MMO Updates |
- Ask Massively: Too many MMOs still lack serious LFG tools
- Black Desert ramping up beta testing
- Marvel: Avengers Alliance to shutdown on Playdom
- The Daily Grind: Is story more fun for you than game mechanics?
- SMITE brings out Ullr right before official release
- The Think Tank: The importance of auction halls in MMORPGs
- City of Titans to make use of Unreal 4
- Ultima Online patches in searchable player vendors
- A Tale in the Desert is under new management
- Destiny to use facial motion capture
- Amazons await in DC Universe Online's 10th DLC this spring
- Shadowrun Online heading to Steam Early Access on March 31st
- GDC 2014: Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida explains what tanked it and what saved it
- EverQuest Next Landmark going into closed beta next week [Updated]
- Meet Civilization Online's four civs
- WildStar reboots forums and prepares for weekend beta test
- Here are five videos for Diablo III's new level 61 skills
- Obsidian behind new Armored Warfare MMO
| Ask Massively: Too many MMOs still lack serious LFG tools Posted: 21 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous, Dungeons  Developers clearly see PvE instances as a key part of the MMO experience. So why do so many of them fail to ensure I can access this content with a solid group finder? I have been trying to play something other than World of Warcraft (which does have a group finder) for a number of years. But even my current pick, The Secret World, commits this sin. I usually end up annoyed at spending time in LFG channels trying to form a group, so I give up, first on grouping and then on the game.I have a theory, but you're not going to like it, and you might end up back in WoW when I'm done. Continue reading Ask Massively: Too many MMOs still lack serious LFG tools
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| Black Desert ramping up beta testing Posted: 21 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Sandbox, Black Desert  [Thanks buttle!]
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| Marvel: Avengers Alliance to shutdown on Playdom Posted: 21 Mar 2014 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Browser, Sunsets  "Although it is a difficult decision to shut down a game," a note to the players states, "this decision will allow us to focus on building new, more engaging games." This shutdown will only affect the Playdom version of the game, not the Facebook version. Playdom says that it will offer no refunds or credits for "virtual goods, game currency or other items purchased" once the game stops being offered on Playdom's platform.
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| The Daily Grind: Is story more fun for you than game mechanics? Posted: 21 Mar 2014 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous, Player-Generated Content  From my perspective, games most definitely need to be fun. What they don't need is a screenwriter. Games are built on interactivity and interesting mechanics, and I'd not like to see more development money wasted on straight-jacket narratives that are better suited to books or filmed entertainment. Assassin's Creed, funnily enough, is the perfect example of gameplay trumping story. I've exhausted every title in the series, even the portables, and am currently enjoying the heck out of Black Flag. But I couldn't tell you a thing about the characters or the plot. The series' raison d'etre is open-world platforming, collection minigames, and in the case of IV, commanding a frickin' pirate ship! How about it, Massively readers? Agree? Disagree? Is story more fun for you than game mechanics?  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!
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| SMITE brings out Ullr right before official release Posted: 20 Mar 2014 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Classes, Launches, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA  Swapping between ranged and melee stances also shifts how Ullr's abilities work. Ranged mode allows him to fire a column of damage or use a targeted AoE along with a buff to physical damage. Melee mode, however, swaps abilities to a ranged attack, a leap to a target location, and a movement speed buff. The patch has also updated the physical models of several gods, meaning that when the game goes live next week, it'll be in the best state possible... and with one more god to play.
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| The Think Tank: The importance of auction halls in MMORPGs Posted: 20 Mar 2014 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Economy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, Miscellaneous, The Think Tank  Continue reading The Think Tank: The importance of auction halls in MMORPGs
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| City of Titans to make use of Unreal 4 Posted: 20 Mar 2014 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Super-hero, News Items, Crowdfunding  The team has been under NDA regarding the engine, but development has been moving assets over from Unreal 3 to the current version. Unreal 4 will allow the team to put in animated costume parts, capes, hair, fluid, and so forth with greater ease and more flexibility. Missing Worlds Media promises that there will be more updates next week from the technology team, hopefully showing off more of what the game's new underlying graphics core is capable of. [Thanks to Byron and Celestial Lord for the tip!]
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| Ultima Online patches in searchable player vendors Posted: 20 Mar 2014 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Economy, Patches, News Items, Ultima Online, Sandbox, Player-Generated Content, Subscription, MMORPG  The patch also kicked off the game's Easter gift period because nothing says Britannia like Easter bunnies and marshmallow ducklings. In six different colors, mind you.
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| A Tale in the Desert is under new management Posted: 20 Mar 2014 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: A Tale in the Desert, MMO Industry, Free-to-Play  Citing preoccupation with another project, eGenesis has handed over management and development of A Tale in the Desert to Pluribus Games. The upside to this transition for gamers is two-fold: The new owners have made the game free for the time being and are preparing to start up the next iteration of the story, Tale VII. "EGenesis has been overwhelmed with their newest project, Dragon's Tale, and has not been able to devote the time needed to ATitD. It is our belief that we will be able to greatly improve the game for you, our customers," Pluribus announced. [Thanks to Alan for the tip!]
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| Destiny to use facial motion capture Posted: 20 Mar 2014 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, MMOFPS, Destiny  Faceware Technologies uses a "markerless" motion capture system to quickly scan and analyze actors' faces and record those expressions. Destiny artists can then take those expressions and put them on the game's models. Bungie previously worked with Faceware on Halo: Reach. You can read the full press release after the break. Continue reading Destiny to use facial motion capture
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| Amazons await in DC Universe Online's 10th DLC this spring Posted: 20 Mar 2014 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Galleries, Screenshots, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Consoles, DC Universe Online  Amazon Fury Part I will be free to Legendary Members; free players will be able to purchase it. Get a sneak peak at what's in store in the gallery below, then peruse the full press release after the break. [Source: SOE press release] [Update: SOE contacted us to clarify that the DLC will be free to Legendary Members, not a pay purchase. Yay! We've adjusted the text accordingly.] Continue reading Amazons await in DC Universe Online's 10th DLC this spring
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| Shadowrun Online heading to Steam Early Access on March 31st Posted: 20 Mar 2014 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Video, Free-to-Play, Community Q&A  In a new video, Managing Director Jan Wagner announced the Early Access release and answered several questions that the community has had for the game. He said that this version of the game will be a "prequel" with many of the core elements from Shadowrun Online, such as combat and PvP. Wagner explained why the game slipped from 2013 (they had to recode the game from scratch), promised a future DRM-free version, and assured the addition of "more building blocks" every four to six weeks as the development progresses. You can watch the full video after the break. [Thanks to Chris for the tip!] Continue reading Shadowrun Online heading to Steam Early Access on March 31st
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| GDC 2014: Final Fantasy XIV's Naoki Yoshida explains what tanked it and what saved it Posted: 20 Mar 2014 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events (Real-World), Interviews, MMO Industry, Patches, Final Fantasy XIV, Subscription  At GDC this week, Yoshida said that the team had an "unhealthy obsession" with graphical fidelity above anything else and was stuck in the development mindset of Final Fantasy XI even as the genre had progressed. He said that A Realm Reborn's saving grace was the team's effort to establish an "optimal design flow" allowing for a rapid overhaul of the title. It's also notable that Final Fantasy XIV has a new dev diary out today covering new gear and visual customizations called glamours that are coming with Patch 2.2.
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| EverQuest Next Landmark going into closed beta next week [Updated] Posted: 20 Mar 2014 01:20 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Patches, Free-to-Play, EverQuest Next, Sandbox  Landmark also got an important update today, the biggest part of which is the addition of a party system. While there is no specific UI for it yet, players can invite friends to a group through slash commands, via a friends list, or by right-clicking on them in the world. Groups earn a 20% bonus to harvested loot. The update also added in-game email, social media integration, and the ability to teleport to the continent hub or to your friends. [Update: The Landmark team has also posted to explain the differences between time-limited beta keys and founder packs.]
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| Meet Civilization Online's four civs Posted: 20 Mar 2014 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Historical, Classes, MMORTS  The four civilizations are China (led by Qin Shi Huang), Rome (led by Julius Caesar), Egypt (led by Hatshepsut), and Azteca (let by Montezuma). Civilization Online will be going into closed beta testing within the next few months and is slated to launch in Asia in 2014.
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| WildStar reboots forums and prepares for weekend beta test Posted: 20 Mar 2014 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, WildStar, Subscription  The forums have come online not a moment too soon, as WildStar is preparing for a weekend beta test that includes those who have pre-ordered the title. The beta begins tomorrow, Friday, March 21st, at 10:00 a.m. EST and concludes on Sunday at midnight EST. The beta weekends following that begin on April 4th, April 18th, and May 2nd.
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| Here are five videos for Diablo III's new level 61 skills Posted: 20 Mar 2014 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Expansions, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, PvE, Dungeons, Diablo III, Buy-to-Play  Click past the cut to see all five vids. Continue reading Here are five videos for Diablo III's new level 61 skills
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| Obsidian behind new Armored Warfare MMO Posted: 20 Mar 2014 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Real-Life, Trailers, Video, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, War, Free-to-Play  Eurogamer speculates that Armored Warfare may be an extension of Obsidian's deal with Russian megapublisher Mail.Ru, which also includes the Skyforge partnership wherein the former company lent its name and its expertise to the Allods Team's latest sci-fantasy MMO project. In any case, you can watch the World of Tanks-style Armored Warfare announcement trailer after the cut. Continue reading Obsidian behind new Armored Warfare MMO
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