| PAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online Posted: 07 Apr 2012 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons Online, Classes, Expansions, Interviews, Lore, Previews, Free-to-play, Massively Interviews, Massively Event Coverage Dungeons and Dragons Online players are in for a whole new world of adventure when Menace of the Underdark launches this summer. The expansion, due to release on June 25th, will send players into the Forgotten Realms to fight against the Queen of Spiders, Lolth. Executive Producer Fernando Paiz and Senior Producer Eric Boyer welcomed us into their lair... er, Turbine's booth... to talk about the upcoming expansion at this year's PAX East. Read on for our preview! Continue reading PAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online  PAX East 2012: Menace of the Underdark brings big changes to Dungeons and Dragons Online originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| WRUP: Ransom edition Posted: 07 Apr 2012 08:00 AM PDT |
| The Daily Grind: Do you want realism or awesome? Posted: 07 Apr 2012 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous I realize that any discussion of realism in MMOs can quickly devolve into absurdity, but bear with me. I was recently involved in a discussion between some guildies of mine who were extolling the virtues of Tribes: Ascend over more realistic FPS games. "It's the jetpacks," they told me. In a realism-driven FPS, there's an emphasis on physics and gravity, but in Tribes, it's all about the jetpacks and learning how to fight effectively while using one. The fun of a game like that is in how awesome it is to break realism, not in how true-to-life it might be. Pure MMOs are no different. Many games make compromises along the spectrum of reality, especially when it comes to travel: In some games, we're grounded, forced to use a horse or our own two feet to make our way across the world; in others, we teleport via magical contraptions or leap tall buildings in a single bound. So riddle me this: When it boils down to it, what do you prefer to be the guiding principle of your MMOs -- realism or awesome?  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 you want realism or awesome? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 07 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| ArenaNet clarifies Guild Wars 2 CE pre-purchase options Posted: 06 Apr 2012 08:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play There's been a bit of confusion concerning Guild Wars 2 collector's edition pre-purchases of late. ArenaNet's Mike O'Brien took to Reddit earlier tonight to address the issues, and he had plenty to say about retailer reservations as well as the fact that Amazon isn't listing the CE. The long and short of it is that any retailer that is distributing keys prior to the April 10th street date is violating said street date "and risks losing [its] allocation of keys." That said, ANet can't stop stores from taking reservations, but O'Brien says unequivocally that "a reservation is not the same as a pre-purchase." As far as the Amazon situation goes, O'Brien explains that the company was simply unable to deliver digital codes at the time of purchase in addition to physical boxes on release day, so ANet has "reallocated [its] units to other retailers." Finally, O'Brien provides a link to some pre-purchase CE alternatives. ArenaNet clarifies Guild Wars 2 CE pre-purchase options originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| PAX East 2012: A talk with PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby Posted: 06 Apr 2012 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Interviews, Previews, PvE, Free-to-play, MMOFPS, Massively Event Coverage, PlanetSide 2 "For me, it's such a compelling genre for anybody who's played it," SOE Creative Director Matt Higby said about PlanetSide 2's niche. "But that's the thing. There's not a lot of people who have played a MMOFPS, but the people who have are addicted." Hibgy sat down with us at PAX East to promote SOE's upcoming sci-fi shooter, saying that it scratches two itches with one bird (or some other mixed metaphor). "I'm a competitive player; I love shooters," he said, "but I'm also a very social player and love the progression aspect of MMOs." It's not as if the MMOFPS field is going to remain wide-open for very long. Competitors are rushing to mine this largely untouched market. Still, SOE has an advantage above the rest: It launched one of the first of its kind and has years of experience managing such a game. While we anxiously wait for word on PlanetSide 2's beta, we listened to Higby tell us why this title will continue the company's reign over the genre. Continue reading PAX East 2012: A talk with PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby PAX East 2012: A talk with PlanetSide 2's Matt Higby originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| PAX East 2012: SWTOR 1.2 coming next week Posted: 06 Apr 2012 07:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Star Wars: The Old Republic We've been telling you about Star Wars: The Old Republic's 1.2 Legends patch for a while now. Thankfully we've finally got a release date to share as well. Actually, let's call it a release window, and let's call it next week, thanks to statements made by BioWare's James Ohlen at PAX East earlier today. "We have our update 1.2 coming in the next week, and then after that, it's going to continue to roll out month after month. It's exciting," he told Boston-area convention-goers. Ohlen's optimism springs from what's to come in SWTOR over the next few months. "The scope of our game updates in 2012 is going to be unimaginable. You're going to see so many changes and additions to the Star Wars Universe; it's going to be impressive," he said.  Massively's on the ground in Boston during the weekend of April 6-8, bringing you all the best news from PAX East 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about TERA or PlanetSide 2 or any MMO in between, we aim to have it covered!PAX East 2012: SWTOR 1.2 coming next week originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Amazon offers exclusive mount for TERA pre-orders Posted: 06 Apr 2012 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, Video, TERA, Promotions With TERA's May launch coming up in under a month, the window to pre-order the action MMO is shrinking daily. Those who are loyal members of the En Masse Army have a tough decision to make at this juncture: Where should you pre-order? Amazon hopes that you'll choose it, of course, and has a unique bonus to tip your favor in its direction. Amazon has worked out a special deal with En Masse to entice players to its store. Those who pre-order with Amazon.com will be guaranteed an in-game horse mount that's decked out in all manner of wicked-looking armor (note that the armor appearance gives no armor bonuses.) It's called the Pinto, and it won't be found anywhere else. In addition to this special mount, pre-orders guarantee a three-day head start to the game, name reservations, and in-game gear. There's added incentive to getting in on any of TERA's pre-orders if you haven't already, as they'll secure your spot in the next beta test, which is scheduled for April 20th. Also be sure to check out a new teaser trailer after the jump that was released exclusively for Amazon for those looking to learn a bit more about the game. Continue reading Amazon offers exclusive mount for TERA pre-orders Amazon offers exclusive mount for TERA pre-orders originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Betawatch: March 31 - April 6, 2012 Posted: 06 Apr 2012 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, MMO industry, Betawatch, Miscellaneous This week on Betawatch, we say farewell to Seven Souls Online and Blacklight Retribution, both of which have now launched officially. In their place, we've added two new games to keep an eye on: Star Conflict, a PvP-oriented space-combat MMO, joins our open beta list, while Grecca, a 2-D sandbox MMO, earns its city-building self a spot on our (open) alpha list. Meanwhile, Spirit Tales announced an open beta date of April 25th, TERA kicked off its final closed beta weekend with a look at what open beta will entail, and Ensemble Online reached out for Kickstarter funding for its beta. Enjoy the full Betawatch roundup beyond the break. Continue reading Betawatch: March 31 - April 6, 2012 Betawatch: March 31 - April 6, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Guided tour of the new SWTOR flashpoint Posted: 06 Apr 2012 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Video, Lore, Previews, PvE, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic Yesterday, BioWare invited some members of the press to take part in a guided tour of the latest update for Star Wars: The Old Republic. In recent Hyperspace Beacons, we've covered everything from the user interface changes to the crew skills system. However, the specifics of some of the new story content have been a bit sparse. Thanks to help from BioWare, that's now changed. Beyond the break, we have put together a 15-minute video describing the ins and outs of the latest flashpoint: The Lost Island. Together with a member of the BioWare development team, we explored this new level-50 zone, destroying everything in our path and maybe learning something along the way. Continue reading Guided tour of the new SWTOR flashpoint Guided tour of the new SWTOR flashpoint originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| PAX East 2012: Defiance's first-ever combat trailer Posted: 06 Apr 2012 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, News items, Consoles, MMOFPS, Defiance  PAX East is kicking into high-gear today. Studios are all over the floor showing off their latest trailers and demos, and Trion Worlds is no exception. The studio has just released a shiny new trailer focusing on the upcoming Syfy-Trion collaboration known as Defiance. For the first time since the title's announcement, players get to take a look at the game's frantic FPS combat. The trailer takes players into the land of the United States' Bay Area, which is in the process of being terraformed by alien invaders, and it's up to humankind to stop them before it's too late. The video gives fans a glimpse of large-scale combat as dozens of characters storm a stronghold by foot, ATV, and humvee to bring the fight to the alien scum, guns blazing. Oh, and the aliens look like the kind of fellows you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley... or in a well-lit one, for that matter. Just check out those teeth! Load your weapons and get in the fight past the cut. Massively's on the ground in Boston during the weekend of April 6-8, bringing you all the best news from PAX East 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about TERA or PlanetSide 2 or any MMO in between, we aim to have it covered!Continue reading PAX East 2012: Defiance's first-ever combat trailer PAX East 2012: Defiance's first-ever combat trailer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| PAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions Posted: 06 Apr 2012 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Historical, Galleries, Screenshots, Events, real-world, New titles, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Interviews, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous, World of Warplanes Much like its predecessor, World of Warplanes is not a game with an ambiguous title. This is a game about planes, and not the sort that flies cargo from one point on the globe to another. If flying around and getting into aerial dogfights sounds like an unappealing concept to you, well, you can pretty much just exit stage left when you hear the name. But the lack of subtlety in the name, however noteworthy, doesn't really say much about the game itself. Is it fun to play? Does it succeed in what it sets out to do? Really, is it just World of Tanks up in the air? I can't speak to the last one, but I can say that it definitely delivers on its stated design goals. This is a game all about maximizing the rush of an aerial fight and striking a balance between crafting an in-depth flight simulation and providing accessibility to those new to the genre. Continue reading PAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions PAX East 2012: World of Warplanes impressions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| DUST 514 dev blog details vehicle roles Posted: 06 Apr 2012 02:30 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, DUST 514, Sandbox DUST 514 isn't at PAX this weekend, which probably explains CCP's strategic reveal of a new dev blog earlier this afternoon. We knew that the MMOFPS will boast a number of similarities to its EVE Online sibling (like the fitting screens, factions, and lore); one thing we didn't know, though, was that DUST will also repurpose vehicle hulls in a decidedly EVE-like way. Many EVE ships share the same hull visuals despite having radically different performance envelopes and combat roles, and DUST vehicles will definitely follow that trend, according to CCP's Cmdr Wang. DUST vehicles will also be powered by a capacitor (which should seem awfully familiar to you capsuleer types). Cap management will therefore play a vital role in the new game just as it does in the old. Finally, DUST's vehicle skill system also takes a page out of EVE's book. Today's dev blog finishes up with a look at a couple of high-level vehicle skills as well as some verbiage on module customization. DUST 514 dev blog details vehicle roles originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Hi-Rez's new MOBA, SMITE Posted: 06 Apr 2012 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, Previews, PvP, Opinion, Free-to-play, Hands-on, Massively Hands-on, Massively Event Coverage, MOBA Move over, MOBAs -- there's a new kid in town. As PAX East 2012 rocks onward, Hi-Rez Studios is flaunting its newest upcoming title, the action-game-inspired MOBA SMITE. Today I got the opportunity to sit down with the game and get my face ground into the floor by the myriad more-experienced players with whom I played. But regardless of my utter incompetence, I still got some hands-on time with the title, so indulge me for a moment and let me tell you about it. The basic layout of the game will be quite familiar to any MOBA player. It sticks to the tried-and-true formula set forth by Defense of the Ancients in almost every possible way. There are three lanes, each lined with a number of defensive towers, and the ultimate objective is to work in tandem with your teammates and allied NPC creeps with the goal of pushing through the towers and destroying the enemy's giant minotaur. Wait, what? Continue reading PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Hi-Rez's new MOBA, SMITE PAX East 2012: Hands-on with Hi-Rez's new MOBA, SMITE originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| League of Legends IPL swings into Sin City Posted: 06 Apr 2012 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Free-to-play, MOBA, League of Legends Las Vegas is welcoming League of Legends players with open arms as the best of the best compete in the next step of the Challenger Circuit: IPL 4. With $5 million on the line for the season, you can bet that League of Legends players are doing anything and everything they can to get a piece of that action. IPL 4 is taking place from today through Sunday at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Sin City. Over the weekend, eight teams will compete for rankings and a $50,000 pot. The challengers are Team Dignitas, EpikGamer, Counter Logic Gaming, Team Solomid, v8 eSports, Against All Authority, Monomatic eSports, and Curse Gaming. Riot Games says there are still IPL 4 tickets available for those who want to attend in person. For those who can't, there's always the official IPL YouTube channel for long-distance spectating. League of Legends IPL swings into Sin City originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| Storyboard: Police state Posted: 06 Apr 2012 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Roleplaying, Storyboard, Miscellaneous Sometimes, column topics get away from you. When I sat down to write last week's Storyboard, I realized at the halfway mark that I had spent a lot of time not really hitting the core of the issue, and the overall article wound up being much weaker as a result. So I went back, started fresh, and instead delivered a column aimed squarely at the central question of whether or not it's important to have a flagged roleplaying server. But there is an issue that I didn't really address in that column but still remains relevant. If you're going to talk about having an RP server exist even if it's not policed, you do need to address what policing a roleplaying server actually entails. A lot of it is just plain speculative at the moment, given the overall track record of the industry, but that doesn't mean it's not worth discussing. Continue reading Storyboard: Police state Storyboard: Police state originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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| MMObility: Reaching the MMORTS sweet-spot, slowly Posted: 06 Apr 2012 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Historical, Screenshots, Business models, Culture, Game mechanics, Opinion, War, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, MMORTS, Humor, Miscellaneous, MMObility As a player of many MMORTS titles, I have grown to understand that patience is not only a virtue but a necessity. Many titles from the genre are designed to make you spend real time to do anything. It's not that they are boring or tedious; instead, they are representing what it might be like to actually grow an army or trade hub and to explore the often massive world around you. The pacing is meant to be slow. These are not games of instant leveling or non-stop quest grinding. They're meant to be played in as little as a few minutes per day. This explains a lot of their success -- just imagine how popular they are with time-strapped players. There is a time, however, after months of toiling away at building up various structures, growing a small army, or finally getting to the maxed out level in a certain area, when you can finally settle down for some real gameplay. It might sound silly to have to wait that long for glory, but come on... this is city-building we are talking about. It takes time. Continue reading MMObility: Reaching the MMORTS sweet-spot, slowly MMObility: Reaching the MMORTS sweet-spot, slowly originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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