MMOGaming News |
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MMORPG Reviews |
| Posted: 15 Jun 2012 06:52 AM PDT InnoGames has released new details about the 2.0 version of its frontier adventure browser game, The West. The new update will introduce an overhauled job system to the game, featuring fundamentally reworked jobs and a new work duration system to foster a more active play style. The West 2.0 is expected to launch this summer. [...] |
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MMO Updates |
| Five Diablo III Wizard myths tested and debunked Posted: 16 Jun 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, PvE, Guides, Diablo III  To find out the truth, I bought a two-handed weapon with 0.9 attack speed and a one-handed weapon with 1.6, both with the same rated damage per second. I then tested every spell on the zombies at the start of Act 1 in hell mode dozens of times and checked the damage difference, finally adding attack speed rings and amulets and re-testing both weapons. For almost every spell, the one-handed setup dealt lower damage but hit more frequently, averaging to the same damage per second. But the story was a little different for Hydra, Blizzard, and channeled spells. In this guide, I put five popular Diablo III Wizard myths to the test and discover the inner workings of Energy Armour, Hydra, Blizzard, Critical Mass, and other abilities. Continue reading Five Diablo III Wizard myths tested and debunked
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| Star Trek Online updates players on the next two seasons in State of the Game letter Posted: 16 Jun 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, Patches, Previews, News items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-play  Season 6 is almost ready for live, and it's bringing along fleet starbases and group projects to help keep players involved. Season 7 is aimed at introducing the Tholians to the game and a new sector, giving players a new form of story-based content without specifically using the Featured Episode system that's previously been employed. This is just scratching the surface of what's available, of course, so players should take a look at the full letter to get a better idea of where the game is heading over the next several months.
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| WRUP: Yes, I have a Twitter now edition Posted: 16 Jun 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous  As long as we're going for thrilling adventures, let's ride along to the thrill-a-minute stylings of this week's WRUP, complete with the planned escapades of the Massively staff over the weekend. And we're also talking about whether or not we like our regularly scheduled adventures in the form of daily quests. So check out our plans after the break, and let us know what you'll be up to over the weekend in the comments. Continue reading WRUP: Yes, I have a Twitter now edition
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| The Daily Grind: How do you kill off your characters? Posted: 16 Jun 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Game mechanics, MMO industry, PvP, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Roleplaying, Miscellaneous, Sandbox  Massively's staff roleplayers are divided on whether or not this feature will ever see much use, though. While most of us think it's an awesome system that will provide some spectacular entertainment, others of us have argued that it takes a lot of courage for MMO gamers, so used to investing time and money into their avatars, to kill off a character permanently. It won't be easy finding another roleplaying duelist who's both capable of putting up a good fight and willing to risk his own hide. Plus, wouldn't it be weird if every single RPer who wanted to off a toon did so in a gladiatorial duel to the death? There are so many other dramatic ways to end a character's story! And that brings us to today's Daily Grind: How do you kill off your characters? Do you go for climactic in-game events? Do you field "can I have ur stuff" requests? Do you delete silently and never look back to avoid future temptation? Or do you cancel your accounts and let your characters slumber peacefully, awaiting your someday return?  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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| Free Realms prepares for The Gloam Invasion, teases Sunstone Valley Posted: 15 Jun 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Free Realms, Kids, Family  Rally yourselves, Free Realms players; the Shrouded Glade is under attack! In the latest update to Sony Online Entertainment's kid-friendly F2P title, players are tasked with assisting the nature-loving Shrouded Glade Druids and the technological Sunstone Dwarves in the reclamation of their home from the threat of the Gloam, which is warping the glade's former inhabitants into hostile creatures. After players have had ample time to fight back the Gloam in the Shrouded Glade, players will be rewarded with a bit of a respite in the bright and sunny home of the Dwarves, Sunstone Valley. The dusty crags of Sunstone will bring myriad new activities for players, such as fighting in the Rumbledome, exploring the wilderness, or just relaxing at a shady oasis. To get an early look at the two new additions, check out the Free Realms official site.
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| Posted: 15 Jun 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, MMO industry, Massively Meta, Betawatch, Miscellaneous  Longtime Betawatchers will notice that starting tonight, we've redefined how we categorize MMOs in testing. Many of the games we used to list have now been deemed to have soft-launched, cleaning up the column for those players interested in following games actually in testing! Check out the new Betawatch roundup behind the cut. Continue reading Betawatch: June 9 - 15, 2012
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| Max Schafer claims Diablo III was originally an MMO Posted: 15 Jun 2012 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous  Schafer states that prior to his departure, the team was essentially aiming at doing for the Diablo franchise what World of Warcraft did to the Warcraft franchise. Changes in upper management prompted Schafer's departure, and his current studio Runic Games is known for its very Diablo-like Torchlight franchise. While it's been a long time since development on a Diablo MMO was in the cards, it seems some of those roots wound up making it to launch after all.
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| Storyboard: When I was the problem Posted: 15 Jun 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous  Last week's column was all about what happens when it turns out you're the problem, and there's a J'accuse-style rant if there ever was one. In light of that, I wanted to make it very clear that there have been situations in which my character was the problem rather than some hypothetical example. And so I pulled out three of the most notable examples of places where it turns out I was causing a world of disruption within the group. Continue reading Storyboard: When I was the problem
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| Darkfall client freely available on June 29th, sub fee to be reduced Posted: 15 Jun 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Sandbox  Firstly, the devs are axing Darkfall's initial client cost. The monthly subscription fee will remain, but it will be reduced from the standard $14.99 (though Aventurine hasn't revealed the final price just yet). In terms of gameplay, the devs are permanently increasing avatar skill gains. Specific details are scarce, but it's all part of the promotion that will begin on June 27th. Anyone who has ever purchased Darkfall may come back and play for free for two days. On June 29th, the aforementioned client and sub fee changes will debut, and they'll last through the release of 2.0. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
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| Vindictus releases Episode 10, now with more dragons Posted: 15 Jun 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Events, in-game, Patches, Free-to-play, Vindictus  The update also includes new metallic inner armor (read: underwear that rusts) and hair styles for the fashionably conscious. Nexon's also included the option for players to pay for a skill reset on most -- but not all -- of the characters in the game. Vindictus is currently hosting a quiz event in the game. Players are encouraged to take on the Strange Traveler and best him in a game of knowledge for select prizes. We've got a video of the new dragon fights in Episode 10 after the jump, so if you can't get enough of them scaly uber-lizards, check it out! Continue reading Vindictus releases Episode 10, now with more dragons
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| ZeniMax: The Elder Scrolls Online's real-time combat 'is all pretty much new' Posted: 15 Jun 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, The Elder Scrolls Online  In a new interview with Kotaku, ZeniMax head honchos Matt Firor and Paul Sage attempt to accentuate the positive and differentiate TESO from its genre competitors. "When people sit down and play it, they'll realize it's different. Like our whole real-time combat system of blocking and dodging is all pretty much new," Firor explains. Firor also comes out swinging vis-à-vis the notion that TESO is nothing more than a World of Warcraft analog. "Making an MMO is making an MMO. I worked in the industry before World of Warcraft, so I can tell you that World of Warcraft had a lot of influences from a lot of games. Our priority is to make a great game and not to make a clone of anything," he says.
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| New End of Nations Warfront episode looks back at E3, forward to release Posted: 15 Jun 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, News items, MMORTS  The clip runs for about five minutes, which is plenty of time to take in the E3 sights, sounds, and a few brief interviews with Petroglyph devs who are hard at work on End of Nations. You should also check out Massively's EoN impressions if you haven't already, and stay tuned for further updates from Trion's foray into the MMORTS space. Continue reading New End of Nations Warfront episode looks back at E3, forward to release
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| EA boss: SWTOR 'absolutely going to embrace' free model Posted: 15 Jun 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Star Wars: The Old Republic  "We're going to be in the business from a long-term standpoint so absolutely we're going to embrace free access, free trial, ultimately some day we can move in and embrace that model," he tells the website. Gibeau also stresses that EA is "really proud of Star Wars" and "really excited about the launch." He stops short of sounding the death-knell for the subscription model, though. "I don't think subscriptions ever go away, but when you have an IP as broad as Star Wars, we're definitely going to look at opportunities to grow that business and look at different ways of bringing customers in and serving them," he says.
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| South Korea to make virtual item trade, bots illegal Posted: 15 Jun 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, Legal, Diablo III  The South Korean Ministry of Culture says that "the main purpose of games is for entertainment and [they] should be used for academic and other good purposes," according to a report at Eurogamer. This is bad news for gold farmers, RMT fans, and Blizzard, which has come under fire for Diablo III's real-money auction house over the past few weeks. The Ministry of Culture went on to say that RMT "contribute[s] to many problems in society, including teenage crime."
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General gaming |
| Wizardry Online: The Secret Most Compelling, Crazy, Amazing Online RPG of E3 2012 Posted: 15 Jun 2012 03:25 PM PDT 1UP COVER STORY 1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF JUNE 12 | IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR (SO FAR) L ike many of the most interesting games of E3, Wizardry Online was buried in the back corner of its publisher's booth, dwarfed by a massive display promoting a sci-fi shooter. In the eyes of Sony Online Entertainment, it rated exactly one demo station, putting it even below the Running Man knockoff Bulletrun. But when the dust cleared and E3 packed up another year, it was Wizardry Online that stuck out most clearly in my mind. As the name implies, Wizardry Online is a free-to-play MMORPG, which admittedly feels like an odd fit for an RPG that has its roots firmly in single-player dungeon crawling. However, it works better than you might think. Wizardry Online weaves in all sorts of interesting multiplayer features into its design, with player-versus-player combat being one of the biggies. While I looked on, for example, the player character--a figure that was hooded and cloaked--ran into another dungeon crawler and engaged in a fight. After a few moments, the player stood victorious, but they had turned red. They were now a criminal, and they were free to access other dungeons that had previously been closed to them. |
| The Old Republic's Potential Free-to-Play Turn Should Signal the End of MMO Subscriptions Posted: 15 Jun 2012 03:03 PM PDT We all know MMOs, and most games in general, as Crytek demonstrates, are moving in the direction of free-to-play. MMOs are moving there especially quickly as publishers are finding that World of Warcraft's continued success has no correlation with the ability of other games to attract and maintain a sizable subscriber base. Star Wars: The Old Republic started out strongly and then pretty quickly saw a drop of 400,000 users (roughly 23 percent). And while we don't know for sure where it currently sits, one BioWare staffer has suggested TOR going free-to-play is something being explored. "The MMO market is very dynamic and we need to be dynamic as well," lead designer Emmanuel Lusinchi told GamesTM. "Unless people are happy with what they have, they are constantly demanding updates, new modes and situations. So we are looking at free-to-play but I can't tell you in much detail. We have to be flexible and adapt to what is going on." |
| One Piece: Pirate Warriors Takes the Fansub Approach Posted: 15 Jun 2012 02:44 PM PDT Even though my anime days are far behind me, I still have a soft spot for Eiichiro Oda's One Piece; it's absolutely bursting with the same off-the-wall creativity and madcap energy that Dragon Ball dropped once Goku grew up and traded in his wacky misadventures for prolonged grunting sessions. And, as expected for any ultra-popular anime series, none of its games have been all that good -- none of the ones localized for American release, anyway. Like Akira Toriyama's own shonen story of honor and face-punching, the battles of One Piece take place on a pretty colossal scale and feature combatants with superpowers so bizarre they'd put any X-Man to shame. So it's strange to see this particular series take so long to find an appropriate video game home: the overpopulated, button-mashy battlefields of Dynasty Warriors. |
| Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Shows Off the Art of the Sword Posted: 15 Jun 2012 01:27 PM PDT 1UP COVER STORY 1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF JUNE 12 | IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR (SO FAR) L ooking at the early trailers of Metal Gear Solid Rising, it's obvious developer Platinum Games inherited certain gameplay elements of Kojima production's design. The E3 2010 trailer showed the half-cyborg protagonist Raiden slice through brick-lined pillars, eventually causing a small shelter to collapse onto a group of soldiers. After he performed a sweeping kick, everything on screen slowed down, which allowed Raiden an opportunity to hack away at a soldier's body in mid-air. The first gameplay teaser for Metal Gear Solid Rising lasted only two minutes and twenty-nine seconds, but nearly a year and a half would pass before anyone would see the game again. Late in 2011 we learned that Rising ran into problems during development, which prompted Kojima Productions to consider canceling the title before the deciding to outsource the project Platinum Games -- a studio that specializes in the action genre, with unique titles like Bayonetta, Viewtiful Joe, and Okami under their belt. Having played Metal Gear Rising Revengeance -- the game's new title which removed the word Solid -- at E3 last week, I can tell you that the high caliber action and off-the-wall hijinks of the original trailer have been amplified significantly. |
| What the Hell is Asymmetric Gameplay? Posted: 15 Jun 2012 09:49 AM PDT
Feature 1UP COVER STORY  1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF JUNE 12 | IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR (SO FAR) What the Hell is Asymmetric Gameplay?Cover Story: Let's take a closer look at E3's most overused buzzword.I f you happened to be paying attention to E3 last week, one phrase trickled its way into your subconscious: "Asymmetric gameplay." Just about every major player trotted the term out this year to describe one or another of its games. It's one of those weird instances of industry-wide groupthink, when everyone hears a new term being thrown around and suddenly has to make use of it themselves. Like "sandbox" a few years back. Or "granular." So just what the hell is everyone talking about? What on earth is "asymmetric gameplay," besides being some kind of vague new hotness that everyone seems to think will zhush up their games? |
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