General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


MSI's GeForce GTX 780 Lightning Strikes at Titan for $750

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 03:35 PM PDT

MSI GeForce GTX 780 LightningTitan-like performance for less money

Before you go spending a grand or more on Nvidia's GeForce GTX Titan graphics card, you should take a close look at MSI's new GeForce GTX 780 Lightning. This is one hell of a beastly card with MSI's "Triple Force Architecture", dual BIOSes, overclocked specifications, and a 20-phase (16+3+1) power design in case you want to goose clockspeeds even further. It also features MSI's Military Class 4 components.

The card itself features a GK110-300-A2 GPU with 2,304 CUDA cores, 192 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. MSI bumped the GPU to 980MHz stock and 1,033MHz boost, up from 863MHz and 900MHz, respectively, from Nvidia's reference design. The 3GB of GDDR5 memory runs at 1,502MHz (6GHz effective) on a 384-bit bus.

Even though the card comes factory overclocked, it was built for tweaking. Along with the 20-phase power VRM, you'll find a next generation MOSFET and DrMOS 4, which is a 3-in-1 chip tha delivers more power with less components needed. Toss in the three-fan TriFrozr cooler and you have all the ingredients of a card that "gives you the power to break world records," wccftech.com gushes.

MSI GeForce GTX 780 Lightning Card

At $750 MSRP, the MSI GeForce GTX 780 Lightning is the most expensive GTX 780 around. At the same time, reviews on the web have it performing within striking distance of Titan, which sells for $1,000 or more.

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BitFenix Wants You to Hide Your PC Parts in a Shadow

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 11:33 AM PDT

BitFenix ShadowLong graphics card can lurk in the Shadow

BitFenix is adding a new case to its lineup that will be available to purchase in the fall. It's the Shadow, and like several other BitFenix enclosures, it features the company's SoftTouch surface treatment. The Shadow is a mid-tower chassis measuring 190mm (W) by 440mm (H) x 506mm (D), or 7.4 inches by 17.3 inches by 19.9 inches with support for ATX, micro ATX, and mini ITX motherboards.

The Shadow is supposed to represent a trifecta of style, functionality, and value. It has a magnetic door that hides away three 5.25-inch optical drive bays. On the bottom of the door is an LED accent that can glow blue or red, or you can turn it off with the press of a button on the I/O panel.

Other features in the Shadow include support for up to seven 3.5-inch drives, a single 2.5-inch drive bay, USB 3.0 support, and seven PCI slots. The case can fit graphics cards up to 320mm (12.59 inches) in length and CPU coolers up to 165mm (6.49 inches) in height.

BitFenix Shadow Front

Cooling is handled by four 120mm fan locations, including two in the front, one on the bottom, and one in the rear. Two 120mm Spectre fans come pre-installed.

The Shadow will be available in October. No word yet on price.

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AMD, Mixamo Bring Real Time Facial Capture Technology to Unity Developers

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 10:58 AM PDT

Face PlusStandard webcam and AMD APU is all that's needed

AMD on Thursday announced that it's collaborating with Mixamo on the launch of Face Plus, an advanced real-time motion capture and 3D facial animation technology for the Unity game engine. The Face Plus plug-in for Unity allows developers to capture facial expressions through ordinary webcams and then transfer those images onto a 3D character using technology powered by AMD A-Series APUs and GPUs.

The technology was developed for devices that support OpenCL 1.1 or newer versions. It captures motion at full camera frame rates, up to 42 frames per second on a system powered by an AMD A10-4600M APU. That represents a 13X performance improvement compared to using CPU processing alone, AMD says.

"AMD is impressed with the results Mixamo has achieved in optimizing its technology and is excited not only about the capabilities it brings to Unity developers today, but also the potential it could bring to new consumer applications," said Manju Hegde, corporate vice president, Heterogeneous Solutions at AMD. "Thanks to incredible OpenCL performance, broad availability, and the capability of AMD APU and GPU solutions across PC form factors, Unity developers can enjoy a much more streamlined development process, allowing their creativity to flow with technology so powerful it recedes into the background without interrupting the creative process."

Real-time motion capture of facial expressions is already available as a development tool for content creation, but in the future, AMD and Mixamo envision it being used in consumer software applications like video games (animate avatars in real-time) and video conferencing.

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What are the Odds Bill Gates Returns to Microsoft as CEO?

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 09:34 AM PDT

Bill GatesDon't bet on it

Microsoft needs a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), that much we know. What we don't know is who will take the baton from Steve Ballmer and run with it. Having announced his retirement, the search is on for a replacement to be named within the next 12 months, and one of the names being tossed about is Bill Gates. Might he actually make a comeback and give this thing another go?

"No chance," a senior executive at the company said, according to Business Insider. In no uncertain terms, the news outlet was told there is "no way" Gates assumes his old role no matter what happens in the next 12 months. Of course, stranger things have happened.

Steve Jobs came back after a decade-long hiatus and served as CEO of Apple for 36 months. It would have been longer, too, had health issues not cut his time short. Should Gates change his mind, he wouldn't necessarily have to stay on as CEO as long as Jobs did, but could serve as an interim chief long enough to right the ship.

"There is no clear candidate with the visionary skills to turn the company around other than Bill Gates," Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff told CNET. "He wouldn't just be a magnet for a new vision, but for a talent pool of leadership."

Microsoft

It's an interesting vote of confidence from a man who once called Microsoft a "dinosaur" for "trying to hold onto their past more than trying to create their future." Benioff made those remarks in 2008 before Gates retired. However, he believes Gates is a different person these days.

"He could come back with new ways to run the company, let Melinda run the charitable foundation, make changes and identify the next to come, with a clear window of three years," Beinoff proposes.

What do you think? Should Gates considering coming out of retirement on an interim basis, or is it time to infuse Microsoft with some fresh blood?

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Digital Storm's HydroLux Cooler Debuts on Gaming Desktops

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 09:00 AM PDT

HydroLux DesktopLiquid cooling with a twist

Boutique system builder Digital Storm today introduced its HydroLux desktop cooling solution that combines liquid and air with fully customizable control software. The specialized software monitors your setup for heat fluctuations and adjusts itself accordingly in real time, though you can always take manual control of the situation if you need additional cooling or want to run quiet.

"We work hard to differentiate the Digital Storm brand by engineering powerful systems that meet our customer's high performance demands," said Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm's Director of Product Development. "HydroLux delivers on that promise by providing an industry leading cooling solution that can be fully customized to meet each user's unique needs."

HydroLux Software

Users also have control over their system's LED lighting through the HydroLux software. For example, you can configure the LEDs to fade to blue as a system cools down and ramp up to red when the temperature rises.

The liquid cooler itself has a high flow pump capable of moving as much as 300 gallons of fluid per hour. It also features quick disconnects to make it easier to service or upgrade without having to dismantle the entire cooling system, Digital Storm says.

HydroLux cooling setups are available immediately on Digital Storm's systems.

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Nvidia May Pull Two More Graphics Cards From Its Hat in 2013

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 08:49 AM PDT

Nvidia GeForce GTX TitanAdd "GeForce GTX Titan Ultra" to your holiday wish list (just in case)

Nvidia hasn't said whether or not more video cards are on tap for 2013, but would anyone really be surprised if there were? You shouldn't be. The holiday shopping season is still several months away and rumor has it Nvidia may end the year with a bang by launching a high-end model such as the GeForce GTX 790. The GTX 790 could end up being a Titan Ultra card or it could be a graphics card with dual GK110 GPUs.

If it's a dual-GPU, expect a price tag in the neighborhood of $1,000, which is about par for course when dealing with these ultra-high end parts. Obviously not everyone has that kind of money to throw around on a single component, so it's also possible Nvidia will launch some lower end models, including rebranded GK104/106 parts and GK208 entry-level cards, Videocardz.com surmises.

As we head into 2014, Videocardz.com claims it was told by a manufacturer that Nvidia will release its Maxwell Series early in the year, which is sooner than expected.

"It is expected that GeForce 800 series will arrive in the first quarter of 2014, somewhere between February and March. What it basically means is that the chances for 20nm process are low," Videocardz.com says. "Of course Nvidia could already have first 20nm samples sooner than that, but TSMC will not be ready for mass production till June 2014."

Should Maxwell be based on a 20nm process, there would likely be a shortage of cards.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Storage Wars Galore Edition

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 06:09 AM PDT

Seagate Hybrid Solid State Drivenewegg logo

Top Deal:

Now that summer break is over and you've plopped your camera's vacation photos onto your system, did you leave any space for school documents? Don't worry if you didn't, we have several storage deals on tap, including one for a Seagate 2TB Desktop Solid State Hybrid Drive for $140 with free shipping. Seagate paired 8GB of NAND flash memory (plus a 64MB cache buffer) with 2TB to offer the best of both worlds (speed and capacity).

Other Deals:

Seagate 1TB MLC/8GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s NCQ 3.5" Desktop Solid State Hybrid Drive for $100 with free shipping

Western Digital WD VelociRaptor 300GB 10000 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive for $90 with free shipping (normally $140 - use coupon code: [LABORDAY6])

WD My Passport 2TB USB 3.0/USB 2.0 Black Portable Hard Drive for $120 with free shipping (normally $150 - use coupon code: [LABORDAY11])

OCZ Vector Series 2.5" 128GB SATA III MLC for $80 with free shipping

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Wizard101 gives away presents for its birthday

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 10:00 AM PDT

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Wizard101 gives away presents for its birthday
Happy birthday Wizard101! Starting today, the magical kid-friendly title celebrates turning five years old by offering gifts to players. Besides a confetti cannon to put in their houses, players will also receive other mystery gifts based on how old their accounts are; the longer you've been a Wizard101 player, the more gifts you'll receive!

But why have a birthday when you can have a birth month? The festivities will continue all through September. Until the 30th, there will be decorations throughout Wizard City and special sales in the Crown Shop. Additionally, five new hairstyles and a brand now mount, the Arcus Cloud, are also available.

MassivelyWizard101 gives away presents for its birthday originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Aug 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dragon's Prophet unleashes second SUPER METAL trailer

Posted: 29 Aug 2013 09:30 AM PDT

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Dragon's Prophet unleashes second SUPER METAL trailer
Want to be truly metal? We mean, really Super Metal? The secret to that is: more dragons! Dragon's Prophet released its second #SUPERMETAL trailer today, dubbed Living Metal! In it, players can watch the journey from n00b to Super Metal. Besides the type of music you'd expect (heavy, duh!), Living Metal also offers other tips and hints on how to improve your metal lifestyle in game.

Experience it all for yourself in the video after the break. And if you are in the Seattle area over the weekend, stop by Dragon's Prophet's PAX Prime 2013 booth (#3336), during expo hours to play the game, chat with devs, and win some swag.

[Source: Dragon's Prophet press release]

Continue reading Dragon's Prophet unleashes second SUPER METAL trailer

MassivelyDragon's Prophet unleashes second SUPER METAL trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Aug 2013 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Ten features Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn needs ASAP

    Posted: 29 Aug 2013 09:00 AM PDT

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    Screenshot -- Final Fantasy XIV
    It's been a long, agonizing wait for die-hard fans of Final Fantasy XIV, but A Realm Reborn finally launched this week. And as with just about any major MMO launch, sheer chaos has ensued. But that's not what I'm here to talk about (though I'm sure someone in the comments will do it for me).

    I'm a big sucker for quality-of-life features in MMOs because as far as I'm concerned, anything that reduces tedium and allows me to focus on the game itself is definitely a good thing. While the folks over at Square Enix have certainly worked wonders bringing Final Fantasy XIV in line with modern MMO design, things still aren't quite perfect. If you've got the time -- and let's face it, the servers are probably under maintenance as you read this -- I'd love for you to join me past the cut as I dish on the 10 features I'd like to added to FFXIV: A Realm Reborn.

    Continue reading Ten features Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn needs ASAP

    MassivelyTen features Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn needs ASAP originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Aug 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      John Smedley takes to Reddit to answer SOE layoff questions

      Posted: 29 Aug 2013 08:30 AM PDT

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      Smed answers SOE layoff questions on his reddit
      In response to the question about how the recent SOE layoffs will affect PlanetSide 2, CEO John Smedley took to Reddit with a few answers. He specifically stated that layoffs will not impact the development of the MMOFPS and that there is still a large team working on it, even though some from that team were let go. "It won't impact the game because we have other people who are going to take the load over. Simple as that... We carefully planned and are distributing tasks appropriately to other people on the team." Smedley also dismissed the idea that devs were let go because of the integration of Player Studio as absurd.

      What about the other games in SOE's portfolio? Smedley announced that a full status report on all games is planned for next week.

      MassivelyJohn Smedley takes to Reddit to answer SOE layoff questions originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Aug 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Dragon Con 2013: A guide to the MMO track

      Posted: 29 Aug 2013 08:00 AM PDT

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      Dragon Con 2013 A guide to the MMO track
      This year marks the 27th year of the Dragon Con fan convention, and since it's the largest gathering of its type in the world, we know quite a few of you will be attending this year. So we're rounding up some important info on the conference and its MMORPG track to help you make the most of your experience. Let's go!

      Continue reading Dragon Con 2013: A guide to the MMO track

      MassivelyDragon Con 2013: A guide to the MMO track originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Aug 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        SMITE introduces Zhong Kui, tweaks Guan Yu

        Posted: 29 Aug 2013 07:30 AM PDT

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        SMITE introduces Zhong Kui, tweaks Guan Yu
        It's time for another SMITE update, and you guessed it, Hi-Rez has introduced a new god to its mythology-based MOBA. Zhong Kui, otherwise known as The Demon Queller, is version 0.1.1705's big kahuna.

        His Demon Bag passive allows him to capture demons and gain protection from each subjugated spirit. Zhong Kui also features a DoT called Expose Evil and a couple of other nifty skills that you can view in the video we've embedded after the cut.

        SMITE's latest patch also features significant updates for Guan Yu, including a new 3-D model, effects, animations, and art. Full details are available via the patch notes below.

        Continue reading SMITE introduces Zhong Kui, tweaks Guan Yu

        MassivelySMITE introduces Zhong Kui, tweaks Guan Yu originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Aug 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Wargaming's Unified Premium Account goes live

        Posted: 29 Aug 2013 07:00 AM PDT

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        Wargaming's Unified Premium Account goes live
        Wargaming has announced today the official launch of its Unified Premium Account, connecting players across all current and future Wargaming titles.

        The service, currently live in World of Tanks and World of Warplanes, allows players to pay for all premium services at once, with the added benefit of an increased experience and credit accrual rate in-game.

        You can look for more information on the Unified Premium Account on Wargaming's main page.

        [Source: Wargaming press release]

        MassivelyWargaming's Unified Premium Account goes live originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Aug 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Daily Grind: What's the worst (and best) MMO launch you've experienced?

          Posted: 29 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT

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          The mighty turtle head
          So I finally got to log onto the Balmung server in Final Fantasy XIV yesterday afternoon. I'd been trying off and on for a couple of days, only to be thwarted by the 1017 monster. I dusted off my 1.0 character, went through the brief tutorial, and set about exploring the city of Ul'dah and oohing and ahhing over the newest AAA MMO.

          Maybe it's because I'm getting old, but FFXIV's launch problems really didn't bother me. It's not the best I've ever witnessed, that's for sure, but I've seen far, far worse. What about you, Massively readers? What's the worst MMO launch you've experienced? How about the best?

          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 the worst (and best) MMO launch you've experienced? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 29 Aug 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Free for All: My top four MMOs for relaxation

            Posted: 28 Aug 2013 06:00 PM PDT

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            Wurm Online screenshot
            Say you come home from a long day's work, dreaming about the vacation that you've yet to take and how nice it would be to turn off your brain for a while, to kick back and watch the wide world walk by. Unfortunately, vacations cost a pile of money. You have to pay someone to watch the dogs and water your plants and work is a real pain about letting you out of the shackles even for a week.

            The good news is that much of the benefit of vacation comes from the mental release. Sure, nothing beats the real, true feeling of pressing your toes into warm water and sand, but it can be fun and relaxing to visit virtual worlds, to take in virtual sights and sounds. MMOs are perfect for blowing off some steam, for taking a moment to realize just how nice it is to have access to such landscapes from the comfort of your desk.

            Here are some of my favorite virtual worlds that bring on that feeling of relaxation.

            Continue reading Free for All: My top four MMOs for relaxation

            MassivelyFree for All: My top four MMOs for relaxation originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Part one of Xsyon's resource patch released

              Posted: 28 Aug 2013 04:00 PM PDT

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              Here is a collage of screenshots from Xsyon
              Indie sandbox MMO Xsyon is still alive and kicking, and it's even getting an updated resource distribution system. Developer Notorious Games has localized scavenged materials, increased rares in high danger areas, and even added new crafting materials to the post-apocalyptic game world.

              Xyson is free-to-play, and the game is also looking for your support on Steam's Greenlight initiative. You can see the game's latest update notes via the official website links below.

              MassivelyPart one of Xsyon's resource patch released originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Government bans female League of Legends characters at Iranian tourney

              Posted: 28 Aug 2013 03:30 PM PDT

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              Government bans female League of Legends characters at Iranian tourney
              League of Legends players will be short a few fighters at Iran's World Cyber Games tournament that's scheduled to begin on September 12th. The Iranian government has its knickers in a knot over some of the MOBA's more scantily clad femme fatales, and so tourney participants will have to do without the services of champions including Ahri, Miss Fortune, Lulu, and dozens of others.

              Kotaku reports that WGC Iran may be forced to shut down the tournament altogether if it doesn't comply with the ban, though it's worth noting that a few female avatars are "under consideration for tournament play."

              MassivelyGovernment bans female League of Legends characters at Iranian tourney originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              The Art of Wushu: Talking Mount Hua with Age of Wushu's Peter Kang

              Posted: 28 Aug 2013 02:00 PM PDT

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              The Art of Wushu Talking with Snail's Peter Kang about Mount Hua
              A day or two after writing about the Mount Hua expansion last time, I had the chance to sit down with community manager Peter Kang -- better known to the Age of Wushu playerbase as Earthquake -- and talk about the various changes in the expansion.

              We had a fairly long talk. Like true wuxia fanboys, we derailed quite a bit to talk about Legend of Condor Heroes, but we discussed where Wushu is, where Snail would like it to go, and the relationship between Snail USA and the dev team in China. It was pretty enlightening because he clearly plays the game and is acutely aware of the impact the company's decisions has on players.

              Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Talking Mount Hua with Age of Wushu's Peter Kang

              MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: Talking Mount Hua with Age of Wushu's Peter Kang originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                SOE suffers a 'reduction in workforce' [Updated]

                Posted: 28 Aug 2013 01:25 PM PDT

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                SOE - PS2
                SOE has just announced layoffs to an undetermined number of presumably MMO-related staff. Head of community management Brasse confirmed earlier rumors on the EverQuest II official forums:
                Today we announced a reduction in our workforce at SOE. As a company, our goal is to focus on our core expertise of MMO games and as part of these efforts, we had to make the difficult decision to eliminate positions to help reduce costs, streamline our employee base and strategically align resources towards our current portfolio of games and upcoming slate of MMOs, including EverQuest Next Landmark and EverQuest Next. We deeply value our employees and are grateful for all they've contributed to our company and games. They will be missed by colleagues and friends, and we wish them well in the future.
                We have contacted SOE for clarification on which MMOs are impacted by these layoffs and will update when we know more.

                [Thanks to Jeremy for the tip.]

                [Update: While SOE has declined to officially comment further, an unnamed Gamasutra source claims "the layoffs affect both its San Diego and Austin offices." SOE president John Smedley tweeted his condolences, posting, "Sorry to say that we did have layoffs. We're still moving forward with all our current games and games in development including EverQuest Next and other unannounced titles. The people who got laid off are very good people. Very sorry this happened. Layoffs suck. These are really, really good people who don't deserve this."]

                MassivelySOE suffers a 'reduction in workforce' [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Leaderboard: What's your platform of choice for ESO?

                Posted: 28 Aug 2013 01:00 PM PDT

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                The Elder Scrolls Online - Eastmarch concept art
                The Elder Scrolls Online is coming. It's coming to your PC, and somewhat surprisingly -- to me at least -- it's also coming to your Xbone and your PlayStation 4.

                I've been a fan of the IP since I played through Morrowind in 2002, but aside from an impulse bargain bin buy of Oblivion for the 360 -- which I'd already beaten on a PC -- I've never really experienced Tamriel on a console. It just seemed like a waste, you know? Some of the most epic moments in my personal Elder Scrolls scrapbook were possible only thanks to community mods, and those are of course impossible sans a PC.

                Clearly there's a big audience for consolized Elder Scrolls titles, though. And I'm curious if any Massively commenters will be picking up the Elder Scrolls MMO for something other than a PC. Vote 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 your platform of choice for ESO?

                MassivelyLeaderboard: What's your platform of choice for ESO? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Project Titan: A brief history of a game that doesn't exist

                  Posted: 28 Aug 2013 12:00 PM PDT

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                  Project Titan
                  For the last several years, the MMO community has been abuzz with rumors regarding Blizzard Entertainment's Project Titan. Long reported to be a brand-new MMO based on an entirely original intellectual property, Titan was a top-secret project discussed only through occasional interviews, job postings, and hearsay. No footage ever slipped through the cracks; no early alpha build accidentally leaked to the web.

                  Unfortunately, Project Titan as we knew it is no more. Rumors broke in May that development on the project had been restarted from scratch, and Blizzard offered comments that didn't so much as confirm those rumors as lend them a hefty amount of credence. Now it seems as though whatever we might have known about Titan may no longer apply, and whatever Blizzard had created so far may never see the light of day.

                  With that in mind, let's take a little adventure through the rumorsphere and look back on the history of Project Titan and the stories surrounding it.

                  Continue reading Project Titan: A brief history of a game that doesn't exist

                  MassivelyProject Titan: A brief history of a game that doesn't exist originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Raptr revives RIFT rewards, Defiance discount

                    Posted: 28 Aug 2013 11:00 AM PDT

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                    Raptr revives RIFT rewards
                    Back in March, Trion partnered with Raptr to introduce a four-tiered reward system to help revitalize RIFT. Three months later, another reward incentive gave folks in-game armor, an exclusive mount, and a special Raptr pet. And now, it's time for another bout of rewards! Raptr has revived those very June rewards for RIFT, offering once again the armor, mount, and pet to those who join the community.

                    The rewards, however, don't end with RIFT. Raptr has also revived the Defiance rewards (30% off the game) and added exclusive limited access to the alpha version of End of Nations.

                    [Source: Raptr press release]

                    [Update: Trion has let us know that part or all of this morning's press release may have been in error. Stand by for clarification from the source!]

                    MassivelyRaptr revives RIFT rewards, Defiance discount originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      MMORPG News

                      MMORPG News


                      Mabinogi: Iria Saga Episode 9 Fate’s Design: The Stand

                      Posted: 27 Aug 2013 06:36 PM PDT

                      Iria Saga Episode 9 Fate

                      In Episode Nine - Fate's Design: The Stand, Ruairi chooses to join Tarlach, because Tarlach can bring Triona back with Ruairi's help. The Human/Giant/Elf alliance draws up plans to attack Renes, and decides to launch diversionary attacks to allow the player, Shamala, and Akule to sneak in. Odran draws off the White Dragon, Maike draws the Cessair, and Dowra takes on Ruairi. The player finds Millia in Renes, bound to the Lia Fail artifact. To free her, the player destroys the artifact.

                      Arcane Legends: Saving the Sorcerer's Homeland

                      Posted: 27 Aug 2013 05:15 PM PDT

                      Saving the Sorcerer

                      A brand new update to Arcane Legends is anticipated to go live on Thursday, August 29th and will charge players with saving the Sorcerer's Homeland. The patch will also feature new quests and items as well as a level cap increase to 36.

                      EverQuest Next: Building a Better AI

                      Posted: 27 Aug 2013 05:08 PM PDT

                      Building a Better AI

                      The Storybricks team is working hand-in-hand with the EverQuest Next team to design the AI that will control the game when it is released. Recently, participated in an interview with EQ Nexus to talk more about what Storybricks is and how it came about. It's a fascinating interview that gives a lot of insight into the innovative process.

                      General: SOE Layoffs Announced

                      Posted: 28 Aug 2013 02:54 PM PDT

                      SOE Layoffs Announced

                      Sony Online Entertainment's Linda Brasse has announced via her Twitter account that layoffs have happened at the game developer and publisher. The exact number and which studios are affected is not clear. We will keep you posted on this developing story.

                      Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: Great Game, Poor Service Part One

                      Posted: 28 Aug 2013 01:03 AM PDT

                      Great Game, Poor Service Part One

                      Today's MMOs are services as much as they are games, and the quality of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn's service thus far is completely at odds with the quality of the game we received. This week, we break down the service aspect in part one of a two part series.

                      General: Subscription vs Free To Play

                      Posted: 26 Aug 2013 05:12 PM PDT

                      Subscription vs Free To Play

                      Welcome back to another edition of Player Versus Player. This is the column where MMORPG.com writers collide and debate the topics you care about. It's easy to get drowned out arguing on forums and sub-reddits, so we step to the podium to represent your side of the issue before turning it over to you in the comments. Ready for another spirited debate? See what our combatants think of the ever-present subscription vs free to play issue before leaving your thoughts in the commments.

                      Guild Wars 2: Mike O’Brien - One Year Later

                      Posted: 28 Aug 2013 08:56 AM PDT

                      Mike O

                      It's been a year since Guild Wars 2 was released and what a year it's been. We caught up with Mike O'Brien to reflect on GW2's first year and what the future holds. Read on!

                      General: Looking to Start a Revival

                      Posted: 26 Aug 2013 05:01 PM PDT

                      Looking to Start a Revival

                      Kedhrin Gonzalez Creative Director at Illfonic and his team are creating something unique with Revival. We managed to catch up to Kedhrin to talk about Revival and what it means to him and to the entire team. See what he has to say before heading to the comments to talk about it.

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