MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Captain's Log: Class spotlight - Tactical

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 10:30 AM PDT

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Star Trek Online tactical patch
Captain's Log, Stardate 65168.1...

Hello, computer (and players)! Welcome to Captain's Log and the second installment in a three-part series focusing on the classes within Star Trek Online. After exploring some of the amazing powers available to those who roll a Science captain, we shift our focus away from support and healing this week to dive into the realm of DPS. While this realm can be filled with members of all three classes, Tactical captains, if specced correctly, take the trophy each and every time.

Ever since the game launched early last year, my main toon has always been a Tactical captain. During the time I leveled up, I tested out different types of ships at each rank. While flying a science ship as a Tactical captain was fun during the early stages of leveling, I would definitely suggest flying an escort, or if you must, a cruiser, when you first make it to Rear Admiral. I am sure there are some Tacticals out there flying Science classes, but I feel that the Bridge Officer stations equipped on escorts allow the best Tactical abilities to come into play. But enough about telling you what to do -- let's move onto talking about some of the best attack powers in the game.

Ensign, warp 10! It's time to help our reads unload some DPS on their next enemy...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Class spotlight - Tactical

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Class spotlight - Tactical originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond developer talks educational mission

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond - ISS
Astronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond has been in the news a lot lately, but just who are the folks behind the educational MMO from NASA and Project Whitecard? A new piece at Gamasutra sheds a bit of light on that, as well as a few more details about the project as a whole.

"I'm originally a developer," says Project Whitecard CEO Khal Shariff. "I thought, 'oh, I could be a developer for the rest of my life, or I could start my own company.'" That company has some pretty lofty goals for its first MMO, including reaching out to millions of kids worldwide and getting them interested in STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

"We are dedicated to using game technology to do things that, when somebody interacts with the game, it maybe leaves the world better or leaves somebody smarter," Shariff says.

MassivelyAstronaut: Moon, Mars, and Beyond developer talks educational mission originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blade & Soul beta videos show more Assassin footage, dungeon combat

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 09:30 AM PDT

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Blade & Soul - boss fight
Blade & Soul's closed beta phases are a tough ticket for American game journalists, but luckily many of the Korean testers have been capturing their experiences and uploading the videos to YouTube.

MMO Culture has collected a few of these choice morsels, and there is a range of gameplay on display including more Assassin class combos and abilities (this time in a game context instead of a promotional clip), as well as quite a bit of dungeon-crawling footage.

The videos, which you can view after the cut, show a mixture of solo and group play in a couple of different environments. While most of the clips are around 10 minutes in length (or under), there's quite a lot to take in if you're unfamiliar with the martial arts MMO. Blade & Soul is being developed by NCsoft and is currently undergoing its second Korean closed beta test. The company has yet to announce plans to market the title in Europe or America.

Continue reading Blade & Soul beta videos show more Assassin footage, dungeon combat

MassivelyBlade & Soul beta videos show more Assassin footage, dungeon combat originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise of the Immortals MOBA launching September 12th

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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Rise of the Immortals - combat screenshot
Ready for another MOBA title? Ready or not, there's a new one on the way, and Petroglyph has just announced that Rise of the Immortals is set to launch on September 12th. The game is currently barreling through the final days of its open beta test, and as such you can still sign up and get a free preview as well as take home 1,000 Petroglyph coins and an exclusive immortal skin.

Rise of the Immortals is free-to-play, and the dev team is looking to expand the MOBA genre by adding features like social hubs, emotes, persistent character progression, and collectible combat and vanity pets. That's not all, either, and we'll have more details for you in next week's edition of Not So Massively!

MassivelyRise of the Immortals MOBA launching September 12th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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World of Tanks rumbles into retail stores

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:30 AM PDT

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World of Tanks - Russian tank
It's official, you can now purchase World of Tanks in a retail store near you. Wargaming.net has shipped boxes of its free-to-play World War II heavy armor MMO to stores including GameStop, Wal-Mart, Fry's, and others, and the retail package comes loaded with $30 worth of in-game items.

Players will receive a T2 light tank, one week's worth of premium account access, 1,050,000 credits, and 1,800 gold -- all for $19.99. If you can't make it out to your local games dealer, you'll find the World of Tanks retail box for sale at many online stores as well, including Best Buy.com, New Egg, and Amazon.

MassivelyWorld of Tanks rumbles into retail stores originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dan Stahl addresses Star Trek Online F2P concerns

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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Star Trek Online
While we're still awaiting official details on the recent announcement of Star Trek Online's free-to-play transition, Executive Producer Daniel Stahl leaped into the forums to help dispel some of the more troubling fears and to shed some light on what is happening.

"There has been a method to all the madness, but first and foremost on my mind has been ensuring that Star Trek Online has a big future ahead of it," Stahl writes. "That has led to some tough decisions and deep analysis of what was critically wrong in STO. The next several months are going to be exciting for STO as you begin to see everything that we've been working on (finally)."

The good news is that the F2P switch will not impact current subscribers (if anything, Stahl says they'll see more benefits), nor will it restrict content access. Cryptic may be lowering prices on some items in the C-store, and Star Trek Online will be playable to the level cap without requiring money spent on it. Stahl also confirmed that more hardware is on the way for the game's foundation.

At least from his perspective, Stahl sees STO's new owners as a boon to the game's future: "Perfect World has made it very clear that they want to invest in STO because they believe it has great POTENTIAL and they see an investment that can yield an even better game. That to me, is the golden path that this game deserves. It is Star Trek we are talking about!"

MassivelyDan Stahl addresses Star Trek Online F2P concerns originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes pledges to pump out more frequent updates

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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City of Heroes
As the Paragon Studios team puts a wrap on August, the latest City of Heroes producer's letter reiterates the studio's key philosophy: Content is king.

Along those lines, the letter discusses several exciting developments in store for the game's future, including the upcoming Haunted Mansion for the Halloween season, new Incarnate Trials, and more content for the Winter Event. The team is also focusing on delivering "more regular updates" than has been seen previously, so expect to see CoH upping the frequency of in-game goodies from here on out.

As part of the "content is king" philosophy, Paragon will be releasing a monthly Signature Story that will be free for VIP (subscribing) players. These will not only tell intriguing stories, but will reward superheroes with increased rewards. The team is also going to put new items into the in-game Paragon Market store on a weekly basis, including costume pieces and power sets.

City of Heroes is preparing to launch Freedom, its free-to-play version of the game, at an unspecified point in the future. Subscribers will be able to get a head start when Freedom arrives, and will enjoy spending the 400 points that their VIP status entitles them to each month.

MassivelyCity of Heroes pledges to pump out more frequent updates originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Have you ever hooked your parents on an MMO?

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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FarmVille screenshot... courtesy of my mom :)
MMOs may be intended for kids of all ages, but that doesn't mean kids of all ages are actually playing. While we've all read about that great-grandma guild leader and the eight-year-old boy who raids alongside his father, in practice those cases seem like outliers. The stereotype, at least, is that gamers can barely keep their older relatives on the cutting edge of technology, nevermind get their parents to indulge in online gaming. My mother may have pwned my kid brother and me at Seaquest back in the '80s, but nowadays I just can't convince her to look past FarmVille for her gaming fix.

So what about you, Massively readers? You seem to be an age-diverse group. Have you had any success getting your parents -- or any older relatives -- into your MMOs of choice? And how did you pull it off?

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: Have you ever hooked your parents on an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Perfect World Entertainment confirms Star Trek Online going F2P this year

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 08:00 PM PDT

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Star Trek Online fight
File this one under "Stuff we Missed from Last Week": Thanks to the keen eye of reader The First Avenger, we've learned that Perfect World Entertainment plans to turn Star Trek Online free-to-play by the end of this year.

"And also Star Trek Online, after the acquisition, in fact Cryptic is working on the free-to-play model for Star Trek Online," Perfect World Entertainment's CEO, Kelvin Lau, said in a recent earnings call for Q2 2011. "This is going to be launched by the end of this year as well. So I think free-to-play model we have a bigger potential in US market and also in China market."

This news should be no surprise to anyone who knows that PWE's portfolio consists of F2P games, and it was inevitable that STO would follow in the footsteps of its older brother, Champions Online. We'll keep you posted on more details as they become available.

MassivelyPerfect World Entertainment confirms Star Trek Online going F2P this year originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bethesda's Todd Howard not interested in an Elder Scrolls MMO

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 07:00 PM PDT

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Skyrim
Whenever the subject of untapped RPG franchises that could make the jump to MMOs comes up, Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series is almost always mentioned. After all, if Blizzard and BioWare made the jump, why not the folks behind Oblivion?

In talking with our sister site Joystiq at PAX, Bethesda's Todd Howard fields the question with blunt honesty. "I like this kind of game better," he said. "You know, it's what most of us are into. I'm not really an MMO guy. I respect them, I look at them, but I don't play them. It feels more real to me when I'm the hero and it's crafted for that. A community aspect to it, I recognize a lot of people would want that in a game like this, but it changes the flavor for me.

Of course, one man's feelings toward the genre aren't always enough to stave off corporate demands, but Howard says that isn't the case: "We can just do our thing, and it's kind of grown with each game. So there was no pressure from anybody above me to say 'Hey, you need to change this.'"

That doesn't mean Bethesda will forever abstain from MMOs, however. Bethesda's parent company, ZeniMax Media, built an MMO customer support facility in Ireland earlier this year, an indication that online gaming may very well be in the company's future.

MassivelyBethesda's Todd Howard not interested in an Elder Scrolls MMO originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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City of Heroes Freedom invaded by Hamidon again

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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COH Freedom: Seed of the Hamidon
Hamidon is returning to City of Heroes Freedom in a big way. How can you get bigger than a gigantic gelatinous blob like the first Hamidon? In this latest dev diary, Jeff "Arbiter Hawk" Hamilton gives us all the slimy details.

The zone-wide encounter starts with a new monstrosity called the Seed of Hamidon, which drops seedlings throughout the Sunken City neighborhood of First Ward. These seedlings begin the spread of the Tellurian Plague. It is in the best interest of heroes, villains, loyalists, and resistance rebels alike to end the spread of this plague before it conquers everything, as it did on Praetorian Earth.

Arbiter Hawk suggests an eight-person group for this encounter, which takes place in two distinct phases. In the first phase, it's up to players to take out both the ground and air seedlings. Don't worry, non-flying characters, because as these ground-based seedlings are destroyed, they grant Buoyant Membranes that allow players and nearby allies to take flight. The Seed weakens as players defeat the seedlings until the Seed is forced to extinguish the remaining seedlings in order to regenerate power. This is when you attack and the second phase begins. Take out the Seed quickly before it is able to completely recharge -- or the cycle starts over again.

The dev diary contains many of the deadly details of the seedlings as well as more advice from Arbiter Hawk; be sure to read the entire thing before battling this globular fiend.

MassivelyCity of Heroes Freedom invaded by Hamidon again originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GamersFirst states All Points Bulletin had huge future plans

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 05:00 PM PDT

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APB: Reloaded the future
By now, we are all familiar with the sad story of All Points Bulletin by Realtime Worlds. RTW's closing down shop ended not just APB as it was but also the future plans for the game as well. According to GamersFirst, which picked up and relaunched the failed title, Realtime Worlds had ambitious plans for the future of the game that ultimately lead to design issues. As GamersFirst Public Relations Manager Darek Connole stated to VideoGamer.com:
I can't give you too much detail because I'm not a coder. But as I understand it they were looking to make APB the entry level to this whole series of games. So like you'd go into the APB district, and the social district would take you to other games and from my world you could take your APB car and drive it into my world and shoot things. They had all these crazy cool ideas that was just very ambitious.
But don't get excited just yet. Connole also stated that GamerFirst would not be pursuing that content. However, because APB: Reloaded does not have the extraneous code, the developers can make a smooth, more streamlined game.

MassivelyGamersFirst states All Points Bulletin had huge future plans originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champions Online celebrates two years

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 04:30 PM PDT

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Champions Online: DJ Madbot
It's hard to believe that Champions Online is about to celebrate its second anniversary, but it's true: Cryptic Studios just sent out the invitations to the game's anniversary party!

On Thursday, September 1st, our favorite super-heroine Sapphire takes center stage at the Renaissance Center at 1 p.m. EDT to start the festivities. She'll perform her musical set once every hour until Monday, September 5th at 2:59 a.m. EDT. Between sets, the audio automaton DJ Madbot thumps his funky beats all night long. Look for party hosts all about the center for party favors, unlocks, and missions. The party doesn't end at the Ren Center, however: Each of the zone bosses drop anniversary gives as well.

What are these party gifts you ask? Developers at Cyptic tell us that favors consist of the standard gift boxes, party bombs, and boosters, but new this year is the Noise Visualizer Device. This device sparks visual effects like "Pow!" and "Bam!" Plus, Cryptic continues giving gifts with DJ Madbot costume and Glitter Heroic Wear unlocks.

The event is open to the whole Free-For-All community, so why not stop by? At least you can find out why it looks like that robot has a box for head and maybe get one for yourself.

MassivelyChampions Online celebrates two years originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Speaking Episode 163

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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SWG gangsters
Massively Speaking Episode 163 is back this week with your hosts Shawn and Rubi bringing you the latest MMO news and word back from PAX Prime. Topics include Wurm Online's new PvE server, Star Wars Galaxies' player-driven ending, The Secret World's and Star Wars: The Old Republic's upcoming betas, and more!

If you're interested in learning more about the Game Programming Instructor position Shawn has mentioned on previous episodes, check out the job listing or contact Shawn for more info.

Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to shawn@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air!

Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes.
[RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator.
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly.
Listen here on the page:



Read below the cut for the full show notes.

Massively Speaking is the official podcast of Massively.com. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Shawn Schuster and Community Manager Rubi Bayer, Massively Speaking takes on the week's biggest news and dev interviews with plenty of opinion, rants, and laughs thrown in for good measure. Join us every Wednesday afternoon to listen in and see what we'll say next!

Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 163

MassivelyMassively Speaking Episode 163 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mythos content update includes 23 new dungeons, skill tweaks

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 03:30 PM PDT

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Mythos - dungeon entrance
The last time we profiled Mythos on Massively, it was in service of some new content. It's no surprise, then, that Frogster is once again expanding the free-to-play hack-and-slash MMO. This time the new bells and whistles can be found on the Fog Island of Horror, and in case the name didn't drive the point home, it's a pretty scary place.

The isle is home to a horde of ravenous zombies and is the base of operations for two opposing queens. Their majesties Vyle and Neperta make their home on the fog-shrouded island, as do the denizens of 23 new dungeons ripe for the plucking by adventurers from across the realm. Oh yeah, that level cap, previously stuck on a piddling 51? It's been bumped to 55, the better for you to get a handle on some changes to cooldowns and the skill system whilst you're grinding your way through packs of monsters.

Today's Mythos press release also alludes to a massive crafting system overhaul, but since it's a little light on the details where tradeskilling is concerned, you'll just have to log in and see for yourself. Alternatively, you could hit up the official website for more details.

MassivelyMythos content update includes 23 new dungeons, skill tweaks originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Choose My Adventure: Invasion

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 03:00 PM PDT

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My time was short this week in the world of Telara because of work and other obligations. However, I did several hours of RIFT-streaming this week; I hope you check out the stream at the end of this article. Although the video is kind of laggy, the inspiration for this article was captured in one of the streams. I die a lot, but thankfully, I'm an Ascended, right? So death means very little to me. I can be brought back many times over. I have a tendency, as you may see in that video, to get in over my head -- a lot.

This being my second week in the game, I'm getting used to what it's all about. I've been able to close multiple rifts, and I've leveled up to 13. (I told you I didn't get to play as much as I wanted.) There is much I love about the game, and there are many things that turn me off.

Most importantly, however, this week I encountered my first invasion of Freemarch. It took a bit for me to catch on to what was happening. I had thought it was just another rift opening up, but with a glance at my map, I quickly realized that this wasn't your everyday planar tear.

Gallery: CMA: RIFT

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Invasion

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Invasion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Invisible horses are all the rage

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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RIFT screenshot
We're sensing a trend here on One Shots this week. It's not just the bugs-and-glitches theme, but uncooperative mounts. RIFT player Danielle shared this with us today:
Most stealthy Rogues need to go on foot to slip through the shadows unnoticed, but this particular evening, my horse decided to join in the fun. Who needs to sneak up and stab someone when you could just trample him from behind instead?

I suspected his hooves striking the cobblestones might still give his position away. I mentioned this to him, and he seemed so disheartened that he never did it again. Sorry Dusty!
We're revisiting an old favorite of One Shots this week: 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!

MassivelyOne Shots: Invisible horses are all the rage originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enter at Your Own Rift: Finally 50

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 01:30 PM PDT

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RIFT statue
As an MMO player, I'm generally behind the curve when it comes to leveling and cutting-edge content exploration. Pushing myself to level quickly is far less fun to me than taking my time and exploring all the nooks and crannies, and my available playtime is far less than it used to be. Ergo, while many of have been at the level cap for months and are either elite PvPers or Raiders of the Lost Hammerknell, I've just hit 50 this past week for the first time in RIFT.

In a way, being behind the curve is a blessing because others have gone before you and forged a path so that coming from behind is much easier. That said, I still felt overwhelmed when the final ding happened because my previously clear goals evaporated in a second. What do I do now? How do I gear up? What does one do at level 50, anyway?

Fortunately, I'm part of a guild that's full of seasoned 50s, not to mention that I'm friends with plenty of bloggers who were 50 when I was still in diapers. Metaphorically speaking, of course. Ahem. So for this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I posited them this question: What do you and should you do when you hit 50 in the game? They came back to me with excellent responses that I'm now going to share with you.

PREPARE YOURSELF FOR IMMINENT KNOWLEDGE!

Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Finally 50

MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: Finally 50 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Free for All: The end of physical media

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 01:00 PM PDT

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Picture of CDs
In my ongoing journey to find my next laptop, I have begun to suffer from tunnel vision. After all, there are only so many ways to package a processor, some RAM and a graphics card or chip. Sure, sure, I can become an obsessed overclocker and work hard to squeeze the most power out of a PC possible, but instead I would rather pay for a good-quality, mid-range device. I use the heck out of the one I have now, and it was only $500.

One thing I am noticing is that I always snicker when I read websites that brag about included optical drives, which do me very little good but cost me more money. I rarely, if ever, use a CD or DVD burner. There's just no reason to. I can upload 20gb videos to my YouTube account and use services to send larger files. I rarely have a need even for that. Now that my wife and I have Pandora and Spotify, we don't even need to worry about physical libraries of music... it's streamed to us wirelessly.

What does this lack of physical media mean for the free-to-play gaming world? Well, a lot. click past the cut and we'll discuss it.

Continue reading Free for All: The end of physical media

MassivelyFree for All: The end of physical media originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter: PAXflop

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 12:30 PM PDT

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A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
It's been anything but a quiet weekend in my neck of the woods. I'm currently writing this with no real ETA on when I'm going to have power back, which is a bit of an issue considering that my job sort of requires a functional internet connection and a computer to type and play things on. Also, there was a hurricane that sort of prompted that string of events, which made things all sorts of interesting and has led to a variety of interesting circumstances at home and abroad. In short, thank you, but I could really do without living in these particular interesting times.

You know what was remarkably quiet, however? PAX Prime.

OK, that's not true; there was a lot of interesting information to be seen on display over the course of the event, not the least of which being previews of WildStar, which only increased my enthusiasm for the title. But for me and my fellow City of Heroes fans, despite the game's staff's having a definite presence, there wasn't a whole lot to be said about the proceedings that I saw. (Admittedly, that may have something to do with the fact that, as mentioned, I'm kind of limited in my current ability to correspond with the outside world.) So what happened? When did City of Heroes fall off the radar?

Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: PAXflop

MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: PAXflop originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Uncharted Waters Online adds shipbuilding

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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Uncharted Waters Online - ships
MMO shipbuilding is a time-honored tradition that's shown up in titles as wide-ranging as Wurm Online, Vanguard, and even Star Wars Galaxies (hey, spaceships count!), to name but a few. The latest game to take the plunge is Uncharted Waters Online, and the free-to-play title from CJ E&M is looking to expand both building and customization options.

Players may choose materials for the hull, sails, and gunport, and how the ingredients are combined will determine how durable the ships are (and, of course, how they fare on subsequent expeditions). New mechanics like steering proficiency "give players more control while sailing," according to a new press release, and players can also work towards a high wave resistance stat that will enable a ship to power through a storm or blizzard. Check out all the details at the official UWO website.

MassivelyUncharted Waters Online adds shipbuilding originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lore-masters tune up their hogs to cruise the mean streets of Isengard

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 11:30 AM PDT

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LotRO Lore-master
Lord of the Rings Online: Rise of Isengard is bringing plenty of class changes, tweaks, and updates to the table, and the hybrid Lore-master class is waiting for the dev love with arms wide open. While Turbine's talked about the class' increased ability to be a reliable off-healer, word is coming out of the beta that there are many more changes than just the ability to slap a bandage on a wounded ally.

A Casual Stroll to Mordor reports on how the improved skills function in play. These include the ability to stack up to three Burning Embers DoTs on a target, the combination of two Signs of Battle powers into one Wizard's Fire, a nice 10% buff to pet damage through Sign of the wild: Rage, and a much more versatile Improved Staff Sweep.

There's also word on the new Lore-master pet: a Limrafn. While Lore-masters were originally slated to receive an Auroch pet, apparently the common complaint about the pet's size ended up swaying Turbine's mind. The Limrafn is a floating ball of light that doesn't attack, but instead assists the Lore-master in the off-healing department.

Lore-masters will also see one of their lesser-utilized trait lines -- Keeper of Animals -- given much love in the form of tempting abilities and buffs.

MassivelyLore-masters tune up their hogs to cruise the mean streets of Isengard originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The slippery slope: Analysing the decline of World of Warcraft

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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WoW sunset
It's the word on the street these days: World of Warcraft is no longer quite the king that it used to be. The massive title has lost around one million subscribers over the past year, even with Cataclysm releasing last December. Gamasutra sat down with Blizzard for a frank talk about why the title is in decline, and what the studio has planned to counter this trend.

While Blizzard is pleased with the tune-up that Cataclysm provided to the landscape and questing, some players cite the erosion of difficulty and challenge as a reason for their leaving. Lead Systems Designer Greg Street acknowledges this, but says that the WoW team is in uncharted territory: "We just don't have a lot of examples of games that have lasted this long and been this popular for so long to show the right way to do it. I think coming up with new mechanics and new systems is relatively easy, the problem is integrating it with what we already have. World of Warcraft today is so much more complicated than it was when it launched six or seven years ago."

Ultimately, it may come down to players becoming bored more quickly as Blizzard struggles to pump out content to keep their attention. UC Irvine's Thomas Debeauvais conducted a study of 2,865 WoW players across the world, and found that 75% of them had stopped playing the game for at least a month while still being subscribed to it. Blizzard says that it wants to provide faster content updates and continue to overhaul the game's mechanics and graphics to give the players a reason to stay.

MassivelyThe slippery slope: Analysing the decline of World of Warcraft originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PAX 2011: Hands-on with Firefall

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 10:30 AM PDT

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Screenshot -- Firefall
It's no secret that I like my games with more of a skill-based flavor. I enjoy games that reward player skill above superior gear or higher levels. In light of that, I was quite excited to get some hands-on time with Firefall, the new massively multiplayer shooter coming from Red 5 Studios.

There has been much talk about the upcoming title, with its status as one of the few forays into the MMO shooter space since PlanetSide and Global Agenda. There's also the small detail that the studio is headed up by former World of Warcraft Team Lead Mark Kern alongside a number of former Tribes series devs. So how is the game shaping up in preparation for its December launch? Jetpack your way past the cut to find out.

Continue reading PAX 2011: Hands-on with Firefall

MassivelyPAX 2011: Hands-on with Firefall originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO updates

MMO updates


[Preview] Gamania Game Show 2011

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 01:49 AM PDT


It seems to be a natural thing to do nowadays for some of the bigger online gaming companies to do these few days - holding its own game convention. This time, it will be Taiwanese MMO developer and publisher, Gamania Entertainment. The company is also known for its MMO portal, Beanfun. At this year's show, 4 self-developed titles will be on display: Unreal 3 action game Core Blaze (link); classic remake Langrisser Schwarz (link); musical themed Tiara Concerto (link) and the latest game to be revealed, Dream Drops (link).


I am personally most interested in Core Blaze, being warped into the action combat fever some months back. I do hope there will be new trailers and information available this time round!

Legend of Wukong - A Journey back to the West

Posted: 01 Sep 2011 12:57 AM PDT


From China developer Baiyou which brought us City of Dreams, a TERA-lookalike (link), comes Legend of Wukong, its latest MMORPG title. As you can guess from the name, the storyline will revolve around the storyline of Journey to the West and its protagonist, Sun Wukong or the Monkey King.


According to various foreign articles, the game will feature a fast action combo system during combat found in most platform games. However, the game is apparently not a non-target one.


There are apparently 4 races with 6 classes as shown above. Other features include the 72 Transformations, where players can change into various monsters and bosses to utilize their skills, a 2nd set of skill system which is mixed-and-matched and not bound by race or class.


Don't forget the summoned cloud which Wukong uses as a transport! Players will be able to obtain one as well (though not always in the shape of a cloud) and with this, engage in air combat and PvP. Didn't Jade Dynasty had this?


Everything for Legend of Wukong, including the game's engine, is self-developed by Baiyou and a 500-strong Closed beta is expected to being on 10th September. Some parts of the game does look familiar, and the first 2 screenshots below apparently showcase some ideas they got from elsewhere... A cookie for the one who name the 2 games they resemble!

Secret Kingdoms Online - Game details revealed

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 06:03 PM PDT


Back in May, there was a report on Massively (link) about a 17-year gaming industry veteran, Jason Bell, heading for Globex Studios to work on the comapny's new MMORPG, Secret Kingdoms Online. Jason Bell, as mentioned in the article, most recently worked at Turbine Entertainment managing Asheron's Call. The development team also includes Troy Dunniway, who worked with EA and Westwood previously. Based in China, Secret Kingdoms Online, developed using the BigWorld game engine, was revealed a few days back with new details.


In Secret Kingdoms Online, players will be just a tiny controller sitting on their mounts. Yes, the main focus here will be on the battle mounts, rather than the humanoid characters themselves. In fact, I have no idea why the human characters are even perched on the mounts since even the health bar shows the mounts' stats. No matter, each class (Mercenary, Knight, Priest, Alchemist, Hunter) will have different mounts as seen below. The Hunter artwork is missing.


There will be some customizations available for the mounts, including changing and upgrading of equipments just like in any MMORPGs, with new looks and costumes coming from the Cash Shop. There will also be an in-game pet system as well, with them being able to aid players during combat.


That is all for now with the features, which I am underwhelmed by. Secret Kingdoms Online is currently in its first Closed Beta test, with promises made to further improve the game before an official launch. Stay tuned~

Blade & Soul (KR) - Closed Beta footage

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 06:21 PM PDT


So, despite me not getting into Closed Beta 2 for NCsoft's upcoming mega martial arts MMO, Blade & Soul, it hasn't really stopped me from scouring the Korean forums and websites for game footage. I struck gold after going through one of them, PlayForum, with various high definition (HD) footage from both Closed Beta 1 and Closed Beta 2. The footage below demonstrates some of the Assassin class' skills in real time and some random combat.



Basically, the UI changed in-between, there is now a new default third person shooter (TPS) attack function (can be switched back to original controls), easier leveling and more. The TPS combat function allows players to automatically target monsters once moused over without clicking anything to lock-on. Below are some boss footage for you to enjoy~! A few more can be seen over at my YouTube channel (link).


General gaming

General gaming


DOTA 2: How Valve Turned From Fanboys Into Developers For This Game

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 06:15 PM PDT

From Warcraft III mod to Valve-developed sequel: Defense Of The Ancients is now standing on its own two feet. This new installment (simply "DOTA 2") made its public debut at Cologne's 2011 Gamescom with a huge tournment -- where historical DOTA teams that have been together for years competed for a $1.6 million prize. During the event, we asked project director Erik Johnson and Valve co-founder Gabe Newell a few questions about the game.

Valve -- explains Newell -- got into this project because several staff members were playing the original DOTA and got obsessed with it to the point that people such as Robin Walker (Team Fortress 2 guru), Adrian Finol (software developer), and Johnson actually formed a team and got into a league -- ending up badly stomped, he confesses. At some point, they decided to contact DOTA developer IceFrog under the pretense that they were game developers, but in fact it was just an excuse to send him fan mail.

Review: Bodycount is Not a Complete Game

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 05:35 PM PDT

Bodycount is not a good game, but I'm not sure it's trying to be. I think it?s a prototype that somehow ended up on a retail shelf. The game seems like it's trying to prove that a few key gameplay systems could be used in a complete game down the road. That's really the only explanation for the game's existence that makes any sense to me, because it's missing several elements that we expect to have in a modern shooter. These elements include:

Story: You are an operative of an agency known as "The Network." You enter into an African warzone to make peace for some reason. The most efficient way to make peace is of course to shoot everyone. You soon stumble upon a mysterious base and find that a rival agency known as "Target" is doing stuff. I'm not sure what, but it may be evil so it's OK to shoot those guys too. Regardless, the story is as bare bones as any in recent memory. Shooters traditionally have shallow stories, but even by the standards of the genre this is anemic.

Review: No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise Will Make You Think Your PS3 Is Broken

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 05:07 PM PDT

I'm not going to lie: I really liked the first No More Heroes -- and anyway, that would be a pretty dumb thing to lie about. I've always been a cautiously optimistic fan of Suda 51; in fact, it's become a cliche to remark that he makes bizarre games that aren't necessarily the most playable things in the world. Well, clichés become clichés for a reason, and Suda mostly deserves his shaky reputation. Like Silent Hill 2 before it, Suda's Killer 7 struck me as a wholly original and genuinely disturbing experience untouched by corporate overseers. For most, it was more memorable as an experience rather than a game

While each of his titles following 7 have been a bit more approachable, there's still a streak of gleeful absurdity in everything the man touches. So, when the chance came along to play through No More Heroes again -- in a fancy new HD shell, no less -- I couldn't help but be a little jazzed about the chance to dip back into Travis Touchdown's world of sexy lunatics. Little did I know, this sloppy port would make me question my love for the original.

Players Will Decide How Star Wars Galaxies Comes to an End

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 04:41 PM PDT

Star Wars Galaxies

In December, the servers for Star Wars Galaxies will be permanently turned off. With Star Wars: The Old Republic coming in a matter of months (depending upon how things go in the beta), the old MMO will be killed by Sony Online Entertainment, but not before players decide how its story concludes.

SOE promised a "galaxy-ending in-game event" would take place before Galaxies goes offline on December 15. It's now provided some details on what that entails; namely, the Rebel Alliance and the Empire will compete to decide which side will emerge victorious. The Galactic Civil War that's been taking place will continue with new activities, events, and contests. Participating will earn your side Galactic Civil War points and other advantages.

At some point before December 15, each side's points will be totaled on a server-by-server basis. Whichever side has more will "win the game, and the galaxy, for each server, as well as change the way the game will end and what happens in the final moments." There will be celebrations for the winners and the losers will "be going out with a bang."

Review: Tropico 4 is Really Just an Expansion Pack And You Should Still Buy it

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 04:35 PM PDT

Tropico 4 is more of a giant expansion pack than a true sequel. It features very few new art assets, the music is ripped from the last game, and the core gameplay is almost exactly the same with a few interface tweaks. That said, I have a hard time faulting the game for it. It's a polished version of an already great game with 80-plus hours of content for $40. That sounds pretty good to me.

If you've never played Tropico, here's the quick rundown (if you played the previous games in the series feel free to skip the following two paragraphs): It's a city simulator that puts you in charge of an island country. You, as El Presidente, have to build up the country's economy and infrastructure from 1950 to the end of the Cold War. You can turn your island into a socialist democratic paradise with universal healthcare, free housing, and social liberty for all. Or you can create your own despotic dictatorship with a populace kept in check by fear of reprisal from the secret police. Certain governments are more stable than others, and they each come with trade-offs. Socialists will be hard pressed to provide for their people early in the game because a robust economy is necessary to pay for social security, food programs, housing, education, and healthcare. Environmentalists will find their economies pinched, and their citizens will chafe at the loss of liberty from anti-litter ordinances. Libertarians can create their objectivist utopia, but may find that they have to rough up underpaid workers to prevent them from striking. This doesn't even begin to address the issues of military size/spending, religious satisfaction, entertainment, or the attitudes of hardline nationalists.

The Persona 4 Fighting Game Sure Does Look Pretty

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 03:07 PM PDT

Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena

Following the reveal of Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena in its latest issue, Famitsu has now published several screenshots online from both the new Persona fighting game and the Vita remake of Persona 4.

The Ultimate is a fighting game being created for arcades that will be brought to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in Japan next summer. The Persona team at Atlus is co-developing it with the developers of BlazBlue at Arc System Works.

"We're developing the story and dialogue, as well as supervising the graphic and animation work the BlazBlue team is handling," explained Atlus boss Katsura Hashino. "As for the gameplay system, the thing which defines the overall quality of any 2D fighter, we're entrusting the BlazBlue team with that."

Free Year of Elite Included with Modern Warfare 3 Hardened Edition - Report

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 01:57 PM PDT

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Hardened Edition leak

As is customary for each Call of Duty release, a more expensive version will be available at launch for Modern Warfare 3. At the very least a Hardened Edition is planned, and its contents may have been leaked today.

The photo above, purportedly showing an advertisement for a European version of MW3's Hardened Edition, was sent to Wired, revealing that buyers will get a free year-long subscription to Call of Duty Elite. Additionally, it includes a special version of the disc with art that's different from the regular version; a special founder status on Elite that grants an exclusive in-game emblem, playercard, and XP boost for clans, plus extra weapon camo and more; a SteelBook case; and a limited edition "field journal" that sounds like it recaps the Modern Warfare series. There is also one of two bonuses depending upon which platform you buy the game for: an animated timeline theme for PlayStation 3 or a special ops juggernaut costume for your Xbox Live Avatar.

The only thing that's been made official about the Hardened Edition, aside from the name, is what the box itself looks like. The picture below was tweeted by Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling last month.

You Can't Shoot Civilians in Battlefield 3, and Here's Why

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 01:14 PM PDT

Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 falls on the more realistic end of the spectrum when it comes to depicting what it's like to be a in war. Of course, it's not going to be anywhere near an exact simulation of what that experience is like, and one thing that is physically possible in real life but won't be an option in BF3 is the ability to shoot innocent civilians.

Speaking with Rock, Paper, Shotgun, executive producer Patrick Bach said he thinks games are "on the verge" of being able to be political or make a point about the moral aspects of war, comparing it to "where movies were in the 30s or 40s."

At the same time, he's concerned about giving players the freedom to do absolutely anything, as he thinks "if you put the player in front of a choice where they can do good things or bad things, they will do bad things, go dark side -- because people think it's cool to be naughty, they won't be caught...

OneChanbara Returns to 360

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 12:44 PM PDT


Onechanbara, the goofy Japanese game series that features scantily-clad ladies showing hordes of monsters what-for with their ample assets, is making a comeback. This week's issue of Famitsu brings the first word on Onechanbara Z Kagura, a brand-new game that so far appears to be exclusive to the Xbox 360.

Like the previous games, you have a choice of heroines in this Onechanbara: Kagura and Saya, both members of a vampiric race. They're traveling from Romania to Japan in order to put down a sudden zombie apocalypse -- as well as killing Aya and Saki, heroes of previous Onechanbara games and the alleged perpetrators of this undead horde.

Gameplay details are still scant, but if you're familiar with D3 Publisher's previous US titles in the series -- Onechanbara: Bikini Samurai Squad and Onechanbara: Bikini Zombie Slayers -- you already know what's going on here. Expect lots of blood, zombie body parts, and cutscenes that attempt to tell a story involving warrior girls in midriffs without a whiff of irony.

Fatal Frame Team Reveals Shinrei Camera

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 12:14 PM PDT


Keisuke Kikuchi, producer and chief mind behind the Fatal Frame series of Japanese-style horror adventures, is back with a new project. Titled Shinrei Camera, the game -- a co-production involving both Nintendo and Kikuchi's studio at Tecmo -- will use the Nintendo 3DS's augmented-reality abilities to enhance the horror experience.

The 3DS title will come backed with an "AR notebook," a book which seems normal and harmless enough to the naked eye. Point your 3DS's camera at it in-game, though, and it'll reveal all sorts of things lurking in the pages -- hidden messages, clues to your past, even a hungry demon or two.

"I wasn't all that interested in AR to start with," Kikuchi told Famitsu magazine in this week's issue, "but as I explored the possibilities, I really started to get into it. I thought we could really do something with it if we combined our traditional strengths in horror and adventure with the AR technology. It was a big challenge, but we went through with it, and the result is this style of horror that does away with the boundaries between the natural and the supernatural."

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