MMO Updates

MMO Updates


The Road to Mordor: When storm clouds gather...

Posted: 15 Feb 2014 09:00 AM PST

Filed under: , , , , ,

LOTRO
When I think about the news swirling around Lord of the Rings Online lately, I feel a bit like Sam and Frodo getting their first glimpse of Mordor and Mount Doom. It's hard to think of cheer and happiniess when the view is full of heavy clouds and ash.

I have several positive articles that I'd rather be penning this week, but I think it would be a mistake to avoid the questions and feelings that all LotRO players are experiencing right now, including me. It may not be the journey that I'd like to be taking, but it's the one that's needed right now.

So let's sit down together, fill our tankards, and mull over just what's going on with our Middle-earth. Maybe in the talking and in the company we will find the solace and comfort that we need.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: When storm clouds gather...

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: When storm clouds gather... originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Elder Scrolls Online lifts its NDA for everyone

    Posted: 15 Feb 2014 07:30 AM PST

    Filed under: , , , , ,

    The Elder Scrolls Online lifts NDA
    The press had its turn to spout off about The Elder Scrolls Online these last couple of weeks, but now it's your turn: ZeniMax has lifted the NDA for the ESO beta. Now you don't have to just take our word about state of the game; you can hear the opinions of our commenters and the other thousands of players who have been playing the highly anticipated MMO during the past few beta weekends.

    Unfortunately, there isn't a beta event this weekend for fresh impressions. However, if you have played ESO in a former beta, we want your thoughts. Was the game everything you want an Elder Scrolls MMORPG to be? Was it absolutely nothing special? Or was there still merit to the game once you've passed level 10? Maybe PvP turned your opinion of the game around, or maybe it didn't. Let's hear it!

    MassivelyElder Scrolls Online lifts its NDA for everyone originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Feb 2014 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

    WRUP: Adopt a train edition

    Posted: 15 Feb 2014 07:00 AM PST

    Filed under: ,

    LOOK HOW YOU FAILED THIS TRAIN
    You. Yes, you, reading this right now. Have you adopted a train? Are you going to go give your money to a train to make sure that it's taken care of? You selfish monster. There are trains across our great nation that aren't able to afford so much as a single roof-mounted machine gun and accounting calculator, but you're sitting and reading on your solid gold computer about them. You make me sick.

    Adopt a train. Give the trains all of your money. We have no other hope against the car uprising, people.

    What's that? Oh, yes, it's time for WRUP, in which there are no trains, just the Massively staffers talking about their plans for the weekend or something. You can say what you'll be up to over the weekend down in the comments, but I really hope your plans involve a whole lot of adopting a train. Bring it into your home and make it a nest.

    Continue reading WRUP: Adopt a train edition

    MassivelyWRUP: Adopt a train edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Feb 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

      The Daily Grind: Would you buy a spinoff game based on an MMO?

      Posted: 15 Feb 2014 05:00 AM PST

      Filed under: , , ,

      Let's play Magic the Gathering only less.
      It's not really fair to call Hearthstone purely a spinoff of World of Warcraft, since World of Warcraft itself is a spinoff of the original RTS games, but it's close enough for consideration. Nor is it the only game to have an odd sort of related spinoff game; City of Heroes had some HeroClix figures, Star Wars Galaxies had a card game, Final Fantasy XI has had characters show up in a number of crossover video games and card games, and so forth.

      For some people, the whole point of playing an MMO is that you aren't playing a board game or a card game or whatever else the spinoff focuses upon. But there's also a certain appeal in playing with characters and locations you recognize from the online game you play extensively. So would you buy a spinoff game based off an MMO? Have you done so in the past? If so, what sort of game would you want to play?

      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: Would you buy a spinoff game based on an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 15 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

        MMObility: Line of Defense Tactics is a fun start for an IP

        Posted: 14 Feb 2014 06:00 PM PST

        Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

        Line of Defense Tactics screenshot
        Line of Defense is an upcoming MMOFPS created by 3000AD. It looks like an interesting twist on the shooter genre, complete with large battles and vehicles to control. It offers only a beta sign-up right now, so if you are interested in diving into the LoD universe, you can download the newly released Line of Defense Tactics standalone game. It's not an MMO, but it still introduces players to the IP. If you're a fan of real-time turn-based combat and challenging gameplay, you might want to give it a go on your portable device or PC.

        I downloaded a version of Tactics from Steam and tried it on my Android tablet as well. Both experiences felt pretty much the same, and my game save synced between both devices easily. Today I am going to cover the mobile version mostly, but it should be noted that the PC version looks and acts pretty much identically.

        Continue reading MMObility: Line of Defense Tactics is a fun start for an IP

        MassivelyMMObility: Line of Defense Tactics is a fun start for an IP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments

          Betawatch: February 8 - 14, 2014

          Posted: 14 Feb 2014 05:00 PM PST

          Filed under: , , , ,

          Have fun getting this after it's outdated content!
          Is Final Fantasy XIV seriously back in beta again? Yes, but this time it's a beta on the PlayStation 4, all in an effort to ensure that the client works right on the new console before the official port. The first phase of testing starts on February 22nd.

          Elsewhere in the beta world, Icarus Online Flying is entering open testing in Korea during the first half of this year, although whether or not the game will make it over here eventually remains to be seen. Mark Jacobs has also promised that Camelot Unchained will not be delayed due to the addition of any stretch goals, so that just limits potential causes for delays to everything else that usually delays MMO launches.

          Our usual list of games along with our testing notes are just past the break. As always, if a game added a cash shop, moved to open testing, or otherwise crept under our radar, please let us know down in the comments.

          Continue reading Betawatch: February 8 - 14, 2014

          MassivelyBetawatch: February 8 - 14, 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

          Permalink | Email this | Comments

            Camelot Unchained meets Depths stretch goal, Giant race next

            Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:30 PM PST

            Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

            Camelot Unchained giants teaser
            Camelot Unchained has met another of its stretch funding goals, which means that The Depths are now confirmed for the forthcoming fantasy RvR title. CU's website has updated with the next stretch goal, which is "the giant races of Camelot."

            "Giants will be used as both player races and as inhabitants of The Depths," says the update. "Each giant race will be unique to their Realm (no mirrors used here either). While the concept of giants isn't new, it wouldn't be Camelot Unchained if we didn't do things just a wee bit differently." Details as to what "differently" means are pretty scarce at this point, but keep on eye on this space for more Camelot Unchained news as it happens.

            [Thanks Guinness!]

            MassivelyCamelot Unchained meets Depths stretch goal, Giant race next originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

            Permalink | Email this | Comments

            The Stream Team: Heading to EVE Online's EVE gate

            Posted: 14 Feb 2014 04:00 PM PST

            Filed under: , , , , , , , , , ,

            EVE Online
            According to the lore that powers EVE Online's universe, civilization in New Eden exists only thanks to the EVE gate. The gate, which was actually just a massive wormhole, allowed explorers, adventurers, and folks looking for a new life (or a new fortune) to leave their home worlds and venture deep into the outer reaches of space. Unfortunately for citizens of New Eden, the EVE gate eventually collapsed, leaving those citizens cut off from their home worlds and stuck fighting over whatever resources could be found in New Eden's sparse star systems.

            Tonight, Massively's Mike Foster is taking the somewhat dangerous route from EVE's market hub out to the site of the EVE gate. The pilgrimage is one completed by many EVE players wishing to see where the game's story began. Check it out live at 7:00 p.m. EST.

            Game: EVE Online
            Host: Mike Foster
            Date: Friday, February 14th, 2014
            Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

            Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

            Continue reading The Stream Team: Heading to EVE Online's EVE gate

            MassivelyThe Stream Team: Heading to EVE Online's EVE gate originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

            Permalink | Email this | Comments

              Storyboard: Skipping scenes

              Posted: 14 Feb 2014 03:00 PM PST

              Filed under: , , ,

              Nah, we're not doing that scene.
              There are certain bits of roleplaying that I like to think of as mechanical. They're there, they're necessary, but they're not terribly interesting. They're like random battles in Bravely Default: kind of neat the first time, altogether forgettable all subsequent times, and never blessed with an abundance of fascinating stuff. You need to get through them, but you can't really look forward to them any more than you can look forward to the most routine-filled parts of your day.

              So the best bet is to say they happened without acting them out.

              Yes, I'm saying there are bits of roleplaying that are best acted out only in reference. And I'm not just talking about your characters' bathroom visits; I'm talking about things like dates and shared experiences. So when is it actually an advantage to roleplay by not actually roleplaying at all? How do you determine the scenes that you know happened and are important but aren't important enough for you to actually play them out?

              Continue reading Storyboard: Skipping scenes

              MassivelyStoryboard: Skipping scenes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

              Permalink | Email this | Comments

                New Darkfall patch features Chaos Primalist, village requisition

                Posted: 14 Feb 2014 02:00 PM PST

                Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

                Darkfall Chaos Primalist
                Today's Darkfall patch is a significant one since it brings major changes via village requisitioning and the new Chaos Primalist school. Chaos Primalists "specialize in disrupting, relocating, and general face-melting," according to Aventurine's patch notes.

                You can read up on the school's ability descriptions on the official Darkfall website. While you're there, you might also want to look through the forum thread that explains the new requisition mechanics in more detail.

                MassivelyNew Darkfall patch features Chaos Primalist, village requisition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                Permalink | Email this | Comments

                Rhode Island Governor signs 38 Studios settlement bill

                Posted: 14 Feb 2014 01:30 PM PST

                Filed under: , ,

                RI
                Following successful votes in the Rhode Island Senate and House of Representatives, a bill designed to help settle the 38 Studios fiasco was signed into law by Governor Lincoln Chafee yesterday.

                Lawmakers hope that the bill will encourage settlements by shielding defendants from further litigation. Involved parties say that this bill will pave the way to recover as much as possible of the $90 million that Rhode Island is responsible for paying following the defaulted loan to 38 Studios.

                MassivelyRhode Island Governor signs 38 Studios settlement bill originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                Permalink | Email this | Comments

                Path of Exile previews its first mini-expansion, Sacrifice of the Vaal

                Posted: 14 Feb 2014 01:00 PM PST

                Filed under: , , , , , ,

                Path of Go Ahead, Be Here If You Want, You're Welcome.
                The first mini-expansion for Path of Exile is coming out on March 5th, and it's meant to be a big one. This isn't supposed to just improve and expand the core game but to set the pace for the game's upcoming update structure and future expansions. So today is serving as the first preview of the update, teasing the lore behind Sacrifice of the Vaal as well as outlining the future reveals.

                Players will be set against Queen Atziri and the Vaal corruption she has spread throughout the land, as they try to harvest these malicious powers for their own ultimate ends. It's also hinted that players may have to sacrifice before the expansion is over if they want to put down this threat. The development team is hoping that Sacrifice of the Vaal will be the start of a four-month update schedule for the game, so players should keep their eyes peeled -- more reveals are coming before the March 5th launch date.

                MassivelyPath of Exile previews its first mini-expansion, Sacrifice of the Vaal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                Permalink | Email this | Comments

                Trion's Elizabeth Tobey departs

                Posted: 14 Feb 2014 12:30 PM PST

                Filed under: , , , ,

                Elisabeth Tobey
                Trion Worlds Director of Global Communications Elizabeth Tobey announced today that she's leaving the studio to work for Smule. She also firmly squashed any speculation that her departure signaled that Trion is conducting layoffs: "Firmly no to downsizing; in fact, I've been working with our amazing team for quite a while to get some great people on deck for you."

                Tobey chronicled her history with RIFT and Defiance on her personal blog. "Trion's taught me a ton," she wrote. "I learned what it meant to run an MMO community (which, in comparison, makes anything I'd ever done before look like child's play). I also not only launched RIFT's first expansion but also helped it transition into (in my completely unbiased opinion) the best free-to-play MMO on the market."

                She also testified to the addictiveness of ArcheAge: "ArcheAge, you are going to blow people's minds. I could write an entire swan song on the awesomeness of raising livestock, charting the open seas, and hijacking my fellow coworkers as they try to complete trade routes, but I want everyone to experience that for themselves. Trust me, it's better than any blog post."

                [Thanks to Sanguinesun for the tip!]

                MassivelyTrion's Elizabeth Tobey departs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                Permalink | Email this | Comments

                EverQuest Next Landmark lays out development roadmap

                Posted: 14 Feb 2014 12:00 PM PST

                Filed under: , , , , , ,

                Landmark
                EverQuest Next Landmark Director of Development Dave Georgeson has posted a roadmap for the title's next few months last night, divvying up the upcoming features into three phases that are independent of alpha and beta labels.

                In the first phase that's coming in "the next few weeks," SOE will be adding in player ratings for claims, key mapping, voice chat, groups and grouping bonuses, social media integration, quick travel options, better building tools, underground caves, claim expansions, required upkeep for claims, and an improved chat system that includes links for map waypoints.

                Phase two will happen about four weeks later, with guilds, SOEmote, naming freedom, mini-hubs, health, dying, basic combat, buffs, plant harvesting, water, a tree harvesting revamp, a journal system, achivements, salvage, treasure chests, claim storage, and more movement options including flying.

                SOE was a little more vague about the third phase, saying that it will include PvP, advanced combat, more physics, and better AI.

                [Thanks to Michael18 for the tip!]

                MassivelyEverQuest Next Landmark lays out development roadmap originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                Permalink | Email this | Comments

                Guild Wars 2 phasing out Glory on March 18th

                Posted: 14 Feb 2014 11:30 AM PST

                Filed under: , , , , , ,

                Here are some words that rhyme with glory.  Story.  Tory.  Allegory.  Montessori.
                In just about a month, there will be no more glory in Guild Wars 2 PvP. We don't mean that you will no longer have the chance for glorious battles; we mean that the currency will no longer be awarded as of March 18th. Chests will be removed as well, and bonus rank points will be rolled into end-of-match rewards where relevant. So if you want some more Glory to spend, you'd better start earning it now.

                For players who do have a lot of Glory stocked up, the vendor introduced on December 10th will remain in-game for a bit after Glory is discontinued. That vendor will remain in place until the new reward system is implemented, and new rank rewards will also be released when Glory gets banished to the land of wind and ghosts. No word yet on exactly when players can expect new reward systems to be implemented.

                MassivelyGuild Wars 2 phasing out Glory on March 18th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                Permalink | Email this | Comments

                The Elder Scrolls Online: Fitting into the genre or forging its own?

                Posted: 14 Feb 2014 11:00 AM PST

                Filed under: , , , , , , , , , ,

                ESO
                It's been about nine months since I first got my hands on The Elder Scrolls Online. Since then, like many of you, I've been trapped on the sidelines, watching and waiting for my turn to jump into the game. This past weekend, I got my chance, but I've found my experience to be distressingly similar to those described by other journalists. Like Massively's Eliot before me, my early foundation was in console gaming, but my reason for avoiding The Elder Scrolls series was very different from his: The Elder Scrolls has always been a single-player series, and after having my world opened by MMOs, I found that going back to single-player games has become difficult. I need people! I need multiplayer options! I need MMOs.

                Enter The Elder Scrolls Online and my excitement for it. I knew a lot of the series' famed freeform gameplay would be cut back in exchange for letting me play alongside my friends, but that was something that I, as a series newbie, was willing to sacrifice. But while my overall impression of the game was positive, I still have this lurking sensation that something important was missing.

                Continue reading The Elder Scrolls Online: Fitting into the genre or forging its own?

                MassivelyThe Elder Scrolls Online: Fitting into the genre or forging its own? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                Permalink | Email this | Comments

                  The Trove Diaries: Exploring the wild, wild... peaceful forest?

                  Posted: 14 Feb 2014 10:30 AM PST

                  Filed under: , , , , , ,

                  Trove
                  In a recent Trove patch, the team added in a new chest at the central world hub for players to toss in gear to share with others. A community chest. Other than making me think about Monopoly for a minute, it gave me one of those brief, warm feelings that this game tends to do on a regular basis. It's a small thing but a good thing. Trove has a lot of that.

                  So welcome to the Trove Diaries, a chronicle of my sporadic adventures through this developing quirky title from Trion Worlds!

                  Let me bring you up to speed: Trove was a side project at Trion that got the internal greenlight to be developed into a full-fledged MMO. However, the team's taken a cue from recent crowdfunding projects by offering fans the opportunity to buy into the game and see first-hand how it's being developed on a daily basis. Trove is a strange combination of building and destroying that bucks the typical MMO trend while creating something that it light, breezy, and quite frankly fun.

                  Continue reading The Trove Diaries: Exploring the wild, wild... peaceful forest?

                  MassivelyThe Trove Diaries: Exploring the wild, wild... peaceful forest? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                  Permalink | Email this | Comments

                    Massively's Valentine's Day roundup

                    Posted: 14 Feb 2014 10:00 AM PST

                    Filed under: , , ,

                    When a mob hits your eye with a big sharpened spike... that's not really amore! In fact, it's downright painful. But it's February -- a time when love is in the air, hearts are aflutter everywhere, and pink and red festoon your favorite MMOs. So in the spirit of the season, go ahead and give that mob an extra-hard love tap, right from... er, to the heart! And don't forget to collect whatever treasures it had for you because we all know Valentine's Day isn't all about the love; no, it's about the loot!

                    Want to know where to get your hands on something special for this holiday? There are plenty of celebrations throughout the MMOverse offering a plethora of events and goodies. Check out some of the various Valentine's events and specials going on now.

                    Continue reading Massively's Valentine's Day roundup

                    MassivelyMassively's Valentine's Day roundup originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Feb 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

                    Permalink | Email this | Comments

                      MMORPG News

                      MMORPG News


                      Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn: FFXIV - This Time on PS4

                      Posted: 14 Feb 2014 02:21 PM PST

                      FFXIV - This Time on PS4

                      We gamers are a grudge-holding bunch, as Square Enix found out last year upon releasing Final Fantasy XIV. The game failed fans in spectacular fashion thanks to inadequate server support, bugs and obtuse mechanics. Despite public opinion and unsettling financials, Square vowed to redeem its failed MMO and against all logic, has actually done so. In fact, the game's fortunes have so reversed, Square's on the cusp of releasing it on the PS4.

                      Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls Art Contest Announced

                      Posted: 14 Feb 2014 03:11 PM PST

                      Reaper of Souls Art Contest Announced

                      Blizzard Entertainment has announced a partnership with DeviantArt.com to sponsor a Diablo III themed art contest. Artists are invited to create portraits of any of the central characters in the game and have the chance to win a trip to the Blizzard campus, a share of $9,000, a framed print of their work and more.

                      Camelot Unchained: Giant Races Subject of Next Stretch Goal

                      Posted: 14 Feb 2014 01:01 PM PST

                      Giant Races Subject of Next Stretch Goal

                      The Camelot Unchained team has reached out to us to let us know that the $2.5 million dollar stretch goal has been reached and that The Depths will be added to the game. In addition, the inclusion of "Giant Races" has been revealed as the next stretch goal at $2.6 million.

                      Darkfall: Unholy Wars: Latest Patch Details Chaos Primalist School

                      Posted: 14 Feb 2014 12:37 PM PST

                      Latest Patch Details Chaos Primalist School

                      The latest Darkfall: Unholy Wars patch has been deployed and is packed with bug fixes and feature enhancements. Additionally, and perhaps most notably, the new Chaos-themed Primalist School has been added to the game.

                      Dragon Nest: Memoirs of a Beggar Now Live

                      Posted: 14 Feb 2014 11:03 AM PST

                      Memoirs of a Beggar Now Live

                      Dragon Nest North America players will want to check out Memoirs of a Beggar that has been deployed across all servers. Players are charged with finding treasures of a once-renowned Pirate King that are strewn across the game world. Players will be assigned random missions and rewarded with keys that unlock Golden Boxes.

                      Elder Scrolls Online: The Alliance War Gets It Right

                      Posted: 14 Feb 2014 01:29 AM PST

                      The Alliance War Gets It Right

                      There has been a lot of discussion about whether or not The Elder Scrolls Online gets this or that right over the past week or so, but what is really going to make or break ESO is the quality of the game's Alliance vs. Alliance warfare. Face it, AvA is the feature that really has the potential to set ESO apart from its peers; it's the game's secret sauce.

                      Elder Scrolls Online: I’m OK with ESO Faction Turncoats

                      Posted: 13 Feb 2014 03:03 PM PST

                      I

                      There's been a lot of controversy lately about "faction turncoats". What's funny to me is that this is the kind of thing players have been dying for Zenimax to allow. But now that we have it, the folks who wanted factions to remain race-locked are now speaking out about how they think this move is a.) A cash grab or b.) Somehow wronging the lore or c.) Breaking the game's PVP. Parties are crying over a bit of spilt milk but this is all better for the game.

                      Rift: Everything You Need to Know About Patch 2.6

                      Posted: 13 Feb 2014 03:03 PM PST

                      Everything You Need to Know About Patch 2.6

                      This week heralds the arrival of a brand new patch filled to the brim with free new content. Several members of the press were treated to an exclusive preview of all that patch 2.6 has to offer. There are some surprises in store and some deeper systems than we first expected and almost all of it ties into dimension and artifacts. Follow us after the break to find out why now is the perfect time to give RIFT a re-visit, especially if you want to be prepared for 3.0. Read on for more.

                      Total Pageviews

                      statcounter

                      View My Stats