MMOGaming News

MMOGaming News


Blade and Soul China: New Patch 26/1/14, Maintenance from 6am to 2pm GMT+8

Posted:

Blade and Soul China: New Patch 26/1/14, Maintenance from 6am to 2pm GMT+8


Through this patch, the game aims to allow more players to obtain the Evil Girl Weapons, however I think the main problem is not about getting the weapon. Comparing the stats of the Final weapon with my current Grade 10 Limit Souls, it doesn't really motivate me to get the Final Weapon.

WoW: New Human Female Model Character Preview

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WoW: New Human Female Model Character Preview


A new character update of the human female character was revealed.Chris Robinson, senior art director of World of Warcraft, shed some light on developing new character models. He promised that this is just the first in the series of previews, so he decided to unveil the new human female model.

Diablo: Artisan Showcase "Savior", the Diablo Rap By Have No Fear & The Space Bards

Posted:

Diablo: Artisan Showcase


Even though it's not news-related, I think that these kind of artists deserve recognition for making awesome fan creations!Artisan Showcase basically means that fans are creating fanart, be it a video, music or anything else, related to products of a certain Blizzard franchise. The upcoming video is the product of a joint effort of artists Have No Fear & The Space Bards. Take a step into the battle raging within the Sanctuary and immerse yourself in "Savior".

EverQuest Next Landmark: Introducing Crafting & Alpha System Requirements

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EverQuest Next Landmark: Introducing Crafting & Alpha System Requirements


Today we'll take look at the Episode 3 which introducing the Saw Table Crafting Station released few days ago. Also, EQN Landmark announced Alpha System Requirements, including Minimum and Recommended Requirements.

Vindictus: Character Spot Light Hurk

Posted:

Vindictus: Character Spot Light Hurk


Hurk is the latest character to show up in Vindictus. He is a great sword user with speed and power. If you prefer a berserker type of fighter? He's your man with the master plan. This video consist of character creation and three boss fights.

FFXIV ARR: PS4 version to be released April 14 (BETA date and 2.2 Information)

Posted:

FFXIV ARR: PS4 version to be released April 14 (BETA date and 2.2 Information)


Letter From The Producer Live XII has recently ended and a plethora of information (courtesy of Dualshockers)has been pouring in!



General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Edward Snowden Elaborates on NSA, Spying

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 03:54 PM PST

Snowden: "I think a person should be able to [...] send an e-mail without worrying what it will look like on their permanent record."

NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden held a public Web chat on Thursday during which he answered questions sent in from hundreds of curious citizens via Twitter. This was Snowden's first live chat since June of last year, and during the broadcast viewers became privy to some of the outspoken leaker's opinions, especially that of the NSA and their previous actions. 

The chat, hosted via the Free Snowden official website, spawned some interesting commentary (via CNET) as Snowden cemented his stance on spying, citing "not all spying is bad," going on to explain that the people at the NSA do have good intentions and were worried about what was happening to the country. 

In the end, Snowden was confident that his actions were necessary in order to do any real good: "If we had had a real process in place, and reports of wrongdoing could be taken to real, independent arbiters rather than captured officials, I might not have had to sacrifice so much to do what at this point even the president seems to agree needed to be done." It's hard to objectively say whether his actions were right or wrong, but it's open forums like these that give us plenty of food for thought to digest. 

What's your take on Snowden's actions and privacy concerns?

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


The Road to Mordor: The ins and outs of mithril coins

Posted: 25 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST

Filed under: , , , , , ,

Even though mithril coins have been in the game for the better part of a year now, we haven't really had a discussion about them in this space. I think it's time to do that, especially considering how Turbine keeps expanding the reach and utility of this handy-dandy (and expensive-wensive) currency in Lord of the Rings Online.

Mithril coins were added in March 2013's Update 10, and their purchasing power expanded in subsequent updates. Basically, the mithril coin was a new type of currency that offered a quick and clean solution to buying goods and services in the game without the player's having to go through the LotRO store. Think of them as video arcade tokens, obtained with real money and used on the entertainment that you desire. Turbine saw these coins as a way to streamline certain pay-for-service portions of the game that had their own separate currencies (such as revival tomes and stablemaster writs). One unified currency for a variety of uses.

I haven't seen a lot of chatter on these coins as of late, leading me to believe that their inclusion in the game is more or less accepted now. Some people find the coins irritating and an abuse of free-to-play moneygrabbing tactics. Others find them very useful and welcome in the game. I have a foot planted in both camps, and today we're going to look at the ins and outs of using mithril coins.

Continue reading The Road to Mordor: The ins and outs of mithril coins

MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: The ins and outs of mithril coins originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    WRUP: And now the conclusion edition

    Posted: 25 Jan 2014 07:00 AM PST

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    Will she survive?  Yes.  Tune in next week to see that happen.
    We've had a lot of fun with WRUP, but it's time to finally wrap up all of the long-lingering plot threads that we've had running. In this conclusion, Eliot and Bree will finally come to a mutually satisfying conclusion to a debate, at which point both of their heads will explode. Justin will consume a cup of the world's ultimate frozen yogurt, while Matthew and Matt will insist that Jasmine choose between them to decide who gets the last Hot Pocket.

    Then the entire staff is slowly eaten by hyenas.

    So now we... oh, wait, that's next week's episode. So please try and put all that out of your head as you read this week's WRUP about what we're going to be playing, and leave your own weekend plans down in the comments. You'll note that I left several other people's fates ambiguous, so guess your own conclusion! (Here's a hint: It's hyenas.)

    Continue reading WRUP: And now the conclusion edition

    MassivelyWRUP: And now the conclusion edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jan 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: How much would you pay to keep an MMO alive?

      Posted: 25 Jan 2014 05:00 AM PST

      Filed under: , , , , ,

      Vanguard
      So here's something that bothers me about this whole SOE MMO armageddon thing. When CEO John Smedley took to Twitter to sympathize with upset Vanguard fans yesterday, he implied that the firm has done all it could to keep the long-running fantasy MMO afloat. "I realize the Vanguard players are upset," he tweeted. "We waited a long time to do this and ran it well past economic viability."

      The phrase "past economic viability" is odd since SOE has literally been giving Vanguard away for nearly two years now. The other part of the equation that doesn't add up is why SOE -- or any other firm that insists on closing down a license-free MMO -- doesn't first reach out to the affected playerbase and offer them a chance to save the day.

      It might go something like this. "Dear Vanguard player, we thank you for your support and we regret to inform you that the game is not doing well financially. In order to avoid shutting it down, we require you and every other current player to pay a $50 monthly subscription fee."

      Sure, 50 bucks is an arbitrary number that I just made up and a large number for an MMO sub. But can anyone credibly state that loyal players wouldn't gladly pay $50 or more if it meant saving their game? How would we know since no MMO company can be bothered to try it? Which leads in to today's Daily Grind question. How much would you pay to keep your favorite MMO alive?

      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: How much would you pay to keep an MMO alive? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Jan 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Smedley: SOE's new unannounced MMO is dedicated to SWG players

        Posted: 24 Jan 2014 06:30 PM PST

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        Star Wars: Galaxies binary sunset
        It's been a roller coaster day for fans of SOE and the firm's MMO catalog. Earlier we learned that four of the company's titles, including the flawed but much-loved fantasy title Vanguard -- will be shutting down later this year.

        CEO John Smedley took to Reddit to answer questions following the announcement, and while it makes for a sobering read if you're a Vanguard, Wizardry Online, Free Realms, or Clone Wars Adventures fan, there was a hopeful nugget buried in there for sandbox lovers and more specifically, fans of Star Wars: Galaxies.

        "SWG players, our next game (not announced yet) is dedicated to you," Smedley wrote. "Once we launch it... you can come home now."

        MassivelySmedley: SOE's new unannounced MMO is dedicated to SWG players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Betawatch: January 18 - 24, 2014

        Posted: 24 Jan 2014 05:00 PM PST

        Filed under: , , , ,

        Hovering like some vast, predatory... nah, not going there.
        If you're 17 and wanted to play The Elder Scrolls Online, bad news: The game will be shipping with a Mature rating. So if you buy your games from the one store in the United States that actually checks the ratings and your age, you'll be out of luck. You can also take a look at the game's latest preview video on group content.

        Hearthstone entered into its open beta, although its functioning cash shop since closed beta puts it directly into the "soft launched" category for reasons discussed in last week's Betawatch. Star Wars: Attack Squadrons has also entered a second phase of closed testing for those who can't get enough dogfighting but don't want to play Star Wars: The Old Republic.

        Oh, and there's the usual list of betas and our Testing Notes just past the break. Like always, feel free to let us know in the comments if something slipped into open testing or the like without our catching it!

        Continue reading Betawatch: January 18 - 24, 2014

        MassivelyBetawatch: January 18 - 24, 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Trove: You make it, we play it

          Posted: 24 Jan 2014 04:30 PM PST

          Filed under: , , , , , ,

          Trove
          Trove is growing by pixelated leaps and bounds week after week with the community directly contributing to the game's development, Trion Worlds Creative Lead Andrew Krausnick told us in an interview call earlier today.

          The title, which is still in deep alpha, has yet to implement core features such as world cycling and additional classes. But what it is adding, day after day, are items and weapons created by fans. Krausnick said that the decision to turn over the item creation toolset to players has been a resounding success, with over 100 weapons created and 10 to 20 player-created items going into the game with each patch. One player even volunteered to create housing trophies for each creature in the game, which the team is now putting in as rare drops.

          Trion is rewarding players who create chosen designs with credit in a tooltip for their effort, a special hat, and game access if they haven't paid into it yet. That's right: If you want an alpha invite but don't want to shell out cash, then making a good-looking axe could be your ticket into Trove.

          We've got more to share about Trove's ongoing development and a video walking you through player-designed items after the break!

          Continue reading Trove: You make it, we play it

          MassivelyTrove: You make it, we play it originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Stream Team: A triumphant return to Guild Wars 2

            Posted: 24 Jan 2014 04:00 PM PST

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

            Guild Wars 2
            Massively's Mike Foster was seduced by Guild Wars 2's buy-to-pay payment model and beautiful graphics, but fell off the wagon due to the encroachment of other titles. Tonight, he's leaping back into Guild Wars 2 full-force to re-capture his love for the game and to pay a much-needed visit to the Guardian he left behind. Tune in at 7:00 p.m. EST to join Mike as he re-enters the vast, gorgeous world of Tyria.

            Game: Guild Wars 2
            Host: Mike Foster
            Date: Friday, January 24th, 2014
            Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

            Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

            Continue reading The Stream Team: A triumphant return to Guild Wars 2

            MassivelyThe Stream Team: A triumphant return to Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Storyboard: How to say goodbye and mean it

              Posted: 24 Jan 2014 03:00 PM PST

              Filed under: , , , ,

              Liars, A to D.
              So you know it's time to say goodbye. Your previous group of roleplaying companions just isn't filling that need you have for roleplaying, and that means it's time for you to pick up shop and move on. Great. Your metaphorical bags are packed, you're ready to pick up shop, and all that remains it to figure out where you're going to go.

              Right. That part. Where are you going to go?

              When you've been with one group of players for a while, it's tempting to see the game in pretty narrow terms because the focus narrows. The game is less about the whole server and more about the people whom you spend your time with in the game, naturally. But when you take away the group that you've been immersed in for so long, you're back to looking at an overall environment you hadn't considered. So here are some tips to make leaving as painless as possible.

              Continue reading Storyboard: How to say goodbye and mean it

              MassivelyStoryboard: How to say goodbye and mean it originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Why I Play: Defiance

                Posted: 24 Jan 2014 02:00 PM PST

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

                Defiance screenshot
                As I did with RIFT when it was announced, sent to beta, and released, I gave Defiance a bit of a hard time. Sure, I dug the shooter aspect of it, but its attachment to the television show and (what I took as) promises of interactions between both the game and show had me giving the game the side-eye. Yeah right, I thought, this will be some sort of "revolutionary" game. Well, I was half right. That means I was also half wrong.

                The game is not really revolutionary in many ways, but it does do many things that have never been done before. The more I play it, the more I see that the game developers and producers of the show sold the entire thing the wrong way from the start, but "the show will grow on ya, don't worry" would not make for a good tagline, and "the game is damn fun and does away with all of that level-based stuff that plagues RIFT" would probably not look too great on the game's website.

                Either way, I'm glad I've stuck with the game and the show. The game, especially, has provided me with hours of entertainment. In order to illustrate how I enjoy the game, I think it would be easiest to detail a typical evening of play.

                Continue reading Why I Play: Defiance

                MassivelyWhy I Play: Defiance originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  SOE shuttering Vanguard, Clone Wars, Free Realms, and Wizardry [Updated]

                  Posted: 24 Jan 2014 01:45 PM PST

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                  SOE logo
                  SOE is closing down four of its MMOs. Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures and Free Realms will close on March 31st. Vanguard and Wizardry Online will bow out on July 31st.

                  "At Sony Online Entertainment, we are always evaluating our portfolio to ensure we're providing players with the best gameplay experiences," the company said via press release. "At times, as part of this commitment, we have to make the difficult decision to sunset a game so we can refocus our resources on other areas in the best interest of our company and player community."

                  SOE CEO John Smedley will be fielding questions on Reddit at 6:00 p.m. EST. We'll update you with the link when it's live.

                  [Update]: Smedley's Reddit AMA

                  MassivelySOE shuttering Vanguard, Clone Wars, Free Realms, and Wizardry [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Camelot Unchained eyeing $2.5 million Depths stretch goal

                  Posted: 24 Jan 2014 01:30 PM PST

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                  Camelot Unchained concept
                  City State has updated its Camelot Unchained website. It's also unveiled some new pledge tiers designed to speed the RvR sandbox on its way toward the next stretch goal. That stretch goal is The Depths, and it will be realized once the crowdfunding total crosses the $2.5 million barrier (it stands at nearly $2.41 million as of press time).

                  The Builders Tiers start at $35 and go all the way up to the $425 level. You can browse all the tier rewards individually or scroll down to the bottom of the page for a handy-dandy tier comparison chart.

                  MassivelyCamelot Unchained eyeing $2.5 million Depths stretch goal originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Firefall developer secures $23 million in funding

                  Posted: 24 Jan 2014 01:00 PM PST

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                  Firefall
                  Bright skies might be ahead for Red 5 Studios: the Firefall developer announced today that it secured $23 million in additional funding. Red 5 said that it entered into share purchase agreements for the funding from Shanghai Oriental Pearl Culture Development Co. and shareholders.

                  Red 5 Acting CEO James Macauley pointed to the influx of cash as a sign that the battle-worn company is moving forward: "This additional round of funding will offer us the means to execute on our plan for successfully launching Firefall in 2014. This is the year Firefall takes flight. The entire Red 5 tribe is focused on creating top quality content that will take Firefall to the next level and we are excited for this next stage of development."

                  The studio has plans to create a new story campaign for Firefall, take the fight to the Chosen, and reveal some of the burning secrets that have been in the game.

                  [Source: Red 5 press release]

                  MassivelyFirefall developer secures $23 million in funding originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Legislation may pave a path for 38 Studios case settlement

                    Posted: 24 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST

                    Filed under: , ,

                    Copernicus
                    Amazingly enough, the 38 Studios saga could be wrapped up soon if lawyers and the Rhode Island government agree on a path out of the legal swamp.

                    The Associated Press is reporting that efforts are being made to settle the 38 Studios lawsuit out of the courts. Rhode Island's lawyer is encouraging the state senate to pass legislation allowing both sides to come to a settlement, as the remaining 38 Studios assets and resources are "being eaten up very rapidly."

                    The state is suing Curt Schilling and 13 others over the $75 million loan that 38 Studios defaulted on back in 2012, looking for repayment plus additional compensation for damages. If the legislation passes and a settlement is reached, then the defendants would be protected from any further claims for compensation.

                    MassivelyLegislation may pave a path for 38 Studios case settlement originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    DayZ griefers force victims to sing

                    Posted: 24 Jan 2014 11:30 AM PST

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                    DayZ
                    It may be the most genial stick-em-up of all time. A group of DayZ bandits are ambushing players in game for a truly sinister purpose: to make them sing.

                    In the following video, you can see and hear players sneak up on unprepared foes, force them to their knees at gunpoint, and then offer them a choice. Either they sing their national anthem or they get shot. The bandits don't make their victims sing the entire thing and are recorded saying that they'll help them out with in-game supplies if they go along with it.

                    You can preview the spectacle after the jump.

                    Continue reading DayZ griefers force victims to sing

                    MassivelyDayZ griefers force victims to sing originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Tamriel Infinium: Look! A video not about Elder Scrolls Online PvP

                    Posted: 24 Jan 2014 11:00 AM PST

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                    Tamriel Infinium: Look! A video not about Elder Scrolls Online PvP
                    I know that I've been hypercritical of The Elder Scrolls Online marketing strategy. For the longest time it's felt as if we have been hearing about PvP and nothing but PvP. From the launch announcement trailer to the Emperor skill line, most of advertising for the game has seemed like one big PvP push. Maybe it was. In the first Tamriel Infinium of the year, I predicted that we would see a greater push for PvE content in future ESO advertising, but then all we heard about after that was news about the sub model and more PvP. I wasn't crying in a corner, but I admit that I was disappointed. (OK, maybe I was crying in a corner.)

                    Because I've been critical of ZeniMax's marketing, I should praise the studio when it does something right. And the video the team released on Wednesday was amazing. Don't get the wrong impression when I say amazing. I wasn't knocked out of my chair, but I did find myself completely engaged with the video. That, I think, is more important than feeling a rush of adrenaline following the destruction of a huge keep or the explosion of a Daedric beast. Although a rush might make someone artificially excited about the game, an informative and engaging video will make people want to stick to the game for the long haul. Let me break down this video for you.

                    Continue reading Tamriel Infinium: Look! A video not about Elder Scrolls Online PvP

                    MassivelyTamriel Infinium: Look! A video not about Elder Scrolls Online PvP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Pantheon's Crusader brings two shields to the fight

                      Posted: 24 Jan 2014 10:30 AM PST

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                      Pantheon
                      Pantheon's latest announced class, the Crusader, might have the trappings of a traditional armored tank, but he's got a few surprises up his sleeves -- such as the ability to dual-wield shields.

                      Crusaders are front-line fighters that use heavy armor, one- and two-handed weapons, and tall shields as well as a dollop of divine power to smite foes and bless allies. Players who go down this virtuous path can specialize either as a melee-focused Cavalier or a magic-using Paladin.

                      It sounds as though Crusaders will be very beneficial to parties with group-wide buffs and the ability to tank effectively. They'll also get a squire to help out, undead-banishing abilities, and the option to pick up two shields for both protection and offense.

                      MassivelyPantheon's Crusader brings two shields to the fight originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      The Soapbox: MMO 'nostalgia' isn't nostalgia

                      Posted: 24 Jan 2014 10:00 AM PST

                      Filed under: , , , , , , ,

                      Elizabeth Montgomery
                      Here's the Merriam-Webster online dictionary definition of the word nostalgia.

                      nos·tal·gia
                      noun
                      \nä-ˈstal-jə, nə- also nȯ-, nō-; nə-ˈstäl-\
                      : pleasure and sadness that is caused by remembering something from the past and wishing that you could experience it again
                      1 : the state of being homesick : homesickness
                      2 : a wistful or excessively sentimental yearning for return to or of some past period or irrecoverable condition; also : something that evokes nostalgia


                      And here's where I tell you that nostalgia is the most misused, overused, and overly simplistic word in modern MMO discourse.

                      Continue reading The Soapbox: MMO 'nostalgia' isn't nostalgia

                      MassivelyThe Soapbox: MMO 'nostalgia' isn't nostalgia originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jan 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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