MMO Updates

MMO Updates


Veteran EVE Online players share wisdom with new players

Posted: 16 Sep 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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EVE Online - rookie frigate
If you're looking for an excuse to visit the recently revamped EVE Online official forums, you could do a lot worse than a newbie help thread started by CCP Fallout. Whether you're an actual New Eden rookie, or a veteran looking to dispense advice (note we didn't say good advice, since it's EVE), it's worth checking out.

The thread is also good for a bit o' the ol' nostalgia, as Fallout specifically mentions silly mistakes he made back in the day, and he invites other players to share similar stories. The thread is fairly modest to this point (i.e., it's definitely not approaching threadnaught territory), but we suspect it will swell a bit as more vets weigh in with stories, pointers, and trolling attempts.

MassivelyVeteran EVE Online players share wisdom with new players originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Play Eden Eternal with free Aeria Points from Massively!

Posted: 16 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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Eden Eternal
Eden Eternal has been keeping the Massively staff highly entertained for a while now, what with the ongoing updates to content and races. The latest update brought us the frog-like Anuran race as well as the addition of crafting specialties for each race.

Haven't tried the game yet? There's no better time, particularly since Aeria Games has given us a pile of ePins worth 300 Aeria Points each. As always, we're sharing with you, and getting one couldn't be easier. Simply head to our giveaway page to pick up your ePin code, then log in to your Aeria Games account. Go to the shop, enter your code in the prepaid ePin field, and you're all set!

TO THE GIVEAWAY

MassivelyPlay Eden Eternal with free Aeria Points from Massively! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required: Diving into details of Origins of Malu with an exclusive interview

Posted: 16 Sep 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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Some Assembly Required header image
"This will be the world's best game ever ever ever!" -Michael Dunham. You tell 'em!

Honestly, we have heard it before: MMORPG feature lists that promise what our sandbox-loving hearts desire. Try as we might, we cannot escape those sneaky tendrils of hope that find the chinks in our +10 jaded armor of cynicism as we read about the return of a true virtual where actions have consequences, personal choices dictate gameplay, and individuality is a matter of principle.

Sadly, time and time again those hopes are dashed by titles that either cannot deliver on their promises or never even survive until launch. The same is true for the developers at Burning Dog Media; they too have ridden the roller coaster of sandbox dreams and harbored in their hearts a vision of their ultimate game if only they had the wherewithal to produce it. The difference between them and us is... they do!

Welcome to issue #6 of Some Assembly Required -- an exclusive interview with Michael Dunham and Dave Cruikshank -- Lead Developer and Art Director of Burning Dog Media, respectively -- who are in the midst of developing the new sci-fi/fantasy MMORPG Origins of Malu. Originally called just Origins (the change was to help avoid confusion with other projects that were cropping up with similar titles), this game previously teased sandbox aficionados with a glimpse at some hope-stirring features. Today, we have the privilege of expounding on "coming soon" and revealing more features that not only are planned but are for the most part implemented.

So why should we check out Origins of Malu? And what tantalizing tidbits of sandboxy goodness can we expect? Grab onto that hope and dive past the cut -- if you dare -- to see what Michael and Dave have to share.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Diving into details of Origins of Malu with an exclusive interview

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Diving into details of Origins of Malu with an exclusive interview originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Storyboard: Duel me!

Posted: 16 Sep 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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I'm not good at taking screenshots at the best of times, much less when I'm in the middle of combat.
Let it never be said that roleplaying lacks drama if it has no violence. Many times, the confrontations and conflicts in roleplaying happen without a single threat of physical injury or even interaction. Even when threats are involved, frequently that's all there is -- a threat, a wayward mention, a confident statement that if one party undertakes an action, there will be very short and brutal repercussions. Not every scene, or even most scenes, end with characters locked in combat.

That having been said, when you have a couple of characters whose day-to-day lives involve turning vicious critters into fine red mist, sooner or later someone is going to solve other problems with the same toolset.

It's not like violence isn't a valid means of dramatic expression; look at how many of Shakespeare's plays ended with some kind of swordfight if you really need backup. (Several of them, and the ones that don't merely lacked a way to add in a CGI army at the end.) The problem is more that MMOs do not handle this sort of conflict between players very well, if at all.

Continue reading Storyboard: Duel me!

MassivelyStoryboard: Duel me! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Are you an achievement junkie?

Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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Stinky, but adorable
If you're an Xbox Live player, you're well aware of the power of achievements. They help you show off your versatility, dedication, and overall badassery to your friends. In MMOs, these achievements can unlock certain skills, cosmetic items, or even content. We love our carrot-on-a-stick, but we love it even more if we can grab a bite every so often.

These achievements don't always mean everything to everyone. Many players couldn't care less about a gamer score or special unlocks; they just want to play the game and enjoy themselves. So we're curious to know how you feel. Do you live for achievements, or could you do without them altogether?

[Photo Credit: Rotten Tomatoes forums]

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: Are you an achievement junkie? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The MMO Report: Unwanted guests from Connecticut edition

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 08:00 PM PDT

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The MMO Report - Casey and Dave
This week's MMO Report finds host Casey Schreiner in fine form despite the disconcerting presence of another neck-bearded nerd crowding the camera during the show's opening monologue. The interloper turns out to be Schreiner's cousin Dave, who is apparently taking our intrepid host up on last week's hospitality offer.

Never fear, though, there is some MMO news to be had during the show's eight-minute running time. City of Heroes and its upcoming free-to-play conversion gets a mention, as does the Star Wars The Old Republic trailer focused on Smugglers (whom Casey says will "kick you in the nuts, tag you with a sticky grenade, and laugh in your face as you fall to your knees in agony"). There's also a blurb about Dungeons and Dragons Online's new update, RIFT's latest promotion, Minecraft's adventure pack, and of course Uncle Casey's mailbag. Check it out after the break.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Unwanted guests from Connecticut edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Unwanted guests from Connecticut edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champions Online lets you vie for the kingship on a hill

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 07:00 PM PDT

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I sell propane and propane accessories, I tell you what.
Who doesn't want to be recognized as the king of a hill? No matter where you go, as long as people can see the hill, they will know that the hill is all yours. That's probably not quite why Champions Online has added its brand-new King of the Hill PvP mode to the game, but it's certainly on the list. It's a chance for heroes to fight for dominance of a given point, with the attackers steadily gaining in power as the defenders struggle to hold their spot for seven minutes.

Wondering how the mode came into being or just want to see how it will play? Then peek past the break for a video walkthrough of this new opportunity to take up arms against your fellow costumed crusaders. Or take a look at the recent Behind the Mask column covering just this mode, which should put you well on your way to asserting dominance over the hill of your choice. It's good to be the king.

Continue reading Champions Online lets you vie for the kingship on a hill

MassivelyChampions Online lets you vie for the kingship on a hill originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lord of the Rings Online still not available in China

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 06:30 PM PDT

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Lord of the Rings Online - skirmish dragon
When it comes to mammoth western themepark MMOs and the Chinese gaming market, apparently there can be only one. And that one isn't named Lord of the Rings Online (or Highlander Online, sadly).

CDC Corporation initially entered into an agreement to distribute Turbine's Tolkien-inspired MMORPG to Chinese gamers in 2006. Five years later, the game still has not seen the light of day, and Turbine has pulled the plug on the arrangement as a result. CDC spent approximately $10 million on "licensing, development, and other costs," but has nothing to show for the expenditures.

Don't cry too hard for Turbine, though, as the Boston-based developer pocketed the $4 million non-refundable licensing fee.

MassivelyLord of the Rings Online still not available in China originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Massively: Ham edition

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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When I tell you something, I want to hold your ham.
Readers, today is a sad day indeed. Having exhausted my longstanding well of topics that were either based in Dadaist absurdity or random personal anecdotes, I'm left to unveil my most desperate weapon -- an edition based entirely on ham. Consider the ham. Within the ham there could be the answers to all of life's questions, or perhaps there's just salty meat with a light mustard and honey glaze to create a firm yet not crispy exterior. Which is the truth? We'll never know.

You will, however, know a bit more about what's going on behind the scenes of the site with this week's edition of Ask Massively. Sadly, we don't have our usual assortment of site gossip, but we do have answers about a few features and some discussion of the upcoming online-maybe Dragon Quest X. As always, you can leave questions in the comments or mail them along to ask@massively.com for a future column.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Ham edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Ham edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caravan security missions marching to Final Fantasy XIV

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 05:30 PM PDT

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We've got a great big convoy rolling through the night, we've got a great big convoy, ain't she a beautiful sight?  Come on and join our convoy, ain't nothing gonna get in our way, we'll ride this rocking convoy for seals all through the day.  CONVOY!
The list of features being added to Final Fantasy XIV in patch 1.19 just keeps growing. Not only will players be able to ride on the back of a chocobo, but a new set of missions for caravan defense will let players beat marauding fiends away from those selfsame yellow birds. And there are even Grand Company seals to be obtained in the exchange, which just sweetens the deal for players investing time and effort into the system.

Each of the Grand Companies will have a different caravan to protect and will enlist the aid of full members in ensuring the caravan's safety during its march from an aetheryte camp to one of the nearby hamlets. Monsters will attack the caravan in turn, sometimes driving off birds and sometimes outright damaging the cargo, and it will be up to players to feed, calm, and protect the chocobos laden with supplies. Once the caravan arrives at its destination, players will receive seals based on how much cargo actually made it to its objective -- a chance to earn more currency and get some nice experience out of the event.

MassivelyCaravan security missions marching to Final Fantasy XIV originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Behind the Mask: Fictional guns are lame

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 05:00 PM PDT

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Champions Online screenshot
Out of all my issues with modern roleplaying, the inaccurate portrayal of firearms is very near and dear to my heart. Champions Online is a pretty big offender in this regard. One of the most important things that we forget to realize about games in modern settings is that in the real world, guns are tremendously destructive.

Although this is more of a general roleplaying issue and not limited to CO, I feel it's worth touching on. Is it so weird to wonder why superpowered groups like VIPER or UNTIL use energy blasters instead of firearms? Hit the jump and we'll talk about why the U-KTF blaster rifles don't hold a candle to things that exist in the real world.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: Fictional guns are lame

MassivelyBehind the Mask: Fictional guns are lame originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Functional improvements coming to the store for Lord of the Rings Online

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 04:30 PM PDT

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EPIC
The store for Lord of the Rings Online is probably not the sort of epic adventure you think of when you consider Middle-earth. But it's an integral part of the game's setup now that it's moved over to free-to-play, and so it's in the best interests of Turbine Entertainment to make the store as easy to navigate and productive as possible. To that end, the team has announced a set of coming updates that should help players navigate the store, make purchases, and manage those purchases with the greatest of ease.

The two biggest additions at a glance are the inclusion of a Quick Buy button and an Add to Cart button, with the former saving the need for a shopping cart trick and the latter allowing you to stay on the page after adding the item. Also added are a Recent Buy tab and some improvements to the visual elements of the store, making it easier for players to see which categories have additional items. No, it's not quite as exciting as slaying dragons and Uruk-Hai, but it should make it a little easier to buy the gear to do so.

MassivelyFunctional improvements coming to the store for Lord of the Rings Online originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Guild Counsel: Can GW2's multiple guild feature work for other MMOs?

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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Vanguard
Guild Wars 2 caused a stir recently at PAX when its devs announced their concept of multiple guilds. According to the news, guild membership will be account-wide, and players will be able to log in and browse the chat for each of the guilds to which they belong. In a recent installment of Flameseeker Chronicles, Rubi gave a great rundown of the pros and cons of a multiple guild system. While there are still a lot of details yet to be revealed, Guild Wars 2 is changing the way players view guilds.

But what about all of the other MMOs currently out there that we all know and love? If you're a guild leader, chances are that you've already dealt with the question of whether to allow members to have characters in other guilds. Can it work, or is it a recipe for drama? In this week's Guild Counsel, we'll look back at how far guilds have come and whether allowing for multiple tags can work in current MMOs.

Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Can GW2's multiple guild feature work for other MMOs?

MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Can GW2's multiple guild feature work for other MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First WildStar Wednesday dev diary takes fans through creature creation

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 03:30 PM PDT

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Concept Art -- WildStar
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the first (of many, we hope) WildStar Wednesday. The magnificent Robert "Robeardo" Land and the fabulous Andy Cotnam from Carbine Studios have collaborated on a short dev diary to kick things off after WildStar's recent official announcement and convention circuit.

The diary focuses on the creation of a WildStar boss by the name of Metal Maw. Metal Maw, for the uninitiated, was conceived at Gamescom during a live drawing session featuring Mr. Cotnam, with the help of some fan input. Now that the creature has been created, Cotnam takes fans through the process of bringing a boss monster from the page to the game. For the full process -- and some lovely concept art, to boot -- head on over to the official dev diary.

MassivelyFirst WildStar Wednesday dev diary takes fans through creature creation originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yoogames yoinks assets from EVE Online and others, faces retribution

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 03:00 PM PDT

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Enjoy the show!
Let's get ready for a lawsuit! Yoogames has been called out on the EVE Online forums for using images from EVE in order to promote its own game, Planet War. But it's not just EVE Online getting ripped off here; keen-eyed forum-goers have spotted pictures of StarCraft 2's Protoss Yo-Mommaship and Star Wars' Trade Federation space station.

What will become of this, no one knows... oh, who are we kidding? This is lawsuit city. CCP's own CCP Fallout stopped by the thread to thank the OP for pointing out the infringement and to say that he is "notifying the relevant parties in the company." So grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show. We'll be sure to bring you the latest in courtroom entertainment as it develops.

MassivelyYoogames yoinks assets from EVE Online and others, faces retribution originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One Shots: Starting slow

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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City of Heroes
There's a lot to be said for a game that throws you right into the heavy action straight from character creation, but it's good to have an option for those who favor a slightly more peaceful beginning. City of Heroes player Clark is one of the latter:
This picture is of Galaxy City. When you first create a hero, you have a choice between Atlas Park and Galaxy City. I always picked Galaxy City for my starter zone because I liked the sort of calmness that the place had compared to Atlas Park's hustle and bustle. It's too bad that come I21 that calmness will be disturbed. I'm gonna miss this little city.
It's starting zone week here at One Shots. First impressions are a big deal, so many developers put a lot into that first zone you see. Show us a screenshot of your favorite starting zone -- add your name and a little bit about the image, send it in to oneshots@massively.com, and we'll feature it in this week's One Shots!

If you want to get a jump on next week, we'll be taking to the skies. One Shots will be all about aerial shots, whether they're taken from atop a high-flying mount or on the ground while viewing the action in the air. Send your image in and we'll show it off next week.

MassivelyOne Shots: Starting slow originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Captain's Log: Class spotlight - Engineer

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 01:00 PM PDT

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Star Trek Online engineer patch
Captain's Log, Stardate 65205.7...

Hello, computer (and players)! As you may or may not know, the Star Trek franchise celebrated a momentous birthday last week as it turned 45 years old. While humankind first set out to "boldly going where no one has gone before" in the late 1960s, its legacy lives on today, four decades later, through Star Trek Online. Although the game has had its fair shares of ups and downs, I am not afraid to stand behind it and be proud of it for being able to continue Gene Roddenberry's dream. I am also extremely honored to play a small part in its history by bringing you Captain's Log each week, and I look forward to what the next 45 years hold.

I'd like to welcome each of you to the third and final installment of my three-part series focusing on the classes within STO. After checking out the awesome DPS that Tactical captains can dish out a couple of weeks back, we now shift our focus to the Scottys, LaForges, Obriens, and Torreses of the game -- the Engineering captains. Players taking on this role often find themselves having a blast, literally, as they materialize their defense and medical turrets, call on their support and seeker drones, and deploy their force fields and cover shields. While there are a variety of powers that this career can utilize, I would like to showcase a few of them past the jump.

Ensign, warp... actually, no; it's actually time to realign the dilithium matrix...

Continue reading Captain's Log: Class spotlight - Engineer

MassivelyCaptain's Log: Class spotlight - Engineer originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aventurine publishes Darkfall siege system dev notes, manual

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 12:30 PM PDT

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Darkfall - siege screenshot
Yes, yes, Darkfall's getting a new siege system. You've heard this many times before, amirite? Well, today we're happy to report that the details are now public knowledge. Aventurine has jumped the gun on its usual Friday update window and posted the dev notes for the siege patch (as well as a lengthy PDF manual) on the Darkfall website.

Highlights include a breakdown of the new attacker/defender roles for clans, information on initiating and progressing challenges, and a bit about the new wager system. It's clear that Aventurine has completely rewritten the old siege mechanics, and the manual document touches on why such a huge change was necessary. "The key reason for this was to remove any hard limits imposed by the system, and make this whole aspect of the game much more open and free for all players to enjoy."

MassivelyAventurine publishes Darkfall siege system dev notes, manual originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clone Wars Adventures announces eight million users, upcoming content

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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Screenshot -- Clone Wars Adventures
The other day, we announced Clone Wars Adventures' one-year anniversary celebration. However, it seems more celebration is in order. According to a press release today, the game is also celebrating over eight million registered players.

On top of that, the press release gives us a sneak peek at upcoming content. The television series' fourth season will begin tomorrow, September 16th, and will focus on Mon Calamari, the home planet of everyone's favorite Admiral. As such, the game will feature content such as Mission on Iceberg 3, which presents a storyline that sets the stage for the TV Series. In addition, the game will be adding a minigame called Aquatic Assault, which puts players in the boots of the famous Nautolan Jedi Kit Fisto as he pilots his Diver Propulsion Vehicle against waves of Aqua Droids, Quarren, and Karkaradon.

The game's one-year anniversary celebration is going on now. To get in on the festivities, head on over to the game's official site and sign up.

[Source: SOE Press release]

MassivelyClone Wars Adventures announces eight million users, upcoming content originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hellgate expanding to Tokyo on September 22nd

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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Hellgate Global - Tokyo concept art
If you were wondering why HanbitSoft and T3Fun rechristened Hellgate: London as Hellgate: Global prior to resurrecting it as a free-to-play title earlier this summer, now you know.

The action-horror MMO is expanding to a new burned-out husk of a metropolis, and on September 22nd, you're invited to partake in more grisly demon-slaying action in what remains of post-apocalyptic Tokyo. The city features 24 new levels as well as new monsters and boss mobs. There are also a couple of new game modes on tap, including Cow Room (which pits players against hordes of zombies) and Base Defense (which is exactly what it sounds like).

Finally, Hell Mode gets an encore, and hardcore types who want better loot, more XP, and more it'll-put-hair-on-your-virtual-chest challenge are welcome to queue up and prove their e-manliness.

[Source: T3Fun/HanbitSoft press release]

MassivelyHellgate expanding to Tokyo on September 22nd originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMO subscription dollars in decline for the first time since 2002

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:30 AM PDT

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Money and lots of it
With all of the free-to-play MMOs coming onto the market and the F2P conversion of formerly subscription-only titles, it should come as no surprise that the subscription model is losing its grip on the industry. Eurogamer reports that starting in 2010, the money brought in from MMO subscriptions has actually gone into decline for the first time ever since analysts began tracking it in 2002.

2010's subscription revenue added up to $1.58 billion, a respectable amount but still 5% less than 2009. 2009 saw a 10% bump in subscriptions, and 2008 witnessed 21.6% growth. Connect the dots, and subscription revenue has most likely peaked and begun a downhill slide. Analysts predict that by 2015, revenue from subs will be as low as $1.33 billion. However, with the popularity of RIFT this year and the coming storm of Star Wars: The Old Republic, the subscription model may see a resurgence.

On the flip side, microtransactions from F2P models are rising exponentially, jumping 24% from 2009 to 2010 to account for $1.13 billion. With the two models combined, the industry saw a very modest 5% increase last year in revenue.

Screen Digest analyst Piers Harding-Rolls sees the writing on the wall: "The focus of many PC game operators has clearly shifted to micro-transaction‐based models -- in part due to competition in the subscription market especially in the high‐end MMOG segment, but also because of the flexibility micro-transactions offer operators in monetising gamers."

MassivelyMMO subscription dollars in decline for the first time since 2002 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MMORPG News

MMORPG News


EverQuest: Sarith, City of Tides Video Preview

Posted: 16 Sep 2011 08:07 AM PDT

The Everquest team has sent out another zone preview for the upcoming Veil of Alaris expansion. This time the City of Tides, Sarith, is profiled.

General: Guild Sores: Crafting Sucks!

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 12:17 PM PDT

In this week's Guild Sores comic, MMORPG.com's David North vents his rage at the boring-ness of crafting. In his opinion, there is nothing developers can do to make it FUN and EXCITING! Check out Guild Sores: Crafting Sucks! and then let us know what you think in the comments.

General: Overwolf Update: Upload Screens Right to MMORPG!

Posted: 14 Sep 2011 05:44 PM PDT

MMORPG.com has partnered with Overwolf LTD to bring our users a great way to stay in touch with social media and with friends via the Overwolf in-game client. Overwolf has been updated to include some terrific new features for MMORPG.com users and Managing Editor Bill Murphy has a summary of all that's new. Read on!

The Secret World: Faction Pride

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 12:25 PM PDT

MMORPG.com Managing Editor Bill Murphy has found a lot to like in The Secret World. But nothing strikes his fancy so much as the excitement that is brewing about the three factions that will be featured in the game on launch next year. See why Bill is swelling with pride over the Illuminati (though Templars are best!) and why faction pride is going to play a big part in The Secret World. Leave a comment or two after you're done reading!

Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes: Closed Beta Impressions

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 12:35 PM PDT

MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh and Bill Murphy recently had the opportunity for a hands on preview of one of the hottest MOBAs coming down the pike, Warhammer Online: Wrath of Heroes. They've both got the skinny on exactly how WoH plays and much more. Keep reading and then leave us a few comments when you're through!

WildStar: From Concept to Creature

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 02:49 PM PDT

WildStar developer, Robert "Robeardo" Land, has posted a new dev diary about the process the team goes through when taking a monster from its earliest concept stages through the finished product.

General: New Report Reveals Declining MMO Subscription Revenue

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:28 AM PDT

A new report from industry analyst iHS: ScreenDigest shows that revenue generated from both MMO and non-MMO subscriptions has declined for fiscal 2010. This marks the first decline in revenue since 2002.

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures: One Year, Eight Million Registered

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:16 AM PDT

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures is celebrating its first anniversary by announcing that over eight million players have registered for the game since launch.

Star Wars Galaxies: The Long Good-Bye

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 09:29 AM PDT

Players who want to help determine the final moments of Star Wars Galaxies will want to make sure to (re)activate their accounts by the end of today, Thursday, September 15th. After today, no more account creations or re-activated accounts will be accepted.

General gaming

General gaming


TGS: Now I Have My Own PS Vita

Posted: 16 Sep 2011 06:50 AM PDT

Like just about every member of the western gaming press at Tokyo Game Show this week, I was supposed to have had a really interesting opportunity to check out a bunch of PS Vita games at a private Sony event last night. What actually happened was that we all gave up about six hours of our day in exchange for a few minutes of hands-on time with a game or two; I played Sound Shapes for about five minutes, and poor Scooter didn't even get to touch a Vita.

But them's the breaks, right? Like the dedicated little soldiers of the enthusiast press that we are, most of us lined up for Vita demos on the show floor as soon as TGS opened for day two this morning. For our trouble, a man came by and handed out these:

TGS: Nippon Ichi has More Games on the Way

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 11:23 PM PDT

Nippon Ichi's U.S. arm hosted its annual Tokyo Game Show soiree today, which was fortunately a much more modest affair than last year's manic combination press conference and live radio drama. (The company president didn't come out in a Prinny costume, for starters.) The upcoming NISA line-up shouldn't surprise anyone who's even vaguely familiar with the company's history, but they are branching out just a tiny bit with the localization of Acquire's online, multi-platform Gladiator Vs. (which is being called Clan of Champions in the U.S.).

Besides the Acquire action game, NISA is business as usual. The company has two portable Disgaea ports in the works: A heavily modified rendition of the original game for Android platforms, and Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention for PS Vita. The former is due by the end of 2011, while the second is targeted for the first half of 2012 and will be one of the first major RPGs for Sony's new platform. It's hard to get a read on Disgaea for Android based on the description offered at the press conference; representative Jack Niida says players will begin with a single character and gain new party members and weapons through downloads and slogging through the Item World. The mobile version of Disgaea 3 sounds similar to the PSP versions of the first two games, with new characters and content added along with a host of scheduled downloadable content. Disappointingly, the Vita port won't be making use of Disgaea 4's high-resolution sprites, though a cursory glance at the Japanese version of the game on display at Sony's booth indicates that the older sprites won't look too bad on the Vita's compact screen.

TGS: Ni No Kuni is Still Totally Beautiful, Still Totally Simple

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:45 PM PDT

I got my first hands-on experience with Level-5's much-hyped PlayStation 3 RPG Ni No Kuni at last year's Tokyo Game Show; from what I saw of it this morning, not too much has changed. This year's demo of the game (due out at long last in a few months) is even more beautiful than it was last year -- and with good reason, as it's been developed in close association with acclaimed animation studio Ghibli -- but the game itself didn't hold too many surprises.

As before, it's still a very simple RPG, clearly aimed at a mass audience rather than hardcore role-playing fans; but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Imagine if Dragon Quest or Pokémon had been developed for high-definition systems and you're on the right track. Since those series seem content to stick to the world of low-resolution visuals, Ni No Kuni is picking up the slack.

TGS: 7th Dragon 2020 Looks Like Another Great RPG Americans Will Never Play

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:30 PM PDT

The fact that ImageEpoch/Sega collaboration 7th Dragon never came to the U.S. remains one of the most frustration localization failures in recent history. 7th Dragon was a DS game with an impressive pedigree, boasting Phantasy Star's Reiko Kodama and Etrian Odyssey director Kazuya Niinou as its key personnel. The final result felt like a great Dragon Quest game reworked with the elborate underpinnings (and relentless challenge) of Etrian Odyssey, and its excellent music and colorful visuals lent it an instant appeal that undercut the game's mercilessness. Despite some interest from American publishers, it was ultimately left to languish overseas; and so ends our sad tale.

In Japan, however, the story goes on, and the game will be seeing a PSP sequel in a few months. Entitled 7th Dragon 2020, ImageEpoch's next chapter of the franchise shifts its setting from a fantasy world to near-future Tokyo. A cliché, sure, but based on the game's lengthy TGS teaser trailer, it looks like a modernized take on a quality role-playing concept.

TGS: Namco Shows (Very Little of) Ridge Racer Vita

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:27 PM PDT

If it's a new Sony system, it only seems appropriate to have a new Ridge Racer. So while Namco's not ready to reveal much about it, they brought a brief demo of the Vita version to Tokyo Game Show in a one-track looping demo, with the main notable feature being a nitro boost on the shoulder buttons.

Personally, I've been interested in the game because of its unusual development team Cellius, which was founded as a joint project between Sony and Namco to create "entertainment" products using game consoles. It sounds vague, but according to vice president Hideo Teramoto, that's the idea -- the team doesn't want to restrict itself to any one thing, so they like having a broad mission statement. (Former PlayStation head Ken Kutaragi also played a key role in Cellius' formation, often stopping by the studio before he stepped down from Sony.)

TGS: Namco Details the Multiple Teams Making Soul Calibur V

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 10:12 PM PDT

At a pre-TGS press conference earlier this week, Namco revealed that its internal Soul Calibur development team is getting some external help to create Soul Calibur 5. On its own, this is nothing unusual -- outsourcing is common in game industry development, whether via individuals or other teams -- but it's rare to see a publisher get up on stage and announce such a thing. Capcom, for instance, only admitted Dimps' involvement in Street Fighter 4 after the media found out on their own.

So following the presentation, I sat down with SC5 producer Hisaharu Tago, and asked him to clarify the relationships that each company has on the game. CyberConnect2 -- best known for Naruto fighting games and also currently working on Asura's Wrath -- he said, is "basically doing all the cut-scenes and the story mode." Creative Intelligence Arts -- also known as CIA -- then, along with Forcewick Sound Design, is "basically doing all the music" for the stages, cut-scenes, and characters in the game.

TGS: Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor Won't Let You Slap Women

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 09:21 PM PDT

While Capcom's TGS demo of Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor featured 90-percent of the same content as the Gamescom demonstration, I still decided to attend for two reasons: to see it for myself (I had a bit of a hard time believing Tina's writeup -- especially the part about slapping your crewmembers), and if there are female characters in the game, if you can apply said motion gesture (yes, I will ask this question on behalf of closet misogynists who play video games).

As noted earlier, the actual content of the demo is nigh-identical to what Tina Sanchez saw back at Gamescom: the player, as lieutenant Powers, manages a crew of four (the player's role as pilot, plus the engineer, the navigator, and the gunner) inside a Vertical Tank (VT). In Steel Battalion's version of the future (where America has been conquered, and hence the 2082 version of the flag only contains seven stars), bipedal tanks serve as the major backbone of the armed forces. So I see the same mission of a beach-assault on New York City (which, due to factors such as troop transport boats and camera angles, looks like a purposeful homage to the opening for Saving Private Ryan) with one critical difference.

Lumines: Electronic Symphony Will Probably Hook You With Block-Music Hijinks Again

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 09:17 PM PDT

While every portable system's launch lineup invariably includes a puzzle game, there is a far cry between something like Tetris for the Game Boy and Bust-A-Move Universe for the 3DS. Well, Lumines for the PSP easily weighed more towards the Tetris-side on the Scale of Puzzle Games For A Portable's Launch, and by virtue of being a snazzier, prettier sequel with some new tweaks, it's probably already safe to say that Lumines: Electronic Symphony will be a repeat performer for the PlayStation Vita's launch.

The overall objective of clearing out blocks of color with a music-driven line remains the same. It's just that everything else has been built anew for this installment; actual graphical tricks like lighting and "3Dness" (most evident from moving the blocks around, as they tilt slightly enough when moving so as to present the illusion of depth, even though I'm not wearing any 3D glasses or anything) just pop out while playing.

TGS: We Finally Play Some of Battlefield 3's Single-player Campaign

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 09:09 PM PDT

It took a flight across the Pacific Ocean for me to finally get some hands-on with the single-player campaign for Battlefield 3. To recap: GDC showed off the technically impressive series of gameplay videos from the campaign. E3 let us play multiplayer (the traditional Conquest mode in a map taking place in the Paris metro), while Gamescom focused on other multiplayer-centric activities such as scale (64-player team deathmatch) and the co-op mode. TGS is the trade show where I can play a portion of Operation Guillotine.

It's a short portion-- taking not much more than 15 minutes to get through (just as it looks like I'm about to drive around, the playable demo ends). Alas, a side effect of being a playable demo during an open-to-the-public tradeshow like TGS; it'd be a bit unreasonable to have players go through an hour-plus mission with a crazy long line behind them. But it still displays DICE's penchant for in-your-face (and scarily accurate, from my layman's perspective) audio, the detailed (though a bit jaggy on the PS3 that I play on) visuals, and satisfying (in terms of feedback and feel) combat.

TGS: Beyond the Labyrinth is Beautiful But Puts the "Crawl" in "Dungeon-Crawler."

Posted: 15 Sep 2011 08:40 PM PDT

I've been curious to learn more about Konami's first 3DS RPG, Beyond the Labyrinth, ever since learning that it would be a collaboration with tri-Ace. I'm generally not too enthusiastic about tri-Ace's work, but Labyrinth marks a wildly different sort of game for the developer; where they're best known for hyperactive RPGs that incorporate real-time action into wild melees, this is a first-person dungeon-crawler. That suggests a work that resides at the opposite end of the genre spectrum from something like Star Ocean.

And, sure enough, Beyond the Labyrinth is incredibly slow-paced. The first-person RPG has had a modest resurgence in Japan in the wake of Etrian Odyssey's success, but Labyrinth feels decidedly old-school compared to the Etrian's series relatively snappy pace. Your party moves at a sluggish pace, with each step from one grid space to the next taking several seconds to complete. On the plus side, you can move at diagonal angles, but that's just as pokey.

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