General Gaming Article

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• Stinky Footboard Review
• Microsoft Goes After iPhone Users with Minimum $200 Trade Offer Towards a Windows Phone
• Genius Energy Mouse Moves Your Cursor and Recharges Mobile Devices
• Bill Gates Says Control-Alt-Delete Was a "Mistake," Points the Finger at IBM
• OCZ Upgrades Fatal1ty Power Supply Family, Now Available in 550W and 750W
• Newegg Daily Deals: Dell UltraSharp 27-inch Monitor, Asus P8Z77-V Pro Motherboard, and More!
• AMD: R9 290X Will Be "Much Faster Than Titan in Battlefield 4"

Stinky Footboard Review Posted: 26 Sep 2013 11:17 AM PDT Let your foot give you a hand The premise of the Stinky Footboard is simple: Sometimes two hands and 10 fingers aren't enough. And in games that require you to press more keys than a world-class pianist, your foot can come in handy. The Footboard's internals are built for the long run. That's the idea behind Stinky's deadly simple Footboard. The USB device is akin to a four-way, foot-operated D-pad. We had concerns about the durability of the Footboard, but cracking open our review model revealed the D-pad balanced on a heavy-duty ball-bearing and a metal bar running across the length of it. The switches themselves are Cherry MX blue. The unit connects to the USB cable via a standard Micro-USB port, so you can swap cables if need be. Four independent springs can be swapped out to change the spring rate from a selection of soft, medium, and hard. Though sturdy, we have to note that our early unit did fail and would no longer be recognized by any system, despite cable swaps. We finished our review with a second unit borrowed from another magazine. At least it's not called the Cyber Athlete's Foot. Setting up the Footboard is quick, after you've downloaded the app. The Footboard app lets users create keybindings—or should we say foot bindings—for each of the controller's four switches (up, down, left, and right) and install firmware updates. The app works fairly well, but we couldn't bind more than one key to a direction. For example, we wanted to bind one switch to let us run in Battlefield 3—Shift + W—but the Footboard wouldn't record the macro. It was either W or Shift, but not both. It's too bad because such a feature would take the finger stress out of those long runs across a map. Battlefield 3 wasn't the only game we used the Footboard in. We also ran it through Dishonored and Sleeping Dogs, among other games, but we admit we found it most useful for BF3, where it aided movement and crouching. And when running, it really relieved us of the pinky stress that results from having to curl back and hit Ctrl all the time to duck. Unfortunately for the Stinky, there are some styles of games that just don't work very well with the device. When we tried using the Stinky in Dishonored, we found it wasn't very helpful. Dishonored is a slow, stealthy game that focuses on using just the WASD keys and mouse, so we couldn't find much use for the Footboard, as the game doesn't rely much on running. We tried to map the Footboard to the WASD keys but it was just awkward. We also couldn't use the Stinky for strafing since we couldn't bind more than one key. Another game that didn't play very well with the Stinky was StarCraft II. The mouse and keyboard were just too good and we abandoned using the Footboard halfway through. Again, the Footboard seemed cumbersome in this scenario and our keybindings felt very forced and unneeded, as a traditional keyboard setup was easier for us. There are obviously games where the Stinky works—such as a tactical shooter, where you might bind the left and right directions for lean out (who can ever remember those commands?) but it's not the universal salve we thought it might be. The Stinky has a good build quality and easy-to-use software, which makes it a reliable gaming accessory. What we're not fans of is the Footboard's premium price: $120. Probably the only way to tell if your gaming style will benefit from the Footboard is if you sometimes wish you had an extra hand—or foot—during sessions. $120, www.stinkyboard.com

Microsoft Goes After iPhone Users with Minimum $200 Trade Offer Towards a Windows Phone Posted: 26 Sep 2013 10:54 AM PDT Trade in program kicks off on Friday Tired of your iPhone? Not digging the direction Apple is going with its recent iOS 7 update? If so, Microsoft has at least 200 reasons why you might want to consider ditching your iPhone 4S or iPhone 5 in favor of a Windows Phone. Starting this Friday, Microsoft Stores will begin offering a minimum $200 in-store credit for recent iPhone models, and while you can spend the gift card on anything you want in the store, it's Microsoft's hope that you'll grab a Windows Phone. It's part of Microsoft's Time to Switch campaign, according to Forbes and its "inside source" that's leaking out company info. If it turns out to be true, this would follow a recent program in which Microsoft was encouraging iPad users to ditch their iOS tablet for Surface. Of course, you can always sell your device on eBay or Craigslist for a nice sum, assuming it's in good condition, but $200 for an iPhone 4S isn't too shabby on Microsoft's part. Plus, you avoid the hassle of potential non-paying bidders, buyer disputes, seller fees, etc. Microsoft's Windows Phone platform is in a distant third place behind iOS and Android, though it did recently surpass BlackBerry in market share. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Genius Energy Mouse Moves Your Cursor and Recharges Mobile Devices Posted: 26 Sep 2013 10:27 AM PDT The only rodent that can power your smartphone Genius has come out with a new wireless rodent that can charge your mobile devices via a USB cable that plugs into its backside. The placement of the cable limits the practicality of being able to charge your phone and navigate Windows at the same time, though the Energy Mouse is capable of doing so. The real intention, however, is to provide a means of juicing up your mobile device when you're not using the mouse. "With this device, business people, travelers and students can recharge their electronic devices, such as smartphones, when on-the-go, and negates the need to carry a separate power bank," Genius explains. The Energy Mouse is equipped with a 2700 mAh battery, which Genius claims is more than enough to fully recharge your mobile device. There's also a separate battery reserve to power the mouse, so you needn't worry about your Galaxy S4 sucking the life out of your rodent. Other features include a 1200 DPI sensor, four mouse buttons (one of which is a dedicated charging button), and four color options (blue, red, silver, and pink). So, what's the verdict? Could you see something like this being useful, or is it one of those ideas that should have been scrapped before an actual product was made? Sound off in the comments section below! Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Bill Gates Says Control-Alt-Delete Was a "Mistake," Points the Finger at IBM Posted: 26 Sep 2013 09:13 AM PDT Who's to blame/credit for the most famous key combination in history? It doesn't matter how long you've been using a PC, as long as there's a keyboard involved, you're probably familiar with the Control-Alt-Delete combination, or the three-finger salute, as some have come to call it. Decades after the key combination was conceived, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates candidly admits that it was a "mistake, but don't point the finger at him, let IBM share some of the blame. "We could have had a single button, but they guy who did the IBM keyboard design didn't want to give us our single button," Gates said during an interview at a Harvard fundraising campaign, according to The Verge. The combination was invented by David Bradley, an engineer who helped build the original IBM PC. It was originally intended to reboot the PC, though its function has evolved over time. One of the more common uses these days is to bring up the Task Manager, especially in times of distress when something wonky is going on. If you're thinking that Gates must have other decisions he laments even more than Control-Alt-Delete, you'd be right. Sitting up the totem pole of regret is the way Microsoft approached the mobile market. "We didn't miss cellphones, but the way we went about it didn't allow us to get the leadership," Gates said earlier this year. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

OCZ Upgrades Fatal1ty Power Supply Family, Now Available in 550W and 750W Posted: 26 Sep 2013 08:30 AM PDT New core, same branding OCZ is still making the most of its relationship with renowned gamer Johnathan Wendel, otherwise known as Fatal1ty, the name you'll find on the side of OCZ's two newest power supplies. Available in 550W and 750W models, these Fatal1ty PSUs feature a brand new core and are quieter, more energy efficient, and easier to manage thanks to a completely modular cable design. Once again, OCZ claims Fatal1ty is co-developing these PSUs, though we wonder how much input he truly has. Regardless, the new models feature up to 85 percent energy efficiency at typical loads and 80 Plus Bronze certification. Both make use of a single +12V rail and have a 135mm temperature and load-controlled fan with glowing red LEDs. OCZ says the new models also use premium components and heavy-duty protection circuitries that utlize specialized DC-to-DC converters for compatibility with Haswell machines. No word yet on price, though OCZ says the 550W model is backed by a 3-year warranty and the 750W by a 5-year warranty. They're supposed to be available right now, however OCZ's website is still listing the previous generation Fatal1ty PSUs. We suspect it will be updated sometime today. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Newegg Daily Deals: Dell UltraSharp 27-inch Monitor, Asus P8Z77-V Pro Motherboard, and More! Posted: 26 Sep 2013 06:17 AM PDT Top Deal: If you haven't made your video card sweat just yet, perhaps it's time to upgrade your monitor to something beyond 1920x1080 and give it a workout. Once such candidate is today's top deal for a Dell UltraSharp U2713HM 27-inch monitor for $603 with free shipping (normally $670 - use coupon code MONITORTEN). This IPS display boasts a 2560x1440 resolution and has flexible input options (D-Sub, DVI, HDMI, DisplayPort). Other Deals: Asus P8Z77-V Pro LGA 1155 Intel Z77 ATX Intel Motherboard for $190 with free shipping (Free 4GB Crucial Ballistix memory w/ purchase, limited offer; additional $20 Mail-in rebate) Raidmax Smilodon Black/Silver SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower  Computer Case for $64 with free shipping (normally $75 - use coupon code: [RMXSEP16]; additional $15 Mail-in rebate) Raidmax 1000W 80 Plus Gold Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply for $120 with free shipping (normally $145 - use coupon code: [0924CLRNCE87]; additional $20 Mail-in rebate) LG 23EA53V-P Black 23" 5ms LCD Monitor for $140 with free shipping (normally $190 - use coupon code: [23LGMNT])

AMD: R9 290X Will Be "Much Faster Than Titan in Battlefield 4" Posted: 25 Sep 2013 09:05 PM PDT The red team says that with Mantle, its new flagship GPU will "ridicule" the GeForce Titan With AMD unveiling its new series of GPUs, many gamers want to know how well it performs, namely against Nvidia's flagship GeForce GTX Titan graphics card.  We had a chance to sit down with AMD Product Manager Devon Nekechuck to see how AMD's new top dog R9 290X stacks up against the green team's best single-GPU offering. According to Nekechuck, even though the R9 290X uses a 438 square mm die, which is significantly smaller than the Titan's 550 sq. mm GK110 offering, it "will definitely compete with the GTX 780 and Titan." When we asked what this means in real-world terms, he stated, "with Battlefield 4 running with Mantle (AMD's new graphics API), the card will be able to 'ridicule' the Titan in terms of performance."  Is the R9 290X the Titan killer? AMD seems to think so. When we asked him what he meant by "ridicule," he simply stated that it will run Battlefield 4 "much faster than the Titan." Again, this is provided that you run the game using AMD's Mantle API, which is set to launch in December.  While no pricing has been announced for AMD's high-end GPU just yet, It is worth mentioning that Nekechuck did confirm to us that the company does not plan to release single-GPU cards in the $1,000 price range because AMD thinks that is such a small, niche market. When you consider that the GeForce Titan runs for one grand, it's safe to assume that it will be a fair bit cheaper than $1K. Rumors abound the event are that the R9 290X will retail at around the 780 price point, which currently hovers around $650. May we see Titan+ performance for less than 780 price from AMD? Only time will tell.  Stay tuned to Maximum PC for pricing, release date, and benchmarks when we get one in!

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MMO Updates

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• Roberts on Star Citizen's exploration gameplay, publisher-free development
• Final Fantasy worlds collide as FFXIII's Lightning joins FFXIV
• Perfect Ten: Places you see in every MMO
• Black Desert starts its first closed beta on October 17th
• WildStar unveils the details on ability mechanics
• New membership currency introduced to RuneScape to help fight gold farming
• The Daily Grind: How long does it take you to judge an MMO?
• WildStar Wednesday reveals shiphand missions
• Neverwinter's Velasquez on lockboxes, Foundry, and Module 2
• Choose My Adventure: Learning and seeking revenge in Age of Wushu
• The Art of Wushu: The facts about autoguard
• Jagex introduces RuneScape bonds, new business model
• Infinite Crisis spotlights Catwoman in newest champion profile
• Free for All: Playing the eternal noob

Roberts on Star Citizen's exploration gameplay, publisher-free development Posted: 26 Sep 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Sandbox, Crowdfunding, Star Citizen, Buy-to-Play Gamasutra has just published an interview with Cloud Imperium head honcho Chris Roberts. Much of the piece is old news if you've followed the game closely (also, the interview was conducted over a month ago at Gamescom), but there are still some juicy quotes from the space sim guru regarding his dream game's non-combat mechanics and publisher-free development cycle. Community interaction and open development is allowing CIG to build a more relevant title, Roberts says. "We had all of these things like bounty hunter, mercenary, pirate, merchant, explorer. And I was shocked that 67 percent of the people [Cloud Imperium surveyed] said that they wanted to be an explorer," Roberts said. CIG wouldn't have known how many players prefer non-combat gameplay under the old design-your-game-in-a-vacuum model. Roberts also talks at length about the benefits of developing publisher-free. For one thing, Roberts says, developing SC at EA or Activision would require $40 to $50 million, whereas doing it at a more efficient indie outfit allows him to get the same functionality for half that cost. "I do feel like there's a shift in the business with what's happening right now, with the ability to be online and connect directly to the community and the fans," Roberts says. "We essentially don't need any publishing functions because we're connecting directly to people, and normally that's what a publisher would do for you." Roberts on Star Citizen's exploration gameplay, publisher-free development originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Sep 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Gamasutra

Final Fantasy worlds collide as FFXIII's Lightning joins FFXIV Posted: 26 Sep 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Final Fantasy XIV A good share -- if not most -- of the folks playing Final Fantasy XIV are there because of previous ties to the FF franchise. And that fact is not lost on Square Enix. In fact, the studio just released a new video today showing the heroine of another Final Fantasy game joining the realm of Eorzea. While the title character of Lightning Returns: FFXIII, Lightning also appears and fights alongside players during one of A Realm Reborn's Full Active Time Events (FATE), the successful completion of which will net the player gear and weaponry modeled after those found in FFXIII. On the flip side of this cross-promotion, Lightning Returns players can acquire new Miqo'te costumes as well as weapons and shields themed from the city-states of FFXIV: ARR. Clues for getting the costumes are hidden within the world of Nova Chrysalia and the weapons and shields are obtained by clearing side quests. Check out the new outfit, weapons, and shields for FFXIII in the gallery below and watch Lightning join the FFXIV FATE in the trailer after the cut. [Source: Square Enix press release] Continue reading Final Fantasy worlds collide as FFXIII's Lightning joins FFXIV Final Fantasy worlds collide as FFXIII's Lightning joins FFXIV originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Sep 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Perfect Ten: Places you see in every MMO Posted: 26 Sep 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Opinion, Humor, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous MMOs are places of great imagination, where developers take fantastic concepts and make them real (in a sense). MMOs are also places of great copycatting because tropes are so strong and it's really dang hard to be 100% original. Plus, consciously or subconsciously, devs draw upon other games when they make their own because that's what they know. So we end up with this enormous array of virtual worlds -- mostly fantasy -- and it's hard to ignore the fact that we end up encountering the same places in different games over and over again. Some of these places are pretty generic (ooh, another wolf den), and some are oddly specific (chapels with back rooms that reveal a sinister secret), but chances are that you've seen every item on this list more than once. I'll be honest, this was just about the most brutal list to make for Perfect Ten so far. Not because I couldn't think of any, but because there were just so many from which to choose. In the end I just grabbed the first 10 that came to mind, but I'll bet that we'll see even better examples in the comments. Continue reading Perfect Ten: Places you see in every MMO Perfect Ten: Places you see in every MMO originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Sep 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Black Desert starts its first closed beta on October 17th Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Previews, News Items, Sandbox, Black Desert Are you ready to start exploring the darkest of all possible deserts? Are you also located in South Korea? Then you'll be happy to know that after several delays Black Desert has finally announced its closed beta test will start on October 17th. The first test will only run through the 23rd and will include four playable classes, leveling up to level 40, and two major areas to explore. As mentioned before, this test will be IP-locked, so international players are not allowed even with a strong grasp of the language. For those not eligible for the beta (i.e. most of our readers) there are also four new gameplay trailers embedded past the break showing off the various classes in action. They're not actually in life-or-death combat, but it's a chance to get a peek at what your various choices can do. Or what they would be able to do if you were able to get in on the testing... you get the idea. [Thanks to Lilian for the tip!] Continue reading Black Desert starts its first closed beta on October 17th Black Desert starts its first closed beta on October 17th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

WildStar unveils the details on ability mechanics Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, WildStar, Subscription, Buy-to-Play Abilities are the bread and butter of games. You have to be able to do something, after all. WildStar started with the same basic foundation as several other MMOs, but as it is wont to do, it's evolved to have a very different foundation now. It's so different, in fact, that the latest Dev Speak video is all about how abilities work and how they differ from the standard MMO trifecta of casts, channels, and instant abilities. Of course, we could just tell you how all of this fits together... but why would we do that when we can just show you? So click on past the break for the video itself, and then keep reading for more specific details on these new mechanics. Even familiar things like cast bars are a little different here, and you'll want to see some of this stuff in action. Continue reading WildStar unveils the details on ability mechanics WildStar unveils the details on ability mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Sep 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New membership currency introduced to RuneScape to help fight gold farming Posted: 26 Sep 2013 06:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Economy, News Items, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, Browser You don't need to pay money to enjoy RuneScape on a monthly basis, but you certainly get a bit more out of the game with a subscription. But would you prefer to use some of your vast in-game fortune to pay for that membership? You can do that now thanks to the introduction of Bonds, a new item that can be purchased for $5 a pop and then traded or sold in the game itself. When used, Bonds can be redeemed for 14 days of play time, eight Squeal of Fortune spins, or 160 RuneCoins. You can also redeem them for RuneFest tickets (although it takes more than one Bond for that). In a video from Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard, the genesis of Bonds is explained -- this is the latest step in the game's long-standing battle with gold farming accounts, offering players more control over membership costs while cutting out the need to pay money to third parties. So spend cash on improving your in-game fortune or spend your in-game fortune to save some cash, it's up to you. [Source: Jagex press release] Continue reading New membership currency introduced to RuneScape to help fight gold farming New membership currency introduced to RuneScape to help fight gold farming originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: How long does it take you to judge an MMO? Posted: 26 Sep 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Final Fantasy XIV, Subscription I was telling a friend about Final Fantasy XIV the other day, and based on my recommendation, he paid for the client and gave it a whirl. As it turns out, the game isn't for him, though I was surprised that he came to that conclusion prior to level 10. See, at the early levels FFXIV is just like every other themepark MMO, and it's only after you unlock multiclassing, dungeons, and a few other features that the game starts to distinguish itself. All that said, I felt similarly about RIFT when it launched. There's no way I could have seen even a fraction of what the game offers in an hour's worth of play time, but an hour was nonetheless all I could stand. So, how about it, Massively readers? How long does it take you to judge a new MMO? 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: How long does it take you to judge an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

WildStar Wednesday reveals shiphand missions Posted: 25 Sep 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, PvE, WildStar, Subscription Looking for something to do off the beaten path in WildStar? Well, OK, we know it's not out yet, and we know you can't talk about the beta that you may or may not be in, but we're speaking theoretically. If you were looking for something to do, that something might be a shiphand mission. Shiphand missions "play like extended, sequential quests," according to the latest WildStar Wednesday reveal. They scale from one to five players, and they're also repeatable. "Shiphands are ideal for doing something a little more involved than a normal quest with a few friends," the post says. "They're not as challenging as dungeons or adventures; they're just a fun vacation from Nexus for about 15-45 minutes of your time." Shiphand experiences vary quite a bit, but to find out how you'll need to click through to the links below. WildStar Wednesday reveals shiphand missions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Sep 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: WildStar Wednesday

Neverwinter's Velasquez on lockboxes, Foundry, and Module 2 Posted: 25 Sep 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, Previews, Free-to-Play, Neverwinter Here's an interesting thought we've all had from time to time: What if that stranger you've grouped with is actually a developer in disguise? If you've played Neverwinter, you might have already had this encounter and not even known it. Cryptic Studios Lead Producer Andy Velasquez confessed that he plays his main character -- a Tiefling Devoted Cleric -- on a separate, unknown account so that he can enjoy the game like everyone else. "I'm not special there," he said, "I'm just another player." Now that Neverwinter's had a season to launch, settle down, and add its first major update, we wanted to touch base with Cryptic about the progress of the title. We called Velasquez to chat about the ups and downs of development, the ever-present lockboxes, and a few tantalizing teases regarding Module 2. Continue reading Neverwinter's Velasquez on lockboxes, Foundry, and Module 2 Neverwinter's Velasquez on lockboxes, Foundry, and Module 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Sep 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Choose My Adventure: Learning and seeking revenge in Age of Wushu Posted: 25 Sep 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Polls, Video, Game Mechanics, Interviews, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Choose My Adventure, Livestream, Sandbox, Dungeons, Age of Wushu Age of Wushu continues to impress and confuse me at the same time, but I can see much of the appeal behind many of the systems. As a reader noticed last week, many sandbox MMOs have the same in-depth systems and mechanics that Age of Wushu does, but as I have said many times before it is not only the specific systems that make a great game, but how the game has taken those systems and combined them in a package. Age of Wushu takes much of the appeal of many of my favorite games and wraps it in a beautiful package that can run on lower-end systems. I crank it all the way up, turn up the music, and enjoy exploring and trying to slowly figure out some of the harder-to-understand mechanics. This week I wanted to try out the two options that were put up for polls, and once again Age of Wushu Community Manager Earthquake and Massively columnist Patrick Mackey joined me to explain, hand out tips, and to help me remember how much of a newb I still am. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Learning and seeking revenge in Age of Wushu Choose My Adventure: Learning and seeking revenge in Age of Wushu originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Sep 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Art of Wushu: The facts about autoguard Posted: 25 Sep 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Historical, Game Mechanics, PvP, Free-to-Play, Guides, Age of Wushu, The Art of Wushu, MMORPG The automatic blocking feature in Age of Wushu is treated as anathema by players. You guys have no idea how many people I have talked to about it who tell me, "I would never use something like that!" It seems that in general, people don't like the idea of something that takes decision-making out of their hands. However, autoguard isn't as bad as people think. In fact, it is an exceptional answer to poor latency and is completely controllable. The truth is, not many people understand it at all, and even fewer realize the benefits of the system. Continue reading The Art of Wushu: The facts about autoguard The Art of Wushu: The facts about autoguard originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jagex introduces RuneScape bonds, new business model Posted: 25 Sep 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, RuneScape, Browser Jagex CEO Mark Gerhard has posted a new video to the RuneScape website detailing the fantasy MMO's new business model. The clip, which runs a bit over three minutes in length, focuses on Jagex's efforts to eradicate goldfarmers from the long-running browser-based title. Gerhard mentions that the firm has removed over 3,700,000,000,000 GP from goldfarmer accounts and banned more than 1.1 million bot accounts this year alone. Despite those "signifcant blows, gold farming continues to survive," Gerhard explains. He also says that 40 to 50 percent of the game's active playerbase buys gold "on any given month!" The solution to what is clearly a thorn in Jagex's side is something called RuneScape bonds. Bonds are a tradeable membership item that can freely gifted or traded for any other tradeable in-game item. As a result, players will be able to pay for their game memberships via in-game wealth and gold farmers will theoretically have no customers. The bonds update will also include a gold-sink designed to help the economy recover from extreme inflation. Full details are available via the video after the cut and the links below. [Thanks Caio!] Continue reading Jagex introduces RuneScape bonds, new business model Jagex introduces RuneScape bonds, new business model originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Sep 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

Infinite Crisis spotlights Catwoman in newest champion profile Posted: 25 Sep 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Super-hero, Video, Classes, New Titles, MOBA, Infinite Crisis "Former pickpocket turned master thief, Catwoman gave up a career of crime to exact ferocious justice." That's how the newest champion spotlight video for Infinite Crisis starts out, highlighting the backstory of Catwoman. The agile medium-ranged damage dealer uses her whip and cat-like reflexes to win against her opponents. Turbine's super-hero MOBA is still in the beta stages, but you can sign up for free at the game's main website. Be sure to check out the video after the cut for more details on Catwoman and Infinite Crisis. [Thanks to Johnny for the tip!] Continue reading Infinite Crisis spotlights Catwoman in newest champion profile Infinite Crisis spotlights Catwoman in newest champion profile originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Sep 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Cat Woman profile

Free for All: Playing the eternal noob Posted: 25 Sep 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Ryzom, Opinion, Casual, Humor, DC Universe Online, Free for All, PlanetSide 2, Age of Wushu As I just finished up my Age of Wushu livestream with Massively's own Patrick Mackey and Age of Wushu Community Manager Earthquake last night, I realize once again that most people do not look at MMO gaming as I do. Of course, I am basing this only on my existence as an island of a person, someone who spends most of his time soloing through content and generally getting lost in one game after another, after another and another. Patrick is a lively personality who is what players would call a min-maxer. A theory-crafter. He is someone who takes hold of a game and learns it backward and forward, something I can only wish I could do. Not only do I not have the mental ability to sit still that long (and no, that's not an attempt at bragging about the size of my brain), but I physically cannot read that much text or spend more than several hours online without taking a break for fear of a days-destroying migraine. This physical inability to study up came well after my already-established love for virtual travel, however. I am an explorer of virtual worlds, an occupation that does not permit sitting at one stop for long. But this hurts me as a player. I realize this and accept it. Continue reading Free for All: Playing the eternal noob Free for All: Playing the eternal noob originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 25 Sep 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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MMORPG News

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• Black Desert: First Closed Beta Coming on October 17th
• WildStar: Carbine’s Combat Makes You Act and React
• Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: Lightning Descends Into Eorzea
• General: Day One (A Launch Tale)
• World of WarPlanes: British Planes Soar Into Game
• Runescape: Eliminating Gold Farmers Once & For All?
• Neverwinter: Velasquez on Module 2, Lockboxes & More
• Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: FFXIV: Improving the Summoner Feel
• League of Legends: Join a Viewing Party
• WildStar: Shiphand Missions Detailed
• Perfect World International: Crimson Imperium Patch to Go Live Today
• General: Steam Machine Announced
• Runescape: Runescape 3: Worthy of Its 12 Year Heritage
• General: Prognostication
• EVE Online: Winter Expansion to Be Revealed in Live Cast
• General: Aura Kingdom Website Launches
• Defiance: Committed to Improving the Game
• Dragon Nest: White Cupid Pack Giveaway!

Black Desert: First Closed Beta Coming on October 17th Posted: 26 Sep 2013 08:07 AM PDT 2p.com is reporting that Black Desert will enter its first beta event on October 17th and that it will run through October 23rd. The information was revealed during a Korean LAN party along with four classes that will be available to testers during the event.

WildStar: Carbine’s Combat Makes You Act and React Posted: 25 Sep 2013 04:54 PM PDT The WildStar team is ready to reveal new information about the game. One of the most important topics to most players is how combat will play out. The team has put together a new DevSpeak video to discuss combat and we have an analysis of what is revealed. Check out our thoughts, watch the video and then head to the comments to thrash it out with others.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: Lightning Descends Into Eorzea Posted: 26 Sep 2013 07:09 AM PDT Square Enix is celebrating its games by producing "mash up" videos placing well-known characters into games not usually their home. In one of the more entertaining videos, Lightning, star of Lightning Returns and FFXII, makes an appearance in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

General: Day One (A Launch Tale) Posted: 24 Sep 2013 05:07 PM PDT Launching an MMO is not an easy task. Take, for instance, the recent bumps that FFXIV faced. In her latest column, Genese Davis offers us a fictionalized account of launching a new MMO. Enjoy the tale and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

World of WarPlanes: British Planes Soar Into Game Posted: 26 Sep 2013 06:27 AM PDT World of Warplanes beta testers will have the opportunity to check out the British line of aircraft thanks to their arrival in game today. Legendary planes including the Spitfire and the Javelin are now available.

Runescape: Eliminating Gold Farmers Once & For All? Posted: 25 Sep 2013 04:47 PM PDT Jagex has announced that Runescape Bonds will be introduced into the game as a way to eliminate gold farmers once and for all. Jagex has taken an assertive stand against gold farming and has removed over three trillion gold from the game. More than 40% of players buy gold in any month, something Jagex feels is unacceptable. To combat that statistic, Bonds are incoming. Check out this informative video and then tell us what you think.

Neverwinter: Velasquez on Module 2, Lockboxes & More Posted: 25 Sep 2013 04:43 PM PDT Massively has a great interview with Neverwinter's Andy Velasquez where he takes time for some retrospective evaluation of the game and controversial subjects including lockboxes. In addition, Velasquez speaks about the Foundry and what players might expect in Module 2.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: FFXIV: Improving the Summoner Feel Posted: 25 Sep 2013 12:06 AM PDT Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is an overall awesome experience, but the feel of the Summoner Job can be a bit underwhelming. This week, we offer up some suggestions on how to improve one of the game's most iconic Jobs.

League of Legends: Join a Viewing Party Posted: 25 Sep 2013 12:45 PM PDT Riot Games is helping players get together to view the Season 3 League of Legends championship series by launching the Viewing Party Program (VPP). Folks hosting a VPP need to submit their plan for approval. As it stands, 110 VPPs have been organized to date.

WildStar: Shiphand Missions Detailed Posted: 25 Sep 2013 12:37 PM PDT The latest WildStar Wednesday feature has been posted with awesome news about a great new feature: Shiphand Missions. Shiphand missions see one to five players board a pilot's ship to help solve issues aboard the ship and much more. These missions have random elements and are repeatable as well.

Perfect World International: Crimson Imperium Patch to Go Live Today Posted: 25 Sep 2013 12:33 PM PDT Perfect World International players will want to check into the game later today after the Crimson Imperium patch goes live. The new patch brings a host of new content on board including a commission shop, new quests and the title system.

General: Steam Machine Announced Posted: 25 Sep 2013 11:56 AM PDT Valve has revealed its second major announcement of the week with the Steam Machine. The Valve prototype is in the works and Valve is looking for 300 dedicated participants to help develop what promises to be a ground-breaking piece of machinery.

Runescape: Runescape 3: Worthy of Its 12 Year Heritage Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:28 PM PDT Runescape 3 has been in wide release for about a month now. We managed to catch up to Executive Producer Phil Mansell to find out how things are going, what players are experiencing in the game and a little bit about what the future holds. Read on before leaving your thoughts in the comments.

General: Prognostication Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:15 PM PDT What would happen if our virtual worlds and our real worlds collided? You can find out by reading this week's Independency and our own predictions of what just might happen. Have a few ideas of your own? Share them in the comments!

EVE Online: Winter Expansion to Be Revealed in Live Cast Posted: 25 Sep 2013 09:11 AM PDT EVE Online is inviting interested players to view a Twitch.tv event in which the team will reveal the Winter Expansion for 2013. The event will take place on Thursday, September 26th at 3:00 p.m. EST / 12:00 p.m. PST.

General: Aura Kingdom Website Launches Posted: 25 Sep 2013 08:49 AM PDT Aeria Games has launched the website for Aura Kingdom, the latest MMO to join the stable of free-to-play titles. The site will give players a chance to check out the game's features and lore, as well as get a good look at the anime art style Aura Kingdom will embody.

Defiance: Committed to Improving the Game Posted: 23 Sep 2013 05:50 PM PDT Defiance is a game with a massive amount of potential, potential that Trion Worlds is committed to bringing to fruition for players. We chatted with Creative Lead Trick Dempsey about how that will happen. It's a terrifically informative interview that you won't want to miss. Let us know what you think in the comments.

Dragon Nest: White Cupid Pack Giveaway! Posted: 25 Sep 2013 12:25 AM PDT MMORPG.com has partnered with Nexon to give away a number of key codes redeemable for a Dragon Nest White Cupid Pack.

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