MMO Updates

---

• War Thunder now flies under Steam power
• The Think Tank: How do you handle hype?
• Guardians of Middle-earth coming to PC
• Jukebox Heroes Extra: A chat with City of Steam's composer
• The Daily Grind: Why do you like character development and progression?
• Hi-Rez revamps SMITE's conquest visuals
• New C9 expansion adding dungeons, epic items, higher level cap
• Free for All: The Castle Doctrine takes griefing and grieving to a new level
• Fallen Earth focuses on augmented weapons
• The Art of Wushu: Climbing the Mount Hua expansion
• RIFT's Mayhem in Mathosia event starts August 21
• First Impressions of RuneScape 3 from a returning player
• NCsoft sales are up, income is down
• WildStar primps for convention appearances
• Release page for Guild Wars 2's upcoming patch vandalized by marauding villain
• Star Trek Online's latest lockbox brings unexpected visitors
• Step into the arena of Star Wars: The Old Republic

War Thunder now flies under Steam power Posted: 15 Aug 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Historical, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, War, Free-to-Play Already gaining a following in open beta on the PC and currently under development for the PlayStation 4, the dog-fight laden War Thunder is now available on yet another platform: Steam. And virtual pilots who take to the skies via Steam will get an exclusive content package. The War Thunder Steam Pack includes two premium airplanes (XP-38G and A6M5 Ko "Zero"), two single-player campaigns (USA Pacific and Japanese Pacific), and a 30-day premium account with 1,700 Golden Eagles, War Thunder's in-game currency. Players also receive the Steam exclusive P-36A "Hawk" fighter, the plane that belonged to lieutenant Philip M Rasmussen, famed for being one of the few American pilots who was able to take off and protect Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attacks. [Source: Gaijin Entertainment press release] War Thunder now flies under Steam power originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Think Tank: How do you handle hype? Posted: 15 Aug 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Opinion, Massively Meta, Miscellaneous, The Think Tank We all like to get excited for new stuff, right? A shiny new MMO is no exception, as it usually means new types of game mechanics, better graphics, and a fresh perspective on the genre. Usually. At Massively, we approach hype with a different filter. As gamers, we're usually excited by the new shines, but as MMO bloggers, we have to be realistic and often skeptical. But since each one of us is different, I decided to see what each staff member thought about handling hype. Continue reading The Think Tank: How do you handle hype? The Think Tank: How do you handle hype? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guardians of Middle-earth coming to PC Posted: 15 Aug 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Hands-On, First Impressions, MOBA Of all the magic in Lord of the Rings, nothing makes me more envious than the elf-tossing power behind Sauron's giant mace. The look on those pretty faces as they flail through the air is just priceless. Guardians of Middle-earth, a console MOBA from Monolith Productions and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, is finally coming to the PC and with it my dreams of throwing elves to and fro. With playable characters such as Sauron, Radagast, and Elron, it's easy to see why any Lord of the Rings fan should take a look at this upcoming MOBA. Continue reading Guardians of Middle-earth coming to PC Guardians of Middle-earth coming to PC originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jukebox Heroes Extra: A chat with City of Steam's composer Posted: 15 Aug 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Interviews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, City of Steam, Jukebox Heroes, Music, Steampunk When you're called in to create a score to an off-kilter steampunk game like City of Steam, then you had better bring a unique sound that highlights the difference between this and all of the yet-another-fantasy-MMOs (YAFMMOs) that litter the field. Composer Daniel Sadowski fully invested himself in this project to make that happen, and I wanted to talk with him about the making of this interesting soundtrack (which you can purchase on iTunes and Amazon, by the way). So for this follow-up interview, Sadowski shares his soundtrack influences, how he got involved with City of Steam, and what he used to make a steampunk world come alive through music. Continue reading Jukebox Heroes Extra: A chat with City of Steam's composer Jukebox Heroes Extra: A chat with City of Steam's composer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Why do you like character development and progression? Posted: 15 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind I dislike MMO progression. No, seriously. I dislike it mainly because it feels like a job and I already have a couple of those. If I could start every MMORPG at max level and just explore the world and/or enjoy the narrative I would do so without thinking twice about all the grindy, repetitive "gameplay" I'd be missing. See, I play video games to have certain experiences that I can't have in meatspace. I can't very well drive a GT40, hunt bounties in the Old West, or customize my own spaceship outside of gaming. But I can climb a career ladder toward a distant and theoretically rewarding end goal in real life, so I don't see the appeal of doing it in games. Obviously, though, some people love progression and character development. Heck, I'd go so far as to say that most people love them, at least in this genre, because almost every game uses them as a core mechanic. And assuming you're one of those people, today's Daily Grind question is for you. Why do you like character development and progression? 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: Why do you like character development and progression? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hi-Rez revamps SMITE's conquest visuals Posted: 14 Aug 2013 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, Patches, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA Hi-Rez has updated SMITE to version 0.1.1682, and if those numbers mean nothing to you, consider the official patch notes. They include major visual changes to the game's conquest map. While the layout remains the same, the aesthetics have been "fully revised" to better fit in with the rest of the game's art direction. The new version also features some item and ability tweaks as well as a new spectator mode layout and associated functionality. Full patch notes are available on the SMITE website. You can click past the break for a video clip showing off the conquest changes. Continue reading Hi-Rez revamps SMITE's conquest visuals Hi-Rez revamps SMITE's conquest visuals originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

New C9 expansion adding dungeons, epic items, higher level cap Posted: 14 Aug 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Expansions, Game Mechanics, PvE, Free-to-Play, Dungeons Webzen wants you to know about the third expansion of its Continent of the Ninth Seal (C9) online action title. Beginning on August 21, players will have a chance to battle the monsters bent on invading Raebin, which is the "thrilling new sixth continent of Glenheim." C9 players will need to battle through multiple levels of the Guardian's Tower in order to find Tertis' Heart and save Glenheim from destruction. The Tower boasts 20 levels and three major dungeons. Webzen also says that it is increasing the level cap to 65 and adding a new class of epic items "which have the potential to overpower other items in the game." You can watch a preview of the expansion via the video that we've embedded after the cut. [Source: Webzen press release] Continue reading New C9 expansion adding dungeons, epic items, higher level cap New C9 expansion adding dungeons, epic items, higher level cap originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Free for All: The Castle Doctrine takes griefing and grieving to a new level Posted: 14 Aug 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Culture, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Opinion, Free for All The Castle Doctrine, the new pseudo-MMO by indie star Jason Rohrer, asks players to fill the shoes of a paranoid home owner who needs to protect his wife, kids, and home at almost any cost. Even the title of the game is based on a law that states that a person has the right to use force to defend personal space or abode, which should helps you understand what Rohrer is trying to create. If you look at his official blog, you'll find out that his family was the victim of a dog attack while living in a New Mexico neighborhood. His experiences led to the creation of this art project. In the game, players build up home defenses but also try to break into neighbor's houses, dodging menacing dogs and traps. Imagine a game that plays a bit like tower defense with permadeath: If you are unsuccessful in breaking in to a house, you have to start over with a brand-new home and family. Of course, the title has brewed plenty of controversy, especially considering that you can play only as a man and that the highest in-game payout comes when you murder someone else's wife. The game is a man-on-man murder simulation where the woman and children are all property. Continue reading Free for All: The Castle Doctrine takes griefing and grieving to a new level Free for All: The Castle Doctrine takes griefing and grieving to a new level originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Fallen Earth focuses on augmented weapons Posted: 14 Aug 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Fallen Earth, Patches, Previews, Free-to-Play, Post-Apocalyptic Do you have a pool of unused, long-suffering AP sitting around on your Fallen Earth character? GamersFirst has plans for something to put those points to good use: the upcoming AP augmented weapon system. These augmented weapons are high-end devices that can be tweaked by using players' AP to increase stats and skills. A tricked-out augmented weapon is an awesome thing, as it'll add powerful buffs to players when used. The team said that it'll also be doing a weapons pass with many of the game's deadly instruments to make sure that the damage is balanced and consistent throughout. There were also hints regarding a "rather ambitious plan" coming in the near future: "After looking at the player response to features such as citadel and farms, we want to focus more on the players impact on the world and let everyone drive the action more." Fallen Earth focuses on augmented weapons originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: August state of the game

The Art of Wushu: Climbing the Mount Hua expansion Posted: 14 Aug 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Historical, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Age of Wushu, The Art of Wushu, MMORPG I always have misgivings when I'm covering an expansion early. I rarely have enough time to really delve into the various features. You guys should know by now that I really like writing in-depth stuff, and since Age of Wushu's first expansion has been out for only a few days, I really haven't had enough time to make a solid opinion on it. But either way, the expansion is out and I have to talk about it. It includes a new, cool PvP battleground, some new features I'm not really fond of, and some other features I really like. It also had quite a bit of controversy at launch, and the player response was... interesting, at least. Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Climbing the Mount Hua expansion The Art of Wushu: Climbing the Mount Hua expansion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

RIFT's Mayhem in Mathosia event starts August 21 Posted: 14 Aug 2013 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, RIFT RIFT fans, mark your calendar for August 21st. Actually, go ahead and mark it for August 21st through September 4th while you're at it. The reason? Trion is putting on an event called Mayhem in Mathosia which basically amounts to massive planar invasions. Players may gather in Scarlet Gorge, Scarwood Reach, and Moonshade Highlands to save the world, and by doing so they may earn bonus loot drops, planar currency, and a new achievement. RIFT's Mayhem in Mathosia event starts August 21 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

First Impressions of RuneScape 3 from a returning player Posted: 14 Aug 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Events (In-Game), Expansions, Game Mechanics, Launches, MMO Industry, Patches, Previews, Opinion, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, Browser, Hands-On, Casual, First Impressions, Dev Diaries, Subscription Over a decade ago, two brothers working out of their parents' house in Nottingham set themselves the impossible task of building their own graphical multi-user dungeon, a genre that later evolved into the MMOs we know today. RuneScape launched to the public in 2001 as a low-res browser game with only a few hundred players and 2-D sprites for monsters, but several years later it boasted over a million paying monthly subscribers. The 2007 Sunday Times Rich List even estimated the Gower brothers' business empire to be worth over £113,000,000, due almost entirely to RuneScape. The secret behind RuneScape's success is that it's been continually updated throughout its lifetime, not just with regular infusions of new content but also with several major graphical and gameplay overhauls. The game was recently reincarnated as RuneScape 3, which is as far as it gets from the primitive game many of us grew up with. It now boasts a visually improved HTML 5 client with graphics acceleration, orchestral music, some voice-acted quests with cutscenes, and a fully customisable UI. This combines with last year's Evolution of Combat update and over a decade of new quests and zones to produce an MMO with more depth and character than many other AAA titles. In this hands-on opinion piece, I put RuneScape's three major versions side by side and look at how far RuneScape 3 has come since those early days of punching 2-D goblins and mining for fish. Continue reading First Impressions of RuneScape 3 from a returning player First Impressions of RuneScape 3 from a returning player originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

NCsoft sales are up, income is down Posted: 14 Aug 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Aion, Lineage, MMO Industry, Guild Wars 2, Miscellaneous NCsoft may be in a more secure position with its financials at the present, as the company released its Q2 2013 earnings report with uplifting data. Overall, the publisher and its combined subsidiaries has increased its sales by 4% over last quarter and seen a healthy bump in operating profit as well. It's not all good news; NCsoft's net income has taken a 35% nosedive quarter-over-quarter. If you strip away the subsidiaries, however, NCsoft is doing well across the board. So what's fueling these numbers? Lineage 1 remains the backbone of NCsoft's financials, boasting "an all-time high" in the sales department. Aion is reportedly doing well in China, and Guild Wars 2 is providing "stable" profits. It looks as though North American sales has decreased from Q1, but an increase in Japanese and Korean sales has more than made up for the loss. NCsoft sales are up, income is down originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Earnings report

WildStar primps for convention appearances Posted: 14 Aug 2013 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Events (Real-World), WildStar WildStar's dance card is quite full this month, as Carbine is heading to both Gamescom and PAX Prime for promotions, hobnobbing, and public demos. First up is Gamescom, where the devs will be present at the NCsoft booth (Hall 8, Booth #B030), showing off the Chua and Mordesh races and a couple of new zones. The team is throwing a party that Friday at the Marriott Koln that is first-come, first-served. Up next is PAX Prime, where the devs and demo will be at booth #642 for the curious and beta-envious. Carbine's hosting a panel at PAX on Saturday, August 31st, which will be livestreamed for those who can't attend. There will be a PAX party as well later that night at the Hard Rock Café, so Massively encourages those who attend to drink and demo responsibly. WildStar primps for convention appearances originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: WildStar Wednesday

Release page for Guild Wars 2's upcoming patch vandalized by marauding villain Posted: 14 Aug 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Patches, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play If there were any hope remaining that Jennah's state of the nation address will go off without a hitch, it's been utterly dashed. Guild Wars 2 players should probably plan to put their destroyer farming on pause when August 20th rolls around because the enigmatic Scarlet definitely has some unpleasant plans for Divinity's Reach. The bold foe has vandalized ArenaNet's official release page for the upcoming GW2 content patch, The Queen's Speech -- and she seems to have a love of bright colors, a talent for abstract painting, and a frightening level of hatred for Queen Jennah. As if that weren't foreboding enough, fansites like Guild Wars 2 Guru and our own Richie Procopio also received a pocketwatch accompanied by an ominous poem, the contents of which are tucked behind the break. Continue reading Release page for Guild Wars 2's upcoming patch vandalized by marauding villain Release page for Guild Wars 2's upcoming patch vandalized by marauding villain originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Guild Wars 2 Guru

Star Trek Online's latest lockbox brings unexpected visitors Posted: 14 Aug 2013 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Previews, News Items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play You can be forgiven for not expecting the Elachi to show up in Star Trek Online no matter how dedicated you are to the franchise. They were a one-off race in an episode of Enterprise that never even got referred to by name, after all. But as it turns out, this mysterious opponent is working with the Tal Shiar, and as often happens that means the Elachi are the centerpiece of the game's latest lockbox. Players can uncover a variety of prizes within the new lockboxes, including new ships belonging to the race. If you don't want a new ship, you can still utilize some Elachi consoles that allow you to fog the sensors of nearby ships. There are also new crescent weapon systems based off of Elachi technology and some special mirror universe ships to spice things up a bit more. Players eager for more details on what can be scavenged from these silent enemies can take a glance at the full rundown of lockbox prizes. Star Trek Online's latest lockbox brings unexpected visitors originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Development blog #37

Step into the arena of Star Wars: The Old Republic Posted: 14 Aug 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Patches, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic Each of the warzone maps in Star Wars: The Old Republic has the same basic focus: Clear the objectives to win. There are no maps that just pit players against one another in a straight fight to the death. Patch 2.4 is going to change that with the addition of the new warzone arenas, a new type of map that puts two teams of four into a map with the simple goal of being the only team left standing. Each arena match consists of three rounds, with both teams receiving a full resurrection and cooldown restoration after winning or losing a round. The first team to defeat the other team twice is the victor. If one side wants to just wait out the clock, there's also a sudden death timer that forces players to get into the fight. Read all about the map formats and some of the new queueing mechanics for PvP in the latest development blog. Step into the arena of Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: 2.4 PvP blog

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