MMO Updates

MMO Updates

Fans translate part of Black Desert's substantial lore

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 11:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , ,

So lonely.
With the help of enterprising fans and a lot of workarounds, dedicated fans of Black Desert can do their best to muddle through the game's Korean beta if they don't read or understand Korean. Understanding the game's setting, however, is another matter entirely. But the fandom is still trying to translate and make the best of it, and now the game's first major lore article has been translated, covering some 50 years of history for the city Calpheon.

In short, a plague rampaged through the city, and what started was a long campaign of war against the desert nation blamed for the contagion. This was followed by more wars, trades, magical artifacts, and... well, you get the idea. You can read the whole article to get a better sense of the world's history, whether you're trying to figure out how to interact with the game when you don't read the native language or just watching from afar.

[Thanks to Irene-24 for the tip!]

MassivelyFans translate part of Black Desert's substantial lore originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's headstart (launch) is here!

Posted: 02 Jun 2014 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , ,

It's all for keeps.
Oh yes, ladies and gentlemen. We've been waiting for it for a very long time, but you can indeed play the game now. WildStar is no longer a vague promise of what might be in the future, it has well and truly launched, and it's inherited all of the launch issues that come along with every single MMO launch, along with an assortment of people certain that we've never seen anything like this before.

Hey, guess what I'll be talking about with today's column.

I haven't had nearly as much time in the headstart as I would have liked at this point, largely due to the dread specter of Real Life minimizing my free time between launch on Saturday and when this column is being written (which is not five minutes prior to posting, if you were curious). But I've got some impressions just the same, and whilst I don't think they really qualify for first impression status, you came here to read about WildStar's launch, and that's just what I want to talk about.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's headstart (launch) is here!

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: WildStar's headstart (launch) is here! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

    The Repopulation improves abilities and combat in May

    Posted: 02 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , ,

    Standing in an open field, just waiting for adventure to come to him, he is John Protagonist.
    May has finally come to an end, and The Repopulation comes ever closer to release with a larger pool of testers on both weekends and a regular basis. It also means that more big changes have been rolled out to the game, starting with Ability Enhancements. These slotted tricks fit into abilities similar to item fittings, with a variety of different enhancements available to improve a character's skills. The enhancement slots are limited, however, which forces players to think about how they want to specialize their characters.

    Combat has also received a major tuning tweak, with a new off-hand option for those who'd prefer not to dual-wield melee weapons and a number of improved abilities. The refined combat system includes new openings and counter-attack support, which makes the system play nicer in a group setting. You can see the full patch notes and read more details on the official site.

    [Thanks to J.C. Smith for the tip!]

    MassivelyThe Repopulation improves abilities and combat in May originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

    WildStar's Gaffney: 'Achievement is the love of watching bars grow, that's our industry'

    Posted: 02 Jun 2014 08:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

    WildStar
    Carbine executive producer Jeremy Gaffney is interviewed over at Gamasutra, and he has plenty of interesting things to say regarding the MMO industry and WildStar's place in it. Particularly illuminating is Gaffney's philosophy regarding progression and the journey versus the destination.
    If there is a fun thing to do that is inefficient and a horribly boring thing like smacking yourself in the face with a shovel next to it that gives more XP, players will do more XP. They'll try the fun thing once or twice but then go, 'No, I can't help it. I need to hit level 50. I want my end goal more than I want my journey.' So it's very easy to have the journey trivialized.

    Achievement is the love of watching bars grow -- that's our industry. I don't think there's a more fundamental human need that gets tapped into by these games than watching your bars advance, and that feeling of progression -- of being able to say, 'I am tougher than I was before.'

    MassivelyWildStar's Gaffney: 'Achievement is the love of watching bars grow, that's our industry' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Vendetta experimenting with mobile microtransactions

    Posted: 02 Jun 2014 07:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , , ,

    Vendetta
    Guild Software announced over the weekend that its long-running Vendetta Online MMORPG will explore microtransactions on certain mobile devices.

    Vendetta, a space sim sandbox that offers single-shard gameplay across operating systems including Windows, OS X, Linux, Android, and iOS, has been running since April of 2002 and has heretofore subsisted on the subscription model. Guild says that subscribers "will still get everything, across all platforms, without any need for these types of optional purchases."

    Microtransactions will be exclusively for Vendetta pilots on Lite accounts, and the structure of the cash shop will "require refinement and continued feedback from the userbase." Guild concludes that a hybrid business model is "an expected necessity on mobile," and it is working to adapt and court additional players.

    MassivelyVendetta experimenting with mobile microtransactions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

    The Daily Grind: What's your favorite thing about your favorite MMO?

    Posted: 02 Jun 2014 06:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , ,

    Elder Scrolls
    I'm dabbling in a bunch of MMOs right now. Actually, I'm pretty much doing that all the time. Anyway, I'm dabbling the most in Elder Scrolls Online, and while it's not a perfect game by any stretch, I can't get enough of its production design and general aesthetics. In fact, I'd say that's my favorite thing about the game at the moment, aside from the IP.

    What about you, Massively readers? What's your favorite thing about your favorite MMO?

    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: What's your favorite thing about your favorite MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

      Marvel Heroes celebrates Mac open beta, releases Surtur trailer

      Posted: 01 Jun 2014 06:00 PM PDT

      Filed under: , , , ,

      Marvel Heroes
      Marvel Heroes is celebrating the upcoming Mac open beta with two new content packs: the Mini and Pro Pack.

      The Mini Pack includes four heroes, eight costumes, five iBoosts, and four of each Fortune Card. The Pro Pack includes eight heroes, exclusive Iron Man Armor, 21 costumes, two team-ups, 15 iBoosts, pet mini Dragon Man, six of each Fortune Card, the Mac Pro Founder forum title, and Iron Man Guardians of the Galaxy White Variant avatar.

      These packs will be available to both PC and Mac players. The advance and exclusive content will be available at a later unannounced date. Gazillion says that the Mac open beta is coming "very soon." Gazillion has also launched a new Surtur trailer that previews content coming later this month! View it after the break.

      Continue reading Marvel Heroes celebrates Mac open beta, releases Surtur trailer

      MassivelyMarvel Heroes celebrates Mac open beta, releases Surtur trailer originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jun 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

      MMO Week in Review: On your marks, get set, WildStar!

      Posted: 01 Jun 2014 04:00 PM PDT

      Filed under: , , ,

      Too bad WildStar isn't as fun as this screenshot
      At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

      WildStar's headstart kicked off this weekend, and apart from the DDoS attacks, all appears to be going... exactly as most AAA launches go. Some people are irate, some people don't care, and some people are too busy forgoing sleep in favor of playing. Prior to the early access period, Carbine dangled some account security incentives, released an official server list, and unveiled the final pre-launch trailer.

      Click past the cut for the rest of this week's top MMO stories.

      Continue reading MMO Week in Review: On your marks, get set, WildStar!

      MassivelyMMO Week in Review: On your marks, get set, WildStar! originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jun 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

        Civ Online review looks at building, PvP, and more

        Posted: 01 Jun 2014 02:00 PM PDT

        Filed under: , , , , , , ,

        Civ Online
        Steparu's back with part deux of an ongoing Civilization Online review. There's a lot to digest this time around, including bits about progression, the building and card systems, era changes, and realm-vs.-realm PvP.

        The review contains a good amount of video content, too, and we've included a seven-minute clip focused on building after the cut.

        Continue reading Civ Online review looks at building, PvP, and more

        MassivelyCiv Online review looks at building, PvP, and more originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jun 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments

        Get a better idea about Tree of Savior's combat and chat systems

        Posted: 01 Jun 2014 12:00 PM PDT

        Filed under: , ,

        Tree of Savior
        MMO Culture has an illuminating post up regarding Tree of Savior's combat system, sharing details about how fights will go when this attractive title gets in our hot little hands.

        Combat won't be mere tab-target-and-hotkey drudgery. Melee fighters will need to get within range in order for their attacks to work, spells use targeted zones to be effective, and ranged attacks are always pointed at the nearest enemy by default.

        Tree of Savior will also have a robust chat system that will save and organize private messages, even when players are offline.

        MassivelyGet a better idea about Tree of Savior's combat and chat systems originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Jun 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments
        Posted by Shri Krishna

        Total Pageviews

        statcounter

        View My Stats