| The Soapbox: Let me tell you how little I want to raid Posted: 27 Mar 2014 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Endgame, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous Over the past several years, Blizzard has been very attentive when it comes to making it easier for players to raid. Raid sizes have gone down, then they've moved over to a flex structure. The raid finder was added to the game. Mechanics were toned down, while getting drops has been made even easier. With the next expansion, you won't even need to toy around in difficult instances to get ready for raiding; you can just jump in pretty much from the point you hit the level cap. All of this in response to a lot of people saying that they don't want to raid -- all of this so thoroughly missing the point of that statement. This is one of those hurdles a lot of designers can't seem to conceptually get over. World of Warcraft's design team has had years of people saying this, and every response from the team has been missing the point so completely that it's almost absurd. I don't want to raid, at all, ever. End of discussion. Continue reading The Soapbox: Let me tell you how little I want to raid  The Soapbox: Let me tell you how little I want to raid originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Mar 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Black Desert downplaying trinity in favor of formations Posted: 27 Mar 2014 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, PvE, Sandbox, Dungeons, Black Desert 2P has translated an interview with Black Desert producer Kim Daeil that originally appeared on GameMeca.com. Among the more interesting nuggets is the fact that the fantasy sandbox won't feature traditional MMORPG dungeons. This is due largely to the Pearl Abyss team's feeling that "dungeons seem to isolate players from the outside open world" and subtract from "the charm of MMORPG[s]." The piece also touches on something called "collaboration gameplay," which appears to omit traditional tank, DPS, and support roles in favor of formations. For example, a group of players that forms a circle will be rewarded with higher defense bonuses while a straight-line formation leads to high DPS from the front-line player. The interview also touches on adventure nodes, mazes and hidden underground cities, and much more. Black Desert downplaying trinity in favor of formations originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Mar 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Snail reveals Black Gold's Gunslinger class Posted: 27 Mar 2014 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Classes, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, PvE, Steampunk, Black Gold Snail has released another class update for its Black Gold Online steampunk MMORPG. This time the focus falls on the Gunslinger, a ranged DPS and support archetype who combines AoE, single-target attacks, and medium mail armor into one powerful package. Black Gold's Gunslinger special abilities include Ultra-loaded Barrel (heavy single target damage), Free-gun Spirit (a temporary boost to speed, health, and attack), and high explosive bomb (critical damage and slowing effects). Snail reveals Black Gold's Gunslinger class originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Mar 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Shroud of the Avatar's Release 4 starts today, combat added Posted: 27 Mar 2014 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Sandbox, Crowdfunding, Shroud of the Avatar, Buy-to-Play Shroud of the Avatar backers, don't forget that Release 4 access begins today at 11:30 a.m. EDT. Portalarium producer Starr Long says that the dev team is "going to deliver almost every single Release 4 item and a few extras," and he provides an extensive list including the first pass at combat, resource gathering, and persistent player housing. Read all about it at the official SotA website. Shroud of the Avatar's Release 4 starts today, combat added originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Mar 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Does your guild have a unique angle? Posted: 27 Mar 2014 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Guilds, MMO Industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, The Elder Scrolls Online I've been seeking out Elder Scrolls Online roleplaying guilds over the past couple of days and while there are thousands to choose from, most trod the exceedingly familiar path of the mercenary company and/or the lovable band of roguesbrigandsthievespiratessmugglerssoldiers. I'm not saying it's easy to come up with something different, mind you, since most modern MMORPGs skimp on non-combat gameplay. But still. I've seen a tiny handful of trading guilds and even an entertainment troupe or two, so I know it's possible. What about your guild, Massively readers? Assuming it's a roleplay group or something other than a loose collection of meatspace pals, does it have a unique angle?  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: Does your guild have a unique angle? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Mar 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| World of Warcraft posts character-boosts-for-dummies guide Posted: 26 Mar 2014 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, News Items, Guides, Subscription If you've preordered World of Warcraft's upcoming Warlords of Draenor expansion and are trying to figure out just how to use the free level 90 character booster you've just scored, then you are exactly the type of person who should not use a free level 90 character booster. Kidding. Truth is, the boost is different from previous boosts in several not-obvious ways and can be daunting even for returning veterans, and that's what Blizzard hopes to convey in a new Boosting 101 guide compilation on the official site. The post explains basic gearing, class strategies, proving grounds gameplay, addons, and how crafter boosting works. Apply wisely! World of Warcraft posts character-boosts-for-dummies guide originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Stream Team: It's beta (and code giveaway) time in Landmark! Posted: 26 Mar 2014 06:15 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Giveaways, EverQuest Next, Livestream, Sandbox, The Stream Team, Player-Generated Content, Landmark Eager to take the first steps into EverQuest Next Landmark's closed beta? Massively's MJ sure is! So she's jumping in just as quick as she can to check out how the world has changed. And because she really wants you to come along with her, she'll be giving away a couple of closed beta codes to those who are watching. You don't want to miss this first foray into the wilds of closed beta, so join us at 8:15 p.m. EDT. MJ Guthrie Date: Wednesday, March 26th, 2014 Time: 8:15 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: It's beta (and code giveaway) time in Landmark! The Stream Team: It's beta (and code giveaway) time in Landmark! originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Make My MMO: Crowdfunding March 16 - March 22, 2014 Posted: 26 Mar 2014 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Business Models, MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Crowdfunding, Make My MMO Last week's new entry MyDream met its $100,000 Kickstarter goal, and it did so with over two weeks left in its funding drive! Aside from that bit of good news, it was fairly quiet on the crowdfunding front. GoblinWorks made waves with some interesting class reveals for fantasy sandbox Pathfinder Online (say hello to the Aristocrat, the Commoner, and the Expert in addition to usual suspects like the Barbarian, Paladin, Sorcerer, and Bard). And superhero project City of Titans announced that it's moving its assets from Unreal 3 to Unreal 4, which will enable greater ease, flexibility, and detail during the game's development cycle. Click past the cut to catch up on the rest of the crowdfunding... er, crowd. Continue reading Make My MMO: Crowdfunding March 16 - March 22, 2014 Make My MMO: Crowdfunding March 16 - March 22, 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Star Trek Online previews the new Undine battlezone in Season 9 Posted: 26 Mar 2014 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Patches, Endgame, News Items, PvE, Star Trek Online, Free-to-Play, Subscription Star Trek Online captains have been diligently fighting against the Voth in the Dyson Sphere for some time now, but when Season 9 comes out, the Undine will arrive. That means players will have to face off against new challenges, starting with the Undine battlezone. While this region of the sphere was previously under Voth control, the Undine have taken this area for their own, forcing Starfleet, the KDF, and the Romulans to work together in order to drive them out. The Undine Battlezone will be accessible directly from the Ground Combat Zone and the Contested Zone. Players will be tasked with taking control of nine points within the map, followed by assaulting the Undine's planet-killer ships. Success earns Dilithium and Undine Marks, while failure... well, you can imagine what that involves. For more details on access and the point control, check out the full development blog. Star Trek Online previews the new Undine battlezone in Season 9 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| World of Warplanes video goes over aircraft specs Posted: 26 Mar 2014 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Historical, Video, War, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, World of Warplanes Flying a fighter in World of Warplanes isn't just jerking on your joystick; you'll need to have a little know-how regarding the important technical specifications that keep your tin cannister in the air and in one piece. Wargaming has posted a new "flight school" video today covering the five main aircraft technical specifications: durability (hit points), firepower, airspeed, maneuverability, and altitude performance. There are several sub-parameters in each category as well, and by being aware of these, a pilot can use his or her vehicle to its strongest potential. These specs can be compared favorably or unfavorably to other planes' specs on a similar tier while the plane is in the hangar. You can watch the full video after the break. Continue reading World of Warplanes video goes over aircraft specs World of Warplanes video goes over aircraft specs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| WildStar hosts a PvP AMA Posted: 26 Mar 2014 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, Previews, PvP, News Items, WildStar, Subscription, Buy-to-Play Are you ready to fight for your faction in WildStar? Are you eager to feel blood and gore and guts and veins in your teeth? Then you're probably all eager to jump into the game's PvP. We've hosted some previews, but you probably still have questions, and that's why the PvP design team took to Reddit to host a PvP AMA. While the team couldn't answer every question posed by players, you can go on over and find out a lot more about how facing off against your opposite numbers will feel. Some of it is probably expected, like the fact that there will be no cross-factional communication during battlegrounds. Other pieces of information are a bit more interesting. For instance, the developers haven't placed much emphasis on open-world PvP for launch, mostly because they want to see what areas are the most densely populated in terms of PvE content, which will give a good idea of what can be made more interesting with PvP. Take a look at the full AMA for more details on how you can smash faces against your enemies when the game goes live in a couple of months. WildStar hosts a PvP AMA originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Leaderboard: What do you do when you're out of content? Posted: 26 Mar 2014 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, PvE, Opinion, Leaderboard I recently finished Lord of the Rings Online's epic story on my main character. Then I maxed all three of his crafting specializations. Then I polished off a bunch of outstanding deeds and a few interesting lower level quest lines that I had inadvertently missed. As a result, I feel like I've pretty much "beaten" the game, even though there are still rep grinds, dungeons, and PvMP stuff that I could technically do if I found them interesting. I don't, though, so aside from roleplaying and the occasional Middle-earth screenshot soiree, I'm done with LotRO until the next expansion or whatever. Are you in a similar predicament, Leaderboard readers? What do you do when you've exhausted all of a game's content that interests you? 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: What do you do when you're out of content? Leaderboard: What do you do when you're out of content? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Breaking of Isengard: A play session with Lord of the Rings Online's Update 13 Posted: 26 Mar 2014 03:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Patches, Previews, Free-to-Play, Hands-On It's strange to realize that Lord of the Rings Online players have been exploring Volume III of the epic story for four years now. With Update 13: The Breaking of Isengard, all of that is going to end. Volume III will wrap up, Saruman will get what's coming to him, and players will have a new endgame before heading out to Gondor. We had a play session with the LotRO devs today covering the final eight chapters of Volume III and chatting a bit about what players will fill their time with as they wait for Update 14. Update 13 is certainly replete with plenty to do and see, from an upgraded inventory, mail improvements, a scaling Ettenmoors, revamped zones, and new crafting challenges, but the main story is what pushes the game forward. In the final chapters of Volume III, players will not only investigate what happened to Isengard during the Battle of Helm's Deep but will have the option of jumping into the shoes (roots?) of an Ent for a unique perspective of an important character in the books. It'll be worth the journey, if only to have a shot at obtaining the first (non-Lore-master) cosmetic pets in the game. You read that right. Continue reading The Breaking of Isengard: A play session with Lord of the Rings Online's Update 13 The Breaking of Isengard: A play session with Lord of the Rings Online's Update 13 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Choose My Adventure: My final week with PlanetSide 2 Posted: 26 Mar 2014 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Opinion, War, Free-to-Play, Hands-On, MMOFPS, Choose My Adventure, PlanetSide 2 I'm sad to say that this is my final week in PlanetSide 2 for Choose My Adventure, but I did come away with some new thoughts on the game. Playing the Heavy Assault, Light Assault, and MAX opened up my eyes to the other side of the fence and showed me that these are more than just run-and-gun classes. And with more information on the Valkyrie aircraft revealed over the weekend, we can certainly see that Sony Online Entertainment is still dedicated to supporting the game. This is a good thing considering so many MMOs with PS2's ambition often fall flat merely months after launch when the numbers inevitably drop. Not so for this one, it seems. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: My final week with PlanetSide 2 Choose My Adventure: My final week with PlanetSide 2 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Norrathian Notebook Extra: Get the scoop on the opening of EQ Next Landmark's closed beta Posted: 26 Mar 2014 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Free-to-Play, EverQuest Next, Player-Generated Content, Norrathian Notebook EverQuest Next Landmark's alpha is not only over, it's gone. As in gone gone. As in the world has been officially destroyed and nothing remains (except for your templates, Founders Pack goodies, and purchased items, of course!). But that was all a necessary step in the direction of closed beta, which is opening today! Now, even more fans -- from those who bought Settler Packs to those who acquire a beta key from Trailblazers -- can get in on the new experience that is EQN Landmark. And a new experience it is, even from alpha. Alpha players may have a one-up on folks as far as manipulating the building tools, but this closed beta adds more to the game, so there is plenty of new to go around. Even the very progression has altered. So to give yourself a boost in your new journeys and take a look here at what you can expect when you log in. And don't forget, if you don't have a key yourself, you can watch our livestreams on Massively TV tonight when the servers come up and tomorrow at 6:00 p.m. EDT for a chance to grab one! [Update: SOE just announced that every attendee of SOE Live 2013 will be sent a Settler Founders Pack via email. Because these packs are not tied to accounts, if players already have another pack, these can be given away.] Continue reading Norrathian Notebook Extra: Get the scoop on the opening of EQ Next Landmark's closed beta Norrathian Notebook Extra: Get the scoop on the opening of EQ Next Landmark's closed beta originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Nightmare Supes coming to Infinite Crisis on April 9 Posted: 26 Mar 2014 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, Classes, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, MOBA, Infinite Crisis Nightmare Superman is coming to Infinite Crisis on April 9th! Turbine's latest press release explains how the Man of Steel defeated a Phantom Zone beastie named Aethyr "but was infested with unearthly Phantom Zone energy in the process." Nightmare Supes is a Controller who harnesses Phantom Zone energy to hinder enemies and help allies. You probably want to see him in action, though, right? Fortunately for you we've embedded his new trailer just past the cut. [Source: Turbine press release] Continue reading Nightmare Supes coming to Infinite Crisis on April 9 Nightmare Supes coming to Infinite Crisis on April 9 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Neverwinter releases post-Shadowmantle infographic Posted: 26 Mar 2014 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, News Items, Free-to-Play, Neverwinter So how is Neverwinter doing these days? The game's been a little quiet since the launch of Shadowmantle. But it looks as if it's doing fairly well, judging by a brand-new infographic, which is embedded just past the cut. More than 2 million new characters have been created since the launch of Shadowmantle, with Hunter Rangers turning up as the most popular new character and Devoted Clerics as the least. Beyond that, over 3 million characters have died in PvP matches and a combined total of 405 years' worth of experience has been gained. If you can't get enough of numbers about games, go ahead and jump past the cut to see exactly how the game has been doing since its last update. On a numerical level, it seems pretty solid. [Source: Perfect World Entertainment press release] Continue reading Neverwinter releases post-Shadowmantle infographic Neverwinter releases post-Shadowmantle infographic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Senator who crusaded against game violence arrested on corruption charges Posted: 26 Mar 2014 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Legal, Humor  California state senator Leland Yee, a Democrat best known in gamer circles for authoring Assembly Bill 1179 that sought to prevent the sale of violent titles to minors, has been arrested on public corruption charges. SFGate reports that the predawn raid of Yee's San Francisco office involved hundreds of federal and local authorities. The ongoing investigation also "targeted notorious former gangster Raymond 'Shrimp Boy' Chow who was once sentenced to 25 years in prison on gun charges." Senator Yee was previously arrested for shoplifting a bottle of suntan oil and was twice stopped by San Francisco police officers who suspected him of "cruising the Mission District in search of prostitutes." Yee made headlines in the wake of the 2013 Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting by telling gamers to shut the heck up. "Gamers have got to just quiet down. Gamers have no credibility in this argument," he said. "This is all about their lust for violence and the industry's lust for money. This is a billion-dollar industry. This is about their self-interest." Senator who crusaded against game violence arrested on corruption charges originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Guild Wars 2 improving guild and LFG systems in April Posted: 26 Mar 2014 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Guilds, Patches, Previews, News Items, Guild Wars 2, Buy-to-Play The last few announcements about Guild Wars 2 changes have been big. And with good cause, as roughly no one should be unhappy about the final destruction of the much-maligned town clothes mechanic. But there are smaller significant changes coming along as well, as detailed in a new post outlining a few changes coming to both the game's LFG tools as well as guild management systems. They won't rewrite the game, but they should make it a little easier. Guild leaders, for instance, will be able to see when members last logged in. The LFG tool will allow filtering via language and for WvW groups, making it that much easier to find a group that you can communicate with and has the same goals as you. There are also improved mechanics for guild-based groups in the system. Sure, it's not a complete trait overhaul, but if you're enjoying your time in Tyria every little improvement is a good one. Guild Wars 2 improving guild and LFG systems in April originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Age of Wushu expansion to feature 'a proper healing class' Posted: 26 Mar 2014 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Classes, Expansions, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, PvP, News Items, Free-to-Play, Sandbox, Age of Wushu Age of Wushu's Tempest of Strife expansion is introducing "a proper healing class," according to the game's latest website update. Players walking the Golden Needle Sect path can bring back the dead, or at least the wounded, by using a skill set that "focuses on healing and defense [and that] works both in melee and from range." Snail Games has released a class teaser video which you can view after the break. Continue reading Age of Wushu expansion to feature 'a proper healing class' Age of Wushu expansion to feature 'a proper healing class' originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 26 Mar 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Virtual Boy, Microsoft tablet, Dell phablet, and more
Special price for students
Gartner predicts a 6.6 percent decline in traditional PC shipments next year
Now Linux users can run Maxthon, too
Custom PC builder embraces the virtual coin movement
An aimbot free-for-all'
