MMO Updates

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• PAX 2011: On the (re)starting line with APB: Reloaded
• PAX 2011: Guild Wars 2 to allow more open guild membership
• PAX 2011: SWTOR PvP hands-on impressions
• MV Guide: August 29-September 4, 2011
• The Daily Grind: What was your favorite PAX reveal?
• SWTOR beta test weekends to begin September 2nd
• Week in Review: PAX roundup
• EVE Evolved: Building a better empire
• One Shots: A peek into TERA's beauty
• Former World of Warcraft addict talks about the dangers of habitual gaming
• Rise and Shiny recap: LEGO Universe

PAX 2011: On the (re)starting line with APB: Reloaded Posted: 29 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Interviews, Free-to-play, All Points Bulletin, Crime, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous There's nothing like a car crash to slow down traffic as everyone rubbernecks at someone else's misfortune. Likewise, gamers and media alike were fascinated with the premature demise of last year's All Points Bulletin, craning their heads to see how extensive the damage was. But out of the wreck a new and improved version of the game was born, and now the crowds are equally taking notice of this resurrection. Not every canceled MMO gets a second chance at life, after all. This is why we were glad to sit down with GamersFirst's Jon-Enee Merriex at PAX to discuss how APB's reloading is going, what the devs have planned between now and launch, and what other projects they're tackling. Put the pedal to the metal and hit that jump -- this interview can't drive 55! Continue reading PAX 2011: On the (re)starting line with APB: Reloaded PAX 2011: On the (re)starting line with APB: Reloaded originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

PAX 2011: Guild Wars 2 to allow more open guild membership Posted: 29 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Guilds, New titles, Guild Wars 2 For the average MMO player, this isn't really news, but for Guild Wars fans, this is huge. As announced during PAX Prime this weekend, Guild Wars 2 will allow multiple guild affiliations on your game account. Each character on that account will still need to belong to the same guilds (as in Guild Wars 1), but with unlimited guilds per account, it allows you to join various groups of friends with the same characters. As with any unconventional game feature, the community is split. On one hand, it will be liberating to have the opportunity to join large, small, hardcore, casual, and roleplaying guilds with the same character. But on the other hand, some players believe it will fragment dedication and dissolve the attention needed for a specific guild -- like a family. But as with every newly announced feature for a high-profile MMO, we want to know how you feel about this. Let us know in the comments! Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 26-28, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about SWTOR, Guild Wars 2, City of Heroes, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered! PAX 2011: Guild Wars 2 to allow more open guild membership originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

PAX 2011: SWTOR PvP hands-on impressions Posted: 29 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, News items, Opinion, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, Star Wars: The Old Republic The Force was strong at PAX 2011, and BioWare's presence was unmistakably huge. Lines wrapped around the studio's booth at all hours of the day, with hundreds of hungry gamers itching to get their hands on Star Wars: The Old Republic. I was one of those gamers, and I got the opportunity to step into the shoes of a Sith Assassin for a short PvP match in the Alderaan warzone (of which we have some video, if you're more the a visually inclined sort). The devs stuck me on a team with a bunch of other members of the media and then pitted us against another team of a bunch of other members of the media. It was a media melee, you might say. At any rate, follow along after the cut for my impressions of my time with The Old Republic's PvP. Continue reading PAX 2011: SWTOR PvP hands-on impressions PAX 2011: SWTOR PvP hands-on impressions originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

MV Guide: August 29-September 4, 2011 Posted: 29 Aug 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 titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply 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: August 29-September 4, 2011 MV Guide: August 29-September 4, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What was your favorite PAX reveal? Posted: 29 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Star Wars: The Old Republic, TERA, WildStar PAX Prime 2011 has come and gone, and it's now time to turn our eyes to DragonCon and what is sure to be an eventful final few months of the year. Before we move on, though, it's worth looking back at the events of this past weekend and thinking on a few favorites. While this year's PAX didn't boast any zomg-that's-awesome reveals, there was a steady stream of new and interesting information flowing out of Seattle over the weekend. Whether your taste runs to PvP and Star Wars The Old Republic, endgame content and Korean imports like TERA, or interesting newcomers like WildStar and its decision to insert the Bartle model firmly into the midst of its game design, there was a bit of something for everyone. Today's Daily Grind is an easy one: What was your favorite PAX Prime reveal? 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 was your favorite PAX reveal? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SWTOR beta test weekends to begin September 2nd Posted: 28 Aug 2011 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, New titles, Star Wars: The Old Republic There you were, thinking this upcoming weekend was going to be another one when you sat around in your underwear, trying to beat that last Challenge level in Peggle, but we're here to tell you to cancel those plans. Starting September 2nd, Star Wars: The Old Republic will begin its beta test weekends for a select few who registered on the game's website. This news was announced earlier today at PAX Prime, including the fact that even those who didn't pre-order can have an equal chance to participate. So get those registrations in if you still haven't, and for Obi Wan's sake, put some pants on. SWTOR beta test weekends to begin September 2nd originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Week in Review: PAX roundup Posted: 28 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Events, real-world, Massively meta, Week in Review, Miscellaneous At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post. This week, Massively staffers attended the Penny Arcade Expo in order to bring you the scoop on the swankiest MMOs around. Are you into Star Wars: The Old Republic's Operations? WildStar's bunnygirls? Lord of the Rings Online's inexorable crawl to Isengard? Yep, we wrote about all that and more. So join us after the break for a look at our top PAX stories... and the rest of the goodies from this past week. Continue reading Week in Review: PAX roundup Week in Review: PAX roundup originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EVE Evolved: Building a better empire Posted: 28 Aug 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Expansions, Game mechanics, PvP, Endgame, Opinion, EVE Evolved It's often said that EVE Online is 99% endgame, with only the tutorials and epic mission arcs really providing directed gameplay. Once you get out into the open world, the game is dominated by sandbox laws and social interaction. This is most clear in the lawless nullsec regions where alliances war over territory and build their own empires in the void. Last week I looked back at the early days of nullsec industry and examined the problems industry has developed over the years. With a massive nullsec revamp scheduled to begin this winter, I went on to speculate on how the game could be changed to bring back the glory days of nullsec industry. Although adequately incentivised local mining and production could transform player-created empires, those aren't the only areas of gameplay being revisited. Sovereignty mechanics, fleet warfare, small gang warfare, exploration and small-scale territorial control will all eventually be redesigned as part of the massive iterative overhaul. In this week's EVE Evolved, I look at the history of EVE's empire-building and territorial warfare mechanics, some of the problems faced by the sovereignty system, and how those aspects of EVE could possibly be changed for the better. Continue reading EVE Evolved: Building a better empire EVE Evolved: Building a better empire originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

One Shots: A peek into TERA's beauty Posted: 28 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, One Shots, TERA It's all about TERA in this edition of One Shots, with reader Philip describing the feelings he gets from this gorgeous shot: While questing in the vast world of TERA Online, I was led into this little area by a specific quest line. This area was full of simply gorgeous horses and vibrant colors. The water glimmered, and I had goosebumps from the sheer beauty of this area and its landscape. Hopefully, you will be able to enjoy the elegance the game provides, like I did. We're looking at the best MMO environments all this week, but next week we'll be revisiting another old favorite of One Shots: bug week. Whether it's unwanted guests in cutscenes, funny graphic glitches, or a prank you played on a buddy, we want to see. Send your screenshots in to oneshots@massively.com and we'll feature them in next week's One Shots! Gallery: One Shots: 2011 One Shots: A peek into TERA's beauty originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Former World of Warcraft addict talks about the dangers of habitual gaming Posted: 28 Aug 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Culture, Interviews, Opinion, Miscellaneous When one thinks of a player who's addicted to video games, usually the image of a teen or college student with too much time on his hands comes to mind. Not so with Ryan Van Cleave, who's a college professor with a PhD, marriage and kids -- and who admits to a crippling former addiction to World of Warcraft. Last year, Van Cleave published his experience with video game addiction in the book Unplugged: My Journey into the Dark World of Video Game Addiction, and in a recent interview with Yahoo! News, he expounds on the process that led him from a reasonably balanced life to something akin to a nightmare. While he admits that he was prone to gaming too much prior to WoW, it was logging in for the first time in 2004 that captivated him fully. His domestic life suffered for it, and he eventually lost his job because of it. He has since quit the game -- and MMOs in general -- although his wife is concerned about a relapse. His wife also eyes her kids as possible future addicts: "I also have concerns that my children may have a pre-disposition to gaming addiction in the same way that the children of an alcoholic might." Van Cleave cautions players about the seemingly subtle process of becoming addicted: "Everything that you do as a video game addict, is usually small incremental steps. I was like a Charlie Sheen of WoW. Unapologetic and like a rebel, like, screw you, I'm going to play this game...even though I'm not being the best role model for my kids, I'm not being the best husband, I'm not being good to myself." Former World of Warcraft addict talks about the dangers of habitual gaming originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Rise and Shiny recap: LEGO Universe Posted: 28 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Screenshots, Video, Previews, Opinion, Hands-on, Humor, LEGO Universe, Kids, Rise and Shiny, Livestream Ah, LEGO. Who in this world was unfortunate enough to grow up without the wonderful plastic bits of imagination? I remember specific types of LEGO, from the hinged legs of the minifigs to the more advanced gears and pistons of the Technic sets. We used to build great long space battleships, similar to the ones you might see in Star Blazers, and we would run down the hall at each other, smashing them into hundreds of wonderful hard plastic pieces. LEGO built my childhood and was as important to me as destroying wasp's nests and building forts. Of course, girls moved to the top of the list pretty soon after that. So when I heard about LEGO Universe, I was as excited as any normal person would be. I imagined building anything possible, sort of like a child-friendly Second Life, and spending hours in gleeful, plastic bliss. What I found during the beta greatly disappointed me. Flash forward to now, and I have to say that my opinion has changed quite a bit. Let me tell you what I found, OK? Click past the cut... but leave the massive battleships behind for now. Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: LEGO Universe Rise and Shiny recap: LEGO Universe originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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General gaming

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• Postcard from PAX: Skulls of the Shogun is Finally Nearing Release
• Postcard from PAX: Sega's Renegade Ops Marries Arcade and Sandbox Style
• Postcard from PAX: The Tick Makes a Comeback at PAX
• Postcard from PAX: I Just Realized That Rescue Rangers is a Masterpiece
• Postcard from PAX: Someone Gave Me a New Hat
• Postcard from PAX: Colonial Marines has Aliens' Look, but can It Capture Its Spirit?
• Postcard from PAX: No Halo 4 Beta in Anniversary Edition
• Postcard from PAX: Halo 4 is All About Master Chief

Postcard from PAX: Skulls of the Shogun is Finally Nearing Release Posted: 28 Aug 2011 08:18 PM PDT It seems like Skulls of the Shogun, a slick 2D strategy game by Haunted Temple studios, has been a faint-but-intriguing blip on our radar for ages now. But according to producer Jake Kazdal, the game is nearing the final stretch, with a target release date shortly after the holiday season. Skulls was looking better than ever in its PAX Prime 2011 showing. It's packed with bold, colorful art that really matches the game's unconventional mechanics. Despite generally resembling a strategy title like Shining Force, Skulls has a highly simplified interface and a resource-gathering-free design that Kazdal describes as having been inspired by '90s-era Capcom brawlers. It's an unexpected matchup, but it definitely works.

Postcard from PAX: Sega's Renegade Ops Marries Arcade and Sandbox Style Posted: 28 Aug 2011 05:50 PM PDT Renegade Ops is only a couple of weeks from release on PSN and XBLA (with a Steam release to follow), but for some reason PAX marks the first I've ever heard of it. Frankly, I'm sorry to say it, because it's fantastic. Renegade Ops was developed by Just Cause creators Avalanche, and you can tell: It's set in Latin America, and it's not entirely straight-laced. Where the studio's best-known work involves immersive 3D open worlds in the GTA tradition, however, Renegade Ops feels like a callback to the classic days of the arcade. On its simplest level, it's a twin-stick shooter -- though that description is an unfair simplification at best, a gross mischaracterization at worst. Where most twin-stick shooters are set in simple, flat, open arenas, Renegade Ops transpires across convoluted jungles. Its maps are huge and can be traversed freely; aside from rock walls and cliff faces that define the contours of the land, anything you see can be exploded or smashed through.

Postcard from PAX: The Tick Makes a Comeback at PAX Posted: 28 Aug 2011 05:17 PM PDT Ha ha, suckers.

Postcard from PAX: I Just Realized That Rescue Rangers is a Masterpiece Posted: 28 Aug 2011 11:06 AM PDT Last night we staged the now-traditional Retronauts-at-PAX classic free play room takeover, a bloodless flash mob coup in which listeners descend upon the retro console play zone and hog all the machines. One lucky (?) attendee even enjoyed an impromptu Retronauts mini-episode as Bob Mackey, reader Brian Kent and I provided running commentary on his playthrough of Blaster Master. The real highlight of the night, however, was our discovery that Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers for NES was a masterpiece decades ahead of its time. Seriously, the thing Rescue Rangers accomplished 20-odd years ago are only now being followed up on by modern platformers. Co-op play, including mutual harassment? Returning to play after dying by floating around invulnerably on a balloon? Yeah, that's basically New Super Mario Bros. Wii in a nutshell. But it gets better! The game was also clearly worked on by some of the people who made Mega Man 2, aka one of the greatest games of all time.

Postcard from PAX: Someone Gave Me a New Hat Posted: 28 Aug 2011 10:58 AM PDT As I was chatting with the folks from Fangamer.net, someone walked up and handed me a cookie. Apparently Pink Gorilla sells these in their checkout lane and was giving away the ones that didn't pass quality assurance to passersby. I was given a misshapen Mario hat, while friend of 1UP Jade Kraus got herself a malformed Pikachu. Because 1UP is all about the hard-hitting news, I'll report back on how it tastes in an in-depth follow-up article. I guess I should see what the big deal is with this Halo 4 game first, though.

Postcard from PAX: Colonial Marines has Aliens' Look, but can It Capture Its Spirit? Posted: 28 Aug 2011 10:53 AM PDT A space marine takes aim at Sega's Craig Harris outside the company's demo room for Aliens: Colonial Marines. The squad-based shooter, tentatively slated for a 2012 release, was present at PAX for a hands-off demo and work-in-progress demo reel. The game looks solid, but the presentation serves as a reminder that the thing which makes ACM so appealing -- its license -- is also its greatest challenge. Aliens was a landmark work of pop culture, and its troupe of bantering marines is possibly one of the single most imitated tropes in video games. And, frankly, they all tend to run together. What many people fail to recognize is that the marines weren't the soul of the movie; rather, they were the extra details that livened up its core tale of Ellen Ripley's coming to terms with the events of the original Alien. It's tough to sell a story on a squad of soldiers who are mostly going to be dead by the third act unless you're making the next Saving Private Ryan. ACM looks and feels faithful to its movie inspiration (and it should, as series concept artist Syd Mead consulted on the game), but hundreds of films and games have ripped off Aliens over the years. Colonial Marines' challenge is to rise above its imitators and make Aliens feel fresh again.

Postcard from PAX: No Halo 4 Beta in Anniversary Edition Posted: 28 Aug 2011 10:51 AM PDT One not-entirely-surprising bit of news from today's Halo 4 panel at PAX and Halofest is that a Halo 4 multiplayer beta won't be included in this fall's Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Editions. "A lot of people have been asking about this, and we probably should have clarified sooner," said franchise creative director Frank O'Connor, "but there won't be a multiplayer beta in the Anniversary Edition." Given Halo 4's target release date of late 2012 and the fact that Halo betas usually hit about half a year before a game's launch, this year's release will fall much too early for the inclusion of a public beta.

Postcard from PAX: Halo 4 is All About Master Chief Posted: 28 Aug 2011 10:28 AM PDT You know, it still a little surreal to see former 1UP coworker David Ellis play master of ceremonies for Halo events. But here he is, hosting a panel of Halo 4 creative leads like franchise boss Frank O'Connor and executive producer Kiki Wolfkill at Halofest. The Halo 4 team is currently discussing their general philosophy for the game, but they're doling out interesting facts at a measured rate as well. Perhaps most significant is the fact that the trilogy Halo 4 marks the beginning of is called the "Reclaimer Trilogy" and will focus primarily on exploring the actual character of Master Chief, who in the games has generally been a blank tool of killing stuff. Also intriguing is O'Connor's statement that the Halo series to date has always transpired across abandoned alien structures, and that something new for the upcoming trilogy will be the way its environments are still living and populated.

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MMO updates

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[PAX 2011] Guild Wars 2 - Developer panel Posted: 29 Aug 2011 02:53 AM PDT I was actually hoping for a new trailer from ArenaNet for PAX 2011, but seeing gamescom was just like... last week, I guess it is just right to stick with the old trailer. So, here is GameSpot's footage for ArenaNet's developer panel over at PAX 2011, the biggest information should be a brief teaser about how the guild system functions right at the end. And yes, still no release date, it will be out when ready... Wait, did I hear this somewhere before?

[PAX 2011] Firefall - New trailer and event pictures Posted: 29 Aug 2011 05:53 AM PDT (Register for Beta) There should only be 2 posts on PAX 2011, since there is really nothing much and you can see some of the MMO trailers over at my YouTube channel (link). Red 5 Studios' maiden MMO title, Firefall, is apparently on track for a end of year release and a rather polished version was displayed and demos playable over at PAX 2011. The new trailer was also just released a few hours back, showing briefly what the game has to offer. Before I forget, here are some pictures taken at the event as well. Merchandise... Me want... I am a sucker at collecting all these stuff, heck I wear World of Warcraft T-shirts to work almost everyday~ There are tons of Firefall @ PAX 2011 pictures here (link) !!!

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