General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Microsoft Readies Six Updates for March Patch Tuesday

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 08:12 PM PST

With the next Patch Tuesday just around the corner, Microsoft on Thursday published the Security Bulletin Advance Notification for March 2012. Next week's Patch Tuesday will be a lot lighter compared to the one in February. Hit the jump for more.

According to Microsoft's advance notification, the company will deliver six bulletins addressing seven vulnerabilities on March 13, 2012. This is considerably less compared to last month's Patch Tuesday, which brought nine bulletins addressing 21 vulnerabilities. Of the six security bulletins, only one is rated "critical," Microsoft's highest severity rating. All others, as is obvious from the table below, are either rated "important" or "moderate."

Nvidia Among Linux Foundation's Newest Members

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 07:39 PM PST

The Linux Foundation earlier this week welcomed four new members. It's not the number of new members that's important here, though. What's more important is the fact that one these new Linux patrons is graphics chip maker Nvidia. Hit the jump for more.

The Santa Clara, California-based company has joined the Linux Foundation as a silver member. While undoubtedly an important addition, Nvidia is not the first major chip maker on the non-profit consortium's membership roll, which already boasts the likes of Intel (platinum member) and AMD (gold member).

Speculation is already rife that Nvidia plans to open source its drivers. However, the official press release contains nothing regarding the extent and nature of Nvidia's commitment to Linux. In fact, it has little more than the following quote from Scott Pritchett, VP of Linux Platform Software at Nvidia:

"NVIDIA is strongly committed to enabling world-class experiences and innovation with our GPU and mobile products. Membership in The Linux Foundation will accelerate our collaboration with the organizations and individuals instrumental in shaping the future of Linux, enabling a great experience for users and developers of Linux," said Scott Pritchett, VP of Linux Platform Software at NVIDIA."

Of course, Nvidia is not the only company to have joined the Linux Foundation this week. The others to do so are Fluendo, Lineo Solutions and Mocana.

Looking Forward: Our Predictions for Windows 9

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 12:26 PM PST

How do you predict the future? It's easy: There's going to be a Windows 9 in a few years – unless Microsoft pulls an Apple and just goes with, "The New Windows," or "Windows," or something. As for what might be inside Microsoft's future operating system, however, that's a whole 'nother ballgame.

It's not that hard to get caught up in some childlike fantasy when asked to predict the future path of Microsoft's main OS. You know – Windows 9 will allow your desktop to transform into a giant robot, or Windows 9 will be an on-the-fly hybrid OS that transforms into a simpler version of Metro for free-floating tablet devices and the full-fledged Windows 9 when these devices are connected up to a dock/keyboard setup.

Honestly, I kind of like the robot idea.

But let's get serious. What's the likely future direction of Microsoft Windows? Even considering that the general consumer reaction to Windows 8 – assuming it's not just a Band-Aid for tablets while Microsoft devotes the core of its resources to a completely revamped version of the OS – will likely play a role in what Microsoft decides to do within its big follow-up.

One Operating System. Period.

Since one can't mention Windows 8 without saying something about its Metro UI in the very next breath, here's the first prediction: Metro is just the beginning. The meeting ground, as it were. It feels as if Microsoft's grand goal is to unify its devices under a single operating system, similar to how there's always one story written about Apple every three months that suggests the company is on the verge of combining OSX and iOS.

So what are the benefits of transforming Windows into a hardware agnostic platform? Easy: One look and feel for consumers, whether they're using their next-generation Xbox consoles, PCs, smartphones, or tablets. One development platform and unified APIs would allow apps and features to cross over between devices without demanding a huge chunk of developer resources. And, of course, apps could release faster (if not simultaneously) on all devices – great news for those used to waiting six months for a smartphone version of a new PC program to hit. To borrow a phrase from the late Sun Microsystems: "Write once, run anywhere."

I can't foresee how Microsoft might balance the simplicity of its Metro-style interface against the expansiveness of its classic "Desktop" interface – currently a sore point for those playing with Microsoft's squares for the first time. But I do think their roles will switch.

Microsoft will make Metro (or an equivalent tablet-style UI) the dominant measure of Windows 9, which will force the company to find some way to make a simple interface complex when it's warranted. Perhaps this will involve a tighter integration of Windows Explorer (et al) within Metro, versus the cop-out "switchy interface" treatment of Windows 9's predecessor OS. Perhaps Microsoft will turn over a rock and find a Jonathan Ive of software to make this difficult pairing possible.

It's Just a Screen

Microsoft is going to do everything it can to pull devices together as tightly as possible underneath the Windows 9 umbrella. Your tablet won't just be an independent product, for example. It'll interact with your primary computer's Windows 9 installation as if it was your primary (or secondary) monitor. It'll be your Xbox controller or Wii U-style helper interface. It'll be your remote control – not just for interacting with other Windows 9 products, but the traffic cop for guiding data transfers and/or streams to the other Windows 9 devices you own.

I'm not talking about some souped-up Tricorder fantasy where you can suddenly use your Xbox 720 to turn on your kitchen sink from three miles away. But based on Microsoft's brief experiments with "one screen for many purposes" in Windows 8, it's only fitting that the company extends this philosophy to cover even more scenarios (and more devices) with Windows 9. And maybe the company could even let consumers use their Kinect 2 motion-trackers to shift between screens or send their files flying around different devices.

Hey, if Google can let you turn on your lights with your Android phone, Microsoft can surely let your "central data" work in a similar way on any screen in your house.

Thanks, Cloud. Thanks, Valve.

Another no-brainer: Windows 9's going to be tied into the cloud. Just how much, though, remains the big question. At the very least, you can count on deeper integration – perhaps even build directly into the file system – of Microsoft's SkyDrive-based hosting.

The time is not far off when cloud-based storage won't be a separate app you load within Windows or a folder you simply drop things into. It'll just be. You'll still be able to keep certain apps and mission-critical files on your desktop (for performance or security), but Windows' default storage mindset will switch from the local to the ethereal.

Plus, this would give Microsoft a way to upsell customers on virtual storage space and permanently tie them into the Windows family forevermore. Ta-da!

Now, how much crazier we get with the cloud is anyone's guess. This includes everything from behind-the-scenes backups of your entire hard drive, to apps that run completely in the cloud and just require a minimal hook within your OS to function, to the real biggie: A cloud-based operating system. In the latter – which would use techniques Microsoft's been busy patenting – you'd download or physically install just a small chunk of data required to actually boot an operating system. Which I suppose could even be stored on a flash drive, if you want to get really fancy.

The bulk of Windows 9 (or 10?) would live in the cloud – your device would be akin to a terminal. Which makes me wonder how we'd approach software like games: Would these run in the cloud as well and just stream an image to one's device? What happens when one's internet connection is slow, jittery, or non-existent? Does that mean your OS goes offline for good?  Your video game dude dies?

We can keep our heads in the hardware clouds all day long, if we'd like. But at the very, very least, here's hoping that future incarnations of Windows adopt a Valve-like approach to software.

A "buy once, run anywhere" concept could allow a user to authenticate into Windows 9 on any hardware device, and then just as easily download and run apps he or she has previously purchased via the good ol' Microsoft Store. Given just how app-centric Windows 8's Metro UI has become, it only makes sense to let users download (or stream) a "Microsoft Office" app, or a partner's "Adobe Photoshop" app, for example. The world is going digital distribution: Microsoft should, and will, embrace its conveniences for end users.

Giant Robots

And, of course, Windows 9 will allow you to transform your PC into a walking, fighting robot. Separate downloadable content in the form of add-on packs, Microsoft Flight-style, will allow you to train your PC robot to perform common household chores.

For more from David, former Maximum PC editor and Windows enthusiast, follow him on Facebook or Twitter (@thedavidmurphy).

Report: Users Call Personalized Search A "Bad Thing" Due To Privacy, Relevancy Concerns

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 10:23 AM PST

Google raised a lot of eyebrows when it introduced the Google+-infused Search Plus Your World personal results to its bread and butter Search results, but the most publicized criticisms have come from big name companies and government organizations. What does Joe Everyman think about personalized search results? A new survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project asked 2,000 people that very question -- and most users say that hand-tailored results are a "Bad thing."

Pew phrased the question a couple of different ways to get a better grasp on why users liked/disliked personal results: all mentioned having your online behavior tracked in order to provide tailored search results. Just around two-thirds of all respondents -- 65 percent -- said they dislike personal search results because it "may limit the information you get online and what search results you see." A whopping 73 percent of respondents feel that the behavior is an invasion of privacy.

The research group also asked about the perceived ethics of tracking online behavior to deliver targeted advertising: 68 percent of respondents say they're "NOT OKAY with targeted advertising because I don't like having my online behavior tracked and analyzed."

Despite all that doom and gloom, things aren't all bad: 91 percent of those surveyed found exactly what they were looking for "all or most of the time" they booted up a search engine. Check out the survey for yourself if you're a statistics freak, or even better yet, drop a line in the comments below and let us know how you feel about being tracked and targeted with tailored ads and search results. Crappy or awesome?

Check out our guide on how to disable G+ SPYW results in Google searches while you're at it!

Zotac Introduces Three New ZBOX mini-PCs

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 10:16 AM PST

Zotac's ZBOX line of itty bitty mini-PCs must be doing well; new models have been popping up on what seems like a biweekly basis. Nothing changed at CeBIT! The company spent its time at the German tech conference showing off three new ZBOX mini-PCs announced earlier this week -- one standard-sized Sandy Bridge-sporting model, another ZBOX nano offering, and a third with a Blu-ray drive.

The Zotac ZBOX ID82 -- they have to come up with better names for these things! -- sports a Sandy Bridge Core i3-2330M proc, two DDR3-1333 SO-DIMM slots and an open 2.5-inch 6Gbps SATA hard drive bay. Connectivity is handled via four USB 2.0 ports and two USB 3.0 ports.

Meanwhile, the Zotac ZBOX nano ID61 marks the first time an Intel processor has made its way into a ZBOX nano case, the company's press release brags, but it's a Celeron 867 rather than a Sandy Bridge proper. The nano ID61 sports fairly similar specs to the ID82 otherwise, but it only includes a single SO-DIMM slot and cuts the USB 2.0 ports in half -- although it picks up an eSATA port and an IR port in return.

The Zotac ZBOX Blu-ray AD05 moves away from Intel and includes a 1.65GHz AMD E-450 APU with a Radeon HD 6320 GPU. As you might have guessed from the name, the AD05 packs in a 4x Blu-ray/8x DVD read/write drive, but its space requirements cost you some connectivity options; the AD05 includes just two USB 3.0 ports, a single USB 2.0 and a combo eSATA/USB 2.0 port. Two SO-DIMM slots and a 2.5-inch drive bay round things out, but be warned: the AD05's HDD only sports a 3Gbps SATA connection. (The ID82 and nano ID61 both use 6Gbps SATA connections.)

All of the ZBOXes include an Ethernet port and built-in Bluetooth 3.0/Wi-Fi, along with HDMI, DVI-I and S/PDIF ports. Multicard readers are also onboard. Not included: an installed operating system. Preconfigured variants of all three models will be available with 2GB of RAM and a 320GB 5400RPM HDD.

Check out the press release and visit the Zotac site for more information about all three makes. Unfortunately, there's no word on pricing details. Most bare-bones Zotac systems tend to fall between $200 and $300, though.

Wikipedia Dumps GoDaddy Due To GD's Pro-SOPA/PIPA Stance

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 10:11 AM PST

A couple of months have passed since the SOPA/PIPA uproar, and things on the online rights front have simmered down quite a bit, for the most part -- Megaupload and related happenings aside. One organization hasn't forgotten the promises it made in the heat of the moment, however: the Wikimedia Foundation. If you remember, Jimmy Wales said Wikipedia would transition away from GoDaddy's services because of the registrar's support for the controversial bill. That transition is currently underway, Wikimedia revealed in a blog post Wednesday.

The news was hidden in a single line of a long list of engineering changes, which Network World helpfully pointed out. The sentence itself seemed plain enough: "The Wikimedia Foundation has started to move its domain names from GoDaddy to MarkMonitor." A link to a February listserv message from Jay Walsh, Wikimedia's head of communications, shed more light on the issue:

Hi folks - you may have seen some media coverage recently about Wikimedia's intentions around GoDaddy. It is true that WMF is still planning to move 100% away from GoDaddy for all of its domain name services.

I've been informed that we're currently working with MarkMonitor to carry out a full switch-over, which as many of you will appreciate, takes time. WMF is going to post to the blog and generally share this information as soon as the process is complete. Until then, it does mean that you'll see in some of our DNS registrations that GoDaddy is still listed. We're working on it :)

Kudos to Jimmy and the Wikimedia Foundation for staying true to their word!

This week's hottest reviews on TechRadar

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 10:10 AM PST

Radeon HD 7850

The beginning of March traditionally marks the start of new products season in the world of tech.

It's the time when all the exciting kit that was announced at IFA at the end of last year and at CES in January starts making its way onto the shelves and into our testing labs.

We probably won't have to tell you that Apple's new iPad is one of these products. It was only announced on Tuesday but it'll go on sale at the end of next week.

You can also expect graphics cards, TVs, Blu-ray players, tablets, phones, cameras... You get the idea. It's the start of the reviews season! Let's go!

new-ipad

Hands on: New iPad review

We're still calling it the iPad 3, how about you? Whatever you end up knowing it as, be it iPad 3 or new iPad, you've not heard the last of it. Not by a long shot. That's because it's the most impressive iPad ever, and it's going to sell more units than an Irish pub on St Paddy's Day.

The stand-out feature is that retina display, which offers up a resolution of 2048 x 1536 at 264 pixels per inch. It's also got more powerful graphics to drive that higher resolution which should lead to some very pretty games and apps. On the downside it's also slightly thicker and marginally heavier than the iPad 2, which can now be had for as little as £329.

AMD Radeon HD 7870 review

The AMD Radeon HD 7870 arrives alongside the Radeon HD 7850 to complete the line-up of AMD's next-gen graphics cards. The 7870 is a step down from the 7970 and a step up from the 7770, theoretically putting it firmly in the performance/price sweet spot.

The fact AMD has included the full Graphics Core Next feature set is something to be applauded. It may not have the straight performance edge over the previous generation, but it's got a lot more extras to back it up. We can't ignore the awesome overclocking potential in the Pitcairn chip either. There's no guarantee all AMD Radeon HD 7870s will be able to clock this high, but there is at least precedence.

Samsung UE55ES8000 review

The UE55ES8000 is Samsung's most uncompromising TV yet. From the moment you first behold its almost sci-fi design and bold, dynamic pictures, you'll be entranced. Crucial to this performance is the introduction of a dual-core processor to the Samsung UE55ES8000, since this makes the smart TV services more comprehensive and slick to navigate and delivers palpable benefits to picture quality.

Admittedly you'll need to calm these pictures for normal domestic viewing, but once that's done pictures still look hugely impressive. And your admiration only grows as you explore the TV's revolutionary interfaces and the depth of its online and multimedia functionality. There are still things Samsung can improve, but as the first true next generation TV of 2012, the Samsung UE55ES8000 throws down a terrifyingly big gauntlet for the following pack to pick up.

AMD Radeon HD 7850 review

The fact AMD has filled out these lower-caste cards with all the same features as their higher-end brethren is refreshing, as is the fact that we'll get all the HD 7850 goodness in such small footprints as 7.8-inches. Again, it's the same Graphics Core Next story – the overclocking headroom is immense. The OC path is the only way to get the most out of these cards. Sadly that's also part of the problem. At stock speeds both the HD 7870 and this AMD HD 7850 are rather uninspiring, and it takes ramping up clockspeeds yourself to get the real performance out of them. That's a bit of a shame as most people probably wont take the risk with their new hardware. These pint-sized cards pack some impressive punch for sub-£200 GPUs, but only if you take the risk overclocking them.

Hands on: ZTE N910 review

Sorry N910 - it's not us, it's you. You feel cheap and insubstantial to hold, you're chunky and you don't even work properly. We're prepared to give you a second chance, but if these annoyances continue in our full ZTE N910 review, then we're sorry but it's over.

Cameras

Hands on: Canon 5D Mark III review

Hands on: Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN lens review

Gamepads

SteelSeries Simraceway SRW-S1 Steering Wheel review

Headsets

SteelSeries Diablo III Headset review

Keyboards

HP Slim Keyboard review

Mice

HP 2.4GHz Wireless Laser Mobile Mouse review

Mobile phones

Nokia Asha 201 review

Hands on: HTC Sensation XE Ice Cream Sandwich review

Sony Xperia S review

Scanners

Doxie Go review

Speakers

Krator Neso N4-20U05 review

Webcams

HP Webcam HD 5210 review

Leaked Slide Offers Clarity on Intel's Ivy Bridge Launch

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 06:48 AM PST

Feel free to run up and down your block screaming, "Ivy Bridge is coming! Ivy Bridge is coming!" That's not something you would have wanted to do prior to today, because if a fellow pedestrian grabbed you by the arm and demanded to know exactly when Ivy Bridge would roll into town, all you could have offered in return was a bunch of conflicting info. But in this day and age of the Internet, leaked slides are as commonplace as cockroaches in a dirty motel, and we found one that details precisely when Ivy Bridge will launch.

Assuming the slide obtained by Turkish website Donanimhaber.com is real -- and they usually are -- Intel's 22nm Ivy Bridge launch will take place on April 29, 2012 and consist of the following desktop CPUs:

  • Core i7 3770K
  • Core i7 3770
  • Core i7 3770S
  • Core i7 3770T
  • Core i5 3570K
  • Core i5 3550
  • Core i5 3550S
  • Core i5 3570T
  • Core i5 3450
  • Core i5 3450S

A second batch of Ivy Bridge chips will follow on June 3, 2012 and include the following models:

  • Core i5 3470
  • Core i5 3470S
  • Core i5 3475S
  • Core i5 3570
  • Core i5 3570S

More Core i3 and Pentium models will follow in the "Holiday" period, though the slide doesn't mention which ones. In regards to chipsets, Intel will roll out the Z77, H77, Z75, and B75 for desktops and HM77, UM77, HM75, and HM75 for notebooks.

Image Credit: donanimhaber.com

Videogame Sales Plummeted 20 Percent in February, NPD Group Says

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 06:31 AM PST

If it weren't for stereotypes, we'd say diehard gamers unplugged for a week of romancing and lovemaking to celebrate Valentine's Day last month, which would explain why NPD Group noted such a sharp decline in videogame sales in February. We don't condone stereotypes, but let's get real, February was just a crummy month for game sales and it had nothing to do with there being a day for lovers.

That wouldn't explain a 20 percent drop in sales from $1.33 billion in February 2011 to $1.06 billion a year later. Software was the worst offender, dropping 24 percent to $485.7 million, while non-PC hardware sales also took a double-digit hit, declining 18 percent to $381.4 million, according to NPD Group's data. Sales of accessories also fell into a funk, dropping 16 percent to $215.2 million compared to one year prior.

While NPD Group didn't say why sales fell so sharply, we can surmise it's not from a lack of awesome titles. The top 10 list of 10 games for February 2012 looks like this:

  1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) - Activision
  2. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Xbox 360, PS3) - Square Enix
  3. UFC Undisputed 3 (Xbox 360, PS3) - THQ
  4. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) - Electronic Arts
  5. Just Dance 3 (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3) - Ubisoft
  6. NBA 2K13 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, PC) - Take Two
  7. SoulCaliber V (Xbox 360, PS3) - Namco Bandai
  8. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) - Bethesda Softworks
  9. Twisted Metal (PS3) - Sony
  10. Battlefield 3 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC) - Electronic Arts

In somewhat releated news, Skyrim, which appears at No. 8 on NPD Group's list of top selling games, was named the Game of the Year at the 2012 Game Developers Choice Awards earlier this week.

Image Credit: THQ

Tablet PC Shipments Might Leapfrog Desktops in 2013

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 06:05 AM PST

If you're brazen enough to ask a power user which he would prefer, a tablet PC or a desktop system, be prepared for a backhand to the cheek. Tablets, including ones that slip neatly into multi-functional docks, pale in comparison to desktops in terms of raw horsepower and what you can do with the thing. At the same time, users who just want to look up recipes on the Web and fart around Facebook from time to time may find that a tablet is a better option, and if there are enough people who think that way, it's conceivable that the demand for tablet PCs could surpass desktops as early as next year.

Folks entrenched in the electronics supply chain in Taiwan tell news and rumor site DigiTimes that they think global demand for tablets of all types will jump to 130 million units in 2013, which is possibly high enough to skip ahead of desktops.

The charge is being led by Apple and the company's iPad line, of which a new model was introduced to the world earlier this week and will begin shipping on March 16, 2012. Looking back at last year, Apple accounted for two-thirds of the 60 million total tablet shipments around the globe. By the time 2012 comes to a close, DigiTimes predicts tablet shipments will climb to 90-95 million units.

One thing to keep in mind is that many people are buying tablets as secondary or even tertiary devices to complement their desktop and/or notebook, so in that way the numbers can be a little deceiving. And then you have the crowd that's buying into glorified eReaders like the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet. So, while tablet PC shipments could leap ahead of desktops, it doesn't spell doom for the latter any more than the rapid rise of smartphone shipments does.

Image Credit: LG

MMO News

MMO News


Gamania announces Web Koihime Musou

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 01:06 PM PST

Gamania (beanfun) has announced that it will soon be releasing Web Koihime Musou. The game will be released with Global English servers for the first time this summer.

A sneak peek and signups are available at http://us.beanfun.com/koihime/signup/signup.aspx

Koihime is a popular intellectual property which is loosely based off Romance of the Three Kingdoms and features cute anime girl versions of the popular characters from the historical fiction, and has moved from its original visual novel format to manga, games, and anime. Web Koihime Musou is a browser-based strategy game, where players must work with female Warlords whose looks could kill a kitten. Players will race to unify the Three Kingdoms by either conquering Kingdom Castles (bringing all others under their control) or through an Imperial Castle Raid, where Societies can attack the castle and attempt to conquer it through earning the most Raid points.

Gamania also publishes Lucent Heart and Divina.

Web Koihime Musou Screenshots:

Source:

GAMANIA ANNOUNCES BROWSER-BASED STRATEGY GAME, WEB KOIHIME MUSOU


Details and Screenshots Unveiled at the Official Teaser Site


IRVINE, Calif. – March 9, 2012 – Gamania Digital Entertainment (US) announced today that its popular free-to-play browser-based strategy game, Web Koihime Musou, will soon be coming to everyone with a US beanfun! account. Gamania plans to launch the Global English servers this summer, and until then players can get a sneak peek of the game at the new official teaser site: http://us.beanfun.com/koihime/signup/signup.aspx

 

Koihime is a popular Japanese IP loosely based on the classic Chinese tale, Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Originally a visual novel, the IP has since spawned many different iterations, including manga, games, and anime. Web Koihime Musou, the latest entry in the series, is a browser-based strategy game where players must join forces with cute, yet deadly female Warlords in a quest to unify the Three Kingdoms.

 

"We're very excited to be introducing Web Koihime Musou to our English beanfun! players, as it's been our most successful browser game to date," said David Wong, COO of Gamania. "This success is partly due to the fact that Koihime has a strong fan-base worldwide, but it's also because we put a lot of effort into ensuring that the strategy and base-building elements are extremely fun and addictive".

 

Key Features

  • An Exciting Battle to Unify the Three Kingdoms – There are two ways to unify the Three Kingdoms: by conquering Kingdom Castles or through an Imperial Castle Raid. To unify the Three Kingdoms by conquering Kingdom Castles, the player must conquer all other Kingdom Castles and Lords to bring them under their control. The Imperial Castle Raid event is only conducted during the Imperial Castle Raid period. During this time, Societies can attack the Imperial Castle and earn Imperial Castle Raid points. At the end of this period, the Society with the most points is declared the victor and their Kingdom will be declared the unifier of the Three Kingdoms.
  • Cute, Sexy Warlords – The Warlords in Web Koihime Musou are all cute girl versions of famous Romance of the Three Kingdoms characters. Players will have over 100 of these female Warlords to choose from as Lord of either the Gi, Go, or Shoku Kingdom.
  • No DownloadWeb Koihime Musou doesn’t require a download or installation to play. All that's needed is a game account and a compatible web browser – allowing for players to be in-game in just a few minutes.
  • The Perfect Game for Even the Busiest of Lifestyles – Players can have plenty of fun even if they're too busy to devote a lot of time to playing. Web Koihime Musou allows gamers to prep their empire in short, five minute play-sessions, allowing it to grow even while they're away.

To get ready for Web Koihime Musou's upcoming summer release, interested parties can sign up for a US beanfun! account and learn more about the game at: http://us.beanfun.com/koihime/signup/signup.aspx

Tribes: Ascend announces launch date

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 11:12 AM PST

Hi-Rez Studios has announced that Tribes Ascend will launch on April 12, 2012.

The announcement came at the Game Developer’s Conference ongoing in San Francisco. Tribes Ascend is currently testing in open beta with over 400,000 active players, who will be able to carry on their progress into the final release of the game. The game is still open to join and test pre-launch without a key.

As part of the announcement, the game released a new video trailer called “Tribes Ascend – Llama Island.” This video refers to the term “llama,” which players use to refer to a slow-moving teammate, and demonstrates the peril of working with llamas.

Hi-Rez Studios also publishes Global Agenda.

Tribes: Ascend – Llama Island Video

Source:

Hi-Rez Studios Announces Tribes: Ascend Release Date and Releases Parody Trailer

SAN FRANCISCO. March 9, 2012. Today, at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, Hi-Rez Studios announced that Tribes: Ascend will be released on April 12, 2012.

Tribes: Ascend is a fast paced sci-fi FPS for the PC that bills itself the "World's Fastest Shooter". Supporting the announcement Hi-Rez Studios also released a parody trailer titled "Tribes Ascend – Llama Island".

"Tribes is all about speed and movement", explains Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Studios Chief Operating Officer. "In fact the community uses the term llama to refer to a player moving too slowly, like a plodding llama. So this video demonstrates the perils of trying to capture a flag while going too slow. The outcome is predictable but no less tragic".

Tribes: Ascend is currently in Open Beta with over 400,000 players participating. Hi-Rez has announced that all player progress in Beta will carry over to the release build. Anyone interested in trying Tribes: Ascend can create an account and download the game from http://www.tribesascend.com, without the need for a beta key.

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Remanum launches first international server, tweaks ports

Posted: 09 Mar 2012 09:00 AM PST

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

Remanum - browser-based trade MMO
All roads lead to Rome, even in the world of browser MMOs. Travian Games is trumpeting its commerce-based Remanum title, which puts the player in the role of a merchant-politician at the height of ancient Roman civilization.

Travian has just launched the game's first international server, and now English-language players can vie for the rank of Roman emperor while trading goods and engaging in various political machinations. Travian, a Bavaria-based browser game outfit, has also launched a new German-language server for Remanum's open beta.

The firm is also updating the game's UI and increasing the range on the game's ports, which will ease the acquisition of scarce resources, according to a Travian statement.

[Source: Travian Games press release]

MassivelyRemanum launches first international server, tweaks ports originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    GDC 2012: Bigpoint discusses the Game of Thrones MMO

    Posted: 09 Mar 2012 08:00 AM PST

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

    Game of Thrones screenshot
    The Game is coming.

    It had to be said. And for fans of George R.R. Martin's epic fantasy series A Song of Ice and Fire, that one little phrase elicits some powerful and mixed emotions: excitement (to actually wander about Westeros) and dread (will it actually be Westeros?). There was even a collective cringe among some Massively staff when the announcement was made that Game of Thrones was becoming an MMORPG. Could such a complex world translate well into the virtual realm? It made the transition to television pretty well in HBO's series, but a free-to-play browser-based MMO is a whole other beast.

    We're pleased to say that fans of the books and the series can breathe a little easier and even look forward to the upcoming title becuse it's going to be gritty, it's going to be gory, and power will shift like the winds across the Dothraki Sea. Massively was able to sit down with Jorgen Tharaldsen (Producer at Artplant), Alan Dunton (Public Relations Director at Bigpoint), and Rob Ollett (Executive Producer at Bigpoint) to discuss details about what's coming.

    Continue reading GDC 2012: Bigpoint discusses the Game of Thrones MMO

    MassivelyGDC 2012: Bigpoint discusses the Game of Thrones MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      GDC 2012: The Firing Line's PlanetSide 2 and DUST 514 redux

      Posted: 09 Mar 2012 07:30 AM PST

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      The Firing Line - GDC 2012 header
      This week I was fortunate enough to chat up the developers on the two biggest MMOFPS titles of the year. Exactly what year that is remains to be seen, and after hearing Sony Online Entertainment use the word "alpha" quite a lot, I suspect that PlanetSide 2 may slip into 2013. And that's not a bad thing at all, by the way.

      CCP's DUST 514, on the other hand, is surely coming in 2012. The devs will be doling out some long-awaited hands-on time with EVE's precocious little brother at Fanfest in a couple of weeks, and while DUST and PS2 share similar core gameplay, their target audiences (and the general feeling I get from each game) are completely different.

      Continue reading GDC 2012: The Firing Line's PlanetSide 2 and DUST 514 redux

      MassivelyGDC 2012: The Firing Line's PlanetSide 2 and DUST 514 redux originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Miracle fundraising finish for Gridiron Heroes' Kickstarter drive

        Posted: 09 Mar 2012 07:00 AM PST

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        Sports MMOs haven't gotten off the ground as of yet, and whether their lack of mainstream success is due to design challenges or some other factor, they remain obscure oddities for the most part.

        Somewhat less obscure is Tecmo's 1980s Nintendo series based on the National Football League. The aptly named Tecmo Bowl was a mainstay on Nintendo's first 8-bit console, and now a group of fans have helped assure that Gridiron Heroes, a new Facebook game inspired by the classic series, will in fact be made.

        Kotaku reports on the last-minute miracle finish to the project's Kickstarter drive, with the development team collecting $7,613 (measured against a goal of $7,500).

        MassivelyMiracle fundraising finish for Gridiron Heroes' Kickstarter drive originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Forsaken World turns one, gives you gifts

        Posted: 09 Mar 2012 06:30 AM PST

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        Forsaken World - One year anniversary banner
        Forsaken World is gearing up to blow out some birthday candles, and Perfect World Entertainment has given us the scoop on the title's first anniversary celebration. Players who visit the anniversary website will receive "a lavish prize package of in-game items that may include an exclusive mount or rare pet."

        The new site also highlights the upcoming Nightfall expansion, which includes flying mounts, new dungeons and bosses, and new explorable areas. Nightfall also boasts a new soul virtue system that allows for a bit of skill customization and character differentiation.

        [Source: Perfect World press release]

        MassivelyForsaken World turns one, gives you gifts originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          League of Legends retiring classic skins

          Posted: 09 Mar 2012 06:00 AM PST

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          League of Legends -- who needs helmets?
          Get your wallets out, summoners! Four classic League of Legends skins will be retired from the store as of Monday, March 12th. The skins in question are Emerald Taric, Unmasked Kayle, Nightmare Cho'Gath, and Butcher Urgot -- and who doesn't want their favorite slaughter machine dressed up as the friendly neighborhood butcher? While they may make a future reappearance for special events, the vintage skins won't be commonly available anymore. The good news is that for the last weekend they're up for purchase, the skins will be on 75% sale, and the champions they belong to will be on 20% sale until Monday as well.

          MassivelyLeague of Legends retiring classic skins originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            DUST 514 beta starts in April, gameplay video released at GDC

            Posted: 09 Mar 2012 05:30 AM PST

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            DUST 514 - blown up tank
            CCP has been incredibly coy about public testing for its DUST 514 MMOFPS, but last night the company revealed an upcoming April beta window in an exclusive interview with Gametrailers.

            CEO Hilmar Petursson and CMO David Reid both gave the website a few interesting soundbytes as well as some long looks at DUST gameplay over the course of the eight-minute clip.

            DUST isn't intended as an EVE Online replacement, nor does CCP expect huge numbers of EVE capsuleers to play the new shooter concurrently with its flying-in-space sandbox MMO. "It is really about providing this new gateway into the EVE universe for all the people who have been intrigued by it," Petursson said. "In April we'll open up the beta test we've been running since December of last year," he revealed.

            Be sure to check out the full clip after the cut.

            Continue reading DUST 514 beta starts in April, gameplay video released at GDC

            MassivelyDUST 514 beta starts in April, gameplay video released at GDC originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            GDC 2012: The Firing Line talks release dates with Tribes Ascend's Todd Harris

            Posted: 09 Mar 2012 05:00 AM PST

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            The Firing Line - GDC 2012 Hi-Rez Interview, Tribes release date
            It's been a crazy week at GDC, and though I've already gotten the skinny on both PlanetSide 2 and DUST 514, there's more on the way when it comes to online shooter news. Yesterday morning I headed over to the Hi-Rez Studios booth on the main show floor, where COO Todd Harris had some exciting news to share with fans of the firm's Tribes: Ascend title.

            The free-to-play shooter will officially launch on April 12th, and Hi-Rez has also released a new parody trailer that pays homage to Dead Island and shows off the perils of the dreaded "llama capture" (if you're a Tribes newb, just know that speed equals survival when it comes to flag-grabs).

            Join me after the cut for some Tribes-related chit-chat as well news of new content on the way for Global Agenda.

            Continue reading GDC 2012: The Firing Line talks release dates with Tribes Ascend's Todd Harris

            MassivelyGDC 2012: The Firing Line talks release dates with Tribes Ascend's Todd Harris originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              The Daily Grind: What game would you play if it had an alternate gameplay server?

              Posted: 09 Mar 2012 04:00 AM PST

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              Darkfall
              I'm a carebear, I admit. I find that getting ganked while I'm trying to figure out how to have fun in a game is a bit on the frustrating side. I don't mind organized PvP, but free-for-all PvP in an open world just isn't for this old man.

              At the same time, I love sandbox games, but I can't understand why so many great sandbox games have to also be FFA PvP. Let's take Darkfall, for instance. I would play that game in a second if it had a PvE server, but it doesn't. I also love Wurm Online, but if it were PvP-only, I would never have given it a second look.

              Whether it's RP, PvE, PvP, or whatever else you fancy, there's probably a game out there that you'd play if it had a ruleset you enjoy. So which one is 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!

              MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What game would you play if it had an alternate gameplay server? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The MMO Report: RIFT's two Adams

                Posted: 08 Mar 2012 06:00 PM PST

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                Casey and Adam
                This week on The MMO Report, Casey caps off his Trion Worlds tour by chatting up RIFT's Adam Gershowitz and Adam Hetenyi. Backed by enormous screens showing off the game's flashiest scenes, the two Adams discuss RIFT's upcoming 1.8 patch, giving previews of the goodies that will tempt hardcore endgamers in the Infernal Dawn raid (pro tip: Do not invite Maelforge to your birthday party). The pair also discuss the game's new skills -- fishing, trapping, and survival -- before teasing what players can look forward to after 1.8 has come and gone.

                The full HD video is behind the cut!

                Continue reading The MMO Report: RIFT's two Adams

                MassivelyThe MMO Report: RIFT's two Adams originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Guild Counsel: Four ways to be a great guildmate

                Posted: 08 Mar 2012 05:00 PM PST

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                Red Sox
                When looking at the dos and don'ts of guild leadership and member interactions, usually the don'ts tend to dominate the discussion. And when it comes to evaluating player types, usually it's the negative types that get described, like the Henny Penny, the Mr. Wiggly, or the Guild Turkey.

                But what about a player who might be interested in trying his hand at joining a guild? There are definitely some tips that help make you a respected guild member and won't have you feeling like pretending to be someone you aren't. In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look at some easy ways to leave a good impression and be seen as a great guildie by your mates!

                Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Four ways to be a great guildmate

                MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Four ways to be a great guildmate originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Final Fantasy XIV unveils the full scope of patch 1.21

                  Posted: 08 Mar 2012 04:00 PM PST

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                  No, it's not Vivi.
                  The time is now -- Final Fantasy XIV's sweeping patch 1.21 is going live. That means players can experience the new Job system, do battle in two new instanced dungeons, and relax in their new private rooms. The patch notes make it clear that as with most of the game's patches, there's a lot going on even beyond the headlining features for the update, including intra-city teleportation services, new achievement categories to explore, and new ways for players to spend guild marks.

                  Patch 1.21 also brings along a revision to the food and medicine of the game, with food serving universally as a small long-term buff and medicines working as short effects or buffs with a big impact. The team has also revised accessories, doing away with the previous mechanic of slot costs. And that's not even touching upon new missions for provisioning from the Grand Companies, the introduction of chocobo barding, or any number of other smaller features added with the list. It's a lot of stuff to absorb, and it should keep adventurers happy for quite some time.

                  MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV unveils the full scope of patch 1.21 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Turbine answers burning questions about LotRO's Landscape Soldiers

                  Posted: 08 Mar 2012 03:00 PM PST

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                  LotRO
                  Coming with next Monday's Update 6 in Lord of the Rings Online is the ability for players to deploy skirmish soldiers in the actual game world. How Turbine was going to handle the balance of this "soldiers on landscape" feature was up in the air until now, as the company has released a Q&A to hit all of the important points.

                  Basically, players will have to purchase Landscape Soldier tokens with either Turbine Points or a combination of in-game skirmish marks and medallions. A token will grant a player one hour of soldier assistance, although this time can be broken up into non-consecutive blocks at the player's discretion. Soldiers cannot be used in instances and major player hubs (such as cities) at the current time.

                  Other restrictions for Landscape Soldiers include the disabled personal traits (that offer considerable buffs in skirmishes) and no control panel to order them around, as with Lore-master and Captain pets.

                  MassivelyTurbine answers burning questions about LotRO's Landscape Soldiers originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Crime and punishment in Salem, New World-style

                  Posted: 08 Mar 2012 02:00 PM PST

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                  Salem
                  With all of the open world sandboxy goodness going on in Salem, one might wonder if Paradox Interactive is prepared for the level of griefing that can come with such games. Interestingly enough, the team has given this some serious thought and come up with an elegant system of crime and punishment in the game world.

                  Player villages are protected by claims that set these areas apart from the rest of the world, and these claims can be expanded by building certain structures. Griefers who set out to do harm or mischief against villages within these claims will leave a "scent" behind that can be used to track them. There are certain skills, such as ranging and tracking, that players need to have to follow the scent to the perpetrator, however. This opens the door for players to specialize in becoming bounty hunters who protect the village by rooting out enemies.

                  As for punishment, well, Creative Director Björn Johannessen expects players will take justice into their own hands -- and more than one perpetrator will pay the ultimate price for violating a peaceful sanctuary.

                  You can watch the full discussion of Salem's crime and punishment system after the jump.

                  Continue reading Crime and punishment in Salem, New World-style

                  MassivelyCrime and punishment in Salem, New World-style originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  GDC 2012: A peek behind SWTOR's project management curtain

                  Posted: 08 Mar 2012 01:45 PM PST

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                  Star Wars: The Old Republic - Nal Hutta
                  GDC is often described as the most cerebral of the various gaming conventions. E3 has its big reveals and booth babes, PAX has its fan-friendly hands-on sessions and general geekery. GDC, though, is largely by developers and for developers, and last night's BioWare panel was a good case in point.

                  The session ran for well over an hour (not counting a brief Q&A at the end), and it focused largely on the daunting management tasks inherent in a project like Star Wars: The Old Republic.

                  Continue reading GDC 2012: A peek behind SWTOR's project management curtain

                  MassivelyGDC 2012: A peek behind SWTOR's project management curtain originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play shopping strategies

                    Posted: 08 Mar 2012 01:00 PM PST

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                    Perfect Ten
                    "Nothing is ever truly free," my grizzled Uncle Trigger once told me. "So you got to pay for that there air! Pony up, boy!"

                    While Uncle Trigger was overlooking a few aspects of this philosophy, the sentiment is an important one to grasp, especially when it comes to the growing wave of free-to-play MMOs. Even though the first word is "free," it should be followed up with several paragraphs of tiny lawyer disclaimers that basically say, "Nevertheless, the studio is going to look for other ways to tempt you out of your hard-earned cash." F2P is often funded by microtransactions, which offer players some variety in how they customize their game experience at the expense of a subscription's simplicity. It's often not better or worse; it's just different.

                    Because nothing is ever truly free, and because F2P is loaded with more shopping options than a Walmart supercenter, being a savvy customer is more vital than ever. Anyone who's waded into a F2P store probably has experienced buyer's regret due to a hasty or uninformed purchase, not to mention those who end up going broke because of poor impulse control. So today I'm going to get downright practical and offer up 10 strategies that will safeguard and strengthen your F2P shopping trips (also, random plug for Beau's Free For All column in the hopes that he doesn't get mad I'm treading on his territory here!).

                    Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play shopping strategies

                    MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Free-to-play shopping strategies originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Trek through fire and flame in RIFT's Infernal Dawn raid

                      Posted: 08 Mar 2012 12:30 PM PST

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                      MAELFORGE SMASH!
                      RIFT's Carnival of the Ascended is in full-swing in Telara, but there's something dastardly dwelling under the veil of the festivities. While the Ascended feast, imbibe, and debauch, the less-than-phlegmatic cults of the Golden Maw and the Wanton scheme to free their dragon overlords from imprisonment in the upcoming raid, Infernal Dawn. But no Ascended should go up against the dragons unprepared, so Trion Worlds' Adam Gershowitz has volunteered to take players on a short tour of the Earth Wing of Infernal Dawn, where they will be tasked with destroying the Golden Maw, the Wanton, and ultimately their leaders: the earth dragon Laethys and the infernal Maelforge.

                      Infernal Dawn isn't the only new feature in the works. Gershowitz also reveals that the studio is working on new Instant Adventures set on the Ember Isle. Less pugilistic players will be receiving some new treats as well in the form of new tradeskills. While Gershowitz doesn't reveal any specifics on what these new tradeskills will be, he does hint that they "may or may not involve bodies of water." We've been fishing for ideas all day, but we're just not getting any bites. Oh well, we'll find out soon enough! In the meantime, check out the full video tour and prepare yourselves; Infernal Dawn is planned to go live in "just a month or two." Oh, and remember: Former RIFT subscribers can play free starting today until March 14th, so if you wanna get back into the world of Telara, now's the time.

                      And finally, be sure to keep an eye out for our own Karen Bryan's RIFT coverage straight from GDC 2012, which will surely shed more light on these upcoming additions.

                      Continue reading Trek through fire and flame in RIFT's Infernal Dawn raid

                      MassivelyTrek through fire and flame in RIFT's Infernal Dawn raid originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Massively Speaking Episode 190: GDC Wednesday

                      Posted: 08 Mar 2012 12:00 PM PST

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                      Massively Speaking
                      Massively Speaking Episode 190 brings us another installment of the wild and wacky adventures of Massively's GDC crew. Today the entire ensemble has assembled, with Shawn, Jef, Karen, and MJ hogging the mike and sharing their impressions and experiences from the convention. Also, Karen rules from the Iron Throne, so do not mess with her or she'll send you to the Wall.

                      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 190: GDC Wednesday

                      MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 190: GDC Wednesday originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        World of Tanks takes aim at southeast Asia

                        Posted: 08 Mar 2012 11:30 AM PST

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                        World of Tanks - French tank in a field, hopefully a newish screenshot
                        Wargaming.net might want to think seriously about changing its name to Worldgaming.net. The studio behind World of Warplanes announced today that it's bringing its World of Tanks MMO to southeast Asia. Wargaming has formed a partnership with SEA Gaming that will bring the World War II action title to gamers in Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

                        This isn't a simple port of the European or American client, either, as Wargaming.net says gamers in the region can expect full localization, a Singapore-based server group, and dedicated support services.

                        Online gaming in southeast Asia features an estimated 100 million players, who will generate nearly $1 billion in sales by 2015, according to market analysts at Niko Partners.

                        [Source: Wargaming.net press release]

                        MassivelyWorld of Tanks takes aim at southeast Asia originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          World of Warcraft: Cataclysm post-mortem reflects on success, failure, and lessons learned

                          Posted: 08 Mar 2012 11:00 AM PST

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                          Screenshot -- World of Warcraft
                          World of Warcraft's Cataclysm expansion is over a year old now, and Mists of Pandaria is looming just over the horizon, which means that it's time for a Cataclysm post-mortem. The infamous pony-promiser Greg "Ghostcrawler" Streets took some time out of his day to set aside the nerf bat and answer some questions regarding World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. What worked? What didn't? Where the hell is the dance studio, anyway? Just kidding, we still don't know that last one.

                          One topic that's frequently revisited throughout the post-mortem is the talent system revamp. In a nutshell, Ghostcrawler says that the team (and the players) were largely pleased with the ability to choose a spec and gain powerful, useful skills right at level 10. What didn't work out as planned? "Everything else!" says Ghostcrawler. The team realized that "the talent tree model where you pick up tiny performance increases here and there (and where there's, mathematically, nearly always a 'right' answer and a 'wrong' answer) is not a great model." He goes on to add that Mists of Pandaria's talent system "should fix this problem once and for all." Well, third time's the charm, right guys?

                          At any rate, there's more on the discussion table than just talents, so head over to the full article and see what lessons Cataclysm has taught the devs.

                          MassivelyWorld of Warcraft: Cataclysm post-mortem reflects on success, failure, and lessons learned originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          LotRO and DDO coming to a cloud near you

                          Posted: 08 Mar 2012 10:15 AM PST

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                          LotRO
                          Cloud-based gaming service Gaikai, Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive have just announced a plan to stream Lord of the Rings Online and Dungeons and Dragons Online gameplay via browser. Players will be able to feed their impulse gaming by hopping into both hybrid free-to-play MMOs without any lengthy downloads or huge installations. According to a press release distributed today,
                          Gamers can try The Lord of the Rings Online now, with Dungeons & Dragons Online to follow soon [...] via a simple one-step registration process that will provide them instant access to try the full version of the award-winning, free-to-play massively multiplayer experiences.
                          A Turbine FAQ further clarifies that this service provides only one hour of gameplay. [Thanks to reader Mr. Angry for the heads up.]

                          This marks the first MMO streaming Gaikai will have undertaken; its streaming portfolio includes non-MMO games like Spore, Mass Effect 2, and The Sims 3.

                          [Source: Warner Bros. and Gaikai, Inc. press release]

                          MassivelyLotRO and DDO coming to a cloud near you originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          The Summoner's Guidebook: The game without a meta

                          Posted: 08 Mar 2012 10:00 AM PST

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                          It should be no shocker that the Crystal Scar is my favorite League of Legends map. Dominion is a more frantic and dynamic gametype, and it rewards tactical, free-thinking play more than the Classic game mode. The Classic maps reward technical skill and strategic thinking, but they aren't my preferred battlefield. I know a lot of you dear readers feel the same way.

                          Dominion is weird because it doesn't have a real, established metagame. Although cries of "4 top, 1 bottom" can be heard in virtually every match, they rarely hold up for more than a few minutes, and the four top players can be seen running backdoors, ganking bottom, or solo jungle roaming as the game progresses.

                          This is my first attempt at a Dominion overview, but the honest truth is that even the hardcore analyst-types like yours truly struggle to define exactly what wins Dominion games. There's a lot of room for discussion on this one, so let's get started.

                          Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: The game without a meta

                          MassivelyThe Summoner's Guidebook: The game without a meta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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