General Gaming Article

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• No BS Podcast #216: Katherine Departs, CES Gear Discussion, and More
• Check Out Eurocom's Armadillo, a 14-inch Multi-Touch Ultrabook
• Microsoft Reverses Course, Vows to Update MSE for Windows XP Until July 14, 2015
• Target Offering Protection Through Experian to Customers Affected by Breach
• Supreme Court Helps Newegg Slay a Patent Troll
• Klipsch Ventures into Gaming Headset Territory with KG-200 and KG-300 Wireless
• Newegg Daily Deals: Asus Sabertooth AMD 990FX Mobo, WD Red NAS 3TB HDD, and More!
• Valve's Steam Dev Days Conference Begins in Seattle

No BS Podcast #216: Katherine Departs, CES Gear Discussion, and More Posted: 16 Jan 2014 03:02 PM PST We pour one out for Katherine, then discuss all the sweet gear we spotted at CES. The No BS Podcast has returned, both from the holiday break, and from CES, and we've recorded Episode #216. Sadly, things are starting off on a somber note, as Editor-in-Chief Katherine Stevenson has announced she is leaving the magazine to pursue other interests here at Future US. She will be sorely missed, and we wish her the best of luck at her new gig. Since we must carry on, we did, so we jumped into a discussion of all the hardware we saw at CES, including the Steam Machines, 4K panels, Razer's Project Christine, and Oculus Rift. Gordon had his ear to the ground for CPU news at CES too, and discusses what Intel told him at the show. We also all have a chat about AMD"s new Kaveri APU. We finished the proceedings with our Editors' Picks, and the Gordon tackled the controversial topic of comic books being made into movies and wearable computing.        Editor's Picks Tom MacNamara: Timely Alarm Clock App Gordon Ung: Thermal Detonator Jimmy Thang: Corsair Vengeance 2000 Headset Josh Norem: Battlefield 4 Tips and Tricks   Stalk us on the following networks: Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes Become a fan 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 Subscribe to Maximum PC in print or on Google Play, iTunes, Kindle, Nook and Zinio. Thanks for listening!

Check Out Eurocom's Armadillo, a 14-inch Multi-Touch Ultrabook Posted: 16 Jan 2014 11:48 AM PST An Armadillo without the leathery armor shell You may have let cats, dogs, fish, lizards, and even snakes into your home, but have you ever adopted an Armadillo? Now you can, though it's not the kind that waddles around Texas weighing up to 130 pounds. This particular Armadillo comes from the Eurocom family measuring 13.6 inches (W) by 9.6 inches (D) by 0.91 inches (H) and weighing in at 4.4 pounds. That's Ultrabook territory. Indeed, Eurocom advertises the Armadillo as a 14-inch light and multi-touch enabled Ultrabook. It features a 14-inch Full HD 1080p (1920x1080) display with 10-point multi-touch support and has a sleek brushed metal exterior that Eurocom fashioned after the real-life mammal. "The Eurocom Armadillo is a perfect complement to our line of thin and light notebooks from 11.6-inch to 15.6-inch as it focuses on the pleasure of computing combined with a beautiful 14-inch design. The Eurocom Armadillo has the power, speed and slim build that can't help but turn heads, who knew an Armadillo could be so beautiful!," said Mark Bialic, Eurocom President. It comes configured with an Intel Core i7 4500U processor, up to 16GB of DDR3L-1600 memory (two memory sockets), two drives (mSATA + HDD/SSD/SHDD), 6-in-1 memory card reader, two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI output, headphone and microphone jacks, GbE LAN port, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, 1MP webcam, and a 4-cell battery. The Eurocom Armadillo is available now starting at $917 sans OS. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Microsoft Reverses Course, Vows to Update MSE for Windows XP Until July 14, 2015 Posted: 16 Jan 2014 10:51 AM PST Good news for diehard Windows XP users It's been a long time coming, but effective April 8, 2014, Microsoft will finally drop support for Windows XP. What that means is no more security patches , nor will you be able to receive tech support from Microsoft for any issues that arise on Windows XP systems. Initially, Microsoft also planned to pull the plug on its free Security Essentials software for XP by ceasing to offer it as a download and cutting off definition updates, but that's no longer the case. Instead, Microsoft is giving XP users a 15-month reprieve. Though support for XP ends in early April, Microsoft will continue to update Security Essentials on XP through through July 14, 2015. If you're an enterprise customer, you'll also receive updates for System Center Endpoint Protection, Forefront Client Security, Forefront Endpoint Protection, and Windows Intune on XP. "Microsoft has announced the Windows XP end of support date of April 8, 2014. After this date, Windows XP will no longer be a supported operating system. To help organizations complete their migrations, Microsoft will continue to provide updates to our antimalware signatures and engine for Windows XP users through July 14, 2015," Microsoft stated in a blog post. "This does not affect the end-of-support date of Windows XP, or the supportability of Windows XP for other Microsoft products, which deliver and apply those signatures." What isn't clear is whether or not Microsoft will still offer Security Essentials for download on XP systems past April 8. Even if it doesn't, however, it won't be hard to find on third-party download sites. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Target Offering Protection Through Experian to Customers Affected by Breach Posted: 16 Jan 2014 09:41 AM PST Additional customer information obtained in December attack Target's massive data breach in mid-December was frustrating enough as it is without tossing additional personal identifying information into the mix, but personal emails sent out yesterday to Target shoppers confirm that the names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and even email addresses of customers were obtained in the attack. Much like Sony during their very similar hacking situation, Target's looking to make things right. If you shopped at Target during the afected timeframes, you will be eligible for protection through Experian.  If you want a little more insurance when it comes to protecting your assets and identity, Target is offering one year of free credit monitoring with Experian's ProtectMyID service, which also includes theft insurance. If you want to redeem your code for free service, you can head over to creditmonitoring.target.com and register before April 23, 2014. Once you've gotten your code, it must be redeemed by April 30, 2014. Additionally, you can read up on more information about the data breach at Target's official site.  Did you receive Target's email as well? Are you going to be taking advantage of this offer?

Supreme Court Helps Newegg Slay a Patent Troll Posted: 16 Jan 2014 09:30 AM PST Supreme Court effectively sides with Newegg It's the end of the road for software firm Soverain Software LLC in a patent infringement case filed against Newegg. Rather than fork over funds to a company perceived as being a patent troll attempting to extort cash by enforcing weak and obvious patents. Newegg let the U.S. legal system run its course as the case went all the way up to the Supreme Court, which refused to listen to Soverain Software's claims. Let's back up a moment. According to Reuters, Soverain Software sued Newegg for infringing three "shopping cart patents," which are patents that describe a way to buy products on the web and pay for them. Soverain won its case in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, but then lost at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on the basis that the patents were obvious. Soverain sought to overturn the ruling by taking its case to the Supreme Court, while Newegg argued that it should be upheld, saying that all the patent does is apply the common sense concept of a shopping cart to the Internet. It was such a weak case on the part of Soverain that the Supreme Court opted to ignore it altogether. "The witch is dead, hurray," Newegg's chief legal officer, Lee Cheng, said in reaction to the decision. "We are very, very pleased that the Supreme Court has recognized...these patents should never have been granted in the first place. What we have showed in the Soverain case is the fighting back works." As expected, Soverain was disappointed with the decision. "It's a really tough time to be a patent owner," Soverain president Katharine Wolanyk said. Image Source: Flickr (aka Jens Rost) Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Klipsch Ventures into Gaming Headset Territory with KG-200 and KG-300 Wireless Posted: 16 Jan 2014 08:31 AM PST Klipsch's first foray into gaming headsets We were bummed when Klipsch stopped making new speaker lines for PCs. To this day, we're fans of the ProMedia 2.1 and 5.1 Ultra speaker sets, both of which deliver crisp audio and hard hitting bass. Maybe one day Klipsch will re-enter the PC speaker market, but in the meantime, the company will try its hand at gaming headsets starting with the launch of the KG-200 and KG-300 Wireless. "Following the success of our bestselling ProMedia 2.1 multimedia speakers, we have undoubtedly gained the necessary expertise to bring new products to the gaming market," said Chris Aiello, headphone product manager for Klipsch. "For years the focus has been on the evolution of gaming graphics, but developers and studios are now emphasizing a quality audio experience. With decades of industry-leading audio developments, our new headsets will be the quintessential audio accessory that best brings the gaming experience to life." The KG-200 is a wired headset with "athletic mesh" earpads for long-term comfort and breath-ability without sacrificing noise isolation. Inside are 40mm precision-tuned drivers. Ear mounted controls give gamers access to four selectable EQ presets: Fidelity: Clear, balanced sound for any situation Combat: Optimized bass enhances explosions, gunshots, and vocals Stealth: Clean highs and clear mids enhance very detail around you Sport: Bass and mids tuned to enhance big hits and clutch plays There's also a digital amplifier and precision-flex boom mic that's adjustable and detachable. The KG-200 will be available next month for $130 MSRP. The KG-300 Wireless is a similar looking headset with mostly the same specifications in wireless form. It uses three AAA batteries and adds Dolby Digital Decoding and proprietary Klipsch SphereSpace Surround technology to the mix. Look for it to ship next month as well, for $200 MSRP. Klipsch says both headsets are designed for use with Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PC. Follow Paul on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook

Newegg Daily Deals: Asus Sabertooth AMD 990FX Mobo, WD Red NAS 3TB HDD, and More! Posted: 16 Jan 2014 08:07 AM PST Top Deal: Intel may have the overall lead in performance, but if you want to stick with AMD and build a badass system, you certainly have options. It starts with a rocking foundation, such as the object of today's top deal -- an Asus Sabertooth 990FX Motherboard for $175 with free shipping (normally $185). It's loaded with modern amenities such as USB 3.0 support, SATA 6Gbps ports, quad-GPU support, and the list goes on. It's also backed by a generous 5-year warranty from Asus. Other Deals: Western Digital Red NAS Hard Drive 3TB Internal Hard Drive for $130 with free shipping (normally $144 - use coupon code: [EMCPWWF23]) AMD FX-9370 Vishera Black Edition 4.4GHz Socket AM3+ Eight-Core Desktop Processor for $220 with free shipping (normally $250 - use coupon code: [EMCPWWF28]) HGST Touro Desk 4TB USB 3.0 Black External Hard Drive for $150 with free shipping (normally $160 - use coupon code: [EMCPWWF33]) MSI A88X-G43 AMD FM2+/FM2 ATX Motherboard for $83 with shipping for $8 (Free Battlefield 4 game w/ purchase, limited offer)

Valve's Steam Dev Days Conference Begins in Seattle Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:51 PM PST Steam is as profitable as we all imagined With its announcement of the continued growth of Steam today, Valve kicked off the first iteration of the Steam Dev Days Conference. More than 1,200 attendees to the fledgling conference were treated to inside information about Steam's 2013 geographic performance, and the numbers within were certainly awe-inspiring. Steam's publishing team was on hand to give those at the conference a look at the geographic breakdown of revenue in 2013, seen above. There was a near-tie between North America and Europe, but the rest of the world is certainly closing in, with Russia and Brazil experiencing the largest year's growth (2013 over 2012) and increasing 128% and 75%. Those are definitely some impressive figures, but no wonder, with how Steam lures users in with sales and discounts. We're guilty of some impulsive spending there ourselves. Steam Dev Days is held in Seattle, Washington, and you can learn more about the conference here.

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MMO Updates

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• Massive mounted combat update rides into Dragon's Prophet EU
• War Thunder rolls out new Ground Forces tanks, map
• Black Gold Online reveals new Spellsword class
• The Stream Team: Slashing Exiles in the WildStar beta
• Perfect Ten: Online collectible card games that will tap your heart
• The Daily Grind: Do you still hang with your original MMO guild?
• Choose My Adventure: So long, Allods Online
• The Stream Team: Killing a SWTOR Dread Master the hard way
• The Art of Wushu: Doing the time for doing crime
• EQ Next Landmark livestream liveblog: Learn about claims!
• Yes, EQII does have PvP and yes, SOE is working on it
• RaiderZ now available on Steam
• New vid shows off SWTOR's gunship
• Nether's January update introduces dirt bikes and group options
• Leaderboard: ArcheAge vs. Blade & Soul
• Star Trek Online's Season 8.5 coming January 30th
• Take a little look at TERA's newest class
• Aion's medical professionals are on the scene to keep you healthy
• A look at game budgets (and MMO budgets)
• MMO Mechanics: Exploring death mechanics
• CCP releases more info about EVE Online's second New Eden Open

Massive mounted combat update rides into Dragon's Prophet EU Posted: 16 Jan 2014 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dungeons, Dragon's Prophet European players not only fight along side their dragons in Dragon's Prophet, they can now battle atop them as well! Thanks to the massive mounted combat update, dragons now have a trio of healing, tanking, and damage skills available that can aid their riders in PvE. But that's not all that Infernum Productions has rolled out with this update: Players can dive (literally) into a new high-level, completely submerged dungeon called Shrine of Handras and fight five new bosses along with a host of other water monsters and dangerous whirlpools. Additionally, players can participate in random mini events throughout Auratia as well as earn XP while resting in their personal houses (how much depends on amount and type of Marketplace furniture in the dwelling). Get a taste of the mounted combat skills and tour through Shrine of Handras in the two trailers below. And for more details about the update, check out the official patch notes. [Source: Infernum Productions press release] Continue reading Massive mounted combat update rides into Dragon's Prophet EU Massive mounted combat update rides into Dragon's Prophet EU originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jan 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

War Thunder rolls out new Ground Forces tanks, map Posted: 16 Jan 2014 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Historical, Expansions, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play There's nothing quite like pulling onto the War Thunder battlefield in a brand-new hunk of death-dealing metal -- except maybe rolling that new tank out on challenging new terrain! And Gaijin Entertainment has delivered just that with the introduction of nine new tanks and a new map for the closed beta of War Thunder's Ground Forces expansion. Five new Soviet and four new German machines join the current roster, including the Tiger I, the IS-1, the KV-2, and the Jagdpanzer IV. Players can hop in and test their skills in these new machines on the new map of Kuban. For a peek at the four tanks mentioned, check out the gallery below. And to learn more about the Ground Forces expansion, head to the game's most recent FAQ. [Source: Gaijin Entertainment press release] War Thunder rolls out new Ground Forces tanks, map originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jan 2014 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Black Gold Online reveals new Spellsword class Posted: 16 Jan 2014 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, Lore, Free-to-Play, Steampunk, Black Gold Black Gold Online is about to become a little more magical as Snail Games has announced the new Spellsword class. As one might guess, the Spellsword uses both sorcery and swordplay to dominate its opponents on the battlefield. The Melee DPS/Agility Tank role is a versatile addition to the Kosh and Yutonian Humans. You can read more about the Spellsword class, including background lore and strategies, in the game's newest announcement. Black Gold Online reveals new Spellsword class originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jan 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Spellsword announcement

The Stream Team: Slashing Exiles in the WildStar beta Posted: 16 Jan 2014 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Video, Hands-On, Livestream, WildStar, The Stream Team, Subscription, MMORPG WildStar's savannah of Deradune is as dangerous as it is beautiful. The feral Draken have organized a Great Hunt here and have transported a bizarre assortment of exotic creatures to the area. Will Richie make the Clanlord proud and be worthy of the Bloodfeast? Join him live at 10:00 a.m. EST to find out! Game: WildStar Host: Richie "Bog Otter" Procopio Date: Thursday, January 16th, 2014 Time: 10:00 a.m. EST Enjoy our Stream Team video below! Continue reading The Stream Team: Slashing Exiles in the WildStar beta The Stream Team: Slashing Exiles in the WildStar beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jan 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Perfect Ten: Online collectible card games that will tap your heart Posted: 16 Jan 2014 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Opinion, Trading Card Games, Humor, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous, HEX, Hearthstone While it might be a stretch to put collectible (or trading) card games in the same family as MMORPGs, it's hard to deny that their audiences are pretty similar and quite open to a little crossover between genres. Massively has made mention of TCGs as their numbers and popularity seems to be on the rise online. That led up to the day that my editor came into my office, smacked an Elmer Fudd Pez dispenser out of my hand, and told me that I better do a top 10 list on card games "or else." "Or else what?" I chirped before thinking. "Or else you'll be our full-time Darkfall columnist," my editor said. So hey! We're talking about card games today! How about, I don't know, 10 of them? Continue reading Perfect Ten: Online collectible card games that will tap your heart Perfect Ten: Online collectible card games that will tap your heart originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jan 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Daily Grind: Do you still hang with your original MMO guild? Posted: 16 Jan 2014 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Guilds, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind Next month marks the 10th anniversary of the formation of my favorite MMO gaming guild. It wasn't my first guild, mind you, but it was the one I enjoyed the most. It was one of those groups that transcended the original game and spilled over into other MMOs and ongoing meatspace relationships. Occasionally we still game together, too, but not as often as we did before adulthood and responsibility reared their annoying heads. What about you, Massively readers? Do you still hang with your old-school MMO buddies or your original guild, either in-game or out? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind! The Daily Grind: Do you still hang with your original MMO guild? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Jan 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Choose My Adventure: So long, Allods Online Posted: 15 Jan 2014 07:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Polls, MMO Industry, PvE, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Choose My Adventure, Allods Online, MMORPG Choose My Adventure, in my mind, is as much an investigation as it is a voter-led romp through a particular title. There's a reason each writer who takes on a CMA limits the voting pool to games he or she hasn't previously experienced in-depth; it's always more interesting to discover and explore than it is to travel across well-beaten paths. Writing and playing for Choose My Adventure almost always involves being surprised, either for the better or for the worse. When the community chose Allods Online as the subject of this edition of Choose My Adventure, I was skeptical. The game looks, on the surface, like another cheap World of Warcraft knock-off designed to siphon a few players away from Blizzard's enormous subscription MMO with promises of free gameplay and some sci-fi/steampunk tweaks. What I discovered over the last five weeks, however, is a solid, charming traditional MMO that is hindered at almost every turn by the incompetence or greed (I can't be sure which) of its publisher. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: So long, Allods Online Choose My Adventure: So long, Allods Online originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Stream Team: Killing a SWTOR Dread Master the hard way Posted: 15 Jan 2014 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Endgame, PvE, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, Hands-On, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Livestream, Dungeons, The Stream Team, MMORPG Sure, raiding is fun, but in order to progress, you sometimes have to buckle down and push forward. Raid night is srs bsns tonight as Massively's Larry Everett and his guild tackle the last two bosses in hard-mode Dread Fortress in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Join us at 9:00 p.m. EST for all the mayhem. Game: Star Wars: The Old Republic Host: Larry Everett Date: Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 Time: 9:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Killing a SWTOR Dread Master the hard way The Stream Team: Killing a SWTOR Dread Master the hard way originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Art of Wushu: Doing the time for doing crime Posted: 15 Jan 2014 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Historical, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Guides, Age of Wushu, The Art of Wushu, MMORPG Bounties are the primary way that PK victims in Age of Wushu get to fight back against their assailants. If you murder someone, your victim can force you to spend time in jail and pay a constable for the service of putting you behind bars. Much as in EVE Online's original bounty system, there are a few kinks. Overall, it works reasonably well, but there is a disconnect between the intent of the system and how it actually works. As a career criminal, I feel that having a bounty and dealing with it is what separates professional killers from mass murderers. Continue reading The Art of Wushu: Doing the time for doing crime The Art of Wushu: Doing the time for doing crime originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

EQ Next Landmark livestream liveblog: Learn about claims! Posted: 15 Jan 2014 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Game Mechanics, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Events (Massively's Coverage), EverQuest Next, Livestream, Sandbox Plenty of questions have been asked about land ownership in EverQuest Next Landmark, and some of those answers are on their way right now! Senior Producer Terry Michaels, Lead Game Designer Darrin McPherson, Senior Brand Manager Omeed Dariani, and Community Manager Colette "Dexella" Murphy are discussing claims in the official livestream going on now. Also on the docket: More details about the Landmark Community Celebration event at the end of this month. If you can't tune in to the broadcast yourself over at Twitch, we've got you covered; watch the livestream below and follow along as Massively's MJ liveblogs all the juicy tidbits in the comments below. Continue reading EQ Next Landmark livestream liveblog: Learn about claims! EQ Next Landmark livestream liveblog: Learn about claims! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Yes, EQII does have PvP and yes, SOE is working on it Posted: 15 Jan 2014 03:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play Did you know that EverQuest II has PvP? It does! SOE is even working on improvements for it as we speak! This startling revelation comes to us from the EQII forums -- via EQ2Wire -- where someone posted a private email correspondence between franchise director Dave Georgeson and a player named Pawder. Georgeson starts off by laying a little bit of his PvP cred on the table. He helped develop the original PlanetSide, see, as well as Tribes 2 and some of the MechWarrior games. He goes on to say that EQII PvP procs are being removed, and he also says that the game's PvP battleground matchmaker will see improvements "later this year." Finally, Georgeson mentions that the Nagafen PvP server has suffered a population drain since the advent of battlegrounds -- basically, players want their PvP immediately rather than having to hunt through zones to find it. "The fact of the matter is EQII still has a very strong PvP userbase," Georgeson explains. "They're just not always on Nagafen anymore. They tended to drift to other servers and they play BGs most of the time now when they desire PvP. But more quality PvP improvements are coming in the near future, some as early as next week." Yes, EQII does have PvP and yes, SOE is working on it originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: EQ2Wire

RaiderZ now available on Steam Posted: 15 Jan 2014 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Business Models, MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play If you're looking for a Steam title that ends with 'Z,' you could follow the crowd and pick up DayZ's early access. Or you could pick up RaiderZ and indulge in some of Perfect World's Monster Hunter-style action combat mayhem. RaiderZ initially launched in November of 2012, and you can read what we thought of the game's lengthy beta process as well as its Broken Silence expansion. RaiderZ now available on Steam originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: SteamVia: Polygon

New vid shows off SWTOR's gunship Posted: 15 Jan 2014 02:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic Here's a new Star Wars: The Old Republic Galactic Starfighter video designed to get your space PvP juices flowing. Space PvP juices? Yeah, I guess that's the best I can do on this one, sorry. Anyway, the gunship is the star of this particular show. The one-minute clip shows it in action and it also shows off some of the available customization options. Gunships are designed to be "heavy hitters" and they also feature the ability to snipe enemy ships from long range. See for yourself after the cut. Continue reading New vid shows off SWTOR's gunship New vid shows off SWTOR's gunship originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments YouTube

Nether's January update introduces dirt bikes and group options Posted: 15 Jan 2014 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Horror, Sci-Fi, Video, Patches, Post-Apocalyptic The survival horror world of Nether continues to take form and shape as the devs are introducing the year's first update this week. The big addition that will come in this patch is the dirt bike, which gives players a faster means of navigating the post-apocalyptic landscape. Of course, when you do so you'll be making an awful racket and since the enemies are very sensitive to all sound, any riders will probably enjoy a few breezy minutes of transportation followed by a few painful minutes of being disembowled. The patch is also including group features such as group chat, invites, nametags, and locations on the map. There are also some new cosmetic items to check out (Russian hat, anyone?) and plenty of fixes for various bugs. We've got the video of the dirt bike in action after the break. Continue reading Nether's January update introduces dirt bikes and group options Nether's January update introduces dirt bikes and group options originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: January update

Leaderboard: ArcheAge vs. Blade & Soul Posted: 15 Jan 2014 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, MMO Industry, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Blade & Soul, ArcheAge, Sandbox, Leaderboard I'm feeling a bit ornery today, so you'll have to excuse this Leaderboard's angry-gamer outlook when it comes to Korean imports and the W-word. See, I like Korean MMOs a whole lot, but I don't particularly like Westernization because a) one of the main reasons to play a culturally divergent MMO is to experience said divergent culture and b) Westernization takes for-frickin'-ever. How long have we been waiting on ArcheAge now? And what about Blade & Soul? And yeah, I know Trion is purportedly in friends-and-family alpha now. That's better than Blade & Soul, at least, about which NCsoft has said absolutely nothing in regards to the Western market. So for today's poll, let's assume that you have to choose between ArcheAge and Blade & Soul. The Westernization gods will only allow of one of them to make it out of Korea in our lifetime, and it's up to you to decide which it'll be! Would you rather play XL's ginormous fantasy sandpark or do you prefer NCsoft's martial arts fantasy title? 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: ArcheAge vs. Blade & Soul Leaderboard: ArcheAge vs. Blade & Soul originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

Star Trek Online's Season 8.5 coming January 30th Posted: 15 Jan 2014 12:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Patches, Previews, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, Anniversaries Newly promoted Executive Producer Stephen D'Angelo penned a dev blog today giving players a heads up regarding Season 8.5 and the fourth anniversary of Star Trek Online. D'Angelo said that 8.5 will be arriving on January 30th, which should kick off the game's anniversary event as well. When this happens, players will have an opportunity to earn one or more new "hybrid" starships that use Dyson technology, explore a brand-new featured episode with a Star Trek actor, and enjoy 12 revamped Federation episodes. Other changes coming include the elimination of the hourly event calendar, the ability to swap between starships and builds on the fly, more slots for ships, and an "easy equip" feature to outfit ships painlessly. Star Trek Online's Season 8.5 coming January 30th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Season 8.5 overview

Take a little look at TERA's newest class Posted: 15 Jan 2014 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Classes, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, TERA The newest class in TERA is live on the Korean servers right now, and even if you don't normally play an Elin, you might be curious to see what it's all about. That's a little more problematic if you don't speak Korean, but lucky for you there's a whole preview of the upcoming class available now on Steparu. It should give you a good idea of what to expect when this update comes out stateside. Dark Elin start at level 55 and have a variety of new skills and abilities for players to use. Embedded past the break is a preview of a Dark Elin fighting one of the game's signature BAMs, showing off the class mechanics in brief and giving an idea of what it's like to play one. Check out the video past the break, and take a look at the full preview for a more in-depth look at the class. Continue reading Take a little look at TERA's newest class Take a little look at TERA's newest class originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Steparu

Aion's medical professionals are on the scene to keep you healthy Posted: 15 Jan 2014 11:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Aion, Events (In-Game), News Items, Free-to-Play Even though you might spend most of your time in Aion being healed by magical sources, the hard-working medical professionals of Atreia are still out there and keeping a close eye on your health. Did you know that cold weather is the fifth most common cause of death among Daevas, making it ten thousandth overall? If not, you may wish to stop by one of Atreia's many free clinics for a careful health examination. From now until January 29th, all Daevas may stop by one of the medical camps set up through the world for special benefits. Doctors provide potions and scrolls to players at level 10+, whilst the rotating nurses will provide players with a variety of buffs to improve their performance in battle. So are you keeping a solid watch on your health? Stop by one of the medical camps now, and ask the doctors if consuming large quantities of potion is right for you. Aion's medical professionals are on the scene to keep you healthy originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Soure: Code Red: Atreia 2014

A look at game budgets (and MMO budgets) Posted: 15 Jan 2014 11:00 AM PST Filed under: MMO Industry, News Items, Miscellaneous Let's not delude ourselves: Companies are making games to make money. That's the whole point. But it's not about how much a game sells; it's about how much it sells compared to how much it costs to make. And that's a bit harder to be sure about, since most companies aren't in the habit of disclosing exactly how much this game or that costs to make in the first place. Kotaku contributing columnist "Superannuation" looks at the rising budgets of games over the years, including some MMOs in the mix. Some of the figures are certain, some of them are more ambiguous, and all of them provide an interesting look at the price tag. EverQuest's initial budget, for instance, is pegged at $3 million, while World of Warcraft apparently cost $200 million for upkeep and development over the first four years of operation. Take a look at the full listing for a look at some known points and plenty of speculation fodder. A look at game budgets (and MMO budgets) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: Kotaku

MMO Mechanics: Exploring death mechanics Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:30 AM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, EVE Online, EverQuest, Guild Wars 2, Star Citizen, MMO Mechanics They say death must come to us all, and that inevitability extends to our characters in MMOs. The death of our characters may be inconvenient when we want to plough through content, but penalising failure is an essential part of any MMO and further incentivises success by making you learn from your mistakes. As much as players crave gratification through rewards and progression, they also need to feel that such progress has been well-earned and greatly deserved. Rewards become that much sweeter when we must risk something to secure them, and failure without consequence would render the gains made in our favourite MMOs insignificant. Without a considerable death penalty, it becomes possible to mindlessly crush content through brute force. I don't know about you, but I don't find fun in bashing my skull repeatedly with a rock in an attempt to crack it! In this week's MMO Mechanics, I compare various death penalties and the effects they have on the MMOs that employ them. I'll explore just how tangible death penalties such as corpse running, gear durability loss, and XP drain make our character's demise feel. Continue reading MMO Mechanics: Exploring death mechanics MMO Mechanics: Exploring death mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments

CCP releases more info about EVE Online's second New Eden Open Posted: 15 Jan 2014 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, EVE Online, Events (In-Game), PvP, News Items, Sandbox Time is running out to get in on EVE Online's second New Eden Open tournament for a chance at this year's $25,000 in prizes; sign ups close on January 20th. Need to know more? CCP has posted additional helpful facts and reminders about the upcoming tournament, including information about sponsorships, player advertising, and the silent auction process for acquiring a slot. The tournament, a modified double-elimination set up that culminates in a best of-five final match, will play out over the weekends of March 1st, 8th, and 15th and be streamed live on EVE's official twitch channel. An additional stream will provide Russian coverage for this year's event. CCP releases more info about EVE Online's second New Eden Open originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink | Email this | Comments Source: New Eden Open II

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