MMO Updates

MMO Updates


BioWare opens Ireland customer service center

Posted: 26 Sep 2011 10:00 AM PDT

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Luck o' the Irish and all that
European fans of Star Wars: The Old Republic have long been clamoring for more information regarding the title's presence in the mythical land across the Atlantic, and we have some potentially good news for those people. EA announced today that a new BioWare customer service center has been opened in Galway, Ireland. Speaking at the facility's inauguration ceremony, EA Senior Vice President Ray Muzyka said "MMO launches are complex, and we are determined to set a new standard for a high quality, stable, smooth launch for our fans. Our new BioWare facility and team in Galway is critical to ensuring we deliver on that goal."

It's a first for BioWare as well, considering that this is BioWare's premiere location outside of North America. Hopefully the studio's opening will live up to its goal of ensuring that the inevitably massive launch of The Old Republic goes smoothly both in North America and across the pond.

MassivelyBioWare opens Ireland customer service center originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Informal RMT study looks at microtransaction effects across multiple titles

Posted: 26 Sep 2011 09:00 AM PDT

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Team Fortress 2 microtransactions
Wondering whether microtransactions in western games are as harmless as publishers would have you believe? BitGamer was as well, and as such the website has conducted an informal study of RMT and its effects across seven different titles.

Among the surveyed games are MMORPGs that include World of Warcraft, Lord of the Rings Online, Realm of the Mad God and EVE Online. The study includes data collected on over 800 RMT items, and while the conclusions are somewhat lacking in terms of objective analysis ("nobody likes Battlefield," etc.), there is nonetheless a fair bit of interesting info on display.

Ultimately the piece reaches the familiar conclusion that RMT is here to stay and that it's OK as long as the implementation avoids the dreaded pay-to-win stigma. That said, "even just cosmetic items will breed a bitter culture of haves and have-nots if you can't reasonably get them for free in a game for which you're already paying," the article states.

Be sure to check out Massively's own RMT studies for more insight into the value offered by your favorite microtransaction games.

MassivelyInformal RMT study looks at microtransaction effects across multiple titles originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Turbine to bring back LotRO's Fellowship Maneuvers to boss fights

Posted: 26 Sep 2011 08:00 AM PDT

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Fellowship Maneuvers
It's a long-running in-joke in the Lord of the Rings Online community that no matter how often Turbine tries to call its group combo-maker "Fellowship Maneuvers," players can't stop referring to them as "Conjunctions" (the name for the system from beta). In a new dev diary covering the resurgence of the feature, Turbine acknowledges the nomenclature debate with the title "Conjunction Conjunction, What's your Function?"

In the past, Turbine had disabled Fellowship Maneuvers for tough boss fights, fearing that it would make the encounters too easy. However, the devs want to start giving the system more love again, and has a two-step plan to do that. The first step is to allow players to create customizable Fellowship Maneuvers on a per-mob basis, allowing players to fine-tune their approach to each deadly encounter. The second step is to lift the ban on Fellowship Maneuvers during boss fights -- but making them much tougher to pull off successfully. This latter step is still in the planning stages, but the team wanted players to know that it was in the works.

There's more information in this developer diary about Conjunctions, especially in regard to the new 24-man Draigoch raid, so it's worth checking out if you're a serious dungeon crawler.

MassivelyTurbine to bring back LotRO's Fellowship Maneuvers to boss fights originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MV Guide: September 26-October 2, 2011

Posted: 26 Sep 2011 07:00 AM PDT

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Dragon Nest screenshot
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively's Livestream channel.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During livestream events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, livestream events are subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

We've got a hefty lineup on MV Guide this week: Newly launched games and expansions, a detailed tour of an old favorite, PvP, and more. Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: September 26-October 2, 2011

MassivelyMV Guide: September 26-October 2, 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    The Daily Grind: Are you a fan of attunement?

    Posted: 26 Sep 2011 06:00 AM PDT

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    WoW BC attunement map from WoWpedia
    Back in the days of EverQuest, my guild spent an inordinate amount of time camping dungeons for keys so that we could get into even more dungeons to camp for even more keys and so on and so forth. In retrospect, I see that the key-grind was SOE's way of slowing us down and gating us from content for as long as possible so that we wouldn't notice how very little there was of it (back then). It's like goetta: a cheap way to stretch out precious pork over more meals.

    World of Warcraft had keys too, even for basic 5-man dungeons, but it also introduced long, convoluted quest chains that players had to complete in order to become "attuned" to certain raid instances -- witness the quest map above, courtesy of WoWpedia. Both of these games have since heavily toned down these content blockades due to player feedback, but their influence is seen across the genre.

    What about you folks? Are you a fan of gating content until some grind (be it farming for an item or completing lengthy quest lines) is completed? Or do you just want to push the hokum to the side and get on with dungeoning?

    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 a fan of attunement? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      End of Nations not launching in 2011, aiming for 2012

      Posted: 25 Sep 2011 09:00 PM PDT

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      End of Nations
      If the end of the world happens in 2012, then End of Nations might be the cause. Or effect. Or just an innocent bystander. In any case, Trion Worlds' MMORTS has moved its projected release window from late 2011 to sometime next year.

      The news came at this past weekend's Eurogamer Expo 2011, where Trion demoed the game live to an excited crowd. The studio also showed off some of the in-game store options that players have to pick from, including unit colors and skins. End of Nations will be free-to-play with these optional microtransactions, but Trion promises that there will be no way for players to "pay to win."

      Trion was mum when asked about End of Nations' beta at the expo. The studio announced last month that the title would be going free-to-play from the get-go, a move that it hopes will draw in prospective armchair generals by the droves.

      MassivelyEnd of Nations not launching in 2011, aiming for 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      Guild Wars 2 Necromancer, Thief gameplay videos captured at Eurogamer Expo

      Posted: 25 Sep 2011 08:00 PM PDT

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      Guild Wars 2 - gameplay
      If you're a Guild Wars 2 fan who couldn't make the trip to London for this weekend's Eurogamer Expo, Cynical Brit's Total Biscuit has the next best thing.

      The site sent a gaggle of its community members to the event, and their impressions are collected in an ever-expanding threadnaught sure to put a smile on ArenaNet fan faces. The news post also features a series of gameplay videos shot live at the event, and all told the three clips clock in at just under an hour of footage. The videos feature both Norn Thief PvP and high-level Sylvari Necromancer shenanigans.

      Check them out after the break and head to Cynical Brit for more info.

      Continue reading Guild Wars 2 Necromancer, Thief gameplay videos captured at Eurogamer Expo

      MassivelyGuild Wars 2 Necromancer, Thief gameplay videos captured at Eurogamer Expo originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      MMO Week in Review: Superhero season

      Posted: 25 Sep 2011 06:00 PM PDT

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      DCUO screenshot
      At the end of every week, we round up the best and most popular news stories, exclusive features, and insightful columns published on Massively and then present them all in one convenient place. Miss a big MMO or WoW Insider story last week? You've come to the right post.

      This week, Sony Online Entertainment's John Smedley announced that DC Universe Online will soon make the transition to a hybrid freemium payment model. That makes it the last of the "AAA" superhero titles to go free-to-play -- in fact, City of Heroes flipped a similar switch this very weekend, inviting former players back to preview the F2P conversion Freedom before it launches officially.

      (Oh and there might have been an announcement about an obscure little indie MMO that's coming out on December 20th, but we're sure you don't want to hear about that.)

      Don your capes and fly past the break for a look at this week's other top MMO stories.

      Continue reading MMO Week in Review: Superhero season

      MassivelyMMO Week in Review: Superhero season originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        EVE Evolved: Ship spinning and Incarna

        Posted: 25 Sep 2011 04:00 PM PDT

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        EVE Evolved title image
        Last week, EVE Online developer CCP Games released a devblog about an upcoming patch designed to re-introduce the ship hangar removed as part of the recent Incarna expansion. The old system involved docking into a ship hangar in which players can spin their ships around to look at them from any angle. With Incarna, the hangar was replaced by a new captain's quarters interface in which the player gets out of his ship and walks about his quarters in a full-body avatar of his character. Amidst a flood of complaints from players whose computers couldn't handle the Incarna environments, CCP reluctantly built a temporary disable switch into the system.

        Developers repeatedly stated that they had no intention of letting players opt out of Incarna forever as the company wants it to be a seamless part of the game world rather than a separate game in and of itself. The announcement of the ship hangar's return has effectively overturned that statement by giving players a way to stay out of Incarna environments indefinitely if required. This is a big deal for current EVE players, but most of my friends and colleagues who don't play EVE don't see the importance of what is on the surface a purely cosmetic change.

        In this week's short EVE Evolved column, I discuss the plans to bring back ship-spinning in EVE and explain why this change is a big deal for players.

        Continue reading EVE Evolved: Ship spinning and Incarna

        MassivelyEVE Evolved: Ship spinning and Incarna originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          One Shots: Once more into the breach

          Posted: 25 Sep 2011 02:00 PM PDT

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          Age of Conan screenshot
          We wrap up this week's One Shots with a trip back to Age of Conan's Khitai, thanks to Poordevil:
          This was taken overlooking the Gateway to Khitai just outside The Breach, a solo instance located in the mountains behind me.
          That's it for aerial week here on One Shots! Next week we're throwing the ball back to you. There's no theme and no requirement; just send us your favorite screenshots and tell us why you love them. 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!

          MassivelyOne Shots: Once more into the breach originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            Rise and Shiny recap: Starjack Online

            Posted: 25 Sep 2011 12:00 PM PDT

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            Starjack screenshot
            This week I had the chance to dive into the universe of Starjack Online, a game of 4X strategy. While I have read that the X refers to explore, expand, exploit and exterminate, I say we should include a fifth X called "extreme occasional frustration for a number of reasons." OK, so maybe not... that's a little long. Still, the game does pull a player in for a number of reasons as well.

            Want to know those reasons? Good! Click past the cut and we'll get right to exploring this indie free-to-play game based in the harsh, cold realities of space!

            Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Starjack Online

            MassivelyRise and Shiny recap: Starjack Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              Dawntide launch delayed, new date undetermined

              Posted: 25 Sep 2011 11:00 AM PDT

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              Dawntide - crafting
              Sandbox fans hoping to explore the world of Dawntide on October 1st are going to have to wait a little bit longer. Working as Intended has announced its plan to delay the game's official release "to a later date."

              No time table is forthcoming as of yet, but we suspect the delay is likely for the best, given the consensus among the game's devoted community that the fantasy title was not ready for launch. There is a silver lining, though, as you can help test Dawntide and get a preview of the game for free by signing up for the ongoing open beta.

              WAI also released a new trailer for the game a few weeks back, and we've got it for you after the break in case you missed it.

              [Thanks to Bartillo for the tip.]

              Continue reading Dawntide launch delayed, new date undetermined

              MassivelyDawntide launch delayed, new date undetermined originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              MMORPG News

              MMORPG News


              League of Legends: Dominion Launches Today

              Posted: 26 Sep 2011 08:12 AM PDT

              Riot Games has sent word that the Dominion expansion for League of Legends will officially launch today, Monday, September 26th.

              Lord of the Rings Online: The Fellowship Maneuver

              Posted: 26 Sep 2011 07:59 AM PDT

              The Lord of the Rings Online team has penned a new developer diary featuring upcoming changes to the Fellowship Maneuver system coming with the Rise of Isengard expansion.

              Age of Conan: Unchained: You've Come a Long Way, Baby!

              Posted: 25 Sep 2011 03:38 PM PDT

              This past July, Age of Conan went "Unchained", or free to play. Lots of players have been checking back in to see what's new with Age of Conan: Unchained, including MMORPG.com's Daniel Owens. Daniel has a complete re-review of Age of Conan: Unchained that's well worth the time to read. Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

              General: Dead Island: Recipe for the Perfect MMO?

              Posted: 25 Sep 2011 08:07 AM PDT

              Dead Island has created a stir in the shooter community with its compelling storyline and exotic settings. MMORPG.com's Richard Cox thinks that the game is a natural for an MMO. In this new article, Rich explains why. See if you agree. Either way, let us know what you think in the comments.

              World of Warcraft: Deathwing Goes Down

              Posted: 25 Sep 2011 07:53 AM PDT

              MMORPG.com's Joe Sanicky is excited. He's excited about the opportunity to finally take down Deathwing in World of Warcraft. With the arrival of the v4.3 patch, players will be able to put one of the most iconic bad boys in WoW away for good. Check out Joe's thoughts about the 4.3 update. Let us know what you're thinking in the comments.

              Global Agenda: Recursive Colony Overview

              Posted: 25 Sep 2011 08:22 AM PDT

              The biggest and most ambitious update, Recursive Colony, was added to Global Agenda last week. MMORPG.com Managing Editor Bill Murphy outlines the most significant parts of the Recursive Colony. Check it out and then let us know what you think in the comments.

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