General Gaming Article

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• Intel's Desktop Processor Roadmap Through First Half of 2014 Leaked Online
• E3 2013: Nvidia Booth Tour
• Asus Announces VivoPC Specs
• E3 2013: Mad Catz Interview
• Microsoft to Install Windows Stores Into 600 Best Buy Locations This Summer
• Samsung's Water Resistant Galaxy S4 Active Lands at AT&T for $200
• Nvidia E3 2013 Highlights
• ESET Nod32 Antivirus 7 and Smart Security 7 Blasts Into Beta
• E3 2013: Razer Blade Interview
• Newegg Daily Deals: Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Headset, Asus 23-inch Monitor, and More!

Intel's Desktop Processor Roadmap Through First Half of 2014 Leaked Online Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:41 PM PDT Ivy Bridge-E is right around the corner. Processor roadmaps must be slippery little suckers because it never seems like AMD or Intel are very good about holding onto them. Instead, we're frequently treated to early, often unauthorized glimpses of what each semiconductor has in store, and this time it's a look at what Intel is planning. The latest leaked roadmap shows Intel's processor plans through the first half of 2014. The slides first showed up at asder00.com, a site that appears to thrive on leaked information. According to CPU World, a site that's been reliable in the past, the slides are legit, at least according to one of its sources that confirmed their validity. Anyway, enough about that, let's talk about what's on tap from Intel. Those of you holding out for Ivy Bridge-E need only wait until the third quarter of this year. That's when Intel will launch its Core i7 4820K, 4930K, and 4960X processors, all based on Ivy Bridge-E. In addition, Ivy Bridge-E support will be added to the X79 chipset, according to the slides. An expanded Haswell lineup is also slated for Q3. There will be a Core i7 4771 part along with a bunch of Core i3 and Pentium chips. A Haswell refresh is then planned for the second quarter of 2014, though the slides don't go into much detail on that front. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

E3 2013: Nvidia Booth Tour Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:20 PM PDT Nvidia gets on the Grid. As you might expect, Nvidia had a major presence at E3. If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out some of Nvidia's E3 highlights and declaration on the state of PC gaming, which is filled with a bunch of tech demos, including The Witcher 3 and Warframe. In addition to showcasing what game developers are up to, Nvidia talked about Grid, Shield, and a PVR feature it's baking into GeForce Experience. Grid is Nvidia's on-demand Gaming as a Service (Gaas) platform. Just as Netflix streams movies and Pandora streams music, Grid renders 3D games in cloud servers, allowing you to play high-end titles on handheld devices like Nvidia's own Shield device, but also tablets and smartphones. Have a look: Equally impressive was the rack of servers Nvidia had on display. Each one was capable of streaming over 36 games. Over time, you'll start to see other companies launch their own streaming game services based on Nvidia's Grid technology. We also had a chance to take another look at Shield, a handheld Android device running Jelly Bean. One of the tricks up Shield's sleeve is being able to stream games from your home PC. Why would you want to use Shield instead of a swank PC monitor or HDTV? It's for gaming on the go, such as lounging in the backyard, on the porch, or even during a bathroom break (hey, it beats reading shampoo bottles, right?). With Shield, you can continue your game from room to room, dependent upon the range of your router. If you're not interested in playing games, you can use Shield as a small size tablet since it's an Android device. You'll notice too that the controller is changed from the one Nvidia was showing at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this year. Lastly, Nvidia demonstrated for us a PVR-like function of its GeForce Experience technology called ShadowPlay. It runs in the background and uses the encoder that's built into every Kepler-based GPU, so the performance hit is relatively small -- in the range of 5 percent, Nvidia says. Since the performance hit is so small, Nvidia says it's okay to just leave it running all the time, letting it record the last two minutes of your gameplay, or however long you configure it. If you pull off an epic move, you can hit a hotkey to save whatever it's been recording in a compressed file that's ready to upload to YouTube. How does it compare to FRAPS? Have a look: Since it use the encoder built into Kepler GPUs, you'll need a GeForce GTX 650 or better in order to use this feature. Nvidia plans to integrate ShadowPlay into GeForce Experience for free starting June 25th. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Asus Announces VivoPC Specs Posted: 13 Jun 2013 03:52 PM PDT Windows 8-ready mini PC supports up to 16GB of RAM The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is currently underway in Los Angeles and we are in the thick of the action, bringing you frequent updates straight from the show floor. But don't forget that we are just a few days removed from the end of  Computex 2013, an event where PC vendors from around the globe were out in full force to showcase their latest PC designs. Among the myriad products announced at that event was a diminutive HTPC named VivoPC from Asus, which apparently felt that the world wasn't quite ready to learn about the machine's specs at that time. The Taiwanese company has finally shed some light on the Windows 8-ready VivoPC's innards.  Measuring all of 190(l) X 190(w) X 56.2(h) mm and possessing a sliding top for easy access to the hard drive bay and memory slots, the VivoPC will be configurable with an Intel processor, up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM, and either a 3.5/2.5 inch SATA 6.0Gb/s HDD or a solid state drive. Other specs include, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, SonicMaster speakers, two USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, VGA, three audio jacks, SPDIF out and RJ45. With no word on pricing or availability yet, all we can do is wait and hope that it will be available soon at a reasonable price point. Follow Pulkit on Google+

E3 2013: Mad Catz Interview Posted: 13 Jun 2013 02:50 PM PDT Mad Catz brings its "Mojo" to E3. Austin Powers isn't the only one with mojo. Gaming peripheral maker Mad Catz also has Mojo, only theirs is of a different kind. Specifically, it's another mini Android game console, only Mad Catz promises its will be more powerful than the competition. In addition, Mad Catz is keeping its Mojo an open platform, something that could give it a leg up against the competition. Ace reporter and Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang had a moment to speak with Mad Catz about its Mojo in detail. One thing Thang couldn't extract from Mad Catz is what specific hardware will be inside, as the company isn't ready to back its claim that Mojo will trump the competition. The reason Mad Catz is playing coy, however, is because the company wants to make sure it's using the latest hardware available, so the specs may change by the time it releases this holiday shopping season. The prototype on hand was running Tegra 3 hardware, though the final product will be something more powerful. Tegra 4, perhaps? Mad Catz professed its love for Nvidia, but said it wasn't necessarily committed to Tegra 4. One thing we did find out is that each Mojo will ship with a controller. See what else Mad Catz had to say in the embedded video below! Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Microsoft to Install Windows Stores Into 600 Best Buy Locations This Summer Posted: 13 Jun 2013 02:37 PM PDT Move over Apple and Samsung. Best Buy is no longer playing favorites with Apple. The end of that monogamous relationship began when Samsung started installing "Experience Shops" inside the electronics chain, and now Best Buy is giving Microsoft the same opportunity to sell its wares by opening up Windows Stores at over 600 of its locations this summer. The store-within-a-store format will include 500 Best Buy locations across the U.S. and more than 100 Best Buy and Future Shop locations in Canada, Microsoft announced today. The integrated Windows Stores will range in size from 1,500 square feet to 2,200 square feet, Consumers will be able to play with Microsoft's Windows products, including tablets, PCs, Windows Phones, Office, Xbox, and more. "The Windows Store offers a large-scale, hands-on customer experience that will show customers how Windows and Microsoft devices and services can make it easier for them to work and play," said Tami Reller, chief marketing officer and chief financial officer of the Windows Division at Microsoft. "We're pleased to partner with Best Buy in bringing the latest technologies to consumers at scale in a unique environment where they can explore how Microsoft products fit together across entertainment, travel, music and other scenarios." In addition to adding locations within Best Buy shops, the collaboration will also lead to the hiring of 1,200 Best Buy Microsoft-trained sales associates. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Samsung's Water Resistant Galaxy S4 Active Lands at AT&T for $200 Posted: 13 Jun 2013 12:10 PM PDT A phone that's not afraid of a little water. The thing about smartphones is that even though they're offered at a large discount when signing up for a two-year service agreement, if you don't opt for an accidental damage warranty, you could be looking at a costly replacement if something goes wrong. What happens if you're sitting by the pool and your Galaxy S4 decides to squirt out of your hand and go for a swim? The outcome isn't likely a good one (try sticking it in a bag or bowl of uncooked rice for a day or two). However, Samsung's Galaxy S4 Active isn't quite as fragile. The Galaxy S4 Active is designed for, well, active individuals. It's IP67 certified to be water-resistant and dust-resistant, which means you can rest a little easier at the beach or when you go hiking. It even has an Aqua Mode that allows you to snap underwater photos. Like the regular Galaxy S4, the Active model sports a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It also has an 8MP rear-facing camera, 4G LTE support, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. AT&T will be the first carrier to offer the Galaxy S4 Active when it becomes available June 1st. It will sell for $200 with a two-year data commitment. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Nvidia E3 2013 Highlights Posted: 13 Jun 2013 11:43 AM PDT Nvidia shows off Warframe, Witcher 3, and more! Folks, PC gaming is alive and well. That's the big takeaway from our time spent with Nvidia at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), in which the GPU maker declared that the PC is the "most important gaming platform." To prove it, Nvidia hit us with some statistics from GDC indicating that 48 percent of game developers are focusing their efforts on the PC, versus 13 percent who are working on titles for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, 11 percent on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, and 5 percent for the Wii U. That's only one example. Game revenue paints a similar portrait. According to DFC Intelligence, the PC platform generates more revenue than either the PlayStation or Xbox platforms. By 2015, DFC predicts PC game revenue will top $20 billion, roughly twice as much as PlayStation and four times as much as Xbox. Pretty staggering, isn't it? Worried that might change with the introduction of the PS4 and Xbox One? Rest easy, PC gaming worry-wart, because as we've seen in the past, the dynamic nature of PCs and inevitable upgrades to components always end up trumping the hardware baked inside of consoles. As for the next generation of consoles, Nvidia points out that even its current generation GPUs for the PC beat what's coming on the console later this year (see above slide). Not that we need Nvidia to tell us PC gaming is thriving, it's certainly nice to hear a major GPU player reaffirm its commitment to a platform that everyone in the media seems to be overlooking these days. Nvidia also hit us over the head with several upcoming game demos showcasing its technology. Here's a look at Borderlands 2 DLC: The DLC was built inside of Gearbox and delivers more content, more playtime, and pretty much more of everything. It will cost $10 -- same as previous DLC -- and will be free to those who own a Season Pass. As you're watching the demo above, pay attention to the particle effects and PhysX simulation. Next up we have a peek at Hawken, a free-to-play, multiplayer mech combat game developed by Adhesive Games. One of the neat things about Hawken is that all of the destructible pieces are interactive and can be kicked around the landscape. Like the Borderlands 2 DLC demo, there's heavy use of particle effects. What you're watching above is a tech demo showcasing the dynamic particle system. Moving right along, here's a look at Warframe, a free-to-play cooperative third-person shooter developed by Digital Extremes. Or, as the developers describe it, "a little bit like Mass Effect 3 multiplayer meets Ninja Gaiden." Some of the Nvidia-based technical aspects found throughout are screen space reflections (they're not geometry dependent like most reflections, so they can be applied at any angle), APEX snow and other particle effects, shadows, turbulence, and more. Warframe uses APEX effects liberally, which means the game will look best on Nvidia hardware. Next is a look at Splinter Cell Blacklist, an upcoming third-person action-adventure stealth game published by Ubisoft and the sixth installment of Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell series. One thing the developer wanted to point out right away was that it began working with Nvidia a few months ago on lights and shadows. Three things that helped with that were TXAA (the "platinum standard for anti-aliasing"), horizon-based ambient occlusion, and high resolution shadows. The three combined ensure the light and shadows have depth, which is critical to the core gameplay. Unfortunately, the demo we saw was of a DirectX 9 version of the game, though a DirectX 11 version with all the bells and whistles is definitely planned. Finally, we have some footage of Witcher 3, which we've broken up into two separate videos. The first shows off some Nvidia effects. The short demo highligts things like bloom shafts, aerial perspective fog, volume based translucency, semi volumetric clouds, fur simulation, real-time reflections, some water effects, and other goodies. All neat stuff. The second Witcher 3 video shows the fur effects in more detail. It's an interesting demonstration that comes on the heels of AMD bragging about its TressFX technology for more realistic hair effects. Apparently Nvidia users can look forward to detailed hair, too. That wraps up our collection of game demos from Nvidia's booth, though before you click on out of here, be sure to flip through our gallery to see some slides from the presentation. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

ESET Nod32 Antivirus 7 and Smart Security 7 Blasts Into Beta Posted: 13 Jun 2013 08:34 AM PDT Solid AV solution updated with another layer of protection. If you're a longtime reader of Maximum PC, you know that we run an antivirus roundup each year, along with intermittent standalone reviews in between. One company that, for the most part, has consistently performed well is ESET, which again had a strong showing in our most recent roundup. ESET also just announced that its NOD32 Antivirus 7 and Smart Security 7 products are now available in beta trim. Like previous versions, ESET says its version 7 offerings maintain a light system footprint while still offering stellar protection against all forms of malware. "To combat this security industry challenge, our team has added a new layer of protection for our users in the beta products," said Palo Luka, ESET Chief Technology Officer. "The new technology we are introducing with the beta release of our flagship products, ESET NOD32 Antivirus and ESET Smart Security, will make it much more difficult for malware to go undiscovered." New to version 7 is an advanced memory scanner that's supposed to thwart heavily encrypted threats. The added layer of protection is an extension of the Host-based Intrusion-Prevention System (HIPS) technology that monitors process behavior and offers real-time memory scanning. ESET's beta releases are available for free to the general public. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

E3 2013: Razer Blade Interview Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:41 AM PDT Razer explains its Blade laptop in detail. Most people know Razer as a player in the gaming peripheral market, or at least that's how the company's traditionally been viewed. However, Razer's been venturing past the point of peripherals and into actual gaming devices, including the Blade, which it claims is the world's thinnest gaming laptop. We were fairly impressed with last year's Blade, awarding it an 8/10 verdict in our formal review. While at E3, Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang had a chance to sit down with Razer CEO Min-Lian Tan to discuss its new Haswell-based Blade in detail. It's thinner than a standing dime, yet still packs a Haswell chip and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M GPU. The new, smaller-size Blade is an impressive looking laptop with an aluminum chassis and backlit keyboard. Why go smaller? Tan tells Thang that it was in response to gamers' requests, as well as the growing popularity of Ultrabooks, which are portable but generally lack a gaming-grade punch. A major focus in the design of the new Blade is performance per cubic inch, or how much performance Razer can engineer in the smallest amount of space. Using that as a guide, Razer claims its new Blade is the most powerful gaming laptop per cubic inch. See what else Tan had to say in the video below, including his expanded thoughts on Apple vs PC: Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Newegg Daily Deals: Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Headset, Asus 23-inch Monitor, and More! Posted: 13 Jun 2013 05:57 AM PDT Top Deal: While settle for a headset with 40mm drivers when you can have 50mm instead? Such is the case with today's top deal for a Creative Sound Blaster Tactic3D Wrath Wireless USB Connector Circumaural Gaming Headset for $80 with free shipping (normally $150). That's a banging price for a high-caliber wireless headset. Other Deals: Sapphire Radeon HD 7850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 Video Card OC Version for $155 with shipping for $7 (normally $180; additional $15 mail-in rebate) Asus VS Series 23" 2ms LED Backlight Widescreen LCD Monitor for $140 with free shipping (normally $200 - use coupon code:[EMCXPWW46]; additional $20 mail-in rebate) Rosewill Aluminum 2.5" USB 3.0 SSD/ HDD Screwless External Enclosure for $15 with free shipping (normally $25 - use coupon code:[EMCXPWW73]) Trendnet TPL-306E2K Compact Powerline AV Adapter Kit Up to 200Mbps for $35 with free shipping (normally $100 - use coupon code:[EMCXPWW54])

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MMO Updates

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• The Think Tank: What do you look for in a guild?
• Game of Thrones' Dinklage to voice main companion in Destiny
• E3 2013: Hands-on with Zynga's Solstice Arena MOBA
• E3 2013: Hands-on with HEX
• The Daily Grind: How do you define MMOFPS?
• E3 2013: Snail Games' Black Gold and Age of Wushu
• Choose My Adventure: Firefalling
• E3 2013: DayZ shows off its standalone gameplay
• WildStar gets the band together for a game jam
• ArcheAge going F2P in Korea on July 3
• E3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe
• E3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online
• E3 2013: Prime World tones down gender issues
• E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV shows off PS3 UI
• E3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC
• Age of Wushu forecasts weather system
• E3 2013: Hands-on with steampunkish Black Gold
• E3 2013: Not so wild about WildStar
• Neverwinter Days: A one-month evaluation
• E3 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online

The Think Tank: What do you look for in a guild? Posted: 13 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, Miscellaneous, The Think Tank Guilds are what make MMOs. It's that social interaction among real people that defines a massively multiplayer experience, but our guild preferences differ greatly. Some of us like to stick with the same guild throughout multiple games, some of us only play with real-life friends, and some of us seek out new guilds as part of the adventure in each new game. The Massively staff is certainly no different as we all have our own way of interacting with guilds in the MMOs we love so much. How do you think each team member likes his or her social interaction? Follow along after the jump to find out. Continue reading The Think Tank: What do you look for in a guild? The Think Tank: What do you look for in a guild? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Game of Thrones' Dinklage to voice main companion in Destiny Posted: 13 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, MMO Industry, New Titles, Destiny If you're a Game of Thrones fan, there's no denying the fact that Tyrion Lanister is one of the most enduring characters in both the books and the HBO series. Actor Peter Dinklage is to credit on the TV side of things, and now the seasoned vet is branching out to do some voice work in Bungie's Destiny MMO. As your interactive companion, Ghost, Dinklage's voice (sans faux British accent) will be with your character wherever you go in the game. In addition to Dinklage, Bungie is also working with the iconic Sir Paul McCartney for the game's music. Continue reading Game of Thrones' Dinklage to voice main companion in Destiny Game of Thrones' Dinklage to voice main companion in Destiny originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Via: Gamespot interview

E3 2013: Hands-on with Zynga's Solstice Arena MOBA Posted: 13 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Interviews, Mobile, First Impressions, Events (Massively's Coverage), MOBA I wasn't sure what to expect from Solstice Arena when I walked into Zynga/A Bit Lucky's meeting room. I'd heard about the whole "speed MOBA" thing, but I love playing as Nasus in League of Legends, so having no mobs was a bit conflicting. The game's also only being released on the iPhone and iPad, and I use an Android smart phone and a tablet running on Windows 8. But I wasn't worried. Fredrick Descamps and Jordan Maynard, co-founders (and former Trion members) of A Bit Lucky , were on hand to share their vision, but truthfully, the hands-on time won me over. Continue reading E3 2013: Hands-on with Zynga's Solstice Arena MOBA E3 2013: Hands-on with Zynga's Solstice Arena MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Hands-on with HEX Posted: 13 Jun 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Hands-On, Trading Card Games, Events (Massively's Coverage), Miscellaneous Before MMOs, I played the Pokemon TCG. I didn't just play it but dominated my local Pokemon league. Had it not been for Asheron's Call, I would have been the first gym leader who wasn't an employee of the local comic and cards shop, but my brother got that honor instead... until he caved in too. Before that, I played Magic: The Gathering and actually would have placed in the top 15 of a new-release tournament if my mother hadn't literally made me go to bed (that's what happens when you're 12 years old and have to get a ride from your mom). So when I was told that I could do a hands on with HEX, I made sure I made time to hit up the demo. For those who are familiar with MMOTCGs, I'm hoping my hands-on will be fitting, but for those who don't know how the stack works or what an untap phase entails, you may want to hit up an earlier hands-on that goes into much more detail on mechanics first. Continue reading E3 2013: Hands-on with HEX E3 2013: Hands-on with HEX originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: How do you define MMOFPS? Posted: 13 Jun 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: MMO Industry, New Titles, Opinion, The Daily Grind, MMOFPS The Massively chat room was the setting for an interesting discussion about MMO definitions recently. And, as often happens, said discussion ended up inspiring a Daily Grind. This one here, in fact. We were talking about the term MMOFPS and more specifically, the definition of it. It's one of those thorny, subjective things quite like MMORPG or even MMO, and all of the people participating in the discussion had different takes on it. So, for today's Daily Grind, we're asking you to weigh in. What specifically makes an MMOFPS an MMOFPS as opposed to an MMO shooter or more simply, an online shooter? 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: How do you define MMOFPS? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Snail Games' Black Gold and Age of Wushu Posted: 12 Jun 2013 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Business Models, Classes, Economy, Game Mechanics, Interviews, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Events (Massively's Coverage), Age of Wushu, Steampunk Snail Games showcased two new MMOs today at E3: Black Gold and Age of Wushu. The two games have more than their parent in common; Black Gold utilizes the Age of Wushu engine. Set in a fantastical steampunk world, Black Gold is a mish-mash of colorful fantasy elements and grunge-ridden steampunk inventions, as we found in our hands-on with the game earlier today. Each faction within Black Gold (fantasy or steam faction) has three races of its own. The steam faction holds humans, dwarves, and vampires (what steampunk MMO would be without vampires?), and on the fantasy side you'll find more humans, a cat-like race, and a shape-shifting barbarian race. It might be a little limited in race selection, but maybe character creation will be just as interesting for the players as it is in Age of Wushu. Continue reading E3 2013: Snail Games' Black Gold and Age of Wushu E3 2013: Snail Games' Black Gold and Age of Wushu originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Choose My Adventure: Firefalling Posted: 12 Jun 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Polls, Fallen Earth, PvP, PvE, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, Choose My Adventure, Firefall, MMORPG Well folks, it was an epic battle. The communities of Firefall and Fallen Earth rolled out in force to support their favorite game in last week's Choose My Adventure poll, and the contest came right down to the wire with thousands of votes pouring in from both sides. Most impressively, despite the efforts of a few bad-apple commenters and forum trolls, it was a war fought with courtesy and genuine respect for the passions of the competing community. Well done. It's true that only one game can win a slot in Choose My Adventure, and this time around Firefall topped the charts. But let's take a moment to recognize the awesome turnout from both groups of fans. Your communities called you to action, and you responded with dedication and enthusiasm. Frankly, that's the type of stuff we love to see. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Firefalling Choose My Adventure: Firefalling originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: DayZ shows off its standalone gameplay Posted: 12 Jun 2013 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Horror, Video, Events (Real-World), Previews, News Items, MMOFPS, Post-Apocalyptic Do you like zombies? Wait, that's a silly question, don't answer that. They're horrible undead abominations, of course you don't like them. But do you like shooting them? If so, you'll be happy to see the brand-new footage of DayZ's standalone client just past the break, because this is a game all about shooting zombies. Also stabbing zombies, incinerating zombies, and generally making the world safe for everyone who wants to have a zombie-free living space. The video stretches for about 12 minutes, covering everything from inventory management to shooting zombies to combing houses for supplies. No word on whether or not the standalone game will include mechanics for fighting against a growing sense of survivalist paranoia or waiting things out at the Winchester, but you can still see what it's like to get your zombie-killing hat on. Continue reading E3 2013: DayZ shows off its standalone gameplay E3 2013: DayZ shows off its standalone gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: YouTube, Additional screens Via: PCGamer

WildStar gets the band together for a game jam Posted: 12 Jun 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, News Items, WildStar You don't get into a video game career to make huge stacks of money, you do it because you love games. That means that the idea of Game Jams can actually make sense. What's a Game Jam? Well, it's the event on display in the latest WildStar Wednesday, and it's also a way for the Carbine Studios team to relax from the stress of a work week by coming in and working for another eight hours on something crazy. No, that's really the idea. As explained in the article, Game Jams consist of people coming into the office, deciding on a task, and splitting off into small teams to make a playable build of something within eight hours. It's a chance for designers, programmers, and artists to all stretch their legs a bit more, possibly exploring aspects of the game that they're not normally involved in on a day-to-day basis. And a chance for people to relax from work by doing more work, that's also a thing. WildStar gets the band together for a game jam originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Game Jam

ArcheAge going F2P in Korea on July 3 Posted: 12 Jun 2013 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, ArcheAge, Sandbox We still haven't gotten any inkling from XLGAMES or Trion regarding ArcheAge's western business model. A freemium model of some sort is probably a safe bet, though, particularly now that the Korean version of the game -- which launched as a subscription-only title -- is gearing up for a F2P switch. MMO Culture reports that, starting July 3rd, ArcheAge Korea will cease selling time cards in favor of premium 30- and 90-day packages that offer in-game advantages like faster labor point recovery, item exchange vouchers, the ability to own a house, and assorted buffs. The site also says that XL will implement account services like name changes, aesthetic changes, and server transfers. ArcheAge going F2P in Korea on July 3 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: MMO Culture

E3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe Posted: 12 Jun 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, Previews, Humor, Events (Massively's Coverage), Sandbox, MMORPG Over a heaping smorgasboard of food yesterday, I was given a healthy dose of the logical functions of the universe. The universe of TUG, that is, and the professor of the hour was Peter Salinas, Nerd Kingdom founder and expert in just about everything science. At this year's E3, Massively got to test a functional tech demo that showed some progress over earlier video capture and artwork, and Salinas told me about TUG's mechanics and how the systems of the game work together to create a unique experience. "A lot of the tacky-looking games on the internet are impressive by design, but they just don't have a lot of visuals to support what that design is," he explained cryptically. "Every once in a while, a game comes out and its systems are amazing, so a publisher will snatch it up, put [those systems] into a game, and then realize they don't want to use it. [So the developer] gets shelved. That's why we want to stay independent." The indie market proves innovation is still in demand, and the design of TUG is a lot more complex when one starts to peel back the layers like an onion (but not an ogre). Continue reading E3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe E3 2013: The secrets of TUG's universe originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online Posted: 12 Jun 2013 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Interviews, MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, PvE, Consoles, Events (Massively's Coverage), The Elder Scrolls Online, MMORPG E3 is the time and place for game creators to show their work, and Bethesda is no exception. The company offered a quick presentation of The Elder Scrolls Online, which consisted of a short introduction video followed by a brief play session. In the video, Bethesda confirmed what we already knew: that The Elder Scrolls Online will launch on PS4 and Xbox One, along with PC and OS X. The targeted release window is currently spring 2014, a delay from fall 2013 for the PC version. The video also showed off some of the content that wasn't on display for testers, including high-level PvP battles featuring 200 on-screen players, group combat, first-person mode, and familiar locations like Windhelm and Morrowind. Our own Jasmine Hruschak attended the TESO live demo event and managed to snag a Bethesda employee for an impromptu interview. Check out the full text after the break, and don't forget to read Andrew's hands-on as well! Continue reading E3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online E3 2013: Bethesda talks next-gen consoles, endgame, and character skills in The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Prime World tones down gender issues Posted: 12 Jun 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, Free-to-Play, Mobile, Events (Massively's Coverage), MOBA The MOBA-slash-city builder known as Prime World was an important stop during our grand E3 tour this year. We've been interested in hearing Nival's been preparing this Russian hit for a larger audience since seeing it in action in March. The game is currently in closed beta testing for a North American release. A Nival developer was on hand to give us an overview about what makes Prime World stand out as well as to answer a few questions about the sticky issue of gender choice (or lack thereof). Join us as we stroll through a brightly colored battlefield and consider where we'll set up shop when this title lands in NA. Continue reading E3 2013: Prime World tones down gender issues E3 2013: Prime World tones down gender issues originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV shows off PS3 UI Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV E3 is proving to be an exciting time for Final Fantasy XIV fans, especially considering that the title has been confirmed for the PlayStation 4 next year. One of the new videos that's coming out of the convention is a dev tour of the new UI developed for the PlayStation 3 version. While the developers speak in their native tongue, the video is subtitled and shows off a range of UI activities from character customization to combat. Gaze upon it with your terribly perceptive eyes after the jump and make sure to read our preview of the rebooted title from the show floor! Continue reading E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV shows off PS3 UI E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV shows off PS3 UI originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: PlayStation 3 UI video

E3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC Posted: 12 Jun 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Interviews, Previews, Opinion, Hands-On, Events (Massively's Coverage), Post-Apocalyptic, Defiance, Buy-to-Play Defiance broke my heart around this time last year. E3 2012 was the first and last time we saw players from Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC all playing the same game together. I personally haven't played the game since then, but I've kept up with the game news, except for the show. No spoilers in the comments, people! Now that I've gotten my hands on the new DLC that's incoming for the game, I know I'll be catching up with the series. During my Defiance appointment at E3, I had a nice little chat, saw some cute features, tested a new weapon and new vehicle, and killed some new enemies... you know, the usual ark hunter stuff. But before covering the DLC, I had to ask what exactly happened last year with Microsoft and why PlayStation players can't play with their PC mates. I mean, just because one person wanted to duck out shouldn't mean everyone is punished, right? Well, apparently, Trion doesn't agree. Even though PC players can use a controller to play the game, having PS3 and PC on the same world might bring up the dreaded "keyboard vs. controller" argument. I know some of us still want to be friends with consolers, but I guess having one server for Microsoft and one server for everyone else does sound a bit odd. Continue reading E3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC E3 2013: Previewing Defiance's new DLC originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Age of Wushu forecasts weather system Posted: 12 Jun 2013 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Video, Game Mechanics, Previews, Free-to-Play, Sandbox, Age of Wushu What's life without a little weather to keep things interesting and give socially awkward people something to talk about around the water cooler? While many MMOs have given up on including weather systems, Age of Wushu kindly disagrees. The title is preparing to roll out dynamic weather in a forthcoming update, and a new teaser trailer hints at the possibilities that it could present. The trailer shows a character running through a storm at night. Sheets of rain come down as the occasional bolt of lightning illuminates the surroundings for a few seconds. Check out the video after the break, and don't forget your poncho if you're heading into this title! Continue reading Age of Wushu forecasts weather system Age of Wushu forecasts weather system originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: MMO Culture

E3 2013: Hands-on with steampunkish Black Gold Posted: 12 Jun 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Classes, Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Hands-On, First Impressions, Events (Massively's Coverage), Miscellaneous, Steampunk The folks over at Snail Games had several computers set up at E3 this year to allow the press to play their next MMO, Black Gold. The concept is simple but relatively uncommon: steampunk vs. fantasy. I guess you can say RIFT tried its hand at the trope with its Defiants and Guardians showdown, but it wasn't taken to such an extreme. Black Gold is more like Aztec elves with magic powers vs. an apocalyptic survivalist society that's living off of steam power even though they have telephone poles. While the game has some really cool art and concepts, the pre-beta demo I got to try was sadly lacking in options. I spent about 20 minutes in the morning trying an Isenhorst human with a rifle, then spent the last hour of E3 day one with still more BG. Gallery: Black Gold Continue reading E3 2013: Hands-on with steampunkish Black Gold E3 2013: Hands-on with steampunkish Black Gold originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Not so wild about WildStar Posted: 12 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Previews, PvE, Opinion, Hands-On, First Impressions, Events (Massively's Coverage), WildStar, MMORPG WildStar's promising players the moon, but are gamers just star-struck? I know I personally wasn't paying too much attention to the game until the recent video about paths. I'm not against the graphics, I think themeparks can be fun, and I've put up with PvE vs. PvP stats for about a decade and a half, so what's another year? But... well, I just keep getting the feeling that there's a lot of hype and no substance. The path video and the scientist path hands-on preview got me excited though. No longer were these empty promises! Someone had seen some of them first-hand! But maybe this was my downfall. For those who don't know, E3 isn't about playing any game you want any way you want. Sometimes devs just bring the live game and let you have at it, but I find that often these games don't have a lot of announcements to make and are mainly there to let... ah, "less informed" gaming journalists see the game. No, instead, you often have a developer leading you on a very strict path, if you're even allowed to play the game. Maybe they release you with a premade character into a specific dungeon that "ends" when the boss dies. Or, as with my hands on with Wildstar, you might be restricted to a few class/paths and have to do the newbie experience. Continue reading E3 2013: Not so wild about WildStar E3 2013: Not so wild about WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Neverwinter Days: A one-month evaluation Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Neverwinter, Neverwinter Days It's been a little over a month since Neverwinter soft-launched as a no-wipe open beta. Perhaps some folks are holding off until the "official" launch to play it, but I wager that most anyone who is interested in this game is already leveling up like mad. I always think that the one-month mark is a good time to pause for evaluation. There's just too much drama and over-excitement and new car smell that goes on during the first week to keep a level head, so first impressions can be tainted by an atmosphere that will soon settle down. But 30 days seems like a good span of time to get a feel for how Neverwinter is doing, how it's being received by the community, and what needs addressing. I've been playing every day since the soft launch, although two re-rolls because of guild/server conflicts means that I haven't achieved the level cap the way that some players have. Still, there's no shortage to my opinions on what I like and dislike about this title, but I'll see if I can sum up the salient points for you today. Continue reading Neverwinter Days: A one-month evaluation Neverwinter Days: A one-month evaluation originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

E3 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online Posted: 12 Jun 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Hands-On, Consoles, First Impressions, Events (Massively's Coverage), The Elder Scrolls Online I was kind of new, so I figured I'd practice on some sheep first. A little blood, some meat, some fat. Interesting, but kind of simple. I understood some of the basics on how to move and fight, but I figured I should check out the town. Now, I'm kind of old and ugly, so when the dog came at me, I figured it was attacking me. After a few moments, I realized it was friendly and talked to it. It seemed it wanted me to follow it. This was the start of my first quest in The Elder Scrolls Online. Now, to be clear, I came into my ESO demo at this year's E3 as a skeptic. I played Star Wars: The Old Republic. I figured "MMO with story" meant kill 10 rats; choose 1, 2, or 3; then look for another quest icon. It's not a terrible model, but it's one that left me wondering if there was a better way to do things. Why make it an MMO when you could just do a multiplayer RPG? I'm not sure I know the answer to this yet, but I do feel I'm getting closer. Continue reading E3 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online E3 2013: Hands-on with The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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