MMO Updates |
- Ship-spinning perfected: Hands-on with World of Warplanes' launch
- EVE Online's PLEX for GOOD drive raised over $190K to aid The Philippines
- Side-scrolling Blade Hunter starts alpha tomorrow
- EverQuest Next Landmark beta keys available in US PC Gamer
- The Elder Scrolls Online to launch April 4, 2014
- Dungeon Tours: Wish you were here!
- WildStar unveils its final class, the Engineer
- Dynasty Warriors Online shutting down in North America
- The Daily Grind: Do you play an off-beat MMO?
- The Stream Team: Cleaning up in EQII's Highkeep
- Jukebox Heroes: More of Guild Wars 2's soundtrack
- SOE patches Vanguard database fixes, eyes Cave of Wonders
- First impressions of Heroes of the Obelisk
- Destiny PvP 'certainly more lethal than Halo'
- Final Fantasy XI gets a nice juicy patch
- Test drive Neverwinter's Hunter Ranger with an interactive trailer
- Warhammer Online tribute video takes the bloody cake
- World of Warcraft in-game store goes live
- The Stream Team: Digging for gil in FFXIV's Copperbell Mines
- EverQuest Next to feature a moddable UI
- Hyperspace Beacon: Leveling to max in SWTOR in less than a day
- The Soapbox: World of Warcraft isn't back, and that's fine
| Ship-spinning perfected: Hands-on with World of Warplanes' launch Posted: 11 Dec 2013 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Historical, Game Mechanics, Launches, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, Opinion, War, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, First Impressions, World of Warplanes  I manage, though, because of the title's grindy progression and a design mandate that eschews traditional flight sim mechanics for arcade tropes aimed at gamers who wouldn't know an accelerated stall from a bathroom stall. Continue reading Ship-spinning perfected: Hands-on with World of Warplanes' launch
|
| EVE Online's PLEX for GOOD drive raised over $190K to aid The Philippines Posted: 11 Dec 2013 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, EVE Online, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items, Sandbox  The drive, which included dozens of unique player-run efforts and culminated in a CCP telethon that lasted over eight hours, brought in 12,726 PLEX (equaling approximately 1060 years of playtime). The livestreamed telethon featured EVE Online devs who pledged things like head-shaving and sparring with a Tae Kwon Do champion when certain fundraising milestones were hit. Perhaps the most painful dev pledge was getting shot with one paintball for every $2,000 donated! Sprinkled throughout the telethon were other tidbits including a dev cooking competition, Q&A sessions, and more. You can watch the follow through with the paintball pledge below, and catch the telethon in its entirety on YouTube. [Source: CCP press release] Continue reading EVE Online's PLEX for GOOD drive raised over $190K to aid The Philippines
|
| Side-scrolling Blade Hunter starts alpha tomorrow Posted: 11 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Trailers, Video, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Browser  What do you do when you just have an urge to log in and beat something up? R2Games invites you to come try Blade Hunter, a new free-to-play fantasy side-scroller billed literally as "The beat 'em up MMORPG." This browser-based action title begins alpha on Thursday, December 12th at 10:00 a.m. EST, and interested players from all over the world can sign up on the official site to be a part of the testing. In Blade Hunter's alpha, players can be either a Knight, a Rogue, or a Valkyrie. The game can be enjoyed solo, thanks to independent companions that can be gathered and equipped, but greater strength is achieved when forming parties and guilds. Players can also unlock Bladesouls, which are spirits of war that can change the course of encounters by creating such things as time-limited multiplayer events and ranked cross-server PvP duels. Check out the action in the official trailer below. [Source: R2Games press release] Continue reading Side-scrolling Blade Hunter starts alpha tomorrow
|
| EverQuest Next Landmark beta keys available in US PC Gamer Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:30 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Giveaways, Promotions, EverQuest Next, Sandbox  [Editor Note: Fixed to clarify that these keys are for the print version of the magazine only.]
|
| The Elder Scrolls Online to launch April 4, 2014 Posted: 11 Dec 2013 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Launches, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, The Elder Scrolls Online  In addition to this news, the developers have released a new announcement trailer, entitled War in Cyrodiil, that spotlights the fantasy MMO's massive PvP system that allows hundreds of players to fight together on the same battlefield. The video shows off in-game footage of a castle siege from multiple perspectives, as well as what could potentially be some interesting combat skills and weapons. You'll find the video just after the cut below, as well as more information on the game's official site. [Source: Bethesda press release] Continue reading The Elder Scrolls Online to launch April 4, 2014
|
| Dungeon Tours: Wish you were here! Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:30 AM PST Filed under: Massively Meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, Dungeons, Dungeon Tours  Have you ever wanted to see and experience every dungeon and instance in a game? Maybe you're interested in getting a sneak peek at what content is in store for you as you advance in a title you already enjoy, or maybe you want to see what you have missed. It could be that you'd like to get a feel for a game before jumping in yourself. And whether or not you ever have any intention of ever playing a game yourself, you're probably curious about what goes on behind those closed doors! This miniseries is your key to those doors. Continue reading Dungeon Tours: Wish you were here!
|
| WildStar unveils its final class, the Engineer Posted: 11 Dec 2013 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Classes, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, WildStar, Subscription, Buy-to-Play  Engineers have access to a stable of reliable bots to perform several functions, ranging from dealing damage to tanking to providing quick heals. The class also features a variety of ranged attacks, heavy armor, and a special exo-suit that allows them to bulk up and smash everything in range. Take a look at the latest edition of DevSpeak just past the cut to see the class in action, and check out the official site for a brand new installment of the Tales from Beyond the Fringe comic. [Source: Carbine Studios press release] Continue reading WildStar unveils its final class, the Engineer
|
| Dynasty Warriors Online shutting down in North America Posted: 11 Dec 2013 05:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Free-to-Play, Sunsets  The company posted its reasons and condolences on the Dynasty Warrior forums: "We know and understand this is both sad and frustrating. The closure of a game is always hardest for us at Aeria as we recognize the community's dedication towards the game but regrettably games can't last forever." Aeria will be giving out 100% rebates to any AP purchased by players from now until the game's sunset. The company also promised that it's working on special events for the title's final days. [Thanks to Mehighlow for the tip!]
|
| The Daily Grind: Do you play an off-beat MMO? Posted: 11 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous  It's not that I consider that games like Eden Eternal or Puzzle Pirates are the scum of the games industry. Sure, there's quite a few duds in the pack, but there are also a couple of lackluster titles that have gained a lot of popularity for some unexplained reason. It's just that I hardly ever encounter anyone who plays these games, Beau aside. So sound off today: Do you play an off-beat MMO? Do you eschew the mainstream games to engage with something on the fringe? If so, what are you enjoying?  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 Stream Team: Cleaning up in EQII's Highkeep Posted: 10 Dec 2013 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, EverQuest II, Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, Livestream, Dungeons, The Stream Team  Game: EverQuest II Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Tuesday, December 10th, 2013 Time: 9:00 p.m. EST Continue reading The Stream Team: Cleaning up in EQII's Highkeep
|
| Jukebox Heroes: More of Guild Wars 2's soundtrack Posted: 10 Dec 2013 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Jukebox Heroes, Music, Buy-to-Play  At this point in the game's lifespan, there are two categories of music that you'll find: the Jeremy Soule original soundtrack and the in-house pieces done by Maclaine Diemer and Leif Chappelle. I'm going to wrap up my favorite Soule selections in this column and leave the latter category for a later column. Let's get down to making out with our ears, shall we? Here are six more great Guild Wars 2 tracks that are among my personal favorites. Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: More of Guild Wars 2's soundtrack
|
| SOE patches Vanguard database fixes, eyes Cave of Wonders Posted: 10 Dec 2013 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, Patches, News Items, Vanguard, Free-to-Play  [Thanks Mikegonz!]
|
| First impressions of Heroes of the Obelisk Posted: 10 Dec 2013 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Screenshots, Classes, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Casual, First Impressions  I do take issue with the fact that the developers refer to it as a hack-and-slash title, though. Heroes of the Obelisk is not what you think of when you think of action combat. Games like Vindictus, Neverwinter, and Dungeons and Dragons Online are action-based gaming. Heroes of the Obelisk is standard, class-based, hotbar-mashing combat. Continue reading First impressions of Heroes of the Obelisk
|
| Destiny PvP 'certainly more lethal than Halo' Posted: 10 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Destiny  "I would never rule out [nerfs]," Bakken explains, "however we have systems in place so theoretically, if something is really good at one point, it could grow to become less good over time."
|
| Final Fantasy XI gets a nice juicy patch Posted: 10 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Final Fantasy XI, Patches, PvP, News Items, PvE, Subscription, MMORPG  Also in the patch: new home points in a variety of locations; a host of modifications to the Summoner, Dragoon, and Beastmaster jobs; new synthesis recipes and items; and a movement speed increase for pets, playable characters, and enemies. Check out the full patch notes for details; there are a lot of changes on deck.
|
| Test drive Neverwinter's Hunter Ranger with an interactive trailer Posted: 10 Dec 2013 01:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Classes, Expansions, Patches, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Neverwinter, MMORPG  For those of you who haven't yet had a chance to create a Hunter Ranger or are curious about what playing as one might be like, Perfect World has released an interactive trailer designed to walk you through the basics. In the trailer you are able to select certain Hunter Ranger spells to see how they play out in the game world. Check out the trailer after the break. [Source: Perfect World press release] Continue reading Test drive Neverwinter's Hunter Ranger with an interactive trailer
|
| Warhammer Online tribute video takes the bloody cake Posted: 10 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Culture, Warhammer Online, Subscription, Sunsets  Clocking in at around 25 minutes, the video takes us on a tour of WAR's world, lore, and landmarks, all with heaps of in-game action to preserve the memories as they were. This video's been getting noticed by all categories of Warhammer Online players, so we figured we should share it to you as the clock ticks down to the final minutes of the game's life on December 18th. You can view it after the break. [Thanks to Li for the tip!] Continue reading Warhammer Online tribute video takes the bloody cake
|
| World of Warcraft in-game store goes live Posted: 10 Dec 2013 12:30 PM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Economy, Promotions, Subscription  The Battle.net Shop (as it's being called) is primarily focused on selling mounts and pets. The store can be accessed via either browser or an in-game interface, and it ships items directly into your characters' inventories. Purchases can also be gifted to other players. To celebrate the shop's launch, Blizzard is selling eight pets and five mounts for half-off the full price through January 1st, 2014.
|
| The Stream Team: Digging for gil in FFXIV's Copperbell Mines Posted: 10 Dec 2013 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Massively Meta, Final Fantasy XIV, Livestream, Dungeons, The Stream Team  Game: Final Fantasy XIV Host: Jasmine Hruschak Date: Tuesday, December 10th, 2013 Time: 3:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below and highlights of each boss in the dungeon! Continue reading The Stream Team: Digging for gil in FFXIV's Copperbell Mines
|
| EverQuest Next to feature a moddable UI Posted: 10 Dec 2013 11:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, News Items, EverQuest Next, Sandbox, Player-Generated Content  Sones explains that the team is hoping to build the best possible UI for the game right out of the box, but everyone's idea of what is best will be different. So in addition to building a solid core UI, the developers need to leave space for players to modify the interface according to their needs. Take a look at the full video past the cut for more views on the overall process of making a modifiable interface at launch. Continue reading EverQuest Next to feature a moddable UI
|
| Hyperspace Beacon: Leveling to max in SWTOR in less than a day Posted: 10 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Events (In-Game), PvE, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Guides, Hyperspace Beacon, MMORPG  Laura mentioned reading a post on the official forums about two guys who leveled their characters over the July double-XP weekend in 23 hours of gameplay. Being the competitive player that she is, Laura had to beat that record. When I heard this, I knew I had to jump on board. There were some Republic classes that I had not played through yet, and I needed my fourth class buff. When I agreed to run with her over Thanksgiving, Lee joined in, too. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Leveling to max in SWTOR in less than a day
|
| The Soapbox: World of Warcraft isn't back, and that's fine Posted: 10 Dec 2013 10:00 AM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Subscription  To take the narrative that a lot of people have constructed, World of Warcraft has been sort of floundering for the past few years. It released one expansion (Cataclysm) that consistently ranks as the worst expansion in the game's history, coming behind the launch game, The Burning Crusade, and Alganon. Then it released another one that turned out to actually be pretty good but with a premise that turned a lot of people off right out of the gate. Mists of Pandaria's quality doesn't matter in the face of the game losing five million subscriptions in three years. But then, Warlords of Draenor was announced, and suddenly hope returned to the faithful. There's this thought that the game has suddenly returned from the brink, that Blizzard hit the big red button labeled "Save World of Warcraft" and the game will be catapulted back into prominence once again. Except that I think that portion of the story isn't just premature -- it's making a stab in the dark about a game that isn't back and can't, in fact, be back. Continue reading The Soapbox: World of Warcraft isn't back, and that's fine
|
| 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 | |
