MMO Updates

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• CCP plans monument to EVE Online players in Iceland
• The Elder Scrolls Online hosting another beta event this weekend
• Final Fantasy XIV provides Square Enix profitable 2013
• Leaderboard: What's the most you'd pay for early access?
• The Daily Grind: What's your most screenshotted game?
• The Stream Team: Checking out claims in EQN Landmark
• Jukebox Heroes: Free Realms' soundtrack
• SOE's Higby on bringing PlanetSide 2 to the PS4
• Nether adds crafting, creature mode, and tribes
• Gloria Victis rebuilds animations and database as alpha approaches
• The Stream Team: FFXIV's Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak
• The Soapbox: Novel content trumps novel mechanics
• Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen reveals the mind-blowing Enchanter
• Smedley hints at supposed game for Star Wars Galaxies lovers (yet again)

CCP plans monument to EVE Online players in Iceland Posted: 05 Feb 2014 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, Sandbox More than an in-game monument to a single battle, EVE Online fans will soon be able to visit a tangible monument in Reykjavik, Iceland recognizing and honoring all players. The monument will feature two main elements facing each other through a reflective stainless steel barrier, a quote from the EVE universe, and the names of all main characters created as of March 1st, 2014, (including a special mention of players who have passed away). Underneath the structure, a laptop containing videos and messages from players and staff will be buried as a time capsule. The completed work will be unveiled April 30th, just in time for Fanefest 2014. Of this endeavor, CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Petursson stated, "Our intention is to immortalize the contributions of the millions of people of the EVE universe in a way that extends beyond their immortality in our games. Honoring them as part of a timeless monument shows how virtual lives and adventures have reached a new level of meaning and impact that weaves into and enhances those that happen in this world. We are humbled by all those that have joined us on the journey so far, and it's our hope that this physical piece will continue to gather energy and relevance into decades to come, becoming like EVE Online and outliving us all." [Source: CCP press release] CCP plans monument to EVE Online players in Iceland originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Elder Scrolls Online hosting another beta event this weekend Posted: 05 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription With the NDA still firmly in place, the best way to know what is happening in The Elder Scrolls Online is to see for yourself, and many fans will be doing just that this weekend during the game's next beta event. And according to the official site, even more invitations are going out than before, so players should be sure to check their spam folders as well as Gmail's promotions tab. The event itself starts Friday, February 7th at 12:00 p.m. EST and lasts until Monday, February 10th at 11:29 p.m. EST. Characters that players created during the previous test will be available to play. [Thanks to all who sent in tips!] The Elder Scrolls Online hosting another beta event this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Beta invites

Final Fantasy XIV provides Square Enix profitable 2013 Posted: 05 Feb 2014 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, News Items, Final Fantasy XIV Final Fantasy XIV's reboot last year was more than anecdotal good for Square Enix's image, it was pretty positive for the bottom line. 2013's fiscal year ended with the company pulling in profits between 3.5 to 6.0 billion yen ($34 to 59 million), compared to losses equaling 13.7 billion yen ($135.4 million) in 2012. Although A Realm Reborn wasn't the only factor in this turnaround (reduced operating costs as well as increased revenue from other segments of the company also played a part), it was a major contributor. The segment of the company housing video games operation reported a revenue of 56.6 billion yen ($559.4 million) in the final nine months of the year compared to previous operating losses of 392 million yen ($3.9 million). Final Fantasy XIV provides Square Enix profitable 2013 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Gamasutra

Leaderboard: What's the most you'd pay for early access? Posted: 05 Feb 2014 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Sandbox, Leaderboard, Crowdfunding, Elite: Dangerous, Buy-to-Play I want to play Elite: Dangerous. Like, really bad and stuff. The good news is that I can, since Frontier has jumped on the pay-for-early-access train and is selling slots to its alpha. The bad news is that said slots go for around $320.00 USD depending on the exchange rate. In other words, I can help squash bugs and fumble around with unfinished systems and content, or I can enjoy nearly six full-price triple-A games. So, yeah. As much I'd like to support (and write about) another promising space sim sandbox, I think I've found my upper limit in terms of game pricing. What about you, Massively readers? What's the most you'd pay for early access to one of your most anticipated games? Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard! Continue reading Leaderboard: What's the most you'd pay for early access? Leaderboard: What's the most you'd pay for early access? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What's your most screenshotted game? Posted: 05 Feb 2014 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Screenshots, Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous I'm a screenshot junkie. Many of us on the staff are. I wouldn't be running One Shots if I wasn't, really. I compulsively take pictures of interesting vistas, events, and glitches in every MMO that I play. However, there are some games that have me reaching for the screenshot key more often than others. For instance, The Secret World has caused me to take so many pictures that I quickly found out that there's an upper limit on how many screenshots a folder can hold (it's a thousand). What about you? What MMO do you take screenshots in the most? And why don't you wing some of the more interesting ones my way for One Shots (cheap plug)? 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: What's your most screenshotted game? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Stream Team: Checking out claims in EQN Landmark Posted: 04 Feb 2014 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, New Titles, Free-to-Play, EverQuest Next, Livestream, Crafting, Housing, The Stream Team, Player-Generated Content Have you gotten enough of EverQuest Next Landmark? Neither has Massively's MJ! She can hardly tear herself away, alpha or not. It may not be the most action-packed game, but there is plenty to do and she's barely scratched the surface; there are world shards to explore, claims to investigate, and tons of resources to collect. Oh, and let's not forget crafting: More resources means more goodies for the claim and better tools for harvesting. This time around, MJ is going to try not to be distracted by resources as she explores the fruits of others' labors. Join us live at 9:00 p.m. for a look at player creativity. Game: EverQuest Next Landmark Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Tuesday, February 4th, 2014 Time: 9:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Checking out claims in EQN Landmark The Stream Team: Checking out claims in EQN Landmark originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Feb 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Jukebox Heroes: Free Realms' soundtrack Posted: 04 Feb 2014 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Free Realms, Kids, Jukebox Heroes, Music There's something about the announcement of a game's closure that draws tons of interest to that MMO, the type of interest that it frankly needed long before now, not a few minutes too late. Even so, I had Free Realms on my to do list for a while now and figured that spending an hour with its score was something that needed to be done. Free Realms had had a lot of fingers in its musical pie, including those belonging to Tracy W. Bush, Atli Örvarsson, David Raiklen, and Aaron Kaplan. As a score, it's very reminiscent of The Sims franchise's soundtracks: whimsical, childlike, and quite light on pounding percussion. The many minigames and themed zones probably demanded a good variety of motifs to be developed. It's a very good score overall although not as wide on variety as I would typically like. Let's give this game the musical send-off it deserves! Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Free Realms' soundtrack Jukebox Heroes: Free Realms' soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Feb 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE's Higby on bringing PlanetSide 2 to the PS4 Posted: 04 Feb 2014 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Community Q&A, PlanetSide 2 PlanetSide 2 creative director Matt Higby stopped by ShackNews for a quick interview this week. The piece focused on fan feedback as well as the upcoming PlayStation 4 version of SOE's MMOFPS. Higby says that "designing the UI/UX to be more console-friendly and figuring out ways to better contextualize the massive scale combat for players who are used to more arena-style FPS gaming has been the most challenging" aspect of development thus far. "This is something we encounter with the PC version of the game, too, so we're used to thinking about it, but bringing this game to the console market puts an extra layer of importance on these goals," he explained. SOE's Higby on bringing PlanetSide 2 to the PS4 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Feb 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: ShackNews

Nether adds crafting, creature mode, and tribes Posted: 04 Feb 2014 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Horror, Video, Guilds, Patches, MMOFPS, Post-Apocalyptic, Crafting The mean streets of Nether are easing up a bit on players, as Phosphor Games has patched in a slew of helpful systems for its February update. The trio of new features includes crafting, a creature mode, and tribes. Crafting encourages players to scavenge from their adventures and fashion gear and weapons to use and trade. If being a bad guy is your thing, then the new creature mode allows users to step into the twisted role of a nether to stalk victims. And tribes, Nether's version of guilds, are now in the game with bases, a skill tree, and special objectives to be patched in later in the month. Players who join a tribe from now through February 15th will earn special bonuses including currency and a free uniform. We've got a video showing some of the February update features after the jump, so get a move on, little doggy! [Source: Phosphor Games press release] Continue reading Nether adds crafting, creature mode, and tribes Nether adds crafting, creature mode, and tribes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Feb 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gloria Victis rebuilds animations and database as alpha approaches Posted: 04 Feb 2014 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Historical, News Items, Crowdfunding Updates on Gloria Victis have been sparse recently, but according to the development team, that's because a lot of behind-the-scenes work has been getting done. The team has just finished polishing off two major projects, starting with a complete rework of the game's database structure to allow for easier updates and improvements. The downside is that it doesn't make much difference in play; the upside is that it will allow the team to easily change and update the game with less futzing about. Black Eye Games has also reworked the animations for combat as well as the mechanics, and different sorts of weapon will now interact with armor in a more realistic fashion. The team is working on a video to show off the improvements, though it's not quite ready yet. It's a bit of an invisible update, but it means that development is still continuing, and when the game finally launches into alpha testing it should be that much more engaging. [Source: Black Eye Games press release] Gloria Victis rebuilds animations and database as alpha approaches originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Stream Team: FFXIV's Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak Posted: 04 Feb 2014 12:00 PM PST Filed under: PvE, Final Fantasy XIV, Livestream, Dungeons, The Stream Team, MMORPG In the world of MMORPGs, there's no such thing as too many dungeons, or, apparently, too many maws. Today, Massively's Jasmine Hruschak heals her way through Final Fantasy XIV's mid-level dungeon, The Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak! Join us live at 3:00 p.m. EST for webs, slime, and monstrous bugs. Game: Final Fantasy XIV Host: Jasmine Hruschak Date: Tuesday, February 4th, 2014 Time: 3:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Steam Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: FFXIV's Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak The Stream Team: FFXIV's Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Feb 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Soapbox: Novel content trumps novel mechanics Posted: 04 Feb 2014 11:00 AM PST Filed under: City of Heroes, Game Mechanics, Patches, Endgame, Opinion, The Soapbox, Dungeons, Player-Generated Content Action combat. Interactive conversations. Public quests. Voxel worlds. There are many game mechanics that developers of massively multiplayer online games crow about when promoting their games because these are the things that make their games stand out from the pack. Even if they're not the first to do it, they'll proclaim that they're doing it bigger and better than their predecessors. I don't have a problem with any of this. It's when the developers and their ardent fans gloss over the importance of the actual content these mechanics are applied to that I get annoyed. Mechanics are just a skeleton, and they can't do anything at all without some meat on the bones. Content matters, and good, fresh content will keep players interested long after the novelty of unusual mechanics has worn off. Continue reading The Soapbox: Novel content trumps novel mechanics The Soapbox: Novel content trumps novel mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Feb 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen reveals the mind-blowing Enchanter Posted: 04 Feb 2014 10:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Previews, News Items We regret to inform you that the Enchanter in Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen will literally blow your mind. Yes, we know, literally can now be used to mean figuratively, but we're using the classic definition here. Your mind will swell and burst. It will be messy and presumably uncomfortable. Well, all right, the class probably can't do that unless you're in the game, but if you do somehow occupy the game world, this class can totally do that. Assuming for a minute that you want to do something other than just make heads explode around you all day long, the Enchanter is set up to have a few more tricks. Enchanters can specialize as a Beguiler or a Phantasmist, with the former focusing on charms, stuns, and debuffs whilst the latter hypnotizes groups and uses them as a private army. Check out more details on the official class reveal page if you can't get enough of mind tricks. Or if you just want to know more about the head-explosion thing. Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen reveals the mind-blowing Enchanter originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Feb 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Kickstarter update

Smedley hints at supposed game for Star Wars Galaxies lovers (yet again) Posted: 04 Feb 2014 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, MMO Industry, News Items, Miscellaneous, Sandbox So what exactly will Sony Online Entertainment's love letter to Star Wars Galaxies fans look like? Who knows? Actually, that's a silly question -- John Smedley knows, and he seems to enjoy teasing people about what the game will contain. A recent pair of tweets from the man promise that players who enjoyed sandbox elements of SWG such as player-run towns and bases might well enjoy the new mystery game. Of course, that could still mean almost anything. Will it still have the same science fiction theme? Will it play like SWG? Is it just DayZ with a different name? Can you really make a bigger sandbox than EverQuest Next Landmark is trying to be? Maybe you could offer up a title? But it's a hint, at least. Hopeful fans can keep their eyes peeled for more in the days to come. Smedley hints at supposed game for Star Wars Galaxies lovers (yet again) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Feb 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Twitter, Source: Twitter

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