MMO Updates

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• More on Albion Online's unique equipment customization system
• DotA 2 pink war dog courier sells for $38,000
• Free for All: Why MMOs are still the greatest value in gaming
• The Art of Wushu: Thoughts on the winter expansion
• Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to Drakensang Online the dwarves go
• The Daily Grind: Should achievements be broadcast to your guild?
• Square's financial outlook improves thanks to FFXIV
• Jane Austen MMO looks for funds and decorum
• The Stream Team: Villagers and Heroes from an eight-year-old's perspective
• Diablo III introduces you to the Reaper of Souls monster mob
• State of Decay comes to the PC courtesy of Steam
• Flameseeker Chronicles: Cultivating positive growth in Guild Wars 2
• The Stream Team: Fighting Piracy in Sastasha, FFXIV's first dungeon
• Warlords of Draenor now trademarked in the US and Europe
• Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Marauders will suck but Operatives will not

More on Albion Online's unique equipment customization system Posted: 06 Nov 2013 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Sandbox Previously we learned that character customization in Albion Online would include a unique system for customizing gear where players can add any crafted spell to any piece of equipment. Players can eschew cookie-cutter character molds and choose any combination they want, but they can also play up the inherent characteristics of a particular weapon or armor piece. Armor-wise, cloth pieces will have natural enhancements for mana regeneration, stealth, energy shields, or cleanse; plate piece enhancements, on the other hand, are about protection, instant self-heals, and survival mechanics. Weapons also have their own inherent characteristics: Broadswords have defensive characteristics, axes have offensive damage, and one-handed hammers have healing. To learn more about Albion Online, check out Massively's exclusive interview. Interested players can sign up for beta on the official site. [Source: Sandbox Interactive press release] More on Albion Online's unique equipment customization system originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

DotA 2 pink war dog courier sells for $38,000 Posted: 06 Nov 2013 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, News Items, MOBA Pricey items aren't just for MMOs -- MOBAs are getting in on the action as well. DotA 2 secured its place in the ranks of titles where in-game items have sold for exorbitant real-life sums when an ethereal flame pink war dog sold for a whopping $38,000. The war dog is a courier, an item used to transport items from your team to your base as well as from the base to your team. Why did this particular virtual item fetch such a hefty amount? According to the seller, this item is a very rare combination of the most sought-after courier type, effect, and color; only four others are known to exist. DotA 2 pink war dog courier sells for $38,000 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Eurogamer.net

Free for All: Why MMOs are still the greatest value in gaming Posted: 06 Nov 2013 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Screenshots, Business Models, Culture, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-Play, Mobile, The Secret World, Consoles, Casual, Free for All, Buy-to-Play If you are the type of gamer who has access to a number of ways to game, then you probably do not need me to remind you that the hobby can be an expensive one. Consoles are becoming slicker, and the games they run are sure to go up in price, maybe someday soon close to $100 for a single game. A good gaming PC can still be an expensive thing to build and maintain especially as newer and better graphics cards and processors are introduced at a higher rate than we've ever seen before. Luckily, we have outlets like Steam that offer staggering sales and indie titles that can be bought for close to nothing. There's also the mobile market with its tens of thousands of games that can be played essentially for free. So while the prices at the highest end of technology go up, there are still plenty of places to get a cheap yet fulfilling gaming fix. Even with all of the deals out there, however, there is no better value than a modern MMO. Continue reading Free for All: Why MMOs are still the greatest value in gaming Free for All: Why MMOs are still the greatest value in gaming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Art of Wushu: Thoughts on the winter expansion Posted: 06 Nov 2013 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Historical, Expansions, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Age of Wushu, The Art of Wushu We looked at a lot of the details of Age of Wushu's Ultimate Scrolls expansion last time, but we should also reflect a bit on the implications of the new changes. The Mt. Hua expansion was mostly positive, and I was very excited to see the new mentoring program and token systems. I'm not as hyped for Ultimate Scrolls. Whereas Mt. Hua added accessibility, a new battleground, and more fun things to do for everyone, Ultimate Scrolls is primarily an expansion for top players. There is very little to do in this expansion if you don't have leveled meridians and a maxed second or third internal skill. Even though I'm in the one percent, I don't think it's very fair to the majority of players who are not. Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Thoughts on the winter expansion The Art of Wushu: Thoughts on the winter expansion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to Drakensang Online the dwarves go Posted: 06 Nov 2013 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, News Items, Free-to-Play, Browser Do you like guns, machinery, and beards? Then Drakensang Online's newest addition is exactly what you want to play. The dwarven Steam Mechanicus has just been added to the game, offering a new play option for those who prefer to reach out and touch someone with projectile death rather than the more traditional fantasy options. In lore, the dwarves are purely fascinated with mechanical gadgets for their own sake, not usually concerned with the larger world's politics. But a swarm of evil dragons descending over the land kind of forces even the gadget-happy to take notice, since they'll probably trash the local Fantasie Beste Buyye. The Steam Mechanicus carves his gameplay niche in the mid-range area, using a variety of projectile attacks, self-built turrets, and rocket-powered jumps to pull together a victory. This new class is exclusive to subscribers for two weeks, at which point it will lose its exclusivity but retain its overall fiddly qualities. [Source: Bigpoint press release] Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to Drakensang Online the dwarves go originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Should achievements be broadcast to your guild? Posted: 06 Nov 2013 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Guilds, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous Some games do it and some games don't. I'm talking here about broadcasting your achievements automatically to your entire guild. You slay that 500th dragon, ding level 30, or fall to your death for the 10th time, and your guild knows courtesy of the game client being a big gossip. "Hey, did you hear about Syp? Guys, he totally looted the Sacred Gem of Zazzanzorforr!" But is this a good thing or not? Personally, I like playing MMOs that auto-broadcast achievements because I like knowing what my guildies are up to. I see a lot of mutual encouragement going around due to these messages. However, I also know some folks see these notices as spammy, pointless, or annoying. Where do you lie on this issue? Should achievements be broadcast to your guild? 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: Should achievements be broadcast to your guild? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Nov 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Square's financial outlook improves thanks to FFXIV Posted: 05 Nov 2013 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, MMO Industry, News Items, Final Fantasy XIV, Subscription Square-Enix has revised its financial outlook and now expects to finish the current quarter with a $47.6 million profit, The Escapist reports. Most of the credit goes to Final Fantasy XIV and its 1.5 million users, of course, but the piece also mentions Square's "company-wide cost cutting efforts" as part of the winning formula. Final Fantasy XIV originally launched in 2010 before closing down and undergoing a radical redesign presided over by producer Naoki Yoshida. Square's financial outlook improves thanks to FFXIV originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Square Via: The Escapist

Jane Austen MMO looks for funds and decorum Posted: 05 Nov 2013 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Historical, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Crowdfunding Say goodbye to swords and sorcery, and say hello to gossip and high society relationships! Ever, Jane, a social MMO that takes inspiration from the works of Jane Austen, is looking to raise funds through a Kickstarter project. Ever, Jane puts players into prim and proper avatars who build stories, gossip against each other, explore family connections, and go to dinner parties. Mini-games are there to flesh out the challenge of navigating this type of life and include sewing, ballroom dancing, and puzzles. 3 Turn Productions is attempting to raise $100,000 to get the modest MMO off the ground by May 2014. Currently there's a downloadable prototype available to tinker with, so give it a whirl and see if it's worth your investment dollars. [Thanks to Sharvis for the tip!] Jane Austen MMO looks for funds and decorum originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Kickstarter

The Stream Team: Villagers and Heroes from an eight-year-old's perspective Posted: 05 Nov 2013 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, Livestream, Sandbox, The Stream Team, Player-Generated Content Massively's Larry Everett introduced his eight-year-old son to the trailer to Villagers and Heroes, and the boy freaked out. The munchkin literally danced in place, asking when we'll be livestreaming the game. Join us live at 7:00 p.m. EST to see that it takes more than a village to raise the child of an MMO gamer -- it takes a few heroes, too. Game: Villagers and Heroes Host: Larry Everett Date: Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 Time: 7:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Villagers and Heroes from an eight-year-old's perspective The Stream Team: Villagers and Heroes from an eight-year-old's perspective originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Diablo III introduces you to the Reaper of Souls monster mob Posted: 05 Nov 2013 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Expansions, Dev Diaries, Diablo III, Buy-to-Play Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to meet your Reaper of Souls loot piñatas -- otherwise known as monsters. Blizzard gave its fans a first look at the creatures that will be giving players what for in Diablo III's upcoming expansion. The 10 creatures in the first look bestiary range from scary to faces only a mother could love. There's the eerie Death Maiden, the Predator-esque Executioner, the chunky Ghastly Seraph, and plenty more creations that crawled out of a few twisted devs' nightmares. These monsters will be inhabiting the expansion's main town of Westmarch, whether or not you decide to turn down any dark alleyways. Diablo III introduces you to the Reaper of Souls monster mob originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Dev diary

State of Decay comes to the PC courtesy of Steam Posted: 05 Nov 2013 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Horror, Launches, MMO Industry, Sandbox, Buy-to-Play PC gamers feeling left out while watching their Xbox comrades playing State of Decay can wipe those tears away; the zombie survival title has arrived on Steam. State of Decay is available through the digital distribution platform for a straight-up $19.99. If you're curious about Undead Labs' maiden game, then check out our hands-on coverage. The game was a huge hit on the Xbox and hopefully will be followed by an MMO set in the same world. Undead is also preparing the first DLC for State of Decay called Breakdown that will come to both the PC and Xbox. [Thanks to Soren for the tip!] State of Decay comes to the PC courtesy of Steam originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Steam

Flameseeker Chronicles: Cultivating positive growth in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 05 Nov 2013 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Patches, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Buy-to-Play Guild Wars 2's Tower of Nightmares release has been with us for the past week, transforming formerly beautiful (if centaur-populated) Kessex Hills into a toxic wasteland. The source of the devastation is a massive, thistle-topped structure in Viathan Lake, which was built and defended by the Krait and Nightmare Court. A whole lot of mystery is tied up in that thing, from Krait religion to Nightmare ambitions to the involvement of Scarlet Briar, but Marjory Delaqua and her partner Kasmeer Meade are on the case. The Pact has also gotten involved by aiding with research and demolishing the tower plant's offshoots, which are spreading on the wind like dandelions, only I wouldn't recommend adding them to salads, and they're not fluffy. The ArenaNet team responsible for this release has made some praiseworthy improvements over previous releases, which supports the idea that GW2's living world is still a work in progress with lots of room to grow. Combined with some interesting developer responses from the collaborative development initiative, I think it paints a promising picture of where the story is going in the upcoming months. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Cultivating positive growth in Guild Wars 2 Flameseeker Chronicles: Cultivating positive growth in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Stream Team: Fighting Piracy in Sastasha, FFXIV's first dungeon Posted: 05 Nov 2013 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, PvE, Massively Meta, Hands-On, Final Fantasy XIV, Dungeons, The Stream Team There comes a time (OK many times) on the road to 50 in Final Fantasy XIV when you're launched into a dungeon and told very firmly that you may not progress in your main storyline until you've successfully punched each boss in the face. Sastasha is the very first required dungeon, and today Massively's Jasmine sets forth to punch boss faces in this pirate-themed instance! Join us live at 3:00 p.m. EST for all the pirate action. Game: Final Fantasy XIV Host: Jasmine Hruschak Date: Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 Time: 3:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Stream Team video below complete with highlights for each boss! Continue reading The Stream Team: Fighting Piracy in Sastasha, FFXIV's first dungeon The Stream Team: Fighting Piracy in Sastasha, FFXIV's first dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Warlords of Draenor now trademarked in the US and Europe Posted: 05 Nov 2013 11:00 AM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Expansions, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Subscription, MMORPG Here's some more fuel for speculation engines everywhere: Blizzard Entertainment has now registered the trademark for Warlords of Draenor in both the United States and Europe. This news follows the rumors from last week indicating that Blizzard had locked up the very same title in Australia. We still don't know what Blizzard has up its sleeve, though the obvious leap is to a World of Warcraft expansion. With Blizzcon kicking off on November 7th, it's likely we'll have an answer SoonTM. Warlords of Draenor now trademarked in the US and Europe originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: WoW Insider

Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Marauders will suck but Operatives will not Posted: 05 Nov 2013 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Classes, Patches, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon, MMORPG Update 2.5 for Star Wars: The Old Republic will release at the same time the Galactic Starfighter expansion will hit for subscribers. Perhaps this timing is meant to hide the awful mistakes BioWare is making with two of its best Advanced Classes. One will receive a thorough thrashing with a nerf bat, while the other will only get a stern talking-to -- not even a wag of the finger. Of course, I'm talking about the Marauder/Sentinel class and the Operative/Scoundrel class. Last week, the Inquisitor/Consular class took center stage because there is a chance that the Madness spec might actually become viable in PvP. But at the same time the Assassin/Shadow tank becomes viable in PvE, it'll become a wrecking ball in PvP. (Time to roll another character!) Unfortunately, two of my favorite classes aren't seeing the changes they need in the next SWTOR update. Because I'm so helpful to the SWTOR developers, I will sit in my armchair and tell them exactly what to do. But first, let's talk about the tweaks coming for these two enormously popular classes. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Marauders will suck but Operatives will not Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Marauders will suck but Operatives will not originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Nov 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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