MMO Updates

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• Flameseeker Chronicles: Why Guild Wars 2 shouldn't replicate Destiny's wedge
• Here's an Elder Scrolls PvP Ask Us Anything
• Massively Speaking 278: Bloopers, outtakes, and tomfoolery
• The Daily Grind: What would you like for a game present?
• Not So Massively: Elite's Oculus Rift support, Star Citizen delays, and Firefall's CEO worries
• The Stream Team: Choose My Adventure in Allods Online
• The Nexus Telegraph: Examining the Aurin of WildStar
• World of Tanks update brings Japanese armor
• Captain's Log: A Star Trek Online 2014 wish list
• Neverwinter state of the game talks player feedback and future expansions
• RuneScape launches companion app
• Chaos Theory: Why TSW's Orochi have an uphill battle for respectability
• Guild Wars 2 video thanks players and reminisces about 2013

Flameseeker Chronicles: Why Guild Wars 2 shouldn't replicate Destiny's wedge Posted: 24 Dec 2013 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Buy-to-Play When I looki back at a year of Guild Wars 2 releases, one thing stands out to me: I really like Kasmeer, Braham, Marjory and Rox, and I'm not alone. ArenaNet's four newest iconic heroes have remained steadfastly popular in the midst of other criticism of GW2's living story. They're not universally popular -- no character is -- but you can usually count on their dialogue and characterization prompting appreciative threads and analysis. At the start of the Tower of Nightmares release, a few of my friends even linked to a forum post that theorized that Kasmeer might die (she didn't), and were deeply concerned until Wintersday came around. "ANet had better not," one of them said heatedly. "If Kas or Jory die, I'll quit." While the iconics of the personal story and dungeon story modes, Destiny's Edge, have their fans, I've never heard anyone threaten to uninstall if one of them shuffles off to the Mists, even after a long history and a novel dedicated to their exploits. I think the main reason is that it's a lot easier to respect characters and want to be around them when you aren't left feeling like the only adult in the room. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Why Guild Wars 2 shouldn't replicate Destiny's wedge Flameseeker Chronicles: Why Guild Wars 2 shouldn't replicate Destiny's wedge originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Here's an Elder Scrolls PvP Ask Us Anything Posted: 24 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription Ask Me Anything question-and-answer sessions are a good idea, in theory. But, like any other Q&A format in the publisher-controlled game journalism field, they're specifically designed to showcase the game in question as opposed to providing potential customers with complete or completely accurate information. Live AMAs are of course more challenging for devs and their PR handlers than email or forum questions, and it's the latter approach that ZeniMax takes with its latest Elder Scrolls Online publicity push. The AMA -- or really, AUA, for Ask Us Anything in this case -- focuses on ESO's PvP. Pre-screened questions include bits on bottlenecks, siege weapons, ranking systems, and the effectiveness of low-level players. Here's an Elder Scrolls PvP Ask Us Anything originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments PvP AMA

Massively Speaking 278: Bloopers, outtakes, and tomfoolery Posted: 24 Dec 2013 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Podcasts, Massively Meta, Humor, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous It's the final Massively Speaking podcast of the year! We've been diligently collecting bloopers, outtakes, and general tomfoolery from our past shows, and now we've assembled them all for a hilarious stream of weirdness and non sequiturs. Laugh with us and at us (mostly the latter), and we'll see you all in 2014! 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 278: Bloopers, outtakes, and tomfoolery Massively Speaking 278: Bloopers, outtakes, and tomfoolery originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 10:00:00 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: What would you like for a game present? Posted: 24 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Humor, Miscellaneous The problem with people asking, "What do you want for the holidays" is that most of the things you actually want aren't valid answers. What would I like? I'd like to see Final Fantasy XIV adapt its PvP advancement series for PvE purposes and have housing that people can actually afford. I'd like to see WildStar implement body sliders. I'd like City of Titans to be an enormous hit, and I'd really like to see a Transformers MMO that looks playable and enjoyable. Yes, they may be pie-in-the-sky wishes, but darn it, that's what I'd like. So what about you, readers? Regardless of whether or not it will happen (and it probably won't), what would you like for a game-related present? Bring back a title that died? Add extra features to an existing title? Have developers join forces to make some sort of combination super-title? The choice is yours even as the odds are low. 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 would you like for a game present? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not So Massively: Elite's Oculus Rift support, Star Citizen delays, and Firefall's CEO worries Posted: 23 Dec 2013 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Video, Business Models, Expansions, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Casual, Dev Diaries, Not So Massively, Sandbox, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III, Firefall, Crowdfunding, Star Citizen, Elite: Dangerous, Path of Exile The Elite: Dangerous combat alpha was updated with support for 3-D monitors and the Oculus Rift gaming headset this week, and developers gave fans a look behind the scenes in a new development newsletter. Star Citizen's dogfighting module was also delayed in order to bring the level of polish up higher and integrate the combat with the existing hangar module. League of Legends released its annual Snowdown update alongside a coincidentally named Showdown game mode that offers short 1v1 and 2v2 matches. Dota 2 officially removed its Steam activation queue and opened its doors to the public, and Valve put out a call for 3-D modelers to make new items themed on the Chinese New Year. Heroes of Newerth's patch 3.3 went live, introducing a new tactical item that can copy runes without consuming them. And SMITE revealed new Mayan god Chaac, a rain god with a lightning axe that's bigger than he is. Diablo III officially opened pre-orders for its Reaper of Souls expansion; fansite Diablofans collected together another 50 legendary item screenshots from players on the public test realm. Path of Exile's patch 1.0.4 is due to launch today, adding the channeled Flameblast spell and support for private PvP duels. And Firefall developer Red 5 Studios sacked its CEO and founder Mark Kern this week, prompting several anonymous employees to reportedly come forward with stories of poor management behind the scenes. Continue reading Not So Massively: Elite's Oculus Rift support, Star Citizen delays, and Firefall's CEO worries Not So Massively: Elite's Oculus Rift support, Star Citizen delays, and Firefall's CEO worries originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Dec 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Stream Team: Choose My Adventure in Allods Online Posted: 23 Dec 2013 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, PvE, Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, Hands-On, Choose My Adventure, Allods Online, Livestream, The Stream Team, Subscription, MMORPG Last week's Choose My Adventure polls sent Massively's Mike Foster on a path toward the dark side, putting him in the role of an Empire-loyal Arisen in the world of Allods Online. Join Mike as he takes his first community-chosen steps in the shoes of his new character and learns the ins and outs of this strange sci-fantasy universe. The adventure begins at 7:00 p.m. EST. Game: Allods Online Host: Mike Foster Date: Monday, December 23rd, 2013 Time: 7:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Choose My Adventure in Allods Online The Stream Team: Choose My Adventure in Allods Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Dec 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Nexus Telegraph: Examining the Aurin of WildStar Posted: 23 Dec 2013 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Lore, Opinion, Races, WildStar, The Nexus Telegraph, Subscription, Buy-to-Play The Aurin aren't the same as their allies in WildStar. The humans are still fighting a long, lonely war against the Dominion for slights that were so long ago the Dominion has likely forgotten about them. The Granok persist in their fight out of a dogged need to make their exile from the homeworld seem palatable. And the Mordesh have a long history of loathing to go along with being undead monstrosities, for which they (somewhat unfairly) blame the Dominion. But the Aurin? They aren't fighting for anything. They were dragged into this war by humans, propelled by a promise that grows ever more unlikely in its potential fulfillment. All that the Aurin wished to do was help people in obvious need, and their thanks -- and ultimate reward -- seems to trap them in an endless cycle of violence in which they're not naturally inclined to participate. In some ways, they're the most victimized race of the Exiles because they're limited by not just the Dominion but their fellow faction-mates. Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Examining the Aurin of WildStar The Nexus Telegraph: Examining the Aurin of WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Dec 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

World of Tanks update brings Japanese armor Posted: 23 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Historical, Patches, PvP, War, Free-to-Play, World of Tanks Wargaming.net today announced the launch of World of Tanks update 8.10. North American and European World of Tanks players can now access the brand-new Japanese tech tree, which includes 14 tanks spread across the game's several tank-types and tiers. The Soviet tech tree has also seen two additions in the form of the Object 430 and Object 430 Variant II medium tanks. A Japanese-themed map has been added as well, complete with cherry blossoms. Check out the 8.10 launch trailer after the break. [Source: Wargaming press release] Continue reading World of Tanks update brings Japanese armor World of Tanks update brings Japanese armor originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Dec 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Captain's Log: A Star Trek Online 2014 wish list Posted: 23 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Expansions, Patches, PvP, Endgame, PvE, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play, Rumors, Captain's Log, Neverwinter We're coming up on 2014 and staring Star Trek Online's fourth anniversary right in the face. It's an anniversary that many naysayers said would never come. Next week I plan on taking a look back at the past year in Star Trek Online, so this week I thought it would be fun to prognosticate on what we might see in the year to come. A few days ago, STO Community Manager Brandon Felczer wrote a blog post on the game's site, and buried within that post was the announcement that Cryptic and Perfect World Entertainment have slated another expansion for the game in 2014. The news was actually a bit surprising, and although there were no additional facts about what the expansion might entail, there has been a lot of speculation by the players. I am no exception to the speculation frenzy, so here's my own personal wish list for what I'd like to see in the upcoming expansion and other releases in 2014. Continue reading Captain's Log: A Star Trek Online 2014 wish list Captain's Log: A Star Trek Online 2014 wish list originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Dec 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Neverwinter state of the game talks player feedback and future expansions Posted: 23 Dec 2013 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, Neverwinter, MMORPG Neverwinter fans may want to pop over to the game's official site and read lead producer Andy Velasquez's state of the game post, which outlines challenges faced by the dev team, successes it has seen this year, and hopes it has for the future of the game. Velasquez noted the Shadowmantle expansion as a high point for the game, praising his team for being able to "get it done so quickly while maintaining a high-quality product." Velasquez also explained that it is Cryptic's goal to get future expansions live on the test server earlier in the development process, thus allowing for deeper testing and the collection of more player feedback. According to Velasquez, player feedback is invaluable in helping the Neverwinter team understand which changes to implement. Other small successes were celebrated; Neverwinter has launched a Russian shard and the team is hard at work on the next content update. Neverwinter state of the game talks player feedback and future expansions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Dec 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Neverwinter State of the Game

RuneScape launches companion app Posted: 23 Dec 2013 11:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, Browser, Mobile RuneScape's got a new way to stay in touch your with friends who are outside of the game: the Companion app. RuneScape Companion is a versatile web app that can be accessed by just about any mobile device, tablet, or PC via the companion web page. The app currently functions as a chat interface between you and your friends, clan, or private conversation partners. Jagex is looking to expand the app's functionality in the coming year. While the companion app works great on many devices, there are a few that have yet to be invited into the club, such as the iPad Air and all Windows phones. RuneScape launches companion app originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Dec 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments RuneScape Companion

Chaos Theory: Why TSW's Orochi have an uphill battle for respectability Posted: 23 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Horror, Sci-Fi, Lore, Opinion, The Secret World, Chaos Theory The other day I posted a Daily Grind here on the site that asked about NPC factions that are, in effect, a total joke. I used the example of the Orochi from The Secret World, which got one commenter's ire up. He said it was "insulting" that I was singling this out this organization, and I assume that I'm no longer on his Christmas card mailing list. Defensiveness aside, I think I have a pretty good case here that the Orochi are, well, almost laughable. Just about everywhere you go in the game, you encounter their corpses, burning vans, busted camps, crashed planes, and botched excavations. As a friend put it, they're like well-funded kids who go into a military zone with professionals and end up like you'd expect. I've been mocking them for months now, and I am far from alone. After a certain point, their grisly tableaus become a running joke that makes it really hard to take them seriously. But that's the question I want to grapple with today. If the upcoming Tokyo zones will be featuring the Orochi on their home turf, are they too far gone in terms of respectability in the eyes of players to change the narrative? We've seen them kicked up and down across the world, so I'm wondering if it's too late for the Orochi to put on big boy pants and be invited to the adult table. Continue reading Chaos Theory: Why TSW's Orochi have an uphill battle for respectability Chaos Theory: Why TSW's Orochi have an uphill battle for respectability originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Dec 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2 video thanks players and reminisces about 2013 Posted: 23 Dec 2013 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play Nothing brings out the retrospective spirit in us all like the end of another year, and ArenaNet has indulged in a visual remembrance of 2013 with a new Guild Wars 2 video that thanks players for a wonderful year. Reminisce with the devs about defeating the Molten Alliance, electing Captain Ellen Kiel, and destroying the Tower of Nightmares in the clip that includes footage from various fan-attended events. If you were present at any of those events, you might even find yourself in the video below! So take a quick jaunt down memory lane and share with us your favorite GW2 moments over the last year. Continue reading Guild Wars 2 video thanks players and reminisces about 2013 Guild Wars 2 video thanks players and reminisces about 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Dec 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 2013 video

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