MMO Updates |
- Alter-Ego: What's in a name?
- WRUP: Nobody ever talks about what's actually wrong with addons edition
- The Daily Grind: What's your favorite mode of travel?
- Avatar breaks out the banhammer for Perpetuum cheaters
- Trion Worlds and Syfy to debut Defiance at E3 2011
- Betawatch: May 28 - June 3, 2011
- RIFT confirms development of an addon API
- Storyboard: Motivational seekers
- Wasteland Diaries: F2P?
- One Shots: Gotta love the classics
- Darkfall dev blog talks new dungeons, siege changes
- The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you
- First Impressions: Gods & Heroes
- Luvinia Online begins closed beta signups, releases teaser trailer
- SWTOR reveals plans for E3, advanced class powers, and a new tie-in comic book
- Massively Exclusive: Joel Bylos talks The Secret World's endgame (and a bunch of other stuff)
| Posted: 04 Jun 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Opinion, Consoles, DC Universe Online, Alter-Ego  No, instead our superpowered game is getting its own different version of a restart in the promised upcoming MegaServer merges. While before we had multiple servers, each side will now have two -- one PvP and PvE for both PC and PS3 players -- giving us a total of four. Over this mad-scientist server-mashup, the issue of collisions looms. This week, we also found out that the merges will not only affect player names but league names as well, ensuring that there is plenty of confusion and concern on the part of the playerbase. Will MegaServers be the bane or balm of DC Universe Online's population issues? What precisely are the facts and fallacies? Whom will this affect? Join me behind the break as I take a look at the overall situation! Continue reading Alter-Ego: What's in a name?
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| WRUP: Nobody ever talks about what's actually wrong with addons edition Posted: 04 Jun 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Massively meta, Miscellaneous  Moving on from the obtuse flamebaiting, it's time for this week's WRUP! We are not talking about addons in the slightest this week, as it happens -- we're talking about what we're playing over the weekend as well as whether or not there are too many free-to-play titles on the market at the moment. So jump past the break for our weekend diversions and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments! Continue reading WRUP: Nobody ever talks about what's actually wrong with addons edition
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| The Daily Grind: What's your favorite mode of travel? Posted: 04 Jun 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Virtual worlds, Miscellaneous  Whether you're hopping on a flight path in World of Warcraft, fueling up your ATV in Fallen Earth, or setting off at warp speed in Star Trek Online, it's still the same core concept -- going from point A to point B in the fastest and most stylish fashion possible. So what's your favorite way to fly, drive, or ride around your game of choice?  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!
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| Avatar breaks out the banhammer for Perpetuum cheaters Posted: 03 Jun 2011 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Perpetuum, Dev Diaries  "The method that was used can by no means [be] interpreted as intended gameplay. A lot of technical preparation and effort went into the experimentation and execution," Calvin writes. The ill-gotten gains have of course been removed, and Avatar has also permabanned the offending accounts, which sends a clear message as to the type of zero-tolerance policy toward cheating on display in the world of Nia. Check out the official Perpetuum website for more reading material.
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| Trion Worlds and Syfy to debut Defiance at E3 2011 Posted: 03 Jun 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Screenshots, News items, MMOFPS, Miscellaneous  Three years ago, Syfy announced that it would be teaming up with RIFT creator Trion Worlds to construct the world's first MMO that would actively intertwine with a live-action TV series. This project became Defiance, which will be making its debut at E3 2011. The groundbreaking project will create a shared universe for the game and TV series, with each influencing the other through actions the characters and players take. The game -- an action-based shooter that will be released on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 -- will be set in the San Francisco Bay Area, whereas the TV series will take place around St. Louis, Missouri. Both, however, take place on the same conflict-torn future Earth where humans and aliens coexist, though whether they do so peacefully or not remains to be seen. Lars Buttler, CEO of Trion Worlds, has this to say about the project: "This is essentially the convergence of the television and gaming industry into one fully-developed cohesive property. Syfy is creating a television show that takes place in the fictional universe that the game is set in. The game and the show will constantly [influence] each other from the moment they simultaneously launch." If done properly, Defiance could bring a new level of persistence and player influence to the genre. Keep an eye out for more on this upcoming title as E3 draws ever closer, and be sure to head over to Hollywood Reporter for the full article.
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| Betawatch: May 28 - June 3, 2011 Posted: 03 Jun 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Betawatch, Miscellaneous  Eden Eternal's closed beta started yesterday, meeting with such an enthusiastic response that the developers opened the doors a little wider today. Want to see what the fuss is all about? Grab a beta key on us! Luvinia Online joins our closed beta list as well. Prius Online -- the MMO, not the car -- moved to open beta this week as well, introducing a hefty level cap increase, a new race, and much more for all to explore. Finally, we say goodbye to Faxion Online as the game moves from open beta to launch. Follow along after the cut for the latest Betawatch list! Continue reading Betawatch: May 28 - June 3, 2011
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| RIFT confirms development of an addon API Posted: 03 Jun 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News items, RIFT  Fan reaction has been mixed, as addons have long been a contentious element of many games -- some players feel that they strip down complexity of play, and there are obvious comparisons to be drawn with World of Warcraft. At the same time, the promise to allow free customization and alteration to RIFT has many players excited and looking forward to the new feature. Either way, it's coming to the game, so only time will tell what the implementation will bring. [Thanks puremallace for the tip!]
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| Storyboard: Motivational seekers Posted: 03 Jun 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous  Of course, the game itself doesn't have any way of integrating that motivation. Much like the issues with lore, the problems of reconciling a game's stated motivation with your character's actual motivation can be pretty thorny. Especially in this day and age of quest hubs and heavy storylines, it can sometimes feel like all the efforts to draw you into the game world are pretty severely curtailing your ability to enjoy it. After all, you've envisioned a set of reasons for your character's actions already, and by all accounts she shouldn't even be talking to a questgiver -- except that said questgiver is the only way she's going to keep advancing in the game. Continue reading Storyboard: Motivational seekers
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| Posted: 03 Jun 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Business models, Game mechanics, Opinion, MMOFPS, Wasteland Diaries, Post-Apocalyptic  Nobody has come out and said that Fallen Earth is going to convert to the F2P business model, but it's a pretty safe assumption at this point. Every GamersFirst title is F2P, so why would FE be any different? I haven't tried APB, so I'm in no position to judge the performance of GamersFirst on what has been done with that title. F2P can be a two-edged sword, and the FE community is strongly divided on this subject (at least on the forums). I am a member of the optimistic side, and after the cut, I'll tell you why I think this move could be a very good thing for Fallen Earth. Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: F2P?
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| One Shots: Gotta love the classics Posted: 03 Jun 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Lord of the Rings Online, Free-to-play, One Shots  There are no flying mounts in Middle-earth, unless you're Gandalf and are getting a lift from your friend the giant eagle. However, there are horses you can buy and a few special horses that are rewards for collections of deeds ("reputation"). This particular mount is the Steed of Eriador and required a lot of work throughout Middle-earth.The developers of so many games have a great time with the mount system, letting their creativity shine and giving their quirky senses of humor free rein. This is the week to show off your greatest, funniest, or hardest-earned mount. Send us a screenshot at oneshots@massively.com along with your name and the name of the game, and tell us a little about what your awesome ride is and how you came by it. Finally, don't forget to get the jump on next week's One Shots theme: unusual foes. Send us the funniest, most strangely designed, or scariest enemy you've taken on in an MMO and we'll share it here on One Shots!
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| Darkfall dev blog talks new dungeons, siege changes Posted: 03 Jun 2011 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, MMO industry, PvP, News items, Dev Diaries  Your opinion is still needed, though, so head to the Darkfall Epic Blog and weigh in on the maximum number of clan attackers during sieges. This week's report also details a bit of the PvE-related goings-on, and the world of Agon is getting a new themed dungeon for each continent in the very near future. "All of them are huge and have different areas that you need to traverse. Doing this, however, leaves you with choices as to which way to go and which challenges to face," says the blog entry. There's a bit of PvP info as well, and the requisite teases for the new expansion. Read all about it at the official website.
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| The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you Posted: 03 Jun 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor  I know. I have a problem! I'm weak! DON'T STARE WITH THOSE ACCUSING EYES! I always start out in games with the best of intentions: I'm going to stick with just one character, at least until I hit the level cap. I'll only make new characters to reserve names I like. I won't get class envy and wonder what's on the other side of the fence. I'll stay strong! I'll be an oak! And then I turn out to be a willow tree, blowing about in the winds of whimsy, and suddenly I end up with alts staggered all over the leveling track. It's all right; I've come to embrace my altoholic tendencies because it really is who I am as a gamer. I like to sample everything, to try out different approaches to the game, and if I don't end up with a maxed-out uber-raider, then I can live with it. If you follow this pattern and are prone to rolling up a lot of alts in LotRO, there are several advantages you can gain over the monogamous players out there. Today I want to take a look at how you can make your alts work for you, if only to give you an excuse to keep rolling them! Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Making your alts work for you
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| First Impressions: Gods & Heroes Posted: 03 Jun 2011 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Historical, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Hands-on, First Impressions, Miscellaneous  Still, I was asked to take a look at Gods & Heroes, and so I did. Up to that point, I had heard a lot about it, but most of it was negative. It's buggy, they said. It's ugly, too. So you can imagine my surprise when I felt surprised when I logged in. Granted, there was plenty of blandness in certain areas of the game, but the estate system and NPC groupmates made me think that this team might just have something. Click past the cut and I'll tell you more. Continue reading First Impressions: Gods & Heroes
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| Luvinia Online begins closed beta signups, releases teaser trailer Posted: 03 Jun 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New titles, News items, Free-to-play  Outspark announced today that beta sign-ups for its upcoming free-to-play fantasy MMO Luvinia Online have begun. The game is already live and "highly successful" in China, and Outspark hopes to duplicate that success in the west. Philip Yun, Outspark's COO, claims the game is "a big labor of love," and touts it as an "action-packed 3D MMORPG [that] is brimming with all the monsters, allies, and challenges that you expect from an Outspark title." The game itself seems to be more or less standard fantasy fare; "The world of Luvinia beckons players into a realm where humans, orcs, gnomes and dwarves once co-existed in peace; however, destiny never stands still," claims the press release. Information on the game's mechanics is sparse, but we do know that there are three class archetypes -- Warrior, Rogue, and Mage -- with "12 subclasses for specialization." Presumably, this means four subclasses for each archetype -- but you never know! Some archetypes get all the love. The game also boasts both underwater and interstellar travel, with "over 50 cities to visit and 130+ maps to explore." If your interest is piqued, you can head past the cut for a short teaser trailer, then sign up for the closed beta at the official site. Continue reading Luvinia Online begins closed beta signups, releases teaser trailer
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| SWTOR reveals plans for E3, advanced class powers, and a new tie-in comic book Posted: 03 Jun 2011 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Classes, Events, real-world, Lore, New titles, PvE, Star Wars: The Old Republic  An ancient threat grows restless on the planet of Belsavis; the entire galaxy is at stake; and both the Republic and the Empire will suffer. A group of heroes is deployed to Belsavis to counter this terrible evil in the next revealing trailer for SWTOR called Eternity Vault. Visitors to E3 will witness two in-game plotlines. First, a showdown of patriots and a usurper who has laid claim to the throne ignites the planet of Alderaan. Second, players take on sand people on one of the most iconic planets in the Star Wars universe: Tatooine. Also, The Old Republic birthed a new tie-in comic book. Alexander Freed, a lead writer at BioWare Austin, penned this latest tale titled the Lost Suns. The comic book features a spy named Theron Shan, who is combing the galaxy for clues to what the Empire has been doing since the Treaty of Coruscant. Freed expounds on some of the hidden secret on the official site. Lastly, more detail has been revealed about the Advanced Classes on the official site, including specific powers for each tree. For a complete breakdown of revealed powers watch the Hyperspace Beacon on Tuesday. For the rest of the gory details be sure to visit the official SWTOR website and don't miss our live coverage from E3 all next week.
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| Massively Exclusive: Joel Bylos talks The Secret World's endgame (and a bunch of other stuff) Posted: 03 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World  Earlier we told you how TSW's devs are hard at work putting a supernatural (and conspiratorial) twist on some of the world's most well-known cities, and we recently sat down with Bylos to talk about everything from using Google Maps to navigate Funcom's version of New York, to the nature of the term "open world," to the use of random game objects by the player. Bylos also has some interesting things to say about The Secret World's sandbox elements and its endgame, and you'll find all that and more after the cut.
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Sony has had more than its share of issues lately, but just days after switching all its PlayStation services back on, they're ready to woo jilted customers. That's right, the 
Google has made it known this afternoon that It has 
Creative associations and ISPs have been trying to cast copyright-infringing file-sharers as digital boogeymen for years now. They've also been lobbying for a version of the Internet based around baseball: three copyright violation strikes and you're out of the Internet, cut off not just from P2P but also Twitter, email and MaximumPC.com. "Hold your horses," says a special report by the UN's Human Rights Council. Apparently, three-strikes-style laws aren't just a ridiculous overreaction, they're a violation of human rights. 
How do you silence the voice of protestors when they just won't pipe down? If you're a heavy-handed Middle Eastern government, you cut the cord on the Internet. Egypt pulled the plug on the Web during its recent revolution; today, Syria found itself plunged into an information black hole as the government shut down the Internet prior to taking an aggressive response to anti-government protestors.
If you own a GeForce videocard, you can get a jump on your weekend gaming session by downloading Nvidia's GeForce 275.33 driver package that was just released. This is the first WHQL-certified driver from the 'Release 275' family and adds support for the recently launched GeForce GTX 560 videocard, plus a handful of performance gains in select games.
Have you heard the one about Sony getting hacked? Of course you have, only this time the cyber attack didn't target Sony's recently restored PlayStation Network (PSN). Instead, the hacker group known as "LulzSec" took aim at Sony Pictures and reportedly made off with personal information of more than 1 million users, as well as music codes and coupons. But hey, Sony was "asking for it," the hacker group said.
Let's rewind to the beginning of the netbook revolution (or shall we say bubble). It was a time when everyone felt Linux was finally going to take off in a big way. The open-source operating system may have failed to ride the netbook wave, but it still holds a key advantage over Windows where price is concerned. This is what briefly placed it in the driver's seat of the netbook bandwagon. 
