MMO Updates

MMO Updates

EVE Fanfest events detailed

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 09:00 AM PST

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EVE Online - Fanfest poker table
Preparations for EVE Online's annual Fanfest are well underway, and CCP has updated its website with a blog entry that gives gamers an idea of what to expect if they're coming to Reykjavik in March.

CCP is adjusting its VIP office tour prize package this year, and a contest entry will only set you back one PLEX (as opposed to the $1,000 minimum bid in years past). There's also a poker tournament, a silent auction, and a battle of the bands in the offing.

What does all this have to do with New Eden, you're asking? Well not much, aside from the opportunity to drink heavily and put a name with a face when it comes to all those capsuleers you've been swindling and killing for the past eight years. Head to the official site for details on all the events and prizes.

MassivelyEVE Fanfest events detailed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Week in MMO: Beta weekend edition

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 08:00 AM PST

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The Gamebreaker crew
It's Friday, and that means it's time for the traditional recap of This Week in MMO. What's that, you say? Why, it's the weekly videocast roundup over at Gamebreaker, of course.

Gary Gannon is your host, and he's joined by series regulars Mike B. and Mike Schaffnit. The trio discuss anything and everything relating to popular MMOs, including Star Wars: The Old Republic's Ilum-related troubles, Sony Online Entertainment's noises about selling user-generated content, and the upcoming Guild Wars 2 beta.

The guys also get around to talking about Blizzard's ongoing Titan project, and more specifically, the speculation surrounding in-game advertising. The full show is yours after the break.

Continue reading This Week in MMO: Beta weekend edition

MassivelyThis Week in MMO: Beta weekend edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PlanetSide 2 webcast features lengthy community Q&A

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 07:30 AM PST

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PlanetSide 2 - the Sunderer
If you're a PlanetSide 2 fan, you'll want to check out Sony Online Entertainment's latest webcast. The 30-minute affair features creative director Matt Higby, game designer Kevin Moyer, and senior art director Tramell Isaac. The trio field a whole bunch of community questions on the upcoming sci-fi MMOFPS, most of them centered around Nanite Systems vehicles like the Sunderer and the Galaxy.

If you don't have time to watch the whole shebang, PlanetSide Universe has a good breakdown of the new stuff (including some awesome bits on vehicle customizations like hood ornaments, camouflage, racing stripes, and other visual tweaks). Click past the cut for the full video.

Continue reading PlanetSide 2 webcast features lengthy community Q&A

MassivelyPlanetSide 2 webcast features lengthy community Q&A originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sex and violence: Rusty Hearts pulls out the stops for Valentine's Day

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 07:00 AM PST

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Rusty Hearts
Poor Frantz! With Valentine's Day coming up, the pressure is on for him to find his long-lost love Amelia. Fortunately, the entirety of the Rusty Hearts crew has got his back and will do their best to help true love find a way.

This next chapter of the game's storyline is coming on February 14th with Rusty Hearts' Requiem update. It's not just about wuv, twue wuv, but also about kicking butt in all sorts of new locales. An eight-person raid dungeon called The Altar will present one of the toughest challenges in the game to date -- and brand-new weapons for those who master it. If you're looking for something more bite-sized, however, Requiem has four standard dungeons on the docket as well: Opera House, Catwalks, Gallery, and Ramparts.

Perfect World will also be adding several other features to the game, including a new character for sale (Roselle Vergerius), an increased level cap, a whopping 200 new and upgraded high-level skills, and the hub world of Training Camp.

We have a trailer for Rusty Hearts' lonely hearts update after the jump!

Continue reading Sex and violence: Rusty Hearts pulls out the stops for Valentine's Day

MassivelySex and violence: Rusty Hearts pulls out the stops for Valentine's Day originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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En Masse comments on NCsoft TERA lawsuit

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 06:30 AM PST

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TERA - high elf character creation
En Masse Entertainment has commented on a pending lawsuit by NCsoft that seeks to prevent the North American launch of TERA. As you would expect, there is virtually no detail on the proceedings, but En Masse publishing vice president Chris Lee does come out swinging, saying that the firm "outright rejects" NCsoft's position and will fight it to the last.

NCsoft has alleged that former employees stole Lineage 3 code and art assets which were used to make TERA, and the firm has already scored a legal victory in Korea that resulted in jail time for some of the ex-staffers.

How all of this affects TERA's U.S. release is unclear, though Lee says it's business as usual for En Masse and its fans. "This situation has no impact on our continuing efforts to realize the vision we have for our game. We are committed to making TERA awesome and delivering the game to you on time on May 1st," he writes.

MassivelyEn Masse comments on NCsoft TERA lawsuit originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Creating a new world: 38 Studios discusses the formation of Amalur's IP

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 06:00 AM PST

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Reckoning
As MMO fans, we're keeping a close eye on 38 Studios for its development of Project Copernicus, the MMO that will serve as the follow-up to next month's Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. The risk factor of not only developing two major intertwined projects in parallel but to have the additional task of creating a brand-new IP in which to put them must be a pressing one, which is why CVG sat down with Reckoning Lead Designer Ian Frazier to talk about challenges the studio has been tackling.

Frazier outlines the balance the studio's struck between its three big-name creators -- Todd McFarlane (art), R.A. Salvatore (story), and Ken Rolston (design) -- not to mention the ideas that pour in from founder Curt Schilling. Fortunately, Frazier says that these larger-than-life personalities mesh well together: "The nice thing that's worked out is, I think if we'd got three famous game designers, it would have been a disaster: big egos, they're all on the same plane, it wouldn't have worked out. What makes this work is they're all different."

Even though Rolston previously worked on The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Frazier said the designer wanted to try his hand at something fresh with a better combat system. "They're all great games," Frazier said of the Elder Scrolls series, "and I think they're progressively better, but they're all the same game. It's not like they're radically changing with time."

Frazier said Reckoning has been compared to a "single-player WoW" as well as Dragon Age and Fable, but he insists that the world and ideas the team's been creating will take it far past those basic comparisons.

You can take your first peek into the world of Amalur with the Reckoning demo -- and let us know what you think in the comments!

MassivelyCreating a new world: 38 Studios discusses the formation of Amalur's IP originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What's your preferred night to raid?

Posted: 27 Jan 2012 05:00 AM PST

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LotRO Raid
We all have our own schedules with our own reasons for gaming when we can. For those with a static group of friends, a dedicated night or two to raid is usually the preferred method of playing an MMO. Whether you play to relax after work or play when you have the day off, it's a safe bet that most of us tend to organize our most involved raiding nights around a set time.

So what night do you prefer? Even if it's every night of the week, or just one, let us know in the comments below.

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your preferred night to raid? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The MMO Report: For realsies edition

    Posted: 26 Jan 2012 06:00 PM PST

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    The MMO Report
    This week on The MMO Report, Casey dishes on Marvel Heroes' new engine, Dungeons and Dragons Online's inbound anniversary update and expansion, and RIFT's financial success. He cheers ArenaNet's revelation that Guild Wars 2 will launch in 2012 -- for realsies! -- but then he mourns the lack of BlizzCon this year:

    "But... the fans! The swag! The concert! The cosplay! People getting hurt during the dance contest! How can we go on living without BlizzCon 2012?"

    Finally, Casey dispenses bad advice and Nordic memes from Uncle Casey's Mailbag.

    All this and more in today's edition of The MMO Report, which is tucked behind the break.

    Continue reading The MMO Report: For realsies edition

    MassivelyThe MMO Report: For realsies edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Guild Counsel: Why you need these seven samurai in your guild

    Posted: 26 Jan 2012 05:00 PM PST

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    Seven Samurai
    More often than not, when the subject of recruiting comes up, guild leaders can easily explain what they don't want from a potential member. We've all seen the usual reasons for wanting to turn someone away, and there have even been a few write-ups that neatly label and describe troublesome members. But what qualities define "good" members?

    Sometimes, it's harder to pinpoint what makes a good guildmate, and the saying "I know it when I see it" usually results. But there are certain types of people that really make a difference in a guild, no matter what playstyle, and we have to look no further than the film The Seven Samurai for a rundown of those types. Recruit these seven members and you'll be well on your way to creating a great guild atmosphere that will last. Let's look at who they are in today's Guild Counsel!

    Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Why you need these seven samurai in your guild

    MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Why you need these seven samurai in your guild originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      WildStar invites players to meet the Aurin

      Posted: 26 Jan 2012 04:00 PM PST

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      Unfortunately, no bunny-men yet. Oh, well.
      There's a lot to be learned about the setting of WildStar before the game starts in on testing, but there are also a lot of prospective players eager to learn whatever they can. So they'll probably be happy to take a look at the latest entry on the official blog, a mock-interview with the Aurin character Liara from the game's original cinematic trailer. Aside from providing some character insights, it gives a look at the Aurin as a species beyond the obvious.

      The Aurin come from the forested planet of Arboria, where large ears and long tails for balance have some decided evolutionary advantages. Unfortunately for the Aurin, the Dominion invaded the planet and began cutting everything down, leading to the displaced animal-people lending their knowledge to the Exiles. It's an interesting glimpse at the game's lore for both the Aurin and for Scientists, something that several eager WildStar fans will no doubt devour with vigor.

      MassivelyWildStar invites players to meet the Aurin originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Allods Online shows off 2.0.9 improvements with a new trailer

      Posted: 26 Jan 2012 03:30 PM PST

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      I support all games offering Rikku-style hair as seen to the left.
      Allods Online is gearing up for its Game of Gods expansion, but there are more improvements coming in the lead-up. The 2.0.9 patch is going to be part of the bridge, and it's bringing along a number of cosmetic improvements for players to enjoy. There are new pets, new interior customizations for astral ships, new mounts, and as the header image shows, new hairstyles in varying degrees of ridiculousness (or awesomeness, depending on your personal preference).

      Of course, what better way to show off the coming patch improvements than via a small trailer? Embedded just past the cut, the trailer is short but features a bit of cute animation and a peek at what's just around the corner. There's still no exact date on the release of the game's expansion, but considering how quickly the team behind the game is ramping up, we suspect it may well be earlier in February rather than later.

      Continue reading Allods Online shows off 2.0.9 improvements with a new trailer

      MassivelyAllods Online shows off 2.0.9 improvements with a new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Behind the Mask: Throwing stones at their glass houses

      Posted: 26 Jan 2012 03:00 PM PST

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      This week on Behind the Mask, we're going to take an in-depth look at Champions Online's new Earth powerset. It took me quite a while to review Wind, and Earth is relatively new. Why the time disparity?

      The real answer is that I looked at Wind long before last week, but I didn't really find anything fun or exciting at a first look. Earth is a lot different. Earth has a lot of potential for combining powers between the set; it can Stagger enemies and then exploit that Stagger for damage or bonus effects. Because a lot of the Earth tricks eat your Stagger stacks, you have to choose between keeping Stagger on your targets for the debuff or eating it for the bonus power effects. On top of that, it has the first viable Brick archetype heal, making the Mountain the second reliable Archetype tank. Earth is a lot of fun.

      Continue reading Behind the Mask: Throwing stones at their glass houses

      MassivelyBehind the Mask: Throwing stones at their glass houses originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Ask Massively: On mourning a netbook edition

        Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:30 PM PST

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        No, it's not a picture of River. I can't take a picture of her right now, she's wounded. It would be wrong.
        Well, I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later. My stalwart little netbook, River, finally developed a serious problem: Her screen developed a pair of nasty cracks. I've had her for only a couple of years, but she's been a great portable machine and a real help at getting work done. Now if only it weren't such an enormous pain finding someplace where I could get her repaired, as I'd really prefer not to replace her. But it might come to that.

        Even with an injured performer, however, the show must go on, and the show in question is Ask Massively. This week, we're fielding questions about ArcheAge and working in the gaming field, something that I'm sure is of interest to many of our readers. If you've got a question you'd like to see in a future installment of the column, mail it to ask@massively.com or leave it in the comments below. Questions may be edited for brevity and/or clarity.

        Continue reading Ask Massively: On mourning a netbook edition

        MassivelyAsk Massively: On mourning a netbook edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Blizzard yoinks Diablo III companion pets due to excessive cuteness

        Posted: 26 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST

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        Oh no, color! Destroying the ambiance!
        Charges of extreme cuteness have been directed at Blizzard ever since the company unveiled its Panda-themed expansion for World of Warcraft. If a new post on the Battle.net forums is any indication, that won't be an issue for Diablo III.

        A Blizz community manager penned an update regarding D3's beta patch 10, and among the notes is the fact that the game's companion scrolls are going away temporarily. "The companion pets felt like they were mandatory to maximize play efficiency and some of the pets were too cutesy for the gritty, dark world of Sanctuary," Nethaera wrote.

        The pets (and scrolls) aren't gone for good, as the devs have plans for "a much cooler system (both mechanically and visually)" in the future.

        MassivelyBlizzard yoinks Diablo III companion pets due to excessive cuteness originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        DCUO puts Valentine's Day on hold, plans seasonal events

        Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:30 PM PST

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        DCUO
        Roses are red, violets are blue, Valentine's Day will be back eventually in DCU... O.

        Fortunately for those disappointed with the lackluster event last year, SOE agreed with the general sentiment and promised that the future version will be the snugglebunny event of the season. However, it looks like the new, improved Love Day feats won't make it to the game in time for February 14th.

        That said, the team is already focusing on several upcoming events to coincide with each of the major seasons. "Over the next cycle, starting with summer, we will be adding the following: Boss fights to Summer, Winter, and Spring, and open world content to Fall," Creative Director Jens Andersen writes. The next scheduled event in DCUO is for March's St. Patrick's Day.

        Hopefully, by this time next year DCUO will be in a more loving mood with Valentine's Day 2.0!

        MassivelyDCUO puts Valentine's Day on hold, plans seasonal events originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        RIFT companion app brings chat, events, and loot to Android

        Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:00 PM PST

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        RIFT Mobile
        RIFT is stepping up its mobile connectivity game with the newly released RIFT mobile companion app, now for Android. The application contains what you might expect from a companion app, such as friend and guild chat, officer chat, and other guild capabilities, but it also features unique bits like zone event notifications, which can notify you when a zone event begins on your server. Of course, you can also filter which of these battles deserves a notification.

        Perhaps most interestingly, you can also earn in-game loot by participating in what appears to be some kind of minigame. This game can reward players with crafting items, planar treasure, and artifacts, which are sent directly to their characters' mail-boxes. For the most part, it looks to be a pretty good tool for people who want to stay connected to the game even when they're not at their computers.

        For the full details on the app, just click on through the link below. Meanwhile, if you want to skip the fluff and just grab the app, it's available for free on the iTunes store and now on the Android Market.

        MassivelyRIFT companion app brings chat, events, and loot to Android originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Party tonight, for tomorrow we fly: Champions celebrates its F2P anniversary

        Posted: 26 Jan 2012 12:00 PM PST

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        Champions Online
        A year after making the switch to decaf, er, free-to-play, Champions Online is livelier than ever. To celebrate the super-powered boost that F2P gave, Cryptic Studios is hosting special events both in and out of the game.

        From today through the end of the month, players can enjoy a hefty 20% discount on anything in the C-Store (excluding grab bags). So if you've been eying that special outfit or archetype, now might be the time to nab it.

        If you're not looking to spend any money but don't mind partying with the stars, there's plenty of fun to go around. For the rest of the anniversary event, characters can fly through the levels due to a double XP boost at their backs, courtesy of Witchcraft. Another hero, The Mountain, will be selling Halloween and Winter Gift Bags with in-game currency. Mr. The Mountain also has a special mission for those who want to earn his trademarked Mountain Costume pieces.

        MassivelyParty tonight, for tomorrow we fly: Champions celebrates its F2P anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Wurm Online client update brings proximity voice chat, UI update, and more

        Posted: 26 Jan 2012 11:00 AM PST

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        Screenshot -- Wurm Online
        The latest client update to Code Club AB's construction-oriented sandbox title Wurm Online brings a cornucopia of new features to the game, but perhaps none so interesting as the addition of proximity voice chat. That's right, players will now be able to vocally communicate with any players in the immediate vicinity without the use of third-party applications like Ventrilo or Mumble. Have you ever wanted to gather up your village group, sit around a fire, and tell stories or just enjoy a bit of idle banter? Maybe typing "oh god help there's a rabid pachyderm devouring my face" just isn't expedient enough when there's a rabid pachyderm devouring your face. Either way, players now have access to proximity voice chat, an updated UI, and much more.

        For the full details on the latest client update, just click on through the link below to Wurm Online's official site.

        MassivelyWurm Online client update brings proximity voice chat, UI update, and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Xsyon announces newest Guide-run event: The Grand Cart Race

        Posted: 26 Jan 2012 10:00 AM PST

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        Screenshot -- Xsyon
        Earlier this month, we reported on a player-run event being held in Notorious Games' sandbox MMO Xsyon, and bear-fighting was involved. Today, the team has put out an announcement for a new Guide-run event, though unfortunately bear-fighting is not involved. What is involved, though, is cart racing.

        The event, known formally as The Grand Cart Race, will begin at 3:00 p.m. EST on this coming Sunday, January 29th. Players are encouraged to bring their own carts to race, but if you haven't built or traded for a cart yet, don't worry; the guides will be handing out loaners for the duration of the event. The team doesn't reveal what exactly the race will entail, but mentions that "there will be different stages of the course aimed at taking advantage of each of the features of the carts." For the full details, check out the event's official thread on the game's forums, then prepare to do it up NASCAR: post-apocalypse-style.

        MassivelyXsyon announces newest Guide-run event: The Grand Cart Race originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

        Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

        Steam Mobile App Lets You Shop and Chat From Your Phone

        Posted: 27 Jan 2012 06:09 AM PST

        Steam Mobile

        Valve has at long last released a Steam app mobile phones which brings with it much of Steam’s core functionality.

        The app can be downloaded now for iOS and Android devices, but not everyone can make use of it just yet. With the app still in beta, Valve will be allowing gamers in as time goes on. In order to enroll for the beta, you’ll want to download the app, sign in with your Steam account, and then hope you’re selected.

        Once you are allowed in (or you get in by virtue of the beta coming to a close), you’ll be able to do most of what you’d hope to with a Steam app: chat with friends, browse groups and profiles, check out screenshots and user-generated content, read Steam and gaming news, add games to your wishlist, and even buy games. The ability to make purchases is a particularly pleasant surprise; being able to buy games on the go means you never have to miss out on a Steam sale just because you’re away from the computer.

        Based on my brief time spent playing around with the app on my iPhone 4S, it works every bit as well as you’d hope, and chatting in particular is quick and easy. Images can be somewhat slow to load and I see see no way to zoom in on screenshots, but the app is very responsive save for the occasional bit of slowdown that seems to resolve itself after a moment’s pause. There are some things that need work — the videos page is labeled “under construction” but does already allow you to view any that have been saved — like adding the ability to rearrange the items on your wishlist and trade items, but it’s still surprisingly feature-rich for a first release.

        Steam Mobile

        Valve talked about the possibility of Steam support on mobile platforms last year. “We do feel we’re late on mobile across many of Valve’s services,” Valve marketing VP Doug Lombardi said in May. “It is something we’re starting to look at now. People are starting to ask us for it. The more requests we receive, the more we feel the need to act on them.”

        Fast forward to today. “The Steam app comes from many direct requests from our customers,” Valve president Gabe Newell said of the app’s release. “Seeing which of your friends are online and playing a game, sending quick messages, looking at screenshots for an upcoming game, or catching a sale – these are all features customers have requested. Mobile is changing way people interact, play games and consume media, and the Steam app is part of our commitment to meet customer demands and expand the service functionality of Steam to make it richer and more accessible for everyone.”

        Steam Mobile

        I’ve written before about how Electronic Arts’ Steam competitor, Origin, needs to differentiate itself from Steam. Mobile felt like a place for it to do it — Steam was limited to computers, and its community with it. Had EA gotten an Origin app like this on iOS and Android, that could have been at least one way for it to say, “Hey, look — we’re doing something they aren’t. If you want to talk to your gaming buddies, add them on Origin and you can talk to them from your phone.”

        Instead Steam has beaten Origin to the punch once again. With Valve already making it clear it wants to make it easy to use Steam on your TV (a feature being prepared for launch), that’s another area where Origin can’t be first. Following the Wii U’s reveal last year, it was rumored that its open online platform would allow Origin to become the de facto online platform on the system. Given that any mobile offering is unlikely to top Steam’s (based on the lack of innovation we’ve seen from Origin on computers thus far), that could be one of the few ways left for EA to get a foothold against the competition.

        Steam Mobile


        Posted by: admin in Gaming News
        Find related article at: http://www.1up.com/news/steam-mobile-app-shop-chat

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        Alan Wake retail release coming to PC

        Posted: 27 Jan 2012 06:08 AM PST

        The boxed PC version of Remedy's action thriller doesn't have a release date just yet, but Nordic Games have announced that it will include both XBLA DLC packs 'The Signal' and 'The Writer'. Further details are said to be coming over the coming days and weeks.

        "It goes without saying that we are very happy and proud to work together with some of the greatest talents and artists of the games industry", commented Lars Wingefors, CEO of Nordic Games. "We are really looking forward to the PC version of Alan Wake, especially as we are talking about a fantastic PC adaptation thereof, rather than a mere porting of the code," he added.

        Visit www.alanwake.com if you need a refresher on what the game's all about and look out for more details on the release – and the promise of a proper adaptation of the code – in the coming weeks…

        Alan Wake retail release coming to PC


        Posted by: admin in Gaming News
        Find related article at: http://www.totalpcgaming.com/latest-pc-news/alan-wake-retail-release-coming-to-pc/

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        TGS: How Food Gives Life to Namco’s Game Music

        Posted: 27 Jan 2012 01:28 AM PST

        He might not look it at a glance, but Namco Sound Team member Go Shiina — best known for his work on Mr. Driller, Tales of Legendia, and Ace Combat — is obsessed with food. A slim man whose Cloud Strife-like mop of bleached hair adds several inches to his lanky height, Shiina says he looks to food to inspire his compositions.

        As an example, he told me about his approach to writing the music for Gods Eater’s snow temple areas. For those dungeons, he spent time “researching” Taiwanese shaved ice desserts.

        “Taiwanese shaved ice is different than Japanese shaved ice,” he says. “The Japanese version uses normal ice, so it has a sharp, stinging quality to it. In Taiwan, they use frozen condensed milk, so it feels softer and sweeter. And they add fruit to it, so it has a fuller texture and flavor.

        “The snow areas in Gods Eater are full of Japanese-style temples, so I didn’t want to use Japanese shaved ice for inspiration. That would have been predictable and cheesy. Instead, I used a combination. When you’re in battle, the feel should be like Japanese ice — sharp and harsh. But outside of battle, when you’re just exploring, I wanted it to feel like Taiwanese ice: softer and less intense.”

        Shiina most recently contributed the score for the Ace Combat trailer Namco played at Nintendo’s recent 3DS press conference. For that bombastic, film-like orchestral track, Shiina jokes that he used fast food as inspiration for that particular piece.

        “I had to put it together in a hurry,” explains.

        Stay tuned for our full profile on this prolific composer, which will explore further insights into the creative impact of food, spreadsheets, and Christina Ricci.


        Posted by: admin in Gaming News
        Find related article at: http://www.1up.com/news/namco-game-music-powered-by-food

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        Five Ways Skyward Sword Went Wrong

        Posted: 26 Jan 2012 06:05 PM PST

        Since its humble 8-bit beginnings, Nintendo’s Legend of Zelda series acted as the frontrunner for both game design and technology, offering well-crafted worlds much larger and content-heavy than its competitors. Just as Link’s debut proved the true potential of the NES, Ocarina of Time convinced the world that polygonal third-person gaming could be more than an ambitious-but-clumsy mess. Soon after Zelda’s monumental N64 installment, the series expanded its scope by playing with time travel (Majora’s Mask), and opening up an entire ocean of possibilities for young Link to explore (The Wind Waker); but from 2006′s Twilight Princess onwards, The Legend of Zelda swapped its once-daring nature for a more eager-to-please, conservative philosophy which proves irritating for those who’ve stuck with the series for more than two decades. Skyward Sword is the latest victim of Nintendo’s one-size-fits-all style of game design, and as a result, falls short of the potential possible from a studio overflowing with talent.

        Skyward Sword is not a bad game, but a deeply frustrating one. Baby steps like user-dictated UI options, impeccable motion controls, and an evolution in dungeon design show that Nintendo may be on the right track in some respects, but the following flaws of Skyward Sword do their best to pin down this formerly free-roaming series.

        Note for the spoiler sensitive: this article covers certain topics you may want to remain ignorant of until you finish the game.

        Content Spread too Thin

        Skyward Sword suffers from the same issues that plagued 2006′s Okami; the latter overcompensated for its Twilight Princess competition by delivering an oversized adventure that often dragged like a real Neverending Story. Nintendo’s latest Zelda exhibits the same insecurity, no doubt brought on by massive 2011 releases like Dark Souls and Skyrim; their advertising campaign even boasted this would be the biggest and boldest Zelda to date. But instead of providing a variety of content, Skyward Sword chooses to shamelessly recycle. Much of the game involves Link revisiting old areas under the thinnest of pretenses, where he undergoes tedious and unimaginative tasks like tracking down collections of hidden items and participating in a series of mandatory and increasingly dull time trials. And considering the fact that Skyward’s version of Hyrule contains only three distinct settings, the constant backtracking wears out its welcome far before you realize the entire game plays like a broken record. Skyward Sword has its share of amazing moments, but they’re hard to remember when separated by so much padding.

        An Unchanging World

        Compared to the most recent games in the Zelda series, Skyward Sword presents a remarkably static world. While Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, and The Wind Waker each provide instruments capable of changing the weather, time, and other features of Link’s environment, Skyward’s harp offers nothing but a stupid-easy mini-game used to unlock a series of prescribed places. Past Zelda games empowered players by giving them the ability to shape the world, which is exactly why Skyward’s puzzles seem so uncreative in comparison — they’re mostly tied to the game’s motion-control input, rather than the inspired tools of Zeldas past. Even the series’ day/night cycle has been excised in Skyward Sword, replaced with a binary option (the equivalent of a virtual light switch) used to solve a handful of side-quests in a shockingly small number of locations. The former ability to tinker with so many elements of Hyrule gave this fictional world a certain sense of veracity; in comparison, Skyward Sword comes off as a look-but-don’t-touch Zelda museum.


        Posted by: admin in Gaming News
        Find related article at: http://www.1up.com/features/five-ways-skyward-sword-went-wrong

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        NCsoft files lawsuit to thwart TERA launch

        Posted: 26 Jan 2012 06:05 PM PST

        In a complaint filed in New York federal court on Jan. 9, South Korea-based NCsoft, which specializes in massively multiplayer online role-playing games, or MMORPGs, says it has brought similar claims against Bluehole and its ex-employees in Korea, but that Bluehole is now planning to release an English-language version of its game in the U.S.

        NCsoft maintains that Bluehole and its U.S. subsidiary En Masse Entertainment Inc. were founded by a group of NCsoft employees who quit to go into business for themselves in the midst of creating a new game called Lineage 3.

        "These individuals did not leave NCsoft empty-handed or with benign intent," the complaint alleges. "To the contrary, they made off with copious amounts of confidential and proprietary NCsoft information, computer software, hardware and artwork relating to Lineage 3."

        "Their business plan was simple and audacious: create a competing product using the very work they had done while at NCsoft, launch it themselves to great fanfare and acclaim, and, in the process, deal a crippling blow to their former employer," the complaint said.

        The former employees were convicted in Korea of stealing trade secrets from NCsoft in 2009, and the convictions were mostly upheld by an appellate court, according to the complaint.

        NCsoft also lodged a civil complaint against the individuals and Bluehole in Korea in 2010. The company won damages and an injunction barring the individuals from using NCsoft’s proprietary information going forward. However, the damages award was overturned by an appellate court.

        Appeals of both the criminal and civil cases are currently pending before Korea’s highest court.

        Despite the litigation, Bluehole launched its game, Tera, in Korea last year, and has announced plans to release an English version in the U.S., the complaint alleges.

        The current lawsuit claims that the U.S. version of Tera makes use of NCsoft’s trade secrets, including documents, source code, artwork and know-how related to the development on Lineage 3, and copyrighted works, including concept art created for Lineage 3.

        It also asserts claims of breach of confidence, unfair competition and unjust enrichment.

        The suit seeks temporary and permanent injunctions blocking the release of Tera in the U.S., as well as enhanced damages for Bluehole’s alleged misconduct.

        Bluehole was not available for comment on Friday.

        NCsoft is represented by Gene W. Lee, Jeanne C. Curtis and Peter J. Brody of Ropes Gray LLP.

        Counsel information for the defendants was not immediately available.

        The case is NCsoft Corp. et al. v. Bluehole Studio Inc. et al., case number 1:12-cv-00172, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New York.


        Posted by: admin in Gaming News
        Find related article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/01/ncsoft-files-lawsuit-to-thwart-tera.html

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        TERA Japan

        Posted: 26 Jan 2012 01:26 PM PST


        So, Tokyo Game Show 2011 is in full gear over the past few days, but there was only a handful of MMORPGs in the show. TERA Japan, which went into the commercial phase recently, was no doubt present to push for more players after its initial success. 2 different packages were available and given to visitors of the game’s booth, but I think there were some requirements before they can be gotten.


        Both packages are basically the same, except that one of it has a 300-piece puzzle while the other has a Steelseries mouse with TERA’s game logo simply printed on it. Each package also has a code for a 3-day free trail period without the need to register for an actual account.


        According to some bloggers, there is actually more merchandise given out! There is a series of badges, some picture cards with profiles of each race at the back, a mousepad and the already mentioned retail game packages. The badges and stuff were actually given out before at the official release press conference back in July, it seems there were spares! Awesome stuff!


        Posted by: admin in Gaming News
        Find related article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2011/09/tera-japan-tokyo-game-show-2011-goodies.html

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        Posted by Shri Krishna
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