General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Kickstarter Games That Raised Over $1 Million

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 05:11 PM PDT

Looking at 15 Kickstarter games that were able to raise over a million dollars

Kickstarter logo

While Kickstarter sounds like an indie game developers dream come true, many games don't end up reaching their goals. That's why we thought we would pay tribute to the 15 titles that were able to break the one million dollar barrier. Not only did all of these games raise more than $1 million, but many of them even doubled and sometimes even tripled their crowd-funding goals. 

In the gallery below, we'll take a brief look at these games, show you how much money they were able to raise, and tell you when you can expect them to be released. We've also tried to incorporate links to their Kickstarter pages so you can see some of the original and often hilarious videos they have employed to meet their goals. 

What's your most anticipated Kickstarter game? Let us know in the comments below!

Humble Bundle: EA Origin Edition

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 04:06 PM PDT

Dead Space 3

Dead Space 3, Crysis 2, Battlefield 3, and more

EA has joined forces with the Humble Bundle crew to offer up an epic bundle of games including several Triple-A titles. This time EA is being a good guy and is giving its share of the proceeds to charitable organizations that include the Human Rights Campaign, Watsi, American Cancer Society, American Red Cross, and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. 

Games offered in the bundle include Dead Space, Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box, Crysis 2: Maximum Edition, Mirrors Edge, Dead Space 3, and Medal of Honor (2010), all of which you can get for donating a dollar or more. If you beat the current average donation of $4.65 then you'll also receive Battlefield 3 and The Sims 3 with DLC Starter Pack. If you add up the retail value of the games included, this Humble Bundle is worth well over $200, making this Humble Bundle one of the most epic bundles ever. Once you've purchased the bundle you'll have the option of redeeming all of these games on Origin, but you can redeem a few of the titles on Steam too. Games redeemable on Steam include Mirrors Edge, Dead Space, and Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box, Medal of Honor (2010), and Crysis 2: Maximum Edition.

Samsung Ativ S Neo Lands at Sprint August 16 for $150

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 12:14 PM PDT

Samsung Ativ S NeoSprint's first Windows Phone 8 smartphone with international roaming

If you head over to Sprint and check out the Windows Phone 8 selection, you'll only find a single device. It's the HTC 8XT with a 4.3-inch display and 800x480. Jonesing for something bigger with a higher res? Samsung's Ativ S Neo will be available on Friday, August 16, for $150 with a new line or eligible upgrade, two-year service agreement, and $50 mail-in-rebate (via reward card).

The Samsung Ativ S Neo is the first Windows Phone 8 device from Sprint with international roaming capabilities. It also boasts a bigger screen than HTC's offering, upping the ante to a 4.8-inch HD 1280x720 display. That's still not as impressive as some of the higher end Android handsets, but it beats 800x480.

It also rocks a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage expandable via a microSD card slot (supports up to 64GB), 1.9MP front-facing camera, 8MP rear-facing camera with LED flash, 3G/4G LTE mobile hotspot capability, NFC support, and a removable 2,000 mAh lithium-ion battery good for up to 14 hours of talk time.

Anyone planning on picking one of these up?

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Microsoft Hit with Class Action Suit for Allegedly Hiding Poor Surface RT Sales From Investors

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 10:08 AM PDT

Surface RT MemeIt was only a matter of time, really

We suppose it was inevitable that a class action lawsuit of some sort would be filed against Microsoft over its handling of Surface RT. If you recall, Microsoft was never very forthcoming about its Surface RT sales figures, waiting until its Q4 2013 earnings report to reveal that Surface RT was essentially a flop, causing the company to take a $900 million charge on unsold inventory. The class action suit filed against Microsoft accuses the company of making misleading statements in regards to its financial performance and Surface RT in particular.

Microsoft still hasn't revealed exactly how many Surface RT tablets it sold, though the company did reveal in a 10-K filing that total Surface revenue was just $853 million, or $47 million less than the charge it took on Surface RT. That doesn't work out to a lot of tablet sales.

"Prior to the beginning of the Class Period, Defendants led the market to believe that Microsoft's launch of Surface RT had been executed in a measured and conservative fashion so that it could observe and understand its progress and outcome," the lawsuit states. "What Defendants knew, but failed to disclose to investors, however, was that Microsoft's foray into the tablet market was an unmitigated disaster, which left it with a large accumulation of excess, over-valued Surface RT inventory."

Surface RT

The lawsuit further states that Surface RT's original $500 price point made it "generally unsalable," further accusing Microsoft of "recklessly" ignoring the market value of its tablet.

What it all boils down to is a bunch of angry investors seeking to recover damages on behalf of all purchasers of Microsoft common stock, with an amount to be determined at trial.

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Oracle's Larry Ellison Accuses Google of Acting "Absolutely Evil" in Handling of Android

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 09:10 AM PDT

Larry EllisonLarry Ellison, head of Oracle, doesn't see eye to eye with Larry Page, head of Google

There remains some bad blood between two very wealthy Larrys, one of which is the CEO and co-founder of Oracle (Larry Ellison) and the other Google's chief and co-founder (Larry Page). The two companies are gearing up for trial in a U.S. appeals court over a lawsuit surrounding Google's Android operating system and Oracle's Java platform, and from Ellison's vantage point, what Google did with Android was downright "evil."

"We just think they took our stuff, and that was wrong," Ellison stated in an interview on CBS This Morning on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

Ellison was asked if he thought Page was evil, and while he avoided saying anything negative about the other Larry, he did say that "I think what they did was absolutely evil."

The dispute originates from Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems in 2010. One of the assets involved in that deal was Java, and according to Oracle, Google's Android platform infringes on several Java patents. A federal judge saw things differently and ultimately ruled in favor of Google last year, leading to Oracle's appeal.

Ellison has a history of launching verbal grenades at rival CEOs, so his comments regarding Larry Page and Google's handling of Android aren't really surprising.

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BitFenix Reengineers Prodigy Chassis to Support Micro ATX Motherboards

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 08:38 AM PDT

BitFenix Prodigy MProdigy chassis reborn as Prodigy M for slightly bigger builds

The boys and girls at BitFenix claim the hardware community has been clamoring for a version of the Prodigy that supports micro ATX motherboards rather than limiting support to mini ITX builds, and so the company answered their collective call with the Prodigy M. The new Prodigy M is a reimagined and reengineered version of the original with the same svelte dimensions, only now you can squeeze a micro ATX motherboard inside and even run with dual graphics cards in CrossFire or SLI, if that's what floats your gaming boat.

Though it's relatively small, you can cram a pretty impressive system inside. In addition to dual graphics cards, it has five PCi slots, support for tower CPU coolers up to 160mm in height, and can accommodate slim water cooling radiators up to 240mm in length. Cooling chores are also aided by up to five 120mm fans.

On the storage front, the Prodigy M has a removable rack that can be outfitted with up to two 3.5-inch HDDs or three 2.5-inch SSDs. The bottom of the chassis holds an additional two 3.5-inch drives and the included SSD rack on the side panel houses up to two more 2.5-inch drives.

BitFenix Prodigy M

The Prodigy M will be on store shelves in October. No word yet on price, though as a point of reference, the original Prodigy sells for about $80 street.

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AMD and Intel Increase Share of Graphics Market in Q2

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 06:48 AM PDT

AMD FusionNvidia stands as odd man out in GPU race

According to newly released data by Jon Peddie Research (JPR), AMD was the big winner in the GPU sweepstakes in the second quarter of 2013, at least in terms of market share growth. AMD bumped up its share of the GPU market to 21.9 percent, a gain of 10.9 percent sequentially, while Intel grew a more modest 6.2 percent sequentially for a 62 percent stranglehold on the market.

Out of the big three, only Nvidia saw a decline in GPU shipments in Q2. Nvidia's share fell 8 percent sequentially to 16.1 percent, the result of a drop in both desktop and mobile discrete shipments.

The advantage AMD and Intel have over Nvidia is that both sell x86 processors with integrated graphics. As such, notebook shipments played a large role in both companies being able to increase their share of the GPU market, especially AMD, which saw APU shipments increase an "astounding" 47.1 percent in notebooks.

"The overall PC market declined 2.5 percent quarter-to-quarter while the graphics market increased 4.6 percent. Overall this net 7.1 percent increase reflects an interest on the part of consumers for double-attach—the adding of a discrete GPU to a system with integrated processor graphics, and to a lesser extent dual AIBs in performance desktop machines," JPR said.

Total discrete GPUs (desktop and notebook) were down 5.5 percent sequentially due to the same problems plaguing the PC industry -- increased interest in tablets and persistent economic slowness.

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Microsoft Announces Two New Keyboard/Mouse Bundles

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 06:12 AM PDT

Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop and Sculpt Comfort Desktop are aimed at uncomfortable office workers

It isn't uncommon for manufacturers to cite survey results and research findings while launching new products and Microsoft did exactly that on Tuesday, making public the results of a recent survey conducted by its own PC Accessories group in order to make its case for a couple of new PC peripheral bundles — the Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop and Sculpt Comfort Desktop.

In its "Healthy Computing" survey, which involved around 5,300 workers across 10 countries,  Microsoft found that as many as 89% experience discomfort on the job (85% in the U.S.) and that this adversely affects both their productivity and health. A large part of the problem, according to the survey, stems from the mice and keyboards that they have to use at work, with less than one in three workers reporting that "their external keyboards (24%) and external mice (29%) are ergonomic."

Microsoft Healthy Computing Survey

So, in order help all these troubled office workers, Microsoft has launched the $79.95 Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop and the $129.95 Sculpt Comfort Desktop, both of which are mouse and keyboard bundles.

Sculpt Comfort Keyboard, which costs $59.95 when bought alone, has a contoured design, detachable palm rest and split space bar with backspace functionality, all of which combine to afford greater comfort to your forearms, wrists and and palms. The Sculpt Comfort Mouse, which usually retails for $39.99, has a right-handed thumb scoop design and features Microsoft's.

The Sculpt Ergonomic Desktop bundle includes the Sculpt Ergonomic Keyboard and the Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse, which retail for $80.95 and $59.95, respectively. The keyboard is best characterized by its split layout "that keeps wrists and forearms in a relaxed position, and a cushioned palm rest that protects against inflammation and repetitive stress injuries." The Sculpt Ergonomic Mouse, as per the official product page, has been designed to "encourage a more natural hand, wrist, and forearm posture."

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Image Credit: Microsoft

Newegg Daily Deals: Toshiba Satellite 15.6-inch Notebook, NZXT Phantom 630 Case, and More!

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 05:47 AM PDT

Toshiba Satellitenewegg logo

Top Deal:

School is almost is session and you need a new notebook for home and research reports. You also like to game during your downtime. Peg two birds with one stone by taking advantage of today's top deal for a Toshiba Satellite S855-S5188 15.6-inch Notebook for $750 with free shipping. It has an Intel Core i7 3630QM processor, 6GB of RAM, 750GB hard drive, and AMD Radeon Hd 7670M graphics. And for a limited time, it comes with a free SteelSeries gaming mouse with purchase.

Other Deals:

WD My Passport 500GB USB 3.0/USB 2.0 Black Portable Hard Drive for $60 with free shipping (normally $70 - use coupon code: [0813BTS14])

NZXT Phantom 630 White Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case for $145 with free shipping (normally $160 - use coupon code: [0813BTS5])

PowerColor AX7950 Radeon HD 7950 Boost State 3GB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card for $230 with free shipping (normally $250 - use coupon code: [HCWPISQ88]; additional $30 Mail-in rebate)

OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W Modular High Performance Power Supply for $77 with free shipping (normally $90 - use coupon code: [APSU15Z]; additional $30 Mail-in rebate)

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Leaderboard: Why do you play MMOs?

Posted: 14 Aug 2013 10:00 AM PDT

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YT-2400 leaving Tatooine
Welcome back to Leaderboard, Massively's completely unscientific weekly polling adventure from which no serious conclusions should ever be drawn.

With that caveat out of the way, I'd like to examine the readership's reasons for playing MMOs in today's column. Whether you're a fan of immersion, progression, playing with other people, or some other MMO-specific angle that I probably haven't thought of, head past the cut and cast your vote. Be sure to leave a comment detailing your reasons if they aren't listed.

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: Why do you play MMOs?

MassivelyLeaderboard: Why do you play MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Choose My Adventure: Dabbling in LotRO's skirmishes

    Posted: 14 Aug 2013 09:00 AM PDT

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    Choose my Adventure Dabbling in LotRO's skirmishes
    This week on Choose My Adventure, I discover skirmishes in Lord of the Rings Online and realize that Turbine invented the MOBA. OK, not really, but I did enjoy the similarities.

    As voted in last week's poll, I dedicated this week to playing in a few skirmishes before I go full-force into Evendim. I dipped my feet in the skirmish waters and then dived back in for more, but was it an entirely positive experience?

    Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dabbling in LotRO's skirmishes

    MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Dabbling in LotRO's skirmishes originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      New ArcheAge video showcases new outfits and riding shotgun

      Posted: 14 Aug 2013 08:30 AM PDT

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      New ArcheAge video showcases new outfits and riding shotgun
      What's better than owning a hot rod to show off to your friends? Why, taking those friends for a spin in it, of course -- even if for no other reason than to increase their envy factor! If there was any question about whether folks could bum a ride on the land like they can the sea in ArcheAge, the newest video sets the record straight. And if you are the type who really pushes your rig to its limits, be prepared to spend some time under the hood for repairs.

      Also highlighted are new outfits, including French maid and butler ensembles as well as leopard-print swimsuits. See them all modeled in the clip after the break. But don't say we didn't warn you about those last few moments.

      Continue reading New ArcheAge video showcases new outfits and riding shotgun

      MassivelyNew ArcheAge video showcases new outfits and riding shotgun originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Diablo III teaser suggests expansion name is Reaper of Souls

      Posted: 14 Aug 2013 08:00 AM PDT

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      Diablo III teaser suggests expansion name is Reaper of Souls
      Yesterday we speculated where Blizzard's recently trademarked name The Dark Below would go -- to a new game or an expansion for Diablo III or World of Warcraft? Well Diablo III appears to be out of the running; according to a teaser page found on the official site, the new title for that expansion is Reaper of Souls. And we already know that Blizzard planned on showing off a new cinematic at Gamescom, so we'll probably have an official reveal of the expansion next week.

      Of course, with Diablo III's expansion named, that leaves The Dark Below still open for other use. Will it belong to WoW, or something new entirely? Only time will tell.

      [Thanks to Sharvis for the tip.]

      MassivelyDiablo III teaser suggests expansion name is Reaper of Souls originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      RaiderZ shutting down in Korea, NA version endures

      Posted: 14 Aug 2013 07:00 AM PDT

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      RaiderZ shutting down in Korea
      RaiderZ just can't catch a break, it seems. Just a few weeks after the title was shuttered in Europe, Neowiz announced that it will be taking the game offline in South Korea next month. The Korean version will go dark on September 24th, and the publisher said that it will be reimbursing cash purchases through October.

      The North American version is still alive and kicking, however, and has released a state of the game post to rally players behind the title. Perfect World said that it's preparing new monsters, zones, dungeons, and loot for the near future. The company also took the opportunity to promote its in-game events, such as GM-run hide-and-seek games.

      MassivelyRaiderZ shutting down in Korea, NA version endures originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: What's your favorite in-game outfit?

      Posted: 14 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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      The Daily Grind What's your favorite ingame outfit
      Every Monday night my cabal meets in The Secret World supposedly to run instances and tough group content. In actuality, we get together to show off whatever new outfit that we've put together over the week and see who looks the most dashing, fashionable, or interesting. Guys and girls alike, we're all suckers for an eye-catching outfit. Of course, I always have the best.

      Visuals almost always mean more to me than stats, which is why I prize a good-looking piece of gear highly. I love MMOs with wardrobe or cosmetic outfit systems, and I'm constantly fiddling with new outfits to see if I can make something that stands out from the crowd.

      So for my fellow fashion fiends, what are your favorite outfits? A description is fine, but bonus points if you can link to a picture!

      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!

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite in-game outfit? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Aug 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Yep, you can have a beer belly in The Repopulation

        Posted: 13 Aug 2013 07:00 PM PDT

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        The Repopulation has a lot of character creation sliders
        Indie sci-fi sandbox The Repopulation may be in closed beta testing, but those of us on the outside can still take a gander at the game's character creation thanks to a six-minute video just released by Above & Beyond Technologies.

        If the clip is any indication, The Repopulation has a healthy amount of sliders, face morphing, and other assorted options to ensure that your avatar isn't a carbon copy of someone else's avatar. The game also eschews the mandatory physical perfection that's usually on display in modern MMOs. In other words, yes, you can have a beer belly and/or a vertically challenged character! Check out the full video after the break.

        [Thanks Dan!]

        Continue reading Yep, you can have a beer belly in The Repopulation

        MassivelyYep, you can have a beer belly in The Repopulation originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Jukebox Heroes: City of Steam's soundtrack

        Posted: 13 Aug 2013 06:00 PM PDT

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        Jukebox Heroes City of Steam's soundtrack
        City of Steam has to be the first MMO soundtrack that I've seen sold prior to the game actually launching. I mean, it's probably happened before, but I can't recall when. In any case, I had a good listen to this steampunk-inspired score months before its launch, but its lack of a presence on YouTube kept me from writing it up.

        Enter Composer Daniel Sadowski, who emailed me asking why I hadn't covered his soundtrack yet. I was like, "Well, it's not on YouTube," and he was like, "Well it is now," and I was like, "I saw Ferris pass out at 31 flavors last night." True story.

        I'm glad he did because this is a surprisingly decent score. With many browser-based MMOs, it might be easy to dismiss the music with the same wave of the hand that some dismiss the game itself, but that would be a shame. There's a lot of passion and ingenuity at work here. Let's listen!

        Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: City of Steam's soundtrack

        MassivelyJukebox Heroes: City of Steam's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Soapbox: Gaming addiction isn't about games

          Posted: 13 Aug 2013 05:00 PM PDT

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          It's better not to feel it.
          When I was 21, I was miserable. I was stuck in a long-distance relationship with someone I couldn't trust and could barely see, I was stuck with no real career opportunities, and I had my entire lifestyle ripped away from me unexpectedly. I felt like I was willing to climb, but I didn't see any handholds out of the pit I was stuck in. The only thing I looked forward to was the end of the day, when I could crawl into a game and let my actual day-to-day life evaporate into memory.

          I wasn't an addict. Barely.

          This isn't a plea for sympathy; all of this happened years ago, and it's not where I am now. Things got better. This is a talk that we need to have about addiction because the few times that addiction gets brought up, it's addressed by people who seem to have only the vaguest grasp of the games involved. Addiction isn't a result of game mechanics or playstyles or subscription formats or anything else. It's a result of people.

          Continue reading The Soapbox: Gaming addiction isn't about games

          MassivelyThe Soapbox: Gaming addiction isn't about games originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            See 13 minutes of epic Final Fantasy XIV footage in this new trailer

            Posted: 13 Aug 2013 04:00 PM PDT

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            Here are some FFXIV chocobos
            If you're on the fence about Final Fantasy XIV, or heck, even if you're already a fan, you'll probably want to check out an epic new promotional trailer that shows off just about everything you need to know about the reboot known as A Realm Reborn.

            There is a catch, and it is that the entire 13-minute video is in Japanese. Still, you can get glimpses of the game's character creation, crafting, job system, armory, and more. See for yourself after the cut!

            [Thanks tipsters!]

            Continue reading See 13 minutes of epic Final Fantasy XIV footage in this new trailer

            MassivelySee 13 minutes of epic Final Fantasy XIV footage in this new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Serpent Men abound in Age of Conan's new Dragon Spine dungeon

            Posted: 13 Aug 2013 03:00 PM PDT

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            Serpent Men abound in Age of Conan's new Dragon Spine dungeon
            Age of Conan updates have slowed somewhat since Funcom restructured itself over the past year, but the dev team is still adding new stuff to its rendition of Robert E. Howard's Hyboria. The latest patch features a new dungeon called Coils of Ubah Kan which offers a "brutal challenge" for six-man groups along with appropriate loot and rewards.

            The instance is part of AoC's Dragon's Spine content, which became the title's second adventure pack when it released in early January, 2013. Players must fight their way into the ancient underground city of the Serpent Men in order to complete the new dungeon. Funcom says that "even more content will come to this area in the near future."

            [Source: Funcom press release]

            MassivelySerpent Men abound in Age of Conan's new Dragon Spine dungeon originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 election postmortem

              Posted: 13 Aug 2013 02:00 PM PDT

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              Attack of the 50-foot Kiel
              We were young. We were trusting. We didn't understand the power we wielded. When the voting booths closed and the last ballots were cast, a dark portal yawned wide in Lion's Arch, unleashing the terrible titan version of candidate Ellen Kiel upon the unsuspecting Guild Wars 2 playerbase. ArenaNet didn't see fit to warn us of the true consequences of the Cutthroat Politics update, but at least we can take some comfort in the fact that Evon Gnashblade didn't win the election. He's got claws. And really pointy teeth.

              Fortunately, the citizens of Tyria have been distracted from their inevitable doom by the current Queen's Jubilee patch, which is showering us with loot in the manner of a quenching summer rain. I'm the kind of person who will happily farm for multiple hours if given the opportunity, but I'm going to try to drag my hollow eyes from the slaughter long enough to talk about how the previous living story chapter was a great experiment in evolving the world of GW2 -- and how it didn't quite hit the mark.

              Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 election postmortem

              MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 election postmortem originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                SOE Live 2013 recapped in just two minutes

                Posted: 13 Aug 2013 01:30 PM PDT

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                SOE Live
                SOE Live 2013 was a blur of tournaments, panels, announcements, and keynotes. It brought news for games like PlanetSide 2, Vanguard, Free Realms, Dragon's Prophet, and DC Universe Online, along with the industry-shaking reveal of EverQuest Next.

                In other words, it was kind of a big deal. And you can see what it was like to be there in person by watching the two-minute recap video just released by SOE. Check it out after the break, and feel free to browse back through our coverage for in-depth looks at everything that was on display.

                Continue reading SOE Live 2013 recapped in just two minutes

                MassivelySOE Live 2013 recapped in just two minutes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Robots by the dozen: 12v12 goes live in MechWarrior Online

                Posted: 13 Aug 2013 01:00 PM PDT

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                MechWarrior Online
                If you've played MechWarrior Online and thought to yourself, "This is fun and all, but I wish there were even more giant robots shooting my face off," today's news from Piranha Games might be what you've been waiting to hear. The studio announced that 12v12 battles are now live on MWO servers, bringing new strategies and opportunities for sharp tactical minds.

                Along with 12v12 matches comes a new hero mech by the name of Golden Boy and the Terra Therma map. Terra Therma is a volatile environment that features tectonic and volcanic activity that must be considered when developing attack and defense plans.

                MechWarrior Online is still in "beta," set for release on September 17th. In the meantime, check out the new game mode and mech in the trailers after the break.

                [Source: Piranha Games press release]

                Continue reading Robots by the dozen: 12v12 goes live in MechWarrior Online

                MassivelyRobots by the dozen: 12v12 goes live in MechWarrior Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  The Elder Scrolls Online plans to update early and often

                  Posted: 13 Aug 2013 12:30 PM PDT

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                  At least you'll have quantity.
                  Players will be waiting until next year for The Elder Scrolls Online, but the development team is already looking to the post-launch environment. Creative director Paul Sage has stated that the team wants to have new content coming out for the game on a frequent basis. Sage emphasizes that players should always feel that something new and exciting is just around the corner, considering that many players will be chewing through launch content with lightning speed.

                  The game's story will also be expanded post-release. A conclusion for the main story will be present in the game on release, but Sage states that it's simply a springboard into something bigger and better for the future. When asked about launch dates, Sage stated that the team cannot promise simultaneous release on all platforms, although the current target date for all incarnations of the game is spring of 2014.

                  MassivelyThe Elder Scrolls Online plans to update early and often originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Czerka dailies, the F2P experiment, and sitting in chairs

                  Posted: 13 Aug 2013 12:00 PM PDT

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                  Hyperspace Beacon SWTOR nuna nuggets from Czerka dailies, F2P experiment, and sitting in chairs
                  Commenters and followers of my work have asked about multiple things over the last couple of weeks. When are you going to finish the free-to-play experiment? Are you going to do a monetary breakdown of the new Star Wars: The Old Republic daily zone? What do you think about the sitting-in-chairs news revealed at the cantina tour? The unfortunate bit about all of those questions is that the answers are far too short to make up their own article and far too long to answer on Twitter. So I've decided to answer all of these questions in one hodgepodge of an article that I'm calling nuna nuggets.

                  Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Czerka dailies, the F2P experiment, and sitting in chairs

                  MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Czerka dailies, the F2P experiment, and sitting in chairs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Curt Schilling discusses life after 38 Studios

                    Posted: 13 Aug 2013 11:30 AM PDT

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                    Yeah.
                    There's not a lot of love in the gaming world for Curt Schilling. The closure of 38 Studios that left the state of Rhode Island with a $75 million debt and hundreds of people out of jobs has colored perceptions. A recent piece from the Boston Globe takes a look at Schilling with a slightly gentler approach, discussing the heart attack he suffered eight months prior to the studio's closure and the stress he's felt over the failure.

                    Schilling once again puts the blame for what happened at the feet of Governor Lincoln Chafee, who he claims failed to help 38 Studios when assistance was required. The article goes into more depth discussing the many assets from Schilling's baseball career that were auctioned off to pay damages, as well as his retirement from public life in favor of coaching his daughter's softball team. Those still interested in the fallout can take a look at the full article for more perspectives from both Schilling and his wife.

                    MassivelyCurt Schilling discusses life after 38 Studios originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    First Defiance add-on content launches August 20th [Updated with trailer]

                    Posted: 13 Aug 2013 11:00 AM PDT

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                    Defiance
                    Trion Worlds announced today that the Castithan Charge Pack, Defiance's first big content addition, is primed for release. The pack includes a new playable species, new story missions, new weapons, and new game modes, with some content available even for those players who elect not to purchase it.

                    Free content includes new charge weapons, sieges, a PvP map, duels, and the Monolith Major Arkfall, while the playable Castithan race, a horde mode arena, unique four-passenger truck and new achievements/trophies will be available only to purchasers. Other small tweaks include a new chat window and enhanced map.

                    The Castithan Charge Pack launches on August 20th for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC, and is priced at $9.99/800 Microsoft Points. Season pass owners will receive the add-on as part of their subscription.

                    If you're curious about this first batch of DLC, be sure to check out our preview from E3 2013. We've also tucked the new trailer behind the break -- thanks to Gaius for that tip!

                    [Source: Trion Worlds press release]

                    Continue reading First Defiance add-on content launches August 20th [Updated with trailer]

                    MassivelyFirst Defiance add-on content launches August 20th [Updated with trailer] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Aug 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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