Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates


Vita’s Launch Bundle Makes the 3G System Much More Attractive

Posted: 28 Jan 2012 06:15 AM PST

Vita launch bundle

PlayStation Vita’s 3G model may not be for everyone, but thanks to a limited-time bundle Sony announced today it may have just become the best available option for those purchasing the system at launch.

Vita comes in two flavors: Wi-Fi-only and 3G. Priced at $250 and $300 respectively, there isn’t much sense in paying an extra $50 for the 3G system unless you have some intention of also paying for 3G service at some point in time. The one exception to this before now was the First Edition bundle which includes the 3G system, some extra goodies, and most importantly, a week’s head start for $350.

But now even those who were intent on saving some money by opting for the Wi-Fi model are going to be tempted to upgrade thanks to the 3G Launch Bundle. In addition to getting the 3G system you’ll also get “over $55 in bonus content.” More specifically, you get an 8GB memory card, an ATT DataConnect Session Pass providing 250MB of 3G access (presumably good for only one month), and an unnamed PlayStation Network game. This all comes at no additional cost — you’re still playing only $300.

“Only $300″ may still sound like too much for some, but if you’re planning on getting a Wi-Fi system, you’ll pay nearly that much anyway. As we already know, certain games — including retail games — require you to have a memory card as the system has no internal storage. And even with the memory cards set to be sold for less than initially believed, they’re still quite pricey. That 8GB memory card alone has an MSRP of $30, meaning you get the 3G system and the other bonuses for only $20 more than the cost of a Wi-Fi system and 8GB memory card.

It remains questionable if the 3G model is actually needed. If you’re on the go a lot and want to play something with asynchronous multiplayer it could make sense, but it’s not as if 3G is a complete replacement for a Wi-Fi connection — only certain features will work over 3G, and a mobile hotspot will arguably do a much better job for the money. And while the pricing is comparable with other 3G service offerings, $15-$30 per month for what could easily turn out to be lackluster 3G support isn’t my idea of money well-spent.

There’s also a question of what the unspecified PSN game you’re getting will be. We know all of Vita’s retail games will be also sold through the PlayStation Store, but I wouldn’t expect to get a free Uncharted download or anything even approaching that. A free game is not an exclusive to this bundle; activating an ATT data plan on the standalone 3G system will also get you an unspecified free game. It’s unclear if this bundle’s bonus game will be the same one, nor do we know if we’ll get to choose a game as we did with the PSN Welcome Back games last year. Escape Plan seems like a possibility, and it’s one I’d be perfectly fine with based on what we’ve seen of it.

The catch with this bundle, which appears to have no downside aside from the fact that you can’t choose between the Wi-Fi and 3G models, is it will only be “an extremely limited edition,” according to the PlayStation Blog. Very often publishers will say this about the collector’s editions of their games, only for those same CEs to be stacked up to the ceiling in stores months after release.

That seems less likely in the case of a hardware bundle of this sort. Even if I’m wrong, Sony’s ploy managed to convince me to pre-order the bundle on Amazon this afternoon for fear of missing out on this deal, and I suspect I’m not the only this is true of.


Posted by: admin in Gaming News
Find related article at: http://www.1up.com/news/vita-launch-bundle-3g

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GunZ 2: The Second Duel (KR)

Posted: 28 Jan 2012 06:15 AM PST


After going through some of the comments in my YouTube channel, there are a couple of posters who are still not sure if kStyle found in GunZ 1 will be appearing in the sequel. The answer, as noted in a post back in December 2011, is a “no”. I might be nearly 2 months late with this news, but here is the full article again for those who did not catch it.

A. GunZ 2 project was started on the second half of the year 2007. But the first 2 years were spent building fundamental technologies and testing, so release point was postponed later than what we originally planned.

A. The noticeable feature of GunZ 2 is the adaptation of Full Physics Game Engine. There are many games which use Physics Engine, but it is mostly used for visual effects or it is used under limited circumstance for multiplay. But, GunZ 2 synchronizes all Physics simulation on the network, and this exclusive technology realizes the users to experience and perform such creative gameplay in GunZ 2 which is completely different from GunZ 1. Unfortunately, the trailer doesn't fully display this feature but as the development progresses and through the release of new information you will see and feel it greatly.

A. No, because developing additional class is a huge job. Sometimes we heard about adding a healing class rumor, but this was never an issue even from the beginning. For the official service, total of 3 classes will be launched, and these include female assassin, male fighter, and female heavy characters which weren't shown on the trailer.

A. Of course. We just didn't apply the equipment change part for GSTAR because of the limited time for the show. We already prepared enough costumes to present for the official version, and you will see it as more information about GunZ 2 reveals.

A. Yes. We consider PvE mode in GunZ 1 as just a foretaste. We were determined to make attractive and enjoyable PvE mode so user can also have fun just by playing PvE mode. However, PvE mode is not enough to experience everything about GunZ 2. Our ultimate goal is to provide more experimental features in PvE to bring a brand new gaming experience for players.

A. kStyle from GunZ 1 will not be included in GunZ 2. We acknowledge that kStyle would have enhanced the popularity of GunZ 1 but it is also true that it holds many derivative problems. And also we doubt for the necessity to keep kStyle since GunZ 2 will have totally new tactics and controls. Just considering what we have planned for GunZ 2 so far, we believe that there is enough content to exceed GunZ 1 and provide a lot of enjoyable features. So there is no need to be disappointed about kStyle.

A. We are currently working on the contents and elaborating more on Full Physics Game Engine. It is hard to tell definite timing for release but it is our goal to release early next year (2012) in Korea.

A. So far, only the release of Taiwan, Macao, and Hong Kong during the third or fourth quarter of 2012 is confirmed. Since GunZ 2 is receiving lots of attentions from many game publishers of different territories, we hope to be able to release regarding additional officially servicing territory by early next year.

A. Not at all. Actually it is difficult to say that it won't happen in the future, but for now we can't prepare for such service plan or the operating team. We think that we have accumulated good experience while leading an international service for GunZ 1, but it is out of our capacity to operate an international service in our own at this moment.


Posted by: admin in Gaming News
Find related article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/01/gunz-2-second-duel-kr-no-kstyle-in.html

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Footage of Cancelled Avengers Game Leaks to the Internet

Posted: 28 Jan 2012 01:27 AM PST

I am the last person to defend THQ

Posted: 18 hours ago by  EKGTrooper

…But you are wrong there. If any pubisher has proven lately that they are a major upcoming force in the video game industry, it is THQ.

Costume Quest

Darksiders

Deadly Creatures

Homefront

Metro 2033

Red Faction Guerilla

Red Faction Armageddon

Saints row 1, 2 and 3

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine

de Blob 1 2

THQ has been making awesome games for the past few years. And have been quickly rising up the ranks.


Posted by: admin in Gaming News
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Army Corps of Hell Tries Way Too Hard, Which is Why It’s Fun

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 06:10 PM PST

When I was in junior high school (centuries ago), I always found the metalhead clique at my school intimidating. Rangy boys with long, oily hair and a collective uniform consisting of boots, black-washed jeans, and black T-shirts imprinted with art from album covers by bands whose names bore gratuitous double consonants and lent themselves to harsh, angular logo designs, the metalheads always hung out together at the side of gym class, discussing their heroes’ latest wailing guitar concoctions and glowering at the rest of the world. They sported the shifty desperation unique to 14-year-olds jonesing for a drag on a stolen cigarette.

It was all kind of alarming for us clean-cut students whose main ambition for gym class was to avoid notice by the jocks and dropouts while hanging out on the sidelines discussing the latest Zelda strategies with each other (dude, if you just keep going up when you get to that one spot in the mountains, there’s a dungeon there!). In hindsight, though, I realize that the metalhead kids were harmless. They never picked on anyone; they never caused trouble outside of skipping class to hang out and listen to noisy music. They were as geeky as the video-game-fixated A-students; the only difference between us was that their obsessions were wrapped up in an affected antisocial style. Their music may have been about volume and screaming and satanic posturing, but it was just that: Posturing. Underneath it all, those guys just wanted to do their own thing, and they wore their ragged Dokken shirts with pride because they sincerely thought that airbrushed zombie warriors chained to naked, guitar-wielding sex slaves was, like, so awesome.



Posted by: admin in Gaming News
Find related article at: http://www.1up.com/previews?cId=3186634

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Dragon Nest Japan

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 01:27 PM PST


I think I am a few days late with this news, but well, better late than never. Over at Tokyo Game Show 2011, NHN Japan, publisher for Dragon Nest Japan, revealed its new cloud system for the game, titled “G Cloud”. In a nutshell, a cloud system basically means that the game will run through the game servers and streamed to devices, without the devices needing the required hardware specs (high end graphics card, high RAM etc).

The mantra and slogan behind this system is “No Install’, “No Spec” and “No Waste”, which you can see below from a signboard shown at the press conference.


With this presentation, we can see that Dragon Nest is running on Android tablets and even netbooks with no discrete graphic cards. What’s more, no installation of the game client is needed on these devices! Perhaps the only concern will be a stable connection. But still, with cloud gaming the talk of the town even in the West, this service looks very promising!


Posted by: admin in Gaming News
Find related article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2011/09/dragon-nest-japan-cloud-system-revealed.html

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Ragnarok II (KR)

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 12:09 PM PST


(Game website) After years of delay, months of beta testing and millions of fans waiting anxiously, Ragnarok Online II (Korea server) will finally be entering Open Beta! This will happen on 22nd February 2012, late next month, burying all the negative news that the game will once again be postponed. Those of you with a Korean Social Security Number (KSSN), are you ready?!


Posted by: admin in Gaming News
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MMO Updates

MMO Updates


The Road to Mordor: Riders of Whoa-han!

Posted: 28 Jan 2012 09:00 AM PST

Filed under: , , , , ,

LotRO
This past week we heard from Turbine about its general plans for Lord of the Rings Online in 2012, and while it may not have hit everything on my personal wish list for the year, it was a good start.

I was mulling over the question of whether it's better for MMOs to show all of their big cards up front like Turbine or to parcel them out over the course of the year. Both have advantages, of course. Front-loading the year with a broad overview like this gives players long-term reasons to stick with the game, but it also can steal the exciting thunder from these events down the road. On the other hand, measuring the big news out during the year would probably give Turbine more publicity, but it could frustrate players who might feel "in the dark" about the company's plans.

In any case, we got what we got, and there's a lot to chew over for this week's column: unbound skirmish soldiers, Riders of Rohan, the Great River, and the fifth anniversary. So let's get started!

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Riders of Whoa-han!

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Riders of Whoa-han! originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    WRUP: Apropos of nothing, Star Trek Online edition

    Posted: 28 Jan 2012 07:00 AM PST

    Filed under: ,

    I do keep getting tempted back.
    The last several weeks have pretty much had at least one or two major stories about a certain game that launched recently. So, apropos of nothing, here's a picture of Star Trek Online, which is not the game in question. It recently went free-to-play, also, which is pretty noteworthy if you haven't tried it despite wanting to see what it's like. As for me, I'm not playing it right now, but I did enjoy it when I tried!

    I know -- you'd expect random cute animals from me instead. I like to break expectations.

    Apropos for the end of the week, it's time for another installment of WRUP, in which we, the Massively staff members, talk about our plans for the weekend. We're also talking about what games have been out the longest before we played them. So jump on past the cut to see what we're up to over the weekend, and let us know your plans in the comments!

    Continue reading WRUP: Apropos of nothing, Star Trek Online edition

    MassivelyWRUP: Apropos of nothing, Star Trek Online edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Should MMO companies reveal server loads?

      Posted: 28 Jan 2012 05:00 AM PST

      Filed under: , , , ,

      SWTOR
      As long as I've been playing MMOs, game companies have been obfuscating server loads. Oh, sure, you can make a pretty good guess as to how many players are playing on your server. You can look at one of the MMO charting sites, use a tool to parse how many people are in various zones at set times, or wave a calculator at the fine print in quarterly earnings reports, but those methods are admittedly imperfect. We're usually left with vague categories like low-, medium-, and high-population, terms that aren't comparable from game to game. High-pop for EVE Online doesn't mean the same as high-pop for Warhammer Online, after all.

      I can understand why studios want to hide the numbers. Players are bitterly cruel when it comes to data like these, and a small reduction in population one night could lead to a snowball effect of self-fulfilling doom-and-gloom prophecies. Still, players like to know how many other people they can expect to encounter on their server since that helps them plan which server (and which MMO) might be right for them. What do you think -- should MMO companies reveal the precise numbers behind their server loads?

      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!

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Should MMO companies reveal server loads? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        WAKFU releasing February 29th, stress test coming this weekend

        Posted: 27 Jan 2012 06:00 PM PST

        Filed under: , , , , , , ,

        WAKFU - lots of players
        It's a big weekend for WAKFU fans. The free-to-play fantasy sandbox from Ankama has announced the worldwide release date (February 29th) in a posting on the game's official website. The team picked the leap year date on purpose as a way of cementing WAKFU's reputation for doing things "that little bit differently."

        The devs have also released a new video diary focusing on the game's monsters and PvE gameplay.

        Finally, there's a stress test going on this weekend to help Ankama prepare for the upcoming launch. Make sure you log in on Saturday and Sunday to help out (and to get your apprentice cloak bonus item)!

        Continue reading WAKFU releasing February 29th, stress test coming this weekend

        MassivelyWAKFU releasing February 29th, stress test coming this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Three hours and out: South Korea considers additional gaming ban for minors

        Posted: 27 Jan 2012 05:30 PM PST

        Filed under: , ,

        South Korea bang
        It looks like being a young gamer in South Korea is getting tougher and tougher. Last year the country put into effect a "Cinderella Law" that prohibited online gamers 18 and younger from logging in to popular games between the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m.. Now the government is taking a close look at an additional law limiting the amount of time played each day for minors.

        The proposed policy comes from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) and would yank account privileges for minors if they played either more than two hours in a row or more than three hours daily. The MEST is concerned about game addiction in minors, citing that it may come from the duration of play sessions.

        The game industry is concerned about possible over-regulation by the government spurred by theories on addiction that haven't been proven. Some are calling for earlier shutdown policies to be overturned if this one is implemented.

        MassivelyThree hours and out: South Korea considers additional gaming ban for minors originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Betawatch: January 21 - 27, 2012

        Posted: 27 Jan 2012 05:00 PM PST

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        Betawatch (GW2)
        It's been a good week for beta-watchers: We've finally learned that Guild Wars 2, currently in a very hush-hush closed beta, will be making its way to our PCs in 2012. ArenaNet has announced that press betas and public beta weekends will begin in the coming months.

        Anime MMO Spirit Tales joins our closed beta list this week, and we've also belatedly added mobile MMO Traveller AR and MMOFPS titles Repulse and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Online to the open beta list.

        Finally, for those looking forward to Firefall, Red 5 Studios will be streaming some beta gameplay tomorrow, January 28th, starting at 2 p.m. EST.

        Enjoy the full Betawatch roundup after the cut!

        Continue reading Betawatch: January 21 - 27, 2012

        MassivelyBetawatch: January 21 - 27, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Enjoy the Repulse open beta with a free Booster Pack from Massively

          Posted: 27 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

          Filed under: , , , ,

          Repulse
          If you're an FPS fan, you likely already know that open beta for Repulse has begun. Whether you've been checking it out since the January 23rd OB start date or it's still on your "I really need to find time to try that" list, we've got a little something to boost your gameplay.

          Aeria Games has given us codes for an explosive booster pack containing seven days' worth of goodies: a Manta X, Torch Pack, and EMP grenades. Want one for your very own? All you have to do is get a code from our giveaway page at the link below. Then visit Repulse's Booster Pack redemption page and follow the instructions to receive your items.

          Once you've done that, you're ready to hop into the open beta of Repulse and do some damage -- good luck!

          MassivelyEnjoy the Repulse open beta with a free Booster Pack from Massively originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Activists target SWTOR's future same-gender romances

            Posted: 27 Jan 2012 03:30 PM PST

            Filed under: , , ,

            I'm sorry, Nalen, we just can't be like this anymore. What would my parents think!?
            It looks like the notorious Family Research Council has decided that it's again time to dust off its pitchforks and light some torches, and this time the organization has Star Wars: The Old Republic in its sights. In a post on the Family Research Council's website, president Tony Perkins announced that "in a galaxy not so far far away, Star Wars gamers have already gone to the dark side."

            Why are SWTOR players seeing a sudden influx of dark side points? Because, as the group states, "the new video game, Star Wars: The Old Republic, has added a special feature: gay relationships." Well, not quite -- fans of the game know that same-gender romance arcs have been slated to be a post-launch feature since last fall but are still not part of the live game. The FRC is calling on players to think of the children and claims that parents and forum-goers alike are bothered by this "Star Warped way of thinking," asking them to "show companies who the Force is really with!"

            Massively addressed the topic in a 2010 opinion column. You can read the organization's full statement at the link below.

            MassivelyActivists target SWTOR's future same-gender romances originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Firing Line: Newsplosion edition

            Posted: 27 Jan 2012 03:00 PM PST

            Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

            The Firing Line - zomg it's S.T.A.L.K.E.R. header
            Holy carp there was a lot going on in shooter circles this week! Between the news blurbs, videos, and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. memories (yes, I said S.T.A.L.K.E.R, and damn that takes a long time to type), there was nearly enough information for two editions of The Firing Line.

            Luckily for you (and for my overworked editor), I managed to keep the word count down. Let's not kid ourselves, though; there's plenty of interesting stuff after the cut. Join me for the latest on dueling World War II aviation MMOs, a new free-to-play shooter from Crytek, the requisite PlanetSide 2 lovefest, and some official dev answers to last week's Taikodom question.

            Continue reading The Firing Line: Newsplosion edition

            MassivelyThe Firing Line: Newsplosion edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              The Secret World's Øystein Eftevaag gets technical

              Posted: 27 Jan 2012 02:30 PM PST

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              Screenshot -- The Secret World
              When it comes to gameplay, we've heard about The Secret World inside and out. We know all about the Dragons, the Illuminati, and the Templars and the ongoing war against the encroaching darkness. But what about what's under the hood? The folks over at The Hydra Initiative decided to have a chat with Funcom's lead programmer, Øystein Eftevaag, about the Dreamworld Engine, which is shared between Age of Conan and TSW. Eftevaag notes that the TSW team benefits from sharing the engine with Age of Conan, saying, "The main benefit of this to The Secret World, is that the features being collaborated on (like, say, memory usage improvements, loading time improvements and the upcoming single-server technology) get the full development and testing resources of two whole projects focused on them."

              So if you want to know all about The Secret World's engine and what makes the game tick, just click on over to The Hydra Initiative and have a look. If you're in search of more gameplay details, however, you're just going to have to sit back and wait. With the game's April launch fast approaching, we're sure Funcom has something planned.

              MassivelyThe Secret World's Øystein Eftevaag gets technical originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              RIFT details upcoming Expert Mode dungeon changes

              Posted: 27 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST

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              Screenshot -- RIFT
              RIFT's patch 1.7: Carnival of the Ascended is bringing with it some pretty neat things, such as in-game marriage, PvP improvements, and the eponymous Carnival of the Ascended. But long-time, high-level players are probably most curious about the changes coming to Expert Mode dungeons. Tier 1 and tier 2 Expert Mode dungeons are merging into a single Expert tier.

              What this means is that all players with tier 1 gear will keep that gear (which will be improved by item changes being introduced in the patch), but it will never drop again. The upgraded versions of tier 1 gear will drop in its stead. Previous tier 1 dungeons have had their difficulty increased to be more on par with tier 2 dungeons, and Trion Worlds has also "turned the dials up a bit higher on some encounters to keep things interesting with your flashy new gear."

              For the full details on all of the changes coming to the Expert Mode system and the endgame gear system, just click on through the link below to the RIFT official site.

              MassivelyRIFT details upcoming Expert Mode dungeon changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Amazon.de begins Guild Wars 2 preorders, claims June 30th launch date

              Posted: 27 Jan 2012 01:00 PM PST

              Filed under: , ,

              Guild Wars 2
              Just in case speculation for Guild Wars 2's launch date wasn't running quite rampant enough, Amazon.de has begun taking pre-orders for the game. Furthermore, the site claims a launch date of June 30th, 2012.

              Community members have already picked up on it, but is there truth in the date? We checked in with NCsoft West for the official word: "We have not released an official launch date within 2012 as feedback from our closed and open marketing betas will help us determine an exact release date. We will release Guild Wars 2 when it is ready."

              We do know that the Guild Wars 2 development team is revving up for plenty of beta testing in February, March, and April, and the company has confirmed that GW2 will launch this year.

              MassivelyAmazon.de begins Guild Wars 2 preorders, claims June 30th launch date originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              MMObility: The best Glitch apps and websites

              Posted: 27 Jan 2012 12:30 PM PST

              Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

              Glitch database screenshot
              Glitch is a wonderful game, but it can be a bit confusing. The sheer number of items, places, and ingredients can make navigating the world of Ur difficult. I decided I needed some assistance living in the world of the giants. It took but one post on the forums before the helpful community overwhelmed me with choices. The developer of Glitch, Tiny Speck, made sure that players and third-party developers can have a go at making applications or websites that connect to the game's information and characters. I had no idea how many people had created some sort of app or website so far!

              I started to try them all out, and as of the time of this writing, I have barely scratched the surface. There are apps or websites for almost anything you can think of. I have already found some that I really like, and I wanted to share them with you. Feel free to let me know which ones you like, and why, in the comments section.

              Continue reading MMObility: The best Glitch apps and websites

              MassivelyMMObility: The best Glitch apps and websites originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Aventurine 'sprinting' toward Darkfall 2.0

                Posted: 27 Jan 2012 12:00 PM PST

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                Darkfall
                As Darkfall "sprints" down the road toward its second incarnation, bloodthirsty PvPers are looking to Aventurine for more information about how their favorite game world is being remolded. Tasos Flambouras came forth today with word that not only is the project still powering forward, but the development team is growing as new hires are brought on to assist in the efforts.

                Flambouras uses the post as a progress report and To Do list all in one. Perhaps the most exciting teases that he mentions are new methods of progression in the game. "These are significant and exciting changes to the way the game is played because they add more purpose to player freedom," he writes.

                Currently the art team is adding and revamping many of the game's objects and animations, while the world builders are hammering away at Mahirim. As part of Darkfall 2.0, introductory dungeons will be integrated into the game to help newbies get a foothold in the cutthroat MMO.

                The team is also experimenting with "alternatives" to player respawn time after deaths, as well as a brand-new market system and improved trading experience.

                MassivelyAventurine 'sprinting' toward Darkfall 2.0 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Storyboard: Three guys walk into a bar

                Posted: 27 Jan 2012 11:00 AM PST

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                Never underestimate the power of gold trim.
                My days of playing Magic: the Gathering are... well, they're not over, exactly, but I'm certainly not in my heyday any longer. Despite this, I've made no secret of the fact that I still avidly read Mark Rosewater's Making Magic column because the stuff he says in the column is applicable to game design in general. There are a lot of ideas that I've drawn out of there over the years, and one of the ones that's stuck with me is the Timmy-Johnny-Spike split that Rosewater's quite fond of explaining at length.

                For those of you not interested in reading a decade's worth of columns just to understand what I'm talking about, the three names in questions are the so-called "psychographics" for Magic's audience, three psychological snapshots of why people play and enjoy the game. They're useful tools for understanding the reason certain cards resonate well with some players and not with others. And they're applicable to almost everything -- even roleplaying.

                Continue reading Storyboard: Three guys walk into a bar

                MassivelyStoryboard: Three guys walk into a bar originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Some Assembly Required: A Mortal Online interview

                  Posted: 27 Jan 2012 10:00 AM PST

                  Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

                  Some Assembly Required - blueprint header
                  I recently had the opportunity to fire off a few questions to Henrik Nystrom, and the Star Vault CEO was kind enough to provide some interesting insights into the firm's Mortal Online fantasy sandbox.

                  Though Mortal is thus far renowned for its full-loot PvP ruleset, it's also got a number of nifty features that you may be unaware of, with more on the way. Join me after the cut for a lengthy discussion of the new Awakening expansion as well as a glimpse into Nave's future.

                  Continue reading Some Assembly Required: A Mortal Online interview

                  MassivelySome Assembly Required: A Mortal Online interview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    MMORPG News

                    MMORPG News


                    Lord of the Rings Online: Screenshot of the Week: LOTRO Edition: Winner's Announcement

                    Posted: 27 Jan 2012 01:59 PM PST

                    We've pored over your many awesome LOTRO screenshots for this week's "Screenshot of the Week," and today we're excited to announce the winning entry!

                    General: RTSGuru | The Year Ahead in eSports

                    Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:08 AM PST

                    eSports are a fast-growing segment of the online gaming community overall. This year promises to be a big year for eSports with big events being prepared for traditional tournament favorites like Starcraft II and MOBA games such as League of Legends. Read more about this what potentially lies ahead for eSports in 2012 at RTSGuru.com.

                    Wakfu: Officially LaunchingFebruary 29th

                    Posted: 27 Jan 2012 08:46 AM PST

                    Square Enix and Ankama Games are taking advantage of the extra day in February to officially launch Wakfu around the world. Wakfu will officially hit retail release on February 29th, Leap Year Day.

                    Wurm Online: The Official Wurm Review

                    Posted: 26 Jan 2012 03:34 PM PST

                    Wurm Online is a game that hearkens back to the "good old days of MMOs" so much so, in fact, that players are clawed, mauled and otherwise brutalized. Success is success however and hard fought brings pride. But is Wurm Online FUN? Find out in our official review!

                    Rift: Chronicles - The Planes of DOOM

                    Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:16 PM PST

                    In our latest Chronicles of One Telaran, we take a forward look ahead at the impending Rift v1.7 "Carnival of the Ascended" update. Included in the pithy commentary are descriptions of weddings and the Planes of DOOM! Check it out!

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