MMO Updates

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• Perfect Ten: MMOs from the '90s
• WRUP: The one about jumping
• The Daily Grind: Is in-game gambling fun?
• Tree of Savior answers questions about wizards and companions
• Betawatch: June 14 - June 20, 2014
• Silver Surfer hangs ten into Marvel Heroes
• Destiny's alpha testers have played 6,461,871 games
• World of Warcraft previews Warlords of Draenor's Shadowmoon Valley
• Heroes of the Storm bringing in non-US players in next alpha
• The Stream Team: Winding down the workweek in WildStar
• Watch Guild Wars 2's official livestream show
• University adds League of Legends team to its athletic program

Perfect Ten: MMOs from the '90s Posted: 21 Jun 2014 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Asheron's Call, EverQuest, Lineage, Meridian 59, Opinion, Ultima Online, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous The course of MMO history and the developer pioneers who forged a path to online gaming have long fascinated me (so much so that I write an occasional column about it). While we often think of MMOs as modern entertainment barely out of its infancy, the truth is that you can trace the industry back decades to see a fringe group of devs and players striving to make these games a reality. While the number of MMOs in existence exploded in the early- and mid-2000s (and hasn't stopped growing since), the 1990s are often an overlooked decade that featured more than the one or two games that are usually mentioned in brief history overviews. There were actually far more titles than most assume, even if you dismiss text-based MUDs and the like. Today we're going to run down 10 MMOs that were born during the era of the dot-com revolution, dial-up modems, and the peak of the Simpsons (third through seventh seasons). Continue reading Perfect Ten: MMOs from the '90s Perfect Ten: MMOs from the '90s originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jun 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

WRUP: The one about jumping Posted: 21 Jun 2014 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game in which we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you jump and jump and jump a lot in MMOs because you're not too old to play video games, no sir! Continue reading WRUP: The one about jumping WRUP: The one about jumping originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jun 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Is in-game gambling fun? Posted: 21 Jun 2014 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous Recently, Star Wars: The Old Republic released a new update that had, among other things, gambling minigames at an in-game casino. It's not the first MMO to add some sort of sanctioned gambling, although it made me wonder just how much demand there is for this sort of thing. On one hand, I'm all for adding more function and features to the game world, even if it's mostly cosmetic and fluffy. Or especially if it's cosmetic and fluffy. Immersion can't begin and end with combat; game worlds should feel alive in a multitude of ways. Plus, giving players more options during a game session is always something I can get behind. On the other hand, if I wanted to gamble online, aren't my needs already met elsewhere? Isn't this a lot of effort for a minigame that will probably get one or two plays from most people before being discarded? What do you think? Is in-game gambling fun? 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! The Daily Grind: Is in-game gambling fun? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tree of Savior answers questions about wizards and companions Posted: 20 Jun 2014 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Community Q&A Are you excited to get your hands on Tree of Savior when and if it gets a release over here? Then you'll be happy to look through the latest community Q&A, which has been helpfully translated into English. Like most community addresses, it covers a variety of different topics, ranging from casting spells on the move to working with companions in the game. Not all spells in the game can be cast while moving, depending greatly upon the type of spell and the class using it. Similarly, there's been discussion about which classes, if any, will be allowed to dual-wield. Companions can be stored at the barracks, allowing you to choose between several different companions based upon the situation, although not all companions will have the same degree of closeness with a given character. For more information, peruse the full set of answers. Tree of Savior answers questions about wizards and companions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Questions and Answers #5

Betawatch: June 14 - June 20, 2014 Posted: 20 Jun 2014 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, MMO Industry, News Items, Massively Meta, Betawatch, Miscellaneous Funcom's LEGO Minifigures Online launched into open beta earlier this week, hoping players will stay a bit longer than they did in the last LEGO MMO. What else is new in the land of betas this week? Black Gold Online enters open beta today. Premium beta #2 for Elite: Dangerous kicks off next week on June 24. Heroes of the Storm expanded its alpha program to more regions. Tribal Wars 2's closed beta begins June 24th. Swordsman Online's closed beta continues through June 27th. Civilization Online released a beta video. Beasts of Prey joins our list; it's in early access alpha. Archlord II formally entered closed beta on Wednesday. Knight's Fable soft-launched into open beta on June 18th. Finally, mobile MMORPG Legion of Heroes is recruiting beta testers until June 25th. Enjoy the complete Betawatch roundup below. Continue reading Betawatch: June 14 - June 20, 2014 Betawatch: June 14 - June 20, 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Silver Surfer hangs ten into Marvel Heroes Posted: 20 Jun 2014 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Classes, Patches, Free-to-Play, Marvel Heroes Is more than one color for a superhero costume maddening to your sensibilities? Do you look at caped crusaders and wonder, "If only they used beach sports equipment for physics-defying purposes?" Are you the sole die-hard fan of the second Fantastic Four movie? Then today, my friend, is your day. Marvel Heroes has added the Silver Surfer to its in-game hero roster. The Surfer is an alien who used to work for the planet-eating Galactus but has since defected to the forces of good. The new hero has two costume options, including the Savage set, and is available to purchase either with money or Eternity Splinters. Silver Surfer hangs ten into Marvel Heroes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Silver Surfer has joined Marvel Heroes

Destiny's alpha testers have played 6,461,871 games Posted: 20 Jun 2014 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Guilds, News Items, Consoles, MMOFPS, Humor, Destiny "A lot of our friends asked us if this was a real Alpha," Bungie wrote today of its recently begun PlayStation 4 alpha test for Destiny. "It was. [...] You'll see the fruits of [our] labor as early as next month, assuming we're lucky enough to have you in our Public Beta." The studio just released a new blog post chronicling player achievements from the first few days of the alpha, among them 149,522,313 primary weapon kills, 667,966 public events joined, 60,491,944 fallen dregs dispatched with extreme prejudice, and 6,461,871 player games played. There are also new screenshots from the alpha and handful of Q&A responses, in which Bungie teases more tidbits about the upcoming beta and explains the purpose of clans within the game. Destiny's alpha testers have played 6,461,871 games originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Bungie blog

World of Warcraft previews Warlords of Draenor's Shadowmoon Valley Posted: 20 Jun 2014 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Betas, Fantasy, Previews, News Items, Dev Diaries, Subscription Blizzard's official World of Warcraft blog updated this week with a preview of Shadowmoon Valley. No, not Outland's Shadowmoon Valley from The Burning Crusade; this is the version of Shadowmoon Valley you'll be time-traveling to in Warlords of Draenor, or rather, you will if you're playing Alliance, since it's that faction's entry point for the expansion lands. Senior Designer Helen Cheng explains the zone's setting as "one of the most beautiful places on Draenor." She writes, "The valley is tranquil and serene. Rolling green hills give way to lush, violet forests. Draenei temples stand proudly beneath a star-studded sky. Here, the draenei have built wonders of their civilization-the town of Elodor with its majestic Altar of Sha'tar serves as the proud home of the great Exarchs, while the shining Temple of Karabor acts as the font of all holy learning. Under Prophet Velen and Exarch Akama's watch, all is well." Read more about the zone's backstory on the official site. World of Warcraft previews Warlords of Draenor's Shadowmoon Valley originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: WoW blog Via: WoW Insider

Heroes of the Storm bringing in non-US players in next alpha Posted: 20 Jun 2014 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA While there's been a lot already said about the upcoming Heroes of the Storm, the fact remains that the game is still in alpha. A technical alpha, to be specific, emphasizing the nuts and bolts of functionality. But the next phase of testing will be bringing in more people, including testers from outside the USA, giving an even broader perspective on what's working and what isn't. A recent development blog on the official site explains what's happened so far as well as what's coming next for the game. The short version is that the alpha is going well, but there's still more feedback needed to make the game truly the best it can be. As an early test version, it's still very much a game in development, with the emphasis being on what does or does not work from the technical side. Players who wish to opt in for a potential testing invite should do so via the Battle.net account management page. Heroes of the Storm bringing in non-US players in next alpha originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Next Phase of the Technical Alpha Beginning Soon

The Stream Team: Winding down the workweek in WildStar Posted: 20 Jun 2014 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, New Titles, Livestream, WildStar, The Stream Team, Subscription Can anything in WildStar ever compete with the carrot and celery conga line? (Ignoring the ending, of course!) Massively's MJ has her doubts, but she's willing to give it a try. After all, nothing as harrowing and heartbreaking as that conclusion can happen again, can it? Can it?! Join us live at 3:00 p.m. EDT to wind down your workweek in the wacky world of Nexus. Game: WildStar Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Friday, June 20th, 2014 Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Winding down the workweek in WildStar The Stream Team: Winding down the workweek in WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Watch Guild Wars 2's official livestream show Posted: 20 Jun 2014 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars 2, Livestream, Buy-to-Play Guild Wars 2 has a new official livestream show that you can watch at 3:00 p.m. EST. The show's called Points of Interest and stars Kate Welch, Leif Chappelle, and Theo Nguyen. The first episode will be looking back at the Living World's Season 1. You can watch the livestream after the break! Continue reading Watch Guild Wars 2's official livestream show Watch Guild Wars 2's official livestream show originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Introducing Points of Interest

University adds League of Legends team to its athletic program Posted: 20 Jun 2014 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, PvE, Free-to-Play, MOBA Could being at wiz video games get you a scholarship and a college degree? As far-fetched of a dream as that may seem, it's now becoming a reality at one institute of higher learning. Robert Morris University in Illinois announced today that it will be forming an official League of Legends varsity team as part of its athletic program for the 2014-15 academic year. Team members will be treated on the same level as other athletes, meaning that they're eligible for tutoring, support, and scholarships. The team is a result of the university's associate athletic director's love of competitive PC gaming and acknowledgement that it requires the same level of teamwork as other sports. "Although e-sports have long been a part of the culture of gaming, competitions have seen a large surge in popularity in recent years," the university posted. "Robert Morris University recognizes the value and legitimacy of e-sports and is excited to add e-sports to its already rich athletic program." University adds League of Legends team to its athletic program originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jun 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Robert Morris University Via: Joystiq

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MMORPG News

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• Destiny: Alpha Story Told in Stats
• SMITE: Ra'merica Skin to Benefit the American Red Cross
• Warframe: Operation Breeding Grounds Goes Live
• Marvel Heroes: Silver Surfer Joins Up
• General: Make Friends & Influence People in MMOs
• Black Gold Online: Landstrider Gift Pack Giveaway!
• General: That Wizard Came From the Moon
• WildStar: Review in Progress #2
• Landmark: Dipping Into Water and Caves

Destiny: Alpha Story Told in Stats Posted: 20 Jun 2014 04:48 PM PDT Bungie has released some interesting stats from the first few days of the Destiny alpha. They're fun numbers that show a game that is pretty hot right now. See what you think!

SMITE: Ra'merica Skin to Benefit the American Red Cross Posted: 20 Jun 2014 03:48 PM PDT A brand new skin is available for the SMITE god "Ra". Called "Ra'merica", the new skin features a red, white and blue motif and $2.00 of every purchase will be donated to the American Red Cross. Check out the video below to get a look at the Ra'merica skin.

Warframe: Operation Breeding Grounds Goes Live Posted: 20 Jun 2014 03:44 PM PDT Warframe players have a new operation to check out that will lead to some awesome content and a fantastic machete as a reward. Called "Operation Breeding Grounds", players visit enemy ships to destroy several hives. Operation Breeding Grounds is scheduled to last from now through June 26th.

Marvel Heroes: Silver Surfer Joins Up Posted: 20 Jun 2014 02:48 PM PDT Marvel Heroes 2015 has had the thirty fifth hero join the game with the addition of Silver Surfer. Players will be have the classic costume available as well as one immortalized in "Planet Hulk comic, Incredible Hulk #95 Vol. 2 (July 2006)."

General: Make Friends & Influence People in MMOs Posted: 20 Jun 2014 02:17 PM PDT Every game developer loves to talk about putting social into games. Usually this amounts to some token integration with Facebook (shudder) or Twitter from inside the game, or looking for group systems. But to me, what I've been describing in my last two articles as the decline of socialization, really means the loss of ability to form friendships. Friendship means meeting new people in-game, and refers to the surprisingly strong bonds you can form with people inside online games.

Black Gold Online: Landstrider Gift Pack Giveaway! Posted: 20 Jun 2014 01:52 PM PDT MMORPG.com has been given special gift codes for Black Gold Online! These gift codes will give you the Landstrider gift pack which features many cool in game items! Get your gift key now while supplies last!

General: That Wizard Came From the Moon Posted: 18 Jun 2014 05:23 PM PDT Every Friday, we break down the week's biggest news in the world of roleplaying games and serve it up fresh, all in one place. This week we have our Lion of Lannister meeting Moon Wizards in Destiny, the forty endings of Bioware's Dragon Age: Inquisition culled down to "only a few," and Elite: Dangerous putting Star Citizen to shame. Read on for that and much more!

WildStar: Review in Progress #2 Posted: 18 Jun 2014 05:15 PM PDT At over 40 hours played, I'm sitting at level 25 (almost 26). I've completed the game's first Adventure, first Dungeon, and partaken in a few rounds of Walatiki Temple PVP. I'm crafting a ton of weapons for Rob and myself via the Weaponsmith trade, rounding out my Tanking and DPS builds, and I'm getting warier and warier about entering the first contested PVP zone around level 30. But the main takeaway? I'm having fun.

Landmark: Dipping Into Water and Caves Posted: 18 Jun 2014 05:09 PM PDT On the Monday before E3 Landmark launched a patch that added in swimming and caves to the game. While at E3 I had a chance to catch up with Omeed Dariani, Brand Strategist for the EverQuest franchise, and find out what has been going on recently in the world of Landmark.

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