MMO Updates

MMO Updates

E3 2012: Jet Li Becomes the face of Age of Wushu

Posted: 05 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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Jet Li Becomes the Face of Age of Wushu
Age of Wushu, the martial arts MMO, features wuxia-style combat with some impressive acrobatic moves. So it seems a perfect fit that Snail Games has announced Jet Li to be the face of the MMO, as announced today at E3. The International action film star has signed a two-year deal to promote the game, and as spokesperson, he'll be featured in a TV commercial and make public appearances at events.

Li began his training in Wushu at the age of eight, and was a multiple champion in China before retiring at the age of 19 to begin his film career. His film titles include Lethal Weapon 4, Unleashed, The Forbidden Kingdom, and The Expendables. He's also wrapping up work on The Expendables II, which is due in theaters this August.

Age of Wushu is an upcoming free-to-play MMO by Snail Games, set in the age of the Ming Dynasty in China. It features Wuxia-style combat and some interesting concepts such as no levels or classes and a boss sidekick system. Massively will be meeting the team at E3, so keep your eyes open for more news this week!

Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 4-7, bringing you all the best news from E3 2012. We're covering everything from PlanetSide 2 and SWTOR and ArcheAge to RIFT's and LotRO's upcoming expansions, so stay tuned!

MassivelyE3 2012: Jet Li Becomes the face of Age of Wushu originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 PvP primer

    Posted: 05 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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    Guild Wars 2 - Battle of Kyhlo loading screen
    Welcome to the PvP primer, the post with a small taste of everything you didn't think you wanted to know about PvP content in Guild Wars 2. Some folks regard Guild Wars 2 as a PvP-centric game with PvE content tacked on as an occasional diversion. If that's you, this post is probably full of stuff you already know. Think of this as crib notes for the uninitiated. Are you unsure how to find your way around WvW? Are you trying to find your way into a PvP match? This primer is for you.

    Last week we took a look at world vs. world (WvW), which pits three servers against each other in grand-scale, pitched battles. Now it's time to give some love to structured PvP (some folks are getting sPvP started as a term for that), which is all about quicker battles with fewer people on smaller maps.

    Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 PvP primer

    MassivelyFlameseeker Chronicles: Guild Wars 2 PvP primer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Repopulation's May report highlights new crafting and combat goodies

      Posted: 05 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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      The Repopulation screenshot
      Another month has come and gone, which means it's time for another end-of-the-month status report for The Repopulation, the upcoming sci-fi sandbox game that plans to start a round of alpha testing this month. To get ready for this next step, Above and Beyond Technologies has been hard at work adding new elements to the game and tweaking many existing ones.

      Amid the UI tweaks and bug fixes, this update includes world, skill, crafting, and combat changes. Two new areas (Oasis Valley and Wreckage Site 94) have opened and other areas have been revamped. Over fifty new decoration items have been added, including benches and chairs where players can sit. Stealth has been reworked so that players can now detect others using their own skill check. Crafting has a new system in place that will require players to respond to occasional events and the responses will affect the result of the craft. Combat sees new immunity timers for daze and stun effects that will prevent players from becoming stun-locked in PvP.

      And that's just the tip of the update iceberg; full details can be found in the patch notes.

      MassivelyThe Repopulation's May report highlights new crafting and combat goodies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Guild Wars 2 beta brings new zones, PvP tournaments, and more

      Posted: 05 Jun 2012 07:15 AM PDT

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      Guild Wars 2 concept art
      With the second Guild Wars 2 beta weekend event fast approaching, the ArenaNet blog has been updated with some new details about updates to beta client.

      As we've been told before, players' characters from the previous BWE and stress test will roll over into this event, allowing people who put the effort into leveling their toons to reap the sweet, sweet rewards of higher-level content. That higher-level content comes in the form of the Ascalonian Catacombs dungeon's story mode (for level 30 characters), explorable mode (for level 35 characters), and a new map human-territory map, Gendarran Fields (for level 25-35 characters). Additionally, players can travel to Lion's Arch and give their unwanted weapons and items to the Mystic Forge to see what it spits out in return. Apparently, the forge runs on pure djinn power (253% more green than any fuel we've got, we're guessing) -- the djinn Zommoros is held within the Mystic Forge, and is evidently content to take players' stuff in exchange for mysterious goods of unknown value.

      On the PvP side of things, WvW maps have received quite an update! Along with the normal face-stopping and zerging associated with WvW, players will now be able to participate in a newly-added mini-dungeon, skill challenges, jumping puzzles, and even dynamic events. Players participating in structured PvP will have the option to form into five-player groups and take part in eight-team tournaments for chests full of goodies, and will find that structured PvP matches reward them with Rank as well as Glory.

      Updates have been made to general gameplay and design, as well. Overflow server technology is now being made functional by the ability to see when party members are on overflow worlds, travel to those party members' worlds, and stick together between zones. Chat has been improved with chat bubbles, map chat, and an update to local chat. Those of you who've been waiting on key-binding functionality will find that it's got a new interface (which includes the binding of modifier keys, thank the five gods). Skills have been split into three tiers -- players now have to unlock a certain number of skills on one tier to be able to unlock any skills on the next level, in order to encourage a sense of progression and to make adding new skills more feasible in the future.

      Full details of the update can be read on the ArenaNet blog.

      MassivelyGuild Wars 2 beta brings new zones, PvP tournaments, and more originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      LotRO: Riders of Rohan website, pre-purchase available [Updated]

      Posted: 05 Jun 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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      LotRO Riders of Rohan website, prepurchase available
      Turbine's sounded the rallying horn today to its legion of Lord of the Rings Online fans to come south to Rohan. The official Riders of Rohan website has launched, and the fall's expansion is now available to pre-purchase for special bonuses.

      The website shows off the mounted combat, epic story, and regions of Rohan through images, descriptions, and a teaser video. There's also an interesting story section that boasts a short film with live actors portraying some of the key characters in the expansion.

      While we're still some time off from the expansion's release, Turbine is tempting us into pre-purchasing Riders of Rohan by offering a slew of different packages and bonuses. There are three editions ranging from $39.99 to $69.99. The editions include different amounts of extra content including a special mount, older zone quest packs, and the much-desired sixth inventory bag. By pre-purchasing, players will get many of these bonuses immediately as well as a few extras that won't be available after the expansion launches.

      You can watch both the teaser video as well as the story trailer for Riders of Rohan after the jump!

      [Update: Turbine has confirmed that the expansion will release on September 5th, 2012.]

      Continue reading LotRO: Riders of Rohan website, pre-purchase available [Updated]

      MassivelyLotRO: Riders of Rohan website, pre-purchase available [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: How do you feel about Kickstarter MMOs?

      Posted: 05 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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      Kickstarter MMOs
      Kickstarter is all the rage these days, particularly when it comes to indie sandbox MMORPGs. Recently both The Repopulation and Embers of Caerus unveiled crowd-funding drives, and we're always pleased to see other in-development MMOs join the parade.

      Massively's inbox has been flooded with tips about these games, and yet as of press time, EoC's drive boasts under 300 contributors while The Repopulation's has yet to top the hundred backer mark. Due to the way Kickstarter works, the devs are still able to meet funding goals thanks to large donations, but we have to wonder if hundreds of backers quicken the pulses of venture capitalists who know that MMOs need thousands of players to flourish.

      What say you, morning crew? Are you encouraged by crowd-funding initiatives, or are you a bit skeptical? How do you feel about Kickstarter MMO projects?

      Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

      MassivelyThe Daily Grind: How do you feel about Kickstarter MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Aion releases next auction schedule for housing

        Posted: 05 Jun 2012 05:00 AM PDT

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        Aion screenshot
        It's vicious! Foes duking it out, consistently trying to one-up each other until only the victor remains. It really is brutal out there. Are we talking about PvP? Nope -- it's Aion's housing market.

        Aion's non-instanced real estate has been a hot commodity. One reason larger homes are so popular is the benefits afforded the owner: mansion and estate owners never suffer from soul sickness and estate owners also get a 5% increase in crafting proc rates.

        Due to the limited number, many Daevas did not manage to secure the home of their dreams during the last round of auctions. But all is not lost; NCsoft announced that many new places are opening up for bid in three separate phases with the first starting tomorrow, June 6th, for all servers. The second phase of auctions, however, will not begin until after all of the homes in the first phase have sold out. Likewise, phase three homes will not become available until all of the homes in phase two are gone. With this set-up, each server will progress individually though the phases.

        For a complete listing of which properties are available when, check out the new housing schedule.

        MassivelyAion releases next auction schedule for housing originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Diablo III to benefit from big brother World of Warcraft's features

        Posted: 04 Jun 2012 09:00 PM PDT

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        Diablo III to benefit from big brother World of Warcraft's features
        Over on the Diablo III forums, player Matthest posted a thoughtful list of 35 improvements that he wanted to see added to the game. Lo and behold, his list was picked up by the game's CM and treated to a point-by-point response that revealed several upcoming changes, including those inspired by World of Warcraft's design.

        Coming to the game is a lock for the action bar, font size changes, allowing players to sell damaged items, social and quick join improvements, and tweaks to the game's auction house interface. The team's also considering allowing players to resize and move the chat window.

        Not all ideas were embraced, as the devs had reasons for keeping them out: "We're really trying hard to avoid quickly bloating the game options, and since [numerical countdowns] would be an option, we're cautiously approaching it and a few other toggle/option requests."

        MassivelyDiablo III to benefit from big brother World of Warcraft's features originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        E3 2012: DUST 514 announces Home Space, Vita companion app

        Posted: 04 Jun 2012 08:00 PM PDT

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        E3 2012 DUST 514 announces PS Home Space, Vita companion app
        The firefight's only begun between DUST 514 and the competition, as CCP Games is showing off the many subsidiary features of its upcoming PlayStation 3 MMOFPS at E3 this week. The studio used the expo as a platform to announce that DUST 514 will have its own dedicated Home Space on the console as well as a tie-in app with the portable PlayStation Vita.

        DUST 514's Home Space is intended to be a hangout for up-and-coming mercenaries, and CCP invites all interested players to check out the thematic virtual place over the summer. It will also be one of the best places to snag a beta key; CCP is kicking off DUST 514's Home Space by giving away 10,000 all access keys to the first people who visit.

        The studio's also developed a companion app for the PlayStation Vita called DUST 514: Neocom. While the app does not let players fight in the game, it does allow them to experiment with loadouts, customization, market exchanges, and social features.

        The premiere beta weekend event for DUST 514 will kick off on June 29th. CCP's released a new trailer for E3 that showcases the game in action, including several in-game shots of tanks, ships, and soldiers blowing stuff up -- check it out after the jump!

        [Source: CCP Games press release]

        Continue reading E3 2012: DUST 514 announces Home Space, Vita companion app

        MassivelyE3 2012: DUST 514 announces Home Space, Vita companion app originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Not So Massively: Free Firefall manga, MOBA news, and D3 server woes

        Posted: 04 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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        Not So Massively title image
        There's no shortage of MOBA news this week, as Valve announced that Dota 2 will be free-to-play and Warner Bros. unveiled its new Lord of the Rings-themed MOBA, Guardians of Middle Earth. League of Legends ran its first invitational player-vs.-developer tournament in Las Vegas this week and released details on upcoming champion Draven, the Glorious Executioner. Heroes of Newerth published its first community-driven balance patch, and Rise of Immortals announced details on upcoming melee mage Kreed.

        Diablo III faced its worst week of server stability yet, with sporadic auction house availability and frequent unscheduled maintenance periods lasting several hours each. Some players have been reporting success in getting a refund for the game, and Blizzard's Korean office was even raided by officials when the company declined to give refunds in that country.

        The Path of Exile team announced that the game will be entering open beta in mid-August and that once the game is in open beta, characters will not be wiped. Red 5 Studios unveiled a new Firefall manga, written by Ender's Game author Orson Scott Card, which the company will be releasing online completely free.

        Continue reading Not So Massively: Free Firefall manga, MOBA news, and D3 server woes

        MassivelyNot So Massively: Free Firefall manga, MOBA news, and D3 server woes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          TERA offers a sneak peek at future updates

          Posted: 04 Jun 2012 05:30 PM PDT

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          Tanks for the attention.
          It's been a month since TERA launched on Western shores, and that means it's time to start thinking about the future. A new official post is offering a sneak peek at future updates for the game, starting with changes to the game's two tank classes. Warriors and Lancers are both getting new abilities and a new resource to help make tanking less of a chore. Lancers will get two new moves, including one to help with overall mobility, and Warriors get three moves, including the option to block attacks with paired swords.

          The development team is also planning on adding new instances; one of these, a high-end instance, will pit players against the argon queen Shandra Manaya. The instances will likely include new high-end glyphs for players as well as other drops. Cross-server 15-vs.-15 battlegrounds are also in the works; the whole pile of updates is en route for later this summer. It's good news for any avid TERA fans looking for more content over the next several months.

          MassivelyTERA offers a sneak peek at future updates originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Warhammer Online rolls out patch 1.4.6 with major RvR changes

          Posted: 04 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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          But still no full Skaven faction.
          Warhammer Online isn't a strict PvP game, but the energy of RvR is one of the major draws that keeps players interested. That means a lot of balancing to maintain interest and avoid unfair matchups. The latest patch, 1.4.6, is aimed at revising several mechanics to do just that, keeping players on an even footing in Scenarios and open PvP encounters. And it's all being accomplished by switching the focus away from character level and to renown rank.

          From now on, rather than being divided by character level, scenarios will be divided into brackets based on renown, with players in any given bracket boosted to the same level to keep challenges fair. Other major changes come in the Campaign mechanics, which will now allow players to take down Keep doors with siege engines other than rams and will also allow players below renown rank 80 to benefit from additional level bolstering in Tier 4. Before you go to WAR, you might want to take a look at the full patch notes to digest all the particulars.

          MassivelyWarhammer Online rolls out patch 1.4.6 with major RvR changes originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Rusty Hearts unleashes the Month of the Dragon

          Posted: 04 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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          Screenshot -- Rusty Hearts
          It's the Month of the Dragon in Perfect World Entertainment's free-to-play beat-'em-up, Rusty Hearts. Throughout the month, players will have the opportunity to snag the rare three-piece Dragon Armor costume set and a unique Mini-Bone Dragon pet.

          The first piece of Dragon Armor up for grabs is a dashing pair of boots styled after the claws of a dragon. So what are the folks at PWE asking for this new finery? They want players to head over to the official Rusty Hearts Facebook page and share it with their friends. After the page has reached the goal share-count, "the items will be inserted and [players] will be able to wear the most bone-chilling costume pieces ever seen in Bramunez." If the Facebook page manages to reach 100,000 Likes during the Month of the Dragon, PWE will also be rewarding 1,000 lucky players with the Mini-Bone Dragon pet. So get to it, social-media people, and earn yourself some new threads.

          MassivelyRusty Hearts unleashes the Month of the Dragon originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          DC Universe Online releases game update 14, Last Laugh trailer

          Posted: 04 Jun 2012 03:30 PM PDT

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          Screenshot -- DC Universe Online
          DC Universe Online's game update 14 went live today, bringing players some delicious player-vs.-player goodness. For starters, the update introduced Task Force X/Suicide Squad to the game's PvP matchmaking, which will allow players from opposing factions to fight on the same team in matchmade PvP, thereby reducing waiting times for PvP matches. In addition, tier 3 PvP gear is now available for purchase in the Watchtower and Hall of Doom.

          Sony Online Entertainment is also setting its sights on the upcoming DLC pack, The Last Laugh. The trailer features a monologue from The Joker (voiced by the fantastic Mark Hamill) laid over some shiny action footage that shows off the new Shield power while highlighting the DLC's PvP-focused content. To check out the trailer for yourself, head on past the cut.

          Continue reading DC Universe Online releases game update 14, Last Laugh trailer

          MassivelyDC Universe Online releases game update 14, Last Laugh trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          E3 2012: SWTOR's limited F2P trial, content plans, and new trailer

          Posted: 04 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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          SWTOR
          During Electronic Arts' E3 press conference earlier this afternoon, BioWare's Dr. Ray Muzyka took to the stage to toot the horn of Star Wars: The Old Republic. He outlined the game's accomplishments over the last half year, bragged about its status as the biggest MMO launch in history, and promised to provide a "living service that's always on" and "set a new standard for a premium MMO service."

          But the team has big plans for the future too, starting with a limited F2P trial set to arrive in July that will allow anyone to pick up and play the game up to level 15. Muzyka also revealed a new trailer heralding upcoming new companions (including an HK assassin droid), level cap increases, enhanced story, a new PvP warzone (Ancient Hypergates), new playable species (the Cathar), a new version of the nightmare difficulty mode, a new endgame operation (Terror From Beyond), a new space combat mission, and a new planet called Makeb, complete with requisite storylines.

          The video is now behind the break. Stay tuned as we bring you more TOR news from E3!

          Continue reading E3 2012: SWTOR's limited F2P trial, content plans, and new trailer

          MassivelyE3 2012: SWTOR's limited F2P trial, content plans, and new trailer originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Leaderboard: News dump vs. paced information

          Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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          Leaderboard News dump vs paced information
          This week's E3 is on all our minds, and I know that I can't wait to hear what big reveals or juicy tidbits developers have to drop on us. Conventions, expos, and trade shows are great platforms to back up a dump truck full of information to the microphones in an attempt to grab the spotlight and deny it to others.

          But that makes me think of how there's really two methods that studios use for delivering information about their games' futures. The first is to store it all up for a single mass press explosion that floods players and the media with loads of new information. While that can be fun and get the headlines, it also means that there tends to be a lot of silence and waiting between said infodumps.

          The other method is to spread out the love with regular but smaller updates. Some MMOs, like SWTOR and WildStar, even go so far as to schedule a weekly info day so that fans know when to expect something new. It may not always seem as impressive when paced like that, but some players really do appreciate knowing that there is news coming at regular intervals rather than having to wait.

          So what do you say? Vote with your mouse and then sound off in the comments: Is it better to have big news dumps or to pace that information out?

          Continue reading Leaderboard: News dump vs. paced information

          MassivelyLeaderboard: News dump vs. paced information originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            ArenaNet and SteelSeries unveil Guild Wars 2 gaming peripherals

            Posted: 04 Jun 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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            SteelSeries Guild Wars 2 gaming peripherals
            With Guild Wars 2's release creeping slowly closer, it's the perfect time for fans and potential players to invest in some new gaming peripherals. With this in mind, ArenaNet has partnered with the folks at SteelSeries to produce a new line of Guild-Wars-2-branded gaming peripherals for the discerning fan who wants red dragons on everything.

            The peripheral line includes the Guild Wars 2 gaming headset, which features "a slim, on-ear headset design that delivers a quality, immersive audio experience," and the Guild Wars 2 gaming mouse, an "ambidextrous mouse that features seven programmable buttons, red illumination, and industry-leading technology." But what good is a fancy new mouse without a fancy new mousepad? No good at all, obviously, but fortunately SteelSeries has you covered with a trio of high-quality mouse pads featuring Logan Thackeray, Eir Stegalkin, and of course, the Guild Wars 2 dragon logo. A keyboard has also been announced, but specific details are still forthcoming.

            The full line of products will be released later this year, but it's not gonna be cheap. The headset will run for $99.99 US, while the mouse and mousepads will go for $69.99 US and $14.99 US, respectively. The keyboard's price has not been announced.

            MassivelyArenaNet and SteelSeries unveil Guild Wars 2 gaming peripherals originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            ArenaNet doubles servers for beta weekend event

            Posted: 04 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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            ArenaNet's server guru in action
            The folks over at ArenaNet are gearing up for yet another Guild Wars 2 beta weekend event, and this time they mean business. In an official blog post today, the team announced that it has doubled the number of servers available to BWE players, which should help provide a smoother and more accessible experience for everyone involved.

            Remember folks, the beta weekend event is this weekend, from June 8th to June 10th, so if you're one of the lucky folks taking part, be sure to get your client downloaded and updated before Friday. We'll see you in Tyria.

            MassivelyArenaNet doubles servers for beta weekend event originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Wings Over Atreia: Twelve activities for Daevas under max level

            Posted: 04 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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            Wings Over Atreia
            You know me: I'm the lollygagger. In no rush to zoom through games, I tend to wander about just taking a gander at things. I peek into all the nooks and crannies and am easily sidetracked by all the shinies. In the journey vs. destination debate, I am a proud pompom-waving, card-carrying member of "the journey is half the fun" crowd. It's a wonder I progress at all! But progress I do, and in Aion I had been max level for quite some time. Emphasis on "had." Then 3.0 rolled around.

            It's actually odd being lower-level again, unable to participate in everything because of level restrictions. Sorry MJ, no dungeon for j00! It's my fault really, since I could level but have been distracted with housing, mentoring, etc. Then I got to thinking about just how many things there are to do even without being max level. Whoa! Sometimes people have the (in my humble opinion, erroneous) idea that Aion doesn't really start until max level, that everything you do before reaching that exalted pinnacle isn't playing. Don't be absurd! The game doesn't start at level 60; it starts at level 1. Remember the part about enjoying the journey? Why worry about reaching some magical number! Just play. After all, experience happens -- before you know it, you will level up.

            Previously, Wings Over Atreia discussed some things to do once you reach endgame. Here, in no particular order, are 12 ways to take your eyes off your experience bar and just play with reckless abandon before maxing out.

            Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: Twelve activities for Daevas under max level

            MassivelyWings Over Atreia: Twelve activities for Daevas under max level originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Posted by Shri Krishna

              General gaming

              General gaming

              Sony's E3 Press Briefing Goes Heavy on PS3 Games

              Posted: 04 Jun 2012 09:20 PM PDT

              If Microsoft's E3 showing was still too entertainment-centric for your liking -- despite being a bit more gaming-focused than last year -- Sony's E3 press conference spent the vast majority of its time talking about games, even if the number of games shown favored Microsoft. Like Microsoft's briefing, there wasn't a lot in the way of surprise game announcements, although many of the games we already knew about that were shown looked great.

              Following a bit of a long-winded pat on the back of gamers, Sony launched into a reveal of Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream's next game, entitled Beyond: Two Souls. Aside from being visually impressive, the demo briefly showed off the performance of Ellen Page (she was silent for most of it), who will play the game's protagonist, Jodie Holmes. It looked a lot like a Heavy Rain-style game with more action and a sci-fi element. The game was undoubtedly one of the highlights of not only the show, but the first day of E3, even if only because it felt like something different among a sea of shooters.

              Microsoft is Intent on Bringing David Cronenberg Films to Reality

              Posted: 04 Jun 2012 06:45 PM PDT

              Amidst the flood of sequels that made up a bulk of Microsoft's E3 2012 press conference, a heavy emphasis was placed on turning your regular old television into a fancy new "smart" TV. Through the use of Microsoft's new SmartGlass technology, you'll be able to share information between your phone, tablet, PC, television and Xbox 360. Our news guru Chris Pereira wrote up a piece wondering if this may be Microsoft's opening salvo over the head of the Wii U, but I have a slightly different question regarding SmartGlass altogether.

              My question is: why?

              I hate to be the one who sounds like a cynical curmudgeon, but how does this concept of drowning in technology appeal to anyone? Are we becoming such an unfocused people that the very idea of absorbing one thing at a time seems unfathomable? Microsoft's horrifying prospect of living in a world where we are plugged in to all forms of technology without a moment's rest is something that writer/director David Cronenberg has used as the thematic backbone of many of his movies, most notably in his 1983 classic Videodrome. He made his mark on the film industry by creating a specific kind of technological body horror that looked ahead to a possible nightmarish future that the world was heading towards.

              x

              EA Secures Exclusive Rights to the UFC From THQ

              Posted: 04 Jun 2012 04:44 PM PDT

              EA THQ UFC rights

              Among some impressive demos for Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Medal of Honor: Warfighter, the big surprise out of Electronic Arts' E3 media briefing was word that it has acquired the rights to make games using the UFC license. What makes this surprising is the fact that THQ had the rights locked up for a long time to come -- it and UFC owner Zuffa, LLC announced in October 2010 that they had extended their licensing agreement through 2018.

              UFC president Dana White appeared on stage during the briefing to talk up the news and share his excitement about being partnered with EA -- a strange sight to behold given his previous statements regarding the publisher. White claimed in 2009 that EA had previously dismissed mixed martial arts as not being a "real sport" and it allegedly showed no interest in developing an MMA game. When the company announced EA Sports MMA, White was furious that EA Sports was suddenly interested in the genre after seeing THQ's success with UFC 2009 Undisputed. "I'm not tap-dancing around this thing or whatever," he said at the time. "I'm telling you straight-up, I'm at war with [EA] right now. That's how I look at it." He also added, "EA doesn't give a [expletive] about mixed martial arts. They made that very clear," and threatened to blacklist fighters from the UFC -- the world's largest MMA promotion -- who appeared in EA's game. He later backed off this threat, as he is known to do.

              Microsoft's E3 Press Briefing Shows a Lesson Learned From Last Year

              Posted: 04 Jun 2012 02:09 PM PDT

              Last year, Microsoft's E3 press briefing emphasized a number of things, very few of which were exclusive games. Sure, there was the Halo 4, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and Minecraft announcements, but exclusive, core games were few and far between for such an event. The focus was geared toward casual Kinect games and entertainment features like live television, UFC, and YouTube, all things which the core gamer audience didn't necessarily care about. Things were different this time around, and while it may have lacked the sort of surprise game reveals you hope to see, it was still a much more compelling showing for gamers than last year.

              As far as non-gaming announcements went, SmartGlass was the big one, and that is not even exclusively non-gaming. Wii U-esque functionality is coming to 360 using tablets and phones many of us already own, enabling things like interactive Game of Thrones maps while watching the show and hot route drawing in Madden. Microsoft also bulked up its entertainment offering, announcing that Nickelodeon, Paramount, and Machinima would be coming to Xbox Live. Sports were given the most attention in this area, as NBA and NHL games will be coming to the system, as will 24-hour Watch ESPN programming featuring content from ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, and ESPN U. The long-rumored Xbox Music service was announced, although details were scant -- a sizzle reel is all we got to see. We did get a demonstration of new a Bing feature allowing you to voice search for TV show and movie genres to find content which can be watched through Netflix, HBO Go, and so on.

              Celebrate Metroid Prime's 10th Anniversary with... Halo 4?

              Posted: 04 Jun 2012 12:29 PM PDT

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              Celebrate Metroid Prime's 10th Anniversary with... Halo 4?

              Cover Story: 343i brings much-needed change to Bungie's franchise, some of which looks very familiar.

              M

              y Halo 4 wish-list has been topped by a single simple demand since before its announcement: Give us something new. Much as I love Halo's mechanics and enjoy its world, the series' sandbox has stagnated over its past few entries. The Covenant simply don't have any new surprises to offer. Brutes, Elites, Hunters, Grunts, Jackals... been there, done that, slapped a sticky grenade on 'em.

              In a few short minutes of the campaign play demo at Microsoft's E3 press showing, 343i managed to allay many of my concerns. The Master Chief's first encounter pits him against a small Covenant squad (which seems a little weird -- aren't those guys Earth's buddies now that the Flood threat has come to an end?), yet this familiar situation quickly finds itself cut short when a new enemy vaporizes an Elite rushing to bisect the Chief with its sword.

              Xbox 360's SmartGlass Takes a Shot at Wii U

              Posted: 04 Jun 2012 12:21 PM PDT

              Much like last year when we heard about AirPlay Mirroring that provided some similar functionality to what we saw from the newly announced Wii U, this year it was Microsoft's turn to offer something that could cause consumers to hesitate when it comes time to decide whether Nintendo's new system is worth buying. The rumored SmartGlass functionality we've heard about in recent days was confirmed during Microsoft's E3 press briefing this morning, making it possible to connect any number of mobile devices with the Xbox 360.

              On a basic level, SmartGlass is similar to Apple's AirPlay wireless streaming technology. Content can be sent from phones or tablets to the television screen and vice versa. For instance, you could be watching a movie on your tablet and then resume from that same point on your Xbox 360. By pushing the movie from one device to the other, the tablet still served a purpose: It began displaying supplementary information like the movie's cast. What was more impressive was watching an episode of Game of Thrones on the 360's HBO Go app and being able to follow along with an interactive map on the tablet that can show where the characters are located. In theory it's a very cool idea, although one has to wonder how widespread the support for this will be.

              The Games, Dammit! Podcast Brings You Daily Episodes from E3 2012

              Posted: 04 Jun 2012 12:01 PM PDT

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              The Games, Dammit! Podcast Brings You Daily Episodes from E3 2012

              Cover Story: Get four times the regular dosage of the Games, Dammit! podcast for one week only.

              A

              s E3 begins its annual takeover of downtown Los Angeles, we thought: "Hey wouldn't it be great idea if, on top of all the work we had to do this week, we recorded a daily podcast filled with impressions, reactions, and anecdotes of fun E3-happenings. That could be amazing, right?" And so, the 1UP staff decided to do it. Tune in this week as Jeremy Parish, Jose Otero, Bob Mackey, and Marty Sliva bring you daily minisodes of Games, Dammit! straight from the LA Convention Center.

              Games, Dammit!

              PES 2013: What a Sports Sim Wants, What a Sports Sim Needs

              Posted: 04 Jun 2012 08:50 AM PDT

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              PES 2013: What a Sports Sim Wants, What a Sports Sim Needs

              Cover Story: Konami's soccer sim plays hard in a serious bid to outscore FIFA.

              I

              've been to a lot of stadiums in my lifetime. I've been in the Metrodome--which at its loudest is like being serenaded by a jet engine--during a playoff win. But I had never actually been intimidated by a stadium until the evening I went to see Santos FC take on Bolivia in the Copa Libertadores--the South American equivalent of the European Champions League. Heading up the stairs to stand with a hardy group of Bolivian supporters in the visitors section, the Estadio Urbano Caldeira was literally shaking with the anticipation 15,000 fans whopping and hollering for their team. The stadium--a utilitarian structure devoid of creature comforts like hot dogs or even seats--felt unstable, the home fans rowdy. In the event of an upset, I found myself hoping that I wouldn't get caught in the crossfire and set on fire.

              It's a feeling that can only be had at a live sports event, and it made for an interesting contrast to the day before, when I experienced soccer in a much calmer setting--a hotel meeting room where Konami was showing off Pro Evolution Soccer 2013. In comparison to that wild (but exhilirating) death trap, it was quiet... almost clinical. It was there that we dutifully took notes as Konami representatives explained how we would now, finally, be able to manually control the height and power of our shots, and make perfectly timed challenges with two quick taps of the 'X' button.

              Cover Story: Gaming Between Generations at E3 2012

              Posted: 04 Jun 2012 08:15 AM PDT

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              E3: Gaming Between Generations

              1UP explores E3 2012 with an eye for how this year's crop of games represents the medium's future.

              Gaming has begun the transition into its next "next generation" of hardware. Nintendo has unveiled many of the final details for its new console, the Wii U, and bookies are offering good odds on the prospect of a new Microsoft hardware announcement in the coming days. But even if this year's E3 comes and goes with no major new console unveilings, there's no question that another generation waits in the wings.

              Console transitions mark the industry's growing pains. Top-tier developers start to lose interest in current machines, their attention drifting toward the prospect of the sweet new tech on the horizon. Gamers start to pinch pennies, buying fewer games as they save up for another major investment. Publishers tip-toe around the future, playing up the offerings ahead while trying not to undermine the appeal of their current offerings. And those of us in the press salivate at the prospect of all the hot news scoops to come while tightening our belts as publishers cut back ad buys in anticipation of the looming launch blitzes.

              The Rhythm Genre Finds Its Groove

              Posted: 04 Jun 2012 08:12 AM PDT

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              The Rhythm Genre Finds Its Groove

              Cover Story: The age of plastic guitars may be over, but that doesn't mean music games are going anywhere.

              W

              hen it comes to the rhythm game genre, le roi, as they say in France, es morte. Guitar Hero and Rock Band alike have found themselves cast from the top of the hill they battled over a few short years ago to a far more hardscrabble existence. They haven't vanished entirely -- the Rock Band Network is still pumping out regular licensed tracks for players to add to their song-laden hard drives -- but the former princes of music nevertheless have been relegated to pauper status.

              But, you know, music games existed before Harmonix fancied up the Guitar Freaks concept and employed the radical innovation of licensing non-terrible music (something that seemingly never occurred to Konami). They existed before the Bemani line. There were even music games before those terrible Sega CD games based around '90s flashes-in-the-pan Kriss-Kross and C+C Music Factory. Music and games go hand-in-hand, and the concept of creating or otherwise exploring tunes through a video game interface will forever live on regardless of how many plastic guitars end up in landfills for civilizations to puzzle over a millennium hence.
              Posted by Shri Krishna
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