didn't happen in the way that we predicted. It happened instead in the form of video games," says Neal Stephenson, nerd icon and noted author of Snow Crash and The Diamond Age.

In a new interview at Forbes, Stephenson talks up his latest sci-fi opus, Reamde, and also offers his opinion on everything from the Metaverse, to gamer stereotypes, to players converting their in-game labor into real money. "It's undoubtedly happening right now on an informal level all over the place. A huge amount of money is changing hands, and the thing that prevents it from coming out into the open and working the way it's depicted in the novel is a number of legal and regulatory hang ups," Stephenson says.

He also mentions his own gaming experiences as well as his new novel's tendency towards adventure in place of the brainiac speculative fiction he's famous for. Head to Forbes for the full report.

MassivelyNeal Stephenson talks MMORPGs and virtual economies originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stay on target: SWTOR's guilds begin to align with phase 2

Posted: 21 Sep 2011 09:30 AM PDT

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SWTOR
Star Wars: The Old Republic's release may feel like it's always going to be in a "galaxy far, far away," but at least BioWare is giving guilds something substantial to do in preparation for launch. Following up the first phase of guild formation, today the studio announced that guilds can now progress into the second phase: alignment.

During this phase, guild leaders can establish up to three guilds as their Allies or Adversaries (depending on the target guild's faction). Not only will this help to cement friendships and rivalries, but BioWare says that these connections "will have the highest chance of being placed in the game together, allowing these guilds to coexist on the same server." This won't happen if the guilds have chosen different server rulesets, however.

Another new feature that's come with this phase is the ability for leaders and officers to begin inviting people to the guild by email. The SWTOR website has a helpful FAQ for all three phases of guild preparations. The third phase, deployment, is scheduled to occur shortly before launch and will begin placing guilds on servers if these guilds have met certain criteria.

MassivelyStay on target: SWTOR's guilds begin to align with phase 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Enter at Your Own Rift: Hal Hanlin and Scott Hartsman on Update 1.5

    Posted: 21 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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    Rift Chronicles
    Chronicles, Planar Attunement, Veteran Rewards, a World Event, and a hint about a brand new area coming soon are just the tip of the iceberg in 1.5. Ashes of History is due to launch next week, and Design Producer Hal Hanlin and Executive Producer Scott Hartsman offered up lots of details during a conference call yesterday.

    Whether you're an experienced veteran or a brand new player, there's something for everyone in update 1.5. Read on for the full rundown of what's on the way, then take a look at our gallery at the end for the newest Ashes of History screenshots.

    Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Hal Hanlin and Scott Hartsman on Update 1.5

    MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Hal Hanlin and Scott Hartsman on Update 1.5 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Pando Networks trumpets global download data

      Posted: 21 Sep 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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      Pando Media global download infographic
      Whether you're a fan of Pando Networks or you're still trying to scrape its last vestiges from the dark corners of your poor, beleaguered computer, there's no arguing that it collects some interesting usage data while doing... whatever it does that MMO companies can't seem to do on their own. In fact, Pando has released to us an eye-catching infographic and interactive chart to illustrate its compiled statistics on download speeds gleaned from 27 million downloads on 20 million computers across the globe. The victors won't surprise most gamers. "South Korea has a faster download speed than Great Britain, Turkey, Spain & Australia combined!" declares the chart, letting it slowly dawn on the reader that the United States doesn't fare quite as well as we might hope. Pando's also included a handy map breaking down speeds by state, the better for you to go forth and mock your neighbors.

      There's a whole host of socioeconomic and political reasons for these data over which armchair gameologists can salivate, but we should note that Pando is by definition tracking only game-related downloads, not the greater internet. Why not click past the cut to check out the charts for yourself?

      Continue reading Pando Networks trumpets global download data

      MassivelyPando Networks trumpets global download data originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Post-survival

      Posted: 21 Sep 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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      A Mild-Mannered Reporter header image by A. Fienemann
      So we've had a week to adjust to the new state of being for City of Heroes. OK, maybe a bit less than a week, what with all of the server issues and maintenance, but it's been something close to a week. That means that as a collective playerbase, we can start looking back at the launch and taking a slightly more critical eye. We're no longer running on speculation about how the launch will go; we're running in the wake of the relaunch, expansion, whatever you want to call it.

      Last week, for those of you who've forgotten already, I wrote a piece specifically about surviving the release when it went live. Now that we've had a chance to go through it, there are some things I got wrong, some things that need more elaboration, and some things that I've just revised my opinion on. Since we've all survived the head start at this point, let's look at what it actually entailed, yes?

      Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Post-survival

      MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Post-survival originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: Will 2012 be our last chance?

        Posted: 21 Sep 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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        2012 Movie
        As MMO gamers, we're getting used to disappointment. Not so much disappointment in any one game, but a general feeling of being let down by game closures, studio layoffs, shoddy launches, and the strange idea that every game has to mimic World of Warcraft to be successful.

        But 2011 has been our gateway to something different. Business models are changing, indie games are getting more recognition, failing games are getting a second chance, and developers are realizing that the customer's (almost) always right. This brings us to 2012, which will be upon us in a little more than three months.

        With Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guild Wars 2, The Secret World, and other highly anticipated games on deck for 2012, we have a lot to look forward to. But what if those aren't as successful as they need to be? Will we see a drastic change in MMOs as we know them, or is it simply part of the evolution process for technology and gaming? Let us know what you think!

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

        MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Will 2012 be our last chance? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Preview EverQuest's upcoming City of Bronze

          Posted: 20 Sep 2011 08:00 PM PDT

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          So they've designed Mohenjo-daro.
          The development of EverQuest has been a steady constant amidst seas of change, with the development team hard at work on the Veil of Alaris expansion. This 18th update for the venerable game will usher in a variety of updates and improvements -- and, of course, new zones. Erillion, the City of Bronze, is one such region and quite fittingly is the latest zone to have a video overview for players to inspect before the expansion's launch.

          Narrated by Alan VanCouvering and Bob Painter, the video describes both the original concept of Erillion and the challenges faced in designing such an orderly environment. It had to look as mechanical and orderly as possible, after all, but it also had to look organic rather than just being the same building pasted in dozens of times. Click on past the break to watch the video if you'd like to see the city before you can venture there in person.

          [Source: Official press release]

          Continue reading Preview EverQuest's upcoming City of Bronze

          MassivelyPreview EverQuest's upcoming City of Bronze originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Dan Stahl leaving Cryptic, Star Trek Online

            Posted: 20 Sep 2011 07:30 PM PDT

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            Star Trek Online - red shirt captain
            Cryptic executive producer Dan Stahl has vacated the Star Trek Online captain's chair, according to a brief farewell message posted on the title's official website.

            Details on the departure are slim, with Stahl telling fans that he has "chosen to move on in my career and pursue new challenges." The resignation is the latest development in what has been an eventful summer for STO faithful, as Cryptic Studios was acquired by Perfect World Entertainment and Star Trek Online was subsequently slated to receive the free-to-play treatment.

            Stahl goes on to say that he will be answering questions prior to his end-of-the-month beam out, and he indicates that STO will be in good hands thanks to the leadership of former lead programmer and current Cryptic CTO Stephen D'Angelo.

            Look for more insight into this move in this Thursday's Captain's Log column.

            MassivelyDan Stahl leaving Cryptic, Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Immortal King launching open beta on September 22nd

            Posted: 20 Sep 2011 07:00 PM PDT

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            I know, I know, Greek kings were usually pretty darn mortal.
            Have you lain awake at nights wishing that you could take part in testing an MMORTS themed after ancient Greece? If so, you've got some rather specific issues, but you're also in luck. Immortal King, a browser-based MMORTS, is entering the open beta phase on Thursday, September 22nd. And as with many open betas, it's giving players a chance to take part in a variety of special events during the testing phase.

            Players who travel to the official site will be given an opportunity to obtain a special "Newbie Card" to get started in the game easily, and high-ranking players in factional duels also have the opportunity to earn in-game gold. There are also forum events, encouraging players to contribute to the game's knowledge base for more in-game rewards. There are only a couple of days left until the open beta goes live, so if you've been staying up late, you can take heart that your oddly specific sleepless nights are soon to end.

            [Source: Press release]

            MassivelyImmortal King launching open beta on September 22nd originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              The agonizing wait for Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch date continues [Updated]

              Posted: 20 Sep 2011 06:30 PM PDT

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              SWTOR
              The multi-million dollar question that's been on every Star Wars: The Old Republic fan's lips can be summed up in one word: When? While we still don't know a precise date, we may be a step or two closer to finding out today.

              SWTOR fansite Ask a Jedi combed through a recent EA Q&A session with investors to pull a few pertinent details from CFO Eric Brown. When asked about the launch date for The Old Republic, Brown replied, "We haven't given a street date yet. We won't do so for some time, possibly at our next upcoming earnings call towards the end of October." This earnings call will take place on October 25th.

              EA also continues to stand by its backup plan of a launch delay if SWTOR isn't ready, giving the title room to possibly slip from holiday 2011 to early 2012. Brown explained the conditions that would trigger such a slip: "We did hold out a slight possibility that it could slip to our March quarter. And the factors that would cause a slip is, for example, us not being completely satisfied with the scalability testing, and wanting to tune it for several extra weeks."

              [Update: SWTOR's Stephen Reid has posted on the forums urging fans not to read too much between the lines of investor calls. "We are still very much aiming to ship in the holiday 2011 window (AKA, before the end of the year)," he says.]

              MassivelyThe agonizing wait for Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch date continues [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Fallen Earth dev diary talks economic changes, world events, and more

              Posted: 20 Sep 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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              Fallen Earth - cooking
              Earlier today we told you about the Fallen Earth devs answering a few of your free-to-play questions. Now it's time to dive a bit further down the rabbit hole courtesy of this month's state of the game update.

              Producer Marie Croall checks in with us to talk about the game's two-year anniversary celebration, which includes "PvP, PvE, and RP components." She also says that the event will be run at EU- and US-friendly times (though said times aren't specified as of yet).

              In terms of game updates, the major portion of the September recap concerns the ongoing economic changes. Inconsistencies dealing with recipe and component rarity have been dealt with, and the dev team has "redone the placement of most of the nodes in the game" to make the rarer nodes more of an incentive to enter PvP-enabled areas. Finally, Croall says that the release of the new world event system has been bumped back to coincide with the free-to-play conversion on October 12th. Grab your favorite wasteland beverage and read all the details at the official Fallen Earth dev blog.

              MassivelyFallen Earth dev diary talks economic changes, world events, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files - Pureblood Sith

              Posted: 20 Sep 2011 05:30 PM PDT

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              Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron File, Pureblood Sith
              Moreso than any other MMO intellectual property, the Star Wars IP carries a rich, deep history, shaped not only by its creator, George Lucas, but also by the many artists, writers, and directors of the many television series, games, books, and comics. When you step into Star Wars: The Old Republic, you are weaving yourself into a story with over 30 years of constant growth and development. Unlike other fictional histories, this one was guided by many hands, and much of the lore has been muddled over years of retcons and rewrites.

              Every so often until the release of the game, I will explore the important bits that lead to the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Unlike other MMOs, this game is developed specifically to draw the player into the story. To help ease you into this rich lore, I am creating a series I call the Holocron Files. And first, I begin with the mysterious TOR species know as the Pureblood Sith. Where do these beings come from? Why are they important to SWTOR lore? And what can we expect to see from them in game? Leap past the break to find out.

              Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files - Pureblood Sith

              MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files - Pureblood Sith originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                LotRO dev diaries take a look at upcoming Rune-keeper and Hunter changes

                Posted: 20 Sep 2011 05:00 PM PDT

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                Screenshot -- Lord of the Rings Online
                With the launch of Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard just a short week away, Turbine is beginning to round out its pre-Isengard dev diaries. Today, we've got a double-whammy for you in the form of some new information on what will become of Rune-keepers and Hunters when the new expansion hits.

                On the Rune-keeper side of things, the devs have a variety of goals for the class, such as refining the class' trait trees, allowing the class to perform as a "hybrid AoE damage dealer," and buffing the class' AoE healing slightly. Chisels and rifflers will be seeing big changes in order to allow all of them to be used by Rune-keepers of the DPS and healing variety rather than gearing them toward one or the other. As with all other classes, the team is focusing on improving existing skills rather than introducing new ones, and as such the greatest changes are coming to the Rune-keeper's trait lines. Each trait line's four-set bonus is seeing changes to some degree.

                Meanwhile, in Hunter land, the goals for the class are much more concise. The devs want to give players further incentive to use all three of the available combat stances while performing "general cleanup" on the class. All stance-specific bonuses have been removed from all trait lines and redistributed elsewhere, thereby keeping Hunters from being locked into a specific stance based on their choice of trait line. Hunters will also be granted the ability to dual-wield and to wear medium armor from the get-go, which should help new players immensely. Of course, a variety of Hunter abilities have been improved, and the class is also gaining two new skills to round out its repertoire.

                For the entire set of changes to both classes, head on over to the dev diaries and soak up all the juicy details. And remember, Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard launches in just a week, so prepare yourselves accordingly.

                MassivelyLotRO dev diaries take a look at upcoming Rune-keeper and Hunter changes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                MMObility: Illyriad devs shine light on HTML5

                Posted: 20 Sep 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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                Illyriad screenshot
                HTML5 is somewhat of a mysterious beast. We've probably all heard whispers of the "new" version of the standard web coding language, but to most of us it means very little. After all, why is it number five? Why is there a buzz about this new way of coding websites? Is "coding" even the right word? Oh, I've learned a thing or two over the years; I've built a few websites and have figured out some of the basics. My wife is a graphic designer, so I have learned a lot from her, including some of the stuff that makes up Flash and other graphical... things. But I am far from an expert.

                So I decided to ask Ben Adams and and James Niesewand, CTO and CEO of Illyriad Games, respectively, about HTML5. They are really starting to push the boundaries of the language with their game Illyriad. It's fun to learn about this stuff, and it's always nice to know how our mobile games are being made. Click past the cut and read the interview!

                Warning: Big words ahead!

                Continue reading MMObility: Illyriad devs shine light on HTML5

                MassivelyMMObility: Illyriad devs shine light on HTML5 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Game Archaeologist spins A Tale in the Desert: A talk with Teppy

                Posted: 20 Sep 2011 03:00 PM PDT

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                A Tale in the Desert
                I have to say, I have nothing but admiration for lone wolf-style developers who decide to pish-posh giant studio teams and massive budgets and jump into the game-making mosh pit anyway. Andrew "Teppy" Tepper is one of these visionaries who had an idea for a unique MMO and took it to fruition. I mean, most of us come up with "totally tubular" notions for online games, but how many of us make it happen? Outside of a couple of doodles on a Post-It, that is.

                In our second week covering the fascinating sandbox world of A Tale in the Desert, The Game Archaeologist had the pleasure of sitting down with Teppy to get his perspective on how one man bootstrapped his way into the MMO world. He also dishes on the team's next MMO project, which we'll be talking more about on Massively later this week.

                So what's it like to create the ultimate sandbox in Egypt of all places? Teppy, take it away!

                Continue reading The Game Archaeologist spins A Tale in the Desert: A talk with Teppy

                MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist spins A Tale in the Desert: A talk with Teppy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Blade & Soul closed beta phase reviewed

                  Posted: 20 Sep 2011 02:30 PM PDT

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                  Blade and Soul - cutscene
                  If you weren't fortunate enough to get into Blade & Soul's recently concluded Korean closed beta event, Steparu has the next best thing in the form of a lengthy review supplemented by several hi-definition gameplay videos.

                  While it's worth noting that some of this information may change prior to release -- to say nothing of the differences between the Korean client and what we're assuming will be a localized Western version -- there's still lots of interesting info to digest. There's the good (visuals, combat), and the not-so-good (linear exploration and lots of zoning), and the review is one of the more comprehensive hands-on pieces covering NCsoft's upcoming martial arts MMO. Head past the cut for a couple of videos and then click over to Steparu to read the author's impressions.

                  Continue reading Blade & Soul closed beta phase reviewed

                  MassivelyBlade & Soul closed beta phase reviewed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  One Shots: Overlooking Khitai

                  Posted: 20 Sep 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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                  Age of Conan screenshot
                  Our One Shots screenshot today was taken in Age of Conan by Mike, who spent some time on high checking out the best view possible:
                  OK I admit this isn't exactly an aerial shot, but in AoC this is about as close as you can come to one. This is my Ranger Zothan high on top of the Great Wall of Khitai overlooking the valleys and mountains of the beautiful nation. You can actually climb even higher, but the view will be blocked by the windows, so this is the best view in AoC.
                  We're all about looking up this week on One Shots! Show us your favorite aerial image -- whether it be taken from the ground looking up or from atop a high-flying mount or tall perch, we want to see! Add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

                  MassivelyOne Shots: Overlooking Khitai originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    TERA unleashes serpentine BAMs

                    Posted: 20 Sep 2011 01:30 PM PDT

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                    TERA screenshot
                    The Naga is more than just an awesome gaming mouse or a deity of the Indian subcontinent, although the latter likely inspired the En Masse devs responsible for today's reveal of yet another pair of TERA BAMs. Massively's scored a look at two "big ass monsters" of the Naga variety, both the Naga Clawrider and the Naga Bloodscale. Clawriders, you'll be unsurprised to learn, are proficient at riding enormous clawed crabs that spit steam and kick butt. Should his skills fail him, the Clawrider dies the same death as his mount. Bloodscales, on the other hand, trample each other's bloodied corpses in their quest to be chosen to undergo what has to be the worst skin graft operation of all time. Then again, wouldn't you let a priest scrape off all your skin to make you thrice as powerful? Yeah, maybe not.

                    Check out the gallery below for the visuals, and head past the cut for the official descriptions of these two baddies.

                    Gallery: TERA

                    Continue reading TERA unleashes serpentine BAMs

                    MassivelyTERA unleashes serpentine BAMs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Firefall brings on Frag Dolls founder as head of e-sports division

                      Posted: 20 Sep 2011 01:00 PM PDT

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                      Screenshot -- Firefall
                      Firefall has made no bones about its desire to fill the niche of a competitive e-sports game, but the team's most recent update certifies its sincerity on the matter. Red 5 Studios announced in a press release today that Morgan "Rhoulette" Romine, founder of the all-female gaming clan the Frag Dolls, has joined the team to head up Firefall's e-sports division.

                      Red 5 CEO Mark Kern said of the decision, "We're thrilled to have Morgan join the Red 5 'Tribe' and know that with her caliber of experience and deep community roots, Firefall is poised to take the world of e-sports to the next level." Morgan herself has high hopes for the game's e-sport potential, claiming, "I believe this game has awesome e-sports potential because Red 5 is committed to creating a competitive experience that is as fun to watch as it is to play." So if you're the competitive type, keep your eye on Firefall as it gears up for launch.

                      [Source: Red 5 Studios press release]

                      MassivelyFirefall brings on Frag Dolls founder as head of e-sports division originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        SOE webcast fielding your DCUO F2P questions tonight

                        Posted: 20 Sep 2011 12:30 PM PDT

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                        DC Universe Online - Gotham skyline
                        In case you haven't heard, DC Universe Online is going free-to-play sometime toward the end of October. Everyone's favorite DC Comics-flavored MMO (OK, the only DC Comics-flavored MMO) is also the star of this week's Sony Online Entertainment webcast.

                        Executive producer Lorin Jameson and creative director Jens Andersen will be fielding your questions about superhero-sized free-to-play and the future for digital denizens of Gotham City and Metropolis. The webcast happens on SOE's Stickam channel; you can also catch it via the Stickam tab on SOE's Facebook page.

                        What time, you ask? Set your alarms for 7:00 p.m. EDT, and check out this handy timezone conversion link if you're unsure how that equates to your local time.

                        MassivelySOE webcast fielding your DCUO F2P questions tonight originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        Massively sneaks a peek into Bounty Hounds Online

                        Posted: 20 Sep 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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                        Bounty Hounds Online screenshot
                        The developers of Bounty Hounds Online recently invited Massively to join them in exploring their closed beta world. I am not the type to turn down an invitation like that, so I downloaded the client and logged in. While it did take a while to figure out which client to use and exactly how to log in to the test server so the developers could show me things that were not yet in the beta, the wait was worth it.

                        If you've been curious about how the game looks, plays, and feels, click past the cut and join me for a preview! Bear in mind that I was given a very decked-out character, so combat was a breeze. Other than that, everything else was a normal tour through a very cool-looking world!

                        Continue reading Massively sneaks a peek into Bounty Hounds Online

                        MassivelyMassively sneaks a peek into Bounty Hounds Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        RIFT veteran rewards coming with 1.5 update

                        Posted: 20 Sep 2011 11:30 AM PDT

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                        RIFT - Defiant on horseback
                        It's somewhat wonky to think about veteran rewards for an MMORPG that's barely six months old, but nonetheless Trion is trotting out various incentives to keep players subscribing to RIFT and adventuring through the wilds of Telara with in-game shinies in tow.

                        Beginning with the game's 1.5 update, "being a veteran Ascended means honor, respect, and awesome rewards," according to the informational blurb on RIFT's website. We'll leave the honor and respect bit to your fertile imaginations, but the awesome rewards are quite tangible. They include full Guardian and Defiant uniforms, personal vendors, and on-the-go mailboxes. You can also buy your way to full veteran status (and unlock the high tier rewards immediately) by purchasing a multi-month subscription.

                        Look for more details in our upcoming interview with Trion.

                        [Thanks to Ren54 for the tip!]

                        MassivelyRIFT veteran rewards coming with 1.5 update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        The Soapbox: How raiding turns you into a horrible person

                        Posted: 20 Sep 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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                        Most of the armor was bought with tokens.  The shoulders were bought with a ten-minute argument between myself and a hunter about whether or not I rolled fairly.
                        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.

                        I remember raiding at the start of Wrath of the Lich King very well. My Shaman was one of the first people in my guild geared up to run Naxxramas, and the oft-mentioned Ms. Lady was herself one of the first tanks to be ready to last through the boss fights. We were a casual guild, sure, but even in a casual grouping you have stars, and we were stars. We were experts on the content, we destroyed the fights, we marched around dripping in epics. I was the highest DPS in the guild, she was the tank there for nearly every session, and we were known and respected.

                        It was absolutely awful.

                        Of course, it didn't start like that. But there was a very good reason we finally decided that this was not only unfun but actively harmful to our relationship. We left and didn't look back, and we never moved back into raiding in a real way -- nor did we want to. Our time at the top made it very clear how raiding changes you and how you move from not caring about a stupid pretend sword to being absolutely livid when someone else wins a roll for that pretend sword. It's not a case of taking the game too seriously or not having a grip on reality -- it's the way that endgame raiding is structured that drives you, inexorably, to that point.

                        Continue reading The Soapbox: How raiding turns you into a horrible person

                        MassivelyThe Soapbox: How raiding turns you into a horrible person originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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