| Archlord celebrates its second anniversary Posted: 19 Oct 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Previews, Free-to-play If you haven't guessed by now, we here at Massively love MMO anniversaries. They're always great opportunities to celebrate a game's success and achievements, particularly in a field where it is so hard to get long-lasting titles off the ground. So we raise a glass to Archlord as it marks its second anniversary today. To celebrate this achievement, Webzen has a few treats in store for its players. Starting off, all Archlord players will enjoy two weeks of double XP, double drops, and double charisma points. If double XP isn't fast enough for you, then you can pop over to the special training server, where characters can be leveled up extremely fast and then transferred back to regular servers if they reach level 40 or higher. This training server will be up for a month, and Webzen is planning to hand out special in-game items for those who take advantage of it. Archlord has a new raid dungeon in the works for December called Battle Square, and is preparing a new chapter in its storyline that will go live at the same time. [Source: Webzen press release]  Archlord celebrates its second anniversary originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| World of Warcraft makes inroads into southeast Asia Posted: 19 Oct 2011 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Legal World of Warcraft may be slipping in the subscription department over this past year, but a recent deal may change all that. Blizzard has signed a contract with game publisher Asiasoft to bring the title to three additional countries: Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Blizzard's Paul Sams sees this move as a great way to expand ever further: "One of our top priorities is ensuring that our games are easily accessible to players all around the world. We are confident that as a leading online game services provider in southeast Asia, Asiasoft will help us reach many new players in this growing region." Asia is one of WoW's biggest markets, with countries like China producing massive amounts of players who are into the game. Under the terms of this deal, Asiasoft will get the rights to publish World of Warcraft and all of its expansion packs to the three countries, as well as Starcraft II and Diablo III. World of Warcraft makes inroads into southeast Asia originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Secret World's Dragon Week reveals faction backstory, mission details Posted: 19 Oct 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Horror, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Secret World, Dev Diaries Dragon Week continues for Funcom and fans of The Secret World. The latest series entry takes the form of a dev journal that hints at the faction's backstory and teases a Dragon ranking mission from the game itself. The Dragon is based in Seoul, South Korea, and is so secretive that even its own members don't appreciate the full extent of its power. The organization operates under the belief that "seemingly insignificant events can trigger cataclysmic change," and players will find the Dragon recruitment process a bit different than that of the game's other two factions. Potential recruits are paid a visit by silent Dragon monks, then unceremoniously deposited in a Seoul neighborhood with no apparent exits. If the recruits manage to find the Dragon headquarters, they're rewarded with more info about the faction and their own destiny. There's more, including details on that mission we mentioned earlier, but you'll need to head to MMORPG.com to read it. [Thanks to Acidbaron for the tip!] The Secret World's Dragon Week reveals faction backstory, mission details originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| CCP layoffs affect 20% of worldwide staff, company focusing on EVE Posted: 19 Oct 2011 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, EVE Online, MMO industry, New titles, News items, World of Darkness, DUST 514, Miscellaneous, Sandbox Reporting on game industry layoffs is never fun, so we're a bit sobered this morning as we bring you news of CCP's downsizing. The development firm behind EVE Online, DUST 514, and the World of Darkness MMO has just issued a press release stating that it will be trimming approximately 20% of its staff worldwide. According to CCP Manifest, most of the layoffs will occur in the company's Atlanta, Georgia offices, with select positions at the Reykjavik, Iceland camp also affected. Manifest says that EVE expansions, DUST, and WoD have stretched CCP's resources too thin, and the company will now "sharpen our focus." In the short term, this means more attention for EVE Online and DUST 514, while World of Darkness will "continue development with a significantly reduced team." Finally, the press release attempts to head off the doomsayers by pointing out the fact that EVE's subscriber numbers are higher than they were this time last year. [Thanks to everyone who tipped us!] CCP layoffs affect 20% of worldwide staff, company focusing on EVE originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Starcraft Universe MMO mod testable through October 30th Posted: 19 Oct 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items You may remember StarCraft Universe, the fan-made MMO mod that received an official Blizzard blessing earlier this year. Development on the project is moving right along, and the mod team has left fans with a nifty present as it gets ready to head to BlizzCon. StarCraft Universe PvP is playable as of today via Battle.net, but you'd better hurry because the fun only lasts through October 30th. At that point, the game will be taken down "for further polishing since technically it isn't even ready for an open beta." The playable portion features an arena called the Encephalon Grid, and testers will start at level 30 (fully geared). Every class is available, and players may also be able to unlock additional abilities by winning enough matches. Check out the full press blurb on the mod's official website, and get a load of the PvP video after the cut. Continue reading Starcraft Universe MMO mod testable through October 30th Starcraft Universe MMO mod testable through October 30th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Turbine explains recent LotRO forum security issue Posted: 19 Oct 2011 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Bugs, Free-to-play While Lord of the Rings Online's forums have returned following Turbine's decision to take them down due to a security issue, many players were left in the dark about what had happened. To clear the air with this, the studio posted a brief security FAQ that addresses the specifics of what went down this past week. According to the FAQ, Turbine became aware of a compromise in the forum database that would allow unauthorized access from outsiders. The company took the forums offline, brought in security experts, and fixed the bug that caused this issue. Turbine also claims it has strengthened its web security and that no payment details, including credit card information, were in danger of being stolen. As part of an effort to make sure all players were secure, Turbine sent out notices to a few customers with particularly vulnerable passwords. In the email, the players were informed that their passwords were reset for their own safety. The FAQ ends with a few Dos and Don'ts about password creation which all MMO players would be wise to adopt. Turbine explains recent LotRO forum security issue originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Circle of Thorns Posted: 19 Oct 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Lore, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter Most of the lower-level enemies you face in City of Heroes are temporary threats at best. They're there, definitely, and you have to deal with them, but they aren't going to stick with you for the long term. You move on from the starter zones and they drift out of your memory. The only real exception are the cultists you occasionally run across, robed and whispering about destiny as they abduct citizens for very visual rituals. The Circle of Thorns never quite goes away. It's one of the most insidious groups within the game's setting, made all the worse because of its dogged persistence. And the funny part is that the group's not even particularly concerned with the heroes or villains of the setting. It's busy trying to finish a war that happened centuries ago, a war of gods and great sorcery, and everyone who gets killed is just collateral damage. Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Circle of Thorns A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Spotlight on the Circle of Thorns originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Could you do a better job running your guild? Posted: 19 Oct 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous Sometimes guild drama just happens. When it stems from a disagreement with your guild leader, a popular reaction is something along the lines of, "I would never make a decision like that if I was guild leader." But a leadership role has its challenges. Along with member management, event coordination, and maintaining a sense of family, you also have to make it fun for the whole group. After all, it is still a game at the end of the day. So if you've never actually run a guild, but you've thought about it, do you think you'd make a good guild leader? Have you studied up on Karen Bryan's weekly column for all the tips and tricks you can retain? Let us know in the comments below how you'd make your guild a better place.  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: Could you do a better job running your guild? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| EverQuest: Veil of Alaris preorder bonuses announced Posted: 18 Oct 2011 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Economy, Expansions, News items EverQuest's 18th expansion, Veil of Alaris, isn't too far off, and Sony Online Entertainment has announced that preorders are now open. The game comes in two flavors: standard and digital collector's edition. The former includes Veil of Alaris and all previous EverQuest expansions along with an exclusive mount, house decoration items (two paintings and a Resplendent Sword Ornamentation) and a traveler's rucksack. The collector's edition includes all of that, plus another exclusive mount, another rucksack, and more paintings and house decoration items than you can shake a stick at. If you preorder before November 14th, the standard edition will run you $39.99 while the collector's edition costs $59.99. After the 14th, however, the collector's edition price goes up to a whopping $89.99, so if you're planning on grabbing it, you better act quickly. EverQuest: Veil of Alaris preorder bonuses announced originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Neowiz partners with Epic Games Korea for new Unreal 3 MMORPG Posted: 18 Oct 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items There's a new fantasy MMO in town, and it goes by the name of Bless (for now, at least). And actually, when we say "in town," we mean in Korea, where Neowiz has partnered with Epic Games Korea to develop the former's first Unreal 3-powered MMORPG. MMODen has the press release as well as the game's first trailer, and Bless features Eastern MMO staples like skimpy armor, feline anthropomorphs, and slick violence doled out with rather impressive weaponry. There's virtually no information on actual gameplay save that the title will feature 10 races, but we'll keep our eyes peeled and bring you the latest info as it develops. Prior to Bless, Neowiz was best known for its Cross Fire and Alliance of Valiant Arms MMO shooters, and the new title boasts 150 dedicated developers who've been working on the project since 2009. Check out the trailer after the break. Continue reading Neowiz partners with Epic Games Korea for new Unreal 3 MMORPG Neowiz partners with Epic Games Korea for new Unreal 3 MMORPG originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Star Trek Online opens character transfers to the test server Posted: 18 Oct 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Patches, Previews, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play When the testing process started for Star Trek Online's upcoming free-to-play version, players were limited to creating new characters rather than bringing over old favorites. The reasoning was simple: Because the game will be flinging the doors open to a flood of new players, that experience absolutely needs to be top-notch. But now that the testing has been ongoing for some time, the Tribble test server is open for players to bring a higher-ranked Federation or Klingon character across. Naturally, there are some restrictions to the process, namely that players are limited in their overall number of characters transferred. Characters will also be updated to the newer game version, meaning several currency changes for Federation characters and a long list of changes for any Klingon characters. The newest entry in the Path to F2P blog series outlines the details, which should be pertinent to any players eager to see what their characters will play like when the business model shifts. Star Trek Online opens character transfers to the test server originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Richard Garriott's Britannia Manor II up for grabs Posted: 18 Oct 2011 05:00 PM PDT |
| Lord of the Rings Online releases first post-Isengard patch notes Posted: 18 Oct 2011 04:30 PM PDT |
| The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev Posted: 18 Oct 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Asheron's Call, Expansions, MMO industry, The Game Archaeologist I've been a long-time follower of Eric Heimburg on his blog, Elder Game, where he and a friend have spent years delivering insightful commentary about MMOs and supermodels (well, mostly MMOs). Because I'm not that observant a fellow and I assume that most fellow bloggers are mere players like I am, I didn't realize until a little while ago that he and his co-writer were former Turbine developers who had worked on Asheron's Call and Asheron's Call 2. You can see where this is going. Once I learned that, I knew I had to get him to contribute to this series. I began a multi-year wooing campaign that involved skywriting, cupcakes, celebrity kiss-o-grams, envelopes stuffed with unmarked bills, and all the tea in China. Of course, this was well after he'd already said "yes" to it, but I like to keep up appearances. So hit the jump as I talk to a guy who was on the flipside of Asheron's Call 2 as a producer and generally swell fella! Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The former dev originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| New Incarnate Trials coming with City of Heroes' Media Blitz Posted: 18 Oct 2011 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play  Paragon Studios has announced that a special City of Heroes Issue 21 content update is on the horizon. The update is known as Media Blitz, but Paragon assures players this is not related to any sort of Journalist power set (though on second thought, maybe it should be). When the update hits, VIP players will be given the opportunity to take part in a brand-new Incarnate Trial known as the TPN Campus. This new Incarnate Trial will see players infiltrating the TPN Campus in order to confront "a mighty adversary whom [they] will want to keep an eye on." Who is this mysterious rival? Well, there's only one way to find out! Paragon also notes that a second Incarnate Trial will also come with the update, though the studio isn't quite ready to give the specifics. To top it all off, players "will also be able to unlock brand new abilities for [their] Alpha, Destiny, Interface, and Judgment Incarnate Slots" in order to further progress their characters. Stay tuned for more details on the new Issue 21 update as they become available. New Incarnate Trials coming with City of Heroes' Media Blitz originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Trandoshans Posted: 18 Oct 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Lore, New titles, Races, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon Usually when I talk about lore in the Hyperspace Beacon, I am not always sure whether it will make a huge impact on the games itself, and a lot of the time, my lore topics revolve around well-known pieces of lore. Admittedly over the last year and a half, I did hit a couple of subjects pretty hard, like Jedi, Mandalorians, Jedi, Imperials, Jedi, and Jedi. However, with these Holocron Files, I want to draw on pieces of lore that even devout Star Wars enthusiasts might not know about but that are still important to Star Wars: The Old Republic directly. In the last Holocron File, I talked about the Sith Pureblood because if you play a Sith Warrior, you will be able to choose that species for your character, and they play an important part in Imperial lore. This week, Trandoshans take center stage. It's an amusing coincidence that Rubi asked about the lore of non-playable races in today's Daily Grind because that's what I'm talking about here. Trandoshans are not playable in SWTOR, but they do play an important role in the story in the game, particularly the Jedi Consular's story, and particularly one Trandoshan: Qyzen Fess. Beyond the break, let's explore a bit the history of this species, its homeworld, its religion, and its relationship with the rest of the galaxy. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Trandoshans Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files -- Trandoshans originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Invictus dominates Flyff World Championship Posted: 18 Oct 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Patches, Free-to-play The dust has settled, the battles won, and United States team Invictus has emerged victorious from the $100,000 Flyff World Championship. Teams from around the world fought to progress through an elimination ladder to become the champions, but in the end it was two teams from North America -- Invictus and SOD -- that faced off for the grand prize. Invictus dominated the fights, winning five out of six on October 15th. As the new champion, Invictus was awarded $50,000, unique in-game armor, and a trip to Korea to meet the makers of Flyff and attend G-Star 2011. The runner-up team, SOD, walked away with a respectable $20,000 and the special armor for its members. All Flyff players can enjoy the residue of the championship by logging in and leveling up for a chance to win prizes. The game is also planning its next content patch, which will go into open beta on October 28th. Stay tuned to Massively as we will be talking to Invictus later this week! [Source: gPotato press release] Invictus dominates Flyff World Championship originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Dragon roars: Funcom spies on The Secret World's most mysterious faction Posted: 18 Oct 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Horror, Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Previews, The Secret World We don't care if you have the eye of the tiger -- this is the Week of the Dragon, darn it, and you're going to give respect to it or it will roast your noggin right off your neck! As part of the focus on The Secret World's least-understood faction, Funcom's released a quartet of artwork pieces to help give us an insight into the organization. Perhaps the most eye-catching are the Mute Monks, an ancient order of scary-looking muscle men who have sewn their lips shut and baptized their bodies with tattoos. These monks are the recruiting arm of the Dragon, but are by no means the only members players will encounter. The other pieces of concept art show off a temporary Dragon headquarters, a bang (cyber-cafe) that's a front for the group, and a possible outfit for a Dragon agent in the field. What are you waiting for? Check them all out in the gallery below! The Dragon roars: Funcom spies on The Secret World's most mysterious faction originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Trion releases RIFT Endless Adventure trailer Posted: 18 Oct 2011 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, RIFT, Dungeons As we inch closer to some big MMO releases in the latter stage of the year (and on into 2012), Trion is looking to keep RIFT firmly established in the minds of gamers everywhere. To that end, the company has just released a new two-minute trailer called Endless Adventure. The clip highlights all of the big bullet-point features (raids, world events, PvP, etc.), and shows a smattering of gameplay footage from each. The trailer also focuses on the flexibility afforded by RIFT's soul system, and though the huge, blocky fonts and bright text colors are somewhat distracting when paired with the game's lovely visuals, the clip does a good job of summing up RIFT for the uninitiated (or the unsubscribed). See for yourself after the break. [Source: Trion press release] Continue reading Trion releases RIFT Endless Adventure trailer Trion releases RIFT Endless Adventure trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Atlantica Online celebrates three years with in-game events Posted: 18 Oct 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Atlantica Online, Giveaways  Atlantica Online, Nexon's quirky tactical MMORPG, has been running for three whole years now. You know what that means, right? Anniversary celebration time! From now until November 16th, players can celebrate Atlantica's third anniversary by participating in a variety of in-game events. For starters, there's the Hunt for the Warlord's Poem. Players have to hunt down monsters that have stolen fragments of Khun Phaen's poetry. Completing this task will net players "Khun Phaen's Carrier Pigeon, a Title: People's Champion, Khun Phaen Skill Books, and other essentials." If you'd rather put your combative skills to the test, you can take part in the third anniversary Grand Championship Battle Royale, which will take place on October 31st at 6:00 a.m. EDT and again at 6:00 p.m. EDT. The top four players will receive a prize of precious NX Credit. Lastly, Nexon is asking players to take a picture of either themselves or their avatars with a sign reading "Happy Anniversary Atlantica!" Players who submit such a picture will be entered into a drawing for 20,000 NX. For the full details, head on over to Atlantica Online's official site.celebrates three years with in-game events Atlantica Online celebrates three years with in-game events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| League of Legends unearths harrowing Halloween skins Posted: 18 Oct 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Events, in-game, Free-to-play, MMORTS, Promotions It's not too late to sign up for Riot Games' Institute of Horror, brought to you by League of Legends and your deepest, darkest nightmares! During the Harrowing event, fright-proof players can enjoy Halloween goodies and decorations sprinkled around their favorite maps. Skin collectors (ew) will be delighted to hear that there are four frightfully fascinating variations to nab, as Annie, Blitzcrank, Nidalee and Nocturne now boast a spooky makeover. These will be available as soon as the patch goes live. Unfortunately, these skins will be gone once the Harrowing is over, so get them pronto or forever hold your peace. You can view League of Legends' severed-tongue-in-cheek Harrowing trailer after the jump. Continue reading League of Legends unearths harrowing Halloween skins League of Legends unearths harrowing Halloween skins originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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