MMO News

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• Update 7.5 for World of Tanks goes live
• Gravity Interactive launches PvP Tournament via Warpportal
• Jade Dynasty Launches Summer Update
• Elsword Introduces Two Advanced Jobs For Chung
• Challenge The Stone Hero In Soul Of Guardian
• Guns And Robots Releases Module Class Information And Art
• ChangYou Shutting Down Zentia

Update 7.5 for World of Tanks goes live Posted: 01 Aug 2012 03:04 PM PDT Wargaming has announced Update 7.5 for World of Tanks has gone live, bringing several new features such as new tier 10 tanks, arenas, and titles. The American, German, Soviet, and French tech trees have all received new tanks and tank destroyers as part of the update, and new premium vehicles are now available.  Three new maps have also been made available, each set in North America:  Port, Highway, and Serene Coast.  Each of the new maps offers several tactical advantages for offense and defense alike. In addition to the updates to the tech trees, the game has updated the matchmaking service, ensuring players will not face tanks more than two levels above their tier.  The update also makes some changes to the damage system, allowing hits to internal modules to cause crew damage, even if the hit does not penetrate armor. Wargaming also publishes World of Battleships and World of Warplanes. World of Tanks “Update 7.5″ Gameplay Screenshot Source: Tier X Meds and TDs Invade World of Tanks Update 7.5 Goes Live 1st August 2012 –– Wargaming today announced that Update 7.5 for its free-to-play action MMO World of Tanks is now available in Europe and will go live in North America on August, 2nd. Update 7.5 features new Tier 10 medium tanks and tank destroyers, premium vehicles, battling arenas, as well as new medals and titles. The American tech tree has been updated with the E3 and E4 modifications of the T110 destroyer, as well as the M48A1 Patton III medium tank. The Germany Tank Destroyer lines have also been strengthened with the mighty JadgPz E-100 and the E-50 Ausf M, which now occupies the spot as the nation's most powerful medium tank. The heavy destroyer Object 268 and the medium T62A joined the ranks of the Soviet tech tree, while the French have received the Tier 10 Bat Chatillon 25t medium tank and the AMX 50 Foch 155 tank destroyer. New premium vehicles now featured in the game include the German Dickermax TD and the American T26E4 Super Pershing medium tank. In addition to new tanks, the game has also been updated with three new maps, each taking place in North America: Port, Highway and Serene Coast. World of Tanks Update 7.5: Highlights Welcome to the first detailed update overview for Update 7.5 for the MMO action game World of Tanks! Here you will find extensive information on new content, changes and improvements coming with this new update. Battling arenas Update 7.5 adds three new locations, each taking place in North American setting. Port This vast urban map, with a harbor and a network of railroad tracks, provides plentiful tactical opportunities for all vehicle types. A mixture of open spaces and secluded areas, Port offers good firing positions and effective cover sites. Serene Coast This picturesque, hilly Canadian landscape features mountains in the northwest and a sea in the southeast, which serves as a natural border. A mostly open periphery provides very little concealment, while the central area, saturated with buildings and structures, offers solid cover and excellent ambush opportunities. Highway A mixed North American map, Highway offers spacious sunlit valleys and scattered housing that allows for close combat firing positions. A typical Midwestern highway and a river split the map in half, requiring varied battlefield tactics. In addition to the three new maps, the existing map, Airfield, now also features a "planes in the sky" environmental effect that adds a greater amount of immersion for players to experience during the heat of battle. New vehicles Update 7.5's major highlight are new Tier X medium tanks and tank destroyers, which provide additional challenge to heavy tanks. Tier X Medium Tanks · The Germany tech tree now contains a new modification of the Е-50 Ausf. M. medium tank. · The Т-62А has become the top medium tank in the Soviet tech tree. · The American tech tree has received a new machine — the M48A1 (Patton III). · The Bat Chatillon 25t was upgraded and is now the top French medium tank. Tier X Tank Destroyers · The powerful JagdPz E-100 with the Gw. Tiger gun now sits atop the Germany tech tree. · The new Object 268 has become the top medium Tier X TD for the Soviet tech tree. · The American tech tree has been significantly strengthened with the T110E3 and the T110E4 tank destroyers. · The French line of tank destroyers now includes the powerful AMX 50 Foch 155, complete with an automatic loader. Other vehicles · The ranks of the German tank destroyers are now also graced by the Tier VIII Jagdpanther II, a good counter against the intimidating Ferdinand. · With the addition of the Tier V French light tank ELC AMX, the АМХ 12t has now become a Tier VI. The following French light and medium tanks have also moved one tier: AMX 13 75, AMX 13 90, Lorraine 40t and Bat Chatillon 25t. · Update 7.5 also brings two new premium vehicles into the mix: the German Dickermax tank destroyer and the American T26E4 SuperPershing medium tank. Vehicle Research Along with massive additions to each nation's tech trees, Update 7.5 also includes several new options in regard to leveling. · A new path from the Tiger P to the Ferdinand has been added, costing 150,000 experience points to unlock. · Owners of the AMX 12t can now also research the Lorraine 155 50 SPG for 140,000 experience points. New opportunities All experience from the elite Ferdinand SPG was transferred to the newly introduced Tier X JagdPz E-100. This change will allow players that have enough experience points to unlock the new German SPG immediately. Update 7.5 also features reworked matchmaking for the majority of vehicles. Now, players won’t face off against vehicles more than two tiers up than their own machine. This change was implemented to ensure a more enjoyable gameplay experience for both rookies and veterans, alike. Update 7.5 also features a few new fixes for the game's damage system. Now, a hit to an internal module will cause damage to a crew even if armor penetration did not occur. The mechanics for shell shock crew damage with high explosive rounds were also reworked. Good bye, KV-5! The Tier VIII Soviet premium heavy tank KV-5 is no longer available for purchase via the in-game shop or the gift shop. However, it wasn't removed from the game completely: all the players who had acquired the tank before Update 7.5 will keep it in their collections. The tank will be resurrected for special events, so stay tuned to the news section on the World of Tanks website.

Gravity Interactive launches PvP Tournament via Warpportal Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:42 PM PDT Gravity Interactive has announced a massive PvP tournament taking place through its fan favorite games Dragon Saga, Requiem, and ROSE Online. Dragon Saga’s tournament runs from July 27 through August 24, allowing players to compete in any of the first four tournaments.  First and second place challengers will receive an invitation for the championships, giving them a shot at cash and prizes. Requiem’s 5 vs 5 tournament will begin on August 4 with preliminary matches.  August 11 will begin the semifinals, and the championship match will be held on August 25.  Winners will receive limited event items, and GoCash cards. ROSE Online will run from August 4 for Draconis and August 11 for Leonis.  Players will compete for the chance to win a personal Clan shirt, and IM points. Dragon Saga Gameplay Screenshot Source: WARPPORTAL LAUNCHES BIGGEST PVP TOURNAMENT TO DATE Fierce Competition Spans Across Fan Favorites: Dragon Saga, Requiem And ROSE Marina del Rey, California – August 1, 2012 – Gravity Interactive, a publisher of exciting massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), announced today that its newest online platform for gamers – WarpPortal.com — will host its largest PvP tournament ever. Throughout the entire month of August, players from Dragon Saga, Requiem and ROSE will prepare for the ultimate PvP battle and their chance at cash and prizes! Players can head to www.warpportal.com to sign up for battle. Dragon Saga Let the tournaments being! Each Friday night in August players can take part in one of the greatest tournaments in Dragon Saga history . Friday Night Fights! From July 27th through August 24th players can battle it out for first or second place in any of the first four tournaments for an invitation to win a slot in the Championship round and a shot at cash and prizes! Requiem The blood-soaked battlefields of Ethergia are once again calling for blood! Players can join in on the bloodshed during the months’ 5vs.5 PvP tournaments. The Tournament will begin August 4th (Preliminary matches) and continue on August 11th (Semi finals) concluding with the finals on August 25th. Warriors will have a chance to win exclusive limited event items and GoCash Game Cards! ROSE Online It’s time for Roserians to show everyone how awesome they really are! Players can show off their skills in a massive PvP Tournament August 4th and 11th. With a huge upcoming skill patch on its way, players can duke it with their old familiar techniques. The tournament will start on August 4th for Draconis and on August 11th for Leonis. Players will have a chance to win their own personal Clan shirts and banners plus a chance at some IM points! To learn more about the tournaments and to sign up visit, www.warpportal.com

Jade Dynasty Launches Summer Update Posted: 01 Aug 2012 02:20 PM PDT Perfect World Entertainment has announced the release of the Summer Content Update for Jade Dynasty. The patch, launching August 2, will introduce new instances including the Soul Tower, new equipment in the form of Soulstones, and introduce new daily offers and rewards. Players will also discover new gear sets, pets, achievements, and other challenges. The update is the largest update since the Empyrean Lands battleground, and extends its content to players of all levels. Perfect World also publishes Forsaken World and Rusty Hearts. Jade Dynasty Summer Update Trailer

Elsword Introduces Two Advanced Jobs For Chung Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:40 PM PDT Elsword has introduced two new upgraded classes for its newest character, Chung. As a Deadly Chaser, Chung specializes in marksmanship, dual-wielding two revolvers while gaining speed and stealth skills. Or, as an Iron Paladin, Chung gains special hardening to his family armor, making him a powerful tank, while he gains new melee attacks. Elsword will be granting players 50% bonus experience and a free weapon until August 13, while leveling Chung, and other quests and events wait for all players. Elsword is published by Kill3rCombo. Elsword: Chung 2nd Job Class Trailer Source: Elsword’s New Gunslinging Character Chung Evolves into Powerful New Classes   IRVINE, Calif. – Aug. 1, 2012 - Players of the free-to-play manga-inspired massively multiplayer online role-playing game, Elsword, now have two new ways to drive back the invaders of Elrios. Elsword‘s newest character, Chung, best known for wielding a giant cannon and possessing the ability to activate berserker rage mode, can now upgrade to the advanced job classes of either Deadly Chaser or Iron Paladin.  Chung masters marksmanship as a Deadly Chaser, gaining the ability to dual-wield two revolvers, which makes him a lethal ranged opponent in the ever-evolving player versus player (PvP) environment. He also gains additional speed and stealth skills, making him perfect for players who prefer controlling a highly agile character. Those who prefer a “tank” class will favor Chung’s Iron Paladin upgrade, wherein his family’s legendary armor Freitunier is hardened with magical energy, making him nearly indestructible during dungeons runs with friends. As an Iron Paladin, Chung also gains a host of new melee attacks, making Chung an unstoppable force in PvP. Players looking to try out Chung’s newest classes will be treated to bonus EXP and a free weapon, available for a limited time. For more details visit: http://www.elswordonline.com/ In Elsword, gamers can choose from six specialized and customizable characters as they explore an immersive world and battle rivals to complete dynamic quests. As players progress through the game, they can evolve their fighting styles by upgrading to new job classes, learn deadly new abilities and master combo attacks. With intuitive and straightforward controls, Elsword offers players of all skill levels the chance to experience the thrill of victory in combat, either on solo missions or cooperatively in a party of up to four players. For those who welcome a challenge, Elsword also delivers action-packed PvP combat.

Challenge The Stone Hero In Soul Of Guardian Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:26 PM PDT To celebrate the start of the Olympics, Soul of Guardian is hosting two new events. Players can challenge the Stone Golem to earn an Attack Gem, based on the level they defeat. Servers 1-15 must face Golems level 70 to 100, while servers 16 through 22 must fight golems level 50 through 80. Available for reward are an Attack Gem, Polished Attack Gem, Flawless Attack Gem, and Perfect Attack Gem. Players must post a screenshot to claim their one-time reward in the forums. The Item Mall will also offer a sale until August 6, with a 50% discount in all areas, including the Bound Gold Mall. Soul of Guardian is published by WSGame. Soul of Guardian Gameplay Screenshot Source: Soul of Guardian Olympic Events Shenzhen, China – August 1, 2012 – SOG Item Mall Sale Now! From July 31st to August 6th, all the items in the Mall will be on sale, you can enjoy a 50% discount! Discounts are included in the Bound Gold Mall too, so now is the perfect opportunity to stock up on all of your needed supplies at a very generous price. Go and enjoy your discounted shopping! Limited offer! Hurry! Stone Hero An immense gift and paramount glory will be given to brave Heroes who beat the challenge! During July 31st to August 6th, challenge the Stone Golem and defeat a certain level to be rewarded with a Level 4 Gem or above. Push your limits and be the ultimate Champion in Stone Golem, show your success to the members on the forum and bask in the glory! Do you have what it takes to be a Legend? Servers 1-15 Pass Level 100 in Stone Golem Reward: Perfect Attack Gem x1 Pass Level 90 in Stone Golem Reward: Flawless Attack Gem x1 Pass Level 80 in Stone Golem Reward: Polished Attack Gem x1 Pass Level 70 in Stone Golem Reward: Attack Gem x1 Servers 16-22 Pass Level 80 in Stone Golem Reward: Perfect Attack Gem x1 Pass Level 70 in Stone Golem Reward: Flawless Attack Gem x1 Pass Level 60 in Stone Golem Reward: Polished Attack Gem x1 Pass Level 50 in Stone Golem Reward: Attack Gem x1 Come and join the events! Have fun in SOG – the latest, most played RPG of 2012! WSGame SOG Operation Team

Guns And Robots Releases Module Class Information And Art Posted: 01 Aug 2012 12:12 PM PDT Masthead Studios has released new information regarding the modules in Guns and Robots, including new concept art. Robots will come in three module classes – Light, Medium, and Heavy – based on how players assemble and build their robots. All class components will be compatible with each other, and will interact with each other based on speed, weight, energy consumption, durability, and maneuverability. Light class modules have the weakest armor, weight the least, and move the fastest; however, they are also equipped with nuclear reactors and nitro packs, and can be used for quick hit tactics or high power damage dealers. Medium class modules are all-arounders that offer average speed, battery slots, durability. Heavy class modules offer a tanking-type chassis, with slow speed and heavy durability. The game’s matchmaking system will match players through a skill-based ranking system plus module balance. Guns And Robots Concept Art: Source: GUNS and ROBOTS Reveals Robot Classes With Concept Art and Modules Descriptions The upcoming shooter GUNS and ROBOTS provides sneak peak of the module classes featured in the game   SOFIA, BULGARIA– July 31, 2012 – Masthead Studios, a leading independent game developer, today released concept art depicting some of the robot configuration options featured in GUNS and ROBOTS, their upcoming title set to release in December, 2012. GUNS and ROBOTS is engaging free online shooter with inventive character design and an endless list of customization features. From incredible battle mechanics to funny looking robots, the players will be able to set their own gameplay.  Different scenery and implying own battle tactics will assure that players will have a great in-game experience. They will be able to customize multiple parts of their killing machine and set up their own arsenal. After the teaser trailer that Masthead Studios released earlier this month, the studio now shares concept art of the main robot classes.   In GUNS and ROBOTS, the robots come in three module classes based on players’ assembly. All components within the classes are compatible with each other. The in-game tactics depend on the configuration each player chooses as there is correlation between the speed, the weight, the energy consumption, durability of each of the bodies and chassis and their maneuverability on different terrains. LIGHT CLASS MODULES The light class is the weakest class in terms of armor. This class weighs least and accelerates fastest. The robots from this class distinguish from the others with frail body characteristics and light modules. While the fragile looks are only to mislead the opponent, they are equipped with nuclear reactors, nitro packs and can be attached to chassis with up to three tires, thus providing them with more speed. If attached to the right devices this lethal combination is perfect for shoot and scoot battle tactics or pincer movement like typical damage dealers. They can be nice addition to the team via armor plate extensions in order to add durability leading to high power-to-weight ratio and speed. Less initial durability can be compensated with less energy consumption if the robot setup allows. MEDIUM CLASS MODULES The medium class or middleweight is classification for the robot module configuration that can generally serve well in any capacity: offense, defense, "death match", race or "capture the flag" mode. They are versatile, durable but still reasonably agile. They weigh more than the light class with energy consumption that allows them to be engaged in the battle for considerable time. Available body battery slots are more than the light class and the battery accommodates twice the light class energy fit. HEAVY CLASS MODULES The heavy class are slow with limited maneuverability but have the most durability of the heavy body modules which makes them perfect for players who want to stay in the battle as much as possible. They are a good choice for players who prefer to do the tanking and redirect enemy attacks. They can sustain most in the game due to their congenital Iron Man-like bodies and in real-time strategy they accumulate more damage. They can be great for all battle tactics due to the customization options and proper setup. From assisting to the damage output to dodging enemy attacks, the options vary.   In-game balancing will be assured by matchmaking system that will provide each player interesting and competitive gameplay via well organized skill-based ranking system, as well as modules balance that depends on the synergy of the team. The robots can be combined from different modules – light, heavy or medium, but the final configuration and robot assembly will depend on the players choice. Those are the main three divisions according to overall usage of modules and only three of the numerous possible robot assemblies players will encounter when they enter the world of GUNS and ROBOTS later this year.

ChangYou Shutting Down Zentia Posted: 01 Aug 2012 11:34 AM PDT ChangYou has announced it will shut down Zentia on August 13. An email from ChangYou stated: It is with a bittersweet sadness that we announce that Zentia will be closing its doors August 13th, 2012 at 11:59PM PDT. Unfortunately, we are unable to continue to keep the Zentia servers available for play after August 13th. The good news is that we will be re-focusing our efforts and resources on some very exciting upcoming titles. While this is a sad moment in time, we know that the future is bright and we can’t wait to share it with you! Players will be able to get free tokens for either Dragon Oath or Sword Girls, and player’s existing Zentia tokens  can be transferred through Customer Support to either game. Token transfer requests must be made by September 13. Zentia will also shut down its Facebook and Twitter accounts on August 13, but leave the forums open until September 13. Zentia Gameplay Screenshot Source: Dear Zentia fans,   It has been our extreme pleasure to bring Zentia to you since Open Beta began in October 2010. Zentia is truly a unique game with a rare and exceptional community. We hope you have had an unforgettable journey that you will keep close to your hearts.   It is with a bittersweet sadness that we announce that Zentia will be closing its doors August 13th, 2012 at 11:59PM PDT. Unfortunately, we are unable to continue to keep the Zentia servers available for play after August 13th. The good news is that we will be re-focusing our efforts and resources on some very exciting upcoming titles. While this is a sad moment in time, we know that the future is bright and we can’t wait to share it with you!   Change is never easy, and we understand you may have some concerns about the next steps. Rest assured we’ll be with you every step of the way. We greatly appreciate all of the support you have shown us and the time you have invested into Zentia. As a sign of appreciation for our Zentia fans, we have a plan in place to take care of you!   We invite you to continue your adventure with ChangYou in one of our other games:   DRAGON OATH Does your heart long to choose your own destiny in a martial arts-style MMORPG? If so, Dragon Oath may be just what you are looking for! We will be more than happy to supply you with Free Tokens to bring your inner desires to life in ancient China!   SWORD GIRLS If you are a fan of anime and collectable card games, Sword Girls may be just the thing. Draw your swords and enter the immersive world of gothic lolitas, school girls, maids and more! To help get you started, we’ve got you covered with Free Tokens to build a customized Deck to your liking!   Are you wondering what will happen to your existing Zentia Tokens? In addition to the Free Tokens offer for both Dragon Oath and Sword Girls, we’ll be more than happy to transfer your unused Zentia Tokens to either a Dragon Oath or Sword Girls account. If you would like to accept this offer, simply submit a ticket to our Customer Support group. Be sure to include the following information:   ChangYou Account ID Email address used to register your Account Specify the game you would like the Tokens transferred to (Either Dragon Oath or Sword Girls) Once we receive this information, our Customer Support group will be more than happy to assist you with the Token reallocation! Please note that all tickets must be received by September 13th, 2012. After that time, all untransferred Tokens will be lost, so get your Tickets in ASAP!   The Zentia servers will officially close at 11:59PM PDT on August 13, 2012. All Zentia community services including the Facebook and Twitter accounts will also be closed at the same time. The Zentia Announcement Forum will remain open until September 13th, 2012.   We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this closure may cause, and we hope you continue your adventure with us in Dragon Oath and/or Sword Girls! Thank you for everything you’ve contributed! It’s been a blast!   The Zentia Team

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MMO Updates

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• New Otherland making-of video shows off Five Isle, Tad Williams
• World of Tanks 7.5 patch adds three maps, new tanks for all
• Choose My Adventure: You're nobody till somebody loathes you
• A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Can City of Heroes' PvP be saved?
• Why I Play: Glitch
• The Daily Grind: So who's next to go free-to-play?
• EverQuest gets a cosmetic system
• Age of Conan's plans to borrow tech from The Secret World
• Hindu group continues to protest SMITE, asks QuakeCon to pull the game from the lineup
• DC Universe Online unveils revamps for existing powers
• Trion PR executive talks Defiance, Syfy synergy
• Zentia announces the end of its run
• Massively Speaking Episode 210: Now coming to you in SOGA-Vision
• SWTOR is going free-to-play, subs dip below one million [Updated]
• ArenaNet talks emotional connections in Guild Wars 2
• LotRO's Captains get buffed in Riders of Rohan
• Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Holocron Files -- Rattataki

New Otherland making-of video shows off Five Isle, Tad Williams Posted: 01 Aug 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Otherland RealU and gamigo have released a new making-of video update for Otherland. The clip focuses on the in-game world of Five Isle, so named for the five elements of fire, water, earth, wood, and metal that feature in Chinese mythology. Interestingly, Five Isle is a new invention created specifically for the MMO and does not appear in Tad Williams' series of Otherland novels. Williams himself does appear in the new video along with a handful of game developers. See what they have to say after the break. [Source: gamigo press release] Continue reading New Otherland making-of video shows off Five Isle, Tad Williams New Otherland making-of video shows off Five Isle, Tad Williams originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

World of Tanks 7.5 patch adds three maps, new tanks for all Posted: 01 Aug 2012 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Historical, MMO industry, Patches, News items, War, Free-to-play, World of Tanks The first of the month has brought a new update to World of Tanks. The 7.5 patch is now live on Wargaming.net's European servers, and it will debut in North America tomorrow. New tier 10 medium tanks and tank destroyers are the order of the day, as are new premium vehicles, battle arenas, and various medals and titles. The American tech tree has been updated with E3 and E4 mods to the T110 destroyer in addition to the M48A1 Patton III medium tank. The German destroyer lines get the new JadgPz E-100 and E-50 Ausf M. Soviet players can now enjoy Object 268 destroyers and T62A mediums, while French drivers get the Chatillon 25t medium and AMX 50 Foch 155 destroyer. The 7.5 update also adds three new North American maps called Port, Highway, and Serene Coast. [Source: Wargaming.net press release] World of Tanks 7.5 patch adds three maps, new tanks for all originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Choose My Adventure: You're nobody till somebody loathes you Posted: 01 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Polls, Classes, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Massively Meta, Humor, Choose My Adventure Last week's Choose My Adventure poll was not really much of a race, was it? Almost from the beginning, The Kingdom of Loathing took the lead and held it, eventually winning the day. In my experience with the column, the strong front-runner can sometimes be overtaken by a slower community. In this case, however, it was a knockout. I shared the link to the article across the community boards for each game (save one that wouldn't allow me to for fear of linking to other games), and the response was immediate. It just goes to show that sometimes the largest communities have the least active forums. So here I go into the odd world of The Kingdom of Loathing. I played it before and enjoyed it somewhat, but in hindsight, I think the game is just not really newbie-friendly enough to make a week's worth of play worthwhile. I found myself a bit turned off by the attempted humor, but as I have read more about the game, I've realized there's much more depth in store for me. So click past the cut and get to voting. And hurry it up -- that meat won't gather itself! Continue reading Choose My Adventure: You're nobody till somebody loathes you Choose My Adventure: You're nobody till somebody loathes you originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Can City of Heroes' PvP be saved? Posted: 01 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, Game mechanics, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, A Mild-Mannered Reporter In theory, City of Heroes boasts a variety of different PvP options. In practice, pretty much no one notices or cares about any of those options because the game's PvP is dead in the water. Beyond dead in the water, even. Its carcass has settled to the bottom of the ocean and been nibbled away into just bones and a few shreds of clothing. Paragon Studios' reaction is usually to distract anyone who asks about PvP, either with a code giveaway or a well-timed blow to the solar plexus. I could go into a routine about a parrot, but I trust you get the idea. This doesn't bother me categorically. I play other games, and those games give me enough of a PvP fix. PvP has never been why I play City of Heroes. But it does matter a lot to some people, and so it's worth asking: Can PvP be saved? Or should it just be allowed to continue its current slow death of neglect? Speaking from the outside, I think the answer seems to be a definite maybe. I do think that things can be done to make the PvP actually worth playing; unfortunately, those changes might burn away a chunk of what the hardcore PvP crowd is hoping for, and they might frustrate some of the existing crowd that's quite happy with PvP in its current state as a faint memory. I'm not going to talk about whether or not it should be saved; I'm just going to look at whether or not it's even a possibility. Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Can City of Heroes' PvP be saved? A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Can City of Heroes' PvP be saved? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Why I Play: Glitch Posted: 01 Aug 2012 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Screenshots, Culture, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Humor, Miscellaneous, Why I Play As I began to write this column, it struck me that there are some people who do not actually want to play Glitch by Tiny Speck. I wanted to change the usual title of this column to "Why, of course I play Glitch!" but then I thought about my editors glaring at me from across an email. I guess I should explain my love for Glitch, the type I normally reserve only for certain wonderful titles like RuneScape, Dark Age of Camelot, Mabinogi, Wurm Online, Ryzom, MilMo, or even World of Warcraft years ago. I apologize, but it's a bit hard to explain something that seems so obvious. Some people probably consider Glitch a game for younger players or for players who are not as serious about their digital lifestyle. Why Glitch would not be taken as seriously while a game like Darkfall or (ironically) World of Warcraft is considered a more serious gaming venture is beyond me. But then, I think all gaming is silly... that's why it's wonderful. Continue reading Why I Play: Glitch Why I Play: Glitch originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: So who's next to go free-to-play? Posted: 01 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous After yesterday's announcement that Star Wars: The Old Republic is going free-to-play, we at Massively can't help but look at the few remaining subscription-based survivors and wonder which one will be next. Too soon? Probably so, but it's an interesting thought. Will the next conversion be a fresh title like TERA, or an old favorite like Asheron's Call? Let us know your thoughts 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: So who's next to go free-to-play? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EverQuest gets a cosmetic system Posted: 31 Jul 2012 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Game mechanics, Free-to-play It may be late to the costume party, but EverQuest is finally dressing up in its finest duds. SOE announced that the title will be getting its very own cosmetic outfit system come August. Called Hero's Forge, this system allows players to change the appearance of their character's armor without altering the stats. Fashion comes with a price, however: SOE will be charging per character to access this system. Once purchased, players will receive their first set of armor for free. Additional pieces of cosmetic armor will become available as both loot drops and Marketplace goods. EverQuest gets a cosmetic system originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Introducing Hero's Forge

Age of Conan's plans to borrow tech from The Secret World Posted: 31 Jul 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Age of Conan, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, Free-to-play Funcom's focus of late has obviously been on The Secret World, but that doesn't mean the company has forgotten about Age of Conan. Quite the opposite, in fact; the success of The Secret World's single server technology means that Age of Conan can start moving to an equivalent server architecture. According to the newest monthly update, the process will probably not be finished until early next year, but it will allow people to freely switch shards to play with friends and enjoy cross-server events. One of the other updates -- and one that will have far-reaching implications for the game -- regards the current pace of content development and deployment. The development team is considering moving away from large content updates and toward smaller updates at a faster pace. Feedback is being requested from the community on this and other topics, so if you're an Age of Conan stalwart, you should examine the full letter and give the company your opinion. Age of Conan's plans to borrow tech from The Secret World originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Monthly Development Update

Hindu group continues to protest SMITE, asks QuakeCon to pull the game from the lineup Posted: 31 Jul 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Culture, News items, Free-to-play, Miscellaneous, MOBA Rajan Zed, president of the Universal Society for Hinduism, has made a point of protesting the addition of Hindu deities to the lineup of Hi-Rez Studios' upcoming MOBA SMITE. He's now taking that protest to the next level by appealing directly to the organizers of QuakeCon 2012, asking that the game to be removed from the competitive lineup due to its offensive usage of religious figures. Zed asserts once again that making deities (particularly Kali) into characters in a video game hurts the devotees of Hinduism, claiming that Hinduism is the only tradition portrayed by the game that is still active. The Hindu American Foundation has also expressed displeasure at the way the game has handled figures from the religion, although the HAF has also stated that it is working closely with Hi-Rez Studios to ensure that the information contained within the game is at least accurate. The organizers of QuakeCon 2012 have not publicly responded to the request. Hindu group continues to protest SMITE, asks QuakeCon to pull the game from the lineup originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Via: Kotaku

DC Universe Online unveils revamps for existing powers Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Game mechanics, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, DC Universe Online One of the rules of MMO design is that the game is never really done. Designers can still make extensive tweaks and changes to abilities even well after launch. DC Universe Online's revamps of the Mental and Gadgets sets are a case in point. According to system designer Jesse Scott in a recent update on the revamps, these two sets both had several options that felt redundant and fewer unique abilities, so the design team has gone back to the sets improve overall utility and provide more interesting choices. Mental's core issue was a serious weakness in the Illusions tree, which was addressed by ensuring that more powers in the tree can do damage without relying on fragile interactions. Gadgets, meanwhile, had far too many powers that were doing essentially the same thing. Some powers have been rolled together, new powers have been added, and a few have been changed in form but not in function to address thematic concerns. Even if you've never been fond of these powersets before, the updates might be enough to pique your interest after all. DC Universe Online unveils revamps for existing powers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Update on the Mental and Gadgets revamps

Trion PR executive talks Defiance, Syfy synergy Posted: 31 Jul 2012 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Defiance You probably know by know that Trion is working on a massive open-world shooter called Defiance. If you've been paying attention, you also know that it ties in with a Syfy Channel television show of the same name. A new PR video featuring Trion Global Brand Director Alex Rodberg sheds a little more light on the "transmedia synergy" between the two products. No, we're not sure what that means either, but it kinda rolls off the tongue, wouldn't you agree? See, say it with us again: transmedia synergy. OK, you're right, it's a buzz phrase. Whew, we almost bought into the hype there for a second! Anyhow, click past the cut to watch Rodberg explain how players of the game don't have to watch the show to enjoy the former (and vice versa) as well as how Trion is working together with Syfy personnel to craft what both firms hope is a unique entertainment experience. Continue reading Trion PR executive talks Defiance, Syfy synergy Trion PR executive talks Defiance, Syfy synergy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: [a]listdaily Via: TTH

Zentia announces the end of its run Posted: 31 Jul 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play Sunrise, sunset. All that ascends must one day fall into shadow -- and sadly, the time has come for Zentia to do the latter. The charming Asian fantasy title has just told its players that it will be breathing its last as of August 13th. ChangYou sent out the farewell letter to its playerbase with the sad news: "Unfortunately, we are unable to continue to keep the Zentia servers available for play after August 13th. The good news is that we will be re-focusing our efforts and resources on some very exciting upcoming titles." The company is urging its players to move to one of its other games, specifically Dragon Oath and Sword Girls. Players who do so will have their store currency moved to that game with an extra bonus of tokens for the trouble. Zentia announces the end of its run originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Closure announcement

Massively Speaking Episode 210: Now coming to you in SOGA-Vision Posted: 31 Jul 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Podcasts, EverQuest II, MMO industry, News items, Guild Wars 2, Massively Meta, The Secret World, Massively Speaking, Wizard101, Allods Online, Miscellaneous This week, your intrepid podcasters are traveling down into the dark uncanny valley where their sanity will be shredded, filleted, minced, and served with a nice kumquat garnish. As they forge ahead through pandas, chibis, sasquatches, skarts, and Norwegians, only one question remains -- if they survive, will what's left be worth living? Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to podcast@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes. Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 210: Now coming to you in SOGA-Vision Massively Speaking Episode 210: Now coming to you in SOGA-Vision originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

SWTOR is going free-to-play, subs dip below one million [Updated] Posted: 31 Jul 2012 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Business models, Star Wars: The Old Republic EA BioWare is making the jump to lightspeed -- and free-to-play. That's right: As of this fall, Star Wars: The Old Republic will transition to a hybrid F2P business model. Players who choose to engage in free-to-play will be able to experience a majority of the game for free, including the first 50 levels and all eight classes. BioWare did state that there will be restrictions, but those can be removed with microtransactions. SWTOR will still be available in the standard subscription model. Subscribers will be given an allowance of store currency, called Cartel Coins, to buy customizable gear and other niceties. Current subscribers and those who sign back up before the fall can also rack up special rewards for when the transition is made. BioWare GM Matthew Bromberg said that this is the next logical step for the game: "Players want flexibility and choice. The subscription-only model presented a major barrier for a lot of people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe." Check out Massively's recent Hyperspace Beacon column on why F2P was inevitable for the game. BioWare's also posted a F2P FAQ with all the nitty-gritty details and a letter from the executive producer. [Update: During this afternoon's investor call, EA President Frank Gibeau revealed that SWTOR subs have dipped below one million but are still "well above" half a million. Forty percent of those leaving do so because of subscriptions. The game claimed 1.3 million subs last May and had leveled off at 1.7 million in March, having sold in the range of 2 million copies. Gibeau hopes the new F2P model will win back players lost to churn.] SWTOR is going free-to-play, subs dip below one million [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: SWTOR Free, F2P FAQ, Executive Producer letter

ArenaNet talks emotional connections in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 31 Jul 2012 01:10 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Lore, News items, PvE, Guild Wars 2, Dev Diaries ArenaNet has put a lot of emphasis on the story of Guild Wars 2. But what good is a story unless it's compelling enough to pull players in emotionally? Ree Soesbee and Jeff Grubb, the heart of ArenaNet's Guild Wars 2 lore, talk about this challenge in a new blog post. Story involvement, says Soesbee, begins with players' avatars as early as character creation. Grubb talks about the balance between creating characters with depth and characters with enough loose ends for an unexpected story to emerge, which is a fine line to walk. The game is built around the assumption that players are heroic in nature and essentially good. Like in the original Guild Wars, players don't really have the option to be villains or anti-heroes through the storyline. The liveliness of NPCs and the world around characters are also key steps toward drawing players into the game. I think that's what it all boils down to in the long run-you become emotionally invested with the game because you become interested in both your character and the world. And you can do that by making choices and seeing those choices have an effect-and truly matter-within the world. That is one of our goals when we're telling stories in Guild Wars 2. - Jeff Grub ArenaNet talks emotional connections in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: The emotional connection

LotRO's Captains get buffed in Riders of Rohan Posted: 31 Jul 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Classes, Expansions, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries Turbine's Riders of Rohan dev diary parade continues, as today the studio previewed some of the changes coming for Lord of the Rings Online's Captains this fall. The hybrid class will see several upgraded versions of existing skills on the path to level 85 as well as a new out-of-combat rez at level 40. New skills that the Captain will be receiving include Improved Valiant Strike, which now comes with a Fellowship-wide HoT; Improved War-cry, which adds a damage bonus on top of a faster attack speed; and Inspiring Blade of Elendil, which will hit harder, help with power regeneration more, and allow Captains to buff other skills when used in a chain. System Designer Erika Ng said that the team is also working to make skills and legacies useful to all trait-lines for the class. One of the new legacies that added with Riders of Rohan will increase the duration of battle states and defeat responses so that Captains have a longer period of time to fire off reaction skills. LotRO's Captains get buffed in Riders of Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Captain dev diary

Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Holocron Files -- Rattataki Posted: 31 Jul 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Lore, Opinion, Races, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon We are quickly running out of playable species for the Holocron Files, but trust me: There is plenty of lore to pull from for future entries. For those who haven't been following, the Holocron Files series takes the known lore and stories in the Star Wars universe and presents it to you in an easily digestible fashion to help make your Star Wars: The Old Republic experience richer. This week, let's tackle the Rattataki. The Rattataki are one of the most confusing species playable in SWTOR. In the scheme of the Star Wars universe, this species is rather young and makes for an odd choice for BioWare. Other species, like the Chiss, Purebloods, and Miraluka, have been around since the early '90s in books and comic books. Zabraks and Mirialans were introduced to us in the prequel movies, and of course, the Twi'leks can be found in the original trilogy. However, the Rattataki didn't make their first (alleged) appearance until 2003, first in the Star Wars: Republic comic book, then in the Clone Wars animated series. What makes this species even more confusing is that the first appearance of a Rattataki wasn't really a Rattataki (giving me one more reason to hate the Clone Wars cartoon). If you've rolled a Rattataki in TOR, or if you're thinking of playing one as a future character, then this edition of Holocron Files is for you. The Rattataki as a species and culture has been set apart from the rest of the Star Wars universe and makes an excellent choice as a playable species. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Holocron Files -- Rattataki Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR Holocron Files -- Rattataki originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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General gaming

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• The Evolution of Early Game Narratives
• Sleeping Dogs Gives Players a Dark World to Explore at their Own Pace
• Telling a Tale of Empowerment

The Evolution of Early Game Narratives Posted: 31 Jul 2012 05:32 PM PDT Feature Share it: Tweet 1UP COVER STORY 1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF JULY 30 | NARRATIVE IN GAMES The Evolution of Early Game Narratives Cover Story: How a few radical ideas set the framework for decades to come. W hen gaming began, narrative was almost nonexistent. In Tennis for Two and Pong, it was just an electronic competition. It wasn't until titles like Pac-Man, Pitfall, and Donkey Kong that gaming started getting stories. Sure, the tale of Jumpman fighting a big ape wasn't enthralling, but it gave context and color to the gameplay proceedings. As time wore on, stories got deeper, especially as RPGs grew in popularity. Even still, the story was mostly constrained to the instruction manual. Even The Legend of Zelda, which is now one of Nintendo's most story-heavy series, had little in-game context. That began to change in the late '80s, though, in a surprising place: the Ninja Gaiden series. Two versions of the game, one for the arcades and one for the Nintendo Entertainment System, came out and wound up being very different despite the shared name. Ninja Gaiden for the arcades was nothing more than a side-scrolling beat 'em up, something that was on the same level as a Double Dragon. However, Ninja Gaiden for NES wound up revolutionizing narrative in video games, delivering a hardcore platforming experience that was equal parts stellar and frustrating.

Sleeping Dogs Gives Players a Dark World to Explore at their Own Pace Posted: 31 Jul 2012 02:02 PM PDT Hong Kong action cinema certainly enjoys the opportunity to be silly and gritty at the same time. Those double-fisted gunfights, the pulse-pounding cops chases with improbable physics, and (in some cases) those doves that fly out of nowhere; all of it comes together to weave a world that's slavishly stylish but slightly ridiculous. This is the type of world Sleeping Dogs wants to recreate to a degree: an intense environment where brutal gangs can make your best friend suddenly disappear if he upsets the wrong people. A world based in loose realism, but also one where silly things can still happen. A recent preview build effectively conveyed this video game trip into foreign cinema, and it highlighted the way it tries to strike a balance between the two. My 1UP cohort, Marty Sliva, helped me realize something significant pertaining to the differences between narrative in video games and ones presented in film. He argued that, in a film, a director has a set runtime to stick to -- a schedule that pushes the storytelling aspects of film forward. In about a two-hour span, a world has to be created quickly, complete with a cast of characters, and then present the viewer with a beginning, middle, and end. A film director has to make every second count for fear of losing his viewers through convoluted plot points and irrelevant action.

Telling a Tale of Empowerment Posted: 31 Jul 2012 01:07 PM PDT Feature Share it: Tweet 1UP COVER STORY 1UP COVER STORY | WEEK OF JULY 30 | NARRATIVE IN GAMES Telling a Tale of Empowerment Cover Story: How games unite story and play by letting you blow stuff up. S ome people say that story in games is as superfluous as story in pornography: A pointless distraction that simply gets in the way of the material the audience actually wants. But is that really true? Not every game needs a story, but when integrated thoughtfully narrative can elevate a simple amusement to something more meaningful. Not unlike the way a well-crafted story can transform simple porn into erotica. But what constitutes thoughtful integration? Mainstream media may be content to depict video games with dated Pac-Man sound effects (or a clip of Doom if they're feeling particularly contemporary), but those of us who actually follow games know the medium has advanced well beyond rudimentary score-chasing arcade mazes. The kind of story in a game and the manner in which it's incorporated into the action varies according to that game's genre and purpose; in a visual novel like Corpse Party (or offshoots like Ace Attorney), story reigns supreme. In a twitch-based arcade shooter, plot provides little more than context and atmosphere even at its best (e.g. Einhänder or Radiant Silvergun).

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