General Gaming Article

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• Samsung Speaks Out On Australian Galaxy Tab Ban
• Leaked Verizon Ad Lists Galaxy Nexus for $199
• 130+ Domains Seized By US Authorities
• Cool Site of the Week: GoodReads
• Ubisoft Dev: Piracy To Blame For Lack Of "I Am Alive" On The PC
• Do Your Folks A Favor On "Update Your Parents' Browser Day"
• Sen. Lieberman Wants a "Terrorist" Flag On Blogspot.com Websites
• This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar
• Unlocked Galaxy Nexus Now Available in the US
• Kingston: Solid State Drives Will Finally Supplant Hard Drives in Second Half of 2012

Samsung Speaks Out On Australian Galaxy Tab Ban Posted: 25 Nov 2011 02:32 PM PST Samsung has apparently gotten all its legal ducks in a row and has fired back at the recent court ruling that banned the Galaxy Tab 10.1 from sale in the land down under. The court found that the Galaxy Tab likely infringed on Apple's patents, and barred Samsung from selling the device until the case could be heard next year. Lawyers for Samsung in Australia have filed an appeal of the temporary injunction, saying the judge in the case misunderstood the basic facts of the case and called the ruling "grossly unjust." Snap. Apple's patents in Australia are considerably more broad than in other countries. As such, Samsung's lawyers are arguing that the judge failed to even evaluate the patents for validity before making a ruling. With the trial not scheduled until March of 2012, Samsung would essentially be locked out of the Market until the iPad 3 was announced.  Apple's legal team was predictably skeptical of Samsung's filings. They claim that the judge made no error in judgement, and that the ruling would stand up to scrutiny. While the Tab 10.1 is still technically still banned from sale, some retailers have been importing them on the gray market to sell. How do you think this will shake out?

Leaked Verizon Ad Lists Galaxy Nexus for $199 Posted: 25 Nov 2011 02:04 PM PST Android fans in the US have been waiting with bated breath for Verizon to announce availability of the 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy Nexus. After various rumors of delays, an interesting Big Red holiday ad started running last night, with the Galaxy Nexus listed for a downright reasonable $199.99 on a 2-year contract. This is much lower than the expected cost of $299.99. Could this be the best deal on Verizon this holiday season? As of now, the link to buy the device points nowhere, so this is by no means confirmed. In general $300 has been the price for Verizon's new high-end LTE devices. It's not impossible that the carrier is looking to bring the price of these phones down to where more consumers will buy. As AT&T rolls out LTE, Verizon won't have the same kind of exclusivity any more. The ad lists several other phones at lower prices than they are currently selling at. The consensus seems to be that the flier is likely for a short term promotion that may or may not still happen. The permanent price of the Galaxy Nexus is probably going to be $299 just like the Droid Razr and HTC Rezound.

130+ Domains Seized By US Authorities Posted: 25 Nov 2011 01:46 PM PST The crackdown continues on piracy and counterfeit-related domains today with the news that as many as 130 domain names have been seized by US authorities. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are continuing with last year's "Operation in our sites" with this new, and largest yet, round of seizures. Unlike last year's actions, this round seems to have been directed more toward sites that charge for their ill-gotten wares. There were a multitude of counterfeit clothing sites, as well as some that sold pirated software. The authorities have yet to comment on the seizures, but we wouldn't expect this to be the end.  While the DOJ and ICE seems to be forging ahead, there is still a question as to whether domain seizures are legal. Legislation like Protect IP and SOPA are still pending in Congress, but would make specific allowances for this activity. Do you think that US law enforcement is overstepping?

Cool Site of the Week: GoodReads Posted: 25 Nov 2011 11:59 AM PST   Despite the fact that the internet is a constant source of never ending electronic amusement, sometimes it's simply not enough to keep you entertained. On the days where memes, kittens, trolls and games just aren't cutting it, might we suggest settling in with a good book? Don't worry, there's no need to go cold turkey by turning off your rig while you read--far from it. As a matter of fact, our Cool Site of the Week, GoodReads, can actually enhance the life of a bookworm. GoodReads is a social network designed with book lovers in mind. After creating an account, users are invited to build a library of the books they've read and give each one a rating. Once that's done, it's time to get social: By connecting with friends from your Twitter, Facebook, Hotmail, Yahoo, or Gmail, you'll be able to see what other people in your circle are reading. Don't have a lot of readers in your peer group? No Problem: GoodReads lets you connect with new acquaintances through the site as well. Members of your friends list can swap book reviews and make recommendations.  As GoodReads currently boasts over 6,400,000 members and  220,000,000 different books, reading aficionados will never be at a loss to find someone else to talk about books with or come up with something new to read again.   Be sure to check in with us every Friday for another edition of Maximum PC's Cool Site of the Week.

Ubisoft Dev: Piracy To Blame For Lack Of "I Am Alive" On The PC Posted: 25 Nov 2011 11:30 AM PST Ubisoft hates it when pirates plunder the company's gaming wares online. They've been at the forefront of the DRM battle, and by that, we mean they've been forcing DRM-ridden content down PC gamers' throats left and right. It gets worse: Ubisoft won't even be publishing its upcoming "I Am Alive" on the PC due to piracy concerns. Disappointed PC players have been vocal in their displeasure, but all the "bitching" doesn't change the facts, creative director Stanislas Mettra says. "We've heard loud and clear that PC gamers are bitching about there being no version for them," Mettra told IncGamers. "But are these people just making noise just because there's no version or because it's a game they actually want to play? Would they buy it if we made it?" That's a real concern for the company, Mettra explained: if Ubisoft paid a team of 12 developers to port the game over to the PC, the game would have to sell in excess of 50,000 copies in order to make the effort financially viable for Ubisoft. Mettra then insinuated that for all their talk, most PC gamers are – you guessed it – filthy pirates who wouldn't actually buy the game, anyways. "It's hard because there's so much piracy and so few people are paying for PC games," he said. After some negative feedback to the article, Mettra sent IncGamers a follow-up email explaining his position further: "I would really love to see a PC build of the game and I don't think I meant to say 'the game won't happen on PC'… What I meant is that the PC version did not happen yet. But we are still working to see the feasibility of it, which is not necessarily simple." Mettra, who isn't a native English speaker, said that communication issues may have been part of the reason the message came across the way it did. Thoughts?

Do Your Folks A Favor On "Update Your Parents' Browser Day" Posted: 25 Nov 2011 10:39 AM PST If you're a Maximum PC reader, there's a good chance that you're the computer geek that relatives call when they get infected with a nasty piece of malware. With it being the day after Thanksgiving, there's also an above-average chance that you might be over at your folks' house at some point today. It's time to strike and make things easier for your future self! Leave Black Friday to others and hop on the new post-Turkey Day bandwagon: Update Your Parents' Browser Day. You'll be glad you did. The Atlantic's Alexis Madrigal dreamed up the new nerd holiday a few days ago in a post that was heavily tongue-in-cheek. But lying in the center of all that sarcasm was a glistening gold nugget of a great idea, and other big names quickly took up the call to arms. Google's search guru Matt Cutts tweeted a reminder in the midst of feasting yesterday, and Microsoft's IE blog created a list of the top ten times to update your parents' browser (Number one being: "When they're distracted by grilling you about when you're going to get a real job, when you're going to settle down, and when you're going to give them grandchildren. ") We're just going to say you should do it to save yourself some future headaches. Madrigal offered up some tips in his original post: "Don't switch brands on them. No putting Chrome instead of Firefox or Internet Explorer. Keep it simple." Sounds good to us. So what are you waiting for? Get to updating and put your blissfully unaware parents out of their IE6 misery!

Sen. Lieberman Wants a "Terrorist" Flag On Blogspot.com Websites Posted: 25 Nov 2011 10:12 AM PST Long-term lawmaker (and former Presidential candidate) Senator Joe Lieberman is taking the fight against terrorists to the series of tubes known as the Internet. But rather than whipping up another overbearing law like SOPA, Lieberman's going straight to Google itself to hit the terrorists where it hurts: updated terms of use policies and content flags. Um, what? The Verge pointed us towards Talking Points Memo, who managed to get ahold of a snail mail letter that Lieberman sent to Google boss Larry Page. Lieberman, apparently, is pretty miffed that Jose Pimentel – an accused lone wolf terrorist who allegedly planned to blow up various government buildings with homemade pipe bombs – has a blog on Blogger that advocated violence against the state and provided directions on how to create explosives. "As demonstrated by this recent case, Google's webhosting site, Blogger is being used by violent Islamist extremists to broadcast terrorist content," Lieberman wrote. Lieberman's upset that "Blogger's Content Policy does not expressly ban terrorist content nor does it provide a 'flag' feature for such content," and he wants those areas updated accordingly. Apparently, Joe doesn't feel that posting bomb-making instructions and calling US buildings legitimate warfare targets would fall under Blogger's existing ban on "Hate or Violence." We think he might be on to something: Blogger already has a "Nudity" flag, but no discrete "Graphic Furry Action" flag, which is obviously a glaring oversight. Google has yet to respond.

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar Posted: 25 Nov 2011 08:08 AM PST This week we've reviewed Google's new Galaxy Nexus - the first Android 4.0 handset as well as the new, souped up Apple MacBook Pro. We've also checked out a brand new 46-inch LCD from Philips as well as Sony's whacky personal 3D viewer. Read on for all the reviews posted on TechRadar this week. Philips 46PFL9706H review The Philips 46PFL469706H is a milestone in TV design. Picture quality on an LCD TV was simply not possible until now, and it's all made possible by the new 'moth eye' filter. It uses tiny nodules to mimic similar structures found on moth's eyes and is used to eliminate reflections on the screen, resulting in a greatly enhanced perceived contrast range. You have to see it to truly believe it, but it takes this TV from being a great contender to a market leader. There are a few niggles in the form of 3D crosstalk and some input lag when gaming, but otherwise it's a phenomenal achievement by Philips. Samsung Galaxy Nexus review The Samsung Galaxy Nexus is the world's first phone to run Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and comes with a plethora of top-end tech, including a huge but still massively high resolution screen. There are some gadgets in geek-world that are announced and we just cannot wait to touch. Nokia's N95, the original iPhone, the T-Mobile G1 and Palm's first Pre. And the Galaxy Nexus fits firmly in that category. The big selling point here is not so much the handset – it's what powers the Galaxy Nexus. Google has redrawn its Android OS in probably the biggest overhaul since it launched exactly three years ago. Sony HMZ-T1 Personal 3D Viewer review If you've got money to burn and you're a big fan of 3D and own a 3D Blu-ray player, the Sony HMZ-T1 could be right down your street. While we really can't imagine head mounted 3D displays taking off in quite the same way that Walkmans did a generation ago, we rather like Sony's HMZ-T1 personal 3D viewer. It's a bold and exciting spin on a familiar concept, and one that actually delivers on its promise of a virtual cinema experience. Its 3D performance is particularly mesmerising and if we could see our thumbs, we think they'd both be pointing upwards. Philips Fidelio AS851 review The AS851 is the first Android dock to launch into a market full of 200 million Android phones. So it's sure to be a hit, right? If only it were that simple… Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (Late 2011) review The late 2011 update to the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is a mild refresh, but definitely a welcome one. It comes soon after a massive upgrade at the beginning of 2011, and the prices haven't changed, so we've no cause for complaint. This week's other reviews Cooling Be Quiet Dark Rock Advanced C1 review Cooler Master GeminII M4 review Cooler Master Hyper TX3 EVO review Gelid GX-7 Gamer review Enermax ETS-T40-TA review Mobile phones Motorola Razr review HTC Rhyme review BlackBerry Curve 9380 review Monitors Asus VG278H review Printers HP Photosmart 7510 review Televisions LG DM2350D review TV tuner cards Elgato eyeTV Mobile review Hands on reviews Mobile phones Hands on: BlackBerry Curve 9380 review Internet Hands on: Google Music review ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sign up for TechRadar's free Week in Tech newsletter Get the top stories of the week, plus the most popular reviews delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up at http://www.techradar.com/register Follow TechRadar on Twitter * Find us on Facebook * Add us on Google+

Unlocked Galaxy Nexus Now Available in the US Posted: 25 Nov 2011 07:00 AM PST Google's latest flagship phone the Galaxy Nexus is all set to hit the States sometime in December. But for those who don't want to, or simply can't, hold their breath for that long, we have some good news. The world's first Ice Cream Sandwhich device is now up for sale in the U.S. through Expansys. Hit the jump for more. The Galaxy Nexus we're talking about here is fully unlocked and so will cost more than a carrier-subsidized version, which will arrive next month from Verizon carrying a $199 price tag with a two-year contract. The price of the unlocked Galaxy Nexus, in case you're interested, is listed as $749.99 on Expansys.com. Before you go ahead with the purchase, we'd like to inform you that the handset currently suffers from a serious bug that leads to abrupt loss of volume during calls. Google recently acknowledged the bug and promised to "update devices as soon as possible" with a fix.

Kingston: Solid State Drives Will Finally Supplant Hard Drives in Second Half of 2012 Posted: 25 Nov 2011 06:58 AM PST After peering into its crystal ball, the market psychics at Kingston firmly believe that by this time next year, you're likely to choose a solid state drive over a mechanical hard drive. NAND flash memory prices are coming down, and while it's been slow going, overall pricing for SSDs will finally reach the point where they're able to attract would-be HDD buyers. Nathan Su, flash memory sales director at Kingston, says the average price of 1GB of NAND flash memory will probably fall to around $1, according to DigiTimes. Su readily admits that the high cost of flash has hampered SSD adoption, but he believes the transition to 19nm and more advanced manufacturing processes will prove a game changer in 2012. Also working in SSD's favor is the shortage of HDDs caused by recent flooding in Thailand. In some cases, HDD prices have shot up three-fold since the flooding took place, and some industry insiders don't expect the market to stabilize until the end of next year.

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MMO News

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Tribes Ascend: Closed Beta Preview Posted: 25 Nov 2011 09:28 AM PST Hi-Rez Studios seems poised to inject some life into the Tribes series through its latest online game, Tribes Ascend. With the closed beta having started on November 4, players are anxious to hear what this game can offer – and MMOHut has had a chance to see it in action. Tribes Ascend starts with a screen that provided a brief control overview; these controls are standard to an FPS, with only a few minor exceptions involving skiing, jet packs, and melee.  Following the control screen, we’re taken to the main screen, which shows us our class options, along with options to change settings, exit the game, or join a match.  There are also options that currently aren’t available  during this stage of closed beta, such as Profile and Shared XP Conversion. To start, we have two classes unlocked: Soldier and Ranger; however, there are ten additional classes to unlock.  Each class has its own set of weapons, obtainable skills, and perks. We chose to start as a Ranger, and clicked on "Play" at the top middle of the screen.  This takes us to the lobby, where we select the type of server (Free and Training are currently available) and the match type (Rabbit and Capture the Flag). Since we wondered what "Rabbit" was, we joined the mode’s queue.  It turns out the objective of Rabbit is to grab the flag and hold on to it as long as possible, making you the "Rabbit." Holding the flag, however, means you’re the target of everyone else in the match.  The goal is to score 25 points, attained by either killing the Rabbit, or by holding on to the flag as long as possible. Rabbit proved to be entertaining in its quest for survival against all odds, although it seemed underplayed.  So, still using our trusty Ranger, we entered a Capture The Flag game.  When joining a game, you choose between the Blood Eagle and Silver Sword factions. The announcer for each side calls the opposing faction "Butchers" and "Sworders," respectively, for a touch of immersion. For balance purposes, you can not join a side if it has more players.  The game will also auto-balance teams to correct disparity in numbers, which ensures the matches remain even. With more people to play with (and against) in Capture The Flag, it quickly became obvious that the ability to lead your shots is extremely important. This is because of the jetpack, the unique draw to the Tribes universe. Flight allows some creative, 3D maneuvering to elude and evade your enemies.  An additional feature, called skiing, allows you to maintain speed across flat plains while your energy regenerates after using the jetpack.  We found these unique systems offered dynamic combat and fast-paced matches. We also noticed explosive weapons (like the Soldier’s Spinfusor and the Ranger’s Thumper DX) rule the game currently, though many other weapons do hold their own.  Surprisingly enough, this actually added to the excitement, even if it meant we spent a lot of time waiting to respawn. Speaking of respawn, you can also change your class when you’re killed, which helps you change strategies mid-match. The average match seems to last around 10-20 minutes, which felt like the perfect length.  Win or lose, you gain tokens and experience based on your performance.  Experience is used to unlock skills for each class, and each class offers two unique perks that you can equip while using other classes.  We also loved the quick succession of "Good game!" calls from the quick chat system at the end of each game.  It’s not often we see that level of camaraderie in an FPS, and we hope the community maintains that positive energy moving forward. For such a long standing series, Hi-Rez has done a very good job preserving the feel of the Tribes universe in Tribes Ascend.  Jetpack combat may seem like a gimmick, but the results are an amazingly fun and fast-paced game we didn’t want to put down.  While there are only a few maps available at the moment, with time and the amount of energy Hi-Rez is putting into Tribes Ascend, we can – and do – expect a great game. To see more of the game in action, check out MMOHUT’s video preview.

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MMO Updates

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• Perfect World dev blogs discuss gear upgrades, Berserker class
• RedBedlam announces browser sandbox called The Missing Ink
• The Daily Grind: Do you buy from a vendor?
• Ask Massively: You know what day it is edition
• Behind the Mask: Charging to maximum
• The Guild Counsel: You might be a turkey if you...
• New producer's letter highlights upcoming changes for Final Fantasy XIV

Perfect World dev blogs discuss gear upgrades, Berserker class Posted: 25 Nov 2011 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play If you're looking for a little reading material to go along with your Thanksgiving leftovers, look no further than the latest War of the Immortals dev blogs from Perfect World Entertainment. The first piece focuses on WoI's gear upgrading mechanics, and there are five different methods player can choose from to enhance their equipment (including gem slotting, reformation, and more). PWE has also released a new class video for the Berserker. This particular brute is fond of throwing him or herself into combat with reckless abandon, and the class skill set allows players to "close the distance on their enemies and wreak havoc on anyone that stands before them," according to a PWE blurb. Check out the full clip after the cut. Continue reading Perfect World dev blogs discuss gear upgrades, Berserker class Perfect World dev blogs discuss gear upgrades, Berserker class originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Gear upgrades

RedBedlam announces browser sandbox called The Missing Ink Posted: 25 Nov 2011 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Sandbox How does a free-to-play browser-based fantasy sandbox grab you? It sounded pretty interesting to us, and developer RedBedlam looks to have it ready for early alpha testing in mid-December. The new title is called The Missing Ink, and it's currently scheduled for a Q3 2012 launch on PCs, Macs, and "unspecified tablets," according to Eurogamer. RedBedlam previously operated the Roma Victor MMO from 2006 through early 2011, and the company plans to implement some sort of freemium business model for the new game. Hit the source link below for a screenshot gallery and a first-look video. RedBedlam announces browser sandbox called The Missing Ink originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Eurogamer

The Daily Grind: Do you buy from a vendor? Posted: 25 Nov 2011 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Economy, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous, Crafting In your average, run-of-the-mill themepark MMO, you'll encounter waves of NPC merchants tucked away in their own little market districts, offering everything from consumable potions to crafting materials to weapons, armor, and more. But often times, what they have to sell is nothing compared to the rewards you get from quest-givers. With the exception of a few necessary crafting components, I think it's safe to say that NPC vendors can be ignored, as long as you complete the area's quests successfully, which brings it down to a question of playstyle. You can ignore the quests, not craft a thing, and buy everything from a vendor... if you can somehow raise the money without doing quests. That's up to you. So our question for you on this Black Friday is this: Do you buy your wardrobe and arsenal from the NPC merchants, or if given the chance, would you rather make the items yourself, buy from other players, or earn your keep through quests? 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! The Daily Grind: Do you buy from a vendor? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ask Massively: You know what day it is edition Posted: 24 Nov 2011 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Massively Meta, Humor, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous Because of the way Thanksgiving works in the USA, Ask Massively always falls on the holiday. Last year's approach was closer to my usual one, but you know what? This year, I'm just going for the straight dope. We all know what day it is, we all know what holiday we're celebrating, and in all likelihood we're all so stuffed with turkey that we don't want to think about anything other than slowly sloughing to the bathroom. So let's not kid ourselves. At any rate, the important part isn't the paragraph I devote to ridiculous nonsense; the important part is the questions. And they're just past the cut -- questions about video personalities, loneliness, and last week's forbidden screenshot. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment, leave it in the comments or send a letter to ask@massively.com. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity. Continue reading Ask Massively: You know what day it is edition Ask Massively: You know what day it is edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Behind the Mask: Charging to maximum Posted: 24 Nov 2011 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Game mechanics, PvP, PvE, Free-to-play, Champions Online, Behind the Mask Once upon a time before the Champions Online beta, I was introduced to the idea of charged attacks. The concept seemed pretty cool; you had your basic attack, and charging the attack would do something neat and special. Unfortunately, CO kind of fell short on my expectations. Energy is used for all attacks, rather than just special or charged attacks, and it builds much too quickly. The choice to charge an attack is not as much of a tactical decision and mostly hinges on how much health the enemy has left. This week on Behind the Mask, we're going to cover charge powers. Although some of this may seem obvious or simple, there is a lot of nuance to be understood. I won't treat you guys like noobs or idiots when it comes to these mechanics; we're going to look at the in-depth reasons why charging powers isn't the best idea in CO. Continue reading Behind the Mask: Charging to maximum Behind the Mask: Charging to maximum originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Guild Counsel: You might be a turkey if you... Posted: 24 Nov 2011 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous You may not be aware, but the turkey you're about to consume could actually be a danger to you and your loved ones. That's right: If you're frying them, you're rolling the dice, and you might come up with snake eyes. Now, I'm not completely familiar with the origins of the meaning of snake eyes, but I do know that you shouldn't over-fill a fryer with hot oil, and you also shouldn't shove a fryer over on its side because the oil spills and combusts. But apparently, this is what gamers call "l33t b3ta inf0z," and if you're from the Department of Homeland Security, it's your job to get the word out. That got me thinking: If Americans don't know the ins and outs of cooking a turkey safely, perhaps MMO players don't know the proper way to safely be part of a guild. In this week's Guild Counsel, let's look at a few ways to avoid being the guild turkey. Continue reading The Guild Counsel: You might be a turkey if you... The Guild Counsel: You might be a turkey if you... originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New producer's letter highlights upcoming changes for Final Fantasy XIV Posted: 24 Nov 2011 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV As we move into late November, the question on the minds of many Final Fantasy XIV players is when patch 1.20 will finally be released. Of course, subscription fees also likely figure into that question. According to the latest producer's letter from Naoki Yoshida, the patch is being developed, but it's going to take a bit longer than originally planned just to ensure that the quality is up to snuff. Considering that the update is being expanded to accommodate the release of the in-game achievement and title system, that's understandable. Yoshida also reassures players that the billing will not be started until the patch has been out for some time, with a more specific timeline being released in early December. If that alone isn't enough reading material for the holiday, Yoshida also wrote a lengthy post detailing future adjustments and improvements to Disciples of the Land and the Hand, explaining the current team's philosophy regarding ongoing storylines and content. Both that and the letter provide a look at the game's future, both in the immediate and the more distant sense. New producer's letter highlights upcoming changes for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Letter from the Producer XXI, Yoshida on Disciples of the Land and Hand

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MMORPG News

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• Final Fantasy XIV: Latest Producer Letter Published
• EVE Online: Live Event Sees Devs Taken to Task
• Uncharted Waters Online: Tierra Americana Expansion Launched
• Rift: Dragon Cults Part 2
• General: Guild Sores: The Last Strip
• General: The Agility of a Startup
• General: Razer Anansi MMO Keyboard Review
• General: Turtle Beach Earforce Z6 Headset Review
• Runes of Magic: Souls of the Past Launched
• The Missing Ink: A 'Mostly Traditional' MMO
• Archlord X: Closed Beta Kicks Off November 30th
• General: Thankful for Gaming
• General: You Have My Thanks

Final Fantasy XIV: Latest Producer Letter Published Posted: 25 Nov 2011 06:19 AM PST The latest producer's letter has been published on the Final Fantasy XIV Lodestone. In it, players are given the usual laundry list of things the dev team is busy working on and the approximate timeline when those changes are due to go into effect.

EVE Online: Live Event Sees Devs Taken to Task Posted: 25 Nov 2011 06:13 AM PST EVE Online developers created an impromptu live event on November 23rd in which they banded together to 'attract notice' and to pick a fight. And fight they did...to their deaths, it turns out.

Uncharted Waters Online: Tierra Americana Expansion Launched Posted: 25 Nov 2011 06:07 AM PST Uncharted Waters Online players will now be able to explore the American continent with the latest expansion, "Tierra Americana". Players can build new colonies and "exploit the untold riches of the new world".

Rift: Dragon Cults Part 2 Posted: 24 Nov 2011 11:32 AM PST Tripping the Rift today takes a further look at the Dragon Cults that inhabit Telara. The Abyssal, the Storm Legion and the Golden Maw fall under the microscope. Learn more about the infamous of Telara in our latest Rift feature.

General: Guild Sores: The Last Strip Posted: 24 Nov 2011 11:23 AM PST They say that all good things must come to an end and so it is with Guild Sores. In today's final comic, we bid 'so long' to the familiar cast of characters. Check out Guild Sores: The Last Strip.

General: The Agility of a Startup Posted: 24 Nov 2011 11:43 AM PST In today's Developer Perspectives, we're given an inside look at the concept of "agile development". The idea that a company can somehow be agile seems quite foreign but is ably explained. Find out what agile development is and how it is best accomplished. Leave us a comment or two!

General: Razer Anansi MMO Keyboard Review Posted: 24 Nov 2011 11:52 AM PST As part of our ongoing commitment to our readers to provide peripheral reviews, today we take a look at the Razer Anansi "MMO keyboard" and if it ably fits its title. Check it out and then leave us a comment or two.

General: Turtle Beach Earforce Z6 Headset Review Posted: 24 Nov 2011 12:03 PM PST In the second of today's peripheral reviews, we take a look at what is advertised as a dedicated gamer headset, the Turtle Beach Earforce Z6. See if it lives up to the hype and then leave us a couple of comments.

Runes of Magic: Souls of the Past Launched Posted: 25 Nov 2011 06:01 AM PST The Runes of Magic team has announced that the latest update has been successfully deployed. Called 'Sins of the Past', the patch introduces players to a new zone and a new high-level raid dungeon.

The Missing Ink: A 'Mostly Traditional' MMO Posted: 25 Nov 2011 05:50 AM PST Indie developer, Redbedlam, has announced the creation of a new MMO called "The Missing Ink". Calling their game a "mostly traditional MMO", the team has revealed that some of the world's most enduring stories live in The Missing Ink but with a twist: "Each of the stories are strangely corrupted."

Archlord X: Closed Beta Kicks Off November 30th Posted: 25 Nov 2011 05:41 AM PST Webzen has announced that the closed beta for Archlord X: The Chronicles will officially commence on November 30th. According to press information, Archlord X: The Chronicles takes place about a hundred years after the original Archlord game and features large-scale open world PvP.

General: Thankful for Gaming Posted: 23 Nov 2011 10:36 AM PST Even curmudgeons are thankful once in awhile. We here at MMORPG.com are no exception. In the latest Coyote's Howlings, we take a look at that for which we are most thankful: Gaming. Read on and then offer a few thoughts about why you're thankful for gaming.

General: You Have My Thanks Posted: 23 Nov 2011 10:52 AM PST Today is the day at we in the USA give thanks for all of the things we often take for granted. One thing is sure, we at MMORPG.com never take you, our readers, for granted. We just want to say thanks.

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