MMO Updates

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• E3 2013: Trion's role in bringing ArcheAge to the West
• Free for All: My very own top ten list of MMO pet peeves
• RIFT is now completely free for everyone
• MMO Family: Study challenges common views on digital media, video games, and family
• New screenshots released for Black Desert
• The Daily Grind: Do other players exist in the game?
• E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV's A Realm Reborn returns the game to its roots
• Fallen Earth is opening up in June
• Massively Speaking Episode 251: A new hope
• TERA is making alliances in its second year
• E3 2013: Check out DUST 514's new trailer, EVE Online screenies
• Pirates of the Burning Sea unfolds 2013 road map
• E3 2013: ArcheAge beta signups are live [Updated]
• Hyperspace Beacon: The summer of SWTOR
• Aion interview discusses changes in crafting, a new rift, and more
• Double XP and fashionable boots accompany The Secret World's Black Weekend event
• E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV gets PlayStation 4 berth
• E3 2013: Behaviour announces Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade
• Flameseeker Chronicles: Temporary content in Guild Wars 2

E3 2013: Trion's role in bringing ArcheAge to the West Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Previews, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Events (Massively's Coverage), ArcheAge, Crafting, Housing, Player-Generated Content ArcheAge has finally officially arrived at E3. I've personally been following this game for about two years. I've written about it on multiple websites and had a chance to play a closed beta for the Korean version. However, I'm also critical about the game (or just a pessimist), so hopefully I can balance my enthusiasm for the game with some critical commentary, but to be honest, my interviews today with both Trion and XLGAMES' producer Kyoung Tae Kim has reminded me why I've been following this game for so long. Continue reading E3 2013: Trion's role in bringing ArcheAge to the West E3 2013: Trion's role in bringing ArcheAge to the West originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Free for All: My very own top ten list of MMO pet peeves Posted: 12 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, EVE Online, EverQuest, Lord of the Rings Online, Business Models, Culture, Game Mechanics, PvP, Ryzom, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-Play, Browser, Casual, Roleplaying, MMORTS, Humor, Free for All, PlanetSide 2, Defiance, Buy-to-Play I couldn't just sit back and let Justin Olivetti have all the fun, could I? When he published The Perfect Ten: My gaming pet peeves, I swept my fist to the sky and screamed "Sypsterrrr!" Literally a week earlier I had jotted down an idea for a similar column. I mean jotted down because I keep yellow pads around the house for late-night ideas or dog-walk eurekas. Of course his will probably end up the superior article as he is the better writer (and has a good bit of facial hair), but I'm going to present mine anyway. In fact I'll do one better by listing 11 of my MMO pet peeves because, well, I jotted down 11. Continue reading Free for All: My very own top ten list of MMO pet peeves Free for All: My very own top ten list of MMO pet peeves originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

RIFT is now completely free for everyone Posted: 12 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Video, Business Models, Launches, MMO Industry, Patches, Free-to-Play, RIFT The game that once denounced free-to-play has gone free-to-play. Trion Worlds' RIFT can now be enjoyed with "no trials, no tricks, and no traps" for anyone who wants to explore the game. "The aim is to keep free and paid players on the same level - this is not pay-to-win," said Creative Director Bill Fisher. "Players will see key differences between RIFT and other MMOs that have adopted free-to-play: we don't restrict content, and we don't offer pay-to-win items." To help celebrate the new content in RIFT 2.3 and its new F2P status, Trion has also released a brand new trailer and set of screenshots that can be seen below. [Source: Trion Worlds press release] Gallery: RIFT: Core Gallery Continue reading RIFT is now completely free for everyone RIFT is now completely free for everyone originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

MMO Family: Study challenges common views on digital media, video games, and family Posted: 12 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, Kids, MMO Family, Family, Miscellaneous When it comes to video games and parenting, there are two scenarios that often emerge. The first is that parents, children, and video games are a contentious mix. Parents and children often clash over things like playtime, game content, and the rising cost of devices needed to play. What results is a scenario where the children are constantly pushing for more and the parents are struggling to keep it under control. The other is that parents have seemingly given up the battle and instead use video game systems and mobile devices as a digital baby-sitter, allowing their children to spend hours each day in front of the screen. So what's the truth? According to a study by Northwestern University, there are some surprising revelations about the real role of digital media in our families' lives. Continue reading MMO Family: Study challenges common views on digital media, video games, and family MMO Family: Study challenges common views on digital media, video games, and family originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New screenshots released for Black Desert Posted: 12 Jun 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, New Titles, Sandbox Fantasy sandbox MMO Black Desert has graced the internet with 13 new screenshots showing off the game's gorgeous environments, characters, creatures, and more. As discovered and translated by Steparu, these screenshots originally appeared on the Korean gaming news site inven.co.kr. Steparu says that these shots are from E3 and the game is set for closed beta testing next month. Keep your eye on Steparu for hi-res versions coming soon. Gallery: Black Desert New screenshots released for Black Desert originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Inven Via: Steparu

The Daily Grind: Do other players exist in the game? Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Lore, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous First things first: Nobody's suggesting that you're hallucinating all of the other players in what is actually a single-player game. While that might make for an interesting albeit quite specific movie, that's not the scenario I'm contemplating today. Instead, I started wondering if, within the context of the game, its NPCs, and its lore, do other players actually exist? Your character is widely acknowledged as existing by every quest-giver out there. You are the hero, after all. Unless the world is full of scam artists, you're the only person who needs to save the princess and escort the prince, and once that's done, the world shouldn't need rescuing more than once. But is there evidence that other players are acknowledged by NPCs? Does anyone notice that there are a million other heroes running around too? Or is the game so focused on making you feel like you're the center of the universe that it engages in a blanket denial that there might be other axe-toting do-gooders out there? Am I going mad? Probably. Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind! The Daily Grind: Do other players exist in the game? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV's A Realm Reborn returns the game to its roots Posted: 11 Jun 2013 08:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Previews, Events (Massively's Coverage), Final Fantasy XIV, Housing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn stays true to its name and its lineage: What was originally a failed title, at least according to some players, will soon be revamped into an MMO that harkens back to its hardcore Final Fantasy roots. At this year's E3, Massively nabbed a hands-on experience of the game's reboot in the Square-Enix booth, and as the owner of those very hands, I can say it was a thrilling experience. My demo allowed me to choose between DPS, tank, and healer units. I myself am a lumbering tank in real life, so it felt natural to refill my virtual shoes in an epic battle against Ifrit. Action was quick, incredibly responsive, and a treat. Unfortunately, Ifrit rose into the sky and torched us all, but that's not the end of the story. Continue reading E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV's A Realm Reborn returns the game to its roots E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV's A Realm Reborn returns the game to its roots originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fallen Earth is opening up in June Posted: 11 Jun 2013 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Fallen Earth, Patches, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, Post-Apocalyptic While the pace of its updates is a little slower than it used to be, Fallen Earth is still the same basic game -- a post-apocalyptic wasteland with plenty of ways for players to kill or maim one another in a harsh landscape. And the June State of the Game address takes a moment to mention that, reminding players that traveling through PvP areas is supposed to be a dangerous venture. The developers are also adding in The Dome and another open PvP area in the near future, so there will be new places for players to experience that danger. Not interested? That's all right because there are also plans to add a new area to the game's PvE side, which will offer players a chance to explore some of the game's biggest lore mysteries. Ever wondered if anything else is intact outside of the Grand Canyon area? That's something for players to look forward to in the future, and the developers are promising it'll allow you to explore the wasteland in a new fashion. So that's something to look forward to. Fallen Earth is opening up in June originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Speaking Episode 251: A new hope Posted: 11 Jun 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, MMO Industry, News Items, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous It's never wise to completely write off MMOs -- even after they've been sunsetted. In today's episode of Massively Speaking, Bree and Justin rejoice in the renewed effort behind a languishing game, muse about the flood of console MMOs, and exalt innovative ideas like flexible raids. 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: [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. [iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. [Stitcher] Follow the podcast on Stitcher Radio. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes. Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 251: A new hope Massively Speaking Episode 251: A new hope originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

TERA is making alliances in its second year Posted: 11 Jun 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, TERA, Anniversaries You're going to need allies in TERA. The game is looking forward to its second year of operation, and it's kicking off the second year with plenty of reasons to get together with people you like (or at least tolerate). That starts with the Corsairs' Stronghold on July 2nd, which will give groups of 20 players a chance to storm a castle with cannons, airships, and tanks. It's not a battleground limited to just 20 players, however, as even lower-level people get a chance to take part in the festivities with normalized gear. Players can also expect the new Alliances system to debut in August, meaning that the political system will be reworked entirely to give more player control. There are also quality-of-life improvements due for players of all levels, class adjustments, and several events running through June to keep everyone invested and interested. To sum up, it's going to be an exciting summer in TERA, and like we said above, you're going to need allies. TERA is making alliances in its second year originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: A Note from Treeshark

E3 2013: Check out DUST 514's new trailer, EVE Online screenies Posted: 11 Jun 2013 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, EVE Online, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Events (Massively's Coverage), DUST 514, Sandbox Sometimes a space cowboy or cowgirl just wants to gaze out of the cockpit and marvel at the beauty of the cosmos. Sometimes being that pensive is a good way to get podded, but at least those final moments are spent in awe. So whether or not you're facing imminent combat, we've got some new CCP eye candy for you. Below are several new screenshots from EVE Online: Odyssey and DUST 514, and after the break is the E3 trailer for DUST called Fight Your Own War. Enjoy! [Source: CCP Games] Gallery: E3 2013: EVE Online and DUST 514 Continue reading E3 2013: Check out DUST 514's new trailer, EVE Online screenies E3 2013: Check out DUST 514's new trailer, EVE Online screenies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pirates of the Burning Sea unfolds 2013 road map Posted: 11 Jun 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Pirates of the Burning Sea, Previews, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries Portalus Games Lead Programmer Hamled has apologized to players for "the lack of discernible progress and substantive information" in Pirates of the Burning Sea as of late. To make it up to fans, Hamled has posted an extensive development road map for 2013. In descending order of priority, the dev mentions the following projects for the team: getting out the 2.12 update, completing the transition from Flying Lab Software, bringing back up needed hardware infrastructure, rebuilding the account system, providing localization services, creating a dedicated game installer, and redesigning the official website. "I will be working on many of these tasks in parallel because we can't afford to wait until each one is completely finished before moving on to the next," Hamled stated. Pirates of the Burning Sea unfolds 2013 road map originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: State of the Game

E3 2013: ArcheAge beta signups are live [Updated] Posted: 11 Jun 2013 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, ArcheAge, Sandbox Zomg, ArcheAge beta signups are live! In the West! How cool is that? It's so cool that I could really just stop writing this post now and leave it at that. Seems we have this acceptable word count thing, though, so let's see. ArcheAge is a fantasy sandpark that's been in development for nearly six years by Korea's XLGAMES. Lineage creator Jake Song is the brains behind the game, and Trion Worlds is publishing the title for the western market. The game's feature set is too long to list here, but it includes open PvP, sieges, extensive player housing, hang-gliders, sailing ships, steampunk tractors, and a whole lot more that you can learn about via our ArcheAge category and dedicated column. Don't forget to look for our ArcheAge E3 interview later this week. [Update]: We've added the ArcheAge teaser trailer shown to the media at this week's E3. Watch it after the cut. [Thanks Soren!] Gallery: ArcheAge Continue reading E3 2013: ArcheAge beta signups are live [Updated] E3 2013: ArcheAge beta signups are live [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

Hyperspace Beacon: The summer of SWTOR Posted: 11 Jun 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Events (Real-World), Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Races, Community Q&A, Hyperspace Beacon, MMORPG Every time I listen to the BioWare developers talk about Star Wars: The Old Republic, I am impressed with how passionate they are about the game. When Producer Bruce Maclean, Executive Producer Jeff Hickman, and Community Manager Eric Musco spoke to us yesterday, they sat on the edge of their seats because of how excited they were about telling us about the next updates coming to their game. Despite the game being a year and a half old, these three appeared to be riding the same hype-train the game launched with. Although these three BioWare employees suggested that the majority of the conversation on the livestream would feature discussion about Game Update 2.2, they ended up highlighting features and events taking place beyond the next patch. The questions they answered, filtered from the forum, Twitter, Facebook and the chatroom, jumped all over the place, but I believe they can be narrowed down to three major categories of concern: events, PvP changes, and the valued subscriber. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: The summer of SWTOR Hyperspace Beacon: The summer of SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aion interview discusses changes in crafting, a new rift, and more Posted: 11 Jun 2013 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Expansions, Game Mechanics, PvP, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, Crafting With Aion: Dark Betrayal just a short two weeks away, many eyes are turning (and returning) to the world of Atreia. The Gunslinger and Songeweaver have certainly sparked interest in new and veteran players alike. But 4.0 is more than just the new classes; it also includes an updated crafting system (to create items comparable to those in dungeons and the Abyss) and changes to neutral zone mechanics (to prevent invulnerable healers). To answer some player questions about 4.0 and beyond, developer Seunguk Baek discussed these topics with Massively, touching on lower-level PvP, racial abilities, and even a new type of rift for higher-level Daevas that opens to another dimension entirely. See what he has to say after the break. Continue reading Aion interview discusses changes in crafting, a new rift, and more Aion interview discusses changes in crafting, a new rift, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Double XP and fashionable boots accompany The Secret World's Black Weekend event Posted: 11 Jun 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Events (In-Game), News Items, The Secret World, Post-Apocalyptic, MMORPG, Buy-to-Play Need a new pair of boots? If so, you'll probably want to take part in The Secret World's upcoming Black Weekend. The event, which begins on Friday, June 14th, at 9 a.m. EDT and concludes on Monday, June 17, at 9 a.m. EDT, brings a few special bonuses, including a rugged pair of Black Heavy Buckled Boots. Log in during the Black Weekend event and you will be able to claim a free potion from the item store that doubles XP gains from monster kills for eight hours. One account may claim one new potion every 24 hours. Additionally, any activity that normally rewards Black Bullion will award one extra Black Bullion during the weekend, so get to farming that black gold. There's one more bonus to current The Secret World players: For every player you recruit between now and the end of Black Weekend, you'll receive a free month of premium membership. Double XP and fashionable boots accompany The Secret World's Black Weekend event originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Black Weekend Blog Post

E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV gets PlayStation 4 berth Posted: 11 Jun 2013 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Launches, MMO Industry, Consoles, Events (Massively's Coverage), Final Fantasy XIV, Subscription While we've known for some time that Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will be coming out on the PlayStation 3 later this year, we have new confirmation that the title will be making the jump to the console's baby brother. FFXIV was announced as one of PlayStation 4's upcoming games in 2014 at the Sony E3 keynote address, as Sony has the exclusive rights to the title. While there isn't a set date for the PS4 release, Square-Enix Producer Naoki Yoshida encouraged console fans to start playing on the PS3 and make the switch later, as character data will be transferrable between the versions. "While waiting for PlayStation 4 there is no reason not to start your adventure on the PlayStation 3," he said. The release of the updated Final Fantasy XIV for the PC and PS3 will happen on August 27th. You can watch the new E3 trailer for FFXIV after the jump. [Thanks to William for the tip!] Continue reading E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV gets PlayStation 4 berth E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV gets PlayStation 4 berth originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Joystiq, Polygon

E3 2013: Behaviour announces Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:45 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, New Titles, News Items, Roleplaying, Dungeons, MMORPG "In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war." These are the ominous words that greet visitors of the brand-new website for Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade. The game, announced today and in development at Behaviour Interactive (with the support of Games Workshop, of course), is a third-person action MMORPG set in a persistent world. Details are scant as the title's unveiling has just begun, currently sitting at phase one of nine. The only clear information available on the official site is a targeted release window of late 2015. We'll have more for you tomorrow after we sit down with Behaviour's head of online games, Miguel Caron, at E3, but for now, here's the press release blurby: Montreal, 10th June, 2013 - Behaviour Interactive and Games Workshop(R) proudly announce a new online game in the Warhammer(R) 40,000(R) universe: Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade. Behaviour Interactive has obtained the rights to create a wholly new MMORPG persistent war experience for PC, PS4 and Xbox One set in Games Workshop's universe of the 41st Millennium. In the game, players choose a Warhammer 40,000(R) race and fight directly as one of their warriors in massive conflicts for territory. It will be up to each faction's community to determine their own destiny as they vie for control of an entire planet. Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 10-13, bringing you all the best news from E3 2013. We're covering everything from WildStar and Elder Scrolls Online and ArcheAge to FFXIV's inbound revamp and TERA's latest update, so stay tuned! E3 2013: Behaviour announces Warhammer 40k: Eternal Crusade originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Via: Craig Morrison

Flameseeker Chronicles: Temporary content in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 11 Jun 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Buy-to-Play Dragon Bash hits Guild Wars 2 today, and if you haven't yet checked out our video preview of the festivities, what are you waiting for? Dragon Bash is a holiday event, so much of what we'll be seeing in this update will be temporary content. These limited-time events have been the subject of much conversation in the community of late and, consequently, they're the topic of today's video edition of the Flameseeker Chronicles. Let's get to it! Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Temporary content in Guild Wars 2 Flameseeker Chronicles: Temporary content in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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