MMO Updates

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• Choose My Adventure: And the winner is...
• Dragon Eternity launches on Android, iPhone, and Facebook
• MMO Family: First impressions of Dreamworks' School of Dragons
• EQ Next's third round table response focuses on Landmark tools
• Exclusive: March of War heads for the jungle in Episode II Tropical Thunder
• Massively Speaking Episode 262: PAX Prime 2013
• The Daily Grind: Do you look down on players who game for free?
• PAX Prime 2013: Riot Games' Whalen Rhozelle on LoL Season 3
• Jukebox Heroes: World of Warcraft's Mosaic soundtrack
• Hyperspace Beacon: The final SWTOR free-to-play experiment... for now
• PAX Prime 2013: I played Smashmuck Champions and it was golden
• DCUO's Sons of Trigon DLC now available
• Diablo III launches on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
• PAX Prime 2013: SMITE's graphical updates, 10v10 mode, and e-sports
• PAX Prime 2013: World of Tanks blitzes onto the 360
• Ran Online races toward European closed beta
• PAX Prime 2013: Adjusting butts in Elder Scrolls Online
• Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2's living story and the Orrian menace
• Anarchy Online opens beta testing for new graphics engine

Choose My Adventure: And the winner is... Posted: 04 Sep 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Polls, Game Mechanics, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Virtual Worlds, Choose My Adventure, Community Q&A, Sandbox Choose My Adventure is a funny column to write. At some point, you as the author know which game will likely win, but you also know that at some point everything can go wonky. I've seen games that seemed to be the sure thing get knocked off by a lone wolf or underdog. I like to poke the developers who are running the games that are in the polls in the hopes that they let their community know about the column and get the polls heating up. There's nothing like a good vote to get people excited about MMO games, and that's the way things should be. Even though I watched the poll go a few different ways, it was relatively obvious what title was going to pull it off. I started to prepare by updating the top titles and reading up on some of their systems. Choose My Adventure is not a light undertaking; it's a real adventure -- hopefully -- through an unfamiliar world. I knew I would need the community's help in deciphering the winner. And what a winner! Continue reading Choose My Adventure: And the winner is... Choose My Adventure: And the winner is... originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dragon Eternity launches on Android, iPhone, and Facebook Posted: 04 Sep 2013 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Launches, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Browser, Mobile Always touted as a cross-platform MMO since its introduction at E3 2012, Dragon Eternity was initially only playable in browsers on the PC, moving to the iPad more recently. But we knew other platforms were also in development. As of today, the dragon-infused game becomes even more mobile, launching on the iPhone and Android devices as well as Facebook. Now users of a variety of different devices can jump into the world of Adan to obtain and train dragon pets and mounts, adventure, craft, and PvP. Watch the launch trailer right here after the break. Then if you want a more in-depth look at play on a mobile device, be sure to check out the hands-on in MMObility. [Source: Game Insight press release] Continue reading Dragon Eternity launches on Android, iPhone, and Facebook Dragon Eternity launches on Android, iPhone, and Facebook originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

MMO Family: First impressions of Dreamworks' School of Dragons Posted: 04 Sep 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Opinion, Free-to-Play, First Impressions, Kids, MMO Family, Family Who knew that the rough, barren cliffs of Berk could be so popular? The animated film How to Train Your Dragon has blossomed into a hit TV show, two upcoming sequels, and even its very own MMO. The studio behind Jumpstart has teamed up with Dreamworks to create School of Dragons, a kid-friendly MMO that blends in viking adventure, lessons in science, and plenty of fire-breathing dragons. In this week's MMO Family, I donned my pointy viking helmet and heavy fur cloak to check things out. Read on for my first impressions of the game! Continue reading MMO Family: First impressions of Dreamworks' School of Dragons MMO Family: First impressions of Dreamworks' School of Dragons originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EQ Next's third round table response focuses on Landmark tools Posted: 04 Sep 2013 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game Mechanics, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, EverQuest Next, Crafting, Player-Generated Content Each week, EverQuest Next devs throw out a new question for players to weigh in on through voting and forum discussion. Then after gathering all the comments, devs put out a video to respond to the conversation. This past week's question focused on the desired complexity of EverQuest Landmark's design tools. Lead Building and UI designer Jake Sones and Senior Brand Manager Omeed Dariani got behind the camera to respond to player feedback. In a nutshell, players like powerful tools, but want them to be user-friendly. Complexity will come in the form of unlocking more advanced tools as a user becomes more skilled in using current ones. You can catch all the details in the clip after the cut. Continue reading EQ Next's third round table response focuses on Landmark tools EQ Next's third round table response focuses on Landmark tools originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Twitter

Exclusive: March of War heads for the jungle in Episode II Tropical Thunder Posted: 04 Sep 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Historical, Trailers, Video, Patches, News Items, War, Miscellaneous March of War might be set in World War II, but it's an alternate version of the war that provides a different take on the conflict with six worldwide factions fighting a much more expansive battle for the globe. After the release in late July, the team behind the game has been hard at work developing the next piece of content for the game. Tomorrow, you can start playing the second episode, but today you can watch the trailer. In Tropical Thunder players head into the depths of South America to hunt down Che Guevara, leading to a large-scale conflict between both the United Republic and the Latin Junta as both factions seek the same man. And the jungle isn't exactly welcoming, with a variety of carnivorous plants and animals to complicate otherwise simple engagements. New units and new skins are available as well. Take a look at the trailer past the break for a better idea of what Guevara did and what both sides of the conflict will face in the jungle landscape. [Source: ISOTX press release] Continue reading Exclusive: March of War heads for the jungle in Episode II Tropical Thunder Exclusive: March of War heads for the jungle in Episode II Tropical Thunder originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Massively Speaking Episode 262: PAX Prime 2013 Posted: 04 Sep 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, MMO Industry, News Items, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous The PAX Prime crew is home from another successful convention, and Justin has plenty of tales to tell Bree. Not that she's listening, of course. She's got mines to craft, and words just get in the way. 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 262: PAX Prime 2013 Massively Speaking Episode 262: PAX Prime 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

The Daily Grind: Do you look down on players who game for free? Posted: 04 Sep 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Business Models, Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous For some reason that escapes my attention, it seems like a lot of people have been talking about the pros and cons of subscription-only MMOs as of late. Maybe it's a passing fad, I don't know. But in reading the always-entertaining comments section of some random article, I noticed a distressing tendency for some pro-sub players to be slinging derogatory terms at others who don't like to pay for games, calling them "welfare gamers" and the like. I guess that means today I need to ask if these are the words of a few folks looking to discredit the opposition or if there's an actual undercurrent of dislike for F2P players who never spend a dime. Do you look down on players who game for free, and if so, why? 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 you look down on players who game for free? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

PAX Prime 2013: Riot Games' Whalen Rhozelle on LoL Season 3 Posted: 03 Sep 2013 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Events (Real-World), Interviews, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Events (Massively's Coverage), MOBA, League of Legends I was really excited to step into Riot's press room on Friday at PAX Prime. We had just finished the first series of matches of the day, and it was pretty exciting to talk to people about the matches yet to come. But I don't think anyone was more excited to talk about League of Legends' e-sports scene than Whalen Rhozelle, or RiotMagus as he's known on the internet. As the senior e-sports manager at Riot, he's tasked with making sure that events run smoothly, and I took the opportunity to ask him about the format for Season 3 -- especially improvements over Season 2 and the lessons Riot will be taking into Season 4. Continue reading PAX Prime 2013: Riot Games' Whalen Rhozelle on LoL Season 3 PAX Prime 2013: Riot Games' Whalen Rhozelle on LoL Season 3 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jukebox Heroes: World of Warcraft's Mosaic soundtrack Posted: 03 Sep 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Opinion, Jukebox Heroes, Music If you were one of the lucky ducks who went to BlizzCon in 2009 and you were a soundtrack fan, then life smiled upon you. It was there and there only that Blizzard sold a now-rare World of Warcraft soundtrack called Mosaic. I guess "Mosaic" sounded better than "Leftovers," although that's really what it was: a collection of leftover tracks that hadn't been included in an official WoW soundtrack to date. The amazing thing is, Mosaic is quite good -- better, I think, than The Burning Crusade. I was pretty shocked to discover it a year or so ago, although I wasn't as shocked considering how much I've come to realize that studios just don't put out a lot of their game's music. So what we have here is a hodge-podge of 16 tracks ranging from the silly to the sublime. They might not be as famous as some of the featured tunes from the other soundtracks, but chances are that if you played WoW, you'll recognize them even so. Here are my picks for the best of the litter. Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: World of Warcraft's Mosaic soundtrack Jukebox Heroes: World of Warcraft's Mosaic soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyperspace Beacon: The final SWTOR free-to-play experiment... for now Posted: 03 Sep 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon, MMORPG After several months of playing Star Wars: The Old Republic on a free account, I think it's time to put this experiment to a rest. Some players have been able to conquer the grind that is a brand-new free character. I am not one of those determined individuals. However, if you've been following me in this little experiment, then you know that I have met a couple of people who have been able to persist through the free-to-play version of SWTOR. For the sake of understanding, I would like to reiterate my hypothesis: A player can get what he wants out of SWTOR effectively without paying any real money but instead by using the GTN and other in-game means to buy items from the Cartel Market. But as we know with every experiment, the hypothesis gives the experimenter a goal. Right or wrong, I wanted to see the experiment to the end. As it turns out, my hypothesis was not completely right, nor was it completely wrong. I discovered that if I wanted to "win" at SWTOR's free-to-play, I could not approach it as I would a game that I bought off a store shelf and just started playing. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: The final SWTOR free-to-play experiment... for now Hyperspace Beacon: The final SWTOR free-to-play experiment... for now originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

PAX Prime 2013: I played Smashmuck Champions and it was golden Posted: 03 Sep 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, New Titles, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Events (Massively's Coverage), MOBA There were some pretty great games at this year's PAX Prime, but if there's one new game I played that I couldn't wait to go home and install, it was Smashmuck Champions. Currently in open beta, the game features a MOBA-like control scheme combined with faster-paced arena action. The guys at the booth joked about how they hated the term MOBA, but there are few games that fit the term "multiplayer online battle arena" better than Smashmuck. Allen White, art director for the game, led me through the matches. He was a pretty big help, answering all of my questions while I stomped all over the other con-goers. Unlike the typical MOBA, Smashmuck has a low barrier of entry, a lot of game modes, and an easy learning curve, and it's just plain lots of fun. You're doing yourself a disservice by not installing the game right now. Continue reading PAX Prime 2013: I played Smashmuck Champions and it was golden PAX Prime 2013: I played Smashmuck Champions and it was golden originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

DCUO's Sons of Trigon DLC now available Posted: 03 Sep 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Patches, PvP, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, DC Universe Online, Dungeons It's launch day for DC Universe Online's eighth DLC pack! Sons of Trigon is out now, and it features a new power, new zones, new alerts and duos, new Legends PvP toons, and plenty of new gear. The new power set is called Celestial and it's made for healing. New zones include the Gotham Wasteland and its daily solo quests as well as the Mausoleum alert that boasts a battle royale with Trigon. Cheetah and Donna Troy are your new Legends PvP avatars, and SOE has also included a bunch of additional feats and collections. Legendary DCUO members get Sons of Trigon for free, while Premium and Free members can purchase it for $9.99 via the in-game market, the official website, or the PlayStation Network. Don't forget the launch trailer after the break! [Source: SOE press release] Continue reading DCUO's Sons of Trigon DLC now available DCUO's Sons of Trigon DLC now available originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Diablo III launches on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 Posted: 03 Sep 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, News Items, Consoles, Diablo III With the game's first expansion already announced, you might be looking for a chance to play Diablo III in a different way. Does sitting around a television with your friends count? Because you can do that starting today, as the console version launches today on the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. (It probably wouldn't fit well with the Wii U's catalogue anyway.) Now you can slay demons right alongside your friends in both body and spirit. Of course you can also play online, as with the PC version, or just go it alone as you rip through demon hordes. The game boasts a redesigned interface meant to take full advantage of the controller setup while still boasting all of the same content. So it might not tide you over if you've played through Diablo III multiple times, but if you'd like a refresher before the first expansion or just prefer the idea of a console experience, you can have that now. Diablo III launches on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Console version launches

PAX Prime 2013: SMITE's graphical updates, 10v10 mode, and e-sports Posted: 03 Sep 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Events (Real-World), Interviews, MMO Industry, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Events (Massively's Coverage), MOBA I found myself in unfamiliar waters as I waded into the Twitch booth at this year's PAX Prime. All around me were gamers -- but not just any gamers. These guys were wearing jerseys with sponsorship logos and carrying custom gaming mice and headsets. These guys were pro gamers, and they were there to play SMITE. I had a different agenda, so I tracked down Hi-Rez chief operating officer Todd Harris to talk about upcoming changes to the game. He admitted to me that his team isn't doing a lot of big changes, but that is largely due to the game's continuing success. He did have a few things to show me, though. Continue reading PAX Prime 2013: SMITE's graphical updates, 10v10 mode, and e-sports PAX Prime 2013: SMITE's graphical updates, 10v10 mode, and e-sports originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

PAX Prime 2013: World of Tanks blitzes onto the 360 Posted: 03 Sep 2013 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Historical, Events (Real-World), Interviews, MMO Industry, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Consoles, MMOFPS, Events (Massively's Coverage), World of Tanks, World of Warplanes While there was definitely some buzz at the PAX Prime Wargaming booth about World of Warplanes, which will get its commercial launch on September 26th, World of Tanks was the main source. Not only is Wargaming planning to integrate accounts for both Tanks and Warplanes, but it also has the XBox 360 version of World of Tanks in closed beta. I sat down with some of the Wargaming guys and attempted to play the new 360 version. I struggled a bit with the console controls, but that had more to do with a lack of familiarity than anything else. As I played, we discussed how Wargaming has rebuilt WoT from the ground up for the console market. Continue reading PAX Prime 2013: World of Tanks blitzes onto the 360 PAX Prime 2013: World of Tanks blitzes onto the 360 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ran Online races toward European closed beta Posted: 03 Sep 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Trailers, Video, MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play In June we learned that after an eight year run in Asia, the modern-era game Ran Online would be expanding to Europe. Now, Games-Masters.com announces that the closed beta testing for this European version will start Q3 2013. Ran Online includes PvP and PvE content, with dungeons, quests, and various PvP modes for club (guild) and school (faction) battles. The game itself will be in English at launch, but the website, payment systems, and support will be handled in several languages. Those interested in participating in the closed beta can sign up on the official site. If you missed the European trailer before, we've included it after the break. [Source: Games-Masters.com press release] Continue reading Ran Online races toward European closed beta Ran Online races toward European closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

PAX Prime 2013: Adjusting butts in Elder Scrolls Online Posted: 03 Sep 2013 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, Events (Real-World), Game Mechanics, Previews, PvE, Opinion, Hands-On, Events (Massively's Coverage), Subscription, MMORPG After my hands-on demo at E3, I was cautiously optimistic about sitting down for another hour of Elder Scrolls Online at this year's PAX Prime. I was ushered into the press demo area and immediately dived into character creation. There were significantly more options available here than during my last demo just a few months ago. Among the additions was a feature I'm sure you've been waiting for: the "posterior dimensions" slider. Beyond butts, the variety of the options Bethesda brought to PAX Prime was pretty impressive. I spent more time in character creation than I expected, even customizing my stomach size. After I decided on the appropriate butt girth, I loaded into the snowy, nordic area of Bleakrock Isle and immediately spent a solid 10 minutes exploring my option menus. Continue reading PAX Prime 2013: Adjusting butts in Elder Scrolls Online PAX Prime 2013: Adjusting butts in Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2's living story and the Orrian menace Posted: 03 Sep 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Buy-to-Play The cleansing of Orr has long been a popular source of speculation in the community, which is why I asked Colin Johanson about the possibility of it happening in the course of Guild Wars 2's living story when I interviewed him in July. Although I understood his reasoning, I was still disappointed by the answer: that it'd be very difficult to change Orr due to its intersection with the personal story but that in future chapters ArenaNet will do its best to make sure no areas end up locked in time. In a recent Q&A session, our own Richie Procopio asked ArenaNet president Mike O'Brien a similar question and got a somewhat different response. According to O'Brien, the studio's original intent was to steer away from content that could impact the personal story in the interest of simplicity; however, ArenaNet wants to make sure that nothing is off limits to the living story overall. I'm trying not to read too much into that, since it could just be a different way of phrasing what Johanson said, but given a little hope to cling to I'd like to discuss why it's so important that ArenaNet not establish any existing content as off-limits -- especially not Orr. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2's living story and the Orrian menace Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2's living story and the Orrian menace originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Anarchy Online opens beta testing for new graphics engine Posted: 03 Sep 2013 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Anarchy Online, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play A new graphical engine can make an old game feel new again. Anarchy Online has had a new engine in the works for what feels like forever now, with one delay or another pushing back implementation repeatedly. But fans of the game can rejoice, as the end is in sight -- the new graphical engine is open for beta testing, with all of the same content as the existing game and a much prettier way to look at it. The team at Funcom is starting in closed beta, with players asked to create new characters rather than copy over existing ones to test out the included new player experience. Those interested in testing will need to sign up, with invitations coming in waves until the NDA is dropped and open testing is put into place. And there are some improvements to social items and the like, but what most players are going to be focusing on is the facelift. [Thanks to zendadaist for the tip!] Anarchy Online opens beta testing for new graphics engine originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Sep 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Graphics upgrade in beta testing

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