MMO Updates |
- Allods Online launches new Renaissance patch, reincarnation system
- Troy Online releases official open beta schedule
- Castlot browser game to feature sabotage mechanics
- Ask Massively: Go outdoors edition
- The Daily Grind: What pen-and-paper RPG would make a great MMO?
- Get creepy with new Lord of the Rings: Rise of Isengard Monster Play screens
- New trailer for Transformers Universe showing off what you'd expect
- World of Warcraft subscriptions continue a downward trend
- Massively Speaking Episode 159
- Champions Online rolls out the next phase of Hideouts
- World of Warcraft pet sales contribute over $1.9 million to Red Cross
- More on the sound design for Guild Wars 2
- Choose My Adventure: Dat's it, boss, I'm outta here
- A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Someone dies at the end, part one
- One Shots: Lady in red
- Free for All: Oh em gee, have I become a furry?
- Not So Massively Extra: Dota 2 to be unveiled with $1.6 million US tournament
- Time to party for AIKA's first birthday
- Elsword announces new Raven character
- Bounty Bay Online expands into the Raging Seas today
- EVE devs brainstorming nullsec changes
| Allods Online launches new Renaissance patch, reincarnation system Posted: 04 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play, Allods Online  Those players now have a unique endgame feature to look forward to in the form of the reincarnation system, which allows players to re-roll while keeping their main character. The main becomes what's known as an Ascendant, while the new character (called an Incarnation) inherits certain abilities from the main. Both characters share gold, mounts, potions, and other items, and the reincarnation mechanic "offers the most powerful players in Sarnaut the opportunity to become even more unstoppable," according to the latest Allods press release. That's not all there is to Renaissance, though. Allods players will want to explore new zones like the Twilight Isle and the Cave of Tka-Rik, and there's also a new astral layer in store for spacefaring characters. Last but not least, there's the Happy Hours and Happy Days event, and though it doesn't feature the Fonz or Richie Cunningham, it does bring some nice XP bonuses at least once per month on every Allods server. You can learn more about Renaissance at the official Allods website, and don't forget to head past the cut for the new Renaissance trailer. Continue reading Allods Online launches new Renaissance patch, reincarnation system
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| Troy Online releases official open beta schedule Posted: 04 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Betas, Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play  The testing period will last for one week, culminating in Troy's launch on August 19th. If you're an existing beta tester, you'll need to download the new open beta client due to the substantial graphical tweaks as well as changes to class balance and PvP battlefields. Troy is based on traditional Trojan War mythology, with some creative license involving the god Apollo and a second round of conflict thrown into the mix. The official Troy website is your gateway to acquiring the game client, and you might also want to stop by the beta announcement page as well as the technical forum (particularly if you're a previous tester looking for manual uninstall info).
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| Castlot browser game to feature sabotage mechanics Posted: 04 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser  Looking for a unique new browser MMO? If so, you might want to check out Castlot, the latest title to be added to the ClapAlong delivery platform. Castlot is a fantasy MMO set during the sixth century amidst Britain's struggles with Saxon invaders. The game features two factions as well as mechanics that allow for sabotage, scheming, and all manner of dastardly tricks against your enemies. A new Castlot press release outlines one possible scenario which revolves around releasing a goblin into an enemy player's annexed land. Said goblin will allow you to steal your target's resources, the better to stockpile your own supply of crops and upgrade your castle. On the other hand, goblin infiltrators may be countered by the placement of traps, so you'll want to think carefully when it comes to strategy and tactics. Castlot features a mix of turn-based and real-time combat, and the game will be hosting a public beta phase later this month.
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| Ask Massively: Go outdoors edition Posted: 04 Aug 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, Massively meta, Ask Massively, Miscellaneous  Really, this column will still be here after you're done. It'll wait. I'm hoping that the two or three of you that actually listened to that advice enjoyed your walk. For you (and slightly earlier for everyone who just skipped over that paragraph) we've got questions this week about gold farming and the consistent scourge of site bugs. If you've got a question you'd like to see answered in a future installment, just mail it along to ask@massively.com or leave your question in the comments. Continue reading Ask Massively: Go outdoors edition
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| The Daily Grind: What pen-and-paper RPG would make a great MMO? Posted: 04 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous  GenCon's always been a good reminder that we MMO fans have roots in a much larger community of gamers, and that our interests often converge in unexpected ways. For all of the MMOs we have, there are even more pen-and-paper roleplaying games out there, some of which might just make a good online game if put into the right hands. So how about it? What tabletop RPG would make a good MMO -- and for kicks, what studio would you want handling it?  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!
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| Get creepy with new Lord of the Rings: Rise of Isengard Monster Play screens Posted: 03 Aug 2011 07:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Lord of the Rings Online, Expansions, Previews, PvP, News items, Free-to-play  Today we've got a few new screenshots for you Lord of the Rings Online fans out there. The focus of said screenshots is on the creeps of Middle Earth as Turbine shows off the upcoming updates and changes being made to Monster Play in the Rise of Isengard expansion. On top of the new Monster Play enhancements, Rise of Isengard brings much more along with it. Three new regions will be at the players' beck and call as they traverse the forests and foothills of Dunland, the Gap of Rohan, and of course the eponymous Isengard. In the process of doing this, players will be able to advance all the way to level 75, after which point they can attempt to ford the dangers of Draigoch in a brand-new 24-player raid. Players will be able to take the Hobbits to Isengard on September 27th.
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| New trailer for Transformers Universe showing off what you'd expect Posted: 03 Aug 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, News items, Browser, Kids, Transformers Universe  While the details are still light on the actual gameplay of the upcoming game, what we do know is that it promises to be an action-oriented MMO aiming at a browser client, allowing players to play a representative of either side in the fiction's factional warfare. While it will be running concurrently with Transformers: Prime when it launches in 2012, there's no word on whether the show continuity will affect the game in any way. But you don't need to worry about any of that to enjoy the video just past the cut -- all you need to do is admire what's sure to be a central part of the game no matter how it plays. Continue reading New trailer for Transformers Universe showing off what you'd expect
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| World of Warcraft subscriptions continue a downward trend Posted: 03 Aug 2011 06:30 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, MMO industry, News items  According to president Mike Morhaime, the reason for the drop can be traced back to the time since the last expansion release, but even Morhaime admits that this is the fastest drop the game has seen during its run. There are obviously rumors that the next expansion is not so far away, but as it stands, WoW's longstanding grip on the MMO market is no longer quite as strong as it once was.
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| Massively Speaking Episode 159 Posted: 03 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Podcasts, Culture, News items, Opinion, Massively meta, Humor, Massively Speaking  If you would be interested in learning more about the Game Programming Instructor position Shawn mentions on the show, check out the job listing or contact Shawn for more info. Have a comment for the podcasters? Shoot an email to shawn@massively.com. We may just read your email on the air! Get the podcast: [iTunes] Subscribe to Massively Speaking directly in iTunes. [RSS] Add Massively Speaking to your RSS aggregator. [MP3] Download the MP3 directly. Listen here on the page: Read below the cut for the full show notes.  Massively Speaking is the official podcast of Massively.com. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Shawn Schuster and Community Manager Rubi Bayer, Massively Speaking takes on the week's biggest news and dev interviews with plenty of opinion, rants, and laughs thrown in for good measure. Join us every Wednesday afternoon to listen in and see what we'll say next!Continue reading Massively Speaking Episode 159
This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Champions Online rolls out the next phase of Hideouts Posted: 03 Aug 2011 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, News items, Free-to-play, Virtual worlds, Champions Online  Of course, all of these new options do come at a price -- specifically, they come at a price of around 500 points in the C-store, including for subscribers and lifetime members. As a result, the newest pair of hideouts may not be for the penny-conscious hero on the run. For those of you who feel like splurging a little and living in style, however, the new hideouts should provide the perfect place to relax and enjoy the superheroic life from behind the scenes.
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| World of Warcraft pet sales contribute over $1.9 million to Red Cross Posted: 03 Aug 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: World of Warcraft, Fantasy, Culture, Events, real-world, MMO industry, News items  In May, Blizzard announced that sales of the Moonkin Hatchling in-game pet had raised $800,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Around the same time, Japan suffered a devastating earthquake and Blizzard was quick to introduce a second in-game pet in the form of the Cenarion Hatchling, the sales of which would all be contributed to the Red Cross's Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami relief fund. Well, it looks like the World of Warcraft community -- with a little help from the adorable feathered Cenarion Hatchling -- has done it again. Blizzard announced today that as of today, sales of the Hatchling have totaled over $1.9 million, with every last penny going to the Land of the Rising Sun in its time of need. Blizzard -- and we here at Massively, for that matter -- send out heartfelt thanks to the players who helped contribute to this staggering amount to the Red Cross.
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| More on the sound design for Guild Wars 2 Posted: 03 Aug 2011 04:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Previews, News items, Guild Wars 2, Free-to-play  As demonstrated in the video, the team uses a complex dynamic layering system in which several different sounds can have varying levels of volume, frequency, and focus -- as demonstrated by a windmill, which has ten different sounds playing at intervals to create the illusion of wood and cloth slowly turning. Guild Wars 2 players might not find any tips about the gameplay just past the cut, but they will find a video that further explains how you make just the right kinds of noise in the game. Continue reading More on the sound design for Guild Wars 2
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| Choose My Adventure: Dat's it, boss, I'm outta here Posted: 03 Aug 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Warhammer Online, Opinion, Choose My Adventure  Last week's vote was overwhelmingly meta -- rather than a recounting of events, the audience clearly wants to hear my thoughts on the future of Warhammer Online, what worked and what didn't, and why the game followed the trajectory it did. (Also, an awful lot of people want to know about the Choppa Song.) I'm admittedly coming into the game late and with somewhat less passionate eyes than many of the game's fans, but looking at my experience, I think I found a lot of the game in microcosm. I see all of the things it did right... and in hindsight, where certain choices went wrong. Continue reading Choose My Adventure: Dat's it, boss, I'm outta here
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| A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Someone dies at the end, part one Posted: 03 Aug 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, Events, in-game, Lore, Opinion, Free-to-play, Humor, A Mild-Mannered Reporter  Instead, we're going to look at the rumblings about the first Signature Story arc, which asks us who is going to die at the end. Now, to be fair, "nobody" is a valid answer. But it's heavily implied that one of the members of the Surviving Eight will bite the big one, and that means a big shakeup in the game's status quo. So let's run down the big eight and see which one seems most likely to die, at least in comic book terms. (And yes, it's comic book terms. War Witch is already dead, and that hasn't stopped her from being in-game as a trainer, remember?) Continue reading A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Someone dies at the end, part one
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| Posted: 03 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Galleries, Screenshots, Lord of the Rings Online, Free-to-play, One Shots  One of my favorite player created kinds of content are outfits. I always find a different one from a passer by or while walking around Bree in Lord of the Rings Online, or during festivals in Everquest II Extended. There are even multiple blogs dedicated to putting together player outfits. So here is one of my creations. This is Dahliara, my hobbit minstrel in her red scandalous outfit.Now it's your turn to show off your items. This week's theme is Some Assembly Required -- a little nod to the newest addition to our column lineup. Some Assembly Required covers player-created content, so we want to see the best of what you've created. We're preparing for next week's theme too: Pop culture in MMOs. Developers sneak references in all over games, whether it be via NPCs, quests, or items, and we want to see your favorites. Grab a screenshot, tell us a bit about what it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. We'll be featuring the best of these next week.
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| Free for All: Oh em gee, have I become a furry? Posted: 03 Aug 2011 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Screenshots, Video, EverQuest II, Culture, Opinion, Vanguard, Free-to-play, Races, Earth Eternal, Humor, Kids, Free for All 
Continue reading Free for All: Oh em gee, have I become a furry?
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| Not So Massively Extra: Dota 2 to be unveiled with $1.6 million US tournament Posted: 03 Aug 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Launches, New titles, PvP, Not So Massively  We heard last month that Dota 2 is due to be previewed in a competitive tournament at August's Gamescom 2011 in Germany. In a new announcement on the official Dota 2 blog, Valve has now revealed the incredible details of this massive tournament. 16 of the world's top classic DotA teams will clash in a bid to win a staggering $1,000,000 US top prize. Confirmed commentator Tobi has been referenced as saying that the total prize pool is actually $1.6 million US, leaving a potential $600,000 for runner-up prizes. This tournament will be the first time Dota 2 is publicly shown, and every match will be streamed live across the internet in four languages. The five-day tournament will run between August 17th and August 21st.
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| Time to party for AIKA's first birthday Posted: 03 Aug 2011 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, News items, Free-to-play, Aika  Wish AIKA a happy birthday, because it's turning one year old this month! To celebrate the occasion, T3fun is hosting a plethora of exciting events for AIKA players. For starters, all players will receive double experience for the entire month of August, making it the perfect time to grind out those levels you need. Also on the calendar is the "WAR is Back" event, in which players "kill hostile characters and get rewarded with whatever is behind the W, A and R medals left behind." For the PvP-inclined, every Wednesday and Saturday the team will host a King of Ka-Hill PvP match, which pits two teams of 24 against one another in a struggle for control. And finally, there's the Run for Glory. On August 19th and 26th, each nation's Lord Marshall will be granted access to a special Invader account containing an extremely powerful Paladin. The Invader must run through an opposing nation with the objective of reaching that nation's Regenshein. It's up to members of that nation to ensure that his job isn't an easy one. The events are going on all month, so jump in and join the festivities.
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| Elsword announces new Raven character Posted: 03 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Free-to-play  Raven is a human fighter with giant metal claws and considerable skill with a variety of blades, and he brings a "quiet, cold, and distant" vibe to the game's brightly colored canvas. In terms of gameplay, Raven is a fast melee attacking class, and he possesses the ability to dual wield, easily chain combos, and fire off heavy attacks without consuming much MP. He also boasts great evasive skills, and you can learn more about him -- as well as download the game -- on the official Elsword website.
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| Bounty Bay Online expands into the Raging Seas today Posted: 03 Aug 2011 11:30 AM PDT Filed under: Historical, Trailers, Video, Patches, Free-to-play, Bounty Bay Online  This free-to-play pirate MMO is no stranger to constant peril and sizable patches. Raging Seas adds three new ships to the game and a much improved system to upgrade your boat, with special items that can boost your rudder, hull, cannon range, and more. Also included in the patch is an exciting group instance called the Naval Battle of Gravelines that throws you into an epic sea battle during the Spanish Armada era. Raging Seas follows this past May's Bounty Bay land-based Atlantis update. You can watch the short trailer for the patch after the jump! Continue reading Bounty Bay Online expands into the Raging Seas today
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| EVE devs brainstorming nullsec changes Posted: 03 Aug 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, News items, Dev Diaries, Sandbox  Enter CCP's latest dev blog, which seeks to convey the message that work continues on New Eden proper -- with particular energy being directed toward EVE's nullsec experience. CCP Greyscale says that Team BFF has basically set aside discussions of nullsec sovereignty in favor of resource- and industry-based brainstorming. Though much of the blog post is highly theoretical, it's nonetheless interesting to get a brief glimpse behind the curtain, and it's also somewhat reassuring to see that the designers remain focused on the sandbox rather than on how people are paying for it.
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