MMO Updates

MMO Updates

The Think Tank: What components make up your ideal MMO?

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST

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Guild Wars 2
We received a reader tip last week from Aislinn asking us what our ideal MMO components would be. She wrote, "Seeing your picks for Best of 2013, reading your opinions especially on subscription models, and reading the comments of those replying in the article, I wonder: What are the staff's opinions on what makes an ideal MMORPG? With sub? No sub? Buy-to-play with cash shop? I'm curious now what you guys think is an ideal MMORPG."

Well, Aislinn, that's a good question. We've covered similar topics before, even dedicating a column to it for a while (until we ran out of ways to stretch Star Wars Galaxies to a thousand words), but it's a good topic to frequently revisit. So I asked the team members to give me their ideal MMO components, and a few of them went to town.

Continue reading The Think Tank: What components make up your ideal MMO?

MassivelyThe Think Tank: What components make up your ideal MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    New F2P sandbox Fantasy Realm Online invites everyone in to play

    Posted: 02 Jan 2014 08:30 AM PST

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    Fans hunkering for a free-to-play sandbox game that's reminiscent of Ultima Online have a new place to hang their hats and crafting tools: Fantasy Realm Online. The new game just opened its doors to the public, and players can adventure through the world and collect treasures while dispatching mighty foes or explore as a merchant and apprentice under a shopkeeper, harvest, and craft. Fantasy Realm Online is a blend of single-player RPGs and MMO and is designed to be played either solo or with others. Want to get a glimpse of the action? Check out the trailer below. Then if the game is your cup of tea, head on over to the official site to download and jump in.

    [Source: Fantasy Realm Online press release]

    Continue reading New F2P sandbox Fantasy Realm Online invites everyone in to play

    MassivelyNew F2P sandbox Fantasy Realm Online invites everyone in to play originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jan 2014 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Perfect Ten: New MMOs to watch in 2014

      Posted: 02 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST

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      perfect ten
      Out with the old desk calendars that you didn't use past February 2013 and in with the new, I always say! It's a brand-new year, and while we don't know all of the twists and turns that we'll travel in MMO news in 2014, I dare say it promises to be a fascinating ride.

      Last January I gave my list of 10 new MMOs to watch for that year, and I'm a sucker for traditions. With 2014 a mostly blank slate right now, I want to lay out the up-and-coming class of games that at least have a shot at releasing by December. There are the big names, of course, but several other titles that could be sleeper hits if all goes right. Which will succeed, which will flop, and which won't even get out of the door? I don't claim to know all, but I know all, so here are my prognostications for 2014!

      Continue reading Perfect Ten: New MMOs to watch in 2014

      MassivelyPerfect Ten: New MMOs to watch in 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jan 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        Field Journal: Floundering in Neverwinter's Foundry

        Posted: 02 Jan 2014 07:00 AM PST

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        It's surprisingly fiddly to have objects lie perfectly flush with the floor.
        Given that I'm a roleplayer, you might think that I find Neverwinter's Foundry an amazing expressive tool that I relish wholeheartedly. To that I respond with a resounding sort of! I love that it exists and seeing all the neat, even mind-blowing creations of others. Actually using it to make something of my own, though? That's pretty daunting, and I'm not talking about the interface.

        I am a very creative person, but there are many kinds of creativity. I've long since given up trying to be the game master in tabletop games given how painful it is for me to prepare and how I bring so much more to the table as a player. I'm the expressive sort, coming up with great ideas on the fly that make things more fun for everyone, drawing everyone's characters, that sort of thing. I'm not the constructive sort, so I have a hard time building worlds compared to inhabiting them. That might be why I had to stick a cameo from my own Trickster Rogue in the quest I designed.

        Continue reading Field Journal: Floundering in Neverwinter's Foundry

        MassivelyField Journal: Floundering in Neverwinter's Foundry originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jan 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Black Desert shows off new features for its second beta test

          Posted: 02 Jan 2014 06:00 AM PST

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          Oh, wow, this is a sweet weapon. Let's put it on a cart and hunt squirrels with it.
          The testing process for Black Desert continues apace in South Korea, and the process of staring at the monitor and speculating continues apace for Black Desert fans who are not actually in South Korea. Luckily, there's a translation available of the game's latest development blog which shows off the new features available in the game's second closed beta test. We've heard about a new region, and now we know about some of the new monsters being introduced as well as a new town.

          The town is a coastal fishing city known as Eferia, offering players plenty of saltwater fishing opportunities as well as the other services you'd expect from a seaside fishing town. Players will also be facing off against new monsters including what appears to be a dinosaur, a harpy, and... well, that third one isn't exactly clear. Still, it's more new stuff for players to look forward to when the second test goes live.

          [Thanks to levakd for the tip!]

          MassivelyBlack Desert shows off new features for its second beta test originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jan 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Daily Grind: Do you gather your own crafting materials?

          Posted: 02 Jan 2014 05:00 AM PST

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          Lord of the Rings Online - Gathering black ash
          I've been doing a bunch of gathering in Lord of the Rings Online lately. I'm trying to raise a couple of my crafting professions, see, and the auction house prices for the necessary materials are -- in a word -- ridiculous.

          Not only that, but LotRO's gathering is a low-stress activity that I've always enjoyed, since it requires traveling throughout Turbine's ever-expanding version of Middle-earth and it's a great excuse to see the sights and snap a bunch of screenshots. Gathering's probably not for everyone, though. What about you? Assuming you craft in your MMO of choice, do you gather your own mats or do you acquire them some other way?

          Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

          MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you gather your own crafting materials? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Jan 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Stream Team: Ring in the new year with SWTOR raids

            Posted: 01 Jan 2014 06:00 PM PST

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            The Stream Team: Ring in the new year with SWTOR raids
            What better way is there to ring in the new year than to raid with your guild? It's a way to recommit to your friends and to rededicate yourself to your favorite game. Join Massively's Larry Everett and his guild Nefarious Intent at 9:00 p.m. EST as they jump into the new year full-swing while livestreaming some Star Wars: The Old Republic operations.

            Game: Star Wars: The Old Republic
            Host: Larry Everett
            Date: Wednesday, January 1st, 2013
            Time: 9:00 p.m. EST

            Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

            Continue reading The Stream Team: Ring in the new year with SWTOR raids

            MassivelyThe Stream Team: Ring in the new year with SWTOR raids originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jan 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              The Stream Team: Causing chaos in World of Tanks

              Posted: 01 Jan 2014 04:00 PM PST

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              World of Tanks
              Wargaming.net recently pushed live World of Tanks update 8.1, which included new maps and new tanks for folks who enjoy heavy machinery. Massively's Mike Foster is no stranger to this heavy-armor universe, and he plans to leap into the new content headlong with his artillery canons blazing. Tune in to find out whether Mike will earn glory among the cherry blossoms or is doomed for the scrap pile. The action starts at 7:00 p.m. EST.

              Game: World of Tanks
              Host: Mike Foster
              Date: Wednesday, January 1st, 2014
              Time: 7:00 p.m. EST

              Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

              Continue reading The Stream Team: Causing chaos in World of Tanks

              MassivelyThe Stream Team: Causing chaos in World of Tanks originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jan 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                Hackers harass League of Legends livestreamer with DDoS attacks and police calls

                Posted: 01 Jan 2014 03:00 PM PST

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                A vendetta against a livestreamer has caused real-world havoc. A user or group identifying itself as DERP has targeted a popular Twitch streamer, calling the police on him and performing DDoS attacks against the games he was playing on December 30th.

                The streamer's name is James Varga, and according to reports, the games he was broadcasting were shut down by hackers performing distributed denial of service attacks. These games included League of Legends, Dota 2, and those through Battle.net. Varga continued to communicate with DERP during this time, and either DERP or a third party escalated matters by calling 911 and claiming that Varga was holding hostages in his home. Varga was then briefly detained while the police searched his home, but he was released without charges.

                This is similar to an incident earlier last month when a World of Warcraft livestreamer was arrested after someone called the police on him to interrupt his stream.

                MassivelyHackers harass League of Legends livestreamer with DDoS attacks and police calls originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jan 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Art of Wushu: Tricks of the royal chains

                Posted: 01 Jan 2014 01:00 PM PST

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                Soul Chasing Claw is one of the most common and hated styles in Age of Wushu, and last week we went over many ways to counter it. However, on the flip side there are a lot of options for trickery. Like most ranged styles, Soul Chasing Claw is devastating as a switch to a melee style. Its main weaknesses are well-known, so cunning is needed against a skilled enemy.

                Fortunately, it has a lot of advantages. The chain pull is near-instantaneous, so you only need the right opening. It's technically possible to pull people out of the startup of moves like Submerge the Lotus, though it's kind of difficult in practice since the pull has a minimum range. It's a powerful tool, and we'll discuss a lot about getting the most out of it today.

                Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Tricks of the royal chains

                MassivelyThe Art of Wushu: Tricks of the royal chains originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Choose My Adventure: Allods Online's compelling crafting

                  Posted: 01 Jan 2014 11:00 AM PST

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                  Allods Online
                  While it may seem longer due to holidays with family and other time-crunching stresses, it has been just one short week since our last jaunt into the community-chosen Allods Online. In that first glance, we created a brand-new Arisen character, gave him a few magical abilities, and set off on a course for action and adventure. Quests were completed, loot was packed up, and enemies were destroyed.

                  This week, based on the results of last week's Choose My Adventure polls, we slowed things down. The community elected to stop and smell the roses and to pick up a crafting profession along the way. Taking a moment to observe details in Allods Online's character and environment design helps emphasize the title's unique and attractive aesthetic, which isn't much of a surprise. But our baby steps into the title's leatherworking profession unveiled an engaging and nuanced crafting system that's sure to deliver big payoffs down the line.

                  Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Allods Online's compelling crafting

                  MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Allods Online's compelling crafting originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Path of Exile boasts 3.7 million registrations, prepares for patch next week

                    Posted: 01 Jan 2014 10:00 AM PST

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                    path of exile
                    Path of Exile's team is celebrating a gangbuster 2013, but has plans for an even better 2014 starting with a new patch next week.

                    A forum post from the devs lists all of the accomplishments from 2013, starting with the fact that the game went from closed beta to launch during that time frame. Other significant numbers include 87 patches, 35 new team members, a peak of 70,000 concurrent players, and 3.7 million registered players.

                    Patch 1.0.5 is scheduled for Thursday, January 9th, and will add an Enlighten support gem, new cosmetic microtransactions, more vendor recipes, unique items, and achievements. The team said that 1.0.6 will be "even larger" when it hits.

                    MassivelyPath of Exile boasts 3.7 million registrations, prepares for patch next week originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Jan 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Posted by Shri Krishna

                    MMORPG News

                    MMORPG News

                    EverQuest Next: Landmark: The Decision

                    Posted: 30 Dec 2013 04:25 PM PST

                    The Decision

                    The decision as to whether or not to buy a Founder's Pack for any game, EverQuest Next: Landmark included, is a big one. Which package? What price? How much can I afford? In today's EQN:L column, we take a look at one man's struggle with THE DECISION. Read on before posting your own thoughts in the comments.
                    Posted by Shri Krishna

                    MMOGaming News

                    MMOGaming News

                    Nanbo's RIFT Experience Levels 55 - 60

                    Posted:

                    Nanbo's RIFT Experience Levels 55 - 60


                    Hello and welcome to the final blog entry on my RIFT experience. I have hit 60, current end game cap, and that means this is my final review of the game at this point.

                    Secret World: Ep.9 "Getting The Shaft"

                    Posted:

                    Secret World: Ep.9


                    This part of the story makes no sense but meh. Finally heading to the desert lands after much drama. Let's see what happens when I get out there.

                    Black Desert: Second CBT New Screenshots

                    Posted:

                    Black Desert: Second CBT New Screenshots


                    Black Desert has posted some Screenshots on its official site to show us a fishing village, some new monsters(page 2), a few environment screens and a new siege weapon.

                    A Brief Look at Yulgang 2

                    Posted:

                    A Brief Look at Yulgang 2


                    My main aim was only to experience first hand the artistic direction of the game, the graphics quality and basic gameplay.

                    Continue reading A Brief Look at Yulgang 2.

                    Force Master Basic Mechanics Explored

                    Posted:

                    Force Master Basic Mechanics Explored


                    Here are some interesting findings about Force Master mechanics extracted from the thread. these are information that are not stated anywhere in game.

                    Posted by Shri Krishna


                    General Gaming Article

                    General Gaming Article

                    Google Grants Music All Access Subscribers VIP Access to Glass Explorer Program

                    Posted: 01 Jan 2014 11:43 AM PST

                    Google GlassGoogle Music All Access subscribers have a chance to shake their Glass

                    If you're a member of Google's Music All Access subscription streaming service, keep your eyes open for an email from the sultan of search inviting you to participate in the Glass Explorer program. Google hasn't made an official announcement, though some Music All Access subscribers report receiving VIP invitations to be part of what's so far been an exclusive club only open to developers.

                    "With the launch of Google Play Music on Google Glass, we've secured VIP invitations for All Access customers to join the Glass Explorer Program," the emailed invitations read. "Interested in rocking out while exploring with Glass? Sign up to receive your invitation below!"

                    Didn't receive an invite? You can try your luck by heading over to the sign up page, which indicates that this is open for a limited time. To be eligible, you must be a U.S. resident, be 18 years or older, purchase Glass, and provide a U.S. shipping address or pick up Glass at one of Google's locations in New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco.

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                    District Judge Rules in Favor of Warrantless Border Searchers

                    Posted: 01 Jan 2014 08:26 AM PST

                    Border PatrolHeads up, travelers

                    Today marks the first day of a brand new year, but if you have plans of traveling abroad, be advised that the same old laws apply. That includes the government's right to search and seize your electronic devices without a warrant. The controversial law comes up in headlines every once in a while, and is again making the rounds after a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the policy.

                    According to a report in The New York Times, Judge Edward R. Korman of the Federal District Court of the Eastern District of New York ruled that plaintiffs lacked legal backing for their lawsuit because border searches happen so rarely that "there is not a substantial risk that their electronic devices will be subject to a search or seizure without reasonable suspicion."

                    It doesn't stop there. Judge Korman said that if even the plaintiffs did have legal standing for their lawsuit, they'd still lose because the U.S. government does not need reasonable suspicion to search or confiscate a traveler's mobile phone, notebook, or any other device at the border.

                    "There's no silver lining to this decision," Catherine Crump, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union representing the plaintiffs, said in a statement. "It's not just that we lost the case, it's that the judge decided against us on multiple alternative grounds."

                    Pascal Abidor, a graduate student in Islamic studies, first filed the lawsuit back in 2010 after U.S. border agents escorted him in handcuffs off an Amtrak train crossing from Canada to New York. He was held in a cell and questioned for several hours, and his laptop detained for 11 days.

                    Image Credit: Flickr (CBP Photography)

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                    Newegg Daily Deals: MSI N760 Hawk GeForce GTX 760 Graphics Card, Intel Core i5 3350P, and More!

                    Posted: 01 Jan 2014 06:24 AM PST

                    MSI N760 Hawk GeForce GTX 760 Graphics Cardnewegg logo

                    Top Deal:

                    Once the New Year hangover wears off, it will be time to kick off 2014 in style. How do you plan to ring in the New Year? If your New Year's resolution is to play more games on your PC, then you know what you need to do -- go shopping for a graphics card! You can start by looking at today's top deal for an MSI N760 Hawk GeForce GTX 760 Video Card for $270 with free shipping (normally $290; additional $20 mail-in-rebate). This thing is rocking two separate BIOS chips (the LN2 BIOS completely unlocks the card), an advanced thermal design, and for a limited time, it comes with two free games (be sure to add the Nvidia Gift Holiday bundle to your cart).

                    Other Deals:

                    WD AV-GP WD30EURX 3TB IntelliPower 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5-inch Internal Hard Drive for $120 with free shipping (normally $140; use coupon code: [EMCWVTW226])

                    G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 2133 (PC3 17000) Desktop Memory Model F3-2133C10D-8GXM for $75 with free shipping (normally $83; use coupon code: [EMCWVTW77])

                    Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition (VN10006W2N) White and Black SECC / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case for $195 with free shipping (normally $210; use coupon code: [EMCWVTW73]; additional $30 Mail-in rebate)

                    MSI N760 Hawk GeForce GTX 760 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card for $270 with free shipping (normally $290; additional $20 Mail-in rebate)
                    Posted by Shri Krishna
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