MMO Updates

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• WRUP: Everything peaked when I was first exposed to it edition
• The Daily Grind: Do you have a fallback MMO?
• Betawatch: July 14 - 20, 2012
• A look at Guild Wars 2's Sylvari cinematic
• Champions Online provides players with vital news reports
• Taking a deeper look at Salem (and living to talk about it)
• Allods Online gives a glimpse of new expansion areas
• Guild Wars 2 holds beta screenshot contest
• Guild Wars 2 chat with game designer Mike Zadorojny
• RuneScape hands out summer goodies to subscribers
• Some Assembly Required: EQII's Festival of Unity
• MMObility: Glitch's beta grows, charging along the way

WRUP: Everything peaked when I was first exposed to it edition Posted: 21 Jul 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous Using the extremely scientific process of what I'm pretty sure is true, I've determined that the apex of everything coincides precisely with the first time I was exposed to something new. That means that the best video games were the ones I played when I was first exposed to the idea, the best music was the music I listened to when I first cared about music, and the best time to be on the internet was when I first started using the internet. If anyone needs me, I'll be listening to Dire Straits while talking about Dig Dug on a GeoCities guestbook. I guess I can finish up this week's WRUP first, though. That's just the Massively staff explaining what we'll be up to over the weekend as well as discussing whether or not we feel that the term "MMO" is being diluted in such a way as to harm the genre. Jump on past the break to see what we'll be up to, and let us know your plans in the comments! Continue reading WRUP: Everything peaked when I was first exposed to it edition WRUP: Everything peaked when I was first exposed to it edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jul 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Do you have a fallback MMO? Posted: 21 Jul 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Ultima Online, Massively Meta, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous My first fallback MMO, though I'd not have called it that at the time, was Ultima Online. Whenever I got sick of EverQuest or Dark Age of Camelot, I found myself wandering back to my houses in Britannia. World of Warcraft took over for a while, and then Star Wars Galaxies (yes, post-post-NGE) became my safe MMO -- the world to which I could retreat after a particularly nasty break-up with the latest and greatest themepark shiny, something that seemed to happen with increasing frequency as post-WoW games rushed to launch and left me wanting more. More recently, I've set up camp in City of Heroes. I don't play it every day, but since it went free-to-play, it's always there when I need to tool around in something happily familiar that hits all the right nostalgia notes. What about you folks? Do you have a fallback MMO, a game you return to when you're in between games? 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 have a fallback MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jul 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Betawatch: July 14 - 20, 2012 Posted: 20 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, MMO industry, Massively Meta, Betawatch, Miscellaneous This week, we learned that Lord of the Rings Online's Riders of Rohan beta has officially kicked off, though mounted combat isn't quite in yet. But if Hobbits aren't your thing, why not check out End of Nations' first beta weekend, which begins today? You could also sign up for Sevencore's beta for another dash of F2P sci-fi; the test kicks off August 9th. Betawatch also says farewell to Drakensang Online, which has just celebrated its end of beta events with a new continent and trailer. Finally, Guild Wars 2 fans will this weekend embark on the final beta event, enjoying the Asura and Sylvari races and starting zones, a live gem store, and a brand-new PvP map. The complete Betawatch roundup is tucked behind the break! Continue reading Betawatch: July 14 - 20, 2012 Betawatch: July 14 - 20, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

A look at Guild Wars 2's Sylvari cinematic Posted: 20 Jul 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Previews, News items, Guild Wars 2, Races How do you introduce the Sylvari in Guild Wars 2? It might seem like a simple question, but this is a race that's completely new to Tyria. Every element of introduction is up to the opening cinematic. All of the other four races can call back to Guild Wars, but the Sylvari are a blank slate. As Ree Soesbee explains in her rundown of the process for the trailer, this made the Sylvari opening especially challenging for the designers. At the same time, being able to introduce the race with no preconceptions freed up the creative team to make the fundamental elements of the race comprehensible right from the start. That means covering the Dream of Dreams that all Sylvari share as well as the nature of a race whose members are born as fully developed adults. How well did it work? Jump on past the cut and decide for yourself. Continue reading A look at Guild Wars 2's Sylvari cinematic A look at Guild Wars 2's Sylvari cinematic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Ree Soesbee on the Sylvari cinematic

Champions Online provides players with vital news reports Posted: 20 Jul 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play Villainy is afoot in Champions Online. That alone isn't noteworthy; the game is sort of based on the premise of villainy always being afoot somewhere. But there are new faces organizing the villainy, and these individuals are the subject of a new post dedicated to the news of the world. The Cult of the Red Banner has been stealing seemingly valueless heirlooms, Gravitar has been apparently promoting herself via local property damage, and CEO Franklin Stone appears to be murdering his enemies quietly... all issues that heroes will no doubt be called upon to resolve. Do you want your previews with more substance and less fluff? Then you may want to jump on over to the latest UNTIL Field Report, which lists several of the features the development team is currently testing or designing. That includes vehicles, repurposing instanced crafting areas, and the option to "gift" XP to other characters on your account. So even if you don't want to read the news, you've got something to catch up on. Champions Online provides players with vital news reports originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: UNTIL Field Report, News of the World

Taking a deeper look at Salem (and living to talk about it) Posted: 20 Jul 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Historical, MMO industry, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Sandbox We recently sent San Francisco freelancer Emil Vazquez to a demo of Salem, the upcoming colonial-styled, permadeath MMO from Paradox Interactive. This is Emil's impressions of the game; the opinions might not reflect those of Massively as a whole. I was mildly disappointed that I didn't get to personally play Salem at this demo session until I saw the complexity and depth that was par for the course in publisher Paradox Interactive's new crafting-based sandbox. Had I been put behind the wheel of my very own little gothic pilgrim, it would have looked a lot like a beginner's first few hours in EVE Online and been about as productive. Instead, game designer Bjorn Johannessen took me on a tour of Salem's Lovecraft-inspired re-imagining of 18th century America, complete with farms, smithies, and chthonic earthworms. Continue reading Taking a deeper look at Salem (and living to talk about it) Taking a deeper look at Salem (and living to talk about it) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Allods Online gives a glimpse of new expansion areas Posted: 20 Jul 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Previews, Free-to-play, Allods Online The Allods Online community is aflame with excitement over the upcoming New Horizons expansion, and gPotato seems determined to keep throwing fuel on that fire. Today the company posted a brief overview of all seven new allods (zones) coming with next month's update. These new allods range from the spooky, gloomy region of the Lost Expedition to the lush, untamed Jungles of Mboa-Mboa. There's also the demon-plagued Black Rampart, an all-female city called Fenia's Cloister, the murky depths of the Underwater Kingdom, the toasty Cinder Vale, laboratory-run-amok Zone 51, and Metal Municipality, a city undergoing civil war. All in all, it looks to be a diverse travel itinerary for any adventurer. GPotato recently posted the trailer for New Horizons. Allods Online gives a glimpse of new expansion areas originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: New astral allods

Guild Wars 2 holds beta screenshot contest Posted: 20 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Contests, Guild Wars 2 Those of you partying it up in Guild Wars 2's final beta weekend event might be interested to know that you can win a few prizes if you keep your finger hovering over the print screen key. ArenaNet announced that it's holding a Moment to Moment screenshot contest over the course of the weekend. Participants may submit action and landscape shots in an attempt to net a SteelSeries prize package. The package includes a Guild Wars 2 mouse, headset, and mousepad. Submissions will be taken through Monday, after which players will vote on the best to formulate the top 20 in each category. Finally, ArenaNet will pick the best of these 40 screenshots for the prizes. Since you can submit only one action shot and one landscape picture for the contest, Massively advises you to choose wisely! Guild Wars 2 holds beta screenshot contest originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GW2 beta screenshot contest

Guild Wars 2 chat with game designer Mike Zadorojny Posted: 20 Jul 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Massively Interviews Earlier this week, ArenaNet's Mike Zadorojny was in Los Angeles conducting interviews for the upcoming Guild Wars 2 beta event. We sent local freelancer Andrew Ross to conduct the interview. This is largely a preview piece with opinions that may not reflect that of Massively as a whole. Guild Wars 2's final beta weekend is here, and we had a chance to talk with game designer Mike Zadorojny about what we can expect for the upcoming weekend event and next month's launch. We got a sneak peek at the Asura and Sylvari starting experiences and asked a few questions about beta, release, player retention, and the future. Whether you're a die-hard fan or still sitting on the fence, we've got some information that's sure to turn your head. Continue reading Guild Wars 2 chat with game designer Mike Zadorojny Guild Wars 2 chat with game designer Mike Zadorojny originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

RuneScape hands out summer goodies to subscribers Posted: 20 Jul 2012 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Events, in-game, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Promotions If you've paid your dues and gone behind the velvet curtain in RuneScape's exclusive VIP club, swag beyond your wildest imagination awaits. Jagex is piling on the incentives for its members, but only if they stay on board from August 1st through September 30th. Players who subscribe to RuneScape for the next two months will find themselves rolling in 350,000 bonus XP per month, an extra daily spin on the Squeal of Fortune, and several cosmetic items including a tropical islander outfit. Jagex is also dangling one of four mysterious "powerful" items as a reward, although the specifics of these items are currently under wraps. The studio also released a behind the scenes video for RuneScape's Gielinor Games. You may watch it after the jump, but only if you've eaten all your vegetables. Continue reading RuneScape hands out summer goodies to subscribers RuneScape hands out summer goodies to subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Summer Blow-Out, Behind the scenes video

Some Assembly Required: EQII's Festival of Unity Posted: 20 Jul 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events, in-game, Opinion, Free-to-play, Roleplaying, Some Assembly Required Events: From rinky-dink, hole-in-the-wall endeavors to humongous, pie-in-the-sky extravaganzas, you really can't get content that's more player-generated than events designed and hosted by players themselves. Although many smaller venues are regrettably missed (unless you send in tips inviting us to come and check them out, so chop-chop!), Some Assembly Required manages to catch some of the larger events throughout the MMORPG galaxy. One of these events is this week's Festival of Unity being held on EverQuest II's Antonia Bayle server. Since I covered last fall's festival catering to the evil-minded folks in EQII, the Festival of Discord, I felt it was only fair that I go ahead and partake in the cele... I mean, cover the one that brings all the good-hearted folks of Qeynos together in jubilant celebration. And let me tell you, those good guys know how to throw a party! If you have never been to the festival or haven't stopped by yet this year, you are missing out on quite the shindig. Gallery: EQII's Festival of Unity Continue reading Some Assembly Required: EQII's Festival of Unity Some Assembly Required: EQII's Festival of Unity originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

MMObility: Glitch's beta grows, charging along the way Posted: 20 Jul 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Business models, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, Miscellaneous, MMObility If you have been fortunate enough to be included in the Glitch beta, then you might be aware that the developer, Tiny Speck, has really been tweaking, twisting and pushing the game into shape over the last few months. Not only was housing recently redone, but fantastic new housing pieces have come along as well. You can now craft store booths, cash registers, and signage. This means that styling your personal space has become one of the most popular pastimes in the browser-based sandbox. There are new hairstyles, new skills, and ways of showing off your wonderful new profile, including "snaps" -- snapshots taken from in game to be shared, social-network-style. There's so much going on in the game, I am beginning to wonder a couple of things. First, why aren't they inviting new players in yet? Second, why are they charging for this "beta"? Continue reading MMObility: Glitch's beta grows, charging along the way MMObility: Glitch's beta grows, charging along the way originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jul 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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