| Defiance will flip the F2P switch this summer Posted: 01 May 2014 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, Events (Real-World), News Items, Free-to-Play, Consoles, Post-Apocalyptic, Defiance Trion Worlds has just announced that the PC version of its transmedia-synergistic wonder Defiance will go free-to-play on June 4th of this year, with the PlayStation 3 version to follow around July 15th and the Xbox 360 edition expected to switch over at an unannounced date. The game had been running a free unlimited trial since last December. The studio says that new players will have access to the Bay Area storyline, the original endgame content, and future missions for free. Gamers who pick up a new copy of the game earn 1,000 Arkforge (currency), four character slots, five loadouts, up 70 75 Ark Keycodes, and a minimum of 70 inventory slots, as well as a month of "Paradise Patron" status come the F2P conversion. Existing players, fear not; Trion says that "these bonuses are also granted to all existing Defiance box or digital copy owners." Paradise Patron status grants character boosts (to skill, XP, scrip, salvage, and reputation gain rates), store discounts, and grab bags that include lock boxes and more boosts. Trion also hinted that we'll see new crossover storylines "in the coming weeks": The world of Defiance is rocked when the hope of Tranquility, the first Earthling-Votan hybrid on record, lies dying in Eren's emergency facility. As players track down the half-human and half-Irathient crossbreed's medical history, they'll quickly discover other forces are working to cover them up for a dark purpose. [Source: Trion press release]  Defiance will flip the F2P switch this summer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 May 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Norrathian Notebook: Upgrading your tools in Landmark Posted: 01 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Game Mechanics, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Guides, Crafting, Player-Generated Content, Norrathian Notebook, Landmark True confessions time! I have been looking forward to showing off my newly minted super pick and sharing with you all how you, too, could get a shiny new upgraded tool in Landmark. Unfortunately, due to the empty chest bug that came with the update, all my resources were lost; ergo, I wasn't able to craft -- let alone upgrade -- any high-level tools. Thankfully, since the new tool upgrade system is not relegated to only the highest of tiers and I can use iron, I can still show you how you can get the spiffy new pick or shiny new ax of your harvesting dreams! As a bonus, on top of guiding you through the upgrading process, I'll delve into why this is such a important step on the way toward the more robust Landmark game that folks are eager awaiting. Continue reading Norrathian Notebook: Upgrading your tools in Landmark Norrathian Notebook: Upgrading your tools in Landmark originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 May 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Perfect World Entertainment announces Dawn of the Immortals Posted: 01 May 2014 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New Titles, News Items, Free-to-Play, Mobile Perfect World Entertainment is expanding its catalog of games and heading off of your desktop. While the company already runs several free-to-play games, thus far almost all of them have been shackled to your home computer. Dawn of the Immortals is not; instead, it's shackled to your tablet or your phone. That's right, it's a 3D mobile action MMO for both Android and iOS devices, albeit one not currently available for beta testing. At this point there's very little hard information about the game available -- a 15-second trailer past the break, the promise of both major mobile platforms, and the opportunity to sign up for a mailing list. Signing up for that list will also net you a little in-game doodad, which is probably nice, and it will also prepare you for when the game finally does head into the beta arena. Continue reading Perfect World Entertainment announces Dawn of the Immortals Perfect World Entertainment announces Dawn of the Immortals originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 May 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Elder Scrolls getting justice system, dyes, Thieves Guild, and more Posted: 01 May 2014 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, PvE, The Elder Scrolls Online, Subscription Elder Scrolls Online boss Matt Firor has posted a lengthy look at the game's past, present, and future. He says that the development team continues to squash bugs, deal with botters, and read all of its press, both positive and negative. He also hints at future updates, including a justice system, armor dyes, Thieves Guild and Dark Brotherhood storyline and quests, spellcrafting, additional guild functionality, new dungeon content, and more. Not much is known about the justice system as of yet, but it involves the ability to steal from NPCs and features consequences for being caught. Finally, Firor says that everyone who had an active account prior to 8:00 p.m. EDT on May 1st will receive five free days of game time as a thank you for persisting through some of the launch issues. Elder Scrolls getting justice system, dyes, Thieves Guild, and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 May 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Do alternative server rulesets wreck PvP? Posted: 01 May 2014 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, PvP, PvE, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous, Sandbox, MMORPG A commenter conversation a while back got me thinking about how server rulesets can make or break the PvP in a game, and not in the way you might expect. I've found that when a game offers separate PvE and PvP servers (be those PvP servers factional or open), the middle-ground players are left without a home. My World of Warcraft guild, for example, was opposed to the idea of a PvE-only server where people could flag but rarely would do so, and so we ended up on a PvP server, where smallfry ganking, rather than the Dark Age of Camelot-esque RvR we'd hoped for, is tediously and irritatingly commonplace. Neither choice is ideal because the populations are split along too sharp a line. In Star Wars Galaxies, by contrast, the servers were PvE with factional-flagging consensual PvP, but because there were no full-PvP servers to bleed away the more hardcore PvPers, the population was mixed, and the PvP situation wound up being far more interesting for more players. PvE gamers who wouldn't dream of flagging for PvP in a game like World of Warcraft would see the Galactic Civil War being waged by PvPers all around them in SWG, and even though they could have stayed safely civillian and free from risk, that visible PvP made them much more likely to jump into PvP themselves willingly -- and isn't that exactly what MMOs should strive for? What do you think -- do alternative rulesets divide playerbases and wreck PvP? Are mixed-use servers a viable way to involve more players consensually in side activities like PvP?  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 alternative server rulesets wreck PvP? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 01 May 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| CCP formally dedicates EVE Online monument to internet spaceships Posted: 30 Apr 2014 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Video, EVE Online, Culture, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, News Items, Events (Massively's Coverage), Sandbox, Subscription, MMORPG This morning in Reykjavik, Iceland, near the CCP headquarters, the studio behind EVE Online, DUST 514, and EVE Valkyrie officially unveiled the EVE Universe Monument first announced last February. The monument includes the inscribed names of primary characters created before March 1st, 2014, with a special mention for those whose players have passed away. Beneath the monument is buried a time capsule with videos and messages from denizens of New Eden. To help EVE capsuleers find themselves on the monument, CCP has set up an online tool called the Name Finder. It's still technically in beta, but we've been able to find our characters! The studio also posted a brief video of the dedication ceremony and literal unveiling of the monument to its Instagram account. We've included it below! Continue reading CCP formally dedicates EVE Online monument to internet spaceships CCP formally dedicates EVE Online monument to internet spaceships originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| TERA's Reaper class heads to NA servers on May 13th Posted: 30 Apr 2014 06:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Classes, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, TERA The official Facebook page for TERA has posted an official North American release date for the Reaper class, already live in Japan and Korea, and that date is May 13th. According to fansite TeraToday, the Reaper is a free class available to players who already have a character over level 40; they're shadowy fighters who excel in close- and mid-range combat. We've included the Reaper trailer below. Pew pew slash slash and all that. Continue reading TERA's Reaper class heads to NA servers on May 13th TERA's Reaper class heads to NA servers on May 13th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Stream Team: Exploring ArcheAge's realms on a walkabout Posted: 30 Apr 2014 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Livestream, ArcheAge, Sandbox, The Stream Team With plenty of nooks and crannies in the different realms, ArcheAge is an explorer's paradise! And with her new mount, Massively's MJ can travel even faster on her quest to tour all the lands. Eschewing her quests for a bit, she'll wander the world to show off the many places players may find themselves. Of course, you know she's more apt than anything to find some trouble! Join us live at 8:00 p.m. to be a part of her walkabout. Game: ArcheAge Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Wednesday, April 30th, 2014 Time: 8:00 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Exploring ArcheAge's realms on a walkabout The Stream Team: Exploring ArcheAge's realms on a walkabout originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Marvel Heroes makes visible the Invisible Woman Posted: 30 Apr 2014 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Classes, News Items, Free-to-Play, Marvel Heroes, Promotions Marvel Heroes today revealed new playable character Invisible Woman, though I suppose we'll have to just take the studio's word for it since, you know, she can turn invisible. Sue Storm is the latest member of the Fantastic Four to be added to the roster and joins her brother, Johnny Storm the Human Torch, and Thing in Marvel Heroes. Able to bend light surrounding her to create force fields for both defensive and offensive use, she is informally known as the most powerful member due to the limitless potential of her powers. Gazillion has provided Massively's readers with a special code for a mystery gift in the game: RUNE3. It expires Saturday morning at 2:59 a.m. EST, so if you want some mystery, use it quickly. The studio also announced the start of Rune Week, an event that implements brand-new rune types and doubles rune drop rates across the game. [Source: Gazillion press release] Marvel Heroes makes visible the Invisible Woman originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| RIFT 2.7: Binding of Blood arrives May 7th Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game Mechanics, Launches, Patches, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, RIFT, Dungeons RIFT's 2.6.1 patch may have teased the Binding of Blood raid, but now we finally have a solid date for the full 2.7 patch: May 7th. The 2.7 update will initially incorporate the four new souls unveiled over the last few months (Arbiter, Physician, Oracle, and Liberator), new quests, and an upgraded UI. Trion Worlds will roll out additional changes over the span of the including tier 3 raids, the Greenscale warfront, a hellbug promotional tie-in with Defiance, the annual Summerfest, and a unicorn celebration. We're not judging. Every game needs a unicorn celebration. RIFT 2.7: Binding of Blood arrives May 7th originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| World of Warcraft wraps up its raiding retrospective Posted: 30 Apr 2014 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Previews, Endgame, News Items, Dungeons, Subscription What does the future of raiding in World of Warcraft look like? It looks like Warlords of Draenor, obviously, but what does that entail? That's the focus of the final installment of a feature that's examined the past of raiding and now looks to the future. While the changes in raid sizes and raid modes have been known since the expansion was first announced, there are more alterations incoming that should shake up the way that players currently move through the game's raiding content. The article explains that having a static group hitting the same content for quite some time stays engaging, while hitting a raid finder group is more or less the same each time. As a result, raid finder loots will be altered to lack set bonuses and have different art from the normal raids while also dropping more loot than other modes. Each raid difficulty will also have a separate lockout, while changes to Valor and the caps on same will diminish the importance of re-running old content that no one needs. Take a look at all of the changes in the new article. World of Warcraft wraps up its raiding retrospective originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| SWTOR releases Nar Shaddaa Sky Palace video Posted: 30 Apr 2014 03:40 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Trailers, Video, Patches, Previews, News Items, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Housing, Player-Generated Content Housing: It's the year's MMO buzzword, and Star Wars: The Old Republic is getting it come August. BioWare has just released a new video narrated by producer Jack Wood, who previews the Nar Shaddaa Sky Palace due out with this summer's Galactic Strongholds expansion. We've embedded the new (albeit short!) trailer below. Continue reading SWTOR releases Nar Shaddaa Sky Palace video SWTOR releases Nar Shaddaa Sky Palace video originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Transformers Universe founder's program includes $450 bundle Posted: 30 Apr 2014 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-Fi, Free-to-Play, Promotions, Transformers Universe, MOBA Transformers Universe may have just won "Most Expensive Founder's Pack Ever" award, as Jagex rolled out a $450 pre-launch bundle today and began taking orders. The founder's packs for Transformers Universe begin at a saner $45 for a bronze pack and go up to $60 for a silver pack, $120 for a gold pack, and $450 for the aforementioned Cybernite pack. All of the founder's packs contain titles, an in-game honor roll mention, and varying levels of season pass access and relics. From the silver pack on up, players will also get early access Transformers and other goodies. So what do you get if you blow $450 on a video game that has yet to be released? The Cybernite pack comes with $250 worth of relics, a year combo season pass, six early access robots, tons of in-game consumables, a limited-edition figurine, and 18 characters when launch hits. Transformers Universe founder's program includes $450 bundle originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| DC Universe Online launches Amazon Fury DLC Part 1 for legendary members Posted: 30 Apr 2014 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, Video, Game Mechanics, Patches, News Items, Free-to-Play, Consoles, DC Universe Online Just a day after SOE's new All Access membership plan kicked off, the studio has unleashed two updates for its superhero MMO, DC Universe Online. Weapon Mastery has been introduced today for all DCUO players; primarily, it grants gamers the "ability to master multiple weapon types and seamlessly combine them during combat." Also live today for early access players is Amazon Fury Part I, the first chunk of DLC focusing on Wonder Woman and the Amazons. It includes a new storyline, a new alert, duos, solo content, and a new shared open area. It'll be available for purchase formally on May 6th. We've included the Weapon Mastery video after the cut. Enjoy! [Source: SOE press release] Continue reading DC Universe Online launches Amazon Fury DLC Part 1 for legendary members DC Universe Online launches Amazon Fury DLC Part 1 for legendary members originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Carbine CM David Bass leaves WildStar Posted: 30 Apr 2014 02:00 PM PDT |
| Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's plan to survive 2014 Posted: 30 Apr 2014 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-Fi, Business Models, Culture, Events (Real-World), Game Mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-Play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon, Housing Star Wars: The Old Republic launched successfully but ran into issues shortly thereafter because of its unpolished endgame. Despite this, even the loudest haters agreed that the personal story held the game together. Although thousands of people played through the same questlines, players latched onto these stories because they felt personal and unique to the individual player. Unfortunately, the MMO could not retain that individual feel for a number of reasons, including a focus on larger storylines and a considerable staff reduction. This year in particular, BioWare wants to turn things around so that it focuses on core ideas that made the game enjoyable in the first place. But how does the development team plan on doing that without creating new personal story arcs? Are there ways to keep the players connected and immersed without class stories? BioWare is going to give it a shot. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's plan to survive 2014 Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's plan to survive 2014 originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Landmark updates testing blueprint Posted: 30 Apr 2014 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, EverQuest, Previews, Free-to-Play, Sandbox, Landmark EverQuest Franchise Lead Dave Georgeson critted Landmark testers with a wall of text late last night, updating the community on the plans for the game's features rollout over the next four months. To sum up the huge list: - Early May: The addition of oceans, cave networks, Player Studio, and some quick fixes to help new players catch up such as a progression path diagram and the placement of basic crafting tables at the Hub.
- Late May: The team will add customer service tools, "crafting 2.0," treasure chests (and loot!), voice chat, underwater effects, map improvements, a minimap, and lots more music from Jeremy Soule.
- June: June will see a personal interface for Player Studio put in, the advent of glass and water as a building material, a revamp to the claim system, improved character creation, resource swapping, a death system, shields, recipe books, achievements, "chat 2.0," the fog of war on the map, and a "surprise feature."
- July: By the middle of summer, Landmark will introduce ensemble outfit pieces, the combat system, pathing, craftable abilities, physics, monsters, SOEmote, and bodies of water other than oceans.
- August: The last month on the blueprint will contain (for now) building tool refinements, mounts, and dynamic water.
Landmark updates testing blueprint originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Apr 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| McQuaid: Pantheon could launch 'in three years once we get the funding' Posted: 30 Apr 2014 11:00 AM PDT |
Minimalistic yet durable plank
The Walking Dead: Windows Edition
Socketed Kabini meets integrated Wi-Fi
Careful not to get Cheetos smudges all over this rodent
AMD's first 2014 mobile APUs have arrived
The Godzilla of power supplies
