General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Brendan Eich's Short Stint as Mozilla CEO Comes to an Abrupt End

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 01:35 PM PDT

Brendan EichMozilla co-founder was pressured to resign due to his support of an anti-gay marriage law

After barely more than a week on the job, Brendan Eich has made the decision to resign as Chief Executive Officer of Mozilla, and is giving up his seat on the board as well. Eich was named CEO on March 24, 2014, which immediately drew the ire of several employees and members of the LGBT community over his support of California's anti-gay marriage law, otherwise famously known as Proposition 8.

This has been a topic of controversy ever since Eich in 2008 donated $1,000 in support of the ballot measure to ban gay marriage, though it came under greater scrutiny when he was named CEO of Mozilla last week. Between then and up to today's surprise announcement Eich held firm in multiple interviews with various members of the press that he would not resign, nor would he speak about his personal beliefs, which he said weren't relevant to the job.

Something changed his mind, and according to a blog post by Mozilla's Executive Chairwoman Mitchell Baker, Eich made the voluntary decision "for Mozilla and our community." Baker also used the opportunity to apologize.

"Mozilla prides itself on being held to a different standard and, this past week, we didn't live up to it. We know why people are hurt and angry, and they are right: it's because we haven't stayed true to ourselves," Mitchell explained. "We didn't act like you'd expect Mozilla to act. We didn't move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We're sorry. We must do better."

Eich, who's resume includes the creation of the JavaScript scripting language, and Baker have worked together for over 15 years. In an interview with Recode, Baker acknowledges that it's a tough situation due to Eich's founding status and contribution over the years, but that "making sure others continue to join and support Mozilla's efforts is even more important." Baker also stated that despite pressure coming in from all sides, it was Brendan's decision to step down.

"What's next for Mozilla's leadership is still being discussed. We want to be open about where we are in deciding the future of the organization and will have more information next week," Baker added.

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Epic Games Provides Details on Unreal Engine 4.1 Update

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 01:18 PM PDT

Elemental demo screenshotLinux and SteamOS support incoming

Epic Games has posted preview notes on its upcoming 4.1 update for the Unreal Engine 4. The pending update has a plethora of new features, assets, new platform supports, and a ton of fixes and improvements to the game engine. 

One new feature of 4.1 is that it will have initial support for Linux and SteamOS platforms. This will allow developers to run and package games for both platforms once the update goes live. For those who were impressed with Epic's Elemental demo that was shown back in 2012, the company also plans to release the Elemental assets to coincide with the update's rollout for free to all subscribers from the Marketplace.

Update 4.1 will also have two new project templates, for C++ and Blueprint, which will demonstrate flying and rolling character movement. Among the other features there is an Asset Deletion Assistant, an Undo History Window, and even a new Translation Editor to edit translation for strings in a game's code and assets.

For a full list of all the new features, fixes, and improvements, be sure to visit the official website

Last month, at GDC, Epic Games announced a $19-per-month plan that would provide developers full access to the engine and its assets. Those who use the engine to develop a game would also agree to pay 5 percent back to the company for the gross revenue of any commercial products built with UE4.

The Unreal Engine 4.1 update will be released later this month. 

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Eurocom's 13.3-inch M4 Laptop Packs a 3200x1800 Display, Maxwell Graphics

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:40 AM PDT

Eurocom M4Eurocom claims the M4 is the most powerful ultraportable on the planet

Put the kids to bed because Eurocom's M4 just might scare the children. Based on the specs, it certainly should scare any Ultrabooks that happen to wander by. According to Eurocom, the M4 is the world's most powerful ultraportable, a claim it makes based on its combination of up to an Intel Core i7 4940XM Extreme processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 860M (Maxwell) graphics.

The real highlight of the show might be the display. This thing touts a 13.3-inch panel with a 3200x1800 (QHD+) resolution. In doing so, users should have a plenty of on-screen real-estate to play around while maintaining an ultraportable form factor that measures 13.2 inches (W) by 9.98 inches (D) by 1.28 inches (H) and weighs 4.4 pounds.

Pricing actually starts at around a grand for a more subdued configuration, though the M4 is configurable well beyond the budget of most pedestrians, including multiple 1TB solid state drive options (there are two mSATA slots and a regular SATA slot).

You can configure and pick up your own (or window shop) on Eurocom's website.

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Digital Storm Launches Four Gaming Laptops Running GeForce GTX 800M Series Graphics

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:12 AM PDT

Digital Storm LaptopsOne lucky gamer will receive a free Krypton laptop valued at $1,478

If it's a laptop for gaming that you're after, boutique system builder Digital Storm has four new pixel-pushing models to choose from, including the 15.6-inch Javelin and Lance, and 17.3-inch Krypton and Behemoth. All four models sport Nvidia's recently introduced GeForce GTX 800M Series graphics, and to kick off the launch of these new machines, Digital Storm is giving away a Krypton.

We'll start with the contest. To enter, Digital Storm requires that you Tweet or Instagram a photo of your "ramshackeled laptop" using the hastag #DSThrowbackContest. Out of the photos it receives, Digital Storm will choose the most broken down and decrepit laptop and give the owner a Krypton.

As for the four laptop models now available, pricing starts at $1,196 for the Javelin, $1,430 for the Lance, $1,478 for the Krypton, and $2,289 for the Behemoth, the last of which comes standard with an Intel Core i7 4810MQ processor, 16GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, 128GB solid state drive, 750GB hard drive, Nvidia GTX 880M graphics, DVD burner, Wireless-N, and Windows 8.1.

Depending on your budget, you can add various upgrades, including SLI graphics and multiple drives in a RAID array. You can check out all the models and options on Digital Storm's website.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Microsoft Windows 8.1 Pro 64-Bit, Kingston SSDNow V300 240GB SSD, and More!

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:39 AM PDT

Windows 8.1 Screenienewegg logo

Top Deal:

It only took a mass of bull horns and the collective cries of power users far and wide, but dare we say that Microsoft finally got the message? It sure seems that way -- Windows 8.1 is improving on the Desktop side and is about to get a major update that will make things better than ever, the timing of which will come just as support for Windows XP comes to a screeching halt. Coincidence? We think not. Regardless, if you find the upcoming intriguing, then check out today's top deal for Microsoft's Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit for $125 with free shipping (normally $140 - use coupon code: [EMCPFPG22]).

Other Deals:

Toshiba Canvio Slim II 1TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive for $60 with free shipping (normally $70 - use coupon code: [EMCYTZT58934])

ViewSonic VA2342-LED Black 23-inch 5ms Widescreen LED Backlight LED Monitor for $130 with free shipping (normally $140 - use coupon code: [EMCYTZT58929])

Kingston SSDNow V300 Series 240G 2.5-inch 240GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive for $110 with free shipping

MSI Gaming N760 TF 2GD5/OC GeForce GTX 760 2GB 256-Bit 3.0 SLI Support Video Card for $230 with free shipping (normally $260 - use coupon code: [EMCPFPG26]; additional $10 Mail-in rebate)

AOC Introduces a Full HD 1080p 24-inch Gaming Monitor with 144Hz Refresh Rate

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 08:41 AM PDT

AOC g2460pquA monitor for gamers

AOC has put a target on gamers with its new 24-inch monitor (G2460PQU) that offers a fast 144Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time to ensure lag-free and smooth gaming. It sports a Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) resolution, has four USB 2.0 ports (including a fast charging port), and ample connectivity options that include VGA, Dual Link DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort outputs.

It also features seven different display modes: 17-inch Pillar Box (5:4), 19-inch Pillar Box (5:4), 19-inch Widescreen (16:10), 21.5pinch Widescreen (16:9), 22-inch Widescreen (16:10), 23-inch Widescreen (16:9), and 24-inch Widescreen (16:9).

There are built-in speakers, a cable management hook on the back of the stand, and support for tilt, pivot, and height adjustability. And though it's intended for gaming, the monitor can be used in either landscape or portrait mode, the latter of which can be useful for reading long documents, surfing the web, or working with certain images.

Street pricing for the G2460PQU varies by vendor; the cheapest we've seen it is $293 at Amazon -- a bit pricey for a non-IPS panel.

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Microsoft is Bringing Back the Start Menu and Catering to Mouse and Keyboard Users

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 07:28 AM PDT

Windows 8.1 Start MenuThis is what Windows 8 should have been all along

Straight to the point, Microsoft is bringing back the Start menu to Windows via an upcoming update to Windows 8.1. Along with everything else that will be introduced, we feel like Brennan from Step Brothers after he and Dale received pirate hats, dirty magazines, and crossbows - "You guys finally came to your sense and got us something cool!" And yes, despite all the criticism up to this point, Windows 8.1 finally has a shot at being a cool OS.

To anyone who's been paying attention, Windows 8/8.1 has been steadily getting better over time, though it hasn't been able to get over the hump where it's widely accepted as a worthy replacement for Windows 7, or even XP if you're a legacy holdout. Part of the reason why is Microsoft's stubbornness to alter its vision. For example, Microsoft already brought back the Start button, but stubbornly refused to include the Start menu. It's thereto toggle between Desktop and Metro, the latter of which is of little interest to power users, and offer up a few right-click shortcuts.

In a video promoting the upcoming update, Joe Belfior, VP of Windows, finally acknowledges what we suspected all along. He says, "Lots of Windows 8.1 users are spending most of their time on the desktop." He also acknowledges the importance of the taskbar to users who don't have a touchscreen.

Microsoft needed to make these epiphanies, and now that it has -- or at least admitted to knowing them -- Windows 8.1 is only going to get better. The forthcoming update goes beyond the return of the Start menu and focuses on mouse and keyboard input. You'll be able to pin Windows Store apps to the taskbar, and likewise it will be easy to switch between or close them with your mouse.

"We've made it so your mouse works more consistently anywhere in Windows. If you move your mouse to the top of the screen when using a Windows Store app, you will see the familiar Close and Minimize buttons. And as I mentioned above, when you move your mouse to the bottom of the screen in a Windows Store app, the taskbar comes up," Microsoft explains in a blog post.

There's a lot more you can do with the mouse, both on the Desktop and the Start screen. You can right-click on app tiles for a context menu, select multiple tiles at once, and much more.

In short, Windows 8.1 is transforming into what Windows 8 should have been at launch. For users who want the touch experience, it's there and it works magnificently. And for users who care about the traditional Desktop interface, you can boot directly to the Desktop and manipulate the OS like you're used to doing.

The "Windows 8.1 Update" is available now for MSDN subscribers. For everyone else, Microsoft will start rolling it out for free to Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1 customers via Windows Update on Tuesday, April 8th.

Update

Well, this stinks. Apparently Microsoft is indeed bringing back the Start menu that power users have demanded, just not with the Windows 8.1 Update 1 scheduled for April 8th -- according to TechCrunch, it will be introduced in a future update of Windows 8.1, which means you won't have to wait until Windows 9, but you don't have wait longer than next week.

On the plus side, the forthcoming update will introduce several other enhancements, including the expanded mouse and keyboard functionality.

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MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Norrathian Notebook: Grading Landmark's first beta week

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 10:00 AM PDT

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

Closed beta is now in session! After a couple of days of downtime to prepare for the transition, EQN Landmark moved out of the alpha phase. And now, the first week of this long-awaited beta has concluded. Like most initial weeks, it's been an eventful one; from opening itself to a slew of new players to ditching part of its name to announcing the launch of Player Studio, the voxel-based sandbox has changed and evolved from its previous state. But how exactly is this beta different from alpha? What is new, what has improved, and what still needs improvement? How did Landmark fare during its first week? Norrathian Notebook is here to bring you the game's one-week report card!

Continue reading Norrathian Notebook: Grading Landmark's first beta week

MassivelyNorrathian Notebook: Grading Landmark's first beta week originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Apr 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    There are 5.0952187*10^58 possible character variations in Elder Scrolls Online

    Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:30 AM PDT

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    Big ESO numbers
    On the eve of The Elder Scrolls Online's "official" launch, Bethesda has released an infographic with all kinds of big numbers relating to its new fantasy MMO opus. For example, did you know that you would need to kill 119,050 mud crabs to reach level 50?

    Or how about the fact that there are 2,235 books filled with 480,000 words in the game? There are over 40 million weapon variations too, as well as some huge number of possible character variations that my math-averse mind can't even read, let alone comprehend.

    Click past the cut for the full infographic.

    Continue reading There are 5.0952187*10^58 possible character variations in Elder Scrolls Online

    MassivelyThere are 5.0952187*10^58 possible character variations in Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Apr 2014 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Diablo III's expansion moves 2.7 million first week copies

    Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

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    Diablo 3 Reaper of Souls logo
    Reaper of Souls is popular, but is it as popular as Blizzard would like? Diablo III's expansion pack moved 2.7 million copies combined in retail and digital markets, which is well short of the 6.3 million units sold at DIII's 2012 original release.

    The expansion adds a new story act, a new class, a new game mode, and an increased level cap.

    MassivelyDiablo III's expansion moves 2.7 million first week copies originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Apr 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Massively's Elder Scrolls Online launch diary: Day four - PvP

    Posted: 03 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT

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    ESO - PvP mages in a keep
    My fourth day In The Elder Scrolls Online didn't start until well after 3:00 p.m. thanks to the North American megaserver going down in the wee watches of Wednesday morning and remaining down for several hours.

    When it came back up, the first thing I did was load into Doshia's Lair outside Daggerfall with a pickup group that intended to finish a Fighter's Guild quest called Anchors From the Harbour. Unfortunately none of us could see the others' avatars inside the instance, so after several attempts at reloading and relogging, we abandoned ship.

    While additional data like this has caused me to reassess my earlier observations about ESO's smooth (pre-)launch, it hasn't affected my overall enjoyment of the game. In fact, ESO would need quite a few more bugs and several more days of downtime to qualify as a "bad" launch. If you disagree, well, I question how many MMO launches you've actually experienced.

    Continue reading Massively's Elder Scrolls Online launch diary: Day four - PvP

    MassivelyMassively's Elder Scrolls Online launch diary: Day four - PvP originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Apr 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Skyforge shows off the Paladin class

      Posted: 03 Apr 2014 07:00 AM PDT

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      Skyforge Paladin
      After revealing the Cryomancer a few days ago, the Skyforge team is showing off the second class that was spotlighted during its GDC demo: the Paladin.

      In addition to the usual fighter abilities you'd find with a Paladin, Skyforge's holy warrior wields a powerful artifact that is used to both inspire allies and threaten enemies.

      "The Paladin is capable of performing devastating attacks and engage in prolonged battles with abilities such as the Righteous Blow, Seal of Light, Punishing Bolt and Celestial Shield," the forum announcement states. "The Paladin is one who not only inflicts damage on his enemies, but also protects his friends, making him an excellent brother in arms!"

      [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]

      MassivelySkyforge shows off the Paladin class originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Apr 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: What game do you plan to revisit?

      Posted: 03 Apr 2014 06:00 AM PDT

      Filed under: , , , , , ,

      Age of Wushu
      Snail's recent sect announcements for its upcoming Age of Wushu expansion have rekindled my interest in the fantasy wuxia sandbox. I played it for a good bit at launch but ultimately left due to the steep learning curve, the horribad translation, and other demands on my time.

      I've often thought of returning to the game, though, as it hits a number of my sweet spots and is utterly unlike anything else in the MMO space.

      What about you, Massively readers? What's that one MMO you're always keeping tabs on and planning to revisit when you get the chance?

      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 game do you plan to revisit? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Pathfinder Online's devs on dynamic escalations and new races

        Posted: 02 Apr 2014 07:00 PM PDT

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        In the latest installment of the Pathfinder Online video blog, Goblinworks PvE designer Bob Settles joins lead designer Lee Hammock to discuss escalations and alternate races. Races are the simpler topic; Hammock explains that the team does plan to expand the available races significantly, noting that races that are flavors of other races are much easier to implement because of shared models.

        And what about escalations? "Escalation" is the team's fancy term for one of the game's many dynamic, hex-shaped zones that are reserved for monster spawns and can over time, well, escalate and expand to neighboring hexes, ramping up in scale and difficulty with elite bosses. Multiple escalation themes are discussed in the video, including escalations that allow participants to do something other than beat mobs into submission.

        Enjoy the video below.

        Continue reading Pathfinder Online's devs on dynamic escalations and new races

        MassivelyPathfinder Online's devs on dynamic escalations and new races originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Stream Team: Scoping out the land in Landmark

        Posted: 02 Apr 2014 06:00 PM PDT

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

        Have you seen a giant Voxopoly or checker board and played a game or two in Landmark? If not, you're going to see them now! After a week of upgrading tools and gathering resources in closed beta, players have finally been able to put some of their impressive alpha creations down. New players have joined in the onslaught of creativity as well! That means it's time for Massively's MJ to head in and tour some of these pièces de résistance. Join us live at 8:00 p.m. EDT for a look at what's new and to talk about all things Landmark.

        Game: Landmark
        Host: MJ Guthrie
        Date: Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014
        Time: 8:00 p.m. EDT

        Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

        Continue reading The Stream Team: Scoping out the land in Landmark

        MassivelyThe Stream Team: Scoping out the land in Landmark originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Here's Age of Wushu's new 'warrior maiden' sect

          Posted: 02 Apr 2014 05:00 PM PDT

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          Age of Wushu Palace of Shifting Flowers girl
          Snail has updated its Age of Wushu website with another new sect preview from the martial sandbox's upcoming Tempest of Strife expansion.

          Today's reveal is the Palace of Shifting Flowers, which boasts "a balanced set of skills featuring both melee and ranged attacks." The Palace is a group of female-only apostles that Snail calls a "zealous cadre of warrior maidens sworn to seek vengeance from the the men who wronged them."

          Click past the cut for the class preview trailer, and don't forget that AoW is now available on Steam.

          Continue reading Here's Age of Wushu's new 'warrior maiden' sect

          MassivelyHere's Age of Wushu's new 'warrior maiden' sect originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Leaderboard: What's your favorite aspect of Elder Scrolls Online so far?

          Posted: 02 Apr 2014 04:00 PM PDT

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          Elder Scrolls Online Imperial horse
          Judging by the masses of players I see running around in The Elder Scrolls Online, it's a safe bet that many of you are joining me in the game's early access launch. So far I'm having a good time with it, but I'm more interested in what you think.

          Assuming you're playing and enjoying ESO, what's your favorite aspect of the game thus far? Questing? PvP? Lore? Something else? 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: What's your favorite aspect of Elder Scrolls Online so far?

          MassivelyLeaderboard: What's your favorite aspect of Elder Scrolls Online so far? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            NCsoft relents on Lineage II's hero coin prices

            Posted: 02 Apr 2014 03:00 PM PDT

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            Lineage II
            The outrageous -- and expensive -- Lineage II hero coin program is receiving a nerf in favor of the players. NCsoft announced today that it has reduced prices on "top-tier prizes" in the hero coin store by 40% or more. As an example, the Dark Amaranthine Weapon Pack has been reduced from 375,000 hero coins to 100,500 as a result of this change.

            NCsoft also said that it will be giving players a hand with affording these items: "For those of you who might still be lamenting your inability to afford the reward items of your choice, take heart. We'll be introducing some special promotions both this month and in the future designed to help you increase your hero coin balance."

            The launch of the hero coin program earlier this year was met with strong resistance and criticism for its exorbitant nature. Hero coins is a bonus currency that is given whenever a player spends real money in the game's store.

            MassivelyNCsoft relents on Lineage II's hero coin prices originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Defiance throws an extended anniversary celebration

            Posted: 02 Apr 2014 02:30 PM PDT

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            Defiance
            Today is Defiance's one-year anniversary and Trion is pulling out all of the stops to celebrate... twice.

            Defiance will host a global boost to XP gain, skill gain, and loot drops from Wednesday, April 2nd, at 3:00 p.m. EST through Thursday, April 3rd, at the same time. The studio acknowledged that some people can't play during the week, so this global boost will be re-activated from Friday, April 4th, at 3:00 p.m. EST and continue through Monday, April 7th, at the same time.

            MassivelyDefiance throws an extended anniversary celebration originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Age of Conan introduces new subscription benefits along with a new world boss

            Posted: 02 Apr 2014 02:00 PM PDT

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            What if we tried killing her with drowning?  It's got to take eventually!
            The latest of Age of Conan's monthly world bosses has arrived in the form of the Thrice Drowned queen. Emerging to terrorize the Thunder River, she will wreak havoc if left unchecked, since anyone who can be drowned three times and still come back for more is no one to be trifled with. Perhaps you'll be so enthusiastic about fighting her that you decide you simply can't miss out on any of the future bosses; if so, there's a subscription offer you might be interested in.

            Two new rewards are available to players who subscribe for six months or a year at a time; a ring that grants bonus alternate advancement XP and another ring that grants a bonus to PvP and Prowess XP gain. Subscribing for six months nets a version of these rings with a 25% bonus along with an extra two months of subscription time; subscribing for a year nets an extra four months and rings with a 50% bonus. In short, if you want to step up your subscription game, now is the time to do so.

            MassivelyAge of Conan introduces new subscription benefits along with a new world boss originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Elder Scrolls Online struggles with downtime and disables guild functionality

            Posted: 02 Apr 2014 01:30 PM PDT

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            ESO
            Smooth, polished, and... offline? Elder Scrolls Online's NA megaserver was down for the better part of today for "inventory-related issues," although these have been addressed and the game is back up and running after over 12 hours of work. The devs pushed out a small patch when the server came back up that fixed various issues, including broken quests that blocked player progression.

            It also appears that guilds have been neutered for the time being: "All guild functionality has been temporarily disabled. We will notify you when it has been turned back on. When guild functionality is returned, all guild-related tools and functions will be as they were before we turned them off."

            One bright spot for the day is that the Elder Scrolls Online soundtrack is now available on iTunes.

            [Update: ZeniMax just announced downtime for the EU megaserver.]

            MassivelyElder Scrolls Online struggles with downtime and disables guild functionality originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Star Citizen updates backers on progress in March

            Posted: 02 Apr 2014 01:00 PM PDT

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            It looks like it's loaded for bear.  But there are few bears in space.
            Eagerly anticipating Star Citizen? Then you'll be happy to see that the latest development update from the team is now live, focusing on the many projects in development for the game. At the top of the list, of course, is the much-anticipated dogfighting module, which has dominated the attention of all departments. The update goes to great lengths to try and show off just what has been the result of the extra time and effort sunk into the module as a whole.

            The dogfighting HUD has been revised to ensure that a great deal of information is accessible without cluttering the display. There's also been a push to improve the visuals on the ships, making them look more realistic and detailed when in motion. And that's not getting into the other work being done in fields like personal weaponry... but you don't have to take our word for it. Take a look at the March progress update and see for yourself.

            MassivelyStar Citizen updates backers on progress in March originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Choose My Adventure: The Elder Scrolls Online

            Posted: 02 Apr 2014 12:00 PM PDT

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            Elder Scrolls Online
            The Elder Scrolls Online has launched into its early access period, and I couldn't be more excited for the timing on this new edition of Choose My Adventure. I've always been a huge fan of the Elder Scrolls series, but I didn't have access to this MMO beta for various reasons. As I stated in my last column, I even avoided reading impressions articles here at Massively because I wanted this to be a fresh experience for me. I'm kinda weird like that.

            But I've purchased the game now and have been enjoying myself this week during early access. Of course, I'm still saving the good stuff for this column, and I don't plan to release my impressions until a future article, but I'll reiterate that I'm very excited about this next month.

            Continue reading Choose My Adventure: The Elder Scrolls Online

            MassivelyChoose My Adventure: The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              SOE's Georgeson on City of Heroes and the future of EQ

              Posted: 02 Apr 2014 11:00 AM PDT

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              EverQuest II dungeon group
              IGN has released another snippet of its recent interview with EverQuest franchise lead Dave Georgeson. Earlier today Georgeson talked up his enthusiasm for virtual reality, while this latest cut focuses on EverQuest, EverQuest II, and City of Heroes.

              Yeah, you read that right, as apparently the late great superhero title was one of Georgeson's personal faves. "Everybody who plays any MMO never wants it to die," he says. "You invest a little bit of your soul in an MMO, you spend a lot of time in it and so on and so forth, so of course you never want one of them to die."

              As for EQ and EQII, Georgeson says that SOE has "no intention of ever shutting those games down."

              MassivelySOE's Georgeson on City of Heroes and the future of EQ originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Apr 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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