MMO Updates

MMO Updates


SWTOR has fun storming the castle

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 10:30 AM PDT

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Nothing says "I'm a scruffy-looking nerf herder" like a swift kick to the groin. In the latest trailer from Star War: The Old Republic, we see this Smuggler and her Republic companions storm the castle of Bouris Ulgo, an Alderaanian General who has usurped the throne after a period of political unrest.

BioWare Director of Production Dallas Dickinson introduces us to one of the world arcs for SWTOR that requires a group to complete. This is not a single-player instance to which you can decide to bring your friends along if you want nor is it a Flashpoint. This quest can be picked up while you're on Alderaan and be completed as you explore the world.

If you have been keeping up with the trailers coming from the BioWare camp, you might notice that the animation and texturing continue to improve, particularly in-combat animations and facial expressions. Take a look at this two-and-a-half-minute teaser after the break and let us know what you think.

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MassivelySWTOR has fun storming the castle originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Massively Exclusive: TERA shows off two new BAMs

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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Last month we brought you exclusive news of two new TERA BAMs (that's an En Masse acronym for big-ass monster, if you're wondering). This month we're moving on from the fimbrilisks and vampirs and cozying up to a pair of new cold-hearted killers that inhabit the icy wastes in the far reaches of Arborea.

First up is our friend the wendigo, and what a clever, inventive, and unabashedly large friend he is. Despite being a BAM, the wendigo is known for his nuance, particularly when it comes to his unique vocalization techniques.

Next we have the ice giant, and as his name implies, he's also quite massive. Unlike the wendigo, ice giants are about as lacking in subtlety as it's possible to be, and most examples of the species spend their days plotting the return of their glory days while trampling unwary adventurers who stray too close their domains. Read up on both new BAMs and check out the exclusive screens after the break.

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MassivelyMassively Exclusive: TERA shows off two new BAMs originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wasteland Diaries: Coming soon

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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Due to the new partnership between Fallen Earth and GamersFirst, there are some huge changes coming in the very near future and massive changes headed our way before the end of the year. Sector 4 is going to be released soon along with a major re-write of the skills and abilities system. There are still a great many questions that remain unanswered, but the developers on both sides have dropped some subtle and not-so-subtle hints here and there.

There are still many players asking questions in global chat and on the forums that have been answered already. A few of the answers given have left me scratching my head, but I'm still optimistic at this point. But there's still a lot of confusion within the community about what is coming and when. I've dug up many of the responses to the toughest questions by Marie Croall of Fallen Earth and Joe Willmon of GamersFirst, who are holding their cards close to their chests but have nevertheless given up some good info. After the cut, I'll try to clarify what's going on in the short and long term, but it may result in some speculation on both our parts.

Continue reading Wasteland Diaries: Coming soon

MassivelyWasteland Diaries: Coming soon originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NCsoft announces San Diego Comic-Con events and schedule

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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If you're planning to attend the San Diego Comic-Con next month, and if you happen to be a fan of Guild Wars or City of Heroes, then NCsoft wants you to swing by its booth while you're in the neighborhood. Attendees will be able "to meet artists and developers from City of Heroes Freedom and Guild Wars 2." NCsoft will be giving the latest news on City of Heroes' recently announced free-to-play transition as well as giving fans the opportunity to take Guild Wars 2's Engineer class for a spin. In addition to all of that, City of Heroes' Desdemona will be making appearances at the booth while City of Heroes comic artist David "Noble Savage" Nakayama whips up free illustrations of selected CoH players' characters. The artists of Guild Wars 2 will also be present to sign limited-edition postcard art books.

But of course the party doesn't stop at the convention; NCsoft's Fan Meet & Greet takes place Friday the 22nd. Fans will have to check the NCsoft schedule for details on how to acquire tickets as it is a ticketed event, but those fortunate enough to attend will have the privilege of rubbing elbows with CoH and GW2 developers and artists. And of course, fans will be afforded the opportunity to go hands-on with City of Heroes Freedom and Guild Wars 2. For more information, check out the official announcement and NCsoft's Comic-Con schedule.

MassivelyNCsoft announces San Diego Comic-Con events and schedule originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate open beta to begin June 30th [Updated]

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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Hellgate's closed beta has been going on since the beginning of this month, but now it's almost time to kick open the doors and blast some monsters in open beta. T3FUN announced today that the freshly rebooted Hellgate will be entering open beta in six days on June 30th.

Strap up your armor and choose your weapons and get ready to jump into the seedy supernatural underbelly of the world of Hellgate. Just make sure you come prepared by checking out our previous coverage of the game!

[Update: The official announcement has been released, and it contains news of a few new features for the game. Duel Areas will be included for players who wish to take part in some team-based PvP combat, while those with a PvE inclination can test their mettle with the Cow Room (surely an homage to Diablo II's infamous Cow Level), where players face off against wave after wave of zombies in hopes of netting some rare loot. For the full press release, hit the official site.]

MassivelyHellgate open beta to begin June 30th [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you prefer digital copies or boxed copies of games?

Posted: 24 Jun 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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Long ago, you had one way of obtaining a new game -- you went to a store that carried video games and brought it home. The advent of digital distribution has changed that, however -- it's quite easy to pick up a new game on Steam or via download, with certain games like Global Agenda primarily seeing distribution via digital outlets. Considering that most games offer a client download and patches will frequently update the entire game anyhow, getting a box almost seems quaint.

Of course, if you're used to having a hard copy on hand, it might not even be an issue of whether or not it's worth buying a boxed copy. You want a game, you go out and buy it. So when you have the option, do you head out to the mall and pick up a boxed copy to have a physical representation of the game? Or do you just download and not fuss about with what amounts to sentimental clutter?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Do you prefer digital copies or boxed copies of games? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Black Prophecy heads into the Inferno with Episode 1

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 08:00 PM PDT

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While we're still waiting for Black Prophecy to officially launch here in North America -- where it's still in open beta -- Reakktor Media is already going full throttle with the next update for the game called Episode 1: Inferno in Tulima.

In Episode 1, level 15+ players will head to Enzo's Enigmatic Emporium of Exotic Elegance (say that three times fast) to tackle a set of new missions. Black Prophecy is also adding an interesting progression obstacle in the form of bound sectors. To get to the next sector -- and next hub -- groups of players will have to duke it out with fairly tough enemies guarding the passageways.

Episode 1 will also include a better message system, in-game email, new jobs, additional missions, and a change in PvP rewards. Black Prophecy's first update is slated for an early July release. To help you during this nail-biting waiting period, why not help yourself to a complimentary screenshot below?

MassivelyBlack Prophecy heads into the Inferno with Episode 1 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The MMO Report: What's with the creepy guy edition

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 07:00 PM PDT

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In this edition of the MMO Report, Casey Schreiner's epic beard is upstaged by the creepy guy kissing his desk. The desk is gorgeous, but I don't think the make-out session was consensual. No means no, creepy guy.

As for MMO news, Casey is back from E3, and a bunch of games go free-to-play. There has to be a connection between those two events. Also, Casey cannot help but correlate the patch in his favorite bum-hugging jeans with the patches in RIFT and World of Warcraft. Understandably so, they both keep water rifts at bay, and at the same time, quench fiery lands. Lastly, the MMO Report shows us that the pen is mightier than even the laser sword, as Casey introduces us to last Friday's Star Wars: The Old Republic dev blog and displays the latest fan-created memes.

Catch the full MMO Report after the break, and maybe you can tell us why that guy felt the need to profess his love for furniture at that moment.

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MassivelyThe MMO Report: What's with the creepy guy edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: The Syndicate's Sean Stalzer talks guild management

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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In last week's Guild Counsel, Sean "Dragons" Stalzer took the time to talk about his new book, The Syndicate: Beyond the Legend, available at Lulu.com. In this sequel to Legend of the Syndicate, Sean gives readers an update on his guild's accomplishments both in game and out, and last week in part one of his interview, he spoke about his thoughts on the industry and where it's headed.

This week, Sean discusses the other major focus of his book: guild management. In part two of our interview, he talks about the keys to running a longtime, successful guild. He also discusses how guild management has changed over the years and how his guild has evolved and grown to become drama-free.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: The Syndicate's Sean Stalzer talks guild management

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: The Syndicate's Sean Stalzer talks guild management originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: The lower decks

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 05:00 PM PDT

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Captain's Log, Stardate 64977.3...

Spock, Riker, Kira, Worf, Chakotay, and T'Pol. What do they all have in common? They are the notable men and women who served under their Captains as First Officer. Joret, Sito, Alyssa, Taurik, Sam and Geniveve. What do they all have in common? No one knows who the heck they are. In the world of Star Trek, these "unknowns" are the members of the lower decks, people whose work goes unnoticed, whose accomplishments are unacknowledged, and who are often killed off at the end of the episode when you finally do get to know them.

While the ships in Star Trek Online currently seem to be manned only by the Captain, his or her Bridge Officers (BOff), and some random crewmen walking around the ship, this is about to change. In the next couple months, get ready to welcome new members to your ship's lower decks. The Duty Officer (DOff) system will be adding a new form of gameplay to STO and give players even more ways to level characters and become immersed in the universe surrounding them. While there are a ton of random pieces of information about it floating out there, I think that Captain's Log is the perfect place to put it all together and give you a more concise picture of how it will work.

Ensign, warp 10! It's time to attend your new favorite class, DOffs 101...

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MassivelyCaptain's Log: The lower decks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Anarchy Online celebrates 10 years this weekend

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 04:30 PM PDT

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It seems like there's an MMO anniversary happening every other day around these parts. While it's indeed commendable for some of these games to last a year or three, Funcom's Anarchy Online has just reached the lofty summit reserved for the likes of EverQuest and Ultima Online: Yep, Rubi-Ka is 10 years old and still going strong.

Funcom has issued a press release that's heavy on the innovative aspects of the world's first sci-fi MMORPG. "Instancing, massive player vs. player combat, digital download of games, in-game advertisement, virtual world radio, concerts, virtual items, and freemium business models" are just a few of the initiatives that showed up early in Anarchy Online. The release also serves to accentuate how much has changed since the game's genesis, as it notes that AO's original 1995 design document questioned the future viability of the internet and hoped for 2,500 subscribers.

No 10-year anniversary would be complete without a respectable bash, and Funcom's release also outlines the festivities coming your way in the form of events and new content. The party (jointly produced by Funcom and Gridstream Productions) starts tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. EDT and will continue into the weekend. Even if you're not up for virtual dancing, you'll want to check it out for a new birthday raid, new vehicles, clothing, gear, action figures, and pets. Head to the official website to learn more.

MassivelyAnarchy Online celebrates 10 years this weekend originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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TERA E3 recap video explains political system

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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E3 2011 is a distant memory, but En Masse is still getting a bit of mileage out of the event thanks to a newly released TERA video compilation. The trailer shows off portions of the closed-doors media presentation from this month's trade show, and the footage is heavy on action combat and lush sequences featuring the game's gorgeous visuals.

The clip also devotes a good portion of its running time to the recently announced political system, and producers Chris Hager and Stefan Ramirez fire off some pretty tantalizing soundbytes relating to player interaction and the possibility of affecting the game world. "That means getting votes, buying votes, smearing your opponent, taking out your competition, raising taxes, making tons of cash money, controlling your province, putting players in prison, running your own events, managing your own towns, and just doing whatever you want," Ramirez says.

Staying in power to continue doing whatever you want is the trick, of course, and the video spends a good amount of time detailing ways to maintain control over your province. While it all sounds pretty spectacular, it also raises plenty of questions (like, how is all of that going to matter in an MMO that lacks serious consequences in terms of a death penalty or gear/stat loss?). Whatever the answers, we can't wait to learn more. Check out the full video after the cut.

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MassivelyTERA E3 recap video explains political system originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Second Life's CEO Rod Humble talks anniversaries

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 03:30 PM PDT

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Second Life recently hit a milestone in the MMORPG industry: eight years in service. This is ancient in MMO terms, and yet the game has shown continued growth. How would you explain such success, especially when the game... er, world... is such an enigma? Even the players are not sure how to describe it.

Well, we called out the big guns and sat down with Rod Humble, CEO of Linden Lab, the maker of Second Life. He was kind enough to not only do the interview but allow us to embed the audio in the article for you to hear! Don't worry; we've also written up much of what was said, so you can choose to listen, read, or both!

Click past the cut and let's get right to the interview with Rod as he talks about success, explaining Second Life and some of the surprises he's met with along the way.

Continue reading Second Life's CEO Rod Humble talks anniversaries

MassivelySecond Life's CEO Rod Humble talks anniversaries originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pottermore officially announced, but what exactly is it?

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 03:00 PM PDT

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Attention mudbloods, muggles, and wizards alike! We reported yesterday on the cryptic Harry Potter-related Pottermore, which -- according to a leaked memo -- was rumored to be an online game. Not but a short while ago, the big reveal took place via an announcement video from J.K. Rowling on YouTube. Is Pottermore really the big Harry Potter MMO that fans have been clamoring for?

Well... maybe. Information is still scarce, with the unveiling of Pottermore's true purpose remaining just as cryptic as it has been since the discovery of the website. The new addition to the immensely popular Harry Potter franchise, according to the announcement video, is "the same story with a few crucial additions," the most important of which is you, the reader. Early reports claim that members of the site, which officially launches in October, will be able to join one of the four houses of Hogwarts and become wizards in their own right. Part social networking site, part online game, and all incredibly mysterious, Pottermore is certain to be a monumental addition to the world of Harry Potter. What exactly the experience will entail, however, remains to be seen. Keep a (mad-)eye here for more news as it develops, and apparate past the cut for the official announcement.

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MassivelyPottermore officially announced, but what exactly is it? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars Galaxies ages eight years gracefully

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 02:30 PM PDT

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Much like the current Star Wars MMO in development, Star Wars Galaxies had a very active forum community before the game even launched. Many of those who were a part of that original community still play the game. Although I was not an active member of that first community, I certainly read what was happening and was extremely excited when the game launched on June 23rd, 2003. For the first time in history, a player was allowed to create his own character to live in the Star Wars universe. And despite the issues that would come a couple of years later, the community in the game is still strong and active.

I logged into my old stomping grounds of Starsider on a character that some people would recognize. Since I am an avid roleplayer and that community is still very active in SWG, I joined one of the chat channels I knew and asked where I could possibly find some RP events for the evening. It was still early, so I was not expecting much. To my surprise, I received an immediate reply. The members of the channel said there were not any events that they were aware of, but I may be able to find some RP in a couple of player-owned cities. One of these cities was the city I used to spend all my time in: Red Sands. I had to see what was going on there after years of being away. I was take aback when I arrived. The leaders of the town had placed an invading force of NPCs about the city and were having a stand-off with the citizens, a scene that appeared to be right out of a western.

The story continues after the break. Find out why Star Wars Galaxies is still active after eight years from Pilot Senator Anishor, the developers, and the active players.

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MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies ages eight years gracefully originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: No, seriously. Wrecking face!

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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Today's One Shots image comes to us courtesy of Massively's newest team member and co-leader of Massively's RIFT guild, Matt Daniel. Matt took a brief pause in tearing a swatch through the baddies of Telara to share this image of Scarlet Gorge:
Here's a picture of my Warrior Alir gettin' ready to wreck some Endless Court face in Scarlet Gorge! WRECKING. FACE.
Keep your eyes on One Shots all week to see what the Massively staff loves playing and showing off.

We're closing in on next week's theme, which is all about gear. Break out your most impressive weapon or your flashiest armor, snap a screenshot, and send it in so we can share your awesomeness (it's a word!) with all of Massively! The week after that is pet week, and we can't wait to see your favorite pet companions and hear all about them. Just send a screenshot to oneshots@massively.com along with your name, the name of the game, and a paragraph or two telling us about what we're seeing!

MassivelyOne Shots: No, seriously. Wrecking face! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DDO and LotRO prep bonus weekends for all

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 01:30 PM PDT

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We're not even at the dog days of summer -- more like the puppy days -- and Turbine is already throwing players a bone with special bonus weekends in both Dungeons & Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online. And thus we hit our canine pun limit for the day.

DDO is bumping the experience factor up by a respectable 25% across the board and throwing in a +1 loot bonus (meaning better loot in chests) for good measure. It's a great time to come back to the game, too, as players can enjoy the recently released Update 10.

Meanwhile, LotRO is encouraging you to farm mobs like crazy, as monster kill XP is going up by 50% (which can stack with the 25% XP trinket from the Rise of Isengard pre-order). Currently, the game is hosting its annual Summer Festival.

The four-day bonus weekend for both games runs from today through Sunday, June 26th.

MassivelyDDO and LotRO prep bonus weekends for all originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Massively: Let me show you pictures of my cat edition

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 01:00 PM PDT

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Oh, wait, I can't show you pictures of my cat because he's currently hiding. I can show you pictures of what my cat normally looks like, except that we recently had him shaved so that the hot summer wouldn't be hitting him with a full long-haired blue coat. He's decided to repay this kindness by sulking and screaming at Ms. Lady and me because we have humiliated him.

To be fair, he does look pretty pathetic now. Even if he does resemble a tiny lion.

Now that we've lost absolutely everyone but the hardcore Ask Massively readers, we can delve into this week's questions, centering on TERA's political system and the curious grip that free-to-play games can hold upon our wallets. As always, you can mail your own questions along to ask@massively.com or leave them in the comment field to be answered in a future edition of the column.

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MassivelyAsk Massively: Let me show you pictures of my cat edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mike 'Gabe' Krahulik speaks his mind about SWTOR

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 12:30 PM PDT

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Sometimes being a celebrity in the gaming world has its perks. Take Mike Krahulik from Penny Arcade, for example. People instantly recognize him, they want his opinion on everything, and he can get in on any beta he wants. All right, that last bit was a stretch, but he did get into game testing for Star Wars: The Old Republic. And after much begging, the marketing team at BioWare gave "Gabe" the chance to publicly sound off about TOR. Guess what? He loved it.

Based on a statement he made in the Penny Arcade blog, Krahulik believes that this Star Wars MMO lives up to its expectations, unlike another Star Wars MMO from the past. Specifically, he compares questing in The Old Republic to questing in other MMOs: "Turning the quests into an interactive experience makes me care a lot more about them. A quest is still a chance to get XP, money and loot but it's also an opportunity to advance your character towards the dark or light side based on your decisions. In most MMO's taking quests is what you do so that you can go play. In SW:TOR, taking quests is playing."

To catch his full 1200-word write-up on The Old Republic, jump over to the Penny Arcade blog. Find out whether he feels the game is "Star Wars-y" enough and what he thinks of his "shimmering blue glory."

MassivelyMike 'Gabe' Krahulik speaks his mind about SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the Mask: The incentives are backwards

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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This week in Behind the Mask, we will not be discussing Aftershock, the new Comic Series adventure that started several weeks ago. I intend to talk about Aftershock after it's finished -- if I talked about each new issue of Aftershock, I wouldn't be able to talk about other things, since there's a new issue every week.

Instead, I'm going to talk about the broad aspect of teaming in Champions Online, and more importantly, the rewards for teaming. Teaming in CO is as fun as in other MMORPGs because playing with other people is generally a fun activity. Unfortunately, there isn't much material incentive to team. It's faster to get experience and gear solo, making lairs the only real reason to team.

I team all the time, though -- entirely because it's more fun to play with friends.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The incentives are backwards

MassivelyBehind the Mask: The incentives are backwards originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aion hosting bonus AP and rifting event

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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What's new in Aion these days? Well, the paint is still drying on 2.5 (otherwise known as Empyrean Calling), but that hasn't stopped NCsoft from trotting out another in a long line of temporary rifting and AP (Abyss Point) events.

The latest promotion began yesterday and will run through the server maintenance period on June 29th. For this event, the defensive buffs in Heiron and Beluslan have been removed (but they're still up in Eltnen and Morheim). In other words, if you're looking for high-level rifting action, now's the time.

As far as the AP portion of the event goes, you'll earn more and keep more. AP loss from PvP deaths in the Abyss and Silentera Canyon has been cut in half, and monsters in both zones will reward more AP per kill (though NCsoft's website blurb doesn't say exactly how much). In short, now is a great time to check out all the changes courtesy of 2.5, and we'd love to read about your reactions in the comments.

MassivelyAion hosting bonus AP and rifting event originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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General gaming

General gaming


Team Fortress 2 Now Permanently Free

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 06:52 PM PDT

Team Fortress 2

Alongside the announcement of the Uber Update earlier this week, Valve announced that Team Fortress 2 would be free to play for the next week. Unlike when the game has been temporarily made free in the past, the ability to buy the game was removed from its Steam page. This led to speculation that it might be going to free to play for good; Steam recently began offering F2P titles, so it seemed possible.

Sure enough, Robin Walker has revealed in a Develop interview that Team Fortress 2 is now free to play -- permanently. The game added an in-game store last September to sell items (weapons and aesthetic-only hats) made by Valve and users. Allowing everyone to freely play the game increases the number of potential customers the store can see, so it's not as if this move is simply giving up money.

"We've been toying with the idea ever since the Mann-conomy update, where we added the in-game Team Fortress 2 store," Walker said. "Over the years we've done a bunch of price experimentations with the game, going all the way down to $2.49 in our random one-hour Halloween sales. The more we've experimented, the more we've learned there are fundamentally different kinds of customers, each with their own way of valuing the product. Now that we're shipping it, it feels like a fairly straightforward next step along the 'Games as Services' path we've been walking down for a while now."

Sledgehammer's Call of Duty Action/Adventure Game Could Still Happen

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 05:38 PM PDT

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3

After Infinity Ward heads Jason West and Vince Zampella were fired early last year, Sledgehammer Games was announced to be working on an action/adventure Call of Duty game. The company is now focused entirely on helping to finish up Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 ahead of its November release, but its original CoD project hasn't been forgotten.

"Right now Sledgehammer's 100% focused on Modern Warfare 3," Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg told IndustryGamers. "We haven't announced the future slate or future plans for the studio. They were originally working on an extension of the Call of Duty franchise into an action/adventure genre and that's a game I still want to play. That's a supreme, incredible group doing that. All I can say is right now they're 100% focused on Modern Warfare 3."

Call of Duty has never ventured outside the first-person shooter genre. For years now it's been an annualized series, and it's unclear if Sledgehammer's game would have been one of two CoD games released in one year or if it would take the place of one of the alternating Treyarch and Infinity Ward FPS releases.

Former I Am Alive Dev Working on New Survival Horror FPS

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 04:23 PM PDT

Black Death

Darkworks has revealed its newest title, a survival horror/first-person shooter called Black Death. The company previously worked on I Am Alive before the project was moved to Ubisoft Shanghai. It has experience with the horror genre, having also developed Cold Fear and Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare.

The game's official website outlines the story, which is set in a northeast city of the United States. A huge cloud of smoke overtakes the city and people being being infected, a process that turns them into violent mutants. The player's job is to stay alive and take out (or cure, if you so choose) the mutants using creative means. Players can create their own chemical weapons in addition to using traditional firearms.

The Black Death in history was a massive pandemic that struck in the 14th century. It's estimated to have resulted in the deaths of between 30 and 60 percent of Europe's entire population at the time.

Motion Controls Should be Firewalled Off From the Main Experience, Says Ken Levine

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 03:12 PM PDT

PlayStation Move

Irrational Games boss Ken Levine came on stage during Sony's E3 press conference to commit to using PlayStation Move in BioShock Infinite in some capacity. Whatever form that support comes in, we don't yet know, just don't expect it to be forced upon players in any way. Levine has shared his policy on motion controls and he isn't in favor of being pushy as he describes himself as a "really conservative guy at heart" who still does "most of my gaming on mouse and keyboard."

"Any experience that sits in the realm of motion play needs to be kept separate from the main experience," Levine told OXM during E3. "It needs to be firewalled off so that if this experiment isn't for you, or doesn't turn out to be all that great, you just ignore it."

He said the main experience needs to be protected from "any new experience we add." Referring to Mass Effect 3's addition of Kinect voice control, which is used for commanding squadmates, Levine said, "I like the stuff they're doing with Mass Effect 3, in terms of making some of the interface aspects a little less thorny -- more the squad commands than the conversation, as that's a bit of a challenge on the controller."

Sonic the Hedgehog is 20 Years Old

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 01:37 PM PDT

Sonic the Hedgehog 20 year anniversary

20 years ago today, the first Sonic the Hedgehog was released on Sega Genesis in North America. Sega had been looking for a character to counter the increasing popularity of rival Nintendo's Mario. The titular Sonic would go on to become the company's iconic mascot and perhaps the company's most important franchise.

Sonic was developed by the appropriately titled Sonic Team, which consisted of designers Hirokazu Yasuhara and Naoto Oshima as well as programmer Yuji Naka, who would serve as the developer's head for years before going on to found Prope. The game was a hit thanks to its straightforward, super-fast sidescrolling action. It's gone on to be ported to a great number of systems and the franchise has appeared on more than a dozen platforms.

Halo Players Get Blue Flames, Marathon Goes Open Source

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 12:21 PM PDT


In Halo Reach's multiplayer, a blue flaming helmet is an indication that a player is a Bungie employee and not some jerk liar who just claims to be one with the power to ban you. That distinction is no longer applicable, as Bungie has decided to give fans a parting gift as it moves away from the Halo franchise.

By registering on Bungie.net or using the new Bungie Mobile iOS app, players can land themselves both the flaming helmet and a Bungie nameplate for use in Reach. It's also giving four-player teams a chance to earn themselves a real life steak by beating a team of Bungie staffers by 20 kills or more.

One of Bungie's earliest games, first-person shooter Marathon, is in the process of being ported by a fan to iPad, something that Bungie considers "totally sweet." To honor its development, the final Marathon title, Infinity, is being made open source, a move that it says it "should have done a long time ago (but didn't because our legal counsel 'forgot')."

See an Early Version of Super Mario Bros. 3

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 11:43 AM PDT


By now there's a good chance you've played through Super Mario Bros. 3 from beginning to end a dozen times. What you've likely never seen is footage from before the game was complete.

The video above surfaced on Japanese video sharing site Nico Nico Douga and comes from the September 1988 edition of Famimaga. It shows a chunk of World 1-3 along with screenshots of other, unknown areas of the game.

There are a number of differences in the level design of areas recognizable in the final game. In the section pictured below (seen at about the 17-second mark in the video) highlights this fairly well. Another change is seen in the HUD: Mario's name was replaced by the number of the world you're on, with the number of lives you have left being simplified to "M X number of lives" in the bottom left corner. It's been noted that the timer runs down noticeably faster in the old footage than it does in the final game.

L.A. Noire Takes its Rightful Place on PC This Fall

Posted: 23 Jun 2011 10:40 AM PDT

L.A. Noire

Much like Rockstar's previous release, Red Dead Redemption, L.A. Noire was available only on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 at launch. Noire was a stranger decision as it is, unlike Red Dead, essentially an adventure game, a genre that has its roots on PC. Luckily Rockstar will be bringing to the game to PC later this year, complete with a few additions.

The port is in the hands of Rockstar Leeds and is being "built to run on a wide range of PCs." Those who have higher-end PCs will get to enjoy enhanced graphics and, for anyone with the necessary hardware, 3D support. There's no word on if any of the game's downloadable content will be included.

It's not the first time PC gamers have been forced to wait for a Rockstar game. Grand Theft Auto IV on PC trailed behind the console versions by more than eight months. There was also a long wait for both expansion packs, although the PS3 version had to deal with that as well thanks to Microsoft's exclusivity deal with Rockstar. Meanwhile, neither Red Dead game has seen release on PC; Redemption is particularly surprising given how well it sold on consoles.

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