MMO Updates |
- GameSamba thanks testers by granting early access to Tribal Trouble 2
- PlanetSide 2 info coming tomorrow
- Ministry of War launches Blood of the Nobles expansion
- Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising releases new combat trailer
- Fallen Earth launches Alpha County expansion [Updated]
- EVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside
- Massively Exclusive: New Eden Eternal Zumi race screenshots
- The Daily Grind: Would you be as excited for Guild Wars 2 if it were a subscription game?
- Newest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online available
- MMObility: How to real-time-strategize your way into my heart
- The Soapbox: Polished vs. feature-rich
- Snail Games' The Chosen launches today
- Hyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror
- One Shots: Mechanopeep is just fun to say
- Rock, Paper, Shotgun gets an inside look at The Secret World
- Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan Throne instance dev blog
- New Gamasutra feature looks to define fairness in MMOs
- Ensemble Online wants you for alpha testing!
- Massively Exclusive: New Zentia patch 1.3 screenshots and trailer
| GameSamba thanks testers by granting early access to Tribal Trouble 2 Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, MMORTS  New testers aren't going to be left out in the cold, though, as a GameSamba press release indicates that the next few weeks will see several beta key giveaways via GameSamba partner websites. Tribal Trouble 2 is a casual-friendly take on the traditional MMORTS according to producer Slava Zatuchny. "Unlike the typical RTS, Tribal Trouble 2 is a more casual and fast-paced, with a whimsical style aimed at a broader demographic. While typical RTS games use mechanics ranging from complexity to realism, in Tribal Trouble 2 we chose instead to concentrate on fun," he said.
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| PlanetSide 2 info coming tomorrow Posted: 06 Jul 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, PlanetSide, MMO industry, New titles, News items, MMOFPS  There's also a new Facebook page with a cryptic teaser for "classified information incoming," so mark your calendars and set your alarms for 7:00 p.m. PDT tomorrow. Is SOE getting ready to drop a release date in the laps of eager sci-fi MMOFPS fans? Are there gameplay feature reveals in our immediate future? We're not sure at this point, but we are sure that tomorrow can't come fast enough.
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| Ministry of War launches Blood of the Nobles expansion Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Screenshots, Expansions, News items, Free-to-play, Browser  Strategic minds, rejoice! Today, Snail Games is releasing its Blood of the Nobles expansion for its MMORTS Ministry of War. The game allows players to choose between one of four ancient civilizations: Egypt, China, Persia, or Rome. Players trade, research, raise armies, and of course fight amongst one another for dominance. The new Blood of the Nobles expansion introduces -- rather suitably -- a Nobility system that allows players to become Nobles, which provides them with a "huge collection of exclusive benefits." It also brings the Noble's Work Force, "which provides automatic systems like construction and research, freeing Nobles to focus exclusively on expanding their Empire and defeating enemies." Snail Games has also opened up a brand new server, Triumph, which makes it the perfect time for new players to jump right in, which they can do at the official site!
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| Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising releases new combat trailer Posted: 06 Jul 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items  Though the clip is short, there's a good sampling of PvE mobs on display, all of them with a distinctly mythological flavor and all of them waiting to meet the business end of your weapon. You'll also get a glimpse of the game's minions (the Gods & Heroes version of the traditional MMORPG pet mechanic) as well as some nice-looking environments. The game has been selling well since its June launch, and you can check out the new trailer after the cut. Continue reading Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising releases new combat trailer
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| Fallen Earth launches Alpha County expansion [Updated] Posted: 06 Jul 2011 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Fallen Earth, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Post-Apocalyptic  Welcome to Alpha County, wasteland wanderers! That's right, the big day is here, as GamersFirst The expansion also brings a wealth of combat balance changes and new skill lines. The new system "allows for wider varieties of player builds and roles in combat." In addition, skills will no longer increase alongside the character's base statistics, thereby requiring more specialized skill investment in order to receive the most powerful abilities. New players aren't getting left in the dust either, as they will now begin the game with 30 Advancement Points from the get-go, allowing them to take steps toward customizing and defining their characters much earlier in the game. For more information, and to jump into the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Fallen Earth for yourself, head on over to the game's official site. [Update: And it's just been announced that the Alpha County update is delayed until tomorrow. So there's that.]
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| EVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside Posted: 06 Jul 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Culture, Economy, Events, real-world, Expansions, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, News items  The story should have ended there as a piece about a crazy Icelandic game company selling virtual clothing for more than real clothing. Unfortunately, some conveniently timed leaks from inside CCP caused this simple issue to escalate to the point of panic, causing in-game riots and a significant number of subscription cancellations. The company's silence on the simple question of whether non-vanity microtransactions would be introduced was seen as an admission that gameplay-affecting items would end up in the cash shop. CCP flew the Council of Stellar Management, EVE's democratically-elected player representative body, out to Iceland for an emergency meeting last week. The result of the meeting was a joint statement between CCP and the CSM addressing all of the major concerns players had. Last night, CCP ran two press conferences over Skype to give EVE fansites and the gaming media a chance to ask additional questions that weren't covered in the official statement. Skip past the cut for our in-depth three-page transcript from the gaming media press conference, including answers to several pressing questions sent in by Massively readers and some great issues raised by other participating members of the press. Comments can be posted on page 3. Continue reading EVE Online press conference answers vital questions, transcript inside
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| Massively Exclusive: New Eden Eternal Zumi race screenshots Posted: 06 Jul 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Previews, News items, Free-to-play  Last week we put the spotlight on Eden Eternal and its upcoming Zumi race. The adorable little anthropomorphized rodents seem to fill the game's "mad scientist inventor" niche, and we have some new pictures to show them off. First off we have some renders of the precious wittle Zumi in a variety of class-specific outfits. Alongside the dress-up rats, we have some concept art of their dwellings, which are delightfully steampunk with all the brass gears and pistons. So scamper on to the gallery for all of the new art, and keep an eye on Massively for new information as it comes.
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| The Daily Grind: Would you be as excited for Guild Wars 2 if it were a subscription game? Posted: 06 Jul 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Guild Wars, Culture, MMO industry, New titles, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, The Daily Grind  In looking over the feature set for Guild Wars 2 and reading Massively's extensive coverage, I see a few interesting nuggets as well as some other stuff that sounds familiar. This doesn't jibe with the unabashed optimism and explosions of fan joy that accompany just about every ArenaNet reveal, though, and I'm left wondering what I'm missing. The elephant in the room would appear to be the game's business model, and the pay-once/play-forever system is appealing. Is it the main appeal, though, or is it a combination of the game's depth coupled with this business model? Put another way, would you be as excited for GW2 if you had to pay a monthly sub to play it?  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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| Newest Ask Cryptic for Star Trek Online available Posted: 05 Jul 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Star Trek Online  Improvements to melee combat, for example, are not in Season 4 right out of the gate. However, the revisions to ground combat make for a perfect time to start implementing more and better melee weapons, with the development team starting in on the process of addressing the core melee issues. Similarly, new hairstyles are being tested with costumes, with the team still working on new arrangements that are visually pleasing for players -- but the new styles are in the works. Star Trek Online players are encouraged to look at the full post and start looking forward to both Season 4 and what's coming after. (And checking out this week's Captain's Log on the topic might not be remiss, either.)
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| MMObility: How to real-time-strategize your way into my heart Posted: 05 Jul 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, MMORTS, MMObility  Once I discovered the world of browser-based real-time-strategy games, I found a large number of games that provided me with almost everything I needed. While I normally preferred more "immersive" play, I found that the miniature armies and grand scale of most of these newer titles filled in my imagination just fine. In fact, the more I play with them, the more I am reminded of tabletop gaming as a teen. Those were glorious times, despite the fact that I am now, and always have been, horrible at war. Let me tell you all about my recent obsession with browser-based real-time-strategy MMOs. (That's quite a mouthful.) Click past the cut! Continue reading MMObility: How to real-time-strategize your way into my heart
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| The Soapbox: Polished vs. feature-rich Posted: 05 Jul 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Age of Conan, EVE Online, Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous  A few weeks ago I wrote a Soapbox article that exposed the flaws in the MMO first kiss theory. It generated more discussion than I anticipated, much of it spiraling off into tangents like MMO design, sandbox and themepark elements, and the seeming incompatibility between a polished game and a feature-rich game. It's this last bit that I'd like to discuss today, and you'll have to forgive me if we tread some familiar ground in the process. While there are many fascinating perspectives and debates in our bizarre hobby, none is as perplexing to me as the disconnect between gamers who want more game and those who want less game, highly polished. Continue reading The Soapbox: Polished vs. feature-rich
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| Snail Games' The Chosen launches today Posted: 05 Jul 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Launches, News items, Free-to-play  Snail Games' latest free-to-play MMORPG The Chosen has gone live, and we have a smattering of screenshots and a gameplay trailer to whet your appetites. The Chosen is set in a fantastic version of ancient China, where the human empires stand in the middle of a war between the Light World and Dark World. Players take the role of one of six classes, each with their own signature weapon, and then join up with one of five factions to do battle with the diabolical Dark World. The game boasts seven different battle systems which cover PvE, PvP, and everything in between. Players can also train and raise animal companions to fight by their sides as well as build a family with other players, which provides unique in-game benefits. Check the gallery below for some nifty screenshots of the game, and jump past the cut for the game's launch trailer. If those pique your interest, you can get started with the game at the official site. Continue reading Snail Games' The Chosen launches today
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| Hyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror Posted: 05 Jul 2011 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Classes, Game mechanics, New titles, Professions, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon  Despite the lack of carnage in the class progression video, we did glean insight into many of the class powers, some of which mirror its Republic counterpart: the Trooper. I know for marketing reasons and to keep from confusing the potential player, it's not a good idea to use the word "mirror" when describing The Old Republic classes. But it's hard to deny that the Imperial Bounty Hunter and the Republic Trooper are very much mirrored insofar as combat roles and abilities. After the break, I will explain to you what I see that is the same and what is different between the two classes. Then, in the end, I will let you decide whether the classes are truly mirrored or not. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror
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| One Shots: Mechanopeep is just fun to say Posted: 05 Jul 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, One Shots  This is my Dwarf Priest Marguarita with her Mechanopeep which looks just like the Red Mechanostrider mount. This pet can be yours for 40 Champions Seals from the Gnomeregan Quartermaster at the Argent Tournament in Icecrown. Its on of my favorite pets in the game.Now it's your turn! Large or small, deadly or purely decorative, we want to see your favorite pet companion. Just let us know your name, the name of the game, and a little about your pet and how you acquired it. Send it all to to oneshots@massively.com and we'll feature you and your pet on One Shots this week.
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| Rock, Paper, Shotgun gets an inside look at The Secret World Posted: 05 Jul 2011 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Previews, News items, Hands-on, The Secret World  Illuminati, Templars, and Dragons alike, sit down and listen up. The ever-so-entertaining and informative John Walker over at Rock, Paper, Shotgun has an exclusive inside look at Funcom's upcoming MMORPG The Secret World. The title, which is being headed up by adventure game visionary Ragnar Tørnquist, is set in the real world, though with a few dark and dangerous twists. Mr. Walker spends a good deal of time talking about the much-talked-about ARG-esque connection between The Secret World and our reality. He goes into detail about a particular puzzle offered by the game which requires players to do a good deal of real-world research in order to reach their in-game goal, which sounds absolutely fascinating. Combat is also touched on, with Mr. Walker noting that "while its delivery is relatively traditional... there's enough that's different here to be interesting." For the full, fascinating read, head on over to Rock, Paper, Shotgun!
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| Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan Throne instance dev blog Posted: 05 Jul 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Battle of the Immortals, Dev Diaries  Like our last Perfect World Entertainment-powered exclusive, this one concerns BoI's Titan update. The patch contains a new instance called Titan's Throne, and players at level 115 or higher will be able to run through it once per day in order to challenge a fearsome gauntlet of monsters, elite bosses and finally Kronos himself. Head past the cut for more on the new content courtesy of the BoI dev team, as well as a few screenshots of the instance in action. Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Battle of the Immortals Titan Throne instance dev blog
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| New Gamasutra feature looks to define fairness in MMOs Posted: 05 Jul 2011 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Opinion, Miscellaneous  Buying power! Class Balance! Easy mode! We'd be willing to bet that those pharses invoke some pretty strong feelings in many of you. When it comes to MMORPGs -- especially those of the free-to-play variety -- fairness is often a huge concern. Whether it's in the form of class balance, content tuning, or buying to win, equality is a delicate subject. Mr. Simon Ludgate over at Gamasutra realizes this, and has put together an incredibly in-depth feature discussing the philosophy of fairness in MMORPGs. The feature is packed with star-power, with commentary from En Masse's Brian Knox, Trion Worlds' Scott Hartsman, Richard Garriott, and more. For the full, in-depth, and interesting feature, head on over to Gamasutra.
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| Ensemble Online wants you for alpha testing! Posted: 05 Jul 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Contests, New titles, MMORTS, Giveaways  SemiFormal has given us 50 alpha test keys to share with you, so if you'd like to see how far the game has come since alpha test phase I, head to our giveaway page and pick up a key for yourself. It's an alpha test, so don't forget to report all those little bugs and glitches. Even more importantly, don't forget to have fun! 
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| Massively Exclusive: New Zentia patch 1.3 screenshots and trailer Posted: 05 Jul 2011 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Trailers, Video, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play  Zentia fans get a special treat today, as ChangYou has given us a few goodies to help show off Zentia's upcoming patch 1.3. We have a handful of new screenshots as well as a short trailer to help whet your appetites for stylized martial-arts action. What's new in Zentia version 1.3? For starters, character creation and selection have both received an overhaul and boast brand new designs to make the process even smoother. A new tutorial has been introduced to the game as well, letting new players get their bearings on the Immortal Plane. For long-time players, the patch introduces a new high-level epic questline that culminates in a battle with the demon lord, Demonor. Check the gallery for the new screenshots, and kung-fu kick your way past the cut for the trailer. Continue reading Massively Exclusive: New Zentia patch 1.3 screenshots and trailer
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