MMO Updates |
- Star Wars: The Old Republic hit with layoffs
- Hyperspace Beacon: Four reasons in-character reporting is good for SWTOR
- The Soapbox: What it means to be a game journalist
- Bungie's Destiny coming in 2013, features microtransactions and subscriptions
- Trion releases Defiance feature video, details transmedia synergy
- World of Warplanes closed beta starts May 31st
- FTC to investigate Nexon's alleged hostile takeover of Gamania
- ArenaNet president defends microtransactions and in-game RMT in Guild Wars 2
- The Daily Grind: Would you play an adult MMO?
- Winners announced in Champions Online Design a Villain contest
- Layoffs confirmed for 38 Studios, Rhode Island takes no action
- EverQuest II's GU63 tweaks crafting, adds hundreds of new items
- Not So Massively: Error 37, hero spotlights, and the Torchlight II beta
- Creative staff discuss the story setting of The Elder Scrolls Online
- Captain's Log: STO's Caitian Carriers and Klingon Kitties
- Ultima Online rolling out a new installment of the Awakening
- Wings Over Atreia: Touring Tiamaranta
- Leaderboard: Permadeath vs. no permadeath
- Diablo III players report eruption of hacked accounts
- SWTOR patch 1.3 bringing group finder, legacy perks
- Spacetime Studios teases Arcane Legends
- RuneScape behind-the-scenes video gives players a peek at upcoming Queen Black Dragon update
- Vindictus EU update features two new raid bosses
- The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P
| Star Wars: The Old Republic hit with layoffs Posted: 22 May 2012 10:20 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic  The docs say that it's business as usual going forward for SWTOR, and that the game will continue to grow over time. "We still have a very substantial development team working on supporting and growing the game, and we feel we are in a strong position, with your continued involvement and feedback, to continue to build Star Wars: The Old Republic as one of the most compelling and successful online experiences in the world today," the statement reads.
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| Hyperspace Beacon: Four reasons in-character reporting is good for SWTOR Posted: 22 May 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Lore, Opinion, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon  When the quests dry up and PvP becomes stale, RP and the RP community hold me to this game. Multiple readers of the Hyperspace Beacon and fans of The Republic have asked how they can get involved in the roleplay in SWTOR. I usually point them to one place: SWTOR-RP.com. I could go on and on about this site and what it has done for the roleplay community, but nothing stands out more than the metagame that it's created with in-character articles. These news reports and editorials have been a launchpad for many in-character conversations. So let me draw you in and show you what I'm talking about. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Four reasons in-character reporting is good for SWTOR
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| The Soapbox: What it means to be a game journalist Posted: 22 May 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous  People have, on a few occasions, asked me for advice on becoming a game journalist. My usual response, which is only half-joking, is, "Don't." In just a handful of months, I'll be hitting my three-year anniversary for working Massively. That means I've had one of the longest tenures at the site, which is kind of staggering in my mind. I still fundamentally think of myself as one of the new kids on the block. But for better or worse, I've been doing this for a while and have a pretty good grasp of what the job entails. Of course, that's still a subject of debate. As with a lot of topics, people as a whole can't even decide on what makes someone a game journalist instead of just an enthusiast with some advertising revenue. To some people, it's not even a real job, just a hobby. I'm one of those people who never like to pin down an exact definition of something that's ambiguous... but I can define what I see as my responsibilities in this job. Continue reading The Soapbox: What it means to be a game journalist
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| Bungie's Destiny coming in 2013, features microtransactions and subscriptions Posted: 22 May 2012 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Legal  The title will be sold at retail, but will also feature DLC, microtransactions, and subscriptions. But is it an MMO? That's still to be determined as the company hasn't released specifics. Eurogamer has put together a piece summarizing various Bungie comments on the Destiny series, including hints at persistence and a long-term commitment from both fans and developers. "I can't get into specifics, but we're definitely looking at building a universe that people want to spend time in," community director Brian Jarrard said in April 2010. Bungie's Joseph Staten also commented on the IP at GDC 2010. "Wouldn't it be great if we could make a world that was always there for you," he said.
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| Trion releases Defiance feature video, details transmedia synergy Posted: 22 May 2012 08:15 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Defiance  Defiance the game takes place in the bombed out ruins of a post-alien-invasion San Francisco, while Defiance the TV show is set in and around St. Louis, Missouri. Despite the location differences, Trion says that the events of the virtual world will affect those of the show, and vice versa. How so (and how much)? That remains to be seen, but Shacknews has a game preview that sheds a little light on the subject. In a nutshell, characters on the show might namedrop a gamer avatar who completes a particular mission or makes an impact on the game world in some way. SyFy president Dave Howe also told the website that he's hopeful that gameplay events will have a more significant impact on season two of the television series. Head past the break to view the full video feature. [Source: Trion press release] Continue reading Trion releases Defiance feature video, details transmedia synergy
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| World of Warplanes closed beta starts May 31st Posted: 22 May 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Historical, MMO industry, New titles, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Warplanes  The company says its "army of test pilots will be increased drastically" as a result, so be sure to sign up on the official WoWP website. World of Warplanes is a lobby-based flight combat game set during aviation's golden age. It features aircraft ranging from 1930s biplanes to 1950s jets. For more on the game, check out our recent interview with producer Anton Sitnikau. [Source: Wargaming.net press release]
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| FTC to investigate Nexon's alleged hostile takeover of Gamania Posted: 22 May 2012 07:30 AM PDT Filed under: Business models, MMO industry, News items, Legal, Miscellaneous  This will help determine whether Nexon has violated the Fair Trade Act, which says that any merger involving a company with more than 25 percent market share in a particular field must be reported to authorities. Gamania contacted the FTC, ostensibly out of concern for Nexon's impact on the Taiwanese gaming industry. "It would be absolutely detrimental to the development of Taiwan's online gaming industry if a large-scale foreign corporation was allowed to take control of the local industry's operating channels and resources, whether the integration is horizontal or vertical," the company said.
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| ArenaNet president defends microtransactions and in-game RMT in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 22 May 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business models, Interviews, Guild Wars 2  O'Brien addressed why Guild Wars 2 wasn't being offered as a straight free-to-play title, but instead as a retail product with an up-front cost. "The answer is we're really focused on creating the highest-quality MMO, not the lowest-cost MMO," he replied. "I think Guild Wars 2 is one of the best values in gaming, period. Where else can you get this many hours of enjoyment, of content, of polish, of replayability, for $60?" He also took the opportunity to expand upon his own blog post covering microtransactions from a few weeks ago. "Creating a microtransaction system that doesn't upset or alienate your player base is straightforward, once you clearly define what's in-bounds and what's out-of-bounds," O'Brien stated. He says that ArenaNet wants to be "open and honest" with players regarding the in-game store options, and promises that these will be "non-essential additions to the game and convenience services" only. O'Brien also had strong words about the shady practices of RMT companies, practices that ArenaNet is trying to combat by offering its own in-game RMT system. "Where there's a real profit incentive, someone out there in the world will lie, cheat, and steal to make that profit, " he said. "By letting players trade directly with each other, we take the power away from RMT companies and give it to the entire playerbase."
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| The Daily Grind: Would you play an adult MMO? Posted: 22 May 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, Second Life, The Daily Grind, Mortal Online  Yesterday we told you about an adult MMO called Orgia Romanus that's causing a stir due to its focus on sexual content. While the game is certainly taking an over-the-top approach, it's by no means the first MMO to walk this path.Indie titles like Sociolotron and portions of virtual worlds like Second Life are renowned for their focus on various taboo topics, while more traditional titles like Age of Conan and Mortal Online have dabbled in avatar nudity and adult-oriented quests. But what if an MMO came along that managed to incorporate adult topics in a manner devoid of sensationalism? Sure, it's a tall order, but let's assume it's possible. Would you play it, or do you steer clear of anything with the "adult" label?  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!
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| Winners announced in Champions Online Design a Villain contest Posted: 22 May 2012 05:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Contests, News items, Free-to-play, Champions Online  The grand prize winner who will see both of his creations featured in an upcoming 10-man Alert is Fryguy8544. Runner ups are Ubusunagami, Akwartz, Rianba, chezpizza, Azathoth-Sothoth, and CCat76; their villains will also be featured in the game. Congratulations to the winners! To check out the winning submissions with their corresponding costumes, visit the official announcement linked below (you'll need to log in to the forums to see the pictures). And for those whose submissions weren't chosen this time, keep watch for the next waves of winners.
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| Layoffs confirmed for 38 Studios, Rhode Island takes no action Posted: 21 May 2012 08:30 PM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, News items, Legal, Miscellaneous  Founder Curt Schilling did not directly respond to press inquiries, stating that he would answer questions when he is able to do so. He did, however, state that he was not taking further taxpayer money. Whether or not there will be a company there to take any money in the near future is still very much in doubt, however, and while Chafee has been a bit more diplomatic about aiding the studio, he has stressed that any assistance would be far on the conservative side.
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| EverQuest II's GU63 tweaks crafting, adds hundreds of new items Posted: 21 May 2012 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Crafting  SOE's Brian "Omougi" Ferguson says that Carpenters and Alchemists got a lot of love during this patch, and combat-only players will be pleased to know that crafters can now make even more handy upgrades. There are two new consumables for each class archetype, and Ferguson is particularly fond of the tank versions which gives meatshields an additional 20% damage reduction for 12 seconds. Full details are yours at the official EQII website.
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| Not So Massively: Error 37, hero spotlights, and the Torchlight II beta Posted: 21 May 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Trailers, Video, Bugs, Game mechanics, PvP, News items, Free-to-play, Not So Massively, MOBA, League of Legends, Diablo III  League of Legends revealed upcoming champion Darius this week and announced huge client updates that seem set to double the game's frame rate. Blacklight: Retribution released a new Netwar game mode, combining capture the flag and control point gameplay. Heroes of Newerth released its new support hero Riftwalker, Dota 2 released classic hero Treant, and Rise of Immortals took a close look at melee damage-dealer Tzai. Upcoming MOBA Smite will be entering closed beta at the end of the month, and Torchlight II's beta will soon end for the last time. Continue reading Not So Massively: Error 37, hero spotlights, and the Torchlight II beta
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| Creative staff discuss the story setting of The Elder Scrolls Online Posted: 21 May 2012 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Interviews, Lore, News items, Sandbox, The Elder Scrolls Online  Sage and Lambert explain that the real draw to this particular time period was the fact that there's neither a great deal of recorded in-game history nor a lot of huge events that might affect future titles -- it's a time when almost anything can happen without derailing future events in the universe. The duo also discusses keeping the game aligned with existing lore and ensuring that nothing gets thrown off by mistake. Those looking forward to the game will want to watch the full interview, which goes into more details regarding specifics of lore and setting.
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| Captain's Log: STO's Caitian Carriers and Klingon Kitties Posted: 21 May 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Game mechanics, Lore, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play, Races, Captain's Log  Lately I've beginning to wonder whether the wait for Star Trek Online's Season Six has been as interminable for other players as it seems to have been for me. Although the past several weeks have been busy in the real-life side of things, those distractions really haven't been all that good at harboring my frustration about the wait for the new stuff as I would have liked. Season Six is being readied for a move to STO's test server, Tribble, in the next couple of weeks, according to the most recent Ask Cryptic as answered by the game's Executive Producer, Dan Stahl. The new patch will contain fleet starbases and a new fleet advancement system but not much else in the way of story-based content. That's not unexpected, however, as not one of the previous Season releases really ever contained story-based content; they've merely been game-technology pushes, and I understand that Season Six will be no different. However a couple of things have come out to the game in the past few weeks that have ruffled some hard-core Trek-fan feathers: Caitian Carriers and Ferasans. Continue reading Captain's Log: STO's Caitian Carriers and Klingon Kitties
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| Ultima Online rolling out a new installment of the Awakening Posted: 21 May 2012 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Ultima Online, Dungeons  If you're not willing to wait, the new patch also sees a revamp of the Covetous Dungeon. The first floor remains largely unchanged, but levels two and three both feature a new system for the game in which players accumulate points for defeating monsters that can later be turned in for new rewards. Last but not least, vanilla plants have been added to the game's gardening system, giving players another new thing to explore when not fighting monsters or preparing for the next part of The Awakening.
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| Wings Over Atreia: Touring Tiamaranta Posted: 21 May 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Aion, Expansions, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-play, Allods Online, Wings Over Atreia, Guides  But even if you aren't in the mood for a bloody round of patty-cake, there is plenty of PvE and exploring to be had in this ecologically diverse land with a variety of new mobs to see (and dispatch) and new tasks to accomplish. Not able to make the trip yourself right now? Join Wings over Atreia's guided tour and get a taste of Tiamaranta. Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Touring Tiamaranta
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| Leaderboard: Permadeath vs. no permadeath Posted: 21 May 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Polls, Game mechanics, Opinion, Miscellaneous, Leaderboard  However, this most-severest-of-severe death penalties does persist. Some players elect to form guilds and meta-groups to pursue a permadeath lifestyle in their games. A few upcoming titles, such as Salem and Wizardry Online, have permadeath as a core mechanic. Even the recently released Diablo III has a "hardcore" permadeath mode for the brave at heart. The question we put before you today is yet another nibble that may never be noticed by the mainstream, but it's important to consider: Is permadeath worth including in MMO design, even as an optional mechanic or server, or should this brand of death penalty kick the bucket once and for all? Vote after the jump! Continue reading Leaderboard: Permadeath vs. no permadeath
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| Diablo III players report eruption of hacked accounts Posted: 21 May 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Diablo III  It seems like Diablo III just can't catch a break. The game got off to a rather rocky start with a number of launch issues that have since subsided, but there's no rest for the wicked because now a number of players are reporting hacked accounts and stolen items. Eurogamer writer Christian Donlan is just one of many unlucky players who have had their accounts compromised and their hard-earned items and gold stolen. What's peculiar about these hacks is the fact that Blizzard authenticators don't seem to be doing anything to deter the hackers. Many players on the forums are speculating that, whatever this hack is, it has the ability to bypass Blizzard's authentication entirely, which is a fairly scary prospect to say the least. That's all of the information we have for the time being, but we'll be sure to keep an eye out for further details as they develop.
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| SWTOR patch 1.3 bringing group finder, legacy perks Posted: 21 May 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Interviews, Patches, Previews, Star Wars: The Old Republic  The group finder will aid in banding together interested adventurers to tackle operations and flashpoints. Lead Designer Daniel Erickson said that the time is ripe for the feature, as players are spread out in levels and are rolling plenty of alts. Saying that BioWare wants to "respect the communities" that have formed, Erickson reports that the group finder will not be cross-server. He also revealed some of the other key features for patch 1.3. Additional perks to the Legacy system will allow players to customize their experience; we'll see new ports, earlier access to mounts, and bonus XP modifiers for PvP. The patch will also change social gear to fit the armor type of the class using it, server transfers, and the ability to add augments to any crafting items. Looking past 1.3, Erickson promises a "return to big content" with patch 1.4. If you're a fan of the SWTOR novels, you'll also be delighted to hear that Drew Karpyshyn announced that his next novel, Annihilation, is scheduled for November 13th. You can watch the patch 1.3 preview video after the jump! Continue reading SWTOR patch 1.3 bringing group finder, legacy perks
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| Spacetime Studios teases Arcane Legends Posted: 21 May 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: New titles, Free-to-play, Mobile  Yes, it appears to be true! Spacetime Studios is working on a fourth title for its popular mobile MMO library, filing a trademark that has since been approved. The application for a U.S. federal trademark was submitted on April 5th and was given the thumbs up May 10th. As one of its categories is "electronic game software for cellular telephones," we can reasonably deduce that Arcane Legends will launch on mobile devices in the same manner of its older siblings. Spacetime Studios told us that it will release an official announcement of the title later this week. The studio recently released the vampire-themed MMO Dark Legends on iOS and Android devices.
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| RuneScape behind-the-scenes video gives players a peek at upcoming Queen Black Dragon update Posted: 21 May 2012 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Previews, News items, RuneScape, Free-to-play  RuneScape players, do you want a closer look at what goes on behind the scenes of Jagex's popular free-to-play title? If so, then you're in luck because today we've got the first in a series of weekly videos that take fans on a behind-the-scenes tour of the game's upcoming content. This first video focuses on the upcoming Queen Black Dragon update, which is a members' update that will be coming in two parts. The first part of the update will bring a new questline and a "multi-level training dungeon," while part two will bring the Queen Black Dragon herself. The video promises that the fight will be one of the biggest that RuneScape has ever seen, and players who emerge victorious will have plenty of loot to look forward to. For the full, juicy details, check out the full behind-the-scenes video after the cut.
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| Vindictus EU update features two new raid bosses Posted: 21 May 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, PvE, Free-to-play, Vindictus  Except for maybe Glas Ghaibheleann. He's also a raid boss. While he's not quite as attractive as his partner-in-crime, he's equally deadly. Nexon says that the pair will awe players with their appearance and unique abilities. Get a load of the latest Vindictus EU update in the video after the cut. [Source: Nexon Europe press release] Continue reading Vindictus EU update features two new raid bosses
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| The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P Posted: 21 May 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Anvil of Crom  When AoC Unchained debuted last summer, I read the account services matrix like everyone else, but to be frank, I didn't pay it much attention because I'd always been a subscriber. In the back of my mind, I figured that anyone who's halfway serious about Age of Conan would want to sub up, and my experiences this weekend have only reinforced that notion. Continue reading The Anvil of Crom: Downgrading an Age of Conan account to F2P
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Activision's victory essentially made it possible for third-party game designers to ply their trade on home game consoles. 
