General Gaming Article

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• No BS Podcast #209
• Everything You Wanted to Know About SSDs
• Maximum PC Intern Wanted
• EVGA's Supernova 1000W Power Supply Goes Platinum
• Grand Theft Auto V's Online Mode Looks Awesome
• Asus Loses Interest in Windows RT Tablets, Stops Production
• Games for Windows Live Marketplace is Shutting Down
• Newegg Daily Deals: XFX Radeon HD 7950 Core Edition 3GB, Seagate NAS 2TB HDD, and More!

No BS Podcast #209 Posted: 16 Aug 2013 03:34 PM PDT All about the 2013 Dream Machine  On this week's episode of Behind the PC, the staff discusses the building of the 2013 Dream Machine. We talk about the part selection, what the build was like, all the gory details we couldn't include in the magazine. We finished up with reader questions, editor's picks, and of course a rant from Deputy Editor Gordon Ung.    Here are each of the Editor Picks from this episode: Josh: Don't forget troubleshooting basics Tom: Civilization V: Brave New World DLC Gordon: Leatherman Surge Chris: Samsung Data Migration Software To catch future episodes of this much-loved podcast please subscribe on iTunes: Subscribe on iTunes Fan us on Facebook Tweet us on Twitter Subscribe to us on Youtube Check out our Windows 8 app in Microsoft's app store Subscribe to our RSS feed If you have any feedback or questions feel free to: Email us at maximumpcpodcast@gmail.com or Leave us a voicemail at 877-404-1337 x1337 Thanks for listening! We Wouldn't be here without all of your support! Subscribe to Maximum PC in Print or on Google Play, itunes, Kindle, Nook and Zinio. Thanks for listening!

Everything You Wanted to Know About SSDs Posted: 16 Aug 2013 03:01 PM PDT You've got SSD questions, we've got SSD answers. It's time for a crash course in solid-state drive technology Solid-state drives (SSD) are taking the PC world by storm with their silent operation, blazing speeds, and ever-sinking prices, and yet you're hesitant to buy one. Maybe you're afraid of SSDs, or you don't think you know enough to make an educated purchase, or maybe a bad SSD controller took all your data down to Chinatown. Regardless of the reason for your trepidation, every horsepower junkie should be getting in on the SSD action, and to do that you need a little bit of cash and a whole lot of knowledge. In this article, we will attempt to answer all of your SSD-related questions. We'll walk you through all the reasons why you need an SSD first, then break down the terminology so you can talk like an SSD badass at the next LAN party, then show you the parts of an SSD so you know how it all fits together, and we'll wrap it up with a discussion of the software you'll need to monitor and optimize your drive. Though SSDs might seem complicated with their 24nm synchronous MLC Toggle NAND flash and their AHCI-enabled SATA 6Gb/s IOPS gobbledygook, you're about to find out they are not as scary as you thought they were. What Is an SSD and Why Should You Care? Demonic speed and immunity to tumbles are part of the story Let's start with the basics. An SSD is a solid-state drive, meaning it has no moving parts. It's basically a thin slice of NAND flash memory that's similar to what you find in a USB thumb drive, though instead of being jammed into a finger-size stick it's stuffed inside a 2.5-inch enclosure with a SATA interface. As you have probably heard, SSDs are several orders of magnitude faster than mechanical hard drives for one simple reason: Instead of waiting for the hard drive platters to spin under the read/write heads, you are pulling data from NAND flash memory, so access times are nearly instant. SSDs are so fast that some of them are currently able to completely saturate today's SATA spec, pumping roughly 550MB/s of data through the SATA 6Gb/s interface, whereas the fastest 7,200rpm hard drive would be lucky to hit 150MB/s across the platter. Other benefits of SSDs are that they generate no noise since there are no moving parts, which also lets them produce much less heat. They can still get a little warm, but don't require active cooling like a hard drive does. And since they have no moving parts, you're free to wedge one into your laptop and toss it around like the bouquet at a wedding, though we don't recommend doing that. To summarize, SSDs offer tremendous speed, emit no noise, give off very little heat, and fit in the space the size of a few credit cards. What's not to love? What's Not to Love Here's the downside: SSDs are expensive, and there's also the chance that whatever drive you select might die on you one day. Now, we know that doesn't sound good, but there are some silver linings here. The first is that prices are dropping rapidly, so much so that right now 128GB drives are hovering around $100, so that's less than the magical $1-per-gigabyte price bar we've set for an OK deal. Drives with capacities of 256GB are even less expensive, averaging around $160. Sadly, 512GB drives are still a smidge spendy, and 1TB drives, well, they don't even really exist for mere mortals. SSD prices will continue to fall, though, as adoption rates increase, so any financial barrier to entry you might fear will soon be nonexistent. The second point is much more concerning to you, as nobody enjoys seeing their data go bye-bye. Let's just get this out of the way: Many people have had their SSDs fail. We've had our own personal SSDs fail in our home machines, and seen units here die an untimely death in the Lab, in seemingly random fashion. What needs to be made clear, though, is the fact that in all of these cases it was the controller that gave out, not the NAND flash itself. Anyone who tells you they have reached the end of the life cycle for NAND flash is either high, lying, or from the Internet, so don't believe them. It's not the flash that typically dies, but the controllers, and here's the good news: Things are improving massively on this front. In fact, we've yet to see a late-model SSD die, and chalk up the earlier failures to the fact that it was simply new technology, not yet battle-tested on the front lines. You might recall several high-profile SSD recalls, as well, which didn't help their status as a fledgling technology. The simple truth is that those days are mostly behind us, and as controller and firmware technology has matured, reliability has improved greatly, so we have zero problems recommending any late-model SSD but, as always, you should back up your data regardless of the storage medium you have in place. The Evolution of SSD Form Factors When SSDs first burst onto the scene, they came in unwieldy 3.5-inch enclosures the size of hard drives. These SSDs were blazing-fast at the time, and ungodly expensive. We're talking $1,000 for 64GB, but back then it was all that we had, so we paid it. SSDs eventually migrated to the 2.5-inch enclosures that we use now, and are also offered in the teeny, tiny mSATA form factor for notebooks, as well. If this downsizing trend continues, we expect future SSDs to be microscipic. Anatomy of an SSD 1. Outer Shell This shell could be plastic or metal, and helps absorb some of the heat from the flash memory inside. A 7mm shell allows an SSD to be used in an Ultrabook, though some employ the thicker 9mm form factor. Unlike with a mechanical hard drive, you could remove this cover and run an SSD commando and it would not make much difference to the drive, though we don't recommend it. 2. NAND Flash These are the memory chips that hold your data. They are typically clustered in groups of chips covering both sides of the PCB. Most SSDs you will see use either MLC or TLC NAND, though if this was an enterprise-level model it might use SLC NAND flash. MLC flash wears down twice as fast as SLC flash, and TLC wears down quicker than MLC, but you will still get many years of usage from MLC or TLC. 3. DRAM Buffer Every SSD also includes a bit of DRAM used for buffering purposes. Like cache on a hard drive, data is stored here temporarily before it's written to the device. Wear-leveling data is also placed into the cache while the drive is running. SandForce SSDs are the only models that do not use external DRAM. 4. Power and DATA Interface Modern SSDs ship with SATA 6Gb/s interfaces that allow for roughly 550MB/s read and write speeds, though this will change soon since today's drives are saturating the bus. The next-gen interface, called SATA Express, will utilize PCI Express lanes instead, allowing us to eventually hit up to 16Gb/s of throughput. Yes, we are salivating. 5. Controller The controller runs the show, usually with a multicore processor. This is what separates one SSD from another, for the most part, though custom firmware designed by the drive manufacturer is also a factor. Controllers communicate with NAND over parallel channels, compress and uncompress data, and keep the drive optimized with garbage collection. Click the next page to learn about solid-state drive terminology and the software side of SSDs.     Solid-State Terminology Or how to look like you know what you're talking about NAND Flash NAND flash is a type of nonvolatile flash memory that stands for "Not And," which is a reference to the type of logic gate it uses. This is different from NOR flash, which is used in environments where the same program is run over and over again. NAND memory is popular due to its speed, durability, and relatively low cost compared to DRAM, and is commonly found in storage devices such as USB keys, tablets, cell phones, and of course, SSDs. Though there are various types of NAND flash, all SSDs on the market currently use this type of memory. Controller This is the brains of the SSD and what truly separates one drive from another, as they mostly use very similar NAND flash. Typical controllers today use multiple cores for running the drive, performing data compression, and executing drive optimizations. Before you make any purchasing decisions about an SSD, find out which controller it uses, as some controllers have a checkered history. Currently only Samsung and OCZ have controllers that were designed and manufactured in-house, which theoretically gives them an advantage, while Intel uses SandForce, Corsair uses Link A Media, and Crucial uses a Marvell controller. MLC NAND This is the most common type of NAND flash used in SSDs today, and it stands for "multi-level cell" memory. Its much more expensive counterpart is SLC, or "single-level cell" memory. In SLC, only one state can be maintained per cell, making it good for one bit of data. In MLC, however, up to four states can be stored per cell, allowing it to hold two bits of data. The proximity of the two states creates the possibility for more errors, though, which is why SLC is so expensive, and rare. Flash memory can only sustain a finite number of read/write operations but modern day SSDs perform wear-leveling in order to allow them to survive for a decade or longer depending on drive activity levels. SLC NAND This is the good stuff. SLC NAND is very expensive and is only found in enterprise-level storage products due to its cost. It stores one data state per cell, and since there are no other data states nearby, it is extremely accurate and long-lasting. At press time a 256GB SLC SSD costs $2,600, so you won't be seeing them in your home machine any time soon. Trim Trim is something you'll hear about a lot with SSDs, because it performs the crucial function of helping the SSD optimize itself when it is idle, so not having Trim support is bad, and it needs to be in both the drive and your OS. Essentially, the Trim command is sent from the OS to the drive's controller to tell it which bits of data can be safely deleted, so without Trim the drive could theoretically just fill up and degrade. Since NAND cells cannot be overwritten, they must be erased before new data is written to them. The command also lets the controller reorganize data, similar to defragmenting a hard drive. Trim is supported in Windows 7 and 8, and in all modern SSDs. Asynchronous vs. Synchronous Flash You'll see this in an SSD's specs, and the bottom line is that asynchronous flash is not as fast or expensive as synchronous flash, so it's not uncommon to see it in value drives, while synchronous flash is used in high-performance drives. Synchronous flash processes data roughly twice as fast as asynchronous, on both ends of the clock cycle, so you get two outputs per cycle, while asynchronous is not synced to the clock speed of the processor, so you can expect lower performance. IOPS This spec shows how many operations per second the drive is capable of performing. This differs from read/write speeds in that it's not measuring the speed of the writes or reads, but the number of them. This is typically used in situations where heavy random workloads are needed, simply because, in our opinion, it sounds better to say 85,000 IOPS than 30MB/s. Sequential Read/Write Speed This is how fast a drive can read and write contiguous data, sort of like an elephant inhaling a row of peanuts. This is often used as a metric for benchmarks because it measures "straight-line speeds" but is not indicative of real-world performance, as data is rarely written or read in this fashion. Secure Erase Old blocks of data on an SSD have to be erased before new blocks can be written to it, which takes time, so the fastest an SSD will ever be is the moment it comes out of the box and is totally empty. Unfortunately, even if you deleted everything on the drive, the data is still there, so it will still need to be erased if you want to write over it (Trim does this to some extent but not completely). The only way to totally wipe a drive of all its contents is a Secure Erase, which completely deletes all data on a drive. This is the most common way to get an SSD back to its fastest possible state, and is accomplished via software included with your drive. See the next page to read about the downside of using Trim and to learn about different SSD software.     The Downside of Using Trim The Trim command has been made into something of a living legend in Windows 7 and 8, because it is so crucial to keeping an SSD optimized via garbage collection and the deletion of data that is no longer needed. Since SSDs require a data block to be erased before it can be written to, it's important to have that deletion occur before the data needs to be written, otherwise the whole process gets bogged down with multiple operations instead of just a simple write command. There's a big downside to keeping your drive optimized, though, which HDD users don't have to contend with: If you accidentally delete a file and then try to undelete it via recovery software such as File Scavenger you may be out of luck. That's because Trim, or even the drive's own firmware, may have already deleted the data forever. More disturbing is that Trim can be executed at any time—its schedule isn't transparent to the user—so 10 minutes after you've deleted the file, it might already have been purged. If you are a serial file-bungler and find yourself in constant need of file recovery, consider disabling Trim to buy you a little more time to recover inadvertently deleted data (at the cost of overall performance). Windows 7 users should also consider leaving system protection on, which will, on occasion, make copies of files. Windows 8 users should enable the File History feature that makes real-time backups of files on a secondary drive for you. The Software Side SSD utilities can make all the difference to your drive's overall functionality Though most people install an SSD and never give it a second thought, free software makes it possible to monitor, optimize, and tweak a drive's performance. Samsung, Intel, and OCZ SSDs come bundled with free utilities, and you can use the free CrystalDiskInfo (http://bit.ly/UKzt0) with any SSD on the market. Here's a quick peek at what each one offers. Samsung SSD Magician 4.0 It's hard to believe, but not only does Samsung make arguably the best SSDs available right now, but it also makes the best SSD software, as well. Right on the home screen you can see how much data has been written to the NAND, its status, your interface speed, and more. If your OS doesn't support Trim, you can click "performance optimization" to Trim the drive manually. You can also update the firmware, adjust over-provisioning space, and more. Samsung regularly updates its software, too, making the choice to invest in a Samsung SSD that much easier. Intel SSD Toolbox Intel's toolbox software is easy to use, full of information, and tells you right on the home screen what the drive's health status is at the moment. Diving deeper into the menus will let you update the drive's firmware, perform a secure erase, run diagnostic scans on the drive, run the Trim command, and it will show you how to fully optimize the drive with your OS. If you're super-nerdy you can also choose to examine the drive's SMART data and details, but the whole point of the simple interface is to show you all that data in an easy-to-digest fashion. Still, it's all there if you really want to see it. OCZ Toolbox v4.3 OCZ's free Toolbox software is basically the equivalent of a three-blade Swiss Army knife, in that it only lets you do a few things with your SSD. It's actually strange that OCZ would spend time and money to develop a software tool, then populate it with so few options, but since it's free software we're not complaining too much. The tool gives you the ability to check for firmware updates and apply them, and perform a secure erase of the drive; it will also spit out the drive's SMART data in the most unfriendly manner we've ever seen, so have fun translating it. This utility is helpful for updating your drive's firmware but not much else. CrystalDiskInfo 5.4.2 This is a free utility that should be able to read the SMART data from any SSD and give you an indication as to the drive's health, information about its activity, and more. One field to pay attention to is Total NAND Writes, as that will give you an indication of how much has been written to the drive if you like to keep tabs on those things. It also displays the current firmware version, SATA transfer mode, which features are enabled, and all the SMART data, as well.

Maximum PC Intern Wanted Posted: 16 Aug 2013 02:04 PM PDT Here's your chance to live and breathe PC hardware alongside the Maximum PC staff! Do you know PC hardware like nobody's business and have an interest in writing about it? Are you a college student who can commute to South San Francisco? Would you like to work with the kick-ass staff of Maximum PC? If you loudly exclaimed, "Yes!" to all these questions, you should first probably stop talking to yourself... and then promptly apply for our new intership position!   While it may sound like a glamorous gig, the internship entails a lot of hard work: Having to listen to Gordon's rants all day and playing with PC hardware is no easy task, but someone's got to do it. In all seriousness, details of the internship are posted below. If you think you meet the criteria, we highly encourage you to apply! Ideal candidates should:  • Have writing/reporting abilities • Have media (video/audio) editing experience • Be well-versed in the PC hardware and software scene Among the tasks you'll do: • Write content (news, features, and reviews) for the magazine and website • Build PCs/assist with running PC benchmarks • Assist with mailing duties • Contest fulfillment • Edit podcast and videos • Upload articles to the CMS/website • Daily tasks as assigned *This is an unpaid internship—candidates must be able to receive school credit for participating.*  For more information about our parent company Future US, please check out our website at www.futureus.com Only applicants who are currently enrolled in a school program will be contacted during this search What we offer: • A casual, comfortable dress environment. • A culture that encourages a passion for life both inside and outside of the office. • Don't want to drive? Not to worry – Future US offers a free shuttle from BART and CalTrain to the office. To apply for this position click on the link below: https://theapplicantmanager.com/jobs?pos=FS133

EVGA's Supernova 1000W Power Supply Goes Platinum Posted: 16 Aug 2013 11:48 AM PDT Powerful and efficient After achieving 80 Plus Gold certification for its original Supernova 1000W power supply (1000 G2), EVGA is back with a newer revision that now boasts an 80 Plus Platinum badge, meaning it's a little more efficient than its predecessor. The new Supernova 1000 P2 features 92 percent efficiency under typical loads and has a new "ECO Thermal Control Fan System" that supposedly eliminates fan noise during load operations. "This provides improved efficiency for longer operation, less power consumption, reduced energy costs and minimal heat dissipation. Backed by a 10 year warranty, gain peace of mind from the heart of your system and power up with the EVGA Supernova 1000 P2," EVGA says. High quality parts are used throughout, including a vertical double layer main transformer, Japanese Nippon Chemi-Con solid state capacitors, and other parts. For power hungry systems, EVGA loads up a single +12V rail with 83A. It's also a fully modular PSU to ensure the least amount of cable clutter. The EVGA Supernova 1000 P2 PSU is available now for $220 MSRP. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Grand Theft Auto V's Online Mode Looks Awesome Posted: 16 Aug 2013 07:41 AM PDT There better be a PC release As if we weren't already looking forward to the release of Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar Games has posted an official gameplay video showing off the upcoming title's persistent and continually expanding online world, and it looks flipping amazing. The fundamental GTA concepts are all present and accounted for, such as the freedom to go and do whatever you want, ambient activity, and mission based gameplay for multiple players. You and your friends can band together and rob a bank or a liquor store, as well as work cooperatively to complete missions. If you'd rather fly solo, you can do that do, making enemies along the way. Completing jobs will earn you money and reputation. The money you earn can be used to customize your character with new digs, better rides, more powerful weapons, and so forth. Once you start making some serious cash, you can think about buying an apartment or a garage to fill with custom vehicles. Finally, the online mode will include a content creator allowing you to create your own races and death matches, which you can then share with other users. Have a look for yourself, and then cross your fingers for a PC related announcement soon: Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Asus Loses Interest in Windows RT Tablets, Stops Production Posted: 16 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT Windows RT suffers another casualty Whatever plans Microsoft may have had for Windows RT heading into 2014 may need to be adjusted. Consumers just aren't buying Windows RT devices, and with sales being as weak as they are, Microsoft's OEM partners are beginning to lose interest, too. Case in point, Asus has reportedly decided to stop producing Windows RT tablets, which run on ARM-based processors rather than x86 chips. "It's not only our opinion, the industry sentiment is also that Windows RT has not been successful," Asus CEO Jerry Shen told The Wall Street Journal. Like Microsoft, Asus took a charge on its unsold Windows RT inventory in the second quarter, though the company didn't say how much. In Microsoft's case, the Redmond giant took a $900 million charge on unsold Windows RT tablets. It isn't all bad news for Microsoft. Rather than shift focus entirely to Android in the tablet space, Asus said it will continue to make Windows 8 devices for Intel processors. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Games for Windows Live Marketplace is Shutting Down Posted: 16 Aug 2013 05:30 AM PDT Spend those Microsoft Points while you still can Mark August 22, 2013 on your calendar. That's the day Microsoft will permanently retire the PC Marketplace on Xbox.com, effectively ending the sale of Games for Windows Live titles, the company confirmed. Microsoft is encouraging gamers with a Microsoft Points balance to go ahead and spend those Points prior to the change. However, even though the purchase functionality will be discontinued, your previously purchased games and DLC won't disappear. "Microsoft continues to support the Games for Windows Live platform," Microsoft said in a statement. "You can continue to enjoy previously purchased games and downloadable content in your catalog by downloading them through the Games for Windows Live client. Although purchase functionality will be discontinued through this marketplace, the Games for Windows Live service will continue to operate as usual." Closing the PC Marketplace is part of a planned Xbox 360 system update that will convert Microsoft Points into local currency. When that happens, Microsoft ensures users who have a balance will receive "equal or greater" than the Marketplace value. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Newegg Daily Deals: XFX Radeon HD 7950 Core Edition 3GB, Seagate NAS 2TB HDD, and More! Posted: 16 Aug 2013 05:00 AM PDT Top Deal: Now that AMD unveiled a new Never Settle games bundle, you may be thinking to yourself, "Self, I should upgrade my video card!" We'd like to encourage that train of thought by presenting today's top deal for an XFX Radeon HD 7950 Core Edition 3GB graphics card for $230 with free shipping (normally $270 -- use coupon code HCWPISQ89; additional $30 mail-in-rebate). It's fast, supports CrossFireX (with a second card), and qualifies for AMD's Gold Reward tier (be sure to add it to your cart). Other Deals: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2x4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model for $61 with free shipping (normally $72 - use coupon code: [0813BTS22]) Cooler Master Silent Pro M2 850W ATX SLI/CrossFire Ready 80 Plus Silver Certified Modular Power Supply for $130 with free shipping (normally $160 - use coupon code: [CM07PC3013]; additional $40 mail-in rebate) Seagate NAS 2TB 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s Internal Hard Drive for $110 with free shipping (normally $120 - use coupon code: [0813BTS10]; additional $40 mail-in rebate) Coboc 25 ft. High Speed HDMI Cable for $6 with free shipping (normally $10 - use coupon code: [0813BTS2])

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MMO Updates

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• Infinite Crisis video introduces Atomic Wonder Woman
• Xsyon hosts two months of GM-run events
• Gotta tame 'em all: Dragon's Prophet open beta impressions
• Guild Wars 2 claims the 'fastest selling MMO of all time' title
• The Daily Grind: How do you define roleplaying?
• The Guild Counsel: Filling gaps when guild members leave
• The Summoner's Guidebook: How to be the best at League of Legends
• Nether gives unique twist to post-apocalyptic survival
• Final Fantasy brings version 1.0 characters into beta
• Black Gold Online's payment model will make your head hurt
• NCsoft looking ahead to Lineage Eternal beta, WildStar launch
• World of Warcraft's 5.4 trailer features Orc on Panda violence, boats
• Rockstar reveals Grand Theft Auto Online
• The Perfect Ten: Literal kill 10 rats quests
• Trion Worlds to close EU branch

Infinite Crisis video introduces Atomic Wonder Woman Posted: 16 Aug 2013 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Super-hero, Video, Classes, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA, Infinite Crisis Who needs a lasso when you can wield a chainsaw? Not Atomic Wonder Woman! Meet this new champion and her chainsaw in Infinite Crisis' latest video. After the world is devastated by the nuclear firestorm of World War III, Wonder Woman's mission changes from peace to restoration, and she uses her new weapon of choice to fight for that end. A melee assassin, Atomic Wonder Woman has low survivability and huge burst damage. Her skills include Vault, Smite, and Savage Sweep, and her ultimate is Reclaimer. All of these skills are boosted by her passive, Rev, which builds up and offers a little something extra to each. If you are heading to Gamescom 2013, you can play as Atomic Wonder Woman (complete with Rosie the Riveter scarf) at the Infinite Crisis booth in the Electronic Sports League hall CM Storm Arena. Otherwise you'll have to wait until she's released to closed beta on August 21st. In the meantime, catch all her moves -- along with a plenty of tips and tricks -- in the video after the cut. [Source: Turbine Entertainment press release] Continue reading Infinite Crisis video introduces Atomic Wonder Woman Infinite Crisis video introduces Atomic Wonder Woman originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Aug 2013 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Xsyon hosts two months of GM-run events Posted: 16 Aug 2013 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Events (In-Game), News Items, Free-to-Play, Xsyon, Post-Apocalyptic, Sandbox The post-apocalyptic world of Xsyon may be harsh and unrelenting, but it also has its moments of fun and frivolity. And those moments are often found in the various GM-run events. Luckily for players, the next couple of months are chock full of them! Most events will run several times, affording those in different time zones the chance to participate and nab some prizes. Here's a run-down: Aug 17, Handy-Man Provider Challenge: An orienteering-style event utilizing navigation, crafting, and organization. Aug 24, Haunted House: Find hidden treasure with a partner in a haunted house filled with frights. Aug 31, Ironman Race: Run, swim, and pull a cart all the way around founder's island. Sep 7, Gladiator Event: A PvE event involving the dreaded Shadow Bear. Sep 14: For the time-pressed, a weekend full of mini-events. Sep 21, Crazy Basket Hunt: Search for the treasure cart to find prizes galore. Sep 28, Mega Cross Country Challenge: A race across multiple zones with Guides (GMs) waiting at various checkpoints. [Source: Notorious Games press release] Xsyon hosts two months of GM-run events originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Aug 2013 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Gotta tame 'em all: Dragon's Prophet open beta impressions Posted: 16 Aug 2013 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, First Impressions, Dragon's Prophet Ever since SOE announced its latest free-to-play MMORPG, Dragon's Prophet, it's been clear that the game aimed to break some molds. Eschewing the commonplace tab-target combat system, Dragon's Prophet looks to meld action-packed brawler-style combat with the completionist's paradise (or nightmare, depending on your perspective) of Pokemon-esque creature collection, and in fact the whole game hinges on this somewhat strange combination. I recently set out to spend some time with the game's "open beta" (read: soft launch) to see whether that combination is more peanut butter and jelly or toothpaste and orange juice. I found that, while the game is full of fun times, it gets bogged down by a few issues and ultimately becomes an exercise in "how much are you willing to put up with?" Continue reading Gotta tame 'em all: Dragon's Prophet open beta impressions Gotta tame 'em all: Dragon's Prophet open beta impressions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Aug 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Guild Wars 2 claims the 'fastest selling MMO of all time' title Posted: 16 Aug 2013 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play According to a new report by ArenaNet and DFC Intelligence, Guild Wars 2 is the fastest selling MMO of all time with more than three million units sold in the game's first nine months. DFC Intelligence is a "strategic market research and consulting firm focused on interactive entertainment" that came to this conclusion through multiple data sources, according to a press release. ArenaNet is looking forward to further growth of the brand as Guild Wars 2 is set to release in China soon. And if you'd like to try the game out for yourself, the studio is offering a free trial for new accounts from August 23rd through August 25th. Guild Wars 2 claims the 'fastest selling MMO of all time' title originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Aug 2013 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: How do you define roleplaying? Posted: 16 Aug 2013 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Massively Meta, The Daily Grind, Roleplaying Like many of you, I've gone through so many stages of roleplaying; I started out as most people do, playing an idealized version of myself in Ultima Online. In EverQuest, I found myself funneling my roleplay into fan fiction and formal events because there was so little time between dungeon camps and raiding to actually step into a role. Star Wars Galaxies was my turning point; I finally became truly immersed and willing to play full-time as characters totally different from me, and that's partly because the game encouraged non-combat roles and activities. I never had to fight the game to be a real person in that world. And yet in the years since SWG's heyday, MMOs have pushed me away from formal roleplaying once again with mechanics and frustrations and contradictory goals. At best, my roleplaying now takes the form of respect for other roleplayers, in not breaking character where it might be annoying, and in selecting gear and names and planning backstory more than in participating in whatever epic plot my server's RPers are weaving. It still feels like roleplaying in my head. But is it? Without stepping too far into Storyboard territory, we're wondering today how you define roleplaying. Would you consider each stage of a roleplayer's evolution equally valid, or does it only "count" when you're actively participating? How do you express your RP in modern MMOs? 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 roleplaying? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Aug 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Guild Counsel: Filling gaps when guild members leave Posted: 15 Aug 2013 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Guilds, Opinion, The Guild Counsel, Miscellaneous Imagine a scenario where a baseball team is heading into a do-or-die game, and as the coach is making up his lineup, he hears that his best hitter decided to take a break and take up knitting. Or a business manager who is scheduling a crucial demo of his new product with investors, only to find out that his star performer just took a job with a rival company. The result would be nothing short of catastrophic. Just about every guild leader who's been around for any length of time has had to deal with sudden and unexpected gaps in the roster, and it usually comes at the worst time for the guild. While it can cause no end of stress for the leadership and become a potential guild breaker, it's actually a natural part of the game and of guild management. Let's take a look at the issue of filling gaps in this week's Guild Counsel. Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Filling gaps when guild members leave The Guild Counsel: Filling gaps when guild members leave originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Summoner's Guidebook: How to be the best at League of Legends Posted: 15 Aug 2013 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Opinion, Free-to-Play, MOBA, League of Legends, The Summoner's Guidebook What does it take to be a top League of Legends player? A lot of people sell themselves short, saying, "I could never be as good as HotshotGG," but I think that's a falsehood. Don't mistake me, I do think that most of the current LoL pros (including Hotshot) are prodigal. I do think that they got to where they are partially due to natural talent. I've watched a lot of streams and interviews and listened to pros talk about their training schedules, and I can honestly say that while they do practice a lot, most of them don't practice enough. But no amount of talent can replace the other skills you'll need. Even if Pobelter has a natural ability to dominate LoL matches, he has refined that talent through hard work. If you practice the skills here dilligently, you can get in the top levels of the solo-duo ranked ladder and you can get picked up by a pro team. Continue reading The Summoner's Guidebook: How to be the best at League of Legends The Summoner's Guidebook: How to be the best at League of Legends originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nether gives unique twist to post-apocalyptic survival Posted: 15 Aug 2013 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Horror, Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, New Titles, MMOFPS, Post-Apocalyptic Stop us if you've heard this game before: It's some time after the apocalypse, and you're one of the final survivors scrounging about for parts and gear to carve out a niche of safety. While that might sound like every zombie survival game that's come out in the wake of DayZ, Nether is eschewing zombies for something more insidious -- and interesting. The titular creatures are mutants that hunt by sound and teleport around, requiring players to adopt new strategies as they try to make it. The newly announced Nether is a persistent MMOish (well, 64 players per server) game where players explore West Chicago in the hopes of finding that one weapon or crate of goods that's needed to survive another night. Or you could just go to Chicago right now in real life and do the same thing. Phosphor Games Creative Director Chip Sineni says his title won't be the same-old zombiethon: "Our focus is to veer away from some of the 'traditional' survival-horror offerings in order to provide something new for the genre, with a great urban setting, a different type of story and an experience that excites us as fans and will be something definitely fresh and new for gamers." Nether is in alpha testing with an eye on a fall 2013 release for the PC and is currently accepting beta signups. You can check out its reveal trailer after the jump! Continue reading Nether gives unique twist to post-apocalyptic survival Nether gives unique twist to post-apocalyptic survival originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: PC Gamer

Final Fantasy brings version 1.0 characters into beta Posted: 15 Aug 2013 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, Final Fantasy XIV, Subscription Returning players who log into Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn beta phase four will be given the option to import their version 1.0 characters for the first time since the game went offline in November 2012. The Lodestone reports that players will not only see their old characters once more, but also any items that they had on them at the time of the apocalypse. Players will have a one-time opportunity to alter that character's look, gender, race, and name, and these changes will carry over to live. Square-Enix is also handing out the legacy chocobo whistles with phase 4 for those that earned them through the legacy campaign. This will add a special mount to your character's stable. And if you've never played an MMO before and need a beginner's guide to partying up for dungeon runs, check out the following video (protip: Tell everyone you're a noob!). Continue reading Final Fantasy brings version 1.0 characters into beta Final Fantasy brings version 1.0 characters into beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Lodestone

Black Gold Online's payment model will make your head hurt Posted: 15 Aug 2013 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business Models, Free-to-Play, Black Gold Black Gold Online's payment model might well be one of the most convoluted and bizarre plans ever instituted in an MMO -- and it's coming soon to the North American continent. Identical to the model that's being used in China, Black Gold's NA payment plan alleges to bypass subscriptions and cash shops entirely. How? Well, it's not explained very well, but that could just be because this monetization model was obviously crafted by a lawyer who hates gamers. The gist of it is that you won't be getting your good loot when you play; instead, your loot will go into a "save file" for optional cash purchase later on. The system holds back rare materials and premium equipment, giving you the chance to purchase the past one, two, four, or six hours of accumulated goods. You can also gamble to try to lower the cost of the purchased save. Snail Games Founder Shi Hai thinks this plan is just peachy: "We're focusing on giving our players choices when it comes to their gameplay experiences -- they decide what premium items to pay for and whether a play session is worth saving." [Thanks to Paul for the tip!] Black Gold Online's payment model will make your head hurt originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: A new system awaits

NCsoft looking ahead to Lineage Eternal beta, WildStar launch Posted: 15 Aug 2013 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Lineage, Lineage 2, MMO Industry, WildStar A couple of additional tidbits came out of this week's NCsoft earnings call that are relevant to fans of Lineage and WildStar. The studio said that it is preparing to roll out the beta schedule of Lineage Eternal, the third title in the series, by the end of this year. Lineage Eternal was announced in 2011, but we've heard precious little about the game since. The publisher also said that it's taking a close look at the performance of WildStar's closed beta testing and will use testing results to shape its plans for the launch. Previously, Carbine Studios said that it's aiming for a 2013 launch window for the title if all went well in the beta. NCsoft looking ahead to Lineage Eternal beta, WildStar launch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: 2P Via: Reddit

World of Warcraft's 5.4 trailer features Orc on Panda violence, boats Posted: 15 Aug 2013 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Patches, News Items, PvE, MMORPG It's been a long road for the Alliance and Horde, the perennially at-war factions that fuel much of World of Warcraft's lore (and PvP). Over the last few years, players waved the Alliance or Horde banner as they conquered old gods, dispatched massive dragons, toppled titans, and even crushed a walking constellation. But perhaps none of those battles will compare to the final showdown with the power-thirsty madmanorc Garrosh Hellscream, who seems to have angered pretty much everyone on both sides of the fence with his latest plans for world domination. Mists of Pandaria's patch 5.4, titled Siege of Ogrimmar, is almost here. With it comes new content, flexible raiding, a solo pet battle scenario, proving grounds, and one more raid to clear featuring the final showdown between Hellscream and those who would challenge him. Blizzard marked the approaching cataclysm (get it!?) with an all-new trailer, which you can watch after the break. Continue reading World of Warcraft's 5.4 trailer features Orc on Panda violence, boats World of Warcraft's 5.4 trailer features Orc on Panda violence, boats originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: World of Warcraft Blog Via: WoW Insider

Rockstar reveals Grand Theft Auto Online Posted: 15 Aug 2013 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Real-Life, Trailers, Video, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Consoles, Sandbox, MMORPG Rockstar Games today lifted the curtain on Grand Theft Auto Online, showing off the new title via a lengthy announcement trailer. GTA Online appears to be more than just a simple multiplayer iteration of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, and features player housing, a persistent world, and player-generated content. The game shares game elements and geography with Grand Theft Auto V and supports up to 16 players co-habitating in their own little online world. Players will be able to purchase and customize vehicles, own property, shape their appearance, and work their way through the criminal underworld, in addition to participating all the random acts of chaos the series has offered since its inception. In Grand Theft Auto Online, players have the freedom to explore alone or with friends, work cooperatively to complete missions, band together to participate in activities and ambient events, or compete in traditional game modes with the entire community, all with the personality and refined mechanics of Grand Theft Auto 5. Purchasers of Grand Theft Auto V will receive access to GTA Online when it launches October 1st on PS3 and Xbox 360 (and not PC). It is unclear whether the game will be available as a standalone product; we have reached out to Rockstar for clarification. Check out the reveal trailer after the break. Continue reading Rockstar reveals Grand Theft Auto Online Rockstar reveals Grand Theft Auto Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Perfect Ten: Literal kill 10 rats quests Posted: 15 Aug 2013 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Asheron's Call, EverQuest II, Fallen Earth, Lord of the Rings Online, Star Wars Galaxies, RuneScape, Humor, Runes of Magic, RIFT, Allods Online, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous Webster's Dictionary describes "kill 10 rats" as "something nerds do, now shut up and read a few intelligent words." I think the editors are getting a little lazy there at Webster's, but that's nothing compared to the OED crowd that routinely slips in paragraphs of cut-and-pasted Hunger Games fan fiction just to pad the volumes. Anyway, we all know that "kill 10 rats" is a derogatory term for those quests that make you slaughter a certain number of things to make life happier for the quest giver. Why that quest giver has a very specific number in mind has always fascinated me, but never mind. It stems from a long-standing RPG tradition by which lowbie characters typically start their career by doing a little rodent culling in the basement of a tavern. That's how all great people got their start, Abraham Lincoln included. With "kill 10 rats" already being a trope, developers have this habit of trying to be coy and meta by actually putting quests in their MMOs where you, yup, kill 10 rats. I get the feeling that they think they're doing something clever and cheeky, even though practically all of their competitors have done the same. So here we go: ten literal "kill 10 rats" quests that you can find in your games today. Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Literal kill 10 rats quests The Perfect Ten: Literal kill 10 rats quests originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Trion Worlds to close EU branch Posted: 15 Aug 2013 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: MMO Industry, RIFT, Miscellaneous, Defiance Only a week after acknowledging the closure of its San Diego office, Trion Worlds has announced in a statement that it will be closing down another office. Trion Europe in Guildford, UK, will be cutting 10 jobs in the process, including branch boss John Burns and communications boss Jon Goddard. "European localized versions of Trion's live and upcoming games will not be affected as all regional game development and support continues from Redwood City, CA," said the statement. Trion Worlds to close EU branch originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Aug 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: MVUK

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