General Gaming Article

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• Steam Trading Cards Now Out of Beta
• Microsoft Reveals Windows 8.1's New Features
• Newegg Daily Deals: NZXT Apollo Chassis, Creative Sound Card, and More
• Ask the Doctor
• Steve Ballmer Reportedly Spearheading Major Restructuring Effort Within Microsoft
• Digital Storm Unveils Aventum II Crafted Exclusively From Steel and Copper
• Futuremark's PCMark Benchmark Headed to Mobile Platforms
• Maingear Rolls Out Two 'Epic' Gaming PC Lines

Steam Trading Cards Now Out of Beta Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:57 PM PDT Collect cards, craft game badges, earn rewards, and level up for more Announced last month, Valve's Steam Trading Cards feature is now out of beta. Steam Trading Cards, as per the official description, are virtual cards that gamers are supposed to collect inside games and by trading them with other Steam users, with the ultimate aim of earning a wide set of tradeable and non-tradeable rewards, including game badges, profile backgrounds, emoticons, DLC/game coupons, profile showcases and extra friends list slots. Half the set of cards associated with a particular game are available inside the game itself. At the moment,  more than 30 games are part of the Steam Trading Cards program, including the likes of GRID 2, Company of Heroes 2, FTL, Monaco, Trine 2, Super Meat Boy, Sanctum 2, Magicka, Brütal Legend and Left 4 Dead 2. "Once you've collected a set of cards you can craft them into a game badge. Like the current badges, they are tied to your account and are shown on your profile," reads the Steam Trading Cards Group page. "Unlike the current badges, crafting games badges earns you tradable items like emoticons, profile backgrounds, and coupons. Level up your badge by collecting the set again and earning more items." "All badges now have XP which contributes to your Steam Level, a summary of your badge collection. You can view someone's Steam Level by hovering over their avatar. Leveling up earns you non-tradable items like profile showcases, extra friends list slots, and more." Follow Pulkit on Google+

Microsoft Reveals Windows 8.1's New Features Posted: 26 Jun 2013 05:40 PM PDT Windows 8.1 will allow you to boot to the desktop, disable hot corners, and more! After many leaks and small public demos, Microsoft has officially blown the lid off Windows 8.1 by fully detailing it at the company's Build event in San Francisco, California. The updated operating system offers numerous tweaks and features, some of which include: You will no longer have to boot to Metro! Yay! • Boot to Desktop No longer will you have to boot to Metro as Microsoft will officially allow you to boot to the desktop. You can now disable Windows 8 Hot Corners • Disabling Hot Corners The need to maneuver your mouse into a pesky little corner has been an annoyance for desktop users since launch, especially for those with multi-monitor setups. Windows 8.1 will allow you to disable those pesky hot corners.  • Native Drivers Windows 8.1 will include native drivers for 3D printers, fingerprint readers, and Miracast support. • Four Metro Apps Simultaneously  When Windows 8 launched last year, users were limited to running just two Windows 8 applications at once that were forced into an awkward 80/20-split. Windows 8.1 will enable users to run up to four Windows 8 applications on a screen in a variety of display ratios. • Dynamic Backgrounds with More Color Options Microsoft has enabled more color and shade selections for the OS with the ability to mirror your desktop background on your Start screen. The company also took a page from Sony's PSP and has enabled dynamic backgrounds that move and shift as you scroll around your Start screen. Bing will be integrated into Windows 8.1's search feature • Bing Search Integration Search will now search not only the contents of your hard drive and cloud storage, but also use Bing to pull searches from the Web. • Tiled Resources for Direct X 11.1 Microsoft has chosen to integrate Tiled Resources into their Windows 8.1 update. Tiled Resources is a feature of the Direct X 11.1 specification that ditches the traditional PC route of rendering scenes in their entirety to render scenes in divided sections called tiles. This means that your Direct X 11.1 GPU will be able to render scenes that are larger than its graphics memory. • High Security In addition to native drivers for fingerprint readers, Microsoft is including new features such as partial wipes for PCs, better VPN support, and network behavior monitoring via Windows Defender (Microsoft's free anti-virus software). In addition to polishing the OS, it seems that Microsoft paid attention to the needs of desktop users with Windows 8.1. You'll be able to download the free update this fall. Current Windows 8 and RT users can check it out now if you are feeling frisky, but be warned this is beta software, so you'll be running a BETA OS. You've been warned.

Newegg Daily Deals: NZXT Apollo Chassis, Creative Sound Card, and More Posted: 26 Jun 2013 03:51 PM PDT Top Deal: Today's top deal is a steel -- steel chassis, that is! NZXT's mid tower ATX Apollo case is on sale for $55 with free shipping (normally $90 - use coupon code:[EMCXPVR79]; additional $10 mail-in rebate). The steel case comes in black and invokes quite an alien aesthetic.  It also comes with two 120mm fans and fits up to 10.5-inch video cards. Other Deals: Intel Core i5-4670 Haswell 3.4GHz Quad-Core Desktop Processor for $230 with free shipping, free Skull t-shirt, and $10 Newegg promotional gift card with purchase  Corsair Neutron Series 256GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive for $190 with free shipping (normally $210)  Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Fatal1ty Champion 5.1 Channel Sound Card with Sound Blaster I/O for $80 with free shipping (normally $150)  Corsair Vengeance M65 8-Buttons USB Wired Laser 8200 dpi Gaming Mouse for $54 with free shipping (normally $70 - use coupon code:[EMCXPVR96]; additional $10 mail-in rebate)

Ask the Doctor Posted: 26 Jun 2013 12:11 PM PDT This month the doctor tackles Windows 7 vs Windows 8, two-system cases, DHCP problems, and more Upgrade or Toss? My mother has been using the same Dell Inspiron (P4 2.8GHz) for the past 10 years, and she refuses to upgrade. I've already boosted the RAM from 1GB to 4GB (3.3GB with 32-bit Windows XP), swapped the puny 80GB HDD with a 500GB drive, and tossed in a DVD-RW drive. Then, for Christmas, I got her a 24-inch LCD monitor, but the Dell is so old, the resolution caps at 1024x768. Should I swap that old Dell with a $400 rig, or try throwing a discrete graphic card on the decade-old board? Any recommendations for a mother who watches a lot of Netflix and DVDs? I want to get her watching Blu-ray, just so she can see the difference. - Morgan Kuehl The Doctor Responds:  While it's possible to get an AGP or PCI graphics card that will enable Blu-ray playback on that old system, you'd be throwing good money after bad, in the Doctor's estimation. Better to spend $400 or so on a system based on an AMD APU, which will give you great HTPC performance, including Blu-ray and Netflix playback, without the need for a discrete GPU. Morgan, the PS3 may actually suit your mother's needs. Hell, the Doc hates to say this, but a PlayStation 3 can play Blu-ray and DVDs and has a Netflix client built in and costs around $250. So if that's all she uses the computer for, you might as well just save some money and get one of those.  Win8 Without Touch  I am getting ready to put together a new PC—the first in a very long time. My current box is a Pentium 4 in a Socket 478 motherboard running XP Pro. Should I install Windows 7 or Windows 8? I don't need or want a touchscreen, so does Win8 work well without one? - Robert Weber The Doctor Responds: Windows 8 works fine without a touchscreen. It's the Doctor's opinion that a new Windows 8 laptop should have a touchscreen but a desktop doesn't need one. On a desktop, your hands are much farther from the screen, so the reach-up-and-swipe motion that works fine on a laptop doesn't work as well on a desktop. We prefer Windows 8 to Windows 7 provided you use something like the Classic Shell Start menu. As for which OS to use, the Doctor has to recommend Windows 8. It's slightly faster than Windows 7 on the same hardware, and if you end up hating the Modern UI interface you can always avoid it and spend most of your time in the desktop (which the Doctor does), or in extreme cases you can use free software like Classic Shell to disable it entirely. In the Doctor's opinion, the Start interface is fine if you use it as a Start menu and annoying if you try to use it for anything else. Water-Cooling the HAF I'm currently running a reasonable system in a Cooler Master HAF X. I want to add an all-in-one liquid-cooling loop like the Thermaltake Water2.0 Pro or Corsair H80. The reason I write is this: The rear fan on the case I have is 140mm; everything else on the case is 200mm or 230mm. I've been looking around, and I can't see any prebuilt water-cooling system that can match these larger fans. I've seen some adapters, but the reviews on them say that they'll hold a case fan, but that's it. So, I'm hoping that you can either lead me in the direction of a viable solution, show me something in my case that I've completely missed (like some holes in the top of the case that are pre-drilled to handle the radiator), or just tell me honestly that I'm hosed, and I'll drop it. - Lue The Doctor Responds: The rear fan mount area on those HAF series chassis should have a second set of fan-mounting holes that will accommodate 120mm fans. All you need to do is remove the 140mm fan and install the fan/radiator there. Alternately, you ought to be able to use a 240mm radiator, like that on the Corsair H100 or the Thermaltake Water2.0 Extreme, at the top of the case if you remove the stock fan there. You'll see mounting holes for 240mm and 360mm radiators at the top once the fan is removed. DHCP Drops I'm using a D-Link Dir-855 router and several months ago I started having problems connecting to websites after being logged in anywhere from 20 minutes to the better part of a day. I can resolve the issue for the short term by dropping my Internet connection via the router web interface and then re-establishing it. Comcast seems to think I need to make changes to my browser configuration due to some problem affecting Windows PCs, but this affects every device on my network including my iPhones when connecting, and for both wireless and wired devices. I thought that it might be a DNS problem for a while, as I can access sites if I use an IP, but then started thinking it was more likely to be a DHCP issue. My network skills are tapped out at this point. Are there any techniques for determining an actual cause of the problem? If I understand what I've read, my Dir-855 handles the DHCP duties. Could it have gone bad? I don't want to have to replace the router if I don't have to, but this problem is annoying. - Michael K. Craghead The Doctor Responds: It does sound like a DHCP issue. You've mentioned that you already know how to log in to your router's web configuration panel, so do that and go to the configuration panel. Go to Network Settings and then DHCP settings and make sure that you have the DHCP server setting enabled and that you have enough IP addresses reserved for devices. Set the range to be something like 192.168.0.100 through 192.168.0.199. Right under that you should see the option to set your DHCP lease time in minutes. Set this for a large number, like 10,000 minutes (if available). This is just short of a week. See if that helps. You can also try setting static IP addresses for each device by using the DHCP Reservation list. You did mention that you can still get to websites via the IP address. You could try changing your DNS servers from the ISP's to Google or OpenDNS to see if that improves the situation. Go back to Settings and write down the DNS addresses you see under Primary DNS and Secondary DNS Server so you can change them back if necessary. Google's DNS servers are 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 and OpenDNS's are 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220. Pick a pair and see if that resolves the issue. SSD or HDD for Me? I'm about to purchase a new desktop based on what Maximum PC has taught me over the years, but can't decide between SSD and HDD. I primarily use my desktop for email and Internet use. However, I'll also use it to edit HD video and create DVDs/Blu-rays. I hear SSDs are less desirable for video editing since they run low on program/erase cycles over time. But won't I be fine if the OS is on the SSD and data is kept on a second (HDD) drive? In other words, will the video editing software go easy on the SSD since all the data is elsewhere? Also, does video editing require a robust video card, or can I get by with an entry-level card? - Ian The Doctor Responds: You should be perfectly fine running an SSD in your box and the Doctor recommends it based on your computing needs. There's really no reason to lock yourself out of the joy of an SSD today. You shouldn't worry about the program/erase cycles on a modern SSD, as you will likely toss out the drive or retire it before you ever wear it out. As for getting a beefy GPU for video editing, the Doctor would recommend a good GPU for any machine that will do more than light-duty video editing—just make sure you get a card that your video editor will support. You should be able to get this information by checking out the recommended hardware for the video editor you are using. These days, it tends to be Nvidia cards that support CUDA. If your video editor does not (even consumer video editors do these days), then you can go with integrated or a low-end GPU. Received via Fax I have two PCs, one running Windows XP and the other Windows 7. This also means I have two cases and they both take up room under the desk. I want to know if there are any cases that will hold two OSes with MB (and associated components). Both have two SATA HDDs and two DVD writers. I can give up two writers but need all four HDDs. I keep XP because it is the only OS that will run Symantec's WinFax. I had tried running it in WinXP mode with VMware but VMware doesn't see my modem (important for faxing). Windows Fax and Scan is very limited for what I need a faxing suite to do. I plan to keep XP as long as possible, so a case holding two of everything is needed. I don't mind upgrading the XP's motherboard to a mini/micro just as long as it can handle two 1.5TB SATA hard drives and one DVD writer. My other option, which is probably just a dream, would be a way to use the XP HDD and the Win7 HDD in the same case and just switch back and forth. They would need to be running at the same time, so it would be like booting into two different PCs, just all in the case controlled by one motherboard. Any ideas? - Cassandra   The Azza Fusion 4000 has room for an XL-ATX motherboard on the bottom and a Mini-ITX rig on top, perfect for your multiboxing needs. The Doctor Responds: The Doctor understands, running a fax-spamming business takes work. Just kidding. Since you basically need two PCs in one, check out the Azza Fusion 4000. The case lets you run a full-size system down below and a second Mini-ITX system up top. It should have the room you need for the hard drives, too. The only real problem is that you may not get it under your desk because it's so tall, so you might have to put it next to your desk, instead.

Steve Ballmer Reportedly Spearheading Major Restructuring Effort Within Microsoft Posted: 26 Jun 2013 09:52 AM PDT Big changes could be brewing at Microsoft Job security is tough to come by these days, even if you're a high-level manager at Microsoft. Check that -- especially if you're a high-level manager at Microsoft. That wouldn't normally be the case, but as the market transitions to mobile, it's being reported that company CEO Steve Ballmer is in the midst of a major restructuring effort, details of which he's hammering out with a small group of confidants and board members. According to Kara Swisher at All Things D, the vast majority of high-level workers at Microsoft aren't privy to Ballmer's specific plans and therefore have no input on the decision-making process. All they know is that it's Ballmer's goal is to solidify Microsoft as a "devices and services company," as he stated in a letter to shareholders last October. "It feels like it is going to be titanic — that Steve is doing this change for his legacy," a person close to the situation told Swisher. "And it's the first time in a long time that it feels like that there will be some major shifts, including some departures." Ballmer could end up firing a bunch of people or he could do nothing at all, though most expect he'll make some changes, whether that entails handing out pink slips or shuffling divisions around. Whatever happens, the most interesting aspect is how the core Windows business will fit into the restructuring effort. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Digital Storm Unveils Aventum II Crafted Exclusively From Steel and Copper Posted: 26 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT Plastic? We don't need no stinkin' plastic! Digital Storm made it a point to show off its liquid cooled Aventum II system at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas earlier this year, and was super delighted to showcase its nickel-plated copper piping, steel and copper construction (no plastic whatsoever, the boutique builder says), and room for 22 case fans. It's a custom system in every sense of the word, and having tweaked the design the last few months, Digital Storm is ready to launch its latest gaming PC line. "We unveiled an Aventum II prototype at CES 2013 and have been working to perfect the design since," said Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm's Director of Product Development. "The final product is a unique system, completely designed from the ground up featuring a bold look and packing enough power to toe-to-toe with any PC on the planet." The Aventum II is available in four different starting configurations (Level 1/Good, Level 2/Better, Level 3/Best, and Level 4/Ultimate). Starting price ranges from $4,999 (Level 1) to $9,500 (Level 4), the latter of which goes all out with an Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition 3970X processor overclocked to anywhere from 4.5GHz to 4.8GHz, Asus Rampage IV Extreme X79 motherboard, 16GB of DDR3-1866 memory (Corsair Dominator Platinum DHX), three Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan graphics cards in SLI, 240GB Corsair Neutron GTX SSD, 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black hard drive, liquid cooling system, Blu-ray player, 1200W power supply (Corsair Pro Platinum), internal LED lighting system, and Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. You can configure and order an Aventum II system now. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Futuremark's PCMark Benchmark Headed to Mobile Platforms Posted: 26 Jun 2013 07:49 AM PDT PCMark is on the move Serving as yet another sign that mobile platforms are here to stay, Futuremark announced that it plans to port its PCMark benchmark over to Android, iOS, and Windows RT. Like its Windows counterpart, the mobile version will feature benchmark tests based on real-world use scenarios, though they'll be geared toward activities that smartphone and tablet owners perform on a daily basis. It will also examine battery life. PCMark mobile is still being developed, and with that in mind, Futuremark is inviting mobile manufactures to join its Benchmark Development Program (BDP). Those who become members will have input at each stage of the benchmark development process, and will receive regular builds and site licenses along the way. The program is likely to attract some major names. As a point of reference, the PCMark Windows BDP is served by Acer, AMD, Compal, Condusiv Technologies, Dell, HGST, HP, INtel, Lenovo, Microsoft, Nvidia, Samsung, SanDisk, Seagate, and Western Digital. Futuremark didn't say when it hopes to have PCMark fully ported to mobile. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Maingear Rolls Out Two 'Epic' Gaming PC Lines Posted: 26 Jun 2013 06:29 AM PDT Meet Maingear's Epic Force and Epic Rush If you're going to name a PC gaming line "Epic," you better back it up with some hardcore configuration options, lest you're willing to deduct 500 street cred points. Maingear need not worry about that. The boutique system builder today launches its Epic Force and Epic Rush desktops, both of which come chock full of high-end hardware options and offer more choices in liquid cooling and design options. The bigger of the two is the Epic Force, an all-out gaming line built inside Corsair's Obsidian 900D chassis. Cost of entry is $3,973 for an AMD 990FX setup, $4,355 for Intel Z87, and $4,705 for Intel X79. In other words, you need four large just to get through the front door, and what you exit with depends on how much extra you brought with you. An Intel Core i7 4770K (Haswell) comes standard with the Z87 setup, as does a Gigabyte G1.Sniper 5 motherboard, EK Supremacy liquid cooling with 400mL reservoir, 16GB of Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR3-1600 memory, Nvidia GeForce GTX 780 graphics card, 240GB Crucial M500 SSD, 3TB Seagate Barracuda XT hard drive, 24X DVD drive, 1200W Corsair Professional Digital Series power supply, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. Upgrade options abound, including up to four GeForce GTX 780, GTX Titan, or AMD Radeon HD 7970 graphics cards in SLI/CrossFire, and you can have them watercooled, too. Cooling is the name of the game here. "The Maingear Epic Force and Epic Rush sport a custom dual 'BiTurbo' pump design that ensures continuous cooling in the event of a single pump failure. In addition, this design allows Maingear to tune the Laing D5 Vario motors in order to increasing longevity, maintain constant flow, and minimize noise," Maingear explains. "On the Epic Force, there are up to 3 radiators to keep the system cool including a triple 140mm radiator, quad 120mm radiator, and one 140mm radiator that can be used simultaneously. These are premium, extra-thick copper-core radiators that are optimized for near-silent airflow. On the Epic Rush there are 2 radiators including a 240mm extra thick radiator and 120mm radiator, supported by dual 140mm exhaust. The premium EK waterblocks that are used are coupled with Maingear Epic T1000 liquid metal alloy thermal interface material is backed by oversized reservoirs to ensure stable liquid cooling. There is even a complimentary refill kit that comes with the system when you do need to top off." Speaking of the Epic Rush, it's a smaller size system that's not quite as expensive as the Epic Force, though not by much. It's available in two different platform options, Intel Z87 starting at $3,275 and Intel X79 starting at $3,788. Similar hardware is available, though GPU options top out at two cards instead of four. Both rigs are available to configure and order now. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

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MMO Updates

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• The Secret World updated 1.7 features today, not Issue #7 content
• MMO Family: Setting screen time limits this summer
• Aion 4.0 launches today, includes Asmodian incentives
• Age of Wushu releases full feature list for first expansion
• Jagex boasts best financial year ever
• The Daily Grind: Do you ever roll two of the same class?
• MechWarrior Online reveals Project Phoenix pre-order program
• Hyperspace Beacon: Why I roleplay in Star Wars: The Old Republic
• Star Trek Online dev blog outlines Lohlunat Festival rewards
• Ubisoft reads the internet, may bring The Division to PC
• ArenaNet aiming for new Guild Wars 2 content every two weeks
• Final Fantasy XIV sells $50 soundtrack with pet
• The Soapbox: Tokens suck!
• Flameseeker Chronicles: The history of weapon and armor skins in Guild Wars 2
• PlanetSide 2 launches in China to surprising numbers
• Security warning issued by Blizzard, World of Warcraft mobile auctions offline
• TERA's new battleground promotes a siege mentality
• Jukebox Heroes Exclusive: Aion 4.0's soundtrack

The Secret World updated 1.7 features today, not Issue #7 content Posted: 26 Jun 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Horror, Real-Life, Patches, News Items, The Secret World, Buy-to-Play The Secret World fans who might have gotten overly excited for a stealth launch for the upcoming Issue #7 A Dream to Kill are in for a bit of disappointment: Today's patch contains all the fixes and code features for the update, but does not activate the new content. That said, the launchpad announcement makes it sound like the new content can be turned on with a flip of a switch, so the new missions and flamethrower auxiliary weapon may not be too far behind. However, even without snowmobile chases, base-jumping, and flamethrower, update 1.7 is a hefty one, filled with tons of tweaks and bug fixes to combat, signets, dungeons, PvP, and more. For a full run-down of all the changes, check out the patch notes. The Secret World updated 1.7 features today, not Issue #7 content originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: 1.7 features patch announcement, 1.7 full patch notes

MMO Family: Setting screen time limits this summer Posted: 26 Jun 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Opinion, Kids, MMO Family, Family, Miscellaneous As June comes to a close, throngs of school children are free from "pencils, books, and teacher's dirty looks." But the end of school can bring a new problem, as parents and kids battle it out to to determine acceptable limits on game time. How can parents set limits on screen time and still preserve some sense of sanity this summer? Let's look at a few pieces of valuable advice in this week's MMO Family. Continue reading MMO Family: Setting screen time limits this summer MMO Family: Setting screen time limits this summer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aion 4.0 launches today, includes Asmodian incentives Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Expansions, Game Mechanics, News Items, Free-to-Play, Promotions Today's the day! After months of waiting, Daevas will finally be able to spread their wings in Aion's latest expansion, Dark Betrayal. And 4.0 comes with a dizzying array of changes, not the least of which includes the new Gunslinger and Songweaver classes to try, the new lands to explore, new fortresses to siege, and new levels and new skills to gain. To entice players into more balanced populations, NCsoft is also implementing an incentive program to encourage folks to play as Asmodians on certain servers; Asmodians on Tiamat, Siel, and Israphel will be rewarded with weapons, armor, and other supplies upon reaching certain levels. These rewards, however, are not retroactive and will only be granted on levels moving forward. While those additions alone sound like enough to keep many a Daeva busy, there's plenty more. Other tidbits introduced in 4.0 are an extension of the Fast Track server to include Inggison and Gelkmaros and the removal of arrows when using bows. For even more details and impressions on Dark Betrayal, watch for Wings Over Atreia this weekend. And check out the new classes tonight in a two-hour show (with a special guest) on Massively TV starting at 7:00 p.m. EDT. [Source: NCsoft press release] Aion 4.0 launches today, includes Asmodian incentives originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Age of Wushu releases full feature list for first expansion Posted: 26 Jun 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Historical, Expansions, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Age of Wushu While Snail Games showed off a bit of Age of Wushu's new content at E3 this year, the studio has just released a detailed full feature list for its martial arts MMO's first major expansion. Age of Wushu: Legends of Mount Hua will introduce a special competition for the top players of each server, a new instance with five different stoylines, a MOBA-style battle arena, quicker training for low-level characters, the Jianghu faction system, and more. You can check out more on this new content and browse today's item shop additions at the official website. Age of Wushu releases full feature list for first expansion originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Expansion News

Jagex boasts best financial year ever Posted: 26 Jun 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, Economy, MMO Industry, RuneScape, Free-to-Play, Miscellaneous, Transformers Universe Jagex has announced today that the company has had its most successful year to date, earning £50 million for the first time in the studio's history. In addition, the largest independent game studio in the UK employs a staff of over 550 people with the potential to grow even further. "2013 is set to be an even bigger year for Jagex as we release the biggest update in RuneScape's history, launch Transformers Universe and publish a number of new titles." CEO Mark Gerhard pointed out in a press release this morning. The studio's flagship title, RuneScape, saw "tens of millions of new players enter the game for the first time during 2012," solidifying the classic MMO as a free-to-play powerhouse. [Source: Jagex press release] Jagex boasts best financial year ever originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Do you ever roll two of the same class? Posted: 26 Jun 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous Every once in a while I'll hear from a friend that he or she has rolled a new character in an MMO. This by itself is not strange nor unusual, but what is weird is that the new character is of the exact same class as another one that the player regularly uses. To me, this is a hard concept to wrap my head around. MMO characters take so much time to develop as it is, and part of the joy of rolling a new alt is trying a different experience. Why would someone want to play the same class again if there are others that haven't been touched yet? I'm sure they have their reasons, and I'm curious if you've done this. Do you ever roll two of the same class, and if so, why? Explain yourself! 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: Do you ever roll two of the same class? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

MechWarrior Online reveals Project Phoenix pre-order program Posted: 25 Jun 2013 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Promotions, MechWarrior Online If you're one of those peeps who loves pre-ordering video games, and you've got a soft spot for the MechWarrior IP, you'll probably want to look into MechWarrior Online's limited edition pre-launch Battlemechs. Project Phoenix offers fans "the chance to nab rare, beloved, and perk-wielding 'Mechs" at prices ranging from $20 to $80. Package purchasers will take delivery on October 15th, and Piranha Games says that the special edition rides with custom exteriors and camo schemes will never be available again following the completion of the pre-order sale. You learn more about all of the available 'Mechs on MWO's official website. [Source: Piranha Games press release] MechWarrior Online reveals Project Phoenix pre-order program originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyperspace Beacon: Why I roleplay in Star Wars: The Old Republic Posted: 25 Jun 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Roleplaying, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon, MMORPG "There is a diabolical twist to Star Wars fandom, you see, that defies comprehension and yet is the life-blood of all Star Wars fans. It is this: Star Wars fans hate Star Wars." That singular truth was originally penned in a JIVEmagazine essay titled The Complete and Terrifying Reality of Star Wars fandom. Unfortunately, the essay no longer exists on the internet. Don't click on the link; I just wanted to credit the original author. That link is quite dead. The essay goes on to explain that the true Star Wars fan does not actually like the core aspects of the franchise. From the stiff and forced script of the prequels to the whiny mouth of Luke Skywalker, a "true" Star Wars fan hates all of it. Even the cuddly Ewoks and comical Jar Jar Binks don't escape our nerdy wrath. I can't even pretend that I have all the answers, but I believe the same compulsion that drives Star Wars fans back to each and every movie and convention despite the primary principles that he or she finds wrong with the franchise is the same compulsion that drives a Star Wars: The Old Republic player back to the game. Just read some of my past Hyperspace Beacons; you don't have to step back far to find an article where I extensively berate the development decisions. Yet here I am still playing nearly every day since day one. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Why I roleplay in Star Wars: The Old Republic Hyperspace Beacon: Why I roleplay in Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Trek Online dev blog outlines Lohlunat Festival rewards Posted: 25 Jun 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Events (In-Game), News Items, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries In two days, Star Trek Online is going to be hosting quite a party on the pleasure planet of Risa as it kicks off the Lohlunat Festival in-game event. And while you'd think the very act of being on a planet known primarily for its luxury and hospitality would be enough for most people, the folks at Cryptic know that STO players want more than just a relaxing vista; they want shiny items, too. In light of this, the latest Star Trek Online dev blog details all of the nifty rewards players will be able to get their spacefaring hands (or other alien appendages) on throughout the course of the festival. The festival will introduce two new currencies -- Lohlunat Pearls and Lohlunat Favors -- that players can collect and trade for a variety of rewards. But how do you earn these precious new currencies? Well, Favors can be earned by participating in the Horga'hn Hunt or -- we kid you not-- a dance competition. Pearls, on the other hand, are considerably more rare, and players can only earn 40 per day. Once 1000 pearls have been gathered, they can be used to complete an Event Reputation Project that rewards a shiny new Risian Corvette starship. For all the details on Favors, Pearls, and dance-offs, head on over to the STO official site. Star Trek Online dev blog outlines Lohlunat Festival rewards originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Star Trek Online dev blog

Ubisoft reads the internet, may bring The Division to PC Posted: 25 Jun 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Interviews, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Consoles Ubisoft continues its coy dance with PC gamers regarding The Division, a new action MMO announced at E3. Initially the firm said that the title was coming to next-gen consoles. Shortly thereafter, Division developers implored interested PC gamers to make their voices heard, and they did via an internet petition that garnered over 100,000 signatures. Now, in a video published on IGN, Ubisoft's Ryan Barnard says that "we're not ruling out other platforms because we do also read the internet. I think Ubisoft as a company considers maximizing the potential of a game, so if the audience is there and the desire is there..." Curiously, IGN's video was recorded at E3 but held for publication until June 24th, so Barnard's comments indicate that Ubisoft was considering a PC version of The Division even before the aforementioned brouhaha. Ubisoft reads the internet, may bring The Division to PC originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: IGN Via: GamesRadar

ArenaNet aiming for new Guild Wars 2 content every two weeks Posted: 25 Jun 2013 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Interviews, MMO Industry, Patches, News Items, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play How would fresh Guild Wars 2 content twice a month grab you? If that sounds pretty good, you'll probably want to read ArenaNet lead content designer Mike Zadorojny's comments on GamerZines.com. "We're doing three weeks [updates] currently, but now we're pushing to two weeks," Zadorojny told the website. "It's a marathon not a sprint and we've been getting better with each of our releases in terms of how we budget, how we plan it out, how we manage personnel, etc. Now we have four full living world teams that are building these content updates, so that we can stagger releases and make sure that people can decompress and get the quality time necessary to build a good design document before going back in and trying to implement it all over again." The twice monthly updates will reportedly include new features and story content as well as new loot and achievements. [Thanks Andy!] ArenaNet aiming for new Guild Wars 2 content every two weeks originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: GamerZines.com

Final Fantasy XIV sells $50 soundtrack with pet Posted: 25 Jun 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Final Fantasy XIV, Promotions, Music, Subscription Would you spend $50 on a video game soundtrack? Here's a better question: What would a video game soundtrack have to include and feature to justify a $50 price tag? Square-Enix is taking a stab at tempting the fanatical and faithful into purchasing the complete Final Fantasy XIV OST, and the studio is prepared to make it worth the hefty price tag. The soundtrack itself is a Japanese import on Blu-Ray and includes 104 tracks and the game trailer remastered in 5.1 surround sound. The five-plus hours of music on the disc are also available in MP3 format for computers with Blu-Ray disc drives. Final Fantasy XIV: Before Meteor is currently available to pre-order for $49.99, and the price includes a code for an exclusive in-game Wind-Up Dalamud pet. Final Fantasy XIV sells $50 soundtrack with pet originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Square-Enix Online Store

The Soapbox: Tokens suck! Posted: 25 Jun 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Economy, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous A few weeks ago we reported on a somewhat silly article in which the author advocated that studios could and should charge players real money transaction fees to trade items. I didn't see a lot of people in favor of this idea, but I definitely agreed with one thing that he pointed out: MMOs have become increasingly anti-trade in practice. It's not something that I've thought a lot about recently, but once this article triggered some introspection, I realized that the issue of trade (particularly relating to restrictions) has become a growing frustration of mine. My veteran characters in several MMOs are absolutely loaded -- with basic currency, that is (usually gold). And yet I am sitting on this Scrooge McDuck pile of wealth with no useful things to buy because (a) everything seems to take tokens these days and (b) so much of the good stuff in games is bind-to-character (or bind-to-account). I started feeling fidgety and then I let out a grunt of frustration. Tokens, in a word, suck. Continue reading The Soapbox: Tokens suck! The Soapbox: Tokens suck! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Flameseeker Chronicles: The history of weapon and armor skins in Guild Wars 2 Posted: 25 Jun 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, Flameseeker Chronicles, Buy-to-Play The Sky Pirates of Tyria game update for Guild Wars 2 launches today, and if you haven't checked out our video preview, there's no time like the present to catch up. Along with a smattering of in-game activities for players to experience, ArenaNet has added three new armor skins to the gem store. The Aetherblade armor sets will be the first light, medium, and heavy skins to hit the gem store since the game's launch last August, and unlike town clothing, these steampunk-themed items can be worn in combat. Many fans will also appreciate that this new gear is available for direct purchase and not offered as a rare drop from a gambling chest. Guild Wars 2 players realize that ArenaNet needs the financial support of its gem store to sustain the game for years to come. But there has been a rash of negative feedback lately whenever a new weapon skin is offered as a rare drop from a gem store purchase. Whether we like it or not, however, randomizing the contents of a product has been proven to increase profits since the days of baseball cards. In this week's video edition of the Flameseeker Chronicles, I dissect the weapon and armor skin offerings in Guild Wars 2 since launch and analyze the various methods ArenaNet has used to distribute them. Have the gem store weapons been distributed most often through random loot boxes, direct purchases, or through in-game activities? Let's investigate. Continue reading Flameseeker Chronicles: The history of weapon and armor skins in Guild Wars 2 Flameseeker Chronicles: The history of weapon and armor skins in Guild Wars 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

PlanetSide 2 launches in China to surprising numbers Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2 Bringing a game to another nation always prompts certain questions. There's no way to be sure a title that makes perfect sense in the US will hit upon the same level of success when it launches in China. And in the case of PlanetSide 2, that's exactly what's happened. John Smedley tweeted earlier today that the launch in China is not going as well as it did in the US -- it's going significantly better. Smedley's tweet claims that the game is already seeing bigger numbers than it has in the US after only eight hours of launch, although what exactly those numbers are isn't specified. Whether this is a result of a serious hole in the shooter market in China compared to the US or just a matter of marketing is up for debate, but it seems that both Sony Online Entertainment and The9 made a good call to bring the shooter over. PlanetSide 2 launches in China to surprising numbers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Twitter

Security warning issued by Blizzard, World of Warcraft mobile auctions offline Posted: 25 Jun 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, News Items, Subscription Blizzard Entertainment has issued a security warning for all World of Warcraft players. According to the warning, the studio has been tracking an uptick in unauthorized logins via both the website and the World of Warcraft mobile armory application, with individual warnings being sent to any players who do not have an authenticator and whose accounts have recently seen unusual activity. Players in this group should check their emails for information about resetting and securing their accounts. Aside from encouraging all players to take extra steps to secure their accounts, Blizzard has temporarily shut down mobile access to the World of Warcraft auction house as an added security measure. Customer service will restore any items or currency lost as a result of this action. There's no information that this represents any kind of mass hacking, but it's probably best to change your password and get an authenticator if you don't already have one. Security warning issued by Blizzard, World of Warcraft mobile auctions offline originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Security warning

TERA's new battleground promotes a siege mentality Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, Previews, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, TERA The newest TERA battleground is meant to be big. It's not about two sides plinking away at one another across a field; it's about tearing down the walls of a castle and razing the structure. Corsairs' Stronghold is your chance to take part in both sides of a castle assault, and the development team has put together a little video preview to show off just what your role will be in this two-stage assault. Players will alternate between being attackers and defenders, with attackers trying to tear down the Anchorstone as the defenders beat them back. The map includes elements like ladders to scale, siege weapons to hit the walls, and plenty of spots for characters to engage in pitched fighting for the sake of this castle. The battleground also sees the inclusion of several pieces of pirate-themed cosmetic gear, which are also previewed in another video past the cut. There's plenty to see, in other words. Continue reading TERA's new battleground promotes a siege mentality TERA's new battleground promotes a siege mentality originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Preview page

Jukebox Heroes Exclusive: Aion 4.0's soundtrack Posted: 25 Jun 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Jukebox Heroes, Music This week, Aion will welcome into the world a bouncing baby expansion: Dark Betrayal, aka Aion 4.0, on June 26th. While I don't play the game, I've been keenly interested in the soundtrack ever since first sampling its wares for the first-ever Jukebox Heroes column. There are several scores out for Aion now, and once Dark Betrayal hits this week, there will be yet another one. Aion 4.0's score was handled by four composers: Jeon Byungkyu, Joo In Ro, Kim Won Ki, and Park Soyeon. There are action pieces, tranquil tunes, and even goofy medleys, but the theme that connects all of these composers' works together is a pristine beauty that is the hallmark of Aion's collective score. So how would you like to listen to some new music? How would you like to hear six exclusive tracks from Aion 4.0? I know I was pretty excited when the team sent me the entire soundtrack and asked me to cherry-pick my favorites for this column, and I hope you enjoy what you're about to hear. Continue reading Jukebox Heroes Exclusive: Aion 4.0's soundtrack Jukebox Heroes Exclusive: Aion 4.0's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Jun 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

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