| Star Wars: The Old Republic highlights the strengths of strike fighters Posted: 06 Feb 2014 09:30 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Expansions, Game Mechanics, News Items, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Subscription With all of the other ship classes in Star Wars: The Old Republic's latest addition, you can be forgiven for thinking that Galactic Starfighter kind of gives the eponymous fighters short shrift. After all, gunships can snipe with railguns, scouts are darting and disabling beasts, and bombers are tanks with wings. What can the strike fighter do that all of its contemporaries can't? Oh, right. It can eat other ships alive by blowing past shields and ripping enemy hulls apart. The new development blog highlighting the strike fighter discusses how strike fighters are generally the targets of all the other defensive mechanisms -- sure, a gunship can snipe things, but if it gets caught within weapons range of a strike fighter, it's in big trouble. The strike fighter might not have the speed of the scout or the armor of gunships and bombers, but it's maneuverable, nimble, and built for dogfighting. Check out the full development blog for more details on the lynchpin of the fighter squadrons.  Star Wars: The Old Republic highlights the strengths of strike fighters originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Feb 2014 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Bless Online offers first closed beta February 20th Posted: 06 Feb 2014 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items If you want to check out Bless Online (and you can get your hands on a Pmang Korean account), you can apply for the new fantasy game's first closed beta phase that goes from February 20 to the 23rd. Steparu reports that besides trying to secure a beta spot through numerous events occurring on the official website, players 19 years of age and older can also sign up for the beta lottery until February 16th. If you lack the credentials to apply for the beta like the lion's share of the Western fan base, you can still get a taste of it in the official gameplay trailer below. Continue reading Bless Online offers first closed beta February 20th Bless Online offers first closed beta February 20th originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Feb 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Dragon's Prophet EU creating player council Posted: 06 Feb 2014 08:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items, Free-to-Play, Dragon's Prophet Dragon's Prophet players in Europe will soon have a new way to influence their game: the Osiran Council. This player-elected body will give the community more influence over Dragon's Prophet EU's future development. Those who want a seat on this council in order to weigh in on game-relevant decisions, assist in the development and publishing process, and submit suggestions and criticisms directly need to send an email to community@dragonspropheteurope.com with the following information: - Character name and server
- Forum name
- Spoken languages (English skills should be present)
- Level of the highest character,
- Previous MMO experience
- Values and expertise
- Reasons why you want the candidacy
In additional Dragon's Prophet news, today's patch introduced the Dragon Compendium for the European community. This feature contains valuable information on all dragons that can be captured as well as resources to upgrade your dragon with other elite skills. [Source: Infernum Productions press release] Dragon's Prophet EU creating player council originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Dev blog offers snapshot of Pathfinder's finances, new screenshots Posted: 06 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Dev Diaries, Sandbox, Crowdfunding, Pathfinder Online While most dev blogs focus on game systems, features, and the like, Pathfinder Online's newest one gives the public a look at Goblinworks' financial performance. And for those who backed the project on Kickstarter, the proffered pie chart gives a clear view of where their money went in 2013. The majority of funds, $1.3 million, went to employee overhead, and office overhead ate up the next largest chunk. In all, the company feels it came close to its overall budget plan for the year, with the biggest variance due to hiring more staff. The blog continues by introducing new devs working on Pathfinder, announcing a new funding feature for those who still want to back but missed the Kickstarters, and offering new screenshots. Check out the images in the gallery below and head to the official site to meet the new staff. [Thanks to Chrysillis for the tip!] Dev blog offers snapshot of Pathfinder's finances, new screenshots originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Feb 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Think Tank: What's your favorite game genre (other than MMOs)? Posted: 06 Feb 2014 07:00 AM PST |
| Darkfall runs one-week promotion Posted: 06 Feb 2014 06:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, PvP, Promotions, Subscription Darkfall really wants you to be playing it and is willing to make a few major concessions to pave the way for both new and returning players to join the fold. The subscription PvP MMO is running a February promotion aimed at, well, everyone. Lapsed players will find that Aventurine has reactivated their accounts for a week, new players can pick up the game for 75% off, and current players can pick up a six-month subscription for 45% off. This promotion will go through February 13th. Aventurine also posted a note saying that lapsed accounts three months or older will require a support ticket to dig those characters out of storage. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!] Darkfall runs one-week promotion originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Feb 2014 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| A look at WildStar's crafting mechanics Posted: 06 Feb 2014 06:00 AM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, News Items, WildStar, Crafting, Subscription, Buy-to-Play As WildStar nears its ambiguous-but-soon release date, questions have to be asked, aside from "when is this game releasing, anyway?" Like crafting-related questions. Why haven't we heard more about crafting yet? What are the mechanics? Is this another example of a game wherein crafting is just a matter of assembling a pile of materials and clicking a button? The answer to that last one is a pretty firm no. As it happens, there's a lot going on under the hood of WildStar's crafting mechanics, enough to intrigue dedicated crafters of many styles. We had a chance recently to sit down with system designer Phillip Chan to talk in-depth about the game's crafting mechanics and how the team is working to keep crafting relevant through the whole game, from start to finish. The goals were to create crafting mechanics that rewarded players for taking part, gave room for custom creations and specialized crafters, and to make the whole thing feel fun. The net result? Not just clicking a button and going off to make a sandwich. Continue reading A look at WildStar's crafting mechanics A look at WildStar's crafting mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Feb 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Are you missing out if you skip an MMO launch? Posted: 06 Feb 2014 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, Opinion, The Daily Grind, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription I'm a huge fan of the Elder Scrolls franchise. I started with Morrowind over a decade ago and I'm almost ashamed to admit how many hours I put into it as well as its two successors. Therefore it pains me to realize that I'm not such a huge Elder Scrolls Online fan. I'll play it at some point due solely to my fondness for the IP, but as of now I probably won't be paying full price for it at launch. And I'm kinda bummed out by that. What about you, Massively readers? Do you feel like you're missing out if you skip an MMO's launch window?  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: Are you missing out if you skip an MMO launch? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 06 Feb 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Stream Team: SWTOR masters of dread Posted: 05 Feb 2014 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Video, Guilds, Endgame, PvE, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Livestream, The Stream Team, MMORPG There it sits, like a beacon of evil. The Dread Fortress and home to some of the most powerful Sith, the Dread Masters, towers over the moon of Oricon. They must be defeated for the good of the galaxy! Join Massively's Larry Everett and the guild Nefarious Intent at 9:00 p.m. EST as they tackle some of the hardest endgame content in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Game: Star Wars: The Old Republic Host: Larry Everett Date: Wednesday, February 5th, 2014 Time: 9:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: SWTOR masters of dread The Stream Team: SWTOR masters of dread originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Why I Play: Neverwinter Posted: 05 Feb 2014 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Culture, Game Mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Casual, Why I Play, Neverwinter, Player-Generated Content I have to say that for all of my yapping about needing to play MMOs that allow me to freely roam and to explore a virtual world and live a virtual life, I sure am a fan of linear themeparks. Who isn't? In fact, show me someone who now claims to be the enemy of all things themed, and I'll show you someone who at some point enjoyed the benefits of a good themepark, most likely World of Warcraft. I'm not sure why there's any shame in admitting that one enjoys a good romp through a virtual storybook, but I sure do. In fact, I often depend on it in order to get me over lazy sandbox slumps. Neverwinter is one of my favorite themeparks out there. There are quite a few reasons it works so well, many of them obvious. I'd like also to point out some of the reasons Neverwinter might work so well for certain types of players. Continue reading Why I Play: Neverwinter Why I Play: Neverwinter originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Stream Team: Questing in the cold in WildStar Posted: 05 Feb 2014 04:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Video, New Titles, Livestream, WildStar, The Stream Team Last time, while Massively's MJ was innocently going about her business trying to get to Nexus and help the Exiles out in WildStar, the Dominion crashed her ship. On top of that, they seemingly planted light bombs to blind her! But she's not about to give up that easily, so she's going to continue to trudge through the snow and glitches to help out her fellows with whatever tasks they have for her. Besides, that gives her a chance to really blast any of those foul Dominion with her growing Esper skills if she comes across them. Join us live at 7:00 p.m. for more chilly questing adventures. Game: WildStar Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Wednesday, February 5th, 2014 Time: 7:00 p.m. EST Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Questing in the cold in WildStar The Stream Team: Questing in the cold in WildStar originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Choose My Adventure: Through the starting gates of EverQuest Posted: 05 Feb 2014 03:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Massively Meta, First Impressions, Choose My Adventure And we're off! The gates of EverQuest have opened, and thanks to the advice of my very own pit crew (that means you!), I am planted firmly in my saddle as ready to take on this wild Choose My Adventure ride. So let's get this show started, shall we? Figuring out where in EQ I was going to go was pretty cut and dried; Firiona Vie was the server winner by a landslide. Either you know me well enough and placed me accordingly, or you're just saying that's an awesome place to be. Of course, it could be both, which is a double bonus. The racial fight was more of a nail-biter. Tier"Dal, Iksar, and Froglok battled it out, but in the end, good won. Well, actually let's not be too hasty tossing that "good" label around: As for classes, only two choices were running pretty much neck in neck, and both were decidedly evil! Ultimately the caster lost and tin can won. So instead of summoning and commanding my own hordes of undead (for which I thank you profusely), I dub myself Sir MJ, the Shadowknight. As much as I have rarely played plate or tank classes, I do appreciate this; necromancy is definitely not a favorite pastime of mine. Add in your final decision to start me off in my racial lands and we are all set to go. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Through the starting gates of EverQuest Choose My Adventure: Through the starting gates of EverQuest originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Transformers Universe now a 'MOTA,' set for summer release Posted: 05 Feb 2014 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, News Items, Free-to-Play, Browser, Transformers Universe  The last we heard about Jagex's development of Transformers Universe was in July of 2013 when it was announced that 13 employees had been laid off from the game's development team. Today, however, Jagex CEO and CTO Mark Gerhard announced some big news regarding the would-be Transformers MMO. Specifically, he announced that... it's not exactly an MMO anymore. Transformers Universe is now being called a "massively online, tactical action game, or MOTA," and Gerhard states that it offers "fast-paced, battle centric, tactical action with a selection of game modes for core gamers, casual gamers, and Transformers enthusiasts alike." All the nitty-gritty gameplay details can be found in the official post, but Gerhard specifically addresses the studio's long radio silence, stating that "from today onwards [fans] can expect regular updates, and soon all start participating first-hand" in the game's ongoing development. He mentions that the studio is "100% set to launch Transformers Universe this summer" and that they will be progressively inviting registered players into the game's beta testing. To get all the full details on this new "MOTA" or to sign up for beta, head over to the Transformers Universe official site. Transformers Universe now a 'MOTA,' set for summer release originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| TUG gets the greenlight on Steam Posted: 05 Feb 2014 02:30 PM PST |
| RIFT announces Dream Weaver patch date, introduces new Budgie mounts Posted: 05 Feb 2014 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, RIFT  Telarans anxiously awaiting the next RIFT update won't have to wait much longer because Trion Worlds has announced that patch 2.6, Dream Weaver, will go live on February 12th. The update brings with it a slew of new features, perhaps the most notable of which is an entirely new crafting class: the titular Dream Weaver. The Dream Weaver tradeskill allows players to craft keys for 15 new dimensions and create a number of lighting and particle effects that can be used to add a little pizzaz to your dimension. The update will also kick off a new Air Saga storyline that takes players back in time to relive the story of Crucia, the dragon goddess of air, and will see the addition of the new bounty system, new combat pet skins, and unstable artifact sets. But if you just can't wait one week to get your RIFT fix, perhaps you could pass the time trying to acquire an adorable new mount, the Frosty Budgie. Until February 11th, players can compete in daily Budgie races in Silverwood (for Guardians), Freemarch (for Defiant), Pelladane, and Cape Jule. Completing all three races will earn an achievement and a Budgie Trove, which has a chance to contain the rare Frosty Budgie. Players can also complete new daily quests in the aforementioned zones to earn bird seed, which can be used to purchase the new Ashen Budgie mount. For players who absolutely must have these new mounts can purchase additional bird seed and Budgie Troves via the in-game cash shop. RIFT announces Dream Weaver patch date, introduces new Budgie mounts originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| MMO Mechanics: Comparing vertical and horizontal progression Posted: 05 Feb 2014 01:00 PM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, Game Mechanics, PvP, Endgame, PvE, Opinion, Guild Wars 2, EverQuest Next, Sandbox, MMORPG, MMO Mechanics MMO players strive to obtain some kind of tangible progression each play session, but the method by which that progression is delivered varies greatly across the genre. Archetypal themepark titles frequently rely on level-based progression that culminates in climbing through gear tiers at endgame, but the freeform nature of sandbox MMOs lends itself to a more open progression system that focuses on the holistic development of characters. These two progression systems are described as vertical and horizontal progression: Traditional gearing or leveling is commonly described as a vertical climb, while wider choice-based progression is more often expressed as a non-linear journey. The relative merits of these two diverging approaches to progression are commonly debated by modern MMO players. Many players wish to see a blended hybrid approach to progression that emphasises the horizontal, multi-faceted growth of their characters over rattling through yet another gear tier. Despite this, players still favour a goal-oriented attainment system and perhaps progressive gear that doesn't require a long run on the grinding treadmill. This balance can be very hard to achieve, so titles such as Guild Wars 2 have taken some knocks on the path towards perfect horizontal and vertical progression balance. In this week's MMO Mechanics, I will look at what is meant by both vertical and horizontal progression, how they are mechanically implemented in MMOs, and what each type of progression means for the playerbase. Continue reading MMO Mechanics: Comparing vertical and horizontal progression MMO Mechanics: Comparing vertical and horizontal progression originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| SOE opens 2014 G.I.R.L. scholarship submissions Posted: 05 Feb 2014 12:30 PM PST Filed under: Contests, Culture, MMO Industry, Miscellaneous SOE has begun its 7th Gamers in Real Life Game Design Competition, inviting aspiring game developers to apply for a possible $10,000 college scholarship and a 10-week job as a paid intern at the studio. To apply, you'll need to be enrolled in an undergraduate program that has something to do with video games, have a 3.00 GPA or higher, be 18 or older, and be a legal resident of one of the 50 United States or District of Columbia. The application includes concept artwork, captions, and an essay. Interested participants need to submit their application by March 19th. We interviewed the 2013 winner, Esther Wu, last October about her experience with the competition, which is worth a read if you're interested in participating. SOE opens 2014 G.I.R.L. scholarship submissions originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Elite: Dangerous moves into multiplayer alpha Posted: 05 Feb 2014 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Video, Patches, Elite: Dangerous Elite: Dangerous has jumped into the second stage of its alpha, adding in multiplayer elements for the first time. With Alpha Phase 2.0, Elite: Dangerous players can try out four multiplayer scenarios, including free-for-all, two-team melee, co-op defense, and an advanced pirates and bounty hunters mode with "fluid choices and roles." Players who engage in these scenarios can earn credits for better ship loadouts. But don't just read about Alpha Phase 2.0 here; watch the dev video with all of the stunning highlights after the break! [Thanks to Peteris for the tip!] Continue reading Elite: Dangerous moves into multiplayer alpha Elite: Dangerous moves into multiplayer alpha originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Star Wars: The Old Republic takes you to the gun(ship) show Posted: 05 Feb 2014 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Subscription Space is not the final frontier in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Frankly, space is pretty mundane. There's plenty of it, and both the Republic and the Empire have spent a lot of time flying around in it with machines meant to blow the snot out of other machines. The Gunship is the target of the latest development blog, and it's not just designed to blow up other space machines (or "starfighters," if you will) -- it's designed to do so from long range and with extreme prejudice. Gunships all possess a Railgun of some kind, characterized as a long-range sniping weapon with an emphasis on charge time and careful aim. They also feature engines that allow pilots to close distance with a target quickly and others that allow gunships to dart away whilst crippling enemy thrusters. Take a look at the development blog for more details, and if you missed it yesterday, check out the the trailer for Galactic Starfighter just past the cut. Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic takes you to the gun(ship) show Star Wars: The Old Republic takes you to the gun(ship) show originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| EVE: Valkyrie to be co-published by Oculus Posted: 05 Feb 2014 10:30 AM PST |
| World of Warcraftless: What would the world look like without World of Warcraft? Posted: 05 Feb 2014 10:00 AM PST Filed under: World of Warcraft, MMO Industry, Opinion, Miscellaneous, Anniversaries This year is a big one for World of Warcraft. It's the 10-year anniversary of the game's launch, meaning players have been able to enjoy themselves in Azeroth for quite a while. The franchise itself is turning 20, meaning it's almost old enough to legally drink. And whether you like the game or not, you can't deny that it's had a huge impact on games in general -- not just on MMORPGs but on the very landscape of what games are and how we think about them. So it's kind of natural that we'd start asking if we'd all be better off without it. You live with the same title dominating the industry for a decade, so it's only natural to think about what it'd be like if it weren't there. Personally, I think that's a kind of loaded question that also overlooks a far niftier option. Asking whether we'd be better off first requires one to figure out what the world would look like without World of Warcraft, and for my money that's much more interesting. So let's look at just that. What sort of scenarios might have unfolded if World of Warcraft had never come to pass at all? Continue reading World of Warcraftless: What would the world look like without World of Warcraft? World of Warcraftless: What would the world look like without World of Warcraft? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Feb 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Mythic devs form new studio, take over DAoC and Ultima Online Posted: 05 Feb 2014 09:00 AM PST |
A home theater that fits in the palm of your hand
Mega e-tailer went and scooped up a gaming studio
The tablet PC craze is in full swing
Flappy Bird developer profits handsomely from your frustration
VAIO PCs didn't fit in with Sony's reform strategy
