MMORPG Reviews

MMORPG Reviews


The second season of Golfstar is coming

Posted: 02 Sep 2012 01:47 AM PDT

Gamigo has presented the second season of its MMO golf Golfstar that comes with a major update with lots of new content. The new courses and challenges that will come to the game include Hawaii, Guilin and Sawgrass, a real life US golf course. Also a new character, David comes to the game with 6 [...]


General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Samsung Shows Series 9 Prototype With a 2560 x 1440 Matte Display

Posted: 02 Sep 2012 12:38 PM PDT

Series 9 RetinaApple gets all the credit for pushing out machines with ultra-high "retina" class display's, but let's face it, they didn't exactly invent it. Samsung is the company pumping out the panel's en-mass to fill the Apple supply chain, and thanks to the popularity of the technology, we are starting to see the trickle down effect into the PC space. Samsung snuck a new Series 9 prototype into their innovation gallery at this year's IFA exhibition in Germany, and the 2560 x 1440 matte display is being described by MobileGeeks as nothing short of glorious.

The display falls slightly short of the Macbook Retina's 2880 x 1800 pixel display, however measuring in at just 13", the PPI is certainly comparable. The current lineup of Samsung Series 9 Ultrabooks sport a beautiful 1600 x 900 pixel display, but we certainly wouldn't complain if they want to offer a premium option going forward. 

The company was unwilling to confirm if this is something they plan to bring to market, or just a proof of concept. We for one hope it's the first of many high resolution Mac alternatives going forward, as long as the price is reasonable. 

How much of a premium would you be willing to pay?

(Image Credit=MobileGeeks.com)

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Wolfram Alpha Can Now Reduce Your Social Life to a Series of Graphs

Posted: 02 Sep 2012 12:08 PM PDT

FaceWolfFacebook is a great place to follow the lives of friends, and family, but it's also an amazing repository of your personal information. Even casual users would be surprised how much data they have poured into the service over the years, and now you finally have a way to put it into perspective. Wolfram Alpha, the world's greatest computational knowledge engine, has launched a service that will reduce your Facebook social life to a series of mathematical charts.

To get started just type "Facebook" into the search field, click the analyze button, and create a Wolfram Alpha account. The data gives you a good idea of how much you participate on the service, and will even give you an interesting breakdown of your friends by country, age, and a visualization of how you all know each other.

If you ever wanted to see your entire life broken down into a series of mathematical charts, you owe it to yourself to check this out.

 

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Lenovo Blurs the Gap Between Netbook and Laptop With Updated S-Series

Posted: 02 Sep 2012 09:43 AM PDT

LenovoThe Lenovo S-Series used to induce cringes around the MaxPC offices, and with good reason. These units used to represent the lowest cost, most underpowered Netbooks Lenovo could produce. They were decent machines for surfing the net or jotting down a few notes in Word, but not much else. Fast forward to yesterday however, and the S300, S400, and S405 are actually looking like somewhat capable machines. Starting at just $499, Lenovo is offering up Netbook alternatives that literally blur the line between the two categories.

On the outside all three units feature the same 1366 x 768 display, on the inside however the range of options can quickly push the S-Series towards $1,000 mark depending on your needs. Currently the options allow you to pick from ultra low voltage Intel Core i3 or i5 processores, however if you step up to the S405, you get a quad-core AMD Trinity chip. All but the very base model includes a 32GB SSD drive for improved boot performance, and weighs in at under 4 pounds with just 1 inch in thickness. All models also include an Ethernet jack, three USB ports, and even a USB 3.0 socket. HDMI, and SD card readers, thankfully, are also a standard. 

AMD Radeon 7450M graphics are rumored to be optional as well, but we won't know for sure until the units officially launch. Keep an eye on the Lenovo page S-Series page for more details.    

 

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Guild Wars 2 Developer Voluntarily Stops Selling Digital Copies to Catch Up With Server Demand

Posted: 02 Sep 2012 08:50 AM PDT

Guild Wars 2Guild Wars 2 appears to be selling well. So well in fact the developer has voluntarily sold itself out of digital copies. This is the first time in recent memory that a developer has refused to take money from hordes of eager PC Gamers, and while the game does have some growing pains, we commend them preemptively for taking this bold step to protect the player experience. The developer broke the news to would be fans via their official Facebook page, and the comments below seem to suggest some users are having more problems than others.

"Ensuring the best possible play experience for our fans is our highest priority. We've said before that we would be willing to temporarily disable first-party digital sales if we felt our high player concurrency may compromise player experiences. We have now reached that point.

Effective immediately we have disabled sales via buy.guildwars2.com. To be clear, box and digital sales are still available via our retail partners. We are tracking our concurrency closely while expanding our infrastructure. We'll re-enable first-party digital sales as soon as we feel that we can do so safely. ~RB2"

We suspect ArenaNet will be furiously adding servers and support staff in the coming weeks to keep up with demand, however if you just can't wait you still have options. Boxed versions will still be honored, and even some third party sites still have CD keys available. It won't completely cut off the flood of new players, but it should at least slow it down until they can catch up with demand.

How has your experience in Tyria been so far? 

Also on a related topic, it looks like ArenaNet is hiring!

 

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MMO Updates

MMO Updates


PAX Prime 2012: RIFT's Storm Legion approaches

Posted: 02 Sep 2012 09:00 AM PDT

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PAX Prime 2012 RIFT Storm Legion
The Storm Legion is coming. Even now, those touched by Crucia are preparing to unleash her will. But RIFT's Storm Legion expansion is bringing more than just dragon minion foes. A new soul for each calling, player housing instances, new continents, new dungeons, and new raids are all part of the bundle. We caught up with the Trion team at PAX to catch a glimpse of what the oncoming storm will bring.

Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: RIFT's Storm Legion approaches

MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: RIFT's Storm Legion approaches originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    Previously on MV TV: The week of August 25th

    Posted: 02 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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    Previously On MV TV banner
    I know that many of you are at PAX or want news about PAX or would love to see a recap livestream from PAX, but that's not happening. I'm sorry to say but this week's recap session really has nothing to do with the Seattle meet-up. Don't worry, though; there is plenty for all of us to enjoy! What sort of stuff do I have for you this week? Ah, I thought you'd never ask.

    Mike's back this week with his usual lineup of EVE Online and World of Tanks. Piggy follows that up with a tour through All Points Bulletin. Go, Piggy, go! MJ once again streams all of her favorite things, including The Secret World, her first jaunt into Guild Wars 2 (I mean literally her first steps!) followed by some EverQuest II, Aion, and DC Universe Online. I round things off with some PvP developer action in Darkblood Online and a tour of Astral space and super-huge space demons with the dev team from Allods Online!

    Grab some space popcorn and click past the cut!

    Continue reading Previously on MV TV: The week of August 25th

    MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: The week of August 25th originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      The Daily Grind: What's your favorite City of Heroes memory?

      Posted: 02 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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      I don't remember enjoying Energy Blast, but that's not the point right now.
      I picked up City of Heroes shortly after the game launched, and I've been playing the game on and off ever since. Finding out that it's going to be gone before the end of the year stirs a lot of memories, like the first time I ever encountered one of the Rikti, the first fights against the Fifth Column, or marching around with a cape for the first time. Memories that I'll have no matter what, made more than a little bittersweet by the news of the game's impending closure.

      Not everyone has played the game, but after its long lifespan and the free-to-play conversion, odds are good that most MMO veterans have some recollection of playing. So as we look forward to the end, what's your favorite memory of City of Heroes? What anecdotes do you have about the first superhero MMORPG from its long and storied run?

      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: What's your favorite City of Heroes memory? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 02 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        PAX Prime 2012: Up close and personal with Torchlight II

        Posted: 01 Sep 2012 07:00 PM PDT

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        Torchlight II
        Torchlight II is marching toward its September 20th launch date. Actually, it's probably skipping joyously with a little ferret or adorable puppy trailing along behind it. Is your clicking-finger ready? We took some time at PAX to dabble our toes in the game and splash around a bit. Now we have damp toes and a hands-on experience with Torchlight II.

        Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Up close and personal with Torchlight II

        MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Up close and personal with Torchlight II originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          The Road to Mordor: Reactions to Rohan

          Posted: 01 Sep 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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          The Road to Mordor Reactions to Rohan
          Judging from the comments in last week's column, I gather that many players are not too rankled with Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan's delay. Many even support the move. It's not like Turbine moved Rohan a half-year down the road; October's in, like, a month. I think we have a good chance of surviving until then.

          But what I wanted to go into today were the impressions from beta testers now that the NDA has dropped. I think it's a really good sign that Turbine felt confident enough to kill the NDA on the day of the delay announcement because it nullifies suspicion that the studio is trying to hide a major clusterfudge from us. Mmm... major fudge.

          So let's go to the street, where emboldened testers are going door to door and letting everyone know everything about the expansion, warts and all. Is there more good than bad? Is mounted combat really all that and a bag of horse apples? Does this expansion represent Turbine's finest hour or just a speedbump on the way to Mordor?

          Continue reading The Road to Mordor: Reactions to Rohan

          MassivelyThe Road to Mordor: Reactions to Rohan originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            PAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with Phantasy Star Online 2

            Posted: 01 Sep 2012 04:00 PM PDT

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            Someone's compensating.
            I'm sure I'm not the only one around here who has fond memories of sitting in front of a Sega Dreamcast (a moment of silence, please), hacking-and-slashing my way through the original Phantasy Star Online, and I'm also sure that I'm not the only one who's positively giddy for Sega's upcoming Phantasy Star Online 2. So of course, when I found out I'd be able to get my hands on the game at PAX, I was pretty ecstatic.

            But nostalgia can only go so far, and I'll admit I was somewhat nervous as I stepped up to the demo station. Would this new iteration in the PSO series live up to my rose-tinted memories of the title? I stepped into the boots of a Human Hunter to find out for myself.

            Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with Phantasy Star Online 2

            MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Hands-on with Phantasy Star Online 2 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              PAX Prime 2012: WildStar presentation and Q&A

              Posted: 01 Sep 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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              Screenshot -- WildStar
              Carbine Studios' premiere foray into the MMO field, the deliciously sci-fi WildStar, has been high on my to-watch list since PAX Prime 2011 when I got my first look at the game (over Rubi's shoulder, admittedly). So I was delighted to have the opportunity to sit down with a few members of WildStar's development team for a short presentation and Q&A session at this year's PAX Prime.

              The developers, led by Lead Narrative Designer Chad Moore, set the tone of the presentation by leading off with the recently released housing preview video (which you should go watch if you haven't already), followed by a short explanation of the game's backstory. For the uninitiated: The game takes place on the planet Nexus. Nexus was once inhabited by a race of hyper-technological beings known as the Eldan before they mysteriously disappeared, causing the location of the planet to be lost to the annals of time. Until now, that is. Now everyone wants a piece of that sweet, technologically advanced pie, and players arrive from all over the universe to explore this mysterious planet and the secrets within.

              Admit it: You wanna know what those secrets are, right?

              Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: WildStar presentation and Q&A

              MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: WildStar presentation and Q&A originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                The Tattered Notebook: Piling up prizes with EQII's Gigglegibber minigames

                Posted: 01 Sep 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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                The Tattered Notebook  Piling up prizes with EQII's Gigglegibber minigames
                The EverQuest II team has been regularly checking off game changes from the summer update announcement, and the most recent additions to the world of Norrath are new Gigglegibber minigames. If you've had your eye on a certain armor crate, a particular mount, or a handy consumable, but you haven't wanted to spend a lot of Station Cash to buy it, you can try your luck at winning it through one of three minigames. For 100 SC, you can buy a ticket, play a game, and get a random reward at the end.

                If you're curious about what the games are like and what the possible prizes are, then you're in luck! In this week's Tattered Notebook, we'll hang out with the Gigglegibbers and explore the new minigames.

                Continue reading The Tattered Notebook: Piling up prizes with EQII's Gigglegibber minigames

                MassivelyThe Tattered Notebook: Piling up prizes with EQII's Gigglegibber minigames originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  The Mog Log: Lessons from Guild Wars 2 for Final Fantasy XIV

                  Posted: 01 Sep 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                  The Mog Log header by A. Fienemann
                  If you read all of the columns I write in a given week, then I believe that you're a wholly fictional creature. But beyond that, you'll remember that my Wednesday column was all about the systems that City of Heroes could comfortably borrow from Guild Wars 2. You may also be expecting the same sort of column here. That is definitely not the case.

                  For starters, neither Final Fantasy XI nor Final Fantasy XIV is in a state where it can borrow anything. The former is set in its ways, and the latter has a major update around the corner that makes suggestions about mechanics pretty suspect. Furthermore, neither game is really into the whole "borrowing" routine, preferring instead to reverse-engineer a concept into some bizarre reinvention of the wheel that makes both games at once wonderful and incomprehensible.

                  No, today I'm looking not at mechanics but at lessons for Final Fantasy XIV. The game is going to be relaunching soon, and that's when Naoki Yoshida's core principles will really be put to the test. And as the development team puts the final touches on the game, I think there are a few things to be garnered from the design of Guild Wars 2 that might nudge development around a touch.

                  Continue reading The Mog Log: Lessons from Guild Wars 2 for Final Fantasy XIV

                  MassivelyThe Mog Log: Lessons from Guild Wars 2 for Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    PAX Prime 2012: New Final Fantasy XIV trailer released, presentation viewable

                    Posted: 01 Sep 2012 11:30 AM PDT

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                    PAX 2012 - New Final Fantasy XIV trailer released, presentation viewable
                    If you're a Final Fantaxy XIV fan who couldn't make it to PAX Prime this weekend, YouTube is your friend. Square-Enix released a new video for its Realm Reborn reboot that is comprised of in-game footage, and we've got it for you in its entirely after the break.

                    An enterprising fan also managed to record over 15 minutes of Square's PAX presentation, which we've also included after the cut.

                    [Thanks to everyone who tipped us!]

                    Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 31st - September 2nd, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about WildStar, PlanetSide 2, RIFT: Storm Legion, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

                    Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: New Final Fantasy XIV trailer released, presentation viewable

                    MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: New Final Fantasy XIV trailer released, presentation viewable originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    MMORPG News

                    MMORPG News


                    Champions Online: The Nighthawk comes to Champions Online

                    Posted: 31 Aug 2012 07:08 PM PDT

                    The Nighthawk comes to Champions Online

                    Super-heroism has wings and jet engines in the Nighthawk update for Champions Online, including the first taste of the superhero, action MMORPG's brand new vehicle system. Framed by a corporate super-villain, the vigilante hero Nighthawk must clear his name. The call has been made for players to band together, taking the fight to the skies with Hawkwing jetfighters.

                    Torchlight 2: Max Schaefer Interview & Hands On

                    Posted: 01 Sep 2012 07:23 AM PDT

                    Max Schaefer Interview & Hands On

                    During PAX Prime on Friday, we had the opportunity to check out Torchlight II, the upcoming ARPG from Runic Studios and Perfect World Entertainment. We had the pleasure to talk with Max Shaefer and to get a bit of hands on time with TL2. Read on!

                    General gaming

                    General gaming


                    PAX '12: Dishonored: Great Game, Punishing Demo

                    Posted: 01 Sep 2012 07:44 PM PDT

                    Everyone I know who's played any bit of Dishonored has failed, and miserably. I did, too, but my lack of success wasn't discouraging; instead, it had me motivated to sit down and fully test my limits within the game's world. Unfortunately, I had only an hour to explore just one of Dishonored's single missions, and I'd be lying if I said the amount of freedom wasn't a little overwhelming at times. It's not that the game doesn't give you any guidance; in fact, your objectives are always crystal clear. How you achieve them, however, is entirely on you. Compared to most modern games that involve running between obviously marked checkpoints, Dishonored can't be called anything but demanding.

                    My brief encounter with Dishonored at this year's PAX Prime brought forth memories of one of my favorite examples of impeccable game design -- and one I've probably wrote and talked about on 1UP enough times to have me legally barred from mentioning it again. But for the sake of establishing a comparison, the mix of trust and responsibility Dishonored dumped into my lap reminded me of the boss fight against The End in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. Like that particular section of Naked Snake's debut, Dishonored gave me a generous helping of tools, dropped me into its world, dusted its hands, and grunted, "Well, get to work." And yes, my deaths were numerous and spectacular -- one of which included a nasty tumble off of a boat mere seconds after starting the demo, where numerous piranhas proceeded to nibble me to death.



                    MMO Updates

                    MMO Updates


                    PAX Prime 2012: DDO has been busy

                    Posted: 01 Sep 2012 10:00 AM PDT

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                    PAX Prime 2012 Song of Druid's Deep redux
                    Dungeons and Dragons Online has been keeping its dev team incredibly busy. It wasn't too long ago that the Menace of the Underdark expansion came out, and hot on its heels came update 15, the Song of Druid's Deep. Did you blink? Have you missed some of what's been going on? Luckily for you, we caught up with the Turbine team at PAX and have everything you need to know to get up to speed.

                    Menace of the Underdark introduced the world of the Forgotten Realms by leading players through the Demonweb, into the Underdark, and out into Faerûn and the town of Eveningstar. The Song of Druid's Deep update sends out the first tendrils of adventure into the wide world around Eveningstar. Players have to deal with a growing corruption -- zombie-like plant beings and infected humans and dryads -- and chase it to its putrid heart. If you want an in-depth look at the update, be sure to read our hands-on article about the Druid's Deep experience.

                    Update 15 comes not only with new quests and monsters, but the digital version of the time-honored monster manuals. Players with monster manuals can earn rewards, including Turbine points for big achievements and exclusive creature companions for the biggest achievements, while keeping track of all the terrifying foes they've faced. Additionally, there is a variant of the Ruined Keep challenge called the Daybreak Ritual.

                    The team isn't slowing down. With plans for a few quality of life fixes in the very near future and update 16 in November, Turbine is keeping up its quick pace. Update 16 will bring in five new quests, another wilderness area, and an emphasis on creating real connection between the areas of Faerûn.

                    Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 31st - September 2nd, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about WildStar, PlanetSide 2, RIFT: Storm Legion, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

                    MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: DDO has been busy originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                      WRUP: I wish I didn't have to know how to quit you edition

                      Posted: 01 Sep 2012 08:00 AM PDT

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                      What never was.
                      I don't even know where to start with the big news from Friday. A game that's formed a huge portion of my professional career over the past three years is leaving, and... I don't know how to react to that. I know you usually expect WRUP headers to have some nonsense about cats forming an international coalition, but right now I just don't have it in me.

                      The maudlin train stops there, I promise. You can tune in next week for what will doubtlessly be more of the same. Right now, it's time to talk about what the Massively staff will be up to over the weekend. We're also sharing our impressions of that game that launched on Tuesday. You might have heard about it here or there. So jump on past the break to see our plans for the weekend and let us know what you'll be up to in the comments.

                      Continue reading WRUP: I wish I didn't have to know how to quit you edition

                      MassivelyWRUP: I wish I didn't have to know how to quit you edition originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                        The Daily Grind: How could studios 'sunset-proof' their MMOs?

                        Posted: 01 Sep 2012 06:00 AM PDT

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                        The Daily Grind How could studios 'sunsetproof' their MMOs
                        It's a sad week for caped crusaders, I'll tell you that. Many of us current and former City of Heroes players were rocked by the news that the studio and game have been given the axe by their NCsoft overlords. Even though CoH was a little long in the tooth, it seemed like a stable title that was doing well enough for itself in the free-to-play space.

                        Whatever the cause for City of Heroes' sunsetting (oh, I hate that term; it's too mellow for a terrible act), this may have the effect of making any player think, "If it happens here, it could happen to me and my game."

                        Sunsets come for us all, my friends, but it doesn't mean that we have to run into them. You'd think that there are some things an MMO studio or publisher could do to sunset-proof their titles and give them as long a life as possible. But what would those steps be? What do you think these companies should do to keep their games going for as long as possible that isn't already being done?

                        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: How could studios 'sunset-proof' their MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Sep 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          The Repopulation's August update talks new models, engagements, and more

                          Posted: 31 Aug 2012 08:00 PM PDT

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                          The Repopulation's August update talks new models, engagements, and more
                          If you've a hankering for a heaping helping of patch notes -- or you're having trouble sleeping -- the latest end-of-the-month update for The Repopulation is here. OK, that was mean, but wow there's a lot to read about for August!

                          The sci-fi sandbox from Above & Beyond Technologies has added some new character models, tweaked the emote system, and implemented medical scanners, aerosol, and particle weapons. There's also some verbiage about a new engagement system that scales to the number of players present, along with various tweaks to the world and UI.

                          The Repopulation is still in closed alpha testing. Learn more about the game on its official website.

                          MassivelyThe Repopulation's August update talks new models, engagements, and more originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          MechWarrior Online shows off the Catapault

                          Posted: 31 Aug 2012 07:00 PM PDT

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                          Reach out and touch someone with your metal cylinders packed with explosives.
                          Picture this scene: You log into MechWarrior Online and you're in the most beautiful map. You don't even want to fight, just enjoy the world around you. Birds are singing, the sun is shining, and there are more than two dozen missiles screaming through the air directly into your 'Mech's head. As your machine detonates, you'll know that you just got served an express load of missiles by the Catapault, a heavy 'Mech designed solely for delivering missiles at long range.

                          Even at 65 tons, the Catapault packs on only 10 tons of armor. That's to conserve weight for its powerful jump jets and twin LRM-15 launchers. If you're not quite down on the game slang, that means this beast of a machine can jump and then unload long-range missiles on targets all across the map at will. Want to see it in action? Click on past the break to view the preview trailer.

                          Continue reading MechWarrior Online shows off the Catapault

                          MassivelyMechWarrior Online shows off the Catapault originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                          PAX Prime 2012: SMITE

                          Posted: 31 Aug 2012 06:30 PM PDT

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                          SMITE's Ao Kuang
                          The battle of the gods rages on at PAX Prime 2012 with Hi-Rez's upcoming MOBA title, SMITE. Not much has changed since the last time we saw the game at PAX East, but as the game draws ever-closer to launch, MOBA fans have quite a bit to be excited about. The game has added a few new gods since the last time we saw it (this time around I had the pleasure of playing as the Chinese dragon Ao Kuang), and according to Hi-Rez's COO Todd Harris, the studio is aiming to incorporate at least 30 deities prior to launch.

                          On the topic of launch, Harris states that Hi-Rez is aiming for a first-quarter 2013 release (perhaps around February), though that date is by no means final. Regardless, MOBA players looking for a fun, frenetic, and accessible new title should keep their eye on the mythology-laden game as it continues to add more playable gods in the run-up to launch. And don't forget that you can register to participate in the game's beta right now by heading over to the SMITE official site.

                          Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 31st - September 2nd, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2012. Whether you're dying to know more about WildStar, PlanetSide 2, RIFT: Storm Legion, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

                          MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: SMITE originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                            Betawatch: August 25 - 31, 2012

                            Posted: 31 Aug 2012 06:00 PM PDT

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                            Betawatch - Xulu Universe
                            Remember that Otherland beta that was on and then off again? It's on again! In fact, its first open beta weekend kicked off today with a brand-new trailer.

                            NASA's MMO has been renamed Starlite and joins Betawatch tonight, as does sandbox Xulu Universe and adult-themed Venus Rising, fka Orgia Romanus. And just to confuse you, Aeria announced beta signups for its latest title, Starlight Story.

                            Finally, as reported last week, Knight Age's open beta launched on Tuesday. End of Nations' beta events will resume on September 7th.

                            Journey onward for the complete Betawatch roundup.

                            Continue reading Betawatch: August 25 - 31, 2012

                            MassivelyBetawatch: August 25 - 31, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                              PAX Prime 2012: World of Warplanes

                              Posted: 31 Aug 2012 05:00 PM PDT

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                              zoom zoom
                              Tanks are old news. This is the time for warplanes -- World of Warplanes, in fact. Happily, we can talk about just that because we took some time at PAX and sat down with some Wargaming.net folks to take a look at the upcoming game.

                              Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: World of Warplanes

                              MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: World of Warplanes originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                PAX Prime 2012: Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers

                                Posted: 31 Aug 2012 03:00 PM PDT

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                                PAX Prime 2012 Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers
                                Perfect World Entertainment is giving the red carpet treatment to up-and-comers Neverwinter and RaiderZ at PAX Prime this weekend. The company has released two new trailers to show off during the convention alongside of demo stations at its booth.

                                RaiderZ's trailer shows off several places and creatures from the game in an upbeat montage, while Neverwinter's takes us to Blackdagger Keep, where an undead pirate holds a grudge against those pesky living souls.

                                Both titles will be present at PAX in Perfect World's booth (#3603). Going or not, you can check out the exciting trailers after the jump.

                                [Source: Perfect World press release]

                                Continue reading PAX Prime 2012: Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers

                                MassivelyPAX Prime 2012: Perfect World screens Neverwinter and RaiderZ trailers originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                  MMObility: Holding on to Arcane Empires

                                  Posted: 31 Aug 2012 02:00 PM PDT

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                                  Arcane Empires logo
                                  Kabam, maker of MMORTS titles like Thirst of Night and Dragons of Atlantis, is back with a portable title that can be found only on the Google Play market. I stumbled upon one night, installed it for free, and soon found myself recognizing those old Kabam earmarks. It's hard to find high-quality MMOs for mobile devices. They're out there, and there are more coming into the market every day, but I wonder exactly how Kabam intended on spreading the word about Arcane Empires without featuring it on the official homepage. The MMORTS publisher has always seemed pretty savvy about the genre's formulas and how to make a successful game, so I have a feeling it must know what it's doing with the first mobile-only title in the lineup.

                                  When I check out mobile titles, I keep in mind that I might be mistaking convenience for fun. How many of us log into a game every day or every week only because the shortcut is sitting right there on our desktop or because the game rests on our phone or tablet just waiting to be touched?

                                  Continue reading MMObility: Holding on to Arcane Empires

                                  MassivelyMMObility: Holding on to Arcane Empires originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                    Some Assembly Required: Guild Wars 2 goes back to the future

                                    Posted: 31 Aug 2012 01:00 PM PDT

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                                    Some Assembly Required - Guild Wars 2 goes back to the future
                                    Like a lot of you, I've been goofing around in Guild Wars 2 this past week. What does that have to do with Massively's sandbox column? Not much other than that I feel like ArenaNet's game has arrived at an interesting crossroads in the history of MMO development.

                                    In one direction, you have World of Warcraft 2.0 and the continuation of the themepark model. In another direction, you have a sandbox akin to Ultima Online or Star Wars Galaxies. A third fork leads to the so-called sandpark hybrid. ArcheAge may live at the end of this road, and even titles like The Secret World and Age of Wushu can be said to mix both sandbox and themepark mechanics when it suits them.

                                    ArenaNet
                                    avoids all three paths with Guild Wars 2, though, and instead makes a fourth that's 80 percent themepark and 20 percent... well, I don't know what to label it. It's almost like the devs wanted to make a virtual world, though.

                                    Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Guild Wars 2 goes back to the future

                                    MassivelySome Assembly Required: Guild Wars 2 goes back to the future originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                      Paragon Studios closing, City of Heroes to sunset before the end of the year [Updated]

                                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 12:45 PM PDT

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                                      Paragon Studios closing, City of Heroes to sunset before the end of the year
                                      NCsoft is closing Paragon Studios due to a "realignment of company focus and publishing support," according to a blurb just posted on the City of Heroes website.

                                      Community manager Andy Belford says that the superhero MMO will shut down before the end of the year, and recurring billing (as well as Paragon Market purchasing) will be discontinued immediately.

                                      City of Heroes originally launched in 2004 as the world's first superhero MMORPG. Belford goes on to say that more information will be forthcoming over the next few weeks, including a firm cessation date as well as "what you can expect in game."

                                      [Update: NCsoft has told IGN that it is aiming for a November 30th closure date.]

                                      MassivelyParagon Studios closing, City of Heroes to sunset before the end of the year [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                      Torchlight II launches on September 20th

                                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 12:00 PM PDT

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                                      Torchlight II launches on September 20th
                                      The hoped-for dukeroo between Diablo III and Torchlight II never quite materialized, mainly because Runic didn't manage to ship its dungeon-crawler in time to compete with the Blizzard behemoth's launch.

                                      Torchlight II is still coming, though, and according to a new post on the game's official site, it's coming on September 20th. Runic CEO Max Schaefer provides us with the requisite PR soundbyte. "We worked incredibly hard to make sure we could release Torchlight II before summer's official end. Development will continue right up until we ship, and we couldn't be happier to be putting the finishing touches on a great game. We want to get it to the fans as quickly as possible. Honestly, we can't wait."

                                      MassivelyTorchlight II launches on September 20th originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                                      MMO Blender: Eliot's Copernican dream

                                      Posted: 31 Aug 2012 11:00 AM PDT

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                                      Whoops, that was apparently the place I lived.  Well, spilled milk.
                                      When I tried Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning for the first time, I fell in love. Not with the story, and not with the art, but with several elements of the actual game itself. The idea of having all of that brought into the MMO space filled me with a lot of excitement, but I had a feeling that we'd never actually see it come to pass.

                                      For those of you who missed out on what happened with 38 Studios, possibly because you read the internet on some bizarre time-lapse system, here's the deal: We're never going to see Project Copernicus come to pass. Oh, sure, we might wind up with something that vaguely resembles that game, but odds are low. More likely the franchise is going to be sold off by the state of Rhode Island for a pittance, and if the game ever resumes production, it'll bear only the faintest traces of its origins -- some art assets and little else.

                                      I'm not shedding tears over the world, though. In fact, I'm not going to shed tears at all because I think there's something to be built upon from the ideas of that single-player game, ideas that could make for an excellent MMO. And like any good gestalt, it reaches out to be something much more than the sum of its parts.

                                      Continue reading MMO Blender: Eliot's Copernican dream

                                      MassivelyMMO Blender: Eliot's Copernican dream originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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