General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


HP Intros a Line of Android Tablets Starting at $150

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 12:47 PM PST

HP Slate10 HDCovering all the bases

We're not sure why HP's being so shy about its new line of Android tablets that are now available to buy on the company's website. There's no press release or official announcement that we know of trumpeting their arrival, but even without the usual hoopla, there are some intriguing options. There are four models in all, the first of which is an HP Slate7 Plus that sells for $150.

As the name suggests, it features a 7-inch display with a 1280x800 resolution. Other specs include an Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of DDR3 RAM, 8GB of internal storage, 802.11n Wi-Fi, microSD card slot, 0.3MP front-facing webcam, 5MP rear-facing camera, headphone/microphone combo port, micro USB port, accelerometer, eCompass, GPS, stereo speakers, 4000 mAh battery good for up to 6 hours and 30 minutes, and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Not a bad haul for the budget price.

The second model is the HP Slate7 Extreme, another 7-inch tablet with the same resolution but an IPS panel and a higher price tag ($200). The higher price tag is also justified by including an upgraded Nvidia Tegra 4 A15 processor, twice as much internal storage (16GB). HDMI output, Bluetooth connectivity, and a longer running battery (10.5 hours).

Next up on the pricing totem pole is the HP Slate10 HD for $300. It has a 10-inch display (also with a 1280x800 resolution), Marvell PXA986 dual-core processor (1.2GHz), 1GB DDR3, 16GB internal storage, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, micro USB port, headphone out, Beats Audio, and a 7000 mAh battery for up to 10 hours of run time.

Finally, there's the HP Slate8 Pro for $330. It's similarly spec'd as the Slate7 but with an 8-inch display with 1600x1200 resolution.

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Humble Bundle Features Garry's Mod, Orcs Must Die! 2, and Serious Sam 3: BFE Unlockables

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 11:52 AM PST

Orcs Must Die 2Play games and support charity at the same time

Life is about the little pleasures. You know, things like ice cream on a hot summer day, cold beer at a ball game, and scoring big with the Humble Bundles. Yep, that sweet program that allows you to donate to charity (or developers) whatever amount you wish in exchange for some sweet games. The latest Humble Jumbo Bundle consists of Natural Selection 2, Sanctum 2, and Magicka with two packs of DLC, but as always, there's potentially more.

For those of you new to the Humble Bundle, the way it works is you set your own price and then decide how you want to split those funds between the developers, charity, and the Humble Bundle itself (paying for bandwidth and other associated costs). If you pay more than the average, you get a few extras.

As of this writing, the average is listed at $3.95. Beating that buys you the not only the games already mentioned (along with a few related soundtracks), but also Orcs Must Die! 2: Complete Pack, Garry's Mod, and Serious Sam 3: BFE, plus two more soundtracks. In addition, more games will be coming soon and you'll receive whichever ones they are by paying more than the average.

If any of that interests you, head over to the Humble Bundle website and go add to your games collection!

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Why Your Uncle's Next PC Might Be an All-in-One System

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 09:57 AM PST

All-in-OneDemand for all-in-one systems is on the rise

Earlier today we reported on International Data Corporation's (IDC's) analysis that overall PC shipments are on pace to decline to 10.1 percent in 2013, marking the worst decline ever recorded. IDC reasoned that consumers are finding existing PCs are able to get the job done, as opposed to cannibalization by tablets and smartphones. While that might be true, one category that seems to be doing well is all-in-one PCs.

According to Digitimes Research, global AIO PC shipments will grow nearly 5 percent in 2014. There's been been a "wave of replacement demand" since Apple came out with its super thin iMacs earlier in the year, which is helping to boost demand for these types of systems.

Gamers and power users usually avoid AIO systems, either because they're not powerful enough or because they typically lack easy upgrade solutions. There are a handful of models that buck both trends, but by and large, AIOs are more attractive to mainstream users. These space saving designs along with the increasing prominence of touchscreen panels could temp users to ditch their existing desktops.

It's already been happening to some extent. According to Digitimes Research, AIO shipments grew 2.3 percent in 2012 and 15.8 percent in 2013. While demand is projected to subside a bit next year, AIO shipments will still account for 11.5 percent of global desktop shipments in 2014.

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Bankrupt OCZ Sells Assets to Toshiba for $35 Million

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 09:06 AM PST

ToshibaToshiba scores big with a relatively low investment

Investors weren't beating down OCZ's doors to hand the company money, or even a floatation device. Out of options, out of time, and out of cash, OCZ could do nothing but negotiate with the only company showing interest in its assets. That company is Toshiba, which hammered out a deal with OCZ to acquire all of the drive maker's assets in a chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding for $35 million.

This is a steal for Toshiba, which will also provide OCZ with financing so that it can continue to operate and support its customers during the sale period. OCZ's board of directors already approved the sale, and barring an objection from the bankruptcy court, the sale is expected to close in 60 days.

"Over the past year, OCZ has dealt with numerous issues which have stressed the company's capital structure and operating model, posing a challenge to achieving near term profitability. The combination of NAND flash supply constraints and credit issues have impacted our ability to satisfy the demands of our customers; this combined with increased pricing pressure in our industry have contributed to our on-going operating losses. On an operational basis, we completed a complex investigation, several restructurings and a multi-year restatement that added significantly to our working capital requirements," stated Ralph Schmitt, CEO of OCZ. "We have been working diligently on this partnership with Toshiba and we believe that this is the best outcome under our current corporate conditions."

Perhaps the biggest gain for Toshiba is Indilinx. OCZ paid $32 million in common stock for the SSD controller maker two years ago and has been using that acquisition to pump out controllers for its own products as well as competitors' SSDs. Meanwhile, Toshiba already operates a strong NAND flash memory business.

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IDC Shoots It Straight, Says Consumers Lack Reasons to Upgrade Older PCs

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 08:37 AM PST

Windows XP MachineMarket research firm predicts 10 percent market shrinkage

If industry analysts don't start saying nice things about PCs, we may start to develop a complex. We jest, of course -- this is Maximum PC, not Maximum Feelings -- and we're confident that PCs will be around for a long, long time, but what's unknown is when mainstream users will see the need to upgrade again. According to International Data Corporation (IDC), PC shipments continue to decline because consumers are getting by just fine with their older machines.

"Perhaps the chief concern for future PC demand is a lack of reasons to replace an older system," said Jay Chou, Senior Research Analyst, Worldwide Quarterly PC Trackers at IDC. "While IDC research finds that the PC still remains the primary computing device – for example, PCs are used more hours per day than tablets or phones – PC usage is nonetheless declining each year as more devices become available. And despite industry efforts, PC usage has not moved significantly beyond consumption and productivity tasks to differentiate PCs from other devices. As a result, PC lifespans continue to increase, thereby limiting market growth."

It's an interesting analysis that deviates from the typical, "OMG, PCs are dead, everyone wants a tablet or smartphone!!" Mobile handheld devices are hot, no doubt, but when it come down to it, traditional PCs are the real workhorses that are still used the most, according to IDC's data.

At the same time, IDC predicts the market will contract 10.1 percent by the end of the year, representing the most severe decline ever. In 2014, IDC sees the market dipping another 3.8 percent before turning slightly positive in the longer term. When the dust settles, PC shipments will hover a little over 300 million units, just ahead of 2008 volumes.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Acer 27-inch LED Monitor, PowerColor AX7870 Graphics Card, and More!

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

Acer LED Monitornewegg logo

Top Deal:

Dirty online cheaters can ruin your night when you only have a limited amount of time to game, but did you really need to punch your monitor in a fit of rage? In the worlds of Ron Burgundy, "Boy, that escalated quickly. I mean that really got out of hand fast!" Oh well, what's done is done. Turning a negative into a positive is today's top deal for an Acer S275HL bmii Black 27-inch LED Monitor for $190 with free shipping (normally $400 - use coupon code: [BFLGJLMNQT75]). It has an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel, 100,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 2 x HDMI and 1 x D-Sub connectivity, and built-in speakers when you're in a pinch for audio.

Other Deals:

PowerColor AX7870 2GBD5-M2DH Radeon HD 7870 GHz Edition 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 Video Card for $160 with free shipping (normally $190; additional $30 Mail-in rebate)

Intel 335 Series Jay Crest SSDSC2CT240A4K5 2.5-inch 240GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) for $180 with free shipping

Rosewill Throne-Window-A Black Gaming ATX Full Tower Computer Case for $140 with free shipping (normally $170; additional $30 Mail-in rebate)

Rosewill Xtreme Series RX850-S-B 850W Continuous Power Supply for $80 with free shipping (normally $150; additional $20 Mail-in rebate)

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FFXIV: A Realm Reborn nabs new award at PlayStation ceremony

Posted: 03 Dec 2013 09:00 AM PST

Filed under: , , , , , ,

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn can truly be called a special game, and it has a "Special Award" to prove it! The fantasy game was recognized at the PlayStation Awards 2013 ceremony for its originality, buzz-worthiness, influence, and performance, taking home the "Special Award" that was created to honor those exact qualities. Currently playable on the PS3, FFXIV: ARR will start beta on the PS4 February 22nd, 2013.

Players who want to see the game in action on the new console before the beta can tune into the next Producers Letter Live on December 14th at 7:00 a.m. EST. At that time, Producer Naoki Yoshida will demonstrate the PS4 version as well as highlight The Wolves' Den, Treasure Hunting, and Daily Beast Tribe Quests, three aspects of the new 2.1 content that launches three days later.

[Source: Square Enix press release]

MassivelyFFXIV: A Realm Reborn nabs new award at PlayStation ceremony originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Early beta access a perk of Aura Kingdom Founder's Packs

    Posted: 03 Dec 2013 08:00 AM PST

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    If getting in and checking out the many classes of Aura Kingdom is on your Christmas wish list, this news is for you: Aeria Games has announced a special Founder's Beta just in time for the holidays. By purchasing a Founder's Pack, players get guaranteed access to this special beta that begins on December 16th, access to the following closed beta, and other assorted goodies.

    All packs include name reservation and loyalty points, while higher-priced packs also offer costumes, gear, pets, and mounts. The top package also includes special collectables you can keep by your desk. Prices range from $19.00 to $299.00. Get a peek at the pet and two of the mounts in the new screenshots below.

    [Source: Aeria Games press release]

    Continue reading Early beta access a perk of Aura Kingdom Founder's Packs

    MassivelyEarly beta access a perk of Aura Kingdom Founder's Packs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Repopulation's housing video offers decorating tips

      Posted: 03 Dec 2013 07:30 AM PST

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      Location. location, location. It applies to in-game real estate, too! The Repopulation has three locations players can enjoy housing: in NPC cities, player cities, and instanced. To give players an idea of what housing is about, Above and Beyond Technologies has released a video discussing housing options and touring the instanced housing.

      The nearly 10-minute tour showcases the housing interface, complete with new structure placement bar, and the actual decorating. Some highlights gleaned from the demonstration include the abilities to lock structures/items in place so they aren't accidentally moved, to scale placed items larger or smaller (as well as a reset button), to rotate items, and to raise and lower items. Get all your decorating tips in the video below.

      [Source: Above and Beyond Technologies press release]

      Continue reading The Repopulation's housing video offers decorating tips

      MassivelyThe Repopulation's housing video offers decorating tips originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Massively Speaking Episode 275: Turkey coma

        Posted: 03 Dec 2013 07:00 AM PST

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        We are sad to report that Bree and Justin have fallen into turkey comas following the mass consumption of foods. However, advanced medical scientists have tapped into their brainwaves to allow them to discuss the week's news via a series of Morse code beeps and boops. Break out your pencils and paper, because decoding this episode might be a bit of a bear!

        Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

        Get the podcast:
        [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
        [MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
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        Listen here on the page:



        Read below the cut for the full show notes.

        Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 275: Turkey coma

        MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 275: Turkey coma originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          WildStar unveils its final two classes

          Posted: 03 Dec 2013 06:00 AM PST

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          It's a huge revelation!  Unless you've been following the game really closely in which case you knew about these months ago.
          WildStar has really drawn out this reveal as long as possible. We've known the game had six classes since more or less forever, that's fine. And we've known about four of them for a very long while now. So we've spent several weeks in the game's long, drawn-out reveal for all of the game's classes, which of course dealt with the four we already knew about first, leaving the lingering question marks of those last two classes.

          Finally, we can talk about those guys too. And those last two classes are pretty cool. You could guess some of the details from what we already know, but just like with WildStar's other classes there are some tricks and surprises along the way, and neither of the two previously unrevealed classes are one-trick ponies. So jump on past the break to finally find out the last two classes.

          What, you didn't think we were going to put that before the break, did you? We can draw out a reveal too.

          Continue reading WildStar unveils its final two classes

          MassivelyWildStar unveils its final two classes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Warhammer 40,000 MOBA coming early next year

            Posted: 03 Dec 2013 05:30 AM PST

            Filed under: , , ,

            WAR40K
            Still waiting for Warhammer 40,000 to break into the MMO space? Well, how about a MOBA instead? European developer Eutechnyx is hard at work on Storm of Vengeance for an early 2014 release.

            Storm of Vengeance pits the Dark Angel Space Marines against Orks in classic lane strategy. It looks to be based on the Games Workshop campaign of the same name. The MOBA will be coming to both PC and mobile platforms.

            Eutechnyx is a UK developer with a history of mostly creating racing games such as Auto Club Revolution and NASCAR The Game 2011.

            MassivelyWarhammer 40,000 MOBA coming early next year originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Daily Grind: How do you sustain your interest during lulls?

            Posted: 03 Dec 2013 05:00 AM PST

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            No time for giants, I've got botany to level.
            No matter how devoted you are to your game of choice, you will hit a lull. Patches will slow down, new stuff will be further off, and you'll find yourself unsure of what to do next because all of your major goals have already been accomplished. Maybe you're waiting for the next set of dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV or the next major update to EVE Online, but whatever game it is, you find yourself lacking anything new to do.

            So how do you sustain your interest during these lulls? For some players it's just a matter of logging on less often until the game's content starts catching up again. Others find new challenges to explore or new hobbies to pursue. Still others focus on an area of the game they've never explored before. But let's not just deal in hypotheticals -- how do you handle it?

            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: How do you sustain your interest during lulls? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Dec 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Chaos Theory: A Secret World lexicon

              Posted: 02 Dec 2013 06:00 PM PST

              Filed under: , , , , , ,

              LF3M 18/24 EXP KKTXBAI

              Look familiar? If you play The Secret World, you've likely seen this string of characters, or something similar, a thousand times over. Anyone who has done any MMO gaming is used to seeing a flood of acronyms fly by in chat channels. It's a special shorthand to convey as much information as possible without spending all that time and effort typing out whole words (which certainly comes in handy when you are busy dodging incoming attacks). Some terms are fairly common to the genre as a whole, but others are game-specific. So what happens when players jump into The Secret World for the first time? They can be left scratching their heads wondering what weird language people are speaking.

              But with everything else there is to get a handle on in the game, like the ability wheel and builds, who wants to spend time deciphering every communique? New players could speak up and outright ask what a certain term means, but who wants to expose his newbness for all to see? Instead, many just try to deduce the meaning or ignore the message all together. The problem with that is you might get something wrong (and look worse) or completely miss out on something worthwhile.

              To help allay confusion and give everyone a fair chance at understanding TSW-speak, I've gathered the most relevant terminology here in a handy guide. Not only can you decode what you read with it, but you'll have the key to sending your own messages like a pro.

              Continue reading Chaos Theory: A Secret World lexicon

              MassivelyChaos Theory: A Secret World lexicon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Not So Massively: SMITE's launch date, Star Citizen's $33m goal, and Elite's cockpit reveal

                Posted: 02 Dec 2013 05:00 PM PST

                Filed under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

                Game title image
                Another $3 million was pledged to Star Citizen this week during the Thanksgiving livestream, pushing the total to over $33.5 million and unlocking several new ships for play. Developers now have over 50% more finance than was initially required for their ambitious plans. Meanwhile, Elite: Dangerous' art director took players on a tour of some impressive work on the cockpit and user interface systems in a new video dev diary, showing everything from battle damage to pilots reacting to g-forces.

                Diablo III fansite DiabloFans has compiled a video list of all the new skills introduced in the upcoming Reaper of Souls expansion; each existing class gets one new class-defining skill with a selection of runes. Path of Exile added the Storm Call skill in its latest content update patch and revealed new supporter packs with unique cosmetic portal effects. And if you downloaded the latest Firefall patch, you'll need to head over to the website and download a small update or the next patch will break your game.

                In MOBA news, SMITE finally announced an official launch date of March 25th 2014 and will be starting a huge $100,000 tournament in January to celebrate the event. Turbine's DC Comics MOBA Infinite Crisis also received a new champion this week with the introduction of the bizarre ranged damage-dealer Mecha Wonder Woman.

                Continue reading Not So Massively: SMITE's launch date, Star Citizen's $33m goal, and Elite's cockpit reveal

                MassivelyNot So Massively: SMITE's launch date, Star Citizen's $33m goal, and Elite's cockpit reveal originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Captain's Log: Fleets for new players in Star Trek Online

                  Posted: 02 Dec 2013 04:30 PM PST

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                  STO Fleet Starbase area
                  Once again it's time to delve into tips and tricks for new players in this week's Captain's Log. I'm quite happy to say that many of these previous columns are still very popular and generate a lot of feedback. This week I will endeavor to help new Star Trek Online (and MMO) players with questions I've received via email about the pros and cons of joining a fleet.

                  All MMOs have social groups, most called guilds. In Star Trek Online these groups are appropriately referred to as fleets due to the naval structure of the factional militaries. These social groups are extremely diverse, as diverse as the people who play the game. The trick is finding the right fit.

                  Continue reading Captain's Log: Fleets for new players in Star Trek Online

                  MassivelyCaptain's Log: Fleets for new players in Star Trek Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    The Stream Team: Space mining in EVE Online

                    Posted: 02 Dec 2013 04:00 PM PST

                    Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

                    EVE Online
                    The primary goal of EVE Online is simple: Make money without getting blown up. One of the most reliable methods of doing so is mining valuable ore from the asteroid belts that litter New Eden -- as long as you can avoid the mercenaries and pirates who patrol low-security space. Tonight, Massively's Mike Foster is headed out into the black to collect space rocks or die trying.

                    Undocking procedures begin at 7:00 p.m. EST.

                    Game: EVE Online
                    Host: Mike Foster
                    Date: Monday, December 2nd, 2013
                    Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

                    Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

                    Continue reading The Stream Team: Space mining in EVE Online

                    MassivelyThe Stream Team: Space mining in EVE Online originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      SOE planning 'additional personal progression systems' for PlanetSide 2

                      Posted: 02 Dec 2013 03:30 PM PST

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                      PlanetSide 2
                      You probably knew that PlanetSide 2 recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. You may not have known that SOE devs took to Reddit earlier today for an Ask Me Anything session. Several PS2 luminaries participated, but one of the most interesting answers was given by creative director Matt Higby. The question focused on PS2's progression system and whether or not SOE plans to augment it.

                      "At a certain point people will run out of things to unlock, we're not trying to run a non-stop gear treadmill game," Higby explained.

                      "One thing we're working on is adding additional personal progression systems that aren't tied to gear or player power -- this will allow us to provide those long term reach goals without having to either price new players out of important gear, make a punishingly steep grind for advanced upgrades, or continuously inflate the number of upgrades at the end of the treadmill like most MMO games do."

                      MassivelySOE planning 'additional personal progression systems' for PlanetSide 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Ever, Jane meets Kickstarter goal

                      Posted: 02 Dec 2013 03:00 PM PST

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                      Ever, JaneGood news, Austenites: Your shared dream of a backstabbing dinner party MMO is one step closer to coming true today as Ever, Jane has met its Kickstarter goal.

                      "Thank you all so, so much!" Lead Developer Annabel Smyth gushed. "I can't quite put into words what I feel right now -- overjoyed, overwhelmed, over... over the moon, if you'll forgive the cliché. Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

                      The Jane Austen-themed title passed its $100,000 funding goalpost just before its campaign month was finished. The team said that while it will continue to run the free prototype, the weeks ahead will be concentrated on setting up an account system, establishing funding stretch goals, and hosting in-game end-of-year parties.

                      MassivelyEver, Jane meets Kickstarter goal originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Line of Defense approaches beta test phase

                      Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:30 PM PST

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                      Line of Defense
                      After a few months of silence, Derek Smart is back with a Line of Defense update. He reports that the title is preparing to transition from alpha to beta testing, even with "setbacks" due to switching the game engine.

                      The team transitioned the game from an internal engine to the Havok Vision engine, which oversees the 25 middleware engines that handle aspects like the AI, atmospheric effects, networking, and more. He says that optimizing the game has been "touch and go for the most part," however.

                      Smart predicts that next year should be interesting for Line of Defense. "All things being equal, we should be rolling in awesomeness by Q2 2014," he writes. "Prepare to have your mind blown. Guaranteed."

                      MassivelyLine of Defense approaches beta test phase originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Final Fantasy XIV livestream details upcoming changes and the Crystal Tower

                      Posted: 02 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST

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                      Screencap -- Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer livestream
                      Final Fantasy XIV recently hosted its tenth Letter from the Producer livestream, in which producer Naoki Yoshida (or as the fans call him, Yoshi-P) tackles a number of questions regarding the game's upcoming changes and new content. The livestream itself is available for viewing in all of its two-and-a-half hour glory, but if you're just interested in the juicy questions and answers (or if you don't happen to speak Japanese), they're all transcribed in the official post.

                      The questions run the gamut from planned changes for some classes such as Dragoon and Bard to details on the upcoming aesthetician, which will allow players to change their character's hairstyle for 2,000 gil. The majority of the questions, however, are on the topic of the upcoming 24-player Crystal Tower dungeon. Yoshida provides details on the dungeon's planned difficulty (it will have an average item level requirement of 55), how loot will be distributed (each boss will drop one loot chest for each party participating), the quality of gear players will receive (item level 80, slightly weaker than gear from Binding Coil of Bahamut), and much more. For the full Q&A transcript, head on over to the game's official forums, or click past the cut to watch the livestream in its entirety.

                      Continue reading Final Fantasy XIV livestream details upcoming changes and the Crystal Tower

                      MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV livestream details upcoming changes and the Crystal Tower originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Star Trek Online creates a gingerbread colony for the holidays

                      Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:30 PM PST

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                      Star Trek Online
                      Not since Aunt Beru's blue milk has science fiction looked this tasty! Star Trek Online's mischevious Q is creating a gingerbread colony for the game's annual Winter Wonderland event.

                      As part of the event, players will be shrunk down to defend the colony from snowmen by flinging snowballs and firing snow guns at them (which, if you think about it, is kind of like flinging body parts at the enemy). Toss in ice and yetis, and you have the strangest Star Trek episode ever. And yes, I'm including the one with Data and the masks. What was that about?

                      Participants in the event can get special prizes and recipes, including a starship. Q's Winter Wonderland will be in the game from December 5th through January 16th of next year.

                      MassivelyStar Trek Online creates a gingerbread colony for the holidays originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      The Stream Team: Zombie Pandemic with Beau. Argh!

                      Posted: 02 Dec 2013 01:00 PM PST

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                      Zombie Pandemic art
                      Zombie Pandemic is a browser-based post-apocalyptic survival MMORPG. Do you like those things? Well then watch Beau Hindman as he attempts to survive while figuring out how the game works. Turn-based combat, scavenging, guts and gore -- it's all there!

                      Game: Zombie Pandemic
                      Host: Beau
                      Date: Monday, November 2nd, 2013
                      Time: 4:00 p.m. EST

                      Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

                      Continue reading The Stream Team: Zombie Pandemic with Beau. Argh!

                      MassivelyThe Stream Team: Zombie Pandemic with Beau. Argh! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        Neverwinter announces Hunter Ranger booster pack

                        Posted: 02 Dec 2013 12:30 PM PST

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                        Neverwinter
                        Cryptic today revealed a new booster pack bundle that will go live with Neverwinter's upcoming Shadowmantle expansion. Designed specifically for the Hunter Ranger, the Hunter Ranger booster pack offers a few key goodies that should soften the starting experience for players checking out Neverwinter's newest class.

                        The bundle includes a Hunter Ranger-exclusive bow and hatchet, account-wide neck and slot items, and hunting hawk companion. Additionally, it contains a bag of identification scrolls, assorted skill kits, and a 24-slot bag. Those who purchase the bundle will receive the title Master of the Savage Wild.

                        The Hunter Ranger booster pack launches alongside Shadowmantle on December 5th, 2013.

                        MassivelyNeverwinter announces Hunter Ranger booster pack originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        The Nexus Telegraph: Examining the Chua of WildStar

                        Posted: 02 Dec 2013 12:00 PM PST

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                        I swear that if you find what you think is a short joke in this article, it's unintentional.
                        Last week I proposed a theory about two of the game's races, one of them being the Mordesh. That theory, in case you didn't catch it (and it wasn't stated outright anyway) proposed that WildStar's dirty little secret races are that way in part because they say something about their home fashion. The Mordesh serve as a reminder that the Exiles are not, in fact, purely heroic figures struggling against insurmountable oppression. They're just as culpable as the Dominion in places, and they do not like thinking about that.

                        So what about the Chua? What do they remind the Dominion of, aside from the ironclad law that every single MMO has to have one token short race? The Chua hit that button pretty hard. Just like Gnomes or Asura or Lalafells or countless other races that fall into the same role, they're a short and smart race known to be full of energy with an affection for technology, magic, and the usual assortment of things smart people like. The biggest difference is that WildStar's short race is both furry and insane.

                        Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Examining the Chua of WildStar

                        MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Examining the Chua of WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          Age of Conan to receive some new world bosses

                          Posted: 02 Dec 2013 11:30 AM PST

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                          Meet the new world boss, similar to several of the less world-related bosses, something something fooled again.
                          Do you like finding huge monsters out in the world and taking them down? Then you'll have reason to be excited about Age of Conan's upcoming world boss system. The most recent game director's letter explains that these bosses are an outgrowth of the anniversary event designed to make the game world feel more dynamic. Each boss will have a one-week spawn period, and with 12 bosses in total, players will be facing a different boss each month.

                          The boss will spawn within one or two outdoor areas and can be engaged and fought by any level-appropriate characters within those areas, with rewards going to anyone who takes part in the fight and survives for at least one minute before it dies. Item caches are dropped by each individual boss, but the bigger reward comes to players who manage to be counted as slaying all 12 bosses as they spawn. For more details, as well as information about upcoming gathering and event changes, take a look at the full game director's letter.

                          MassivelyAge of Conan to receive some new world bosses originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          Lineage 2 launching Valiance expansion December 11th

                          Posted: 02 Dec 2013 11:00 AM PST

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                          Though the Goddess of Destruction failed to obliterate Aden, that doesn't mean all was destined to stay peaceful and quiet in Lineage II. On the contrary, on December 11th, old threats (including four returning raid bosses) will resurface and new challenges will arise when L2's newest expansion, Valiance, launches.

                          Beyond the evolving storyline, this expansion brings an assortment of new goodies for players to experience, including updated raiding systems, almost 80 new raid bosses, a new ability system, a skill system overhaul, and the return of the Gracia hunting grounds. Get a glimpse of what's to come next week in the new screenshots below.

                          [Source: NCsoft press release]

                          MassivelyLineage 2 launching Valiance expansion December 11th originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                            Bylos talks Tokyo, new scenario difficulty, and more in TSW's November letter

                            Posted: 02 Dec 2013 10:00 AM PST

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                            Bylos talks Tokyo, new scenario difficulty, and more in TSW's November letter
                            In his November Game Director letter for The Secret World, Joel Bylos covered a variety of topics, from Issue #8's augments and scenarios to holiday events and Tokyo. The biggest news involving The Venetian Agenda is that a new level of difficulty is being added to the scenario system; on top of Normal, Elite, and Nightmare Modes, there will be a Novice difficulty to allow more players to participate without watering down the challenge of the current levels.

                            As promised previously, Bylos also offered an update on Tokyo. Players can get a better grasp of the incoming AEGIS system, a new type of defensive shielding,that will roll out in separate parts in Issue's #9, 10, and 11. On a sad note, Bylos also stated that Issue #9 won't hit before the end of the year, but it is expected early next year. At least while fans wait they can participate in the End of Days event that will return for the holidays as well as a brand-new event that is still hush-hush.

                            MassivelyBylos talks Tokyo, new scenario difficulty, and more in TSW's November letter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Dec 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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