General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


LG Goes Wide with 21:9 Cinematic EA93 Monitor

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 12:09 PM PDT

We don't know if it's something in Germany's water supply or what, but ultra-wide 21:9 cinematic displays seem to be a popular thing to showcase in recent days. To wit, Toshiba's been showing off its stretched out Satellite U845W at IFA in Berlin, which is getting a Windows 8 makeover in October, and LG unveiled a pair of monitors, one of which also employs a 21:9 aspect ratio.

LG's EA93 is a 29-inch monitor with an IPS panel. It has a 2560x1080 resolution, same as a typical movie theater screen, and a variety of connectivity options, including Dual DVI-I, HDMI, and DisplayPort. The EA93 also has a built-in USB 3.0 hub.

"Through continuous innovation of our IPS monitors, we are raising the user experience to a whole new level for home entertainment and graphic professional use," said J.J. Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of the IT Business Unit at the LG Home Entertainment Company. "The EA93's immersive 21:9 cinematic screen and the EA83's advantages when it comes to advanced graphics applications make these newest monitors compelling additions to our premium IPS monitor line-up."

We don't read too much into display quality ratings, but if you're curious, the monitor has a 5ms (GTG) response time, 300 nits brightness, and is purportedly able to display 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color space (contrast ratio isn't listed).

No word on when this will ship or for how much.

Image Credit: LG

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HP Unwraps Two Windows 8 Ultrabooks and One Hybrid PC

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 11:07 AM PDT

Regardless of how you feel about Windows 8 and its tile-based user interface, you have to hand it to Microsoft for ensuring its launch partners are on board with the new operating system. Hewlett-Packard certainly is, as it's one of several companies announcing new products ahead of Windows 8's debut in October. HP today unveiled three new Windows 8 devices, including two Ultrabook models (Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 and Spectre XT TouchSmart) and a hybrid PC (Envy x2) that follows a growing trend of combining a tablet PC and Ultrabook into a single device.

Starting with the hybrid, the Envy x2 features an 11.6-inch touchscreen display, solid state memory, NFC support, 8MP rear-facing camera, HD front-facing camera, Beats Audio, and a keyboard dock. The Envy x2 will ship in time for the holiday shopping season, though no price has yet been announced.

As for the Ultrabook models, the Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 is the smaller of the two with a 14-inch display, backlit keyboard, AMD graphics, Beats Audio, and a 23mm thin profile. The Spectre XT TouchSmart, meanwhile, is a 15.6-inch Ultrabook with a Full HD resolution and IPS display. It boasts an Intel Core processor, mSATA SSD, USB 3.0, HDMI output, GbE LAN, and several other goodies.

Like the Envy x2, the Envy TouchSmart Ultrabook 4 will ship during the holidays. The HP SpectreXT TouchSmart will be available in December starting at $1,400.

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Western Digital My Book VelociRaptor Duo Packs Dual 10K Hard Drives

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT

Which would you rather have, raw speed or redundancy? That's the delightful decision buyers of Western Digital's new My Book VelociRaptor Duo external storage device will face if investing in what WD calls the fastest My Book ever. The dual storage backup device bites at backup chores with a pair of speedy 10,000 RPM VelociRaptor hard drives, which you can configure in RAID 0 for speed or RAID 1 for protection. Plus, you can daisy chain multiple My Books for even more performance.

"The My Book VelociRaptor Duo is the fastest and most reliable high performance consumer storage device on the market today," explains Jody Bradshaw, senior director of WD's consumer storage solutions group. "Creative professionals now have access to a super-charged storage drive that will keep pace with even the most demanding projects. Daisy-chaining multiple My Book VelociRaptor Duo devices together offer even greater speed, more capacity and flexibility."

Each of the two drives are 1TB in capacity. According to Western Digital, the drives deliver SSD-like data transfers of up to 400MB/s, allowing you to transfer a 22GB full-length HD movie in just over a minute, or 2,000 5MB pictures in 33 seconds.

The caveat? There are two. First is the fact that it uses Thunderbolt, and second is the price -- it carries an MSRP of $900. Ouch.

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President Obama's Campaign Trail Led to Brief Q&A Session on Reddit

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 07:11 AM PDT

For the past three and a half years, President Obama has been to foreign locales and all over the United States. As he fights to keep his job in the upcoming election, his travels took him to a new destination, a pitstop on Reddit as he embarks on his campaign trail. If you couldn't access Reddit for a short while yesterday, it's because users flocked to the site to participate in his AMA (Ask Me Anything) session.

According to PCWorld, Reddit temporarily buckled under the pressure of the increased activity, though quickly regained composure as the President proceeded to answer 10 questions in the "I am Barack Obama, President of the United States -- AMA" thread. It wasn't entirely a random pitstop, as Obama was in Charlottesville, Virginia at the time, the same city Reddit was founded.

During his AMA session, Obama talked about the future of NASA, fundraising, his most difficult decision he's had to make since taking office, his favorite basketball player, and other things, all of which have been reprinted at The Hollywood Reporter. He avoided tougher topics -- you know, like choosing between Star Wars and Star Trek, revealing the color of his toothbrush, and whether or not he could beat Abraham Lincoln in a knife fight, among other Reddit fodder.

In the past 18 hours, the Reddit thread has generated nearly 23,000 comments.

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Digital Storm's X17E is 17 Inches of Gaming Bang for Under Two Grand

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 06:31 AM PDT

There was a time not that long ago when you couldn't touch a high-end laptop without spending a fortune, let alone a gaming grade notebook by a boutique builder. Now you can, as evidenced by Digital Storm's X17E, a 17-inch laptop built for gamers on an artist's budget. Pricing starts at $1,753, though you can go all out and pony up for an Intel Core i7 3920XM processor overclocked to 4.5GHz, among other upgrade options.

The X17E is Digital Storm's flagship 17-inch gamer, and customers have the option of splurging on either an AMD Radeon HD 7970M or Nvidia GeForce GTX 680M GPU. It has a 1920x1080 resolution, support for up to 32GB of memory, USB 3.0 ports, eSATA, 9-in-1 memory card reader, Blu-ray drive, backlit keyboard with different lighting zones and up to seven color options, and other goodies.

Pricing will start at $1,753 when the X17E goes on sale in September. Digital Storm says it will also sell a Signature Edition SKU that features a custom paint job, distinctive branding, and special packaging.

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Samsung Gets Official with Galaxy Note II Phablet, Skips U.S. Market (For Now)

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 05:45 AM PDT

It's incredibly tough to keep a product launch under wraps with the Internet serving as the ultimate spoiler. Samsung can attest to this after seeing its Galaxy Note II plans leaked to the Web ahead of its offical launch. Be that as it may, all a company can do is forge ahead with business as usual, as Samsung did by officially unveiling its second generation Galaxy Note device. There is one surprise, however -- Samsung's skipping a U.S. launch until later this year.

The Galaxy Note II will be available in October in major European, Asian, and Middle East markets, with no mention of a U.S. launch in the press release. Word on the Web is that it will land on U.S. shores before the year is over, though exactly when is a mystery.

A quad-core Exynos processor clocked at 1.6GHz will drive the slightly larger 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display (up from 5.3 inches in the first Galaxy Note) with a 720p resolution. There will be 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB models, all of which are expandable via a microSD card slot. It will also have an 8MP rear-facing camera, 1.9MP front-facing camera with HD recording, support for Samsung's S Pen stylus, 4G LTE connectivity, 3,100 mAh battery, and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

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Wide Load: Toshiba Satellite U845W is First Laptop to Wield 21:9 Display, Now with Windows 8

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 05:14 AM PDT

For whatever reason, Ultrabook makers have been infatuated with 1,366x768 and 1,600x900 screen resolutions, rarely experimenting with anything higher, regardless of display size. That isn't true of Toshiba, which earlier this month launched its Satellite U845W, purportedly the world's first laptop to play with an ultra-wide 21:9 cinematic aspect ratio (1,792x768). Come October 26, the U845W will get a Windows 8 makeover, Toshiba announced today.

Unfortunately, Toshiba isn't swapping out the panel for a touch-friendly replacement to take advantage of Windows 8's "Modern UI Style," though the company claims the ultra-wide design is "ideal for snapping Windows 8 style apps to the classic desktop." It also has a sizable ClickPad with Windows 8 gestures support.

Taking advantage of the additional real estate, Toshiba includes a split screen utility with pre-configured and custom viewpoint grids that support multiple windows in Desktop mode. Try doing that on a traditional Ultrabook.

Display technology aside, the U845W features Ivy Bridge-based Core i5 and i7 processor options, 500GB hard drive + 32GB SSD cache (or 256GB SSD), 6GB of DDR3-1600 memory, Harman Kardon stereo speakers, three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI output, 1.3MP webcam, memory card slot, and various other bits.

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MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com

MMO and SEO News from Gameforumer.com


Review: Damage Inc.: Pacific Squadron WWII

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 05:10 AM PDT

In theory, flight simulation games offer fans of the genre accurate flight controls with a diverse array of those amazing aircrafts they love so much, with powerful dogfights and skill helping push along a narrative worthy of their time. Damage … Continue reading

Surprise! Samsung Announces First Windows 8 Phone, Ativ S

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:11 PM PDT

Samsung isn’t letting a little thing like losing a billion dollar verdict to rival Apple disrupt its mojo. Rather than sit around and feel sorry for itself, Samsung today surprised everyone by announcing the Ativ S, the world’s first Windows … Continue reading

Is Mass Effect 3′s Leviathan DLC Worth It?

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:25 PM PDT

BioWare hasn't been idle when it comes to Mass Effect 3. Since the game's release in March, the company has release multiple DLC packs that expand the multiplayer elements. Plus, there's that whole thing with the ending. The content isn't … Continue reading

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates


Review: Damage Inc.: Pacific Squadron WWII

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 05:10 AM PDT

In theory, flight simulation games offer fans of the genre accurate flight controls with a diverse array of those amazing aircrafts they love so much, with powerful dogfights and skill helping push along a narrative worthy of their time. Damage … Continue reading

Surprise! Samsung Announces First Windows 8 Phone, Ativ S

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 09:11 PM PDT

Samsung isn’t letting a little thing like losing a billion dollar verdict to rival Apple disrupt its mojo. Rather than sit around and feel sorry for itself, Samsung today surprised everyone by announcing the Ativ S, the world’s first Windows … Continue reading

Is Mass Effect 3′s Leviathan DLC Worth It?

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 08:25 PM PDT

BioWare hasn't been idle when it comes to Mass Effect 3. Since the game's release in March, the company has release multiple DLC packs that expand the multiplayer elements. Plus, there's that whole thing with the ending. The content isn't … Continue reading

Toshiba Trots Out U925t Convertible Tablet with Intel Core i5 CPU

Posted: 29 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT

IFA Berlin is in full swing and we’re starting to see a number of Windows 8 product announcements emerge. One of them is Toshiba’s Satellite U925t convertible tablet, or “tablet meets Ultrabook,” as the company describes it. Sleek and slim, … Continue reading

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Final Fantasy XIV producer letter discusses the game's end and new beginning

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 09:30 AM PDT

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Final Fantasy XIV producer letter
In the 35th installment of Final Fantasy XIV's producer letter series, Producer Akihiko Matsui delves into details about both the grand finale for the game in its current version and the impending alpha testing for A Realm Reborn.

The grand finale includes a final save maintenance for characters on November 1st, 2012. World servers will then be shut down on November 11th at 3:00 a.m. EST. At this point, the plan is to keep the game off-line until launch of the alpha. However, Square Enix is offering the chance for players to vote on whether or not to bring the servers back up in order to play together during the wait. The caveat is that all progress and changes will not be saved and carried over to the new version.

The letter also discloses information about the upcoming alpha test. The test will be in four phases; the first will be restricted to Japanese residents only. Beta will not follow until Akihiko Matsui is personally 100% happy things are ready for that stage.

For further details, check out the full producer's letter.

MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV producer letter discusses the game's end and new beginning originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First impressions of PlanetSide 2 through the eyes of an FPS noob

Posted: 30 Aug 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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First Impressions PlanetSide 2 from the eyes of an FPS noob
Rather than give anyone the wrong impression, let me begin by saying that first-person shooters are far from being my thing. I don't pant in anticipation for the latest Battlefield or Modern Warfare game. I do, however, like my share of third-person shooters. Global Agenda and the Mass Effect series come to mind immediately. So what in the world would make someone like me interested in Sony Online Entertainment's latest craze, PlanetSide 2?

RPGs are my thing, and I have always had respect for SOE as a developer. Despite some obvious mistakes the company's made when under the umbrella of large intellectual properties like DC Comics and Star Wars, SOE has handled its own IPs very well. It was also one of the first Western AAA studios to step into the world of free-to-play (with Free Realms, which continues to perform well). And now PlanetSide 2 proclaims that online FPS titles can not only provide exciting vehicle combat but do so in a persistent world.

So when SOE invited Massively to join Game Designer Margaret Krohn on a guided tour of PlanetSide 2, I thought, "Why not? At least I'll get to shoot some people in the face."

Continue reading First impressions of PlanetSide 2 through the eyes of an FPS noob

MassivelyFirst impressions of PlanetSide 2 through the eyes of an FPS noob originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Guild Wars 2 is heading to China

    Posted: 30 Aug 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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    Guild Wars 2 is heading to China
    While talk is often about Eastern games migrating to Western audiences, today its about a Western game moving East: ArenaNet has formed a partnership with KongZhong Corporation to take Guild Wars 2 to China. This marks one of the largest licensing transactions ever for a Western game in the Chinese market.

    ArenaNet co-founder and president Mike O'Brien noted that the studio had its eye on the global market when designing the game and worked to appeal to a global audience. Developers' work has paid off as GW2 is highly anticipated in China, according to KongZhong CEO Wang Lei lei who further stated, "I believe Chinese game players will be impressed by Guild Wars 2 unique gameplay which will bring truly epic, cooperative gameplay back to the MMORPG genre."

    MassivelyGuild Wars 2 is heading to China originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Perfect Ten: Ways Guild Wars 2 beats the pants off of Guild Wars

    Posted: 30 Aug 2012 07:00 AM PDT

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    The Perfect Ten Ways Guild Wars 2 beats the pants off of Guild Wars 1
    As a gamer who went through all of the original Guild Wars campaigns and spent the better part of a year or so doing it, I reluctantly came to the conclusion that while it was a fine game and pretty to behold, it wasn't for me. I felt it was too grindy and at times way too difficult, and I couldn't connect with it the way I did with other MMOs.

    That's why I'm celebrating Guild Wars 2's launch: This is the game I wanted from ArenaNet from the get-go. It most certainly carries the torch of the franchise, particularly in its lush world-building and incredible vistas, but it does the most important thing a sequel should do: preserve the good, add bold new ideas, and drop the dead weight.

    At risk of offending those who hold the original Guild Wars as a sacred cow (blasphemooey?), I present the top 10 ways Guild Wars 2 most definitely beats the pants off of its predecessor.

    Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Ways Guild Wars 2 beats the pants off of Guild Wars

    MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Ways Guild Wars 2 beats the pants off of Guild Wars originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: Are you tired of MMO mega-launches?

      Posted: 30 Aug 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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      Guild Wars 2 - tired elementalist
      So Guild Wars 2's launch has come and gone, and regardless of what you think of the game, there's no denying that it was an earth-shaking event as far as MMORPGs go. Tons of people are playing it; even more are thinking, talking, and blogging about it. Frankly, it's hard to get away from the game if you're a genre fan.

      So it went with Star Wars: The Old Republic earlier this year, and so it will go with the next supposed savior of the genre, whatever that might be. Personally, I'm just glad that both of these titles have finally debuted and that there are no more mega-launches on the near horizon.

      What about you, dear readers? Do you need a break from heavyweight MMO launches, or are you already anticipating the next big thing?

      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: Are you tired of MMO mega-launches? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Aug 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Lord of the Rings Online explains crafting changes coming with Riders of Rohan

        Posted: 29 Aug 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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        I built the plants myself and let the house grow right there.  In hindsight I should have done it the other way around.
        One of the major issues facing crafters in Lord of the Rings Online is that gathering professions don't line up with crafting professions. Leveling up a non-gathering skill takes more resources than you gather while leveling up the appropriate gathering skill. The newest developer diary explains how Riders of Rohan addresses this problem with new "processing" recipes that allow you to turn a resource into shavings, which can subsequently be turned back into the original item.

        That's not the only change coming to crafting with the new expansion. Players can expect two full sets of armor for the crafting, one at level 80 and one at level 85. There are also new crafting instances, new crafted relics, and a new rank added on to craft guild reputations. If you like to get your hands dirty with crafting in Lord of the Rings Online, swing on over to the developer diary for the full details.

        MassivelyLord of the Rings Online explains crafting changes coming with Riders of Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Free for All: Blasting through Clone Wars Adventures' new Carlac content

        Posted: 29 Aug 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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        Clone Wars Adventures screenshot
        I love the Clone Wars animated telvesion series on Cartoon Network. So when I heard that Sony Online Entertainment was making the Clone Wars Adventures MMO using the Free Realms engine, I was more excited than a tween with an unscratched Station Cash card on Christmas. Finally I would be able to play in the world of the Clone Wars without having to venture into the lower digit channels!

        Recently SOE released (somewhat quietly) a new area to explore and conquer. In the Carlac zone, players are tasked with defeating piles of Death Watch baddies and Pre Vizsla. Tune in past the break, where I'll defeat Pre myself!

        Continue reading Free for All: Blasting through Clone Wars Adventures' new Carlac content

        MassivelyFree for All: Blasting through Clone Wars Adventures' new Carlac content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Things to steal from Guild Wars 2

          Posted: 29 Aug 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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          A Mild-Mannered Reporter header by A. Fienemann
          Whether you play NCsoft games or work for NCsoft, it's hard to ignore that this is the week Guild Wars 2 launches to the general public. And if I know the folks at Paragon Studios, which I sort of do but not really, they are scouring the game right now to figure out what can be yanked from the game and adapted for City of Heroes.

          This is not an insult. City of Heroes has always done a great job of taking ideas from other games and blending them into the core engine, creating a game that takes some good snippets from other games and puts an interesting spin on each individual element. Granted, some of those adaptations work better than others, but it's the core concept that works so well here.

          So I wouldn't be surprised to see some elements from Guild Wars 2 leading into updates for CoH. But to save a little time for the team at Paragon Studios, I've gone ahead and figured out what could be nicked for the game. (Or for a sequel. Just saying.) You can all take a look at it now and thank me later.

          Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Things to steal from Guild Wars 2

          MassivelyA Mild-Mannered Reporter: Things to steal from Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Ultima Online maps out remainder of 2012

            Posted: 29 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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            Ultima Online maps out remainder of 2012
            If you don't mind being spoiled when it comes to your favorite isometric sandbox, then you might want to head over to Ultima Online's official site, where Producer Bonnie Armstrong has spilled the beans about the game's immediate and long-term future.

            Armstrong begins by laying a foundation for the game's updates, starting with Publish 78 any day now, Publish 79 around Christmas-time, and Publish 80 for early next year. She also revealed a lengthy list of features that the team is thinking about implementing for UO, including high-res art, a better UI, new sea creatures and encounters, and a battleground shard. Specifics about each publish's contents are still up in the air, although Armstrong says the team will post them soon enough.

            For Ultima Online's 15th anniversary, Armstrong says that Mythic is bringing back the Return to Britannia promotion for all of September. This means that any former UO subscribers will be welcome to come back and play free of charge. The team will be distributing anniversary rewards during the month as well.

            MassivelyUltima Online maps out remainder of 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Choose My Adventure: How I fell in love with The Kingdom of Loathing

            Posted: 29 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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            The Kingdom of Loathing screenshot
            Well, it's time for me to say goodbye to The Kingdom of Loathing. It's more accurate to say that it's time for you to say goodbye to the KoL diary that I've been keeping over the last several weeks. Perhaps we can meet in-world to discuss the game further? Before you go, allow me to recap what I learned from my time with this odd browser-based MMO.

            I guess it'd be easiest to tell you what kind of player I am and why this game fits my playstyle so well. That way you can ask yourself if it sounds like the right fit for you, based on a comparison of our two personalities. No matter what conclusion you come to, you should still try the game. I don't know how someone could not want to try any new game he came across, but that's getting into my preferences. Even then, there is no denying the convenience of a free-to-play, browser-based, multi-platform sandbox MMO that also offers years of content and a very unique fanbase.

            It all started several weeks ago...

            Continue reading Choose My Adventure: How I fell in love with The Kingdom of Loathing

            MassivelyChoose My Adventure: How I fell in love with The Kingdom of Loathing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              SOE Live contest submissions due by September 8th

              Posted: 29 Aug 2012 01:30 PM PDT

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              SOE Live contest submissions due by September 8th
              This year's Fan Faire, er... SOE Live is happening in October, and Sony Online Entertainment is looking to send a few lucky folks on a free trip to Las Vegas for the festivities. The annual shindig is a chance for fans to rub elbows with developers, celebrate SOE's extensive suite of online titles, and collect a bunch of in-game exclusives that those of us stuck at home will never get.

              Contest hopefuls will need to submit an original video featuring EverQuest II's new SOEmote facial recognition technology. The grand prize winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Bally's Casino resort along with admission to the SOE Live events. Further details and contest rules are available on the EQII website. Contest submissions are due by September 8th!

              [Source: SOE press release]

              MassivelySOE Live contest submissions due by September 8th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Massively Exclusive: DK Online Paladin revealed

              Posted: 29 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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              Massively Exclusive   DK Online Paladin revealed
              Magic and meatshields are practically a staple in the fantasy genre. In this way, the upcoming free-to-play MMO DK Online is no different; Aeria Games recently revealed its take on these roles with the Sorceress and the Warrior classes.

              Today, the company introduces a righteous avenger to the mix, the Paladin. Massively brings you an exclusive look at this new class with a dev blog, an interview, and a trailer showing off some of the holy fighter's moves.

              Continue reading Massively Exclusive: DK Online Paladin revealed

              MassivelyMassively Exclusive: DK Online Paladin revealed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Enter at Your Own Rift: What's in your bag?

                Posted: 29 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                Enter at your own Rift  What's in your wallet  or bag
                I have a little confession to make. When it comes to random clicky items, unusual vanity pets, eccentric appearance items, and other quirky stuff in RIFT, I'm completely obsessed. During world events, while everyone else is eyeing the essences and new mounts, I'm scanning the appearance outfits and the clicky-effect items. I'll even do quests and content that I'm not necessarily interested in if the reward is something out of the ordinary. Clickies and odd items are great ways to lighten the mood when your group or raid has hit a wall, and they're a good way to liven up downtime in game. There's nothing like the sudden appearance of fireworks or the instant transformation of your raid leader into foliage.

                For this week's Enter at Your Own Rift, I'm diving into my RIFT bags and bank vault to highlight a few of my favorite clickies. Share some of yours!

                Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: What's in your bag?

                MassivelyEnter at Your Own Rift: What's in your bag? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Black Prophecy closing down on September 26th

                  Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:30 AM PDT

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                  Black Prophecy closing down on September 26th
                  Apparently Black Prophecy was in the red, as Reakktor Media has posted a closure notice on the free-to-play sci-fi title's official website.

                  Today marks the last day that players will able to purchase in-game currency, and Black Prophecy will close its doors for good on September 26th. If you've purchased KK$ any time in the past six months, gamigo will be sending you an email credit voucher that may be applied to other titles in its portfolio.

                  The closure post also mentions upcoming send-off events, and we'll keep you informed on those as we learn more.

                  [Thanks to Wesley for the tip.]

                  MassivelyBlack Prophecy closing down on September 26th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Third End of Nations closed beta event starts September 7th

                  Posted: 29 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                  Third End of Nations closed beta events starts September 7th
                  What's that? You were wondering when Trion was going to host its third End of Nations closed beta event? Well, wonder no more, MMORTS fans.

                  Mark Friday, September 7th on your calendar because that's when participants can log back in and try out new features like elite companies. These are basically private armies that may be purchased and deployed for a specific purpose, according to Trion's latest press blurb.

                  The beta event runs through Sunday, September 9th at 11:59 p.m. EDT, so you've got a full three days to kick the tires and light the fires when it comes to large-scale MMORTS action. If you don't have a beta key yet, check the Trion Facebook page and Twitter account, or purchase the Founder's Edition.

                  [Source: Trion press release]

                  MassivelyThird End of Nations closed beta event starts September 7th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 29 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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