MMO Updates

MMO Updates


DC Universe Online begins prototyping survival mode gameplay

Posted: 27 Apr 2014 10:00 AM PDT

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DCIO
In response to player requests for a gameplay mode that will challenge endgamers in the lull between DLC packs, SOE is experimenting on what it's calling "survival mode" for superhero MMO DC Universe Online.

According to a post on the official forums, the team is prototyping a wave-style event "where 8-player groups face off against waves of progressively tougher enemies and bosses," which ends with a full wipe and properly marks and rewards survival, though not in a way that makes the events "necessary to progression." Writes SOE's JackFrost,
We will return to an existing environment and use existing (but ever more challenging) enemies. Initially, we are planning to use Oan Sciencells, and feature a multitude of Lantern-related characters. Reusing existing resources means we can do this without impacting future content planned for DLCs. The event will likely be available only for limited amounts of time, cycling in and out of the game. It will not be attached to any DLC, but it will require a high (end-game) Combat Rating. Finally - and most importantly - it is intended to be a FUN, extra event for leagues and groups of players to throw themselves at, see a completely new experience in DCUO, and take real satisfaction in their accomplishments.
Survival mode is early in development and subject to change; the developers have requested player feedback on the forums.

MassivelyDC Universe Online begins prototyping survival mode gameplay originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Apr 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Reflection perfection

Posted: 27 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT

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LOTRO
"Take a picture of a picture in an MMO," I said to you guys a couple of weeks ago, and darn it if you awesome folks didn't come through! We have two entries from that screenshot challenge this week, starting with reader Chiara taking a look at her good looks in Lord of the Rings Online.

"One of the things that impressed me the most when Riders of Rohan launched was the furniture," Chiara wrote. "I spent the whole day breaking into NPCs' houses uninvited (they weren't amused). The first time I saw a mirror, I squealed."

I'm squealing right now myself, but that's mostly because a mouse just ran across the ceiling tiles. I need to throw a cat up between the floors one of these days to solve that problem. Anyway, let's take a gander at the other great entires from players' screenshot folders!

Continue reading One Shots: Reflection perfection

MassivelyOne Shots: Reflection perfection originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Apr 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Daily Grind: Who's your favorite Marvel Heroes hero?

    Posted: 27 Apr 2014 06:00 AM PDT

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    Marvel Heroes - Nightcrawler and Storm
    I'm having a hard time picking a main character in Marvel Heroes. I started out with Storm, then F2P guilt intervened so I ponied up for Nightcrawler. Then I got a free Spider-man as a result of Gazillion's 10-month anniversary promotional shindig which only added to my indecision.

    It's a good problem to have, though, and I guess for now I'll go with Nightcrawler because, well, teleporting. What about you, Marvel Heroes players? Who's your favorite and why?

    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: Who's your favorite Marvel Heroes hero? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Make My MMO: April 20 - April 26, 2014

      Posted: 26 Apr 2014 04:00 PM PDT

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      Make My MMO header
      Trials of Ascension acquitted itself well this week with a new dev video that showed off its unique dynamic spawning feature. In other crowdfunding news, The Chosen's IndieGoGo campaign came and went without hitting its $1,000,000 goal. Thanks to the service's flexible funding, though, The Chosen's devs will keep existing donations to the self-described "game-child" of EVE Online and Fallout 3.

      Click past the cut for the rest of Massively's weekly crowdfunding roundup.

      Continue reading Make My MMO: April 20 - April 26, 2014

      MassivelyMake My MMO: April 20 - April 26, 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Apr 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        WoW Archivist: The Martin Fury incident

        Posted: 26 Apr 2014 02:00 PM PDT

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        Flame Leviathan
        WoW Archivist is a biweekly column by WoW Insider's Scott Andrews, who explores the secrets of World of Warcraft's past. What did the game look like years ago? Who is etched into WoW's history? What secrets does the game still hold? It first appeared on our sister site on April 25h and is included here by permission.

        Almost exactly five years ago today, WoW Insider broke the news about one of the craziest stories in WoW's history. Some called it a "scandal," but I disagree with the term. Everyone involved, I believe, acted without malice. The entire affair was a matter of one colossal blunder, followed by a series of unfortunate assumptions and, ultimately, heavy-handed repercussions.

        The real victims here, after all, were the bosses.

        But the event is a fascinating and unique one: one player, given the kind of unlimited power that only a game master or developer was meant to wield. How did it all go down?

        Continue reading WoW Archivist: The Martin Fury incident

        MassivelyWoW Archivist: The Martin Fury incident originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Apr 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Road to Mordor: Birthdays and Beornings in LotRO

          Posted: 26 Apr 2014 12:00 PM PDT

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          This month Lord of the Rings Online will be hitting its seventh anniversary. That's right: Seven years ago, LotRO opened the doors to Middle-earth in a way that we never had before. Some took cheap shots by calling it a World of Warcraft clone, but the less inflammatory and more intelligent in the crowd realized that there was something more to this MMO than a Hobbit-infested Azeroth.

          We've had ups and downs in LotRO since 2007, but one continuing testimony that I see mentioned on a regular basis is how welcoming and wonderful it is to return to this game. There's something special -- almost magical -- about Turbine's version of Middle-earth that has entranced many players and continues to do so. Heck, in my very first Road to Mordor back in 2010 I tried to articulate why I felt that this game was set apart from the pack in significant ways.

          Today we have much to discuss about the future of the game, but I want to start with one overriding factor that so much of the game connects to: its sense of cohesiveness. This is not a scattered playground full of discordant toys but a unified world with intricate bonds that we are still exploring.

          Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Birthdays and Beornings in LotRO

          MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Birthdays and Beornings in LotRO originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Apr 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            General: Strife: Doing Something to Stand Out in a Crowd

            Posted: 25 Apr 2014 05:31 PM PDT

            Strife: Doing Something to Stand Out in a Crowd

            In a swiftly-saturating genre, it takes some doing to stand out from the crowd. S2 Games is attempting to do so with Strife, billing it as a second-generation MOBA. At PAX East, I had the chance to sit down with Producer Tim Shannon to discuss the game and how S2 is trying to re-invent this particular wheel.

            World of Warcraft: MMOS - Selling Lifestyles, Not Just Games

            Posted: 26 Apr 2014 10:26 PM PDT

            MMOS - Selling Lifestyles, Not Just Games

            Entertainers these days don't seem content to succeed at one thing. That's because making money in the entertainment business just isn't as straightforward as it used to be, so performers have learned to expand their brands beyond music or movies and into other markets. Similarly, game makers are realizing if they want to survive, let alone thrive, they too need to expand their commercial and cultural reach.

            Elder Scrolls Online: First Patch Notes Released

            Posted: 26 Apr 2014 11:13 PM PDT

            First Patch Notes Released

            The Elder Scrolls Online released Patch Notes for the game's first major update, having put it through the PTS thresher. Details below.



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            MMO Updates


            The Stream Team: Teaming up in Marvel Heroes (and giving out codes!)

            Posted: 26 Apr 2014 10:00 AM PDT

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            Sometimes you just want to grab a cape or some spandex and be a hero! OK, maybe just Massively's MJ does. Luckily, Marvel Heroes lets her do just that. And with the new Team Up feature that gives you a a sidekick hero and a special event weekend that includes a code for a free random hero, there is no better time to dive in and experience the action alongside her. Need more encouragement? How about a chance for free codes? Join us live at noon for your chance to get a Team Up pack!

            Game: Marvel Heroes
            Host: MJ Guthrie
            Date: Saturday, April 26th, 2014
            Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT

            Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

            Continue reading The Stream Team: Teaming up in Marvel Heroes (and giving out codes!)

            MassivelyThe Stream Team: Teaming up in Marvel Heroes (and giving out codes!) originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Apr 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              WRUP: Polarization

              Posted: 26 Apr 2014 08:00 AM PDT

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              Welcome back to Massively's What Are You Playing, the game where we tell you what we're playing this weekend and you try to convince us that there's no place for nuance or constructive criticism in the MMO genre because this is war, so pick a side. If you criticize one aspect of a game, that means you hate the whole game forever and ever, right? Right?!

              Continue reading WRUP: Polarization

              MassivelyWRUP: Polarization originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Apr 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Daily Grind: Do you have a plan for your play sessions?

                Posted: 26 Apr 2014 06:00 AM PDT

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                SWTOR
                The other day I was running through my daily checklist whilst in the shower (that's where I get all my important thinking done) and realized that among my "to dos" for the day, I had included things that I wanted to accomplish in my games. That was a weird moment, because I'm not always conscious that I map out my goals for upcoming play sessions. I like to think that I'm free-wheeling and easy-going, but I guess the truth is that I log on with very specific actions in mind so as to make the best use of my play.

                Do you do this? Do you log in with an idea of what you want to accomplish during a play session or do you just kind of wing it and go with the flow? Do you even work toward meta-goals that take many, many play sessions to accomplish or cling to the mantra of "what happens, happens?"

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

                MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you have a plan for your play sessions? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  Betawatch: April 19 - 25, 2014

                  Posted: 25 Apr 2014 06:00 PM PDT

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                  ArcheAge
                  This week, ArcheAge announced its founder pack plans and suggested it'll launch its western closed beta come this June. What else is new in the land of MMO betas? Read on for the complete Betawatch roundup.

                  Continue reading Betawatch: April 19 - 25, 2014

                  MassivelyBetawatch: April 19 - 25, 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Elite: Dangerous goes in-depth on trading

                    Posted: 25 Apr 2014 05:00 PM PDT

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                    Elite Dangerous
                    Elite: Dangerous' 20th newsletter is out, and the team has dedicated the lion's share of its space to talking about the upcoming space sim's trading game.

                    The developers explain how Elite's thousands of systems will help to create a huge economy once the MMO goes live: "Each star system has a different basic type of economy -- for example agricultural, industrial, hi-tech, extraction, refining or service, and some have a mix of these basics -- such as extraction and refining are often (but not always) in the same system. From a commodities perspective all but a service economy produce items for consumption. This creates an active trade network."

                    The newsletter also gives a sneak peek at planetary rings, informs fans that today is the last day to buy into alpha access, and says that the game will update its galaxy configuration based on any major discoveries that may occur in our world. Give the newsletter a read and check out a video of the trading system after the break!

                    Continue reading Elite: Dangerous goes in-depth on trading

                    MassivelyElite: Dangerous goes in-depth on trading originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Eternal Crusade says founders program is not a crowdfunding campaign

                    Posted: 25 Apr 2014 04:00 PM PDT

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                    Behaviour Interactive's Miguel Caron penned a Warhammer 40K: Eternal Crusade newsletter today for fans skeptical about the founders program announced last week. The purpose of the program, he explains, is to solicit feedback and provide value to the faithful, not to crowdfund the game, which he says is already fully financed but might see an earlier introduction of content thanks to the founders: "The founders programs might, with your help, move a few unannounced features that are currently planned for after launch... before launch."

                    Caron also discusses the studio's commitment to transparency, expresses disdain for any sort of "marketing firewall between devs and fans," and hints that a playable game isn't too far off with this cryptic sentence: "You will soon land on Arkhona."

                    We outlined the proposed founder program perks in a post earlier this month.

                    MassivelyEternal Crusade says founders program is not a crowdfunding campaign originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Infestation: Survivor Stories claims 2.5 million players to date

                    Posted: 25 Apr 2014 03:00 PM PDT

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                    A new state of the game post is up today for Infestation: Survivor Stories (formerly The War Z), and the team claims that the title has seen 2.5 million players pass through its doors, with "over 100,000 people" playing the game daily.

                    The team apologized for not getting its promised updates out on time and said that it's made "sweeping changes" to improve communications and be more accurate with releases. Part of these efforts included hiring CMs and pledging to an internal model of "complete transparency whenever possible."

                    The state of the game post went on to list some of the game's recent additions, including vehicles, Super Zombies, balance tweaks, and an overhaul of the Colorado map. The team also said that it has committed itself to work on Infestation without external funding.

                    MassivelyInfestation: Survivor Stories claims 2.5 million players to date originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    Marvel Heroes kicks off Big Ten Week

                    Posted: 25 Apr 2014 02:00 PM PDT

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                    You only live once, but that life is quite a bit longer for some people than you'd expect if they're being constantly shot.
                    Ten months ago, Marvel Heroes launched. Most games would save their big celebrations for a year or half a year or something else, but Marvel Heroes is celebrating the not-quite-a-year mark with the Big Ten Week. And what's coming back for this week? Well... everything. Every big holiday rush up to this point is coming back in one way or another, with the festivities lasting until Friday, May 2nd.

                    Did you enjoy the whole bonus loot rotation from the Don't Fear the Reaper event? That's back. What about the St. Patrick's Day rewards? Yes, those too, with legendary recipes and the Luck of the Draw promotion (buy a hero and get another random hero for free, buy a costume and get another random costume for free). Winter holiday gifts, Lunar New Year gifts... it's an explosion of celebrations. If that's the sort of upgrade you like to see, you can check out the full list of repeats on the official announcement.

                    And if you're looking for a free random hero this weekend, apply the code RNDMHRO to your account. More free things!

                    MassivelyMarvel Heroes kicks off Big Ten Week originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    The Stream Team: Curbing kleptomania in The Elder Scrolls Online

                    Posted: 25 Apr 2014 01:00 PM PDT

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                    Try as she might to resist, Massively's MJ has a kleptomania problem in The Elder Scrolls Online. She just cant pass up a pot, urn, barrel, box, chest, bookshelf, desk, or nightstand without rifling through it. Was that a loaf of bread and some grapes on that table? Not anymore! They are in her pockets! All this pilfering is keeping MJ's Redguard from leveling too quickly . Can she resist for an hour and focus only on the adventures ahead? Join us live at 3:00 p.m. to see if she succeeds.

                    Game: The Elder Scrolls Online
                    Host: MJ Guthrie
                    Date: Friday, April 25th, 2014
                    Time: 3:00 p.m. EDT

                    Enjoy our Stream Team video below.

                    Continue reading The Stream Team: Curbing kleptomania in The Elder Scrolls Online

                    MassivelyThe Stream Team: Curbing kleptomania in The Elder Scrolls Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Destiny gets a spiffy new website

                      Posted: 25 Apr 2014 12:00 PM PDT

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                      Destiny's old Russia
                      Bungie has updated its Destiny website with lots of full-motion backgrounds and a visual palette befitting its burgeoning sci-fantasy universe. There's plenty of info regarding the Titan, Warlock, and Hunter classes, too, as well as a collection of Destiny trailers that you may have missed.

                      MassivelyDestiny gets a spiffy new website originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      Man steals thousands of dollars, spends them on Evony

                      Posted: 25 Apr 2014 11:00 AM PDT

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                      Evony
                      A Hawaiian man is expected to plead guilty to charges that he stole thousands of dollars to spend on the browser-based game Evony.

                      David Buchanan, 47, is charged with wire fraud after he convinced one woman to give him $40,000 for an investment that would see a promised 650% turnaround. "As a middle-aged, admittedly square, FBI Special Agent who doesn't play video games," Agent Tom Simon said during the investigation, "I was understandably perplexed when, during the 'follow the money' analysis, I kept seeing payments being made to something I'd never heard of called Evony. A bit of Googling properly identified Evony as an online video game of sorts, but I was still puzzled how anyone could possibly spend thousands of dollars on a video game. I wasn't being judgmental about the societal value of gaming. I was just dumbfounded that any video game could possibly cost that much."

                      You may remember Evony as that game best known for its boobtastic advertising campaigns a few years back, and, surprisingly enough, it's still around. Buchanan's trial is expected to take place on May 8th with sentencing expected later in the year.

                      MassivelyMan steals thousands of dollars, spends them on Evony originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Apr 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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