MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Why WildStar's name reservations were screwed up

Posted: 19 May 2014 11:30 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , ,

En fuego!
So WildStar's name reservation system didn't work quite right. It's working now, but when it went live it wasn't working at all, and for a first-come-first-served thing that's kind of a catastrophic problem. Compensation has been announced, but why did everything go wrong? Carbine's director of operations posted in the forums about how things went from bad to worse and where the breakdowns in communication took place.

The short version is that it started when a big information drop introduced a lot of new assets to the site, causing even more load than was expected for the page when the name service went up. After that was handled, however, another problem surfaced with the site's feedback, leading to what is described as the server performing what amounts to a DDoS attack against itself. And once that was fixed, another problem surfaced. If you'd like to see the whole breakdown in detail to understand how everything got messed up, take a look at the full post on the official forums.

MassivelyWhy WildStar's name reservations were screwed up originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2014 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

PlanetSide 2 shows off PlayStation 4 graphics

Posted: 19 May 2014 11:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , ,

PS2 PS4
Sony Online Entertainment is gearing PlanetSide 2 players up for the upcoming release on the PlayStation 4 by showing off a couple new screenshots with the PS4 graphics.

These teaser images are photos of a screen (probably not the best way to show off new graphics to the internet), but of particular interest to fans is the inclusion of the PlayStation Vita in one of the shots. The strategic placement of the Vita and box hint that it's not accident, but we have no official word yet on the Vita's role in the game -- or a release date for the PS4 version either, for that matter.

Check out the two new screenshots included after the cut.

Continue reading PlanetSide 2 shows off PlayStation 4 graphics

MassivelyPlanetSide 2 shows off PlayStation 4 graphics originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

The Nexus Telegraph: Preparing for WildStar's launch

Posted: 19 May 2014 10:00 AM PDT

Filed under: , , , , , , ,

I'm excited.  Are you excited?  I am.
When you read this, dear reader, you will be less than two weeks away from early access to WildStar. Unless you've come here just to let everyone know you don't want to play the game, in which case you might want to find slightly more joyous hobbies? Just a thought.

The obvious thing to do pre-launch, of course, is to reserve your name, but that didn't work out for everyone so well, and I'm betting that if you were going to do that by now, you would have done it. (Still have a little time if you haven't, though.) What else can you do? Open beta is over. It's just getting into the meat of the game and maybe taking a day or two off of work first, right?

Obviously not; there's more stuff you can do to prep yourself for the launch psychologically and otherwise. So step into my metaphorical office, and I'll give you some suggestions about things to do before the game starts and once early access kicks off.

Continue reading The Nexus Telegraph: Preparing for WildStar's launch

MassivelyThe Nexus Telegraph: Preparing for WildStar's launch originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Shroud of the Avatar's Release 6 brings better visuals and combat

    Posted: 19 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , ,

    Shroud of the Avatar
    Shroud of the Avatar's Release 6 is set to roll out this Thursday with a host of new goodies for backers to enjoy. Release 6 includes visual improvements, player-to-player secure trade, additional crafting animations, combat improvements, looting fixes, revised animals, a new iteration of the overworld map, and a "sanity pass" on NPC dialogue.

    The weekend's website update was primarily focused on the improvements being made to the game's housing system, including larger abodes and even new types of homes. The Founder Lord Town Home was scaled up to include more rooms and even a secret hiding spot. Meanwhile, the Benefactor Town Home was displayed in all of its glory, boasting several rooms (including another secret one) and twin decks. If living the high life isn't for you, the team also made a rustic barn house featuring two stories and four rooms.

    MassivelyShroud of the Avatar's Release 6 brings better visuals and combat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

    EverQuest II's dino-tastic expansion pack is still in the works

    Posted: 19 May 2014 08:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , ,

    EQ2
    EverQuest II folks, fret not, for SOE has not abandoned you for shiny new sandboxes. The recent producer's letter mentions several projects that the team is working hard on, the biggest of which is the upcoming unnamed expansion pack.

    "We are working on a variety of themes again, one of them we have hinted at with dinosaur-like creatures," the letter teases. SOE goes on to say that expansion previews will be happening soon, and come June there will be a "Gear Up, Level Up" promotion aimed at preparing the playerbase for the release. All players will receive bonuses that month, although All Access players will get the better end of it. It also looks as though there will be an expansion discount for those who pre-order in June.

    The team is also working to improve its matchmaking code, add a new Tunaria PvP warzone, create a Fabled Deathtoll dungeon zone, and toss in dressable NPC mannequins for housing.

    MassivelyEverQuest II's dino-tastic expansion pack is still in the works originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Shards is a full MMO and a private server platform

    Posted: 19 May 2014 07:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , , , ,

    Shards house
    Shards Online released a video update to its Kickstarter project over the weekend, along with a huge wall-o'-text focused on lore. Citadel Studios boss Derek Brinkmann stars in the clip, which addresses one of the most common questions about Shards so far.

    "Is Shards a game, or is it a platform? The answer is it's both," Brinkmann explains. "First and foremost it's a full game. It's built from the ground up with its own rulesets, live content, real-time events, moderation, updates, developer support, PvP, PvE, crafting, housing, the whole kit and kaboodle."

    In terms of the title's platform aspects, Brinkmann says that you don't have to be a programmer or a modder to run your own Shards server. He also explains how private servers are simply one of the game's many options, since the official Shards servers will offer full MMO functionality. You can view the video after the cut.

    Continue reading Shards is a full MMO and a private server platform

    MassivelyShards is a full MMO and a private server platform originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

    The Daily Grind: Do huge dev teams give you pause?

    Posted: 19 May 2014 06:00 AM PDT

    Filed under: , , , , ,

    Skyforge
    We recently discovered that the Skyforge dev team numbers nearly 300 people. Star Citizen's team is over 200. Those are pretty crazy numbers, even for alleged AAA games and even for full-featured massively multiplayer online things.

    Taking into account that budgets vary wildly from project to project and company to company, do large numbers of devs on an MMO project give you pause? Why or why not?

    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 huge dev teams give you pause? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 19 May 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

    Permalink | Email this | Comments

      MMO Week in Review: NCsoft's dueling MMORPGs

      Posted: 18 May 2014 06:00 PM PDT

      Filed under: , ,

      GW2
      At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. If you missed a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week, you've come to the right post.

      In spite of name reservation system struggles and subsequent compensation for players, NCsoft's upcoming MMORPG WildStar surged onward into its final open beta phase this weekend, emphasizing its raid design and business model. Massively's podcast even hosted Carbine's Creative Director Chad "Pappylicious" Moore for a Q&A.

      Meanwhile, players of NCsoft's Guild Wars 2 will be treated to a fresh festival and the start of the rebuilding of Lion's Arch after its destruction during the last living story campaign.

      Read on for a look at the rest of this week's top MMO stories.

      Continue reading MMO Week in Review: NCsoft's dueling MMORPGs

      MassivelyMMO Week in Review: NCsoft's dueling MMORPGs originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 May 2014 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

      Permalink | Email this | Comments

        Star Citizen's Arena Commander is launching on May 29th

        Posted: 18 May 2014 04:00 PM PDT

        Filed under: , , , , , , , , ,

        Star Citizen
        Star Citizen fans, mark your calendars for May 29th. If all goes well, you'll be playing at least a single-player version of Arena Commander as Cloud Imperium begins to roll out portions of its long-awaited dogfighting module.

        CIG chairman Chris Roberts has posted his weekly recap, which contains the tentative date and a preview of what to expect. "The goal is that every backer will have access to the single-player Free Flight and Vanduul Swarm games mode on this day, and the very first batch of multiplayer testers will get access to the game's multiplayer game modes," Roberts writes. "We will scale up the multiplayer as quickly as possible starting on that date, increasing the number of players as it is stable and stopping to fix bugs where needed."

        There's much more to the weekly studio report, so click through to the Roberts Space Industries website to read it!

        MassivelyStar Citizen's Arena Commander is launching on May 29th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 May 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments

        Star Wars: The Old Republic housing will not disappoint, devs promise

        Posted: 18 May 2014 02:00 PM PDT

        Filed under: , , , , ,

        SWTOR
        Housing in a galaxy far, far away will be "nothing like any system" we have seen in MMOs before, say the devs.

        At a recent Vancouver Star Wars: The Old Republic cantina community event with the devs, McSleuth Gaming took down detailed notes from the Q&A session and intermingling that followed. One of the questions probed the type of housing that Galactic Strongholds will offer, to which a dev replied, "I will say though it is nothing like any system in any other MMO out there right now; it is completely different and a new style. I promise you, as a fan of housing you will not be disappointed in how our works. Seriously. We have put a lot of thought into making it customizable."

        If you're hoping for looser free-to-play restrictions, well, don't hold your breath. "Every time something new is added for F2P it actually is simultaneously taking something away from subs perks," the devs hedged. "So there needs to be balance and that is something we are always looking at changing."

        Meanwhile, Massively's Larry has several pictures of the new casino event and stronghold construction coming to the game, so check them out!

        [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]

        MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic housing will not disappoint, devs promise originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 May 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments

        Go tent camping now in Wurm Online

        Posted: 18 May 2014 12:00 PM PDT

        Filed under: , , , , , ,

        WURM
        In a game that allows you to carve out a swath of wilderness and create a home, it seems strange that Wurm Online previously lacked anything between the "sleep on the hard ground" and "set up shop in a full cabin" territory. Well that's all changed thanks to the addition of tents, including a newbie variant that is handed out at the start. Wurm's also updated the game to include timber frame walls for houses.

        The team spent some time in this week's news post to talk about upcoming projects, including a pavilion-style tent, progress with collision detection on bridges, a meditation animation, and the Xanadu release.

        [Thanks to Tom for the tip!]

        MassivelyGo tent camping now in Wurm Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 18 May 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

        Permalink | Email this | Comments

        MMORPG News

        MMORPG News


        General: This Week's Live Stream Schedule

        Posted: 19 May 2014 07:54 AM PDT

        This Week

        We have posted out weekly live stream schedule to give you ample opportunity to check out the games and the times to be sure you don't miss a moment of the hottest MMO streaming around.

        Legend of Silkroad: Open Beta to Kick Off May 20th

        Posted: 19 May 2014 07:42 AM PDT

        Open Beta to Kick Off May 20th

        JC Planet has announced that the open beta for Legend of Silkroad will officially kick off on Tuesday, May 20th. According to the development team, the closed beta phase produced good results and that fans were pleased with the overall systems and features.

        Star Citizen: Arena Commander Weekly Report Contains Big News

        Posted: 19 May 2014 07:36 AM PDT

        Arena Commander Weekly Report Contains Big News

        Fans hoping to get a look at Star Citizen and who have backed the project will finally get their hands on a portion of the game on May 29th. According to the latest Arena Commander Weekly report, the Free Flight and Vanduul Swarm game modes. In addition, the first group of multiplayer candidates will be invited to help the team bug fix. The post indicates that the pool for multiplayer testers will be expanded over time and as quickly as possible.

        Destiny: Reinventing the First Person Shooter

        Posted: 19 May 2014 07:29 AM PDT

        Reinventing the First Person Shooter

        According to a new video released on the PlayStation YouTube channel, Destiny will 'reinvent the first person shooter'. The video shows multiplayer action with all classes represented and includes a look at special skills that require specific button combinations on the PS controller. Destiny is scheduled to begin beta testing later this summer.

        Elite: Dangerous: Alpha 4 Hyperspace Jump

        Posted: 19 May 2014 07:22 AM PDT

        Alpha 4 Hyperspace Jump

        An Elite: Dangerous fan has made a new video from Alpha 4 to show off the way that hyperspace jumps will happen in game. E:D uses a unique system to send ships hurtling through space. Watch and learn!

        World of Warcraft: Blizzcon, Nelfs & Naxxramas

        Posted: 17 May 2014 05:12 PM PDT

        Blizzcon, Nelfs & Naxxramas

        Welcome to All Things Warcraft - the new name for the previous WoW Factor column. The name change is to more accurately reflect what this column will be about going forward, Warcraft. This week we discover a source to find wild BlizzCon tickets, we check out the new female Night Elf model and see what's going on in the world of Hearthstone.

        Total Pageviews

        statcounter

        View My Stats