MMO Updates

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• Turbine sweetens the deal for DDO subscribers
• SOE Fan Faire 2011: DCUO reveals new downloadable content: Fight for the Light
• The Tattered Notebook: EverQuest II highlights from SOE Fan Faire 2011
• ArcheAge parkour video shows off city architecture
• Grimlands to debut at Gamescom
• MV Guide: July 11 - 17, 2011
• DUST 514 may go true F2P in the future
• The Daily Grind: What challenges have you added to your game?
• SOE Fan Faire 2011: A look at Free Realms with Sr. Producer Harvey Burgess
• EVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions
• SOE Fan Faire 2011: An update on Vanguard
• One Shots: Introducing Slappy
• Heatwave CEO talks Gods and Heroes population
• Rise and Shiny recap: Gilfor's Tales
• SOE Fan Faire 2011: Star Wars Galaxies Gathering -- the final hurrah

Turbine sweetens the deal for DDO subscribers Posted: 11 Jul 2011 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Business models, Free-to-play, Promotions Dungeons and Dragons Online's free-to-play model has been the belle of the F2P ball since it was released in 2009, but that doesn't mean that Turbine's given up on luring players into subscribing. Today, the studio announced a "summer gift" to those who sign up for VIP status: double bonus points per month from July 11th through September 11th. This means that every month a player is subscribed, he or she will receive 1,000 Turbine Points to spend in the DDO store instead of 500 TP. Turbine's also made sure that the price point for VIP subscriptions is attractive, as it's offered players the ability to sign up for three months at $29.97 (effectively $9.99 a month). By taking advantage of both deals, players can enjoy three months of VIP status and earn 3,000 Turbine Points for just $30. VIP status means that all of DDO's adventure modules are available to enjoy, including the new ones that came with Update 10. Turbine sweetens the deal for DDO subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE Fan Faire 2011: DCUO reveals new downloadable content: Fight for the Light Posted: 11 Jul 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Expansions, News items, DC Universe Online At SOE's Fan Faire this year, DCUO fans were treated to a look at the Fortress of Solitude, part of the new game update that's coming soon. But while the community address highlighted the fact that heroes and villains alike will work together to defeat Brainiac, it seemed that any news about the game would be the same thing fans had already heard and seen at E3. Little did they know that there was much more on the way, because later this summer, DCUO will have its first download pack arriving on both the PC and PS3. Curious about what the new content will be? Put on your power rings and read below the cut! Gallery: DCUO: The Green Lantern Continue reading SOE Fan Faire 2011: DCUO reveals new downloadable content: Fight for the Light SOE Fan Faire 2011: DCUO reveals new downloadable content: Fight for the Light originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Tattered Notebook: EverQuest II highlights from SOE Fan Faire 2011 Posted: 11 Jul 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Expansions, News items, The Tattered Notebook The EQII news from Fan Faire seems never-ending this year. The team has revealed several major announcements for the direction of the game, including new content for Game Update 61 and some exciting new features for the upcoming expansion in November. There are several big questions regarding the new changes, like what will Beastlords be like? How does the dungeon creator work? And why is Executive Producer Dave "SmokeJumper" Georgeson wearing a kilt? Read on for the answers! Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: EverQuest II highlights from SOE Fan Faire 2011 The Tattered Notebook: EverQuest II highlights from SOE Fan Faire 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

ArcheAge parkour video shows off city architecture Posted: 11 Jul 2011 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, ArcheAge It's been a while since we've seen an ArcheAge video, and AAportal has come through with an interesting clip that was recorded during the closed beta test at the end of May. The three-minute jaunt is heavy on urban exploration -- or what passes for urban in a fantasy context -- and the protagonist engages in a bit of free-running to see the sights in and around one of the fantasy title's huge cities. There's a bit of lag on display, as well as a lack of real danger given that the player character walks away from several high falls, but the clip is worth watching due to ArcheAge's gorgeous architecture. Check it out after the cut, then head to AAportal to join the discussion. Continue reading ArcheAge parkour video shows off city architecture ArcheAge parkour video shows off city architecture originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Grimlands to debut at Gamescom Posted: 11 Jul 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Events, real-world, Free-to-play, Massively Event Coverage, Post-Apocalyptic If bright 'n shiny sci-fi titles or valiant fantasy MMOs are too pristine for you liking, then you're most likely the sort that's looking for the next big post-apocalyptic game to grab with gusto. Grimlands looks to be a promising entry into the genre, with third-person shooter mayhem and dynamic content, and players will be able to get their first glimpse of the title at Gamescom next month in Germany. Grimlands has a number of intriguing concepts, including a learn-as-you-go skill system and player-controlled cities. Like many of gamigo's titles, Grimlands will be free-to-play, which should lower the barrier of entry for this scrappy little go-getter. Gamescom will take place from August 17th through the 21st. Along with Grimlands, gamigo will be showcasing Jagged Alliance Online and UFO Online. You can read up on gamigo's hot new lineup in our first look article. Gallery: Grimlands gallery Grimlands to debut at Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

MV Guide: July 11 - 17, 2011 Posted: 11 Jul 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Massively meta, Livestream, Miscellaneous, MV Guide MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel. Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of games to take a look at. During Livestream events, you can participate in the live chat to learn about the game, ask questions, and spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, Livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.) Follow along after the jump to see what's scheduled for this week! Continue reading MV Guide: July 11 - 17, 2011 MV Guide: July 11 - 17, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

DUST 514 may go true F2P in the future Posted: 11 Jul 2011 06:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Free-to-play, Consoles, MMOFPS, DUST 514 While we've known that DUST 514 won't be as free as originally thought, there's still hope for a true free-to-play version to come. CCP's Hilmar Veigar Pétursson told GamesIndustry.biz that while PlayStation 3 owners will have to contend with a "cover charge" -- estimated to be between $10 and $20 -- before accessing the game for the first time, the company may drop it entirely in time. This fee is meant to help with the initial start-up costs for DUST 514, and will be refunded to players in the form of in-game currency that can be spent on unspecified in-game microtransactions. Pétursson isn't ruling out the possibility that the game might go completely free-to-play in the future, however: "You're really getting the game for free but you have to pre-buy credits in the beginning. We might go fully free-to-play down the line, but in the beginning we have a cover charge just to manage the initial launch of it. We have always been a big believer in growing up a social network behind the game in a slow and predictable way. Because we have seen that if you don't do that you can end up with a very unstructured experience, where there's no cohesion to the community. By growing it at the beginning we help to make a healthy environment initially." We first reported on this cover charge during last month's E3. Pétursson says that CCP will see how the cover charge plays out during the game's testing period. The company is just now recovering from a hotbed of controversy involving EVE Online's approach to in-game item sales. DUST 514 may go true F2P in the future originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What challenges have you added to your game? Posted: 11 Jul 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Lord of the Rings Online, Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous I'm always fascinated with stories of players who deliberately add challenges to their MMO gameplay. Sometimes you hear about folks who try to get to the level cap without killing a single creature, or people who play with naked (unarmored) toons, or those who make it their mission to complete every single achievement and quest there is. I see self-created challenges as an attempt to add spice and flavor into games, usually after you've long since gotten bored of the most efficient leveling path. Some players think up these challenges to add a slice of sandbox-style goals into an otherwise theme park-oriented title. Right now, one of my characters in Lord of the Rings Online is attempting to do every single solo quest in each zone before going elsewhere. It's challenging to slow myself down and get over that desire to progress and go for the big XP rewards, but it's a ton of fun so far as well. So, big or small, what challenges have you added to your game? 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! The Daily Grind: What challenges have you added to your game? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE Fan Faire 2011: A look at Free Realms with Sr. Producer Harvey Burgess Posted: 10 Jul 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Interviews, News items, Free-to-play, Free Realms, Family During this weekend's SOE Fan Faire, Massively had the opportunity to talk with Senior Producer Harvey Burgess about the future of Free Realms. Burgess has been with the team since launch, and has recently taken the helm to bring lots of new content and items to the world of Free Realms. Read on for all the details, including Ranching, sports jerseys, Sunset Valley, and a new mount! Continue reading SOE Fan Faire 2011: A look at Free Realms with Sr. Producer Harvey Burgess SOE Fan Faire 2011: A look at Free Realms with Sr. Producer Harvey Burgess originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions Posted: 10 Jul 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Business models, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, EVE Evolved Two weeks ago, the escalating drama in EVE Online saw me drained of my normal enthusiasm as I contemplated the very real possibility that my time in the game I love was coming to an end. While the forums were filled with the most vocal and angry players, discussions with veteran players featured mainly disappointment and a distinct sadness. For those few days spent in limbo waiting for the results of the emergency CSM meeting, I and many of my in-game friends remained a hair's breadth from giving up on EVE entirely. It was a delicate situation based more on perception and poor communication than intent or fact, and I think CCP pulled things back well with formal statements from both itself and the CSM in addition to an in-depth follow-up press conference. One of the big points to come out of the press conference was that while CCP and the CSM are both confident that none of the future microtransaction plans are game-breaking, the company did not restrict itself to vanity goods such as Incarna clothing. While the CSM was convinced that CCP planned only to produce pure vanity goods, CCP Zulu was careful not to rule out gameplay-affecting microtransactions altogether. Both CCP and the CSM also talked about "game-breaking" sales rather than using a clearer term like "gameplay-affecting" or "non-vanity." It's reasonable then to assume that in the future we might eventually get non-vanity goods that do interact with gameplay but aren't game-breaking in terms of balance, mechanics or interaction with the in-game economy. In this week's EVE Evolved, I show exactly why options like selling ships would be game-breaking and then let my imagination run wild as I speculate on possible non-vanity microtransactions for the far future that shouldn't disrupt gameplay. Continue reading EVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions EVE Evolved: The evolution of microtransactions originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE Fan Faire 2011: An update on Vanguard Posted: 10 Jul 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, News items, Vanguard, Massively Event Coverage With no official panels or events planned for Vanguard fans at this year's Fan Faire, you might wonder whether Sony Online Entertainment has any plans for the future of the game. But take heart, because Vanguard is definitely alive and on the minds of the SOE development team. Salim "Silius" Grant from SOE sat down to talk to Massively about future plans for Vanguard. Read on for an update on the world of Telon. Continue reading SOE Fan Faire 2011: An update on Vanguard SOE Fan Faire 2011: An update on Vanguard originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

One Shots: Introducing Slappy Posted: 10 Jul 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Galleries, Screenshots, Vanguard, One Shots We're finishing off pet week on a fun and silly note thanks to Massively reader Leonatus: Hi there, my name is Leonatus, and the featured screenshots is about one of the coolest pets ever created: Slappy the Cool from Vanguard's Isle of Dawn! Adventuring in Telon can be undoubtedly stressful: Always on the brink of death, killing hordes of mobs only to see their spots replaced by their amazingly similar cousins some five minutes later. Hobgoblins life is no better though, but they sure know how to party! And if you're patient enough, with just a little diplomacy they will let you attend to the shows of their funkiest star. As the old orcish saying goes: "if James Brown was an hobgoblin, his name would be Slappy the Cool". Are you ready for next week's One Shots theme? We've seen your gear, your mounts, and your pets; now it's time to see you! Snap a screenshot of your favorite character in your favorite MMO. Let us know about him or her by sending the screenshot, your name, and some information about the character to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature the character here on One Shots! Gallery: One Shots: 2011 One Shots: Introducing Slappy originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Heatwave CEO talks Gods and Heroes population Posted: 10 Jul 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items Fans of Heatwave Interactive's recently launched Gods and Heroes MMO will be happy to note that the dev team is not sitting idly by now that the game has launched. Heatwave CEO Anthony Castoro has penned an update post on the official forums that features a lot of frank talk about the game and its immediate future, including the need to "begin a promotion that will drive thousands more players to the game and turn Baccus, Mars, and Jupiter into communities bursting at the seams." Castoro doesn't elaborate on what the promotion might be, but he does say that even though Gods and Heroes doesn't need 500,000 users to turn a profit, "our current growth rate isn't good enough." Finally, Castoro notes that the game has "an awareness issue and our pricing model doesn't seem to be tantalizing enough." Whether Heatwave is looking at a freemium conversion or simply a price reduction coupled with more advertising, Castoro's post makes clear that the team is in it for the long haul. Check out the blurb on the official forums for a list of Heatwave's immediate priorities. Heatwave CEO talks Gods and Heroes population originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rise and Shiny recap: Gilfor's Tales Posted: 10 Jul 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Video, Opinion, Hands-on, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Livestream OK, I have to admit: I liked Gilfor's Tales before and even recommended it to others, but without noticing many of the issues that came up over this last week. It should be noted, however, that many of them seemed to have happened since the last time I played and are the result of some sort of server change or update. I wish I knew more but the developer team seems to be about as communicative as a pet rock, even going so far as to finally apologize to their fans on Facebook. One fan replied "It's been a year guys..." What is this, Vanguard: Saga of Heroes? (Ba dum kssh!) So, yes, this game has many flaws. Many. I'll tell you all about them in a minute, but it's important to note that after I streamed it live (check the embedded video) I gave it more time and the game did seem to open up and become more fun. It helped that things started to make more sense, but of course how I arrived upon the answers was pretty silly in itself. Click past the cut and check it out! Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Gilfor's Tales Rise and Shiny recap: Gilfor's Tales originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE Fan Faire 2011: Star Wars Galaxies Gathering -- the final hurrah Posted: 10 Jul 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, News items, Star Wars Galaxies, Massively Event Coverage The recent announcement of the closure of Star Wars Galaxies couldn't have come at a worse time for SWG players -- Fan Faire was just around the corner, and their celebratory mood had suddenly become somber. So as the Star Wars Galaxies gathering got underway, it was hard to anticipate what the atmosphere would be like. Would players continue the vocal protest of the closure, and continue the campaign to keep the game going? Or would players gather to share memories and celebrate the highlights of a unique sandbox MMO? Continue reading SOE Fan Faire 2011: Star Wars Galaxies Gathering -- the final hurrah SOE Fan Faire 2011: Star Wars Galaxies Gathering -- the final hurrah originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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MMO updates

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MapleStory: Legend - New industry record Posted: 11 Jul 2011 05:25 AM PDT On 7th July 2011, the first Legend update was patched onto the official MapleStory Korea server. The new Pirate adventurer class, Cannon Shooter, was added to the game content. Over the weekend, a record number of players was recorded in the servers, standing at a record-breaking 417,380! This achievement was enough to break the previous industry record, which belong to MapleStory as well (416,000 during Big Bang over 16 days). The remaining Legends will be updated on 21st July (Mercedes) and 4th August (Demon Slayer).

Dungeon & Fighter - Innovation update Posted: 11 Jul 2011 05:10 AM PDT In my previous post, I roughly skimmed through certain new features coming to Dungeon & Fighter next week in Korea. The update is called Innovation, and true to its name the update will add lots of new content to the overall game, pretty much similar to what Big Bang did for MapleStory. Once again, Nexon proved why it is one of the biggest gaming company in the world today. Let's look at what new features will be implemented! - New 800 X 600 resolution - Distance between instances and towns shortened - Overall UI streamlined - Items are categorized clearly in Auction House - Players can try on equipments in the Auction House to see how they look like on their characters - New feature in skill window, showing players how a skill is executed (how it looks like) - Further streamlined windows and options for social features (friend list etc) - 8bit music upgraded to 16bit, adding in 17 new background music as well - Leveling from 1 to 60 heavily modified while level 60 to 70 is modified, easier leveling from 1 to 70 - Improved and new graphical effects for various skills - Quests will be giving alot more experience points - Drop rate in instances increased - Increased selection of items a boss may drop, including achievement items - New Avenger class, using scythe with AOE skills and a Berserk mode regenerating HP/ MP - New Tower of Despair instance, a total of 100 levels for players to conquer, limited to once a day

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MMORPG News

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• League of Legends: Tryndamere Changes Preview
• Star Wars: The Old Republic: Damion Schubert Explains Map Design
• The Secret World: Dungeon Running in The Secret World
• General: Five Ways WoW Made the MMO Better

League of Legends: Tryndamere Changes Preview Posted: 11 Jul 2011 06:57 AM PDT Riot Games has hinted that everyone's favorite Barbarian King, Tryndamere, was in the running for some sort of revamp for some time now. Eager to make good on that promise, Riot Games' Lead Champion Designer Ryan "Morello" Scott announced a number of the changes coming to Tryndamere in the game's next patch.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Damion Schubert Explains Map Design Posted: 11 Jul 2011 06:42 AM PDT Last week's Friday Update to the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website consisted of a dev blog by BioWare's Damion Schubert on the process of creating the game's various in-game maps.

The Secret World: Dungeon Running in The Secret World Posted: 09 Jul 2011 05:29 PM PDT MMORPG.com's own Carolyn Koh was at the recent EA Summer Showcase out on the Left Coast, and during her time there she was treated to the first ever reveal of a dungeon in Funcom's The Secret World. Find out what Carolyn thought of the hotly anticipated game's combat, classless system, and more.

General: Five Ways WoW Made the MMO Better Posted: 09 Jul 2011 07:03 AM PDT In this week's List, Managing Editor Bill Murphy takes a look at the 500 pound gorilla known as World of Warcraft and prattles off five reasons the world's most popular MMO has actually made the industry a better place. Check out his thoughts and see if you agree.

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