MMO Updates

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• Flameseeker Chronicles: Let the Guild Wars 2 season two speculation begin
• Path of Exile announces Child's Play charity event
• EVE Fanfest 2014: EVE's plan to remove tutorials and reinvent the new player experience
• WildStar's open beta starts May 8
• There's no level cap in Black Desert
• The Daily Grind: What's the nastiest player behavior you've ever seen in an MMO?
• Not So Massively: Project Legion's reveal, Star Citizen's $43M mark, and Hearthstone's F2P model
• Star Trek Online is giving players two free ship slots
• The Elder Scrolls Online's interactive map nabs a Craglorn update
• SMITE launches Siege patch tomorrow
• EVE Online's player monument is the target of vandalism, CCP responds
• The Stream Team: Reveling in wanton city destruction in Marvel Heroes
• City of Steam opens new US, Euro servers

Flameseeker Chronicles: Let the Guild Wars 2 season two speculation begin Posted: 06 May 2014 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Buy-to-Play The new car smell has worn off Guild Wars 2's feature pack, which is great because it's not a car and that was getting a little weird. Whatever your opinion might be on GW2's living world, players have gotten used to biweekly content updates, and while it's refreshing to have a break every now and then, people are starting to draw comparisons to drought conditions while scavenging for any hints as to what might be coming next. ArenaNet has been busy with the Chinese beta and feature pack release, but letting us roll around like tumbleweeds for a bit is probably a good way to dry up any lingering burnout from the first part of the Scarlet arc. In the aftermath of the Battle for Lion's Arch, we were nevertheless left with a lot of information to sift through and a few pointers as to where the story might take us next. At the very least we have enough to fuel speculation, which is my second favorite pastime (right after fearing people off of cliffs in Edge of the Mists). Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Let the Guild Wars 2 season two speculation begin Flameseeker Chronicles: Let the Guild Wars 2 season two speculation begin originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 May 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Path of Exile announces Child's Play charity event Posted: 06 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Contests, Events (In-Game), Free-to-Play, Path of Exile Grinding Gear Games has announced a brand new two-week race event for Path of Exile that involves prizes and a special in-game item that will benefit the Child's Play charities. The new helmet skin, called the Angelic Mask, costs $5 and will be available only during the two-week event. The race itself is described as an ambush/invasion featuring prizes that include in-game items, NVIDIA graphics cards, signed art prints, and much more. Check out the full press release after the cut for more details. Continue reading Path of Exile announces Child's Play charity event Path of Exile announces Child's Play charity event originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 May 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EVE Fanfest 2014: EVE's plan to remove tutorials and reinvent the new player experience Posted: 06 May 2014 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, Events (Real-World), Expansions, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, PvE, Events (Massively's Coverage), Dev Diaries, Sandbox, Subscription, MMORPG When we asked you what you wanted to hear about at EVE Fanfest 2014, the biggest area of interest was EVE Online's New Player Experience. Every player who's ever signed up to EVE following news of some huge battle or event will remember the frustration of his first few days in the sandbox. A new player's first experience of EVE is wading through windows full of text in a succession of boring tutorial missions that could take you hours or days to get though, followed by being ejected into the big bad world with very little direction. If that's been your experience of EVE, you might be interested to know that something's finally being done about it. Developers revealed during Fanfest that of all those who sign up to EVE and pay for a month's subscription, 50% of them don't renew and a further 40% or more end up in solo professions like mining and mission-running, which have the highest rate of player turnover. Only between 5% and 10% of those who sign up will ever get into the kind of gameplay that attracted them to EVE in the first place. CCP's response? Completely remove the tutorial. Read on to find out why killing the tutorial could be the best thing that has ever happened to EVE's new player experience. Continue reading EVE Fanfest 2014: EVE's plan to remove tutorials and reinvent the new player experience EVE Fanfest 2014: EVE's plan to remove tutorials and reinvent the new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 May 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

WildStar's open beta starts May 8 Posted: 06 May 2014 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Events (In-Game), MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, WildStar, Subscription Carbine has announced that WildStar's open beta will run from May 8th through May 18th. The studio is also raising the level cap to 30. Other additions include Farside, Galeras Adventure tower defense, new abilities and ability slots, and more. WildStar's open beta starts May 8 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 May 2014 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

There's no level cap in Black Desert Posted: 06 May 2014 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, PvE, Sandbox, Black Desert Part three of Steparu's Black Desert beta review-in-progress has been posted. Topics covered include the skill enchanting system, sieges and open PvP, the NPC trading and the market/auction system, and the curious lack of a level cap. Black Desert endgame is kinda sorta 50, as that's when new skill acquisition ceases. But you can continue gaining XP post-50 and even continue training your previously acquired skills via more skill points from quests or mob grinding. "Black Desert is like a grinding machine's dream, perhaps too hardcore for other gamers outside of Asia," Steparu concludes. Continue reading There's no level cap in Black Desert There's no level cap in Black Desert originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 May 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Steparu

The Daily Grind: What's the nastiest player behavior you've ever seen in an MMO? Posted: 06 May 2014 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, MMO Industry, Ultima Online, Massively Meta, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous It was early 1998, and I had been playing Ultima Online only a few short months. A male character with an offensive name approached me and began harassing my toon, using a quick succession of emotes to simulate something that I suppose to him looked like pelvic thrusts as he informed everyone at Serpent's Hold bank, including my not-at-all-amused guildies, that he was "raping" me. I think I was too astonished to be upset, and my guildies immediately called a GM, who arrived swiftly, renamed the miscreant "George," and whisked him off to prison. It didn't scar me for life or anything; I was already accustomed to rampant murder and thievery and espionage. But it was a brutal introduction to online behavior (and probably a brutal introduction to online justice for the character suddenly known as George). Curiously, that lame attempt at faux "rape" paled in comparison to the extreme psychological warfare and character defamation that I saw presumably much more mature roleplayers employ in later games. That, I found far more emotionally disturbing. How about you guys -- do you have a memory of a really nasty display of online behavior in an MMO? What's the worst you've ever seen? 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 the nastiest player behavior you've ever seen in an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 May 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Not So Massively: Project Legion's reveal, Star Citizen's $43M mark, and Hearthstone's F2P model Posted: 05 May 2014 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Historical, Trailers, Video, Business Models, Previews, PvP, News Items, Mythos, War, Free-to-Play, Marvel Heroes, MMOFPS, DUST 514, Not So Massively, MOBA, Diablo III, Crowdfunding, Elite: Dangerous Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs. CCP Games announced plans to bring DUST 514 to PC via Project Legion. Diablo III debuted Theorycraft Thursdays to highlight community character builds. Star Citizen topped $43 million in crowdfunding; we discussed its impact on the gaming industry. Hearthstone's F2P model was the right call for the game, declared Blizzard. The studio also revealed another new card. Heroes of the Storm landed a new Li Li trailer and plans to launch in Southeast Asia. SMITE prepped for its siege patch and released new character Osiris as well as a new skin for Nemesis. Destiny explained its lack of a PC version and posted two videos, both embedded below: the Devil's Lair trailer and a new developer diary. Continue reading Not So Massively: Project Legion's reveal, Star Citizen's $43M mark, and Hearthstone's F2P model Not So Massively: Project Legion's reveal, Star Citizen's $43M mark, and Hearthstone's F2P model originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Trek Online is giving players two free ship slots Posted: 05 May 2014 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play, Giveaways Boldly going where no one has gone before in Star Trek Online will be easier than ever come Thursday. Cryptic announced today that it will be gifting all existing players with two additional ship slots on Thursday, May 8th. Players begin with two ship slots and obtain more by leveling, buying them in the store, or from other in-game achievements. A ship slot allows for the storage and use of a starship, giving players the option to switch between ships as needed. Two ship slots from the store costs 500 ZEN. Star Trek Online is giving players two free ship slots originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Free ship slots

The Elder Scrolls Online's interactive map nabs a Craglorn update Posted: 05 May 2014 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, News Items, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription ZeniMax has updated the spiffy official Elder Scrolls Online interactive map with details on Craglorn, the high-end area arriving in the game's first major content patch. If you're clicking around aimlessly, here's a tip: It's the big grey area between blue Bangkorai and green Cyrodiil. Clickable hotspots on the map reveal screenshots, lore excerpts, and even a poem, and hey, it's worth a visit just because it's pretty... even if it is Elder Scrolls' favorite color, brown. The Elder Scrolls Online's interactive map nabs a Craglorn update originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Craglorn map announcement

SMITE launches Siege patch tomorrow Posted: 05 May 2014 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA It's time for a big SMITE patch tomorrow, and when we say it's big, we mean it. It's adding a whole new deity, which is substantial, but it's also adding in a brand-new map. The Siege patch includes the eponymous Siege map, a two-lane 5v5 affair in which both teams spawn powerful siege units in the quest to take out the enemy base. There's also the addition of Osiris, a melee warrior using his sickle and thresher to deal area damage and phase into a specialized spirit form. That's not all the patch includes, either; there are also new skins for existing gods and the new league system, which divides players into six tiers of five divisions each. Victories earn points toward the next division, but these points are reset on a regular basis, ensuring that players need to keep playing and perform well against similarly skilled players to advance. Take a look at the full patch overview, watch Osiris' reveal video past the break, and get ready for the patch going live tomorrow. Continue reading SMITE launches Siege patch tomorrow SMITE launches Siege patch tomorrow originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Siege patch preview

EVE Online's player monument is the target of vandalism, CCP responds Posted: 05 May 2014 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Culture, Events (Real-World), News Items, Sandbox, Subscription So how long did you expect EVE Online's big player monument to be up before people began screwing with it? As it turns out, the correct answer was "four days." A player took to Twitter announcing that he had vandalized the monument over the weekend, scratching out the name of player Xenuria. Whether or not this is a good thing depends largely on what rumors regarding Xenuria you believe. The alleged vandalism, which apparently took place during this weekend's EVE Fanfest. It certainly sets an unpleasant precedent and opens the door for further vandalism within the game's historically contentious playerbase; one can only hope that this is addressed and corrected. CCP Falcon has addressed the situation on the official forums; we've included the relevant bits below. Continue reading EVE Online's player monument is the target of vandalism, CCP responds EVE Online's player monument is the target of vandalism, CCP responds originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Twitter Via: Kotaku

The Stream Team: Reveling in wanton city destruction in Marvel Heroes Posted: 05 May 2014 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Video, Free-to-Play, Comics, Marvel Heroes, Livestream, The Stream Team Do you ever just get the urge to participate in some wanton destruction once in a while? That makes Marvel Heroes a life- and pocketbook-saver; Massively's MJ can disintegrate hotdog carts, chuck cars, and make everything around her explode -- all without having the corresponding property damage bill! And she gets to fly to boot. What more could you ask for? Join her live in game and in chat at 3:00 p.m. and revel in the power of demolition. Game: Marvel Heroes Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Monday, May 5th, 2014 Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Reveling in wanton city destruction in Marvel Heroes The Stream Team: Reveling in wanton city destruction in Marvel Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

City of Steam opens new US, Euro servers Posted: 05 May 2014 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Browser, City of Steam, Steampunk City of Steam has officially opened two new servers, one for eastern U.S. players and another in Europe. Mechanist Games says that it is "trying to bring in as broad a gaming demographic as possible" by presenting its steampunk MMO on Kongregate, Armor Games, and Steam. "More platforms will come in soon," the firm states. There are in-game events underway to help celebrate the additional shards. Check out all the details on the official City of Steam website. City of Steam opens new US, Euro servers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 May 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Announcement

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