MMO Updates

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• The Soapbox: What you loved is still there
• Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox?
• The Firing Line: Blacklight release, Defiance, and (hopefully) a DUST livestream
• Retro-themed sandbox 8BitMMO announced
• The Daily Grind: Which non-existent MMO genre would you play?
• Rumor: Elder Scrolls MMO to be announced in May
• Rusty Hearts adding 'first true raid dungeon' on March 22nd
• The MMO Report: Shut up and take my money
• The Summoner's Guidebook: Dominion isn't ready for ranked
• The Guild Counsel: Raiding and dealing with the dreaded 'bench'
• Darkfall believes in magic
• Ask Massively: A world without boats edition
• Spirit Tales threatens cuteness overload as closed beta begins
• RuneScape bonus XP weekend generates workshops, strategy videos
• ArenaNet focuses on community in latest dev blog
• Xsyon celebrates its first year of Prelude
• Get your free TERA beta keys here!
• Raph Koster categorizes his best game design blog posts
• Command & Conquer browser MMO enters open beta
• Aion: Ascension and F2P launch date set

The Soapbox: What you loved is still there Posted: 16 Mar 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous 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. One of my greatest fears as I slouch toward 30 is that my tastes will become immutable in certain fields -- music, especially. The last thing I want to do is be the obnoxious guy listening to music that was popular when I was in high school complaining about how bad modern bands are. So I try to broaden my horizons because I know that everything I already like is still waiting for me. I want to create a broader range, not just stick within the familiar. It's probably for the best, then, that I don't share that worry about video games in general and MMOs in particular. I don't cry for a return to the MMOs I played in older days because in most cases they're still running. True, in many of them a great deal has changed to the point of unrecognizability, but I never ask what happened to the game I once loved. After all, just because I loved it doesn't mean that anyone else did. Continue reading The Soapbox: What you loved is still there The Soapbox: What you loved is still there originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox? Posted: 16 Mar 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Economy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Secret World, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox, Crafting I'm more excited than I thought I would be for The Secret World. After playing it at last week's Game Developer's Conference and getting a preview of the game's crafting system, I think it's safe to say my anticipation went up a few notches. The real-world setting and horror-fantasy elements have always been appealing, but a general lack of info throughout 2011 -- coupled with Funcom's decision to add a cash shop to a subscription game -- conspired to knock The Secret World down a few pegs. Now I'm almost willing to forgive the business model faux pas because it seems like the game will feature significant sandbox elements. Is it a sandbox, though? Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox? Some Assembly Required: Is The Secret World a sandbox? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Firing Line: Blacklight release, Defiance, and (hopefully) a DUST livestream Posted: 16 Mar 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Opinion, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, DUST 514, The Firing Line, Defiance Welcome back to The Firing Line, shooter fans. I'm still recovering from Sony Online Entertainment's PlanetSide 2 demo last week (as well as CCP's reveals regarding DUST 514 gameplay footage and impending beta dates). Life goes on, though, and there are plenty of interesting tidbits to talk about with regard to our favorite genre. Won't you join me after the break for a recap? Continue reading The Firing Line: Blacklight release, Defiance, and (hopefully) a DUST livestream The Firing Line: Blacklight release, Defiance, and (hopefully) a DUST livestream originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Retro-themed sandbox 8BitMMO announced Posted: 16 Mar 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, New titles, Free-to-play, Sandbox Archive Entertainment is looking to get a slice of the massive Minecraft pie (which is square, not round), as the team has dived into the concept of a retro-style sandbox MMO called 8BitMMO. It may not boast the most incredible graphics, but that's kind of the point; players who recall their NES days with fondness will be right at home with the presentation on display. 8BitMMO is touted to be a "100% player-built world," where anything can be built, destroyed, and harvested for raw materials. Up to 250 players can occupy a server at the same time, and there's the option to group or go solo while you build, explore, or fight off the evil LawyerCats. There are quests, PvP engagements, and methods of protecting one's buildings from griefing. This project is the sole creation of Robby Zinchak, who was formerly a producer at Microsoft. Zinchak has been working on 8BitMMO since 2001 and is impressed with the creativity shown in the game so far: "People are creating some genuinely cool architecture - everything from towering windmills to sports arenas. One player even made a huge statue of a flying dragon. The community is very inventive, and I can't wait to see what they'll come up with next!" Currently, 8BitMMO can be played on the official website as it continues to be developed. You can watch the trailer for this interesting project after the jump. [Source: Archive Entertainment press release] Continue reading Retro-themed sandbox 8BitMMO announced Retro-themed sandbox 8BitMMO announced originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Which non-existent MMO genre would you play? Posted: 16 Mar 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous It's difficult to think of a historical or cultural genre that hasn't already been covered by an MMO. We have everything from medieval fantasy to dystopian sci-fi and just about everything in between, but we don't have everything just yet. For example, we don't have a wild west MMO. We don't have an undersea Atlantis MMO. But would anything too quirky or specialized even work as an MMO? More interestingly, what would you like to see in an untapped MMO genre? Certainly not everyone wants to see only fantasy or sci-fi! Right? 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: Which non-existent MMO genre would you play? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rumor: Elder Scrolls MMO to be announced in May Posted: 15 Mar 2012 08:15 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Rumors, Sandbox You know, that pesky Elder Scrolls MMO rumor just won't die. We've been hearing scuttlebutt of a Tamriel-themed massively multiplayer title for years now, and even though Bethesda has debunked such gossip in the past, Tom's Hardware is citing an "industry source" who says the title is a reality. The latest rumbling posits that the game will feature three factions and will take place several hundred years prior to the events of Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim. Also, some sort of official announcement is supposedly scheduled for May. Following that, the source claims, the Elder Scrolls MMO will have a "presence at E3" in June. Bethesda has yet to comment, but we'll bring you the latest info as it happens. [Thanks to Matt for the tip!] Rumor: Elder Scrolls MMO to be announced in May originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Tom's

Rusty Hearts adding 'first true raid dungeon' on March 22nd Posted: 15 Mar 2012 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Patches, Free-to-play, Dungeons If the name "Dead Man's Valley" doesn't give you pause while looking up places to travel on your next vacation, perhaps consider a luxury cruise through Rusty Hearts' territory this spring. The hack-and-slash MMO is prepping a major update to the game for March 22nd that will add "the first true raid dungeon" for the game. Dead Man's Valley is an eight-person raid that will represent some of the most challenging content in the game. Also coming with the update is the latest playable character: a man trapped in a boy's body (insert your own role-reversal jokes here). Edgar Grosvenor is joining the crew of Rusty Hearts as a fierce melee combatant whose skill with the scythe and magic sword are completely at odds with his schoolboy demeanor. You can see the highlights of both Dead Man's Valley and Edgar's combat technique in Perfect World's latest video right after the jump! Continue reading Rusty Hearts adding 'first true raid dungeon' on March 22nd Rusty Hearts adding 'first true raid dungeon' on March 22nd originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Rusty Hearts

The MMO Report: Shut up and take my money Posted: 15 Mar 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Video, MMO industry, Opinion, Humor, The MMO Report, Miscellaneous This week on The MMO Report, Casey cheers for the Double Fine Kickstarter effort, MechWarrior Online's first gameplay footage, and Guild Wars 2's preorder bonuses. "Shut up and take my money," he commands ArenaNet. He also heckles TERA for its new level cap and discusses Star Wars: The Old Republic's free play weekend before getting a bit confused about just how World of Warcraft's revamped scroll of resurrection works (it does not, in fact, work on fresh accounts). The Beard ends with a dip into the mailbag and a geeky commercial that involves "8bit animation, puppets, and beer" and must be seen to be believed. And you can do so after the break! Continue reading The MMO Report: Shut up and take my money The MMO Report: Shut up and take my money originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: The MMO Report

The Summoner's Guidebook: Dominion isn't ready for ranked Posted: 15 Mar 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, MOBA, League of Legends, The Summoner's Guidebook I'm a huge fan of League of Legends' Dominion gametype. One of the complaints I hear regularly is that Dominion doesn't have a ranked mode. Right now, Dominion's highly skilled summoners must choose between "curbstomping pubbies" in blind pick mode or waiting for a year in queue for draft pick mode. A ranked mode would solve these issues, as players would be encouraged to play more and would be able to see improvements in their gameplay. A lot of people don't think that Dominion is ready for ranked. Most of the arguments along these lines have something to do with poor champion balance. What do they mean by "bad balance?" I have a suspicion that many of the complaints stem from a lack of counter-knowledge more than any fault of the developers. Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: Dominion isn't ready for ranked The Summoner's Guidebook: Dominion isn't ready for ranked originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Guild Counsel: Raiding and dealing with the dreaded 'bench' Posted: 15 Mar 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Guilds, MMO industry, PvE, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous, Dungeons The good news for guilds these days is that you don't need as many players in order to form a raid and tackle endgame content. However, this is also the bad news because it means guild leaders need to keep a watchful eye on their roster and face the unenviable task of telling certain members they can't be part of the raid on any given night. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look the time-honored tradition of benchwarming and cover some tips on how to avoid the drama that comes with it. You may not be able to completely avoid having to sit members out, but there are some ways to cut down on how often you do have to say no. Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Raiding and dealing with the dreaded 'bench' The Guild Counsel: Raiding and dealing with the dreaded 'bench' originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Darkfall believes in magic Posted: 15 Mar 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Game mechanics, News items There are a lot of changes in the pipeline for Darkfall, but it's safe to say that whatever else changes in the game, magic will remain important. The newest development blog for the game discusses the revised state of low-level magic and some of the basics of more powerful magic as well. Every character can use the lowest tier of magic, which mixes both Intelligence and Wisdom as important stats and can be cast regardless of what the character is wearing. Known as Minor Incantations, the school contains only five spells, but they're all of basic utility, ranging from basic magical damage to a simple self-healing spell. Beyond the earliest steps, the developers have taken pains to try to make magic more balanced and interesting. The biggest element in spell potency is the governing attribute of the spell (Intelligence or Wisdom), but the level of the spell, the staff being used by the caster, and the overall level of the magic school in question all come into play. Take a look at the full diary to get a better sense of where the game's mystical arts are heading in the future. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!] Darkfall believes in magic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Developer Diary 3/15

Ask Massively: A world without boats edition Posted: 15 Mar 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous As you probably have already ignored, the big news of the day is that the world's boats have all been lost due to mysterious boat-related circumstances. Unfortunately, as human beings are extremely stupid and easily thwarted, no one can remember how to build a boat, nor did anyone take any notes on how one might build a boat. There aren't even pieces of information about how boats work. Long story short, Australia is now completely on its own. In less boat-related news, it's time for this week's installment of Ask Massively. Written while not on a boat, it's fielding questions about the ubiquity of social networking and Collector's Editions that cost nearly as much as a boat. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment of the column, mail it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited slightly for clarity and/or brevity. Continue reading Ask Massively: A world without boats edition Ask Massively: A world without boats edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spirit Tales threatens cuteness overload as closed beta begins Posted: 15 Mar 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, News items, Free-to-play Free-to-play MMO developer/publisher KoramGame Ltd. has announced that its nauseatingly adorable title Spirit Tales is making the jump into closed beta. The chibi-anime-style game boasts extensive character customization with "over 40 million unique fashion combinations for your character," while further customization is possible with the game's pet system. Almost any creature in the game can be captured and tamed as a pet, after which point players can either summon their pets as battle companions or merge with them in order to enhance their characters' abilities. Yann Wang, General Manager of KoramGame, is enthusiastic about the game's beta test, stating that the game's "unique character customization and pet system" and "explosive PvP battles and intense instanced dungeons are sure to win [players] over." Of course, there's only way to test the veracity of his statement, and that's to head on over to the game's official site and get in on the test yourself. But be sure to act quickly; testing slots for this phase are limited. [Source: KoramGame Ltd. press release] Spirit Tales threatens cuteness overload as closed beta begins originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

RuneScape bonus XP weekend generates workshops, strategy videos Posted: 15 Mar 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, RuneScape, Free-to-play If there's one thing we've learned about the RuneScape community, it's that these players are very, very serious about bonus XP weekends -- so serious, in fact, that there are forum threads, workshops, and videos devoted to helping players get the most out of these events. Starting tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. EDT, RuneScape will be throwing open the gates to a truly insane bonus XP weekend. Unlike most MMOs that try such events, RuneScape won't just slather a steady percentage increase all over players' XP bars. Instead, players will log in to find that their first half-hour of play has a 2.7x multiplier for training activities, and then every 30 minutes after that the rate will decrease until it bottoms out at 1.1x for the remainder of the weekend. The bonus XP will go away on Monday at 8:00 a.m. EDT, and if you want some tips on how best to maximize this opportunity, hit the jump to watch one of the aforementioned help videos. What, you thought we were joking? [Source: Jagex press release] Continue reading RuneScape bonus XP weekend generates workshops, strategy videos RuneScape bonus XP weekend generates workshops, strategy videos originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

ArenaNet focuses on community in latest dev blog Posted: 15 Mar 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, News items, Guild Wars 2, Dev Diaries If you're reading Massively, we assume you're a player or fan of MMORPGs, but everyone has different reasons for playing. Some play for hardcore raiding progression, some play for role-playing, and some play just to wind down and relax, but there's one thread that ties all of these things together: community. After all, what's an MMORPG without the MMO? ArenaNet is well aware of this, and the studio has just released a new blog outlining its approach toward community-building with Guild Wars 2. Some may be surprised to hear that ArenaNet will be offering official forums for GW2. Some may be even more surprised to hear that the studio will not be offering "traditional fansite support." But don't panic! This isn't the death of community, it's the evolution thereof. ArenaNet realizes that "gaming and community management have evolved over the last six years," so the studio plans to change right along with it. When you consider the fact that the GW2 community spans multiple separate communities, such as fansites, forums, social networking sites, and outlandishly fabulous sites such as Massively itself, it should come as no surprise that the studio is aiming to bring these players together. The final goal, according to the blog, "is to create an environment that is respectful, welcoming, inclusive, and friendly." We're sure more details on the studio's community plan will be unearthed as the game approaches launch, but until then, ArenaNet is asking the community to be proactive by bringing community projects to its attention so that the studio can "[highlight] them for the broader community." So get to work, Guild Wars fans, and help to build a community that makes ANet proud. ArenaNet focuses on community in latest dev blog originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: ArenaNet official blog: Building Community

Xsyon celebrates its first year of Prelude Posted: 15 Mar 2012 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Real life, Opinion, Xsyon, Post-Apocalyptic, Sandbox One year and counting. Crack open the waterskin and raise a toast to Xsyon: Today the post-apocalyptic sandbox by Notorious Games celebrates its first full year of launch. Well, the first year of the official launch of Prelude, a limited first release of the virtual world. Come to think of it, even that date seems a bit nebulous as the pre-order players in the first phase of Year Zero (basically beta) actually had their most significant change on March 11th, 2011 when the second phase launched and totems were introduced. Semantics aside, Xsyon has come a long way from that official first day. Unlike many games where gameplay is neatly laid out, this indie title gives players only the canvas and a few tools before setting them loose to fashion their world. As the year continued, additional tools were provided and the world became more vibrant and dynamic. Initially barren without any critters (other than your surviving neighbors) to hunt, the world is now populated with large creatures that roam the land, threatening the lives of travelers and hunters alike. Even the lay of the land itself is different as players manipulate and alter the terrain, build settlements, and plant trees. Communities are forming; groups are supporting and even entertaining each other. Civilization is slowly rebuilding. And that's only the beginning. Continue reading Xsyon celebrates its first year of Prelude Xsyon celebrates its first year of Prelude originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Get your free TERA beta keys here! Posted: 15 Mar 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Contests, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Giveaways, TERA, Dungeons So you're not in the TERA beta yet, but you'd like to be, amirite? I mean, come on -- sexy avatars, action combat, gorgeous fantasy graphics -- what's not to like? Well, Massively is your sugar-daddy because today we've got 10,000 keys to give away, each of which will unlock the world of Arborea via TERA's Closed Beta Test 4 for North American players only. All you have to do is click the link below, claim your key, and then copy/paste it into the appropriate section of your En Masse Entertainment account. What's that? You don't have an En Masse account? What are you waiting for, foo? Head to the firm's official site and make one right now! After you've gone through the email verification song and dance, click the "enter code" button on the right side of your account window and submit your key. Then download the TERA client via the button on the account overview tab. En Masse has also brought word of a new video that shows off TERA's high-level Temple of Temerity instance. The dungeon tasks players with holding off hordes of enemies bent on destroying a relic, and the instance made its public debut at last week's GDC demo. Finally, En Masse is releasing an e-book called The Amaranthine Heart which expounds on TERA's lore and backstory. It's available for a palty $.99 on Amazon (and the instance video is free of charge after the cut). Continue reading Get your free TERA beta keys here! Get your free TERA beta keys here! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Raph Koster categorizes his best game design blog posts Posted: 15 Mar 2012 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous If you're looking for an entry point into the voluminous back-catalogue of game design posts sitting on Raph Koster's web server, look no further than his newest entry, which serves as something of a greatest hits listing. For those unfamiliar with Koster, most gamers associate him with watershed sandbox titles like Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, and he has also written a book called A Theory of Fun for Game Design. Koster first published his website in 1997, and some of his articles date almost as far back. He's arranged the links in what he calls a "rough reverse chronological order," so grab your favorite caffeinated beverage and settle in for a lengthy design-focused read. Raph Koster categorizes his best game design blog posts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Koster's website

Command & Conquer browser MMO enters open beta Posted: 15 Mar 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual Another beloved IP, another browser-based MMO. This time it's not the gritty fantasy of George R.R. Martin but the sci-fi battlefield of Command & Conquer that is receiving the MMO-lite treatment. Gamasutra reports that Command & Conquer Tiberium Alliances "is not a Facebook game" like previous Electronic Arts browser titles, which include Lord of Ultima and Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. Command & Conquer is "hosted on a stand-alone site," marking the first time the storied franchise has tried its hand at the free-to-play model. The game has been in closed beta since December and is now available to a global audience via its public open beta. Command & Conquer browser MMO enters open beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Gamasutra

Aion: Ascension and F2P launch date set Posted: 15 Mar 2012 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play Hang on to your wings! The news that Daevas and Daevas-to-be have been anticipating (and even hedging bets on) has finally arrived: NCsoft just announced that Aion's 3.0 update and free-to-play-conversion will hit North American servers on April 11th, giving folks barely enough time to recover from any chocolate bunny-induced comas. And if that wasn't enough to set Asmodians and Elyos astir, along with the raised level cap, mounts, streamlined UI, and other assorted goodies previously disclosed, two additional features launching with Ascension were revealed: a completely unique microtransaction system (C.U.B.E.) and a personalized in-game guide (the Atreian Atlas). Continue reading Aion: Ascension and F2P launch date set Aion: Ascension and F2P launch date set originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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