General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


October 2013: Put it to the Test

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 03:51 PM PST

Maximum PC October 2013 PDFIn the PDF archive of the October 2013 issue you can find

  • Put it to the Test!
  • How to Cash in on Bitcoin
  • Put on your Coding Cap
  • Asus Z87-Deluxe Review
  • Samsung 840 Evo 1TB Review
  • And more!

 

Maximum PC Video Intern Wanted

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 02:26 PM PST

Maximum PC video internAre you a college student who's interested in producing video content?

Would you like to see more video content on Maximum PC? Yes? Good, because so do we! That's why we would like your help! If you're an able-bodied college student living in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like the opportunity to produce video content around PC hardware, we would love to hear from ya!

If you're interested in applying for our new video intern position, the details are below. Do keep in mind, however, that you will have to be a student who can recieve college credit to be eligible for the internship. Also, you will have to deal with Gordon Mah Ung's myriad rants on a day-to-day basis!

Video Intern – MaxPC 

Future US is looking for a video intern to work with Maximum PC 

Candidates should have: 

A passion for producing video content around PC hardware

Video editing skills

Experience using Adobe Premiere or similar video-editing software

Experience using Adobe Photoshop or similar photo-editing software

Experience using audio equipment (setting up mics/headphones, etc.) and audio-editing software (Audacity, etc.)

Filming/Photography skills

Interest and knowledge of PC hardware

Writing/reporting abilities

Among the tasks you'll do:

Edit Maximum PC's podcast/videocast

Shoot and edit unboxing videos, product demos, interviews, discussions, video reviews, etc.

Write editorial copy that supplements video content for the website as needed

Assist with mailing duties

Upload articles to the CMS/website

Daily tasks as assigned

*This is an unpaid internship—candidates must be able to receive school credit for participating.* 

For more information about the company, please check out our website at www.futureus.com

Only applicants who are currently enrolled in a school program will be contacted during this search

What we offer:

Fantastic resume-building experience in a professional working environment

A casual, comfortable dress setting.

A culture that encourages a passion for life both inside and outside of the office.

Don't want to drive? Not to worry – Future US offers a free shuttle from BART and CalTrain to the office.

To apply for this position click on the link below:

https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=FS154

Super Talent DRAM Disk Review

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 11:51 AM PST

Super Talent Dram Disk

USB DRAM thumb drive shows off its uber fast RAM disk.

When we first heard of this USB DRAM disk, we didn't really know what it was, but we knew we wanted to try it out. Now that we've had a chance to kick the tires, we're impressed, even though it's not the most practical thing in the world. Then again, acquiring maximum performance is rarely practical, yet it's still our raison d'etre. The DRAM Disk is a USB 3.0 thumb drive available in 8GB, 16GB, and 32GB capacities and includes software to create a RAM disk. It works quite well, though the key itself features a boring design. 

The way this bad boy works is, when you plug in the drive there are two volumes—the main USB 3.0 drive, and a second volume that appears like a CD/DVD to the system and contains the RAM disk software and a user guide. Once you install the software, which takes five seconds, a new volume appears, and that's your RAM disk. Whatever you copy into the RAM Disk folder is also synced in the background to a folder on the USB key, which is handy but it also demonstrates the problem with RAM disks. Since they use volatile DRAM, as soon as the system loses power everything on them is deleted, so it's not safe to keep any data on them without a backup since one accidental reboot or Windows update and all your data goes sigh-oh-narr-ah. 

On our test system with 8GB of RAM, the RAM disk was 2.90GB, though we could have made it smaller via the included software. Adding another 4GB of RAM increased the size of the RAM disk by 1.4GB. The RAM disk itself is insanely fast, hitting 5GB/s read speeds and 8GB/s write speeds in CrystalDiskMark. You can copy gigs of data in a millisecond, and it's truly breathtaking to witness. The USB 3.0 portion of the key is standard stuff, running at about 100MB/s in our transfer tests, so you could use it like a standard-issue key if you want to. 

Overall we dig the DRAM Disk. It makes it quick and painless to run a RAM disk, which provides insane speed for scratch disks and other temporary files. It works exactly as advertised and is totally affordable too, costing just $15. We think it's pretty sweet, but are withholding the Kick Ass, as it needs more capacity and a better chassis design.

$15 www.supertalent.com

Check Out How Micron Makes Crucial Ballistix Memory

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 10:50 AM PST

Crucial Ballistix ManufacturingVideo shows an inside look at Crucial's manufacturing process

It's not too often that system builders and related component makers pull the curtain back to reveal what goes on behind the scenes, but that's exactly what Micron did with its Crucial division. Crucial Ballistix memory is built entirely in-house and is designed and developed by parent company Micron. In a video recently posted to YouTube, Micron shows how its Crucial Balistix RAM is manufactured and tested.

The Ballistix line represents Crucial's performance memory for gamers, overclockers, and enthusiasts. It starts with pure silicon wafers that are moved through more than 800 different processes in clean rooms that are 100 times cleaner than a hospital operating room. It takes over a month just to produce a finished wafer, and that's only the beginning.

Micron's video continues through the rest of the process, which features plenty of automated machinery. If you have 2 minutes to spare, it's definitely worth a watch:

Props to Legit Reviews for finding this gem.

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LaCie Announces 5TB External Hard Drive for Beefy Backups

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 09:30 AM PST

LaCie Thunderbolt StorageThe industry's first 5TB external hard drive

Hard drive makers only recently began announcing 5TB capacity HDDs, but it looks like LaCie will be the first one to bring 5TB of external storage to market. LaCie announced today the availability of 5TB (7200 RPM) hard drive capacities in its 5big Thunderbolt, 2big Thunderbolt, and d2 Thunderbolt series of external storage solutions. And in case you're wondering, the answer is yes, the 5TB capacity LaCie is touting comes in single-drive configurations.

"The availability of 5TB hard drives enables LaCie to deliver significantly more storage capacity in its same compact desktop designs. This saves professionals valuable desktop space," LaCie said.

For those who need oodles of storage, LaCie's 5big Thunderbolt now offers capacities of up to 25TB (it's a 5-bay unit) with transfer speeds of up to 785MB/s. According to LaCie, it's an ideal solution for video professionals, especially those working with 4K videos.

Pricing starts at $450 (5TB d2 Thunderbolt and USB 3.0).

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Nvidia GeForce 334.89 WHQL Drivers Now Available to Download

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 09:04 AM PST

Nvidia Graphics CardNew drivers from Nvidia boost performance up to 19 percent

As Nvidia often does when releasing new graphics cards, there are new WHQL-certified drivers to download. According to Nvidia, the recently released GeForce 334.89 drivers offer double-digit percentage performance gains in some titles (up to 19 percent) for GeForce 400, 500, 600, and 700 series GPUs (compared to GeForce 332.21 WHQL). The drivers also add a few new SLI profiles.

Starting with the performance gains, Nvidia provides the following examples:

  • Up to 19 percent in F1 2013
  • Up to 18 percent in Sleeping Dogs
  • UP to 16 percent in Hitman Absolution
  • Up to 15 percent in Company of Heroes 2
  • Up to 10 percent in Assassin's Creed 3
  • Up to 7 percent in BioShock Infinite
  • Up to 6 percent in Sniper Elite V2
  • Up to 5 percent in Total War: Rome 2

Beyond the performance boost, installing the new drivers add SLI profiles for Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD, Assassin's Creed: Freedom Cry, Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut, and The Crew.

You can check out the full release notes (PDF) for more information, and then download the drivers direct from Nvidia.

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Feenix Claims Aria Headset Delivers "Audiophile Level" Audio to Gamers

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 07:04 AM PST

Feenix AriaA premium priced headset with 50mm drivers

Never heard of Feenix, you say? The company is a relative newcomer to the field of PC peripherals and appears to be trying to make a splash by combining elegant designs with premium crafted components. Fleshing out a limited (but growing) catalog of peripherals is the Aria, which Feenix claims is a "studio grade" headphone and microphone combination. Let's take a peek at the specs.

The Aria features 50mm full range neodymium magnet drivers for "studio monitor sound performance." Each driver is purportedly sound checked prior to assembly. They're then hand-installed into earcups made from Japanese Pine wood and covered with 100 percent memory foam and protein leather.

From a specification standpoint, the headset is rated as follows:

  • Impedance: 64 ohm
  • Sensitivity: 101db
  • Frequency Response: 10Hz-26KHz
  • Weight: 370g

"For years gamers have been mislead as to what they should be looking for in a gaming headset. Their choices have had nothing but poor sound quality, gimmicky features, and unnaturally over pronounced bass," said Feenix creative director, Ashkon Shayani. "The Aria focuses on providing high grade audio and reproducing sounds perfectly in studio monitor fashion. The result is the ability to hear sounds you never knew existed."

The Aria is currently available to pre-order for $349.

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Facebook Gobbles Up WhatsApp Messaging Service for $19 Billion

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 06:02 AM PST

WhatsAppMark Zuckerberg makes a major play in the mobile messaging arena

One thing is certain, Facebook isn't the least bit afraid to throw obscene amounts of cash at startups and services that have proven themselves in the public eye. It's a rather long list that includes Instagram ($1 billion), FriendFeed ($47.5 million), ConnectU ($31 million), and several others, though Facebook just announced its largest acquisition to date -- $19 billion for WhatsApp.

Zuckerberg made the surprise announcement on his Facebook page, stating that WhatsApp will help the world's largest social playground succeed in its mission to make the world more open and connected. It also helps that WhatsApp is attracting scores of new users on a daily basis.

"WhatsApp is a simple, fast and reliable mobile messaging service that is used by over 450 million people on every major mobile platform. More than 1 million people sign up for WhatsApp every day and it is on its way to connecting one billion people. More and more people rely on WhatsApp to communicate with all of their contacts every day," Zuckerberg said.

The entire WhatsApp team is being absorbed by Facebook where they'll continue to operate independently of the social network. Zuckerberg said the product roadmap will remain the same as well, so nothing really changes here except that the startup is now backed by a multi-billion dollar firm.

It's an interesting acquisition by Facebook considering the hefty price tag. WhatsApp doesn't have any advertising revenue and makes relatively little money by charging users $1 per year for the service, and that's after giving them the first year for free. Facebook's willingness to pay $19 billion for WhatsApp underscores the value it's putting on the mobile messaging game, as well how far it will go to retain social networking users.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Seagate Backup Plus Slim 1TB, XFX Core Edition 550W PSU, and More!

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 06:00 AM PST

Seagate Backup Plus Slim HDDnewegg logo

Top Deal:

Between owning a tablet, smartphone, desktop PC, laptop, and whatever else, it can be tricky managing your data on so many devices. That's where a good backup solution comes into play, and if you're looking for a portable device to keep all those photos and videos save, then check out today's top deal for a Seagate Backup Plus Slim 1TB USB 3.0 Blue Portable Hard Drive for $60 with free shipping (normally $90 - use coupon code: [EMCPHWB52]). Seagate's drive and accompanying app works with mobile devices, and with the built-in USB 3.0 port, you can trasfer data quickly.

Other Deals:

WD My Book 4TB USB 3.0/USB 2.0 External Hard Drive for $150 with free shipping (normally $160 - use coupon code: [EMCPHWB53])

Seagate Hybrid Drives 1TB MLC/8GB 2.5-inch Laptop SSHD for $95 with free shipping (normally $105 - use coupon code: [EMCPHWB48])

XFX Core Edition PRO550W 550W Power Supply for $51 with free shipping (normally $61 - use coupon code: [EMCPHWB38]; additional $25 Mail-in rebate)

Asus Z87-Pro LGA 1150 Intel Z87 ATX Intel Motherboard for $180 with free shipping (normally $190 - use coupon code: [EMCPHWB56]; additional $15 Mail-in rebate)

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Gloria Victis gets the greenlight on Steam

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 09:00 AM PST

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We all know a green light means go, and the community has told Black Eye Games to keep right on going developing Gloria Victis; the independent project has been officially Greenlit on Steam. Not only did the community vote in support of the project, it did so overwhelmingly, taking the medieval game to rank #1 in under two days. The devs noted that the next step is to complete the necessary digital paperwork and work toward an early-access launch. However, since they'd like Gloria Victis to be in a more playable state before early access, players shouldn't expect to see it on Steam for a few months yet. For those who have supported the game through donations, an option to tie accounts to Steam will be available at a later date.

[Thanks to Alleomurand for the tip!]

MassivelyGloria Victis gets the greenlight on Steam originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Field Journal: Picking up the pieces of Fallen Earth

Posted: 20 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

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Today. At the edge of the Grand Canyon, after the end of civilization, we have chosen not only to read old manuals, but to write new ones. Today there is not a clone here that shall scavenge alone. Not today. Today we face the prairie chickens that are at our door and roast them. Today, we are crafting the post-apocalypse!
I was introduced to Fallen Earth way back in the mists of time, around when I first started reading Massively. It was one of the earliest Choose My Adventures, and I was so impressed that I made my own account and joined in on the fun part of the way through. My character even made a few cameos in the column later on.

I have a lot of fond memories of the game, and a significant part of that is due to the crafting system. There are some really good ideas in there, even if the execution has always been a bit flawed. Despite those flaws, I wouldn't trade my early days with the game for anything. Well, other than a better version of the same game.

Continue reading Field Journal: Picking up the pieces of Fallen Earth

MassivelyField Journal: Picking up the pieces of Fallen Earth originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Transform yourself in Eclipse War Online's closed beta February 25th

    Posted: 20 Feb 2014 07:30 AM PST

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    A game that lets players transform into the mobs they kill? If you've got to see it to believe it, Eclipse War Online is opening its closed beta doors from February 25th to March 11th. All interested players have to do to get access to the beta is become a member of Playrohan.com, then watch the official Facebook page and Twitter for the exact times the servers open.

    Besides collecting transformation cards from monsters, players can also participate in PvP in arena mode or in the three-lane AOS mode (complete with minions and towers). If you just want just a bit more challenge to your PvE instead, know that time of day, geographic location, and predator/prey status affect gameplay in Eclipse War Online.

    [Source: Playwith Interactive press release]

    MassivelyTransform yourself in Eclipse War Online's closed beta February 25th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Hearthstone and Destiny expected to show Activision the money

      Posted: 20 Feb 2014 07:00 AM PST

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      After reporting earnings that beat expectations for last year, analysts are expecting Activision to have an even better 2014 monetarily thanks to Hearthstone and Destiny. Although Blizzard's Hearthstone hasn't released yet, players have been able to purchase card packs in beta, and while Bungie's Destiny isn't even in beta, it's already doing well with preorders. The company's eggs aren't in any one basket, either; add in all the other games and it looks to be a banner year. Doug Creuts, an analyst at Cowen & Company, noted to investors:
      "We believe Activision Blizzard is the best-managed company in the video game sector. We also believe that Blizzard is the single best, most consistent content-creation asset in our coverage universe. We also expect current cornerstone franchises Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Skylanders to continue generating strong revenue and operating profits for the next several years."

      MassivelyHearthstone and Destiny expected to show Activision the money originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Ask Massively: Why we cover what we do, part three

      Posted: 20 Feb 2014 06:00 AM PST

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      Fun fact: The only Brad who beats Brad McQuaid in our network tag system is Brad Pitt.
      For this week's Ask Massively, longtime reader Avaera has asked us to do another round of "why we cover what we do," and I am happy to oblige. Avaera wrote,
      Can I ask (with what I hope is genuine curiosity) what guidelines you generally try to follow when choosing which news stories to cover? I do understand that it just isn't feasible to cover every update, patch, developer's announcement, press release, expansion, research paper, Kickstarter project, or success/failure story relating to the thousands of MMORPGs out there, but sometimes the criteria seem opaque to me. As an example, since the start of 2014, I counted 22 news articles exclusively focused on Brad McQuaid's Pantheon Kickstarter. In contrast, the active and available MMOs that I am most interested in don't seem to make much of a splash at all. Is this just a reflection of the gaming community's hunger for something new and original, of hype and promises being much more satisfying and desirable than the tangible and playable worlds from which the curtain of hopes and dreams has been stripped away? Is it a reflection of the personal interests of the Massively team, who certainly can't be expected to take up much time with games that simply don't do anything for them? Or is there something unfortunate about the gaming media that unknowingly feeds the hype and disappointment cycle through disproportionate reporting of developer plans and marketing over actual development?
      Complicated questions demand complicated answers. What do we consider when deciding whether something is newsworthy?

      Continue reading Ask Massively: Why we cover what we do, part three

      MassivelyAsk Massively: Why we cover what we do, part three originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: What's your favorite MMO minigame?

        Posted: 20 Feb 2014 05:00 AM PST

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        RuneScape heistTuesday's announcement by Jagex that it had implemented a bank heist minigame into RuneScape struck a personal chord. I love MMO minigames, and here's one I haven't really seen before!

        I'm not sure how it will stack up to EverQuest II's aether races, Vanguard's diplomacy, or Lord of the Rings Online's music system in terms of my personal favorites, but it sounds pretty slick.

        What about you, Massively readers? Do you dig minigames in your MMOs? Which one is your favorite?

        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 MMO minigame? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          SWTOR ranked PvP rewards revealed

          Posted: 19 Feb 2014 06:30 PM PST

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          Star Wars: The Old Repubic's rancor PvP mount
          The end of Season 1 PvP in Star Wars: The Old Republic is coming with Game Update 2.7. Why should you care? Well, because that means you don't have a lot of time left to rank up and partake of the various tier rewards.

          BioWare has outlined them in a new post on its official website, and we're pretty sure you're going to want the ranked weapon set as well as the Rancor mount!

          [Thanks Dengar!]

          MassivelySWTOR ranked PvP rewards revealed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Previewing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on the PS4

          Posted: 19 Feb 2014 05:00 PM PST

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          Major boss in FFXIV A Realm Reborn
          The original release of Final Fantasy XIV in 2010 and subsequent updates received a poor reception from the public with significant criticism over quality and stability. After several years of fundamental redevelopment including a new game engine, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn was successfully launched on the PC and PS3 in 2013, receiving strong accolades from players. Buoyed by the strong relaunch, it is now is set for a full PS4 launch on April 14th in most parts of the world including Europe and North America. This will be quickly be followed by a launch in China sometime in the summer of 2014, followed by Russia, Taiwan and the Middle East.

          I recently had a chance to preview the game on the PS4 and chat with Square-Enix's Naoki Yoshida.

          Continue reading Previewing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on the PS4

          MassivelyPreviewing Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on the PS4 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Here's 25 minutes of WildStar Exile Adventure gameplay

            Posted: 19 Feb 2014 04:30 PM PST

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            WildStar Exile Adventure
            Want an early look at WildStar's Hycrest Insurrection Exile Adventure? Massively's Richie Procopio has you covered with a 25-minute video designed to show off some special content that's still under NDA for most users.

            Hycrest requires a level-15 character, and it's basically a five-person choose-your-own-adventure instance. Head past the cut to watch Richie play through it!

            Continue reading Here's 25 minutes of WildStar Exile Adventure gameplay

            MassivelyHere's 25 minutes of WildStar Exile Adventure gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            EverQuest Next looks to players to improve the new play experience

            Posted: 19 Feb 2014 04:00 PM PST

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            So you're saying we shouldn't start all players in the midst of a deadly pit surrounded by lava?  Good to know.
            Sometimes, existing players don't really know what new players need. But EverQuest Next Landmark is still very new, and everyone who's in the game is still very much learning what can be done. So the development team at Sony Online Entertainment has turned to the players to ask what can be done to make the new user experience for players that much easier.

            As the thread opener from lead designer Darren McPherson explains, sometimes as a developer it's hard to see what a game is missing simply because you're too close to the game. You know how all the systems work; you built most of them, after all. Players, on the other hand, can find holes in explanations that might otherwise be unavailable. If you've been playing around in the test and want to add your thoughts, head over to the official thread and let the team know what's intuitive and what isn't.

            MassivelyEverQuest Next looks to players to improve the new play experience originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            SMITE blazes a trail with Agni

            Posted: 19 Feb 2014 03:00 PM PST

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            Somehow I don't think this is mentioned in the Upanishads.
            The latest addition to SMITE's roster of deities is a real hothead. He's a firebrand. He is literally on fire. What we're getting at is that he's a god of fire. Agni, a deity of the Hindu faith, has been brought on board as a mage with a variety of flame-based abilities, allowing him to unleash major fire-based damage across a battlefield.

            Agni's core gameplay revolves around ticking damage and interplay between his abilities. His first ability, Noxious Fumes, allows him to place a damage-over-time field on the ground, which he can ignite with any of his other abilities. He also gains a buff to set enemies ablaze with his spells after landing several normal attacks. With a combination of mobility, area effects, and steady burns, he seems the sort to play if you enjoy laying a burning field of destruction... but perhaps you should check the video past the cut to be sure.

            [Source: Hi-Rez Studios press release]

            Continue reading SMITE blazes a trail with Agni

            MassivelySMITE blazes a trail with Agni originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Wurm Online still offline, offers bounty for DDOS attacker

              Posted: 19 Feb 2014 02:00 PM PST

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              Wurm
              Wurm Online's 1.2 patch was supposed to herald a day of rejoicing for the community, but that quickly turned sour as a severe DDOS attack on its hosting forced the devs to take the game offline for over a day now.

              "Shortly after todays update we were the target of a DDOS attack and our hosting provider had to pull us off the grid for now," Code Club posted. "As annoying as this may be, we are taking steps to turn this to everyones advantage. I announced earlier that we were already looking at migrating the hosting of Wurm. When the attack forced us offline, we went straight ahead and pushed for this to happen as soon as possible."

              The team is working on switching hosting and said that service should be restored within a day. Code Club is offering a bounty of 10,000 Euro "for any tips or evidence leading to a conviction of the person responsible for this attack."

              MassivelyWurm Online still offline, offers bounty for DDOS attacker originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              WildStar's Adventures skew toward the unusual

              Posted: 19 Feb 2014 01:00 PM PST

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              WildStar
              Did you read Eliot's first-hand tour of WildStar's Adventure content and find yourself wanting to know more? Carbine Studios posted an excellent follow-up today giving players the full scoop on this unique group content.

              Adventures aren't to be confused with WildStar's dungeons and Shiphand missions, a point the studio wants to make clear. Instead of being a linear challenge, Adventures are simulated scenarios that offer a "choose your own adventure" tour through an open zone, throwing in options for specific paths and even a MOBA-like battle. These also have demphasized traditional combat (although it's still present) and created "unusual" encounters instead.

              There will be six Adventures at launch that will come in both normal and veteran modes, with the first one opening up at level 15. Carbine said that there will be a wide variety of loot for Adventure seekers, including housing items, recipes, and gear. Veteran-mode Adventures are also presented as a good method of gearing up for raids.

              MassivelyWildStar's Adventures skew toward the unusual originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              The Stream Team: Continuing EQN Landmark's creativity tour

              Posted: 19 Feb 2014 12:00 PM PST

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              On the last tour through EverQuest Next Landmark, Massively's MJ found some pretty spectacular creations, from a ship to a crypt with an underground dungeon. Of course, that wasn't even a drop in the bucket of what's out there, so she's heading back out and taking you on another whirlwind tour. Join us live at 3:00 p.m. to check out more amazing player creations. She might even stop by your place!

              Game: EverQuest Next Landmark
              Host: MJ Guthrie
              Date: Wednesday, February 19th, 2014
              Time: 3:00 p.m. EST

              Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

              Continue reading The Stream Team: Continuing EQN Landmark's creativity tour

              MassivelyThe Stream Team: Continuing EQN Landmark's creativity tour originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Choose My Adventure: Taking EverQuest by the reins

                Posted: 19 Feb 2014 11:00 AM PST

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                Another week, another wild Choose My Adventure ride through EverQuest. And this time, I have a better understanding of this beast I am riding and feel more confident and in control! Contrary to my experiences in newer games where things feel familiar from the outset, it has taken me a little longer to start getting comfortable in my Norrathian skin. That total-newb-outsider feeling has been slowly diminishing so that I feel like a real citizen. Between knowing where to find things in the world and just getting the hang of the controls, I can now start relying on my gaming muscle memory to guide me instead of actively searching for everything.

                Of course, that doesn't mean that the world is now a piece of cake and that there is nothing left to learn! Far from it: There are still many new experiences to be had, some of which you will be selecting for me for this week's adventure. But before we get into that, let's take a look at this past week in EQ.

                Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Taking EverQuest by the reins

                MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Taking EverQuest by the reins originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  The Elder Scroll Online showcases crafting in new blacksmithing video

                  Posted: 19 Feb 2014 10:00 AM PST

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                  Fans wanting to get a taste of crafting in The Elder Scrolls Online can watch a new dev play session video that highlights blacksmithing while describing crafting as a whole. In ESO, crafters will control not only the the type of materials an item is made out of and its level but its innate properties and look as well. Regardless of profession, all players can pick up any kind of resource in the world; however, only crafters who spend points in the skill Keen Eye will see the materials highlighted. Additionally, raw materials can be salvaged from loot and other items.

                  Crafting is also tied into exploration in more ways than just gathering. Instead of having to travel to cities in order to create goods, crafters have specific locales throughout the world that allow them to make special set items with bonuses unique to each locale. And in order to put specific traits on an item, a crafter must have already learned said trait by studying (read: destroying) other items with it. Check out all the details in the video below.

                  Continue reading The Elder Scroll Online showcases crafting in new blacksmithing video

                  MassivelyThe Elder Scroll Online showcases crafting in new blacksmithing video originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Feb 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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