| The Road to Mordor: The Helm's Deep info avalanche continues Posted: 21 Sep 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Free-to-Play, The Road to Mordor Holy moly do we ever have a lot to talk about! For whatever reason, Turbine's been holding onto all of this information about Helm's Deep and then decided to push it all out at once a couple of months prior to the expansion's release. As such, I'm seeing Lord of the Rings Online fans scurry all over the place trying to soak up the news and make sense of it all. It's been... interesting, to say the least. LotRO's in for a packed fall, no matter whether you're feeling psyched, depressed, confused, or anything else in the emotional rainbow. I'm right there with the rest of you, sorting and analyzing. All I can say right now is that (a) I'm welcoming of new content for the game and (b) I've given up trying to predict Turbine. I mean, after it broke with its "[something] of [place]" naming convention, all bets were off, folks. Madness must ensue. Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The Helm's Deep info avalanche continues  The Road to Mordor: The Helm's Deep info avalanche continues originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Sep 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| CIG patches Star Citizen's hangar, puts Caterpillar on sale Posted: 21 Sep 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Sandbox, Crowdfunding, Star Citizen, Buy-to-Play Cloud Imperium has released a new patch for Star Citizen's hangar module. The update "contains over 100 changes based on feedback [...] from backers experimenting with the module." Fixes include flickering decals, missing cargo pallets, character sitting and running animations, and more. A complete list of patch notes is available via the SC launcher. CIG is also running a weekend-only promo on the Drake Interplanetary Caterpillar. The cargo and pirate support ship will set you back a cool $225.00, but keep in mind that like all SC pledge ships, the proceeds go directly to development costs and the ships themselves will be earnable via gameplay if you choose not to pre-purchase. CIG patches Star Citizen's hangar, puts Caterpillar on sale originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Sep 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| WRUP: Learn to cheese edition Posted: 21 Sep 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous All right, people, it's time for you to learn how to cheese. We're starting with the basics. That picture up there is brie, and it is delicious. It is a soft milky wonder of a cheese. That having been said, if you are eating it without the rind, you are not cheesing properly. The rind is half of the flavor. You need that rind, people. Also worth considering are gruyere and camembert. If you read that and wondered why I didn't mention ricotta, you've unfortunately confused "cheese" with "testament to the sins of Man." Ricotta is horrible. Learn to cheese. Now, let's talk about WRUP. That's all about what the Massively staff is up to this weekend. Very little cheese is involved. If your world has been rocked by the idea of cheese, it will be a breath of fresh air. But seriously, please, learn to cheese. This is important to me. Continue reading WRUP: Learn to cheese edition WRUP: Learn to cheese edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Sep 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Would you prefer to level quickly or level 'right'? Posted: 21 Sep 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Game Mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous There is almost always a method to speed your character along to the level cap. Sometimes it's just slightly faster than the path you're supposed to take; sometimes it's orders of magnitude quicker. It almost always does not involve actually challenging content. Instead, you grind something repetitive with good rewards (FATE parties in Final Fantasy XIV, rifts in RIFT, and so forth) until you can happily say that you're at the level cap and ready to take part in the endgame. Of course, you frequently aren't ready to participate in that endgame, as the past however many levels didn't really teach you how to play the game except for efficiency. For some people, learning at that point is easier than learning as they go. For others, it's better to take a little longer to hit the cap on the condition that you'll know how to play the game better when you get there. So which do you prefer? Learning along the way or just learning when you're at the top?  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: Would you prefer to level quickly or level 'right'? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Betawatch: September 14 - 20, 2013 Posted: 20 Sep 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, MMO Industry, News Items, Betawatch, Miscellaneous It's hard to make a free-to-play Eastern-style fantasy MMO stand out amidst a sea of similar games. Heva Clonia Online is hoping to be seen as unique thanks to its pet system; it's just entered closed testing, so you can see for yourself how successful it's been at that goal. There's no barrier to entering World of Warplanes at the moment, as it's in open beta, but its official release date has been moved ahead by a month and a half. Silent Hunter Online will provide lovers of military hardware another open-testing outlet for their enjoyment, although the game struggles a bit to really justify the "online" portion of its title. Oh, and there's still a big old list of games just past the break for anyone interested in a title not mentioned here. If something in the list has sneaked in a cash shop, please let us know down in the comments. Continue reading Betawatch: September 14 - 20, 2013 Betawatch: September 14 - 20, 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Sep 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| CCP clarifies EVE terms of service changes again Posted: 20 Sep 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, News Items, Legal, Sandbox  You may remember that about a week ago CCP incurred the ire of many fans by rewording EVE Online's Terms of Service, which according to many threatened to put a stranglehold on players hoping to scam some chumps by impersonating another player. Well, as part of the ongoing madness/dialogue between players and CCP, the studio has posted a clarification on the game's official site. Specifically, the post clarifies that "the purpose of the ToS update was to pull bits of existing policy into a prominent place where everyone would be able to see it, rather than requiring players to dig through EULA and Naming Policy to fully understand all the rules regarding impersonation." The post goes on to dig through the history of CCP's policies on impersonation from the beginning and the changes they have undergone since. You can find all those nitty-gritty details in the official post, but the takeaway from CCP seems to be that the only thing that has changed is the wording of the terms of service and that CCP will continue to handle cases of impersonation in the same way it has in the past. If you want to read the whole statement for yourself, just click on through the link below. CCP clarifies EVE terms of service changes again originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Sep 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Storyboard: You've got to make a living Posted: 20 Sep 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous Your character does something to stay alive. No, I'm not talking about fighting off demons or flesh-eating wolves or whatever else you blunder into on a regular basis. I mean that your character either needs to construct shelter, gather food, and produce clothes himself, or he has to pay someone to do it. Yes, most games probably allow for the possibility that those wolves contain enough meat, articles of clothing, and end tables to provide all of the above. That would be a separation of mechanics and story. It's much more fun than watching most of your characters die of infections caused by mild scrapes against rusty metal. As a roleplayer, you need to think about what your character does for a living, not just because it gives you an explanation for what's going on when you aren't playing (although that certainly helps) but because what we do informs a lot of who we are as people. It's always better to show than tell, and nothing shows quite as nicely as character occupations done right. Continue reading Storyboard: You've got to make a living Storyboard: You've got to make a living originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Sep 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Tamriel Infinium: The Nightblade is The Elder Scrolls Online's pirate Posted: 20 Sep 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Events (In-Game), Game Mechanics, PvP, PvE, Opinion, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription, MMORPG, Tamriel Infinium Yesterday marked the official 11th anniversary of Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day. And since I write this column a day before its released, that would be today for me. So ahoy, maties, and all that. Although there are pirates in Elder Scrolls lore, I think we should talk about the biggest pirate-like class in the Elder Scrolls Online: the Nightblade. Most likely, this will be the first class I will try. I'm excited about this class mostly because of the fast action combat of ESO and the diverse DPS that the class appears to bring to the playing field. Oh, yeah, and who doesn't like to turn invisible? From the reports coming out of PAX and other conventions, the Nightblade appears to be the first rogue class that I've seen that has some strong viability in a PvE setting, but of course, the class still plays wonderfully in PvP. Stick with me as I break down my thoughts on the class as we know it. Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: The Nightblade is The Elder Scrolls Online's pirate Tamriel Infinium: The Nightblade is The Elder Scrolls Online's pirate originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Sep 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Some Assembly Required Extra: The scoop on Albion Online Posted: 20 Sep 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Game Mechanics, Interviews, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox, Housing, Player-Generated Content After a long drought in the industry, the tide of the sandbox gaming is finally coming in. This year can definitely be called the year of the sandbox. While not all of them are out yet, many more games promising those features we love are in development now than ever before. In fact, there are so many titles floating about now that it can be hard to keep them straight! One of the latest upcoming titles to be announced is the stylized, medieval sandbox Albion Online. With such offerings as territory control, housing, a player-driven economy, and full looting, this game certainly fits the sandbox bill. Heck, the development company is even named Sandbox Interactive! But what makes Albion Online stand out from the pack is that it will be a cross-platform experience; players will be accessing the game via both tablets and PCs. Of course, as promising as it may sound, just a terse feature list doesn't give players the kind of details we want. So to get the scoop, I had a chat with Sandbox Interactive CEO Stefan Wiezorek, who shared more information about the economy, housing,the skill system, PvP, and territory control. Continue reading Some Assembly Required Extra: The scoop on Albion Online Some Assembly Required Extra: The scoop on Albion Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Sep 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Thrash down a mountain on an Elder Scrolls Online snowboard Posted: 20 Sep 2013 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Humor, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription When you're about to stomp that pickle-reaver on a double-black diamond, you want to make sure that everyone around you knows exactly what video game you support. That's why Bethesda is selling a limited edition snowboard for The Elder Scrolls Online. MMOs need all the slope cred they can get these days, we suppose. The Ebonheart Snowboard will cost you a cool $500, and that's if you're able to secure one of the only 50 boards being made. The art on the board is done by former ArenaNet artist Kekai Kotaki, and the board itself is an all-terrain, all-condition model. And yes, before you ask, the RDS 2 Damping System is included. Currently the Bethesda Store is accepting pre-orders for the snowboard, promising to ship it this December. Thrash down a mountain on an Elder Scrolls Online snowboard originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Sep 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Why I Play: Final Fantasy XIV Posted: 20 Sep 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Lore, Opinion, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, Why I Play, Subscription I hate two kinds of MMO: themeparks and sandboxes. Much like "nerf," these are two terms that have been beaten into the ground until they no longer have any intrinsic meaning. The original "themepark" game was freaking EverQuest, which is not what anyone thinks of when he uses the term in a more modern sense. There's more concern given to whether or not a game fits into a given category than whether or not it's actually fun to play. And that is a bad thing. Sure, your sandbox features a great housing system, but so does The Sims 3, and the latter doesn't abandon me in a featureless wasteland that eschews actual content in favor of letting me choose my final destination (here's a hint: All those destinations are grinding). Yes, Mr. Themepark, I see you chuckling in the background, but your single leveling path followed by the exact same huge-group gear-grabbing jamboree is not better, just annoying in a different way. That's why I play Final Fantasy XIV. But I should probably elaborate a bit on that. Continue reading Why I Play: Final Fantasy XIV Why I Play: Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Sep 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Happy 16th birthday, Ultima Online Posted: 20 Sep 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events (In-Game), Patches, News Items, Ultima Online, Anniversaries, Subscription, MMORPG I've taken my share of ribbing from the youngins on the Massively staff (as well as the readers!) about my continuing obsession with Ultima Online, but I can't help it: It's hard not to love the game that effectively started it all, especially in an age when MMORPGs have veered so dramatically from the standards set for them by the earliest titles. Next week, Ultima Online turns 16, and you'd better believe we'll be at the party. To honor the game, of course -- not just to gobble free cake. Earlier in the summer, we took a deep dive into the current state of the game (as well as its music!), but since that article ran, Mythic has been ratcheting up the update machine. It's bringing out new veteran rewards, an anniversary event complete with the usual round of anniversary festivities, and a new patch that includes tweaks to the Clean Up Britannia rewards and turn-in system, new Halloween content, and new character titles. Oh, and did I mention players will be embarking on the first part of a new dynamic story arc? With any luck, this one won't end with the brick-by-brick destruction of a beloved NPC town (but hey, at least actions in the game have permanence!). The big party is happening this Saturday, September 21st, on the test server so that everyone can attend no matter his home server. Expect a hedge-maze scavenger hunt, design contest, and storytelling event, complete with some pretty pricey prizes. See you there, and happy birthday, UO! Happy 16th birthday, Ultima Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Sep 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Darkfall's Duelist update also ushered in treasure map changes Posted: 20 Sep 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Classes, Game Mechanics, Patches, PvP, News Items, Sandbox With a brand new Skirmisher school -- the Duelist -- to try out courtesy of Darkfall's most recent update, it would be understandable if players didn't noticed the other aspects of the patch that hit Agon this week. Along with fixes in the areas of performance, conquest, and the world, an overhauled treasure map system was introduced where map size determines treasure placement. This new system means that treasure maps will no longer direct you to a spawn randomly anywhere in the world. Instead, the size of the treasure map dictates in what level of danger zone the spawn will be located. Small maps will lead to a lower danger zone, but to dig up the treasure from a large map, players will have to venture into Danger Level V zones. These changes and more can be found in the patch notes. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip.] Darkfall's Duelist update also ushered in treasure map changes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Sep 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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