| Garriott bringing SotA to E3 Posted: 06 Jun 2014 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Business Models, Events (Real-World), MMO Industry, New Titles, News Items, Events (Massively's Coverage), Sandbox, Crowdfunding, Shroud of the Avatar, Buy-to-Play If you'll be in Los Angeles for E3 next week, you'll probably want to check out Richard Garriott's Shroud of the Avatar. If you won't be there, don't sweat it because Massively will be, and we'll also be chatting up Lord British and getting our hands on the fantasy sandbox's latest demo. Portalarium is hard at work on SotA, as you can see by the recent Q3 update notes. [Source: Portalarium press release]  Garriott bringing SotA to E3 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2014 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Pathfinder set to begin NDA-free alpha Posted: 06 Jun 2014 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO Industry, New Titles, PvP, News Items, Sandbox, Crowdfunding, Pathfinder Online GoblinWorks released a new Pathfinder dev blog this week. In a nutshell, the team is kicking off the fantasy sandbox's alpha test in very short order. The first week or two "will be an internal test" comprised of employees and family members, writes CEO Ryan Dancey. Dancey also points out that alpha really does mean alpha, but even so, GoblinWorks will not restrict testers with any sort of NDA. Click through the links below for more info! [Thanks Chrysillis!] Pathfinder set to begin NDA-free alpha originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2014 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Black Gold Online brings mechs to PvP battlegrounds Posted: 06 Jun 2014 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, PvP, Free-to-Play, Dev Diaries, Steampunk, Black Gold When you head to the PvP battleground in Black Gold Online, don't be surprised if you're the only chump walking around on two legs while everyone else is lording over you in mobile fortresses of steel, iron, and beastial flesh. In a new dev diary, Snail Games elaborates on the Battle Carrier system in Black Gold's PvP. Players will be able to choose and customize their own walking mech or creature out of over 100 models. The Battle Carriers come in five varieties -- Raid, Assault, Siege, Aerial and Anti-air -- and each of them are strong against some and weak against others. Producer Kee Zhang promised that no one Battle Carrier will dominate the landscape in PvP: "The idea of using a battle mount, with its own damage and attacks and such, came into the mix pretty early. The real light-bulb moment came when we thought of this 'Rock, paper, scissors' assortment -- every Carrier has advantages and attack bonuses over certain other Carriers, and in turn is vulnerable to another. It makes teamwork and strategy a must." Black Gold Online brings mechs to PvP battlegrounds originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Trove adds the Fae Trickster class Posted: 06 Jun 2014 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Classes, Free-to-Play, Sandbox, Trove Sparkle sparkle, my butterflies! Trove's alpha program has expanded to include a new class, the Fae Trickster. The new class skews to the magical, with illusion and pixie dust being its primary weapons against foes. The Fae Trickster uses an Ego Blast to attack, Blinks to teleport forward while leaving a clone behind, and shakes its wild thing during a Faerie Dance to bring out additional clones. The Fae Trickster is Trove's third class, and is available in the store for 1050 credits or 5000 source. [Source: Trion Worlds press release] Trove adds the Fae Trickster class originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2014 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Does an MMO need lore to foster roleplaying? Posted: 06 Jun 2014 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lore, MMO Industry, Opinion, Free-to-Play, The Daily Grind, EverQuest Next, Player-Generated Content, Landmark Commenters in MJ Guthrie's recent Landmark vs. EverQuest Next article brought up an interesting question about lore and roleplay in the two games. EverQuest Next, of course, will be drenched in EverQuestian lore and backstory and high-fantasy building rules, but the player-driven Landmark will have no hardcoded lore at all save what the players create, meaning you're as likely to see a geodesic dome spaceship as an Arabian Nights palace. (In fact, I would like to see both of these, please!) But strict roleplayers going into Landmark might have a harder time immersing themselves in an unpredictable world where literally anything goes, at least in comparison to EQ Next's more formal storyline and concomitant expectations about the way the world works and how the characters got there. What do you think: Does an MMO need dev-guided lore and a common backstory for all characters to make it truly roleplay-friendly? How will you roleplay a serious character in a world like Landmark's?  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 an MMO need lore to foster roleplaying? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Stream Team: Seeking and destroying in ArcheAge's alpha Posted: 05 Jun 2014 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Livestream, ArcheAge, The Stream Team Besides giant mutated spiders and other fantastical mobs, ArcheAge also has an assortment of contraptions. Last time, Massively's MJ had to track down pieces of a mining whirly-gig that exploded high in the air over the kobald-infested mine -- probably because she's the one who broke it! She also had a bit too much fun riding the mining carts up and down the mountain. Now she's heading out to see what other pieces of equipment she can find and destroy with a single touch. Tune in live at 9:00 p.m. EDT and see what new adventure of mechanical mayhem awaits her this time around. Game: ArcheAge Host: MJ Guthrie Date: Thursday, June 5th, 2014 Time: 9:00 p.m. EDT Enjoy our Stream Team video below. Continue reading The Stream Team: Seeking and destroying in ArcheAge's alpha The Stream Team: Seeking and destroying in ArcheAge's alpha originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2014 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| SMITE packs its bags for Latin America and Brazil Posted: 05 Jun 2014 06:00 PM PDT |
| World of Darkness apparently reached alpha three different times Posted: 05 Jun 2014 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Horror, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, World of Darkness, Sandbox Former CCP employees have revealed to The Guardian that the studio's World of Darkness MMO reached an alpha state on three separate occasions before it was cancelled earlier this year. "I tested it myself on two different occasions out of those three," said former dev Nick Blood (yes, really). "With the first playtest, I was amazed at how little of the core game was there -- at this point the game had been in development for over half a decade. I mean, there was just nothing, literally nothing, for someone like me, a complete outsider to the WOD IP, to appreciate." Blood goes on to reveal that the game had some sort of Assassin's Creed-style movement system, though he calls it "very basic in comparison." World of Darkness apparently reached alpha three different times originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2014 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Tracing the history of the MOBA Posted: 05 Jun 2014 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Culture, Game Mechanics, MMO Industry, News Items, Miscellaneous, MOBA You hear the kids talking about League of Legends and Infinite Crisis and Heroes of Newerth and you don't understand. You aren't clear on what stuff like jungling and lanes are all about. Are you getting old? Well, yes, if you're referring to a group of people as "the kids" you almost certainly are. But you also might just not understand the history of MOBAs as a genre, a history helpfully outlined in an article on the genre from inception to the present. The article traces the genre's genesis back to the earliest form of gameplay found in StarCraft's Aeon of Strife map, which paved the way for a Warcraft III map that expanded the same basic concept. The genre's core conceits -- two bases on either side of the map, players working to push to the other side -- have remained fairly fixed through the various permutations, but there's still room for expansion. So if you want to find out more about what this new-fangled genre is all about, sit down for some reading. Tracing the history of the MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2014 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Vainglory announced as a tablet-focused MOBA Posted: 05 Jun 2014 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, New Titles, News Items, Mobile, MOBA The MOBA arena is crowded, but the number of MOBAs you can play on your tablet is slightly more limited. Super Evil Megacorp, a new studio founded by veterans of Riot Games and Rockstar, is aiming to expand that number with its upcoming title Vainglory. Billed as the ultimate tablet MOBA, the preview trailer released today shows off a handful of the game's characters, environments, and attacks. Vainglory is currently in limited release, with more information to come as it nears its full release on the iOS app store. The developers are also stressing that the game will deliver a full-featured experience for players despite being on tablets. So if you've got an iPad and just can't get enough arena combat, check out the trailer just past the break. Continue reading Vainglory announced as a tablet-focused MOBA Vainglory announced as a tablet-focused MOBA originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2014 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Civilization Online review rounds out with combat and replay Posted: 05 Jun 2014 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Historical, Game Mechanics, Previews, News Items, MMORTS Looking at Civilization Online with longing might not be a great idea, as there are currently no plans for a release here in North America, but Steparu has been reviewing the beta, and if you'd like to find out what it's about the last part is available now. This final portion covers the game's combat mechanics, how players can get into games in progress, and gives an overall assessment of how the game is shaping up through testing. While the combat in the game is fairly standard -- tab-targeting, hotbars, and WASD movement rule the day -- it does offer players a variety of options with both main and sub classes, along with a variety of vehicles and mounts that have their own combat uses. Overall, the game gets pretty high marks as what it's meant to be, a very PvP-focused game that sees factions warring for dominance again and again. Which is probably what you expected from the name, really. Civilization Online review rounds out with combat and replay originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2014 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Watch Swordsman's gameplay trailer Posted: 05 Jun 2014 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Free-to-Play Eighty million Chinese players can't be wrong, right? If numbers can't impress you, perhaps seeing Swordsman in action might. Perfect World Entertainment released a new gameplay trailer for Swordsman today, giving a quick overview of the game, its world, and especially its fast-paced combat. It will begin a limited-time closed beta test on June 16th. Check it out after the break and let us know what you think! Is this a title that could steal your martial arts affections? Continue reading Watch Swordsman's gameplay trailer Watch Swordsman's gameplay trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2014 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Shards Online opens up a public weekend event Posted: 05 Jun 2014 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Previews, News Items, Sandbox, Crowdfunding Does Shards Online sound interesting to you? Well, then, why not play it? Starting at 4:00 p.m. EDT today and running through the weekend, anyone can download the game's current client and jump in on the pre-alpha servers for free. Moreover, anyone can just as freely discuss what they see in the game, with no NDA in place (not that having one would make much of a difference here, obviously). The only caveat is that this is a pre-alpha preview, which means that the version of the game that you'll be seeing is still in a very rough and unfinished state. But if you've been curious about the game's Kickstarter campaign but reluctant to donate without seeing the game in action, here's your chance to get in the game and find out more for yourself. We'll also be streaming from inside the game on Saturday, if you'd like to watch but don't have the time to jump in yourself. Shards Online opens up a public weekend event originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Division's E3 teaser is all... Christmasy Posted: 05 Jun 2014 01:00 PM PDT |
| Final Fantasy XIV updates with sightseeing, weapons, and poses Posted: 05 Jun 2014 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Patches, News Items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV, Subscription Final Fantasy XIV is going to have a big week at E3 next week. That's not speculation; Naoki Yoshida is running two live letters from the show floor, and players have been promised big announcements. But a big patch has just dropped for the game, and patch 2.28 brings plenty for players to enjoy all by itself. The promise of more in the near future is just icing on the cake. Owners of Animus weapons can now continue advancing their weapons to Novus incarnations, with larger Mythology tomestone rewards making the road to Animus a bit less onerous. The patch also includes the new sightseeing log, challenging players to find the scenic vistas across Eorzea. It also improves the existing posing system, with new poses for each race and a memory of what pose you were in when you move. You can read through the full patch notes to get an idea of everything contained therein, and take a gander at the Ramuh preview for an idea of what's coming next in patch 2.3. Final Fantasy XIV updates with sightseeing, weapons, and poses originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| World of Warships unveils E3 trailer Posted: 05 Jun 2014 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Historical, Trailers, Video, Previews, News Items, War, Free-to-Play, World of Warships Between World of Warplanes and World of Tanks, Wargaming.net has your need for mechanized warfare covered. Almost, anyway. Sure, you can shoot at other planes and other tanks, but how are you going to also blow up a whole lot of boats? You can't... until World of Warships comes out, anyway. Then you can blow up war machines pretty much anywhere you want. So when is it coming out? That's still something of a secret, but it's obvious that World of Warships is the next game to get a big push from the studio, starting with this year's E3 trailer embedded just past the break. While the trailer doesn't include any in-game footage, it does give you a clear picture of what you'll be doing in the game -- shooting at boats from other boats. Actually, you probably could have guessed that one without the trailer. Continue reading World of Warships unveils E3 trailer World of Warships unveils E3 trailer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Snail Games announces mobile titles, Black Gold Online open beta date, E3 lineup Posted: 05 Jun 2014 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Events (Real-World), Expansions, MMO Industry, New Titles, Free-to-Play, Mobile, Age of Wushu, Steampunk, Black Gold Snail Games has announced its lineup for this year's E3, and along with the expected expansion to Age of Wushu and showing off some Black Gold Online, the publisher is also revealing three new mobile titles. Heroes of Gaia, Puzzle Heroes Saga, and Taichi Panda are all set to release on iOS and Android platforms at a yet-to-be-announced date. Age of Wushu's fourth free expansion, Tempest of Strife, is now available but will be showcased at the Snail Games E3 booth as well. And then there's the highly anticipated Neo-Victorian steampunk MMO Black Gold Online which will begin open beta on June 20. Watch for our own coverage of Snail Games and all other MMO goodies from this year's E3 next week. [Source: Snail Games press release] Snail Games announces mobile titles, Black Gold Online open beta date, E3 lineup originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jun 2014 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Second generation Kinect sensor is coming to Windows
Netflix gets snarky, Verizon gets serious
MSI is riding high on demand for its gaming motherboards
Over 11,000 games collected during the past 25 years
