General Gaming Article

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• How to Download Without Installing Malware
• Double Fine Studios Featured in This Week's Humble Bundle
• I Won a $3K Gaming Rig from Maximum PC
• Google I/O Part 1: $9.99/Month Streaming Music, Unlocked Galaxy S4
• Newegg Daily Deals
• AMD Levels Up Never Settle Reloaded Bundle
• Lian Li Launches Curvaceous PC-Q30 Mini ITX Computer Case
• HP Taps Android for SlateBook x2 and Windows 8 for Split x2 Hybrids
• AMD Bills New Radeon 8970M as World's Fastest Mobile GPU

How to Download Without Installing Malware Posted: 15 May 2013 03:57 PM PDT A how to download PSA When the **** did it become so damn difficult to download a program from the Internet? If you've recently tried to grab a screensaver or software utility from the web, you know exactly what we're talking about. Somewhere along the way, the simple act of downloading a program has become anything but easy, even for Internet veterans who aren't easily duped. Many download sites are now designed to test the wits of savvy users and prey on the impatient with link landmines that will blow up your browser with toolbars and other unwanted add-ons. Even worse, you could end up with a malware infection. Should you give up?... Hell no! Downloading might not be as simple as it once was, but it's far from an impossible mission, convoluted download portals be damned. We'll show you how to wade through the sea of shady links and track down the program you're looking, but it doesn't end there. You also have to be careful when installing an application, as installers sometimes carry adware, especially ones for free programs. Free download links are often plastered with malicious links and adware To Click or Not to Click the Big Green Download Button? When we posted our "20 Awesome Screensavers" article with download links to each screensaver, some readers thought we screwed the pooch and served up malware infected URLs. Rest assured we verified that every screensaver we posted was clean, but actually downloading each one can be an exercise in frustration. Let's walk through the process of downloading "The Matrix" screensaver. The link we provided jettisons readers to where the screensaver is hosted on CNET's website. Here's what you should see when you navigate there: CNET's download.com is a popular website so you might not think twice about clicking the Download Now button, but take a closer look. The fine print indirectly admits to installing adware. If you hover your mouse over the button, you'll discover CNET is using an ad-supported wrapper. Not all downloads on CNET's website use the ad-supported stub installer, but the ones that do are indentified as such (so long as you're paying attention), both on the green Download button ("CNET Installer Enabled") and via the above pop-up box. Downloading and installing looks so simple and easy but it's often anything but. If you choose to proceed, you'll be presented with several attempts like the one shown above to install third-party software in addition to The Matrix screensaver. Simply click the Decline button to skip these offers one-by-one rather than mashing the oh-so-inviting Accept button. If you learned anything at all from mythology, it's that you should avoid being tempted by Sirens, and download sites serve up plenty of them. Do you really want to install random third party apps? Some screens are a little trickier than others and offer only two options: Full Installation (Recommended) Custom Installation (Advanced User) When you encounter one of these screens, check the Custom Installation radio button and then deselect any checkboxes asking if you want to install toolbars or other cruft. The legitimate download button is often the hardest one to find. If this seems like an unnecessarily long path to the end, that's because it is. Instead of jumping through CNET's third-party hoops, an easier way to grab The Matrix (and similar downloads) is to click on the direct download situated just below the download button. Easy cheesy, right? This particular link has SEVEN download buttons. Which one is the legitimate one? Lest anyone think we're picking on CNET, it's actually not that bad compared to plenty of other download sites that make things much harder than they need to be. It's certainly not uncommon to see adware/malware masquerading as legitimate download links. Some are worse than others. In the screenshot above, there are no less than seven links with the words "download" or "driver," but only one of them actually links to the file we're looking for. How can you tell? Once again, hover your mouse over each button/link and see where it points to. If it's a DoubleClick ad or anything similar, then move on to the next one. In this case, the second download button with a right-facing arrow directs us to a URL with the words "ARCHOS-101-XS-Tablet-Firmware-412-Download" contained within. That's the one we're looking for. Scan for Malware Virustotal.com is a great tool for sussing out malware Once you've finally found and downloaded the file you're looking for, be sure to scan it for malware, especially if you grabbed it from a site you've never heard of. Use any on-demand scanners you have installed (such as a daily AV program and/or Malewarebytes), and also upload the file to VirusTotal, a free cloud-based service that analyzes suspicious files and URLs for dirty code. Using Virustotal is extremely easy, especially with a browser extension If you're a Firefox user, we highly recommend installing VTzilla, an official VirusTotal browser extension. The extension adds a toolbar to Firefox, which you can disable if you prefer, as well as a right-click context menu entry to scan hyperlinks with VirusTotal before visiting the site in question. For further virus protection measures, check out our in-depth virus protection guide. Do you know of any safe downloading tips? Have a downloading horror story to tell?  Share them with us and other Maximum PC readers by posting in the comments section below!

Double Fine Studios Featured in This Week's Humble Bundle Posted: 15 May 2013 02:22 PM PDT $1 donation lets you snag some of developer's best games The Humble Bundle is back after being on hiatus for a month. For you frugal gamers out there, you can donate $1 or more and receive a collection of titles from Double Fine Studios, the developer behind Psychonauts, Brutal Legend, and Stacking, this time around.  By donating $1 or more you'll receive Steam keys for Costume Quest, Psychonauts, and Stacking. If you donate more than $8.26 (the current average), you'll also receive Brutal Legend along with a few prototype games too. Donate $35 or more you'll receive Double Fine's upcoming game Broken Age. The highest tier is if you donate over $70 which will grant you a limited edition T-Shirt.     The Humble Bundle supports the developers who put their games on the service. You can also choose where your donation goes whether that be to Double Fine or charity (Child's Play Charity and/or the American Red Cross).

I Won a $3K Gaming Rig from Maximum PC Posted: 15 May 2013 01:15 PM PDT Five questions with the winner of our Maingear/AMD giveaway Last month we gave away a righteous rig (equipped with a i7-3770K CPU, two AMD Radeon HD 7970s in crossfire, and 8GB of Corsair Dominator Platinum RAM in a sleek Maingear F131 chassis) courtesy of AMD and Maingear on our Facebook page, and a enthusiastic gentleman named Sean Pisto from Canadia was the lucky recipient of the prize. We asked him to share with us whether or not he thought he was going to win, what his old gaming PC was running, and what it was like to take it out of the box for the first time. The Q&A is posted below! 1. How old are you, where do you live, and how long have you been a Maximum PC reader? I am 22, and I live on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. I've been reading and following Maximum PC for quite a few years. It started with me buying an issue every time I was on a ferry, and grew from there. 2. What are the specs of your current system? The PC I had when I entered the contest featured the following:  Processor - Intel Core i5-3570K Motherboard - ASUS P8Z77-V RAM - 16GB Mushkin Enhanced Redline Frostbyte Video Card - EVGA GeForce GTX 470 Case - Cooler Master HAF 922 Power Supply - Corsair 850TX 3. Did you think you had a chance of winning? Not in the slightest. I enter tons of contests and the pattern is I forget about it after a few days and never hear anything again. 4. What did you think when you first received contact from us? I was trying to remember what I entered.  I finally Googled it expecting it to be a mousepad or something, and couldn't believe my eyes when I found the contest page again and saw it was for a $3,000 gaming system. Then my brain ran through the number of ways this could be a hoax, a joke, or a scam.  Finally the truth set in and I got a wee bit excited. 5. What was the unboxing like, and what is the system like now that it's up and running? I knew it was supposed to come late on the Monday, so I sat in the front room of my house and frantically looked out the window every time I heard a vehicle.  When it finally arrived I immediately took it out of the box and just stared at it in awe for a while.  Finally I took the picture (above) and started setting it up. So far it runs like a top. It's nice being able to crank up every setting in games without having to even worry about performance.  On top of that it's significantly smaller (and prettier) than my old PC, which will be awesome for LAN's.  All in all, I can't thank Maximum PC enough. This was truly unreal. If you want to be notified about future contests, giveaways, and other generally cool stuff be sure to be a Fan of our Facebook page. The next giveaway is coming up soon, and without spoiling the surprise, well, we'll just say that for the lucky winner it'll be like a Dream come true.

Google I/O Part 1: $9.99/Month Streaming Music, Unlocked Galaxy S4 Posted: 15 May 2013 11:44 AM PDT Plenty happening at Google I/O. Google I/O kicked off this morning and is still going on at the time of this writing, but rather than make you wait for a roundup of the highlights, we thought we'd pass along some of the more interesting developments that have already occurred. One of the biggest ones is the introduction of a streaming music service, as previously rumored, to go up against the likes of Pandora, Spotify, Slacker, and eventually Apple, to name a few. The search giant's All Access music service runs $9.99 per month, though you can sign up for a 30-day free trial before jumping in with your wallet. There is an incentive for being an early adopter -- sign up by June 30th and you'll only pay $7.99 per month. In addition to streaming songs you've already purchased, which is a trick you can already do with Google, the All Access service also allows you to tap into millions of tracks you don't own. Similar to Pandora, Google will provide personalized listening recommendations, including playlists curated by Google's music editors. No songs will be greyed out -- if you see it, you can play it. You can also turn songs into radio stations and peek at the related playlist. Notice a song on your station's playlist you don't like? Swipe it away! You can even rearrange songs, giving you unprecedented control in the streaming music space. Or as Google puts it, it's radio without rules. All Access is available immediately in the U.S. and will roll out to other parts of the world shortly. Moving along, the other big announcement thus far is that of an unlocked Samsung Galaxy S4 handset. This particular version of the S4 will be available from Google Play. It's built by Samsung, but is running a clean version of Android 4.2 Jelly Bean "with the same software experience" that Google ships on its Nexus devices. This version works with both AT&T and T-Mobile, has 4G LTE support, is equipped with 16GB of internal storage, has an unlocked bootloader, will receive Android updates "promptly" as they're made available, and will be available for $649 starting June 26 (an eerie silence from an otherwise energetic crowd emanated after the price was disclosed, followed by scattered nervous laughter). So, what do you think about the All Access music service and unlocked Galaxy S4? Post your thoughts in the comments section below! Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Newegg Daily Deals Posted: 15 May 2013 10:24 AM PDT Top Deal: Whether you're looking to get your first SSD or looking to build a new speedy computer, today's top deal has you covered. Newegg is running a 2.5-inch SanDisk SSD for $80 with shipping for $2 (normally $120). Considering it's a 128GB drive, that puts it well below a buck for a GB of storage. According to SanDisk, the SSD features sequential read speeds of up to 490 MB/s and sequential write speeds of up to 350 MB/s. The drive also comes with a three-year warranty. Other Deals: Eagle Bluetooth stereo headset for $35 with free shipping (normally $70 - use coupon code: EMCXRWS58) Western Digital Red 2TB 3.5" internal hard drive for $110 with free shipping (normally $120 - use coupon code: AFNJ0785)  Eagle portable Bluetooth speaker with microphone for $60 with free shipping (normally $100 - use coupon code: EMCXRWS59)  Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1600 desktop memory for $60 with free shipping (normally $70)

AMD Levels Up Never Settle Reloaded Bundle Posted: 15 May 2013 09:00 AM PDT You asked, AMD listened. Two questions AMD tells us it's always getting asked by customers in regards to its sweet Never Settle game bundles are, "Can you add more games?" and "Why do I have to choose between Crysis 3 or Tomb Raider?" Lucky for you, these questions haven't fallen on deaf ears, as AMD is adding bonus games to its Never Settle Reloaded program as part of a limited-time offer. It's officially called "Level Up with Never Settle Reloaded," but who cares about the title. What you really want to know is what kind of gaming loot AMD is bundling with its graphics cards, and we have the skinny. Short and sweet, AMD's updated promotion adds Tomb Raider to the Radeon HD 7970 GHz Edition, HD 7970, HD 7950, and HD 7790 graphics cards, and Crysis 3 to the Radeon HD 7870 graphics card. Here's a tidy breakdown of the updated promotion (Level Up games bolded): Radeon HD 7970 and 7950: Crysis 3, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Radeon HD7870 GHz Edition: Crysis 3, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, and Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Radeon HD 7790: Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon The Level Up promotion goes into effect immediately at participating retailers and is valid "while supplies last." In addition, AMD is still giving away games as part of its regular Never Settle bundle. They include: Radeon HD 7990: Crysis 3, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, Far Cry 3, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, Hitman: Absolution, Sleeping Dogs, Deus Ex: Human Revolution Radeon HD 7850: Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon Radeon HD 7770: Far Cry 3, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon So, who plans on upgrading? Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Lian Li Launches Curvaceous PC-Q30 Mini ITX Computer Case Posted: 15 May 2013 08:53 AM PDT A case with curves. If Leisure Suit Larry was the type to build his own small form factor (SFF) PC, we have little doubt he'd pick Lian Li's new PC-Q30 enclosure. After all, he's into curves, and the PC-Q30 obliges with a funky design that, once again, proves Lian Li isn't afraid to try something different. With its curved shaped design and large acrylic front window, Lian Li says its fully aluminum chassis is ready and willing to give onlookers a view of what it's packing inside. "Whether in the living room, bedroom, or office, the PC-Q30 with its curve-shape and brushed aluminum finish takes visual command without being ostentatious," Lian Li explains. "Additionally, DIY builders can put their stylized internal components and intricate builds on full display – as they should not be hidden from sight." Moving on from the aesthetics, the PC-Q30 supports graphics cards up to 7.8 inches long and can accommodate up to four 2.5-inch drives, which are mounted in a removable cage at the bottom. There's a 140mm rear fan to expel hot air, along with ventilation on the top and side for cool air to enter. I/O connectivity consists of a pair of USB 3.0 ports and HD Audio jacks on the side. Look for the PC-Q30 to be available in June for $149. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

HP Taps Android for SlateBook x2 and Windows 8 for Split x2 Hybrids Posted: 15 May 2013 07:45 AM PDT Why play favorites? Microsoft is trying to make a play in mobile with its touch-tastic Windows 8 platform, while Android remains the popular choice among those who don't want an iPad. Rather than choose which one to roll with, Hewlett-Packard (HP) went and launched a pair of detachable PCs built around both platforms, essentially passing the buck onto you, Joe and Jane Consumer, as to which platform to invest in. Starting with Android, HP's new SlateBook x2 is a surprise entry with plenty of promise. It boasts a 10.1-inch Full HD 1080p (1920x1200) touchscreen IPS display and is powered by Nvidia's quad-core Tegra 4 SoC (System-on-Chip) clocked at 1.8GHz, making it the the first Android detachable device with Tegra 4 inside, HP claims. It also has 2GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage, DTS sound, 720p front-facing camera, 1080p rear-facing camera, a USB 2.0 port, SD card slot, HDMI output, combo audio jack, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Over on the Windows side of the fence, HP introduced the Split x2 with a 13.3-inch HD (1366x768) IPS display. It's powered by 3rd Generation Intel Core i3 and i5 processor options and 2GB of RAM. Other specs include a 128GB mSATA SSD + 500GB HDD storage setup, Beats Audio, 1080p front-facing camera, 8MP rear-facing camera, microSD card reader, combo audio jack, one each USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, HDMI output, SD card slot, 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and Windows 8. "Customers want to access and share content anywhere, anytime, on any internet connected device—and they expect those connections to be seamless," said Ron Coughlin, senior vice president and general manager, Consumer PCs, HP. "The HP SlateBook x2 and the HP Split x2 are next-generation devices and the latest examples of our continued commitment to evolving the computing experience by providing the flexibility necessary for customers to be productive at home, at the office or on the go." The HP SlateBook x2 and Split x2 are expected to be available in August starting at $480 and $800, respectively. Both also come with a full-size keyboard with clickpad. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

AMD Bills New Radeon 8970M as World's Fastest Mobile GPU Posted: 14 May 2013 09:01 PM PDT There's a new mobile sheriff in town. Mobile gamers rejoice, for AMD hasn't forgotten about you. On the contrary, the Sunnyvale chip designer just unveiled its Radeon 8970M, which AMD claims is the fastest laptop GPU on the entire planet. And not only is it smoking fast, it's also more efficient than previous designs, which means you can expect longer battery life, according to AMD. AMD's 8000M series falls into three different tiers, including Mainstream (Radeon 8500M and 8600M Series), Performance + Gaming (Radeon 8700M and 8800M Series), and Enthusiast (Radeon HD 8900 Series). The 8970M part being launched today sits at the top of the mobile GPU totem pole and boasts 1,280 stream processors, an 850MHz engine clock (900MHz with boost), and 1,200MHz memory. That translates into 2304 GFLOPS of single precision compute power and 144 GFLOPS of double precision compute power. Speaking of which, AMD tells us the 8970M is engineered for compute with support for OpenCL and GPU acceleration. DirectX 11.1 is obviously part of the package, as is improved image quality and video playback. As for gaming performance, AMD provided a handful of benchmark comparisons that shine a positive light on its mobile part. For example, according to AMD's testing (Intel Core i7 3770K, 4GB DDR3 1600MHz RAM, Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 hard drive), a Radeon HD 8970M is 54 percent faster than a GeForce GTX 680M in Tomb Raider running at 1920x1080 with TressFX turned off (53.6 fps versus 34.8 fps). In Bioshock Infinite (also at 1920x1080), the 8970M benched 63.29 fps, which is 42 percent faster than the GTX 680M chip (44.52 fps). And so it goes across the board. One of the first notebooks to feature the 8970M will be MSI's GX70 gaming laptop, which is an upgraded version of the GX60 AMD's latest and greatest mobile part. It will come with a copy of Crysis 3. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

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Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

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Different Ways to Charge Your Nintendo DSi Posted: 15 May 2013 04:36 AM PDT This Post has been published under “Guest Posts“  category in  Gameforumer.com Post Author: Lucy Collins Different Ways to Charge Your Nintendo DSi   The Nintendo DSi is one of the latest portable gaming consoles from Nintendo. When you buy your DSi, it will come with a power adapter that can … Continue reading →

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MMO Updates

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• EVE Online's 11th Alliance tourney makes changes, needs commentators
• Massively's DUST 514 launch impressions
• Neverwinter Days: The 14 guides you need to read
• Allods Online introduces new dungeon-building tool
• A tour of DC Universe Online's new Origin Crisis DLC
• The Daily Grind: Which game has the best character animations?
• Jukebox Heroes: Defiance's soundtrack
• Combine your consoles and get new ships in Star Trek Online's expansion
• Star Citizen concept art shows off Orion III colony
• Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's customization cash kitty
• Sid Meier on mobile and the value of hardcore gamers
• Vostok gearing up for Survarium alpha invites
• The Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us
• Newbie tips to surviving the DUST 514 experience
• Massively Speaking Episode 248: Duped!
• SWTOR customization update goes live
• NCsoft clarifies stance on Guild Wars 2 expansion
• Flameseeker Chronicles: The matter of alts in Guild Wars 2

EVE Online's 11th Alliance tourney makes changes, needs commentators Posted: 15 May 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Events (In-Game), PvP, Sandbox Want to be a part of EVE Online's 11th annual Alliance Tournament that starts on July 20th, 2013, but not from the cockpit of your ship? You can apply to be one of the PvP commentators who will discuss the tourney, tactics, and teams involved live on air with developers as well as providing commentary on matches as they unfold. Yes, live means you'll actually be in Iceland for this gig! Qualifications include having a valid passport, being over 21, having a sharp wit, and being well-versed in PvP. Full details for the application process are available on the official site. If you'd prefer to participate in the battles themselves, note that there will be a few changes to the tourney from years past. To start, Alliance Tournament XI will run over only three weekends, not four. Second, qualifying rounds and group stages have been replaced by double elimination from the get go. Next, from the second weekend onward, two ship types will be banned from the match by team captains. And finally, to fly with an alliance you had to have been a member since downtime this morning. Dev blogs covering all the rules, the broadcast schedule, and sign-up details will be coming soon. EVE Online's 11th Alliance tourney makes changes, needs commentators originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: EVE Online call for commentators

Massively's DUST 514 launch impressions Posted: 15 May 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Game Mechanics, Launches, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Consoles, First Impressions, DUST 514, Sandbox Playing EVE on my couch is bizarre. I know, technically it's called DUST 514, but let's be serious. DUST is basically the beginnings of a massive EVE Online expansion if you subscribe to the notion that EVE is a virtual world as opposed to merely a strategy game featuring internet spaceships and internet drama. I've played EVE in some strange places prior to this. In an airport terminal, for example. On my toilet, even (yes, nature occasionally calls in the middle of a fleet fight and thank God for laptops). But DUST marks the first -- OK, technically the second -- time I've ever played in New Eden with a controller. Continue reading Massively's DUST 514 launch impressions Massively's DUST 514 launch impressions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Neverwinter Days: The 14 guides you need to read Posted: 15 May 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Free-to-Play, Guides, Neverwinter, Neverwinter Days I've had a strange start with Neverwinter, to be honest. While I did get in on the 25th with the early-early crowd, shortly thereafter I had to boogie on off to a vacation that canceled out eight days of soft launch gaming time. So even though I got an early start, I'm probably behind many of you -- even those who started on the 30th. That's OK; I'm not in a rush. I'm not the type to get into a speed race or feel the compulsion to become an instant expert by the end of week one. My experience so far has been feeling out what Neverwinter has to offer, mostly by going through the solo quest line, participating in skirmishes, and queuing up for dungeon runs when time permits. And I'm enjoying myself so far, although I still have that "slightly lost" feeling that comes with exploring a brand-new MMO. I need to learn how to create Foundry missions and I haven't even touched professions yet. Maybe you're like me. Maybe you assume that everyone already knows the ins and outs of the game as though he's been playing it for years, while you're an ignorant noob wandering the streets. I don't think you're alone if that's the case, and to help both you and me out, I've done some research to find the top 14 most helpful threads, sites, and articles that all fledgling Neverwinter adventurers should at least skim over. Continue reading Neverwinter Days: The 14 guides you need to read Neverwinter Days: The 14 guides you need to read originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Allods Online introduces new dungeon-building tool Posted: 15 May 2013 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Expansions, Free-to-Play, Allods Online, Dungeons, Player-Generated Content Player-created content is coming to Allods Online in the form of a dungeon-building feature that will allow players to generate their own private islands called allods. Launching June 5th of this year, the Path to Victory expansion opens up new private islands that act as customizable labyrinths for other players to explore. In addition to this dungeon-building tool, Gala Networks is also introducing the Weaponsmith tradeskill and several graphical updates with this patch. Be sure to watch the Path to Victory trailer just after the jump. [Source: Gala Networks press release] Continue reading Allods Online introduces new dungeon-building tool Allods Online introduces new dungeon-building tool originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

A tour of DC Universe Online's new Origin Crisis DLC Posted: 15 May 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Super-hero, Screenshots, Video, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Patches, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Events (Massively's Coverage), DC Universe Online, Dungeons, Subscription DC Universe Online's latest DLC, Origin Crisis, allows players to fill the shoes of some of their favorite -- and not so favorite -- heroes and villains and fight to keep reality as it is. Thanks to yesterday's update, players will actually be traveling through time in order to stop a chain of events that might result in entirely new universes and timelines. You'll be bamming and powing your way through content in the hopes that history remains intact. We sat down with Jens Andersen, Creative Director of DC Universe Online, to discuss this special DLC, a pack that has been in planning since the game's conception. Continue reading A tour of DC Universe Online's new Origin Crisis DLC A tour of DC Universe Online's new Origin Crisis DLC originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Which game has the best character animations? Posted: 15 May 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous Character animations seem to be only noticed when they don't come off right. It's often a matter of subjective opinion whether or not these animations are pleasing or jarring, of course, but the fact remains that animations that don't meet players' standards are the target of long, long-winded rants. I try to give credit where credit is due. MMOs that show off fluid, good-looking animations are deserving of praise. For me, the litmus test is whether or not a game can portray jumping in a natural way. That's harder than you'd think; I've seen so many titles that have characters jumping with stiff spines, awkward arm angles, or the grace of a boiled squash. So instead of lambasting games for bad animations, let's focus on those that pull off natural- and good-looking animations today. Seriously, it's going to be tough for some of you to put a lid on the negativity, but I believe in you. Which game has the best character animations? 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: Which game has the best character animations? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jukebox Heroes: Defiance's soundtrack Posted: 14 May 2013 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Opinion, Defiance, Jukebox Heroes, Music, Buy-to-Play First of all, I wish my first name were a cool animal. Bear McCreary has that on me, so it seems unfair that he's also a geek icon for his work on several beloved TV series (Battlestar Galactica, Eureka, The Walking Dead). And now the guy is composing the soundtrack of one of this spring's hottest MMOs? Where did I go wrong with my life? Before I go and change my name to Sugar Glider Olivetti, I guess it's only fair that I put a lid on my hurt ego to give Defiance's score a fair listen. McCreary was tapped to create the music for both the MMO and the TV series, giving the crossover project a unified sound. "I had to make sure that players could hang out in one area for long stretches of time without getting bored by repetitive music," McCreary wrote on his blog. "As a result, melody plays less of a role throughout many of these cues. The real stars of this music are the texture and colors." Music has texture and colors? If Bear says it, then it must be. Let's dive in! Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Defiance's soundtrack Jukebox Heroes: Defiance's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Combine your consoles and get new ships in Star Trek Online's expansion Posted: 14 May 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Galleries, Expansions, News Items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play If you've already purchased the very expensive Legacy Pack for Star Trek Online's first expansion, there's good news to be had -- you just got more for your $125 investment. For one thing, you've got access to a new ship, the Haakona Advanced Warbird, an assault craft capable of separating into two units for maximum versatility. For another, you've got a set of uniforms based off of the Romulan outfits from the original series, if you want to really hit that "legacy" button as hard as you can. Whether or not this entices you to drop some additional money, the latest development blog on the official site details the bonuses for slotting Romulan refit consoles together in Legacy of Romulus. These include buffs to turn rate, energy weapons, and defensive systems based on speed. The net result is that owners of both refit and retrofit versions of these vessels can access a new playstyle for the class, a new trick to surprise opponents of the Romulans. Which is apropos. Gallery: Star Trek Online Gallery Combine your consoles and get new ships in Star Trek Online's expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Legacy of Romulus Set Bonuses

Star Citizen concept art shows off Orion III colony Posted: 14 May 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Lore, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Sandbox, Crowdfunding, Star Citizen, Buy-to-Play This time of night I've only got one thing on my mind, and that's dinner. Seriously, the Massively graveyard shift makes my stomach rumble. Fortunately Cloud Imperium is here to fill it up with some sweet, sweet Star Citizen concept art. The main course is a trio of gorgeous images from the former colony world of Orion III. Armitage, as the world was also called, was "the site of the farthest human colony from Earth... and one of the first targets of the Vanduul menace." After you've dined on the establishing aerial artwork, it's time for dessert in the form of some early sketches for specific planetary locations. Feast your eyes at the official Star Citizen website. Star Citizen concept art shows off Orion III colony originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Armitage art

Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's customization cash kitty Posted: 14 May 2013 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, Events (In-Game), Patches, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Races, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon, MMORPG It's a hard thing to admit when you're wrong. But I admit that I was wrong about Star Wars: The Old Republic Update 2.1: Customization. Even as late as last night on The Republic, I believed that things like the new Appearance Designer might not cost players Cartel Coins to use, but now that the update has arrived, I admit that is certainly not the case. Had I known that it would cost CCs to so much as use the Appearance Designer, I would be in the camp of players upset about this update containing only Cartel items. If you define an expansion or DLC as additional content that costs money, then that is exactly what this update is. I'm not against BioWare making money, and to be completely honest, I'm not upset about the company making money on many of these items. Perhaps through my own misunderstanding, I feel a bit cheated with the update. Let me break down the Update 2.1 items for us. I'll point out the good and the bad, and maybe you will understand my perspective, even if you don't agree. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's customization cash kitty Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's customization cash kitty originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Sid Meier on mobile and the value of hardcore gamers Posted: 14 May 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Business Models, Interviews, MMO Industry, Mobile, Casual You know you're getting old when legendary PC developer Sid Meier gives interviews about his foray into mobile gaming. It's not as bad as it sounds, though, because the man behind the Civilization series tells GamesIndustry.biz that the core gaming audience is still driving the industry regardless of platform. "I think we've seen historically that the more casual gaming platforms and markets do have a kind of rise and fall pattern to them, whereas the hardcore gaming market, the serious gamers are much more stable, and they're going to be around for a long time and will keep playing games," Meier said. Meier also ruminates on his approach to mobile free-to-play, which is basically the same try-the-demo-buy-the-full-game-if-you-like-it model that PC gaming has employed for decades. "It's not something like a constant stream of purchases every day, but it's more just unlocking the rest of the game and then you are done," he explained. Sid Meier on mobile and the value of hardcore gamers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GamesIndustry.biz

Vostok gearing up for Survarium alpha invites Posted: 14 May 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Post-Apocalyptic Vostok's Survarium, a spiritual sequel to the STALKER series, is getting ready to send out alpha invites. A dev diary posted yesterday on the game's official forums says that the first wave will welcome 1,000 testers into the post-apocalyptic MMO shooter's fold. Vostok says that of those 1,000 testers, no less than 200 of them will be stressing the game's servers around the clock. The dev diary also outlines what testers can expect from the early stages of the project. The alpha, for example, is "team-based PvP combat mode only," and even this is necessarily scaled down in order to ensure that key components like shooting, movement, and synchronization are working properly. You can register for the Survarium alpha at the game's official website. Vostok gearing up for Survarium alpha invites originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Alpha diary

The Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us Posted: 14 May 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Business Models, Culture, Economy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Consoles, Casual, The Soapbox I love MUDs. When I go through a several-hour long MUD session, I feel as if I took part in a greater story, and most of the fun was not based on stats or gear. MUDs let me escape into a world because they are about story first. I think I'm pretty rare, though. I can't find many other writers who seem to write about MUDs unless they are referencing them like some sort of relic from the past. The truth is that MUDs are still being loved, played, and enjoyed by thousands. Covering MUDs is as important as covering any other MMO. They're still part of the bigger picture. I'm sure many of you reading this now could not care less about MUDs. You might have played one years ago, but generally they are seen as the cute elderly citizens of MMOdom. That's cool if that's how you feel, but now think about this: The new generation, kids between 13 and 20 years old, will look at many of our large PCs and 20 gig MMOs the same way modern gamers look at MUDs. Continue reading The Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us The Soapbox: MMOs are to kids what MUDs are to us originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Newbie tips to surviving the DUST 514 experience Posted: 14 May 2013 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Launches, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, DUST 514, Guides It's DUST 514's launch day, and if you've hit dirt with your face more than your combat boots, then you might need a helping hand with CCP's MMO shooter. PlayStation Universe has posted a pair of guides to help new players get off to a strong start, and since Massively cares about each and every one of you, we wanted to pass them along so that you don't end up a shallow grave on an alien world. The first guide is a hodge-podge of beginner's tips, and the second has to do with earning much-needed skill points. "In the early days, we think it's wise to hoard ISK and SP until a time when you're ready to decide on your specialization," the author writes. "Until then, the Militia Gear is good enough." Good luck, soldiers! If you have any DUST 514 tips or tricks that you'd like to pass along to other Massively readers, please do so in the comments. Newbie tips to surviving the DUST 514 experience originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Beginner guide, How to earn SP

Massively Speaking Episode 248: Duped! Posted: 14 May 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, MMO Industry, Massively Meta, Massively Speaking, Miscellaneous Sometimes it's all about the little details in MMOs: How a character moves. How to create billions in gold due to a duping exploit. What goodies the collector's edition will include. Why losing 1.3 million subscribers is "no biggie." And we're nothing if not about the details on Massively Speaking! Listen to Bree and Justin fact-check in real-time, racing against the clock to stop a terrorist plot to bring down auction houses everywhere! 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 248: Duped! Massively Speaking Episode 248: Duped! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

SWTOR customization update goes live Posted: 14 May 2013 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Patches, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic With all of the glamor and glitter, fashion and fame coming to Star Wars: The Old Republic these days, it must either be a Jem and the Holograms expansion or Game Update 2.1: Customization. It's the patch that says that it's OK to be a vain, preening peacock as long as you're saving a galaxy far, far away, and it's totally live, like, right now. Update 2.1 includes new dye modules, a collection interface, name changes an appearance editor, and the option to play as a member of the Cathar race. Check out the update trailer after the break! Continue reading SWTOR customization update goes live SWTOR customization update goes live originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Game Update 2.1

NCsoft clarifies stance on Guild Wars 2 expansion Posted: 14 May 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Expansions, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play During the most recent NCsoft earnings call, there was a slightly surprising statement regarding a possible expansion for Guild Wars 2. An NCsoft rep sent Massively an email to clarify what the publisher is thinking in regards to the future of GW2. The statement reads as follows: "In regards to your recent post on a Guild Wars 2 expansion, there is a slight misunderstanding when interpreting the answer from the NCsoft earnings call. We are considering an expansion, but we are taking a wait-and-see stance. We are evaluating the performance of the game and deciding on when would be the best time to launch an expansion. But right now, our living story approach is very successful in keeping players engaged with new and exciting content. Launching boxed expansions are a great way to package content, but if we can do this on a more regular basis, something we've been doing since launch, it provides players with new content to explore and experience every time they log into the game." So if you're trying to categorize this, an expansion to Guild Wars 2 should go in the "maybe, possibly, probably, some day, one day, soon, later, never, ignore the man behind the curtain" column. NCsoft clarifies stance on Guild Wars 2 expansion originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Flameseeker Chronicles: The matter of alts in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 14 May 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles As is no secret, I'm something of an altoholic. This is the case in pretty much every game I play that allows for that sort of thing. If I can make multiple characters, I will. While it's not solely responsible for the longevity of my involvement in MMOs, it sure doesn't hurt. I'm presently sitting at four max characters in Guild Wars 2. That'll turn into five fairly soon, and then I've got plans for another six or seven after that. (For those of you keeping score at home, that does involve having more than one max-level character of the same profession. It's a disease.) Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: The matter of alts in Guild Wars 2 Flameseeker Chronicles: The matter of alts in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 May 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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