MMO Updates

---

• The Think Tank: What do you look for in a guild?
• Game of Thrones' Dinklage to voice main companion in Destiny
• E3 2013: Hands-on with Zynga's Solstice Arena MOBA
• E3 2013: Hands-on with HEX
• The Daily Grind: How do you define MMOFPS?
• E3 2013: Snail Games' Black Gold and Age of Wushu
• Choose My Adventure: Firefalling
• E3 2013: DayZ shows off its standalone gameplay
• WildStar gets the band together for a game jam
• ArcheAge going F2P in Korea on July 3
• E3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe
• E3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online
• E3 2013: Prime World tones down gender issues
• E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV shows off PS3 UI
• E3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC
• Age of Wushu forecasts weather system
• E3 2013: Hands-on with steampunkish Black Gold
• E3 2013: Not so wild about WildStar
• Neverwinter Days: A one-month evaluation
• E3 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online

The Think Tank: What do you look for in a guild? Posted: 13 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, Miscellaneous, The Think Tank Guilds are what make MMOs. It's that social interaction among real people that defines a massively multiplayer experience, but our guild preferences differ greatly. Some of us like to stick with the same guild throughout multiple games, some of us only play with real-life friends, and some of us seek out new guilds as part of the adventure in each new game. The Massively staff is certainly no different as we all have our own way of interacting with guilds in the MMOs we love so much. How do you think each team member likes his or her social interaction? Follow along after the jump to find out. Continue reading The Think Tank: What do you look for in a guild? The Think Tank: What do you look for in a guild? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Game of Thrones' Dinklage to voice main companion in Destiny Posted: 13 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, MMO Industry, New Titles, Destiny If you're a Game of Thrones fan, there's no denying the fact that Tyrion Lanister is one of the most enduring characters in both the books and the HBO series. Actor Peter Dinklage is to credit on the TV side of things, and now the seasoned vet is branching out to do some voice work in Bungie's Destiny MMO. As your interactive companion, Ghost, Dinklage's voice (sans faux British accent) will be with your character wherever you go in the game. In addition to Dinklage, Bungie is also working with the iconic Sir Paul McCartney for the game's music. Continue reading Game of Thrones' Dinklage to voice main companion in Destiny Game of Thrones' Dinklage to voice main companion in Destiny originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Via: Gamespot interview

E3 2013: Hands-on with Zynga's Solstice Arena MOBA Posted: 13 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Interviews, Mobile, First Impressions, Events (Massively's Coverage), MOBA I wasn't sure what to expect from Solstice Arena when I walked into Zynga/A Bit Lucky's meeting room. I'd heard about the whole "speed MOBA" thing, but I love playing as Nasus in League of Legends, so having no mobs was a bit conflicting. The game's also only being released on the iPhone and iPad, and I use an Android smart phone and a tablet running on Windows 8. But I wasn't worried. Fredrick Descamps and Jordan Maynard, co-founders (and former Trion members) of A Bit Lucky , were on hand to share their vision, but truthfully, the hands-on time won me over. Continue reading E3 2013: Hands-on with Zynga's Solstice Arena MOBA E3 2013: Hands-on with Zynga's Solstice Arena MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Hands-on with HEX Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Hands-On, Trading Card Games, Events (Massively's Coverage), Miscellaneous Before MMOs, I played the Pokemon TCG. I didn't just play it but dominated my local Pokemon league. Had it not been for Asheron's Call, I would have been the first gym leader who wasn't an employee of the local comic and cards shop, but my brother got that honor instead... until he caved in too. Before that, I played Magic: The Gathering and actually would have placed in the top 15 of a new-release tournament if my mother hadn't literally made me go to bed (that's what happens when you're 12 years old and have to get a ride from your mom). So when I was told that I could do a hands on with HEX, I made sure I made time to hit up the demo. For those who are familiar with MMOTCGs, I'm hoping my hands-on will be fitting, but for those who don't know how the stack works or what an untap phase entails, you may want to hit up an earlier hands-on that goes into much more detail on mechanics first. Continue reading E3 2013: Hands-on with HEX E3 2013: Hands-on with HEX originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: How do you define MMOFPS? Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: MMO Industry, New Titles, Opinion, The Daily Grind, MMOFPS The Massively chat room was the setting for an interesting discussion about MMO definitions recently. And, as often happens, said discussion ended up inspiring a Daily Grind. This one here, in fact. We were talking about the term MMOFPS and more specifically, the definition of it. It's one of those thorny, subjective things quite like MMORPG or even MMO, and all of the people participating in the discussion had different takes on it. So, for today's Daily Grind, we're asking you to weigh in. What specifically makes an MMOFPS an MMOFPS as opposed to an MMO shooter or more simply, an online shooter? 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: How do you define MMOFPS? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Snail Games' Black Gold and Age of Wushu Posted: 12 Jun 2013 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Business Models, Classes, Economy, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Events (Massively's Coverage), Age of Wushu, Steampunk Snail Games showcased two new MMOs today at E3: Black Gold and Age of Wushu. The two games have more than their parent in common; Black Gold utilizes the Age of Wushu engine. Set in a fantastical steampunk world, Black Gold is a mish-mash of colorful fantasy elements and grunge-ridden steampunk inventions, as we found in our hands-on with the game earlier today. Each faction within Black Gold (fantasy or steam faction) has three races of its own. The steam faction holds humans, dwarves, and vampires (what steampunk MMO would be without vampires?), and on the fantasy side you'll find more humans, a cat-like race, and a shape-shifting barbarian race. It might be a little limited in race selection, but maybe character creation will be just as interesting for the players as it is in Age of Wushu. Continue reading E3 2013: Snail Games' Black Gold and Age of Wushu E3 2013: Snail Games' Black Gold and Age of Wushu originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Choose My Adventure: Firefalling Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Polls, Fallen Earth, PvP, PvE, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Choose My Adventure, Firefall, MMORPG Well folks, it was an epic battle. The communities of Firefall and Fallen Earth rolled out in force to support their favorite game in last week's Choose My Adventure poll, and the contest came right down to the wire with thousands of votes pouring in from both sides. Most impressively, despite the efforts of a few bad-apple commenters and forum trolls, it was a war fought with courtesy and genuine respect for the passions of the competing community. Well done. It's true that only one game can win a slot in Choose My Adventure, and this time around Firefall topped the charts. But let's take a moment to recognize the awesome turnout from both groups of fans. Your communities called you to action, and you responded with dedication and enthusiasm. Frankly, that's the type of stuff we love to see. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Firefalling Choose My Adventure: Firefalling originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: DayZ shows off its standalone gameplay Posted: 12 Jun 2013 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Horror, Video, Events (Real-World), Previews, News Items, MMOFPS, Post-Apocalyptic Do you like zombies? Wait, that's a silly question, don't answer that. They're horrible undead abominations, of course you don't like them. But do you like shooting them? If so, you'll be happy to see the brand-new footage of DayZ's standalone client just past the break, because this is a game all about shooting zombies. Also stabbing zombies, incinerating zombies, and generally making the world safe for everyone who wants to have a zombie-free living space. The video stretches for about 12 minutes, covering everything from inventory management to shooting zombies to combing houses for supplies. No word on whether or not the standalone game will include mechanics for fighting against a growing sense of survivalist paranoia or waiting things out at the Winchester, but you can still see what it's like to get your zombie-killing hat on. Continue reading E3 2013: DayZ shows off its standalone gameplay E3 2013: DayZ shows off its standalone gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: YouTube, Additional screens Via: PCGamer

WildStar gets the band together for a game jam Posted: 12 Jun 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, News Items, WildStar You don't get into a video game career to make huge stacks of money, you do it because you love games. That means that the idea of Game Jams can actually make sense. What's a Game Jam? Well, it's the event on display in the latest WildStar Wednesday, and it's also a way for the Carbine Studios team to relax from the stress of a work week by coming in and working for another eight hours on something crazy. No, that's really the idea. As explained in the article, Game Jams consist of people coming into the office, deciding on a task, and splitting off into small teams to make a playable build of something within eight hours. It's a chance for designers, programmers, and artists to all stretch their legs a bit more, possibly exploring aspects of the game that they're not normally involved in on a day-to-day basis. And a chance for people to relax from work by doing more work, that's also a thing. WildStar gets the band together for a game jam originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Game Jam

ArcheAge going F2P in Korea on July 3 Posted: 12 Jun 2013 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, ArcheAge, Sandbox We still haven't gotten any inkling from XLGAMES or Trion regarding ArcheAge's western business model. A freemium model of some sort is probably a safe bet, though, particularly now that the Korean version of the game -- which launched as a subscription-only title -- is gearing up for a F2P switch. MMO Culture reports that, starting July 3rd, ArcheAge Korea will cease selling time cards in favor of premium 30- and 90-day packages that offer in-game advantages like faster labor point recovery, item exchange vouchers, the ability to own a house, and assorted buffs. The site also says that XL will implement account services like name changes, aesthetic changes, and server transfers. ArcheAge going F2P in Korea on July 3 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: MMO Culture

E3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe Posted: 12 Jun 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, Previews, Humor, Events (Massively's Coverage), Sandbox, MMORPG Over a heaping smorgasboard of food yesterday, I was given a healthy dose of the logical functions of the universe. The universe of TUG, that is, and the professor of the hour was Peter Salinas, Nerd Kingdom founder and expert in just about everything science. At this year's E3, Massively got to test a functional tech demo that showed some progress over earlier video capture and artwork, and Salinas told me about TUG's mechanics and how the systems of the game work together to create a unique experience. "A lot of the tacky-looking games on the internet are impressive by design, but they just don't have a lot of visuals to support what that design is," he explained cryptically. "Every once in a while, a game comes out and its systems are amazing, so a publisher will snatch it up, put [those systems] into a game, and then realize they don't want to use it. [So the developer] gets shelved. That's why we want to stay independent." The indie market proves innovation is still in demand, and the design of TUG is a lot more complex when one starts to peel back the layers like an onion (but not an ogre). Continue reading E3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe E3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online Posted: 12 Jun 2013 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, PvE, Consoles, Events (Massively's Coverage), The Elder Scrolls Online, MMORPG E3 is the time and place for game creators to show their work, and Bethesda is no exception. The company offered a quick presentation of The Elder Scrolls Online, which consisted of a short introduction video followed by a brief play session. In the video, Bethesda confirmed what we already knew: that The Elder Scrolls Online will launch on PS4 and Xbox One, along with PC and OS X. The targeted release window is currently spring 2014, a delay from fall 2013 for the PC version. The video also showed off some of the content that wasn't on display for testers, including high-level PvP battles featuring 200 on-screen players, group combat, first-person mode, and familiar locations like Windhelm and Morrowind. Our own Jasmine Hruschak attended the TESO live demo event and managed to snag a Bethesda employee for an impromptu interview. Check out the full text after the break, and don't forget to read Andrew's hands-on as well! Continue reading E3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online E3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Prime World tones down gender issues Posted: 12 Jun 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, Free-to-Play, Mobile, Events (Massively's Coverage), MOBA The MOBA-slash-city builder known as Prime World was an important stop during our grand E3 tour this year. We've been interested in hearing Nival's been preparing this Russian hit for a larger audience since seeing it in action in March. The game is currently in closed beta testing for a North American release. A Nival developer was on hand to give us an overview about what makes Prime World stand out as well as to answer a few questions about the sticky issue of gender choice (or lack thereof). Join us as we stroll through a brightly colored battlefield and consider where we'll set up shop when this title lands in NA. Continue reading E3 2013: Prime World tones down gender issues E3 2013: Prime World tones down gender issues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV shows off PS3 UI Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV E3 is proving to be an exciting time for Final Fantasy XIV fans, especially considering that the title has been confirmed for the PlayStation 4 next year. One of the new videos that's coming out of the convention is a dev tour of the new UI developed for the PlayStation 3 version. While the developers speak in their native tongue, the video is subtitled and shows off a range of UI activities from character customization to combat. Gaze upon it with your terribly perceptive eyes after the jump and make sure to read our preview of the rebooted title from the show floor! Continue reading E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV shows off PS3 UI E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV shows off PS3 UI originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: PlayStation 3 UI video

E3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Interviews, Previews, Opinion, Hands-On, Events (Massively's Coverage), Post-Apocalyptic, Defiance, Buy-to-Play Defiance broke my heart around this time last year. E3 2012 was the first and last time we saw players from Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC all playing the same game together. I personally haven't played the game since then, but I've kept up with the game news, except for the show. No spoilers in the comments, people! Now that I've gotten my hands on the new DLC that's incoming for the game, I know I'll be catching up with the series. During my Defiance appointment at E3, I had a nice little chat, saw some cute features, tested a new weapon and new vehicle, and killed some new enemies... you know, the usual ark hunter stuff. But before covering the DLC, I had to ask what exactly happened last year with Microsoft and why PlayStation players can't play with their PC mates. I mean, just because one person wanted to duck out shouldn't mean everyone is punished, right? Well, apparently, Trion doesn't agree. Even though PC players can use a controller to play the game, having PS3 and PC on the same world might bring up the dreaded "keyboard vs. controller" argument. I know some of us still want to be friends with consolers, but I guess having one server for Microsoft and one server for everyone else does sound a bit odd. Continue reading E3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC E3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Age of Wushu forecasts weather system Posted: 12 Jun 2013 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Video, Game Mechanics, Previews, Free-to-Play, Sandbox, Age of Wushu What's life without a little weather to keep things interesting and give socially awkward people something to talk about around the water cooler? While many MMOs have given up on including weather systems, Age of Wushu kindly disagrees. The title is preparing to roll out dynamic weather in a forthcoming update, and a new teaser trailer hints at the possibilities that it could present. The trailer shows a character running through a storm at night. Sheets of rain come down as the occasional bolt of lightning illuminates the surroundings for a few seconds. Check out the video after the break, and don't forget your poncho if you're heading into this title! Continue reading Age of Wushu forecasts weather system Age of Wushu forecasts weather system originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: MMO Culture

E3 2013: Hands-on with steampunkish Black Gold Posted: 12 Jun 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Classes, Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Hands-On, First Impressions, Events (Massively's Coverage), Miscellaneous, Steampunk The folks over at Snail Games had several computers set up at E3 this year to allow the press to play their next MMO, Black Gold. The concept is simple but relatively uncommon: steampunk vs. fantasy. I guess you can say RIFT tried its hand at the trope with its Defiants and Guardians showdown, but it wasn't taken to such an extreme. Black Gold is more like Aztec elves with magic powers vs. an apocalyptic survivalist society that's living off of steam power even though they have telephone poles. While the game has some really cool art and concepts, the pre-beta demo I got to try was sadly lacking in options. I spent about 20 minutes in the morning trying an Isenhorst human with a rifle, then spent the last hour of E3 day one with still more BG. Gallery: Black Gold Continue reading E3 2013: Hands-on with steampunkish Black Gold E3 2013: Hands-on with steampunkish Black Gold originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Not so wild about WildStar Posted: 12 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Previews, PvE, Opinion, Hands-On, First Impressions, Events (Massively's Coverage), WildStar, MMORPG WildStar's promising players the moon, but are gamers just star-struck? I know I personally wasn't paying too much attention to the game until the recent video about paths. I'm not against the graphics, I think themeparks can be fun, and I've put up with PvE vs. PvP stats for about a decade and a half, so what's another year? But... well, I just keep getting the feeling that there's a lot of hype and no substance. The path video and the scientist path hands-on preview got me excited though. No longer were these empty promises! Someone had seen some of them first-hand! But maybe this was my downfall. For those who don't know, E3 isn't about playing any game you want any way you want. Sometimes devs just bring the live game and let you have at it, but I find that often these games don't have a lot of announcements to make and are mainly there to let... ah, "less informed" gaming journalists see the game. No, instead, you often have a developer leading you on a very strict path, if you're even allowed to play the game. Maybe they release you with a premade character into a specific dungeon that "ends" when the boss dies. Or, as with my hands on with Wildstar, you might be restricted to a few class/paths and have to do the newbie experience. Continue reading E3 2013: Not so wild about WildStar E3 2013: Not so wild about WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Neverwinter Days: A one-month evaluation Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Neverwinter, Neverwinter Days It's been a little over a month since Neverwinter soft-launched as a no-wipe open beta. Perhaps some folks are holding off until the "official" launch to play it, but I wager that most anyone who is interested in this game is already leveling up like mad. I always think that the one-month mark is a good time to pause for evaluation. There's just too much drama and over-excitement and new car smell that goes on during the first week to keep a level head, so first impressions can be tainted by an atmosphere that will soon settle down. But 30 days seems like a good span of time to get a feel for how Neverwinter is doing, how it's being received by the community, and what needs addressing. I've been playing every day since the soft launch, although two re-rolls because of guild/server conflicts means that I haven't achieved the level cap the way that some players have. Still, there's no shortage to my opinions on what I like and dislike about this title, but I'll see if I can sum up the salient points for you today. Continue reading Neverwinter Days: A one-month evaluation Neverwinter Days: A one-month evaluation originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Hands-On, Consoles, First Impressions, Events (Massively's Coverage), The Elder Scrolls Online I was kind of new, so I figured I'd practice on some sheep first. A little blood, some meat, some fat. Interesting, but kind of simple. I understood some of the basics on how to move and fight, but I figured I should check out the town. Now, I'm kind of old and ugly, so when the dog came at me, I figured it was attacking me. After a few moments, I realized it was friendly and talked to it. It seemed it wanted me to follow it. This was the start of my first quest in The Elder Scrolls Online. Now, to be clear, I came into my ESO demo at this year's E3 as a skeptic. I played Star Wars: The Old Republic. I figured "MMO with story" meant kill 10 rats; choose 1, 2, or 3; then look for another quest icon. It's not a terrible model, but it's one that left me wondering if there was a better way to do things. Why make it an MMO when you could just do a multiplayer RPG? I'm not sure I know the answer to this yet, but I do feel I'm getting closer. Continue reading E3 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online E3 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

You are subscribed to email updates from Massively To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610