MMO Updates

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• Beat the heat with new Dragon's Prophet Wintertide screenshots
• ArcheAge player guide shows how to compose your own music
• Why I Play: RIFT
• Lost Continent: ArcheAge needs a business model, too
• The Daily Grind: What's your pre-order spending limit?
• Free for All: Why MMOs should be kept alive forever
• Save RIFT's Silverwood and Freemarch cities starting June 27
• Choose My Adventure: Next stop in Firefall, whirling death tornado
• DCUO has 11 million registered users, SOE explains F2P strategy
• SMITE throws a disco party with new update
• Leaderboard: Which platform would you prefer for The Division?
• Dungeons & Dragons Online screenshots show off new monsters
• WildStar's third beta test is all right for fighting
• Guild Wars 2 sheds a little more light on the Aetherblade Pirates
• Massively reminisces on Star Wars Galaxies' 10th anniversary

Beat the heat with new Dragon's Prophet Wintertide screenshots Posted: 27 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Screenshots, New Titles, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dragon's Prophet At E3 we were introduced to Wintertide, a new land coming in the next big beta content patch for Dragon's Prophet. With constant harsh weather in the endless tundras, dense forests, and sky-scraping mountains, adventurers will brave bitter cold when traversing the wilds of Wintertide. To give players a glimpse of this upcoming zone, Infernum Productions has released three new screenshots highlighting the ever-present chill. Check them out in the gallery below. Eager for more information about the new dungeons, the legendary Ancient Shadow Festival, and the advanced housing features that will also be included in the content update? Keep your eyes peeled -- the studio said that information would be released next week. [Source: Infernum Productions press release] Gallery: Dragon's Prophet Beat the heat with new Dragon's Prophet Wintertide screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

ArcheAge player guide shows how to compose your own music Posted: 27 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Culture, New Titles, News Items, Guides, ArcheAge, Sandbox, Player-Generated Content A couple months ago, someone quietly posted a video of folks actually playing music in ArcheAge. As much excitement as that generated for music lovers, not much information was given in that short clip other than a Guitar Hero-style guitar was utilized to create what was heard in the sandbox game. But now, a new player-created video guide walks you through how to create and play compositions in game. What great melodious masterpieces will be arranged using this system? Only time will tell. Until then, check out the guide after the break to see how it's done. Oh, and if you missed that first clip, we've added it as well! [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!] Continue reading ArcheAge player guide shows how to compose your own music ArcheAge player guide shows how to compose your own music originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Music composition guide, In-game music demo

Why I Play: RIFT Posted: 27 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Free-to-Play, RIFT, Why I Play I've heard the common complaints. Heck, I've been the one issuing them from time to time. RIFT is too much like World of Warcraft. Its story often feels bland. Its 50-to-60 journey takes just this side of forever. Its cities are more like "one building and a couple of adjoining huts." Its dynamic content never lived up to its potential as the core feature of the game. Its races are some of the most generic in the MMO industry. And yet I play it. I love it, in fact; I have ever since I first tried it in beta. The sign of a worthy game to me is not perfection (as that does not exist outside of the deluded hopes of fans anticipating the next big title) but a game that succeeds despite its flaws. For every flaw RIFT has, I could name two ways that it's done a great job in entertaining players, pulling together the community, and treating consumers with respect. Free-to-play has caused a lot of folks to check out RIFT, some of them for the first time. Others who used to play are now returning because the subscription barrier is no more. So why do I play RIFT? Let me give you 20 reasons. Continue reading Why I Play: RIFT Why I Play: RIFT originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lost Continent: ArcheAge needs a business model, too Posted: 27 Jun 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, ArcheAge, Sandbox, Subscription, Buy-to-Play, Lost Continent Massively's Eliot Lefebvre recently speculated on what WildStar's business model might look like, and even if you're not a huge fan of the upcoming sci-fantasy opus, it's worth a read. It's also a column topic worth stealing, and I'm going to do just that this week and apply it to ArcheAge. Like WildStar, ArcheAge is largely an enigma when it comes to its western business model. Unlike Carbine, though, Trion Worlds -- AA's western publisher -- has plenty of experience with all three of the major MMO models currently in use. Continue reading Lost Continent: ArcheAge needs a business model, too Lost Continent: ArcheAge needs a business model, too originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What's your pre-order spending limit? Posted: 27 Jun 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, MechWarrior Online I was paging through the comments for our recent MechWarrior Online Phoenix Project post yesterday, and it struck me as somewhat nutty that Piranha has basically been operating the game for a year, has already offered a $120 founder's program, and is now offering what amounts to another pre-order program on top of that. I get that companies need to make money, but I'm also glad that MechWarrior isn't one of those IPs I care enough about to drop hundreds of dollars on a beta and various avatar skins! So, how about it, Massively readers? What's the most you'd spend -- or have spent -- on an MMO pre-order program for a game or a franchise that you really love? 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: What's your pre-order spending limit? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Free for All: Why MMOs should be kept alive forever Posted: 26 Jun 2013 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Screenshots, Video, Guild Wars, Business Models, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Free for All, Sunsets We generally avoid the topic of emulator servers here at Massively for various reasons. I have different reasons for not discussing them as well, mainly that I do not agree with the use of art (games are art) without the owner's permission, no matter what. I want to get that out of the way now so we can discuss today's topic without filling the comments with emulator links we'll have to delete. And that topic is this: Should we maintain dead or dying MMOs after closure? I started thinking about this idea because I am currently wrapped up in a project to collect and catalogue every major bookmark of my life until I am "caught up" to about the time I started working at Massively. As part of the project, I am looking to save old pictures, projects and music, especially ones that exist on paper. Paper rots, after all. The project has made me think much more about my long history with MMOs. Should I be concerned that some of the digital versions of myself have or will disappear as games are sunsetted? Should we do something about this? I think we should, but if not emus, then what? Continue reading Free for All: Why MMOs should be kept alive forever Free for All: Why MMOs should be kept alive forever originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Save RIFT's Silverwood and Freemarch cities starting June 27 Posted: 26 Jun 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, RIFT Death is coming for the zones of Silverwood and Freemarch. And you, noble Ascended, are the only thing that can stop it. No pressure. RIFT is putting on a planar invasion event starting on June 27th. Rewards include bonus currency, loot, and new achievements tied to zone events. Special items may drop too, and you'll find a list of those on the announcement page at the game's official website. Save RIFT's Silverwood and Freemarch cities starting June 27 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

Choose My Adventure: Next stop in Firefall, whirling death tornado Posted: 26 Jun 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Polls, PvE, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Choose My Adventure, Post-Apocalyptic, Firefall, MMORPG In last week's Choose My Adventure poll, I asked three simple questions of the Massively community: What should I do, how should I do it, and how pretty should I look whilst doing so? The response was definitive; voters steered me toward PvE content, which I would approach with a mercenary "what's in it for me" attitude while wearing fabulous copper armor. We also had a chance to leap into the game during CMA Live, with experienced Firefall-ers turning out in droves to take me on a whirlwind adventure through some of the game's most intense dynamic content. Overall, it's been a fun week of crushing Ares missions, repelling Chosen invasions, and of course, thumping the heck out of some resources. But there's plenty left to do. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Next stop in Firefall, whirling death tornado Choose My Adventure: Next stop in Firefall, whirling death tornado originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

DCUO has 11 million registered users, SOE explains F2P strategy Posted: 26 Jun 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Business Models, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, DC Universe Online DC Universe Online was built with a subscription model in mind, creative director Jens Andersen recently told Gamasutra. How, then, did SOE manage to convert the superhero MMO to a free-to-play model and grow the playerbase to include 11 million registered users? Andersen says that SOE wanted people to be able to freely access all of the game's launch content while offering the option to maximize playtime via various convenience items. "If you like this game a lot, and you want to dedicate more time to it -- not pay-to-win, but dedicate more time to it, and front-load that time and progression, you can do that through various means," Andersen explains. "Otherwise, if you want to play it for free, you'd go at the pace that the game determines for you." SOE came up with a system of replay badges that serve as gear reward gates, effectively allowing players to (re)play content for free but preventing them from claiming the reward a second time until the lockout timer has cycled through. Cash shop items can reduce or eliminate the lockouts. "So your time in the game is the same as a free-to-play person's time, you're just front-loading that time," Andersen says. DCUO has 11 million registered users, SOE explains F2P strategy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Gamasutra

SMITE throws a disco party with new update Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Patches, Free-to-Play, MOBA SMITE's boogying down with a new patch today, so heads-up for all of you wanna-be deities out there because the pantheon of the gods is about to clash with 1970s pop culture. The update has made significant changes to the conquest mode, with wider lanes, jungle fog-of-war, a slimmed-down map, and adjusted camp positions. There are also two new XP camps to be plundered, so level up while you can! Some of the characters have received tweaks, particularly visual and vocal changes. Most notably, Aphrodite can now assume the "Afro-dite" skin, taking her back to a time when disco was all the rage in the MOBA world. The patch notes have the full scoop over all of the changes, including teleportation consumables, combat blink, and new rank 3 options. Alternatively, you can check out the patch highlights video after the jump! Continue reading SMITE throws a disco party with new update SMITE throws a disco party with new update originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Patch notes

Leaderboard: Which platform would you prefer for The Division? Posted: 26 Jun 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: MMO Industry, New Titles, Opinion, Leaderboard I'm really conflicted about The Division. On the one hand, it was one of the more interesting MMOish developments that I saw at this year's E3. On the other hand, it's disappointing that Ubisoft initially positioned it as a console-only title. It's also a little off-putting that the company is waffling with a maybe-we-will-and-maybe-we-won't attitude when it comes to bringing the game to the PC. Maybe Ubisoft truly hasn't decided how -- or whether -- to allocate its dev resources to cover multiple platforms. Or maybe it has decided and it's just milking the controversy for PR reasons, but either way it's pretty crappy from a PC customer's perspective. Assuming that The Division does make it to all three major platforms, and assuming you're interested in the title to begin with, which would you prefer to play it on? Vote after the cut! Continue reading Leaderboard: Which platform would you prefer for The Division? Leaderboard: Which platform would you prefer for The Division? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dungeons & Dragons Online screenshots show off new monsters Posted: 26 Jun 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Expansions, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play Just like its source material, Dungeons & Dragons Online is largely a game about killing new and interesting monsters across new and interesting landscapes. So the upcoming expansion Shadowfell Conspiracy really needs to have both. We've seen the landscapes, but now we're also getting a look at the monsters, some of which seem downright personable if you can get past the fact that they'll be trying to kill you. And if you look past the gore-soaked weapons. Maybe they're not all that personable after all. The shots in the gallery below include some general gaming staples (griffons), some specific Dungeons & Dragons staples (beholders), and some things that look like nothing even vaguely familiar. And rest assured, you'll be finding ways to kill every single one of them. So take a look at the gallery if you can't wait until August 19th to see the new face of your enemy. [Source: Turbine Entertainment press release] Gallery: DDO: Shadowfell Conspiracy Dungeons & Dragons Online screenshots show off new monsters originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

WildStar's third beta test is all right for fighting Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, News Items, WildStar The Dominion and the Exiles cannot just get along, they cannot be friends, and they cannot give peace a chance. So the testing for WildStar thus far has kept them separated, with both sides testing on different weekend. But according to patch notes released today by Carbine Studios, the upcoming test is starting a riot, letting both factions loose in the same playground. The notes include a request that testers look into the game's setup for potential griefing hotspots to ensure that they're fixed before launch rather than remain a spot of constant sorrow. So is this patch just sporting the one change? Oh, you ain't seen nothing yet. Even if we disregard the ability and build changes outlined, the patch introduces rated battlegrounds and arenas for the game's universal soldiers. There are also improvements to the housing interface, the introduction of the not-yet-functional tradeskill talent UI, and an expansion of quickslot abilities. And even if you're not in the testing and can't go your own way, there's plenty to make you wonder. WildStar's third beta test is all right for fighting originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Beta patch notes

Guild Wars 2 sheds a little more light on the Aetherblade Pirates Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, News Items, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play There's a new group of pirates in Tyria, and unlike the five or six pirate factions already around, these folks don't bother messing around with water. Guild Wars 2's Aetherblade Pirates come from the air, and they're the subject of intense speculation from the Lionsguard. The lore of the group isn't exactly revealed in the latest blog entry, but it should give anyone anxious for more pirate details some interesting food for thought. According to the official Lionsguard report, the Aetherblade Pirates do not appear to associate with any existing pirate groups and refuse to give any details regarding their leadership. There's also reason to believe that the pirates are not actually responsible for the maintenance of their own ships, as those captured display no real knowledge of the working mechanisms behind these vessels. So it may be that they're simply a marauding force working at the behest of a more dangerous power, which may be an unpleasant thought indeed for Tyrian residents. Guild Wars 2 sheds a little more light on the Aetherblade Pirates originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Aetherblade Pirates

Massively reminisces on Star Wars Galaxies' 10th anniversary Posted: 26 Jun 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Roleplaying, Sandbox, Anniversaries, Subscription, Sunsets Has it really been 10 years? Yep, Star Wars Galaxies did indeed launch on June 26th, 2003. And yep, this is indeed an anniversary post for an MMORPG that closed down in December of 2011. Why the reminiscing about a game that we can't -- ahem -- play any longer? Simply put, SWG deserves it. If you're reading this article, you already know why it deserves it, so we'll skip the sandbox proselytizing and get right to the part where Massively's Starsider veterans raise a glass and share a few of their favorite launch-era memories. Continue reading Massively reminisces on Star Wars Galaxies' 10th anniversary Massively reminisces on Star Wars Galaxies' 10th anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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