MMO News

---

• The Sims Social
• Uncharted Waters update brings new treasures
• Special Halloween events arrive in M.A.T.
• New Lime Odyssey environmental screenshots
• C21 prepares for new beta phase
• Star Supremacy hosts twisted Trick or Treat

The Sims Social Posted: 26 Oct 2011 04:37 PM PDT The Sims Social is a 3D life simulation game by EA Playfish that's based off the popular Sims franchise. Players create and control their own avatar character within a unique virtual world. Choose their appearance, traits, and practice various skills. Plant a garden, cut the grass, decorate, shop, or visit friends. Form different types of relationships with your neighbors. Become BFFs, enemies, or start a legendary romance. Live the life that you've always dreamed of. Publisher: EA Playfish Playerbase: High Graphics: High Quality Type: Social Game EXP Rate: High PvP: N/A Platform: Facebook Pros: +Great graphics. +Gameplay similar to other Sims versions. +Plenty of quests. +Farming option. +Crafting feature. +Skills. +Easy to use live build mode. +Large selection of shop items. +In-depth social interactions. Cons: -Only one Sims per account. –Players are not free to roam world. -Character customization could be better. -Spamming of friends necessary in order to progress. –Lacks job feature. Overview The Sims Social Overview The Sims Social is social life simulation MMO that brings an immensely popular PC game series to Facebook. Players control their own avatar living life as simple or extravagant as they wish. Similar to other titles like YoVille and CityVille users create their own world. Expand your home by adding additional rooms or decorating with elaborate items. Start a small garden. Grow vegetables or tend to your yard by pulling up weeds and mowing the lawn. Visit neighbors to become friends or enemies. Dance, chat, relax, cook, fight, flirt, and joke around together. Begin a romantic relationship. The possibilities are endless in this social browser enabled version of The Sims. Select a character's appearance, personality, traits, and upgrade a variety of skills that will unlock more advanced interactions. Personality – Socialite, Rocker, Romantic, Introvert, Tycoon, Geek, Athlete, Creative, and Villain Traits – Great Kisser, Insane, Ninja, Ogre, Slob, Steel Bladder, Neat, Super Mechanic, and Night Owl Skills – Art, Music, Writing, and Cooking The Sims Social Screenshots The Sims Social Featured Video Coming Soon… Full Review The Sims Social Review By Ange Perdu The Sims Social is a 3D life simulation game on Facebook where players can create and control their own personalized Sim character. Much like the previous versions for PC and mobile users interact with other Sims in numerous ways. Forge a long-lasting friendship or become an arch nemesis to fellow neighbors. Increase home value through remodeling. Add extra rooms, buy state-of-the-art appliances, and decorate implementing the latest trends. Landscape the backyard by cutting the grass and removing unnecessary debris. Plant flowers or grow a vegetable garden. Learn new skills like cooking or how to play a musical instrument. Visit friends' homes to socialize or wreak havoc. Hang out and watch TV, party together, or play a nasty prank. Casually date or find your true love in this scaled down adaptation of The Sims. Entering the World of Sims, the Gameplay Each player only receives one avatar to customize and control. The Sims Social gameplay is very similar to its predecessors but relies more heavily on social interactions and neighbor participation. Icons at the bottom of the screen monitors the avatar's core needs such as socializing, fun, hunger, hygiene, bladder, and sleep. Performing certain actions like taking a shower, cooking dinner in the microwave, or playing a game on the computer will automatically increase the stats of the corresponding necessity. Players earn XP and occasionally currency in the form of Simoleons for completing different tasks. There are also random quests. These missions vary from flattering a friend to daydreaming on three different chairs. Collect color essences from certain household appliances from neighbors to unlock your inner artist. Some quests require players to buy a specific item and then interact with it several times. Almost all the objects in the game can be used by Sims or manipulated in some form or manner. Combined with the vivid graphics it's quite impressive. Instead of a job option players have to earn most of their income by completing daily tasks and upgrading skills. Items like the guitar, easel, old fashioned PC, and microwave when clicked on prompts a menu of available skills to be mastered. Click to practice guitar scales or the Flamenco Technique. Write blog posts from your computer or prepare fish sticks in the kitchen to sell. The skills are somewhat generic but necessary for players to progress in the game. As talents are upgraded new items that produce higher amounts of cash are unlocked. Characters can practice and master multiple skills. Another feature and method to earn money which is rarely seen in Sims titles is gardening. Each user has four small plots in their yard to plant crops ranging from strawberries to pumpkins. Much like FarmVille crops can take anywhere from five minutes to two days to harvest. Completing simple tasks like gardening or tackling quests earn XP and Simoleons. Expanding Homes & Relationships Neighbors are mandatory for a Sims overall well-being and the expansion of their home. Similar to CityVille players have to rely on the generosity of their friends in order to progress at a decent pace. Visiting and forging relationships are essential. When players neglect their characters social needs they become depressed crying uncontrollably. Many quests involve stopping by neighbors' abodes to perform a particular action. Chat, flirt, insult, shoot the breeze, talk about weather, ask about day, discuss work, find common interest, and dance together. Enemies can play devilish pranks on each other like putting a spider on their rival's toilet or rearranging their personal belongings. All neighbors start off as strangers and become acquaintances upon the first visit. An unusual feature in The Sims Social is the relationship status permission procedure. Since every Sim in the game is a Facebook friend a notice is sent when another user wishes to start a romance. Players can approve or refuse any union. The fact that notifications are received mean players potentially face rejection in their virtual affairs which can make dating as brutal as it is in the real world. Help is also required to add an additional room or expand property size. To build a room several friends must visit and assist in the process. Cool furniture occasionally needs assembling by pals as well. Players are constantly sending assistance requests for building, assembling designer furniture, or accumulating specific items. The excessiveness can be annoying at times but necessary to gain the items. All About the Simoleons The shop features a large selection of furnishings, appliances, electronics, and décor to decorate a player's home. Most of the items cost Simoleons which can be earned throughout the game. Purchase cordless phones to get the 411 immediately. Buy fans, clocks, coffee makers, music systems, designer counters, floor mirrors, dressers, storage boxes, comfy sofas, chairs, bookshelves, couches, paintings, wall hangings, lamps, desks, 32 inch LCD TVs, keyboards, and even a coffin style bed. Build an extravagant kitchen with a state-of-the-art G King Counter or Llamark Cook-Rite Stove. Located in the shop area is an icon which activates an easy to use live build mode. During this mode a grid appears around the house allowing players to place additional rooms, doors, tiles, wallpaper, or windows by dragging and dropping into the desired space. There are not a lot of different themes to choose from in this department. Many of the colors are pretty basic. Add shag carpet or various styles of patterned tiles. Energy can also be purchased for SimCash in the shop. Final Verdict: Good The Sims Social is a good life simulation MMO. It's exactly what you'd expect from a Sims game. From the gibberish banter between characters to forming complicated relationships the path your avatar takes is completely up to you. Tackle numerous quests. Practice a new skill like playing an instrument or explore gardening. Comparable to YoVille in terms of its gameplay and customization options users can interact with their neighbors in multiple ways. Despite the fact that the ability to roam freely around town is prohibited any fans of the original series or avid Facebook gamers will still thoroughly enjoy this game. Screenshots The Sims Social Screenshots 123► Links The Sims Social Links Official Site

Uncharted Waters update brings new treasures Posted: 26 Oct 2011 04:27 PM PDT A new Uncharted Waters Online update has gone live today, adding both new content as well as two special events for Halloween. Players can now access the Catacomb Dungeon, the first dungeon of Uncharted Waters, to enter with a fleet and earn special items as well as a rewarding quest. The update also adds a new treasure system called Treasure Box. From October 26 until November 2, players can attempt to destroy “The Phantom of the Mary Celeste,” a special ghost ship appearing only during this Halloween event. The event will also grant double experience, so make sure to get sailing! Uncharted Waters Online is published by NetMarble. Uncharted Waters Online Gameplay Screenshot Source: Uncharted Waters OnlineTM Launches a New Feature, Treasure Box Nautical MMORPG introduces a new fun way to obtain most exclusive ships and items! Seoul, South Korea – Oct 26th, 2011 – Today Netmarble announced the launch of Treasure Box, an exciting drawing system of most advanced ships and other useful items that players cannot obtain easily. Also, different from previous items, Treasure Box can be accessed in separate pop-up page. It can be activated even while players are sailing. Another strong feature of Treasure Box is that players do not need to worry about inventory overload. Obtained items of Treasure Box will be stored in 'Bank' for one (1) full year, and players can selectively pick-up their wanted items at anytime. Along with the Treasure Box, special feature and events are also offered to Uncharted Waters Online sailors; l  Catacomb Dungeon: Very first dungeon system of Uncharted Waters Online. Recruit fleet members and fight against to achieve special quest and items. See Detail l  2X EXP Event (Oct 26th~Nov 2nd): Play and receive double EXP Points during the event period l  Halloween Event (Oct 26th~Nov 2nd): Exciting in-game event to celebrate Halloween Day. Destroy the ghost ship named 'The Phantom of the Mary Celeste.' See Detail With this new features and update of Uncharted Waters Online will enhance your gameplay and amuse your long, ordinary sailing. Join now and discover treasure, friendship and seafaring excitement.

Special Halloween events arrive in M.A.T. Posted: 26 Oct 2011 03:52 PM PDT Mission Against Terror (M.A.T.) will begin its own Halloween festivities tomorrow, October 27, with a new update. Schoolboy, schoolgirl, vampire, bunny, and bandit costumes will arrive, along with the special Pumpkin Hat, for players to dress up for the occasion. In battle, players obtain the new Deadwood Camo TAR-21, Type 81, and AKS-74U, as well as the M134 Hellfire Grimm minigun, Pumpkin Smoke Grenade, and Mummy Talons. AI Mode will gain Stage 4, where players  must battle off hundreds of melee bandits, and two new maps, “Chessboard Resort” and “Old Town,” will make their debut. Mission Against Terror is published by Wicked Interactive (Suba Games), which also publishes Bounty Hounds Online and Ace Online. Mission Against Terror Gameplay Screenshot Source: Mission Against Terror Throws Halloween Bash Limited-Time Costumes, Weapons, Maps and Game Modes Spice Up the Celebration TORONTO, ON October 25, 2011—Mission Against Terror (http://mat.subagames.com), everyone’s favorite free-to-play MMORPG shooter, gears up for Halloween in a big way. Beginning Thursday, Oct. 27, there will be special, limited-time costumes, weapons, even maps and a brand-new stage of AI Mode. As for candy, that’s what you’ll get when you put all this fun stuff together. “Halloween is the holiday of the year for us,” said Sam Ho, Director, Wicked Interactive. “More than any other day, it captures the excitement and the thrills that we bring to every game. It’s also the most popular day for the M.A.T. community, which is why we are pulling out all the stops.” Costumes: Mission Against Terror's Halloween patches will include a schoolboy and schoolgirl uniform, a classical and spooky set of vampire clothes for males and females, our popular black and scarlet bunny suits, and the ever-popular bandit costume for those who like breaking the law. Whatever players choose to wear, they can once again mix and match with the iconic Pumpkin Hat. Or if you prefer to keep it simple, the masquerade masks allow you to keep it on the sneak-tip. Weapons: Other than new clothing options, the Deadwood Camo edition TAR-21, the Type 81, and the AKS-74U will be debuting as non-Halloween weapons.  For a spooky touch of Halloween in your weaponry, the M134 Hellfire Grimm minigun returns this year along with the Pumpkin Smoke Grenade (complete with orange smoke!) and the Mummy Talons. Maps & Modes: Coupled with all of this is a new stage of AI Mode and new maps. In Stage 4 of AI Mode, players band together to slay bandits wielding melee weapons by the hundreds.  Two new regular maps will also be introduced: 1) “Chessboard Resort” takes place in a secluded resort in the far east up on forested mountains and away from civilization, said to be a tourist hotbed that attracts Yoga practitioners around the world as it is considered to be a powerful place of zen. 2) “Old Town” takes place in France in a Renaissance-period town preserved for centuries because of its architecture and history that is now a primary target for terrorists and their C4 bombs. Raves for M.A.T.: “M.A.T. is a solid online multiplayer shooter game with a splash of Asian stylings.” - FPSGuru Set in a near-future not so different from our own time, M.A.T. pits teams against one another in a bitter battle for the survival of the human race. Unanimously hailed for its solid gameplay and wide variety of game modes, M.A.T. has taken North America by storm, after becoming quite popular in Asia and other parts of the world. First looks at the M.A.T. Halloween update: http://dl2.subagames.com/gmimages/Halloween/Bunny%20Suits.jpg http://dl2.subagames.com/gmimages/Halloween/Pumpkin%20Hat.jpg To join in the big M.A.T. Halloween Bash, visit the M.A.T. site: http://mat.subagames.com.

New Lime Odyssey environmental screenshots Posted: 26 Oct 2011 03:11 PM PDT Aeria Games has released a new batch of screenshots highlighting some of Lime Odyssey’s areas in the world of Orta. The regions (shown below) include the dense Blue Coral Forest (home of the humans), the desert of West Tumbara (home of the Turga), the colorful area of Haze Island (home of the Muris), and other areas including Loran Desert and Duval Highlands. Aeria Games also publishes Eden Eternal and Golden Age. Lime Odyssey Environmental Screenshots: Source: Aeria Games Releases New Lime Odyssey Screenshots New Images from Upcoming 3D Fantasy MMORPG Reveal Stunning Landscapes SANTA CLARA, Calif.  – Oct. 26, 2011 – Aeria Games, a leading global publisher of free-to-play online games, today released new screenshots for Lime Odyssey: The Chronicles of Orta, its highly-anticipated 3D massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Lime Odyssey is developed by Sirius Entertainment Co., Ltd and will be published in North America by Aeria Games. The new screenshots showcase a visually stunning panorama of the continent Orta, allowing players an early glimpse of details from the lush greenery within the Blue Coral Forest to the towering saguaro cacti dotting the arid landscape of West Tumbara. Each of the three playable races inhabits a unique home region, which also serves as their starting location. Regions in Lime Odyssey: The Chronicles of Orta: Blue Coral Forest – This dense, diverse region is home to the Humans. West Tumbara – The cat-like Turga race claims the desert plains of West Tumbara. Haze Island – A colorful explosion of vibrant flora and fauna, Haze Island is the starting region for the diminutive Muris race. Sea, Land & Air – Players wishing to leave the safety and comfort of their starting borders can run, swim or fly to regions such as Loran Desert and Duval Highlands. Lime Odyssey will be free to download and free to play.  Interested players can learn more and sign up to participate in the upcoming closed beta test at: http://limeodyssey.aeriagames.com.

C21 prepares for new beta phase Posted: 26 Oct 2011 02:32 PM PDT C21, which previously offered a beta back in April, is preparing to launch a new beta phase, complete with a new website. The game is a third-person shooter that features customizable robots in btoh PvE and PvP scnearios. The game has since been updated to improve moment speed, combat speed, and controls; to add Demon Force Bases that feature deadly bosses and grand rewards; and to improve robot customization and the dynamic battle system. C21 is published by CyberStep, which also publishes CosmicBreak. C21 Concept Art Source: C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES– WEBSITE OPEN SAN FRANCISCO, CA – October 25th, 2011 – Online game developer CyberStep opens the website for its latest Robot MMORPG game, C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES– for early beta registration from 3:00 PM, Tuesday, October 25th. The beta testing period will begin from 3:00 PM on Thursday, October 27th. * C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES–　* Official Website: http://www.c21-online.com/ * C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES– is a unique MMORPG that is played from a 3rd person perspective and uses FPS controls to allow for fast-paced battles that will enable users to excel through their own personal skill, rather than their equipment. Robots can be equipped with various weapons or unique joint parts to hunt down ferocious monsters or fight against a powerful invading army known as the "Demon Force" across the planets within the Cosmic Renaissance. Your adventures take place in a galaxy known as the Cosmic Renaissance. It is home to many sentient robots that have evolved into their current forms in much the same way as other organic life. They soar through the sky, traverse vast battlefields, and brandish advanced weaponry. 1.  MORE EXCITEMENT, MORE ACTION In order to better serve players around the world, CyberStep has modified and polished the original title C21 in order to appeal more to users outside of Japan. An example of the changes implemented was a considerable increase in movement and combat speed. The controls have also been modified for ease of use, allowing users greater mobility during hectic combat situations. In addition to the enhanced game mechanics, the game content itself has also seen some changes. One change of note would be the addition of Demon Force Bases that will now appear on each planet. Players can choose to assault these bases in order in the name of grand ideals such as securing a brighter future for the Neo Angel Force or perhaps for more personal reasons, such as hunting for new equipment. Keep in mind, however, that these bases are enemy strongholds and will be populated with all manner of deadly enemies. In the deepest levels of these fortresses, players may encounter extremely powerful boss robots that will require trustworthy allies and teamwork in order to beat. The changes made to the original C21 coupled with its new elements will ensure that players of all types will be able to enjoy the game. As such, the game has received a new title, C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES–. 2.  BUILD A UNIQUE ROBOT! There are more than 100 different robots in C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES–, each of them consisting of at least 5 types of parts; Head Parts, Body Parts, Arm Parts, Leg Parts and Boosters. These parts can be freely added or removed to any standard robot. Players can utilize the powerful robot assembly system to build a robot that best suits their play style or customize it for certain combat roles. Combining that with the robot painting feature, players can create robots that are uniquely their own. 3.  DYNAMIC BATTLE SYSTEM One aspect that sets C21 –STEEL BATTLE CHRONICLES– apart from other MMORPG's is its use of a TPS battle system. Players can move freely about the battlefield without being forced to stand still and trade blows or count skill timers. The game seamlessly combines elements from both MMORPG and TPS Action Games, ensuring that many players will be able to enjoy their time in-game. About CyberStep: CyberStep, Inc. has been creating and managing original online games since 2000. CyberStep’s titles are played worldwide in over 10 different countries, and include games such as SplashFighters, C21, GetAmped2, CosmicBreak, and HolyBeast. CyberStep is always expanding, and aims to connect different cultures around the world through the mediums of high quality entertainment and technology.

Star Supremacy hosts twisted Trick or Treat Posted: 26 Oct 2011 01:59 PM PDT Players of Star Supremacy will be able to go through a special trick or treat event, starting on October 28 and running through November 3. During the event, GMs will hide on a planet (changing every 48 hours), with treats to hand out to players who find them. However, several obstacles will be on the path to finding a GM, including fake GMs. Players who succeed in finding, and making it, to the right GM will earn rewards including pumpkin helmets, Halloween candy, and longevity tokens. Star Supremacy Gameplay Screenshot Source: This Halloween, players will be treated to a special event in Star Supremacy.  Starting tomorrow, one of our GMs will be hiding on one of several planets in the game.  The GM will have a limited amount of Halloween treats for the players and it won’t be easy getting those treats.  Players who overcome the obstacles and are able to find the GM while the treats are still available will be rewarded.  Players should be warned that the GM will be changing locations every 48 hours from one planet to the other.  So incase word gets out of a GM’s location, players will have to rush to the location before it changes.  There will also be fake GMs so players will have to make sure they find the right GM and then send a Private Message to that GM in the form of “Trick or Treat” in order to get their Halloween treat. Event Details:Valid time:  28th Oct—3rd Nov Rewards: Top 1-5: pink pumpkin helmet*1, big Halloween candy*10, longevity token*2 Top6-10: purple pumpkin helmet*1, big Halloween candy*5, longevity token*1 Others: small candy*5, space treasure*1 Notes: rewards will be sent through in game mail in open beta and make sure to login your current account to get rewards in open beta. Please check out the official website for more information, announcements, and events as Star Supremacy launches or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/Star_Supremacy and Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Star-Supremacy/167124213363092?sk=wall.  You can also follow us on Raptr at http://raptr.com/game/Star-Supremacy. Star Supremacy is currently hosting a facebook event.  3 random players will be selected to win a gaming headset once the facebook page reaches 30,000 likes.

You are subscribed to email updates from MMO Hut To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610

MMO Updates

---

• Jagex levies a lawsuit against RuneScape botters
• In Russia, APB Reloaded hijacks you!
• Choose My Adventure: Meet Alira
• A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Choose your side or don't
• The Daily Grind: What would you ask your favorite game dev in person?
• SOE releases new PlanetSide 2 Terran Republic info
• Perfect World delays War of the Immortals beta
• Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 developer diary looks at ranged classes
• Cliffhanger Productions shares some details on Shadowrun Online
• Final Fantasy XIV bringing you another producer's letter all the way live
• The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The community
• DUST 514 could be the PS3's 'most important game'
• The Soapbox: Applying Neal Stephenson's Innovation Starvation to MMOs
• SOE apologizes for delay of SWG customer loyalty free trials
• Hyperspace Beacon: Crafting preview
• New 17-hole course coming to Pangya United
• Digimon Masters launches worldwide

Jagex levies a lawsuit against RuneScape botters Posted: 26 Oct 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, RuneScape, Free-to-play, Legal As RuneScape staggers under the assault of thousands of bots, Jagex is pulling out a pair of big guns to meet the problem head-on. The first weapon was yesterday's "Bot-Nuking Day," in which a patch was released that was supposed to deal with 98% of the botting in the game. The second is an official email sent to suspected botters threatening them with a class-action lawsuit if they don't desist. In the email, Jagex calls out the suspected behavior and offers the player a "one-time amnesty lifeline" to shape up. These players will be placed on a watch list and will be monitored for any further botting action. If the player persists in cheating, then Jagex promises to not only remove their account permanently but to include the player in a mass lawsuit. "If you ignore our offer and instead continue use botting software, we reserve our rights to pursue statutory damages against you for between $200 to $2,500 per act of past, present, and/or future botting," the letter states. A Jagex mod on the RuneScape forums confirmed that these emails are real. Jagex levies a lawsuit against RuneScape botters originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: RuneScape forums Via: MMO Fallout

In Russia, APB Reloaded hijacks you! Posted: 26 Oct 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, Free-to-play, Legal, All Points Bulletin, Crime, Sandbox All Points Bulletin's comeback looks to be in a stronger position than ever before as GamersFirst has just inked a deal with Innova Systems to publish and distribute the title in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. This hugely expands APB Reloaded's potential market as the title is on the verge of relaunch. While you may not have heard of Innova, GamersFirst's Rahul Sandil said that the company is well-established with a solid reputation in the region. "After an exhaustive diligence, it became clear that Innova was truly the only choice for distributing APB Reloaded to the Russian Federation. With six years of local market experience and more than two million active users, we know that APB Reloaded will flourish in Russia under Innova's watchful guidance," he said. APB players in Russia will need to use Innova's 4game publishing platform to access the game -- which, like it is elsewhere, will be free-to-play. In Russia, APB Reloaded hijacks you! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Choose My Adventure: Meet Alira Posted: 26 Oct 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Polls, Screenshots, Hands-on, Humor, Choose My Adventure, Final Fantasy XIV Everyone, I'd like you to give a warm welcome to my brand-new Final Fantasy XIV Choose My Adventure character, the Miqo'te Lancer Alira Zhyn. Before we get down to the nitty-gritty, let me go ahead and address the fact that yes, the top vote for gender was male, while the top vote for race was Miqo'te, and it's not possible to roll a male Miqo'te. I made an executive decision to allow race to override gender, as I feel race is a bit more of a deciding factor when creating a character than gender is. Now that that's out of the way, head on past the cut to read about Alira's first few days of adventure in Eorzea! Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Meet Alira Choose My Adventure: Meet Alira originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Choose your side or don't Posted: 26 Oct 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Expansions, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter Do you remember Going Rogue? Of course you do, even if it's had some of its thunder retroactively stolen by City of Heroes Freedom. And of course you remember that one of its big selling points -- its only selling point at launch for existing characters, arguably -- was that you could swap between the alignments of the game. Villains could become Heroes, go back to being Villains, hang out as a Rogue for a while, and so on. It seemed like the sort of thing that would be a real game changer. Well, it's been more than a year since we first started seeing the groups swap sides, and surprisingly enough -- or not -- the much bigger change was in the business model alteration and the ensuing changes to the game environment. Not that I'm complaining, mind you, but it brings to mind a question: Has there really been any long-term effect of the alignment system? If you aren't roleplaying the swap, does being one faction or the other even matter in the long run? Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Choose your side or don't A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Choose your side or don't originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: What would you ask your favorite game dev in person? Posted: 26 Oct 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous Let's say you found that golden ticket. Somehow you had the chance to tour your favorite game studio to meet your most admired MMO game developer. There he or she is, standing before you, willing to answer any question you can throw at him or her. As an added bonus, the dev can't avoid your question! So what would you ask? Would you ask Curt Schilling if you could play the Project Copernicus MMO? Would you ask Mike O'Brien when Guild Wars 2 is coming out? Or would you ask anyone at Blizzard what they were thinking when they decided Kung Fu Panda would make a great expansion to World of Warcraft? Let us know in the comments below! 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 would you ask your favorite game dev in person? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE releases new PlanetSide 2 Terran Republic info Posted: 25 Oct 2011 09:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2 Well, it's not exactly a deep gameplay reveal, but it's better than another lore snippet! What the heck are we talking about? Why, the latest PlanetSide 2 press release of course. Sony Online Entertainment has dropped a new screenshot on the masses, and the exciting image is accompanied by a wall o' text from creative director Matthew Higby. Higby spends a bit of time telling us about the Terran Republic, which is one of three warring factions in SOE's sci-fi shooter universe. The Republic is a professional military organization, and as such its members are equipped with weapons that "have the fastest firing rates, largest ammo capacities, and are generally designed to allow for maximum sustainable damage." The Terrans also have two unique vehicles at their disposal. The Mosquito is "an extremely agile attack aircraft" and boasts the highest top speed of any PlanetSide 2 air vehicle. The Prowler tank is the fastest empire-specific piece of heavy armor, and Higby describes it as "one of the deadliest vehicles in the game." Check out the full article at the official PlanetSide 2 website. SOE releases new PlanetSide 2 Terran Republic info originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: TR Debrief

Perfect World delays War of the Immortals beta Posted: 25 Oct 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play With all the Perfect World MMOs floating around, it's occasionally hard to keep them straight (especially when they have similar-sounding names like War of the Immortals and Battle of the Immortals). One way to tell these two apart at a glance is by their respective launch dates: One (BoI) launched in 2010 and one (WoI) is getting ready to enter closed beta. Unfortunately there's been a slight delay for said beta, which was originally scheduled to kick off on October 25th. Happily, Perfect World has just updated its WoI news page with a brief blurb announcing the new closed beta start date as November 2nd. Why the delay? The short answer is additional content, and PWE says that "it will add a tremendous amount of value to the game." Perfect World delays War of the Immortals beta originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: WoI beta update

Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 developer diary looks at ranged classes Posted: 25 Oct 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, Free-to-play WindSlayer 2 has kicked off its closed beta, giving a select group of players the chance to see how the game plays before it goes live. But for everyone else, the game's previews are the only clues as to how the game will play once you can log in. Here at Massively, we've been posting a series of exclusive diaries straight from the team over at Ignited Games to show off what the game will have to offer players fond of the side-scrolling sprite format. Our last diary, of course, dealt with the game's three classes devoted to getting within arm's reach of monsters and pounding them senseless -- the melee classes, to be more prosaic. So it's appropriate we have a new exclusive today previewing the game's three ranged classes. Click on past the break for discussion of the Archer, Mage, and Priest -- what they're able to do, how they're meant to play, and what players can expect from each. Continue reading Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 developer diary looks at ranged classes Massively Exclusive: WindSlayer 2 developer diary looks at ranged classes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cliffhanger Productions shares some details on Shadowrun Online Posted: 25 Oct 2011 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Interviews, Previews, News items, Browser Almost any veteran of pen-and-paper games is at least passingly familiar with the setting for Shadowrun Online, currently under development by Cliffhanger Productions. It's a big setting with plenty of space for many different player types, so the real question comes down to what the developers want to do with the upcoming browser-based game. A recent interview puts forth just that question, with the development team answering some questions about what potential players can expect. Of course, all of the answers are provided with the caveat that the development process has only just begun. But the game is currently set up to split between a tactical action map for missions such as infiltration and assault, with a city map and a more text-based interface for negotiating contracts and managing your character. There are also plans to keep the game's plot evolving based on character actions, such as which side players favor during a corporate war -- something that should keep players interested even with the admission that beta is at least a year out. [Thanks to Onyx for the tip!] Cliffhanger Productions shares some details on Shadowrun Online originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: RPS Cliffhanger Interview

Final Fantasy XIV bringing you another producer's letter all the way live Posted: 25 Oct 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV Between the release of patch 1.19 and the announcements regarding the game's future, Final Fantasy XIV has been drumming up quite a bit of excitement from its fans. And what better way to capitalize on that excitement than to have another installment of the producer's letter live for everyone to enjoy? On November 3rd, Naoki Yoshida will once again be taking to the broadcast waves to answer player questions about the most recent patch and future updates. The official announcement notes that the particulars of the broadcast are not yet determined, but as with the previous live event, players can submit questions in advance or via Twitter on the day itself. While Yoshida will strive to answer as many questions as possible, there will be time constraints, and of course the audio will be in Japanese with a translation to come further down the road. Still, it's a chance to get more questions about the game answered by the man with the plan himself, and that's something many players will no doubt be excited by. Final Fantasy XIV bringing you another producer's letter all the way live originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Producer's Letter Live II

The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The community Posted: 25 Oct 2011 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Asheron's Call, Culture, Opinion, The Game Archaeologist Time machines are expensive, and with gas the price it is today, it's not always viable to fuel up your DeLorean and travel back to the early 2000s just to check out some of those long-gone MMOs. Fortunately, jawing about them with former players and developers is the next best method of revisiting canceled MMOs. It's been a personal treat to spend the month covering a game I never got to see when it was live. Asheron's Call 2 seems like it was a special game that tried hard and resulted in spectacular ideas and flaws alike. We've gotten to hear from former fansite owners and a developer on the team, which leaves just one group to check in with: the players themselves. So today it's all about reminiscing over AC2 with the players who still carry a torch for this title and perhaps have a poster of it on the ceiling over their beds. I wouldn't be surprised if there's one or two people out there who made "children" out of discarded Asheron's Call 2 boxes and have enrolled them in elementary school only to be declined because they couldn't be authenticated. That's just how much love there is out there for this game. Continue reading The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The community The Game Archaeologist answers Asheron's Call 2: The community originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

DUST 514 could be the PS3's 'most important game' Posted: 25 Oct 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Consoles, MMOFPS, DUST 514, Sandbox Still miffed about CCP's decision to limit its DUST 514 MMOFPS to Sony's PlayStation 3 console? According to an article at Develop, the title is worth following anyway because it could be just what the doctor ordered in terms of bridging the gap between the PC and console gaming markets. "The console space right now is where the PC was before the internet really kicked off," CCP's Thor Gunnarsson told Develop. "It is about to leap forwards and it won't look back." Unlike traditional console games that may see an update or two (and in more recent years, a handful of downloadable content packs) before fading into obscurity, DUST will be built "iteratively in front of our community, with the same tight feedback loop as before," according to Gunnarsson. The ongoing attention, and the game's real-time connection with EVE Online, should allow for an engaging console experience to be found nowhere else. It's not all roses, though, as Develop points out that console shooters are casual games almost by definition, while the EVE Online experience is anything but. Hit the source link to read the full article. DUST 514 could be the PS3's 'most important game' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Develop

The Soapbox: Applying Neal Stephenson's Innovation Starvation to MMOs Posted: 25 Oct 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous, Sandbox Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column. You've probably heard of Neal Stephenson. The celebrated sci-fi author recently released his 13th novel, Reamde, and while it treads a little closer to traditional thriller territory than some of his more cerebral efforts, it still packs a futurist punch (and even led the author to comment on MMOs, virtual worlds, and World of Warcraft in a recent interview). In addition to speculative fiction, Stephenson is also prone to the occasional essay, the latest of which found its way onto the intarwebs a few weeks ago. While not directly related to the gaming or massively multiplayer industries, the piece does feature some interesting observations about the stagnant creative culture to be found in contemporary corporate America, and Stephenson also offers plenty of food for thought that can be applied to the current state of the MMO space. Continue reading The Soapbox: Applying Neal Stephenson's Innovation Starvation to MMOs The Soapbox: Applying Neal Stephenson's Innovation Starvation to MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

SOE apologizes for delay of SWG customer loyalty free trials Posted: 25 Oct 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, News items, Star Wars Galaxies Many Star Wars Galaxies players were disappointed to find that the free membership trials promised to them by October 15th had not been delivered. Well, Sony's sorry too, but don't worry: The company is making it up to players by... actually activating the free trials this time! An official post over at the Star Wars Galaxies forums apologizes for the delay and offers players free trials for five SOE titles: DC Universe Online, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, Free Realms, EverQuest, and EverQuest II. While most of these games are technically free-to-play, Sony's offer will upgrade all prior SWG account-holders to paid membership status for each game until December 31st of this year. So if you had a SWG account in good standing prior to October 15th, head on over to the official forum thread for details on how to claim your free trials. SOE apologizes for delay of SWG customer loyalty free trials originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Star Wars Galaxies official forums

Hyperspace Beacon: Crafting preview Posted: 25 Oct 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, New titles, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon, Crafting BioWare calls the Star Wars: The Old Republic's crafting system Crew Skills. It's labeled quite appropriately because the majority of the work is performed by the companion characters and not the player himself. If you venture over to the official website, the developers have put together a brief outline of all the Crew Skills and a short video describing them. Every MMO with crafting has had two basic steps and SWTOR is certainly no exception. However, our space-opera MMO adds to standard gathering and crafting steps a third element: missions. But that's not the only thing different. When I asked Live Producer Blaine Christine about crafting over a year ago, it had not been announced yet, but he did say, "I think it's a different take on crafting than what people will be expecting. It's not the standard implementation. It's going to be a treat." He was definitely correct about it not being the standard implementation, but how about that "treat" part? During the last couple of weeks, BioWare allowed me to explore a little bit of Crew Skills system on the beta server without devs over my shoulder like at conventions or press junkets. After the jump, I'd like to explore each piece of Crew Skills and compare it to other crafting systems in other MMOs. I suggest that if you're not interested in spoilers you stop reading now because I'm about to spill everything about this unique game mechanic. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Crafting preview Hyperspace Beacon: Crafting preview originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

New 17-hole course coming to Pangya United Posted: 25 Oct 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sports, Patches, News items, Free-to-play Popular anime-style golfing MMO Pangya United has a new update coming its way, SG Interactive announced in a press release today. The update will bring with it a brand-new golf course known as Wiz City, which -- as you may have divined -- is home to Pangya United's witch and wizard population. The 17-hole course is the largest update to hit the quirky MMO title in over a year. If you want to get in on the golfing action (wait, isn't that an oxymoron?), head on over to the game's official site to sign up. If you do so between now and November 9th, you'll receive in-game bonuses such as Gacha Coins and Time Boosts. [Source: SG Interactive press release] New 17-hole course coming to Pangya United originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Digimon Masters launches worldwide Posted: 25 Oct 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Launches, Free-to-play, Kids Enough with the waiting -- there are battles to be won, and today's the day in which to win them! Joymax's Digimon Masters emerged from its beta cocoon, spread its wings, and flew into release today. It's much cooler if you think of it as a monstrous mechanized butterfly with atomic ray eyes, of course. Unlike previous Digimon games, Digimon Masters will eschew turn-based combat to take place in real-time. Players assume the roles of Tamers who train combat-worthy creatures to battle each other. Digimon Masters has been released worldwide and is currently only available in English. You can jump into the game through the Joymax portal. Gallery: Digimon Masters Digimon Masters launches worldwide originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

You are subscribed to email updates from Massively To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.	Email delivery powered by Google
Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610