MMO Updates |
- Gamescom 2011: ASTA video talks design philosophy and DAOC inspiration
- GDC Europe 2011: Richard Garriott says mobile and social titles are 'the future of games'
- Enter at Your Own Rift: Happy half-birthday, RIFT!
- En Masse offers open house, hands-on with TERA at PAX Prime
- SWTOR's James Ohlen says no cross-faction communication
- Massively Exclusive: Wargaming.net answers our World of Warplanes questions
- New Guild Wars 2 video highlights PvE combat
- The Daily Grind: Do you re-roll when you come back?
- NCsoft announces new MMO: Wildstar [Updated]
- Designer Jon Peters outlines Guild Wars 2 PvP
- Star Trek - Infinite Space launches website with stellar promotion
- Jade Dynasty unveiling the Path of Glory
- Age of Empires Online introduces Season Pass, details pricing
- City of Heroes art lead contemplates the Hamidon redesign
- New Bounty Hounds Online trailer shows off man versus machine
- The Soapbox: MMO slot machines
- The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: Your journeys
- Get City of Heroes for $1.99 in August
- One Shots: I need a break
- Gamescom 2011: gamigo reveals Otherland trailer
- MMObility: My week in mobile
- Hyperspace Beacon: Bucket list
- Get a jump on the LotRO expansion with Rise of Isengard beta access from Massively
- GDC Europe 2011: GamersFirst on the difficulties with transforming APB: Reloaded
- CrazyKinux ends his EVE Blog Pack
| Gamescom 2011: ASTA video talks design philosophy and DAOC inspiration Posted: 17 Aug 2011 10:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Dark Age of Camelot, Game mechanics, Lore, MMO industry, New titles, PvP, News items  The clip features a lot of concept art, behind-the-scenes shots and talking-head developer interviews, as well as an English-dubbed voiceover that's heavy on lore and backstory bits. There's also a lot of commentary regarding ASTA's design philosophy, as well as how the developers are striving to avoid Asian MMO cliches to create a title that is original, yet familiar. Finally, the video lets us in on the fact that ASTA is aimed at players "who are not very good at controlling the keyboard and the mouse simultaneously." Despite the apparent simplicity, ASTA will be featuring RvR and PvP mechanics designed specifically to facilitate large-scale conflict rather than small-party skirmishes or duels. Dark Age of Camelot fans may be interested to know that the ASTA video specifically references the older title as inspirational material, and you can find that and more after the cut. Continue reading Gamescom 2011: ASTA video talks design philosophy and DAOC inspiration
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| GDC Europe 2011: Richard Garriott says mobile and social titles are 'the future of games' Posted: 17 Aug 2011 09:30 AM PDT Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Tabula Rasa, Massively Event Coverage, Miscellaneous  Garriott used his iPhone as an example of this new direction: "I am now much more of a gamer than I ever been in my whole life, but the vast majority of the gaming I have played has been on this machine. I'm a devout believer that this is the current and near-term future of games." He defines this "new era" of gaming by having cheap games that are simple to use and connect you with real-world friends. While he thinks earlier social games like FarmVille were too simple and unappealing, Garriott says that they're evolving quickly. During the speech, Garriott expressed regret that his team didn't stick by the original vision for Tabula Rasa, and urged fellow developers not to trade in their dreams to follow the company line. His new company Portalarium plans to "reinvent roleplaying yet again" by releasing a series of products that will capitalize on social gaming and retrain players to think beyond mere combat to a wider experience.
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| Enter at Your Own Rift: Happy half-birthday, RIFT! Posted: 17 Aug 2011 09:00 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Interviews, RIFT, Enter at Your Own Rift  Following this smooth release (and it was smooth), Trion Worlds set a remarkable standard for itself by pumping out meaty content updates at a steady, rapid pace and marketing RIFT out the wazoo. We've already witnessed two live events, numerous subscription specials, the addition of a ginormous raid, and my not having hit 50 yet -- to my eternal embarrassment. Of course, there have been bumps in the road as well: a lackluster initial world event, a segment of disgruntled players and opponents, and the looming specter of several heavy-hitting MMOs waiting in the wings. But for right here and right now, this is Trion's time, and the company is taking advantage of this half-year milestone to light the fireworks and lay out the good china in celebration. We got on the phone with Scott Hartsman and his Justice League to talk about what the studio has up its sleeves for this event -- and what's next for this rapidly expanding title. Continue reading Enter at Your Own Rift: Happy half-birthday, RIFT!
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| En Masse offers open house, hands-on with TERA at PAX Prime Posted: 17 Aug 2011 08:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, MMO industry, New titles, News items, TERA  Fans will have the chance to share feedback with the production team after the hands-on period, as well as attend a Q&A session with En Masse COO Patrick Wyatt. Full details are available at the official TERA website.
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| SWTOR's James Ohlen says no cross-faction communication Posted: 17 Aug 2011 08:00 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, News items, Races, Rumors, Star Wars: The Old Republic  In an interview with TenTonHammer, James Ohlen stated that cross-faction communication had changed. Is this good or bad? We will let you judge for yourself with a direct quote from the article. Ohlen replied to a question about sending items to cross-faction alts via mailboxes. Currently no, you have to do it the old fashioned way through the mailbox, but only if they're the same faction. There are multiple reasons why we don't want the different factions to communicate with each other.To be fair, the question only concerned mailboxes. Ohlen later clarified in the interview: "You won't see the other faction's chat at all, so they can't chat with you and you can't chat with them." We know for certain there will be a large group of SWTOR fans that will be specifically upset about this design choice because it will inhibit their style of gameplay. We will look for further clarification on this subject, so stay tuned to Massively for more information.
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| Massively Exclusive: Wargaming.net answers our World of Warplanes questions Posted: 17 Aug 2011 07:00 AM PDT Filed under: Historical, Real life, Video, Events, real-world, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, War, Free-to-play, Miscellaneous, World of Warplanes  Today we're pleased to bring you an exclusive interview with Wargaming.net project manager Alexander Zezulin, so join us after the cut for loads of details on the game, including the debut trailer from Gamescom. Much like its World of Tanks predecessor, World of Warplanes looks to make squad-based vehicular combat more accessible to a wide audience while maintaining a sense of historical accuracy when it comes to said vehicles. Continue reading Massively Exclusive: Wargaming.net answers our World of Warplanes questions
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| New Guild Wars 2 video highlights PvE combat Posted: 17 Aug 2011 06:30 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, News items, Guild Wars 2  The video blends concept art and gameplay footage to show off different racial starting areas, but the bulk of the footage is pure combat. While there are some familiar clips in there (and an area that is strongly reminiscent of Sorrow's Furnace), we see plenty of new enemies and locations as well. There are Orrian undead, a decaying dragon that is almost certainly working under Zhaitan's orders, combat footage of each of the five races, and much more that we've not seen before. Take a look at the video for yourself after the break! Continue reading New Guild Wars 2 video highlights PvE combat
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| The Daily Grind: Do you re-roll when you come back? Posted: 17 Aug 2011 06:00 AM PDT Filed under: Culture, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous  Consequently, the temptation can be strong to simply wipe the slate clean and re-roll a completely new character. A brand-new character can help you relearn the game without overwhelming you with too many details at once, which is hugely appealing. On the other hand, it might seem like a waste not to continue an old character that you invested so much of your time and effort into building. So do you re-roll when you come back to an MMO, or do you pick up where you left off? This Daily Grind will self-destruct in five minutes or after a hundred comments, whichever comes first.  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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| NCsoft announces new MMO: Wildstar [Updated] Posted: 17 Aug 2011 05:15 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Galleries, Screenshots, Video, Game mechanics, New titles, News items  Developed by Carbine studios, Wildstar is a sci-fi/fantasy hybrid MMO of "high adventure" where players "lay claim to a mysterious planet on the edge of known space" by playing as Explorers, Soldiers, Scientists, or Settlers. Through a feature known as "Momentum Mechanics," players can immerse themselves in a world that actually responds to choices made throughout the game. "Depending on a combination of faction, race, class and path," a press release states, "WildStar will present gamers with unending surprises, mini-quests and challenges, ensuring that their experiences are fun and fresh." We'll keep our eyes on any further developments with Wildstar, including news of their playable demo at Gamescom. [Edit: We now have a complete gallery of screenshots and concept art below, and the cinematic trailer after the jump.] Continue reading NCsoft announces new MMO: Wildstar [Updated]
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| Designer Jon Peters outlines Guild Wars 2 PvP Posted: 17 Aug 2011 01:15 AM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, PvP, Guild Wars 2  For those of you playing along at home (or possibly waiting for the doors to open at Gamescom), ArenaNet has a little something to distract you from the fact that you're not enjoying the hands-on right now: a brand-new blog entry from Jon Peters with a full PvP overview. Jon outlines the different types of PvP in GW2, from casual hot join matches to high-stakes tournaments, and offers some tips for better playing. He quite literally covers PvP play from beginning to end, talking about gear, skills, and levels when you start as well as finishing moves to send your opponent off to the great beyond. It's a typically extensive and informative entry, so head to the Guild Wars 2 site to see for yourself! For even more PvP details, check out Jonathan Sharp's new ArenaNet blog post as well.
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| Star Trek - Infinite Space launches website with stellar promotion Posted: 16 Aug 2011 08:00 PM PDT Filed under: Betas, Sci-fi, Free-to-play, Promotions  The site is somewhat bare-Bones right now, with a sign-up to receive more information, screenshots, the trailer, and a news blog. What's interesting is that Gameforge is offering players an incentive to enlist in Starfleet by offering the chance to reserve your name, get beta key priority, and receive an exclusive item once you enter your retinal scan (or, y'know, fill out the form). Star Trek - Infinite Space is on display at this week's Gamescom, and we look forward to hearing more about this action-based free-to-play MMO.
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| Jade Dynasty unveiling the Path of Glory Posted: 16 Aug 2011 07:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Trailers, Video, Expansions, Previews, News items, Free-to-play, Jade Dynasty  Maybe not? Well, there are going to be more features in the expansion, too -- features such as gems to socket into equipment for improved stats and a new clan instance to fight for glory. But maybe all you need to see is an impressive trailer for the update -- and look, we've got just that right past the cut here. So jump on past that break and take a look at some of the images associated with the upcoming expansion. Continue reading Jade Dynasty unveiling the Path of Glory
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| Age of Empires Online introduces Season Pass, details pricing Posted: 16 Aug 2011 06:30 PM PDT Filed under: Historical, Business models, Economy, MMO industry, News items, Free-to-play, MMORTS  Microsoft has released more information on the pricing plans that will soon be available to players of Age of Empires Online, the newest installment in the RTS series that launched just today. On top of the previously established Premium Civilization packs (weighing in at $20 each), the Defense of Crete booster ($9.99), and Empire Extras ($4.99), players will also be able to purchase a Season Pass. The Season Pass grants players a 30% discount on all cash shop items for six months. The Season Pass itself is reported to set players back a hefty $99.99, so it will likely only be useful for the most hardcore of Age of Empires Online players. But if you're planning on buying up every bit of content the company drops, it may save you a few bucks. In addition to the Season Pass, Microsoft also announced that players who buy the Greek and Egyptian civilizations will receive the Defense of Crete booster for free. For more information on the just-launched online RTS, check out Joystiq's hands-on impressions of the game.
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| City of Heroes art lead contemplates the Hamidon redesign Posted: 16 Aug 2011 06:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, Previews, Free-to-play, Dev Diaries  One of our goals for the new Praetorian incarnations of Hamidon was to raise their threat level while keeping them tied visually to the original blob-like mass players are familiar with. We felt that it was important to design these creatures in a way that emphasized their power and scale and made it clear that they are worthy of going toe-to-toe with the all-powerful Tyrant.Martinez does not explain if this new incarnation of the monster will take 50+ heroes to defeat like its predecessor, but we are looking at a completely different creature than the former giant congealed mass. PC gamer hosts the whole diary on its website, which includes new screenshots of the Hamidon and a gigantic monster called the Shivan from the redesigned tutorial. And next week, City of Heroes hosts two panels at PAX. Massively will have reporters on the scene giving you the latest news for Paragon City!
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| New Bounty Hounds Online trailer shows off man versus machine Posted: 16 Aug 2011 05:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Previews, News items, Free-to-play  Highlighting several mercenaries going toe-to-toe with an enormous walking tank, the trailer shows off some of the game's promised action and versatility, complete with transforming animal companions and a whole lot of firepower. Players will be taking part in the clean-up operation on a planet at the heart of an interstellar war, with other mercenaries acting as simultaneous allies and threats. Check the trailer just past the break for a fresh helping of science fiction action in all its screaming explosive glory. Continue reading New Bounty Hounds Online trailer shows off man versus machine
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| The Soapbox: MMO slot machines Posted: 16 Aug 2011 05:00 PM PDT Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Opinion, The Soapbox, Miscellaneous  We are beginning to drown in a sea of MMOs that are shedding variety to mimic simplified slot machines. The danger in this is that MMO gameplay is becoming akin to gambling. Enjoyment of minute-to-minute gameplay is being replaced by hours of frustration unless we manage to match three-of-a-kind to get our loot drops. The success of the games isn't resting on the shoulders of enjoyable content but on the prizes to be won by schlepping through that content. We're letting developers know this not just by playing these games but by literally asking for more of the same. The result is that money flies into developers' hands while they skirt the boundaries of ethics by supplying "gameplay" soaked in habitual greed, delivering to players only the barest skeleton of an MMO. Continue reading The Soapbox: MMO slot machines
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| The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: Your journeys Posted: 16 Aug 2011 04:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, PvP, Shadowbane, The Game Archaeologist  Shadowbane is proving an interesting case study as well. Because it flew so very low on my personal radar during the entirety of its operation, I naturally assumed it wasn't that good for the few souls who did play it. It turns out that I was wrong, considering just how many testimonies we've had from people who admit that if you could get past the graphical limitations and technical issues, there was a helluva game experience waiting for you. So to follow up from last week's interview with a blogger, this week we're going to hear from Massively readers who took the time to send in their favorite memories of Shadowbane so that they could be preserved in the hallowed Game Archaeologist vaults. Let's do it! Continue reading The Game Archaeologist uncovers Shadowbane: Your journeys
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| Get City of Heroes for $1.99 in August Posted: 16 Aug 2011 03:00 PM PDT Filed under: Super-hero, City of Heroes, City of Villains, News items, Promotions  Later this week, [Paragon] will be bringing players a very special Declaration of Freedom sale. This limited time offer will bring the base price of City of Heroes to $1.99 on the official NCsoft online store. [As i]f the price drop weren't enough, the purchase will give all active subscribers access to 400 Paragon Points per month, which can be redeemed when City of Heroes Freedom launches.Unlike many other CoH digital codes, this one cannot be applied to an existing account, so players should banish thoughts of haxing this deal for piles of easy Paragon Points. Of course, it's never been a better time to create a new account or get into the game ahead of the free-to-play conversion, since subscribers are already accruing points! The sale kicks off on August 17th at 9 a.m. EDT, and you've got until August 30th at 3 a.m. EDT to take advantage of it.
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| Posted: 16 Aug 2011 02:00 PM PDT Filed under: Galleries, Screenshots, Free-to-play, One Shots, All Points Bulletin, Crime  This is an environment image you wouldn't expect because you can't physically get there -- which doesn't make it any less beautiful or peaceful. It's the social district in APB:R, and I jumped on top of the little gazebo in the corner to grab this screenshot.We're revisiting an old favorite theme this week on One Shots: environments. The game world is an area that most developers put a huge amount of effort into, and it shows. Do you have a favorite landscape, particularly eye-catching weather effect, or hidden jewel in an out-of-the-way location? Snap a screenshot of your favorite MMO area, tell us a bit about what and where it is, and send it to oneshots@massively.com. We'll be featuring the best of them all next week!
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| Gamescom 2011: gamigo reveals Otherland trailer Posted: 16 Aug 2011 01:30 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Trailers, Video, Events, real-world, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Miscellaneous  The video clip showed up on publisher gamigo's YouTube portal this afternoon with a curious action MMORPG label in tow. We say curious here because "action" isn't the first word that springs to mind when discussing Tad Williams' Otherland novels, nor is there a lot of action in the four-minute trailer. There is a lot of eye candy and appropriately bizarre cyberpunk trappings, though, and all of it is presented through the glossy stylings of the Unreal 3 engine. The free-to-play title is scheduled to release sometime next year, and you can get a glimpse of what awaits you in the teaser after the cut. Continue reading Gamescom 2011: gamigo reveals Otherland trailer
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| Posted: 16 Aug 2011 01:00 PM PDT Filed under: Screenshots, Culture, Previews, Opinion, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual, Humor, Miscellaneous, MMObility  Of course, I also wonder whether this would be a good thing or not, but I forget the concern as soon as I spy the latest patch for one of my favorite MMOs. The last week was an eventful one, and as usual I was all over the digital map. Why don't you click past the cut and see what happened? I promise I'll skip the parts about what I had for breakfast (always two pieces of toast, a cup of tea, and a fruit smoothie) and will get right to the better digital parts. Continue reading MMObility: My week in mobile
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| Hyperspace Beacon: Bucket list Posted: 16 Aug 2011 12:30 PM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles, Opinion, Humor, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Hyperspace Beacon  Despite all the incredible things we will be able to do in SWTOR, certain others will be missed once the game launches. Particular staples of MMO games, in general, will never be seen again. As someone who is placing his MMO future in TOR, I suggest creating a bucket list. Let's face it: When The Old Republic releases, we cannot look back to other MMOs. They will be dead to us. After the cut, I have complied a list of 10 items that we will never see again once we start playing TOR. Count them down with me. Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Bucket list
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| Get a jump on the LotRO expansion with Rise of Isengard beta access from Massively Posted: 16 Aug 2011 12:00 PM PDT Filed under: Fantasy, Lord of the Rings Online, Contests, Expansions, Free-to-play, Giveaways  For those of you who wanted in on the closed beta and weren't selected, we might just have a second chance for you. Turbine has given us 10 beta codes for the expansion, and we're sharing them with you! Enter any time in the next 24 hours by leaving a comment here to tell us why we should choose you. We'll select 10 of our favorite entries tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. EDT, and since the beta is open to players every Wednesday through Saturday, you can jump right in! Have fun, be creative, and may the best entry win! (And don't worry: If you win, your secret's safe with us!)
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| GDC Europe 2011: GamersFirst on the difficulties with transforming APB: Reloaded Posted: 16 Aug 2011 11:00 AM PDT Filed under: Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, All Points Bulletin, Crime, Miscellaneous  In the interview at Gamasutra, Book-Larsson talks about how it wasn't as easy as GamersFirst had hoped to turn the failed MMO into that diamond in the rough. Although the tools and ideas of the game are impressive, it was the design that caused roadblocks in the resurrection. Players would literally get lost in the original game, and GamersFirst set out to fix that as much as it could. "People would just run around in an endless loop and never realize they had to ready up to get a mission," Book-Larsson said.
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| CrazyKinux ends his EVE Blog Pack Posted: 16 Aug 2011 10:30 AM PDT Filed under: Sci-fi, EVE Online, Culture  But sadly, CK has recently announced his retirement from his blog and presence in the EVE community. According to his final blog post, CK has been hired as the director of development for indie game studio Behaviour Interactive. He says he now will have the time to "play the darn game and read your blogs!" If you're interested in following post-blog CK, his new Twitter is @SocialDave. Best of luck, CK!
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