MMO Updates |
- Why I Play: EVE Online
- Otherland's first beta weekend begins on August 31st
- Guild Wars 2 accounts already prey to phishing, hack attempts
- Free Realms showing off Sunstone Valley tomorrow
- The Daily Grind: What's one great thing from every MMO you've played?
- Jukebox Heroes Extra: An interview with Inon Zur
- Massively Exclusive: A preview of Champions Online's newest hero and new vehicles
- Massively Speaking Episode 214: Head start
- World of Warcraft releases pre-expansion patch
- Firefall reveals founder's packages, special deals available at PAX
- Playnomics puts gamers into eight categories
- RaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business
- Jukebox Heroes: Guild Wars Prophecies
- Knight Age open beta launches today
- A critical look at Guild Wars 2
- ArenaNet offers clarification on Guild Wars 2 bans
| Posted: 29 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Professions, PvP, Opinion, Sandbox, Why I Play  I've heard it said that EVE is a long-term commitment, a statement I find hard to argue with as at only 26 years old I've been playing EVE almost continuously for a third of my life. It's not just been a game to me; at times it's been a way of life, a refuge from stress, a way to stay in touch with friends, and even a place to learn skills that can apply to the real world. Thanks to Massively, my attachment to EVE has even grown from a hobby to a career in writing and games journalism. I've had numerous periods of low activity in EVE and even quit for months at a time, but something always brings me back to the world's biggest sci-fi sandbox. In this article, I look back at what drew me to EVE initially, some of the unusual factors that have kept me playing EVE over the past eight years, and the reason I'm still motivated to subscribe to this day. Continue reading Why I Play: EVE Online
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| Otherland's first beta weekend begins on August 31st Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Otherland  This first test weekend, however, will be kept relatively small. Otherland Product Manager Florian Hörpel stated, "A small, manageable group of accounts will be given access to the servers for the first closed-beta weekend. This is because we want to get a feel for the limits of the systems." Interested players who do not receive an invitation this time around shouldn't despair -- they will have the chance to join in future beta events. Sign-ups to participate are on the official site. [Source: Gamigo press release]
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| Guild Wars 2 accounts already prey to phishing, hack attempts Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play  Along with many others, multiple Massively staff received an email (or two) stating that someone had requested a password change, and it definitely wasn't them. In the case of receiving this notification, do as ArenaNet instructs in the email: Nothing. Some folks are also reporting phishing attempts to obtain account information. Never reply to such email, and remember that ArenaNet will never ask for your password. Players can take steps to increase their account security. Since the log-in name is required to be an email address, use an email dedicated to only the GW2 game account and nothing else. Also, make sure you use a unique (and hard to guess) password and never share it.
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| Free Realms showing off Sunstone Valley tomorrow Posted: 29 Aug 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Previews, Free-to-play, Free Realms, Kids, Family  Starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday, August 30th, Free Realms developers will broadcast Sunstone Valley's features on Twitch TV. You'll need to be prompt, as the webcast is only expected to take 15 minutes. Sunstone Valley is a rocky canyon that's home to a clan of uppity dwarves, a place called Wheelie Pete's, and the awesome Rumbledome.
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| The Daily Grind: What's one great thing from every MMO you've played? Posted: 29 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous  Similarly, with MMOs, I believe that there's at least one great thing in each game. Whether you hated it on sight, fell in love with it, grew to dislike it, or have regularly bashed it in your favorite MMO site's comment sections, if you're honest, you should be able to pinpoint that one thing. Today, I propose an interesting exercise. List all of the MMOs that you have played to any decent length (i.e., more than a one-hour trial), and then share with us one great thing from that game. Was it the graphics, the community, a cool gameplay feature, or another aspect entirely? If you're honest -- and push down that sarcasm that's threatening to bubble up -- I bet you can fill out this list completely. Get to it!  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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| Jukebox Heroes Extra: An interview with Inon Zur Posted: 28 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: EverQuest, EverQuest II, Interviews, MMO industry, RIFT, TERA, Miscellaneous, Jukebox Heroes  Israeli-born Inon Zur was hard at work in the film, TV, and video game industry in the '90s, but it wasn't until 2002's Icewind Dale II that his music and fame started to climb to a whole different level. Zur started winning awards left and right for his work on Dragon Age, Fallout 3, Prince of Persia, and Men of Valor, among other titles. MMO players might not know it, Zur's deft hand is all over the place. He's composed several EverQuest and EverQuest II expansions, the now-defunct Exteel, last year's RIFT and most recently, TERA. As a driving force behind MMO music, Inon Zur has a unique perspective on what makes for a great audio experience. Want to hear more? Us too. We have a great interview with Zur as well as a few select pieces of his works after the jump. Continue reading Jukebox Heroes Extra: An interview with Inon Zur
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| Massively Exclusive: A preview of Champions Online's newest hero and new vehicles Posted: 28 Aug 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online  It's no secret that the game is adding vehicles, but we have a first look at some of this hardware as well as the new hero Nighthawk. Vehicles are kind of Nighthawk's bag because he's also kind of a big deal, so the two previews go together like peanut butter and a spoon to hold your peanut butter. Check out the trailer just past the break, and keep your eyes peeled for more information about how you can get your own lowrider of justice in the game. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release] Continue reading Massively Exclusive: A preview of Champions Online's newest hero and new vehicles
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| Massively Speaking Episode 214: Head start Posted: 28 Aug 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, Dark Age of Camelot, Lord of the Rings Online, MMO industry, News items, Ultima Online, Guild Wars 2, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous, Neverwinter  Just warning you: We might be talking a bit about GW2 today. It is... unavoidable. Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes. Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 214: Head start
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| World of Warcraft releases pre-expansion patch Posted: 28 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Expansions, Patches, Guides  While playable Pandaren and Monks aren't available until September 25th, there's plenty to chew on with patch 5.0.4. Players will experience the massive talent revamp that eliminates the old talent trees entirely, a spellbook overhaul, AoE looting, cross-realm zones, UI changes, significant currency conversions, and account-wide achievements, mounts, and pets. The patch will be up following extended maintenance, and our sister site WoW Insider has been hard at work preparing a massive Mists of Pandaria guide for current and returning Azerothians.
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| Firefall reveals founder's packages, special deals available at PAX Posted: 28 Aug 2012 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Business models, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Promotions  This week's PAX convention will see the studio begin selling its founder's packages, complete with special attendee discounts. The packages start at $15 and offer an assortment of "convenience and cosmetic items." Check out the Firefall website for further details, and don't forget to watch the founder's package video after the jump. Continue reading Firefall reveals founder's packages, special deals available at PAX
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| Playnomics puts gamers into eight categories Posted: 28 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Miscellaneous  Combining behavioral science and in-game data, the company created a neat infographic that attempts to sell you on the concept of these eight categories, which uses the axes of intuitive/diligent, social/solus, and proactive/reactive. The end result of these fundamental types is composed of scientists, politicians, collectivists, soloists, habitualists, socialites, strategists, and competitors. When applied to the population of the UK, the study showed that strategists (32%) and politicians (22%) are dominant, while soloists (5%) and habitualists (5%) are the minority.
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| RaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business Posted: 28 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Previews, Free-to-play  Ingen Free Port is supposedly a "safe harbor" for visitors, offering an array of services and vendors to heroes looking for a respite from non-stop combat. Senior Producer Mark Hill says that it's important for the company to show the quieter side of the game world: "The kingdom of Rendel and its many bustling cities, like Ingen Free Port, is key to bringing the world of RaiderZ truly to life." Perfect World will be promoting RaiderZ at PAX Prime, but you don't have to wait until then to see Ingen Free Port. We've got the full flythrough after the jump. [Source: Perfect World press release] Continue reading RaiderZ opens Ingen Free Port for business
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| Jukebox Heroes: Guild Wars Prophecies Posted: 28 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Jukebox Heroes  OK, it's a cheap tie-in. I can't help it; Guild Wars has been on my mind this past week, and since the full Guild Wars 2 soundtrack has yet to ship for DirectSong, this will do. Besides, as we well know, music doesn't age at the same pace as games. So why not hit up a soundtrack for the first Guild Wars while we dive into the sequel? At the risk of understatement, I think it's safe to say Jeremy Soule is somewhat well-known in the field of gaming. As a composer, he's tackled projects like Knights of the Old Republic, Icewind Dale, and the last three Elder Scrolls titles. In the Guild Wars community, he is the voice of the musical soul of the game. His compositions are the stuff of heaven: full, ethereal, dreamy. It's almost impossible to separate Soule's work on Guild Wars: Prophecies from the game, especially for those who played Prophecies extensively since its 2005 release. I'll be eager to digest and report on his newest work when it arrives, but until then, let's sample the highlights of his first foray into Tyria. Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Guild Wars Prophecies
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| Knight Age open beta launches today Posted: 28 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events, real-world, PvP, News items, PvE, Free-to-play  The long-awaited event is upon us! People have been looking forward to this day for so long, and all that waiting will now pay off: Knight Age enters open beta testing today! Players entering the OBT will be able to keep their characters, levels, items, and all that jazz for launch, so your efforts won't be wasted. Unlock mounts -- including a new special duck mount -- and strike fear into the hearts of your foes as you charge into battle. Raise pets from tiny pupae into lean, mean, fighting machines. Experiment by fusing two pupae to create a new pet that combines the strengths of both parents. Engage in large-scale PvP battles to fight for the glory of wielding Excalibur, or fight in mounted battles against other guilds. Seize the day. Visit Knight Age's official site to sign up and hit up the game's Facebook page to get in the know. [Source: Joymax press release]
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| A critical look at Guild Wars 2 Posted: 28 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, Lore, New titles, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on  Well, it's finally official: ArenaNet's golden child, Guild Wars 2, has launched, and I'm sure thousands upon thousands of you are too busy playing it to even read this article. On the other hand, it's an MMO launch, so a good chunk of you are bound to be locked out of the servers, unable to launch the client, or any number of other things, and if that's the case, then boy do I have an article for you. But first, allow me to don my flame retardant suit. In the hopes of lowering the deluge of angry emails I'm about to get, let me preface everything by saying this: Guild Wars 2 is a good game -- a great game, even. In fact, I love it. But every time I've had the audacity to mention anything even remotely critical about the title in in-game chat (my first mistake), I've been immediately pounced upon by rabid fans who seem to think that anyone who feels that the game could be better in some regard is a heretic who should just quit the game. So I'm going to do what any rational gamer with a death wish would: take a critical look at Guild Wars 2. Continue reading A critical look at Guild Wars 2
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| ArenaNet offers clarification on Guild Wars 2 bans Posted: 28 Aug 2012 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play  With so many players descending on Guild Wars 2, it is understandable that ArenaNet has taken a few swings with the banhammer over things like offensive names and inappropriate behavior. In order to clarify what names and behavior are specifically targeted for action, ArenaNet has posted an explanation of what's unacceptable. The post also includes the consequences for breaking the rules. The company emphasizes that it will take action against racist names, hate speech, and unacceptable behavior. Accounts participating in a chat offense will be given a three-day suspension; players suspended for name offenses will be required to rename the offending characters. The company also assures players that anyone unsure of the reason behind his or her suspension can ask and the company will respond in detail.
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