MMO Updates |
- Neverwinter Days: The great economic collapse of 2013
- Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch set for August 27
- BioWare 'actively investigating' recent SWTOR bannings
- Lost Continent: An ArcheAge community guide
- The Perfect Ten: Movies for the MMO fan
- The Daily Grind: Would you like appropriate movie tie-in content in your MMOs?
- Free for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman
- Choose My Adventure: Building on the clan experience in Darkfall
- 38 Studios vs. State of Rhode Island court case begins
- New video details the website changes for RuneScape 3
- TUG tackles sexiness and diversity
- Kings and Legends Global melds the TCG with the MMO
- Hartsman: 'The traditional AAA style of development and distribution' is broken
- Meet The Elder Scrolls Online's legendary wamasu
- Captain's Log Supplemental: An Exclusive Q&A with STO's Daniel Stahl
- Uncharted Waters Online discounts Steam packages before a big patch docks
- A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Another look at Plan Z
- Vindictus EU shows off next episode of Season 2 with video, screenshots
| Neverwinter Days: The great economic collapse of 2013 Posted: 23 May 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Bugs, Economy, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Neverwinter Days  As I was getting set to write that column, Neverwinter's economy exploded and then imploded over the course of a weekend, thanks to a nasty exploit that involved, yup, the Gateway. Suddenly my topic had to shift from "isn't this a neat tool?" to "check out what the tools are doing with this tool." Seeing the economy effectively destroyed in a matter of hours and how Cryptic Studios dealt with this PR nightmare might be old news at this point, but it's definitely worthy of reflection, analysis, and speculation as to how trust can be rebuilt in this fledgling title. Let's get cracking -- we have a lot of ground to cover! Continue reading Neverwinter Days: The great economic collapse of 2013
|
| Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch set for August 27 Posted: 23 May 2013 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Final Fantasy XIV  According to previous reports, the third phase of the relaunched game's beta will begin some time next month. This phase will be the first time A Realm Reborn will be open to PS3 players during this beta. Click past the jump for complete details on pre-order bonuses and the Collector's Edition box contents. [Source: Square Enix press release] Continue reading Final Fantasy XIV's relaunch set for August 27
|
| BioWare 'actively investigating' recent SWTOR bannings Posted: 23 May 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic  BioWare has issued a statement that it is aware of the situation and is actively investigating, and that more information will be posted when it is available. In regards to the deleted and locked threads involving the issue, BioWare also reminded players that posts discussing exploits or action taken against accounts is not permitted on the forums. [Thanks to all who sent in tips!]
|
| Lost Continent: An ArcheAge community guide Posted: 23 May 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, Opinion, ArcheAge, Sandbox, Lost Continent  And it's been two years -- two years! -- since I first got my hands on the game's seemingly endless closed beta. Now, though, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Trion recently and famously signed on to publish ArcheAge in the West, and despite the silence following the announcement, I'm still optimistic about a beta before the end of the year. Even if it that doesn't happen, we've still got plenty to talk about, which is why I'm taking the wraps off Massively's newest game-specific column. Join me after the cut for the traditional first-issue community roundup. Continue reading Lost Continent: An ArcheAge community guide
|
| The Perfect Ten: Movies for the MMO fan Posted: 23 May 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Humor, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous  MMOs haven't quite gotten popular enough to spawn their own sub-genre of films, apart from the odd fan project or the long-rumored World of Warcraft flick. That doesn't mean that we're lacking good movie role models for our hobby, however. I think that there are plenty of films that are perfectly suited for the MMO fan, even if they've never been thought of as such. So here are 10 films that speak to us as gamers. To make things interesting, I excluded any movie that shares the same IP as an MMO. Read this list and let me know what you would pick! Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Movies for the MMO fan
|
| The Daily Grind: Would you like appropriate movie tie-in content in your MMOs? Posted: 23 May 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, Free-to-Play, DC Universe Online  I don't know if SOE has any plans to capitalize on the wave of Superman hype sweeping the nerdosphere on account of Zack Snyder's upcoming Man of Steel film. The firm's DC Universe Online title features the big blue boy scout rather prominently, of course, and the timing seems right if there aren't a bunch of legal stumbling blocks.SOE has done movie tie-ins with an MMO before, way back in 2005 when its Rage of the Wookiees expansion added a bunch of Episode III-themed content to Star Wars Galaxies. Last summer, though, the firm didn't really acknowledge Christopher Nolan's final Batman film in DCUO, so it may not be in the cards for Supes either. Regardless of what actually happens, would you like to see appropriate movie tie-in content in certain MMOs? Or do you prefer to keep the properties separate?  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!
|
| Free for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman Posted: 22 May 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Business Models, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Browser, Free for All, Livestream, Miscellaneous, Sandbox, Crowdfunding  The game can be a bit odd, like any MUD. During MUD May I've discovered just how confusing many of these titles can be, but I have also grown to enjoy solving the "mystery" of each game's particular set of code-words that unlock actions. ThresholdRPG is like other MUDs and introduces players to basic commands, but once out in the world a player is on her own. The good news is that an out-of-character help chat is always available and sits right on top of the standard roleplay-enforced chat. That juxtaposition of both channels actually helps immerse me in the game, allowing me to see literally where and when I can use out-of-character speech. I asked Michael Hartman, president and CEO of Frogdice, to talk about MUD development and branching out into other styles of gaming. Continue reading Free for All: An interview with ThresholdRPG's Michael Hartman
|
| Choose My Adventure: Building on the clan experience in Darkfall Posted: 22 May 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Polls, Darkfall, Guilds, PvP, Choose My Adventure, Sandbox  Having gone into this particular adventure knowing that Darkfall Unholy Wars was not a game meant for the solo soul, I knew that it was only a matter of time before I found myself in a clan to experience more of the heart of the game, which just so happens to be clan warfare. And trust me, the clan wasted no time throwing me into the thick of things once you put me in one. Although I do think starting off solo was important to get the real experience Darkfall any new player would (after all, most find a clan after first logging in), this week really has shown me a whole new game. I'd just scratched the surface before, the skin if you will, and now I've peered into the heart and seen the seedy underbelly as well. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Building on the clan experience in Darkfall
|
| 38 Studios vs. State of Rhode Island court case begins Posted: 22 May 2013 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: MMO Industry, News Items, Legal, Miscellaneous  When 38 Studios folded, that left Rhode Island in the hole for a $75 million loan. The lawsuit is seeking restitution from Curt Schilling and 13 other individuals, including former members of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corp that originally supported the loan. According to the EDC's lawyers, substantial evidence exists that this loan was based upon intentional misdirection on the part of upper management, although the defense claims these allegations are ridiculous. At this point, it's up to the courts who's in the right.
|
| New video details the website changes for RuneScape 3 Posted: 22 May 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, News Items, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, Browser  For example, one of the centerpieces of the revised design is a series of six buttons front-and-center on the page. The trick is that three of the buttons can be customized by you, allowing you to immediately jump to the most useful parts of the page for your particular playstyle. The team is also revamping the high score pages to incorporate weekly high scores, meaning that newer players can still have a shot at the top. There will even be rewards for people who do well in a given interval. For more details, check out the full video past the break. Continue reading New video details the website changes for RuneScape 3
|
| TUG tackles sexiness and diversity Posted: 22 May 2013 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, MMO Industry, News Items, Crowdfunding  We're not getting into a real talk about diversity in gaming here. We are, however, talking about The Untitled Game's take on that sort of thing. The latest update on the TUG Kickstarter page is all about Seed diversity. The team is promising to do its best to make sure that players don't have to deal with armors that have a "drastically different appearance" based on gender. Female characters won't get overly sexualized animations, and you're just as likely to find a manly NPC in distress as a lady one. The team is working to avoid stereotypical representations of races and cultures, and wants to be sure that white males aren't portrayed as the default for Seeds. Some servers will allow users only basic inputs on their Seed's appearance, like gender and skin color, and will automatically assign the rest. All Seed's appearances, regardless of initial input, will grow and change over time as they age. Players will also be able to directly affect their Seed's look with hairstyle changes, tattoos, and other mysterious alterations.
|
| Kings and Legends Global melds the TCG with the MMO Posted: 22 May 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Trading Card Games  That's the dire future that Kings and Legends Global could usher in. Or it could just be an interesting title that mixes CCGs with MMOs to create a novel experience. The cards themselves can be customized, crafted, and traded by players and then used to battle in PvP and PvE environments. Knights and Legends will have four classes, seven races, an auction house, guild halls, a crafting system, and plenty of deck building to keep folks interested. GameFuse is tempting potential fans into registering by promising a free starter pack to those who sign up. You can do so on the website and then check out the game trailer after the break. [Source: GameFuse press release] Continue reading Kings and Legends Global melds the TCG with the MMO
|
| Hartsman: 'The traditional AAA style of development and distribution' is broken Posted: 22 May 2013 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Business Models, Culture, Interviews, MMO Industry, News Items, Opinion  After we invited your thoughts on that same subject in a Daily Grind earlier this week, we contacted Hartsman in the hopes of getting him to elaborate. Join us after the cut for the resulting interview. Continue reading Hartsman: 'The traditional AAA style of development and distribution' is broken
|
| Meet The Elder Scrolls Online's legendary wamasu Posted: 22 May 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, News Items, The Elder Scrolls Online  Meet the wamasu, ancient terror of Black Marsh! A creature barely hinted at in existing lore, the wamasu is a new addition to the stable of foebeasts in The Elder Scrolls Online. The wamasu, it turns out, are overgrown, electrified lizard-monsters. According to legend, wamasu have "lightning for blood." They're fond of nesting, protecting their eggs, and unleashing lethal tail strikes and lightning beams on anyone who pops their personal space bubble. There's an extra-scary high-voltage boss variant waiting in-game to kill you! Skip below the cut to check out the wamasu in action. Continue reading Meet The Elder Scrolls Online's legendary wamasu
|
| Captain's Log Supplemental: An Exclusive Q&A with STO's Daniel Stahl Posted: 22 May 2013 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Expansions, Interviews, Patches, Opinion, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play, Captain's Log, Neverwinter  We recently had the opportunity to ask Star Trek Online's Executive Producer, Daniel Stahl, some questions regarding the update. We were also given a lot of screenshots of the new material, and all are included in the new gallery below. There was a lot to cover, so let's get to it! Continue reading Captain's Log Supplemental: An Exclusive Q&A with STO's Daniel Stahl
|
| Uncharted Waters Online discounts Steam packages before a big patch docks Posted: 22 May 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Historical, News Items, Free-to-Play, Promotions  The Booster pack is down to just $1.49 and provides faster experience gain, faster ship movement, and the ability to revive fallen sailors away from a port. The Premium pack is only $2.99, offers even faster experience gain, and also sets up you with 200 million ducats (in-game currency) and possibly even a rare ship. Last but not least, the Sea Adventure pack is down to $11.99 and offers the best possible experience boost, 300 million ducats, and several exclusive items. So if you're looking to set sail, a little money now will help you find your fortune.
|
| A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Another look at Plan Z Posted: 22 May 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Culture, New Titles, Opinion, A Mild-Mannered Reporter  The Phoenix Project and Heroes & Villains are the two big games working at getting themselves together, and they've had about half a year to do so. Both have been moving forward, networking, and putting together everything needed to make the games actually exist. And there's good news and bad news about both, some in tandem and some separately. So despite the possibility of missing an important context clue or two, we carry on with our look at what's going well and what is... less so. Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Another look at Plan Z
|
| Vindictus EU shows off next episode of Season 2 with video, screenshots Posted: 22 May 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Trailers, Video, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Vindictus, Dungeons  Both new terrors and rare beauty come with the nightfall; the Grim Reaper and Guardian Soldiers will threaten adventurers after the sun sets, but the moonlight also reveals the Luminary Plant, a beautiful and powerful plant able to bestow rare gifts upon those capable of harvesting it. And for those seeking treasure buried under the sands, a new underground dungeon (with a traveling entrance) built by the eccentric wild Coffer Chasers offers adventurers a choice of treasure rooms. Choose wisely, though, as all other treasure rooms are locked once one is picked! Get a glimpse of the coming adventures in the video after the break and the 11 new images in the gallery below. [Source: Nexon EU press release] Continue reading Vindictus EU shows off next episode of Season 2 with video, screenshots
|
| You are subscribed to email updates from Massively To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
