MMO Updates

---

• Hyperspace Beacon: All SWTOR classes are useful in Huttball, part two
• New sandbox Xulu Universe begins alpha, offers world-building
• Guild Wars 2 hits 400k concurrent users before launch
• Flameseeker Chronicles: Tips for your first outing in Guild Wars 2
• The Secret World sales at 200,000; Funcom focused on the future
• The Soapbox: Give MMOs a chance
• The Daily Grind: Was Guild Wars 2 worth the wait?
• Help your favorite game win the GDC Online Audience Award
• RaiderZ shows off the Broken Mast
• Not So Massively: D3's legendary effects revealed, Torchlight II launch date imminent
• Wings Over Atreia: Speculation continues for Aion 4.0
• Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond renamed to Starlite with beta incoming
• Gamescom 2012: District 187, Hounds, and Monarch
• Guild Wars 2 launch events coming September 1st
• Orgia Romanus renamed Venus Rising, demo coming in December
• Player memorial scheduled for Guild Wars 2's Sanctum of Rall server on September 5th
• DUST 514 and EVE Online 'initial integration' now playing on Singularity test server
• Leaderboard: Would you have played Copernicus?

Hyperspace Beacon: All SWTOR classes are useful in Huttball, part two Posted: 28 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Classes, PvP, Endgame, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guides, Hyperspace Beacon A few weeks ago, after many weeks of seeing new players in Star Wars: The Old Republic warzones, I thought it would be a good idea to post a little guide on the basics of winning Huttball. Interestingly, that article birthed a conversation about how some classes were better suited for the game, but more importantly, some players had given up on the warzone because they felt that their particular class didn't work in Huttball at all. Admittedly, certain classes do have more utilities that make them a better fit for the game, but I believe every class has its role in this particular arena. And more importantly, I believe that every class can have fun and feel useful. However, some players need a bit of training. Two weeks ago, I covered the Sith Warrior, Jedi Knight, Imperial Agent, and Smuggler classes. In this week's coverage, I'm going to take a look at two SWTOR classes that seems to be built for this game and two others that have more surprises than you might think: the Sith Inquisitor, Jedi Consular, Republic Trooper, and Bounty Hunter. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: All SWTOR classes are useful in Huttball, part two Hyperspace Beacon: All SWTOR classes are useful in Huttball, part two originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New sandbox Xulu Universe begins alpha, offers world-building Posted: 28 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Sandbox Xulu Universe, a new free-to-play MMORPG entering alpha, offers more sandbox elements than you can shake a stick at, by giving players the tools to create their own content, from activities to new worlds. Nanci Solomon, CEO of Xulu Entertainment, stated, "The idea for Xulu Universe was collectively formed in our heads years ago. We've worked hard to bring high-end open play, socializing, and creativity together into a single cohesive experience. Our alpha launch is just an early peek at what's in store, and we look forward to our early user community to help guide our evolution." Xulu Universe is inviting players to join its alpha testing. Those interested can sign up and download the game via the official site. All players will begin with a free ATV and a flying vehicle to facilitate exploration and play. [Source: Xulu Entertainment press release] New sandbox Xulu Universe begins alpha, offers world-building originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2 hits 400k concurrent users before launch Posted: 28 Aug 2012 08:15 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play If you were enjoying Guild Wars 2 during the headstart weekend, you weren't alone. In fact, chances are 400,000 others were doing the same thing at the same time. Although Guild Wars 2 only officially launched in the wee hours of this morning, the game has already hosted 400,000 users online concurrently. At the same time. Yes. ArenaNet and NCsoft have also announced that over one million copies of the game were pre-sold, not counting the one-day pre-orders. Of course, that number will rise as folks purchase the game now that it has launched. President and co-founder of ArenaNet Mike O'Brien stated, "This is the culmination of a five-year journey and to be greeted by this level of enthusiasm by our fans is truly amazing. But really our work is just beginning. Now our focus is shifting to building on this living world we've delivered, continuously refining our game and improving services to ensure our players have the best possible experience." If you are joining in on the launch-day fun, be sure to check out Massively's GW2 launch guide. [Source: NCsoft press release] Guild Wars 2 hits 400k concurrent users before launch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Flameseeker Chronicles: Tips for your first outing in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 28 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, News items, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Guides Welcome to Tyria, adventurer! This is the long-awaited launch day for Guild Wars 2. If you pre-purchased or pre-ordered the game, you've had a while in the world already. If not, then put on your best adventuring cloak and be sure to grab a spare handkerchief! For those of you who haven't been following the game with the feverish eyes of a true fanatic, here are some things to keep in mind when you first strike out in Tyria. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Tips for your first outing in Guild Wars 2 Flameseeker Chronicles: Tips for your first outing in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Secret World sales at 200,000; Funcom focused on the future Posted: 28 Aug 2012 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, MMO industry, News items, The Secret World Funcom's latest entry into the MMO field, The Secret World, has been receiving some less-than-stellar publicity lately with a bit of news involving poor Metacritic scores and layoffs (albeit temporary) at Funcom. It doesn't look like things are changing much yet, unfortunately. TSWSociety.com reports that, in a financial document released today, Funcom is claiming sales of "over 200,000" for the horror-themed title. These sales are reported as being "below expectations" and resulted in an impairment charge of $35,000 US. In the report, Funcom also cites Guild Wars 2's launch date announcement, followed immediately by that of World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, as reasons for The Secret World's subpar performance. But regardless of these setbacks, Funcom is looking ahead according to the company's Director of Communications, Erling Ellingsen, who says that "[Funcom's] focus is now to readjust, roll up our sleeves and focus on the future." Hopefully dark days are not, in fact, coming. [Thanks to Gostik for the tip!] The Secret World sales at 200,000; Funcom focused on the future originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Funcom second quarter financial report for 2012 Via: TSWSociety.com

The Soapbox: Give MMOs a chance Posted: 28 Aug 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, 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. The very first Soapbox was penned by our Editor-in-Chief Shawn Schuster, who posited that MMOs have an hour to grab his attention -- or he was gone like the wind, baby. I understand where he was coming from and mostly agree with his sentiments, especially as someone who deals in many MMOs over the course of a year. Devs should work their butts off to give us a gripping and intuitive experience from the get-go, but lately I'm wondering if even the best beginning is enough for the community. At the risk of over-generalizing, I see signs that there's a chunk of MMO players that will never, ever be satisfied. These are the players who fully judge a game before it even releases, who perhaps relent to give 15 minutes of their precious attention before logging out and trashing the title all over the place, or who never let any past "failure" or perceived slight go so as to give the game another try. To them I want to say: Give MMOs a chance. A real chance. Do this, and you might just be surprised at how these games can delight you. Continue reading The Soapbox: Give MMOs a chance The Soapbox: Give MMOs a chance originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Was Guild Wars 2 worth the wait? Posted: 28 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind Finally, amirite? After years of waiting, wondering, prognosticating, and hoping, fans can now experience Guild Wars 2 with no beta strings attached. While it's still early, there's been time enough to form some first impressions (and heck, time enough for at least one guy to max a character). So what do you think, morning folks? Was Guild Wars 2 worth the wait? 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: Was Guild Wars 2 worth the wait? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Help your favorite game win the GDC Online Audience Award Posted: 27 Aug 2012 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous GDC Online is coming up fast, and now's your chance to get in on the voting action for the conference's annual Audience Award. Starting today and running through September 14th, fans can vote for their favorite persistent online game and cheer for it as the winner is announced at the show in Austin, Texas on October 10th. Past winners have included League of Legends and Wizard101, and voters may pick from "any currently operating persistent online game, whether it be a subscription MMO, free-to-play web game, social network game, or anything else," according to a GDC press release. More info on the contest, potential nominees, and the voting process is available via the official GDC Online website. [Source: GDC Online press release] Help your favorite game win the GDC Online Audience Award originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

RaiderZ shows off the Broken Mast Posted: 27 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Previews, News items, Free-to-play Every character needs to start somewhere. In RaiderZ, "somewhere" is the Broken Mast. It's a coastal zone filled with marauding pirates, malicious sea creatures, and plenty of magical ruins. It's also the first zone to receive a video preview showing off these highlights as well as some of the action combat that defines RaiderZ's gameplay. The video gives an overview of the major threats to adventurers in the area, showing off some visually appealing locations as well as what appears to be the option for environmental destruction. There's also a preview of the magical constructs guarding the heart of the area's ruins. While there's only so much to be seen in a minute-long video preview, it's enough to get a feel for how diverse the zone is. So if you're eager for a look at what you'll be able to smack around once you get in in the game, take a look past the break for the full preview. Continue reading RaiderZ shows off the Broken Mast RaiderZ shows off the Broken Mast originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Broken Mast zone preview

Not So Massively: D3's legendary effects revealed, Torchlight II launch date imminent Posted: 27 Aug 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Video, Culture, Events, real-world, Patches, PvP, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III Diablo III's patch 1.0.4 arrived this week, bringing with it 100 new Paragon levels and a whole series of new legendary items. Players have been hunting for the new legendaries since the patch went live, and one player has put together a video showing some of the new legendary proc effects in action. Torchlight II developers revealed that they are still aiming for a summer release and will announce the exact launch date next week at the start of PAX Prime 2012. Dota 2's $1.6 million US tournament The International got underway this week with the preliminary rounds to determine who will make it to next week's final in Seattle. League of Legends released new champion Rengar this week and announced that nerfs are on the way for Diana, Corki, Graves, and Ezreal. Guardians of Middle-earth developers gave a behind-the-scenes look at the development process this week in a new documentary video featuring some of North America's top competitive MOBA players. Finally, Bloodline Champions released patch 2.6 this week to kick off competitive season six, and Wrath of Heroes released patch 0.24 with its new ornament customisation system and announced upcoming hero Master Albodi. Continue reading Not So Massively: D3's legendary effects revealed, Torchlight II launch date imminent Not So Massively: D3's legendary effects revealed, Torchlight II launch date imminent originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wings Over Atreia: Speculation continues for Aion 4.0 Posted: 27 Aug 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-play, Wings Over Atreia Last week, I dared venture into the realms of speculation about Aion's future, spurred by the announcement regarding update 4.0. Are my musings simply wishful thinking? Perhaps. But you can't blame me -- NCsoft started it! Until that point, I hadn't really given much thought to the next big thing. After all, we haven't even seen patch 3.5 yet (more on that next week), and I personally haven't finished the latest content. However, update information is like cheesecake bites: One morsel just doesn't cut it. You want more! So now that the floodgates of Aion 4.0 conjecture have opened, what else might come into the world of Atreia besides the three new classes? In the absence of official word, I have created my own list of features. And topping that list are a few things we have actually seen before; in my opinion, NCsoft should get to cranking out more of the content teased back in 2009 in the famed Visions of the Future trailer. It's time to start delivering on more of those promises made to Aion players so long ago. That means two-person mounts, more regional season changes, and the chance to boldly go where no Deava has gone before: Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Speculation continues for Aion 4.0 Wings Over Atreia: Speculation continues for Aion 4.0 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond renamed to Starlite with beta incoming Posted: 27 Aug 2012 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Real life, News items, Browser, Mobile, Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond, Miscellaneous In the wake of NASA successfully landing a robot rover on Mars recently, you might be wondering what happened to the NASA-themed MMO titled Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond. The first thing that's happened to it is that the project has been retitled Starlite. Project Whitecard Studios Inc. hopes the new name will be less cumbersome and also provide a better idea of what the game is about at a glance. Development has progressed on the game as well, with a beta expected to begin sometime before the end of 2012. Prospective players can experience the game on mobile devices and browsers to minimize barriers to entry. If you're interested in a game focused on the technical side of space travel and exploring to the boundary of our solar system, keep a close watch for news on the upcoming beta. [Source: Project Whitecard Studios Inc. press release] Astronaut: Moon, Mars and Beyond renamed to Starlite with beta incoming originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gamescom 2012: District 187, Hounds, and Monarch Posted: 27 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Horror, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, Previews, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous During this year's Gamescom, we met with the folks of CJ Games for a coffee near Cologne's central station, away from the hectic crowds of the show floors, to talk about what the Korean giant has in store for us in the near future. Earlier this year, CJ Games opened its North American subsidiary, which is tasked with bringing some of the company's most popular games to western audiences, and we were curious as to what it's got cooking. Jon-Enée Merriex, producer at CJ Games, talked us through three of the studio's upcoming titles: District 187: Sin Streets, Monarch, and Hounds. Continue reading Gamescom 2012: District 187, Hounds, and Monarch Gamescom 2012: District 187, Hounds, and Monarch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2 launch events coming September 1st Posted: 27 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Launches, Guild Wars 2, Giveaways Looking for a way to celebrate the release of a certain fantasy title with other like-minded fans? Launch events for Guild Wars 2 are coming a few days after the game's release, but don't go blaming the launch parties for being lazy. They've got to revive several overworked and passed-out ArenaNet employees, after all. ArenaNet has just posted a list of launch events across the US for Guild Wars 2. The events will take place on Saturday, September 1st, in Seattle, Austin, Orlando, New York, and Los Angeles. Devs will be on hand to sign Guild Wars paraphernalia, stage quiz contests, hold raffles, and give away T-shirts, posters, Guild Wars 2 collector's editions, and exclusive in-game items to the first takers. ArenaNet hasn't forgotten its fans in Europe; the studio will be partnering with agencies in the region to hand out similar goodies. Guild Wars 2 launch events coming September 1st originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Launch events list

Orgia Romanus renamed Venus Rising, demo coming in December Posted: 27 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items What's better than an orgy-filled MMORPG? How about an orgy-filled MMORPG that doesn't have orgy in the title so that you can keep the fact that you're playing it on the down-low? FoxySoft wants you to know that it has re-christened the game formerly known as Orgia Romanus. The new name is Venus Rising, but there's still a focus on adult content that the firm's press release likens to that of Red Light Center and portions of Second Life. A playable Orgia Romanus demo is coming your way on December 1st. The build will feature "inter-character relationships, economy, combat, and sample quests." More info is available via FoxySoft's website. [Source: FoxySoft press release] Orgia Romanus renamed Venus Rising, demo coming in December originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Player memorial scheduled for Guild Wars 2's Sanctum of Rall server on September 5th Posted: 27 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play Last month, we told you about ArenaNet's decision to name a Guild Wars 2 server after late gamer Roger "Oldroar" Rall. Today, Rall's guild has issued a press release reminding everyone of an in-game memorial service that's happening on September 5th. The event is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. EDT and will be held on the Sanctum of Rall server at the Shaemoor Garrison in Queensdale. The Gaiscioch Family also says that anyone is welcome to attend via RaidCall. Further details are available at the guild's official website. Player memorial scheduled for Guild Wars 2's Sanctum of Rall server on September 5th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Gaiscioch Family

DUST 514 and EVE Online 'initial integration' now playing on Singularity test server Posted: 27 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, DUST 514, Sandbox CCP has announced that EVE Online and DUST 514 players can now officially communicate with one another in-game on the firm's Singularity test server. DUST mercenaries and EVE capsuleers can chat each other up in the local channels of several empire systems, according to a new CCP forum post. EVE-mail messages can also be exchanged between the two playerbases, and DUST items are now visible on EVE's in-game market (though it's currently impossible to buy them through the EVE client). CCP says initial EVE/DUST interaction is necessarily limited due to several known issues and the age of Singularity's current code base, but today's announcement marks an exciting first step in the firm's long-range plan to merge its long-running sci-fi MMORPG with its new PlayStation 3 shooter. DUST 514 and EVE Online 'initial integration' now playing on Singularity test server originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

Leaderboard: Would you have played Copernicus? Posted: 27 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Polls, Opinion, Leaderboard We just love tantalizing ourselves with "what ifs?" in the MMO sphere, don't we? There are so many alternate possibilities for the development and growth of these games, not to mention all of the ones that didn't even make it to launch day. The most recent of these, of course, is "What if Project Copernicus had actually launched? What if it were as close to completion and as good as they said?" For some, that's just a mild shrug; for others, it's a maddening proposition. Since the collapse of 38 Studios, we've seen several pieces of concept art and videos that will most likely be the closest we'll ever get to Copernicus. So today's Leaderboard is simple: Given everything you've seen and heard of the game, would you have played it? Did Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning convince you that this world would've made for a great MMO? Did Copernicus look like it had merit, or was it yet another fantasy game that probably couldn't compete for your affections? Vote after the jump! Continue reading Leaderboard: Would you have played Copernicus? Leaderboard: Would you have played Copernicus? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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