| The Road to Mordor: Anatomy of a failed quest Posted: 12 Nov 2011 09:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Game mechanics, Opinion, Free-to-play, The Road to Mordor After last week's column on the 10 most memorable quests in Lord of the Rings Online, I had a couple of people ask for the polar opposite: the 10 worst quests. While I know that there are many -- stupid Sara Oakheart escort! -- they don't stick in my mind the way the best ones do. However, I think it's worthwhile to examine one such quest to see how game design can fail the player in small but meaningful ways. The quest in question? Rise of Isengard's Taking a Stand, which, coincidentally, was the only quest I've done this past week, and not because I was super-busy but because every time I'd log in I'd hit my head against it, try it a half-dozen times, and then give up out of frustration. Rinse and repeat. Since it was part of a chain and I am trying to do all the quests in RoI, skipping it wasn't a possibility. It had to be done, and it stood between me and the remainder of the content like a bully that's four times my size and has no compunction against shoving me to the ground. So what was it about Taking a Stand that failed me so badly? And what could Turbine learn from this quest for future reference? Hit the jump as I break it down, piece by stupid piece. Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Anatomy of a failed quest  The Road to Mordor: Anatomy of a failed quest originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| WRUP: Desert disclaimer edition Posted: 12 Nov 2011 07:00 AM PST Filed under: Massively Meta, Miscellaneous Massively.com is not a desert. As a result, it is not necessary for you to make sure to plot your route across the site prior to navigating here. Should you become thirsty, do not attempt to find a cactus filled with life-giving water. Instead, go to the kitchen. The site's temperature will not sink dramatically during the night, nor will it in fact be measurable. Similarly, do not attempt to drive a bus through the website, even if Penn and Teller tell you to do so. This week's WRUP might seem a bit more like a desert than normal, as everyone's talking about some new offline game. (Probably a Mario game or something.) But you can still click on past the break to see what the staff will be up to over the weekend, as well as hear about what turns us off from a game before we even try it. And, of course, you can let us know what you'll be up to in the comments. Continue reading WRUP: Desert disclaimer edition WRUP: Desert disclaimer edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Daily Grind: Have you ever attended an in-game funeral? Posted: 12 Nov 2011 05:00 AM PST Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Roleplaying, Miscellaneous During the roleplaying heyday of Star Wars Galaxies, I attended a funeral for another character. His player was calling it quits and wanted to send off the toon in the most dramatic way possible: by asking his friends to eulogize his avatar in a Coronet park. (Of course, when he returned under the same name a few months later, the effect was somewhat diminished.) Other players hold funerals for players who have passed away in the real world. In some games -- Ultima Online comes to mind -- players are deeply respectful, and devs sometimes get involved too, inserting permanent shrines of remembrance in the game. In other games (we're looking at you, World of Warcraft), funeral-crashers and social miscreants have infamously ruined more than one somber occasion. How about you? Have you ever attended (or held) an in-game funeral, RP or otherwise?  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: Have you ever attended an in-game funeral? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| GamersFirst reveals APB live action trailer Posted: 11 Nov 2011 06:00 PM PST Filed under: Real life, Trailers, Video, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, All Points Bulletin, Crime, MMOFPS, Miscellaneous It may be Veteran's Day here in the States, but GamersFirst is exhorting shooter fans to "be all you can't be" courtesy of a new APB: Reloaded trailer that mixes live action cinematography with in-game mayhem. The clip is a three-and-a-half-minute exercise in gangsta wish fulfillment, and it features enough short skirts, big guns, and urban thug chic to fill several summers' worth of action films. The video release coincides with APB: Reloaded's new Facebook campaign, which is designed to spread the word about the free-to-play title and reward customers who get their friends to join in the fun. Check out the clip after the break, and head to the official website for more details. [Source: GamersFirst press release] Continue reading GamersFirst reveals APB live action trailer GamersFirst reveals APB live action trailer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Betawatch: November 5-11, 2011 Posted: 11 Nov 2011 05:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Massively Meta, Betawatch, Miscellaneous Welcome to Betawatch, Massively's weekly report on the state of MMO betas. In each installment, we'll report everything from the latest open betas, closed betas and even alphas in one convenient place. Plus, we'll make sure to include as much info on each game's current status, including projected release dates (if known) and links to the sign-up forms to get yourself into that beta you've been seeking. It's a bit of a quiet week on Betawatch, but there are a few additions and changes to this week's list. The Dark Eden MMO joins our closed beta list this week, as does UFO Online. Star Supremacy makes the jump to open beta, so the doors are open to all on that title. Follow along after the jump for the latest Betawatch list. Continue reading Betawatch: November 5-11, 2011 Betawatch: November 5-11, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| EverQuest II releases free-to-play trailer Posted: 11 Nov 2011 04:00 PM PST |
| Class adjustment philosophy previewed for Final Fantasy XIV Posted: 11 Nov 2011 03:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Consoles, Final Fantasy XIV The next major patch for Final Fantasy XIV has been discussed in broad strokes, but the upcoming changes for said patch have only just started to be revealed. Today saw the unveiling of the abstract for patch 1.20's class revisions, aimed at making each class more unique and interesting to play without changing the fundamental cross-class system in place. To this end, every class will see significant overhauls, and the Armoury system as a whole will be undergoing some streamlining. Among the bigger changes is the abolition of the current system for setting actions, replaced by a much more straightforward setup. All class actions will be automatically added to a players' bars, with players able to equip more actions from other classes as they increase in level. Traits are also being revised to be class-exclusive and automatic, helping to differentiate the classes as you obtain more via leveling. The full rundown is even more extensive, but it looks to be aimed at keeping classes more fun as a whole in future updates. Class adjustment philosophy previewed for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| MMObility: The clever design behind War of Dragons Posted: 11 Nov 2011 03:00 PM PST Filed under: Trailers, Video, Business models, Game mechanics, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Roleplaying, MMObility Ah, the things that rev up the imagination of gamers. Right now I can almost feel the excitement as players all over the world are waiting to jump into games like Skyrim or Star Wars the Old Republic. I'm a bit excited as well, but honestly none of those titles tantalizes me like some of the browser-based goodies I have been playing lately. It could be the model railroad world of RuneScape or the epic scale of Illyriad that is inspiring me, making me spend hours of dog walking or drinking tea while daydreaming of game creation. I've also stumbled across this newish world of semi-graphical, browser-based, MUD-like MMOs. They have shown me that text and description can still be very powerful tools, especially mixed with graphics or even basic animation. Then I stumbled upon War of Dragons, a wonderful browser-based MMO that shows me just how amazing browser-based gaming can be. Click past the cut and I'll explain. Continue reading MMObility: The clever design behind War of Dragons MMObility: The clever design behind War of Dragons originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| New Darkfall blog post addresses reactivation weekend, upcoming patch Posted: 11 Nov 2011 02:30 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Darkfall, Events, in-game, Patches, News items, Sandbox Last week, we reported that Darkfall would be hosting a reactivation weekend with increased skill-up rates and loot drops. Head-honcho Tasos Flambouras stopped by the official site today to announce that the festivities will be beginning on Friday, November 18th, and that they will last through the weekend until the 21st. He warns, however, that the team is also busy preparing a patch, which -- understandably -- takes priority over the reactivation weekend. As such, it's possible that the event will be postponed. The patch itself includes a number of bug fixes and other adjustments, "more specifically addressing emotes cutting off animations and sounds." The team is also working to combat some of the game's exploits such as using the trading system to bypass over-encumberance. For the full details, head on over to the Darkfall official site. New Darkfall blog post addresses reactivation weekend, upcoming patch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Firing Line: Defining the MMO shooter Posted: 11 Nov 2011 02:00 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Game mechanics, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Global Agenda, DUST 514, PlanetSide 2, The Firing Line Hello shooter fans, and welcome back to Massively's Firing Line. Last week's inaugural column hit the ground running with a visit to Hi-Rez Studios and a preview of the company's new Tribes: Ascend title. This week I'd like to pull back a little bit and lay the groundwork for some of the things we'll be talking about over time. When I talk about MMO shooters with friends and colleagues, one of the first things mentioned is the definition of the term. Everyone knows what a shooter is (or at least what he thinks it is), and everyone knows what an MMO is (although thanks to MOBAs and the social networking explosion, the definition of the latter grows murkier by the day). Can we all agree on the definition of an MMO shooter, though? Probably not, and to be honest, that's perfectly OK. Continue reading The Firing Line: Defining the MMO shooter The Firing Line: Defining the MMO shooter originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Massively Exclusive: PlanetSide 2's New Conglomerate Q&A Posted: 11 Nov 2011 01:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Interviews, Free-to-play, Community Q&A, PlanetSide 2 With the cold war in PlanetSide 2 quickly turning hot, potential players have to ask themselves: Which side will they join? Today SOE is making a bid on behalf of the New Conglomerate, painting them as the scrappy underdogs of the war with plenty of attitude to go around. We sat down with Creative Director Matt Higby to see if we could figure out what makes this faction tick. Massively: As an introduction for new players, what's the philosophy behind the New Conglomerate? Matt Higby: The New Conglomerate are an insurgent guerrilla force fighting against pretty stacked odds: an enormous military machine in the TR on one side and the vast technological superiority of the VS on the other. This forces the New Conglomerate to be adaptive, use creative tactics and take advantage of every possible opportunity they can to accomplish their goals. Their weapons run the gamut from conventional to experimental, and they're not willing to say no to anything that might give them an edge. Continue reading Massively Exclusive: PlanetSide 2's New Conglomerate Q&A Massively Exclusive: PlanetSide 2's New Conglomerate Q&A originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| The Old Republic opens the beta blast doors for its final testing weekend Posted: 11 Nov 2011 01:00 PM PST Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Star Wars: The Old Republic On the Massively staff there are the Haves and the Have Nots of the Star Wars: The Old Republic beta. The Haves use their glorious position to grind the morale of the Have Nots into the dirt, leaving these poor saps weeping while the Haves go to a bar and high-five each other with Wookiee paws. It's enough to make you feel like you're in a high-tech trash compactor of emotions. If you're like our Have Nots and have yet to get into the SWTOR beta, BioWare has good news for you today. The next beta testing weekend, which is scheduled for sometime later this month, will open up to everyone who's applied before November 11th. If that's not you, there's still a good chance you can get in, as BioWare will be handing out additional beta keys via sites like Massively in the near future. According to an additional FAQ covering this event, this will probably be the final beta testing weekend for the MMO prior to its December 20th launch. Even if you're not in a SWTOR launch country, as long as you have signed up or get a key, you'll be invited to test this season's hottest ticket. BioWare also announced that SWTOR will be available to play at this month's Dreamhack gaming event, from November 24th through the 27th. The Old Republic opens the beta blast doors for its final testing weekend originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| New EVE dev diary talks PvE content Posted: 11 Nov 2011 12:30 PM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, PvE, Sandbox, Dungeons CCP has fired off another EVE Online press release, this time extolling the virtues of the PvE content coming in the winter expansion. New DED complexes are on the way, as are new bosses, modules, and "more reasons to generate massive explosions in space," according to CCP Affinity. Anomalies will feature increased payouts and more NPCs, and consequently more ISK for the players. Magnometric sites will also see their overall value increase, and CCP is even adding a minimize function for dungeon-related pop-up messages to improve capsuleer quality of life. Read all about it on the official EVE website. New EVE dev diary talks PvE content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Some Assembly Required: EQII's Festival of Discord Posted: 11 Nov 2011 12:00 PM PST Filed under: Fantasy, EverQuest II, Events, in-game, Interviews, Opinion, Roleplaying, Some Assembly Required Over the last few months, Some Assembly Required has covered features within games (such as quest-building tools, music, and housing) as well as overviews of full games themselves, not to mention some existential ranting on the life and times of the sandbox genre. This week, we focus on another aspect: player events. Most player-created events range from RP tavern nights to full-blown tests of skill to races and scavenger hunts. These events are smaller affairs involving either a group of close friends, a guild, or perhaps even a mixture of a few guilds. However, there are occasions when events can grow larger... much larger. Such is the case with EverQuest II's Festival of Discord. Not only is this a server-wide festival designed and hosted by players, but it is fully supported by Sony Online Entertainment. And let me tell you, SOE has pulled out all the stops! Want to see what this festival is all about or (better yet) make some of these events on EQII's Antonia Bayle server in person? Grab your cloak and join me past the break for a rundown of the festival, its history, and even events yet to come! Continue reading Some Assembly Required: EQII's Festival of Discord Some Assembly Required: EQII's Festival of Discord originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Receive the Nova Force in Super Hero Squad Online Posted: 11 Nov 2011 11:30 AM PST Filed under: Super-hero, Trailers, Video, News items, Free-to-play, Kids, Family, Super Hero Squad Online Have you ever wanted to have the Nova Force all to yourself? Well, you're in luck, as Gazillion has announced that everyone's favorite space cop is coming to Super Hero Squad Online. To get a look at what Nova's bringing to the game, jump past the cut and check out his announcement trailer. Then head over to the game's official site and join the mayhem. [Source: Gazillion press release] Continue reading Receive the Nova Force in Super Hero Squad Online Receive the Nova Force in Super Hero Squad Online originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| PlanetSide 2 intel details the New Conglomerate Posted: 11 Nov 2011 11:00 AM PST Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Previews, News items, MMOFPS, PlanetSide 2 PlanetSide 2's Terran Republic has already had its time to shine, and now it's the New Conglomerate's turn. Sony Online Entertainment has released an intel debrief which details the faction, noting that the Conglomerate is known for being unpredictable and ruthless. NC forces rely on "unconventional tactics and brute strength," though their equipment isn't quite as sleek or advanced as those of the Terran Republic and the Vanu Sovereignty. To see more of the New Conglomerate, head on past the cut and check out the new video. [Source: Sony Online Entertainment press release] Continue reading PlanetSide 2 intel details the New Conglomerate PlanetSide 2 intel details the New Conglomerate originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| En Masse talks more on Creatures of Magnitudinous Derrieres Posted: 11 Nov 2011 10:30 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, News items, TERA  Mmmyes, quite. TERA's press onslaught continues in full-force (though still sans release date) as En Masse Entertainment has released some new information regarding -- you guessed it -- Big Ass Monsters. Of particular note in the article is the ovolith, an arachnid BAM that transforms into a cocoon and is capable of spraying players with a lethal venom. Players, of course, can't just rely on the random number generator to save them. They have to actively dodge the poison as well as the monster's quick pincer attacks. The game's Monster Concept Lead Artist, Junghyun Kim, says there are certain challenges that arise when designing new creatures. Kim states that "The monster's outer shape matters a lot in combat because TERA lets players aim their attacks naturally. Auto-targeting games only need a normal attack with different attack motions, but we have more aspects to consider because the player's character actually gets hit in TERA. But this extra challenge is one of the joys of creating monsters for TERA." Well, that's great, but can we get a release date please? Pretty please? [Source: En Masse Entertainment press release] En Masse talks more on Creatures of Magnitudinous Derrieres originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| LotRO removes server transfer restrictions Posted: 11 Nov 2011 10:00 AM PST Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Economy, Free-to-play Ever since free-to-play came to Lord of the Rings Online, players looking to move from one server to another have often run into a big, forbidding wall. To keep the server populations from capsizing, Turbine disallowed transfers to select servers for over a year. It looks like this has changed, as Turbine recently posted an update to its paid premium services forum thread. In it, the studio announced that all such transfer restrictions are removed: We are also happy to announce that NA World Character Transfers are now available for transfer between ALL North American servers as of 9th November, 2011! Yes, you may now transfer TO Brandywine, Crickhollow, Dwarrowdelf, Elendilmir, Imladris, Landroval, or Riddermark! European players have access to this service as well. Unfortunately, these transfers aren't free but come with a hefty pricetag. Players looking to move server homes will need to shell out either $24.95, €21.95, or 2995 Turbine Points. There is also an issue with moving a character back to a server that it came from, so players cannot do that until Turbine resolves the issue. LotRO removes server transfer restrictions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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