MMO Updates

MMO Updates

Rise and Shiny: Anno Online

Posted: 02 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT

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Anno Online screenshot
At first, Anno Online reminded me of The Settlers Online, a similar title that was brought to us by Ubisoft, the same publisher. Both games look good and mostly avoid hardcore combat, and both move slowly and concentrate on proper building placement and trade. I have to admit that I grew tired of The Settlers Online because it was hard to keep up with influence from local bandits and the constant destruction of the environment. In Anno Online I don't have to worry about trees or mines or running out of goods, and there are no enemies.

The pace of play is slow for sure, but I enjoy it. I can keep the game running all day in my browser with no performance hit and I can even play it on my Samsung Chromebook. It's a game of slow growth and trade, and it's more of a pseudo-MMO that allows players to connect with friends loosely. Still, it's wonderful to look at and it's a quality game.

But let's get to the details.

Continue reading Rise and Shiny: Anno Online

MassivelyRise and Shiny: Anno Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    One Shots: You were saying?

    Posted: 02 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT

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    One Shots You were saying
    If there's a class in Star Wars: The Old Republic that has a monopoly on the best lines, banter, and dialogue, it would have to be the Smuggler. Reader Danielle sent us in this nicely framed shot: "Here's my confident, sassy Smuggler striking a pose as he interrupts a conversation."

    But isn't interrupting a conversation... rude? He shouldn't do that, then. He should wait patiently until both parties are finished, and perhaps raise his hand and wait to be acknowledged by his betters. Or he could totally interrupt their boring chit-chat.

    The One Shots column is a time capsule of some of the most important MMO moments in history, and you're about to witness the latest entries into this hallowed vault. Steel yourself and prepare to gaze in wonder at the peak of human ingenuity and the print screen key!

    Continue reading One Shots: You were saying?

    MassivelyOne Shots: You were saying? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Which MMO story has moved you?

      Posted: 02 Jun 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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      The Daily Grind Which MMO story has moved you
      Sometimes I don't think that MMO writers get enough credit for the truly great tales that are embedded into our game experiences. Perhaps that's because there's a lot of fluffy nonsense tales that surround them, or perhaps it's because we're just so used to skipping past the story to reach the objective. Even so, I have to believe that there are stories that touch and move us in MMOs, because I've encountered several of them.

      I have a particularly strong connection to many of the accounts that unfold in The Secret World. One story that I pieced together via lore discoveries and missions is the tale of Carrie Killian. We never meet her in the game, but we do explore the burned shell of the Black House, where this fortune teller was burned alive after a mob rampage. After learning all of the events, I had a lot more sympathy for this poltergeist than I did for the townsfolk.

      So which MMO story has moved you? Which has remained lodged in your memories even unto this day?

      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: Which MMO story has moved you? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Stahl fields Star Trek questions, addresses downtime in latest Ask Cryptic

        Posted: 01 Jun 2013 06:00 PM PDT

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        Stahl fields Star Trek questions, addresses downtime in latest Ask Cryptic
        Star Trek Online executive producer Daniel Stahl is back to answer your questions in the latest edition of Ask Cryptic. In addition to fielding a few community queries, Stahl provides an update on what appears to have been a hectic week following the launch of the game's Legacy of Romulus expansion.

        While Stahl admits that there have been some rough spots when it comes to emergency downtime and queues, he says that the hubbub is ultimately a sign of STO's growth and subsequent higher profile.
        We did buy new hardware. We did upgrade the network. We did plan for all the new people, but sometimes bad things just happen for no good reason. We've had to replace some new hardware, rewire some networks, upgrade some firewalls, and pretty much anything else that you could think of from an infrastructure standpoint. We're sorry and we're working around the clock to whack the moles as they pop up. But in general, we've had more people in and playing the game than any previous update in STO. We're seeing record numbers of captains creating new Romulan characters. It's pretty awesome.

        MassivelyStahl fields Star Trek questions, addresses downtime in latest Ask Cryptic originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        BioWare granting one-time free transfer to SWTOR APAC refugees

        Posted: 01 Jun 2013 04:00 PM PDT

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        Star Wars: The Old Republic - Kira in distress
        BioWare community manager Eric Musco has updated Asia-Pacific Star Wars: The Old Republic players on their server transfer options. The company announced in late March that the game's APAC shards are being shuttered.

        "Starting on Tuesday, June 4th, you will all be allowed a free one-time transfer for each character you have on an APAC server, Musco wrote. "We are going to allow you a one-time transfer to any SWTOR server. To reiterate, starting on Tuesday, June 4th, you will be allowed a one-time transfer for each character you have on an APAC server to any other non-APAC server."

        MassivelyBioWare granting one-time free transfer to SWTOR APAC refugees originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Wings Over Atreia Exclusive: Soar into Aion 4.0 June 26th

        Posted: 01 Jun 2013 02:00 PM PDT

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        Wings Over Atreia Exclusive Soar into Aion 40 June 26th
        Could it be? Is that really... it IS! Your eyes do not deceive you; there really is a bonafide date set for the release of Aion's next expansion, Dark Betrayal. And I've got to tell you, it is such a relief to be able to share the news without the chance of that electric shock collar going off. You'll be able to spread your wings in Katalam and Danaria -- or just spread new wings period if you go for one of the new classes -- come June 26th. But here's the catch: If you still have things you want to get in order before the expansion hits (perhaps gain a level or two like some people we know), now you've got a deadline!

        Luckily, for all those stuck in the position of needing to advance in levels a bit to experience all of what 4.0 offers, Aion's got just the event to help you out. Starting June 5th and going all the way to launch on the 26th, any and all Daevas -- meaning level 10 and above -- can participate in Code Red and receive special enhancements to aid in their adventures.

        Continue reading Wings Over Atreia Exclusive: Soar into Aion 4.0 June 26th

        MassivelyWings Over Atreia Exclusive: Soar into Aion 4.0 June 26th originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Mog Log: The dark night of the Final Fantasy XIV fansite

          Posted: 01 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT

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          In which I admit there are limitations to my capability.
          I was going to wrap up my beta thoughts this week, but there's a subject that needs to be discussed earlier as part of the Final Fantasy XIV community as a whole. Specifically, the fact that our fansites are dying off.

          Some of that was inevitable after the game's launch, but two of the biggest gathering points for the community have been hit hard recently. FFXIVCore closed its doors, and Gamer Escape is now asking for subscriptions and donations to help keep the site running. (GE covers general gaming as well, but the focus has always been on Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV.) At a point when fansites should be getting more vibrant in preparation for launch, they're dwindling.

          So what happened? And for that matter, why is it so important for us to have fansites for the community? The answer to the former is pretty obvious, but the answer to the latter is a bit more involved, and it's worth discussing because I'm firmly of the mind that we need fansites, several of them.

          Continue reading The Mog Log: The dark night of the Final Fantasy XIV fansite

          MassivelyThe Mog Log: The dark night of the Final Fantasy XIV fansite originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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