MMO Updates

MMO Updates

Leaderboard: Firefall vs. Defiance vs. Destiny

Posted: 06 Aug 2014 10:00 AM PDT

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Shooters are certainly in vogue at the moment, what with last week's Firefall launch, this week's Defiance Silicon Valley expansion launch, and next month's colossally expensive Destiny launch. Come to think of it, those three titles are probably worth pitting against one another, wouldn't you agree?

So, how about it Massively shooter fans? If you had to pick one of those three titles as your go-to gunplay fix, which would it be? Vote after the cut!

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: Firefall vs. Defiance vs. Destiny

MassivelyLeaderboard: Firefall vs. Defiance vs. Destiny originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Aug 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    EverQuest II getting multiple midgame content updates 'soon'

    Posted: 06 Aug 2014 09:00 AM PDT

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    EverQuest II lead designer Kyle "Kander" Vallée has dropped a bit of a tease on the game's official forums regarding midgame updates in SOE's long-running fantasy themepark. "We actually have some content updates coming for players level 20 to 90. Soon. Yup updates. Plural," he wrote.

    Keep your eyes on Massively as we travel to Las Vegas this month to suss out these and other franchise tidbits at SOE Live.

    MassivelyEverQuest II getting multiple midgame content updates 'soon' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Aug 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Activision sees industry-wide pre-order decline

    Posted: 06 Aug 2014 08:00 AM PDT

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    Activision publishing boss Eric Hirshberg says his company's pre-orders are declining. He made the remarks to investors and media on a conference call yesterday, and he also said that the downturn is an industry-wide trend.

    Hirshberg cited digital consumption upticks as well as wide launch-day availability as factors in the declining popularity of pre-orders. He also said that pre-orders are "just one data point that we look at when determining the momentum of a franchise," and that awareness and "purchase intent" on Activision's Destiny is "at an all-time high and climbing when compared to any other new game intellectual property this distance from launch."

    MassivelyActivision sees industry-wide pre-order decline originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Aug 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Ever, Jane updates on test builds and the ever-lost hankie

    Posted: 06 Aug 2014 07:00 AM PDT

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    Yes, there's a distinct minority of interesting screenshots at the moment.
    Yes, there is a hankie to worry about in the latest development build of Ever, Jane. Mrs. Hatch's hankie, to be specific. She's lost it before, she's lost it again, and it's up to players to retrieve it, assuming they'd like to curry favor with Mrs. Hatch. The build also adds a number of endgame raiding systems, by which we of course mean the first pass of the game's gossip and sleuthing system, key to the overall social experience of the game.

    Essentially, the gossip system allows you to craft a few different potential responses to NPCs and to track what other characters are saying about your character. This means that in addition to assassinating or bolstering the reputations of others, you can also try to sort out your own reputation for good or for ill. Take a look at the full update for an explanation of the system, future updates, and other improvements in the most recent build.

    MassivelyEver, Jane updates on test builds and the ever-lost hankie originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Aug 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Daily Grind: What do you think about MMO sequels?

    Posted: 06 Aug 2014 06:00 AM PDT

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    maplestory 2
    While sequels to MMOs aren't as prevelant as they are elsewhere in the entertainment industry, we've certainly seen more than a few pop up in this genre's short lifespan. There are pros and cons to making sequels, of course, and while players always seem to clamor to have their favorite older MMOs return with a Roman numeral affixed to the name, I have to wonder if that might be a curse in disguise.

    Considering all of the money that it takes to make MMOs, do you think it's a good idea for studios to milk a franchise or to start fresh? And if you are all for sequels being made, which MMO do you think deserves one? Which sequel that's currently in development has your attention?

    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 do you think about MMO sequels? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 06 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      World of Warcraft's Nagrand will be familiar to Burning Crusade players

      Posted: 05 Aug 2014 07:00 PM PDT

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      wow
      The one question that I always had about World of Warcraft's Nagrand zone wasn't how those giant rocks floated about in the sky but how some of them could produce endless waterfalls stemming from an unknown source. Did a wizard do that? It was probably a wizard.

      While this question may never be answered, we'll have a second opportunity to explore the great mysteries of Nagrand with Warlords of Draenor. Blizzard pushed out a new preview today of the ancient version of Nagrand and talked a little about what players will be discovering.

      "We very much wanted to respect what people really enjoyed about their experience in Nagrand in The Burning Crusade and capture that, while still providing a twist to what you'll experience there," the studio said. Nagrand is supposed to feel the "most familiar" of all of Draenor's zones, although it will boast a new exciting elemental storyline and tons of easter eggs to the dedicated fan.

      MassivelyWorld of Warcraft's Nagrand will be familiar to Burning Crusade players originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Global Chat: A blast from the past

      Posted: 05 Aug 2014 06:00 PM PDT

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      As many of you know, Massively doesn't really believe in reviews of MMOs, as they are ever-changing and shifting targets. Instead, we've provided impressions and continuing coverage of these games during their lifespans (and even after), which is something that many bloggers also favor.

      In this edition of Global Chat, we have several hands-on impressions of MMOs both new and old from the blogosphere. What is it like to head back to Asheron's Call after a long time away? Is Guild Wars 2's and Lord of the Rings Online's new content hitting the mark? And what will we miss most of all now that Vanguard has departed? It's all there and more, right after the break!

      Continue reading Global Chat: A blast from the past

      MassivelyGlobal Chat: A blast from the past originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Darkfall rolls back Stamina changes after player protests

        Posted: 05 Aug 2014 05:00 PM PDT

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        It seemed like a good idea at the time.
        The development team behind Darkfall had a couple of issues. The first issue was that no one was using Primalist armor. The second was that stamina regeneration was disabled during sprinting. So it seemed like an obvious combination. Give Primalist robes the ability to boost stamina regeneration, let other armor types see stamina drop a bit faster, and everyone would have a bit more motivation to use robes. Elegant, no?

        As it turned out, the resultant regeneration and overall issues led to an immediate rollback and a 40% decrease in stamina consumption across the board, meaning that these issues are all back to the drawing board. An apology was issued for the unintended consequences of the patch, with the team promising to examine the issue in more depth whilst looking for a solution that doesn't lead to this level of fan outcry.

        [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]

        MassivelyDarkfall rolls back Stamina changes after player protests originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Black Desert's Korean version is 80% finished

        Posted: 05 Aug 2014 04:30 PM PDT

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        If you've got your eye on Black Desert now that it's definitely making the trek to the West, then Brian Oh is a name you'll want to know. He's Pearl Abyss' director of overseas business, and 2P chatted him up at this past weekend's ChinaJoy about class balance, sea battles, costumes, dyeing, swimming, the non-existent level cap, and why Daum was selected to publish Black Desert in the West.

        Of note, Oh and Chinese Community Manager Cheng Ying said that Pearl Abyss has "almost completed about 80% of the game." The English version is not yet half translated; the Korean version, at least, will be free-to-play and will block foreign IPs during open beta. According to the interview, PA remains "very interested " in porting the game to consoles but could not speculate on timing of the NA beta launch.

        [Thanks, Dystopiq!]

        MassivelyBlack Desert's Korean version is 80% finished originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        World of Warcraft drops another 800k subscribers; Diablo III has sold 20M units

        Posted: 05 Aug 2014 04:15 PM PDT

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        WoW
        Today's Activision Blizzard earnings call revealed that World of Warcraft has suffered another significant hit to its subscriptions: The game has lost 800,000 subs over the last quarter, bringing the playerbase down to 6.8 million subscribers.

        The game announced a loss of 100k last November, a gain of 200k in February, and another loss of 200k in May. WoW has lost over 3 million players in the gap between Mists of Pandaria and Warlords of Draenor.

        Blizzard claims that most of the losses were "disproportionately concentrated in the East."

        There is some good news for the company: ARPG Diablo III has sold over 20 million copies since its launch in spring 2012.

        MassivelyWorld of Warcraft drops another 800k subscribers; Diablo III has sold 20M units originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Elder Scrolls Online's third update has deployed

        Posted: 05 Aug 2014 04:00 PM PDT

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        ESO
        The Elder Scrolls Online's third major patch officially arrives today, bringing with it a vast new dye system, customizable guild ranks, guild heraldry, and bid contracts for public guild merchants. Patch notes have been published to coincide with the launch.

        Get caught up on our coverage of everything planned for this patch and the ongoing rollout of the endgame overhaul:
        Elder Scrolls' ginormous post-50 update plan
        Elder Scrolls Online plans massive revamp of veteran rank content
        Elder Scrolls 1.3.3 tweaks weapon-swapping and guild management
        Elder Scrolls Online publishes video of its QuakeCon panel reveals
        Let's all dye our armor black in The Elder Scrolls Online
        Elder Scrolls Online shows new zones, active world PvP at Quakecon
        Elder Scrolls' Sage explains new Champion alternate advancement
        Elder Scrolls Online offers new guild heraldry

        MassivelyElder Scrolls Online's third update has deployed originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Massively Speaking Episode 308: Telon mourned

        Posted: 05 Aug 2014 03:00 PM PDT

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        vanguard
        Even as two high-profile MMOs launched this week, another two were shuttered. Out of those, Vanguard will be the most missed among fans, an ambitious yet troubled fantasy title that struggled for years. In this episode of Massively Speaking, the hosts raise a glass to the memories of a world gone, cheer on the crackdown on cheaters, and shed nary a tear for ignored Blood Elves.

        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.
        [iTunes] Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes.
        [Stitcher] Follow the podcast on Stitcher Radio.
        Listen here on the page:



        Read below the cut for the full show notes.

        Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 308: Telon mourned

        MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 308: Telon mourned originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Final Fantasy XI brings in equipment sets and flexible skirmishes

          Posted: 05 Aug 2014 02:00 PM PDT

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          ff11
          Final Fantasy XI is preparing to deliver a feast of content for players this month. Square Enix whipped up a post today to share a preview of that upcoming bounty, which includes more story missions, equipment sets, and a new type of skirmish.

          The studio promised that it will be moving toward the conclusion of the Seekers of Adoulin storyline with this month's patch. Players will also get to fiddle with equipment sets, which allow characters to have and swap multiple gear loadouts at will.

          The big announcement is the addition of Alluvion skirmishes. These take place in "an ever-changing labyrinth" that will reward new customizable weapons to the fortunate. This update will go into effect on August 12th, but in the meanwhile you can check out its trailer after the break!

          Continue reading Final Fantasy XI brings in equipment sets and flexible skirmishes

          MassivelyFinal Fantasy XI brings in equipment sets and flexible skirmishes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          DC Universe Online DLC is 75% off right now

          Posted: 05 Aug 2014 01:30 PM PDT

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          dcuo
          Not everyone is as rich as Bruce Wayne, so for those of you who have been pinching your pennies instead of splurging on DC Universe Online content, here's where your thriftiness pays off.

          Steam is holding a 75% off sale for much of DCUO right now. This includes 10 DLC packs for $2.49 apiece and the Ultimate Edition bundle for $7.49. In fact, you could buy the whole kit and kaboodle (that's a superhero term) for only $32.39 $22.50. That's less than the cost of many box games these days right there, so what are you waiting for?

          [Thanks to Balsbigbrother for the tip and to greaterdivinity for the math!]

          MassivelyDC Universe Online DLC is 75% off right now originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Gameplay video tours Neverwinter: Tyranny of Dragons highlights

          Posted: 05 Aug 2014 01:00 PM PDT

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          Neverwinter
          Those dragons, always being tyrannical, am I right? Neverwinter has my back on this, as Cryptic is already in overdrive to promote the upcoming fourth module, Tyranny of Dragons.

          Today the studio released a new gamplay video for the update, going through the major features of the patch. Cryptic talks about the DPS and cursing abilities of the spiffy Scourge Warlock class, gives a better look at the Dragonborn race, shows the several new heroic encounters for experienced adventurers, hints at the Cult of the Dragon storyline, and teases the additional level 60 skirmish and dungeon instances.

          Check it out after the break and let us know if Tyranny of the Dragons has you excited to play it!

          Continue reading Gameplay video tours Neverwinter: Tyranny of Dragons highlights

          MassivelyGameplay video tours Neverwinter: Tyranny of Dragons highlights originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Meet PlanetSide 2's new producer, Directive achievements

          Posted: 05 Aug 2014 12:00 PM PDT

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          A solid base for future operations, you know.
          It's important to know the development team of your game of choice, isn't it? Producer David Carey recently took on the role of producer for PlanetSide 2, and he hopped on the forums to introduce himself, explaining to fans who he is, what he hopes to accomplish in the game, and what he hopes to receive from the community.

          Carey reveals that he has spent a long time working with Matt Higby on the QA floor and has plenty of experience working as a producer on other titles. His primary goal is to have an informed playerbase with a clear picture of why changes are being made, even in the event that the players and devs disagree. He also stresses the importance of constructive criticism over personal attacks and the team's need for open communication with the fans. If you're a regular PlanetSide 2 player, you owe it to yourself to check out the full letter.

          In other PS2 news, SOE has implemented a new achievement system called Directives. You can view the full press release after the break.

          Continue reading Meet PlanetSide 2's new producer, Directive achievements

          MassivelyMeet PlanetSide 2's new producer, Directive achievements originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Flameseeker Chronicles: The curse of Guild Wars 2's precursor weapons

          Posted: 05 Aug 2014 11:00 AM PDT

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          Ten thousand thank yous to eirstegalkin of Tumblr for this awesome manip of my characters together!
          My wife doesn't play Guild Wars 2 any more. She hasn't exactly made a deliberate choice to leave the game and never come back, but she used to play every day. Some time around the end of season one of the living world story, she started logging in only every week or so, and then finally not at all. She dips in for a few seconds to unlock the new story chapters, but only because I remind her that they're out.

          This is the first time the two of us have been seriously invested in different MMOs. When she stopped playing GW2 as often, she dived headfirst into Final Fantasy XIV, which is totally understandable because it's a great game and I play it casually myself. Normally I wouldn't consider this development to be article material because people drift away from games they used to love and find new ones all the time, and it's not necessarily a bad thing. But this wasn't a natural split: When I told her about all of the cool story stuff happening in season two, my wife's response was, "That sounds neat. Has ArenaNet implemented precursor crafting yet?"

          Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: The curse of Guild Wars 2's precursor weapons

          MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: The curse of Guild Wars 2's precursor weapons originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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