MMO Updates |
- E3 2012: SOE teases Vanguard F2P trailer
- SWTOR character transfers now available
- The Game Archaeologist: Maze War
- Aeria Games announces Dragon Knights
- Runes of Magic's Chapter V: Fires of Shadowforge now live
- The Secret World nets 1.3 million beta testers
- The Daily Grind: Are you a fan of repeatable quests?
- ArenaNet hiring character artists, presumably for Guild Wars 2
- Not So Massively: LoL database hack and Diablo III updates
- Captain's Log: It always floods after a drought in STO
- Black Gold Online reveals debut trailer
- Core Blaze unleashes a barrage of screenshots, three new videos
- E3 2012: CJ Games Global's arsenal of games
- Richard Garriott says his new social game is the 'spiritual successor' of his previous work
- The Secret World's third beta weekend begins June 15th
- Leaderboard: Escort vs. limited drop quests
- Wings Over Atreia: Support the war effort and reap the spoils in Aion
| E3 2012: SOE teases Vanguard F2P trailer Posted: 12 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Vanguard, Free-to-play  The spiritual successor to EverQuest has been playable since early 2007, of course, but it looks like SOE is gearing up for a relaunch of sorts (or at least, a reboot of the game's long-dormant PR machine). The trailer runs a hair under two minutes, and it bills Vanguard as both "the ultimate experience for true gamers" and an "action-packed seamless world." The clip also gives us a good look at many of the game's classes, races, and various locations throughout its sprawling three-continent world. Check out the embed after the break. [Thanks to John for the tip!] Continue reading E3 2012: SOE teases Vanguard F2P trailer
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| SWTOR character transfers now available Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic  BioWare says that guilds will not be transferred, so if you're a guild leader you'll need to reform on your new shard and petition customer service for access to your guild bank. The posting says that transfers will be made available gradually, starting with the least populated servers first. An updated listing of servers is also available. Further details, including how to start the transfer process, are available at the official SWTOR site.
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| The Game Archaeologist: Maze War Posted: 12 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Video, MMOFPS, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous  So if today's game seems to be somewhat tenuously related to our favorite hobby, I beg your forgiveness in advance, but I do feel it's pertinent to our exploration of this wonderful genre. The game in question is Maze War, and it holds a general's uniform's worth of medals depicting firsts in the infant genre of video games. Most importantly for us, Maze War was the first graphical video game to be networked and allow players to interact and fight each other. You can see why that may tie in to our current situation. While the game itself certainly never attained the complexity of modern shooters or RPGs, its innovation and pioneering certainly make it worthy of examination. So let's dust it off and get to it! Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Maze War
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| Aeria Games announces Dragon Knights Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New titles, PvP, Free-to-play  Dragon Knights is a free-to-play PvP-centric title that challenges players to save the world by filling out the roster of the titular order. Castle sieges will be one of the centerpieces of the game, with guilds fighting guilds to take and retain these fortresses for their bonuses. Aeria Games says that Dragon Knights will also feature the option to transform into combat-ready enemy creatures, as well as an elaborate political system. The title is currently accepting beta signups, and you can watch the trailer after the jump! [Source: Aeria Games press release] Continue reading Aeria Games announces Dragon Knights
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| Runes of Magic's Chapter V: Fires of Shadowforge now live Posted: 12 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Expansions, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Runes of Magic  The update raises the level cap to 72, adds a new race (the Shadowforge Dwarves), two new classes (Champion and Warlock), and a new continent filled with quest and dungeon content. That's just the tip of the iceberg for Chapter V, too. The devs are planning to add new guild instances and buildings, new battlegrounds, dungeons, elite skills, world bosses, and more over the life of the update. Read all about it at the official Runes of Magic site. [Source: Frogster press release]
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| The Secret World nets 1.3 million beta testers Posted: 12 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Horror, Sci-fi, The Secret World  Funcom CEO Trond Arne Aas says this could be the start of something big: "We are very encouraged by both the numbers of beta registrations and the positive feedback we are getting from our testers. The fact that so many gamers want to play The Secret World combined with the high purchase intent among testers is something we consider a very positive indicator." This news comes right before The Secret World's third beta weekend. Funcom also announced that the title has gone gold and is on track for June 29th's early access and July 3rd's launch.
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| The Daily Grind: Are you a fan of repeatable quests? Posted: 12 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind  This is great if I'm in the mood to grind, but it's also hard on my OCD that compels me to "finish" a questing zone before moving on to the next one. Repeatables are also a slick way for developers to artificially extend the shelf life of a particular zone without adding any new content. What say you, Massively readers. Are you a fan of repeatable quests? Why or why not?  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!
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| ArenaNet hiring character artists, presumably for Guild Wars 2 Posted: 11 Jun 2012 09:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Guild Wars 2  Prospective applicants aren't being asked for a resume. Instead, they're being given two pieces of character concept art. Would-be artists are then tasked with creating a high-resolution mesh for the outfit with very clearly defined space and size limitations. Presumably, applicants who demonstrate skill with the more technical side of things will be asked for more information. If all this sounds like something you're more than capable of, read up on the fine details on the official posting and start modeling!
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| Not So Massively: LoL database hack and Diablo III updates Posted: 11 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game mechanics, New titles, Patches, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III  Dota 2 announced that a limited number of tickets to watch its upcoming tournament The International will go on sale tomorrow for $49.99 each. Heroes of Newerth revealed its new tanky melee initiator Ravenor, and Rise of Immortals released new immortal Kreed along with some much-needed gameplay overhauls. League of Legends' European password database was hacked this week; Riot Games reccomends that all players reset their passwords. The Draven patch also went live this week, adding the new champion to the game and bringing nerfs for Ahri, Darius, Graves and Urgot. Finally, we got our first taste of upcoming MOBA Guardians of Middle Earth's gameplay at E3. Continue reading Not So Massively: LoL database hack and Diablo III updates
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| Captain's Log: It always floods after a drought in STO Posted: 11 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, PvE, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Captain's Log  We still have no formal release date for Season Six, nor have we been given any hint as to when we will see it appear on the STO test server, Tribble. Yet several announcements have been posted by Cryptic on the STO website, some of which have rejuvenated the deflated playerbase. Fleets were given even more information on the anticipated release of the fleet advancement system; Foundry authors have been celebrating the tool's first significant patch in over a year; endgame players got some good news about two new five-person team missions, and a couple of promotions have made at least a few players smile. Join me as I attempt to analyze all the new information! Continue reading Captain's Log: It always floods after a drought in STO
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| Black Gold Online reveals debut trailer Posted: 11 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, Free-to-play  It's been almost half a year since we last heard from Snail Games' in-development steampunk MMO, Black Gold Online, but if you've been holding out for some more steamy, punky goodness, then you're in luck. The studio has finally released the game's debut trailer, which takes players into the heart of the major conflict of the Black Gold world. For the uninitiated, the game ultimately boils down to nature vs. technology, which is represented by an ongoing war between two as-of-yet unnamed factions. On one side of the battle, we have the Nature-Loving-Hippie faction (composed of the bear-like brutes, the feline kosh, and plain ol' humans), and opposing it is the Nature-Hating-Industrialist faction (made up of dwarves, vampires, and steam humans, whatever that means). The object of their war is control of a rare resource known as black gold (no, not that black gold), which is capable of granting great power to those who possess it. That's about all we know for now, though, so while we wait for new information to pop up, busy yourself by checking out the video after the cut. Continue reading Black Gold Online reveals debut trailer
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| Core Blaze unleashes a barrage of screenshots, three new videos Posted: 11 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Previews, News items  Did our E3 preview of Gamania's upcoming title Core Blaze leave you hungry for more hack-and-slash goodness? If so, then boy do we have some treats for you. The folks behind the in-development MMO have released a slew of new screenshots and art as well as a trio of videos just waiting to be devoured. The screenshots run the gamut of everything from boss monsters to UI features and everything in-between, but the real eye-candy comes from the videos. There's plenty of gorgeous footage that showcases the game's action-flavored hack-and-slash combat alongside some breathtaking vistas. But really, there's nothing we can say about them that the videos won't say better themselves, so just head on past the cut and feast your eyes upon them. [Source: Gamania press release] Continue reading Core Blaze unleashes a barrage of screenshots, three new videos
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| E3 2012: CJ Games Global's arsenal of games Posted: 11 Jun 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, Opinion, Free-to-play, Massively Event Coverage  CJ E&M's main focus has actually been in the movies, owning theaters and distributing films. It's also gotten some KPop stars for its music division, but... well, you're at Massively to hear about games, right? That's where Netmarble comes in. CJ E&M bought Netmarble and opened eight studios, six of which focus on PC gaming. Oh, and of course, the company publishes just a few hundred games. This also led to the opening of CJ Games Global in April to help bring over Korean games and publish others, such as Uncharted Waters, with 64 more games to be published in the next three years. One of the main goals of CJ Games, though, is releasing games that aren't as well represented in the current market, such as Uncharted Waters. Continue reading E3 2012: CJ Games Global's arsenal of games
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| Richard Garriott says his new social game is the 'spiritual successor' of his previous work Posted: 11 Jun 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual  Every so often, Ultima Online creator Richard Garriott takes a break from his social gaming endeavors to grant an interview to a fan site. The latest such is on display at Gather Your Party, and Garriott has plenty to say about his current company, Portalarium, and how its new Ultimate Collector title might appeal to UO fans."For us it's a stepping stone. It's an MMO-lite in my mind. Very lite, with more what I will call classical leveraging of casual game mechanics than you will probably see in the RPG, but compared to most casual games, to most social games, it is far deeper," Garriott explains. He's also aware of the amount of skepticism that his turn toward social gaming generates among Ultima fans and MMORPG enthusiasts, but he thinks that's par for the course. "Newness is fraught with a certain kind of risk, distrust and lack of understanding," Garriott says. "I think what I'm building now is the spiritual successor of my previous work."
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| The Secret World's third beta weekend begins June 15th Posted: 11 Jun 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Horror, News items, The Secret World  While The Secret World's conspiracy theorists have their hands full with the game's latest ARG hook, fans who just want to get their hands on the game again won't have to wait much longer. Funcom has announced that TSW's third beta weekend, subtitled Hell Raised (after the dungeon of the same name), will begin on June 15th. This time around, players will be cut loose from the confines of Kingsmouth to run wild in the appropriately named Savage Coast, where the gates of Hell have been flung open to allow all sorts of nasty beasties to make their way into our world. Players will have the opportunity to delve into the mystery of the infernal invasion by taking on the newly added Hell Raised instance. According to Funcom, The Secret World "has received significant enhancements since the last beta weekend, with improved content, gameplay mechanics, and performance." To top it all off, this beta weekend will mark players' first look at the updated combat system. If you haven't already received a beta key and want to get into the beta weekend, all you have to do is throw down a pre-order on TSW and you'll be guaranteed entry. So remember: June 15th. Savage Coast. Be there.
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| Leaderboard: Escort vs. limited drop quests Posted: 11 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Polls, Game mechanics, Opinion, Miscellaneous, Leaderboard  If there are two types of quests that seem to drive everyone bananas, however, they would have to be escort quests and limited drop quests. Escort quests in any video game, not merely MMOs, are aggravating because they take some of the control out of the hands of the player and force them to babysit an often slow-moving, death-seeking sack of idiocy. Limited drop quests can be just as frustrating, because it's here that you know the game is just screwing with you. "Go get six werewolf eyeballs," the quest-giver says, "But, for no good reason other than to suck up your time, not every werewolf will drop an eyeball. Lots of blind werewolves in these here parts, you see." Today you're voting on the quest type that's the most frustrating: escort or limited drops. Which causes you to rip out your hair? Vote after the jump! Continue reading Leaderboard: Escort vs. limited drop quests
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| Wings Over Atreia: Support the war effort and reap the spoils in Aion Posted: 11 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Events, in-game, Opinion, Free-to-play, Wings Over Atreia, Guides  I am so glad you are the understanding sort! You'll forgive me, right? I know that I'd said that this week's Wings Over Atreia would be covering a guide to all the daily quests in Aion, but that was before NCsoft surprised us with a new event mid-week. And since said event ends on the 20th, I thought waiting until the 18th to fill you in would be downright cruel! Besides, the daily quests aren't going anywhere; we'll catch them next week. You might even thank me later for giving you seven more days of freedom. So what's this event that has preempted the (spectacular, informative, and well-worth-the-wait!) already-penned article? It's called The Spoils of War, though technically it is actually two events bundled together: Provisioning the Front Lines and Besh Temple Blitz. Daevas of any level can participate in the first, whereas only those level 55 and up can do the latter. The next question is why participate? Because of the spoils, of course! Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Support the war effort and reap the spoils in Aion
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