MMO Updates

MMO Updates

Choose My Adventure: Goodbye for now, Elder Scrolls Online

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 10:00 AM PDT

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TESO
My time with The Elder Scrolls Online has come to a close for this month's edition of Choose My Adventure, and while I have enjoyed myself, I've taken a lot more away from this experience than I expected. One month and 14 levels later, I have not only this character we've built together but several alts spanning every race, class, and alliance.

But did I like the Nightblade the most? Will I continue to play after this Choose My Adventure is over?

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Goodbye for now, Elder Scrolls Online

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Goodbye for now, Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Here's what CCP's World of Darkness looked like

    Posted: 30 Apr 2014 09:30 AM PDT

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    World of Darkness
    CCP may have cancelled World of Darkness, but thanks to a leaker on Reddit you can get a look at some screenshots from the game as well as the lengthy manual from a March 2014 alpha playtest.

    Eurogamer reports that WoD featured safe zones such as your haven and various Elysium areas near churches, but otherwise the game allowed for open PvP. CCP's take on the beloved White Wolf property also featured four clans: the Tremere, Brujah, Toreador, and Ventrue, each with different skills, abilities, and aspect buffs.

    See the links below for the original Reddit post as well as the screenshot gallery and manual.

    MassivelyHere's what CCP's World of Darkness looked like originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Play Darkfall for free from May 1 to May 5

    Posted: 30 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

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    This rarely happens in Darkfall
    Aventurine is throwing an extended Darkfall birthday party from May 1st to May 5th, so if you've ever wanted to try the fantasy combat simulator sans its monthly subscription fee, now's your chance! The devs are also doubling prowess rewards for the duration of the event, and there's even talk of "dynamic happenings" including a treasure hunt and GM-controlled monsters.

    Darkfall's latest patch is also live. Click through to the notes if you fancy reading about new armor dyes, the mentor system, and more.

    [Thanks Jane!]

    MassivelyPlay Darkfall for free from May 1 to May 5 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    This is how mounted combat looks in Black Desert

    Posted: 30 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT

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    Black Desert mounted combat
    Pearl Abyss released a new Black Desert gameplay vid this morning that focuses on the fantasy sandbox's mounted combat. MMO Culture reports that not all character skills can be used while mounted, but "a couple of new ones are granted."

    Click past the cut to view the footage.

    Continue reading This is how mounted combat looks in Black Desert

    MassivelyThis is how mounted combat looks in Black Desert originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Elder Scrolls Online disables forum PMs, encourages outing gold sellers

    Posted: 30 Apr 2014 07:00 AM PDT

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    Here's a floating girl in ESO
    The Elder Scrolls Online has disabled PMs... on it's official forums, at least. ZeniMax is attempting to combat gold-spammers, and it's going a step further by setting aside a portion of its Code of Conduct and encouraging players to publicly identify suspected spammers.
    We request that anyone who has received a private message they believe to be from a gold spammer to post the sender's username as a comment in this thread. As we have disabled PMs, you will not be able to access your inbox on the forums, but if you received an e-mail notification to alert you to the PM you received, the sender's username should be in that e-mail.

    Please note that our Community Code of Conduct does prohibit naming and shaming. However, in an effort to expedite the process of identifying and banning the spammers' accounts, we are making an exception for this situation. We will investigate each alleged spammer account individually to avoid false reports.
    [Thanks alleomurand!]

    MassivelyElder Scrolls Online disables forum PMs, encourages outing gold sellers originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Daily Grind: Do you feel guilty for not playing an MMO?

    Posted: 30 Apr 2014 06:00 AM PDT

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    As a fan of much of the MMO field, I often feel torn, stretched, and downright guilty that I'm not playing more than I am. The allure of a familiar berth is often much more preferable than trying out a new game and having to fuss around with learning all of these unknown systems.

    Then there's the guilt that comes when I'm going through a low point with one of my staples. When I'm not "feeling it," I don't log on much and then I realize that it's been weeks since I've really played. Then a tear trickles down my cheeks as I wonder if the game and my guild feels abandoned from my stellar presence. It's horrible, I tells ya.

    So do you ever feel guilty for not playing an MMO? Is this a completely weird emotion for me to have?

    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: Do you feel guilty for not playing an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Blizzard feels 'validated' by Hearthstone's F2P model

      Posted: 29 Apr 2014 07:00 PM PDT

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      How much money have you spent? Thirty thousand dollars?
      So how long did it take for Blizzard Entertainment to feel that Hearthstone was right to adopt its free-to-play model? According to a recent interview at Eurogamer, the choice was validated when the game was still in beta. When streamers were reaching the top tier of play without having spent any money on the game, it reinforced the idea that players could do well without having to spend a great deal of money.

      Production designer Jason Cheyes mentions that there was always a concern that players would hit some sort of monetization wall, an impediment that the design team wanted to avoid. As it stands, while players can spend money to advance faster, winning matches and completing quests alone can serve to get gamers to the top -- and that's exactly what the design team wanted. It just so happens it saw it happening even during beta testing.

      MassivelyBlizzard feels 'validated' by Hearthstone's F2P model originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Massively Speaking Episode 295: The money show

      Posted: 29 Apr 2014 06:00 PM PDT

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      AA
      How much money would you drop on a pre-purchase for a free-to-play game? That seems like a trick question, but as the Massively Speaking crew finds out, it's somehow a serious question in the MMO industry. Join us for another great show as we debate moneys, murder, and Evony. Wait, who put Evony in this show? Must've been the intern, Yogash. Stupid Yogash.

      Get all of our opinions and analysis on the most important stories of the past week right here on Massively Speaking, the industry's leading MMO podcast. And if you have a comment, question, or topic for the podcasters, send 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 295: The money show

      MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 295: The money show originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        World of Warcraft continues its raid retrospective

        Posted: 29 Apr 2014 05:00 PM PDT

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        It's raid night every night. Still.
        The launch of Warlords of Draenor is going to shake up the raiding experience in World of Warcraft, and if raiding is what you like to do in the game, that's pretty important. But rather than just explain how raiding will be in the new expansion, Blizzard has opted to look past through the previous expansions and examine how revisions have affected the game over the years. Yesterday's blog covered launch through Wrath of the Lich King, while this entry focuses on Cataclysm and Mists of Pandaria.

        Cataclysm removed the difficulty gap between 10-person and 25-person raids, but the side effect was a pressure to produce smaller raid groups rather than grow to bigger groups. It also introduced the raid finder as a mechanic, encouraging more people to experience the content. Mists of Pandaria, on the other hand, suffered from bottlenecks that prevented non-raiding groups from making any progress, although flex raiding was deemed a better way to get groups in and playing. Take a look at the full article for more details on the ups and downs, with part 3 set to address the future of raiding in Warlords of Draenor.

        MassivelyWorld of Warcraft continues its raid retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        SOE's revamped All-Access membership plan is finally live

        Posted: 29 Apr 2014 04:30 PM PDT

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        SOE
        After a brief delay this month, SOE's Mark Tuttle announced today that the refreshed All Access membership plan is now live across all of the studio's core games (and some of its future titles), including EverQuest, EverQuest II, DC Universe Online, Landmark, PlanetSide 2, and eventually, EverQuest Next and H1Z1.
        For $14.99 per month (or less if you purchase multiple months at a time), players can now have top tier access to all participating SOE games. This means if you want to take a break from sneaking around Auraxis in your Stalker Cloak and test your mettle against the dragon, Nagafen, or The Joker in DCUO, you can do so with all member benefits. And since your Station Cash wallet is good in all SOE games, you can drop some coin on a snazzy new outfit in EQII to announce, "Yes, I have arrived!" To continue the awesome, as a member players get 10% off the Marketplace price of that item! Go ahead, splurge for the spikey hat and the bunny mount!
        Tuttle reminds players that station cash must be manually redeemed via the claim button within a game's marketplace and that a discounted package deal (12 months for $99.99) is also available.

        Addendum: Tipster Joshua points out that PlanetSide 1 will also be partly supported by the new plan. SOE explained, "We will offer PlanetSide 1 as free to play game for everyone when the new program rolls out, on or about April 29th, 2014 (or sooner!). Please note that PS1 has no Marketplace and will not see further game development. We know that a large number of people have played it in the past, and we hope you'll enjoy it again, on us."

        MassivelySOE's revamped All-Access membership plan is finally live originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Come sail away with this ArcheAge ship preview video

        Posted: 29 Apr 2014 04:00 PM PDT

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        AA
        It seems as though there is a lot of buzz around ArcheAge's watercraft, although this impression may be caused by Massively's Jef running up and down the halls screaming, "They have rooooowboaaaaats!" on the half-hour. However, if you haven't seen what this upcoming title has in store with ships, check out the following video preview that demos several types, from small to big.

        Aly and The Professionals say that there can be a lot of fun on these "party boats;" however, "you should be aware that parties on the sea include being jumped by sea creatures, pirates, and over-excited guildmates who take full advantage of character collision by pushing you overboard."

        Give these crafted ships a watch after the break!

        Continue reading Come sail away with this ArcheAge ship preview video

        MassivelyCome sail away with this ArcheAge ship preview video originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Leaderboard: In which you help Massively plan its EVE Fanfest coverage

        Posted: 29 Apr 2014 03:00 PM PDT

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        This CCP Fanfest roundtable is more of a rectangular table
        Normally Massively's Leaderboard is all about flame-worthy lighthearted MMO-related polling shenanigans. This week, though, we're putting on our serious business suits and traveling to the land of CCP in order to bring you the best EVE Fanfest coverage on the internet.

        EVE Online expert Brendan Drain is our man in Iceland, but he needs your help! See, Fanfest is huge, and there are a lot of panels and roundtables to attend. While CCP streams the former, the latter are typically behind closed doors. They're also extremely important, as they inform devs about player opinion and help guide future development.

        So, if you've ever wanted to help direct Massively's event coverage, click past the cut and vote on the panel and roundtable that you'd most like Brendan to attend. Don't forget to leave us a comment with your general suggestions and potential interview questions, too!

        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: In which you help Massively plan its EVE Fanfest coverage

        MassivelyLeaderboard: In which you help Massively plan its EVE Fanfest coverage originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Record of Lodoss War Online revealed

          Posted: 29 Apr 2014 02:00 PM PDT

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          Lodoss War
          Record of Lodoss War, the long-running D&D-inspired franchise, will now get its own MMO, 2P.com reports. Record of Lodoss War Online is a Japanese MMO based on the anime, manga, and computer game series that spans back to the mid-'80s. The main storyline is based on the novel Record of Lodoss War: Grey Witch.

          The MMO was shown to have at least three classes so far: Esquire, Oracle, and Magic User. Combat will incorporate a reaction system that allows users to set skills in advance that will be triggered by different thresholds. Players will be able to build relationships with NPCs through questing, although the nature and depth of these relationships remains to be seen.

          Developer GameOn said that the MMO will go into alpha testing this summer. You can check out a trailer for Record of Lodoss War Online after the break.

          [Thanks to Naomi for the tip!]

          Continue reading Record of Lodoss War Online revealed

          MassivelyRecord of Lodoss War Online revealed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Massively's first look at sandbox Shards Online

          Posted: 29 Apr 2014 01:00 PM PDT

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          How many games have you played only to find yourself uttering the phrase, "If only I could run my own server"? Chances are, there at least one or two titles you''d love to make into a private playground for select friends using your own personal ruleset. Lucky for you, in Shards Online, you'll be able to do precisely that!

          Announced last month, this upcoming sandbox by former Mythic Entertainment devs is built on the premise that players will run the majority of the virtual worlds how they want to. Do you want a fantasy world where you can boot those who ruin immersion? You got it! What about the ability to take over mobs and fight the players while spouting personalized comments? Yup, that too. What if you want a hardcore world where survival is for the fittest? Mm-hmm, starving to death is an option, as is permadeath. And how about a world where gameplay unfolds around players as they explore rather than offers questing on rails?

          That's the theory behind the game. But how do these ideas hold up in practice? Last week I sat down with Citadel Studios co-founder Derek Brinkmann to witness a demonstration of Shards Online and talk all about the plans for the game. And what I saw certainly looks promising! So if this idea tantalizes your gaming taste buds, keep reading to get the scoop. I've even added a teaser video.

          Continue reading Massively's first look at sandbox Shards Online

          MassivelyMassively's first look at sandbox Shards Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Stanford acquires MUD1 source

            Posted: 29 Apr 2014 12:00 PM PDT

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            MUD1
            MUD1, the first online virtual world, was originally released in 1978. Thirty-six years later, Stanford University Libraries has acquired the project's source code and has plans to provide public online access. Details are forthcoming, according to a university blog.

            MUD1 is a text-based multi-user environment inspired by Zork and The Colossal Cave Adventure. It was created by Richard Bartle and Roy Trubshaw.

            MassivelyStanford acquires MUD1 source originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Apr 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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