MMO Updates

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• The Game Archaeologist: Ultima Online field report
• WRUP: Geopolitical conspiracies
• The Daily Grind: What is your guild like?
• The Stream Team: Starting The Elder Scrolls Online adventure
• Betawatch: March 8 - 14, 2014
• Landmark will be included in SOE's All-Access program; latest EQ Next roundtable video now live
• Perfect World Entertainment announces Swordsman
• Transformers Universe opens up first-come, first-served beta signups
• Introducing Das Tal, a PvP sandbox where players make the rules
• Hands-on with MOBA Dawngate's closed beta
• Lord of the Rings Online is getting a new class in 2014
• The Stream Team: Breaking a world record with Age of Ascent
• Elder Scrolls Online promises 'polished, lag-free launch experience'
• EverQuest turns 15 years old on March 16
• Pirates of the Burning Sea CEO on the economic revamp and a player-driven world

The Game Archaeologist: Ultima Online field report Posted: 15 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, Opinion, Ultima Online, The Game Archaeologist, Subscription A recent Daily Grind here on Massively asked about what games readers think deserve more coverage on the site. That's a loaded question, of course, but the answers were still very interesting to me, especially the desire from some of you to read more about older games. Even though I've looked at the history and development of classic MMOs, I don't often know what's going on inside of them right now. With insular communities and a dearth of news being put forth by the studio, the only way that I can think of to find out the real skinny is to ask those who do still love and play these games regularly. So that's when the idea for a "field report" series on Game Archaeologist came forth. Every so often I'm going to track down players of classic MMOs and see what's happening in them and their communities from these first-hand perspectives. Today we've got Dimitri and Common Sense from Ultima Online, who graciously took the time to answer my questions. Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Ultima Online field report The Game Archaeologist: Ultima Online field report originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

WRUP: Geopolitical conspiracies Posted: 15 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game where we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you tell us how the ArcheAge IP-blocking fiasco is part of a grand geopolitical conspiracy related to Russian politics in Eurasia and not just, you know, the relatively petty squabbles of international video games conglomerates. Also, give us ArcheAge. Continue reading WRUP: Geopolitical conspiracies WRUP: Geopolitical conspiracies originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What is your guild like? Posted: 15 Mar 2014 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Guilds, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous Guilds make up the framework that carries the load of social interaction in MMOs, and as such they have always fascinated me. I've been in huge guilds and I've been in small guilds. I've been in guilds with incredibly close friends and I've been in guilds with absolute jerks. I've been in creative guilds, RP guilds, raiding guilds, and silly guilds. Right now I'm a member in four guilds in the active MMOs that I play, and each one has its own personality and makeup. But I don't want to bore you with my guilds, I want you to bore me with yours! Wait, that didn't come out right. I mean, I want you to tell me all about your guild today. What's it like? How did you find it? What do you all do together? Why are you in this guild and not another? 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 is your guild like? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Stream Team: Starting The Elder Scrolls Online adventure Posted: 14 Mar 2014 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Livestream, The Elder Scrolls Online, The Stream Team, Subscription Are you impatient to see what The Elder Scrolls Online is about but can't get into beta? Or maybe you just want to see what Massively's MJ thinks about a game world she's never really experienced! Assuming she can make it past character creation, she'll be exploring the beginning of life in Tamriel. Join us live at 9:00 p.m. EDT to follow the adventures and talk all things ESO. Game: The Elder Scrolls Online Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Friday, March 14th, 2014 Time: 9:00 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Starting The Elder Scrolls Online adventure The Stream Team: Starting The Elder Scrolls Online adventure originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Betawatch: March 8 - 14, 2014 Posted: 14 Mar 2014 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Launches, Betawatch, Miscellaneous Turbine's MOBA Infinite Crisis soft-launched into beta today, so Betawatch bids it a fond farewell. What else is new in the world of MMO testing? WildStar announced its launch date: June 8th, 2014. The Elder Scrolls Online kicks off one last beta weekend tonight. Elite: Dangerous' 3.0 alpha has arrived. Transformers Universe is now taking tester signups. Black Desert will begin a second round of closed beta testing on April 4th. Black Gold's alpha is set to start on March 20th. MyDream joins our closed testing list. We've got our complete roundup of MMOs in testing after the cut. Read on! Continue reading Betawatch: March 8 - 14, 2014 Betawatch: March 8 - 14, 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Landmark will be included in SOE's All-Access program; latest EQ Next roundtable video now live Posted: 14 Mar 2014 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, MMO Industry, New Titles, Free-to-Play, EverQuest Next, Sandbox, MMORPG SOE has today updated the FAQ for its multi-MMO All-Access Program. Among the update highlights is the news that EverQuest Next Landmark will be included in the All-Access program, but not in time for April 16th. What else do you need to know that you didn't know before? Every participating game will clearly show players when they've received their monthly 500 Station Cash. Multiple-month memberships will not grant all of their bonuses at once. Existing silver memberships in EverQuest and EverQuest II will be grandfathered but no longer available to newcomers. Separate accounts for different SOE games will remain separate. Multiple game memberships on a single account will be merged into a single All-Access membership reflecting total game time and rated on the oldest membership. In EverQuest Next news, SOE has posted up its latest roundtable video, this time discussing whether a single character should be able to do ALL THE CRAFTS. We've embedded it below! Continue reading Landmark will be included in SOE's All-Access program; latest EQ Next roundtable video now live Landmark will be included in SOE's All-Access program; latest EQ Next roundtable video now live originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: EQN YouTube, All-Access Program FAQ

Perfect World Entertainment announces Swordsman Posted: 14 Mar 2014 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Historical, Trailers, Video, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play Don't you love a clear, unambiguous title? Swordsman leaves no doubt as to what the game will involve. Put simply, there will be swords. There will be men. There will be men with swords, men who know how to use swords. There may even be men who know how to use swords fighting other men with swords. It's a title that promises to deliver a whole lot of swords and men with training in same, what else could you ask? Yes, there's more information than that. Swordsman is based upon popular wuxia novels by Louis Cha, set during the Ming dynasty and featuring ten diverse fighting styles. It sounds like a familiar premise, but it certainly beats another outing in which you're a pseudo-European knight with gleaming plate armor, yes? Check out the full press release for the game just past the break, and sign up for beta on the official site if that's your bag. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release] Continue reading Perfect World Entertainment announces Swordsman Perfect World Entertainment announces Swordsman originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Transformers Universe opens up first-come, first-served beta signups Posted: 14 Mar 2014 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Previews, News Items, Kids, Transformers Universe, MOBA Do you want to be in the first wave of Transformers Universe testing? Then go sign up right now. No, don't finish reading the rest of this article, sign up right this moment. The first beta event is apparently taking place this weekend, March 15th and 16th, and invitations are being handed out according to the highly advanced metric of "the first people who ask for it get it." So go sign up, we'll be here when you get back. If you don't get in, you can still entertain yourself with two new character reveals past the cut. Front-Line is a big old hulk of an Autobot warrior with twin axes, a chaingun, and a massive hammer for use against the Decepticons. Conduit, meanwhile, takes care of the Deception medical needs while also providing fire support with his ranged rifle. You can take a look at both videos embedded just past the break. [Source: Jagex press release] Continue reading Transformers Universe opens up first-come, first-served beta signups Transformers Universe opens up first-come, first-served beta signups originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Beta signup

Introducing Das Tal, a PvP sandbox where players make the rules Posted: 14 Mar 2014 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New Titles, PvP, Sandbox If your fun's been stunted by a sad lack of free-for-all PvP sandboxes, then might we suggest you're not looking very hard? Let us give you a start in this direction, at least, as Fairytale Distillery announced its upcoming project, Das Tal. Das Tal is a "fast-paced" sandbox that includes open PvP, full looting of players' corpses, a classless character system, and a constant struggle over resources and player settlements. Probably the most interesting aspect of this MMO is that each server will eventually reach a "climactic end event" and then restart, allowing players to vote on the rules and features for the next iteration. Das Tal is on Steam Greenlight, is currently in the pre-production stage, and will most likely be doing a fundraising campaign at some point. We've got a teaser trailer for you with the creepiest voice-over ever after the break. [Thanks to Skurvel for the tip!] Continue reading Introducing Das Tal, a PvP sandbox where players make the rules Introducing Das Tal, a PvP sandbox where players make the rules originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Steam Greenlight

Hands-on with MOBA Dawngate's closed beta Posted: 14 Mar 2014 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Previews, PvP, Opinion, Hands-On, First Impressions, MOBA Dawngate. Another day, another MOBA, right? So why bother with this one? What does it do differently? What does it do better? Why play this over something else? I can't be the only gamer asking these questions, especially in such an oversaturated market, so I spent my weekend playing EA's Dawngate closed beta for that very reason. Here's how it all works. When entering a match, you'll choose your character and then your preferred role to help coordinate with your group. This isn't just an "I'm going to jungle" icon; it actually provides you certain benefits for playing your role correctly. For example, a "hunter" does bonus damage to jungle NPCs and is healed for a portion of their total health after you kill them. Continue reading Hands-on with MOBA Dawngate's closed beta Hands-on with MOBA Dawngate's closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Lord of the Rings Online is getting a new class in 2014 Posted: 14 Mar 2014 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Classes, Free-to-Play The character selection screen in Lord of the Rings Online will see a major shake-up in 2014, as a new class is reportedly on the way for the game. LOTRO Players announced the news on Twitter: "LotRO is getting a new class later in the year. [Executive Producer] Aaron Campbell just said it on livestream. No other info is known at this time." Speculation is wide open, although Campbell did drop a few clues according to livestream listeners: "He did state that he had a conversation with Tolkien Enterprises and it's within the lore of the trilogy. He said that it was mentioned in the books several times." Lord of the Rings Online is getting a new class in 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: LotRO Twitch Via: LOTRO Players

The Stream Team: Breaking a world record with Age of Ascent Posted: 14 Mar 2014 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Video, Events (In-Game), Interviews, New Titles, PvP, War, Free-to-Play, Browser, Hands-On, MMOFPS, Events (Massively's Coverage), Livestream, Sandbox, The Stream Team, Crowdfunding If you've ever wanted to be part of gaming history, check out this livestream with Massively's Beau Hindman and members of the Age of Ascent developer team. They'll be attempting to literally break a Guinness World Record for the largest videogame PvP battle, currently standing at 4,075 players! Age of Ascent launched its Kickstarter yesterday and is offering pledge rewards from special in-game ships to dinner with the devs. Join us live at 3 p.m. EDT. Game: Age of Ascent Host: Beau Hindman Date: Friday, March 14th, 2014 Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Breaking a world record with Age of Ascent The Stream Team: Breaking a world record with Age of Ascent originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Elder Scrolls Online promises 'polished, lag-free launch experience' Posted: 14 Mar 2014 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, Dev Diaries, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription ZeniMax Lead Developer Matt Firor rallied the legions of Elder Scrolls Online fans today with a lengthy post about what the studio's done and what it's planning to do to ensure a successful launch of the game. Firor said that beta feedback and testing has been invaluable, prompting the team to streamline the starting experience and make combat "more substantial." He was also impressed by what he saw during testing: "Some of the things we've discovered with your help excite and inspire us -- like seeing that 98% of characters created have a unique appearance, or seeing the first emperor crowned in our epic PvP system -- while other findings challenge us to make the game better." To ready the game for launch, there will be one final stress test this weekend. ZeniMax has prepared megaservers for both North America and Europe, and the studio assured players that playing cross-region will not result in any drop of latency. The team also has a number of overflow servers on the ready to deal with the initial crush. Finally, Firor said that we'll soon hear more about the first post-launch update that will add the Craglorn zone for endgame players. "We will make sure that no matter where you live, every player in North America, Europe, Oceania, and many places beyond will have a polished, lag-free launch experience," Firor promised. Elder Scrolls Online promises 'polished, lag-free launch experience' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: ESO road ahead

EverQuest turns 15 years old on March 16 Posted: 14 Mar 2014 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, EverQuest, MMO Industry, News Items, PvE, Free-to-Play, Anniversaries "While everyone was worrying about the world ending with Y2K in 1999," says SOE's latest press release, we were "creating a new world that forever changed the MMO and gaming industry with the introduction of EverQuest." Whether that change was good or bad is certainly debatable, but no one can deny the long-running fantasy themepark's massive influence. March 16th is EQ's 15th birthday, and SOE has released a video and an infographic to celebrate. Click past the cut to check them both out. Continue reading EverQuest turns 15 years old on March 16 EverQuest turns 15 years old on March 16 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Anniversary announcement

Pirates of the Burning Sea CEO on the economic revamp and a player-driven world Posted: 14 Mar 2014 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Historical, Pirates of the Burning Sea, Economy, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Sandbox Pirates of the Burning Sea recently celebrated its sixth anniversary as well as the one-year anniversary of parent company Portalus' decision to strike out on its own following the expiration of its Sony Online Entertainment publishing contract. The dev team is currently prepping a major economic revamp, but CEO Charles Ellis kindly spared a few moments to answer Massively's burning questions. Join us after the cut as we talk about life after SOE, the game's robust economy, and Portalus' future plans. Continue reading Pirates of the Burning Sea CEO on the economic revamp and a player-driven world Pirates of the Burning Sea CEO on the economic revamp and a player-driven world originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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