MMO Updates |
- The Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes
- Aeria launches new Ignite F2P platform
- Fallen Earth 2.4 patch to feature territory control, automated harvesting, and more
- The Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan turns four, taps SWG for crafting inspiration
- Hands-on with The Secret World's mission system
- New Embers of Caerus website boasts extensive sandbox feature list
- DUST 514 handing out first beta keys tomorrow
- The Daily Grind: Do you judge all MMOs by the same standard?
- Amazon to offer special limited-time deals on TERA, RIFT, others
- The Elder Scrolls Online factions profiled
- Free for All: Planet Cyrene adds to the high-stakes worlds of Entropia
- MMO Family: The state of the game (at school)
- Choose My Adventure: Cruisin' with the gang in City of Heroes
- Player's real-life journey honored in Guild Wars 2
- Ragnarok Online update introduces the town of Port Malaya
- TERA outlines political systems, launches an emblem contest and premium services
- No relief in sight for 38 Studios after emergency meeting [Updated]
- EVE talks smack about Diablo III's login woes
- Runes of Magic shows off the new Champion and Warlock
- DCUO's Last Laugh features Hamill as the Joker, lots of new content
- AdventureQuest Worlds releases its first two action figures
- Guild Wars 2 writers talk (at length) about MMO story
- A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Why there are no more Epic Archetypes in City of Heroes
| The Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes Posted: 17 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Business models, Opinion, Free-to-play, Legal, Humor, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous  The idea is that a game will dish out to players free locked treasure boxes that require purchased keys to open. The allure of the box's mystery prize is often too strong to resist, especially when there's the possibility of a huge reward inside. The result too often is strong buyer's remorse and studio glee. There's been a lot of conversation around lockboxes here on Massively, so I wanted to dedicate this week's Perfect Ten to dissecting the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth of these items for you. Continue reading The Perfect Ten: The truth about lockboxes
|
| Aeria launches new Ignite F2P platform Posted: 17 May 2012 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play  The company plans to bundle Ignite with all of its games going forward. Plans are also in the works to bring the app to various tablet and mobile devices. [Source: Aeria Games press release]
|
| Fallen Earth 2.4 patch to feature territory control, automated harvesting, and more Posted: 17 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Economy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Post-Apocalyptic, Crafting  As you might expect given the update name, territory control plays a big role. The devs are adding new outposts and settlements throughout the game world which can be conquered by each of Fallen Earth's six player factions. Capturing a settlement grants sole property rights to the controlling faction, which in turn provides valuable mineral extraction capabilities. The 2.4 patch also features a new 50-plus PvP zone called the The Foothills, new player-crafted prospecting and harvesting technology, and various quality of life tweaks like bulk purchasing, merchant buyback, and faster mounting. Check in with Massively later this week for more exclusive info on the new patch as well as an interview with the devs. [Source: GamersFirst press release]
|
| The Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan turns four, taps SWG for crafting inspiration Posted: 17 May 2012 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, News items, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Anvil of Crom, Crafting  Join me after the break for a quick rundown on the last 12 months as they happened in Hyboria, as well as an anniversary interview with game director Craig "Silirrion" Morrison that sheds a bit of light on the crafting revamp. Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Age of Conan turns four, taps SWG for crafting inspiration
|
| Hands-on with The Secret World's mission system Posted: 17 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, Previews, PvE, Opinion, The Secret World, Massively Hands-on, First Impressions, Guides  For the rest of us, there's a nifty interface, some challenging puzzles, and plenty of well-written quest text and dialogue to keep us entertained for weeks at a time. Continue reading Hands-on with The Secret World's mission system
|
| New Embers of Caerus website boasts extensive sandbox feature list Posted: 17 May 2012 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Sandbox  Backstory is a big deal to the devs as well, if the new site's lore section is anything to go by. There's plenty of reading material about the world, its factions, and a bit of story to pass the time while you're waiting for the game. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
|
| DUST 514 handing out first beta keys tomorrow Posted: 17 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, DUST 514  It is unknown how many keys will be sent out and to whom. Last month, CCP told Fanfest attendees that they would be among the first to test the anticipated MMOFPS. The DUST 514 website states that the studio is sending out Fanfest keys first and those to standard registered players "soon after." To celebrate the release of the closed beta keys, CCP is holding a "special event" over the weekend. The details of this event are forthcoming.
|
| The Daily Grind: Do you judge all MMOs by the same standard? Posted: 17 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Xsyon, Sandbox  And yet, many so-called sandbox fans seem to expect games like Xsyon, Darkfall, and others to be as polished as World of Warcraft, RIFT, and other themeparks with fewer features and several times the budget. For today's Daily Grind, we'd like to know how much (if any) slack you cut developers of sandbox and/or indie MMOs. Do you hold these games to the same standard that you hold a triple-A themepark?  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!
|
| Amazon to offer special limited-time deals on TERA, RIFT, others Posted: 17 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Real life, Final Fantasy XI, News items, Free-to-play, RIFT, Final Fantasy XIV, TERA, Need for Speed World, Miscellaneous 
[Source: Amazon press release]
|
| The Elder Scrolls Online factions profiled Posted: 16 May 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, News items, Races, The Elder Scrolls Online  Three alliances control the political scene in The Elder Scrolls Online's Tamriel, and Game Informer is taking a closer look at all of them, starting with the Daggerfall Covenant and the Aldmeri Dominion. The Daggerfell Covenant is made up of the Orcs (also called Orsimer), Bretons, and Redguards -- although the latter two are coming out of something of a love-hate relationship, with a history of as much internal conflict as external. Apparently time does heal all wounds, though, because the three races have worked out a democratic system of mutual love and respect. The Orcs and Bretons call the beautiful land of High Rock home, while the Redguard are based in Hammerfell. The Aldemeri Dominion is a more hostile power composed of the Altmer, the Bosmer, and Khajiit and intent on total domination. Also known as Wood Elves, the Bosmer call Valenwood home (surprise: It's a heavily wooded area) and enjoy tramping through forests, living in harmony with nature, and building cities in migratory trees. The Altmer, or High Elves, can be found in the little-known Summerset Isles. The Khajiit, who missed out on the alternative name lottery, live in Elsweyr, whose climate is ideal for the cultivation of Moon Sugar. Got all that? Study up, there'll be a test. Feel free to read the full profiles, and keep an eye out for Ebonheart Pact information on Friday.
|
| Free for All: Planet Cyrene adds to the high-stakes worlds of Entropia Posted: 16 May 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Launches, New titles, Previews, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Humor, Free for All  Remember, this is the Entropia Universe we are talking about, and that means players will spend real money on bullets, armor, and practically everything else. Fortunately, players can earn items that are worth real money as well. Call it gambling or whatever you want, but it still seems to be a pretty successful formula. Continue reading Free for All: Planet Cyrene adds to the high-stakes worlds of Entropia
|
| MMO Family: The state of the game (at school) Posted: 16 May 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Opinion, Kids, MMO Family, Family, Miscellaneous  So why haven't we seen more educational MMOs, and why has there been a gap when it comes to technology at home vs. at school? In this week's MMO Family, we'll look a few issues with gaming and learning. Continue reading MMO Family: The state of the game (at school)
|
| Choose My Adventure: Cruisin' with the gang in City of Heroes Posted: 16 May 2012 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Galleries, Polls, City of Heroes, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Choose My Adventure  It was upon reaching this comfort zone that City of Heroes got better for me; this past week has been more fun than the previous ones during this Choose My Adventure road trip. (And yes, I'd even call the torture of the expansive character creation fun. Exhausting, but fun!) What transpired this week? Buckle up and step on the gas to see. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Cruisin' with the gang in City of Heroes
|
| Player's real-life journey honored in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 16 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events, real-world, Guild Wars 2  In a new ArenaNet blog post, Lead Content Designer Colin Johanson shares how bowled over the devs were when they met Wells and why her epic journey had to become part of Guild Wars 2. "If we all took that perspective on life, deciding to make positive changes and refusing to let anything get in our way, it'd be amazing to see how much we'd all be able to accomplish," Johanson said. The team then collaborated to come up with a similar figure for its upcoming title. Thus was born Ameranth, a Sylvari explorer who traverses the width of Tyria with her trusty dog, Anna. When players encounter her, Ameranth is known to say, "Ever since emerging from the Pale Tree, I've had the itch to see what the world has to offer. And what better way than with my own two feet?"
|
| Ragnarok Online update introduces the town of Port Malaya Posted: 16 May 2012 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, Free-to-play  It's been over a year since we heard anything from Gravity Interactive's long-running title Ragnarok Online, but today, the silence has been broken. The studio has announced the game's newest content update, which will allow players to visit the paradisiacal Port Malaya, where "the water's always warm and the monsters are always dangerous." Players level 100 and up will find plenty to do in the new port town, such as "dozens of new quests, including an entire suite of daily tasks to perform." New dungeons also await in Port Malaya, and with new dungeons comes new gear and a new tattoo system that will grant players permanent buffs. Players will need all the power they can get to square off against the myriad new MVP Monsters that inhabit the wilds of Port Malaya. More details on the update can be found on Ragnarok Online's official site, so head on over there and set sail for Port Malaya. [Source: Gravity Interactive press release]
|
| TERA outlines political systems, launches an emblem contest and premium services Posted: 16 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, Game mechanics, News items, TERA  Of course, if your guild is going to boost a candidate running for office, it helps if you've got brand-name recognition. How can you manage that? Perhaps by winning the newly announced Guild Emblem Creation Contest, which gives players a chance to get their guild logos in the game. Or you can just take advantage of the premium in-game services that have just been made available to ensure that your character has just the right winning smile for the next election.
|
| No relief in sight for 38 Studios after emergency meeting [Updated] Posted: 16 May 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Legal, Miscellaneous  It's a loaded question if you consider that the failure of 38 Studios would put the state's taxpayers on the hook for more than $112 million. Schilling has declined to elaborate on the company's state in interviews, and he has not made public how much more funding the company is seeking. It's bad news for the studio, bad news for the state, and bad news for any fans still looking forward to the possibility of Project Copernicus in the future. [Update: Joystiq reports that "it appears 38 Studios put up all present and future IP by the company as collateral," meaning that if the studio defaults, the state of Rhode Island will own all of its game assets. We've tucked some of the ensuing news coverage in the video behind the break.] Continue reading No relief in sight for 38 Studios after emergency meeting [Updated]
|
| EVE talks smack about Diablo III's login woes Posted: 16 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Culture, News items, Humor, Miscellaneous  Oh naw you didn't, girl! EVE Online is letting the trash-talk fly at the newly launched Diablo III by displaying the message "37...3007...315300: It's code for "Play EVE. Servers are up, login is fine" on the game's login screen. This, of course, is making reference to the myriad error codes that Diablo III players experienced over the course of the game's trainwreck of a launch. We don't know whether the folks at Blizzard will bother to respond to them there fightin' words because they could be too busy rolling around in all the money they made from Diablo III to notice. But if they do deign to issue a retort, we'll be sure to let you know.
|
| Runes of Magic shows off the new Champion and Warlock Posted: 16 May 2012 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic  The Warlock is an arcane caster who has delved into the knowledge of the Shadowforge Dwarves, allowing him to act as either a damage dealer or a support character as the situation warrants. Champions are masters of pseudo-mystical forge techniques, with the Champion ultimately being capable of transforming into a special Runic Robot form for increased damage and durability. There are only a few more weeks until the game's next major update, and then players will get to try out the new hybrid classes for themselves.
|
| DCUO's Last Laugh features Hamill as the Joker, lots of new content Posted: 16 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, DC Universe Online, Dungeons  Hamill is joined by DC stalwart Arleen Sorkin (that's Harley Quinn to you, mistah), and Adam Baldwin returns to the role of Superman for the first time since DCUO's launch. The Last Laugh also features a new shield weapon, four new safe house battles, and 8v8 throw-downs in both the Watchtower and the Hall of Doom. The Last Laugh will be freely available to legendary DCUO members, while free and premium players can purchase it via the in-game marketplace, the official website, or the PlayStation Network. [Source: SOE press release]
|
| AdventureQuest Worlds releases its first two action figures Posted: 16 May 2012 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Events, real-world, News items, Free-to-play, Browser  Even if you're not normally the sort to buy action figures, Artix Entertainment has sweetened the deal by making sure that each figure comes with a special in-game house, special armor and weapons, and five playing cards for the game's tie-in card game. If you don't want to wait for them in stores, you can also purchase them directly from the company's online store starting May 18th. The team put together a small stop-motion animation piece as well to celebrate the upcoming figures because honestly, if you've spent this much time thinking about buying an action figure, don't you deserve a toy commercial to cap it off? [Source: Artix Entertainment press release] Continue reading AdventureQuest Worlds releases its first two action figures
|
| Guild Wars 2 writers talk (at length) about MMO story Posted: 16 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2  The interview is a lengthy one (who knew that writers could be so wordy?), and it covers a bunch of ground including the megalithic sprawl of GW2's narrative, the challenges inherent in writing particular races, and the differences between in-game dialogue and cutscene exposition. There's more to it, of course, but honestly the thing is so huge that we're going to go finish reading it after we've jotted down this here news post.
|
| A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Why there are no more Epic Archetypes in City of Heroes Posted: 16 May 2012 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, Classes, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter  Specifically, I was looking back over and noting how a lot of the archetypes I listed wouldn't actually work at all. I've gone on record as having been a big fan of EATs right from the beginning, as they're meant to be classes that break up the regular structure of the game's classes. That strikes me as laudable. But even disregarding the technical aspects of the epics that makes them more complex to develop and balance, I think there are some noteworthy basic problems with them on a conceptual level. We may very well never get another one just because the game has been structured to make them almost a design mistake that's never been corrected. Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Why there are no more Epic Archetypes in City of Heroes
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Massively To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
