MMO Updates

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• Choose My Adventure: Neverending Neverwinter story
• Wintersday livestream to offer sneak peek into Guild Wars 2's new content
• Leaderboard: What's the silliest game name in the MMO genre?
• A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Superhero games across November
• The Daily Grind: Are dragons, zombies, or pirates the most overused?
• The Steam Team: Channeling some XP in EverQuest II
• RuneScape opens 2013 Premier Club, donates $90K to charity
• The Stream Team: Escape from The Secret World's Dreaming Prison
• EVE dev blog explores balancing player load
• World of Warplanes Flight School #4 explains ammo and consumables
• Jukebox Heroes: Star Wars Galaxies' soundtrack
• Path of Exile going strong a month after launch
• Hyperspace Beacon: Should you subscribe for SWTOR Galactic Starfighter?
• Dungeons & Dragons Online looks back at 2013 and forward to 2014
• The Soapbox: Seriously, we have enough fantasy MMOs
• The Secret World offers special membership deals
• Flameseeker Chronicles: November is controversy month in Guild Wars 2
• The Elder Scrolls Online shows off the process of building a character in a new video
• Star Wars: The Old Republic launches Galactic Starfighter for subscribers

Choose My Adventure: Neverending Neverwinter story Posted: 04 Dec 2013 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, Hands-On, Choose My Adventure, Neverwinter, Player-Generated Content Of all the things this trip to Neverwinter has shown me, the ability to continue a character's story beyond the quest that Cryptic provides stands as the greatest thing I think any online game can give us. Although I don't believe that Neverwinter (or any other game, for that matter) gives me everything that I ever hoped for, the Foundry does allow those who enjoy dungeon mastering in the classic Dungeons and Dragons sense a chance to test out their skills at creating a story within a realistic development environment. Most writers would love to have a blank slate, a platform to do whatever they want to do, but realistically, that never happens. Every development environment contains its own limits and challenges content creators have to overcome. Sometimes the engine doesn't allow writers to do what they would like. Sometimes budgetary limits constrain the creative process. Sometimes writers forget that they are making a game and not a novel, so "fun" adds its own limits. As a writer and a gamer, I have been given a taste of what it takes to make an enjoyable quest for a gaming community. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Neverending Neverwinter story Choose My Adventure: Neverending Neverwinter story originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Dec 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wintersday livestream to offer sneak peek into Guild Wars 2's new content Posted: 04 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Events (In-Game), News Items, Guild Wars 2, Livestream, Buy-to-Play Just as winter returned this year, so, too, will Guild Wars 2's Wintersday holiday! The six-week celebration, dubbed A Very Merry Wintersday, brings with it some seasonal content for players to enjoy. Kicking off on December 10th, the festival features plenty of events and activities, from Toymaker Tixx's workshop to Toypocalype to the Bell Choir. The whimsical Winter Wonderland jumping puzzle also returns. And as befitting any good winter holiday, players will be able to belt one another with snowballs! Besides all the holiday cheer, this Wintersday release also includes new healing skills (one for each profession) and Ascended armorcrafting (which allows those plying the armormaking trade to raise their skill to 500). Why wait until the 10th to get into the Wintersday spirit? Check out the Wintersday video and screenshots below, and tune in to the devs' livestream preview on Monday, December 9th at 3:00 p.m. EST. [Source: ArenaNet press release] Continue reading Wintersday livestream to offer sneak peek into Guild Wars 2's new content Wintersday livestream to offer sneak peek into Guild Wars 2's new content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Dec 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Leaderboard: What's the silliest game name in the MMO genre? Posted: 04 Dec 2013 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, Humor, Miscellaneous, Leaderboard Today I'd like to highlight some of the goofiest game names in the MMO genre. I'm not out to be mean or anything, but seriously, sometimes you just have to stop and ask what were they thinking, amirite? Take Ever, Jane, for example. I get it, it's a play on both EverQuest and Jane Austen, but still. That comma is problematic because I don't want to pause and scratch my head when I'm reading a game title. Awkward! There are plenty of other examples, too, so vote for your (least) favorite after the cut. Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard! Continue reading Leaderboard: What's the silliest game name in the MMO genre? Leaderboard: What's the silliest game name in the MMO genre? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Dec 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Superhero games across November Posted: 04 Dec 2013 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Patches, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Marvel Heroes, Champions Online, A Mild-Mannered Reporter, Promotions, Infinite Crisis After a couple of very active months, November was a bit calmer for superheroic games as a whole. It makes sense, of course, since pretty much every game is calmer during November and December aside from sales and holiday events. But there were few big Kickstarter campaigns, a lot of updates that everyone knew were coming, and of course a very poignant anniversary for pretty much everyone reading this column today. That having been said, the entire month was not a slow funeral dirge for the loss of City of Heroes. In fact, one game apparently decided that the otherwise quiet month was a great time to make some big changes right off the bat, so that's pretty cool. Venture on past the cut with me and we'll take a look at the superhero news from November in review... and possibly bow our heads briefly in respect for the departed. Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Superhero games across November A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Superhero games across November originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Dec 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Are dragons, zombies, or pirates the most overused? Posted: 04 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous In every fantasy MMO (and many of the other ones, too), you'll be assured to encounter three types of enemies. There will be dragons. There will be zombies. And because game developers are 12-year-old kids at heart, there will be pirates. The question is, which of these three is the most overused? Which have worn out their welcome the most to you? My vote is for dragons. Yes, they're huge, ferocious creatures that are often raid end bosses, but when every game has them as their ultimate threat, it dilutes one's proper respect of them. It's like every MMO has a Death Star. More of a big bad doesn't increase fear in the same ratio; it kind of has the opposite effect. But maybe you disagree. Pirates, zombies, or dragons -- which make you roll your eyes the most? Which would you banish to the land of well-worn tropes? 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: Are dragons, zombies, or pirates the most overused? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Steam Team: Channeling some XP in EverQuest II Posted: 03 Dec 2013 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, EverQuest II, Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, Livestream, The Stream Team Can a young Ratonga Channeler make a difference in the war against Kerafrym and his dragon minions in EverQuest II? Yes, but a few more levels and skills would make a difference! So would a nice leaping mount, but those are only available at level 30. That means Massively's MJ has her work cut out for her, and she's seeking XP by the bucket loads (or quiver-full, if you prefer). Join us live in chat and in game at 9:00 p.m. for a chance to hop on the XP train. All aboard! Game: EverQuest II Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013 Time: 9:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Steam Team: Channeling some XP in EverQuest II The Steam Team: Channeling some XP in EverQuest II originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

RuneScape opens 2013 Premier Club, donates $90K to charity Posted: 03 Dec 2013 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, Promotions If you've got the cash and interest to spare, then RuneScape would like to convince you to invest in one of its 2013 Premier Club packages. Jagex has unveiled its new limited-time Premier Club membership tiers, which offer extra goodies in exchange for committing to a multi-month subscription. The bronze package is $23.50 for three months, the silver is $44.50 for six months, and the gold is $86.50 for a full year. Extras include exclusive pets, bonus spins on the squeal of fortune, and access to a VIP server. Jagex congratulated the community on donating in-game wealth via the Well of Goodwill that was translated into a real-world donation by Jagex to several charities. The studio split $90,838 between seven charities. RuneScape also just added a level 92 slayer, the Airut, for players to defeat. RuneScape opens 2013 Premier Club, donates $90K to charity originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments 2013 Premier Club, Slayer update, Well of Goodwill

The Stream Team: Escape from The Secret World's Dreaming Prison Posted: 03 Dec 2013 04:30 PM PST Filed under: Horror, Real-Life, Video, Massively Meta, The Secret World, Livestream, The Stream Team, Buy-to-Play There she was, moseying along through the first story mission in The Secret World just minding her own business when BAM! Massively's MJ got sucked into and trapped in the Dreaming Prison right as she reached for that sword of power. You'd think that she'd be celebrated for defeating that big baddy she's been chasing, right? Nope -- it's prison time for her. So now MJ needs to escape before she can get on with her TSW life. Join us live at 7:30 p.m. for her big prison break. Game: The Secret World Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Tuesday, December 3rd, 2013 Time: 7:30 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Escape from The Secret World's Dreaming Prison The Stream Team: Escape from The Secret World's Dreaming Prison originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EVE dev blog explores balancing player load Posted: 03 Dec 2013 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Dev Diaries, Sandbox, MMORPG CCP has posted yet another incredibly detailed and highly technical dev blog over on the official EVE Online community site, this one relating to how the studio balances the player load across the node-based single shard on which New Eden exists. The post begins by explaining that an increase in players with this year's Odyssey expansion led to extreme CPU load in empire space, which in turn created scenarios where EVE's time dilation technology had to kick in even for systems that weren't experiencing some sort of mass fleet battle. The blog walks through how CCP identified the problem and also explains the solution, which basically comes down to rebalancing which systems share nodes by performing multiple splits of the existing universe. If you're an EVE player or love exceptionally granular, detailed breakdowns of the though process behind server-side changes, the full post is worth a read. EVE dev blog explores balancing player load originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Building a Balanced Universe

World of Warplanes Flight School #4 explains ammo and consumables Posted: 03 Dec 2013 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Historical, Real-Life, Video, Game Mechanics, PvP, News Items, War, Free-to-Play, World of Warplanes Wargaming.net's latest World of Warplanes Flight School video dives deep into the ammunition and other consumables you can equip when preparing for battle in the high skies. The video breaks down important details of ammunition selection, such as understanding the difference between damage-per-second at maximum range and damage-per-second at optimal range or figuring out which ammo has the best chance of lighting your enemy's fuel tanks on fire. The video continues by breaking down various bomb and rocket types and even shows off how clever bombers can catch pursuers up in the explosion of a dropped bomb. Finally, it explains the benefits of using consumables such as fire extinguishers, restarters, and first aid kits. Check out the video after the break. [Source: Wargaming.net press release] Continue reading World of Warplanes Flight School #4 explains ammo and consumables World of Warplanes Flight School #4 explains ammo and consumables originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jukebox Heroes: Star Wars Galaxies' soundtrack Posted: 03 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Jukebox Heroes, Music Ah, Star Wars Galaxies. Even almost two years after your demise, it doesn't seem possible to shake you loose from our thoughts. Maybe the NGE was a blessing in disguise, a never-depleting power source of rage that will forever give life to your memories. In any case, it's time to talk about the one aspect of the game that was there before SWG was created and will go on indefinitely afterward: the soundtrack. Talking about Star Wars Galaxies' soundtrack puts me in an odd position because a great deal of the OST is lifted directly from John Williams' movie scores. And what hasn't been said about those classics, really? But there are a few tracks here and there that I could pick out as being unique to the game, although the actual composer who did the job escapes my Google Fu. So let's take one last trip to a Galaxies far, far away, shall we? Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Star Wars Galaxies' soundtrack Jukebox Heroes: Star Wars Galaxies' soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Path of Exile going strong a month after launch Posted: 03 Dec 2013 01:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Launches, Patches, Free-to-Play, Promotions, Path of Exile Path of Exile is strutting its stuff a month after its official launch, boasting a huge community, a new patch, and strong sales of its new supporter packs. Grinding Gear Games announced that Path of Exile has topped four million registered users and sees over 250,000 players every day. Last Wednesday's 1.0.2 patch was the first post-launch update for the game, containing new items, recipes, achievements, and various fixes and balance tweaks. The studio sold nearly 5,000 purchases of its supporter pack bundles, which range from $50 to $900, over the Thanksgiving weekend. Grinding Gear says that these purchases "have funded a significant portion of the game's development." [Source: Grinding Gear press release] Path of Exile going strong a month after launch originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyperspace Beacon: Should you subscribe for SWTOR Galactic Starfighter? Posted: 03 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Expansions, Launches, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon, MMORPG If our comments are any judge, many gamers do not believe that Star Wars: The Old Republic lived up to its launch hype. These players have been wary about jumping back into the game despite the positive impressions of the latest expansion Galactic Starfighter. Is it worthwhile for them (or anyone else) to jump back in? BioWare launches its second expansion for SWTOR today. This addition to the game takes us into the thick of the centuries-long struggle between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire. Players take command of one of 12 different dog-fighting starships in two possible 12v12 skirmish maps. Far different than the on-rails shooter-minigames the MMO launched with, these maps are completely free-roaming and play more like a flight simulator than StarFox 64. Of course, that alone doesn't necessarily make the expansion worth it. Let's examine the features that could make this expansion worthy of your subscription. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Should you subscribe for SWTOR Galactic Starfighter? Hyperspace Beacon: Should you subscribe for SWTOR Galactic Starfighter? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Dungeons & Dragons Online looks back at 2013 and forward to 2014 Posted: 03 Dec 2013 12:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play December isn't just a month for frenzied consumerism; it's almost the end of the year and time to start reflecting on what went well, what went badly, and what needs to change. So it's appropriate that the latest producer's letter for Dungeons & Dragons Online focuses on precisely that, looking back at 2013 and counting up the game's big hits and misses. The team feels that Epic Reincarnation and the Storm Horn Mountains were big wins, while the bug-plagued Mabar Festival was definitely a nadir. But there's no point in looking back if you don't look forward, and the letter does that as well. Four major content updates are planned for next year, featuring a boost of the level cap to 30, two new raids in the dwarven ruins of Thunderholme, a new set of guild airship models, and more beyond that. Take a look at the letter for an exact schedule and more discussion about the year's highs and lows. Dungeons & Dragons Online looks back at 2013 and forward to 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Holiday Producer's Letter

The Soapbox: Seriously, we have enough fantasy MMOs Posted: 03 Dec 2013 12:00 PM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Aion, City of Heroes, EVE Online, Fallen Earth, Lineage, MMO Industry, Opinion, Ultima Online, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, DC Universe Online, RIFT, World of Tanks, TERA, EverQuest Next, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous, MOBA, Neverwinter, The Elder Scrolls Online, MMORPG, Buy-to-Play Let's play a game. I'm thinking of an MMO that features magic, monsters, humans, and a vast fantasy world full of steamy swamps, grassy plains, and deep, dark dungeons -- can you tell me which MMO it is? If you answered RIFT, you're right. You're also right if you answered TERA. Or World of Warcraft. Or Guild Wars 2. Or Neverwinter. Or... you get the idea. We're people who play MMOs. Our hard drives are practically bulging with games featuring wizards and warriors. We've plunged our swords into millions of orcs and gnolls. We've looted more imaginary copper pieces than anyone could possible imagine. We've even slain so many dragons that you have to wonder why dragons even bother showing up anymore. It's not the gameplay but the setting that can make the whole exercise so soul-crushingly boring. Continue reading The Soapbox: Seriously, we have enough fantasy MMOs The Soapbox: Seriously, we have enough fantasy MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Secret World offers special membership deals Posted: 03 Dec 2013 11:30 AM PST Filed under: Horror, Sci-Fi, News Items, The Secret World, Promotions, Subscription, Buy-to-Play You don't need us to tell you that Cyber Monday is over, seeing as it is currently Tuesday. But that doesn't mean that sales are over; The Secret World is just starting a special promotion for membership. So if you know you're going to spend the next few months joyously exploring various mysteries, why not get some extra time and some AP boosts while you're at it? Subscribing for a three-month stretch earns you an extra month (so four total) along with a timed AP boost. A six-month subscription nets you two extra months (eight total) along with two timed AP boosts, five XP potions, and five Venetian Exemptions to remove scenario cooldowns. Last but not least, a year earns you an extra four months (16 in all), three timed boosts, 15 XP potions, and 15 Venetian Exemptions. These deals will only be active until December 16th, so if you're going to lay down the bucks, you might as well get some extra bang. The Secret World offers special membership deals originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Exclusive deals on membership

Flameseeker Chronicles: November is controversy month in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 03 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, Patches, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Buy-to-Play November sucks. The only good things about it are food, my wife's birthday, and the birthdays of any other November babies (happy birthday). Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is at the end of the month, and Black Friday is a thing that still happens. Thank the Six it's December now. Get out of my face, November. We've had only two Novembers' worth of Guild Wars 2 so far, but historically it has been a dark time. Last year we had mixed reception of the Lost Shores karka invasion event and the implementation of Ascended gear. This year we have a baffling marketing campaign and extremely unfortunate gem store armor skins. At this rate I'm predicting that next November will bring an entire set of novelty weapon skins patterned on Scarlet Briar's hair and a kissing booth that awards precursors with Zhaitan's ugly mug as the main attraction. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: November is controversy month in Guild Wars 2 Flameseeker Chronicles: November is controversy month in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Elder Scrolls Online shows off the process of building a character in a new video Posted: 03 Dec 2013 10:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Consoles, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription One of the key features of The Elder Scrolls Online is building a character the way you want to play. It's been stated time and again that the game will allow you to build the sort of character you want rather than force you into a predefined setup. But what does the process look like in action? Well, why don't you just jump past the break and watch a new video showing off exactly how characters develop over time? When you choose a race and class at character creation, you gain access to one racial skill line and three class-based skill lines, but you also have access to a plethora of other skill lines so that neither race nor class forces you into a certain role. As you level, you gain skill points and attribute points, allowing you to customize your abilities as well as your individual distribution among survivability, magical skill, and weapon-based resources. Not to mention all of the other skill lines you can find over the course of play. For a more detailed look, jump on past the break to take a look at the full video. Continue reading The Elder Scrolls Online shows off the process of building a character in a new video The Elder Scrolls Online shows off the process of building a character in a new video originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Character Progression in TESO

Star Wars: The Old Republic launches Galactic Starfighter for subscribers Posted: 03 Dec 2013 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Expansions, Launches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Subscription Subscribers to Star Wars: The Old Republic don't have to wait another day to start fighting across the stars. Galactic Starfighter early access is now live for subscribers, with Preferred players getting access on January 14th, 2014, and free players allowed in on February 4th, 2014. Yes, if you want to blow up other ships today, subscribing right now will still let you start blasting away, and you won't even have to hit a certain level to be eligible. The goal with Galactic Starfighter as explained in one of two new development blogs was to allow all players access to the content even if they're not as interested in the story. Progressing through the leveling game will unlock companions, though, and the other development blog details how your crew members can help your overall performance. There's also a new trailer just past the cut showing off how you can customize your ship, perfect if you're deciding whether you want to subscribe or if you prefer to wait to start playing. Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic launches Galactic Starfighter for subscribers Star Wars: The Old Republic launches Galactic Starfighter for subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Galactic Starfighter Development, Starfighter Crew Members

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