General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Nvidia Supposedly Working on New PC-Streaming Device

Posted: 15 Jul 2014 04:59 PM PDT

Nvidia GeForce logoAnother contender for the living room

Looks like Nvidia isn't done trying to get into the living room. According to the BBC, Nvidia is developing a new device that will play PC games on televisions, making use of the developer's GeForce Experience software. It will also run Android software and, BBC reports, will have a "budget-priced separate controller."

Purported to be powered by Nvidia's Tegra K1 chip, the unnamed device boasts a 192-core GPU and was shown last month running a demo of the Unreal Engine 4 on the Android L mobile operating system. While it will run Android games natively, it is also rumored to have the ability to stream PC games via Nvidia's GeForce Experience. However, if the device makes use of the software, then it would be restricted to the company's more recent cards. 

Aside from the additional cost of purchasing a new GPU to take full advantage of the device, it would also be in contention with Valve's own in-home streaming service. Not to mention that it would go up against Valve's Steam Machine which has been pushed back to 2015

For now, Nvidia has declined to confirm the existence of the new device. 

Could this device be a sequel to the Nvidia Shield, which hasn't been very successful, or will this be a brand new product?

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8 Technologies We Want

Posted: 15 Jul 2014 02:27 PM PDT

4TB SSDs, CrossFire/SLI cross compatibility, and more!

For as much as technology has evolved over the years, there's still plenty of things we still want. Where are our stock 4GHz Intel processors? Where are massive 4TB SSDs? *Sigh* A tech enthusiast can dream, we suppose. 

What is one technology that you want? Let us know in the comments below!

SteelSeries Rolls Out Rival Dota 2 Edition Gaming Mouse

Posted: 15 Jul 2014 10:42 AM PDT

SteelSeries Dota 2 MouseComes with an in-game item

If you're obsessed with Dota 2, perhaps you'll be interested in a new rodent from SteelSeries. It's the SteelSeries Rival: Dota 2 Edition Gaming Mouse, which is a themed version of the peripheral maker's Rival Optical Mouse. The new mouse, which is being handed out this weekend to attendees of the International 4 Dota 2 Championship in Seattle, comes with an exclusive in-game item, Hell's Glare for Doom.

"We believe that Dota players deserve the best, so we set out to give fans a mouse with a design they would love without sacrificing the functionality they require," said Tino Soelberg, SteelSeries CTO. "We extensively tested our Dota 2 Edition of the Rival Optical Mouse with professional players from Natus Vincere, Invictus Gaming and Fnatic which has resulted in one of the most powerful mice we've ever built – and to make it even more special for the Dota 2 community, we've added a unique in-game item."

The themed mouse features a stone-gray body, six programmable buttons, blood-red rubber grips, 50-6,500 adjustable CPI, 1ms response time / 1,000Hz polling rate, themed illumination modes, and a soft-touch coating.

SteelSeries Dota 2 Mouse

SteelSeries is accepting pre-orders for the Dota 2 mouse, which runs $70 MSRP.

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Asus ROG Announces Online Overclocking Competition

Posted: 15 Jul 2014 10:21 AM PDT

Asus MoboPrizes and money up for grabs

Want to put your overclocking skills to the test? If so, you have good timing -- Asus Republic of Gamers (ROG) just launched its ROG OC Showdown, which is essentially an overclocking competition exclusive to anyone using an Asus, ROG, or TUF Z97 motherboard. Unfortunately, that requirement rules out a large portion of the overclocking community, but if you happen to already be invested in an Asus foundation, here's a chance to win some swag or money.

In cooperation with HWBot.org, the competition will run from July 15th to August 15th, 2014. The grand prize winner will receive a future ROG X99 motherboard, and $1,000 will be given for any world record broken during the competition, up to three. There will also be three Stage winners who will each receive a choice of any ROG Maximus VII series board or ROG Matrix R9 290X graphics card, and three Stage runner-ups who will get a choice of Maximus VII Formula or Maximus VII Impact motherboard.

The competition will focus on maximum CPU frequency, SuperPI 32M, and 3DMark Sky Diver. There are a handful of rules, such as being able to only use one processor and one Asus-brand graphics card.

For more information and/or to participate, click here.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Samsung 840 Evo 500GB SSD, Intel Core i5 3570K, and More!

Posted: 15 Jul 2014 09:58 AM PDT

Samsung 840 Evo 500GB SSDnewegg logo

Top Deal:

Here's the thing -- if you develop emotional attachments to inanimate objects, you don't have to say goodbye to your hard drive. You really don't. Heck, you don't even have to hurt its feelings by forcing it into retirement. Give it a promotion and a new title, like Senior VP of Storage, and then use it store photos, videos, and the such. That clears the way to get an SSD for your OS, which will make your system fly like you always knew it was capable of. Need ideas? Check out today's top deal for a Samsung 840 Evo 500GB SSD for $230 with free shipping (normally $260 - use coupon code: [EMCPCWE23]). This speed drive brings sequential read/write speeds of up to 540Mbps/520Mbps to the daily grind.

Other Deals:

Asus 23.6-inch 2ms Full HD HDMI LED BackLight LCD Monitor for $120 with free shipping (normally $160 - use coupon code: [EMCPCWE24]; additional $20 Mail-in rebate)

Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge Quad-Core 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 77W Desktop Processor for $220 with free shipping (normally $230 - use coupon code: [EMCPCWE28])

CM Storm Stryker - White Full Tower Gaming Computer Case with Handle and External 2.5-inch Drive Dock for $120 with free shipping (normally $155 - use coupon code: [EMCPCWE33]; additional $15 Mail-in rebate)

Asus Sabertooth Z97 MARK1 LGA 1150 Intel Z97 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard for $229 with free shipping (normally $239 - use coupon code: [EMCPCWE35])

Comcast Apologizes for Overzealous Rep Who Made Cancelling Service a Nightmare

Posted: 15 Jul 2014 09:24 AM PDT

ComcastAnd the worst customer service award goes to...

It doesn't pay to be a jerk in this day and age of the Internet. Look at Donald Sterling, who was banned from the NBA for life over racist comments he made in a conversation with this girlfriend. At least in his case, he didn't know he was being recorded. As for a Comcast customer service rep who raked a subscriber over the coals when the called in to cancel service, he should have known better.

This is one of those cases where you have to listen to the conversation yourself to fully appreciate the level of insanity taking place. In short, tech blogger Ryan Block, former head honcho of Engadget and founder of community website gdgt, called Comcast to cancel his service. What happened next is a torturous inquisition on why he wanted to leave.

The 8 minute recording picks up after Block had already been on the phone for 10 minutes before he decided to record the conversation on his end. Through it all, the rep on the other end of the line aggressively inquires Block's motive for cancelling service while pointedly ignoring his request to disconnect. When the rep finally (and supposedly) obliges, he refuses to give a confirmation number.

Naturally, the call has has gone viral and just as predictably, Comcast is now looking into the matter.

"We're investigating the situation and certainly want to apologize to the customer," a Comcast spokesperson told Motherboard. "This isn't how our customer service representatives are trained to operate."

Let's hope that's true. In the meantime, here you go:

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CyberPowerPC Launches Portable Zeusbook Edge X6 Gaming Laptop Starting at $1,389

Posted: 15 Jul 2014 08:47 AM PDT

CyberPowerPC Zeusbook X6Lightweight gaming laptop with an optical drive in tow

Boutique builder CyberPowerPC today announced the availability of its new Zeusbook Edge X6 notebook for gamers. In case you haven't noticed, gaming laptops are trending into thin and light territory these days, and the X6 is no exception -- it weighs just 4.75 pounds and measures 0.82 inches thick. That's a sliver more than Origin PC's EVO15-S, another lightweight notebook announced today, though the X6 brings an optical drive to party.

Even with an optical drive, the X6 is CyberPowerPC's thinnest and lightest gaming laptop to date. It's also fairly well equipped for the money -- it boasts a 15.6-inch Full HD 1080p IPS display, Intel Core i7 4710HQ processor, 8GB of DDR3-1600 memory, Nvidia GeForce GTX 870M graphics, 1TB hard drive, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2.1 channel speakers, two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, GbE port, SD card reader, HDMI, VGA, mini DisplayPort, and Windows 8.1.

If you need more power and have the budget to accommodate, you can upgrade certain parts of the X6, most notably the RAM and storage. For example, you could upgrade to 16GB of RAM and a 500GB Samsung 840 Evo Series SSD, which would bring thte total cost to $1,749.

CyberPowerPC's Zeusbook Edge X6-100 is available for presale and will ship in the first week of August.

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VIA Toughens Up Android, Launches Ruggedized Viega Tablet

Posted: 15 Jul 2014 07:43 AM PDT

VIA ViegaNot your ordinary Android slate

VIA today unveiled its new Viega ruggedized Android tablet. Armed with a 10.1-inch display, the Viega features IP65 certification and rocks a durable design that protects it from spills, rain, dust, shock, vibration, drops from up to two meters, and more. It has tempered glass to prevent cracks in the panel from cutting your workday short when you're out in the field, and an "extra long-life polymer batter pack" that's good for up to 9 hours of runtime.

A 1.2GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 SoC with NEON technology runs the show, Other specs include 1GB of DDR3 RAM, 16GB eMMC flash, optional 2MP front and 5MP rear cameras, micro SIM slot, microSD card slot, two micro USB ports, micro HDMI output, Wi-Fi, 3G, GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC support, stereo speakers, and Android 4.2.

"As more and more enterprises seek to increase productivity and improve customer service by equipping their staff with mobile devices, they are quickly learning that it is critically important to deploy customized solutions built to withstand the demands of their target environments rather than standard off-the-shelf products," said Epan Wu, Head of the VIA Embedded Platform Division, VIA Technologies, Inc. "With its rugged design, enhanced security features, and customization support, the VIA Viega addresses this need and provides the longevity support that enterprise level customers require."

No word yet on when the Viega will be available to purchase or for how much.

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Origin PC Kicks Off Thin and Light Gaming Notebook Line with EVO15-S

Posted: 15 Jul 2014 07:17 AM PDT

Origin PC EVO15-SGaming goodness packed into a laptop that's less than five pounds and under an inch thick

You kids these days have it easy in so many ways, especially when it comes to technology. Back in the day, you'd have to spend a king's ransom for the privilege of owning a gaming laptop that you'd have to bend at the knees when picking up, as is recommended for all big and bulky objects. And now? Let's just the say the landscape is much different. This is underscored by Origin PC's new EVO15-S gaming laptop, the first in a new series of thin and light laptops for gamers.

Weighing in at just 4.36 pounds and measuring a scant 0.79 inches thick, the EVO15-S features a 15.6-inch Full HD display (an optional 3K panel is coming soon) powered by an Intel Core i7 4710HQ processor, 16GB of DDR3L-1600 memory, and Nvidia GeForce GTX 870M graphics.

It also boasts dual 128GB SSDs in a RAID 0 array flanked by a 1TB (7200 RPM) hard drive for storage chores, Killer E2200 Game Networking, Intel dual-band Wireless-AC 7260, dual-fan cooling system, three USB 3.0 ports, media carder reader, 720p HD webcam, backlit multi-color keyboard, and custom paint and laser etching options.

Origin PC's EVO15-S is available now starting at $2,199.

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MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Flameseeker Chronicles: The true nature of Guild Wars 2's Sylvari

Posted: 15 Jul 2014 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , ,

Honey, you've got a big storm comin'.
Remember last week, when I made a comment about how neat the little touches in Guild Wars 2's Gates of Maguuma release are? Stuff like a vine poking at a waypoint in Dry Top and making it spark? Hey, it was actually kind of cute! Aww, the big fella probably doesn't know what a waypoint is. Maybe he's hungry. Those aren't for snacking on, you silly vine.

Right. Well, hide your Miracle-Gro because more vines are now spreading eastward across the waypoint network. As of this writing they've gotten as far as Lion's Arch, which as we all know hasn't seen enough trouble lately. Some of them have even fully entangled the floating waypoint doodlehoppers, growing larger in the process. So I may have been right about the snack part, but that doesn't exactly bode well. What exactly is going on?

Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: The true nature of Guild Wars 2's Sylvari

MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: The true nature of Guild Wars 2's Sylvari originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jul 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Division's director on gameplay, customization, and The Cleaners

    Posted: 15 Jul 2014 09:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , , ,

    Ubisoft has released a video filmed at last month's E3 featuring The Division game director Ryan Barnard and a bunch of slick-looking footage. Barnard touches on gameplay, character customization, Clancy-style tech, and a group of baddies known as The Cleaners who take no prisoners when it comes to dealing with The Division's infected populace.

    Click past the cut to have a look!

    Continue reading The Division's director on gameplay, customization, and The Cleaners

    MassivelyThe Division's director on gameplay, customization, and The Cleaners originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jul 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Skyforge previews its Lanber Forest zone

    Posted: 15 Jul 2014 08:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

    Skyforge
    Obsidian and Mail.ru have just unveiled Lanber Forest, a key area in the companies' upcoming sci-fantasy MMO Skyforge. Lanber Forest was once "an oasis of pristine nature" distant from industry and politics but is now overrun with a dark evil awakened by a traitorous god, along with more mundane baddies like "looters, smugglers, [and] evil men, who have decided to cash in on the grief of others." That, of course, is where you come in.

    Read on for the complete lore description and a few screenshots of the (damn pretty) zone.

    Continue reading Skyforge previews its Lanber Forest zone

    MassivelySkyforge previews its Lanber Forest zone originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jul 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Guild Wars 2 launches Entanglement today

      Posted: 15 Jul 2014 07:00 AM PDT

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

      Guild Wars 2
      Guild Wars 2 fans, prepare yourselves for some tangly living world action today as ArenaNet launches Entanglement, episode two of the ongoing second season of the game's story content. Players will continue the established plot arc that has them joining a now-familiar cast of NPCs in the newly opened zone in the Maguuma Wastes.
      The lethal, fast-growing vines that have plagued the Brisban Wildlands have begun to spread. Word reaches you of trouble in the town of Prosperity, where the asuran prodigy Taimi was left alone to research the threat. Get back to Prosperity, meet up with Braham, and check in on Taimi. [...] There are secrets hidden within the newly revealed area of Dry Top, just waiting to be discovered. Learn more about the mysterious denizens lurking beyond Prospect Valley and come face-to-face with never-before-seen foes. Follow the trail you picked up in the last release and continue your search for the ley line hub. Stay wary! In Dry Top, danger and discovery go hand in hand.
      Don't forget that if you can't play the episode in the next two weeks, you can log into the game and save the episode for a later date.

      ArenaNet has also released new screenshots for the event's launch; enjoy them below.

      Continue reading Guild Wars 2 launches Entanglement today

      MassivelyGuild Wars 2 launches Entanglement today originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jul 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Daily Grind: Do you tell people you're a gamer?

        Posted: 15 Jul 2014 06:00 AM PDT

        Filed under: , , , , ,

        I'm not ashamed that video games are my hobby or my job, but reconciling games with the real world isn't easy. I don't volunteer details about what I do to anyone I suspect just wouldn't understand. But sometimes people ask you directly. Earlier this summer, I was in the hospital (having a baby!), and my nurses kept asking what I did for a living -- you know, just polite small talk. "I'm a journalist," I said. Few people inquire further. But one did, and I sheepishly admitted that I write about video games. "Sweet," she said, "we play consoles in my house too!" She wasn't into MMOs, but we still talked about video games for half an hour, and I felt dumb for trying to hide what I do. More than half the country plays video games, so why do we hide it?

        Maybe you don't, which is what I'm asking you today. Do you tell people you're a gamer? How do you reconcile your hobby with people who still think video games are for kids or weirdos?

        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: Do you tell people you're a gamer? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          A look at the Legend of the Condor Heroes Zero beta

          Posted: 14 Jul 2014 07:00 PM PDT

          Filed under: , , , , , ,

          LotCHZ
          Age of Wushu might have a bit of competition in Perfect World's newest Wuxia-themed MMO Legend of the Condor Heroes Zero. Despite the fact that the title sounds like a bunch of random words thrown together, Steparu took a close look at the game in its current beta state to let us know what to expect.

          In true Steparu style, we get a very detailed look at everything from character customization to gameplay to combat and more as shown in the videos embedded after the cut. Steparu ultimately thinks the game deserves another look in a more finished stage, but you can read more impressions over at the official review page.

          Continue reading A look at the Legend of the Condor Heroes Zero beta

          MassivelyA look at the Legend of the Condor Heroes Zero beta originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Not So Massively: Hearthstone's expansion fee, Elite's console potential, and Destiny's mobile app

          Posted: 14 Jul 2014 06:00 PM PDT

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

          POE
          Welcome back to No So Massively, where every Monday we round up the highlights from the past week in the world of MOBAs, roguelikes, MMOTCGs, and other games that aren't quite MMOs.

          Continue reading Not So Massively: Hearthstone's expansion fee, Elite's console potential, and Destiny's mobile app

          MassivelyNot So Massively: Hearthstone's expansion fee, Elite's console potential, and Destiny's mobile app originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            SMITE showcases Serqet, Goddess of Venom

            Posted: 14 Jul 2014 05:00 PM PDT

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            SMITE
            Hi-Rez Studios has just unveiled Serqet, Goddess of Venom, the latest playable deity to join SMITE's pantheon of characters.

            Serqet is based on the Egyptian goddess responsible for curing poisons, but this version of Serqet also dishes out venom with her nasty scorpion tail and then consumes those poison DoTs for additional damage and debuffs via her Catalyst passive.

            The new character joins the game tomorrow. Enjoy the lengthy character introduction video below!

            Continue reading SMITE showcases Serqet, Goddess of Venom

            MassivelySMITE showcases Serqet, Goddess of Venom originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Archlord 2 invites players to name soundtrack pieces

              Posted: 14 Jul 2014 04:00 PM PDT

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              Archlord 2
              Archlord 2's soundtrack is not only out and available as a free download, but Webzen is asking players to title the 20 nameless pieces in time for the game's release.

              The soundtrack by composer Cris Velasco is on SoundCloud and is available for a listen or a download. Players can check out the tracks and then, if inspired, they can submit one or more titles to go along with them. Webzen promised that when all 20 tracks get proper names, it will flip on the switch for a 20% bonus gold weekend in the game.

              MassivelyArchlord 2 invites players to name soundtrack pieces originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Diablo III is going to China

              Posted: 14 Jul 2014 03:00 PM PDT

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              They're really giving players hell.
              If you're a Diablo III fan in the US, you've been able to play the game for quite some time, delving into seas of monsters and beating your way through fields of enemies. If you're a Diablo III fan in China, you're anxiously awaiting the game to actually be released locally. So it's good news to hear that Blizzard is working with NetEase to bring the game over to China's shores.

              No official release dates or prices have been announced at this time, nor has any information about whether or not this release will include the Reaper of Souls expansion for the game. It seems likely that the release will include all of the upgrades the game has experienced since its 2012 launch, but even that's just speculation. NetEase is the company that has already brought World of Warcraft and StarCraft II to the nation's gaming audience, so it's likely that players can expect the game without too many delays.

              MassivelyDiablo III is going to China originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Star Citizen's $48 million mark means a commercial for the Retaliator

              Posted: 14 Jul 2014 02:30 PM PDT

              Filed under: , , , , ,

              star citizen
              Move over, feathered millionaires, for Star Citizen now has more money than Scrooge McDuck. The space sim crossed the $48 million mark in crowdfunding today.

              The stretch goal for this particular occasion is the creation of a commercial for the Retaliator spaceship. "The symbol of the United Empire of Earth's power is the next ship to receive a slick commercial," the site posted on its stretch goals page. "Aegis Dynamics is in dire need of good publicity since the end of the of the Messer era. We currently have the Cutlass and the Constellation commercials in production and now the Retaliator will be added to that list."

              So what epic stretch goal reward is in store for $49 million? If players hit that milestone, then the team will add a plant to the game. But it's a Xi'An space plant, so you know you're getting your million dollars' worth.

              MassivelyStar Citizen's $48 million mark means a commercial for the Retaliator originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              World of Warcraft turns on Gaze of the Black Prince this week

              Posted: 14 Jul 2014 02:00 PM PDT

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              Do she got the cape?  She dooooo.
              If you're a World of Warcraft player, you're busy killing time until Warlords of Draenor comes out. So why not kill some high-level enemies and get a legendary cloak in the process? Blizzard is turning on the Gaze of the Black Prince buff starting July 15th and ending on July 29th, allowing players who have yet to complete Mists of Pandaria's legendary cloak quest a chance to get through the requirements a bit more easily.

              The Gaze of the Black Prince doubles all reputation gains with Wrathion and increases the chance of receiving the random drops required for the questline. It should be helpful for alts you're gearing up or just characters who hadn't quite made it through the process yet. You can also catch up with the most recent Warlords of Draenor patch notes to see how well your cloak will serve you going into the next expansion against the Iron Horde.

              MassivelyWorld of Warcraft turns on Gaze of the Black Prince this week originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Star Wars: The Old Republic will allow you four strongholds per legacy

              Posted: 14 Jul 2014 01:00 PM PDT

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              But how could you ever give up living in the midst of a harsh, trackless waste?
              Eagle-eyed players following the development of Star Wars: The Old Republic's next major expansion, Galactic Strongholds, have probably noticed that players will have the option of deactivating a stronghold, which will incur a credit fee if players want to reactivate that stronghold in the future unless it was purchased via Cartel Coins. But why would anyone deactivate a stronghold? Is there an upkeep system? Is it tied to account activity? Eric Musco took to the forums to explain that there's no reason to retire a stronghold now... but there might be in the future.

              Musco makes it clear that each Legacy will be limited to four strongholds total, which at launch is equal to the number of different strongholds available. The distinction is there because if you own all four and want to pick up an additional stronghold in the future, you will need to deactivate one. So rest assured that between your four options, you will never be forced to abandon one.

              MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic will allow you four strongholds per legacy originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Camelot Unchained's use-based stat system will trade grind for immersion

              Posted: 14 Jul 2014 12:00 PM PDT

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              Camelot Unchained
              This week, the folks at City State Entertainment have a massive game mechanics infodump planned for Camelot Unchained fans as part of its "batshit-crazy" reveal week. A few weeks ago, we spoke with CSE co-founder Mark Jacobs about each of the topics being presented to backers this week on Twitch, so to coincide with today's announcements, we asked about the mechanics of the sandbox's proposed stat system. Enjoy the reveal and the interview!
              Massively: Can you explain the thinking behind allowing players to fall into "gotcha" builds, unwittingly creating characters that simply will not perform well in the game? By the same token, does the studio not anticipate the preset classes to result in attendant cookie cutter stat builds?

              CSE's Mark Jacobs: We've been very clear from the beginning of the Kickstarter that we are going to allow players to create builds that aren't 'ideal' for their class or even race selection. Now, having said this, we've also been clear we will present plenty of information so they can make informed choices. I want to give players the freedom to play a race/class/stat combination that is not ideal, but to also warn them and give them the ability to read lots of information at the same time. We are also considering giving out a limited respec after creation just in case, for example, you quickly realize trying to play a Luchorpan tank that you made as small and weak as possible wasn't a great idea.

              Continue reading Camelot Unchained's use-based stat system will trade grind for immersion

              MassivelyCamelot Unchained's use-based stat system will trade grind for immersion originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                LotRO Update 14 is now live

                Posted: 14 Jul 2014 11:00 AM PDT

                Filed under: , , , , ,

                Gondor archers
                Today marks the official release of Lord of the Rings Online's Update 14, and with it comes the highly anticipated West Gondor content, as well as Epic Story Volume IV, the new Essence System, the level 100 cap, inventory tweaks, class balancing, bug fixes, and more.

                While none of this is a surprise to players, what did come as a surprise was some changes mentioned in executive producer Aaron "Rowan" Campbell's letter in the forums. First off, there will be no more level cap increases for this year to allow players to take their time and explore the new content. In addition, a new advancement system is being added to legendary items allowing them to grow with you without deconstruction for a new item at level cap. And lastly, the upcoming Beorning class will start at level 1 and include its own starting experience through Eriador.

                Be sure to check out the complete Update 14 patch notes as well as Rowan's Producer's Letter in the official forums.

                MassivelyLotRO Update 14 is now live originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Nexus Telegraph: The basics of crafting a WildStar build

                Posted: 14 Jul 2014 10:00 AM PDT

                Filed under: , , , , , , ,

                Have I used this before?  I think I've used this before.  Please, let me know if I've used this before.
                There are few things I love so much as writing a column for June 30th only to find out on the 30th that the patch I'm discussing is going live on July 1st. You know, when it's too late to change anything. I really would have been happy to have found that out before the day.

                But, hey, WildStar's first patch came out, and now I've had a couple of weeks to explore it a bit. Am I happy with it? Sufficiently, yes, although I haven't yet digested it in full. For one month out from launch, I can't complain much.

                Of course, that's not the first thing that I want to talk about today. I want to talk about builds. Rather than giving you the absolute best-of-the-best builds for tanking and DPS and so forth, which I can't quite do, I want to help you figure out how to make a build that works. It's a satisfyingly interactive, and there are lots of very functional options however you choose to build your character.

                Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: The basics of crafting a WildStar build

                MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: The basics of crafting a WildStar build originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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