General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


CES 2014: Gigabyte Suite Tour [Video]

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 11:57 AM PST

Gigabyte BrixGigabyte brings a bunch of Brix to CES

Rodney Dangerfield was a famous comedian who often lamented he got no respect. What does that have to do with technology? Well, you could consider integrated graphics the Rodney Dangerfield of technology. Integrated graphics have historically been laughably weak for any kind of real gaming, up until Intel announced Iris Pro. You can find Iris Pro graphics in Gigabyte's new Brix Pro system, which we captured on video at CES.

As Gordon notes in the video, we reviewed the Brix Pro for a future issue of the magazine. While we can't reveal the verdict just yet, we can say that the system is fast. In the video below, you can see the Brix Pro running Battlefield 4 rather smoothly, which is pretty impressive for a system this small.

Gigabyte also brought to CES a Brix NAS box. Unlike most NAS boxes, the Brix is small enough to hold in your hand. It's also running a version of Android powered by a Haswell processor. Here it is:

Moving right along, Gordon caught on camera a bunch of different Brix systems, including a Celeron powered system based on Intel's Bay Trail architecture. Among the crop of Brix systems were a few ARM-powered boxes desgined to run Android.

Lastly, Gigabyte had on display the GA-Z87X-UD7TH motherboard. What sets this board apart are two Thunderbolt 2 compliant ports. Take a look:

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CES 2014: MSI Suite Tour [Video]

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 11:35 AM PST

MSI MotherboardsA look MSI's upcoming Intel and AMD motherboards

MSI is in a tight race with ASRock to become the third largest motherboard maker behind heavyweights Asus and Gigabyte. ASRock took a slight lead in 2013, but looking ahead, MSI is expected to leapfrog into the No. 3 spot with 8 million motherboard shipments. Either way, system builders will have plenty of MSI motherboards to sift through in 2014, several of which we had a chance to glimpse at CES.

Gordon captured on video several Intel motherboards aimed at gamers. Included in the lineup of upcoming mobos is a mini-ITX board with a ton of SATA ports and running the Z87 chipset. Smaller size boards are fast becoming popular, especially with Steam Machines gaining momentum. Here's a closer look:

Prefer AMD? Don't worry, MSI has you covered. Like the Intel lineup, MSI is readying AMD boards of varying size and feature-sets, including a mini-ITX version of an FM2 board. More here:

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CES 2014: Asus Suite Tour [Video]

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 11:15 AM PST

Asus SATA ExpressGordon takes you through Asus' product lineup

Asus came to CES locked and loaded with some big time product announcements, among them a 28-inch 4K Ultra HD monitor for $800 and a 27-inch G-Sync monitor, also for $800 (check out our video coverage if you haven't already). The company could have stopped there and called its visit to CES a success, but it didn't. Asus brought some other products to the show, which Gordon will walk you through in a few videos.

Kicking off the tour is a look at a prototype motherboard, the Z87 Deluxe SATA Express. The board features two SATA Express ports, each one consisting of two SATA 6Gbps ports and a PCI-E connector. SATA Express devices use a cable that occupies all three ports to achieve faster speeds than a single SATA 6Gbps port alone can provide. Have a look:

Asus also showed off its ROG Front Base. It's a front panel device with a 4-inch LCD and various ports. It works with the latest ROG motherboards and allows you to overclock and monitor vitals. There's also a boss button that tosses your out of any game you're playing (or app) and into the desktop. More here:

Finally, we take a look at a brand new M70 desktop PC for mainstream users. One cool thing about this system is that it has an intergrated UPS to keep you up and running in the event of a power outage. Here it is:

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CES 2014: Digital Storm Unveils Bolt II, World's First Liquid Cooled Steam Machine [Video]

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 10:38 AM PST

Digital Storm Bolt IIGordon gets up close and personal with the Bolt II

Digital Storm's original Bolt introduced gamers to a console-like box filled with PC hardware. It was essentially a Steam Machine before such a thing existed, minus Valve's Steam OS. This time around, Digital Storm's Bolt II is a bona fide Steam Machine that once again comes in a small form factor (SFF) chassis, only now it runs both Windows and Steam OS, and is liquid cooled to boot.

According to Digital Storm, no other Steam Machine uses liquid cooling. The Bolt II keeps things cool with a "best-in-class" 240mm radiator, large perforated ventilation areas over the graphics card, a top panel that transfers excess heat out of the system while pulling cold air in, and an "expertly engineered airflow design."

Digital Storm isn't yet sharing specific configuration details, though the boutique builder made it clear that its system won't cost the same as an Xbox One or PlayStation 4.

"We are not looking to compete with console pricing," said Rajeev Kuruppu, Digital Storm's Director of Product Development. "We're taking aim at the high end of the market, targeting consumers that demand the best possible gaming experience and who are looking for a PC capable of playing any title on their new 4K display."

That said, the Bolt II will be available later this month starting at $1,899.

Update

After we ran this story, Gordon had a chance to visit with Digital Storm and see the new Bolt II system in person. As Gordon notes in the video below, the second iteration is a little wider and taller than the original so that it can now accommodate water cooling. Have a look at Gordon dives inside the Bolt II:

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CES 2014: Cooler Master Shows Off HAF Stacker Case and Mechanical Keyboards [Video]

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST

Cooler Master HAF StackerJimmy Thang tours Cooler Master's booth

Case and PC peripheral maker Cooler Master has been kicking out some nifty gear the past few months, including the HAF Stacker. Cooler Master made sure to bring its modular case design to CES where Maximum PC Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang had a chance to check it out up close and on camera. In addition, Cooler Master also demonstrated a few brand new cases and some sweet new mechanical keyboards with unique transitional lighting effects.

Cooler Master already unveiled the HAF Stacker, but going forward, the company plans to flesh out the ecosystem with new options and accessories such as a side window, optical drive adapter, and more storage options. Shown in the video below is the new window option, which definitely adds to the aesthetic in a positive way, plus the new cases Cooler Master has on tap for 2014. Check it out:

We're big fans of mechanical keyboards, and Cooler Master had a few on display at CES. Cooler Master showed off some neat lighting effects, including one in which the keys illuminate as you press them. It almost looks like your fingers are literally sparking the keyboard. Have a look:

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CES 2014: A Tour of MSI's Gaming Laptops, Steel Series Engine, and All-in-One PCs [Video]

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 07:59 AM PST

MSI LaptopA look at MSI's upcoming mobile and AIO products

The hustle and bustle of CES can be overwhelming at times, but that didn't stop Maximum PC Online Managing Editor Jimmy Thang from dashing down the strip to where MSI is holed up for the week. Once inside MSI's hotel room, Thang flipped the switch on his video camera while reps talked about a number of products, including a next-generation GE Series gaming laptop.

Like the last generation laptop, this new build comes with a Steel Series backlit keyboard, only now it's not limited to a single color; it now uses a full color backlit keyboard. There's also a deeper level of customization, which allows you to change the color, program each individual key, and more. Have a look:

Along with upgraded hardware specs, MSI's next-generation laptops will also feature an updated Steel Series Engine keyboard software. What this does is make it easy for users to create macros. Every key is fair game, whether you're creating quick launch commands or several keystrokes rolled into one. Check it out:

Finally, MSI offered up a glimpse of its all-in-one gaming system. As currently configured (and currently available to purchase), MSI's gaming-centric AIO runs on a Core i7 processor and Radeon 8970M GPU. It has a 10-point touchscreen that's flicker-free to reduce eyestrain. While it's great for touch-oriented games, MSI says it's capable of running titles like Battlefield 4.

MSI will release another model later this year, the AG240. It's a 24-inch AIO with secretive hardware -- "next gen processor, next gen GPU." MSI says it will come out around the end of Q1 or beginning of Q2.

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Gigabyte Kicks Off Aorus Brand with Thin SLI Gaming Laptop [Video]

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 06:53 AM PST

Aorus X7

Gordon check out the Aorus X7

Gigabyte's over-the-top marketing for its newly created Aorus brand is a bit cringe worthy at times (check out the Aorus "About Us" page), but it's introductory X7 laptop is a different story. After you wade through the marketing hype, what you'll find is a slim and light SLI gaming laptop with two Nvidia GeForce GTX 765M GPUs inside. According to Aorus, it's the thinnest and lightest GTX SLI laptop in the world.

The X7 is just 0.9-inches thick and weighs 6.39 pounds. That's a bit heavier than your typical ultrabook. but quite a bit lighter than your average desktop replacement laptop. Aorus claims it's a third of the height and two-thirds the weight of any available top-tier gaming laptop with a single GTX 780M.

Cooling chores are handled by a full aluminum chassis with four vents, five thermal pipes, and two fans. Other features include a 17.3-inch Full HD display, up to 32GB of DDR3L-1600 memory (four slots), 4th Generation Intel Core i7 4700HQ processor, two mSATA slots (128GB and 256GB SSD options) and a single 2.5-inch slot (500GB, 750GB, and 1TB HDD options), backlit keyboard, three USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, D-Sub, mini DisplayPort, SD card reader, mic and headphone ports, built-in 2W speakers, 1.3MP webcam, Killer LAN chip, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and choice between Windows 7 Home Premium, Windows 7 Professional, Windows 8.1, and Windows 8.1 Pro.

The Aorus X7 will be available by March with prices ranging from $2,099 to $2,799.

Update

Maximum PC Deputy Editor Gordon Mah Ung had a chance to explore the Aorus X7 in person. Here's a look at this skinny laptop running Nvidia Surround:

This is a pretty sweet looking laptop with a glass touchpad and dedicated macro keys, which you can see in the following video on the left-hand side of the keyboard.

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Newegg Daily Deals: Intel Core i7 4770 Haswell, Adata XPG SX900 256GB SSD, and More!

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 05:51 AM PST

Intel Core i7 4770newegg logo

Top Deal:

There's always a buzz in air around CES, and unless you're not human, you can't help but excited about all the new product announcements and technology reveals. Has all the CES coverage inspired you to build a new system? If you need a place to start, look at today's top deal for an Intel Core i7 4770 Haswell Processor for $295 with free shipping (normally $310 -- use coupon code: [EMCXWXN26]). This potent 22nm part races along at 3.4GHz and has 8MB of L3 cache.

Other Deals:

Adata XPG SX900 256GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) for $145 with free shipping (normally $150 - use coupon code: [EMCXWXN27])

Asus GeForce GTX 660 2GB Video Card for $180 with free shipping (normally $200 - use coupon code: [EMCXWXN34]; additional $20 Mail-in rebate)

Asus Maximus VI Hero LGA 1150 Intel Z87 Motherboard for $190 with free shipping (normally $200 - use coupon code: [EMCXWXN35])

Acer S231HLBbid Black 23-inch 5ms HDMI Monitor for $130 with free shipping (normally $140 - use coupon code: [EMCXWXN45])

MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Choose My Adventure: Deep in the dungeons of Allods Online

Posted: 08 Jan 2014 10:00 AM PST

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Allods Online
Last week, I presented Choose My Adventure voters with one simple choice: Where, exactly, should we go next in Allods Online? The community responded by sending my low-level Psionicist directly into what many consider to be a core component of the modern fantasy MMO, the instanced dungeon. Understanding how a game approaches bosses, loot, grouping, and raiding is key in understanding that game's design philosophy, so it makes sense to dip a toe or two into the instanced content Allods has to offer.

Assuming, of course, that I can find a group.

Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Deep in the dungeons of Allods Online

MassivelyChoose My Adventure: Deep in the dungeons of Allods Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jan 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    MMO Mechanics: Lowering the barriers to entry

    Posted: 08 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST

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    MMO Mechanics title image
    In the increasingly competitive MMO genre, games have to do all they can to keep you as a customer. MMOs have traditionally been quite difficult games to really get into since they typically require a considerable time and money investment and we tend to play them for stretches of several months to years at a time. The gameplay in MMOs is inherently social by nature, forcing you to relate to others, and there are some even more fundamental barriers that get in the way of new players signing up. I'm sure we've all enthused and rambled to our friends in the hope that they might check out our most recent gaming crush, only to see a repulsed look on their faces when they realise it's an MMO.

    The classic subscription model is a substantial paywall for the average gamer, and this is what has traditionally kept MMOs niche. The early game can be daunting to those who aren't familiar with the genre, and developers pour a lot of effort into easing newcomers into that gameplay. In this week's MMO Mechanics, I'm going to look at how some MMOs manage to break down these barriers through the use of clever mechanics in order to open up MMO gaming to more people than ever before.

    Continue reading MMO Mechanics: Lowering the barriers to entry

    MassivelyMMO Mechanics: Lowering the barriers to entry originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Infinite Crisis adds Atomic Poison Ivy

      Posted: 08 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST

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      A new villain has joined the Infinite Crisis lineup, and she uses her nuclear-imbued powers to protect friends and entrap her enemies. Atomic Poison Ivy, created when a nuclear fallout withered and mutated her world's plant life as well as transformed her into a human/plant hybrid, is none-too-happy with humanity for causing the destruction. Her skills, Poisoned Earth, Bramble Rapture, and Wall of Thorns, deal power damage. Atomic Poison Ivy's passive, Toxic Growth, marks opponents for additional damage and her ultimate, Secrets of the Forest, provides an AoE stealth and power armor buff for allies. Check out all these skills in action and get a few tips and tricks for playing Atomic Poison Ivy in the video below.

      [Source: Turbine press release]

      Continue reading Infinite Crisis adds Atomic Poison Ivy

      MassivelyInfinite Crisis adds Atomic Poison Ivy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jan 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Secret World's December Game Director letter talks Filth, Tokyo, and beyond

        Posted: 08 Jan 2014 07:30 AM PST

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        With the holidays (and holiday events) over, eyes have turned back to the update that all Secret World fans are looking forward to: Tokyo. And December's Game Director letter assures that Issue #9 will be released within the the first quarter, so players will step into Tokyo before the end of March. Penned by Lead Designer Romain Amiel, the letter also shares that Issue #10 will introduce a new lair and Issue #11 will have a new raid.

        But before all that can happen, however, the Filth must be eradicated from Agartha. Amiel offers an update on The Whispering Tide event, and players may be happy to hear that the end is near; the final phase, featuring the 60-man indoor world-boss-style fight against Flappy, will commence as soon as the current gate is cleansed.

        Additionally, the team is working on a way to let players stream music directly through the game and player-designed outfits will be available soon.

        [Thanks to all who sent in tips.]

        MassivelyThe Secret World's December Game Director letter talks Filth, Tokyo, and beyond originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jan 2014 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        The Stream Team: Skulking around in the WildStar beta [Updated]

        Posted: 08 Jan 2014 07:00 AM PST

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        [Edit: Wildstar is down for maintenance, so Richie will be doing this stream at 12pm EST instead.]

        What has razor-sharp claws, a pair of twisting horns, and a penchant for stabbing victims in the back? It's a Draken Stalker, of course, from the upcoming MMO, WildStar. Join Massively's Richie live at 10:00 a.m. as he continues to level up his stabbing menace in the beta.

        Game: WildStar
        Host: Richie "Bog Otter" Procopio
        Date: Wednesday, January 8, 2014
        Time: 12:00 p.m. EST

        Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

        Continue reading The Stream Team: Skulking around in the WildStar beta [Updated]

        MassivelyThe Stream Team: Skulking around in the WildStar beta [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jan 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          Leaderboard: Achievements vs. titles

          Posted: 08 Jan 2014 06:00 AM PST

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          Lord of the Rings Online's Lord of Streams title
          I've never been much of an achievement fan when it comes to video games. To me, achievements are a cheap and easy way for devs to pretend like they've added content to an MMO, all the while exploiting the completist gene that seems present in a pretty high percentage of the gamer population.

          Oddly, though, I love character titles. It doesn't matter if it's a crafting title, an adventuring title, or some sort of fluffy fishing-related title like the Lord of the Rings Online honorific in the screenshot above. I typically go after every title available to a given avatar in a given game, even though more often than not the mechanics are the same sort that underlie most achievement systems!

          What about you, Massively readers? Achievements or titles? Or both? Or neither? Vote after the cut!

          Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!

          Continue reading Leaderboard: Achievements vs. titles

          MassivelyLeaderboard: Achievements vs. titles originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jan 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            The Daily Grind: What upcoming MMO do you think might be a sleeper hit?

            Posted: 08 Jan 2014 05:00 AM PST

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            While a lot of time and attention might be given to upcoming MMOs that boast huge budgets, popular intellectual properties, and big-name studios, there's always the possibility that the "little guy" might become a break-out star even while lacking all of the above.

            Looking over the list of upcoming MMOs, we see many that aren't aiming to be a blockbuster but instead are probably hoping to be a modest sleeper hit that grows not from a marketing budget but solid word of mouth. So out of all of these, which one do think has the greatest potential to be that sleeper hit?

            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: What upcoming MMO do you think might be a sleeper hit? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jan 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Jukebox Heroes: Meridian 59's soundtrack

              Posted: 07 Jan 2014 07:00 PM PST

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              Meridian 59
              There's a lot of general distaste and dislike out there for video game music that comes in MIDI or chipset form. Many gamers have simply never really experienced eras when the sound for computers and consoles were limited in such ways, so to go back to listen to them seems downright painful. For MMO players, there are only a handful of games that came out during the MIDI era, and pretty much all of them have since updated to MP3 versions.

              Yet I have a fondness for older-style game music. I agree with what Ryan Shwayder once wrote when he said, "I think MIDI composers had to become masters of capturing the real core or heart of what made a song feel right. They had to take a minimalist approach to the song because they had a limited number of channels and potential sounds to work with. And it is my belief that some of the best creative works come out when an artist has to work within constraints."

              That said, most of Meridian 59's soundtrack out there is of the remastered variety, so that's what we'll be listening to today. By the way, the original soundtrack is available on the official website for free!

              Continue reading Jukebox Heroes: Meridian 59's soundtrack

              MassivelyJukebox Heroes: Meridian 59's soundtrack originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Stream Team: Finishing Frostfell in EQII

                Posted: 07 Jan 2014 06:00 PM PST

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                It's always hard to see a holiday celebration go -- especially if you haven't finished everything up! So Massively's MJ jumps back into EverQuest II to make sure all her Frostfell activities are completed, and grinds up a few more tokens in the infamous holiday instance (Yeti suit optional). She'll also show you how to get your hands on a special housing item that's a hidden Easter egg before it disappears for another year! Join us live at 9:00 p.m. for this final Frostfell tour.

                Game: EverQuest II
                Host: MJ Guthrie
                Date: Tuesday, January 7th, 2014
                Time: 9:00 p.m. EST

                Enjoy our Steam Team video below.

                Continue reading The Stream Team: Finishing Frostfell in EQII

                MassivelyThe Stream Team: Finishing Frostfell in EQII originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  The Repopulation Greenlighted, meets first stretch goal

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 05:00 PM PST

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                  The Repopulation's Rocharus mount
                  It's a pretty good week to be a fan of sci-fi indie sandbox The Repopulation. First off, the game is currently holding down the top stop in Massively's rotating game header. As if that weren't enough, Above & Beyond Technologies has also announced that it's reached the first stretch goal of its new Kickstarter campaign. This means that the Rocharus will be available at launch and will become the game's "first tamed mount."

                  The title also made quick work of its Greenlight campaign, though how and when The Repopulation will become available on Steam is still up in the air. Click through the links below for more details as well as a preview of the next stretch goal reward.

                  MassivelyThe Repopulation Greenlighted, meets first stretch goal originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Legend of the Condor Heroes: Zero now in testing, and here's a trailer

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 04:30 PM PST

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                  Legend of the Condor Heroes: Zero
                  Today's winner of the longest-MMO-title award is Legend of the Condor Heroes: Zero.

                  Whew. OK, now that I've had a breather, let me be the first to tell you that Perfect World China's action MMO entered its initial testing phase earlier today.

                  Actually, I'm the second one to tell you, after MMO Culture, which also reports that the game has "very limited [testing] slots available." LotCH:Z is an open world fantasy title inspired by the wuxia fiction of Louis Cha, who is currently the world's best-selling Chinese-language author. Don't forget about the test phase preview trailer embedded after the break.

                  Continue reading Legend of the Condor Heroes: Zero now in testing, and here's a trailer

                  MassivelyLegend of the Condor Heroes: Zero now in testing, and here's a trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  DayZ won't be released in 2014

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 04:00 PM PST

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                  It is possible that by the time DayZ is in full release we will be fighting off an actual zombie apocalypse.
                  If all of the reminders from Bohemia Interactive weren't enough to convey the message already, DayZ is still very early in its testing process. A recent post summing up the game's third week in early access mentions that the team is not expecting to be further than beta testing by the end of 2014, stating once again that the only people who should purchase the game's early access are those who want to be a part of the development process.

                  Aside from that, the development team is looking toward future features including customizable vehicles, structures, and in-depth mechanics for hunting and cooking animals in the wild. At 875,000 copies sold, it seems that the game is carving a niche for itself among zombie survival enthusiasts even if it is still very early in its development. Take a look at the full list of planned improvements to the game in the post.

                  MassivelyDayZ won't be released in 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Eldevin making a run at Steam Greenlight

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 03:30 PM PST

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                  Eldevin
                  Browser-based MMO Eldevin, which launched at the end of November and was named by our own Beau Hindman as indie browser MMO of the year, is now entering the fray that is Steam Greenlight's open voting pool. Fans of Eldevin can vote for the game if they want to see it come to Steam; Hunted Cow aims to create a standalone Java-based version of Eldevin that will run on Valve's digital distribution platform.

                  Greenlight has proven a boon to many small studios. Since its inception, hundreds of games have been greenlit for distribution on Steam with the most recent batch landing just today. If Eldevin clears the vote threshold, it might just make it through Valve's approval process and onto Steam's digital shelves.

                  Check out the Eldevin launch trailer after the break and have a look at the game's Greenlight listing for more information.

                  Continue reading Eldevin making a run at Steam Greenlight

                  MassivelyEldevin making a run at Steam Greenlight originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Age of Conan director's letter talks achievements and PvP

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 03:00 PM PST

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                  Age of Conan
                  Age of Conan senior designer Matthew Bennett stepped in to author the game's most recent director's letter, and in doing so offered updates on AoC's long awaited achievement system as well as some valuable intel on the state of PvP items. According to Bennett, the Age of Conan team has a rough design in place for achievements that centers on broad categories like PvE, exploration, and dungeons, with sub-categories being designed for each.

                  Bennett also explained that the dev team is taking a hard look at Tier 3 PvP gear by working to re-balance stats on key items to make them more useful and up their damage output to an appropriate level. The PvP team is also working on Tier 4 PvP items. Finally, Bennett reminded players that starting in February, Portents will return to their normal cycle of starting on the first Wednesday of the month and lasting until the following Tuesday.

                  As for the big things like The Palace of Cetriss raid and Age of Conan's new tradeskill system? While not the focus of this particular letter, those key game elements are still in development.

                  MassivelyAge of Conan director's letter talks achievements and PvP originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  It's a battle of the titans in this new Black Gold Online trailer

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 02:30 PM PST

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                  Black Gold Online
                  Snail Games has just unveiled a brand-new trailer for Black Gold Online, teasing a fight between an enormous goliath and equally large behemoth and showing off behind-the-scenes clips of how the goliath was designed. According to the video description, the goliath is a creation of the engineers of Steam, built specifically to counter the Erlandir-summoned behemoth. And by "counter" we mean "punch." Check out the teaser after the break.

                  Snail describes Black Gold's universe as a "world where innovative Victorian steampunk clashes with traditional high fantasy." The game is set for launch sometime in 2014 with a closed alpha aimed at February.

                  Continue reading It's a battle of the titans in this new Black Gold Online trailer

                  MassivelyIt's a battle of the titans in this new Black Gold Online trailer originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Smedley is on a 'personal mission' to explain SOE's business decisions

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 02:00 PM PST

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                  THE SMEDSTER
                  John Smedley's been in the headlines a lot this week thanks to SOE's all-access plans and its subscription-benefits switcheroo. Now, the SOE CEO has taken to Reddit to explain the company's philosophy when it comes to monetization and game-making in general.

                  Smedley says that in the wake of this week's PR firestorm, he's "going to make it one of [his] personal missions to explain the thought process behind [SOE's] business decisions." He wrote, "I want to be able to have an honest enough dialog that I can actually tell you 'yeah this is important to our bottom line... that's why we did it'... and have you at least not question whether that's the real reason. [...] You may disagree with it, but at least you'll be able to make a reasonably informed judgment as to whether or not we're the greedy company some of you seem to think that we are, but at least you'll hear the why."

                  He says that while SOE is clearly a for-profit business, the firm's ultimate goal is to make good games first. He cites EverQuest Next Landmark as an example, saying that SOE rebooted the title three times, which led to a "massive delay [that] hurt [the studio] financially," even though it "was the right thing to do for [SOE] and for the industry."

                  MassivelySmedley is on a 'personal mission' to explain SOE's business decisions originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Rumor: Ubisoft employee says The Division's 2014 release date 'feels laughable'

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 01:30 PM PST

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                  The Division
                  Remember The Division? If not, then let us remember it for you: It's a pretty slick-looking MMOish shooter thing that Ubisoft unveiled at E3 2013. First it was console-only, then the internet cried, then Ubisoft caved and said, OK, we'll make a dedicated PC version, too.

                  Apparently development on the game isn't that far along, at least according to a source inside Ubisoft Massive. "The game engine works well, it's not done but works well. The actual game development has barely started, however," the source told GameReactor. "The fact that Ubisoft has gone public with a 2014 release date feels laughable to be perfectly honest, we will never be able to release The Division this year. It's a large project, and we have very far to go."

                  MassivelyRumor: Ubisoft employee says The Division's 2014 release date 'feels laughable' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  ZeniMax sends out more Elder Scrolls Online beta invites

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 01:00 PM PST

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                  Elder Scrolls Online
                  Curious about Elder Scrolls Online but stuck in the dark because the game is still, for some reason, blocked by a ridiculously limiting NDA despite being less than three months from launch? Today might be your lucky day. ZeniMax Online has announced that another round of Elder Scrolls Online beta keys have been sent out, so take a look at your email inbox to see if you've earned yourself a ticket into the party.

                  If you didn't get an invite, don't fret; ZeniMax will be sending out more in the near future. Don't forget to check your spam folder and Gmail's "Promotions" tab, just to be sure.

                  [Thanks to Mortis13th and Balsbigbrother for the tip!]

                  MassivelyZeniMax sends out more Elder Scrolls Online beta invites originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  New ArcheAge video previews Korean 1.0 update

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 12:30 PM PST

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                  Screenshot -- ArcheAge
                  Western (and non-Russian) ArcheAge players are still waiting on pins and needles to find out when they'll get their first taste of the much-hyped sandbox title. But meanwhile, those with access to the Korean version of the game have a good deal to look forward to in the upcoming update, which will officially bring the game to version 1.0.

                  The devs have released a nifty teaser video to give players a look at some of this upcoming content, which includes a boost of the level cap from 50 to 55, a nifty 1v1 PvP arena, and the new Library dungeon. Whether you're a Korean player looking for a preview of the new update or a Western fan hoping to get your ArcheAge fix while you wait on a release date, you can click on past the cut to check out the whole video for yourself.

                  Continue reading New ArcheAge video previews Korean 1.0 update

                  MassivelyNew ArcheAge video previews Korean 1.0 update originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Hyperspace Beacon: Star Wars: The Old Republic predictions for 2014

                  Posted: 07 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST

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                  Hyperspace Beacon: Star Wars: The Old Republic predictions for 2014
                  Knowing my luck, when I finish writing this, the marketing team for Star Wars: The Old Republic will release a huge announcement about 2014 that no one saw coming. And it wouldn't be hard for BioWare to release something unknown to the community at large because it's said next to zero about what we should expect for 2014. Normally, BioWare promotes the upcoming features to death. We knew about the Cathar coming at least a year before they actually hit the live servers. Players and fans (and enemies) of SWTOR have speculated wildly as to why the developers have remained silent on the subject, my favorite being that BioWare has run out of content to produce, which kind of reneges on the 10-year plan it touted before launch.

                  Whether or not BioWare has new content in the works, we do know a few things that will be coming, and we also have some super-secret things we can speculate on thanks to some intrepid SWTOR fans. So let's talk about what we do know, what we don't know, and what we think will happen.

                  Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Star Wars: The Old Republic predictions for 2014

                  MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Star Wars: The Old Republic predictions for 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Final Fantasy XIV opens up a free weekend for former subscribers

                    Posted: 07 Jan 2014 11:00 AM PST

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                    Log in and horse around.  Literally.  Horse around.
                    So you bought Final Fantasy XIV, and you subscribed for a while, but you stopped subscribing before the first major patch. Maybe you were tired of waiting for it, maybe you had other things to play, maybe you were hoping the game would go free-to-play by now. Whatever the case, you can pop back into the game for a weekend and play around with all of the patch's additions, assuming you can get all of that out of the way in 48 straight hours.

                    Starting on Saturday, January 11th, at 3:00 a.m. EST, former players whose accounts are inactive will be able to log in and play the game absolutely free until Monday, January 13th, at 3:00 a.m. EST. Nothing special is required to try out the patch; just log in, download, and go to town. The patch features beast tribe daily quests, new endgame dungeons, the Crystal Tower, and additional main scenario quests following the conclusion of the story.

                    MassivelyFinal Fantasy XIV opens up a free weekend for former subscribers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    SOE cancels previous subscription changes, rolls out a bigger all-access pass

                    Posted: 07 Jan 2014 10:00 AM PST

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                    We're not retreating, we're advancing in the opposite direction.
                    When Sony Online Entertainment first announced its changes to the way subscription benefits would work from February on, players weren't happy. One of our columnists explained the reasons why the changes were a bad idea in great detail. SOE listened, stepped back, and according to a post on Reddit by John Smedley, is revising the plans again to better fit player needs. The subscription reward will still be in the form of Station Cash on a monthly basis rather than a single free item worth up to 2000 SC.

                    Under the new system, subscribing to the company's all-access pass will be priced at $14.99 a month, and subscribing to any PC title makes you an all-access member automatically. You still get 500 SC every month, and you can still stockpile it as before, but you will need to claim that benefit on a monthly basis rather than see it automatically dropped into your account. For more of the fine details on children's games with subscriptions and console games, take a look at Smedley's full post.

                    MassivelySOE cancels previous subscription changes, rolls out a bigger all-access pass originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jan 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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